The Lone Sniper: I Was Just Minding My Own Business Sniping Players, and I Ended Up Becoming a Raid Boss

Chapter 37

August 5, the day before the Rank Match.

Today there's a team meeting, and I was invited to Marshmallow Smile's office. The location is "Space Station ch2621, Floor 18, Office Zone."

I meet up with Chacha-san in the bedroom, then walk down a white corridor. It feels like a tenant building. Offices of various armies and teams are all mixed together.

"Here we are."

It's a white door. On it hangs an electromagnetic nameplate that reads "Marshmallow Smile." When Chacha-san waves a key card over the reader, the door opens. Once inside...

"......"

"......"

Sheena-san sits in a chair reading with elegant composure, while Niko-san rests her cheek on the desk, completely downcast.

Niko-san is clearly depressed; her eyes are vacant, as if her soul might slip out at any moment.

"Huh? Niko-chi, what's wrong?"

"Nothing much~"

All her usual energy is gone. She's completely wilted.

"Ah, could it be that love thing again?"

Niko-san's back twitches.

"Niko-san, you're in love with someone...?"

"Yep! Niko-chi's fallen for the student-council president at her middle school!"

"The student-council president... wait, middle school!? Niko-san, are you a middle-schooler!?"

"That's right~. And Sheena-chi's in her third year too."

No way... Sheena-san and Niko-san were both younger than me!?

Kids these days grow up fast...

"C-could Chacha-san also be...?"

"Nope~. Chacha-san's a college sophomore~"

That's surprising in its own way!

"Just so you know, I'm not in love or anything! That jerk! I'm so done with him! So done!"

"Oh dear, whatever happened? Chacha-san will listen."

Niko-san tries to speak, but tears well up and she closes her mouth. Sheena-san gives a wry smile and speaks for her.

"She lent the student-council president her copy of Infinite Space, apparently. But—"

"That guy... he gave the game I lent him to his big sister...!"

Niko-san props her cheek on her hand and clicks her tongue in irritation.

Full-dive games are never cheap; they cost tens of thousands. For a middle-schooler, that's a huge expense. Having that brushed off would obviously hurt.

"Th-that's awful... You lent it because you wanted to play Infinite Space with him, right? Even if he didn't want to play, giving it away to someone else... that's really insensitive."

Niko-san grabs both my hands.

"Hyi!?"

"You... you get it, don't you?"

"Th-thank you very much?"

Huh? Hold on. That conversation just felt... off somehow...

Infinite Space is a women-only game. Lending it means Niko-san's crush is—

"Everyone, please leave the pointless romance talk at that."

"It's not pointless!"

"A bit late, but let's hold the strategy meeting for tomorrow's Rank Match."

Right. Let's drop that topic. This is far more important.

We sit around a round table. When Sheena-san operates an egg-shaped remote, an electromagnetic screen appears above the table, listing the Rank Match rules in detail.

"The rules for the next Rank Match are the same as last time. Only the stage will change, of course."

"Do we really need a strategy meeting this late? We've been chatting on voice calls all along."

"It's essential to meet face-to-face and organize our tactics once."

"Chacha-san agrees!"

I'm bad at in-person meetings, but I agree it's necessary.

On voice calls the tension is lighter, but I can't read expressions and lose my timing to speak. The truth is, I still haven't said what I need to say. Today I have to.

"First, the flow after transfer. Shiki-san will hide in a nearby building. Niko-san and I will head to Shiki-san and regroup. We want to meet up before the first zone shrink."

In Rank Match, the safety zone shrinks every five minutes. On the full map the safety zone appears as a circle; anyone outside it loses 10 durability every second. A Space Girl has 100 durability, so ten seconds means deletion.

One minute after the match starts or after a shrink, the next shrink zone appears, and the area contracts over four to five minutes. At first the safety zone covers the entire map, but each shrink reduces it to 1/8th. After 40 minutes the zone becomes 100 m, and that last 100 m vanishes in five more minutes. The effective time limit is 45 minutes and 10 seconds.

Still, matches rarely last 45 minutes. Considering a Space Girl's mobility and range, most end in around 30 minutes—that's my take.

"After regrouping, we move while watching the zone flow and relying on Shiki-san's radar. When we spot an enemy, Niko-san and I move up front, and Shiki-san snipes when she sees an opening. Normally we'd refine our formation meticulously so the sniper doesn't hit friendlies, but... Shiki-san would never hit us, so it's unnecessary."

"In our case, we're stronger if everyone just freelances instead of forcing a formation. We all improvise well. Especially Shiki—she shines when she's not tied down."

That's some serious trust... I might still block my own team, but these two will create good sniping windows for me.

"If Niko-san or I go down, it's not a problem, but if Shiki-san falls, we're in trouble. So please prioritize your own safety."

"R-roger that!"

I'm the radar operator. Because I handle detection with my radar, Sheena-san and Niko-san haven't put any stat points into radar. If I'm eliminated first, we'll give the other teams a huge advantage in that regard. I absolutely must avoid going down first like last time.

"Next, teams to watch out for. First, of course, the Crimson Wings, currently on a Rank Match win streak."

Sheena-san operates the remote and displays Kurenai-san's data on the screen.

"Kurenai-san is a high-mobility attacker who excels at unconventional assaults. She uses Wings, but her fighting style resembles Niko-san's. Their skill levels are probably about the same."

"We still haven't fought even once. I'd really like a match."

"If Niko-san fights Kurenai-san, the outcome is unpredictable. I'm good at sweeping up these types, so leave Kurenai-san to me. There's no need to pick the lower-win-rate option."

"Yeah, yeah, got it."

Next, Sheena-san puts Len-san's data on the screen.

"Len-san is skilled at stealth and sniping, but his handgun and assault-rifle skills are lacking. Not scary up close. However, he equips trap kits, so watch for mines and wires. Once we locate Len-san, either Niko-san or I will pin him down."

Watching Crimson Wings' past battles, both Kurenai-san and Len-san aren't just strong—they're troublesome. Both read the situation accurately and coordinate well. And of course, they're skilled.

But someone overshadows even them...

"Tsubasa-san... There's no need to say it—she's the strongest in this Rank Match."

The screen changes, showing Tsubasa-san's astounding stats.

"Oh? Stronger than you?"

"I'm the strongest too. We're tied for first."

"Is that so."

"The only effective counter to Tsubasa-san... would be a railgun. Aside from my railgun, no one can break 'C:Aegis.'"

"Then she's all yours."

"Indeed."

"......"

While I fidget, Chacha-san says,

"Shiki-chi, don't you have something you want to say?"

"A-ah, yes!"

When I raise my right hand, Sheena-san smiles.

"Take your time; we'd love to hear your thoughts."

"U-um... could you leave Tsubasa-san to me?"

I look at Tsubasa-san on the electromagnetic screen.

"I... I probably have the best compatibility with Tsubasa-san."