My names Yuno, by the way it was just a regular day, another endless loop of monotony that didn't seem to have an escape.

My thoughts had turned bitter ever since my parents were expelled from their jobs. Not because they were lazy or incompetent, but because my mom had avoided the unwelcome advances of her company's CEO, and my dad had confronted him when he found out.

Now, my mom and dad, stripped of their dignity and careers, were back in the village working on a small farm. I didn't blame them—I admired their strength. But I hated the system.

Why should I slave away for someone else? Why must I bend over backward to accommodate people who don't care if others break?

I was so lost in these thoughts, I barely noticed the world around me. That is, until someone screamed, "Look out!"

I turned my head left, then right, but saw nothing.

Well, I didn't have time to look up, I tell you.

It hit me like a truck—figuratively and literally.

I felt my bones crack. My legs went lifeless. The pain was sharp and overwhelming, but as my vision blurred and my breath faded, I also felt... a strange relief. Was this the end?

For a moment, everything went still. My thoughts quieted, and I felt an odd sense of peace. But just as I closed my eyes, ready to drift into that final sleep, a bright light jarred me awake.

I was being pulled—yanked, really—out of somewhere warm.

What the—?

Before I could process the sensation, I felt a sharp spank on my butt. Instinctively, I cried out.

"Wah! Wah! Wah!"

A high-pitched cry echoed around the room, raw and primal. It took me a moment to realize it came from me.

The room smelled of herbs and sweat. Dim candlelight flickered on the rough stone walls. A woman's tired but joyful face came into view as she cradled me in her arms. Her soft, warm embrace settled the frantic wailing I couldn't control.

"He's perfect," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Another figure stepped closer—a man. He loomed over us, his expression a mix of relief and pride as he gazed at me. "Our son… our heir," he said solemnly.

Heir? To what?

I wanted to demand answers, but all I could manage was more crying. My tiny body felt weak, unfamiliar, and overwhelming sensations bombarded me from every angle.

"Welcome to your new life," a smug voice echoed faintly in my mind, as if someone were watching the scene unfold. "Let's see if you can handle it better this time."

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

I tried to focus, but my vision blurred again. The warmth of my new mother's arms was oddly comforting, but my mind was in turmoil. This wasn't KyoIo—or anywhere near it.

Where am I?

When I woke again, the first thing I noticed was how quiet it was. Not the stillness of death or a sterile hospital room, but a calm, rhythmic hum. It wasn't just sound—it was something I felt, like the earth itself was breathing under me.

I blinked, my vision finally starting to clear. The room was simple but strange. Wooden beams arched overhead, and the walls were carved stone, glowing faintly with etched runes that shimmered like trapped starlight. A soft warmth radiated from them, keeping the chill of the night at bay.

As I lay there, trying to make sense of everything, I felt the weight of my tiny body—frail, helpless, and undeniably infantile. My arms, no longer strong and capable, were small and pudgy. My movements were sluggish and uncoordinated. It hit me like a second truck.

I had been reborn.

The memory of my previous life was still fresh—the monotony, my parents' struggles, the injustice of the system, and the literal truck. Now, here I was, in a new body, in a world that was definitely not mine.

Was this some sort of cosmic joke? Or worse, a punishment?

My thoughts were interrupted by a soft creak as the door to the room opened. An old woman entered, her movements graceful and deliberate. She carried a tray with what looked like a bowl of steaming liquid and a cloth. Her attire was unlike anything I'd ever seen—simple yet elegant, with intricate embroidery that glimmered faintly in the same way as the runes on the walls.

She approached me, smiling gently. "Good morning, young master," she whispered, setting the tray down.

Young master? So, I wasn't just anyone's heir—I was someone important here.

The woman picked me up with practiced ease, cradling me as if I were made of porcelain. Her warmth was comforting, but I couldn't shake the growing unease in my chest. I wanted to scream, to ask what was happening, to demand answers—but all that came out was a pathetic gurgle.

She chuckled softly. "You're lively today, aren't you?"

Lively? Hardly. My frustration was mounting. But as I glanced around, I caught sight of something that made my breath hitch—or it would have, if I'd had better control of my tiny lungs.

Beyond the window, the world outside was nothing like the industrial sprawl of my past life. Rolling hills stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with strange, towering trees whose leaves shimmered like they were made of glass. In the distance, I could make out the silhouette of a castle—its spires reaching toward the heavens, crowned with glowing lights that danced like fireflies.

This was no ordinary world.

"Let's get you fed, young master," the woman cooed, interrupting my thoughts. She dipped the cloth into the bowl of liquid, then brought it to my lips. The taste was unfamiliar but soothing, a mix of sweet and savory flavors that warmed me from the inside out.

As she continued to care for me, I realized two things.

First, I wasn't alone in this. Whoever—or whatever—had sent me here had plans for me or so I'd like to think , and I'd have to figure out what they were.

And second, if this world was as strange and magical as it seemed, then maybe—just maybe—I'd been given a chance to make things right.

No more bending to the whims of corrupt systems. No more watching people I care about suffer.

This time, I would live on my terms.

I just had to figure out how to do that while trapped in the body of a baby.