⏳ Time Until System Reset: 4 hours
Survival Progress: 26%
Heroines Charmed: [2/6]
Warning: Tension with Protagonist Rising
Aiden returned to his dorm room with a grin on his face and a ghost of Elira's kiss still tingling on his lips.
Two down. Four to go.
And yet… something gnawed at him.
📩 Incoming System Notification
⚠️ Hidden Variable Detected: Multiple System Interference
Risk of World Instability Increased
Multiple systems? So Elira wasn't just a bonus path—she was a wildcard. And if more heroines had systems of their own…
"I'm walking through a minefield," Aiden muttered, throwing himself onto his bed.
💡 New Objective: Track Other System Users
Bonus: Unveil the 'System Mother'
The System Mother…? That was new.
Before he could ask for more details, a loud ding echoed through the room.
📢 Academy Broadcast:
"Attention, all students! Due to recent disturbances, combat evaluations will begin at sunrise. Attendance is mandatory."
Great. Nothing said "good morning" like a public fight to prove you weren't evil.
Aiden rubbed his temples.
If Dante was smart—and of course, he was—he'd use the evaluation as an excuse to break him in front of the student body.
This wasn't just about winning battles anymore. This was social warfare.
He had six heroines to charm.
One rival to outmaneuver.
And four hours until the System reset and possibly erased him forever.
🌅 Morning – The Academy Coliseum
Stone bleachers packed with students. Blinding sunlight spilling across the arena. A holographic scoreboard hovering in the air.
Aiden stood shirtless in the sand, stretching his shoulders. The uniform top was optional for combat class—and frankly, he needed every edge he could get.
Let them see the scars. Let them whisper.
Let them watch.
🎯 Passive Skill Activated: [Presence – Lv.2]
Effect: Increases visibility and rumor spread during public events.
Bonus: +10% attraction chance when shirtless (yes, really)
He caught the eyes of several girls in the stands widening slightly.
Including one with long black hair and violet eyes hidden beneath rectangular glasses—half-covered by a book.
Iris Nightveil.
The academy's cold-blooded tactician. A genius strategist. And heroine #3 on his target list.
In the original story, she was a support character obsessed with logic and loyalty. But fans loved her tsundere denial and… ahem… discipline fetish.
🎯 Target Locked: Iris Nightveil
Relationship Status: Neutral
Progress: 0%
And who stepped into the arena opposite him?
Of course. Dante Valen.
Smiling with that righteous, condescending look that made Aiden want to shove his fist into it.
"Still breathing, Cross?" Dante called out. "Impressive."
"Try not to cry when I kick your golden ass in front of your fan club," Aiden shot back.
🎭 [Provocation Skill – Lv.2]
Result: Dante's blood pressure +20%
The referee—a bored-looking instructor with a whistle—sighed. "Combatants ready?"
Both nodded.
"Begin!"
Dante moved first.
A blur of motion. A streak of white-hot energy. His sword, Lucentbane, came down like divine judgment.
Aiden dodged left—barely—and flipped back.
The sword cleaved into the ground, sending up a geyser of sand.
💥 [Danger: Protagonist-Class Skill Detected – Light Cleave]
Weakness: 6-second cooldown window
"Not bad," Aiden muttered. "But I've got tricks too."
🎯 Skill Activated: [Shadowstep – Lv.1]
Effect: Blink behind enemy once per day
Cooldown: 24 hours
He vanished—
—and appeared behind Dante, fist cocked.
"Surprise, bitch!"
He slammed a punch into Dante's side.
The Hero grunted, staggering slightly. But before Aiden could press the attack, Dante's aura exploded outward like a bomb.
Aiden flew back, skidding across the sand.
🔻 Health -8%
Resistance Gained: [Hero Aura Lv.1]
The crowd gasped.
But Aiden just… laughed.
"Damn, you hit like a truck," he wheezed.
"You talk too much," Dante said, stalking forward.
Aiden wiped blood from his lip and grinned.
"Yeah? Then stop chasing my heroines and come shut me up."
🔔 Hidden Trait Triggered: [Villain's Swagger – Lv.1]
Effect: +10% attraction gain during risky fights
Nearby Reactions: Increased
And sure enough, Iris was watching. Book lowered. Eyes glinting.
In the crowd, Seraphina frowned—but she didn't look away.
Elira? She was smirking, sitting upside down on a bench like it was a soap opera.
Even the professors whispered among themselves.
🎯 Public Impression: [Infamous, Intriguing]
System Note: You're becoming a problem.
The match ended in a draw—on purpose.
The instructor declared a double knockdown after Aiden "accidentally" flared unstable aura that nearly cracked the arena floor. Truthfully, it was the System buying him time.
🕒 After the Match
Aiden sat under the bleachers, bruised but alive.
That's when he heard the heels.
Click. Click. Click.
"You're reckless," Iris Nightveil said, arms crossed over her Academy coat. "And statistically speaking, very stupid."
He looked up, cocking a brow. "You came to insult or flirt?"
"Why not both?" she said dryly, but her eyes flicked to his bare chest before snapping back to her book.
"You drew a lot of attention today."
"Good. I like attention."
"You also drew Dante's personal ire."
"Even better."
🎯 Charm Opportunity Detected: Iris Nightveil
Strategy: Engage her logic. Challenge her beliefs.
"You read people like a puzzle, right?" he said.
She blinked. "Obviously."
"Then figure me out."
She paused. "...You're trying to change something. Something fundamental. But you're hiding your data set."
Aiden leaned in, voice low. "Maybe you'd learn more if you stuck around."
She hesitated. Just a flicker. But the hook had been set.
💘 Affection +12%
Iris Nightveil: [Interest Sparked]
"I'll consider it," she murmured, turning on her heel.
But just before leaving—
She looked back and said, "You're dangerous, Aiden Cross. I like that."
🎯 Heroines Charmed: [3/6]
Hidden Trait Unlocked: [Tactician's Tease]
Bonus: +5% chance to out-plan protagonist
🔔 System Notification
Progress Toward Survival: 42%
Time Until Reset: 2h 31m
Heroine Stability:
Seraphina: 14% (Wary)
Elira: 37% (Tempted)
Iris: 12% (Intrigued)
Rival Pressure: Rising
New Thread Unlocked: "The System Mother Watches"
Aiden leaned back, closing his eyes.
He was gaining momentum. Charm. Power.
But something above them all—the System Mother—was beginning to stir.
And she wasn't amused.