The Warmth He Never Had
After his usual training, both Videl and Victor returned to the village as the sun was going down.
The forest behind them glowed in fading gold, cicadas humming softly as daylight surrendered to dusk. The dirt road leading back to Kanal Village was painted orange by the sinking sun, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful in a way Victor still wasn't used to.
When he entered his little house, the familiar scent of soup and fresh bread greeted him.
His mother was already there, moving between the stove and the table.
"Welcome home, Victor. Did you have fun playing with Videl today?"
She was setting the table as she spoke, her movements gentle and practiced. Victor stepped closer and took a plate from her hands.
"Yes, we played heroes! Um, Mother, you don't have to do that. I'll set the table."
She paused and smiled warmly.
"Oh, how considerate. Such a wonderful boy you are." Then she tilted her head slightly. "Still, I always wonder why you call me 'Mother' nowadays. Back when you were smaller, you always called me 'Mom.'"
Victor stiffened faintly.
When he was younger, his tongue had struggled with long words. He had shortened everything instinctively.
Now that he could speak properly, it felt only right to address her with respect.
"It's because I can say it properly now," he replied calmly.
She chuckled softly, clearly pleased.
"You and Videl play heroes every day. Do you really like the village chief's stories that much?"
Her voice was gentle, curious.
Inside, Victor felt his stomach twist.
Hero.
The word alone made his insides revolt.
But suspicion was dangerous.
So he forced a smile.
"Yes. Videl and I dream of becoming heroes when we grow up."
The lie tasted bitter.
While he was still suppressing his inner disgust, a loud laugh burst through the doorway.
"HAHA! You two want to be heroes? I thought you wanted to help me hunt! Why not become a hunter like your old man?"
His father had returned, a large portion of fresh meat slung over his shoulder.
Leon.
Tall, broad, black-haired, with the same golden eyes as Victor's.
The best hunter in Kanal Village.
Victor turned and smiled—this time genuinely.
"That could be good as well."
Leon laughed approvingly.
Soon, the family began discussing why being a hunter was better than being a hero.
It was ordinary.
Simple.
And yet, to Victor—who once ruled empires and bathed continents in blood—this warmth felt priceless.
A family eating together.
Laughing together.
Sharing stories of small daily things.
It made him… happy.
A feeling he had almost forgotten.
It was Victor's twelfth birthday.
And today, Leon would finally teach him how to hunt.
Leon handed Victor a bow, a quiver of arrows, and a hunting knife.
Videl stood beside them, hands clasped behind her back, practically vibrating with excitement.
She had begged Leon endlessly to let her come.
At first, he refused.
Then she praised hunting as the coolest profession in the world.
After relentless flattery, Leon finally agreed—only if her parents approved.
They did.
They were relieved she had taken interest in something other than becoming a hero.
Since Leon had no spare bow, Videl was told to observe only.
As they prepared to leave, two familiar figures ran toward them.
Twin girls.
Identical faces, different expressions.
One had a bright, adorable smile and tied her ponytail to the right.
The other was calm and beautiful, with her hair tied to the left.
Skyla and Lane.
Skyla—cute-faced, long black hair, bright green eyes, and a smile that could melt stone.
Lane—quietly stunning, long black hair, deep black eyes, and a gaze that seemed to see through people.
Skyla rushed toward Victor, eyes sparkling.
"Where are you going? Can we come too?"
She leaned closer, almost clinging to his sleeve.
Lane walked straight to Victor and stared silently.
Victor felt three gazes now focused on him.
Videl beside him.
Skyla in front of him.
Lane piercing through him.
…Why does this feel like an ambush?
Ever since he taught the twins how to sense mana, both had stuck to him relentlessly.
This is bad. Very bad.
He was mentally older than kingdoms.
Emotionally trapped in a boy's body.
Surrounded by three girls.
Too young for romance.
Too old to be innocent.
Human bodies are truly troublesome.
Skyla tilted her head.
"How are they communicating like that? Can they read each other's minds?"
Videl blinked. "I don't know… but even when Lane doesn't talk, Victor always understands her."
Leon laughed loudly.
"My boy is already a lady-killer like his father!"
None of them knew Victor was thinking about something else entirely.
Lane, meanwhile, was staring at a tiny pimple on Victor's cheek.
Skyla nudged her.
"Lane, stop staring and convince him!"
Lane blinked, then spoke calmly.
"I want to go."
That was all.
Victor sighed internally.
"Father, let's bring them as well."
Leon shook his head.
"You know we're not going to play. Sorry, they can't come."
"They might follow us anyway."
Leon hesitated, then sighed.
"Still no. I'll inform their mother."
At the mention of their mother, both twins stiffened.
"Uncle Leon, please don't tell our mother," Skyla pleaded.
"Please don't," Lane added.
"Sorry. It's too dangerous."
"Uncle Leon, I thought you were cool! You're a meanie!" Skyla stuck out her tongue.
"Meanie," Lane copied.
Leon simply called their mother.
She arrived, apologized, and dragged both girls away.
Only then could the group leave.
Victor wasn't particularly eager to learn hunting.
He could clear this forest in a day.
But he was curious about this world's beasts.
He had never ventured deep—Videl always followed, and she would tattle.
Too troublesome.
"Today we will be hunting stone rabbits."
Victor's eyes sharpened.
Stone rabbits?
Curiosity stirred.
Since coming to this world, his hunger for battle had faded.
His hunger for knowledge had grown.
Perhaps this, too, was part of becoming human.
'Even knowledge doesn't escape human greed.'