-Chapter 4: Rudeus's Beginning Part 2-

AN: I've got a battery of tests this week, so I don't know if I'll be able to produce more chapters. Well, I'll probably be fine to work on this during that time. Even if I can't work much more, I've already got the next chapter pretty much done this time! I went ahead and made two chapters like I said I would. Mission accomplished! Granted, the next one might be a little shorter than usual… Oops. Anyways, enjoy this chapter!

-2 months later-

I accidentally told Saleyakt about my previous life. Oops. I was probably going to tell him someday anyway though. It'll avoid suspicion if I tell him sooner rather than later, and so I began telling him about my previous life. I gave him a general overview of my life from day 1 to year 10. It was a decent stopping point, I got to leave him on a cliff hanger. I have now mimicked the TV strategies of Earth! Next, I'll overview my travels in "Dead End." And now I don't have much to do again. I would tell Saleyakt about my next travels but it's to close to the end of the day to end on a better spot.

As a baby I don't have much to do, for that matter I don't have much of anything at all. I have nothing but the clothes on me, which is a diaper, I'm so luxurious. Get behind me royals! I got the best diaper. It's made from… er. Uh, wolf fur? Invisible wolf fur! It can go invis- wait no, that's not something I should brag about except with a woman in bed. Wait, if the fur can go invisible can I make it go invisible. I mean supposedly it can't after the wolf is dead, but I've got mana to power it with. How much have they actually tested this coat's capabilities? The hydra scales were capable of consuming mana even after the hydra was dead, so I don't see why this fur can't. Even if it doesn't that's something to help figure out about how magic items work. Kind of like the magic armor, does this mean I have an old piece of magic armor equipped?

Our parents came while I was listening to Saleyakt's coos of joy. I haven't developed much of a relationship with my parents, I kind of feel bad about that. I guess I should spend more time with them. Alright, Daddy, pick me up. If I remember correctly his name was Lukaria. What should I call him? Because of my previous two lives I don't know if I want to call him anything close to "father", but I don't know if he would like to be referred to as Lukaria either. I understand that pain, Lucy used to run away from her daddy when he came home. I cannot let this boy feel that same pain! Hmm… I could try to give him a cute nickname. I was given nicknames when I was a father and that wasn't painful, it was nice. He would probably agree. Wait, should I even be speaking up yet? Y'know the whole child act. I don't think children talk at this age… Pointless thoughts. Wait, no, should I be trying to seem like a genius child to have higher expectations? If they have higher expectations, it won't be bizarre when I do things a normal child doesn't… I still think it's a little early.

It seems we don't have a maid or anyone like that coming, I expected that if they were going to get one it would've been right after they had me. Either that or before, but no one has appeared. I think I've been spoiled by my Greyrat name from a previous life… That reminds me of when Lilia back when I was a baby… Well, she reacted the calmest about me knowing how to cast magic. Are all maids less excited about things? Aisha never seemed to ever overreact to anything either. Still, would this help with my parents freaking out about my magic? I don't want them to be forced into having a maid or anything, so I shouldn't go around making a mess of everything.

Other than through a maid, how do I make my magic look normal? I probably won't have a tutor like in my previous life. Roxy-sensei isn't going to barge through my door demanding to teach me and I don't know how much my parents are willing to pay on a tutor. It's easier to learn magic in this generation than it was the last time I was a baby, so maybe it's more likely? Although, I think the nobility vs. commoner education is still vastly different. Education is still super stinking expensive. Maybe I could just go with a magic book and hope that works out? I was able to get away with learning up to intermediate without anyone suspecting of reincarnation last time, but I think the people here would be more aware of that because of a certain enemy from a few hundred years ago. At least if Orsted told them he will reincarnate. Either way they are more likely to know about it than my old parents because I've only ever heard of demon and dragon races reincarnating, the only exception being myself, but my reincarnation is a well-guarded secret because it's extremely rare to reincarnate. I'm lucky I get three chances at life. Well, my last life was a success, so I didn't need the chance. Darius could've used it though…

Back to covering up my magic abilities. Another way to cover it up would be going to school. In my previous life I made it easier for Superd to travel the world, which in turn helps me cover up my knowledge of magic. Good job me! I even advised the Superd to go to Ranoa. If I go there, it will explain everything up to advanced-tier casting and some saint-tier techniques. Granted I'd have to be there for a whole seven years straight. Seven years is a long time in general, especially when you're a kid. I have no idea of Superd standards but at least for humans it was a significant amount of time. How long do Superds live for again? Uh, around a few hundred years, right? Is that why it's rare for a human to marry a demon? No, it's probably the racist Millis members that caused that. Doesn't matter to Norn despite being of the Millis religion. Ruijerd's going to be very sad once Norn dies. I'll also be very sad. How will I hide my sadness from my parents? I don't want to cry in front of them for who they would think as a stranger. I don't think they would suspect anything of me for it, death is scary for a baby. Anyways, let's not get side-tracked.

I think I should start urging my parents to let me go to school in good number of years, but if I go to school who will teach me to use the spear? I doubt they'll teach anyone under the age of seven the spear. Maybe I'll go with someone older than me. They would teach me the spear while I attend school. I said I would stay with my parents until seven, so I won't be leaving until then. I can make an "older" friend in that time. Or I could train with a spear in the meantime, the problem with that is I don't know when my spear will fall off… Another thing to ask my parents, but I will probably forget the question as I don't have a notebook yet! Unless I do remember because children have pretty good memories. I really need a notebook. Why can't these guys just have paper? I guess because it's expensive? I do remember that the woods are very dangerous. That would increase the cost. Despite that, I think they should have at least one or two pieces of paper.

How should I get some paper? That's probably the most important thing for me to investigate right now. Where would there be papers in the Superd village? My best choices are probably the chief hut, (whatever you call the place that holds those important people around here) or the Rudo mercenary building. If I go to chief hut, they'll probably question why a baby is in the hut… If I go to the Rudo mercenary building they'll probably have the same response… Would either of them mind? I mean, it would definitely be weird, and they'd probably just guide me back to my house or some lost-and-found. I guess that means I'll have to be like a ninja, hiding in the shadows and steal the secret scroll from underneath their noses. Well, it probably won't be a scroll but that would still work. Oh well, I'll probably go with the secret third option of using something other than paper.

I have to use something with a lasting mark easily to replace paper. Something solid to keep the writing… a rock is solid… I can easily leave a mark with magic… I think I'll use that. Essentially, I'm using stone tablets. The problem is that it's hard to make changes after the stone is already solidified, besides that, it weighs a lot for a baby, and it shows off more magic. A bunch of unfortunate flaws! I've got gravity magic, so I can make the weight go away, that's one problem down leaving only two more. I can just make them in secret to eliminate the showing off problem. Finally, with the making changes to the tablet after solidification, I'll just have to deal with not being able to make changes anytime I want for the near future. If I was in my old body, I could just imprint more text in the tablet but alas, this body doesn't have any fine control yet. It needs practice! Which is already underway, so I'm fine there. Well, I guess I can use multiple plates at a time and when I've completed the goals on one, I can throw it away. All problems are now solved.

As I was thinking on that Saleyakt spoke, 'Hey, Rudeus, what do you know of the village?'

I replied, 'Hmm… Well, there was a war around 50 years ago between the Superd and another faction.' I don't see much of a reason to hide things from him, I'll just have to keep secret on some of the more private parts.

'What was the war like?' he asked seemingly being curious today. We don't talk enough; we should definitely communicate better if we're gonna share a body. Actually, scratch being secretive if we're gonna share the same body we can share all the secrets! It won't get out!

'It was a war between a few very powerful figures, such being people with "god" in their names. The first that comes to mind for instance would be the Dragon-God.' Yeah, I'll tell him about Orsted. It'll give us more to talk about, be more open with each other. Besides, if he's affected by Orsted's curse it'll help him not feel the effects.

I'll give him more details than that even! As a show of trust, I'll even tell him about stuff I'm supposed to keep secret. It won't matter if he knows, I can keep track of him easily enough. 'The only remaining things around here are Badigadi who was sealed in the depths of a nearby cavern and the Superd which are clearly apparent around here.' Boom, biggest secret of the war revealed. Even if I can't control him, I doubt he can make it through the cavern anyway.

I should get back on track with what I was doing before. Let's see, where was I? Ah yes, I've just got get to making it. Gotta make it with the goals… leave at seven to find last life family… train in secret… keep good relations with Saleyakt of course and ask parents about the Superd body (demon eye and Poky). That'll have to do for now. I'm tired, bedtime.