Chapter 159
Chapter 159: The Smell of Incident
I wanted to hide the fact that I am an extraordinary being for as long as I live. If it were known, I don’t even want to imagine how I would be treated.
Basically, I would be dragged around because I possess bizarre information. Moreover, some of the shady folks judging me as a threat might also target my life.
Is there a brain with various classified information along with the ending of this world? Then, countless organizations would be keen on capturing me.
Just take a look at some American superhero stories; it’s quite common to see protagonists hiding their identities. The reason for that… well, if there are precious people around them, there’s no need to explain.
Unless a trusted person happens to notice it.
`But would anyone even believe me in the first place?`
Upon thinking about it… who would logically believe this absurd fact?
“This is actually a world inside a game! You’re all puppets moving according to a script!” I could shout it out proudly.
As for my friends, they would probably laugh it off as a funny joke, and the various organizations would hit me and toss me outside, telling me to stop babbling nonsense.
In the worst case, I could be treated as a lunatic.
No matter how much I screamed, “I know the ending of this world! So please do as I say!” it would all be in vain.
The reason Lyman was able to notice was that he was an existence that transcended perception.
Yet, Lyman had no intention of harming me at all. If he did, he wouldn’t have made such a request.
-If anything happens to me, please take care of them.
————=
<Class Change Mission: Spirit Sorcerer>
『A lawless person wandering aimlessly has perfectly awakened to the curse. With spirit power that transcends human limits, they can shake the world and ravage many opponents. However, obtaining that powerful strength significantly increases the chance of straying from the path of humanity. Please wish for good fortune.』
[Clear Conditions]
– Achieve spirit power gauge of 80 or higher
– Contract with two or more spirits
– The class change must occur on the border between life and death
– Must not lose reason
[Upon Clearing: Job changes from ‘Outlaw’ to ‘Spirit Sorcerer’]
<Class Change Tree>
Scammer -> Outlaw -> Spirit Sorcerer
————=
The spear that appeared as soon as the ‘Black Orb’ given by Lyman was absorbed into my body. That orb turned out to be a magical device that boosts one’s potential to handle spirit power.
It was something I had never seen within the game, but considering who it came from, it wouldn’t be surprising if he possessed something I didn’t know about.
I should at least say thank you soon.
*
“Radon Crawler. I’ll be direct.”
The Cage Department Head, sitting in the opposite seat, stroked his beard and spoke. There was a certain expectation in his gaze as he called me to the Unique Hall.
On the surface, he appeared imposing, but I could guess what he was truly feeling. It was certain he was questioning me.
“Do you have any interest in participating in the Tactical Martial Arts?”
Soon, a magical banquet led by Aligieri will be held. It’s a grand event held once every five years, unmatched in scale compared to previous festivals.
Basically, it boosts a festive atmosphere, but the most excited ones are the tactical martial arts. That event, being the main attraction of the magical banquet, is a survival match where teams from various organizations clash against each other.
“I know very well what kind of treatment comes from winning there.”
“Of course. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for young people hiding their talents.”
Winners are immediately appointed directly under the royal family or receive substantial funding, allowing them to achieve tremendous wealth and fame.
Whether they choose the former or the latter is up to the winner. As soon as they win, they will be rewarded in some form equal to that.
Receiving cheers from the audience, their name would spread widely. Various noble families would even propose marriage due to that fame.
If a commoner participates, it would be the best opportunity to pave a smooth path for their future.
“I think I understand what you’re getting at, Department Head. You want me to showcase my talents in front of that massive audience, right?”
“Hahaha! Correct!”
The Cage Department Head laughed heartily.
He wouldn’t sit back and watch a talented student from his department remain idle. So, it seemed he brought me in to suggest I participate…
“But am I the only one you’re urging to do this? What about the others?”
“….”
His smiling face subtly stiffened. Judging by his sudden reaction, my guess appeared to be right.
“There are plenty of strong students besides me. Just looking at Jenny and Luska, they possess slightly greater power than I do. Kent also is quite formidable; his abilities are by no means low.”
Without even needing to search far, I could easily find stronger students.
The main character Lyman Begilius. And this year’s prodigy and the Empire’s princess, Mirona Kirien Divine.
“There are many noteworthy figures besides me, making me curious why only I was called.”
Perhaps it was burdensome to summon Princess Mirona due to the rank difference. Lyman wouldn’t be an easy guy to agree to participate either.
However, the other friends wouldn’t have such obstacles. Given Cage’s nature, he wouldn’t have called me out of any intent to discriminate against students.
“Could it be that you think I wouldn’t know?”
Suddenly stating something out of the blue, the Cage Department Head smiled. I tilted my head in confusion, and he added more.
“That screen that appeared on the platform back then. Wasn’t that something you revealed?”
“Excuse me?”
He was referring to the screen that had unveiled Jason’s entire plan on election day. Seeing Cage thinking I was the one who did that made me hold my breath.
“It wasn’t me.”
“Then who could it be? It looks like something was visualized from the perspective of a spirit.”
“No matter how well I handle spirits, I’m not good enough to visualize their perspectives.”
That’s possible only for Lyman. For someone like me, who had only stepped into spirit power a year ago, it was unachievable.
Did he really think I had that exceptional spirit power to call me here?
“Well… it seems I misidentified you. I thought it would be possible for someone who contracted with a high-level spirit.”
Cage, being an amateur in that field wouldn’t know that, but it is typically an unattainable area even for top spirit sorcerers.
Even Lyman wouldn’t have achieved that without special powers.
“I’m truly sorry. I wasted your precious time due to my hasty assumptions.”
“It’s alright.”
“But are you really not considering participating in the tactical martial arts?”
“I don’t have a particular interest.”
“Hmm… I see.”
He coughed lightly at the unsatisfactory answer but maintained his dignified demeanor as a department head.
Yet, checking through `Mana`, I could tell his inner thoughts felt defeated. Something that would definitely not be easy to hide.
In the first place, only one person wins in tactical martial arts. The one to win among those overwhelming competitors will surely be Princess Mirona.
The difficulty would differ to the level that even she would struggle to win. It’s not a festival held once every five years just for show.
Even if she wins, it’s uncertain whether it would help her lift the curse. For me, it would only be a hindrance.
“Alright, I will respect your choice. Since it’s quite a tough competition, one cannot invest everything only in possibilities.”
“Have you participated before, Department Head?”
“Of course.”
Having personally joined, he knew how tough it was. Recently, the difficulty had lessened somewhat, but back during the Demon Beast War, it was a level of deadly matches altogether.
He had dropped out during those times, yet the girl who won then is unfortunately no longer with us at this point.
“But, do you have any idea who played that screen?”
“….”
From how he asks, it seems he’s still very concerned about that incident. It probably applies to the other department heads as well. An artificial golem wouldn’t just operate that screen independently.
“I don’t.”
[Erosion Rate Decreased: -5%]
[+500 Credits]
“I see.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help.”
“No need to apologize. Nowadays, with strange incidents occurring frequently, I’ve just become a bit sensitive to it.”
“Incidents?”
Is this even the right time for incidents to be happening? Given my uneasy feeling, I listened closely to what Cage was saying.
“Have you ever ridden the magical train?”
“I rode it once during last winter break. It was more comfortable than I expected, and I didn’t even realize the time passed.”
“Then you must know that the train runs on tracks.”
“Of course.”
Who doesn’t know that? When I thought this, he said with a dark expression.
“Well, have you ever imagined that the train could derail and crash?”
“….”
I immediately understood what he meant by a sensitive incident. A normally loved means of transportation ended up being responsible for killings.
“A train, carrying a massive weight, suddenly overturned. It’s the first accident since the magical train was opened.”
It was the first train collision accident that occurred within the Empire. Unlike carriages, trains don’t stop instantly with a single order.
They’re much faster than carriages, but that speed could turn into a curse.
If they lose their balance and maintain that tremendous speed, it would send the train rolling, and I wouldn’t even want to imagine what could happen to the passengers inside…
“If it were simply an accident, the enforcers would have conducted their investigations. That is, if there weren’t any prisoners being transported within.”
“Prisoners?”
“There seems to have been an order to move prisoners confined in the royal prison to a detention center in the eastern region. An accident occurred during that transportation via train.”
If they were being transferred to the east, it wouldn’t be far from here. For the academy, with a festival coming up in just a month, it was quite a troublesome situation.
“So, they’re dispatching support from everywhere to capture those involved. Even our academy has received a call for support.”
What kind of desperation made them even plead to the students? When I asked Cage if I could know the list of prisoners, he readily replied.
Only then could I fully comprehend. These weren’t just ordinary folks being released.
It was a hard-to-understand incident for me. I had never heard of the royal family transferring prisoners.
The royal family is akin to a sinister organization similar to Doomsday, sending chills down my spine.
“Then can I offer my support?”
“Are you serious? Of course, if you provide support, you’ll receive extra points in your evaluation, but it’s going to be quite arduous.”
“I’m still fine with it.”
Additionally, I heard students would play a supporting role to the enforcers.
Regardless, it still involved putting young students into dangerous situations. It’s only fair to feel some guilt about that.
`If you feel sorry, then don’t cause such incidents.`
Nevertheless, there seemed to be a need to uncover the cause of it all.
Although I would be dealing with these prisoners, there might be someone among them who I could communicate with.
After all, I applied to meet that very person.
*
“Are you serious? You really?”
The head of the Magic Department, Talena, looked incredulous. What shocked Talena, who always had an excited personality, was the top student of the second-year magic department.
“Mary, are you feeling sick? No matter how much of a fool you’re known to be, you wouldn’t volunteer for something like this.”
Talena carefully examined Mary’s condition. Even using magic to check, there was nothing wrong. However, her expression didn’t seem right.
There was no way the always cheerful and lively Mary could be this dark. If someone saw her, they would think she was a completely different person.
“Are you going to allow it?”
“I can’t say no…”
Unintentionally feeling a bit intimidated, she showed a side of herself that wasn’t very department head-like.
But what could have changed this girl, whom everyone saw as simple-minded? It was enough to make one curious to the point of insanity.
“There’s someone I really want to meet.”
Even as a student, Mary didn’t carry a hint of deception in her words.
No matter who it was, the choice of a student should be respected. At the same time, Talena, full of curiosity, accepted her application.
Thus, the students who applied for support were decided.
<Investigation of the Magical Train Collision Accident – Applicants (50 members)>
-Mary Ryudshiel
-Olivia Kendlin
-Riplain Halo
-Trisha Marelin
-Claire Steelface
-Radon Crawler
-Baimon Dreadnote
…..
…..
…..
<Investigation of the Magical Train Collision Accident – Final Selected Members (5 people)>
-Riplain Halo
-Trisha Marelin
-Radon Crawler
-Baimon Dreadnote
-Mary Ryudshiel
Surviving as the Academy Scammer
