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226th Chapter: The Best Time (3)

Workers were busily moving to restore the destroyed village.

Most of the village had been devastated due to the sudden terror unleashed by the Beastman Tribe and the Elf Race, and injuries were plentiful, thanks to the Vladimira School.

With the wealthy and noble gathering from various parts of the Empire, the seriousness of the situation was not to be taken lightly.

The furious citizens and nobles were keeping the Principal and the board members busy trying to calm them down.

Although the anger hadn’t fully subsided, they weren’t shouting in rage.

Thanks to the faculty’s swift response, there had been no casualties, as they bravely defended the people.

Feeling grateful to them, I decided to respect the opinions of the Academy’s side.

Under the night sky bright with a full moon.

Although the people’s anger had lessened to some extent, the incident was far from resolved.

There were still matters left to deal with regarding the incident, so people spent the night in Aligieri Town.

Since the incident occurred in Aligieri, there were those who often blamed the town itself.

However, the defenses that could silence their opinions were overflowing in Aligieri.

This was none other than the Demon King hidden behind the mask of the Emperor, who was trapped in a trance.

The true culprit of this incident.

The moment the sun rose, discussions began about how to deal with the aftermath.

*

Crack—

The full moon set, and the sun began to rise beyond the horizon.

As the sunlight gradually rose, birds chirped, and people squinted awake.

Even after waking, the village was still under construction.

Countless artificial golems were clearly seen ferrying various materials and repairing the village.

From the hill where I stood in the Academy Square, that scene was very visible.

“So… what was it again…?”

Currently, many people had gathered here.

Though not as many as those discussing the aftermath in the village, at least all the people I knew were present.

Among them was Professor Radian, blinking in surprise.

“Are you saying the reason you’ve been acting like a scammer all this time was… because of a curse?”

I had become able to talk about the hesitation of Liar.

Thanks to the two saints holding my hands, I was somewhat freed from the curse.

This phenomenon occurred after I spoke with Nebia last night.

Thus, I didn’t want to miss this golden opportunity and called everyone here.

Though I couldn’t summon the board members, I could at least call my professors, friends, and seniors.

“Liar’s curse…?”

Trisha, the head of the Newspaper Department muttered.

“Are you saying that if you don’t lie, you’ll die?”

Professor Stella from the infirmary gasped as she listened to the unfolding story.

“Not just you, your entire family…”

“Is the whole family under the same curse?”

“So that’s why the family fell!”

“How unfortunate.”

Crona, the daughter of Delaware Upper House, Kent who was the representative of the second year, Markray, head of the Art Department, and Baimon, top of the second-year Alchemy Department, all murmured in turn.

“So that’s why you became a liar.”

Mary’s eyes widened in understanding.

And beside me, my mother, father, and younger sister wore emotional expressions.

Finally freeing themselves from the oppressed life they’d endured due to Liar’s curse.

Though I hadn’t found a way to eliminate the curse itself, at least escaping from the silence was something to be thankful for.

“Radon, now I think I understand why you joined our newspaper department.”

Once in the newspaper department, I could write exaggerated announcements anytime.

Trisha quickly figured out how that intertwined with Liar’s curse.

Everyone sitting here showed similar reactions.

If the reason they had lived as turbulent liars until now was because of a curse, then it made sense!

“Is that why you brought Radon to this Academy to find clues to break the curse?”

“Yes, because the clue required the rare fire called Eternal Flame.”

Indeed, if there was an Eternal Flame, I could avoid the silence just like now.

But just having that wouldn’t guarantee breaking the curse.

I needed several other materials. I had heard from Shaikar about what those materials were.

“To be precise, we need the Archive itself.”

The result of the research created by the Great Sage Dantia, which her successors interpreted and established in the Archive that exists in Aligieri.

Though it is now used for convenience functions like IDs and the artificial golem’s consciousness, it boasts endless potential applications.

In fact, it’s used in the main story to nullify Makia’s reincarnation bonus or to lift Mirona’s curse.

Therefore, I quickly understood that breaking Liar’s curse was quite similar to undoing Makia’s reincarnation bonus.

“Are you seriously thinking of sneaking into the Academy and stealing it like a thief?”

“Of course not. My plan was to graduate proudly by finishing all three years and receiving a graduation seal.”

When Professor Radian cautiously asked, I chuckled and replied.

Perhaps due to the recent surge of thieves targeting the Archive, the professors seemed to be on edge lately.

“Even if you wanted to steal it, you wouldn’t know how to extract it.”

“Well, the method to extract it is known only to the principals, passed down through generations.”

The past principals of Aligieri have been descendants of those who trusted Dantia and the Thousand-Year Fox from 300 years ago.

Having inherited Dantia’s will, they have maintained and protected her research against any situation until now.

Except, of course, for the previous principal, Demora.

He was nothing more than a temporary appointment due to the sudden Demon Beast War changing the education system.

Thus, having only received a hodgepodge of information, he knew how to extract the Eternal Flame but didn’t have the means to access the Archive itself.

And as soon as peace returned, he changed careers, claiming it didn’t suit him.

This sudden suggestion from Enviel saw him stepping into Doomsday.

Even as the former principal, he couldn’t pull the Archive out apart from disturbing the barrier.

“Consequently, does that mean we have to endure until graduation?”

“There’s no other choice. Do you think whining to the principal will resolve anything?”

No one could see the Archive’s true body unless it was the day of graduation.

In the main story, Principal Keiten faces considerable hardship when he dies to Enviel’s followers to open it.

There, the protagonist Lyman’s scene of racking his brain as he searches through the past is depicted.

Of course, there won’t be any exploding twists like that here.

Makia had been completely subdued, and with Enviel cosplaying, her followers had been kept in check like dogs.

Chapter 5 finished so easily, and currently, Makia was incapable of acting, pushing the next final chapter’s incident away.

Now we could leisurely finish our academic life until the third-year graduation ceremony.

`Easy mode surely knows the answer!`

However, that doesn’t mean all main story events are over.

I still had to break the curse that remained on Mirona.

Only by breaking that curse could Lyman ultimately let go of the bad ending route and achieve a true ending.

`The protagonist dies in the main story, but what about here…`

300 years ago, I had lived as a girl named Maya, but I died before Lyman’s eyes due to the curse.

And I had been granted a total of five chances to reincarnate, but in reality, it was just torturous hope.

In all five lives, I met the same death upon reaching a specific period.

To break that curse, and to cancel Makia’s bonus, Lyman would sacrifice his own soul.

“By the way, where are Lyman and the Princess?”

“The Princess is probably discussing matters with the citizens. I think I saw Lyman there too.”

Radian answered, and an ominous feeling stirred within me.

No matter what, Mirona was a descendant of Emperor Kamain.

Considering what the Emperor had done to annihilate the continent, resentment would surely be directed at Princess Mirona.

There’s a high chance that nobles blinded by power would insist on hanging her on the scaffold.

But with our protagonist beside her, no one would dare to speak up.

Time had passed, so the 30% power given to me from Lyman had returned to its owner.

Touching Mirona was equivalent to heralding the continent’s destruction.

“But Radon, is that ‘erosion rate’ still building up?”

When Stella asked, I checked the gauge.

Immediately, I stiffened.

<`Liar’s curse` erosion rate – 47/100>

`Damn it`

Clearly, after transforming into Enviel yesterday and gabbing away, I had seen the erosion rate drop to the max.

If there had been a negative value, I could’ve lived a lifetime without lying.

Alas, unfortunately, this damned curse had no such forgiving function.

Like a burst pipe, no matter how hard I tried to stop it with my hands, it just kept pouring out.

“For now, I think I need to tell some lies. There’s no one here reading any newspapers or stories in this situation.”

My family here was no exception.

They wouldn’t know how much the erosion rate had risen, so they would surely be anxious.

“Uh… then do you want to give it a try on me?”

Jenny, listening to the story, smiled brightly.

Her eagerness to be a punching bag while laughing wasn’t very comforting.

“Then try it on me.”

“Me too.”

Then Luska and Angela also confidently permitted it.

That alone sent a wave of ominous energy through me.

“You all really think you won’t get mad?”

“Of course not.”

“Absolutely!”

This wasn’t some ‘of course’ game we were playing.

While I was feeling uneasy, it was my younger sister Amy who spoke first.

“Sisters are ugly.”

“…!!”

“…!”

A silence hung in the air after that bombshell declaration.

For a moment, I envisioned Jenny and Luska ready to explode with fury, but they seemed to manage to hold back.

“And…”

Phew—

Amy transformed into a muscular form and continued lying.

“Actually, I’m a guy.”

“Puhup!”

“Ahahaha!”

Everyone burst into laughter at that revelation.

Among them, Baimon alone shouted, “Our Amy is the best!” Though I couldn’t figure out what was so great about that muscular monster.

Next came the turn of my mother and father.

“Are you two professors dating? If so, I think it’s best you break up.”

“Eh…?”

“You two don’t match at all. Especially you, Professor Stella, don’t you know gorillas can’t marry their relatives?”

“….”

The two weren’t any less formidable.

Was this the power of seasoned liars who had only relied on words?

Yes, it was a lie. All lies.

Seeing the expressions of the two professors enduring that made me realize something.

It felt as though if I stayed quiet any longer, I would fall behind.

“Jenny, your face looks ghostly.”

“…What?”

“Put on some thick makeup and take a look in the mirror. Then the ugliest ghost will pop up right in front of you.”

Jenny’s expression froze instantly.

“Luska, you might think you’re mature, but in reality, you’re just a child. Your heart is too pink.”

“….”

“What should I say? Should I say you’re just a neighborhood kid trying too hard in the back alley?”

Jenny wore the same expression.

[Erosion Rate Decrease: -60%]

[+6000 Credits]

With every remark, the erosion rate sweetly decreased.

I kept padding my mouth with lies.

Most comments focused on how ugly they were, but it was utter nonsense.

There was nothing wrong with their appearances, which were outright beautiful.

“And… and I say.”

Lies kept pouring out uncontrollably.

Before I knew it, I had said so many lies I couldn’t help but lose track.

Was that why? My body couldn’t move.

“That should be enough.”

“Yeah, we’ve listened well enough.”

Jenny and Luska said while smiling brightly at me.

Seeing them smile, it looked like they had managed to hold back against my lies elegantly.

“But why do I feel so refreshed?”

“Haha, right? We’ve suddenly become the ones being teased, huh?”

Jenny and Luska questioned how they had survived through it all.

But in the end, they were horrified.

One hand had blood on it, and with the other, I was held by my collar, beaten to a pulp.

“Heek! Radon!”

“W-what just happened!”

They panicked greatly, flustered.

It seemed they couldn’t remember what had transpired in the meantime.

`You said so yourselves.`

*

In the scene where students, professors, and parents exchanged banter.

From afar, it might look warm, but being close made it painfully obvious.

A male student was being beaten senseless by two irrational girls, while the parents and professors exchanged cheerful yet vicious jokes.

`Why…`

Grisha, the ruler of the Yellow Tower and the fourth number of Doomsday, secretly observed that cheerful atmosphere.

He had finally found the trace of the Aisha he had been searching for.

It was emanating from the boy who was being thrashed to a bloody pulp.

`Why…!`

And there was another person claiming attention.

One of the parents, Skilla Crawler. Grisha’s eyes turned bloodshot upon realizing she was alive.

`My daughter is dead… Why are you…`

He vanished from his spot with a twisted expression of rage.

Only the cold and bitter wind remained.

Surviving as the Academy Scammer.

 

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