The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students – Chapter 15

I got to know Wangcho during the mid-episode “Shadow Eradication” event.

Until then, Wangcho’s trait in the game was known as “Adaptation.”

His ability allowed him to adapt to poison when ingested, and unknowingly adjusting to whatever he consumed.

Though Wangcho’s grade wasn’t particularly high, limiting his potential, the moment his takedown ended, an explosive surge of hidden traits erupted.

「Evolution」

To put it simply, Wangcho had three lives.

Once, during the death of his first love, Sophia, he awakened and went on a rampage, leading to his own demise (though he himself was unaware of his death). From that point onward, Wangcho’s evolution manifested, and with his last death, the powerful obsession he harbored transformed him into something entirely different.

It was not merely a change in values; it was as if he was reborn as a completely different individual, with a different nature entirely.

As Wangcho was evolving,

he possessed a kind heart.

He began to feel a sense of accomplishment.

His affection for Sophia.

A desire to change and grow.

His essence was almost entirely pure goodness. Because of this, during the evolution process, he was reincarnated as an individual opposed to his previous nature. One could barely deny him becoming something like the god of a new world or whatever.

In other words, even now that my life has been taken,

Wangcho would resurrect with an opposing nature.

[Wangcho’s obsession is ‘ascending’.]

.

.

[A relentless ‘malicious thought’ is added.]

.

.

[Experience Points are ‘surging’.]

Experience Points weren’t forgotten either.

The experience gained varied with each object of obsession. If the attachment to the object strengthened or if additional stray thoughts were mixed in, the experience would rise. Through this opportunity, I clearly distinguished that difference.

Result: Jackpot harvest on this side too.

Wangcho was merely an unfortunate connection. I had invested a short time in such a guy and obtained substantial Experience Points. I intended to keep such a tactic in mind for the future.

“Ugh…”

I severed Wangcho’s carotid artery.

I definitively ended his life.

However, Wangcho was getting up again, as if nothing had happened.

Evolution must have completed.

I wondered what kind of nature he would resurrect with this time. Just before dying, he had poured forth resentment that felt like it would send shivers down one’s bones. If it were something opposite to that, it wouldn’t be out of the question for him to develop ‘friendly’ feelings towards me.

Deep down, I was hoping for that.

Wangcho was a foolish individual who had not awakened his potential. But if it were me, I could make good use of his talents.

Pat, pat—

Wangcho approached with heavy, deliberate steps. His expression was devoid of any malice. Finally, he knelt down on one knee.

“My master, you are my savior. I pledge my loyalty.”

I barely managed to suppress a laugh.

A bounty of experience points.

A loyal subordinate.

It was an undeniably satisfying outcome.

“By now, you should have understood, right?”

I remained in the bandit’s private room and explained the future direction to Wangcho.

I also made sure to fill him in on the latent potential he had overlooked. From now on, he was to become my trusted aide.

If he was to explore unknown dangers in my stead, he couldn’t do it with mediocre skills.

“I will do as you say, master. So how should we handle this place?”

“No need to clean up. This place must be maintained as is.”

“Is that so?”

“Keep it as it is, but set up a stand-in.”

More or less a proxy.

Wangcho needed to be ready to go out at any moment. Thus, a substitute to lead the bandit group in his absence was essential.

“Understood. Since Brody is dead, I will arrange for a replacement.”

I cast my eyes on Brody’s corpse, left in a corner of the private room. Immediately after pledging allegiance to me, Wangcho had killed Brody. With the truth now revealed, he was the individual most likely to hinder us, so I dealt with him without hesitation.

From the way Wangcho was staring intently at Brody’s corpse, I thought it might be out of lingering attachment.

“It must be unfortunate, having once been comrades.”

“No, I would do anything if you could become a king. I was just pondering how to dispose of the body. Since Brody was the advisor of Section 4, some embellishment would be needed.”

I see…

Wangcho’s evolution was more formidable than I had expected. He was almost unrecognizable.

At least I felt reassured.

“Master, once I’m ready, I shall meet you at the Imperial Academy.”

“Understood. As I said before, our relationship with Mr. Wangcho must remain concealed. If it gets out, we’ll both be in trouble.”

“I will bear that in mind.”

It will eventually come to light, but now is not the time.

There’s always a right moment for everything.

I retraced the infiltration route back to the Academy.

Feeling both physically and mentally refreshed, I dropped off to sleep the moment I lay down. If things go this smoothly, it ironically makes me uneasy. Will I be hit by a meteor from the sky or something?

Ha ha. Such an unlikely event couldn’t possibly happen.

The next day.

That improbability was absent.

“What on earth is that…?”

I asked in utter disbelief.

I doubted my own eyes.

Without a doubt, this world felt like the early episodes had just begun.

But then, what about that ominous “dimension rift” floating above the Academy?

Is that possibly a descent?

Descent means “dungeon.”

A high-difficulty dungeon I would encounter in the mid-episode arc.

It was too unnatural of a phenomenon.

The descent dungeon usually required a specific device to open, yet the conditions for opening were currently unknown. It was impossible without future knowledge, like I had…

“Oh.”

There is one person.

Someone who, like me, has knowledge of the future. If it’s her, she could activate the trigger for the descent dungeon.

But why?

Unless she aims to lead the world to destruction, there would be no reason. I had to act—I couldn’t leave it alone, so I ran to find the entrance.

Pandemonium Academy is a world that closely resembles a game. Thus, the game themes remain intact.

「This game includes ‘Defense’ and ‘Offense’ elements.」

As the category description states, descents are offense dungeons. If not cleared within the time limit, devastating disasters trapped within that rift would undoubtedly break loose. I never imagined I would be tackling a descent this quickly.

‘Here it is.’

The exit for the descent was visually difficult to grasp but not impossible to find.

Being an experienced player, I had my tricks.

I promptly discovered an unusual structure in the Academy’s backyard. While others might not feel any sense of discomfort,

“Such a bizarre statue wouldn’t be in the Academy.”

Rustle!

I infused my sword with magical power and struck down the statue. This opened the passage to the descent. Before entering the dungeon, I invested every last bit of experience I had accumulated.

━━━━
◈Unique

​-Hell of No Intervals
━━━━

As expected, the experience points required increased significantly with level up. Nevertheless, it was evident my growth was brilliant! Considering that the final antagonist’s physical stats were around 130, I still had a long way to go, but for the early stage, those numbers were astonishing. With this, I could probably overpower the master of the descent I was about to face.

“Of course, straightforward confrontation isn’t everything.”

It was precisely as I said.

The descent isn’t merely a slaughter fest.

To conquer it, one must break the ‘rules’ and ‘format’ set by the dungeon master.

Yet I wasn’t worried. I knew most of the攻略法.

​
.
.
[ Nozai Descent ]
[ Will you enter? ]
[ Current participants: 1 ]
.
.
​

There was a prior guest.

Of course, it must be the one who opened Pandora’s box. I have no idea why the protagonist caused such a mess, but given the circumstances, I ought to snatch up a hidden piece while I’m at it.

More importantly, that descent title sounded familiar.

Nozai?

This is… the one I know?

If so, there’s something I want to procure.

A legendary holy relic.

As the name suggests, they are the identities of gods. Artifacts, techniques, or famous anecdotes used during their lifetime, generically referred to as [signature moves].

Should I be able to obtain that brilliant and glorious armament, enduring this ordeal might not be so bad.

Swooosh.

I completed my preparations and stepped into the entrance. The dark, liquid-like entity began to slowly engulf me.