Chapter 2

2

In the pitch-black night, light suddenly poured in.

I had thought I had been floating in darkness for quite a long time, but this was an unexpected situation. I couldn't open my eyes for a while due to the light that had flooded the darkness.

'What is this?'

Am I finally going to heaven or hell? Whether it's heaven or hell, I need to be reincarnated to take revenge.

After a long time of tightly closing my eyes, I slowly opened them.

I saw the ceiling.

'Huh?'

What, this incredibly high ceiling?

Who would build a house so high?

If I need to change the candles in the chandelier on the ceiling, I'd have to fly in the sky.

Is this possible only in the afterlife?

'It can't be a giant's house.'

I moved my arms to get up. More precisely, I tried to support myself on the bed with my arms, but they felt short.

"Huh?"

Huh? What's this "Huh"?

I was waving my arms in the air when I saw something that looked like a plump octopus tentacle.

I opened my mouth in surprise at the sight of it waving on both sides.

"Ah-huh?"

Ah, so someone is making noise like this...!

"Ah, huh! Huh!"

U...nya...?

I felt something very close.

This voice. This unbelievable voice. Whose voice is this?

My body felt so sluggish. And I couldn't speak properly, like a baby...

'Baby?'

No, it can't be.

'Could I have been reincarnated?'

No, that can't be.

Even if I was reincarnated, isn't it strange that I still have my memories? It's scary.

Or maybe I somehow survived and just have trouble moving my body...!

"Phew!"

At that moment, a huge face appeared above the bed.

"Ah-huh!"

I was startled! I was really scared!

The face was huge. Or am I small? What's so giant-like about this? Am I really a baby? Did I really become a baby? I can't speak or move... I can't do anything as a baby?

"Be quiet, bite this."

It was a woman who looked like a maid.

The maid pushed something into my mouth and started shaking the blanket next to me.

Dust, dust... dust!!

"Ah-fu!"

I sneezed involuntarily.

What, treating a baby like this? Aren't babies precious national assets? How rare are mage babies? And in a house that even has a maid, how can they treat a baby like this...?

"Seriously, is it true that I'm on baby-sitting duty this week? I can't believe it."

'...Imperial language?'

I sucked hard on what was in my mouth and tilted my head.

In Silophia, they don't use the Imperial language.

The language commonly used in Silophia is Ancient Language.

The Imperial language has unique accents in each country, and that particular accent is characteristic of the Empire or its vicinity.

I sucked hard.

Huh, my arm is moving.

It finally moved a bit.

I struggled to flip my body over. I used all my strength to lift my body with my arms and legs.

My head felt heavy and kept tilting forward.

I sucked hard on the pacifier and grabbed the bars of the crib, which felt like a prison.

I couldn't get out, but I could see outside, which made me feel like I was in a prison.

'So, I really became a baby...?'

I couldn't shake off the feeling of being dazed while sucking on the pacifier.

'My... life!'

I had worked hard to finally live a comfortable life, but how could this happen?

I lost everything and gained only a skinny baby body.

Anger welled up in me.

I flailed my arms and legs, shook my head, denied reality, and pulled my short hair, then buried my face in the bed.

After denying reality for a long time, I was finally able to slowly look around.

'Why is everything so bleak?'

The room was empty except for the baby crib and an unused bed.

There were no decorations, no vases, and no one else. The only person was the maid shaking the dust out of the blanket next to me.

"Oh, what? You just did a flip? Even though you're only half-blood..."

I understand that I was born into a wealthy family, but I don't look like a newborn baby, do I?

So, I'm not even reincarnated? What year and month is it now?

'Is this the Empire?'

Of all places, the Empire.

While many places use the Imperial language, the first place that comes to mind with this accent is the Heiren Empire.

It seems I was born into a humble family there...

'Possession is the right choice.'

I don't know which is right.

What's important now is that I'm alive and haven't lost my memories.

And I'm trapped in a baby crib and treated poorly.

My head was a bit dazed earlier, but now it's clear.

I sucked hard on the pacifier. I didn't have the strength to hold it, so it kept falling out.

Standing on all fours had its limits.

I trembled and then relaxed my body.

I ended up lying face down.

'If I stay like this, I can't move around.'

Where am I, anyway? I want to gather some information.

'They can't keep me locked up here forever, right?'

This narrow, suffocating, small baby crib. It's terrifying.

"Ah-huh, zzz!"

Hey, look at me.

Let me down. Seriously, how can the caretaker be so negligent?

No matter how much I cry, it's useless.

'Did they block their ears?'

Frustration welled up.

"Ah-huh-huh!"

While flailing and crying, I noticed a vase without flowers on the window.

Can I use some magic? I wanted to check, so I quickly turned over and lay down.

I closed my eyes, clenched my fists, and trembled my body while putting strength in my legs.

Grunt! Grunt!

The posture and sounds were strange, but I ignored them.

I made groaning sounds and tried to move the magic that seemed to be inside me.

Clang!

"Ah!"

I heard the sound of the vase shattering and the maid's scream.

I opened my eyes wide.

Sweat dripped from my face, but I didn't care. Fortunately, I can use magic. I breathed a sigh of relief.

'Phew.'

It doesn't seem like my magic power is completely gone.

Maybe it's just that the baby's senses are dull, and I can't feel it well. It will be fine soon.

'I need to find out where I am and escape.'

I need to gather information, prepare, and escape. Then, I'll find a way to return to Silophia and eliminate all the traitors.

"Damn, why did the vase fall and make a mess?"

The maid, who was complaining, sighed and left the room, leaving me behind.

I supported my body on all fours again.

How old am I? The stiffness of my muscles suggests I haven't used them in a long time.

'Judging by the development... about 10 months old?'

I had read a book about human bodies and growth processes, but it wasn't clear.

Why are my arms and legs so weak?

'Revenge...?'

It would be difficult to go to Melaine right away with this body.

At least, I can't oppose Melaine until this body grows a bit more.

"Sigh."

Even as a baby, I sighed involuntarily.

Still, they can't keep me in the crib forever, right? I need to get out of here first.

I closed my eyes and desperately tried to lift my body. After groaning, my body finally floated up.

'I did it!'

I quickly opened my eyes and gasped in shock.

'Get out of the crib... to the floor...'

If I relax my body or stop using magic, I'll probably smash my face into the marble floor.

I moved my body with all my strength.

'I made it...'

Fortunately, I didn't smash my face into the marble.

I sucked on the pacifier and moved my arms and legs. I needed to get out of this room and find out where I was.

'My knees hurt.'

The structure doesn't consider the baby at all. What house doesn't have a rug in the room?

I snorted and approached the door.

"Ah, what? How did you get out? Are you crazy?"

"Huh..."

Ah, I forgot about the time limit. I got caught by the maid again.

As the maid lifted me, I saw my reflection in a mirror near the door.

'Silver... eyes?'

I opened my eyes wide and hung there, sucking on the pacifier.

I saw my silver eyes and thin, dark blue hair.

'...Silver eyes? Heiren Empire?'

Two things overlapped, and one family came to mind.

An uneasy feeling crept into my mind.

"Phew, how did you get down? Did you roll?"

Babies can't answer, no matter how many times you ask.

'Is this really stupid?'

I looked at the maid with a pitiful expression, but she sighed after checking my body for bruises.

'Hmm, maybe I am a precious child.'

Since the maid is taking care of me and paying attention to my injuries, there must be something special about me. Silver eyes are rare. Even after traveling around, I rarely met anyone with silver eyes.

'It can't be.'

I shook my head, trying to deny it.

The maid looked at me strangely and covered me with a blanket.

"Go to sleep now."

Then she took the pacifier away.

"Ah-huh...!"

My pacifier! Give me back my pacifier! I tried to reach for it, but my hands wouldn't move.

I stared blankly. I was sure I was thinking about something just now...

'Heiren...'

There was something about the Heiren Empire.

'What was it?'

My mouth opened wide involuntarily.

After a big yawn, my eyelids felt heavy.

I saw the maid put the pacifier on a nearby windowsill.

'That pacifier...'

I had to get it. It was really ridiculous.