Classroom of the Elite: I can issue Master's tasks

"He managed this much in just a day—possibly even less? And he even plans to sell this information to the other classes for Private Points... Did he decide to take a different route after realizing what Class D was like?"

If that was the route he had chosen, things would be fine.

But if he intended to bring his entire class up with him, this year's Class D might truly be different.

There was no time to marvel at that now. Under the scrutiny of more than forty pairs of eyes, he gave an objective, impartial answer.

"Everything in this document is true. I can represent the school as both witness and guarantor for this transaction."

As a teacher, he had to follow the rules.

After hearing Tomoya Mashima's reply, Sakayanagi Arisu looked thoughtful, then quickly followed up with a question—

"Teacher Mashima, does that mean the information in this document is very important to us?"

"You will have to judge that for yourselves."

Neither a confirmation nor a denial.

But Tomoya Mashima had said that partly because he trusted Class A's overall abilities to lead them to the right conclusion, and partly to test them.

He had little choice. This year's Class D really did seem different. Although they were not yet a direct threat to Class A, the waters ran deeper this year than before, making this a greater test of Class A's overall capabilities.

"All I can say is that I value this information at two million private points... You have no objection to that price, do you, Nangong?"

"None. But as Mr. Mashima said, we're all short on time. We also plan to visit Class B to sell this information, so I'd appreciate it if everyone in Class A could decide on the transaction as soon as possible."

Nangong Cheng shrugged to indicate his agreement, then spread his hands and began piling on the pressure.

Horikita Suzune stood silently beside him. Her face wore its usual cool expression, but inwardly, she was no less shocked.

Because she had already understood what Nangong Cheng was thinking.

"Oh my~ You've certainly given us a difficult decision, Nangong. Two million points is hardly a small sum, after all."

Upon receiving his answer, Sakayanagi Arisu gave a deeply intriguing smile.

Her words drew everyone's attention. As she had said, splitting two million points evenly meant each person would have to contribute fifty thousand.

But if some of them refused, either the deal would fall through, or the others would have to pay extra.

"Still, with Mr. Mashima's guarantee, I personally am willing to contribute."

Sakayanagi Arisu tilted her head slightly and rested her other hand on her cane, then calmly voiced a startling conjecture.

"But you specifically mentioned Class B, Nangong. May I take that to mean that if we don't purchase your information, but Class B does, they might take our position as Class A?"

Nangong Cheng smiled and lightly brushed his palms together in place of applause.

As for answering? There was no need.

With her mind not yet addled by romance, Sakayanagi Arisu could pretty much work it all out from the hints he had deliberately provided.

"If our position as Class A can be taken, that means the school has ranked the four classes, and those rankings must mean something. Combined with Mr. Mashima's attitude..."

Sakayanagi Arisu kept her gaze fixed on Nangong Cheng's face, deliberately pausing halfway through.

"I believe Class A may be the most privileged class, and that over the next three years, all four classes will compete with one another for the position of Class A."

"So why would we compete to be Class A? There's only one answer—benefits. Namely, the graduation benefits the school publicly promised us. But those benefits are only available to students who graduate from Class A. That's the only explanation that makes all of this reasonable."

"Am I right, Nangong?"

Was she right?

Yes, yes, she was.

Nangong Cheng continued lightly rubbing his palms together, wearing a polite yet slightly awkward smile.

"That's a fascinating deduction, Sakayanagi. But all I can say is that the answers are in the document. If you want to know, you only need to pay the points."

"The price is still two million points, nonnegotiable. If you're unwilling to part with them, we'll head over to Class B instead. I'm sure they'd be very happy to exchange two million points for a bright future."

Kohei Katsuragi, who had been watching all this time, could no longer sit still.

With so little time available, he could only run through Sakayanagi Arisu's reasoning as quickly as possible, but he essentially agreed with her conjecture.

"I agree with Sakayanagi. We have to pay the two million points for this information. We can't gamble on the chance that she's wrong. And if we lose that gamble, the cost could be far greater than two million!"

Once the first two people had stepped up to analyze the pros and cons and make a judgment, other students finally began agreeing to contribute, one after another.

After confirming that all the points had been collected, Tomoya Mashima transferred them to Nangong Cheng with a conflicted expression.

Class A had been outmaneuvered.

Sakayanagi Arisu had already guessed the correct answer, but ultimately, it remained a guess. They still had to spend the money for peace of mind.

Fortunately, the information really was worth two million points. Even if Nangong Cheng subsequently sold it to Class B, the threat to Class A would be greatly diminished.

At least they had secured their ranking for the first month, sparing this year's Class A from becoming a laughingstock.

"A pleasure doing business with you~ I look forward to our next transaction~"

Once he had the money, Nangong Cheng promptly motioned for Horikita Suzune to join him as he prepared to head to their next stop. But he had not forgotten another important matter.

[Task issued: Ask for Nangong Cheng's contact information]

[Completing the task will award Points, which can be exchanged for items in the Exchange Shop]

[Penalty for task failure: Pretend to fall, then say to Nangong Cheng with a pitiful expression and tone, "Big brother, I fell..."]

What was this supposed to mean?

Sakayanagi Arisu narrowed her eyes at the pale blue, translucent panel that had appeared without warning in her field of vision.

Her first reaction and intuition told her that this boy named Nangong was behind it. Unfortunately, she had no direct evidence to prove that.

The others don't seem able to see this, so it's aimed at me?

She covertly observed the others' reactions. Almost everyone was waiting for Tomoya Mashima to tell them exactly what the document contained.

After some consideration, Sakayanagi Arisu did not reject the task. She had indeed developed some interest in Nangong Cheng, and there was nothing strange about simply asking for his contact information.

"One moment, Nangong. Would you mind exchanging contact information? I imagine this won't be our last transaction, will it?"

"My pleasure, adorable little lady."

Naturally, Nangong Cheng would not refuse a task he had issued himself. Although he really did want to see Sakayanagi Arisu's frustrated expression after he rejected her in public, he was pressed for time. He would have to find another opportunity later.

They quickly exchanged contact information. Next stop: Class B.

My sincere thanks to all the readers who have tipped and kept up with the story.

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Volume one: Do you want to understand the meaning of life?

After obtaining Nangong Cheng's contact information, Sakayanagi Arisu saw the contents of the panel in her field of vision change.

[Task complete]

[Task reward: Host receives 50 Points]

[System Exchange Shop unlocked]

Oh? Something new?

Sakayanagi Arisu watched with interest as the panel refreshed into an interface filled with a dazzling array of products.

[Youth-Preserving Pill]

[Perfect Body-Shaping Liquid]

[Flawless Skin Cream]

Eternal youth, a perfect figure... These certainly held an immense allure for most women. Sakayanagi Arisu had to admit that if these items were real, she, too, felt tempted.

But setting aside whether these items were truly as miraculous as their descriptions claimed, if her heart condition could not be cured, even the most beautiful face and figure would end up as nothing more than a handful of dust.

Yet if all of this really was real, could there be something here that would cure her heart disease once and for all?

With that hope in mind, Sakayanagi Arisu looked farther down, and her pupils trembled.

[Panacea: Grants immunity to all diseases upon consumption. Exchange cost: 100,000 Points]

[Time-Limited Panacea: Keeps the body in a state of perfect health for one hour upon consumption. Exchange cost: 50 Points]

As though it could read her thoughts, this so-called System Shop had even gone out of its way to offer her a chance to experience good health.

It all seemed like a trap meticulously laid by a hunter, waiting for the prey to leap inside.

But whether heaven or hell awaited her... was another question.

Because once she experienced a perfectly healthy body, could she truly accept returning to this frail body that needed a cane just to walk and might collapse at any moment?

The answer was... she did not know.

Perhaps she would refuse.

Because she could have endured the darkness, and because she disliked the feeling of stepping into a trap despite knowing someone had set her up.

But perhaps she would accept.

Because she had seen the light, and because she truly wanted a healthy body.

[Do you want to understand the meaning of life?]

[Do you want to truly... live?]

That cold, mechanical voice sounded in her mind again, like a devil's whisper luring a human into damnation.

Sakayanagi Arisu pressed her lips together.

"This choice... really is difficult."

Meanwhile, Nangong Cheng and Horikita Suzune had arrived at Class B.

Since this was a class of sweethearts made up of one archangel and a flock of little angels, things would be simpler than they had been with Class A.

Once again, Cheng took the floor.

"Hello, everyone. I'm sorry to take up some of your time, but I have something very important to discuss with you."

Thanks to the advance notice, Class B's homeroom teacher, Chie Hoshinomiya, was also in the classroom.

She gave the boy before her a meaningful look.

"Go ahead, Nangong. What is it?"

Horikita Suzune stepped forward of her own accord and handed Chie Hoshinomiya a sheet of paper. But without waiting for Chie Hoshinomiya to react, Nangong Cheng continued.

"We have some confidential information about Advanced Nurturing High School. Its authenticity has already been verified by Mr. Mashima, Class A's homeroom teacher, and we've just completed a transaction with Class A."

"Now we intend to sell this information to Class B, and we'd like you to act as a witness to this transaction, Ms. Hoshinomiya."

As both a former Advanced Nurturing High School student and a current teacher, Chie Hoshinomiya naturally understood exactly what the contents of the paper in her hand meant.

Even so, she was deeply shocked.

Only a day had passed, yet these two students—or perhaps one of them—had already uncovered the school's secret and even chosen to turn it into Private Points.

She gave Nangong Cheng and Horikita Suzune another meaningful look, then turned to a student in her own class.

"Ichinose, you handle the negotiations."

Huh? Me?

Ichinose Honami froze for a moment.

"Ma'am, I'm a little lost here... What do you mean by 'confidential information about Advanced Nurturing High School'? Has the school been hiding something from us? Could you explain?"

Chie Hoshinomiya shook her head, but she made a choice similar to Tomoya Mashima's.

"All I can do is guarantee that this information is authentic, and give you an estimated value of around two million points."

"The rest is for you to judge."