Chapter 2

Kanzaki Rei followed Iz and Kumironi out of the dungeon.

True to their word, not a single monster appeared along the way.

They had really wiped the entire dungeon clean.

...What a waste.

If possible, he would have liked to see one of these so-called monsters for himself.

Then again, both of them were only Level 5. Could they actually protect him if something went wrong?

Forget it. Until he stabilized his situation, it was better not to encounter monsters at all.

If one appeared and those two failed to react in time, he’d probably die on his very first day after transmigrating.

That would be an embarrassingly short isekai career.

After exiting the dungeon, the three of them waited near the entrance.

They asked Rei a few questions along the way, but someone who knew absolutely nothing about this world couldn’t offer many answers.

Kumironi pressed a hand to her temple, visibly troubled.

"Well... he is just a child, after all."

"Only eight years old. No wonder he hasn’t completed his first Awakening."

A soft emerald glow flowed over Rei’s body again. Apparently, she had some method of determining his age.

Thanks to her, he finally learned how old this body was.

Eight.

Thank you, Kumironi. Without you, I wouldn’t even know my own age.

Suddenly, Rei’s ears twitched. He turned toward the dungeon entrance.

A red-haired man with an absurdly oversized greatsword strapped to his back was waving at them.

"Yo!"

"Iz!"

"The haul’s better than expected! And we found that Lost Grimoire you’ve been hunting for!"

Iz’s eyes lit up. "Oh? A Lost Grimoire? Looks like we struck gold this time!"

"And Kumironi’s Ancient Seed was in the loot too!"

Standing beside the red-haired man was... a rock.

Black. Solid. Massive.

Except—

It had limbs.

And it was moving.

Rei’s eyes sparkled.

As expected of another world!

A non-human race!

This is amazing.

To a transmigrator, everything felt fresh and extraordinary.

As Akasei—apparently the red-haired man—and Iz excitedly discussed their spoils, Akasei suddenly noticed Rei.

"Wait. Who’s the kid?"

His expression instantly turned serious as he looked between Iz and Kumironi.

"You two..."

"...Had a baby?!"

Kumironi flushed crimson. "Of course not!"

Iz pressed a hand to his forehead and shook his head, wearing the expression of a man who had long since given up on his friend.

"We found him on the way back from the dungeon."

"He seems to have been randomly teleported inside."

"His home..."

Kumironi trailed off.

Is she sparing my feelings?

What a kind big sister.

Maybe this world isn’t so bad after all.

Iz continued, "So I’m planning to bring him along during our travels."

Akasei tilted his head. "We’re about to embark on a long expedition. Bringing dead weight—is that really okay?"

The air froze.

Bang!

Akasei’s head was suddenly smashed from behind by a black stone fist.

The previously silent rock-man had walked over and punched him cleanly on the skull.

"Gah—! That hurts, that hurts, that hurts!"

Iz laughed heartily. "It’s fine. We’re strong."

"And I’ll teach him how to protect himself."

"I’ll be his magic mentor."

Akasei shrugged. "If you say so, I’ve got no objections."

He grinned and clapped Rei on the shoulder. "Kid, treasure this opportunity. Not everyone gets Iz as a mentor."

Kumironi muttered, "Actually... a lot of people do."

"That guy teaches anyone who asks."

Akasei smirked. "Long-term mentor?"

"...That’s rare."

Akasei crouched slightly to look at Rei. "Kid, we don’t even know your name yet."

Rei replied, "Kanzaki Rei."

He paused.

For now, he used the name of this body.

"Oh? Not bad. Sounds like someone destined for big things."

Akasei suddenly raised his fist.

"To celebrate clearing the dungeon—and welcoming our fifth member—let’s throw a victory banquet!"

—

Rei never expected that his first day in another world would end at a celebration feast.

Who in their right mind says, "It’s fine, it’s fine, Kumironi’s here," and then proceeds to pour alcohol nonstop for an eight-year-old?

He couldn’t win against them at all.

He remembered nothing of the latter half of the night.

He woke up clutching his throbbing head.

The floor was a disaster.

Akasei was sprawled out cold.

Iz Palut was snoring thunderously nearby.

At the very least, that confirmed yesterday hadn’t been a dream.

"Ah, you’re awake."

Kumironi smiled gently.

Unlike the other two, she hadn’t gotten completely drunk.

She stepped behind Rei, and a warm current of life energy flowed through him. The pounding headache from his hangover vanished instantly.

Then she started chatting casually.

"China... what kind of country is that?"

Rei stiffened.

Kumironi looked apologetic. "You mentioned it while you were drunk last night."

"It’s not a country I’ve heard of."

There were countless nations in this world. Massive disasters could wipe out dozens at once.

Rei answered vaguely, his tone tinged with melancholy. "It’s... my homeland."

"I can’t go back."

Kumironi’s expression softened. "Mm... perhaps we shouldn’t dwell on that."

"Iz said he would teach you magic."

"But before that, you must awaken your Mage class."

"Without a Mage class, you cannot manipulate magic."

Her ring shimmered.

A scroll materialized in her hand.

"A Portable Job Advancement Scroll."

"I never thought I’d use one under circumstances like this."

Hum—

Light flared.

Intricate magic patterns etched themselves across the empty ground.

"I will preside over your first Job Advancement."

"After all, I am the High Priestess of the Temple of Life."

...Wait.

High Priestess?

At Level 5?

That sounds impressive, but isn’t Level 5 kind of low?

"While Mage might not be the most suitable class for you," Kumironi continued gently, "traveling without any means of self-defense would be troublesome."

"If you’re dissatisfied with Mage later, you can try another class."

"It would be somewhat wasteful, though..."

"Rei, step into the center of the formation."

Rei did as instructed, walking to the exact center of the magic circle.

Whoosh—

As the array fully activated, his vision changed.

He began to see things that had been invisible moments ago.

Countless motes of multicolored light drifting through the air.

Are these... elements?

At that moment, Kumironi’s voice rose—soft, yet carrying a solemn fervor.

"Elements—stir."

"Arcane—reflect the echo born from the Root."

"A seeker stands before you, wishing to tread the path toward the Origin."

"I shall enlighten him. I shall guide him."