"UGYAAAHHH!!!"
Lux's mind screamed in ecstasy.
The waffles had a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior! The sweetness—divine! A perfect harmony between syrup's savory charm and the rich taste of caramelized butter and sugar!
"Mhhh~!"
One word: Heavenly.
Lux didn't care about appearances. His former glory as the dreaded Uzziah was irrelevant. This—this—was a new life. One filled with things he never appreciated before.
Like food.
Truly, life is a bowl of cherries.
"My little one certainly knows how to eat well," Charlotte giggled, watching Lux with fondness. "I'm glad you're not a picky eater. But don't rush, sweetie—you might choke."
"Our champ is quite the eater," Arion added proudly. "He's gonna grow up big and strong."
Charlotte glanced at Lux thoughtfully. Despite being just three years old, he was unusually calm and mature. He rarely cried as a baby, never threw tantrums, and obediently followed rules. It was… unnerving.
Still, whenever food was involved, he acted like any other child. That alone brought her comfort.
Burp.
"Oh, Lux must be full," Charlotte said gently, dabbing his mouth with a handkerchief. "Time for daycare!"
"Thank you," Lux replied, surprisingly polite.
"My baby, you're welcome~"
This world… it was full of wonders.
In his previous life, the culinary arts were primitive at best. But here, even the simplest dishes were an experience. When he was younger and limited to bland baby food, it had been pure suffering. The tantalizing smells from the kitchen often left him staring longingly.
Thankfully, now that he was three, he was finally allowed to eat solid food. Not everything—but close enough.
"I'll do the dishes," Arion stood up, stretching out his right arm to reveal a sleek, high-tech bracelet. "{Auto Clean}."
The bracelet emitted a scan. Dishes sparkled—perfectly clean in an instant.
Astonishing, Lux thought, eyes wide.
Even after three years in this world, technology like this still amazed him. No mana, no incantations… yet it worked. His past self—Uzziah the Heretical Mage—would never have believed it possible.
"Ah! I'll go to the car and adjust the child seat," Arion said, waving to Lux. "Papa will go first, so Mama will carry you."
He pinched Lux's cheek before disappearing from the kitchen.
"C'mon, sweetie~ I've got your duck-themed bag. Let's get going!" Charlotte cooed, hoisting him into her arms and slipping the cute bag over his shoulders. "Your first day of daycare is very important. You'll meet friends and learn how to talk to them!"
Friends?
Lux almost scoffed.
Friends are inefficient. A waste of time.
In his previous life, he had no time for such trivial relationships. Managing the cult and training to become an 11th-Circle Mage demanded strict discipline. Time was precious. Spending it playing with babies?
Absolutely not.
"No need. Reading is more valuable," Lux said bluntly.
He'd only agreed to daycare because it was a source of education. The higher the knowledge in this world, the better chance he had of understanding its scientific laws—possibly enough to reach divinity once more.
He wouldn't waste this second life.
"Then how about this—if you make at least one friend, I'll buy you the books you want," Charlotte offered, smiling sweetly.
Lux froze. "…Really?"
"Yes."
"!!!"
Books! Real ones!
In his past life, Uzziah had always carried one. Books were his windows to power. But Charlotte often restricted his reading here, saying he was too young. Only picture books and fairy tales.
So why the sudden change?
Did the sun rise in the west today?
He stared suspiciously at her. "…You're not my mom."
"Huh?"
"Evil spirit, did you possess my mother?" he asked gravely.
"Eh???"
Charlotte almost slipped.
"Hahahaha!" Lux burst into laughter. "Just joking, hehe."
"You little—!" Charlotte sighed, then smiled. It was rare to see him laugh like that. Maybe daycare wouldn't be so bad after all.
She carried him into the sleek garage. Unlike the house's clean, smooth design, the garage was metallic and industrial-looking. In the center stood a massive, futuristic vehicle—shaped like a capsule, its polished surface and aerodynamic form exuding high-tech sophistication. Four glowing alloy wheels, mirror sensors, and sleek doors made it look like it came from a sci-fi film.
A futuristic carriage, Lux mused.
Back in his old life, travel meant slow, bumpy carriage rides or sea voyages. All inefficient. He always preferred teleportation. But this…
"Hop! There you go!" Arion greeted from the other side, strapping Lux into a plush baby seat inside the car.
The interior was minimalist yet luxurious. Charlotte sat beside Arion, and the car purred to life.
"Nexus, activate {Driveware}," Arion commanded his bracelet.
"Affirmative. Open garage door?"
"Open."
As the sun spilled through the rising garage door, Lux squinted. Looking around, skyscrapers and tall houses lined the streets. Billboards and posters featured holographic displays. Parks and public spaces were enhanced with augmented reality art installations, creating immersive experiences and interactive AIs that assisted people.
His reflection appeared in the glass—cute and wide-eyed. But then…
His forehead shimmered.
A glowing symbol—his insignia from his past life.
No… is that—?!
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind:
[ Integrating with Host... ]
"???"
Lux glanced around. His parents were silent.
[ Successful. ]
A glowing screen appeared in front of him.
[ SYSTEM: ] [ Loading... 1.79% ]
Lux rubbed his eyes. A hologram? he thought. He waved his hand through the screen—but it didn't vanish.
What the hell?!
He tried again. Still there. Like it was glued to his vision.
"What's wrong, sweetie?" Charlotte asked, peeking at him through the rearview mirror.
"Nothing," Lux said quickly. "I'm just… learning how to wave to a friend!"
He smiled and waved dramatically to sell the lie.
"Aww, I won't disturb you, then," Charlotte said warmly.
"Our champ is one step closer to being friendly!" Arion added.
Hah… Lux exhaled in relief. He looked back at the screen. Neither of them could see it. That much was clear.
But it still wouldn't go away.
As they neared the daycare, Lux's frustration grew.
He began slapping at the screen more aggressively.
Transparent or not—this thing is blocking my vision!
"SCRREEEEEN!!! BEGONE!!!"