The final bell rang like liberation. Haruto Tanaka exhaled through his nose, shoulders dropping as the classroom noise exploded around him. Chairs scraped, bags zipped, voices overlapped in that familiar post-class chaos. He glanced sideways—right on cue, Aoi Mizuki was already packing her things with the neat, deliberate movements that always made his chest feel strangely warm.
"Haruto-kun, you're spacing out again," she said without looking up, tucking a strand of glossy black hair behind her ear. Her voice carried that gentle teasing lilt she reserved only for him.
"Was not." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Just… thinking about cram school later."
"Liar." Aoi finally met his eyes, lips curving into the small, knowing smile that had been melting him since second year of middle school. "You were staring at the window like some brooding protagonist waiting for his cheat skill to activate.
"He snorted. "If only. The only cheat I've got is perfect attendance and a girlfriend way out of my league."Aoi's cheeks pinked—just a little, the way they always did when he said stuff like that outright. She swatted his arm lightly with her notebook.
"Idiot. Don't say that where people can hear."But no one was listening. Their classmates were already streaming toward the door, shouting weekend plans, complaining about upcoming midterms. Haruto and Aoi existed in their own quiet orbit, the way they had for three years now. Childhood friends turned awkward crushes turned official couple at the start of high school. Nothing flashy. Just comfortable. Safe.They walked out together like always—side by side, pinky fingers brushing every few steps because neither of them was bold enough to hold hands in the hallway yet.
The late-afternoon sun painted the corridor orange and gold."Want to stop at the convenience store?" Aoi asked. "They restocked the limited-edition strawberry mochi."
"You're going to make me broke before graduation."
"You love spoiling me."
He couldn't argue with that.They stepped outside. Warm March wind carried the scent of cherry blossoms just starting to open. Haruto squinted against the light, feeling—for a single, perfect second—that everything was exactly where it should be.
Then the world turned white.No sound. No warning. Just blinding, painless light that swallowed everything.Haruto's first panicked thought was car accident—but there was no impact, no screech of tires, no pain. Only the sensation of falling upward, weightless, stomach lurching like the world's worst elevator drop.
He tried to scream Aoi's name, but his voice wouldn't come.When the light finally faded, cold stone pressed against his cheek.He coughed, tasting iron and dust. His school uniform was still on—blazer rumpled, tie askew—but the air smelled wrong. Damp. Metallic. Like old blood and wet iron.
"Aoi…?"A weak groan answered from somewhere to his left. Haruto scrambled upright, heart hammering. Aoi lay curled on her side a few meters away, skirt hiked slightly, one shoe missing. Her long hair fanned across the filthy flagstones like spilled ink."Aoi!" He half-crawled, half-ran to her, hands shaking as he touched her shoulder. "Hey—hey, wake up. Are you hurt?"
Her eyelids fluttered. Brown eyes opened, glassy with confusion. "…Haruto-kun…?"Relief crashed through him so hard he almost cried.Before he could pull her into his arms, boots thudded against stone.Multiple sets. Heavy. Purposeful.
Haruto instinctively shoved Aoi behind him, rising to his knees. Six armored figures stepped into the dim torchlight of what looked like an enormous stone courtyard. Plate mail glinted dully—full helms with narrow visors, crimson cloaks embroidered with a snarling black lion. Swords hung at their hips. One carried a wicked-looking halberd.The leader—a towering man whose armor bore extra golden filigree—tilted his helm down at them. When he spoke, the voice was deep, cultured, and utterly cold."More outworlders. The summoning circle must be destabilizing again." He gestured lazily. "Collar the male. Inspect the female."Haruto's blood turned to ice.
"W-wait—!" He threw his arms out. "We don't know what's going—"A gauntleted hand cracked across his face so fast he didn't even see it move. Pain exploded in his cheek; he tasted blood. Before he could recover, steel-clad arms seized him from behind. Something cold and heavy snapped around his throat—a metal collar, tight enough to bite skin.Aoi screamed his name.Two knights had already grabbed her. One yanked her arms behind her back while the other—without any preamble—ripped open the top buttons of her sailor blouse to expose pale collarbones and the edge of her bra.
"Stop—!" Haruto thrashed, but the grip on his arms was iron. "Don't touch her!"The golden-filagree leader—clearly the commander—stepped closer to Aoi. He caught her chin between thumb and forefinger, forcing her face up. Aoi's eyes were wide with terror, tears already spilling."Pretty little thing," the commander murmured. "Soft skin. Good proportions. She'll fetch excellent morale points in the officers' wing."
He glanced at Haruto. "The boy looks scrawny. Front-line fodder at best."Haruto lunged again—futilely. "She's not your property! Let her go!"The commander chuckled, low and amused. "In Valdrak, every male of fighting age belongs to the legions. Every female of breeding age belongs to the barracks." He released Aoi's chin and nodded to his men. "Separate them. The girl comes with me. Put the boy on the next transport to Camp Ironfang."
"No—no no no—!" Aoi struggled harder, voice cracking. "Haruto-kun! Haruto!"They dragged her away. Haruto roared, thrashing until a gauntlet smashed into his stomach, folding him in half. Air whooshed out of him. He dropped to his knees, gasping.Through watering eyes he watched them haul Aoi toward a waiting carriage.
She kept twisting, reaching back toward him, tears streaming down her face."Haruto…! I'm scared…!"
"I'll find you!" he shouted, voice raw. "I swear—I'll find you!"The carriage door slammed. The horses snorted and the vehicle rolled away, taking her out of sight.Silence fell, broken only by Haruto's ragged breathing. Then, inside his skull, something spoke. Cold. Mechanical. Mocking.
[Cuck System activated.]
[Welcome, Player Haruto Tanaka.]
[Initial Mission: Survive.]
[Special Growth Mechanic unlocked: Humiliation Points.]
[Your beloved's pleasure under superior men will be converted directly into your strength.]
[The more she submits… the stronger you become.]
[First stimulation detected. Calculating…]
A translucent blue window appeared in Haruto's vision, floating like an augmented-reality HUD.
[Stimulation Event 1: Initial Inspection – Lord Darius Valdrak]
[Aoi Mizuki – Virginity Status: Intact (for now)]
[Points awarded: 80]
[Rewards: +5 STR, Minor Regeneration (passive)]
Haruto stared at the words.Then he vomited onto the stone.The knights laughed.One of them kicked him onto his side. "Welcome to Valdrak, outworlder. Better get used to watching."Haruto clenched his fists until his nails drew blood.He didn't care about points. He didn't care about strength.He only cared about one thing.I'm coming for you, Aoi.bNo matter what it takes. Even if I have to become a monster to do it.