The best way I could describe this story as is "Focused".

Focused on the type of story it wants to tell and on the characters it wants to talk about.

It has been doing a fantastic job with the main cast and, I have to admit, I can't wait to read more of it.

May the next step in the journey of our Knight, Idol, Sage, Sun and Traveler come soon.

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Finally decided to give this a try after having it bookmarked for some time. Six chapters in, there are qualities here I can't ignore. First, the chapters are long. Not the artificially inflated with useless language or endless LitRPG system updates (none so far, at least) type of long. They're genuinely well-written, with thought-out dialogue and a steady journey that establishes the main character, their goals, the steps they're taking to reach them, and the surrounding world. My issue lies with the tone. This may just be me, but I find that nearly every word out of the main character's mouth feels pretentious. He is calculated and overly strategic, as though each line exists to demonstrate their own intelligence and intellectual superiority. They never speak normally. There's always a point to prove, whether to others or for self-validation. It becomes even more bizarre when you remember this is an older gentleman reincarnated into the body of a thirteen-year-old. There's no attempt to meaningfully adapt or "play the part"—only a sustained, self-righteous aura presented as if it were beyond reproach. The adults tend to communicate in a similar tone, while the only characters who don't are most of the other children, who are written as comparatively ignorant and emotionally driven in their speech, which makes sense given their age. Still, the contrast only highlights how rigid and performative the main dialogue feels. Beyond that, I find much of the story enjoyable. It's specifically the dialogue that comes across as abrasive. I may revise my score later if this shifts, but stylistic tendencies like this often feel less like temporary choices and more like reflections of the author's own voice. Something that isn't likely to change.

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