What is this? How could this world have been created? And how could transmigration even happen…?
Does everyone have the same right—to relive their lives in another body? Doesn't that sound cruel?
[You truly are extraordinary, kid,] Persephone praised, her voice soft and echoing in the pitch-black room.
Wein woke up but couldn't feel his body. A few seconds later, he immediately realized he was no longer in his world.
He looked around. The familiar sound of Persephone's voice somewhat reassured him, but it couldn't completely put him at ease.
[Don't worry, your body needs rest this time.]
Following her command, Wein remained silent and listened to every word spoken in this place. He obeyed Persephone until, eventually, the empty space around him slowly transformed into a room.
A room with green walls and runes carved into them—resembling some mythological artifacts from his old world, whether Greek or Norse.
A deep green, like oxidized copper, became clearer, with several pillars standing tall to support the high ceiling. Finally, after a while, Wein could see and feel his body again.
He stood up, stretching afterward. His face showed confusion as he scanned his surroundings several times before the voice he had been waiting for finally reached his ears.
"It has been a long time since we've spoken directly like this," the voice said with relief. Its proximity suggested she was close. Then, bright yellowish light appeared, forming lines on the ceiling and tracing its own path through the air.
"Yeah… It's much better to talk to you like this," Wein muttered, wincing slightly. He quickly reached his right hand with his left, gently squeezing his arm.
"What if I show myself?" she asked.
Several glasses hovered in the air, along with forks and spoons floating as if held by an invisible force.
Wein hadn't even noticed the table and chairs that had appeared—a long table with two chairs on either side.
The dishes looked delicious, holding Wein's gaze for a long time before he was finally invited.
"Please, have a seat!" Persephone called out.
Wein complied, taking the chair directly opposite the other. But before sitting, he passed by a dish so tempting that he hesitated, unsure of its ingredients.
The dim lights in the room slowly flickered on, illuminating what had been complete darkness.
"Are you surprised?"
A mysterious breeze swept through Wein Arcveil's subconscious realm, sending shivers down his spine. His gaze shifted toward the source of the voice.
He turned, startled but not outwardly showing it, having already steeled himself. Wein looked at the old woman before him.
"Is that your true form?" he asked, somewhat hesitant.
"Do you not like it?" she teased.
Wein nodded uncertainly, signaling that he had no problem with it.
Then, before long, she changed form.
Damn it. How could she transform into Sherlyn? Wein was taken aback, especially by the unusual attire.
"What about now?"
"This is better."
"So, it's true. Do you prefer this girl or the one with silver hair?"
What? Did she mean Sherlyn and Loraine? That wasn't a difficult choice, but this was definitely not Sherlyn.
Her elegant face needed no further description—it was simply beautiful. Her extraordinary physique, clad in dark, luxurious fabric, radiated refinement.
Wein swallowed hard and lifted his gaze, looking at Persephone in Sherlyn's form.
"Forget it. What's your purpose in bringing me here, aside from this?"
"You're always in a hurry. I really like this body. What if I change into the silver-haired girl instead?" She rested her chin on her palm, her eyes playful.
"Don't do that." Wein's tone hardened slightly. He completely refused any transformation into Loraine Eleanoir's form.
"Really?" Persephone chuckled.
Wein stared at her seriously.
"You truly remind me of youth—well, you are still young, after all."
"…"
"You're unbelievably mischievous." Wein took a deep breath and searched for another topic.
"I want to ask about the incarnation you sent."
That raised several questions for Wein—who Persephone really was and how she could send an incarnation strong enough to match him.
Persephone smirked, pondering for a moment before answering.
"Ah… that's because I'm one of the constellations in the night sky. Haven't you ever seen it?"
Of course, he didn't understand. It had only been a few weeks since he arrived here. Besides, who would bother to observe the stars and somehow determine where Persephone was?
"I haven't really paid attention, but that doesn't answer my question."
"Really? Damn, I hate the rules of this constellation system. I got fined." She grumbled for a few seconds before continuing.
"I sent an incarnation under my command. She's the only one strong enough—truly extraordinary, isn't she?"
"Wait, how can you have an incarnation?"
"That's because I'm a constellation, dear."
Her lips curled into a smile as she leaned back against the chair, crossing her legs.
A constellation? This was the first time Wein had heard of such a thing. Fragments of memory were nearly complete, yet none contained anything about constellations.
Wein lifted his gaze to the ceiling. Only now did he realize that above him stretched a magnificent sky—a vast emptiness filled with stars, a stunning Andromeda galaxy beside it, glowing with hues of purple and red, along with nebulae of various colors.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Persephone spoke gently, taking a bite of roasted meat.
"Where else could you witness such a breathtaking universe?"
"You live in serenity," Wein murmured, lowering his gaze after being mesmerized by space's beauty, then looking at Persephone.
The woman in Sherlyn's form lowered her gaze. After hearing his words, she slowly spoke.
"You know, being a constellation isn't as wonderful as you might think."
Wein turned his head toward her.
"Life is never easy, is it?"
Persephone raised her gaze. His words made it seem as though he understood the world more deeply than his age suggested.
"You think beyond your years."
That was because he had already lived decades in his previous world. Even though magic was rampant in this one, to him, it all felt the same.
A thought crossed his mind—how long had it been since he left his world? He pondered until silence filled the room.
"I can see your restlessness. The silver-haired girl is already close to you. I will return you at the right moment so those mourning for you can fully grieve."
"You're cruel. What if they've already buried my body?"
She chuckled.
"Wouldn't it be even more spectacular if you came back to life and crawled out of your grave? Wouldn't that be epic?"