Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Chapter 40

The light knocking sound from outside the door diminished her concentration.

"Come in."

"Excuse me. Prospective Hunter Pierre. I came at the Master’s call."

The man who appeared after opening the door.

He was still a prospective Hunter under sponsorship, but his recruitment into the Goblin Guild was almost certain.

As such, he called Layla "Master."

"Welcome. Prospective Hunter Pierre. How is your physical condition?"

At Layla’s question, Pierre, wearing a traditional hat and clothing with a mix of blue and white, bowed his head.

"As you can see, I am healthy. I can fight Monsters or Villains right now without any problems. What about the student named Neo Haias?"

At Pierre’s question, Layla wore a puzzled expression.

"Nothing has been revealed yet. But at least the match should be fair, shouldn’t it? Student Neo Haias doesn’t know your abilities either."

"I don’t mind. Would I lose to a student? I may be an unorthodox individual who didn’t even graduate from the Hunter Academy... but am I not a talent recognized by the Master? Of course, I won’t be careless. I will do my best to eliminate him. Just like I would against a Monster or a Villain."

At his determination, Layla nodded.

"But it’s different if the Master wants something. How would you like me to fight? Master. Should I subdue him with skill and make him a humble student? Or should I match the student’s level to draw out all of his abilities? The Master’s eyes are asking that."

"Is that so? Hmm... I’m planning to have a best-of-three match. So, first, end it with overwhelming power. Then, slowly... draw out Student Neo Haias’s abilities and potential as much as possible."

It was Layla’s order and request.

That meant she was highly evaluating Neo Haias, even though he was a first-year student.

She didn’t know what abilities he had or how strong he was, but Pierre was determined to carry out her words to the best of his ability.

"As you command, Master."

***

A huge gymnasium.

A space with a wide circle drawn in the center, like a wrestling ring.

And in the stands, numerous Hunters from the Goblin Guild had taken their seats.

There was one piece of advice that was common to Hunters from the lowest to the highest ranks.

That was to carefully observe the fights of other Hunters and internalize them.

Due to the nature of Hunters, who never knew when or where they would fight which enemy, a large number of combat experiences and watching combat were very helpful in actual combat.

In particular, the battles of prospective Hunters who were called geniuses or talented had a high possibility of providing unexpected inspiration and ideas.

Besides, it was a fight between a prospective Hunter sponsored by the Goblin Guild and Neo Haias, a guest personally brought by Layla?

It was naturally news that could be anticipated.

"A match between the Guild Master’s guest and our prospective youngest member...! Sounds good?"

"He’s a first-year student at the Hunter Academy, but he’s already been invited... I want to see what kind of talent he is and what his skills are like!"

"Our sponsored prospective Hunter, the Guild Master’s invited guest... who do you think will win?"

"Let’s make a bet!"

The Guild members spent their time betting like innocent children, predicting who would win, or what abilities Neo Haias might have.

"Oh... Waaaaaaaah!"

Then someone shouted.

They had discovered Neo Haias and Pierre, who had appeared without any warning, and Layla, the Guild Master who had come out with them, first.

The match was finally about to begin.

Guild Master Layla, who had a free-spirited personality and didn’t get involved in ordinary matters.

But the Guild members’ expectations rose even higher when she appeared in person to act as the referee.

Amidst the Guild members’ expectations, Neo Haias stood on the left, Pierre on the right, and Layla in the center.

"Everyone has come to watch the battle between a talented prospective Hunter and an Academy student despite their busy schedules. Excellent. But even if they are Hunters or students lower than you, there are things to learn. So, watch carefully and try to make this indirect experience your own."

Layla, who amplified her voice with her abilities despite not having a microphone, shouted in a calm voice.

"Yes! Master!"

The atmosphere was relatively free, but the Guild members, who knew Layla’s powerful strength, gave a loud answer like well-disciplined privates.

Everyone was ready to watch the match.

Layla looked at Pierre and Neo Haias and continued.

"The match will be a best-of-three. I will create a barrier that forms a virtual space so that the two of you don’t get hurt. There will be no chance of real physical injury, so I hope you will reveal all your abilities and fight to your heart’s content. You will lose if your given HP gauge is completely depleted or if you surrender. Do you understand?"

"Yes. I understand, Master."

"Understood."

After Pierre and Neo Haias listened, Layla immediately moved away from the floor that would become the arena.

As Layla moved away, a dome-shaped barrier as transparent as glass covered the arena with a low humming sound.

This was a scene that Neo Haias had seen often at the Academy, so he calmly watched the scene.

"Please take care of me. Since you are a guest personally invited by the Guild Master, I will do my best."

Pierre said, offering a handshake first.

"Yes. I should be the one saying, please take care of me."

Neo Haias shook his hand and bowed his head slightly.

Neo carefully looked at Pierre, but there was no malice or fighting spirit in his expression or eyes.

He was just wearing a slightly smiling expression, like a normal business relationship.

The simple greetings ended and the barrier was immediately completed.

At the same time, blue HP gauges appeared above Pierre and Neo Haias’s heads.

Just like characters in a fighting game.

"Both players, please step back and stand in the marked positions."

At the words of Layla, who volunteered to be the referee, the two obediently stepped away and stood on the brightly lit spots.

"You can start the match as soon as the countdown is over."

As soon as she finished speaking, a large number appeared inside the arena, in a position where both players could see it well.

As the 10-second countdown began, the two players immediately began to gather Mana, without either one taking the lead.

’First, subdue him with overwhelming power.’

Pierre looked at Neo Haias, who was manifesting Mana far away, and thought about the list of Skills he could use.

The second fight was to see Neo Haias’s abilities, so he had to fight moderately.

So, it didn’t matter if he consumed a lot of Mana in the first fight.

When the countdown was over, he would crush Neo Haias by pressing down on him with a talisman that suppressed the enemy.

No, he would overwhelm Neo Haias by flying talismans from all directions so that he couldn’t avoid them in the first place.

He wouldn’t really die, but if he experienced being crushed to death, he would fight to the death from then on.

Thinking so, Pierre looked at the countdown, which now had 3 seconds left.

He was already ready to create the talismans. He would put it into action as soon as the countdown was over.

The moment the countdown ended.

Pierre used more than half of his Mana to create the talismans.

’Huh? What’s wrong with my body?’

He creates and flies the talismans.

It was an action he had done countless times, so he was confident, but now his body wasn’t listening to him.

Pierre, who knelt down on the spot and dropped his head against his will, checked the dagger embedded in his chest.

’What? When... when did he attack?’

With that, Pierre’s consciousness was cut off abruptly.

He was defeated in an instant.