Transmigrated As The Villainess' Boyfriend With A... SSS Harem System?

"Theren," Cordevan said, and for the first time his voice lost its dryness. "You were not summoned."

"I don't need a summons. Or have we forgotten who the official Empero professor of this academy is? It's the highest rank after the headmaster, as far as I know."

The silence was absolute. Even Vauxol stopped smiling.

Theren stood up. He walked toward the center. His bare feet made no sound on the stone.

"I was chatting with the walls of a certain room..." He stopped beside me. "They told me that a certain professor gave a lethal test to a certain student whose house is somewhat... irrelevant." He turned toward Vauxol. "A shrinking cage. A suffocating fog forest located somewhere in the world..."

Vauxol adjusted his uniform sleeve.

"If you all have such a problem with this boy," Theren continued, his voice sounding like someone about to laugh, "leave him to me as my personal pupil."

Wilda opened her mouth to object, but then closed it.

"Theren, you can't simply..." Cordevan began.

"I like those who are willing to break the foundations of this society." Theren smiled. A smile so wide it wrinkled his eyes. "Mayorka has told me a few things about him."

No one spoke.

Although he was the Bookforger and official Empero professor, Theren Valdris was an eccentric man. Opposing him was ill-advised, because doing so...

"You can't simply..."

"What are my ears hearing? A no from the commander of the Empero Knights and Ladies?"

"Theren, things must be decided by vote. The majority vote will determine the verdict."

"Why don't we do it the old-fashioned way? You and me in Mayorka's tournament arena, Gaeldor. The winner decides this."

Wilda stood up from her seat, pointing her ruler at Theren.

"That's illegal!"

"Actually..." Cordevan added, "it isn't. It's a combat where participants put themselves on trial before the three gods. It remains valid within Earolden's laws."

"I refuse..."

"The Judgment of the Three Gods cannot be refused," Theren said. "If you are denying my authority in this academy, then I must show why I am the official Empero professor."

Vauxol raised a hand and said:

"A student has just died. It would be the height of absurdity if we now fought amongst ourselves. In the headmaster's absence, Theren is the highest figure of authority at Mayorka. Raise your hand if you agree with his verdict."

The majority raised their hands. However, some professors — Duralianne, Wilda, and Cordevan — showed their disagreement, but in the end everyone raised theirs.

"Very well, all hands raised," Vauxol continued. "Unanimous vote. Then it is recorded. Dariel Elcronne is placed under the tutelage of Bookforger Theren Valdris."

"Do you know what that means, Theren?" Cordevan said. "If this boy gets into serious trouble, you will be responsible. You could lose your positions."

"Titles given by others matter little to me."

Theren turned toward me. His Empero sliding across my skin.

He leaned in. His mouth reached my ear.

"I can help you reach Level Two Empero Sequencing. There are four levels in total. You already know when, where, and how to come to me, boy."

He straightened up. He walked toward the enormous door of the Empero Council's chamber.

And he left, closing the chamber door with his own Empero.

Standing in the center of the room, I remained. Twelve pairs of eyes still on me. Some with surprise. Others with fear. However, now there were others with something worse: interest.

Duralianne was the first to stand. She passed by me without looking.

"Congratulations, sweetness," she whispered. "You've just ruined my day by making that disgrace Theren show up. Now you have the most unpredictable Bookforger in Earolden as your tutor. I hope you survive."

Leaving the chamber, still incredulous at the idea of having gone unpunished, I headed toward the infirmary. Although Lianza couldn't stand my presence and was upset with me, I had to go see how she was doing.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ ☆ ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

The entire way to the infirmary, Duralianne's last words echoed in my head. 'I hope you survive.' What did she mean by that?

Turning the corner, the east wing hallways of Mayorka were empty. It was lunchtime, so all the students were in the north dining hall or in one of the gardens enjoying their meals while chatting.

"Hi, Dariel."

Recognizing the voice immediately, I turned.

Layda.

Taking a defensive stance, I retreated a couple of steps.

"Relax. I'm not going to do anything. I just came to give you some news."

"What news?"

Layda turned toward the hallway window. The day looked cloudy, dim.

"How about we take a walk?"

"I'd rather not. I need to go see Lianza."

"Bah," she said, waving her palm to brush it off. "She'll be fine."

"I still refuse."

"Come on, Dariel Elcronne. I don't bite... well, not too hard."

"Layda, a few days ago you tried to kill me. How do you expect me to trust someone like you?"

"You don't have to trust me. And don't worry, I don't trust you either. I still don't know exactly what you are, and that worries me. You're an anomaly I can't explain."

What she meant eluded me, but I also saw Layda Alaranne as an anomaly. She was very different from the Layda of the original web novel. Too different. Her fake smile and that tender gaze hiding eyes that had seen too much. Besides, always taking notes in her diary. She was very strange.

Layda took the first steps.

"Come."

I cursed.

[I think you should follow her, Romeo. 🤔]

Are you going to force me too?

[The news she's going to give you will be a major turning point.]

As if what happened at the Welcome Ball, Dayne's death, and my recent trial hadn't been...

[Well... you leave me no choice...]

[New mission available!: Follow the beautiful heroine Layda Alaranne and have a deep conversation about yourselves. If you make her blush, you'll get a reward.]

What's my punishment if I fail this time?

[I hate having my fun ruined and you did that by failing my last mission. I missed Lianza's and Valdris's jealousy. So now missions will be harder and punishments more severe. Before, I wanted to make it easy for you like any protagonist of any harem novel, but you decided to rebel against me. Consider this a difficulty level up. 😊]

What difficulty is there in walking beside Layd...? No, wait. You're right. That girl tried to kill me the last time we were alone.

I still don't understand why you put my fidelity toward Lianza to the test. We both know I would never betray her.

[That remains to be seen... We both know this novel has barely just begun, Romeo. I can already see you with your own harem of princesses from all the kingdoms. 🤭]

[Penalty for failure: your beloved Lianza will contract infections that will threaten her life.]

Damn it.

Setting off after Layda, I hoped not to die this time.