2. The Golden Finger's Effect; Unanswerable Questions!
As a transmigrator fortunate enough to relive a second life, Aragaki Shun naturally possessed something like a golden finger.
It wasn't a common system, but rather a special ability, talent, or perhaps a divine power he named [Source Power Manipulation]?
Anyway, it was a similar concept.
He hadn't found any other supernatural existence in this world for the time being, so he could only study this naturally awakened superpower according to his own understanding.
According to his exploration over the years, it was known that when he caused a lasting impact in this world, he could obtain a kind of omnipotent energy based on this influence, which he named [Source Power].
Source Power was omnipotent, but the premise was to have a large amount of Source Power for him to squander.
According to his Source Power acquisition speed over these years, even if he saved it up for ten years without using it, and then burst it out all at once, it would be impossible to unleash a town-destroying level of attack.
The key point was that the impact caused by using Source Power to create miracles couldn't allow him to intercept Source Power again.
Otherwise, if he could recover as much as he consumed, he would have stopped being honest long ago.
Fortunately, after repeated attempts, he also found a more meticulous way to use his special ability.
That is, compared to purely "I think, therefore it is" or "great power works wonders," if he had a corresponding understanding and insight into the miracle he wanted to perform and knew the corresponding principles, then the Source Power consumed for the same effect could be saved by more than half, and even only one-tenth of the Source Power could achieve a more perfect result.
The personal panel that only he could perceive in front of him was created by himself.
The idea at the time was to be able to see his every progress more intuitively.
Later, he discovered that by fixing his attributes, skills, and talents on the panel in a semi-data form, the Source Power consumed for subsequent enhancements could be saved considerably.
One could only say this was the helplessness of Source Power poverty; saving as much as possible.
However, it was fortunate that he was not yet twenty years old.
As long as he wasn't starved to death, died of illness, poisoned to death, or died accidentally, he could slowly extend his lifespan in the future.
Ten years, twenty years, thirty years... a hundred years... a thousand years...
It was already his second life.
He didn't mind racing against time, gradually moving towards the future he wanted to reach.
Just as Aragaki Shun was planning his future in his heart, a very sweet-sounding voice rang out, startling him from his thoughts.
"Everyone, quiet down and return to your seats. Don't make things difficult for your teacher, okay~"
A young woman wearing a pink T-shirt with long brown hair walked onto the podium.
Her smiling appearance gave people a very gentle feeling, and her tone was a bit playful.
She seemed like a very easy-going teacher.
The boys in the class suddenly became excited.
Obviously, a cute and beautiful homeroom teacher was definitely more popular than the imagined bald, stern-faced old fogey.
After this beautiful homeroom teacher saw everyone looking at her, she cutely placed one hand on her hip, surveyed the full classroom, nodded in satisfaction, and then picked up a piece of chalk and wrote her name on the blackboard—Hoshinomiya Chie.
"Very good, everyone is a good child. I am your homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya Chie. First, let me congratulate everyone on coming to Advanced Nurturing High School."
"By the way, our school doesn't have a class division system, which means everyone will be classmates for the next three years, and I will also be your homeroom teacher until graduation. So, everyone must get along well, okay?"
"Ooh ooh ooh!"
The classroom immediately erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
Having such a cute homeroom teacher accompany them for the next three years, this was truly a wonderful thing worth celebrating!
"Next is about some school rules. Our school adopts a closed-door teaching system. The school has already prepared a dormitory for each of you. For the next three years, you are not allowed to leave the school without permission, nor can you use mobile phones or the internet to contact the outside world. You should all be clear about this, right?"
Hoshinomiya Chie scanned the crowd and no one raised any objections.
This was also natural.
When the admission notices came down, this basic information had already been given to every parent.
Otherwise, could Advanced Nurturing High really trick students into coming and then inform them they weren't allowed to go home for three years?
"But you don't need to worry. The school has already prepared mobile phones for everyone that can be used for communication within the school premise. It's no problem to surf the internet normally on them, but there are restrictions on speech. If you want to speak freely online, you can do so in the school's internal forum."
"As for entertainment outside of studies, you can look forward to it. The school has all kinds of facilities, whether it's restaurants, shopping streets, karaoke, or cafes. If you still feel something is lacking, classmates can also make suggestions to the school. As long as it's reasonable, the school is willing to satisfy..."
While speaking, Hoshinomiya Chie placed a box of what looked like mobile phones on the desk, asking the students in front to pass them back.
Aragaki Shun also took a few devices from the girl with white, ear-length short hair in front of him who looked very frail, kept one for himself, and then turned to pass the rest to the girl with twin ponytails and earrings in the back row.
Shiranami Chihiro and Himeno Yuki.
Unlike Ichinose, whom he had a vague impression of, Aragaki Shun only learned the names of the girls in front of and behind him through the self-introduction session earlier.
One could only say that he transmigrated before he had a chance to catch up on the anime in his previous life.
Plus, more than ten years had passed, so the only impression remaining in his mind now were Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A, Ichinose Honami from Class B, Shiina Hiyori from Class C, and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and a few girls from Class D.
There was no helping it.
Back then, he was curious about the "Four School Tyrants" and heard that the female characters' illustrations were beautiful, so he went online to check the fandom.
He hadn't specifically studied the plot and settings.
"Now that everyone has received their mobile phones, it needs to be stated that outside currency cannot be used on school. Instead, there are special points used for consumption. You can think of them as money."
"The school will deposit points into everyone's accounts on the first of every month. Everyone, open your mobile phone. This month's one hundred thousand points should have already been deposited. Each point has the same purchasing power as one yen outside."
"What, one hundred thousand points!"
"It's actually true, even at home, my parents never gave me one hundred thousand yen at once!"
"Are things in the school very expensive? Otherwise, why would the school give out so much money?"
The classroom instantly became lively.
Everyone opened their accounts, looking at the number that was enormous for ordinary high school students, some surprised, some joyful, some doubtful.
Aragaki Shun looked at the one hundred thousand points recorded below his student ID and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
One hundred thousand yen right after enrollment.
A simple conversion, in his previous life, that would be one thousand dollar per person per month.
Is this possible?
In his impression, even the most selfless ordinary parents would repeatedly admonish when giving money.
And if it were the bosses he encountered at work, they would nitpick over every penny, looking for opportunities to deduct his salary and overtime pay.
If there really was a channel that was most generous with money, in his experience, he could only think of bank loans.
But bank loans were for earning interest.
What was this school being so generous for?
To train talent, and after graduation, place them in various industries to build a network of connections?
It felt somewhat reasonable.
Indeed, there was no shortage of behemoths formed by graduates from the same school around the world.
For Advanced Nurturing High to provide such generous treatment to students, it must have a strict elite training program that could be recognized by many famous universities and excellent enterprises.
Otherwise, even with government support, if it always sent in useless people, those universities and enterprises, which also had extensive connections, would never buy it.
Just...
Aragaki Shun glanced around, then looked at the sports field and various facilities outside the window.
No matter how he looked, he couldn't see how this school was different from other high schools.
As for whether it was related to the student admission method, anyway, he hadn't noticed anything special about this group of classmates.
Could it be that encountering many beautiful girls since enrollment also counted?
"Everyone, don't doubt. These points are the school's 'evaluation' of you. The school recognizes that you have 'corresponding value' to match this preferential treatment. A special reminder, as long as it's something in the school, points can buy it."
"In addition, after you graduate, the school will recover the remaining points. How you use them is your freedom. Transferring them to others is also possible, but please don't engage in threatening or intimidating behavior. The school's punishment for bullying is very severe."
Seeing the clamoring crowd in the classroom, Hoshinomiya again affirmed the matter of the one hundred thousand points.
However, he didn't know if it was an illusion, but Aragaki Shun always felt that when she said "evaluation" and "corresponding value," her voice was emphasized.
Indeed, what's free is the most expensive.
There's definitely some big pit buried in this.
But most high school students, when facing an authority figure like a teacher, wouldn't think too much.
After Hoshinomiya Chie further confirmed that these points could be used freely, the students of Class B were naturally extremely excited.
"One hundred thousand in pocket money every month, and no need to pay rent, water, or electricity bill. How on earth can I spend all this money?"
"Great, let's go to the restaurant for two cups of milk tea later. I wonder if there are any particularly delicious desserts in the school."
"Let's all go to karaoke and have some fun!"
"Let's go shopping first. With so many points, I can buy all the cosmetics and clothes I couldn't bear to buy before."
Whether boys or girls, having suddenly obtained such a "huge sum," they all began to enthusiastically plan their upcoming shopping sprees.
Hoshinomiya Chie watched this scene with a smile, as if she were happy along with them, or as if she were scrutinizing everyone's reaction in the classroom.
However, not everyone was dazed by the hundred thousand points.
Aragaki Shun scanned his surroundings and saw a sharp-eyed boy frown in thought before raising his hand to ask their teacher a question:
"Sensei, I'd like to ask, if the points represent the school's evaluation of us, will there be specific assessments for this in the future?"
According to the previous self-introductions, this boy who raised his hand was named Kanzaki Ryuuji.
It seemed he should have a good background, or perhaps his family was in a profitable business.
That's why he didn't care much about the value of one hundred thousand points, but was more keenly aware of the evaluations and assessments inherent in the business world.
Besides, based on Aragaki Shun's long-term research into various martial arts and fitness knowledge, Kanzaki Ryuuji, although not looking particularly strong, should also have undergone specialized training.
His family probably arranged daily nutritional planning, and his basic attributes of strength, constitution, and agility were at least 6 or above.
Don't think a basic attribute value of '6' is low.
A normal adult male's standard values for each attribute on his panel were only 5.
He person had this level in high school.
After full development, raising each value to '7' or '8' shouldn't be too difficult.
He remembered from his previous life, netizens used to say that "Classroom of the Elite" also had memes like "Classroom of Violence" and "White Fitness Room."
Indeed, this world still had many talented individuals.
Had he been overly cautious before?
Aragaki Shun thought so in his heart.
Prior to this, his primary enhancements had always been on metaphysical life-saving talents like [Danger Premonition], [Immunity to All Poisons], and [Invulnerability to All Diseases].
Second to that were abilities leaning towards knowledge, like [Martial Arts], [Writing], and many skills mixed into [Miscellaneous].
On the contrary, the four basic attributes of strength, constitution, agility, and spirit had never been intentionally enhanced; they were allowed to grow naturally through daily exercise.
On one hand, Source Power was indeed insufficient.
In the modern world, physical fitness, unless qualitatively changed, couldn't compare to a handgun, so priority was given to enhancing life-saving abilities and skills used for earning money and increasing influence.
On the other hand, only occasionally things like physical examinations were needed in daily life.
So, he temporarily had no intention of making his body too different from ordinary people, and he was also worried that if his body was overly strengthened, he would have to spend a lot of time in the cafeteria every day.
He originally thought that in high school, naturally developing to surpass most adult males was already quite exaggerated.
But looking at Kanzaki Ryuuji's situation, perhaps this was just a normal phenomenon in this world?
After all, it was an anime world.
Even in a slice-of-life show, it was quite normal for characters to appear who could slice bullets with a sword, kick down a utility pole with one foot, or leap between rooftops carrying the female protagonist.
Perhaps he could appropriately invest Source Power in basic attribute values later?
However, if he were to directly enhance attributes, he had actually considered hidden attributes like charm and luck.
But the principles of these hidden attributes were incomprehensible, and could only be boosted by a large amount of Source Power.
Enhancing 1 point of a hidden attribute consumed ten times or even more Source Power than the four basic attributes.
Considering that an increase in basic attributes could also indirectly lead to an increase in hidden attributes—at least the increase in charm was very obvious—and that too much charm or luck might affect daily life, Aragaki Shun didn't force it.
Looking again at Hoshinomiya Chie, who was being questioned by Kanzaki Ryuuji, this homeroom teacher showed an elusive smile.
"Kanzaki-kun is really asking the obvious, isn't he? As a student, of course, you have to take exams. Or is Kanzaki-kun the kind of bad child who doesn't pay attention in class and panics at the mention of an exam?"
"Kanzaki-kun is asking if exams affect the number of points received each month. Sensei, you seem to be avoiding the main point?"
Not letting Hoshinomiya Chie brush it off lightly, Aragaki Shun also raised his own question.
"I'm more curious if the teacher doesn't want to answer, or can't answer?"
...