The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students – Chapter 25

25.

I need some mental stability.

Countermeasures for the variable of the variable of the variable.

For that, I needed to secure my own stability first.

Swig.

“It’s been a while. Yuto…”

“It’s been a while, Kyle Clington.”

“What brings you here?”

“I was thinking about Earl Grey.”

“…”

It’s true.

Where would be a good place to calm my mind?

I ended up wandering here to the Inquisition Office, desperately in need of the tea I drank just before nearly dying.

Ah, it’s warm.

“…The atmosphere has changed since I last saw you. I guess something must have happened?”

“They say a decade can change rivers and mountains.”

In ten years, even a bodhisattva changes.

“I see. You took ‘Rebecca’ out a few days ago, didn’t you?”

“I needed her. Thanks to that, I was able to complete it safely.”

I don’t know about the party involved, though.

“Rebecca looked like a wreck…”

“She must have been exhausted since it was her first time.”

Not my problem, so I ignored it. She’s completely in my grasp now. What’s she gonna do about it?

Suddenly—

Crash—

The office door broke our idle chatter.

“Uh… Rebecca?”

“Hah… Hah… Hah…”

She rushed over, catching her breath.

“M-Master! You’re safe!”

“Let go of me, Rebecca.”

Anastasia clung to my pant leg, laying flat against the floor, which was more appropriate to say than “lying down.”

“When I opened my eyes… I was alone in… some inn room. You were gone… I was in so much pain… sniff.”

What the hell? Why are you saying it like that?

Kyle Clington covered his mouth.

No way. It’s really not like that.

“Rebecca, don’t panic. Explain slowly.”

“Ah, yes… I woke up after returning from the dungeon, and you were gone. You were right next to me up until I was about to sleep.”

Damn it, I almost had a heart attack.

I nearly got interrogated for a different reason.

“Of course I returned. I had things to do.”

“Then why didn’t you wake me up?”

“You were snoring, so I left you.”

“I don’t snore!”

“Then what was that?”

“Um… That must have been a… prophecy?”

Don’t play the priest.

Well, at least the unnecessary misunderstandings were cleared up.

I didn’t want to be disturbed during my rest.

“Alright then. If you have no more business, please leave.”

“Ah, actually, I do have something to give you!”

“To me?”

Not good.

I wanted to avoid any misconceptions about the special relationship between Anastasia and me in front of the Inquisitor Kyle Clington.

“Ah. I see. I have my suspicions.”

Kyle Clington sipped his tea, wearing a faint smile.

“The messy hierarchy can sometimes stir affection, you know.”

Look, that’s not it.

“I guess I’ll step out here.”

Ugh, I don’t know.

“So, what’s this message?”

After Kyle Clington stepped out, only Anastasia and I remained in the office. Since it was the Inquisitor’s personal workspace, it was well-guarded.

No sound escapes no matter where I use my magic.

“I’ve found a master-level blacksmith.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

I still had the upgrade for [Doge’s Kimono] left. I mustn’t forget. If refined well, the raw materials for the Resurgence gear could rival mythical items. Just looking at [Insight’s Blade], it was top-notch.

“What’s the blacksmith’s name?”

“Huh? You wouldn’t know if I told you… but it’s a blacksmith named ‘Theodore.’”

Anastasia crossed her arms with a spirited air.

“Don’t be shocked. Theodore is actually…”

“A dwarf.”

“Eh? How did you know?”

Putting her thoughts aside.

You really just came through for me with someone beyond my expectations. Theodore? I didn’t think that infamous craftsman would appear so soon.

This might have been an achievement possible due to not having a route to target Anastasia.

I patted her head, pleased with the unexpected harvest.

“Great job. You really are something, Anastasia.”

“Ha… Hoha…”

Theodore is too precious to be wasted as a one-time cheat. I’ll have to think of how to utilize him.

I returned to the Academy.

There were things I needed to take care of before meeting Theodore.

“There you are.”

I found a training dome set up at the Academy. Like the sparring grounds, it was lavishly equipped. The only difference was the lack of spectator seats. Inside, I was looking for a girl who was focused on her training.

Huff.

Huff.

Clank. Clank.

A small girl, concentrated on hammering away, spotted me.

“Mankey? What brings you here? Are you training too…?”

“No. I came to see Cletta.”

“Oh really? But how did you know I’d be here?”

It’s not a coincidence.

Cletta has been dedicating herself to training lately. Unlike the other two clumsy ones, she’s been spending her time seriously on leveling up.

I don’t know what triggered it, but it’s heading in a good direction.

If my shields could start hunting automatically, then it’s a great time to pour in some growth packs.

I handed her the [Svalin] and [Frost Bracelet].

“Wow… What’s all this?”

“It’s for you, Cletta.”

“For me? Why?”

I hadn’t thought about that.

In the game, I just put things on characters for no reason. I was reluctantly forced to tell her the truth.

With a little twist.

“We had a deal to help me, remember?”

“Y-Yeah.”

“So, get stronger.”

For me.

“Become the strongest shield of all.”

A meat shield to protect me.

“I’ll be looking forward to the day we fight side by side.”

I’ll be waiting for the day to make her my exclusive maid.

“M-Mankey…”

I wondered if my intentions had been well conveyed.

Cletta held the items tightly without a second thought. I explained how to use [Svalin] and [Frost Bracelet] to her. The rest was up to her to learn through repeated practical application.

“Hey, Mankey!”

“Yes?”

“I’ll do my best!”

She didn’t have that common mischievous expression; she was showing a more feminine shyness now.

I appreciate it if you do.

Work hard.

“I’m looking forward to it, Cletta.”

I left her behind and exited the training grounds. Now, shall I go meet Theodore?

Boom!

Just as I was about to step out the main entrance,

A loud bang made me turn around.

I looked up at the sky, but thankfully, there was no sign of disaster like the Resurgence.

So what’s happening now?

As I moved to find the source of the noise, someone’s voice flew in.

“You insolent girl! Do you know your place? Are you insulting Class A?!”

Looking at him, the guy yelling loudly looked like he was from Class A.

The one he was arguing with was…

“Get lost. I don’t have time to deal with a little brat like you.”

That ice princess attitude.

It’s Laura Freeze.

The protagonist carries the fate of a troublemaker, but it’s truly sad to pick a fight with such an extra.

“They say you’re targeting Class A. You’re as arrogant as the rumors say.”

Ah, that’s me.

Shut your mouth and stay still.

I hid myself in the bushes.

Man, this is intense.

Swinging student weaponry in the Academy? Is he not afraid of getting demerits?

The student’s spear made a dent in the garden’s floor.

If left like that, he’d be expelled for sure. But the Academy’s rules are full of holes. There are plenty of settings errors. And Laura Freeze was proving it.

She threw gloves out of her pocket.

Thud—

“I don’t have time, so let’s finish this quickly.”

“Hah. A challenge? If you left it alone, you’d have been automatically expelled.”

“Being incapacitated and expelled would be the same.”

“…You despicable girl.”

Clang.

They took their weapons, parting the distance. The damage from a challenge isn’t included in the penalty. That’s one of the setting errors.

I silently watched their duel, taking a bite of the snacks I swiped from the Inquisition Office.

“How thrilling.”

I’d never seen such extras in the game. The protagonist even had no episodes like this. Totally can’t miss this event.

Bang!

Bang!

Without waiting to observe, Laura Freeze charged in with attacks. Her mace swung with a speed that made it near-ghostly. So fast, it looked like a whip. Meanwhile, the male student barely managed to defend while frantically maneuvering his spear around. Is this a circus? That’s not how it works. Tsk. I was hoping to see a good show, but with no twists in the event, it wasn’t enticing. I got up to leave. But then another presence emerged.

‘Ah, that guy?’

With his slick back hair and strikingly sharp look.

His eyes and mouth were spread too wide, showing off a taste of flamboyance.

His prominent nose and crimson lips served as the embodiment of a parasite.

Arthur Floyd.

That guy is an antagonist who infiltrated the Academy.

But as soon as Arthur Floyd makes contact with Laura Freeze,

If it’s a chance encounter, that’s one thing.

But this timing is terrible.

It stinks to high heaven.

Arthur Floyd will trigger the first “demonification” a bit later.

When the protagonist, Laura Freeze, gets demoted to Class B and a student sinks into despair.

That student will gradually crumble, and just when he reaches the bottom,

Arthur Floyd will sweep in without missing a beat.

In short, the demoralized student will fall prey to Arthur Floyd’s schemes, leading to his demonification.

Anyway, he wasn’t supposed to show himself until then. But now, he was boldly stepping in.

‘I don’t know what he’s up to.’

Despite knowing about Arthur Floyd’s existence, I let it slide.

Why?

Because villains are just like catalysts that propel the growth of characters. Why chase away the one who helps?

I’ll just hold him close to my heart.