The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students – Chapter 17

17.

Tachibana Dosetsu of Samurai Myth.

One day, while sheltering from the rain under a tree, he was struck by lightning. However, it is said that Dosetsu survived by slicing the thunder god within the lightning with his sword. After this incident, Tachibana Dosetsu’s sword was renamed ‘Raikiri (Thunder Cutter).’

Regardless of such legends, that doesn’t matter much.

Sacred relics are artifacts that embody their tales, so there’s no harm in knowing them. In fact, there were hints about their weaknesses.

For instance, delving into why Dosetsu remained unscathed after being struck by lightning would yield answers.

“Hey, wait a second!”

Dosetsu, with a pale face, extends his hand, but it’s too late. My mood was already soured by the trolling of the reincarnator.

Without hesitation, I struck the sword in front of me, the wavado (倭刀), with my weapon.

Kaaang!

With a loud, resonating sound, Dosetsu fell to his knees. Then he clutched his heart in agony and vomited blood.

“Pikolog! … Damn it… How did you realize ‘Raikiri’ in an instant?”

I couldn’t be bothered to answer and merely turned away.

“I see… The prophecy wasn’t a lie after all.”

It was indeed a lie.

But what could I do?

The reincarnator was now staring at me with wide-open eyes. I had to maintain some semblance of plausibility. More than that, Laura Freeze’s appearance was quite a sight. She seemed to have suffered a bit, breathing unsteadily, with tears pooling in her eyes.

The ‘Mace of Request,’ which I had no idea how I managed to obtain, had long finished its life. It was impossible to see any latent power.

‘Why do you have to act like a fool?’

If she’d just stayed put, she might have grown on her own. But the protagonist and his heroine friends squirm like foals with flames in their tails. Thanks to that, they’d accumulate good drops, but still—

“Guh… To fall so easily… how regrettable. I cannot just vanish like this!”

The final boss began its last-ditch effort.

Sorry, but Dosetsu doesn’t stand a chance. If he knew my overall stats, he’d lose all will to fight.

“Dosetsu. It’s time you exit.”

Huff!

I jumped in front of Dosetsu and pointed my sword at his neck. He looked frozen in place, his throat trembling. A faint smile lingered at the corners of his mouth.

I had a vague idea of what kind of life he had lived and what values he held.

But right now, he was merely my prey.

“You are strong. To be a peak master that I cannot even comprehend…”

Better than a reincarnator who cannot even discern reality.

But it was time to remove the spotlight from the villain. I decided to fulfill my duty one last time.

“Yuto.”

“Hmm?”

“That’s my name. Remember it.”

“Hmph. You are a man who knows romance. I won’t forget it, even in hell! My liver…”

Scrape.

I had given my name.

And I promptly cut off his breath.

It wasn’t particularly romantic.

[‘Dosetsu’’s obsession rises.]
.
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[A warm ‘malice’ has been added.]
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[Experience points are ‘raging’.]

This is how you gain experience points.

But what’s this warm malice…

Anyway, I’d taken care of the master. The immediate threats were all eliminated. Now all that was left was facing the reincarnator.

“…Just a prophet, huh?”

Laura Freeze’s eyes filled with flesh pierced through me.

“How can you be stronger than me?”

Is she seriously insane?

She almost bit the dust just moments ago.

Now she’s worried about something else.

As expected, reincarnators are trolls.

That much was evident as the emotions she displayed boiled over rapidly before cooling down just as fast. If I left her be, she’d keep getting in the way. The protagonist needed her in the final showdown. At least, she just needed to survive until then. I decided to hasten Laura Freeze’s ‘isolation’ and ‘persecution.’

“Laura Freeze. You are not qualified.”

“What?”

“What I mean is, you don’t even have the right to receive guidance now.”

Her eyes widened like the moon.

The mature expression she’d been maintaining collapsed unceremoniously, revealing the child-like side of her. I turned my back to her.

‘You ought to step away from the spotlight for a while.’

After going through this quiet period…

She should feel something for herself.

.
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[The king of descent has vanished.]
[Will you exit?]
[Current number of personnel: 2]
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​

There was something I needed to grab before leaving.

I picked up the slightly damaged blade of the sword I had struck Dosetsu with.

It was, after all, a sacred relic grade and famous sword.

“Raikiri”

Though the blade surface was broken, recovery was possible. It must be a sacred relic for a reason. It was a versatile item that wouldn’t disappear easily. And I made sure not to forget to gather Dosetsu’s kimono and other spoils. They were all treasures. In the end, they were filled with items that adventurers might spend ten years trying to acquire.

“……”

Before returning, I took one last look at the reincarnator. He seemed utterly dazed, chasing nothing but empty spaces.

You’re lucky.

I left him there and exited.

I wanted to quickly utilize the items I had acquired; thus, I set off right away. The higher the item grade, the fewer blacksmiths could handle it. In that sense, a special route was necessary.

‘It’s been a while.’

I arrived at the Inquisition Office. I thought to build networks while also getting back at ‘that woman’ I had been putting off.

“Hmm? From your uniform, you seem to be a cadet. What brings you to the Inquisition Office?”

“I have someone to meet. Can you call them?”

“If you provide the name and title of the person you wish to call, I can assist.”

“Her name is Rebecca. She holds the title of Priestess.”

That’s right. I called on that damn woman who I owed a lot when I was detained here.

I wonder how that wretched woman is holding up?

The call was made swiftly. Shortly after, a priest muttered a string of complaints as he walked out.

“What the hell? It’s my day off, who’s calling? If it’s a press advertisement, I swear I’ll slaughter you, you little shit.”

“Still with that foul mouth, huh, Rebecca?”

“Wha…?”

I waved my hand, genuinely happy to see her.

Is this our first time meeting face-to-face?

Rebecca tilted her head once, then turned her face around like a docile lamb.

Playing the little innocent act, huh.

“Oh… Who are you?”

Is she pretending not to know me?

Or does she genuinely not know?

Thinking back, when I was detained, I had an eye mask and gag… I must have looked unrecognizable then.

But this is far too different.

“It’s me. Yuto.”

I covered my own eyes with my hands.

Snap!

To make me look like a criminal, she clapped her hands.

“Ah! You’re that bug from before!”

Such a little brat. She finally remembered.

“Wow, it’s been a while! No, it feels like forever, bug?”

She’s quick to switch gears.

Yeah, enjoy your fun while you can.

You’ll soon regret it.

“But why did the bug call for me? Did I spark some heartfelt nostalgia while changing your diaper?”

“We should talk inside rather than out here.”

“Hmmm… I don’t want to be in a closed space with a convict.”

“I’m innocent.”

“Oh, is that so?”

I knew she was fully aware.

Rebecca’s eyes were curved like a crescent moon. Since I had played with her enough, it was time for the educational phase.

“Rebecca. How’s Anastasia doing?”

“…What?”

“You know, that person who looks a lot like you for some inexplicable reason…”

“Wait a second!…”

Rebecca suddenly covered my mouth. Her hand emitted a bitter cocoa scent.

She snacked on something, huh?

I subtly pointed toward the interrogation office.

‘Let’s go inside and discuss this in private.’

Anastasia isn’t a separate individual.

It’s Rebecca herself.

To be precise, that’s her real name. She is a traitor colluding with the Demon Worshippers. However, that doesn’t mean she’s a black villain who needs to be eliminated. On the contrary, Rebecca is a character whose inclusion as an ally would yield numerous benefits.

The reason she colludes with Demon Worshippers isn’t for a cliché motive like resurrecting the Demon King.

Rebecca’s ultimate goal is ‘money.’

She is entirely a gold-standard pragmatist. For the sake of that wealth, Rebecca had been operating as a smuggler in the underworld. It’s evident she must have already become a significant figure with considerable influence. In other words, getting her in my grasp would benefit me in networking, as well as securing future supplies. Letting go of such a honey pot would be nothing short of foolish.

“Rebecca, could you please stop shaking your legs?”

“Sh-shaking? Oh, yes…”

“Why are you suddenly so formal with me?”

“Hoho. How could it be sudden? I have always respected you, Yuto…”

“You called me a bug earlier…”

“Just my self-introduction. I am the bug.”

She’s definitely acting like a bug now.

So, how should I roast this bug?