Chapter 46: Use a Pig to Defeat a Pig

Reading Settings

Translator: Xre

---

The art room fell into dead silence.

The art club members were too terrified to utter a sound.

Arata was foaming at the mouth and had fainted.

Mashiro-senpai was trembling on my back.

Most people were unable to make a sound, but there was one exception— The pig.

“KILL HER!! KILL THAT UGLY B***HHHHHHHH!! AAARGH I'M SOOOOOO PISSED OFF!! HOW DARE SHE TOUCH MY KAZU, HOW DARE SHE, HOW DARE SHEEEE!!! I'M SO MAD I'M GONNA EXPLODE, LITERAL SCHOOL TRIP LEVEL RAGEEEEEEEE!!!”

She stomped wildly in a rage like a Cossack dancer. Quit dancing already—it's annoying.

Even her bodyguard, Rei Hikami, was signaling her to step back, but she wouldn't listen. At this rate, she might actually try to strangle Mashiro-senpai with her own hands.

Well, more importantly than that pig—

I had to deal with the four mercenaries aiming guns at me.

On top of that, a sniper across in the opposite building was likely pointing a rifle at me as well.

Five guns vs. one person.

Ordinarily, I'd have no chance. If it were just me, I'd already be waving the white flag and surrendering.

But this time, I had someone I needed to protect.

I'll use every trick in the book to get through this.

“Hey. You over there.”

I spoke to the tallest guy.

“Don't play dumb. You're the leader, aren't you?”

The blue eyes visible through his balaclava blinked slightly—like he was wondering how I figured it out.

That click of the tongue earlier came from him. I'd been bluffing when I made that guess, but it seems I hit the mark. Luck's on my side.

“Do you know why that sniper missed earlier?”

“……”

The man silently kept his gun trained on me. His aim was steady—pointed squarely at my feet. If I made a suspicious move, he'd shoot.

“The answer is simple. I knew your formation ahead of time. That sniper? He's actually my mole.”

I saw the corner of his mouth twitch.

It was the kind of face that said, “This kid's full of crap.” They were probably briefed on their target—me—but I look so much like your average introverted loser, it's no wonder they lowered their guard.

And that's exactly what I was counting on.

I made a dash.

I ran to where Kouji Arata was lying unconscious and picked up a drawing that had fallen nearby.

It was a pig drawing.

To me, it was an ugly doodle— But to them?

The work of the daughter of the Takayashiki family. A top-tier voice actress at the height of her fame. The reigning power of this academy.

I held it up in front of the four of them like a holy seal.

For a moment, I saw them flinch.

Impressive loyalty.

Looks like the Takayashiki family's influence extends even to rogue mercenaries. Ridiculous as that is, I'll be thankful for it—just for today.

While they were shaken, I made my move.

I leapt— Jumped high enough to cut the line of sight between Mashiro-senpai and the mercs. A split second before they could fire, I was already mid-air.

That jump wasn't just to dodge their gunfire— It was my attack.

Flying kick!!

“Ghh!!”

I nailed the first one.

I used his gut as a springboard to leap again, kicking the second. Then another boost— And the third!!

“Gah!”

“Ugh!?”

Choked cries spilled from the mercs' mouths.

I'd taken out three of them mid-air in an instant, but now came the real problem.

The last one— The blue-eyed guy—was calmly aiming his gun. He wasn't panicking, just waiting. Waiting for the moment I landed—when I'd be most vulnerable—to fire.

And then—more killing intent, from outside!

The sniper in the prep room had locked onto me. I couldn't see him, but I could feel it. The tingling at the back of my neck— That unmistakable sense that my life was being targeted.

They no longer cared about the pig's orders. They were planning to shoot me dead—along with Mashiro-senpai and the pig painting.

If they'd used this strategy from the start, I wouldn't have survived.

But now— It's too late.

Too late.

“――――Hmmm!?”

The blue eyes, once confident in victory, now widened in shock.

He was stunned by what he saw.

In my left hand: the pig painting, raised like a shield. In my right hand— A long staff.

Not just any staff.

A concealed blade.

I drew the white wooden sheath, revealing a blade of gleaming silver.

Its name—“Koro” (Lone Wolf).

My beloved sword.

I had tied it to the ceiling of the art room ahead of time.

The jump I made wasn't just to take down three men—it was to retrieve this.

Before you can pull the trigger— I'll strike with my partner, faster!!

“Ugh!?”

I sliced the barrel of his Glock 19 clean in half. A perfect cut—neat as a cross-section. Now it couldn't even shoot a candy pellet.

Next up—outside.

Same shooting angle as before. It's already burned into my mind. The target was my leg. Then the bullet's trajectory should be—here.

I won't cut it— I'll deflect it.

I imagine the bullet's path like the flow of a river— And gently insert my blade, like dipping an oar into the stream.

The ultimate anti-gun technique: “Bullet Deflection.”

Bullets fired at high speed are actually quite delicate. Even a slight nudge can alter their trajectory.

That's why I don't strike forcefully— I caress it.

The rifle round, gently guided by my blade, flew past me— And struck a portrait of a famous painter hanging on the back wall.

Simultaneously, I launched a counterattack.

I threw the sheath like a javelin— Through the hole made by the sniper's shot, straight into the prep room across the way.

It struck the man in the forehead. I heard his scream from here.

I disarmed the four men just to be safe—taking their guns.

And finally— I turned and smiled at Mashiro-senpai.

“You're safe now, senpai.”

“Safe!? SAFE!? What part of this is safe!?!?!?!?!?”

……

Yeah, she looked completely shocked.

More like, horrified.

The other club members were the same—mouths agape, staring at me like I was some kind of inhuman monster.

…Well, I can't blame them.

We were supposed to be having an art contest or something, and it suddenly turned into a full-on gunfight.

But I guess they'll just have to chalk it up to standard pig-level insanity.

“Y-Y-Y-You… Wha… what the hell are you!?”

At some point, Kouji Arata had regained consciousness.

He couldn't stand—his legs had given out. He just sat there, his pale face trembling.

“W-What the hell are you!? What are you!? Aren't you just some lame nobody!?”

Hmm.

If you're going to ask me that, I'll answer.

Let me at least sound cool for the ending.

“I am the Outcast. The Brandless.” The one man who stands apart from the very laws of this academy