The Witch Trial Begins with the OO Buckethead Zombie

They didn't offer a helping hand, didn't shine, and didn't choose to pull her out of the abyss.

Instead.

—Slap her across the face.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!

The left slap was loud, and the right slap was bright and clear.

I pulled my brass-headed leather belt out of my waistband and whipped Tsukishiro Yuki around like a spinning top!

Wouldn't the witch want to kill me right away?

Chapter 4 Anyway, I'm not going to say thank you.

Yes, yes, the reverse operation is correct.

The system provides a perfect strategy for increasing favorability, so if you simply reverse this strategy, you can get a perfect strategy for decreasing favorability.

The only problem is...

How should we respond?

Slapping someone or using a copper-tipped belt to spin a top is obviously a joke. Even if he did have a copper-tipped belt, he wouldn't be able to make someone spin like a top.

But if the opposite of what the literal meaning means is actually doing what the bullies around you are coercing you into bullying Tsukishiro Yuki...

It's not that it's impossible.

But it didn't work!

What does Hoshino Utsunomiya want?

What he wanted was for Yukishiro to kill him.

If that's the case, then I'll just join this group in bullying and doing the same things that are no different from what they're doing.

Yes, that's right, it can reduce favorability.

However, while reducing favorability, it will also have another consequence.

That is the 'transfer student' named Hoshino Utsunomiya, a new character who has made her debut with her own unique label.

In a simple and brutal act of submissive bullying, they become faces blurred, names erased, and devoid of independence.

'bully'

They exist solely as bullies, distinguished only by the names of students abcd.

He doesn't want that!

If even his uniqueness in the eyes of the witch is taken away, how much chance does he have of being killed by the witch?

Minimal.

Hoshino Utsunomiya's chances are negligible.

It's important to understand that this kind of bullying is clearly not a result of a single day or night.

It could escalate to a point where even teachers choose to stand by and do nothing, and it could evolve into bullying that the entire class tacitly accepts. I don't even want to know how long it lasted.

But even so.

The witch in front of them did not erupt, nor did she kill anyone, nor did she put up any resistance.

Putting aside whether her personality was weak, one conclusion is clear.

If someone were just a bully like everyone else, it would be absolutely impossible for them to provoke Yuki's hatred.

Throughout the school, the hostility of the group distracted from the hatred.

Therefore, Hoshino Utsunomiya cannot fit in.

Similarly, he could not stand next to Yuki Tsukishiro.

Neither of them was his choice.

The rest of the road.

After eliminating the most foolish and indifferent bystanders.

Hoshino Utsunomiya smiled.

"So you're actually a pretty good person." He chuckled and placed his hand on the guy's shoulder, patting him lightly as he laughed. "Knowing that I had just transferred here and was having trouble fitting in, you gave me this opportunity."

"Should I thank you?"

Seemingly oblivious to the underlying meaning in Utsunomiya Hoshino's words, he smiled somewhat awkwardly, scratched his face, and said:

"No need for thanks or anything like that..."

Wow, how come this guy doesn't act like a bully at all?

Looking at his expression, Hoshino Utsunomiya felt a little uneasy.

Is it fair to say that they're still just middle school students? The way they express malice is completely different from how they act when faced with kindness.

However, even so, Hoshino Utsunomiya was unable to reciprocate his 'goodwill' as she had hoped.

All he could do was show his utmost respect.

Take actions that align with your inner self.

"It's okay, I'm not going to say thank you anyway."

He withdrew his hand from the other person's shoulder, stood up by pressing on the table, and placed his hand on the handle of the bucket under the expectant and satisfied gaze.

Just when everyone thought he had listened to them and was about to join them.

Just as everyone was excitedly anticipating the new student's successful integration into the group and was about to raise their hands in applause...

Hoshino Utsunomiya picked up the bucket.

"Splash—"

He poured a bucket of ice-cold water over the heads of the students in front of him.

"That's the only thing I'll do."

Let's get started! Let's get started! Let's get started!

As Hoshino Utsunomiya's calm voice echoed clearly in the suddenly silent classroom, the system's emotions began to rise as well.

As it had hoped, things seemed to be developing in the direction of a 'hero saves the damsel in distress' scenario.

[Yes, yes, yes! That's it! That's it! Throw water at them, smash them with iron buckets, and declare that you will never associate with these evil forces! You are right! You are righteous!]

Ah, but it seems like there are quite a lot of them.

[If I anger them, will the host be beaten to death?]

However, amidst the joy, the system seemed to suddenly realize a very serious problem.

There seem to be quite a lot of people around?

Human beings are weak and have their limits; they are too weak to fight against multiple enemies.

Right now, the only thing Utsunomiya Hoshino has that can increase his combat power and can be called a weapon seems to be the iron bucket that makes a clanging sound when knocked twice.

There were no firearms.

There are no firearms.

It was practically bare-handed.

In other words, if you are ganged up on, you are beaten by the entire class.

Its good host might actually die in front of it.

【...】

[No, it's alright. This system's purpose is to become the host's strongest support! Now that the host has begun to take action to conquer the witch, then the system has no choice but to cheer you on!]

[Congratulations, host! You successfully stood up against the bully who incited you to join in his bullying! You have received the reward: 'Super Strength (Human Version!)']

['Super Strength (Human Version)' grants its host immense strength! It possesses superhuman strength beyond the limits of human capability!]

He was talking to himself quite a bit, after a period of 'deliberation'.

The system clicked.

The first reward was given to Hoshino Utsunomiya.

"..."

"...?"

The rewards were given out so casually.

But I like it very much.

Although the classmates around me are all junior high school students, the sheer number of them still makes things a bit complicated.

Hoshino Utsunomiya was originally struggling to find a better solution.

But now there's nothing to worry about.

My super brain is telling me to use my super power!

Cold water droplets slid down the student's cheeks, and his expression turned bewildered and blank.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out; he had an expression that showed he couldn't understand what had just happened.

......ha?

This guy poured water on my head?

Did you make a mistake? Did you accidentally slip and knock over the bucket? Was it—

No, right?

He did it on purpose.

After the initial shock subsided, what rose in its place was a justified anger.

Incomprehension, and anger.

"You, me, you—"