He'd Been Set Up by the Powers That Be

But if it meant spending a lot of time and energy fighting for points, scheming, and getting caught up in complicated class politics...

Then forget it. He'd rather keep things as they were. Doing nothing was his life philosophy.

Chabashira Sae briefly went over some of the rules and things to keep in mind. She tapped the remaining items on the board with her finger, stressing that everyone should read them carefully, then said no more.

She gave one last glance at Class D, who were still caught up in the joy of their points and growing restless. There wasn't the slightest trace of encouragement, warning, or expectation in her eyes—only a calm so numb it was almost unsettling.

In her opinion, there was no point in saying too much about what she expected of Class D. They might as well learn for themselves as they ran into the rules ahead—or get their heads bashed in trying.

This was an academy that valued ability above all else. It cared only about the final results, not the process, and had no interest in individual struggles.

So she turned briskly, opened the classroom door, and walked out. The sound of her heels striking the floor quickly faded, and she didn't even leave them with a "Class dismissed" or "See you tomorrow."

As soon as their homeroom teacher left, the commotion that had just been suppressed surged through the classroom again, louder than before.

Everyone excitedly gathered in groups to discuss how to spend their "fortune" of one hundred thousand points.

Some had already eagerly started searching the school store on their terminals, while others were enthusiastically debating which entertainment facility to try first...

The entire Class D was wrapped in a festive atmosphere, brimming with boundless—and rather naive—hope for the future.

Only a few students in Class D stayed calm. Lin Mu was one of them. In that situation, their composure only made them seem like oddballs who didn't belong.

Lin Mu leaned back in his seat at the rear of the classroom and leisurely sucked on a lollipop, deaf to the commotion around him.

He quietly went over what he knew, then came to more or less the same conclusion Chabashira Sae had: Yeah. The classmates who spend their points so freely will probably be in for a rude awakening next month.

Time slipped by amid the hubbub, and before long, it was time to leave.

Chabashira Sae didn't reappear or arrange any class meeting or other activities. It was as though her work for the first day of school was already done.

Seeing that, everyone packed up and left the classroom, excited about their new surroundings and their "vast fortune."

Lin Mu stood up too and stretched. His bones gave a faint crack.

He leisurely followed the crowd out of the school building, but he had a clear destination in mind: the general store on campus.

His most pressing concern wasn't studying the rules or making friends. It was stocking up on the "strategic supplies" he'd need in the coming weeks—lollipops.

Nothing mattered more. Without sugar to suppress some of his abilities and keep them "in check," he'd have to passively receive the thoughts of everyone around him all day. It was enough to drive him crazy.

The campus store was indeed as large and well-stocked as Chabashira Sae had said.

Fresh produce and ingredients, all kinds of snacks and drinks, everyday toiletries, and even basic stationery and small appliances filled the shelves. It was almost as good as a big convenience store off campus.

Lin Mu ignored the other sections and headed straight for the snacks. Before long, he found what he was after: an entire shelf lined with all kinds of lollipops.

His eyes lit up a little. There were neat rows of lollipops from different brands, with different flavors and packaging:

Peko's classic milk and fruit flavors, all sorts of Alpenliebe assortments, and some imported brands... It was paradise for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Without a second thought, Lin Mu began "sweeping the shelves."

He grabbed a shopping cart and, like a levelheaded procurement officer, scanned the shelves as he plucked packs and rows of lollipops off them and tossed them into the cart.

Peko in all its flavors? He took them. Alpenliebe's classic and special flavors? He took those too.

He even grabbed a few packs of imported brands he hadn't tried before.

He chose them quickly and precisely. Before long, the bottom of his cart was covered in brightly colored candy wrappers.

Just the lollipops alone had cost him nearly ten thousand points, by his rough estimate!

But he didn't even furrow his brow.

Lollipops were the key "fuel" and "buffer" that kept him at "full capacity," ensured his supernatural abilities stayed stable and under control, and shielded him from the mind-noise around him.

No amount of spending on that was wasteful. It was the foundation of a comfortable, laid-back life.

As he shopped, Lin Mu also noticed a few details.

Some items in the store really were labeled "free," mostly basic necessities.

The most ordinary toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, towels, and toilet paper, for example. The brands and quality were nothing special, but at least they didn't cost a thing.

Lin Mu immediately switched to "thrifty mode."

He pushed the cart back around and put one of each free basic item into it.

Save where you can, spend where you should.

He knew very well that, given the rules in Chabashira Sae's memory and the current state of Class D's students, next month's class assessment probably wouldn't go well.

If the class lost points, affecting the amount of Private Points everyone received—or even bringing it down to zero—then these free supplies could be a lifesaver.

Why pass up the school's free stuff now, only to regret it later when he was short on points?

With two bulging bags of supplies in hand—mostly lollipops, with the free items stuffed into the gaps—Lin Mu walked along the tree-lined path back to the dormitory.

A complicated feeling of "feeling so miserable you could cry" still welled up inside him.

What terrible luck. Of all things, he'd been placed in the worst class, Class D.

He knew perfectly well that, thanks to his "hard work" at the orphanage—and a little help from his supernatural ability—he'd carefully prepared his application and grades.

He should've been good enough for Class B. He might even have had a shot at making Class A.

There was no way he should have been lumped in with Class D, which was practically a "reformatory for problem children."

After turning it over in his mind, he could only blame the damn "powers that be" or the school's "backroom dealings."

Maybe the academy's higher-ups had deliberately put a "high-quality student" like him in Class D to even out the numbers, making him a "pawn" or "test subject" to balance the classes' strengths.

(He'd been set up by the powers that be.)

Thinking about it, Lin Mu couldn't help grumbling to himself about the screwed-up rules and unfairness.

But grumbling was one thing. What was done was done, and he had neither the interest nor the energy to appeal or make a fuss.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

"Forget it."

He muttered under his breath and popped a fresh lollipop into his mouth. "I can laze around in Class D or laze around in Class A. Either way, with my supernatural ability, no one's going to ruin my peaceful life."

The sweetness drove away the last trace of irritation.

He carried the bags and ambled toward the dormitory, his short white hair stirring gently in the evening breeze.

(Activity period: May 1 to May 5)