The Villain's Ending is Only Death Chapter 55
When I arrived at the training ground, the atmosphere was bustling, as if the knights' sword training had just ended.
Fortunately, there was no archery training, as the target area far from the sparring ground was completely empty.
I walked around the gathered knights and trudged over to that side.
Although cutting across would have been faster, I had just met with the duke not long ago.
For the time being, it was better to avoid causing any more trouble and to stay low.
Finally, standing in front of the target, I loaded an arrow into the crossbow and pulled the string onto the hook.
Then, I took a stance while turning the crank (loading mechanism).
I trusted the owner of this body, who had used a crossbow for a year.
"…Why is this happening?"
However, even to me, the tip of the bow aimed at the target seemed unstable.
It felt light when I just held it, but when I tried to aim it at something, it felt heavier than expected, and my arm trembled.
"Actually, you haven't shot this before, have you?"
Unable to bear it, I lowered my arm again and complained.
I managed to load it, but I had no idea how to hold and shoot it.
Shaking my aching wrist, I took a deep breath and lifted the crossbow again.
This time, I intended to shoot quickly before my arm started trembling again...
"You can't aim like that."
Suddenly, I felt warmth behind me.
Click—At the same time, the trembling crossbow in the air was easily supported by an outstretched hand.
Startled, I tried to turn around.
But my movement was thwarted by the solid body behind me.
Only then did I realize I was completely trapped in someone else's arms.
"Shh. You need to look forward, Master."
As I fidgeted in his embrace, Eclis whispered softly in my ear.
"The prey will all run away."
I stopped moving at his words. My back was pressed firmly against Eclis's chest.
For some reason, my mouth felt dry, and I swallowed hard.
"Let go with your left hand, and with your right hand, grip the trigger and pull it close to your chest."
He moved his right hand, which was supporting the crossbow, to overlap with mine.
The back of my hand was instantly covered with a hot sensation.
But more than that, his breath on my neck was more distracting.
"Support the tiller with your left hand. Now, look at the target."
This time, his left hand gently guided mine.
With his help, my stance became much more stable.
I heard a light laugh near my ear.
Just as the red dot on the target seemed to blur.
Pew—The trigger was pulled.
When I came to my senses, the arrow was embedded in the center of the target.
The warmth that had overlapped with mine gently brushed my hand.
The firm arms that had trapped me let go.
In the next moment, Eclis, who had been pressed against my back, neatly stepped aside.
But my hand still felt stifled and hot, as if something was covering it.
I slowly lowered the crossbow I was holding.
By the time I lifted my face to him, the inexplicable tickling sensation had disappeared.
Eclis looked at me with a strange expression and asked.
"How long have you been here?"
"You didn't come to find me."
His tone seemed to be complaining about why he hadn't been sought out.
His wax-like expressionless face made me smile a little.
"I was already annoying enough. If I called you during training, it wouldn't be good."
"Of course. I'm always worried about you."
At that moment, the corners of his lips twitched slightly. And then.
The rising goodwill made me feel quite good.
I could feel my smile deepening.
"You're starting to look like a proper knight. Do you like the new training clothes?"
Clearly, they were worth the money, as the previously shabby Eclis now looked noble.
He nodded slightly in response to my question.
Muttering casually, I turned my head away from him.
Even if he didn't like them, it wasn't my concern. I had done enough.
I lifted the crossbow again. This time, I took the stance he had shown me.
It was much more stable than when I did it on my own, but it was still difficult to aim accurately.
Perhaps because I was using muscles I rarely used, my arm started trembling again soon.
Even though I was struggling, he didn't seem to notice and just stared at me blankly before asking.
"…Is it because of the hunting competition?"
Unable to hold on, I finally lowered the crossbow and nodded.
And I panted lightly, muttering.
"I'll come in first and use the prize money to treat you well."
Of course, I had no intention of really coming in first. This was purely practice for my own survival.
But a small, deflating sound came from him.
I turned to look at him sharply.
Eclis still had a dry expression, but his gray eyes, directed at me, had a faint smile.
I was a bit taken aback, as I had never seen him laugh properly before.
When I asked sharply, he shook his head.
"Master, it's hard to shoot a crossbow well."
He looked down and mumbled something softly.
Not hearing it clearly, I asked, "Huh? What did you say?"
But I got a different answer.
"If you don't take the proper stance, it will be hard to withstand the recoil. You might strain your wrist and even crack a bone."
It was a somewhat tempting statement.
Then I wouldn't have to participate in that damned hunting competition.
Without realizing it, my true feelings slipped out. But when I saw Eclis's eyes widen, I quickly changed the subject.
"But how do you know so much about crossbows?"
I knew that at this point, Eclis hadn't formally learned martial arts.
But it was strange that he handled a bow quite skillfully.
He started to answer my question but paused. Then he corrected himself.
"…In my hometown, archery is a basic skill."
'So Eclis's homeland is Delman.'
I noted this information, which hadn't appeared in the game.
What was interesting was that he, who would later become a Sword Master, had learned archery before swordsmanship.
"Didn't you learn swordsmanship first?"
"That's good. Then you can help me take the proper stance to come in first."
He was silent for a moment. Then, after a long pause, he asked in a slightly hoarse voice.
I replied brightly, as if I didn't know anything. His head twitched. And then.
I smiled slyly at the significant increase in goodwill. Indeed, coming to the training ground was a hundred, a thousand times the right decision.
Eclis, who had hesitated for a moment, immediately came up behind me and stood close.
His arms enveloped me from both sides.
Just as the hand that reached out from behind overlapped with mine again and lifted the crossbow to aim, a sharp voice fell from the left.
Suddenly, my body was roughly turned.
It wasn't by my will, but by Eclis's movement.
Feeling someone else's presence, he almost reflexively turned and aimed the crossbow at the intruder, still holding me.
In the suddenly reversed view, I saw a black-haired man stiffly standing there.