chapter 3
Whoosh!
The mana arrow I fired pierced the forehead of the creature in the center with perfect accuracy.
Of course, it didn’t die. My mana wasn’t strong enough to kill a Cerberus. But at least it delivered a solid impact.
“Keek?”
“Grrr! Bark! Bark!”
Startled by their suddenly drooping head, the other two heads began barking wildly in confusion.
I tumbled from the recoil of firing the arrow, but quickly regained my senses. Two left. I had to take those two down somehow!
“Grrrrrr!”
“Woof! Woof!”
I focused.
Releasing mana through the body of a one-year-old was absurd.
But I was doing it anyway.
Why?
Because I had lived for 90 years.
Literally, I was a hardcore veteran who had played this “game” for ninety years.
Over my six past lives, I had done a great many things. To avoid dying at fifteen, I had trained myself into a Great Mage once, an advanced Spirit Master another time, and even a Sword Master.
Those experiences had become nourishment for my current self. I knew how to control and release mana.
Of course, using mana without even forming a core was extremely dangerous—
“But what am I supposed to do, just die right now?!”
I had to fire.
Besides, the mana inside this body felt unusually powerful.
Whoosh!
The arrow I shot pierced the forehead of the left head as well.
“Oh, maybe I should switch to an archer class.”
I smiled in satisfaction and turned my gaze to the last remaining head.
I had to hit this one too.
My stamina was already at its limit.
After this shot, I would probably collapse. What would happen after that—I couldn’t guarantee.
But it was fine.
Hadn’t the system said it clearly? The mission was “Defeat Cerberus.” The reward for that was survival.
If I took it down, I would live.
I focused all my strength and pointed my hand at the charging beast.
“Grrrr! Bark!”
One… two…!
The moment all my concentration and mental energy ignited—
“W-wait!”
“Stop!”
Screeeeeech!
At the twins’ shout, the Cerberus froze as if its brakes had been slammed. I barely managed to suppress the mana I was about to release.
“Meow? (What the hell?)”
I glared at them with all my strength, but the twins completely ignored my murderous stare. Instead, they burst into laughter.
“What are you?”
“Wow, that’s amazing. How are you using mana?”
Clapping, they approached me while casually sitting the Cerberus down, which had been ready to attack.
Damn it. I still hadn’t cleared the mission.
I looked at the Cerberus—well, the one head that still seemed conscious.
“Hey, were you going to knock that one out too?”
“No. If we take that one too, it’ll be troublesome to carry.”
They seemed to have noticed my intent and spoke casually.
Then they crouched in front of me.
“You understand us, right?”
I nodded.
“How long has this kid been alive?”
“About half a year, I think?”
“And he’s already using mana?”
“I want to dissect him. I’m curious how his body is structured.”
They stared at me with bright, curious eyes, like I was some kind of specimen. I swallowed nervously and met their gaze.
“You.”
They smiled.
“I like you.”
“Yeah. I like you too.”
Ding.
A system window appeared.
Sub Quest <Escape the Danger!> Completed!
Although you failed to defeat Cerberus, the target has been rendered combat-ineffective, so the mission is considered a success.
Rewards:
- Survival (Success)
- Twins’ Favorability (Success)
“Phew.”
Seeing the mission success message, I finally relaxed.
I dropped my head onto the ground. My entire body had no strength left. Only my pounding heartbeat confirmed I was still alive.
“I’m Pardes.”
“I’m Merdes.”
The twins flipped my body over so I was facing them.
Annoying.
I frowned, but they didn’t care.
“What’s your name?”
“Meow…?”
They were asking the name of someone who couldn’t even speak?
Are these guys insane?
I opened my mouth in disbelief, but the twins quickly realized their mistake and laughed.
“Oh right, you can’t talk.”
“We thought you were older because you use mana so well.”
Right.
They were only three years old.
No wonder they were so easily fooled.
If they were older, that Cerberus wouldn’t be the one collapsed—it would’ve been my head rolling instead.
Thank goodness they were still kids.
“You don’t even have a name, huh.”
“Should we give you one?”
“Yeah, that’s how it’s done. My older brother gave me mine.”
“Same for me.”
So the Demon Lord didn’t even bother naming his own children?
What an insane man, obsessed only with power.
“A madman raises madmen…”
Seems like a universal rule.
Anyway, the twins’ eyes sparkled.
“Your name will be…”
Pardes spoke first.
“Sekina.”
“Sekina Daimon?”
Merdes tilted his head, arms crossed.
“It means ‘Glory of God.’”
“Yeah.”
“Someone who uses mana from birth deserves such a name.”
“It suits him.”
Why are you deciding whether my name is good or not?
Excuse me?
“Meow… (You crazy bastards…)”
But I had no strength left to shout.
My mana usage had drained me completely.
“Hey, are you fainting?”
“Should we call a doctor?”
I couldn’t answer.
My tension had snapped completely.
So I closed my eyes and collapsed.
“Sekina! Stay awake!”
Their voices faded behind me as I lost consciousness.
—
When I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
I don’t usually like openings like this.
But it really was an unfamiliar ceiling. Not my room after reincarnation.
“Meow… (Where am I?)”
I remembered collapsing after dealing with the Cerberus… so why was I here?
As I tilted my head in confusion, something suddenly appeared beside me.
“Grr! Bark!”
“Woof woof!”
“Meooow?!”
Three dog heads were right next to me, making me scream instinctively.
What? Are we fighting again?
“Ah! Stop! Don’t hit it!”
Merdes grabbed my arm as I instinctively prepared to strike.
“Puppy is just happy to see you! See its wagging tail!”
Ah.
Looking again, the Cerberus was lying flat on the ground, behaving submissively.
What… is this?
“You tamed it! That’s amazing! Anyone born after us gets killed immediately by it.”
“….”
These guys are insane.
No—everything here is insane.
Ignoring the Cerberus licking my hand, I looked around. Two identical beds confirmed this was the twins’ room.
Why did they bring me here?
I sat up and glared at Merdes.
“Meow! Meow! Meow! (Why did you bring me here? Speak!)”
“What is he saying? Brother, Sekina is acting weird!”
Ugh…
Maybe I should learn telepathy magic ASAP. This is infuriating.
“We don’t know where your room is.”
Pardes returned with a stack of books.
“And you don’t even have servants to take you back, right?”
Now that I look closely, Pardes is much more articulate than Merdes. Even though they’re twins.
The books he was holding read things like Human Anatomy, Theory of Dissection, and other disturbing titles.
“This one’s the smarter one.”
The other one… seems a bit dumb.
I turned my attention to Pardes.
His lips curled slightly.
“You would’ve starved if we left you alone.”
“Yeah! We even fed you!”
So that’s why I smelled milk in my mouth…
A little embarrassing.
“I guess tomorrow is the meeting, so we can assign you a servant then. Just stay here until tomorrow.”
Meeting?
First time hearing that word.
“Brother, I think he doesn’t understand anything.”
“Hmm? That’s strange. He should’ve had knowledge embedded at creation.”
They whispered to each other, puzzled.
What are you even talking about?
“Meooow! (Tell me everything!)”
I flailed my tiny limbs and shouted.
Merdes grabbed my hand and smiled brightly.
“Brother, he’s actually really cute. His expressions are different.”
“Maybe there was a mistake during creation.”
Pardes murmured as he stepped closer to the bed.
“Normally you’d understand instinctively… but maybe you were defective. That might explain your strength.”
What the hell is he saying.
“We’ll explain everything! You took care of Puppy, so it’s repayment!”
Finally.
Tell me already.
“First…”
Pardes sat beside me and smirked.
“We are homunculi (artificial humans).”
