**"Zenith POV."**
Tonight I'm in a bad mood. I know I told Rudi I can beat your everyday bandit and weak monsters or beasts solo. But this idiot Paul knowing I forbid him for 10 days to do anything as a punishment, for what he did for my tree. He decided to get his revenge by leaving the whole village in my care for two to three days.
Making my promise to Rudi impossible now, and he will send the hurt people with the killed monsters, since the doctor we have in the village isn't a healing magic user. Making me must supervise all of the village and butchering of the monsters, and even heal the wounded men to send them back to help him, all of that by myself.
(All of that because all of the sudden the monster's rate he says increased by at least 10%. It's not dangerous and making the monsters almost extinct in the region is good and all. But without help from adventurers it's a waste of time).
At first I didn't read the whole note so I thought Paul was going to stay a day and return or even not sleep outside like how we were used to. But he did this as a revenge. While I was cutting meat with anger. I realised Rudi had suddenly disappeared and Lilia suddenly said to me: "excuse me, Madam, I will be going to sleep". And she was flinching and looked anxious.
Those three days were tiring for me and Rudi tried to persuade me to take him, but I refused, however I promised him in exchange, I would take him with me on shopping outings and simple things.
Also it seems he tried to help Lilia, but it seem he failed in his tries, since I found him pouting while sitting on the dinner table after hours of persuading Lilia to make him help.
(Was he really bored to reach this level? I even saw him read the last pages of 'The Magic Manual' on the first day and didn't open it again since then).
I will need to find a new ideas to fill his days, because Lilia advised me against taking him out yet, either to the clinic or making Paul take him to the watchtower until he is at least two years-old since his body is still weak and he may get another illness or maybe even got a bad fever can't be healed with healing magic.
(Poor Rudi, I'll have to break my word with you again).
**"Rudeus POV."**
Apparently Mom wasn't angry at me. She was just angry because she thought Dad would return today at maximum but he gave her a surprise by telling her he will be out in the forest for at least for 3 days and if things are bad it can reach 9 days. (The same amount of days she put the punishment on him).
And she has to take care of the whole village on her own that includes healing wounded men who had fallen to monsters attacks, protecting the village, insuring no will do anything stupid (in short to be a law enforcer), and supervising monster butchering and use detoxify magic on it after that. (To make them more clean and she says it makes the taste even better).
Because of all of that the incoming days will be hard on her.
As for my schedule, for the first day I will enjoy my time with the magic manual (I will finish it fully this time not just some skimming through) and maybe find a new hint for gravity magic in it. (The kid inside me really wants to try it, especially flying magic).
After staying the whole day I finished the magic book and here is the information I got from it:
First thing, I can call myself beginner level magician with pride apparently all of fire magic in the book except for fireball is intermediate level. So I did it.
As for intermediate level:
There is at least 5 spell from every school in the intermediate level and the intermediate level itself is like taking beginner level to the next level by adding alchemy and chemistry of the spell to increase the effects.
Also mixing spells is a thing in here, but what strange is even though the intermediate level is supposed to be stronger in power level but many names is repeated or too dangerous, to think of trying any of them like 『Firewall』, 『Flamethrower』,『Stone Cannon』
(If 『Stone Bullet』was this dangerous I can't imagine what will this next level will do. Also I hadn't yet shot 『Stone Bolt』 since I figured how to shoot my spells.)
About The magic circles that are mentioned in the book. It's limited to the intermediate level and beginner level only, nothing above also they aren't explaining them like incantations, not a single information of how to use them, or how to create them on your hand. It was only mentioned that you need a specific kind of ink and also a special kind of paper but not mentioned their names. (From what I understood is, they give the ones who know how to create magic circles some magic circles to copy).
Also no information about summoning magic, barrier magic, holy magic, enchant magic and in normal healing magic, nothing above beginner level (the healing spell that can't even match the original one, it's way weaker) and still not a single information about gravity magic.
That's it with the book, there's a lot of history, some legends, something about opposition and attraction, and many more, in short unrelated yet related to magic.
I didn't figure anything new about gravity magic. So I was left with my same mana training, about releasing mana. And trying to figure out gravity magic but still no effect. (I will never surrender).
So after wasting a whole day on reviewing information, nothing new, I'm delaying learning intermediate attack magic and higher. Until I'm steady on my feet, because I will probably need to run if things go all wrong. Also I will make sure to make my trajectory to the sky.
I also realised how my mana growth started to become unsettling I think my mana growth is making me have more mana than the average magician, since it was mentioned it's a rare encounter to meet saint level or higher in this era and staying more than quarter of an hour using X-Healing to deplete my mana reserves is an overkill.
(By doing simple math since 『X-Healing』takes 4 times『Healing』and every three seconds a new healing spell takes place then I can say: from intermediate to advanced, advanced to saint will probably be some around the same mana as using 『X-Healing』for 3 minutes or so, maybe even less. See that's what was saying.)
New information is needed to be added is that I can heal from distance for some time now, (even though its mostly me who receives the distance aimed healing).
As for how I do it, I have to focus on what I want to heal and point at it with one of my limbs after I touch it once, then I can the heal the wanted area from distance. I use it for healing magic with my 4 limbs at the same time. (And it's good as mana wasting technique, but my legs usually hurts from the strange pose I make to get them to touch my chest earlt on.)
***
Today Mom mood is more better than yesterday. Not mentioning the day before. But, the fatigue almost caught up to her.
I tried to offer my help but she refused me immediately, and apparently she is trying to break her word and exchange it with the plaza monthly visit until I'm two.
Not that I mind (I had already anticipated disappointment and here it's) but it is hust.. I'm really bored, and if I don't know how dangerous it is for me to leave the house with this weak body. I would have thrown a tantrum or two to make them let me play with friends who are older. (No way someone my age could play).
From the information I got from Mom and Dad conversations about this village and it's kid. I know that the village has 10 kids around my age and 23 child in total, almost 1/5 of the villagers population. Also I'm the youngest child since apparently before dad cleared the fields of monsters the villagers were being held in their house.
Needless to explain why there is increase in the population of the village, right?
Poor Mom, she is forced to take care of almost 115 villagers and without watchtowers guards or the hunters or even the Reeves she is supposed to protect this village with non-comptant men and the young reeve Pete. (The only one dad left). Sometimes I really want to take an IQ test for him.
After failing to help Mom, I wanted to help in the house to ease her worries. When she gets home, but as usual the very stoic maid stopped me and even worse she put me on the chair.
I'm bored and can't even help Mom. (My displeasure is clear as the sky).
***
During the third day I broke the routine by training on magic in the garden, but all my trajectory were aimed at the sky and I tried to reshape spells before shooting them. (Finally a success on something.)
Also I trained in swordsmanship and a strange thing happened. My body developed hardly noticeable muscles very early. (To my knowledge the youngest to be able to do the same back in Earth was a 7 years-old kid. To be able to develop these amount of noticeable muscles. This is really a different world.)
And apparently shooting spells can be slowed down and reshaping them to be not pointy at last part is possible so even if it falls on someone's body it probably won't even hurt that much. (At best it will be like how children throw pebbles to the sky.)
Also trying to decrease spell size is the most mana draining training I can currently do, if I make water ball at size of drop of water (the smallest size I can think of) is equivalent of 2% of my mana straight out from my body, and if I multiplies it by 4 and and shoot them at maximum speed to the sky it costs me around 12.3% of my mana in one go.
I know it will be divided by three tomorrow but that's a very big upgrade if I continued like this I won't need new spells to waste mana until I'm at least three, and maybe then I will try intermediate magic or try make only one molecule of water. (Oops I imagined it).
And It costs 10% of my mana for one spell alone without even shooting it or trying to control it.
***
The days continued and Dad returned after 5 days of leaving the village because of the monster's increasing in numbers and strength, after the report he gave us his sheepish smile and finished his words saying: "they were nothing dangerous."
(Funny enough, his clothes didn't agree, they were torn and cut from many places and he was patched in many areas and Mom healed him the moment she saw him in reflex).
He continued and said as insurance "he will keep a monsters hunting in the forest, like this one monthly, to keep the monsters on check." He also thanked Mom for her hard work. With a grateful hug before thanking her again for her hardwork in taking care of the village. (This Paul, I agree with you that, Mom is an airhead but not to this level).
Mom jumped like a happy deer and told dad the punishment was lifted. (Wow! Maybe, I'm the one who doesn't understand anything of this family).
Also for some reason Mom and Dad completely broke their promise about letting me join them on easy days of work, after looking around for a second I immediately figured out who did it, it was Lilia doing.
(From Healthy side I'm happy because I'm safe, but on the other hand from how boring my life had become to me, I'm really bored I can't do anything new, and interaction with this family had become too boring, Lilia with her stoic character and the boundaries she put, Mom with her childish behaviour she is not cut to be a mother yet, she needs to grow up first, Dad with his goofy faces and only focusing in making siblings for me).
The conclusion we reached after all of this is that Mom and Dad will return to their behaviour even if they said they will do it in moderation. Me and Lilia know that's not possible. (I'm talking about how they said they will slow down because they already all lovey and dovey when we still having our dinner.)
Lilia as a compensation, she will make some time for me daily to talk with me. Mom and Dad will also make time for me in their free days to talk to me about their lives and play with me.
Also they promised me that they would let me play out of the garden and even take me with them to their workplace in the light days and free days. (All I have to do is wait for almost a year). But it will be worth it.
***
And my day becomes like this in the morning when I wake up and eat breakfast in the kitchen.
After the breakfast I wait a little before looking to find who is free in the house. To stay with me. Depending on who's free they either tell me a story or play with me. (No need to say who is who in the past examples, even though they rarely change roles where Mom plays with me and Paul is the one who tells me a story). Or in Lilia's case she let me talk my mind out.
She is a someone who listens to me without answering. (Almost like talking to yourself but not the same at the same time.) So, usually when I find her. If I don't want to talk (to myself) I pick the last solution the same, the same as if I didn't find anyone. I go straight to the study to read books.
Till the afternoon where I go down and eat lunch and after that. I usually try to train with Paul's sword training stances and I can do the very basics one now. (Mainly in my room to avoid... will I'm not hiding that I'm doing sword training but at the same time I'm not openly doing it in front of them).
My arm usually becomes sore after an hour of repeating the same stance, and I occasionally heal myself after finishing if no-one is seeing me. So muscles won't be too sore.
Also trusting Dad's mental state in raising kids had become out of the question. Yesterday he tried to make me learn how to ride a horse. (I like the idea but it has to wait at least 3 years or I will have a broken neck).
So, I protested and screamed searching for a saviour and Lilia was the one. (Needless to say Mom put a new punishment on Dad but not at night-time one, but this punishment made his mood sours by a lot, I can't figure it out). Sorry Dad, it's just I can't sacrifice this life this easily I don't think I will get a 3rd chance out of nowhere. (I will have to repay him one day).
Also I reread and finished 'The Legend of Perigruies' book and it's amazing fiction book.
(I hardly believe its real after reading it myself).
***
(A/N(the book had been moved for his own auxiliary chapter to save space)).
***
As for my Information about my family.
Zenith (Mom). Used to be a noble young Lady from Millis Country, her full name was Zenith Latria. She used to be the perfect Millis Lady. (I'm hardly believe this especially the latter part). And she used to read books in their large library (I envy her childhood). And love and romance stories were her favourite. (That's.. very believable considering her lack of comon sense). And one day she left the house when she was about 15 because of a big argument with her mother -i.e. my grandmother.
She escaped the house and went to start to depend on herself and failed miserably (somehow I predicted this one thousand mile away). And during her falling she was able to find her love story, (she tried to end it here but I asked her to explain how did she marry dad).
So she continued, she almost died if Paul (my father). and his adventurer party didn't interfere. (That's... honestly.. all are very predictable and I saw them from 10000 mile away. The only explanation I can get for her to fall for a... let go with womanizer, like dad is that she had blindly fallen in love with him.)
Also not worth mentioning they both were all lovey and dovey while saying this part, I almost blurted ''get a room you two!"
And Mom fell to Dad's charms after a year of him trying with her. And she became pregnant with me after the first try. (Is the last part necessary, ma'am? And why are puffing your chest while saying it? Also why that idiot grinning when she said it? Do both of them realise this isn't a thing to say to a child? Will it can be said to a child if you want to make him a fiend.)
Okay let's review the situation with the parts I know from before:
Dad is a... well, let's give him his right naming this time a jerk who could be passed of as a tavern thug. (I'm yet to hear his story and nothing can explain how he become like this, but from how Mom is talking I believe he know is a redeemed version of his old self.)
Mom: A noble lady or accurately now she is a former one.
She is kind of sheltered lady to the point books is here own way to discover the world. (I will admit, having a huge house library isn't everything in the world, and maybe Mom had it hard in another way.)
Focusing in Mom's character and her fantasies: she is a devout follower of Millis and from info I got about the religion I think it's comparable to orthodox Christianity or maybe even... you know what I wasn't religious enough to have the right to compare the religion.
And one of the said Millis religion is monogamy. (I know it because Mom has been rooting it for almost a year now to make me a devout believer of monogamy if not Millis).
Back to subject: how come someone as devout as Mom fall to a thug who follows anything with a hol— (let's stop here to avoid Mom reading my mind somehow, I feel my death will be someway like that.)
Ahem. To say it respectfully how did she trust that he will take responsibility after doing the deed? She hadn't any, is the answer. All she had was a verbal swear that if he touched her he won't look for another woman.
Nice question, was Paul, i.e. Dad man of his word? The answer is yes as long as it doesn't have anything to do with women. (Well, you see dad is a great man if you take off his lower half, well also his brain isn't the brightest so a hit or two in it would be a great deed to humanity.)
Another good question, is Dad well, you know kept his word? The answer would be yes. (Well, even Mom herself doesn't say it but she couldn't believe it, she initially decided to lose her virginity as an adventurer and let loose a little with a nice commodity called having a strong boyfriend like Dad.)
What happened though is he kept his promise and become a better man for the following three months before the party disbanded by Mom discovering that Mom's three months pregnant. (Not that I'm not gloating about it, but I bit both in the ass in a nice situation, and I'm going to say it, they deserved it.)
A simplfy for all what I had just said, and to get this straight Mom didn't see Dad as her husband in her romance fantasies at the first place.
(Her perfect husband is a shining knight who's manners are his definitive. A far cry of what's Paul is. Anyway back to subject, also he should be... what to call it yes.. romantic and inexperienced. If you know what I mean. Finally and most importantly he should be a nice person from inside. The rest of things like his looks and powers are given but not important at this three points).
Now back to what Paul have of those.
- is he a knight who wears shining armour called manners? My answer, is that a joke or you live under a rock that prevents you from knowing the truth by yourself.
- the awkward part.. is he what you call it again.. yes, is he a nice partner, someone you could trust to be his spouse? The answer, definitely no. In women perspective they commonly prefer virgin men who they won't look for another one, that's given. For our Paul here, he is vulgar enough to ask you if are open to add another woman to help you.
(The latter part he said to me himself in one time when he was describing Ghislaine a monstrous woman who answers everything with her blade whom he can never beat except at night where she need Elinalise is help to ease the burden a little on her.)
See that's what I was saying she married a man who is vulgar enough to brag to his son about his past relationships and his accomplishments in bed. (Definitely one of the worst choices to be your partner for life.)
- is he a good a person from inside? That's a nice question and the answer isn't what you suspect. He is a nice person yes. But he is flawed in many areas, he isn't entirely against robbery, because he did it in the past, he hasn't pure hands because he killed more than he could count, he isn't exactly nice because.. he said so, he said he has somethings he done he won't be able to forgive himself for doing it.
In short for the answer he is redeemed now, and become more good than bad, but at the time of him adventuring he is more bad than good only the fact the he is always protecting who needs help was his only good point.
- powers, he said bragging, he is the strongest person in the region. Mom answered with an evil smile that she could call Ghislaine to confirm the information.
In short he could be one of the strongest in the area if we remove Ghislaine and people of her caliber of the equation.
- looks he is handsome, I will give him that, he also said bragging that he is the most handsome man in the village, and he as usual tried to make me and Mom say it for him.
Mom admitted that it was one of few things god left for him after taking his brain from him. (Nice one Mom, even worse he thanked her at first thinking it was a compliment.)
As for me I had done something even better said, "Mommy is beautiful and I wished if I looked like her." Right after Dad was asking, "ain't I handsome, Rudi?"
Let's leave Paul crying after being KO'd by his wife then his son. And let's return to subject: Why did Mom - the devout follower, fall for the thug - Dad?
Simply because she fallen to him after all, and when she became pregnant on the first try he took responsibility for the first time in his life, by searching for a job and marrying her.
Also Mom said in middle of her talk something about escaping the house before being adult. (By this world standards and one passed the 15 year.)
And she answered my question about asking how old is she by saying, "it's a rude question to ask a woman her age, but starting from today I'm 18." When I asked what does she mean she answered me today is the 18th day of her birth passes after she was born. i.e her 18th birthday is today.
And she joked that she want her birthday gift a hug from both me and Dad and kiss to the cheek from both of us.
I complied from the outside while my brain suffered a malfunction. (Somehow every time I do math it gives the same answer. Mom really is 18 starting from today.)
Wait a second! she is saying she is 18 now, and my math says the same. Does this makes my father a pedophilia?! Did he got a teenager pregnant!? Am I born from underaged mother?
I better stop thinking about it...
That man if I reported him to authorities back in earth, he would be thrown behind the sun.
I felt Mom omitted a big part of her life but I can't figure it out yet. (And I feel I wouldn't like to hear anything about this. Especially after the joke that her 18th birthday is today.)
***
Dad on the other hand talked in detail and usually got scolded for talking in detail. (I'm ignoring what I discovered earlier by a miracle. So he better have a good excuse for all of his crimes.)
First thing he did was telling me his full name, which used to be Paul Notos Greyrat and when he said it Mom hit the back of his head with the pan in her hand.
There was dunnn sound for a moment, due to the impact of Mom using her full power of her arms to knock some sense to her husband's head. (Another one please and also consider removing his extra head.)
After a fast scolding from Mom to him, they both warned me not to say his full name again especially if I meet any nobles. (And Mom for a change didn't have her normal smile and Dad's creepy grin was also missing during this part.)
Second thing he used to be the heir of Notos Greyrat household but he eloped dropping responsibilities to his brother.
But, When Mom left and we were alone told me this wasn't the story and he warned me about the nobles schemes.
Then explained he wasn't very bright in the ways of nobles life and he hates the point where brothers and relatives. Are killing each other for the head chair. And the higher nobility always extort who is lower than them. So, he was hated there and to make matters worse, he told me: he couldn't control himself.
(Which from what he and Mom are doing I hope my mind is wrong is my father didn't leave for me older half-siblings left and right. Father dear, your demerits have exceeded your merits by a lot.)
As for his brother, he was born as a perfect noble heir, but he had a big problem, which is he's the reserve of the Notos Greyrat family not the heir, which in usual cases they are sent to somewhere dangerous to get rid of them. (Well, not exactly Dad explained, they were usually send to do something dangerous but safe, like being ambassadors, taking the most dangerous mission on as a noble protecting a frontier border, etc. In short they were send to place where they are okay to be lost but can be found if the heir is lost.)
Not wanting a future like that, he used the fact Paul is a bad example of nobleman he made a good example of himself, by making the "maids create a rumours of Philemon good deeds and Paul bad deeds." (He said this part bitterly.)
Also he influenced my grandfather to either put Paul in forever house arrest so he can kill him. Or to disown him. But, Dad broke philemon face beyond recovery and fled home after his mother death.
(i.e. my other grandmother that I will never see is dead when dad was 12. One explanation of many needed for why he is not well-raised.)
Starting his life in the slums with his best friends. Rudd and Mary Anne. Who he left. Before, meeting Lilia in her father's dojo and reaching his peak of his strength at the time and leaving after making his worst mistake in his life there.
(But he never told me about the mistake. And when he finished this part he went towards Lilia and knelt fully - head touching the ground to Lilia and said "sorry"). Okay, my brain gives me an answer and I want to refuse it, but I can't. (Paul your demerits can't be worse from what I can guess that you raped an underage that's something you can't say sorry and let it pass, in normal circumstances this is enough to get you the death sentence in a country where it's banned.)
After that he became an adventurer meeting a monkey face theif and drunk sausage eater dwarf.
(When he talked about the dwarf this way I found Mom pulling Dad from his ear and scolded him very long and with a high voice for his teachings, I didn't understand anything at all, is dwarves vegetarians and his friend broken a tabbo? Or is this something vulgar in this world and I don't know?)
And a sincere elf. (He tried to say succubus elf but Mom sharpened the knife in her hand making Dad change the word at last second). He formed a party with them.
Also the last party member other than Mom was a very stupid musclehead beast girl. (He said it even during Mom slaps and hits on the head to pick a better words.) I can't grasp what my father would have said about his adventurer party if Mom wasn't around.
He stayed with them until he got Mom pregnant first try after she stayed with them for a year in the party. (My only problem he said this part with a smirk. I have already passed through more worse subjects in his story. In short I can no longer feel more ashamed he is my father than this.)
That's when he decided to disband the party, because of that he ended having a big argument with his party members because of that.
After Mom left he told me, he intended to end it with them bad terms, because he wanted to make them to hate him alone. (I asked why too many time). Because if something bad happens between Mom and Dad. And Mom wanted their help. Even if it's something that will harm him they will help her. (Since when he thinks like this smart. Is he really my father?)
Also he showed me his adventurer card which has this information:
Name: Paul Greyrat
Age: 20
Race: Human
Proficiency: Swordsman.
And he finished his story and he told me he will tell me the rest of the omitted parts when I'm older. (What kind of life he lived needed more than 240 hours of storytelling to finish, and he wasn't free all the days too). Also I feel I wouldn't like to hear the omitted parts of his story.
I was still surprised that he is 20 years-old and they were saying in Africa people tend to be parents early because almost impossible to find someone in his late 20th married and without children. (Expect for Issac Harold.)
As for Lilia she told me her story is boring and won't be worth my time. (My curiosity isn't believing her). But she told me she was the second strongest student water god style in her father's dojo second to Dad.
Well, that explains the melancholy looks about water god style. And my curiosity will kill me, but I can't push more since she got one on me and she may use it. (If I annoy her too much and she told my parents everything I may lose my guise of cute child).
***
As for my mana progress I can say it has almost become unlimited. I can do 20 water molecules of water balls with the cost being almost 2% of my mana. I can no longer finish it without this spell in a single day.
Also I forgot to mention but I finally figured out how to use gravity magic but my body isn't helping much. Because it needs too much mana to control a button not mentioning how hard it is to focus all the time in using it.
I may use it innthe future when I grow up and my body is able to use higher level spells. And as for how I figured it out? It was simple. My shirt button had fallen to the ground and I got annoyed while I was already in the middle of my training of mana concentration so I used all the mana I could control in one go and imagined the button flying to my level and it surprisingly happened. (After whole year and half it finally happened. I feel I went a long way.)
***
Worth mentioning, My left lung finally had been fully healed. Now I can run and breathe normally. And I asked Dad to start training me in swordsmanship like he told me before and he agreed after saying. I will have to wait two more weeks when I'm 2 years-old.
Mom also promised me after 2 weeks my outings will increase to other than where they carry me while buying the monthly groceries will be enabled.
Soon I will be able to train in swordsmanship and even go outside, have friends and play with them. And meet Mom and Dad's friends in the village. (I can't wait for these two weeks to end).