After I closed my eyes, my consciousness drifted away from the grand mansion of the baron.
The warmth of the bed vanished.
The sounds disappeared.
And once again—
I found myself in a boundless space of white.
No floor.
No sky.
Just endless brightness.
I wasn't surprised this time.
After a while, a figure emerged from the distance, walking toward me calmly.
God: "Sakata."
God: "How is your rebirth treating you?"
I stared at him.
Sakata: "Mother…?"
The figure burst into laughter.
God: "Hahahaha!"
God: "Didn't I tell you?"
God: "I take the form your karma reflects."
He snapped his fingers.
In an instant, his appearance changed.
He now looked like my mother—dressed in pure white, gentle features, warm eyes.
Then—
Clap.
Large white wings sprouted from his back.
God: "There."
God: "Angel enough now?"
I sighed.
Sakata: "Why am I here again?"
Sakata: "I thought you gave up on interfering with this world."
God's smile softened.
God: "I did."
God: "Normally."
God: "But tonight… you changed something."
The space rippled slightly.
God: "Baroness Octavia was supposed to die."
My eyes narrowed.
God: "You prevented it."
God: "So I decided to meet you early."
God: "From now on, whenever you save a life that is important to the flow of major events…"
God: "I may appear."
God stepped closer.
God: "Congratulations, Sakata."
God: "You have officially stepped onto the path."
I frowned.
Sakata: "Path of what?"
God: "Redemption."
God: "And chaos."
He raised one finger.
God: "As a reward, I will grant you one advantage."
God: "Only one."
God: "And it must not help you take lives in any way."
God: "A pacifist advantage."
I thought for a moment.
Then spoke carefully.
Sakata: "I lack knowledge."
Sakata: "I don't know this world."
Sakata: "Its people. Its dangers."
Sakata: "I want knowledge of everything—herbs, animals, races, magic."
Sakata: "An encyclopedia of this world."
God raised an eyebrow.
God: "Straightforward."
God: "But wouldn't that ruin the joy of discovery?"
God chuckled.
God: "I have a better idea."
He snapped his fingers.
God: "You will receive something called a System."
God: "It will activate whenever you encounter something unknown."
God: "You may ask it questions."
God: "It will answer—within limits."
God: "Think of it as a teacher who is always with you."
God: "Not a weapon."
God: "Not power."
God: "Knowledge."
He smiled.
God: "Good luck, Sakata."
God: "Or rather…"
God: "Daniel."
God: "Live the life you never could."
God: "Take care, child."
Clap.
---
I gasped.
The white space shattered.
I woke up.
---
Was that a dream?
Or did it really happen?
I focused inward.
Daniel: "System