On the seventh day of infancy.
Because both babies were in perfect health, Fang Ye and Erina Nakiri were discharged early. Cradled in their mothers' arms, they rode in vehicles arranged by the Nakiri family back to Totsuki.
[Congratulations, Host. You have raised the skill Clenching Fist (White) to Proficient. This skill has now reached its current level cap. New skill unlocked: Boxing.]
[Clenching Fist (White)]: Clench the fist in a standard posture, allowing perfect transmission of force when throwing a punch.
[Proficiency]: Proficient (cannot be increased further)
[Boxing (Green)]: Throw a punch with a clenched fist to land an effective blow on the enemy.
[Proficiency]: Beginner (1/100)
So skill levels have caps too. The current tiers are Beginner, Initial Insight, and Proficient. Advancing through the first two takes 100 and 500 proficiency points respectively.
Looking at it that way, getting all 108 skills to Proficient actually doesn't seem that difficult.
The only problem is that, with my current physical strength and skeletal development, it'll still take at least a few months before I can properly learn to walk.
Fortunately, every time I complete one basic skill, the proficiency system automatically unlocks the next one. That way I won't have to worry about wasting any extra time.
Nestled in Su Wan's arms, Fang Ye had successfully raised Clenching Fist to Proficient after seven straight days of nonstop practice.
Although he had not deliberately trained his other abilities, he still used them to varying degrees in daily life, so their proficiencies had increased as well.
After screening them out, Fang Ye discovered that aside from movements that were especially difficult for a baby—things like walking, jumping, and running—most of the others could be completed within the first three months.
And increased proficiency levels were not useless, either.
At the very least, after raising Vocalization to Initial Insight yesterday, he had already become capable of producing vague syllables like "papa" and "mama."
Once Vocalization reached Proficient, he would most likely unlock a new skill: Speech.
Still, if a baby less than a month old suddenly opened his mouth and called out for his parents, wouldn't that be a little too terrifying?
To avoid being treated like some kind of freak, Fang Ye decided to keep his mouth shut for the next few months. At the very least, he would wait until Erina Nakiri started babbling before casually revealing his own genius.
That way, everyone would just think Erina Nakiri was a bit slow and worship him as a prodigy.
What a pitiful little thing.
Glancing at Erina Nakiri, sleeping soundly in Mana Nakiri's arms, Fang Ye felt a little smug.
That girl was destined to live under his shadow!
In the third month of infancy—
Fang Ye was already capable of simple crawling.
Looking at Su Wan, who stood in the distance with her arms open wide, he pumped his stubby little legs with all his might and finally threw himself into her embrace.
On the other side of the room, Mana Nakiri watched Erina Nakiri sitting on her lap, still struggling to even hold a toy properly, her expression helpless.
If the Nakiri family had only one baby, then no matter what Erina did, she would be showered with praise. Every newly unlocked skill would be cause for celebration.
But now Fang Ye was here, and he was far ahead in every respect. It was hard not to feel the contrast.
"I'm really jealous of you, Su Wan. Little Fang Ye has already learned to crawl at just three months old. I looked it up online—that's considered exceptionally gifted for a baby."
Watching Su Wan lift Fang Ye high into the air, Mana spoke from the heart.
No mother failed to hope that her child would be outstanding. She was no exception.
"Erina is excellent too. If I remember right, didn't she say her very first words a little while ago? Did she call for Daddy first, or Mommy?"
There was a teasing note in Su Wan's voice. She had only heard it secondhand, but apparently Erina Nakiri had suddenly spoken her first words a few days ago while drinking milk.
"That first sentence was... definitely memorable."
At Su Wan's words, Mana gave an awkward smile, worry showing in the way she looked at Erina Nakiri.
A few days earlier, while being fed, Erina had looked at her wet nurse and said, "Not rich enough," proving that she had inherited the Nakiri family's God Tongue.
Mana did not know whether that was a blessing or a curse.
For her personally, the God Tongue was a cruel and agonizing curse. Ordinary food no longer satisfied her. Only the most exquisite dishes could stir even a bit of appetite in her.
Because of that, Senzaemon Nakiri had brought in countless master-class chefs to cook for her in every possible way, but the more delicacies she tasted, the higher her standards became—and the harder she was to satisfy.
She could only hope Erina would not end up walking the same road she had... or rather, the same road all previous possessors of the God Tongue had taken.
"What are you two talking about? I brought some cream puffs over. Anyone want to try some~?"
A white-haired woman with an elegant temperament walked in through the door, carrying a child in her arms. Judging by appearances, the little one seemed a few months older than Erina Nakiri.
Hearing the voice, Fang Ye turned to look as well.
She had the refined, sharply defined features characteristic of a Northerner, with a slightly ditzy air, a head of gorgeous white hair with a brilliant sheen, and a heavy accent when she spoke.
This woman was none other than Leonora Nakiri.
And the curious baby in her arms was, unsurprisingly, most likely Alice Nakiri. With her white hair and red eyes, she was undeniably adorable.
"I do!"
While countless thoughts ran through Fang Ye's mind, Su Wan excitedly raised a hand, took the dessert box from Leonora, pulled out a cream puff, and happily began eating.
"I'll pass."
After catching a whiff of the cloying sweetness in the air, Mana Nakiri suddenly felt nauseated for no clear reason. Unable to help herself, she turned her head away, unwilling to even look at the cream puffs on the table.
Leonora seemed long accustomed to this. She set Alice Nakiri down on the tatami, then went off to chat with Su Wan and Mana.
As soon as Alice hit the floor, she immediately noticed Fang Ye, who was diligently practicing his crawling skill, and began crawling toward him.
"Pway wif me."
Alice Nakiri lifted her chin and spoke in a babyish voice. Because her speech was still slurred, Fang Ye had to listen carefully to figure out what she meant.
As for language—
After three months of infancy, his Japanese skill had already reached Initial Insight. He could now understand most spoken Japanese and could say a few simple sentences himself.
As for Chinese, that skill had reached Minor Mastery as soon as Speech unlocked. It was also his only skill at that level, which was only natural.
"No time. Go play with Erina."
Faced with Alice Nakiri's request, Fang Ye refused without hesitation.
He was not a real baby, after all. There was no way he was going to waste time playing with her.
He had more important things to do right now: train Crawling to Proficient, unlock the new skill Walking, and hopefully obtain Body Control by the time he was four months old.
It was one thing to lie flat when you had no cheat ability—if you lacked talent, then you simply couldn't out-grind anyone.
But if you had a cheat and still chose to lie flat, then even the cheat would feel wronged on your behalf!
Since the heavens had given him a second chance, then he would start grinding from infancy!
God Tongue, God's Nose—every last one of them would become stepping stones beneath his feet!
Join here to read ahead.
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Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 120)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 100)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 100)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter89)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter86)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter63)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter75)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 53
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 57
From Junkman to Wasteland 35
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 26
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 27
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