《The Light Mage administers justice》


 Chapter 0. Prologue.

    So, where should I start? Perhaps, with myself.


    I was born into an ordinary family, with a rather plain appearance. My parents were not wealthy, but we had enough to get by. They often argued, and sometimes their conflicts escalated into real violence. When I was three years old, I already understood what was happening. But I stayed silent because I didn¡¯t know how to fix it all.


    "Mom, Dad, can you please stop fighting?" I would say, but they just smiled and brushed me off, not understanding me.


    The only good thing I remember is someone I used to see sometimes. But for some reason, I¡¯ve forgotten their name and face. Asking my parents about it was pointless. I know he was important to me, but who was he?


    I was tired. And even though no one noticed, I could feel how their constant fights left a deep scar on my soul. I didn¡¯t remember any moments of happiness. I didn¡¯t know what it meant to be truly carefree.


    When I was 11, they divorced. Perhaps it was for the better.


    After graduating from high school, I moved to another city. It was noisy there, but I didn¡¯t care. I was alone. Sometimes, I spoke with my father, but those meetings were rare and brief. I always felt that my relationships with both him and my mother were somehow unnatural.


    My mother often told me what I should become to "provide for her." I didn¡¯t blame her¡ªdeep down, every person is selfish¡ªbut still, something felt wrong. And I was losing myself in it.


    Hoshi High School.


    The bell rang. It was an ordinary morning, though it didn¡¯t seem that way. Inside, I felt empty. The scornful gazes of my classmates didn¡¯t interest me. I didn¡¯t know why, but the entire routine irritated me.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    My life felt meaningless, and anger toward others seemed inevitable. But that day, I decided to change everything. Yes, it was risky, but I can¡¯t say I was afraid. I simply didn¡¯t see a way out anymore. I tried to be cheerful, hoping things would improve, but eventually, you realize it¡¯s all an illusion. Reality inevitably leads to burnout.


    All that¡¯s left is to reject this life...


    But what comes next? No one could say for sure.


    On Friday, deciding to skip classes, I returned to my hometown. I don¡¯t know about them, but I always remember how we used to play and spend time together.


    Oh, those memories¡ªthey¡¯re so warm.


    In the far part of the village, there was a steep cliff whose bottom was barely visible. Less than two yards from the edge stood an old tree, leaning slightly over the abyss.


    In spring, its soft pink blossoms were especially captivating, and the grass around it always grew lush and pleasing to the eye.


    *


    Admiring the bright sun under a clear sky, I inhaled the tranquil air.


    All of it created a sense of hopelessness. And so, I stood at the very place where it all had begun. I leaned against the tree, and the feeling of peace, as if the place itself was calling out to me, became my salvation.


    I¡¯m truly empty. Can I just fall asleep and never wake up again? Ever?


    The words escaped my lips in a whisper.


    Talking to myself until nightfall, with a sorrowful expression, I leaned against the tree under the stars and the moon¡¯s glow. A gentle breeze caressed me, as if lulling me to sleep in a cradle.


    How did it all come to this?


    I can¡¯t remember his face! Damn it! Why can¡¯t I remember the face and name of the person I used to watch the sunrise with in this very place!?


    Everything inside me tightened. I didn¡¯t understand anything anymore. All I could do was calm down and accept reality.


    After some time, the trees around me rustled as if sensing my sorrow. For a moment, I felt like I was a child again. Playing with the village kids, laughing¡­ And in the distance, as if in a dense fog, I saw them¡ªmy mother¡¯s tired eyes and my father¡¯s eternal sternness.


    Tears streamed down my cheeks, blending with the wind.


    It was then I decided: if there¡¯s a path forward, I¡¯ll have to find it myself.


    Even if it costs me my life.

 Chapter 1. The beginning.

    That night, the wind intensified, causing the old tree to sway violently.


    I understood that the tree, along with the earth beneath it, could collapse at any moment.


    Yet, I couldn¡¯t let go. I feared that my last warm memories would vanish. This place meant so much to me, but it seemed it too would soon be taken away...


    Crack!


    The tree trunk crashed into the precipice, taking a portion of the ground with it. Naturally, I could have reacted and stepped aside at the loud snapping sound, but I didn¡¯t.


    All my thoughts and the days I had lived flashed before my eyes. Oddly, I didn¡¯t panic. Perhaps I had simply accepted it.


    Boom!


    The fall caused a deafening roar, disturbing wild animals and birds nearby, sending them scattering in all directions.


    Some time later, a white raven with crimson eyes was pecking at the mangled body lying next to the branches of the fallen tree.


    ¡°Caw!¡±


    The raven cried triumphantly as it devoured the corpse¡¯s left eye. While it feasted on the socket, its own left eye bled, as if consumed by some malevolent force.


    ***


    ¡°Ae-nari.¡±


    That was my name¡ªor so I gathered from the voice.


    ¡°Oh gods! Little Ao, you¡¯re awake!¡±


    "I saw tears and concern in the eyes of two people unfamiliar to me.


    So this is what it feels like to have someone worry about you.


    And yet, I still hadn¡¯t moved on from my past life."


    Looking at my hands in surprise from the perspective of a child, I realized I had ended up in the body of a boy about 5 or 6 years old.


    Damn it. Had I killed him by taking over his body? The torrent of emotions was overwhelming, something I rarely experienced.


    Moving my tiny hands, I felt both horrified and overjoyed at once.


    So this... is a second chance?


    As I pondered, a flood of the boy¡¯s memories overwhelmed me.


    I see. He was killed, though it seems it wasn¡¯t intentional.


    The surge of memories caused me to pass out briefly again, which only frightened the boy¡¯s parents even more.


    ***


    Elsewhere...


    The Holy Sun Summoning Altar.


    Everyone near the altar watched as it radiated a blinding light, its heat escalating to such extremes that it distorted the space around it.


    ¡°Oh gods! May the sacred light incinerate me if I am dreaming! Has it awakened?¡±


    ¡°No, it has truly appeared!¡±Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°It has come into this world?!¡±


    ¡°Inform His Holiness immediately!¡±


    ¡°Yes, at once!¡±


    ¡°At any cost, we must find it, even if we have to raze everything to the ground,¡± someone murmured grimly.


    A bright silhouette continued to gaze at the radiant light, unaffected by the searing heat and crushing pressure that could easily dry up entire oceans. It was impossible to tell what they were thinking...


    ***


    When I came to, I had to first calm the two unfamiliar faces before me.


    ¡°My boy! Oh, I¡¯m so glad, thank the heavens!¡±


    The woman began hugging me tightly, crying even more, while the man held my hands and looked at me with worry.


    All of this felt strange. As for the rebirth itself, I had read and heard about such things, but still, it was a pleasant surprise.


    Death had come from a severe blow to the back of the head, damaging critical brain structures, including the medulla oblongata. Such trauma disrupted vital functions like breathing and heartbeat, resulting in death.


    The culprits were two boys from the first and second branches of this very family.


    The Remire family had four branches. My uncles were vying for the patriarch¡¯s position as his years were nearing their end. The only candidates were my first and second uncles, and the patriarch himself was my grandfather on my father¡¯s side¡ªa cantankerous old man who disliked many things, though his grandchildren were sometimes an exception.


    Rendo and Zen¡ªthose were the bastards who killed this body¡¯s former owner.


    It seems I¡¯ll have to deal with them in a way that''s... let¡¯s say, not PG-rated.


    At that moment, if one looked closely, they might notice a glow in my pupils.


    The light was mysterious and pleasant yet carried a demonic allure¡ªboth frightening and captivating. The only word to describe it: mystical.


    While I was exploring myself and the flood of memories, the boy¡¯s parents wasted no time: Tina Remire and Akano Remire.


    ¡°Tina, have you noticed how his temperament has changed?¡±


    ¡°Dear, could it be that he¡¯s no longer the Ao we knew? I¡¯ve heard rumors about such cases. After all, he was quite the troublemaker.¡±


    ¡°Oh, how he made us worry. I hope he¡¯ll be okay.¡±


    Adopting a prayerful stance, they began praying to the gods. After all, in the eyes of mortals, there was no power greater than these primordial beings.


    *


    # [ Zzzp! ]


    A screen appeared. Naturally, no one but me could see it.


    After some investigation, I realized that this world had a system encompassing not only this realm but everything. Still, there were exceptions. It wasn¡¯t exactly a full-fledged system¡ªit only allowed users to view their status and body condition, and even then, not everything was revealed.


    If the system allowed everyone to wield magic and cast spells, this world would descend into true chaos.


    Perhaps it¡¯s for the best that individuals must learn skills from scratch and choose whether to master them fully to enhance their power and efficiency.


    Getting back on track, I opened my profile and saw my current stats:


    Name: Aenari Remire


    Age: 6 (Presumed-20)


    Huh? That¡¯s it?


    I was quite annoyed to see such limited information. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do about it¡ªyet.


    Fine, I¡¯ll work with what I¡¯ve got.


    Regarding the system: it¡¯s said to have been created by the God of Chaos, although no one knows their gender¡ªor if they even have one. There¡¯s no evidence that the God of Chaos exists, either.


    A system exists in this world, but at the same time, it doesn¡¯t.


    Is this some kind of divine joke?


    Let¡¯s get to the point.


    I discovered from the memories that next year, the Remire family would conduct a selection for their language school¡ªa competition I must join. For now, my priority was gathering more information about the world and this era.


    I was extremely relieved to understand and speak the language of this world. How absurd it would have been to forget the language after reincarnation...


    To illustrate:


    ¡°Tina, are you sure this is our son?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so anymore.¡±


    Such were Aenari¡¯s thoughts, but considering how worried they were for him, Ao felt certain they weren¡¯t like his previous parents.


    Asking a servant to bring me books from the library, I began delving into how everything worked here.


    First impressions? Overwhelming! I¡¯d never felt such a rush of emotions, not even during love at first sight.


    Wait¡ªhave I ever fallen in love with anyone? Hmm, not sure.


    Of course, I noticed her peeking through the slightly open door.


    ¡°Hmm? What does she want?¡±

 Chapter 2. Cozy home.

    After reading a couple of books, Aenari gained a decent amount of information about the northern continent where he currently resided.


    Let¡¯s go in order.


    The first thing he learned was that this was a dark fantasy world divided into several kingdoms.


    The kingdom itself consisted of five large continents, each with a population ranging from 60 to 220 million, and some even reaching 240¨C880 million.


    As for me, I came from a distant northern continent, where winter last for six months, and the other seasons only for two months each.


    The strongest, of course, was the central continent, dominated by three hegemons located in a triangle formation.


    A grim world, huh? ¡ª Aenari muttered.


    Although murder and theft were commonplace here, they still evoked fear. Ordinary mortals without any special skills suffered the most. Living every day as if it were your last seemed like the perfect description of their lives. And this was only worsened by the unexpected monster raids. Yet, this was just one of ten reasons.


    What about magic and martial arts? It¡¯s strange, but I didn¡¯t find any books on these topics in my father¡¯s library. Does this mean access to magic isn¡¯t universal?


    Calling for Alicia ¡ª the maid who took care of him ¡ª Aenari prepared to find some answers. She was dressed in a maid¡¯s uniform, which suited her well. She seemed to be around 15 years old, clearly inexperienced, just like Aenari himself. He had to admit, she had an appealing appearance, with her green eyes that somehow reminded him of elves.


    ¡ª Young master, you called for me? Her voice interrupted his train of thought. Accepting his position as her master, he asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t there any records or books about magic?¡±


    ¡ª Young master, the thing is, we are not qualified to access such information. They can only be found in the main library of the Remire family, and only a select few are allowed in. That¡¯s the problem. However, you don¡¯t need to worry. Upon enrolling in the language school of the Remire family, you¡¯ll not only gain access to books about magic but might also learn some skills. Unfortunately, that¡¯s all I know. I¡¯m sorry, young master.


    ¡ª Mm. Nodding, Aenari dismissed Alicia.


    Magic undoubtedly plays a significant role in combat. It would be beneficial to learn some skills for the near future.


    Evening came unnoticed by everyone. The mansion filled with a delicious aroma. Aenari noticed it but paid little attention, lost in thought about his future plans. After a while, there was a knock and Alicia¡¯s voice announcing that dinner was ready.


    ¡ª Young master, may I come in?


    ¡ª Come in.


    As he rose from his bed, Alicia began dressing him, insisting that it wasn¡¯t proper otherwise. Though he didn¡¯t feel cold, he decided not to argue.


    Together, they descended the stairs to the main hall, where Akano sat at the table, and Tina, along with the maids, served a soup spiced with rare birds. Though the servants could cook, Tina loved cooking herself ¡ª it was almost a hobby for her.


    When everyone sat at the table, a prayer began. Aenari simply repeated after them. Once finished, they began their meal, this time as a family.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    A childhood dream of a family dinner suddenly became a reality. Tears streamed down my cheeks. My parents noticed and rushed to me in concern, but calming down, I smiled: "It¡¯s okay, Mom, Dad."


    ¡ª Little Ao, what¡¯s wrong? Are you okay? Did you burn yourself? Tina quickly ran to hug me. Even though she realized the reason was different, she still showed her care, and no matter what, they would always be there for me. Akano reaffirmed that he would always protect us, no matter the cost.


    After calming down, everyone began chatting cheerfully, as if everything that had happened was just a bad dream from which you wake up.


    Even so, it¡¯s wonderful to have people close to you.


    ***


    Three days passed.


    I decided to step outside and explore. My emotions felt much more vivid compared to my previous life. Could this be the influence of this foreign body? There was no one who could answer my question.


    Sigh! It¡¯s a bit discouraging, but not a critical problem.


    Stepping into the courtyard of my estate, I noticed a group of children about 140 yards away, playing tag. As for the courtyard itself, it was surprisingly harmonious. Tall trees and flowerbeds were arranged in a specific pattern with benches placed under the shade. A miniature fountain stood proudly, featuring a statue of a warrior pointing a spear toward the heavens. The view was truly serene; even Aenari couldn¡¯t help but praise it.


    To my surprise, this realm has four moons and one sun. Each year, one of the moons changes in sequence, casting the night in various hues. The first moon resembled the one from my previous world, while the second was a soft green, and the third and fourth shone in delicate shades of violet and pale red.


    Our family resides within fortified walls. The population under our family¡¯s rule is about 7,000-8,000 people, which is quite small compared to other families where the norm starts from 15,000 and above.


    The main structure on our territory is a majestic Japanese-style pagoda. Its elegant architecture, with each level shrinking by a quarter as it rises, inspires awe. Standing ten stories tall, it serves as both the symbol and pride of our family. The land within the walls is more expansive than it seems, with the Remire family school located at its center.


    This school teaches only the basics, laying the foundation for the future. However, there¡¯s no absolute guarantee of success. Not everyone is accepted into the school; common reasons for rejection include a lack of talent, incompatibility with any elemental affinity, or insufficient financial resources.


    Our family¡¯s territory stretches from the northern edge down south. Why so? It¡¯s simple ¡ª this direction leads to small villages, estates, villas, and the like. Meanwhile, the rear of our land is surrounded by forest, where annual attacks by beasts and monsters are not uncommon. Naturally, the land granted to our family used to be under the protection of the Frost Kingdom ¡ª or rather, it used to be.


    Every three months, the nearest city demanded taxes from us. The sum was significant, becoming an increasingly heavy burden with time. Eventually, the family opted to renounce the kingdom¡¯s jurisdiction, becoming independent yet vulnerable to monster attacks.


    There¡¯s nothing to be done about it. This decision has both advantages and drawbacks.


    Among the advantages is the freedom to manage our resources and make political decisions independently. This offers greater opportunities but also significantly increases the complexity of governance.


    The drawbacks include external threats. Aggressors may view independent territories as easy prey. Then there are bandits and marauding groups to consider.


    Bandits and marauders differ slightly, though they share some similarities.


    Bandits are usually organized gangs with specific objectives, such as raiding caravans or hunting for valuable goods.


    Marauders, on the other hand, are groups that act opportunistically in the chaos following events like a wyvern attack on a village or a fortress siege.


    As for reputation and its influence, the kingdom may perceive such independence as treason or defiance, possibly issuing a royal decree for liquidation or simply choosing to ignore the matter.


    Every outcome carries its own risks, Aenari sighed gloomily.


    It¡¯s no wonder we¡¯re surrounded by these walls. Still, more information needs to be gathered. There¡¯s no such thing as an impenetrable defense, and relying on hope alone is the worst strategy. It¡¯s better to prepare for the worst or have contingency plans in place.


    Shaking off these thoughts, I began approaching the children. There were six of them ¡ª three boys and three girls. Noticing me, they stopped playing and stared in surprise.

 Chapter 3. The peach sunset.

    ¡ª What? Aenari?


    ¡ª Weren¡¯t you injured?


    A series of questions came, and I just laughed to myself. Oh, yes, according to the memories of the previous owner, these are his close friends.


    How amusing they are, I thought, watching their genuine concern.


    ¡ª Yes, I was badly injured that day, but that¡¯s in the past, - Ao replied with a gentle smile, trying to reassure them.


    They''re just kids, but how could those two have so much malice?


    I wonder, Ao smiled, deciding not to dwell on it.


    ¡ª Ao, are you sure you''re alright? We heard from Lord Akano that you were seriously injured and won¡¯t recover anytime soon! That''s why we all started to worry about you.


    Hearing this from them, I had to come up with a logical reason to put an end to these questions.


    ¡ª As I said, I¡¯m fine now.


    After fully listening to my story, the others calmed down and suggested we play games.


    ¡ª I want to play a game, what do you think?


    ¡ª I can¡¯t wait! This time, we¡¯ll all play together, and it¡¯ll be much more fun!


    Surrendering to the memories of my past life, Aenari, like any ordinary boy, decided to enjoy himself with friends.


    Looking deeper into the memories, I discovered that the previous owner of this body often played with a black-haired girl named Shizuku. Maybe he liked her? But if that were the case, why didn¡¯t he try harder to visit her? I suppose I¡¯ll have to find out myself. Even though I inherited memories of her teasing him, not all of his feelings came with them.


    Finally, the evening began to fall. I expected to meet those two bastards, but it seemed not this time.


    Days passed, then weeks.


    It was the last day of April. We all gathered together and began sharing secrets. To be honest, even I was intrigued, even though I was no longer a child. I must have subconsciously become a child again, since such things interest me. I suppose this might actually be for the best. It seems not only my soul has reincarnated, but my mind has also been affected. This might help me in the future.


    At least, I am no worse than the current generation, and I even have the experience of a past life. That¡¯s both my advantage and my flaw.


    The advantage is obvious, but the flaw is that the memories of my past remain. But even in such a case, I am changing. I can¡¯t say for sure how these circumstances will affect me in the future, or whether I¡¯ll remain the same person.


    I suppose it¡¯s all minor details. I should be grateful I didn¡¯t have to start my journey in a dark forest full of monsters.


    After reflecting, I turned my attention to the others.


    Our leader spoke first, since he was the oldest among us. He was born on January 2nd, while the rest of us were born later. My birthday is December 30th.


    That makes me the youngest here. While I was lost in thought, the others began to get excited.


    ¡ª Kazen, start already!


    ¡ª Yes, we¡¯re waiting.


    Unable to resist, he gave in and agreed to begin first.


    ¡ª Alright. This was last spring, at midnight. I woke up because of noise coming from the neighbor¡¯s house. I heard someone screaming, but it wasn¡¯t from a fight. I climbed up to the roof of the house and saw a naked guy and a girl on the gallery. They were caressing each other and moving in sync. After that, I couldn¡¯t get that image out of my head. What do you think they were doing?You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡ª Uh... after hearing this, Aenari was left speechless. He mentally expressed his condolences for the damage to his psyche.


    The others were quite disturbed by the story, which was expected.


    ¡ª Heh-heh.


    Aenari felt Risel smile slyly.


    Does he already know?


    However, Aenari couldn¡¯t ask this in front of everyone.


    After calming down, we continued.


    Risel was shy and reserved compared to the rest of us. He even admitted he shouted ¡°Mom!¡± in front of everyone when he was scared by one of Aenari¡¯s uncles. Risel was particularly terrified by the man¡¯s beard and the scar on his face. Needless to say, that made everyone laugh. Kazen, patting his friend on the back, could barely hold back his laughter.


    Next, it was Utsin¡¯s turn.


    He was a bit proud among us. Perhaps it was in his nature. He was very pleased that he had stolen his grandfather¡¯s strong wine and was enjoying it. However, he was caught when he drunkenly entered the women¡¯s restroom, mistaking it for the men¡¯s, and frightened the maids. When his father found out, he beat him until his backside was blue.


    As for Rena and Elin, they didn¡¯t have any secrets. Though we can¡¯t know for sure.


    Having fun, I noticed the sun beginning to set. Before it did, a peach-colored sunset appeared in the sky.


    This new world is truly beautiful. Soon, we all began to admire it together, imagining what might lie ahead.


    In the end, only Shizu remained. She was far more charming than Elin and Rena. Shizu had black eyes and light dark hair that didn¡¯t quite reach her waist. Her delicate face had slightly chubby cheeks. And so, it¡¯s safe to say she was quite beautiful. Her eyes, especially her corneas, stood out with a color like the sky.


    At that moment, Shizu¡¯s cheeks began to turn red, and her eyes darted around nervously. Watching her, everyone could tell ¨C this was definitely embarrassing for her!


    While the others guessed and teased, she finally gathered her courage.


    ¡ª Aenari, I... I like you! That¡¯s my big secret...


    It seemed she had put all her energy into saying this, as we all noticed her trembling. She seemed afraid that these words would be met with cold indifference.


    ¡ª What was that?


    ¡ª What?


    ¡ª Huh? I didn¡¯t hear it clearly?? Everyone was shocked, and Risel seemed a little upset. Of course, Aenari noticed this too, and smiled to himself ¨C wow.


    In truth, Ao was shocked by this turn of events. There was a good reason for it. It was the first time anyone had confessed their love to him.


    I¡¯m still recovering from being reborn, and now this confession...


    What is happening? Such surprises are making Ao dizzy.


    ¡ª Ao, are you alright? - Utsin asked, worried.


    Seeing Ao irritably holding his face, Shizu was scared.


    ¡ª Did he get angry with me? - Shizu asked nervously. Her heart was beating rapidly, waiting for his response.


    ¡ª Aenari, what¡¯s wrong? - Rena asked.


    ¡ª No, I¡¯m fine. Just a little dizzy, that¡¯s all.


    ¡ª You should be careful.


    ¡ª It¡¯s fine, this isn¡¯t the first time it¡¯s happened.


    Then, as Ao raised his head, he saw Shizu in complete confusion.


    Apparently, she misunderstood his recent actions.


    Gathering his feelings, Aenari moved closer to Shizu and embraced her. She wanted to push him away out of embarrassment, but Aenari was stronger and didn¡¯t give her a chance. After a few seconds, he relaxed his grip and let her go. Then, looking into her eyes, he said in a deep voice - I like you too, Shizuku.


    These words triggered a wave of mixed emotions in Shizuku. She buried her crimson face in his chest, making herself look even cuter.


    Although Riselle was upset, he chose not to ruin everyone''s mood. After all the stories, we had a great time together. Simply put, this day became special for all of us.


    After some brief chats and jokes, the group started heading home. Not wanting to be a typical schoolboy, I offered to walk her home with a slight smirk. She, in turn, was embarrassed to the tips of her ears because of the current circumstances.


    ¡ª Shizu, shall we go?


    ¡ª Uh, yes.


    Of course, I had some ulterior motives.


    On the way back, we didn¡¯t talk much. It was because both of us needed time to process everything that had happened.


    After walking for just under half an hour, we arrived, and Shizu gestured toward her house with her hand, though it wasn¡¯t necessary. Regarding her house, it was large, clearly indicating her family''s wealth.


    To my surprise, the memories of the previous owner suggested that he didn¡¯t visit her often. Although, I can imagine why.


    ¡ª Well, here we are, Shizu, ¡ª I said, smiling at her.


    ¡ªMm, thank you for walking me home.


    After expressing her gratitude, Shizu quickly ran inside without waiting for a reply. While Aenari was leaving, she watched him through the window, mumbling to herself.


    After saying goodbye to her, I walked home at a leisurely pace. Yes, I was enjoying the exotic beauty of this world. These massive trees and plants were like a balm for the eyes. The trees grew in harmony with nature, in an orderly and thoughtful pattern. And since autumn was approaching, the world would soon be painted in various hues.


    Oh, right! In this world, instead of the usual 12 month names, they use "days" combined with seasons. For example, the first month of spring on the second day would mean January 2nd, and if it''s February 4th or 5th, it would be the second month of spring on the fourth or fifth day.


    *


    On the way back, I stumbled upon an apple tree I hadn¡¯t noticed before. The reason for that, I think, is quite obvious.


    The fruits of the tree weren¡¯t bright red as expected but a dark, blood-red color. If not for the healthy appearance of the leaves and branches, one might think there was something wrong with this tree.


    Plucking one fruit, Aenari decided to taste it right away. As he bit into it, a thin stream of crimson juice ran down his lips.


    I wasn''t wrong, was i?

 Chapter 4. Commotion.

    Did I make the right choice?


    [System Message!]


    [Endurance and Intelligence increased by 0.1 points.]


    Staring at the system screen that appeared before him, Aenari was surprised.


    So, I can increase my stats just by eating certain fruits? Although... there must be a limit.


    Plucking a few more fruits, Aenari kept moving forward, examining the one in his hand.


    I wonder, can they provide anything else? he thought before continuing down the path.


    On the way back, he passed by guards, patrols, unfamiliar faces, and the chirping of birds, which¡ªstrangely¡ªdidn¡¯t irritate him. This was unusual, as in his past life, he had despised the sounds of birds and insects.


    Within moments, he was back at the doorstep of his home. Upon entering, he was warmly greeted by Alicia and the butler, Alfred.


    ¡ª Welcome back, young master, ¡ª Alfred said, raising an eyebrow. Alicia¡¯s eyes widened when she noticed what looked like blood on Aenari¡¯s face.


    ¡ª Were you hurt, young master? ¡ª Alicia exclaimed.


    ¡ª Calm down, Alicia. It¡¯s just the juice from the red apple fruits. It¡¯s not blood.


    ¡ª But aren¡¯t those fruits forbidden until you¡¯re eight years old?


    ¡ª Is that true?


    ¡ª Yes, indeed. However, since the young master seems unharmed, it must mean you possess a certain talent, ¡ª Alfred said approvingly with a nod.


    ¡ª What¡¯s wrong with these fruits?


    ¡ª Well, young master, they have side effects like nausea, which is why they¡¯re usually avoided at your age.


    ¡ª Understood.


    After thanking Alfred for the welcome, Aenari asked Alicia to prepare a bath. The fruit juice had left his face stained in a way that looked both amusing and gruesome.


    Without realizing it, he was already in his room, relaxing slightly.


    Not long after, he heard a light knock at the door.


    ¡ª Young master, the bath is ready. Please, follow me.


    ¡ª I¡¯m coming.


    Reaching the bathroom, Alicia hesitated.


    ¡ª Y-young master, should I help bathe you? ¡ª she asked timidly, avoiding his gaze.


    ¡ª Huh? ¡ª Aenari looked at her in surprise, which only made her blush more.


    ¡ª Alicia, in a sense, I¡¯m not exactly a child anymore. You do realize that, don¡¯t you?If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡ª Yes, but... it¡¯s part of my duties.


    They quickly found themselves in an awkward silence. Thankfully, Tina happened to pass by and noticed the slightly open door, breaking the tension.


    ¡ª What are you two doing here? ¡ª Tina asked curiously, looking between them.


    ¡ª I just wanted to take a bath, ¡ª Aenari said, shrugging.


    ¡ª Then go ahead and undress. I¡¯ll handle it from here. Alicia, thank you for your concern, but I¡¯ll take over.


    Bowing respectfully, Alicia left. After that, Aenari undressed and got into the bath. Ten minutes later, he emerged, steam gently rising from his skin. Returning to his room, he lay down, reflecting on the day¡¯s events.


    So, Risell pleasantly surprised me by not destroying our relationship. What if I had chosen Risell over Shizuku? The result would be the same, wouldn¡¯t it?


    ¡ª In any case, I¡¯ll simply use them as I see fit. If anything goes wrong, I won¡¯t hesitate, ¡ª Aenari muttered confidently.


    After dinner and a conversation with his parents, he learned an important detail: the execution of spies from the Terran family was imminent. Until it was resolved, Aenari would remain under house arrest¡ªnot that he minded.


    During this time, he played games with Alicia. Though mentally an adult, he occasionally forgot this fact, indulging in childlike activities. Recognizing the need to refocus, he buried himself in books with herbal tea, the aroma filling the room.


    Throughout the week, Aenari continued eating blood apples, asking Alfred to fetch them for him. Thanks to this, he managed to improve his stats and unlock his primary attributes. This was undeniably a cause for celebration.


    Open Interface:


    Name: Aenari Remire


    Age: 6 (Estimated: 20)


    HP: 30


    MP: 40


    Strength: 2


    Agility: 4


    Intelligence: 8


    Endurance: 6


    The progress was slow. I managed to increase my endurance by 2 points and my intelligence by 3. It¡¯s clear that I¡¯m more inclined toward magic based on these results, but that¡¯s about it.


    *


    After a week of confinement, I went for a walk early in the morning.


    Breathing in the morning air, I felt energized. Enjoying the open sky, I walked along the road made of grey stone, slightly rough yet still elegant in appearance.


    As I passed through the grey mass, a few minutes later, I heard noise.


    ¡ª Execute him!


    ¡ª Death to the rats of the Terran family!


    The excited shouts echoed through the area, and by chance, I found myself near the criminal execution platform.


    Wait, wasn¡¯t the execution supposed to happen yesterday morning?


    I suppose someone delayed it?


    Well, since I¡¯m here, I might as well find out what¡¯s going on.


    Smiling to myself, I blended into the crowd, waiting to see what would happen next.


    Soon, the list of their various crimes was read aloud, further stirring the crowd''s blood. Feeling the tension reaching its peak, the captain nodded to the executioner, a tall man standing at two meters. The executioner, in turn, set the guillotine into motion, ending their pitiful lives. Their severed heads rolled across the ground, splattering blood everywhere.


    Many were excited by the sight, while others felt uncomfortable.


    As the crowd¡¯s cries filled the square, I was deeply struck by the scene.


    They were killed just like that? In truth, Aenari understood that this was a clear provocation from both sides.


    Could this be a sign of impending war? Or are such incidents commonplace here?


    Aenari also found himself disturbed by the freshly spilled blood. He couldn¡¯t quite understand ¡ª was he uneasy from fear, or was he curious to experience the sensations of murder himself?


    ¡ª What does the Terran family think of themselves, sending us such weaklings? A man''s voice broke through Aenari''s thoughts.


    ¡ª You¡¯re right! I think they don¡¯t take us seriously. Do they really think we¡¯ll keep tolerating this!?


    The townspeople were loudly discussing the incident. Some even suggested annexing the Terran family to increase the power of the Remire family.


    But the blood spilled today could be the beginning of something bad.


    Before leaving, Aenari noticed Kazen, who was clearly in a bad mood.


    It seemed like a heavy blow to him, as he was still just a child. As for me, I have to get used to such sights for my own sake. Lost in thought, I made my way back to a hot breakfast.


    The following months passed relatively calmly. However, Aenari didn¡¯t remain idle. He asked Alfred to buy products that could increase his stats, and Alfred agreed.


    And thus began my first steps on a path that was still undefined.

 Chapter 5. Merry Christmas!

    In the blink of an eye, winter arrived. The cold wind with snowstorms dropped the temperature to -67¡ãC, creating unbearable conditions. Thanks to the walls surrounding them, the harshness of the wind was significantly less felt. Magical candles in round crystal spheres also helped, preventing the cold from consuming the inhabitants and providing light at night. Due to their unique properties, this flame could absorb magical particles and emit not only light but also heat. The shell itself filtered out the polluted particles, which were then fed into the fire, maintaining the flame. Without this filtration, the flame would eventually go out.


    However, these candles raised many questions. How can fire burn without oxygen entering the sphere, which in normal conditions is impossible? For example, to maintain combustion, three elements must be present: First, the fuel ¡ª what burns. Second, oxygen, without which combustion is impossible. Third, temperature, which must be appropriate to sustain the burn.


    If we consider the fact that fire inside the candle can burn without oxygen and fuel, this alone would have caused a sensation in my previous world. But despite all this, after a month, the filter soon becomes clogged, and a new batch of magical crystal candles needs to be purchased. Ao came to the conclusion that the magical energy, which is practically everywhere in this world, could serve as both fuel and oxygen, supporting the combustion.


    This is probably just a drop in the ocean, considering that the possibilities of this energy do not end here, Ao couldn¡¯t help but sigh in astonishment.


    The miracles of this world are truly awe-inspiring. Of course, I can¡¯t see this energy. But that¡¯s just a matter of time.


    Realizing the boundless possibilities of the parallel world, Aenari felt a surge of energy. He felt what it meant to be alive and to cherish this life. The whole of me demanded that I get to work and explore all this unknown¡ª the world itself, strange creatures, unexplained phenomena, martial arts, magic. All of this didn¡¯t exist in my previous world. I couldn¡¯t realize myself, my potential, because the barrier was reality, which would limit any creation. No matter how hard you train or study martial arts, you could be stopped by a single bullet, one that could be fired even by a child or a police officer. No matter how diligently you toughen your body, the result will be a beautiful physique, endurance, and some immunity, but that¡¯s where the privileges of your training end, and your body will not be invulnerable. The question arises¡ªwhy? The answer is simple¡ªthis is the human limit, the limit of mortals! Or reality that will destroy everything.


    My previous world is completely imperfect.


    But not everything is that bad. There are also lucky ones who love their work, specifically, they have found themselves, their goal, their dream job, they have a healthy family, and everything in general is well. I don¡¯t complain about how things turned out for me. Even if everything had gone differently, I doubt there would have been a place for me in that world.


    Finishing his thoughts, he was already heading towards his friend, or rather, to Shizu. It so happened that today, on the 17th day of the second month of winter, it was her birthday, and a week ago, she had invited everyone. And I also prepared a gift for her. I hope she¡¯ll like it.


    Dressed warmly, Aenari enjoyed the white veil that had completely covered the northern continent. It felt as if the very Lich King had awoken from his sleep.


    Northern continent. The Edge of the World.


    At the peak of the eternal ice mountain, there was a creature completely enclosed in an ice crystal, which trembled at times, causing the peak of the snowy mountain to shake as well. Due to the shaking, snow slid off in large layers, eventually turning into avalanches, awakening the sleeping ice creatures.


    Meanwhile, as Aenari arrived, Shizu ran out of the house and hugged him tightly, afraid that he would disappear if she let him go. Following her, Risell, Elin, and others came out with cheerful smiles.


    ¡ª Merry Christmas! They reacted with confusion. He had to explain everything to them.


    In my previous world, Catholic Christmas was celebrated on December 25th, while Orthodox Christmas was on January 7th. Here, in this world, it was decided to celebrate it from the 1st to the 31st of the third month of winter. (That is, from December 1st to 31st).


    Since Christmas is originally a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ, it is customary to read prayers, visit temples, and focus on spiritual development during these days. There is also a list of prohibitions, traditions, and signs related to the celebration of the religious date. Since Christmas is primarily a religious holiday, prayers to God are also commonly offered during these days.


    Looking at his enthusiastic friends, I realized that sometimes, just one interesting story can change the way everything feels from now on.


    Climbing to the second floor, a large hall with various decorations and a huge round table filled with delicious treats and dishes greeted our eyes. The smell of food made everyone hungry, and sitting down, we began to feast.


    Some time later.


    ¡ª I think I¡¯ll start first! ¡ª Rena said excitedly, standing up from her seat.


    ¡ª Of course, who else would? ¡ª Kazen muttered.


    ¡ª Shut up! ¡ª Rena threw him a look and turned to Shizu. ¡ª This is for you. ¡ª She handed her a figurine of a cute little animal, which made everyone smile.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    At that moment, Rena stood up and walked to Shizu, handing her the figurine of a cute little animal that appeared only in winter. Yes, these were snowy fluffballs. Just their appearance made all the girls drool, and even the grown men weren¡¯t immune.


    One by one, each of us wished her the best and gave our gifts. And to be more precise, each gave her what they could afford. Well, no one can be blamed for that.


    Shizu herself was the type who would have been happy even if you came without gifts.


    At the end, only Aenari remained, and Shizu¡¯s heart began to race, showing how nervous she was.


    Rena smirked and said ¡ª What¡¯s wrong, Shizu-chan? Your cheeks are red, and everyone started laughing. It was strange, but they always liked teasing her.


    ¡ª No, it¡¯s nothing like that! ¡ª Hmph! Shizu pouted and lifted her head.


    Sometimes she could be too shy, but other times she could do something so memorable that it would stick with you for a long time ¡ª everyone noted to themselves.


    One such case was when Shizu let two guard dogs chase after the previous owner of this body. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t have bitten him, but they chased after him. While he was crying from the dogs, Shizu laughed at what was happening.


    From the memories, it becomes clear that she was always happy when Ao came, and she had no bad thoughts about her dogs biting the former owner¡¯s loaf. But he misunderstood everything and started visiting her less often.


    Strangely enough, over time, I began to see other fragments of memories that for some unknown reason hadn¡¯t opened earlier. Most likely, the remaining fragments of memories will open as my soul assimilates with the current body. After all, this process takes so long because both my soul and his body are from different worlds. I came to this conclusion due to the feeling that sometimes I feel like I¡¯m in a nano-suit or something like that. At least, that¡¯s what I think.


    [Zzzp!]


    [ATTENTION!]


    [You have discovered the hidden process of your soul assimilating with the new body!]


    [Assimilation process: 37.2% complete]


    [Duration: unknown]


    [Side effects before and after completion are unknown!]


    Hmm, was my guess correct? ¡ª Ao exclaimed as he saw the sudden notifications. So this process is proceeding as expected. This was a little unsettling. Stopping to think about it, Ao returned to the current situation, where his friends were discussing the endings.


    Ah, yes, what about ¡°chan,¡± ¡°tan¡±? I also suggested that when we were coming up with nicknames or something similar ¡ª heh.


    It seems like it¡¯s my turn now. I took my gift in my hands, walked up to her, and began attaching it to the right side of her hair. The hairpin suited her perfectly, making her look cute and attractive.


    Shizu wanted to see what he was attaching to her hair, but decided to wait until he finished. She was so nervous that she didn¡¯t move an inch. Meanwhile, Ao carefully attached the hairpin and said ¡ª Shizu-chan, I¡¯m done. How do you like it?


    Approaching the mirror behind her, Shizu touched the hairpin but remained silent.


    Hmm? Did I get the shape wrong? I like snowflakes, but maybe she doesn¡¯t?


    ¡ª Shizu, didn¡¯t you like it? If you don¡¯t, I can¡­


    ¡ª Aenari, thank you. I really like it! Her sincere smile seemed like it could bring down several cities.


    The others were also happy for her.


    ¡ª Brother Aenari, you¡¯re good at charming girls ¡ª heh-heh. Kazen grabbed my shoulders firmly, increased his grip, and grinned, making me smile reluctantly.


    ¡ª Once again, happy birthday, Shizu-chan! ¡ª Ao congratulated.


    ¡ª Yes! Happy birthday to you!


    ¡ª Congratulations!


    Finishing with the congratulations, Elin said ¡ª Kazen, that¡¯s enough, let go of him.


    ¡ª Aenari, come with me ¡ª Elin said playfully.


    ¡ª Okay ¡ª without much thought, I agreed.


    ¡ª Are you going somewhere? ¡ª asked Rena.


    ¡ª We¡¯ll be back soon ¡ª Elin waved her hand.


    After that, I left with Elin for a quick word.


    After a short silence, Elin spoke.


    ¡ª I don¡¯t know if you truly love her or if you¡¯re pretending, but stop if that¡¯s the case. You¡¯ll break her after that. She¡¯s pretty fragile inside, even though she doesn¡¯t show it. Since we¡¯ve been friends since we were little, I know her much better than the others.


    Hmm? She seems like an older sister. A caring older sister who won¡¯t let anyone hurt her younger siblings. And she¡¯s the most mature of the others. Maybe her life hasn¡¯t been that great, and she¡¯s hiding it. I think I could help her, but for now, I don¡¯t see any benefit in it.


    ¡ª Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not playing with her feelings. You can be at ease.


    ¡ª Alright, I hope you¡¯re not lying. Thank you for listening, and sorry for all this. She felt like an outcast because of doubts about her friend, but Aenari didn¡¯t blame her.


    I can¡¯t understand what he¡¯s thinking, so I¡¯ll hope for the best. That¡¯s all I can do for now. While Elin was still in doubt, Aenari spoke ¡ª It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s go, they¡¯re waiting for us. With a smile, we rejoined the fun.


    Midnight.


    We were getting dressed, and it was time to go. Due to the intense cold, we couldn¡¯t see each other as often as we¡¯d like. But once every couple of months was still possible.


    After saying goodbye to everyone, I kissed Shizu on the cheek, thinking to myself that she would miss me often ¡ª with a smile.


    ¡ª Ao-kun, you should have warned me! Because of the suddenness, Shizu wasn¡¯t ready for this, and she pouted cutely. Her behavior amused me.


    Rena and Elin nodded approvingly, as it wasn¡¯t often they saw her like this.


    ¡ª Shizu-chan, at least miss me a little, okay? ¡ª I waved at her with a slight smile.


    ¡ª Ha, yeah right. She¡¯ll miss her friends, not me. Rena cheekily inserted her little jab.


    I just shook my head at this in silence.


    Elin lived a little farther from Shizu¡¯s house, about four hundred yards, which was quite close.


    Rena went up the snowy path, escorted by the guards. Her house was on the south side of the path, which was a bit farther.


    Kazen and Risell were neighbors and went together to the southwest. Their path took about fifteen minutes or more, depending on the walking pace.


    Utsin and Aenari walked east, causing the snow to crunch underfoot, which was like an anti-stress sound for their ears. Their small footprints were quickly covered by a new layer of snowflakes.


    After chatting a little with Utsin, I went home.


    ¡ª I¡¯m home.


    Sighing with relief, I sat down, holding the magical candle that helped ward off the cold.


    Alright, let¡¯s begin.


    Open interface:


    Name: Aenari Remire


    Age: 6 (estimated: 20)


    HP: 45


    MP: 65


    Strength: 2


    Agility: 4


    Intelligence: 13


    Endurance: 9


    [Processes: Assimilation of the new body with the soul.]


    [Completed: 37.3%]


    Over the past couple of months, I¡¯ve managed to improve my stats a bit by eating various vegetables and fruits with magical attributes, but it¡¯s still not enough. As for agility and strength, I¡¯ll leave them for later. There¡¯s also a new ¡°process¡± section where I can see what¡¯s happening with my body, soul, and more.

 Chapter 6: Scars of the Past

    It¡¯s been more than ten days.


    The blizzards and frost forced people to hide in their homes, but even that couldn''t save them from misfortune. Some drank, others sought adventure ¡ª and found death in the cold embrace of snow, becoming ice sculptures. During this time, dozens died: fifty-eight men, seventeen women, and two teenagers. Families were left without breadwinners, and there was no help to be found.


    A few days ago, my uncles, Edan and Agro Remire, stopped by.


    Edan was short, always neat, with an unreadable face and a haughty look. Agro, on the other hand, was striking in his roughness: tall, with a square face and almost animal-like eyes. Their appearance always scared the locals.


    After they left, I decided to ask my father why they reacted the way they did when they saw me.


    ¡ª Damn! Even this worthless weakling turned out to be stronger than my idiot. ¡ª Agro hissed.


    ¡ª And mine too, ¡ª Edan added with a cold smirk.


    Agro narrowed his eyes at what he heard. ¡ª Did you say something?


    ¡ª Yes, but not for your ears, ¡ª Edan casually waved his hand and continued. ¡ª For now, he¡¯s not a threat. I only took advantage of the situation when he came to our estate.


    ¡ª Hm! It would be nice if we had taken care of him by now. The sooner, the better.


    ¡ª We¡¯ll leave that for later. I¡¯m more concerned about something else. Why are you provoking the Terran family? Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t understand what this could lead to?


    ¡ª Haven¡¯t you heard? There are rumors that the family is severely weakened after the attack by the forest monsters. I even sent my men, and they confirmed all the rumors. Their main entrance and military structures were destroyed, and their warriors looked weakened and even seriously injured.


    ¡ª I¡¯m more than sure they won¡¯t survive this winter. I¡¯m already planning to attack them and seize their land, thus expanding our holdings and gaining an advantage. But what interests me the most are the Terran family''s savings.


    ¡ª Just imagine how much stronger we¡¯ll become with their help. We have every chance of making great progress in combat development! ¡ª Agro said eagerly, barely containing his nature.


    Agro¡¯s words made Edan pause in thought. Of course, he wasn¡¯t too interested in increasing the overall strength of the family. What drew him more were the Terran family''s treasures, where various combat skills or rare spell tomes could be found. He knew how limited the Remire family was when it came to building a foundation for both warriors and mages.


    Meanwhile, Aenari was asking his father.


    ¡ª They were clearly surprised. Dad, did you hide something from them?


    ¡ª I needed to make sure of something, so I told them you were in a near-death state with almost no hope.


    After a pause, he added:


    ¡ª Ao, there¡¯s something important I need to tell you, ¡ª Akano¡¯s voice softened as if he were speaking to himself. It¡¯s a long story, but you only need to know the main points.


    ¡ª Our father had two wives and three concubines. Between two of the concubines, there was constant infighting. As a result, they¡¯re both gone. The third one was Edan¡¯s mother. She died from a hereditary illness, and even healers couldn¡¯t help.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡ª What happened to grandmother? ¡ª I haven¡¯t seen her yet.


    ¡ª You¡¯ve met her, though you were too young at the time. One day, she disappeared after a quarrel with your grandfather.


    ¡ª Ao, I just want to say, keep your distance from your grandfather. Even I can¡¯t predict what he¡¯s capable of. He¡¯s a cruel man, you should be wary of him.


    ¡ª Understood.


    While Akano was deep in thought, Ao, noticing the scars on his hands, couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡ª Could it be... are these scars your doing? ¡ª I asked, not taking my eyes off his hands.


    ¡ª Unfortunately, yes. In fits of madness, he locked me in a prison cell and tortured me with cold instruments. That''s why these scars remain with me to this day.


    Seeing his son¡¯s gloomy look, Akano decided to comfort him.


    ¡ª You shouldn¡¯t worry. It¡¯s all in the past. Can¡¯t you see? I¡¯m in good health now.


    ¡ª If you say so, then fine.


    Though he wasn¡¯t my biological father, I still felt uneasy about so many scars.


    ¡ª I forgot to mention, I have a biological sister named Tsuna. She now has a daughter, whom you¡¯ll meet very soon. Oh, and she¡¯s a beauty! I recently saw how all the boys were going crazy over her. Don¡¯t miss your chance, ¡ª Akano winked. I could only shake my head.


    ¡ª Ao, I want to ask you something, ¡ª are you angry with me? ¡ª Akano¡¯s voice was controlled, but there was a certain heaviness in his tone.


    ¡ª Why do you think that?


    ¡ª I want you to learn this lesson. In this cruel world, there will always be those who want to take from you, and they will take if you¡¯re weak. You need to understand that I won¡¯t always be able to protect you. Thankfully, you didn¡¯t die that day. If you had, I would have cut down your uncles¡¯ sons right before their eyes so they could feel it for themselves. Now, it¡¯s not too late, but I leave them to you.


    I need your answer ¡ª can you handle it?! ¡ª Akano asked with a determined gaze.


    Could it be that my son is truly this kind-hearted? Does he not understand that they tried to kill him?


    Under Akano''s unwavering gaze, he hid the doubts that plagued him.


    ¡ª I¡¯m only concerned about one thing. You won¡¯t mind if I go too far, will you? ¡ª Ao asked, smiling, waiting for Akano¡¯s response.


    At these words, Akano closed his eyes and frowned.


    Ao continued to stare directly at him, ready for any answer.


    ¡ª My son, I expected to hear those words from you! ¡ª Akano replied, unable to hide his smile.


    ¡ª I¡¯m almost certain, with this mindset, you¡¯ll survive in this world.


    ¡ª Actually, after the misfortune that happened to you, I was already planning to kill them, no matter the cost. But Tina stopped me, tearfully telling me that you were alive. I decided to take one last look, and suddenly, you woke up. That shook me, because I was sure that in 9 out of 10 cases, you would¡¯ve been dead. I decided to keep it from Tina, and I hope you do the same, ¡ª Akano sighed heavily.


    ¡ª I understand.


    ¡ª That¡¯s why I decided to hire more guards around the yard and the house. I probably wouldn¡¯t be able to handle another such incident. Miracles don¡¯t happen twice, and the fact that you¡¯re still breathing is the best miracle I¡¯ve ever experienced.


    ¡ª Dad, I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t I look fine in front of you?


    ¡ª Ha-ha! You¡¯re right, we really do look rather gloomy. Let¡¯s eat, I¡¯ll personally prepare something for you.


    ¡ª Really? What exactly?


    ¡ª Shh, heh-heh, it¡¯s a secret.


    Clicking my tongue, I climbed up the stairs and lay down.


    My parents had noticed that I was different from before, but they didn¡¯t blame me for it. Sometimes, I had to act like a child to avoid worrying them too much about it.


    A couple of hours later, there was a knock from Alicia.


    ¡ª Young master, Lord Akano is calling you.


    ¡ª Alright, I¡¯ll be there soon.


    After washing my hands, Ao went down to the main hall and was caught off guard.


    The table was completely filled with salads, wild chicken dishes, stew made from a two-headed snake, and something resembling barbecue made from fire lizard meat, topped with a medium-spicy sauce.


    Seeing how stunned I was, Akano broke into a satisfied smile.


    ¡ª Well? How do you like my cooking? Tina wouldn¡¯t have made this!


    ¡ª Father, you know that Mom is here?


    ¡ª What?.. ¡ª He slowly turned around and met Tina¡¯s fierce gaze.


    ¡ª Dear, how long have you been here? ¡ª He asked with a forced smile.


    ¡ª Since the beginning, ¡ª she answered calmly. But in her eyes, it was clear she thought he was taking on too much.


    While Mom gave Dad a death stare, I quickly finished eating, grabbed a cup of strawberry-flavored herbal tea, and quietly ran to my room, mentally wishing Dad good luck with this mess.


    Soon after, loud noises and crashes began downstairs, and I immediately congratulated myself on my cleverness.


    At that moment.


    ¡ª Dear.


    ¡ª Yes! I¡¯m listening.


    ¡ª Should I cast that spell again? ¡ª She said with a hard expression.


    ¡ª Nooo! Not that! Aennarii!


    I shut my door, trying not to hear the noise downstairs, and soon fell asleep, hoping my father would survive the storm.