"What's going on here? Lunch break's over!" a teacher's voice called out from across the yard.
For Piers, Malcolm, and Dennis, the sound of that usually irritating voice was like a melody from heaven. It was their chance to escape. They were just about to bolt when Dudley let out a soft, low hum.
"Hmm?"
That single, quiet sound froze them in place. They stood rooted to the spot, not daring to move a muscle. Leaving without Dudley's permission was unthinkable.
"Here's the deal," Dudley said, his tone flat and businesslike. "You have three days to get me what you owe. And I never want to see you bullying anyone again." He paused, his gaze sweeping over their terrified faces. "Now, get lost."
It was as if they'd been granted a royal pardon. In a blur of motion, the three scrambled away, running faster than they ever had in their lives, vanishing from sight in seconds.
"Ah, Dudley, there you are."
The teacher ambled over, his stern expression melting into a warm, genuine smile the moment he saw who it was.
In the eyes of the students, Dudley Dursley was a demon king. But in the eyes of the staff, he was a completely different person. The reason was simple: Dudley was a model student.
His academic performance was consistently outstanding, with near-perfect scores in every subject. His athletic prowess was equally exceptional, and even his physical development was off the charts. He was the school's star, participating in every competitive sport imaginable and always, always bringing home the first-place trophy for St. George's. The school's trophy cabinet was practically overflowing with his victories.
How could the teachers not adore him?
After a brief, friendly chat, the teacher went on his way, leaving Dudley and Harry alone in the quiet corner of the playground.
"Dudley... I'm sorry," Harry whispered, his voice trembling. "I couldn't protect your baguette." He looked as if confessing this failure took every ounce of his courage.
Dudley's brow furrowed. "Harry. What have I told you?"
The small bit of courage Harry had managed to summon evaporated instantly. He stared at his shoes.
"You don't need to be so afraid of me," Dudley said with a sigh.
"Okay, Dudley," Harry mumbled, still not looking up.
The conversation left Dudley feeling helpless. He swore that since arriving in this world, he had never once laid a hand on Harry. He had no idea why his cousin was so terrified of him.
I'm actually a very easygoing person, he thought to himself.
The truth was, he'd never bullied Harry directly. But Harry had always been there, a silent witness to the brutal aftermath of Dudley's other altercations. The sheer ferocity Dudley displayed had carved a deep and lasting impression into Harry's young mind.
After a few more words, Dudley sent Harry back to the classroom to wait. He, however, found a secluded spot behind the gym to check on his latest acquisition.
Dudley was not from this world.
His name was now Dudley Dursley, the infamous cousin of the Wizarding World's savior, Harry Potter. In the original story, he was nothing more than a minor antagonist, a plot device, and a confirmed Muggle, destined to live a life utterly devoid of magic. Unless a miracle occurred, he would never cast a single spell.
But as the old saying goes, where a door closes, a window opens.
Suppressing the giddy excitement bubbling in his chest, Dudley pushed open that metaphorical window.
Before his eyes, several large, golden characters materialized, shimmering with a mysterious aura. This was his unique gift, his secret—a power only he could see.
The Mage Cultivation System.
As the name implied, it was a system designed to cultivate mages. A clear, crisp notification hovered in his vision.
Rescued the young savior, Harry Potter. Reward: 1x Physical Attribute Lottery.
Draw now?
Dudley rubbed his hands together with glee. He made a quick detour to the school washroom and scrubbed his hands meticulously. When it came to a lottery draw, one had to wash away the bad luck before inviting the good. It was the only way to win the grand prize. Having transmigrated to a magical world, a bit of superstition was practically required.
The moment he pressed the 'draw' button in his mind, a phantom slot machine materialized before his eyes, its three reels blurring into a whirlwind of colors and symbols. The process was entirely automatic; all he could do was wait.
He remembered his last draw. The prize had been "Ripple" from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure—a unique breathing technique that channeled life energy, dramatically enhancing one's physical abilities and even slowing the aging process.
At the time, he'd been confused. Why would a Mage Cultivation System grant a purely physical ability?
The system's explanation had been simple: A powerful vessel is the foundation for a powerful mage.
It made a strange kind of sense, so he'd accepted it. He practiced his Ripple breathing every single day, which had sculpted his body into its current, muscular state.
All well and good, he thought, but he desperately wanted to learn magic. The miraculous power of spells was infinitely more captivating than physical training.
As he let out a sigh, the slot machine slowly ground to a halt. He saw the category of the prize.
TYPE-MOON
FATE
HOLY GRAIL WAR—FOUNDING FAMILIES
Dudley's eyebrow shot up. This had to be it. This had to be magic. In that world, they called it "magecraft" and its users "magi," but that was close enough. Surely, he'd at least get a simple fireball spell out of this.
As he waited in breathless anticipation, an image coalesced in front of him. It was a young man with garish, seaweed-like blue hair. A lecherous smirk was on his face as his hand rested on the thigh of a purple-haired girl in a school uniform.
Then, the final notification appeared.
Congratulations! You have obtained: Matou Shinji's Mage Physique.
Dudley's mind went blank. Matou Shinji. The eldest son of the Matou magus family, a boy who desperately wanted the power he could never possess. A boy who had no aptitude for magecraft and took out his bitter resentment on his adopted sister, Sakura. Another minor character, a plot device, just like Dudley Dursley himself.
The system added a small bonus: Archery LV1. A nod to Shinji's position as vice-captain of his school's archery club.
The calm he'd cultivated through years of Ripple training shattered. He couldn't stop the furious curse from escaping his lips.
"Matou Shinji's Mage Physique?" he spat. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"
His internal voice rose to a scream. In what universe is Shinji Matou considered a mage? He's not even in the same ballpark; he's a hundred thousand miles away from being one! What can he do? Nothing! Is he worthy of the title? Absolutely not!
***
(End of Chapter)
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