Tohoshima Mitakan, who possesses the ability to produce food, has asked to join our party.

She used to be close with Roa the maid; it seems she simply wants an easier life.

Presumably, she figured that joining me would allow her to receive Roa's care and let her live more comfortably than in the Seiho party.

Hmm… I don't mind it personally, but…

It probably isn't a decision I should make on my own.

"Given how valuable Tohoshima's ability is, wouldn't Seiho want to keep her for herself?"

"No, I don't mind at all."

I expected her to agree, but instead, Seiho gave a mischievous smile.

With that grin still on her face, she continued.

"With Takano Sousuke, I'm sure you'll be treated with care."

...Hm?

There was something slightly off about the way she phrased that.

"…You weren't trying to poach Soosuke, were you?"

Exactly as Serina pointed out, Seiho must have been attempting to pull me away from my current party.

Yet, sending Tohoshima to a party that had previously tried to snatch me away? That wasn't at all like the loyal, group-oriented Seiho I knew.

「My feelings haven't changed, but the current Kuno has plenty of lovers now, doesn't he?

If Kuno comes to me, wouldn't all those lovers come with him too?» And so, Seiō continued.

«Since Houjin Ruai is also a lover of mine, Tōshima Mitsuami, who relies on her completely, will end up returning as well, won't they? I don't mind them being apart for a short time.»

«Whooo.

There's no escaping this dominion~» Tōshima slumped his shoulders in defeat.

«You're just directing the show, aren't you? That's quite an exaggeration.»

Seiō twisted the corners of her eyes in mock indignation.

«Tōshima, I apologize.

When it comes to choosing housemates, I can't make a snap decision.

I'll discuss it with everyone else.» «That's to be expected~ Got it!» Tōshima backed down obediently.

«Phew. I've talked too much. Wake me up when the food is ready~»

This time, Seiō didn't stop Tōshima as he walked away.

«Well?

She loves to slack off, but she's a good kid.» «That's true.»

It is an ability I'd be grateful to possess.

Moreover, I could empathize with her having hobbies like games and manga.

«By the way, Kuno Sōsuke.

What did you think of this current event?» A serious tint settled into her eyes.

I paused for a moment, feigning contemplation, before I spoke.

"What catches my attention is the timing—right after our party established collaborative ties with every last classmate."

"Aye. And the sheer majesty of the Behemoth; it was visible even from afar. I imagine many students were praying to get home as soon as possible."

"Evoking that very fear might have been the intent."

Yes. With the supply line established from our side, they had secured an environment where they could live safely as long as they avoided the waters.

An emergency event that seemed designed to shatter such stability—I couldn't help but sense a deliberate hand behind the Mysterious Blackboard's actions.

Besides, this time it was a massive giveaway of 'Return Rights.'

I obtained two, and Teacher Luminous received two as part of her benefits. That made four in total.

Fukami, Chi-i, Sei-ou, Nagahata, Kenki, and Serina each got one. That made six.

Of course, it's hindsight, but we ended up securing ten rights in total.

As if daring us to use them.

The fact that every single person who acquired a right chose to hold off on exercising it—was that an unexpected outcome for the Mysterious Blackboard?

Anyway, neither my party nor Cheng Huang's lost a single member.

That made the future movements of Mysterious Blackboard a cause for concern.

"The entity that sent us here likely wants to observe us. If we lead a stable life, it would get boring."

"Ah. So going forward, they might try to disrupt things even more than before."

"I'm relieved I'm thinking the same thing, Kudo Souji."

"It's not just me who's had that thought."

Chiyu seemed to have noticed something too, and there were surely other members among us who felt a sense of unease.

"Even so, it's a good thing the leaders are sharing their thoughts."

Certainly, cooperation would be easier to maintain.

"...So, for the sake of the future, you want to put Sousuke under your command?"

Seireina fixed Cheng Huang with a sidelong glance.

Cheng Huang took it in with a smile and nodded.

"That would be best."

"What if it doesn't work out?"

"Then I'll aim for the next best option."

"The next best option?"

Terina glared at Sumisou with a suspicious intensity, though she did not elaborate on the specifics of her best alternative plan.

"Su-Suke, you don't need to listen to this woman's ramblings. She just wants to feel like she won against Shōko."

Terina's words were harsh, but it was undeniably true that Sumisou harbored a competitive spirit toward Shōko.

Perhaps, because Terina had been part of Shōko's group and understood the reality of the situation firsthand, emotion crept into her words.

"I won't deny that feeling exists. But this is something far more serious than mere class rankings—things like those are trivial by comparison."

"Huh?"

Sumisou tilted her head in a natural gesture.

But to me, who was standing right before her, it looked less like curiosity and more like she was checking her surroundings.

"...Well, I suppose that's fine. You just won't leave Yumezawa Terina's side, no matter what."

"Naturally."

Sumisou shrugged before fixing me with a stare.

"I want to stay on this island right up until the very limit. Until the point where it becomes completely unbeatable."

I was not surprised by her statement.

Her expression suggested she was struggling to suppress an intense thrill.

"This island is wonderful. It allows for infinite refinement and extends one's lifespan, doesn't it? If we can bring back our memories and abilities, we'll be able to live a rich life thereafter."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

Our party has even been hauling textbooks back from the bonus area to study here on the desert island.

If they could bring the knowledge gained from studying here back to Earth, it would be hugely beneficial for their academic performance and university entrance exams.

They can hone their sports skills to their heart's content.

They can train their bodies right up to the limits of their physical endurance.

They can practice as long as they like until they've mastered every technique.

In this limited span of youth, they must accomplish so many things. But here, they can take their time and do them slowly.

As for romance, they could go on hundreds of dates or engage in physical intimacy as often as they wish.

They can go to the beach or have picnics as much as they want.

These are certainly the perks of living on this island.

However, many people aren't focusing on these aspects.

They're so desperately focused just surviving day to day that their minds can't even stretch to consider the advantages of being transferred to an desert island.

But going forward, everyone might finally have the headroom to appreciate them.

And the tricky part of this time's reward is ability awakening.

Due to the nature of the event, the balance was set so that it would be difficult to clear unless you were an existing user, but who knows what will happen in the future.

To obtain more stimulating observation results, the Mysterious Blackboard might try to increase the number of users.

If a newly empowered person were to lose control... it could develop into the student-versus-student conflict I had been worried about for some time now.

It's all just possibility. But the fact that it is possible is what makes it terrifying.

"Do you know how to continue living on this island for a longer period of time, Soukuro Kudo?"

Through her question, Sumika was trying to test me.

I had sensed that since earlier, but it didn't put me in a bad mood.

Because I am also trying to judge Sumika myself.

"...Keep only the companions you can trust, and send the rest home."

At my words, a look of ecstasy flashed across Sumika's face.

"Yes!"

For a brief moment, raising her voice, Sumika quickly lowered it again to continue speaking.

"Especially for those who have gained abilities and risk going berserk, we should grant them the right to return home and request their departure from the island. It’s no loss for them either."

They would be receiving a right that is normally only earned by clearing an event or performing exceptionally well. While there is something in it for them, they have nothing to lose.

One could argue that staying on the desert island means losing out on the days of growth and training one might have gained.

In exchange, however, we can reduce the unpredictability factors other than the mysterious blackboard's directives.

"If you’re going to do it, sooner is better. Right now, many people still wish they could go home immediately, but once they realize the benefits of staying on the island, there will surely be those who choose to stay."

"Exactly. We might even need to threaten that if they hold back on exercising their 'Right to Return,' we will cut off our trade with them."

This refers to transferring the 'Right to Return' from my party.

In the case of the Seifeng party, it’s simpler; they just need to honestly let their female members go back home.

Among the girls, there are likely some who want to return to their original lives as soon as possible.

Desiring to live long-term on a desert island where monsters exist is not normal behavior.

It is those who have acquired abnormal abilities and gained memories or bonds they do not want to lose that would think in such a way.

"Just so you know, I have no intention of giving special treatment to the girls alone? Of course, I’m happy if those suited to it stay, but there are also those for whom it is simply impossible no matter how hard they try."

It would be best for them if we let those kinds of kids go home first.

"What we must fear most is not that a threat emerges on this island."

That probing gaze again.

"True. The worst-case scenario would be if the resulting threats carried their memories and abilities back to Earth."

Johou's satisfied smile seemed to deepen with each passing moment.

"Yes. And besides, the boys are watching you build your harem, aren't they? Even if it's impossible here on this island, I can just imagine them fantasizing about what might happen once they're back in Japan."

The painful part was that she couldn't be denied.

There was no need to worry about Tsutsui, the reformed pistol boy, or Tenshourin, who was deep in a pure romance with their history teacher, but I couldn't vouch for the rest of the male students.

Before anyone had gained abilities, there were those who harassed the girls of the Johou party or chased after Fukami.

The thought of them obtaining cheat abilities and returning to Japan was terrifying.

Believing that we would be safe might be arrogance, but the potential for disaster was undeniable.

"That's why we should cooperate, no?"

"You mean we decide who stays on the island and who goes home? That we sort them out ourselves?"

"Yes. It's not as if it's difficult, is it? We simply send home those who want to leave."

Truly, those who return to Japan stand to lose nothing.

They likely won't be able to bring back their memories, so they'll probably forget what happened on this island.

It will be as if nothing ever happened at all.

For us, losing our "Right of Return" has the advantage of reducing the threat we pose.

If Sefu and we work together, this scheme might actually go well.

Besides, Shion is on our side here.

We could pose the question: would you immediately exercise your "Right of Return" if you obtained one? That should flush out any liars.

"But there's a chance that even this fits Mysterious Blackboard's plan, doesn't it?"

This time, it was our turn to test Sefu, directing our gazes toward her.

Sefu seemed to grasp my point right away.

"It's possible we won't get enough 'Rights of Return' for everyone. But that's no problem. If there aren't enough, the child with the most monster kills can simply yield their seat."

Exactly. It's not guaranteed that a "Right of Return" will be distributed to every single person present.

The plan to distribute the surplus is only viable as long as that surplus can be generated.

But it seemed like Seifang had accounted for that too.

I nodded in agreement.

"Even if you die, accepting a penalty allows you to return to Japan. Even if the penalty points are deducted from your total acquired points, as long as some points remain, you won't fall into a coma."

That was how the rules worked.

The only concern would be that the amount of points obtained from defeating monsters remains hidden from us.

However, I don't think it's set to such a maliciously low level.

If they were stingy with point allocation at this stage, one would expect that same reluctance to have been reflected in the rewards for previous events.

"So? How about it? If you agree to cooperate, I'll do whatever it takes to add every woman in my party to your harem. Well, how many of them will actually remain is another question, though."

There are twenty-three girls in our class. Adding Professor Luminus brings the total to twenty-four.

Building a harem with all of them might be the kind of dream that makes any man salivate.

"……Regarding matters like 'the right of return,' honestly, I had been considering something similar as well."

"I suppose so. Your party is certainly the most favored among us."

Our goal isn't simply to go home.

It's to bring back our memories and abilities.

It’s impossible to say how much time that would take.

If it were just us, I’m sure we’d find a way through.

But what about everyone else?

Because of the friction between the men and the women, they can’t all live together in one place.

But what if a being like Behemoth had appeared before someone other than us?

They might have been forced to accept a death penalty.

That’s a thought that would keep me up at night, and Teacher Luminus would surely be devastated, too.

"Which is why it would be a great help if we could cooperate with Sumphong and the others. Of course, I’d like to consult with my comrades first."

"Indeed."

"But that last part is a no."

"The last part?"

"If there are those who want to go home and those who want to stay, they might not object to having a harem if it meant joining forces with us. But I don’t want to form romantic relationships through a transaction like that."

"Are you not interested in the dreamlike life of a harem?"

"It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t."

I let out a bitter laugh. Even if they thought me pathetic, it felt wrong to put on airs here.

"And yet, you’d refuse?"

"I do want to cooperate. But I don’t need that kind of reward."

I answered, and Seofu opened her eyes wide.

"Magnificent."

She let out that single word of praise.

It was probably just another part of her testing me, so I offered a bitter smile.

"Ha ha, thank you—"

No, she wasn't simply praising me.

Seofu threw her arms around me and pressed her lips against mine.

Yurina, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, seemed too taken aback by the sudden ambush to react.

"Huh?"

He let out a low voice, staring at Seofu with a look of shock.

Seofu smoothly pulled her body back and looked at me, her face slightly tinted with crimson.

"Mm. It's precisely because you're a man like that that I want it."

In the eyes of Seofu Ryouka, a person possessing the "Charisma" trait and an embodiment of upward ambition.

There shimmered a light of lust I had never seen before in her.

Thank you all for your support this year as well.

Even though there were periods where I took breaks along the way, reaching 600,000 words in just over a year was...

That’s thanks to the people who have supported me.

Please continue to support me next year as well.

To Our Dear Readers:

If reading this work has made you even the slightest...

I was struck with the thoughts: “That was interesting!” “Keep writing like this next year!” and “Please keep going.”

・ Adding to your bookmarks

・ Add the book to your bookmarks, and

・ Change the ☆☆☆☆☆ button in the "Use Points to Support the Author" section at the bottom of the page to ★★★★★.

That would be a huge encouragement for my future updates!!!

Thank you so much!!!

Mitsuame Toyoshima, who has the ability to produce food, said she wants to join us.

She used to be close with maid Loa, and apparently she wants to live as comfortably as possible.

If she joins us, Loa will take care of her, and she thinks she can live more comfortably than with the Seikou Party.

Hmm... Personally, I don't oppose it...

But it's not something I should decide on my own.

"Since Toyoshima's ability is valuable, don't you want to keep her in the party?" "No, it's fine with me."

I thought she would agree, but Seikou laughed mischievously. Smiling, she continued.

"Kouno Souzoku will treat her well." ...Huh?

Her tone of voice felt a bit off.

"...Aren't you trying to lure Souzoku away?"

As Seryna said, Seikou was trying to recruit me from my current party.

But sending Toyoshima to a party like that doesn't seem like something the considerate Seikou would do.

「I still feel the same, but Kojiya now has many lovers, doesn't he? If Kojiya comes to me, his lovers will come with him, won't they?」 And Jūkō continues.

「Fujimura Mitsuame is also his lover, so she'll come back with her too, right? I don't mind if they're just temporarily separated.」

「Ugh. I can't escape this domination.」 Fujimura slumps her shoulders.

「I'm just in charge, it's not that big of a deal.」

Jūkō seems offended and twists her eyes.

「Fujimura, I'm sorry. I can't decide right away if we're going to live together. I'll talk to everyone about it.」 「That's right. Okay.」 Fujimura accepts it humbly.

「Phew. I talked too much. Wake me up when dinner's ready.」

Jūkō didn't stop Fujimura this time as she left.

「How about it? He's a lazybones, but he's a good kid.」 「Yeah.」

I think it's a nice ability to have.

Also, I could relate to her liking games and manga.

「By the way, Kojiya Sōsuke, what did you think of this event?」 Her eyes take on a serious look.

I pretended to think for a moment before speaking.

"I'm curious about the fact that our party formed a cooperative relationship with all the classmates at once."

"Yes. And the imposing appearance of the Behemoth was visible even from a distance. Many students probably wished to go home as soon as possible."

"That might have been the intention."

That's right. By accepting supplies from us, they could live safely by avoiding the water.

It's hard not to feel that the mysterious blackboard was intentionally causing chaos, like it was breaking that stability.

Moreover, this time, there was an extravagant distribution of 'Return Rights.'

I got two, and Ms. Lumina got two including the bonus. That's four in total.

Deep Law, Senyuu, Seiou, Eienba, Kenki, and Serina each got one. That's six in total.

Of course, it's hindsight, but we ended up getting a total of ten.

It's as if they were saying, "Use them."

Would it be a surprising result for the mysterious blackboard that all the recipients are holding off on using them?

Anyway, no one from my party or Seiwa's party is missing.

That being the case, the future movements of the mysterious blackboard are worrying.

"The entity that sent us here must want to observe us. If we live a stable life, it will get bored."

"Yeah. So, in the future, it might try to stir things up even more than before."

"I'm relieved to hear you think the same way, Koji Sohatsu."

"I'm not the only one thinking this way."

Chiyu seemed to have noticed something too, and there must be others among my comrades who feel uneasy.

"Still, it's good that the leaders are sharing their thoughts."

Indeed, cooperation seems easier.

"So, you want to place Sousuke under your command for the future?"

Seina gave Seiwa a penetrating look.

Seiwa accepted it with a smile and nodded. "That's the best option." "What if it doesn't work?" "Then we'll aim for the next best option." "The next best option?"

Seriame glares at Sumika but does not reveal any further details.

"Sousuke. You don't have to listen to her. She just wants to feel like she won against Shouko."

Seriame's words are sharp, but it's clear that Sumika does indeed have a competitive streak against Shouko.

As someone who had been part of Shouko's group, Seriame probably feels strongly about it, which is why her words are tinged with emotion.

"I'm not going to deny that feeling. But this is a matter of far greater importance than any class ranking or trivial issue." "Huh?"

Sumika tilts her head in a natural gesture.

But I understand that she's checking her surroundings.

"…Well, whatever. Anyway, Dream World Seriame isn't going anywhere." "Of course she isn't."

Sumika shrugs and looks at me.

"I want to stay on this island until the very end. Until it becomes unplayable, until the very last moment." I'm not surprised by this.

Her expression seems to be trying to suppress her excitement.

"This island is amazing. It offers infinite training and extends your lifespan. If you can bring back your memories and abilities, you can enrich your life afterward." "Yeah, that's true."

Our party is also studying on the desert island, bringing back textbooks from the bonus area.

If we can bring back the knowledge we gain here to Earth, it will greatly benefit our academic performance and college entrance exams.

We can also train in sports as much as we want.

We can push our bodies to their limits and train.

We can practice as much as we want until we master our skills.

Here, we can take our time to do all the things we need to do within our limited youth.

In terms of romantic relationships, we can go on hundreds of dates and have as much sex as we want.

We can go swimming and have picnics as much as we want.

This is one of the benefits of living on this island.

However, many people do not notice this.

They are too busy just trying to survive day by day to even think about the benefits of being transferred to a desert island.

But maybe everyone will have the time to think about it in the future.

And the troublesome part of this reward is the ability awakening.

Because of the event's content, the balance was difficult to clear without existing ability users, but I don't know what will happen in the future.

To obtain more stimulating observation results, the mystery blackboard might try to increase the number of ability users.

If someone who gained a new ability were to go berserk... it might lead to a student versus student conflict, something I've been worried about.

Everything is a possibility. But the fact that it could happen is terrifying.

"Do you know how to continue living on this island for a longer time, Kousuke Kugane?"

Sumika is trying to test me through her question.

I've felt that since earlier, but it doesn't make me feel bad.

Because I'm trying to figure out Sumika as well.

"...Keep only the ones you can trust and send the others back."

Sumika's face lit up with joy at my words. "That's right!"

Sumika, who had raised her voice for a moment, quickly lowered it and continued.

「In particular, we should give those who seem likely to go berserk with their new abilities the option to return home and leave the island. They won't lose out either way.」

This is about giving them rights that are usually only earned by clearing events or performing exceptionally well.

It's true that they might lose out on the chance to hone their skills if they stay on the island.

But in exchange, we reduce the uncertainty of the mysterious blackboard's influence.

「If we're going to do this, the sooner the better. Right now, there are probably many who wish to return home, but once they realize the island's benefits, some will want to stay.」

「True. If they hesitate to exercise their ‘return rights’, we might have to threaten to cut off negotiations.」

This is about transferring the ‘return rights’ from my party.

For the Seiou party, it would be straightforward to let the girls return home.

Some of the girls might want to return to their previous lives as soon as possible.

It's not normal to want to live on a desert island with monsters for a long time.

Those who have gained unusual abilities and memories or bonds they don't want to lose might think this way.

「I should warn you, I don't plan to favor only the girls. Of course, I'd be happy if they adapt, but there will be some who can't no matter how hard they try.」

That's why it's better to let those kids go home first.

"The most dangerous thing isn't the threat arising on this island." Another speculative look.

"That's right. The worst-case scenario is if the threat inherits memories and abilities and brings them back to Earth."

Sekou's satisfied smile seemed to be deepening.

"Yes. And the boys are watching you build your harem, aren't they? Even if it's not possible on this island, they'll start imagining what will happen when you return to Japan."

It's frustrating that I can't deny it.

I don't have to worry about the former gun boy Tsukui, who's changed his ways, or the history teacher who's in a pure love with Tendo, but I can't take responsibility for the other boys.

There were those who had caused trouble for Sekou's girls and tormented Shinpo even without abilities.

The thought of them getting cheat abilities and returning to Japan is terrifying.

It might be arrogant to think we'll be fine, but it's definitely a worrying situation. "So, let's cooperate?"

"You want us to decide who stays on the island and who goes home?"

"That's right. It's not difficult, is it? We just send home those who want to leave."

Indeed, there's nothing to lose by returning to Japan.

Probably, since I won't be able to take my memories back, I'll forget everything that happened here.

It'll be as if nothing ever happened.

On our side, we lose the right to return, but we can reduce the threat.

If Seiho and we cooperate, this plan might work.

Besides, we have Shion here.

If we ask if they'll immediately exercise their right to return, we can expose the liars.

"But what if that's also part of the mystery blackboard's plan?"

This time, I look at Seiho to test her.

Seiho seems to understand what I'm getting at.

"There's the possibility that there aren't enough 'return rights' for everyone. That's fine. If there aren't enough, the children who have killed the most monsters can give up their seats."

That's right. There's no guarantee that there will be enough 'return rights' for everyone.

The strategy of distributing excess points ends when we can no longer generate excess points.

But it seems that Jinhou had thought of that too. I nod.

"If you die or receive a penalty, you can return to Japan. Even if the penalty is subtracted from your total points, you won't fall into a coma as long as you have points left." That's how the rule works.

My only concern is that the points gained from monster slaying are still concealed.

But I don't think the point amount will be set to be that underhanded.

If they're going to be stingy with the points here, it would make sense for them to reflect that in the rewards for previous events as well.

"That's right. What do you think? If you help me, I'll do everything I can to add all the girls in my party to your harem. Well, I don't know how many will stay in the end."

There are twenty-three girls in our class. Add Lumina-sensei to that, and it's twenty-four.

Building a harem with all of them might be a dream for any man.

"...Regarding the 'return right' and such, to be honest, I had similar thoughts."

"That's understandable. Your party is the most blessed of all."

Our goal is not just to return, but to bring back our memories and abilities.

It's hard to tell how long it will take.

We can probably make it through, but what about everyone else?

We can't all live together because of the tension between the boys and girls.

But what if something like the Behemoth appeared before us?

They might have received the death penalty.

That would be a bad start to the day, and Ms. Lumina would be deeply saddened.

"I'm glad we can work together with you guys if possible. Of course, I want to talk to my friends too." "Yeah." "But the last part isn't okay." "What do you mean?"

"If they can join us, the ones who want to stay and the ones who want to go might not oppose the harem. But I don't want to make a deal like that to get a girlfriend."

"Are you not interested in the dream harem life?"

"If I say I'm not interested, I'd be lying."

I chuckled. Even if it seemed shallow, I felt it was wrong to act pretentious here. "But you're turning it down?"

"I want to cooperate, but I don't need that kind of reward."

When I answered, Seiwa’s eyes widened in surprise. "Amazing."

And she muttered that one word.

I chuckled, thinking that this was yet another question to test me. "Haha, thank you--"

No, she hadn’t just praised me.

Seiwa hugged me and kissed me.

Even Serina, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, was taken aback by the sudden turn of events. "Huh?"

She looked at me in surprise, speaking in a low voice.

Cleopatra then smoothly turned her body, her face slightly flushed as she looked at me.

"Yeah. That's why I want someone like you."

In the eyes of Sumihō Ryōka, a block of ambition with charisma.

A lustful light flickered that I had never seen before. Thank you for your support this year.

Although there were times when I took a break, being able to reach 600,000 words in just over a year,

That's because of everyone who supported me.

I look forward to next year.

-------A Request to All Readers------- If you read this and felt even a little bit

"interesting" or "keep writing next year" or "continue more," please

・add this book to your bookmarks

・change the ☆☆☆☆☆ button at the bottom of the page to ★★★★★

to show your support. It will be a great encouragement for future updates!!!!! Please do!!!!!