Two years had passed since Rayan was born into this strange world.
And honestly, life wasn't bad.
Well, aside from the fact that he had once been defeated by a bedsheet, couldn't properly control his own body, and had suffered the humiliation of being slapped by an old woman immediately after birth.
Other than those minor inconveniences, everything was going rather well.
He had a loving mother, a caring father, two grandparents who spoiled him in their own ways, and a family that seemed reasonably well-off.
Most importantly, nobody had tried to kill him yet.
Having spent his previous life reading novels full of miserable protagonists, Rayan considered this a promising start.
At this rate, perhaps fate really has blessed me.
He paused.
Although, considering how I died, fate might simply be making fun of me.
Still, he wasn't going to complain.
Not when he had food, a comfortable bed, and absolutely no responsibilities beyond growing up.
Unfortunately, the last part wasn't entirely true.
Because Rayan had a grandfather.
And that grandfather had a terrible habit.
He believed children should start exercising at a very young age.
A very, very young age.
And Rayan had become his favorite target.
"Rayan! Get up!"
A loud voice echoed through the courtyard early in the morning.
Rayan, who had been sleeping peacefully, slowly opened his eyes.
He stared at the ceiling.
Then he closed them again.
No.
I refuse.
Whatever it is, the answer is no.
"Rayan!"
The voice grew louder.
"Grandfather is waiting!"
Rayan pulled the blanket over his head.
Grandfather, I respect you. I love you. You are an excellent source of information about this world.
But if you think I'm getting out of bed at this hour, you've seriously underestimated my dedication to laziness.
A few moments later, the blanket was pulled away.
Rayan opened one eye.
His grandfather stood beside the bed, wearing a broad smile.
"Good! You're awake."
Rayan stared at him.
Then he glanced at the window.
The sky was barely bright.
He looked back at his grandfather.
"Grandpa..."
"Yes?"
"Sleep."
His grandfather laughed.
"Hahaha! What a lazy little fellow! Come on. Today we'll do ten more steps than yesterday."
Rayan's expression changed.
Ten more steps?
Yesterday, his grandfather had made him walk around the courtyard several times.
And now he wanted to increase the number?
What crime did I commit in my previous life to deserve this?
He was a two-year-old child!
Two!
At this age, most children were learning to run around and cause trouble.
His grandfather, however, had apparently decided that Rayan should prepare for a military examination.
"Come on," the old man encouraged him. "A strong body is important."
Rayan sighed.
"Grandpa... tired."
"You're not even moving yet!"
Exactly! I'm tired in advance!
Unfortunately, his complaints had no effect.
His grandfather picked him up, carried him outside, and placed him on the ground.
"All right, Rayan. Walk to that tree."
Rayan looked at the tree.
Then he looked at his grandfather.
"Carry?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Grandpa best."
His grandfather's face lit up.
"Hahaha! Of course I'm the best!"
"Carry?"
"...No!"
Rayan stared at the sky.
My flattery has failed. The world has truly abandoned me.
And so, another morning of exercise began.
Although Rayan complained constantly, his life wasn’t spent entirely walking around the courtyard.
In fact, during the past two years, he had learned quite a lot about his new world.
Much of that knowledge came from his grandparents.
His grandfather enjoyed telling stories about the family's history, while his grandmother often talked about the village, the surrounding regions, and the strange professions that existed beyond their little home.
At first, Rayan listened simply because he had nothing better to do.
But the more he learned, the more curious he became.
This was not an ordinary world.
It was a world divided by two major forces.
Necromancers.
And priests.
According to the stories he had heard, the continent contained five kingdoms.
Three were situated on the side predominantly associated with necromancers, while two were on the side predominantly associated with priests.
Between the two major regions lay a neutral zone.
Naturally, the world wasn’t as simple as dividing everyone into two neat groups.
Not every kingdom officially belonged to either side, and not everyone living in those regions followed the same profession.
There were mages and people who pursued other paths as well.
Still, necromancers and priests were the two most influential groups, and their rivalry had shaped the continent’s history.
Rayan had found this information fascinating.
Necromancers and priests, huh?
In his previous life, necromancers had often been portrayed as mysterious figures who controlled the dead, while priests were commonly associated with healing, blessings, and sacred powers.
But those were just fictional conventions from Earth.
He couldn't assume that the people in this world followed the same rules.
Perhaps the necromancers here had entirely different abilities.
Perhaps the priests weren't what he expected.
And perhaps the word necromancer meant something far more complicated than he imagined.
He needed more information.
Unfortunately, whenever he asked his grandfather about the details, the old man tended to go off on unrelated tangents.
For example, Rayan had once asked about the differences between necromancers and priests.
His grandfather had spent the next half hour explaining how the Zu family had maintained its reputation over several generations.
By the end of the conversation, Rayan had learned absolutely nothing about priests.
But he now knew that his grandfather was very proud of his family.
At this rate, I’ll need to write a book just to organize everything I’ve learned.
Still, Rayan wasn't complaining too much.
Every story added another piece to the puzzle.
And sooner or later, he would understand how this world worked.
Another five months passed.
Rayan continued his daily routine of eating, playing, learning, and being forced to exercise.
His speech improved quickly.
At first, he could only manage a few words at a time.
Now, he could form proper sentences and hold simple conversations.
Of course, his family still treated him like an adorable little child—which, technically, he was.
But that didn't make it any less annoying.
One afternoon, while Rayan was sitting in the courtyard, his grandfather approached him.
"Rayan, what do you want to become when you grow up?"
Rayan looked up.
This was a dangerous question.
If he answered honestly, he might accidentally invite another lecture.
So he thought carefully.
Then he smiled.
"Rich."
His grandfather blinked.
"...What?"
"Rich," Rayan repeated.
His grandfather stared at him for several seconds before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha! You little rascal! You want to become rich?"
Rayan nodded solemnly.
"Very rich."
"Why?"
Rayan considered the question.
Then he gave what he believed to be a perfectly reasonable answer.
"So Grandpa buys food."
His grandfather's laughter became even louder.
"HAHAHAHA! You want to become rich so you can buy food?"
Rayan nodded again.
"Me eat. Grandpa pay."
For a moment, his grandfather looked as if he might fall out of his chair.
"You little—! Hahaha!"
Rayan smiled inwardly.
Excellent.
Let the old man laugh. As long as he keeps buying food, this arrangement is perfectly acceptable.
He had already learned something important in this second life.
There was no point making life more complicated than necessary.
If you could get someone else to pay for your meals, why wouldn't you?
Unfortunately, his grandfather eventually recovered enough to deliver his usual speech about becoming a strong and respected member of the Zu family.
Rayan listened patiently.
Or at least, he pretended to.
His mind was already occupied with more important matters.
Like what they were having for dinner.
Not long after that, something new happened.
A family moved into the house opposite theirs.
Rayan first noticed the activity when several people began carrying furniture through the entrance.
He sat near the courtyard gate, watching with interest.
New neighbors?
This was excellent news.
New people meant new information.
And if the newcomers had children, there might even be someone to play with.
The family consisted of a man, a woman, and a little girl who appeared to be around Rayan's age.
The man was busy arranging their belongings, while the woman directed the workers.
The little girl, meanwhile, seemed far more interested in looking around the village.
At one point, her eyes met Rayan’s.
She stared at him.
He stared back.
Neither moved.
Then the girl pointed at him.
"Baby!"
Rayan's face darkened.
Excuse me?
We're approximately the same age!
He pointed back.
"Baby!"
The girl tilted her head.
Then she giggled.
Rayan sighed.
Wonderful. My first interaction with a potential friend, and I've already lost the battle of dignity.
The girl's mother noticed their exchange and smiled.
"Ran, don't point at people."
So that was her name.
Ran.
The little girl turned toward her mother, then looked back at Rayan.
"Ran!"
She pointed at herself.
Then she pointed at him.
"Baby!"
Rayan looked at the sky.
I need older friends.
Unfortunately, finding someone who could appreciate his adult mentality while he was trapped in a toddler's body seemed rather difficult.
Perhaps he should lower his expectations.
Just a little.
The two families soon became acquainted.
The newcomers' surname was Yan, and after a few visits, both households grew comfortable with each other.
Rayan's parents and the Yan couple got along well.
His grandparents also seemed pleased to have friendly neighbors.
And Ran?
Ran soon decided that Rayan was her favorite person in the entire village.
At least, that was what Rayan assumed.
She began visiting their house frequently.
Sometimes she came with her mother.
Sometimes she arrived with her father.
And sometimes, when both families were busy, she simply appeared at the entrance and called out his name.
"Raa-yan!"
Rayan would usually be doing something important when she arrived.
Such as eating.
Or sleeping.
Or sitting quietly and contemplating the meaning of life.
Naturally, Ran considered all of these activities excellent opportunities to interrupt him.
"Rayan! Play!"
Rayan would sigh.
"Again?"
"Play!"
"Later?"
"Now!"
He stared at her.
She stared back.
After a brief battle of wills, Rayan would usually surrender.
Not because he was weak.
But because he had learned that arguing with a two-year-old girl was an excellent way to lose an entire afternoon.
Besides, playing wasn't so bad.
Ran was energetic, curious, and occasionally mischievous.
She wasn't particularly fluent in speaking yet, so she often communicated through a combination of short sentences, pointing, and expressions that Rayan gradually learned to understand.
Sometimes, she would bring him a toy and insist that he play with it.
Other times, she would drag him toward the courtyard to investigate something completely unimportant.
Once, she spent nearly ten minutes showing him a small stone.
"Look!"
Rayan looked.
"Stone."
"Pretty!"
Rayan examined it carefully.
It was, without question, a stone.
An ordinary stone.
A stone that probably wouldn't attract the attention of anyone older than three.
He looked at Ran.
She looked back at him with sparkling eyes.
Rayan sighed.
"Very pretty."
Ran beamed.
And somehow, he found himself smiling too.
Well... at least she's happy.
He had to admit that having a playmate wasn't entirely terrible.
It was nice to have someone around who didn’t constantly lecture him about family honor or force him to exercise.
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Though, to be fair, Ran had her own methods of exhausting him.
And she was remarkably good at them.
As the months passed, Ran began spending more time at the Zu residence.
Sometimes she stayed for lunch.
Sometimes she remained until dinner.
And occasionally, when it became too late for her parents to take her home comfortably, she would stay overnight.
Since both children were still very young, neither family considered this unusual.
They trusted each other, and the children were practically inseparable.
The first time Ran slept in Rayan's room, he had been rather pleased.
Finally, he thought, a peaceful evening with no interruptions.
That optimism lasted approximately five minutes.
Ran sat on the edge of his small bed, looking around with curiosity.
Then she climbed onto it.
Then she began playing with his blanket.
Then she decided that the pillow belonged to her.
Rayan watched the entire process in silence.
Amazing.
She's been here for five minutes, and I've already lost ownership of my own bed.
Eventually, the two children settled down to sleep.
Rayan closed his eyes.
Peace at last.
But sometime during the night, he woke up and discovered that Ran had rolled closer to him, leaving him with barely enough space to lie comfortably.
He stared at the ceiling.
I see.
So this is what sharing a bed means.
He tried moving away.
Ran moved closer.
He shifted again.
She followed.
Rayan finally gave up.
Fine. Take the bed. I'll sleep on the edge.
He had barely returned to sleep when he felt something wet.
His eyes opened.
He remained motionless for several seconds.
Then he slowly looked down.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
...No.
Not again.
He closed his eyes.
I had thought I had escaped this stage of my life.
I had thought I was free.
But fate has once again chosen violence.
The next morning, his grandmother discovered the situation and immediately began laughing.
Rayan wished the floor would open and swallow him.
Fortunately, his grandmother was kind enough not to make a big deal out of it.
As for Ran, she seemed completely unaware of the tragedy she had caused.
She simply smiled at him.
"Rayan!"
He looked at her.
She hugged him.
"Play!"
Rayan stared blankly into the distance.
One day, I'll remember all of this.
Every single incident.
And when we're older, I'll make sure she knows exactly what she did.
Then he paused.
Actually, considering how much trouble she causes, perhaps I'll just keep a written record.
It seemed like the safest option.
Time continued to pass.
Rayan grew taller, his speech became clearer, and his understanding of the world improved.
By the time he was two and a half, he could speak clearly enough to hold simple conversations with adults.
His family was delighted.
His grandfather, in particular, seemed convinced that Rayan was a genius.
"He learns so quickly!" the old man often declared.
Rayan, however, had a different opinion.
I'm not a genius. I simply have the memories of an adult.
Although, now that I think about it, perhaps that does count as cheating.
Still, he wasn't about to reveal his secret.
He had no idea how people in this world would react if they discovered that a child possessed memories from another life.
It was better to keep quiet.
Besides, he was beginning to enjoy his new life.
His family was warm and affectionate.
The village was peaceful.
And despite the occasional humiliation, Ran had become an important part of his daily routine.
He had no idea what the future held.
But for now, he was content.
Then his third birthday arrived.
And everything changed.
The day began like any other.
Rayan woke up, washed his face with his grandmother's help, ate breakfast, and was preparing himself for what he assumed would be another ordinary day.
Then he noticed something unusual.
Several servants were carrying food into the house.
Not ordinary food.
Special food.
The kind that made his mouth water simply from the smell.
He stopped in the middle of the courtyard.
His nose twitched.
Wait.
That smell...
He turned toward the kitchen.
Another delicious aroma drifted through the air.
Rayan's eyes widened.
No way.
Is today a festival?
He hurried toward his grandmother.
"Grandma!"
His grandmother smiled.
"Good morning, Rayan."
"Why so much food?"
She chuckled.
"Just wait and see."
Rayan narrowed his eyes.
Suspicious.
He turned toward the dining area.
There were more dishes than he had ever seen prepared at once.
Special meat.
Fresh vegetables.
Various delicacies.
And enough food to make him reconsider every ambitious plan he had ever made.
Forget becoming rich.
If this is what rich people eat, I want to become the richest person in the world.
He looked at his grandmother with shining eyes.
"Can I eat?"
She laughed.
"Not yet."
Rayan's expression fell.
Cruelty.
Pure cruelty.
But before he could protest, his grandfather appeared.
"Rayan! Come here!"
The old man picked him up and carried him around the house.
"Today is a special day!"
Rayan blinked.
Special?
He tried to remember whether he had done something important.
Had he finally mastered some complicated skill?
Had he discovered the secret of the world?
Had he defeated his greatest enemy, the evil rug?
No.
Then what was so special?
He was about to ask when his grandfather laughed.
"Hahaha! You'll understand soon enough."
Rayan looked at him suspiciously.
Why does everyone in this family answer questions like that?
Is it a hereditary condition?
By evening, the residence was filled with guests.
Several villagers had arrived, and the Yan family was among them.
The house was lively, with conversations and laughter filling every corner.
Rayan had never seen so many people gathered for one occasion.
His mother dressed him in clean clothes and carefully arranged his hair.
His grandmother made sure he looked presentable.
His grandfather seemed more excited than anyone else.
And Rayan?
Rayan was still thinking about the food.
I don't understand what's happening, but I hope everyone finishes talking soon.
The meat is getting cold.
Then Ran appeared.
She wore a lovely little outfit, and her hair had been neatly arranged by her mother.
The moment she spotted Rayan, her face brightened.
"Rayan!"
She hurried toward him with the enthusiasm of someone who had just found her favorite toy.
Rayan smiled.
"Ran."
She reached him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Happy... bri...day!"
Her pronunciation was still imperfect, but her happiness was unmistakable.
Rayan blinked.
Then he smiled warmly.
"Thank you, Ran."
She looked up at him proudly.
"Happy birthday!"
This time, the words came out a little more clearly.
Rayan gently patted her head.
"Thank you."
Ran beamed.
For a moment, Rayan forgot all about the food.
Almost.
Then his stomach growled.
Ran looked down.
Rayan looked away.
That wasn't me.
His stomach betrayed him again.
Grrr.
Ran giggled.
"Rayan hungry!"
Rayan sighed.
"Yes. Very hungry."
She nodded solemnly, as though this was a serious problem that required immediate attention.
Then she grabbed his hand.
"Food!"
Rayan looked at her.
She looked at him.
For the first time that evening, he felt that someone truly understood his priorities.
This girl may be a genius after all.
When the time came, everyone gathered around Rayan.
His parents stood nearby.
His grandparents smiled proudly.
The Yan couple watched with affection.
And Ran remained close to him, holding his hand.
The villagers began wishing him a happy birthday.
Rayan smiled politely, though he was still a little confused by all the attention.
Then his grandfather raised his voice.
"Today, our little Rayan has turned three!"
Everyone applauded.
Rayan blinked.
Three?
Of course.
It was his third birthday.
But why was everyone making such a big deal out of it?
His family had celebrated his previous birthdays, but this occasion seemed different.
There was more food.
More guests.
More excitement.
And his grandfather looked as though he had been waiting for this day for years.
Rayan glanced toward his father.
His father noticed the confusion on his face.
Once the guests had settled down, Rayan’s father approached and crouched beside him.
"What's wrong, Rayan?"
Rayan hesitated.
Then he asked the question that had been bothering him all day.
"Father, why is today so special?"
His father looked at him for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Because today, you've reached an important age."
Rayan tilted his head.
"Important?"
His father nodded.
"Yes. You see, our family is a necromancer family."
Rayan's expression changed.
He had heard the word many times before, but this was the first time his father had explained the subject so directly.
His father continued.
"Your grandfather and I are both necromancers, although our abilities are only average."
Rayan listened carefully.
Average necromancers.
So my father and grandfather possess abilities related to necromancy.
That much was clear.
But his father wasn't finished.
"If our family had nothing special beyond that, I wouldn't be the village chief."
Rayan's eyes widened slightly.
Oh?
His father smiled.
"The Zu family possesses a special bloodline ability. It's something that has been passed down through our family for generations."
Rayan's attention sharpened.
A bloodline ability?
Now this was interesting.
His father continued speaking in a calm voice.
"Every child born into our family reaches an important milestone at the age of three. At that age, the child can begin learning to use our family's special ability."
Rayan stared at him.
Then, slowly, his gaze shifted toward his grandfather.
The old man was watching him with an expression full of anticipation.
Wait a minute.
Does that mean...
His father gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"After the celebration, go with your grandfather. He’ll teach you how to use our family’s bloodline ability."
For several seconds, Rayan remained silent.
Then his mind began racing.
So that's why everyone has been making such a big deal out of my birthday.
The special food. The guests. Grandpa's excitement.
Everything makes sense now.
He had spent the past two years trying to understand this world.
He had learned about the five kingdoms, the two major forces, the various professions, and the importance of necromancers and priests.
But this was different.
This was something directly connected to him.
Something that belonged to his family.
Something he would soon be able to experience for himself.
Rayan looked at his father.
"Father, what can the ability do?"
His father smiled mysteriously.
"Your grandfather will explain everything."
Rayan stared at him.
No.
No, no, no.
Not another one!
Why does everyone keep saying that someone else will explain things later?
He wanted to protest.
He wanted answers.
He wanted to know exactly what kind of ability his family possessed.
But his father merely laughed and patted his head.
"Be patient, Rayan."
Rayan slowly turned toward his grandfather.
The old man was already grinning.
And for some reason, that smile made Rayan nervous.
Very nervous.
...Why do I suddenly feel like I'm about to get dragged into something troublesome?
His grandfather approached and lifted him into his arms.
“Come on, my boy. Enjoy your birthday tonight,” he said with a proud smile. “Tomorrow, we’ll begin your first lesson.”
Rayan swallowed.
Tomorrow?
Already?
He had only just turned three!
Wasn't there supposed to be a grace period?
A week of rest?
Perhaps a month of eating special birthday food?
Apparently not.
His grandfather's expression made it clear that he had already made up his mind.
Rayan sighed inwardly.
Well, there goes my peaceful childhood.
He looked toward the dining table.
At least the food was still there.
For tonight, that was enough.
Once the celebration was over, he would finally discover the secret behind the Zu family’s bloodline ability.
He didn't know what it was.
He didn't know how powerful it might be.
And he certainly didn't know what his grandfather had planned for his first lesson.
But one thing was certain.
His third birthday had marked the beginning of something important.
And Rayan had a feeling that his life was about to become a lot more complicated.
Hopefully, it wouldn't interfere with his meals.
That would be unforgivable.