Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

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16. Keep Your Head in the Game (1)

It’s common knowledge that if you’re feeling unwell, you should take a break. Yet, there are still cases where this is ignored.

People, whether themselves or those around them, often overlook minor symptoms and push on with their tasks.

Instead of outright saying “Don’t rest, keep moving!” which would be too obvious, they subtly pressure you while saying you should rest, their faces showing a pallor.

If you’re perceptive enough, you’ll understand the unspoken meaning and will have to push through despite being unwell.

If you’re not, well, you risk being labeled as “clueless” and could be subjected to ridicule.

This is the root cause of overwork in real life. And the same goes for characters in games… or fiction.

Gulp—

“This will do.”

Jenny Chain Silver swallowed the medicine with water. Was it working instantly? She felt her body warm up a bit.

The cold aura that had been faintly oozing from her hands diminished, and the frozen room returned to its original state.

“I can’t just skip because of something like this.”

This was a potion developed by her family to suppress mana—a weak remedy that had made the Silver Age fall asleep in an instant.

She received it from the family’s employees who rushed over last night, worried about her condition. They had come after reading her letter sent to them days ago.

Seeing familiar faces of the servants and maids after months was heartwarming initially, but then they noticed her alarming state and became worried.

Fortunately, the potion they provided would temporarily suppress her surging mana.

However, the effectiveness had a time limit, and the more you used it, the more tolerance you developed, causing the effectiveness to dwindle gradually.

The potion was merely a temporary blessing. Its purpose was to make it easier to suppress the surging power for a limited time.

The Silver Age had managed to control it this way until now.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, she took a deep breath. Then she gripped the blizzard swirling within her with all her might.

She compartmentalized it to keep it from bursting out of her body. The potion’s effect weakened it temporarily, making it easier to control.

“I can hold on with this.”

Of course, she had to. Giving in to such surging symptoms would be tantamount to succumbing to the Silver Age. It would mean completely turning her back on her deceased mother.

She needed to maintain her composure solely to deny this power. That was something she had worked so hard for.

To not be that reprehensible brat who accidentally caused her mother’s death… but rather to become a beacon of hope for everyone… she needed to excel even at the Academy.

In fact, most of the first-year Combat Department students looked up to her with admiration.

She was surrounded by a handful of oddballs like Lyman Begilius, Travell Viole, and Luska Mad Eye in Class A, but they were a peculiar bunch, making it hard to earn respect.

Among them, Jenny was the unique hard worker with a bright personality, who could be called the hope of the first-year Combat Department.

The professors also recognized this and paid great attention to Jenny, although it was closer to “surveillance” under the guise of interest.

They too had their eyes on the Silver Age.

What would happen if she failed to control her powers in front of the professors? Perhaps they’d frown upon her, seeing her as a liability.

“No… I’m no longer that bumbling chick.”

If she were to skip, most professors would likely suspect the Silver Age.

So she had to prove it. She had to show them she wasn’t a ticking time bomb ready to explode.

It could be an obsession or paranoia, but she didn’t care.

Living with acknowledgment from others. That was her only way to atone for her late mother.

—————-

Tonight at 9 PM. No need to explain, right? You’ll find me at the outdoor training ground near the plaza. Let’s clearly distinguish black from white before everyone’s eyes!

—Below is ‘The Blazing Sun’ to ‘The Queen of Snowstorms’.

—————-

A letter with this written was left on her bed. It was addressed to Crona Delaware, a noble lady from the Delaware family with whom she had been in competition since childhood, and who was also in the first-year A class of the Magic Department.

She was a girl who would always ignite a competitive spirit whenever they met. She’d been quiet lately, but of course… she had been a constant friend since childhood.

Jenny considered her a rival, but for her, there was a sense of familiarity and warmth there. She didn’t want to disappoint this friend now.

She had been acting nonchalant so far, but thanks to the medicine, she felt much better. She could manage to keep her promise to Crona.

“I have to hold on. Absolutely…”

*

Finally, the day had come. This morning Travell Viole approached her, and tonight Jenny Chain Silver would unleash her powers, engulfing the entire Academy in winter.

And now she was about to welcome her scheduled guest.

“What do you think? Isn’t it a good offer for you, Radon Crawler?”

“……”

Travell showed up at my room requesting cooperation. I knew what his aim was. He intended to stir chaos in the Academy with Jenny and Lyman, who he found bothersome.

But why did Radon come to me? To leverage my reputation for spreading misinformation.

“This is a chance to show those Academy folks who have been mocking you as a delusional person what you’re capable of. Doesn’t that sound enticing?”

Not at all…

“Think about it. You and I are kindred spirits. We’ve just been living our lives with conviction while the academics ignore us. We should empathize and help each other out.”

When ignorant people have convictions, it’s terrifying. Knowing what this guy’s conviction was only made me feel more uneasy.

Was the Radon from the main story fooled by such persuasive talk to aid him? Absolutely not.

“And if you help me, you’ll gain quite the benefit. Do you know what that is?”

He had already done his homework on Radon’s family.

Once part of a noble clan, Rotas Crawler suffered considerable loss while working in a mine.

Due to paying compensation, his family’s finances were utterly drained.

If it were Radon, he’d probably be fainting at this news, but I felt nothing.

“If you cooperate with me, I can not only cover your father’s living expenses but also get you a new home. Doesn’t that sound enticing?”

To get a house, it sounded like he was offering quite the budget. With an offer like that, it’s hard to believe the Radon from the story wouldn’t accept.

But why work so hard to recruit me just to spread my lies? Because he wanted to shed blame for his own misdeeds onto the professors.

The main Radon, teaming up with Travell, would write a class newspaper as he directed. “Friday night at 9 PM. The Academy’s chaos is caused by the professors!” it would read.

The mobilization effect seems promising, but the problem is the name of the publisher.

If it has “Radon Crawler” on it, who would believe it? But a solution existed.

Members of the Newspaper Department could still write papers from their lodgings during weekends. At that time, they’d just need to drop it off with the Information Department without any procedures, and it would be published first thing on weekdays.

On weekends, there wouldn’t be anyone to check the publisher’s name. And there’s no sincere effort to deal with the mountainous workload that had built up over the weekend. It’s just too bothersome.

Thus, an anonymous paper would be scattered throughout the Academy.

“Here’s a week’s worth of your family’s expenses. Take it.”

Travell placed 100,000 credits in front of me as an advance. My hand almost reached for it, but there was no way I was going to dance to his tune.

It was clear he’d gaslight me for the rest of my life if I accepted that money.

So I said,

“Forget it. Keep it for yourself.”

“What?”

Travell, previously smug, now looked utterly taken aback.

“Are you serious? I was thinking of getting you a new house and all.”

His expression switched to one of disappointment. If he had known I’d reject it, he wouldn’t have spilled his whole plan unnecessarily.

That’s why he had to at least pretend to be friendly.

“Don’t misunderstand, though. That doesn’t mean I won’t help.”

“Really?”

“Why, have you never seen someone help without any money?”

[Reduction of Erosion Rate: -3%]

[+300 Credits]

“Now that I’ve heard it, I have no choice but to cooperate. I mean, I wasn’t a fan of Jenny either. You know how I almost froze to death because of her.”

[Reduction of Erosion Rate: -2%]

[+200 Credits]

Travell stroked his chin, appearing deep in thought. It was strange that he was hesitant to accept money, but I could understand the desire to cooperate.

Or perhaps he felt burdened just by receiving money, which was understandable given that he intended to use it as leverage.

Even if he became a disposable pawn, there was no need to think negatively. I’d saved money, after all.

“Well then, let’s do this without any more talk.”

With a renewed smile, Travell picked up the credits lying on the floor. He then stood up and turned the doorknob of the entrance.

“If you don’t help after hearing all that, you know what that means? We’re already in the same boat.”

He left behind that statement, slamming the door shut.

In the same boat? That’s true. But I had the means to escape from that sinking ship.

“Tsk. Do you have any evidence? You fool.”

There’s no official record of our transaction. If I received money, that would be the only evidence, but…

Moreover, the mere fact we had a conversation wouldn’t be proof. Even if there were witnesses, I could simply deny it all. We did meet, but we didn’t cooperate.

Even if that weren’t the case, I had no intention of cooperating with him.

Travell was definitely not the kind of guy who would help me smoothly if I tried to cooperate.

*

Today’s training was more enthusiastic than usual.

It was Friday. The only day everyone is excited about during the drudgery of the workweek.

99% of the reason was simply that tomorrow is Saturday, but if you ride that wave, it’s practically like a secondary weekend.

That’s right. It’s burning Friday! I was thrilled to see that such a concept existed in this world as well.

Thanks to that, professors and faculty members would leave early, and the faces of the trainee students were filled with enthusiasm.

The professors were to disappear as soon as evening set in. Every Friday at 9 PM, there would be parties in the plaza. Of course, under the radar.

“Of all nights, tonight at 9 PM is bound to be the catastrophe.”

During sword training in the Combat Department, I casually glanced over at Jenny, who was in Class A.

With sweat rolling down her face as she skillfully wielded her sword, it was no wonder she was an object of admiration.

On the surface, she appeared to be an energetic top student. But I knew that the sweat she was shedding was due to her struggling to control her surging powers.

It seemed quite bittersweet, but it was too early to lament.

Because tonight, during the duel with Crona Delaware from the Magic Department… she would be encountering the monster that killed her mother again.

“Hey, pay attention!”

“Gah!”

Ah, right, I was in the middle of a duel.

I groaned as the wooden sword hit the crown of my head.

Focus!

Surviving as the Academy Scammer.