Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

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111th Chapter. Good job, Jenny!

I could win without pretending to be hurt. Just by looking at the stats of that guy I scoped out with my magic eye, it was clear he wasn’t even close to my level.

Though he claims he’s about to enroll soon, he’s practically an invisible extra who won’t even show his face in the main storyline. There’s no way such a nobody could defeat me, who’s already ranked in Class A.

Markray, I don’t know if he heard about my academic life, but he seems to have set up his little insurance policy.

While it was petty, using paralysis poison might have been somewhat effective.

His objective was to humiliate me by having me lose. This means… that I, a prestigious student of Aligieri’s Class A, would be defeated by some lowly predecessor who hasn’t even enrolled yet.

There weren’t exactly a few people watching the duel. Since influential nobles gathered there, rumors about my loss would likely spread far and wide.

So news would surely reach the Academy, and I’d be subjected to a lot of heavy interrogation.

The duel’s process isn’t important. The only thing that will circulate in yellow journalism was that a Class A student got taken down by someone lower in rank.

`Then, chances are he already heard that I’m in Class A.`

These guys are pulling all sorts of schemes to erase the traces of the Crawler. They must be watching closely from this side as well.

If that was truly their goal, then using the paralysis poison was a clever move.

Furthermore… he might have ambitions of taking my place in Class A on the pretext of winning against me.

`Markray Layert… I don’t really have a grudge against you. But…`

For now, things stopped with just me knocking him down, but if he keeps crawling up to me, I wouldn’t be able to say anything when the time comes.

Thanks to the mana protection, I wasn’t hurt, and Markray, knocked out, was carried away by the healers stationed at the mansion… Seeing his pitiful state, Jenny spoke to me.

“Honestly, just admit it. Radon, you didn’t control your strength.”

“I did! My arm was sore, so I couldn’t put in much power.”

“Stop lying. You struck with your heart behind it. It’s not something you could do halfway.”

Even if I put my heart into it, I couldn’t muster strength match yours.

“And what about that miserable face you had just a moment ago? Was that perhaps… some kind of trick swordsmanship?”

“Well, were you worried I might get hurt?”

“That’s… that’s…!”

Jenny’s face turned red as she hesitated unexpectedly. Just from her expression, I could tell what was on her mind.

Maybe it was because she’s still young or maybe the fantasy-based world is just that way, but her poker face skills were downright terrible.

“No! If you lost here, that rumor would have spread! I… didn’t intend to stop you since it’s sort of like educating a spoiled brat, but… suddenly seeing your condition gave me chills! If you lose, wouldn’t you be dropping down from Class A…”

“Yeah, I would drop out of the Class.”

“Exactly! It would be troublesome to be separated from you… No, that’s not it!”

“Not it?”

“Ugh…”

Unable to articulate her thoughts and getting pushed around, Jenny eventually fell silent. With her head down and arms outstretched, she seemed to feel some sort of defeat.

“That aside, you’re pretty relentless. Despite being family…”

“Just because we share blood, I don’t recall a single good memory.”

That’s not a lie. I have zero recollection of anything regarding the Layerts…

`Layert…`

In fact, every time I hear that name, it sends a shiver down my spine. It feels like I’ve heard it somewhere before… as if my brain is trying to force up a fleeting memory.

I certainly feel like I’m missing something, but I can’t quite pin it down. Is it just going to end up in the back of my mind?

“I kept an eye on the fight earlier.”

Just then, a man approached. The moment I saw his face, I instinctively twitched my brows.

The Commander of the Royal Knights, Jason Baikel, representing the imperial side at this event.

He’s set to enter as the Combat Department vice principal in the second year of Aligieri soon… and one of the bosses in the next chapter.

“Class representative. I’m Radon Crawler and this is Jenny Chain Silver. Currently knights of the Empire, but I will soon be your academy instructor, Jason Baikel.”

“Oh, what an honor to meet you ahead of time.”

“It’s an honor for me too… to meet you.”

I had to respectfully greet him, following Jenny’s lead. It was only natural given his high status as the Commander of the Knights and that I’d be under his tutelage.

He’s also shown his face a few times in the Chain Silver family. So far, he hasn’t built any terrible reputation.

[Degradation rate decreased: -1%]

[+100 Credits]

Honor? More like hell freezing over. Jenny just doesn’t get it… One day, she’ll be furious over his deeds.

After all, he’s a knight who doesn’t care one bit for the citizens he’s sworn to protect. He’s a scummy human who ruthlessly kills even the civilians caught in the crossfire.

“You have quite impressive skills. Are you planning to move up to the second-year Combat Department soon?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Haha! What an unexpected fate. I’ll be in charge of your class starting next year.”

His lively smile brightened Jenny’s expression too. He truly had a knack for hiding his real self.

“I look forward to working with you!”

“I look forward to working with you as well.”

“By the way… I heard the princess would be attending the baptism ceremony at first.”

“Ah, about that? Initially, she was indeed scheduled to arrive. But suddenly, she left for somewhere.”

I wondered if she had run away, but being accompanied by troops made it a bit ambiguous to call it a runaway.

The princess has her sights set on Aligieri Town. She’s unable to hold back her eagerness to see the academy.

In the end, she sneaks away without informing the Emperor, brings along a few trusted subordinates, and arrives in Aligieri Town to enjoy some sightseeing.

Then she gets captivated by the allure of Purgatory Volcano and climbs it… and runs into a wilfully relaxed Lyman, who’s enjoying a bath in his birthday suit.

`It was a scene that was somewhat funny yet tragic, but it’s too bad I can’t witness it firsthand.`

“By the way… how’s Professor Radian doing these days?”

Jason’s voice suddenly dropped. When Jenny answered that he was doing well, he seemed to momentarily lose his words.

He was trying to maintain as neutral an expression as possible, but there was certainly some resentment seething beneath.

Back when he was a second-class knight, Jason was a subordinate of first-class knight Radian. Whenever Jason suggested any immoral plan, Radian would always dismiss such suggestions.

For foul-minded Jason, Radian was like a thorn in his side. But thanks to some noble’s backing, Jason became the owner of the Holy Sword. He successfully ousted Radian in a heartbeat due to his immense power.

It was practically the position that Radian should have held.

“I see… looks like he’s doing well.”

Yeah, I saved him, you miserable bastard. I don’t want to see you thriving even for a second.

The reason he’s hesitating so much is also because he has to work alongside Radian. While he would be wailing about his death in the original story, he can’t do that here.

“Sir Jason, do you know Professor Radian?”

“Of course. He was my superior.”

“Then, Sir Jason must also know how wonderful he is.”

“What…?”

With Jenny enthusiastically praising, Jason reluctantly mumbled in discomfort. He had fallen into a flow where he was expected to compliment Radian.

There’s no way Jason, whose insides are rotten, could graciously handle that.

“He might seem a bit strict, but he’s an extraordinary person. He’s highly responsible and the only faculty member respected by the townsfolk is Professor Radian.”

“….”

“And there was almost a huge incident recently, but thanks to Professor Radian…”

“…Guh!”

Each word seemed to twist Jason’s gut further. Praising Radian in front of him felt like nails on a chalkboard.

Good job, Jenny! Smash that guy’s mental state like tofu!

“Oh no! It’s getting late.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“I’m rather busy. Well, see you all when the school begins.”

Contrasting with his initially dignified demeanor… he now had a hurried manner about him. It seemed like his stomach was turning while he rubbed it.

And it made sense; he probably didn’t want to hear any more nauseating compliments about Radian. But he couldn’t just hit Chain Silver’s only daughter either.

When Jason walked away, Jenny called out, worried.

“Sir Jason! The restroom is the other way, not that side!”

He hesitated slightly, trembling, before… hastily returning to his own path.

He had definitely taken a critical blow.

“That bastard!!”

After hearing all those shocking words, Jason punched a nearby tree out of frustration. With his twisted face reflecting his anger, he had to come to a secluded place.

“Radian, Radian, Radian! Why the hell is that guy still safe?!”

Recently, there was the Mosria rampage incident in Aligieri. Jason was among the few people who knew the ins and outs of that incident.

He heard from the members of Doomsday who collaborated. If their plan succeeded, Aligieri would be obliterated and many people would die. Of course, the chances of Radian being among them were high.

However, their scheme fizzled out pathetically.

“This can’t be.”

A Radian who should have died was alive. Even the easy-to-manipulate Vice Principal Heidern was dismissed.

This means it would be difficult for him to swallow the academy under his control.

But he wasn’t without insurance. He had heard that Doomsday was disguising someone as a student to scout out the area. So, unexpectedly, they had some backup.

“What do you mean ‘this can’t be’?”

And the best insurance Jason had was… powerful people. The naive and simple-minded princess who would heed any word with ease, and…

“The Royal Knight Commander doesn’t seem composed. Shouting one name like that continuously.”

Approaching was the ambitious Saint Nebia. Both Nebia and Jason shared a common wish to manipulate the world to their liking.

Doomsday had sensed her ambitions early on and had already secured her.

Just with words of aiding her in getting rid of the silver-haired beast, she became easily controlled.

“You’re hardly in a position to speak about the saint, aren’t you? Don’t you want to drive out that silver-haired beast?”

“….”

They were similar. Jason viewed Radian as a thorn in his side, and Nebia saw Angela in that same light.

It’s natural for those who share opinions to join forces. But lately, Nebia often forgot about her alliances.

Once she sets her sights on something, she’ll pursue it by any means necessary.

The man who rejected her affections, Radon Crawler, would be remembered for a lifetime.

She doesn’t quit until she gets what she wants. But this was the first time she found herself fixated on a person.

If only she could grasp his weaknesses somehow.

During Radon Crawler’s baptism, Nebia sensed something. There was something heavier than spirit power. As a result, the usually vibrant song felt subdued.

Whether it was her innate instinct or sensitivity due to the saintly power, Nebia grew curious about the mysterious power residing within him.

Could it be the secret of Radon Crawler?

“Saint, are you listening to me?”

“Yes?”

But should she eliminate Angela first? Or Radon Crawler?

Nebia, completely lost in her thoughts, felt dazed.

*

Or like a decision, or like starlight, snow falls.

Onu the surface, winter possesses beauty, but once you embrace it, everyone shudders in fear.

The frosty ground becomes slippery enough to cause falls, and the snow piled on the roofs bears down, threatening to crush them.

Moreover, wandering outside without layers in this frigid cold is foolishness.

Aligieri Town was no different; if I didn’t wear thick clothing, my whole body would chill. In another region, it might have quickly turned into a snowfield, but something protects this town from disasters.

Long ago, as the body of the Thousand-Year Fox was buried, the Purgatory Mountain soared upwards.

Being a volcanic area, it never runs out of heat. As if the Thousand-Year Fox, now a mere skeleton, was still alive, it continues to radiate warmth beneath the surface.

“It’s like the heat gets especially intense just when winter comes.”

On the slopes of Purgatory Mountain, a gigantic pit of hot spring water had formed. The reason it doesn’t freeze despite winter is due to that heat.

Thanks to this, it’s the only place in town where one can roam about without clothes in this biting cold.

“Please speak if you’re down there.”

Alone, while enjoying a bath, Lyman Begilius suddenly looked down and spoke. Then he clicked his tongue and raised his head.

“Tch. Of course, there’s no reply.”

With a long history and an intimidating presence. And every winter, his warmth rises again.

It has all the qualifications to be a famous tourist spot, but Lyman felt particularly bitter here.

“I’ll say it again, Master.”

‘Thank you very much,’ he thought in his head.

Not long ago, the voices and hallucinations that had allowed him to stop himself from going mad… those belonged to the beastman with a tail and ears.

It felt as though he still owed a debt to someone who was no longer in this world.

And it wasn’t only the Master who appeared back then.

The hallucination of a girl he once killed during his time as a mercenary. With fruit-like red hair and an innocent expression, she looked just like the one he had embraced in his arms thirty years ago as she died.

“….”

Quietly, Lyman opened his eyes. He was grateful for the help, but the more he thought of her, the more bad memories surfaced.

He felt like the distrust of humans, stemming from having labeled her a saint of distrust and killing her, was about to resurface.

“It’s all in the past.”

Swish—

Is it an animal? A monster? The mist made it hard to confirm.

Lyman approached bit by bit, cutting through the water. Since it was a remote place, he continued to advance in his current state.

As he drew closer to the obscured boundary of the mist, it began to disintegrate. He was able to confirm and realized that the other party could also identify him.

“Huh?”

It was a person. A young girl, at that.

The girl, captivated by the wonders of the pit, began to touch it… and then she saw the full form of the ambiguous man standing in front of her.

“Ah…”

From the moment the girl began surveying Lyman’s form top to bottom, a silence engulfed the area.

“EEEK!!!”

Before she could control it, the girl fainted at the sight she had never encountered before.

Not that she alone; Lyman wore a stiff expression too.

It wasn’t just because his entire body was fully exposed. It was because… she… the girl… resembled the red-haired saint who had died thirty years ago.

Surviving as an Academy Scammer