《The Light Mage Administers Justice》


 Chapter 0. Prologue.

    ¡ª 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.


    ¡ª 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 ¡ª deep down, every person is selfish ¡ª but 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 tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    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 ¡ª they¡¯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 precipice


    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 ¡ª my 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...


    ¡ª 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.


    ¡ª 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.


    ¡ª 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 ¡ª or so I gathered from the voice.


    ¡ª 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.


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


    ¡ª No, it has truly appeared!If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡ª It has come into this world?!


    ¡ª Inform His Holiness immediately!


    ¡ª Yes, at once!


    ¡ª At any cost, we must find it, even if we have to raze everything to the ground, ¡ª 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.


    ¡ª 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 ¡ª those 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 ¡ª both 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.


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


    ¡ª 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.


    ¡ª 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:


    ¡ª Tina, are you sure this is our son?


    ¡ª 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 ¡ª have 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 encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that 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. Confusion of feelings.

    ¡ª What? Aenari¡­ Weren¡¯t you injured?


    They asked a barrage of questions that made me laugh inwardly.


    Ah yes, judging by the previous owner¡¯s memories, these were his close friends.


    ?How amusing, I thought, observing their genuine concern.?


    ¡ª Yes, I was gravely injured that day, but now I¡¯m alright, ¡ª Ao replied with a gentle smile, trying to reassure them.


    "They¡¯re just kids. How can they harbor so much malice?"


    Interesting. Smiling, Ao decided not to dwell on it for now.


    ¡ª Brother Ao, are you sure you¡¯re okay? We heard from Lord Akano that you were badly injured and wouldn¡¯t recover soon! That made all of us worry about you.


    ¡ª Like I said, I¡¯m fine now.


    ¡ª Aenari, honestly, we all came here to check on you and see how you¡¯re doing, ¡ª said a sturdy boy, stepping forward.


    ¡ª But they wouldn¡¯t let us in, ¡ª added a red-haired girl with a touch of annoyance. She seemed slightly mischievous but no more than that.


    ¡ª Aenari was so unlucky that day, running into the two brothers, ¡ª said a medium-height boy with a stubborn expression, shaking his head.


    ¡ª Maybe we should beat them up? I still remember how they mocked you, ¡ª angrily proposed a petite girl with a sweet face, dressed in an orange dress.


    ¡ª If we do that, we¡¯ll definitely get into trouble. You know who their father is. We could be jailed or even exiled! ¡ª said a thin boy in a rumpled shirt, shaking his head.


    Their reactions stirred an unfamiliar feeling within Aenari. It wasn¡¯t unpleasant; quite the opposite.


    ¡ª It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ve learned my lesson and will be more careful from now on, ¡ª I nodded at them with a smile.


    Succumbing to the memories of a past life, I decided to join them as an ordinary boy.


    Digging deeper into the memories, I discovered that the previous owner of this body often played with a black-haired girl named Shizu. Perhaps he liked her? But why didn¡¯t he show any particular desire to visit her?


    I suppose I¡¯ll have to figure this out myself. While I inherited memories of her playful teasing, not all of his feelings came through.


    Eventually, night began to fall. I expected to encounter those two bastards, but it seemed today wasn¡¯t the day.


    And so, days and weeks quietly passed.


    *


    The Last Day of April.


    On this early morning, we all gathered and decided to take revenge on an old lady.


    I¡¯ll admit, I was intrigued, even though I¡¯m no longer a child. Subconsciously, it seems I¡¯ve become one, given my interest in such things. I think it might even be for the best. It means not only my soul reincarnated, but my mind was affected as well. This might help me in the future.


    At the very least, I¡¯m not lagging behind the current generation, and I even have experience from a previous life. That¡¯s both an advantage and a disadvantage.


    The advantage is clear, but as for the disadvantage, it lies in the retained memories of my past.


    I can¡¯t say for certain how these circumstances will influence me in the future or if I¡¯ll remain the same.


    I suppose it¡¯s a minor detail. I should be grateful I didn¡¯t have to start my journey in a monster-filled dark forest.


    Finishing my thoughts, I turned my attention to the others.


    It was decided that Kazen would be our leader. He was born on January 2nd, while the rest of us came later.


    Searching through my memories, I found out my birthday is near the year¡¯s end.


    ¡ª So, I¡¯m the youngest here.


    By chance, I said my thoughts aloud, drawing everyone¡¯s attention.


    ¡ª Aenari, you shouldn¡¯t worry about trivial things. I¡¯ve told you before, strength is what matters in our world, ¡ª Kazen confidently declared.


    Patting me on the shoulder, Kazen led the group forward.


    ¡ª Alright, let¡¯s bypass the guards and head to Granny Grinta. Follow me and don¡¯t lag behind. Try not to make too much noise, ¡ª Kazen instructed, and everyone nodded in agreement.


    Sneaking through bushes and bypassing numerous houses, we were almost there. All that was left was to get past a spiked wooden fence.


    Say what you will, but Granny Grinta knew what she was doing.


    Unfortunately, climbing the fence was out of the question:


    First, because of the spikes.


    Second, the height was close to two meters.


    Luckily, the group had spent a week digging a small passage beneath the solid surface. Unfortunately, they couldn¡¯t avoid getting blisters.


    Looking at us, Kazen spoke: ¡ª As you can see, we¡¯ve arrived. I¡¯ll go first, and then you can pass one by one. I¡¯ll help by holding back the spikes while you crawl through.


    Before long, Kazen safely made it to the other side of the fence while I held the outer net with Risel.


    Finally, it was just me and Shizu.


    Shizu¡¯s face showed hesitation as she eyed the ugly spikes.


    ¡ª Since I¡¯m already here, I¡¯ll go all the way, ¡ª Shizu said, gathering her courage.


    As she mentally prepared, Ao found his gaze lingering on her.


    ?I didn¡¯t notice before, as I was overwhelmed by their questions. But now I see how beautiful she is.?


    She was far more captivating than the others.


    Shizu had deep black eyes, and her dark hair fell to her waist, forming gentle waves at the ends. Her delicate face had slightly plump cheeks.


    Without a doubt, she was a beauty. Her eyes stood out, especially the irises, which were the color of the sky.


    ¡ª Go ahead, Shizu. I¡¯ll hold the spikes so they don¡¯t catch you or your clothes.


    ¡ª Got it.


    Nodding, Shizu began to move. She was almost on the other side of the fence when her dress got caught on a thorn, making her yelp.


    ¡ª Aenari, help Shizu! Her dress got caught on a thorn. Can you free her?


    ¡ª Yeah, I¡¯ll help right now.


    I had to crawl through the space behind Shizu, letting go of the outer net.


    Once I reached her, I tried to help. But it turned out the thorn was curved, and in such a cramped space, I wouldn''t be able to free it.


    ¡ª Rena immediately understood the situation and was thinking of another solution while we were stuck under the fence.


    ¡ª Aenari, I''m sorry this happened. I really didn¡¯t know we¡¯d be going to Granny Grinta¡¯s today. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve worn different clothes, ¡ª Shizu said with regret.


    ¡ª Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll do everything I can to get you out of here. Just wait a little.


    ¡ª Okay.


    Meanwhile, I suggested tearing part of the dress, and both of them agreed.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The problem was that I couldn¡¯t move my hands properly ¡ª it was too tight. Also, it turned out the dress was made of a stronger fabric, and I didn¡¯t have enough strength to tear it.


    While I was struggling with the dress, she accidentally slid backward, revealing a new view.


    Specifically, her white underwear.


    ¡ª Aenari, you idiot! Don¡¯t look there! ¡ª Shizu and Rena screamed.


    Shizu blushed to the tips of her ears. Any more, and steam would start coming out of her head.


    What? My pulse is racing? ¡ª Aenari realized something was wrong with him and his face changed.


    Glancing at Aenari, Shizu wished she could disappear into the ground. But no matter how hard she tried to move, she always ended up in the same position.


    Once Aenari collected himself, he decided to take the situation seriously.


    ¡ª Shizu, we can¡¯t go to the other side now. I¡¯ll pull you back out. Wait a bit.


    Stopping himself from looking at her backside, I crawled back, where the thorn pierced my foot, causing pain. Gritting my teeth, I pushed it out and managed to escape.


    ¡ª Shizu, now I¡¯ll have to pull you toward me, but there¡¯s a chance you¡¯ll lose your dress.


    ¡ª Do you trust me?


    Without hesitation, Shizu nodded, barely holding back tears.


    Bending down a little, Aenari began to pull her by the legs.


    Shizu, feeling his hands, experienced both relief and irritation. She wasn¡¯t ready for such close contact, and her heart beat faster than usual.


    This time, there was enough space, and Aenari pulled her toward him with some effort, tearing her dress and exposing her legs.


    ¡ª Aah! ¡ª Shizu cried out from the abrupt action.


    ¡ª Sorry.


    Helping her up, I scanned her from head to toe and sighed in relief.


    ¡ª Did I hurt you?


    She shook her head.


    ¡ª Thank God. I''m relieved you''re alright. ¡ª Aenari said with a weak smile.


    But upon closer inspection, Aenari noticed she was about to cry.


    Seeing her like this, Aenari felt uneasy. He stepped closer to her, apologized again, and tried to comfort her.


    Suddenly, Aenari noticed that Rena had disappeared, and he guessed why.


    At that moment, Rena had found Risell and the others.


    Kaden and Elin had caught a chicken, but it wasn¡¯t without a few minor injuries from the rooster and hens.


    Risell and Utsin, meanwhile, didn¡¯t fall behind. They had released all the livestock. Catching them all, especially for the old woman, would be very difficult.


    Meanwhile, Grinta, with a satisfied smirk, was approaching the house.


    But she didn¡¯t realize what was happening inside. Otherwise, instead of that smile, her face would have shown a completely different expression.


    At the same time, Risell and Utsin had finished causing chaos and were ready to leave. But Grinta had beat them to it.


    A shout of hatred could be heard from the main gate.


    ¡ª Who dared to cause trouble in my house?! ¡ª Grinta screamed as she angrily began to unlock the door.


    ¡ª Let¡¯s go, quickly! ¡ª Kazen began to lead the others away.


    And it wasn¡¯t surprising, because the sound of her shout had taken everyone''s breath away.


    Finally, Grinta opened the door and saw the mess.


    ¡ª Aaaaaa! Damn you all!


    With furious eyes, Grinta started sniffing the trail, ignoring the noise.


    The tracks had mixed with the livestock, but even so, it didn¡¯t trouble Grinta, and she was already following them.


    ¡ª Kazen, Elin has already gone. Hurry! ¡ª Rena said with concern.


    ¡ª What¡¯s going on? ¡ª Aenari and Shizu were confused.


    ¡ª Didn¡¯t you hear the scream? Granny Grinta has arrived! We need to leave as soon as possible.


    ¡ª Gotcha! Heh heh heh! ¡ª A nasty voice was heard. Turning their heads toward the sound, we saw the scene.


    An old, wrinkled hand firmly grabbed Kazen¡¯s right leg, causing the boy to scream in fear.


    I, along with Utsin, rushed to help and tried to pull him towards us with all our strength, but it didn¡¯t help much.


    ¡ª You¡¯ll all pay for this, little scoundrels! ¡ª With a smirk, she began applying more force.


    Her words sent shivers down our spines.


    The girls screamed in fear.


    ¡ª Please, don¡¯t let go! ¡ª Kazen was on the verge of tears.


    While the three of us held on with all our might, Granny Grinta suddenly released her grip, and this gave us the chance to pull Kazen out.


    ¡ª Faster, let¡¯s go! ¡ª Someone shouted, and I grabbed Shizuku¡¯s hand and ran with her, not looking back.


    When we finally returned, tired, we sat down on the ground and sighed in relief.


    ¡ª Haa! Damn it, what was that? When will that witch die? ¡ª Risell cursed.


    ¡ª We know about Kaden, but what happened with you two? Why is Aenari covered in blood, and Shizu¡¯s dress is torn?


    We nodded at Rena, and she explained everything in detail.


    Shizu felt embarrassed by her friends¡¯ reactions, but didn¡¯t know where to hide.


    ¡ª Aenari, why did you treat Shizu so badly? ¡ª Risell said, with some anger.


    ¡ª I apologized for what happened.


    ¡ª Yeah, but you¡¯re the one who put her in that situation.


    ¡ª You really think so? ¡ª I calmly responded.


    A small spark of discontent flared between us. The others shook their heads and decided to ease the tension.


    ¡ª Enough, both of you. We have a good harvest. Kaden and I managed to catch two chickens, maybe we should celebrate?


    ¡ª Utsin¡¯s right. Both of you, stop. ¡ª The girls nodded in agreement.


    ¡ª Risell, I don¡¯t blame Aenari. You should calm down, ¡ª Shizu spoke in Aenari¡¯s defense.


    Meanwhile, the day was coming to an end.


    Upon hearing Shizu¡¯s response, Risell snorted, adjusted his clothes, and sat down in the back.


    Looking away from Risell, Elin said, ¡ª Guys, I think we should go our separate ways.


    ¡ª Either way, today was crazy, ¡ª Rena said, and everyone agreed.


    While the others discussed what to do with the catch, I approached Shizu, looked her in the eyes, and said, ¡ª It seems I ruined your dress.


    Shizu adjusted her dress and slightly shook her head. Too many thoughts were anxiously piling up in her mind, but she tried to ignore them so as not to distract herself from the moment.


    Meeting my gaze, Shizu¡¯s cheeks began to turn red, and her eyes darted around in every direction.


    Looking at her behavior, Elin was surprised.


    ¡ª Shizu, are you okay? You¡¯re all flushed.


    ¡ª It¡¯s... Aenari...


    ¡ª Huh? Does this have anything to do with him? Rena was greatly surprised, and the others were puzzled.


    While she was gathering her thoughts, a light summer breeze passed, carrying fallen leaves with it.


    This scene felt painfully familiar ¡ª I thought for a second.


    Gathering her courage and clenching her little fists, Shizu blurted out:


    ¡ª Aenari, I... I like you!


    It seemed that all her strength had gone into this declaration, as everyone noticed her trembling. She looked as though she feared her words would crash against a cold wall.


    ?I don¡¯t want to just be a friend anymore. I want to always be by his side.? Shizu¡¯s inner monologue was full of fears.


    ¡ª What?


    ¡ª Huh? I didn¡¯t hear you?? The others were stunned, and Risell looked like he was in pain.


    Of course, Aenari noticed it too and, smiling to himself, thought, ¡ª Well, well.


    In reality, Aenari was shocked by this turn of events. And there was a good reason for that. This was the first time someone had confessed to him.


    From such an unexpected moment, Aenari felt dizzy.


    ¡ª Aenari, are you alright? ¡ª Utsin asked, worried.


    Shizu, noticing how Ao irritably grabbed his face, was frightened.


    ¡ª Is he mad at me? ¡ª Shizu asked with a trembling voice, her heart racing in anticipation.


    ¡ª Aenari, what''s wrong with you? ¡ª Rena asked, now noticing the situation.


    ¡ª I''m doing fine. Just a little dizzy, that''s all.


    ¡ª You should be more careful.


    ¡ª It''s nothing, it¡¯s not the first time this happens.


    Then, when Ao lifted his head, he saw Shizu in complete confusion.


    "Looks like she misunderstood me because of my recent actions."


    ¡ª Shizu, ¡ª I exhaled, catching my breath. ¡ª Tell me, is this some kind of game?


    Shizu clenched her fists, gritting her teeth and avoiding Aenari''s gaze. She shook her head negatively.


    Ao looked back, not believing his ears. All this time, he had felt some strange tension around her, but... out loud?


    It seemed as though time had frozen in anticipation. Only the beating of hearts echoed inside, drowning out even the sounds of the wind and birds.


    Finally, stepping closer to her, I replied gently, looking into her eyes:


    ¡ª I love you too, Shizu.


    These words sparked a wave of different emotions in Shizu.


    Gathering her thoughts, Aenari hugged her.


    She buried her face in his chest, looking cute as she did so.


    Thanks to the fact that she buried herself into him, no one could see her tears of happiness.


    At that moment, Risell was very frustrated, though he tried not to show it.


    ¡ª Shizu, you... you¡¯re astonishing today. ¡ª The others remarked, their eyes wide in surprise.


    They were so stunned they were speechless.


    After a short conversation, the group began to head home.


    Not wanting to be the typical schoolboy, I smiled and suggested walking her home.


    ¡ª Shizu, shall we go?


    ¡ª Um, yeah.


    On the way back, we didn''t talk much. This was because we both needed time to process everything that had just happened.


    After walking with her for a while, we soon arrived. Shizu pointed to her house with her hand, though it wasn¡¯t necessary. Her home was large, indicating her wealth.


    To my surprise, in the memories of the previous owner, he hadn¡¯t visited her often. Though I had an idea why that was.


    ¡ª Here we are, Shizu, ¡ª I smiled at her.


    ¡ª Mm... thank you, Aenari, ¡ª Shizu replied, slightly stammering, holding onto her dress with one hand and avoiding my gaze.


    ¡ª Shizu, I''m truly glad that you trusted me, ¡ª I said softly, noticing her embarrassment.


    ¡ª Uh-huh.


    After saying goodbye, I slowly made my way home.


    ?Well, this day was truly unusual,? ¡ª I thought as I walked home.


    Now I had something more than just friendship with Shizu. In my new life, this was probably the first step toward something real and important... I hope?


    This world is incredibly colorful, I thought, looking at the massive trees and plants along the way home.


    The trees grew in harmony with nature, in a smooth and well-planned order. And since autumn was coming, soon the world would be painted in various colors.


    By chance, I stumbled upon an apple tree I had missed before.


    However, instead of bright red apples, the tree bore dark blood-red fruit. If it weren¡¯t for the healthy color of the leaves and branches, one might think something was seriously wrong with this tree.


    Plucking a fruit, Aenari decided to try it immediately. After taking a bite, a thin stream of red juice dripped down Ao¡¯s lips.


    Did I make a mistake?

 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 strangely didn¡¯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?


    ¡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.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡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 politely, Alicia left the room. Afterward, I undressed and stepped into the bath.


    While I was washing, Tina noticed several small wounds on my leg.


    ¡ª You''re injured again. Who did this? ¡ª Tina asked with a hint of anger in her voice.


    ¡ª Mom, it¡¯s my own fault. I got these wounds because of my own carelessness.


    ¡ª Didn''t you say you''d take better care of yourself? ¡ª she asked, her concern evident.


    ¡ª I remember, but it¡¯s impossible to avoid injuries all the time, I replied with understanding.


    Seeing my awareness, she gently patted my head and healed my wounds using her healing magic.


    As her magic touched me, a warm sensation spread over my leg, lingering for a moment before fading away.


    After about ten minutes, I stepped out of the bath, feeling refreshed. A light steam rose from my body.


    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 ¡ª why? The answer is simple ¡ª this 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.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    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: 40


    MP: 60


    Strength: 2


    Agility: 4


    Intelligence: 12


    Endurance: 8


    [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.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡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.

 Chapter 7. A present from Santa?

    It was the 30th day of the third month of winter.


    Guess what day it is today? Woo-hoo, that¡¯s right! It¡¯s my birthday today. But since the New Moon Year starts tomorrow, my birthday was moved to the 31st.


    I happened to be born on December 30th, just before midnight, but there wasn¡¯t enough time ¡ª only the length of a single incense stick ¡ª to make it. This left my parents upset. I remember my father even hinting to my mother that, had she acted differently, she might have managed to give birth on time.


    Listening to their strange conversation at the table and the enthusiasm with which they told the story, it was quite the spectacle. Aenari couldn¡¯t help but reassess, given how easily they chatted about such things.


    Tomorrow, we had decided to go shopping together. For some reason, Alfred joined us. When I asked why, he just pointed to Akano, puzzled.


    I found this strange, but not that unusual. It must be that my father had some task for him.


    Not waiting for them, I stepped outside. The winter here was like something out of a fairy tale. Every breath I took came out as steam. The cold air and the stillness of the molecules made this visible. Due to the temperature difference, the warm air I exhaled froze quickly, turning into visible vapor. The remaining moisture condensed into water droplets.


    It''s strange that I think about such things.


    While I was lost in my thoughts, the others were waiting for me.


    ¡ª Little Ao, we¡¯re waiting for you! ¡ª called my mother, waving her hand.


    I nodded and went over to them. We then headed for the market together.


    On the way, we encountered crowds of people. The festive atmosphere was palpable in the air. Laughter, bright colors, the smell of freshly baked goods ¡ª all of this warmed the hearts of the residents on a cold winter''s day.


    Soon enough, we arrived. The Remire family was bustling with activity. Of course, it wasn¡¯t as decorated as in my old world. It was a little disappointing, but not too much. Here, they had their own winter crafts and decorations. I had anticipated this, and now it was clear that the people were happy with the changes.


    ¡ª Older sister, have you ever seen crystal magic candles used like this?


    ¡ª They really are amazing! ¡ª the girl, about seventeen years old, nodded.


    ¡ª Grandpa, what are these ice sculptures? ¡ª asked a little girl, pointing with interest.


    ¡ª Let me think. I¡¯m not mistaken, right? These are snowflake shapes, but they¡¯re carved out of ice. They¡¯ve been outlined with snow silk, with some branches of fir trees and golden bells added. How unusual! Ho-ho!


    ¡ª My master, it seems everyone is pleased with these changes for the New Moon Year, - the butler remarked with approval.


    ¡ª Indeed, ¡ª i replied.


    Tina and Akano were also pleasantly surprised. When they learned I was the organizer, they were doubly surprised. They looked at me as if they were seeing me for the first time. But that¡¯s only half of it. At night, every corner would glow thanks to the pelts of various small animals and insects that glow only at night. We made various shapes, such as pinecones, stars, garlands, and of course, there were lollipops. In the end, we all did our best by the end of the month.


    In a Christmas mood, my mother and I started buying food and fruits, while my father and Alfred went ahead.


    By the way, I also found pineapple, mandarins, pomegranates, and so on here.


    After purchasing what we needed, we waited for their return, while also looking around.


    ¡ª Mom, where are the groceries we bought? ¡ª i asked, looking around confusedly.


    ¡ª Oops! They¡¯re in my spatial ring, which can hold a small number of items. Convenient, isn¡¯t it? ¡ª Tina explained with a smile.


    ¡ª Yeah, it looks nice too, ¡ª I replied.


    Now I understood why everyone was staring at us with hungry eyes. It must be expensive if you judged by the reactions of the locals.


    ¡ª For some reason, they¡¯re not here yet. Let¡¯s get you some sweets.


    ¡ª Okay. So we approached a stall selling a variety of sweets.


    An elderly woman, seeing us, exclaimed, ¡ª It¡¯s Lady Tina herself! It¡¯s a pleasure to see you!


    ¡ª Hello! Aunt Felen, ¡ª Tina warmly greeted her in response.


    The owner of the stall was Aunt Felen, whom my mother knew well. Upon seeing us, she was about to give us some sweets for free, but Tina was not one to accept charity and preferred to pay.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    While my mother was talking, I chose a lollipop for myself. I picked a nine-colored one shaped like a kirin. After trying it, I was pleased, as it tasted very nice.


    While we were looking around, suddenly there was a muffled explosion from the perimeter.


    ¡ª Bdoof!


    Then, black smoke started to billow from the explosion site. It was probably something like a smoke bomb, Aenari analyzed.


    Moments later, from the smoke, the culprit of all this emerged, scaring the residents even more. He wore a black, slightly torn cloak with a hood that obscured his face.


    Captain, he¡¯s coming! ¡ª one of the guards shouted.


    The captain immediately took control of the situation, loudly commanding, ¡ª Don¡¯t panic! Suppression barrier, quickly!


    The so-called suppression barrier was a scroll created by mages that could release a spell when used.


    Meanwhile, the guards filled the barrier with their mana, which could easily suppress someone up to the first-tier rank. But for some reason, the barrier had minimal effect on him, and he seemed to be moving even faster, heading straight toward us.


    Two guards, channeling mana into their weapons, prepared to meet him, but the rebel didn¡¯t hesitate.


    ¡ª You think you can stop me? ¡ª he sneered, using his skill.


    ¡ª Blood wounds, murderous skill!


    ¡ª Puchi!


    With that sound, two guards fell, clutching their slashed throats. Blood gushed from their necks, instantly staining the snow red. A sickening, gurgling sound echoed through the air, as their bodies convulsed.


    In haste, Tina activated an enhancement spell ¡ª our bodies immediately filled with strength, as if covered by an invisible armor. But she didn¡¯t stop there; she uttered words to activate a second protective skill.


    After finishing off the two guards, the man took a deep breath. Steam billowed from his mouth, thickening in the cold air ¡ª this was a clear sign of an impending attack.


    ¡ª Damn it! ¡ª Ao swore in frustration.


    Meanwhile, he disappeared from sight, quickly bypassing the guards and reappearing four yards from me.


    In his hand, he held a hidden dagger. It wasn¡¯t clear how we had offended him, but he was intent on killing us. And he was resolute!


    Cursing his fate, Aenari tried to dodge to the side. But the cold gleam of the dagger betrayed the difficulty of avoiding injury.


    Aenari¡¯s heart pounded rapidly, and his reflexes were clouded by fear. All he could do was grit his teeth, hoping to survive.


    The man in the black cloak began working with his daggers. Just before the moment of death, he suddenly crouched and jumped forward, using his body¡¯s inertia to help him move at an unimaginable speed, disappearing from sight.


    Then came the sound ¡ª Zang! It was Akano. He had used his skill and thrown his sword straight into the assassin¡¯s neck, but the man sensed the danger, ducked sharply, and managed to evade it. Realizing the threat from Akano, the man in the black cloak chose to dodge and flee instead of continuing the kill. The sword embedded into a tree, making it shake violently, causing all the accumulated snow on the branches to fall, creating a snowstorm. It was a breathtaking sight. Of course, the assassin could have simply dodged, but he felt something was off, and it became clear that he had developed keen instincts.


    Then, Aenari regained his composure. He froze, stretching out his left hand, ready to sacrifice it to save his life. Of course, he was driven to such desperation, but even then, his chances of survival were 1 in 10.


    Taking a deep breath, Aenari noticed an unusual ring lying on the ground. He remembered how the assassin had crouched suddenly to use a leg technique and realized that the ring had probably fallen out of his pocket. The abrupt stop had caused the object to continue moving due to inertia and slip out. Picking it up, Aenari hid it back in his pocket, silently thanking his enemy for this unexpected gift. I know, it could¡¯ve ended worse, but thanks to the sudden risk, I got a gift from an evil Santa.


    While Aenari was pleased with his gift, Tina recovered and looked at me.


    ¡ª Are you hurt? Does anything hurt? ¡ª she asked anxiously.


    ¡ª I¡¯m okay, Mom. He didn¡¯t do anything to me.


    As we were talking, chaos ensued. We decided to head home. Since I was still six years old, Alfred, picking me up, carried me on his back. We didn¡¯t know who else might attack, and if anything happened, Tina and Akano could react.


    This time, we got home without incident, and only once inside could we finally relax.


    ¡ª Dad, who was that?


    ¡ª That was a hired assassin. They¡¯ll take any job if the reward is high enough and the risks are minimal.


    ¡ª Why is...


    ¡ª I know you want to discuss everything in detail, but later. Okay?


    ¡ª Uh-huh. ¡ª I could only agree.


    ¡ª Good thing we made it in time. It was close, ¡ª Akano sighed in relief.


    Tina, ordering Alfred to prepare a bath, sat down next to me and hugged me tightly. We sat like that until Alfred announced the bath was ready.


    After the bath, I asked Alicia to bring me books about herbs and plants, and mentioned making fruit tea.


    She found two books for me. Both were for basic introduction. Books in this world ranged from one to a thousand pages. Yes, there were even books with just one page.


    ¡ª What nonsense is this? ¡ª was Aenari¡¯s reaction when he found out from Alicia.


    Later, everyone started having dinner, discussing the attack from earlier. After learning the latest news, Alfred shared that the assassin in the dark cloak was from an underground organization called the Crimson Moon. There were many other smaller groups, but in the northern continent, it was the leading one. The Crimson Moon started operating 41 years ago. Rumor had it they had been gathering power for something grand. If the rumors were true, their leader was a third-tier assassin, and that instilled fear in many. So, even when thefts or murders occurred at the hands of these people, the local authorities did little to intervene. Who would risk their skin for a person already dead? Few, or those with a hero complex.


    After discussing tomorrow¡¯s plans, I rubbed my eyes and went upstairs to my room on the fifth floor. Alicia followed me, holding a mug in her hands.


    Meanwhile, in the living room:


    ¡ª Are we really going to keep putting little Ao at risk like this? When will it stop? Maybe we should move to the kingdom or a nearby city, where we wouldn¡¯t have to worry about such incidents?


    ¡ª We can''t move for now. We need Ao to finish our family school in three years and get the seal. Without the pass seal, he won¡¯t be accepted anywhere and could remain just a commoner. As for the academies in the kingdom, even if we sell all our treasures, it would last at most three months. We would be forced to work like slaves, and I don¡¯t want that life for you or Ao.


    ¡ª I understand all of that, but isn''t there a school in the kingdom that teaches the basics of magic? Maybe we could arrange for our little Ao to enroll and study there.


    ¡ª Unfortunately, it¡¯s not that simple. Yes, their education and skills are at a different level, but the requirements are strict too. You know that already. Don¡¯t worry, if anything strange happens, we will leave, no matter the situation.


    ¡ª Since you say that, I agree.


    Forgetting the time, they sat before the fireplace for a long while, partly talking, partly admiring the fire in silence.


    Today had been a full day. Becoming absorbed in a book about the origin of our kingdom, I didn''t even realize when I fell asleep.


    The candles continued to burn, filling the room with a soft warmth. In any case, the day had come to an end.

 Chapter 8. New Moon Year!

    31st day of the 3rd winter month.


    New Year! Although it is called the "New Moon Year," it changes annually depending on the moon.


    When I woke up in the morning, I opened the window. Cold air mercilessly invaded my room, instantly cooling it. Everything outside was covered in snowflakes. Numerous icicles hung from the tree branches, and the ground was blanketed with snowdrifts.


    At least there¡¯s no blizzard today ¡ª that¡¯s something to be happy about.


    Last night, I fell asleep with a book in my hands. I wasn¡¯t covered by my blanket, but I could feel that someone had gently tucked me in. Most likely, Alicia checked on me during the night.


    I didn¡¯t invite friends for my birthday, nor did I mention it to anyone. Since no one asked, I didn¡¯t see the need to bring it up. Still, should I have told them and invited everyone? For some reason, I kept overthinking this, unsure of what I should have done. After all, in my past life, I never dealt with situations like this.


    This world surprises me with its tradition of celebrating birthdays only once every few decades, to avoid them becoming tedious, since lifespans here are so much longer.


    If even mortals celebrate this way, then the ancient monsters probably do so every few centuries. After all, they¡¯re freakin'' wizards ¡ª nothing more to say about that.


    Almost forgot. Remembering the ring, I took it out and began examining it. It was made from underground ore the color of steel, inlaid with a purple amethyst carved with peculiar patterns. From the base of the amethyst, a violet glow emanated, slowly filling the ring''s engravings in a clockwise motion.


    I wanted to interact with it immediately and see what it held. But what if it was dangerous? Aenari didn¡¯t intend to take risks when he wasn¡¯t certain about the outcome. After all, he understood he wasn¡¯t in some typical light novel or story where the protagonist always gets lucky, constantly risking their life for a random girl or a stranger they met yesterday.


    Unfortunately, in reality, things work differently. Aenari wouldn¡¯t be surprised if a reincarnator acting that way got themselves killed within six months.


    Shaking off unnecessary thoughts, Aenari decided to learn more about the spatial ring before putting it on his finger.


    Two people came to mind who might be able to help him.


    Time for breakfast.


    During the meal, Aenari asked his question:


    ¡ª Mom, can you tell me how to use a ring like yours?


    ¡ª I can, but why do you want to know? ¡ª Mom looked at me with curiosity.


    ¡ª I¡¯m just curious.


    Not that I don¡¯t trust them, but I¡¯d like to see what¡¯s inside first. It feels like finding a treasure chest ¡ª he-he.


    ¡ª Very well, ¡ª Tina agreed.


    ¡ª To open a low-grade spatial ring, you¡¯ll need mana. There are, however, several factors: the density of mana and the quality of the ring¡¯s mana infusion. The better your mana control, the faster it will charge, giving you access to its contents. But if the ring is linked to a previous owner, they might have left a part of their essence behind, something akin to a protective lock. For example, if the person had an ill nature, the essence could attack your mental consciousness. If they were timid, it might even open the door for you.


    ¡ª How can I suppress a hostile essence?


    ¡ª You can gradually erode it with your own mana, but only when your mana reaches a level of 100 or higher. I must warn you, though ¡ª it will hurt. Your mana channels will be subjected to immense stress, and the hostile essence will attack your mental consciousness. There have been cases where people overestimated their willpower and ended up as fools. There are also specialists who can unlock such locks for a fee, but it¡¯s well worth it.


    ¡ª As expected, it¡¯s not that simple.


    So, I¡¯ll need to reach 20 MP (mana points) to accumulate 100 mana.


    ¡ª Yes, that¡¯s the minimum requirement for unlocking a low-grade spatial ring. Now hurry up and eat before your food gets cold, ¡ª Tina said with a caring smile.


    After breakfast, I wanted to play in the snow. Alicia happily helped me dress in warm clothes. She didn¡¯t come outside with me, as she had other matters to attend to.


    The cold was piercing, yet it seemed to barely bother me.


    Snowflakes slowly fell from the sky. Upon touching my hand, they melted quickly, turning into water.


    Walking to the backyard of my home, I decided to build a snowman near a tree that resembled a fir.


    I think it turned out pretty well!


    While I was honing my skills in this art, Tina and Akano watched from the second floor.


    ¡ª Darling, why is our Ao so adorable? ¡ª Tina exclaimed, brimming with affection.


    ¡ª Think about it ¡ª who else could he take after? ¡ª Akano replied with a sly smile, making Tina¡¯s grin widen.


    ¡ª No wonder the girls used to go crazy for you, ¡ª Tina teased, lightly punching him in the side.


    ¡ª Ouch!


    After a while, I noticed they were watching me but didn¡¯t let it show.


    ¡ª Shall we join him? ¡ª Tina suggested, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    ¡ª Why not, ¡ª Akano agreed with a smile.


    Hearing the crunch of snow, I turned around.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡ª Hm? Mom, Dad, ¡ª do you need something? ¡ª Aenari asked in surprise as they approached him.


    ¡ª We wanted to join you ¡ª didn¡¯t we, dear?


    Clearing his throat, Akano answered, ¡ª Exactly! After all, today is a special day ¡ª or have you forgotten?


    ¡ª Are you talking about the New Moon Year or my birthday?


    ¡ª Yes! Your very first birthday. I see you haven¡¯t forgotten. ¡ª Both of them spoke in sync, with a hint of surprise.


    Damn. Seems like the previous owner of this body was forgetful.


    Awkwardly smiling, I replied, ¡ª I did forget. But they didn''t buy it.


    ¡ª Well, you''re something else, not like your father, ¡ª my mother lovingly teased.


    ¡ª And when was I ever forgetful?


    They began to bicker, and I realized this day would remain etched in my heart.


    ¡ª Little Ao, what are you thinking about?


    ¡ª Nothing. I''m starting to feel cold. Shall we go back inside?


    ¡ª Ha-ha! Wait a little longer. We have a surprise for you!


    ¡ª My dear, you''ll go first! ¡ª My mother shot my father a sharp glance in response.


    ¡ª My little Ao, here, this is for you.


    It was a chain with circular links and a small sun charm. On its reverse side was an etched magical symbol that radiated warmth. After letting her place it on my wrist, I allowed her to hug me for as long as she wanted. My way of showing gratitude.


    Father, in turn, gave me a set of clothing with light armor. Hardly proper armor, but better than nothing. Tailored to my size, it could easily be concealed under ordinary clothes. Movement and turns caused almost no discomfort, which surprised me.


    After sincerely thanking them, I hurried inside ¡ª my body was growing numb from the cold.


    Mother and Father, admiring their child''s craftsmanship, nodded approvingly and happily followed me indoors.


    While I was chatting about random things with Alfred, my mother and the servants were preparing a feast.


    Finishing the second book on herbs, I glanced at the clock. It was half past six. I¡¯d learned about a hundred different herbs, the most common ones found on the northern continent. As for rare ones...


    ¡ª Young master, please come down. You''re expected.


    A voice at the door interrupted me, forcing me to set aside my thoughts, though it annoyed me slightly. Tidying myself up, I began descending the stairs with a satisfied smirk ¡ª what could fate have in store for me?


    With Alicia, I went to the living room, where we gathered around the festive table. To our surprise, all the candles suddenly went out, and silence enveloped the room. Only the faint whistle of the wind broke it. Alicia shrank in fear, but I tried to appear calm in front of my parents.


    Without much delay, the doors burst open, and a loud chorus of voices exclaimed, "Happy Birthday!"


    Cheers and whistles erupted. Kazen and Utsin lifted me into the air, tossing me toward the ceiling. Even the girls couldn¡¯t resist joining the fun, laughing along.


    After a while, everyone settled down, and I began firing off questions.


    ¡ª How did you know today was my birthday?


    ¡ª Shizu told us everything. She found out from your mother this summer.


    ¡ª Aenari, why didn¡¯t you tell us? ¡ª Rena protested.


    ¡ª You never asked.


    If I dig deep, this was back in early spring when the previous owner of this body was still alive. Remembering how they''d truly forgotten back then, they began to apologize. I simply shook my head.


    As we chatted, the table was quickly laid.


    Alfred showed his culinary mastery, earning well-deserved praise.


    Sitting together, we talked about everything under the sun.


    ¡ª Have you heard about the Ice Phantom? ¡ª someone teased with a laugh.


    ¡ª What phantom? ¡ª Elin asked tensely.


    Though she seemed the most mature among us, now I saw that wasn¡¯t quite true.


    Risel and Utsin nodded to each other before excitedly telling the tale of the Ice Phantom, as if they''d planned it all along.


    With their sudden yelps and stories, Aenari laughed wholeheartedly, forgetting everything else.


    After enjoying the moment, they began handing out their gifts, which Aenari happily accepted.


    ¡ª Shizu, did you forget your gift? ¡ª Rena asked, noticing her silence.


    ¡ª It doesn''t matter. I¡¯m not friends with you just to get something in return, ¡ª Aenari said.


    Oh yes, lying ¡ª my old friend. Truth be told, I wanted something from her specifically. And why did I suddenly feel a lump in my throat?


    Hastily shaking her head, she replied, ¡ª It''s not time yet.


    To this, everyone nodded understandingly.


    *


    In this Realm, the day followed a 25-hour format instead of the usual 24. And now, there was only one hour left until the New Moon Year.


    Half an hour later, we hurried to gather, while Alfred and Alicia prepared a sky lantern for each of us. Tina and Akano helped us dress and clean up remnants of food or messy hair.


    With just minutes left until midnight, we held our wish lanterns, ready to light them.


    ¡ª The time has come! One by one, come to Tina; she will light your wish lanterns.


    I was the last.


    ¡ª Is everyone ready? Don¡¯t forget to make a wish and hold onto it with all your heart. One day, it will surely come true, you''ll see! ¡ª Akano declared confidently.


    ¡ª Yes! ¡ª everyone replied in unison.


    ¡ª Let¡¯s release them already; I can''t wait! ¡ª Utsin exclaimed impatiently.


    ¡ª Three, two, one!


    The wish lanterns floated upward slowly, surprisingly staying close together, as if holding hands. Smiling, we watched them ascend until they were out of sight.


    To everyone¡¯s surprise, Shizuku spoke up.


    ¡ª Brother Ao, close your eyes.


    ¡ª Brother Ao?! ¡ª the others exclaimed, while Tina just laughed. Akano, looking at her, smiled nervously.


    ¡ª Looks like the moment has come, ¡ª Aenari smiled, closing his eyes.


    Shizuku approached and tied something soft around him, muttering, ¡ª This is my gift for you. You can open your eyes now, she said shyly.


    Opening his eyes, Aenari saw her flushed face and shining eyes, waiting for praise. Noticing the gift, he realized it was a fluffy white scarf made from the fur of a snow fox ¡ª a rare species.


    ¡ª Huh? Shizu-chan, is this scarf made from that snow fox? ¡ª Akano asked skeptically.


    Ah yes, during the summer, Rena had accidentally mentioned the honorifics in front of the parents, and Kazen happily enlightened them.


    ¡ª Yes, Lord Akano. My mother and I decided to make it into a scarf, ¡ª Shizu confirmed.


    ¡ª Oh! Shizu-chan is so young and already knows how to sew! She''s adorable, too. How can anyone be so charming? ¡ª Tina gushed, hugging her.


    When Tina let go, Aenari stepped up to Shizu, gently patting her head.


    ¡ª Thank you for the gift, Shizu-chan. I¡¯ll treasure it, ¡ª Aenari said with a soft smile.


    ¡ª Mhm. ¡ª Shizu nodded gently, though inside, her heart was bursting with joy.


    ¡ª Why is Ao-kun so lucky? Not only does he look decent, but our lovely Shizu-chan adores him, ¡ª Utsin complained, clicking his tongue.


    ¡ª I feel the same, brother, ¡ª Kazen agreed.


    ¡ª He must¡¯ve stepped in something huge in his past life! There¡¯s no other explanation, ¡ª Risel added his two cents.


    Aenari felt a buzz within. Hadn¡¯t something like this happened to him in childhood?


    While everyone was enjoying themselves, Aenari tilted his head back to gaze at the sky, followed by Shizu. The night sky shimmered with faint glimmers.


    Could it be? The northern lights.


    Aenari froze, watching the dance of luminous ribbons. This natural magic was born from the meeting of solar winds and the atmosphere. Charged particles clashed with air molecules, creating this mystical glow high above.


    ¡ª Mom, Dad, have you ever seen anything like this? ¡ª Aenari asked, pointing. Everyone¡¯s gaze followed, their faces filled with awe.


    ¡ª My grandfather told me about it once, but to think it¡¯s so beautiful! ¡ª Akano marveled.


    ¡ª Truly! This is the most amazing sight I¡¯ve ever seen, ¡ª the others agreed, voicing their wonder.


    For some reason, the spectacle lasted only briefly before dimming and fading away.


    In my past life, I never witnessed such beauty. Watching it live is incomparable to seeing it on a screen, I mused.


    ¡ª I¡¯ve got it.


    ¡ª Little Ao? ¡ª Tina and the others looked at him, confused.


    ¡ª I¡¯ll call it the Northern Lights. What do you think?


    The term "aurora" was probably unknown to them, so it was simpler to name it after the northern continent. It made sense for the locals to accept it.


    ¡ª I told you, Brother Ao is a genius, ¡ª Kazen declared proudly.


    ¡ª Agreed, Ao is truly remarkable, ¡ª Elin and Rena nodded.


    ¡ª No arguments there. He takes after his father, ¡ª Akano added with multiple nods.


    The room fell silent as many skeptical looks turned his way. Tension filled the air as Tina glared at him with frosty disapproval.


    ¡ª Uh¡­ I was joking, ¡ª Akano scratched the back of his head awkwardly, though deep down, he didn¡¯t mean it.


    ¡ª Look! The moon is trembling! ¡ª someone exclaimed. Everyone turned their eyes to the night sky.

 Chapter 9. A Meeting Beneath the Scarf.

    The wind, which had died down a few hours ago, began to stir again, sending its cold gusts through the night and making the air even crisper.


    At the same time, something strange was happening with the moons. Each of them began to tremble, as if awakening from a deep slumber.


    The first moon slowly shifted clockwise, rotating 90 degrees and taking the place of the fourth. Following suit, the second moon replaced the first, while the others gracefully assumed their new positions. The entire process was synchronized, precise to the second, leaving no chance for collision.


    The kingdom¡¯s inhabitants had grown accustomed to this phenomenon, yet it still inspired awe. Habit might dull the wonder, but it could never extinguish it entirely. Even now, after years of observation, the true cause of this celestial dance remained a mystery.


    When the moons settled into their new positions, one of them bathed the night sky in a gentle green glow. Its light reflected off the snow, making the ground sparkle like tiny, scattered gemstones.


    The sight was enchanting, a reminder that even in the coldest, darkest corners of the world, a touch of magic could always be found.


    ¡ª This is the first New Moon Festival and birthday¡ªI¡¯ve ever celebrated like this. What about you all? Rena asked with a wistful sigh, glancing around.


    ¡ª Definitely unforgettable! Utsin chimed in enthusiastically. ¡°This day will stay with me forever.¡±


    ¡ª I¡¯d have to agree, Kazen added with a grin, bumping fists with Utsin.


    ¡ª Shizu-chan, shouldn¡¯t we tell Lady Tina about that incident? Rena teased, a sly smile playing on her lips.


    ¡ª Don¡¯t you dare! Shizu blushed furiously at the thought of what might happen if the story got out.L


    ¡ª Listen up, everyone! I¡¯ve got a story to share ¡ª


    ¡ª Rena, stop it, please! Shizu, her cheeks bright red, quickly moved to cover Rena¡¯s mouth.


    Their antics sent the group into peals of laughter.


    The parents, too, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the lively scene.


    As the old year slipped away and the new one began, we all bid farewell to the past with smiles, heading inside to escape the biting cold. It was too late to return home, and not entirely safe, so my mother offered our friends a place to stay for the night. They eagerly accepted, sending word to their families via the patrolling guards to ease any worries.


    The game hall, which had three rooms, became our temporary retreat. Utsin, Kazen, and Risell claimed one room, saying they had much to discuss. Mother initially planned to place the girls together, but she unexpectedly took Shizu with her.


    ¡ª What do you think, Rena? Where are they taking her? Elin asked, a hint of worry in her voice.


    ¡ª I wish I knew, Rena muttered, clearly intrigued.


    Meanwhile, Shizu couldn¡¯t hide her confusion.


    ¡ª Where are we going, Lady Tina? she asked, glancing suspiciously at the woman leading her.


    ¡ª You¡¯ll see soon enough, Tina replied with a sly smile, continuing up the stairs.


    When they reached Ao¡¯s room, Tina opened the door without knocking, catching him off guard.


    ¡ª Do you need something from me? ¡ª he asked cautiously.


    Yes, ¡ª Tina replied nonchalantly. Shizu wants to sleep here with you. You don¡¯t mind, do you?


    Ao gave her a look of mixed weariness and mild protest.


    ¡ª Alright, he agreed reluctantly. But there¡¯s only one bed here.


    ¡ª It¡¯s wide enough for the two of you, Tina said matter of factly before leaving. I¡¯ll bring her something to change into.


    Shizu stood awkwardly, avoiding his gaze.


    Brother Ao, are you upset? This wasn¡¯t my idea¡­


    It''s no big deal. I don¡¯t mind, ¡ª he reassured her. I¡¯m guessing this was Mother¡¯s doing.


    Despite his calm words, Shizu still seemed uneasy. To lighten the mood, Ao patted the space beside him.


    ¡ª Come on, lie down.


    Tina soon returned with a set of clothes, turned off the candles, and bid them goodnight with a parting comment:


    ¡ª Oh, by the way, that¡¯s your change of clothes.


    Both Ao and Shizu exchanged puzzled looks.


    Brother Ao, I¡­


    ¡ª Don¡¯t worry about it, he said gently, cutting her off.


    For a while, they lay in silence, neither able to sleep.


    ¡ª I can¡¯t fall asleep, ¡ª Shizu admitted softly.


    ¡ª Neither can I, Ao replied.


    Their eyes met in the dim light, and Shizu quickly looked away. Without thinking, Ao reached out and hugged her.


    ¡ª Hyah?! You startled me! ¡ª she gasped.


    ¡ª Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to, ¡ª he said, softly stroking her hair.


    ¡ª Can I ask what you wished for when you released your lantern?


    ¡ª I wished¡­ for us to always be together, ¡ª she whispered, her cheeks turning crimson.


    Ao smiled warmly.


    ¡ª Did you miss me? ¡ª he asked.


    Shizu hesitated before answering shyly, ¡ª A little¡­ And you?


    ¡ª That¡¯s a secret, ¡ª he teased.


    A faint, pleasant scent caught Ao¡¯s attention.


    ¡ª Hmm, Shizu, do you smell like¡­ fruit?


    ¡ª What? But I didn¡¯t eat anything like that before bed.¡±


    ¡ª Maybe everyone has their own natural scent, he mused, suggesting she test his.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡ª You smell like a fresh spring morning, ¡ª she murmured.


    ?So I¡¯m not imagining things.?


    Soon, sleep overcame them both, and they drifted off.


    Tina, peeking into the room to adjust their blankets, noticed their auras intertwined. She knew that soul scents only manifested between those bound by fate.


    Satisfied that all was well, she left with a smile, thinking:


    ¡ª Fruit and springtime¡­ how fitting.


    Morning Came.


    Alicia was busy cleaning the upper floors while other servants worked on the lower levels, assisting Alfred. At last, she reached her master''s room.


    ¡ª Young Master, may I come in and tidy up your room?


    Through his drowsiness, Aenari barely recognized the voice beyond the door. Half-asleep, he replied:


    ¡ª Come in.


    Alicia opened the door and froze in shock. Before her lay a scene she hadn¡¯t expected: Shizu was clinging tightly to Ao, her arms wrapped around him, and one of her legs draped casually across his stomach.


    ¡ª What the¡­?! - Alicia blurted out, covering her mouth with her hand.


    Aenari, now fully awake, quickly realized the situation but merely shrugged. He hadn¡¯t anticipated waking up like this either.


    Hearing Alicia¡¯s voice, Shizu opened her eyes, blinking to clear her mind. The moment she registered her position, her face turned bright red.


    ¡ª Uh¡­ - she began but, finding no words, quickly dove under the blanket.


    ¡ª Alicia? ¡ª Aenari questioned.


    ¡ª Young Master, but¡­ what if she had taken the blanket and you¡¯d caught a chill?


    ?Is that the best excuse she could come up with after thinking for a full minute?? Aenari was baffled.


    ¡ª You¡¯re overthinking it. It was just one night. Carry on with your cleaning; we¡¯ll be down shortly.


    Blushing slightly, Alicia offered:


    ¡ª Then allow me to help you dress and get ready.


    But Shizu suddenly exclaimed:


    ¡ª No, I¡¯ll help him myself! Lady Alicia, please continue with your work.


    Before Alicia could respond, Shizu grabbed Ao¡¯s hand and dragged him to another room along with his clothes.


    ¡ª Did she just outmaneuver me?! ¡ª Alicia muttered, staring after them in disbelief.


    ¡ª Alright, Brother Ao, you can undress now, ¡ª Shizu said, avoiding his gaze.


    ¡ª Already done, ¡ª he replied, slipping off his shirt and pajamas.


    Although Ao could easily dress himself, he decided to let Shizu help. Watching her overcome her nervousness and take initiative brought him a quiet sense of amusement.


    Once she finished helping him, Shizu began changing her own clothes. Beneath her top and light undergarments, her skin appeared soft and smooth. Ao couldn¡¯t resist lightly brushing his fingers against her stomach.


    ¡ª Aya?! Brother Ao! ¡ª Shizu squeaked, tensing up.


    Sorry, I couldn¡¯t help myself, ¡ª he said with a playful smile, but he stopped there and helped her finish dressing.


    After washing up, they headed downstairs, where the others had already gathered for breakfast.


    Hey, lovebirds, how was your night? ¡ª Rena teased, and Kazen added:


    ¡ª Yeah, Ao, share the details!


    Ao smirked.


    Sleeping in Shizu¡¯s arms was pure bliss.


    Not wanting to listen, Shizu covered her ears and stood behind Aenari.


    ¡ª Oh, our Ao is all grown up, ¡ª his father teased, pretending to wipe away an invisible tear.


    When breakfast was over, Akano stood and made an announcement:


    At the beginning of summer, enrollment will open for the Remire Family¡¯s Foundation School. Those of you aspiring to be mages may seize this opportunity. For those aiming to become warriors, come to me.


    Excited by the news, the group erupted into animated discussion. Ao, however, remained deep in thought.


    ?I have two months. I need to prepare.?


    While Aenari pondered, his friends even began to argue over their dreams and goals. Who wouldn¡¯t be thrilled when given a chance to pursue them?


    After breakfast, Alfred and I escorted everyone halfway home. When we reached Shizu¡¯s house, I tore a sheet from my notebook, handed it to her with instructions, and explained quickly. Finally, it was time to part ways for three weeks as planned.


    ¡ª Brother Ao, you must visit me after three weeks, or I¡¯ll come to you and make you pay! Hmph! ¡ª Shizu declared, crossing her arms and pursing her lips.


    As you wish, ¡ª Aenari replied with a smile. He leaned closer and gently kissed her forehead, to which she shyly responded with a quick peck on his cheek.


    See you soon, Brother Ao! ¡ª she called out happily, running into her house.


    ¡ª Alfred.


    ¡ª Yes, Young Master? ¡ª the servant answered promptly.


    ¡ª Not a word about what you¡¯ve seen.


    ¡ª Understood.


    Aenari nodded and, turning on his heel, began walking back.


    Meanwhile, in the Pagoda:


    ¡ª Do you know why I summoned both of you? ¡ª came the stern voice of the family head.


    ¡ª Honored Father, enlighten us! ¡ª Agro and Edan responded in unison, slightly bowing their heads.


    ¡ªIt is no secret that I am old. My time is coming to an end. I give you three years for one of you to prove yourself worthy of taking my place. There are a few tasks. Completing each will bring you closer to your goal, but failing even one will mean the end.


    The father raised his first finger:


    ¡ª First task: resolve the conflict with the Terran family.


    Then the next finger:


    ¡ª Second: earn the respect of every family member.


    And finally:


    ¡ª Third: achieve noticeable progress in your magical or physical rank within the allotted time. I warn you, any use of the treasury''s resources or attempts at deception will be punished by death. I trust you understand. Now leave me and do not disturb me further.


    ¡ªUnderstood! ¡ª the brothers replied and left the hall.


    ¡ª He issued an ultimatum, ¡ª Agro said irritably as he walked alongside Edan. If he were just a regular first-rank mage, I would have gotten rid of him long ago...


    ¡ª Eliminate him? Do you even realize how many hidden tricks he has up his sleeve? You don¡¯t even know a tenth of them, Edan smirked, adjusting his hair. You¡¯re a fool if you think you can outplay him so easily. If you decide on one of the tasks, send a courier. And don¡¯t make the wrong choice, ¡ª Edan warned before walking away.


    ¡ª Arrogant bastard! Agro hissed, clenching his fists. We¡¯ll see how long you can stay so smug.


    Back at home, Aenari sat down in his room to finalize his plan for the coming month.


    ?So, it¡¯s decided!?


    If I want to become a mage, flexibility and agility will be essential. Even if it¡¯s not critical, it¡¯s something I shouldn¡¯t neglect.


    Soon, he noticed that some memories from his past life seemed to be blocked, causing headaches.


    This must be a restriction of this world. Fine, I¡¯ll adapt. He smiled and continued writing in his notebook.


    Over the next two weeks, Aenari started rigorous training: morning runs, breathing exercises, stretching, and strength-building. By combining techniques and adapting them to his capabilities, he achieved noticeable progress in just two weeks.


    The second week had passed since I started my breathing exercises.


    A little about working with breath:


    Proper breathing itself is the foundation of almost all exercises. The essence of this technique is to help breathe more efficiently with less energy expenditure, and as a bonus, it strengthens the diaphragm and core muscles.


    Sitting in the lotus position, Aenari used diaphragmatic breathing while performing arm movements. As he inhaled, he slowly raised and lowered his arms while exhaling, not forgetting to return them to the starting position. Each exercise took Aenari up to ten minutes, allowing him to do it three to five times.


    On the first day, Aenari would practice, but on the second day, he let his muscles rest and recover, as it was important to know the limit. This alternating of exercises and rest continued throughout the second week.


    First day of the third week of spring.


    The snow had almost completely melted. The birds had begun to sing in their springtime melodies, signaling that the time had come.


    If Aenari had been very tired after his training during the first week, now it took half the effort, and thanks to proper breathing, energy was expended very sparingly. This body is really weak, considering these aren¡¯t the most difficult exercises, he noted to himself.


    Having gained experience, I learned to combine all three techniques in one session. The first thing to do was a warm-up at a slow pace. The second step was dynamic stretching along with diaphragmatic breathing, engaging muscles and joints, which served as the second phase of warming up for static stretching, which required warmed-up muscles for increased effectiveness. All of this took from thirty to forty minutes.


    Of course, Aenari could do more, but more doesn¡¯t always mean better.


    Three weeks later.


    Finally, the time had come to visit Shizu. Aenari approached her house, watching as she was performing her stretches.


    ¡ª Ha! Just a little more... ¡ª Shizu spoke with concentration.


    ¡ª Oh, seems I¡¯m interrupting, ¡ª Aenari chuckled. His voice made the girl turn around.


    ¡ª Ao-kun! You really came! ¡ª she exclaimed, rushing to him. Upon seeing the white scarf he was wearing, her smile brightened even more.


    And it wasn¡¯t just because of the scarf itself. It was tied exactly as it had been that bright night: wrapped twice around the neck, with the first end freely hanging down the right side of his chest, while the second, draped over his left forearm, either went back or slightly swayed to the side as the wind caught it, moving in rhythm with its breezes.


    ¡ª Of course. I promised. So, how¡¯s the training going?


    ¡ª I¡¯m already at the second stage! This is amazing, Ao-kun! Even dad was surprised when he saw it. Though he tried it and immediately gave up, saying it wasn¡¯t for him.


    ¡ª That¡¯s true. ¡ª It¡¯s definitely harder for adults to hone agility. But for now, we¡¯re not restricted by that.


    ¡ª Oh, by the way, you¡¯re doing great. ¡ª Aenari said, patting her on the head.


    Shizu lowered her gaze shyly, but her face shone with pride from the praise.


    Shizu silently enjoyed his affection. She really had been trying hard and had even asked her father, Aren, to help her learn flips and other exercises.


    ¡ª Shizu, would you like to go for a walk? ¡ª Aenari suddenly suggested.


    ¡ª Uh-huh! ¡ª she responded cheerfully. ¡ª Where are we going?


    ¡ª You¡¯ll see. ¡ª Ao smiled mysteriously, slipping his hands into his pockets.

 Chapter 10. Teaching a Lesson.

    ¡ª Shizu, would you like to take a walk? Today, I¡¯ve decided to spend all my time with you, ¡ª Ao said warmly, looking at her with a gentle smile.


    ¡ª Mm-hmm!


    She was so delighted that she nodded three times. Hand in hand, we strolled leisurely through a modest garden, chatting about trivial things.


    On the way, we came across a frosty apricot tree. One of its fruits had fallen nearby and split into two halves. As the name suggests, the apricot tree bears fruit only in winter. The most fascinating thing about this fruit is that it doesn¡¯t freeze, even during the harshest cold spells.


    Picking up the fruit, I examined it. Its flesh was a coral color with a round pit, and the skin was semi-translucent. I had read about this tree in the ?Guide to the Northern Continent?, but I had never seen one in person.


    ¡ª Shizuku, shall we gather some? ¡ª Aenari suggested, his gaze still fixed on the tree.


    Noticing my interest, she immediately agreed.


    ¡ª Okay, but how are we going to do it?


    ¡ª It¡¯s simple. I¡¯ll lift you up, and you¡¯ll pick some fruits.


    Blushing slightly, she eventually agreed, and we got to work. I lifted her so she could reach the branches. Thanks to my training, it was no effort for me, and Shizu felt as light as a feather.


    ?By the way, she¡¯s so soft¡­ Ugh, stop thinking about that!? I mentally scolded myself, trying to stay focused.


    Shizu picked several fruits and, once back on the ground, handed them to me. She knew it was only thanks to me that she¡¯d been able to reach them.


    ¡ª Here, these are for you, ¡ª I said, offering her three fruits and keeping two for myself.


    ¡ª No, big brother Ao, take three. Two are enough for me, ¡ªshe protested.


    Not wanting to argue, I simply sliced the third fruit in half and held out a piece to her.


    ¡ªTry it. Is it good?


    ¡ª A little¡­ ¡ª she murmured, shyly averting her gaze.


    ?She doesn¡¯t want to admit she likes it, haha! I thought, suppressing a laugh.?


    We continued our walk, talking about all sorts of things until I suggested, ¡ª Let¡¯s go to a certain place.


    I took her to a small yet well-known establishment called Melting Sweetness.


    ¡ª Wow! Big brother Ao, isn¡¯t this place too expensive? ¡ª Shizu asked worriedly.


    ¡ª Haha, it¡¯s my treat. Don¡¯t worry about it.


    ¡ª Okay.


    The interior of the shop filled her with a light sense of wonder. We chose a corner seat with a good view of the entire room.


    Soon, a maid approached us.


    ¡ª Young master, young miss, what would you like to order? Here¡¯s the menu.


    We looked over the menu. I chose a tangerine dessert and fruit juice.


    ¡ª Shizu, have you picked something? If it¡¯s hard, I can help.


    ¡ª Really? Thanks, she replied.


    Together, we settled on a berry dessert that resembled blackcurrants.


    ?Hmm, it¡¯s quite convenient to have status and influence. Of course, it¡¯s all thanks to my grandfather and father; otherwise, we¡¯d probably have been thrown out of here.?


    While waiting for our order, we continued talking, learning new things about each other. We truly looked like siblings, though calling us a couple seemed premature.


    Little did Shizu and Ao know that soon, a pair with ill intentions would come to visit them.


    Meanwhile, in another part of the settlement:


    ¡ª Are you absolutely sure they went in there? ¡ª the boy with a neat appearance and a haughty voice pointed toward the building.


    ¡ª Yes, Lord Zen! ¡ª the passersby nodded quickly.


    ¡ª If he¡¯s in there, let¡¯s go. ¡ª Rendo said with anticipation.


    Opening the doors, they looked around, ignoring the maid¡¯s greeting, which left her momentarily stunned.


    ¡ª Lord Zen, Lord Rendo, let me ask again. Can I assist you with anything? ¡ª the maid inquired respectfully.


    ¡ª No need. ¡ª Zen waved her off dismissively.


    ¡ª Oh, found him! Zen, follow me.


    Aenari noticed their approach and kept his gaze steady, holding eye contact until they came close enough.


    ¡ª Were you looking for me? ¡ª Ao asked with a smirk.


    Rendo, though it took him a moment, noticed that Aenari had changed.


    ?What¡¯s with him? The old him wouldn¡¯t even dare lift his gaze.?


    Rendo got lost in thought until Shizu¡¯s voice snapped him back to the moment.


    ¡ª What do you want? ¡ª Shizu asked with a hint of anger, rising from her seat.


    Zen was equally shocked, especially upon seeing Aenari alive and unharmed.


    ?He was definitely dead! I personally checked his pulse.?


    ¡ª Why the face? Like you¡¯ve seen a ghost. ¡ª Ao teased, his tone mocking.


    ¡ª Hmph! ¡ª Zen scoffed, recovering his composure. With disdain, he said ¡ª Shizuku, since when did you start hanging around with this idiot?


    ¡ª It does not concern you. Apologize to Brother Ao for what you just said!


    ¡ª And why should I? Is he some kind of hero?


    ¡ª A hero? Hahahaha! Brother Zen, don¡¯t make me laugh like that. Hey, idiot! We¡¯re taking little Shizuku with us, so ¡ª


    Smack!


    A loud slap landed square on Rendo¡¯s ugly face, leaving a vivid red handprint. The sight provoked laughter and shock among the onlookers.


    ?Aenari, it seems you won¡¯t leave unscathed today,? Zen thought maliciously.


    Skillfully grabbing Shizu¡¯s hand, Aenari calmly left, warning ¡ª If you dare to follow me, I¡¯ll teach you a lesson!


    Very confident! That was the first impression of the nearby bystanders.


    ¡ª Hey, is that Lord Akano¡¯s son?


    ¡ª Doesn¡¯t seem like the playboy the rumors made him out to be.


    ¡ª Aenari! I¡¯ll tear your ass apart, bitch! ¡ª cursing viciously in front of everyone, an enraged Rendo followed out.


    He still couldn¡¯t believe the turn of events. How had this cowardly playboy dared slap him ¡ª a man a head taller?


    ?And since when did he get so bold? Is he drunk??


    ¡ª Wait, Brother Rendo, I¡¯m coming with you! ¡ª Zen shouted, rushing after him.


    ¡ª Gentlemen, shall we take a look? This might be a show we won¡¯t see again. ¡ª suggested a man in his fifties.


    ¡ª Yes! Let¡¯s go, quickly!


    Whoever was curious followed to witness the unfolding drama.


    Aenari stood nearby with Shizu, his face grim.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Seeing his expression, Shizu became worried and suggested ¡ª Brother Ao, there are two of them, and they¡¯re taller than you. Let¡¯s leave.


    ¡ª Don¡¯t worry. Just trust me and watch. ¡ª Aenari said calmly, but there was a noticeable hidden pain in his voice. Mentioning his height was unnecessary.


    ¡ª Hahaha! You¡¯re joking! You really didn¡¯t run? ¡ª Rendo laughed, disbelief written all over his face as he emerged.


    Ignoring his words, Aenari spoke with a condescending tone ¡ª If you kneel three times and beg pitifully for forgiveness, I might consider showing mercy.


    ¡ª You... ¡ª Rendo could barely believe his ears.


    Provocatively smiling, Ao continued to humiliate him in front of everyone, and Rendo finally snapped.


    ¡ª You bastard!


    Yelling, Rendo¡¯s rage boiled over as he charged forward.


    Though Aenari appeared calm, inside he was far from it. A mix of fear and unease gripped him tightly.


    ?Why do I feel so unsettled? No, this isn¡¯t the time to think about that.?


    Biting his lip, Ao snapped out of his thoughts due to the sudden pain. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.


    ?Judging by his weight and height, I shouldn¡¯t take the hit. Even though the armor will absorb the damage, he¡¯ll still crush me, leaving me in a helpless position.?


    And now, he was just three yards away from Ao.


    At that moment, Rendo leapt high into the air, spreading his arms wide, ready to slam down and choke him with sheer weight.


    ?This looks dangerous!? Ao thought, his expression turning serious.


    Seizing the moment, Ao jumped back and managed to dodge, but as if anticipating this, Rendo didn¡¯t stop. After landing, he immediately charged forward with a vile grin on his face.


    Unfazed, Ao assumed a stance, extending his right leg and firmly planting it. In quick succession, he leaned slightly forward and spun around, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick aimed at the fat man¡¯s face.


    And suddenly ¡ª Wham!!!


    The loud sound echoed across the square.


    Everyone fell silent, women and children gasping with mouths slightly open.


    ¡ª What is happening here!? Roaaargh! ¡ª roared Agro, like a wild beast, upon hearing the loud thud.


    Pushing through the crowd, he noticed his son, frozen on his knees. In the next second, he collapsed like a sack of shit, with such a crash that everyone around jumped in horror, and the stench of dust and filth hung in the air.


    Standing there with slightly disheveled hair, Ao declared, ¡ª I taught him a lesson on your behalf, ¡ª leaving the onlookers shocked and amazed.


    ¡ª He dared to insult Agro the Tyrant. He¡¯s done for now.


    ¡ª No doubt! No one has ever survived his wrath, especially after such insults.


    ¡ª You¡¯ve got a sharp tongue, brat. If that¡¯s the case, let me fix it and teach you a lesson in your father¡¯s name ¡ª heh-heh," Agro said, advancing menacingly.


    ?Damn it! I absolutely can¡¯t take this hit!?


    Ao understood his limits and prepared the protective charm he¡¯d been given. But before he could act, a familiar figure intervened.


    ¡ª Clang! Sparks flew.


    It was Akano.


    ¡ª Were you about to harm him? Or did I just imagine it?!


    ¡ª Don¡¯t joke like that, Lord Akano. I merely wanted to give him a little scare, I swear, ¡ª Agro said, trying to explain with a forced smile.


    ¡ª Is that so?


    Without warning, Akano infused his sword with magic and launched a counterattack.


    ¡ª Damn devil! Agro cursed aloud, but then ¡ª


    ¡ª Whoosh! A gust of wind swept everyone back.


    ¡ª Enough! said an elderly man with a raspy voice.


    ¡ª Agro, take your useless son and leave. This is your first warning. There won¡¯t be a second.


    ¡ª Yes, honored father!


    ¡ª Akano and Ao, follow me.


    ¡ª The rest of you, disperse.


    Though Akano was dissatisfied, he couldn¡¯t disobey. Internally, he decided to punish Ao during their next training sparring session.


    As we walked, I asked my father, ¡ª How did you know we were here?


    ¡ª My subordinates informed me. I instructed them to report anything concerning you. Fortunately, I was nearby. I wanted to intervene from the start, but when I saw you weren¡¯t panicking, I decided against it. I know you¡¯ve been secretly training for a month now, but I never imagined you had reached such a level of control over your body. For your age, that¡¯s impressive, ¡ª my father said, patting me on the shoulder.


    During the entire walk, my grandfather didn¡¯t say a word.


    Eventually, we entered the pagoda and sat down near a small table.


    ¡ª Honored father, may I ask why you brought us here?


    Not answering him right away, he decided to praise his grandson.


    ¡ª Aenari, that was a good strike.


    To which Ao simply remained silent.


    ¡ª As for why I brought you here, it¡¯s simple. Aenari, if you finish the last two years consecutively with top grades in our small school, I will grant you access to the family library. I don¡¯t think I need to tell you how important it is.


    I simply nodded in response.


    ¡ª Alright, let¡¯s get to the main point. I gave your foolish brothers a task, and if one of them completes it within three years, my position will be transferred to him without discussion. Today, I¡¯m going to announce this to everyone.


    ¡ª Ao, wait for me outside, I¡¯ll be there soon.


    ¡ª Alright. ¡ª With a bow, Aenari left them alone.


    Leaving the pagoda, Aenari spotted Shizuku.


    ¡ª Brother Ao! I was afraid you¡¯d be punished, did everything go well or was it postponed? ¡ª Shizu asked, worried.


    ¡ª Shizu-chan, you weren¡¯t with us. Did you sneak behind us?


    ¡ª Uh... yeah.


    Laughing at her antics, Aenari began to tell her about the conversation with his grandfather.


    ¡ª I¡¯m glad you¡¯re alright.


    ¡ª You don¡¯t need to worry about me ¡ª Ao patted her head.


    Then he added ¡ª Be careful with Rendo and Zen. They might try to harm you if they can¡¯t vent their anger on me. But I will do my best to prevent that. Because of me, you¡¯ve now run into trouble ¡ª Ao said with guilt.


    ¡ª It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll get stronger and beat them, you¡¯ll see!


    ¡ª Uh-huh, ¡ª he weakly smiled in response.


    Soon, after saying goodbye to Shizuku, I ended up at home.


    After taking a bath, I went downstairs to the living room, where father and Alfred were sitting.


    ¡ª Welcome back, young master. ¡ª Alfred greeted me.


    After listening to my account of the day, they nodded approvingly and praised me.


    ¡ª After what happened, Agro will certainly hold a grudge against you, my master.


    ¡ª Alfred is completely right. You should inform us of your actions or plans, so we can come to your aid if necessary. I think you understand everything, don¡¯t you?


    I nodded in response.


    ¡ª Alright, if that¡¯s the case. Now, let¡¯s get to the main point.


    ¡ª I see how diligently you¡¯ve been training up to this day, and that¡¯s certainly good. But, I¡¯ll be blunt, you don¡¯t owe us anything. Don¡¯t force yourself if you don¡¯t enjoy following the path of a mage or a warrior. In any case, we will accept you, even if you want to stay an ordinary person. Rest assured, we¡¯ll always support your choice ¡ª Akano patted me on the shoulder and went off to his business.


    After his departure, Alfred spoke up ¡ª My master, the thing is, Lord Akano thinks you¡¯re training to your own detriment. My lord will undoubtedly be happy if you follow in his footsteps and become a skilled warrior like him. But he also doesn¡¯t want you to become a warrior just because of his whim. And yes, he knows that you are more interested in magic ¡ª finishing his words, Alfred held his gaze on me for a couple of seconds.


    ¡ª Alfred.


    ¡ª I¡¯m listening, young master.


    ¡ª Bring me a cup of tea with berries to my room.


    ¡ª As you wish.


    Inside the infirmary at that time:


    ¡ª Mistress Tina, he won¡¯t make it now, but he¡¯ll die soon. You¡¯re not to blame for this. You¡¯ve already used up all your healing mana, but there¡¯s no result. If he had come earlier, there would have been a chance, but now...


    While Tina¡¯s assistant comforted her, she hated her helplessness. This feeling had always oppressed her, even to this day, as she still remembered those who had died because of her. If she hadn¡¯t gotten into that forest trouble, then Akano wouldn¡¯t have had to leave his zone. And then there was the recent accident with her only son.


    It seemed like this circle would never end.


    ?If I don¡¯t become stronger, I¡¯ll lose everyone close to me. But who will help me, a pathetic healer with nothing in her pockets...?


    In truth, they couldn¡¯t be called poor, but given the requirements to advance in class, it wouldn¡¯t even be enough to cover 2/5 of the whole journey.


    Starting this month, Tina and Akano would have to work all-out to save up for a rainy day. Before, they could work every other day, but now, with the current circumstances, things would have to change. Everyone felt that the coming years would be hard for all of them.


    Late evening.


    ¡ª Sitting at the table, Ao asked ¡ª Mom, you look tired, did something happen?


    ¡ª Nothing special, just a tough day. She didn¡¯t want to say that she couldn¡¯t save the patient due to her incompetence, even though it wasn¡¯t her fault.


    ¡ª Ao, are you wearing the light armor I gave you?


    ¡ª Yes, is something wrong?


    ¡ª You¡¯re right, don¡¯t take it off unless necessary. Your safety is important to me.


    ¡ª Understood.


    ¡ª Good. Now let¡¯s eat!


    ¡ª Enjoy your meal, everyone!


    For dinner, they had a grey rabbit, which is active during warm weather and burrows deep tunnels underground in winter to protect itself from the cold and other predators. The meat was cooked over a slow fire, wrapped in a thin layer of fat, with sliced vegetables shaped like rings, which looked very appetizing. After a hearty dinner, I was about to head to my room when I was asked a question.


    ¡ª Ao, you seemed to want to ask me something last time. Don¡¯t be shy, go ahead. I¡¯ll listen to you ¡ª Akano said enthusiastically.


    ¡ª Alright.


    ¡ª The first thing I want to know is: are there any body techniques or unique arts? And do they depend on class definitions?


    ¡ª Good question! ¡ª Akano was surprised for a moment, then continued: Actually, yes, but there are limitations. And not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance.


    ¡ª I¡¯d like to know which ones.


    ¡ª Quite simple. My class is Explosive Swordsman. As the name suggests, my specialty lies in delivering quick and precise strikes to weak points, and if you start studying my body techniques and combat skills, then your path to becoming an elementalist or an assassin will be closed.


    Also, there are people in this world with special gifts. Gifted ¡ª at least that¡¯s what they are called.


    They can play on two fronts, meaning they can have two or even more classes. Of course, you can simply not study any body techniques of archers or warriors, but the effectiveness of your moves and skills will be drastically reduced, making you weaker than someone who focuses on one class.


    So, you¡¯d better choose your class carefully.


    ¡°The doubts about class selection weren¡¯t in vain. If I want to succeed, I need to weigh everything carefully. But what if I try to find a balance?¡±


    ?As far as I know, my breathing exercises don¡¯t belong to any class, as they weren¡¯t made for mages or warriors, which is what calms me. It¡¯s kind of like laying the foundation that will ease the study of subsequent body techniques.?


    ¡ª Understood, Father. I¡¯ll think about it before making a decision.


    ¡ª Good. Your grandfather insists that you shouldn¡¯t rush. You still have plenty of time.


    Meanwhile, in the living room, Akano began talking about what happened after his son left:


    ¡ª Our little Ao beat Rendo?! Where did he learn to fight? ¡ª Tina was truly astonished.


    ¡ª I¡¯m not sure myself, but he¡¯s been training for a month now. I thought he was just strengthening his body, but apparently, it wasn¡¯t without combat techniques. You should¡¯ve seen that strike, and how Agro¡¯s son fell like a sack of manure! ¡ª Ha-ha-ha! ¡ª Akano laughed wholeheartedly.


    ¡ª Darling, this event definitely calls for a drink to celebrate!


    ¡ª Alicia, pour me the strong liqueur we recently bought from the merchant.


    ¡ª Yes, sir!


    ¡ª He really has changed. Not only has he become more serious and attentive, but he also stopped causing trouble. Before, he either got beaten by someone or injured himself due to carelessness. It¡¯s a bit sad, but I¡¯m glad that at least now he¡¯s started to take care of himself ¡ª Tina finally came to terms with his changes.


    ¡ª You¡¯re right, but I think it¡¯s for the best. I also believe he¡¯ll have a good future.


    ¡ª I support your faith in our little one!


    Meanwhile, in Aenari¡¯s thoughts.


    As he went to his room, he felt a swirl of questions in his mind. The path he would choose would determine his future, and perhaps the fate of others. But despite all the difficulties, he was ready to face them with the new possibilities ahead.

 Are you Deaf ?

    Two days had passed since the last battle.


    The fight with Rendo made me realize my weaknesses.


    Of course, fear ¡ª numbness and the adrenaline surge.


    If I don''t address this properly, it could significantly affect the outcome of future battles. I need to put myself into various situations and overcome them to grow stronger.


    Although I wasn''t a martial arts master in my past life, I still have a few basic techniques in my arsenal.


    For now, that should be enough. The key is to control the body, breathing, and emotions. If I can do that, even ten opponents might not stand a chance against me.


    By the way, I shouldn''t have been feeling such strong fear. Maybe it''s something instinctively imprinted in this body from its former owner. Even after his death, the fear remained.


    Analyzing what happened, a strange thought crossed Ao''s mind.


    ?I''m in another world. So, there should be some possibility, right??


    ¡ª System, open my profile, ¡ª Ao commanded mentally.


    [ Processing request... ]


    [ Updating current stats... ]


    [ Changes applied! ]


    [ Zzzp! ]


    Name: Aenari Remire


    Age: 7 (estimated - 21)


    HP: 30


    MP: 40


    Strength: 2


    Agility: 4


    Intelligence: 12


    Vitality: 8


    [ Status: Assimilation of soul and body in progress ]


    [ Progress: 44.6% ]


    ?I was right! The progress has increased significantly since the last check.?


    Maybe, if I kill them, the process bar might reach 100%!


    For now, I lack the means, but soon, I''ll achieve my goal. I¡¯m also glad that this progress is helping me improve control over my body. That alone is motivation enough to get rid of them quickly!" thought Aenari with anticipation.


    A knock on the door interrupted Ao''s musings.


    ¡ª Young master, we¡¯ve arrived. May we come in?


    ¡ª I''ve been expecting you. Enter.


    ¡ª My master, I heard you called me to ask about goods, prices, and their differences.


    ?How convenient, I didn¡¯t even have to say it aloud.?


    ¡ª You¡¯re right. Tell me everything you know.


    ¡ª Very well, I¡¯ll begin.


    For the next half hour, Alfred shared all his knowledge. I managed to retain about 70% of it, which should suffice for now.


    All this knowledge will help avoid mistakes in buying or selling goods in the future.


    ¡ª Alfred.


    ¡ª Yes, my master?


    ¡ª Do you have any poison potions? I need them for an experiment. Don¡¯t tell my parents about this; they might ruin everything.


    ¡ª Can you acquire them?


    ¡ª I believe I can, if I try.


    ?I wonder what the young master is planning??


    Sunset.


    After an evening run, I returned for dinner.


    ¡ª Little Ao, you¡¯re looking healthier. And your complexion is rosier, too. Must be thanks to your training. Don¡¯t overdo it, though, ¡ª Tina said with concern.


    ¡ª I understand, Mother.


    There are only a few days left. I should draft a new list of short-term goals for the next few years.


    While Aenari chuckled, working on his plans, the sound of his laughter reached the servants.


    ¡ª The young master seems so happy. Did something good happen, Alicia? ¡ª Alfred asked, showing mild interest.


    ?He wasn¡¯t even this happy when I brought him the poison potions," Alfred mused.?


    ¡ª I¡¯m not sure, but his laughter feels... nice, ¡ª Alicia murmured softly, causing Alfred to shake his head as he left.


    A New Day.


    With little time before lessons begin, I decided to meet everyone and help guide their development. I''m sure their assistance will be invaluable in the future, so I need to strengthen their loyalty to me.


    With Alfred and the guards'' help, I gathered everyone to avoid running around.


    Soon, cheerful voices reached from outside.


    ¡ª Ah, here they are.


    ¡ª Haha! Didn¡¯t expect we¡¯d visit you so soon, brother Ao, ¡ª Kazen said enthusiastically as he walked through the gates.


    ¡ª If only you¡¯d seen how excited Shizuku was, ¡ª teased Rena, tugging at Shizu¡¯s cheeks.


    ¡ª Not true! ¡ª Shizu retorted, sticking her tongue out.


    While the others were having fun, Elin sighed hopelessly, while Risell seemed deep in thought.


    ¡ª I see you¡¯ve all arrived. I¡¯ve prepared a little surprise for you.


    Hearing Ao¡¯s words, excitement filled the group.


    ¡ª Aenari, what¡¯s the surprise? Tell us! ¡ª Utsin exclaimed eagerly.


    As Aenari explained, he led them to the southern outskirts of the settlement. There, near the defensive walls, lay the Watchful District, a training ground where future defenders honed their skills under the strict gaze of instructors. The clanging of steel, shouted commands, and heavy breathing of aspiring warriors filled the air.


    Our arrival did not go unnoticed.


    ¡ª Are these the ones the lord mentioned? ¡ª a muscular shield-bearer asked his sparring partner.


    ¡ª I believe so. I¡¯ll escort them to the inner training hall.


    ¡ª Very well. I¡¯ll go inform the lord of their arrival.


    Nodding to his companion, the shield-bearer turned to us.


    ¡ª Kids, I am Daron, the lord¡¯s unyielding shield.


    ¡ª A pleasure to meet you, Lord Daron! ¡ª we responded in unison.


    On the way, Risell, Utsin, and Elin eagerly asked him about his skills and abilities, exclaiming in amazement at his responses.


    Finally, we reached the inner training hall. Handing out sheets of paper, Ao began explaining that they contained personalized basic body techniques for each of them. In truth, Ao couldn¡¯t have created these techniques on his own. His father, Akano, had helped.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡ª Wow! Ao-kun, you¡¯re truly helping us out! If what you¡¯re saying is true, this is incredible! ¡ª Kazen expressed gratitude, followed by the others.


    ¡ª Trust me, it¡¯s not time to thank me just yet, ¡ª Ao replied with a grin.


    Suddenly, Akano¡¯s voice boomed as he entered.


    ¡ª So, everyone¡¯s here!


    ¡ª Lord Akano! Are you going to train us personally? ¡ª Risell asked in surprise.


    ¡ª Of course! I have the most experience here, so trust me.


    Their eyes widened in shock at his words.


    ¡ª Hahaha! ¡ª Akano laughed heartily at their reactions.


    After over two hours of training, the group had mastered the basics. Now they could train independently for the next year, occasionally consulting Akano when they encountered challenges.


    Time passed unnoticed. Exhausted, we finally left the Watchful District and went our separate ways.


    Before taking Shizu home, I gave her the final two phases of exercises since she had grasped everything so well. Perhaps I rushed this decision, but it would ease my burden if she became stronger, even slightly.


    ¡ª See you later, big brother Ao, ¡ª Shizuku waved goodbye.


    ¡ª She¡¯s smiling a lot more now, ¡ª Ao said uncertainly.


    ¡ª It¡¯s all thanks to you, young master. Aren¡¯t you happy? ¡ª Alfred asked doubtfully, stepping out of the shadows.


    ¡ª Everything¡¯s fine. I said that because it¡¯s amazing to see her change.


    As it turned out, Alfred had a treasure of camouflage given by Akano, allowing him to protect me from the shadows.


    Returning home, I reread all the books I needed, managing to memorize about three-quarters of their information. It¡¯s still not enough, but it¡¯ll do for now.


    To my surprise, I also managed to learn the stats of my friends. They were about one-third weaker than me ¡ª a considerable gap.


    Based on my observations, it seems the former owner¡¯s stats combined with mine, creating this difference. Or perhaps I received additional advantages simply for being from another world.


    I have no definitive answer, but at least my higher stats should help me dominate. I hope.


    With these thoughts, Aenari fell asleep.


    The morning of the next day.


    After a good night''s sleep and a refreshing wash, I decided to sleep a bit more. When I finally got up, the sun was shining brilliantly. Opening the window, I felt a cool breeze sweep through me and my room, filling it with freshness.


    ¡ª Young Master, good morning! May I clean your room?


    ?Judging by the sound of the wind and the opening window, she must''ve figured out I was awake.?


    ¡ª You may enter. Thank you for your hard work.


    ¡ª You don''t need to thank me, Young Master.


    ¡ª Once you''re done, come downstairs, and we''ll eat together.


    ¡ª It will be done! Wait, um... what? But we, servants, aren''t allowed to dine at the same table as our masters.


    ¡ª Don¡¯t think about it.


    ¡ª This¡­ alright. ¡ª Alicia replied with a forced smile.


    Soon after, we had breakfast together. Though she looked rather out of place, all I could do was sigh.


    Afterwards, I went outside to practice some combat techniques and exercises that still lingered in my memory.


    Meanwhile, Alicia, feeling guilty, decided to clean the house again. Her efforts were obvious, as everything sparkled.


    But if you looked closely, she even seemed happy.


    ?How little it takes for some people to be happy. Of course, this only applies to certain people.?


    Having finished my exercises, I returned to study the system more seriously.


    Holding a book in my hands, I gave a command:


    ¡ª System, save the original data.


    There was no response.


    ¡ª System, modify my stats. Open the database¡­


    After an hour of countless attempts to interact with the system, Ao finally gave up.


    However, he remembered one function he had found ¡ª the ability to see growth measurements, both his own and others'', if given the command.


    ?And what¡¯s the point of this? To remind me how small I am compared to my friends??


    At the moment, it was indeed of little use, but in the right situation, it might come in handy. Ao understood this but still wasn¡¯t thrilled. After all, it wasn¡¯t helping him now.


    ?Wait! I have poison potions in my possession. Should I kill something large with them? Would that level me up? Or are levels nonexistent here altogether??


    Recently, I had asked my parents and Alfred about levels, but they seemed perplexed.


    In this world, power is determined by ranking, not levels! Even to become a first-rank warrior or mage requires immense effort, training, combat experience, and finally, resources for advancement.


    My parents don¡¯t want to reveal too much, claiming that I¡¯ll find answers to many of my questions at school, so I won¡¯t get bored there.


    ?Seems like I¡¯ve been sitting here too long.?


    Walking through the town center with a lollipop in my mouth, I saw children around two or three years old, loving mothers and fathers, guards discussing their drinks and skills, and cute animals that had been taken in or bought.


    ?Quite a crowd today.?


    While looking around, I noticed a tall guard in armor, holding a spear.


    I called out to him a couple of times. But because of the noise and his limited view in the armor, he didn¡¯t notice me. Walking closer, I kicked him.


    ¡ª Bang!


    Everyone turned to look at me, Aenari.


    ¡ª Doesn¡¯t this child know to respect the law?


    ¡ª Who knows, but his family will definitely hear about this.


    ¡ª Sigh, foolish child¡­


    The guard slowly looked around but, seeing no one, thought he imagined it. Then ¡ª bang!


    ¡ª Hey! Are you asleep? I¡¯m talking to you. Or are you deaf?


    The guard finally realized the kick came from below. Lowering his head, he recognized who it was and immediately bowed, hastily apologizing.


    ¡ª Forgive me, Young Master! This subordinate was blind and deaf.


    ¡ª Fine, but let it be the last time.


    ¡ª Of course!


    ¡ª Then, carry me. I want to walk around, but my legs are tired, and you¡¯ll help me out. Or are you refusing?


    ¡ª Definitely not! I¡¯ll do as you say.


    ?Otherwise, the lord will kill me, the guard thought as a shiver ran down his spine.?


    Taking the spear in his right hand, the guard swiftly lifted Aenari and seated him on his shoulders. Together, they headed toward the center, the eastern part of the city, where, according to the townsfolk, a performance was set to take place.


    ¡ª That...


    ¡ª Who was that just now?


    ¡ª I know him. He''s the son of Lord Akano, one of the strongest men among us.


    ¡ª Now it makes sense why the giant was so polite.


    ¡ª I''ve seen that child before too. I thought he was taken in out of pity. But now that I look closely, he does resemble his father and mother a little.


    ¡ª It doesn''t matter. Let''s go.


    And once again, everything returned to normal.


    On the way, the guard explained that traveling merchants and performers had visited their land. They were the ones creating such a commotion in the city while displaying unseen goods.


    And so, they arrived.


    Exotic goods, rare herbs, elixirs, various beasts, weapons, and more could all be found here. Seeing the bustling crowds, Aenari was amazed; there were even more people than on execution day.


    As they strolled through, they naturally attracted curious gazes. After all, who wouldn''t notice a giant strolling around with a child on his shoulders? Questions arose about who they were, and more informed townsfolk began sharing their insights, dispelling doubts.


    ¡ª Do you know where I can find fabric or cloth?


    ¡ª I know a place. But first, we''ll have to take a short detour before we get there.


    ¡ª Excellent. Lead the way.


    ¡ª As you wish.


    Upon arrival, they were greeted by a wide variety of fabrics¡ªlow-quality, ordinary, some of elite quality, and even mixed types. Aenari knew he would soon need specific battle attire. With such rare goods available, it was an opportunity not to be missed.


    While browsing, Aenari noticed many intriguing weapons but decided to delay his choice. What weapon should I choose in the future? Aenari resolved to approach this matter seriously.


    ¡ª Put me down for a moment.


    Once on the ground, Aenari began carefully inspecting the fabrics.


    ?Hmm, only the elite and mixed-quality ones are acceptable. According to Alfred, the other two tear easily and soak up moisture like a sponge.?


    Quickly bypassing the low-grade fabrics, Aenari moved on to the elite ones. Their texture and stretch were impressively crafted. However, not wanting to spend unnecessarily, he meticulously went over each option again.


    ¡ª Does that guy even know how to pick fabric?


    ¡ª Fool! Watch your mouth. Can''t you see that giant over there?


    The remark was apt since the giant was indeed glaring at the two gawkers.


    ¡ª Haha¡­ I-I didn¡¯t mean him. I meant you. Let¡¯s just go.


    ¡ª You scoundrel!


    The giant merely chuckled at their antics.


    Meanwhile, Aenari was pleasantly surprised.


    ?Yes! Could I actually be lucky for once? His heart raced with excitement.?


    But he needed a strategy. Among the low-quality fabrics, there was a magical fabric of a special class. The old merchant likely had no idea he was sitting on a rare treasure. If he found out, the price would skyrocket, or he might refuse to sell it altogether.


    ?Heh, I¡¯ve got an idea.?


    ¡ª Young master, have you decided what and how much you¡¯ll take? ¡ª the old merchant asked with a sly grin, noticing the spark of interest in Aenari¡¯s eyes.


    ¡ª I¡¯ll take this white one of elite quality, that gray one from the ordinary selection, and all the low-quality fabrics.


    Passersby who overheard turned their heads in surprise. To them, such a choice seemed extravagant.


    ¡ª Do you think he has a plan?


    ¡ª Definitely. Maybe he¡¯s just flaunting his wealth. ¡ª Speculations buzzed quietly, but the guard¡¯s presence kept them subdued.


    Meanwhile, the merchant grew suspicious. Before handing over the goods, he inspected everything thoroughly.


    He started with the rare white fabric and, finding nothing amiss, moved on to the mixed-class fabrics.


    ?Hmm¡­ Could it be among the ordinary ones??


    Sensing the delay, Aenari warned, ¡ª Hurry up, or we¡¯ll simply buy elsewhere.


    ¡ª Please, don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll be done soon.


    The merchant continued his meticulous inspection with newfound speed and precision. To his credit, he was thorough.


    ?Idiot. I made sure to bury it deep but not at the very bottom, so I¡¯d have time to react if he started there.?


    After some time, the merchant had inspected about a third of the fabrics but decided to press on.


    ¡ª My patience is not infinite. ¡ª Aenari¡¯s irritation began to show, unsettling the merchant.


    Outwardly calm, Aenari was also reaching his limit.


    ¡ª Y-yes! I¡¯m almost done. Please wait just a bit longer.


    The merchant doubled his efforts, but Aenari decided to escalate.


    ¡ª Folk, let¡¯s go.


    ¡ª Understood!


    Realizing he was about to lose his profit, the merchant panicked.


    ¡ª Young master, wait! I¡¯m almost done! Where are you going?


    ¡ª I¡¯ve realized I¡¯m taking too much and changed my mind.


    ¡ª I-I¡¯ll give you a discount since you¡¯re buying so much. Please, don¡¯t leave!


    Exactly as Aenari had planned.


    ¡ª Fine. I¡¯ll buy it all for 13 silver coins.


    ¡ª But with the discount, it¡¯s worth 15 silver coins!


    ¡ª Consider the extra cost for wasting my time. So, 13 it is.


    ¡ª B-but that¡¯s not fair, I¡ª


    ¡ª Take it or leave it. It¡¯s your choice.


    ¡ª Alright, alright! I¡¯ll sell it for 13.


    ¡ª You should¡¯ve said so earlier. ¡ª Aenari nodded with feigned leniency.


    ¡ª Folk, pack everything into a sack.


    Folk, still stone-faced, smirked slightly in the merchant¡¯s direction and got to work.


    ¡ª Understood.


    The merchant felt as though his heart was bleeding. Begrudgingly, he sold the fabrics for 13 silver coins, earning a meager 3 silver in profit.


    ?What mutt bit me?! he cursed himself.?


    ¡ª Folke, let¡¯s go.


    While the merchant was fuming, Aenari was in high spirits, inwardly celebrating.


    ?He wasted all that time trying to figure it out and still came up empty-handed. Now this special fabric is mine. Its value far exceeds the money I spent. Everything went perfectly.?


    Meanwhile, Folke, having seated his young master back on his shoulders, hurried back into the bustling festivities. However, Folke, who wasn¡¯t known for his patience, couldn¡¯t hold back his curiosity and asked along the way:


    ¡ª Young master, why did you buy so much material?


    ¡ª It¡¯s simple. Look.


    Aenari revealed a matte-colored fabric tied around his neck, which he hadn¡¯t put in the sack.


    ¡ª No way!