Chapter 5

New Tokyo residents generally use two words to describe students from remote, impoverished areas who look like country bumpkins.

That would be "clod."

Dongyuan had been in this world for more than half a year, and he usually kept a low profile, having no interaction with the delinquents in his repeat class—“clod” was likely a nickname he had received before he transmigrated into this world, probably only called behind his back.

After all, being low-key didn't mean being weak; calling someone out in front of others could easily lead to punishment from the school.

Hmm... unless it was a timid and insecure girl like Kagura Ryoka, who would likely just blush and walk away even if occasionally called "elementary school girl" to her face.

Dongyuan didn't have the time to deal with this nickname for now. With a thought, he entered the Sin Manual.

[Name: Dongyuan (Male)]

[Race: Human]

[Current Attribute Template]

[Strength: 11.3 (Very Weak)]

[Agility: 22.3 (Weak)] +0.1↑

[Constitution: 8.8 (Very Weak)] +0.1↑

[Perception: 9.7 (Very Weak)]

[Willpower: 15.9 (Very Weak)]

[Energy Particle Affinity: Water, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Light, Dark... (0)]

[Abilities: Shadow Flash, Nine Eyes Six Paths]

[Title: Follower of Justice (Sin Value x10) Duration: 30 minutes]

[Status: Human Limiter (Removed)]

Attribute Points: 0

Source Points: 0

Huh?

Agility and Constitution have improved?

Dongyuan's face showed a hint of joy.

Although the improvement was as slight as last night, he now had a more relaxed mindset. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; persistence is the key to victory.

However, it was now late November, and there were only 100 days left until the academic test at the end of February next year, akin to the "100-day sprint" before the college entrance exam in his previous life.

Just as a horse won't get fat without night grass, diligence alone won't make you rich in reality.

Diligence only keeps you from being poor. To become wealthy, you need to seize the opportunities of the times boldly and carefully at the right moment. He was very clear about what his "opportunity" was.

But thinking about the risks involved, Dongyuan sighed... Well, let's focus on what we can do for now.

...

Exiting the Sin Manual, the flow of time around him returned to normal. The soreness in his calf muscles surged in waves, and his mouth was dry, with saliva being produced uncontrollably.

But for some reason, he had grown to love this nearly "self-abusive" training, even feeling a bit of pleasure in it.

Hmm, it's definitely not some kind of fetish; it's probably because the feedback from the training is so clear...

At that moment, the few boys also walked up to Dongyuan, occasionally glancing at him, trying hard not to laugh, but not actively looking for trouble or mocking him.

Their target was Kagura Ryoka.

Among the three, the one with light golden hair was named Sugi Kō, who called out with a grin, "Hey! Elementary school girl! Time's up! The morning assembly is about to start, don't be late."

Calling someone by a nickname to their face was almost openly "bullying."

Kagura Ryoka, who was practicing kendo, paused at the sound of her nickname, turned her head, and stopped like a startled deer upon seeing Sugi Kō and the others. She lowered her head, her eyes avoiding contact, and silently put away her bamboo sword, hurrying over with her short legs.

This girl is really submissive...

If this were a movie or a novel, Dongyuan would now transform into the "Follower of Justice" from the Sin Manual, shouting, "Let go... no, leave that girl alone and come at me."

But reality isn't a screen story. Even if Dongyuan wanted to meddle, Kagura Ryoka might still thank the others.

Sure enough, Kagura Ryoka, holding her bamboo sword and running over, bowed slightly and said timidly to the three, "Thank you, I'm really sorry... I forgot the morning assembly was starting early today..."

You see...

Dongyuan shook his head. He had gone to work as a part-time patrol officer after school yesterday and didn't know the morning assembly was starting early today either.

Sugi Kō chuckled, glanced at Dongyuan, and asked with a forced smile, "It's Dongyuan, right? Were you... running just now?"

The two behind him exchanged glances and similarly grinned, their eyes turning to Dongyuan.

The conditions for ability users to advance in rank are quite stringent. Wealthy families' children use drugs and equipment, which have side effects and lack practical experience. Others improve through sparring or actual combat, which is less efficient but builds a solid foundation.

Of course, the fastest to advance are those with high ability sequence numbers and exceptional talent.

...

Dongyuan had some impression of the "delinquent trio" in his class.

Sugi Kō, the one with the "blonde" hair, was said to have an uncle on the school board. He was arrogant and self-important but failed the academic test this year.

However, he seemed to believe he would eventually rise to prominence. After being held back, he often mocked and ridiculed the other repeaters in the class, probably thinking everyone around him was "weeds," and feeling somewhat resentful about being in a repeater class.

Dongyuan didn't answer immediately. After his breathing gradually stabilized, he smiled and nodded, "Yeah... I was running."

"Oh—! Is that so..."

Sugi Kō deliberately drew out his words.

Pfft!

The one behind him, a slightly chubby boy named Sodegawa Yūta, couldn't hold back his laughter.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I usually have a high threshold for jokes, but I just couldn't... hahaha..."

Sugi Kō turned and scolded with a grin:

"Hey! Be serious, you idiot! This is Dongyuan's own way of training, having a dream is admirable... pfft hahaha... I couldn't hold it in either, sorry."

As soon as he finished speaking, the other tall, thin boy also laughed. The three exchanged glances, looking at Dongyuan as if he were some kind of oddity...

Kagura Ryoka, standing in the middle, seemed uneasy. She fidgeted with the hem of her kendo uniform, slightly turning her head to look at Dongyuan with a hint of apology—seemingly feeling that her actions had caused this "honest boy" in the back of the class to be mocked by the delinquents.

Dongyuan understood her apology and sighed inwardly. She's a kind girl... Despite being mocked for her appearance and figure every day, she still worries about others.

...

"Is it that funny?"

Dongyuan looked up at Sugi Kō.

The laughter abruptly stopped.

Sugi Kō was slightly taken aback, his smile fading, and he narrowed his eyes, staring at Dongyuan.

He hadn't expected a "weed" in the repeater class to not give him face—especially one from Hokkaido who had failed the academic test for two consecutive years and would be expelled if he failed again next year.

Apart from his face, he was practically worthless.

Damn!

It's still a bit annoying!

But at the Super Ability Academy, the school rules are very strict, and private punishment is severely punished.

Since he couldn't use force,

Getting angry and losing composure would mean losing.

Sugi Kō quickly recovered his forced smile, staring at Dongyuan's annoying handsome face with a grin.

The slightly chubby follower, Sodegawa Yūta, looked at Dongyuan mockingly and said, "If I'm not mistaken, Dongyuan, you're in your third year, right? If you don't pass the test this year... well, I hear the sardines in Hokkaido are good. As classmates... you might get a discount from us, right?"

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't look down on people!"

Sugi Kō suddenly scolded, grinning, "I don't think Dongyuan would end up selling fish at the Hokkaido docks, right? Tsk tsk! I hear the new trend in Shinjuku's Kabukichō is young, innocent boys, very popular with wealthy women. Dongyuan, do you want me to recommend you? The pay is quite good..."

Sodegawa Yūta's eyes widened, his chubby face rippling with a lecherous grin, "Dongyuan might already have connections, right? Otherwise, why would he be so focused on physical training, hehehe..."

Hearing this, the three burst into a knowing laugh.

Kagura Ryoka, who had been looking down, blushed and wanted to run away but couldn't bear to leave Dongyuan to be mocked alone, feeling so conflicted that she was on the verge of tears.

I'm really useless...

Unexpectedly, Dongyuan's voice, still smiling, calmly said, "Thanks for your concern. If it pays well... I don't really care where I work."

He then walked towards the teaching building, needing to change out of his sports clothes before the morning assembly.

However, as he passed Sugi Kō and the others, Dongyuan suddenly chuckled.

"By the way, if you want to eat fish in the future, you can have your mothers take care of my business. I'm sure it will be more cost-effective than elsewhere..."

With that, he relaxed and stretched, walking towards the teaching building.

Kagura Ryoka, who had been staring at Dongyuan's back, quickly followed, finally escaping this awkward place.

Sugi Kō and the others, however, were left standing there, seemingly pondering Dongyuan's words.

"What does he mean? Have our mothers buy fish from him?"

"Why do I feel like he's not talking about fish?"

"Could it be about the host club... Damn! He's insulting us!"

"How dare this guy..."

"Calm down, calm down! If we get angry, we lose."

The three delinquents, who had been furious, finally calmed down.

Sugi Kō took a deep breath, staring at Dongyuan's back, and sneered, "This guy is so bold... He must know he's going to be expelled and is just giving up."

He then laughed coldly.

"Does he really think... I can't do anything to him at school?"

...

...

In the classroom, Dongyuan, after changing his clothes, sat in the second-to-last row by the window.

Kagura Ryoka, who was short, had to sit in the first row. She occasionally glanced at Dongyuan in the back, her eyes darting around, seemingly lost in thought.

Before the morning assembly, the class president announced the student council's instructions and emphasized some key points for the coming days, urging everyone to pay attention.

"Hey, Dongyuan, why are you so late today?"

Suddenly, someone poked Dongyuan from behind. He turned to see a muscular, reliable-looking boy named Aida Yūto, a 1st Rank, 1st Level ability user with the [Enhanced Body] ability. He and the original Dongyuan had a good relationship, so he had to "inherit" this friendship.

"Nothing much, just ran on the playground to exercise." Dongyuan smiled.

"Running? Uh..."

Aida Yūto was also taken aback, scratching his head, and asked in confusion, "Why run?"

"To digest my breakfast." Dongyuan joked.

At that moment, the classroom door was pushed open.

A woman with long hair, a petite figure, and a childlike face wearing a fashionable brown short coat, long boots, and black knee-high socks strode in confidently.

The moment she stood at the podium, her gaze swept the classroom like a lioness surveying her territory, and the room quickly fell silent. She nodded in satisfaction.

Kagura Ryoka, sitting in the first row, stared at her familiar homeroom teacher, Tachikawa Asuka, with admiration almost spilling out of her eyes, her deer-like, moist eyes sparkling with stars.

Tachikawa Asuka.

Homeroom teacher of Class 1-F at the private Takahara Nan Academy.

Her ability is the 68th-ranked [Super Speed], and she is a 4th Rank, 3rd Level super ability user. She is often privately referred to by students as "the woman you absolutely cannot provoke."

This is not only because of her powerful personal abilities,

But also because of her...

"That blonde over there! Yes, you!"

A clear, pleasant voice, like a little girl's, rang out from the podium, but the tone was regal and commanding, leaving no room for evasion.

In the middle of the back row.

Sugi Kō, who had been scolded by Dongyuan that morning, was startled and quickly stood up, his light golden hair bouncing.

Tachikawa Asuka's delicate, childlike face frowned, and she scolded, "Have you forgotten what I said yesterday? I'm giving you one more day. Tomorrow, I'll personally shave your head with the scissors I use for my Teddy bear!"

The classroom erupted in low laughter.

Indeed, the reason this homeroom teacher is the most difficult to offend is her sharp tongue.

"Teacher, I..."

"Sit down, or do you want to do it today?"

"Uh... Yes..."

Sugi Kō immediately slumped back into his seat.

Although he was the nephew of a school board member, Tachikawa Asuka was a 4th Rank, 3rd Level super ability user, a valuable resource in New Tokyo.

If he insisted on standing his ground, even if it escalated to his uncle, he would likely end up being the one to suffer.

...

At the podium, Tachikawa Asuka, with her childlike face, took out her notebook and began the morning assembly as usual.

Most of the meeting content was about encouraging the repeaters to strive in the final 100 days to pass the test in late February next year and advance to the second year, hoping that next year, there would be no familiar faces in this classroom...

At the end, she mentioned that a batch of ability fruits had been stolen from the research institute in the central district of New Tokyo, and the police suspected they had been stolen by criminals and entered the black market—these fruits were still experimental and posed significant safety risks. She urged everyone to report any leads if they encountered anyone trying to contact them.

A batch of ability fruits stolen from the research institute?

In the second-to-last row of the classroom.

Dongyuan, who had been daydreaming, frowned slightly at this news. The image of the bright, golden orange he had seen in the profile of the Tiger Maiden, Shari, immediately came to mind—could that orange be one of the ability fruits that had entered the black market?

But why did the person give it to Shari?

What is that constant feeling of being watched?

These questions lingered in Dongyuan's mind throughout the morning classes, and although he felt he was close to some clues, he couldn't piece them together.

When the bell rang for the break, Dongyuan stopped his speculations, took out his lunch box, and headed to the cafeteria.

In this world, eating is the most important thing.

...

"I'll have a set meal."

"I'll have ramen."

At the cafeteria window, Dongyuan and his classmate Aida Yūto stood one after the other.

Aida Yūto said in a low voice, "Did you hear? A girl from Hokkaido in the third year has gone missing. She hasn't been to school this week, and her family can't reach her. The school is saying she might have joined the revolutionary army. Tsk tsk... I saw her photo, and she's quite pretty."

"Everyone has their own path. Why do you care so much?"

Dongyuan reached out to take his set meal from the cafeteria window—three dishes, one soup, and a bowl of rice, including water celery, which he disliked the most, so he would give it to Aida Yūto later.

"Hehe, I just feel sorry..."

Aida Yūto chuckled, took his large bowl of ramen from the window, and found a seat with Dongyuan. As soon as he sat down, he leaned in and said:

"I heard you offended Sugi this morning, and he's threatening to 'teach you a lesson' in the practical class this afternoon. What's going on?"

"Practical class? Teach me a lesson?"

Dongyuan was taken aback, shook his head, and said, "