Solo Levelling: Perception

Haru neither in his previous life nor in this life was ever attached to his adoptive parents. He never hated them but the bond which could make Haru feel anything strongly toward them never formed. They existed and fulfilled his requirement in return for asking nothing.

Even though Haru did have the humility to call them mother and father and help them in any way he could, he couldn't ever maintain the facade of being a loving child, and become mushy all of a sudden with them.

Thankfully, the previous owner of the body had the same thought process as Haru which was why his mother never found any dissimilarity between his two selves.

"Are you eating fine or again just crashing at random places for food? And what about your house? You have already unpacked all the things right?"

Haru's sweat dropped as he glanced around the room which seemed more like a godown because the number of cartons and packages were lined up and the mess spread all around since Haru only took things according to the need of it. The reason how he was surviving stems from the fact that he barely stayed at home and used public services like laundry and ate mostly packaged food.

He surely has been here for a while but as the lazy ass he was, he never found the right opportunity or the requirement to unpack entirely since until things are getting done, there was no need to work extra.

"Y-Yeah it's all settled. Forget about me, what's going on with you guys?"

Haru knew how his stepmother has already figured out he was lying and it wouldn't be a surprise if she crash lands by tomorrow to check on his condition but he at least needed to dodge the bullet if he could.

The clear sound of a sigh arrived from the other side before the woman replied in a tired tone.

"Well, your father as usual obsessed with his clan and Goto Ryujii to give me any time. He just returns at night and leaves in the morning."

Haru's father—Reiji Sugimoto—is the Vice-guild master of the Drawn Sword Guild and one of the S-rank hunters of Japan who also played a role in the story as per what Haru remembered. Shugimoto didn't have many scenes but Haru realized from the clan he works for and also the blond look, that this person was the potential annihilation cause of Drawn Sword Guild.

If they would have paid attention to Jinwoo in the story and didn't have under-evaluated him, then there might be a slight chance of persuading the protagonist to tag along but not appearing only after almost every high-ranking Japanese hunter along with the S-rank healer was brought ta such pitiful state.

But well, it was not entirely fault that falls on Sugimoto, and Haru being this time around would surely not going to let any harm be caused to the human side.

"I say you should run away from that man and find someone else. You are still beautiful to be misunderstood as a university student and have the money to live a happy single life as well."

"Hawwww...you are suggesting such ideas to your mother. No, no Haru-kun. You are not supposed to say such things. What if your mama gets tempted and actually leaves your pitiful father behind~"

Haru chuckled at the lady's humor which always makes him feel that he was rather talking to a friend rather than a parental figure. Well, she gets pretty motherly and sometimes scary at times but other than that, his mother—Yumiko Sugimoto—remains casual around him.

It was rather fortunate for Haru that in this life he found parents who had no other child and they were pretty lenient when it comes to Haru. Letting the teenager live alone was a testament to how trusting and supportive parents they were. Well, they had their own motive as well, but who cares since Haru really did want to come to Korea in the first place.

It seemed even before transmigration, his old self was working on what the current Haru would like to get greeted with when he takes over the body.

"Hey, Haru."

"Hmm?"

Haru hummed in response while he began to pour water into a glass when suddenly he heard his mother speaking in rather a sad tone.

"It's been months....can't you visit us for some time? We really miss you a lot."

Haru's hand came to a halt as for more than ten seconds he remained silent.

Indeed his relationship with his parents was not so great that he would feel like talking to them every day or anything but their relationship was not bad either.

For them to adopt him and take care of Haru all this time was something Haru would never be able to repay for. He knows that his adoptive parents love him. Not because Haru was special in comparison to other kids or anything but just because he was their son. The person whom they could call their own.

After a brief pause, Haru finally uttered the words even though he never planned about it previously.

"Very soon, Mom."

*******

At night, after Haru ate something he prepared with the things he had stored, he called it for the day and fell on the luxurious bed which felt like nothing short of a comfortable cloud before his consciousness began to fade pretty soon.

He didn't receive any text from Jinah and didn't want to creep her out by being naggy so he just threw all the reasons to stay awake and drifted into the world of dreamlands.

****

***

**

"Hmmm...where the heck..."

Parting his lids, Haru found himself enshrouded by eternal darkness which had no beginning and neither seemed to have any end as well. It was just like how he was kept just after his death but this time, Haru knew he was just sleeping and nothing possibly could have caused his death.

Or could it be...

[How have you been, the Chosen One?]

A familiar voice reverberated throughout the space before the figure of the lady who explained Haru his powers back in the goddess domain appeared right in front of the boy.

Haru was not shocked to meet the woman once again since the goddess who served as the medium of his reincarnation did say that Haru might get called back once in a while. But this is too soon though.

"Doing great, I guess."

Haru replied nonchalantly, as he tried to use his powers up in here but to no avail. He was yet again just a normal human here who could be erased from eternity anytime someone sneezes. Well, having mana would have made no difference either.

[I see. Well, calling you here contains certain a motive so I should move up to that.]

Haru nodded since he was rather intrigued to know what could have caused them to call him back this soon when the appearance of monarchs and the plan he needs to execute regarding the cup of reincarnation would take some time.

It was true that Haru wanted a slow life of doing nothing but enjoying life with Jinah but for that kind of lifestyle, he needs to fix things and kill some old folks so the protagonist doesn't drown in regret.

The goddess stayed silent for some seconds before she finally narrated the motive of this sudden visit in Haru's sub-consciousness.

[We intended to send you a lot earlier in the story but due to circumstances, you ended up a lot close to the monarch's appearance.]

This was new since Haru never actually thought about the period when he got himself reincarnated in the world. It felt to him that it was natural to be reborn at that time but now he was rather taken aback to hear that even gods could have circumstances regarding this fictitious world.

For now, he held back his curiosity and let the lady continue.

[With your current strength, it wouldn't be possible to deal with everything. Though your skills would help you kill most of the monarchs, the strongest one would snap your life away within seconds even though you use your Domain.]

Well, Haru was not oblivious to the strength of the Dragon monarch but he seriously thought he would trap that beast in his domain and be game over. But then again, his domain has not been developed to that level to contain such a great presence yet.

[We intended to offer you some basic powers to get familiarized with your supernatural aspect but now, concerning the urgency of the matter, the Almighty Supreme One has taken a decision.]

A sudden surge of excitement ran across his nerves as he heard about some decision regarding the elevation of his strength. He silently waited for her to continue but the grin across his lips showed how impatient he was to hear what to follow.

Fortunately, the lady also didn't beat around and declared the way to make Haru stronger.

[The Gates of Divination]

********

A/N: - I always said to be patient with the story since I myself know what kind of peers would be able to overpower the monarchs and surpass even the shadow monarch. Well, Ashborn has limitless growth potential so let's not dwell on how Haru would overtake Jinwoo for now.

About Haru's parents then Reiji Sugimoto was a webtoon-exclusive character so I took the liberty to mold his life in the way I felt compatible.

Anyway, drop a comment~