Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

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98th Chapter: Magic Fight vs Agari Fight (2)

A droplet fell to the floor beneath Heidern’s feet.

Deep underground in the Sanctuary, there was a massive waterway. The structure looked like it should have been flowing with filthy underground water in modern times, but the water was instead as clear and beautiful as a mirror-like pond.

There was a presence that felt unbelievable for the architecture of this era. Adding to it, a beautifully-shaped moth was fluttering around in this dirty space as an extra.

Like everyone else, Heidern was unexpectedly swept into this mysterious place.

He quickly deduced, as the Vice-Principal, that this was the Void Space often used during exams.

“This is a place I’ve never seen before. Do I actually remember setting something like this up?”

Having overseen numerous exams, he had created many testing fields. It would not be an exaggeration to say that all the practical exams and field experiments so far had been constructed by him.

However, he had never created a field with an atmosphere like this Sanctuary. While he could make something like it, considering it would take days to construct, it was a bit strange.

‘Maybe this field was already created long ago… But if it were, I should know about it.’

There were many questions, but what mattered now was judgment as the Vice-Principal. He could postpone the investigation of this field until later and should find others first.

When he flew into this place, he’d noticed the golems exhibiting strange reactions. The cause of this phenomenon was likely the golems, and given that they were scattered throughout the Academy, there was a high chance that students were involved as well.

First, he needed to find others who had also gotten involved…

-Everything’s just a waste of time.

At the voice that resonated from nowhere, Heidern suddenly lifted his head. His gaze turned toward a turquoise moth fluttering in the air.

The suddenly multiplying moths swirled around like a whirlwind. And then they spoke.

-Do you truly believe you are qualified as the Vice-Principal, Human?

“You…!”

This was the same tone he had heard from the golems before flying here. Moreover, that moth-like entity felt strangely familiar.

-Give it up, Human. Your qualifications to manage the Academy or lead students have long since disappeared.

“Shut your nonsense! Just a created spirit, and you dare do this!”

That creature was undoubtedly the artificial spirit “Mosria,” born through a collaboration of the Academy’s board members and two officials from the Royal Family.

The master craftsman family of golem manufacturing, the Baimon students, took care of the overall production, while the officials handled the latter part.

He vividly remembered that it had been designed so that it couldn’t harm humans.

“Was it you who sent me here? What happened to the others within the Academy? If you’re planning something malicious, I won’t let you get away with it.”

He wasn’t sure why, but the creature’s words seemed illogical. Qualifications for managing the Academy and leading students disappeared? It made no sense.

If that were true, the Principal wouldn’t trust him with the Academy while taking most of the board members out into the capital.

Though a shocking incident had occurred, it had long passed. He had already shaken off any trauma from that time. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been able to carry on so calmly until now.

Look! I’m still standing strong. I have to be strong.

There’s no way I would fall for such tricks…

-You still believe in your Master, yet how can you be so devoted?

“Ugh…!”

Suddenly, it felt as if his heart had been stabbed, and Heidern let go of the boiling passion within him. He clutched his desolate heart as if he couldn’t breathe.

-You still cling to Elder Enviel’s warmth. You say you are responsible for the Academy while serving the one who put it in danger? Please act with some consistency, Human.

“No… I…”

-Of course, it must have been shocking for you, but the reason you’ve managed to stay in the Vice-Principal position until now is merely due to mental victory, isn’t it? Saying that your Master wouldn’t act that way.

He had pretended to be fine. Standing here was nothing but a desperate attempt to maintain his status.

It was absurd that the Vice-Principal of the Empire’s top Academy was clinging to past memories. Yet, unable to let go of memories with his Master, he had twisted his thoughts.

More people began to speak ill of his Master after the incident. It was only natural. However, those words gnawed at Heidern’s mind like parasites. Enduring that torment without changing was impossible.

-Your Master is undoubtedly an evil person, Human. Didn’t you realize it when it was revealed he is part of Doomsday?

“That’s not true… Master… Father…”

-My creator is affiliated with you Aligieri associates… and the two advisors of the Royal Family. Their other names are Epsilon & Zeta of Doomsday.

“What?”

-They are indeed disciples of Elder Enviel.

The revelation of their involvement in the creation of the artificial spirit made Heidern’s eyes widen.

While it was said they helped, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they did 70% of the entire work themselves. The artificial spirit utilizing the golem project had been initiated by the Royal Family in the first place.

“Doomsday has infiltrated the Royal Advisors?”

If that shocking fact were true, there would likely be flaws in Mosria. Otherwise, this situation couldn’t be explained. However, there was a weakness.

“But even if the area we touched upon was lacking, we ensured thorough supervision. We wouldn’t have missed your flaws!”

-That’s right, Human. I act of my own volition, without anyone’s brainwashing. Yet, the reason for this behavior is that I have learned the malice of you Humans. This is all your doing.

It couldn’t be conclusively stated that humans hadn’t shown Mosria bad behavior.

The piles of golems stacked at the metal processing plant explained everything.

Despite urging to treat golems like friends, how many students actually practiced that? No matter how much they could be reproduced, it was still excessive waste.

-The will of the two advisors is the will of Elder Enviel. I was born more or less from Elder Enviel’s ideas. To learn the malice of humanity.

“What…?”

-The Elder sees the future. My actions are also his will. Now, choose, Human.

Should he face the harsh reality and endure the pain… or indulge in the sweet scent for a moment of happiness?

But Heidern’s eyes were already dead.

Starving at his limit, his desolate heart could hardly care for sweetness or anything else.

*

The students were scattered, thoroughly searching the Void Space field.

The conclusion drawn was similar to the main story: they needed to find the core of Mosria to escape. Back then, they were frightened the golems might attack, but now, there was nothing to worry about.

“Isn’t this odd? They look like they’re about to become our enemies, yet why aren’t they attacking?”

“That’s true. It feels like looking at a statue that’s meant to be threatening.”

I, Jenny, and Crona teamed up to search. Usually, the golems that were supposed to hinder would simply follow us around.

They appeared indecisive about whether they wanted to fight or not. Naturally, I was doing my part to provoke them.

-Target, Crona Delaware. Acquiring algorithm.

But as the saying goes, words can have consequences. The creatures that had lost the ability to wield weapons began attacking with their mouths instead.

Just a moment ago, I and Jenny had been attacked, but it wasn’t to the point of unbearable pain. Remembering that, Crona puffed out her chest proudly and said:

“Hmph! Have fun playing around. As the noble lady of the Delaware Family, I shall not be played around by your trifling tongues…”

-You’re a coward pretending to be noble. Your unfounded arrogance pierces the sky.

“What…?”

-Wasting money like a pro. You’re going to treat even a children’s card game like an important house visit.

“….”

Crona’s eyebrows twitched at the sudden verbal blow. It wasn’t wrong, so she couldn’t argue back, which made her hands tremble.

Trying hard to act nonchalant, she forced a smile, but her reddening eyes gave her away.

“Hahaha! Is that all you have? If you think I’m weak enough to be shocked by facts I already know, you are sorely mistaken.”

-The bug is panicking while being knee-deep in trouble, Crona Delaware. It’s already widespread among the students and yet you pretend as if nothing is wrong.

“Ugh…!”

-You claimed you don’t read romance, yet you have the entire collection in your dorm. The noise of you crying every night out of grief can even be heard from the next room.

“What… what are you talking about? When did I…!”

The smile she had managed to keep melted away in just a second.

But she hadn’t even begun.

-Dear my Queen of Snow, this is utterly hilarious.

“Y-yes…?”

In an instant, Crona’s face went pale.

When she heard that, Jenny tilted her head in confusion. It goes without saying who the Queen of Snow was referring to.

The golem’s barrage continued.

-It’s disgusting that you obsess over the female student. Wake up, Human; it’s a harsh reality that two females cannot be tied together.

“Ah… no!”

-Nobody should rummage through her room. There exists a filthy space filled with items collected from the female student.

“Shut up!”

-Her lost toothbrush, her soiled t-shirt, a bottle filled with sweat, writing tools, notebooks, fingernails, hair. At this point, it’s practically a museum level.

“Kuhuhuh!”

Crona began to gag as if her insides had been torn apart. But the one who should be most worried wasn’t her.

“Jenny, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I already knew everything.”

Jenny approached Crona without a care. As she did, Crona began muttering strange words.

“I’ve been exposed… I’ve been exposed. I’ve been exposed. I’ve been exposed.”

“Hey, Crona. The truth is…”

Suddenly—

Before I could finish my sentence, Crona shot her head up. Her eyes had transformed into something eerie, glaring fiercely at Jenny.

“Since it has come to this… since it has come to this…”

“…!”

“Since it has come to this!!”

In a moment, she lunged at Jenny. Crona’s eyes, visible in Jenny’s line of sight, were filled with desire.

“Kuhuhuh! I’ve held back until now, but I can’t anymore. Jenny Chain Silver, now that I’ve been exposed, there’s no need to hide anymore!”

The scene of a girl pouncing on another girl was etched into my vision.

What am I witnessing right now?

Of course, it wasn’t exactly a strange scene from my perspective. Considering Crona’s character, it didn’t feel too out of place…

“I’ll make you mine from this day forth! Absolutely!!”

No, I need to correct my thoughts.

Forget the character; she was just a lunatic among lunatics.

How is it so hard to find a proper character among the cast?

“Radon, go ahead.”

“What?”

“I’ll do my best to calm Crona down.”

Well, Jenny was the only person who could rein in Crona.

But hearing what Jenny said felt like one of those clichés like, “Leave it to me and hurry on!”

Anyway, I thought I’d leave it to Jenny and continue on my way.

“Hurry up. While I’m holding her back.”

“Craaah!”

Jenny was using her strength to hold back the Crona trying to assault her. It was a situation where one could easily mistake her for a protagonist struggling to save survivors in a zombie movie.

Tears trickled down my face. How touching.

…Right, that’s total crap!

Swoosh!—

“Quack!”

Unable to bear the disgust, I adjusted my power and slapped Crona’s head, who had summoned Leviathan.

In that moment, a distorted scream erupted from Crona.

“Stop the unnecessary show and let’s search, okay?”

“Radon Crawler, ugh… don’t get in my way…”

“Do you want another hit?”

“Eek! I’m sorry…”

Crona, whose complaints were dismissed, groaned in apology.

Was there any need to hash it out here? Once we go out, we could resolve it. Just wait a bit longer. I know where Mosria’s core is.

It was practically the end of this part.

Surviving as the Academy Scammer.