How to Survive at the Academy Chapter 173

Before recapturing Elte Company (2)

What are you left with except money and power?

When you lose everything and end up in a gutter without even a chance to revive, do you still think there will be a human who will reach out to you?

Once you wear the scent of money and power on your body, only flies attracted by the scent will be attracted to your surroundings.

When you’re stuck on the floor like that… there’s no one left around.

Being weeded out and ending their lives like that is the end that almost all giants face.

Among those who made a name for themselves as colossus in Old Deck, those who were happy in their later years can be counted on one hand.

Do you think it’s different from you?

Do you think there is such a thing as a happy ending in a life full of betrayal and cheating?

The four endings, like most realities, end in black-grey gloomy mud.

Whether you chose because you wanted to or you were forced to choose to survive. It doesn’t matter.

Once in this bridle, you can never get out again.

Elte Kecheln, whose throat was spinning with a fishy laugh, spat out a curse.

Covered in blood inside the convoy, he laughed for a long time, showing his teeth with a terrifying face.

– Tit, Tit.

So Lortel opened her eyes.

I felt the fresh air unique to the morning in the North Forest.

Inside the villa, where the morning sunlight permeates, neatly designed wooden furniture is lined up in an orderly fashion.

Slowly pushing away the blanket and raising her upper body, Lortel’s expression was infinitely calm.

I don’t make a fuss about having a dream like this, nor am I offended.

Because it was the same thing as everyday.

*’Star Changryong Velbrok.’

I tried reciting the name in a low voice.

A mythical blue dragon sealed by Luden McLore, the ‘first swordsman’, and maintained and maintained by the great sage Sylvania, who has yet to see the light of day.

Known as the ‘God-eating dragon’, the monster tried to burn the world several times during the mythological age, and has tried to devour the world several times since.

However, it was stopped by the heroes representing the era and eventually became an old story beyond history.

The roar of Velbroke that split the sky became a story in the history books, and the era when all generations who remembered its majesty ended their lives.

The final boss that decorates the grand finale of < Failed Sword Saint of Sylvania > is resurrected without any warning.

A disaster that blew away half of the island with a single gesture and slaughtered thousands of people with just a roar filled with scales and magic.

Even though famous wizards and warriors flocked and rushed at him, the Seongchangryong of Genesis was unable to inflict a single scratch on his body.

Even Lucy, who was treated as an outcast, was the best response she could do only to receive an attack, and it was a powerful enemy that made even Obel Forcius, the guardian of the saints, face death in the end.

As befits a boss who concludes all stories, he is an opponent who boasts power enough to make you wonder how to beat this.

To put it bluntly, you can’t win.

The tooltip clearly stated that the scales that Velbroke wore could only be pierced by special means.

There is only one special means, the sword ceremony of the main character, Taily McLore.

At least in the game… No matter what other powerful means, Valveroke’s scales couldn’t be pierced.

Any sword, spear, or magic could pierce the distal end of Valveroke, but the vital points were never pierced.

In particular, the part of the heart that had to be stabbed… It didn’t even move unless it was Taylor’s sword ceremony.

It goes beyond irrational to the point of being unnatural. It’s as if the world has agreed to make Taylor a hero.

It has to be. Taily is a person born with the fate of the main character.

Since Luden MacLore, who sealed the Holy Spear Dragon in the distant past, devised the Sword Star Ceremony, it was natural that only Taily, who inherited the Sword Star Ceremony, could pierce the Star Spear Dragon’s scales.

There is a strangely incomprehensible reason, but also a reason that cannot be refuted.

“I didn’t know you would call me…”

“I didn’t really want to call you either. Neither you nor Taylor like me very much.”

“…”

The place was a terrace cafe near the Maxes Bridge. The commercial district for living was most actively formed around the entrance of Maxes Bridge, so there were quite a few people around.

The girl sitting huddled across the cafe table was a person she hadn’t seen in quite a while—Ayla Triss.

Among the 4 failed swordsman heroines in Sylvania, she is the most important and profound girl.

As a childhood friend of Taylor McLore since he was young, he supported him whenever he was tired and tired… He is a character that anyone would have attached to if they had played the failing swordsman of Sylvania.

Her short, chestnut-colored hair falls in a dainty style and ends at her shoulders. The slightly curled ends of her hair make her look elegant, which goes well with her personality.

However, whenever he sees me, he is wary as if he is seeing a monster.

From time to time, I just confirmed that I was stuck next to Taylor, who is progressing the main scenario through rumors.

Quite a bit of time has passed, and I wonder if I’ve developed a special relationship with Taylor… When I walk around the school, I hear various love stories and rumors.

It’s me… I just clap from afar.

After retirement, I couldn’t adapt to the peaceful world and stayed in my room for a while.

It is said that I received quite a lot of healing after seeing the two of them in the days when my body was hurt and my mind was hurt in many ways.

Even though both of them are gruff and aggressive toward me, as players, they’re quite friendly people… I didn’t feel any ill feelings. It was just a mindset to watch from a distance.

Still, things have changed a lot.

Now it is a situation where you have to approach the two by necessity.

It was a bit too much for me to rush into Taylor, who was hostile to me right away, so I thought about meeting Ayla first and talking about it.

Vacation ends in 5 days. It is the time when students are returning home one after another.

Ayla was also returning to the Lorail Hall, so he asked Ziggs, a member of the Lorail Hall, to summon him personally.

However, I wasn’t expecting too much.

Isn’t it Ayla who always trembles in fear when she sees me, or is just wary? It was just a toss-up proposal, saying, “If I get rejected, I’ll have to find another way…”

“No, it’s not that I don’t like it… It’s just that… There was a lot of misunderstanding… I understand…”

However, Ayla, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, was surprisingly not wary of me at all. Come to think of it, there was also a memory that she apologized and talked about what to do.

Have I had a change of heart in the meantime, or was I just guessing too much…

Ayla, on the contrary, came out to the cafe without any suspicion.

“So… why am I…?”

“I want to try Dalian with Taylor.”

Predictably, Taylor’s powers will be much weaker than I thought. That’s the only way to do it.

A huge ordeal that was scheduled for Taylor. Subjugation of Lucy and Creffin have completely disappeared.

Other than that, all of the small events have evaporated, so Taily’s sword ceremony must have been sluggish without growing any further.

“With Taylor…? If it’s a simple sparring… Can’t you just apply to Taylor? Why not go through me?”

“If it’s like that, I don’t think he’ll be sincere.”

“…yes?”

There is still quite a bit of time before the Holy Changryong Velbrok descends.

However, you shouldn’t be discouraged by that.

With just one minor variable, all kinds of boss battles were moved forward by as little as a month, and as fast as half a year.

It feels like the tempo is getting faster than regular events.

According to the original work, Seong Chang-ryong, Velbroke, would descend a semester before the main character’s generation graduates, but such speculation is meaningless now that the world has already become turbulent with all kinds of variables.

If possible, it is better to start dealing with it as soon as possible.

“I don’t even know if they’ll accept sparring in the first place.”

“Hmm… definitely… it seems that Taily doesn’t trust Ed that much yet. He has a good reputation and his grades have improved recently, but from Taylor’s point of view, it must be very awkward. The first button wasn’t good, … But it’s not like we’ve formally reconciled.”

“Yeah, I’d rather use that part.”

To Ayla who was puzzled, I calmly continued the next story.

“I want him to be completely on top of his head and attack with all his might.”

The first thing to do is to check Taylor’s current status.

How high did the specs go? How much more do I need to grow to carry out the Bellbrook subjugation.

Is it right to choose the direction leading Tailly, or to seek a different direction?

In order to judge these things, we need to confront Taylor, who is doing her best.

Currently, Taylor is entering the second semester of her sophomore year. Because Taylor’s growth potential is so formidable, she’s probably already heard enough to be in the top ranks of her grade.

I wanted to seize the opportunity to check where and how they grow in detail.

It’s not just a duel by academic rules, it’s a real fight with all your might. I’m going to pay for it… In the end, I have no choice but to provoke Taylor.

“So I’m going to kidnap you, Ayla. It’s a classic, but sure way.”

“…yes?”

“What… What is it? It’s a bit strange to say this, but… can you calmly kidnap me when the time comes…?”

“…Does anyone get permission to kidnap…?”

“That’s it.”

In the end, it was to ask for Ayla’s understanding. The problem is that you have to give a good reason.

“That, what is it… Taily is the type that gets stronger the more trials come. You know that well, Ayla?”

Taily McLore and trials are words inseparable. In fact, he is a person who contains the core message of Sylvania’s Failed Sword Master.

Isn’t it the biography of Taily, who endured endless trials and was eventually reborn as a swordsman?

That’s why, Ayla, who has seen Taily up close ever since she was little, would understand.

“For Taylor to grow strong periodically, you need to eventually push him to the extreme.”

“Even so… I don’t want to worry about Taylor.”

“Then I can’t help it. I have to find another way. However, I don’t know what way that will be.”

It may sound half-threatening, but I can’t help it on my part.

From my point of view, properly checking Taylor’s specifications is a necessary process. Wouldn’t it be a problem if I was the only one who got f*cked, wouldn’t it be a problem that the whole island of Aken could be blown away?

“No, that… why do you care so much about Taylor’s growth…? Even getting your own hands dirty…?”

“…”

“Senior Ed, even during the entrance exam in the first place… Actually, there are so many stories about him being healthy, but why do you dare to take risks like this…?”

That’s because if Taylor doesn’t play her part, everyone dies.

It’s because if you think he won’t be able to do his job, you have to find another way.

To be honest, there is no way I can convince you. In the end, she had no choice but to come up with a plausible reason that Ayla could understand.

“He and I are fundamentally alike.”

“…yes?”

“My life was full of trials like that. The life I went through in the Ross Taylor family… wasn’t very smooth. That’s why it was hard to just watch and ignore it.”

Is the reason too dry?

However, the longer the story goes, the more suspicious it becomes. Here, it is necessary to be simple and clear so that the story fits neatly.

“So… you helped Taylor like that, then pushed her away again? Risking your own reputation…?”

“First of all, am I not a senior?”

“…”

“Even if it’s a big deal, it was hard to just leave it alone. That’s all. In fact, it’s a story that’s not much. It’s a story that’s more common than you think.”

Having said that, I was silent.

Ayla had been looking at me for a while. He kept his gaze straight on me, his face as if he had seen something in vain.

A street where many people pass by. We sat quietly for a long time on the terrace seats where we could hear the clamor of passers-by without hesitation.

Eventually, it was Ayla who broke the silence.

“…Senior Ed. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever properly apologized for the misunderstanding I had with you.”

“what?”

“…I’m really sorry for the harsh treatment we’ve been given. Our knowledge… was very short…”

Due to the unexpected reaction, I withheld the response. There was no feeling of slight embarrassment.

“Oh, there’s nothing else to talk about like that.”

“No. I think we judged senior Ed too quickly. He said an apology was fine… but I really wanted to apologize when the opportunity came.”

“Well, if you really want to do it, I’ll understand. Just do it in moderation.”

Saying that, Ayla looked at me and talked.

“I will cooperate if necessary.”

“That means…”

“Actually, I’m good at getting kidnapped.”

Ayla, a decent scholar-type girl, seems far from combat.

Rather, like a princess waiting for a hero, she is a girl who seems more appropriate to be trapped at the top of a castle and waiting for rescue.

but…

“Actually, the main specialty is being kidnapped… It’s a shame…”

Is this right…

I had a sudden thought…

*

“Payment for the latest version of the unit price table is scheduled to go up today. I’ll report it soon and upload the documents.”

Lortel, who went to work at the Sylvania branch of Elte Firm after a long absence, looked at the overdue work in her private office.

I was so busy looking at the Old Deck side that I barely looked at the Sylvania side. As much as that period had accumulated… Lortel’s office desk was full of all sorts of papers to be checked.

After all, even after returning to Sylvania, I can’t escape the swamp of work.

With that thought in mind, Lortel let out a deep sigh and rolled up her arms. First of all, I had to check all of Lortel’s ledgers, keeping track of everything that had happened while he was away.

In the meantime, Lortel, remembering what Bell had said, instructed Dune.

Bring me the most up-to-date grocery unit price list.

However, what came back from Dune was that the unit price table hadn’t been updated yet.

– ‘However, I was expecting the rise of inflation itself, but I didn’t expect it to be that much. I’ll have to check it out myself tomorrow. I wonder if there are any documents left in the archives of the Sangkai branch.

– ‘It’s a matter that was decided between yesterday and today, so it will probably remain.’

Bell said that the up-to-date price list of groceries was clearly overwritten by Dune.

However, Dune reports that the unit price table has not yet been updated.

At that gap, Lortel felt a momentary tingle.

Looking at the dunes… Lortel hardened her expression.

“Dune.”

“Yes, Mr. Hoeju.”

Lortel uses a mixture of honor and inferiority for its employees. Lortel’s treatment, which was changed according to need, was a means to awaken the atmosphere among the employees.

“Bring the updated unit price table.”

I just said that the unit price table has not been updated yet. Nevertheless, Lortel gave the same task one more time.

Dune stood still for a moment. Standing upright on the other side of the office table… chewing on Lortel’s instructions.

Lortel knows. Dune is not an innocent employee.

He overlooked the fact that he often crept in through loopholes in the ledger and engaged in petty embezzlement.

Dune himself would know to some extent. Even so, what Lortel did not take issue with was the silent notice of ‘do it in moderation’.

However, if it crosses the line, I feel the need to discipline myself.

Anyway, if you formally raise a problem, the regretful side always becomes a dune. Since the power dynamics are set up that way, Dune is always in a position to lower its tail.

If the unit price table itself was manipulated to raise the purchase price and then take the difference, Dune’s embezzlement has already exceeded the ‘light’ level.

I did feel a little out of place.

No matter how lately Lortel had neglected the Sylvania branch to focus on Oldek’s situation, Dune was not a person who dared to embezzle so much.

At best, he is just an ordinary employee with a little collecting wall who collects precious alcohol from abroad with little money.

In a world of cold-blooded merchants, this level of corruption is honestly not even on the axis of corruption.

For Lortel, who had lived her life watching all sorts of despicable sights, it wasn’t such a big deal.

However… the behavior that clearly crosses the line… there is a feeling that some external variable has worked.

Is it not Dune’s own judgment, but someone’s instigation? Or was there a change of heart in some other way?

In any case, it was an issue that could not be ignored.

Lortel glared at the dune with a cold face.

However, Dune looked straight at Lortel without moving.

I didn’t even think that I would quickly bring the adjusted unit price table and ask for forgiveness.

However, I thought I would at least come up with an excuse…

Dune just stared at Lortel with a kind of creepy look.

*

“Eh, I’m Rienna Clemson, Lortel’s direct assistant to the Elte Firm…”

It was a time when I was exchanging stories with Ayla.

A small, red-haired woman came up to the table where we were sitting.

“Eh… four…? Elte Sanghoe?”

Ayla was momentarily taken aback, as if she hadn’t expected that the girl would talk to her.

However, Rienna’s secretary didn’t care about Ayla’s reaction and said straight up while looking at me.

“Eh, you’re Ed Rosteeler…?”

“…That’s right.”

Putting down the stack of papers she was holding in her arms, Secretary Rienna spoke slowly.

“The Elte Company came to come with something to suggest…”

For me, it was a sudden thing.

It felt as if something big was about to change.