I Really Want to Study, But the System Won't Allow It

After finishing their shopping, Professor McGonagall led Charlie out of Diagon Alley.

"Here's your ticket." She handed him a red ticket.

"September 1st, King's Cross Station, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters."

Charlie stared at the numbers on the ticket, puzzled.

"Professor, platforms have decimal points?"

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Professor McGonagall smiled mysteriously. "You'll find out then."

Damn it, riddlers get out of Hogwarts!

On the way back to the orphanage, Charlie snuck a glance at his system interface while Professor McGonagall wasn't looking.

[Tyrant System]

[Host: Charlie White]

[Magic Talent (Slightly)]

[Tyrant Points: 8]

[Draws: 0 (1 draw costs 10 points)]

The system's explanation was simple: perform actions fitting "Tyrant Behavior" to earn Tyrant Points, which could be used for draws. Draws could yield Talent Points, Spell Proficiency, and other items.

Charlie pondered.

Kill the innocent? No way—if he dared to kill, Dumbledore would dare to bury him, and who got buried was anyone's guess.

Besides, I was born under the red flag and raised in the spring breeze—how could I do something like that?

Waste recklessly? That was doable, but the money he could squander right now was way too little.

Just as he was thinking, the orphanage arrived. Professor McGonagall stopped at the entrance.

"Mr. White," she said earnestly.

"Your talent is quite good. Don't waste it. You can preview the textbooks before school starts."

Charlie nodded seriously.

"I will, Professor."

But inside, he thought, teachers everywhere have the same spiel.

Professor McGonagall smiled in satisfaction and turned to leave.

Charlie watched her disappear, then dashed to his room, tossed everything onto the bed, and flopped down heavily himself.

Preview? Screw that!

[Congratulations, Your Majesty, for completing Tyrant Behavior: Neglecting Court Affairs. Earned 1 Tyrant Point!]

"Haha, it actually works!"

Charlie jumped up excitedly.

A few minutes passed, and the system prompt appeared again.

[Congratulations, Your Majesty, for completing Tyrant Behavior: Neglecting Court Affairs. Earned 1 Tyrant Point!]

[Current Tyrant Points: 10. Eligible for one draw!]

"Draw!" Charlie said impatiently.

[Congratulations, Your Majesty, for obtaining Spell: Flaming Bear]

[Flaming Bear (Level 1): 0/100]

"How do I level up a spell?" Charlie asked, confused.

[In reply to Your Majesty, practicing on your own or drawing can increase proficiency. Once proficiency is full, it automatically levels up.]

[Each spell has five levels.]

Charlie raised his wand.

"Flaming Bear."

A small flame immediately shot from the wand's tip, an orange-red fire dancing in the air, radiating a warm glow.

"Whoa!"

Charlie marveled, his eyes fixed on the flame.

Sure enough, every mage starts with a fireball.

The flame grew larger with his fluctuating emotions, threatening to leap onto the bedsheet.

Charlie hastily waved his wand, extinguishing the fire.

"Phew..."

Charlie breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Playing with fire had burned the bedsheets, and if Grandma White found out, a bamboo stick stir-fried with pork would be unavoidable.

He tried a few more times, each time carefully controlling the flame's size, terrified of causing another fire. He practiced for about half an hour.

[Flaming Bear (Level 1): 1/100]

"Forget it, I'm done practicing."

Charlie tossed his wand aside and flopped onto the bed.

"Too tired."

[Congratulations, Your Majesty, for completing Tyrant Behavior: Lazy and Negligent in Governance. Gained 2 Tyrant Points!]

Charlie grinned. "This system really knows how to play along."

This was the real way to unlock magic.

He rolled over, staring at the ceiling.

The excitement of becoming a wizard still coursed through his veins.

Charlie closed his eyes in satisfaction, listening to the occasional system notification chime, and drifted into a deep sleep.

Over the next month, Charlie completely let himself go.

Sleeping during the day and ignoring affairs of state, going out at night and never resting. Tyrant Points shot up like crazy.

"Charlie, don't you need to take a look at those magic books?" Grandma White couldn't help asking one day.

Charlie was in the yard playing with the orphanage kids.

"It's okay, Grandma, I can study when I get to school." Charlie turned back and smiled at Grandma White.

"I want to spend more time with you all. Once I'm at school, there won't be as much time."

[Your Majesty is truly despicable, even deceiving an old lady. Gained 3 Tyrant Points!]

Hey, you mother—

Grandma White smiled warmly. Charlie had always been sensible, and even after becoming a wizard, he still thought of them.

What more could she say?

Every night, Charlie took Storm out to walk the owl.

This eagle-owl was massive, with an imposing presence. Every time it appeared, it drew stares from passersby.

Storm seemed to enjoy the attention, always spreading its huge wings and letting out a majestic call, scaring curious cats and dogs into fleeing.

By the end of the month, Charlie's Tyrant Points had accumulated to a staggering 910, enough for 91 draws.

He gained proficiency in most basic spells, like the Levitation Charm, Mending Charm, and Unlocking Charm.

But Talent Points were truly hard to pull. He only got three in total, all dumped into Transfiguration.

Now his stat panel looked completely different.

[Your Majesty: Charlie White]

[Age: 11]

[Magic Talent Rating: (Max Level 10)]

[Transfiguration: 9]

[Charms: 8]

[Potions: 6]

[Defense Against the Dark Arts: 7]

[Herbology: 4]

[Astronomy: 4]

[History of Magic: 5]

[Tyrant Points: 9]

[Mastered Magic: Transfiguration (Level 1: 90/100), Flaming Bear (Level 2: 360/500), Water to Wine (Level 2: 160/500), Levitation Charm (Level 2: 180/500), Mending Charm (Level 2: 210/500), Unlocking Charm...]

After a month of experimentation, Charlie found that the higher his talent, the easier and more powerful the corresponding magic became.

Even though his Transfiguration was only Level 1, his talent had been raised to Level 9.

Now he could easily transform objects into other things. He often used this trick to amuse the kids, passing it off as magic tricks.

Time flew by, and before he knew it, it was September 1st.

Charlie got up early, packed his luggage.

Although he usually slacked off, he was still very excited about going to Hogwarts.

"Grandma, I'm leaving."

Charlie hugged Grandma White.

Grandma White's eyes were red as she pressed a small bundle into his hands.

"Inside are some cookies I made for you. Eat them if you get hungry on the way."

"I'll miss you, Grandma." Charlie hugged her tightly.

"I'll write to you."

Grandma White patted his back.

"Go on now. Study hard. Listen to your teachers at school."

Charlie nodded, dragged his suitcase, and with Storm by his side, set off toward King's Cross Station.

Charlie: Dad! Can you stuff big me into your tiny bookshelf? Don't make me beg you.