The Outside World

Years passed, and Levin grew old enough to walk without any issues. As a small four-year-old child, he even got his own room.

However, he still hasn't seen the outside world yet. His parents must be either insanely protective, or there is some serious danger lurking in nature.

As the morning sun shone through his room, he got up and walked down the completely normal staircase.

Got him!

Levin knew exactly when his father was going to leave the house. Now that he finally caught him very early in the morning, he wanted to confront him after all these years.

"Levin? What are you doing up this early?" his father asked while putting on his boots. A huge sword rested on his back.

"I... I want to go with you! I finally want to see the outside!" Levin said with a serious expression on his childish face.

His father looked at him for a few seconds without saying anything, then laughed out loud.

"Why didn't you tell me that earlier? Grab your shoes and follow me." His facial expression turned sinister. "And walk next to me. Don't go alone, okay?"

Levin nodded and grabbed his boots. The wooden door opened, and the fresh air of the forest filled his nostrils.

The sun felt even warmer than through the window in his room, and the birds didn't sound so bad anymore. The soft, green ground slightly cracked under his feet.

What Levin saw wasn't just a forest; he saw a world full of possibilities just waiting for him to explore it.

"Levin! Don't daydream!" his father said.

He quickly caught up to his dad and observed every animal that passed by: pig-cows, squirrels with two tails, colorful birds that changed color whenever they chirped.

The whole place felt like a parody of the nature he knew... or maybe his nature was a parody of what surrounded him now?

"It's beautiful!"

His father nodded and chuckled proudly. The huge sword on his back reflected the morning sun.

"Indeed, son, indeed. Mernia is a beautiful country."

Mernia?

"What is... Mernia?" Levin asked while fixating on the sword on his father's back.

"Did your mother never tell you? Oh my..." He took a deep breath and sat on the wet moss beneath him. "Mernia is a kingdom ruled by a royal family of the same name. It's known for its rich nature and talented magicians and warriors."

His father explained proudly as he looked up into the bright sky that grew more blue the more time passed.

"A royal family... and are there other countries?"

The expression on his dad's face became a bit more serious. For a few seconds, he mumbled something that Levin couldn't understand.

"Yes, there are other countries," he spoke with a strict voice.

What's all that about?

"And what's their—"

"We should get going. The pig-cows won't wait for us." He interrupted Levin and stood up.

Either his father didn't know about the other countries, or the topic was forbidden for his parents. Either way, Levin's curiosity grew even more.

It would be better to stop asking for now...

His father whistled at him. For an unknown reason, Levin felt anger boiling up inside him.

I am not your fucking dog, old man!

He didn't know where it came from, but one thing was for sure: he didn't like being whistled at.

"What is it?" Levin asked his father with an annoyed expression.

"Look! There!" His dad pointed at a huge pig-cow. The animal was lying on the ground and breathing deeply, without a care in the world.

"It's sleeping..." Levin mumbled quietly.

His father slowly drew the sword from his back and nodded.

"We can use it to our advantage," he whispered back.

Levin quietly observed how his father sneaked up on the sleeping animal. Even though he had already eaten meals that his mother cooked from its meat countless times, his heart hurt when he thought about its life being taken away.

It reminded him of his own life. He died at the age of 24—according to the Goddess—and still remembered the pain of not existing. The dark void that surrounded him still scared him to this day.

It would be wrong to witness a different existence being banished into this kind of realm. Maybe a pig-cow actually gets into heaven? But Levin didn't know that for sure.

"Stop!"

The pig-cow quickly woke up and ran away. His father turned around and faced his son with an angry expression on his face.

"Levin! What did you do?!" he screamed loudly.

The small boy took a few steps back, his eyes filled with water as salty tears streamed down his face. Levin's tiny legs shook and shivered.

What's happening to me?

"It was wrong, father..."

Why is my body behaving like this?

His father's expression softened a bit. The once angry face turned into an understanding smile.

"You got the empathy of your mother," his father mumbled. "You don't want to see me hunt, do you?" he added.

Levin shook his head and wiped the tears from his face. For the first time in this new world, he truly felt like the little child he always was.

"It's okay. I will hunt without you next time. Why don't you explore the outside on your own... but stay close to the house, understood?" He gently stroked Levin's dark hair.

"Yes!" Levin ran away happily. As his mind cooled off, he reflected on what had happened to him just a few moments ago.

Did I really cry in front of my dad...?

He sighed and watched some colorful bugs climbing up a rock.

That's so embarrassing... what the fuck is wrong with me?

No matter how long he thought about it, he couldn't understand why he had reacted the way he did. Maybe his body responded differently than he wanted to in certain situations.

The window opened behind his back. His mother leaned out of it and watched him with a dreamy smile on her face.

"What are you doing there, Levin?" she asked happily.

I am obviously thinking!

Levin held his anger back and faced his mother with an equally happy facial expression.

"I am watching the bugs!"

Levin's mother glanced over at the tiny bugs and then looked back at him. She chuckled slightly.

"Ah! My little boy is an adventurer. Maybe you will one day be good enough for the academy."

The academy?!

Now she had his full attention. Humans are social beings, so it's just normal for Levin to feel the urge to make some friends. The land of Mernia was still completely unknown to him.

"What is the academy, Mom?" he asked with an innocent voice.

"Oh! The royal academy allows all kinds of mages, warriors, and smart kids to sharpen their skills. They have pretty strict rules, and not many students can surpass the first semester..."

"But if you manage to get a diploma, you can be a warrior, mage, or scientist for the royal family!" his mother hummed happily.

In her head, she had already thought countless times about sending him to the royal academy of Mernia when Levin was old enough.

Not only that, but he had almost completely forgotten that magic existed in this world. The Goddess had even said something similar.

A world full of magic and adventures.

This either sounded like the description of an ordinary video game or promised Levin an exciting life full of friendship and dangerous tasks.

"When can I go to the academy?" Levin asked without breaking eye contact with his mother.

"At the age of 13. But you have to pass a hard test depending on what kind of degree you want." She clapped her hands and turned towards the kitchen while leaving the window open.

"But you still have plenty of time to think that through. Although it would make both of us proud to see you succeed at the academy."

Thanks for the mental pressure...

During breakfast, Levin sat alone with his mom at the dining table. He ate some bread with fried eggs, leaving the cooked meat untouched.

She observed him quickly, then smiled at him and bit into her own bread.

"When you turn six, we can get you a teacher. He or she can test your abilities and then order a trainer to sharpen your skills."

Levin listened closely to what his mother said. This really sparked his interest. He gulped down his breakfast and looked at her.

"My skills?"

His mother nodded.

"Yes. With a special test, the teacher can see if you are a mage, a warrior, or a scientist. Not every person can cast magic and not every person can wield a blade."

This might be the strictest Isekai world that ever existed...

Levin's decision was clear: no matter what kind of class he would be, he would visit the royal academy and make his parents proud. Although he didn't know why he wanted them to be proud of him.

Guess I really adapted to family life, eh?