Everything that was happening was the first time Alex had ever experienced Cassien's backstory.
Back in the novel, the author brushed it off, claiming it would tie into an important 'plot point' later, which is what he told the readers.
But deep down, Alex always believed the author had simply forgotten or couldn't come up with anything meaningful, which was why he never brought it up again.
…
Cassien continued forward through the elegantly designed children's school, one clearly meant for royals.
To the side of the front doors was a window, which he studied carefully.
It only stretched between the second and third floors.
He looked up, spotting one of those bandits, then crouched down, steadying his breath.
He pulled out his weapon again, closing his right eye as he focused his aim.
"Come on, come on."
He tightened his grip on the pistol.
There didn't seem to be any barrier surrounding them, and they still hadn't noticed that he had already killed both bandits outside.
Then, he didn't wait any longer.
Once the magical circle formed, Cassien fired. Boom!
The mana-infused bullet pierced through the window and struck the bandit in the head on the second floor.
One of them rushed toward the window, not even bothering to check on his partner, scanning the area to see who had fired.
But he found nothing…
Because Cassien had already slipped inside after picking the front lock with a toothpick he had stored in his pocket.
The stairs were to his right, and as he moved upward, he heard raised voices.
The atrium was too far below for him to see anything, but the second floor was only a few steps away.
"Number 101 is down!"
"Do we call back-up from the third floor?"
"Only one. Leave the other upstairs. We need to maintain at least one on each floor at all times."
"Got it!"
Among the remaining initiates, one voice stood out as calm and organized, clearly the planner.
Cassien continued up the stairs, careful not to make a sound.
They were spread out along a single hallway.
Lockers lined both sides, and every room was empty. Clearly, everyone had already been forced into the atrium as hostages until they received their gold.
On the staircase, Cassien spotted one of the bandits rushing down from the third floor.
He racked the slide, barely needing to aim, and fired.
Boom!
A clean headshot.
Just like that, only three initiates remained.
"I heard a shot from over there!"
"Don't just run in blindly, idiot!"
Cassien smirked, then crouched low, waiting for the overeager fool rushing forward.
He didn't hesitate.
The moment the bandit appeared, he fired.
Boom! Boom!
The leader snapped his head to the side as two bodies crumpled together. "Damn it! Circle around, call for back-up on the second floor! We need one of the trainees here now!"
"Got it!"
Cassien rushed forward. The bandit in front of him held a sharp sword infused with elemental magic.
Grass, just as the man had said earlier.
Boom! Boom!
Cassien fired several more shots, but leaves intercepted them, barely holding.
It wasn't enough, since Cassien's stats far surpassed those of the bandit trying to defend himself.
Nice, they cut through.
Boom!
Cassien fired again, confirming that the leader of the initiates had finally fallen.
The last one on this floor turned in anger and charged at Cassien.
"Do you have a death wish or something?"
Boom!
At point-blank range, the final one dropped.
Cassien blew the smoke from the tip of his pistol, then walked forward.
Just like that, only one initiate remained. Cassien spotted him in the distance, rushing to head downstairs and call for reinforcements.
But that was exactly what he didn't want.
Some people really don't understand how far this pistol can shoot.
Cassien narrowed his eyes. "Thirty meters. That's all."
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[Skill Unlocked!]
└ [Sniper Lv. 1]
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"Perfect."
He steadied his aim just as the bandit was about to step down and shout.
Click!
"Boss!"
The moment he cried out for help, his heart was pierced instantly.
Cassien counted them off. Every single one of them was dead.
The only one left on this floor now was Cassien Artfold, the royal heir of the Artfold family.
Supposed to be a third-degree noble, yet destined to be exiled from Nosguard Academy.
Cassien exhaled, then began walking down slowly.
The descent felt heavy, the weight of the bodies he had killed pressing on him.
And he was the only one left to think about what he had done.
But to him, none of it mattered.
He had only one goal. He was not the hero.
If the protagonist wanted to chase him after this because he would not call it justice, then so be it.
Not a single criminal in this building mattered to him.
Not one of them, except for his sister.
As Cassien stepped onto the first floor, he saw the doors just ahead.
The ones that would lead him to the atrium.
Teachers and young children remained crouched, bound in rope, while the two trainees watched them, and their boss approached an attractive teacher.
Cassien already knew what he was about to do.
The boss, who was said to be an Adept, did not hesitate to run his hands through her light hair.
Cassien narrowed his eyes, aiming through a small crack in the window at the boss.
He only needed one shot, and it would all be over.
'Just this shot…'
But Adepts were far stronger than that.
Much, much stronger.
Their boss was not going down that easily.
Still, it was worth a try.
Boom!