A New life in Another World

Voices were heard, but they were dim. One sounded feminine, and the other had a more manly tone. A bright yellow light flashed before his eyes as Takahiro groggily opened them. He felt dizzy; his vision was still blurry.

Didn’t I just die? I’m sure I was shot by some dude in the alley…

He rubbed his eyes, trying to get a clear view of his surroundings. As he lowered his tiny hands, he gasped, eyes widening in shock. 

Something was off—his hands were soft, small, and fragile-looking. His reflection in a nearby sword revealed a boy with short white hair and bright blue eyes.

He was in complete disbelief.

No way… Is this a dream or what? This room, just where the heck am I?

Two unfamiliar people—or perhaps a couple—stood in front of him. They looked down at him with warm, bright smiles, as if overjoyed by something.

First of all, who the hell are they? And why are they looking at me like that?

The first person he noticed was a woman with long black hair and blue eyes, wearing clothes unfamiliar to Takahiro—definitely not from the modern world.

Whoa, like the view, miss? I know I’m good-looking and all… heh, well—I wish. He giggled, his tiny hands reaching out toward the woman. Damn, isn’t she a hottie?

Takahiro’s little head turned toward the man beside her. The man had white hair—neither too long nor too short—and the same striking blue eyes. His outfit also resembled something out of a fantasy story.

Whoa! Aren’t you quite a looker?  Takahiro’s baby face twisted into a smug little grin. Well, I wouldn't say I’m surprised you’ve got a hot woman by your side.

What Takahiro noticed next was that the two were talking to each other, but he wasn’t familiar with the language they spoke. He tried his hardest to pick out a familiar word or two, but it was no use.

Well, whatever they’re talking about, I can’t understand a single word. Nope, not one.

The white-haired man suddenly scooped Takahiro up, his eyes widening as he was lifted into the air with joy. A warmth filled him—something he’d never felt before from someone. His hair swayed as the man spun him around, smiling brightly.

Whoa… he’s so happy to see me? 

The man spoke again, tears glimmering in his eyes, his voice trembling with emotion.

“Riko Takamo!” he called out.

Takahiro couldn’t process much of what the man said, but he could tell that the words—or perhaps the name—the man spoke held meaning.

That’s weird. Riko is a name in Japan—well, it’s usually a girl’s name. But Takamo? That sounds more like a surname—but not one I’ve ever heard before.

His eyes widened as realization struck; the man’s hand felt real. The warmth felt genuine; everything seemed genuinely real.

This can’t be a dream, so does that mean…

He gasped.

—Did I reincarnate into another world?

The couple laughed in joy as Takahiro—or perhaps Riko—turned his head toward the open window. The sun loomed over the cliffhouse, casting its warm light inside. Below the cliff, a small village came into view. Huge mountains from a distance. The grass, flowers, and trees swayed like gentle waves. Birds sang in harmony as a butterfly fluttered over a patch of blossoms. Takahiro—now Riko—could only stare in awe at the peaceful sight before him.

A new life in another world…

Two months later…

Riko was seen outside, sitting on the grass. Flowers surrounded the house, and birds flew high above the distant village. The calm breeze washed over him, his hair lifting slightly as he fiddled with a small wooden sword.

Welp, it’s been two months since my reincarnation. I guess it’s been an experience… getting to know these people.

A butterfly landed on his nose. He stared for a moment at the butterfly. He then sneezed, causing the butterfly to fly away.

He lets out a long sigh.

By all means, I succumb to my realization…

He lowered his sword, his head drooping in frustration and sadness.

I didn’t get any overpowered abilities.

Silence fell as the sound of the wind blowing loose leaves from the trees.

DAMMIT ALL!

“WAAH—EYUH!” He clenched his hair, shaking his head like a kid having a tantrum.

“Riko!” A familiar woman’s voice called his name.

The woman walked out of the house. Riko just frowned—clearly not happy about the whole situation regarding his so-called overpowered abilities.

Oh, yeah. The woman scooped Riko up with a soft smile and kissed him on the cheek.

“It's time for your bath, Riko. You've got to be clean as soon as your daddy comes back!”

Let's say she's my “new” mother. Her full name is Rimara Frienmorn. She usually gets in the bath with me—well…

He smirked as the thought crossed his mind, his baby face forming a small grin as his cheeks flushed red.

Hehe, let’s just say I did enjoy the view—

He suddenly froze, his smile fading as realization hit him. The thought of it didn’t sit right.

—Wait, no! She’s my mom, I can’t just think dirty about her!

Guilt crept onto his face. He let out a long sigh, resting his head gently against her shoulder.

She gives me this warmth that actually comforts me….

Riko then lifted his gaze as he spotted a figure running toward them from the distance. He couldn’t quite see who it was at first, but as he squinted, he noticed it was none other than his father.

Oh, it’s just Ruther. He rested his head once more—he couldn’t care less about him.

His full name is Ruther Takamo, of course. I heard from Rimara that he’s an adventurer—well, that’s what she said anyway.

He turned his head toward the direction Ruther was coming from. His eyes widened the moment he realized just how fast Ruther had arrived.

No way! Didn’t I just see you far away a second ago?!

Ruther wheezed for air, panting as sweat dripped from his face. “Ah, I made it in time.”

Rimara turned, setting Riko down. “So, how did it go, dear?”

Ruther wiped some sweat from his forehead with his cloak, smiling as he ran up to Riko excitedly. He scooped him up, lifting him high into the air.

Whoa, slow down! Weren’t you tired or something—and especially—YOU HAVE LITERAL SCRATCHES AND BRUISES ALL OVER YOU!

“Haha! How’s my little guy doing? Having fun with Mommy?” Ruther kissed Riko all over his face aggressively, rubbing his cheek against Riko’s.

OKAY! OKAY! I CAN SEE THAT YOU LOVE ME! Riko squirmed, trying to break free from Ruther’s grasp, but it was no use.

Rimara then walked over, raising her hand slightly toward Ruther. Riko turned to her, not ready for what he was about to witness. “Honey, let me heal you. You’re all scratched up.”

“Oh, okay. Riko, wanna see something awesome?” Ruther smiled softly.

Riko nodded, curiosity flickering in his eyes. He wasn’t sure what Rimara meant by heal.

What is she planning to do?

He stared closely, focusing on every movement.

She closed her eyes and concentrated. “Sugrio Maru…”

A calm surge of aura swirled around her, a faint golden light wrapping around Ruther like mist. Riko watched in awe, his eyes shimmering with admiration. The bruises and scratches on Ruther’s body vanished completely, as if they never existed.

And at that moment, I realized—having overpowered abilities didn’t even matter anymore… because I can get stronger if magic exists in this world.

Ruther’s grin widened. “Cool, huh?”

Riko smiled, a mix of admiration and excitement lighting up his face.

Hell yeah! If magic exists in this world, I can do all sorts of things! His smile shifted into a smug little smirk. Heh, I could even try to be a badass main character. Yeah… and get all the hot ladies!

“So, Riko—are you excited to get in the bath with your daddy?” Ruther asked, casually smiling.

Riko froze in horror, his face turning pale. He slowly raised his gaze, eyes wide with absolute terror.

“Sounds like a great idea!” Rimara clapped both her hands together cheerfully.

What?! Anything but that!

Three years later…

Riko was seen walking through the hall, still trying to get used to walking. Each step wobbled with effort as his tiny body refused to cooperate. Relying on the walls for balance, he slowly made his way toward a closed door in front of him.

Well, I’ll be damned. I’m three and a half years old, and I still can’t reach that mysterious door. He sighed. I’ve always wondered what’s inside that room… but hey, at least I can talk now.

He gave an awkward little smile. Kind of… concerning for a three-year-old kid.

Riko scanned his surroundings, searching for something to help him. His eyes landed on a small wooden crate nearby — the perfect size for his grand plan.

Aha! I can use that to reach the doorknob!

He started walking toward the crate, nearly tripping halfway there but managing to catch himself at the last second. Once he reached it, he picked it up and turned back toward the door.

Hehe, it’s about time I see what they’ve been hiding from me. A smug little smirk crept onto his face.

He placed the crate down and climbed on top of it, reaching for the doorknob. The door creaked as it slowly opened. His eyes shimmered in anticipation, excitement bubbling inside him as he prepared to see the long-hidden secret.

Aaaand…! His smile faded instantly.

The “special room” turned out to be just a study room.

It’s just a room full of bookshelves?!

He frowned, just merely disappointed and frustrated by the fact that the room that he was hyped up about wasn’t much but a fraud.

Was it worth waiting three damn years for this? HELL NO!

* * *

Riko crawled through the hall, stopping when a closed door caught his attention.

Yeah, I never got to see what was on the other side of this door until…

Rimara spotted Riko and walked toward him with an innocent smile.

“Well, Riko. You can’t go in there. That’s only for grown-ups.” She said.

She scooped Riko off the ground. He tried to wiggle free but couldn’t.

Riko squirmed. “Wah!”

“There’s some very interesting and cool stuff in there, but only big kids and grown-ups are allowed. Just be patient, Riko. You’ll get to see what’s inside that room eventually.”

She kissed his forehead and carried him away.

Riko stared at the door for a moment, clearly interested in what was inside.

* * *

Yeah, Rimara… You got my hopes up. And now that I know what’s actually inside that room, I can only think that you just lied to your own son.

He walked inside the room, scanning around with an irritated face.

“It's just boring books everywhere,” he muttered to himself, heading toward a bookshelf stacked with old books.

I always hated books—well, despite the light novels and manga I read. But seriously, who the hell has the patience to read an entire fatass book?

He scoffed. “Tell me about it.”

Curious despite himself, he stared at the old books. A slight interest began to show. The only one that caught his eye as he looked around the third row was a crimson-colored book.

Hmm? This one has no title… Should I just take a peek? A smug little smirk crept onto his face. Well, it’s not like I plan to waste my time reading an old book.

He stretched out his arm, struggling to reach it. Frustration built up as his tongue stuck out slightly.

Reach for it, dammit!

His hand finally caught a grip on the book, and his smile brightened. “Aha! Gotcha—”

His eyes widened as he noticed several other books sliding out along with the one he was pulling.

“Uh oh…”

Downstairs in the living room, Ruther was sitting on a wingback chair, sleeping and snoring with a book on top of his face. A loud thud echoed from upstairs, startling him as he abruptly raised his head.

“Huh?” His half-closed eyes scanned the room.

He shrugged it off as he went back to sleep. “The hell was that about?”

Meanwhile, Riko rubbed his head as he got back up onto his feet. He searched around the floor for the red book.

“That actually hurt…”

A sigh escaped his lips.

He spotted the book and picked it up, blowing on it as a layer of dust scattered into the air.

Well, of course… this book has no title at all.

It was just red with gold linings along the edges.

Riko lay down on his stomach and opened the book. His eyes widened in surprise. Despite having no title, the pages were filled with texts—texts that instantly caught his interest.

Holy crap! This book talks about magic!

His smile widened with excitement. His eyes darted back and forth, reading faster than ever. It was his first time reading something from another world since his reincarnation.

Ah, so there are three different types of magic…

The first was Sugrio-based magic. 

Second, Veno-based magic. 

And last, Ashton-based magic.

He paused, flipping through more pages.

Each one has a meaning… Sugrio means “life,” Veno means “destruction”?

A bead of sweat slid down his cheek.

That doesn’t sound pleasant…

And Ashton means “divine” or “sacred.”

He continued reading for several minutes, flipping through the chapters like he had a test tomorrow. Admiration lit up his face, his eyes shimmering like stars.

A small laugh escaped him, full of excitement.

So, there’s MP—in other words, Mana…

It’s basically like the energy bar from a video game or MMO: you use it to cast or charge attacks.

Riko stood up, the book still in his hand, reading from it as he raised his other arm. A smug grin crept onto his face—he was about to do something he had always wanted to do.

Cast his first magic.

Hehe… let’s see if I can become a badass main character. Maybe I have some hidden overpowered skill I didn’t even know about.

He closed his eyes.

First, focus on the core of your mana, which is the heart…

A faint blue glow pulsed from Riko’s chest.

Once you do that, transfer a sufficient amount of mana to your arm or anywhere—well, I’m obviously going for my arm.

A calm blue aura swirled around him. His hair lifted slightly as tiny sparkles—like floating stars—surrounded him. He opened his eyes slowly.

“Sugrio Aquatigaru.”

A sphere of water formed on his palm. His eyes widened, staring in awe at the glowing blue water.

No way… that’s so damn—COOL!!

He jumped in joy, the sphere losing its shape and splashing across the floor.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!”

But then, another thought popped into his mind. Something much more tempting.

He wanted to try another type of magic—this time, the Ashton-based magic.

Oh, actually, let’s try this one… It says that the Ashton-based magic takes a LOT of MP.

A smug smirk curled on his lips.

Hehe, this will determine if I truly have some cheat skill!

He raised his hand again and concentrated every bit of mana he had. His aura swirled more aggressively this time, almost like a storm gathering around him. His hair lifted higher, flowing wildly.

“Ashton Magirutu—”

Before he could finish, a heavy wave of fatigue slammed into him.

Blood trickled from his eyes and the corner of his mouth. He choked, then vomited a thick chunk of blood. His eyes shot open in terror.

WHAT THE HELL?!

He fell to his knees, wiping his nose as more blood smeared across his hand.

His vision blurred. His body trembled violently before collapsing onto the floor.

His breathing weakened.

My body… it feels numb. I can’t stand up. I can’t see…

The door burst open.

Rimara and Ruther rushed into the room, screaming as they dropped to his side.

Ruther’s voice trembled with panic. “I’ll go get help!”

“Riko! Stay with me!” Rimara sobbed, tears streaking down her cheeks as she held him tightly.

Uh oh… I’m sorry, guys. I was a complete dumbass for thinking too much about my fantasy… Ruther, Rimara… don’t worry. I’ll live. I just ran out of mana…

Riko’s exhausted eyes slowly slid shut. Darkness enveloped his vision.

But I do appreciate you caring for me… I truly do.

Rimara’s voice grew dimmer and dimmer… until nothing but silence

As the silence took hold, a memory he hadn't accessed in three years swam to the surface... a distant voice calling his forgotten name.

* * *

“Takahiro… Takahiro…”

A woman’s voice echoed softly.

Young Takahiro slowly opened his eyes. A woman sat beside him, rubbing his head with a gentle smile. She had short black hair, warm green eyes, and wore a white shirt under a light-green apron.

“Are you feeling better?” she asked softly.

He sat up, staring at her. Her presence alone made him feel safe. She handed him a mug of warm tea and added a spoonful of honey.

“Drink it. You’ll feel better.” She rubbed his head again.

“Mom… do I have to go to school? I’m scared of them.” His voice was barely above a whisper.

“Of course not, dear. You have a fever. And besides, you mustn’t be scared of school.”

He sipped the tea.

“But… they’re mean to me. They bully me… and Suzuki-sensei doesn’t help me.”

She placed the mug aside and cupped his cheek lovingly.

“Don’t worry, Takahiro. I want my son to be strong and happy. I’m always here for you.”

Her voice was warm, unwavering.

“A mother like me never abandons her child. You can always speak to me about your problems… I do this because I love you, Takahiro.”

Takahiro’s eyes lit up. His smile grew wide.

“I love you too, Mom…”

* * *