The next day was Monday—the first day of the new term.
After waking early, Luo Yu stepped into the bathroom to wash up. He lifted his gaze to the mirror and studied the reflection staring back at him. The face was still that of a young man, untouched by age, calm and composed.
"With my current level and strength," he murmured thoughtfully, "even if I cannot be called a god, I certainly cannot be considered human anymore. And yet… don't I look a little too young like this?"
After a moment of idle contemplation, he finished washing and made his way to the living room.
Ranni, in her small doll form, was seated neatly upon the dining table.
Naturally, she had spent the night in the bedroom beside him. Each morning, however, Luo Yu brought her out and placed her here before preparing breakfast.
As she watched him move with effortless familiarity through the kitchen, operating the various appliances of this world, curiosity flickered in her eyes.
Everything here differed from The Lands Between.
On the surface, there were no visible sorceries, no incantations woven into daily life. Instead, this world was propelled forward by something called technology—an ever-advancing system built upon reason and invention rather than Grace or arcane study.
In the few days since their arrival, Luo Yu had taken her outside repeatedly, allowing her to witness sights she had never encountered in her entire existence. Each day reshaped her understanding.
As for language, Ranni had mastered this world's tongue in astonishingly little time—and not merely one, but several of its most widely spoken languages. Were she not confined to this diminutive vessel, her movements restricted, she would already be exploring and experimenting on her own.
Before long, Luo Yu completed his breakfast: two egg-and-ham sandwiches and a glass of milk.
Simple fare.
Yet compared to what he had endured while traversing The Lands Between, it was nothing short of luxurious.
He took a bite and sighed with satisfaction.
"In The Lands Between, you'd never taste something like this. Aside from dried meat, the only thing remotely edible was the boiled prawns from Blackguard Big Boggart."
Ranni, who had long abandoned the need for sustenance after relinquishing her original flesh on the Night of the Black Knives, could not quite relate. She had not truly eaten in ages.
Still, seeing Luo Yu enjoy it so openly sparked a faint curiosity.
"My king," she asked, "are these foods truly so delicious? With your current strength, you should no longer require such ordinary sustenance."
Luo Yu swiftly finished one sandwich and smiled.
"That may be true, but if one cannot indulge even in simple pleasures, what kind of life is that? I am the Elden Lord. If I wish to eat something, I shall eat it. It is a pity you cannot partake, Ranni. If you could, you would surely agree with me."
He glanced at her small seated form, and once again his resolve hardened.
He had obtained numerous Carian royal tomes from Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, along with scrolls and teachings from Sorceress Sellen. Combined with his own mastery of glintstone sorcery, he was confident he could eventually craft a new body worthy of Ranni's soul.
After breakfast, Luo Yu changed into his school uniform, slung his bag over his shoulder, and gently placed Ranni upon that same shoulder. Drawing forth the Carian Regal Scepter, he cast a concealment spell—rendering her invisible to ordinary sight—before stepping out of the house.
As they walked along the street, he spoke quietly.
"You're this curious about school?"
"The Carian Royal Academy possessed its own magical curriculum," Ranni replied, her voice soft against his ear. "But its scale was limited, and it concerned itself solely with sorcery. The structure of education in this human world differs greatly. My king, if you truly do not wish to attend, there is no obligation."
Before Luo Yu could answer, Ranni sensed it first—a murky presence blooming within a nearby alleyway.
"My king. There."
"I sensed it as well," Luo Yu said calmly. "Let us take a look."
There was still ample time before classes began. A short detour would cost him nothing.
They turned into the alley.
Within the shadows lurked a creature of bluish hue, hunched low on all fours. A scorpion-like tail trailed behind it, and its distorted humanoid frame crawled slowly toward the deeper darkness.
"A cursed spirit," Luo Yu observed. "Not particularly strong. Still, if an ordinary person wandered in here, it would be dangerous."
He raised the Carian Regal Scepter.
A Glintstone Icecrag formed instantly—small in size but densely packed with condensed magical energy. The shard streaked forward just as the cursed spirit turned its head.
It struck.
Frost exploded outward, freezing the creature solid in an instant. Cold sorcery enveloped it completely before the frozen mass fractured into countless crystalline shards.
The cursed spirit was exorcised without resistance.
Ranni's tone carried faint approval.
"Your control grows ever more refined, my king. Compressing such concentrated magical power into a smaller Glintstone Icecrag has greatly increased its lethality. Though, had you used Lusat's Glintstone Staff, a similar amplification could have been achieved."
Luo Yu chuckled and dismissed the scepter.
"That is true. But I am accustomed to this one. The Carian Regal Scepter is lighter and better balanced in my hand. When you regain your body, I shall return it to you. Sorcery is admirable, but I prefer battles of sweeping force. And with the Dark Moon Greatsword, I may still unleash formidable magic."
His fondness for the blade was evident.
Ranni fell silent for a brief moment before shifting the topic.
"In that case, let us proceed to school. It would not do for the Elden Lord to arrive late."
"As you command, my princess."
After the two departed, a young man in a dark uniform with spiky hair entered the alley.
He paused, sensing the lingering chill in the air. After inspecting the area, confusion creased his brow.
"The cursed spirit… eliminated? And without any disturbance? That was at least Grade Two."
There were no surveillance cameras nearby. For the moment, he had no explanation.
His phone rang.
He answered.
A lighthearted voice sounded from the other end.
"Megumi, judging by the time, you should've handled it by now, right?"
After a short silence, the young man replied, "Gojo-sensei, when I arrived, the curse had already been exorcised by an unknown individual."
"Oh? Is that so? Then wait for me. I'll swing by after I finish breakfast~"
Unaware of this exchange, Luo Yu boarded a bus and rode two stops before arriving at his destination.
He stood before the gates and read the name displayed there.
Sobu High School, Chiba City.
For the first time that morning, his expression tightened ever so slightly.
"So it's Sobu High after all…"
On his shoulder, Ranni asked softly, "Is something the matter, my king?"
Luo Yu shook his head.
"Nothing."
And with that, the Elden Lord stepped through the school gates.