Ch.9696 – A Child Who Cherishes Friends

# 96 – A Child Who Values Friends

Monday, second period.

Professor Bronze’s Developing Insight class.

“Seniors!”

“Can I ask you something?”

After the last lecture, the freshmen rushed to the seniors, whom they now knew had unexpected skills.

“What’s going on? The juniors are being so respectful.”

“We heard from our advisor that you seniors will catch the Giant King Crab that invaded the school. Is that true?”

“Please catch the King Crab in the first floor lounge quickly… We have nowhere to sit and do our assignments…”

Bigstone broke into a cold sweat at the freshmen’s pleas.

“Huh? Well, I might catch it if I get hungry. But I’m not particularly hungry right now.”

“Stop lying. You’ve been starving since morning to save points…”

“Waaah! Be quiet, Rizna!”

Moss also chimed in as Bigstone wanted to show off in front of the juniors who had gathered around, but was too scared to face off against the Giant Crab.

“Just admit you can’t do it before you embarrass yourself more.”

“Moss. Don’t you want to look good in front of the juniors? This is our chance to stand above someone with our meager title of ‘senior’ after enduring humiliation and disrespect all year!”

“Bigstone. You look like absolute trash right now.”

As Moss said, the freshmen’s faces showed regret—thinking they should never rely on this senior no matter how urgent the situation, and wondering why they approached him in the first place.

“If you try to show off beyond your abilities, you’ll get hurt. They came to vent because they’re desperate, but they probably don’t expect much. Why don’t you just be honest?”

Unlike the annoying Moss who quietly minded his own business, Rizna was a pretty female classmate with a pleasant scent who Bigstone had feelings for, even though she didn’t dress up much.

Receiving sincere advice from her, Bigstone put aside his unnecessary pride and answered honestly.

“The Giant King Crab is an incredibly strong monster. Its huge front claws have tremendous physical resistance, and if ordinary metal weapons get caught in its pincers, they’ll snap immediately.”

“Ehh. So you can’t catch it either, senior?”

“Of course I can’t! Only upper-class students or a skilled few among second-years can catch that thing. Maybe lower-class students from third year might be able to catch it too.”

Though disappointed, the freshmen grasped the harsh reality.

If they foolishly tried to eat King Crab, they might end up becoming the King Crab’s meal instead!

“Now that you understand, don’t even dream of trying to catch that thing. If you see it, run away immediately. Especially if there’s water nearby, it gets extremely fast, so get away from the water right away.”

“Yes, sir.”

Though they initially seemed doubtful, the freshmen responded positively to Bigstone’s sincere advice and encouragement that followed, feeling they had made the right choice in approaching him.

Bigstone felt proud.

They say sincerity comes through—following Rizna and Moss’s advice to give honest counsel earned him the freshmen’s respect instead.

That’s right, exceptional skill isn’t always necessary.

Sometimes sincerity alone can convey your feelings!

Thud.

“Ugh, it’s too heavy.”

Titosoga, who had been listening to Bigstone’s advice while mingling with the students, suddenly stood up and shouted.

“Oknodie? That’s a Giant King Crab behind you! How did you catch it?!”

“This? It was fearlessly blocking the hallway, so I caught it. The cafeteria has already captured so many that it’s hard to get a good price for them, so I thought I’d cook it for dinner.”

“I heard those have extremely high physical resistance.”

“Then you just flip them over.”

“Flip them…?”

“Crabs can’t get back up on their own once they’re flipped over on land. Unlike their pincers or shell, their underbelly is easily pierced by knives and breaks easily.”

How do you even do that?

Oknodie casually demonstrated to the bewildered freshmen.

“Heave-ho!”

① Grab the Giant King Crab’s hind legs.

② Lift it up and slam it down.

③ Stab a knife into its underbelly and you’re done!

“See? Easy, right?”

How does that even get flipped over?

How do you even approach it?

Among the dumbfounded students, Bigstone quietly sat at his desk with his head bowed low.

“I can borrow a steamer and heavy-duty kitchen scissors. I’ve borrowed cooking tools from the cafeteria many times.”

“Wow! Oknodie is amazing!”

“Isabelle will become the world’s greatest chef when she grows up! We’ll definitely support you!”

“No, I’m going to be an expedition leader…”

“Come visit my family during vacation. I’ll show you the chef’s sword that’s only permitted to three-star chefs!”

The juniors who instantly stole the popularity Bigstone had enjoyed.

Rizna patted her pitiful classmate’s shoulder.

“Cheer up. They’re talented upper-class students.”

“Sob. I’m going to get stronger. I’ll work really hard and become much stronger than those nasty upper-class kids!”

“Oh, would you seniors like to join us for dinner when we cook? It’s so big that it might not be enough for just us to eat.”

“Sorry, Bigstone is currently nursing an emotional wound…”

“Of course we’ll come!”

“…Bigstone?”

“…You need to eat well to get stronger!”

There was no pride in the face of hunger.

* *

The third session of “Developing Insight” began with everyone distracted by the Giant King Crab, eagerly waiting for dinner time.

The students’ attention was directed neither at their dinner nor at the justice-obsessed professor who taught them.

Swoooooosh!!

The downpour was so intense that it was hard to tell if this was an academy or a rainy-concept café with artificial rainfall.

Everyone was distracted by the sound of rain that made the journey home seem daunting.

Honestly, I’m a bit scared too.

‘Experienced or not, if you get swept away in that, you’ll drown instantly!’

Considering the unsettled atmosphere, this lecture became a normal theory class rather than a practical exercise requiring concentration.

“Additionally, in the next assignment period, I’ll conduct a lecture on developing Insight for property valuation, which noble students will particularly enjoy, so research related books or official documents.”

“Professor, where can we find books or official documents?”

“Books are in the library, and documents can be obtained from the academy’s administrative office. While external borrowing is difficult in principle, it’s possible if you prove you’re taking my class.”

Learning how to use the library and visit the administrative office as academy students was quite a valuable opportunity.

Despite the professor’s strange lectures that constantly tested students, they subtly included considerations to help students adapt to academy life.

“This alone might not motivate you. So I’ll add bonus points.”

Of course, if the professor were only kind, he wouldn’t be a Gift Academy professor.

Professor Bronze revealed his evil nature.

“I plan to select three students from each section who bring the most appropriate related books and documents to the next lecture and give them bonus points, so work diligently.”

Titosoga pressed the spotlight button, emitting a bright white light.

“Professor! I have a question!”

“How distracting. Turn that off before speaking.”

“Ah, yes.”

Titosoga turned off the light and asked.

“There are three second-year seniors taking the lecture, but if you only select three people per section, wouldn’t first-years be at a disadvantage in the bonus point competition?”

“That’s right.”

The professor readily agreed.

“So?”

“Pardon?”

“Are you asking me to increase the bonus point quota exclusively for first-years because second-years have an advantage in the competition?”

T.O. (Table of Organization).

This term, which refers to an organizational chart, is commonly used to mean “a position has opened up” or “a job opportunity has arisen.”

Now it’s being used to mean increasing the opportunities or spots for receiving bonus points.

“Oh, this doesn’t look good.”

A cruel smile appeared on the professor’s lips.

“Very well. I’ll add three exclusive spots for first-years.”

“Wow!”

“Thanks, Titosoga!”

“Thanks to Titosoga, we have more chances to get bonus points!”

“Professor! If multiple students prepare the same book, do they all receive bonus points?”

“Yes, they will. If they’ve made exactly the same preparations, they all deserve praise.”

Titosoga, who was just a weakling coward in the 5th period Adventurer’s Night Action class, was now an honor student receiving recognition and gratitude from classmates in the 2nd period Developing Insight class?

Such an otherworldly experience was completely overturned by the professor’s next words.

“However, according to Gift Academy’s academic grading regulations, penalty points must increase by the same amount as bonus points that exceed the standard.”

“So I’ll do this. The bottom three with inadequate preparation will receive penalty points equal to what the top three receive.”

The classroom turned ice cold.

The professor’s verbal assault didn’t stop.

“Of course, just as there are shared bonus points, there should be shared penalty points, right? Students with absolutely no preparation will all receive penalty points together. I hope you prepare plenty of points in advance.”

“Titosoga, you piece of trash!”

“How can you call yourself human?!”

“You villain!”

“Professor’s lackey!”

“Apocalyptic demon who brings penalty points!”

“Someone like you doesn’t deserve to eat Oknodie’s Giant King Crab meat!”

Titosoga, who had been flashing the spotlight and hearing comments like “Isn’t he cute?” and “He’s like the little sister I left at home,” suddenly became a great criminal.

“N-no, you misunderstand. Don’t look at me like that. I just wanted to help everyone…”

Despite Titosoga’s excuses, the condemnation didn’t stop.

“You wasted your years!”

“Idiot who carries toys around!”

When even the spotlight, which had risen as a charming point, became a target of personal attacks, tears began to roll down Titosoga’s eyes.

“Waaah!”

Titosoga burst into tears and ran out of the classroom.

“Oh dear. How pitiful.”

“Sigh. I thought he was being too forward. I’ll go comfort Titosoga for a bit.”

“Ah, Oknodie. Have you made a decision about our previous conversation?”

“I’ll answer you later because of Titosoga!”

Oknodie is a child who values friends.

Comforting a friend is more important than answering the professor’s offer to become his disciple and graduate student!

It’s definitely not because she’s running away from the answer because she doesn’t want to become a graduate student!

“Wait, wait a minute! Oknodie, if you leave alone, how am I supposed to carry this Giant King Crab!”

Oknodie is a child who values friends.

Comforting a friend is more important than struggling to carry a Giant King Crab for dinner!

It’s definitely not because the Giant King Crab is heavier than expected and she’s running away!