This child was just like him…
He had no previous life.
In this world, people without a past life were exceedingly rare. Kanzaki Rei had examined everyone in the Land of Moonwatch and found only a handful who lacked one.
And yet, after wandering through Boundless Mountain for only a short while, he had encountered another.
Could the place where one reincarnated be connected to geography?
Still… it was different.
When Kanzaki Rei looked at himself, the absence of a previous life was a pure void—an empty nothingness.
But this child's "past life" was filled with brilliant, flowing light.
Kanzaki Rei had seen that radiance before.
It was the same color as the Tree of Wisdom.
"By the way, what's your name?" Kanzaki Rei asked as he walked toward the phase passage.
"My name is… Suei."
"Mm. I understand."
"Come with me."
Kanzaki Rei's body gradually merged into the phase corridor and vanished from Suei's sight.
Staring at the dark, shifting tunnel, Suei swallowed nervously.
But he still gathered his courage and stepped into the unknown.
He stepped into the phase.
Whoosh!
The moment he entered the passage, Suei felt his body flatten and stretch. His arms extended outward, and his entire form seemed to unfurl like a roll of paper.
Wait.
I never asked his name.
Which way am I supposed to go now?
What do I do?
It's so dark.
Where… is this?
Is this really the Moon Sea?
He felt as though he were sinking. Though he had no sense of direction here, he could not shake the feeling that he was descending ever deeper.
"Don't lose focus."
Suddenly, a thought echoed in his mind.
He tried to open his eyes.
But it was as if he no longer possessed eyes at all. All he could perceive was endless darkness.
"Follow me," the voice said again.
"Follow?"
"You…"
"Where are you?"
He asked the question in his mind, but no sound emerged.
Then—
The surrounding space brightened slightly.
Far away, a tiny point of light flickered in the distance.
"Over there?"
Suei asked silently.
Still, no voice left him.
He could only struggle with all his might to control his transformed body and drift after that faint point of light.
"This is phase space."
"Ordinary people cannot pass through it."
"I temporarily altered your body so that you could enter it with me."
The voice in his mind continued, distant and indistinct.
But he could still recognize it.
It was the man who had saved him.
"Altered?"
"You changed my body…"
"Don't worry. Your body is fine."
Kanzaki Rei seemed to anticipate his concerns.
"Being able to perceive phase space will be beneficial to your future class progression."
"While you follow me, try to sense your surroundings as much as possible."
Kanzaki Rei's tone was calm and gentle, more like guidance than instruction.
"I… understand."
…
The two drifted through phase space.
There was nothing romantic about it.
It was dark, endless, and oppressive.
Yet for those with sufficiently high spirituality, even within this vast darkness, faint projections of the real world could still be seen.
"By the way…"
"Big brother, may I know your name?"
Suei asked suddenly.
"Kanzaki Rei."
The answer came immediately.
"Brother Rei, you must be an incredibly powerful person."
"Yes. I suppose I am."
"What level are you?"
"Level 6."
"Level 6 is that powerful?"
"Mm… an ordinary Level 6 is nowhere near as strong as I am."
"Stop asking about me all the time."
"Focus on experiencing phase space."
"Okay! I understand."
This was the slowest journey Kanzaki Rei had ever taken through phase space.
Ordinarily, traversing a phase required none of this.
This entire drifting process could have been skipped.
But experiencing the phase firsthand would be of great benefit to Suei.
"We're almost there."
"What did you feel?"
Kanzaki Rei paused at the exit and asked.
"Mm…"
"I think…"
"I felt a lot of continents."
"And the sea…"
Kanzaki Rei fell silent for a moment and looked back at the tiny tadpole-like point of light behind him.
A hint of emotion flickered across his face.
Then he chuckled softly.
"Your comprehension is quite impressive."
"Come."
"Staying here too long isn't good for you. I'll get you settled in the Land of Moonwatch first."
…
They emerged from phase space.
At once, Suei heard astonished cheers and jubilant cries all around him.
Whoosh—
His body materialized out of empty void, expanding from a single point into a complete human form.
"This is…"
Above him hung an enormous crimson moon.
But it was not the red of blood.
It was the blazing red of metal inside a forge.
This was the month of Aromochi, the Lunar Sovereign of Forging and Enhancement.
A month like a burning furnace.
Yet the dangers lurking on all sides had dulled much of that fiery atmosphere.
"Everyone here looks so happy," Suei murmured, feeling painfully out of place.
Kanzaki Rei smiled faintly.
"Heh. They weren't nearly this happy not long ago."
The two walked onward.
Suei quickly noticed something strange.
Though his strides were small, the scenery around him shifted dramatically with every step.
And despite the constantly changing landscape, he could perceive everything clearly.
It felt as though they were merely taking a leisurely stroll.
There was so much to see that he should not have been able to take it all in.
"Lothdan."
Kanzaki Rei's voice was not loud.
And yet, it drew everyone's attention once again.
Only then did Suei snap out of his daze.
He realized that he was already standing within a palace of white jade walls.
At the center of that gleaming palace sat an emperor upon a lofty throne.
Lothdan looked down and spoke.
"Kanzaki Rei."
"We only parted a short while ago, did we not?"
"Not long at all."
In truth, less than an hour had passed.
"I simply require a favor."
Seated upon the imperial throne, Lothdan replied through thought alone.
"Oh? There is something with which I can assist you?"
"Then please, speak freely."
"Is this about the Atlas of Destiny?"
Kanzaki Rei shook his head slightly.
"No. It has nothing to do with that."
He guided Suei forward.
"It concerns him."
Lothdan blinked.
"This is…"
"Your child?"
…
Lothdan… what are you talking about?
Do I look like someone who has a child?
"No…"
"This is a child I happened to meet."
"A child who has lost his home."
Less than an hour had passed.
Where had Kanzaki Rei found a child in that time?
Lothdan was puzzled, but he did not ask.
Instead, he said:
"You wish for me to shelter him?"
"Yes."
"A matter this small is no trouble at all."
"Since he has been entrusted by you, he will receive the finest treatment our kingdom of Loren can offer."
Kanzaki Rei nodded.
"Good. With Your Majesty's promise, I can rest assured."
Then he lowered his head and looked at Suei.
"They will arrange a place for you to stay."
"Once you have rested, I will take you to receive your class."
"Think carefully about what kind of profession you want to choose."
As Kanzaki Rei spoke, an attendant stepped forward and bowed.
"Little one, please come with me."
"I will take you to your residence."...
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