[STATUS SCREEN]
Name: Eiden
Gender: Male
EXP: 5
Level: 0
Height: 5.8 ft
Strength: 15
Speed: 17
Intelligence: 22
Charm: 6
Status Points: 3
Skills: None
Harem Count: 0
Three points... and a confirmed target.
Eiden glanced sideways at the girl walking beside him—Lyra Elwin. Glasses girl. Slightly clumsy. Mild bookworm aura. And most importantly, emotionally tethered to a harem.
System-chan was quiet for now, probably floating somewhere or watching him or trying to create a new quest .
Lyra clutched her notebook tightly as they passed the courtyard. The sound of chatting students surrounded them, none paying attention to the pair. Perfect. Eiden preferred it that way.
"So, uh… thanks again," Lyra said, her voice soft. "You really saved me back there."
Eiden smiled casually. "It's all part of the machine-defeating service package. You get one free rescue every semester."
She giggled. Actual, genuine amusement. Her voice was like a soft chime—warm, unpretentious.
> "Optional Objective: Hand Touch Bonus – Still Available."
He noticed the glowing prompt lingering faintly in his periphery. Yeah, yeah. He wasn't going to randomly grab her hand like a creep. This wasn't a dating sim… well, technically it was, but not the weird kind. Hopefully.
"So, Literature Department?" he asked.
Lyra nodded. "Yeah. You?"
"General Program," he said. "Basically the 'I have no clue what I'm doing with my life' category."
She smiled, a little crookedly. "That makes two of us."
They reached the hallway leading toward the Language Building. Lyra slowed her pace, then suddenly paused in front of a vending machine.
"Oh wait—I forgot to actually get my drink," she said with a light groan. "Can you wait like thirty seconds?"
Eiden shrugged. "Sure."
He leaned against the wall, watching her try the machine again. This time it responded like a tamed beast, clunking out a can of iced coffee.
She turned, can in hand, when someone called out from further down the corridor.
"Lyra! I've been looking for you."
Eiden's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
The guy was tall, clearly athletic, with the kind of windswept hair you only get from hours of obsessive styling—or natural anime physics. He walked toward them with confidence that bordered on smugness, backpack slung over one shoulder like it was a fashion statement.
Lyra perked up. "Oh—Ruel. Sorry, I got caught up."
Ruel, huh?
He stopped right in front of her, eyes flicking briefly to Eiden—then dismissing him entirely.
"Who's this?" he asked, tone friendly but not welcoming.
"Uh… Eiden. He helped me earlier. The vending machine nearly tried to eat me."
Ruel gave a light chuckle, then turned to Eiden and stuck out a hand. "Thanks for that. I'm Ruel."
Eiden shook it, noting the grip strength and eye contact—both were the practiced kind. The kind that came from years of being told he was special.
"Nice to meet you," Eiden said with a smile that was 30% genuine and 70% 'I'll take your girls soon.'
> "Alert: Male identified – Ruel Verran. Relationship status with Lyra: Emotional anchor confirmed. Harem Level: Developing. Threat Level: Moderate."
He mentally filed it away. So this was the "male X" from earlier. Noted.
"Well, I gotta head to the clubroom," Ruel said, looking at Lyra again. "Don't forget we've got the reading circle thing later. I'll see you there?"
Lyra nodded. "Yep, I'll come after class."
Ruel gave a final nod to Eiden—half polite, half 'don't get too comfy'—and walked off.
The moment he was out of earshot, System-chan's voice sang in his mind.
> "Oooh~ that one's possessive. Yum. A good rival always spices things up, don't you think?"
Eiden sighed inwardly. Spice wasn't the word he'd use. But the first true obstacle had appeared.
He turned to Lyra. "So… who was that? Your boyfriend?"
Her cheeks flushed. "What? No! Just… close. We've known each other since middle school. He's always been there for me."
> "Bingo," System-chan whispered. "One-sided love from her, emotional dependency. Classic slow-burn affection route. Weakest point: doubt."
"Ah," Eiden said, raising a brow. "Childhood friends. The deadliest trope."
Lyra laughed nervously. "Don't say it like that. He's not bad, just… intense sometimes."
Eiden nodded. "I get it. Some people are intense. Me? I'm more of a chill background NPC."
He said it with a wink, watching her smile grow just a little more relaxed.
> "New Side Quest Unlocked: Emotional Wedge I – Plant seed of doubt. Reward: +1 Charm or +1 Insight (user choice)."
Eiden blinked. Now the game begins.
They resumed walking toward her class. He noticed she stayed slightly closer to him than before.
"Thanks again for walking me," she said softly as they reached her room.
"No problem," Eiden said. "Maybe next time, I'll teach you how to defeat vending machines without sacrificing limbs."
She giggled. "Looking forward to it."
And then—she lightly touched his wrist. Just a brush. Barely a second.
> "Optional Objective: Hand Touch Bonus – Completed. +1 Status Point awarded."
He grinned as he turned to leave.
[New Status Screen Summary]
Status Points: 4
Charm: 6 (Pending upgrade)
Back at his desk that evening, Eiden stared at his reflection in the laptop screen. His shirt was wrinkled, his hair somewhere between 'bedhead' and 'don't care', and his smile was crooked in a weirdly likable way.
One point for charm? Or invest in Insight and understand people better?
He closed his eyes.
Charm it is.
He tapped the stat window in his mind.
> +1 Charm Applied
Charm: 7
It wasn't much. Just one point. But it made him sit straighter.
He looked at himself again.
Not handsome yet. But maybe… a little more presentable? A little less forgettable?Or nothing changed at all ...
"The fuck?"
Eiden leaned in, frowning at his reflection. Still the same slightly tired face. Still the slightly rebellious bangs. Still the annoying mole under his left eye he once tried to rub off in sixth grade.
"Status window closed."
"Nope! Still here~"
System-chan's voice sang in his head like a mischievous chime.
"Of course you didn't change yet. Charm doesn't work like instant plastic surgery, silly."
He crossed his arms. "Then what's the point of spending points if nothing happens?"
"Oh, things will happen. Charm 7 is your first step into the Attractive League. But sudden changes make people suspicious, so I regulate appearance upgrades over three days."
"…Three days?"
"Yup! You'll look a bit more appealing each day—better skin, smoother features, more symmetrical vibe. People will start doing double takes. Slowly. Naturally."
That actually made sense. Sort of.
"At 8, you'll look like a rising celeb. At 9? Full-blown star power. Magazine-cover tier. Then 10 is… well, the most handsome man in recorded human history."
Eiden blinked. "That's oddly specific."
"It's science~!"
He rubbed his chin. "What happens after 10, then?"
"From 11 onward, your charm stops altering your looks directly. Instead, it starts adjusting how people perceive you based on their personal preferences."
"Wait… what?"
"Mhm! Taste filters. One girl might think you're perfect because she likes rugged guys. Another might like sharp-featured boys. Charm 11+ tunes your looks to match their tastes—as long as they're the target. Think of it as perspective manipulation."
He sighed. "Alright. So basically, I won't wake up looking like a model tomorrow, but I'm on the way.""Exactly!, Oh! And don't worry—Charm also affects presence, charisma, how your voice sounds, how people feel around you. Even now, you're already becoming more 'likable' without realizing it."
That… did explain why Lyra looked a little flustered earlier.
Eiden nodded slowly.
"…So that's Charm. What about the others? Like Strength? Intelligence?"
"Oooh, expanding your horizons already? I like that."
"Strength is simple physical power, endurance, speed. At your current stat level, you're already above average. You'll tire slower, move faster, and hit harder than most guys your age. But there's a limit"
"A limit?"
"Yep. Unless you find enhancement items or unlock certain paths, your physical stats stay within human limits. No car-flipping or building-leaping. At least not yet."
"Fair enough. And Intelligence?"
"Now that's where it gets fun. Intelligence is the most scalable stat. Raising it boosts your memory, comprehension, processing speed, creativity, emotional reading—all of it."
"…So basically, brain buffs?"
"Exactly~ Want to analyze social cues better? Read someone's affection level faster? Plan five steps ahead in a conversation? All Intelligence."
"And no hard limit?"
"There's an upper limit, but it's very high. Compared to Strength or Speed, Intelligence can grow the most. Just don't try to go full galaxy brain too fast or you'll fry your circuits."
Eiden rubbed his temples. "So it's the most valuable long-term stat."
"Ding ding~! Bonus tip: Intelligence improves synergy. It makes your Charm work smarter, your actions smoother, your choices sharper. Think of it as your inner strategist."
"…Noted."
After hours later, Sasha barged into his room with a tub of ice cream.
"You look like you're planning world domination," she said.
"I am," Eiden replied, scooping the remote from under her arm.
"You get rejected by one girl and suddenly you're plotting harems. Classic."
He side-eyed her. "How do you know I got rejected?"
"Please. The whole school knows. Linda told her friend. Her friend told the group chat. The group chat told everyone with a pulse."
Eiden groaned. "This school has nothing better to do?"
"Anyway," Sasha said, flopping down beside him. "Tell me when you get a girlfriend. I'll host the afterparty."
"You mean funeral?"
"Same thing."
He smirked.
One step at a time. Charm, check. Next up… wedge Ruel out of Lyra's heart. Gently. Strategically. As the system intended.
Let the sabotage begin.
To be continued...