Wake up,

get fed,

play with mom for a while,

train aura,

sleep,

repeat.

That was basically my routine for the past 5 years. This monotonous routine was occasionally broken up by the strolls to the garden with mom. Although I didn’t really want to go, I just couldn’t refuse mom’s pleading eyes. Regardless, it was boring as fuck, being a baby. Even with me being able to run now, I still couldn’t go anywhere since mom was just too overprotective of me.

By the way, I was wrong about this body. It fucking sucks. Although the Aura absorption rate was definitely higher than average, I could feel something… burning in my body the more Aura I had.

I had an inkling to what it was, but God forbids I was actually right. If this body was indeed “blessed” with that, using my original swordsmanship would prove to be a hard challenge.

‘Nah, I’m not that unlucky.’

That aside, I’d gathered some information about this place over the years. Apparently, mom and I were staying in some kind of small mansion, if the maids and big hallways were anything to go by.

‘Yeah, mom’s definitely a noble.’

Despite that, she took care of me herself. From changing diapers to feeding me, she did everything with the utmost care and affection. Only when she was too exhausted did she pass the task of taking care of me onto someone else.

Even then, she made sure to stay in the room to observe everything, and the maid that took care of me in those times was apparently one that mom trusted the most.

‘Her name’s Ria, I think.’

She had flaxen hair and green eyes, which looked rather plain compared to mom’s blonde hair and silver eyes. Though, I had to admit, she was attractive for a maid.

‘No one’s beauty could surpass Ihwa’s of course!’

I laughed nervously in my mind, scared that Ihwa’s soul was reading my mind somehow and planning to punish me for ogling other women as soon as I revived her.

‘Well, I still don’t know which House this is though.’

I hadn’t seen any emblems or coat-of-arms. I was sure that there had to be some symbol of the House I was born in inside this mansion, but mom’s overprotectiveness prevented me from roaming the mansion as I wished.

‘Should I— nah, I won’t ask her about the House.’

Me asking her about Ihwa’s fate 5 years ago was already too much of a risk, and I preferred to take as little risk as possible, especially when it was for something as unimportant as knowing which House I was from.

‘The important thing is having enough Aura to summon my Gift.’

Gifts—manifestations of the soul in the form of weapons or special abilities. Each person has a unique Gift, and mine happened to be a sword… as literally everyone could have expected from a Swordmaster.

‘...! I have enough Aura to summon it already?!’

Though, I decided to put it off until everyone went to sleep. Just thinking of reuniting with my trustworthy sword—Kirion—was enough to excite me! It wasn’t wrong to say that it was the thing I anticipated the most.

‘Apart from Ihwa’s revival, that is.’

As I was thinking about that, the door to my room suddenly opened. Thanks to me being a 5-year-old, mom finally allowed me to sleep on the bed, so I quickly hid under the blanket and dispersed all the Aura in my hand.

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“Little one? Where are you?”

Despite her words, I could tell the hint of mischievousness in her voice.

‘There’s no way she doesn’t know that I’m under the blanket.’

If I had to take a guess, then she saw me hiding under the blanket as a child playing a prank on his mother. So, she was just playing along with it.

‘Heh, I can play along with it too.’

I’d been doing it for the past 5 years after all.

“Hmmm… where could he be?”

Hearing her voice getting closer and closer to me, I shook my body a bit to play the part of a child.

“Maybe he’s already left the room…” her voice became a pitch higher.

‘...Just get this over with.’

“Or maybe…” she was probably looming over the blanket now. “...he’s hiding under his blanket!”

As soon as she finished her sentence, she swiftly removed the blanket, revealing me, who was sitting on the bed and staring at her expressionlessly. “Boo.” I wanted to give the scare more emotion, but my condition prevented me from doing so.

“Kyahh! So cute!” She exclaimed as she gave me a tight hug.

‘Dammit, she’s squeezing me!’

Every goddamn time, she hugged me as if she wanted to squeeze me until my bones were broken. I thought that I’d develop a PTSD for hugs! Though…

‘...It’s not that bad…’

In my previous life, I was an orphan. Living on the streets and running errands for thugs from a young age, I never knew the joy of having parents.

So, I couldn’t help but to feel a bit weird being showered with love and affection for the past 5 years.

‘It’s a peculiar feeling for sure, but it’s not a bad one.’

As I was thinking that, the door of my room was swung open again. This time, it was Ria, the maid.

“My lady! It’s urgent!” She exclaimed. Her flaxen hair was wet with sweat and stuck to her skin. She probably ran across the mansion to deliver whatever news that she wanted to tell mom. “The Lord of the House, he’s coming!”

“Herald?!”

‘My father?’

I actually forgot that he existed since no one mentioned anything about him for the past 5 years.

‘To be honest, he seems like a good-for-nothing.’

After all, he didn’t even bother to visit his son until now. He wasn’t even there for his son’s birth! Were all nobles this busy?!

Not to mention, mom’s face definitely stiffened in nervousness and fear upon hearing the news.

Before I knew it, my hand had already moved to her sleeve and tugged on it.

“Don’t worry.”

No matter how much I spoke, I couldn’t get used to my own childish voice.

Mom’s face softened and she hugged me.

“You’re right. Little one, let’s get you prepared. You need to look your best to meet your fa—”

“That won’t be necessary.”

A cold voice interrupted her. Mom slowly turned around and her body once again froze with fear and anxiety.

I peeked over her shoulder and saw a man in his 30s with sharp features, black hair, and bright orange eyes standing in the doorway and staring coldly at mom.

‘Is he…’

“Lord Herald! This lowly maid greets you!” Ria greeted Herald enthusiastically and loudly, not to answer my internal question, but to help mom.

Mom, hearing this, quickly recovered and gave Herald a small bow. “G-Greetings to the patriarch.”

However, Herald ignored both her and Ria and made his way straight toward me. He even pushed mom out of the way roughly!

‘This bastard…!’

However, I couldn’t do anything to him, nor could I express my emotions. Thus, the blank staredown between me and Herald began.

It seemed that I had won the staredown, as Herald broke eye contact with me and patted me on the shoulder. “You can be useful,” he says, voice still cold, “but don’t get conceited before you awaken your attribute. One stroke of bad luck and the curse will give you a painful death.”

Then, he curtly turned around and left the room.

Immediately, mom rushed for him while shouting, “dear! Curse? What curse!?”

Since Ria also went out to chase after mom, I was left inside the room alone. After processing what Herald had just said, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

‘This is troublesome…’

The “curse” he talked about was probably the [Seven dawn] constitution. Although rare, it wasn’t as if this constitution was unheard of.

‘A constitution that melts its host from the inside… if my Aura’s attribute is Fire, then I can make good use of it.’

The problem was that I wasn’t sure if this body’s attribute was Fire, and that I didn’t even want Fire since my original swordsmanship utilized a different attribute.

‘Either way, it’s going to be troublesome…’

But this was more reason for me to get stronger pmore quickly. After deciding on what to do next, I snuck out of the room while mom and Ria were still chasing after Herald.

‘Wait for me, Kirion, I’ll summon you again soon.’