My head still ached from the battles of the previous day — a constant throbbing that seemed to remind me every second that winning like that wasn't exactly recommended by doctors… or common sense.
The classroom was buzzing.
Low whispers, curious stares, some incredulous.
Others clearly irritated.
— That's him…
— No way it was luck twice…
— They say he won using his head… literally…
I ignored everything and dropped into the nearest chair, resting my elbow on the desk.
That was when the blue screen appeared right in the center of my vision.
[Do you wish to distribute your points today?]
I sighed.
I didn't answer.
The screen flickered.
[Hello. Do you wish to distribute your points today?]
I remained silent.
Anything I said to that cursed interface only made things worse.
People could hear it.
The screen changed.
[User: Loser]
[Do you wish to distribute your damn points?]
I clenched my teeth.
Stayed quiet.
[…]
The silence lasted too long.
The screen seemed to lose its patience.
[Automatic distribution activated.]
[Reason: user is ill-mannered.]
[Additional observation: didn't your parents teach you basic manners?]
— Shut up… — I muttered.
[Update registered.]
[User "Loser" remains ill-mannered.]
Before I could react, new lines began appearing in rapid succession.
[Distributing available points: +3]
[Method: random.]
[Get screwed. Sucker.]
— Wait—
Too late.
The screen flashed one last time, then reorganized itself, displaying a larger panel.
[Displaying user status.]
User Status — "Loser"
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Endurance: 7
Perception: 5
Luck: 8
I stared at the numbers.
— …Did that change anything?
The response came instantly.
[Evaluation: minimally.]
[Conclusion: you are still weak.]
[Actually… "weak" is a compliment compared to what you really are.]
[Now you're just slightly less pathetic.]
I took a deep breath.
— Asshole — I muttered, barely moving my lips.
The screen flickered.
[Felt that, Loser?]
I clenched my teeth.
Before I could complain, another window opened — larger and far more eye-catching than usual.
[Title unlocked.]
I frowned.
— Title…?
The response came immediately, with a deliberately dramatic delay.
[After careful analysis of your pathetic performance…]
[The system has decided to reward you.]
The letters rearranged themselves.
[Title obtained: "The Idiot Who Survived by Accident"]
I stayed silent for a few seconds.
— …Is this serious?
[Extremely.]
[You won twice.]
[Against all odds.]
[Against common sense.]
[And, frankly, against logic.]
I clenched my jaw.
— This title doesn't help at all.
The screen seemed to consider that… for exactly half a second.
[Correction:]
[It describes you accurately.]
New lines appeared beneath it.
[Title Effects:]
• +3% Endurance (the user stubbornly refuses to die)
• +2% Luck (clearly not by merit)
• −1% Dignity (permanent value, non-removable)
My eye twitched.
— Wait. Permanent?
[Yes.]
[Just like your poor decisions.]
I inhaled slowly.
— Are you a growth system or a humiliation system?
[I am an honest system.]
[If that humiliates you, that's not my problem.]
The screen flashed once more.
[Title equipped automatically.]
[Reason: you demonstrated no ability to choose.]
I opened my mouth to respond.
— I swear one day—
— Silence.
The voice cut through the room before I could finish.
The teacher had arrived.
Professor Margo.
She walked slowly to the desk, her firm steps echoing through the classroom.
She placed her materials on the wood with excessive calm — the kind of calm that made everyone hold their breath.
Her eyes swept across every student, one by one.
— Next week, there will be the Survival Exam — she announced.
An immediate murmur spread through the room.
— All of you will participate — she continued.
— From first year to third year. No exceptions.
The buzzing grew louder.
— You may form groups… or not.
— Any ability will be permitted.
— Combat, strategy, escape, support.
She began walking between the rows.
— However, if there is a real risk of death, we will intervene.
She stopped beside me.
For a moment, I thought it was a coincidence.
It wasn't.
— I want you to use your abilities… — she said, looking directly at me.
— But above all, use your head.
She paused briefly.
— Not literally.
A few quiet laughs followed.
The blue screen appeared at the corner of my vision.
[Hahaha.]
[That was a good one.]
[This woman has potential.]
I clenched my teeth.
The professor returned to the front of the room.
— I want the best from you — she said firmly.
— And please…
She paused deliberately.
— Don't embarrass me.
Silence filled the room.
Then the screen flashed violently in front of me.
[ALERT]
[Mission being created…]
[Type: Main Event]
Why wasn't I surprised?
Because surviving so far apparently hadn't been humiliating enough.
The screen took an extra second before finishing.
[Observation:]
[If you survive this, I might stop calling you "Loser."]
I closed my eyes.
— Maybe.
[Correction:]
[Probably not.]
The screen flashed again.
[Mission generated]
[Objective: rank among the best.]
[Reward: C-rank ability.]
[Observation: failure will result in penalties.]
[Mission classification: mandatory.]
[Refusal option: nonexistent.]
[Good luck.]
The screen stayed silent for a few seconds.
[…]
[Actually, no.]
[Watching you screw this up is much more entertaining.]
— I swear I'll get you one day, you son of a—
[Censorship applied.]
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
Shit.
I was already screwed… but now it was official.
Still, a C-rank ability wasn't nothing.
If I managed to get through this, I might finally stop being just "the bottom of the ranking."
There wasn't much to think about.
Either I gave it my all…
Or I became permanent entertainment for that damn system.