A Tyrant's Will

Volume 3: Chapter 1.3 - Hidden Agenda

It took the teachers a long time to finish explaining every rule and penalty attached to the special exam. Most classes lingered afterward, debating logistics, arguing over how to spend their points, or struggling to decide on a leader and the condition.

But not Class A.

Before Sakagami-sensei had even reached the end of his explanation, Ryuuen had already skimmed through the entire manual and begun walking away. He ignored his teacher's calls and his classmates' protests, his pace steady and unwavering. With no choice but to follow, the rest of Class A trailed after him.

"Where are we going, Ryuuen-san?" Ishizaki asked, already out of breath as he struggled to keep up.

"No idea," Ryuuen said without slowing. "We follow the beach until we find something interesting."

"Huh? Why the beach? Why not head into the forest where there's shade?"

Ishizaki's question was reasonable, but Ryuuen didn't answer. He had no intention of entering the forest at all. Instead, his gaze lingered on the ship anchored offshore, from which they had disembarked only moments earlier. He kept to the shoreline, as though determined to remain as close to it as possible.

Class A trudged through the sand beneath the relentless sun, struggling under the intense heat. Moments later, a calm female voice called out from behind.

"Ryuuen-kun. May I have a word?"

"Hmm? What is it, Shiina?"

"I don't know what your plan is, but I might've found some useful clues. On the boat, do you remember the PA announcement asking us to gather on deck to view some rather significant scenery?"

"Sure. I didn't bother showing up, but it sounded like a hint from the school. You noticed something, didn't you?"

"Yeah. The ship took a large detour around the island instead of stopping directly at the pier. I spotted a trail cutting through the forest toward what looked like a cave, along with a path leading to two other nearby facilities. Katsuragi-kun was watching carefully as well. He seemed to notice the same clues."

"Ku ku. Quite observant of you, Shiina. It's rare to see you so proactive in helping the class."

Ryuuen let out a laugh, taken aback that one of his classmates had managed to do something worthwhile without his help.

"It's only natural for classmates to share what they know. I was just doing my part, Ryuuen-kun."

"So you're not gonna question why I'm sticking to the beach instead of taking your advice and heading for the cave?" Ryuuen asked.

Shiina hesitated for a moment. "You seem to already have a strategy in mind for this exam, Ryuuen-kun. Besides, Katsuragi-kun has probably reached the cave by now. I only wanted to mention it in case it turned out to be useful."

"Don't worry. It was."

Ryuuen had intended to spend the rest of the day exploring the island and identifying the locations of the other classes' base camps as quickly as possible, which was partly why he had moved out so early. Learning Class C's base camp location right away was a huge plus. With that information secured, he could move straight to laying the groundwork necessary to carry out his strategy for this exam.

But even without Shiina's help, Ryuuen was confident he would be able to navigate the island without much trouble. As a delinquent, he was more than used to living out in the wild, often in much harsher conditions. The stipulations of this exam did not bother him at all compared to most students accustomed to city life.

After a long period of walking, Class A finally came across a signpost sticking out of the sand, marking one of the designated spots on the island. Nearby stood an apparatus fitted with a keycard slot, indicating which class currently held the right of exclusive possession.