Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

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115th Chapter. Wait, could this be…

I was able to catch the thief and receive a thank you from the owner of the bundle. While it wasn’t a reward, I did get a lollipop from him as compensation.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah…”

Mary and I were sitting on a park bench in Silver Town, sucking on our lollipops.

Usually, Mary would be bouncing around with delight if it was something sweet, especially since the candy was shaped like a honeybee, making it even more delightful for her.

But right now, she just weakly mumbled at it like a dying mosquito.

Her expression devoid of any enjoyment made it seem like she was just pretending to suck on it.

Just a moment ago, she had almost been slashed by a thief’s knife. Just as it was about to touch her neck, she had warped out of danger, narrowly avoiding disaster.

She may be in shock having come so close to a fatal injury. But what Mary felt wasn’t the fear of nearly losing her life.

“I saw something. When the knife flew towards my neck… something drew in my head.”

It was a memory of a blade she’d never seen before swinging at her neck. Even though she had never experienced such a thing, Mary felt a strange sense of familiarity.

When she replayed that scene in her mind, she dropped her lollipop.

“Friend… I feel kind of scared.”

Mary, who always hugged me with a smile, was trembling with gloom as she clung to me this time.

Noticing her change in mood, I embraced her as she was.

While it might look a bit strange for a boy and girl to be hugging on a park bench, it was a sensitive issue worth enduring.

That memory would become a significant turning point in Mary’s life.

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Mary focused on the lollipop in my mouth. Her expression darkened again.

I wondered what the issue could be and inspected the candy. It was just a red strawberry-flavored candy, like a rose… I nervously bit into it and swallowed.

The blade from her memory must have been red.

*

Doomsday, who leads the gangs and dark magic organizations across the continent.

Despite their deadly activities, their hideout always displayed a luxurious garden.

Six apostles sat in a garden that they decorated as a paradise suited for them. Originally known as the 7th League, they had become six due to Enviel’s disappearance.

“How are Epsilon and Zeta doing these days? I trust they’re reflecting on that terrible failure and preparing something new?”

An apostle marked with the number three said. The response came from number five.

“It’s going smoothly. Though there may be flaws, you all know they have quite the skill. Besides, they’re a highly regarded talent within the royal family, so it’s strange if things aren’t progressing well.”

If it weren’t for them, the Mosria plan wouldn’t have even been set into action. It was actually high expectations due to their ability to compensate for that failure and devise another scheme.

“And how is the Saint’s recruitment coming along?”

This time, all eyes turned to number three. Number three began to speak as if waiting for this moment.

“The Melody Saint Nebia. She appears to be broad-minded like the vast tree sea, but I was the first to notice the darkness hidden within like an abyss.”

Doomsday was always hiding its identity. Those of high rank in the 7th League masqueraded as nobles. It’s possible to see the Saint wandering around Kreuz.

“If it’s her, she’s been working behind the scenes for quite some time now. Soon she will achieve great results in Aligieri alongside the royal knight commander.”

The royal army’s commander, Jason Baikel, had already joined their side.

But it was not for free. There would be a significant reward after the downfall of Aligieri.

“I wonder if they can truly succeed.”

“While you say that, I see you’ve already prepared their rewards.”

What was to be given to Jason was a silver shield with blue edges. And to the Saint, a sword that shimmered with a golden luster.

Looking at those holy artifacts placed in the center of the table, number four spoke.

“How nostalgic. To be able to see items from thirty years ago again. That shield was used by the former head of the Viole family, known as the hero of the southern Empire. I thought it was lost in the battle with the Black Dragon, yet it seems to be intact.”

Though he hadn’t seen it directly, it was as per the accounts written in books and records.

“And that sword… I can’t help but feel sorrow every time I see it. The owner who wielded that sword for humans was killed by a human.”

Number four held the sword in hand. As he drew it from the sheath, the blade revealed a red hue.

The holy sword ‘Rozaria,’ once wielded by the former Saint, was said to have beheaded the Demon King Belzebub.

“If she were still alive until now… our tribe would still be thriving…”

Number four spoke as if recalling some dark past while pulling off his hood to reveal his face.

“Indeed, humans are pests that should not be left alive.”

The face of a man appearing to be in his sixties. His white skin made one wonder how it was maintained.

However, his ears were abnormally pointed. He resembled the commonly known Elf race.

“Surely you’re not thinking of showing yourself outside like that?”

“Of course not. It’s disgusting to wear a human mask… but have I not endured until now?”

With his elven skin turning from white to a deep flesh tone, and his pointed ears morphing into normal ones. It was only natural to disguise oneself as a noble.

“Are you here?”

At that moment, someone with a black veil approached the resting area. Everyone seemed to know he would come.

“Do you understand your mission?”

“Reconnaissance of Aligieri. Assassinate anyone suspected of interfering immediately.”

“Very well.”

The voice hidden behind the veil belonged to a young girl. Yet, her passive tone held no emotion.

Besides, the reconnaissance of Aligieri was directly tied to an undercover enrollment. Number four spoke to her in command.

“Listen well, Aisha. I’ll say this again and again, but you are not human. The reason I repeat this is to prevent you from developing unnecessary emotions. You must not like them. The proof of that is your lost eye.”

Within the darkness draped by the veil, her pupils showed. One green, the other red, indicating she had heterochromia.

The girl named Aisha fiddled with the red eye.

“Then finish your preparation. Wings of Rage.”

“Right away.”

As she accepted the command, something spread from Aisha’s back. Huge wings, larger than her own body, unfurled. The only thing left in the place where she had taken off was a flurry of black feathers.

“I wonder how many we are infiltrating into Aligieri.”

Number two said, looking at her fly away. They thought that sending just the princess and the knight commander would be enough, but that was only a small opinion.

In response, number four explained.

“Nobody knows of Aisha’s existence. Should those who infiltrated face trouble, she can act anonymously to support them from behind. Reflect on how the Mosria plan failed.”

It was widely believed that the plan failed due to unexpected interference. Therefore, they needed to infiltrate with unexpected beings. If so, they would be able to uncover the identity of that mysterious disruptor.

But there was something that had to be considered first.

“However, remember this. Aisha is originally a special-grade spirit we’ve put great effort into modifying.

Originally, Aisha’s role was the greatest gatekeeper of the 7th League. She was meant to deflect threats aimed at them.

“Of course, since she was born from a living being, she should be able to pass through Aligieri’s barrier. But what will you do if feelings arise from there?”

In response to being called out, number four answered calmly.

“That won’t happen. That girl should resent humans.”

And he donned the hood again, concealing his face in darkness.

“Of course… she is my daughter, killed by humans thirty years ago.”

*

By tomorrow morning, the academy’s opening ceremony will begin. For this, Radon and his friends had already boarded a train heading to Aligieri Town.

Her husband, Rotas, had left for work, leaving only Skilla and Amy at home. But they weren’t the only ones inside the house.

“Got it? This time we have to be careful.”

Skilla spoke to the air. However, if her sensitivity was sufficient, one could see the wind spirit fluttering around her.

“Don’t just blow everything away like last time.”

『….』

With the wind that the spirit summoned without a word, every piece of furniture in the house lifted into the air. Meanwhile, Skilla began sweeping up all the dust that had settled below.

Amy also helped her mother sweep the floor. The spirit, being a bit simpleminded, increased the wind’s strength, causing the dust to swirl around.

“Ah… Ah-choo!”

As a result, the dust got tossed around the house, provoking sneezes. It was hard for Amy to endure the sneeze that Skilla, too, couldn’t suppress.

“A-choo!!”

Reacting instinctively, Amy transformed into a muscle-bound giant and let loose a sneeze, clattering into a piece of furniture and causing a mess.

“Ouch…”

“You okay?”

Skilla cared for her daughter first, despite the collapsed furniture. She postponed reprimanding to check for any injuries.

“I’m fine! Thanks to the magic mom and dad taught me, it doesn’t hurt at all.”

“I told you not to use that carelessly.”

“Hehe, sorry.”

The fallen furniture was two drawers. Clothing and books contained within were now strewn about the living room.

Dust aside, it was a troublesome situation to clean that up first. As they tidied things up one by one, something caught Skilla’s eye.

“This is…”

On one of the scattered books, a drawing appeared that was seemingly imprinted by an ether magic device, looking quite old.

As soon as she saw it, Skilla gasped in nostalgia and exclaimed.

“I can’t believe this is still here.”

“What is it?”

Amy approached to take a look at the drawing. There was a young Skilla in the picture, and behind her stood a child with pointed ears, walking alongside her.

“This is a picture taken when I was your age.”

“Wow! I don’t look like you at all! I look totally silly.”

“Hmmm… that’s a fib, isn’t it?”

“But who is this kid?”

At her daughter’s question, Skilla flinched. The background of the photo showed a forest, and the child’s ears were pointed.

“Aisha. She was once my childhood friend.”

There’s nothing happier than memories of the past. However, the feelings Skilla had regarding those memories were tinged more with sadness than happiness.

Because she could no longer meet her.

*

“Hello! My Aligieri Academy!”

Mary shouted energetically as she stepped off the magical train. Watching her from the side, I felt both constancy and relief. The fear I’d witnessed last time had vanished, and she had returned to her usual self.

“Isn’t it exciting to see how much it has changed?”

“Is there really anything that could change? It’s already a successful place without much effort.”

The lively conversation between Jenny and the stoic Luska continued. I thought they wouldn’t get along well given their polar opposites, but surprisingly they seemed to get along fine. In fact, it was depicted that way in the main story too, so there was no worry of them turning into bloody rivals… for now.

“I wonder how Professor Radian and Professor Stella are doing?”

“Why suddenly Stella?”

“Well… she was the first to come to mind.”

The reason she came to mind, despite not being a dedicated professor, was the influence of the Mosria prequel. The one who led the students back then was Radian and Stella. They left quite an impression.

As we walked toward the academy, Jenny spoke quietly.

“They might end up getting along well…”

“What?”

I turned to her in surprise at the comment.

“Who’s getting along with whom?”

“Professor Radian and Professor Stella. Before the break, they were often seen together. So perhaps…”

“Ahhahaha!”

I burst into laughter, and the others looked at me with disapproving expressions.

“Radon, what’s so funny?”

“It’s just not possible! Professor Stella get a crush? Do you really think that’s possible?”

“There’s nothing impossible! Where else do you find someone as capable as a professor?”

Jenny is really simple-minded. She’s a young girl who has hardly interacted with the world, let alone has never even glimpsed the ‘love’ part, just imagining things. Her simple innocence is far too inadequate to discuss romance.

“You might not know, but Professor Stella is the one who’s been rejected more than ten times in matchmaking. Do you think someone who hasn’t even analyzed those failures would suddenly find love?”

That’s a backstory not revealed in the main plot. And having watched the ending countless times, I can confidently state that. Even if I lack experience in love, my insistence stems from a clear reason.

“She’s never going to find a boyfriend no matter who she meets. Got it?”

In the fandom, Stella has established herself as the representative character of the ‘no boyfriend’ archetype.

For her to suddenly have a partner would be as absurd as answering ‘ketchup’ when asked what tomato is in English.

“Shall we make a bet then?”

“A bet?”

“The loser has to fulfill a request. How about it?”

Wow, Jenny, you’re quite something. Does the saying ‘a young puppy doesn’t know fear’ fit here?

But I’m not planning on asking for something too outrageous.

“If I win, you’re treating me to ten days’ worth of steaks.”

“Isn’t that a bit light?”

“Then, don’t say anything.”

“What do you mean? If I win, Radon has to grow his hair out like last time. Deal?”

“Hair?”

“You don’t remember what happened when we went out on that external mission?”

Could it really be that? That dreadful memory where I had been mistaken for a girl because of my hairstyle.

Jenny looked eager, smiling expectantly. I contemplated canceling it but… there’s no need for concern.

“Okay. Let’s do it.”

Because there’s no way Jenny will win. No matter what route I take, Professor Stella won’t find love. I have to gamble where I can.

“Which side are you betting on?”

“I’m on this side.”

“Me too!”

Mary and Luska both sided with Jenny simultaneously. Did they just unite as girls?

“Why?”

“Because love is always a hurricane!”

Mary’s reasoning was simple enough to pass on, but what about Luska?

“I just hope it works out…”

She spoke shyly, her cheeks flushed. Could it be because a connection that was once absent has formed? But it felt fitting for Luska to be reclaiming her girlhood.

—Radon Crawler, Jenny Chain Silver, Mary Ryudshiel, Luska Mad Eye, welcome. Beep.

Finally, upon reaching the academy’s main gate, an artificial golem began to inspect us.

Since that incident, it seems golems are mostly used for this kind of purpose now.

“Nice to see you, kids!”

At that moment, I spotted a man and woman approaching from afar. To my surprise, it was Professor Radian and Professor Stella walking toward us.

“Professor Radian! Long time, no see! How have you been?”

“Well, nothing much happened.”

As Jenny spoke, Professor Radian greeted her with a nod. For some reason, I felt an odd sense of discomfort at this sight.

Why does the strict Professor Radian seem so angelic now?

“Hey, are you all okay?”

Professor Stella stood beside him, emitting a peculiar energy.

“But why are you two hanging out together?”

And why are they wearing matching rings?

Wait, could this be…

Surviving as the Academy Scammer?