"I guess," Leon replied with a frown. 'But it's kind of intertwined with wanting to read books, isn't it?"
'And he also understands….' I sighed internally.
"Be happy!" Scarlet huffed, randomly picking up a book. "If he were the demon lord's reincarnation, he wouldn't be reaching for lower-rank magic spells and history books. So be a good father and read to him."
"I never implied there was anything wrong with it," Leon grumbled, taking the book and carrying me to the living room.
Even though we resided in a large estate bustling with maids and frequent guests, all adorned in posh peacoats and ostentatious white ruffles in their collars, I seldom left the spacious living area we traversed. It was a vast room featuring a fireplace and a table where the maids served meals, extensive couches facing each other with a tea table in the middle, and a deck.
Everyone seated themselves on the couches, and my father opened the leatherbound book, revealing images of maps labeled with symbols that were foreign to me but I could still decipher as language.
"Honey, are you certain you want to read him the book with maps?" Leon sighed. "Can't we wait until my little man's a bit more mature before allowing him to strategize his takeover… fine."
Scarlet gave him a glare that could kill a mortal, and he acquiesced. However, that wasn't before he gave me a cheeky smile and wink, proving he was just riling her up. My dad was a piece of work.
"There are five continents in the world of Solstice," Leon began, pointing at each one. "We're in Veredia on the continent of Novena."
On the map, he pointed to a large area in the middle, surrounded on all sides by oceans reminiscent of Australia. It was adorned with symbols of trees, rivers, and large mountain peaks, with a marking for our home.
"Next to us is the capital, Verdanthall, which boasts large buildings and music in the streets," he said. "There's street performers and unbelievably beautiful women—"
"Give me that," Scarlet huffed, snatching the book and putting it in my lap. "If you're not going to read it, I will."
"Books are boring," he grumbled. "We've been to these places."
"Oh, hush," she snapped. "There are five continents in the world of Solstice. Among them are Novena, Delphira, Antigua, Valencia, and the demon continent of Eudoria.
Each one is home to fearsome beasts like dragons and lycans and amazing wonders like the floating Elysian Garden, suspended in the sky, and the Timeless Plateau, where time slows to a crawl. If this world proves anything, it's that magic is limitless.
There are many races, including humans, beastkin, elves, fairies and pixies, dryads, demons, and other mystical beings."
For the next few hours, my mom read me the violent histories of this world and the country of Veredia in Novena, where we lived. From the pictures, it appeared to be a picturesque land of rolling hills, dense forests filled with exotic flora and fauna, and clear streams.
It was only a three-day carriage ride from the Redfield Kingdom in Verdanthall, which governed over a fourth of the continent.
"Don't forget Ironfall," Leon reminded, pointing to the south. "We're at war with them, so—"
"No! I'm not going to teach him about our war," Scarlet huffed.
"Then how is our little genius going to vanquish their forces?" he frowned. "Besides, he's a baby. He won't understand if he's not a little demon lord. So what's the harm?"
After some huffing and puffing, my mom gave in and explained that Veredia was at war with Ironfall over the Elemental Nexus, a spirit vein that supplied rich elemental mana used for magic that could charge artifacts and crystals and assist people in improving their magic.
I learned that there were grades of mages as well. However, they weren't very relevant to a one-year-old, so I tucked them away for later until I learned magic.
After they were done, they placed me into my crib. I felt content for the first time, having gained a little understanding of my strange world.
***
On the eve of my first birthday, something peculiar happened. Whenever I closed my eyes, I saw a status video game screen.
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Molecular Separation
Description: Magic that separates and isolates molecules.
Usage: Silent cast by touching what you want to separate, internally declaring what you're separating, and then thinking "separate."
Stage: 1
Requirements for the next stage:
Unique usages for Molecular Separation: (0/100)
Rewards:
Increased healing
Increased mana
Increased range
Inspect skill
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When I opened my eyes, it disappeared and then returned when I closed my eyes and thought about it.
'I see, so this is what she meant,' I pondered. 'If I follow her path, I'll be rewarded with healing and the ability to synthesize and endow molecules with magic. If I don't, I'll die of old age.'
After considering it, I sighed. 'I'll obviously do it. However, I'll have to wait until I can go outside. If I declared cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, this wooden crib could dissolve, and I'd be remembered as a demon lord for life. What a drag.'
***
Another year passed by with my overprotective mom monitoring my every movement in the courtyard when I was outside, constantly cooing and beaming, while my father watched me like a hawk, trying to determine whether I was genuinely a demon lord.
While he was joking—he wasn't joking.
In truth, it was very rational; either way, he didn't seem to mind. It felt like he was preparing to protect me from the Holy Church in Verdanthall, which housed the preacher my dad had killed.
I was quite fond of my dad.
"Swing it like you're showing off!"
That was my dad's way of describing swordsmanship, and the maids genuinely loved it. Since I was deemed a "genius," he began teaching me swordsmanship in the courtyard when I was two. I was just flailing around a stick, but he treated me like an adult, and I behaved like one, albeit with silent nods. I found that silence lessened the likelihood of exposing my reincarnation.
I'm unsure what people who read stories think, but people approaching thirty can't act like a child again. If it weren't for constantly referencing my childhood memories to practice speech and behavior, I'd be out of luck when it came to acting like a kid.
I didn't whine or complain; I wasn't picky and was easily pleased if someone gave me a book. It was a cringe-inducing experience trying to act young. Still, I did my best, and somehow it worked out.
Now, my mom reads to me nightly, and my dad and I practice swordplay in the courtyard.
Speaking of which, we lived on a vast estate. I couldn't see it all, but the grand manor was as imposing as a castle. Its sturdy stone walls, lined with climbing ivy, glistened under the sun. The grayish-blue slate roof was dotted with elegant chimneys.
The courtyard had a large manicured garden with thousands of exotic plants that my mother, Scarlet, had imported from around the world. There were vibrant flowers of every conceivable color, arranged in geometric patterns and interspersed with marble statues and water fountains. An ornate gazebo situated at the center of the garden added a charming touch to the serene scene.
That's where we practiced daily.
Combined with constant pampering by maids who reveled in my "cute" shyness, it wasn't a bad life.
***
I was three when my family finally gave me some space, which was ironic because they filled my time with other people instead.
Dad and I still practiced daily, with me mock battling him with a tiny wooden sword and doing practice swings, and I read my own books while my mom gushed over my reading ability. However, besides that, I was busy with lessons. The maids taught me etiquette, and tutors provided a formal education on history, mathematics, and other sciences, which were categorically incorrect and filled with large gaps explained by: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: Magic :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧
It made sense. There was no need to learn advanced filtration systems in a world where kingdoms could hire water mages to produce clean water. As for the poor, they didn't get any formal schooling, so people never taught them science.
It was a grossly inefficient and economically stagnant society that bothered me.
In addition to tutoring and etiquette lessons, I attended court, formal events, and meetings to learn about governance, administration, and diplomacy. No one expected me to learn at my age, but all children of margraves, dukes, and other high-ranking nobles were taken. We were all taught from a very early age to be present and engrossed in the world and culture we'd soon inherit.
Lastly, my father decided it was time for another major event—hunting.
"Today, we're hunting in the Glimmerwood forest," Leon informed me, donning the charcoal gray noble garb of the Everwood family. "Be on your best behavior, and take note of these people. Do not kill them when you're older—these ones are genuinely good people."
"Yes, father," I rolled my eyes. "When I resurrect my fallen army and reclaim the Novena continent, I'll spare these noble people for you."
"Good boy," he smiled, ruffling my hair and leading me out.
I didn't enjoy hunting the tiny woodland creatures in the forests near the house, as they weren't dangerous. It wasn't an ethical issue—just dull. However, I'd tie my boots and touch rocks or run my hand along a tree. Every time I did, I'd silently make a declaration.
'Sandstone—silica, clay, iron oxide," I thought, touching a red stone in the forest. While no one was looking, the rock crumbled into sparkling silver, red, and white piles. 'Excellent. We'll be able to make plenty of glass here. It's incredible I can make iron from sandstone as well. Let me check my progress.'
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Requirements for the next stage:
Unique usages for Molecular Separation: (7/100)
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'I didn't get another again,' I mused. 'I wonder if it's a use case instead of the separation because I've separated a dozen things. If so, do I actually have to intend to use it?'
I pressed my finger against the bark of a large gray tree I was passing. 'I'll use the power to create a trail to return here, much like a trail of breadcrumbs,' I thought. 'Periderm, cork cambium.'
With my internal declaration, only the upper layer of the tree bark disintegrated, which wasn't very noticeable because there were multiple layers of tree bark. As a result, it was subtle yet still noticeable. I didn't plan to use it to leave a trail, just as a use case for doing so.
As I expected, it updated:
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Unique usages for Molecular Separation: (8/100)
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'This must be her way of saying that this power is far more versatile than using it for simple chemistry,' I inwardly chuckled. 'Challenge accepted.'