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143. Calm Before the Storm (4)

Elections must always be conducted calmly.

It is a ritual to select the leaders who will guide us, and one must not respond recklessly.

From Lyman’s perspective, having lived for centuries, it was simply common sense.

‘Whether it’s student votes or adult votes, they all amount to the same thing.’

Many votes are cast not based on reason but simply on emotional whims.

People often vote not because they see through the candidates’ essence, but for reasons like, ‘They look good and seem capable,’ or ‘I like their taste.’

Of course, there are voters who make their decisions after careful consideration, but how many possess such sage-like thoughts?

Moreover, there’s no guarantee their judgments are flawless.

Distinguishing between ‘the worst’ and ‘the lesser evil’ is also no easy feat.

This is true even in this presidential election.

For example, among the students supporting Nebia Chromag, how many can truly see through her essence?

‘As expected, all the candidates are scammers.’

It would be truly frustrating to be deceived by their grandiose lies.

But what can one do? No one takes responsibility for the aftermath.

Since the decision was made by oneself, one must endure the consequences, whether it be through evil or sheer willpower.

There were many such people right here in this place.

It was simply exasperating that they didn’t have the capacity to discern Nebia’s true nature like he did…

‘I thought she was a scammer, but…’

Could it be that it’s not entirely so? A scene flashed before Lyman’s eyes, denying his thoughts.

The people in the courtyard looked similarly dumbfounded. It seemed as though they were struck by a massive explosion.

The statement made by someone who was not only a candidate but also a saint had immense repercussions.

-What in the world was that?

-Withdrawing? Is that true?

-Are you kidding? How hard I’ve worked to be part of that faction!

-By the way, what on earth is this about mana techniques?

After Nebia finished her absurd speech, she left the stage.

Taking advantage of the chaotic atmosphere, Lyman moved.

He secretly took the artificial golem he had placed nearby and moved behind the stage. There, he discreetly activated the golem’s special function.

This was something Lyman had personally added through alchemy, allowing the golem to store what it witnessed for a lifetime.

He brought up what had been saved onto a screen, visualizing it.

As the screen emitted light on the empty stage, Lyman made himself disappear.

‘Something feels off.’

He had stored information regarding the Royal Guard and Jason within this golem. Having gone through that process, a question suddenly arose.

‘Why did Saint Nebia suddenly act like that?’

Lyman investigated based on their external activities. Information from that side was much more accurate.

Thanks to this, he was able to grasp Nebia’s true nature.

She is a personality that won’t hesitate to trample over others for her own safety.

‘There’s no doubt Nebia is also part of that faction.’

Nebia’s intention to control the academy through her election as president. There was no way she would declare self-destruction like that.

It was far too unnatural. There must be something that she herself had yet to uncover.

The instincts he acquired over three centuries were telling him so.

Not from Jason or the Royal Guard… but rather someone else’s maneuvering was at play.

‘Who on earth could it be?’

*

‘Looks like Lyman is doing well.’

I watched the situation in the courtyard from the rooftop of the Student Council Building.

With a telescope installed on the rooftop, there was no need to strain my eyes.

Currently, a certain screen had appeared on the stage, and everyone was collectively horrified as they gazed at it.

It depicted the truth about Nebia and the Royal Guard being exposed.

It likely contained records about mana techniques or Jason’s corrupt activities.

Moreover, it would also show Nebia’s past history and reveal her true nature.

The shock of learning that the revered saint had colluded with darkness must have been overwhelming.

“What… how did this happen…?”

Nebia approached me with a muddled expression and asked.

She and I had teleported to this rooftop to escape the deranged Jason.

The principle behind our escape was the Trans Card. I had marked the card on this rooftop in case something happened and transported both her and myself.

“Are you curious?”

“How could I not be curious? Senior… how… how did you…”

Despite her best efforts, Nebia struggled to understand the situation.

One could hardly blame her. Who would have expected I possessed a cure for her blood parasite?

She might even suspect I was working with Jason, but I had brought her to this safe place.

Surely, she wouldn’t think of me as an enemy.

“Ugh…! No matter how I think about it, I can’t comprehend the situation! Just a moment ago, I was ready to let everything go and relax…!”

“Oh, you mean that? I was watching until the very end as well.”

“What?”

Nebia suddenly fixed her gaze on me with wide eyes.

Seeing her expression, I arched an eyebrow and gave a peculiar smile.

Then, I repeated the line I had just said.

“It’s all thanks to you. I’m really grateful for letting me know. I won’t forget it. Hehe.”

I deliberately delivered it with the most ridiculous acting I could muster.

In that moment, a furious beast appeared before me, twisted in rage.

“Nebia!! Stop!! I’m going to kill you! I’ll kill you for sure!”

In her rage, Nebia seized my collar, shaking my body as if she meant to throw me away.

Being grabbed was surprising in itself, but the shaking made me feel nauseous.

After a moment, Nebia finally released me and began to listen to my story.

From how I had secretly approached Jason pretending to be friendly, to how I had swiped the cure.

“So that’s how it happened…?”

Nebia’s expression after hearing that was indescribable.

Whether she was pleased, still had doubts, or just couldn’t believe it—it seemed even she couldn’t figure it out.

Yet there was one thing she could certainly ask.

“Why did you need that cure?”

“….”

Nebia wore a serious expression that made it hard to see it as a normal question.

Now that I had seen that face, it wouldn’t be polite for me not to answer.

“Actually, I hold a deep grudge against Instructor Jason. I lost something precious because of him a long time ago.”

[Erosion Rate Decreased: -6%]

[+600 Credits]

What I had lost was indeed time wasted on that scoundrel.

“So I intentionally infiltrated his faction to get back at him. To ruin his plans.”

[Erosion Rate Decreased: -5%]

While it was true that I aimed to mess up his plans, there was nothing to repay.

“To do that…”

Wham!—

“Ouch! What was that for?!”

Suddenly, Nebia smacked my head with her fist.

When I asked in protest, she exploded with anger.

“Stop with the fiction! You sound like you’re just making excuses.”

“Oh…”

Nebia’s hearing was incredible, as she could grasp someone’s intentions merely from their nuances.

Ordinary lies would be useless against her, and if positioned as an enemy, she would be quite troublesome.

“Be honest. It’s all for my sake, right?”

“….”

I clearly couldn’t hide anything in front of Nebia. Her earnest expression made me eventually exhale a sigh of resignation.

“Why exactly are you helping me? Both back then and now….”

I had a keen interest in Radon, but the biggest question surrounding his actions remained that.

Whenever I thought about it, I often fell into strange delusions.

But today, I wanted to know.

As I squeezed the last bit of my remaining hearing, his lips moved.

“Simply…”

“….”

“Because I need Saint Nebia.”

There wasn’t even a hint of tremor in those words. It was a clear fact.

However…

“Why do you need me?”

“That’s…”

Had it not been for the silence, he might have been able to say it…

“I cannot tell you.”

“….”

Even that response lacked tremor. This meant that some untold circumstances were involved.

And then, a headache started creeping in.

“Ugh!”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m… fine. Just used my ears too much.”

Having not used them adequately, my head felt like it was about to split open.

But that didn’t matter much. He was indeed in need of me.

For some reason, just that fact made my pain seem secondary.

‘If I can be with him for life…’

A rush of joy flooded in.

There had been few times I had felt this happy even when reflecting on those cherry blossom paths.

It felt like the strength was returning to my outstretched arms, which I had let droop in order to give up everything in life.

But the cure was in his hands. This time, I would become his puppet with that as leverage, but I didn’t mind.

‘If we can be together until death… it might not matter.’

In that moment, he pulled out a box and held the cure.

“Here, take this.”

“What?”

-I’m telling you to eat.

The cure for the blood parasite was delivered into Nebia’s hands.

It looked like a moral act to anyone, but for Nebia, it was hard to comprehend.

If she chose not to take it, she could end up as Jason’s lifelong slave.

“Are you sure this is alright? Knowing what kind of person I am.”

Nebia’s tendency to see others as trash made it risky. Granting her freedom was akin to letting a runaway horse roam free.

But…

“I know well. I may be crazy, but I’m a woman who can gamble her life. And I can reflect on myself as well.”

I had initially hesitated to give it.

No matter how much hardship she faced, Nebia’s essence wouldn’t change.

But following her declaration just earlier on the stage, my heart had shifted.

She could take the cure. She had sufficiently earned the right to enjoy her freedom.

“Remember what you said back then? That you didn’t want to die.”

She had said that while crying.

Back then, she had looked sad, but now she appeared to be somewhat joyous.

“This is the result that Saint Nebia achieved on her own. You’ve earned this value through your pain.”

“I by myself…”

In that moment, a phrase someone had once told Nebia surfaced in her mind.

[Lessons without pain bear no meaning, just as relationships without trust resemble sand castles facing the waves.]

When she first heard it, she didn’t quite understand it. She just hadn’t accepted it. But now it was different.

Because of the facts revealed on stage, a punishment would soon befall them.

While she would have to give up what she wanted and bear pain… she had simultaneously gained both the cure and a lesson.

Understanding what trust in people meant was something new for her.

“You might regret this later.”

Gulp—

With a pop, Nebia opened the bottle and swallowed the cure in one gulp.

Immediately, she could hear the dying sounds of the parasites within her body.

Even though it was gained at the cost of what she desired, she didn’t mind.

Because such things could be made endlessly.

Zzzzzt!—

At that moment, a jolting sensation surged through her body.

“…?!”

“What was that all of a sudden?”

We suddenly felt an electric shock that made our bodies quiver.

I realized that this overwhelming energy belonged to someone with killing intent.

『This is an enormous power. More powerful than that Jason fellow!』

‘Do you know what it is?’

『Of course I do. There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize the aura of my kin.』

So it must be a spirit.

However, no matter how many spirit magicians there were at the academy, I was the only one who could handle spirits more powerful than Muto.

It didn’t make sense for there to be a spirit stronger than Jason.

Moreover, what was stranger still was that Muto had only now just sensed a presence.

‘If there was such a monstrous spirit earlier, shouldn’t you have identified it long ago?’

『Be careful, it’s special enough that it’s not comparable to me.』

At that moment, something fell from the sky.

It wasn’t like rain or hail. It was more accurate to say it was drifting down.

Cherry blossom petals? No, they wouldn’t be black.

What gradually descended were feathers. Crow feathers drifting like dandelion seeds.

“What could that possibly be?”

“Could it be…”

Those fluttering crow feathers. I had seen that effect many times before.

It signified the appearance of Aisha, the mid-boss from Chapter 5.

-This is a violation of the contract, Saint.

Finally, the being revealed itself alongside dark wings.

Surviving as an Academy Scammer.

 

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