Aida's eyes widened as she realized where she was. She protested, "What?!?! So you were an actual system and you didn't show yourself until now?! The only reason you showed yourself was just to punish me no less?!"
[...]
There was no response from the system.
Stomping her feet, she continued to protest, "Are you just a punishment system? What about my beloved reward system?! You're a con system!"
This time the system responded, seeming somewhat offended. [Host, please refrain from calling the system a con system. The system will evaluate Host's performance and respond accordingly.]
Aida saw that the system responded, and continued trying to bait it to speak. However, no matter what she said, the system didn't respond. Eventually, she gave up and decided she would wander around the room instead.
Just as she took a step forward, the system spoke again. [Host is ready for the punishment system. Moving Host into low level mob simulation.]
"Wha…" Aida's voice trailed off as her body was pulled into the book open book that sat on the table.
Aida once again found herself in a new location as she opened her eyes. The terminal showed numbers counting down [5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Start!]
The moment the clock hit zero, the mob from the airport reappeared and began attacking her again. This time, Light was not there to help her.
Without her ability to heal or shock people, she was left to fight with only her combat and assassin skills. She knew that there were people who would throw things at her and someone would even have anesthesia. Thinking this, she cautiously weaved through the crowd.
She knew from experience that the safest place was in the middle of the mob where there would be a lot of collateral damage. She made it so that every time someone threw a hit or a punch, they would "accidentally" hit someone else within the mod. Using this tactic, she was able to manipulate the mob into self destruction. Shortly after, she was the only one standing.
Clapping her hands with glee and stuck her tongue out, she said, "Ha! That's what you get for trying to fight me!"
Right after the last person in the mob fell, the System popped back up.
[Processing….]
[Host has completed the task with unorthodox methods. Grade: S+. Low Level Mob Completion: 1]
[Sending Host back into simulation.]
Aida was sent into the mob yet again. Seeing this, she prepared to use the same strategy to pass the test as she ran directly into the mob. Unfortunately, she soon found that the mob had somehow learned from the previous trial and changed their strategy. This time, the mob circled her and sent groups of people towards her to fight her.
Eventually, she cleared the mob and when the last person fell, the terminal popped up again.
[Host has completed the task at a below average speed. Grade: B-. Low Level Mob Completion: 2]
Aida protested again, "A B-?! You con system!! I completed the task for flying colors, come back here and I'll fight you myself!"
Ignoring her protests, the system reported. [Sending Host back into simulation.]
This process continued in endless repetition. Aida realized that the system would revitalize her body to prime condition every round, but the mental fatigue endured would still continue to accumulate.
By round 30, the mob had organized themselves in units depending on their specialty as they charged at her using the weapons they had on hand. She was still unable to finish them off in an efficient manner.
At round 50, Aida snapped. She began to take each person down but left them alive. With an eerie smile and her trademark glint, she began to torture each one of them, leaving them to die slowly.
By round 99, there was an odd scene occurring. The mob no longer ran towards her angrily, rather they just stood there quietly, cowering as they knew their fate. Aida stood there with her eerie smile as everyone voluntarily committed suicide. It seems Aida used their knowledge of previous fights to psychological condition them to fear her more than death.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she finished the 100th fight with the mob.
[Host has completed the final task using unconventional methods. Grade: S. Low Level Mob Completion: 100.]
Seeing this screen, Aida sat on the ground exhausted. While the mob was low level, it was mentally draining to do 100 continuous encounters in one go.
[Host has completed Punishment. Overall Grade: A. Recommendation: Host should seek treatment for sadistic behavior.]
[Moving Host to back to Home.]
Aida reappeared in the library that she first entered and the system was quiet again. She stood there shouting questions but to no avail, "Hey! Con system! You said I passed with Grade A, where's my reward?"
Knowing she would receive no response, she began venturing around the room instead. She quickly realized that there was an invisible barrier keeping her from leaving the area. She was not even able to reach the books that seemed only an arms reach away.
"Hmph!" Crossing her arms, she sat down heavily on the sofa. Sitting there idly, she looked around and finally noticed the book sitting on the table. Without anything to do, she picked up the book. The moment her hand touched the book, the book turned into a ball of light that flew into her.
The terminal popped up again.
[Host finally found the Low Level Mob Simulation Book and has acquired the knowledge. Host will now be sent out of the system.]