Chapter 1: Transmigrated Noble, Awakening the Ability Refund System |
"I actually hit every shot so accurately!"
Arcaso stared at his own hands in astonishment.
Ten consecutive bullseyes.
Gasps of amazement rose from the spectators around the training grounds.
"Incredible!"
"While spearmen embody masculine romance, archery truly suits you best, Arcaso!"
"Young master, your judgment is impeccable."
"Young master, could you assess my potential too?"
At the center of the crowd, a noble-dressed youth of about sixteen or seventeen chuckled: "You'd do well raising pigs."
Watching the stunned expression before him, Jonas Regin smiled.
He was a transmigrator.
Having died from overwork in his previous life, he never expected to reincarnate into this world of swords and magic.
And he came with a system.
The [Ability Refund System].
He could choose to bind one person.
Whenever that person worked hard to improve their abilities,
he would receive a multiplied refund of their progress.
The refund multiplier depended on their loyalty to him.
Through this system, he could see people's talents and preferences.
Like the spearman guard before him, who actually possessed exceptional archery potential.
If he bound this man, and the guard improved his archery skills through natural talent,
Jonas would receive several times the archery skill in return.
Effortlessly becoming a true master archer.
Simply put - the higher the bound person's talent and the harder they trained,
the stronger he would become.
Currently, he only had one binding slot, so he needed to find a genuine prodigy.
...
Beside him, Arcaso put away his bow and said: "Young Master Jonas, since you can discern people's talents,
you should utilize this ability to build your own army.
The Empire is in turmoil these days."
Jonas Regin waved dismissively from his chair: "No rush."
Transmigrating into this noble's body
was infinitely better than his previous life's 9-to-9 grind.
Having maids attend to his every need for food and clothing...
His father ruled over a small territory of several thousand people.
But through analysis, he realized
his future wasn't bright at all.
Their Empire, due to prolonged political corruption,
faced rebellions erupting everywhere.
The rebel forces included powerful mages, swordsmen, assassins...
Yet the Empire ignored these dangers, focusing only on strengthening local autonomy.
Resulting in constant small-scale conflicts.
Jonas predicted large-scale wars that could overthrow the Empire would soon emerge.
As nobility, he'd be the first target when major wars broke out.
He might get assassinated any day.
So to protect his life,
he needed his own army and personal strength.
Fortunately with his system, if he could now discover talents and earn their loyalty,
he might seize the throne during future wars while becoming the world's strongest fighter.
...
Hearing the young master say "no rush," Arcaso nodded: "You speak wisely, young master. With Lady Slynda and the City Lord present,
you can rest easy indeed."
Mention of his father and sister made Jonas Regin pensive.
Before his transmigration,
Jonas had been universally recognized as trash.
Awakening no talents whatsoever, and displaying terrible strategic sense.
Beyond indulging in pleasures, he frequented taverns for dancing girls...
Even his arranged noble marriage became a running joke, earning his father's contempt.
...
Now with the Empire's worsening corruption,
rebel forces increasingly appeared near their territory.
His father Hordo Regin took most troops to suppress rebellions, asserting the Regin family's authority.
Bringing his only sister as frontline commander, but excluding Jonas.
Showing exactly how disappointed he was.
Speaking of his sister Slynda,
compared to the original owner, she was incomparably superior.
Not just an exceptional swordswoman, but also displaying remarkable strategic talent.
Holding significant military authority, she was clearly being groomed as territory heir.
While Jonas, the only son, appeared privileged,
compared to his sister, he owned nothing beyond his guard Arcaso.
His immediate priority was finding a genius to bind,
then recruiting them to boost his strength.
With this thought, Jonas Regin declared: "Arcaso, accompany me to the slave market tomorrow."