Master's Task

But if he sorted them into broad categories, there were only two.

First came skills: common ones like combat, music, painting, and writing, along with less common ones.

Second came items: potions, food, electronics, and other things used in daily life.

So how were they priced in Points?

Nangong Cheng had a simple, blunt idea.

Skill prices were fixed: beginner, intermediate, and advanced skills cost 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 Points respectively.

The system defined a beginner skill as the highest level an amateur could reach, an intermediate skill as the highest level among professionals, and an advanced skill as the peak of human ability.

Put more simply—

A beginner skill crushed ordinary people, an intermediate skill made short work of experts, and an advanced skill could beat anyone with ease.

Nangong Cheng figured that using skill prices as a benchmark would make the prices of other goods easier to understand.

The most expensive product in the System Shop cost 100,000 Points, which also gave him a rough sense of their purchasing power and what counted as good value.

There were some unusual products, though.

For example—

[Dark History Erasure Card: Removes the user's embarrassing past upon use. The Points required for redemption depend on how serious that past is.]

It could erase anything from sneaking into the women's bathhouse to peep as a child to Gin strafing Tokyo Tower from a helicopter...

If the user wished something had never happened, this thing could even wipe the memories of everyone who knew about it, as though it had never happened at all.

It was one of those magical gadgets Doraemon owned that could rewrite the rules of reality.

[Anime Quantity: The name says it all. If you know, you know. Points required for redemption: 5,000]

[Kato Taka's Hand: Absolute technique and the pleasure it brings. Perhaps your hands will be the ones to teach them love. Points required for redemption: 5,000]

"They've got stuff from that kind of anime too?"

Nangong Cheng was taken aback.

Then again, the system itself was hardly respectable, so it made sense for the Shop to carry something like that.

[Beauty Camera: Can only capture the faces of attractive subjects. If a subject isn't attractive enough, their face disappears from the photo. Points required for redemption: 500]

"This would make a good gift for Sakura Airi. Though if she accidentally photographed someone without a face, the poor girl might burst into tears."

Nangong Cheng believed in sustainable development.

After all, you couldn't shear a sheep without keeping it fed.

By now, the facts had shown that the Points awarded for a task depended mainly on its difficulty. And that difficulty shifted in real time according to what these beautiful girls were thinking.

Seen that way, the little lambs only had to focus on completing tasks and collecting rewards. As the mastermind behind it all, he had much more to consider.

When to issue a task, how to create the right opportunity, and how to design one they'd neither want to accept nor want to refuse...

There was an art to it.

Having a formula made problem-solving quick.

"The internet wasn't lying. People really do get creative when they're up to no good," Nangong Cheng mused as he browsed a little more.

"I'll get Beginner Acting this time."

His reason was simple: insurance.

He had read plenty of web novels in his previous life.

Stories about simulations always claimed they wouldn't affect reality, only to play word games with that promise. In diary stories, the heroines always ended up reading the diary. Systems meant to lose money always made money instead...

So it was entirely possible that a mastermind system claiming his identity would never be exposed would end up exposing him.

He had to hold his fate firmly in his own hands. Only then could he feel truly secure.

Nangong Cheng took a deep breath, then put on a resolute expression.

"Deep Blue, add the points!"

This change felt much like the one he'd experienced after taking the Gene-Enhancement Potion.

It didn't make him feel as though he'd been born a seasoned actor, but the immersive, dreamlike experience perfectly wove the knowledge and experience into his instincts.

The next day.

Nangong Cheng had barely stepped into the classroom.

"Nangong!"

A fragrant breeze swept toward him along with the call.

Kikyo Kushida hurried over with her friends, looking anxious.

"Kushida, what's wrong?"

As he spoke, Nangong Cheng quickly scanned the classroom and already had a rough idea of the answer.

"Someone posted on the Campus Forum last night. The post said the school has been hiding things from us..."

As Kikyo Kushida spoke, she watched Nangong Cheng, looking for a change in his expression.

Unfortunately for her, Nangong Cheng wasn't just excellent at managing his time. After acquiring [Beginner Acting], he was also good at controlling his expression.

"I see. I understand."

"So what's everyone doing now...?"

He had spotted Horikita Suzune at her seat, surrounded by several Class D students who didn't look particularly friendly.

Had word gotten out that they'd sold the information?

That wouldn't be surprising.

The forum post had been anonymous.

The other three classes had paid a fortune for the information, only to see it exposed on the forum less than twenty-four hours later. Of course they'd suspect him and Horikita Suzune of taking their money and then double-crossing them.

"A lot of students on the forum are saying you and Horikita were behind it."

"They say you and Horikita sold them the information for 2 Million Private Points... Now everyone's waiting for an explanation from you two."

Kikyo Kushida clasped her hands as if in prayer, wearing just the right amount of worry. "Nangong, is it true?"

Nangong Cheng nodded.

This turn of events didn't surprise him.

This year's students included a devilishly clever girl like Sakayanagi Arisu and a ruthless guy like Ryuuen. Neither was the type to swallow a loss quietly.

Of course, the students might have acted on their own. Anyone who realized they'd been played would be angry.

"I'll handle it."

Nangong Cheng strode to the front of the classroom.

At last, every student in Class D turned their attention to him.

"Since you already know, I won't waste time explaining what happened."

Nangong Cheng exchanged a glance with Horikita Suzune in the back row, then gave the worried Sakura Airi a reassuring look.

A cocky grin spread across his face—

"Now, each of you will hand over 50,000 Points."

Important notice and reading notes:

Between last night and now, the author has revised and refined the settings for the System Shop and Points.

Building on earlier chapters, this chapter also explains the purchasing power of Points and how products are priced.

Give Back Every Penny Taken from Our Own

The moment the words left his mouth, the classroom erupted.

First to flare up was a certain hotheaded redhead.

"Who the fuck are you to demand money from me? You collecting protection money now?"

Then came the two loudmouths.

"We haven't even called you and Horikita out for going behind the class's back to hog all the Points, and now you're demanding money from us? Have you no shame?"

"Exactly! You two should be splitting that 6 Million Points with us!"

"We heard you can transfer classes for 20 Million Private Points. What you two did was sell out the class. You have to share the money!"

Most of the class opposed him, and the calls to split the money only grew louder.

Nangong Cheng wasn't surprised.

He'd never expected their support. He had another reason for making that demand.

Just as he was about to fan the flames, things took an unexpected turn.

[Private Points have been deposited into your account.]

A cold notification cut through the noise, cooling the room as though someone had pressed pause.

"Fifty thousand. I sent it."

Horikita Suzune stood amid the silent crowd and identified herself as the sender.

Once one person had done it, a second followed.

[Private Points have been deposited into your account.]

"I-I... I sent mine too!"

Sakura Airi rose unsteadily to her feet.

She didn't understand why Nangong Cheng was doing this, but he must have had his reasons!

All she had to do was support him!

Kikyo Kushida watched it all.

She couldn't figure out what had gotten into Nangong Cheng, and she didn't want to pick a side too quickly in case it hurt her standing in the class.

But Horikita Suzune's choice reminded her of something.

It didn't matter if she couldn't understand him.

The fact was that Nangong Cheng had obtained valuable information on his own and earned 6 Million Points by selling it. That alone gave him considerable credibility.

Besides...

Of all people, she didn't want to lose to Horikita Suzune.

Kikyo Kushida finally decided to take the gamble.

Unfortunately, someone beat her to it.

[Private Points have been deposited into your account.]

"I sent mine too."

Karuizawa Kei stood despite the pressure.

She was nervous, but her instincts told her she was making the right choice.

"And while I'm at it, I'll say what needs saying—why should Nangong share money he earned himself with the class?"

"Did any of you help?"

"According to the post, our class has already lost a lot of Class Points."

"So tell me, those of you shouting against him: how many of you can honestly say you haven't cost the class points these past few days?"

"If that post hadn't come out, we wouldn't even know whether we'd have 50,000 Points to spend next month... You've been dragging the class down, and you still have the nerve to ask for a share."