Published: January 22, 2026
The door of the house opened, and a black-haired boy of about five years old—Orun—entered inside.
“Welcome home. —Hm? What’s wrong?”
Orun’s mother, Nicola, greeted him with a smile.
However, tears welled up in Orun’s eyes, and seeing that, Nicola asked with a worried tone.
“...Mom, am I not normal?”
Orun, struggling hard to hold back his tears, asked Nicola this question.
“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden? That’s not true at all.”
Though taken aback by the sudden question, Nicola forced a smile and denied Orun’s words.
“But everyone won’t play with me. They say I’m not normal, so they’re told by their parents not to play with me... U-uu...”
Unable to hold back any longer, Orun began to cry with tears streaming down his face.
“I see... There, there. You want to play with everyone, right? —Hey, dear. Is there really no way to use that magic (....) on Orun after all...?”
Gently stroking Orun’s head to soothe his crying, Nicola pleaded with Orun’s father, Rensu, who had come upon hearing the sobbing.
“...But—”
“I know I’m asking the impossible. But more than an uncertain future, I want to help this child who’s suffering right now. And there is a way.”
“................”
Rensu seemed torn by Nicola’s words but couldn’t make a decision.
“I don’t want to see my beloved child hurt and crying anymore. Don’t you feel the same?”
“I feel exactly the same! Right now, my heart feels like it’s about to burst with pain!”
“...Are you two fighting? Fighting is not allowed.”
Hearing Rensu raise his voice, Orun, thinking they had started quarreling, stopped crying and insisted that fighting was no good.
“We’re not fighting. Right, dear?”
Nicola denied it gently to reassure Orun, then sought agreement from Rensu.
“Y-yeah! Dad and Mom are very close!”
Although Nicola smiled at Rensu, there was an undeniable pressure in her gaze, and Rensu broke out in a cold sweat as he agreed with her.
“Wow, I wonder if I too can become close like Dad and Mom.”
Reacting to the word ‘close,’ Orun asked a question that deeply pierced Rensu’s heart.
“...Of course! You’re a kind child. I’m sure when you grow up, you’ll be surrounded by many friends!”
“A lot of friends... I hope I can make many, many friends.”
“...Looks like you’ve fallen asleep.”
Orun, who had been receiving heartless words from other children outside and was stared at with fearful eyes by adults, had taken a heavy mental toll. Combined with the physical exhaustion from crying, he lost consciousness.
“Damn it... Why now? Why this child? I know I will fall into hell after death. I’ve accepted that. If there is punishment for me... punish me personally! Orun has nothing to do with it...! I know it’s selfish, but I wanted Orun to enjoy ordinary happiness...”
“I feel the same. But it’s not allowed. Orun has power (....). That’s why, just for now, I want him to spend time like everyone else (...........). Please, dear, use that magic—the sealing magic—on Orun.”
“...Alright. If it means Orun can live peacefully for now... I understand. I will apply the sealing magic on Orun.”
After the sealing magic was applied, Orun’s physical abilities were restricted, and he could no longer construct advanced or higher-level techniques.
From this day forward, Orun went from being a ‘prodigy’ to an ‘ordinary person.’
◇ ◇ ◇
When I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling came into view.
(Ah, that’s right. The clan lent me a room.)
I sat up and looked around.
The room was spacious enough for two people to live comfortably.
Besides, most necessities for daily living were provided.
Yesterday, I joined the silver rabbits of the night sky.
Members can rent a room in the residential block of the clan headquarters.
Of course, it’s not mandatory; some people rent rooms elsewhere or live with their families.
Since I was staying at an inn, this was a timely offer, so I immediately decided to rent a room.