Kael stood in the center of the arena.
His wooden sword was still in his hand.
The Iron Fang Wolf had already disappeared into particles of light, but Kael barely noticed.
His attention remained fixed on the balcony.
Nothing.
The person who had been standing there was gone.
No footsteps.
No magical signature.
No trace.
Just an empty balcony filled with confused students.
Kael’s breathing slowed.
I found you.
Those three words continued repeating inside his head.
Who was that person?
More importantly—
How did they know him?
Kael looked down at Pi.
The tiny creature was unusually still.
Its golden eye remained fixed on the balcony.
“Pi.”
Pi didn’t respond.
Kael frowned.
“Pi?”
The creature finally looked at him.
“Pi.”
Kael sighed.
“You’re not helping.”
A loud bell suddenly rang throughout the arena.
BOOOOOONG!
The sound snapped Kael back to reality.
Seraphina stepped onto the battlefield.
“All candidates have completed the examination.”
The surrounding students immediately began talking.
Kael looked around.
Nobody seemed to have noticed the message.
Even the instructors were acting normally.
So I’m the only one who saw it.
The System appeared.
[Ding!]
[Main Quest Update.]
[Entrance Examination completed.]
[Results will be announced shortly.]
Kael frowned.
“System.”
[Yes?]
“Did you see what happened?”
[The System witnessed the event.]
“Who was that?”
[Unknown.]
“You’ve said that three times already.”
[Because the answer remains unchanged.]
Kael clenched his fist.
“Can you at least tell me whether they’re dangerous?”
There was a pause.
Then—
[Threat assessment unavailable.]
Kael’s expression darkened.
“That bad?”
[The System cannot determine whether the entity is hostile.]
“So you don’t know anything.”
[Incorrect.]
Kael raised an eyebrow.
“What do you know?”
[The entity does not belong to the original world timeline.]
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Meaning?”
[The entity is an irregularity.]
“Like me?”
Another pause.
[No.]
Kael’s expression changed.
“Then what makes them different?”
[You are a reincarnated soul occupying an existing vessel.]
[The entity appears to have entered the world through an unknown method.]
Kael stared at the screen.
“So I’m not the only person who came here from somewhere else.”
[That conclusion is probable.]
Kael looked toward the balcony again.
A chill ran through him.
Then who is that person?
The candidates were escorted out of the arena.
Kael walked alongside Elena.
She glanced at him.
“You’ve been quiet.”
“I’m thinking.”
“About the examination?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Kael looked at her.
Should he tell her?
Probably not.
If he told her about the Observer, she’d think he was imagining things.
Or worse—
She might investigate.
And if the Observer really was dangerous, dragging Elena into the situation would be stupid.
So Kael smiled.
“I’m thinking about lunch.”
Elena stared.
“…You’re lying.”
“Very observant.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Something happened.”
Kael kept walking.
“Nothing important.”
Elena stopped.
Kael continued for several steps before realizing she wasn’t following.
He turned.
She crossed her arms.
“Kael.”
“What?”
“You were different when you came here.”
Kael said nothing.
“Then during the examination, you suddenly looked like you had seen a ghost.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not.”
Kael sighed.
“Elena.”
She waited.
“I appreciate the concern.”
Her expression softened slightly.
“But I’ll deal with it.”
She studied him.
Then nodded.
“Fine.”
Kael smiled.
“Thanks.”
She walked past him.
“But if you die, I’m telling Father that I warned you.”
Kael laughed.
“That’s comforting.”
The candidates gathered in the academy courtyard.
An enormous crystal screen floated above them.
One by one, the results appeared.
Candidate Rank: 1
Leon Ardent
Physical: Exceptional
Mana Affinity: Exceptional
Combat: Exceptional
The crowd erupted.
Leon looked slightly embarrassed by the attention.
Kael smiled.
Of course.
The protagonist was first.
Nothing surprising.
Then the rankings continued.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Kael watched the names appear.
He didn’t recognize most of them.
Then-
Candidate Rank: 87
Kael Veyron
Kael blinked.
“…Eighty-seven?”
There were nearly two thousand candidates.
He had expected much worse.
The System appeared.
[Entrance Examination ranking calculated.]
[Final Rank: 87.]
[Karma +50.]
Kael smiled.
“Not bad.”
Elena looked at him.
“You placed eighty-seventh.”
“Yes.”
“Out of nearly two thousand.”
“Apparently.”
“That’s better than I expected.”
Kael looked at her.
“Was that a compliment?”
“Don’t get used to it.”
Kael laughed.
Then a new notification appeared.
[Achievement unlocked.]
[The Failed Villain.]
Description: Despite possessing a terrible reputation and mediocre abilities, the Host has successfully exceeded the original timeline’s examination result.
Reward: 100 Karma.
Kael’s eyes widened.
“Wait.”
He opened his status.
[Status]
Name: Kael Veyron
Age: 17
Race: Human
Class: None
Level: 1
Strength: 11
Agility: 9
Vitality: 7
Intelligence: 12
Mana: 14
Luck: 4
Karma: 151
Skills: None
Titles: Failed Villain
Companion: Pi — Unknown
Kael stared at the Karma value.
“One hundred and fifty-one.”
He grinned.
“Finally.”
He opened the shop.
Several new items had appeared.
“Karma Shop”
Basic Strength Elixir — 100 Karma
Basic Agility Elixir — 100 Karma
Basic Vitality Elixir — 100 Karma
Random Skill Chest — 300 Karma
Iron Body — 500 Karma
Beginner Swordsmanship — 750 Karma
Beginner Mana Manipulation — 1,000 Karma
Unknown Map Fragment — 150 Karma
Kael’s eyes immediately locked onto the final item.
“Unknown Map Fragment.”
[Yes.]
“What does it do?”
[Unknown.]
Kael stared at the system.
“You’re joking.”
[No.]
“Can I use it?”
[Yes.]
“What does it show?”
[Unknown.]
“…”
Kael slowly closed the shop.
“No.”
He wasn’t making the same mistake as the egg.
One unknown object was enough.
He needed something useful.
“Basic Agility Elixir.”
[Purchase confirmed.]
A small green vial appeared.
Kael drank it.
Warmth spread through his legs.
[Agility +2.]
Kael checked his status.
Agility: 11
His body felt lighter.
Not dramatically.
But enough to notice.
He clenched his fists.
“Good.”
Then—
[Ding!]
[Karma remaining: 51.]
Kael smiled.
He still had fifty-one.
That was enough to start saving again.
Or so he thought.
A new notification appeared.
[Special Mission.]
[Mission: Make a Friend.]
Kael’s smile disappeared.
“…What?”
[Objective: Establish a genuine friendship with another academy student.]
[Reward: 200 Karma.]
[Failure Penalty: None.]
Kael stared.
“You’re asking me to make friends?”
[Correct.]
“Why?”
[Social connections influence Karma.]
“I don’t need friends.”
[The System disagrees.]
Kael crossed his arms.
“I’m perfectly capable of surviving alone.”
[Current survival probability: 12.8%.]
“…”
[The System recommends making friends.]
Kael rubbed his face.
“Fine.”
He looked around.
Hundreds of students were still gathering.
Then his eyes landed on someone standing alone.
A girl.
She had long dark-blue hair.
Pale skin.
Green eyes.
She wore a simple academy uniform without any noble insignia.
She stood away from the crowds, reading a book.
Kael remembered her.
Mira Ashbourne.
A supporting character.
A talented mage who specialized in spatial magic.
In the original story, she became one of Leon’s companions.
Kael had never interacted with her personally.
Perfect.
He walked toward her.
As he approached, she looked up.
Her eyes met his.
She immediately closed her book.
“What do you want?”
Kael stopped.
“I’m Kael.”
“I know.”
“…Right.”
She waited.
Kael suddenly realized something.
He had no idea how to make friends.
He had spent his previous life mostly alone.
Now the System expected him to walk up to strangers and magically become friends with them.
“Do you like books?”
Mira stared at him.
“…What?”
“Books.”
“I can see that.”
“I mean, do you like reading?”
She looked at the book in her hand.
“Obviously.”
“Great.”
Silence.
Mira raised an eyebrow.
“Are you finished?”
“No.”
He sat beside her.
Mira immediately moved slightly farther away.
Kael pretended not to notice.
“What are you reading?”
“Ancient spatial theory.”
“Sounds complicated.”
“It is.”
“Do you understand it?”
“Yes.”
Kael nodded.
“That’s impressive.”
Mira stared at him.
Then, unexpectedly, she laughed.
It was brief.
Almost inaudible.
But she laughed.
[Ding!]
Kael’s eyes widened.
[Karma Event detected.]
[Target’s opinion of Host has improved.]
[Karma +10.]
Kael nearly smiled.
So that’s how this works.
He didn’t need to force friendship.
He simply needed to make genuine connections.
Mira returned to her book.
“You aren’t what I expected.”
Kael looked at her.
“What did you expect?”
“A spoiled noble.”
Kael smiled.
“Fair.”
“You aren’t angry?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Kael shrugged.
“Because I probably was one.”
Mira stared at him.
That answer clearly surprised her.
Then she looked back at her book.
“I suppose you’re more interesting than the rumors suggested.”
Kael smiled.
“Does that mean we’re friends?”
“No.”
“Acquaintances?”
“Perhaps.”
“I’ll take it.”
[Ding!]
[Relationship established.]
[Friendship Mission Progress: 15%.]
Kael smiled.
“One step at a time.”
A few hours later, the academy’s new students were assigned to their dormitories.
Kael received a room in the eastern residence tower.
He entered.
Two beds.
Two desks.
A large window overlooking the academy gardens.
A magical lamp.
A small wardrobe.
It wasn’t as luxurious as the Veyron mansion.
But Kael liked it.
It felt like a place where he could start fresh.
He placed his belongings down.
Pi immediately jumped onto one of the beds.
“That’s mine.”
“Pi.”
“You don’t pay rent.”
“Pi.”
Kael sighed.
“Fine.”
He sat at the desk.
The academy schedule was placed before him.
Classes began tomorrow.
Combat training.
Mana theory.
Monster studies.
Magical history.
Weapon techniques.
Practical magic.
Kael read through the schedule.
Then stopped.
His eyes widened.
One particular name caught his attention.
Professor Lucien Graves — Mana Theory.
Kael remembered him.
In the original novel, Lucien was a minor character.
But he had disappeared halfway through the story.
Nobody knew why.
The protagonist later discovered that Lucien had been secretly investigating ancient magical ruins.
Kael leaned back.
Interesting.
Then—
A knock sounded.
Kael frowned.
“Who is it?”
No response.
He walked toward the door.
Another knock.
This time—
Three slow knocks.
Kael’s expression changed.
Three.
The same pattern he’d heard in the mansion.
The Observer.
Kael reached for his sword.
He opened the door.
Nobody was there.
The hallway was empty.
Kael looked left.
Nothing.
Right.
Nothing.
Then he looked down.
A small black envelope lay on the floor.
Kael crouched.
He picked it up.
There was no name.
No seal.
Just a strange silver symbol.
The same symbol he’d seen on the Observer.
Kael’s heartbeat increased.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
Four words were written across it.
You are not the first.
Kael froze.
The paper suddenly turned to ash.
The System appeared.
[Ding!]
[Major Story Event detected.]
[Hidden information has been revealed.]
[The Host is not the first outsider to enter this world.]
Kael’s eyes widened.
Then another message appeared.
[Warning.]
[At least three irregularities currently exist within the world.]
Kael stared at the screen.
“Three?”
Pi suddenly stood up.
Its scales bristled.
Kael looked at the tiny creature.
The room became strangely cold.
Then—
A voice whispered from somewhere beyond the window.
“One.”
Kael spun around.
Nothing.
The voice continued.
“Two.”
Kael’s grip tightened around his sword.
Pi growled.
Then the final word echoed through the room.
“Three.”
The magical lights went out.
Kael stood motionless in the darkness.
And somewhere in the academy—
something awakened.
and Add to library!