I didn't immediately realize that I had reincarnated into a new life.
The ceiling above me was completely unfamiliar, but the status display visible in the corner of my vision provided the comforting reassurance of home—it was a familiar, everyday sight.
Still feeling a bit sleep-deprived, I tried to roll over to look away from the light and doze off again, but for some reason, my body wouldn't budge.
I couldn't roll over. In fact, I couldn't move my arms or legs at all.
"Ah—..."
Worse yet, I couldn't even make a proper sound.
What on earth was going on? Why couldn't I move?
It seemed the only things under my control were my eyes, so I darted them left and right.
And then, I noticed.
――――――――――――
Name: None
Gender: Male
Level: 1/∞
HP: F Fire: F
MP: F Water: E
Strength: F Wind: F
Stamina: F Earth: F
Intelligence: F Light: F
Spirit: F Dark: F
Speed: F
Dexterity: F
Luck: F
――――――――――――
My level had somehow reset to 1, and my name was listed as "None."
On top of that, what was with that "∞"? That was supposed to be the level cap. While mine had never been anything to brag about, I had looked at it every single day, so I was certain it wasn't an "8."
This was bizarre. Something was definitely wrong.
Just what on earth was happening to me?
—Ngh!
Suddenly, a face leaned in from above.
It was an extraordinarily beautiful woman I had never seen before.
She gazed down at me with gentle eyes—no, she was watching over me.
Maternal warmth radiated from her expression. It was a look of unconditional forgiveness and tender love.
...Mother?
For some reason, the thought crossed my mind.
No, my real old lady was wide as a barn and an unbearable nag who spouted annoying nonsense every time I saw her.
Comparing such a lovely, gentle woman to her was practically an insult.
The woman's eyes narrowed with even deeper affection as she softly stroked my forehead.
She really is... Mother.
I couldn't make sense of it, yet the feeling wouldn't go away.
Being caressed by her gentle hand brought an overwhelming sense of peace.
I had never experienced anything like this before.
Just as I thought I would surrender to the comfort and drift off to sleep—
With a clatter, the sound of a distant door opening and multiple sets of footsteps reached my ears.
"Your Majesty!"
Your Majesty?
The beautiful woman looked toward the noise in surprise, but the title startled me far more than the interruption.
"It is fine. Stay as you are."
Following the commanding voice, footsteps approached the bed.
Taking the woman's place, an old man with snow-white hair, easily past sixty, peered down at my face.
"Hmph, a fine face. He has your eyes."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. To me, his mouth looks just like yours."
"Is that so? Hmm. If you say so, then it must be true."
Huh? Resemblance? Just like him...?
Wait, are they saying I'm the child of this old man and this young woman?
Right then, I regained a little control over my body and managed to bring an arm up beside my face.
What entered my view was the chubby arm of a baby.
Is this... me?
I've turned into a baby?
Why?
"More importantly, Your Majesty, what shall we name this child?"
"Mm, I have already decided. This child is Noah."
"Oh... What a wonderful name."
The moment the old man declared it, the status in the corner of my vision shifted.
――――――――――――
Name: Noah Ararat
Gender: Male
Level: 1/∞
HP: F Fire: F
MP: F Water: E
Strength: F Wind: F
Stamina: F Earth: F
Intelligence: F Light: F
Spirit: F Dark: F
Speed: F
Dexterity: F
Luck: F
――――――――――――
The name that had read "None" just moments ago had changed to "Noah Ararat."
This was my name? Had I really lacked a name until now?
Because... I was a newborn baby?
"Your Majesty."
From further behind the old man, a calm, youthful male voice spoke up.
"Regarding Lord Noah's social standing..."
"Do not speak of such trivialities. He is my flesh and blood; naturally, he shall be an imperial prince."
"Thank you so very much!"
Hearing the Emperor's decree, the woman was moved to tears, her voice trembling.
Were there... complicated circumstances at play here?
Wait, more importantly!
――――――――――――
Name: Noah Ararat
Ararat Empire, Thirteenth Imperial Prince
Gender: Male
Level: 1/∞
HP: F Fire: F
MP: F Water: E
Strength: F Wind: F
Stamina: F Earth: F
Intelligence: F Light: F
Spirit: F Dark: F
Speed: F
Dexterity: F
Luck: F
――――――――――――
Once again, my status screen changed.
Directly beneath my name, the blank title field had filled in with "Ararat Empire, Thirteenth Imperial Prince."
Just a little while ago, before waking up in this room, I was nothing more than a "village youth." Talk about a drastic promotion.
I mean, seriously, me?
An imperial prince was the title given to a biological son of the Emperor—royalty among royalty.
And that was... me?
"Cruz."
"Yes, Sire."
"What is Noah's aptitude?"
"According to the assessment conducted immediately following his birth, his water affinity is at E, which appears to be his strongest."
"Water, is it? Any candidate territories?"
"There is a region called Almeria, where many of the Water Clan reside. They would surely make excellent guardians for Prince Noah."
"Mm. Then that shall be Noah's fief. See to it that everything proceeds without delay."
"As you command."
Normally, the shock would wear off by the third time—yet that wasn't the case at all.
If anything, this was the most mind-boggling change yet.
――――――――――――
Name: Noah Ararat
Ararat Empire, Thirteenth Imperial Prince
Gender: Male
Level: 1/∞
HP: F Fire: F
MP: F Water: E+S
Strength: F Wind: F
Stamina: F Earth: F
Intelligence: F Light: F
Spirit: F Dark: F
Speed: F
Dexterity: F
Luck: F
――――――――――――
Under my abilities, the Water attribute had gone from "E" to "E+S."
I had never seen anything like that before in my life.
What did that "+" even mean? Was that sort of thing possible?
No, absolutely not.
I've always loved watching plays.
In particular, plays based on the legendary deeds of heroes were my absolute favorite.
Nothing beat watching a performance while analyzing the status screens of real-life heroes.
Yet among every single hero I had ever seen, not one had a status like this.
Why? How was this happening?
While I was spiraling into a panic, the conversation moved forward.
"That settles that, then. Show me this child's capabilities."
"As you command."
Complying with the order, the young man reached a hand out over my head, and a warm light poured from his palm, enveloping me.
Immediately afterward, a status screen materialized above my body.
It was magic designed to make one's status visible to others.
The moment it appeared, I, the old man, the woman, and the young man—
Everyone in the room gasped in unison.
――――――――――――
Name: Noah Ararat
Ararat Empire, Thirteenth Imperial Prince
Gender: Male
Level: 1/∞
HP: F Fire: F
MP: F Water: SS
Strength: F Wind: F
Stamina: F Earth: F
Intelligence: F Light: F
Spirit: F Dark: F
Speed: F
Dexterity: F
Luck: F
――――――――――――
"Ooh! Truly, this is my son!"
"No... It's even higher than when he was born..."
"Could Lord Noah have already awakened, at such a tender age?"
While everyone else marveled at the sheer power of an "SS" rank, I was fixated on something else entirely.
I was stunned by the absence of the "+."
The status I saw—the one visible to me alone—clearly displayed Water as "E+S," yet the status projected by magic for everyone else read "SS."
A truth visible only to my eyes.
Yes, only to me.
While the adults around me rejoiced in awe,
I found myself pondering even more deeply about the mysterious "+" that belonged solely to me.