Episode 68. It makes me sick in broad daylight.
As it was an academy where many students gathered, there were many different types of students.
Among them, Kent Edger, the son of a corps commander who commanded the western border, always pursued perfection.
To do it, you have to be thorough and ready to die. I inherited that from my father and spent my childhood there.
I thought that the same thing applies to my academic life. I thought that there should be people in class A who are on par with me. Whether it be strength or personality.
Thanks to such thorough persistence, I was able to win the position of first-year representative.
“What do you want to tell me?”
Kent asked politely as he saw the cadets running towards him.
There were many cadets who wanted to get points by sticking to Kent, who was a member of the student council. The reason they were gathered now was similar, but they had other personal feelings.
“Kent, you’ve probably heard the rumor that Radon Crowler got off the Chainsilver family carriage.”
There were many people gathered at the main gate on the first day of school. Although there were quite a few witnesses, those who didn’t see it didn’t believe it at all.
It was the same for Kent. There was no way that a class A student on par with him would hang out with such a lowly guy.
“It’s all true. We overheard everything, and there… there…”
“What’s going on there?”
It was so frustrating to see my classmate mumbling. I had to urge him to speak quickly before I could hear the shocking words.
“I even heard that guy Radon spent his vacation at Jenny’s mansion.”
“…what?”
When asked to say it again, the same answer was heard again.
“….”
The fact that Jenny Chainsilver, a promising prospect in the same grade, was living in the same house as the low-life conman Radon Crowler.
Kent was left dumbfounded by the thought that this had happened during the holidays.
If they were ordinary cadets, they would have just let it slide. However, since Jenny, who represents the faithfulness of the combat department, is involved, it cannot help but feel like a heavy burden.
‘That guy from Class C…?’
What Kent cared about was the cadet’s ‘vessel’.
Having grown up with the war in the border area engraved in his eyes, he always pursues strength. This is because he realized the mindset that if you are weak, you cannot survive faster than others.
The weak try to get to the top by any means possible and commit cowardly acts.
When he was young, his subordinate, who was jealous of his father’s power and had an inferiority complex, tried to bring his father down in any way possible.
Because of that, the enemy invasion was permitted and the fortress almost fell.
And then he kept telling his father that he was incompetent and that if he had been the commander of the corps, this wouldn’t have happened.
‘They tried to kill my father by using tricks since they couldn’t do it by force. You bunch of trash.’
The way to get a ladder to a higher place is simple. Make it yourself with your sweat and dexterity.
But what about the weak? They don’t try to make it themselves, but ask others to make it for them. Or they take something from someone else and package it as if it was their own creation.
‘Those who always try to avoid a fair fight. And those who are swindlers who blame others for their own mistakes and deceive people.’
Ironically, Kent has been living with such things.
Starting with a man who blamed his own accident on his subordinates… to an officer who was so blinded by money that he tried to leak military secrets to the enemy.
What they have in common is that they put innocent people at risk because they could not handle it on their own.
They are all people who tried to look down on positions that they were not suited for, despite being powerless.
‘It’s scary to have useless beliefs about a weak subject.’
This academy was no different.
It was only the end of the first semester of the first year, but there were already a lot of guys trying to get behind him.
Or, there were also many cases of people chasing after Class A students and trying to get things for free.
Just by looking at the fact that most of them are from Class C or Class B, you can tell what kind of guys they are.
Of course, Radon Crawler… .
‘These guys are the same now.’
Breed and Ludical.
It’s obvious why these two are giving out useful information. They want to gain the trust of the student council and quickly get rid of the warnings they received in the past.
These are the guys who tried to leave exaggerated comments on the archive bulletin board during the vacation. They got a warning from the academic department because of that, but they showed no signs of reflection.
‘It’s possible that what I’m saying now is an exaggeration.’
Of course, nothing will change even if you preach about it every day. My father taught me that the best policy is to use it as much as possible.
“If it was Radon Crowler, wasn’t he just some idiot who was just hanging around Jenny? Even if they made up, I can’t imagine Jenny would accept him to that extent.”
If you’re just talking to each other, there’s nothing much to say. It’s the same even if you become close naturally in the process.
“Yeah, that’s exactly what we’re saying.”
“They’ve gotten so close that they’ve gone beyond just reconciling. Don’t you think that’s suspicious?”
Breed and Ludical raised the corners of their lips and confessed what they had found out.
Recently, Radon and Jenny were chatting at a cafe. And although it’s not certain, there’s even a rumor that the two went out to the village together during the last final exam period.
“There are many strange things about being close. If the two of you have reconciled, then Radon should repent and reflect on his fraudulent actions.”
“But even after reconciliation, Radon still lies. It’s not natural for Jenny to stay still.”
Kent also knows that the two fought over the relic. Because the reason the relic was destroyed was because of Radon’s lie.
Then, in order to reconcile, it would be normal to first correct Radon’s habit of lying.
“Even though I didn’t improve it, Jenny was still friendly with the guy. Even though the conditions for them to become friendly with each other weren’t met.”
“Could it be that Jenny, who has been exploited, is being treated like a slave?”
It’s also quite suspicious that Radon Crowler was staying at Jenny’s mansion.
She is known to have never had any friends in her mansion, except for Crona Delaware and Mary Ludciel.
There are many cadets who stick around Jenny and call her their friend. So it can’t help but seem strange that Radon is getting such special treatment.
“Think about it. It could be that they’re just pretending that things have gotten better between them.”
“More than anything, the class A student who is as good as the sky is hanging out with a weakling. That’s what you hate the most.”
Breed and Ludicul thought about it for themselves. Kent believed that the weak should stick together with the weak and the strong should stick together with the strong.
The weak he thinks of are cowards who resort to trickery. The two were trying to impress upon Kent that Radon Crowler was that ‘weak’.
“Yeah, he’s a ‘weak’ guy.”
It seemed as if they had finally come over, so Breed and Ludical raised the corners of their lips. However, the two were so consumed by their ambition that they had forgotten an important fact.
“Especially you guys!”
Thud! Thud!-
Before he knew it, Kent was holding a wooden sword in his hand, and the two were rolling around on the floor, holding their stomachs.
“Cough!”
“Ahhhh!”
The two, who were suddenly hit and in pain, groaned, “Why are you doing this?”
Then, when they felt a strong magical power from Kent, the two of them were startled.
“You guys, you stayed at the academy during the vacation to avoid getting scolded by your parents, and now you’re thinking of causing trouble in the archives. Do you think I’d be happy if you gave me good information?”
“Ah… no!”
“I was wrong!”
The two of them hurriedly went outside as soon as their pain was completely cured. Anyway, the Kent family’s hierarchy was higher, so they couldn’t do anything.
Kent can see the essence of a person. It was because that rotten essence was seen that his hand moved first.
“Crawler… .”
But Kent was able to recall something from the conversation just now. A large-scale protest had occurred in the Crowler County in the past. It was widely rumored that it had occurred because the Earl had been harassing the people of the county.
Crowler himself was a being entangled in bad rumors. Therefore, it seemed like it wouldn’t be strange for him to do anything.
There is a possibility that the information the guys were spouting off a little while ago was a malicious exaggeration.
“I guess we’ll have to meet in person and see.”
Is that guy a legitimately recognized strong man, or is he a weakling who uses cowardly tactics to manipulate his opponents as he pleases?
Kent stepped forward with a wooden sword to check.
* * * * *
Laundry room in the convenience store next to the 3-star building.
The artificial golems were ironing various clothes and clothing, and Ruska and I were watching the laundry being done.
“My head hurts….”
Ruska suddenly started groaning and holding her head. It was strange that Ruska was already suffering when it had only been a few days since the start of the semester.
“Why all of a sudden?”
There’s no way Ruska, a Yoho, would be tired from just class. When I asked her out of curiosity, she answered weakly.
“It’s nothing. I just had some trouble with my roommates last night.”
“….”
Roommates are the ones who turn into enemies as soon as the semester starts. Considering that, I could understand why Ruska had a headache.
I, who have the peaceful peace of living alone, am not in a position to comment on their feelings. However, from the point of view that I have no intention of giving up my single room, I can indirectly understand how painful it is.
“How much did I have to torture you to make you feel that sick?”
“I wasn’t particularly harassing you. It’s just that… we had a party in our room to celebrate the start of the semester.”
You might wonder what that has to do with headaches, but my roommates said they brought in a box of alcohol.
In the end, she said that she was so mad that she ended up having a drinking party with them. Even though Ruska frowned at the memory, I asked her one more question.
“How many roommates do you have?”
“It’s a four-person room, including me. It’s rumored to be the lowest class room among the three-star rooms.”
What sin did I commit in my past life? I would be devastated if I had one roommate, but I can’t even say anything if I have three.
If there is a hell, that room is it. If I were you, I would have blown it up a long time ago.
“Still, they’re not bad seniors. The problem is that I’m just having trouble adjusting to their expressions of affection.”
But contrary to expectations, Ruska didn’t seem to harbor any ill feelings toward her roommates. In the actual story, there was no description of her having any headaches over room issues.
Even if you don’t know how popular her roommates are, it’s unimaginable that Ruska would be overwhelmed by the other cadets’ influence.
That’s why I think they would have survived in a four-person room by the law of the jungle.
“By the way… .”
“huh?”
“… .”
Ruska turned her head to me and tried to say something, but I rolled my eyes and looked like I was thinking about whether or not to say anything.
In the end, all that came out of his mouth was a silent scream. What on earth was he trying to say?
Ding!-
At that moment, the rotating magic dryer was finished. It stopped with a light and a sound indicating that it was finished.
Ruska got up from her seat, opened the lid, and collected her laundry. The soft, rising heat spread to where I was sitting.
“It’s nothing. I’ll go first.”
“okay.”
Ruska, who had packed all her laundry into a basket, left the laundromat with a calm remark. Without thinking much about it, I put my laundry in the dryer when it was my turn.
The place Ruska had used was not only hot but also had a scent. It seemed like they had used a special powder that blocked bad smells. It had a cleaner personality than I expected.
After putting all the laundry in, I closed the lid and pressed the pattern of the buttons on the side. Then the time appeared above and the dryer started to run.
The laundry system was as convenient as it was in modern times.
’70 minutes. It really takes a long time.’
No matter how many dryers the military used, they didn’t take this long. As expected, there are some inconveniences due to the difference in technology.
I left the laundromat, remembering the exact time. I was going back to the dorm to kill some time.
“Radon Crowler.”
Someone called me. When I turned my gaze, there stood a cadet with a sturdy build and blue hair. He was wearing a band symbolizing the student council on his upper arm.
Kent Easyst.
A member of Class A of the Combat Science Department. He is the first-year representative of the student council. He has the appearance of a handsome athlete and is popular with the female cadets.
“Did you call me?”
He responded because he was called. I don’t know why, but Kent’s eyes suddenly became sharp as if they were cut.
At that moment…
grasp!-
Sensing the danger, I immediately summoned Leviathan. The guy aimed the wooden sword he had on his waist at my neck, and I had to block it.
“What are you doing all of a sudden!”
The guy suddenly looked surprised, but it wasn’t my fault. Even if it was a wooden sword, how could you use it if you attacked without permission? And that was by a guy who was the first-year representative.
“You seem to have quick reflexes.”
“what?”
“Let me get straight to the point.”
Kent said, putting away his wooden sword.
“What on earth is your relationship with Jenny Chainsilver?”
“…?”
“You said you got off Jenny’s carriage. How can you, a student from Class C, be so close to Jenny?”
What are you talking about, attacking people out of the blue?
… I had that thought, but when I thought back on this guy’s settings, it seemed like the puzzle would fall into place.
He despises the association of the weak and the strong. This is because the weak always suck the backbone of the strong and show no sense of responsibility.
That’s why… it seemed like I, a student in Class C, was chasing after Jenny, the top student.
But why is this guy who was quiet until the first semester suddenly acting like this?
“There are a lot of rumors going around that you were staying in the same house as Jenny. You seemed like a fly in the first semester, but when I heard the rumors, you were way beyond a fly.”
So that’s why it was quiet during the first semester.
The reason why it came out so explosively was because I returned to the academy with Jenny.
But what crime is that?
“Yeah, we were just friends since we were both freshmen. But why are you looking at me like I’m a traitor who sold out my country?”
“If Jenny had truly forgiven you, she wouldn’t have stayed silent the moment you started cheating. But you didn’t say anything to her. You didn’t take advantage of her weakness, did you?”
What the hell is going on? He’s been talking like a persecution complex since morning.
“I’m treating Jenny like a slave right now…? What the hell are you talking about?”
“If not, how could I have let you stay in a mansion like that of a duke’s family? And you, a weakling!”
What kind of joker is this going to church? It’s annoying that they openly look down on me as a weak person, but it was even more annoying that they treated me like a sinner.
-It makes you sick in broad daylight.
“So what? You want me to get out of here?”
“You know me well. To begin with, I didn’t like the fact that you, a member of Class C, were hanging out with her. And that includes Ruska, Mary, and Lyman. They’re all no exceptions.”
Are all the students in Class A yours?
This kid just won’t do.
“Then what would you do if I were on the same level as them?”
“what?”
In order to silence them, we need to show that we are ‘strong’, not ‘weak’.
I had a promise with Jenny, but I never thought it would end up like this.
“What if I move up to class A?”
“….”
The boy’s pupils tremble. His expression is that of someone who has seen something unbelievable.
“You’re in class A? You’re full of bubbles without even a fishing rod?”
“Then do you want to make a bet with me?”
“…?”
“On the condition that I advance to Class A in the upcoming practical exam. The loser gets to headbutt the winner in front of the entire school. Okay?”
Kent’s face became completely blank.
Although it was hard to tell because of his arrogant appearance, Kent was momentarily intimidated by his opponent’s unexpected confidence.
His expression crumpled as he realized that fact too late.
Surviving as an Academy Fraudster
