Chapter 4 — Adapting to the New World
Four years.
It's been four years since I started living in this world.
Here, they call me Grenfort Kael.
My father's surname is Grenfort.
We moved to a small town on the edge of the empire three and a half years ago. It's peaceful here, few people, life flows slowly.
But sometimes...
I feel something.
Sometimes, I feel like someone is watching me.
That feeling is very old.
It feels like the last time I felt this sensation was when I was born.
A cold shiver ran down my spine at that thought.
I shook my head.
"I'm overthinking."
I'm standing on the second-floor balcony of our house on the edge of town, looking down.
Below, people are walking. Merchants are shouting, children are running.
Life is bustling.
How strange, isn't it?
In my previous life, my name was Kyle.
Now it's Kael.
I chuckled to myself.
"Yeah... a huge difference."
Some might think:
"Did you waste four years?"
I took a deep breath.
"No."
I've learned quite a bit about this world. Even though there's still much I don't understand.
This world... is very vast.
And most importantly...
Magic exists here.
Actually, I had sensed it before.
My father's ears were a bit pointy.
Then I found out — he's a half-elf.
Elf.
A race I read about often in fantasy novels.
But here, they are real.
I realized something else.
This world is much more complex than the novels I used to read.
I wanted to learn magic.
But there's nothing about it in our house.
No books.
No scrolls.
Just ordinary novels.
In my previous life, I had read so many fantasy books. So I thought understanding the magic system would be easy for me.
But... life isn't a novel.
"Kael!"
A voice came from below.
"Kael, where are you? Come on down, dinner's ready, my dear!"
Mom.
Joanna.
"Okay! Coming down now!"
I got down from the balcony and ran down the stairs.
The house was filled with a warm, delicious smell.
"Mom, what did you cook today?"
Mom smiled and hugged me.
"The meat soup you like."
Then she kissed my forehead.
"After all, today is your birthday, my boy."
"Huh?"
I was a bit surprised.
That's right... today is the day I came into this world.
"Come on, your father is waiting."
I ran to the table.
Father was already seated.
Sedric Grenfort.
"Good appetite, Father."
"You too."
He patted my head.
I started eating the soup quickly.
This house... is so peaceful.
In my previous life, my childhood was filled with hunger, cold, and the instinct to survive.
But here...
Loving people.
A warm home.
A peaceful life.
But one thing makes me think.
Both my father and mother are over 50.
But they look very young.
People on the street look much older at 50.
Maybe it's related to race.
Elven blood...
I'll think about this later.
I finished my soup quickly.
"I'm done!"
Then I looked at my father.
"Father... I have a favor to ask you."
Father raised an eyebrow.
"Hm? What favor?"
I pressed my two index fingers together and said:
"I want to learn magic. Can you get me a book?"
There was a moment of silence.
Then Father burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
"That's your favor?"
He shook his head.
"Okay... I'll bring it tomorrow itself."
Then he smiled.
"Actually, I was planning to give you something for your birthday anyway."
Mom suddenly looked at Father.
A strange look.
I noticed it.
"Thank you!"
I immediately ran upstairs.
Entering my room, I slowly closed the door.
My room is small.
But I like it.
There's one book on the shelf.
An ordinary novel.
I've read it about twenty times.
I took the book.
But then I stopped.
A voice was coming from downstairs.
I moved closer to the door.
They were talking.
Mom's voice was low.
"We need to live peacefully. You know that."
Father sighed.
"I know."
A moment of silence.
"Why are you so serious? One book won't make him stand out immediately."
More silence.
"Or..." Father said slowly, "do you think he's that smart?"
Mom answered quietly.
"It doesn't matter. Do what you know is right."
Father hugged her.
"It's okay... calm down, dear."
I slowly stepped back.
So...
They're afraid of something.
I made my voice a bit louder and said:
"Okay! I'm going to continue reading my novel now!"
I did it on purpose.
So they wouldn't know I heard.
I opened the book.
But suddenly...
Noise came from outside.
"Thieves!"
Someone shouted.
People on the street started running.
I rushed to the balcony.
Looked down.
Two men were pulling away a merchant's cart.
Another was pushing people and running.
"Hey! Stop!"
Town guards were running.
One drew his sword.
One of the thieves pulled out a knife and attacked.
My eyes widened.
"Yeah..."
This world is much more real than in the novels.
The guard parried the strike.
The sound of metal rang out.
Then the thief fell.
People slowly began to calm down.
I watched for a long time.
Then suddenly, that feeling came back again.
Like someone was watching me from behind.
I quickly turned around.
No one was in the room.
Silence.
I looked outside from the balcony again.
In the distance, on top of the roofs, I thought I saw a silhouette.
For a moment.
Then it was gone.
I furrowed my brow.
"No..."
It's just my imagination.
It must be.
But something inside me whispers.
No.
Someone is watching me.
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