Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

30th Episode. Who Cursed?

What would I think if the guy I cursed saved me?

A loyal person would eat their words, while a pathetic human would repay it with ingratitude.

Or, someone with a prickly personality would surely spout a remark that would bring irritation, claiming they never asked for help.

It may not be identical, but I’m certainly stuck in such a scenario at this moment.

“Did you just call me a bastard?”

Where on earth is the protagonist slacking off? There was a mild suspicion.

But in this crisis situation, a curse slipped out.

When doubt transforms into blame, a person goes completely mad. No, I shouldn’t be thinking about that right now.

– Acting Lv5

– Perception Lv5

– Behavior Detection Lv5

“D-did I just say that? What did I just say?”

I pulled out all the tricks in my bag to get through this situation.

I looked at Lyman with wide-eyed innocence as if I didn’t know anything at all.

No matter how sharply he stared at me, I must not look away.

All my skills were telling me that.

[Erosion Rate Decrease: -3%]

[+300 Credits]

“I heard you quite clearly.”

“I just screamed, nothing else…”

“Are you saying I’m deaf?”

“What can I do? I didn’t say anything at all.”

No evidence! No proof!

Even if Lyman took a threatening stance, I shouldn’t tremble or lower my head even a fraction.

I am innocent! I am clean!

If I show fear for even a moment, the lie would surely be exposed without question!

[Erosion Rate Decrease: -2%]

[+200 Credits]

“…”

“…”

Silence fills the air. I hold my breath.

My opponent is a monster that merely brushed off Luska’s lethal attack with a kick. Though he possesses protagonist privileges, he lacks finesse.

Turning Lyman Begilius into an enemy? That’s like saying I can’t tell the difference between poop and soy sauce.

He’s not the type who would casually forgive even if I apologized at this point.

“Tsk. Confusing people like this.”

With a click of his tongue, Lyman turned away as if resigned.

No matter how sharp he may be, he doesn’t exhibit meticulousness in trivial matters.

A single word can repay a debt of a thousand nyang! If he lets this slide…

“What are you saying, Radon? You just cursed right in front of Lyman.”

“Eh? Wait a second…!”

Jenny, who had fallen down with me, suddenly spoke up. And what a useless interruption it was.

“If you lie again, you’re done for! Apologize right now.”

“Shut your mouth! Don’t say another word!”

Has this girl gone mad?

Did she lose her ability to read the atmosphere amidst Silver Age chaos?

“Oh, so I wasn’t mistaken?”

Lyman turned his head back with a grin aimed at me.

That smiling face was like that of a caring kindergarten teacher, but there was no need to explain what lay hidden beneath.

“Let’s meet on the roof after this.”

“…”

With that statement, Lyman turned his head back towards Luska. The special train to the Netherworld has been reserved.

“Go to the roof and formally apologize to Lyman.”

“Jenny, do you think that this ‘let’s meet on the roof’ is just for an apology?”

“Isn’t that the implication? There’s no other reason to call for him.”

Well, it’s not wrong. It was me who insulted him after all, and even if it was accidental, it definitely crossed Lyman’s temper.

It’s only right to be scolded on the roof after the exam ends. Yet, feeling slightly annoyed, I gave her a flick on the forehead.

“Ow!”

Jenny frowned, saying, “What the hell are you doing?” And the two of us decided to keep our distance and observe the situation.

“Is the chatter all finished?”

“…”

“What are you bothering me for? Are you doing this because we’re friends or something?”

Luska was rambling, but there was no answer.

Lyman simply exhaled as if it was ridiculous and slowly approached.

Luska, irritated by that attitude, shot an arrow.

From one shot to ten shots, ten to a hundred—the barrage was relentless, but Lyman evaded all of them, leaving only an afterimage.

Yet, the silent, approaching steps remained intact.

[Break Rain]

[Buster Arrow]

Sensing the threat, Luska unleashed all his skills, but to no avail.

His monster-like reflexes either nullified them or caught them, robbing them of momentum.

Attempting to draw back the bowstring, he found that the important arrow could not be produced. Running out of arrows meant his mana was nearly depleted.

“Ugh!”

Feeling fear, Luska slowly began to back away.

The moment he realized that he, who had been through hell and high water, wasn’t the strongest among first-years.

This was his first encounter with fear at the Academy.

In a last-ditch effort, he transformed to swing his dual-edged sword, but it was easily caught and rendered ineffective.

Eventually cornered against a rock, Luska faced an overwhelming difference.

And he gave up.

“Alright, do as you please.”

Resigned and braced for the same fate, Luska closed his eyes. Once he encountered a stronger opponent, surrendering became the natural order.

Lyman, who’d been dozing in class or slacking off during training all along.

At first, I wondered why such a guy was in Class A, but I never expected his true form hidden beneath that laziness to be this formidable.

Clink-

In a blink, Lyman unsheathed his sword and obliterated something.

Boom!—

With a blast, the rock shattered. Though a loud noise erupted, Luska slowly opened his eyes realizing he was still intact.

Lyman had shattered the golem’s face, which had disguised itself as Luska.

Just in time, the monster had opened its mouth wide to swallow Luska.

If Lyman had been even a step late, he would have been out immediately.

What’s more, the weapon Lyman used to smash the golem was merely the sheath. He swung it without drawing the sword.

“You still have 30 minutes left before the exam ends. How about dropping the unnecessary obsession and focusing on something that will actually help you in the future?”

It sounded like advice from a grown adult. Leaving only those words behind, Lyman departed leisurely.

Luska, who had been completely toyed with without being able to use his strength, would have simply collapsed in inward reflection.

“That’s amazing.”

“I know, right.”

Jenny, watching from afar, was in awe. In the main story, she relished the recent battle while sitting down. That’s how she was made to observe.

Aside from my presence, the battle’s dynamics were identical to the main story. And certainly, Luska must be boiling with rage after hearing Lyman’s words.

Help for the future? Such a concept was an issue from another dimension for Luska, who had nothing since birth.

At least he had lived life with weapons and blood in hand, seeking to save his mother instead of hugging stuffed bears, but that all came to naught.

For Luska, a wolf thirsting purely for revenge, such words seemed like armchair theories from someone who didn’t understand a thing.

“Looks like it’s over. Should I talk to Luska?”

“No way, I don’t want to deal with such a psycho. You’ve experienced it firsthand.”

At this particular juncture, the characters don’t know any of Luska’s background. Thus, there’s no hint of understanding regarding Luska’s impudent behavior.

“Wait! Thanks for helping earlier. I really don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t bought time for me.”

“Looks like my fishing line helped out.”

“Radon’s fishing technique is unique, indeed. I’m quite curious how you made it.”

Jenny poked her head out curiously as we walked down the hot path together.

Her scanning of me from head to toe was the picture of an inquisitive girl.

Then Jenny asked me:

“But, why haven’t you come fishing by the lakeside lately?”

“Why the sudden question?”

“Well, every day after school, you were always fishing there. A few days ago, you even caught a huge pufferfish.”

“Oh, that pufferfish? It was a bit of a pain because of the poison… but how do you know about that?”

“Huh? Well…”

At that time, I was clearly alone. Lost in peaceful tranquility while fishing.

Realizing she must have misstepped, Jenny hesitated.

“Did you, by any chance, spy on me?”

“N-no way! Um… I heard it from Mary! She goes to the lakeside every day. Didn’t you meet her there?”

Sure, I could spot Mary’s strange antics whenever I was fishing there. However, I didn’t see her when I caught that big pufferfish.

I couldn’t shake off my suspicious gaze. Seeing me look at her like that, Jenny awkwardly whistled as if nothing were wrong.

As I continued to stare, beads of sweat began to form on her forehead.

“Why are you suddenly sweating so much?”

“Ahaha! Guess the exam field was just chosen to be such a hot place. Isn’t it hot for you too, Radon?”

“Well, it’s hot. But my sweat has already dried up.”

Maybe I had started to find amusement in watching Jenny’s flustered expression. A smile crept across my lips.

But the quick-witted girl in crisis shouldn’t be underestimated.

“So why did you curse at Lyman?”

“Huh?”

“No matter how I think about it, I can’t understand. Why did Lyman jump out of your mouth?”

Turning the premise on its head! How should I even respond to this?

This time, it seemed Jenny had taken the upper hand with a playful smile.

“Why did you?”

The questions faded into the background. Right now, Jenny’s intention was predominantly to watch me squirm. She wanted to enjoy the fun I had just experienced.

“Well…”

Since it had come to this, what’s done is done.

“I just wanted some attention. I kind of have a crush on that guy.”

[Erosion Rate Decrease: -12%]

[+1200 Credits]

“…?”

Hearing those few words, Jenny tilted her head in confusion.

*

After 30 minutes, once the exam ended.

I couldn’t escape Lyman’s grasp and was dragged to the student union’s rooftop.

As expected, he asked me why I cursed. I ended up giving the same answer I had given Jenny.

“So, I just wanted some attention?”

“Yeah…”

“Now that you and I are closer, I figured if I cursed, you would come save me?”

“Yeah…”

“Hahahaha…!”

“AHAHAHA…!”

I couldn’t help but burst into laughter, even as I thought it was absurd. My laughter slowly waned, overwhelmed by embarrassment.

Then, I immediately bent my knees and pressed my forehead to the rooftop floor, crying out.

“I’m truly sorry! I apologize for blaming you for my own powerlessness!”

I understood through my skills that excuses wouldn’t work.

Denying everything in front of him would be as foolish as pouring oil on a burning house.

“I also apologize for pretending like I didn’t curse!”

With my heartfelt contrition, Lyman scratched his head.

It seemed he was pondering how to deal with this issue, but soon he casually said,

“Tsk. I’ll let it slide this time.”

“Thank you so much!”

“If you annoy me just once more, you’re dead.”

“…Okay.”

Though it was more a warning than a threat. This was a lucky outcome.

Thanks to my friendship with Jenny and Mary, things turned out this way. If not for that, there’s no guarantee it would have ended like this.

“Can I go now?”

“Wait a minute. Before that, let’s ask something.”

I cocked my head, wondering what else he could possibly want. It looked as if he was asking to clear up something he’s been curious about for ages.

“Do you know the angle of the sandstorm?”

At that remark, I felt a shiver down my spine.

That was the password to identify friend or foe for the Shadow Brigade of Papias Kingdom, the targets of Luska’s revenge.

Surviving as an Academy Scammer.