Chapter 1 - Reincarnated?

As someone who seems to have been reincarnated into another world, I lie on my bed and contemplate the truth of the world. 

 

In my previous life, I was an unremarkable programmer, specializing in programming idle games.

 

Idle games, a genre that gained popularity with the widespread use of smartphones, allow players to easily and quickly progress by leaving the game screen untouched for a certain period of time. 

 

The game state changes during this idle time, and players can then interact with the game through various actions. In modern-day Japan, where people are caught up in work and studies, idle games that allow you to become stronger with just a little play during free time remain popular.

 

Although I was on the development side, I still had one or two idle games on my smartphone. Well, in the end, the players who spend money dominate, but that’s the sad saga of gacha games.

 

“Aaaaaah…”

 

In my first year after being reincarnated into another world, as a newborn, I gaze at the ceiling resembling medieval Europe, feeling the presence of civilization and contemplating my future. 

 

First, I need to learn about this world. Having read quite a few stories about being reincarnated into other worlds, accepting the fact that I had been reincarnated came easily to me. The probable cause of my death in my previous life was overwork.

 

Labor standards? What’s that? My job as a black game programmer was practically begging for it. After pulling all-nighters, taking only a 3-hour nap, and then pulling another all-nighter, I would inevitably die. Huh? Am I weak? Even middle-aged men struggle with pulling all-nighters. I hope that damn black company goes bankrupt soon.

 

Now, back to the topic. Whether it was the will of a god or falling from the rifts of the world, I don’t know the exact cause, but here I am, able to start a new life. If that’s the case, I should enjoy it. Just like in an idle game, I’ll live an easy life where money keeps flowing even if I leave my life on autopilot. For that, I need to familiarize myself with this world.

 

“Aaah… aaaah…”

 

The body of a newborn can’t stay awake for long. It’s about time for a nap. I hope this world isn’t as academically competitive as the previous one. With that thought in mind, I close my eyelids.

 

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

 

Time flies, and before I know it, three years have passed. I have become accustomed to life in this otherworld and once again appreciate the convenience of the civilization from my previous world. Japan was indeed a blessed country, but this world has quite a few inconveniences.

 

Putting that aside for now, I have gained a good understanding of this world. 

 

“Zeke, are you reading that book again?”

 

“Yes!”

 

My mother, Sharl, who has long, deep crimson hair and eyes that resemble flames, and doesn’t look like she’s in her thirties at all, takes the book I was looking at off the floor.

 

Oh, it’s a book about the basics of magic.

 

“You really love magic, don’t you? But you don’t understand what’s written in it, do you? I’ll read it to you. Come on, Zeke, sit on my lap.”

 

“Yay!”

 

My mother sits cross-legged on the floor, and I settle into the hole created by her posture. By the way, my name is Zeke. I was named after a hero who slayed a dragon, apparently a common name in this world.

 

I’m glad. I have a parent who isn’t crazy enough to give their child a head-spinning name like “Little Devil.”

 

“It brings back memories. I used to read this a lot too.”

 

My mother used to be an adventurer and a mage.

 

Adventurers are like jack-of-all-trades. Sometimes they delve into the depths of the city, sometimes they gather medicinal herbs from outside the city, and sometimes they hunt monsters called demons.

 

That’s what adventurers do.

 

I remember being quite excited when I learned about this profession. It’s the fantasy world I had imagined! My father is also an adventurer and retired when he married my mother. Now he runs a small restaurant, and business is going well. The friends he made during his adventurer days often come by to eat and occasionally dote on me.

 

It seems like children are cherished in any world.

 

And then, there are the mages.

 

Mages are those who can wield magic. It requires constant training and a touch of talent to be able to use it. My mother effortlessly performs magic as if it were second nature, so I still don’t understand the difficulty level.

 

I could try it myself, but it wouldn’t be funny if I said, “I tried it and died.” So, for now, I’m starting by acquiring knowledge.

 

“Zeke, do you know how to use magic?”

 

“Using magic power to draw magic circles and cast spells.”

 

“Oh, you can read it properly. Did someone teach you how to read?”

 

I’m sorry, Mother. I learned to read with all my might.

 

I roughly matched the characters based on the menu and occasional customer orders in the house. Then, with the help of my mother and father occasionally reading books to me, I memorize them with determination and fit them into my memory of characters.

 

My thinking ability is already that of an adult. If I set my mind to it, I could even program right now. The problem is that I don’t have a computer.

 

Of course, my mother thinks I’m a three-year-old, so she was surprised that I could read.

 

“You’re amazing, Zeke. You can already read. You’re a genius.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“……..Hehe, don’t tilt your head cutely like that.”

 

While poking my cheek, my mother lets out a smile like a saint.

 

I’m still just a three-year-old. It’s better not to behave too differently from my age. I occasionally forget my age and act as usual, so it might be too late.

 

After poking my cheek and seemingly satisfied, my mother returns to talking about magic.

 

“Just as Zeke said, magic is performed by using the magic power within your body to draw magic circles in space and unleash its power. Like this, ‘Flame Torch.'”

 

My mother raises her index finger, and a magic circle appears from it, with a small flame emerging.

 

No matter how many times I see it, it’s a fascinating sight. A magic circle and fire appearing out of nowhere in an empty space.

 

For a middle-aged man who lived in modern Japan, just this sight alone raises my excitement.

 

I wonder if I’ll be able to do it someday too.

 

My mother, with sparkling eyes, gently strokes my head and extinguishes the flame.

 

“This is magic. To use it, you need to be able to sense magic power within yourself. Can you feel the magic power within you, Zeke?”

 

“Hmm?… Um? I don’t know.”

 

I’m a human who grew up in a world that had no concept of magic power. There’s no way I can feel magic power. But perhaps I might be unconsciously sensing it, so I’ll just answer, “I don’t know.”

 

My mother says, “Well, I guess you wouldn’t know,” and then brings a certain book while asking me to move aside.

 

“Zeke, to be able to cast magic, you first need to be able to sense magic power. This book should tell you what you need to do. Mommy has some work to do, so I’ll go for a bit

 

. If you need anything, come down to the shop, okay?”

 

“Yes!”

 

I give a childish reply, and my mother kisses my forehead, saying, “You’re a good boy.”

 

To be honest, I want her to read the book to me (reading characters is tiring), but my great parents are working hard to raise me.

 

I can’t complain.

 

The greatness of parents, which I would only come to realize when I become an adult. And I’m already feeling it from the moment I was born in this world.

 

I wish I could make things easier for them. Can I have some cheat-like knowledge of another world?

 

“I wonder how long it will take to go through this book… From basic magical principles to advanced theory, who knows.”

 

It’s a book titled “Foundations of Magic.” Since I’ve already filled my head with knowledge of magic, the order is reversed, but the task remains the same.

 

Alone in the room, I mutter to myself and open the book handed to me by my mother.