Teacher’s residence,
Zane sat cross-legged on the bed of his quarters, the faint glow of his techno-watch illuminating the dimly lit room. In his hand rested a thin file, the crisp sound of pages turning cutting through the silence.
"Okay, Computer," he said casually, his voice carrying that calm authority he always wore. "Compile all the students’ nas from this file. Rank their current strength based on today’s performance and highlight their weaknesses. I want detailed notes on where each of them needs improvent."
A soft beep echoed in his mind.
"Command obliged," the monotone reply ca, his ever-faithful AI ready to obey.
Zane leaned back against the headboard, the corner of his lips twitching upward into a smirk. "Good. I’m going to train these kids until they cry."
For a mont, his deep purple eyes glinted with amusent. It wasn’t cruelty — it was preparation. These students had potential, and he had every intention of breaking them down, reshaping them, and reforging them into sothing sharper than steel.
.
.
.
.
anwhile In Class Solis,
Arin Blake sat slouched against the window-side corner of his classroom, eyes unfocused as he stared at the courtyard beyond. The sunlight felt warm on his face, but his thoughts were anything but calm.
First class of the academy... and nothing’s happening.
Their horoom instructor—a woman whose aura alone made the hairs on his neck stand—had walked in, introduced herself with the bare minimum, and left. No drills, no training, not even an assignnt. Just silence.
Arin’s jaw tightened. Who even trains students on the very first day, anyway? He tried to convince himself it was normal, but the thought didn’t ease the frustration boiling in his chest.
It had been over a week since that humiliating defeat against that guy—Ron. The mory of the spear, the flas, and the unbearable cheers echoing in his skull made him clench his fists until his nails dug into his palm.
He had failed every quest tied to that fight. And worse... Lia—his supposed heroine—had disappeared from his "Heroine Tab." Just... gone.
"Shit..." Arin muttered under his breath. His reflection in the window scowled back at him. "System, I should’ve won that fight. What happened to my story skill? That thing was supposed to be as good as plot armor."
But the system remained silent. For the past week it had been sluggish, almost unresponsive, and no new missions had appeared. It was as if even the world itself had turned against him.
His mind replayed the mont he woke up three days after the fight. The suffocating sha, the whispers in the corridors, the pitiful stares of other students. He rembered expecting to be in the sa class as Lia, his so-called destined heroine, only to find himself thrown into a different section altogether.
It felt like fate itself was mocking him.
Arin was still seated, tapping his fingers absentmindedly against the desk, lost in thought.
A light tap on his shoulder pulled him out of it. He turned, and his eyes widened slightly.
Standing there was a girl—her hair pure white with faint streaks of silver that shimred under the sunlight streaming through the classroom window. Her sapphire-blue eyes carried both gentleness and quiet strength, and her figure fit the academy uniform perfectly, almost as if it had been tailored just for her.
Arin’s lips curled into a smile before he could stop himself.
"What happened, Arin? What are you thinking about?" the girl asked softly.
"Nothing, Celeste," Arin replied casually.
Celeste puffed her cheeks, a playful pout forming. "I told you to call Cel."
"Alright, alright... Cel." Arin chuckled.
Her pout lted into a smile, and soon both of them were smiling at each other like old friends.
Arin leaned back, his thoughts running wild. Hm... Lia might have disappeared from the heroine tab... but this isn’t bad at all. In just a week before classes began, I already t another one just as pretty. And she’s even paying attention to ... This must be fate.
Arin and Celeste continued to talk, smiling and laughing as though the rest of the classroom didn’t exist. For a mont, it seed almost perfect.
But then—
"Celeste Azurecrest! Young master has arrived!"
The voice cut through the air like a blade.
Celeste turned, her bright smile fading instantly into a blank mask. Three people approached, the one in the middle walking with deliberate confidence. He had wavy golden hair, sharp blue eyes, and wore the academy uniform as though it were designed for him alone. Every step radiated pride.
Aurelian Valmont.
"Shush," Aurelian said to his attendant, waving him off before his lips curved into a practiced smile. "How are you, Cel?"
Celeste’s expression didn’t budge. Her tone was flat.
"Don’t call that, young master. We are not that close."
Aurelian let out a small, nervous chuckle. "What do you an? You know we’re engaged, right?"
Celeste’s gaze hardened.
"That’s only because my sister had to engage sowhere—anywhere—to protect from our enemies. And your father took a good amount in exchange for it."
For the first ti, the noble’s perfect expression cracked. "...Don’t be like that, Cel. You know I care about you, right?"
Before Celeste could answer, a figure suddenly stepped between them.
Arin.
"Why don’t you back off? Give Cel so space," Arin said firmly.
Celeste’s eyes widened faintly. Her voice slipped out, softer than before. "Arin..."
Aurelian’s gaze sharpened. His jaw tightened.
"Arin Blake. Don’t interfere. I already don’t like your little... trick during the entrance exam."
Celeste imdiately cut in, her tone sharper than before. "It was just a prank. And besides, that was the whole point of the exam, young master Aurelian."
Arin smirked, satisfied with her words. Aurelian grit his teeth but quickly forced himself calm. With a clipped breath, he turned away.
"Very well. I have matters to attend to. We’ll speak later, Cel."
And with that, he left, his two attendants following behind him.
Celeste let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Thanks for that, Arin."
"No problem." He grinned.
Inside his mind, the glowing system window flickered. [Heroine: Celeste Azurecrest | Affection 5 | Progressing smoothly!]
Arin nearly laughed out loud. Perfect. Lia might be gone from the tab, but Cel’s ter is rising fast. This is how an MC handles things.
---
Above, unnoticed by the students, a bee hovered lazily in the air. But this was no ordinary insect—it was a surveillance construct, left behind by none other than Zane.
At that very mont, Zane was sprawled on his bed, one hand behind his head as the feed played out on his techno-watch. A system notification had warned him of the "administrator’s descent," and ever since then, he’d been keeping tabs on Arin.
He chuckled under his breath. "His system is as trash as him. First trying to steal Lia from Ron, and now Celeste from Aurelian..."
He narrowed his eyes at the feed, then broke into a disgust .
"...are we sure his system isn’t so kind of NTR system?"
A pause. Then he shook his head, smirking.
"This delusional kid still thinks he’s the MC."
--
Ron’s POV
Ron stretched his arms, his muscles aching after the hellish assignnt Zane had put them through. That guy’s not human... he muttered inwardly, dragging his feet toward the dorm buildings. Lia had collapsed straight into bed after the test, barely mumbling a "goodnight." He couldn’t bla her. She looked exhausted.
Still, he couldn’t let her wake up with nothing to cheer her up and he also need sothing to cheer him up . That’s why he was out here, clutching a small box from Border city’s famous pastry shop. The shop’s donuts were practically legendary—rare, pricey, and the kind of treat that could lighten even Lia’s stormy moods.
On his way back, Ron’s eyes caught a familiar figure.
Aurelian.
The boy was walking slowly toward the residence building, shoulders slumped, gaze fixed on the ground as if carrying a weight far too heavy for him.
Ron frowned, quickening his pace.
"Aurelian!" he called out.
The boy stopped, blinking in surprise before looking up.
Ron jogged over, grin tugging at his lips despite his curiosity. "Finally, I get to see you again. What happened last ti? You left the match so suddenly, man."
Aurelian straightened slightly, forcing a smile. "Your Highness Ron."
Ron groaned and waved his hand. "Oh, knock it off already. Talk to normally, will you? I’m still ."
For the first ti, a faint laugh escaped Aurelian. "You’re still the sa as ever. How is... Princess Lia?"
Ron’s eyes narrowed.
Aurelian quickly corrected himself. "I an... Lia."
"She’s fine," Ron said shortly, studying the boy. "Now quit dodging. What’s up with you? You’ve been walking around like you lost a duel against the world itself. And you still owe a fight—you left before I could even have a match with you ."
Aurelian hesitated, then motioned with his head. "Co with ."
Ron raised a brow but nodded. "Alright. Lead the way."
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