I Collect Sea Urchins for Advanced Math [Infinite Exam]

An alien exam arena descends, plunging the world into a zero-sum battle of wits.

The plutocrats compete in a rat race, while those who fail are drained of their computing power and reduced to shells of their former selves.

And you’re happily scavenging on a beach in the wasteland, plastic bucket in hand.

*

In this mad world where one wrong answer causes your “brainpower to short-circuit,” you discover a whole new path.

While everyone else fights in the exam arena until their eyes bleed, you turn the “pointless overtime reports” you’ve accumulated over two lifetimes into a weapon to befuddle the examiners.

While others have all their joy sucked away by alien leeches, you turn the mutated, disconnected nerve cord at the back of your neck into a pair of automatic clamming tongs.

After the tide goes out, the knowledge crystals excreted by plutocratic elites whose computing power has overloaded all become premium sashimi in your pot.

*

“This high-dimensional calculus synapse looks just like top-grade sea urchin roe. Let’s stir-fry it with garlic.”

“Oh, this mutated giant blue crab covered in finance code is so plump. I’ll make some knowledge seafood congee tonight.”

By the time the lofty Aksuo Axon Collective Leader finally notices the “good-for-nothing” whose ranking is skyrocketing,

you’ve already built an utterly laid-back foodie sanctuary on this beach.

[A guide to enjoying this story]

1. Magical realism + supernatural weirdness + biopunk + a female lead going mad.

2. The female lead is addressed as “you.” For convenience, she has a name: Xiao Ci.

3. The female lead is a high-energy, outwardly expressive type who grows over time, and a deep-sea shut-in. Once she starts eating, she goes all out, forgets all restraint, and does whatever she pleases!

4. This story is perfect to read over a meal. Zombie-movie fans can enjoy it without a hitch.

Theme: Reject the anxiety of the rat race and use ease to deconstruct the absurd