Wow… So maybe I'm not as useless as I thought, huh?
"Reawy?" I asked, my baby tongue trying to form the word.
Dad laughed warmly, crouching beside me. "Hehe, indeed, Leon. You're incredible… To think you developed such a powerful Nature-Attribute Ability already. If you can sprout a seed from this ancient tree in just a few hours, you might be able to grow an entire forest in a single day—at least if they're regular plants."
Whoa, slow down there, Dad. An entire forest? Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'd probably collapse before I even finished half a garden row.
"It really is amazing!" Mom chimed in as she examined the sprout I had nurtured. "Maybe he inherited that Nature affinity from my side of the family? My father and older sister had it."
"Oh? That makes sense," Dad nodded. "Elves have a strong connection with Nature, Light, and Life attributes, right? Still… even so, none of them ever managed to sprout a seed like this. Not one of these ancient ones. Not in years of trying."
Wait—seriously?
Mom glanced at me again, eyes wide with admiration. "This seed typically only grows when bathed in Spiritual Spring Water for fifty years, but you made it sprout in hours… Leon, you've got something special."
My chest swelled with pride as Dad scooped me up in his big, warm hands and raised me up like a trophy.
"Such a talented little guy! You're going to accomplish great things—I can feel it!" he said with that broad, confident grin of his.
"Will I?" I mumbled.
"Absolutely," Mom confirmed, her voice like a song.
I couldn't help but smile like an idiot. I know I should be more modest, but… damn, being praised feels good.
"Wehehe…" I chuckled unconsciously.
Dad blinked, then burst out laughing. "That laugh… it's kinda familiar."
Mom raised an eyebrow. "Hah! It sounds like you when you're tipsy."
"Eh?! I don't laugh like that, do I?" Dad said defensively.
"Weheheh…" I chuckled again, just to mess with him.
"Weheheh!" he mimicked back.
"Hahaha! You two really are the same," Mom laughed, shaking her head.
---
After the excitement, we sat down for lunch. Dragon stew, salad, and some of that fresh bread Mom baked earlier filled the room with warmth. It was a strange life, eating gourmet food made from mythical beasts… but I was getting used to it.
The seed I'd grown was carefully placed in a small flask near the window so sunlight could reach it. Mom said she'd let me nourish it a little each day.
Dad wanted to take it a step further and have me nurture the entire farm. I was all for it, of course! But Mom quickly shot that idea down.
"It's too early," she insisted. "One seed at a time. Slow and steady. If he overdoes it now, he might end up damaging his mana flow permanently."
Crippling my magic? That sounded… horrifying.
Apparently, overusing magic at such a young age can tear into your spiritual foundation, leaving permanent damage that could take years to heal. Magic is like a muscle, Mom said—if you tear it before it's strong enough, it won't grow properly.
Fair enough. I didn't want to end up as some burned-out prodigy before I could even walk.
Although…
I do have this glitchy system, right?
Endless mana. Self-healing stats. A soul that doesn't weaken no matter how much energy I pour out.
In theory, I could push myself much harder than a normal baby.
So naturally…
I did.
---
That night, once my parents were asleep, I focused every ounce of energy into using Mana Usage to reinforce my baby body—just like Dad does when he channels fire magic through his limbs. I didn't expect much, but the burning sensation that followed proved I was doing something right.
And then I blacked out.
Woke up the next morning drooling on my own arm, body limp, mind foggy.
Note to self: system glitch or not, don't be reckless.
---
The following days passed peacefully.
Each morning, Mom would carry me into the backyard for some fresh air and gentle sunlight. I'd spend the day clutched in her arms, observing the birds, reaching toward flowers, and—of course—nurturing my little sprout.
Even though I couldn't walk on my own yet, I didn't mind the way she held me.
Her warmth was comforting.
…Though being constantly fed milk from her ahem massive chest was starting to get a little awkward.
Elves sure are… blessed.
Wait.
Hold on.
When I grow up… will I look like Mom?
Will I also have long red hair, pointed ears, a graceful figure, and… certain physical proportions?
No, stop. Don't think about it.
Bad brain. Down, brain.
Still, imagining myself as some elegant elf guy with strong features and wind-tossed hair, controlling fire and nature at once… yeah, that's a cool visual. I can live with that.
Better than imagining myself with thick thighs and a "bouncy" figure like my mom's…
Ugh.
Let's move on.
---
Sometimes, I get lost in thought like this. Not because I dislike this new life—it's just that… I miss the people I left behind.
My mom. My little sister.
My friends.
Did they make it?
Did they find peace?
I gave everything to save them, and I never got to see what happened next. My story in that world ended so abruptly.
One second I was fighting side by side with my comrades, and the next… boom. My body gone. My soul flung into this one.
And now, I'll never know.
I can only hope they're safe. That they made it back to their families. That they got the quiet, peaceful life I now have.
Some days, I like to imagine they're farming somewhere, raising their own children, remembering the battles we fought and the sacrifices we made.
We were just kids… yet we risked everything to save the ones we loved.
I'm not bitter.
I just wish I'd had a little more time with them.
Just a few more days. A few more laughs. A few more moments.
But I don't regret it.
They were worth it.
They'll always be worth it.
And no matter how far this world takes me, or how strong I become, or how strange this life gets…
I'll never forget them.
I hope you're all doing okay.
Wherever you are.
---