Lucius Von Earldred, nestled in his special baby cot, gurgled and cooed, his tiny fingers reaching out to grasp at the colorful mobile hanging above him.
Anyone who witnessed this sight would give a little "Awwww" before proceeding with their usual activities.
However, no one could really understand what this baby boy was going through.
No one but him!
'Damnit! It's still very hard for me to move this flabby body!'
A week had passed since his birth, and in the hazy confines of his infant mind, Lucius—or rather, the guy reincarnated as him—grappled with the memories of his past life.
It was an odd sensation, holding on to a sense of self that should have been wiped clean by the process of reincarnation.
He couldn't fathom why he alone retained his memories, despite the old man's words about the reset.
'He did mention a small chance of error, but he was so sure I wouldn't be able to remember anything…'
In the end, bracing himself for his personality erasure had just been a waste of time.
'I'm not complaining, though. This is fine too. No… it's for the best!'
Well… that was not always the case.
Especially now…
"Coochie coochie cooo!"
"Who's my little Lucius!"
His parents, Lord Matthias and Lady Maria Von Earldred, doted on him, their expressions a blend of joy and concern.
Lucius watched them with curious, bright eyes, taking in every detail of their faces as they cooed and whispered loving words to him.
'Ahh… this is awkward.'
Watching two grown people act like little kids in front of him was just the worst.
His father looked like the typical macho man, with full beards and a muscular physique that could put any bodybuilder to shame.
Typical medieval fantasy stuff.
His mother was a beauty, with clear white skin and a face that could make any man die to have a slight touch of.
Both were young adults, probably in their early twenties, though his father seemed much older.
'Yet he is the one that acts more childish!' Lucius nearly rolled his eyes.
Unfortunately , he could not break character.
Not right now.
'Aaand here comes the worst part…'
"My little cupcake!" Lord Matthias rubbed his chubby cheeks.
"Save some for me!" Lady Maria did the same, and they both laughed wholesomely.
Watching them like this, made Lucius subconsciously leak out a genuine smile.
'My heart is racing again… ahhh… guess it can't be helped.'
Ever since he was born into this world, he had noticed it right away.
'I have a strong attachment towards these two.'
He couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for them, even if he understood that they were not the parents he was used to.
It was a weird feeling, but he chalked it down to the familial bond they shared.
'They are my biological parents, after all.'
"You are the hope of our house, Lucius," Lord Matthias had murmured, his voice tinged with a mixture of pride and worry.
"You will carry our legacy forward, no matter what challenges this world may throw at us."
He gave his usual oblivious baby giggle, but deep down, Lucius had a different reaction to those words.
'This is the worst part yet!'
When he first arrived in the us new world, his suspicions about it were confirmed.
It was indeed a medieval fantasy world of Sword and Magic.
He had seen Magic with his own eyes, and the guards on patrol had blades wrapped around their waists.
Everything about the room he was in, and the way everyone was dressed, screamed all of these elements at him.
If that was all there was to this world, he would have had no complaints.
Unfortunately… the true nature of this new reality was far more than he bargained for.
As the days passed, Lucius learned more about the world he had been reborn into. Contrary to his initial expectations of a peaceful, medieval fantasy setting, he discovered a world ravaged by overwhelming danger, making it a place any sane person feared most.
A Post Apocalyptic World!
'Thanks to some demonic invasion that happened about ten years ago, this once peaceful world became a post-apocalyptic realm where the remnants of humanity struggle to survive against overwhelming odds.'
He still didn't know the details, since all he heard were whispers and all, but he got the gist of the situation.
This place… was hell!
*********
"I never signed up for this," Lucius muttered to himself, his tiny fists clenching and unclenching as he lay in his cot, listening to the distant sounds of combat echoing from beyond his room's walls.
The warriors were currently training, and his father was personally supervising them.
His mother was currently having her nap, which meant he was finally free from their watchful gazes.
"I was supposed to have a fresh start, a new life to enjoy. But now, it's as if I've been thrown into the heart of a nightmare."
He couldn't shake the weight of responsibility that settled on his infant shoulders, a burden he shouldn't have had to bear.
'Apparently I'm the heir to one of the Noble families of the Human Alliance, and we are supposed to lead our people to exterminate this demonic scourge.'
How was that even fair?
The knowledge of the imminent threat posed by the demons weighed heavily on him, even though he was yet unable to comprehend the full extent of the danger.
'The entire situation of humanity doesn't even sound too good, and now I have to fight too!'
Complaining wouldn't get him anywhere; he knew that already.
He was already born into this world, so he had to live in it.
"I'll have to do something eventually…" Lucius mumbled, his baby brow furrowing in determination.
'I suppose I was lucky to be born into a very comfortable family. At least, I don't need to worry about survival right now.'
His gaze drifted to the playfully swaying mobile above him, its colorful shapes spinning gently in the air.
'Right now, I need to dedicate my time to learning more about this world and how I can survive in it without dying.'
Once Lucius remembered how he had chosen to invest all his Skill Points in his Luck, a wry smile formed on his face.
"I doubt Luck alone will save me here," he whispered, a sigh escaping his nostrils.
'Still, my current luck has to count for something.'
Lucius did not realize it yet, but he was greatly underestimating his luck.
As the distant sounds of combat training continued to echo in the air, he closed his eyes, envisioning a future where he, Lucius Von Earldred, would rise above the chaos and achieve the comfortable life he desired.
'Might as well work a little harder in this world.'
His tiny hand grasped at the air, as if reaching out to grasp the fate that awaited him.
'My luck can't be for nothing!'