Future and Present... (Rewritten.)

"How can I master a perfect smile like you. I must say that you had such an iconic smile, which can make the person in front of you happy. Still, for some reason, I am not able to produce such a smile since this morning, though I had been practicing a lot."

Kenta blurted out everything he wanted to ask the girl in front of him.

In contrast, Elisa takes offense to Kenta's comments, even though they were likely just the result of a communication breakdown on his part.

That's the worst kind of ineffectiveness on the part of someone with poor communication skills, and Kenta was trying to be more proactive.

'Is he trying to say that, my smile is unnatural and he is trying to mock me? But how, can he ask something like that with such a smile.'

Even though she was frustrated, Elisa was glad to put her experience as a housekeeper to good use. It was impressive that she could hold in her frustration without showing it.

Kenta noticed that there was now something off about her expression, despite the fact that she was still wearing a smile.

"See! I had made the different expressions, over the lake all day. But I was not able to smile like you previously had. Also, you don't have to force smile like that. If you don't want to share your secret, at least you can keep smiling. Like you had before."

While Elisa was desperately trying not to laugh at his antics, he reached out and gently touched her on the head.

In the end, Kenta's smile broke down from a mixture of emotions, and that's when she realized that her master is both a little dense and a gentle boy.

"Master it is time, for you to go to the awakening temple. Milady asked me to bring you there at this specific time, so I had arranged a carriage for you to go."

Kenta, who was smiling while gazing at the pond, was called over by Elisa. Since Elisa had taught him this, he could now achieve his lifelong goal of perfecting his smile to match hers.

Though! She did say that it might not work at all.

Nonetheless, Kenta decided to go along with it because, at the very least, he might be able to crack a smile or two during this ordeal.

"Master remember, not to grin like that in public. Or people will start to make fun of you, you can only practice like that. When you are alone in some area. Given, I do not want to see you getting mocked, by others due to my idea."

With that, Elisa looked at Kenta, who assumed his natural poker face.

As they left his house and settled into the waiting carriage, the temple began to wake up.

"Perfect! This is a perfect ride. Though! I must say, why do we need to empty our stomachs while awakening. I am really feeling the protest in my tummy. Since this morning, I had nothing more than a glass of water and juice."

Inwardly, Kenta was muttering a complaint. While Elisa was laughing at her master's antics (which, after a while, are quite funny), she was enjoying the show. Though! The same could be said for his reasoning, which she found to be polite and sound.

Nonetheless, in her opinion, what he really lacks is the innate conviction and drive to succeed.

That no one on Earth can convince her master of one essential fact: he must discover who he is.

"Master! After we are done awakening, your mother promised to take you to Golden Plate. Where she will throw a party for your awakening. At that moment, you can eat as much as you want. After all, all your favorite dishes will be present there."

Elisa whispered to Kenta, who suddenly turned extremely happy.

Ever since his rebirth, he had a craving to eat at that particular eatery. Which, in his mind, was worth every penny due to the exquisite flavor it had in his previous host's mouth.

"Hmm! Then I am looking forward to it. Also, I had to thank mom. After all, she must have planned all of that before this day. Even though! At the moment, she is extremely busy and always comes tired. How come, she can always think about others, in the state she is working with my father."

As he considered the situation, he sighed and turned to stare out the window.

Although he was still considering awakening, he decided against it for the time being because he saw no point in waking up a talent that would be of no use to him. Which may be detrimental to his family's standing in the community.

Though! The ancient wise man did tell him that; he will have a talent that he has yet to realize. There's no question that it would give him a lot of opportunities for growth.

In fulfillment of his word, he pledged to share a talent of which he is especially proud. Not even telling him what the ability is called.

"Master! Will do just fine. You have to believe in yourself." As if knowing his worry. Elisa smiled while tapping his shoulder.

"Hmm! I also want to believe in a certain person's words. So, I might look nervous but I am not that nervous about skill potential. But this anxiety of mine is born out of the excitement. I am feeling at the moment."

Kenta glanced at Elisa, who was once again standing directly in front of him.

He got out of the carriage, a glimmer of hope in his eye. Since they had arrived at the Temple of Awakening already.

Where he met and greeted numerous people from the neighborhood and beyond. Which had come for the same reason—to help their kid develop their talents. Those who had reached the magic age of 12, when a dormant talent can suddenly blossom into usefulness.

Though! The vast majority of participants had to attempt the stage multiple times before they finally succeeded, and most did not do so until they were 15 years old. That is, until one learns to reawaken their talent.

Conversely, there are those who manage to awaken more than two or three talents. Having four talents indicates they are highly favored by the Almighty.

This makes them more well-known than any celebrities on the planet.

"Ken-Chan!" At the shrine, Kenta found his mother and the members of the magic division she had been guiding. Which is made up entirely of talented magicians from across the empire, but each and every one of them is female.

As a result, they're constantly the center of attention, which recently shifted to Kenta after his mother called to alert him to his arrival.

Though! For a simple kid, it might have been a huge toll.

But as a reincarnated individual, however, he could not care less what people thought of him.

"Mom!"

Kenta straightened up and smiled as he bowed to the other women standing near his mother. That got everyone's attention, especially the senior magicians in the group's adoring gaze.

"Hello there little Ken. My name is Marisa..." With that everyone in the group greeted him one by one. After that, they all started to move inside, at the sight of his father coming out from a carriage.

The arrival of Duke's family was a significant event, which is why it garnered so much media coverage. They began by examining his parents and talking trash about them.

Because of this, their focus shifted to him as well; by this time, they were gasping and relating the story of the fight he had just recently staged.

He was just entering the temple grounds when he was greeted by a group of nobles.

The passage from the book he kept on his shelf had been committed to memory.

That was something his dad had always tried to instill in him. To him, it was no surprise that the Bellring family, of which the viscount was a member, was also a noble one with a history of military service. Who is renowned for being both a successful fighter and an honest broker?

Kenta only needed a moment to recognize the man standing before him as his second son.

The Bellrings' second son, Kenta, got a good look at his father's true character as he watched him closely. Who was watching the man like he used to watch other people in his former life?

A silent grin crossed his face as he processed the information he had just gotten from them.