As Houtarou gathered information about the school, he noticed his task frame had been updated.
〖 Main Task: Investigate this school (Completed) and earn 200,000 Points! 〗
〖 Task Duration: 23 hours 59 minutes 〗
〖 Task Reward: Teleportation (3 times daily to previously visited locations) 〗
〖 Additional Reward: Set home as Base Point, allowing unlimited daily Teleportation home 〗
〖 Task Progress: 50%+0% 〗
As expected, the task of investigating the school's information was completed. However, Houtarou still needed to earn 200,000 Points.
He lightly rested his chin on his hand, then put down his phone. The school's official procedures were still ongoing.
After informing the students about the school rules, Mashima, the homeroom teacher, promptly arranged for textbooks to be brought in and distributed. He wrote up the class schedule and then left, giving the students free time.
"Oreki-kun—" During this break, the steady Kōhei approached Houtarou's desk, intending to recruit him.
If he hadn't brought up the question of whether another 100,000 Points would be deposited next month, the class wouldn't have immediately learned about the school's rules. Thanks to this, their Class A had gained an early advantage over other classes.
In short, Houtarou was exceptionally perceptive. He possessed excellent insight that, if used for the class's benefit, would be invaluable.
Kōhei aimed to graduate from Class A, securing a good position or gaining admission to his desired university without taking an entrance exam. To achieve this, he needed support from like-minded individuals. He judged Houtarou to be quite promising.
He had already formulated a solid plan. Since they learned the school rules first, their Class A could pull ahead of other classes after this month's behavioral standards test. They had gained a free advantage, and now they just needed to maintain it until graduation.
This was a steady plan.
However...
"He's not here." Masayoshi said.
"Come to think of it, Sakayanagi-san isn't here either." Another classmate observed.
Naturally, there were no fools among those assigned to Class A. They quickly discovered the school's false advertising — only graduating from Class A in the third year would be worthwhile. Consequently, everyone was rushing towards that goal.
But could they rely solely on themselves? That wouldn't suffice.
Although they were assigned to Class A, could they maintain the top Class Evaluation Points through at least 36 tests over three years? They needed to find some influential figures to support them.
Kōhei was considered one such figure, with his past student council experience and his proposal of a steady plan. However, some were also interested in Houtarou's perceptiveness, as well as Arisu's suggestion to buy information with points, which could potentially set a precedent for gaining extra points from the school.
In other words, she had also gathered some support.
Yet now, neither Houtarou nor Arisu was in the classroom. Indeed, none of these influential figures was present.
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After descending the stairs, Houtarou made his way to the second-year building, then to the third-year building. Finally, he found himself on the first floor.
Notice boards were present on the first floor of all three grade levels. While the first-year newcomers' board was empty, the second and third years' boards displayed information.
The third-year notice board, for instance, caught his attention.
「Class A: 2645 Points」
「Class B: 1701 Points」
「Class C: 695 Points」
「Class D: 90 Points」
At first glance, the classes and scores on this notice board might seem confusing. However, those who had spent 2 million points to purchase the school rules understood their significance.
These were the Class Evaluation Points. After more than two years and various tests, the third-year students' Class Points had clearly diverged. The student council president was likely a student from the third-year Class A.
"By the way, is Oreki-kun also interested in the third-year class rankings?" Asked the white-haired girl with a cane who was following behind him, "Indeed, the third-year Class B here is 900 points behind Class A — they've been left far behind. But if we help Class B climb up, the rewards or sense of superiority we could gain would be quite satisfying."
Hearing her voice, Houtarou turned around.
Alright. Arisu was indeed a T-Rex. He confirmed this point.
Although she was still young, her keen insight and aggressiveness already showed signs of becoming fierce. Even though she knew the school rules and understood the importance of maintaining their own class as Class A, she was more interested in challenging the third-year students.
It was very out of the ordinary. It seemed only that high level of difficulty could interest her.
Houtarou glanced at the cane Arisu was holding. He had already chosen the task of exploring the school and earning 200,000 Points, so he'd better not think about taking her cane.
"But what does Oreki-kun think?" Arisu blinked gently, revealing a cute expression. She was probably the type who knew she was cute, so she maintained a pose as if she could be photographed at any moment.
"I don't have any grand ideals." Houtarou said, "I just want to be an ordinary student and contribute to the class."
"Is that so? I actually think Oreki-kun seems quite ambitious." Arisu said, "I saw you recording when Mashima-sensei announced the rules… right?"
"..."
Indeed, he had recorded it.
He still had the task of earning 200,000 Points within the day. If Points could be used to purchase information, why couldn't information be sold? Information that cost 2 million to obtain could easily be sold for 200,000, right?
"Oreki-kun needs money, doesn't he? So why not join us? Let's team up to challenge the third-year students. I think the third-year Class B senpais would welcome juniors who can help them gain points." Arisu seemed to be extending an olive branch.
"I'll pass on that." Houtarou said. He didn't like doing such things.
Moreover, Arisu appeared to be recruiting for a team. But it seemed more like selecting a tool to farm the third-year elite monsters. There would be returns, but they might only be realized much later.
His task was to earn 200,000 today, so it wasn't useful. And also...
"I don't think participating in the third-year students' exams has much meaning, because the second-year students' class evaluation points are very stable, which feels uncomfortable." Houtarou pointed out.
The second-year students he mentioned — their four classes' Points were also posted.
「Class A: 1900 Points」
「Class B: 1100 Points」
「Class C: 1000 Points」
「Class D: 900 Points」
These scores were peculiar. While the second-year Class A was far ahead, the subsequent scores appeared deliberately crafted.
How could it be that after a full year, all scores were round numbers? Weren't Class D students supposed to be at the bottom? How could they keep pace like this?
It seemed the second-year students had likely formed an alliance. The special exams had become a collaboration among the four classes. They were treating the school as a cash cow to harvest points. And if the second-years could manage this, would they relinquish the lucrative target of the third-year Class B?
Thus, if Arisu wanted to exploit the third-year students, she'd first need to outmaneuver the second-years.
"That wouldn't be interesting then." She said.
Evidently having considered this point, Arisu appeared to have abandoned her plan to exploit the third-year Class B. She gripped her cane and slowly departed.
Houtarou was also preparing to leave when he suddenly halted.
"May I ask why you're following me?"
He glanced towards the corner of the staircase behind him.
"Kamuro-san."
⍟⍟⍟
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