The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students

6.

When I returned to life, obsession started to flood in.

“Y-Yuto. Are you really alive?”

“Yuto! I told you, you little brat! I said you’d be alive!”

“Ugh, Yuto, I’m so sorry…”

“Seriously, calm down, guys.”

There were so many of them gathered.

It was too chaotic to settle down.

The aftermath of the ‘Hell of No Intervals’ hadn’t even worn off yet. A single tap could send me crashing down.

“How on earth did you survive?!”

So it has come to this.

The impurities that appeared in the low-tier space-time were monsters beyond the capabilities of a single student. It was only natural they had questions. I spat out the answer I had thought up in advance.

“They disappeared.”

“Huh?”

“They just went somewhere.”

“What?”

Even if they found it hard to believe, there was no way for them to know.

I was the only one there, and they’d find it even harder to believe I had taken it down alone.

“They disappeared? But the space-time…”

Instructor Julia brushed aside her doubts.

It was a creature that appeared without any explanation. The absence could also be inexplicable.

“I understand how you feel, Instructor Julia, but I’ll guide Yuto to the recovery room.”

“Yuto, I’m sorry. It’s just so unbelievable…”

My party members who had been holding onto me fell silent with looks of embarrassment. I was really okay.

Thanks to you guys, my experience points were skyrocketing.

Keep it up!

Hmm?

Just as I was about to move to the recovery room following the instructor, I suddenly felt an obvious gaze. I smiled at the person in question.

“Did you see that? Returnee?”

Of course, I didn’t know how she would take it. But it was highly likely that her perception of me had flipped a hundred eighty degrees.

[‘Laura Freeze’s’ obsession grows stronger.]

[Experience points increase ‘dramatically’.]

The system window kindly informed me of this.

It seemed the stronger the obsession of the subject, the greater the growth experience points would be.

What a steal.

Including Ellie Ingrid, whom I had already paved the way with, my future was looking up.

“Oh my, was it Yuto?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What a surprise… This must be a mistake in the chart.”

The female instructor in charge of the healing arts was looking at me, barely covering her mouth in astonishment.

“Your physical condition is quite good? Why the difference from your profile when you enrolled?”

Oh, is that so?

Considering I had poured all my remaining experience points into physical abilities to deal with the ‘Hell of No Intervals’, I had ended up slightly above average. I adjusted my clothing as I was changing for treatment.

“It’s thanks to not slacking off in my training.”

“Really? I heard you were under house arrest…”

“I didn’t slack off even while detained.”

“W-wow, that’s amazing.”

I definitely had some audacity.

After finishing my treatment, I headed straight out of the recovery room. There were matters I wanted to take care of immediately, so I had to hurry.

“There they are.”

Of course, the one I was looking for was that ‘returnee’. I had the bait, and now it was just a matter of reeling them in.

But who are they talking to?

“Wait… that small, cheeky kid…”

With her white twin braids and cat-like face, I often saw her illustration in threads titled ‘ㄱㅇㅇ’ on gaming communities.

“Cletta Barriet…”

The kid talking to Laura Freeze was one of the main characters and a companion of the protagonist. An important role but often treated like a backdrop in the later parts…

“Did I hasten the timing?”

It was premature to contact Cletta Barriet. With various unpredictable routes, there was no benefit in recklessly approaching, so I planned to handle her with care. She may be a backdrop, but she was definitely a necessary asset.

But that returnee was already getting involved. I didn’t know the details, but it seemed wise to act before getting into a troublesome route.

“Laura.”

“……”

“Who…? Your boyfriend?”

As I raised my hand, Laura Freeze shot me a look of disdain. Following that, Cletta Barriet’s uncomfortable gaze flew at me as well.

“Let’s put our conversation on hold for now, Cletta.”

“Oh, is that so? I’m fine anytime.”

Say what?

What?

Tell me too!

But Cletta Barriet quickly left her position. In the end, only the returnee and I were left standing awkwardly.

“Laura. Do you trust me now?”

“I know you’re not a fraud now.”

“Thank you for your trust.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. That doesn’t mean I completely trust you.”

I know. You’re a piece of work.

Did I mix up some cement?

This conversation was annoyingly stuck.

“How can I earn your trust?”

“Just do it yourself. I’d prefer if you didn’t interfere.”

Most of the things messed up are because you’re the main culprit, but I masked my thoughts and gazed in the direction where the ‘tank girl’ had disappeared.

“That earlier person was ‘Cletta Barriet’, right?”

“……Did you know that through a fortune teller? That she’s a candidate for my companions.”

“I knew. But I thought it might have been a hasty judgment.”

Laura Freeze narrowed her eyes.

“You’re just being nosy. She’s a necessary asset.”

“I’m saying the approach was wrong.”

I couldn’t know what conversation passed between them, but the way Laura Freeze dealt with ‘Cletta Barriet’ in the game was incorrect. The key to coaxing the tank girl was ‘relationship building’.

If she didn’t understand that route, Cletta’s bad ending was bound to come sooner.

“…I don’t know what future you know about, but Cletta was also my aide in the last round. I know her much better than you do.”

No, you don’t know anything.

That’s why you sacrificed your companions.

Foolish protagonist.

Selfish protagonist.

Unfortunate protagonist.

That was the narrative of the protagonist ‘Laura Freeze’. And I, who knew all those facts, had an obligation to not let her go.

The more I advised her, the more she would rebel, messing things up.

And if that happened, she would become an even more useless human.

Little by little, I planned to gaslight and etch that point into her.

“By the way, from now on, let’s speak comfortably. I’m older than you, after all.”

Laura Freeze’s arrogance reached a peak.

She had returned four years.

In South Korea, I was twenty-eight.

What’s with being twenty-eight?

“Do as you please. But be cautious when contacting Cletta. An appropriate time will come soon.”

“Don’t interfere. Do you think being a prophet makes you a god?”

Damn, you really do it well.

Yeah, do as you please and taste the bitterness.

Just as I was about to wrap up the conversation, I felt a presence behind me.

“I finally found you!”

Surprisingly, it was Ellie Ingrid who had come looking for me.

“What’s up, Ellie?”

Why aren’t you off making money?

Her appearance was a sight to behold.

The classy demeanor she used to exude was nowhere to be found, and dark circles had descended under her eyepatch, while her plump cheeks had hollowed out, making her look slightly gaunt.

“E-Ellie..?”

It seemed the returnee was more shocked. Laura Freeze must’ve been contrasting that appearance with her knowledge of her.

“Yuto… It’s awkward to say this, but…”

“Go ahead…”

“Could you adjust the settlement money a little?”

Unable to raise her head, she was trying to keep her pride intact. Ellie Ingrid was tapping her finger while pouting.

“No way. I’m not changing it. Go back.”

“Ugh…”

Ellie looked defeated as though she had lost a nation.

I didn’t feel sorry at all.

She needed to hit rock bottom for a bit.

In fact, she still had a long way to go.

“Is there really no way..?”

Oh, how the proud young lady was begging and pleading like this. It might be a bit early, but should I switch to Phase ‘2’?

“If you really want that, I can introduce you to a high-paying job.”

“Is there really such a position?”

“Of course.”

“Wow! Wow!”

She was thrilled beyond words.

Ellie Ingrid clasped her hands together, tears and snot pouring down her face.

“Ellie…”

Laura Freeze approached Ellie Ingrid with a shuffling gait.

“Who are you?…”

It was a first encounter for Ellie Ingrid, unlike the returnee. Laura Freeze seemed to want to say something to her, her lips twitching.

As expected.

“You… you weren’t like that.”

They must be saying some nonsensical things.

Who knows each other better?

That’s ridiculous.

Your obsession with your companions is intense.

“Ellie, let’s move before it’s too late.”

“Oh, yes.”

I left the dazed Laura Freeze behind and exited the academy with Ellie.

“But… Yuto, where are we going for this job?”

The twilight was slowly licking the land and draping it in darkness.

What a good time.

I smiled faintly at Ellie Ingrid.

“To the slums.”

She didn’t respond.