Did "above" mean that aside from those mentioned, the rest of the school wouldn't provide any assistance?
Well… that was fine.
For someone like Kure Ragna, a martial artist capable of splitting stone monuments with his bare hands, even if he started out empty-handed like in The Forest, he could probably carve out a luxury resort from pure wood, Minecraft-style.
But for the rest of the students—who were still firmly in the realm of "ordinary people"—this situation was completely unacceptable.
"What?! Are you serious? This is how we're supposed to survive on an uninhabited island?!"
A loud voice cut through the air. The source? Kanji Ike from Class B, shouting at full volume, his outrage echoing across the beach.
"This isn't an anime! There are only two tents—how the hell are we all supposed to fit?! And what about food?! This is insane!"
If this were a survival-themed variety show, the comment section would probably be flooded with, "If you're so delicate, just leave" or "This guy's already annoying."
But right now? At least half the students felt the exact same way.
Mashima-sensei let out a small sigh, rubbing his temple as if already exhausted. "I repeat, this is not a joke."
Ike looked ready to yell again, but before he could, another voice spoke up—calm, but cutting.
"How famous is this company?"
The question came from Kure Ragna, his expression unreadable.
Mashima-sensei blinked, caught off guard. It wasn't the kind of question he expected.
Before he could answer, Kōenji let out a hearty laugh from Class B's formation.
"Oh? A so-called 'famous' company, is it? Well, in my experience, it's usually the half-baked ones that pull stunts like this to avoid paying proper wages."
"Don't—"
Chabashira Sae stepped forward, cutting the conversation short. She cast a sharp look at both Kure and Kōenji. "This is going nowhere. Mashima-sensei is right. There are plenty of companies like this. Some offices don't even have chairs. Others determine salaries by rolling dice."
Kure Ragna let out a scoff, his voice laced with amusement. "Ah. So it's just an obedience test, then?"
The words hung in the air.
"You dangle some nonsense about 'randomized pay,' and suddenly, the guy who rolls low thinks he's just unlucky instead of realizing he's being exploited."
"Meanwhile, the lucky ones feel grateful to the boss, as if they've received some grand favor. Classic psychological trick."
He clapped his hands—slow, mocking applause. "Treating employees like dogs, playing mind games, and dangling rewards they can never truly reach… The old tricks never go out of style."
That was all it took.
The tension that had been simmering under the surface exploded.
"Yeah! This is basically treating us like test subjects!"
"This is way too much!"
"And it's during summer vacation, too! Unbelievable!"
Shouting erupted across the beach. Even a few students from Class A, usually silent, were muttering in discontent.
Mashima-sensei sighed again, this time rubbing his forehead with both hands.
"Students, please calm down. I understand your frustrations. That's why the theme of this special exam is not 'Endurance'—but 'Freedom'."
The word cut through the noise.
Freedom?
For a moment, the students hesitated.
Mashima-sensei nodded, seizing the brief silence. "Yes. Freedom."
---
"Before the exam officially begins, each class will receive 300 special exam points and a guidebook. These points can be used to exchange for any item listed in the manual."
"You are free to choose how you spend them. If you want to live like ascetics, that's one option. But if you manage your points wisely, this week could feel more like an island vacation."
That changed things.
"Additionally, at the end of the exam, your remaining special exam points will be converted into class points on a one-to-one basis. Keep that in mind."
As murmurs of discussion began to spread, Mashima-sensei continued.
"Each of you will also receive a wristband. These devices monitor body temperature, pulse, and come with a built-in tracking system. It ensures safety. Along with the wristband, your class leader will receive a special key card."
"This card is used to unlock unoccupied strongholds on the island. Once claimed, a stronghold belongs to your class— but it must be reoccupied every eight hours."
A staff member stepped forward, handing out the wristbands and key cards.
"If you attempt to take another class's stronghold or use their resources without permission, 50 points will be deducted. Additionally, if a student withdraws from the exam—whether voluntarily or due to injury—their class will lose 270 points."
"For example, since Class A's Sakayanagi is unable to participate, their starting points have already been reduced to 270."
That caught the students' attention. Losing a classmate meant a massive penalty.
"Lastly, at the end of the exam, each class will have a chance to guess the leader of another class. If you guess correctly, you earn 50 points, while the opposing class loses 50 points. However, if your guess is wrong, your class will be deducted 50 points instead. Stronghold points will also be rendered invalid if your leader is exposed."
Mashima-sensei closed the manual. "That concludes the rules. The special exam begins now."
With that, Classes A, C, and D immediately began moving into the forest in search of a stronghold.
Class B hesitated, waiting for direction from Yukinoshita Haruno, their likely leader. Just as she was about to speak, a voice stopped her.
"Yukinoshita Haruno, I have a deal for you."
She turned around, surprised—only to freeze when she saw Ayanokōji Kiyotaka standing behind her.
It was a familiar face, yet something about him felt entirely unfamiliar.
More than that, he was holding something in his hand.
Dangling from his fingertips was the testing wristband, still powered off.
"I haven't put this on yet," Ayanokōji said calmly. "And I'd prefer not to. If possible, I'd like you to wear it for me instead—for the entire week."
Haruno narrowed her eyes. "And why would I do that?"
Ayanokōji said faintly, as if discussing something trivial. "Because I'll make it worth your while. In exchange, I'll give you 20,000 personal points once we're back on the ship… and I'll help you uncover another class's leader."
Haruno's breath caught.
This wasn't just a favor—this was a serious gamble.
Her mind raced. The question was… was it worth the risk?
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