"I am Lucian Wintergate, and you could say I’m a little over three years old. At first, it was hard to get used to my new name, but over time, I did. Now, I am Lucian. As for my family, I have a loving mother and a father who is the exact opposite—the coldest man you could ever meet. He has rarely come to see me since the day I was born, and even when he did, he didn’t spend much time with me."

Lucian lay sprawled in the middle of a large pile of books, his tiny hands flipping through the pages as he absorbed the knowledge of this new world.

"I’ve known the language of this world since the moment I was born—probably the perk the God of Combat mentioned. Thankfully, through conversations with the staff and the books I’ve found in the library, I’ve been able to learn more about this world and my family. The ‘Wintergate’ lineage has been tasked with guarding the northern border of the Igrapth Kingdom for centuries. The winters here are so fierce that no other family wanted to protect such a harsh climate. Our ancestor fought alongside the King of Igrapth in the great war, winning significant victories in the north, and earning the surname Wintergate and control over the northern territories. I suppose the severe climate and constant hardships made my father cold and stern as well. I can somewhat imagine what kind of childhood he had."

As Lucian continued to turn the pages, a foul smell invaded his senses.

"Hm? This smell... Could it be? NOT AGAIN!?"

Cynthia, Lucian’s personal maid and caregiver, noticed the pungent odor wafting from the library and followed it to where Lucian was hiding among the books.

"So here you are, Master Lucian! In the library again! Why are you playing with these books when you can’t even read?" A gentle smile graced Cynthia’s lips as she approached. She adored Lucian as if he were her own child, and his inquisitive nature always brought a smile to her face.

"Damn, I’ve been caught. Time for a tactical retreat!"

Lucian darted away on his short legs, but it wasn’t long before Cynthia caught up to him and scooped him up effortlessly.

"Let me go! I said, let me go!"

"You can’t escape, sir. It’s time for your meal," she said in a light scolding tone, her expression a mix of affection and discipline.

"These damn short legs! I guess I’ll have to use my secret weapon."

Lucian widened his eyes and put on the most adorable expression he could muster, his face glowing with childlike innocence.

"Super cute baby power!" he thought as he tried his best to look irresistible. "Can’t I play a little longer?"

"I hate pretending to be a baby…"

Cynthia almost melted at the sight of Lucian’s wide-eyed cuteness, but then she remembered what had happened the last time she fell for this trick. She hardened her resolve. "So cuteee! No, Cynthia! Don’t let him fool you! Last time, we didn’t leave the library for hours!" She cleared her throat. "I’m sorry, Master Lucian, but this tactic won’t work today."

Defeated, Lucian pouted, crossing his arms and refusing to meet her gaze.

"This damn baby body can’t even hold in its own poop!"

As Cynthia carried Lucian toward the dining room for his meal, Lucian clung to her collar and looked up at her with hopeful eyes.

"Cynthia, can’t I eat with you again?" he asked sweetly.

"I’m sorry, sir, but your father will be joining you for this meal. Master Arthur has requested that everyone dine together today. He must really love his family. You’re lucky to have such a wonderful father, Master Lucian."

"A wonderful father? Of course, he wants everyone at the table. The only thing he cares about is pitting his children against one another. He doesn’t know the meaning of love. He treats the strongest child the best, and all he cares about is raising a worthy heir. But why gather us together now? Could he be planning something?"

As they approached the grand dining room, Cynthia set Lucian down gently and leaned in to whisper, "I trust you, sir."

"Cynthia might be the only person in this house who loves me unconditionally. It's comforting to have her support. Times like this remind me of my mother… even though we didn’t spend much time together."

With a small smile, Lucian nodded to Cynthia and entered the dining room confidently. The table was already set, and the rest of the Wintergate family was seated, waiting for the head of the family to arrive. On the right side sat Lucian’s eldest brother, Uther Wintergate, and next to him was his other brother, Albert Wintergate. Across from them sat their sister, Serena Wintergate.

Unlike his siblings, who all had blond hair and blue eyes like their mother, Lucian had dark hair and deep, stormy blue eyes—features inherited from his father. He looked nothing like his siblings, and he could feel the weight of that difference every time he was in the same room as them.

There were two empty chairs at the table—one at the head, reserved for their father, Arthur Wintergate, and one next to Serena, where Lucian was supposed to sit. Lucian confidently approached the chair but struggled to climb into it.

"These damn short legs! And this belly… Have I gained too much weight? No, no! This is all an investment for my future muscular body! I have to eat well if I want to grow strong… but how am I supposed to get muscular if I can’t even reach this chair!?"

As Lucian continued his battle with the chair, Serena wordlessly picked him up and placed him in his seat. He smiled gratefully.

"Thanks, sis," he said softly, but Serena didn’t reply, returning to her seat in silence.

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Of all his siblings, Serena was the most reserved, but unlike Uther and Albert, she didn’t seem to hold any malice toward Lucian.

Uther looked at Lucian and "Well, look who finally showed up. Isn’t this the bastard of that lowly woman?" he sneered, his tone dripping with disdain.

Albert joined him too, "I can’t believe we’re actually related to someone like him. Do we really have to sit at the same table as this commoner?" he added with equal contempt.

Anger flared in Lucian’s chest, but he kept his composure. He knew he couldn’t physically fight his brothers yet—his body was still far too small and weak for that. But mentally? He was far from helpless.

"A bastard, you say? Is your animosity solely because my mother was a commoner? Rest assured, you will regret those words, but for now, I think a little conversation will suffice."

Lucian's mother had been a commoner, unlike Arthur’s first wife, who came from noble blood. Though Marquis Arthur never openly spoke of it, it was clear to everyone how much he had adored and loved his second wife. Her death had left a deep wound, one that perhaps even Arthur couldn't heal.

"You seem to forget that we share the same father, dear brother. Moreover, what do you think Father would say if he heard you calling me a ‘bastard’ and insulting our beloved mother?" He locked his dark blue eyes onto Uther, unwavering.

"You little brat! Are you threatening me? You’re nothing but a small child!" Uther stood up angrily, releasing a surge of his aura, making it difficult for Lucian to breathe. The sheer pressure of Uther’s presence weighed on him like a massive stone.

"Hold on, Lucian. He can't harm you in front of the Marquis!"

Before things escalated further, Serenna, who had been silently watching, placed a hand on the hilt of her sword and spoke in a calm but firm voice: "Uther, are you daring to cause trouble at the Marquis' dinner?" Her voice was cold, and the room fell into a deep, uneasy silence.

"Damn it..." He growled but reluctantly retracted his aura, allowing Lucian to breathe again.

"D-Damn it, I almost died. After all, they are the children of Arthur Wintergate, the protector of the North. I should have known they’d be this strong. I'm lucky I started developing my aura early. I recently managed to form my first star, but I’m still much weaker than them. Serenna just reached the 5th star, and even though she's the strongest among us, she automatically loses the heir position because she's a woman. This world’s laws are still so backward. Uther is a 4-star aura user, and Albert has 3 stars. Six stars and above are extremely rare and considered immensely powerful. The highest recorded level is 9 stars, and only one person has reached that level—our father, Arthur. He’s a monster. Oh, and I probably forgot to mention, but the Wintergate family is renowned for having the most powerful swordsmen in the entire Igrapth Kingdom. No magic for us, sadly. I would’ve loved to shoot fireballs from my hands. But neither sword nor magic… I’ll never give up boxing."

At that moment, Marquis Arthur entered the dining hall, his presence exuding a mixture of nobility and fear. He was tall, muscular, and his sharp gaze swept over everyone at the table. Since the death of his second wife by poisoning, he had become even grimmer. Though he discovered it was his first wife who had committed the poisoning, he refrained from executing her—partly because she was the mother of his children. Instead, he cut off her hands and exiled her, declaring that anyone who aided her would face death, no exceptions. Even his own children could not help her.

When Arthur entered the room, everyone immediately stood up. Lucian, standing on his chair to match their height, greeted him like the others. After Arthur took his seat, the rest of the family followed suit, awaiting his words.

"How are things going in Gliasas, Serenna?"

Gliasas was a key city in the Igrapth Kingdom, known for its agriculture. The Northern Region, vast and heavily populated, relied on Gliasas for much of its food supply, as the harsh climate made farming nearly impossible. Arthur, aware that Serenna could not inherit the title due to her gender, had been trying to marry her off. However, Serenna refused to marry anyone weaker than herself, so Arthur had begun assigning her official duties instead.

"I see you've reached the 5th star. I take it you're doing everything you can to avoid marriage," he said, a rare hint of amusement in his tone.

"Thank you for the compliment, Father," she replied, her face stoic.

"And you two?" he asked, turning to Uther and Albert. His face showed signs of weariness, perhaps even exhaustion. It seemed he sought some reprieve in this family meal, but Lucian wasn’t convinced.

Could it be that he actually wants to spend time with us? Nah… I don't think so."

Uther raised his head and said, "Yes, Father, Albert and I have been training diligently. Since reaching the 3rd star, Albert has joined me on demon hunts."

"Demon hunts… The Wintergate family guards the Northern Border, where monsters, wizards, dragons, and other creatures roam. But demons are on a different level. Beyond the Northern Region lies the demon continent. Though there hasn’t been a full-scale war since the great conflict years ago, if one were to erupt, the Wintergate family would be the first to face the demons. That’s why we need strong warriors. Killing stray demons near the border earns demon cores, which are as valuable as high-level monster cores. The Northern Border is dangerous, but it's also a major source of wealth."

"Everything seems to be in order. Now, you must be wondering why I’ve gathered you all today." His gaze swept across the table.

"So he’s not going to ask how I am or what I’ve been doing... typical."

"Lucian," he said, his sharp eyes resting on him. "I hear you've reached the first star. Congratulations."

"He noticed… Of course he did. Nothing escapes his attention, but I wanted to keep it hidden a bit longer." "Thank you, Marquis Arthur."

"So you won’t call me Father..."

Uther start talking jelaously, "The first star? That's impossible! He’s only three years old!"

"I can understand Uther's outrage. Even the most talented children of powerful nobles don’t reach the first star until at least nine. Marquis Arthur himself was considered a prodigy for reaching it at six. Have I drawn too much attention?"

Serena interrupted Uther's speech and "So, are you saying our father is lying, Uther?" Her voice was calm, but her words cut deep.

"T-That’s not what I meant..." Uther’s face paled. It was clear that while he feared Serenna, his greatest fear was their father.

Marquis Arthur continued speaking calmly as if nothing had happened, "From what I’ve heard, you spend most of your time in the library, Lucian. You spoke early, and I knew then that you were more intelligent than your peers. But not only have you reached the first star, you've also taught yourself to read. Did you also learn how to gather aura from the books?"

"I need to choose my words carefully. If I lie, he’ll see through it, and that won’t end well. But I don’t have to tell him everything either." "You're right, Marquis. I learned to read at two from the storybooks Mother used to read me. After she passed, I visited the library more often and found books on aura cultivation. I spent the past year working and managed to reach the first star."

"Half-truths and little lies. Thanks to the God of Combat, I’ve been fluent in this world’s language since birth, and with my adult mind, I quickly realized the need for strength to survive here. It didn’t take me a year to reach the first star—it only took three months. I stopped because my small body couldn’t handle any more. I had to eat constantly to strengthen myself, which made me almost look like an obese child!"

Uther, grinning, couldn’t resist a jab: "It’s admirable that you work so hard, little brother, but maybe you should do something about those extra pounds." He chuckled.

Lucian’s eyes narrowed in anger, and his tiny fists clenched. Serenna shot Uther a warning look, silencing him instantly.

Marquis Arthur continued his talk, "Anyway, there’s something else that’s piqued my curiosity. I’ve noticed you making some strange movements with your aura. You do realize that using aura without a sword can be dangerous, don’t you?"

"Strange movements? Could he have seen it? Could he have seen me trying to box with aura!?"