Chương 8: Vol. 1 - Mama's Market, Papa's Blade

I really just LOVE IT whenever my dearest mother brings me down to those small stalls down the road. They're called the Merchant Market? Apparently, in our humble home in Starhaven, people from the merchant guild, every now and then, would set up small stalls to trade goods with the locals. They trade various things, from objects as small as magic scrolls and crystals to things as large as an Emberclaw skin, also known as bear skin on Earth.

At first, we only went down to Starhaven every once or twice a week for shopping. But since I loved it so much down there, I'd bat my pretty little puppy eyes, and my dear doting mother, who can absolutely not resist it, would bring me down there. Now we go down to Starhaven every other day. Mwahahaha! Mission Hypnotising complete! As the only baby/ toddler there, I've drawn quite a bit of attention. All the nice Aunts and Uncles know me fairly well by now.

Sometimes, just to see me amazed, they'll crush some crystals and create this huge fireball or a huge waterball and splash it on my face. No comment… My mother always said that bringing me down there was just for educational purposes, but I bet that it's just because she's a doting mother. She never admits it. But she always said that, as Renar as my father, I will no doubt have an interest in becoming an adventurer, but she said that there was a small possibility that I may become a merchant, like her.

I overheard this conversation when she was talking to the merchants. She was also bragging the other day about what a competent adventurer my dad, Renar, was. And that he was already an A-Rank adventurer at the age of 18! I hope I break his record and make him a laughing stock, hahahaha! She also told me lots of stories on the way to the Merchant's market. Like stories of her working at the Adventure Guild and seeing too many ambitious teens trying to take exams.

Oh, oh, and there was this one story that I'll never forget. She said, when she was working ay the Guild Hall, my dad, Renar, came in to get some missions. But the minute he saw my mother, his jaw literally dropped and he started babbling nonsense, while wiping the drool off his face, and his hands were trembling. At first, she thought from fear of her, but she later realized it was love at first sight. Then, later on, my father finally gathered up the courage to ask my mother out for dinner.

And that's how they met! From there, my mother joined my father's A-Rank Party, The Ashen Vanguard. However, because my mother was such a rare healer, she and my father had to hide and settle down here in this remote village, Starhaven. There was also one more thing I realised as I grew up. Dad is getting more carefree and cocky over the years. I guess he has finally felt comfortable and familiar around me and Mom. But the side effect was he was getting increasingly cocky. Sigh. Men.

LIORA HOSHINO'S POV: Can babies get embarrassed? I've been meaning to ask this for a very long time. It's just that every time I change Kawa-Kun's diapers, he would pout and his little cheeks would get so red that you'll think he's a baby tomato. Just so cute!!! Ok, maybe I am a doting mother, but just this once. But the latest highlight in this baby journal is mama. Little Kawa-Kun said, "MAMA!" Can you believe it? He said MAMA! Aw, my little Kawa-Kun, your mama is so proud of you!

I had to make him repeat it three times just to make sure I wasn't hearing things. You should've seen Renar's face when he found out Kawa-Kun said mama before papa. He looked so depressed and sulky that he tried to spend the whole day teaching my dear baby boy to say papa. Mwahahahaha! I win yet again! The rest of the year went by so quickly, I didn't even notice! Kawa-Kun will be either watching his dad practice or meditating, or whatever he's doing. I say it's really suspicious.

Shouldn't babies this age be super energetic, causing trouble everywhere? But every time he sees me, he'll wave those tiny arms so happily that it makes me smile, and want to gobble up those juicy drumsticks he has. Ah, his thighs, they just look so tasty… Ok, I think that's enough for this year. Until next time, Liora HOSHIKAWA HOSHINO'S POV: Hi again. It's been two years since I made that tiresome journey to our family library. I've been learning a lot of things by observing my surroundings.

Since my last visit to the library, I've been practicing diligently every day, trying to break apart my astral core. I can tell I'm quite close to cracking that knucklehead open. Every day, I must meditate discreetly to avoid any suspicion from my parents. As a baby, I had very little concentration, so I had to make out as much as I could with my limited attention span. Oh, one more thing, in my daily activities, there would be this section where your stupid dad throws you in the air and tickles you non-stop.

It's so annoying!!! Why? Why do I have to suffer? You're just forcing me to laugh! Me laughing doesn't mean that I enjoy this brutal torture!! At first, I don't mind. Fingers wiggle on my tummy, and a small giggle pops out before I can stop it. Warm hands. Happy voices. It's fine. I can last. But they don't stop. My breath starts coming quicker. My little legs kick, but they keep going. It's… too much. I try to smile again. If I smile, maybe they'll stop. That's how it works, right?

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. But no… still going. Still poking. My sides are getting all twitchy. Maybe if I wait. Just a little more. One more moment. I can do that. I can… … okay maybe I can't. My arms flail up on their own, pushing weakly at the hands. My laugh sounds strange now, more like please than play. I don't know how to say stop. But my eyes… they're already saying it. This is just too much!

Fortunately, my dear mother, aka my beloved angel, has a firm grip on this monster, or my soul would have long since drifted to heaven. But sometimes, my mother scares me too. Not in a loud way. Not in a mean way. It's… just different. She stares at me with this strange sparkle in her eyes. Her smile gets slow and wide, like she knows a secret. Then she leans in, closer… closer… I freeze. Why is she looking at me like that? Why is her mouth opening a little? And then—she bites. Not hard.

Just on my cheek, or my arm, or my tummy. Like I'm food. She laughs, warm and happy. I laugh, too, but it's a tiny laugh. Because deep down, I think… Mama might be a little bit hungry. And because of this torture, the other day I forced myself to say "mama" just to let her know I didn't like this and to let her know that I was a moving, talking, breathing human being. But my dear mama burst out in tears and hugged me so tight I was suffocating. *Sigh, at least I get to enjoy some motherly affection.

This is the first time I have felt a love like this. What a strange yet comforting feeling to be embraced by your mother. I guess I've been missing out a lot. The worst part was that the whole day, my father tried to teach me to say "papa", but I was really bored, so I decided to just play with his mood. Hehe, I really am a terrible baby, aren't I? Lesson learnt, please never ever torture your poor kids in the future. Lesson learnt: What you think babies like, isn't always what babies like.

Also, please, please, please, don't eat your kids. Today was another peaceful day, with me watching my dad train. He was chanting again, but this time I learnt my lesson. I did not expect anything big from him; instead, I expected him to chant for 3 minutes straight and lift some rocks on the ground. But my father tends to surprise people a lot too, just when you least expect it. This time, my father made a gun sign with his hand and pointed at the nearest tree. He closed one eye and stared at the tree.

Once he found a good target, a tiny hole in the tree, he pulled his invisible trigger button. At that moment, three ice bullets shot forward with the utmost accuracy and precision toward that hole. And to my utmost surprise, he actually hit the target. *Sigh, I was really hoping he wouldn't, you know? But honestly, that was cool, I want to be able to do that too someday! Next, my father picked up his super cool sword. I really love his sword!!

It was a long, slightly curved bastard sword, the kind that looked as if it could split both air and earth with equal ease. Silvery steel caught the light, streaked with pale blue veins like lightning trapped in metal. Down its center ran a narrow groove, etched with delicate celestial runes that seemed to breathe faintly when touched by magic. The crossguard swept outward like the wings of a storm‑drake, their gilded edges glinting with every subtle movement.

Deep navy leather wrapped the hilt, bound over a spiral of silver wire for a grip that was both commanding and refined. And at the base, a polished storm‑glass crystal swirled with lightning, its soft hum in my dad's hand like the low growl of a distant thunderhead. It always looked so sick, I told myself I'd like one like that when I grow up, too! And that's right! My father can use Ascended Aspects, which, in reality, we call compounds. Only the book uses such big words.

He was also one of those rare dual-elementers. He could wield both fire and water. So cool, right? That's why my dad is kakkoii desu (cool)! I wanna be just like him! Ok, enough talking about my dreams. Back to dad… So he whipped out his cool sword, right? Yeah. Then suddenly, the wind shifted. Using my keen assassination senses, I knew something was in the bush. Its aura was dark. I could sense two… wolves? There are wolves here? No, my father told me before they were called Direwolves.

The same type as the last time. But, me being able to sense them is a great sign! That means I have honed my assassination skills! I haven't forgotten them yet! From the shadows, two Direwolves burst forth — massive, silver-black predators with glowing starry fur and eyes like frozen flames. Father's grip tightened on his sword. His voice rang out — calm, commanding:"Phantom Step!" He vanished. The air rippled where he'd stood.

A heartbeat later, he reappeared between the wolves, water magic swirling faintly at his feet, softening his landing. Before they could react, his blade lashed out in a blur. The first wolf collapsed without a sound, the cut so flawless it barely realized it had been slain. The second lunged, claws flashing. Father's eyes narrowed. His voice was firm:"Blade Reversal!" He parried with a twist, sending sparks flying as steel met claw — then, with the same motion, reversed his swing in a deadly backslash.

Fire magic flared along the edge, the smell of scorched fur filling the air as the wolf staggered, howling in pain. He stepped forward, golden Astralis coiling around him, both fire and water surging together — steam rising from the meeting of the two.

"Crescent Fang!" A blazing arc of molten-gold light, rimmed with shimmering water, erupted from his sword, slicing the beast clean in two. The halves fell apart, hissing as steam rolled over the forest floor. Silence reclaimed the night. Otou-san (father) exhaled, sheathing his sword with a soft click. He turned to me, his tone almost apologetic.

"Ah… sorry. Forgot to tell you to close your eyes." What the hell?! That was EPIC! I need to learn this! I could never grab hold of such an amazing technique even back when I was still the crown prince!