My Borderline Supervillain-Slash-Hero System

"My team opened this gate. That means no one goes through without our say," Asphalt announced clearly.

The crowd, which had been cheerful just moments ago, fell into a tense silence, their expressions turning sour.

A girl from the group was the first to speak up.

"This isn't right. We're all from the same Academy, the same batch. In the future, we'll have to rely on each other. Blocking the path like this—doesn't that make you a selfish jerk who only cares about himself?"

Others quickly chimed in:

"She's right. Just because you opened the door doesn't mean you get to monopolize it. The Ruin is part of everyone's test!"

"Alright, let's just force our way in!"

The crowd stirred, and several students surged forward and slipped through the gate.

But Zane and Asphalt stood back this time, silently observing.

The twins exchanged a glance, frowned, and patted their beast.

The giant boar roared and immediately charged. With a single headbutt, it sent the ten students who had entered flying back out of the gate.

"Didn't you hear what the Nitpicker just said?" Dan—the stunning girl among the twins—spoke with a cold snort, her voice loud and commanding. "If you didn't, let me make it crystal clear. None of you are allowed to pass through this gate. And if anyone dares step inside again... the next punishment will be far more brutal."

Har, the other twin, bellowed, "Go on, try again if you dare!"

This time, no one made another move.

Finally, a noble-looking young man stepped forward. "Stopping us from entering isn't fair, Asphalt."

Asphalt smiled and stepped up with an easygoing charm.

"Who said I'm stopping you from going in?" he said amicably. "Of course, you can go in. But... there's a catch."

He placed a hand on Zane's shoulder and addressed the crowd.

"My friend here used a legendary chest—his family heirloom—just to get the key to open this gate. And that girl was right earlier: we are all students from the same batch. So if we just walk in without acknowledging that sacrifice, wouldn't we be the selfish jerks?"

He paused and grinned.

"So, to make things fair... let's compensate him a little. Nothing much. Just a tiny bit of your pocket change—an entry fee."

The once-chaotic crowd suddenly quieted down, now processing the proposal with more reason than emotion.

A noble student raised a hand. "Alright, I get your point. So what exactly is this entry fee?"

Asphalt leaned toward Zane and whispered with a mischievous glint in his eye, "See? They took the bait. Now watch and learn. Today, we're going to be rich."

Zane just smiled strangely. This guy... he's already setting the trap to extort everyone for as long as possible, he thought.

And he was absolutely right.

Asphalt raised his hand and held up two fingers. "Only twenty."

A nearby student quickly pulled out some stones. "You mean twenty one-star core stones, right? Here you go."

He handed them over to Asphalt.

But Asphalt frowned, then angrily tossed the stones to the ground. "What?! You think we're beggars? You think one-star core stones are worth my friend's family heirloom?"

The stunned student hurriedly picked them back up. "Then what are you asking for?"

"Twenty three-star core stones," Asphalt declared sternly. "Not a single star less. Don't insult us with that joke. That's very—"

The crowd stood stunned.

Twenty three-star core stones?

That was no small demand. Most students didn't even carry that many, and even among the richer noble families, a frown appeared here and there.

Zane could only shake his head in silence.

Even the twins were surprised.

"Sister, I think this guy's insane," Har whispered. "We don't even have a single three-star stone with us. Something's definitely wrong with his brain."

"Shut up, Har," Dar replied flatly. "He's the infamous Nitpicker. This is just part of his charming personality."

While Dar saw through Asphalt's little scheme, the crowd was getting noisy again. Many students voiced their complaints, and a few groups even started to whisper among themselves—discussing a coordinated rush to force their way in. After all, it was just a two-star beast guarding the door. If they combined forces, surely they could overwhelm it.

Asphalt, of course, pretended not to hear a thing.

Zane, meanwhile, finally understood why so many people disliked this guy. Despite being from a noble family, even his own clan seemed to keep him at arm's length.

"He's an opportunist," Zane muttered. "No wonder they all call him the Nitpicker."

Just then, a young man stepped forward from the crowd. He wore the crest of Emberfall on his shoulder—Asphalt's own clan.

"Asphalt," the youth said in a low voice, "they're organizing a revolt. You and your little team are going to get swarmed. Maybe ease up on the price? Since we're from the same family, we'll back you up."

He stepped closer and whispered, "Some nobility families are already in on it."

Asphalt narrowed his eyes. "What do you want, Rafael?"

Rafael pulled out a stone and discreetly handed it over. "This is a three-star core. Let us through. We're Emberfall—help each other out."

Asphalt took the stone and tossed it over to the twins.

Har caught it and lit up like a lantern. "Sister! Look—it's real! A genuine three-star stone!"

He beamed with excitement, but Dar's eyes narrowed.

Asphalt grinned. "Har, Dar—that's your repayment for the 20 two-star stones you lent me. I promised to return it double, and this way, I've repaid you over tenfold. Believe me now?"

Zane just stared at him, dumbfounded. This guy... he really has no shame.

Har, of course, was all smiles. "I always believe in your words, Brother Asphalt!"

But Dar smacked him on the back of the head, snatched the stone from his hand, and tossed it back at Asphalt. Her eyes were sharp.

"Do you take us for fools, Nitpicker?" she said coldly. "You think you can buy us off with a single core stone? I thought we were a team."

She turned to her brother. "Har, let's go. Teaming with him isn't worth it."

Har scratched his head—uncertain whether it was from her slap or confusion—but still climbed onto the boar.

"Wait! Wait! I was just testing you!" Asphalt blurted, suddenly flustered. "We're a team, remember?"

The beast took three firm steps toward the Ruin gate.

"Alright, alright! We're all in this together!" Asphalt called out quickly. "We split everything equally. Happy now?"

Only then did Dar laugh, jumping back onto the boar. "I'm just a little girl, you know," she said playfully. "Always misreading people's intentions. You're a good friend, Asphalt."

Zane muttered from the side, "Did I just watch this wild loudmouth outplay the so-called wise Nitpicker? Hah…"

Asphalt's grin twisted back into a frown as he turned toward Rafael. "Rafael... do you take me for a fool? See that? None of my teammates wanted your lousy bribe. Get lost before the beast tosses you."

"I came with useful info, and this is how you treat me?" Rafael protested.

He didn't get to finish.

Asphalt kicked him square in the chest, sending him flying back into the crowd.

"You call that 'vital information'?" Asphalt sneered. "Don't waste my time."

Then, he raised his voice so the entire crowd could hear him:

"You really think you can gang up and force your way in? Have you forgotten something?" He pointed upward. "Every important person from the Academy is watching us right now!"

Above, the sky shimmered with thousands of hovering drones—recording, observing, broadcasting.

At the mention of the surveillance, the noisy murmuring died down again. No one wanted to get expelled—or worse—for acting like a thug under full view of the Elders.

Asphalt smirked. "Good. Now that we understand each other—let's talk entry."