Chapter 3: The World
Noah stood before the mirror, studying his reflection.
Long, silken purple hair cascaded past his shoulders. His silver eyes, sharp and piercing, mirrored the world like glass. He smirked.
At least I'm handsome now.
Noah Weaverheart was a lady-killer, no doubt about it—the type who could turn heads with a glance. If his predecessor had used this face properly, things would've turned out differently.
Tch. What a waste. If the old Noah had half a brain, with a face like this, even that protagonist would struggle against him.
But that was then.
This time, he would use his looks, his mind, and—most importantly—his system to get exactly what he wanted. Even the princess who was destined to abandon him for the protagonist.
⸻
After freshening up, Noah stood by the window, gazing out at the vast Weaverheart estate.
The morning sun bathed the land in gold. Countless training fields, lush gardens, and towering marble structures stretched as far as the eye could see. A home befitting one of the Four Great Families.
And yet…
This world is insane.
Noah had only read the first fifty chapters of the novel before he died. But what he did know? It hooked him immediately.
A world governed by mana. Shaped by monsters, dungeons, and war.
Centuries ago, gates appeared across the world, spilling forth creatures of nightmares—goblins, orcs, dire wolves, dragons, undead. Every horror imaginable.
But the gates brought something else, too.
Mana.
A mysterious energy that awakened human potential, granting them supernatural abilities.
With this power, humanity fought back. But they weren't the only ones who changed. Mana also led to the rise of other races—elves, dwarves, beastmen, and demons.
Rather than uniting, these races divided the world, each claiming their own continents. An uneasy peace followed.
Except with the demons.
They were the real enemy. They loved war. They loved chaos.
And so, the other races banded together, creating an academy to train their most promising talents. A place where all races coexisted.
The same academy where Elijah—the protagonist—would collect women like Pokémon.
Noah scowled under his breath.
"Damn you, Elijah."
…
The power progression in this world was straightforward.
At twelve years old, every child awakened their innate talent, graded from E-rank to SSS-rank.
E-rank? Utterly useless.
SSS-rank? A god among men.
After awakening, they were officially recognized by the Akashic Record—a mysterious system governing strength and recognition. It recorded every action, every achievement, and if you did something truly remarkable—whether heroic or villainous—it rewarded you with a title.
And titles weren't just for show.
They granted real power.
The rarer and more powerful your titles, the stronger you became. Because in this world, power wasn't just about talent.
It was about existence. And only by gaining achievements and titles can your existence be elevated.
When your existence reached a certain threshold, the Akashic Record would grant you a choice.
The best example? Aura.
To reach A-rank, one had to awaken their Aura—the manifestation of an individual's presence and energy. This could be achieved through years of rigorous training or by accumulating enough titles. Because once your existence reached a certain threshold, the Akashic Record would present you with a selection of Auras based on your achievements and the path you had forged. Needless to say, the more powerful and unique your path, the more absurd the options.
The same principle applied to S-rank, but instead of Aura, one awakened their Intent—a deep, personal understanding of a specific concept so profound that it can influence reality itself.
As for SS-rank and beyond…
Noah had no idea.
He never read that far.
But one thing was clear—power could be earned.
If you were smart, bold, and insane enough, you could force the Akashic Record to acknowledge you.
And that was the loophole he intended to exploit.
Because unlike everyone else…
He had a system. And a unique one at that.
Just as he was about to plan his next move—
Knock. Knock.
"Young Master, may I enter?"
A familiar voice.
Noah turned to the door. "Yes."
The middle-aged maid from before stepped inside, her posture stiff, eyes downcast.
Noah immediately understood why.
His predecessor had been a spoiled brat, tormenting the servants because he knew his mother would never punish him.
Now?
They were terrified of him.
Annoying.
He sighed. "Do you need something?"
The maid flinched at his tone before stammering, "T-The Lady is waiting for you in the dining room."
Noah nodded. "Guide me."
The maid froze. "…What?"
He frowned. "Do I have to repeat myself?"
"Ah! N-No, Young Master! Right away!" She practically fled into the hallway, trembling.
Noah followed, sighing internally. I feel bad for her… but I have no idea where the hell the dining room is.
If only he had inherited his predecessor's memories.
System, at least do your job properly next time.
⸻
The dining hall was vast yet eerily empty.
A long mahogany table stretched across the room, but only two chairs sat at either end.
It made sense.
The Weaverheart family consisted of just two people.
Noah and his mother.
And his father?
Unknown.
Not that it mattered.
"Hello, Mother."
Seated at the head of the table was a striking woman with flowing silver hair and piercing violet eyes.
Selene Weaverheart.
One of the strongest women in the Empire of Castria, the ruler of the human domain.
A terrifying existence.
She smiled, spreading her arms. "Come here, my baby. Give Mommy a hug."
Noah hesitated.
His predecessor had always rejected her affection.
But if there was one person he needed to bond with quickly, it was her.
He stepped forward and hugged her.
Selene stiffened.
Her arms hovered, frozen in shock, as if unable to process what just happened.
Noah leaned back slightly, tilting his head. "Mother? Is something wrong?"
Her fingers tightened around him.
Noah felt her trembling.
Shit. Did I overdo it?
Selene pulled back, purple eyes locking onto his.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "You never let me hug you."
Noah sighed, forcing a sheepish smile. "I realized… I've been an idiot."
He looked down. "People always say I'm nothing without you. That I'm weak, talentless. That I'll never finish my training. I didn't want to rely on you forever, so I tried to distance myself."
Selene's gaze softened.
Noah didn't have to lie.
This was exactly what his predecessor had done.
Selene reached forward, cradling his face. "You know, you don't have to care about what others say."
Then—
The temperature dropped.
A murderous aura filled the room.
Selene's voice turned ice-cold.
"…And just wait, my love. I'll find everyone who said that about you and make them regret being born."
Noah shivered. That yandere switch was too fast.
He coughed lightly. "Uh, right. So… why did you call me here?"
Selene leaned back, smirking.
"You know that tomorrow is your twelfth birthday."
"The day of your awakening."
"Are you ready?"
Noah's heart skipped a beat. His finger twitched slightly.
Already?!
The plot was starting tomorrow.
System, show my mother's affection level.
[Affection Level: Selene Weaverheart – 90%]
So I can share her talent?
[No. The rank of your mother is SS. As a unawakened person, you can only share with people up to C rank.]
Noah cursed. 'Shit. That's a problem.'
"Of course, Mother. I'm ready."
He forced a smile.
—Or I will make sure to be before tomorrow.
I mean with my appearance, it's not impossible that someone fancies me in secret, right ?
Noah's eyes hardened.
And even if there is none. I would make sure there is one before tomorrow morning.
…But wait. If my mother's obsessed with me, why isn't it 100%?
[90% is the highest a mother's love can naturally reach. Anything beyond that… is something else entirely.]
Noah blinked, confused.
Then— a cold realization crept into his mind.
No. That couldn't be what it meant…right ?
End of Chapter 3.