I have a life simulator.

The warning bell was tested a second time on site, and the tone was even higher than before.

This time, it also beeped for 5 seconds and then stopped; the beeping ended very quickly.

"That was the second warning bell. If the abnormal situation continues for another 5 minutes—"

On the third time, the watch emitted its highest and sharpest buzzing sound.

"This last time, it won't be a warning bell, but an 'emergency bell.' In this situation, faculty and staff, along with the medical team, will use GPS to rush to the scene, confirm whether the student is still able to continue the exam, and provide assistance."

"At the same time, to prevent cheating, this watch requires special tools to put on and take off. If it is forcibly removed in some way, the scoring function will automatically stop."

In other words, if adverse situations such as physical discomfort occur, this arrangement naturally prevents cheating behaviors such as wanting to take off the watch and have someone else score for you.

"Furthermore, if the watch is damaged due to physical factors such as a strong impact, or if a part of the machine malfunctions for some reason within its normal operating range, the scoring function will also be turned off. In such cases, please seek assistance from the nearest faculty member."

That concludes the explanation of the watch. Chabashira Sae then retrieved the map of the deserted island:

"This exam on the uninhabited island revolves around topics and scores."

"As you can see, the entire uninhabited island is divided into 100 areas. For example, the area I'm referring to is C3. The research topics are distributed across these different areas. Let me show you some examples first."

As Chazuki Sakae spoke, an example problem was displayed on the large screen.

A red dot was marked somewhere within area C3.

"These types of topics can only be set at the red dot that can be determined in the terminal. Students cannot predict when or where these red dots indicating the presence or absence of topics will appear, nor can they predict what kind of topics will be presented. They can only know after they appear."

"As we explained beforehand, the topic consists of three aspects: academic ability, physical education, and others, in a ratio of three to three to four."

[Topic: Mental Arithmetic Classification: Academic Ability]

Participation Requirements: Register and arrive at the site within 60 minutes of the topic being announced.

Number of participants: 1 person (only 1 person can participate from each group)

Registration closes after 5 people have registered.

Victory condition: Complete mental arithmetic quizzes within the allotted time; the player with the highest score wins.

Rewards: First place: 500 points; Second place: 300 points; Third place: 100 points

All winners will also receive an additional one day's worth of food (excluding drinking water) for one person.

[Topic: 50-meter swimming; Category: Sports]

Participation Requirements: Register within 30 minutes of the topic being announced.

Number of participants: 2 (each group can send a maximum of 2 people to participate)

Registration closes after 8 people have registered.

Victory condition: The player who finishes in the shortest time wins.

Rewards: First place: 500 points; Second place: 300 points; Third place: 100 points

As a participation prize, all participants will receive 500 ml of drinking water.

[Topic: Singing Classification: Other]

Participation Requirements: Register within 120 minutes of the topic being announced.

Number of participants: Unlimited (no limit on the number of participants in each group)

The project will automatically end one hour after it begins.

Victory condition: The player who gets the highest score in the KTV rating system within the specified time wins.

Rewards: First place: 1000 points, one chance to upgrade a regular card.

The whiteboard displayed three different examples for each project. Many students looked at these examples with either a frown or a smile. The former naturally felt that they couldn't find anyone in their group who was good at a particular project, while the latter were full of confidence and eager to try.

"It is important to remind everyone that starting from the third day, a restricted area will be created on the uninhabited island every two days."

Chabashi Sae's words caused an uproar, while Hoshinomiya Chie, standing nearby, smiled and explained:

"It's just like the battle royale games that everyone has played. You can think of it as a shrinking safe zone."

"If you fail to leave the restricted area within the specified time, you will be considered eliminated, and your score will be fixed."

"In other words, the further along you go, the more people will gather in the center of the island."

"The rewards for the project will also increase at that time."

Kitagawa Ryo's expression shifted slightly. Although Hoshinomiya Chie spoke casually, he sensed something was amiss.

If a shrinking circle mechanism exists, it means that there will be fewer topics that can provide scores, but students will be compressed into a smaller space. In other words, the competition for each topic will become more and more intense as time goes on.

"Finally, each student can receive some daily necessities for free before arriving on the island."

"You can choose any style of backpack you like, and other items such as portable toilets, insect repellent spray, sunscreen, and sanitary products will also be provided free of charge."

Students who draw a [Supply Card] can receive their daily supply together.

"Now, let's begin the process of collecting the items."

"This special test on the deserted island consists of 30 teams of four, 6 teams of three, 5 teams of two, and 3 teams of one, for a total of 44 teams."

"The exam will officially begin at 2 p.m. today."

coming.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji spotted Ryo Kitagawa in the crowd at a glance.

Of course, this is not due to any tacit understanding between arch-enemies.

Simply because—

Kitagawa Ryo's team was the only team among the uninhabited island teams with a configuration of one man and three women.

With her silver hair, black hair, and gold powder hair, you'd think she was filming some kind of dating reality show.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji slung his bag over his shoulder and suddenly felt someone tap him on the shoulder from behind.

Turning around, what immediately caught my eye was Katsuragi Kohei's snow-white teeth and gleaming bald head:

"Go for it, Ayanokouji!"

I have a feeling we've already lost...

Chapter 137: The Person Who Knocked on the Door of My Heart

"Food, clothing, housing, transportation... In fact, the school has been posing difficult problems to the students from day one."

After taking stock of all the free items they could collect, the moment Kitagawa Ryo's group stepped onto the deserted island, Horikita Suzune spoke first, expressing her opinion:

"Although we are allowed to bring our own changes of clothes, including swimsuits, we were not even given a tent, and there was a serious shortage of food and water."

The only things the four-person group currently possess are bread and drinking water—enough for one person—that Ichinose Honami received. It's already 2 PM, meaning they must obtain the most basic necessities—a tent and food—before it gets completely dark.

The other groups gathered at the starting point should also be aware of this. Although the task has not yet appeared, many groups have already started moving to other squares, seemingly wanting to gain an advantage.

"The school probably won't make things too difficult for the students. If I'm not mistaken, most of the project rewards that will appear this afternoon should be tents."

"If we can't get it, we'll have to exchange it for points, since it's a necessary item."

Kitagawa Ryo took two steps forward into the forest, squatted down to observe the soil, and then looked up to examine the ecology for a while. Although it was an artificial, uninhabited island, it was not much different from the wild for these high school students.

He had already seen several spiders, each only a few centimeters long, coiling among the branches and leaves, their webs stretched out. Even if there were no tent, let alone if they were inside, many girls would probably feel both physically and psychologically uncomfortable.

Fortunately, insect repellent spray and similar items were given out for free, and the group took some as a precaution.

"Let's head towards the center first, that way we'll have more options when problems arise."

As the group leader, Kitagawa Ryo gave instructions while looking at the map, then turned to look at Sakayanagi Arisu beside him:

"Arisu, are you getting used to it?"

Although Arisu Sakayanagi's heart condition has been properly treated, her physical fitness is still at the bottom compared to her teammates Suzune Horikita and Honami Ichinose. If they are to undertake a high-intensity trek, they must pay close attention to her physical condition.

"no problem."

Sakayanagi Arisu answered easily. She was carrying a small backpack and bent down to tighten her shoelaces. Everything here and everything that was about to happen was undoubtedly new and exciting to her.

"Okay, let's go."

To conserve their energy, the four of them stopped talking and walked about one and a half squares towards the center when their wristwatches suddenly beeped:

[Nearby research projects have started accepting applications]

Honami Ichinose was the first to raise her watch and state the message:

"There are fourteen topics in total. The one closest to us is the [Geography Knowledge Test], which is 200 meters to the northwest. Each group can have a maximum of two people. The first place winner will receive a two-person tent, the second place winner will receive a single-person tent, and the third place winner will receive 2 liters of drinking water. Registration will close once six people have registered."

Horikita Suzune, however, set her sights on another topic not far away:

"The challenge that appears 500 meters to the northeast is [Cooking]. There is no limit to the number of participants. The person who makes the most dishes that meet the requirements within one hour wins. There are only first-place prizes and participation prizes. The former is some of the ingredients, and the latter is 200 grams of bread."

Kitagawa Ryo didn't immediately check his watch. Instead, while listening to their conversation, he put down his bag, nimbly climbed a large tree nearby, and looked in the direction they were pointing.

"Over there, for the [Geography Knowledge Test], I can already see two groups approaching. The [Cooking] area is blocked, so I can't see it very clearly."

After reporting what he had seen, Kitagawa Ryo climbed down from the tree. Because the people had not yet completely dispersed on the deserted island, many teams were gathered near the starting point, and the competition was quite intense.

Taking out free tissues from his bag to wipe his hands, Kitagawa Ryo then asked:

"Are there any other research projects with generous rewards? It doesn't matter if they're a bit far away."

"Aside from those two, there is a project in the Southwest H3 grid with a very good reward."

Sakayanagi Arisu reacted quickly, expanding the search area and immediately responding:

"The straight-line distance is 1,300 people, but considering the terrain, the actual distance should be more than 2,000 meters."

"The topic is 'Impromptu Poetry Recitation.' Registration closes within one hour of opening. The first place winner will receive a large tent (for three people), the second place winner will receive a two-person tent, and the third place winner will receive a single-person tent."

"This is good!"

Kitagawa Ryo's eyes lit up. Since the group consisted of three women and one man, what they really needed was a large tent that could accommodate three people, while he could stay in a small single tent.

Large tents can be exchanged for a lot of points, and if you can get them directly through project rewards, it's definitely a great deal.

"Rinne is going to participate in the cooking competition, Honami and Arisu are going to participate in the geography quiz, and I'm going to do an impromptu poetry recitation over there. We'll all meet here again after it's all over. How about that?"

"I have no problem with cooking."

Horikita Suzune was the first to nod in agreement, and Sakayanagi Arisu and Ichinose Honami exchanged a glance before also indicating that it was feasible.

In a sense, this is an action that only a few groups could take.

While it may seem efficient for individuals to participate separately when faced with a project, it's likely to end up with nothing if there's no guarantee of receiving a reward. For most groups, the safest approach is to work together as a whole to tackle a project.

Moreover, this would also bring a considerable physical burden. Attempting to tackle multiple challenges in the early stages of an exam when resources are scarce is quite risky.

However, no one in Kitagawa Ryo's group raised any objections. Kitagawa Ryo's allocation of tasks ensured that each project had a good chance of winning an award, while also taking care of Sakayanagi Arisu, who had the worst physical strength, and taking on the heaviest task himself.

"be careful."

"Remember to watch your step."

"Don't rush, this is only the first day of the exam."

However, before Kitagawa Ryo left, all three of them expressed their concern.

"See you in a bit, I'll get the tent."

Kitagawa accepted all the concern with a smile. He waved to the two of them with his back to them, and then strode towards the H3 grid's "Impromptu Poetry Recitation" assignment.

In just a moment, his figure completely disappeared from the three people's sight.

With Kitagawa Ryo gone, the remaining few seemed to have suddenly lost some common ground. Finally, Horikita Suzune spoke first:

"Then I'll go too."

Want to have a competition?

Sakayanagi Arisu seamlessly connects to this short sentence that is not related to the preceding or following paragraphs.

"I have no interest in making those silly bets you see in romance light novels."

Horikita Suzune stopped in her tracks because of Sakayanagi Arisu's words. She turned around, glanced at Ichinose Honami, and said to her:

"If you're going to be working with Arisu, you'd better keep a close eye on her."

"……What's the meaning?"

Honami Ichinose gently scratched her cheek, a puzzled smile on her face, as if she couldn't quite understand what Suzune Horikita was saying.