Harem Quest: From Trash to King

Ryan followed Arthur to the cafeteria, still slightly shaken.

Arthur walked casually ahead, hands buried in the pockets of his oversized hoodie, like he owned every inch of ground beneath him.

At the tray section, they grabbed steel trays in silence. Ryan glanced sideways, trying to keep pace.

Arthur piled his tray with plain rice, three boiled eggs, and a mound of grilled chicken. A fighter's diet. Ryan picked out a slightly soggy sandwich and a small carton of juice, trying not to look like a joke.

They moved toward the far end of the room where the tough kids sat—or rather, where no one dared to sit.

Ryan hesitated as he heard the murmurs again.

"Dude, he's still with Arthur?"

"Maybe he's Arthur's charity case."

"Or his punching bag in training."

Arthur sat down, unfazed. He unwrapped an egg and popped it into his mouth without blinking.

Ryan quietly sat across from him, eating with awkward care.

'Why do I feel like I'm in some gang headquarters? One wrong chew and I'm dead.'

Still, for a moment, there was peace. No bullying. No threats. Just food.

After they ate, they returned to class, and eventually, the school bell rang to mark the end of the day.

Ryan slung his bag over his shoulder and turned to Arthur.

"Thanks again for earlier," he said, voice low.

Arthur nodded, barely looking at him. "Hmph. Stay outta trouble."

With that, Arthur walked off toward the gym building, shoulders hunched, hands still in pockets.

Ryan began walking home alone.

The late afternoon air was thick with heat and exhaust fumes. His mind was spinning.

'Maybe this school isn't so bad after all… Arthur's scary, but I feel kinda safe when he's around.'

He passed an alley near the back entrance of a closed-down arcade. That's when he heard the footsteps.

"Oi, fatass."

Ryan turned.

The same trio of ugly bastards from class stood behind him. Crooked nose, acne glasses, and buzzcut.

"You think you're untouchable now?" sneered Buzzcut.

"We just let you go earlier 'cause Arthur was there," said the one with the nose.

Glasses guy cracked his knuckles. "But now? It's just us."

Ryan stepped back instinctively, chest tightening.

[DING!]

[Quest Triggered: Beat the living crap out of the trash.]

[Reward: Strength stat upgrade to D. Boxing Jab skill upgrade to D.]

He blinked.

'Wait, what? Boxing Jab upgrade and Strength boost if I win?!'

He smirked.

'Alright then, let's fucking go.'

Ryan launched forward, throwing a straight right jab toward the acne-faced guy. But the move was clumsy—too slow.

Buzzcut caught his fist mid-air.

"Wow, that was pathetic."

Then the fists came flying.

A punch to the gut. A kick to the shin. Another punch to his ribs. Ryan stumbled back, pain flaring across his body.

Arthur stood at the edge of a nearby rooftop, arms folded, expression unreadable. He was watching the entire fight from above.

Tsk. Another weakling.

He was about to turn back—just another kid who talked big and dropped like a leaf.

But then…

Ryan pushed himself up from the pavement, blood at the corner of his mouth, sweat mixing with dirt and tears.

He looked at them, bruised and breathing heavy, and said between gasps:

"Not… yet."

Arthur paused. A faint smirk touched his lips.

Ryan dashed forward again.

This time, his fists were faster. Tighter. Sharper.

WHAM!

A clean jab slammed into Buzzcut's nose, sending him reeling.

POW!

A jab to Glasses guy's chin. He hit the ground with a thud.

Crooked nose tried to run, but Ryan grabbed him by the collar and sent a punch into his stomach, then another to the face. The guy went limp.

Ryan collapsed on top of them, panting like he'd just run a marathon, face battered, body aching.

Arthur chuckled softly from above and turned to walk away.

Finally… someone who doesn't stay down. Interesting.

[DING!]

[Strength increased: E → D.]

[Skill upgraded: Boxing Jab (E) → Boxing Jab (D)]