Chapter 2 - Being Born

"That's it? Wow." 

Yuriel was expecting to go through a traumatizing level of hardship before being born. Yet, since an entirely different scenario played out, he felt both shocked and amazed.

He had no idea that his smooth birth was due to the sacrifices made by two remarkable and beautiful women.

His paternal grandmother had gone to great lengths to prepare the Graceful Birth Elixir for him, sacrificing a significant portion of her fortune, time, and magic in the process. Meanwhile, his mother had consumed it against her instincts in order to ensure that he could be born in a manner universally acclaimed as the gentlest within the Blue Star Domain.

If these two hadn't done what they did, he would have faced an absolute nightmare before even beginning his second life!

"I don't know how it happened, but I managed to make my way into the world without any effort on my part. Wait, this wouldn't invalidate the quest, right?

Right at that very moment, the System issued a few notifications. 

< Congratulations on being born, Host > 

< You have completed the first quest > 

< You shall obtain the following reward: Minor Physical Enhancement > 

Yuriel read them carefully, and with that, his concerns were addressed, and his worries were put to rest.

'I see. So that's how it is.'

It didn't matter how the quests were completed. They just had to be completed, and he would be rewarded for it.

In the future, if he could train competent subordinates, then he wouldn't even have to lift an arm to complete the quests issued by the system. Just moving his lips and passing out orders would be enough. 

Thinking about such a future, he couldn't help but reveal a smile.

Seeing a sweet smile blossom on the face of the child who had just been born, Agatha clasped her hands over her mouth.

"So cute!" 

Careful not to startle the newborn, she only dared to express her affection for him in her heart as she gazed at him with love-filled eyes.

The way she was behaving indicated that she was not only utterly charmed by Yuriel's cuteness but also found him absolutely adorable.

As Agatha was silently admiring the cuteness of the newborn, a thought crossed Yuriel's mind.

'What change will it bring?'

As Yuriel wondered about the effect the Minor Physical Enhancement would have on him, an intense yet comforting warmth of an indescribable nature bubbled up from within him, refining every aspect of his body.

Although it vanished as quickly as it appeared, it left behind profound changes in his physique.

< You have experienced a Minor Physical Enhancement >

< All of your basic stats have increased to 1 >

"Is having one point in every stat impressive?"

Yuriel didn't know what it meant to have 1 in all his basic stats, so he asked such a question. The system could pick up his thoughts. So he could easily communicate with it inside his head. 

A notification carrying the system's reply promptly popped up in his vision.

< For a baby, it's very impressive >

Yuriel thought, 'Since the system has said it, it can't possibly be a lie.

'It's safe to assume that experiencing the Minor Physical Enhancement has turned me into somewhat of a genius. My starting point is greater than others.'

< As this is your first time completing a mission, the system has decided to commemorate this feat by granting you an additional reward >

< You have gained the chance to draw one out of the four system-exclusive skills >

< Following are the skills you can choose from >

—Stealth: Turns you invisible 

—Tracking: Enables you to read and interpret footsteps

—Appraisal: Grants the ability to see through people and objects

—Detection Aura: Expands your perception

This windfall was quite unexpected.

Yuriel found himself developing affection for his golden finger although it hasn't even been 24 hours since they got together.

'It's because it is being really good to me.' 

"System, did someone ever tell you that you are very likeable?"

< You are my first host. >

In other words, it had never been praised before.

"Then let me say it. I like you very much."

The system blushed at his words.

So this is what it feels like to be praised...

It's such an odd but fulfilling sensation.

'This host of mine... He has unknowingly fullfilled a wish of mine

'He's really something else.'

After a moment, it issued a notification.

< Thank you, Host >

"You're too humble. I should be the one thanking you. Your presence comforted me when I was trapped in my mother's womb, and you have been nothing but good to me until now. I am really thankful to have you.

< I am glad you feel that way. But I am just doing my job >

Basically, it was telling him that he didn't need to develop feelings of gratitude toward it.

Yuriel neither agreed nor disagreed with its advice. He moved on and looked at the choices floating before him.

All of the options seemed great.

For a moment, he couldn't make a choice.

But then he decided to go with the third system-exclusive skill since it met his needs. As he was ignorant about his new reality, he believed that it would help him greatly! 

"System, I have made my choice. Grant me Appraisal."

< You have made the right choice, Host >

The system was impressed by his decision.

Out of all the options available, Appraisal was going to be the greatest help to a newborn who had no understanding of the mystical Blue Star Domain.

< The Appraisal skill has been granted to you >

Yuriel felt a slight tingling sensation in his Skull as the Appraisal skill became his.

Now, with a single glance, he could learn more about a person than anyone else.

Agatha laid Lena's legs down on the bed before she freed her ankles.

"Congratulations, daughter-in-law! You have safely given birth to your son. He looks healthy and very, very, very adorable. You can relax now."

Agatha broke the happy news to Lena.

"It's over?" 

Lena voiced her disbelief.

"It is." Agatha nodded calmly.

Wow.

This was Lena's first time giving birth with the help of the Graceful Birth Elixir, so she had no idea it would be this easy.

She had given birth without even realizing when the child in her belly popped out of her.

This left her shocked.

Graceful Birth... It's really a miraculous elixir for pregnant ladies.

Lena was lying in a daze while Agatha moved her slender and toned hands towards the baby on the bed.

Suddenly, Yuriel felt weightless.

What happened? He was picked up by Agatha!

As he was being moved around, he could no longer ignore his surroundings.

The semi-transparent notifications didn't hinder his vision. He saw through them with a little bit of focus and a breathtaking face came into view.

High, regal cheekbones framed exotic features.

Almond-shaped eyes, shimmering like molten moonlight, rested beneath long, graceful silver lashes, while a slender, delicately arched nose sat above full, luscious lips that held a natural tint of dusky rose and the tan skin glowed like golden silk kissed by the sun, endlessly alluring.

Yuriel's little heart sped up as he gawked at Agatha's beautiful face in silence, mesmerized by the sight before him

He had come across countless stunning beauties during his time as a stuntman in Hollywood, but he could swear every beauty he had laid his eyes on in his previous life paled in comparison to her. Even his fiancée, who was considered the most beautiful person in her family, didn't look half as beautiful as Agatha!

"Wow, who is she? She is so darn beautiful!"

Only babbling noises came out of his mouth as he exclaimed his heart out.

Agatha mistook his surprise as excitement and said, "My grandson, are you happy to see me? I am also happy to see you."

"Huh?"

Yuriel blinked his wide, innocent eyes in confusion. He heard her speak but didn't understand a word she said. It could only mean one thing: she spoke a language different from the ones he understood.

Watching him blink while staring at her, Agatha found him extremely adorable, and an irresistible urge to shower him with affection exploded in her heart.

"My grandson is so lovely. He is so lovely. Hohehehehehe!"

She brought him close to her face and placed kisses here, there, and everywhere on his soft, bubbly cheeks.

Yuriel didn't feel offended. Although he was a man in his twenties, he was in the body of a newborn. It was only right for others to treat him like one.

The added bonus here was that Agatha was simply too beautiful.

Being kissed by her all over his face didn't rouse a single hint of disdain or disgust in his heart.

He actually secretly liked it.

Maybe it was because her lips were soft and she smelled nice, or because the saliva coating his skin was warm and came from the mouth of a beauty who was drop-dead gorgeous.

As he was being bombarded by kisses, a notification with a single word popped up.

< Host >

"Yes?"

< The language she is using—I have found records of it in my database. It's called Silver Tongue, and it's the primary language used in the Silver Rock Village >

The primary language could be considered something similar to a national language.

Learning Silver Tongue would help him understand and converse with the villagers of Silver Rock Village without any problems.

"Wow, that's great." Yuriel didn't know the system came with a database, so he was surprised. "Now you can help me understand what she is saying."

< I can do something even better >

Yuriel felt intrigued.

"Oh? What's that?"

< I can transfer all related knowledge about the Silver Tongue language in my database directly to your soul. Then not only will you be able to understand her, but you will also be able to speak it once your vocal cords are developed >

"That sounds fantastic. System, wait no longer. Transfer it to me."

< As you wish, Host >

< Initiating Information Transfer to Host's soul. >

< The Silver Tongue language is being transferred to your soul >

< 1%... 10%... 30%... >

It hurt.

Yuriel experienced a dull ache in his head, but he endured it without displaying his discomfort externally.

He didn't want to worry Agatha.

< 60%... 80%... 100% >

< Transfer finished >

The pain in his head disappeared, and a large amount of information appeared in his mind, allowing him to understand, read, and write in Silver Tongue. If his vocal cords weren't underdeveloped, he would have been able to speak it too.

Incredible!

"System, you are really useful. If you keep being this amazing, I might just fall in love with you. Haha."

The system went silent, as if it had heard something shocking.

Yuriel was able to effortlessly understand Agatha's words even though she was speaking in a language he hadn't known a few moments ago.

"This is great."

Agatha was showering him with affection and praises.

'She is praising me endlessly?'

'It seems like this woman is really fond of me.'

Yuriel was undeniably curious about her, so he appraised her, but it didn't work. Her level was too high.

However, as he heard her speak, he discovered that they shared blood ties.

She was his grandma.

He found it as shocking as the system's ability to help him understand a language in seconds.

You see, Agatha looked not a day older than 30. It was really surprising for someone as young-looking as her to have a grandchild.

A sweet, melodic voice rose from behind him.

"Mother-in-law, stop monopolizing him. I want to take a look at my son. Please give him to me."

"Okay, okay, you can have him."

Agatha was silly, but she was not evil. She didn't want to do anything to upset Lena, so she hurriedly passed the child in her hands to her.

"He has Damien's eyes and brows," Lena said while looking at the baby in her embrace with a gentle and motherly gaze.

Yuriel was also checking her out.

'This is my mother in this life?'

'She is even more beautiful than my grandma.'

'How can a person be so beautiful?'

Lena wasn't necessarily more beautiful than Agatha. It's just that everyone has a type, and Lena was exactly his type. So he naturally found her more lovely than his grandma. That's not to say he didn't love Agatha—he had a very favorable impression of her and had already developed a liking for her.

Badump~~~ Badump~~~

As he looked at Lena, His little heart started to beat like a war trumpet in his ribcage. He had experienced it before, so he knew what it meant. He had fallen in love!

"What's her name?"

The answer to this question was given to Yuriel quite quickly as Agatha spoke up.

"But he has Lena's nose, lips, and hair. Even the shape of his ears and the color of his eyebrows look like yours."

"Lena? It's a nice name," Yuriel thought as he made himself comfortable in his mother's embrace.

"He has inherited the best features of his parents. When he grows up, he will have killer looks." Agatha couldn't help but comment.

Yuriel had delicate facial features, but his sword-like brows, fierce golden eyes, and jet-black hair made up for it, adding a bizarre and wild touch of handsomeness to his childish beauty.

The unique bendy of multiple exotic features made him look undeniably cute as a child. Once he grows up, he was bound to be irresistible.

"Yeah, you're right." Lena agreed with her mother-in-law on this. "I can already see him making girls fall in love with him left and right."

They believed Yuriel couldn't understand a word of what they were saying, but he understood everything, and he felt that they were exaggerating a bit too much.

"What are you going to name him?"

"Before Damien went on the expedition, he told me to name our child after the angel Yuriel. So, I am going to name him Yur."

"That's a nice name."

"Guu~~"

"Looks like my grandson likes it too."

Agatha wasn't wrong.

Yur wasn't much different from Yuriel, and it was easier to say. So he easily accepted the name change. It had nothing to do with the fact that he was blinded by his love for Lena...

"Daughter-in-law, you are really good at naming children."

"Thank you, Agatha."

"Rest with your newborn. I will go and inform the matriarch about the birth of her great-grandson."

Agatha went away, leaving the pair of mother and son behind in the small and modest room.