Classroom of the Elite, It's Not About Meritocracy, It's About Me Ruling the World!

"What would you like to drink? My treat."

"Milk, please."

Clang!

Horikita Manabu retrieved the drinks, handed a carton of milk to the other, and took a sip of his coffee to steady his nerves before explaining in a low voice:

"I suppose I've had a talent since I was young: the ability to roughly gauge a person's true strength."

"I see. Are you still hesitating over whether to make use of my strength?"

Kijima Tsukur nodded. Such an ability was not particularly strange.

In reality.

There are indeed a small number of people in this world who possess special abilities.

Things like short sleepers, absolute pitch, synesthesia, and rapid language acquisition are all proven, real-world special abilities.

As for him, he possessed three conditions: hyperthymesia, super-body control, and echolocation.

Precisely because of this.

Whether it was academic performance or physical prowess, his strength far exceeded the common understanding of a normal person, which was why Horikita Manabu felt such deep fear.

"Since you dialed my number, you must already have some ideas in mind. Speak!"

Having figured this out, Kijima Tsukur stared straight at Horikita Manabu.

He didn't care about the risks, what Horikita Manabu was thinking, or what benefits there might be; Horikita Manabu only needed to report.

Everything would be decided by him alone!

"Understood."

Horikita Manabu was clearly aware of this; he knew he couldn't manipulate the man before him, so he said in a low voice:

"I will tell you four pieces of information."

"First, points are actually divided into Class Points and the Private Points held by individuals. The ratio between Class Points and Private Points is 1 to 100. Class Points determine the class ranking, which you will understand next month."

"Second, only those who graduate from Class A have the opportunity to realize their wishes and choose their careers freely."

"Third, the school holds special exams at irregular intervals. The content involves not just academic ability and physical strength, but various other aspects as well. The rewards are naturally Class Points or Private Points, but occasionally, exams appear that result in expulsions."

"Fourth, 20 million Private Points can cancel one expulsion penalty, and possessing 20 million Private Points can also be used to purchase the opportunity to transfer classes."

"Furthermore, the Student Council can, to a certain extent, influence exam rewards, tilting them toward either Class Points or Private Points."

"I personally feel that although the special exams have many harsh aspects, they are generally good; students can rely on the strength of their class to fight together and build friendships."

"Nagumo Miyabi, however, believes more in the individual. He wants to transform the school into a place that relies more on individual strength, where the strong don't need to be dragged down by their class and can still have the chance to graduate from Class A!"

"Having heard all this, I hope you can tell me which side you support."

"I do indeed hope you can keep Nagumo in check or stop him. If you take action, there would certainly be no problem, but I don't want to invite a wolf into the house."

Horikita Manabu reported the information he knew like a loyal subject.

He chose to tell the truth.

He wanted to hear Kijima Tsukur's most genuine thoughts!

Currently, Horikita Manabu still held veto power; as long as he, the Student Council President, did not agree, no one could join the Student Council!

What if, after Kijima Tsukur joined the Student Council and learned everything about this school, he suddenly changed his mind?

Horikita Manabu felt he would truly be beyond tears if that happened.

As for what would happen after he graduated?

That would no longer be his concern!

From the very first moment he met Kijima Tsukur, Horikita Manabu never felt he could be his opponent.

In fact.

Horikita Manabu was very clear on this:

He didn't even have the qualifications to be Kijima Tsukur's opponent!

Being frank, was the most advantageous and correct choice for him!

This was the most accurate judgment that only Horikita Manabu, who could roughly gauge a person's strength, could make!

Looking at Kijima Tsukur before him, Horikita Manabu clenched his fists, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Because he knew very well.

Kijima Tsukur's attitude would determine everything in this school!

And the next sentence, nearly made him collapse to the ground!

Chapter 20: Do you also want to be an ally of justice?

"I will destroy this school!"

Hearing Kijima Tsukur's words, Horikita Manabu's pupils suddenly constricted, and he asked uncontrollably:

"Why?"

"In return for your honesty, I'll explain it to you."

Kijima Tsukur raised his right hand holding the milk and extended his index finger:

"In your eyes, you probably think this school is conducting a small-scale social simulation, right?"

"Judging by your tone, it seems you don't think so?"

Horikita Manabu frowned slightly. After a moment of hesitation, he explained in a low voice:

"The special exams are different every year. I can't tell you too much, but I can tell you that for every special exam, the school uses corporations as examples. The school is indeed conducting a social simulation; there is no doubt about that."

At least that much.

Horikita Manabu could never be wrong about this. He raised his head and gathered the courage to retort:

"Although it is somewhat cruel, it is thanks to this school that I have experienced a leap in growth over these three years. I believe that people in other classes, not just Class A, think the same."

"That's where you're all wrong!"

Seeing that Horikita Manabu was a decent person, Kijima Tsukur didn't mind explaining a bit more. He walked up to Horikita Manabu, his low voice ringing out.

"With the strength of you and Nagumo Miyabi, even if it's cruel—like losing companions and such—you must have easily secured Class A's position, right!"

"This... means you haven't been able to experience the true cruelty of this school!"

"The flaws of this school only truly manifest when the four classes are evenly matched in strength."

Hearing his words, Horikita Manabu felt a slight flicker of annoyance.

To protect his companions, he had given his all over these three years. There wasn't a massive gap between his Class A and Class B, so Kijima Tsukur was completely speaking from a position of privilege.

But soon.

Horikita Manabu dismissed that thought.

The gap between Class A and Class B indeed wasn't that large, but that was because Nagumo Miyabi had been interfering with third-year affairs.

If not for Nagumo Miyabi.

It was indeed very likely that he, Horikita Manabu, would have been leading the pack alone.

Perhaps he really hadn't experienced the cruelty of this school...

"I'll tell you what's wrong with this school."

Kijima Tsukur stood in front of Horikita Manabu, walked to his side, and hooked his arm around his shoulder. His voice turned icy:

"It fancies itself a social simulation, yet it forcibly dictates the standards of success. Once the four classes fall into a stalemate, the idea that graduating from Class A is everything consumes everyone's thoughts, completely negating other ways of living. That is what Advanced Nurturing is doing!"

"Society isn't like that. As long as one can support oneself, a person can do whatever they want!"

"One can stay at home, travel around, or even waste time comfortably awaiting death, rather than believing that only becoming a superior person counts as success."

In Kijima Tsukur's eyes.

The system of Advanced Nurturing was like the higher-ups saying:

It's not our fault that society has become this way; it's all because the youth aren't working hard enough. If they worked harder, it wouldn't have turned out like this. We must educate these young people properly.

It completely negated excellent qualities like kindness, gentleness, honesty, and integrity, while fully encouraging the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak.

Although he didn't know the purpose for which this school was established, he now hoped even more that the school's goal was simply to amass wealth.

"Then, if it's from an individual perspective..."

Horikita Manabu frowned slightly, not quite understanding, and assumed Kijima Tsukur's thinking was the same as Nagumo Miyabi's.

"It's the same. When the four classes are categorized, the result won't change."

Kijima Tsukur's hand, hooked around Horikita Manabu's shoulder, unconsciously exerted pressure. His voice was as cold as iron:

"Nurturing evil through the guise of good—this is an evil even more unforgivable than murder and pillaging!"

Actually.

He wasn't against doing evil, and Kijima Tsukur even knew he wasn't a good person himself.

But this educational method, which directed people toward evil, was something he was determined to eradicate.

"Nurturing evil through the guise of good?"

Horikita Manabu's body stiffened, and he hesitated.

Actually, he couldn't feel it...

Mainly because he was too strong. Even with some setbacks, he had easily maintained Class A's position and widened the gap.

Even when he encountered setbacks that were difficult to overcome, he had long since prepared reserve funds for the class.

Therefore, Horikita Manabu could not fully experience the trials of human nature.

Once the four classes fell into a stalemate.

Kindness would become a sin; this is what Advanced Nurturing was doing.

But at the very least, Horikita Manabu was clear on one point: in the eyes of Kijima Tsukur, this school was an evil existence.

His strength was inferior to Kijima Tsukur.

In fact, Kijima Tsukur was more formidable than all the adults he had seen since childhood, and more formidable than any of the various politicians he had encountered.

So, Since Kijima Tsukur believed this school was evil, then this school must be evil!

If that were the case.

Having Kijima Tsukur join the Student Council, letting him reform this school and guide Advanced Nurturing toward the side he deemed correct.

That was not impossible!

But why did Kijima Tsukur say he wanted to destroy this school? Was that not too arbitrary?

Horikita Manabu still wanted to try and persuade him. He glanced at Kijima Tsukur beside him and asked with some confusion:

"Are you trying to become an ally of justice?"

"Don't misunderstand."

Kijima Tsukur pushed Horikita Manabu slightly further away and said coldly:

"I am the great evil capable of devouring all evil!"

"Hm?"