NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 74
Chapter 74: It Was Dirty Together…
<"Busted: Students Spreading False Rumors. Had the audacity to fabricate information about Class A students?!">
– The root of the incident lies in trivial grudges and jealousy. It’s not uncommon for disparaging posts about other students to appear on the Archive student bulletin board. Anonymously posted comments often receive bomb-like rebuttals saying not to harbor feelings of inferiority.
– However, the more distant the target, the more participants there are in the slander. Those in higher places have both enemies and allies, making them ever ready to side with enemies and tear others down.
– The fabricators harbored resentment against Radon Crawler and posted nonsense related to him on the bulletin board. Usually, it would have been quickly buried, but a post claiming, “I stayed in the same mansion as Jenny Chain Silver during the vacation!” became a hot topic and inflated the rumors.
– If the intent was solely to target Radon Crawler, that would be one thing. But because of the rumors they spread, innocent students suffered too. There’s no need to mention the mental damage done to Jenny Chain Silver due to that twisted rumor.
– Radon Crawler, notorious for being a scammer—yet now, it’s hard to tell who the real scammer is. But these faces will remain in the memories of all the students. You, reading this, are one of them!
(Published by ‘Newspaper Department Head’ Trisha Marillin)
I recited the newspaper Trisha had written through the Archive. It contained not just lengthy writings but also images and identities of those wretched individuals.
There were six main culprits, and two of them had familiar faces that made me click my tongue.
‘These are the guys I first encountered when I got here.’
Bree and Rudical—who once bullied me. Not only was our first meeting in a ditch, but what they did was no better than radioactive waste.
I thought they had faded into obscurity since then. If only I had known they’d surface again, I should have pressured them often to instill fear.
‘Still, once their faces spread throughout the school, it would only be a matter of time before they’re buried.’
It was Lyman who dragged the fleeing rascals to the gymnasium. It was surprising that he, the merciless protagonist, helped me, so I asked, and he dismissed it with a single word.
– Just bored.
His short and concise response was absurd, yet it seemed very much like him. He must have felt awkward admitting he helped me.
Moreover, he was just starting to get close to the academy officials. It’s possible that his heart softened due to blossoming feelings of camaraderie.
“How’s it look?”
“Not bad. The faces are well-captured, so it will spread far and wide.”
“It’s a fitting karma. They wanted to bury us but ended up getting buried instead. So, I added a bit of force when striking them.”
“Thanks for your hard work. But what’s that?”
I was suddenly drawn to the alcohol bottle in Trisha’s shoulder as she shrugged. The moment I asked, her face lit up as if it were a good question.
“It’s my roommate’s birthday today, so I prepared a little gift. I’m sure she’ll like it.”
It looked like an upscale bottle of liquor. The label design seemed perfect for a Friday night with snacks.
But being careless in front of Trisha was a no-no. Using ‘Mana,’ I checked the alcohol content…
‘What the…!’
It was bright red liquor. Not just bright, it was blood red. Throwing a party with such an abnormal alcohol content would lead to disaster.
At a minimum, if someone lacks alcohol tolerance, they’d likely black out, and there’s a high chance they’d turn into a “monster.” Yet the label of this dangerous drink looked pristine.
– Are they fooling themselves that their liquor is safe? These lunatics.
“Senior, do you know what the alcohol concentration is?”
“Well, I just thought the bottle looked pretty and luxurious, so I bought it. Do you happen to know anything?”
You should have asked the merchant before buying. Why is it that people who get fooled by packaging are so consistent?
But really, do they think drinking this will actually kill them? No matter how high the concentration, it couldn’t possibly be lethal…
“I saw someone I know drink this during break.”
[Absorption Rate Decrease: -3%]
[+300 Credits]
“They were barely drunk and said it was sweet, savoring it. It looked like something even a child could drink.”
“Really? If that’s the case, our junior could safely enjoy it too.”
Trisha hopped with relief. Her roommate must be a first-year student.
However, there’s a rule: a lie must contain at least 1% of truth. That way, one can bear a bit of responsibility.
“But be careful. I can’t give a certain answer since I haven’t tried it myself. It might not be as toxic according to my acquaintance’s taste.”
[Absorption Rate Decrease: -2%]
[+200 Credits]
“So please don’t just take my word for it and drink recklessly…”
“It’s okay. Just having a good review is enough. And besides, it’s a birthday gift, and it cost a lot, so it’s a waste to keep it all to myself. Right?”
So she plans to drink with her roommate? Ignoring my advice?
What a fool among fools.
Anyway, I gave her the warning. It’s not my fault if she disregards it since it’s Trisha after all.
Of course!
Once the club activities were over, the members parted ways. I returned to the dorm around dinner time, finished my meal and cleaning, and lay down on my bed.
I was trying to go to sleep earlier than usual.
[Absorption Rate Decrease: -110%]
[+1100 Credits]
I can’t believe she’d really drink it…
*
[Radon Crawler, I have something to discuss, come to the Unique Hall office. (Cage Revola)]
After the morning class ended the next day, an announcement arrived through the Archive during the lunch hour, a time I had to spare.
At first, I thought it was a sudden summons. But upon seeing Luska already sitting there, I recalled the request she had made to me.
“You’ve come. Sit down.”
I took a polite posture and sat beside Luska. She was also trying her best to maintain a demure appearance.
Her neatly arranged school uniform made her impression especially lovely. Yet her eyes showed fatigue, as if she hadn’t slept the previous night.
“I’m sorry to trouble you, Radon student.”
“It’s fine. I’m just sorry if I’m wasting your precious time.”
“No need to be so formal.”
Satisfied with my polite demeanor, Cage shook his head and smiled before turning his attention to Luska.
“The reason I called you is none other than Luska’s request. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes.”
The Luska sitting next to me flashed a charming smile.
Once a bloodthirsty fox, it seems she has transformed into a cheeky one.
“As I mentioned earlier, I want to change rooms.”
Right, that was the reason why Luska had struck me in the back of the head before the exams. I had been too surprised that she was helping me to have thought of it.
“What’s the reason?”
“My roommate is unacceptable.”
“….”
The reason was surprisingly simple yet highly relatable. The real enemies within the academy aren’t the assignments or competition, but the very peers in the same living group.
If you can at least find someone you connect with among them, you can accept other issues without a word. But living groups are crawling with all sorts of people. If it’s truly a den of humans, such a paradise should not be expected.
– Even if there existed something like ‘heartfelt letters,’ I couldn’t imagine that resolving the issue.
“It seems you often quarrel with your roommate. However, those things are always there, like pebbles in a gravel pit. In the past, I had many students from the third-year hall making the same request, but even when I granted it, the same issues occurred frequently.”
There may be problems between roommates, but issues arising from the system are inevitable also. People always behave the same.
If it were easy to meet someone you resonate with, this world wouldn’t be like it is today.
“Even if you share a room with Radon, there’s no guarantee that the lingering resentment will be resolved. Do you understand?”
“I don’t care. It’s all on me for cleaning and laundry, and they never rearrange the drawers or desks or mutter to themselves while enjoying Nobel records at night. Radon Crawler wouldn’t do that.”
Luska subtly praised me.
My chest puffed out involuntarily.
It seemed her evaluation was strong due to the time we spent together over the past few days.
“On the other hand, those other three don’t listen even if I warn them repeatedly. Last night, they forced their way through the alcohol they brought, and I thought I was meeting deceased family members.”
So that’s why her eyes looked weary.
But just how strong was the liquor they consumed that it brought thoughts of life and death?
“There are a staggering three such people in the same room! Three of them…!”
Luska, who couldn’t raise her voice rudely in the Unique Hall, spoke with difficulty while trying to suppress her anger.
Cage, understanding her feelings, gave a wry smile.
“But you managed to endure through the first semester. Why are you complaining now?”
“I might sound like a coward, but back then I didn’t care what they did. My vision was narrowed by revenge, so I had no regard for their inconveniences. But now that my perspective has returned… I want them all gone.”
There was something oddly peculiar about Luska’s words, which came from a refreshing smile. It felt like she could stab someone with a knife while smiling just like that.
Since she wasn’t actually angry, I couldn’t fault her for it.
“But you know, right? Requests for room changes are a common occurrence; you can only do that once during your time at the academy. So you must decide carefully.”
“Yes, I’m asking you for this even when I know it.”
You can request a change if there are people you can’t get along with.
However, it’s a one-time opportunity. Plus, both the department head’s permission and the consent of the resident of the room you want to move to are required.
It seems I’ve nearly secured the department head’s permission, and now it’s just the resident’s approval left…
“Speaking of which, Radon student.”
“….”
“Luska wants to live in your room. Will you accept?”
So now it’s just my permission left. If I give the nod, Luska will be sharing a two-person room with me starting tomorrow.
“Well, Radon. The choice is now yours.”
Suddenly, Luska shot me a sparkling look.
Though I initially aimed for a single room, I couldn’t refuse her request this time.
It was Luska who had excluded me, so I had to grant any wish of hers.
“Yes… I will allow it.”
The deal was sealed in an instant. With Radon and Cage’s agreements falling into place, there was nothing stopping it now.
Luska quickly packed up all her things and left the room. Her former roommates shouted sadly for her not to go, but she merely gave them the finger.
In a last desperate gasp, they cried, “We treated you well! Weren’t you happy together?”
At that, Luska turned her head and said…
“Yeah, it was dirty together, and let’s not see each other again. Goodbye!”
…as she gracefully departed from the entire dormitory.
*
The third-year hall had the most students, splitting its buildings into several parts. Luska’s former dorm was quite far from my room.
Though Luska became my roommate starting today, I didn’t have to think too negatively about it. It meant I could observe the movements of the main characters up close.
Jenny and Mary always approached me, but Luska’s solitary nature made interactions burdensome. But now that worry was gone.
‘It’s not all bad.’
While she unpacked her luggage in the room, I headed to the newspaper department office. It was a day I could take a break due to exams, but it wouldn’t hurt to do today’s work today.
As soon as I arrived at the office, I saw Trisha’s face. Her eyes were red, and her makeup was smeared by tears, painting her face black.
“Huhuhuhuh… Huhhh.”
“Wha, what is it! You’re not a ghost or anything.”
Trisha was making a sound that could scare anyone just by hearing it.
Her face and voice seemed inhuman.
What’s suddenly going on?
“Radon…! I’m so sad.”
“Why? Did you lose your Nobel Record?”
“No.”
“Did you get dumped?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
It wasn’t either of these.
Don’t keep me in the dark; let me know too, okay?
“My roommate left.”
“Uh?”
“My roommate, who felt like a real sister… do you know what she said to us? It was dirty together, and we shouldn’t see each other again… Waaahhh!”
“….”
Something feels very off here….
Surviving as an Academy Scammer.