— — — — — —

Tom took his time examining the system that had finally shown up.

The Ultimate Study System—as the name suggested—was a tool designed to help him learn faster, better, and more efficiently. Basically, it turned him into a hyper-powered straight-A student.

Any activity remotely related to learning or gaining knowledge would earn him Study Credits. That was the core mechanic of the whole thing.

And those credits? They weren't just for show. They had actual uses:

→Hiring a Private Tutor

The first hour each day was free, but after that, every additional hour cost six credits.

→Entering an Enhanced Learning State

Think turbo mode for your brain. Sharper focus, faster thinking, better memory… kind of like a mini-epiphany. It cost 100 credits for 10 minutes, and each extra minute would cost him 10 more.

Aside from credits, there was another key currency: Achievement Points.

Tom could earn these by hitting major milestones—academic, personal, magical, whatever—or by completing missions from the system. Achievement Points had one major use (at least for now): summoning legendary teachers.

Each tier of teacher had a different cost:

→B-rank: Your average, competent adult wizard – 1 point.

→A-rank: Highly skilled – 10 points.

→S-rank: Once-in-a-generation talent – 100 points.

→SS-rank: Best in a century – 1,000 points.

→SSS-rank: Legendary beyond time – 5,000 points.

Even just looking at the prices made it clear how massive the gap was between each tier.

"One generation" was roughly 30 years—so an S-rank meant one of the most gifted people of their entire generation. An SS-rank wizard? The best in a hundred years. Legends like Dumbledore definitely qualified.

But SSS-rank? That kind of wizard didn't come around in just centuries—they were the stuff of magical history books.

Back on the main menu, Tom noticed a floating gift box in the center of his interface. His newbie reward.

When he opened it, the system gave him 100 Study Credits—and one free Teacher summon. The lowest tier he could get? S-rank. Not a bad starting bonus at all.

Still, he was curious… How exactly did the system "summon" these teachers?

With a flick of his mind, Tom claimed all the rewards.

A burst of golden light exploded in his vision—like someone had shaken his brain around. When the spinning stopped, his consciousness had shifted into a thick, misty world.

It felt real. So real, in fact, he almost believed he'd been teleported here—except he could still feel his body lying comfortably in bed back home.

At the same time, the system fed him information about this new place.

This was the Study Space. Time flowed the same as in the real world, but anything he learned here wouldn't tire him out physically. He could spend all night learning spells here and still wake up the next morning bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

Even better? He could summon books and teaching materials he owned right into the space, making it feel like a super-charged version of a study room.

Of course, just stepping into this space burned through Study Credits—kind of like paying for private lessons. And that 100-credit gift? It wouldn't last long.

With the basics explained, Tom began scanning his surroundings, looking for his first summoned teacher.

A loud, booming laugh echoed through the mist.

The fog parted, doubling his field of vision, and through the haze came a towering figure striding confidently toward him.

The man looked like he'd stepped straight out of ancient history. He wore a toga draped over one shoulder in the Greek style, his muscular chest mostly exposed. A laurel wreath sat on his head, and his features were sharp, almost statue-like—like one of those heroic marble sculptures from Athens come to life.

He exuded strength and confidence. A glowing, masculine energy rolled off him like waves. The guy radiated power.

His eyes swept the mist, then locked onto Tom with a widening grin.

"So you're the little wizard who summoned me?"

His voice was deep and enthusiastic. "Incredible... You've got the talent to pull my spirit out of centuries of sleep—and the contract holding me here? Kid, you've got luck that's honestly making me a little jealous."

The envy in his tone was obvious, but Tom didn't feel threatened at all.

The system had made one thing very clear: anyone summoned into this space couldn't harm him. Not physically, not magically, not even sneakily. And they were required to share their knowledge openly and without deception.

Even without that, Tom didn't think this man meant any harm. He was just... too righteous. The guy practically glowed with moral clarity. Compared to him, even Dumbledore seemed a little shady.

"Sir," Tom replied smoothly, "Shouldn't a teacher introduce himself before asking questions?"

The system hadn't revealed his identity yet, and Tom wasn't about to let that slide.

The man let out another booming laugh, clearly enjoying himself. "Fair point! My bad for being rude on our first meeting."

"I'm Andros," he said, pounding a fist to his chest. "A humble wizard from ancient Greece. I've got a bit of experience with wandless magic and the Patronus Charm. Should be enough to get you started."

Tom's eyes widened slightly. That name sparked a memory.

Back in Diagon Alley, Dumbledore had given him two Chocolate Frogs. Each came with a collectible Famous Wizard card.

And one of those cards? Andros the Invincible.

That wasn't just a nickname—wizards back then had given him the title because he had never been defeated. Not once. He was famous for mastering wandless magic and casting giant-sized Patronuses without a wand. Even in modern times, no one had ever replicated that feat.

He wasn't just some S-rank nobody.

He was a bonafide SS-rank legend. A King of the Century.

No wonder Tom had taken a liking to him right away.

The Patronus Charm, after all, relied on powerful positive emotions and happy memories. That's why it was often used as a test to identify dark wizards.

Andros? He was practically bursting with good vibes.

A man like that... his soul practically shined.

"Mr. Andros, I'm Tom Riddle," Tom said, smiling warmly. "It's an honor to meet you. I'll be your student from now on, so if I ever mess up or fall short, just let me know—I'll fix it right away."

Even though the system made it so teachers had to help him, Tom always made a point to be respectful to those offering him guidance. A good attitude cost nothing and often paid off in the long run.

Andros seemed to appreciate it. He pounded his chest again with a booming laugh.

"Well said! I'll do everything I can to help you become an excellent wizard."

Then, with a more serious tone, he added, "I'm guessing using this kind of power comes at a cost, right? No time to waste—let's begin right away."

Tom nodded. He thought about how Hogwarts taught new students and decided to start with the basics.

"Mr. Andros, I haven't started school yet. Why don't we begin with the simple spells—like the Wand-Lighting Charm or the Levitation Charm?"

Andros blinked at him, confused.

"Levitation? Wand lighting? What are those?"

Tom: "...???"

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