Hearing the explanation offered by Kakeru Ryuen, Kazuma Sakagami's brow furrowed even tighter.
Having taught for many years, he was well aware of Class C's style. The injuries on these students—especially the distinct open wound on Ryuen's face and his soul-crushed state—were absolutely not something that could be caused by "falling down a slope."
It looked more like... they had undergone a complete violent crushing and a psychological strike.
However, he was also clear that on this island without surveillance, as long as the students reached a "consensus," the so-called "truth" could only be the version the school administration heard.
He cast a sharp gaze over the semi-conscious Albert and the others, then looked into Ryuen's eyes, which had thoroughly lost their luster and even held a trace of imperceptible terror.
"Falling down a slope can result in this?" Sakagami's voice turned a few degrees colder.
Ryuen tugged at the corners of his swollen mouth, revealing a smile uglier than crying.
"That's right, Sensei... I can't remember clearly. Sensei, I'm very dizzy..."
He clutched his head, feigning pain, yet his eyes subconsciously avoided Sakagami's scrutiny.
Sakagami fell silent for a few seconds.
This wasn't the only report he had received. Almost in the same timeframe, Mio Ibuki's squad had encountered an "accidental" trap while en route to the Class D camp, resulting in severe injuries and withdrawal. Squads from Class A and Class B had also encountered similar traps on different routes, leading to personnel reduction.
All clues faintly pointed to a single center. And that center was right now in front of the despondent Ryuen, yet could not be directly accused.
Although they were man-made traps, they did not violate school regulations.
Sakagami swallowed hard and sighed. He had never encountered such a situation before.
To cause rapid attrition among students of other classes—this was a choice not even the craziest student could make.
"Sensei, what's the situation on Ibuki's side? Did any of them withdraw from the exam?"
"Quite a few students over there encountered a landslide. Several are seriously injured."
Sakagami sighed again. "Most of them had to withdraw from the exam... Now the school has to conduct an internal investigation. After all, this exam is meant to train the survival and leadership skills of first-year students. But the result has caused injuries to so many people. Not just Class C, but Class A and Class B also have many injured. Such a severe situation has never happened in our school before..."
Sakagami shook his head.
The development of this exam could completely be described as an accident.
Almost every class had double-digit student withdrawals—except for Class D.
What exactly is going on?
Sakagami was naturally aware that so-called accidents or landslides absolutely could not happen this many times. Although this was an uninhabited island, the school had modified it beforehand to guarantee it wouldn't pose a serious threat to student safety.
Some students had made traps. And they were students from Class D.
Was it really possible to achieve this level in such a short time? And how did the trap-maker know that students from other classes would definitely pass through those places?
Countless questions arose in Sakagami's heart, but he could find no answers.
But all the questions were definitely related to the same student.
Natsuki Subaru.
Sakagami already knew beforehand that Ryuen had a very abnormal obsession with Subaru. Perhaps all of this was inextricably linked to that person.
But could that Subaru really destroy Ryuen's spirit to this extent...?
"So, Ryuen, what is your situation here?"
"Albert and the others can no longer continue participating in the exam. We give up—no, the entire Class C gives up. We abstain."
As he spoke, Ryuen took out his Leader card and handed it to the teacher.
"Are you sure?"
Sakagami understood Ryuen; the boy was not someone who gave up easily. But now, there wasn't even a speck of light in his eyes.
"I'm sure. With so many students injured in the class now, the class points have already been deducted to nothing. So, we have no way to continue."
"Alright. Treat these students' injuries first, then take them back to the ship."
Sakagami finally waved his hand, ceasing his questioning.
His internal evaluation of that Class D student named Natsuki Subaru underwent a drastic change once again—he wasn't just dangerous, but a near-uncontrollable, incomprehensible existence. He had to report this situation.
Ryuen was supported up, following the staff away like a marionette.
When passing the trap zone they had meticulously set up—which had served no purpose whatsoever—his steps paused. His gaze swept over those clumsy arrangements that Subaru had easily seen through or avoided, and a trace of a self-mocking, bitter arc rose at the corner of his mouth.
A meticulously planned hunt, yet in the end, he himself was the prey who was thoroughly seen through and casually crushed.
No, he didn't even count as "prey." He was just a sample on the opponent's lab table that had quickly lost its observation value.
Natsuki Subaru...
He chewed on this name silently in his heart. The hatred was still burning, but the core of that flame was already covered by a layer of cold ash.
What remained was mostly bewilderment, the void after one's cognition is thoroughly overturned, and the lingering chill brought by that glance of darkness.
Fear had seemingly left an indelible brand on Kakeru Ryuen's heart.
*
Uninhabited Island Exam, Final Stage.
With the withdrawal of Class C's core combat forces like Ryuen and Mio Ibuki, and the unexpected attrition in Class A and Class B, Class D—despite experiencing Kikyo Kushida's betrayal and Class C's attempted sneak attack—actually became the class with the least damage and the most "stable" order under Subaru's command and the "protection" of the unexpected traps.
In the remaining few days, the exam entered a relatively stable rhythm.
Each class was busy consolidating strongholds and acquiring basic survival resources. The probing and conflicts between them decreased significantly—partly due to damaged strength, and partly because a subtle dread was spreading.
Dread towards Class D.
Inside the Class D camp, the atmosphere remained oppressive, but the operational efficiency was abnormally high.
Subaru's orders were concise and clear; no one dared to openly question or defy them.
Suzune Horikita was responsible for maintaining superficial administrative operations, while Ayanokoji observed everything in deeper silence.
Yosuke Hirata tried hard to bridge the cracks in the class, but the results were minimal. Most students were in a state of "controlled numbness." obeying Subaru was less about trust and more about fear mixed with a twisted reliance on a "powerful protector."
After all, amidst the succession of crises, it was Subaru who had "protected" them in the coldest yet most effective way.
Even if the method was chilling.
On the fifth day, due to the severe reduction in the number of people in other classes, the school had to announce the end of the exam ahead of schedule.
All students still participating in the exam were gathered at the shore. Class A's homeroom teacher, Chie Hoshinomiya, was responsible for announcing the exam results.
However, the number of students on the shore was only about half of the original amount.
The entirety of Class C had withdrawn.
Class A and Class B had also suffered heavy losses. Although they persisted afterward, the various accidents that occurred at the beginning had drastically slashed their class morale, and work efficiency was greatly discounted.
Moreover, various accidents continued to entangle them later on.
And their points had long been deducted to zero.
"I will announce the results of this exam. Fourth place."
Chie Hoshinomiya pursed her lips.
"Class C, abstained. Points: 0."
"Those guys actually abstained?"
"Huh? What happened?"
"Weren't they targeting us the whole time before?"
The students of Class D had no idea what had happened. They only felt that Class C had been inactive for the last few days; many of them thought Class C had gone to deal with other classes.
But in the end, the entire class abstained?
Why on earth was this?
Suzune Horikita also looked at Subaru with a face full of astonishment.
She was very clear that Subaru must have done something. With Ryuen's relentless, pestering personality, how could he possibly give up casually?
Unless...
Class C had encountered an unprecedented crisis.
"Tied for fourth place."
Chie Hoshinomiya's voice continued, carrying a trace of imperceptible fatigue and confusion. "Class B, stronghold occupation points... 0."
Another uproar.
Class B was also 0 points?! This meant that not only did they fail to obtain extra point rewards, but their exam points were also deducted to zero due to personnel withdrawals.
"How is this possible... We clearly..."
Whispers of unwillingness came from among the Class B students.
Kohei Katsuragi stood at the front of the line, looking haggard. He had also been injured due to an accident earlier, only persisting by gritting his teeth.
Katsuragi had originally reached a cooperation agreement with Class C, but due to the latter's abstention, this alliance became meaningless.
And the damage to the class also affected their speed in occupying strongholds.
Every time they wanted to occupy a spot, they would find it preempted by Class D, or they would encounter an accident.
"Looks like Class A and Class D are the ones laughing last?"
"Tied for fourth place, Class A."
Chie Hoshinomiya raised her volume, but her voice was trembling slightly. "Points... also 0."
Her class was actually last place too.
"What?"
"Class A is also 0 points?"
"How could this happen?"
Honami Ichinose's face was iron-blue at this moment.
A series of accidental events had caused a huge blow to the class. Even if the students of Class A were incomparably united and tried to weather the crisis, the chain of accidents had directly destroyed the class.
It was difficult to even maintain unity.
Ryuji Kanzaki had even withdrawn from the exam due to an unexpected event.
This series of incidents crushed Honami Ichinose's heart, leaving her unable to maintain order in the class at all.
Not only were they unable to occupy strongholds, but she couldn't even accomplish the task of guessing the leaders of other classes.
0 points was only logical.
At this moment, everyone's gaze coincidentally focused on the remaining Class D.
Surprise, suspicion, dread, inquiry... various complex emotions intertwined in the air.
Class C abstained with 0 points, Class B had 0 points, Class A had 0 points... Then, the only one who could possibly have obtained points was...
Chie Hoshinomiya paused for a moment, looking with a complicated gaze toward the direction of Class D—especially at Subaru, who stood at the front of the crowd with an expression so calm it was eerie.
She took a deep breath and read out the final result:
"First place, Class D."
"Exam points obtained: 500 points."
"Whoa—!!!"
A massive wave of sound exploded instantly! Not only Classes A and B, but even most students within Class D were stunned.
500 points?!
Under circumstances where almost all classes had returned to zero, Class D actually obtained a whole 500 exam points?!
This wasn't just a victory; it was a crushing, complete triumph!
"Impossible!!"
Someone from Class A couldn't help but shout out.
"On what basis?!"
"It's definitely some trick they pulled!"
"We don't accept this result."
Voices of doubt rose one after another. Class A students looked at each other in dismay; Honami Ichinose frowned tightly, trying hard to think through the logic of Class D's victory.
The people of Class B's Katsuragi faction had faces that were even more iron-blue.
Suzune Horikita and Yosuke Hirata were also stunned. They knew Class D's situation was special, with Subaru in command, a relatively stable camp, and more than one stronghold occupied, but the figure of 500 points still exceeded their expectations.
Unknowingly, Class D had already occupied many strongholds and never stopped; this alone acquired them a large amount of points.
Moreover, in the end, Subaru had guessed the leaders of all the other classes.
He didn't need logical deduction; just by constantly using trial and error, he could find the result.
Victory was absolute.
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's gaze fell upon Subaru.
The latter showed no reaction to the surrounding gasps and doubts, as if those 500 points were nothing more than a numbers game.
His gaze seemed to look past the noisy crowd, projecting toward a certain point on the distant sea level, or perhaps, simply immersed in thoughts no one could understand.
Chie Hoshinomiya raised her hand and pressed down, signaling everyone to be quiet, but the effect was limited.
She had to raise her voice:
"Silence! The score judgment is comprehensively assessed by the school based on exam rules and the actual situation. The result is confirmed and unchangeable. Class D performed outstandingly in this special exam and is hereby commended."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over Subaru, and added in a complicated tone:
"At the same time, the school will also conduct an in-depth investigation into the multiple 'accidental' events that occurred during this exam. We hope all students, after returning to school, can summarize their gains and losses and devote their energy to their future study life."
Investigation?
This word made the hearts of some who were in the know shiver.
But more people were still immersed in the shock of Class D obtaining the huge sum of 500 points.
Even Class D's own students found it somewhat hard to believe.
This shock was even greater than the joy of the class winning the exam.
"Why? Why did we win?!"
"It feels like we didn't do anything..."
"Why did the other classes all get 0 points?"
Countless questions surged in their hearts.
However, everyone realized one thing with tacit understanding.
Subaru definitely did something.
Yet, Natsuki Subaru simply continued to look into the distance with an expressionless face.
Boring.
____
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