For a few seconds the room stayed completely silent. The blue screen hovered in front of me as if it had always belonged there.
I walked toward the mirror beside the wardrobe and looked at my reflection, studying the face that now belonged to me. The young man staring back had sharp features, dark hair, and the kind of noble appearance that would probably make academy girls whisper behind his back.
He looked healthy too, far healthier than the body I had before getting shot.
"So this is Adrian Valemont," I muttered.
In the original novel, Adrian wasn't an important character. He appeared during the academy arc a few times, mostly as a background noble who got mocked by other students.
The reason was simple, he had no talent. In a world where aura and magic decided everything, Adrian Valemont had absolutely nothing.
The system window flickered again, drawing my attention.
[ Host Status Initialized ]
[ Name: Adrian Valemont ]
[ Age: 18 ]
[ Title: None ]
[ Rank: None ]
[ Aura: None ]
[ Magic: None ]
I stared at the last two lines and sighed. "Yeah… that explains a lot."
This body really was empty. No aura, no magic, not even the weakest trace of power. If I had been born in this world normally, I would probably have spent the rest of my life as a useless noble living off family wealth.
But now there was a system.
And not just any system.
The screen flickered again as another message appeared.
[ System Rule Reminder ]
[ All rewards granted by the system are multiplied ×10,000 ]
I read the line twice just to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding it. Ten thousand times. Even a small reward could become something ridiculous with a multiplier like that.
A slow grin spread across my face.
"Well… that's interesting."
Before I could think more about it, a knock suddenly came from the door.
"Young master?"
A maid's voice sounded from the hallway.
"Your mother is waiting for you in the dining hall."
The system window faded away as if it had never existed.
"Coming," I replied.
I left the room and walked through the hallway of the Valemont mansion. The place was huge, with polished marble floors, tall windows, and expensive paintings decorating the walls. Servants quietly moved around the corridors as they carried out their duties.
Being a noble really wasn't a bad life.
A few minutes later I stepped into the dining hall. My mother was already sitting at the long table, calmly drinking tea while sunlight streamed through the tall windows behind her.
Lady Valemont looked up when I entered. "Adrian," she said gently. "You're finally awake."
I sat across from her as servants placed breakfast on the table.
"Morning."
For a moment she simply watched me, as if trying to read something in my expression. Then she sighed softly and placed her teacup down.
"You know what day it is, don't you?"
"The academy," I answered.
She nodded.
The Imperial Academy was the most prestigious institution in the empire. Every noble family sent their children there once they reached the right age. Future knights, mages, and political leaders were trained within those walls.
Unfortunately, Adrian Valemont had built a very different reputation there.
My mother looked slightly worried. "Adrian, you've already missed several classes this month."
I shrugged while taking a sip of tea.
"Didn't feel like going."
She sighed again. "I know the academy has been difficult for you, but avoiding it won't solve anything."
I knew exactly what she meant.
At the Imperial Academy, every student had something they were known for. Some possessed strong aura that made them natural knights, others had magical talent that allowed them to cast spells, and a few were exceptional swordsmen who trained since childhood.
Even average students usually had at least a basic rank showing they had potential.
Except Adrian.
Since entering the academy, he had been tested multiple times by instructors and examiners. Every single time the result had been the same. Rank: None. No aura detected, no magical affinity, nothing that could even qualify as the lowest level of talent.
To most students and teachers, Adrian Valemont was simply a noble child occupying a seat that should have belonged to someone more capable.
My mother sighed quietly. "Even if the evaluations are difficult, you still need to attend. Skipping classes will only make people talk more."
I finished my drink and stood up from the table.
"Don't worry, mother," I said with a small smile. "I'll go."
Her expression softened slightly. "Good. The carriage is already waiting."
I left the mansion soon after and stepped into the waiting carriage. The Valemont family crest was engraved on the door, a clear sign of noble status.
As the carriage moved through the capital, I watched the streets outside the window. Merchants were opening their shops, knights patrolled the streets in pairs, and groups of academy students were already heading toward the large gates in the distance.
After about fifteen minutes, the carriage slowed down.
Through the window, the massive walls of the Imperial Academy came into view. The place looked less like a school and more like a fortress. Tall stone buildings surrounded several large training grounds where students were already practicing with swords and magic.
The carriage stopped near the main gate.
"We've arrived, young master," the driver said as he opened the door.
I stepped down and immediately felt several gazes land on me.
It didn't take long for the whispers to start.
"Hey, look who it is."
"The rankless noble."
Three students standing near the entrance were staring at me with amused expressions. Judging from their uniforms and family crests, they were nobles too.
One of them stepped forward with a smirk.
"Well, if it isn't Adrian Valemont," he said loudly enough for others nearby to hear. "I'm surprised you showed up today. I thought you'd already given up on the academy."
The other two laughed.
"Yeah," another added mockingly. "What's the point of attending when you can't even use aura?"
I looked at them for a moment, then simply shrugged.
"Good question," I said calmly.
But inside my head, the system screen quietly flickered.