I’m Just an Ordinary Academy Student

41 – The Sniper’s Master Who Can’t Shoot a Gun

Fiancée? Me? So, I’m Karl’s wife?

Oh my. Oh my! How desirable is that! Ah, no! Such embarrassing words!

“E-eh?”

“Lav?”

“Hehe. Judging by your reactions, it seems to be accurate!”

No! Fiancée! You shouldn’t say such things! Only now did I get a little closer to Karl?!

If he feels uncomfortable and inadvertently pushes me away even more, what should I do!

I have to stop this. It’s not that kind of relationship; I need to make it clear.

Even if it might become that way someday, it’s not now. That’s the way it has to be…

“Lavrenti?”

“Just call me Lav for short!”

“So, Lav. I’m truly delighted to meet you.”

“Yes! Nice to meet you! Oh, feel free to speak comfortably!”

“Oh, no. Can I really? You’re such an esteemed person.”

Right. An esteemed person. Someone addressing me so formally… Hm. No, that’s not it.

Exactly. Yes! A medal! I received a medal, so I should uphold proper etiquette!

That’s right! So, I act with manners. Not because of the esteemed title!

“Lav.”

“Yes, Master.”

“We’re not on those terms. Apologize to Selena quickly.”

What?! It’s not like that, but is it really necessary to apologize?!

“Huh? Is it not?”

“No. I embarrassed Selena a long time ago because of that.”

Of course, it was embarrassing! But now it’s no big deal! Not embarrassing at all!

I even wish it were a bit embarrassing! So, Lav, you’re just—

“Well, fortunately… No. I’m sorry, Selena. I made a mistake.”

“…No, Lav. It’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Right. If there’s a mistake, it’s mine. And the sword. And me. It’s the two of us.

I suppressed a sigh that wanted to escape. It seemed like there was still a long way to go.

…But, was there something before the apology just now? Maybe it was a misunderstanding?

*

It could have been a disaster. Our barely recovered relationship almost fell apart again.

Selena’s mental state was on the verge of shattering after the public confession incident.

And I, getting scolded severely, had my mental state shattered into molecular units once again.

I’d rather not recall that time, and I’d rather nothing be entangled with it.

Thanks to that, I went through military service, faced all sorts of challenges.

Selena must have had her share of difficult and guilt-ridden times as well.

“Let’s sit for now. I have quite a few questions to ask, and it’s hard to do it while standing.”

“Yes, Master.”

First, I inquire about why he insists on addressing me as “Master.” Unconditionally.

“Congratulations on your discharge. When did you get out?”

“A few days ago. The ink on my discharge certificate probably hasn’t even dried yet.”

“I haven’t been out for more than a few months.”

Then, suddenly, the Silver Medal on Rave’s chest catches my eye.

Both Selena and I were curious about that, to be honest.

“If you received a medal, they probably wanted to plant you as a flagpole in the military.”

“Oh, this? My master was right. On the day of discharge, even when I was reporting, they kept asking if I had any intention of staying.”

“…And you put up with that?”

“Huh? Uh, should I have gotten mad?”

If it were me, I wouldn’t just get angry; I would have split the guy who said that in half with my head.

It’s not just any other day; it’s the day of discharge, and it’s overstepping the line to ask such a thing while reporting.

Just letting that guy live and sending him home on the day of discharge is already an act worthy of Jesus and Buddha saying, ‘You did well.’

“Did Rave save people like a sword?”

At this moment, Selena, who was quietly listening, subtly asks about the medal.

Maybe even Rave? Is that why he’s talking to me about the master?

If that’s really the case, I can understand it well enough. If he gained inspiration from me and did that—

“No, Selena. It’s not like that. I haven’t saved hundreds of lives like my master. I’ve only killed to survive, like other soldiers.”

Killing enemies on the battlefield is a natural act. It’s an action that won’t earn you any criticism.

But receiving a medal means it’s not just an ordinary level of killing.

“Well, actually, I was a sniper.”

“…What?”

You were calling me your master. You said you were my disciple. And now suddenly, you’re a sniper.

“A sniper?”

“Yes. Gnolls… Ah! I mean, when I say gnolls, I mean the ones here.”

“I know. Tough elf. Anti-magic. Lusence.”

“Oh! You know?”

“Thanks to someone.”

Hmm. Of course, I should know. If someone is close to me, they should be called gnolls rather than elves.

My small wish is to ensure that no one calls those Lusence guys elves in the future.

“So, Rave? What about the gnolls?”

“I was dubbed ‘White Feather’ by those guys.”

“…Wait a moment. What did you say?”

White feathers? Official sniping record of just 93, but unofficially, it could easily be around The insane sharpshooter who once sniped without a scope, could that really be Lave?

“White… feathers?”

“Oh, you don’t know. Hehehe… Well, it’s not like he achieved anything as remarkable as our master. I feel embarrassed just mentioning it. I probably shouldn’t have said anything!”

No. Absolutely not. If anything, you might be more famous than me. In the world.

When listing the most reliable figures on the battlefield, the sniper inevitably comes up, especially the sharpshooter known as White Feathers.

Even though it was a story from a front line far from ours, it was impressive enough to make people murmur in admiration.

“Wow. Truly envy-inducing. Some hit enemies with just one shot, and some hit allies with just one shot.”

“Corporal Kal, is it not possible to switch with White Feathers?”

Now thinking about it, it’s really absurd. I received a lot of teasing for my mediocre marksmanship.

When talking about the best sniper, the top sharpshooter, White Feathers, always comes up as my master!

“No, wait. Just a moment.”

I can’t delay it any longer. I can’t wait. I have to ask.

Why am I the master? Why do you call Lave your disciple?

“Are you really White Feathers? The one they call the best sharpshooter?”

“W-Well, embarrassingly, yes. Master.”

“But why are you my disciple? Why am I your master?”

*

People join the Imperial Army for various reasons.

Some to prove themselves, some to cultivate courage, and some simply get pushed into it.

In that regard, if I had to choose, I could say I belong to the third category.

“Your reason for enlistment is quite shocking, Miss Lavrenti. To shorten your tongue, of all things.”

I still remember the female officer in charge of female enlistment shaking her head in disbelief.

But what could I do? I have nearly six younger siblings under me.

My parents were undoubtedly good people. They raised me and my siblings with all their might.

They poured out their love and worked day and night to ensure we didn’t go hungry.

I loved those parents. And my siblings loved them too.

So, I left home and enlisted in the army.

For the sake of family. Simultaneously alleviating the burden, intending to share it upon discharge.

“Do you know what kind of people you were outside? What you did? The instructor here doesn’t want to know anything about it! I’m not curious, and I don’t need to know! Do you know why?!”

“I don’t know!”

“Because you are not ‘people’ anymore! From now on, you are soldiers! Imperial Army soldiers are all the same inside, no matter what you were outside!!”

The training was harsh. Those who couldn’t adapt properly were all subjected to disciplinary measures.

I, too, felt the desire to quit several times. I cried because I missed my parents and siblings.

But I couldn’t. I had a family to take care of.

As the eldest daughter, I had a duty to relieve the burden on both of my parents.

…Never in my dreams did I think I would end up on the battlefield.

“Private Labrenti. You are transferred from duty support to a rifleman position.”

Was it because my marksmanship was somewhat good during training? That’s why I became a rifleman.

At first, I thought it was fortunate. At least I wouldn’t have to fight elves with a sword.

But soon, I couldn’t hold onto that thought.

“Treat the gun more preciously than your own life!”

“If you miss, be prepared! Do you know how expensive gunpowder is?!”

The leaders in firearms and gunpowder weren’t from our empire…? And yet, they insisted on this…?

I thought it was as simple as just shooting. But it wasn’t. I had to hit for the sake of the people of the empire.

No, wait… that’s easier said than done. How difficult could it be to hit with this?

Of course, I wanted to shoot well. Thinking about the taxes my parents paid for these bullets.

And finally, the battlefield we encountered… was hell. It was a nightmare itself that I never wanted to recall.

“Aaargh!”

“My arm! My arm!!”

“Get him to the rear! Quickly!”

As days passed, the front lines became chaotic. Something that used to be human was turning into something beast-like.

Luckily, I could barely endure it because I had those who had been with me until now by my side.

One day, we received orders to move to a place far from our current front lines.

At first, I thought it was a retreat to the rear, but I found out it was a reserve unit for a counterattack.

And there, by chance, I met him.

“You’re truly the best at shooting, really. With a rifle.”

“Excuse me, squad leader.”

A man practicing alone with a gun while everyone else is resting.

At first, it was curiosity. I wondered why he was doing that and approached.

During a brief encounter, I heard stories about shooting from him.

“Look. Don’t pull it right away, calm your breath first…”

“Breathe properly. Don’t close your eyes. The muzzle must always be forward.”

“The posture is important too. Find a place to support like this. If not…”

“Reincarnation… No, wait. Someone I know said they crawled 1500m and shot a gun.”

“You’re good. In my opinion, you could really be a sharpshooter.”

A meeting not too long, but above all, intense.

I had always felt obligated to do what must be done.

But he raised me up not with a sense of obligation but with words that I could do well.

It was the first time someone genuinely and brightly praised me.

“So, it’s even more fortunate. Master. You said there’s no relationship with that girl.”

If there was any connection, I would have conversed with a gun… Oh, no. I must be crazy.

*

“….”

That’s the reason Lavrenti calls me a master.

But as far as I remember, I didn’t even land a blow next to Lavrenti?