He couldn't help but chuckle as Sheryl's bright smile twisted into frustration. Her eyes glared daggers at him, and with a sharp exhale, she sent another guild invitation. This time, Kurt pressed "Agree."
Ding*
"Welcome to the Crimson Night Guild."
"Before officially joining, please read the following rules."
The system projected a long list before him:
You cannot freely leave the guild unless you pay a heavy price.
Missions are distributed daily.
Each member must complete at least one mission per day or contribution points will be deducted.
If your contribution points fall below zero, you will be banned from the guild shop.
Completing 10 missions a week grants special bonuses.
The guild provides a shop with useful items for members.
Mission rewards are given as Reward Coins.
Reward Coins can be used to purchase items in the guild shop.
Members cannot harm each other unless the guild master approves; breaking this rule results in punishment.
Punishment is determined by the guild master.
...
Kurt spent about half an hour reading through everything, expression calm and unbothered. Meanwhile, Sheryl could barely contain herself. She was practically bouncing where she stood, her face glowing with joy. Exhaustion eventually caught up with her, and she dropped to the floor with a deep breath—but that bright smile never faded.
She quickly pulled up her system interface and opened the Members tab. The screen was still nearly blank, showing only one vague word at the top: "Pending." The recruitment process wasn't complete yet, but to her, that didn't matter. This was the moment she had waited for nearly a year.
Before all of this, Sheryl had just been another popular student—a friendly, reliable figure always doing what teachers asked and cheering up her classmates. But when she received her system, something changed inside her. She found a hidden desire, a hunger for excitement and meaning.
At first, she believed she was the heroine of her own story—the leader of a powerful guild of system holders who would fight villains and shape the world. But that dream shattered as the months passed without success. Each day brought her closer to her deadline, and the thought of death crept closer step by step.
She had searched everywhere, even wandering the streets hoping for a miraculous encounter, but nothing ever came. Eventually, she stopped looking and confined herself to the safety of her school.
And now—just when she had given up all hope—Kurt appeared. Watching him command his system and officially bind his with hers filled her with an overwhelming sense of relief. For the first time in a long while, the world didn't seem so dark.
Her blissful daydream shattered when Kurt's voice broke the silence.
"I'm heading out. I'm already super late for my last class, so… bye, girl."
"Wait—can't we at least go back together? Our floors are close anyway!"
"Do whatever you want," Kurt replied, rolling his eyes before walking off with effortless grace. Sheryl just stood there, watching him in awe.
She blinked and snapped out of it when she saw him almost at the stairwell.
"Hey! Meanie—wait up!"
Ding-dong.
"Ugh, today was exhausting. I swear, I'm gonna get wrinkles at this rate," Kurt muttered as he escaped the chase of his childhood friend. Humming softly, he strolled home, his eyes occasionally wandering to the passing men in fitted shirts.
When he noticed a faint glow in the corner of his vision—his inbox icon—he sighed.
"Oh right, system. Open my inbox."
Target Found.
Evaluating: S-Class.
Reward: Peak Talent (Singing).
"System, what does 'Peak Talent' mean?"
"It means you've received the highest natural aptitude a human can possess."
"So basically, I'm one of the few people in the world with this kind of gift?"
"Affirmative, Host."
Kurt was stunned. The system's true potential was starting to show itself, and for a fleeting moment, he even considered giving up his obsession with men to pursue girls instead. With his looks, he knew he could have anyone he wanted.
But the thought faded quickly. No matter how beautiful a girl was, he felt nothing—not even the slightest spark. Even accidental contact left him unmoved. Doctors told him he was perfectly healthy, so he accepted the truth: he simply wasn't into women.
Even so, deep down, he sometimes wondered if he was just forcing himself to believe that men were his "light in the dark."
"Mom, Little Kitty, I'm home!" he called out as he entered their house in the subdivision. No one replied—his family was probably out.
He shrugged and went upstairs to his room. It was spotless and well-kept. A computer setup stood neatly on one side, complete with streaming equipment and a gaming chair. His bed, placed beneath a window, was bathed in gentle moonlight. Beside it was a bookshelf, and by the door—a vanity full of beauty products, skincare, and makeup, things his sister often used.
He fell back onto the bed, loosening his tie and covering his eyes. Exhaustion hit him hard. After a few minutes of rest, he stood up and went to his sister's room, returning with a brown classical guitar.
He studied it for a moment before strumming a few strings. The sound was rough—far from pleasant—but he didn't care. He'd never played before, but thanks to the system, he wanted to test this new talent.
His fingers moved clumsily at first, slicing the air with awkward rhythm. After a few tries, he sighed.
"Never mind. I'll study this next time. I don't do things that aren't fun."
Setting the guitar aside, he sat at his computer and powered it on.
"I'll just find a few singing tutorials. Something basic. If this 'peak talent' really works, I should learn fast."
He opened V-Tuber, the world's largest video platform, and searched for beginner singing lessons. Clicking on one of the top results, he watched as a cheerful woman in her 40s appeared on-screen, greeting her viewers warmly before beginning the basics.
Kurt watched silently, absorbing every word. To his surprise, he understood her instructions perfectly—almost instinctively. As he followed along, his voice flowed naturally, clear and melodic. It was as if he had done this hundreds of times before.
And when he finally heard his own voice echo back… it was smooth, rich, and surprisingly beautiful.
Kurt watched the video in silence, his eyes focused and thoughtful. As he listened, he noticed subtle details — the rhythm of her speech, the nuances in tone — and strangely, even though it was his first time hearing it, he felt as if he'd already watched it before. Her voice, calm and melodic, seemed to resonate deep within him, soothing and familiar.
He carefully followed her instructions, jotting down tips and techniques. Before long, his voice began to change — it carried a smoother quality, as if shaped by divine craftsmanship. Though it wasn't flawless, it had no cracks. At first, his tone was slightly flat, but with practice, he felt subtle improvements forming under his tongue. His lips moved with more control, his words sounded clearer, and his voice took on a refined, captivating charm.
Eager to test his progress, he opened an album he liked and began singing along. His first attempt was rough, missing notes and tones. But on the second try, his voice flowed easily, perfectly in sync with the rhythm. It felt natural — like he'd been singing that song his entire life. To his surprise, there were moments where he thought his rendition even surpassed the original.
He wasn't being arrogant — he was simply confident in the skill he had just discovered. Amazed by the rapid improvement, Kurt couldn't help but feel grateful for the system that helped him unlock this talent.
Rising from his gaming chair, he walked over to his makeup station — an area filled with products and tools most men wouldn't recognize. As he looked at his reflection, a mischievous thought crossed his mind.
I wonder what my fans will think when they see my new talent… maybe someone will even send me more chocolate, he thought with a smirk.
And with that, Kurt faded — replaced by Curtis, his confident alter ego.
Hi! My name is Arielle Russell, an elementary student studying at a prestigious school nearby. I'm pretty popular, mostly because I'm cute — and yes, I proudly say I got that from my mom, not my dad.
Every day, some boy nervously confesses to me, saying he likes me. Honestly, it's exhausting. Hearing those fake-sounding confessions over and over makes me want to roll my eyes. My brother, who's actually gay, is way more manly than those boys! Speaking of him, I think he got home early today, so I should probably head home soon too.
Why do I think that? Well, my "spidey sense" tells me so — or maybe it's because he texted me. He said he ditched his sub-lessons because he was tired and asked me to cook dinner for both him and Mom. Sometimes I wish I were as smart as him — he skips class, and teachers don't even get mad. Still, I don't mind helping him. We made a promise years ago, and I'll keep it, no matter how much he's changed.
Inside a spotless, stylish room, a stunning figure stared at the mirror — admiring not just their reflection, but their creation. The person's beauty was mesmerizing; just a single glance could make men lose themselves. She was captivating — so much that even she thought, If I can't find someone to love, maybe I'll just marry myself.
Her long, silky black hair was tied into a ponytail, showing off elegant amethyst earrings. She wore an oversized orange hoodie over a red shirt, a short skirt, and knee-high socks — an alluring combination that made her look effortlessly divine. Yet, beneath the perfect appearance was someone different — someone who wasn't entirely woman, nor entirely man.
"Now, Curtis is live," she whispered. With a touch of makeup and a radiant smile, Kurt transformed completely.
Satisfied with his look, he sat down, opened his computer, and logged in to his streaming platform — Beaver Community, a site famous for its vibrant gaming streamers and V-tuber talents.
I'll play Attack on Strike tonight, he decided. I may not be that good, but who can resist my charm? Beauty conquers all.
Despite being a challenging game, Attack on Strike was one of the most beloved in the gaming world. Many tried to copy its success, but none came close. Kurt himself was hooked the first time he played.
The game featured two opposing teams — the Terrorists, armed with modern weapons, and the Defenders, who fought with medieval ones.
"The defenders only get blades, arrows, or anything ancient," he said, adjusting his mic. "But they have a special gadget called the Outcast Maneuver — it lets them fly across buildings and strike with deadly precision."
The Maneuver system was both a blessing and a curse — powerful, but hard to master. Players had to manage gas levels, aim cables correctly, and move with physics-based precision. Meanwhile, the terrorists could use satellite scans to detect ambushes — a perfect blend of strategy and chaos.
At first, players hated the game. The learning curve was brutal — arrows missed, cables failed, and defenders were easily outgunned. But everything changed when a viral V-tuber clip showcased a player mastering the Outcast Maneuver flawlessly — slicing enemies mid-air like a dance of death.
That single video ignited a global phenomenon. Now, a year later, Attack on Strike dominated the eSports scene, and everyone wanted a piece of it.
Curtis smiled at the screen.
"Oh, my stream's on," he said softly. "Let's wait for the fans to show up."