A few hours later…
Tatsuya was in his club room, seated in front of the computer. He clicked through random websites, skimming pages about monsters and ancient myths.
Well, not just him — the other club members were doing the same.
They were all gathering material to create an article about common elementals found across various myths.
Most of them were focused on their research. Well, except Tatsuya. Instead of reading the websites, he was more interested in talking with Aiag… or at least, the second version of her.
Hey, Aiag… should I even call you Aiag? Since, you know, both of you are Aiag.
[Sort of. But for your convenience, just call me "System." How does that sound?]
A system… like the ones in web novels?
[Yes, exactly.]
That made Tatsuya's eyes light up in excitement. He had always wanted to experience what it felt like to have a system. Though, he never imagined it would come to him in such a strange way.
"Hey, you okay?" the club president, Fugashi Ryu, asked after noticing the odd expression on his face.
"Yes, yes, I just remembered a website with a great myth comparison," Tatsuya replied quickly.
"Ah, I see," Fugashi said before going back to his own research.
Anyways… I wonder, are all myths around the world actually true?
[Yes. Myths are true, every single one of them.]
If so, then don't they kind of contradict each other… especially when you take into account the creation myths?
[Well, if I were to explain it to you, it would take hours, and I'm not gonna do that… Now, changing the topic. Remember I said you should call me "System"? Just like in those novels, I'll give you missions. When you complete them, you'll gain essences from monsters—think of them as EXP. That way, you'll level up and grow stronger.]
For real?!
[Of course. And I even have a system name… "Magic Boy System."]
Please, anything but that.
Hearing that name, he couldn't help but cringe. The title itself sounded embarrassing… and honestly, a little ridiculous.
[Nah. Have fun with it.]
He mentally sighed. There was no way out of the cringe. But if this was what it took—if this was the price to save the world, as both goddesses had told him—then so be it.
I just hope I'll be okay in an all-women–dominated field…
[You'll be fine. You're a man, not some vulnerable woman who'd get eaten and violated by wolves.]
I… don't know what to say about that.
[I really don't care what you say anyway. Now then, m—]
Before Tatsuya could reply, a glowing window suddenly appeared on the monitor in front of him.
---
< Quest: >
A monster has appeared a few blocks away from Summer Fall High. It has taken several civilians into the "Exo-Zone" and plans to kill them for fun.
Your job: Eliminate the monster, save the hostages, and erase their memories of the event.
Difficulty: 4 / 100
Reward: Minor Healing Potion (restores small wounds that cannot be healed with magic).
---
Tatsuya's heart pounded with excitement.
My first quest… my first step as a so-called "magical boy." God, that sounded so cringey!
Then, noticing the difficulty rating—only four out of a hundred—he asked,
System, this mission is going to be easy, right?
[Yes, it will be. Now go, quickly!]
Yes!
He immediately exited the website, powered down the computer, and pushed back his chair. But then he froze.
Wait… I can't just leave club activities without a proper reason. People will start asking questions. And I can't exactly tell anyone about this…
He muttered, scratching the back of his head in frustration.
…But more importantly, how the hell am I supposed to even enter the 'Exo-Zone'? Neither of you told me how to do that!
[Stupid child, do I have to do everything myself?! Can't you do anything alone?! Now listen: I'll mind control all these dumb kids here. Then you'll walk a little further away—find some alley or empty area—and I'll open a portal. You jump into the Exo-Zone from there.]
Suddenly, the eyes of the students in the clubroom glowed faintly gold.
[Mind control complete. Now go!]
Tatsuya quickly exited the room, but as he hurried down the hallway, he accidentally collided with Ezakiel, who was just returning from the principal's office.
Bam!
Tatsuya crashed to the floor, his head throbbing like he'd slammed straight into a wall.
"Seriously, where were you looking?" Ezakiel asked. He was surprised by the sudden collision, but not entirely. He already knew why Tatsuya was in such a rush—off to do his first quest as the so-called first magical boy.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch…" Tatsuya groaned, clutching his forehead as he struggled to get back up. His eyes narrowed at Ezakiel. "Bruh, you're built like a wall. Wait a minute—aren't you that super rich guy?"
"Yes, yes, whatever. I've got to go now," Ezakiel replied, brushing him off and walking away—letting the plot unfold as it should.
[Hurry!]
Yes!
Tatsuya sprinted past Ezakiel without another word.
"And there he goes…" Ezakiel muttered, continuing his own slow, deliberate pace, though he quickly stopped in his tracks as he saw Rin walking… no, running toward him.
"Huh? You're still here? I thought you went home?"
"Nah, I really couldn't just sit and wait for the outcome. So, did it work?" Rin asked. She wanted to hope that her expulsion order was undone, but she would be fine even if it wasn't. At least she was glad for Ezakiel's support.
"Yeah, it's done. I attended the meeting in the principal's office with the school board committee online, did a little bit of convincing here and there… plus gave a super expensive car to each committee member—along with the offer I told you about in the canteen," Ezakiel said.
"I really don't know how to thank you properly," Rin said, her voice carrying a sincerity that came straight from her heart.
Ezakiel suddenly pinned her against the wall, catching her completely off guard. "You don't need to," he murmured. Leaning closer, he inhaled deeply by her ear. "You smell good…"
Rin's face flushed crimson. She quickly shoved him away and bolted down the hall.
Ezakiel just laughed, calling after her, "Wait for me!"
But as he jogged after her, a stray thought crossed his mind.
Did what I just did come off… predatory enough to put me on some kind of watch list?
After all, he was an adult in a teenager's body, and that alone made the situation feel unnerving. It wasn't like he was actually interested in Rin—far from it. He had only acted that way to build a closer connection with her. If the circumstances were different, if he were still in his proper body and world, he would have gone after a woman closer to his real age.
Still, he couldn't deny the awkwardness of playing along in this role, even if it was for his survival.
But don't be mistaken—he was still the same cruel monster who would gladly burn down an entire orphanage or exploit women's emotions for his own gain. Yet, for some reason, the label of "pedophile" felt wrong to him, something he would rather not have attached to his name—nor do anything that might earn it.
Then he stopped, noticing Rin had halted and was staring at something. He followed her gaze and saw Yuta emerging from the boys' restroom on the third floor, looking beaten, his clothes torn in places, and his steps unsteady.
"Yuta, what happened to you?!" Rin exclaimed, hurrying over and placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"You guys..." he murmured weakly.
"Hey, don't just start like that—tell us what happened!" Rin pressed.
Tears began streaming down his face, his voice trembling.
"I… I was… violated."
"What?!" Rin gasped, horror etched across her face.
Meanwhile, Ezakiel remained neutral, unsurprised. He had anticipated this as part of the original plot. Walking toward Yuta, he offered a guiding hand.
"Were those three seniors, third-year students, muscular, and members of the student discipline committee?"
"How do you know?" Yuta asked.
Ezakiel thought for a moment and said, "Well, let's just say my network mentioned that the student committee members were… freaky. Not that I knew for sure—it was just a guess."
"Each… each of them took their turns… there was nothing I could do…" Yuta said, his face twisted with tears and anger.
"It's fine, you don't have to narrate it. We already have the picture," Ezakiel said, trying to steer him away from the freak offs.
"We have to do something!" Rin said, turning to Ezakiel.
Seriously… I really don't want to get dragged into unnecessary things, but if I don't, my relationship with Rin might drop…
Ezakiel exhaled. "Don't worry, I'll handle it—but I have to do it my way," he said, pulling his phone from his pocket and dialing Reistu's number.
"Yes, young master…" Reistu answered.
"Listen carefully. There are three bastards I need you to bring in… along with their entire families, and do it without anyone knowing…"
And then he began giving the details to Reistu, and when he was done, he put down the phone and said, "This is the only way. The families of those three have some political connections, but so do I, so I need to bribe the politicians and the cops for what is about to happen."
"Is it really necessary to bring their families into this…" Rin asked.
"Yes, it is. I don't want to deal with retribution, so it's better to end them all at once. And don't feel bad—they knew about their sons' bad habits," Ezakiel said, giving a hand on Yuta's shoulder. "Let's go take you to a hospital. I'll cover all the costs, though someone will need to tell your family about this…"
"I don't have anyone but a little sister," Yuta said. "I'm attending this school because of a scholarship…"
Ezakiel already knew this; he was just asking to create an atmosphere. It wasn't something he could bluntly say to Yuta's face.
Ezakiel really is a good guy… I shudder to think what might have happened if he weren't with us, Rin thought, internally admitting that Ezakiel had everything a girl her age could want: handsome, kind, caring, and, of course, rich as hell.
Perhaps I should accept his confession… No, no, no, that's too sudden… I need to think more about it…