Journey to Discovery

As the days passed, Thomas and Lily noticed Rei's growing interest in books and scrolls. They watched with a mix of pride and confusion as he sat for hours at his desk, apparently engrossed in study. Rei was also starting to write and read a little which only made him seem like a prodigy. Little did they know, Rei was far ahead of their assumptions. He had already mastered the language of this country, his sharp mind absorbing it quickly and efficiently. Thanks to the knowledge carried over from his past life, Rei had already accumulated a wealth of understanding in various fields. His current efforts were focused not on learning. He only pretended to study to show that he was a prodigy, what he was studying were the languages of other nations.

Rei's performance was convincing. He would sometimes furrow his brow, pretending to struggle with a text, or scribble notes in the margins to make it look like he was actively learning. Occasionally, he would let out a small sigh of frustration for effect, a subtle signal to his parents that he was hard at work. His meticulous deception served its purpose well; both his father and his mother, Lily, were thoroughly convinced of his diligence.

One evening, during dinner, Lily raised a topic that Rei had been silently dreading. She looked across the table, her expression a mix of warmth and determination. "Rei, dear, your father and I have been talking," she began, her tone light but firm. "We think it's time for you to start attending the village school. You're old enough now, and it would be good for you to spend time with other children your age."

Rei's hand paused mid-air, his chopsticks hovering over his plate. He forced himself to remain calm, nodding slightly to feign interest. "Oh? The village school?"

Thomas chimed in, setting down his utensils. "Yes, Rei. It's not just about learning; it's about growing as a person. You've been doing wonderfully on your own, but there's only so much you can learn without proper guidance. A teacher, real lessons—these things can't be replaced."

Rei met his father's gaze and nodded, his expression neutral. "Of course, Father, Mother. I understand."

Beneath the surface, however, Rei's thoughts churned in turmoil. The idea of going to school filled him with dread. Memories from his past life suddenly resurfaced. He saw himself as a boy sitting at the corner of the class while all the other students were in groups. The other students would give him all the paperwork running away, during projects he would be left all alone, and most of all everyone would try to make fun of him by making him trip, pulling his chair out when he would sit, etc. He tried to remember what happened to make him stay all alone however no matter how much he tried he just couldn't remember. He didn't want to relive those experiences. More than that, he feared exposure—he didn't want anyone, especially his peers, to notice his extraordinary abilities or the depths of his intelligence.

After the arrangements were finalized, Rei was sent to the village school. The moment Rei arrived, the state of the school left a sour taste in his mouth. The building was rugged and worn down, a place that seemed to have been forgotten by time. Retired men and women acted as teachers, and the atmosphere was disorganized. There were no structured classes, and boys and girls sat in the same open space, scattered haphazardly.

Rei immediately noticed the lack of discipline and structure. It was chaos disguised as education. The sight of the girls nearby, their chatter and presence, filled him with unease. A deep-seated grudge from his past life made it impossible for him to feel at ease around them. Determined to maintain a safe distance, Rei chose to sit at the farthest corner of the room, isolating himself from the others.

One day passed. Rei tolerated it, though uneasily. Two days passed. The proximity of the girls gnawed at his nerves, the misinformation provided by the school made him question its authenticity, and the disorganization grated on his disciplined mind. By the third day, Rei couldn't take it anymore. The constant danger of being near the girls, coupled with the school's lack of order and misinformation, pushed him to act.

That morning, after the first informal lesson of the day, Rei approached the teacher—a frail, old man with a long white beard who spent most of his time scribbling on parchment. The teacher looked up as Rei stood before his desk, his expression a mix of curiosity and mild amusement.

Rei's voice was steady as he asked, "Sir, who manages this school?"

The old man blinked, clearly surprised by the boldness of the question. Setting down his quill, he leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands together as he regarded Rei thoughtfully.

"Well, well," the teacher chuckled softly, his voice carrying the weight of years. "Aren't you a curious one? I suppose you could say I'm in charge here, in a manner of speaking. Why do you ask, young man?"

Rei met the teacher's gaze evenly, his small stature belying the confidence in his demeanor. "Because," Rei began, choosing his words carefully, "this school isn't being run properly. There's no order, no structure. It's chaotic."

The teacher raised an eyebrow, leaning forward with interest. "Is that so? And what, pray tell, do you think should be done about it?". The old man tried testing Rei any boy of Rei's age won't be able to answer the question after all

Rei didn't flinch under the old man's probing gaze. "It needs to be organized. Classes should be divided based on age or ability. Teachers should focus on specific subjects. Boys and girls shouldn't sit together; it's distracting and inappropriate."

The teacher leaned back again, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "You've certainly thought about this, haven't you?". Now the teacher was impressed by Rei's ability to think like this however he still did not take Rei seriously as this was the problem of only one student plus there were too many background costs that needed to be considered in this factor

Rei nodded, his tone firm. "Yes. If things continue like this, no one will learn anything meaningful. It's a waste of time for everyone."

The room had fallen silent by now. The other students were watching the exchange with wide eyes, curious and amazed at Rei's audacity. Some whispered among themselves, while others simply stared.

The teacher regarded Rei for a long moment before letting out a sigh. "You speak with the conviction of someone much older than your years," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "But running a school is no small task, young man. It requires resources, planning, and cooperation. Are you suggesting that you could do better?"

Rei didn't hesitate. "I'm not saying I could do better alone. But I can help make it better. I just need your permission."

The teacher chuckled, clearly amused. "Well, this is certainly unexpected. Very well, young man. If you believe you can improve things, I'll give you a chance. But remember, it's easier to criticize than it is to lead. Let's see if you can match your words with actions." The teacher was pretty sure that Rei was just all talk with no action

Rei nodded a determined glint in his eyes. "Thank you, sir. I won't disappoint you."

The teacher waved a hand dismissively. "We'll see. You have my blessing to make changes but don't expect everyone to follow you without question. Convincing others is half the battle."

As Rei walked back to his seat, he could feel the eyes of his classmates boring into him. Some looked impressed, others skeptical. But Rei didn't care. He had taken the first step toward bringing order to the chaos.

For Rei, this wasn't just about improving the school—it was about regaining a sense of control and security in a world that often felt unpredictable and dangerous. Rei always played to win there was no chance for a gamble in Rei's life.

After a week of preparation, Rei quickly went to the other teachers they too were taking Rei lightly some even betting on how Rei would mess up the school however this was just what Rei planned. Rei acted like he was a child who did not know anything and by that, he convinced the teachers to dust off some rooms which Rei then used to hold different classes. Rei also used his past experiences to write various books and gave them to the teachers to put in the class it took some days but the teachers soon understood Rei's plans. Rei's plans were meant to reduce the workload of the teachers because unlike previously where each teacher would have to teach all the subjects in Rei's plan they would only have to teach one subject at a time. The book's information seemed to be authentic as well including the fact that Rei had even made a syllabus for each class they started to regard Rei in a new light and gave Rei a position school council. 

This decision quickly established Rei's authority among the students, though not everyone was pleased. Some boys and girls, already resentful of Rei due to his cold treatment of his sister Hanna, began to harbor more hatred toward him. Hanna had become a star in the school over the past months, known for her kindness and intelligence. Everyone admired her, which made Rei's disdain toward her all the more glaring. Even in the school, when Hanna approached him, Rei ignored her with a cold, disgusted look. His actions annoyed the students, but they refrained from confronting him outright due to his growing influence and Hanna's reputation.