Chapter 23: Because It's Not Worth It
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"Teacher Chabashira, I have a question. Besides receiving personal points from the school on the first day of every month, is there any other way to earn them?"
Chabashira Sae looked up and stared deeply at the handsome boy standing before her.
*Already thinking about earning more points?* she wondered. *Has this kid realized the importance of personal points so quickly...?*
But Rin Matsuoka's primary goal was simply to earn 300,000 personal points today and complete the mission set by the narrator.
Still, Chabashira Sae had mentioned earlier that personal points were equivalent to money in this school, and even elementary school students understood the value of money.
Chabashira Sae didn't answer Rin's question directly; instead, she replied with a casual question of her own. "Rin, why are you asking this? A hundred thousand points are enough to live comfortably for a month, and next month, the school will transfer more points to your balance."
"So, do you really need to know other ways to earn points?"
"Of course, it's necessary," Rin replied. *After all, who would complain about having too much money?*
At that moment, the voice of the narrator system echoed in his mind.
*[Host, a new mission is being issued.]*
Rin blinked. The previous mission hadn't even been completed yet—why was a new one already being issued?
*[Host, please uncover the true nature of 'personal points' by the end of the day.]*
*[Upon completing this mission, the host's kidneys will receive three personal enhancement points (designated enhancement).]*
*Kidney enhancement?* Rin thought. *Do you have a task for me that doesn't involve strengthening my kidneys?*
In truth, Rin wasn't particularly interested in improving his kidneys; he just enjoyed completing the tasks given by the narration system.
Chabashira Sae noticed Rin's sudden grin and said, "As for how to earn personal points, I can't—"
"I don't need to know anymore!" Rin interrupted.
"Huh?" Chabashira Sae blinked in surprise. Rin had just given up on his question so abruptly. *Why?*
"Chabashira-sensei, what I want to know now is about—personal points," Rin said, his gaze sharp. "You haven't told us everything there is to know about them."
"…"
Chabashira Sae's lips curved into a small smile as she crossed her arms over her chest. This movement caused the fabric of her fitted suit to emphasize her figure.
Though she was unsure how Rin had come to suspect that something was being withheld about the points, it didn't matter. What mattered was that a student in her class was already aware that there was more to the story.
Still, Chabashira Sae was curious about why Rin suspected she wasn't giving them all the information.
She leaned back in her chair, arms folded across her chest, and asked, "Rin, why do you think I haven't told you everything about personal points?"
"Hmm." Rin thought for a moment and then came up with a plausible reason. "Because it doesn't add up."
Chabashira Sae raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't add up?"
"Exactly," Rin nodded.
"What do you mean?"
Rin explained, "During the entrance ceremony, I was bored, so I looked around and noticed that Class A, Class B, Class C, and our Class D all have 40 students."
"Yes, so?" Chabashira Sae prompted.
Rin Matsuoka continued, his eyes sparkling with insight, "So, each class in the first year has 40 students, and the same should apply to the second and third years."
"There are 160 students per grade, adding up to a total of 480 students across all three years."
"Chabashira-sensei, you mentioned in class that the school provides 100,000 personal points to each student every month."
"Four hundred eighty students multiplied by one hundred thousand equals forty-eight million. The school has to distribute that many points every month, which adds up to 576 million in a year."
"Over three years, that's a staggering 1.728 billion points."
"It doesn't make sense, and it's not practical for the school to spend such an enormous amount on students of varying qualities, potential, and abilities."
"Which makes me wonder if there's something misleading about the '100,000 personal points every month' statement, or..."
Rin looked directly at Chabashira Sae, his tone serious. "Is it that the school never actually intends to give 100,000 personal points to each student every month?"
If she could, Chabashira Sae would have applauded Rin's reasoning.
Most students are too distracted by the idea of getting 100,000 personal points when they first arrive at the school to consider why the school would spend so much on them. They don't even ask themselves whether they deserve it.
At that moment, the narration system's voice echoed in Rin's mind.
[Host, you're in trouble.]
[Chabashira Sae is a difficult person. She has now recognized you as an outstanding student, and she will cling to you from now on.]
Trouble, indeed.
Rin shot a discreet glance at Chabashira Sae, who stood with her arms crossed over her chest, her legs in shiny black stockings.
Even though he was in trouble, he was oddly delighted by the prospect.
No one could stop this teacher from bothering him now!
Chabashira Sae smiled faintly. "So, Matsuoka, after listening to you, I understand that you're questioning why the school would distribute so many personal points. Let me clarify."
"This school is known as 'Skill First,' meaning students are evaluated based on their abilities."
"Being admitted to this school means that you all have the potential or value equivalent to '100,000 personal points per month.'"
"Now, Matsuoka, do you still have any doubts about the school providing 100,000 points to students each month?"
"I have even more questions now!" Rin retorted.
If Rin had not witnessed the behavior of the students in Class D, he might have been fooled by Chabashira Sae's explanation. But he had seen them firsthand!
Take Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki, for example. Just by looking at them, they seemed like troublemakers. How could they possibly be worth the school spending 100,000 points every month on their education?
Of course, there was always a chance Rin was wrong. What if Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki only appeared foolish but were actually quite clever?
"Chabashira-sensei, you must have the student files for each of us. Could you show me how the school's admissions office evaluated Yamauchi Haruki and Ike Kanji?" Rin asked, extending his hand towards her.
"I don't believe that just the two of them are worth the school spending 100,000 points every month to educate them," he added.
"…"
Chabashira Sae stared at Rin, momentarily speechless.