Three months had passed since the explosion and Romulus's strange encounter in the void.
Though his body was tiny and helpless, his mind was wide awake constantly gathering information like a starving detective.
Every morning, he observed the people around him. The maids, the knights, the scribes, the nobles…
All of them were undeniably human.
So Mosaic Kingdom is human-only, he mused.
But what about outside these borders?
He needed clues. And babies were excellent at eavesdropping no one questioned a crying infant.
---
The Study Room
Romulus lay on a velvet cushion while his mother spoke to the head scholar.
"Baroness," the scholar said, "as you requested, I've brought the most basic texts for the young heir. Even if he's too small to read, exposure to the wisdom of man benefits the mind."
His mother smiled proudly. "My Romulus will surely become a genius."
Romulus grinned internally.
Yes, yes, keep the books coming.
The scholar opened the first tome.
It depicted vast continents, mythic beasts, and towering inhuman silhouettes giants, beastfolk, elves, demons.
Races he recognized from fantasy stories.
Romulus's eyes widened.
So those races DO exist… just not here.
The scholar continued reading:
"Humanity is the weakest race in the world.
No claws, no fangs, no wings, no magic…
And yet we endure due to one blessing,
intelligence."
Romulus froze.
No magic? Wait WHAT?
He waited, hoping the scholar would correct himself.
He didn't.
"Humans alone possess no magical circuits. We cannot cast spells. We survive by invention, strategy, and knowledge."
Romulus's tiny heart sank.
You're telling me… I reincarnated without a cheat? No magic? No mana? NOTHING?!
He let out a loud, distressed cry.
"WAAAHHHH!!!"
His mother panicked and rocked him gently. "Oh no, did that scare you? It's alright, darling…"
Scare me? Lady, I just learned I'm in hard-mode difficulty!
---
Later that afternoon
Romulus reached out to a silver spoon.
He imagined it floating.
He stared at it with death-laser focus.
Nothing.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
A maid giggled. "My, he's so cute when he concentrates."
"I'm not concentrating I'm activating my magic!" he thought desperately.
He focused even harder.
The spoon remained a spoon.
Romulus collapsed backward and cried in frustration.
His mother quickly picked him up. "Oh you poor thing, did you tire yourself out?"
Tire myself out? Woman, I'm trying to bend the laws of physics here!
---
At night
while pretending to sleep, Romulus listened to the knights chatting in the hall.
"Be grateful we live in Mosaic," one whispered.
"Other races are monsters compared to us."
"Aye. Humans are weak alone. But together our minds, our tools no beast can match us."
Romulus processed their words.
humans are the weakest and other races exist… AND can use magic
So I'm stuck as a powerless baby surrounded by apex predators beyond our borders? Great.
But then
A spark lit in his mind.
If humans survive through intelligence…
A slow grin spread across his tiny face.
Then I'll simply become the smartest damn human in this world.
---
The next morning
Romulus pointed at a bookshelf and babbled loudly.
"Waaah! Waaaah!!"
His mother laughed. "Already asking for books? You truly are my son."
Yes. Bring me knowledge. If I can't use magic, I'll outthink those who can.
Romulus clenched his tiny fists with determination.
Humans may be the weakest… but I won't be.
I'll forge my own power.