The morning sun slipped through the curtains. I was still buried under my sheets, dreaming about glorious world domination when a voice intruded.
"Master Lucian, it's morning. Please get up."
Through half-lidded eyes, I saw Nina, one of the three maids assigned to babysit me. Apparently, I was such a menace that even the help worked in shifts. She leaned over me with her usual gentle smile, shaking me softly.
"Five more minutes…" I groaned.
She sighed, tugging at my blanket until I sat up, limp as overcooked noodles. Somehow, she managed to dress me.
Then came the sound.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Footsteps, fast and determined. My sleepy brain screamed: Enemy detected. Hide!
Before I could dive under the bed, the door exploded open. "LUCIAN!"
Susan stood there, hands on her hips, nine years old and already terrifying. Golden hair, frilly dress, my worst nightmare wrapped in lace.
I forced a weak smile. "Good morning, Sister. What brings you to my humble room this early?"
"You forgot again, didn't you?" she snapped, stomping closer. "We're supposed to play house!"
Ah yes. That. The daily routine of torture in form of playing.
"I didn't forget," I lied confidently. "I just… haven't had breakfast yet."
Her eyes narrowed. "Don't try to weasel out. Yesterday you promised! I searched for you for an hour!"
Nina chuckled from the corner, traitorously enjoying my suffering. I glared at her. She smiled brighter.
"I won't let you out of my sight today," Susan declared proudly.
"O-of course, Sister. Let's… eat breakfast first." Maybe the dining hall would buy me time to plan my escape.
The dining hall glowed with sunlight streaming through tall windows. A long wooden table stretched across the room, silverware gleaming under the sunlight.
You'd think a noble family would breakfast on golden pastries and exotic fruits.
Nope—bread, meat, soup, and salad. Healthy? Sure. Fancy? Not so much. Still better than the cup noodles I used to live on back in my old world.
Living without a phone or TV has been a real struggle. No games, no memes, no binge-watching. Pure medieval torture. I'd adapted… barely.
Father sat at the head of the table, dignified and intimidating. Jason sat upright beside him, composed, the image of a model noble son. Mother smiled gently at the far end, radiating warmth and quiet command. Susan hummed happily beside me, swinging her legs.
"Jason," Mother said, breaking the silence, "your birthday is coming soon."
"Yes, Mother," he replied politely. "After that, I'll depart for the Magic Academy."
Mother turned to Father, her tone elegant. "It's Jason's twelfth birthday. The celebration must be fitting for the House of Vanheart."
Father nodded, expression carved from stone.
The man was kind, but his sense of family dignity could probably crush boulders. "Jason," he rumbled, "how is your magic training?"
Jason straightened, confidence gleaming. "It is progressing smoothly, Father."
I snorted internally. Smoothly, huh? I'd seen his "training." His tutor was young, beautiful, and very… patient. But what Father didn't know was… well, let's just say Jason's "progress" wasn't entirely about magic.
One time I tried sneaking in to learn some spells myself, and instead of arcane wisdom, I caught sight of them entangled, naked, and very… busy. I hadn't learned any magic that day. At least not the kind I expected.
I bit back a laugh at the memory.
Susan sighed beside me. "If only I had a mage's title too… then I could train with Jason."
I leaned in conspiratorially. "Don't worry, you have 'sword master' title. You'll make a great Paladin someday."
Her eyes sparkled instantly. "Really?"
"Really." And maybe then you'll stop forcing me to play house.
After breakfast, the servants moved in to clear the table. Father left with his butler, Mother followed with her maids, and Jason strode out like royalty. I rose too—but Susan grabbed my arm.
"Time to play house, Lucy!"
Doom.
She began dragging me away when—like divine salvation—Mother's voice echoed behind us.
"Susan, your etiquette class starts now."
Susan froze mid-step. "Eh?"
Mother smiled sweetly. "You nearly forgot, didn't you?"
Susan puffed her cheeks. "Fine… but I'll be back, Lucy! Don't run away!"
She skipped off, and I exhaled in relief. Saved by Mother, my guardian angel.
Finally, peace. Time to do what any responsible five-year-old reincarnated overlord would do—experiment with magic.
The "backyard" of our mansion was less backyard, more royal park—rolling grass, blooming gardens, ancient trees. Perfect place to hide from responsibility.
I slipped between the trees until the mansion vanished from sight. "Freedom!" I spread my arms dramatically. "No maids, no clingy sister. Just me and—"
I pulled out a small, leather-bound book stolen from the library: Magic 101.
I muttered. "This is the only basic magic book I could find in the library."
Still, I flipped it open.
Magic is the art of turning mana into phenomena. The main attributes are Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Lightning, Ice, Shadow, Light, Nature, and Healing. To cast, expend mana and visualize the desired effect.
"…That's it?" I squinted. "No rituals? No circles? Not even a cool chant? Just imagine it?"
Apparently, magic was less Harry Potter and more "believe it."
I kept reading.
Example: Fireball. Picture flames gathering in your palm, shaping into a sphere, then launching forward.
I sighed. "So basically… think hard and explode things. Got it."
Alright, time for my grand debut. I cupped my hands and focused with everything I had.
Nothing. Then—
Pooff!
A tiny flame flickered in my palm. Weak, trembling… and gone in seconds.
"Ha! Success—wait—whoa…" My vision swam. I felt like I'd run a marathon. I hurriedly pulled up my status.
5 MP remaining.
–45 MP consumed.
"WHAT!? That pathetic candle drained almost everything?!"
I collapsed onto the grass. "No way. I'm supposed to be a future Overlord, not a glorified matchstick!"
Then glowing text appeared.
Congratulations! You have discovered [Fire Magic]!
Congratulations! You are experiencing [Mana Exhaustion]!
"…Stop mocking me while I'm dying," I muttered, twitching on the grass.
When I woke up again, maybe thirty minutes had passed. The sun was higher, stabbing through the leaves above me. My head pounded, but my body felt lighter—like I'd just had the worst nap of my life.
I called up my status window:
Status menu.
Name: Lucian Vanheart
Age: 5
Level: 1 (1/100 EXP)
Title: ???
Stats.
HP: 50
MP: 10/50 (Mana Exhaustion)
STR: 1
AGL: 1
Mind: 1
Attribute: Fire Magic (Rank-F)
Skills: ???
I grinned despite myself. "Yes! Step one to becoming an Overlord—complete!"
That's when something crawled on my shoulder. I glanced over. Spider. Huge. Nightmare.
"GYAAAHH!" I jumped three feet. "You dare sneak up on me!? From behind no less!?"
The spider crawled closer. Big enough to make my brave Overlord heart file for retirement.
New text blinked in front of me:
[New Quest!]
Title:Bug Control. [Rank F]
Objective: Squash the Spider.
I stared. "My first quest? Fine. If I kill it, do I get EXP?"
We locked eyes, warriors destined for glory. Then I lunged with my fist. It dodged. I stomped. It dodged again. From the outside, I probably looked like a child doing interpretive dance.
"You're tricky…" I panted. The spider wobbled too—clearly exhausted. "This ends now!"
I raised my mighty weapon—the Magic 101 book—and struck.
SPLAT.
Victory. I stood over my fallen foe, chest puffed.
[Congratulations!]
You have defeated Spider –[ Lv. 0]!You have gained +4 EXP!
Total EXP: 4/100 (to Level 2).
I grinned. "So I get EXP from squashing bugs? Then all I have to do is grind!"
I stretched grandly, already picturing my rise to power—training, spells, dominance. The path to greatness had begun.
My stomach growled loudly. "…After lunch," I muttered and trudged back toward the mansion.