9:A Genius Baby’s Daily Struggles

When I woke up, the first thing I saw was the familiar canopy above my crib.

A soft blanket wrapped around my body, warm and comforting. The scent of lavender lingered in the air, mixed with the faint smell of fresh morning.

"…Nguh."

A small, involuntary noise escaped from my lips.

…Damn it.

No matter how many times this happened, I could never get used to it. My mind was that of a teenager, but my body… my body was still that of a helpless baby.

I tried to push myself up. My limbs trembled, my tiny fingers curling against the mattress.

A second later—

Flop.

I fell back.

"Ugh…" I let out a soft whimper, but my voice betrayed me again, turning into another helpless baby noise.

Before I could try again, a familiar presence entered the room.

"Oh my, you're awake, young master."

Soft arms lifted me effortlessly, pulling me into a warm embrace.

It was my caretaker.

She smelled of the fresh morning air, of warmth, of something nostalgic I couldn't quite place.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked, her voice as gentle as ever. Her hand brushed my white-silver hair, straightening out the strands.

I blinked.

This was… nice.

Even though I was frustrated with my weak body, even though my situation was ridiculous beyond belief, there was something comforting about her presence.

"You must be hungry," she said, carrying me over to a chair.

I stiffened.

Wait.

Was it time?

She picked up a silver spoon, the mashed fruit glistening under the morning light.

…I refused.

I clenched my jaw. I wouldn't do it.

But the spoon came closer.

And my mouth—

—opened instinctively.

The sweet taste spread across my tongue.

…Damn it.

"Fufu~ You're such a good boy, eating so well."

No, I wasn't. This was just basic survival.

Another spoonful.

I tried to resist.

My mouth opened again.

"…Mmm."

The sound escaped before I could stop it.

The caretaker giggled. "Oh my, do you like it that much?"

I froze.

That—

That wasn't me.

That was my body acting on its own.

I sighed internally.

This… was going to be a long day.

---

Crawling Practice – Or Just Falling Face First

After my humiliating breakfast, my caretaker placed me on a soft mat for my daily crawling practice.

It was… frustrating.

I knew this was necessary. My body was weak. I needed to train it.

But—

Thud.

"…Gaaah." (Damn it.)

I faceplanted.

Again.

My caretaker chuckled. "Oh dear, you're really working hard today, young master."

I wasn't sure if that was praise or gentle mockery.

She picked me up, patting my back softly. "No rush, you'll be walking soon."

…Was that supposed to be reassuring?

I scowled.

And, of course, because my body was a traitor, my lips pouted on their own.

The caretaker only smiled.

I groaned internally.

This wasn't fair.

---

Secret Training – Or So I Thought

Once my caretaker got busy with something else, I seized the opportunity.

I closed my eyes.

I focused.

Mana.

I could feel it—flowing through me like a wild river. Unstable. Chaotic. But I was getting better at controlling it.

Slowly, I guided it.

This time, it didn't lash out wildly. It didn't try to escape.

It was progress.

Just a little more—

"Oh my goodness, he's meditating again."

…Huh?

I cracked one eye open.

The caretaker was watching me with a delighted expression, her hands clasped together.

"He's such a serious child," she murmured. "Like a little scholar…"

…No.

No, I wasn't 'meditating' for fun.

I was training.

I was stabilizing my mana.

I was walking the path to power.

I was—

"…Guuu."

I froze.

Did I just—

The caretaker beamed.

…I give up.

---

Parental Affection – My Greatest Weakness

Later that day, my mother came to visit.

The moment she saw me, her entire face lit up.

"My little star!" she called out joyfully.

Wait. No. I could already tell where this was going—

Before I could even react, she lifted me into her arms, rubbing her nose against mine.

I twitched.

I refused. I refused to laugh.

"Goo!"

Damn it!

She giggled. "You're so adorable."

I buried my face in my hands.

…Why was I like this?

Then, my father entered the room.

He crossed his arms, observing us for a moment. "He's growing well."

Finally. Someone who wouldn't—

He smirked.

And pinched my cheek.

"Hmph. But still a baby."

"…Gaa!"

The betrayal was real.

---

A Small Step Forward – System Rewards

That night, as I lay in my crib, a familiar blue screen appeared.

Ding!

[System Notification]

Daily Growth Milestone Achieved!

Physical Development: +0.1 Strength, +0.1 Agility

Mana Control Progress: Slightly improved flow stability

Bonus: +10 System Points

I stared at the notification.

It wasn't much.

But it was something.

I let out a small sigh.

I was growing.

Slowly but surely, I was making progress.

One day, I would stand on my own two feet.

One day, I would prove that I wasn't just a cute baby.

But for now…

I would sleep.

---

End of Chapter 9