[Rebooting the system… Integrating new components… Please be on standby…]
Alden's world is in shamble.
His perception of the world surrounding him is broken into little bite-size pieces, only enough for his newborn brain to handle. Although he could view it, watching the pieces was like watching blurry cut-scenes. Most of the time, it was impossible to understand, so Alden rarely focus on it and let his newborn body takes its natural course.
There is one thing for certain, he has successfully been reborn.
Like he spends most of his time sleeping, Alden felt extremely sluggish and his mind is not clear. He rarely had any opportunity to actually wake up and control himself, observing the environment.
***
The first time he took control, Alden saw a bear-like man.
Tanned bronze skin, short hair with chocolate brown, and eyes burning with an intense red. Mixing it with the rest of his sharp, well-developed facial features, the guy before Alden could likely make any babies to grandmas scream in admiration at his handsomeness while walking down the street.
His intimidatingly broad shoulder is luckily balanced down by his height, and his muscles clearly bulging even through the thick shirt. Although it should be scary for any living being just to meet his gaze, his kind and inviting disposition made Alden feel quite relaxed, especially so with the warm eyes the man is giving him.
'...How reliable.'
That was Alden's first impression. The man indeed looked like he could hold up the sky if needed, and Alden inevitably felt a little warm inside at that thought.
He witnesses that warm bear laughing ferociously, seeing him chatting happily with surrounding people and reaching out to Alden. He remembers being whispered in some foreign language by that man, his little hand subconsciously touching the man's big finger, then the world turns dark.
His consciousness cut out again and Alden went back to his slumber.
***
After an unknown amount of time, Alden opens his eyes again.
This time, he was in a dark room. The surrounding was almost as dark as in the limbo dimension, which startled Alden quite a bit. Luckily, he could hear a bit of white noise from the outside world. It was just the middle of the night, and Alden's eyes soon start adapting to the dark.
He was currently lying inside a cradle, which is not strange for a baby. What worried him is, other than the normal circumstance, an abnormal dark slim silhouette standing in front of the said cradle, looking down on him.
After a while of starting, the person in question finally speaks.
The hoarse voice of a man rang loudly, as though engraving itself directly inside Alden's head. In a language unlike anything he has heard before, yet, Alden understands it perfectly. But the unexpected question made the little Alden tilt his head.
Without receiving an answer to its question, the voice continues, raising its tone quite a bit.
Being yelled at all of a sudden annoyed Alden.
'What is going on? If he doesn't know who I am, then why is he even here? And why is he even forcing a baby to speak? Is he just stupid?'
Still, wanting to dispel the immediate impatience expressed through the man's words first, little Alden uses all his strength to make a sound.
"Bahh bah! ba! wahh!"
As expected, an annoying baby sound came out. The man's right eyebrow raised a bit, seemingly a little bit surprised at the obvious situation.
Not knowing how to react, Alden just remain silent. He is unaware of what the man is talking about.
His immediate goal every time he woke up is to collect information about the surrounding, but it is currently dark, and Alden couldn't really see a thing except the silhouette of that man. So of course, there is only one piece of data to be collected, and Alden is already in the process of doing so.
'At least I know that he is not a god, he didn't seem to read my mind as Asta did. He should at least give some type of reaction if I called him stupid. Maybe, this is really just a strange dude…'
The standstill lasted for a while, before that man disappear, leaving only a few words.
With that ominous goodbye, Alden's consciousness fades away again before he could even react.
***
The third time his consciousness woke up, the scene make Alden blush.
He was being held gently by a real-life fairy!
She was breathtakingly gorgeous and just by sitting by the window and smiling softly at him, her beauty makes his heart tighten uncontrollably.
It took a while for poor Alden to calm himself and takes a good look, noting the two most noticeable traits on the woman's delicate fair skin. A vibrant green flowing hair, the color of summer leaves, that was currently loosely tied back. And her captivating ethereal light grey eyes, shining mysteriously.
Alden subconsciously looks for any pointy-ears that might indicate the fact that she's the legendary beautiful elves, but there was none. He doubt that the elves could even rival her charm.
Just her presence alone would turn the scene magical, but right now, it is sadly not, at least, not for Alden. For the absolute green goddess, that no mortal dare defile, was currently breastfeeding him! The pressure was unbearable and he was on the verge of tears.
Shamefully, Alden was a virgin in his past life with limited human connection, it is a fact that he did not even touch a maiden's hand before. So being breastfed as soon as he opens his eyes is just simply too much, even after being mentally prepared for it!
While he resisted with all his baby might, the woman flashed a look of surprise as she called for someone nearby. Soon, it rushes over.
It was not a human, it was a fairy! A proper small fairy with wings like in the folklore this time! Small, also green hair, pointy ears like the elves, childish look, and is giggling while touching the in awe Alden's forehead. Her supposedly legendary charms are only now so-so in Alden's eyes, after witnessing a true beauty, but it should be top-notch back on Earth.
Alden hears the little fairy scream out something, then witnesses about 6 more little pinks, blues, and reds fairies rush over. Just too much had happened for his little brain to handle, and Alden was not even bothered to be surprised any more as his face now froze with an indifferent look.
Prior to this, Alden already steeled himself and accepts the fact that he will be facing a ridiculous situation like this while still in limbo. Just looking at Asta's mischievous smile whenever talking about his next life raised countless suspicion and Alden practiced facing each of them in his mind multiple times.
'This should be similar to situation 5-C… is this a fantasy setting? That explains all the weird hair colors.'
It was at that time when the woman carrying Alden stood up, and he see a man rush over from underneath the stair. It was that man again, now carrying a surprised and worried look. The two of them stood together and discuss something, all the while looking at Alden with a worried and gentle gaze.
'Is this maybe, mom and dad? They are both too pretty, what will I look like? Well, they are both caring for me right now so I should do something to relieve their worries, I wonder what is going on?'
As though they notice Alden's curious eyes, the man lowers his head, smiled a little and whispers. Surprisingly Alden could actually understand it this time, his baby brain is absorbing human speech properly.
"Dad is here, please grew strong Alden, we all hopes for your wellness."
As if on cue, Alden immediately loads up his prepared innocent baby smile and shoots a giggle at him. He was an unrivaled actor in his past life, so although it might be a bit awkward, his giggles should look pretty genuine and cute.
Sadly, the actor couldn't see the effect of his work, as, after that exact moment, the world turns black. He lost control again and proceeds to throw a mental fit.
'Damn, I didn't remember to load up the system this time too!'
There's a reason why Alden's control is so limited and why he's flashing in and out of consciousness. It was not only because he was an infant. In order to properly gain consciousness and control his memories, he needs the help of the system as soon as possible.
This is something that Asta has told him beforehand. No normal body could contain memories of 2 lifetimes, it put dangerously heavy pressure on the brain and especially so while his brain is still in its initials stage. The body will slowly deteriorate if he does not activate the system soon, using it to store information using the soul, easing the burden on his body.
There is even a chance that Alden might die as an infant in this life, but the possibility of that happening is close to none, and he practiced a lot with the system prior to ensure that.
'Even lord Asta estimates that it should only take a year for me, I probably could do it in less.'
'But this is no good! I felt strangely sluggish every time I woke up. Next time I should focus, okay, I steeled my resolve!'
***
Soon, the awaited 'next time' indeed came. This time, it is truly odd.
In his fourth run, the first thing he saw is the blue sky with little clouds, but there is no direct sun shining upon him as he was in the middle of a jungle, under countless tree shades.
'Huh, it is probably noon? Why am I in a jungle? No, first, System!
Pleasing notices soon started to pop up, soothing Alden's anxiety.
[Starting the system…Success!]
[Welcome back, Alden.]
Finally, his consciousness took control of his body. Alden gained complete command, strength returned and he finally felt like he is living, not just watching a movie about some infant life!
"Yaaaaas!" (Yesss!)
'Huh? I can start to speak now, this soon? And does the system greet me like this the last time it booted? I don't think so…Well, it is not important right now.'
Alden looks around. He was indeed in a forest, but he could also see a clear path leading out and faintly saw a large cozy medieval mansion right outside, meaning he was only at the rear of the forest. But still, he was alone!
'Am I abandoned?'
'Surely not, the man before looks really kind!'
'Damn the hardship curse! Am I in an evil world or something?'
This is too much of a development for Alden, he just wanted to start living properly in his second life!