Chapter 1: The Day It All Began
The sound of hooves echoed in the distance, a rhythmic clatter against the cobblestone road. Inside the modest yet elegant carriage, the world outside passed in a blur of golden fields and lush forests. I leaned against the window, my forehead pressing against the cool glass. The landscape should have calmed me, but my chest felt tight with anxiety.
This wasn't my life.
It couldn't be.
A week ago, I was a college student on Earth, struggling with term papers, deadlines, and my caffeine addiction. Then came the accident—a sudden, jarring collision of metal and glass—and everything faded to black. When I opened my eyes again, I wasn't in a hospital bed or floating in some surreal afterlife.
I was here.
Here, in the body of Kaelion Asher, the youngest son of one of the most prestigious noble families in Eldoria. A body far too frail for the expectations placed on it. Kaelion, a name whispered in disdain among servants and nobles alike. The wastrel. The disgrace.
And now… me.
The carriage jolted over a bump, yanking me from my thoughts. Across from me sat a man in his late forties, dressed in an immaculate black suit. His expression was as sharp as the edges of his graying beard. This was Claude, the Asher family's butler. His eyes bore into me with a mix of disdain and reluctant duty.
"Master Kaelion," he said, his tone clipped and formal. "I trust you are prepared for today's examination."
I straightened, trying to look composed. "Of course," I lied.
Claude's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't press further.
The "examination" he spoke of was the entrance test for Eldoria Academy of Magic, a place that only accepted the best of the best. Nobles and commoners alike competed for a chance to enter its hallowed halls, and while my noble birth guaranteed me a spot, the test determined placement.
For someone like Kaelion, the test was a mere formality. For me, however, it was an uphill battle against unfamiliar magic, unspoken expectations, and a reputation I didn't earn but couldn't escape.
---
The air in the carriage grew heavier as silence stretched between us. My thoughts drifted, unraveling the mess I found myself in. My memories of this world were fragmented—bits and pieces of Kaelion's life that didn't belong to me. He was lazy, arrogant, and utterly incapable of living up to his family's legacy.
And now, I was expected to carry that burden.
I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply, trying to steady my nerves. That's when I felt it—a shift in the air, subtle at first, then overwhelming. A strange warmth spread through my chest, followed by a faint hum that resonated in my skull.
[Welcome, Host.]
My eyes snapped open. The voice was calm, deliberate, and entirely unnatural.
"What the—" I froze mid-sentence as a shimmering blue screen materialized before me, floating in the air like a holographic projection. The words etched onto it glowed faintly, almost hypnotic in their clarity.
[Initializing…]
[System Activated.]
I blinked, my mind racing. "No. No, no, no. This can't be real."
[You have been chosen as the Host of the Villain System. Your purpose is to ascend through acts of villainy, chaos, and destruction. Success will bring unparalleled rewards. Failure… will not be tolerated.]
The screen flickered, and new text appeared.
[First Task Assigned.]
[Task: Arrive at the Eldoria Academy in Style. Cause a Scene.]
Reward: +10 Villain Points. Penalty: Public Humiliation.
"What the hell is this?" I hissed under my breath, leaning as far back as the carriage seat would allow. My hands gripped the edges of the cushion, knuckles white.
Claude raised an eyebrow from across the carriage. "Is something the matter, Master Kaelion?"
I forced a smile, waving him off. "Nothing. Just… thinking out loud."
The butler's gaze lingered for a moment before he returned to staring out the window.
I turned my attention back to the screen, which hadn't disappeared. It hovered there, taunting me with its absurdity. A system? Like in those webnovels I used to read? But this wasn't a game. This was my life now.
"Villain System?" I whispered, my voice trembling with disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me."
The screen pulsed, almost as if it heard me.
[Host has 30 minutes to complete the task. Failure to comply will result in penalty activation.]
My stomach churned. This wasn't a suggestion—it was a demand. And the consequences of disobedience? I didn't want to find out.
---
The carriage began to slow, the sound of hooves giving way to the bustling noise of the academy's outer gates. My heart pounded as we came into view of the massive archway leading to Eldoria Academy.
The gates were a testament to the academy's grandeur, towering structures adorned with intricate carvings of magical sigils. Beyond them stretched a path lined with blooming silverwood trees, their leaves shimmering under the midday sun.
Students and their families crowded the entrance, a sea of noble carriages and eager faces. I swallowed hard.
"Cause a scene," I muttered under my breath. The task was absurd. How was I supposed to "arrive in style" when I had no idea what that even meant?
The screen flickered again, as if responding to my doubt.
[Tip: Explosions are always effective.]
I froze, staring at the text. "Explosions? Are you insane?"
Claude glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "Did you say something, Master Kaelion?"
"No," I said quickly, clearing my throat. "Just… uh, thinking about the test."
The butler nodded, but his eyes lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary.
I leaned back, closing my eyes as I tried to think. The System wanted chaos, and it seemed dead set on dragging me into its twisted plans. But I wasn't about to blow something up in the middle of a crowd. There had to be another way.
---
As the carriage rolled to a stop, I took a deep breath, preparing myself for what lay ahead. The door swung open, and Claude stepped out first, extending a hand to help me down.
The moment my feet touched the ground, all eyes turned toward me. Whispers spread like wildfire, their words laced with judgment and curiosity.
"That's Kaelion Asher?"
"The disgrace of the Asher family?"
"I heard he couldn't even cast a basic spell."
The weight of their stares was suffocating, but I forced myself to keep my head high. If there was one thing I learned on Earth, it was how to fake confidence.
[Time Remaining: 15 minutes.]
The System's reminder jolted me back to reality. My window of opportunity was closing fast.
I scanned the crowd, searching for something—anything—that could help me complete the task without causing a literal explosion. Then I saw it: a pair of enchanted lanterns hanging from the gate, their magical flames glowing a deep, unnatural blue.
An idea formed in my mind. Reckless, borderline insane, but better than nothing.
"Claude," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos in my head. "Prepare to announce my arrival."
The butler hesitated, his brows furrowing in confusion. "Announce your arrival, sir?"
"Yes," I said, my lips curling into a smirk that I hoped looked confident. "Loudly."
---
What followed was a blur of noise and chaos. The lanterns "accidentally" fell from their hooks, their magical flames erupting into a harmless yet dazzling display of light. Gasps and shouts filled the air as the crowd turned toward the spectacle.
And there I stood, Kaelion Asher, framed by the flickering blue light, my smirk frozen in place.
[Task Completed.]
[+10 Villain Points.]