The city of Althera — known as the City of Thousand Towers.
Every building shimmered with runes, every street pulsed with mana.
For most newcomers, it was a dream.
For Rei Asakura, it was nothing but noise.
He walked through the crowded gates, Aria following a few steps behind, still unsure why she couldn't leave his side.
Each time she tried to turn away, a faint electric sting ran through her body — a reminder of her new "quest."
> [Quest Progress: 1 / 7 Days.]
"Stop sighing behind me," Rei muttered.
"I'm not sighing! I'm… exhaling with emotion!" Aria snapped, glaring.
He ignored her.
The streets were full of life — mages chanting, merchants trading enchanted stones, and adventurers showing off their weapons.
But as Rei passed by, conversations quieted.
Heads turned.
Whispers followed.
> "Is that the rejected hero?"
"The one who failed the summoning test?"
"They say even the goddess abandoned him…"
Rei's steps didn't falter, but his jaw tightened slightly.
He'd heard worse before.
Suddenly, a voice called out from the crowd:
"Hey! You there — the one with the black eyes!"
A man in silver armor approached — tall, confident, and surrounded by two female mages.
His smile was radiant, his hair golden, his presence almost theatrical.
Aria gasped. "That's Leon Valcrest! He's the highest-ranked student in the Academy!"
Leon looked Rei up and down with a mix of arrogance and amusement.
"So you're the outcast hero, huh? I was expecting someone more… impressive."
Rei's tone was calm, almost lifeless.
"Then stop expecting."
Leon laughed. "Feisty. Tell you what — why don't we make it interesting? Duel me. If you win, I'll give you access to the Academy's resources. If you lose…"
He glanced at Aria, smirking.
"She joins my party."
Rei's gaze sharpened, not out of jealousy — but disgust.
He hated that kind of man the most.
Aria opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, Rei took a single step forward.
The ground cracked beneath him.
"No," he said flatly. "You're not worth fighting."
The air shifted. A faint hum surrounded Rei — that same dark energy as before.
System alerts flashed in his vision.
> [Emotional Hostility Detected.]
[Skill Reaction: Harem Hatred – Level 1 → Level 2.]
[Effect: Reverses Charm Attributes within a 10-meter radius.]
A pulse of invisible power swept through the plaza.
The two female mages beside Leon suddenly looked uneasy — their admiration for Leon fading into confusion and faint irritation.
He blinked, noticing their sudden coldness.
"What the hell…?" he muttered, turning to Rei.
Rei's eyes glowed faintly red. "Your charm doesn't work on me… or anyone near me."
The system chimed softly, almost amused.
> [Remark: The host's hatred alters emotional equilibrium.]
Leon clenched his fists, his perfect smile twisting. "You—!"
But before the fight could escalate, bells rang through the city — the sound of warning.
From the sky descended a massive shadow.
A black, serpentine creature roared, shaking the towers.
Chaos erupted.
Rei looked up, eyes narrowing.
"Perfect timing."
As Leon stumbled back in panic, Rei summoned his black blade once more.
The system's voice echoed coldly in his mind:
> [New Mission: Defeat the Corrupted Familiar.]
[Optional Bonus: Protect Aria Lune.]
He smirked faintly. "Protect her? That's… ironi
c."
And then he leapt — straight toward the beast, cutting through the storm of screams and fire.