The Revival System Made Me A God - Harem

003

Lala's hands shook as she reached out, her fingers catching on the rough cloth of Eren's sleeve. Her eyes were wide, glancing toward the dark corners of their small hut. "No, Eren. Please, listen to me," she whispered, her voice full of fear. "I was near the hallway earlier, and I heard them. A group of girls from the West Wing... they were laughing about a trap they were setting. They didn't see me, but their voices sounded cold. I don't want you to be the one who falls into their trap today."

Eren looked at his stepsister and saw the real terror on her face. He forced a small smile and patted her hand, even though his own heart was thumping against his ribs. "I am always careful, Lala. You know that. I know how to move through their world without being seen." He sighed, looking toward the tall, shining towers of the Elite Academy. "At the end of the day, aren't they just like us? Human? There is nothing to worry about if I just do my job and leave."

Lala's grip got tighter, her nails digging into his arm. "Go and come back safely, please. You have to," she choked out, a tear rolling down her cheek. "You're the only sibling I have. You're the only one in this house brave enough to stand up to Dad. You're the only one who stops him when he starts hitting Mom. If something happens to you, we lose everything."

Eren's face changed, his jaw tightening as he remembered his mother's bruised face. That memory gave him the strength he needed. He gave a sharp nod. "Don't worry about me. I will be fine. Besides," he added, trying to make her feel better, "I've been practicing how to fight in secret. I can handle myself." He turned away and grabbed his work gear. He pulled on his thick gloves and strapped the leather guards onto his legs. With the bundle of clothes under his arm, he started the long walk toward the West Wing.

As he got close to the entrance of the Elite Academy, the expensive buildings towered over him like a golden fort meant to make people like him feel small. The air even smelled different cleaner, sharper, and expensive. The guards at the gate saw him right away, looking at his old clothes with disgust. They stepped forward together, blocking his path.

"What are you doing here, you filthy Omega?" one spat, mocking him. Eren kept his head down, looking only at the clean pavement. "I am here to bring these clothes to the Elite X wing," he replied, his voice low and polite. "I was told to bring them right away."

The guards didn't move. They shared a mean smile. "Is that so? Well, the elevator is for the Elites. A dog like you doesn't get to ride in luxury. Turn around and go back to your hole."

"Please, sir," Eren begged, sounding desperate as he looked up at the giant gates. "It's an emergency. If I don't deliver these now, the boss will hurt me. He promised me a hundred hits with a cane if I failed. I won't survive that."

The guards stayed quiet for a long time, enjoying the sight of him pleading for his life. Finally, one of them pointed a thumb toward a heavy steel door on the side. "Take the stairs. That's the only way a rat gets to the top. I'm not risking my job for you. Get moving."

Eren looked at the door and then leaned back, looking up at the skyscraper. Fifty floors. Fifty floors of concrete steps stood between him and his job. He swallowed his fear, held the clothes tighter, and stepped through the door.

The climb was pure pain. By the twentieth floor, he was gasping for air. By the fortieth, his lungs felt like they were burning, and his legs were shaking so hard he had to use the railing to pull himself up. When he finally made it to the fiftieth floor, he was soaked in sweat and felt dizzy.

He leaned against the wall, breathing hard. A few feet away was a silver magic water machine like a dispenser with magic water for energy but it's only for the elites. It was for Elites only, and he wasn't allowed to touch it, but his throat was on fire. He looked left and right; the hallway was empty. Moving quickly like a thief, he went to the machine, filled a cup, and drank it in one gulp. The cold water helped him think clearly again. He stood up, fixed his gear, and forced himself to walk toward the game house.

As he walked, the silence was broken by a group of students coming around the corner. "What is an Omega doing here?" a girl screamed. "I thought these pests stayed in the East Wing during the day." Her friend laughed and held a silk cloth to her nose. "No wonder it suddenly smells so bad. It's gross."

A third boy stepped in Eren's way, stopping him. "Look at this," he sneered, pointing at Eren's gear. "Even with the gloves and leather, he smells like the slums. He should probably wear a full leather suit just to keep the smell inside." He turned to his friend with a mean grin. "Let's clean the air before he leaves a stain." The fourth boy grabbed a bottle of perfume and sprayed a thick cloud directly at Eren's head.

Eren shut his eyes as the spray stung his skin, but he didn't say a word. He walked through the cloud until he got to his destination.

He pushed open the heavy doors of the game house, looking for a student named Olivia. Instead, the huge, fancy room held Helen and Victoria, who were sitting on soft sofas.

"Please," Eren said, his voice sounding weak in the big room. "Where is Miss Olivia? I have a delivery for her."

Helen looked up, her eyes narrowing with anger. "What do you want her for, and how dare you come in here without asking?"

Eren looked at the floor he had spent hours cleaning the night before. It felt unfair. He was the one who made this place clean, yet they treated him like dirt. "I need to give these clothes to her," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "It's an official order."

"Drop them on the floor and get out," Victoria snapped, looking at herself in a mirror.

"I cannot just drop them and leave," Eren insisted. The fear of being beaten gave him a sudden spark of bravery. "I am following orders. If I don't give these directly to her, I will be punished badly. Please, just tell me where she is."

Helen stood up slowly, her expensive jewelry clicking. She walked right up to him, looking at him with pure hate. "And why should we care about your pathetic life? I told you to drop the rags and get out before I have the guards throw you off the balcony. Now!"

Eren didn't move. He felt the pain in his legs and the burn in his lungs, and he knew he mess up. "I am sorry, Miss Helen," he said, his voice getting deeper. "But I am only following my orders."