The principal and vice principal retreated to a corner of the residential compound, their faces flushed with frustration. They whispered furiously, casting glances at my towering house and workshop. Leopin, the outcast they despised, was stealing their carefully planned spotlight.
"We cannot let this continue," the principal hissed, his voice low. "That trash is making us look like fools before the supporters!" "We need a challenge he cannot possibly win," the vice principal agreed.
"The survival contest is perfect. Hunting and foraging require teamwork." "A lone dropout like him will fail against entire classes." They smirked, confident their new award would bury me.
Meanwhile, I stood by Monaka's house, cleaning venison for her class. The girls of Class 1-02 gathered around, their eyes wide with gratitude. "Leo-kun, you caught enough food for all of us!" Monaka exclaimed.
Her smile warmed the chilly forest air, and I nodded modestly. "Just using my Ranger skills. You all need to eat well." Onesco and Shinobuko watched, their usual scowls softened slightly.
"His skills are… impressive," Onesco admitted, crossing her arms. "Nin. He provides like a true warrior, degozaru," Shinobuko added. "But do not get too comfortable, Leopin!" they snapped in unison.
I chuckled, unfazed, and handed out portions of meat. The girls began cooking over a fire I'd built with my Blacksmith forge. The savory aroma filled the air, drawing jealous glares from other classes.
Class 1-20, still rebuilding their shacks, muttered bitterly nearby. Weiss adjusted his glasses, his gaze sharp with resentment. "How does that jobless nobody keep succeeding?" he growled.
His classmates echoed his frustration, their voices rising. "We followed your plans, Weiss, and got nothing but rubble!" "If Leopin were here, we'd have food and shelter like Class 1-02!"
Weiss clenched his fists, his sage-like composure crumbling. "Silence! My strategies are flawless—you executed them poorly!" The tension in Class 1-20 simmered, threatening to boil over.
I ignored their squabble, focusing on my next task. My status window glowed, revealing new skills from my Level 4 status. Survival Mastery: Enhances efficiency in hunting, foraging, and crafting.
Switching back to Ranger, I ventured deeper into the forest. The survival contest required securing food for a week. My enhanced Five Senses picked up every rustle and scent.
A flock of wild birds chirped overhead, ripe for the taking. With my Blacksmith-crafted bow, I fired precise arrows. Three birds fell cleanly, enough to supplement the venison.
Appraisal: High-quality poultry, rich in nutrients. I gathered edible berries and roots, guided by Survival Technique. My cart, now loaded with food, creaked as I returned to the compound.
Monaka's class cheered as I unloaded the haul. "Leo-kun, you're amazing! We won't go hungry!" I smiled, but my mind was already on the next challenge.
The principal and vice principal appeared, holding a new certificate. "The 'First to Secure Food' award goes to the class with the most provisions!" They scanned the plots, expecting Class 1-11 or 1-02 to dominate.
But their eyes landed on my pile of venison, birds, and foraged goods. "Impossible!" the principal sputtered, his face paling. "That trash single-handedly outdid entire classes?"
The vice principal clutched the certificate, trembling. "We cannot award this to a Special Training Class reject!" They turned away, pretending not to see my contribution.
Monaka stepped forward, her voice firm. "Leo-kun deserves that award!" Her classmates nodded, their support echoing through the compound. Even Onesco and Shinobuko joined in, their reluctance fading.
The principal forced a smile. "We'll… consider all entries." But their retreat was hasty, their frustration palpable. I shrugged, unbothered. Awards meant little compared to helping others.
Back at my "Garbage Dump" plot, I planned my next project. A water system would ensure Monaka's class had clean drinking water. Switching to Builder, I envisioned a simple aqueduct from a nearby stream.
Using my stone axe, I carved channels in the forest floor. THWACK-THWACK-THWACK! The steady rhythm calmed my mind. I lined the channels with smooth stones, ensuring a steady flow.
Appraisal: Basic aqueduct delivers clean water with minimal leakage. I crafted wooden pipes from kinohi wood, joining them with Mokumigumi. The system directed water to a stone basin near Monaka's house.
"Leo-kun, you built a fountain?" Monaka gasped, clapping her hands. "It's just a water supply," I said, testing the flow. The clear stream sparkled, earning murmurs of awe from her class.
Class 1-20, meanwhile, struggled to dig a shallow well. Their tools broke, and their water was muddy and scarce. Weiss barked orders, but his team's morale was crumbling.
"Why does Leopin have everything?" a classmate muttered. "He's alone, yet his plot looks like a village!" "Maybe we were wrong to exile him," another whispered.
Weiss spun around, furious. "Never question my decisions!" But doubt lingered in their eyes, their faith in him eroding. I caught their glances but focused on my work, undeterred.
The sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the compound. I switched to Blacksmith to craft fishing hooks for the stream. The tiny hooks gleamed, sharp enough to catch small fish easily.
Appraisal: Fishing hooks with triple the catch rate of standard ones. I shared them with Monaka's class, teaching them to fish. Their laughter filled the air as they pulled fish from the stream.
The principal and vice principal watched from afar, their faces dark. "He's turning the outcast plot into a paradise!" the principal fumed. "We need a contest that forces teamwork—he'll fail without a class!"
"The next award: 'Best Class Cooperation'!" the vice principal declared. "Tasks like fortifying the village require group effort." "No way a lone reject can compete," they agreed, smirking.
I overheard their plan, my mind already strategizing. Cooperation? I'll show them what one person can do. Switching to Builder, I began fortifying my plot's perimeter.
Using surplus kinohi wood, I crafted sturdy fences. My "Structural Reinforcement" skill ensured they'd withstand attacks. Appraisal: Fences resistant to weather and moderate force.
Monaka approached, her eyes soft with concern. "Leo-kun, you work so hard." "I'm just making sure you're all safe," I replied, hammering a post. She blushed, clutching her handkerchief. "You're too kind."
Onesco and Shinobuko trailed her, their usual threats absent. "Your skills… they protect us all," Onesco said quietly. "Nin. You're no horse bone anymore, degozaru," Shinobuko added.
Their words surprised me, but I nodded. "Thanks." The fence was nearly complete, a sturdy barrier around my plot. I felt another glow—Level 5! And more new skills have been unlocked.
Fortification Mastery: Enhances defensive structures. I applied it to the fence, doubling its durability. My "Garbage Dump" was now a fortified haven.
Other classes struggled with flimsy barricades, their teamwork faltering. Class 1-20's fence collapsed under a single push, sparking arguments. Weiss's leadership was unraveling, his authority slipping.
The principal's voice boomed across the compound. "The cooperation contest begins tomorrow!" I stood by my fence, my resolve unshaken. They think I'll fail alone? I'll prove them wrong again.