Chapter 14

[5 years old: Since the last time your father attacked you, he has been coming home less and less. Your mother has also become less affectionate toward you, but out of a sense of responsibility, she hasn't abandoned you or left you to fend for yourself. She still takes you with her to work at the master's house, just to make sure you have enough to eat.] 

[After being beaten by your father, you felt as if some kind of blockage in your body had been cleared. Not only did your body become much stronger, but your mind also became more open.] 

[You were no longer a naive child. You could now understand your mother's behavior and why she was afraid of you.] 

[You felt a little sad because you had once thought that your mother would be the person who loved you the most in the world. You didn't expect her to distance herself from you because you were different.] 

[But this feeling only passed through your heart for a moment, leaving no trace behind.] 

[To you, the world was so vast, with so many things waiting to be learned and discovered. Losing your mother's affection was such a trivial matter.] 

[You were like a sponge, absorbing useful knowledge with a voracious appetite.] 

[By the standards of the world, you could now be called a genius.] 

[You discovered that no matter how obscure the knowledge was, you only needed to read it once to remember it and fully understand it.] 

Kael decided at this point that he absolutely had to get the "Masochist" skill. 

This "Overall Strength +5" was just too overpowered. 

Not only did it strengthen the body, but it even boosted intelligence. 

[You were no longer satisfied with the limited knowledge you could access.] 

[As a commoner, there was only so much you could learn.] 

[So, you turned your attention to the household where your mother worked.] 

[The family your mother worked for was one of Inazuma's noble families—the Kamisato Clan.] 

[A family with such a long history of inheritance must have a library filled with precious books.] 

[You decided to find a way to sneak into that library.] 

[Your mother was an outsider hired as a servant, of low status, and could only work in the outer courtyard.] 

[You came up with a way to sneak into the inner courtyard without anyone noticing.] 

[The Kamisato Clan needed to transport supplies to the inner courtyard every day.] 

[Using your small stature as a child, you hid inside one of the crates.] 

[And so, you were transported into the inner courtyard along with the supplies.] 

[While hiding in the crate, you heard voices outside. "Young Lady, these are the new clothes Lady Kayo bought for you. Would you like to open them and take a look?"] 

["Leave them there for now. I'll look at them later."] 

[You waited in the crate for a long time, but there was no movement in the room.] 

[Carefully, you lifted the lid and observed the room.] 

[The room was lavishly decorated, with many expensive-looking paintings and ornaments, indicating that the owner of the room must be of high status.] 

[You took advantage of the empty room and quickly climbed out of the crate.] 

[Just as you were stepping out with one leg, the door opened.] 

[A pair of gray-blue eyes met yours.]