Adrian Arclayne yawned as morning light filtered through the window, warm and soft against his face. He rubbed his eyes, squinting at the brightness before muttering under his breath,
"...Weird. I carried all those crates yesterday—utensils, clothes, even the heavy ones—and my body doesn't hurt. Not even a twitch."
He raised his hand, turning it over and curling his fingers. Not a single muscle screamed in pain. "Even with this fragile body, I still recovered this fast? Is this an Arclayne trait or something?" he said with a tired grin. "Guess being born into a noble house has some perks after all."
He stretched his arms and neck, feeling only mild stiffness. Still, it was too strange. Yesterday, even lifting a wooden tray made his arms shake, but after a night's sleep, he felt… fine. Lighter, even.
"System," he muttered, calling out the familiar voice in his head. "Don't tell me I got some kind of hidden bonus?"
A faint digital chime echoed inside his mind.
[Status Notice: Minor Physical Adaptation Achieved.]
[Condition: Continuous labor under weakened physique.]
[Effect: Body has begun natural adjustment to strain.]
Adrian blinked, then chuckled under his breath. "So it is a thing. Nice. Guess I'll take the free buff."
He stood, rolling his shoulders once more, then sat on the edge of his bed and opened the System Interface. A smooth blue screen only visible to him slid into view — no one else could see it. Inside the transparent window floated lines of stats, small icons, and in one corner, his stored mana value.
[Mana: 15/15]
He stared at the number for a long second. Then sighed.
"Fifteen. That's all I've got. And the card needs fifty..."
He flicked his hand slightly, and the storage window shifted to another tab — [Card Inventory]. The single card he'd earned last night floated there in its slot, spinning slowly in blue light.
[Card Name: Blitz]
[Proficiency: F-]
[Rarity: S]
[Effect: Temporarily embody the concept of speed itself. For 3 seconds, user's physical movement and reaction speed exceed natural limitations.]
[Mana Cost: 50 per activation.]
[Cooldown: 3 hours per use.]
[Proficiency increases through consistent usage. Efficiency, duration, and mana cost will improve with mastery.]
Adrian stared at it with a mix of admiration and annoyance. "S-rank, huh? Pretty, shiny, completely useless right now."
He sighed again, leaning back. "I can't even activate it with this little mana. What am I supposed to do, charge it manually? Wait—"
He blinked and focused back on the display. "System, mana's stored here, right? So technically... no one in the real world can sense or detect it?"
[Correct. Mana stored within the System's spatial storage is invisible to external detection.]
[Only user interaction can alter its state.]
"So even if someone scans me, they'd think I'm a mana cripple." Adrian grinned. "Good. I like surprises."
He tapped the air to close the interface and stretched once more. "Alright. If my mana's sitting in the system, then I just need to earn more CP, buy what I need, and start building my base stats properly."
His stomach growled softly. "But first... breakfast. Can't train on an empty stomach."
As he walked toward the door, his faint reflection on the glass smiled back — a noble boy who looked weak, harmless, and maybe a little too calm. But inside that body was the thirty-time reincarnator who refused to stay ordinary.
The dining hall of the Arclayne estate was quiet that morning, sunlight spilling through tall glass windows and reflecting off polished silverware. The table stretched long and clean, the kind that could seat a dozen guests but today only had three.
The maids had already prepared the usual breakfast — light yet balanced. Plates of buttered bread, fresh fruit sliced neatly on porcelain, and a few dishes specifically made for his condition: bone-strengthening soup, steamed vegetables, and warm milk with a faint sweet aroma.
Adrian sat down at his usual spot near the end of the table. As soon as he did, the nearby maids greeted him with polite smiles.
"Good morning, Young Master Adrian."
He nodded slightly, returning a half-smile. Maybe they're just acting polite… or maybe helping them yesterday actually changed something, he thought. Either way, it's for my own convenience.
As he began eating, two girls took their seats across from him.
His older sister, Milia Arclayne, sat with a posture that could make a soldier jealous. Two years older than him, already known across the estate for her skill with a sword — the moment she picked one up as a child, the family instructors knew she was gifted. Her training aura practically followed her around.
Beside her sat Reona, the youngest sibling, only six years old. Quiet, observant, and always clinging to a stuffed animal she carried everywhere. She barely looked at him — not out of dislike, just distance. They hadn't really spoken much since his health kept him isolated most of the time.
Adrian silently munched on his food, biting into an apple slice and washing it down with a gulp of milk. When he looked up, he noticed Milia watching him with that familiar sharp glare.
"Is that a new taunt you're trying?" she said, voice calm but edged. "I heard you've been lifting things around the mansion yesterday. Even heavier ones. Despite your health. Do you want to make Mother angry again?"
Adrian stopped mid-bite, setting his fork down carefully. "It's nothing to worry about, sister," he said, keeping his tone casual. "Is it really bad that I want to help even a tiny bit around the house? It's not like I have much to do anyway."
Milia frowned slightly, her fork tapping once against her plate. "You're not supposed to strain yourself. You know that."
Adrian shrugged. "I didn't feel any pain, so I think I'm fine. Maybe I'm just built tougher than I look."
Milia gave him a narrow look — not fully convinced but unwilling to press further in front of Reona and the maids. "Hmph. Just don't collapse again. You're troublesome enough when you faint."
"Duly noted," Adrian said, half-grinning as he went back to eating.
For a moment, the table fell silent again except for the soft clinking of utensils. Reona quietly poked her fruit with a fork, occasionally glancing at Adrian as if curious but unsure what to say.
So this is what a 'normal' morning feels like, Adrian thought, leaning back slightly. Maybe not too bad... if I don't end up coughing blood halfway through it.
He reached for his cup again, taking another long sip of milk. Still, if I want to keep improving this body, I'll have to pace it.
Adrian lifted his cup again, finishing the last of his milk in one long gulp. As he set it down, the edge of the porcelain slipped slightly from his fingers and made a soft clink against the table. He didn't even flinch — his eyes had already moved back toward Milia.
Something about her expression caught his attention. Maybe it was the faint spark of irritation in her crimson eyes or the way her hair caught the light — a light red color that almost shimmered like fire under the morning sun.
Before he could look away, a faint ding echoed in his head.
[Scanning…]
[Target Locked: Milia Arclayne]
[Status Window Generated.]
A blue box appeared before Adrian's eyes — invisible to everyone else at the table. He blinked once, focusing on the floating text.
[Name:] Milia Arclayne
[Age:] 13
[Class:] Swordmaster (Apprentice Tier)
[Affinity:] Fire
[Hair Color:] Light Red
[Eye Color:] Crimson
[Physical Condition:] Excellent – High Vitality, Exceptional Muscle Balance
[Talent Grade:] A
[Description:] The first daughter of the Arclayne Family and a prodigy in swordsmanship. Known for her strict discipline and direct personality. Despite her harsh tone, she values effort above status and respects those who push themselves beyond weakness. Seen as a potential heir to the Arclayne name due to her raw potential and drive.
[Interest Level Toward You:] Lv. 1 – Mild Interest / Cautious Concern
Adrian blinked once, his mind catching up to what he was seeing. Wait… 'Interest Level'? So the system can analyze personal relations too? That's new.
Before he could look closer, Milia's voice cut through his thoughts.
"What?" she said sharply, her crimson eyes narrowing. "Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want me to give you a beating?"
Adrian tilted his head slightly, pretending to be confused. "Eh? Oh, nothing, nothing at all," he replied quickly, waving his hand. "Just spacing out, that's all."
Milia gave a skeptical look. "You're weird this morning."
"Maybe it's the milk," Adrian muttered under his breath, leaning back in his chair and quietly dismissing the glowing box from his view.
The system window faded, leaving only his reflection on the cup — a small smirk forming on his lips. So it's not just stats or cards. It can even read people.
This might get interesting.
Adrian's gaze lingered on the empty air for a moment longer, where Milia's status box had just faded. The system really is different this time, he thought. It's more… reactive. It doesn't just give me what I ask — it gives me what I need.
He exhaled softly and pushed his chair back. The sound of the legs scraping against the marble floor made Milia glance up again.
"Where are you going?" she asked, suspicious.
"Nowhere," Adrian said with an easy smile. "Just stretching."
He walked slowly along the edge of the table until he stopped beside Reona, who was quietly nibbling a piece of fruit, her small doll still tucked in her left arm. Her red eyes flicked up to him, uncertain.
Adrian crouched slightly and reached out to gently pat her head. Her soft silver hair — lighter than both his and Milia's — shimmered faintly under the light.
"If big brother recovers," he said with a small smile, "shall we play together sometime?"
Reona blinked, clutching her doll tighter before giving a small nod. "...Okay," she whispered.
A faint ping echoed in Adrian's mind.
[Target Locked: Reona Arclayne]
[Status Window Generated.]
Another transparent window appeared before him, blue and clear. He quietly read it while keeping his face calm so the maids wouldn't notice.
[Name:] Reona Arclayne
[Age:] 6
[Class:] — (Unawakened)
[Affinity:] Unknown
[Hair Color:] Silver
[Eye Color:] Scarlet Red
[Talent Grade:] S
[Physical Condition:] Healthy – Dormant Mana Circuits Detected
[Description:] The youngest of the Arclayne siblings. A quiet and observant child who rarely shows emotion but has strong empathy toward family members. Despite her young age, her mana capacity and affinity potential exceed recorded limits. Her ability remains unawakened due to her age.
[Interest Level Toward You:] Lv. 2 – Warm Curiosity / Gentle Trust
Adrian's eyes widened slightly. S-Talent? At six years old? That's absurd.
He leaned back, pretending to adjust his collar as the thought sank in. I trained, reincarnated, and mastered more lifetimes than anyone alive — and yet this kid already has overwhelming potential just waiting to explode.
He chuckled quietly to himself. I need to befriend her while I still can. Once she awakens, she'll probably outgrow everyone in this mansion.
He gave her another gentle pat on the head. "Then it's a promise," he said softly before standing again.
Reona gave a shy smile — small, but enough to make the corner of his lips lift too.
Still, Adrian thought as he walked back to his seat, if the system is showing me other people's stats like this… it means it's preparing for something. Something bigger than before.