「Hall of Reincarnation — Divination Sanctum」
A diviner, his entire face concealed beneath an oversized hood, sat quietly at a wooden table. In his hands rested a radiant crystal ball.
He looked—by all appearances—exactly like what one would imagine a true diviner to be.
"Morodo," Seiichi spoke, his tone calm but probing, "divine for me—if I enter that dungeon this time, will I be ambushed?"
The man called Morodo said nothing.
His hands simply brushed lightly over the crystal ball, which emitted a soft, steady glow.
Without speaking, he drew a single mark on the tabletop:
"X."
Seiichi let out a faint chuckle.
"Heh."
"Then, Morodo—if I enter that Tier 7 dungeon, will I encounter anything related to reincarnation?"
Again, Morodo stroked the crystal ball.
This time, he drew:
"√."
Seiichi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The reincarnation elements within that dungeon… were they deliberately arranged by someone to lure me in?"
Even though he had already asked whether he would be ambushed, he still carefully probed further, unwilling to leave any angle unchecked.
Morodo answered once more with:
"X."
"If I enter the dungeon… will I gain anything?"
"√."
"Are there any special restrictions within that dungeon?"
This time, Morodo did not draw a simple symbol.
Instead, he wrote:
"Do not rely on mechanical power. One must enter with a pure physical body."
...
Seiichi asked more than a dozen questions in succession.
Almost every answer he received… was favorable.
After finishing all his inquiries, he stood in silence for a moment, thinking.
Then he turned and left the divination chamber.
Only after he had gone did the hooded diviner slowly lift his head.
His face—pale, lifeless, devoid of vitality.
This guy… really was cautious to the extreme.
Just entering a dungeon, and he had to ask that many questions.
Good thing I've already taken control of this diviner…
Though, to be fair, a taciturn character like this was easy enough to impersonate.
The diviner was only Level 5.
In this world, it seemed that truly high-level diviners simply did not pledge themselves to factions.
Unlike other classes—
Even within a massive organization like the Church of Reincarnation, the strongest diviner they had was still only Level 5.
Diviners followed principles fundamentally different from other professions.
Other classes could do as they pleased.
Which was why every major faction possessed a variety of high-level professions.
Within Reincarnation, there were Level 6 Observers, Level 7 Mages, Warriors, Archers…
And even—rumor had it—a living Level 8 existence, currently residing in the Moonsea's "Lunar Gaze Region."
There were nearly two hundred Level 6 class users.
And the number of Level 7s was not much lower—over a dozen.
A true behemoth of a faction.
As expected of a Church that had stood for thousands of years, commanding immense prestige within the Moonsea.
And yet—
Despite possessing so many high-level combatants…
Their diviners remained stuck at Level 5.
Once a diviner joined a faction, they could no longer uphold the true principles of their path.
Only those who remained solitary and independent could continue ascending.
And by the time one reached Level 6 as a diviner…
Most would already be vying for something far more elusive—
Fate itself.
Seeking to advance even further along that path.
...
After leaving, Seiichi descended into the deeper subterranean layers of the Church.
He arrived before a forbidden zone, sealed beneath countless restrictions.
Steam hissed through the air.
Vein-like pipelines stretched across the walls in dense, tangled networks.
The massive door opened—
And Seiichi stepped inside.
At once, the engineers within turned and bowed.
"Lord Seiichi."
"Lord Seiichi!"
The room was filled with human limbs—
But not ordinary flesh.
These were hybrid constructs, fused from flesh and machinery.
What was being manufactured here…
Were replaceable mechanical bodies.
Seiichi merely glanced around.
At the very center of the laboratory stood a massive containment tank.
Inside it—
A preserved, pristine human body.
Not just any body.
It was Seiichi's original flesh.
He spoke calmly:
"It's nothing. Continue your work."
...
After inspecting the chamber, Seiichi stepped out, pacing slowly as he fell into thought.
About two hours later—
Still deep in contemplation, he passed through a narrow alleyway.
Suddenly—
His perception stirred.
There, seated upon a simple cloth laid on the ground, was a middle-aged man.
Mysterious. Unassuming.
Before him stood only a small sign:
"Prophet Divination."
Seiichi paused briefly, then asked:
"Sir… are you a prophet?"
The man smiled faintly.
"Of course, Lord Seiichi."
Seiichi's tone shifted instantly upon hearing his name spoken so casually.
"Oh? So you do know who I am."
"How could I not know the great name of Seiichi?"
"Since you claim to be a prophet… I have a few matters I'd like to ask."
"But I wonder… is your divination truly accurate?"
The man let out a soft chuckle and closed his eyes.
"Lord Seiichi… the Second Reincarnation Sanctum is your final opportunity to reclaim reincarnation."
"The one who took your Reincarnation Mark… will never appear before you again."
Seiichi froze.
For a fraction of a second—
Whoosh!
A staff formed in his hand, composed of countless interlocking mechanical components, instantly pointed at the man.
"I think… you're the one who stole my Reincarnation Mark."
Yet even with the weapon aimed at him—
The so-called prophet showed no reaction.
No fear. No tension.
Only a faint smile.
"You do not truly believe that."
Seiichi studied him carefully.
His aura was steady.
Unshaken.
No trace of panic.
And yet—
With just a single sentence, he had exposed Seiichi's deepest secret.
"…Do you think, knowing this much, you can still walk away alive?"
The only reason Seiichi remained safe was because all factions still believed him to be the untouchable Reincarnator—an existence beyond selection, beyond death.
If the truth were revealed—
That he could no longer reincarnate—
Enemies would come in endless waves.
And if that secret spread…
He might be forced to abandon the Church he had built with his own hands.
Disappear.
Hide.
Until he became the strongest being in the world.
Only then could he reemerge.
"Heh…"
"As a prophet, I naturally know my own fate."
"But if I told you… that you are about to regain the opportunity for reincarnation—"
"Would you still kill me?"
Seiichi lowered his staff and smiled.
"If your guidance proves useful, then the Church of Reincarnation will honor you as our most esteemed guest."
"From this day forward, your status will stand equal to mine."
"For the rest of your life, regardless of your stance, you will always have a place within our Church."
Then, his tone grew open—almost inviting.
"But I wonder… what insight you truly possess?"
"You speak of regaining reincarnation—on what basis?"
"And perhaps… you could offer me a deeper glimpse into your understanding of fate and the future."
"If you're willing to reveal certain truths—things only I myself would know from my past—"
"Then perhaps we can build a far stronger foundation of trust."
"Whatever principles you wish to uphold, I, Seiichi, will support you to the fullest."
He did not trust blindly.
Instead, he laid out his terms openly.
To walk one's path—to uphold one's principles—was something every class user pursued.
While testing the man before him—
He also offered an exchange of benefits too great to easily refuse.
If the prophet's identity were genuine…
There would be no reason to decline.