Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

73. Strawberry Flavored Bingsu

The Combat Department exam had ended, followed by the exams for the Magic Department and Alchemy Department in succession.

Immediately after the exams, I was summoned to Unique Hall. Just like in the first semester, Professor Radian personally guided me.

It felt like a scene overlapping with the past, but this time, the atmosphere was much lighter. His expression had become much friendlier.

Back then, I was in a state of unworthiness, maintaining a stern expression. However, this time, there was absolutely no hint of pessimism on my part.

I didn’t break any rules at all. I took the exam from one to ten with a wooden sword. With those results, I deserved all the praise I could get.

Now, I had arrived at the round table in Unique Hall to receive that praise.

‘It’s just like before.’

Every professor’s seating arrangement and even their arm movements were just like a copy-paste from the first semester. They even mobilized the lie detector ‘True Mail’ again.

However, there was a clear difference. They weren’t asking if I had cheated; instead, they simply wanted to know if I was willing to move up to Class A.

– First-year Class C Radon Crawler. No cheating detected in this student’s exam. Beep.

And with the artificial golem being involved, it felt quite mystical. The professors’ favorable expressions were a bonus.

“Well, it’s decided then. The final decision rests on Radon’s answer.”

Professor Cerix from the Magic Department asked me whether I wanted to move up.

They had seen with their own eyes through the observer. I had displayed my strength by defeating Kent, the representative of the first-year class, and if they didn’t promote me, they would feel even more apologetic.

Moreover, Professor Radian and Department Head Cage had considered the possibility of me from before.

Naturally, I accepted without a second thought, with only the judgment of the highest authority left to consider.

“Vice Principal. Heidern?”

“Uh… uh?”

“Did you just hear what I said?”

“Well, it’s that….”

Heidern looked so dazed that I began to doubt whether he was the academy’s vice principal. He resembled a student caught daydreaming in class.

“I don’t have any objection to that kid moving up to Class A.”

“….”

Heidern, trying hard to appear composed, could not hide the contemptuous expressions of the faculty from turning away from him.

He must have suffered tremendous aftereffects from witnessing the true self of the respected Elder Enviel.

Even though he is supposed to be the vice principal, it was unavoidable that he showed such weakness. Enviel was someone I admired as a father figure.

‘Thinking of the one who saved and nurtured him during his times of abuse must tear his heart.’

The imposing and majestic appearance of the vice principal was merely a flashy shell. The pillars that held it up could collapse easily like a sandcastle.

That was the true face of Heidern. Mentally cornered, he would eventually appear as a mid-boss, threatening the lives of the students.

With a cry imploring him not to deny his own life.

“That’s it. We’re done here! Dismissed!”

It was a rather shabby closing statement, but the outcome was good.

Class A promotion was confirmed, but Heidern’s attitude felt off. I had a nagging feeling that he would soon vent his frustrations in some harsh way.

‘Speaking of which, this is here.’

– Eye of Mana Lv1

It’s a skill acquired by killing Enviel and absorbing his traits.

I can see not just the identity of the opponent but even their heart. Enviel used this to predict all movements of the enemy and controlled the battlefield.

Now, where—

———————

< Lawrence Maruk >

Race: Human

Job: Grand Mage

Magic Class: 7th Circle

Mana: 200/200

Alignment: Extreme Devotion / Nihilism

Emotions toward the user: None

———————

Focusing on Heidern, his information appeared. It felt like I was peeking into someone else’s status window.

And the name is quite strange. Lawrence Maruk, Heidern was actually just a pseudonym given by Enviel when he was young.

He had lived his whole life under a name given by someone, so it was understandable that he would feel shattered.

You might wonder if Enviel’s Eye of Mana also worked this way, but since I was influenced by the system, it seemed to appear in that form. It was actually easier for me to read based on my standards.

‘Emotions toward me are just “None.”‘

Since I was moving up to Class A and catching attention, it wouldn’t be strange for a person to harbor some resentment. It was fortunate for now that that wasn’t the case.

Originally, the Eye of Mana distinguishes whether someone’s alignment is evil or good.

However, since I had just acquired it, I couldn’t visualize that just yet. I had to acknowledge the difference in proficiency with the original user.

With this, my promotion was completed without issue. Now that the promotion was over, it was time for the judgment.

*

The next day.

Numerous students gathered in Libel Hall, which served as the practice gym.

The results of the practical exams held the previous day were to be announced today. The prompt grading results compared to before elicited various reactions.

Among them, the reactions of the first-years were quite dramatic. It was because of the results of another student, not their own.

￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣

……

……

……

[Leorio Schrein (No Change)]

[Gina Melkis (No Change)]

[Radon Crawler (C Class -> A Class)]

[Akail Bulorok (B Class -> C Class)]

[Bread Land (No Change)]

[Yuron Gehelrn (C Class -> B Class)]

……

……

……

￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣

– No way, no way, did he really move up?

– Is this a dream? I can’t believe this is reality.

– What on earth happened during the break?

– I’m doomed. I bet a week’s allowance that I couldn’t move up.

Students reacted with excitement and confusion as they looked at the archived results reflected in the mirror.

Radon Crawler moving from Class C to A was an enormous vertical leap. Typically, it wouldn’t be possible to achieve that with mediocre strength.

That class was packed with those who rivaled active knights.

Thus, many claimed that no matter how hard one tried, one would not be able to ascend. Some even set up betting pools, marking it as “impossible.”

However, surprisingly, there were quite a few students who marked it as “possible.”

– Isn’t this just too much?

– Too much? What’s so unreasonable about it?

– Honestly, there have been cases of moving from Class C to A in the past.

– Any evidence?

– Check the records in the Information Hall. There probably weren’t just one or two cases.

– Besides, even though that guy is crafty, he’s not ordinary.

– Anyway, you lost the bet, so be prepared to pay up.

They didn’t mindlessly place marks on “impossible.” There were many students who returned growing stronger during the break.

If it was due to a special opportunity during that period, it could certainly be possible.

However, few thought that way. After all, it wasn’t easy as it sounded.

But that small number became true winners.

And the outcome of the bets wasn’t theirs alone.

Bang!-

A huge crack appeared on the gym floor. The loud noise was like someone bringing down a heavy object, it was Kent smashing his head against the ground.

Crouching down and bowing his head, he slammed his forehead into the floor and shouted.

“I’ve committed a grave sin!”

Kent’s booming voice echoed throughout the gymnasium.

Finally, the head pounding of the first-year representative had begun. In front of him stood me, who had made the time for this.

And to my left, Jenny stood with her arms crossed, while to my right, Trisha held an ominous magical device.

“What did you do wrong?”

Kent seemed to lay down quite submissively, so I pressed a bit harder. After all, that’s the fun in getting someone to atone.

“I’m really sorry for thinking you were weak.”

“Again.”

“I reflect on attacking you without thinking.”

“Again.”

“I’ve disliked you associating with Class A students all this time. Then I heard the rumors about you and Jenny, and I couldn’t hold back and exploded. So feel free to treat me as you wish.”

“….”

I wanted to toy with him a bit, but he was just too straightforward, making it hard to push him further. The fun is in causing trouble at moments like this.

‘Should I strip him and make him dance? Put a collar on him? Or knock on the principal’s office and run away?’

Nah… that would be too much.

Originally, the term “weak” referred to a narrow-minded person who looked down on others. There’s a high possibility of annoyance while being hostile.

Just because he is smashing his head doesn’t mean the student council will disappear.

‘Too much pleasure in making him unable to bury himself in his own grave.’

And this main event wasn’t Kent’s act of atonement.

“Now then, there’s something you have to do.”

“….”

As Kent lifted his head, I said with a cynical expression.

“You can find out who spread exaggerated rumors about you, right?”

“Don’t worry. I anticipated this and have them waiting at the gym entrance.”

Kent, this guy was smarter than I expected. And suddenly, the air grew chilly, and Jenny’s eyes glinted with excitement.

“Finally, we can find out who those guys are, right?”

“With the authority of the student council, I was able to investigate all archives and reveal their identities. Moreover, I confirmed their faces, and they were the ones who relayed exaggerated rumors to me. Jenny Chain Silver, do you have business with them?”

“Of course. Since they spread such embarrassing rumors without any shame, am I supposed to just sit back?”

A chilling aura glimmered in Jenny’s eyes.

She was well aware that she was the subject of jealousy. I had learned that it was the fate of those above.

But amongst those spreading distorted rumors about her connection to Radon, they would never be forgiven.

“I’m thinking of freezing them whole and making them eat bright red bingsu. I wonder what that would taste like?”

“….”

From Jenny’s tilted lips came a chilling sound.

Bright red bingsu… Surely it won’t be strawberry or watermelon flavored. No, even before that, the trauma might prevent her from ever eating patbingsu again.

Her words were spine-chilling as a ghost, but ironically, she herself was scared of ghosts.

“W-wait! Does that mean all those rumors were lies?”

I was taken aback.

Crona suddenly popped up from behind Jenny.

When had she been there?

“Radon Crawler spent a night in the same mansion as…”

“That’s not it!”

“Quack!”

Jenny, blushing, struck Crona’s forehead with her fist. Crona moaned softly, but thankfully murmured her relief.

“Senpai, have you finished charging the ominous magical device?”

“Of course, I’m all set!”

Trisha was ready with the ominous magical device and prepared to take a picture at any moment. For the price of spreading that nonsense, she planned to plaster their faces all over the academy.

If Kent was just coffee, those guys were top tier. No, at least Kent had humbly apologized, so I was worried he might be seen as filtered water instead of coffee.

No matter who they were, they were doomed now.

“But why aren’t they coming in?”

Kent looked at the gym entrance with a puzzled expression.

*

“I can’t take it anymore! What are we supposed to do now!”

“What do you mean? We need to run!”

Not one, not ten, but several students were fleeing from the professors’ building into the woods.

They were the ones who had anonymously spread rumors on the academy bulletin board.

Breathe and Ruddick scowled every time they saw Radon. They hatched a scheme after overhearing that he had been staying at Jenny’s house over the break.

They lured a few underperforming students who despised the top achievers.

“This is all your fault! Thanks to you making a fuss, we’re dragged into this too!”

One underperforming student yelled at Breathe and Ruddick. Hearing that, the two were at a loss.

“What nonsense is this? Because you got caught, we’re all in trouble too!”

“What did we do wrong? You guys are the ones who did wrong!”

They had no idea how terrifying the power of the student council was. They could never have imagined that their hidden identities would be dragged before Liberty Hall.

Kent had advised that apologizing would suffice, but they were terrified of the crowd inside the gym.

Especially since the Newspaper Department and the ominous magical devices were ready to bury them at any moment…

“Why do we have to be the ones turned into bright red bingsu! If anyone’s going to be, it should be you!”

“Don’t make me laugh! If anyone’s going to die, it should be you!”

The terror from Jenny’s chilling words had psychologically cornered them, prompting their escape.

If they had to apologize in front of me, they would probably fall flat on their faces. Those who couldn’t stand it and ran away were the very embodiment of “the weak.”

Finally reaching the eerily silent woods, the sunlight beamed down, causing beads of sweat to form.

Cook!-

Suddenly, as if they were tasting something sour, they collapsed as they ran. Approaching them at high speed was Lyman, who knocked them unconscious with a finger.

“Why are you….”

Breathe shot a resentful glance at Lyman just before losing consciousness. But Lyman simply shaded his eyes from the direct sunlight and spoke plainly.

“I’ve been craving bingsu today. Strawberry flavor.”

Then he used a binding magical device to tie them up and dragged them off to Unique Hall.

Surviving as the Academy Scammer.