Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

38th Chapter. Welcome, it’s your first time in my room, right? (2)

‘You must have some reason for starting at the Academy.’

Radon Crawler’s words kept echoing in my head.

Setting aside the reason for enrollment, I had often pondered what the reason for living was.

I had contemplated it countless times, but nothing came to mind.

Perhaps that’s why I charged in heedlessly, even when outnumbered.

I showed an utterly ungrateful attitude toward the one who saved me.

A life that should have faded long ago. Yet, I had to endure through evil.

Because there was something to channel my will to live.

Revenge.

Resentment and hatred toward those who had led my life to this state. I could never forgive the bastards who brutally took the life of my only family.

Even if it were a small candle, I wouldn’t let it extinguish.

There was a tree I wanted to burn down before I died. A tree that absorbs the lives of innocents to nourish itself.

I would never let that cursed and vile tree extinguish until I turned it to ash.

Rain or snow, storm or tempest, the candle burned ever more fiercely.

If anyone intervened, I would burn them all.

If someone got caught in the flames, it was no concern of mine.

Because there existed no lines that I must not cross.

That’s how I had thought……

– Did you not tell me? That you would do whatever it takes to achieve your goals. Why are you suddenly worried about me?

‘Damn it…!’

I was taken aback.

Radon Crawler. I shouldn’t care whether he helped or not, or whether he was targeted by the Shadow Brigade.

Even if I had spoken unconsciously, it meant that I had worried for him, if only for a moment.

Wasn’t this absurd behavior that broke the vow I had made all this time?

I felt truly ashamed.

Those few words kept lingering in my mind. At this rate, I was merely proving myself to be someone who talks a big game.

Not wanting to think about it any longer, I shut my eyelids. I don’t know how long I had been asleep.

‘It’s so bright…’

Had someone turned on a light while I was sleeping?

But the light had likely been on all along.

It was like a flash right in front of my eyes. The vision that had been dark was now turning red, proving it.

As soon as I opened my eyes, the world seemed blindingly bright. My disheveled appearance made my vision feel blurry.

But in reality, I didn’t go blind; I saw something in front of me.

A round orb resembling an egg……

‘A light bulb?’

What other round, shining object could there be besides a light bulb? Yet, surprisingly, it was a person’s head.

That’s right. A head without even a strand of hair……

“Oh, you’re awake!”

The owner of that head revealed his face and looked at me.

As soon as Luska made eye contact with him, he hurriedly got up.

“Who, who are you!”

This was clearly Radon Crawler’s room, so why was there someone else here? A bald person at that.

Just as I thought Radon had tricked and sold me out, I heard—

“Oh, you’re awake? You’ve been sleeping for quite a while.”

“You…!”

“I brought steak; let’s eat it in a bit. It’s a specialty of Aligieri.”

Radon Crawler was also there. It seemed he had indeed brought dinner, but he came with this strange person.

I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my chest.

“What’s this human light bulb doing here?”

“Huh? Me? I’m Riplain Halo, a second-year student in the Magic Department A class and the head of the Art Department. Nice to meet you, Luska Mad Eye.”

“Then why did you bring this person?”

“I’m a doctor.”

“What?”

Riplain Halo was a child from a lineage of clerics. He too could wield healing abilities thanks to the divine power he learned over his shoulder.

“Although I’m not quite a medical expert, I can take a look at your injuries. You should be able to move again in about four days.”

The pain that had been lingering in my body had significantly decreased.

It was certain that the treatment he gave wasn’t in vain……

“But this person is an outsider. Is it really okay for him to know I’m here?”

In the current situation, where I had no idea who in the Shadow Brigade was who, it would be foolish to just let anyone into the room.

Even if this person had nothing to do with the incident, it would create a witness. There was no guarantee that, even after swearing a secret promise, I wouldn’t accidentally let something slip.

“Don’t worry about that; I’ve heard everything, Luska Mad Eye. The transaction between Radon Crawler and me has already been completed.”

“Transaction?”

Riplain Halo and Radon Crawler shook hands as they discussed the transaction.

“Then I’ll send over the request outline you wanted within the week. But you have to keep it a secret that Luska is in my room for four days.”

“Of course! I’ve got a magical artifact attached to me that ensures I keep my promises. So, any statement against the promise won’t come out of my mouth. Rest assured!”

“Thank you!”

It was quite a sight to see a human light bulb and a scammer shaking hands.

One was a cleric, and the other was a scammer. Considering that, the warm atmosphere between the two felt quite peculiar.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave!”

“Farewell! May you always be filled, my senior!”

[Degradation Rate Decreased: -2%]

[+200 Credits]

With Riplain Halo gone, Luska would be able to walk again in four days.

After he left, I set up a mini dining table. I placed a plate with steak on it and began to cut into it.

The refreshing taste, which certainly wasn’t just an exaggeration of Aligieri, spread pleasantly in my mouth.

Even though it cost a lot, it felt like chump change in front of the accumulated credits.

“Why aren’t you eating? It’s going to get cold.”

Luska was staring at me, lost in thought.

Whether it was dissatisfaction over not wanting to eat or some doubt, it looked like one of the two.

“A word you said before leaving. Can I ask you now?”

“What about?”

“Why are you helping me?”

Thinking back, I had indeed put her off by saying I’d tell her later.

Her eyes had a glint of earnestness, eager to hear my answer.

I struggled to swallow the bit of meat I had in my mouth, then poured myself some soda from the pitcher and said, “Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I particularly want to be friends, and I certainly don’t intend to toy with you under the pretense of helping.”

“Why! Don’t you remember who tried to shoot me with arrows and inflicted serious wounds? I can’t understand why you’d take the risk to help.”

I could tell what she was trying to convey.

Was Radon Crawler really that broad-minded, willing to take risks to look after her?

There were likely many students with similar thoughts.

Maybe the meat I ate was laced with some kind of hypnotic or curse.

“But you have also helped me before. Remember when we faced the Lycanthropes?”

When I was preoccupied binding those three, Luska had supported me by sniping the wolf clones.

If it hadn’t been for Luska then, I might have ended up as wolf chew toys.

“Even if that wasn’t genuine goodwill, still, you did help. Consider it a kind of grace.”

“Don’t pretend to be noble. Would you act the same towards bandits who would rob you on the road?”

“I definitely did feel hostility from you. But how about now? Do you feel the urge to shoot arrows at me again like back then?”

“……”

“That’s not the case, is it? Back then, there were just misunderstandings between us. Now that those misunderstandings have resolved, is there a need to remain hostile?”

Luska hung her head, lost in thought.

The nicely grilled steak was gradually cooling down. Receiving help from others was a very unfamiliar concept for her. Conversely, so was providing help.

The act of sniping the wolves was purely for survival’s sake. It was truly devoid of goodwill, as he said.

But one reaps what one sows.

If this help were merely fortunate assistance due to the grace of others, then that was acceptable.

Unbeknownst to Luska, she was yearning for the kindness she had received from someone.

The people who had been kind to her in her childhood were either taken away or died right in front of her eyes. The emotions that had withered away since then would not easily return.

The longing she currently felt was a trace of the heart she hadn’t lost.

“What does this taste like?”

“Chili flavor. But not very spicy.”

I thought that even experiencing a hand of help, no matter how briefly, wouldn’t be all that bad.

Luska, with her previously gloomy face, slightly relaxed as she slid her knife over the steak.

And then…… her face turned red.

“U-ugh!! Sp-spicy!!”

What on earth had been slathered on the steak? It felt as if fire started from my tongue and spread through my entire mouth.

There was only one thing to do to quell an indescribably spicy flavor.

“Water…… wawaah!!”

“Here, water.”

Gulp—

“Cough! This is soda!”

“How can it be so spicy? I thought it wouldn’t be that bad.”

I grinned comically.

Realizing I had played a trick on the steak, Luska slowly raised her fist.

[Degradation Rate Decreased: -20%]

[+2000 Credits]

“Is this brash of you to pull a prank?”

“Is it strange? I didn’t actually add any drugs or anything.”

“Then that’s how it is. Today we both die…… Ouchouchouch!”

As soon as Luska realized she had been tricked, she attempted to charge at me but her body wouldn’t listen.

Accompanied by pain, she let out a pained moan that was quite the opposite of her usual fierce demeanor.

“You…… just wait.”

Sinking back down, she shot me a furious glare.

*

It had been three days since Luska had been hiding in my room.

The professors began to wonder about Luska’s unexplained absence, though they weren’t suspicious just yet.

In the meantime, I took care of her like a nurse would a patient.

I lovingly prepared meals for Luska, who was unable to move properly.

“Eat up, patient~” I said angelically, only to be met with an outright rejection.

Why……?

-That’s disgusting.

Her furrowed brows and expression were quite the sight to witness.

Was the idea of telling a patient to eat that nauseating? It felt like dealing with a stubborn patient, but in the end, she swallowed it well.

At first, she acted in disdain, but gradually, she became more compliant, a spectacle worth observing.

At the same time, I was busy running to the lakeside to deliver rice balls to Angela. A busy couple of days followed, but everything wrapped up by the weekend.

By that time, a turf war broke out around Angela.

All that was left was if Luska could move, and that would be enough.

With cooperation from the main characters and Luska, the bothersome Shadow Brigade would be eliminated.

Then there would be no need for Luska to stay in the room.

-Hey, did you hear? There’s a baby divine beast living in the eastern mountains?

-Why does that matter?

-Don’t you know? There’s a legend that drinking the blood of a divine beast greatly enhances one’s potential!

-Isn’t that just a rumor? What a pain that is.

-Anyway, we’re going to catch it. I don’t want to get scolded by my dad for failing my final evaluation.

-We’re all gathering in the mountains this weekend.

I accessed the Archive through my student ID mirror.

As expected, the lowerclassmen were abuzz with excitement.

Finally, rumors began circulating among the students. By now, Jenny and Crona must have been fidgeting nervously.

-What does the divine beast look like?

-She’s a girl with white skin. But since she’s a monster wearing a human disguise, it wouldn’t matter what you do.

-Has she already polymorphed as a divine beast? This surely is a rare species!

Due to Prince Totema’s unskilled handling, Angela’s face appeared throughout the academy. They were likely debating where to hide Angela by now.

And the Shadow Brigade would surely make moves of their own. They would likely use scent magic to track the divine beast.

-Huh? I feel like I’ve seen that girl before.

-Where?

-At the square last weekend.

Uh……?

Strange comments flashed by.

-She was on Radon Crawler’s back then.

-Did you see it wrong?

-Now that I think of it, I think I saw that too. I was doing morning exercises at that time, and saw some white girl running away with him.

Wait a second. Could this possibly be……!

-Why’s Radon with her?

-I don’t know. Should I ask?

Damn it!!

I screamed inwardly while looking at the Archive. That rumor was also spreading across the entire academy like waves.

My survival instincts kicked into high gear, and I rapidly ran into an alley where no one could see me.

Could it be that they would be searching all the way to my room?

No, that would be fine. After all, Luska wouldn’t open the front door.

I had to run for now. Tomorrow, they would surely form an expedition party and head up the mountain.

Yeah, I just need to keep my head low until tomorrow!

Just as I thought that—

“Hey there, student.”

“Yes……?”

“Aren’t you Radon Crawler?”

Suddenly, one of the academy’s servants approached me.

Looking closely, it was the servant who had been cleaning around the Student Council Building last weekend.

Wait, you found me in an alley with no one watching?

“I have a few questions to ask you…….”

I felt a chilling sensation running down my spine. This feeling of standing in front of someone I shouldn’t meet.

Thinking back, didn’t Luska use a code phrase back then? If so, this man must have heard it……

While a regular person would ignore it, perhaps……

“Are you…….”

Just as I thought that, of course, the servant’s legs turned into a black mist.

“Do you have something you’re hiding from us?”

Surviving as an Academy Scammer.