I was Reincarnated as the Youngest Child of a Villainous Noble Family Who Controls the Kingdom from Behind the Scenes

Taking advantage of the long holiday, I,Alphiss , and Lushiel came to the Jimul Mountains, where the demon sword Disbareid was said to be located.

Whenever we have time, we train in nature like this.

Training against humans is good, but that alone only improves combat skills.

Strength is the power to survive.

It's not always about one-on-one battles like in school duels.

In reality, surprise attacks are common, and no one gives you time to prepare.

"Alphiss-sama, isn't it cruel to ban flying?"

"You have a habit of flying up to escape when in trouble. Skilled opponents would see that coming."

Lushiel grumbles while walking with a tree branch as a staff.

How cliché.

"But if I fly, unless they have ranged weapons, they can't target me, right?"

"Do you plan to live flying all the time? What if you're targeted while on the ground?"

"Then I'll fly away!"

"Any opponent worth their salt won't give you that chance. A single arrow from afar, and it's over."

I deliberately provoke Lushiel, who pouts.

Her current mentality is the same as if she was a mid-boss defeated in the story.

Before the fight, she acts all high and mighty, but after losing, she makes excuses and flees.

With that attitude, she's far from being the strongest hidden boss.

Come to think of it, how did Lushiel in the game become so strong?

I didn't think about it before reincarnating, but neither the game nor the setting materials explain it.

The monster encyclopedia just joked, "She trained really hard."

"Haah... haah... I can't move a finger anymore! Impossible, impossible, Tsumuri!"

"Fine, let's take a break."

"As expected of Alphiss -sama! Let me wipe your sweat!"

"You seem to have plenty of energy left."

Seizing the opportunity, Rucelle wipes my face with a cloth.

Although I said I'd train her, I don't intend to be a harsh instructor.

That kind of training is meaningless.

What's important here is learning to fight in nature.

In this natural environment, monsters could attack at any moment, so constant vigilance is necessary.

Be sensitive to all directions, signs, sounds, smells, droppings, and animal trails. If you're not, you'll be the one getting hurt.

Being constantly exposed to life-threatening danger sharpens your senses and instincts.

Combat isn't just about technique.

Anticipating the enemy's movements and predicting their actions is crucial.

To develop that sensitivity, survival skills are key.

Monsters, living constantly in nature, have this developed more than humans.

They flee from dangerous foes and even read movements.

That Emperor Worm was so strong probably because of this.

Looking back, it seemed to predict my moves.

For something that big to land so many hits was terrifying.

"Um, Alphiss -sama, I checked our items, and it seems we're short on sleeping gear."

"We're camping out. Use a tree root as a pillow."

"Ehhh!? Sleeping in weird positions will hurt my neck! Eight years ago, we brought all sorts of things!"

"Back then, without preparation, we'd have died. And stop shouting. You'll attract unwanted attention."

Lushiel's noise has already alerted something.

From the bushes come four Blood Mantises.

Eight years ago, even one would have been too much for us.

"Ahhh! Can we handle these on our own!?"

"If we can't, it's over."

Their scythes can cut through armor and humans alike.

Once they close the distance, it's over in an instant.@@novelbin@@

"These things are inedible. The only thing you gain from them is experience."

I reinforce my legs with magic and step in.

In an instant, I close the distance, slashing through the Blood Mantis's torso.

"Close combat is suicidal, but getting too close is effective. At this range, their scythes can't reach, right?"

They say a mantis's scythes are to prevent prey from escaping, but this one seems different.

With one down, the remaining Blood Mantises attack me.

But I immediately close the distance to another, beheading it at point-blank range.

I adjust my position to stay out of the other two's range.

"Sacred Star!"

Rucelle's arrow pierces through the two remaining Blood Mantises as a beam of light.

The arrow is so fast that only a streak of light remains.

This invisible arrow, capable of attacking multiple targets simultaneously, gave Retisia and others a hard time during the hidden boss fight.

Since it's undefendable and unavoidable, it deals damage ignoring defense.

Seeing the Blood Mantises fall, Rucelle grins.

"Ahahaha! They're nothing special! Losers!"

"You're strong against weak opponents, huh?"

"Alphiss -sama! How was that? I'm strong, right?"

"Strong, strong."

"Ehehehe!"

Since she's gotten stronger, I should at least pat her head.

Though, her processing speed might be faster than mine.

Well, her initial movements before attacking have openings, so it wouldn't work on me.

"You seem quite enthusiastic. Do you have time for mountain play?"

"Hiyori, this is training for the guard selection exam."

Hiyori materializes, rising like smoke.

For her, this is also mountain play.

That's her assessment of us now, so we should take it seriously.

"Guard selection?"

"We're selecting students to guard visiting royals and nobles during the school trip ."

"From students? You wouldn't be so eager for that. The worm from the other day was more to my liking. That was more enjoyable."

Hiyori, though pleased, deliberately yawns.

I get her point, though.

"Why do you think that? Guard duty is much harder than regular combat. Fighting while protecting someone is a rare experience."

"The selection exam is just against those brats, right? No, no! At least let me enjoy slashing something like that worm!"

"No, no, we're not directly fighting them. The exam is quite unique."

"Oh?"

Hiyori tilts her head, fluttering her kimono hem.

Lushiel is glaring at her from a kissing distance, which is quite distracting.

"It's a guard selection exam. Regular combat wouldn't make sense. And..."

"And?"

I decide not to continue.

This world might not follow the game's script .

My becoming Alphiss could trigger irregular events.

In other words, an Alphiss route that didn't exist in the game.

Similar to unlocking an enemy character's story through a cheat.

The problem is, I've never played that in the game.

I never had the chance to control Alphiss as an enemy character.

That's what makes it interesting. What will happen from here on out?

"Well, don't underestimate the students. Some decent ones might show up."

"Really?"

"Just a hunch."

Hiyori tilts her head skeptically again.

Lushiel 's head tilts in sync, and I'm about to laugh, so please stop.