The hallway, usually a cacophony of slamming lockers and teenage gossip, fell into a vacuum of silence.
The "shoulder brush" hadn't been an accident. In the old timeline, Reth would have apologized profusely if he so much as grazed Mark's expensive blazer. He would have bowed his head and scurried away like a frightened rat.
But this time, Mark Sterling—the JV star, the boy whose future seemed carved in gold—actually stumbled. His heel caught on the linoleum, and he had to throw a hand out against a locker to steady himself.
The sound of his palm hitting the metal rang out like a gunshot.
[System Notification: Host has physically unsettled a 'High-Tier' Social Target.]
[Reward: +$10]
[Current Balance: $20]
"Reth!" Sarah's voice was shrill, breaking the silence. "What is wrong with you? Apologize to Mark right now!"
Reth didn't stop. He didn't even turn his head. He continued walking toward his locker, #412, his pace steady and his back straight. He could feel Sarah's eyes—the eyes he used to worship—burning with a mix of confusion and rising anger.
"Hey! Anchor! I'm talking to you, you little prick!"
Mark's voice was low and shaking with pure, unadulterated rage. He regained his balance and began stalking after Reth, his heavy footsteps echoing with a threatening rhythm.
Reth reached his locker and dialed the combination with a calm, practiced ease.
Clack. The door swung open.
"I know you heard me," Mark growled, stopping just inches behind Reth. The smell of expensive cologne and a faint, lingering scent of tobacco wafted off him.
Reth slowly turned around. He didn't look up at Mark with fear; he looked at him with the clinical boredom of a man looking at a corpse.
[Skill Activated: Truth Eye]
[Target: Mark Sterling]
[Aggression Level: 85%]
[Current Thought: 'I'm going to break his teeth in front of everyone. He needs to remember his place.']
"I heard you, Mark," Reth said, his voice terrifyingly level. "But I don't recall being at your beck and call. We aren't friends. We aren't even acquaintances. You're just a guy who happens to go to the same school as me."
Sarah hurried over, her face a mask of 'concerned' sweetness. In the old life, this face would have made Reth do anything. Now, all he saw was the pale skin and the floral dress from that Science Building table.
"Reth, please," she whispered, reaching out to touch his arm. "You're acting so weird. Is this because I didn't sit with you at lunch yesterday? I'm sorry, okay? Just give me the worksheet and apologize to Mark so we can just go to class."
Reth pulled his arm back before her fingers could make contact. The rejection was visible; Sarah flinched as if he had slapped her.
"The worksheet doesn't exist, Sarah," Reth said, his eyes locking onto hers. "And neither does the Reth who used to be your lapdog."
"Mark," Reth said, turning his cold gaze back to the athlete. "You've got a pack of cigarettes in your inner left blazer pocket. And your father, the Chief, is currently in the Faculty Lounge for a morning meeting. If you touch me, I'm going to make sure that pack ends up on the Principal's desk before the first-period bell rings."
Mark froze. The fist he had been clenching at his side began to tremble. In this timeline, he was only fifteen—he hadn't learned how to hide his fear as well as his future self.
"You... you're bluffing," Mark hissed, though his eyes darted nervously toward the main office.
Reth leaned in, the cold weight of his experience creating an aura that felt suffocating.
"Try me," Reth whispered. "See if your 'Golden Boy' status survives a possession charge and a pissed-off father. Or you can give the kid back his glasses, walk away, and pray I don't change my mind."
[Ding! Quest Update: Crush the Hierarchy]
[Progress: 15% — Target 'Mark Sterling' has been psychologically suppressed.]
[Reward: +$15]
[Current Balance: $35]
Reth grabbed his History textbook from his locker and slammed the metal door shut. The loud bang made Sarah jump and Mark flinch.
Reth walked toward his History class. He could feel the System pulsing in his mind, its dark influence growing. He didn't just want to survive high school anymore. He wanted to own it. And Sarah? She was going to pay for every "thank you" she ever faked.
The bell for first period rang, a harsh mechanical shrill that sent the lingering students scrambling. Reth walked into the History wing, his expression as unreadable as stone.
He took his usual seat—third row, middle column. A second later, the chair behind him scraped against the floor. The faint, sweet scent of vanilla perfume followed. Sarah.
She sat down, her breathing slightly hitched. He could feel her staring at the back of his head, her eyes probably boring holes into his blazer. In the old timeline, he would have turned around immediately to ask if she was okay. Now, he didn't even acknowledge her existence.
"Reth," she hissed, leaning forward so her chest nearly brushed his shoulder. "Reth, look at me. Are you seriously still mad? I told you, I'm sorry about yesterday. Just... just let me see the worksheet before Mr. Harrison starts, okay? I'll make it up to you at lunch. I promise."
Reth stared at the chalkboard. 'The Industrial Revolution: Impact and Legacy.' "Reth!" she whispered louder, her voice tinged with a desperate edge.
[System Notification: Target 'Sarah Jenkins' is attempting a 'Pity Manipulation'.]
[Would you like to purchase: 'The Truth-Seeker's Voice' (Rank F) for $25?]
[Effect: Any whisper from a target within 5 meters will be amplified to the 'Authority Figure' in the room.]
Yes, Reth thought.
[Purchase Successful. Current Balance: $10]
[Skill Activated: The Truth-Seeker's Voice]
At the front of the room, Mr. Harrison—a man who looked like he'd been carved out of old parchment and spite—slapped a stack of papers onto his desk.
"Clear your desks," Harrison barked, his voice cracking like a whip. "Surprise quiz. Based on the reading I assigned last night that I'm sure you all finished."
A collective groan went through the room. Sarah's gasp behind Reth was audible. He knew she hadn't touched the book. She had spent the night on the phone with Mark.
"Reth," Sarah's whisper was a frantic crawl. "Reth, please. Just tilt your paper a little. I can't fail this. If I get another C, my parents will take my phone. Reth, please... I'll do anything."
In the past, that "I'll do anything" would have made Reth's heart race. Now, it just made him want to laugh.
As Mr. Harrison began walking down the aisles to hand out the quizzes, Sarah leaned even closer, her hand ghosting over Reth's chair. "Reth, I'm serious. Just show me the first five answers. Don't be a jerk."
Reth didn't move. But as Mr. Harrison stepped alongside their row, Reth felt the System skill kick in.
Sarah's next whisper didn't stay between them. It bypassed the air and seemed to vibrate directly into Mr. Harrison's eardrums.
"Reth, come on! Just let me see the answers! I'll pay you, okay? Just don't let me fail!"
Mr. Harrison froze. He turned slowly, his sharp, hawk-like eyes locking onto Sarah. The entire class went silent.
"Miss Jenkins," Harrison said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low hum. "Is there a reason you are trying to negotiate a transaction for answers before I've even placed the quiz on your desk?"
Sarah turned a shade of red Reth didn't know was possible. "I—no! Mr. Harrison, I wasn't—I just—"
"I heard you quite clearly," Harrison snapped. "And since you're so eager to 'pay' for excellence, you can pay with an automatic zero and a trip to the Principal's office for attempted academic dishonesty."
"But Reth—!" she pointed a trembling finger at him, her eyes filling with tears of pure frustration. "He's the one who—"
"Mr. Anchor hasn't said a word," Harrison interrupted, looking at Reth. Reth was sitting perfectly still, his hands folded on his desk, looking like the model student. "In fact, he looks like the only person in this row who actually respects my classroom. Leave. Now."
Sarah grabbed her bag, her face twisted in a mask of humiliation. As she stood up, she looked at Reth, waiting for him to save her. Waiting for him to take the blame like he always did.
Reth finally turned his head. He didn't look at her with guilt. He looked at her with a tiny, razor-sharp smirk—one that only she could see.
"Have a nice walk, Sarah," he mouthed silently.
The door slammed behind her.
[Ding! Quest Update: Crush the Hierarchy]
[Progress: 35% — Target 'Sarah Jenkins' has suffered 'Public Humiliation'.]
[Reward: +$20 / +5 Charm]
Reth picked up his pen as the quiz landed on his desk. He knew every answer. After all, he'd lived through this year once already.
He didn't look up as the door slammed, but he didn't need to. He could already feel the System's dark warmth spreading through his veins, fueling a hunger that 730 days of betrayal had carved into his soul. Sarah thought a zero on a quiz was a tragedy, but she had no idea. This wasn't just a lesson—it was the first brick being pulled from the foundation of her life.