Angel Hunt 2 (1): Every Harem Story Has One Thing in Common
All harem stories share certain commonalities. Whether the setting is an academy, fantasy world, or sci-fi universe, any story claiming to be a beautiful girl harem tale must adhere to unbreakable principles. Fail to follow them, and readers will instinctively tilt their heads in confusion, wondering, "What?"
Characters must all have distinct personalities and heroine identities. If one is an outgoing extrovert type, another must be such an introvert that even showing her face in public is a challenge. Even among big-sister archetypes, one might be the nurturing, all-embracing mom-type, while another rides a motorcycle in a bandaged chest and jacket like a tough tomboy boss. Even identical twins must differ—one innocent, the other a sly temptress seducing the protagonist behind her sister's back.
Esdinas Academy in Cheoncheon was no exception. Its sixteen main heroines each boasted unique appearances, personalities, and tendencies. Moreover, each had her own distinct "theme."
Unia, number one, evoked the image of a saintess or principal wife. Rydmila, number two, screamed beastkin or frontline fighter. Esta, number eleven, was the teacher or 27-year-old virgin. Cardisha, number twelve, embodied the nurse's office or drug researcher.
With such varied personalities among the heroines, the protagonist naturally collects them like a set during his journey to gather allies. A nun who prizes her virginity and devoutly worships the goddess. A genius magitech engineer who excels at piloting mechanical puppets, fighting in grease-stained overalls aboard her mecha. A countess's daughter who wields a rapier and casts spells before crowds.
And finally, though she might seem suspiciously shady at first glance, there's a character with such a solid presence that she stands out powerfully even among heroines like Unia or Rydmila.
"How about selling naughty pics of the dukes from Hell once we surface to make some cash?"
"What kind of talk is that, Hell Archduke?"
"Why not? Lady Comishness does it too. She's a heroine who sells 2D otaku girl drawings for profit."
"Sure, but that's not just any drawings—it's selling porn to earn money. They'd sell, but I have no intention of going that far."
"But Lady Comishness funds her secret slush fund by selling hentai of her self-insert character that looks just like her?"
As Chang Yeom had pointed out, she was the type who peddled self-insert porn behind the scenes.
Shuri Comishness. Her name alone screams "What?" to anyone even slightly familiar with eroge or otaku culture—the word "commission" gives away her true nature instantly.
"If we have Shuri draw portraits and start selling them to academy students in earnest, the boys would probably jerk off furiously to those mana stone sketches, right?"
"What's the point of letting those guys do that?"
"It keeps them from doing it to real women or the heroines—making the drawings the target liberates the heroines from being fantasy fodder?"
"No need for Hell's dukes to get involved in that."
This was an early conversation. After the seven dukes of Hell decided to pool their strength, they agreed that someone other than themselves would be the perfect subject for Lady Comishness's "art."
"Lady Comishness will be a huge help against the goddess cult in faith battles—and in Cumming Dream terms too."
Shuri Comishness. Beyond her talent as a prodigy in four-element magic, her true calling was as an "illustrator" and "artist."
"In her personal route, she retires to become a picture book author. For the protagonist's kids, drawing wholesome illustrations to show them."
"She changes her style to kid-friendly art. Though... in other endings, she becomes a countess still drawing adult-oriented stuff."
Up front, she earns acclaim and rises to countess rank as a woman. Behind the scenes, she's a pioneer opening Comiket in the Bakademy world for all the grown-ups.
"So if there's a chance to recruit her, strip naked if you have to—get her on board."
"Strip?"
"Obviously. Academy classes include still-life drawing, and plenty of students take art as electives. Sure, you'd need to charm the instructor first, but if the plan works and we get into the special class, it's all good."
Chang Yeom proposed.
"Make her draw nudes. You strip, and have the other girls sketch your body!"
"Pervert?"
"Oh my. Thinking dirty thoughts makes you the pervert. It's standard in art school curricula—plenty of people make a living as nude models for figure drawing. Are they all perverts?"
"You can't weasel out like that."
"Hmph... Anyway, recruit her if you can. At the very least, she'll deal critical damage to the 'goddess' or 'angels' better than most."
"Critical damage?"
"Yes."
Chang Yeom channeled mana, giggling darkly with a sinister grin.
"Hentai of the goddess."
"No."
"Not pure love, either—humiliation fetish art."
"Ha."
"Surrounded by goblins—"
"It's the goddess, so yeah, but she's still a heroine. You think she'd draw that?"
No matter how much Shuri drew for cash, commissions had limits.
"Only furries have the suspiciously deep pockets to commission an illustrator like that."
And even then, only moderate furries.
"Spreading art of the goddess getting gangbanged would bring the church inquisitors storming the academy."
"Hmm, too bad."
Chang Yeom sighed.
"It's actually a way to subdue angels too."
"......."
"Getting ravaged by inferior surface humans until they can't even think of ending humanity anymore! Puhuhu."
"I shouldn't have asked."
.......
"Wait, is there real potential here...?"
If the angels weren't neutered bugs but lily-obsessed yuri fiends. If those yuri fiends faced not some melting polar bear sob story, but twisted dark fantasy scenarios that depraved pervs would cream over.
It might not happen in reality, but drawing such art targeting angels could shatter their mentality, making them self-destruct.
"......."
"What do you think? Sounds viable, right?"
"Viable, huh."
Theory-wise, maybe.
"I'd rather whip up some insanely delicious bread and addict them so badly they quit being angels altogether. Faster that way."
"Cream-stuffed belly bloating?"
"Ha...."
"Puhuhu."
Well.
"At least Shuri's tastes run that way, so even if she becomes an angel, we can subdue her easily. Lucky us."
"...We're still talking bread, right?"
"Making 'em bread-bloated."
Subduing angelized beings doesn't require just destroying their halos—plenty of ways to strip their "angel" status.
We mulled over options, and if chances arise, we'd experiment.
After all.
Bakademy crawls with angel candidates.
"......."
"What's up, Phoenix? You look pale."
"Nothing. I just have a rough idea who it is."
I recalled my chat with Chang Yeom about Shuri, rubbing my throbbing temple.
"Understood. A countess's lady won't act out even in the old school building. But one thing—no exceptions."
I drew an X with my fingers, shaking my head firmly.
"Clean and organize your own room. If she's assigned to a different class than the special squad, the floor might differ, but your room is your responsibility."
"......."
"Instructor Esta?"
"Yeah, right. Clean your own room."
Instructor Esta nodded, her face somehow bitter. Not aimed at her specifically, but she sure seemed guilty.
"So, Shuri's joining right away?"
"Nah. Probably once a full 'class' forms—four people. The old building's originals were special admits, but no reason re-enrolling students can't join."
"Re-enrollers who want in?"
"Yeah. They're... somewhat 'vetted' already."
Instructor Esta pointed downward with her finger.
"Might be awkward for you, Phoenix, but some boys want in too."
"Hate to hear it."
If the schedule demands it, we'd block it somehow.
"Why leave the boys' dorm to crash an all-girls old building?"
"'Cause you haven't eaten them yet?"
"...So this is the safest spot?"
"You could say that."
"Ha."
Ridiculous.
"Boys too scared to leave the dorm properly."
"Exactly. So, in that vein—"
Warning siren blaring!
Rydmila's [Gale] traps, set everywhere she enters the old school building, had triggered.
And the intensity of that sound—
"Angel?"
"...Ending the week with an angel."
Instructor Esta checked her watch, gripping her sword with sharp eyes.
"Sunday's over. It's Monday midnight."
Bakademy, March week 2, Monday.
An angel attacked.
And that angel—
[KYAAAAAH!!]
was flying through the sky in nothing but a flimsy nightgown, panting heavily as she lunged at a female student in casual clothes.
"......."
All angels were basically TS girls by nature.
Thus, they—she?—could target female students who matched their external gender.
Humanity was doomed anyway.
Some indulged first, then doomed them.
"Not even rock-paper-scissors matchup."
Women eat men.
Angels eat women.
So.
"Instructor Esta."
"Yeah."
"Any male staff single without a girlfriend?"
It'd be their job to devour the angel.