LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 1
Surviving as an Academy Scammer
Chapter 1: How to Survive as a Scammer (1)
‘Devil Road Academia,’ shortened to Devilaca.
It appears to be a typical academy fantasy game, but I’ve been playing it for ten years.
As a result, I’ve grasped various settings and hidden elements that even the developers have likely forgotten, and I’ve strategized accordingly. It’s not an exaggeration to say I’ve mastered everything about this game.
Given my background, I often felt the urge to dive into the game myself and create new adventures and stories, rather than just following the developer’s settings.
Not because the operators fell short, but because I wanted to add my unique twist to the narrative.
Yet, if I were to enter, there was one thing I wished to ask the gods.
“Please, let me not get tangled up with a demon-like protagonist!”
If the protagonist were commonly a just and noble hero, I wouldn’t be making such a prayer, but this worldview contradicts that.
His personality is a mess, and he possesses insane munchkin-like powers.
However… I ended up cursing the gods.
*
“Hey, wake up.”
“What’s up? Why aren’t you getting up quickly?”
Oh, what the heck, it’s already morning…
“Who do you think you are, bossing me around in the morning? …Who are you guys?”
When I rubbed my eyes and sat up, I found a group of unknown boys standing there, blocking my way.
“Ha… this guy is trying to scam again. This time, what, amnesia?”
“Do we look like a joke to you? Where do you think you’re trying to scam?”
– Spit!
Several students that looked like thugs were surrounding one student, kicking at him and spitting on him.
“Come on… I told you to go to the Shopping District and buy a new wooden sword. Why do you keep ignoring me?”
“What about my staff? Didn’t you bring that either?”
The atmosphere was sadly reminiscent of what would be typical in any school. A few differences included sending someone out as a wooden sword or staff shuttle instead of a bread shuttle. And…
“I learned a new spell yesterday, should I try burning your earlobes off?”
The fact that they threatened me with a fireball instead of just fists indicated that this place was clearly different from the Earth I once knew.
“What are you looking at? Do we not even register in your sight?”
“Your mental training is seriously lacking!”
With bizarre justifications, they trammeled me down. As a person with poor resilience, I had to endure the pain. Fortunately, I wasn’t grilled with fireballs.
“Pretty soon, it’ll be the practical exam of the month, and if you don’t bring it, consider yourself dead.”
“Don’t forget the staff either. Even as Class C, you should know when to scam appropriately.”
As they left, I remained sprawled on the grass, lost in thought.
At this point, I had no choice but to admit it. This was the game I enjoyed playing, ‘Devil Road Academia.’
What on earth is this catastrophe?
“I was just playing the game like usual and went to sleep.”
‘No way…’
Feeling suddenly uneasy, I glanced around.
Then, spotting a lake next to the grass, I dashed over.
“Please… please let that not be the case…”
Upon seeing my reflection in the lake…
“Oh… no!!!!!!!”
I couldn’t help but scream.
*
The reason I was trampled by those guys existed. It was due to the original owner’s usual behavior of the body I possessed.
‘Radon Crawler’
A miserable supporting character labeled as a liar throughout the school. He was known for spinning tall tales, thus deserving to be beaten.
And here I am, stuck in the body of such a character, ending up like this.
‘He started with lies and ended with lies.’
I looked at the name on the name tag and recalled the memories.
Radon, he was the eldest son of a fallen family. Yet he didn’t see himself that way.
He considers himself still the prodigy of a prestigious family and flaunts nonsensically. This is all due to his father’s brainwashing.
Why would a father do such a thing to his child? Was there such a deep-rooted nostalgia for the family that it pushed his child to this point?
The reasons remain unclear, but Radon ultimately ended up becoming a delusional liar. Hence, it didn’t take long for him to be labeled as a scammer at the academy.
Inappropriately bragging despite being a fallen family naturally made him a thorn in the side for the students. The reason why I was just trampled upon is a part of that.
‘Being expelled in the future would also fall under such reasons.’
The future looked bleak already.
_____________________________
< Radon Crawler (16) >
Race: Human
Job: Scammer (Experience: 0/100%)
– HP: 10
– Strength: 7
– Intelligence: 4
– Stamina: 6
– Mana: 15/15
[Special Skill List]
– Deceive (Awareness Lv4, Action Perception Lv4, Acting Lv3)
[Living Skill List]
– Fishing (Bait Preparation Lv5, Casting Lv6, Line Control Lv4)
– Cooking Lv2
– Cleaning Lv1
– Crafting Lv2
[Combat Skill List]
– Swordsmanship Lv1
[Magic Skill List]
– Aura Mastery Lv1
_____________________________
His stats are too low, and aside from his fishing talent, there’s nothing remarkable.
From this, it could be inferred that it was quite serious. The fact that such an utterly average body was going around bragging at the academy says a lot.
In other words, he’s become a prime target for the bullies.
Naturally, their violence cannot be justified. But it’s true that Radon has no excuse to complain about getting beaten.
He doesn’t know his place, can’t fend for himself, has immense overconfidence, and he certainly isn’t a good person, constantly talking nonsense.
Where else would you find someone so perfect for beating?
‘A comprehensive gift set has arrived.’
To put it bluntly, that meant a peaceful academy life was out of the question. I was destined to be reduced to a punching bag like I just was.
‘But I still really don’t understand. Why did that father of mine implant such a suggestion in me?’
Doubts started creeping in. Did he really not foresee that his son’s academy life would turn to ruin?
Yet, there was a reason for everything. That could be determined through another window at the bottom of the status screen.
< ‘Curse of the Liar’ Erosion Rate - 20/100% >
I’d seen curse screens while playing the game, but I had never encountered this kind of curse.
When I touched it to check, a thought struck me: ‘Well, this guy is also pitiful.’
It was a curse where lying was the only way to survive. Once the erosion rate hit 100, it meant instant demise. This curse has reportedly taken root throughout the entire Crawler family.
The sole way to reduce the erosion rate is to lie in front of others. It doesn’t matter if they believe you or not.
That being said, one could say it was this curse that transformed my father’s son into a liar.
*
‘I am still a noble young master!’
‘I have over 100 lovers!’
‘Behind me wait 8,000 subordinates!’
Silence—
Nothing happened. The erosion rate remained the same.
“It seems muttering to myself doesn’t have any effect.”
I felt downcast as my shoulders drooped.
Unless I do it in front of everyone, it’s just meaningless babble.
Feeling embarrassed to say such ridiculous things in public adds to the shame.
Suddenly, I wanted to reevaluate Radon.
‘With such a fatal shackle, why was it never mentioned in the story?’
If this existed, I should have sought help from the academic staff. Rather than making foolish boasts about being a noble.
If it was too awkward to say directly, I should’ve written a secret letter to reveal it.
Isn’t there a significant number of clerics in this academy?
Knock knock—
“Excuse me.”
“Come in.”
The door I knocked on was the infirmary. One of the recovery points in Devilaca. Inside, a blonde professor sat.
‘Professor Stella Vermillion.’ The establishment’s caretaker and the warm woman who heals drained HP. She also happens to be a cleric dispatched from the sect in the story.
“I believe you were Radon Crawler, right? You’ve become quite infamous around here, though not in the best way.”
“Y-yes… that’s me.”
“What brings you here… oh my, let me look at your injuries.”
I didn’t just come due to the curse. I couldn’t ignore the bruises I got from getting trampled by the thugs.
Thus, I now had a reason to stop by the infirmary.
“You’ve been hurt quite badly. Who did this to you?”
“There was just a slight scuffle. It’s my own doing, though.”
“Oh dear… well, please sit here.”
Following Professor Stella’s order, I sat on the bed. She observed my injuries and gathered holy power in her hands. As she gently caressed my wounds with her radiant hands, they all healed up.
“Fortunately, it wasn’t a magical injury, so it ended quickly. Be careful next time.”
“Thank you.”
“And I’d like to give you some advice.”
Professor Stella looked at me seriously.
“For reasons I don’t understand, it might be wise to refrain from lying. You’ll soon be an adult. Otherwise, you might get hurt worse than today. Understand?”
She was a bright and kind person concerned about her students. From the nuances of her words, it seemed she guessed why I was beaten.
“I understand. From today on, I will prioritize my own standing.”
“Oh my, you’re surprisingly articulate?”
I heard rumors she was a strange one who usually started bragging without prompt, but she looked bewildered, unlike the stories.
“Professor, may I ask you something as well?”
“Feel free to ask.”
I adopted a serious expression. Given she was a cleric, she would likely take the curse seriously.
“There’s a curse I’m afflicted with, and I’m wondering if you could help me with it.”
“Hmm?”
I asked naturally.
Upon hearing my words, the professor tilted her head and inquired.
“Just now, what did you want help with?”
“…”
I blinked in astonishment, displaying an incredulous expression.
To my surprise, the only part of my statement she registered was a request for help. All mention of the curse had been muted.
‘What I just said was something about me being under a ■■ curse. Can you help me?’ apparently was what she heard.
That’s right. There’s no way to communicate about this curse to anyone. My means of asking for help were blocked.
“Ah… it’s nothing. I apologize for saying something unnecessary.”
“Hmm.”
Feeling desolate, I offered an apology. Stella, having heard something odd, rolled her eyes but seemed completely unaware.
Even if I encountered every cleric in the world, it would be the same.
“Well, I’ll take my leave now.”
“Take care.”
“By the way! One last thing.”
As I opened the door, I added a few words.
“This year, you will surely find a spouse, I guarantee it!”
“Thank you for the encouragement. Just hearing that gives me strength.”
Professor Stella replied with a bright smile.
“Well then, goodbye!”
The moment I closed the door behind me.
[Erosion Rate Decreased: -1%]
[Experience for the job ‘Scammer’ has increased.]
[+100 Credits]
The erosion rate dropped. Because just now, I lied.
Finding a spouse, huh? I know from watching the ending that… that will never happen.
…Honestly, I felt a pang of guilt for saying it.
Surviving as an Academy Scammer