Michael Grandevore was, by the rigid standards of his world, a trash. In a society where strength, agility, or even a minor fire-breathing trait could land you a spot in the elite Class S, Michael had nothing. He was traitless, a zero, a permanent resident of the laughingstock that was Class F.
His daily walk from the F-block to the main gate was a gauntlet of misery. Today was no different.
"Well, if it isn than the monster bait!" sneered Kaito, a Class S brute with arms like tree trunks and the intellect to match. He shoved Michael hard, sending his books flying.
"Oops," Kaito said, his voice dripping with false sympathy. "Clumsy me."
Michael's fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white. 'Just keep walking. Don't react. They get bored if you don't react.'
But the mantra was wearing thin. The laughter from the other S-class students felt like physical blows.
What stung more was the silence from his own classmates. They averted their eyes, shuffling past the scene. No one in F-class ever had your back; they were all too busy trying to save their own skin.
"What's the matter, Grandevore?" Kaito's girlfriend, Cindy, chimed in. She was a stunning hydro-kinetic, her beauty as sharp as the ice shards she could summon. "Cat got your tongue? Or are you just too weak to form words?"
Kaito laughed, grabbing Michael by the collar. "He's not weak, babe. He's… environmentally friendly. Fully recyclable!"
Another shove sent Michael stumbling into the lockers. Before he could right himself, a punch landed in his gut, driving the air from his lungs. He crumpled to the floor, gasping.
As he lay there, the polished shoes of his tormentors surrounding him, his eyes caught a glimpse of something. Cindy was standing over him, a cruel smile on her face, and from his low angle, he had a perfect, unobstructed view up her short skirt. He saw the delicate, lace-trimmed edge of her underwear. It was a stark, intimate contrast to the public humiliation.
A wave of conflicting emotions washed over him—shame, anger, and a dark, unwelcome spark of desire. 'Even now, when I'm being used as a doormat, I can't help but notice this? What is wrong with me?'
Suddenly, a translucent, pink-tinted screen materialized in front of his vision, accompanied by a cheerful ding!
[ LUST SYSTEM - INITIALIZED! ]
[ Congratulations, User! You have successfully activated the Lust System by experiencing a peak state of Humiliation and Desire! ]
[ Core Function: Accumulate Lust Points by successfully executing acts of a lewd or mischievous nature upon the female form. ]
[ Initial Action: 'Inadvertent Peeking' - Status: Successful! ]
[ Target: Cindy Vance - Lust Points Gained: +5! ]
Michael blinked, sure he was hallucinating from the pain. But the screen remained, glowing with a soft, perverted light.
What… what is this? A System? For me?
[ Welcome, Michael Grandevore! ] the text cheerfully displayed. [ Your journey to become the ultimate Casanova begins now! Use your points to acquire skills, charms, and abilities to win the hearts (and bodies) of women everywhere! ]
Kaito gave him a final, dismissive kick. "Pathetic. Don't even have the energy to cry." He put his arm around Cindy. "Come on, let's go. This trash is stinking up the hallway."
They walked away, their laughter echoing. But Michael didn't hear it. He was still staring at the screen, a strange, new warmth spreading through his chest, burning away the cold shame.
He slowly pushed himself up, his body aching. He looked at the retreating backs of Kaito and Cindy. He thought of all the other S-class girls who had looked at him with disgust, and all the F-class girls who had looked at him with pity.
A slow, cunning smile spread across his face. It wasn't a smile of joy, but of pure, unadulterated revelation.
'So, This is my trait.'
He opened the system shop. The options were… revealing. [ 'Accidental Touch' Skill: 10 Points ], [ 'Smooth Talker' Aura: 25 Points ], [ 'Forbidden Glimpse' Guarantee: 50 Points ].
This was it. This was the key. They had all looked down on him, called him nothing, treated him as less than human. They thought their physical traits made them superior.
But he had a new one now. And it was the most powerful of all.
He would use their arrogance against them. He would collect points, power, and influence, one mischievous act at a time.
"They wanted a monster?" Michael whispered to himself, his eyes gleaming with a newfound, manipulative light. "Fine. I'll give them one they'll never see coming. I'll conquer every single woman who ever made me feel small. Starting with her."
His gaze locked onto Cindy's distant figure, his smile turning into a predatory grin.
And not far from Michael, there was someone watching him and that person seemed to realize something.
"Is that you master?"