“Well then…” “It’s me, Ankit.” “I guess…
you already know who I am.” He paused for a moment before scratching his head.
“…Actually…” “Who am I even talking to?” “And who exactly would know me?” “…Ah, whatever.” “It doesn’t really matter.” “I just feel like talking.” A bright smile appeared on his face.
“Anyway…” “I’m officially three years old now.” “Yep.” “You heard that right.” “Three years old.” “And before you ask…” “No.” “I never gave up on meditation.” He folded his arms proudly.
“Even after all this time…” “Nothing has changed.” “I still haven’t awakened any powers.” “No miracles.” “No hidden magic.” “Nothing at all.” He shrugged with a helpless smile.
“But meditation is good for both the mind and the body.” “So even if I never gain any powers from it…” “I’ll keep doing it.” Then his eyes sparkled with a faint hope.
“…Although…” “I still have a tiny bit of hope.” “Maybe one day…” “Meditation really will awaken something inside me.” A proud grin spread across his face.
“Oh!” “And there’s one thing I’m really proud of.” “I can now meditate continuously for two whole hours.” “And this time…” “I mean real meditation.” “No wandering thoughts.” “No daydreaming.” “No falling asleep.” “For two entire hours…” “My mind stays completely focused.” He smiled to himself.
“Of course…” “I’ve kept all of this a secret.” “No one in my family knows that I meditate every night.” “My little secret is still safe.” He stretched lazily before continuing.
“As for my daily routine…” “I still train with Dad every single day.” “Well…” “I used to train at Grandpa’s house.” “But Mom eventually found out.” She looked at Dad one day and said, “I know exactly why the two of you disappear every morning.” “So stop bothering Grandpa every single day.” “If you want to train…” “Do it right here in our garden.” Ankit laughed awkwardly.
“So…” “That’s what we’ve been doing ever since.” He suddenly became quiet.
Then he tilted his head in confusion.
“…Wait.” “Why am I telling someone all these personal things?” “…Who exactly am I talking to?” He looked around the empty room.
“…Seriously.” “I’ve got to stop talking to invisible people someday.” Just then, a familiar voice echoed from outside his room.
“Ankit!” “Wake up!” “We still have training to do!” Ankit smiled helplessly.
See?
I was just lying in my room, telling you all of this first thing in the morning.
Then he shouted back, “Yes, Dad!” “I’m coming!” Without wasting another second, he jumped out of bed and hurried toward the bathroom.
As he walked, another thought suddenly crossed his mind.
“Oh, right…” “I don’t think I’ve ever told you this.” “This world actually has toilets too.” “They’re just…
a little different from the ones in my previous life.” “Most of them are built from wood.” “And they’re designed so that everything flows directly into a waste canal outside the village.” He nodded to himself.
“Pretty simple…” “But surprisingly practical.” Then he suddenly stopped walking.
“…Wait.” “Why am I explaining the village’s toilets to you?” “What kind of conversation is this?” He scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly.
“…Seriously.” “I have no idea who I’m talking to anymore.” With that, Ankit stepped into the bathroom, and the wooden door quietly closed behind him.
After finishing in the bathroom, Ankit washed up and got ready.
Without eating breakfast, he headed straight for the garden.
His father was already waiting there, wooden sword resting on his shoulder.
The moment Ankit stepped into the garden, Sore smiled.
“You took your time today.” “You should start waking up a little earlier.” “You’re growing up now.” Ankit puffed out his cheeks.
“Okay, Dad…” Sore laughed.
“Good.” “Now get ready for training.” As Ankit picked up his practice sword, it was obvious that it had been replaced with a slightly larger wooden one.
Nearby villagers once again stopped to watch.
One of them chuckled.
“Seriously, Sore…” “Children his age are still learning how to play with toys.” “And you’ve already put a sword in your son’s hands.” Sore burst into laughter.
“Hahaha!” “My son isn’t an ordinary child.” “Now then…” “Get ready, Ankit.” Ankit confidently pointed his wooden sword toward his father.
“Alright, Dad.” “Today…” “I’ll show you what a real fight looks like!” Sore grinned.
“Oh?” “I’d love to see that.” “Come.” Without another word, Ankit dashed forward.
The sound of wooden swords echoed throughout the garden.
Clack!
Clang!
Thud!
…
A few moments later…
Ankit was lying flat on the ground.
His wooden sword had flown several meters away.
A tiny stream of drool escaped from the corner of his mouth as he stared blankly at the sky.
Sore couldn’t hold back his laughter.
“Hahaha!” “Weren’t you going to show me what a real fight looked like?” “What happened?” Ankit silently looked away in embarrassment.
…Let’s pretend none of that happened.
Meanwhile, Sore watched his son with thoughtful eyes.
If I didn’t possess the ability to sense a person’s thoughts…
This child could actually give me quite a challenge someday.
Can anyone really believe he’s only three years old?
His footwork…
His breathing…
His instincts…
They’re improving far too quickly.
It feels as though he’s secretly training himself in ways I don’t know about.
What’s even stranger…
Whenever he’s standing in front of me…
He never thinks about whatever that secret is.
A clever little brat.
A faint smile appeared on Sore’s face.
Whatever he’s hiding…
I won’t force him to tell me.
As long as…
He doesn’t push himself so hard that he ends up hurting himself.
That was the only thing a father truly worried about.
Just then…
Sore’s smile suddenly froze.
A cold chill ran down his spine.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
He turned his head.
Standing a few meters away was his wife.
She was holding a rolling pin in one hand.
A gentle smile rested on her face…
But the terrifying aura surrounding her made even the air feel heavy.
Sore gulped.
“H-Honey…” “When did you get here?” She tightened her grip on the rolling pin.
“I told you…” “You were allowed to train him.” “I never said…” “You were allowed to beat my son into the ground.” She slowly walked toward Sore.
Each step made him instinctively take one step backward.
“I’ve been watching everything.” “You didn’t go easy on him even once.” She glanced at Ankit, who was still lying on the ground trying to recover.
“My poor baby…” “Look at him.” “He’s completely exhausted.” Then she turned back toward Sore.
A dangerous smile appeared on her face.
“So…” “Would you like to have a match with me instead?” Sore’s face instantly turned pale.
“…I suddenly remembered.” “I have some very important work to do.” “I’ll be leaving now.” The moment he turned around to run— His wife grabbed him by the collar.
“Oh no…” “You’re not escaping this time.” Nearby villagers immediately burst into laughter.
“Hahaha!” “Poor Sore!” “Looks like the Village Chief is about to receive his own training session!” Ankit, who was still lying on the ground, slowly raised his head.
Seeing his father being dragged away, he couldn’t help smiling.
Looks like…
Dad is the one who’s really going to lose today’s fight.