LycoReco Café
"Oops—come on, come on!"
Walnut's fingers danced across the keyboard, eyes sparkling as she worked.
She was currently carrying out a major task personally assigned by Yami Tsukishiro.
Chisato leaned in curiously, watching the screen… and after a moment, her expression twisted.
"Mizuki… are you sure this is okay?"
Mizuki sipped her coffee leisurely, clicked the mouse like she was playing Minesweeper, and replied without a care in the world:
"What could possibly be wrong?"
"How is there no problem?!"
Chisato pointed at the list Walnut had selected, her expression full of baffled disbelief.
"Walnut only picked girls!"
Yes—Walnut's job was to choose entrance-exam candidates and schedule the testing times.
But she had selected only girls.
Every single boy had been eliminated without hesitation.
"Maybe Walnut wanted to separate men and women first…?"
Takina tried to reason it out, though she sounded unsure.
But Walnut clicked her tongue and snapped back immediately:
"Tsk, you're all wrong. I only want girls."
"Ah… this…"
Takina was completely lost.
Mizuki put down her cup, a small smile curling on her lips.
"Haha, this is Yami-kun thinking about us."
"What do you mean?"
Chisato remained confused.
"Because we're also going to enroll," Mizuki explained casually. "To protect our privacy, Yami-kun specifically asked that only girls be chosen."
At first glance, the explanation sounded perfectly reasonable.
Very considerate.
Very noble.
Very… not-suspicious.
But the longer you thought about it…
Chisato's eyes widened.
"Mizuki, are you sure he's thinking about our privacy… and not building himself a harem?"
"H-harem…?!"
Takina stiffened instantly.
When she thought about it… it actually made sense.
"Wow… Yami's finally showing his ambitions…"
Chisato's eyes sparkled as she began imagining all kinds of questionable animations.
Recently, she'd been secretly studying… "materials."
Different genres.
Different postures.
Pure love, minotaurs, chaos, group activities—
Takina didn't even bother arguing anymore.
She was too speechless to form words.
Everyone else was joking.
Only Chisato was taking it like a soldier preparing to be deployed onto the battlefield.
Without saying a word, Walnut shoved a lollipop into Chisato's mouth, blocking her nonstop rambling.
"Shut it. Don't make noise beside me. I need to focus!"
"Mmmff…"
With her mouth sealed, Chisato could only make vague sounds.
Takina leaned in and asked softly:
"So… where is the Potential Academy?"
Mizuki rotated the computer screen toward them.
A brand-new, gorgeous academy appeared—surrounded not by city streets but by the beach and a vast ocean.
"Eh? Maritime…?"
Takina was stunned.
She never imagined that Potential Academy was built on the sea.
"To be precise," Mizuki corrected, "it's a massive island."
"But… who would build a school on an island?"
Takina asked, bewildered.
Mizuki's expression twitched slightly.
She answered with two simple words:
"Yami Tsukishiro."
"Eh? Did he plan this way beforehand?"
Takina could only assume that Yami had this idea long ago.
It wasn't possible to build a floating island academy in a short time…
But Mizuki shook her head.
"No. This island was given to Yami Tsukishiro by the allied nations—this morning."
"Everything in this academy—every tree, every building—was created by him today."
"..."
Even Walnut, normally carefree, froze mid-click.
Three pairs of eyes stared at Mizuki like she'd just claimed Yami created the moon.
Almost as if their eyes were saying: "Are you sure you're not reading us a fantasy novel?"
Mizuki sighed.
"I knew you wouldn't believe it even if I told you…"
Honestly, even she wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't received Yami's message directly.
Yami didn't just command millions of shadow soldiers.
He could also use his power to build an entire academy on a gigantic island—in half a day.
It was absurd.
Unbelievable.
Ridiculous.
And yet… absolutely true.
Chisato slowly raised her hand, another concern popping into her head.
"So… when are we going to Potential Academy?"
Mizuki answered:
"There will be the first batch of entrance exams in three days."
--
Three days later.
The entrance test for Potential Academy arrived as promised.
One thousand teenage girls—each of them having received the invitation—gathered like starlight converging on the most prosperous square in the city.
Potential Academy didn't charge tuition.
And the word "superpower" carried limitless temptation.
Applications flooded in from all over the world.
But Walnut's screening only approved one thousand candidates per batch.
What Yami valued wasn't numbers.
It was potential—and quality.
Naturally, their arrival drew massive attention.
The moment the press caught wind of the event, reporters charged in like bloodhounds with hyper-sensitive noses, desperate to witness the appearance of the man known as the world's most powerful superpower.
Meanwhile, the girls themselves were full of confusion.
Weren't we going to the Academy? So why are we in a public plaza?
The crowd grew and grew—until suddenly…
A massive shadow rose in front of everyone's eyes.
Like a towering jet-black monolith, a gigantic black door—tens of meters tall—stood suspended in midair.
Its surface rippled like a swirling vortex of darkness, an eddy of pure shadow that made the crowd instinctively step back in fear.
"What—WHAT IS THAT?! Isn't that an evil spirit?!"
"Oh my god, run! My neighbor was attacked by an evil spirit the other day!"
"Wait, isn't it scientifically proven evil spirits only appear at night?!"
Panic rippled through the square as everyone pointed, trembling, at the shadowy door.
Then—
A calm voice echoed from within the darkness:
"All individuals whose chests are shining—enter the Shadow Gate and proceed to Potential Academy."
Instant silence.
"Eh?"
Most of the girls barely had time to react.
Among the thousand candidates, only a portion suddenly found blue lights glowing at their chests—soft and flickering like tiny fireflies in a sea of people.
Yami Tsukishiro observed quietly.
Most girls showed no genetic lock, or only F-level or E-level.
Very few had locks above D-level.
Even one tenth showing potential above D was already impressive.
This first round of screening was simple:
Only girls with at least a D-level Meme Gene Lock qualified.
More than ninety percent were destined to be eliminated.
"Am I… chosen?!"
The hundred or so selected girls trembled with excitement.
Their hearts pounded wildly.
Many were noble daughters burdened with their family's expectations.
Being chosen meant completing their mission.
How could they not feel ecstatic?
But none dared to move recklessly.
No one wanted to be the first to step into the dark, bottomless-looking gate.
Everyone hesitated.
Everyone waited for someone—anyone—to take the first step.
"…Haa."
A soft sigh came from behind the crowd.
Shinomiya Kaguya.
Her cool brows tightened slightly as her calm, frosty voice cut through the tension like a blade:
"If you're not entering… then step aside."
"Eh?"
The crowd instantly turned toward her.
A few people from wealthy families recognized her immediately and cleared a path without hesitation.
Shinomiya Kaguya walked forward with the elegance of a cold, untouchable fairy.
Hayasaka Ai followed quietly behind her.
The blue light glowed on their chests—like keys to a mysterious world.
Everyone held their breath, desperate to see what would happen when they entered the gate.
In the crowd, a red-haired woman stared at her own unlit chest, her expression dark enough to drip ink.
She was Marikawa, eldest daughter of the prestigious Marikawa Nation's main branch.
She had always received everything she wanted.
But now?
Now she could only watch others bask in the glow she lacked.
Her thoughts burned with frustration:
Damn it… why don't I have one?!
Marikawa's heart twisted with unwillingness.
And then—when Shinomiya Kaguya paused before stepping into the Shadow Gate—
Marikawa's eyes flashed with cunning.
She glanced around sharply.
Her gaze locked onto the group of reporters.
Then, raising her hand dramatically, she shouted:
"WAIT!"
Shinomiya Kaguya stopped and turned her head slightly.
All eyes shifted toward Marikawa.
Marikawa stepped forward, fury twisting her voice as she pointed accusingly at the Shadow Gate.
"I want to report this! That so-called strongest superpower user is nothing but a gangster! A pervert! A complete degenerate!"
Those words crashed into the peaceful atmosphere like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake—sending shockwaves across the entire square.
"Hey, hey, what is this woman even talking about?"
"Is she out of her mind?"
"Wait… let's at least hear what she wants to say."
Seeing the ripple of reactions, Marikawa's expression flickered with smug satisfaction.
"Haven't you noticed?" she raised her voice dramatically. "When he established Potential Academy—why did he only recruit women?! There must be dirty, ulterior motives behind it!"
"He's obviously trying to use his position to do shameful things!"
Her words struck the crowd like sparks in dry grass.
"W-well… they are all women…"
"Does he really have those kinds of thoughts?"
Those who weren't chosen and those already resentful found themselves nodding along despite themselves. The facts—at least on the surface—seemed to support her narrative.
Shinomiya Kaguya narrowed her eyes slightly, a faint, nearly invisible smile appearing at the corner of her lips.
She had heard about the Marikawa family.
Hehe… I almost feel bad for them.
In that instant, she seemed to see the entire Marikawa lineage collapsing in the near future.
[You make a lot of sense]
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Crisp applause echoed through the air.
Yami stepped out of the Shadow Gate slowly.
His appearance was like a radiant spotlight snapping onto the stage—instantly drawing every pair of eyes.
His face was handsome.
His presence overwhelming.
Yet at this moment, all anyone cared about was—
How would he respond?
A reporter lifted a camera instinctively… only for it to shatter into dust in his hands.
"W-What—?!"
"Snort! Don't you think you owe us an explanation?"
Marikawa stood with her hands on her hips, backed by the murmurs of the crowd.
She didn't believe Yami would dare touch her under so many eyes.
Yami looked at her with an expression as calm and cold as winter water.
"To be honest… didn't your family tell you who you should and shouldn't anger before they sent you here?"
"Eh…?"
Her heart jolted violently.
Someone in her family had mentioned something.
But she dismissed it without a second thought.
Besides—she was standing on the moral high ground now.
Who could do anything to her?
"—!!! What is this?!"
Her scream cut through the air.
The shadow beneath her feet rippled… like a bottomless pool awakening.
Dozens of black hands emerged, crawling up her legs like cold, invasive insects.
"AHH! GET AWAY FROM ME!!!"
She tried to jump back, but the shadows clamped down relentlessly, pulling her downward inch by inch.
More hands rose—grabbing her arms, her waist, even yanking her hair so hard her face twisted hideously.
"Ahhhhhh! No! Let me go!"
Only now did she understand—
Yami Tsukishiro was the one doing this.
She reached out toward him, desperate, trembling, eyes filled with terror—
But a shadow hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her instantly.
Her raised arm was yanked down mercilessly.
Everyone's heartbeat pounded in their ears.
Marikawa's bloodshot eyes bulged with panic as she was dragged deeper and deeper—
until her entire body disappeared into the pitch-black abyss.
Gone.
Without a sound.
Without a trace.
A living human being… erased by shadow right in front of them.
The entire square froze.
Shinomiya Kaguya glanced sideways at Yami.
From beginning to end—
his expression didn't change.
His cold gaze swept across the crowd like invisible claws gripping their throats—
making it impossible to breathe.
His voice was icy, quiet, but filled with a suffocating aura of death:
"Don't test my bottom line. I'm not a kind-hearted hero. If you anger me—even the Alliance can't save you."
"Recruiting female students is my decision.
Whether you choose to come or not… is your business."
Leaving those chilling words behind, Yami turned and stepped back into the Shadow Gate like a silent ghost.
Oh, even if the Alliance placed every nuclear bomb in the world before him—
he wouldn't bother explaining a single sentence.
Public opinion meant nothing.
Accusations meant nothing.
People who talked trash?
He could kill them.
So what?
He invaded the world openly—
why would he care about this petty noise?
He only wished the clowns in this world would gain a bit of self-awareness.
The moment he disappeared, the crushing pressure lifted.
Everyone finally exhaled, their lungs burning as they sucked in air.
"..."
Gulp.
The plaza remained frozen, silent except for the faint sound of people swallowing.
A person had died.
Not just died—
devoured by shadows.
Without even a corpse remaining.
And the murderer?
The world's strongest superpower.
Some tried to scream…
but Yami's lingering presence stole their voices.
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