"So, what do you think? It's a gripping story, isn't it? And my storytelling was absolutely flawless, right?"
Kurenai leaned down, her eyes sparkling with vibrant, almost childish excitement as she eagerly awaited my validation.
Objectively speaking, her dramatic delivery wasn't terrible. In fact, it was quite engaging. I forced a tiny, compliant smile onto my face, pitching my voice to match a toddler's tone. "Yep! It's really good, Mom. But... it's been three thousand years since then. When exactly will the Hero be born to defeat the Demon King?"
I needed to extract as much data about this world's current global security status as possible.
Kurenai tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Who knows? He might already be out there somewhere, taking his first breath. No one truly knows when or where the savior will manifest on this Earth."
I see. So the designated protagonist hasn't made his grand debut yet, I thought, leaning back. Well, honestly? Good for him. I have absolutely zero intention of getting tangled up in a world-ending prophecy. My past life ended in a split second, leaving me with unfulfilled years. In this life, I'm going to secure a stable, comfortable, and completely peaceful existence. I'll live well, retire early, and die with zero regrets.
"Mom," I piped up again, digging into a recent fragment of this body's residual memories. "Dad can use almost every elemental magic, right? Could he be the prophesied Hero?" I recalled a memory where Minami was boasting about his arcane versatile powers to his sons.
Kurenai's playful demeanor instantly shifted. Her expression turned surprisingly serious, radiating a mature, clan-matriarch vibe. "No, sweetie. According to the ancient records, the Hero will possess absolute mastery over every single type of magic in existence. A standard, highly talented magus can usually control only one or two elements. Your father—and the entire Sasaki bloodline—can wield more than two solely because of our clan's inherited trait: the Shadow Eyes."
Shadow Eyes. The name itself sounded like a powerful sensory or ocular trait. As a three-year-old, curiosity was my primary trait, so I leaned directly into the role.
"Shadow Eyes?!" I gasped, widening my eyes. "What are those? Do I have them too? What kind of cool powers do they give?"
Kurenai blinked, overwhelmed by the rapid-fire interrogation, and broke into a laugh. "Whoa, hold your horses, Kurayami! That's way too many questions at once. Yes, they are our lineage's unique trait. But as for its deeper mechanics... you're far too young. When the time is right, I'll personally guide you through the awakening process."
Internally, I patted myself on the back. Perfect. The child facade is holding up seamlessly. "But please tell me just a little bit, Mom!" I pleaded, shifting my expression into a masterfully crafted, teary-eyed pout. In my past life, I had negotiated with cutthroat corporate executives; manipulating a doting mother with a cute face was child's play. And honestly? Seeing her immediately crumble made a strange wave of relief wash over me.
At first, I had wallowed in despair over my sudden death and bizarre reincarnation. But looking at this cozy environment, a genuine sense of gratitude sparked within me. Good grief, I'm actually starting to look at the bright side of being reborn. What a turnaround.
"Oh, alright, alright! Drop the watery eyes, Kurayami," Kurenai sighed, shaking her head with a defeated smile. "Goodness, you are terrifyingly sharp for a three-year-old. It almost feels like you're emotionally blackmailing me."
My heart skipped a beat. Shit. Did I overplay my hand?
"Hehe! Ahaha!" I burst into a loud, deliberately clumsy toddler chuckle to mask the slip-up, acting as innocent as humanly possible.
Kurenai chuckled along, completely missing my internal panic. "Well, let's see what I can share without your father scolding me. As I mentioned, the Shadow Eyes allow a Sasaki member to break the natural limit and wield multiple elements. Furthermore, it grants the user a highly specialized Unique Spell and drastically amplifies the potency of Illusion Magic compared to standard casters."
Wielding multiple elements and a customized unique spell? The analytical side of my brain was thoroughly impressed, but to keep up appearances, I let out a theatrical gasp. "Wow! That sounds incredibly awesome! Just thinking that I inherit that bloodline gives me goosebumps! I can't wait to get those cool powers!"
Kurenai's face went blank for a microsecond, seemingly taken aback by my intense vocabulary, but her expression rapidly bloomed into pure pride. "Yes, my darling. And I just know you're going to grow into an exemplary mage, protecting Arcanvale—our beautiful town of sorcerers—from any threat."
She leaned down, giving my messy black hair a warm pat before pulling me into a suffocatingly tight, loving hug.
"Yes, Mom! I will!" I laughed, riding the wave of her affection. Seizing the momentum, I asked, "So, when does my magic actually awaken? When can I start training?"
"Oh, it's going to be a while, Kurayami," Kurenai replied, releasing me from the hug. "A person's latent mana pool only awakens at the age of five. Since today is literally your third birthday, you have a solid two years to wait. Even then, the Royal Magic Academy only accepts students at the age of seven. You aren't legally permitted to engage in active combat or spell training until you hit that threshold."
The Royal Magic Academy. The name resonated within the body's latent memories. It was a legendary institution responsible for churning out elite sorcerers and high-tier magic swordsmen. It was exactly the kind of high-profile cliché location that overpowered protagonists in my son's anime hated, simply because 'fate' always dragged them into unnecessary drama there.
Thankfully, I'm just an ordinary kid in this world, I thought to myself. I haven't met any grand deity, nor have I seen some ridiculous, video-game-like status screen indicating I'm some kind of chosen—
[ SYSTEM INITIALIZATION: REQUEST ACCEPTED ]
A translucent, glowing blue holographic interface abruptly manifested directly in front of my eyes. The foreign text shifted rapidly before settling into a neat, detailed ledger of data.
[ STATUS SCREEN ]
Name: Kurayami Sasaki
Class: Demi-Human
Gender: Male
Age: 3
Level: 1
Mana: 5,000
Titles: [Reincarnated Human], [Otherworlder]
Inherent Abilities: * Gluttony
Wrath
Shadow Eyes (Status: Sealed / Awaiting Awakening)
Creation
Unique Spell: [Conqueror of the World]
Magic Types: Dark Magic, Light Magic
My jaw nearly hit the floor. Five thousand mana at level one?! Gluttony? Wrath? And what in the world is 'Conqueror of the World'?! This wasn't a standard civilian build; this was an absolute statistical anomaly.
"Why are you spacing out again, Kurayami?"
Kurenai's sharp voice broke my stupor. She was staring at me with a faux-angry pout, noticing that I had been staring blankly into the empty air for the last thirty seconds. I realized she couldn't see the screen at all; it was hardcoded into my own perception.
"Oh, sorry Mom!" I scrambled for an excuse, quickly closing the interface with a mental command. "I was just wondering why we have to wait until seven. If our magic awakens at five, waiting two whole years feels like a massive waste of time!"
Kurenai's expression softened into an understanding, educational smile. "I admire your enthusiasm, sweetie, but the rule exists for a vital reason. When your mana first sparks at age five, it manifests in an incredibly volatile, low-capacity state. The period between ages five and seven is universally known as the Raising Period. During these two years, your mana reservoir naturally expands to its absolute maximum potential. If you impatiently try to channel or drain your mana before age seven, you risk permanently stunting its growth or destroying your mana pathways entirely. If you want to become a grand mage like your father, patience is your first trial."
A natural expansion period. Fascinating mechanics, I noted. However, looking at my hidden status screen, I felt a lingering anxiety. I had made a few intellectual blunders during this conversation. To completely erase any suspicion Kurenai might have about her toddler suddenly acting like a middle-aged businessman, I decided to pull the ultimate childhood cover-up: an overambitious, childishly arrogant boast.
I jumped up slightly, pumping my tiny fist into the air. "I get it now, Mom! Just you watch! I'm going to become a mage so incredibly strong that nobody in history will ever match me! And... and I promise I'll hunt down and kill that Demon King all by myself before the Hero can even show up!"
"Hahaha! Now that is an exceptionally grand ambition for someone your age, Kurayami!"
A booming, cheerful voice resonated through the living room. Out of absolute thin air, a swirl of ambient light coalesced, and a tall man materialized. He wore a crisp, authoritative military uniform draped beneath an elegant, flowing sorcerer's robe.
"Da... Dad?!" I gasped, genuinely startled. "When did you get here? Where did you even come from?"
This was Minami Sasaki, Kurayami's father and the formidable High Commander of Arcanvale.
Minami offered a dashing, teasing grin. "Let's see... I believe I arrived right around the time you said, 'I get it now, Mom.' You were completely lost in your grand speech, kiddo."
"But I didn't hear a single footstep in the hallway!" I pressed, my tactical mind thoroughly unsettled by his stealth.
Kurenai giggled, crossing her arms. "Well, that's because your father has never shown you his trademark advanced technique before. He loves dramatically showing off."
"Hey, it's not showing off, it's a practical application of high-tier magic," Minami defended himself, looking down at me. "It's a specialized hybrid skill, Kurayami. I combined my base ability, Light Flash, with the spatial tracking properties of our Shadow Eyes to create a unique high-speed displacement spell. In simple terms: I can instantaneously teleport to any location my vision has previously marked."
Instantaneous teleportation via visual coordinates, I translated mentally, thoroughly impressed. "Wow! That's incredible, Dad! You have to teach me how to do that once I awaken!"
"If you possess the right elemental affinities and spatial comprehension when you're older, it's a deal," Minami promised, ruffling my hair. Then, he glanced up at the antique clock ticking on the living room wall. His cheerful face suddenly drained of color. "Uh oh. It's already past ten o'clock... We are severely behind schedule for the dinner party and the cake-cutting ceremony."
Kurenai's aura shifted instantly. The warm, doting mother vanished, replaced by an ominous, terrifying pressure. Her dark eyes seemed to flash a dangerous crimson as a sweet, venomous smile plastered onto her face. "And pray tell, Minami... whose fault is that?"
The High Commander of Arcanvale, a man capable of fighting legions, instantly reverted into a terrified schoolboy. "B-But honey! I'm the leader of the town! The paperwork was practically a mountain today! If I don't clear the daily logs, the administrative backup ruins the economy! I pushed through the standard five-hour queue in two hours just so I could make it home for our son's birthday!"
"Oh, really?" Kurenai asked, her tone dangerously low.
Sensing the impending martial dispute—and knowing this was a recurring comedic routine between them—I quietly slid off the hovering chair. Yeah, this is my cue to exit.
I slipped through the back door unnoticed, stepping out into the crisp, refreshing air of the Arcanvale streets.
Outside, a soft layer of pristine white snow blanketed the ground. A short distance away from our estate, two older boys were actively building a snow fortress.
The eldest, looking about seven years old, had sharp dark blue eyes and short midnight-black hair. He wore a heavy, deep blue insulated hoodie prominently displaying the embroidered silver crest of the Royal Magic Academy. The younger one, around five, had dark black eyes and messy dark blue hair, bundled up in a thick winter jacket, gloves, and knee-high snow boots.
These were my older brothers: Sora, the eldest, and Siawase, the middle child.
"Well, look who finally escaped," Sora said, his face softening into a protective, older-brother grin as he noticed me walking over. "Why'd you run out from the middle of Mom and Dad's daily showdown, Kurayami? They're going to panic if they notice you vanished."
Before I could answer, Siawase scooping up a handful of snow and hurled it, catching me square in the chest with a soft splat. He burst into a mischievous laugh.
"I didn't run away, big brother," I replied, maintaining my perfect three-year-old cadence while executing a swift counter-scoop of snow. "I tactically retreated to wait out the storm. Once they calm down, we can finally cut the birthday cake!" I hurled the snowball back, striking Siawase right on his shoulder.
"Yeah, you've got a point," Siawase laughed, wiping a stray flake off his jacket before molding another projectile. "That dramatic arguing is basically their daily routine anyway. Nothing to worry about!"
The three of us burst into a collective fit of laughter, running around the snowy courtyard. Inside the house, the sudden silence made Minami and Kurenai rush to the window. Spotting the three of us playing safely in the snow, both parents let out a massive, synchronized sigh of relief.
"Good grief, that kid is going to give me gray hairs early," Minami muttered, opening the window and calling out across the yard. "Kurayami! Siawase! Sora! Get inside right now, it's time for the cake!"
"Coming, Dad!" Sora shouted back.
We stamped the snow off our boots and marched into the dining hall, gathering around the massive wooden table. Minami retrieved a beautiful, frosted cake from the cooling charm box, snapping his fingers to ignite the tiny candles. The ambient lights dimmed, and the family erupted into a synchronized chorus:
"Happy Birthday to you~ Happy Birthday to you~ Happy Birthday dear Kurayami... Happy Birthday to you!"
I blew out the flickering flames to a round of enthusiastic applause. "Thank you, everyone!" I said, feeling a genuine warmth bloom in my chest.
"Alright, time for the best part—presents!" Kurenai announced excitedly, sliding a beautifully wrapped package across the table. "First up, from Mommy! Open it!"
I untied the ribbon, pulling out a remarkably well-crafted, classic yellow straw hat accented with a vibrant red ribbon across the base.
"Wow! A straw hat! Thank you, Mom," I said, instantly recognizing the iconic style.
"Hehe, you like it, right?" Kurenai beamed proudly. "But wait until you hear what it actually does! It's woven with reinforced spatial threads. The brim can be infused with mana to become as sharp as a high-frequency steel blade for self-defense. Furthermore, if you imprint your unique mana signature onto it, you can call it back to your hand like a boomerang, no matter how far away it is!"
A tactical weaponized straw hat? Incredible. "Wow, Mom, I'll cherish it forever," I said honestly.
"Good boy!" Kurenai cheered, robustly patting my head.
"Now, behold my gift!" Minami interrupted, sliding a long, heavy wooden box forward with an ecstatic grin. "I commissioned a master smith to forge this. It's an exact, scaled-down 20% replica of my own personal blade!"
I opened the box to find a stunning, sleek short sword. The scabbard and hilt were lacquered in a polished midnight-black, featuring a beautifully engraved silver Lion emblem across the crossguard.
"Wow, Dad! It looks exactly like yours!" I reached down to lift it by the hilt.
"Yep! It's scaled to twenty percent efficiency, so it'll be perfect for your eventual physical conditioning and swordsmanship—" Minami stopped mid-sentence as he watched my tiny arms tremble violently.
Hnngh... what is this thing made of, dark matter?! My three-year-old joints groaned under the absolute weight of the steel.
Minami sweatdropped, internally panicking. Wait, on second thought, maybe a solid iron replica is way too heavy for a toddler who literally hasn't awakened his physical mana enhancement yet...
Before he could apologize, Minami felt a terrifying, icy wave of killing intent locking onto his spine. He slowly turned his head to see Kurenai smiling sweetly at him, her aura absolutely radiating pure, unadulterated rage. Wisely choosing survival, Minami sealed his mouth shut.
Kurenai gently stepped in, taking the heavy sword from my hands and placing it safely back in the box. "Let's put this away until you're a bit bigger, sweetie. Now, Sora, Siawase, your turn."
The two boys stepped forward, Sora holding a small, sleek box. Siawase rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Uh, it might not be as incredibly magical or flashy as Mom and Dad's gifts, Kurayami... but we pooled our allowance to get you this custom timepiece watch."
I opened the small box to reveal a sturdy, elegant leather-strapped watch built to perfectly fit my wrist.
"No way, big brothers, this is amazing," I said, looking up at them with a wide, genuine smile. "This is just as valuable to me as everything else. I'm going to wear it every single day."
"Ohhh! My boys are so sweet to each other!" Kurenai suddenly wailed dramatically, wiping away fake tears. "Seeing my children love each other this much makes me want to cry from pure happiness! And you two got all nervous for absolutely nothing!"
"Hey! Stop teasing us, Mom!" Sora yelled, his face turning bright red in embarrassment as Siawase hid behind him.
The dining hall erupted into a chorus of hearty, echoing laughter. As we cut the cake and enjoyed the lavish dinner late into the night, I looked around the table at my laughing family. For the first time, the lingering shadow of my past life truly began to fade. Maybe this new world won't be so bad after all.