Soon, Subaru followed Sae Chabashira to a room on the cruise ship.
The other teachers had been waiting in the room for a long time.
Chie Hoshinomiya, Tomonari Mashima, and Kazuma Sakagami.
The moment Subaru walked into the room, the three of them stared unblinkingly at this student.
Dread, suspicion, fear.
This was the first time these teachers had felt such emotions towards a student.
Meanwhile, on the large screen behind them, the incomparably serious expression of Chairman Narimori Sakayanagi was projected.
Narimori Sakayanagi was in another location and could only conduct a remote video call.
His expression grew increasingly grave as he stared unblinkingly at Subaru before him.
This exam had the highest number of withdrawals since the establishment of the school.
Over thirty people withdrew from the exam due to physical reasons.
All sorts of unexpected events had occurred to these students.
Some were even very seriously injured.
For this school, this was undoubtedly a massive accident.
And now, the school administration intended to investigate the related matters.
"Natsuki-kun, you should be aware of the large number of students from other classes withdrawing from the competition, right?"
Narimori Sakayanagi's gaze focused on Subaru, his voice sounding deep and full of authority.
"I just heard about it."
Subaru yawned, speaking as if he didn't care in the slightest.
"We previously investigated the GPS positions of every student. Natsuki-kun, you have been to all the locations where other classes encountered accidents."
Narimori Sakayanagi observed Subaru's expression, seeming to want to find some flaw in the other's face.
But there was no change whatsoever in Subaru's expression:
"I'm not too sure. Maybe it's an unfortunate coincidence."
Subaru spoke slowly.
"Coincidence. If it were just once or twice by chance, I would certainly believe it's a coincidence. But in fact, that is not the case. I don't believe in so many coincidences, Natsuki-kun—"
Narimori Sakayanagi spoke aggressively,
"You did all this! You set traps on the uninhabited island, causing a large number of students to get injured and withdraw from the exam. This was your plan, wasn't it?"
"Apologies, Chairman, but that kind of accusation sounds too scary."
Subaru's voice remained steady, even carrying a hint of perfectly timed confusion, as if he had truly just heard an absurd speculation.
He tilted his head slightly, those eyes seeming to look through the screen to meet Narimori Sakayanagi's sharp gaze without dodging in the slightest.
"Just because the GPS records overlap, you conclude that I created those unfortunate accidents? The area of the uninhabited island isn't small, but the exam zone is limited. All students operate within a limited area, so isn't it very normal for routes to occasionally cross or be nearby?"
He spread his hands, making a gesture of helplessness and innocence,
"Does that mean all students who passed through those places are suspects? If that's the case, then I'm not the only one who needs to be questioned."
Sae Chabashira frowned deeply from the side.
She understood Subaru's uniqueness and had witnessed the changes inside and outside Class D, but at this moment, Subaru's logic was watertight, leaving her no room to interject.
Tomonari Mashima pushed up his glasses and spoke in a deep voice:
"Natsuki-kun, we have retrieved preliminary investigation reports from some of the accident sites. Those unexpected events, such as deliberately camouflaged pits, show a setup technique that displays considerable... professionalism and premeditation. This doesn't look naturally formed, nor does it look like something ordinary students could complete in a hurry."
"Professionalism?"
Subaru revealed a trace of an extremely faint arc, as if finding it amusing,
"Mashima-sensei, you overestimate me. I'm just an ordinary high school student. Perhaps they were left by staff members previously? Or dangerous areas that were originally on the island and not completely cleared by the school? After all, the school claimed before the exam that safety was ensured, but looking at it now, it seems that wasn't the case?"
He cleverly steered the topic toward the school's responsibility.
Chie Hoshinomiya couldn't help but speak up, her voice carrying lingering fear and a trace of imperceptible trembling:
"B... But this is too coincidental! Why is it that the teams from Class A, Class B, and Class C had accidents one after another, while your Class D remained almost safe and sound, and even gained the greatest benefit from it?!"
As the homeroom teacher of Class A, she had suffered heavy losses this time, so her emotions were inevitably agitated.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei,"
Subaru turned his gaze to her, his tone remaining flat, "Class D remaining relatively intact might be because we have good luck, or were more cautious and didn't step into those dangerous areas. As for gaining benefits... we just followed the exam rules, worked hard to find and occupy strongholds, and guessed the leaders of the other classes correctly at the end. Isn't this behavior allowed and encouraged by the exam? If we are to be suspected of being related to others' misfortunes just because we worked hard and succeeded, then who will dare to go all out to strive for victory in the future?"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over every teacher present, finally returning to the Chairman on the screen.
"Or is the school saying that Class D is unworthy of obtaining such a victory? Because our foundation is poor, because we were once defective products, so when we achieve good grades through some method—even if it's luck—we must accept harsher scrutiny and be presumbed to have used 'improper means'?"
These words were not loud, but like a soft knife, they stabbed directly into certain latent preconceived notions of the school based on class differences.
Kazuma Sakagami's expression changed; he wanted to refute but was momentarily at a loss for words.
Narimori Sakayanagi's expression became even more grave. Being experienced in the ways of the world, he could see that the student before him was definitely not ordinary. Subaru's response was too calm, too organized, completely unlike a high school student being suddenly interrogated and potentially facing serious consequences.
He not only defended strictly but was even able to ask sharp rhetorical questions, shifting part of the pressure back to the school.
And for some reason, Kazuma Sakagami felt his own hands trembling slightly.
It was as if, just now, Subaru had displayed killing intent toward all of them.
Is the person in front of them really just a high school student?
Kazuma Sakagami simply felt that within the body of the Subaru before him, there seemed to be a terrifying soul.
"Natsuki-kun, we are not targeting Class D, nor are we presuming you are guilty."
Narimori Sakayanagi adjusted his tone, trying to soften it while maintaining pressure,
"But the nature of this incident is serious, and many students were injured. We must conduct a thorough investigation on every student, especially those with suspicious movement trajectories. This is our responsibility. Your explanation has its rationality, but likewise, suspicious points cannot be completely ruled out. We hope you can provide more details, such as your specific activities during those time periods, whether there were witnesses, or... whether you noticed any suspicious people or events?"
This was typical rhetoric for applying pressure and seeking a breakthrough.
Subaru fell silent for a few seconds, as if seriously recalling.
The air in the room almost solidified as the teachers stared at him tightly.
"Specific activities... nothing more than exploring, looking for food and water sources, and trying to locate strongholds. Witnesses? I acted alone most of the time; efficiency is higher. As for suspicious people or events..."
He raised his head, his gaze so frank it was unsettling,
"If we have to talk about suspicious, I actually feel Class C's actions were more peculiar. The Class C from before even attacked our stronghold and snatched food. Perhaps all of this has something to do with Ryuen-kun, doesn't it?"
He muddied the waters once again, cleverly directing the focus toward Kakeru Ryuen, who had already collapsed and could not effectively defend himself.
Narimori Sakayanagi's fingers tapped lightly on the unseen desktop.
He knew that this interrogation would hardly make any substantive progress.
Subaru was like a cloud of mist—visible, yet impossible to grasp.
He hadn't left any direct physical evidence, there was no reliable third-party testimony, and even if someone testified, there was no video recording as direct evidence.
Relying solely on GPS trajectories and motive analysis was completely insufficient to convict him on the level of law or school rules.
More importantly, Subaru behaved too calmly, even more logically meticulous than the school administration.
Forcibly pursuing this might instead cause the school to fall into a passive position of public opinion for framing a student without evidence.
Kazuma Sakagami obviously realized this too; he glanced at the Chairman and shook his head imperceptibly.
Right at this moment, Subaru spoke again:
"Moreover, teachers, and Chairman, I couldn't possibly predict the movement trajectories of all students. How could I guarantee they would fall right into my traps?"
The other teachers looked at each other in dismay. They had also thought of this question earlier but simply couldn't come up with an answer.
Just as Subaru said, this island was huge; it was impossible for Subaru to know the movements of all classes.
"Furthermore, even if all of this really was a carefully arranged trap, it didn't violate the regulations, did it?"
Subaru said.
"What are you saying! A large number of students were injured! This is absolutely intolerable!"
Tomonari Mashima spoke somewhat emotionally.
"Mashima-sensei, do you mean to say I should be responsible for the result of this exam? Additionally, could you explain to me which rule prohibits doing this?"
Subaru's voice was calm.
But Tomonari Mashima keenly sensed an aura.
That was...
Killing intent?
This student revealed killing intent toward a teacher?
The teachers next to him were also stunned on the spot, completely not expecting that Subaru had taken control of the situation.
Even Sae Chabashira didn't dare to speak for a moment at this time.
Narimori Sakayanagi was not present and could not feel that aura, but he felt fear toward Subaru's gaze.
Those were eyes like black holes, as if they wanted to swallow everything.
Narimori Sakayanagi took a deep breath and said slowly:
"...I understand. Natsuki-kun, thank you for your cooperation. The school will continue to investigate this matter. Please also understand our seriousness regarding this matter. Before the investigation concludes, we hope you keep your communication channels open. We may still need to ask you about the situation."
This was almost a disguised form of supervision and observation, but it was also the limit of what the school could do without evidence.
"Okay, Chairman. I understand."
Subaru nodded slightly, his attitude impeccable.
With complicated feelings, Sae Chabashira signaled the end of the inquiry.
Subaru nodded politely to the teachers again, turned around, and left the room with steady steps, closing the door behind him.
The instant the door closed, the oppressive feeling in the room seemed to lessen slightly, but another, deeper sense of powerlessness and doubt spread.
"Simply... simply like talking to a monster! Is this really just a student?"
Chie Hoshinomiya sat back in her chair dejectedly, covering her forehead.
"His psychological quality is extraordinary."
Tomonari Mashima said in a deep voice,
"Clear logic, perfect emotional control, precise counterattacks. This is definitely not an ordinary high school student."
Kazuma Sakagami's face was ashen:
"Are we just going to let it go like this? Half the students in my class are lying in the infirmary! That kid Ryuen is also..."
"We have no evidence, Sakagami-sensei."
Narimori Sakayanagi's voice came from the screen, carrying deep fatigue and wariness,
"Forcing a harsh handling will only make things worse. This student... Natsuki Subaru, his danger level might far exceed our imagination. He not only has the ability to create chaos but also the ability to hide himself perfectly within the rules."
Everyone knew these things were related to Subaru.
But everyone also couldn't produce evidence.
Moreover, just as Subaru said.
Even if he did it, he didn't violate school regulations.
School regulations only prohibited students from brawling—
Things like traps didn't count.
Furthermore, without video recordings and witnesses, the so-called violent incidents didn't exist at all.
He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the three homeroom teachers.
"Strengthen the observation of him and record all his abnormalities. At the same time, keep the content of this conversation strictly confidential to avoid causing unnecessary panic. In addition..."
His eyes became sharp,
"Re-examine Natsuki Subaru's enrollment file and all records before his transfer thoroughly. Do not let go of any detail. I don't believe such traits appeared out of thin air."
"Yes, Chairman."
"As for the originally planned next round of the special exam, postpone it for a while... After all, so many students have been injured; we have to let them recover first."
The three homeroom teachers responded in unison, but their hearts were heavy.
They knew that this matter was far from over.
*
Subaru walked along the corridor returning to the cabins; the sea surface outside the porthole had been completely swallowed by the night.
Inquiry? Investigation? Supervision?
That extremely faint arc at the corner of his mouth finally vanished completely, leaving only a bottomless indifference.
They were just spinning within a set framework, trying to use logic they could understand to apply to an existence completely beyond their cognition.
Boring.
Teachers were also boring existences.
He pushed open the cabin door. The students sharing the cabin were nowhere to be found; perhaps they were intentionally avoiding him.
He walked to the window, looking at his own blurred reflection on the glass.
Ryuen... Kushida... Ichinose... Katsuragi... and those teachers...
Their reactions, their emotions, their calculations and fears...
Still, they were of impoverished hues.
Perhaps this world itself was just so monotonous and tedious?
His fingertips swiped across the cold glass.
The next "game"... would there be anything different?
He closed his eyes. Beside his ears, there was only the low roar of the ship's engine and the hollow sigh of the endless ocean tide that never stopped.
____
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