Chapter 11 - Hidden Talent

After a while, we continued our birthday party with me eating a large part of the food where I even tooks one from Rudeus who complained but come on he took a large amount of beef stew!? Well it was just sibling bickering which I love doing with Rudy especially teasing him. Though, he often tries to tease me with our teacher but I just pretend to be affected. 

It's still ideal to have some semblance of a child-like personality even though it appears strange. Our parents merely laughed at our petty argument until I decided to give a little performance. They were looking at me when I decided to stand up in front of them. 

"Mama, Papa can I do something for you all?"

"Oh what is it, Rein?"

"I always had this strange dream and wanted to try it."

I moved to the center and took out something that made them tilt their head. It was a piece of wood that was a bit longer than the length of my forearm with holes on the shaft. Their expression grew curious upon seeing the object in my hands. 

"A Flute? Don't tell me that you know how to play it??"

"Yes, I often practice outside and wanted to surprise you two. I learned it from my dream and wanted to share it."

"You are always full of surprises, Rein."( Roxy )

"Damn, not only are you talented in sword and magic but might also be in music!?"

"Honey, how many times have I told you about swearing!?"

"Eh! Sorry about that. Still, you learn this from a dream? That is certainly surprising." 

"Arlight, Rein go ahead and play it."

My mother encouraged me without asking further questions since she wanted to see me perform because I often told them that I have strange dreams that help me in training which they didn't think to be strange considering using common sense against me would fail miserably. They're eyes glimmered in excitement as I placed my mouth into the flute before slowly playing the instrument. This is one of the things that I grew fond of in my previous life enjoying the turn from a flute.

The moment the sound began caused them to be dumbfounded because I was able to play something unfathomably beautiful pouring my heart into it. 

"Woah! At this he could literally do anything!?"

"So good!! You're doing amazing, Rein!"

"Unbelievable…if the young master hadn't pursued swordsmanship or magic then I have no doubt he would be a talented musician."

"Agreed, I have seen a few bards in my travels but this is the first time I've seen someone play something so beautiful. *Sigh*....My students are just…"

"Nii-San is really amazing!" 

Hearing their praises only unfueled my heart to continue playing where they started to feel the emotion into my music. I was simply playing Chinese bamboo flute music. When all was said and done the flute left my lips looking at them then instantly felt my mother hug me tightly. 

"What did I do to deserve such talented children!"

"Kid, you really know how to put on a show! You just make us feel more lucky to have children like you two."

"Nii-San, can you teach me how to play!?"

"Hahaha sure! And mama, papa we're also lucky to have you as our parents!"

I exclaimed that made them even more proud toward us and continued our birthday party until we finally called it night and laid on the bed thinking about tomorrow's graduation ceremony. I already knew that it would be about using the spell called Cumulonimbus that needed to create a large field of rain cloud in the sky and maintain it within an hour but for me I can just let nature constantly flow through it. 

My gift after our departure had already been prepared and written with my theories about Mana Core and it's important that only Roxy will be the one allowed to do so. I already trusted her enough to not carelessly share it and believed that no one would take my theory seriously considering after many years no one had the same thought as I did. 

"Nii-San…"

My thought was interrupted when Rudeus called me turning to the side, seeing him laying on his bed staring at the sky deeply thinking about tomorrow. I inwardly sigh knowing the thought running through his mind as I did the same. 

"If you worry about tomorrow, don't. There's nothing to be afraid of besides wild bears and snakes I guess…"

"...Nii-San I'm jealous of you."

"Jealous of me? Why? I'm sorry if I made you feel that way."

I genuinely felt sorry for him but to my surprise he just shook his head in disagreement and turn to look at me. 

"No, you don't have to apologize and I'm not jealous about your talent because Nii-San is abnormal."

"Eh!? You made it sound like a monster!?"

"Hehehe, you know what I mean. The thing I'm jealous about is how you are able to…actually never mind."

"No come on, tell me, at least I can help you if I understand what is troubling you?"

"....Well, you always told us you often have strange dreams and…I also have them."

I was surprised that he was willing to tell me his past life and let him continue his story. I frankly can say that it was a tragic life indeed. Though, compared to what I've been through, I could say it was meager since my mental training. You might be asking, why do you act like some otaku and not a professional assassin but I would say to you that this is how I am even when I reach the age of 50. 

That is why at the beginning I said that it was strange that I'm an otaku AND professional Killer. I act like a killer when I'm on a mission but become more relaxed when I am not. That aside, Rudeus had a lot of courage to tell me nearly everything about his dream. 

"...That's why I…."

"Thank you for telling me, Rudy and to tell you the truth I can't do anything to help you…but I believe that you can do this. I mean your dream isn't real right? Doesn't that mean those bad people won't hurt you anymore?"

He looked at me with widened eyes while clenching his chest feeling a burden being lifted from his heart. I smiled at him, happy that I was able to at least help a bit. 

"I…You're right, Nii-San….thank you."

"No need, I am your brother and brothers help each other."

"....Can I ask you something?"

"What is it, Rudy?"

"...will you tell me about your dream?"

".....I'm sorry, Rudy but my dreams are really weird. *Yawn*...can I tell you next time? I'm tired?"

'Nii-san is dodging my question…'

I dodge his question pretending to feel tired while Rudeus only nodded, closing his eyes to sleep. I wasn't ready to tell them about my past life just yet and focus on getting stronger. 

==========

Standing before the gate of our house, Rudeus remained reluctant to pass through being haunted by his past life. I could only sighed then pat his back to help him a bit.

"No need to be scared, it's only a horse."

"Yeah, but it's refreshing to see one of you still had the qualities of a child."

"What, no that's not it, Nii-San, Shishou."

"However, if you block everyone out, you won't open up to the possibilities."

She moves closer to Rudeus picking him up while I on the other hand use levitation to sit on the horse. My brother was placed in front of me while Roxy behind me allowed me to lean in her body.  He was confused since there wasn't any problem and headed through to our destination while people were greeting us.

"Oh if it isn't, young Rein! What are you doing today?"

The farmer greeted me since I often help them pluck the grains and water them a few times. 

"I'm going on a date with my teacher!"

I cheekily replied while grinning mischievously. I've tried befriending the children in the village since my parents would be worried about me not socializing but it's rather difficult to act like a child sometimes, especially since I don't know how to hold back. There still my brother and future sibling to accompany me which is better than just some brats in the villages. 

My thoughts soon turned to the future and planned to find some bandits to become mt puppets since I aim to perform some experiment to gain hypnosis magic or even necromancy. 

I recalled that there was an automaton that was created by Zanoba which is my brother's future disciple in puppet and statues. If I'm able to create magic circle that could be like slave mark then it would be useful when my plan in the future are in pieces. I understand that hitogami have hidden apostles but if I somehow were able to manipulate influential people in the Asura kingdom then no one would dare fight me. 

However, I need to be careful since my plan needed for the people to not see that this is done by the action of Greyrat and to do so I need to find an organization that could take the blame, however, if I'm successful on create a magic spell that manipulate the mind and hypnotize them then things would be easier. 

An in depth study in the mind and how it could interact with the brain is needed since I know it's possible like how Orsted use hypnosis to make a person fall asleep but even if it was just knock someone is still hoping for it. My future knowledge could change therefore I am unsure who to trust but I doubt my parents or even my family would be under hitogami's influence since he could have easily influenced Ghislaine but it never happened in the series therefore concluded that those related or close to me or Rudy won't be tricked. 

I had exactly a few years until the event happened and could execute the recovery of everyone rather quickly. The first thing I need to head is where my mother would be since she is the most in danger while I'll leave Rudeus to Lilia. If fate or plot was on side then things would go accordingly.

If there is the will of the world then this world has created its protector that should fall under Rudeus but now it is mine  and my intuition is telling me that nothing would change besides being better than the other timeline. This makes me wonder how hitogami reacted when I arrived in his world.   

"Don't say things other people will misunderstand." 

Roxy scolded but made no real effort to correct his announcement.

"Eh? What do you mean?" 

I tried to play played dumb, while looking quizzically at Roxy. She wasn't fooled however. After spending so much time at the Greyrat household, the blue haired Migurd was already familiar with how much of Paul I took after. I'm unsure if I could be called a pervert but sure I desire more than a woman since I don't want to hold myself back but I'm not someone running around trying to get laid. 

My dad is a playboy, not me. Though, I can't completely deny it perhaps I was born into his family because of our shared personality? Who knows besides Grandfather. 

"Cheeky."

Roxy reached down and pinched Rudeus' cheek. Like Paul and Zenith, Roxy was also glad to see Rudeus acting like a child sometimes. Because otherwise it was just too intimidating talking down as a teacher figure to such a genius.

Rudeus merely grinned and giggled even though his cheek was being pinched by his teacher. They had a relationship that resembled a kind teacher and her mischievous but favourite student.

"But I like Shishou!"

"Again tell me that in 10 years or so."

"How about this, Shishou, if I was Emperor Rank when we met would you marry me?"

"Nii-San, you know that's an unfair bet!?"

"Oh come on, Rudy! Of course I'm going to bet when I know I'll win."

"I would say you're too confident but after seeing your talent. I would not take that bet but I'll think about it when we meet again."

"Yosh! Potential wife, acquired!"

Roxy could only warmly smile hearing my words but I can see in her eyes the thought of me when I grow up. She seemed to blush and shook her head at the thought that gave me a proud smile.