Star Witch

Morning.

Hekate woke from his sleep.

The exquisite patterns on the ceiling came into view. Cool sunlight streamed through the thin gauze curtains, and the swaying breeze carried a faint fragrance—the scent of Purple Incense Wood, said to aid sleep and accelerate cultivation.

Of course, Hekate thought that was a scam. He had smelled it for twelve years and had never felt his Meditation speed improve. It was still as trash as ever. The sleep-aiding effect, on the other hand, was real. At the very least, his sleep quality was far better than it had been in his previous life.

Lying in bed, Hekate had no interest in the room he had stared at for twelve years. His eyes were fixed on the status panel floating in midair.

Name: Hekate Noah di Calilans

Age: 12/73

Race: Human

Magic Power: 8-star Magic Apprentice

Magic: None

Equipment: None

Talent: Gift of Fate (conduct one Fate Lottery per day)

Hekate raised a hand and tapped the lottery option.

Duang~

A line of information appeared on the panel.

Gift of Fate: Magic Level increased by 1 star. Lifespan reduced by 1 year.

Damn it, another trash gift like this. One year of lifespan in exchange for one star as a Magic Apprentice? Why not just rob me!

Furious, Hekate slapped the status panel away and rejected the gift.

It had been twelve years. Every single lottery draw had produced this kind of garbage.

If I want to become strong, do I really have to spend my life? Hekate thought despairingly.

But he did not want to be a powerful man who died young.

No. A miserable life was still better than death.

In his previous life, Hekate had been an Earthling, an overworked office drone from the twenty-first century. He had worked himself sick at a young age, then drank himself to death during some business dinner. When he woke up, he had already been reborn as the third son of the Calilans family.

The head of the Calilans family, Fortes Reno di Carilance, was an earl of the Uruk Kingdom.

So even if he was useless in this life, it would not stop him from eating, drinking, and enjoying himself. He had worked himself to death for money in his previous life. Now that he had been reborn as a noble, what would be the point if he did not enjoy it? Trading lifespan for strength was absolutely out of the question!

There is still a long future ahead. Just because I can't draw anything good today doesn't mean I never will. As long as I keep drawing, there will come a day when I can defy fate and change my destiny.

Hekate thought silently, then looked at his strength—only an 8-star Magic Apprentice after twelve years of draws—and quietly sighed.

The Calilans family was quite strict, especially since Hekate was still underage and could not go out and have fun.

The maid outside entered to help him wash and dress, after which he went downstairs to have breakfast with his family.

His eldest brother, Revolen, was the heir and their father's most valued son. His second sister, Edith, possessed outstanding magic talent and was said to have a talent for fire magic, making her deeply favored by their father as well. He also had a younger fourth sister, Loria, who was beautiful, sweet-voiced, and fond of acting cute, so both their father and mother adored her.

Only he, the third son, was usually quiet and reserved. His talent was mediocre, and his presence was the weakest.

After breakfast, his eldest brother and second sister went to the Academy, while he and Loria were summoned by their father for riding practice. After that came lessons with private tutors, including etiquette, Uruk Language, history, magic, and more.

Among the siblings, his eldest brother and second sister were closer to one another, while he was closer to Loria. Or rather, Loria was close to everyone.

After class, Hekate returned to his room to meditate.

The next day.

Hekate woke once more in his comfortable bed, staring blankly at the intricate carvings on the ceiling.

Only after opening his status panel did Hekate shift his gaze to it.

The number of available draws for his Gift of Fate talent had refreshed.

After twelve years, he had become numb to the daily refresh. He used to stay awake until midnight and draw the instant his talent refreshed. Now... he would just do it after waking up.

He tapped the lottery option on the panel.

Duang~

Gift of Fate: Obtain one Witch Seed. Upon use, your affinity with magic power will reach its peak, and you will awaken a Witch-related talent.

Huh?

Hekate froze, then instantly widened his eyes.

His affinity with magic power would reach the highest level!

And he would awaken a Witch talent!

That damn talent could actually draw something this awesome?!

Hekate immediately grew excited.

"Accept the gift!"

Damn it, after drawing for twelve years, even a spinning top would have been worn down into a toothpick by now. This damn talent must have triggered some kind of pity system, or how else could he have drawn something this incredible?

Without the slightest hesitation, Hekate accepted the gift. He had had enough of this muggle constitution. With this Witch Seed, he would surely become a magical genius instead of an ordinary spoiled noble brat!

The status panel blurred. When he blinked and looked again, the information upon it had changed.

Name: Hekate Noah di Calilans

Age: 12/73

Race: ? (Gender requirements not met. Witch Bloodline transformation in progress, currently 1%)

Magic Power: 8-star Magic Apprentice

Magic: None

Equipment: None

Talent ①: Gift of Fate (conduct one Fate Lottery per day)

Talent ②: Star Witch (Magic Power Affinity Max: Your affinity with magic power has reached its peak.)

What did "gender requirements not met" mean?

Hekate immediately noticed the anomaly under race, and his expression darkened.

"Does this mean I'm going to become a Witch in the literal sense?"

"Can't I be a male Witch?"

Thinking of the item given by Gift of Fate, called the Witch Seed, Hekate caught onto something.

The Gift of Fate talent always came with a gain and a loss. In other words, if he accepted a gift, he would lose something in return. For example, one year of lifespan in exchange for a one-star increase in Magic Level. Yet this gift had not stated what he would lose...

There was only gain, no loss!

That was impossible. In twelve years, this talent had never once offered only gain!

Hekate recalled the Gifts of Fate that had appeared before.

The Gift of Fate that appeared when he was three: Master Uruk Language.

The price had been nearly a month of grogginess. During that month, he did not even have the awareness to draw the lottery. He woke when hungry, immediately fell asleep after eating, and knowledge of the Uruk Language flooded wildly through his mind, leaving him no time to think freely at all.

A month later, he recovered—and had mastered the Uruk Language.

The Gift of Fate that appeared when he was four: Physique Enhancement.

The price had been five days of ravenous eating. He ate so much that his mother and wet nurse could barely stand it. During those days, he could not eat his fill, and his newborn sister Loria could not eat her fill either.

Several more had appeared afterward.

The gain was written out plainly, but the loss was never stated. He had to figure it out himself.

Hekate turned his gaze back to this Gift of Fate, and his pupils began to tremble.

"No way..."