Solomon clashed with the instructor for several more exchanges, barely avoiding being knocked to the ground each time.
The reward continued flashing through his mind.
He didn’t particularly like its conditions, but he wasn’t someone who backed down from a challenge.
If the system insisted on playing dirty…
Then he would simply fight even dirtier to accomplish whatever task it threw his way.
Another strike sent him crashing onto the ground.
He gritted his teeth.
His body ached.
His legs felt like jelly after moving so relentlessly, and his hands—especially his fingers—were gradually going numb.
He was beginning to lose his sense of touch.
Despite every muscle protesting, he rolled onto his side.
Planting both palms against the ground, he slowly pushed himself upright.
His body trembled from exhaustion, but he refused to stay down.
Standing once again, he faced the instructor.
A determined fire burned within his eyes.
The instructor couldn’t help but feel amused.
Still…
He decided it was finally time to take the young noble a little more seriously.
“Finally going to fight like an Ashbourne?”
Solomon didn’t answer.
Instead, he quietly settled into his fighting stance.
He planted his feet firmly on the ground and shut everything else out.
The maids.
The servants.
The butlers.
The guards.
Everyone had gathered around the edge of the courtyard, watching the sparring match unfold.
The instructor strode calmly toward him before delivering a swift swing meant to end the childish exchange and remind Solomon just how much he still had to learn.
For the briefest fraction of a second…
Solomon inhaled deeply.
He narrowly slipped past the attack by a hair’s breadth before activating his spell.
“Lumen.”
Instead of maintaining its normal brightness…
He poured even more mana into it.
The sphere erupted into a blinding flash.
The instructor instinctively shielded his eyes.
Solomon felt no hostility.
No anger.
No desire to hurt the man.
He simply swung his wooden sword because an opportunity had presented itself.
The blade whistled through the air before striking firmly across the middle of the instructor’s back.
The instructor arched forward as the sting spread through his body.
Ordinarily, he would have dodged the attack with ease.
He was an experienced veteran.
However…
Because Solomon carried neither killing intent nor hostility, the instructor’s instincts never warned him of the incoming strike.
That single hesitation had created the opening Solomon needed.
Solomon staggered from side to side.
Just before he collapsed onto the ground, the familiar ding echoed inside his mind.
Quest Complete
Host has received +50 Desire Energy.
A smile spread across Solomon’s lips as he finally hit the ground.
The instructor absentmindedly rubbed his back while walking toward him.
He wasn’t quite sure how to feel.
He had openly admitted to underestimating the young master’s determination.
What he had dismissed as childish stubbornness had become genuine resolve.
Crouching beside Solomon, he carefully lifted him into his arms.
“Congratulations, Young Master.”
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
Hours Later…
Solomon’s eyes slowly fluttered open.
He jolted upright before his breathing gradually settled.
After a few moments, he remembered everything.
He had reincarnated.
He was now living as Solomon Ashbourne.
Was Solomon Ashbourne’s room.
Running a hand through his hair, he tried recalling why he had been asleep in the first place.
The answer came almost immediately.
Without hesitation, he opened his status screen to make sure none of the earlier events had been a dream.
Lust System
Desire Energy: +51
Current Desire Resonance: 0%
World Restoration: 0%
“System…
what can I do with my current Desire Energy?”
Silence.
No reply came.
“Don’t tell me you’re asleep.”
He buried his face in one hand.
Deciding there was little else to do, Solomon chose to take a walk and loosen up his stiff body.
He wandered through the estate’s countless hallways, making a conscious effort to memorize every route in case he needed them later.
The servants and maids exchanged puzzled looks whenever they spotted their young master standing motionless in front of an ordinary door, studying it as though its frame deserved worldwide recognition.
In reality…
Solomon was simply debating whether he should enter the room or head outside for some fresh air instead.
It didn’t take him long to make up his mind.
He stepped into the courtyard for the second time that day.
In the distance, he spotted his combat instructor sparring with one of the estate guards.
As he drew closer, he recognized the guard.
Wilfred.
“Interesting.”
His attention drifted elsewhere as he noticed the estate gardener carefully trimming the hedges.
Back on Earth, Ethan had loved gardening.
Like books…
It grounded him.
Working with soil and plants had always brought him a quiet sense of peace.
During his time on campus, he often volunteered to help the groundskeeper water flowers whenever he wasn’t attending classes or disappearing into another novel.
Magic fascinated him.
Yet…
If he could choose any affinity…
He would have chosen Nature Magic without hesitation.
Unfortunately, he possessed Light Magic instead.
And as the young master of House Ashbourne, any attempt to help prune bushes or tend flowers would almost certainly be rejected before he could even ask.
Suddenly…
Trumpets rang out.
Their powerful notes echoed across the estate, filling every corner of the courtyard.
Solomon frowned.
“What could possibly be important enough to disturb such a peaceful afternoon?”
His eyes shifted toward the front gates.
Maids, servants, butlers, and guards hurried in the same direction before lining up in orderly rows, just as they had on the day he first arrived in this new world.
Curiosity got the better of him.
He followed after them.
As he approached, he caught the instructor quietly muttering beneath his breath.
“She’s back.”
“Who’s back?”
He desperately wanted to ask.
The guards pulled the massive gates open.
Heavy hoofbeats echoed through the courtyard.
A magnificent warhorse trotted inside.
Its polished armor bore the unmistakable crest of the Royal Knights.
Solomon recognized it immediately.
He had imagined that emblem countless times while reading the novel.
Seated proudly atop the horse was a woman clad in gleaming white armor, a crimson cloak billowing behind her.
Her mere presence silenced the entire courtyard.
The warhorse came to a stop directly before Solomon.
The woman reached up and removed her helmet.
Long black hair spilled free, cascading gently over her polished armor.
She gracefully dismounted before slowly looking him up and down.
“…Little Brother.”
Before Solomon had the chance to react…
She flicked him squarely on the forehead.
“Ow!”
“Three months.”
She raised three fingers.
“For three whole months, not a single letter.”
“Not one explanation.”
“Our father was moments away from declaring you missing.”
Her arms folded firmly across her chest.
Solomon continued rubbing his forehead.
“…Sorry?”
Her emerald eyes narrowed.
“You’re acting strange.”
She didn’t press him any further.
Instead, she calmly instructed a nearby male servant to fetch two wooden swords.
The servant immediately bowed his head as low as possible before hurrying off to carry out her order.
“I heard you lost today’s spar…”
She paused.
“…and only won by a stroke of luck.”
“I didn’t lose.”
His head slowly turned toward the instructor.
The instructor, meanwhile, suddenly found the sky extremely interesting.
He clearly had no intention of making eye contact.
“Petty,” Solomon muttered under his breath.
“Doesn’t that still count as a win?”
“Not for an Ashbourne.”
“Let’s spar.”
“I’ll evaluate you.”
Solomon’s eyes settled on his sister as she assumed her stance.
Her shoulder-length black hair swayed gently around her face, contrasting with the vivid green eyes now fixed on him with unwavering focus.
She was clearly older than him.
Her feet were planted firmly against the ground, every movement balanced, disciplined, and controlled.
She looked every bit the seasoned warrior.
“I’m still exhausted.”
She relaxed her stance, casually brushed her hair behind one ear, and let out a simple,
“Oh.”
“Yeah…
so let’s do this another—”
Before Solomon could finish speaking, the familiar ding echoed inside his head.
Main Quest Updated
Become Worthy of Entering the Royal Academy
Current Evaluation: Fail
Suggested Objective: Survive ten days of training under Lady Ashbourne.
Reward: Hidden
Solomon stared silently at the blue window.
His eye twitched.
One thought slowly drifted through his mind.
“…Fuck you, System.”
The blue window disappeared without another word.
As if it had accomplished exactly what it came to do.
Lady Ashbourne slowly tilted her head.
“What are you staring at?”
“…My future suffering.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Solomon forced a smile that looked more painful than reassuring.
The instructor quietly folded his arms.
For some reason…
He almost felt sorry for the young master.
Almost.
Far above the estate, white clouds drifted lazily across the afternoon sky.
And somewhere beyond mortal sight…
A certain goddess rested her chin upon one hand.
A faint smile curved across her lips.
“The game,” she whispered softly,
“has finally begun.”
Magic is in the eye of the beholder.