Reincarnated With a Cheat System

Chapter 1: A Noble's Morning

The scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling meat filled the air as Phyro Nishiki made his way to the grand dining hall of the Nishiki estate. His footsteps were light against the polished wooden floors, yet his mind felt weighed down by the absurdity of his situation.

Just yesterday, he had been Akira Hitoshi, a 27-year-old salaryman working himself to exhaustion. A sudden accident—a very cliché one at that—had sent him into this new world, into this new body.

Now, here he was, sitting at a long, ornate dining table, about to formally meet his siblings for the first time.

From his inherited memories, he knew who they were. But knowing someone's name and actually meeting them were two different things.

As he settled into his seat, he could feel two pairs of eyes watching him.

"You're acting strange, Phyro," a calm yet curious voice stated.

Phyro looked up to see a young man with sharp features, short brown hair, and piercing dark blue eyes. He was dressed neatly in a noble's morning attire, his posture relaxed yet refined.

Klein Nishiki—Phyro's 14-year-old older brother.

Phyro barely had time to respond before another voice chimed in, this one far more energetic.

"Maybe he's still half-asleep!"

The girl sitting across from him grinned mischievously. She had golden eyes that shimmered with amusement and long silvery hair tied into a loose ponytail. Her small hands fidgeted with the silverware as she kicked her legs under the table.

Nico Nishiki—his 9-year-old younger sister.

"Come on, Phyro," Nico leaned forward, tilting her head playfully. "Don't tell me you forgot how to talk."

"Of course not," Phyro replied, quickly pulling himself together. "I'm just… thinking about training."

Klein raised an eyebrow. "You? Thinking about training?" A smirk formed on his lips. "That's new."

Crap.

From his inherited memories, Phyro realized something important—the old him was lazy. He wasn't the worst noble son, but he was never particularly invested in magic or swordsmanship.

Nico giggled at his reaction. "Maybe you finally realized that Father's watching you more closely now. You know he doesn't like slackers."

As if on cue, the dining hall doors swung open, and a tall man with broad shoulders entered. His neatly groomed dark hair had streaks of silver, and his sharp gaze alone carried the weight of authority.

Lord Nishiki—Phyro's father.

The room immediately straightened under his presence. Even Klein, usually composed, adjusted his posture.

Lord Nishiki took his seat at the head of the table, his piercing gaze sweeping across them before settling on Phyro.

"Phyro," his deep voice rumbled. "You have magic training today. I expect you to take it seriously."

"Yes, Father," Phyro responded instinctively.

His father's gaze lingered for a moment, as if assessing him, before he finally nodded and turned his attention to his meal.

Klein shot Phyro a suspicious glance, while Nico simply smiled.

The rest of breakfast passed in idle conversation. Phyro barely focused on the food—his mind was already preparing for what lay ahead.

The training grounds behind the Nishiki estate were vast, enclosed by high stone walls. The scent of morning dew still lingered in the air as Phyro stood before his instructor, an older man with a short beard and a sturdy stance.

"Today, we will begin with basic fire magic," the instructor stated, his voice firm. "A spell that every noble child must master. Watch carefully."

He lifted his hand and spoke in a controlled tone:

"Elha Ballena of Flame."

A bright orb of fire flickered into existence in his palm before soaring into the sky, where it harmlessly dissipated.

The instructor turned to Phyro. "Now, your turn."

Phyro took a deep breath. He had never actually cast magic before, but he had seen enough fantasy novels to have an idea. He focused on his palm and spoke the words:

"Elha Ballena of Flame!"

Nothing.

Not even a flicker.

The instructor frowned. "Try again. This time, focus on pulling mana from within your core. Feel it flow through your body."

Phyro furrowed his brows and focused. He felt something deep inside him, but it was… weak. Incomplete. Like trying to draw power from a dried-up well.

Then, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

[ System Alert: User's body is underdeveloped for proper mana flow. ]

[ Would you like to enhance your mana core using Editor? ]

Phyro's heartbeat quickened. Editor—his cheat ability. If it could enhance his mana core, then…

Yes.

A sudden warmth spread through his chest, like an invisible energy awakening inside him. It wasn't painful—more like something unlocking within him. The dried-up well was suddenly overflowing.

Phyro opened his eyes. This time, he didn't hesitate.

"Elha Ballena of Flame!"

The moment the words left his lips, a massive fireball erupted from his palm. It wasn't a tiny flame like his instructor's—it was huge, roaring like a living inferno. The heat washed over the field as the fireball shot forward, searing through the air before vanishing in the distance.

Silence.

The instructor's mouth hung open. He blinked, clearly trying to process what he had just witnessed.

"W-What…?"

Phyro quickly lowered his hand, forcing himself to look just as surprised as the instructor. "Uh… did I do it wrong?"

The instructor composed himself, rubbing his beard. "No… you just… That was not the output of an untrained noble child." His sharp eyes studied Phyro. "Your mana must have been restricted before. Somehow, you've broken through that limit…"

Phyro forced a sheepish smile. "I guess I got lucky?"

The instructor didn't seem entirely convinced but shook his head. "Let's move on to sword training. Perhaps you'll surprise me there, too."

Sword training felt… easy.

Phyro had barely any previous experience with a sword, but the Editor-enhanced strength had unknowingly made him into a monster. His movements were sharp, his swings powerful.

The instructor, expecting him to struggle, quickly found himself adjusting to a much faster training pace than usual.

By the time they finished, the man was staring at him with a mixture of shock and suspicion.

"Phyro… what happened to you?"

Phyro shrugged, feigning innocence. "Maybe I finally started trying?"

The instructor exhaled, rubbing his temple. "If this is your idea of trying, then your family has been underestimating you for years."

Phyro simply smiled.

After an exhausting but exhilarating day of training, Phyro returned to the Nishiki estate. His muscles ached, but it wasn't the unbearable soreness he expected—it was more like a pleasant stiffness, the kind that came after a productive workout.

I guess spamming Editor really did a number on my body, he mused, rolling his shoulders as he entered the grand hallway.

The warm glow of lanterns illuminated the elegant wooden walls, casting long shadows as the evening settled in. As he made his way inside, a familiar voice called out.

"Phyro! Over here!"

He turned to see Nico waving excitedly, seated at a low wooden table in the family lounge. Klein was beside her, casually shuffling what looked like a deck of ornate playing cards.

"Come sit," Nico patted the empty space beside her. "We're playing a game!"

Phyro hesitated for a moment. His previous self, the old Phyro, wasn't exactly known for being sociable. But now…

This is my family. I should make the most of this life.

With that thought, he walked over and took a seat.

The game was called "Fortune's Gambit," a strategy-based card game that required both wit and a bit of luck. The goal was to outmaneuver your opponent by predicting their moves while managing your limited resources.

Klein dealt the cards, his sharp blue eyes watching Phyro closely.

"You trained hard today," Klein commented casually as he slid the cards toward him.

Phyro gave a small nod. "Yeah, I figured it was time to start taking things seriously."

Klein's eyes lingered on him for a moment before he smirked. "About time."

Nico giggled. "I don't know what happened to you, but I like this new Phyro."

Phyro chuckled, shuffling his cards. "Let's see if you still like me after I win this game."

"Oh?" Klein raised an eyebrow. "Confident, are we?"

"You'll see."

The game began, and almost immediately, Phyro realized something—his mind was sharper.

Back in his past life, he had played countless strategy games, but now, with his enhanced mental clarity, everything felt slower, easier to analyze.

Each move Nico made, each calculated risk Klein took—it all fell into place like a puzzle before his eyes.

Within minutes, he had both of them cornered.

Nico gasped. "H-Hey! You're not supposed to be good at this!"

Klein leaned back, watching Phyro carefully. "You were never this sharp before."

Phyro shrugged with an innocent smile. "Maybe I just needed the right motivation."

Klein narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

Nico pouted. "I want a rematch!"

Phyro laughed. "Alright, alright."

The night went on with more rounds, laughter, and playful banter. For the first time, Phyro felt like he truly belonged.

This world… this life… it's not so bad.

After the games, Klein retired early, but as Phyro was heading to his room, a familiar voice stopped him.

"Phyro."

He turned to see his father standing in the dimly lit hallway.

"Come with me," Lord Nishiki said, his voice unreadable.

Phyro followed him into a quiet study, where his father took a seat by the fireplace. The flames flickered, casting shadows across his face.

"You performed well today," his father finally said.

Phyro straightened. "Thank you, Father."

His father studied him for a long moment before speaking again. "Your magic… your swordsmanship… Something about you has changed."

Phyro's heartbeat quickened. Did his father suspect something?

"I've simply decided to improve," Phyro said carefully. "I don't want to be a disappointment to the family."

His father's gaze didn't waver, but after a long silence, he nodded.

"Good. Keep this up."

There was something different in his father's tone. A hint of approval… but also expectation.

He's watching me now.

As Phyro left the study, he exhaled.

If I'm going to grow stronger, I'll have to be careful. I need to control how much I show…

But one thing was certain—

This was only the beginning.

End of Chapter 1