The Extra's Harem In Dead End Game

"One thing has been resolved."

I circled the calendar in red. I had succeeded in forcibly caring for the protagonist as planned. He must have gained some real-life experience from this incident. It will surely help his future growth.

And money.

He managed to secure enough funds to cover tuition, so he won't need to waste time on part-time jobs for a while. That means he can invest his time entirely in growth. For now, that's enough.

"Well, I might as well take care of my own interests too."

It's not only the protagonist who gained experience. I've also grown more through real battles. And the items were a bonus. A ring of magical amplification.

The downside of harsh iron.

A bracelet of strength increase.

These are the three main items that could be obtained there. Among them, the bracelet of strength increase was especially useful to me.

With my current weak strength, this item that increases strength by 10% was definitely going to be helpful.

That's why I chose it. The rest of the items were distributed appropriately to those who could benefit from them.

"Then next is...."

I was busily thinking about what to do next.

***

2nd year common class. No matter how much of a dump the class was, there were naturally honor students.

Sunny Benesse was one such person.

The eldest son of the Benesse Viscount family, he came to the classroom earlier than anyone else in the common class and listened to the lectures more intently than anyone else.

Even after classes, he practically lived in the library or the training ground.

And his efforts were not in vain, as he was achieving the highest grades in most of the subject assignments in the class.

Still, Sunny was not satisfied. He detested the fact that he had to set foot in such a dump of a class in the first place.

'Ugh, if only I hadn't had that stomachache that day.'

'The day before, I must have eaten something wrong because, on the important day of the first semester's final exam, my stomach screamed as if it was going mad.'

Sunny was in a situation where he couldn't concentrate properly no matter what. As a result, the exam was a catastrophic failure.

And as a consequence, Sunny had to spend the second semester in the common class.

A frustrating situation. But Sunny tried to regain his composure.

'I will return. I will definitely return.'

To a place that suits him. It wasn't the noble class where he originally belonged. The royal class at the very top. That was where he was supposed to be. But then....

"As I announced, the next class will be a joint class. However, it's not that we're going to learn something new in the class. We're going to test the things I've taught you all along. And not just individual achievements, but I also want to see what kind of synergy can be created through harmony and cooperation with your classmates. So everyone, please form groups of three by the next class.

That's all."

Karen, the professor of elemental magic, made an announcement that hit like a bolt from the blue.

Sunny's pupils shook as if an earthquake had occurred. He had expected a test since it was a joint class. But he had never expected it to be a group evaluation.

What kind of group evaluation in a subject like elemental magic?

What does magic have to do with harmony and cooperation!

Sunny glared at Professor Karen with a strong protest in his eyes, but of course, that gaze had as much impact as the tears of a chick.

Karen gave a slight smile as if to say she was looking forward to it and then left.

'Ugh.'

That's what it is. Group evaluations are trendy among professors these days, so she wanted to try it too.

"Damn it."

Students are not experimental subjects.

Sunny's dissatisfaction did not subside.

The reason for his dissatisfaction was simple.

With individual evaluations, it's fine as long as you do well, but with group evaluations, it's not enough to do well alone. Because it's the group that's being evaluated.

That means...

'What, am I supposed to do something with these incompetents?'

From Sunny's perspective, the students of the common class were nothing but incompetent failures.

Without exaggeration, there was not a single person who stood out. There was no way a good result would come out of forming a group with such people and being evaluated.

The royal and noble classes would obviously pair up with the talented elites.

'Tch, but there's nothing I can do about it.'

Still, forming a group with the better ones among them was the best choice he could make right now. Having made that decision, Sunny moved.

Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he tried to move. In reality, he hadn't moved an inch from his spot, just rolling his eyes.

That's right. He was the proud loner of the common class.

He claimed to be a voluntary loner who didn't want to be involved with the incompetents as much as possible, but was it just a feeling that he seemed to be an involuntary loner?

"Class president, let's be in a group together…"

"Sure."

While that was happening, the class president, whom Sunny had been aiming for as his first choice, had already been scouted.

He was the most competitive rival in the common class.

'Ugh, I'm late.'

Sunny's gaze quickly moved to the next target.

But,

"Hey, you're with me, right?"

"Of course."

That target had already formed a group with a close friend.

"Uhoh...?"

Sunny became flustered and stammered.

But of course, time did not wait for him.

Groups were quickly formed among the usual friends. In the blink of an eye, the students worth being with had already flown away like birds.

'This, this isn't right...?'

Sunny was genuinely flustered.

Now the problem wasn't about forming a group with the capable ones.

The problem was whether he could form a group with the normal ones. He was so desperate that Sunny finally kicked his seat and stood up.

But.

It was too late. The bus had already left. The normal ones no longer existed. What remained were the delinquents and others.

'The group, it's screwed.'

Sunny's mind went blank.

It was over. This group evaluation was over.

"Damn, what a hassle, a group evaluation."

The blond delinquent grumbled.

Yet, he formed a group with his parasite brother and another gang member.

Delinquent or not, if you're not going to drop out and quit, you have to do what you need to do to get a diploma.

Now the real three were left, including himself. ...Me, form a group with that guy?

Sunny's face turned ashen.

Of all the delinquent gangs, the one left was Max Celtrine, known as the worst.

It would have been a little better if it had been the blond delinquent or the parasite brother, but why did it have to be that guy?

And the other one belonged to the others, a presence as inconspicuous as air. In short, a being that couldn't possibly be of any help.

But it would have been better if he was just unhelpful. Max could even be a hindrance.

'There's no answer. There's no.....'

That's when.

Sunny, who was in despair, locked eyes with Max. Sunny was startled and averted his gaze without realizing it, but Max gestured for him to come over quickly.

'Gasp.'

Damn, did he ust look upset?

Thinking that, Sunny was about to take a heavy step when someone moved behind him. That airlike presence belonging to the others.

A girl who looked the epitome of frailty approached Max with an obvious look of annoyance.

"What now?"

"What do you think? We're in the same group."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? It's just us left."

"Let's do our best."

Max patted Riviera's shoulder as if to say he was counting on her.

Sunny's expression turned to one of dumbfoundedness as he watched. Who does he think he is?

He's the best man in the common class....Self Proclaimed, but still a fact.

And yet, he's left alone while that airlike presence is asked to do her best?

This is humiliating.

"Wait a minute."

Sunny shouted at Max without realizing it.

Max and Riviera's gazes turned towards him.

A gaze that said, what are you? Sunny's pupils shook under that embarrassingly intense scrutiny.

"Well, it's... I think I'm in the same group too...."

With a trembling voice. Talking to Max, who was called the scum of humanity, was a tough mission even for himself.

"Really?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Your name?"

'This, this damn delinquent. How dare he, he doesn't know my name?'

Sunny barely calmed his excitement, purely out of survival instinct.

"It's, Sunny Benesse.."

"Oh, that Sunny."

Only then did Max pretend to recognize what kind of man he was.

It was when Sunny thought 'I knew it' and cleared his throat, puffing up his shoulders.

"Hey, Sunny."

"Hm?"

"Don't just hold us back."

It was then that Sunny truly understood what it meant to lose one's composure.