Episode 4. Fishing Rod! What a great conversation tool! (2)
The thought that I had seen something wrong dominated my mind.
It would be logically impossible for a fishing rod to beat a wooden sword. In fact, wasn’t the wooden sword wrapped in an aura?
It was a fight no different from a clash between branches and iron bars.
‘But does this make sense?’
The fishing rod beat the wooden sword. It was a wooden sword with the aura of Jenny, a member of Class A.
[New skill added to the ‘Battle Skill List’!]
n’Fantasy Sword Technique’
[Some skills suitable for that skill will be transferred.]
N Fantasy Sword Technique (Steel Fishing Rod Lv1, Spinning Lv1, Threat Detection Lv1)
The status window was blocking the view to indicate something.
I felt like I had accomplished something by just swinging my fishing rod, but that wasn’t what mattered right now.
First, I pulled Jenny out of the water. When I was hit, I heard a bone breaking, so I carried her on my back and ran to the infirmary.
It’s early in the morning, so the hospital doors might not be open yet. But the infirmary is different.
Professor Stella is always the guardian angel there.
“Your ribs are pretty damaged.”
“So… … are you going?”
Professor Stella observed Jenny’s condition as she lay in bed. When I heard the results, I looked dumbfounded.
“Who the hell does that?”
“hmm…….”
I was hesitating, but I ended up telling the truth without thinking.
“I did. We met by chance at the lake and collided.”
“You said that?”
“Yes. I got hit by the fishing rod I was swinging without thinking.”
Professor Stella looked at me blankly for a moment.
I sat there somewhat bashfully, still feeling embarrassed, but the professor suddenly laughed.
“Ahahahahaha! You’re a master of lies, just like the rumors say.”
“yes?”
“Speak sense. With your skills, you can’t even match Jenny’s toes.”
‘No… … Is that really me?’
This is an uncomfortable situation where even though I told the truth, it is considered a lie. But there was nothing I could do. There wouldn’t be many people in the Academy who would believe the words of the conman Radon.
“Tell me honestly. What happened?”
I eventually gave up and ended up making up stories that didn’t even exist.
“It’s true that we met while fishing. Unfortunately, a monster jumped out from the lake and injured Jenny.”
[+300 Credits]
“What about that monster?”
“Jenny tore her in half. But she lost consciousness, so I carried her on my back and ran all the way here.”
This part is true, so the erosion rate did not decrease.
But while I wasn’t looking, the erosion rate had risen to 30%. Did it rise that much while I was sleeping?
“You did really well. I’m glad you’re also a role model.”
“you’re welcome.”
“But honestly, I was terrified. If the Academy had known that Jenny was injured, the combat professors would have risen up in arms.”
“I see. It’s a good thing no one knows.”
Jenny is an outstanding talent even among the first-year students. She was already considered to be in the excellent Class A, and she is at the top of the class. A student with such talent is not lacking in the attention of professors.
Even one of the playable characters in this game. Her status can be seen as important for the progression of the story.
‘I’m crazy. I should have shaved off all my hair.’
Gulp-
I’m worried about the future and my stomach is screaming. When I look closely, I realize that I left the fish I caught today there.
“Haven’t you eaten?”
“Yes. My parents don’t send me living expenses anymore.”
“Then eat this.”
Professor Stella noticed my gaunt appearance. She took out a sandwich she had been saving in her drawer and gave it to me.
“Can you really give it to me?”
“You did a good job today. Think of this as a reward for that.”
“thank you!”
As soon as I received it, I opened the plastic wrap and took a bite. It tasted like a good mix of egg and ham. I could almost cry at her kindness.
‘You’re so kind, yet you still don’t have a lover until the last season of the game.’
So I wanted to cry even more.
“And it’s really surprising. You had an accident at the newspaper office yesterday, right? I saw that official document.”
“… … .”
The professor took out a mirror, and in it was reflected an article. It was the fake news that I, or rather Radon, had reported.
“Isn’t that the newspaper you wrote? Everyone is making a fuss about it. They’re giving you a sharp look because you’re lying to the end.”
Of course, that’s true. There are some incorrect facts written in it, including Jenny’s case.
By now, those victims must be itching to beat me up.
However, it is not something that warrants expulsion. This is because it can be accepted as a mistake made by an immature cadet. It can be resolved among the cadets without the professor having to intervene.
But is this guy Radon obsessed with the number of views on his articles? He ends up expulsing himself because he spreads more provocative false information.
“Aren’t you going to pursue the issue?”
“You might have done the research wrong.”
“Do you really think that I, who lies so easily, made a mistake?”
“A real liar doesn’t talk like you just now.”
Professor Stella put the mirror reflecting the screen back down.
“It was like bringing Jenny, and your attitude now. If you were truly spreading false information, you wouldn’t have acted like that.”
“… … .”
“I don’t know much about you yet. At least I don’t have the heart to discriminate against you and call you a fraud.”
I had only heard rumors about Radon, but when I actually met him, he was a completely different person.
It was then that I realized that I was not a cadet who deserved to be called a fraud.
“The practical exam is coming up in a few days this month. Are you preparing well?”
“Ah… … a little.”
[+100 Credits]
I didn’t do anything.
“Still, I’m confident I’ll get a good grade.”
[+100 Credits]
I’m not confident. Not yet.
“As you know, the monthly practical exam is a competition between cadets. What would happen if a cadet with a grudge were to target you?”
It is quite possible.
There must be more than one or two cadets who are giving me the cold shoulder because of the fake news. Aren’t they the perfect sacrifice to be used as a punching bag? The same goes for the punks who trampled on me yesterday.
“So be careful. You’re everyone’s target.”
“Thanks for the advice. And I enjoyed the sandwich too.”
“Come to me anytime if anything happens.”
I stood up from my seat. Like yesterday, I said something before leaving.
“And I will support you in finding a lover.”
“Yes, thank you very much. Take a loaf of bread while you’re at it.”
[+200 Credits]
Suddenly-
With Radon gone, only the two of them were left in the infirmary. Stella spoke to the patient who was probably sleeping.
“Stop pretending to sleep and wake up.”
At those words, Jenny opened her eyes. She didn’t look haggard. It was to the point where it was meaningless to say she had fainted.
“How long have you been awake?”
* * * * *
As soon as I left the infirmary, I headed to the fishing spot. I had to go back and get something I had left behind.
I met many people along the way, and each time I had to lie.
“Elder, the weather is really cloudy today.”
“It’s definitely going to rain.”
“I caught about 200 today.”
“Next time, I might even be able to catch a shark.”
[+100 Credits]
“You are such a handsome man, sir!”
[+200 Credits]
Each time you tell a small lie like this, the erosion rate only decreases by 1 or 2. To reduce it significantly, you need a lie with a bigger impact.
There must have been some bread that he had received from Professor Stella. He ate it openly in front of the children. Then the children came running over and their eyes sparkled.
“Brother. Just one bite for us!”
“Yeah, here.”
“Wow.”
“Ouch, I got tricked!”
“Eww!”
He pretends to give them bread and then throws it away. It must be quite shocking for the children.
The little ones are already trying to act like lice.
[+4000 Credits]
The number of lies that made others cry or shocked decreased by more than 10. Since there were 4 children, the total decreased by 40.
Thanks to that, the current erosion rate is 0. Since we made it the lowest, does that mean anything will change?
‘… … .’
Nothing happened. Then I opened my eyes for a moment and raised my head, and it started to rise again.
There is no benefit to lying. In the end, in order to suppress the curse, you have no choice but to do it, even if you don’t want to.
“How dare this son of a bitch make our child cry?”
“What department are you in? Who is your professor?”
Damn, I couldn’t avoid people’s stares. If I couldn’t explain the situation, people would just look at me as a conman.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
I ran like crazy, expressing my apology.
So I returned to the dorm and, leaving my worries behind, cleaned the fish I had caught that day.
He placed the crucian carp he had caught on the kitchen cutting board and cut off their heads. Judging by his dexterity, it seemed like Radon had done this many times before.
‘Well, he’s good at fishing. He must have tried catching sashimi at least once.’
I cut both sides in half to separate the bones and meat. I chopped the separated meat into thin strips and checked to make sure there were no bones left. That was when I finished one.
[The proficiency of ‘Fantasy Sword Technique’ has increased.]
“What is this?”
I checked the status window as I was seeing a skill for the first time.
__________________________
Race: Human
Occupation: Swindler (Experience: 10/100%)
– Stamina: 10
-Strength: 8
– Intelligence: 4
-Gentleness: 6
– Horsepower: 15/15
[List of Professional Skills], [List of Life Skills], [List of Combat Skills], [List of Magic Skills]
__________________________
There is nothing particularly wrong with the ability stats. Except for the ‘Strength’ stat, which went up by 1 using points.
However, in the [Battle Skill List], there was a new skill other than ‘Swordsmanship’.
“Fantasy swordsmanship?”
Did such a technique exist while playing a game? It seemed to be a type of swordsmanship school, but I had no idea.
I needed to find out what this was.
__________________________
[Fantasy Sword Technique]
– An unprecedented swordsmanship technique that is different from basic swordsmanship and improved. Its specialty is to make the opponent let his guard down by intentionally showing weak points or to create afterimages to fool the opponent.
The main weapon is not a sword, but a fishing rod. Only by holding it can you demonstrate the true value of your fantasy swordsmanship.
[Relevant skill]
Spinning Lv1, Steel Fishing Rod Lv1, Threat Detection Lv1
__________________________
This was a trait that was born this morning when I fed Jenny the fishing rod swing. It seemed that the ‘Swordsmanship’ trait was influenced by ‘Trickster’ and ‘Fishing’.
At that time, I was defenseless. Jenny must have thought the same thing and attacked with all her heart. She never thought that this kind of trait would be born in me. Of course, I didn’t know that either.
In other words, there was no shortage of things that made the other person laugh, and this soon led to carelessness.
At that time, he must have been holding a fishing rod. Therefore, it was a suitable background for the birth of the characteristic called fantasy swordsmanship.
“It seems like it was expressed unconsciously because the conditions were just right.”
At that time, I ended up pretending to be weak and tricking Jenny. Then, why did the fishing rod break Jenny’s wooden sword?
This is none other than the characteristic of the fantasy sword technique. As stated in the description, the fishing rod is no different from a sword to me. This means that the fishing rod I hold has power that is definitely greater than a real sword.
So then the showdown would be ‘wooden sword vs. fishing rod (disguised as a real sword)’. Even though it was a wooden sword with an aura, the academy student’s immature aura wouldn’t have been enough to defeat a real sword. It was natural for the wooden sword to break.
“Shall we try it?”
I took a fishing rod and headed to the forest near the dormitory. I stood in front of a huge rock that I happened to find and held the fishing rod like a sword.
[Fantasy Sword Technique – Turning Lv1]
And he swung. At that moment, the sound of sticks and stones rubbing against each other rang out.
Oh my god!
When I actually swung it, I couldn’t help but be surprised.
A rock several meters thick… … was split in half.
Surviving as an Academy Fraudster
