I Became the Academy Chapter 111

Chapter 111

“Let’s stop here and have a seat, Mr. Clergy.”

“…Yes, Lord Gideon.”

Clergy’s attitude was noticeably different from before.

Just a mont ago, he looked as though he was the one holding the handle of the sword.

But once the subject of the House Balmuth ca up, his expression turned tense in many ways.

“Lord Gideon. About your real relationship with Lady Lisa Balmuth…”

“As you just heard. Of course, there’s no proof of it, but whether you believe it or not—that’s up to you, Mr. Clergy. Anyway, the sll of this at soup is quite nice.”

I glanced slightly toward Serma.

At that, she set down the bowls she’d brought in front of

and Clergy.

“Thank you. But… about this soup.”

I stirred the soup with my spoon.

At first glance, it looked like a hearty, delicious soup filled with at.

But according to the story I saw in the ga, this soup definitely contained…

“Miss Serma. Please co stand by my side for a mont.”

“Yes, what is it—mmph?”

“Swallow it all. Don’t spit it out.”

I pushed a spoonful of soup into Serma’s mouth.

Startled, she tried to pull away, but I caught her arm.

After confirming that she had swallowed the soup—

“Well then, let’s do a few confirmation questions, shall we? Miss Serma. You’ve seen firsthand that Lady Lisa and I are lovers and get along very well, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I’ve seen the two of you together at a festival not long ago.”

Serma answered with a startled look in her eyes— as if she was speaking against her own will.

“Next question. What do you think of , Miss Serma?”

“I think you’re a very capable and handso person. Soone who’ll achieve great things… so I’d like to get along with you from no—huh? Why am I saying this on my own…?”

“I’m flattered that you think so highly of .”

I grinned slyly, and Serma’s face flushed bright red.

Regardless, I continued with my questions.

“Next question. I heard there’s a very important safe belonging to you, Mr. Clergy. Could you tell

where it’s located?”

“That safe is situated on the outskirts of the Eleventh District of Lysquare—”

“That’s enough! Don’t say another word, Serma!”

Clergy hastily cut her off, then stared at

with trembling eyes.

“W-what is the aning of this? And how did you even know about the safe?”

“How I found out is also… complicated to explain. As for what this is—honestly, I should be the one asking that. Mr. Clergy, what exactly did you put in the soup?”

“That’s…”

“Veriserum. Am I right?”

I smiled faintly as I looked down at the at soup.

“The potion of truth. It gifts the drinker with an overwhelming compulsion to speak only the truth.”

“…How did you notice it?”

“Normally, one wouldn’t. Tasteless, colorless, odorless—it’s practically identical to water, making it almost impossible to detect. But Mr. Clergy, I’m soone capable of mass-producing Elixirs.”

“So… you realized it because you’re a highly skilled potion maker?”

“Heh. You could say that.”

In truth, I knew because of the ga’s storyline.

In one of the quests involving Clergy, there was a scene where the protagonist ate a soup laced with Veriserum.

After that, he ended up at a severe disadvantage during negotiations with Clergy—sothing like that.

I’d experienced that story several tis, so the mont I saw the at soup, I recalled it imdiately. Fortunately, I avoided falling into Clergy’s trap.

“Anyway, let’s continue our discussion. And Mr. Clergy— though I may be a fallen baron, you shouldn’t underestimate

too much.”

Honestly, I was a re fallen baron, but I decided to bluff a bit.

Confidence was the most important thing when dealing with soone like Clergy.

“As I said earlier, I’m quite close with Lady Lisa. If you try to harm … you won’t be facing , but rather the House Balmuth.”

“……”

“The House Balmuth is in charge of the empire’s military power. If that house were to move in earnest… well, I’m sure you understand what that would an.”

Clergy looked greatly unsettled.

Seeing how he couldn’t seem to collect his thoughts, I decided to help him along a little.

“For reference, before coming here, I told Lady Lisa that I was going into town today with Miss Serma.”

“Then that ans…”

Clergy wasn’t a foolish man— quite the opposite, actually.

He must have already done the calculations in his head. He just wasn’t ready to accept reality.

So I decided to drive the nail in deeper.

“If I were to disappear today—Lady Lisa would question Miss Serma first. Then from Serma, the investigation would lead to you, Mr. Clergy, and from you, it might even reach Tazera.”

“Lord Gideon… are you out of your mind? Just making contact with the leader of Tazera itself is a criminal act.”

“Frankly speaking, I don’t have much to lose. As you pointed out, Mr. Clergy, I’m a fallen noble with little to my na. But you’re not like , are you? You have a lot to lose.”

With that, I smiled broadly.

“Even if I did break the law, I believe Lady Lisa would cover for

quite thoroughly.”

I felt a slight pang of guilt, realizing how shalessly I was exploiting my relationship with Lisa.

But to corner Clergy, it was unavoidable.

‘Besides, knowing Lisa… she absolutely would.’

Even if I sohow ended up in prison, Lisa would probably bust

out herself.

Yeah—whether I wanted it or not.

By force, most likely.

Well, that aside—

“Mr. Clergy. I don’t particularly hold any grudge against you or Tazera. If I did, I would’ve simply handed over all information about Tazera to Lady Lisa and had you thrown in prison from the start.”

“…You have a point. But you didn’t do that because… you wish to make a deal with , is that it?”

“Yes. To be exact, I want to beco a long-term partner who maintains a cooperative relationship with you.”

At last, the conversation began to flow properly.

I ntally pulled out the lines I had prepared.

“I’ll continue supplying you with the sa high-quality Elixirs you’ve received before. In return, you’ll provide

with goods, information, and manpower whenever I need them.”

“Hmm, goods and information are one thing, but… manpower as well?”

“I’ve heard that Tazera has quite a few rcenaries under its wing.”

At the ntion of rcenaries, Clergy flinched.

“…And what do you plan to use those people for?”

“Not right now. I just thought there might be a ti in the future when I could need them.”

Even in the ga, there were situations where rcenaries ca in handy, though not often.

Still, it didn’t hurt to lay the groundwork just in case.

“…Very well. If the Elixirs are truly of the highest quality, then your offer is valuable enough. I accept.”

“Wise choice.”

“Yes, after thinking it over… Lord Gideon, you could’ve simply blackmailed

using my identity instead of proposing a fair deal. You could’ve forced

to give you whatever you wanted. Yet you chose to make an honest offer.”

“I just thought this way was better.”

And it really was.

Once, in the ga, I had tried to threaten Clergy—and not long after, my character was quietly assassinated.

‘But if you earn his trust, Clergy becos an incredibly powerful ally.’

Just like now.

Clergy was already smiling, nodding with satisfaction.

He seed quite pleased with my confident and composed deanor.

“Very good, then. Lord Gideon, as long as you don’t betray

first, I promise to provide you with the best service possible.”

The mont I heard that familiar line from the ga, I smiled even wider.

That line ant I had succeeded in forming a contract with Clergy.

And Clergy wasn’t soone who spoke lightly—as long as I didn’t betray him first, he would keep his promise to the end.

“I’ll be counting on you, Mr. Clergy. On that note, there’s sothing I’d like to request from you…”

“You’re in need of an Omukade shell, aren’t you?”

“Is that possible?”

“I’ll send it through Serma by next week.”

“Then I’ll send the Elixirs through Serma as well. Ah, how many bottles would you like?”

“Three should suffice.”

“Understood.”

I nodded with a smile.

The negotiation was a success—and I’d secured one of the best trading partners in the entire world.

After my turbulent encounter with Clergy, I returned to the Academy with Serma.

Of course, not in the most ordinary way.

“Miss Serma. How long are you planning to keep that gag in your mouth?”

“Mmmph! Mmph!”

“Well, suit yourself.”

I replied with a dry chuckle.

After drinking the Veriserum, Serma had answered all my questions with complete honesty, unable to resist the compulsion.

Apparently not wanting her inner thoughts to slip out any further, she decided to keep her mouth gagged until the potion’s effects wore off.

Naturally, that drew a lot of attention as we walked through downtown Lysquare.

Well, if I saw a woman walking around with a gag in her mouth, I’d stare too.

“The effects should wear off around the ti we reach the Academy. Though if it’s uncomfortable, you can take it off earlier.”

“Mmph, mmph.”

I had no idea what she was trying to say.

But judging by her expression, she was telling

to stop talking nonsense.

“Heh. Sorry about forcing that soup on you earlier. It was the only way at the ti—I had no choice.”

“Mmmph.”

“Let’s make sure sothing like that doesn’t happen again. From now on, let’s trust each other, okay?”

“…Mmph.”

Serma turned her head sharply away, her expression full of irritation.

I chuckled lightly and continued.

“By the way, I didn’t expect you to think so highly of , Miss Serma. What was it you said again…? ‘Very capable, handso, and soone who’ll go far, so I’d like to get along with you from no—’”

“Mmph! Mmphmph! Kkmmph!”

“…If you have sothing to say, just take the gag off. You can do it yourself, can’t you?”

“Grmmph!”

“Hahaha. Anyway, Miss Serma, I look forward to working with you.”

And with that, Serma and I returned to the Academy in relative peace.

About a week later—

Serma delivered a package from Clergy to .

After confirming its contents, I imdiately headed to Daigon Village.

“Mr. Regnil. Will this do?”

“Yes, it looks perfect. If you leave your sword with , I’ll start the work right away.”

“I’ll be counting on you.”

I smiled as I handed Mistcatcher to Regnil.

The weapon skill of Mistcatcher— I’d finally be able to use it soon.