5 - Realm of Zero Reputation

A crimson warning window popped up right in front of my eyes. Normally, you'd freak out. My mind felt hazy, my heart pounding like a jackhammer.

But I bit down hard on my lip and swallowed the cheer bubbling up inside me.

Kughhh...!

This pressure! This throbbing! The clear proof that blood was rushing down there!

Not just any game—this was an adult eroge dating sim world, and I was the one dropped into it. Impotent?! You've gotta be kidding me!! Hey, doc!! You telling me I'm the impotent one?! This was some next-level bullshit.

The grievances of the past hundred years flashed before my eyes like a montage.

Status ailment: Charm? Debuff? Give me a break. This was a medal. A certificate proving I'd finally been reborn as a true man.

I stared at the warning popup, tempted to give it a grand salute.

"Um, Evan? You okay?"

A worried voice wormed into my ear. I reined in the overwhelming emotion surging through me and looked up.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Really... really good."

"Huh? Your face is super red, though?"

"Thanks to you, Senior... my blood's circulating perfectly. Thank you."

"......?"

Caught off guard by my burning gaze(?), Evangeline flinched, her cheeks tinting pink as she set down her teacup with a soft clink.

The quiet atmosphere turned serious in an instant.

"Actually, the reason I called you here today... was to confirm something."

"Go ahead."

She hesitated, her lips twitching.

"You remember last time, right? When I accidentally bit you."

"Vividly."

"Ever since then, my mana’s been amplifying abnormally. Like a blocked meridian suddenly cleared."

Her red eyes pierced straight into mine.

"Evan... you're no ordinary human, are you?"

"......"

How should I play this?

Lie? Dodge? Nah. This was life-or-death stakes right now. No reason to hide, no need to.

I set down my empty teacup and spoke calmly.

"That's part of my ability, too."

"Ability...?"

"Yeah. Hard to believe, I know, but I have the power to amplify the abilities of the opposite sex who have 'affinity' for me."

"......Huh?"

Did she get it? Maybe I need to spell it out more bluntly?

Evangeline's face flushed beet red in an instant.

Ah...

I realized it again. No wonder I'm a total simp for her.

"Ahem. Thanks for thinking so highly of me."

"Ughhh......"

Now her ears were burning, steam practically rising from the top of her head.

She's adorable.

Calling a cutie ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like this a witch? Rumors really are trash.

"Anything else you're curious about?"

"N-No... Th-this is enough. Th-thank you."

She mumbled in a tiny voice and hid her face behind her teacup.

**

Evangeline waved faintly at Evan's retreating back as he faded into the distance.

"Yeah, Senior. See you... next time!!"

Until he vanished completely beyond the forest mist, she stood rooted to the spot.

The words ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lingering on her lips scattered like mist.

"Next time... again..."

Her heart thumped pleasantly.

What an amazing guy. Watching his back stirred a dusty old memory from a forgotten photo album, bubbling up to the surface.

The memory ended there. Evangeline slowly opened her eyes.

That fairy-tale story from her childhood. She'd always thought it was just her father's fleeting comfort, a made-up prophecy.

But now she remembered. Evan defying her command. And in that past loop, willingly offering his neck to save her dying self.

Even when she'd dragged him to the Summoning Practice Room, he'd resisted her touch. Met her eyes and stayed sane.

He... wasn't affected by my charm.

A joyful smile spread across her flushed cheeks.

She clasped her hands toward the direction Evan had vanished.

"My... prince."

**

Turning disaster into fortune. This morning, when the alert hit about losing my regression ability, I thought my life was over.

But they say God leaves a window open before slamming every door shut. For the first time, I'd successfully resonated with a heroine.

And after a hundred years, my little brother had roared back to life.

Heh heh heh heh...!

The more I thought about it, the more giggles leaked out.

Hope was in sight now. With Evangeline leading the charge, I'd build my harem step by step and smash the Demon King's pot.

Gotta rush back to the dorm and jerk one out.

What a glorious day. Tonight was festival time. Time for a sacred ritual to banish a century of impotence and celebrate my new life.

Humming a tune, I exited the forest path. Before I knew it, I was at the academy's bustling district entrance. The 5 p.m. streets teemed with students.

Oh crap.

I hastily schooled my expression. I'd just been grinning like a perv with my "heh heh heh"s, right? If I wasn't careful...

"......"

I reflexively hunched my shoulders. A hundred years of conditioning. In crowds, Evan was always a "walking target."

Here it came. The contempt, disgust, avoidance. Those garbage-bag-exploding stares.

......Huh?

Something was off. A bizarre dissonance I'd never felt in all my time as Evan. No prickling on my back. No whispers of "eww" stabbing my ears.

I stopped and scanned the passersby. Tons of girls brushed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠past me, but none even glanced my way.

This wasn't paranoia. Imagine a pebble in the middle of the plaza—no one cares. But a fresh, steaming shit pile? Everyone stares it down, desperate to avoid stepping in it, worried about the stench.

Yeah... fuck. Hate to admit it, but to this world's women, I was [shit]. A walking pile of filth that disgusted just by existing.

But right now?

What the hell?

Puzzled, I stared holes into a passing pink-haired girl. She felt my gaze and turned.

Snap. Our eyes met.

Ugh...

I tensed instinctively. That disgust glare I'd never get used to, even after a century.

Swoosh.

Huh?

She gave my face a quick once-over, then turned straight ahead. Expressionless. Like nothing happened. Like spotting a roadside pebble.

My heart started pounding.

No way, could it be?

I approached a group of girls at a cafe terrace. The haughtiest-looking blonde.

"Excuse me."

She looked up from her straw. "Yeah?"

No irritation, no revulsion. Just a dry "Who the hell's this?" curiosity.

"Oh, sorry. Mistook you for someone else."

"Lame."

She went right back to chatting with her friends.

My fingertips trembled with thrill.

"Hahahahaha!!"

I burst out laughing in the middle of the plaza. People shot me "crazy guy?" looks, but who cares? That wasn't a "shit" stare—it was just a "lunatic" stare!

"To the dorms!"

.

Bam! Bursting through the dorm door, I checked the clock.

"......Damn."

5:30 p.m. Only thirty minutes till my work-study call time.

This semester: kitchen assistant at the 2nd Cafeteria. 1st was staff-only; 2nd was for students. Roles rotated each term, but I had no say.

It was the only gig that didn't cut into classes.

Not enough time for my sacred ritual.

Earlier was life-or-death anyway.

Yeah, that doesn't count.

A century's pent-up frustration. Rush it in ten minutes? That'd mock my dignity.

At least shower, purify, approach with reverence.

"No helping it. Save the release for tonight."

Blinking back tears, I headed to the 2nd Cafeteria.

.

Dragging my aching shoulders after my shift, I slumped deep into the chair.

My whole body felt like a waterlogged sponge—heavy.

But.

Sniiff.

Taking my habitual breath, a sharp, brain-piercing scent hit me.

My mind snapped awake.

This smell...

A faint fragrance clinging to my collar. The fresh, thick lemon from time with Evangeline earlier.

The warmth of her kitchen, her shy blush flashed in my mind.

Thump. Heart pumping.

I locked the door with grim resolve.

This wasn't mere release. It was a true man's revival rite—and practice for the future(?).

"Hoo..."

I dropped my pants, recalling Evangeline. Her pale nape. Trembling red eyes. That wet, hot lick on my neck.

"Ngh..."

In sinful guilt, the deed was done.

Why... did I waste time on something so pointless...?