Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

63rd Chapter. I Am Innocent! (1)

Silver Town was a region belonging to the Empire, spanning a vast area.

Though it was smaller than Cracorus, the Empire’s capital, it was a city developed to a similar level.

Surrounded by mountains, it had a flat inner landscape, resembling a city built on terrain created by a meteor crash.

A large river flowed from the north end to the south, leading to the sea. As I turned my gaze eastward from the city center, I spotted complex facilities like shopping districts, art galleries, and malls.

There were five schools established as educational facilities, and towards the exit of the village, I could see a railroad stretching all the way to the horizon.

‘A magical locomotive, huh? Looks like it’s still under construction.’

Our family, trapped in a carriage, took in the view of various facilities. Amy was all excited, but the knight scolded her to behave.

Silver Town, where I occasionally played as Jenny, felt different in real life.

While most other villages were protected by massive walls to safeguard their inhabitants, this city was already enclosed by mountains.

There was no need for extra walls, making it a geographically excellent place from a military perspective.

The carriage stopped in front of the Chain Silver Mansion, where the lord who governed all of this resided… a familiar face awaited.

“Hello, Jenny.”

“Uh…?”

“I’m not here for a visit… I’ve been captured.”

“….”

Despite my greeting, Jenny did not break into a joyous expression.

*

The land of Silver Town was vast enough to construct anything and everything. Thus, even if the Chain Silver Mansion was oversized, it didn’t seem out of place.

Within the castle walls surrounding the mansion, there were barracks where knights were stationed. The first floor housed a spacious training area for knights, and beneath it was an interrogation room.

Those who harmed the Chain Silver family were captured and interrogated, with their treatment determined by the investigation.

My parents must be dragged there now, going through questioning. While they wouldn’t escape punishment, I hoped for at least some good outcome.

“So… the scammers caught just a while ago were your parents?”

“That’s right.”

In the mansion’s backyard was a lush garden blooming with flowers.

While the opposite side housed the adrenaline-filled knights’ barracks, this place served as a relaxing sanctuary for the heart. It was a spot I loved visiting since I was little.

Invited there, I sat at the garden table with Jenny. For her, this was a joyful yet utterly perplexing meeting.

“You were famous for lying to the students, but… did your parents really turn out to be scammers too?”

“…I have no words.”

Jenny, who usually welcomed friends with an angelic demeanor during the break, now wore a particularly sullen expression.

The reason for her frustration was none other than the trouble that had befallen her younger brother, Ray.

“Listen, Radon. I can’t forgive those who put Ray in danger.”

Jenny leaned on the table, fingers interlaced, covering her mouth. Her posture exuded a deep and solemn energy, creating a confusing atmosphere that felt like an interrogation room rather than a garden.

“But those people are your parents, so they’ll get at least one chance. If they can provide a proper explanation, they can be completely freed. Besides, wanting to be lenient because you have a younger sister is a natural feeling.”

Amy was playing in the garden’s flowerbed, happily crafting a crown out of the petals. She looked joyful, entirely oblivious to the world.

The incident started because Amy mislabelled something, but one could hardly scold an innocent child.

However, regarding my parents, their independent scam activities could not be overlooked.

“I’ve been curious about this for a while. Why do you scam around? Until now, I let it slide because you haven’t harmed anyone, but after your parents got taken in, I can no longer ignore it.”

It was thanks to their support for controlling the Silver Age that I even managed to earn a silver badge. Without that, I wouldn’t have been able to build a connection with Jenny.

“Your family aside, what on earth are you lying for? The initial fight between us happened all because of that.”

“….”

“Please answer honestly. I don’t want to fight with you like we did before.”

I felt the same way. I didn’t want to sever the hard-earned ties with the Chain Silver family. Jenny, who cherished her friends, felt similarly.

Even if our relationship didn’t fall apart immediately, this incident threatened to create a wedge between us. That would equate to providing a cutting tool to sever connections.

The word of this news must have reached the head of the family, Gerard Chain Silver.

Since losing his wife, he had cherished his two daughters like treasures. He would never take lightly the actions of those who scammed his children.

Depending on his mood, they could end up rotting in a prison cell or being forcibly sent on a fishing expedition for a year as punishment.

“It’s not too late. Please clarify your explanation.”

An explanation. The requirement was simple.

Just explaining the reason for the lies would suffice! It wasn’t difficult at all. Moreover, as the reason was justified, they could speak freely without guilt.

‘If they could have truly explained it… such a situation wouldn’t have arisen.’

Regrettably, because that explanation was impossible, we found ourselves in this predicament.

If that were possible, my parents would never have sold sleeping medications to Ray. Moreover, Radon from before being possessed wouldn’t have lied about being a descendant of the Sword King at the start of the semester, leading to a connection with Jenny.

Going further, the Crawler family wouldn’t have relinquished their count status either. There’s a high chance Radon wouldn’t have enrolled in Aligieri Academy at all.

Thus, it could be said that most of my human relationships and abilities were shaped by the curse of being a liar.

As cursed as it might be… without it, I wouldn’t exist in this form today.

Still, I wanted to explain. The feeling of wanting to clear up this injustice was overwhelming.

Even if I couldn’t fully clear it, I needed to give an explanation, especially now.

How wonderful it would be if Eternal Flame could just manifest before me right now…

‘Wait, Eternal Flame is marked with the seal of the Aligieri diploma. If it’s indeed that diploma…!’

It’s right here. Inside this Chain Silver Mansion!

There was still hope.

“If I can provide an explanation, I just need something first.”

“What do you need?”

“Jenny, do you have any idea how many graduates of Aligieri Academy your family holds?”

“Why are you asking that all of a sudden…?”

“Because it’s essential.”

*

Originally, Jenny had a joyful thought of guiding me around when I visited.

She had wanted to invite a friend she made at the academy at least once.

Now that the Silver Age had calmed down, there was no need for her to isolate herself. It would have been wonderful to invite the friend who helped her achieve that.

“This is a hallway that should be walked in with a smile. Nothing is going as planned.”

“I’m sorry.”

Her wish to guide was fulfilled, but her mood was anything but pleasant. Jenny was still filled with regret. Besides, time wasn’t on our side.

“Before long, my father will call for you and your parents.”

“Surely, he must be pretty angry?”

“Of course! He can let you off, but your parents will definitely face punishment.”

Jenny stated decisively as she led the way to the Information Hall located in the mansion’s basement.

It was a library that also recorded detailed family matters. There would undoubtedly be traces of past family members.

“How many of your family graduated from Aligieri Academy?”

“About nine, including… my mother.”

Including my deceased mother, there would be ten diplomas within that Information Hall.

Given the Chain Silver family’s long history, the number of ancestors would be immeasurable. Many who couldn’t claim the lordship likely split off into branches.

Even those people could leave behind Aligieri diplomas.

“Here it is.”

I spotted things hanging on the wall along with a small frame. Unlike ordinary certificates, they boasted gorgeous golden edges.

It was evident that several diplomas were contained in a frame, presumably led by high-ranking elders.

“There are plenty from places other than Aligieri.”

“Of course. There are countless magic institutes across the continent.”

Many diplomas and certificates filled the walls tightly.

Among those achievements left by the Chain Silvers at various institutes, Jenny and I sought only the Aligieri Academy diplomas to take down.

“There are only nine here. Where’s the other one?”

“That one… is likely hanging in my father’s room.”

“….”

It seemed he cherished it due to the memory of his late wife. Upon entering his room, there was a framed certificate resembling a diploma placed on the shelf.

Anyway, we examined the nine diplomas we had detached. There should be a seal burning with blue flames among them.

“Not here!”

“Why not?”

“None are burning at all.”

The Eternal Flame did not burn on the diploma. I checked all nine meticulously, but there wasn’t any sign to be seen.

Despite the name being Eternal Flame, it wasn’t a flame that burned perpetually. What kind of topsy-turvy situation was this?

“Flame?”

“Yes, the blue flame attached to the diploma.”

“The blue flame….”

Jenny’s eyes lit up as she seemed to recall something. One of the traces left by her mother, the Aligieri diploma, occasionally showed a faint glow of blue flames in the sealed areas.

“But why do you need that?”

“So I can provide an explanation.”

Oblivious to her, Jenny tilted her head in confusion. But explaining would only lead to it being silenced anyway.

In the first place, I was searching for the Eternal Flame to explain the reason.

“Oh, there you are, Miss.”

At that moment, a maid opened the door to the Information Hall, looking for Jenny. Her name was Katia, and she was the head maid of the mansion.

She was an NPC who always appeared wherever I wandered in this mansion during the game. Talking to her allowed access to convenience systems like item repairs or storage.

“What’s the matter, Katia?”

“The lord just called for those scammers to his room. It seems he wants to have a talk, considering they’re the parents of your friend.”

“That was quicker than expected.”

It was faster than I thought. But this also created an opportunity for us to enter the lord’s room.

If I were to try entering outright, I would be chased away by the guards at the door, but as the son of the scammers, I now had a valid reason to enter.

“Let’s go check it out.”

“Okay.”

Where was the diploma hidden in the lord’s room…?

*

“I hope you’ll answer properly.”

“….”

The Crawler couple, summoned to the lord’s room, couldn’t utter a word.

Speaking should be easy, but the issue was they were being silenced against their will.

Currently, the person before them was Gerard Chain Silver, the head of the Chain Silver family.

His spiky brown hair matched that of his daughters, while he wore a noble’s suit; however, he didn’t seem the type to be adorned with extravagant jewelry or accessories.

He appeared to have climbed to this position through sheer strength and effort rather than luxury.

While ordinary eyes might not notice it, the Crawler couple, having endured many hardships, recognized his presence instantly.

‘Indeed, he’s a monster.’

The more experienced the magician, the better they could gauge the amount of mana a person constantly emitted. This man was on a realm several levels above their own six-circle existence. Even dragons or divine beasts would be cut down in an instant by his sword.

“I’ve been informed you remained silent even during the interrogation. Are you seriously planning to act that way in front of me as well?”

“….”

“I’ve arranged this one-on-one meeting because I heard you are the parents of our Jenny’s friend. It would be rather disappointing if you continue this way.”

Rotas and Skilla lamented internally. The situation was reminiscent of the kind that had led to the downfall of the Crawler family.

If it continued like this, they would just embarrass themselves and lose Jenny as a friend too. Given the situation, they had no choice but to resort to that method.

“We’re sorry.”

“We sincerely apologize.”

As the couple meekly offered apologies, Gerard tilted his head in confusion.

Was offering an explanation really that difficult?

Apologies were sufficient; they should just be truthful… Gerard was about to say.

“Lord, Miss and the friend of Miss are here.”

At the sound of a voice from outside, Gerard commanded them to let them in. As the door opened, his lovely eldest daughter and a boy he had never seen before entered the room.

“Pleasure to meet you. I am Radon Crawler, a first-year Combat Department student from Aligieri Academy.”

“You’re the friend Jenny mentioned?”

“That’s right.”

It seemed he had shared tales of his experiences at the academy with his father.

“I heard that thanks to your cooperation, our daughter’s Silver Age has been controlled. For that, I am genuinely grateful.”

“Just doing my part.”

“But… I never envisioned our first meeting would occur under such circumstances.”

“….”

I certainly never expected my parents would cause such an incident either. However, this was the only opportunity to resolve the issue.

“May I provide an explanation on behalf of my parents?”

“You…?”

With those words, I hurriedly scanned the room.

On the left wall, there were several books and frames placed on a shelf. Quickly walking over, I grabbed a diploma from the frame.

I accidentally knocked another frame to the ground but didn’t mind it. I pulled out the diploma and… saw blue flames still flickering upon it.

“What are you doing?”

Everyone looked on in shock at my unexpected actions. Damaging the duke’s possessions was hardly something anyone could get away with, even as a friend’s child.

Servants rushed toward me, attempting to restrain me, but I didn’t care anymore.

“It’s due to the curse! The Curse of Lies is the cause!”

Once again, the room filled with shocked faces.

The Chain Silver members wondered what on earth I was talking about, but my parents were on the verge of crying in disbelief at their inability to remain silent.

Living on as an Academy Scammer.