438 Gray-clothed Garr (1/2)

”Call me Harano.”

Seiji had the common sense not to just tell his real name so easily to a random strange-seeming person.

Besides, this was already far more unusual than simply ”meeting a strange person.” Wouldn't anyone who even slightly had a brain be on guard?

”Harano. Understood.” The white fox masked man accepted this name easily. ”You have arrived here because you have the power to do so,” he informed Seiji calmly. ”However, that's your limit. You currently don't have the ability to move about freely in the Soul World. I can guide your way here as long as you follow the rules. First, do not ask what the Soul World is. Second, do not ask me anything about others. Third, see through your own desires and tell me where you truly wish to go. If you break these rules, I shall give you a warning. If you ignore my warning, I shall stop guiding the way for you.”

Seiji didn't know what to say at all this.

Although he really wanted to say ”The hell is all this?” out loud, this didn't seem like a situation where he could comment as he pleased.

”You're telling me that I can't ask questions, but if I don't ask any questions, I won't understand anything.”

”You don't need to understand. All you need to do is express where you wish to go.”

”I don't even know what type of place this is supposed to be. How would I know where I want to go?”

”As I said earlier, see through your own desires.”

”My own desires… can I go anywhere I want? Such as to heaven?”

”That is not where you truly wish to go.”

Seiji clutched his arms, and was really tempted to say ”Ummmmm…” but chose to remain silent instead.

He figured that this so-called Soul World might be some type of soul realm. This white fox masked man was telling Seiji that he existed here and could act as Seiji's guide but that questions weren't allowed. Seiji was only supposed to tell him where he wanted to go.

'Where I truly want to go… I suppose it sounds both a little immature yet also philosophical.

'Should I try? No matter what place this is, or who this person is, I might as well try…'

After coming to such a conclusion, Seiji unfolded his arms.

”I would like to go somewhere where I can obtain greater strength,” he stated seriously while looking at the other person's mask.

He sincerely wanted to become more powerful, after all.

The white fox masked man fell silent for a moment and seemed to be judging the veracity of Seiji's statement.

”Understood. Please follow me.” He turned around and walked through the mist.

Seiji followed after him.

As Seiji entered the mist; he could faintly see hazy scenes around him and hear faint sounds.

People, places, buildings, cards, animals, plants… Everything was hazy. If he tried focusing on any scene, it would change in front of him and become unclear.

Seiji instinctively felt that if he got lost in this mist, he might never find his way out again.

The white fox masked man… The Guide walked in front of him and kept taking various turns in the mist.

As Seiji walked, he discovered that his consciousness was gradually becoming hazy as if his body was getting tired and wanted to sleep.

'This is no good!

'How much longer until we arrive?' Seiji wanted to ask this question when he suddenly saw the Guide stop.

”We have arrived,” a gentle voice informed him.

Seiji's consciousness instantly vanished.

Wolf Claw was born in a normal village.

He was called Wolf Claw because on the day that he was born, his father had joined a hunting expedition and obtained some wolf meat.

This wasn't really a true name, but rather only something to call him by. Something as extravagant as a ”name” was something only the nobility could possess.

The nobility were considered divine, wonderful, and powerful existences. All the villagers were supposed to kneel the moment they saw any nobility, and had to absolutely obey the nobility's commands without any resistance.

None of the villagers doubted this way of living, including Wolf Claw's parents. However… Wolf Claw was different.

He was disgusted by having to kneel and kowtow to the extent where his face was pressed into the mud. He was frustrated at being ordered around to perform tiresome tasks for no payment or benefits whatsoever. He felt anger and pain at watching those he knew being abused by the nobility to the point of injury or even death.

These negative emotions kept welling up within him, but he didn't know how to vent them.