The sunset was like brocade, with golden clouds drifting across the sky.
Since enrolling, Zhuge Linghao had never once visited the library.
Ichinose Honami had been waiting for some time in an empty seat on the second floor.
"Sorry for suddenly asking you to help me with a math problem."
"It's no problem. I'm free anyway!"
Zhuge Linghao nearly stopped in his tracks at the sight of the stunning beauty. The air seemed to have grown a little warm!
During the thirty minutes he spent in close company with Ichinose Honami, Zhuge Linghao felt more relaxed and at ease than ever before.
There was no scheming, no triggering any perverted options, and no need to worry about survival!
After Ichinose Honami left, satisfied, Zhuge Linghao decided to browse some books in the library to pass the time.
He was on edge and only dared to go where there were lots of people, afraid that he might run into a silver-haired, violet-eyed Class 1-C student named Shiina Hiyori in some cramped, semi-enclosed space.
Right now, Zhuge Linghao had no desire to get too involved with Class C. Without a powerful skill to back him up, he simply didn't have the qualifications or ability to take on Ryuen's gang of punks!
He really had jinxed himself. Things had gone very wrong, even though he'd avoided the less crowded bookshelves!
Up ahead, a group of delinquents had formed a circle around a silver-haired girl!
He moved closer for a better look and, sure enough, spotted Ryuen with his red-and-purple hair parted down the middle. He was wearing a cruel smile. That damn attention-seeker...
Zhuge Linghao, feeling a little shaky, didn't dare approach. He decided to watch for a while first.
[System, open my status panel.]
[Beep... Opening the host's status panel.]
School: Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School
Class: Class 1-D
Name: Zhuge Linghao
Alignment: Neutral
Emotion Points: 127
Academic Ability: C
Intelligence: C
Cooperation: C
Emotional Intelligence: C
Physical Ability: C
Judgment: C
Identity or Skills: Experimenter, Triple Slide-Kneel Kowtow, increases the chance that someone will grant your request by 50% when you ask for help (comes with a system; ability is up to chance.)
Personality: Loves to talk back despite being weak, hopelessly blunt, overthinks everything.
[So after all that, the only thing you added when you upgraded was Cooperation?]
[Beep, that's right. Cooperation means teamwork ability.]
[And what kind of identity is Experimenter? It doesn't increase any of my skills?]
[Beep, Host, think of it like a lottery. The Experimenter identity is basically a "Thanks for playing!"]
[Fine. System, open the shop! Let's see what's changed after the upgrade.]
[Beep, opening the shop for the host.]
[The one-day experience cards... Hm? There's a new discount feature?]
[Some experience cards have a discount percentage marked in the top-right corner. A few even have limited-time offers.]
[The Straight-A Student Experience Card costs 100 points at full price, but it's 10% off now, so it only costs 90! I've had my eye on it for ages. It should come in handy for major exams!]
[The Cross-Dressing Boy Experience Card... Uh... How do I put this... Not suitable for minors. Skip, skip...]
[The Sharp-Tongued Experience Card costs 200 points at full price, but it's 60% off for a limited time, so it only costs 80! Interesting!]
[The Sharp-Tongued Experience Card costs that much at full price?]
[System, I've noticed that identity cards with combat or attack abilities cost a lot more than ordinary cards. Is that right?]
[Beep, of course! At this school, combat ability matters more than academic ability.]
[Beep, for example, the Straight-A Student card only costs 1,000 Emotion Points. It has no attack abilities and doesn't add many skills.]
[Beep, but a Politician card of the same type costs 3,000 points, because it lets you take the initiative, such as setting traps or plotting schemes!]
His attention returned to the scene unfolding in the library.
"Shiina Hiyori, are you sure you don't want to become my underling?"
Ryuen asked darkly, his hands in his pockets.
"I'm sure. I don't like your dirty, despicable, and vile methods!"
The silver-haired beauty Shiina Hiyori looked delicate and gentle, but she wasn't afraid of Ryuen's threats.
Ryuen shot a look at Ibuki Mio, the blue-haired girl with short hair.
Ibuki Mio understood. She was going to use force to drag Shiina Hiyori out of the library, then deal with her somewhere private.
[Ugh, trouble always comes looking for me!]
[System, help me exchange for a Sharp-Tongued Experience Card!]
[Beep, 80 Emotion Points spent. Sharp-Tongued Experience Card equipped!]
With the sharp tongue possessing him, Zhuge Linghao strode forward and taunted Ryuen and the others. "Well, well, who do we have here? Isn't this the infamous Tyrant Ryuen?"
Zhuge Linghao took three deep breaths. His indiscriminate verbal assault mode was activated!
"I'd heard Ryuen was a real man, but this is it? You're really making the guys look good, huh?"
"Wow, you're so tough, ganging up on a girl! Aren't you afraid people will laugh their heads off when they hear about it?"
"And you, you ugly, big-headed baby! Who gave you the courage to leave the house? Aren't you afraid the police will lock you up for scaring people to death?"
"Why are you baring your teeth? Go take a look at yourself in the mirror—you've got a bit of cabbage stuck in them! Hahahahahaha!"
"And you there—yeah, you with the sunglasses. You think that makes you a gangster? And what's with the white shirt? Trying to show off how dark you are?"
"And you, Blue Hair, I mean you! Don't hide! You little runt! From now on, you can sit at the kids' table!"
Ryuen and his companions were left speechless.
Ryuen sneered and gave his underlings a look. They stepped forward and surrounded Zhuge Linghao.
Zhuge Linghao's legs trembled, but he raised both hands without hesitation. "Uh... I'd advise you not to try anything. There are cameras here, you know!"
"Violence? No way!"
Ryuen stopped his men from taking another step. He simply watched Zhuge Linghao with interest, like he was an amusing prey animal.
"Zhuge Linghao, right? We didn't get to finish our fight at the start of the school year. Got the guts to face me outside?"
Zhuge Linghao glanced at the Emotion Points left on his status panel. He had only 47. Wasn't the cheapest experience card 50 points?
Terrified on the inside, he put on a bold smile. "Why wouldn't I? But I've recently taken on a new underling. Come back after you've beaten him!"
"An underling? What's his name?"
"Koenji Rokusuke from Class 1-D!"
Zhuge Linghao lied without even blinking.
[Meili-ge, I'm using you as a shield. Please don't hold it against me! After all, you still owe me 10,000 points.]
Just then, the librarian hurried over after hearing the commotion. "Quiet, please! This is a library. If you have a problem, take it outside!"
"Tell your underling to wait. I'll teach him a lesson soon enough!"
The icy look in Ryuen's eyes made the hairs on Zhuge Linghao's body stand on end. He felt like a rattlesnake had him in its sights.
After delivering his threat, Ryuen led his underlings down the stairs.
"Whew... Whew..." Exhausted, Zhuge Linghao leaned on a chair and looked at Shiina Hiyori.
Shiina Hiyori quickly bowed to thank him, then politely introduced herself. "Hello, I'm Shiina Hiyori from Class 1-C. Pleased to meet you! And you?"
"Zhuge Linghao, Class 1-D!"
"Um, thank you so much for standing up for me just now."
"Huh? It was nothing. Helping people is my personal motto!"
"If you don't mind, would you like to sit down and read together?"
"Sure, I'd like that."
"Zhuge, what kind of books do you usually like to read?"
"Uh, me? I like reading fanfiction the most."
"Fanfiction?"
"Yeah! There's this novel I've got to tell you about. It's really good!"
"Really? Can you recommend it? What's it called?"
"Classroom of the Elite: I Can Only Fight Back Passively!"
Before you continue