Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

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3. Fishing Rod! A Wonderful Means of Communication! (1)

I was unable to suppress my surprise at the sudden pop-up notification. But then again, it was just the typical system of “Devil Academy,” so it wasn’t anything too alarming.

In the case of [Credits], it serves as both skill points and game money. Converting it to cash right now is impossible, though.

Characters gain many merits the more they repeat training related to their specialties.

Of course, experience and skill levels rise too. If one immerses themselves more deeply, they might acquire skills related to their specialties, or even learn another specialty altogether.

“Looks like the false report got processed as a lie, increasing my job proficiency.”

The entire student body of the academy must have seen that newspaper. Even if they didn’t, they likely heard the news over someone’s shoulder. The false rumor I reported.

In a nutshell, the journalist’s nonsense empowered me.

If experience points exceed a certain amount, you can raise a desired ability by 1. For me, with my extra-level abilities, this is quite a positive system.

[You have raised ‘Strength’. 7 -> 8]

In the Combat Department, strength is fundamental. The more useful the ability, the better.

The morning after the false report, I had to wake up early, even though it was a holiday.

There was nothing to eat in the room. Maybe because it was the weekend, the campus cafeteria was closed.

Not that I had money to buy food anyway. Our family situation made it hard to support a child’s living expenses. So I resorted to primitive methods.

Splash!—

“Got one!”

I caught a fish from the beautifully scenic lake.

‘Aligieri Academy’ is both an academy and a large city. The surrounding shops and villages can all be considered part of the academy.

Beyond the village, there is a volcano attracting numerous tourists, but quiet places exist, just like this lake.

The view here isn’t bad at all. The surface glistens beautifully under the morning sun.

It’s just that the volcano’s presence is so overwhelming that it doesn’t get much attention.

Thanks to that, I could fish without being glared at. It was a two-for-one deal, allowing me to relax in this tranquil atmosphere.

Splash!—

“Another one.”

Aside from financial issues, fishing was going quite smoothly. Since this lake connects to the sea, many carp could be caught.

It wasn’t illegal, so I could catch as many as I wanted. According to rumors, a giant carp inhabits this lake, and catching it would bring good luck.

[Your ‘Fishing’ skill is rising.]

Every time a carp was added to my basket, a notification popped up. This was the secret to my successful fishing.

Fishing

– (Bait Preparation Lv5, Casting Lv6, Line Control Lv4)

This boasted the highest level of my skills. I hadn’t learned it myself; I just had it from the beginning.

This seemed to be Radon’s true specialty. In fact, when I searched through his dorm, I found numerous fishing rods.

But it was strange. Was it just my imagination that the fishing rod felt like a sword in my hand? Swinging it to cast the bait felt similar to cutting through the air with a sword.

Maybe his talent for fishing was that exceptional. I thought subtly.

“Even with such talent, it gets buried. It’s definitely due to brainwashing.”

Getting brainwashed makes distinguishing mud from soy sauce impossible, obliterating normal thinking.

In such a state, how could one realize their own talent?

If it was my father’s intention, I could understand, but it was just ironic.

Splash!—

I fixed a new bait and flung it toward the lake. Just as the bait sank into the water, enjoying the gentle sounds…

“Radon Crawler?”

Someone called my name, and I turned my head. There stood a girl with blue hair, dressed in sportswear.

“Jenny Chain Silver?”

I was surprised, and she seemed surprised too.

Before I could ask why she was here, Jenny jumped in first.

“Why are you here…?”

“………”

The previously calm atmosphere turned silent.

It was the same as when we met yesterday, but it felt even worse now.

“Did you forget what I said yesterday?”

“………”

“I told you I’d kill you if we met again.”

Her menacing voice made my whole body tense. Coincidentally, she was gripping a wooden sword.

“Were you training here early in the morning? Of all places, here?”

Despite being the lord’s daughter, Jenny was quite the hard worker.

Just from the main story, you can see she practices every holiday morning.

The locations vary. It could be an open area in the city or in the middle of the forest.

There are numerous places near the academy suitable for training. This lake is no exception.

“Of all those places… why here?”

Could I escape using my ‘deception’ skills like yesterday?

No, something told me twice wouldn’t work.

“It seems there’s no one but us. What do you think that means?”

Just the two of us. She tightened her grip on the wooden sword and slowly approached me.

At that moment, I, Radon Crawler, was nothing less than the enemy to Jenny, having taken something precious from her.

How could she endure witnessing her mother’s necklace being destroyed right before her eyes? When I played as Jenny, I had also felt choked up witnessing that desperate scene.

“Don’t get me wrong. I came here to fish. You can tell just by looking.”

Once I spoke, Jenny halted her steps.

Could she be absurdly interpreting that I was waiting for her to appear by pretending to fish?

“I know. Everyone does that on weekends.”

Fortunately, it seemed she didn’t jump to such conclusions.

“But didn’t you forget? The article you spread in the Newspaper Department yesterday.”

“Huh?”

Hearing that made me instantly serious. It dawned on me that… this situation was even riskier than before.

Radon’s false report included an article about Jenny. It stated that Radon had collapsed and couldn’t make it to the meeting point due to Jenny’s grueling training.

Jenny knew very well that I had never collapsed during training. What must she have felt when she saw that article?

“I want to crush that hand right now, but I came up with a better idea.”

After the false article spread, an event that made Radon encounter Jenny would occur. What would Jenny do then…

“I’ll make sure you never step foot in class again. I’ll shave off all that damned hair of yours.”

It was straightforward. I vividly recalled how that scene played out.

In a secluded area, Jenny would channel her aura into the wooden sword and swing it. Just a slight stroke would slice off Radon’s hair.

One of the exhilarating scenes in the game, it was so memorable that it circulated as a meme in the community.

And that event was suddenly brought forward to now!

Ding ding ding—

Suddenly, the fishing rod shook violently. At the same time, a wave roared in the center of the lake, making Jenny turn her head that way.

Swish!—

The sound of the water from the lakeshore startled Jenny. What exactly was caught? As soon as I gripped the fishing rod, my hand instinctively moved to lift it.

“Are you ignoring me? Now isn’t the time to…”

“Wait! Wait! Sorry, but let’s talk after this. This must be a big catch!”

While Jenny tried to interrupt, I deliberately ignored her.

The pulling force underwater felt extraordinary. I could sense its weight through my grip. It was definitely a giant carp!

“Don’t joke. Right now, I’ll…!”

“I got it, just wait a little longer! It’s an important moment!”

As I shouted reflexively, Jenny stood there dazed for a moment. It wouldn’t be too late to confront her after I pulled out whatever was on the line.

So she seems to have decided not to interfere.

However, I had to think about how to escape afterward.

“Ugggh!!”

The pulling force from the surface and the ground created a reaction.

A tug of war began, pulling and pushing back and forth. The fishing rod bent tight like a drawn bowstring.

Let’s see who wins, me or you!

“Come out!!”

As I shouted, the force tilted in my favor. The surface of the water splashed violently.

Finally, the creature that lost the tug-of-war started thrashing and getting dragged toward me.

It didn’t seem to accept its defeat. The creature started thrashing around, splashing water everywhere.

If you lose, just accept it. With all my might, I lifted the fishing rod.

“Stay still!”

It shot up into the sky! I could gauge the size of the catch perfectly.

What kind of fish could be as big as a tiger?

What about me, lifting such a giant more than ten meters high? It couldn’t just be because my strength stat went up by 1!

[Your ‘Fishing’ skill is rising.]

[Additional skill activated!]

– (Steel Fishing Rod Lv1)

[A new skill has emerged due to condition satisfaction.]

From that feat, I had acquired a skill. And there seemed to be more.

No, more importantly… that wasn’t the core issue.

Thud!—

With a resounding crash, the giant carp fell. And by coincidence… right under Jenny’s head.

“Ah…”

Caught off guard, Jenny was crushed by the giant carp.

She sprawled out like a starfish beneath the wriggling carp.

My face turned pale immediately. Would she be okay after taking the hit from such a massive creature?

Scrape!—

In an instant, the wooden sword Jenny held became enveloped in a blue light.

The aura, that mysterious power, sliced the giant carp in half with a single blow.

Although her clothes were soaked, she stood up again, perfectly fine.

‘Of course, she survived. That monstrous Class A…!’

Then she turned her gaze back toward me, revealing a chilling aura.

“I see… so that was your plan?”

“What?”

“I thought I was going to suffocate just now. You really got me good.”

“Wait… that wasn’t my intention…”

“This time it’s my turn.”

With a menacing blue blade aimed at me.

She planned to make me feel every bit of pain, leaving me with more than just a haircut.

Thwack!— In an instant, Jenny’s figure blurred. Wielding the sword imbued with aura, she closed the distance in a heartbeat.

Of course, there was no way I’d beat her in strength.

God… I found myself swinging the fishing rod as a survival instinct kicked in. It was all or nothing.

The blue sword and my clumsily swung fishing rod clashed.

How could a mere stick stand against a sword?

Crack!—

At that moment, the wooden sword broke. The fishing rod landed squarely against Jenny’s ribs.

“Huh?”

Jenny was sent flying beautifully into the lake with a splash!

I stood there, gazing dazedly at her floating motionlessly…

Surviving as the Academy Scammer.