Chapter 20

"You need to show up in class... forget it, I'll help you out." Perhaps because I was the one who fanned the flames, deep down, I felt a bit guilty toward Ryuen. Taking the medicine from Suzuki, I began to tend to Ryuen, who was sprawled on the bed like a salted fish, and waved for the others to leave. "Do you think I lost? Kitazawa, this is only just beginning!" Seemingly feeling the sting of his wounds, Ryuen shouted. "Why do you insist on this? Going head-to-head with Yamada... don't you know how to admit defeat?" I shook my head, feeling quite helpless. "Admit defeat? That's impossible until I'm dead! I fear nothing!" "I give up, you really are a problem child..." "Problem child? Hmph, say whatever you want." "Do you want to prove yourself that badly?" "I know that I am different from the others." "Fine, you certainly are different..." I said, smiling bitterly while rubbing my temples. "But violence can't solve everything... even if you actually beat Yamada, you'd only be controlling the class through fear for a while. Such a rule is fragile and short-lived; Class C definitely wouldn't make it to the end." "Who can say for sure what the future holds? Even you have compromised, haven't you?" Ryuen was a guy with his own unique values and worldview; he wasn't moved by my words. "That's because I'm a reasonable person... if it were any other honor student, they'd surely think it's better to just let the school expel you, right?" I immediately changed my strategy, going along with his line of thinking. "Haha! So what if I'm expelled? I'm not afraid." "But don't you think it's a pity to end it like this? How about this: if you're willing, why don't we join forces? Just like the US, a powerful president needs the support of many conglomerates behind him." "Join forces? You honor students sure know how to joke... are you scared of me? Don't worry, if you beg for mercy, I won't beat you up." Fine! Even in this state, you're still spreading "fear"? Interesting. "I just want to get to Class A. A class this chaotic needs a leader who is strong enough. I can't do it, Shiina can't, and Kaneda and Ishizaki certainly can't. But you seem different..." "You think that highly of me?" Ryuen asked, looking a bit strange. "Yeah, you didn't even cry out in pain just now. I think you're talented. At least when Yamada got hit earlier, he cried out." "Heh, I thought it was something else. You do have some insight, but it's not enough. I've shown my strength, but what about yours, honor student? If you don't have the strength to match me, get out of my sight!" "You guy... I already told you that you can't do it alone, didn't I? But people with strength are always this confident. Come, let me show you my 'money power'!" If there's a chance to show off, especially in front of a capable person, I have to take it. I immediately opened my phone and shoved the glaring point balance into Ryuen's face. "I see, I underestimated you... Alright then, we'll cooperate. But there can only be one king, and it must be me! Even you cannot defy my orders!" Ryuen struggled to sit up, insisting. Fine! But when your "king" status becomes useless to me, a subordinate, I'll be quick to stab you in the back! I'm a petty person, after all... and petty people will do anything to achieve their goals. "I know. I don't need power or anything like that. After all, I'm just a lecherous, cowardly little person. I just want to be a nobleman living in peace under the king's protection." Of course, I couldn't say that out loud. Guys like Ryuen and the Koenji Conglomerate, whose confidence and arrogance are one and the same, are the easiest for a small fry like me to exploit. Look, a few words of indirect flattery, and they'll willingly walk down the hardest, most foolish path. And as long as I follow behind them, I can easily rake in the profits. That's what it means to be a small fry—easy to raise and possessing tenacious vitality. If the Koenji Conglomerate ever collapses, Koenji will surely end up in a miserable state. But my family will definitely be unaffected; that's the survival secret for small fries passed down through generations, right? "Hahahaha! So lechery is our only common ground? Then I wish us a happy partnership!" Although Ryuen said that, he didn't seem to take me particularly seriously. Perhaps a guy like me was still "beneath his notice" in his eyes. But that's perfect; that's exactly the effect I wanted. It's easy to meet the King of Hell, but the little devils are the ones who are hard to deal with. I have a very clear self-positioning, and I was never cut out to be the "King of Hell." I'm just a small study companion; even if the sky falls, it has nothing to do with me. "Happy partnership! In my opinion, Kaneda and the others are nothing to worry about, and Ibuki is easy to fool. As long as you can beat all the troublemakers into submission, I can help you control all the average students. We can just use this midterm exam as an opportunity. As for what comes after, let's talk in detail once you've truly unified Class C!" I decided to provoke Ryuen a bit more; after all, I didn't know if his true strength was as outstanding as I imagined. If he really was just a fool who didn't know the situation, then I hope he can perform beyond his limits this time. "Hmph, just sit back and watch!" But Ryuen, lying on the bed, was so confident that I actually started to inexplicably believe he could defeat Yamada. Sigh, staying with a madman for too long really makes it easy to get infected. Ryuen didn't manage to get up the next day and missed class, but even without him, things inside the class were exceptionally dramatic. First, the sudden withdrawal of Ishizaki and Kaneda left the clueless onlookers stunned, and Ishizaki himself was covered in injuries and kept his mouth shut like a ghost. This caused those students who didn't dare to watch the scene to run over to me and Ibuki to ask what was going on. "There was no true leader decided yesterday. Everything remains as it was, so please don't be impatient." "No results? Then what about the midterm exam? Are we supposed to study on our own without a leader's guidance?" Yamawaki, who belonged to the failing group, was very worried. "Of course, we still need to prepare seriously for the midterm exam. Study sessions will still be organized by Kaneda, and any student in the class who is willing to participate can join. Oda, Sonoda, Suzuki, and I will also go to support Kaneda and bolster the teaching staff." "What about the girls' side? Are only the boys going to teach?" Manabe asked on behalf of the girls under her. "Indeed, on the girls' side, Ibuki-san does need help. Shiina-san, can I ask you for a favor?" "Mm!" Shiina nodded, giving her answer. "Then it will be Ibuki and Shiina... hmm, Nishino-san's grades are also quite good, right? After all, it concerns everyone's points, can I ask you to contribute to the class?" "I have no choice, I guess that's the only way. Actually, Kitazawa, you could totally be the leader! At least I think you'd be fine..." "Yeah! Yeah! If it's Kitazawa-san, it should be no problem." The girls chimed in one after another. "No, no, no... actually, I know my own strength very well. I am very indecisive, so I'm not really suitable to be a class leader directly. We need at least one person who has a clear head, decisiveness, and..."