Suzune Horikita’s breathing suddenly turned ragged.
Ever since meeting Axel End, the number of times her emotions had swung wildly these past few days exceeded the total of the past several years.
And while before you could argue that Axel End had merely been needling her with snide, sarcastic remarks, now he was flat-out insulting her to her face.
“Don’t forget your own standing.
You were assigned to Class D by the school just the same as me—so what right do you have to call me trash?”
Axel End shifted his posture, crossing both hands on the tabletop in the pose of Commander Ikari.
“What a naive thing to say, Horikita.”
“Just as there are no two identical leaves in this world, no two people are ever exactly alike.”
“So there are gaps between ordinary people, gaps between the students of Class D, and even gaps between the Class A students whom the school evaluates as exceptional talents.”
The cold sneer on Suzune Horikita’s face gradually faded.
She had to admit there was reason to what Axel End was saying.
But even so.
“So you’re saying that even though you were also assigned to Class D, you still believe you’re better than me?”
Axel End nodded, then shook his head.
As a matter of fact, if he didn’t know about this anime called Classroom of the Elite, and if he didn’t have a system backing him up, then in certain hard, objective terms he really would fall short of Suzune Horikita.
But there were no ifs now.
“Whether a person is excellent or not… that very definition cannot be generalized in the first place—it’s like trying to judge whether a person is a good person or a bad one.”
Axel End picked up his coffee cup and drained it in a single gulp.
This Suzune Horikita truly was, in the conventional worldly sense, an outstanding student—but as an individual within the collective of society, she was a failing grade.
“If you fixate too much on that point, it becomes all too easy to warp everything about who you are as a person.”
“The reason I called your earlier line of thinking the mindset of trash is, first, because that approach is far too idealistic and too conservative for Class D, and second, because your current personal ability is nowhere near enough to lead the class.”
Naturally, Suzune Horikita refused to accept this.
But Axel End had never expected to win her over with mere talk—after all, he wasn’t Naruto Uzumaki.
“That said, since things have come to this, although I have no interest in cooperating with you for the time being, in light of the information you provided, I’ll give you an open lecture as a demonstration.”
Setting down his cup, Axel End rose to his feet.
“After you go back, remember to write down all the intel you know on paper—three copies in total.”
“Tomorrow I’ll take you to see exactly what it means to push the advantage of an information gap to its absolute limit.”
With that, he left.
Suzune Horikita remained seated, silent for a long while.
It wasn’t until a café staff member came over to prompt her to settle the bill that she finally snapped back to her senses.
“Tomorrow…”
…
…
Evening.
After leaving the café, Axel End practically toured the entire school, marking all the spots that fell within the blind spots of the surveillance cameras, before finally returning to the dormitory.
He opened his panel to take stock of today’s gains.
[Host: Axel End]
[Core Ability: Master’s Task (Lv.1)]
[Experience Points: (30/50)]
[Current Number of Valid Task Targets: 7 (Suzune Horikita, Kikyō Kushida, Kei Karuizawa, Airi Sakura, Hiyori Shiina, Honami Ichinose, Arisu Sakayanagi)]
[Current Number of Issuable Tasks: 0 (Up to three tasks may be issued per day; if a task is not completed, it does not count toward the total)]
[Points Held: 400]
Considering this was only the first day, Axel End wasn’t dissatisfied at all—this snowball would roll on sooner or later, and by then everyone would have a bright future!
“I still can’t afford the good stuff.”
Axel End did some filtering; for now, there was nothing among the exchangeable items that he particularly wanted.
Something like [Basic Combat] fell into the category of tasteless to eat yet a pity to discard—it might be of some use against Ryuen, but against Kiyotaka Ayanokōji it still wouldn’t quite make the cut.
So he might as well change his approach.
“System, help me filter for items that can strengthen physical attributes.
No point limit.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the semi-transparent blue panel before him instantly changed.
Axel End quickly locked onto the only item on the list that was within his reach.
[Gene Enhancement Serum (Perfect Edition): After consumption, raises fundamental attributes such as strength, speed, and endurance with no side effects.]
[Note 1: This serum must be consumed in three separate doses; after three doses, physical attributes can be comprehensively strengthened to the peak level of a human being.]
[Note 2: The Points required for the first/second/third exchange are 500/5000/50000.]
This was the choice that best suited his current situation.
After all, given the combat power level of a slice-of-life anime worldview, Axel End figured he really didn’t need to overthink it—if all he wanted was self-preservation, then the peak level of a human being was already more than enough.
“Put in a little effort tomorrow and I’ll be able to drink the first bottle.
The sooner I use it, the sooner I can rest easy.”
…
…
The next day.
Axel End rose bright and early and, bringing Suzune Horikita along with him, arrived at the doorway of the first-year Class A classroom.
As students whom the school evaluated as exceptional talents, the Class A students really did have far superior overall qualities compared to the students of the three lower classes. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping(.)com.
With about thirty minutes still left before morning self-study, the classroom was already almost fully packed.
“Excuse me, classmate, could I trouble you to step aside?”
A girl’s delicate, frail voice came from behind him.
Axel End turned his head and saw that not-unfamiliar shock of silver-white hair and the cane.
He made way, but the instant the girl’s left foot stepped into the classroom, he suddenly spoke up: “Since you’re a Class A student, may I also trouble you to relay something to your classmates.”
“I have a piece of business I’d like to discuss with your Class A, but because it concerns the future of Class A, I hope you’ll appoint a representative to liaise with me.”
Arisu Sakayanagi’s hands and feet paused mid-motion.
She turned her head and met the gaze of the boy in the doorway, her eyes carrying both interest and scrutiny.
“And your surname, classmate?”
“End.
This is Horikita.”
Axel End had half a mind to give the name Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, but Arisu Sakayanagi, who had met the man in person, definitely wouldn’t fall for that.
Arisu Sakayanagi swept a glance over Suzune Horikita beside Axel End, a flicker of contemplation flashing through her eyes.
“I am Arisu Sakayanagi.
A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“Our class currently has no student who can represent the class, but if you don’t mind, End-kun, you could simply tell me directly.”
“If this business truly is that important to Class A, perhaps I could help persuade them for you.”
Axel End stroked his chin.
If it were Arisu Sakayanagi… that worked too.
After all, he was going to issue her a task anyway.
“Then please wait a moment for now.
I contacted your homeroom teacher, Mr.
Mashima, in advance—he should be arriving any second.”
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
Tomonari Mashima appeared at the classroom doorway with a briefcase tucked under his arm, his expression stern, the look in his eyes as he regarded Axel End and Suzune Horikita carrying a veiled note of scrutiny.
“Axel End of first-year Class D?”
“If you have business, please handle it quickly.
Don’t disrupt today’s morning self-study.”
Axel End quirked the corner of his mouth, utterly indifferent to the subtext behind Tomonari Mashima deliberately pointing out his status as a Class D student.
He took the paper already filled with intel from Suzune Horikita’s hand beside him and, with a flip of his wrist, held it out.
“Mr.
Mashima, please confirm this document regarding the Advanced Nurturing High School.
If there are no issues, I will formally submit a transaction application to Class A.”