Chapter 72: Classroom? Wherever God Resides is the Game Room
"Sakayanagi would actually appear in a place like this?"
Ibuki Mio frowned as she looked back. Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamuro Masumi had already departed, leaving Ibuki's voice full of confusion.
"It just goes to show that she's noticed that specific existence in Class D as well," Ryuen Kakeru said with a laugh, his gaze projecting forward. "Who do you think Sakayanagi was looking for just now? Could it be that guy named Katsuragi Keima?"
"Who knows?" Ibuki shrugged. "Besides, we don't know much about this Katsuragi Keima person. We don't even know what he looks like; we only know he likes playing games."
"That's exactly why we're going to find him—to see for ourselves exactly what kind of person this guy is."
"You're not going to do something, are you?" Ibuki looked at Ryuen, her brow furrowed, as she cast a sidelong glance at Albert and Ishizaki Daichi behind them.
"What are you so nervous for? This hallway is covered in cameras—at least, for now, I won't do anything. As for what happens later, I can't make any promises," Ryuen sneered as he strode toward Class D.
Ibuki followed behind him, shaking her head. Even though she felt some dissatisfaction with Ryuen's use of violence, she fully acknowledged his capability. She soon reached the door of Class D and peered inside through the window, muttering to herself:
"How is anyone supposed to know which one is Katsuragi Keima... hm?"
Ibuki froze. She even rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating.
"Is this guy... is he joking?"
In Ibuki's field of vision, Katsuragi Keima's seat was impossibly obvious.
'What kind of student sets up a whole game console at their desk?!'
At this moment, Keima was already preparing to start playing. Since Sakayanagi Arisu had delivered a full console set, he wasn't going to waste any time.
Thus, Keima chose to simply plug the console in and start playing right there in the classroom. Conveniently, the back row of the classroom had power outlets, and the equipment Sakayanagi sent was complete with all necessary power cables.
Keima wore his headset and gripped the controller, eyes fixed intently on the screen. Ibuki was beyond speechless. No need to guess—this guy was absolutely Katsuragi Keima!
Ryuen also narrowed his eyes, looking at Keima's seat with great interest. This person truly stood out in Class D.
'Can he really be this much of a maverick? Fascinating.'
Just then, Elsie walked up to Keima's side: "Kami-nii-sama, what is this thing?" Elsie asked with immense curiosity, seeing this kind of game console for the first time.
Watching the interaction between Elsie and Keima, Ryuen's face maintained its smile.
"Ryuen-san, what do we do next?" Ishizaki Daichi asked in a low voice.
"Let's go," Ryuen tilted his head and spoke to Ibuki.
"Huh? You were so eager to come here, and now you're just leaving?" Ibuki couldn't understand what Ryuen was thinking at all.
"I've confirmed his identity and obtained useful intel," Ryuen said, then immediately walked away. Though Ibuki and the others were puzzled, they followed Ryuen and left the classroom door together.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka happened to arrive at the classroom just then, brushing past them.
'Students from another class?' Ayanokouji turned his head, capturing their departing backs with his peripheral vision. Without needing to think, he guessed why these people had come here. It was because of Katsuragi Keima.
Ayanokouji had seen the related posts on the forum yesterday. Combining that with what Chabashira Sae had told him, it was likely that because of this incident, Keima had reached a cooperation agreement with the school, thereby changing the terms of his deal with Chabashira.
Chabashira was using the threat of expulsion to force him to help the class rise to Class A. If he could utilize Katsuragi Keima, achieving that goal would certainly be much easier. On his own, it might take a year or two; with Keima, it might be possible before their second year. The prerequisite was making Keima adopt promotion as his own goal as well.
Ayanokouji was skilled at dissecting the human heart, gradually gaining trust and turning people into his tools. But this method wouldn't work on Keima. Ayanokouji could never truly guess Keima's real thoughts, though he was certain there was a reason behind the fanatical obsession with games.
The same went for Keima's sister, Elsie. Ayanokouji couldn't predict her thoughts or behavioral logic at all. In the White Room, he had never seen a case like this.
As Ayanokouji thought, he walked into the classroom—and his pace stopped. The scene before him was also outside his expectations. He hadn't expected Keima to have a full game console on his desk.
'What... what's going on?'
Ayanokouji didn't understand, but he assumed Keima must have his reasons. He said nothing and returned to his own seat. Then, he pulled out the handheld console he had bought yesterday.
"W-What are you doing?"
Beside him, Horikita Suzune saw Ayanokouji pull out a game console, her face showing utter shock. In her eyes, Ayanokouji was the type of person with incredibly thin presence and no discernible hobbies. Yet this guy was now pulling out a game console? Was he becoming just like Katsuragi Keima?
"Playing a game," Ayanokouji answered nonchalantly.
"No, that's not what I'm asking... I mean, why are you suddenly playing games?"
"I just felt like playing."
Horikita bit her lip. She felt as if Keima had infected the class with some kind of virus. Ayanokouji didn't respond further and started his game.
Soon, with a few minutes left before class, Chabashira Sae, who was in charge of the first period, walked into the classroom in her high heels. Her mind was occupied with thoughts of Keima and Ayanokouji. Even without Keima, simply using Ayanokouji should be enough to elevate the class to Class A.
But as she reached the podium, Chabashira's gaze was instantly captured by that massive game setup.
'Wait? Isn't this a bit too brazen?'
Chabashira had seen students secretly playing on phones or handhelds, but she had never seen someone set up a console and monitor directly on their desk.
'Did he turn this place into an arcade?'
However, teachers generally didn't proactively interfere with student behavior, and moreover, Keima had reached a direct agreement with the Chairman. Chabashira could only try her best to look away... but it was very hard to avert her eyes.
She tried to restrain her emotions and turned to look toward Ayanokouji. Ayanokouji was playing a game.
'...What is going on?'
It wasn't until the bell rang that Chabashira's thoughts were pulled back to reality. "Let's begin the lesson."
The morning classes ended, and it was time for lunch break.
"Keima-kun, do you want to eat together...?" Airi Sakura whispered an invitation. She wanted to eat with him, and even more, she wanted to know what he liked to eat and drink.
"Sorry, Airi, I have something to do this noon. You go ahead and eat," Keima said, looking at the console on his desk.
While playing in the classroom was fine, it was ultimately inconvenient. Some classes required moving to different rooms, and this equipment wasn't easy to carry. Furthermore, other students might come over and mess with it. He decided to move the equipment back to his dorm.
This gear wasn't light; had Kamuro Masumi really carried it all by herself? If it were Keima, he'd probably be burnt out before even making it downstairs.
"Okay... but if there's anything you need help with—"
Before Airi could finish, Hasabe Haruka ran up to her. "Ai-chan! Let's go eat lunch together!"
"..." Without letting Airi finish, she was dragged away by Hasabe.
"Elsie, come here! I need your help with something!"
"What is it, Kami-nii-sama!" Elsie immediately rushed to Keima's side.
"Help me move all this equipment back."
"Ah! Kami-nii-sama, are you treating me like manual labor?!"
"This stuff is too heavy. If I move it, I might get injured, and then the mission might be affected..."
"Leave it to me! Kami-nii-sama!"
Elsie looked around to make sure no one was watching, then took off her raiment. The raiment began to shift, instantly turning into the shape of a broom, with part of it becoming several pieces of cloth. Elsie packed up the console and monitor, tied them to the broom, and shouldered it with practiced ease. "Let's go, Kami-nii-sama!"
"Elsie, what did you used to do in Hell?"
"Cleaning! But if they were short on other manual labor, I had to fill in."
"I see... thanks for the hard work..."
Keima and Elsie soon left the school building to return to the dorms. As usual, Keima kept his eyes glued to his phone even while walking. But just then, a group of people blocked their path.
"You're Katsuragi Keima, right?" Ryuen Kakeru said with a wolfish smile.
"Who are you?" Keima's eyes were fixed on his handheld; he didn't even spare Ryuen a glance.
"I have something to discuss with you. Let's talk somewhere else."
As Ryuen spoke, Albert and Ishizaki Daichi surrounded them, leaving no room for Keima or Elsie to refuse. Ibuki Mio stood behind Ryuen with her arms crossed, looking at them with a serious expression.
"Eh? What are you guys doing?" Elsie didn't realize at all that these people were up to no good, but she followed Keima and Ryuen into a nearby alleyway. She then carefully placed the console and monitor on the ground to take a rest.
"I've heard many things about you, Katsuragi." Ryuen first looked around to confirm there were no cameras, then took a step forward, speaking aggressively to Keima. "I heard that before, you took down an adult male in a single move?"
"That's a complete misunderstanding. That man tripped on his own," Keima replied, still without looking up.
"What an amusing statement, Katsuragi Keima. Do you think now that I've come looking for you, I'll let you leave so easily?" Ryuen sneered.
He had come here to test whether Keima was truly as powerful as the rumors suggested. If Keima really possessed immense strength, Ryuen intended to crush him right here and now, eliminating a potential enemy for Class D in advance.
"I already know that the person Sakayanagi was looking for was you, Katsuragi Keima. For someone like her to take interest, you're definitely not one of those ordinary pieces of trash. Let me see exactly what your real strength is like."
As Ryuen spoke, Ishizaki Daichi was already impatiently cracking his knuckles.
"Kami-nii-sama, they look really scary..." Elsie finally sensed the ill intent and cowered behind Keima.
"What's there to be scared of? This kind of outdated character archetype." Just then, Keima finally looked up, staring at the group with a cold gaze. "It's like celery."
"What are you saying?" Ryuen's brow twitched. He had never heard such a bizarre metaphor. But seeing Keima's eyes, he became even more certain—this person was no ordinary character. Because from start to finish, there was no trace of fear in Keima's eyes.
"There are no cameras here, you know? Do you think you can leave here unscathed without giving me a satisfactory answer?" Ryuen stepped forward and grabbed Keima by the collar, as if he were going to tear him apart.
But at that moment, Elsie suddenly shouted:
"Don't bully my Kami-nii-sama!"
As she spoke, Elsie raised her broom, pointing it at the group like a spear.
"Haha, a broom? You're threatening me with a broom?" Ryuen laughed disdainfully.
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting