Royal Esther Academy - Entrance Ceremony
The grand marble hall buzzed with excitement.
Banners of gold and crimson fluttered above, and the new students of Royal Zenith Academy, the best of the best, filled the space with eager chatter.
Hope.
Dreams.
Futures.
Kain stood at the back of the crowd, hands tucked in the pockets of his black uniform, a lazy smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
He listened half-heartedly as the Headmaster droned on about honor, excellence, and other hollow words he'd long since stopped caring about.
His white hair caught the light as he tilted his head, letting his eyes wander.
And then he saw her.
Ruby Elena.
Long flowing blonde hair, soft blue eyes that shone with innocence, a posture that spoke of grace.
She practically glowed in the sea of students, the kind of girl written about in ballads, the kind of girl fools dream about.
'Perfect. It would feel so good to ruin her'
His smirk widened.
But then his gaze drifted to the boy beside her.
Laughing.
Smiling like an idiot.
His hand brushing against hers so naturally.
Protective.
Lovely.
And all so clueless.
Finn Hartwell.
The so-called "Golden Boy" of this year's class.
Brave, honest, pure.
A symbol of everything Kain despised.
'Even better'
Kain slipped a hand out of his pocket, running his fingers along the collar of his jacket as he imagined it.
The look on Finn's face when Ruby slipped from his arms into Kain's.
The betrayal, the confusion.
That hollow emptiness when you realize everything you loved... wanted someone else more.
He chuckled under his breath.
No one noticed.
The ceremony was still going on, but Kain was already making his plans.
After all, he hadn't come here to make friends.
If he was going to be stuck in a stupid eroge game, he might as well make the most of it.
Two Days Before
Kain's world had just ended.
He hadn't expected it to be so quick.
No grand farewell, no hero's last stand, just the sudden screech of tires and a flash of headlights.
A split second of agony.
And then, nothing.
The darkness was absolute.
But when Kain opened his eyes again, it wasn't to the familiar sight of his apartment ceiling, or the cold concrete of a hospital room.
No.
He was lying on the softest bed imaginable, with silky sheets that smelled faintly of lavender.
It was quiet, too quiet and the air around him was thick, rich with the kind of ambiance you only saw in high-end fantasy video games.
"Welcome, Kain," a voice purred, seductive and smooth like velvet.
It came from a figure standing at the edge of the room, framed by the soft glow of an ambient light.
Kain squinted, confused and disoriented, before his mind registered her fully.
She was the last thing he had expected to see.
A goddess.
She was dressed in a skin-tight, revealing outfit of glimmering silver, her long dark hair cascading down her back like liquid silk.
Her body was… well, perfect.
The kind of perfection that was both alluring and dangerous, the kind of perfection that could only exist in the realm of fantasies.
Her crimson eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, her lips curling into an almost predatory smile.
She was an eroge goddess come to life, every inch of her exuded sex, a living embodiment of every man's wildest fantasy.
Kain tried to sit up, but his body felt strange, unfamiliar.
His limbs were heavier than he remembered, like his soul had been pulled into a body that wasn't quite his own.
But more than that, something about her presence stirred something deep inside him, something he couldn't quite name.
"Who the hell are you?" Kain's voice came out sharper than he intended, cutting through the stillness of the room.
The goddess's lips parted, her smile widening, the corners of her mouth curving up in amusement.
"Me? I am Aphira, the Goddess of Eroge Realms and all things sensual. And you, Kain, have been chosen"
"Chosen?"
Kain repeated, his mind racing as he processed the absurdity of the situation.
This couldn't be happening.
"Chosen for what, exactly?"
"To play," Aphira purred, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"You've been brought to my world, a world I've created, one full of adventures, romance, and temptations"
"Your fate is now tied to this place, whether you like it or not. But you can make the most of it"
"After all, what's life without a little fun?"
Kain blinked, struggling to comprehend the gravity of her words.
An eroge world?
This was impossible.
He was just a regular guy, an office worker who had barely any time for games, let alone for whatever fantasy this was.
Aphira sauntered toward him, her hips swaying seductively with each step.
She stopped just at the edge of his bed, lowering herself so that her face was inches from his.
"You are not just anyone, Kain," she whispered, her breath warm against his skin.
"I've chosen you because you have something special"
"Something special?" Kain scoffed, even as his heartbeat quickened despite himself.
"Look, I don't know what game you're playing, but I'm not interested"
"Oh, but you will be," Aphira replied, her voice dripping with honeyed promises.
"You see, I control the rules of this world. The characters you meet, the choices you make, the bonds you form, they all depend on how much you're willing to indulge"
"If you play your cards right, you could have everything you desire"
Her eyes sparkled with a dangerous allure, and for a moment, Kain was unsure whether she was talking about his freedom or something else entirely.
Something darker.
Or hot.
"Indulge in what?" Kain's voice was dry, his unease growing with every second.
Aphira's smile deepened, and she leaned in just a little closer, her breath ghosting against his ear.
"In everything, Kain. Sex, power, lust, and love. Every fantasy you've ever dreamed of, and some you haven't"
"All you have to do is play along"
Kain swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling into him like a cold stone in his gut.
He was about to refuse, to tell her exactly how ridiculous this all was, when Aphira's hand suddenly rested on his chest, her fingers light as they traced circles on his skin.
"Wouldn't you like to know what it's like to have it all? To be the hero in your own story?" she whispered, her voice low and hypnotic.
Kain's eyes narrowed.
"What's the catch? This is some kind of trap, right? A game where I'm the pawn?"
Aphira chuckled, a low, sultry sound that sent shivers down his spine.
"Oh, Kain, you're not the pawn. You're the king. But remember, the king's fate is determined by the choices he makes"
"Play it safe, and you'll never know the true pleasures this world has to offer"
"But if you take risks, if you embrace the darkness, you might just find something worth fighting for"
Kain stared at her, his thoughts a whirl of confusion and disbelief.
He had no idea what kind of game this was, but there was something irresistible about her words, something he couldn't quite shake.
Before he could respond, Aphira stood and waved her hand, causing the room to shift around them.
The air grew heavier, the scent of roses and intoxicating spices filling his senses as the surroundings blurred into a new setting, a lavish palace, grand and opulent.
Kain's heart pounded in his chest.
His old life was gone.
There was no going back.
"Let the game begin," Aphira whispered, her laughter echoing in his mind.
Present Time
'That's what she said… leaving me all hot and bothered like that… sexy minx!'
'At least she didn't leave me with nothing'
He looked in front of him, at a strange blue board Aphria called the system.
A gift to help him conquer the game more easily.
[ Skill ]
[ Hot Touch ]
[- Description: Increases the target's sexual desires the more contact you make -]
[ Skill ]
[ Satisfying Stick ]
[ - Description: Increases size at will -]
'What the fuck kinda of skills are these?'
His face flushed with a mixture of confusion and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"What kind of sick joke is this?" he muttered, running his fingers through his hair as he tried to make sense of it all.
The blue board flickered again, showing more skills, each more peculiar than the last.
[Skill]
[ Temptation Aura ]
[- Description: Increases the lustful thoughts of anyone within a 10-meter radius. The more they resist, the stronger the effect -]
[Skill]
[ Endless Charisma ]
[- Description: Increases charm and allure to an extraordinary level. People are drawn to you, making it easier to influence and manipulate them -]
"Jesus Christ, are you serious?" Kain exclaimed, his hand trembling as he hovered over the strange abilities.
'Endless Charisma?'
He was pretty sure that was a cheat code to make him a walking magnet for every woman in this world.
And the Temptation Aura?
That sounded like something out of the worst kind of bad romance novel.
He let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his temples.
'I didn't ask for this'
'But I have to admit… the power does sound tempting'
Just as Kain was about to close the board in frustration, the headmaster finally finished his speech.
"He's done?" Kain muttered to himself, blinking rapidly as his gaze shifted from the strange blue board to the crowd around him.
"Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for," the headmaster continued, his voice booming with authority.
"We will now assign each of you to your classes based on your strength and potential. You will be tested, and from that, we will determine where you best fit"
Kain's heart skipped a beat as he processed the words.
'Classes?'
He wasn't sure what kind of tests they were talking about, but with his strange new abilities, he had no idea how he was supposed to proceed.
Glancing around, he noticed the other students whispering excitedly.
Some seemed nervous, others practically vibrating with eagerness.
They all looked so... normal, like they'd been preparing for this their entire lives.
The headmaster raised his hand, and the room instantly fell into silence.
"Each of you will participate in the strength assessment. Do your best, for where you end up will shape your future here"
A chill ran down Kain's spine.
'Strength assessment?'
His eyes darted back to the blue board floating beside him, mind still grappling with the strange new powers now at his disposal.
'How the hell am I supposed to handle this?'
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
'No choice. Play along and figure it out as I go'
Above the headmaster, a massive golden screen materialized, glowing with ornate letters.
"Step forward when your name is called"
Names began to scroll across the screen, dozens of unfamiliar ones, none that meant anything to him until suddenly, in bold letters, he saw it:
Kain Rei Crowhurst
The students around him murmured, some looking confused, others intrigued.
"Well, Kain," the headmaster announced, voice ringing through the hall, "it's your turn"
Kain stood, feeling the weight of every eye upon him.
With his heart pounding like a war drum, he took a step forward, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
As he approached the center of the room, a low hum filled the air.
The glowing screen above him shifted, flashing strange symbols and numbers he couldn't read.
He could feel it, the system's presence, that same invisible force that had been weaving itself into every inch of this world since his arrival.
'Whatever this test is, I'll have to use whatever I've got to survive'
Before he could say anything, the headmaster raised his hand again, and the very air seemed to bend.
"Your test begins now"
Kain barely had time to react before the floor beneath him cracked open, revealing a yawning chasm stretching into infinity.
A rush of adrenaline surged through him as a force field sprang up around the platform, glowing with a ghostly blue tint.
The headmaster's voice echoed one last time:
"You must use your abilities to navigate through the trial"
"Only then will your strength be measured. Fail, and you may be relegated to a lesser class"
The ground cracked wider, and from the depths below, they emerged, grotesque shadows with twisted bodies, their glowing eyes locked hungrily onto him.
The pressure was suffocating.
All around, students watched with a mixture of anticipation, pity, and cold amusement.
Kain's lips curled into a grim smile as he rolled his shoulders, preparing himself.
"Let's do this," he muttered.
And deep down, a wicked thought flickered:
'Can't go dying without enjoying myself'
The first shadow lunged at him, a blur of jagged claws and inhuman snarling.
Kain moved purely on instinct, ducking under its swipe with a surprising amount of grace.
His body felt lighter, faster than it ever had before.
'Okay... maybe this won't be so bad after all'
Another shadow sprinted at him from the left, and a third flanked him from the right.
Their grotesque bodies blurred into the edge of the blue force field.
Kain's mind raced, panicked, until he remembered something odd.
The blue board, the system screen he'd almost closed earlier, it wasn't just stats.
There were choices.
Options.
Options that looked suspiciously like...
"Charm"
"Persuade"
"Seduce"
It clicked.
In an eroge, when brute force failed, you talked your way through.
You charmed your way through.
Was it stupid?
Absolutely.
Was it his only shot?
Hell yes.
The nearest shadow slashed again.
This time, instead of dodging, Kain thrust his hand out, aiming not at the creature's body, but at the system board hovering faintly in the corner of his vision.
He slammed the option: Charm.
A strange pulse rippled from his body, subtle but tangible, like a heartbeat made of silk and honey.
The shadow halted mid-strike, twitching as if confused.
Its head tilted sideways, the monstrous expression suddenly... hesitant.
The other shadows skidded to a stop too, their grotesque faces flickering, expressions shifting from hunger to something like bewilderment.
Kain, seeing the hesitation, smirked and leaned into it.
"Hey there," he said smoothly, surprising even himself with how easily the words flowed.
"No need to get violent. I'm sure we can work something out"
Another option blinked into existence: Persuade.
He hit it without a second thought.
The air shimmered again, and this time the shadows actually backed up a step.
The students watching from above murmured loudly.
The instructors leaned forward in their seats.
Even the headmaster's brow furrowed slightly.
Kain, sensing momentum, threw out his arms dramatically like a cheap stage actor.
"Come on! You don't really wanna throw yourselves into a pointless fight, right? You look smart, hardworking… um… shadows"
Another option flashed: Seduce (High Risk, High Reward).
Kain hesitated for half a second.
Then he laughed under his breath.
"Fuck it!"
He selected Seduce.
The system shimmered, and to the horror of everyone watching, Kain winked at the monsters.
The shadows stiffened.
For a terrifying moment, everything was still.
Then one by one, the shadows let out a series of strangled, guttural purrs—yes, purrs and slowly knelt before him, lowering their twisted heads in submission.
The room was deathly silent.
Kain straightened, trying very hard not to burst into hysterical laughter.
His heart was still hammering, but inside he felt a sick, giddy thrill.
'I can't believe that actually worked'
The golden screen above the stage flared brightly, letters rearranging themselves into bold text:
TRIAL COMPLETE — S RANK POTENTIAL DETECTED.
A beat of stunned silence.
Then the headmaster let out a dry chuckle, so soft only a few nearby heard it.
"Unexpected... but effective," he said.
The force field dropped with a soft whump, the chasm closed, and the shadows melted harmlessly into mist.
Kain wiped imaginary dust off his shoulder and shot the watching crowd a lazy, cocky grin.
Some students looked furious.
Others looked terrified.
A few, mostly girls, looked way too interested.
Kain turned on his heel and walked back to his seat without a word, feeling the heavy stares burning into his back.
'Charm. Persuade. Seduce'
He shook his head in disbelief.
'Best. Damn. Skills. Ever!'
As Kain sank back into his seat, heart still hammering from the rush, the system board in his vision flickered softly.
[QUEST COMPLETE: SURVIVE THE TRIAL]
[- Reward: +10 Skill Points -]
Kain's eyes widened slightly.
In the corner of his mind, a new menu unfolded:
[ Available Upgrades: ]
Looks [+] (5 pts)
Strength [+] (3 pts)
Agility [+] (4 pts)
Stamina [+] (2 pts)
Durability [+] (3 pts)
Skill Level Up [+] (5 pts)
'Holy shit... This just keeps getting better!'
Before he could spend the points, Finn's name flashed onto the golden screen:
Finn Hartwell.
The headmaster gestured sharply.
"Next"
Finn shot Kain a determined look, set his jaw, and marched toward the center of the stage.
There was no fear in his stride, just pure, stubborn bravery.
The force field crackled back into existence, and the ground split open once more.
This time, the creatures that rose were smoke wolves, sleek and vicious-looking.
Kain leaned back lazily, arms crossed behind his head.
"Good luck, Finn," he muttered under his breath.
"You're gonna need it"
His eyes drifted sideways and landed on Ruby, sitting a few rows over.
She was perched elegantly on the bench, her blonde hair catching the light, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
A wicked idea sparked in Kain's brain.
'Well, no harm in having a little fun'
He activated his system again.
[ New Quest: Disrupt Ruby's Emotional Stability]
[- Reward: +5 Skill Points -]
Kain grinned.
Challenge accepted.
Sliding over casually, he leaned toward her, voice smooth as silk.
"Enjoying the show?" he asked.
Ruby barely glanced at him.
"I'm only here for Finn"
Harsh.
Most guys would have backed off immediately.
Kain wasn't most guys.
He activated Charm again, feeling that subtle pulse of honeyed magic ripple from his body.
Ruby stiffened slightly.
Not much, but enough.
Kain leaned closer, dropping his voice to a low murmur.
"Funny. You don't look like you're just here for him"
Ruby's sharp blue eyes flicked to him, frowning.
Meanwhile, on the field, Finn, oblivious to everything, was engaged in a fierce, graceful battle against the wolves, moving with natural precision, a fire burning in his eyes.
Kain gave a mock sigh, pretending to look concerned.
"He's brave," Kain said lightly, "but you know bravery alone doesn't mean survival. Sometimes you need... a little more"
Ruby's frown deepened.
Kain activated Persuade quietly, the magic threading into his words.
"Someone who can read the room... protect you before you even realize you're in danger," he added, letting the words hang there meaningfully.
Ruby's posture shifted, just slightly.
A flicker of doubt.
A seed, planted.
Kain smirked inwardly.
The system blinked softly again:
[ Ruby's Affection: 0% → 7% ]
Progress.
He turned his attention back to the field just as Finn struck the final wolf, the creature exploding into harmless mist.
The golden letters flared up:
TRIAL COMPLETE — A RANK POTENTIAL DETECTED.
The force field dropped, and Finn, grinning proudly, jogged back toward the seats.
Ruby immediately stood up, waving at him with an uncharacteristically bright smile.
Kain sat back, hands behind his head, a smug smile on his lips.
'No rush,' he thought lazily.
'I've got all the time in the world to turn that 7% into 100%'
And in the corner of his vision, his points counter blinked again:
[ Available Skill Points: 15 ]
He whistled under his breath.
'Guess it's time to level up'
Without hesitation, he dropped 5 points into Looks, 4 into Agility, and 3 into Stamina, saving a few for later.
Immediately, he felt it, his body lighter, his muscles coiled tighter, his reflection in the glass panels around the arena looking just a bit sharper, a bit more dangerous.
This system?
It was a damn cheat code!.
And Kain intended to use every last bit of it.
An Hour Later
The air around them buzzed with excitement.
Out of the hundreds who had lined up for the entrance trials, only twenty-three remained.
Kain, Finn, and Ruby among them.
A booming voice echoed across the arena, the headmaster's tone sharp and cold.
"Congratulations. You've been selected for Class 1 / The elite!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause.
Even Finn, who usually tried to play it cool, let out a relieved laugh and clapped Kain on the back hard enough to jostle him.
Kain barely felt it.
His body was buzzing, apart from the upgrades he'd spent his points on, apart from the thrill of knowing he'd just secured the best seat in the academy.
Class 1.
It wasn't just about prestige.
It meant free food at the royal banquet hall, the best housing overlooking the lake gardens, pocket money provided by the Academy's noble sponsors, and even priority access to secret training programs.
In short: a dream come true.
Ruby was smiling too, though when her gaze drifted toward Finn, the smile softened, more genuine.
Kain watched silently, casually tossing an apple from hand to hand that he had nicked from one of the food stands nearby.
'Cute,' he thought, watching the way she lit up around Finn.
But the seed was already there, a hairline fracture in her heart.
All he had to do was keep tapping it.
The headmaster raised a hand, silencing the cheers.
"You will report to the Dormitory Tower Alpha. Room assignments have been posted. You have the rest of the day to settle in"
"Classes begin at dawn"
The golden barrier dissolved completely.
Freedom.
Finn whooped, grabbing Kain by the shoulders.
"We did it, man! First round! Class One! Hell yeah!"
Kain chuckled lowly, shrugging off Finn's hand.
"Yeah. Piece of cake!"
Ruby approached, her footsteps light.
"Congrats, Finn," she said warmly, offering him a quick hug.
Kain watched, lips curling into a faint smirk.
Ruby then turned toward Kain, her expression shifting slightly, almost like she was about to say something but stopped herself.
Instead, she gave a quick, polite nod.
"Good job... I guess"
Kain gave a lazy two-finger salute.
"Guess I'm full of surprises"
Her cheeks flushed slightly before she spun on her heel and hurried after Finn, who had already started walking toward the Dormitories, excitedly chattering about how he couldn't wait to see the "free food spread"
Kain fell in step a few feet behind them, hands in his pockets, his system screen flashing softly in the corner of his eye:
[ New Quest Available: Grow Ruby's Affection to 20% Before Classes Begin ]
[- Reward: +5 Skill Points -]
He hummed under his breath, amused.
'They really make this too easy'
As they crossed the courtyard under the golden afternoon sun, Kain couldn't help but smile wider.
New school.
New powers.
New games to play.
And he was already winning.
The Dormitory Tower Alpha
It stood tall and proud against the skyline, its silver spires gleaming in the sun like the crown of a king.
It was easily the most luxurious building on campus, a far cry from the crumbling stone dorms reserved for lower classes.
A massive crystal board floated in the center of the lobby, names and room numbers glowing in elegant script.
Finn jogged up first, scanning the list eagerly.
"Let's see... Finn Hartwell... Room 307!" he said, pumping his fist in the air.
Ruby leaned in next.
"Ruby Elena... 308?"
Her brows lifted slightly.
Right next door.
Finn caught it too and grinned sheepishly.
"Guess we're neighbors, huh?"
Kain, still leaning lazily against a nearby pillar, pushed off and strolled over, hands stuffed into his pockets.
He flicked his eyes up to the board.
"Kain..." he muttered aloud, trailing his finger down.
Room 309.
He tilted his head slightly, a smirk creeping up.
"Well," he said casually, shooting Ruby a sideways look.
"Looks like the three of us are a matched set"
Ruby stiffened ever so slightly.
Finn just laughed, clapping Kain on the back.
"Better hope you can keep up, man! Ruby's real serious about her studies"
Kain gave a noncommittal shrug.
"Serious girls are the most fun"
Ruby coughed loudly, cheeks pinking.
"I'm serious about doing well, not... whatever you're thinking"
Kain didn't answer, just smiling that slow, lazy smile that made people second-guess themselves.
The three of them grabbed their keys from a waiting attendant, a tall elf woman who gave Kain a particularly lingering look and headed toward the elevators.
The ride up was silent except for Finn humming under his breath, too wired from adrenaline to care about the tension simmering beside him.
When they stepped into the third floor hallway, they were greeted by polished marble floors, velvet-lined benches, and tall glass windows that bathed everything in a golden light.
"Welcome to the good life," Finn said, whistling.
He unlocked his door first.
Kain leaned in, catching a glimpse:
A king-sized bed, a private study, even a balcony overlooking the gardens.
It was practically a noble's suite.
Ruby opened her room next.
Hers was the same, though judging by the way her eyes lit up, it might as well have been a palace.
Finally, Kain turned to his door.
The lock clicked, and he pushed it open, surveying his new territory.
Bigger than expected.
Luxurious.
And absolutely perfect.
He tossed his bag lazily onto the bed and leaned out into the hallway just in time to catch Ruby stepping out again.
She froze when she saw him.
He offered a lopsided grin.
"Hey, neighbor"
Ruby gave him a long, wary look.
"You stay on your side," she warned, pointing a finger at him.
Kain raised both hands in mock surrender.
"Wouldn't dream of it"
But as he leaned against the doorframe, watching her retreat toward Finn's room, he couldn't help but think:
'Dream of it? I plan to do a hell of a lot more than that'
The system chimed softly in his vision:
[ Ruby's Affection: 7% → 10% ]
He bit back a chuckle.
Slow and steady.
Just the way he liked it.