“Well, this is fine, but Hirata, I don’t really get it... why is Ibuki here?”

“Huh? Ah, about that...”

More than spending points, the thing that bothered me most was the presence of Ibuki, a Class C member sitting quietly from a distance at Class D’s base camp.

According to Yamauchi it seemed she got isolated in Class C and something happened so he could not leave her and brought her here and Hirata was also worried and tried to ask my opinion.

And of course I opposed it.

“Are you out of your mind? That girl is Ryūen’s closest subordinate, are you not considering the possibility she is a spy just because she is from Class C? If the leader gets exposed then the river and fishing and everything are over, at that point this exam is ruined.”

“O-of course but... I still couldn’t just leave her...”

“It would be an obstacle for me too, right? I figured she would never agree in the first place, thanks for helping.”

Ibuki herself reached a conclusion on her own and tried to leave quickly.

“Wait a moment, could you tell us what happened? I want to help.”

Hirata pressed the end of his words firmly and stopped Ibuki.

Yeah, looking at that swollen face it was not something trivial.

“Even if I talk it won’t solve anything and I heard everything you were talking about earlier too, if your plan leaks any more won’t that be a problem?”

“If you were really a spy you wouldn’t say something that gets you kicked out yourself, right?”

“I said it’s enough, I’m just looking for a place to sleep.”

“Sleeping outside alone as a girl in this forest is too reckless.”

“Even if it’s reckless I have no choice, there’s no benefit for you in helping me.”

“Benefit and loss have nothing to do with it, I just can’t throw away someone in trouble, everyone thinks that way, right? Ayanokoji.”

How far do I have to entertain this foolishness?

Hirata is trying to head down a path where the exam can be ruined over a moral issue.

He asks me with a bright face but that won’t work on me...

Or will it?

If I use this I might be able to get Class C information in reverse.

Maybe in this case I can use it as part of the plan.

Should I look into it in detail?

Thinking that I approached Ibuki.

“Ibuki Mio, right? That injury is Ryūen’s doing?”

“...Why would I tell you that?”

“Since you came this far and heard information it became difficult to just let you go, if you promise to stay here quietly under my and Hirata’s watch I will provide you a place to stay.”

Everyone reacted in shock and strongly objected.

Even in this situation Shinohara started trying to attack me as if she found an opening.

“Wait! Are you siding with her just because you have a friend in Class C?! Don’t decide things like that on your own!”

I ignored her and continued.

“Of course I said I would only provide a place to stay, I never said I would let you sleep comfortably or give you food, so from now on cooperate with me, if you tell me Ryūen’s plan I will guarantee the bare minimum living conditions.”

“...And if I don’t?”

“Then I will have no choice but to tie you to that tree for a week and blindfold you to maintain security. I will give you water at set times so you don’t die but it will be extremely painful to the point you might think sleeping outside is better, for example...”

The unbelievably horrific torture description that came out of my mouth made everyone jump and a few even fell over.

More than anyone Hirata tried to stop me like it was impossible.

“Wait, Ayanokoji! You’re joking, right?”

“I’m completely serious, as long as I don’t hit you there is no problem with the rules, right?”

If Ibuki was there during my brutal meeting with Ryūen she would know I was serious.

And she looked exhausted so she was clearly hungry.

There was no way she would refuse my offer.

Hearing my brutal seriousness Ibuki seemed to make up her mind and opened her heavy mouth.

“Like you said this is Ryūen’s doing, I got beaten by him and kicked out, I strongly opposed his plan.”

“That’s awful! Hitting a girl...”

“Well if it’s Ryūen that bastard it’s totally possible, so what was the plan?”

It was a plan so extreme even I had trouble believing it.

“On the first day spend all points and have fun then after spending everything have everyone voluntarily withdraw and return to the ship, that’s all.”

After hearing Ryūen’s plan everyone wore the same expression like they couldn’t believe it.

Throwing away a perfect chance to gain points just to have fun was not something anyone would believe.

“This is obviously a lie!”

“Spend everything and end the exam together, do you think we’re idiots?”

“There’s no way something like that is possible!”

“Hirata, Ayanokoji! Kick her out right now!”

But I made a calm judgment immediately.

“Well, this could be one method too, it’s not breaking the rules and if they spend all points then even if everyone retires their points won’t decrease, in other words they plan to take a vacation.”

“Ayanokoji, you believe this?”

“The theme of this exam is ‘freedom’, whether you waste all points or live in poverty while saving is your freedom, also if everyone retires then Class C might have no leader at all, in the leader nomination battle where you have to stake fifty points they can escape most safely while also causing a fifty point loss to the class that nominates them, Ryūen... he really is an impressive man, to the point it’s a shame he isn’t in my class.”

Seeing my chilling smile the Class D incompetents all swallowed.

Some probably felt a chill imagining me and Ryūen being in the same class.

“Well, we’ll know if we check tomorrow, Ibuki, from now on live here under my and Hirata’s watch, if you run away it won’t be fun, I’ll sleep right next to you so don’t even dream of doing anything funny and since the shower room is installed I’ll go take a shower, Hirata, count the people and place the meal order.”

I declared that and left to shower.

Later I heard the Karuizawa group strongly opposed my order but after Hirata persuaded them they had no choice but to agree.

The other guys who were against it also seemed to accept it because once they heard the information it made sense that sending her away would be difficult.

As for the occupation device issue Hirata and I would keep watching but since everyone volunteered we decided everyone would monitor it without assigning someone separately.

Considering Ryūen’s personality it is possible Ibuki was truly kicked out.

Evidence... I need clear evidence that Ibuki is a spy.

To find it I’ll go to Class C tomorrow.

So please don’t retire early tomorrow, alright?

* * *

Just before sunset after we completed all preparations for outdoor life everyone began eating freely.

“Here, thinking about your contribution, I brought you a nutrition meal but don’t expect it from tomorrow on, okay?”

I held out a nutrition meal and one bottle of water to Ibuki then started eating in front of her.

Ibuki frowned and started eating with me.

Unlike Ibuki I ate the fruit Ike gathered and drank water made by boiling river water.

“Didn’t you buy food for the class headcount? Don’t waste it on me...”

“Don’t misunderstand, for nutrition meals we decided to split three servings among four people and the rest goes to you, I’m only eating this because I keep my word, the taste is not bad.”

When I ate like it was nothing Ibuki said no more.

Using this chance I decided to talk a bit with her since she is Ryūen’s close subordinate.

Yeah, since Hiyori is our point of contact I’ll use her as the topic.

“More importantly, didn't Hiyori oppose that strategy? Don’t tell me she got kicked out with you.”

“With you here do you think that’s possible? For the exact same reason you mentioned she expressed support.”

“Figured, take good care of Hiyori if you can, I’ve never seen her hanging around closely with a Class C girl.”

“Aren’t you the one who doesn’t seem like you fit in with Class D? You act like you’re watching me but deep down you have no intention of getting along with those guys, do you?”

In our class the boys were mostly eating together but the girls were eating split into separate groups.

Karuizawa’s arrogant queen group, Kushida’s close friends group and a few others alone.

Just looking you can see there’s a wall.

It feels like different classes.

I thought the exam strengthened unity but was it only for the boys?

Seriously girls are so annoying.

“Anyway you don’t need to worry about Shiina, she doesn’t really have a close friend in class but there are plenty who respect and follow her and she’s kind and pretty so the boys talk about her a lot.”

“Then tell those guys, unless they’re a top-tier talent with excellent physical ability, top ten academics and good looks I will never approve.”

“Oh please, you sound like an overprotective parent.”

“Look at Class C’s state, especially Ryūen, tell them if they try anything he’ll really kill them.”

“I don’t know, Ryūen doesn’t seem to think of Shiina like that and he was more excited talking about you.”

“...I just lost my appetite.”

That ended my conversation with Ibuki with no gain and only a worse mood.

No surprise, she’s probably a loner in her class like me.

If so it’d be nice if she and Hiyori could get along well.

She doesn’t look like a bad person by nature either.

* * *

If everything seems to be going well you need to suspect there might be a flaw.

I failed to do that and that’s why I ended up in this mess.

“When it comes to Koenji he complained that he was not feeling well and returned to the ship, of course because you failed to manage the health of a student you have already lost thirty points, it’s the rules so there’s nothing we can do, Koenji becomes a dropout and has the duty to wait on the ship while receiving treatment.”

“Whaaaaaat?!”

Why didn’t I notice sooner?

Why didn’t I find it strange that that monkey-like wild man was nowhere to be seen?

Only when Hirata handing out food realized Koenji was missing and asked did I realize something was wrong.

Ryūen’s strategy is to spend all points then retire... in other words if someone claims poor condition they can retire at any time by their own will!

“Don’t mess with me, Koenji! What the hell are you thinking?!”

“Damn it! We lost thirty points! This is the worst!”

I thought he was endlessly free but I never imagined he’d quit on his own.

Everyone, boys and girls alike, raged at Koenji’s action and usually calm Yukimura was outright yelling while stomping the ground.

Recalling Koenji’s high-pitched laughter, I crushed the disposable food container in my hand and swore.

‘That bastard, I will definitely kill him.’

So we went to sleep for the first night of this damn deserted island survival exam while carrying a loss of thirty points.