Morning arrived far too quickly.
Kael woke up with one thought.
I should have slept longer.
He stared at the ceiling from his enormous bed.
The sunlight coming through the curtains was painfully bright.
For several seconds, he simply remained there.
Then—
[Ding!]
[Good morning, Host.]
Kael’s eyes remained closed.
“No.”
[The System wishes the Host a pleasant—]
“Not yet.”
[Understood.]
Silence.
Kael smiled.
“Finally.”
Three seconds passed.
[Ding!]
[Time until the academy entrance examination: 2 hours, 37 minutes.]
Kael opened his eyes.
“…I hate mornings.”
A tiny black creature was sitting on his chest.
Pi stared down at him.
“Pi.”
Kael blinked.
“When did you get there?”
“Pi.”
“Right.”
He carefully picked Pi up and placed him beside the pillow.
The creature immediately crawled back onto his chest.
Kael sighed.
“You really like me, huh?”
“Pi.”
“That’s probably going to become a problem.”
He sat up.
The moment his feet touched the floor, another notification appeared.
[Ding!]
[Daily Mission.]
[Mission: Prepare for the Academy.]
Objective: Increase your combat capability before departure.
Reward: 50 Karma.
Failure Penalty: None.
Kael stared at it.
“How much time?”
[Two hours and thirty-six minutes.]
“…You could have given me this yesterday.”
[The Host did not ask.]
“That’s not how missions work!”
[The System disagrees.]
Kael climbed out of bed.
He walked toward the mirror.
His appearance had changed slightly after yesterday’s training.
His body was still lean, but his posture had improved.
His eyes looked sharper.
The exhaustion that had been present when he’d first awakened was gone.
Kael opened his status.
[Status]
Name: Kael Veyron
Age: 17
Race: Human
Level: 1
Strength: 11
Agility: 8
Vitality: 7
Intelligence: 12
Mana: 14
Luck: 4
Karma: 1
Skills: None
Titles: None
Companion: Pi — Unknown
Kael frowned.
“Why didn’t my Karma increase overnight?”
[Karma is not generated passively.]
“So I have to earn every point.”
[Correct.]
Kael nodded.
That was fair.
At least the system wasn’t giving him unlimited power.
He needed to work for it.
He grabbed his sword.
Today, he would find out exactly how weak he was.
The Veyron training grounds were already occupied.
A man stood in the center of the arena.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, with short brown hair and a scar running across his left eyebrow.
Kael recognized him immediately.
Sir Gareth.
One of the Duke’s personal knights.
In the original novel, Gareth had barely appeared.
He had been mentioned as one of the kingdom’s strongest swordsmen below the legendary ranks.
Kael stopped.
“You’re here early.”
Gareth looked at him.
“His Grace ordered me to train you.”
Kael raised an eyebrow.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
Kael smiled.
“Does he know I’m going to the academy today?”
“Obviously.”
“Then why does he want me trained?”
Gareth’s expression remained emotionless.
“Because he doesn’t want his son embarrassing the Veyron family.”
Kael nodded.
“Fair.”
Gareth tossed him a wooden sword.
Kael caught it.
“Show me your stance.”
Kael raised the sword.
Gareth stared.
Several seconds passed.
Then he sighed.
“Who taught you how to hold a sword?”
“No one.”
“I can tell.”
Kael’s mouth twitched.
“Could you at least pretend I have talent?”
“No.”
“You’re brutally honest.”
“That is why His Grace trusts me.”
Gareth stepped forward.
“Attack.”
Kael didn’t hesitate.
He swung.
Gareth easily avoided the strike.
Kael immediately followed with another.
Blocked.
Another.
Blocked.
Gareth wasn’t even trying.
Kael gritted his teeth.
He changed his angle.
Gareth stepped aside.
Kael nearly fell.
He recovered and swung again.
This time, Gareth caught the wooden sword with one hand.
“Your strength has improved.”
Kael looked surprised.
“You noticed?”
“Yes.”
“By how much?”
“Enough to tell you trained yesterday.”
Kael smiled.
Then Gareth said something that immediately ruined it.
“But your technique is still terrible.”
“…”
Kael lowered his sword.
“Why does everyone keep insulting me?”
“Because you need improvement.”
Gareth released the wooden sword.
“Again.”
Kael attacked.
The next thirty minutes were brutal.
Gareth corrected his footwork.
His grip.
His balance.
His breathing.
His attack angles.
His defensive posture.
Every mistake was immediately punished.
By the end, Kael was sweating heavily.
His arms hurt.
His legs were shaking.
Yet something had changed.
His movements were becoming cleaner.
More natural.
Then—
[Ding!]
[Training completed.]
[Agility +1.]
Kael froze.
Then smiled.
Agility: 9
Gareth noticed.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
Kael raised his sword again.
“Again.”
Gareth’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You’re persistent.”
“I have an examination today.”
“And?”
“I don’t intend to fail.”
Gareth stared at him.
Then nodded.
“Good.”
The training continued.
One hour later—
Kael was lying flat on the ground.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
Gareth stood above him.
“Enough.”
Kael raised one hand.
“Five more minutes.”
“No.”
“Three.”
“No.”
“One?”
“No.”
Kael lowered his hand.
“You’re heartless.”
Gareth turned away.
“Recover.
We leave in thirty minutes.”
Kael looked at him.
“Sir Gareth.”
The knight stopped.
“Yes?”
“Why are you helping me?”
Gareth remained silent.
Then he answered.
“Because you’re different.”
Kael’s expression became serious.
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve been different since yesterday.”
Gareth looked back at him.
“Your eyes.”
Kael froze.
“They’re not the same.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Gareth turned away.
“I don’t know what happened to you, Young Master.”
He began walking.
“But whatever it is…”
He stopped at the entrance.
“Don’t waste it.”
Kael stared at his back.
The system appeared.
[Ding!]
[Karma Event detected.]
[A person has acknowledged the Host’s change.]
[Karma +5.]
Kael smiled.
“Thanks, Sir Gareth.”
The knight didn’t respond.
But Kael noticed the faintest smile on his face.
Thirty minutes later, the carriage was ready.
Kael stood outside the mansion.
The Veyron family carriage was enormous.
Black wood.
Silver decorations.
The crest of the Veyron family engraved on both doors.
Two dark horses stood at the front.
Pi sat on Kael’s shoulder.
Kael looked at him.
“You can’t come.”
“Pi.”
“You’ll draw attention.”
“Pi.”
“No.”
Pi jumped onto his head.
Kael’s eye twitched.
“Get down.”
“Pi.”
“You are unbelievably stubborn.”
A voice came from behind.
“Are you talking to yourself?”
Kael turned.
A young woman stood there.
She had long silver hair tied into a ponytail.
Her eyes were deep violet.
She wore a black academy uniform beneath a white traveling cloak.
Kael recognized her.
Elena Veyron.
His cousin.
One of the few members of the Veyron family who genuinely disliked the original Kael.
She was also a genius.
At the age of seventeen, she had already reached the third stage of mana cultivation.
In the original story, Elena had eventually become one of the academy’s strongest students.
Kael looked at her.
“Good morning.”
Elena stared.
“…What?”
Kael blinked.
“Good morning.”
She slowly looked toward the carriage.
Then back at Kael.
“Did you just greet me?”
“Yes.”
“Without insulting me?”
“Why would I insult you?”
Elena’s expression became suspicious.
“Are you sick?”
Kael sighed.
“Everyone keeps asking me that.”
Pi suddenly crawled down Kael’s shoulder.
Elena’s eyes widened.
“What is that?”
Kael picked Pi up.
“My companion.”
“Where did you get it?”
“The system shop.”
Kael immediately froze.
Elena tilted her head.
“…What?”
Kael’s brain stopped.
Idiot.
He had almost revealed the system.
He quickly smiled.
“I mean…”
He looked at Pi.
“I found it.”
Elena narrowed her eyes.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
Elena stared at him for several seconds.
Then looked away.
“Whatever.”
She entered the carriage.
Kael followed.
The interior was luxurious.
Soft seats.
Magical lamps.
A small table.
The carriage was spacious enough for six people.
Kael sat opposite Elena.
Pi curled up beside him.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then Elena broke the silence.
“Are you really going to take the examination?”
Kael nodded.
“Yes.”
“You’ll fail.”
Kael looked at her.
“That’s encouraging.”
“I’m being realistic.”
“I appreciate the honesty.”
Elena frowned.
“You really are different.”
Kael smiled.
“Maybe I finally grew up.”
She looked out the window.
“Don’t embarrass Father.”
Kael’s smile faded.
“I won’t.”
The carriage began moving.
Aetheris Academy was located in the heart of the kingdom’s capital.
It was one of the most prestigious magical institutions on the continent.
Nobles.
Commoners.
Adventurers.
Magicians.
Warriors.
Anyone with sufficient talent could attempt to enter.
The academy had produced legendary heroes, archmages, royal knights, and even several rulers.
But Kael remembered something else.
The protagonist would be there.
The person destined to destroy him.
Kael looked through the carriage window.
The countryside slowly gave way to roads filled with travelers.
Then buildings.
Then massive stone walls.
The capital.
Eldoria.
Kael had seen it in illustrations while reading the novel.
Seeing it in person was completely different.
Towering magical structures rose into the sky.
Airships floated between buildings.
Knights patrolled the streets.
Merchants shouted from stalls.
Mages walked beside ordinary civilians.
Magic was everywhere.
Kael’s eyes widened.
“So this is Eldoria.”
Elena glanced at him.
“You’ve never been here?”
“Not really.”
She stared.
“You’re a noble.”
“I know.”
“Your family owns property here.”
“I know.”
“And you’ve never visited?”
Kael shrugged.
“I had other things to do.”
Elena gave him a strange look.
“You really are acting differently.”
Kael smiled.
“Maybe that’s a good thing.”
The carriage continued toward the academy.
Then—
Pi suddenly lifted his head.
Kael noticed.
“What?”
Pi stared through the window.
His golden eye began glowing.
Kael’s expression changed.
The same sensation from last night returned.
Someone was watching him.
He looked through the window.
Crowds.
Buildings.
Knights.
Nothing unusual.
Then he saw him.
A man standing on a rooftop.
Black cloak.
Silver mask.
Crimson eyes.
Kael’s heart stopped.
The figure stared directly at him.
Then raised one hand.
A single finger touched the man’s lips.
A gesture of silence.
Kael’s blood ran cold.
The figure disappeared.
[Ding!]
[Unknown Observer detected.]
[Distance: 436 meters.]
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Again?”
Elena noticed his expression.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
The system appeared.
[Warning.]
[The Observer has entered the capital.]
[Warning.]
[The Observer possesses knowledge of the Host’s current identity.]
Kael’s fingers tightened.
How?
Then another notification appeared.
[Additional information discovered.]
[The Observer is not included in the original timeline.]
Kael’s eyes widened.
That changed everything.
Someone else had entered the story.
Someone who wasn’t supposed to exist.
Someone who knew him.
Someone who had been watching him since before his reincarnation.
Kael looked at Pi.
The creature was still staring at the rooftop.
Then the academy appeared in the distance.
A gigantic white fortress surrounded by floating islands.
Magical barriers stretched across the sky.
Hundreds of students gathered outside the enormous gates.
Kael’s heartbeat accelerated.
This was it.
The beginning.
The moment where the original story had truly started.
The carriage stopped.
A servant opened the door.
“Young Master.”
Kael stepped outside.
The moment his feet touched the ground—
[Ding!]
[Main Quest Activated.]
[Aetheris Academy Entrance Examination]
Objective 1: Pass the physical examination.
Objective 2: Pass the mana examination.
Objective 3: Survive the combat examination.
Objective 4: Do not follow the original storyline.
Special Objective: Locate the Unknown Observer.
Reward: Unknown.
Failure Penalty: Death.
Time Remaining: 46 days.
Kael stared at the academy gates.
Thousands of people surrounded him.
Some were excited.
Others were nervous.
Some were already displaying their magical abilities.
And somewhere among them—
The protagonist was waiting.
Kael smiled.
“Let’s begin.”
Pi jumped onto his shoulder.
“Pi.”
Kael adjusted his clothes.
Then walked toward the gates of Aetheris Academy.
He didn’t know it yet.
But the moment he stepped through those gates—
The original story would cease to exist.
And a new story would begin.