⟨ So I’m assuming you are going for Sister Maren. ⟩
"No. I have to find someone else."
⟨ Fine by me. But I would suggest that you keep a special place for her in your harem. ⟩
"Why is that?"
⟨ Mortal. You ask too many questions. Why is my suggestion not enough for you? ⟩
"... You don’t act like a system or AI at all. What are you?"
⟨ Ha ha ha ha ha. You are figuring that out right now, darling? Let’s just say I’m testing you. The faster you work on claiming Sister Maren, the faster you will find the truth. ⟩
"Ohh, is that so. This is a test, alright."
Interesting, very interesting. So she isn’t just a system’s voice, and she doesn’t actually trust me.
"Fine. Sister Maren is on my harem list. But first I should increase my lifespan."
Seraphine said tomorrow is the first class of the new semester, so I’m assuming the main work will start tomorrow. I looked outside the window and it was already getting dark.
The first look of the world was impressive, though.
The campus spires upon spires of which loomed black against the deep, if starless, horizon, the great domed structure of some higher faculty topping the highest tower like a second moon of stone.
Lantern-light spilled from a thousand narrow windows below, in golds and flickers, and pooled on the gloomy stones until the towers seemed to be on fire, rather than merely reflecting the lower glow.
Further off, beyond the jumbled rooftops and crooked chimneys of the lower city, another dome rose pale and distant, its windows softly illuminated from within, its arches taking on an air of dreaminess.
The air smelled of stone and lanterns, and somewhere far below I heard a bell toll the hour, its deep notes muffled almost immediately by the night.
There were no stars visible tonight, only the warm glow of the city, smog and light pollution hovering over its rooftops as if it had caught on fire and learned to never put the flame out again.
"This is like a novel. So this is the world I’m going to live in now... nice."
I’m not a good boy who sleeps at ten. I was an otaku and read manga till midnight, sometimes morning. I can’t sleep right now, it’s against my routine.
I smiled; it’s time for the night hunt. The thrill of breaking the rules and focusing just on your objective, how do I begin to explain this feeling?
I stepped out of my room to see what other things this world had to offer. I didn’t see any other students — were they already sleeping?
Are there any wardens? I should be careful.
Good thing I didn’t take a lantern with me. Just moonlight is enough.
After 15 mins I got lost and had no idea where I was going. Who the fuck made these hallways in the first place? Sure they look fancy, but where are they going?
I was cursing the person who built this, but then heard a voice at the corner behind me.
"Did he leave?"
"Shh, shut up, or we will get caught."
Huh? Yeah, my senses are always right. No student breaking the rules? Get out of here with your psychological inaccuracies.
"I think he’s gone. Should we move to the bathhouse?"
"Bathhouse? At these hours? Guess I caught some perverts."
I didn’t see them, but I felt the fear through the wall. I leaned in just enough to see their faces. There were three in total.
One is a chubby, scaredy-plants-looking lad. One is a tall, skinny lad with glasses, and one is a brown-skinned lad with mid-length hair.
All three of them looked at me, scared. I would be scared too if I were to get caught like this.
"Listen, there is a misunderstanding. We were just about to take a bath, that’s it."
The brown-skinned lad took charge and came up with an excuse. He was still in a panicked state.
His excuse was terrible — did he really think I would buy that?
Suddenly I noticed him: his face had an uncanny resemblance to my classmate back in my world.
How can this be?
⟨ I know what you are thinking, mortal. Remember, you are inside the body of your alternate self. Meaning some of the people from your world have their alternate selves as well. ⟩
⟨ His name is Lior Dane, and he is the alternate of Lio, your classmate. ⟩
Oh–
Lio, he was known to be a player, a pervert, but he was exactly the kind of guy I wanted to become. He didn’t listen to anyone and just did what he wanted, even if the thing he did was troublesome.
There was this one time he was trying to convince his team so they could sneak him into the girls’ locker room and see some real heaven.
Back then, I was a good student, so I did the right thing and told the teacher about it, and Lio got punished.
But now, thinking about it, it was a side-character thing to do. An annoying one.
Later on in life I truly understood him. He was just trying to be a friend in his own way. It’s weird.
But again, this is my new life. And what’s the most asshole thing to do right now?
"Come on, drop the excuse. If you are going to the women’s bathhouse to catch a glimpse of heavenly beauties, then count me in!!"
Okay, I might have shown too much excitement, raising my fist like a hero. So cringey.
Just look at those faces, they are stunned. Then–
"Hell yeah!! I can recognize a pervert when I see one. You just scared me for a bit, that’s all."
Lior completely matched my cringey energy and gave me a tap on the shoulder.
"Your face does scream mommy’s boy and virgin, but you are the opposite of that."
"So he is one of us."
The other two lads joined the conversation and exchanged glances.
"Sure, why not. Welcome to The Glass Menagerie of Sin, our little club. I’m Lior Dane, nerd here is Wendel Ashby, fluffy here is Mossley Tuck."
I smiled and said, "Thank you for having me, I suppose."