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131. Joint Training (5)

My act of swinging the stick was clearly an act of violence. And it wasn’t just any ordinary stick; it was a small fishing rod.

The shape might lead one to confuse it with a bamboo sword or a cane, but the moment I grabbed it, it became a lethal weapon.

“What is this all of a sudden…”

Jason was utterly dumbfounded by the tremendous act.

Even for a total psychopath, it was only natural to be shocked by the sudden disaster.

Moreover, this was his personal research lab. Given his status, he couldn’t just stand idly by.

“Don’t look at me so negatively. It’s obviously self-defense.”

There lay Slave, shoved against the wall, and Markray collapsed on the floor.

As soon as Slave saw me, he swung his fist. I was not the one who started it; he did.

As for Markray, it was clearly a result of our wager. There’s no way he could forget the bet we made today.

“Get up, you losers. You’re not hurt at all.”

“Urgh….”

“Ugh….”

The two of them, rising with inappropriate moans, didn’t seem any worse for wear despite my not-so-gentle hit.

After all, being hit with a fishing rod isn’t exactly ordinary damage.

“Are you really whining when you’ve been modified so much?”

These guys were half-human, half-modified beings.

Thanks to that, they forcibly gained incredible strength, powerful enough to threaten even the professor’s position.

Having such power, complaining after taking my hit was nothing more than baby talk.

“No way… There was a successor to that person?”

Slave, having gotten back up, mumbled in a dazed state.

“I’ve never heard anything like that….”

“Do you think the Elder would openly nurture a legitimate successor? He raised me in case something happened to him.”

“Then where is he?”

“I’m also trying to find that out by coming here like this.”

[Degradation Rate Decrease: -4%]

[+400 Credits]

Slave looked up at me with trembling eyes.

It was amusing to see him falling for such absurd lies, but once he’d shown that sign, it was impossible not to believe.

Above all, Slave held immense respect for Enviel.

“Your goal is to make the controlled Saint Nebia the president of the Student Council and seize authority, right?”

“Then it really is a successor, huh.”

“I came all this way to help you, and you just grabbed my collar and started throwing punches?”

“….”

“Also, why have you been speaking informally since earlier?”

I shot him a sharp glare, casting down my eyes.

Unlike just a moment ago, Slave, now completely submissive, kneeled and bowed his head.

“I’m really sorry.”

“….”

Slave peeked up at my face.

I was still wearing a displeased expression.

Of course, I couldn’t help it.

“Why are you the only one doing this? What about you guys?”

“Huh?”

“What did you say?”

“….”

Helk, Lenka, and Lavender were all the same. Did they think I would forget how they bad-mouthed me when they came in?

In the end, they too bowed their heads to the ground and offered a big apology.

And finally, one remained.

“Wait! Why are you bowing to that guy! Did you forget? That guy, Radon, is the enemy! He’s in league with Jenny Chain Silver! He’s not someone who’d side with Nebia!”

Markray, having come to his senses, yelled at me.

For someone who hadn’t even joined Doomsday, it was understandably confusing.

“Are you an idiot?”

“What…? An idiot?”

“I’ve been hiding in this Academy under the Elder’s orders from the beginning. In other words, I’m a spy. Don’t you think it’s odd that I’m playing the part of Saint Angela’s friend?”

[Degradation Rate Decrease: -8%]

[+800 Credits]

Markray went completely speechless.

He was simply consumed with inferiority from his family’s legacy, the Crawler family. That was the only reason he was involved in this mess.

Fortunately, his parents had bestowed the Holy Sword upon Jason; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been accepted at all.

Hence, it was just as well if he was around, and just as well if he wasn’t.

“If you have grievances, get out.”

“How dare…!”

“Can’t you grasp the situation? If you don’t want to be here, then leave.”

In the end, he slumped to the ground, unable to say anything.

Afterward, Jason formally introduced me to them.

The Royal Guards didn’t speak lightly about the heir of Enviel, but Markray still looked as if he couldn’t comprehend it.

He probably didn’t realize the firstborn son of the Crawler family was that monster’s successor. Naturally, his mental state couldn’t help but shatter.

Just ignore that pathetic gaze.

“Anyway, we are partners with the same goal. I’m sorry for being harsh earlier, and I look forward to working with you.”

I extended my hand for a handshake with the Royal Guards.

[Degradation Rate Decrease: -3%]

[+300 Credits]

Of course, it was nothing but a false handshake. I had no intention of genuinely getting closer or feeling apologetic in the slightest.

“I’m Lenka. Nice to meet you…”

“I’m Helk.”

“I’m Lavender.”

“I-it’s Slave.”

The true villains of the main story appeared in front of me. It felt like shaking hands with a criminal on TV.

“Can I call you senior from now on?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

The look in Slave’s eyes as he looked at me changed.

Was it like a kid who loves superhero stories finally meeting Superman?

It gave me a sense of rejection. Ugh! Gross.

“So your purpose, senior, is… to support us from behind, correct?”

“Yeah, Aligieri has a lot of variables. You never know what’s going to pop up.”

Just think about what kind of state Enviel fell into because that protagonist suddenly appeared.

Then the answer will come right to you.

However, from their perspective, the possibility of believing that answer was low. Particularly for those who were excessively arrogant.

“Haha! You don’t need to worry too much. If you know about mana modification, you must be aware of how strong we are.”

“That’s right. You must have seen those damned girls crawling at our feet.”

Slave and Helk spoke proudly, puffing out their chests.

Though the power they obtained was free, it couldn’t be denied that they were strong. They were at the same level as Jason sitting right next to me.

But nothing free comes without a cost. They were unaware of the side effect that misusing that power would turn them into monsters.

“Indeed, your strength is no mere student level. You could easily knock down any fools that get in your way.”

“Then we don’t need your help, do we? We’re enough on our own…”

“However, haven’t you noticed that Saint Nebia’s mental state has been quite unstable lately?”

“Uh?”

Helk’s mouth hesitated at my question. He had nothing to say regarding a matter unrelated to strength.

They didn’t recognize their own weaknesses properly. This was why they fell apart in the main story.

“What would happen if a problem arose with Nebia, the key to your plan?”

“Then don’t worry. We have the Blood Parasite.”

“Blood Parasite? Well, that should be fine for controlling. But what if she suddenly changes her mind?”

They looked at me as if trying to decipher my meaning, but I well understood Nebia’s personality.

Based on that, I spoke up.

“She’s crueler than expected. She’s a witch donning the mask of a saint, enjoying manipulating and tormenting others.”

This was the truth. Acknowledging that fact, Jason nodded as well.

“If she’s that nasty, what will happen if she seeks revenge against us?”

“Revenge? As long as she values her own life, she wouldn’t dare—”

“That’s not true. If such a wicked woman sets her mind firmly, frost can happen even in the middle of summer.”

Nebia, whom I had relied on, was abandoned by her friends in the main story. In the end, she curses the world without ever being redeemed.

That sight resembled a drowning spirit.

“How can you be so sure of that?”

Predictably, Jason asked again, and I smiled as I replied.

“Have you forgotten that I am the successor of the Elder, who possesses the eyes that see through everything?”

[Degradation Rate Decrease: -6%]

[+600 Credits]

“You can see through things? Then do you have that eye too…!”

Jason immediately grasped that was the ‘Evil Eye.’ It was well-known within Doomsday that no member was unaware.

“It’s not as perfect as the Elder’s eyes, but I can barely grasp the thoughts of my opponent.”

This part wasn’t a lie. I still had a long way to go to catch up to Enviel’s eyes.

“That means… what you’re saying holds a certain amount of validity.”

“Therefore, I will address Saint Nebia’s mental issues. Instructor, please convey this to the clerics I’ve planted to make contact with Saint Nebia.”

“Got it. There’s still time until the election, so I’ll leave it to you.”

I couldn’t allow Nebia to be discarded or dealt with by the protagonists.

To ensure that, I’d have to keep contact with her as much as possible.

“By the way, Radon.”

This time Jason asked me a question.

His serious tone had lightened slightly.

“About those two you gave me earlier.”

“Ah… Those, huh?”

I gulped as I looked at the items he showed me.

[You and My Tico]

[King of the Dressing Room]

Two Nobel Records I had earlier disguised as Stella’s preferences.

It seemed he intended to return them since he didn’t particularly like them.

“About these…”

“Is it difficult to look at?”

I asked, but surprisingly, his expression was indifferent.

“Isn’t there something like an original soundtrack?”

“Huh?”

“No, I mean, it’s not particularly interesting, but I thought I might as well keep it, you know?”

His shocking words sent a twitch through my expression.

But looking at his demeanor, it didn’t seem he had awakened to a new preference.

Thank goodness. He was already a weirdo; if he became an even weirder weirdo, it would have given birth to a horror genre.

“I thought you’d find it hard to watch, but it’s surprising.”

“Even if it doesn’t match my taste, for ‘that’, I have to endure it.”

The Royal Guards exchanged glances questioning ‘that,’ but none could hear the answer.

“Then I can tell you what ‘that person’ likes or their favorite place.”

“Really!”

“Of course.”

Seeing Jason utterly captivated, I couldn’t help but smirk.

The Royal Guards remained confused, still tilting their heads.

I couldn’t reveal that Jason was head over heels for Professor Stella just yet.

*

1st Star Hall, home to the finest talents in Aligieri.

As the most luxuriously adorned facility, it was practically considered a landmark.

However, the criteria for the top talents here were not academic performance but status.

And deep underground in the training hall, a talent with the status of a Saint was diligently training.

‘Those guys don’t seem to be struggling at all.’

Nebia Chromag, adorned with Divine Power, watched the golem cleaning the training hall.

Even though it was well past the curfew, those entities worked without pause.

They were called Artificial Golems. I heard they once staged a rebellion, but it was ultimately quashed without much effort.

‘They should learn to act like the puppets they are.’

Those being dominated should not rise in revolt. There’s no guarantee of success, and failure costs them their lives.

The people Nebia herself gazed upon were no different. Just like those golems, the inferior beings must obey the words of their superiors unconditionally.

They should not complain or make a peep until their death while working for their master.

Until death. Yes, until death.

“….”

Suddenly, Nebia quietly placed her hand over her chest. She sensed a parasite wriggling within.

‘At this rate, who’s the puppet here?’

Nebia secretly derided her own fate. A person who dreamed of dominating had become a dominated being.

Outwardly, she appeared no different than the golems working tirelessly over there.

She lacked the courage to raise a rebellion.

She feared death.

She reviled herself for moving only on command.

It felt as if all the desires she had filled up until now had been evaporated.

Today, there was also a message from Jason. A request to clean up the mess caused by the Royal Guards.

Considering what happened during the joint training of the new recruits, it was easy to guess what it would entail.

“What are you doing at this late hour?”

As expected, a visitor arrived.

A girl also chosen as a Saint, just like herself. Angela Greenwhite stepped into the training ground and said,

“Don’t you know? If you want to be elected, you need to show that you’re not just all talk. This is preparation for that.”

“….”

With that, Angela approached the golems. With a few words, the golems stopped cleaning and exited.

“We have to speak politely even in front of scum like them. Since I sent them all off, drop the formality. You’d find it more comfortable that way.”

“….”

Nebia could sense something from Angela’s seemingly friendly words.

“I don’t think you sent those watchers away just for the sake of convenience, did you? Am I wrong?”

Hostility.

Kaboom!—

Suddenly, a long tail shot out and a great sound reverberated. Nebia blocked the sudden tail strike with a sonic barrier.

Behind the tail that was trying to tear through the barrier, Angela’s face twisted fiercely.

“Looks like you’re really angry?”

“Would I appear anything else?”

The power of the tail strengthened. Soon, another tail sprouted and surged forward just like the first.

Hah!

In the meantime, Nebia let out a small scream. The sound, which looked like a futile struggle, generated a powerful sonic wave that repelled everything.

Suddenly amplified by the extreme force, numerous tails were pushed back. The shockwave swept over the entire training hall.

-BOOM

Since the training hall was designed to be solid, it didn’t budge much, but the golems from just a moment ago surely wouldn’t be unscathed.

Even if they were lifeless, they were still Academy assets.

I had heard they used to be produced infinitely, but now they weren’t, so we had to be careful with them.

‘That’s why you evacuated those tin cans.’

The sonic wave continued to hold off. With the intention of destroying not only the tails but the main body as well, it pressed forward.

However, Angela suddenly retracted her tails. She then leaped and deftly avoided the sonic wave.

“Bloodstorm…”

Angela mumbled, and her figure disappeared. Though I couldn’t see her speed, I could feel her presence.

She moved like a beast covered in blood, sending chills down my spine.

‘She’s definitely a monster.’

That which I didn’t possess, but only Angela did.

It was one of the reasons I felt inferior; it was her superior physique.

Being a descendant of a combat tribe cradled by the moon was a specification I could only dream of.

Moreover, let’s not forget that the nine-tailed fox that appeared in Aligieri was Angela.

Saint and endowed with both strength and divine power, Angela was a more exceptional being than Nebia.

“All frequencies, resonate with me…!”

But there was a way to deal with it. Even if her form could not be seen due to speed, I could still hear her.

If I could emit a deeper sound, I should be able to perceive a deeper sound as well.

Nebia strengthened her intrinsic trait with Divine Power.

This was a sacred magic of her own making, called ‘Ear of the Soul.’

“I found you!”

Having enhanced her hearing, Nebia was able to detect Angela approaching at breakneck speed.

‘Is that you?’

Nebia spotted Angela with her eyes. She had never experienced such a thing before, so Angela’s expression hardened.

When did she develop such sacred magic?

Hah!

Once again, a sonic wave echoed out, crashing down upon Angela like a cannon.

Having succeeded in detecting her, Nebia struck her opponent. Finally, I felt the satisfaction of landing a blow on that monster.

“Ugh!”

Angela coughed up blood, and it seemed as if her resentment was released. I felt a surge of joy at the mere potential of knocking this vixen down.

“Ugh!!”

Even though I hit her with a sonic wave, Angela didn’t fall.

Instead, she advanced while holding blood in her mouth, resisting the sonic wave’s force.

Like pushing through a great typhoon, Angela closed in on Nebia.

No matter how much I raised my output, it was useless. Angela endured that and ended up hitting Nebia across the face with her tail.

“Ugh!”

Struck by the tail, Nebia crashed against the wall. Just as she regained her senses to retaliate, another tail came flying, forcing her head to turn away.

And various other tails emerged, binding her body.

She could neither flee nor emit sonic waves due to her turned head.

“What the hell are those Royal Guards?”

Finally, Angela’s direct question reached me.

“They’re all under you, yet I’ve never heard of them.”

“….”

“You can see for yourself, but they made a scene in front of the crowd, which has damaged our reputations. Moreover, Crona ended up in the hospital.”

The numerous tails tightened their grip on her limbs.

“You’d better not lie. I saw you roaming around with that instructor named Jason.”

“….”

“Honestly, this was all your doing, right?”

I recalled how Jason had exclusively sided with the Royal Guards as the judge.

If it were a being with the stature of a saint, aligning with her would be possible, and this wicked woman would certainly use such a person to carry out her plans.

“You truly are a monster. I’m so envious I could die.”

Even if her gaze was distorted, she could still speak.

Hearing those words, Angela’s expression darkened.

“Envious? What on earth are you envious of? Have you been looking down on those below you all this time because of that pitiful heart?”

I could sense a wicked odor emanating from Nebia.

Though she wore a benevolent mask on the surface, the moment she took it off, her true nature revealed itself, treating everything as mere tools.

If she were elected as president, the students would become her tools.

“I know all about your twisted inner thoughts. But is there any glory in obtaining it by moving according to those thoughts?”

It was clear what would happen if that dictatorial fervor emerged as a saint.

So, she acted out her rage discreetly, a reason there was abuse but no outright crime.

“The heart you possess is not conviction or anything; it’s just the cowardice hiding in a well.”

“A coward…?”

“You’re just afraid of losing the position you worked hard to gain.”

She was afraid. Two words would confirm it.

Fearful she might lose everything, she merely pretended to be the saint the sect desired.

Abandoning friends or facing death wasn’t something she wanted to do.

With the Blood Parasite within herself.

Unable to do anything because of the fear of death.

That fear, in turn, allowed her to be dominated by others.

-Fear.

-Domination.

-Coward.

Overwhelmed by self-hatred, Nebia lost focus in her eyes.

She realized she was a coward, postponing her rightful convictions.

Did she still have any lingering attachments to this self?

“What will you do now?”

Now even feeling fear towards Angela, Nebia uttered weakly.

“Do as you please.”

A voice, powerless and resigned, escaped from her lips.

Surviving as an Academy Scammer.

 

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