Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

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Chapter 68: It’s Giving Me High Blood Pressure in Broad Daylight.

With a multitude of noble offspring gathered at the Academy, numerous students were abundantly present.

Among them was Kent Egist, the son of the commander ruling the western borders, who always pursued perfection.

If one is to do something, it must be approached thoroughly, with the readiness to face death. I learned this lesson from my father and grew up with it.

I thought the same applied to academic life. I believed that even in Class A, there should be peers who could stand on equal footing with me, whether in strength or character.

Thanks to this strict stubbornness, I secured the position of class representative in my first year.

“What message do you want to convey to me?”

Seeing the students rushing towards him, Kent asked politely.

Many students clung to him in hopes of gaining points from being associated with a member of the student council. Although the reason they gathered now was similar, they held other personal feelings as well.

“Kent, you must have heard. There are rumors that Radon Crawler got off the Chain Silver family’s carriage.”

On the day of the new semester, many people gathered at the main gate. Despite a considerable number of witnesses, those who hadn’t seen it simply refused to believe it.

Kent felt the same way. There was no way that his peers in Class A would associate with a trivial fellow like him.

“It’s all true. We overheard everything… there…”

“And then what?”

It was frustrating seeing my classmate mumble incoherently. After urging him to speak quickly, I finally heard the shocking words.

“I heard that Radon spent his break at Jenny’s mansion.”

“…What?”

After asking him to repeat, that same answer came back.

“…”

The fact that Jenny Chain Silver, a promising student in our year, lived with the filthy scammer Radon Crawler.

Realizing this took place during the vacation left Kent feeling utterly lost.

If they were ordinary students, he might have dismissed it casually. But the fact that Jenny, representing the integrity of the Combat Department, was involved made it feel grave.

‘That Class C punk…?’

Kent’s concern lay with that student’s ‘mold.’

Having grown up with the chaos of the border wars etched in his mind, he sought strength above all. He realized early on that if you were weak, you wouldn’t survive.

The weak will do anything to rise up, resorting to cowardly acts.

He recalled how a subordinate, filled with envy towards his father’s power, attempted to drag his father down at any cost.

That act almost allowed enemies to invade and usurp their fortress.

And yet, this subordinate would often lament his father’s incompetence, claiming if he were the commander, such a thing would never have happened.

‘Instead of strength, you tried to kill my father with petty tricks. Scum like those.’

There’s a simple way to climb the ladder to success. It’s through one’s own sweat and skill.

But what of the weak? They don’t try to create their own path; they demand others create one for them. Or they steal from others and pretend it was their own creation.

‘Those who always scheme to evade fair confrontation and shift their responsibilities onto others are nothing but scammers.’

Ironically, Kent had lived amongst such individuals.

Starting with those who shifted blame for their own mishaps onto subordinates… to the officers who were blinded by material wealth and leaked military secrets to the enemy.

Their commonality was putting harmless people in danger because they couldn’t handle things themselves.

All of them, weak as they were, sought to aim for positions beyond their grasp.

‘It’s terrifying when the weak harbor useless beliefs.’

This Academy was no different.

Having just completed the first semester of the first year, swarms of people were already angling to cling to his back.

Or swarming behind the Class A students hoping to snag a free ride.

The fact that most of them belonged to Classes B and C was a clear indication of who they were.

Radon Crawler was just the beginning…

‘These idiots are the same.’

Breead and Rudikall.

It was obvious why these two were feeding him advantageous information. They were likely eager to gain favor from the student council to quickly lift the warnings they received before.

These were the same ones who attempted to post exaggerated statements on the Archive bulletin board during the break. They had been warned by the academic board but showed no signs of regret.

‘Perhaps what they’re spouting now is also inflated.’

Of course, preaching to them wouldn’t change anything. His father had taught him that the best course of action was to use them for as much as they were worth.

“If Radon Crawler is just some nobody hanging around Jenny, I can’t imagine she’d accept him even if they made up.”

If it were just a matter of chatting with each other, there was no clear issue there. Even if they naturally grew closer through that process.

“Yeah, that’s exactly what we wanted to tell you.”

“They’ve gone beyond just making up; don’t you find it suspicious how close they’ve gotten?”

Breead and Rudikall smirked, revealing what they had gathered.

Rumor had it that Radon and Jenny had a back-and-forth at the café recently. And though uncertain, there were whispers that they went out to the village during the last exam period.

“There are far too many oddities for them to just be friends. If they reconciled, Radon would have had to repent for his scammy ways.”

“But even after reconciling, Radon continued to spread lies. It’s only natural that Jenny wouldn’t sit back and let that happen.”

Kent was aware that the argument between them stemmed from the relic, and that the source of the relic’s destruction was Radon’s lies.

Then, to really reconcile, one would first need to address Radon’s habitual dishonesty.

“Despite that, Jenny maintained a facade of being friendly with him. Even though the conditions for genuinely becoming friends were absent.”

“Maybe Jenny, having some dirt on her, is being used like a slave?”

The fact that Radon Crawler stayed in Jenny’s mansion was dubious enough.

It was known that excluding Crona Delaware and Mary Ryudshiel, she had never taken friends into the mansion.

Many students clung to her under the guise of friendship. Thus, treating Radon with any special privileges just seemed outright strange.

“Think about it carefully. It might just be an act of casual familiarity on the surface.”

“Most importantly, the A-class student is mingling with a weakling. That’s the very thing you despise the most.”

Breead and Rudikall put their heads together, as Kent believed the weak should associate with the weak, and the strong with the strong.

They sought to instill in his mind that Radon Crawler was the ‘weak.’

“Yeah, a ‘weak’ one.”

At last, they seemed to be getting somewhere as Breead and Rudikall smirked. However, they were so clogged with greed that they had forgotten an essential fact.

“Especially you two!”

BAM! BAM!—

Before long, a wooden sword had materialized in Kent’s hand, and both of them clutched their bellies as they rolled on the ground.

“Cough!”

“Ahhhh!”

Suddenly struck, they expressed their agony through muffled cries of ‘Why the hell!’

When they sensed the immense mana radiating from Kent, they trembled in place.

“You two stuck around not wanting to be lectured by your family during the break, and it’s clear your little shenanigans in the Archive weren’t exactly wise. Did you think I’d be happy to receive your precious information?”

“Ah… no!”

“I’m sorry!”

They rushed out the door as soon as the pain subsided. After all, Kent held a higher family rank, so they couldn’t do anything to retaliate.

Kent can see through the essence of a person. Having recognized their rotten core, his hands moved first.

“Crawler…”

Yet Kent realized something from their recent conversation. The large-scale protest that had occurred in the past at the Crawler Count’s domain, which was said to have arisen due to the count’s oppression of his subjects.

The Crawler family itself was tangled in bad rumors. Thus, it wouldn’t be surprising if they committed any act of wrongdoing.

The information those two had blabbered earlier could also very well be malicious exaggerations.

“I’ll just have to go meet him directly.”

Whether that guy was a truly recognized strong person or a cowardly one manipulating others at will.

Kent stepped out with his wooden sword, seeking confirmation.

*

In the laundry room next to the three-star dormitory.

Artificial golems were ironing various outfits and casual wear as I watched the laundry spin with Luska.

“My head hurts…”

Luska suddenly clutched her head and moaned. It seemed bizarre that she was already in distress when just a few days had passed since the semester began.

“What’s going on all of a sudden?”

Being from the Yoho族, Luska shouldn’t be worn out just from classes. When I wondered, she weakly responded.

“Nothing much. Just had a bit of a ruckus with my roommates last night.”

“….”

As soon as the semester started, roommates would often turn into fierce rivals. Considering that fact, I could understand why Luska was feeling a headache.

Having the tranquil peace of living alone, I wasn’t in a position to comment on their feelings. But at the same time, I didn’t even intend to give up my single room, so I could indirectly understand the pain of that situation.

“How much must they have tormented you for you to feel this sick?”

“It wasn’t particularly tormenting. It’s just… they threw a party to celebrate the start of the semester in our room.”

That may not seem related to a headache, but it turns out that upperclassmen brought a box of alcohol.

Ultimately, she was forced to partake in the drinking party with them, which was why her head felt like it was splitting. Despite that memory making Luska grimace, I one-upped her with another question.

“How many roommates do you have?”

“Counting me, it’s a four-person room. It’s the most lowly regarded room in the three-star dorm.”

What kind of sin did I commit in my previous life? Having just one roommate would be annoying, but three? That’s beyond comprehension.

If there’s a hell, it would probably be that room. If it were me, I would’ve blown it up long ago.

“But they aren’t bad upperclassmen. It’s just that I haven’t adjusted to their expressions of affection.”

However, contrary to expectation, Luska didn’t seem resentful toward her roommates. In fact, there hadn’t been any trivial descriptions in the main story indicating she was troubled by room issues.

No matter how social her roommates might be, it’s hard to imagine Luska being suppressed by the energy of other students.

Thus, I assumed she would have survived by the law of the jungle even in a four-person room.

“Hey, by the way…”

“Huh?”

“….”

As Luska turned to me, seemingly wanting to say something, she hesitated, glancing around as if debating whether or not to speak.

What eventually came out of her mouth was a soundless complaint. What on earth was she itching to say?

Ding!—

At that moment, the rotating mana dryer was finished. A light and sound signaled its completion.

Luska stood up to open the lid and retrieve her laundry. A gentle warmth wafted over to where I sat.

“It’s nothing. I’ll go ahead.”

“Okay.”

Luska gathered her laundry into her basket, left a calm remark, and exited the laundry room. I absentmindedly placed my own laundry into the dryer that was now my turn.

In the spot Luska had used, I could feel not only the warmth but also a pleasant scent. It seemed they had used a special powder to block any unpleasant odors. Quite a neat character, really.

After putting in all the laundry, I closed the lid and pressed the patterned button beside it. The time appeared above, and the dryer began to rotate.

The laundry system was as convenient as that of modern times.

‘70 minutes. That’s quite a long time.’

The dryers used in the military wouldn’t take this long, no matter how many you had. It’s clearly because of the technological difference that things have their inconveniences.

Having memorized the exact time, I exited the laundry room. I was planning to go back to the dorm and kill some time.

“Radon Crawler.”

Someone called out to me. When I turned my gaze, I found a stout student with navy hair standing there. And on the sleeves of his uniform were the bands symbolizing the student council.

Kent Egist.

From the Combat Department Class A. The first-year representative among the student council officers. He was depicted as a handsome athlete popular among female students.

“Did you call for me?”

Since he called, I replied. For some reason, Kent’s eyes suddenly sharpened and became as piercing as a blade.

In that moment…

WHACK!—

Sensing danger instinctively, I immediately summoned Leviathan. The creature was brandishing a wooden sword at my neck, and I had to block that.

“What on earth are you doing all of a sudden?!”

He had a look of shock on his face, but that was none of my concern. No matter if it was a wooden sword, attacking without consent is still an attack. Especially from a first-year representative.

“You seem to have quick reflexes.”

“What?”

“Let’s get straight to the point.”

Kent lowered his sword and said.

“What’s your relationship with Jenny Chain Silver?”

“…?”

“I heard you got off Jenny’s carriage. How can a Class C student like you be on friendly terms with Jenny?”

What is he talking about, attacking people out of the blue?

…might have initially thought that, but reconsidering his persona caused the puzzle to align.

He despises the mingling of the weak with the strong. The weak always suck the life out of the strong without showing any responsibility.

So that means… he viewed me as a Class C student trailing behind the academically superior Jenny.

But why would he suddenly stir up trouble when he was quiet during the first semester?

“There are countless rumors of you living in the same house as Jenny. This was just buzzing like flies during the first semester, but now that I hear this, you’ve crossed over that line.”

So, that’s why he was quiet during the first semester.

The explosive behavior now stems from my returning to the Academy with Jenny.

But how is that a crime?

“Yeah, we just became friends among first-year students. But why do you look at me like I’m a traitor selling out my country?”

“If Jenny truly forgave you, you wouldn’t have gone on to display your scammy behaviors without a hitch. But you haven’t faced any scolding from her. Unless you have something on her?”

Has this guy lost his mind? He keeps spouting paranoid nonsense since morning.

“You think I’m treating Jenny like a slave? What kind of nonsense is that?”

“Otherwise, how do you think you managed to freely stay at the mansion of a duke? Especially as a weakling like you!”

What the hell is he on about? To outright belittle me by labeling me a weakling riled me beyond measure, let alone treating me like a criminal.

– He’s giving me high blood pressure in broad daylight.

“So what? You want me to just disappear?”

“Good to know. Initially, I was displeased with the mere thought of a Class C student associating with her. And that goes for Luska, Mary, and Lyman. None are exceptions.”

Are all those former A-class students yours?

This kid is really trying to get on my nerves.

“What if I stand with those people?”

“What?”

To silence these brats, I had to display the mold of a ‘strong’ rather than a ‘weak.’

I had just made a promise with Jenny, but I certainly didn’t anticipate being caught up in this way.

“What will you do if I rise to Class A?”

“….”

His pupils quivered. It was the face of someone who couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

“You, in Class A? Swimming in a bubble without even a fishing rod?”

“Then, how about a wager?”

“…?”

“In the upcoming practical exam, if I rise to Class A as a condition, the loser has to bow down and smash their head in front of the whole student body. Sound good?”

Kent’s face was completely blank.

Despite his seemingly aggressive approach, Kent’s confidence was momentarily shaken by my unexpected bravado.

Realizing that too late, a scowl formed on his face.

“Surviving as an Academy Scammer.”