Chapter 15 - Delicious Birthday Cake

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Back then, I really thought it was just my imagination. How could a tree speak? I mean… well, in my previous world, there was no such thing as speaking trees.

However, mother told me there were races close to the Elves named the Dryads, which were the spirits of trees. On top of that, there was also other race named the Ents, which were guardians of the forests, living, gigantic tree giants that walked on two feet and protected large and ancient forests from the dangers of the outside world.

But isn't it way too young for this tree to even evolve into anything like that? Maybe it was just my imagination… maybe… Well, that changed when my first birthday came. I was already a year old by now and could quite confidently walk on my two feet!

It was a tad bit hard to balance at first, but after a few days of practice, I remembered how I learned walking in my previous life. In fact, I did it quite quickly.

Unsurprisingly, my parents were amazed… and since then, a few months had passed by. It had already been 12 months since my birth. Has it really been just a year? For some reason, it felt awfully long…I'm really happy to be with my parents, but… I kind of want to meet other people, know more about this mysterious world, explore it a bit, you know?

I have been restraining myself from asking too many things to them all this time. After all, I don't want to sound suspicious or something like that by being way too curious.

Although from what I've learned so far, my parents are given the title of Heroes, participating in a war around 5 years ago. This war was against the forces of the Demon King, a worldwide threat that was about to engulf this entire continent in darkness.

Apparently, every time the Demon King emerged, generated by the world itself, a tide of monsters would appear, composed of deadly monsters that had never been seen before, as well as most of the "natural" monsters becoming more aggressive against humans and other races.

And then, that's where the Gods would bless the humans and grant them special talents since birth. The Divine Protection of these Gods gave these humans the capacity of becoming Heroes, superhumans amongst superhumans with incredible potential for growth.

After going through a journey saving the different kingdoms from being engulfed in this darkness and the constant monster tides led by Demon Generals, the Heroes grew strong enough to defeat the Demon King…

My mother said that such a battle like that was too catastrophic… I've heard that father still mourned for all their fallen friends, many of them Heroes like them.

I guess being a Hero doesn't really make you invincible…

The purpose of the Demon King and the monster in this world is still a mystery to me, but from how I see it, it seems they were created to either wipe out humanity and the other races, or merely give them challenges while the Gods protect these races and fight back against the Demon King and its monsters.

But you'd think that a Demon God is making monsters or something, right?

However, my parents are very clear that… it's the world itself doing this.

This world is named Terrarium, and it is alive.

Mana flows throughout the world and nourishes all life. Those closer with nature, such as Elves, are said to have special Oracles that can perceive a bit of the will of the world.

It's usually peaceful, but when a Demon King emerges, the world trembles, rages, and more… it's as if it went through a complete personality shift or something.

They call this "the rage of the world".

No one knows why it rages against humanity or the other demihuman races, but mother says that it's because… our existence might be an annoyance to the world.

I heard them talk about this the other day.

Mother said that the humanoid races seemingly do something that make the world want to wipe them out. However, the Gods who created them are compassionate and protective of their children, fighting against the will of the world.

But then, the question arises… who is right and who is wrong?

I have yet to see the things that humanity is capable in this world.

Perhaps, if it's as shitty as the world made it seem to be, then it might be justified.

Sigh… perhaps this world has way more than it seems, huh?

Sadly, I'm just a 1-year-old baby. I can't do much.

I can't do anything, in fact.

And there's so much left I need to know…

Terrarium is such a mysterious and interesting world. Because of that, I want to know more.

So, when I grow up, I'll go explore the world.

My parents told me sometime ago that there's a profession in this world called adventurers.

They're brave people that explore the world, fight against monsters, and make a living out of sole adventure.

I might sound childish and immature right now, but I want to be like one of those. Then again, I am a baby, so I guess I am childish and immature.

In any case, I want to be who I want to be and do what I could not do in my previous life.

I want to be free, and I want to explore.

I want to feel the breeze over my face as I explore every corner of this beautiful new world.

I don't care if I'm a bug or whatever, or if I even have a glitched system.

We'll get through it, and we'll do it however we want.

And today, since it was my birthday, something special happened.

Mother and father were preparing decorations around the house. In fact, mother was even baking a big birthday cake.

I've never celebrated my birthday like this… I remember in my previous life that the way we celebrated a birthday was by eating meat… because it was so expensive, it was a very luxurious meal for us.

But now, look at this! All types of colorful little things stuck onto the ceiling and walls, celebrating my one-year birthday.

I can't help but feel flattered…

On top of that, the cake was close to being done.

"I wan cake! I wan cake!"

Naturally, I roared for my cake.

"Fufu, it's almost done. Just wait a little bit more," mother said in response to my roars.

"Hahaha! You're quite energetic today! Do you want to get out of the crib?" father asked.

"Yesh!"

Knock, knock.

However, to my surprise, we had guests today.

"Ah, it must be them. I let them enter through the barrier!" my mother said in response.

Them? Who… are they?

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