Chapter 3

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Without much of an explanation of the new world from the goddess Meriana, I left the divine realm.

After being enveloped in vivid emerald particles, I felt as if my body had floated up.

Then, with the sensation of being lifted by something, I awoke and let out a loud cry.

"Ogyaaa! Ogyaa!"

In a faint state of consciousness, I cried out without understanding why.

My vision was pitch black, and I couldn't see anything. I couldn't move my limbs as I wished. My hearing, though not clear, picked up a few faint voices.

"--- was born. ---'s child."

"Yes. --- such a child. I'll --- you."

"--- is."

"Thank ---"

I felt as if I heard parts of a conversation between two people, like a broken tape. It wasn't Japanese, nor English, but a language I had never heard before.

However, I understood those words clearly, even though I had never heard them before.

A very gentle voice softly entered my ears, saying "child."

Perhaps I understood it thanks to the ability to understand all languages that I had requested from Meriana.

Then, I was overwhelmed by an irresistible drowsiness and gradually lost consciousness.

...So, I really did reincarnate.

In the warm embrace of someone, I fell asleep, listening to a soothing voice.

---

× × ×

---

One month later.

At first, I had no sense of self and spent my time in a hazy state of consciousness. Recently, I've started to spend more time with a clearer sense of self.

However, as my consciousness grew, I found myself unexpectedly idle.

Every day followed a similar pattern, and my mother was always by my side in the room.

My mother, whose name is Claire.

She has vivid hair, a mix of pink and red, cut to her shoulders. She wears a clean, white shirt-like garment and a brown skirt that flares out like an umbrella.

Truly, this is a different world. I can't help but be awed by my mother's beauty.

Her face is young and beautiful, and her smooth, white, and fresh skin is proof of that.

Her hair is red? Or perhaps a gradient of pink. The vividness is far beyond anything dyed with dyes on Earth.

Is everyone in this world like this?

While fantasizing about my own appearance, I let my imagination run wild.

Still, this room is quite large.

Isn't it too big for just raising an infant? Next to the fluffy baby bed, my mother sits in a chair, reading what looks like a book.

So far, so good. I don't know what the standard house layout is in this world, so I can't really complain.

However, the empty space is too vast. Despite the fairly large baby bed in the center, there's still a lot of space left, especially at the bottom.

I don't think it's just because I've become smaller.

There are two bookshelves in the room.

It must be as big as a living room in a large house on Earth.

Could my family be wealthy?

I directed my gaze at my mother as if asking her.

Perhaps she heard my slight movement, as she put down the book she was reading and smiled.

"Oh, you're awake? Are you done with your nap?"

My mother smiled as she gently coaxed me with her fingertips.

S-S-Stop! That tickles! C-Come on, aah!

"Hahaha, you're so cute, Jed."

As an infant, I couldn't resist, and I was overwhelmed by my mother's nimble fingers.

S-Stop! Aaaaaah! No! No!

Despite my mental resistance, my face broke into a smile.

Seeing this, my mother seemed even more delighted and began to stroke my neck.

N-No! This is just the relaxation of the facial muscles unique to infants, the Angel Smile! Aaaaah, it tickles!

After a while, my mother seemed satisfied and poked my cheeks with her fingers.

"Ah, Jed's skin is so soft. I might want that softness too."

Is that so? Your skin is already firm and beautiful.

I thought this as I gazed at my mother's face, which filled my vision.

Feeling her genuinely happy smile, I felt a bit embarrassed.

My mother picked me up.

I was enveloped in a soft, warm sensation.

It was warm and comfortable.

As I relaxed in the pleasant feeling, I started to feel sleepy.

"Oh, oh."

Noticing my change, my mother smiled and continued to rock me gently.

Then, a gentle knock sounded from the door, and someone entered the room.

"How is Jed--- Oh, he's sleeping?"

A large male voice became softer mid-sentence.

I opened my eyes slightly to see my father, Gerald.

He had hair the color of new green leaves, styled in a spiky manner. Despite wearing a luxurious purple coat, his well-built physique was evident.

"He's just about to fall asleep."

"I see."

The two of them silently watched me.

The room was filled with the sound of our breathing, but it wasn't uncomfortable.