A Baby on the Way, and I’m Still a Baby?!

Six months had passed since that horrifying Loveris Eve night… and while I may never recover from the trauma, life had moved on.

And by "moved on," I mean—Mom's pregnant.

Yeah. Let that sink in.

I, Ryukard Blackfyre, former legendary hero, current oversized toddler, am about to become an older brother.

Not that it's a surprise to me. I already knew this was coming. My little sister, Asuna Blackfyre, is on her way.

"Ryuuuuuukk!" Mom's sing-song voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Uh-oh. She's in full doting mode. Abort! Abort!

Before I could escape, she scooped me up and squeezed me into one of her signature death hugs. Her warmth was familiar, but something felt different this time. Her belly, once flat, was now slightly round.

"Ryuk, did you say good morning to your little sibling yet?" she cooed, guiding my tiny hand to her stomach.

I blinked. "…Mom, they can't hear me."

"Of course they can!" She beamed. "Talk to them! Tell them how excited you are!"

Excited? Who said anything about excited?!

I turned to Dad, my last hope for sanity. He sat nearby, sipping his morning tea with the unshakable calm of a man who had already given up.

"Just go with it, son," he said wisely. "Resistance is futile."

Dad… you were supposed to be the strong one!

Mom nudged me again, her golden eyes sparkling with expectation. Okay, fine. Let's just get this over with.

I hesitantly placed my hand on her belly. "Uhh… hey, Asuna. Hope you don't bite me this time."

Mom gasped dramatically. "RYUK! You can't say that!"

"But she totally did in my past life," I muttered under my breath.

"What was that?"

"Uh—nothing. I said, uh… can't wait to meet you, little sis!"

Mom squealed, pulling me into another tight hug. "That's my boy!"

Dad smirked, ruffling my hair. "You're gonna be a great big brother, Ryuk."

Still… being a big brother again won't be bad.

After all, she saved my back many times. I gotta repay her in this life.

Dad leaned back in his chair, smirking as he sipped his tea. "Ah, and with that said—your birthday is coming up soon, Ryuk! You're gonna unlock magic and finally start your life as a man!"

A man?

But wait… he's right.

I'm turning three.

Next month is Zephyria—my birthday. That means I'll finally unlock magic… which also means…

My Plan's Phase 2 Begins.

I clenched my tiny fists, feeling a surge of anticipation. Magic, huh? Heh. This is gonna be fun.

I had already mastered over a thousand spells in my previous life, single-handedly wiped out 257,307 demons, and made battle-hardened warriors cry for their moms. And now, I get to do it all over again? Easy.

Of course, I'll have to play the part of a clueless toddler discovering magic for the first time, but that's all part of the plan. Nothing I haven't prepared for.

I can already picture it—pretending to struggle with basic spells, acting amazed when I "accidentally" pull off something impressive, and slowly cranking up my power until everyone just assumes I'm a prodigy. Flawless execution.

"Ryuuuuuk~! You're zoning out again!" Mom's voice snapped me back to reality.

I blinked. "Huh?"

She giggled, ruffling my hair. "You looked all serious for a moment! Were you thinking about magic?"

I grinned. "Uhh… yeah, something like that."

Dad chuckled. "It's normal to be excited! Your first magic awakening is a big deal! We'll throw a grand celebration!"

Oh no.

A celebration? That sounds dangerously close to being the center of attention.

I needed a plan.

There's reason I've been avoiding people.

Even though I reincarnated as myself, I don't actually remember my own baby years. I mean, does anyone? No one recalls their first burp or their epic battles against mashed peas. But I do remember everything from age four onward—after I accidentally drank that drop of holy miracle water!

And that's exactly why I've been avoiding unnecessary human interaction till now. How the hell am I supposed to act like a regular toddler when I have zero idea how I used to behave at this age? If I suddenly go from baby babbling to full-blown eloquence, people might start asking questions I don't want to answer.

So, my best strategy? Low-profile mode. Minimal words. Maximum cuteness.

But now, with my birthday creeping up, avoiding people is about to become way harder. Old faces, new interactions…

Ugh. This feels more stressful than fighting the entire Demon Army.