Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 239

Chapter 239 Chapter 54.5 - Archery Competition

Adrian's brows furrowed slightly as he observed the deviation from the expected course of action. The onlookers, including the scouting guild members and fellow participants, exchanged puzzled glances.

[Did you do something?]

From the small artifact on his ears, he asked the magicians under his command.

[No. We did just the usual.]

[I see.]

From how it looked just before, Adrian thought Astron Natusalune would be able to hit the target efficiently in the last part.

This was his own way of showing his consolation, as he thought he was also a threat. Thinking that he disturbed him unfairly (?) he decided to let him have his way, but that wasn't the case.

"Sigh, I couldn't do it in the end." Seeing the frustration etched on his face, Adrian shook his head.

'I misjudged him.'

He thought this guy was different from the rumors as he trained relatively hard, but it seemed he wasn't that special.

'Not that it matters.'

In a split second, he dismissed the idea of him being a possible target, and from the looks of the eyes belonging to scouts he invited, it seemed they thought the same as him.

********

As the arrow struck the target's side, missing the center, the onlookers exchanged perplexed glances. Whispers of confusion and speculation permeated the air.

"What just happened?"

"He missed the center completely."

"I thought he was good, but maybe he's not as skilled as we thought."

"That was a strange choice."

The intricacies of the micro-challenge, the attempt to hit the tiny insect amidst the rain and wind, went unnoticed by everyone in the audience. To them, it appeared as if I had simply miscalculated, casting a shadow on the previous commendable performance.

Adrian, on the other hand, continued to observe with his usual stoicism. His analytical gaze seemed to delve into the layers of the unexpected choice, looking for something beyond the surface.

"Sigh, I couldn't hit it at the end."

So I decided to completely relieve him from his worries, as I showed a rather uninteresting sight. Humans tend to operate on their first impressions as it is a defense mechanism they developed.

'This will work to my advantage.'

Allowing the misconception to linger will create an underestimation that would be advantageous in the long run since the first impression Adrian held for me is now getting control of his own thoughts.

"Why did you do it like that?"

Just as I had returned to my own location, there I had seen the same girl with the mask standing there.

"Like what?"

"You…." Lilia was seemingly displeased at my performance, and I could see she herself was doubting her own assessment. "You could have done better."

"Yeah, I know."

"Then why?"

"I don't know. For some reason, when I was shooting, my arrows didn't move as I thought."

"...That…." Lilia understood the meaning behind my words. Well, that was to be expected since she was well aware of how Adrian had rigged the competition.

"This bastard…." She glared at Adrian with an infuriated gaze. Surprisingly, she had this weird side when she couldn't stand the injustice.

She was truly a weird girl who constantly contradicted herself. Sometimes cold and businesslike individual and sometimes a follower of justice.

Not that I could say anything about that, as I was not that different. It wasn't like I was a person who always pursued justice anyway.

"He's been pulling off these kinds of things lately. Especially if he can't find any useful talent, he pulls this kind of trickery to lower the ones who can compete against him in the future."

Lilia voiced her thoughts, seeing what he was doing right away. In the game, she was aware of that as well.

"But this is the first time I had seen someone do this kind of thing for such a small test. Why would he?" I asked, wanting to see her reaction."

"Well, he is probably expecting a lot from these tests. After all, he would want to find the gems that weren't that noticeable until now. These people will be his hidden trumps in the future, especially in the league where the rules don't limit anything."

The league she mentioned was a different type of field where Awakeners competed against each other for fights.

It was like the UFC on Earth, but with the mana and traits involved, each category had its own weapon.

"Leagues, huh?"

"Indeed."

"I see." I nodded my head, looking at her reaction. "But that doesn't mean you have to lower others for it."

"No, that's where you are wrong. The political and influential world isn't that clean. After all, there are people who value their ego and reputation more than anything."

She seemed rather calm when talking about that.

'Well, she is well integrated in the high society.'

In the future, she would be manipulating many people to gain control, and essentially, she became no different than them.

"…..You have a point, but isn't this overdoing it?"

"….Even you know he can do whatever it takes to get what he wants, even if he has to lower you."