Chapter 2: Fleeting Moments and Lost Opportunities
[Dante's POV]
What the heck is happening to me? How did I end up as a baby all of a sudden? Could that strange tear in reality be responsible for this sudden change? And if so, was it a mistake to allow myself to be drawn into it?
These questions were stirring in my mind as I tried to make sense of my new reality. Despite my efforts to find answers, clarity eludes me, leaving me feeling confused and unsure about what lies ahead.
At this moment, I am utterly helpless. My senses were still underdeveloped, meaning I wasn't able to see, hear, or move properly. It would probably take a few months before I could even begin to assess my surroundings better.
With nothing but time stretching out before me, I could only wait and ponder on what destiny had in store for me in this strange new reality.
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My new journey began in a rather humble manner, as I endured the trials and tribulations of infancy once again. Activities such as breastfeeding, diaper changes, and endless hours of lying around tested my patience more than I had ever imagined.
Frankly, it's rather embarrassing to depend on a woman's bosom for sustenance every single day. And to make matters worse, I'm not the only one in my vicinity being nursed. If I am not mistaken, there are two other babies present, suggesting that I am one of the triplets. This means competition for attention, care, and resources from our caregivers, though thankfully they are my siblings.
As the days turned into weeks, my vision slowly began to develop, allowing me to distinguish faces with growing clarity. So far, I've been able to make out a few individuals in my midst.
First of all, a man with brown hair and green eyes often approaches the crib, attempting to entertain me and my two siblings. Yet, his form of entertainment was rather bothersome in my opinion because he'd just make funny faces and speak to us in an unknown language.
Speaking of unknown language, I have yet to discern what country I find myself in because the words being spoken are clearly neither English nor Japanese. Despite that, I would try to decipher its meaning and master it as soon as possible.
"Bwaaaaaaah!!"
Suddenly, a loud cry emanated from my left, and I saw my blonde sibling bawling her eyes out. I suppose she's hungry or something, but who am I to judge?
"Bwaaaaaah!!"
Another cry erupts from my right, signaling that my maroon-haired sibling is experiencing the same disturbance as my other sibling, which annoys me greatly.
Well, this is rather irritating.
But before I could assess the situation further, two women came into my field of vision. One is a blonde woman, and the other is a maid with maroon hair.
As both of them picked up my two siblings, I just noticed something unorthodox. The color of their hair matches that of the infants they're holding, leading me to suspect that the man has fathered children with both women. Realizing this, I couldn't help but feel rather revolted and worried to know who my mother was.
Just then all of them looked at me quite strangely as if they had seen something wrong, but I had no idea what it was. After that, the man picked me up and tried to entertain me, forcing me to lash out at him out of spite.
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[Third POV]
While Dante thought he was lashing out, in reality, he was simply flailing his soft arms at his father's face, seeming unperturbed.
"Easy there, you're quite lively today, little guy."
His father chuckled affectionately, undeterred by his son's feeble attempts at defiance. He continued to make silly faces and murmur soothing words, trying to calm the infant.
Meanwhile, the blonde woman and the maid exchanged puzzled glances, silently observing the interaction between father and son.
"Father, could you cut it out," a voice called out to the man. He looked down and saw his eldest son standing before him. "He clearly doesn't want to be entertained."
"Ah, sorry about that, Rudy," the father replied, finally noticing Dante's lack of enthusiasm.
He gently returned the baby to the crib, allowing him to rest peacefully. However, it seemed that peace was not to be as the infant continued to stare at them with what appeared to be spiteful determination.
"There seems to be something wrong with him," the blonde woman worriedly remarked.
Observing closely, the maid nodded. "I agree, it's quite reminiscent of when Master Rudeus was a newborn."
The young boy furrowed his brow upon hearing their comment and turned to the crib where Dante was. He then hovered his lips near the infant's ear and whispered something odd.
"Are you perhaps a reincarnated soul?"
The question hung in the air as Dante widened his eyes, seemingly taken aback. It wasn't the message that shook him, but rather what language he used.
"What did you just say to him, Rudy?" the father asked, curious about his son's actions.
Shaking his head, the boy responds dismissively. "It's nothing. Just helping him calm down."
"That doesn't look like the face of someone calm," the father observed, his brow furrowing in concern as he stared at the infant's perturbed expression.
The boy just shrugged and reassured his father, "Don't worry about it, father. He's just too young to understand it right now."
With that said, he turned and went back to the table with another individual, a green-haired elf. Meanwhile, Dante remained shaken by the encounter, pondering what had happened. He silently stared at the young boy through the gaps in the crib, considering their true identity.
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Several days passed, yet Dante couldn't shake off the strange encounter with the boy. The words he just said that day still echoed in his mind, stirring up a whirlwind of questions and uncertainties.
Lying in the crib, amidst the bustling activities of the household, Dante contemplated the implications of encountering another reincarnated soul in the same world as he in.
As he observed the comings and goings around him, the newborn couldn't help but wonder about the boy's cryptic message. Was he truly a reincarnated person, just like himself? And if so, what did it mean for their fates to intertwine in this unfamiliar realm?
"Father, I'd like to make a request."
Suddenly, Dante heard the boy's voice from across the room. He turned his small head and peered through the gaps in the crib, seeing them sitting around the table. Although he still didn't understand the unfamiliar language, he could read their expressions.
"No, you can't."
Smack! Smack!
As the father denied the boy's request, the two women flanking him simultaneously smacked his head. This startled Dante as he pondered why they hit his father, though he could make rough assumptions about its reasons.
"Sure you can, dear."
"Please, master Rudeus, tell us anything you wish for."
The blonde woman and the maid encouraged the young boy to voice his request, despite the father's evident disagreement. Reluctantly, the man relented, albeit with a resigned sigh.
"Fine, Rudy. What is it that you want?"
Dante was curious about the discussion since he noticed the father's submissive expression, indicating that the infant understood more than he let on.
Meanwhile, the boy voiced his request, telling them about his troubles and concerns before revealing his wish to bring someone to an academy far away from home.
The father contemplated for a while, weighing his decision before uttering his response.
"No, I won't let you."
His words hung in the air as everyone had solemn expressions on their faces, which Dante found strange. As the tension thickened, the infant watched intently, eager to understand the dynamics of the conversation unfolding before him.
"Can I ask why, father?" the boy asked, wanting to know the reason for his refusal.
The man proceeded to explain, citing the expensive tuition fee along with the boy's lack of training and young age as factors in his decision. Feeling the heavy atmosphere from across the room, Dante felt useless for not comprehending the conversation.
However, the boy has one more trick on his sleeve to resolve the problem.
"I want a job."
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[Dante's POV]
It's frustrating not being able to understand their language, but it's apparent that something significant is unfolding before me. As I lie in my crib, observing the tense exchange between the family members, I feel a sense of anticipation building higher.
I could see the solemnity on the boy's face as he persisted in reasoning with the man, who appeared to be conflicted based on his expressions.
Eventually, the man sighed and nodded, implying that they found their agreement. With a sense of relief, the tension in the room begins to dissipate.
The blonde woman and the maid exchange glances, their faces softening with familiarity. It seems that the boy's persistence has paid off.
Soon, they rise from their seats and disperse from their meeting. The man and his son head outside while the two women approach the crib, probably to tend to me and my two siblings.
More days went by and a particular event occurred. It all starts normally at first, but suddenly the two women pick me up along with my siblings before taking us outside.
What I see next shakes me to the core. I see the boy unconscious in the man's arms, and he hands him over to another person—a woman with grey hair and cat-like features.
Wait, what's going on here? Why is the boy out cold? Where are they taking him?
These were the questions swirling in my mind as I attempted to reach out to the boy while I was being carried by the blonde woman. She understood my intent and brought me closer to the scene.
As we arrive in front of the carriage, the blonde woman presents me and my siblings to the cat-like woman, who pats us on the head. She then shows the unconscious boy to us, and I notice some bruises on his whole body.
Did the man beat up the boy? Is that why he's unconscious?
While pondering what just happened, the man approaches the cat-like woman and hands her a letter. They converse for a while before the woman enters the carriage with the boy.
"Wait! Don't take him away!"
Out of nowhere, a female voice echoes from behind us. We all turned to see a girl with green hair and pointed ears. She appears on the verge of tears, and suddenly, without warning, she rushes toward us.
Thud...
Thankfully, the man swiftly incapacitates the girl before she can cause harm. Afterward, she is escorted away, and at the same time, the carriage promptly departs.
I feel a pang of regret at the lost opportunities to interact further with the boy as he is taken from us. Though I am uncertain of the reason for his departure, I can only hope it serves a purpose. Until then, I could only wait and see.
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