Infinite Harem System: I Grow Stronger From Every Female Lead

The next morning arrived with a crisp breeze sweeping through the open field, stirring the golden grass under the Academy's pale morning sun.

Arthur stood quietly at the edge of the general gathering ground, the same place the entrance exam had taken place.

He remembered it vividly: the screams, the fresh air after three years of seclusion, the tension, and his first moment meeting the main cast.

Now everything seemed so different, perhaps because of the reset, or maybe he had just changed that much.

"Still feels nostalgic though," he muttered to himself.

The chatter of first and second years filled the field. Some were nervous, some expectant, many unaware of how easily their paths could be rewritten by a single announcement.

Amelia and Cassie stood beside Arthur, waiting as expectantly as the other students for the Dean's announcement.

Though, to tell the truth, Arthur knew what she was about to announce since Eliya had already told him about it.

'She should be more teacher-like and not tell me everything that happens in the staff meetings,' he smirked. 'Though I don't particularly dislike it.'

The air around the open ground began to swirl as an orb of shadow appeared in front of the students.

Just like the last time during the entrance exam, Lysandra appeared mid-air, the heels of her silver-embroidered boots clicking softly as she touched the ground.

Her deep indigo coat fluttered behind her like a cape, her platinum hair glimmering beneath the sun.

"I know she's the dean, but damn she's hot," someone mumbled from the crowd.

Murmurs soon erupted after that one comment.

Soon, the crowd fell into disarray.

But the moment Lysandra placed a finger over her lips, they fell silent.

Lysandra let out a motherly smile. "Good morning, everyone."

Her gaze swept through the students before she continued:

"As some of you may have already heard, the Higher Institution has decided to take in additional candidates this year."

She placed a hand on her cheek, as if the news was too much even for her. "It appears that the third years meant to graduate are… insufficient."

Murmurs erupted instantly.

Lysandra raised a hand, and the whispers died again.

"And so, by their request, we conducted a sports match, and different factions chose who they would like to take in."

She swirled one finger, making dark ink-like shadows appear in the air, ready to write.

"Now I'll announce the names of those chosen."

Arthur exhaled softly. 'So it begins.'

Previously, Arthur didn't plan on attending the Higher Institution. However, since he had now decided to actively pursue strong female allies, he needed to go.

Besides, Isabella, Cecilia, and Seraph were still there.

The ink in the air began to write as the Dean called out:

"Karma Karmis."

Karma, who stood next to Vicky, smirked at the sound of her name.

"Ellie Reinhardt."

Ellie, who was a distance away from Arthur, turned to Lysandra and nodded.

Arthur could feel it clearly since the announcement started: Ellie's piercing gaze on him, like he stole her money.

He sighed as Lysandra continued.

"Amelia Roderick Valtor."

Amelia glanced up at him, then raised her hand to indicate she was present.

Arthur looked her in the eyes. "Amy, I don't think that was necessary."

Amelia glanced around. Except her, no one had raised their hand, and all eyes were on her.

She shyly lowered her hand. "Oh right..."

Lysandra couldn't help but smile at her reaction, then she cleared her throat:

"Okay, next... Ravian Roderick Valtor."

Ravian lifted his arm slightly and winked at Arthur.

"Ren Over."

No one answered.

Lysandra called his name one more time. After seeing no one react, she continued.

"…Cale Von Agres."

Arthur glanced slightly.

Cale stood still some meters away, arms folded. "Present," he answered.

Lysandra smiled. "Seems we have another sibling pair."

"Melissa Von Agres."

Arthur raised a brow. 'Wait, Melissa?'

He had completely forgotten Melissa even existed.

'Why hasn't she acted up since the reset?'

It was he who had humbled her previously, but since in this timeline he hadn't awakened by that time, it only meant either she didn't exist, which he didn't mind, or something had changed her.

Lysandra didn't wait for him to form a theory and continued:

"Naza El Salvador."

Naza remained silent for a moment as everyone around him turned to look. It was impossible to miss him in the first place.

Yet, he suddenly stepped forward and knelt on one knee like a knight before Lysandra.

Lysandra stared at him, eyes slightly widened, then chuckled. "Don't worry, you can go back, Naza."

Naza lifted his head and nodded thrice.

Before he returned, he glanced at Arthur and raised his hand in the same fist bump Arthur had given him after his goal in the match.

Arthur looked at it, then removed his hand from his pocket and bumped fists in the air.

Naza smiled and returned to his spot like he had just been gifted a multimillion-dollar house.

Lysandra lingered for a moment, her gaze shifting to the boy who, unlike the other students, lay on the grass, unbothered.

Her eye twitched as she called out, "Eric Daemon."

Eric sat up slowly. "Yes, ma'am."

She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

As she turned to the last page, which bore an intricate insignia, she smiled.

"Kim Ha-joon."

No one said a word or reacted.

It was a given that he would get a spot.

Ha-joon, on the other hand, raised his hand for a second and lowered it.

Lysandra nodded, and as her gaze returned to the paper, she paused.

Not because of the name on it, but because of the amount of money factions had bid on him.

She swallowed hard:

"And finally, the one person almost every faction wants..." she paused. "... Arthur Val Arcain."

Just like with Ha-joon, it was something that every student already knew would happen. Still, the cheers from Arthur's cult were deafening.

Lysandra waited for the noise to settle before speaking again.

"As I've said, this isn't like the advancement test the third years take. So for you to be officially recognized as an equal regardless of your age, you will have to complete a mission."

Everyone stood still. Even those whose names weren't called wanted to know what kind of missions the monsters of their class would receive.

"Each of you must hunt and defeat a single A-rank Mana Beast from the Southern Territory and return with the corpse. Only then will you qualify."

"Should you fail..." she smiled softly, "you will return to your normal lives in this academy. No shame in that. This is, after all, a class-skipping test."

The audience buzzed. Some gasped, some laughed nervously.

Lysandra then concluded.

"Only one student has been exempted from this, which is Cassie Springsteen, since those who followed her father want to take her."

The beautiful lady smiled. "As for the rest, you shall depart tomorrow. Do rest well."

'Not bad...' Arthur mused. 'At least it doesn't clash with my initial plan.'

According to what Eliya had told him, the voice of the First Dragon had come to her when she went to the Southern Territory, to be exact, the part that was formerly ruled by the Barbarians.

'Hunting an A-rank mana beast isn't that hard.' He placed a hand on his chin. 'I'll kill the mana beast first, then give my sword to "him." After that, I'll try and find the First Dragon's voice.'

If he were to leave tomorrow morning and didn't waste any time, then it was more than possible for him to complete all the tasks.

Amelia tugged at Arthur's sleeve, but before he could say anything, Lysandra's voice called him out.

"Arthur Val Arcain, may I speak to you."

He blinked. "Me?"

Lysandra nodded.

Arthur stepped forward, took a final glance at Amelia and Cassie, who were still standing by his side, and waved them off. "Go ahead, I'll catch up with you later."

Amelia paused briefly before nodding. "Yeah... Don't keep me waiting."

He smirked. "Yeah, see you."

He turned to Lysandra, who was already walking toward the Academy's inner path, silent.

He followed, both hands tucked in his pockets.

The wind picked up as they walked in silence, the sky above gradually deepening in color.

Every few steps echoed softly across the marble corridor that connected the field to the main structure.

Arthur's expression darkened the longer the silence stretched.

Immediately after Lysandra's office building came into view, he finally broke the silence.

"...Aren't you going to ask me," he said, voice serious, "how the world reset?"

Lysandra stopped.

She turned her head slightly, just enough for Arthur to see her piercing violet eyes shimmer faintly.

"What?"

Arthur didn't respond for a moment. 'System, generate a new scenario: Conquer the Dean, Lysandra Au Lefebvre.'

─── ✦ End of Chapter ✦ ───