Episode 131. Joint Training (5)
My act of hitting with a stick was clearly violence. It was not even an ordinary stick, but a small fishing rod.
Its shape is ambiguous, so you might mistake it for a short sword or a whip, but the moment I grab it, it becomes a deadly weapon.
“What is this all of a sudden…”
Jason was dumbfounded by the incredible act.
Even the most character-dead person would be shocked by a sudden disaster.
Besides, this is the guy’s personal laboratory. Given his position, he can’t just sit still.
“Don’t take it too seriously. It was strictly self-defense.”
A slave pinned against a wall. And Markray lying on the floor.
The slave swung his fist at me as soon as he saw me. It wasn’t me who started it, it was him.
In Marclay’s case, it was clearly the result of a bet. There’s no way he’ll forget the bet he made today.
“Get up you little shits. I know you’re fine.”
“Ugh….”
“Ahh….”
The two guys stood up, groaning in unison. They were unharmed even though I hit them with all my might.
Since it was hit with a fishing rod, it probably wouldn’t be normal damage.
“You’re not joking around when you’ve been so modified, are you?”
They are modified humans who have given up on being half-human.
Thanks to this, he was forcibly given wondrous powers, and they are so powerful that they even threaten the professor’s position.
With that much power, it would be nothing more than childishness for him to feel pain when I hit him.
“That’s ridiculous… He had a successor?”
The slave, who had risen again, muttered in a half-sane state.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that….”
“What kind of person is the elder to publicly train a proper successor? He raised me in case something happens to him.”
“Then where are you?”
“I came here to find out for myself.”
[Erosion rate reduction: -4%]
[+400 Credits]
A slave looking up at me with trembling eyes.
It’s funny how I fell for this outrageous lie, but I couldn’t help but believe it once he showed me the sign.
Above all, Slave is a man who respects Enviel very much.
“Your goal is to make the controlling Saint Nevia the student council president and gain authority over the school.”
“Then you are really the successor?”
“I came all this way to help you, but you’re grabbing me by the collar and throwing a stick at me all of a sudden. How can that be of any use?”
“….”
“Besides, why have you been speaking informally to me since earlier?”
I looked down at the guy with a sharp gaze.
The slave, who had become completely docile unlike before, knelt down and bowed his head.
“I’m so sorry.”
“….”
Slave glances up and looks at my face.
I still had a frown on my face, as if I was uncomfortable.
Well, that can’t be helped.
“Why are you the only ones doing this? You guys.”
“huh?”
“what?”
“….”
The same goes for those three guys, Helck, Lenka, and Lavender. Did they think I’d forget the badmouthing they’d done to me when they came in earlier?
Eventually, the guys also bowed their heads to the ground and made a deep apology.
And finally, one guy was left.
“Wait! Why are you bowing down to that guy! Have you forgotten? That guy Radon is the enemy! He’s in league with Jenny Chainsilver! He’s not the type to side with Nevia!”
Markray, who had come to his senses, looked at me and screamed.
It was hard for Markray, who had never actually joined Doomsday, to understand.
“Are you tall?”
“What…? A life-size figure?”
“I was originally hiding in this academy by order of the elders. In short, I’m a spy. But don’t you understand why I’m acting as Saint Angela’s friend?”
[Erosion rate reduction: -8%]
[+800 Credits]
Marclay became mute in an instant.
He’s a guy who originally harbored an inferiority complex against the Crowler family. That’s the only reason he’s stuck between us.
It’s fortunate that the parents gave the Holy Sword to Jason. If not, he wouldn’t have accepted it.
So, it doesn’t matter if it exists or not.
“If you have any complaints, get out.”
“How dare you…!”
“Don’t you understand the situation? If you don’t want to do it, get out.”
In the end, the guy just sat there without saying anything.
After that, Jason formally introduced me to the guys.
The guards were unanimous in their belief that he was Enviel’s successor, but MacRay still looked like he didn’t understand.
‘You probably didn’t know that the eldest son of the Crowler family, who was your relative, was the successor to that monster. Of course, your mentality would be blown away.’
Let’s just ignore that punk’s gaze.
“Anyway, we are partners with the same goal. I’m sorry for being so harsh earlier, and I ask for your help in the future.”
I extended my hand to the guards to shake their hands.
[Erosion rate decrease: -3%]
[+300 Credits]
Of course, it’s just a fake handshake. There’s not even a shred of sincere friendliness or apology.
“This is Renka. Please take care of me…”
“It’s Hellk.”
“It’s lavender.”
“S, I’m a slave.”
The appearance of the main villains that you get to see in person. It feels like you’re joining hands with the vicious criminals that you see on TV.
“Can I call you senior from now on?”
“Then do that.”
The look in the slave’s eyes as he looked at me changed.
Should I say that this is the look in the eyes of a child who likes hero movies welcoming Superman in front of them?
I rather felt repulsion. Oh my! It’s disgusting.
“So, your purpose is… to assist us from behind?”
“Yeah, there are a lot of variables in Alighieri. You never know what’s going to pop up.”
Let’s think about what happened to Enviel because of the main character who suddenly appeared.
Then the answer will come right away.
But for those who don’t know the answer, it’s unlikely they’ll believe it. Especially those who are over-confident.
“Haha! You don’t have to worry too much. If you know about magic modification, you know how strong we are.”
“Yes, you must have seen those damned women rolling around at our feet, Senior.”
Slave and Helk, who speak with their shoulders raised for no reason.
Even though it’s a power I gained by eating for free, there’s no denying that it’s strong. It’s on par with Jason sitting next to me.
But there is no such thing as a free lunch without a price. They don’t know that if they abuse that power, they will turn into monsters…
“Your strength is definitely not at the cadet level. You can easily knock down any guy who comes to trouble you.”
“Then, we don’t really need your help, senior. We’re enough on our own…”
“But, hasn’t Saint Nevia’s psychology been a bit strange lately?”
“yes?”
Helck’s mouth fell silent at my question. They were the kind of people who didn’t really have anything to say about things unrelated to power.
Those who don’t properly understand their own weaknesses. That’s why they collapse in the main story.
“What would happen if something happened to Nevia, the key to your plan?”
“Don’t worry about that. We have the bloodworm.”
“A Thousand Blooded Insect? Well, I guess there’s no problem controlling that. But what if you change your mind?”
The guys looked at me like they were wondering what I meant, but I knew Nebia’s personality well.
Based on that, I opened my mouth.
“She’s a much more vicious woman than you think. She’s a witch in disguise who enjoys manipulating and tormenting others.”
Up to this point, it’s true. Jason nods as if acknowledging the fact.
“She’s such a spiteful woman. What if she takes revenge on us?”
“Revenge? I would never do something like that unless I cared about my own life.”
“There is nothing she can’t do. If a wicked woman like that sets her mind to something, it’s like frost in May or June.”
In the main story, Nevia is abandoned by Jason, whom she trusted. She is unable to change her mind until the end and spits out abusive language cursing the world.
The sight was just like a water ghost.
“How can you be sure of that?”
As expected, I smiled and answered Jason’s question.
“Have you forgotten that I am the successor to the Elder who has eyes that see through everything?”
[Erosion rate reduction: -6%]
[+600 Credits]
“You see through it? Then you have those eyes too…!”
Jason immediately realized that it was ‘Maan’. Since it was famous within Doomsday, there was no member who didn’t know it.
“It’s not as perfect as the elder’s eyes… but it’s possible to barely discern the other person’s true feelings.”
This part is not wrong. We still have a long way to go before we can follow Envyel’s eyes.
“That makes sense… what you said seems to make a lot of sense.”
“Therefore, I will take care of Saint Nevia’s mental problems. Instructor, please instruct the priests I have planted so that they can contact Saint Nevia.”
“Okay, I understand. There’s still time until the election, so I’ll leave it to you.”
Whether she’s abandoned by these guys or defeated by the main characters, I can’t let Nevia die yet.
To do that, I have to keep in contact with her as much as possible.
“But you know. Radon.”
This time Jason asks me.
His serious voice lowered slightly.
“These two you gave me before.”
“Ah… is that what you mean?”
I swallowed my breath when I saw the thing the guy showed me.
[You and My Tico]
[King of the Locker Room]
Two Nobel records that I gave to Professor Stella a while ago, saying they were her tastes.
It looks like he doesn’t like it and wants to return it to me… .
“These are the things….”
“Is it hard to see?”
I asked that, but surprisingly, the guy’s expression was indifferent.
“Isn’t there a sequel?”
“yes?”
“No, it’s not really fun, but I thought I’d at least keep it.”
The shocking sound caused a convulsion in his expression.
But judging from his appearance, he didn’t seem to have discovered any new tastes.
That’s really fortunate. If it had awakened to an even worse horror genre when it was already a total travesty, it would have given birth to a whole new horror genre.
“I thought it would be hard to see, but it’s surprisingly good.”
“Even if it doesn’t suit my taste, I have to put up with it for ‘that’.”
The guard asked, “That?” but no one answered.
“Then I will teach you things that ‘that person’ likes, and places that he likes.”
“Really?”
“sure.”
I licked my lips as I watched Jason fall for me.
The guards still just shook their heads.
It wasn’t yet known that Jason was head over heels in love with Professor Stella.
* * * * *
A one-star residence where Alighieri’s best talents reside.
As a facility decorated with the utmost luxury, it was practically treated as a landmark.
However, the standard for the best talents to be included here is not grades but status.
And in the training ground designed underground, there was a person with the status of a saint training.
‘Those might not be difficult.’
Nevia Cromag, who was covered in holy power, saw a golem cleaning the training grounds.
Beings who work tirelessly even late at night, past curfew.
The name is Artificial Golem. I heard that they once rebelled, but it was absurdly thwarted.
‘Then you should just be quiet like a puppet.’
Those who are ruled must not rebel, for there is no guarantee of success, and failure will cost them their lives.
The same goes for those who Nevia looks upon. Just like the golem, the inferiors must absolutely obey the words of their superiors.
You should not act like a passive being, but work for your master until you die.
Until I die. Yes, until I die.
“….”
Nevia suddenly puts her hand on her chest and senses a parasite crawling inside.
‘This is why I don’t know who the puppet is.’
Nebia inwardly mocked her own situation. She, who had dreamed of becoming a ruler, had fallen into a state of being ruled.
On the outside, Shisal is no different from a golem that works tirelessly there.
I don’t have the courage to rebel.
I am afraid of death.
I feel disgusted with myself for doing things as I’m told.
I feel like all the desires I’ve had to satisfy through bullying have gone up in smoke.
Today, Jason also had a message for us. He asked us to take care of the aftermath of the incident caused by the Royal Guard.
Given what happened during the freshman joint training, it was expected.
“What are you doing at this late hour?”
As expected, guests arrived.
A girl chosen to be a saint like herself. Angela Greenwhite speaks as she steps into the training grounds.
“Can’t you see? If you want to get elected, you have to show that you’re not just talking. This is preparation for that.”
“….”
Angela, her mouth closed in sleep, approached the golems. At her few words, the golems stopped cleaning and went outside.
“We have to speak politely in front of those kids. I’ve already sent them all out, so just leave them alone. It’s more comfortable for you that way.”
“….”
Nebia could feel the friendliness in Angela’s words.
“I don’t think you’re sending those watchers away just for a convenient conversation, do you?”
Hostility.
Kwung!-
Suddenly, a long tail stretched out and a loud noise rang out. Nevia blocked the surprise tail swipe with a sound barrier.
Behind the tail that was trying to tear the barrier, Angela’s face turned fierce.
“Are you really angry?”
“Then it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen?”
The tail’s power grows stronger. Soon, another tail pops out and rushes in just the same way.
Haaa!-
Meanwhile, Nevia let out a small scream. What seemed like a meaningless tantrum actually created a powerful sound wave that pushed everything away.
Suddenly, numerous tails are pushed away by the maximized repulsive force. The shock wave sweeps through the entire training ground.
-Kwaaang
It was designed to be very sturdy as a training ground, so it didn’t budge, but the golems from earlier wouldn’t have been safe.
Even if it is inanimate, it is still an asset of the Academy.
I heard that in the past, they were produced infinitely, but now that is not the case, so they say we have to be quite frugal.
‘So that’s why you evacuated those cans.’
The sound wave was still holding back. I pushed forward with the intention of damaging the tails and blowing up the main body.
But Angela suddenly put her tail back in. Then she flew up and easily avoided the sound wave.
“Blood wind…”
The figure of Angela, who had been humming, disappeared. It was a speed that could not be seen with the eyes, but her presence was felt.
The sight of him running around like a blood-covered beast sent chills down my spine.
‘As expected, it’s a monster.’
Something that Nevia herself doesn’t have, but only Angela has.
One of the reasons she felt inferior was her physical superiority.
The incredible spec of being a descendant of a warrior race that embraced the moon was something that Nevia could not even dream of.
Furthermore, we must not forget that the nine-tailed fox that appeared in Alighieri was Angela.
Angela, who was a saint and possessed both strength and power, was more special than Nevia.
“All waves. Come to me…!”
But it’s not like there’s no way to deal with it. It’s because it’s so fast that you can’t see it, but you can hear it.
If you can make deeper sounds, you should be able to hear deeper sounds.
Nebia strengthens her innate characteristics with her divine power.
This is the independently created magic spell, ‘Ear of the Soul’.
“Found it!”
Naevia, with her excellent hearing and ability to echolocate, was able to detect Angela approaching at a rapid pace.
‘Is it you?’
Nebia caught Angela’s eye. Angela’s expression hardened, as she had never seen anything like it before.
When did you learn such magical skills?
Haaa!-
The sound waves reverberate again and hit Angela like a cannon.
Nevia succeeded in detecting and hitting her opponent. She felt like she had finally dealt a blow to that monster.
“Ugh!”
Angela, who was about to vomit blood, seemed relieved to see this. She felt like she was one step ahead of the possibility of sending this fox into the abyss.
“Ugh!!”
“uh?”
Despite being hit by the sound wave, Angela did not fall.
Instead, he moved forward, enduring the repulsive force of the sound waves with his bare body and blood in his mouth.
Angela got closer to Nebia as if she was breaking through a huge typhoon.
Increasing the output was useless. Angela, who had endured it all and approached, ended up hitting the face with her tail.
“Ugh!”
Nevia was hit by the tail and crashed into the wall. She came to her senses and opened her mouth to fight back, but the tail flew in and forcibly turned her head away.
And several other tails sprouted and bound her body.
You can’t run away, and you can’t send out sound waves because your head is twisted.
“What the hell are these guys called the Royal Guard?”
Finally, Angela’s direct question was heard.
“They say they’re all under your direct control, but I’ve never heard of them.”
“….”
“As you can see, those guys’ blatant instigation in front of the crowd has damaged my sisters’ reputations. On top of that, my sister Crona ended up in the hospital.”
The multiple tails began to tighten their grip on the bound limbs.
“You better not lie. I saw you hanging out with that instructor, Jason or something.”
“….”
“To be honest, was this all your doing?”
I remember Jason, who was the referee at the time, only sided with the Royal Guard.
If it were a saint-level being, she would easily be able to join hands with them, and if it were this villainess, she would be able to use such a person to do such a thing.
“You still look like a monster. I’m so jealous.”
Even if your gaze is averted, you can still speak.
Angela’s expression turned grim when she heard those words.
“Are you jealous? What on earth are you jealous of? Is it because of that petty mind that you’ve been ignoring the people below you?”
From ignoring those who respected her to constantly smelling something evil from Nevia.
On the outside, he wears a benevolent mask, but the moment he takes off the mask, his true colors are revealed, like he treats everyone like a tool.
If she is elected president, the cadets can become her tools.
“I know all about your twisted thoughts. But is there any glory you’ve gained by moving around like that?”
If she were to openly reveal such a dictatorial mind, it would be obvious what would happen to her as a saint.
That’s why they act like they’re secretly venting their anger in places that can’t be seen. That’s why there’s bullying but no full-blown crime.
“That heart you have is not a belief or anything. It’s just a cowardly symbol hiding in a well.”
“coward…?”
“You’re just afraid of losing the position you worked so hard to earn.”
I’m scared. If I say more, it’s just nagging.
She is just acting like a saint that the church wants her to be because she is afraid of losing everything.
I’m afraid of being thrown into a pot and dying.
A person possessed by a thousand-blooded insect.
A person who is unable to do anything due to the fear of death.
Because of that fear, I am being controlled by others.
-horror.
-control.
-coward.
Nebia, once again lost focus as she fell into self-loathing.
Because I realized that I was a coward who put off the beliefs I should have originally held.
What foolishness could I have toward myself like this?
“What do we do now?”
Nevia, who felt fear even towards Angela, spoke weakly.
“Do whatever you want.”
A weak voice, resigned to everything, came out.
Surviving as an Academy Fraudster
