The Allesta Village Primary Academy stood before them—a modest but sturdy building made of local timber and weathered stone. It didn't have the spires of a royal palace, but it was the heart of the village's mana-training. For most kids in the area, this was where life began. For Haruto, it was the first stage of a very long game.
As they stood at the entrance, the three Goddesses—who had seen the birth of stars—were suddenly gripped by a strange, human nervousness. They clutched their entry forms like they were holding live grenades. To them, the simple act of "registering" felt like an impossible trial.
"Why is my heart racing?" Lustra whispered, her fingers trembling against the parchment.
"It's just a school."
"It's the scrutiny," Ivory muttered, adjusting her hair.
"Being Level 6 is much harder than being Level 99. You have to act... normal."
But when they turned to look at Haruto, they were stunned. The boy who had spent the entire morning acting like school was a death sentence was now standing tall, his eyes darting around with genuine, restless excitement. He looked like a player who had just found a hidden map.
"Hold on," Bellona whispered, nudging Ivory.
"Didn't he just say he'd rather 'delete' a school than attend one?"
"Look at him," Lustra huffed, a playful pout on her lips.
"He's practically glowing with excitement. I knew it! Are all men like this? They complain and act all 'dark and broody' just for attention, but the moment they get to the playground, they turn into children."
"I had my suspicions from the start," Ivory added, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"He was just acting tough in the room."
Haruto heard the whispering and caught their mocking glances. His face turned a quick shade of red as he realized he'd been caught enjoying himself.
"Hey! Stop that back there!" Haruto snapped, trying to regain his cool, serious tone.
I'm just... analyzing the environment. Stop talking and pay attention to the mission!"
He turned his back on them quickly and marched toward the gate, his steps a little too fast. Behind him, the three Goddesses shared a soft, knowing laugh. Their "Master" wasn't nearly as bored as he pretended to be.
"Yes," they replied in playful unison, following him with adoring smiles.
Haruto stepped onto the school grounds, his three divine partners close behind him. The shut-in life of the past was truly gone. The Star-Child had arrived at the Allesta Primary Academy, and the village didn't know what was about to hit it.
But when they turned to look past the rustic timber gates, the "modest" illusion shattered instantly. The interior of the Allesta Academy wasn't made of wood or stone—it was constructed of Silver and Pulsing Mana-Glass.
Floors hovered over glowing blue circuits, and the air was filled with the hum of high-density data streams. Floating "Knowledge-Orbs" drifted through the hallways like silent drones, and students weren't carrying books—they were interacting with 3D Holographic HUDs that displayed their mana-frequency in real-time.
(Haruto's Inner Thoughts:)Are you kidding me? From the outside, this place looked like a low-budget RPG village school. But the interior... This is a high-spec server room disguised as a barn. It's like someone took a medieval script and overclocked it with futuristic hardware.
Everywhere Haruto looked, students moved in groups, clad in the striking school uniform: shirts with bold red and black stripes paired with sharp, pitch-black pants. The sight of so many people gathered in one place usually would have annoyed him, but his mind was currently locked onto a single objective—securing that entry.
(Haruto's Inner Thoughts:) I see. The rustic exterior is just a 'Firewall' to keep the commoners out. Inside, everything is processed in 4K resolution. These 'High-Res' students think they're the main characters just because they have fancy HUDs. They have no idea a 'System Virus' just walked through the front door.
However, as Haruto scanned the crowd, his gamer-instincts picked up a repeating pattern. On the left chest of every student's blazer, there were two or three distinct silver badges—the mark of the Second-Year or third year students.
Haruto stopped and turned toward the three Goddesses, his eyes scanning the hallway.
"Alright, tell me. How does this work? Do I have to kill something? A combat test? Or maybe a magic display that breaks the floor?"
Ivory stepped forward, adjusting her posture. This was her territory—the realm of information.
"Haruto, the Allesta Village Academy follows a very specific law. This place was built specifically for newcomers. Because of that, they even accept Level 1 applicants. There is no trial by fire here. We simply register our names in the main office, and the gates of education swing open."
The light in Haruto's eyes died instantly. His shoulders slumped as his excitement evaporated.
"So... No monsters? No boss fight at the door? Just paperwork?"
"Yup..... Just paperwork," Ivory confirmed with a slight, sympathetic smile.
"What a drag," Haruto muttered with a dull sense of acceptance.
"Fine. Let's get this over with."
They walked into the main office, where a young receptionist sat behind a polished wooden desk. She looked up, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of the sharp-dressed boy and the three stunning girls behind him.
"Hello, Travelers," the receptionist said, her voice professional but curious.
"Are you here for admission, or is there some other business the Academy can help you with?"
Haruto stepped forward, his voice flat.
"Actually, Ma'am, we'd like to enroll."
The receptionist adjusted her glasses, her gaze drifting from Haruto to the three Goddesses. She pulled out four thick parchment forms and a glowing crystal inkwell.
"I see," the receptionist replied, her tone turning slightly cautious.
"Admission is open to all, but keep in mind that the fees for 'Late-Entry High-Potential' candidates are a bit different. Before we proceed, I'll need you to place your hand on the ledger so it can record your current Level and Class."
She slid the book toward Haruto.
"Fine. How do you want the entry fees paid?" Haruto asked.
The receptionist looked at him with a polite, but somewhat condescending smile.
"The fee is quite substantial for a primary institution. Are you sure you're in the right place, young man?"
She leaned forward, adjusting her glasses. "Are your parents on their way to settle the bill? Or perhaps they've already transferred the credits to your student ID? We don't usually accept 'allowance' money for admissions.
(Haruto's Inner Thoughts:)Parents? Allowance? She's treating me like a 'poor' who's still in the tutorial phase.
Haruto hesitated for a split second, then remembered the balance in his mental ledger. Even after the luxury of the hotel, he still had 998 G-Credits left.
"Do you accept G-Credits for enrollment?"
The receptionist actually let out a small, mocking giggle.
"G-Credits? Dear, what is your current level?"
"I'm Level 1," Haruto replied flatly.
The receptionist adjusted her glasses, looking past him at the girls.
"I see. Are your parents high-ranking adventurers? G-Credits are indeed legal tender here, unless it belongs to the family. We don't usually see such... 'donations' at this level."
Haruto's expression darkened. He was tired of people bringing up parents he didn't have and a past that didn't exist here.
"My parents aren't coming to pay for me. I'm the one making the payment. If the school takes the credits, take them. If not, tell me now so I can leave."
The receptionist flinched. The cold, sharp authority in Haruto's voice felt like a physical weight. She suddenly felt a chill down her spine and her condescending attitude vanished.
"O-of course. Please, place your hand on this Credit Stone."
She placed a dull red stone on the counter. Haruto didn't hesitate; he slammed his hand onto the surface.
Instantly, the room was flooded with light. The red stone began to hum, shifting its molecular structure until it turned a brilliant, shining Platinum. Floating above the stone, glowing gold text appeared for everyone in the office to see:
[TRANSACTION : PENDING]
[BALANCE: G-CREDITS 998 REMAINING]
The receptionist sat frozen, her jaw literally dropping. She looked at the platinum glow—a color usually reserved for kings and legendary heroes—and then back at Haruto.
"Are you... are you sure you are only Level 1?" she whispered, her voice trembling with genuine shock and a hint of fear.
Behind Haruto, the three Goddesses began to whisper among themselves again.
"I knew it," Ivory sighed, shaking her head.
"His luck and wealth always cause a scene."
"This man literally cannot stop showing off," Lustra added with a pout.
"Does he actually enjoy doing this?" Bellona wondered.
Haruto shot them a sharp, deadly look over his shoulder. The three of them went silent instantly, looking like scolded kittens.
"Listen, you three," Haruto muttered.
"I'm paying the fees for all of you, so show some respect and behave."
The Goddesses looked at him, realizing their plan to escape was failing.
"Haruto," they said in a desperate, last-ditch effort.
"You really don't need to pay for us. We would be perfectly happy if we just... skipped school and waited for you!"
Haruto glared at them, then let out a sharp, dry laugh.
"No chance. Stay quiet and finish the registration."
The receptionist, now treating Haruto like a visiting prince, scrambled to finish the paperwork.
The receptionist remained frozen, her mind struggling to process the sheer impossibility of the situation. One moment, she was looking at a Level 1 boy the next, she was staring at a Platinum-grade credit balance that could buy half the village.
"So," Haruto said, his voice cutting through her daze like a knife.
"Are we getting in, or what?"
The receptionist practically jumped out of her chair, bowing low.
"Yes! Yes, of course, Sir! Right away! How many applicants in total?"
Haruto adjusted his collar, looking around the room with a sense of bored authority.
"Four of us. Register Haruto, Ivory, Lustra, and Bellona."
"Understood!" she chirped, her fingers flying across the ledger.
"Based on the G-Credit exchange, the fee is 5 G-credits per person. That will be a total of 20 G-Credits."
Haruto leaned back, his hand hovering over the scanner.
(Haruto's Inner Thoughts:)20 G-Credits? For four people? For a whole year? This school's 'Subscription Fee' is a joke. If I were paying in standard credits, this would be at least 50,000 per person—200,000 total. But in G-Credits... it's like buying a couple of low-level potions.
He swiped his hand, and the 20 G-Credits vanished from his account and reappeared in her private ledger. The receptionist let out a small, strangled gasp, her eyes wide as she stared at the confirmation.
As the payment was processed, she looked up and gestured toward them.
"Now, if you could please show your HUD's for the official record? The system needs a clear visual and mana-scan."
Haruto didn't even flinch. Ivory had already woven her Reality Magic around them, masking their divine presence. As they lowered their HUD's, revealing their striking features, the receptionist's breath hitched. She checked her mana-meter and her eyes widened further.
"My goodness," she whispered.
"All three of your companions are already Level 6. For first-year starters, that is exceptionally high! You'll likely be the top student in the introductory track."
She continued the entry, her pen scratching against the parchment, until she reached Haruto's profile. Suddenly, her hand stopped. Her face went pale, and her eyes nearly popped out behind her glasses.
"Star... Child?" she stammered, looking at the 'Title' section of Haruto's file.
"What is this? Sir, how did you get this title? I have never seen this in the system before. It... it feels wrong."
Haruto felt a cold sweat prickle his neck. He hadn't expected the system to display his unique status so openly.
"Oh, that?" he said, his voice quickening as he scrambled for an excuse.
"It's, uh... it's a curse. I once made a joke about the stars during a lunar eclipse back home, and a local priest gave me that title as a mark of shame. It doesn't mean anything."
The receptionist looked at him, her expression shifting from shock to a deep, soulful pity.
"A curse? Oh, you poor boy. You shouldn't joke about such things. In our ancient legends, the Star-Child is a legendary being—the only one of its kind, destined to appear only once. To have such a sacred name used as a mark of shame... that is a heavy burden to carry."
She sighed, clearly believing his lie.
"I don't know if the legends are true, but if you received this as a curse, I truly feel sorry for you."
Haruto let out a breath he didn't know what he was holding. 'Saved by a misunderstanding,' he thought.
Haruto leaned against the counter, his eyes scanning the four stacks.
"One more thing," he said, his voice dropping to a low, commanding drawl.
"I want all four of us in the same class. No exceptions."
The receptionist paused, her fingers hovering over the holographic keyboard.
"Sir, the system sorts students by mana-density. These three ladies are Level 6; they are automatically assigned to Class A, the Elite Track. But you... being Level 1... you are technically slated for Class D, the Foundation Track."
She looked around cautiously, then leaned in closer, her voice barely a whisper.
"However... The system has 'maintenance' fees. If a student were to contribute, say, an extra 10 G-Credits, adjusting the seating chart for Class A wouldn't be impossible."
Haruto didn't even blink. To a guy who had just spent 2 G Credits on a bed, 10 G credits was like a rounding error in a corrupt file.
(Haruto's Inner Thoughts:)Wait... Let me get this straight. The annual tuition fee for one student is 5 G-Credits. This woman is asking for 10 G-Credits just to move my seat. That means the price of 'bypassing the rules' is equivalent to the entire yearly tuition of two students.
"Bribing the authority... I like the script," Haruto muttered with a dark, knowing smirk.
"Here. Take the credits," Haruto said, his voice flat and bored as he reached for the glowing Mana-Crystal Scanner on the reception desk.
"Haruto, wait!" Ivory hissed, grabbing his sleeve, her eyes wide with concern.
"This is a prestigious Academy. You can't just... bypass the sorting algorithm with money. It's a violation of the World-System's integrity!"
Haruto didn't even look back. He just watched the blue light of the scanner reflect in his eyes.
"Listen, Ivory," he muttered, his voice dropping into a cold, jagged drawl.
"Whether it's the Void or a high-tech school, the rules of the game are always the same. It's Pay-to-Win. If the system has a 'Premium' shortcut, I'm taking it. I don't have the patience to sit in Class D with the tutorials."
Just as he was about to swipe his hand across the official Academy crystal, the receptionist's hand shot out, covering the sensor.
"No, not that one, Sir," she whispered, her eyes darting nervously toward the other staff members in the lobby. She reached under the counter and pulled out a small, black-market mana-crystal—a private device that wasn't linked to the school's main server.
"The official crystal logs everything for the Board of Directors," she breathed, leaning in so close Haruto could smell the artificial perfume.
"If you want that 'Premium' seat in Class A, I need these points transferred directly to my private administrative account. No trail. No questions. Just a 'clerical error' that puts a Level 1 in the Elite bracket."
Haruto let out a dry, metallic laugh, his smirk widening.
(Haruto's Inner Thoughts:)Even the 'Holy Academy' has a back-door exploit. This world isn't just a game; it's a corrupt one. And in a corrupt game, the one with the most credits is the Admin.
"Fine by me," Haruto said, swiping his hand across her private tablet instead.
"Consider it a 'donation'."
"Thank you, Sir. I've processed the 'donation' into my... personal administrative account. You and your party are now officially registered for Class A. Consider it a 'Premium' entry."
Haruto straightened his collar.
(Haruto's Inner Thoughts:)Money is the ultimate cheat code in any game. Class A is where the 'Boss Files' are. If I'm going to harvest Fear, I might as well start with the richest targets in the building.
The receptionist finished the paperwork and placed four neat stacks on the counter. On top of each stack was the Academy uniform—the bold red and black striped shirt and the stark black pants—along with a set of introductory magic and history books.
"Here are your materials," she said, now speaking with the utmost respect.
"Welcome to Allesta Primary. Your first class begins tomorrow."
The receptionist's words echoed in Haruto's mind as they finally stepped out of the high-tech fortress. The journey back to the Royal Suite was grueling; the Academy was located on the far edge of the district, and by the time they reached their door, the three moons of Allesta had already climbed high into the obsidian sky. Night had fallen, and the cold air of the village felt heavy with the day's tension.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Haruto turned to Ivory, his expression tight.
"Ivory, you told me you could rewrite this. Why didn't you hide my title? That 'Star-Child' tag almost blew our cover before we even started."
Ivory looked down, her silver hair shimmering under the chandelier light.
"I tried, Haruto. Believe me, I tried. But that title... it isn't just a status. It is a mark directly from Arteritis himself. It is woven into the very fabric of your soul. My magic is powerful, but even I cannot touch a single thread of a blessing from the God of creation"
Haruto sighed, rubbing his temples. He didn't push her further; he knew she was telling the truth.
"Fine. It can't be helped. I'm exhausted. If I have to start this 'school life' tomorrow, I need to sleep."
He looked at the massive, luxurious bed in one of the rooms, then looked at the three of them.
"Take the bed," he said simply.
"All three of you."
The Goddesses froze, completely stunned.
"What?" Lustra stammered.
"But... we are prepared to sleep on the floor, Haruto. If you command it, we wouldn't complain for a second."
"I told you already," Haruto said, his voice soft but firm.
"I don't leave my family on the floor. I'm the one responsible for you. If you're tired or uncomfortable, that's a failure on my part. Now, get on the bed."
Hearing those words, a wave of guilt washed over the three Goddesses. They remembered the night before—how they had used their charms and tricks to manipulate him into staying. Seeing his genuine care for them made their hearts ache with a mixture of shame and deep affection.
They looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between them. They bowed their heads in unison, their faces glowing with a soft, bashful warmth.
"No, Haruto," Bellona said, her voice unusually gentle.
"We won't let you sleep away from us. If we are family, then we share everything—including the rest we need."
Ivory stepped forward, taking his hand.
"Please, Haruto. Come to bed with us. We want to be by your side, not just as your shields, but as your companions."
Haruto looked at their determined faces and realized there was no winning this argument. With a tired shrug and a small smirk, he climbed onto the massive bed.
Haruto was beyond exhausted. The long walk, the system-bribes, and the mental strain of being a 'Level 1 Virus' had drained his battery to zero. He collapsed onto the massive, cloud-like bed, not even bothering to change out of his travel gear.
(Haruto's Inner Thoughts:)So this is what it feels like... My whole life, I slept on a thin mattress in a cramped room, staring at a flickering monitor. But this? This bed feels like it's made of captured clouds. It's so soft, so 'High-Resolution,' it almost feels like I'm sinking into the world's source code. Finally... silence. No more 'Zenith Moons' or 'G-Credit' talk. Just me and this high-resolution mattress. I'm just going to... shut down...
He drifted off almost instantly. But a few minutes later, the faint sound of the bathroom door sliding open reached his subconscious. One by one, the three Goddesses emerged, having finished their divine baths. They weren't in their normal clothes anymore—they were clad in soft, silk night gowns provided by the Royal Suite.
As they settled onto the bed around him, the atmosphere shifted. Haruto, half-asleep, felt the mattress dip. Suddenly, a wave of fragrance hit him—not the metallic scent of magic or the dust of the road, but the intoxicating, fresh scent of Celestial Jasmine and Alpine Lilies lingering on their damp skin.
(Haruto's Inner Thoughts:)What... is this? The air just got... heavy. It's too warm. And the smell... It's like someone just overclocked a flower garden. Is this a new type of Mana-Attack?
He felt a soft warmth press against his left side, and another on his right. The scent was overwhelming now—clean, fresh, and dangerously sweet. Even in his deep sleep, Haruto felt a strange heat rising to his cheeks, a faint blush that he couldn't suppress.
(Haruto's Inner Thoughts:)Maybe... just for tonight... I can stop being a star child and just be a boy who finally found a safe zone.
Within minutes, his breathing slowed into the deep, steady rhythm of sleep.
But for the three Goddesses, sleep was an impossible dream.
As they lay there on the massive bed, flanking the sleeping Star-Child, the silence of the room was filled only by the thundering of their own hearts. Every time Haruto shifted in his sleep or his hand brushed against the silk sheets, a fresh wave of crimson washed over their faces.
'How can he just... sleep?' Lustra thought, her golden eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. Her face was so hot she felt like her own elemental fire was backfiring. 'He called us family. He said he was responsible for our happiness...'
Bellona, the stoic warrior who had faced armies without blinking, was gripping the edge of her pillow so hard the fabric was straining. Her usual discipline had completely crumbled. 'A family...' she repeated mentally, her heart skipping a beat every time she caught the scent of him. 'I am supposed to protect him, yet he is the one making sure I have a comfortable bed.'
Ivory lay on his other side, her silver hair fanned out across the mattress. As the Goddess of Intelligence, she tried to rationalize the feeling, but no logic could explain the fluttering in her stomach. Every time she looked at his peaceful, sleeping face, her blush deepened until she felt like she was glowing in the dark.
The night stretched on. While Haruto drifted through dreams of deleting boring files and surviving school, his three "Level 6" bodyguards spent the entire night in a state of total, blushing panic.
By the time the first rays of the Allesta sun peeked through the curtains, the three Goddesses had not slept a single wink. They were divine beings, yes—but they were currently no match for the simple, honest words of a Level 1 boy.