Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

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19th Chapter: Queen of the Heavy Snow (2)

The reason Lycanthropes are threatening is manifold.

The brute strength is mindlessly strong, and the sense of smell is ridiculously good. They are specialized in devouring humans but possess remarkable regeneration abilities, making it hard for them to die.

And then there’s the pattern of spitting lightning from their mouths.

It’s a basic ability for monsters, so it’s not particularly novel.

Moreover, the individual that just appeared is clad in brown fur, indicating it’s a mid-level Lycanthrope.

It’s a level that can barely be captured by skilled mercenaries or hunting squads. It’s far beyond the capability of students who haven’t even stepped outside the fence yet.

Only two of these monsters were featured in the main story, yet the Academy was thrown into chaos.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. They just happened to show up while everyone was partying in the square to enjoy the Friday night.

With two monsters appearing in such a setting, it’s no wonder a massacre could easily unfold.

‘Without the lead professor… I guess they must feel like they’re facing an incoming storm.’

But still, it is only two. As far as I know, two low-ranking Lycanthropes can be hunted by the main forces among the students.

In the actual main story, it also showed a tendency to handle the situation smoothly…

“Why five of them!!”

The storm has evolved!

The intruders were not two, but five Lycanthropes. I couldn’t make heads or tails of how this had happened.

I hadn’t interfered in their arrival.

I don’t think the variables of my interactions with Jenny and Mary would cause a butterfly effect that increased their numbers.

Did a new turning point emerge from an episode I’m not aware of? But I can’t even guess when that might have happened.

I have no idea how it grew to five like a sequel-prequel, but I was utterly lost.

I barely managed to prevent casualties in the main story. If they keep increasing like this, even greater losses will occur… If this applies as a butterfly effect, the Academy’s flow might face severe disruption.

Above all… I’m in danger too!

“I’m seriously going nuts!”

I rushed down from the rooftop towards the Unique Hall of Professors.

Compared to the students frozen in panic or still tipsy from alcohol, my actions appeared very quick.

There’s no meaning in going to the Unique Hall, which might only have leftover students and a few staff. But I wasn’t heading there for support.

I was heading to the office of Cage Revola, the head of the Combat Department. Inside, there are tools that could reduce this complete mess.

There are plenty of noble resources here. It would be a pain if there are casualties.

Above all… I can’t become wolf food!

—I want to live long and prosper!

*

It was a thoroughly enjoyable time.

What kind of damn creature disrupted my relaxing moments with unexpected drops from the sky? I couldn’t forgive this.

“You… from then…!”

A werewolf that appeared to be at least 10 meters tall was drooling while standing there. Something flashed in Jenny’s mind upon seeing it.

The flashback recalling the past paralyzed Jenny.

Her sclera quaked.

Her insides twisted.

Her diaphragm constricted.

A symptom that muddled multiple senses to the point of not allowing breath. I already knew the culprit behind it.

A seizure induced by inexpressible fear.

It wrapped her whole body like chains, sinking her into a deep dark abyss.

“I guess I have to postpone the match.”

Crona Delaware, who had yet to grasp Jenny’s anomaly, spoke with great disappointment. No sooner had she finished speaking than one of the Lycanthropes raised a fist.

That simple posture seemed ridiculous in its actions, but Crona suddenly sensed a strange current.

“Jenny Chain Silver…? Why are you standing there?”

“…”

“It’s dangerous!”

Kuwang!!-

The once determined posture was gone. Crona couldn’t even probe why Jenny was standing there blankly.

The ground shake by the Lycanthrope happened almost instantly. The outdoor training ground’s floor split in half.

Designed for training, the floor’s solidity was beyond imagination.

It should’ve endured even the fierce clash between the two… yet it was crushed by a mere fist!

If Crona hadn’t intervened, Jenny would’ve been on the brink of death.

“Snap out of it! You almost died just now!”

“…”

“Jenny Chain Silver… why does your face look…?”

Jenny Chain Silver’s complexion was strangely altered.

The woman he knew was not one to be frightened by such monsters.

She was always calm, exemplary, and diligent… it was impossible not to feel betrayed seeing her in such disheveled state.

“Awwwooo!”

The creature howled and swung its arm again.

Crona sensed it was no time to hesitate and unleashed explosive magic from her feet.

Boom!- With the minor explosion that arose from the ground, she swiftly leaped away to create distance.

Dodging the monster’s claws by a hair’s breadth, she moved outside the training ground.

‘How did a monster of that level enter the Academy?’

The Academy’s surroundings were encased in a transparent barrier that prevented strong monsters from entering.

Only mid to low-level monsters, deemed a non-threat, were allowed temporarily for students to gain combat experience.

Anything beyond that generally can neither recognize the Academy nor would they get near due to the barrier’s zone of protection.

‘Could it be… someone intentionally weakened the barrier?’

That was the most plausible cause for their intrusion.

However, only faculty members could interfere with the barrier. This meant someone related to the faculty could be involved.

Thinking about it, despite the chaotic situation, the on-duty professors and guards were nowhere to be seen. That worst intuition could be right, but there was no time to be anxious.

“I’ll do my best to eliminate them!”

Crona Delaware suddenly dropped the practice staff to the ground. Momentarily questioning why she discarded her weapon, a new staff was placed in her hand.

It was a masterpiece with a shiny red shaft and an ornament resembling the sun at its tip.

It was apparent even at first glance that it was a battle staff, miles apart from a practice tool.

“Come forth! Sun Red!”

And out from the magic circle swiftly drawn on the staff, a flame-winged aberration sprang forth.

The intermediate spirit, Sun Red, hovered above, obscuring the distinction between day and night.

“Jenny Chain Silver. Originally, this was my strength saved for defeating you, but… it can’t be helped!”

Magic circles were drawn on both wings of Sun Red, blazing as they expanded in heat until finally taking the shape of a luminous sphere.

Something glorious burst forth in an instant.

“Explosion!”

The fire projectile illuminated the Academy’s night, soaring straight towards the ground where the Lycanthropes stood.

It hit perfectly, creating a massive explosion.

The circular luminescence flared, accompanied by a gust of wind fierce enough to sweep anything away.

Crona Delaware, who successfully scored a hit, wore a comical expression.

Having ranged her battle staff and summoned a spirit, there was no way she could miss. Believing this, Crona straightened her shoulders.

“Jenny Chain Silver, this is the difference between you and me…”

Awwwooo!

The howling of the wolves rang out, and Crona’s gaze trembled at the epicenter of the explosion.

Their bodies suffered burns, but the beasts stood unharmed. Even those wounds healed almost instantly.

Their resilience held remarkably well against heat that could send upperclassmen reeling.

“No way….”

There was no time to lament. The monsters’ fur bristled like porcupines and aimed towards the sky.

What initially seemed like an arrow-like attack suddenly charged unpredictably.

Hundreds, thousands of wolves rained down like a storm. The wolves, capable of being clones of the Lycanthropes, had but one intention.

The students who had sobered from the recent explosion sensed the seriousness of the situation.

Students capable of fighting grabbed their weapons while those unprepared fled deep into the professors’ hall.

But among those gathered for fun, few carried weapons.

It was rare to have a student with exclusive equipment, like Crona, who could summon weapons at will.

In such a helpless scenario, Crona shook Jenny by the collar.

“Why are you doing this!? This isn’t the person I know!”

“…”

“By the way, your body is…?”

Jenny’s hand felt cold. The temperature like that of touching a refrigerator made Crona flinch.

At that moment, two Lycanthropes approached. While being a danger if hit with their fists, she could not abandon Jenny Chain Silver like this.

“Sun Red!”

This time, as the beast raised its fist, Sun Red swiftly flew in and wrapped them in her wings.

Flutter- But it pierced without defense.

“Cough!”

“Kyah!”

As the wings were penetrated, Sun Red vanished with a scream, and Crona, struck in the chest, crumpled helplessly.

Thanks to the spirit acting as a shield, she survived, but bled profusely.

“Crona….”

The sight of her friend, bleeding and collapsed, reached Jenny’s eyes.

The surrounding temperature plummeted. The accumulated cold surged forth, shattering the bonds of reason.

Shwirrrr!-

The Ice Age had arrived. The freezing wind spread in a fan shape, consuming the two Lycanthropes and creating an iceberg at the opposite side of the training ground.

Blizzards swirled around her as the approaching wolves froze. They couldn’t distinguish friend from foe, thus all retreated away from Jenny.

Now devoid of reason, no one could stop the Silver Age.

Crack!- Astonishingly, those monsters broke the ice and charged forth. Defying the ice storm, they released electricity from their mouths.

But even with the loss of reason, she kicked off the ground and froze their chests in return.

“Die!”

Then, with all her strength, she swung the wooden sword at the frozen parts.

The aura shimmered as if about to explode, and with her furious expression added, it turned even more terrifying.

Crash!-

Everything shattered. The ice that had bound the monsters and the wooden sword that attacked them became powerless.

With clenched teeth, she had no time for anger… Jenny was struck by a surprise punch and sent flying.

“Gah!”

Just like Crona, she bled while rolling on the ground.

Were they bred for the cold? Even after being frozen multiple times in the Silver Age, the beasts endured. At this rate, she couldn’t inflict a single wound.

This time, the monsters raised their vicious claws. Seeing those weapons in her sight triggered another flashback.

Was she doomed to suffer the same fate as her mother, dying by those claws? Would she leave the world without avenging her grievances, ending in such disgrace?

‘No way. Absolutely not…!’

Jenny clenched her teeth. Rather than let it end like this, she would rather sacrifice herself to drag them down to hell with her.

The moment that thought dominated her mind, a blizzard engulfed the entire Academy.

Thick and dark, a perilous storm composed of hatred embroidered the view of the Academy.

“Jenny!!”

Just then, Mary Ryudshiel’s shout resonated, and a large lightning spell was hurled. It struck the Lycanthrope that aimed to skewer Jenny, taking it down.

Hastily, I tried to boost my speed with wind magic to whisk Jenny away, but another Lycanthrope appeared and obstructed my path. There was still one left by Jenny’s side!

“Get out of the way!”

I could have blown the blocking creature away with wind magic… but I was just inches away from being skewered.

If I hadn’t been interrupted, I would have zipped in to save her in an instant. Even now, I tried to push myself forward, but it was already too late.

Just five centimeters to the piercing!

“Grrooo?”

The spear… the beast’s arm halted. Although Mary was puzzled by that sight, she didn’t need to take a long look.

“Don’t touch her!”

A fishing line as thick as a noose bound the creature’s arm.

Following its trajectory, I spotted a fishing rod. The one holding it was Radon Crawler, dubbed the Scammer.

“Buddy!!~”

Mary’s eyes sparkled with joy. In my arms were three fishing rods.

With that number, not just one hand was tied by the fishing line. The hands of the three monsters trying to spill students’ blood were all immobilized by the line.

“Why are you breeding and causing a ruckus, you beasts!!”

I yelled, lifting the fishing rods. I swung the creatures dangling in the air like bludgeons, tangling them around.

Surviving as the Academy Scammer.