The luxury cruise ship's facilities far exceeded everyone's expectations.
Beyond the dormitories, everything—from the dining areas to the entertainment spaces—was designed with an extravagant level of comfort, fully embracing the "upper-class experience" the school had mentioned before.
There was even a small opera house onboard, with scheduled performances throughout the trip. The first night's show? Wings of Icarus.
Under this illusion of refined luxury, the students spent their first night in relaxation, indulging in the pleasures the ship offered.
Before they knew it, morning had arrived.
Since it was summer vacation, the school mercifully refrained from using any morning announcements to wake the students. It was a rare chance to sleep in.
That didn't stop the noise outside, though.
By 7:30 AM, the dormitory corridor was already buzzing with movement—hurried footsteps, excited voices, the occasional burst of laughter.
People were running back and forth, shouting about some discovery, as if they had stumbled upon a new world.
Kure Ragna woke up around the same time but didn't bother getting up right away. Instead, he lay there for another forty-five minutes, exchanging messages with Sakayanagi Arisu, who, as expected, seemed to know his schedule down to the second.
Their chat lasted about fifteen minutes before he finally stretched and got out of bed.
Jumping down from the upper bunk, he glanced at the lower one.
Kouenji had just woken up.
For some reason, the guy was only wearing a pair of flashy briefs, taking his time getting dressed as if he were the main attraction of a fashion show. When he spotted Kure Ragna, he greeted him with his usual enthusiasm.
"Good morning, Kure! I heard someone discovered something extraordinary. Care to join me?"
"No, I'm getting breakfast."
Kure Ragna shot down the offer without hesitation.
"Oh? Not interested in what they found?" Kouenji raised an eyebrow.
"Curiosity doesn't fill an empty stomach."
Kure Ragna shrugged. "Besides, it's not like whatever they found is going to vanish before I'm done eating."
"Fair point."
Kouenji didn't push the matter. Instead, he straightened his golden hair, adjusted his outfit, and stretched his arms with exaggerated motions.
"I'll be jogging around the cruise ship to assess the situation."
"Suit yourself."
With that, Kure Ragna left the room.
---
A Mysterious Island
Half an hour later, when he stepped onto the deck, he was met with a sight he hadn't expected—almost every first-year student had gathered there.
Up on the observation deck, a group of Class B girls stood together, gazing into the distance. Karuizawa Kei leaned against the railing, mouth slightly agape in amazement.
Next to her, Kushida Kikyo noticed Kure Ragna approaching and waved cheerfully.
"Kure Ragna! Over here~"
"Coming."
He climbed the steps to join them.
It didn't take long to see what had drawn everyone's attention.
To the southeast, roughly a kilometer away, an island stretched across the horizon—a vast, uninhabited landmass covered in dense vegetation.
Towering trees dotted the landscape, rocky cliffs jutted out at various points, and lush greenery spread across the terrain like a thick, untouched carpet.
Their cruise ship was slowly circling the island, providing a panoramic view of the scenery.
"I never expected to see such a beautiful island in the middle of the ocean," Kushida Kikyo said, her voice filled with genuine admiration.
"Yeah," Kure Ragna replied, though his enthusiasm was far less apparent.
Scenery like this always seemed more appealing from a distance. Much like how a city's nightscape could seem breathtaking from above, an island like this felt picturesque—until you actually set foot on it.
The reality of survival was far less glamorous.
Even without any deep geographical knowledge, something felt off.
The lush greenery was too... perfect. In an area where no other landmass existed for miles, this island had seemingly flourished on its own.
An artificial island.
That was the only logical conclusion.
Kure Ragna didn't voice his thoughts, but a smirk tugged at his lips.
Then—
A loud chime echoed across the ship's speakers.
"Attention all students: We are about to land on the school's privately owned uninhabited island. Please return to your dormitories and change into your designated sportswear. After confirming your assigned luggage, gather on the deck within ten minutes."
"Personal belongings, including mobile phones, must be left behind. Be advised that bathroom access will be limited after disembarkation, so please prepare accordingly."
A moment of silence followed.
Then—
"What...?"
Murmurs spread through the students.
Excitement mixed with confusion. Some students seemed eager, while others looked like they had just been told their summer vacation was about to turn into a survival camp.
Kure Ragna's smirk widened.
"Well then," he said, clapping Kushida and Karuizawa on the shoulders. "Time to get changed. Looks like things are about to get interesting."
--------------------------------------
Support me at patreon.com/Arthorain and read upto 100 Advanced Chapters and Exclusive R-18 Content!