Chapter 2: The School of Unseen Chains

When arriving at a new place, the first thing to do is familiarize yourself with the environment.

For example, understanding every route leading to key locations like the power distribution room and monitoring room. Kure Ragna had always believed in this principle.

At least, from the moment he looked at the artificial island across the sea from the bus, he realized that this school was unlike any other he had seen before.

First of all, nearly all the coastal areas on the island were enclosed by slanted protective nets, creating an almost impenetrable barrier.

For context, an oblique protective net is similar to a tennis court fence, but shorter—only about twice the height of an average person. The top part of the net slants outward at a 45-degree angle, typically used in military bases or prisons to prevent unauthorized entry or escape.

These barriers are usually set up in two layers, with a road in between that resembles a ring road but is actually a moat. The moat itself is about one and a half times the height of a person, encircling the entire facility with only a few designated exits.

In other words, unless someone possesses extraordinary physical abilities and can jump over both layers of protective netting in one leap, falling into the moat essentially means surrendering—there would be no real chance of escape.

And if this were a prison or military base, the nets would likely be reinforced with thick barbed wire—not the kind from a video game that just slows down enemies after three hits, but real barbed wire capable of tearing off flesh with a single scrape.

For an extra layer of security, some places even electrify the wire.

Of course, Advanced Nurturing High School wouldn't go that far. Instead, they opted for a simple protective net without any barbed wire. In some places, there was only a single layer of fencing.

Simply put, it was security, but not absolute security.

After all, this was just a high school. Most students came here voluntarily, so there was no need to enforce the strict measures used in prisons or military facilities.

"That being said... this school has way too many surveillance cameras."

Walking through the sparsely populated campus, far from the gymnasium, Kure Ragna kept scanning his surroundings while marking points on the campus map he held. He was recording the location of every single camera.

At the school gate, they had handed out only a basic map, and the pen he was using? He had picked up a nearly empty black fountain pen refill from a trash can along the way.

Technically, it wasn't even a proper pen—just a leftover refill on the verge of running out. But marking camera positions didn't require much ink, so it served its purpose.

"This is ridiculous."

The sheer number of surveillance cameras at Advanced Nurturing High School exceeded Kure Ragna's expectations. He had walked less than 200 meters from the school gate, and he had already marked ten cameras. That meant there was roughly one camera every 20 meters.

"Can't this school give people some privacy?"

And this was just a side road leading from the entrance.

If the security cameras were this dense outside, then inside the school buildings—where obstructions and blind spots existed—there would undoubtedly be even more.

"This map is too small… I'll need a bigger one later."

For now, he would record as many camera positions as possible. He could memorize the rest later. There would be plenty of opportunities.

This might seem like unnecessary effort, but in a school this unusual, it might prove useful in the future.

Now, the question was: how long would the entrance ceremony last?

One hour? Half an hour?

The answer was roughly the length of a single class period. Of course, this varied from school to school.

Kure Ragna took advantage of this time to mark down all the cameras along the way before finally arriving near the gymnasium.

From the voices inside, it sounded like the freshman representative had just finished their speech. The school official hosting the event was now instructing the students to return to their respective classrooms in an orderly manner.

If there were no delays, the gymnasium doors would open in less than two minutes, and a large crowd of freshmen would pour out.

At that moment, if someone spotted a first-year student wandering around wearing sunglasses, it would definitely draw attention.

"Time to take a quiet route back to class."

With that in mind, Kure Ragna took out the map he had received at the school gate again.

According to the notification on his phone, there were four first-year classes: A, B, C, and D. He was assigned to Class 1-D.

Navigating by the classroom numbers, he made his way inside.

Since he had spent time scouting the campus, several students had already arrived and taken their seats by the time he entered.

Fortunately, the spot he wanted was still available.

—The last row by the window.

Of course, he didn't choose this spot because of the cliché "back-row seat of the protagonist" nonsense.

It was purely practical—this seat offered a full view of the classroom. If the door was open, he could also monitor the hallway. Additionally, being next to the podium gave him a slight height advantage for observation.

Not long after, more Class 1-D students arrived. Most were unfamiliar faces, but not all.

For example, the blonde-haired fake noble from the bus and the short-haired girl who nearly argued with him earlier.

He hadn't expected to be in the same class as them.

Logically, their reunion should've been either an awkward moment or a case of enemies glaring at each other.

But in reality, the blonde simply took a seat near the middle of the classroom, pulled out a small mirror, and started fixing his hair in a narcissistic display.

"Sorry, but that's disappointing."

Kure Ragna had been hoping for some chaos—maybe even a little bloodshed.

Just as he was feeling slightly let down, a cheerful voice called out to him.

"Oh? What a coincidence!"

"Yeah, what a coincidence."

He tilted his head slightly, looking up through his sunglasses. After a brief pause, he gave a faint smile.

The person standing before him was none other than the girl from the bus—the one with shoulder-length short hair, her ends dyed a gradient purple.

She had been one of the most entertained spectators of the earlier dispute.

"Should I consider this a case of like-minded troublemakers finding each other?"

"It's our first time meeting properly. I'm Yukinoshita Haruno."

"Kure Ragna," he responded briefly.

Her delicate lips curled into a smirk.

"I'll remember that. Please take care of me, Kure Ragna~"

Then, she gestured to the empty seat beside him.

"Mind if I sit here?"

"Of course, go ahead."

After all, they were just sixteen or seventeen-year-old students. Even if they were strangers, it was easy to find someone with a similar vibe and start talking.

This might sound vague or metaphysical, but in simple terms:

—Girls with stylish makeup naturally bonded over cosmetics and fashion.

—Energetic guys gravitated toward each other through sports.

—Hardcore otaku found common ground in anime and games.

"What? You're asking why there aren't any female otaku? That's because they're a rare species. If you find one in your class, consider it a miracle."

Haruno was no exception. She had strong social skills—no, she was a natural at making connections.

And since she was the first person he met at this school, Kure Ragna didn't mind chatting with her. Besides, he was talkative by nature, so their conversation flowed easily.

Naturally, the topic eventually shifted to a certain curiosity.

"So… why are you wearing sunglasses indoors?"

Kure Ragna's voice wavered slightly in a dramatic fashion.

But before he could brush off the question—

The sharp click of high heels echoed from the classroom doorway.

A tall woman with a cool expression and a high ponytail entered.

With an impressive figure and a commanding presence, she strode toward the podium, capturing everyone's attention with her cold tone.

"Everyone, return to your seats."

The classroom, which had been buzzing with scattered conversations, quickly fell silent.

The woman in front of them had an undeniable presence—sharp, composed, and authoritative. She carried herself with the elegance of a veteran professional, despite being relatively young.

She was wearing a fitted dark gray suit, her high heels clicking against the floor as she reached the podium. Her black hair was neatly tied into a high ponytail, giving off a strict but refined aura.

"Welcome to Advanced Nurturing High School. My name is Chabashira Sae, and I will be your homeroom teacher for the next three years."

Her voice was cool and composed, carrying a subtle sharpness.

She let her words settle for a moment before continuing.

"Before we begin, allow me to remind you of one thing."

She tapped on the desk lightly, as if to emphasize her point.

"This school is unlike any other you've attended before. The system here is unique, and how you conduct yourselves will determine your future. Keep that in mind as you proceed."

Most students were already aware that Advanced Nurturing High School was not an ordinary institution. Its reputation alone was enough to make that clear.

A fully government-operated school with a near-perfect employment and university acceptance rate—graduates from here were practically guaranteed success in life.

However, Chabashira Sae's tone suggested something more—something beyond just prestige and opportunity.

She continued.

"First, let's address the seating arrangement."

At this, she retrieved a tablet from the podium and glanced at the class.

"You are free to sit wherever you like. However, this will become your permanent seat for the foreseeable future, so choose wisely."

A few students exchanged glances, some nodding to themselves as if reaffirming their decisions. Others seemed indifferent.

For Kure Ragna, this wasn't an issue—he had already chosen the best seat.

From the back-row window seat, he had a full view of the classroom and the hallway outside.

He was also positioned near the air conditioner, which meant he wouldn't have to suffer through summer heatwaves.

"Perfect."

"Now, let's move on."

Chabashira Sae set her tablet down and clasped her hands together.

"You may have noticed that this school operates differently from regular high schools. Allow me to explain the most important rule."

Her cold eyes scanned the class.

"Here at Advanced Nurturing High School, students are awarded points each month. These points act as currency within the school—everything you need, from food to entertainment, can be purchased using them."

Murmurs spread through the classroom.

"Each of you will receive your monthly allowance of 100,000 points on the first day of every month."

"One point is equivalent to one yen."

At this statement, the murmuring intensified.

Kure Ragna, however, remained composed.

"100,000 yen per month? A little over 650 USD…"

That was quite generous for a high school student's allowance.

Most students in Japan barely received 5,000 yen per month.

For many, this was an exciting revelation.

But Kure Ragna knew better.

This was a school run directly by the government. There was no way they would simply give students money without a catch.

Chabashira Sae's next words confirmed his suspicions.

"However—"

She paused deliberately.

"Points are not simply handed out for free. Your individual actions and class performance will directly impact how many points you receive."

The classroom grew silent.

"If your class performs poorly, your allowance may be reduced. If your class performs exceptionally well, you may receive additional benefits."

The excitement that had been building moments ago instantly faded.

Some students looked around anxiously, realizing that their financial comfort wasn't as secure as they had thought.

Kure Ragna tapped his fingers lightly against his desk, deep in thought.

"So, it's a system that encourages both competition and cooperation within the class…"

For now, he would observe.

There was no need to act hastily.

At that moment, Chabashira Sae checked the time on her tablet and nodded.

"That concludes the general explanation. You will find further details in the student handbook provided on your school-issued phones."

She glanced at the class once more.

"Any questions?"

Silence.

Or rather, hesitation.

It was clear that some students had concerns, but no one wanted to be the first to speak.

Then, as if to break the silence, the blonde-haired fake noble from earlier raised his hand.

"Yes?" Chabashira prompted.

The boy stood up, pushing back his chair with unnecessary flair.

"This school seems to be quite generous with its system, but wouldn't that create a sense of entitlement among students?"

His voice carried an air of arrogance, but his question was surprisingly reasonable.

Chabashira Sae, however, remained unfazed.

"That depends on the students themselves."

Her response was curt.

The blonde-haired boy frowned slightly but didn't press further.

Chabashira then glanced at her tablet one last time before closing the screen.

"If there are no further questions, that concludes homeroom."

She stepped away from the podium.

"You are free to explore the campus for the rest of the day. Classes officially begin tomorrow."

And with that, she left.

The moment she exited, the classroom erupted into chatter.

Some students immediately began discussing how they would spend their points.

Others debated the best ways to maintain a steady allowance.

But Kure Ragna?

He simply leaned back in his seat and smiled.

"This is going to be interesting."