"Wh-who are you?" My 'mother' stuttered and she watched my waist length silver hair sway, the tips drenched in blood. She was heatedly clutching onto my father's lapels, like she was a princess that wanted to be carried. My father looked at me warily. It was clear he had some idea of the silent massacre that happened in the mansion just before noon.
I cocked my head to the side and smiled horrifyingly. "Hmmm... who am I? Why, Father, Mother, I'm so upset... in just four days, you forgot who your own daughter was...!" My aura exploded and covered the mansion. The force pushed them down, onto the floor. They instantly paled. I could see 'Mother' suffocating under my fierce killing intent.
I looked at the people who tortured my very existence for eighteen years and cackled. My eyes shook maniacally as I stared towards the floor with trembling shoulders. A small, crystal tear rolled down my cheek and fell to the ground noiselessly. "All of these years... all of these endless years... I have endured so much pain... maybe now, now that I've finally awakened... I CAN PAY IT BACK!"
"ATHEA, STOP THIS INSTANT!" I jerked my head up and observed the man, on his knees, trying to stand. His expression was firm and believing, as if he was standing up to a psychopathic villain standing against his road to justice. And who really knows at this point, maybe I really was. But weren't they the ones to shape me this way? Starvation, physical and mental abuse, torture... it's only right that I pay them back, right?
Right?
I chuckled. "But, dear Father, wasn't it you who taught me that stopping in the middle of a deserved punishment will only promote more disobedience? All I'm doing is following through... like you taught me. Again." I jumped in front of him and pushed his face to the floor with so much force I could hear his skull crack.
"And again." I lifted his bloody head off the floor and slammed it back down on the dreary marble floors.
"And again." I brought him back up and forcefully opened his swollen eyelids. His blood red, tear-stained eyes pervaded my view, and my cheeks couldn't help but become a little red in excacity. A sense of tyranny flooded my senses.
"And... again." I plunged my hand into his eye and slowly drew his warm, moist eyeball out of his socket while relishing his ear-piercing screams and cries of absolute agony.
I turned to 'Mother' and smiled, gleefully showing the mutilated, ruined image of 'Father' to her like a child showing their friend a cool bug they found on the side of the road. Her face paled and she gagged in disgust and fear. I approached her and dropped the half-dead body at her feet, before widening my malicious smile and clapping my hands three times. With each clap appeared an enormous violet fireball, ready to shoot at my command. "Don't worry, Mother, I haven't forgotten about you~"
----
"Class, we have a new student today. Please welcome him." The teacher's dull voice said before they ushered me in.
I stepped into the classroom with a classic black and brown randoseru in hand and smiled. My blue hair swayed as I bowed formally.
"Good morning. My name is Chalice. Today is my first day. Please take care of me."
Murmurs and gasps slowly rose as were heard around the classroom, all commentating on my name. 'A commoner?' 'Filthy.' 'How did a peasant get into our school?'
"Chalice, you can go ahead and sit next to Egon at the windowsill, right there." The teacher pointed to the middle of the classroom, at the window seats. I nodded with an unreadable smile. The female students started glaring daggers at me, it seems they were rather worked up about something.
Sitting down on my seat, I took a quick glance at the person on the left. The president of the student council. The male lead. That explains why those nobles were... hmmm, this will be interesting. I giggled and turned my attention back to the board. Egon sent me a questioning gaze with his ever icy-stone face before turning his attention back to the board as well. Hmmm... come to think of it, I've heard the second ML mention this guy before, last night. What was it again...? Ah. So he's my dormmate, huh. The ML and the second ML all in one dorm with me. I've really outdone myself this time~ A slight smirk appeared on my face. Now, here's the true question... how shall I deal with them?
There were many ways to play with male leads. Novels that they are in usually paint them as intelligent, refined, and learned. They were always painted as someone no one could manipulate, the masters behind the scenes.
That is absolute bullshit.
They're intelligent? Just a small insult attacking the female lead could lead them into an unrestrained, savage rampage. Is that behavior something someone would classify as intelligent? Or even relate to the word 'intelligent'? The chance of that connection is as likely as my butt fat disconnecting from my body and bouncing so high that it could ascend to heaven!
And refined? Can cold, disdainful protagonists be considered 'refined'? Being cold to everyone is not 'refined', it's simply 'rude'. Hmmm, I didn't know that being rude is considered elegant and graceful. I guess that even a 14 billion year old girl still has a lot more to learn, huh.
And finally, 'learned'. Ah, yes, all male protagonists are supposed to be knowledgeable, rational, and capable. Indeed, indeed. So why, praytell, would the male lead banish their fucking fiance over bullying a commoner?! And a fiance that was probably set up with him since birth because of her high status, too?! Does he not understand the implications he might receive because of that simple action against her?!
Yes, how knowledgeable, a ML that impulsively breaks off an important political engagement because of his 'love' without knowing how long it will last. Truly, how laudable, how commendable, I'm so touched, really.
But, I digress. Let us get back to the point, shall we? Hmmm...
"A commoner? How disgraceful."
"Truly shaming our noble house, to attend school with a mere peasant."
"How did he get into a school such as ours?"
I listened to their chatter in mild interest before turning my attention back to the teacher's dull speaking. This is going to be very interesting, I told myself while sparing a glance at the future male lead beside me. Very... interesting~
----
I walked down the halls of the academy, clutching two thick textbooks to my chest. As I walked by, noble children would point to me and whisper with smirks on their overly-lotioned faces. I just grinned to myself in response. Bullying didn't really affect me anymore. And even if it did, it wouldn't be worth it to deal with them at the moment. Until I turned eighteen, at least. So I just simply regarded their petty murmurs as new entertainment. I hope their insults will at least be original, I thought.
I turned a corner. I felt a rather large presence in front of me and grinned before concealing my presence. Don't tell me this is going to be an 'I'm bumping into you because of a corner' trope?
But indeed, it was. As soon as I turned around, the male in front of me didn't dodge, but instead did the same as I did. We collided, my face to his chest, and my books flew into the air. I simply let myself fall weakly while watching the boy rub his chest.
Ah. This guy was in the student council room. The guy who I momentarily believed was the second male lead. What was his name? I heard some students talk about it outside before. Uhhh... no use. He's too tropey that I can't remember.
Whatever. That won't really stop me from seducing him.
Yes, why would I want to seduce him. That's what you all are thinking, right? Well, there's a rather simple answer for your oh-so-rational questions.
Because I'm still so damn bored. So fucking bored.
That's why I'm crossdressing, that's why I'm not going to fabricate a noble title to ward off the bullies, and that's why I'm seducing the male leads.
Because it'll be fun, right?
Don't get your dicks into a twist, I'm just having a bit of fun here. I stopped caring about other creatures about 12,000 lives ago. I never really think of them as part of my 'story' anymore, I've seen too much of everything that no matter how 'exotic' or 'rare' or 'unique' people might be, it's like I'm just looking at a rock rolling down the side of a hill. It's like I'm not related to them in any way whatsoever.
Think about it this way. If you saw a man with a knife, mugging a person on the street, what would you do? Valiantly step in, risk your life for a person you don't know and don't really have any connection to? No. That's my mentality. 'Why should I even care about a person I don't even know? It's their problem, not mine. It's their feelings, not mine.'
People might say, "That's cruel!" or "Have you no heart?!" But when it comes to it, they probably won't step in either. Only an idiotic, stupid saint would do that. And I'm far from a saint. I'm literally a Devil reincarnated into a human body.
So yes, I'm playing with their future feelings, what are you going to do about it?
A hand was extended out to me, blocking my field of vision. In front of me, I saw a boy. Imperial purple hair, sparkling cyan eyes, fair skin. His eyes mixed with worry and confusion. "Are you hurt?"
----
There are many ways to seduce someone. You can be a white lotus, scheming behind their back to win their affection over time. You can change your personality to fit their tastes and then spend the rest of your time with them as lies.
Those tried-and-true methods are simple, easy, and quick. But they weren't fun.
So I chose to do the most challenging one of all... to be myself.
I stood up, disregarding his goodwill, and brushed the nonexistent dust off my gray worn pants. "Yes, I am quite all right. Thank you for your concern." I smiled and bowed deeply.
His eyes drifted from my attire, to my face, to my mannerisms. His expression soon turned strange and he gave me an awkward smile in return. "Elegant for a commoner..."
He hurriedly closed his mouth and made an apologetic face. "Thank you for the compliment." I said before he could properly correct himself.
"I-I didn't mean to-"
Rather naive for a capture target, hmmm. Instead of responding once more, I gave a small unreadable smile and glided away. He will be fun to play with.
I could hear small clacking sounds behind me. It seems this man was already rather intrigued with me. This is way too easy, did I not give myself enough of a challenge? Haaah, I guess I don't need to play with this oaf anymore, he doesn't have any deepness to his character. I thought before suddenly stopping and turning around to face him. Not bothering to completely seal my aura, I loosened it a bit, allowing my presence to loom over him. My expression was bored this time, with no trace of politeness or respect evident on my face anymore. "Do you need something from me?"
----
(A/N: Blueres Venncroft's POV.)
I am not Blueres Venncroft, crown prince of the neighboring Velesan Empire. My real name is Sakawa Kae, the young master of the Sakawa family.
I died, eighteen years ago, on Earth. Due to a falling air conditioner. My servants warned me to never step foot in 'poor places', but my curiosity got the better of me, and I went to a residential district just outside of the city after successfully losing my butler. Little did I know that I walked too close to a shabby apartment building, and that there was a falling AC that would soon hit my head. I guess I'm kind of like Icarus. I flew too close to the sun, and eventually fell. Well, in this case, I was too close to an apartment, I guess. After I died, I reincarnated into a sequel game I played in my past life at my sister's behest. But why? Why did I have to reincarnate as a capture target?! I don't want to fall for a lousy shitty heroine who has a fiancé but still flirts with any boy she sees!
I attended school, with the determination not to be the capture target the game set. Along with my system, I was sure I could easily bypass any romantic flags or cliches along the way.
That is, until I met him.
Chalice, a commoner. A commoner that somehow was able to attend the academy. My first encounter with him, in the student council room, was strange, to say the least.
----
A boy, with purplish-blue neck length hair, waltzed into the room with a relaxed expression on his face. He was dressed in simple gray and brown clothes, completely unlike any noble I've ever seen. His presence was condensed, so close to his body that it could barely be felt. It was as if he was trying to imitate an ordinary commoner's disposition but failed. His eyes, as deep and blue as the sea, unreadable and calm yet raging all at once. It was withered, yet still kept its childish vitality at once. Never in my life have I seen such a mysterious being; a commoner in a noble's school, blatantly announcing his offensive presence to anyone who came near.
This boy was not in the game.
The screen in front of me glitched, then disappeared. 'No way... the system had an error? Because of... him?' I saw him being led out by Flurrent, the second male lead. His face still had an unreadable smile without a trace of any respect left. 'Just who is this boy?'
----
I stood up and set my eyes on the person who crashed into me. Blue-purple hair, a small fair nose, thin red lips... I held out my hand to help them stand. Their heads turned up, and I instantly recognized it.
Chalice. Come to think of it, it's rather strange. I can detect every presence I come across, be it highly-trained assassins, the capture targets, even the highest-ranked hunter in all history. I would have known if someone was turning a corner. Yet, this boy... this petite, powerless boy... could mask his presence from me completely?
He smiled and stood up by himself, gathering the books and quickly walking away. My eyes widened, and I instinctively followed him. His footsteps soon stopped and he turned to face me. "Is there something you need from me?" There was no longer any politeness or interest in his eyes, just boredom and annoyance. His previous blank smile was nowhere to be seen.
I shivered under his scrutiny. "N-no." I stuttered. Why did I stutter?! I never stutter! How embarrassing... to think Chalice heard me in such a manner...
Chalice spun on his heel and continued walking, indifferent to my presence. I quickly skittered after him.
He kept walking and turned a corner. His hands moved in a way to make it seem like his worn, dirty clothes were new and fine. Each of his steps were elegant and buoyant, unworldly.
He turned another corner and stared at the two large wooden doors before smiling imperceptibly to himself. I widened my eyes. That was the first time I ever saw him smile genuinely like that. It was... dazzling.
----
(A/N: Alice Novea's POV.)
The library. The only place that could keep me completely entertained for one whole hour.
Griffon was a pretty standard world. Each time I reincarnated into a new body, the setting looked exactly the same as the last. Medieval, commoners and the aristocracy, empires and kingdoms. The plot was always similar too. Sometimes it was a commoner or a low-ranked noble managing to get into a school because of their light magic (trust me, it's always their light magic), sometimes its a princess from a neighboring kingdom who's innocent and kind (even though they should never have been innocent because of their princess training and their exposure to the schemes of aristocracy), and sometimes it was one of those 'cruel tyrant emperor' novels, where the capable female lead becomes their secretary or has a one-night stand with them or something and then they fall in love (even though the female lead must have known that they were a cruel dictator that could execute families for saying a single word against him, they still chose to be with him, and that's apparently supposed to be romantic).
Anyway, I digress. The point is, although the setting, the people, the plot, and basically everything else was too damn predictable, only the world of books was not. So you can understand my absolute giddiness and determination to read after possessing a body here.
I ignored the handsome boy standing behind me with a dazed look on his face, as if he was communicating with something, and moved forward with sparkling eyes.
"You are not allowed to be here, student." A firm, intimidating voice suddenly interrupted my blissful moment of peace.
"I'm sorry, my name is Chalice, I'm new here. Why am I not allowed here?" I kept my head down and asked shakily, my eyes dark with my lips curved into a childish smirk.
"A MERE PEASANT DARES TO ASK ME THIS QUESTION?! HOW INSOLENT!" I felt a ruler harshly smack down on my curved back. My smile deepened. Hmmm... a librarian, saying these words? My shoulders shook, trying to suppress bubbling laughter, but it seems that the librarian took it as a sign of fear, and their voice took a satisfied tone to it.
"You'd do well to avoid staining these books with your dirty hands." A large tome fell down to my head. A shock was closely followed with a sharp pang of agony, yet I paid it no mind.
I turned around and smiled, completely unfazed by the growing lump on my head. "Yes, I would, wouldn't I?" My appearance was docile, like an innocent little lamb. My aura was kept in check, and my hands were placed in front of me like an obedient dog. Inside, I was applauding my sense of control. Truly magnificent, Alice! You managed to surprise your aura after being hit twice! I didn't even choke the guy to death yet! I've really improved, hurrah, hurrah!
"But... I'm afraid I still don't understand." I approached the librarian with a smile. The clicks and clacks of my loafers invoked an ominous feeling in the quiet library. "I go to this school as well, don't I?" I maneuvered my aura into tendrils and used one to grasp their neck. He started choking and his face immediately paled. I let out a closed-eyed smile, as if I was completely oblivious to his suffering in front of me. "So why?" I tilted my head and put my forefinger to my cheek while tightening my aura, "Am I just... not allowed to?"
And just like that, the librarian's neck broke. The slight crack could barely be heard, even in a deadly deserted library such as that one. My smile remained unmoving as I stepped back and withdrew my aura. The librarian's body wobbled before slowly falling to the floor with a flump. I covered my mouth with deadpan eyes. "Oh, goodness. He seems to have died. How tragic. I'm so sad, I don't even know what to say. Oh well, time to read."
"..." I could practically feel the speechlessness of the third male lead reverberate around the room, but I paid it no heed.
Meh, it might have been a subpar performance for the third male lead, but I just want to read. I'll deal with the body later.
----
I exhaled happily and closed the leather bound tome, putting it on the thirty-fourth stack of books near my seat. Five books in, I could hear the sounds of the third male lead leaving the library. I did not know how much time had passed since then, nor did I care. All I knew was, I came to the library, and I was going to stay until I had to leave.
Even if there were bugs constantly surrounding me.
Well, I guess they would be called male leads, but what was the difference?
After the librarian died of suffocation and internal bleeding, many teachers came to investigate why. And then they found me. The innocent, naive me, simply minding my own business, reading like I do, and decided to unfairly put the blame on me! Hmph, they had no evidence to support their claim, did they just choose to pin the death of a high-ranked staff member on a commoner because I was simply coincidentally reading in the library? Okay, so I did kill that damned librarian, but still, you get my point, they had no evidence but still chose to accuse me, so I feel very wronged!
"Answer us, Chalice, did you kill him?!"
I finally looked up and, instead of responding, gave the teacher a laid-back smile. The teacher's face turned a darker shade of red and I could seeker start to hyperventilate. She raised her hand and was about to slap me but a firm, strong voice stopped her in her tracks.
"What do you think you're doing~"
I rolled my head over and half-hazardly moved my eyes to the source of the noise. I felt as if I was watching a movie. A half-assed, crappy movie. The second male lead (who I still don't know the name of) leaped over to my side and caressed the side of my face before turning to the teacher.
"Y-Y-Young Master Drossel! Y-You're here!" The teacher's face turned an even darker shade of red, but this time, I was sure it wasn't because of rage.
"Yes I am, my little dumpling~" He whispered into her ear. I couldn't help but choke on corniness after watching the scene. Pfft! Who the fuck calls someone 'my little dumpling' like that?! "So now that I'm here, please stop bullying Chalice~"
Her face started taking on hints of despair at his words. "My roomie is with me because I asked for him to~ he didn't force himself into our dorm~ and even if he did, you're just a worthless wench~ as a woman, you should be more obedient, not more bitchy~"
She ran off in tears. Why did that teacher not call him out on his blunder? Is it because she's a fucking dolt as well, pretending not to know that he misunderstood the situation? I just laughed at the inanity of the situation. This fucker second ML... he thought that she was about to slap me because she didn't like that I was rooming with him? He waltzes in with absolute confidence and completely misunderstands the situation. That's just too funny~ I guess all sexist bastards are complete imbecilic morons, huh~ ahhh, I don't know, should I just kill them all~ "Don't worry, Cha, you're fine now." He came and forcefully pressed my head on his chest before caressing my head, like coaxing a lost child to sleep. My eyes were dark, with intentions of murder, but I obediently complied with it and stopped struggling after a while. He let out a satisfied chuckle, completely unaware of my inner thoughts. No, killing is too mild. Sexist bastards obviously deserve to die, but they have to die slowly and painfully. So I'll seduce this guy too, I suppose, and break his heart later. Fufufufufu~ let's have some fun this life, shall we?