TYMIMA Chapter 1

[VOL 1 – STAR UNIVERSITY]

 

“If you have already seen the truth about equality and justice, seen the exploitation of commoners by the Awakened.

 

If you are sliding into the abyss of death, having strangled your yearning for freedom.”

 

“You know those guilty of grave sins still walk free, while your dying struggles only bring oppression.

 

Your kindness, tolerance, gentleness, and humility—all these beautiful virtues ultimately become daggers turned against yourself.”

 

“Haven’t you noticed that high-level Awakened ones stand above the rules, mocking and despising your beliefs?

 

Haven’t you noticed their lofty ideals and sinful morals?”

 

“Know this: what turns the human world into hell is the yearning for heaven.

 

You should have awakened long ago.”

 

“Perhaps you still have one chance to take control of your fate, without begging for favors from the powerful.

 

Offer something precious, and I will guarantee your rightful privileges.”

 

—”Black Lantern Society Manifesto”

 

–

 

[Help Request]

 

Applicant: Mother

 

Wrongdoer: Star University Dean of Discipline Erdiff

 

Crime: Maliciously fabricating rumors, driving a female student to death

 

Requested Sentence: Death penalty

 

Compensation: One pink butterfly hairpin

 

*Rip!*

 

A copy of the “Capital City Daily” with this help request on the front page was mercilessly torn to pieces and thrown into a pitch-black garbage bin crawling with fruit flies.

 

The Student Care Office staff glanced at the paper scraps mingled with fruit peels and soggy tea leaves, then turned back to face the impeccably dressed but furious middle-aged man before him: “Recently there have been some absurd claims that you were jealous of students with S-level talent, so you drove them to death by various means to take their glands for yourself.”

 

Erdiff sneered: “Nonsense! That Omega named Deng Zhi clearly degraded herself, became a mistress, and after being exposed couldn’t face the school or her parents, so she chose death.”

 

The staff member recorded this and sympathized: “People nowadays just love conspiracy theories, complaining everywhere without taking responsibility. You should deal with those spreading rumors quickly to prevent such absurd claims from damaging your reputation.”

 

Erdiff’s gaze grew dark and unclear: “You’re right.”

 

He remembered that hunched, disabled woman—a deaf-mute who still brought banners to make trouble at school, kneeling, kowtowing, crying to heaven and earth, demanding justice for her daughter, attracting annoying reporters like flies.

 

Her false accusations were harmless, and netizens treated her as a joke. Media reported daily just for the outrageous traffic.

 

1st floor: This crazy neurotic woman provides fresh laughs every day.

 

2nd floor: Hahaha newly minted meme, your_mom_screaming.jpg

 

3rd floor: Excuse me, but her daughter was a slut who seduced men everywhere. Jumping off a building was what she deserved.

 

4th floor: How dare she falsely accuse Dean Erdiff? This crazy woman is ugly inside and out.

 

5th floor: Who gets it? Watching this mute kowtowing and crying on camera somehow brings me joy. Am I a bad person?

 

6th floor: No you’re not. Judge actions not thoughts. It’s not like we hurt her daughter.

 

……

 

Up to this point, Erdiff could ignore it all, but that crazy woman made one unforgivable mistake—she applied to the illegal organization Black Lamp Society.

 

His colleague put away pen and paper: “This year’s new students should have all arrived at the auditorium. We’ll trouble the Dean to deliver their first lesson.”

 

Erdiff stood up: “It’s my duty.”

 

He straightened his suit, carefully combed his hair in the mirror, confirmed his expression was properly controlled, then picked up the file folder and strode toward the sixth teaching building.

 

Dark clouds pressed down on the city. The last glimmer of light on the horizon was covered by black clouds. A notice advocating electricity conservation trembled a few times in the wind before disappearing completely into darkness.

 

Fresh welcome banners still hung at the school entrance. A mascot doll tirelessly performed a welcome dance, but the crazy woman crying for justice was no longer at the school gate.

 

Entering the classroom, Erdiff looked around at the fresh, tender faces filled with longing and anticipation for this famous federal academy.

 

Erdiff picked up the roster and began calling names.

 

It took some time to go through all five hundred names, but he completed the task meticulously. Afterwards, he put down the roster, scanned the classroom, and revealed a smile with an unclear meaning.

 

“Among you… some are late.”

 

As the disciplinary director for the incoming class and chairman of the School Staff Bonus Evaluation Committee, perhaps due to years of hard work, his eyeballs had some bloodshot traces, and his skin showed an unhealthy bluish-white color.

 

Students sitting in the front row felt chills down their spines from his smile and hurriedly looked around for the two people who hadn’t shown up.

 

“What do you think I should do to punish them?”

 

Erdiff braced both hands on the podium, chin pressed low, eyes fixed firmly on the door, the pale muscles of his cheeks twitching.

 

As he spoke, the temperature in the classroom continued to climb, reaching an off-the-charts sixty degrees. The ceiling’s incandescent lights burned crimson at both ends, their filaments making poor contact with sizzling sounds.

 

The freshmen were suffering terribly, forced to activate their ability pheromones to resist the scorching heat.

 

Those two latecomers might have encountered some unexpected event, delaying their journey, or perhaps… met with an accident.

 

The capital city was far away; anything could happen on such a journey.

 

Knock, knock, knock.

 

At that moment, someone knocked on the classroom door.

 

They’re here!

 

Everyone almost simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.

 

A pale, slender hand reached through the half-open iron door, pushing it open. From the shadows emerged a tall youth.

 

As soon as his face appeared, the entire class fell silent.

 

It was a face so exquisite it seemed the Creator’s masterful showing-off—his eyes were a rare amber color, with sharp inner corners and upturned outer edges. His nose bridge and brow bone were just right, neither too sharp and imposing nor too soft and gentle, giving an impression of someone distant yet obedient.

 

He tilted his head toward the crowd, reddish-brown hair sweeping across the corner of his lips. The loose, comfortable T-shirt he wore bore no logo, but it was simple and refreshing, covering clean, neat jeans.

 

He walked through the dead silence as if no one were there, heading unobtrusively toward an inconspicuous empty seat, about to sit down.

 

“Stop right there.” Erdiff picked up his teaching rod.

 

The rod was made from the spine of some unknown creature, as thick as an adult’s fist, with joints linked together.

 

The youth paused, looking up at Erdiff, puzzled.

 

“Name.”

 

“Lance[mfn]literally 兰 (lán) = “Lan” 斯 (sī) = “Si”[/mfn].”

 

“Place of origin.”

 

“Harbor Tan City.”

 

“Gender.”

 

“Omega.”

 

Lance’s voice was soft, yet proper and polite.

 

Erdiff lifted his chin. “Come here.”

 

Lance frowned his handsome brows.

 

Someone nearby whispered: “Freshmen have to test their talent level on reporting day.”

 

Only then did Lance notice the glass sphere beside Erdiff. He revealed a knowing smile, quickly set down his backpack, and walked toward the podium.

 

Standing before the testing device, he expertly rolled up his sleeve and inserted his arm into the sphere.

Blue electrical arcs immediately lit up inside the sphere, while a crystal ore mined from the underground city continuously injected radiation into it.

 

The gland at the back of his neck flushed slightly red as pheromones leaked from his body, filling the air with the refreshing scent of star magnolia.

 

Some Alphas couldn’t help raising their noses to inhale deeply, their faces showing greedy expressions, until they noticed their bodies’ restless stirrings and hastily composed themselves, burying their heads in shame.

 

Erdiff stared at Lance’s arm, so fair that blood vessels were visible beneath the skin. It grew increasingly tense under the strong radiation stimulation, as his pheromones struggled to resist the external harm.

 

This sickly boy’s pheromone was star magnolia.

 

Conventionally, rare pheromones often indicated high talent levels. Could it be…

 

He examined Lance’s profile, constantly searching for similarities with Deng Zhi. They both had outstanding appearances and unique pheromones. They both seemed introverted and unsociable. If his talent was high, he would inevitably face jealousy and isolation from classmates, then—

 

But Erdiff was destined for disappointment.

 

The radiation lasted only five seconds before abruptly stopping under the safety switch’s control. The screen displayed a huge F.

 

F-level?

 

Erdiff’s face showed regret.

 

Star University upheld jungle law—high-level talents enjoyed absolute privileges, while F-levels were the undignified bottom tier.

 

Had Lance fortunately tested as A-level, Erdiff would certainly have kindly forgiven his tardiness. But he happened to be an F-level, someone who could be trampled at will.

 

Lance seemed to sense the change in atmosphere around him. Feeling uneasy, he withdrew his arm, intending to return to his seat.

 

Unexpectedly, as he turned, Erdiff raised his teaching rod, blocking his path.

 

The rod emanated waves of heat; if Lance carelessly touched it, his skin would instantly blister and split.

 

Lance stood confused.

 

“Don’t rush, we haven’t discussed your punishment yet,” Erdiff said gravely.

 

Hearing this, Lance murmured: “Punishment?”

 

“According to the Star University Student Handbook, teachers have the right to administer any punishment to late students.” Erdiff emphasized the word “any.”

 

“I was cough… sick.”

 

Lance’s gaze hid in the shadow of his thick lashes; Erdiff couldn’t see his expression.

 

“Illness is no excuse.” Erdiff pressed the rod against Lance’s chest. “I’m going to extract your gland as punishment.”

 

Someone in the classroom couldn’t cover their mouth in time and let out a horrified gasp.

 

The gland was a person’s most sensitive and fragile organ. Since the underground city’s appearance, glands had shouldered the responsibility of synthesizing pheromones to resist radiation.

 

Once the gland was damaged, one could never enter the underground city again, doomed to be useless for life.

 

Though everyone knew this was cruel torture, no one dared contradict Erdiff. He wasn’t just a rare A-level elemental Awakened, but also a federal hero who had participated in the Capital City rebellion suppression. Whatever he did would have no consequences.

 

“My gland…” Lance hung his head low, scattered strands of hair concealing his innocent yet sinister smile.

 

Just moments ago, as they brushed past each other, a small blob of black liquid like mud had silently slipped under Erdiff’s feet, merging with his shadow.

 

Erdiff still looked down at Lance condescendingly, enjoying the pleasure of torment, just like those who enjoyed watching people kowtow and cry on camera—watching the weak struggle was a sophisticated pleasure.

 

“You’d better be sensible.”

 

He believed Lance understood that if he activated his ability, scorching magma would instantly reduce Lance to ashes.

 

The boy sitting in the front row no longer had any expectations or aspirations for university life. He stiffly turned his head, looking with pleading eyes toward the two students who had tested as A-level talents.

 

If anyone could slightly resist Erdiff’s ability, it would only be A-level Awakened.

 

Unexpectedly, those two students noticed the boy’s gaze and immediately turned away in panic, shrinking down like quails.

 

They had A-level talent, but hadn’t even learned first-tier abilities yet.

 

The boy closed his eyes in despair. When lips perish, teeth grow cold. He was only E-level talent himself.

 

Lance finally raised his hand. His fingers were exceptionally delicate, with neatly trimmed nails methodically brushing aside the hair covering his gland, completely exposing that small patch of fragile skin.

 

An Omega’s gland was particularly delicate. Having just used his pheromones, the skin there was tense, showing a natural flush.

 

“Turn around, back toward me,” Erdiff commanded.

 

Lance didn’t move.

 

“Did you not hear me?”

 

Lance remained motionless.

 

Erdiff’s narrow pupils fixed on him, the bone whip in his hand creaking under his grip.

 

One lash, and he could make the Omega before him bleed profusely. A lowly F-level Awakened—even if beaten to death, it would only require a self-criticism report to the principal. Who would care?

 

Erdiff prepared to teach this stubborn freshman a lesson.

 

However, just as he was about to strike, the classroom door was suddenly kicked open!

 

The originally heavy iron door crashed against the wall like fragile paper, then bounced back with a hum. The sound echoed in the enclosed space, painfully vibrating everyone’s eardrums, causing Erdiff’s movement to freeze abruptly.

 

“Sorry I’m a bit late.” A lazy, magnetic voice cut through the reverberating echoes, reaching everyone’s ears with perfect clarity.

 

Everyone swiftly turned toward the door, their faces showing expressions both colorful and indescribable.

 

Everyone had a deep impression of these two late freshmen. Lance’s name was the first to be called, while his was the last, which meant he had been admitted to Star University with the honor of being ranked dead last in the entire school.

 

It was evident that he had certain intellectual deficiencies.

 

Lance also turned his gaze toward him. He discovered that the newcomer was a rather stereotypical delinquent youth, dressed in a vintage, non-mainstream workwear outfit, covered from head to toe with rivets and metal chains, with colors matched like a peacock about to display its plumage.

 

This person originally had black hair, but had randomly dyed several strands blue. Seemingly finding this insufficiently rebellious, he had forcibly pierced a row of holes in his left ear, hanging two Tibetan turquoise pendants. At the same time, his left cheek bore several suspicious red marks.

 

But to be fair, that face still possessed rare, deep-set eyes and sharp features, complemented by a tall, robust physique, like a fierce, keen beast of the desert.

 

One could say he had traded ten lifetimes of intelligence for one handsome face.

 

Seeming to notice what Lance was focusing on, he helpfully explained: “Bamboo mat marks. Don’t worry, my face isn’t ruined.”

 

Lance: “.” Who cares?

 

The delinquent youth seemed to sense Lance’s speechless expression and couldn’t help but curl his lips.

 

Like Lance, he searched for a seat throughout the classroom as if no one else were there. But surpassing Lance, he actually set his sights on a seat in the front row. He walked right past Erdiff, plopped down casually, and even propped up his right leg.

 

Everyone unanimously thought: What kind of idiot is this?

 

Being ignored, Erdiff indeed flew into a rage. His eyeballs turned glowing iron-red, his fingernails gradually melting into scorching magma.

 

He took a deep breath, about to lash out—

 

“Wait!” The delinquent youth suddenly straightened up, startling Erdiff who inadvertently swallowed his breath back down, nearly burning his own trachea.

 

As bad luck would have it, from the delinquent’s seat, one glance up put him directly in line with Lance’s gland.

 

That gland rose and fell with Lance’s breathing right before his eyes, like a magnolia bud about to bloom, while Lance’s rounded fingertips unconsciously massaged around it.

 

This would be a supreme test for any healthy Alpha. Fortunately, he was an upright Alpha with all-around development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor.

 

His face showed struggle, but he finally turned away, saying with great distress: “That classmate, I just became an adult and shouldn’t be seeing this.”

 

Lance: “?”

 

Everyone: “……” Are you really a delinquent or not?!

 

##

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T/N: Hello readers ◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜

Welcome to my brand new translation!

This is my first time translating a novel like this, so… y’know, go easy on me~

If you catch any mistakes, feel free to point them out! I’ll fix ’em asap (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

Hope you have fun reading~!