A ball cut through the air, spinning under the stadium floodlights. A striker raised his foot to finish—
Then darkness.
Leon's body jolted, and when his eyes opened again, he was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. A ceiling painted with the emblem of a lion grasping a football, its gold paint faded and cracked.
He sat up. Chandeliers glimmered faintly above him. On the walls, portraits of stern-faced men in suits stared down, trophies cradled proudly in their arms. Their gazes were accusing.
"…What is this place?"
Then the pain hit. Like a hammer smashing into his mind.
A flood of memories not his own crashed into him. Cheers of stadiums, parades of noble houses, medals, and banners. And then, disgrace—mockery, relegation, betrayal.
He was no longer Leon, an ordinary office worker in Oregon who played football on cracked concrete pitches. He was Hayes Arthur, only son of the Hayes family—a noble house whose name had once been synonymous with glory.
And now, a family on the brink of extinction.
The Hayes Football Club, their pride, had been relegated two seasons in a row. By law, such humiliation meant banishment. The senior team was dissolved, their players released, their noble standing erased.
Arthur was the last hope. As the only son, he had joined the academy, but his performances were ordinary at best. The pressure of the family name crushed him. His body failed, his spirit collapsed. Until Leon's soul arrived.
Leon's breath came ragged. So… transmigration. And in this world, nobility is decided by football.
Before he could think further, a cold chime echoed in his mind.
Ding!
[Football Sovereign System Activated]Welcome, Host. You are chosen to restore the Hayes family's honor.
Main Quest 1: Ensure Hayes Academy qualifies for the National Youth Tournament. Reward: Beginner's Training Pack + Attribute Panel Unlocked. Failure: Permanent dissolution of Hayes Family Nobility.
His vision blurred, numbers and letters appearing like a FIFA player card.
[Player Profile: Hayes Arthur]
Position: AMF (Attacking Midfielder)
Overall Rating: 57
Potential: 92 (Hidden Wonderkid Talent)
Pace: 60
Shooting: 53
Passing: 62
Dribbling: 58
Defending: 40
Physical: 54
Weak Foot: ★★★
Skill Moves: ★★
Traits: None
(Note: Average academy starter = 60–65 OVR)
Leon's eyes twitched. "So I'm… below average. Great. They want me to save a fallen noble house with this trash card?"
The door creaked open. A tall, silver-haired woman in a worn but elegant gown entered. Her eyes softened at the sight of him.
"Arthur, you're awake? You fainted again during drills. You worry me so much."
Memories surfaced. Lady Eleanor Hayes. His mother. Once the shining flower of noble society, now pitied as the wife of a disgraced family.
Behind her, a heavy step echoed. A broad-shouldered man entered, his presence filling the room even in a faded coat. His sharp eyes locked onto him.
"Arthur," he said in a low, steady voice. "As head of the Hayes, I will ask you only once more—do you still have the will to play?"
This was Lord Reginald Hayes. His father. Once a champion, captain of the Hayes club when they lifted their last trophy. Now a man carrying the weight of failure.
Leon—no, Arthur—swallowed. His pulse thundered in his ears. He wasn't just a son anymore. He was heir, the last Hayes.
"Yes," he said. His voice didn't waver. "More than ever. I'll bring us back."
His parents froze. Arthur, their real son, had been crumbling for months. But now his eyes burned with new fire.
Eleanor covered her mouth, tears forming. Reginald's stern face softened, just a fraction.
"…Good," his father said finally. "Then prove it. Tomorrow, the academy has a crucial scrimmage. If you cannot impress the coach, we may not even be invited to the Youth Tournament."
A system prompt blinked in Arthur's mind.
Ding!
Side Quest: Impress the Academy Coach in tomorrow's training match. Reward: Bronze Skill Card (Random).
That night, at the dinner table, they sat together in silence. The mansion was vast but empty. Once it overflowed with guests and servants; now the dining hall echoed with only three voices.
His mother ladled stew into his bowl, her hands trembling slightly. "Eat well, Arthur. You'll need your strength tomorrow."
Arthur nodded, eating quietly. The food was simple—boiled potatoes, bread, and thin meat. Once, the Hayes dined on feasts. Now, even their pantry showed their decline.
He watched his parents. They had lost everything, yet carried themselves with dignity. Their last hope was him, their only son.
In his old world, Leon had been nobody—an amateur who only dreamed of football. Here, he had a chance. A heavy, terrifying chance.
He clenched his fists under the table.
I'll do it. I'll rise from nothing. Not just for me… but for them.
Outside, the golden lion crest fluttered weakly in the night wind. Tomorrow, the first step of a thousand began.
And the fallen lion would roar again.