Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

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20th Chapter. The Queen of Heavy Snow (3)

Even just two appearing can stir up the Academy without faculty: the Lycanthrope.

Initially, the plan was to have three show up, but due to a balance patch, it was reduced to two.

For the students, regardless of being the weakest, these creatures are a disaster. Just two of them gathering would be the level of a chapter boss, but five would be a whole other level of chaos.

The students are running towards the professors’ building to escape them, but those beasts have a keen sense of smell and will inevitably find their prey.

No matter where they hide in the academy, it doesn’t buy them any time. There’s no solution unless they bring the professors back.

So, what is the duty professor doing?

Even if they aren’t combat specialists, they could still contact an off-duty professor with an emergency communication magical device.

‘But it would be foolish to count on that.’

Today’s duty roster lists the second-year professor of Alchemy, “Kondra Makstel,” and the first-year combat assistant professor, “Adela Merhenna.”

By now, these two would likely be fainted somewhere. They were ambushed and swapped out by a spy that infiltrated the academy.

That spy would have acted as Kondra and seized the professor’s authority to approach the sealing stone, the source of the academy’s barriers.

They knew how strong they were to boldly step into the academy, no doubt about that.

However, completely stopping the sealing stone was impossible. They only managed to slightly weaken the barrier.

This was the cause for the Lycanthrope’s invasion.

The one who hired that spy was none other than Travell Viole. His goal was to kill only Jenny and Lyman.

Travell instructed the Lycanthrope to focus solely on those two. After all, increasing the number of victims wouldn’t yield much profit.

The spy took that meaning and implanted self-suggestion into the Lycanthropes.

Yet, their suggestion unraveled as they passed through the not-quite-perfect barrier. And thus, the entire academy was thrown into chaos.

And the end that awaits that spy will be proportional to their pathetic plans. They will be expelled by Lyman, who secretly gathered evidence against them.

Afterwards, they would find themselves in a position of neither living nor dying after being turned away.

By now, Lyman must have encountered the spy to secure that evidence. He’s reliable, so there’s no need to worry about that… but right now, that’s not what’s important.

“Stay still, you damn things! Puffing yourselves up unnecessarily to five!”

– What are you, the Avengers?

I snapped while catching three at once. And while manipulating three fishing rods, I activated my skill.

– Fishing Line Control Lv4

The fishing lines absorbed my mana and turned into thick nooses, binding their arms. Then, I pulled them out, twisting them up like a rope.

The three fishing rods I’m holding aren’t mine. Rushing into Unique Hall, I immediately kicked open the door to Cage Revola’s laboratory.

As the head of the combat department, his hobby happens to be fishing. He always has at least three premium fishing rods in his residence or office.

Normally, no one can enter, but since I could move freely in-game, I knew their locations.

As cherished as they are to him, they shone brightly and looked refined. Surprisingly, they were worth about two months’ salary for a professor.

With a history of being crafted by a master, their performance is top-notch.

No matter how good the fishing rod is, it’s useless in combat. But for me, who has mastered illusion sword techniques, these rods are unparalleled combat gear.

With such high-quality rods, my potential could be amplified.

In terms of swordsman, it’s like wielding a legendary sword, and my combat power has exponentially increased by wielding all three at once.

Certainly a feat impossible at my original level, but with these artisan rods in hand, I could achieve it.

“Ugh…! Just a little longer, please!”

Even with the best conditions, there are limits for a student like me.

I heard the rods creaking. Blood flowed down from my hands gripping the three rods.

And the air turned cold.

‘Has it already started?’

Snow began to fall. Soon, the wind picked up, turning into a blizzard. Realizing it was Jenny’s Silver Age, I bit my lip.

Finally, the real rampage was beginning. Right now, I could hold out, but soon the entire academy would become an ice age.

Fortunately, the students in Class C are rushing over with weapons. They too were bewildered by the weather phenomenon, but they had no time to lose due to the doppelganger wolves attacking.

Thankfully, even the Class C students could easily deal with the wolves, while the experienced upperclassmen reduced their numbers.

That part was just like the main story. After all, there were only two Lycanthropes there.

If I hadn’t been holding onto these beasts, the students would have quickly dwindled in number.

“Grrr!”

“Ugh!”

A wolf bit into my shoulder. The pain was unbearable; it forced a groan from me.

The moment it tasted my blood, it seemed eager to increase its offense.

“Aqua Ball!”

Just then, a water bullet flew in and pierced the beast’s face. The one who saved me from dropping my fishing rods was Trisha Marielin, the head of the newspaper department.

“Radon? Are you really…?”

I wondered who could have tied up three Lycanthropes in ropes, only to find out it was her own member, that pathetic scammer, Radon Crawler.

“Explain later! While I’m holding them off, hurry…!”

“But what do we do? Our attacks seem totally ineffective.”

Considering their bizarre toughness and regeneration, Trisha was perplexed. I knew the weakness of these seemingly invincible beasts…

“Destroy the brain and heart simultaneously! Then you can kill them!”

“Really?”

“Hurry!!”

Trisha Marielin relayed the weakness I taught her to everyone else. Her voice, being the respected head of the class, was more effective than mine.

Thanks to that, there were fewer students with doubts.

Even if they couldn’t pierce through the fur, knowing the weak points would enable them to take care of the beasts skillfully. If attacks wouldn’t work due to their strength, targeting their insides would suffice.

By any means necessary.

The combat department students poked at the beasts’ eyes with their swords and spears. As they screamed, the magic students shoved fire spells into their mouths.

The beasts fought back, straining against the fishing lines, but soon they would meet their end.

At that moment…

A distant arrow flew in and struck a wolf about to ambush me from behind. A girl was providing covering fire from the roof of the academy building.

Her black hair shone brilliantly, standing out even in the darkness of night.

First-year A class of the combat department: Luska Mad Eye. She was constantly taking care of the growing number of wolves. Her main skill involved shooting multiple magic arrows at once.

Originally a character I had doubts about, I now felt relieved thanks to her support. Everyone could focus on dealing with the Lycanthropes, reassured by her presence.

The other two were set to be dealt with by the chapter’s main characters and the upperclassmen.

I just needed to hold out through this crisis!

“Auuuuuu!!”

Sizzling— with one last effort, they unleashed lightning from their mouths. It transferred through the fishing lines to me.

Electrocution. Struck directly by the lightning from all three at once, I felt like I could die at any moment. In addition, the bite wound from the doppelganger wolf allowed the lightning to seep deeper into me.

It hurt, but I had to endure. If I couldn’t keep them bound here, the freed ones would tear me apart.

Considering their recovery speed, the gouged eyes would heal quickly. Eventually, all the students would be annihilated.

Eat me or electrocute me. In this situation where I had to choose between the two, I resolutely opted for the latter.

Would they die first from having their organs damaged, or would I die from electrocution? It was a gamble.

While steadily increasing my “Grit” stat, I was no longer the same old me.

[Conditions Met.]

[A new skill has been activated!]

– Howling Thunder Lv1

Just as my consciousness began to fade.

Standing at the juncture of life and death, I saw the system’s illusions.

Above my head… bright eyes began to fall like fireflies.

*

“Jenny! Pull yourself together!”

At a glance of the Lycanthrope, I lost the thread of reason and froze. I didn’t know why I was here, but I ended up looking pitiful in front of others.

My dear friend Mary Ryudshiel shook me by the shoulders.

Jenny Chain Silver had failed again. Having used a power that shouldn’t be used, she was being pushed back completely.

And look over there. That rat, Radon Crawler, whom she resented so much, was risking electrocuting himself to save the students… What was I doing?

Zzzttt—

Now, the Silver Age was out of control. Soon, an unimaginable blizzard would sweep through, threatening to freeze the entire academy.

I couldn’t just fail to defeat the threats to my friends, but now I was destined to bring about their ruin. The embarrassment felt so profound that I almost wished for death.

“I’m sorry, Mary… it’s over now.”

The blizzard intensified. The cold waves and self-freezing occurrences were all warnings of what was coming.

I could no longer maintain my composure.

Driven to despair by Radon Crawler’s ineptitude and Travell Viole’s misdeeds, it felt as if I’d lost my mother once again.

Back then, the cracks had just begun appearing in the barrier that held back the rampage.

It hadn’t stopped there; I had endured humiliation on several occasions meeting Radon Crawler.

Finally, during my practical exam, I had even resorted to using my power. All those things became catalysts, amplifying what would have already been a severe rampage.

If I went on a rampage, I could freeze the Lycanthropes in ice, but the entirety of the academy would be trapped just the same. That left us with only one option.

“Run Mary. Take the other students and get far away.”

She showed me her hands, which were starting to freeze.

“I’m done for. The blizzard will be upon us soon. It’s enough that I and those beasts are trapped in ice, so… ugh!”

Before I could finish speaking… Mary stuffed something into Jenny’s mouth.

Gulp— what on earth did she just feed me? No, right now, I couldn’t dwell on that!

‘My hands…!’

The frozen parts of my body melted away. My body temperature rose, returning to a certain state. I couldn’t help but be curious about what was just fed to me.

“What’s going on?”

Mary didn’t answer; she simply smiled.

Then the blizzard began to calm. The vicious howling winds slowed, and the stabilized mana from Jenny took on a radiant form.

Though it wasn’t winter, it felt different; it was still undoubtedly snow. The rampaging blizzard transformed into beautiful snow, resembling sparkling starlight.

That glowing mass descended upon Aligieri. The once chilly landscape of the academy, now draped in vibrant snow, evoked a sense of serenity.

Jenny, bewildered with snow piled atop her head, never expected the power she had deemed a curse would take such a beautiful form.

With that mystery, Mary said with a smile.

“It’s a collaboration between me and my friends. Everything was made for you.”

The goofy smile she usually wore was gone; her eyes sparkled as they gazed at her friend.

As Jenny regained her senses, she realized her persistent sadness had disappeared. Furthermore, her body had completely thawed.

I didn’t know what had been fed to me, but… my power was under control.

While not at max capacity, being able to control it was already sufficient.

“Are you finally awake? Jenny Chain Silver.”

The revived Crona Delraw approached.

“Today is quite beautiful, isn’t it?”

“…”

Auuuuuu!

With a shockwave from Mary’s lightning magic, the Lycanthrope they had sent flying was returning.

As it drew its spear, it reminded me of my mother’s death, putting mental pressure on me.

‘You are a cursed being.’

‘A disgraceful offspring. You deserve punishment.’

That entity, appearing to manifest my vile thoughts, charged forward, but I no longer listened. I was not alone.

“This time…”

The ground beneath Jenny Chain Silver’s feet froze into a slick ice sheet. Though the output diminished, that was enough.

“It’s not a curse.”

In her hand appeared a sword with a bluish blade. It was not just any practice sword; it was a legendary sword crafted for Jenny Chain Silver, imbued with aura. That blade wielding controlled power.

Swish!

The cold aura emitted by the sword crossed the ground.

Surviving as an Academy Scammer.