The classroom buzzed with whispers as Ren stepped through the door, his usual carefree stride unchanged despite the rumors swirling around him. Heads turned, eyes widened, and murmurs grew louder. "He's here? After what happened?" one girl whispered to another. "They say he was dragged into a room and…" The words were spreading, but Ren kept his head high, his expression unreadable as he slid into his seat.

Greg and Kaito, his two closest friends, flanked him immediately, their presence a shield against the gossip. "Ren, you good?" Greg asked, his voice loud enough to drown out the whispers. "Don't let these idiots get to you. They don't know jack."

Kaito nodded, leaning back in his chair with a grin. "Yeah, man. You're still you. You're Ren, the guy who aces every test and makes the rest of us look bad and the most handsome boy in our school."

Ren offered a faint smile, his first since walking in. "Thanks, guys," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. He didn't say much else, letting their chatter fill the silence.

His eyes, however, drifted across the room, landing on the girls whispering among themselves. His gaze wasn't the usual kind, warm look he was known for. It was sharp, almost predatory, like a wolf sizing up its prey.

He lingered on Ms. Jenny, who was standing near the doorway, and Lan Meiling, the girl seated next to him—both powerful, both untouchable in their own way and for some reason it was always these powerful women that caught his attention.

Ms. Jenny entered the classroom, her heels clicking against the floor. Her eyes met Ren's briefly, and guilt flickered in her expression. She cleared her throat, addressing the class. "Alright, everyone, settle down. I know there's been… talk. But we're here to learn, not gossip." Her voice wavered slightly as she glanced at Ren again. "What happened yesterday was unfortunate. Mila Cherkovis… she's been expelled and is undergoing treatment before being sent to a correction center. Attacking a male is a serious crime, and the consequences are severe."

The room went silent, the weight of her words sinking in. Ren's expression didn't change, but his eyes darkened as he stared at Ms. Jenny. She shifted uncomfortably before continuing. "I warned you all about the dangers of the Awakening Disorder. When girls get too drunk on their powers, their actions can become… extreme. It's a dangerous condition, one we must all be mindful of."

Realizing she might be stirring up trauma for Ren, she quickly changed the subject. "Let's move on. Today, we're discussing—"

The class continued with Ms. Jenny talking about typical historical lessons, which were boring for most of the students. But Ren suddenly found himself interested in everything she said. She began discussing the Dungeon Infestation Era of Norbata, which provided Ren with a lot of useful information. However, one thing struck him as strange — all the iconic figures from that era were female, with only one or two exceptions being male.

"And that's it for today's class.."Jenny's voice faded into the background as Ren's gaze shifted to Meiling as the class was ended.

The girl was gathering her things, her movements graceful and deliberate. Their eyes met for a brief moment. Ren expected a reaction—shock, pity, something—but Meiling's face remained blank. She turned her head and left without a word.

Greg nudged Ren as the class ended. "Hey, man, wanna grab some food? We'll stick with you."

Kaito chimed in, "Yeah, let's hit the cafeteria. Screw the people spreading rumors behind our backs."

Ren shook his head, his voice quiet but firm. "Thanks, but… I need some time alone. I'll catch up with you guys later."

The two exchanged a glance but didn't push. "Alright, man," Greg said. "We're here if you need us."

Ren nodded and headed for the library, seeking the quiet peace of its shelves. He found a secluded corner, tucked away behind towering bookshelves, and sank into a chair. The silence was a relief, a brief escape from the whispers and stares. But it didn't last.

A faint glow appeared in the dim corner, and a woman materialized before him. She was breathtaking—voluptuous, with long, wavy platinum-blonde hair cascading to her hips, amber eyes that seemed to glow faintly, and flawless sun-kissed skin. Her attire was a mix of celestial armor and sheer, revealing fabrics, golden filigree accentuating her curves. Yet, her expression was one of reluctant annoyance, as if she'd rather be anywhere else.

Ren raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "So, what are you?" he asked, his tone suggesting this wasn't their first encounter.

The woman sighed dramatically, tossing her hair. "Ugh, congratulations on awakening your power, I guess. I'm Juileto Luxara Celestielle Aurelionis, celestial envoy, blah blah blah." She waved a hand dismissively. "You may address me is Lady Juileto Luxara Celestielle Aurelionis."

Ren looked at her as if she is crazy and muttered. "Luxy it is."

"Luxy..." She looked rather shocked to hear that, but quickly she gained her composure back.

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Call me what you want. I'm not here to stay, kid. I'm just here to help you destroy my mother, the goddess. That's the deal."

Ren leaned back, crossing his arms. "Your mother? Why are you betraying her? What do I have to with any of these?"

Luxy clutched her head, exasperated. "It's your fault, okay? When I was carrying your soul for reincarnation, my father—the god—stole it and gave you some ridiculous power. If my mother finds out, I'm the one getting tossed into the abyss. And trust me, that's the last thing I want."

Ren's eyes narrowed. "So, what exactly do I have? I remember being… another Ren, in another world. But it's fuzzy. I don't know anything about gods or goddesses."

Luxy groaned. "You don't need the whole cosmic backstory. Here's the deal: there's a goddess who wants to kill you and curse you. There's a god—my father—who wants your help to take her down. To do that, he gave you a power you need to level up. That's the baseline."

Ren tilted his head. "Sounds simple enough. But why should I care? Why do I need to do any of this?"

Luxy's lips curled into a sly smile. She waved her hand, and a glowing interface appeared in the air, like a holographic game menu. "Take a look, kid."

Ren's eyes scanned the display:

Name: Ren Arakawa

Level: 1

Blessing: Yandere Believer

Sex: Male

[Attributes]

STR (Strength): 2

AGI (Agility): 2

VIT (Vitality): 3

INT (Intelligence): 4

CHAR (Charm): 10

[Skills]

Heartsteal - [Level 1]

Ren frowned. "Is this what awakened people get?"

Luxy nodded. "Not every awakened. But check out that blessing of yours. 'Yandere Believer.' Sound cute? It's not."

A sudden flash of memory hit Ren—a woman with wild, crazed eyes, a knife gleaming in her hand as she lunged at him. His breath caught, and he gripped the armrests of his chair. "What the hell was that?"

Luxy's expression softened, just for a moment. "That's your so-called 'blessing.' Every woman who shows even a hint of interest in you? They'll turn into a crazy, obsessive yandere. Stalkers, knives, the works. That's what the goddess cursed you with. And trust me, in this world, you'll get stabbed by a hundred different women before you know it if you don't fight back."

Ren's jaw tightened. "So, you're saying I need to help your father to… what? Stop this curse?"

"Exactly," Luxy said, crossing her arms. "You've got a power now, thanks to my dad. That 'Heartsteal' skill? It's your weapon. Level it up, get stronger, and maybe you'll survive long enough to take down the goddess. Or at least avoid getting shanked by your next admirer."

Ren leaned forward, his voice low. "And what's in it for you? Why should I trust you?"

Luxy smirked, but there was a flicker of unease in her amber eyes. "You don't have to trust me. But I'm in deep trouble if my mother finds out I lost your soul to my father. Helping you is my only way out. So, we're stuck together, whether I like it or not."

Ren studied her for a moment, then let out a dry laugh. "Great. So, I'm a pawn in some cosmic family drama, and I've got a curse that makes women go psycho. Anything else I should know?"

Luxy shrugged. "That's the gist of it. Oh, and only show you intreset in powerful women unless you want a knife in your back by some weak useless woman. Your charm stat's already at 10—way too high for your own good."

Ren rubbed his temples. "This is insane."

"Welcome to your new life, kid," Luxy said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Now, you gonna sit here moping, or are you ready to start leveling up?"

Ren's eyes glinted, that predatory look from earlier returning. "Leveling up, huh? Fine. Let's see what this 'Heartsteal' can do."

Luxy grinned, despite herself. "That's the spirit. Just don't get cocky. You're Level 1, and the goddess isn't exactly playing nice. She might notice your development and start to distrub you."

As the library's silence enveloped them, Ren felt a strange thrill coursing through him. The rumors, the stares, the betrayal—they didn't matter. Not anymore. He had a power, a purpose, and a celestial pain-in-the-neck to guide him. For the first time since the incident, he felt alive.

"Alright, Luxy," he said, standing up. "Let's get to work."