Classroom of the Elite: I Can Issue My Master's Tasks

So... was it popularity?

That was probably it.

These characters had all appeared early in the story, and most of the arguments over best girl revolved around them. How could they not be popular?

But if the system screened candidates by popularity, wouldn't it miss out on plenty of prime little lambs?

System, you can't be so shortsighted!

[Insufficient authority. Please increase your level as soon as possible.]

"Got it."

Nangong Cheng was only complaining. Even if he had more candidates, he could issue only three tasks a day right now. That was nowhere near enough.

He needed to decide how to use today's final task. Should he find a third little lamb, or choose between Horikita Suzune and Kikyo Kushida again?

"I hereby declare this year's entrance ceremony over..."

The time for thinking flew by, and the entrance ceremony finally ended.

The students from all four classes began to leave.

Nangong Cheng once again stayed at the back of the crowd, then quietly glanced at Horikita Suzune among the departing students.

Issuing Horikita Suzune two tasks in a row had already made her suspicious. She would never find proof that he was behind them, but provoking her further still seemed unwise.

As for Kikyo Kushida...

As long as he appeared to spend more time with Horikita Suzune, that devoted Horikita Suzune follower would come to him on her own. He had no need to go out of his way to approach her.

[Additional note: Subsystem owners will not know of the main system's existence. They will also regard the host as someone who shares their fate, so the host may issue tasks involving himself without concern.]

Seriously? You could've said that sooner!

Following the principle of trusting the system if he was going to use it, Nangong Cheng took its word for it.

In that case, he would use today's last task to fleece a new little lamb.

The question was, who?

For ease of contact, he would preferably pick someone from Class D.

Sakura Airi was soft-spoken and easy to sway, while Karuizawa Kei, who put on a bold, fashionable front, was desperate to find a pretend boyfriend to protect her.

Both were excellent little lambs.

But if he had to choose one...

"I choose you, Karuizawa Kei."

Volume One: Karuizawa Kei's Spring

Karuizawa Kei was a girl who should have enjoyed an ordinary adolescence. Instead, she had endured horrific bullying in middle school.

It had left not only an indelible scar on her body, but also psychological trauma akin to PTSD. It would not be an exaggeration to say her life had been ruined.

Now she was constantly afraid someone would bully and humiliate her again. The urge to cling to someone strong for protection had taken root deep in her mind.

She had enrolled at Advanced Nurturing, learned to act tough, and come to a school where nobody knew her past. She could have made a fresh start. Yet her experiences and lingering trauma still drove her to survive by attaching herself to someone strong.

"Karuizawa, want to go shopping with us?"

"Karuizawa, want to grab a bite afterward?"

"Karuizawa..."

Karuizawa Kei was on her way to becoming the center of a small group of girls, and she was in a pretty good mood. The changes she had made were clearly paying off.

But Horikita Suzune's question during the class meeting had left her with a nagging worry.

Why wouldn't the teacher answer?

Was there something wrong with this school?

She wanted to ask, but she did not dare. In the end, all she could do was go along with everyone else and hope there was safety in numbers.

"But we don't know whether we'll get another 100,000 points next month. I think we should be careful with our money for the first month."

That was what she ought to have said.

But she feared those words would cost her the little influence she had just gained in the group, so she kept quiet.

As shopping steadily reduced the personal points shown on her student terminal, Karuizawa Kei's unease grew. The other girls, though, seemed lost in the joy of spending freely. One even suggested going to karaoke that night.

Karuizawa Kei wanted to refuse, but skipping an outing like that would likely get her labeled as someone who could not read the room and leave her isolated.

She was just about to grit her teeth and agree when—

"Sorry to interrupt..."

"Are you Karuizawa?"

The newcomer was Nangong Cheng.

He had followed Karuizawa Kei and her group since the entrance ceremony ended, waiting for a good moment to appear.

"Nangong? What is it?"

Karuizawa Kei wanted to find a dependable boy to protect her, so Nangong Cheng's good looks and striking presence had naturally caught her eye.

Now he had approached her himself. Could he be interested in her, too?

Hmm... If so, should I worry that he's a playboy?

Forget it. I'll hear him out first.

"Where I'm from, we have a saying: a new look brings a new outlook. Now that I'm in high school, I'd like to change up my appearance a little."

Nangong Cheng followed the explanation he had prepared. "But I've never been good at putting outfits together, so I was hoping you and your friends could help me pick one out."

"And since it's almost lunchtime, I'll treat you all to a meal as thanks."

With that, he issued Karuizawa Kei a task based on his request.

Karuizawa Kei wanted to accept.

She could avoid spending any more money and get a free meal. All she had to do was help pick out an outfit for a boy.

It would also give her a chance to spend more time with Nangong Cheng and decide whether to choose him as her protector.

But just as she was about to speak, a translucent pale-blue panel suddenly appeared before her eyes.

[Ding! Binding Perfect Life System...]

[Current task: Accept Nangong Cheng's request and put together an outfit for him.]

[Completing the task will earn points. Points can be exchanged for items in the exchange shop.]

[Failure penalty: Ask Nangong Cheng to become your master in front of your friends.]

Karuizawa Kei froze.

What was this?

Was she hallucinating?

"Karuizawa? What do you think?"

She heard Sato Maya and the others asking for her opinion. They did not seem able to see the translucent panel in front of her.

"Let's do it. It's not much trouble, and we get a free meal."

She had not planned to refuse anyway. She might as well agree and see what this so-called system was.

"Nangong, this might cost you, you know?"

"Go easy on me, ladies."

Nangong Cheng had not spent much time with women in his previous life, but he knew the basics of conversation. And with relatively straightforward high school girls across from him, he already had the upper hand.

The group arrived at a clothing store.

Karuizawa Kei and the others had only just left a clothing store earlier. Now they were making a second visit for Nangong Cheng.

"Is there a style you prefer, Nangong?"

"Not really. Just nothing too flashy."

After confirming what he wanted, Karuizawa Kei and her friends began picking out clothes for him.

They usually focused on women's fashion, but the principles of putting an outfit together were much the same. Besides, they had seen handsome guys before. They could always copy a look.

Before long, Nangong Cheng had a huge pile of clothes in his arms.

"That should do it. Go try them on."

Urged on by the girls, Nangong Cheng entered the fitting room.

The old saying was right.

Clothes made the man. With his already striking looks and a decent outfit, the result was easily greater than the sum of its parts.

Nangong Cheng was quite pleased, too.

"Thanks for your help, ladies. The meal's on me. Order whatever you like."

Karuizawa Kei and the others were happy as well.

Not only were they getting a free meal, they had also enjoyed a Tokyo heartthrob's fashion show. They had come out well ahead.

She was about to say something when the translucent pale-blue panel appeared before her again.

[Task complete.]

[Task reward: Host has received 100 points.]

[System exchange shop unlocked.]

System exchange shop?

What was that?

The moment the thought crossed Karuizawa Kei's mind, the display changed, revealing a dazzling array of products.

[Youth-Preserving Pill: Locks your appearance at its peak after consumption. Points required: 100,000.]

[Perfect Body-Shaping Liquid: Repairs all physical imperfections and creates a perfectly proportioned figure. Points required: 5,000.]

[Flawless Skin Cream: Removes all scars, acne marks, and blemishes, leaving flawless skin. Points required: 1,000.]

Row after row held items that would be irresistible to women.

There were other kinds of items, of course, but Karuizawa Kei's gaze was fixed on the product called [Flawless Skin Cream].

One thousand points!

If she had 1,000 points, could she really erase the scar that clung to her like a parasite?

Karuizawa Kei could hardly believe it.

Could any of this be real? Or was she hallucinating because she was under too much stress?

There was a simple way to find out.

Karuizawa Kei quickly found something she could afford right now—

[Note: Funds will not appear out of thin air. They will be given to you in a perfectly plausible manner.]

"If this is real, don't let me down..." Karuizawa Kei murmured. She tapped Exchange and spent all 100 points she had just earned.

The instant she confirmed the exchange, the phone in her pocket vibrated.

Could it be...?

Karuizawa Kei swallowed. Trying to look natural, she took out her phone and saw a transfer notification with a message attached—

[Congratulations on being the first student in this year's incoming class to enter our store! In accordance with our promotion, we are giving you a new-student gift package containing 100,000 personal points.]

[We wish you a wonderful school life and success in your studies!]