Do you know how “birthdays” came to be?

“No.”

The idea of birthdays actually originated from Egypt with the crowning of-

“That wasn’t an invitation for you to elaborate on this.”

When Egyptian pharaohs were crowned, they were also, as a part of their tradition, pronounced “gods”.

“......Why are you still continuing?”

The main purpose of a birthday celebration was not to mark the birth date of an individual but to commemorate the birth of a ‘god,’ the newly crowned pharaoh.

“And, for what purpose, did you feel the need to say all of that?”

Sys’ Fun Facts.

“More like Sys’ Shitty Statements.”

:(

If you couldn’t tell, today marks the one-year anniversary of my arrival in this world—my birthday. Not much has changed since my last update, aside from a few level-ups and improvements in my physical soul currents.

Level: 15

* Strength: 25

* Speed: 22

* Stamina: 28

* Endurance: 27

* Durability: 23

* Mana: 35

* Soul Rank: Ethereal

My soul rank remains the same, but not for long. Remember how physical changes in people’s bodies, such as puberty, are signs of soul rank ascensions? Well, thanks to Sys’ insight, I noticed signs that hint towards my proximity to reaching the next color, Purple. My chubbiness has gone away, and my weight has begun to distribute evenly throughout my body, with noticeable increases in height. I started teething around six months old, which was a particularly painful period, but now my molars are also emerging. Despite the pain and my admittedly annoying cries, this is another sign. Alongside my hair growing thicker and fuller, improved hand-eye coordination, and more defined facial features, it’s become clear that I’m on the brink of ascending. The only question was, what am I missing? Ants and other small insects no longer seem effective, and my meditation is becoming too slow. This has given Sys and me a bit of a headache as we pondered what to do. However, after some solitary thinking, I’ve figured it out.

Thanks to me.

“Uh, what are you talking about?”

I was the one who figured it out.

“You were the one who had to take a rest because your software, and I quote, was ‘overheating’. You did nothing.”

I was overheating because I was busy thinking of what to do. And guess what? I figured it out, which is why you even know what to do.

“Really? Then, what is it?”

Hah, you’re not slick. You actually don’t know what it is, and you’re trying to fish the answer out of me.

“.....That doesn’t even make sense. I said I knew the answer, and you yourself said you told me what it was, so why would I ask you to say it for the purpose of ‘fishing out the answer’ when I already know it?”

If you don’t know what it is, then just admit it. No need to waste both of our time.

…..Anyway, what I came up with was fairly straightforward. Since small insects were no longer viable, I would need to soul-absorb larger creatures. Small birds, rodents, and such were the first to come to mind. However, there was a caveat. From what Sys had told me, the ease of absorbing ants and other small insects was due to their simple hive-mind souls, or rather, their lack of individuality. The stronger and more distinctive a creature is, such as a wolf, the more complex their soul becomes. Their souls contain stronger flows and currents, along with a more intricate soul shell. This means that not only are larger creatures’ souls harder to absorb, but I also have to absorb their “Original Insights.” An Original Insight is a brief summary of the being’s life, essentially a short montage. If I absorbed a wolf’s soul, I would not only have to bear the influx of the soul’s pure mana, but also the Original Insight that the wolf lived through that shaped the shell and formation of the soul. This is necessary for me to fully comprehend the soul’s composition and accurately determine the soul’s shell, which will be crucial when I eventually learn to summon them.

Now, if I were to absorb multiple wolves, I wouldn’t have to absorb multiple Original Insights, but only if the wolf is specific and unique. An example would be an evolved form of a wolf, such as the Direwolf. Normal wolves are generally incapable of wielding magic, but Direwolves can. Direwolves are the stronger, faster, and smarter evolved forms of wolf, with souls powerful enough to use magic. Typically, a Direwolf’s magical trait is determined at birth, with various branches stemming from the main Direwolf line. Examples include the Terrawolf (Wind), Terrawolf (Earth), and the Pyrowolf (Fire). Going back, depending on the creature's rank, whether determined by a high letter-grade or their position within a group (such as an alpha in a wolf pack), I may or may not need to absorb a new Original Insight. In simple terms, for a pack of normal wolves, one Original Insight would suffice to summon wolves, but I would need the Original Insight of the pack’s alpha. For Direwolves and other stronger creatures, the rule remains the same: one Original Insight is enough. However, if I want the souls of stronger specimens of the same creature, I would need to absorb their souls along with their unique Original Insights.

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With all of this now in mind, my biggest challenge was finding the opportunity to absorb a rodent like creature or a small bird. Despite my advanced physical capabilities for my age, I was still only a mere 1 year old. I was also still unable to cast practical spells, like mana missiles, due to my soul rank. Additionally, I had to be quick with absorbing the soul. See, when a living being dies, their soul’s core lingers for mere minutes before being transferred to the afterlife. After the core leaves, the soul’s shell and remaining parts spread around the body, affecting the environment. The purity of the soul’s remains enhances the environment, speeding up plant growth and purifying the air. This is how Divine Herbs are formed. It is also why farmers kill small critters and leave their bodies near crops—to improve crop growth, rejuvenate the soil, and enhance growing capabilities.

Returning to the problem at hand, the only solutions I could think of were either setting a trap or foraging outside to find a dead one. The latter was unlikely, as my parents rarely let me outside and would not approve of me venturing deep into the treelines. The former seemed even more improbable, given that I had no opportunity to devise or set up a trap. I considered this problem back when I was only ten months old. I contemplated various alternatives, but nothing seemed plausible until I realized something: I didn’t need to find or kill the animal myself. All I needed was the carcass. With this in mind, I devised a plan—a plan I could finally execute today, on my birthday.

It was mid afternoon. The air had a buzz of excitement, with the cause being my Mom singing a song while working in the kitchen. Dad was outside chopping down trees as usual, while Arthur and Elaine were tending the small farm in the back. I was in the main room, continuing my makeshift workout routine.

*sniff sniff*

“Are you…… crying?”

Yes, I am. I’m just so…..shocked by your progress. Before you couldn’t even budge it, but you…..you can move it up a couple of centimeters LMFAO.

“Gee, thanks. It’s almost like I’m still a baby.”

Does it matter? You had 9 months to train in the womb. You should be benching at least a plate by now.

……..Alright, it’s time to proceed with the plan. I walked over to Mom with a bright smile. She was preoccupied with cutting a bird while preparing fruits and vegetables, so I had to call out to get her attention.

“MA!”

Mom turned to look at me and gently smiled as she stooped down. “Yes?”

“Help.” I blurted out as I pointed my little finger towards the back.

Mom held a quizzical look as she tried to make out what I was trying to tell her. “Help?” She looked over to the back and hurried over, peering through a small window. Seeing Arthur and Elaine tending the crops, she returned back to me. “Do they need my help?”

I shook my head politely as I pointed to myself. “Help Ar and Ella.”

Dude, learn how to speak.

Mom’s eyes glowed with understanding. “Oh, you want to go help your brother and sister?” She smiled with proudness, but a hint of concern shone through. “I don’t know Beric. You’re still too little.”

I anticipated this response, so I unleashed my secret weapon. I gave her the widest eyes I could possibly do, a subtle head tilt, and lowered my eyebrows.. To complete the act, I said, in a shaky voice, “Pwease?”

WHAT THE FU-

Mom was clearly unprepared for this. She clutched her chest, her eyes straining as she took a short break to control her breathing. She looked towards the back, probably debating whether to let me go or not.

To ensure her permission and to advance to the next stage of the plan, I had made prior preparations. First, I ensured I was on my best behavior. I picked up after myself, caused minimal trouble, and obeyed my parents. I deliberately engaged in “advanced” activities like cleaning up, walking, and talking to demonstrate my quick learning ability. This was crucial in convincing my parents that I was capable of helping and didn’t require excessive supervision outside.

Then, why do you talk like that?

“Have you ever heard of a one year old that could say proper sentences?”

Didn’t you say you wanted to seem like a super genius? Wouldn’t it help if you revealed you could actually talk?

“In terms of showing my talent, things like my learning ability should be enough for now. Regarding my speech, it’ll help with making them adore me. If they adore me enough, they’ll probably be more lenient with me.”

Adore you? You don’t even have to do all of that then. You’re the youngest child. You automatically become the most loved one.

“I wouldn’t know.” Anyway, there’s one more thing I’ve done to help. With Arthur and Elaine now occupied with school, friends, and their chores, they had become much busier. Arthur had recently begun swordsmanship training with the village elders, while Elaine helped Mom with household duties. Their spare time had significantly diminished, which meant they no longer played with me as often. I was aware of this shift and decided to use it to my advantage. Each chance I got, I would complain to my parents about my desire to play with them more. This was part of my strategy—to plant a seed that would bloom into a luscious fruit…..hopefully now, that is.

Mom rubbed her chin thoughtfully, her expression revealing the internal debate she was having. On one side was her concern for my safety, worried that I might hurt myself or impede my siblings' progress. On the other side was her understanding of the need for me to spend more time with them. It was starting to tilt in her left side's favor, but after remembering my learning ability and great sense of responsibility for my age, it seemed like the right side was going to win.

“Beric, will you listen to everything your siblings tell you to do?” Mom asked with a sharp look.

I nodded my head vigorously.

Mom sighed, resting her head sideways as she wrestled with her decision. Her eyebrows furrowed in thought, weighing the pros and cons. After a few moments, she broke into a smile. “Alright, Beric. You can help your brother and sister.”

“Ok!” I yelled as I ran to the back door. It worked. It was now time for Stage 2.