The gates of Aetheris Academy were enormous.
Kael had seen them countless times while reading the original novel, but seeing them in person was an entirely different experience.
Two colossal towers of white stone rose toward the clouds, connected by an archway covered in glowing runes.
A massive silver emblem floated above the entrance.
A sword surrounded by seven stars.
Behind the gates stretched the academy grounds.
Magical towers.
Training arenas.
Lecture halls.
Floating platforms.
Gardens filled with strange plants.
And, in the distance, a massive structure that appeared to have been carved directly from a mountain.
Kael stopped for a moment.
“So this is Aetheris.”
Students streamed through the gates.
Some wore expensive clothing decorated with family insignias.
Others wore simple clothes, clearly coming from ordinary backgrounds.
Yet every one of them had the same expression.
Excitement.
Nervousness.
Ambition.
They had all come here hoping to change their futures.
Kael couldn’t help but smile.
And I’m here trying not to die.
[Ding!]
[The System approves of the Host’s realistic expectations.]
“Nobody asked.”
[The System is merely acknowledging the Host’s wisdom.]
Kael ignored it.
He adjusted his coat and walked forward.
Pi sat on his shoulder, mostly hidden beneath the collar.
The moment Kael entered the academy grounds, several gazes turned toward him.
Whispers immediately followed.
“Isn’t that…”
“Kael Veyron?”
“The Veyron family’s young master?”
“I heard he challenged a count’s son.”
“I heard he lost.”
“I heard he destroyed an entire carriage.”
“I heard he threatened a knight.”
Kael’s expression became increasingly uncomfortable.
Wonderful.
He hadn’t even taken the examination yet, and his reputation had already arrived before him.
Elena walked beside him.
Unlike Kael, she seemed completely unaffected by the attention.
“Ignore them.”
“I am.”
“You look bothered.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Kael glanced at her.
“Do you always analyze people?”
“Only when they’re acting strangely.”
“So I’m strange?”
“Extremely.”
Kael sighed.
“Thanks.”
Before Elena could respond, a loud voice came from ahead.
“Kael!”
Kael stopped.
A young man pushed through the crowd.
He was tall, with golden hair and bright blue eyes.
His clothes were expensive, but unlike the arrogant nobles surrounding him, his expression was friendly.
Kael recognized him.
Leon Ardent.
The original protagonist.
Kael’s heart skipped a beat.
So this is him.
Leon was the main character of Chronicles of the Fallen World.
The chosen hero.
The genius.
The person who would eventually become one of the strongest beings in the world.
And, unfortunately—
The man who killed Kael Veyron.
Leon stopped in front of him.
He smiled.
“I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Kael stared at him.
In the original timeline, Kael had immediately insulted Leon.
That had been the beginning of their conflict.
This time, however—
Kael extended his hand.
“Good morning.
Leon blinked.
The surrounding students went silent.
Elena stared at Kael.
Leon looked at the offered hand.
Then slowly shook it.
“Good morning?”
“Yes.”
“…Are you okay?”
Kael sighed.
“Apparently that’s the most common question people ask me.”
Leon laughed.
“You’re strange today.”
Kael smiled.
“You’ve mentioned that.”
Leon released his hand.
“I heard you were taking the entrance examination.”
“I am.”
“Good luck.”
“You too.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Kael studied Leon carefully.
The protagonist looked almost exactly as Kael remembered him.
But there was something different.
A faint golden glow surrounded his body.
Not visible to ordinary people.
Kael could somehow perceive it.
Mana.
Dense mana.
Extremely dense.
[Ding!]
[Target analyzed.]
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
[Name: Leon Ardent.]
[Level: 3.]
[Strength: 16.]
[Agility: 18.]
[Vitality: 15.]
[Intelligence: 17.]
[Mana: 32.]
[Luck: ???]
Kael almost coughed.
“Thirty-two?”
[Correct.]
“His mana is more than twice mine.”
[Correct.]
“And his physical attributes are higher too.”
[Correct.]
Kael smiled bitterly.
“That’s comforting.”
Leon tilted his head.
“Did you say something?”
“No.”
Suddenly, a bell rang throughout the academy.
BOOOOOONG!
The conversations immediately died down.
A woman’s voice echoed across the academy grounds.
“All candidates for the Aetheris Academy entrance examination are to proceed to the central examination hall.”
The massive doors ahead opened.
Students began moving.
Kael looked at Leon.
“See you inside.”
Leon nodded.
“Yeah.”
Kael walked away.
But after several steps, the system appeared.
[Ding!]
[Special Event detected.]
[The Host has interacted with the Protagonist.]
[Original Event altered.]
Kael’s smile disappeared.
“What changed?”
[Unknown.]
“You don’t know?”
[The System cannot calculate all consequences.]
Kael frowned.
That wasn’t reassuring.
He glanced backward.
Leon was still standing there.
And for just a moment—
Kael noticed something strange.
Leon was watching him.
Not with hatred.
Not with suspicion.
With curiosity.
The central examination hall was enormous.
Thousands of candidates were seated across several sections.
Teachers stood along the walls.
Magical crystals floated above the examination platform.
At the front stood a middle-aged woman wearing a white robe.
Her silver hair reached her waist.
Her eyes were calm but intimidating.
Kael recognized her immediately.
Head Examiner Seraphina Vale.
In the original story, she had been one of the academy’s senior instructors.
A powerful mage.
And someone who could immediately detect lies.
Seraphina stepped forward.
“Welcome to Aetheris Academy.”
Her voice carried throughout the hall without amplification.
“You have come from noble houses, villages, merchant families, adventurer guilds, and distant kingdoms.”
She looked across the candidates.
“Some of you will become knights.”
“Some will become mages.”
“Some will become explorers.”
“Some will become nobles.”
“And some…”
Her expression became cold.
“…will discover that talent alone is not enough.”
Silence.
“The examination consists of three stages.”
A crystal appeared behind her.
“Physical ability.”
The crystal changed.
“Mana affinity.”
Then—
“Combat.”
The hall erupted in murmurs.
Kael leaned back.
Here we go.
Seraphina raised her hand.
“Those who fail the first two stages will not proceed to combat.”
Kael frowned.
That wasn’t how he remembered it.
The original examination had allowed everyone to participate in combat.
Another change.
The system appeared.
[Timeline deviation detected.]
Kael’s expression became serious.
Someone changed the rules.
He looked around the hall.
Could it be the Observer?
Was someone manipulating events?
Or had his presence alone caused this?
Before he could think further—
“First stage begins.”
A massive magical crystal descended onto the platform.
“Candidates will be tested individually.”
The first students began approaching.
One placed his hand against the crystal.
[Strength: 11.]
A teacher recorded the result.
Next.
[Strength: 14.]
Applause.
Another.
[Strength: 17.]
More applause.
Kael watched silently.
His own strength was only 11.
He was already below most of the stronger candidates.
Then—
“Leon Ardent.”
The hall became quiet.
Leon walked forward.
He placed his hand against the crystal.
Golden light exploded across the room.
[Strength: 18.]
Gasps.
“That’s incredible.”
“He’s only seventeen!”
“Who is he?”
“Leon Ardent.”
Kael smiled.
Exactly as expected.
Then the system appeared.
[Protagonist’s presence detected.]
[Karma fluctuation: +3.]
Kael frowned.
“Why did I get Karma?”
[The Host’s Karma is influenced by significant events.]
“So just watching him counts?”
[Apparently.]
“That’s ridiculous.”
[The System does not apologize.]
Leon stepped away.
The next candidates continued.
Eventually—
“Kael Veyron.”
The hall became noticeably quieter.
Whispers spread.
“That’s the Veyron heir.”
“Isn’t he weak?”
“I heard he can’t even use a sword.”
“Let’s see what he gets.”
Kael walked toward the crystal.
He could feel hundreds of eyes on him.
Some curious.
Some mocking.
Some indifferent.
He placed his hand against the crystal.
Nothing happened.
A few people laughed.
Kael’s eyebrow twitched.
The examiner frowned.
“Again.”
Kael pressed harder.
Still nothing.
The crystal remained completely dark.
A teacher whispered something to Seraphina.
She looked at Kael.
“Your strength rating is eleven.”
Kael blinked.
“That’s all?”
“Yes.”
The laughter became louder.
Someone behind him whispered.
“The Veyron heir only has eleven?”
“That’s embarrassing.”
Kael calmly removed his hand.
[Ding!]
[Karma Event.]
[The Host has been publicly underestimated.]
[Karma +5.]
Kael almost laughed.
Even humiliation gives me Karma.
Maybe this system wasn’t as bad as he thought.
He returned to his seat.
Elena looked at him.
“You don’t seem embarrassed.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
She smiled faintly.
“Good answer.”
The second stage began.
Mana affinity.
One candidate after another placed their hands against a different crystal.
Colors appeared.
Red.
Blue.
Green.
Gold.
Purple.
The stronger the reaction, the higher the affinity.
Eventually, Leon stepped forward again.
The crystal immediately erupted with golden light.
The examiner’s expression changed.
“Exceptional.”
The hall erupted.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
[Mana: 32.]
Of course.
Then—
“Kael Veyron.”
Kael stood.
He walked toward the crystal.
The moment his hand touched it—
Nothing.
A few students laughed again.
Kael frowned.
“What?”
The examiner looked confused.
“Your mana is present.”
“Then why isn’t the crystal reacting?”
“I don’t know.”
Kael stared at his hand.
He remembered something.
The original Kael had possessed mana.
But his affinity had been almost nonexistent.
That had been one of the reasons everyone considered him useless.
The examiner checked the crystal.
“Try again.”
Kael did.
A faint grey light appeared.
The examiner frowned.
“Affinity: Extremely low.”
More laughter.
Kael returned to his seat.
But this time, he wasn’t upset.
He was thinking.
The system said my mana is fourteen.
So why couldn’t the crystal detect it properly?
Then Pi shifted beneath his collar.
Kael looked down.
The creature’s black eye glowed.
The system appeared.
[Warning.]
[Companion reaction detected.]
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“What did Pi do?”
[Pi has interfered with the examination crystal.]
Kael stared.
“How?”
[Unknown.]
He almost laughed.
“Of course.”
The system continued.
[Special effect activated.]
[Karma concealment.]
Kael’s expression changed.
“What does that mean?”
[The Host’s true Karma signature is being hidden.]
Kael’s eyes widened.
“By Pi?”
[Correct.]
He looked down at the tiny creature.
Pi yawned.
Kael smiled.
“You really are strange.”
“Pi.”
The final stage was announced.
Combat.
The candidates were transported into a massive arena.
A magical barrier surrounded the battlefield.
Seraphina raised her hand.
“Each candidate will fight one summoned creature.”
A magic circle appeared beneath Kael’s feet.
He tightened his grip around the wooden sword provided by the academy.
The system appeared.
[Combat Trial.]
[Opponent: Iron Fang Wolf.]
[Threat Level: Low.]
Kael smiled.
“Low?”
The magical circle flashed.
A wolf emerged.
Nearly twice Kael’s size.
Its black fur bristled.
Its eyes glowed red.
Its claws scraped against the stone.
The audience erupted.
Kael slowly raised his sword.
The wolf growled.
Then charged.
Kael moved.
His body reacted faster than he expected.
He dodged sideways.
The wolf’s claws swept past his chest.
Kael swung.
THUD!
The wooden sword struck the wolf’s side.
The beast staggered.
Kael’s eyes widened.
I actually hit it.
The wolf turned.
It charged again.
Kael remembered Gareth’s instructions.
Footwork.
Balance.
Don’t fight the opponent’s strength.
Use its momentum.
Kael waited.
The wolf leapt.
At the final moment, he stepped aside.
The beast landed.
Kael brought the sword down.
CRACK!
The wolf collapsed.
Silence filled the arena.
Then—
[Ding!]
[Combat Trial Complete.]
[Evaluation: Excellent.]
[Karma +20.]
Kael stared at the notification.
Then smiled.
He had done it.
He had passed.
But before he could celebrate—
The academy’s magical barrier suddenly flickered.
Kael’s smile disappeared.
A black symbol appeared briefly in the center of the arena.
Nobody else seemed to notice.
Nobody except Kael.
And Pi.
The symbol was the same shape as the mark he’d seen on the masked Observer.
[Warning.]
[Unknown Observer detected.]
Kael slowly looked toward the upper viewing balcony.
A figure stood among the crowd.
Black cloak.
Silver mask.
Crimson eyes.
The Observer raised one hand.
Then pointed directly at Kael.
Kael’s blood ran cold.
A message appeared in the air.
Not from the System.
Not from the academy.
Three words.
I found you.
Then the figure vanished.
Kael stared at the empty balcony.
His hand tightened around the sword.
The entrance examination no longer mattered.
Because whatever had followed him into this world had finally made its move.
And Kael had a terrible feeling that the academy was about to become the battlefield where everything began.