High above the sky, beyond the reach of human eyes, floated a cluster of isnds. This pce was called Heaven.

  Heaven was a nd of picturesque scenery and perfect weather. In one enchanted garden, crystal-like flowers and vibrant trees thrived everywhere. A waterfall cascaded with pristine spring water, completing a breathtaking view—so stunning that few could imagine such a pce existed.

  Five gods and goddesses had gathered in this garden. At its center rested a rge, clear crystal ball, and inside it, a majestic bck dragon y dying.

  Upon closer inspection, one could recognize her: Tia, the Dragon of Chaos.

  Rufus, the God of Life, gazed at Tia with sorrow.

  "If not for that incident, this child wouldn’t be suffering like this," he murmured.

  "If not for him and that woman…"

  "Who would have thought he’d go so far for a human girl? Sigh."

  "I can’t let her die like this. I’ll give her a second chance—a new life as a human, under one condition: she must help mankind prosper and become a worthy king."

  "I’ll grant her my blessings—the ability to use the JRPG system, with a status screen and level-up mechanics. And also, the ability to build a kingdom through gamified strategy.”

  Thetisia, the Goddess of Water, brightened at his words. She didn’t like games, but she loved reading novels—especially those featuring spiritual springs.

  She said excitedly, “I know! I’ll give her a gift—a blessing to use the spiritual spring. According to novels, it has many uses. It will be a great help to her.”

  Anna, the Goddess of Beauty, wiped tears from her eyes before turning to them.

  "Who are you two fooling? Rufus, you’re just addicted to JRPGs and infrastructure games. You only want to enjoy watching her level up and build a kingdom."

  “And you, Thetisia, you just like seeing people use your element, water, so you blessed it and turned it into a spiritual spring.”

  "But… I agree. If we had found out sooner, this wouldn’t have happened."

  "Such unfair treatment and betrayal."

  "This is our fault. We let him do this… Sigh."

  "Oh, I know! I’ve thought of a way to make her happy!"

  "Besides your blessings, I’ll grant her the ability to browse and shop online. She can watch videos, listen to music, or buy whatever she needs—as long as she has the money."

  "What dy wouldn’t want to have fun, buy gorgeous dresses, and be surrounded by luxurious jewelry?"

  "I’m sure she’ll be happy with it. After all, she once asked the Hero for plenty of gold coins and jewelry."

  Gunnar, the God of War, scowled at his companions. "Enough! She’s a dragon, not a human. What use are JRPG status screens, strategy games, spiritual springs, or online shopping? You three are always missing from Heaven, too busy pying human instead of doing your duties!"

  Rufus sighed. "I’ll reincarnate her as a human so she can’t harm mankind. I know she hates humans, but they’ve already—"

  "Ridiculous!" Gunnar interrupted. "She’s a dragon! She lived among humans for four years after hatching, then was sealed away for fifty years!"

  Carina, the Goddess of Love, stepped forward. "Then what do you propose?"

  Gunnar crossed his arms. "If she must be human, I’ll grant her the power to transform back into her true form—a mighty dragon. Whether she lives as a human or dragon will be her choice."

  Carina, who cherished all beings, pitied the young dragon. "Since she suffered because of that god, I’ll ensure she’s reborn as a newborn human—a fresh start, filled with love. As my blessing, I grant her human form the Ability of Appraisal."

  Rufus nodded. "Then it’s decided. This is our atonement. From now on, Tia shall live anew. May her future shine brightly."

  The five deities raised their hands, golden light radiating from their bodies. In unison, they procimed:

  "Tia, Dragon of Chaos, we grant you a new life and our blessings. May your path ahead be radiant!"

  And so, the miracle unfolded…

  Tia, the Dragon of Chaos, was given a second chance at life.

  [Ding!—]

  A sudden, feminine voice echoed.

  [System Notification:

  Quest Requirement Met: "The Road to Kingship."

  You are granted a second chance to live—to cim the throne as the rightful ruler of mankind. Will you accept?]

  [Yes / No]

  “YES.”

  *

  In this world, by the blessing of the God of Creation, an incredible thing called mana exists.

  Dragons, elves, dwarves, demons, humans, and other races can sense mana.

  Mana is everywhere.

  It can be used in many ways.

  Some humans use mana to enhance their bodies, increasing their physical power, defense, or agility.

  Others use it to cast magic spells, creating fireballs, water missiles, healing spells, earth walls, and more.

  Powerful magic users can crush the ground with just a single spell.

  These humans have undergone an Awakening.

  Awakening typically occurs during early adolescence.

  Rumors say some humans are born with an innate mana core and can awaken at birth—though no one knows if this is true.

  A mana core can manifest after gathering mana into one pce inside the body.

  However, the Arindale Kingdom was far more fortunate. The female dragon bestowed upon the royal family a Mystic Crest—a hereditary mark that made their eyes crimson at birth. These crimson eyes granted them the ability to see up to one mile away and glowed when they tripled their strength.

  She also gave them the power to command lesser dragons.

  Though the Mystic Crest was inherited by only a select few in the royal family, and their control over dragons waned over time, it remained instrumental in safeguarding the kingdom’s prosperity and security.

  *

  In an orphanage…

  “I’m going to use my mystic crimson eyes crest to defeat you!” a little girl said

  A little boy retorted: “You can’t, you’re not a member of the royal family!”

  "Then I'm going to be a great magician when I grow up!" a little girl said with enthusiasm.

  "As if you could! Hahaha!" a boy retorted, just as excited. "I'm going to be a great warrior!"

  "I want to be a saint. I'll pray for everyone's safety," another little girl said.

  "Tons of girls want to be saints, but very few have light magic," the boy commented.

  "I want to be a dragon knight, just like Brother Louise,” said a slightly older boy.

  "You can be anything you dream of. Just keep studying and practicing. I'm sure you'll all succeed one day," Loucille replied with a warm smile.

  "Sister Loucille, let's py with Nana outside!" a little girl with twin ponytails said excitedly.

  The sound of children pying and ughing echoed outside.

  "I like it when she carries me up high. I feel like I'm flying!"

  "Nana might be a humanoid cat, but you're heavy. You eat a lot. Hahaha!" a thin boy teased.

  "No, I'm not!" the ponytailed girl protested.

  "Sister, can you read us another book?" the little girl asked.

  "Okay," Loucille agreed—

  "Time to have breakfast!" an old dy called from the doorway.

  At once, the children ran outside eagerly. Who wouldn’t want to eat?

  Loucille followed, watching them rush toward the dining area of the orphanage.

  This was the orphanage where she and her younger brother, Louise, had grown up. They left when she came of age and found work in a nearby city.

  The orphanage was quite rge, with complete facilities: bedrooms, a cssroom, a training room, a library, a clinic, and a big wn for py.

  It once had a full staff and many volunteers. The imperial family and nobles provided support, allowing orphans like them to live decently.

  But now...

  The pce looked dipidated. Staff had left one by one as financial support dwindled. Only the cleanliness remained.

  The orphanage stood near the border between the Arindale Kingdom and the Saha Kingdom. Over the past five years, constant war has made life harder for parentless children.

  The orphanage had always been grateful for the Ragnar Imperial Family’s support. Yet greed and desire had blinded people.

  Loucille did what she could—sending money monthly, visiting to teach, hoping the children would awaken their powers. She had a water attribute; Louise possessed the strongest fire affinity.

  No matter their skills, awakening would change their lives, offering hope in these dire times.

  "Come, let’s eat too, Loucille," Mrs. Beth said warmly.

  Once a kitchen helper, she now ran the kitchen alone, aided only by older children and her two daughters.

  "Okay. I’ve missed your bread and soup," Loucille replied.

  "Oh, hohoho! You’ve still got that sweet tongue," Mrs. Beth ughed, pleased by the praise.

  Loucille called Nana and joined the children in the dining room. The meal was simple, but the room buzzed with life.

  After breakfast, the dean summoned her to the office.

  *

  The Dean Mother took good care of Loucille and Louise since they were kids. She wasn’t the dean yet back then, but she loved the children very much, and all the children loved her dearly in return.

  She was the main reason Loucille couldn’t let this orphanage close. This orphanage was everything to the Dean and the kids.

  Dean Ellis asked with deep concern: “How is your younger brother, Louise? Did he successfully join the Arindale Kingdom’s army? Or did they give him a hard time?”

  Loucille replied: “Yes, he got accepted. Louise presented his guild card and demonstrated fighting abilities, as well as his control over the fire attribute. He passed all the tests with high scores. There were also many applicants from the same town---even Lenard was there. He passed the test as well.”

  Dean Ellis smiled warmly: “I’m gd they got accepted. They’ve always dreamed of becoming Dragon Knights.”

  Loucille smiled and said: “I’m not sure about Louise becoming a Dragon Knight, though. The dragons are treasured by the Arindale Kingdom. Only the elite among elite soldiers can join the Dragon Knights. He needs to train hard—otherwise, he’ll only be an ordinary soldier.”

  “But I’m sure he’ll be a great Dragon Knight one day,” Loucille added proudly.

  Dean Ellis nodded in agreement. She had always been proud of the children she had taken care of. She could see how each of them strived to reach their dreams. Loucille and Louise were no exception.

  Loucille had opened a fruit store in Ratora Town, the rger town in Byarrie City, while Louise joined the adventurers’ guild. He had been training and fighting monsters in the nd and dungeons ever since.

  “How about you? How are you doing? Is everything going well?” Dean Ellis asked. “I’m thankful for the help you’re giving to the orphanage, but you should prioritize your health. Louise will be sad if you overwork yourself.”

  Loucille replied: “Thank you, Dean Mother. You don’t have to worry. I don’t overexert myself, and I’m not alone—Nana has been helping me.”

  Dean Ellis smiled. “That’s good, then.”

  A sudden knock on the door interrupted them.

  Mrs. Beth called from behind the door: “Dean, Madam Collin is here to see you.”

  Dean Ellis replied: “Okay, I’ll be out soon. Please take her to the meeting room.”

  Turning back to Loucille, she said, “You can leave if you don’t have anything else to do. You still have a long way to go.”

  “It’s okay. I’d still like to spend some time with the kids,” Loucille replied as she stood up.

  Perhaps because she stood up too quickly, she suddenly felt dizzy and stumbled.

  “Loucille!” Dean Ellis shouted in fright, rushing to help her. “That’s why I told you to take care of your health. It’s not easy to travel back and forth.”

  “I’m alright, Dean Mother. Maybe I’m just tired from the long journey,” Loucille said, trying to reassure her. “I guess I’ll have to leave now. I’ll visit again soon.”

  “That’s fine. You should rest more. Let Nana drive the horse-drawn wagon while you take a few hours of rest along the way,” Dean Ellis advised.

  “I will,” Loucille agreed.

  The two got out of the dean’s office and walked to the entrance door.

  Dean Ellis said, “Loucille, I won’t walk you outside anymore. Take care on your way.”

  “These past two months, I’ve heard from Lenard that wild beasts and monsters are getting more rampant.”

  “You should be careful. Travel along the main road.”

  Loucille replied, “I’ll listen to you, Dean Mother.”

  “You should go meet your visitor. Don’t keep her waiting.”

  The two separated after bidding each other farewell.

  Loucille also bid farewell to the children and walked toward her horse-drawn wagon.

  Nana had been waiting there for her, ready to drive.

  The children gathered outside the orphanage’s gate and said goodbye hesitantly.

  “Sister Loucille, take care on your way. We will miss you,” a little girl said.

  “Sister, we’ll wait for your next visit,” a little boy added.

  Loucille climbed into the horse-drawn wagon and waved with a smile as it started to move.

  “Goodbye, kids. Study hard and listen to Dean Mother.”

  “I’ll come back soon.”

  The horse-drawn wagon moved further and further away as Loucille continued waving.

  Loucille sat properly—not inside the horse-drawn wagon, but next to Nana in the driver’s seat.

  “Nana, let’s go straight to Ratora Town,” Loucille said.

  “Nyaa~” Nana replied, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.

  Nana was a humanoid cat with orange fur and blue eyes. She wore a brown coat and carried a brown sling bag.

  Loucille had found her as a newborn kitten while gathering wild fruits in the forest. Now, she was slightly taller than Loucille and helped her whenever possible.

  The two chatted along the way—or rather, Loucille talked nonstop while Nana occasionally responded with “Nyaa~”.

  Loucille ughed as she told a story, but suddenly, her stomach churned.

  She asked Nana to stop the horse-drawn wagon and rushed to the roadside to vomit.

  “Ugh… Oh, my stomach. Did I eat too much in the orphanage?”

  “Nyaa!” Nana cried worriedly.

  “I’m okay. It’s nothing,” Loucille reassured her.

  She didn’t know why, but these past few days, she’d been waking up with stomachaches. This was the first time she’d experienced such a thing—after all, she was always careful about her and her younger brother’s health.

  She decided it would be best to see a doctor.

  Asking a doctor to diagnose her would be expensive, but it was better to know whether she was sick or not.

  She didn’t want to wait for her condition to become serious before seeking treatment.

  She also didn’t want her younger brother to worry and leave the army to take care of her.

  He had just started chasing his dream.

  Loucille got back into the horse-drawn wagon, and they continued their journey.

  They encountered a few wild monsters, but they weren’t strong. Loucille’s Water Bst spell was enough.

  *

  When they arrived at Ratora Town, Loucille chose to go to a reputable hospital.

  Although the building looked old, it housed a famous doctor, Doctor Harold.

  Doctor Harold was well-known among adventurers and commoners alike.

  He didn’t charge high fees, and if a patient was completely broke, he would even accept vegetables and fruits as payment.

  Loucille entered the hospital and, after a short interview, was led by a nurse into a room with a hospital bed.

  Then, she was asked to lie on the bed while waiting for the doctor.

  Doctor Harold, an old doctor, entered the room not long after. After asking a few questions, he examined her abdomen.

  He took a while to make his diagnosis.

  Doctor Harold shook his head, then opened the drawer beside him. He took out a small green stone from it.

  He held the green stone in his left hand while pcing his right hand on her abdomen.

  Loucille couldn’t help but worry, so she asked, “Doctor, is it serious?”

  Doctor Harold shook his head. “No, no, nothing like that.”

  “Ma’am, congratutions! You’re pregnant. It’s still very early, so I had to use a magic tool to confirm it.”

  Loucille’s eyes widened in shock. “What? I’m pregnant?!”

  Sezaika