Ken Xeno strolled up the path leading to the towering gates of the Magic Academy. The sunlight glinted off the white stone pillars, and banners bearing the Academy's crest flapped lazily in the wind. Students of all ages moved around him—some practicing magic, others chatting in small groups—but none seemed to notice the youngest Xeno's arrival.
Ken's lips curved into a calm, permanent smile. It wasn't fake. It wasn't forced. The system had made it so, but strangely, it didn't feel unnatural. If anything, it gave him a sense of composure, a quiet confidence he could lean on.
This place… it's exactly like the novel, he thought, scanning the campus with interest. He had read about the grand library, the training grounds, the classrooms where mana flowed like a river, but seeing it with his own eyes made it feel real.
He tightened his cloak slightly, shrugging as if adjusting to a mild breeze, and began walking toward the registration hall. His black hair swayed lightly with each step, his black eyes observing every detail—the arches, the floating lanterns, the faint hum of magic in the air.
His thoughts wandered briefly to the novel he had been reading the night before. Art Maxel… and the four heroines… fighting the Demon God… dying… He shook his head slightly. It was strange, being inside someone else's story.
I don't know how it will play out, he admitted silently. But I'm not here to change the story. I'm here to watch… for now.
The registration hall doors opened before him, revealing a massive room filled with students, clerks, and instructors. Ken stepped inside, the sound of his boots echoing lightly on the polished stone floor. The system activated automatically, displaying a translucent panel in front of him:
---
[Ken Xeno]
[Age: 15]
[Power: Overwrite]
[Description: A gift from the Author. Use it well. This power can do anything.]
[Strength: 100/100]
[Stamina: 100/100]
[Durability: 100/100]
[Intelligence: 100/100]
[Store]
---
Ken examined the stats casually, tilting his head as if reading a menu. Well… that's convenient, he thought with a small chuckle. Looks like the author really spoiled me. Not that I mind.
He moved toward the clerk at the registration desk, a young woman with bright red hair and a stack of papers taller than her head. She looked up at him, eyes widening slightly, but Ken's calm smile made her hesitate before speaking.
"Welcome… um, Master Xeno. We were expecting you," she said, her voice trembling just a little.
Ken nodded politely, his smile never faltering. "Thank you. I'm here to register," he said smoothly, the words flowing naturally as if he had said them a thousand times.
As she processed his registration, Ken's mind wandered again, thinking about the protagonist of the novel. He remembered the final line he had read: "I will come back again!"
Interesting. He tilted his head slightly, curious but not concerned. The protagonist sounded dramatic… but I wonder what he meant by "come back."
He didn't know that the original Art Maxel had "regressed," returning to the start of his own story. That knowledge, that twist, would come later—if it ever did. For now, Ken was content to observe, to explore, and to experience this world firsthand.
By the time the clerk handed him his registration scroll, Ken had already scoped out the dormitory assignments, the training areas, and even the floating practice fields where students were casting elemental spells midair. Everything was exactly like the novel—but to Ken, it felt alive, dangerous in a way books could never convey.
"Thank you," he said to the clerk, bowing slightly. Then he turned and walked toward the dormitory gates, the permanent smile on his face making him appear calm, confident, and unshakable.
This is my new life, he thought as he strode forward. And I intend to enjoy every moment of it.
And with that, the youngest Xeno entered the gates of the Magic Academy.