Volume 1 Chapter 1.3
A Bus Coming to an Abrupt Stop,
Floating Spheres,
and
the Philosophy of Deception Part 3
Translator : PolterGlast
◆ One Month Ago ◆
"<Screening
Test>?"
Jin Kirihara's
exaggerated voice echoed in the café in the town of Akkas, where the Heiberg
National Training School for Psychics is located.
The tall boy sitting
across the table from him explained with a proud expression.
"Yes, it's held
every year for the lowest grades students. In the forest near the school, they
fight for survival."
Jin's eyes lit up as
he ran his pen over his notepad. He looked like a young boy yearning for his
glorious yet rigorous days at the school.
As a matter of fact,
today Jin assumed the role of [head of the newspaper club at a local junior
high school].
He contacted a boy who
was a graduate of that middle school and also a first-year student at Heiberg
Academy, and asked him for an interview as part of a project for the school
newspaper.
At first, he refused
for reasons of confidentiality, but it was enough to persuade him by showing
him previous interviews with famous psychics who had graduated from the same
school.
The photographs used
were simply cut and pasted from small articles in the state-run newspaper, and
the text and layout were nothing more than fakes made by a printer he knew, but
there was no way the boy would recognize them. Of course, he had no way of
knowing that Jin was neither a middle-school student, nor that the uniforms
were from a thrift shop in town, nor that he was using a fake name.
In the end, he agreed
to be interviewed on the condition that it would not involve any of the
students' personal information or the school's internal affairs.
However, people with
psychic abilities tend to have a massive desire for self-expression. If one
properly coaxed and flatters them belatedly, they will spew out as much
information as they can.
"...... Can I ask
you for more details? Of course, we won't write it in the article."
There was a plan to
get through the entrance examinations, which were due in a week's time, but no
matter how well the plan went, it would be inevitable that he would be among
the lowest-graders.
So Jin asked for
information that would not be leaked outside the academy, such as where the
[Screening Test] was being held and the details of the annual examinations.
"...... Come to
think of it, the entrance ceremony is already next week. I hate that this
year's new students are full of famous figures again. You see, I heard that the
daughter of the Stingray family is enrolling as well."
"Nina Stingley,
huh? I've heard a lot about her."
It gives me goosebumps
to think of having a monster like that in my class. Well, it's none of my
business as I'm about to drop out. ...... Oh, by the way, you are also a
psychic, right? Are you aiming for the
Heiberg School after all? Do you want to join the <White Knights>?"
"No-no, it's
outrageous for an ordinary person like me. I'm aiming for a private training
school somewhere.''
After stating this in
a blunt manner, Jin changed the angle of his question.
"By the way, are
students allowed to enter the forest you were talking about earlier? After all, it's off-limits, isn't it?"
"No, it's not.
There is no confidential information hidden in the forest, it's really nothing
more than a forest. And it's a bit far from the academy."
"Ahaha, right, of
course."
Now he had all the
information he wanted.
While sorting out the
rest of the questions, Jin had already begun to formulate a strategy to pass
the [Screening Test].
If the objective is
just to survive, the content of the test will not be that difficult.
However, if one were
to think about their future life at the school, they would have to make a
strong impact on the students while earning as many points as possible. If he
could gain some recognition here, it would make it much easier for him to
proceed with his future plans.
So, first of all, he
needs to prepare a duck that enjoys standing out and is easy to deceive.
◆ Three Days Ago ◆
"......Certainly,
I've received the payment. So, what the hell are you doing this for?"
The question asked by
the man in his work clothes in the middle of the night in the forest was a
fairly natural one.
When one receives a
request that makes no sense whatsoever, which is to implant explosives that can
be remotely detonated throughout an empty forest, and even to create an
elaborate pit ─ it is only natural
that one would want to confirm the client's true intentions. The three
employees who were working on it also had a dubious look on their faces.
"It's the same as
always, Gasta-san. I've got some people I want to deceive."
"Are you talking
about infiltrating the nest of heretics? ...... I see, so this is just a
gimmick to give the illusion that you're a psychic who specializes in using
gunpowder."
"Well, something
like that."
Jin couldn't help but
smile wryly at this man's good intuition, which was unbefitting of a rough man
in his forties.
Jin has known Gasta,
the <Landscape Gardener>, for more than six years now.
He has worked on a
wide range of projects. This is not the first time he has installed gunpowder
and booby traps, as he did this time, and he has also been commissioned to
build a gambling hall and a ticket booth in one of the buildings, and even
provided extras for a major project.
He is one of the
people who knows Jin's true identity and is willing to help him in his race for
survival at the academy for a fee.
"With so many
obstacles in the way, your escape route will be limited, so if you run away
without thinking, you're sure to fall into this pitfall."
"We had a really
hard time finding a good spot, you know."
Even though only
failed candidates took part in the test, it was unlikely that the management
would not provide any surveillance at all. At the very least, there must be a
number of cameras installed for surveillance purposes.
However, modern
technology has not yet succeeded in shrinking the size of the cameras capable
of capturing images, so the number of places where they can be hidden is
naturally limited. If there are no tall bushes around, and if there are
protruding rocks on the ground surface that can easily create blind spots, then
there should be no problem.
Although it was quite
laborious, it only took half a day's walk through the forest.
"So you will
pretend to run away from the enemy and lure him/her here? But will it work that
well? The other party must have psychic abilities, right?"
"A~a, don't
worry. I've spent a lot of time in the last few weeks training my duck."
"...... He hasn't
even enrolled yet, has he? What a terrifying kid."
Gasta laughed as he
exhaled purple smoke.
"So what's your
poor victim's name?"
"Tedd Lieber.
Born and grew up in Ibrick, his birthday is August 2. His favorite food is rib
steak, and since he was a kid he's been the biggest and fiercest kid in his
class.
His psychic ability is
<Anti-Gravity Satellite>. It is an ability to manipulate three black iron
balls at the same time, but that is only on the surface. In reality, it's just
an ability to manipulate rubber balls after hardening them like iron. He carries
the rubber balls in a custom-made black bag, so he often bumps into
things."
"Oioi, you know a
lot."
"He's always had
no enemies in his hometown. He's been so wild that a year ago he used his
psychic abilities to commit a robbery. Everyone close to him knew Tedd was the
culprit, but they kept quiet about it because they were afraid he would kill
them. Apparently, in the countryside, there are no policemen with psychic
abilities, so he was completely free to do whatever he wanted."
"Whoa, how did
you know so much? Did you hire a detective?"
"No", Jin
pulled some white letters out of his pocket. "The man himself told
me."
Gasta shone his
flashlight on the letters and scanned over the scribbled words.
[How can I increase
the output of my psychic ability? Please give me some advice!]
[The people around me
are really idiots. I can't wait to enroll and receive your guidance.]
[Headmaster, I will
definitely live up to your expectations in the <Screening Test>!]
He didn't have the
energy to read through all of them, but he was certain that the crude
handwriting that seemed to be written by a rough boy and the sentences that
seemed to be infatuated with the other party didn't mesh well together.
"When the results
of the entrance exam were announced, Tedd stood out among those who had
gathered in the hall. He intimidated everyone around him for no reason, and got
angry that his posted rank was at the bottom of the list. ...... I thought that
guy, with his overconfidence and lack of caution, would make a good first target."
"If you take out
the attention-seeker first, you'll be less likely to be criticized by those
around you, huh?"
"That's the
point. You're a perceptive guy after all."
"I'm flattered to
be praised by a fifteen-year-old boy."
At Heiberg school,
where competition for points is fierce, it's obvious that the less talented
participants tend to be targeted first. If a large number of anonymous students
simultaneously targeted him, it would be game over at that moment.
Therefore, it was
necessary to establish a track record of having defeated a powerful person in
the first place.
"I slipped an
envelope and a letter with the headmaster's signature on it in his pocket. I
wrote a brief outline of the <Screening Test> and a request for him to
serve as a gatekeeper there.
Speaking of the
headmaster, Jill Will Weiser, there is not a single person in this country who
doesn't know about his psychic abilities, right? If a letter from someone like
that suddenly appeared in his pocket, he would surely think that he was being
highly expected. All that's left to do is to continue exchanging letters and
extract his personal information and psychic ability weaknesses."
"Exchanging
letters, you say? ....... Don't tell me you've been pretending to be the
headmaster all this time and communicating with Tedd? Wouldn't he find
out?"
"It's called the
prestige effect. That type of person will never doubt the word of an authority
figure."
"But what about
the address? There's no way you could have it sent to the headmaster's
house."
"I lived for
nearly two weeks in a cheap hotel near the school. I had the letters sent from
there. Tedd probably thought they were delivered to his mansion on the
outskirts of town. It's so far away, there's no way to verify the authenticity
of the address."
After hearing this,
Gasta held his belly and laughed.
"You know what,
you've gone too far".
"If I didn't go
to such lengths, I wouldn't be able to catch a duck."
"No, no, no,
you're becoming more dependable", Gasta said so heartily. "But to
think that little brat who was so attached to Rusty-san become like
this......"
"What are you
getting all sentimental about, old man?"
"I'm impressed.
You've grown up to be a great con artist. ...... So, how are you going to trap
him on that day? No matter how many traps you set, it won't be enough if you
get crushed by his psychic ability."
"At 6:24 a.m. on
the day of the entrance ceremony, Tedd will board steam train No. 5, which
departed from Ibrick. I sent him a train ticket in the name of the
headmaster."
"Why would you go
through all that trouble yet again?"
"It's a trade,
Gasta-san."
Jin chuckled lightly,
as if welcoming the thrill that was about to come.
"I already know
the name of the rubber balls he uses and the product name of the bag from the
letter. All I have to do is to take advantage of the time when he is asleep on
the long trip and replace the bag containing the rubber balls with the fake one
I prepared for him. Of course, there's a remote detonator inside those
balls."
"I see. The
moment he confront you who would be unarmed and convinced of his victory, his
prized iron balls would be destroyed to pieces. It's like a nightmare."
Gasta could not help
but feel sympathy for the boy who fell prey to Jin's deception. He would never
have guessed that he had been targeted weeks before he enrolled in the school.
Tedd might not even be
aware that he had been deceived until the very moment that he was defeated by
Jin.
"Hey, can I ask
you something?"
"As long as it's
not about personal matters."
"Why would you go
to such lengths? It's not like you've been dreaming of becoming a member of the
<White Knights> since you were a child, is it?"
"Whoa, that's a
very personal question."
"Is it
revenge?"
"...... No, it's
not. I just love to deceive people."
The moonlight was
blocked by thick clouds, and Jin's true intentions were lost in the darkness.
"It's like a
comedy, isn't it? Having a mere con artist walk into an academy full of psychics
in the flesh?"
◆
Using the rope in his
bag, he pulled the unconscious Tedd up out of the pit. Then, after throwing the
stun stick into the pit, he covered it with dirt. All that was left to do was
to have Gasta and the others destroy the evidence at a later date.
"...... Right, I
almost forgot."
Jin dragged Tedd a
short distance away and then slipped a piece of paper into his uniform coat.
It contained a list of
evidences of his misdeeds, which Tedd himself had confided to him.
If he attached the
address to which the check should be sent and the amount charged, Jin might be
able to recover at least the cost of this time's expenses. Given Tedd's
father's income, it should be a painless amount.
Of course, since Tedd
would lose his recollection regarding the school after this, there is a big
possibility that he might not be able to get the hush money. But it doesn't
matter. It is not about making money after all.
The number
"ninety-five" suddenly popped into Jin's mind, perhaps due to the
influence of the suggestion given to him by the headmaster.
The number was
probably included the amount of points Ted had taken from other students.
Although the number did not reach the target he had initially expected, it
could give him at least a passing grade.
After that, everything
went smoothly without encountering any enemies, and Jin arrived at his
destination with only three minutes left to go.
As he was calming down
Emma, who was rushing to him with tears in her eyes, he noticed that all eyes
were on him from all directions.
"Oi, that guy
......."
"What the heck?
He survived?"
"That Tedd or
whatever he's called looks stronger than him though."
The students'
reactions were roughly as he expected.
It was thanks to the
fact that he went out of his way to make his involvement with Tedd noticeable
to everyone. With this, Jin earned the minimum amount of points and a
reputation as [someone who should not be messed with carelessly].
When the time was down
to zero, the instructor finally opened his mouth.
"Time is up.
Eighteen people, huh ...... that's quite lot of students left."
While the students
were frowning at the lack of words of praise, Jin's thoughts were already
shifting to the next step.
He is the only person
who has ever enrolled as a mere ordinary human being in the Heiberg National
Training School for Psychics.
He is weaker than
anyone here. There is no doubt about that. To achieve his objective, even a
single failure would not be tolerated.
─A~a, what an exciting game.
With a competitive
smile on his face, Jin stared at the unfolding battlefield in front of him.
End of Chapter 1
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