ALL NOVEL Chapter 58
Chapter 58. It’s Summer Vacation!
The midterms are over, and finals are done.
Originally scheduled finals were ruined due to the Nine-Tailed Fox Incident, so a last-minute exam was hastily put together.
With Elder Enviel’s interference being significant from the start, a retake was inevitable. After all, the Nine-Tailed Fox’s sudden appearance was all part of his plot.
Until he revealed his true colors, the faculty had no choice but to follow his directives. Even the headmasters couldn’t intervene—Elder Enviel was the true power here.
As the details of the incident came to light, the Empire didn’t simply place the blame on Aligieri.
They understood that a being of Elder caliber could easily disrupt the entire Academy.
Moreover, evidence of Enviel being a worshiper of the Demon had also been uncovered, thanks to the archive system in Aligieri that documented everything within the academy comprehensively.
While everything else felt like a fantasy world, Aligieri seemed to exist in the 21st century. That was one of the reasons I liked this academy.
Anyways, the retake for finals was conducted, and one semester had wrapped up.
The exam period, tangled up because of Enviel, felt like a greased rope. It was time to applaud the students who had struggled through the ups and downs.
And thus, summer vacation arrived.
Most students staying in the dorms chose to briefly leave their rooms and rest back at their family homes.
Students with high performance during the term could enjoy some rest, but those who didn’t face various hardships.
Which side would I fall on? And did I even have a family home to return to?
“My grades are through the roof, but now the issue is my family home….”
I pondered as I left my room and exited the academy.
The Crawler Family, the ancestral home of the Radon Crawler. I had heard that they were once a famous count but had since fallen from grace.
What could have caused such a downfall? Why was our family cursed? I had been curious, and now was the perfect opportunity to find out.
<'Curse of the Liar' Erosion Rate - 15/100>
Once this number reaches 100, the curse is said to deliver a divine high-five. I’ve tried every possible means to prevent this from happening.
From all kinds of deceptive tactics to fishing against countless students. Particularly, it was the most amusing when luring them in with trap cards.
In the future, I figured whenever I felt frustrated, I could imagine their bewildered faces and burst into laughter.
“There won’t be anyone to read my articles anymore.”
Naturally, extracurricular activities cease during vacation. That means I couldn’t churn out high-impact fake news articles.
The method of spinning lies through articles was effectively shut down until after vacation.
“I guess I’ll just do some casual fishing along the way.”
Still, it wasn’t like I had no options. Fishing operates on the same mechanism as lying, so each time I did it, the erosion rate decreased. If I passed by a river or lake, I intended to throw out a line right away.
“But what if there’s no water in sight?”
Well… if I see people along the way, I’ll just lie to them. I might seem like a fool, but this was my only method of survival.
Yet, there was no need to rush. Ever since I became an outlaw, the erosion rate had been rising more slowly.
Even if I didn’t lie for 24 hours, my erosion rate wouldn’t hit 100%.
“Hello.”
“Hey there, student. Are you traveling alone?”
At the boarding platform of Aligieri Town, as I approached a carriage, the kind coachman looked down at me and spoke.
“All the other kids are driving their own cars, but you’re the only one alone?”
“My family’s in quite a tough spot right now. Could you take me to Frost District?”
“Haha, sorry, but I don’t think it’s possible. I can’t believe you have enough money to take this carriage that far.”
Because I had just mentioned my family’s difficulties, that left a low impression of me.
It truly was costly. It was a route that couldn’t be easily traveled unless you came from an illustrious family.
“Then could you just give me a ride with this?”
“Wh-what’s that!”
What I pulled out from my pocket was a silver badge adorned with the form of an eagle.
As I touched the badge, a translucent screen appeared, showing a blood seal indicating my relation to the Chain Silver Family.
“Student, do you know Lady Jenny?”
The coachman instantly recognized it and was amazed.
Though he looked like a scruffy old man, the carriage he was driving was elegantly designed in silver. Moreover, a picture resembling the badge was painted on its roof.
This was proof that the carriage was closely tied to the Chain Silver Family.
“What a coincidence! Lady Jenny gave this to a student like you.”
“We’re friends.”
I received it from Jenny the day before vacation started. Along with her, Mary and Luska had shared what they planned to do during the break.
Since Luska didn’t have anywhere to go, he decided to stay at the academy, while the other two were going back home.
I also declared my intention to return home, but due to the dire circumstances, I found it difficult. Hearing this, Jenny had entrusted me with the badge.
She had given it to me with a bright smile, telling me to use it whenever I felt in danger.
Simultaneously, she shot a triumphant look at Luska as if to say…
—I can help my friend because I have family backing, but poor you can’t do anything. Hehehe!
…with that message hidden behind her gaze. In fact, upon seeing that, Luska had glared at her with a scowl.
“Who needs to play these childish games?”
Yet, I couldn’t use this badge indefinitely. The chance to show the blood seal by touching it only presented itself three times.
Additionally, it was also used when inviting someone from the Chain Silver Family. Perhaps that was Jenny’s true intention when she told me to come visit her territory.
It seemed like that might indeed be her real motive.
Before long, the carriage started moving, making my behind bump along with it. I took out a letter from my father that he had recently sent.
It was lengthy, but I could summarize it easily.
“Dear son, come see our new house.”
In the last letter I had received, he mentioned that things had gotten tough and they had moved to a quiet place.
Truthfully, those people were not my family biology-wise. Yet, for the sake of finding out the source of the curse, it was better for me to visit.
Or perhaps understanding their predicament might make my school life easier. At least that would mean I wouldn’t lose anything.
Clank, clank—
“Your family is in Frost District? That’s quite a distance from the academy.”
The coachman began chatting with me while driving. A hole had opened in the carriage for him to see me.
I could respond, but since I was feeling bored, it worked out well.
“While I’ve been at school, my family moved houses. I should check it out.”
The letter came with a map. Though it was a decent distance, I believed I’d arrive quickly through the Warp Gate.
“You must be a wonderful son.”
“Too kind.”
“My son lives far away like you, but wouldn’t even bother to send a letter. What kind of son is that, I wonder?”
I didn’t send out letters either, so I had no ground to stand on.
“But now it feels like my wife is avoiding me as well. Back in the day, she’d follow me around, saying how handsome I was.”
“Were you once a good-looking man?”
“Of course! All the girls in town would chase after me.”
So, his wife was one of those girls back then? This guy clearly is lying.
“Oh~ how I miss those days.”
He was already old and still clinging onto those memories.
Seriously, he was a pro at lying. I couldn’t lose out here.
“What a unique wife you have. She’s still pretty charming now.”
[Erosion Rate Decreased: -3%]
[+300 Credits]
“Really?”
“Absolutely! We have a young, handsome guy in the Combat Department with silver hair and blue eyes. Compared to him, you aren’t even a drop in the ocean.”
[Erosion Rate Decreased: -5%]
Hearing that, the old man’s lips curled up in a smile. I merely tossed it out randomly, and it worked? Just how fragile was his ego?
“How handsome could this guy be if you’re comparing him to me?”
Excitement gleamed in the old man’s eyes. I thought I’d found a fellow good liar, but this fellow turned out to be simpler than expected.
Sorry, but you’ll have to be the sacrificial lamb for my erosion rate reduction.
“That guy’s just good-looking; his personality is like a devil! He’s scary when he gets angry, beating kids with branches.”
“Haha, quite the foolish student, aren’t you?”
[Erosion Rate Decreased: -5%]
*
“Huh?”
Remaining at the academy, Lyman Begilius was helping with repair work at Purgatory Mountain Park. Suddenly, he paused and rubbed his ear with his finger.
“What’s wrong? Is your head hurting?”
“No, my ear just itched for a moment.”
“Hahaha! It seems like someone is talking about you!”
Professor Radian, who was supervising the repairs, laughed heartily.
He was wholly dedicated to the repairs due to a sense of responsibility for the damage caused here.
“I hope it’s something good. What if they’re talking bad about you?”
“What do you mean?”
Lyman cracked his knuckles menacingly.
“I’d grab them and beat them up.”
*
[Erosion Rate Decreased: -4%]
[+400 Credits]
“Pant… Pant… Anyway, I’ve never seen a flower boy as good-looking as you in this world. This is… serious.”
“I appreciate the constant compliments, but drink some water first. I feel like I’m about to pass out in here.”
Caught up in Lyman’s gossip, I completely forgot I was running out of breath.
However, this wasn’t malicious gossip. It was just a necessary evil I had to engage in due to the curse.
Besides, even if I blabbed like this, there was no way that guy would ever hear it.
Of course, if it did reach him, I’d high-five a deity, but… that would never happen.
Certainly not.
Had we already crossed through the Warp Gate? The rocky path suddenly transformed into a plain surrounded by a shining lake.
And so, the carriage came to a halt in a small village. Having reached Frost District, the carriage’s role ended here.
“Thanks for the good words, student. Since your throat must be dry, have a drink.”
“Thank you.”
I gratefully received a bottle filled with wine. My throat was parched, so it was perfect timing.
“Remember the strategy I told you? Try it on your wife.”
“Wait, what? The strategy of cornering my wife against the wall and slapping it? Thanks for the tip!”
“Have a good love life!~”
[Erosion Rate Decreased: -5%]
Who knows if this outdated technique would work in this world… but anyway, since I gave a tip, I’d done a good deed, right? Even if the reduced erosion rate was a trap.
After parting ways with the carriage, I had to walk from there. According to the map, my family seemed to live in a secluded house in the mountains.
Holding a bottle of wine in one hand and examining the map in the other, I thought.
If I go to the northern end, the Chain Silver family house would be there, and heading west from there would lead to the Ryoud Shiel magic tower.
Looking at it this way, it was quite close to their family homes. And in the main story, Jenny’s brother would likely be training not far from there.
-Congratulations! A challenger who has overcome the final mark has been born today!
It seems that even in a small village, some event was happening. A passionate voice was spreading among the crowd.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I looked up to see a strength-showing show where contestants moved giant boulders with their teeth.
The participants were all commons showing off their strength, but the standout was the winner.
-The youngest winner of the Strength King Tournament and the first female champion! The Strength Queen has descended!
What? A queen?
In terms of bulk, she looked even bigger than Professor Radian. But was she really a woman? Hmm… I guess that’s possible. We see oddities in both fantasy and reality.
‘But the youngest…?’
She definitely appeared and had twin tails, her sparkling eyes reflecting the qualities of a woman. From that perspective, she looked like one, but the body proportions created quite a sense of dissonance.
If I kept watching, I’d probably get dizzy. I better get out of here.
“Huh?”
“…..”
I accidentally made eye contact with the muscular woman. I intended to continue on my way since we were strangers, but—
“Brother!!~”
What kind of person was the brother with such a big sister?
I was curious, but it wasn’t my place to pry…
“Radon brother! It’s me!~”
Woosh!!—
The purple drink I had in my mouth erupted like a volcano.
Surviving as the Academy Scammer