The old man continued laughing and singing as he carried Rayan on his shoulders into the house.
“My grandson is a genius! A prodigy! The pride of the Zu family!”
His voice was so loud that anyone within three houses could probably hear him.
Unfortunately, the Zu family had a sleeping guest.
And that guest was a certain little girl named Ran.
Grandma, who had been arranging things in the living room, immediately turned toward the entrance.
“Old fool! Can you keep your voice down? Ran is sleeping!”
Grandpa stopped singing.
For approximately two seconds.
Then he lowered his voice and whispered proudly, “My grandson is a genius!”
“YOU—”
“Grandma, please don't kill Grandpa,” Rayan said solemnly from atop the old man's shoulders. “If you do, who will carry me around?”
Grandma's expression twitched.
Grandpa burst out laughing.
“Hahahaha! Listen to that! Even my grandson knows how important I am!”
“That's not what I meant,” Rayan muttered.
Unfortunately, nobody paid attention to him.
Grandma marched toward Grandpa and grabbed his ear.
“Ow! Ow! Woman, what are you doing?!”
“Teaching you how to use your indoor voice!”
“I was already using my indoor voice!”
“Then why can I hear you from the other side of the house?”
“Because my voice is powerful!”
“And my hand is powerful too!”
“OW! All right, all right! I'll be quiet!”
Rayan watched the exchange from his grandfather's shoulders.
Amazing.
The legendary head of the Zu family, a man capable of controlling his own shadow, has finally met his natural enemy.
Grandma.
At that moment, Rayan's mother came out of the room after putting Ran to bed. She glanced at the three of them and immediately understood what had happened.
“Father, what were you doing this time?”
“Nothing!” Grandpa protested. “I was simply celebrating!”
“Celebrating what?”
Grandpa's face lit up again.
“Our Rayan is a genius!”
He gently placed Rayan on the ground, then crouched down and held the boy by his shoulders.
“Listen carefully, everyone! Our Rayan has extraordinary mental strength! He summoned his own shadow on his third attempt!”
The room fell silent.
Then—
“What?”
Rayan's father, who had been sitting nearby, stood up so quickly that his chair nearly fell over.
“His own shadow? You mean he actually summoned it himself?”
Grandpa nodded proudly.
“That's right!”
His father's eyes widened.
“On his third attempt?”
“Exactly!”
For a moment, Rayan's father simply stared at his son.
Then he let out a long breath.
“That… is incredible.”
Unlike Grandma and his mother, who had seen the shadow ability before but knew little about its difficulty, his father understood what the achievement meant.
He knew how difficult it was to learn the technique.
He had struggled with it himself.
For weeks, he had repeatedly exhausted his mental energy, failed to summon his shadow, and endured his father's relentless training.
And now his three-year-old son had accomplished the same thing in a single evening.
His father looked at Rayan with a complicated expression.
Pride.
A little disbelief.
And perhaps a tiny bit of jealousy.
My son is already better than me?
He smiled awkwardly.
Well, at least he's my son.
Grandma, meanwhile, had already forgotten about scolding Grandpa.
“Come here, my little genius!”
She scooped Rayan up and lifted him into the air.
“Look at you! Such a clever little boy!”
“Grandma, I'm not a baby anymore.”
“Oh? Then how old are you?”
“Three!”
“And what does that make you?”
“A very mature three-year-old!”
Grandma laughed and swung him gently from side to side.
“Yes, yes! Our very mature little genius!”
Rayan sighed.
Apparently, being a genius doesn't grant me the right to keep my feet on the ground.
While Grandma continued playing with him, Grandpa turned toward Rayan's father.
“See? This is what happens when you have good bloodline potential!”
His father raised an eyebrow.
“Father, aren't you getting a little carried away?”
“Carried away? I'm merely stating facts!”
Grandpa puffed out his chest.
“My grandson is a prodigy! He inherited the best qualities of the Zu family!”
Then he looked directly at his son.
“Unlike someone I know.”
His father's smile disappeared.
“Father…”
“What? Did I say anything wrong?”
“You don't need to look at me when you say that.”
Grandpa crossed his arms.
“Then who else should I look at? The chicken outside?”
Rayan nearly burst out laughing.
Poor Father. His own father is bullying him in front of the entire family.
But Grandpa wasn't finished.
“Son, you should learn something from your child. Strengthen your mental energy! Yours is even weaker than mine!”
His father looked as though he had swallowed a lemon.
“Father, I'm a grown man!”
“And yet your mental energy is still inferior to mine!”
“That's because you have been training for decades!”
“Excuses!”
Rayan's father took a deep breath.
Then, with the dignity of a man who had decided to ignore an unreasonable elder, he turned away.
Unfortunately, Grandpa followed him.
“Really, son, you should be ashamed. Your three-year-old child has already surpassed you in one area!”
“Father, please stop comparing me to a toddler!”
“Why? The toddler is doing better!”
Rayan finally lost the battle against his laughter.
“Hahaha!”
His father turned toward him.
“You too, huh?”
Rayan immediately straightened his expression.
“No, Father. I was coughing.”
“Coughing?”
“Yes. A very strange disease.”
Grandpa burst out laughing again.
“Hahahaha! My grandson is not only a genius but also a comedian!”
Please stop praising me. You're making this worse.
Then Grandpa struck his chest proudly.
“Besides, this is my grandson! A reward for all my hard work!”
The room went silent.
Rayan's mother froze.
Then her cheeks turned bright red.
“F-Father!”
Grandpa looked confused.
“What? I only said he's my grandson!”
His mother turned away, covering her face.
“That's not what you meant!”
Rayan blinked.
Wait. What did Grandpa mean?
He looked at his grandfather.
Then at his grandmother.
Then at his mother, who was now walking very quickly toward her room.
Did I miss a conversation somewhere?
Grandma slapped Grandpa on the arm.
“You old fool! Stop saying embarrassing things in front of everyone!”
“What did I say?!”
“You know perfectly well what you said!”
“I was praising my grandson!”
“And somehow you made it embarrassing!”
Grandpa looked toward Rayan's father for support.
His son immediately shook his head.
“Don't look at me, Father. I'm not getting involved.”
“Traitor!”
Rayan watched his family argue.
Then he nodded thoughtfully.
Family life really is complicated.
Perhaps becoming a powerful necromancer will be easier than understanding these people.
For the rest of the evening, Grandpa continued boasting about Rayan's talent, while Grandma periodically reminded him to lower his voice.
Eventually, everyone settled down.
Ran remained asleep.
Rayan was sent to bed.
And the Zu residence finally became quiet.
At least, it did until the following morning.
The Morning After
Rayan woke up early.
Not because he was diligent.
Not because he wanted to train.
And certainly not because he had suddenly developed a passion for mornings.
No.
He woke up because something felt terribly wrong.
His bed was wet.
Rayan lay motionless for several seconds.
Then he slowly opened his eyes.
He stared at the ceiling.
He looked down at his blanket.
Then he touched the damp bedsheet.
His expression gradually turned serious.
No.
He checked his clothes.
Then the bedsheet again.
Absolutely not.
He had the memories of a twenty-year-old man.
He had lived an entire previous life.
He had experienced hardship, loneliness, and the cruelty of the world.
He had been reincarnated into a new body.
He had discovered a mysterious bloodline ability.
He had summoned his own shadow in only three attempts.
And now—
Am I seriously being defeated by a wet bed?
Rayan slowly turned his head.
There she was.
Ran.
Sleeping peacefully beside him, hugging his pillow as if she owned the entire bed.
Her little face was completely relaxed.
Her breathing was steady.
She looked like the most innocent child in the world.
Rayan stared at her.
Then he stared at the wet bedsheet.
Then he looked back at her.
I knew it.
I knew allowing her to stay was a mistake.
He carefully lifted the blanket.
The evidence was undeniable.
Ran had done it again.
Rayan closed his eyes.
Why me?
What have I done to deserve this?
He wanted to wake her up and demand an explanation.
But one look at her peaceful face made him hesitate.
After all, she was only three years old.
And she was his friend.
A very troublesome friend.
A friend who apparently considered his bed a personal water reservoir.
With the patience of a man who had already suffered too much in life, Rayan slowly climbed out of bed.
He moved carefully, trying not to wake her.
Once his feet touched the floor, he looked back one last time.
Ran shifted in her sleep and hugged his pillow more tightly.
“Rayan…”
She murmured his name.
Rayan paused.
For a moment, his expression softened.
Then she rolled over and occupied the exact spot where he had been sleeping.
He stared.
She even stole my sleeping position.
Unbelievable.
He quietly left the room.
The house was still peaceful.
His father was asleep.
His mother had already gone outside to do some morning chores.
Rayan walked toward the front yard, where he found his mother cleaning.
She looked up when she heard his footsteps.
“Good morning, Rayan! You're awake early today.”
Rayan approached her with the expression of someone carrying a grave responsibility.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“Ran wet the bed again.”
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His mother stopped sweeping.
For a moment, she simply stared at him.
Then she slowly closed her eyes.
A deep, exhausted sigh escaped her lips.
“Again?”
Rayan nodded solemnly.
“Again.”
His mother looked toward the bedroom.
Then back at her son.
Without saying another word, she put down her broom and marched inside.
Rayan watched her go.
A few moments later, he heard his mother calling Ran's name.
Then came the sound of someone being gently awakened.
Then came a small, sleepy voice.
“Hmm? What happened?”
Rayan couldn't hear the rest of the conversation.
He didn't need to.
He had already fulfilled his duty.
Another crisis successfully reported.
He nodded to himself.
The Zu family is lucky to have me.
After washing his face, Rayan wandered toward the backyard.
The morning air was cool, and the sun had only just begun to rise.
Several animals were kept in one corner of the yard.
There was a cow, a horse, a few chickens, and even a horned rabbit.
Rayan paused when he saw the rabbit.
It had two small horns protruding from its head and a surprisingly serious expression.
He stared at it.
The rabbit stared back.
Why does a rabbit need horns?
He considered the question for a moment.
Actually, why does this world have so many strange things?
He had already encountered necromancers, priests, mysterious kingdoms, Black Cores, and a family that could pull shadows out of the ground.
Perhaps a horned rabbit wasn't particularly strange by comparison.
Still, it looked rather ridiculous.
Rayan glanced around.
No one appeared to be watching him.
His grandfather wasn't nearby.
His father was still asleep.
His mother was dealing with Ran.
It was the perfect opportunity.
Rayan walked toward a quieter corner of the backyard, where he wouldn't be easily seen if someone happened to step outside.
Then he looked down at his shadow.
He smiled.
“All right. Let's see how good you are.”
He took a breath.
He remembered the sensation from the previous night.
The connection.
The feeling of something separating from him while remaining a part of him.
Then he gave a simple command.
“Come out.”
His shadow rippled.
The dark shape rose from the ground and quickly formed a small black figure.
Rayan's eyes lit up.
He had done it.
On his first attempt that morning.
Excellent!
It seems last night's lesson wasn't a dream.
He circled his shadow once, examining it from different angles.
The figure copied his shape perfectly.
It even wore clothes.
Or rather, it wore the same clothes as Rayan, except everything was completely black.
His shirt was black.
His trousers were black.
Even the outlines of his sleeves and collar were black.
Rayan tilted his head.
The shadow tilted its head.
He raised one arm.
The shadow raised one arm.
He touched his own shirt.
The shadow touched its shirt.
Rayan narrowed his eyes.
Wait a minute.
Does that mean if I wear something embarrassing, it will have to wear it too?
He imagined himself wearing a ridiculous outfit, followed by his shadow appearing in the same clothes.
A wicked smile spread across his face.
This ability has tremendous potential.
Then he shook his head.
Focus, Rayan. You're here to practise, not to plan fashion crimes.
He glanced toward the animals.
A wooden bucket sat nearby.
It was used to carry water for them.
Rayan pointed toward the cow.
“Shadow, give the cow some water.”
The black figure immediately moved.
Rayan folded his arms, ready to observe his loyal supernatural servant at work.
The shadow walked toward the bucket.
Then it stopped.
It looked at the bucket.
It looked at the cow.
Then it picked up the empty bucket and placed it in front of the animal.
Rayan blinked.
Good. So far, so good.
The shadow walked toward the water container and began filling the bucket.
It worked slowly, adding water little by little.
When the bucket contained enough water, the shadow tried to lift it.
The bucket barely moved.
The shadow tried again.
Nothing.
Rayan stared.
What?
The shadow bent forward, gripped the bucket with both hands, and made another attempt.
The bucket shifted slightly before settling back onto the ground.
Rayan's mouth twitched.
He slowly looked at the shadow.
Then at his own arms.
Then at the shadow again.
Don't tell me…
He crouched and examined the figure.
The shadow was roughly as strong as he was.
It wasn't a powerful supernatural warrior.
It wasn't an invincible servant.
It was basically a black version of a three-year-old child.
A black version of himself.
Rayan covered his face.
I summoned a supernatural assistant, and it can't even lift a bucket of water.
The shadow tried again.
The bucket didn't move.
The cow stared at it.
Then the cow mooed.
“Moooo!”
Rayan looked at the cow.
The cow looked at Rayan.
Somehow, he felt as though the animal was judging him.
Don't look at me like that! I'm still in training!
He pointed toward the bucket.
“Forget the full bucket. Just give it a little water at a time.”
The shadow obeyed.
It poured some water into a smaller container and placed it in front of the cow.
The cow began drinking.
Rayan nodded approvingly.
“Good job.”
He patted the shadow on the shoulder.
Then he paused.
Wait. Am I praising myself?
He considered the question.
Yes. Yes, I am.
He smiled.
Well, I deserve it.
His shadow had completed the task, even if it had needed to improvise.
Perhaps the ability wasn't about creating a powerful servant.
Perhaps it was about using the shadow intelligently.
Rayan liked that idea.
He was about to try another command when a voice suddenly came from behind him.
“Not bad.”
Rayan jumped.
“AH!”
He spun around so quickly that he nearly lost his balance.
His grandfather was sitting beneath the nearby shed.
Relaxed.
Calm.
And looking at him with an amused expression.
Rayan stared at the old man.
Then he looked at the shed.
Then back at his grandfather.
“Grandpa?!”
“Yes?”
“How long have you been there?”
“Long enough.”
Rayan's eyes widened.
“But I didn't notice you!”
His grandfather chuckled.
“Did you not?”
Rayan looked genuinely confused.
How is that possible? I looked around before summoning my shadow!
His grandfather gestured toward the black figure.
“Take your shadow back first. Have you not noticed that your mental energy is being consumed?”
Rayan glanced at his shadow.
Then he remembered the strange sensation he had been experiencing.
It wasn't strong.
It was more like a slow, steady drain.
He hadn't noticed it immediately because the consumption was so small.
Still, it was there.
“Go back.”
The shadow rippled and sank into the ground.
Rayan felt the connection disappear.
His grandfather nodded.
“Now, tell me what you noticed.”
Rayan thought for a moment.
“My mental energy was being consumed while the shadow was outside. But the consumption was very slow.”
“How slow?”
Rayan hesitated.
He had no intention of revealing everything he knew about his own limits.
After all, he still wanted a peaceful life.
A peaceful life with plenty of food and as little unnecessary training as possible.
“Maybe… I could maintain it for a minute?”
His grandfather looked at him.
Then he looked at the place where the shadow had been standing.
Then he looked back at Rayan.
“One minute?”
Rayan nodded.
“Yes, Grandpa.”
His grandfather fell silent.
One minute?
The boy was only three years old.
He had learned the technique last night.
And now he could summon his shadow independently, control it, and maintain it long enough to carry out simple tasks.
Even if the shadow wasn't particularly strong, the achievement was extraordinary.
His grandfather's expression became complicated.
He had initially thought Rayan possessed remarkable potential.
Now he was beginning to wonder whether he had underestimated the boy.
By a considerable margin.
Rayan, meanwhile, was carefully watching his grandfather's face.
Why does he look like that?
Did I say something wrong?
He quickly added, “But I'm sure I'll improve with practice!”
His grandfather snapped out of his thoughts.
“Of course you will!”
He laughed and waved Rayan closer.
“Come here, boy. Sit with me for a moment.”
Rayan walked toward the shed and sat beside his grandfather.
Then, unable to contain his curiosity, he asked the question that had been bothering him.
“Grandpa, why couldn't I notice you earlier? You were sitting right here, but I didn't see you at all.”
His grandfather smiled.
“That is because I was using a technique I developed myself.”
Rayan's eyes widened.
“You developed your own technique?”
“Indeed.”
His grandfather leaned back comfortably.
“It allows me to merge my presence with my surroundings to a certain extent. As long as I remain still and don't speak, people have difficulty noticing me.”
Rayan stared at him.
So Grandpa can control his shadow, and he can hide himself in his surroundings?
He looked at the old man with newfound respect.
No wonder he's so confident.
Then another thought struck him.
Wait. If he can hide like that, how many times has he secretly watched me sneaking food from the kitchen?
His expression changed.
His grandfather noticed.
“What is it?”
“Nothing, Grandpa.”
Rayan smiled innocently.
I need to be more careful from now on.
His grandfather chuckled.
“Now tell me. Why did you come out so early to practise your shadow technique?”
Rayan sighed.
“Ran wet the bed.”
Silence.
His grandfather blinked.
Then his shoulders began to shake.
“No…”
Rayan nodded solemnly.
“Yes.”
Grandpa covered his mouth.
“Again?”
“Again.”
For several seconds, the old man tried to maintain a serious expression.
Then he burst out laughing.
“Hahahahaha! That girl!”
Rayan crossed his arms.
“I had no choice. I woke up early, and I couldn't fall asleep again. So I came out to practise my amazing technique.”
His grandfather continued laughing.
“Your amazing technique?”
“Yes.”
Rayan raised his chin proudly.
“I summoned my shadow, gave it a task, and learned something new about its abilities.”
His grandfather nodded.
“That's a good attitude. You should keep practising.”
Then he smiled.
“So, tell me. Do you like this shadow ability?”
Rayan's eyes lit up immediately.
“Grandpa, I love it!”
He clenched his fists.
“I want to learn everything about it! Is there anything else you can teach me?”
His grandfather's smile widened.
“Is that so?”
He slowly stood up.
“Then come with me.”
Rayan tilted his head.
“Where?”
“To my study.”
Rayan immediately jumped to his feet.
The legendary study!
He had heard about his grandfather's study before.
It was a place where important family matters were discussed, and even his father wasn't normally allowed to enter without permission.
Rayan had always been curious about what was inside.
And now his grandfather was taking him there.
Perhaps I'll discover a secret treasure.
Or a collection of forbidden techniques.
Or, if I'm lucky, a hidden supply of snacks.
He followed his grandfather inside.
Four Ancient Scrolls
Grandpa led Rayan through several corridors before stopping in front of a wooden door.
He opened it and stepped inside.
Rayan followed.
The study was larger than he had expected.
Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with books, documents, and old records. A broad wooden desk stood near the window, and several cabinets occupied the corners of the room.
The air smelled faintly of old paper and wood.
Rayan looked around with curiosity.
So this is where Grandpa keeps his secrets.
He glanced toward a cabinet.
I wonder if there's anything valuable inside.
His grandfather cleared his throat.
“Rayan.”
Rayan immediately turned around.
“Yes, Grandpa?”
“Don't touch anything without asking.”
Rayan nodded solemnly.
“Of course.”
There goes my treasure hunt.
His grandfather walked toward one of the bookshelves.
He examined the books for a moment before reaching behind a row of thick volumes.
Then he pulled out a small bundle of old scrolls.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
He placed them carefully on the desk.
Rayan stared at them.
His eyes practically sparkled.
Four scrolls!
This is definitely where the secret techniques are kept!
His grandfather sat down and motioned for Rayan to come closer.
“These scrolls contain four techniques discovered by our ancestors. Each one is related to our family's bloodline ability.”
Rayan leaned forward.
“Four techniques?”
“That's right.”
His grandfather rested one hand on the scrolls.
“Over the generations, our ancestors studied the nature of our shadows and discovered ways to use them beyond the basic ability of summoning and commanding them.”
Rayan's excitement grew.
So the shadow ability has additional techniques!
He imagined his shadow becoming stronger, faster, and more capable.
Perhaps it could eventually fight enemies.
Perhaps it could protect him.
Perhaps it could even carry him around when he became too lazy to walk.
His grandfather interrupted his thoughts.
“Before I show you these techniques, there are a few things you need to understand about our bloodline ability.”
Rayan sat up straight.
“I'm listening!”
His grandfather nodded.
“First, you must understand that the amount of mental energy consumed by your shadow can change depending on the conditions.”
He pointed toward the window.
“During the day, maintaining your shadow generally consumes mental energy continuously. The amount depends on the user and how well they can control the ability.”
Rayan immediately remembered what he had noticed earlier.
“So that's why I felt my mental energy being consumed this morning.”
“Exactly.”
His grandfather continued.
“At night, however, the situation is different. Because shadows are naturally associated with darkness, maintaining your detached shadow at night can require less mental energy.”
Rayan's eyes widened.
I knew it!
He had suspected that the difference between last night and this morning was related to the time of day.
His grandfather nodded.
“However, don't misunderstand. It doesn't mean you can maintain your shadow forever at night without consuming any energy. The amount of energy required can still depend on your control, the conditions, and what you ask your shadow to do.”
Rayan nodded thoughtfully.
So night-time use is more efficient, but not necessarily free.
He filed the information away.
Excellent. Another reason to avoid getting up early.
His grandfather continued explaining.
“Second, you need to understand what happens if your shadow is destroyed.”
Rayan immediately became serious.
“Destroyed?”
“Yes. Your shadow can be damaged or even destroyed under certain circumstances. If it is destroyed, you can restore it by using additional mental energy immediately.”
He paused.
“However, if you don't restore it yourself, your shadow will gradually recover naturally. Under ordinary circumstances, that recovery can take about a week.”
Rayan swallowed.
So my supernatural assistant isn't immortal.
He glanced down at his own shadow.
Please stay alive. We haven't even tried delivering snacks yet.
His grandfather went on.
“If your shadow is merely damaged rather than destroyed, you can return it to your own shadow. Under normal circumstances, it should recover within a day.”
Rayan nodded.
“So I shouldn't let it get damaged unnecessarily.”
“Precisely.”
His grandfather looked pleased.
“You understand quickly.”
Of course. I'm trying to protect my future source of free labor.
He wisely kept that thought to himself.
His grandfather then picked up one of the scrolls.
“Now, about these four techniques…”
He placed the scroll back on the desk and looked directly at Rayan.
“You will not be learning all four of them now.”
Rayan's smile froze.
“Why?”
“Because some of these techniques are far too difficult for a child your age. You must first learn to read and write properly. Once you are older and begin your formal studies, you'll be able to understand the instructions more easily.”
Rayan glanced at the scrolls.
Reading and writing.
He had completely forgotten about that problem.
His previous life had given him adult memories, but his new body had not magically learned how to read the writing of this world.
And even if the language sounded familiar when people spoke, the written characters were another matter entirely.
Right. I can't exactly open a mysterious scroll and pretend I understand it.
His grandfather picked up one of the four scrolls.
“You may practise this technique after you begin learning to read and write. The other three will have to wait until you're older and have a stronger foundation.”
Rayan looked at the scroll in his grandfather's hand.
“What does this one do?”
His grandfather smiled mysteriously.
“You'll find out when you're ready to learn it.”
Rayan stared at him.
That's a very suspicious answer.
He had heard that kind of response many times in stories.
Usually, it meant one of two things.
Either the technique was incredibly powerful.
Or the person explaining it enjoyed being dramatic.
Considering his grandfather's personality, both possibilities seemed equally likely.
His grandfather placed the chosen scroll in front of him.
“You may take this one with you for now. But remember, Rayan, these techniques are not easy to master.”
His expression became serious.
“Even talented people can struggle with them. If you fail to understand the technique immediately, don't become discouraged. Don't give up just because you cannot master it in a few days.”
Rayan listened carefully.
“Keep practising. Be patient. If you continue working hard, you may eventually succeed.”
Rayan nodded.
“I understand, Grandpa.”
His grandfather smiled.
“Good.”
Then Rayan asked a question.
“Grandpa, how many of these four techniques have you mastered?”
His grandfather froze for half a second.
Then he coughed.
“Ahem. I have mastered two of them.”
Rayan's eyes widened.
“Two?”
“That's right.”
His grandfather nodded proudly.
“Even for someone with my experience, mastering these techniques isn't easy.”
Rayan looked at the remaining scrolls.
Two out of four.
That was actually impressive.
Then another question occurred to him.
“What about Father? How many has he mastered?”
The room suddenly became very quiet.
His grandfather's proud expression stiffened.
He looked toward the window.
Then toward the ceiling.
Then at the scrolls.
Finally, he coughed again.
“Ahem… Your father hasn't mastered any of them.”
Rayan blinked.
“Not even one?”
“Not even one.”
His grandfather spoke quickly, as though he wanted to end the subject as soon as possible.
“Of course, we cannot blame him entirely. His mental energy isn't particularly strong, and his talents lie elsewhere. He's quite good at summoning arts.”
He paused.
“Summonology, in particular.”
Rayan nodded thoughtfully.
So Father is better at summoning other things than summoning his own shadow?
He quickly lowered his head to hide his smile.
His grandfather noticed.
“Don't laugh at your father!”
“I wasn't laughing!”
“You were smiling!”
“I'm just happy to learn about our family!”
His grandfather narrowed his eyes.
Rayan gave him his most innocent expression.
For a moment, they stared at each other.
Then his grandfather sighed.
“Anyway, I can help you master this particular technique. but not until you learn reading and writing .”
Rayan looked at the scroll again.
His grandfather continued.
“You'll need to learn to read and write first. After that, you can study the instructions and begin practising. Until then, keep working on the basic shadow ability.”
Rayan nodded.
“Understood.”
His grandfather pushed the scroll toward him.
“You can take this with you.”
Rayan carefully picked it up.
He felt a little disappointed that he couldn't begin learning immediately, but he was still excited.
Four techniques.
Two mastered by his grandfather.
None mastered by his father.
And one that he would eventually get to study himself.
All right.
First, I need to learn to read and write.
Then I can learn this technique.
Then I can master all four techniques.
Then I can become the most powerful person in the world.
He paused.
And finally, I can enjoy a peaceful life with unlimited snacks.
His eyes sparkled.
What a beautiful future.
His grandfather, unaware of the grand plans unfolding inside the boy's head, leaned back in his chair.
“Now, off you go. Play with Ran for a while. She's already looking for you.”
Rayan blinked.
“She's looking for me?”
“That's what I heard.”
Rayan immediately stood up.
Oh, no.
He glanced at the scroll in his hands.
Then toward the door.
I have to escape before she finds out I left.
Unfortunately, his grandfather had already opened the door for him.
“Go on, then!”
Rayan sighed.
“Yes, Grandpa.”
He left the study, carrying the scroll carefully.
Behind him, his grandfather remained seated.
For a while, he simply stared at the remaining three scrolls.
These four techniques had been passed down through generations of the Zu family. Countless ancestors had studied them, and even the most talented had struggled to understand their secrets.
No one had mastered all four.
His own achievements had stopped at two.
His son had failed to master even one.
And now his grandson, who had only just learned to summon his shadow, was already asking to learn more.
His grandfather shook his head with a small smile.
This boy really is something else.
He remembered the excitement on Rayan's face when the shadow had first emerged.
He remembered how quickly the child had understood the strange sensation.
And he remembered the remarkable mental endurance Rayan had demonstrated.
His smile gradually became more thoughtful.
I hope he can master these techniques one day.
Then he sighed.
But more importantly, I hope he doesn't become discouraged if he fails.
He carefully put the remaining scrolls away.
These techniques have defeated generations of our family.
Perhaps this little boy will finally change that.
The Most Dangerous Enemy in the Yard
Rayan walked back toward the front yard.
He held the scroll carefully against his chest, as though it were a priceless treasure.
In a way, it was.
He had no idea what the technique inside could do, but his grandfather had clearly treated it as something important.
And now it belonged to him.
Well, temporarily.
He still needed to learn how to read.
First problem: I don't know the written language.
Second problem: I don't even know what the technique does.
He stopped walking.
When I put it like that, this seems rather hopeless.
Then he brightened.
On the other hand, I summoned my shadow on my third attempt.
He nodded to himself.
Clearly, I'm a genius.
He continued toward the front yard.
And there she was.
Ran.
The little girl was standing near the entrance, looking around impatiently.
“Rayan!”
The moment she spotted him, her entire face lit up.
She ran toward him with her arms open.
“Rayan!”
Rayan instinctively stepped backward.
“W-Wait! Ran, slow down!”
Too late.
She crashed into him with the enthusiasm of a tiny charging beast.
Rayan stumbled.
The scroll nearly slipped from his hands.
“Careful!”
Ran looked up at him.
“Where were you?”
Rayan blinked.
“I was with Grandpa.”
“Why?”
“Because I was learning something.”
Ran puffed out her cheeks.
“You didn't tell me!”
Because you were asleep!
Rayan swallowed the words.
Instead, he patted her head.
“Sorry. I'll tell you next time.”
Ran immediately smiled.
“Good!”
She grabbed his hand.
“Let's play!”
Rayan glanced at the scroll.
Then at Ran.
Then back at the scroll.
I have an ancient technique to study.
He looked at Ran's hopeful expression.
And I have a friend who can probably destroy the entire house if I refuse.
He sighed.
“All right. Let's play.”
Ran cheered.
“Yay!”
And just like that, the future master of the Zu family's ancient techniques was dragged into a game whose rules appeared to change every thirty seconds.
They played with small wooden toys.
They chased each other around the yard.
They argued over who got to use a particular toy.
At one point, Ran declared herself the queen and ordered Rayan to become her knight.
Rayan immediately objected.
“Why do I have to be the knight?”
“Because I'm the queen!”
“Then why can't I be the king?”
“Because I'm the queen!”
Rayan stared at her.
Flawless logic.
He crossed his arms.
“Then I refuse to be your knight.”
Ran looked at him for a moment.
Then she calmly said, “Okay. You can be my horse.”
Rayan's jaw dropped.
What?!
Before he could respond, she climbed onto his back.
“Go, horsey!”
Rayan stood completely still.
I see.
So this is how my life ends.
Not in battle. Not while mastering an ancient technique.
But as a horse.
He glanced toward the sky.
Mother, if you're watching over me, please tell me what I did to deserve this.
Ran giggled happily.
“Faster!”
Rayan sighed and began walking slowly.
“I'm charging extra for this service.”
Ran didn't understand what that meant.
She simply laughed.
For the next several hours, Rayan was forced to participate in various games, most of which seemed designed to remind him that being three years old came with very few rights.
Eventually, Ran's mother arrived to take her home for lunch.
“Ran, come on. It's time to eat.”
Ran immediately climbed off Rayan's back.
“Bye, Rayan!”
She waved enthusiastically.
Rayan waved back.
“Bye, Ran.”
He watched her leave.
Then he let out a long breath of relief.
Finally.
Freedom.
He looked down at the scroll he had carefully set aside earlier.
Now I can return to my important studies.
He took one step toward the house.
His stomach growled.
Rayan stopped.
He looked toward the dining room.
Then at the scroll.
Then toward the dining room again.
…Studies can wait.
After all, a genius needed proper nutrition.
A New Goal
By lunchtime, the Zu family had gathered around the dining table.
Rayan sat between his parents, happily eating his meal.
His grandfather was there too, looking particularly cheerful.
Every now and then, he glanced at Rayan and smiled to himself.
Rayan noticed.
Why does Grandpa keep looking at me like that?
Did he discover that I summoned my shadow again this morning?
He glanced toward the backyard.
No, I put it back before he could see too much.
He returned his attention to his food.
His mother placed another dish on the table.
“Rayan, eat properly.”
“I am eating properly, Mom.”
“You're eating as if someone might steal your food.”
Rayan looked down at his bowl.
Then he looked at his mother.
“Is that not a possibility?”
His mother stared at him.
His father coughed to hide a laugh.
Grandpa immediately nodded.
“Excellent thinking! A necromancer must always be alert!”
Rayan's father shook his head.
“Father, please don't encourage him.”
“Why not? He's learning to think ahead!”
“He's three!”
“And already thinking about food security!”
Rayan nodded solemnly.
“It's an important subject.”
His mother covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
His father gave up and returned to his meal.
For a few minutes, everyone ate peacefully.
Then Rayan remembered something.
He put down his spoon.
“Grandpa?”
His grandfather turned toward him.
“Yes, Rayan?”
“I want to learn reading and writing.”
The table became quiet.
His grandfather raised an eyebrow.
“Reading and writing?”
Rayan nodded.
“Yes. I want to read the scroll you gave me.”
His grandfather looked surprised.
Then his expression softened into a proud smile.
“So you've already decided?”
“Yes!”
Rayan sat up straight.
“If I can read it, I can learn the technique. And if I learn the technique, I can become stronger!”
His grandfather laughed.
“Hahaha! That's the spirit!”
Rayan clenched his little fists.
That's right!
Step one: Learn to read and write.
Step two: Master the ancient techniques.
Step three: Become powerful.
Step four: Make my shadow do all the chores.
He paused.
Step five: Sleep peacefully without having to worry about Ran wetting my bed.
Then he reconsidered.
Actually, step five should come first.
His father looked at him thoughtfully.
“That's a good goal, Rayan. Learning to read and write will help you in many ways.”
His mother smiled.
“Then we'll ask someone to start teaching you soon.”
Rayan's eyes lit up.
“Really?”
“Of course.”
He immediately returned to his meal, feeling happier than ever.
He now had a new goal.
He would learn to read and write.
He would study the mysterious scroll.
He would master the Zu family's ancient techniques.
And someday, he would discover the full extent of his bloodline ability.
There were still many mysteries surrounding this world.
The five kingdoms.
The necromancers and priests.
The Black Core that would form when he turned fifteen.
And the strange questions about his reincarnation that he had yet to answer.
But for now, he had something concrete to work toward.
A small step.
A new beginning.
And perhaps, one day, the chance to uncover the truth behind the powers that had brought him here.
Rayan smiled.
Then he picked up another piece of food.
But first, lunch.
Even geniuses need to eat.
Across the table, his grandfather watched him with a proud expression.
He had no idea that the little boy he was so excited about was already planning to turn an ancient bloodline ability into a personal household servant.
Nor did he know that, before long, Rayan would begin asking questions about the four mysterious techniques that generations of the Zu family had struggled to master.
For now, the old man was simply happy.
His grandson had talent.
His grandson had ambition.
And his grandson wanted to learn.
That was enough.
At least for today.