Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

27. There’s a Reason for Becoming a Delinquent (2)

Luska Mad Eye.

She was the one who provided sniper support from the rooftop during the Lycanthrope incident.

Starting from Chapter 2, she’s set to become a main character soon, but for now, she’s just an oddly twisted delinquent student.

You can understand that by looking at Luska’s background.

She was born between the borders of the Papias Kingdom on the continent’s outskirts.

The environment there, with daily wars against foreign tribes, was anything but favorable.

Her mother was an outstanding knight.

She held significant respect as a charge leader but was captured by the enemy and subjected to various humiliations.

Fortunately, she managed to save her life. The problem was that she became pregnant.

That child was Luska.

Born as the enemy’s child, bringing Luska back to the kingdom would reveal her identity.

Her mother couldn’t bring herself to harm the child born from her womb. Ultimately, she decided to raise the child without returning to the capital.

Though she would become a deserter, she was already a traitor for having given birth to an enemy’s child.

There was little difference whether she returned or not; it was all a matter of a few acorns.

In a small village in that area, Luska was raised for several years.

Just when she thought things would settle down, the Papias Brigade attacked the village and captured her mother and Luska.

Eventually, her mother became a traitor and was imprisoned somewhere in the kingdom.

Luska, who suddenly lost her mother, was presented with just one way to avoid implications tied to her mother’s actions.

That was to enlist as a soldier. And to win in the war.

Longing for her mother, Luska accepted that offer without hesitation. At the time, such sweet words were irresistible to young Luska.

Her determination to retrieve her only family made her stronger. She excelled in training, which was merely intended for torment.

Was she naturally gifted? By the age of 12, she held strength comparable to a seasoned knight.

Ordinary soldiers could no longer treat her carelessly.

With her small body, she slaughtered a hundred enemies, resembling a wild beast.

Her remarkable feats gained her the soldiers’ admiration.

For the first time, her heart swelled with joy from their praises, but… it was both the first and the last.

One day, the secret of her birth circulated within the barracks. In the blink of an eye, Luska’s high standing from her exploits fell into the abyss.

The jealous soldiers turned their envy into persecution. Their praises morphed into ridicule in an instant.

Even soldiers saved by her life during battle began to harass Luska, claiming, “Women soldiers just lower morale.”

A continuous cycle of struggles that even a grown adult would find unbearable. But an even harsher reality awaited Luska.

When she turned 14, she overheard soldiers discussing a prisoner with her mother’s name who had died after experimentation.

She realized how her birth secret had become known within the barracks.

Understanding that the battles she fought with her life were in vain, Luska ultimately became a deserter like her mother.

However, Luska successfully fled the kingdom. She cunningly disguised her death as that of a soldier mistakingly killed in battle.

She didn’t know what Papias Kingdom intended, but… that was none of her concern.

Revenge.

That was all that filled Luska’s mind. Just in time, she heard news that the prince of Papias would enroll in a certain magic academy, so she decided to enroll there too.

That academy was none other than Aligieri Academy.

For someone with an unclear origin like Luska, enrollment was akin to reaching for the stars. But through the help of some supporters, she was able to seize the opportunity.

One day, she would bring down the Papias Kingdom. For that, she would not hesitate to employ cunning schemes.

The first step was to use the prince currently studying at the academy.

This was the reason Luska Mad Eye attended the academy.

“What are you hesitating for? Grip that sword properly.”

In the gymnasium of the central hall of Libel.

As Luska’s demand echoed, I found myself in deep thought about what I should do.

This request for practice was highly unnatural considering she was a prominent student in Class A.

Putting aside the fact that I was in Class C, she was a prodigy. We couldn’t even meet as sparring partners. It was like a hopeful player becoming a sparring partner for a champion.

“Do I have to be the one? There are plenty of B-class classmates better than me.”

Just looking around this Libel Hall, numerous upperclassmen were training. The fact that she specifically chose me implied a special reason.

“I saw you clearly during the Lycanthrope incident. You were the only one who managed to stop their movements.”

I, too, witnessed her providing support from the rooftops. It seemed like she measured my abilities based on that experience.

Of course, the weapon I held was not a fishing rod. I had left it back in the dorm. It was impossible to face her with only a wooden sword.

“And how many people in Class C could catch my arrow?”

“…”

Even in this Libel Hall, I could see arrow-wielding students.

At first, I thought they were missing shooters targeting me by mistake. So, I just intercepted them.

If I had known this would happen, I should have just remained still, even if it meant getting hit.

“What if I say I don’t want to?”

“Then what….”

Suddenly, my words faltered, and my voice dropped low. I felt a chilling sensation creep up my back.

“Then it can’t be helped.”

With just that single word from Luska, the entire gymnasium turned icy. Students training on the second floor couldn’t help but turn their gazes in that direction.

It felt reminiscent of when Jenny charged at me trying to shave my hair by the lakeside.

Thinking back, what Luska Mad Eye despised the most was indeed deception. The Papias Kingdom, which had promised to save her mother then exploited her mercilessly.

Her inclinations likely stemmed from the loathing and hatred towards them. Being notorious as a scammer, I was likely seen as a reflection of that kingdom.

‘This is more annoying than Jenny.’

Ultimately, with no other choice, I gripped the wooden sword and posed a fighting stance. It was a signal that I accepted the situation, having resigned myself.

As Luska observed me, the onlookers held their breath or whispered among themselves.

Luska smiled as if she found this amusing and drew her bowstring.

Her combat style was extremely diverse. At long range, she sniped enemies with archery and fought at distances comparable to even a wizard.

But if you asked whether she was weak in close combat, she would shake her head. Having experienced harsh battlefields, she learned to imbue her weapons with aura long ago.

Aside from Lyman, she was the only one among the first years who had killed people. If you asked who the strongest was in the Combat Department, I could confidently say Luska.

‘Of course, excluding Lyman.’

Facing a formidable opponent like her… my best strategy was to struggle to avoid injury. I felt my gaze trembling with that thought.

It was the moment I signaled that I would earnestly face her.

Her hand released the bowstring.

The single arrow that had been loaded multiplied, shooting forth like a rain of dozens.

Countless arrows tracing violet trajectories—this had to be one of Luska’s skills, “Break Rain.”

‘Is she serious about killing me!!’

Even if I held a fishing rod, my chances of deflecting those arrows were slim. The moment I got hit, I was declared a casualty.

I truly felt her reckless nature.

But I didn’t expect her to come out like this.

Thud, thud, thud, thud—

Even while using non-lethal weapons, cracks resembling spider webs grazed the wall.

Witnesses had various reactions to that highly intimidating move.

– Is it already over?

– That’s less impressive than I thought.

– Touching Luska will cost you your life.

– Still, she’s a bit pitiful.

– Did she take care of it?

The crowd buzzed. However, their opinions vaguely skirted around the outline of Radon Crawler.

In the scene swept by arrows lay a straw doll resembling a human. Luska reexamined it with a sigh.

[Am I crazy?]

The small writing on that doll. Luska was left baffled.

Substitution. That one word could sum up the technique, evidently borrowed from the assassins of a far eastern nation.

Luska grasped the straw doll, realizing she had been tricked. That once grave expression she wore, the stance of drawing a sword—it had all been a façade for this moment.

“Ha… impressive?”

Having been terribly deceived in the past, she hated scams. Yet she felt self-pity for falling for such an easily executed trick once again.

But Radon Crawler. Who exactly is this guy?

He had waited for expulsion yet suddenly began acting differently like someone else.

Thus, I had tasked my supporters outside the academy to investigate his family background, only to learn it was nonexistent.

Even if a family fell from grace, they should have a residence… yet that was absent too.

Surrounding the prince she intended to bring down were the Shadow Brigade, who disguised themselves as students or servants, roaming the academy.

They acted as shadows, silently protecting their master. Since they had shed their original identities, they must have used false identities upon entering the academy.

What if Radon Crawler’s family hadn’t fallen from grace but had never existed at all?

If he was just pretending to be a scammer to hide that fact?

Radon Crawler. It was highly likely he was part of the Shadow Brigade.

Otherwise, how could he so easily catch my arrows with his status in Class C? He had shot “Break Rain” to test my true abilities.

Perhaps even when he had blocked the Lycanthrope using three fishing rods, it might have been an act to protect the prince.

Most notably, I once got injured during training and had dropped by the village hospital, where I witnessed soldiers from Papias entering his ward.

“Clearly, it’s that guy.”

It had transitioned from simply suspecting Radon to almost an accepted fact.

*

– Substitution Lv2

“Ha… I’m already losing strength.”

Having used a significant skill for the first time in a while, my mana was drained. This meant today’s training was over.

I never expected that a character with a temperament worse than Jenny Chain Silver would approach me.

She even directly picked a fight with me.

Knowing her past, I could somewhat understand her actions.

‘There’s always a reason for becoming a delinquent.’

Of course, that didn’t mean I planned to accept her behavior.

Who does she think I am?

[Erosion Rate Decreased: -50]

[+5000 Credits]

[Experience exceeded a certain amount! You gain 1 stat point.]

Just by looking at the decreased erosion rate, I could imagine how furious she was.

‘She wouldn’t dare barge into my room, right?’

Of course not. Luska might have a foul temper, but she can distinguish between public and private matters.

If she were to act in such a way, she would be overwhelmed by the maids and servants roaming the academy, only bringing misfortune upon herself.

Nevertheless, as soon as I returned to the dormitory, I came upon some unfortunate news.

A familiar messenger from my family was waiting at the window, and I read the parchment hanging from its ankle.

To summarize… it said my house was gone.

It claimed I had moved to a poverty-stricken area devoid of any human footprints…

“Tsk, I’m sorry.”

Feeling embarrassed, I rubbed the back of my neck. I was the one who had refused the house that Travel offered.

Surviving as the Academy Scammer.