Location: Garden courtyard behind Yuri Academy
Event: "Friendly tea party" hosted by Seraphina
The table was too fancy.
Porcelain teacups, enchanted flowers, and tiny cakes that glowed slightly.
Seraphina sat across from me, pinky raised, smile perfect.
Rin was beside me, stiff as stone.
Mira hummed cheerfully while pouring tea.
Even Cassandra showed up, though she sat silently under a tree like a bodyguard waiting for the assassination attempt.
"Nox," Seraphina said sweetly, "do you believe in fate?"
Here we go.
"I believe I'm one bad tea party away from a mental breakdown," I muttered.
She giggled. "Silly. You're meant to be here. With us."
And then—
Her eyes flashed red.
"Blood Binding: Heartlink Ritual."
A red sigil appeared beneath my chair. Chains of crimson light shot toward my legs.
"WAIT—!"
Too late.
The spell tried to latch onto me. Something meant to bind my soul.
But the moment it touched me—
[SYSTEM ALERT: Forbidden Spell Detected]
Initializing Core Defense...
Activating Null Protocol Level 1...
Sync: 64%
► AUTO-REJECTION: ON
The air exploded.
A wave of black energy pulsed outward from my body.
The sigil shattered.
Seraphina gasped, eyes wide. The teacup in her hand cracked. Mira stumbled back.
Even Cassandra stood up.
"[Core Integrity Maintained.]"
"[Threat: Minor. Reaction: Necessary.]"
I stood, trembling.
My right hand was glowing black. Not dark... void.
Even light refused to touch it.
"...What just happened?" I asked quietly.
[SYSTEM RESPONSE]
You were targeted by a soul-binding curse. Cute.
Countermeasure activated. Source has been neutralized. Would you like to launch a counter-curse?
[ ] Yes
[x] No
[✓] Run away
Wise.
Rin grabbed my wrist. "We need to go. Now."
Seraphina slowly stood, her perfect smile trembling.
"You rejected my link… but it's fine. Even destiny stumbles once or twice."
Cassandra stepped between us. "No more tests. Not today."
Seraphina's voice dropped to a whisper.
"I will make you mine, Nox. Even if the void protects you."
We left in silence.
Behind me, the sigil burns faded into ash.
And the system's voice whispered one last message:
[Relationship Alert: Seraphina Eclair – Obsession Level: 64%]
[Warning: Yandere Status – Approaching Threshold]
---
The teacups were still rattling when we left.
The shattered sigil still shimmered faintly on the courtyard stone—like a wound in the world that hadn't quite healed.
Rin dragged me by the wrist, her face pale.
> "You should've told me your system was active already."
"I didn't know! It just started talking today! It's sarcastic!"
> "Of course it is. Forbidden-class systems are always weird."
We turned a corner—and slammed straight into Cassandra.
She didn't even flinch. "What did she try?"
"She used some kind of soul-binding curse," I said, heart still racing. "It tried to latch onto me, and the system just—reacted."
Cassandra narrowed her eyes.
> "Seraphina is more dangerous than she looks. Don't let the smile fool you. She was expelled from two high-tier academies for magical stalking."
"I—WHAT?!"
> "And they let her in here?"
> "Because the Headmistress wants to see who breaks first."
...
> That woman needs a hobby that isn't watching me suffer.
---
Meanwhile… Somewhere Else in the Academy
Seraphina stood alone in the garden, hands clasped over her heart.
She was smiling.
Even though blood leaked slightly from her nose—an aftershock of the failed ritual.
> "So powerful… so pure…"
> "You really are the one, Nox."
She held up her diary.
On the newest page, she drew a small heart.
Inside it, she wrote:
Nox Voidborne – My Future
Then she kissed the ink.
---
Later that Night: In the Dorm Room
I lay in bed staring at the ceiling like it personally offended me.
> System? You awake?
[YES.]
> Why does Seraphina want to link our souls?
> [Subject: Eclair, Seraphina. Affection/Obsession imbalance detected. Motive: permanent bond enforcement. Emotional trigger: you're "forbidden". Therefore, must be claimed.]
> ...Yeah. That tracks.
> [You are advised to avoid eye contact, prolonged touch, or romantic language.]
> So… everything I usually do in anime.
> [Exactly. Stop being a protagonist.]
---
In the Headmistress's Office
Elira stared at the recording crystal.
The entire courtyard scene played back in silence—the failed curse, the black wave, the system dialogue.
> "So the Core has awakened."
She tapped her fingers slowly.
> "It's responding to emotional trauma. As expected."
The masked figure behind her stepped forward.
> "Shall we proceed with Tier-2 lockdown?"
Elira shook her head.
> "No. Let the girls push him further. If the Void inside him blooms, we must know what it becomes."
She smiled faintly.
> "And if it breaks him… all the better."
---
Back at the Dorm
Rin sat on the edge of her bed, brushing her hair.
She looked at me—serious for once.
> "Nox... you need to stop thinking this is some anime harem."
"I never said it was!"
> "Then stop acting like you're not the target. These girls aren't just in love. They're obsessed. And obsessions lead to violence."
She paused, then added:
> "I'll protect you. But even I have limits."
I sat in silence.
> I thought I just got isekai'd into a magical school. But now… I'm starting to wonder if I'm a weapon waiting to go off.
And far below the academy, something ancient pulsed.
Watching. Waiting.