Becoming the Mastermind from School of Practical Arts

"As for this advance test... it's perfect, I also want to see what this so-called Black Sphere game is actually made of."

"Kanzaki-kun..." Ichinose felt a surge of emotion, believing that her actions had finally borne fruit.

And just like that, the exchange of spots was completed.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka observed this scene with keen eyes.

Targeting those who experienced the previous exam specifically, are they...

Whether it was him or Shiranami Chihiro, both were survivors of the last trial.

Was this an unintentional coincidence?

Or was it a deliberate, targeted hint?

Thinking this, Ayanokoji turned and headed toward the school building.

At the same time, Kanzaki Ryuji bid farewell to the rest of Class B and, in a few quick strides, caught up to Ayanokoji.

"You're one of the three who barged into the last special exam and survived, right?"

Kanzaki Ryuji sized up the seemingly unremarkable Class D boy before him and extended a hand.

"Hello, Class B, Kanzaki Ryuji."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka shook it politely.

"Class D, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka."

Feeling the atmosphere around him growing increasingly heavy, Su Wei opened his phone, pretending to scroll through messages.

In truth, while this advance test did contain an element of Kushida Kikyo's warning, it was mostly something Su Wei had intended to do all along.

After all, no matter how much the intellectual battles in Classroom of the Elite were compared to Zhongli's faked death, it was still a series centered on intellectual combat.

Spending all day fighting and killing would be a waste of its potential.

The original work was simply constrained by realistic settings and moral laws, leaving too few tricks to play.

Now that he stood as the absolute superior, holding numerous items in his hands, what kind of sparks would fly if he brought the games from Alice in Borderland over and combined them with the school's exams?

Let's test the effects of the Wolf and Sheep Game first...

Just as Su Wei opened the screen visible only to him, preparing to observe the situation closely, a pleasant scent—not quite perfume—wafted toward him on the breeze.

Ichinose Honami had arrived at his side at some point, her face full of gravity.

"Su Wei-kun..."

"I didn't expect the Black Sphere Trial to start again. And in this form, no less."

Su Wei composed himself.

"It can't be helped."

"We have no room for choice, only the fate of being chosen. We might as well accept it as it comes."

Ichinose Honami, however, shook her head, her spirit stubborn, teeth gritted, enduring the humiliation.

"I don't think so."

"Although the current situation is cruel, I have always believed—effort may not necessarily lead to the goal, but effort will always yield a result of its own."

"As long as we don't give up, we will definitely find a way to break the deadlock!"

"Then, let's believe and keep our expectations high..." Su Wei said.

Seeing that he didn't refute her, Ichinose Honami seemed to be encouraged by something.

She hesitated for a moment, then suddenly lowered her voice, speaking with a hint of embarrassment.

"By the way, Su Wei-kun."

"About... the usage method for the Reinforcement Suit."

"I experimented with it in private a few times, and although my strength did increase, I still don't understand the 'gap' you mentioned earlier... could you explain it in more detail?"

The tips of Ichinose's ears turned slightly red.

"Is it my method, or is it that... I'm using it the wrong way?"

--End of Chapter--

Tomorrow's update will be in the evening, and I will add an extra chapter as compensation.

By the way, please give me your free recommendations, monthly tickets, and blades; they are really important to a small author like me!

orz

Chapter 35: Not bad, like a little calf

Glancing at the time to confirm that the test did not need to be postponed.

Su Wei put away his phone and spoke to the expectant Ichinose Honami:

"You might find it hard to grasp that feeling just by me talking about it."

"Follow me. Once I change into my Combat Suit and show you directly, you'll likely understand."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Su Wei."

Ichinose Honami nodded obediently, without a shred of suspicion, and quickened her pace to keep up with Su Wei.

Not far away.

Watching the two figures walk away side by side, Shiranami Chihiro opened her mouth, wanting to call out to Ichinose, yet she didn't know what reason she could possibly give.

After all, she knew exactly why Ichinose was seeking out Su Wei.

Strictly speaking, she, Shiranami Chihiro, was also a beneficiary of this "sacrifice."

In such a situation, she couldn't exactly rush over, grab Ichinose, and say:

"Honami-chan! Don't go! It's just the two of you, and that guy doesn't look like a good person at all. What if he takes advantage of you?"

That would be far too unreasonable and petty.

In the end, the girl could only bite her lip, staring fixedly at Ichinose's receding back.

That feeling was like an incompetent wife watching her husband forced to go on a business trip with his boss for the sake of the family's livelihood...

No, that wasn't right.

She wasn't even a "wife" at this point; at best, she was just an incompetent best friend.

That made it even more painful.

So frustrating~

A few minutes later.

Arriving at the door, Su Wei placed his hand on the handle and looked back.

"Wait here for a moment. I need to put on my Combat Suit."

"Okay... wait, what?"

Ichinose Honami, who had subconsciously intended to follow him inside, had just stepped forward when she suddenly realized this was the boys' dormitory, and Su Wei was going to change into his Combat Suit.

In an instant, the girl's cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

"I-it's fine! I'll wait for you outside!"

Closing the door loosely behind him, Su Wei looked through the door panel at the girl, who was facing the wall and taking deep breaths, clearly trying to calm herself down. He couldn't help but shake his head.

Honestly, whether it was her physical capabilities or that gentle-to-the-bone personality, Ichinose Honami was top-tier.

But unfortunately, these very strengths had become weaknesses, turning into the greatest liability for her—and indeed, for all of Class B.

In this world of survival of the fittest, taking all the responsibility upon oneself while lacking the ruthless means to match it would only end in her being crushed.

Su Wei didn't hate "saints."

But he disliked the kind of ending where, due to a lack of ability, one ends up dragging the group down, appearing hypocritical in the process.

This was different from Kushida Kikyo.

His interest in Kushida was purely driven by the contrast between her sweet exterior and dark interior, as well as those massive assets of hers; he was a fan of her body.

As for Ichinose... he did, in fact, harbor some intentions of molding her.

"I hope this time, you'll finally see the light."

Su Wei thought to himself, distracted as he opened the Black Sphere interface.

The game he chose this time was the classic from Alice in Borderland—[Seven of Hearts: Wolf and Sheep Game].

The rules followed the drama version's settings.

Four players: one is the Wolf, and three are the Sheep.

The Sheep must hide so they are not found or seen by the Wolf.

However, in the end, only the person who retains the "Wolf" status can clear the game and survive.

And the moment the Wolf and Sheep make eye contact, their roles instantly swap.

Therefore.

What you truly have to hide from in this game isn't the Sheep acting as prey.

It is the Wolf, who must hide well, even if it means betraying their own humanity, just to stay alive.

[Game loading complete.]

[Participants: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka (D), Kanzaki Ryuji (B), Kaneda Satoru (C), Machida Koji (A)]

After confirming the game had started, Su Wei stopped paying much attention.

Letting Ayanokoji play mind games with them was essentially a dimension-level strike.

Rather than watching a one-sided slaughter, the lesson here with Ichinose was far more important at the moment.

Just then.

"Knock, knock."

A cautious knocking sound came from outside the door.

"Su Wei? Are you finished changing?"

Ichinose Honami's voice drifted in, and at the same time, the door was pushed open a crack.

She seemed to assume the door was locked and had only given it a tentative push, not expecting it to be unlatched, causing it to slide open a significant distance.

"Ah! I'm sorry!"

Ichinose was startled, instinctively moving to retreat and pull the door shut.

"It's fine, come in."

Su Wei was already fully dressed, standing in the center of the room and loosening his wrists.

"The door was left open for you anyway. Come in, let's continue."

"Eh? O-okay."

Ichinose said no more, walking inside with her head bowed and closing the door behind her.

She took a brief look around.

It was unexpectedly tidy; there was no trace of the sweaty odor or scattered socks she had imagined, and the air even carried a faint scent of lemon freshener.

This allowed her tense nerves to relax slightly.

Ichinose walked up to Su Wei, looking at him with a sense of bewilderment:

"So, what should I do now?"

Su Wei turned around and extended his right hand toward her: