"A beauty? Haha, kid, you're quite amusing. Don't you know who I am?" The formidable woman, unfazed by Zhang Fan's flattering remarks, wore a puzzled expression. At Tokyo Butei High, it was rare to encounter someone unafraid of her. Even freshmen were usually aware of her notorious reputation, which had spread across the Butei world.
"Who are you?" Upon hearing Zhang Fan's question, everyone present was taken aback, even Shirayuki couldn't help but react.
"Zhang Fan... She is the legendary Ms. Ranhyou, the 'Human Fortress Buster'..." Shirayuki whispered to Zhang Fan, her voice trailing off under Ranhyou's intimidating glare. Shirayuki herself seemed quite fearful of this 'Ms. Ranhyou'.
"Ranhyou? That doesn't sound like a Japanese name," Zhang Fan commented, surprisingly undisturbed even after learning her identity. He wondered if he had missed something important in the anime – it wasn't like him to overlook such a character.
"Ha! You're too interesting, kid. For your performance today, I'll let you off the hook. I'll take care of these guys," Ranhyou said unexpectedly, without any hint of anger. Was this the same person known as the Human Fortress? Her decision not to unleash her fury was astonishing.
"Thank you then," Zhang Fan said with a light smile, finding the future at Butei High intriguing. As he walked into the school gates with Shirayuki by his side, he mused over the unexpected turn of events.
"Are you a freshman? It seems we have an interesting newcomer! Wait, I don't even know your name yet!" Ranhyou called out, but Zhang Fan and Shirayuki had already disappeared from sight.
"Damn it! Well, we'll meet again soon. You won't escape from me," Ranhyou muttered, half-threat, half-promise.
"Ms. Ranhyou, how should we deal with these students?" A group of senior students, trembling with fear, approached Ranhyou for instructions. Their timid demeanor hardly matched that of Butei High students.
"Just a bunch of idiots. Send them to the hospital," Ranhyou said dismissively, walking away without a backward glance. She even nonchalantly stepped on the blonde bully's hand as she left. Was she really a teacher at Butei High? Employing such a character seemed questionable.
"Thank you so much, Zhang Fan. If it hadn't been for you..." Inside the campus, Shirayuki was clearly grateful, following Zhang Fan closely, especially since he was holding her hand. She was lost in a blissful daze until they reached the entrance exam registration, where she then bowed deeply to Zhang Fan.
"Why revert back? You were just calling me Zhang Fan, which sounded great," Zhang Fan said, stroking Shirayuki's silky hair with a gentle smile. Her demure demeanor when alone with him was unbearably endearing.
"I'll try to change that habit," Shirayuki replied, heartened by his warm smile. It had been
a long time since she had seen Zhang Fan, and he was still as kind and gentle as ever.
"By the way, Shirayuki, are you also enrolling at Butei High? Won't that be an issue with the Star Vega Shrine?" Zhang Fan remembered the strict rules of the shrine, realizing Shirayuki must have made significant efforts to attend the school.
"Yes, I have everyone's approval to join. Unfortunately, due to my unique status, I'll be part of the SSR rather than studying alongside you," Shirayuki replied, her eyes sparkling at the mention of Butei High, but dimming slightly when she brought up the SSR.
The SSR, or Supernatural Skills Research, catered to students with magical or supernatural abilities, training 'Super Butei'. While magic and supernatural powers were still subjects of skepticism in this world, there were special research facilities in various countries exploring these phenomena. Butei High was no exception.
As a combat shrine maiden from the Star Vega Shrine, Shirayuki couldn't just join any ordinary course, something Zhang Fan fully understood. He consoled her by patting her head, his eyes brimming with affection.
In the original story, Shirayuki's unrequited love for the male protagonist went largely unacknowledged, her devotion often seen more as a nuisance than anything. But now, with Zhang Fan's arrival, he was determined to give Shirayuki a satisfying ending in this narrative.
After chatting with Shirayuki a bit more, the entrance exam commenced, and she headed off to SSR. Zhang Fan, meanwhile, followed the instructor to the testing grounds.
He wondered why the system had placed him in the Assault division, known as the 'No Future' course. With a survival rate of 97.1% upon graduation, it meant that 3 out of 100 students wouldn't make it - either perishing in missions or during training. Why not enroll in the less demanding Detective or Communications divisions, or even the Equipment or Vehicle divisions?
As Zhang Fan grumbled internally about the system's choice, a new side mission was assigned - completing the entrance exam for the Assault division. The rewards would be based on his performance level.
Sighing, Zhang Fan resigned himself to the challenge ahead. He reached a 14-story abandoned building where he was stationed on the third floor for the test. The objective was simple: capture the other examinees. The results would be based on real combat performance.
Zhang Fan steeled himself for the test, determined to excel and showcase his abilities. High-profile or not, he was ready to prove his mettle in this new and challenging environment.