Yandere Levelling in Her World Chapter 4: Aether High

Golden rays of the morning sun bathed the extensive grounds of Aether High, a renowned institution in a society where the tables were turned—gender roles reversed and might made right.

This wasn’t just any educational establishment; Aether High’s purpose was to train individuals with powers, guiding them to refine their abilities and select future professions, whether aspiring to be celebrated hunters or modest law enforcers.

Misa, a mother with a gentle countenance shadowed by weariness, departed the academy’s entrance after seeing her two children, Ren and Hiyori, off.

Her knuckles grew white as she clutched the steering wheel, murmuring to herself, "I hadn't imagined he'd mature so quickly... Now, his future weighs on my mind." A heavy concern laced her tone, her thoughts fixated on Ren, her adopted son, who was embarking on his third year, a critical time when girls typically began manifesting their abilities, often accompanied by heightened aggression and desires.

At the school gates, Ren, a lanky young man with disheveled dark hair and kind, deep-set eyes, walked beside his younger sister, Hiyori, now a first-year student. Hiyori’s twin pink pigtails bobbed as she cast a glance at her brother, her cheeks slightly puffed, a blend of apprehension and curiosity coloring her expression.

"Ren, do you know your assigned class yet? Third year is quite significant, you know. You really need to be cautious with all those… girls entering their new puberty phase," Hiyori conveyed, her tone laced with teasing but underscored by genuine worry.

A smirk played on Ren’s lips, his eyes shimmering with a playful light. "Aww, is my little sister concerned for me? Fear not, Hiyori, I’m no stranger to this place. I know how to manage myself." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "You, on the other hand, should exercise caution. You’re the newcomer here. Go make plenty of friends, alright? I hope some familiar faces from middle school are present."

Hiyori’s face reddened, and she let out an exaggerated "Hmph!" crossing her arms in a distinctly tsundere fashion. "I'll make loads of friends, just you wait and see!" she declared, though a sliver of doubt tempered her boast.

Before Ren could prolong the teasing, a boisterous cry pierced the air. "Ren, my man!" A lad with bright, spiky blonde hair and an expansive grin lunged at Ren, enveloping him in a crushing bear hug that nearly sent him tumbling.

Hiyori’s eyes widened, and she discreetly pulled away, murmuring under her breath, "Well, he wasn't exaggerating about having friends..." A sense of relief washed over her as she noted the absence of girls within the group. Thank heavens, she mused, scurrying toward her own designated classroom.

Ren chuckled, extracting himself from the vigorous embrace. "Kaito, take it easy, man! You’ll break me before the first bell rings."

Kaito, the blonde, offered a sheepish grin, while another companion, Greg, distinguished by his neat spectacles and composed demeanor, adjusted his glasses. "You’re fortunate, Ren. You possess that innate charisma. The girls are already whispering about you, and it’s merely the first day, unlike myself."

The trio proceeded towards their classroom, their dialogue drifting into the kind of exchanges typically heard from adolescent girls in conventional settings—however, within this reversed society, it was the boys who engaged in such gossip.

"So, Kaito," Ren began, nudging his friend, "still captivated by that new idol ensemble? What was their name again? Starlight?"

Kaito’s eyes sparkled, and he dramatically clutched his chest. "Oh my goodness, Ren, you simply must hear their latest track! It’s, like, utterly life-altering! The lead vocalist’s voice is so enchanting, and their costumes? Pure perfection!" He twirled a strand of his hair, imitating a distinctive pose he'd observed in a music video.

Greg rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a faint smile. "You’re incorrigible, Kaito. I’m more enthralled by that new VR game that launched last week. The visual fidelity is astounding, and you can customize your avatar’s hair to possess a glow-in-the-dark effect. I spent three hours last night solely tweaking the configurations. My waifus are unlike these earthly females, man. They aren't merely driven by lust; they genuinely cherish and adore me."

Ren chuckled, shaking his head. "You two are quite the characters. Kaito’s smitten with idols, and Greg’s lost in anime affections. But I suppose that’s the endearing quality of my friends."

He often felt somewhat out of sync with the men in this world, as though an invisible concern perpetually lingered. Lost in these thoughts, Ren overheard the conversation shift towards skincare routines.

Kaito gasped, feigning indignation. "Beg your pardon, my complexion is immaculate, thank you very much! I’ve recently adopted this new moisturizer infused with moonflower extract, a rather scarce component. You ought to give it a try, Ren; your cheeks appear somewhat parched."

Greg snickered. "He's not entirely mistaken. You need to elevate your regimen, Ren. Third year signifies serious matters. Individuals genuinely begin to develop their inherent powers now, and, you know… attractive gentlemen garner favor from the ladies… not that I have any interest in 3D girls."

Ren’s smile flickered slightly. "Indeed… speaking of which, has anyone in our cohort manifested their abilities yet?"

The atmosphere grew heavy. Kaito and Greg exchanged a look before lowering their gazes to the floor. Greg adjusted his glasses, his voice reduced to a whisper. "Only one, you know. Daichi. But he comes from an S-rank hunter family, so it's hardly unexpected. The rest of us... well, we're artificial. Unlike you, we don't possess the same... potential."

Kaito gave a nod, his usual spirited demeanor noticeably subdued. "Yeah, you're fortunate, Ren. You're not an artificial. You have a genuine possibility of manifesting something."

Ren let out a shrug, his expression impossible to decipher. "I'm still adopted, though. That doesn't guarantee me anything." He forced a smile onto his face. "Besides, what percentage of males ever develop powers? It's predominantly girls who obtain them."

Greg sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "Indeed, that's how it has always been. Girls awaken left and right, but us? We'd be considered fortunate if even one of us reached that 5% mark. Still, I'd be overjoyed if any of us manifested something impressive."

Kaito gave Ren a clap on the shoulder. "Hey, if you do awaken, you'd better not forget us mere mortals, alright?"

Ren let out a chuckle, the tension dissipating. "Deal."

As they entered the classroom, Ren's gaze drifted across the space. It felt familiar, yet distinctly altered. The female students, who constituted the majority of the class, appeared... transformed. Their stances exuded greater confidence, their eyes held a sharper glint, their auras were practically tangible, and their physical forms seemed more developed.

The majority must have awakened over the summer break, Ren mused. In this world, latent abilities lay dormant from birth, only manifesting between the ages of 18 and 20, with girls rigorously training their bodies in preparation for this surge.

The classroom door creaked open, and their instructor, Ms. Jenny, a stern woman in her forties with spectacles resting on her nose, entered with deliberate steps. She deposited a pile of books onto the desk with a resounding thud, her voice piercing the ambient chatter. "Welcome back for another year, everyone. I trust you have all adequately prepared yourselves for what lies ahead."

A girl in the back whispered to her friend, erupting into giggles over something. Without missing a beat, Ms. Jenny's eyes narrowed, and a piece of chalk was propelled across the room, having been flicked into the air and struck with her forearm, striking the girl's forehead with unerring precision. The entire class stiffened.

"Just because some of you have awakened your powers does not grant you superiority over everyone else," Ms. Jenny declared, her voice laced with ice. "Let me be unequivocally clear: no one—absolutely no one—apart from teachers and the principal is permitted to utilize powers on school grounds unless explicitly authorized by us. Doing so constitutes a grave offense and could result in expulsion. Understood?"

The class collectively swallowed, nodding in agreement. Ms. Jenny adjusted her glasses, a slight softening in her expression. "Good. Now, we have a new student joining us today. She hails from a... rather prominent family." Her tone was measured, almost hesitant, as if she were reluctant to divulge too much. "Please extend a warm welcome to Lan Meiling, the daughter of the Lan Conglomerate, the most influential guild-financing dynasty in Norbata, which provides significant funding to Guild Sirius—one of the premier dungeon guilds in Norbata."

The door swung inward, and Lan Meiling made her entrance. Her long, dark tresses were fashioned into elaborate twin braids, and her pale, porcelain skin seemed to radiate under the harsh fluorescent lighting. Her jade-green eyes surveyed the room with an air of inherent nobility, while her custom-made academy uniform, embellished with intricate golden embroidery, unmistakably signaled immense wealth and elevated status. She held a fan, elegantly engraved with her family's crest, snapping it open with a dramatic flourish as she advanced.

Ms. Jenny gestured towards her. "Meiling, kindly introduce yourself."

Meiling's lips curved into a sophisticated smile, yet her eyes remained devoid of warmth. "I am Lan Meiling, the designated heir to the Lan Conglomerate. I anticipate this academy will uphold the standards befitting my standing. Most of you are likely beneath my consideration, but I shall make an effort to tolerate your presence." Her voice carried a sharp, haughty edge, as if she were addressing commoners rather than her peers.

A profound silence descended upon the room; some students were filled with awe, while others felt a sense of indignation. Ms. Jenny cleared her throat. "Thank you, Meiling. There is an unoccupied seat beside Ren. You may take it. Everyone, please endeavor to make her feel welcome."

Meiling glided towards the designated seat, her fan snapping shut with a soft click. She cast a fleeting glance at Ren, her eyes narrowing for a brief moment before entirely dismissing him, as though he were no more engaging than the surface of the desk. In a world where young women pursued men with relentless fervor—men being scarce and highly sought after—her utter indifference was strikingly notable.

Ren lifted an eyebrow but remained silent, leaning back in his chair. Well, this is a first, he thought to himself.

The bell chimed, signaling the conclusion of the lesson. Students began to depart, but Ren chose to linger, observing Meiling as she collected her belongings with the poise of royalty. Curiosity eventually won out, and he decided to take a chance. "Hey, Meiling, welcome to Aether High. I'm Ren. If you require any assistance navigating the campus or—"