"Penelope, I really enjoyed the finance tutor, and I've already grasped some of the concepts. Could you find me a philosophy teacher next?"
"Lucien, I'm thrilled to see you so eager to learn. After all, you'll be taking over the Grafton estate one day," Penelope replied warmly.
"But you're still a child. You need to balance study with rest and fun to stay healthy and grow properly."
"Auntie, the world's like a giant washing machine—either you spin others, or they spin you!" Lucien shot back with a grin.
In the elegantly decorated villa, a poised and graceful woman leaned back on the sofa, looking at the sharp-featured boy before her with a mix of affection and exasperation. His dark blonde hair was neatly combed, and his deep black eyes held a maturity far beyond his years.
Lucien Grafton.
The sole heir to the Grafton family, a titan of British commerce.
His parents had died in a tragic accident during a trip, leaving him in the care of his aunt, Penelope, who raised him as her own. Unmarried and childless, Penelope saw Lucien—her late brother's only child—as her own son.
Lucien had always been bright and studious, nothing like the mischievous children his age. But sometimes, Penelope thought he was too studious. Not only did he master the lessons from his private tutors with ease, but he also insisted on extra assignments and practice problems.
Rubbing her temple, Penelope chuckled softly. "A washing machine, I get, but what's this 'spin' nonsense? You're always coming up with new words."
She paused, her tone softening. "But seriously, Lucien, have you really thought this through? Are you sure about going to that… Hogwarts?"
---
Lucien had been in this world for ten years now, reborn into a wealthy family. He was supposed to inherit the Grafton fortune, dominate the business world, and live the life of a proper "Lord Lucien."
That is, until this morning, when a snowy white owl swooped through his window, dropped a letter, and flew off with a flourish. The envelope bore a crest: a bold "H" surrounded by a lion, a snake, a badger, and an eagle.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (President of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Order of Merlin, First Class)
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of required books and equipment. Given your circumstances, a professor will visit to address any questions, arriving no later than 8:00 p.m. this evening.
Hogwarts? Magic?
It took Lucien a while to process that he'd been transported into the world of Harry Potter. He racked his brain, recalling fragments of the wizarding world: wondrous spells, a hidden society of witches and wizards, and a menagerie of magical creatures.
For someone like Lucien, born to a non-magical (Muggle) family, a Hogwarts professor would visit to explain the basics of the wizarding world.
"I wonder who it'll be," Lucien mused. "Dumbledore himself? Maybe Professor McGonagall, the cat-loving Transfiguration expert? Please, Merlin, don't let it be Snape with his greasy hair…"
---
When Penelope asked again, Lucien nodded firmly. "Yes, Auntie. At Hogwarts, I'll learn about magic—knowledge I know nothing about."
Seeing Lucien's eyes light up with his usual thirst for learning, Penelope waved her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright! If you want to go, go. Who could say no to something as extraordinary as magic?"
As the head of the Grafton family, Penelope had heard whispers of the wizarding world, but she never imagined her nephew would awaken as a wizard.
After a bit more chit-chat, Lucien returned to his room.
"System," he said, "I'm about to go learn magic. Can you cut me some slack on this month's loan?"
[Congratulations, Host, on stepping into a new world. Now applying for a 'Magic Loan.']
Lucien shook his head at the system's emotionless tone. Like any proper transmigrator, he'd awakened his system at age six. Its full name? The Loan Reward System.
It allowed Lucien to "borrow" rewards in advance, then complete tasks to "repay" them. For example, his most recent loan was "Financial Knowledge Mastery." The moment he signed the contract, a flood of financial expertise filled his mind. To repay it, he had to read fifty finance books and solve five hundred related problems—tasks made easier by the knowledge he'd borrowed.
[To celebrate the Host's embrace of magic's wonders, a new loan has been approved: 'Loki's Faceless' (Annual Loan)]
Lucien's eyelid twitched at the words "Annual Loan." The system's loans came in four tiers—Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and the daunting Annual. Each had a repayment period of one day, one week, one month, or one year, respectively. The rewards scaled up, but so did the tasks' difficulty.
[Loan Item: Loki's Faceless (Annual Loan)]
[Repayment Period: 365 Days]
[Loan Contents: Gain the magical talents of Loki, God of Mischief and Transformation]
[White Magic: S]
[Dark Magic: SS+]
[Defensive Magic: S+]
[Transfiguration: SSS]
[Potions: A]
[Alchemy: A+]
[Magical Power: SS]
[Loan Tasks: Master White Magic, Perfect Transfiguration, Perfect Dark Magic, Raise Extraordinary Offspring…]
Lucien's expression grew stranger with every line. Loki, the Norse god of trickery, was known for his shape-shifting and magical prowess. But this reward was insane—and so were the tasks. The sheer number of them made his head spin.
Even with Loki's talents, could he master all this in a year? And what was this about "raising extraordinary offspring"? Was that a nod to Loki's mythical children—like the giant wolf, the serpent, or that eight-legged horse?
Could a human even produce such things?
Lucien shook his head. "System, it's my first magic loan. Any chance of a discount?"