Harem Stealing System

RUEL!!??

What the what is he doing at the college?

Eiden's eyes locked on the familiar, infuriating figure across the courtyard. Ruel was walking with his usual entourage, a pack of smug-looking friends, the type whose laughter always carried a hint of cruelty. That cocky tilt of his chin, the slow swagger in his steps Eiden could spot it even in a crowd. It was the same kind of presence that said, I own this place.

A cold knot twisted in Eiden's stomach. He didn't even think his body moved before his brain caught up. He hurried straight toward Lyra, who was still facing the opposite direction, blissfully unaware of the predator in the vicinity.

He grabbed her wrist, pulling her sharply out of Ruel's possible line of sight. "Eh ?!" Lyra tensed instantly, shuddering from the sudden force, but when she turned and saw Eiden's face, her alarm melted into recognition. She didn't resist when he tugged her along, letting him steer her toward the shadowy corner of the walkway.

From a distance, Harry noticed the whole scene. He stopped mid-step, eyes narrowing in visible confusion. What the hell is Eiden doing? Harry tilted his head slightly, as though trying to piece the puzzle together, but didn't call out.

Eiden positioned himself so his back faced Ruel. His gaze flicked past Lyra's shoulder toward the group across the courtyard. Ruel and his friends were smiling or maybe smirking was the better word. It wasn't just casual amusement; it was the kind of expression that carried an unspoken challenge.

The hell is he here for? Eiden thought, his jaw tightening. Lyra? Lyra stayed quiet, her eyes also drawn to Ruel, though she didn't make any move to wave or acknowledge him. The tension in her posture was subtle but telling.

Eiden's mind spun. System-chan.

[ Ding! ]

The mechanical chime rang in his head like an alert. Show me the map for all the targets, he commanded. The familiar translucent panel unfolded in front of his eyes, displaying the college grounds in a faint holographic glow. Scattered across the map were several dots, each marked with a name. Eiden's gaze darted over the list until one particular name caught his attention Arin. Bingo.

He tightened his grip on Lyra's wrist not painfully, but firmly enough to signal urgency and steered her in a new direction. Skirting the edge of Ruel's position, he led her toward a different entrance into the college. Thankfully, the campus had multiple connecting doors and pathways; with enough angles and corners, they could move without drawing too much attention.

They slipped into a side building, the cool shade swallowing them whole. The hallway branched into an open-air garden nestled at the center of the structure. Here, the noise of the courtyard was replaced by the quiet rustle of leaves and the faint perfume of blooming flowers. And there she was. Arin stood by a cluster of ornamental bushes, leaning slightly toward a delicate blossom. The sunlight filtering through the overhead lattice painted soft patterns across her hair.

Eiden didn't waste time. "Ruel is at the campus," he blurted, skipping any form of greeting. Arin's head turned toward him and Lyra, her expression shifting from mild curiosity to understanding in an instant. She straightened, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Seems like his family pulled some strings and shortened his suspension," she said evenly. "So… he's back." Both Eiden and Lyra froze. "What?!" they exclaimed almost together.

Eiden was the first to find his voice again. "But I thought even with how powerful his family is they couldn't just act rashly in front of the college. The principal's not exactly the kind of man who bends to pressure."

Arin nodded. "True. The principal is… formidable. But Ruel's family doesn't need to overturn the punishment completely to get their way. All they needed was to shorten it. That's not a big enough deal for the principal to refuse, especially if it means avoiding unnecessary conflict with an influential household."

Eiden clenched his jaw. "Still…" His words trailed off into nothing. He didn't have a counterargument; the logic made sense, and that only made him more uneasy.

Arin, noticing the tightness in both his and Lyra's expressions, added, "You don't need to worry too much. Even though he's been allowed back, the principal still has eyes on him. He can't do anything that would harm the college's reputation or the students not without consequences. He's on a leash, Eiden."

That reassurance took some weight off Eiden's chest, but it wasn't enough to make him drop his guard. If there was one thing he knew, it was that people like Ruel could be dangerous even while pretending to behave. Judging from Lyra's stiff posture, she shared the same thoughts.

After a brief silence, Eiden exhaled and nodded. "Fine. But I'm still not letting my guard down." They left the garden and reentered the main building. The halls bustled with students moving between classes, laughter and chatter echoing off the walls. Eiden kept pace beside Lyra, walking her toward her classroom.

Halfway there, he felt a gentle tap on his arm.

He turned, meeting Lyra's gaze. She was smiling but it wasn't her usual gentle smile. This one was faint, with a thin, almost bitter curve to it. "You don't need to worry too much about me," she said softly. "I'll be fine. You should go back to your own class."

Eiden frowned. "What are you " But before he could finish, a voice called from behind. "Lyra!" They both turned to see Linda jogging up the hallway. She came to a stop in front of them, slightly breathless, and immediately reached for Lyra's hand.

"I heard Ruel came back. Did he do anything to you? Are you okay?" Her tone was urgent, her eyes filled with raw concern. Lyra shook her head quickly. "No, I'm okay. I haven't encountered him."

Linda let out a heavy sigh of relief, her grip on Lyra's hand loosening slightly. "Good. Then I'll walk you to your class. Let's go." Without another glance at Eiden without even seeming to notice him standing there Linda pulled Lyra along in the opposite direction. The two girls disappeared into the tide of students before Eiden could say a word.

For a moment, he stood still in the hallway, feeling oddly like an extra in a play he'd been starring in a second ago. Then, with a quiet exhale, he turned and made his way toward his own classroom. The day was only half over, and already it was shaping up to be more complicated than he'd planned.