Episode 2. How to Survive as a Scammer (2)
As I came out of the infirmary, the road ahead became blocked.
I couldn’t tell anyone about this curse. My voice came out fine, but to others it sounded like silence.
It was the same even if I wrote it down in words. I wrote about the curse in the cadet notebook in my pocket, but the writing quickly became blurred. At this rate, it was no different from having been muted.
‘This deserves to not be mentioned.’
The source of the curse was completely unknown, and it was a new species I had never seen before.
However, I did learn that it had taken root in the entire Crowler family. If this was true, then my father must have been afflicted with the same curse.
‘Once you set it up, there’s no answer.’
At that moment, several cadets were screaming in the hallway. Such things happen in the school only when a famous cadet is walking around.
-Jenny Chain Silver.
-Is that the first-year student who embarrassed you before?
-Shh! He’s not in a good mood these days. Don’t touch him.
A girl was walking towards us from across the hallway. With her blue hair like a waterfall tied into a side ponytail, she was garnering all the attention of the cadets.
‘Jenny Chainsilver’. A student from Class A who caught the attention of the professors, and one of the playable characters in Devil Aka.
And he is one of the characters who will later become a member of the main character, ‘Lyman Vegilius’.
Although he originally has a bright personality, he appears as a cold and vague character in the beginning.
The reason is because of Radon Crawler. She became like that because Radon played a painful scam on her.
In other words, running into that girl right now is suicidal!
‘It looks like you haven’t seen me yet.’
I quickly turned my head away so as not to be noticed.
If you keep frying like this… …
“Are you trying to run away now?”
“… … !!”
Jenny, who had been far away, appeared in front of me. She seemed to have shortened the distance with a high-speed skill reminiscent of teleportation. Is this a person or a ghost?
And I felt an eerieness from her that was enough to make my lifeline shrink.
“Radon Crowler. Don’t you have something to tell me?”
“… … .”
Even though I had done nothing wrong, my body instinctively twitched.
Her eyes were so venomous that it was scary to meet their eyes. I felt a chill down my spine, like ice water being poured on me.
Having played as Jenny, I can understand why she is so tense.
During the first autonomous combat training, Radon was always bragging. He said that his family was the blood of great swordsmen and such.
However, the fact that the Crowler family was destroyed was well known, so the cadets knew it was a lie and made fun of him.
The only one who took Radon’s side was Jenny, because in her eyes, he was an alienated being due to prejudice.
The cadets criticized Class C, saying that they were descendants of the Black Sword, but Jenny did not back down. Then, the classmates who had an inferiority complex made a shocking demand. They asked Jenny to hang up something she treasured.
A sapphire pendant, a keepsake from my late mother.
The situation had already gotten worse as the guys were being aggressive. Jenny humbly accepted the offer because she would have been laughed at if she had refused.
Jenny to protect her heirloom, and Radon to ensure that Jenny’s kindness did not go to waste, so they stayed after school for a week to practice together.
And on the day the truth was revealed, it was going to unfold in front of everyone, with Radon sparring with a student from Class A.
Jenny waited for Radon with sweaty palms.
But radon did not appear.
In the end, the relics were smashed to pieces by that Class A student.
It was truly a major event.
After this, Radon’s reputation plummeted and he was branded a fraud.
“If you tell me the truth now, I will forgive you.”
“… … .”
“Then… why didn’t you show up?”
Before they knew it, the cadets had started to gather one by one. They watched this situation with bated breath, not knowing when or how it would explode.
Everything depends on this one answer. But it is difficult to tell the truth. At that time, Radon was taking a nap.
This is no joke.
‘I have to make it up somehow.’
The only good thing is that this body is specialized in lying.
One of his special skills, ‘Deception’, has been improved through his lies. The skills have been activated automatically.
“At that time I… … .”
– Sense Lv4
– Action Insight Lv4
“I ran away because I was scared.”
“what?”
“I was so nervous. It felt like I was walking straight into a tiger’s den.”
What is this kid talking about? Jenny’s expression filled with shock.
“Just because of that… …you broke your promise?”
She bit her lip, her arms shaking. It looked like her fist was going to come flying and smash my face.
But I can’t do that. I don’t think it’s right to make someone surrender in a place like this.
However, if I had just revealed the fact that I had taken a nap, I might have gotten a real punch. My ‘intuition’ tells me so.
“I’m sorry, but fear got the better of that promise. The opponent was none other than the notorious ‘Traveler’.”
“… … .”
“If you don’t like it, hit me with your fist. I’ll cover it up if the professors see you.”
With that meaning, I closed my eyes and proudly puffed out my chest. You might think that a girl’s fist would hurt, but she was a cadet from Class A of the combat department. It wouldn’t be strange if her bones were crushed by one punch.
Of course, that didn’t happen. ‘Behavior Insight’ said so.
“You’re covering it up? That’s funny. Do you think I’ll fall for your lies again?”
“… … .”
“Don’t ever show up in my sights again. Then you’ll really die.”
Jenny passed by, tapping my shoulder. Even as she left, her anger showed no sign of cooling down.
But nothing like the rooftop incident after school happened.
[Experience level of the job ‘Scammer’ increases.]
[+200 Credits]
“Phew… I thought I was going to faint.”
When the situation was over, I felt relieved.
It was an established fact that lying meant risking one’s life.
* * * * *
My goals are twofold.
A stable school life, and breaking this troublesome curse.
The source of the curse was completely unknown, and it was a new species I had never seen before.
However, I came to know that it had taken root throughout the entire Crowler family.
I went straight back to the dorm and looked around the room. Unlike other people, I lived alone in the room, so it didn’t matter if it was messy.
There I found my only clue, a letter from my father. The envelope was torn, as if it had already been read once.
It seemed that he had paternal love, as he kept it safely.
[Our dear Radon. Are you doing well? Although I made a hasty decision to enroll you in the academy, I am sure you will not be threatened by pursuers within the academy. If your talents shine there, it will kill two birds with one stone.]
A pursuer… … Since the family has been wiped out, such people are bound to exist.
Up to this point, it is a letter filled with the father’s warm concern.
But what followed was a series of comedies.
[The money that was secretly embezzled just before our family lost its power was used for your tuition. The remaining money was lost, but our family was not destroyed.]
“Phuhu!”
Even though we became beggars, we didn’t go extinct?
By any chance… …I drank alcohol, but I didn’t drive drunk. Is that the nuance?
I almost burst out laughing while reading it.
[The mansion, the power, and the servants are all gone. Our Crowler family is still powerful enough to hold sway. If you just sell the name of our Crowler, the kids in your class will bow their heads at your feet.]
What about a family without power?
Is it a Hongchul team without Hongchul?
[Keep that in mind! Our Crawlers must now live like that!]
“…uh?”
I felt a strange magic in that sentence.
It seems like my father is a wizard or something and has put a brainwashing spell on the letter. The more I read it, the more blinded I become.
Sizzle!-
He quickly tore up the letter before it was exposed to the magic. It seems he brainwashed his child in this way.
I’m sorry, Dad, but I couldn’t help it. I’m not Radon.
So there is no reason to be brainwashed.
-Radon Crowler. Cadet Radon Crowler, please come to the newspaper office.
At that time, the student ID card vibrated and displayed a message. If you look at the back of the student ID card, there is a mirror, and you can use it to send a message to the students.
Come to think of it, Radon was in the newspaper club. It looks like that club’s schedule was set for today.
“Sorry I’m late!”
Since I knew the map of the academy well, I was able to find it without getting lost.
As soon as I entered the newspaper department, I bowed my head in front of everyone and apologized profusely because I was late.
“Hahaha. You came really quickly.”
Trisha Marelin, the newspaper editor, said through gnashing teeth.
I have heightened my humility.
“I’m sorry. I had to go to the infirmary… … .”
“Being late is secondary. Today, please… … stay still!”
Trisha’s eyes widened as she suddenly stopped talking.
It was a face of shock as if he had realized something.
“You… why are you speaking formally to me?”
“yes?”
“Why is that guy who used to brag about being from the great Crowler family and speak informally to them so humble?”
The members also had the same reaction. It was as if they had witnessed an unknown phenomenon.
Given Radon’s usual character, this is a natural reaction. There’s nothing strange about them.
“The guy who acted like he was royalty suddenly… …?
“… … .”
“Hmm, anyway! I have something to talk about with you today.”
Trisha held up the mirror on the back of her student ID. The mirror that reflected her instantly changed into a screen of some sort. It began to reflect an official document.
It was published by the newspaper department and my name was listed as the publisher.
“Your newspaper is just starting to spread through the school. It contains deadly false accusations.”
“ah…….”
I don’t need to tell you what Radon did.
The so-called fake news. This is where the madness of Radon’s lies begin.
It starts out rather weak, but later on, it crosses the line into spreading false information. It can even lead to expulsion.
This will irritate the main characters.
“Once it’s been published, it can’t be revised. I’m sure many students are reading this paper and are dumbfounded by now.”
“I’m truly sorry. I’m so ashamed.”
“I’m sorry to say this, but if I knew you were such a liar, I wouldn’t have picked you.”
Trisha felt the urge to turn back time.
When he entered the first year of high school, Radon, who applied for admission with a bright expression, was not accepted right away. The fact that there were few applicants for the newspaper club also played a part.
His warm smile and confident attitude gave him an overwhelming presence compared to other applicants. Unlike others, it seemed like he didn’t apply because of his grades.
Trisha cursed herself for having been so fascinated by it.
‘That’s too bad. Your spine is destined to bend at a tangent angle because of radon.’
The responsibility for this false news falls on the manager, Trisha. Thinking about her future, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
[+ 10000 Credits]
[Experience level of the job ‘Scammer’ increases.]
[Experience points have exceeded a certain amount! 1 stat point has been acquired.]
[Various skill levels increase due to the levy effect.]
– (Eyeight Lv5, Behavior Detective Lv5, Acting Lv4)
[Additional Skill Activation!]
– (Fake News Lv1, Deceiving and Hitting Lv1)
‘What is this?’
Surviving as an Academy Fraudster
