The Mastermind Behind the Scenes, Starting with *The Fruit of Grisaia*

"To be honest, I don't have much to offer. Under the rules of the Black Sphere, money in the real world is as useless as waste paper; as for personal points, I only have about 120,000 in my account, which clearly isn't enough to equate to the 'winner's qualification' that exempts one from punishment."

"What I can guarantee is that after the game ends, I will disclose all the rules, monster weaknesses, and hidden mechanisms regarding the Black Sphere exam that our Class B currently possesses to you all, without any reservations or embellishments."

Hearing this, Ayanokoji silently glanced at him.

It had to be said, Kanzaki Ryuji was a smart man.

He knew how to read the room, and even better, he knew how to exploit information asymmetry.

But in this current environment—a black box with no binding force—no one could truly trust anyone.

Just as he expected, Machida Koji immediately let out a sneer:

"When it comes down to it, it's just disclosing some information."

"Isn't this kind of empty talk something anyone can say just by flapping their lips? Heh."

"Of course."

Facing the challenge, Kanzaki Ryuji responded with ease: "It is precisely because anyone can say it that I am saying it."

"I am, for the time being, one of the leaders of Class B. I believe everyone knows the philosophy initiated by Ichinose in our class—'Never abandon any companion, never commit an act of betrayal'."

"If I break my promise, once you spread the word, I will be destined to have no place left in Class B."

"My reputation is the guarantee."

"Pretty words."

Kaneda Satoru sneered, tearing down his argument without mercy: "What if you're a self-sacrificial type? The kind willing to sacrifice your own reputation for the sake of the class's victory? Wouldn't we be getting played for free?"

Machida Koji chimed in: "That's right. I think we should stick to tangible benefits; that's more realistic."

"Then I'm out of options~"

Kanzaki Ryuji spread his hands helplessly: "Aside from disclosing information, all I can give is my personal points. If we split it up, everyone might only get forty or fifty thousand each?"

At this point, he suddenly turned his head, his gaze fixed on the silent Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

"Ayanokoji-kun, do you have any thoughts?"

"If you don't have any ideas, I'll have to hear what kind of price Machida-kun and Kaneda-kun are asking for."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka raised an eyebrow.

He discovered that the Wolf Card representing victory had silently transferred back to him.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he quickly reached a conclusion.

The information he currently possessed really didn't have anything that could attract this group of people.

If he didn't want to expose his strength by forcing a victory now, then accepting Kanzaki's terms to minimize losses was the optimal solution at the moment.

"Class D has the lowest score, and I don't have any valuable information either."

Ayanokoji's tone was flat: "But I think, aside from me, no one here actually has any bargaining chips that can play a decisive role."

"Since that's the case, it's better to choose to trust Kanzaki, and the Ichinose behind him."

Seeing Ayanokoji express his stance, Kanzaki Ryuji struck while the iron was hot:

"Since Ayanokoji-kun is willing to trust me, I'll show some sincerity in advance."

"I don't know if you are aware, but the Intruders pulled into the exam by the Black Sphere have their lives bound to it, and they only have one extra chance."

"And those selected to participate in the test can exchange for a chance to resist by participating in the Black Sphere Trial, while designating one person from their class to participate in the test."

Machida Koji curled his lip, clearly dissatisfied with this information:

"Don't try to pass off information that can be known with a single test as something special. Currently, only your Class B and Class D possess those black Combat Suits. Who knows if you aren't colluding to target our Class A and Class C?"

Hearing this, Ayanokoji felt a thought stir within him.

It seems... Class A has also made attempts. Then who is the person in Class A with extra permissions? Is it Sakayanagi Arisu...

Kanzaki Ryuji was about to offer a rebuttal.

Kaneda Satoru suddenly adjusted his glasses and took over the conversation with a sinister tone:

"Even if they are targeting us, we are powerless to do anything about it, aren't we?"

"After all, if we end up as losers, we'll still have to rely on those 'Qualified Ones' with high-level equipment to survive better in the Black Sphere Trial at night."

Machida Koji fell silent.

Indeed, in the face of an absolute disparity in force, offending veteran players prematurely was unwise.

Seeing that the timing was right, Kaneda Satoru revealed his true intent:

"I can withdraw from the competition."

"But I want your 120,000 points; consider it interest on what your class's Ichinose owes us."

Kanzaki Ryuji did not hesitate and immediately turned to look at Ayanokoji and Machida.

Machida Koji sighed, seemingly resigning himself to fate: "Fine, just give me forty thousand to make it look like something."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka didn't make any unnecessary movements either, going with the flow: "Just give me forty thousand as well."

"Deal."

Kanzaki Ryuji nodded in agreement with a smile.

"Then, during the main event tonight, if you encounter any danger, Class B will prioritize providing cover."

The Wolf and Sheep Game, which should have been stained with blood, was thus dissolved into nothingness by him.

It was a picture of perfect harmony, seemingly a flawless implementation of Ichinose's policy of peace.

However, all of this, when viewed through the god-like perspective of Su Wei, felt rather dull.

He remembered that the Wolf and Sheep Game could be exploited with bugs; this was just following the rules to the letter. Where was the battle of wits he wanted to see!

It seemed, perhaps...

It was because he hadn't copied the original script perfectly, and some factors were missing?

That was fine, then.

To prevent this play from ending poorly, he decided to make Ayanokoji, who had been slacking off to his heart's content, move a little.

Of course, Su Wei wouldn't directly modify the game rules, nor would he deprive them of their right to trade. He wasn't that low.

He simply intended to add one sentence before the game ended.

And so.

As the thirty-minute countdown was about to hit zero.

Everyone tacitly avoided eye contact, leaving the Wolf Card with Kanzaki Ryuji.

Just as blue fluorescence began to rise beneath the feet of Ayanokoji and the other two, excluding Kanzaki Ryuji.

An ice-blue light screen appeared, accompanied by a cold notification sound.

[Test concluded.]

[Congratulations to Kanzaki Ryuji for surviving as the 'Wolf'.]

[As the winner of this round, you may choose one of the following rewards:]

[1. Personal S Points, 5 points rewarded.]

[2. Obtain the privilege to exempt the entire class from being forcibly conscripted as 'Intruders' twice.]

[3. Unlock partial intelligence on the hidden monsters of this night's main event, and as the winner, gain a 'privileged slot' to enter the main event and earn extra points.]

[So, will you choose to linger on in a precarious state, or—]

[Do you want to understand the meaning of life, to truly... live?]

"!!!"

Hearing that final sentence.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who had been accepting the teleportation with lowered eyes, suddenly looked up.

Beneath the calm, waveless surface of his slender eyes, a ripple stirred—something that looked like surprise.

I've been played...

When Ichinose and Su Wei, who had changed into casual clothes, returned to the playground one after the other, they found that the main groups from Class D and Class B, which had originally gathered under the shade of the trees, had mostly dispersed.

Only a few scattered individuals remained, whispering to one another.

"Ichinose!"

Seeing the two return, Shiranami Chihiro, who had been pacing not far away, immediately hurried over. Her eyes swept quickly between Su Wei and Ichinose, and only after confirming that her "precious cabbage" was unharmed did she breathe a slight sigh of relief.

"Where is everyone?" Ichinose looked around, somewhat puzzled.

"They went to the multimedia classroom." Shiranami Chihiro pointed toward the direction of the teaching building. "Because the time for that 'test' is almost up, everyone wanted to go see the results..."

Before she could finish her sentence.

In the distance, Ike Kanji came staggering over, panting heavily, howling as he ran:

"It's hell! It's absolute hell!!"

"Those people who took the test... Ayanokoji and the others, they all vanished into thin air from the classroom!!"

Upon hearing this news, the few students who hadn't left yet erupted into a commotion.

Su Wei and Ichinose exchanged glances.

"It seems... the preliminary test has ended, and the real Black Sphere exam is about to begin." Ichinose Honami couldn't help but knit her brows, her expression clouded with an inescapable worry.

Su Wei rubbed his chin with one hand, feigning deep thought as he said:

"All four of them are gone..."

"If even the winners have disappeared, does that mean this test, regardless of victory or defeat, cannot avoid the outcome of being dragged into the Black Sphere exam?"

"...That is highly probable." Ichinose Honami sighed: "For now, we can only take it one step at a time."

"Come to think of it, aside from Shiranami and Shiina from Class C, there aren't any students in Class A or Class D who are in debt, right?"

"Mm."

Su Wei nodded casually, casting his gaze toward the distance.

Over there.

The homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, was leaning against a tree trunk with her arms crossed, an unlit cigarette held between her fingers.

In front of her, a few Demon Pills from Class D, led by Sudo Ken, were locked in a tense standoff with Horikita Suzune.

Although Hirata and Ayanokoji had already explained the terrifying nature of those monsters.

Human beings, however, always lack a sense of reality regarding suffering that hasn't happened to them personally.

Especially after Ichinose crushed a basketball with one hand, who wouldn't want to try on the gear and get a taste of being a superhero?