4 Katie Campbell (1)

Raeparth's Academy.

In this Age of Systems, fraught with peril from the ever malignant Invaders who cross the elusive Space Rifts at times almost no one can predict, the need to create 'Heroes' that will help protect those in need become ever so desired.

In order to fulfill that desire, the countries of the Earth Union banded together to make and fund schools or training facilities which will raise these 'Heroes' who will eventually become the pillars of humanity. Raeparth's Academy is one such example.

In the development of these 'Heroes', a System became a mandatory and necessary part in order for anyone to gain enough power to fight off the Invaders. As a result, most schools or training facilities are built in areas that are near a Black Stele which would of course be controlled by the ISABs. One would think that because due to some of the places a Black Stele has landed into are unsuitable places to create schools, there would be only a few schools overall. That is not true!

Using the abilities of suitable System Users, the Earth Union was able to purposely move a Black Stele to any location that they want. As a result, Raeparth's Academy is actually a school located on a man-made island located in the Pacific Ocean. It is situated 1000 miles South West of Mexico and South East of Hawaii, near the equator. The island's name is the 'Isle of Braves'.

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At a time where most teens would want to sleep in, many Raeparth's Academy students are diligently arriving on time before the morning bell rings.

All students are wearing their required uniforms. While Raeparth's offers a variety of different uniform options, all students share a common design trait where boys have an assortment of colored ties and the girls have an assortment of colored ribbons.

In a classroom designated 2-A, the tinkling bell-like laughter of a certain female student could even be heard by the passing students in the hallway.

"…You're laughing too much." I, Daniel Foster, complained with a pout.

"Hahahaha…hihi….I mean I'm sorry but…..hahaha!!"

Although she was apologizing for laughing, you can see it in her eyes that she doesn't mean it.

Many of the other students at homeroom who were wondering what's going on all turned their heads in our direction.

I let a long sigh. I was already slightly regretting telling her about my problem.

The female student's name is Katie Campbell. Second-year sophomore, just like me. She is also my first and only friend at the Academy.

A straight long haired brunette with hazel eyes, a well-balanced face, and perfect body proportions. Curves in the right places. Not too big, not too small. 9/10 boys that look at her would say she is very beautiful.

She is properly wearing a blazer-type uniform complete with a skirt, on her neck she wears a red ribbon indicating her status as a 2nd-year student. Similarly, I am also wearing blazer-type uniform with a red-colored neck-tie.

Raeparth's Academy is a 4-year-curriculum where each year's uniform is differentiated with different colored ribbons/neck-tie. While the 2nd years are red, 1st years are green, 3rd years are light blue, and 4th years are black with gold stripes.

"Hihihi….I'm sorry. Really, I am. But every time I hear about what happened when you got your System, I….puh!" Katie continues to deliver her hollow apologies while (unsuccessfully) holding back her laughter.

"Like I said…you're laughing too much," I admonished her, already given up.

"Haha…haaa….*breathe in**breathe out**…."

It seems that finally, she stops.

"Really. I feel for you. Even after all that hard work you've done, you were unlucky enough to get a Support-Type System."

"Tell me about it. What's really funny is on my status window my [LUK] Stat is [UNDEFINED]. Like, what does that mean? Might as well have a negative value instead."

As to why we are able to talk about our Systems and our Status Windows freely like this is because there is no law that prevents us from doing so.

While revealing your System and Status Window details is treated the same as publicizing your personal identifying information and is frown upon, there is nothing illegal about it.

There are even some well-known soldiers who fully publicized their System and Status Window as a way to gain support and to be used as an example for those on the front-lines. In other words, talking about your System and Status Window is your own responsibility.

"The Ero Masseuse System, huh? How perverted."

"Don't say it…I already know."

Even if I hadn't fully said everything about how my System works, just the name raises red flags. It is perfectly natural for Katie if she were to look down on me for it.

"I never heard of anything like your System before. I know there are Systems that are similar like the Peerless Masseuse System' that exist. But a perverted System like yours…"

"Just so you know, I'm not the only one with a perverted sounding System. Didn't you hear rumors about a guy with the Secret Photographer System?"

"No. What is that?"

The Secret Photographer System. There was a bit of a scandal when a somewhat locally well-known male magazine model was found taking candid photos of women changing in the woman's locker room.

It's not like the model was revealed on the spot, but a hidden camera was found in one of the lockers. With the use of another person's System, they were able to track the source of the camera to the model.

It seemed that unless the model was able to take multiple pictures of naked or scantily clad women secretly, he won't able to level up. After searching the model's home, many photos of all types of women caught undressing were uncovered. There was even an incident when the police found several pictures of young girls under 12 years old.

"Awaaahh…." Katie said while she tilted back in disgust.

"I understand how you feel," I said while nodding.

After hearing about this, I can't help but wonder what was the Black Stele's aim when granting this person his System?

It is said that the System granted by Black Stele to each person is a System that was tailored made from their potential.

That is to say, the Ero Masseuse System was a System especially tailor made for me and my growth.

Don't fuck with me.

I won't deny that I look at porn or read hentai doujinshi (lewd comics) when I have the chance.

However, the amount I read or watch is certainly nothing noteworthy compared to the rest of my peers….I think.

No, there must a person even more perverted than me. Why doesn't someone like that get a perverted System?

Well, it's not like I heard that many incidences of people running berserk with perverted Systems that often. Does that mean there are not that many who have one?

First of all, why are there even perverted Systems at all? Or even Support-Type Systems?

Weren't Systems supposed to be as methods mainly used to force back the Invaders when the first appeared through the Space Rifts? Why the non-battle class?

Nonsensical.

While Support-Type Systems might sound like they would be helpful in boosting people with Battle-Type Systems or healing them, it is not that simple.

Support-Type Systems is actually just a term used to group all Systems that aren't normally used in battle, together.

They could range from Doctor-Type Systems, useful for taking care of the wounded, to Arts and Crafts-Type Systems, useful for building tiny detailed model boats that could win any model competition.

In hindsight, my Ero Masseuse System is actually one of the more useful ones. At least it has a Skill that looks like it can help in healing.

However, in the end, a Support-Type is just a Support-Type. Just by having it, it could be detrimental for my chances.

"Are you still planning on applying to the College of Defense?"

"Of course! I'm not giving up now."

Raeparth's Universities College of Defense. One of the Earth Union's leading military colleges used to raise the most elite of elite System Users in the fight against the Invaders.

Even if you were just merely accepted into their program, just its credentials alone could help you land many high-paying jobs.

I need to get into the College of Defense, no matter what.

"Can you do it? Get in, I mean. It's not like you have a Battle-type System." Katie said with a slightly worried face.

Well now she cares for me. "At the very least, it's not like there is no example of people with Support-Type Systems that got admitted into the College. The numbers are small but not impossible."

That's right. It is not impossible. I still have a chance.

Now the problem is reaching the prerequisites in order to get admitted.

Besides the required class credits I will get in due time, I need a PLvl, 'Personal Level' or 'Player Level' found under the Status Window, of at least 30 and a System Level of 10 in order to be considered. And that's just the minimum.

"Thankfully, there is no Max Level for Personal Levels. My System Level though…..Max Level of 10 is cutting it way too close."

"Yeah, totally. Though honestly, I've never heard of anyone with a System Max Level being that low, ever. The lowest I heard of was at least 50. "

"Oh yeah? What about you?"

"N? Listen and be awed! Mine is 200!!"

Kuh! Seriously? 200? I'm sooo~ jealous!! What's with the high-specs? Is this the rumored talent disparity!?

"Well, the pathway to reach a high Max Level is way too difficult. Even within the High Elves that live 1000 years only 2 of them ever reached high Max Level."

"At least you have 200! I've only got a measly 10….and these conditions…."

These annoying conditions….

Making a woman cum 100 times with just a massage?

Ejaculate not by my own wish?

You're asking the impossible for an active virgin!

The only conversations I have with girls in recent years is with only Katie or my female family members. Others I barely even made small talk to. Well, it's not like I tried.

Katie was an exception. I don't know why, but apparently she found me interesting and made her mission to talk to me during all of our 1st year in Raeparth's Academy.

That's why Katie became my first and only friend while I was here.

Don't get me wrong, I had friends when I was younger!

We just…were separated because I chose to go to Raeparth's Academy.

"So….it's a bit hard to say, but did you….do it yet? Massage?"

"Does it look like I did? Or better yet, does it look like I can?"

"Ah…nope. Not at all."

"What a fast response…."

Even I can get hurt, ya' know?

Haaahhh… Seriously, what am I going to do? If push comes to shove I think I could ask my sisters to….no, I don't want them to know. It's too embarrassing.

Just as I continue to mope around, it seems that Katie had other ideas.

"…..Hey? If it's okay with you, you can practice massaging. With me that is."

"….Huh?"

Katie, who threw that word bomb, had a slight blush on her face.

I could only look at her with a dumb look.