Chapter 25

As a result, Samyu-chan fainted the moment I called her name...

I was really worried when she collapsed on the wall, but she didn't fall to the ground. And since she returned to normal after a few seconds, I decided to think of it as one of Samyu-chan's special skills. It seems to be fine when she's holding me, though (she does act a bit suspiciously).

After Samyu-chan recovered, we climbed down from the wall and are now on our way home, holding hands.

"Samyu-chan, can all elves do that?"

"Yes, if by 'can do that' you mean manipulating magic."

"Magic manipulation?"

When I asked Samyu-chan about the wall climbing and archery earlier, she mentioned something about "magic manipulation," a new term for me. I had never heard of it in the game.

"Elves can use magic to enhance their physical abilities. When I climbed the wall and hunted the one-horned rabbit earlier, I used magic manipulation to boost my abilities."

"Really?"

"Elves are a race skilled in magic manipulation. Humans have low magic levels in their bodies, so they can't do such things. In contrast, elves have high magic levels that circulate throughout their bodies with their blood, making them easier to control. This also leads to a longer lifespan compared to humans."

I nodded in agreement with Samyu-chan's words. The game mentioned that elves had high magic levels, but it didn't explain the reason, so this was new information.

"Can I do it too...?"

My status was marked as an elf, but my ears aren't pointed...

Feeling curious, I touched my ear with the hand not holding Samyu-chan's. I felt Samyu-chan grip my hand more firmly than before.

"Samyu-chan, if I build up my muscles, will I become stronger?"

"Yes! Of course!"

Samyu-chan nodded firmly, as if to reassure me.

"Ren has excellent potential. Currently, your body is not fully developed, so you can't fully utilize your power to protect you. As you grow and your body develops—around 13 to 16 years old, I think—you should be able to use all your hidden abilities."

"Okay."

"For now, let's focus on walking properly."

"Okay!"

I felt a weight lifted off my chest hearing Samyu-chan's words. After all, even though I had reincarnated with maxed-out levels, I didn't feel like my abilities were maxed out without equipment. If this continued, maxing out wouldn't mean anything. But if there's an age adjustment, as Samyu-chan suggested, it makes sense. In other words, I'm currently under a negative adjustment. Even though I have maxed-out levels, I can't use them to 100%. However, as my body grows, the negative adjustment will disappear, making me invincible.

"...status"

I whispered this while walking, making sure Samyu-chan couldn't hear. A status window appeared in front of me.

"Ah!"

"What's wrong, Ren?"

"Nothing, it's nothing."

Samyu-chan reacted to my sudden exclamation. When I tried to brush it off, she looked curious but didn't press the issue. Samyu-chan couldn't see the status and probably thought it was just my mumbling. So, she turned back to the path leading home. I walked while holding hands with her and took a closer look at the status again. It showed—

• Name: Ren Shulm Gwaura

• Race: Elf

• Age: 3

• Level: 999 (-97%)

What! A negative adjustment was added! This was why I exclaimed. The status didn't show this before I talked to Samyu-chan. This means the status reflects not just my current state but also what I recognize and understand, represented in numbers. The negative adjustment is quite significant, but for a three-year-old, it's normal. With equipment, there wouldn't have been any issues.

What I wanted to know was—

"...elf"

Yes, my race. Even after getting information from Samyu-chan, my race is still listed as "Elf." This means that if I'm an elf, I have the potential for magic to circulate in my body, and by honing my magic manipulation, I can become even stronger. In the game, I couldn't get stronger after maxing out, but here, there's a possibility of becoming even stronger. So,

"There's only room for growth."

—Sure enough, the strongest three-year-old!

Feeling excited, I walked energetically toward the village. Each step is important to reduce the negative adjustment! Finally, as we approached the village, I saw the figures of my father and mother.

"Dad, Mom"

They were waiting at the village entrance, not at home. How long had they been waiting? I hope it wasn't too long... Anyway, I thought it was okay to be seen now, so I took off my hood. My father immediately spotted me—

"Ren!!"

He ran toward me as if he had been shot. He probably intended to pick me up as usual. However, he passed by me and Samyu-chan without touching me.

"...Dad"

My father, who was supposed to hug me, was now hugging the ground. No, I didn't avoid him. For some reason, Samyu-chan gently pulled my hand away at the moment my father tried to hug me, preventing us from making contact. Now, she's walking toward my mother without looking back.

"I apologize for the delay."

Samyu-chan said this and handed my hand to my mother. My mother took my hand, crouched down, and looked me in the eyes.

"Ren, are you hurt?"

"No."

"That's good."

My mother said this and hugged me tightly. She must have been worried, even though I left a note. I didn't expect her to wait at the village entrance, so it took some time, and she might have been anxious.

"Ren, you're strong, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

When I said I was fine, my mother smiled and hugged me again. Then, she stood up while still holding me.

"Samyu, thank you."

"No, I'm grateful to have met Ren and been able to communicate with you."

Samyu-chan, like she did with me, knelt on one knee and looked up happily at my mother and me, who was still in her arms. Then, she slowly opened her mouth—

"—Your Majesty."

—Your Majesty!?

I couldn't help but ask my mother directly when I heard Samyu-chan's words. After all, "Your Majesty" is a very important title. In a small village like this? What!?

I stared at my mother's face, which was close by. Indeed, she is stunningly beautiful. But, a queen...!

"Yes, Mom is the queen of the elves."

"Mom is... the queen... of the elves..."

Powerful words... They are so powerful that my mind can't keep up. I stared at my mother, dumbfounded, and she hugged both of us.

"Once, yes. Now, I'm just a beloved wife."

"Dad"

My father, who had gotten up from the ground, came over and hugged us tightly. I could feel how much he cared for my mother and me. My mother, of course, felt it too. She murmured, "Oh, dear," and smiled happily. Then, she handed me over to my father. I like being carried by my father because it's stable and comfortable. So, to help my mother, I reached out to my father. Then—

"Ugh..."

For some reason, Samyu-chan collapsed forward onto the ground.

"...The queen's blissful smile. Ren's absolute trust. Ugh, for a human man to... Ugh... Ugh..."

Samyu-chan, looking regretful, pounded the ground with her fist. Her beautiful blue eyes were filled with tears, making them invisible...

—There seems to be a lot of backstory here.