A sharp chime echoed in Cael's mind, crisp and mechanical.
Ding… Quest Generated.
[Main Quest: Find the Hidden Path to the Magical World]
Reward: Access to Wizard-Class Magical Power
Failure Condition:
If the Leaky Cauldron is not located within 6 months, you will not receive a Hogwarts admission letter.
You will remain a miserable, reincarnated failure.
Cael blinked. "…That's a bit harsh, isn't it?"
The System responded with a flat, unsympathetic tone.
"Real stakes make real effort. This isn't a sandbox game."
Cael frowned and asked the obvious. "Okay, I'll accept the quest. But… how exactly am I supposed to find the Leaky Cauldron? It has Muggle-repelling spells all over it. And according to you, I'm still a Muggle."
"That's your job to figure out," the System replied instantly. "You're extremely privileged, you know. You've seen the movies, read the books. If you, of all people, can't find your way to the magical world, then what makes you think you'll do any better inside it?"
Cael let out a long sigh. "Such a useless helper you are."
There was a pause. Then—
"I have already done so much for you, and you're calling me useless? Hmph. Idiotic moron."
The voice carried a huff of fake indignation, and in Cael's mind's eye, he imagined a chibi anime girl turning away with puffed cheeks. That image made him snort out a laugh.
"Okay, okay! I was joking. Chill. I didn't mean it," he said, holding back a grin. "Sorry."
The System only gave a grumpy "Hmph."
Cael shook his head and smiled faintly. This world may be strange, and the System might be annoying, but… maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
The Next Morning
Warm sunlight spilled through the window as Cael stirred awake. For a brief moment, he'd forgotten where he was.
Then it came back—the orphanage, the quest, the magic. The second life.
He dressed quickly in a clean but old set of clothes, then slipped out of the room. The hallway creaked beneath his feet as he explored the building more carefully than ever before.
The orphanage was a modest two-story home with about twenty rooms and a small fenced garden at the back. The wallpaper was faded, but the place felt lived in—warm, not cold.
He made his way downstairs, following the scent of breakfast.
In the kitchen stood a silver-haired woman stirring a pot on the stove, humming softly to herself. The System pinged lightly in his mind.
"Miss Linda. 60 years old. Founder and caretaker of the Vale Street Orphanage. Locally known as 'Mama Linda.' No children of her own. A genuinely kind person. High community reputation."
As if on cue, the woman turned toward him with a warm smile.
"Oh, good morning, Cael!" she greeted. "Did you sleep well, my boy?"
"Yes, Mama Linda. Thank you for asking," he replied politely.
She blinked, a little surprised. Her smile softened as she looked at him closely.
'He smiled… That's the first time in three years,' she thought, placing a hand gently over her heart.
"Well then," she said kindly, "keep smiling, sweetheart. You have a beautiful smile—makes the room brighter."
Cael nodded, slightly awkward but appreciative. "I'll go wash up."
He left for the small bathroom near the dining hall. As he stepped inside and looked into the mirror, he froze for a moment.
The reflection staring back at him wasn't unfamiliar anymore—but it still caught him off guard.
His skin was pale like milk, his eyes a soft, icy blue. His hair was black, but not dull—shiny and dark like obsidian. The boy's face was still rounded with youth, but Cael could already see the edges of what would eventually become a devastatingly handsome adult.
"…Damn," he muttered. "This kid was gonna grow up and break hearts."
The System immediately cut in.
"Stop being narcissistic and thank your predecessor for leaving you with such good genes. Also, stop daydreaming about girls at your age. You sound like a Japanese pervert protagonist."
Cael rolled his eyes.
"First of all, I'm not narcissistic."
"Keep telling yourself that."
"Second, I am grateful. Being good-looking makes life easier. People treat you better, they respect you more—even in job interviews."
"You were nineteen when you died, yes. But your current body is eleven. So how about you stop posing in front of mirrors and start working on that quest?"
Cael sighed dramatically and splashed water on his face.
"Alright, alright. Let's find the damn pub."