Chapter 6

6

"Ah bu!"

There was nothing in the air, but I waved my hands vigorously. I felt like I should do something, but I didn't know what.

"Well, it's been pretty quiet lately."

The maids would come in and mutter something, but I didn't understand what they were saying.

Bored, I bit my thumb.

'Sucking on it, maybe I'll remember something I forgot...'

"Ah bu bu! Bu ah!"

"Ow, it's so noisy. Could you be a bit quieter?"

Something came into my mouth as if it were annoying.

I was laughing uncontrollably, waving my arms and legs in the air, and then I instinctively started sucking on it. Suddenly, I came to my senses.

The ridiculous things I had done so far flashed through my mind.

I had been laughing foolishly even when scolded, and I had been waving my arms and legs in the air as if there was something there...

'Sucking on it...'

I need to protect my pacifier.

Without my pacifier, time just drags on.

'How much time has passed this time?'

Without my pacifier, my mind doesn't work at all, which is a problem. I don't have time to play and rest.

I need to start training to build up my magic power and get information as quickly as possible.

Then I need to return to Silopia, take revenge, and live a smooth life with my younger body.

"It would be nice to be born into a good family, even if it's just a half, and live a life of ease without doing any work."

Do you like being locked up in a dusty, corner room like this? Even a pig fattened up in a pen would have more exercise!

Moreover, I don't know how far back in the corner this room is. It took me a long time just to find the stairs and go down!

I thought about making a fuss, but the only words that came out were "Ah bu" or "Ah bu u..." or something like that.

"Ah bu!"

I gave up cleanly.

'I will definitely wash my pacifier today.'

It seems that the reason my mind isn't working as well as before is because my pacifier, an essential item for babies, is dirty.

'How long has it been since it was last cleaned?'

It even smells musty.

'Is it moldy?'

A body that naturally circulates magic often purifies itself.

That's why mages don't get sick easily and don't fall ill from minor things.

However, if they can't control their magic properly or if their magic goes out of control, it often manifests like a disease.

'I need to be careful about that.'

If my magic power increases too rapidly in my young body, it could quickly damage me.

"Be good today. It seems you've been quiet this week."

"Ah bu!"

I pretended to know nothing and waved my arms and legs in the air, then suddenly froze.

'A week...?'

A week? What kind of dog-like nonsense is this?

It was a bolt from the blue.

I've been doing this foolish thing for a week without my pacifier?

'Eating, sleeping, and pooping? Eating, sleeping, and pooping?'

The door closed with a click.

I held my pacifier in my mouth and got into position.

This is the posture for using magic.

It's a stance where the lower body is most tense and the most comfortable for exerting force.

'Posture... '

Don't think about it.

My body floated up.

It seems my magic has hardened from not using it for a week.

It doesn't move as I wish.

Groaning, I managed to land safely on the marble floor.

"Bu uu..."

The sigh I let out with the pacifier in my mouth sounded a bit strange.

Anyway, the next challenge is... the door.

This time, the door was firmly closed. To open it, I needed to control my magic carefully.

First, I moved my magic to grab the doorknob and then used the force of gravity to pull it down.

It sounds easy, but it's a very difficult and advanced technique, especially for a baby.

I looked around and lay down, getting into position.

I lifted my arms and legs and slightly bent them. I closed my eyes, visualized the door, and imagined channeling my magic into it.

"Uu..."

A groan of effort escaped my mouth.

I felt a bead of cold sweat roll down my small face.

I made my magic crawl up the door like a worm.

I exerted force...

"Grunt!"

And pulled it down.

Click, the sound of the lock opening made me open my eyes wide.

Yes, I finally opened it!

Indeed, the greatness of my existence cannot be stopped even if my body is young.

As a reward to myself, I sucked on my pacifier hard. It seemed to calm my tense mind.

I held my pacifier in my mouth and peeked through the crack in the door.

No one was in sight.

I had memorized the path from last time, so finding the stairs and going down wouldn't be difficult.

Last time, I chose the fountain because the pond seemed too far away...

'This time, I won't be fooled. I'll go straight to the pond.'

There's usually a pond in a garden, so I should head for the area with grass.

This time, I will definitely wash this smelly pacifier.

With a fierce look, I quickly rushed towards the stairs. Fortunately, no one seemed to be coming up to this upper floor.

I quickly pulled my bottom back and lowered my legs first. Since I had done it once before, the second time was easier.

I held the upper stairs with both hands and felt my way down with my legs.

I thought it would be scary to go down backwards, but it was simple.

I crawled down one step, two steps, and soon I was on the floor.

I ran to a pillar like last time and looked around. I had to avoid being seen by the maids.

'I will wash my pacifier.'

It smells so bad, I can't stand it.

To think, I need to suck on my pacifier to use my mind, but sucking on it makes me feel stupid. No one would understand this double-edged feeling.

I clung to the pillar and moved my eyes around.

Of course, my legs were trembling, and I couldn't stand, so I was on all fours.

If I could use magic, none of this would be a problem.

'My magic...'

How could I end up like this after reaching such a high level? How could I become a baby?

I can understand if I were a child of five or six, but why a newborn...! After sighing deeply for a while, the corridor became quiet.

I quickly crossed the entrance and slipped out of the mansion door, which usually seemed to be open.

'That way!'

This time, there was no hesitation.

After years of being in a dusty pit, I couldn't bear it anymore.

As I crawled over the hard stone floor to reach the grass, my arms and legs ached.

'It hurts.'

I heard that babies shouldn't crawl on hard surfaces...

'But I understand your situation.'

There's no one as neglected as a half-born into a high-ranking noble family.

The pain in my knees and palms eased when they touched the soft soil and weeds. However, the crushed grass began to sting.

'Don't worry, you will become the world's strongest mage.'

I will put the Empire of Heiron and the Klein Dukedom at my feet.

As long as I am in this body, all of this will be a matter of course.

My nose naturally rose.

'...But now it seems a bit low.'

I rubbed my nose with my muddy hand and hid in the grass, afraid of being seen.

There weren't many people on the way, but it was noticeable. No one was in sight on the path to the garden.

'Should I make this my hideout and pacifier washing spot?'

It's nice and quiet.

I crawled with my less painful knees and went deeper into the garden.

As I went deeper, I found a pond. It looked like a castle garden, with flowers blooming all around.

'I found it!'

Finally, I found the pond.

There was water within reach.

I ran quickly, feeling happy that I could finally say goodbye to this smelly, dusty pacifier.

A dragonfly flew past me leisurely.

It seemed to be mocking me slightly...

'Am I imagining it?'

It must be my imagination.

Even if I were a baby, I couldn't have a conversation with a dragonfly.

Feeling inferior because I was too sensitive or a bit slow...

'Am I a bundle of inferiority?'

My thoughts started to drift.

The dragonfly flying over the pond, bouncing and flying, was definitely...

'Annoying.'

I sat right in front of the pond, reached out, and grabbed a small pebble the size of my fingernail and threw it with all my might.

Splash.

It fell straight to the bottom.

It didn't even draw a parabola and almost hit the pond.

I don't know why the sound of the dragonfly flying was so annoying.

I grabbed a handful of things around me and threw them without looking.

Splash splash splash splash.

How could it not draw a parabola? Is a baby's strength so weak and foolish?

"Haah!!"

I'm so frustrated!

In the end, I even threw a handful of dirt, but it only turned the clear pond into muddy water and created ripples. The dragonfly continued to fly leisurely.

'...Aiming magic.'

If I could aim gravity and compress the air to throw it, the dragonfly would fall to the ground and faint. Unfortunately, I don't have that level of concentration and magic power yet.

I glared at the dragonfly that had flown away for a long time and then bowed my head in frustration.

'At least it's water.'

Finally, I can wash my pacifier.

I held my pacifier and extended my arm in a dance of joy.

The pacifier touched the water...

Touched...

.