6. Skill Not Enough? Source Power, Add Points!
"Victory is decided!"
"Nani? I actually lost?"
The table tennis club member's eyes widened.
Just now, he felt that although the opponent's technique was good, it was still a bit lacking compared to his own.
But why did he suddenly lose?
"It seems senior's strength stops here. Please transfer the one hundred thousand points."
Aragaki Shun very happily took out his phone and waved it.
"The contract is compulsorily enforced by the school, of course I won't renege on the debt. But I want another round with you, still with one hundred thousand points as the stake!"
The table tennis club member unwillingly transferred the points, then picked up his paddle again, signaling to continue.
"Oh, does senpai still have a large amount of points on hand? Don't end up spending all your points for meals."
"Don't worry, I can still come up with two hundred thousand points!"
Being a third-year student, after recognizing the true nature of the school, most students were forced to learn to accumulate points in their daily lives.
And the school's clubs not only could apply for activity funds from the student council, but also receive rewards from the school after achieving results.
Therefore, Class A students like him, who had a special skill, never lacked points for daily consumption.
"Alright then," Aragaki Shun moved his hands and feet, realizing these seniors seemed unusually rich, "let's sign another contract."
Another contract involving one hundred thousand points was signed under the teacher's witness.
The table tennis club member exuded a pressing aura, his sharp eyes not missing any change on the table, vowing to win back the points and face he had lost.
But it wasn't long.
Another defeat cast a shadow over the entire table tennis club.
"Impossible, I was clearly about to win. Why did I suddenly lose?"
The table tennis club member felt baffled.
He had clearly used his full strength, without any underestimation, and had been in the upper hand during the early stages.
But later, the opponent's offense suddenly became fierce, and in a few moves, he was defeated.
"You did it on purpose?"
"Senpai, please don't wrong me. I just haven't played this for a while and needed some practice to get my feel for the ball back."
Aragaki Shun twirled the paddle in his hand and shook his neck.
He could feel that after two matches, his body had quickly adjusted to the state suitable for table tennis.
He wasn't deceiving the other party.
Although he hadn't used his full strength, it was mainly that he had reserved some strength and agility.
As for table tennis skills, he wasn't a specialist in this, and his skills were indeed not much stronger than the senior's.
Moreover, because he hadn't practiced for a long time, he was a bit rusty.
However, he had lv.4 [Martial Arts] skills, which included many self-defense techniques like wrestling, taekwondo, and weapon fighting.
His body control ability far surpassed ordinary people.
Coupled with physical fitness superior to most adult males, it wasn't difficult for him to pick up any sport.
On the other hand, after his spirit attribute reached 9, his calculation and memory abilities were formidable.
Although this part of the attribute couldn't be completely converted into learning ability, even just the indirect enhancement allowed him to easily learn most skills in the world that could be acquired through hard work and practice.
There was too much knowledge in this world, and it was too miscellaneous.
He didn't have much energy to spend on skills that weren't in great demand in day-to-day life.
But just spending a couple of days memorizing the corresponding rules and common sense, then relying on physical fitness support and drawing analogies through martial arts skills was no problem.
"Matsubara, you step down first!"
Just as the defeated table tennis club member was about to say something unwillingly, a stern voice stopped him.
The table tennis club's president stepped forward, looking at Aragaki Shun with some hesitation. "Were you observing Matsubara's movements while playing, and even learned his experience in the later stages, leading to that final explosive shot?"
"That's right, and thanks for Matsubara-senpai's guidance."
"What?!!"
The table tennis club member who lost to Aragaki Shun, also known as Matsubara by the president, widened his eyes.
Learning during training and matches was normal, but to so easily absorb and master his year's worth of training results, this kind of thing!
This kind of thing...
Was this the gap between him and a true genius?
The table tennis club president also gave Aragaki Shun a deep look, and said with a cautious tone: "Do you want to join the table tennis club? I'm currently in third-year Class A, and I'll be preparing for graduation soon. At that time, you will be the new president of the table tennis club."
"Regrettably, my interest in table tennis isn't very great, just to the extent of playing occasionally."
Aragaki Shun shook his head. "But would the president like to play a game? If I lose, I could join for a period of training."
"Is this the willfulness of a genius?" The table tennis club president lamented, yet he had the teacher draw up another contract.
Whether it was to regain the table tennis club's face, or to suppress the junior's arrogance and let him know that his beloved table tennis was not so easy, he had to play a game with Aragaki Shun.
Unfortunately—
[Name: Aragaki Shun
Strength: 7→8
Constitution: 7→8
Agility: 8→9
Spirit: 9→10
Skills: Martial Arts lv.4 (2/5), Writing lv.4 (2/5), Miscellaneous
Talents: Danger Premonition lv.5 (0/10), Immunity to All Poisons lv.5 (0/10), Invulnerability to All Diseases lv.5 (0/10)
Pending Condensation: Erudition lv.0 (0/?), Turning Misfortune into Good Fortune lv.0 (0/?)
Source Power: 14→10 (Current efficiency: 3 wisps per month)]
Advanced Nurturing High School's clubs indeed had hidden talents.
If he used his casual interest to challenge their painstakingly honed future paths, there was still a one or two percent chance of being defeated by a sudden burst of power.
Although losing didn't matter much, if he could win, he should try his best to win.
If he had to specially enhance his table tennis skills for such a match, Aragaki Shun would definitely be unwilling.
But when there was enough Source Power, choosing to enhance the four basic attributes was, in any case, laying a foundation for the future.
If it weren't for the fact that the four attributes complemented each other, and the gap between the strongest and weakest attribute couldn't be too large, otherwise it would affect body coordination, Aragaki Shun would have long pulled his spirit attribute to 10 or above.
Just like last time when his constitution was only 6, he raised his spirit to 9, which directly caused him occasional headaches.
Investing another wisp of Source Power in constitution completely solved this problem.
Aragaki Shun somewhat enjoyed the refreshing feeling of his body clearly becoming stronger.
This was the absolute strength he pursued!
—As long as the foundation was solid enough, even the shortest plank extending from it would be enough to crush others' longest, then he would have no shortcomings!
...
The result was obvious: the hardworking and diligent were ultimately no match for the one who cheated.
Aragaki Shun collected another one hundred thousand points.
This trip had already yielded him three hundred thousand points, almost a month's salary for an ordinary worker in Japanese.
And this was only from two of the participants in the match.
The table tennis club had five members present.
If he had chosen to be low-key at the beginning, gradually revealing slightly superior skills, and constantly giving them hope that they could win in the next match, he could definitely have squeezed out more profit from these fat sheep.
But forget it, he had to live here for three years anyway, and they would see each other often.
It was better not to be too ruthless.
"Are you really not considering joining the table tennis club?"
The president took out his phone to transfer points to Aragaki Shun, but compared to these one hundred thousand points, he seemed more unwilling to let Aragaki Shun go just like that.
"Last year we participated in the national high school league and only got third place. With you this year, maybe we can truly win the championship. At that time, the prize money from the competition and the school's individual point rewards can all be yours."
"Oh, it's normal for the school to issue rewards when a club achieves results, but does this reward help with class competition?"
"Class points are not so easy... wait, new student, you?"
The table tennis club president subconsciously answered, but immediately realized that the person before him was not a knowledgeable second or third-year student, but a new student who, by rights, should not have been informed of the point rules on the first day of enrollment.
Because of the match's failure, he had subconsciously placed the opponent on an equal or even higher footing, and had actually overlooked this point.
'So the key to class competition is class points.'
Aragaki Shun understood in his heart, but said: "What's wrong, senpai? Doesn't the school reward class points for club achievements? Then, for our Class B to advance to Class A, do we have to rely solely on assessments?"
"...Someone like you is actually only in Class B, is the school blind? Another Nagumo Miyabi!"
The table tennis club president clutched his face with one hand in some pain, but dared not say much more to Aragaki Shun, turned around and moved far away.
Aragaki Shun thoughtfully walked over to Kanzaki Ryuuji and Shibata Sō.
First, he signaled them not to speak, then took a few contracts from the nearby table tennis club's supervising teacher, tore them up, and then transferred the earned three hundred thousand points to this teacher's account.
"Our visit this time was impolite. Please trouble the teacher to use these personal points to get some high-quality sportswear for the table tennis club seniors."
After saying that, under the strange gazes of the table tennis club members and the supervising teacher, Aragaki Shun turned and left this activity room.
Back in the corridor of the club building, Kanzaki Ryuuji was lost in thought, while Shibata Sō was hesitant, finally unable to hold back and asked: "Aragaki, you clearly won those points, why did you give them back?"
"After all, the president is a good person. He disregarded school punishment to tell us that besides personal points, there are also class points, that someone like me is only in Class B, and also information about Nagumo Miyabi."
"Huh? Senpai will be punished by the school for leaking information?"
"It should be fine. As long as he doesn't admit it, this information was just my own speculation. Whether it's true or false isn't certain. The school can't be that strict."
Unless all second and third-year students directly refused to communicate with first-year new students, otherwise, the common sense cultivated by staying in this school for so long wasn't so easily concealed.
Perceptive people could always detect clues from these exchanges.
If the school really strictly prohibited second and third-year students from revealing information, then senior students should have driven them away the first time they saw them.
And since they didn't do that, it could only mean that the school actually tacitly allowed new students to investigate school rules in this way.
"But then why did Aragaki give the points back to them? That was three hundred thousand!"
"Just consider it as making friends."
Aragaki Shun smiled and looked at Kanzaki, who was deep in thought beside him. "I seem to have left your phone in the table tennis club's changing room. When we return to the dormitory, remember to go get it."
"I know, the seniors are all good people. It should be fine to leave it there for now."
"Huh?"
Listening to their strange exchange, Shibata was completely bewildered.
He wanted to ask, but under Kanzaki's gesture, he could only painfully suppress his curiosity.
...
After leaving the table tennis club, Aragaki Shun also conveniently visited the judo club and the shogi club.
Unfortunately, he didn't encounter the legendary loli and the Dragon King senpai who could be sent to prison, so he could only earn some personal points as a small consolation.
But when he left the shogi club with a disappointed heart and walked into the activity room of the neighboring chess club, he was shocked to realize that it wasn't that there weren't any, but that the loli had gone to the wrong place.
The young girl, so petite she didn't seem like a high school student, wore a beret on her head.
Her skin was fair, her features cute, and her slender legs were wrapped in white garter stockings, enough to attract any man's eye.
She sat in a seat provided by the club, with a cane placed beside her, like a girl surrounded by three or four men and women.
Just like when he first met Ichinose, a name surfaced in Aragaki Shun's mind—Year 1 Class A, Sakayanagi Arisu!
She was currently toying with a chess piece on the table.
Her face, which should have been endearing, instead exuded a compelling aura.
Opposite her was a senior student, drenched in cold sweat.
Clearly, this seemingly harmless loli, like Aragaki Shun, had also chosen the path of extorting points from senior students.
"I lose."
Not long after, that member of the chess club dejectedly gave up struggling and chose to bow his head in defeat.
"According to the agreement, I will transfer two hundred thousand points to you."
"Senpai's skill is already very good. Among your peers, you can be considered to have shown promise. If you work harder, there's hope of becoming a professional player in the future."
Sakayanagi Arisu had a faint smile on her face, nonchalantly signaling her entourage behind her to receive the points.
"Thank you for your auspicious words, junior."
The chess club president's face showed some humiliation.
Just now, this seemingly innocent junior had squeezed dry the points of their entire club, all its members.
And each time she won, she would casually throw out the same words, without even changing a few characters.
Besides, from her chess playing style, it was clear that this junior from Year 1 Class A was definitely an aggressive and ferocious beast.
"Hehe, it seems the members of the chess club no longer have points to play against me."
Sakayanagi Arisu stood up, scanned the flushed but silent club members around her, and picked up the cane beside her with a slight sense of boredom.
Just as she was about to lead the Class A students behind her to leave, she saw a figure walk to the opposite position, glance at the game on the chessboard, and then make an invitation with great interest, "Year 1 Class B, Aragaki Shun. May I have the honor of a game with this girl?"
"Greetings, Year 1 Class A, Sakayanagi Arisu. It seems this school isn't so boring after all."
Sakayanagi Arisu pursed her lips, her eyes as if seeing an interesting toy.
...