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

"Your class grades, evaluations, and even your daily habits—tardiness, leaving early, or playing on your phones during class—all affect the points distributed each month."

"After a full month of assessment..."

She wrote a massive "0" on the chalkboard, then turned around, arms crossed, looking at this group of pale-faced defectives.

"The points you started with have been completely deducted by your own actions."

"To reach this point in just one month... Heh, truly worthy of the trash of Class D."

Watching the classroom, which had been full of vitality just moments ago, instantly plunge into an icy silence, everyone seemed unable to accept the reality.

Chabashira Sae tapped the chalkboard once more.

"However..."

"Considering this is the first time since the school's founding, the administration has decided to give you flawed products a chance to redeem yourselves."

"Tonight, there will be a special exam."

A special exam?

Hearing this term, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka raised an eyebrow.

"For this exam, each class is limited to one participant."

"The score that person earns will be added to the class evaluation at a 1:10 ratio."

"Most importantly—as this is an unprecedented case, the points earned this time will be retroactively applied to your evaluation from last month."

"In other words, a single point will bring one thousand points to every one of you!"

As her words fell, the previously lifeless Class D instantly erupted!

Points could be added?

And they could be turned directly into money?

"Is that for real, Teach?!" Sudo stood up abruptly. "We get money just by taking the test?"

"Correct." Chabashira Sae nodded. "But that is on the condition that you actually earn points."

"So then..."

She scanned the entire class, finally tossing the question to these students whose eyes were glowing with greed:

"Tonight, who wants to sign up?"

Note ① - Dictator Button: A button designed for future dictators. Pressing it makes those who oppose you disappear—or rather, "never existed in the first place." However, it is actually intended for the dictator to witness a scene of loneliness and reflect. People can be restored.

Note ② - Liar 800: After drinking this, everything you say becomes a lie. Perfect for April Fool's Day.

Chapter 8: All the Main God's Doing

"One point is one thousand points? If someone gets a hundred, wouldn't that be one hundred thousand?!"

"Damn! There's such a good deal... Trust me, this is a total upgrade!"

"Huh? With your failing gym grades? If anyone goes, it should be me!"

"Shut up if you don't want to die! This concerns the living expenses of the whole class!"

In the Class D classroom, arguments rose and fell.

But this was only natural.

In a school where everything can be bought with points, the pie Chabashira Sae had drawn was enough to drive these profligate freshmen, who had no savings left, into a frenzy.

Su Wei rested his chin on one hand, his fingertips sliding lightly across his phone screen.

I'm telling you, sneaking around playing on your phone in school is the best feeling. Anyone else get that?

Just then, a Line message popped up at the top of the screen.

Kikyo: "This sounds a lot like our Black Sphere exam from yesterday, doesn't it~ (.oˇ?ˇo.) But there's only one spot. Do you think we should sign up, Su Wei-kun?"

Su Wei looked up.

His gaze cut through the crowd, as if by telepathy.

Kushida Kikyo, who had been leaning to the side pretending to listen to Hirata, happened to look back at that exact moment.

Their eyes met.

The girl's expressive, large eyes blinked, as if seeking his opinion.

Ho, is this the composure and confidence of a veteran artist?

Su Wei withdrew his gaze and tapped the screen casually:

"See what you think. I've decided to wait and see for a bit longer."

Less than two seconds after the message was sent, a reply popped up from the other side.

"Then I'll wait and see too~"

"But if it's going to be one exam a day from now on, isn't the frequency a bit too high? Even if everyone has three lives, a class of forty people won't be able to last long... I see the upperclassmen have quite a lot of people; I wonder if they have some secret trick for survival?"

It's simply because the game just launched; it's hard to say what will happen later.

Su Wei's lips curled slightly:

"Why not just go and ask directly? Besides, for information like this, even spending points to buy it wouldn't be a loss."

After sending this, he stopped replying.

Not far away, Kushida Kikyo glanced at her phone, pursed her lips in thought, and immediately replied with a "docile nodding.jpg."

The bell for the end of class rang.

Chabashira Sae, like an NPC who had completed her task, left directly with her lesson plans in hand, without a single word of unnecessary chatter.

As the homeroom teacher departed, the classroom completely erupted.

"Everyone, please quiet down!"

As the core of the class, Hirata Yosuke was the first to stand up:

"Regarding the allocation of these exam slots, I think we need to have a proper discussion. After all, this concerns..."

Hirata was still there trying to maintain order.

Kushida Kikyo, however, unusually broke away from her small circle and walked straight to Su Wei's side without any hesitation.

"Um, Su Wei-kun. I thought about it just now."

She deliberately lowered her voice, and with her leaning posture, it looked like she was whispering secrets from a distance.

"Our current points aren't exactly abundant, so regarding buying information... how about we pull in Ryuen and Ichinose to split the cost?"

Su Wei nodded slightly: "Not a bad idea."

Having received affirmation, Kushida's execution speed was off the charts.

Soon, a five-person group chat named [Black Sphere Mutual Aid Society (Tentative)] was established.

She tagged everyone and briefly explained her thoughts.

Then, the group fell silent for a few seconds.

Perhaps because she hadn't been able to help much during yesterday's exam, Ichinose Honami was the first to respond.

"...Actually, I happen to know a second-year senior; perhaps I could ask him to help inquire? If points are needed, I will do my best to contribute."

I have to say, Ichinose is still too much of an angel, jumping into a pit even when she knows it's a trap.

It's a good thing Classroom of the Elite is a mainstream series, and that Su Wei used an item to alter Nagumo Miyabi's sexual orientation, awakening the "female" side within him.

Otherwise, would Ichinose really be headed for a doujin-style fate?

At this moment, Sakayanagi Arisu spoke up.

"Hehe, I wonder if everyone remembers that before the exam started, the Black Sphere said we were the 'first batch of qualified candidates.' Coupled with that technology that transcends the era... is it possible that we really are the only pioneers?"

Ryuen Kakeru followed up immediately:

"Do whatever you want, just don't drag me into it!"

With that, he exited the group chat directly.

Kushida Kikyo looked up, her watery eyes gazing at Su Wei, complaining in a small, aggrieved voice:

"Ryuen-kun... he seems a bit difficult to get along with."

"Even though we're all in the same boat."

"The joys and sorrows of people are not connected."

"Get used to it," Su Wei said casually as he turned off his screen. "However, if Sakayanagi's speculation is correct and we really are the first batch..."

"This exam probably isn't just targeting us first-years."

"Perhaps we can even use this information gap to do something."

Kushida Kikyo was slightly startled, then her eyes lit up as if she had realized something.

"You mean... reselling information to those upperclassmen who are about to participate in the Black Sphere exam?!"

That was it; in this school where points are supreme, information is money!

The more the girl thought about it, the more excited she became, and the previous grievance was swept away.

"If the exam is tonight, we have to hurry. We also have to consider the factor of Ichinose and the others leaking the information..."

"Don't worry, Su Wei-kun, leave this to me! There will absolutely be no problem!"

Watching the hurried Kushida Kikyo, Su Wei nodded slightly.

Although she is a "pink-haired black-hearted" green tea, she isn't stupid, at least. She can grasp his meaning, and with a little guidance, she can be a useful tool.

It's just... a pity.

There is no place for her on tonight's exam list.

After all, we are still in the exploratory stage.

To ensure the controllability of the instance, the rules Su Wei initially set are:

The four-person group, including him, held an absolute first-mover advantage as permanent guests.

In the official exam, however, the format consisted of "one person per class" plus "one person randomly selected from the entire school," excluding those few.

Kushida Kikyo was naturally the lucky one chosen for that trial last night.

But just like those infuriating gacha games, there was never any true randomness.

All probabilities shifted at the whim of the Main God.

As for tonight's "random slot," Su Wei already had a candidate in mind, so there was naturally no room for Kushida.

"Alright, since no one has any objections..."

On the podium, the voice of Hirata Yosuke pulled Su Wei's thoughts back.

After a round of arguing, Class D had finalized the participants for the evening exam.

Standing beside the podium, a girl with long, straight black hair and an aura that warned others to keep their distance stood with her arms crossed, her expression cold and arrogant.

"I will take back the points. I'll prove to all of you who is right."

So it really is Horikita...

Although this armored, specialized version of Yukinoshita was overly confident, lacked empathy for others, and had no rapport with any of her classmates, her hard stats—ranking in the top five of the entire grade during the entrance exam—were indeed quite intimidating, provided that no one knew the true nature of the test.

I just wonder if she'll be able to keep that composure once she sees a room full of evil spirits.

I'm looking forward to it.

I hope she can hold out for a while.