Ren stood frozen, his face calm but his thoughts sprinting like wild horses.
Something about what he saw in the Loom just didn't sit right. It wasn't the majestic beauty—no, that was expected.
Nor was it the mind-bending complexity of the threads—he'd actually found that part deliciously fascinating. It was something deeper.
The Loom wasn't supposed to burst with a kaleidoscope of every conceivable color.
Based on the information he had gathered just now—limited though it was—students usually saw only one or at most two colored threads representing their affinities.
One student sees blue? Water. Another sees red? Fire. But Ren? He saw a festival!
It was like the universe had dumped an entire magical rainbow onto his retina.
And that could be a problem.
But instead of jumping to conclusions or blurting anything out, Ren did what any good scientist—or more importantly, any intelligent survivor—would do: he kept quiet.
There was no benefit in rushing. No upside in shouting, "Hey, everyone! I think I'm way too special and might accidentally rewrite the rules of this world by existing!"
If there was one trait he had spent his past life building like a fortress, it was restraint. Ren was not impulsive.
He didn't act on the first idea that came to his head. That was how lab explosions happened. Or worse, social ones.
So, he smiled politely and waited.
Lia was still standing there, a slight pink tint on her cheeks, trying very hard to avoid eye contact.
Ren didn't blame her. He was, after all, most likely the first and only male other than her father to have seen all her juicy assets.
He was even thankful she still hadn't reported him. She was probably too embarrassed to say it out loud.
She finally muttered something to the spirit about her affinity being fire, gave a quick wave, and spun on her heels so fast she almost tripped over her own feet.
Ren watched her walk away with a casual tilt of his head, and only once she was fully out of sight did he turn to the floating spirit still bobbing excitedly beside him.
"Hey," he said, scratching his chin and keeping his tone light.
"Just out of curiosity… What does it mean if someone sees… I don't know… a lot of different thread colors during their Loom enlightenment?"
The spirit, Jelly Bean—still flickering between neon green and soft pink like a sentient candy wrapper—let out a tiny gasp that sounded more like a balloon squeak.
"OH! Ohhhh! You—you saw multiple colors?! Like, more than two?!"
Ren gave the most noncommittal shrug ever recorded. "Hypothetically."
"Then you—oh, oh my glow—then that means you're a Special Class Prospect! Like, ultra-rare! Like shiny-unicorn rare! You'd have to get a special identification scroll and everything!
"They keep those locked in a vault under a security enchantment only Headmistress Iralin can open! You'd be… oh stars… you'd be considered quite unique!"
Unique? Ren's eyes narrowed just a hair. That word again.
He rubbed his jaw, digesting the information like a chef testing soup.
So if this was true, then not only was he the only male in history who could weave, he also had a high attunement with carving, possessed the Evolution Forge cheat, and now, apparently, could access every affinity known to existence?
That… was absurd. Even statistically, it was borderline impossible.
A miracle wrapped in a paradox and dunked into a bowl of fantasy nonsense. Was this world trying to break itself?
He tilted his head slightly. "Interesting. And, uh… what happens to Special Class prospects after they're discovered? Any… extra attention?"
Jelly Bean wobbled happily, clearly unaware of the tightrope Ren was walking.
"Well, I don't know exactly, but I heard they get placed into elite class divisions, maybe get one-on-one mentorships, free weaving materials, extra room space, and sometimes… sometimes they even get recruited into the advanced departments before the first semester ends!"
Ren nodded slowly, though inwardly he was groaning. That was exactly the kind of spotlight he didn't want. Not anymore.
Not when the world still saw him as an anomaly. Too much visibility would only bring scrutiny and hate from the already numerous lot who thought he was a stain to the weaver's reputation.
Such attention might actually even make his life worse at the moment.
As Jelly Bean continued babbling speculative theories about possible dragon-riding scholarships and castle-size dorm rooms, Ren casually tuned it out.
His mind had already made a decision: no sudden moves. He wasn't going to reveal this just yet. Not until he had more data.
Not until he had leverage. Not until he knew exactly what the academy—and the world—did with people like him.
With that decision locked in, he exhaled through his nose and gave the spirit a nod. "Thanks. I think I'll… just go get my identification badge now."
He left the building and walked through the side block, his footsteps slow and thoughtful.
The sunlight filtering through the crystal-lined ceilings bounced off his crips uniform in rippling patterns, and the quiet hum of magical energy in the air seemed to vibrate in sync with the thoughts buzzing in his brain.
Why was he so special in this life? It couldn't just be luck. No one reincarnated into this much privilege by accident.
He had always believed in scientific cause and effect—even in this new, magic-filled world. So what was the reason?
Was it the universe trying to balance something? Correct a mistake from his past life?
Or maybe… this was the cost of desire?
He had wished—wished with every fiber of his being—for a chance to live, to touch, to love, to explore… all the things he'd missed in his sterile past life, confined to laboratories and theories and failures.
Maybe this world answered. But now that it had, was he strong enough to handle the weight of being the first male weaver… a carver… a wielder of every element… and the owner of a cheat that could evolve his very soul?!
'Too many questions. Not enough time. First things first: Get the upgraded ID. Then go to the library. Information first. Always.'
Ren adjusted his collar and picked up the pace.
Because if there was one thing he'd learned in both lives, it was that knowing more than everyone else was the first and greatest step to surviving anything.
…..
Ren stepped out of the Verification Building with a calm expression, but the fire behind his eyes burned with focused determination.
All around him, the street buzzed with life. Dozens of sleek, circular buildings glowed with soft magical hues—each structure humming faintly, as if alive.
Prospectives—some grinning, some confused, and a few openly sulking for reasons best left unexplored—were coming in and out of these buildings with colorful identity cards that sparkled with enchantments.
Ren looked down at his own card now, freshly updated and slightly warm to the touch.
It had a soft blue glow around the edges, with elegant orange veins pulsing lightly like a heartbeat.
It was the upgraded version of the basic entry ID he'd received earlier, but now personalized with his name, registration seal, and listed affinity.
Or rather… the affinity he chose to list.
He smirked slightly. Affinity: Space.
Not fire. Not water. Not lightning or wind or the usual "I'm cool because I can throw elements around" nonsense.
No. Space was mysterious. Rare. Powerful. It wasn't too flashy, yet carried enough mystique to make people assume he was someone not to be underestimated.
Most importantly, it left open so many doors for interpretation and possible future applications—whether in research, battle, or political leverage.
And honestly, the idea of folding time or teleporting through pockets of reality just sounded a lot cooler than shooting fireballs.
With the whole verification process out of the way, he could finally turn to the most important task of all: gathering information.
Ren could feel a tingling in his fingertips just thinking about it. He practically bounced on his heels as he turned toward the shimmering street ahead: Library Street.
Rows upon rows of ornate towers and wide-arched halls stretched before him like a dream. Some libraries were built from glowing white stone that emitted a peaceful light.
Others had floating staircases spiraling around them. One had an actual tree growing through the center of the building, its leaves glowing with floating glyphs like magical bookmarks.
This was heaven. This was what pure ecstasy looked like to someone like Ren. Not beaches. Not treasure.
Not even harems—though those were definitely exciting in their own way. No, for Ren Kisaragi, information was the ultimate treasure.
It was the one thing that let him sleep at night and conquer in the day.
He started walking, practically gliding with glee, already creating a list in his head like a shopping addict with a blank check.
First: The history of this world. How the hell had an entire magical society managed to stay hidden from the common world back in his original Earth? Was there a barrier? A pocket dimension?
Second: The history of Weaving and Carving. How did these systems come about? Were they discovered or created?
Third: The Loom. What exactly was it? A divine artifact? A natural phenomenon? Was it sentient? Did it actually weave destinies or was it more metaphorical?
And finally: The Mental Sea. What did evolving it actually do? What were the implications for battle, research, or cultivation? Why was it treated like such a big deal?
He was nearly at the arched entrance of one of the larger, more impressive libraries when his badge began to vibrate softly.
Ren blinked and looked down.
The edges of his identity card were pulsing orange now, glowing brighter and brighter, and then suddenly, like a projection from a science fiction movie, a soft, clear voice echoed in the air around him.
"Greetings, prospectives. This is Instructor Valeena, Head Coordinator of Orientation Procedures."
Ren immediately recognized the crisp, no-nonsense voice from the large stadium address earlier.
"We commend you all for completing the first stage of your orientation and receiving your verified identity scrolls. Now that your foundations are in place, it's time to progress to the next—and far more decisive—phase of your orientation journey…"
Ren tilted his head. 'Oh? This sounds dramatic.'
The glowing badge shimmered, and a translucent interface projected itself in front of him—a glowing scroll filled with faded text, labeled Achievement Column – LOCKED.
Valeena continued, "In precisely one hour, your achievement columns will unlock.
"These columns will list a wide array of available achievements—each with its own reward value, description, completion limit, and deadline.
"Achievements are separated into two categories: Repeatable Achievements, which can be completed by a set number of students, and One-Time Achievements, which may only be completed by a single individual.
"The latter will offer the greatest rewards and the most recognition."
Ren was already calculating as he listened. Repeatables will become bloodbaths. One-timers will become legends.
This… was getting good.
"Completion of achievements will grant Achievement Points, which can be exchanged for Orientation Points if needed—but more importantly, these points will determine your placement within the Academy."
Ren's eyes lit up.
She went on, "Students who reach the First Milestone within the first two weeks will receive guaranteed entry into the Elite Class once orientation has been completed.
"Those who reach the Second Milestone within the full month of Orientation will be guaranteed a position in the Special Class.
"These classifications determine the resources, mentors, and opportunities available to you moving forward."
She paused then, her tone turning even colder.
"The remaining details are for you to discover yourselves. That is the nature of ambition. Good luck."
With that, the glowing projection vanished, and Ren stood there in stunned silence.
His heart was pounding like a drum.
Not because he was scared—but because he could feel it. That burning, electric rush of competition.
This wasn't some passive "fill out forms and answer magic quizzes" nonsense. This was real. Dynamic. Strategic. Competitive.
He took a deep breath, eyes narrowed with anticipation.
"Achievement Points, huh?" he muttered under his breath. "Alright then… let's play."
This… was war.