Arthur, a tyrannical king, once ruled the world with an iron fist. During his rise to power, Arthur slaughtered enemies, nuked cities, and committed countless atrocities, all for the sake of power. However, one day, reflecting on his actions, he was overcome with guilt and died of a heart attack. As he descended into the abyss, a voice offered him a second chance, warning him not to waste it. Moments later, Arthur opened his eyes to find two people looking at him. The man introduced himself as Reynold, Arthur’s father, while Alice, his mother, also looked on. They didn’t expect their newborn to understand, but they were overjoyed. Arthur slowly realized these were indeed his parents, and he had just been born. He struggled to believe he was a baby again, yet his parents cared for him tenderly. Despite his happiness, he disliked being stuck in a baby’s body: his head felt oversized, he couldn’t speak, and he involuntarily soiled his diaper every few hours, losing all control. Then, he witnessed something stranger: Reynold channeling energy into his fists, shattering a boulder. Arthur was astonished; despite his years as a ruler, he knew nothing of this power. Reynold, proud of his feat, turned to his family for praise, but a falling rock struck his head. Alice, having anticipated such an accident, used magic to heal Reynolds, cautioning him to be more careful. While Reynold might show off, his serious punches could easily kill a wild boar during hunts, making him invaluable to his party. Returning from a hunt, Reynold prepared for a welcome hug, but remembering he was covered in boar blood, he went to clean up first. Arthur learned two things: this world was dangerous, necessitating weapons for protection, and he needed to learn to fight to live freely. Back home, Alice suggested a nap for Arthur, which he surprisingly welcomed. In his past life, peaceful sleep was rare due to constant assassination attempts. Months passed, and Arthur’s limbs grew strong enough for him to move. His first act was to look in a mirror, finally accepting his baby form. His parents found his fascination with his reflection cute. Later, when Alice put him down for a nap, Arthur put his plan into motion. Once alone, he threw his blanket from the crib, climbed down, and crawled to the library while Alice did dishes, unnoticed. In the library, he grabbed a book to learn about this world. He discovered the continent was called Dicathen, divided into the Dark Kingdom (dwarves), the Elenoir Kingdom (elves), and the Sapin Kingdom (humans). Although no one had nuked cities there, Arthur sought more knowledge. Another book explained the lack of advanced technology: magic existed. People manipulated mana within their bodies for two purposes: augmentation (enhancing strength, defense, agility) and conjuring (projecting mana to control phenomena). Arthur found no mention of Alice’s healing magic, assuming she was an exception. Most people manifested mana at puberty, learning to control it through a mana core, similar to the “key” that granted Arthur power in his past life. Focusing his energy, Arthur felt his mana core begin to develop. Before he could continue, Alice found him, worried sick. Relieved he was unharmed, she held him, noticing something different. Arthur feared she sensed his mana, but she had simply noticed he had soiled himself again. Two years passed. Alice wrote in her journal, grateful for Arthur’s healthy growth but concerned by his lack of smiles. Outside, Reynold was giving Arthur sword lessons. Arthur seemed interested, but Alice was furious at Reynold for letting a two-year-old play with a dangerous stick. Arthur knew not to anger Alice. To avoid further “dangerous activities,” Alice took Arthur to town. He was excited for firsthand information about this world, observing weapons and unfamiliar substances. He even witnessed fire magic up close, making the trip invaluable. Exhausted, Arthur struggled to stay awake, and Alice wanted him to nap. Despite the limitations of his new life, Arthur enjoyed life with loving parents, a stark contrast to his orphanage childhood. He soon fell asleep on Alice’s shoulder. Carrying him to his crib, she told him how proud she was of his curiosity and adventurous spirit, assuming he inherited it from Reynold. She knew he would eventually want to explore the world, and while she preferred a peaceful life for him, she would support his happiness. The next day, Arthur watched Reynold practice magic in the yard, interested in seeing it up close. Rocks floated, a seemingly impressive feat by Reynold’s standards, but rather pitiful to Arthur. Reynold’s strength lay in augmentation, not conjuring. Inspired, Arthur tried to train, but Alice called him for a nap. Unable to speak, Arthur whined near the bookshelf, but Alice insisted on rest. Arthur then employed a new technique: pouting. His baby cuteness proved effective; Alice relented and let him read. Alone, Arthur practiced with his mana core, having made significant progress over two years. Gathering mana fragments, he had formed a core. With more effort, he might cast his first spell. However, underestimating his mana’s strength, he accidentally blew up the house. Alice and Reynold, outside, were mostly unharmed, though Reynold’s back was badly burned. They rushed inside, fearing for Arthur’s life. In the ruined library, they found Arthur unharmed, the source of the explosion. At barely three, he was already a powerful mage, a feat impossible for his age. He stood proudly, but the collapsing house posed a new threat. Two roof beams fell towards him. His toddler legs were too slow. Alice and Reynold rushed in to save him. Alice shielded him, while Reynold used magic to block the debris. Arthur was shocked; no one had ever risked their life for him. Alice, relieved, cried, and seeing her tears, Arthur cried too. Such care was foreign to his past life as a ruthless king. He recalled an assassination attempt where the culprit’s family faced horrific punishment. Arthur’s “mercy” was a swift execution. Now, his Mondays involved training with Reynold. Reynold wanted Arthur to use gauntlets, but Arthur, with a lifetime of sword experience, refused. So, Reynold also used a sword, reinforcing it with mana. To his shock, Arthur did the same, easily cutting through Reynold’s blade. Realizing Arthur was too talented for him to train, Reynold considered a professional teacher and went to discuss it with Alice. Alice vehemently opposed sending Arthur away. They had agreed Reynold would teach fighting, and she would teach magic. However, Reynold pointed out Arthur’s feat with the sword, despite being just a toddler. He argued for a proper teacher to nurture his extraordinary talent. Alice conceded Arthur’s talent but hated the thought of him alone in the city. They argued until Arthur suggested they all go to the city, solving everyone’s concerns. They agreed and began preparations. The next day, a carriage arrived, carrying them and their friends, the Twin Horns, who had helped rebuild their house. Adam, the leader, introduced himself. Angela introduced herself and her chess, nearly choking Arthur. Deran gently intervened. Arthur then noticed Jasmine on the carriage roof. She remained silent. The others explained she was Jasmine, and the final member was Helen the Archer. With introductions complete, they set off. Alice asked Arthur about his first big trip. He said yes, but internally he mused on the primitive transportation compared to his past life’s flying cars. After traveling most of the day, they camped for lunch. Wolves attacked. The wolves were foolish, charging directly and quickly being defeated by the adventurers. Arthur found the display interesting, his first real combat experience in this world. He resolved to become strong enough to handle such threats. With wolf meat available, they planned a plain grilled dinner due to lack of spices. Alice noticed Reynold’s slightly injured arm and offered to heal it. Jasmine cautioned her to wait. The others gathered around, aware of healers’ rarity and vulnerability. Once Alice healed Reynold, they resumed their activities. Adam, wanting exercise, challenged four-year-old Arthur to a practice spar. Adam, aware of Arthur’s strength, imbued his spear with mana. Arthur did the same, channeling magic into his feet. As they clashed, Arthur vanished, reappearing behind Adam. He lost his footing, allowing Adam to recover. They exchanged blows, but Arthur’s toddler body was too light, and he was knocked back. The others caught him, scolding Adam for nearly hurting him. Adam insisted he couldn’t hold back Arthur’s surprising strength, suspecting Reynold’s secret training. In reality, Arthur’s abilities were self-taught. Jasmine approached Arthur, impressed, and asked him to teach her his footwork magic. Arthur, wanting to keep it secret, was met with her persistent gaze. He knew he would likely have to teach her eventually. The next morning, the journey continued. During breaks, Adam gave Arthur basic spear lessons, and Helen taught him archery. Arthur, only experienced with swords, learned quickly. Grateful, he decided to teach Jasmine his speed-enhancing magic. By channeling magic into the feet and using wind magic simultaneously, one could greatly increase speed. Jasmine replicated it perfectly after one demonstration. Later, Arthur read a magic book in the carriage, with Jasmine inexplicably close, constantly finding excuses to be near him. The next morning, Jasmine gave Arthur a knife as thanks, a rare gesture of affection from her. They continued their journey. While Arthur read, bandits suddenly attacked, surrounding the carriage. The bandit leader ordered the capture of the women and children for slavery. The bandits charged. The Twin Horns and Reynold were individually stronger but outnumbered. Reynold was thrown into the carriage, badly injured. Alice wanted to heal him, but Reynold forbade it, fearing the bandits would target her if they knew her power. Instead, he told Arthur to take Alice and run; she was pregnant. Arthur hesitated, but Reynold insisted on Alice’s safety. At Reynold’s signal, Arthur prepared to flee with Alice while Reynold held off the bandits. The bandit leader sent men after them, but Reynold intervened. He clashed with the leader, fighting fiercely to protect his family. While Reynold occupied the leader, other bandits went after Arthur and Alice. Adam and Jasmine threw daggers, clearing a path for their escape. Arthur, who once took without regard, now fled to protect someone precious. After running for several minutes, Arthur thought they were safe, but a magic-wielding bandit on a cliff attacked with a wind spell. Arthur, too late to react, pushed Alice aside, taking the hit himself. The blast knocked him off the cliff. As he fell, he threw Jasmine’s knife at the bandit. The string wrapped around the bandit’s ankle, pulling him down with Arthur. The adventurers tried to save Arthur, but he was too far. As he fell, Arthur felt a strange peace, knowing he had protected his family. He understood the desperation of the man he had executed in his past life. He hadn’t hesitated to sacrifice himself for Alice. Though he didn’t regret it, he wished for more time with them. Somehow, Arthur survived the fall, ending up in a cave. He encountered a terrifying monster and regretted seeking shelter there. He tried to sneak attack it, but the monster easily swatted him away, telling him to calm down and that it just wanted to be friends. Wary, Arthur was badly injured and needed food. The monster offered fruit from the cave wall. Arthur hesitated, but his injuries worsened. He tried to get up, heard a snap, and cried out. The monster told him it was a miracle he survived the fall. It offered to answer questions if Arthur ate the fruit. He was hesitant but found the berries delicious. Once full, Arthur asked about his parents. The monster, unable to leave the cave, used its long-distance vision to show Arthur that his parents had defeated the bandits. Relieved, Arthur thanked the monster. Since he was stuck there, he decided to befriend it. The monster’s name was Sylvia, and she was kind. Over the next few days, Arthur rested and healed while Sylvia watched over him. Once recovered, Arthur wanted to go home, but Sylvia warned the journey was too dangerous alone due to magical beasts and bandits in the elven forest outskirts. Sylvia could open a dimensional rift to send Arthur home or to a safer place, but it would take time. Arthur practiced swordsmanship to pass the time. Days passed. Arthur enjoyed Sylvia’s company but knew little about her, only that she was a terrifying-looking but kind creature hiding from something. After sword practice, Arthur trained his mana. Sylvia was impressed by his early mana core development, something he hadn’t been taught. She demonstrated accumulating mana while casting a spell, a technique Arthur realized would make him incredibly strong. Before teaching him, Sylvia asked what he would do with such power. Arthur recalled his family’s near demise by bandits and vowed to destroy anyone who threatened them. Sylvia flicked his forehead, disapproving of his answer. She wouldn’t teach her technique to someone with such a mindset. She explained that while she could easily kill him, she could also be gentle. She urged him not to let anger and hatred control him, leading to an empty life. She asked again what he would do with the power. This time, Arthur focused on the smiles of his loved ones and replied he would use it to protect them. Sylvia was pleased. Meanwhile, outside the cave, a monster resembling Sylvia was tracking her, closing in. In Arthur’s past life, as king, he was a tool of the senators, forced into violence he disliked. Back in the present, Sylvia taught Arthur her mana accumulation technique. He practiced, feeling his strength increase. He thanked Sylvia, but she sensed someone approaching, pushed him into rocks, and told him to be quiet. Arthur saw another monster identical to Sylvia. Sylvia seemed to know him and was surprised he found her. The second monster demanded Sylvia come with him, but she refused, and he attacked. Arthur wanted to help, but Sylvia telepathically told him not to worry. The monster tried to persuade Sylvia, threatening to kill her. Sylvia refused and revealed her true form: a dragon. In this form, she unleashed immense power, firing a blast at the monster. He blocked it, warning she would die using such power in her weakened state. Sylvia, aware of the risk, didn’t care; she had lived a long, happy life. She pushed the monster into a wall, but he retaliated with blasts. Sylvia took damage but was more concerned about Arthur’s safety. The monster launched another blast. Unable to dodge without hitting Arthur, Sylvia used her full power to intercept it, temporarily stopping time. While time was stopped, she told Arthur to come out. He did, wanting answers, especially about her being a dragon. But time was short. Her time stop wouldn’t last. She quickly opened the dimensional rift she had been preparing, but due to her injuries and haste, it led to the middle of nowhere instead of Arthur’s home. She had hoped to avoid the dangerous forest, but now had no choice. Confident in Arthur’s survival skills and the technique she taught him, she wasn’t worried. She asked again what he would use his power for. Without hesitation, Arthur replied he would only use it to protect his family. Satisfied he wouldn’t use it selfishly, Sylvia prepared to give him a few parting gifts.
So, Sylvia conjures an egg and a feather before Arthur. She instructs him to wrap the egg with the feather and to cherish it. As a final gift, she imprints her will onto Arthur’s arms, leaving a mark that resembles full sleeve tattoos, much to Arthur’s confusion. Sylvia, lacking the strength for a detailed explanation, tells him he will eventually understand its use, regretting she won’t be there to guide him. She then apologizes, admitting she could have sent him home sooner but selfishly enjoyed his company, a decision that ultimately endangered him. Arthur feels helpless, unable to save Sylvia despite her teachings. He doesn’t care that she’s a dragon or a monster; she’s family. He calls her “mother,” but Sylvia reminds him he already has one. Arthur then suggests “grandma,” which Sylvia loves, asking him to repeat it, which he happily does. Though saddened by their impending separation, time is running out. Sylvia nudges him towards the portal. Arthur, understanding, takes her gifts and steps through. At the last moment, he hesitates, urging Sylvia to join him, but she can’t. She closes the portal, sending Arthur away. Time resumes, and the other monster’s blast hits Sylvia, seemingly fatally. She collapses. The monster, wary, approaches her still form. As he gets close, Sylvia unleashes her remaining energy, incinerating him and everything within a meter. During his teleportation, Arthur hears Sylvia’s final message, asking if he remembers her words about the right way to use his power. Arthur remembers, though deeply saddened. Sylvia explains that the world is often sad, but Arthur has the power to change it for the better, one step at a time, drawing on his past life as a king. Though she didn’t condone his past rule, she believes that without hatred consuming him, he will become a great king who improves the world. Moments later, Arthur awakens on the forest floor, vowing to fulfill Sylvia’s wish. But first, he needs to find his way out of the forest.
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