"Teacher, you dropped your money again."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Natsuki calmly pointed at the coin on the desk.
Whether human or ghost, once you've done something once, you're likely to want to do it again.
This time, the invigilator didn't even hesitate. They silently picked up the coin from the test paper and pointed to the correct answer.
Correct again.
Natsuki was quite satisfied. Invigilator, you eternal goddess!
This scene didn't go unnoticed by the other human players in the classroom, each with their own thoughts:
"What's that guy doing?" "I smell a deal going on." "As expected of a big shot. Has he figured out some hidden rules?"
Click.
A note suddenly landed on Natsuki's desk.
"Hm?"
Natsuki raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at a boy sitting behind him to his right.
This was clearly another player. When he saw Natsuki looking at him, he quickly clasped his hands together with a pleading look.
Natsuki thought for a moment and opened the note.
"Boss, please help me out!"
Sorry, I'm not a big shot, just an ordinary player who's barely passed the newbie stage.
I always feel uncomfortable giving away answers I've worked so hard to get.
But as fellow human players, we can't just watch each other die. That's hard to live with...
Click.
Another small note was thrown over, followed by a black... cat ear accessory?
"Boss, I know the rules. This is the last prop I have!"
Natsuki hesitated, then reached out to touch the cat ears.
A game panel suddenly appeared:
[Item: Cat Ear Accessory]
[Origin: Blind Box Lottery]
[Effect: While wearing, you're no longer seen as human. Spirits will see you as a cat.]
[Note: 40% compatibility. Higher compatibility reduces chance of being seen through.]
[Comment: Become a catgirl for me!]
"So it's a blind box item."
After thinking it over, Natsuki quickly guessed the so-called "rules."
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
If you want help, you either have to prove your worth or show enough sincerity.
These cat ears were clearly the latter.
The deal was trading a somewhat useless item for test answers.
Natsuki thought for a couple seconds, then nodded slightly in agreement.
Even without the prop, he would've helped in the end.
This isn't a life-or-death exam. Ignoring cries for help and watching fellow humans die isn't something he could live with.
Getting a blind box item now was just a nice bonus.
Seeing Natsuki nod, the other player was overjoyed and looked over eagerly.
Natsuki silently picked up his test paper.
"Thank you, boss!"
Trading a useless prop for help was a huge win!
Apart from the human players, the real powerhouses in the classroom were the vengeful spirit students.
A resentful student sitting behind Natsuki seemed to have the same idea of copying answers, but his approach was much more direct and brutal. He simply stretched out his bloody right hand and grabbed at Natsuki.
Hey, that's going too far.
Others are just copying, you're straight-up stealing!"
A chilly aura swept over him, and Natsuki felt his body starting to freeze. He took a deep breath and shouted decisively:
"Teacher, someone's stealing my test paper!"
The invigilator on patrol suddenly whipped around.
The ghost boy's body stiffened, his voice turning hoarse: "They're all cheating..."
Before he could finish, the blood-stained triangle ruler came swinging down.
The classroom quickly fell silent.
You bribed the invigilator fair and square, but tried to manipulate them without paying up. You got what you deserved.
A moment later.
"The exam is over."
A gloomy, raspy voice came from the invigilator. The female teacher stood on the podium, eyes bloodshot: "Students who passed can leave now. Those who failed, stay for the make-up exam."
Under the cold glares of the vengeful students, Natsuki and the others who passed stood up and walked out.
"We made it," Chika Fujiwara sighed, patting her chest. "I thought Kaguya would ace it easily, but those questions weren't meant for humans at all."
Well, it's a school for vengeful spirits. Of course humans can't do it!
"Amamiya-san, is that cat-ear accessory special?" Chika asked curiously.
"Take a look." Natsuki handed it over.
Chika examined it curiously. "Wow, it's actually a blind box item... 70% compatibility? What was it for you, Amamiya?"
"Forty percent," Natsuki replied.
"Wow, that's so low." Chika passed the accessory to Kaguya. "Kaguya, what's your compatibility rate?"
Kaguya Shinomiya's face remained calm and composed, showing no fear at all. After a moment, she said:
"Ninety-five percent."
"That's so high!"
"What a boring item," Kaguya said coolly, handing it back. "We've met the minimum passing standard, we can go back..."
Before she could finish, a cold, raspy voice suddenly blared over the school's broadcast system.
[Notice: Players "The Evil of This World, Cancer of the Earth, and the Weak and Helpless Kaguya-hime" have been jointly reported by multiple students and are now wanted.]
"What kind of title is 'Cancer of the Earth'?" Chika puffed up her cheeks and shouted. "That's too harsh for a girl!"
"It really is excessive," Natsuki agreed, looking at the game-given title.
'Evil of this world'? I'm an honest, law-abiding player, and this is only my second time in the game. How could I be the evil of this world?
Something fishy is going on here!
"Hey, wait." Chika suddenly leaned forward, eyes wide, staring at Kaguya Shinomiya. "That 'weak and helpless Kaguya-hime' must be you, right Kaguya?"
"It's not me," Kaguya said expressionlessly.
Chika pressed on, eyes sparkling: "Kaguya's so powerful, why is she described as weak and helpless in the game?"
(How should I know!) Kaguya bit her lower lip, trying to tell herself not to care. But it was useless.
Of course I care!
This isn't fair!
Though reluctant to accept it, Kaguya maintained her composure: "We should be more concerned about being wanted."
Natsuki's eyes had already fallen on the game log before Kaguya's reminder:
[Your actions have caused public outrage. You've been reported by many vengeful students. You are now wanted.]
[You cannot leave the game world while wanted]
[Location refreshed every 10 minutes]
[Wanted duration: 30 minutes]
Natsuki frowned. I haven't done anything wrong. Why am I wanted by the whole school?
Those vengeful ghost students who reported me, don't you feel any shame?
You're already a vengeful spirit, but you still tattle to the school? Such poor sportsmanship!
"Hey, we can't go back?" Chika had finished reading the log and was getting nervous. "Class is about to start. Teacher Kirisu is super scary. It'll be terrible if we're late."
"Right now, you should be worried about surviving, not trivial things like being late or standing in the corner as punishment," Natsuki couldn't help but retort.
Just then, the cold, raspy voice came over the campus radio again:
"The three players' current location is the east corridor on the second floor of the teaching building."
As the voice faded, the lifeless Ghost Academy suddenly seemed to come alive.
Behind them, in the exam room, doors and windows began to shake. Dull banging and roars could be heard, as if the vengeful spirits of failed students were trying to break out.
"Run!" Natsuki made a quick decision and shouted in a low voice.
If we can't leave, we'll have to find a way to survive.
No matter what, Natsuki Amamiya wasn't going to sit idly by and wait for death.
The two girls followed instinctively.
"Amamiya, where are we going?" Chika asked urgently.
In that moment, Natsuki's mind was exceptionally clear.