28. Blonde Youth + Beautiful Boy = Minotaur Elite

"White side, Matsudaira Kiyomizu is the winner!"

Murakami Fumino announced in a loud, clear voice, her words echoing high above the grounds.

Matsudaira Kiyomizu stood in the center of the arena, breathing lightly. Kneeling before him, Yokoyama Kenichiro's gaze was vacant, his spirit lost and adrift.

The spectators were stunned for a moment before they began to react, their applause first sparse, then swelling into a unified ovation.

It could be said that, aside from Matsudaira Kiyomizu himself, no one had expected him to win.

What had just unfolded before their eyes was so unbelievable to those present that it felt like a dream.

[Handsome and impressive, Kiyomizu! Yumeko Shibamoto's affection for you has increased.]

[I've realized you have many secrets yet to be uncovered. Yui Mikami is more interested in you, and her affection for you has increased.]

[I want to write you into my stories. Suzune Tsukimi's affection for you has increased.]

[You seem like you'd be a good club member. Rinko Tokugawa's affection for you has increased.]

[I acknowledge your skill as a swordsman. Mizuki Hanashiro's affection for you has increased.]

[… XX's affection for you has increased.]

The system had sent another wave of affection notifications.

This time, there were more than thirty names—almost everyone present.

Moreover, nearly all the girls looked at him with admiration and a hint of eager curiosity, their eyes unable to stray from him.

Wow, what a handsome classmate…

I wonder if there’s any chance to go on a date with him…

With the system’s prompts, Matsudaira Kiyomizu could easily discern the shifting emotions of the kendo club members.

At first, they had regarded him with disdain, even hostility.

After all, from their perspective, a junior who spoke so arrogantly to his seniors was rude and overbearing.

At Maizuru, a school with a century of tradition, the hierarchy between juniors and seniors was deeply ingrained.

You mustn't be noisy while seniors rest; when a senior is thirsty, you must fetch water for them; when going together to the bathhouse, you should scrub their back…

Anyone who dared challenge this system would face the united backlash of all those who benefited from it.

The consequences were severe!

But…

Who the hell cares?

As a transmigrator, with a system at his side, if Matsudaira Kiyomizu still had to put up with this, wouldn't that be far too pathetic?

So from the very beginning, he had no intention of backing down.

After this match, Matsudaira Kiyomizu’s performance had won the kendo club over, leaving them sincerely convinced.

Having accepted the reality of their defeat, a subtle sense of admiration welled up within them, and their gazes toward Matsudaira Kiyomizu became respectful.

—The way one looks at the strong.

From initial disdain to eventual submission, this shift in emotion was partly because Matsudaira Kiyomizu was undeniably strong and strikingly handsome.

On the other hand, it was also due to the contradictory nature of the Japanese psyche.

Arrogant yet courteous, martial yet appreciative of beauty, timid yet brutal, obedient yet rebellious…

The relationship between juniors and seniors was a prime example of this paradox.

Juniors were required to show respect and humility to their seniors, never daring to offend casually.

Yet, aside from respect and humility, there was another unspoken tradition in senior-junior relations—one rarely fulfilled, but ever-present: the overthrow of one’s superiors.

Seniors monopolized power and resources by virtue of their early entry and long tenure, while juniors, no matter how capable, were suppressed. Naturally, this bred widespread resentment among the juniors.

Such was the social reality—most people disliked the monopolistic class, but dared not speak out.

Thus, whenever someone managed to overturn their superiors through strength alone, they would inevitably win the admiration, even veneration, of the masses.

[Ding.]

[Task complete.]

[You have gained the common tag: Kendo Expert.]

The system notification popped up. Matsudaira Kiyomizu let out a long breath and removed his helmet.

His revealed face was still expressionless.

A breeze slipped in from the window at the side, lifting the white tie at the back of his head and exposing his neck, where his hair was as fresh as summer grass.

A restrained gasp rose from the girls around him.

Standing at the edge of the crowd, Suzune Sakura’s cheeks reddened faintly, her heart pounding like a startled fawn.

She knew nothing about kendo, but found herself utterly smitten—Kiyomizu was absurdly handsome.

It was a beauty that was otherworldly.

The moment he took off his helmet, Suzune Sakura’s heart began to race uncontrollably.

No matter how fierce the match or tense the atmosphere, his aura remained undisturbed—like a clear, tranquil pool, refreshing and pure, bringing comfort to all around him… A boy like this must be spotless, down to the tips of his toes!

Suzune Sakura’s social circle was a bit chaotic.

She had never imagined that one day she’d be moved by a boy’s “purity”…

It’s decided!

No more keeping a stable of admirers—she’d only love him…

No, no, she’d let all the fish in her pond take care of her and him together…

[Ding.]

[You have made Suzune Sakura, in front of her pursuers, fall for you alone—successful love interception.]

[You have gained the common tag: Blondie.]

[Tip: New tag synthesis detected.]

Looking at the “Blondie” tag, Matsudaira Kiyomizu felt an odd mix of emotions.

Though he didn’t watch much of that sort of adult content, he knew that on the internet, “Blondie” referred to men who seduce or steal other people’s lovers, the term arising because such characters in NTR genres are typically depicted as blond.

[Blondie] plus [Pretty Boy]—a new tag could be synthesized.

A blond pretty boy?

What was that supposed to mean?

Curious, Matsudaira Kiyomizu promptly combined the two tags in his mind.

[Synthesizing: Blondie, Pretty Boy.]

[Synthesizing…]

[A new tag has been acquired.]

A flash of violet light swept through his mind, and an entirely new tag appeared.

[Tag: Cuckold King Elite]

[Quality: Superior]

[Base Effect: While equipped, Charisma +1; gain the Aura of Affinity, greatly increasing the success rate of NTR, and become a standout among cuckold kings.]

“…?”

Matsudaira Kiyomizu was utterly bewildered.

He felt an old complaint rising in his throat, desperate to be voiced.

All he’d wanted from the start was to change his social anxiety and introversion.

And now? First there was Xi’er, then a bloody prime minister.

Is this reasonable?

It’s not reasonable at all!

And what the hell is a Cuckold King Elite? Just the name made Matsudaira Kiyomizu want to laugh.

If he found the right materials, could he combine this to become the legendary Cuckold God of epic quality?

If so, then hurry up and give me the task—don’t keep me waiting… Matsudaira Kiyomizu vented all his pent-up frustration about the system’s haphazard task assignments.

Ah, that felt better.

And then—

[Ding.]

[Host’s desire to become the Cuckold God detected.]

[Assigning task…]

[Assignment successful.]

“…?”

Wait, System, I was just joking…

But as an unfeeling quest-issuing machine, the system didn’t care whether Matsudaira Kiyomizu truly wanted to become the Cuckold God or was merely mocking its unreliable assignment mechanism—in any case, it immediately assigned him a new mission.

[You’ve noticed lately that Teacher Hanashiro often looks exhausted and preoccupied. As a respectful and dutiful student, you cannot stand idly by. One day after school, you follow her to the alleyways of West Shinjuku’s Omoide Yokocho and discover her drowning her sorrows in a bar…]

[Task: Act as a host in the bar, providing service to Mizuki Hanashiro.]

[Reward: Common tag—Host.]

[Tip: Host and Cuckold King Elite can be synthesized into a new epic tag.]

“…?”

Faced with the new assignment, Matsudaira Kiyomizu asked, “Who is Mizuki Hanashiro?”