~10 hours after~
After the long torturous hours, Arledge has finally woken up from his painful slumber. Even though he was unconscious most of the time, he can't prevent his body to twitched itself as the pain continues.
"Urgh..." he said groggily.
His mind was numbed from the pain he just experienced. The potion only helped him strengthen his body, not his brain.
What was shown on his face was haggardness and pure tiredness yet his physique was more radiant than ever. It was like a beacon of light as it shine under the sunlight seeping out of the curtain.
'...uck you, system.' was his first word as soon as he woke up. His annoyance with the system raised as well as his body temperature
He blamed the system for not telling him how much pain he will experience. Truthfully, it was his fault for not being specific to his question about his stupid system. He just shook his head and move on.
'Let me check my body first...'
He prioritized his body more than everything for now. He checked every part of his body by feeling and touching areas that may have been strengthened by the potion.
His body changed a lot from his point of view. He felt his strength was increased by a leap as he clenched his fist. His skin was smoother than babies' cheeks as he slide his hand against his it. Brand new teeth started growing as he motioned his tongue. He felt he can now stand and walk with his sturdy bones.
'Am I buffed Arledge now?...' he cannot help but think of being a baby with bulking muscles. 'Should I try standing up? hmm... yeah should do that'
With curiosity in his mind, he can't help but try standing up. He crawled until he was near the headboard. He started gripping two pillars one each in both hands then pushed himself up.
Now that he was all done with his preparation, he will now try to stand up by himself as he let go of the pillar.
'Will I succeed?' he questioned himself then somehow his inner narcissist self said 'Of course, I will succeed I am the future hidden boss! How can I let this small matter prevent me?'
He was apprehensively slowly letting his hand off the pillar. He was worried that this will be a disappointment again. He had already tried this before but he can't stand it as his legs were not strong enough.
But he was not afraid of disappointment, he just doubt if his intuition was wrong. But he will not know if he didn't try, Arledge now completely let go of the pillar.
"Woah!..." he said as he stumbles.
Balance is the important thing for standing. As his upper body weighted more than his lower part, there was inconsistency in weight which affects his balance.
Seeing that his legs were still staggering, he balanced himself and attempt adjusting his legs by stiffening his legs hard to support his upper body.
Just as he thought, his balance improve as he tried it. However, as he was standing still and focused on his legs and balance, he was unable to walk.
Walking was at a different level of balance. It required balance at each step or he will fall.
'Right foot...'
He tried stepping up his right leg forward slowly. He was successful! His first attempt was successful even though he was staggering.
'Left foot...'
He slowly lifted his left foot but just he was about to step, his balance broke and he fall on the mattress.
*thud*
"Ow..." he fell face flat on the mattress. If his mattress was not cushy, his nose would now be broken.
He was not disheartened at his failure. He can try it over again until he succeeds. He was only reincarnated in this world for just a month and he can already do a lot even though he was a baby.
Normally, babies on Earth started walking at the age of 12 months but as he had the memory of his previous life, it can be considered a cheat itself.
A baby at 1 month of age can walk! who can believe that news if he were still on Earth?
'But first, what is this yellow liquid substance?'
He looked forward and saw a discoloration on the mattress. It was on the other side of the bed and he didn't notice it at first.
He was curious as his pee was not this deep in color. His was colorless or sometimes light yellow.
The substance in the mattress was yellow or maybe orange as it was that vivid. Its smell is not too strong and yes he smelled it out of curiosity. As for taste... maybe next time.
He opened the system.
[Clone system] [Quest] [Shop] [Host service (Manual)]
'It's still the same even though I have used system points...'
He opened the host service and direct his will of thought to the blank search bar.
"What is this yellow liquid system?" he asked curiously. The system answered immediately.
[ Impurities ]
"Hmm?... why is it not black?" he asked as he tried to find an answer to his question.
[ Newborn babies don't have many impurities in their bodies as they were newborns]
"Wow, system is that really you? You seem to know something now" he teased.
'Newborn babies don't have impurities as they were newborns. They were pure and white in the body. Even if there were any impurities, his body would hardly be affected. His body is slightly stronger than most newborn babies at his age as he knew to exercise, those impurities were like sweat to him' his mind digested that sentence this long and comprehensive.
"Seems like it had something to do with me buying strengthening potion. Is my guess right, system?" he asked by the will of thought.
[ Yes ]
"Hahaha, system I'm so proud of you! You finally learned something!" he said something from his mouth unknowingly.
'Eh? did I hear my voice just now?' he curiously asked himself. He planned to try it out. He said the most random word he can think of.
"supercalifragilisticexpialidocious..."
'Woah... my voice sounds too cute. I like it!' he thought. His voice was soft and pleasant to hear. It was just at the exact amount that was appropriate for his age.
'But it is bad... If someone somehow discovered I can talk, it can disrupt my plan in many ways unless they do not talk about it at all or I... kill them.'
He shook his head at what he thought. He cannot kill just because of that reason. It was too shallow of him to kill for that reason if he had done something against his will like interrupting him while talking. He will gladly kill that person if he had the ability of course.
---
On the first floor, Victor was currently cleaning the orphanage's boys' toilet. He was tired but he didn't let it show on his face.
Some say that people have energy in them that affects others. So, if he somehow gave off tired energy, the laughers of the children in the living room would be infected by his bad energy. He had experienced it before and he doesn't want those memories.
5 years ago, Victor was just a new foster carer at that time. He and Anna was a thing even before they come to this orphanage.
He was sweeping the fallen leaves from the tree at the time. He just clean the pantry and help others to cook in the kitchen. As he was new at this job, he doesn't know the routine or somehow know the routine. But because of how tired he is from all the work, he had shown a tired face as he yawned.
A child passed by and look over to him to say good morning.
"Good morning, Mr. Victor!" Sean greeted happily.
He looked over to see who it is who greeted him. He raised his head and saw it was Sean.
"Good morning, Sean..." He answered faintly.
"Are you tired, Mr. Victor?" Sean asked after noticing Victor's face.
"I can help!" Sean added enthusiastically.
Victor shook his head. It was his job and he's getting paid for it. He works for the children not let children work for him.
"No, you go play with other children. Let this Mr. Victor sweep these leaves! You shall go young 'un! Leave this place as you venture to the far horizon!" he erased his tiredness and said playfully.
Victor didn't let Sean have the chance to speak as he pushed him gently away in the direction of the other children.
Sean was reluctant to leave but he still complied.
Later that day, Sean was seen not playing with other children and was cleaning the floor of the boys' bathroom. The other children saw that and were convinced that they were too relaxed and helped him clean.
It was a simple conversation but it escalated until the children join in together to clean. Sean left 2 years ago but he still remembered it 'till now.
'It was my fault, I should not let the child see my expression. Children should be happy while they are still children. Happy childhood means a happy life...' Victor thought
Even though, it was allowed for orphans to help in the orphanage or sometimes work instead of the caretakers, it was common but Victor did not want that.
While he was reminiscing the memory, he suddenly heard a burst of laughter in the room above. He was sure he heard something like supercali something, but he does not remember after that.
"Hahaha..."
He doesn't know why but it seems familiar to him. He tried to remember which room is it and who was there. But then he remembered that he was the one occupying the room above the boys' bathroom.
Without hesitating, he left his unfinished business and started running to his room anxiously.
'My son!...'