A knock at the door nearly made him jump out of his new, annoyingly attractive skin.
"Your Highness?" A servant's voice called through the oak. "The Imperial Majesties request your presence in the Obsidian Court."
Noah's stomach dropped. *Imperial Majesties? Parents? * The concept was so foreign he might have laughed if he wasn't busy having a silent panic attack.
---
The Obsidian Court lived up to its name - all polished black stone and stained glass depicting magical battles. At the far end, on twin thrones carved from what looked like solidified shadow, sat:
Emperor Reignhart: A man with the same white hair but none of Noah's delicate features, his face all sharp angles and colder than a tax auditor's heart.
Empress Reignhart: A woman so beautiful it hurt to look at, her smile as genuine as a corporate mission statement.
Noah's new body moved on autopilot, executing a perfect bow he'd never learned.
"You're late," the Emperor said, voice like a guillotine waiting to drop.
Noah's mouth went dry. *What's the protocol here? 'Sorry Dad, just got isekai'd, still learning the controls?'*
The Empress's laugh tinkled like broken glass. "Our little prince looks so... distracted today. Did that last mana experiment rattle your brains?"
*Mana experiment?* Noah's fingers twitched at his sides. Every instinct screamed these people were dangerous, parental titles notwithstanding.
"The Kazehaya Clan's heir has awakened abnormal chakra abilities," the Emperor continued, examining his nails. "You will investigate."
*Kazehaya? Chakra? * Noah's pulse spiked. *Familiar? *
"And sweetheart~" the Empress added with saccharine venom, "if you fail, we'll have you wed to Lady Blutang's daughter!"
Noah's perfect mask almost cracked. *That girl had all the charm of a back-alley tracheotomy. *
The Emperor's grin showed too many teeth. "Oh? Does our emotionless weapon finally feel something?"
Noah forced his expression back to blankness. "...Understood."
---
Mage training was an unmitigated disaster.
The Royal Sorcerer, a man who smelled suspiciously of pickled herring, thrust a focus crystal into Noah's hands.
"Channel your mana, Your Highness! Let us witness the famed Reignhart control!"
Noah stared at the crystal. *Okay. Magic. Just like in games. Feel the energy...*
FWOOMPH
The crystal erupted into neon pink flames that formed the words: *"UwU Murder Snuggle Time~"*
The Sorcerer screamed like he'd been personally betrayed by God.
Noah stared at his hands. *"...What."*
[System Notification: Mana circuits corrupted by 'Otaku Brain' malware. Suggested fix: Touch grass.]
*"I WILL STRANGLE YOU!"* Noah roared - then froze. He'd just... yelled. In public. After years of perfected silence in his past life.
The training hall went dead quiet. Every mage and knight stared at him like he'd grown a second head.
With mechanical precision, Noah turned and stabbed the training dummy so hard the enchanted wood exploded.
---
That night, in his stupidly oversized chambers, Noah finally broke.
*"Okay. Dead. Isekai'd. Magic prince now."* He paced like a caged animal. *"Parents are terrifying. Magic is broken. And Reimei might be out there somewhere."*
He collapsed onto the bed, staring at the canopy. *"Wherever you are, you bastard... you better be causing twice as much chaos."*
[Quest Updated: Locate 'Reimei' - Reward: One (1) Emotional Support Bastard]
Noah groaned and pulled a pillow over his face.