LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 25
Chapter 25. Not a Shining Star. A Bodhisattva. (2)
Waiting in someone else’s house until late at night is tough, even if they’re an acquaintance.
Typically, if you’ve waited for hours without them showing up, you would just give up or at least leave a note.
Moreover, I suddenly shoved my face forward, startling the homeowner with my sparkling hair, so there’s no way they’d overlook that.
“Sorry about earlier! I got a bit excited waiting for so long.”
At least this person had some manners.
Riplain Halo, the head of the Art Department, bowed his head and apologized. The polite gesture was quite dazzling as he leaned his head in.
“It’s just dinner time, aren’t you hungry? I thought of that and brought a few pizzas!”
Since he didn’t come empty-handed, it was clear he had some request.
I felt a bit peckish after walking around all day, but I had to hold back. If I ate that, I would fall into Riplain’s schemes.
‘Isn’t this kind of similar to when I was in Travel?’
As he was the head of the Art Department, the reason he was hunting me down was obvious.
“Why did you come to see me, Senior Riplain?”
Even though it was obvious, I asked to keep it casual.
“This painting. You did it, right?”
Just as I expected. Riplain displayed a painting through an Archive using a mirror, and it was the banner I made at the request of Crona Delaware.
Riplain, who was passionately obsessed with good art, would never overlook such a quirky painting. Pestering me was definitely a likely scenario, so dodging the question was one of my best options.
“Do you have proof that I drew it?”
“Don’t try to wriggle out of it. I overheard a conversation from the Newspaper Department.”
This is exactly why chatty people are problematic. I could deeply empathize with why villains silence such individuals.
“So, are you now planning to try to convince me to quit the Newspaper Department and join the Art Department?”
“Tch. It would be nice if you’d just do that on your own, but if you don’t want to, I won’t push it.”
Just as I was about to ask what he really wanted… Riplain slammed his forehead to the ground and bowed his head. Something flashed right before my eyes again.
“Please! I desperately want to trace this painting. May I have your permission?”
Ah… so that was it. I thought he was going to forcibly drag me into the Art Department again.
If he was waiting for copyright permission, I could understand, and I could empathize as I had similar experiences in the previous world.
I wouldn’t have much to do with paintings in the future, so I could show some leniency.
However, nothing in this world is free.
“I can help you anytime if you want.”
“Really?”
“But the result may differ depending on what you give me in return.”
“Sure! I already considered that. I’m genuinely grateful just for you agreeing!”
Riplain’s head sparkled even more as he showed a positive attitude.
“Now please lift your head. It’s uncomfortable.”
It was immensely uncomfortable. A light brighter than a flashlight was flickering before my eyes.
Finally, Riplain lifted his head and said,
“I prepared something just for this.”
He hadn’t just brought pizzas. On the floor was a basket he had brought in containing various holy relics. Riplain began pulling them out one by one.
“Our family is closely related to clerics, you see. We have countless holy relics. If you find something you like, feel free to choose.”
Clerics? So that’s why his head was so saintly fitting the divine nature… No, stop it.
The types of relics varied. Most were protective items useful against demon kind, and having one wouldn’t hurt anyone.
Among them, there were relics that granted immunity to curses… Thanks to that, Riplain was able to participate as a supportive character in Chapter 2’s final boss battle.
Wait, immunity?
“Senior Riplain.”
“What is it? Don’t you see anything you like?”
How did I not think of this earlier? There might be a relic among these that can lift this damn curse hanging over me!
“Do you have any relics related to curses? Something that grants immunity or release…”
“Sadly, there’s nothing that fully releases it. But why do you ask?”
“Just something I need.”
“Hmm…”
Riplain had an ambiguous expression, as if he was taking a heavy request. However, his eyes sparked with life as he pointed at a particular relic.
“This is probably the best option.”
What he selected was a small book-shaped relic. Upon receiving it, text appeared in thin air before me.
Riplain seemed unable to recognize it and had no reaction.
[You are afflicted by the ‘Liar’s Curse.’ To lift this curse, you must destroy its origins. Currently, it is impossible for you to sense its existence.]
The text, visible only to me, provided various bits of information.
“That relic is called a Divine Catalogue. If you have it with you while encountering demons or curses, it will reveal information through divine revelation. Does that sound appealing?”
It was unfortunate that it wouldn’t release the curse directly. However, just providing urgent information was plenty for me.
“Radon, are you afflicted by some curse?”
“Well, it’s actually… ■■■■.”
“What?”
“■■■■.”
I had forgotten. It was impossible to speak about the Liar’s Curse.
Even writing it down was out of the question. Noticing my silence, Riplain’s eyebrows twitched.
[You cannot reveal it to anyone. It’s currently impossible for you to speak it out. At the very least, to be able to mention it, you need the ‘Eternal Flame.’]
‘Eternal Flame?’
“What’s wrong? Did divine revelation say something cryptic to you?”
Eternal Flame. After clearing the Devil Arch’s ending countless times, I was well aware of it.
It was the grand blessing engraved on this Academy diploma, and it was the reason the protagonist Lyman Begilius entered the Academy.
Once I had the Eternal Flame, I would find a clue to escape this cursed life. If so, what I needed to do moving forward was quite simple.
“Thank you so much, Senior Riplain. Thanks to you, I was able to obtain something good.”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but it seems divine revelation provided you with some favorable information.”
“I’ll give you permission for tracing without worry.”
“Thanks a lot!”
Riplain grasped my hand and shook it vigorously up and down. I had no idea what kind of artwork he wanted to draw, needing the copyright permission with such a precious relic, but he didn’t seem to mind at all.
“It’s getting late, so I’ll take my leave. I’ll leave the pizzas here.”
“Ah, before you go, there’s something I’d like to say.”
I stopped Riplain, who was about to leave, and spoke the words I had prepared.
“Your hairstyle looks great, Senior.”
“What…?”
[Reduction of Erasure Rate: -10%]
[Job ‘Scammer’ experience points have increased.]
[+1000 Credits]
“Really luxurious!”
“…….”
[Reduction of Erasure Rate: -15%]
[Job ‘Scammer’ experience points have increased.]
[+1500 Credits]
Upon hearing that, Riplain Halo blinked rapidly. Eventually, he approached me again and whispered.
“I don’t know if that’s flattery or sympathy, but it’s unnecessary. Anyway, our family is like that, except for the women. The third generation all looks like this. Sympathy or mockery, I’m used to it. Well then.”
Riplain Halo spoke candidly and then headed back to the door. His back, without any further words, shimmered brilliantly, not just his head but his entire body.
As I watched him leave, I muttered softly.
“A saint….”
Or rather, a Guanyin Bodhisattva perhaps?
*
Having freed herself from the curse she thought was power, Jenny Chain Silver regained the appearance she had at the beginning of her enrollment.
With the cold demeanor vanished post the Lycanthrope incident, students began to flock to her like magnets.
To overcome the trauma of losing her mother, she aimed to become a better person and to do that; she had to embody the noble and strong qualities of her father.
Her mother loved such a bright and strong man like her father. Therefore, becoming the same person would be the best way to comfort her deceased mother and overcome past mistakes.
Thus, she maintained her nonchalant behavior, mingling with others and putting in efforts from the very beginning.
There were some hiccups due to heirloom issues, but both the heirloom and her mind… had completely returned to normal.
“Jenny, don’t you enjoy things like Nobel Records?”
“Nobel Records? Of course, I have them.”
Jenny replied to her friends’ questions.
With her long, flowing blue hair and a bright smile, she resembled a flowerbed blooming under a waterfall.
Amid the group of girls, Jenny’s outline stood out, but her preferences set her apart from her peers.
“[The Ghost’s Stabbing], [The Shadow That Dies Twice], [The Dark Soul], and many others.”
“Ugh… Just from that, I can tell they’re all action-packed dramas. Don’t you have anything else? Something romantic or love-related!”
“Not with romance. The only romantic thing for me is action.”
The only downside her classmates had about Jenny was her taste. Everyone knew she had excellent interpersonal skills, yet personal preferences just couldn’t be helped.
“Well then, you can’t just do that, Jenny. You must find a partner someday, so at least think of an imaginary spouse.”
“I already have it in mind. Someone who can rival me in strength and has a firm belief in their convictions.”
“Finding someone like that won’t be easy….”
Her classmates didn’t scold her hard. They all knew she was strong-willed.
With the subject on, Jenny thought to herself. Who would fit her requirements in her mind?
As her first candidate, Lyman Begilius. Although she was sure he was stronger than her, he was just too aloof, with many unknowns about him. Furthermore, the fact that he didn’t even show his face during the Lycanthrope incident was a definite minus.
The other Class A members also couldn’t be singled out. Most of them had some twisted aspect to their personalities.
A man who could match her in strength and upheld righteousness with his life…
There was only one man in existence!
The man who tied down three Lycanthropes with his life on the line… an achievement even the renowned Lyman couldn’t accomplish!
“Radon… Crawler….”
“What?!”
“Are you insane?”
The low murmured name shocked her classmates collectively.
What a thunderclap from a clear sky! How could she dare think of such a scammer…! They reacted similarly.
“Did you forget? Because of him, not only you but we all suffered as well.”
“I almost got ostracized because of the false rumors he spread!”
As expected, the onslaught of reproach was relentless. Still, Jenny, ignoring her intimidation, protested.
“But don’t you remember the incident that happened recently? If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t be here right now.”
I thought it might have worked, but… the eyes of the remaining students were still narrowed.
“That’s true, but instead of apologizing, he’s been spouting lies all over.”
“Yeah, that’s right! We were fools thinking he’d gotten his act together.”
“Just shake it off. No matter how you look at it, it’s clear he’s trying to ride on your coattails while being in Class C.”
Apologizing… they didn’t know that Radon and Jenny had already reconciled and gotten closer. Thinking back, Jenny suddenly became curious. It was a question she had harbored for a long time…
‘Why does Radon lie so much?’
Should she do some snooping along with it?
Surviving as the Academy Scammer.