Chapter 28: Split or Steal Whew— I'm alive.
I'd planned for it, but Shizuka's magic was way more powerful than I expected. For a second there, I really thought I was a goner. Talk about a stroke of luck.
If I hadn't used that guy as a shield, I'd be dead for sure.
I survived, but my body was a wreck. When I tried to stand up, every muscle screamed in protest, and my leg was shot. I ended up limping pathetically as I tried to approach August.
"Good job, everyone. Wow, you guys fought well. Truly impressive."
"… …"
I tried to throw out some praise, but the students just stared back with icy glares.
Hey, shouldn't you be moving things along? Don't just stand there staring; how about fixing my body first?
As I stared him down, August finally began fiddling with his pad to adjust some settings.
In an instant, the pain coursing through my body vanished. The scattered corpses were summoned nearby, and the kids began to spring back to life.
"Yo~ tough break, huh?"
"You were so damn weak you couldn't do a thing! What the hell are you smiling for?!"
"What are you talking about?"
Chika, who had been dead and thus had no idea what happened, barked at me. But hey, I was the one left standing.
"I'm Best 8. You die. You feel me? I'm an elite mage. You? A loser."
"…Is he insane?"
Chika looked at me like I was a lunatic, but when August announced the surviving teams, her expression went blank.
Have you finally realized my greatness?
However, the moment she heard the explanation—that I survived by hiding in the smoke of the corpses—her gaze shifted back to pure contempt.
Oh, so what, you're not gonna take the prize? You're gonna take it. And since scores are being tallied starting today, I basically put in double the work.
Despite her dissatisfied expression, our team had ultimately survived, so Chika kept her mouth shut about that part.
Instead, it was Takeo who blew a fuse.
"You son of a bitch! You played dead? Just you wait."
"It's a shame you didn't make the Best 8, but you fought well! Hey! You've got talent! You've got potential. Keep working hard!"
"You motherfucker!"
Why is this guy getting mad when I'm complimenting him?
Takeo lunged at me as if to kill me, but with a flick of August's finger, he was dragged backward.
Watching that, our resident "mad dog" burst into laughter, a wide grin on her face.
"Dumbass, are you really that pissed about losing? Maybe you should've been better, then."
Uh, excuse me, Miss Chika. You lost too. We're only here because of me. No, no, I just thought you might've forgotten.
Unable to voice my inner thoughts, I simply nodded.
If this helps Chika become more cooperative and act like a human being, then everyone wins.
"Then, we shall begin the second round with the remaining eight teams. Where do you think you're going?"
"We're done. Fuck, why should we stay here when we've got no business left?"
As Takeo spoke up rudely and turned to leave, August replied flatly.
"I did not say it was over yet. Take your seats."
"… …"
"Of course, those of you who were eliminated in the first round are not eligible to compete in the second. However, you will sit and reflect on your defeat while watching the winners savor their victory. You will have time to contemplate why you lost and why those people won."
Wow… this place is cold-blooded.
When I saw this through Akito's perspective, it felt like the students voluntarily held a reflection session, passionately analyzing each other's strengths and weaknesses regardless of whether they won or lost—all very "happy-go-lucky." Why is it like this where I am?
An awkward silence descended. Takeo glared at August as if he wanted to kill him, but realizing he couldn't win against a teacher, he gritted his teeth and sat down.
As expected, a teacher is the natural counter to a delinquent.
Besides, it's not like there's no corporal punishment here, and he's not an opponent you can overcome with brute force anyway.
August, his face as expressionless as ever, looked back at us and continued his explanation.
"The second round… Ah, I forgot to give you your supplies first."
With a gesture of his hand, a large amount of food was piled into four stacks a short distance away from us.
There were even desserts, and the quantity looked like it could last three days.
But why four stacks? Do we only get them if we win the second round? Is this going to be a 1-on-1 duel instead of a survival game like before?
"You won't need to use your bodies in the second round. We will be testing how much you trust each other and how well you can read your opponent's mind."
I'm getting a really bad feeling from this explanation.
We didn't come all this way just to do some word quiz you'd find at a school retreat, right?
August continued calmly.
The game was Split or Steal.
One person from each team would step forward to play. Two players would choose either "Split" or "Steal."
At the end, their choices would be revealed simultaneously. If both chose Split, they would share the supplies 50/50.
If one person chose Steal, the one who chose Steal would take everything. If both chose Steal, no one would get anything.
…Hey, don't go starting friendship-destroying games all of a sudden.
We have to see each other's faces back at school once this exam is over.
Looking at the coin with the words engraved on either side, I made a grimace.
Chika… yeah, she's not exactly the brainy type.
I looked at the "mad dog," who seemed like she hadn't even fully grasped the rules yet, then scanned the other students.
Aha, I see.
It looked like everyone else was thinking the same thing as me.
Contrary to the teachers' intentions, no idiot would choose Steal here.
"Nadia: Split. Gerard: Steal. Gerard's team will take all the supplies."
Spoke too soon.
Nadia looked at him with a face full of betrayal, but Gerard just said he was sorry and packed up the supplies with his teammates.
You son of a bitch… You've gotta set the right tone from the start!
Once Gerard took everything by choosing Steal, the expressions of the students waiting their turn shifted.
"Don't worry about them, let's just share. There's plenty even if we split it."
"Yeah, I trust you. No need for us to compete."
"Both sides have chosen Steal. There are no supplies."
Good grief. The future of Yggdrasil is looking pretty bleak.
In a classic display of a friendship-destroying game, the two who had been talking so nicely to each other ended up trying to backstab one another. When they both failed, they retreated while glaring at each other like mortal enemies.
Why are you looking at the other person like that when you were both trying to betray them?
The kids who were eliminated in the first round—especially Takeo—were having a blast mocking them now that both had lost their supplies.
This is driving me crazy.
Feeling miserable, I looked at my opponent.
"… …"
Having Shizuka as my opponent was both a blessing and a curse.
She glared at me with such intense distaste that it was clear she didn't trust me one bit.
"What do you want to do? Should I go?"
"Are you good at talking? Good at persuading? Oh, and just to remind you, persuasion and physical force are two different things."
"Looking at her face, I think it's better if I go."
That… I can't deny.
Fortunately, the next pair of students were on the same page and shared their supplies. Finally, it was Shizuka's and my turn to approach the small square table.
Up close, she really was stunningly beautiful.
She probably hadn't even been able to wash properly, yet she seemed to give off a pleasant scent.
"I do not trust yo—"
Thud—
Without even listening to Shizuka, I slammed my palm down on the table along with the coin.
"I chose Steal."
"… …"
"I've already made my move, so I'm not changing it. Let's do this: you pick Split. I'll take everything, and once the game is over, I'll give you half."
Since the coins could only be revealed at the very end, we had to persuade each other with words alone.
If persuasion wasn't going to work anyway, I had to push my own terms.
"…Do you expect me to believe that?"
"And if you don't? I've already chosen Steal. Your choice is either to lose all the supplies along with me, or to pick Split and trust the tiny possibility that I'll share. The former is a 100% loss, and the latter… well, it depends on your faith, but at least it's not zero."
"…You could just choose Split yourself."
"No, because you don't trust me. Are you trying to force someone you don't trust to trust you?"
"Isn't that exactly what you are doing right now?"
"Yeah, because I'm a piece of trash. But I've left the choice to you. Decide whether we go down together or if you'll bet on that slight possibility."
Shizuka's gaze was so fierce it was a little intimidating.
Because we were so close, I could see her gritting her teeth slightly, and even that looked sexy.
Shizuka closed her eyes and thought for a moment, then opened them, glaring at me with murderous intent.
"If you don't keep that promise, you will regret it."
"Trust me."
"You have a lot of nerve asking for trust after pulling a stunt like this."
"I can't help it. I've caused so much trouble already that if I lose this time, a certain mad dog is going to go absolutely ballistic—Agh!"
I don't have a mana barrier, so that hurts! And how did she even realize the 'mad dog' was her?
I looked back at Chika, who had thrown a stone at my back, then turned back to Shizuka.
"Anyway, that's that. Make your choice."
"I question the character of a man who describes this as a 'choice.'"
Expressing her restrained fury, Shizuka placed her coin on the table alongside mine.
Once both sides had decided, the coins were revealed.
The coin that had been hidden under her pale hand read Split.
Perfect.
"Split?"
"Didn't you say you were going to Steal?"
The students whispered as they saw the coin that had been hidden under my palm. Shizuka stared at me blankly.
"I told you we'd share. I just figured it'd be easier for Professor August to divide it up rather than us doing it by hand."
In this eroge world, it might be a fresh game, but ultimately, it was something put there by real-world game developers.
In my past life, games like this were everywhere; there was even a broadcasted show with the exact same rules.
It was a foreign show, so I didn't watch it directly, but I'd seen plenty of "legendary clips" on the internet.
It was a game that had been repeated countless times, and among those instances, geniuses and wise men had left behind great examples.
I was just following one of them.
I guess I could call this a "knowledge cheat," right? It's knowledge, after all.
But there was no need to reveal that I already knew the game.
In times like this, it's cooler to just shut up and smile.
"Ho…"
"There is certainly a reason why Mr. Derek is showing interest."
"Did something happen between the Amagi girl and Seo Yeon-woo? Why does she hate him so much?"
"I don't know the reason, but Seo Yeon-woo's strategy—knowing that persuasion wouldn't work—was bold."
The teachers, unaware that Yeon-woo had simply copied the move, were all impressed by his cleverness.
Derek silently recorded his evaluation of Yeon-woo on his pad.
'Combat capability assessment is still pending, but based on the abilities shown thus far, he is capable of being deployed on A-rank hazardous missions. Highly recommend gaining experience as an assistant to agents.'
Because of his personality—loving to stand out and act cool—Yeon-woo was being increasingly highly rated by the teachers.
He wanted to dump all the dangerous stuff on Akito and live a comfortable life, but he had no idea he was backing himself into a corner.
A triumphant return.
What a wonderful phrase.
My standing as a leader skyrocketed, and I graciously bestowed supplies upon the commoners who praised me.
"Seo Yeon-woo! Seo Yeon-woo!"
"Louder!"
"Seo Yeon-woo!! Seo Yeon-woo!! Seo Yeon-woo is handsome!!"
"Idiots…"
The mad dog was still lacking in respect, but the cheers from the Comedy Duo were worth listening to.
According to Masayoshi, if we rationed it, it would last two days, but since we had some meat now, we could hold out for four.
What~? Rationing? As long as this magnificent leader is here, I won't stand for such a destitute lifestyle.
I immediately set out to hunt with Chika.
If we left the monsters alone, they'd just end up in other people's stomachs anyway. It was better to catch them now for food and trade the leftovers with other teams.
By the time we returned from bartering our kills with other groups, the base had been completely transformed.
"What is this…?"
"Oh? You're back? I put in some work. Looks comfortable, right?"
Masayoshi, his face covered in mud, gave a wide grin.
I think I've seen this on the internet.
You know, those videos where people survive without a single tool, like in the prehistoric era?
On top of earthen walls made of piled mud, there was a roof made of intricately woven branches.
In the middle of the hut, which was spacious enough for eight people, was a hearth made of stacked stones, with a chimney connected to the roof to vent the smoke outside.
"It's a bit crude, but there's a shower too. The tank is small, so you have to shower in a minute or have someone refill the water. Oh, and I've fired some jars, so we have plenty of containers for water."
"…Is this really possible in the short time we were gone?"
"We have magic, don't we? And it wasn't just a short time. I gathered some materials yesterday, and I was preparing while you guys were off taking the exam."
Why did Masayoshi look so cool saying that so nonchalantly?
I rubbed my eyes and looked again—yep, still ugly.
So that's why he'd been busy since yesterday; he was preparing all this.
Seriously, Masayoshi, the supplies aren't wasted on you.
With this kind of talent, why were you going around begging when I was playing the game?
"Make this wall bigger."
"Huh? Why?"
"You think I don't know what you perverts are thinking? You're planning to peek while I'm showering. Block it off properly."
This brat still isn't acting like a human being.
Instead of thanking the person who worked so hard, she's just giving him more work.
At the mention of a shower, Chika's eyes lit up as she inspected the shower area, pressuring Masayoshi to start the expansion work.
"Don't make Masayoshi do it; do it yourself if you need to."
"What?"
"Ah! Don't be like that, I'll do it. I can do it, I can do it. I'm fine."
When will that girl ever grow up?
It's because he accepts it like a total pushover that she keeps acting like that.
However, Masayoshi and Rio, not wanting the atmosphere to turn sour, quickly began the expansion work on the shower room.
Between the construction and making smoked meat, the sun soon began to set.
Is it about time for Akito and Emma to start getting all lovey-dovey?
I looked at the hearth in the middle of the hut and stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"To take a dump."
"Could you maybe rephrase that? That's disgusting."
"It's not disgusting. Even my poop is—"
"No, there's no way poop can be handsome, so just go already."
"I'm gonna be a while, so I might be late—"
"Just go!"
I couldn't exactly say I was going to watch Akito have sex, so I gave Rio a vague excuse and headed out.
The Chika-bitch gave me a look of pure disgust, but who cares?
I had nothing better to do anyway, so I might as well go check out Emma's body.
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