How to Survive at the Academy Chapter 268

[Abduction] Double arm scales (9)

It must be a memory Lortel wants to forget.

childhood,

A girl wandering the streets stepping on the slums in the slums holds her adoptive father’s hand and grandly enters a large commercial building.

If you go straight along the large store lobby, you will see merchants standing here and there whispering.

She is the adopted daughter of Elte Kecheln, the golden king.

The girl Elte Kecheln said he had adopted as his henchman was right there.

It is said that after teaching them how to count numbers, they taught themselves to multiply and divide.

When I showed them the ledger, they said that they had mastered double-entry bookkeeping in two days.

After showing the market trend analysis table, a new business plan was prepared within a week, and it was even reflected in the actual business plan.

In just a few weeks after becoming the golden king’s adopted daughter, she was the focus of all merchants, and next to her was Elte Kecheln, who always taught her.

Accompanied by her, on the day Elte Kecheln heads to the office, his henchmen line up and bow their heads.

Responsible for bookkeeping, personnel management, financial planning, trend identification, market analysis…

Young Lortel looks at the landscape as if looking at a distant mountain as talented people who boast outstanding abilities in their respective fields bow their heads and bow to Elte.

While introducing Lortel to each member of staff, he carefully tells them that when she grows up, she will become a key person in charge of the company.

In a friendly atmosphere, young Lortel learned to fake a smile. Although she is still inexperienced in wearing a mask, she adapts surprisingly quickly.

After saying hello to the competent talents of the company, at the end, we see Slog Keldrux with his head bowed.

[This is the slogan that has been with me for the longest time. I have had his assistance in all my undertakings and undertakings. He is the most trustworthy person and can be said to be the most competent manager at this point. ]

Elte Kecheln spoke with a greedy smile.

[Lortel still has a lot to learn, but there are limits to helping as a father. I hope you take care of Lortel a lot. ]

[Is there any? ]

After exchanging such brief greetings, Elte and Lortel entered the office.

For a moment, Lortel turned around and looked at Slog’s expression, and it was infinitely cold.

[Listen, Lortel. The high-ranking employees of the Chamber of Commerce that we just met face to face are the bastards we need to be most wary of. ]

Unlike when he closed the door with a satisfied smile, Elte Kecheln looked back and had a grim face.

[If you stick to this floor for a long time, you will naturally realize it. don’t trust anyone The same goes for partners who have been working together for decades. They’re all bastards who would stick a knife in their backs if the opportunity arose. pitiful pups. Inevitably, they must be coveting my wealth. They are like bastards who have gone mad with envy and jealousy…]

A place where infinite trust is soon treated as a sin.

That law applies equally to the man sitting at the top of Elte Corporation.

The inside of the corrupt colossus that young Lortel looked up at was already dotted with scars from the Cephas and numerous traces of failure.

That miserable appearance was the final destination for those who made a living as merchants.

[That’s the first thing I teach the youngsters who come in as apprentices to this Elte firm. don’t trust anyone Friends, lovers, even family and teachers. ]

[Originally, life in the world is lonely. Never give a chance to anyone. There is no human relationship in the world where you can honestly give and receive without any cost. Humans are creatures born to weigh gains and losses. ]

The double-armed scale pattern attached to the wall of the office. It is the same as the symbol of Elte Corporation.

Externally, it was regarded as a symbol of justice, fairness, and truth.

Among the employees of Elte Corporation, it was regarded as a symbol of hypocrisy and deceit.

Looking up at the large double-armed scales, Elte Kecheln asserted.

[There is no such thing as a two-armed scale that is perfectly level in the world. We must always remember and live. ]

The voice that said that was heavy.

*The Elte Trading Company headquarters building was already in a crucible of confusion.

Viewing from the outside, the sight of smoke billowing through the half-destroyed buildings feels unrealistic.

The main store of Elte Trading Company was always a building that had to be there.

Like the imperial castle of the zodiac, the clock tower of the Sylvania Academy, and the castle of the saints.

It was a building close to a landmark, always there with the same look.

Seeing the head office of Elte Co. in such a state of chaos made me wonder if this scene was a dream.

At least, it seemed that way to the citizens of Oldeck.

The interior of the store is not much different from the exterior.

In the lobby on the first floor, countless pieces of furniture were already rolling on the floor, and merchants were running away through collapsed walls here and there.

Like that, countless people were intertwined and moving according to their own circumstances.

The Roth Taylor family vassals search the inside of the store.

The merchants of the upper house run away to save their lives.

Among them, the giants move in search of a solution to the situation according to their beliefs.

Fully on the side of Slog, Puellan and Caldenheim sprint toward the basement.

The other giants contact the Alldeck government to assess the situation and ask for help.

Lortel’s confidante, Lienna, the chief secretary, wakes up quietly in a dark space.

The current owner, Slog, is shaking his eyes in front of Ed Roth Taylor.

And Ed Rosteeler, who was at the center of the situation, was quietly trying to grab Slog by the collar.

– Bang!

However, the slog was not captured as it was.

The floor with the slog collapsed with a loud explosion, as if there were still magic engineering items hidden in the back pocket.

– Quagga gagagak!

Ed Roth Taylor is a master of magic engineering. He instantly grasps the internal structure and neutralizes it just by showing him the shape of the magical school supplies.

That’s why Slog activated the explosive type magic engineering equipment in his arms.

– Whoa!

“Quaaaaagh!”

A piercing pain ran through my whole body. Slog, who had fallen downstairs, rolled on the floor and barely got up from the dust.

There is a bitter iron taste in the mouth. Still, I was able to distance myself from Ed Rosteyler.

“Heo-eok, heo-eok!”

As it was, Slog ran through the hallway with a limp gait.

Ed jumped down the collapsed hole, landed, and slowly turned his head toward the fleeing slog.

It would not have been easy for a merchant, not even a combatant, to withstand the explosion.

Nevertheless, the slog was running away at a fairly fast speed. Ed Roth-Taylor broke through the dust and trudged toward the slog.

Slog struggled across the hallway, covered in blood. He continued to run, limping down the twisting and turning corridors and against the walls.

On the way, he knocked down all the furniture and cabinetry he could get his hands on, obstructing Ed Rosteyler’s progress.

However, to Ed Roth Taylor, who was narrowing the distance, such obstacles could not be called obstacles.

With just a couple of wavering gestures filled with magical power, everything is blown out of the window.

“I, ugh… heo-eok… heo-eok…!”

I know the slog. It’s not even a matter of Ed Rosteylor catching himself running away if he’s determined.

However, Ed Rosteeler is only narrowing the distance by walking.

This guy is trying to find out who the backseat is looking after Slog.

Rather than just grabbing and removing the slog, I plan to find and remove the source that allowed the slog to run amok with confidence. To do so, he had to find out who Slog was calling for help in this extreme crisis.

Despite knowing that fact, Slog had no choice but to run away with all his might.

When I came to the end of the hallway, the outside stairs came out. As he ran down the stairs with a hasty gait, he tripped and fell.

Slog, who made a clunking sound as he rolled down the stairs, looked as if his whole body would be crushed at any moment, but he gnashed his teeth and got up again.

At the top of the stairs, we see Ed Rosteeler slowly descending the stairs.

killer and victim. pursuers and fugitives. hunter and prey.

“You bastard… You bastard… do you really think everything will be sorted out like this!”

As if he couldn’t even afford to treat Ed Rosteeler as a nobleman, Slog wrote angrily.

“Are you sure you can send me off completely clean? Do you really think that will happen!”

“As I said, all measures have already been taken. Be still, just.”

“I’m sorry, but if you touched me carelessly…!”

– Boo Woo

At that time, a huge trumpet sound was heard through the gap in the outer wall of the collapsed landing.

It was the music played by the ceremonial music band of the Oldeck government office. As the sound lingered in his ears, Slog looked back with trembling eyes.

Beyond the collapsed outer wall, you can see the large iron gate of the Elte store.

And there… a majestically large carriage was entering. The residents of Oldeck who filled the surroundings were all wide-eyed in surprise.

The same goes for slog. I put my head in front of the crack in the collapsed outer wall and stared at the scenery outside.

It is a carriage ridden by the saintess of Seonghwangdo, who is said to be hard to see a few times even if she lives her entire life.

“This… such… crazy…”

– married couple-

– Dung Dung Dung

The carriage that appeared between the performances of the magnificent band stopped in the grounds of Elte Firm.

The crowd of people gathered in front of the main gate of the store is grandiose. The sudden appearance of the saintess further plunges the scene into chaos.

Then, the door of the carriage opens… Saint Clarisse of the Holy Emperor appears.

It seems that the concept of mystery has come down to the world in a human form.

To express it in color, it is noble pure white itself.

Pure white hair, pure white saint’s clothes, pure white skin.

In the meantime, red eyes and a red bow hairpin were revealed.

The way she walks down the stairs of the carriage lightly and softly is also like a beautiful butterfly landing on the flower petals.

Truly, it is the real thing of Saint Clarisse.

She is not a person that anyone can pretend to be. If she did that, she would be sentenced to death.

So Saint Clarisse stood with her feet on the ground.

And the people who came down after that were people who even Slog knew.

Bell Maia, head maid of the Ross Taylor family. And young Lortel, who held her hand tightly.

In addition to that, there are numerous guards of the holy city.

Looking at it, I was sure.

The reason why Saint Clarice suddenly appeared in such a place was because of Ed Roth Taylor’s help. Seeing that his vassal Bell Maia appeared in such a place, it was a natural conclusion.

Ed Rosteilor had arranged in advance to send the maid, Jean Bell Maia, to the government office in advance so that Saint Clarice could be escorted to the Elte Company.

Anyway, there is such a thing as the reality of the plan.

There is no one in the world who can think that the saintess of Carpea will really be brought to the site of Elte Firm.

“Why do you think Saint Clarisse came all the way to the head office of Elte Company?”

Looking down at Slog from the landing on the other side, Ed Rosteeler talks.

“I came to stamp the distribution contract that I had discussed with Elte Co. in advance. However, contrary to the promise, when we arrived at the store, it became a mess.”

I’ve never signed a distribution contract like that.

Even so, if Saint Clarice said so, it would be the truth.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for a giant named saint to travel this far. Because there is almost no point of contact between Elte Corporation and the success rate.

There is no other method that can completely prove that the story of the transaction between Seonghwangdo and the Elte Company really took place as much as the fact that the saintess appeared in person.

In the end, it’s only a matter of time before Slog becomes the one who buried the huge contract between Seonghwangdo and Elte Co., solely to preserve his place.

– Boo Woo Woo Woo

The majestic trumpet sound of the music band.

legitimacy and justification.

It was the sound of the last weapon in Slog’s grasp disappearing.

“I hope that the person looking after you will be a much more authoritative figure than the saintess of the Holy Emperor.”

Ed Rosteyler spoke calmly as he slowly descended the stairs.

“Otherwise… I won’t be able to keep your place as the head of the circle any longer.”

It is neither an expression of confidence nor an expression of ridicule. It was just the raw truth.

However, what does it mean if I say that?

If we were to pick a figure as authoritative as the saintess of Seonghwangdo on this continent, it would be difficult to fill the palm of our hand.

Slog lowered his voice as he watched the figure of the saintess visible through the gap in the outer wall.

“Yes… If the contact point with the success is revealed to the whole world in this way, there will be no way to refute it from my point of view… Not only that, but also the conditions for Lortel Kecheln to rise to the position of the leader without any aftermath. It’s like being prepared…”

Then, as if in vain, he turned back and looked at Ed and said.

“haha…”

“…”

“Yeah, you’re curious about my back…”

As it was, I put my back on the side of the half-destroyed outer wall, breathing heavily as if exhausted.

The appearance of a cornered mouse.

Meanwhile, Slog raised the corners of his mouth, blood dripping.

“Ku, haha… Kakak… Kahahak… Kheheuk…”

The laughter that escaped from between his lips seemed to give up or collapse.

“Whoop… whoop…”

As it was, Slog breathed in exhaustion, then raised his back and spoke.

“Do you think I will tell you that?!”

– bang!!!!

At that moment, Slog’s magic engineering supplies that he had last stocked up caused an explosion.

It seemed certain that Slog himself would not be safe if he caused such an explosion with his almost battered body.

Nevertheless, Slog accepted the explosion casually… and crashed into the lowest floor of the upper building.

*Dust has risen.

It was a sudden explosion, but I didn’t take any damage. It was because he quickly dealt with defensive magic.

After falling to the lowest floor with the slog, I landed skillfully and brushed off my clothes.

And through the rising dust… I could see the completely battered Slog.

His gray hair was scattered, and his face was covered in blood.

In the aftermath of the explosion, the burnt body was exposed here and there, giving it a terrifying appearance.

The tattered merchant’s clothes could no longer be called high-end.

Looking around, it was a space that was used as a conference room before it was destroyed.

Several conference tables were lined up, but half were blown away in the aftermath of the explosion.

And the appearance of the slog that was completely cleared of dust and revealed… I couldn’t help but frown.

“Keep… Huh… Huh… Guh…”

Something like an iron rod pierced the waist. The impact of the fall had it lodged in the abdomen. Apparently, the outer walls had collapsed and the building materials were exposed.

Blood dripped and dripped onto the floor.

With almost maddening tenacity, Slog got up and tried to pull out the iron bar from his waist, but he couldn’t put any more effort into it, so he finally let go of his hand.

“…”

“Cheer… Huh… Huh… Whoa… Whoa… Whoa… Whoa…”

He let out a few breaths, as if the air was coming out of his throat, and laughed again, wondering what was so funny.

I tried to walk a few times, but I fell flat on the conference table.

While gripping the iron bar stuck in his side, he pushes the table up again to try to stand up, but he slips into his own blood and falls out.

Nevertheless, staggering again, I get up and move on.

Even knowing that there is no fuss.

“First… run… run away… look… just report and you can get out of this situation… help… ask for help…”

“…”

“Kuh… ugh…”

Ed Rosteyler, clean and unscathed, was standing behind Slog, looking down at him.

A calm face that shows no emotion.

Slog, who has become a wreck, and Ed Roth Taylor, who is fine.

It was a situation where he could have defeated Slog with one hand if he wanted to, but Ed didn’t dare to move.

“Don’t come any closer…! I… leave me alone…! Cuckoo… Cuckoo…”

Slog stands firm on the conference table with trembling arms. He couldn’t even control his trembling pupils and kept repeating empty calls to Ed.

“Mi… I’m sorry…! Yeah, sure… I didn’t expect you to resort to such violent measures… just a little bit… a little more mercy…”

“Slog Keldlux.”

“Yeah, yeah… I like that you don’t touch me! Guess who’s behind me?! Do you think I would have gone in and out of Roth Taylor’s estate without thinking, set up a confrontational angle, and overpowered Lortel this boldly?! I, who have endured for decades on this old deck, have learned everything I need to know?!”

“…”

“Do you think there is no place for me to believe in anything?! I can tell you! If you lay your hand on me here and now… you will definitely regret it…!”

Slog no longer even has room to step back.

It was the moment when he tried to raise his voice even more, regardless of the blood dripping from his mouth.

“Now, let’s stop making jokes like this. You did everything you wanted. slog.”

—A word that pierces the lungs.

Seeing Slog’s words come to a halt, I added slowly.

“Behind you, I know that there is no one like the one watching you.”

“…”

“It was all your opinion.”

When I said that with a grave face, Slog stayed still with a completely frozen expression for a while.

After staring at me for a while, he spit out blood once more with a gurgling sound… and laughed as if he had detached himself.

“Is that so… Did you notice everything in the first place… Kuheuk, kuhuhuhuk… cooluk… cooluk…”

“…”

“—I thought it was a little weird from the beginning… keuh… keuhuh… uhh… uhh… uhhhh… kahahahahahahah… uhhh… cool. .. heo heo heo… heo heo…”

Slog, whose strength was completely released soon, fell down on the conference table without being able to support himself.

The clothes that have become rags, the whole body full of scars. The flowing blood hardened and stuck to the skin here and there, and it was difficult to find the focus of the eyes.

The shabby face that was about to be ruined, looked more like a beggar on the street than a colossus.