“You’re here. Finally…”

A deep voice echoed inside my head.

‘Huh? Oh right. I fell asleep right before unpacking my things..’

There was a white space spreading before my eyes farther than I could see. My gaze wandered…

“----!”

I stopped back subconsciously from what I saw.

“Ah. I forgot how handsome I was back then. Living so long had become a curse…”

A rather healthy built old man was sitting there in a chair. His eyes looked sleepy and fierce. He was wearing an expensive looking magician’s robe with extravagant runes sealed inside it. The staff he’s carrying…

“Wait a second! Who are you!? And why do you have my staff!?”

There was no mistaking that jade gem embedded above the tip of the staff. Although it does have a few rough edges, it’s unmistakably the one I received form my parents.

“Who am I?”

The old man stroked his impressive with a rather nostalgic look on his face.

“If my memory hasn’t let me down, my name is also Clyde. I am from the future.”

He sat upright and let go of the staff. The staff remained in its standing position.

“Eh?”

T-This old man is me? There exists a future timeline!?

“Of course there does. Why else do you think gods can use destiny magic to ‘predict’ the future?”

He seemed to have read my mind.

“I am reading your expressions.”

He really is reading my mind!

“U-Um, sir? Could you please stop with all the dementia talk?”

He looked at me with a small smile.

“I seemed to have lost that cheery side of myself.”

“N-No. Please listen–“

“I was a fat disgusting weeb who was a simp when it came to my first girlfriend. I was cheated on since my girlfriend found it to be annoying having someone like me. Although she came to miss it when her new boyfriend treated her like crap. Fate had to bring us to live together when I had nowhere else to go… it seems you didn’t know that she still had feelings for you… well our histories aren’t the same in all the areas.”

“Eh? EEEEEEEH!? HOW!?”

I stepped back fearfully at this old man’s godly information network. I haven’t even told anyone yet! Not even my parents!

“Oi.”

“Ouch.”

The old me (?) bonked my head with the staff.

“Do you believe me now?”

I nodded my head. No matter how much I try and deny it, that’s the only way he knows.

“But… how?”

To my question, the old me leaned back and looked up.

“I have received a god’s fragment so that’s why.”

“What?”

“Clyde-kun, in my timeline the world was destroyed…” He said solemnly and continued, “Unnecessary wars started piling up year after year. Conflicts between humans and the humanoids destroyed our world before the Immortal could even lift a finger.”

‘Immortal?’

“It would be against the God Code if I tell you what happened specifically so I can only tell you parts.”

“…okay..”

I sat down obediently on the floor since the old man had the only chair.

“First. Remain friends with Arthur. Sh–He is a valuable asset to the future of this continent. And second Arielle, she will do great things in the future as well which would only lead her to ruin if you don’t stick by her side.”

He started fiddling with his fingers. There was a silver ring on his left ring finger.

“I have lived for a thousand years, Clyde-kun so I could tell you all this. Something will lead me to kill everyone in the Kingdom. I cannot tell you what as it will break my promise to the Primordial. The reason will bring you to the brink of rage and you’ll play right into the palms of a certain someone. That will sever your relationship with your loved ones.”

My heart sank in my chest. I killed everyone in the kingdom?

“That’s where things will escalate. I did the task I was asked to do only because it would’ve helped my family….”

“Your family?”

“Yes.” His face then warped in sadness. “After they heard what happened, I was feared by the ones I loved. Who I called family. They were afraid I would turn my fangs at them. They left one by one, I helplessly looked at their backs…”

He held his face with his right hand and tears seemed to collect in his eyes.

“Only Arielle was with me till the day she died. I lost Arthur before all the chaos.”

“Wait, Arielle? What does she have to do with that?”

I was planning to just listen to him until Arielle’s name came up. Why would that arrogant brat stay by my side?

“This is also something I must keep to myself, Clyde-kun. But I can tell you this… she had undying love for me. Sometimes her love feared even me for how far she was willing to go to protect me.”

A gentle smile surfaced on his face.

“She was really my limiter…”

I couldn’t hear the last word but he seemed happy to talk about her.

“So she died…?”

He nodded, “Old age. I was glad to see her off back then while holding her hand in mine. Although I am glad for her, my soul can never rest unless I kill that immortal. I never had my revenge. Even though I’m this powerful in the end, I cannot bring Arielle back to life. Breaking past white stage is meaningless now...”

He wiped his eyes.

“You may have found out about the two mana cores already, haven’t you?”

To his question I nodded.

“Do not act arrogant with that knowledge. Even if you do have limitless potential, it only amounts to that in the end. You are still weak and must work harder in order to grow stronger. Reaching my level is impossible if you don’t go through the same means but–“

I held up my hand to stop him.

“Tell me something, how long until the first disaster occurs? This may have a butterfly effect if I don’t have a way to stop it.”

“Even that I cannot reveal.” He smiled wryly.

‘Fuck.’

“But it would be beneficial to get stronger now. Grow up as a normal child even with the information I just told you. Remember to not slack off on your training and–“ The old man suddenly started glowing. “It seems my time has run out this time. Listen, master your spirit magic then we’ll be able to see each other again. I have left you a gift that will help you with that. Remember, you are not the protagonist of this world…”

“Hey! Old man!”

I tried reaching out but when the darkness vanished, I saw the luxurious room I was given. My right forearm was completely glowing white.

When I looked to the bedroom mirror, my once brown hair was completely white while a strange red tattoo was extending around my right arm.

“What is this…?”

I inspected my arm from top to bottom but then the glowing subsided.

“Hm?”

He said he’d give me a gift. Is this what he meant?

For some reason I could sense all the life force, spirits and mana all around me.

Arthur and Arielle’s life-forces looked especially enormous.

◇

“Morning~!”

I felt an arm wrap around my neck and saw Arthur smiling happily.

“O-Oh, hey.”

He seemed to have been training since he looks so wet with sweat.

“Our masters will arrive about noon. Miss Sadith told me. Come on! Breakfast awaits!”

He lead me through the large manor as if he’s been exploring the place. Many of the servants greeted us with respect as we passed by. I couldn’t help but notice the amount of unnecessary luxury this place has.

‘Like what’s up with people being obsessed with appearances?’

Having a big house alone is enough. Is it necessary to have a giant gold statue of a naked man with a towel around his waist?

..

“Clyde-kun. Arthur-kun.”

The head of the household Cliff J. Luxembourg and Duke of the Kingdom greeted us when we entered.

We bowed respectfully causing a smile to surface on his face.

“Umu. You two are mature indeed. Sit down, food will arrive momentarily.”

“Yes.”

There are about six members already seated on the table. One is the main wife, Sadith, Arielle, the first son Eric and the first daughter Kenia. Kimberly is the second wife and also Arielle’s mother so she’s sitting on the duke’s right side.

“Ara? Welcome, little boys~”

The main wife greeted us with a smirk.

‘Ugh, I don’t like your smile, lady.’

Her smile gives off this impression that she looks down on people a lot . Lady Kimberly told us in the carriage yesterday that she was apparently a princess from the neighbouring kingdom, although only the seventh. She heavily emphasized to not disrespect the first wife.

‘Damn, she is hot though…’

I couldn’t help but glance at her giant tits that kept shaking as she blew her food colder by fanning with her hands.

I stopped staring and then began eating.

Anyways, the first son, Eric is a 16 year old young man with blueish short hair. His cold expression and his glasses give him the air of an intellectual. He and his father kept talking about business even though they were at the dining table.

Now the first daughter, Kenia. She is a 15 year old girl with long silky black hair. She has the air of a cool beauty type that every girl her age would feel jealousy or envy towards. Her body doesn’t have the shape of her mother’s yet but it’s obvious since she’s a swordswoman. Her body has more of a fit shape than a busty one.

Both of them are enrolled in the Royal Academy. Arielle will be going in about two years.

I noticed a little bit of sauce on Arielle’s cheek when I peeked over at her. She seems to not be used to eating so elegantly judging by those callouses on her hands.

“---!?”

I placed my finger against her cheek and wiped off the sauce. Her entire body stiffened and her neck creaked towards me.

“..Y…You…”

Her body shook while she was glaring at me.

“Sorry! You had sauce on your cheek!”

I put my finger in my mouth while looking at her. Her whole face flushed red.

“Gyahahahaha! You should use a napkin, Clyde-kun.” The duke laughed.

“A-Ah, sorry, miss Arielle. I’m not used to these customs…”

I said apologetically.

I never ate fancy in my past life either. My family were low class that’s why they didn’t want to keep me in their house anymore. Maybe I ate too much.

“….”

Her head was turned away from me.

‘Shit… I don’t want to die…’

I have a feeling she’ll kick my ass someday.

◇

Arielle and Arthur has the same teacher so the two of them left towards the training grounds while I was taken to the backyard at the eastern side of the manor’s property. A lake was located there along with a huge forest far into the distance.

Duke Luxembourg’s castle city is located 2km away from the Kingdom. His castle stands in the middle of his own city called Brastle. He has hopes that his city would become a Duchy one day.

..

“Let’s first see how far your spells have evolved, Clyde-kun.”

The handsome young mage with blonde hair said after giving me a small staff. The one my parents gave me is in my room and would be overkill for training.

The young mage’s name is Jacob. He is a prodigy mage who received a 6 star ranking at the age of 17 years old. He’s 18 so he’s relatively still a new elite mage. Fortunately he had a residence in the city and happily complied when the Duke asked him to train me. I don’t exactly know why he was so happy. I will never understand these magicians.

“Alright.” I chose a spell called ‘Toxic mist’ which is a 1st tier spell.

PSSSSSSSS

A dark green mist spread from the magic circle I conjured. The ground eroded and died from the extreme toxic mist.

‘Good. Next is fireball.’

I left the mist to linger in the air and prepared the spell. The fireball would be stronger if I combine the two.

“N-No chanting!?”

Jacob came up to me with a surprised look on his face.

“Uh, yeah? I recently managed to do this…”

“Clyde-kun, “

“Yes..?”

“How long have you been practicing magic?”

He had a restless look on his face.

“Hmm… two years?”

‘Actually it was six years, but I can’t tell him that.’

Is this the benefits of reincarnation?

“I will absolutely make sure you become a splendid mage, Clyde-kun! Ah~! To think I’d meet a fellow prodigy! I only started my magic when I was nine, you know!”

Jacob shouted while shaking my shoulders.

I couldn’t help but get scared at my master’s enthusiasm.

**

Four hours later I was completely spent. My muscles which had an ample amount of mana through my veins were screaming in pain after I was done. Jacob was satisfied with the results and told me he’d come back tomorrow with a stage 3 test.

Stage 3 is apparently for those who have mastered my level of mana control and magic spells. He brought a stage 1 today which are used for beginners.

‘How would a stage 3 feel if I already feel like this for stage 1?’

I’m beginning to hate how slow humans grow. Demi-humans grow the same speed but they have naturally stronger bodies than humans.

I went upstairs towards the bathroom when night fell. We just finished eating a few minutes ago.

The big bath is under construction so I had to come to the smaller one–

“Kyaaa!?”

I opened the door to find a young girl drying her naked body with a towel.

Arielle Daphne Luxembourg.

“Shit.”

“Y-y-you dog!!”

A sword appeared in her hand out of nowhere.

“Uwaaaah!!”

I used wind magic to escape but couldn’t because of her agility.

Needless to say, Arielle punched and kicked me good that night…