Just when I think I’ve conquered my overconfidence, the second part of this [Hidden Quest] proves me wrong once again.

From that last battle against , I thought I knew what to expect in the next one. My opponent uses some high-level skills while limiting mine to one or two [Masteries] based on the theme, they try hitting me physically and mentally to throw off my focus, and I have to find some way to conquer them while finding the weakness of their strategy and defenses. With that one battle alone, I thought I knew everything from here.

Turns out I was too soon to judge and now, I'm running for my life, trying to outrun the arrows Acutus fired all around me.

"Dammit! This is downright cheating!" I scream while still running for my virtual life. "I know you're only testing me, but this is overkill! Try to test me more humanely!"

[If I do that, it wouldn't much be a test, would it?]

Damn, this archer is a sadist! Forget surviving! How can I escape while retaining my remaining sanity over this OP mob?! Even if I locate them with my [Eagle Eye] and [Sensitive Hearing], they will somehow revive and fire more arrows in the quadruple amount of hiding spots I could think of! What's worse is that I can't find any blind spot to hide and catch my breath. Even if I have my [Stealth] skill without the handicap, it will still drain my [SP] by hiding from Acutus for a long period of time. I need to rest and recollect my thoughts from all of this. I'm not going to be beaten by a hunter with a blabbermouth and I'm not going to die in a humiliating death again!

Think, Wind! What can I use from my limited skill set to avoid Acutus's onslaught? Again, my [Stealth] skill is disabled and there's nothing in my [Archery] to obscure their vision so I can escape. Magic is out of the question, too. And so does my [Physical Enhancement]. And my crafting [Masteries] are useless in battle, obviously.

Hang on... Crafting is useless, but what about items? First things first, I try mentally opening a window I need right now while dodging another arrow from my right. My UI is disabled for the battle so I can't see our stats. But when it comes to my [Inventory]...

> [NOTICE]

>

> [You are only allowed to use these items during the battle. Other items such as potions and food are disabled unless stated otherwise:

>

> [Smoke Bombs] (Limited to 3)

>

> [Paralysis Darts] (Limited to 3)

>

> [Skunk Bomb] (Limited to 5)]

I knew it. My UI is disabled except for two. One is a [Withdraw] button in case I need to retreat to restrategize and probably repeat the battle (which I doubt I can use thanks to that first loss from Veritates) and the [Inventory] screen. While there are a few limitations like my [Masteries] and skills, I'm glad they’re showing a bit of mercy when it comes to my safety. But I doubt they’ll admit that right to my face. Since [Skunk Bomb] will release a pungent odor that I might not survive one sniff from for half an hour, I decided to go with the classic [Smoke Bomb].

> [Smoke Bomb]

>

> [A simple harmless bomb that emits a thick smoke. Perfect for escapes. Any enemy in the targeted area will have their [Accuracy] halved by 50%. The affected area will remain for 2 minutes.

>

> Quality: 10]

I will be down to 2 if I use it. But I doubt that I have any other choice for this matter.

[Got you, kid...]

Oh, hell no, you don't. I smirk wherever Acutus is hiding and throw the bomb near my feet.

> [You have activated the [Smoke Bomb]. Your opponent will lose sight of you for 2 minutes until expiry.]

Two minutes are all I need to get the hell out of here. With my [Minor Speed Enhancement] disabled, I ran as hell to get away from Acutus's vision as I hear them coughing loudly.

[Seriously?! Why did they allow him to use [Smoke Bombs] while I don't?!]

Huh. Even a skilled archer and proctor has handicaps like me. Either way, this is my chance to run. Stopping will waste enough time for Acutus to find me. I find another hollow that is covered with leaves and I don't hesitate to jump in.

While I'm out of the woods, I'm not out of their sight yet. I have to use what little time my [Smoke Bomb] has to formulate a plan and pinpoint their weakness. There is no way they would die and revive that quickly. Mobs have their skill cooldowns and it's impossible for them to cut through it within a few seconds. I know they must have a [Unique Talent] like General Veritates, but the question is what kind is it?

If I recall, Veritates's [Unique Talent] is called [Stern Teaching]. I don't know much of the basics behind it, but one of his passive skills revolved around disabling my skills such as [Clash Block] when I was affected by his harsh, but honest words. It kinda fits with the whole stern mentor role he has with me. So what about Acutus? They sound condescending and they are also confident with their skills. Plus, they are not the type to show even a bit of mercy, unlike the general. They are mostly trolling me to death, literally. And there's a matter of their skill. They appear in one place, disappear when they seemingly die, and reappear again at a different area behind or where I least expected. It's like I'm fighting a lot of archers despite being one-on-one!

Hang on, it all makes sense! Thinking about it, that might explain everything. But how am I supposed to locate them? I don't have anything similar to Kazu's [Aura Perception] to locate them. Unless my [Eagle Eye] can do the opposite...

> [The smoke has dispersed.]

>

> The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Dammit?! Already?! I have to move before...

[Come out, come out, wherever you are, kid.]

Well, there's no point hiding here any longer. But I'm starting to realize the secrets behind Acutus's revival trick. Let's hope my theory is right.

TWANG!

I duck down as an arrow almost hits me by the temple and get out from the hollow to start the running game again. More arrows are fired toward me as I sidestep, roll, and jump away from them while taking a few of them on the shoulder and grazing through my arm.

[You can't run forever, kid! All that gets you is a death and a failure on your [Test of Courage].]

"Says a guy who hides like a coward!" Agitating my opponent is a risky move, but this is a requirement I need to confirm my suspicions. "You're all talk, but you never act at all."

[If that's your way to avoid being a hypocrite, then you're not doing a good job, kid!]

Good, keep talking. As for me...

"[Eagle Eye]."

While they're distracted for a few seconds, this gives me time to set up everything while stopping to recover some of my stamina. That so-called OP skill of theirs... There has to be a drawback to it other than exhausting their [MP] or [SP]. They can appear and disappear... Revive when killed... Can fire multiple arrows at a near-impossible speed even by game standards...

I can feel the arrows when they stab and graze me, so they are tangible. However, there are two possibilities to make it happen. The first is creating it by mana at the cost of [MP], but I don't know if they have anything to increase it. Plus, the [Magical Affinity Mastery] (Kazuki told me his [Masteries] during one talk before bed, BTW) would have been sealed during the battle, so that's not possible. However, there's the matter of them being an [Insignis]. I recall that they have a storyline bonus of sorts. What if players aren't the only ones who can use that [Racial Bonus]? They might buff up with what skill they have without worrying about their [MP].

So the other possibility is...

> [NOTICE]

>

> [You have located multiple objects in your sight.]

I thought so. Heh... Looks like my hunch is right. They did use that trick. That no-good archer... They are too OP and arrogant as a proctor!

"Hypocrite? I should say the same to you, pal!"

[What are you saying, brat? You're only saying that because...]

"I'm desperate? Ha! I wish!" I call out. "This test is supposed to test my patience and learning to be humble. And yet, you’re acting the opposite. Being too confident in your skills, showing off your abilities without thinking of the consequences... The sages should have chosen a better archer to test me than you!"

[B-Better?!] I can hear the venom spitting out from their voice. [That's it, kid. I'll teach you another lesson. And that is why you should respect your seniors!]

And with that last insult, I find myself surrounded by many arrows shot from many directions. I have to admit, they managed to cover any blind spots so I can't escape. Not that I want to since I want to use this opportunity. With my [Eagle Eyes] still active, I search around the spots where the arrows were fired. As I expect, there are many silhouetted copies of Acutus perched in every direction I see. In normal circumstances, you wouldn't be able to determine which one is real since they're too many to locate in one go.

However, what I'm looking for is the opposite. What I'm looking for is the arrow that was shot with the silhouetted copy.

And I find them.

"And that's a check," I declare. "[Tracking Aim]!"

I fire my arrow. I pray that I'm right. And when I open my eyes...

I hear their grunt and a shadow fell from above.

At the same time, all the arrows but one that I took as a small price disappear. It was not too deep into my shoulder, but damn, it hurts! But it's a good risk since I'm now standing in front of Acutus, who has their right shoulder stabbed by my arrow.

[H-How did you find me?!] They shout. [I thought my skill can fool your senses including your [Eagle Eye]!]

"That's true. But I made an educated guess that of all your [Unique Talent] skill can do, it can only mimic the appearance. I took the risk and what do you know? I was right. Plus, I also guess that your clones would disappear if I hit the real you."

[You knew?! But how?! You're not the type to possess any mind-reading skills?!]

"True. But I still have my observation skills to help me win your stupid game of shoot-an-archer."

Again, it was only a guess. I don't how the hell this game would incorporate cloning abilities here, but I learned from one ninja anime (that Zac tried to recommend to me, but I dropped after the eighth episode due to me not having time to watch a monstrous amount of episodes in one sitting) that there are ways to locate the real user of that ability as a drawback to prevent it from being too OP. And I used one of them in the opposite mindset, too. If I locate only one Acutus, that one is real. If I locate multiple of them, then the one that I can't detect is real. [Eagle Eye] can locate items even without mana. So once I located their clones, I made my move.

[Odd... I initially thought you're nothing more than wannabe [Insignis] blindly relying on brawn than everything.]

"That part might also be a reason you will lose against me," I say with a grin. "Either way, you've underestimated me, Acutus. Unless you keep seeing me as a weak [Human], you're not exactly winning the "Best Proctor of " soon. Heck, you're only the best because you only fought some weaklings to earn it."

[...What did you say,?!]

I should stop taunting them. If I don't, there's a chance my plan will backfire. I should try to ambush and defeat them while they're distracted.

But what's the point of playing fair? This guy is too condescending to let them go like that. NPC or not, it's time to give them a wake-up call.

"Do I have to spell it out for you? Best or not, you are nothing more than a spoiled brat hiding behind a shield of clones who only loved themselves more than anybody else!"

I gasp to catch my breath after I let out my speech. If there's one thing I know from facing Kazuki's bullies, it’s that you have to watch your words when confronting them. If not, you could end up becoming their next victim. I had to endure many beatings to protect my little brother and thanks to that, I learned that bullies aren't much different than the weaklings they saw.

But like the [Eagle Eye] trick, I'm doing the opposite. And it's working as I see Acutus baring their teeth with a glare that is almost enough to lose all of the colors on my face.

[That's it. You've asked for it, kid. I'm trying my best not to lose it because you're taking the test. But...]

Suddenly, the whole atmosphere suddenly changes. It might be that I heard thunder above the tree leaves covering the sky, but I feel my heart nearly stop as I notice something coming out behind Acutus. Green energy wisps start to surround them as their eyes seemingly turn light blue.

[You have made the mistake of making me your enemy!]

> [WARNING]

>

> [Your opponent, [Eagle of Perception], is now [Enraged].

>

> Their [ATK] and [SPD] have been increased by 50%.]

Well, so much for having an easy victory after the first. Not that this guy will let me have it. Compared to Veritates, I can read them like an open book if I keep my head clear. Besides, this is turning from my trail to theirs. Although I have to thank them for giving me some good ideas about my [Masteries]. So I'll return the favor by turning them into a test dummy. I can't become strong if I don't think like Kazu and make some interesting discoveries in this game.

The teacher has now become a student, Acutus. It's time to teach you the true meaning of "humble".