The secret system of the Gallant Heir

"I need to test this."

Without hesitation, I clenched my fists and took a deep breath. My body felt different—stronger, tougher. I needed to see how much had changed. Dropping into a push-up position, I started moving. Ten… twenty… thirty. My arms burned, but I wasn't stopping. How far could I go now?

Just as I was lost in thought, another message flickered onto the screen.

[A red-level mission has been assigned to the host: Prepare for the Magic Academy in seven years.]

I froze.

"What…?" My voice barely came out as a whisper. My eyes darted over the glowing text, rereading it as if that would make it change.

Red-level task? That sounded serious. I had just gotten this system, and now I was already being thrown into something big? My heart pounded.

Before I could even process it, another message appeared.

[The host must conceal his powers for the next seven years to avoid suspicion from otherworldly beings.]

I swallowed hard.

"Conceal my powers? Otherworldly beings?" My mind raced, my pulse quickening. "What does that even mean? Am I in danger? Who are these 'otherworldly beings'?"

I clenched my fists, my breathing uneven. This wasn't just some training tool anymore—this system was connected to something much bigger, something I didn't understand.

Seven years… That was a long time to hide, to prepare.

I exhaled sharply, trying to steady myself. "Alright," I muttered under my breath. "I need to think. If the system is telling me to hide, then that means there's a real threat out there."

A chill ran down my spine at the thought. I didn't know what was coming, but one thing was certain—this system wasn't just here to make me stronger. It was here to prepare me for something much bigger.

And whatever it was… I had seven years to be ready.

I glance around, my mind still reeling from the system's messages, and head toward my room. My thoughts are a whirlwind, but exhaustion pulls at me. All I want right now is to lie down and process everything.

As I stepped inside and shut the door behind me, I let out a deep breath. Just as I'm about to collapse onto the bed—

Crack.

A faint, crackling sound comes from my drawer.

I freeze.

My heartbeat quickens as I slowly turn my head toward the source. The sound grows louder, a soft but distinct snap, crack—like something breaking apart.

I swallow hard. I don't remember putting anything in there that could make noise. Did something get inside?

Cautiously, I step forward and grip the handle. My fingers tremble slightly as I pull the drawer open.

And then—

My breath catches.

Inside, nestled among my things, is the dragon egg—the one the system rewarded me with. But now, deep fractures run along its surface, glowing faintly with a fiery red light. The egg shifts, a tiny piece of shell breaking off.

It's hatching.

A surge of panic and excitement rushes through me. I quickly shut the door, locking it just in case. My hands clench into fists as I stand there, barely breathing, waiting.

Then, ever so slowly, the cracks spread wider. The egg wobbles. Another piece falls away, revealing a glimpse of scaly, red skin beneath.

And then—a tiny claw emerges.

A few moments later, the shell splits open completely, and a small, crimson creature stumbles out.

A dragon.

A real, living dragon.

I stare, unable to move, as the newborn dragon lifts its head and blinks at me with bright, golden eyes.

What… the hell… am I supposed to do now?

As I stand there, still trying to process the fact that a real dragon just hatched before my eyes, a sudden notification pops up on the screen.

[Host has obtained an S-rank dragon. The host can form a pact with the dragon.]

I blink.

"An S-rank dragon? Yes!" A rush of excitement floods through me.

My mind races. How do I form a pact? Before I can even finish the thought, another message appears.

[Does the host wish to form a pact with the dragon?]

Without hesitation, I say, "Yes!"

But just as I think it's done, another message appears.

[Host must name the pet to complete the pact.]

"A name, huh?" I glance at the small red dragon in front of me. It blinks up at me with its bright golden eyes, its tiny wings twitching as if testing their strength.

A small red dragon… Ignis.

"I'll name him Ignis," I say firmly.

[Host is forming a pact with Ignis…]

A soft red glow surrounds the dragon, and for a moment, I feel a strange warmth settle in my chest as if a connection is forming between us. Then

[Congratulations! The host has successfully formed a pact. Host now has a better understanding of fire magic.]

I barely have time to process the words before I feel it—a shift deep within me. Fire, something that once felt unstable and difficult to control, now responds effortlessly. Almost instinctively, I raise my hand and focus. A small flame flickers to life in my palm, burning steadily.

I grin. "It's so much easier now."

I clench my fist, extinguishing the flame, and glance at Ignis. He lets out a small chirp, tilting his head. That's when reality hits me.

Wait… I have a dragon now.

Where am I supposed to keep him?

What do I tell my parents?

How do I hide a literal dragon?!

Before panic can settle in, another message pops up.

[Host can keep Ignis in the Inner World.]

My eyes widen. "Inner world? I have one of those?"

I don't question it. "System, send Ignis to the Inner World."

Almost immediately, a small glowing portal shimmers into existence. A soft gust of wind swirls around the room as Ignis lets out a curious chirp. Then, in a blink, he disappears into the space, and the portal vanishes just as quickly.

I exhale, running a hand through my hair.

"This system just keeps getting better and better…"

I barely have time to breathe before I hear it—footsteps.

"Rave! Come downstairs for a moment."

My stomach drops. My parents.

Did they sense something? See something? Hear something?

I shake my head. No, that's impossible. Ignis is gone, safely tucked away in the Inner World. The portal vanished. Nothing should be out of the ordinary.

Still, I can't shake the feeling of unease as I head toward the stairs.

As soon as I reach the living room, I find my parents standing near the window. My mother's brow is furrowed, and my father has his arms crossed. Outside, the sky is clear, but something feels… off.

"Did you feel that just now?" my mom asks. "A strange shift in the air?"

I freeze. Crap.

My dad nods. "It was faint, but there was a surge of energy. Almost like a fluctuation in mana." His eyes narrow slightly as he turns to me. "You didn't happen to notice anything unusual, did you?"

Double crap.

I school my expression into one of mild confusion. "Uh… no? Maybe it was just the wind?"

My mom exchanges a glance with my dad. "The wind doesn't feel like raw magic, sweetheart."

I let out a nervous chuckle. "Right, right. Well… I don't know what to tell you. Everything seems normal to me."

There's a long pause. Then, finally, my dad sighs. "If it happens again, let us know. Unstable magic is never a good sign."

I nod quickly. "Of course."

Inside, I'm screaming. That was way too close.

I make a mental note—next time I do something reckless like forming a pact with a dragon, I need to make sure I'm somewhere no one can sense it.

As I turn to leave, another system notification pops up.

[Warning: Host's magical presence has increased. Concealment is recommended to avoid detection.]

I groan internally. Fantastic. Another thing to worry about.

I hurry back upstairs, closing the door behind me. As soon as I sit on my bed, I whisper, "System, what do you mean by concealment?"

A moment later, another message appears.

[Due to the pact, the host's mana signature has strengthened. Without proper control, magical individuals may detect the host's presence. Concealment methods are advised.]

I frown. "Like what?"

[Available concealment methods:

Mana Suppression (Manual) – Requires host to control magical output.Concealment Cloak – This can be purchased from the System Store. Cost: 50 points.Dragon Veil (Locked) – Unlocks at Pact Level 3.]

I blink. System Store?

Before I can even ask, a new notification appears.

[System Store Unlocked!]

[The System Store is a special function where the host can purchase various items, skills, and upgrades using System Points (SP). System Points are earned through quests, training, and achievements.]

My heart skips a beat. A store? That means I can buy things to help me… if I have points.

"System, how many points do I have?"

[Host currently has 0 points.]

Of course. Just my luck.

I sigh, pushing the store menu aside for now. That leaves the first option—manual suppression.

I take a deep breath and focus. Magic feels different now—stronger, more alive—but I try to pull it inward, suppressing the flow. At first, it resists, flickering like an untamed flame, but with effort, I force it to settle.

[Concealment success rate: 60%. Further practice required.]

I collapse onto my bed with a groan. This is going to take some time.

Before I can relax, a soft chirp echoes in my mind.

Ignis?

Another chirp. Then, a strange sensation—like warmth wrapping around me. I blink, sitting up. Wait… I can feel him.

[Due to the pact, the host and Ignis share a minor telepathic bond. Stronger bonds unlock at higher levels.]

I close my eyes and concentrate. "Ignis?"

A happy trill responds, followed by the vague impression of a warm, cosy place. It takes me a second to realize—I'm sensing the Inner World.

A grin tugs at my lips. "This system keeps getting better and better…"

Then I remember—Oh, right. I also got a magic wand.

Maybe the System has something on it?

I push myself up and move toward my desk, opening the drawer. The wand is still there, resting where I left it. As soon as my fingers wrap around its smooth, polished surface, a system notification appears.

[Magic Wand Detected!]

[Analyzing Compatibility…]

[Compatibility Result: S-Level Magic Wand – Requires 4th Magic Circle or higher to wield.]

I stare at the message. What.

"Fourth Magic Circle?!" I exclaim, nearly dropping the wand. "I haven't even fully completed the first! It's gonna take me forever to use this thing!"

I glance down at the wand again. It looks so ordinary, but knowing it's an S-Level artifact makes it feel way heavier. How did I even get this? And why does something this powerful require such a high level to use?

Then another thought hits me. I can't even use it yet… so keeping it here is kinda pointless.

"System," I mumble, rubbing my eyes. "Can I store items in the Inner World?"

[Yes. The Inner World can store non-living items.]

That makes things easier.

I tighten my grip on the wand and say, "Send this to the Inner World."

A small glowing portal shimmers into existence. Unlike when I sent Ignis, this one barely makes a sound. The wand is lifted from my hands, disappearing into the swirling light. Within seconds, the portal fades, and the wand is gone.

I nod, satisfied. At least it's safe there.

A wave of exhaustion suddenly crashes over me. Between forming a pact with Ignis, nearly getting caught by my parents, trying to suppress my magic, and now learning that my best weapon is useless for now—I'm drained.

Collapsing onto my bed, I close my eyes. Almost immediately, drowsiness takes over. As my mind drifts, I hear one last system notification.

[Fatigue detected. Entering Sleep Recovery Mode…]

I don't even have the energy to react. Before I know it, darkness pulls me under.