There were several reasons I'd set the term to last until I turned three.
The most important was that my immature heart needed time to grow.
I'll need to be able to run around on my own two feet before my body can handle a mana heart's energy.
Even Hierenirn—now forced into unpaid service—agreed on that point.
The real problem was my wretched living environment.
The room's hygiene alone, not to mention the temperature and humidity, was practically a ticking time bomb.
The great guardian spirit summoned the lesser guardians to deal with it.
[All of you, gather! From today until this child can stand on his own two feet, you will care for him with utmost effort! Start by removing the mold!]
The first few months passed without incident.
But before long, complaints began bubbling up.
[Great Guardian! Are we spirits of housekeeping or what?]
[This little brat just works us like slaves!]
[Fussy little thing. I'm sick of waiting on him hand and foot. How long is this supposed to go on?]
The guardian spirits rose in protest like a swarm of bees.
And understandably so—I'd assigned them every odd job imaginable while giving them not a speck of mana in return.
I'd been squeezing them dry like worn-out rags.
The exhausted spirits wanted their leader and contractual representative, Hierenirn, to step in and say something on their behalf.
Instead, the phoenix snapped at them.
[What did you say? You lazy wretches! If anyone doesn't like it, leave! I will secure this contract by any means necessary!]
[Huh…?]
They all looked stunned.
Once, Hierenirn had possessed a stature nearly equal to a Spirit King.
His rank had fallen considerably now, but—
He was still far too exalted a being to fawn over a human infant.
Yet the phoenix crushed their expectations without hesitation.
[Do you think this is just for my benefit? Once the contract is made, mana will flow to you too! Isn't this for all of us to prosper together?!]
[Of course we need mana, but—]
[Quiet! Think of the humiliating years we've endured! The fallen status of spirits! The spirit realm sunk in sorrow! If you know that, then work harder!]
[We know, but…]
[Then go back to work! Without that much grit, how can you call yourselves guardians of Kircheis?!]
[B-but—]
[Hoh? Who said you could talk back? Objections denied!]
[…]
Someone muttered, "What a lackey," but Hierenirn ignored it.
When the guardian spirits dispersed and the area grew quiet—
Good job, Hieren.
[The mana you promised—don't tell me you're stiffing me?]
What do you take me for? Here.
From the fingertips of my hand—lying still as if I were asleep—rose a small blue mote of light.
The mana I'd promised in exchange for keeping the others in line.
In truth, Hierenirn was acting as my enforcer.
[Damn it. I, who once fed on endless time itself while basking in eternity—how did I end up like this?]
So you don't want it?
[Ahem. Of course I do.]
The grumbling phoenix quickly opened his beak.
The mana particle slipped inside, and a ripple spread.
No—a surge.
Shuuuuuu—
It was as if a water balloon filled with ink had burst in midair, energy waves exploding outward and shaking everything around us.
His old feathers tore away all at once, the phoenix's form becoming sleek and refined.
「Guardian Spirit 'Hierenirn' has partially recovered his rank.」「Ascension may be attempted using various materials.」
Each feather gleamed with a noble sheen.
The result of absorbing high-purity mana.
[Good—excellent! Such pristine mana. Enduring disgrace was worth it…]
Hierenirn's rank had plummeted after so long without mana.
With that pure energy, he recovered several tiers at once.
Watching him, I smiled faintly.
You feel different. Looks like it helped.
[Hmph. I won't lie.]
Thanks to that, I grew steadily without catching so much as a cold.
After more than a year of this, the guardian spirits seemed to give up resisting and took care of me diligently.
Once I could speak and move my limbs freely, I decided it was time for the second stage.
Hieren.
[Hm? What is it? Diaper wet? Want me to call the nanny?]
Not that. Time for the next phase.
[…?]
There was something I could do while my body continued to grow.
Go to the library and bring me magic books.
[Eh? Do you not realize I lack the mana to manifest? In this state I can't exert physical force—]
I'll give you enough mana to manifest a toe. One book a week should be doable, right?
[Unbelievable. What a cheapskate!]
With my current limitations, this was the best option.
And necessary.
Go. Hurry.
[Haa…]
Five hundred years is a very long time.
How much has human magic advanced?
It had been on my mind ever since I regained consciousness and accepted my reincarnation.
So the moment I could move freely, I sent Hierenirn to the library—
[Q-quick, the mana…!]
Good work. Eat.
I pushed the great guardian to exhaustion again and again, hauling in magic books.
I'd devoured most introductory texts, so I had a solid grasp of modern magical theory.
But in the end, not much had changed.
Human magic was strangely stagnant.
Especially the process of forging a mana heart—it hasn't changed at all.
Meaning the same methods from five centuries ago were still perfectly viable.
I decided to use the ancient training method Ifriel had taught me.
—The Origin of All Things.
A discipline that forged a sturdy, well-balanced mana organ.
The problem was that performing it required a top-tier catalyst.
In my previous life, Ifriel had supplied mana directly.
Now, no such being existed.
So I gave Hierenirn his third task.
I need a top-grade mana crystal.
[Surely I misheard?]
Nope. Go get one. If there's no raw crystal, bring an artifact of equivalent grade.
[You brat! Do mana crystals grow like pebbles on the road? And top-grade ones, at that!]
The family vault should have one.
Top-grade mana crystals were rare materials obtained only from high-ranking demons or massive magical beasts.
Easy to say, hard to get.
Fortunately, Hierenirn seemed accustomed to theft by now. After some grumbling, he headed out.
[Fine, I'll steal one! But remember—I take no responsibility for the fallout!]
Surprisingly, he returned quickly.
Clutched in his talons was a pitch-black necklace radiating an ominous aura.
That worked?
[You sent me expecting it wouldn't!]
Of course not. I had faith.
[…Damn brat. Couldn't find a raw crystal, so I stole an artifact. It's called the 'Black Tear.']
The chain and ornament were coated in black pigment.
I didn't know its function, but the dense mana pouring from it confirmed it contained a top-grade crystal.
「Preparation complete to execute the training method 'Origin of All Things.'」
I hid it under my pillow.
At sunset, I would begin forging my mana heart.
But Hierenirn hesitated, then spoke.
[T-there's something you should know, Tiberian.]
What?
[On the way back… I think I picked up a tail.]
…!
We were being followed.
There was no time to ask details.
The door burst open, and men flooded in.
"We are investigating a theft within the estate. Cooperate."
The man at the front spoke like a warning.
Huge, bear-like.
Zenith, folding laundry in the corner, stiffened.
"A theft? Out of nowhere? We don't know any—"
"Answer only what you're asked. Obstructing the Discipline Unit is a grave offense."
The Discipline Unit.
The organization maintaining order within House Kircheis.
They seemed to suspect a servant had stolen an artifact.
But the real culprits were me and Hierenirn.
[I warned you! I said I wouldn't handle the aftermath!]
So you drag a tail back with you?
[Like I did it on purpose?! Anyway, later!]
The phoenix vanished.
Uncontracted spirit—loyalty nonexistent.
That pigeon-brained idiot.
I sighed and slipped a hand under my pillow, drawing up mana.
I would cast Destruction, even if I had to squeeze out every last drop.
Hard-won artifact or not—destroying it and playing innocent was best.
Unbelievable. No mana to spare, and I have to destroy my own catalyst.
Absurd.
Then our eyes met.
"Hey! We're busy caring for Young Master Kirian here! What theft could we possibly—"
"Wait."
The bear turned sharply toward me.
Burning red eyes.
I recognized him.
Bastion Ramov. Captain of the Discipline Unit.
The right-hand man of Patriarch Rohvach.
A high knight who'd reached the 7th star long ago, rumored to have touched the 6th as a mage.
He seemed to sense something from me.
"I need to examine Young Master Kirian."
"Why him?!"
"Because it's suspicious."
He brushed past Zenith and approached.
Damn it.
「Deploying attack spell 'Destruction.'」「Mana critically insufficient.」
I poured every scrap of mana into the Black Tear.
Dizziness twisted my stomach, but I endured.
The moment Destruction completed—
Crack—
Like an eggshell crumbling, something shifted in my hand.
A familiar sensation.
This is—?
Bastion lifted me up.
The artifact on the chain was revealed.
A small green-glimmering ring.
I knew it well.
Ifriel's ring.
My body trembled.
The "Black Tear" Hierenirn stole had been a disguised Ifriel's ring.
Her voice echoed in memory.
"When you have time, come to the Forest of the Elves. I'll have a new story to share. You'll need this to open the barrier as an outsider."
Joy and confusion tangled.
Why was this here, in the Kircheis vault, instead of rolling around beneath the Demon King's Castle?
And disguised.
And appearing now…
Could it be tied to my reincarnation?
Had the ring called me?
Otherwise, meeting again here after 500 years made no sense.
That wasn't all.
"Strange. I definitely sensed something…"
Bastion muttered, setting me down.
He tilted his head, seeing nothing.
Yet the ring dangled clearly from the chain in my hand.
「Protection spell 'Concealment' is applied to the artifact.」
A concealment spell on Ifriel's revealed ring.
Magic so powerful that only a top-tier mage could even perceive its existence.
No ordinary matter.
"My apologies, Young Master Kirian."
"…Mm."
Bastion belatedly showed courtesy.
The Discipline Unit searched again but found nothing.
They finally left.
"See?! Grabbing innocent people like that!"
Zenith shook her fist at their backs.
I felt a brief pang of guilt, then steeled myself.
[Whew… passed without trouble. Thank goodness.]
Hierenirn reappeared, shameless as ever.
I couldn't let this slide.
I'd start forging my mana heart after properly punishing him.
Get over here. You feathered hen!
[Skreee!]