The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students – Chapter 4

Laura Freeze’s reaction was as expected.

I couldn’t help but swallow nervously under her cold, chopping gaze. She looked ready to smash my head in, and it was terrifying.

‘The activation has properly kicked in.’

Well, wouldn’t anyone lose their composure when someone aware of their regression shows up?

“Who on earth are you?”

Laura Freeze’s question was straightforward.

I put on my mask as if reciting a pre-written script.

“I am someone with ‘Foreknowledge’.”

“…Are you talking about ‘Future Sight’?”

“You could say it’s similar.”

“Similar? Are you saying it’s different from Future Sight?”

“Even within the same category, there can be different types.”

And there is only one person in this world with ‘Future Sight’.

Estellurisia.

As long as that saint exists, there was no way to impersonate a prophet. The regressor must be aware of this fact too.

“What’s the difference from a prophet?”

What’s different?

There’s no such thing as a prophet.

It’s all a meticulously fabricated lie of mine.

Would I really need to use some Future Sight-like ability if I had one?

But it was necessary to entrap the regressor’s interest and to establish a collaborative relationship.

“A prophet is one who foresees the future.”

I raised my hand pointing to the sky.

“And a foresight bearer is someone who corrects the future on the right path.”

“The right path?”

“The end of the world is an unchangeable fate, isn’t it?”

“…So there really is a glimpse of the future, huh?”

Sorry, that’s a lie.

But what could I do?

I kept spinning my tale.

“In the future I know, Laura Freeze doesn’t manage to save the world.”

“Are you asking me to believe that?”

It was a painful truth.

The story can’t be cleared without help from the player.

I held my breath, waiting for Laura Freeze’s reaction.

I didn’t think she would believe it immediately.

I was just spitting out lies continuously until the regressor’s doubts faded.

“Alright. Let’s clarify one thing first.”

Huh?

Suddenly, she spat her words out coolly.

“Prove it.”

I had been too immersed in my own deceit that I forgot.

She was also a regressor.

That ‘Egoist’ regressor, to be specific, who had probably been cursed out multiple times.

“If you’re a foresight bearer, then you should be able to.”

Wham!

“Avoiding your own ‘death’ is something you should easily do.”

She channeled a tremendous amount of mana into her mace.

‘As expected, her personality is pretty nasty.’

But what could I say? Everything was flowing according to my plan so far.

“No unnecessary fights are needed.”

“You’re not trying to back out now, are you?”

“I’m just saying there’s a better way to prove that I’m a foresight bearer.”

“Stop with your nonsense…”

“It’s something you wouldn’t dare attempt.”

She crossed her arms, as if daring me to speak further. Fine, I’ll tell you.

“I will achieve what’s impossible for you, the regressor Laura Freeze.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll handle the impurity that has intruded into this class.”

“You can’t be saying you…?”

Uh, that’s right.

A smirk appeared on my face.

“I’ll show you how I can deal with that impurity.”

What a ridiculous boast.

An impurity that intruded into the Space-Time Exploration class couldn’t be tackled with mediocre skills. One misstep, and I’d vanish without a trace. The man named Yuto apparently didn’t seem special at a glance. An expert capable of unfathomable skill?

Yet even his mana was faint and unimpressive.

‘He’s clearly a braggart.’

Yet that man named Yuto was acting completely unfazed.

If his nonchalant demeanor was a clever tactic to escape impending doom, he should have felt afraid of an unmanageable future. Instead, he was brazenly polishing his sword.

‘He can’t just be a simple braggart…’

I wondered if the overwhelming fear had just left his mind entirely.

Lost in those thoughts, the time eventually came.

“C Class students, this concludes our Space-Time Exploration class. I think everyone grasped some real-life sensations. Now, follow me to the portal…”

Julia, our instructor, trailed off unexpectedly.

“Everyone, jump through the portal right now…”

“Huh?”

The student in front tilted his head in confusion. Julia’s usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be found. The impurity had snared her ‘senses’.

“J-Julia, I can’t move my body…”

It was no surprise. A mere student couldn’t endure the pressure from ‘that’ being, struggling even to breathe.

“Damn it… Why is there a monster like that in this low-tier space-time?”

The instructor’s rough voice trembled slightly.

Julia must have realized that she was staring at something too monstrous for her to handle.

‘If my power were at its peak…’

Laura Freeze blamed herself, even while knowing it to be true.

She was about to face despair and couldn’t allow herself to be overwhelmed by it.

‘Julia, I’m sorry, but you need to become the sacrifice.’

That was the only way out.

Julia was destined to die soon anyway. She wasn’t someone who would greatly aid me in the future. Meanwhile, I had a responsibility to survive.

I couldn’t help it if they called me selfish.

The probability that only I could save the world was incredibly high.

Laura Freeze wore a bitter smile.

Her cold, stern, and merciless gaze turned toward the man standing a few steps away.

‘Yuto, was it? By now, he must have faced something and succumbed to reality.’

However, Yuto met her eyes with a calm gaze. For some reason, Laura Freeze felt a chill run down her spine under his deceptively ordinary expression.

‘What is this? Why is he…’

Unlike the others, his face didn’t display any fear. It felt almost like he was waiting for prey, having spun a web.

‘Could it be… he knows I’m going to sacrifice Julia?’

If he was waiting for that, he’d be disappointed.

I had clearly said with my own mouth.

That I would deal with the ‘impurity’.

‘Whatever. Time’s running out now…’

Swoosh.

The ‘Evil God’ was approaching right in front of me.

“Julia, I can ensure that I can free the students and allow for an escape.”

With the power I currently had, ‘ensuring’ was feasible. Of course, that was a plan contingent on ‘someone’ buying time.

Julia seemed to have resolved herself, taking a short breath before speaking.

“Alright… I’ll buy that time…”

“No, I’ll take on that role.”

Everyone in the room—Julia, Laura, and all the students—turned their gaze towards Yuto.

Their gazes were filled with the same sentiment.

“Yuto, if you’re worried about me, it’s alright. Protecting the students is a guardian’s duty.”

“No. I must remain for that duty.”

“What?”

“I’m not saying I’ll sacrifice myself. I’m saying I’ll endure until reinforcements arrive.”

Yuto added with not a hint of wavering.

“The fastest among us here is Julia. Hurry and request for help. I’m betting on that probability.”

No one could dispute him.

If that was the meaning, then there was no reason for him to stay.

Yet still, there was no one brave enough to show courage when death loomed ahead.

“Let’s go. If Yuto has laid his bets on that probability, then hesitating is an embarrassment.”

Laura Freeze chimed in.

She maintained a calm facade, yet there was a flicker of fierce resolve mixed in her azure eyes.

Everyone turned their backs on him and jumped into the portal.

“Yuto! Be sure to hold on! I’ll be there no matter what!”

“Sorry, Yuto!”

“Really, thank you, Yuto! And I’m sorry!”

Julia and the students grit their teeth and hurried away, leaving Yuto behind.

“…”

Laura Freeze stopped just before the portal. The traces of his presence had long since vanished.

The immense darkness of the ‘Undesirable Great Serpent’ behind was what engulfed the area.

“What the hell is that man…?”

Laura Freeze stared intently at the spot Yuto had just occupied before finally stepping through the portal.

‘Has he gone?’

He has.

The last trace before the portal vanished.

All that remained in this low-tier space-time were the ‘Undesirable Great Serpent’ and me.

“Suuuuuuuu…”

The Undesirable Great Serpent exuded a sense of overwhelming ease.

It was different from common monsters.

A calamity that could not be tackled at the outset.

The words of the regressor evading was credible.

But I had my reasons to believe.

I didn’t hold back any effort for him.

“Mr. Undesirable Great Serpent, please wait a moment. We’re just getting to the fun part.”

“Suuuu?”

The serpent’s leisure turned to curiosity.

It must be wondering.

Why an ordinary human was acting foolishly, losing all semblance of fear.

“This keeps going on, doesn’t it?”

I blankly stared at the multitude of phrases manifesting before me.

[‘Laura Freeze’ is obsessed.]
[‘Julia’ is obsessed.]
[‘Danika’ is obsessed with…]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
[Experience Points are increasing.]
…

My growth was relentless.