The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students – Chapter 13

“Chik, chik! You, human! I won’t let this go!”

[‘Yuto’ is obsessed.]

[‘Kang’ is obsessed.]

[‘Dorianka’ is obsessed…]

Trolls actually have names.

I didn’t know that?

I savored the experience points while gripping my sword tightly. One, two, three, raccoon…

Not much left.

As I looked back, Cletta’s first aid was nearing completion.

Snap.

Oh wow. I was planning to finish off the rest neatly, but my sword broke unexpectedly. Did I forget it was a training tool and handled it too roughly? I thought I controlled my strength well enough.

“Cletta. Can I borrow your shield?”

“Uh..? That’s heavy, you know?…”

Clang.

Contrary to Cletta’s worries, I lifted it effortlessly. Ignoring the stunned expressions of the others, I moved onto the final stage.

But there were no trolls left. It seemed they ran away while I was getting the shield. It’s unfortunate, but I was satisfied with the experience points I managed to gather.

“Thankfully, there are no casualties.”

It’s a relief that Cletta just received minor injuries.

She really is strong, as expected.

“Useless Mankey. What’s your deal?”

“Huh?”

“Not you….”

Cletta couldn’t continue her sentence.

I understood what she wanted to say, but that wasn’t something she could just spit out. Her pride would never allow it.

I headed toward the corpses of the trolls scattered around. My companions seemed to have relaxed, all slumped down. If you have time to lounge, get moving, you fools.

Crack.

Smash!

I took the initiative to collect the spoils. I knew exactly where to disassemble and cut, so it was smooth sailing. After all, I’ve been gaming for days on end.

“Yuto, how come you’re so skilled?”

“I could do this with my eyes closed.”

“Wow. No way?”

As I demonstrated my skills, applause erupted from my companions.

“……”

Only Cletta remained without a smile. I ignored her, not caring if she was building some grand delusion.

Actually, that’s better.

[‘Cletta Barriet’ is becoming increasingly obsessed.]

.

.

Experience points are ‘soaring’!

In short, she has become someone who cannot live without me. Bound by the fate of aggro ping-ponging.

She has no choice but to need me.

“Group F. You guys are number one.”

Instructor Geoffrey flashed a confident smile while scanning the mountain of loot.

“Impressive. To take down a chief troll with just four of you. And even surpassing in the amount of loot…”

Continually showered with compliments. However, a flicker of suspicion crossed Instructor Geoffrey’s face.

“To only sustain minor injuries while dealing with such brutes. What happened to your group?”

Everyone turned to look at Group F.

None of the four dared to speak up. They only exchanged furtive glances at the young man with a calm demeanor.

Yuto.

Cletta sighed once again as she looked at him. A lump of confusion in her mind burst open. After all, there were too many inexplicable mysteries.

‘Useless Mankey… why is he so strong…?’

Yuto is strong.

I had keenly observed his cold blade’s aura from my fading consciousness. It reminded me of the wall I felt from my duel with Laura Freeze last time.

That was a level where I could see the peak.

But Yuto’s was different.

His skill was closer to the abyss.

Even the hesitations I occasionally saw from Yuto seemed like he was controlling his strength.

‘Could it be he’s hiding his true power?’

He’s a man who brought the artifact he needed from the very start. It wouldn’t be surprising if he had something extraordinary up his sleeve.

A hot and prickly ember ignited in my chest at that moment. Soon, the frustration bubbled over, and my fists clenched tight.

…Who was actually worried about whom?

‘Isn’t the useless one me?’

What good is attracting attention?

I almost died against trolls that weren’t even a challenge. It made me so pathetic my eyes were burning. Cletta bit her lips in frustration over her own powerlessness.

‘Yuto.’

I need him.

If this continues, I’ll face the same miserable fate as today no matter where I go.

‘I’m really screwed.’

Cletta cast her gaze toward Yuto.

She almost pulled on the hem of his clothes, looking at his indifferent back. Quietly, she whispered, so no one could hear.

“Mankey…”

Cletta’s fever

showed no signs of cooling down.

I lay on the dormitory bed

feeling unable to truly enjoy the cheat of experience points.

.

.

[Experience points are rising.]
[Experience points are rising.]
[Experience points are rising.]

Just by sitting still, I’m growing.

Isn’t that amazing?

I got up to see the sunset outside the window.

“It’s about time to head out.”

Today is the Sabbath. A legal holiday where I could spend my time freely.

The growth wasn’t bad, but I considered taking the day off. However, I decided to move briskly, preparing for any unknown variables I might not have considered.

“Those who regret too late are not welcome.”

I gathered my gray-toned inspection unit coat, makeshift longsword, and rugged gas mask.

All were for today’s purpose.

In short, this plan was on a scale worth the effort I’d put in. It never hurts to be cautious. In that sense, I recited the current situation of the empire.

“Section 5 of the Bitraise Empire.”

Section 5 is close to a class-based society. Section 1 is home to the high aristocracy, while Section 2 gathers the middle class. This segregation of privilege based on a class system defines the empire’s current state.

And today, the section I aimed for was Section 4.

The 3rd section is packed with commoners.

Then comes the 4th section.

There lies a substantial gap in this simple division. There’s something complex and inexplicable that escapes theoretical explanation.

Full of all sorts of wicked beings—

It’s clear to simply dismiss it.

Honestly, starting from the 4th section, the empire has almost turned its back. Not that they wouldn’t intervene, but rather that it has become a hell they couldn’t touch.

Thus, the ‘underworld’ was tied to separate rules not governed by imperial law.

“Wangcho Law”

A law named after the chief.

In the underworld, he is both king and law.

Certainly, the Wangcho faction is indeed dictatorial, but that doesn’t mean they are bugs that must be exterminated completely. Honestly, comparing them to high-ranking officials who embezzle national funds or the rotten members of the inspection unit who engage in rape, pillaging, and more—it’s a close call. They have their own ways of survival, and I have no intention of interfering with that.

But.

Today, I plan to upend their abode.

For world peace?

Of course not.

It’s for my personal gain.

To raise a loyal dog.

Clank. Clank. Clank.

“Hmm… Huh… Hump!…”

A sturdy-built man was immersed in metalwork.

His name is ‘Wangcho.’

The man who started from the lowest ranks of a bandit group and became the head of countless criminal organizations.

“Boss. It’s time for the weekly meeting.”

“Huh? Already? How many meetings do we have weekly? Just pass it on to the underlings already?”

“That won’t do.”

“Ugh, Brody. Your stubbornness is the problem. You’ll need to learn after getting badly hurt someday.”

“Thanks for the advice. Let’s hurry it up. There’s a lot on today’s agenda.”

“Geez, dude…”

Rattle.

Squeak.

Suddenly, the door opened.

It’s a special room where no one can enter except Brody, his closest aide.

“What the hell are you?”

Wangcho spat, looking utterly baffled. He thought perhaps an assassination was sent from one of the rival factions, but here stood a slight young man.

“Are you alone?”

“Yep. I’m single.”

“What are you talking about, idiot?”

The young man seemed to show no signs of other presences.

More so, Wangcho noticed the military longsword at the young man’s waist.

Wangcho pointed at the sword with a sly grin.

“Are you, by any chance, from the inspection unit? You crazy brat. Did you come to get promoted at an ultra-fast pace or something? You’re going to die real quick!”

“……”

The young man was busy scanning his surroundings without uttering a word. Though his mask hid his expression, he showed no signs of fear or anxiety.

“Damn it. But how did you get up here? There are more than a few underlings below. You really are a peculiar one?”

“I put them to sleep. Used quite a strong anesthetic.”

Tap tap.

The young man tapped his mask with his fingertip.

‘Oh, was that why he was wearing a gas mask?’

Wangcho observed the young man’s attire closely. If he was relying only on gas to make the surprise attack, it wouldn’t bode well for the young man.

‘Idiot. He doesn’t know my characteristics.’

Swish.

“Eh? What’s going on?”

Contrary to Wangcho’s expectations, the young man removed his mask. He then began to walk slowly toward him.

“I won’t be using anesthetic gas.”

“What?”

“I know it won’t work.”

“…This punk.”

How could he know?

It must have been a well-guarded secret weapon.

As he looked closer, the young man had an extremely youthful face.

Even if he was from the inspection unit, he should be a novice.

Yet, from this rookie, Wangcho felt the spirit of a seasoned veteran.