Milk

Milk.

The most nutritious source of nutrition for all babies. Regardless of the species.

I'd bet even fishes would live on milk if I offered them some.

[You just want to lick those tits]

Alvitr spoke through the channel set up in the other realm as she saw me sucking milk from the-

[Don't you dare say it, you creep]

I am a baby.

[What was that about Rudeus being a creep again?]

This is this and that is that.

[Suuuure. That solves everything.]

I sense sarcasm in you.

[Just finish your milk]

The source must never be damaged. Hence I will make sure to handle it woth great care!

[….I'm leaving]

With those words, she cut off the call and I put my focus back into sucking milk.

A toddler must have ample nutrition in order to grow healthy. The baby body of mine is a special favor from Hitogami.

My previous body was strong enough to somehow contend against gods. But it was broken beyond repair.

The bones had punctured most liver and my spine had multiple small tears. I was able to reattach the severed fingers but it'll take some more time to fully heal.

To be reborn in another's body was something I did not wish to experience. It would be a headache to start all over from scratch and power up my body, so I made carry over.

The new baby body of mine was just as strong as my previous body. Right now, if I wished I could wreck this orphanage.

…Which makes me a very dangerous individual.

I fi show off too much, who's to say I won't be locked up in a basement and not get experimented on…

Although the chances of them succeeding in pulling that off is abysmally low, I'd rather not have an army behind my back.

However, that doesn't mean I'll play like some kind of hidden tiger in a flock of sheep and do a dramatic power reveal like those wuxia protagonists.

It makes no sense that some protagonists just endure the whole crowd talking shit about them and then 'reveal' how strong they are at the last minute in a tournament.

Believe it or not, doing that doesn't give you any special benefits.

The mobs will avoid you just like how they avoid the 'Four Heavenly Kings' and the grand shaolin ancestor who is a secret previous life's childhood friend and lover of yours won't be 'extra' smitten by you.

It's pointless.

And therefore…

"Oh my! Andrew you're so cute! How'd you learn to roll so early!?"

The young elf…young looking elf picked me up and spun me around as she hugged me tightly in her bosom.

'Life is Daijoubu.'

I though as I felt suffocated by the weapons of mass distraction.

The rhythmic movement of the flesh made my small body bounce along with them.

What a great world we live in…

Swoosh—!

The spinning stopped as I found myself face to face with the nanny.

Her face dangerously close to mine.

"You thought something rude didn't you?"

Hmm? Did she sense me thinking about her age?

Well even if she did, there's nothing she could do about it.

"AAAHHH I can feel it you're mocking me!" She pouted and spoke out loud, looking for any sort of hint.

Old hag…

"Mouuu! I'll punish you!"

…Eh? Wait what!?

Before I could get out of her vice grip, I found myself lying flat on my stomach, on her lap…

Smack—!

"Waaaaaaa—!"

The details of what transpired that day shall henceforth be never mentioned again.

________________________________________

It had been a few months since Andrew was born. In that time, Merissa had realized a few things.

He seemed to be a danger magnet. Although he never cried excessively or refused too eat properly, he had a knack for getting hurt.

He liked to roam around the floor, kicking various things down and causing a mess. The unnatural strength unbefitting of a child did not help in that regard.

While the other children in his age are still unable to support their heads on their neck, Andrew was able to roll. In fact, he seemed familiar with it.

That shouldn't be.

The only ones crawling around him are the ones who are older. And assuming that he copied them after watching it was also very likely.

He was able to do it instantly. There was no trial and error. It was as if he knew how to do it before trying it himself..

That led to one conclusion. An outrageous conclusion for a newborn, but probable.

Andrew was aware.

No, he was born aware. He was conscious of himself and his surroundings.

To this day, she felt guilt.

When Merissa saw how the child was unnaturally silent and carefully observant, she felt sheer terror.

His birth was still something she thinks about.

The boy did not cry out form the cold world hugging his skin, did not jolt from the pain after getting his butt slapped.

He only looked ahead with those yellow eyes, observing everything and everyone.

But as time passed, Merissa realized that she was mistaken about the child.

He was quiet. Unlike most children, he didn't cry when he was hungry or needed to change. At most, he would wave his tiny arms and look at them. All the while, there would be a strange expression in his eyes.

There was no terrifying emotionless gaze. No monstrous or sly look.

It was an unbothered gaze. There was no drive in him

She blamed herself for that…

She recalled what she did that day,

When Andrew was trying to get up on her lap, she pushed him away, she was afraid if the monster in a child's skin.

He fell down the bed and bumped his head on the floor.

The thought that a conscious child was approaching her made feel scared.

But she also saw it.

The fading glow in his eyes. As if he had memorized the look she gave him.

His behavior didn't change afterwards, he played around like he always did…

But that made her feel guiltier.

She realized that Andrew was a child. A child who was aware of everything, but also oblivious.

The reason he stayed the same despite being pushed away by an adult was because he took that as normal. He believed it was normal to be hurt like that.

She understood the look he had given him. It was acceptance.

That this is how it should be…

So Merissa vowed to change herself.

For the innocent child, she would change herself and be the closest nanny to him.

"FAAAAD"

…. Though she won't let it slide with calling her fat.

"Get back here!"

**************************************************

Me personally.

I'd rather not go for Tessia since she's a kid.

Who u shipping for?

Tessia

Alea Triscan ( I'm rooting for her cz she fine af+ she's super strong. Managed to break a piece of Vritra's armor)

also, drop them stones if you want your votes to be valid. I'm corrupt and there's nothin u can do about it!