Arin's small body moved across the floor again and again. Each push forward made his arms ache, but the cheerful sound of the system kept ringing in his head.
Ding!
[Skill Proficiency Increased]
Skill: Crawling
Proficiency: Intermediate (12%)
Arin smiled faintly. Progress was slow, but it was real. Every inch forward was proof that effort mattered now.
Still, he couldn't just spend all his time crawling. Sometimes, he would stop and sit quietly, his little ears open as his parents talked nearby.
His mother's gentle voice filled the air. "Do you think he'll grow up healthy?"
His father laughed. "Of course. Look at him. He already works so hard."
Arin listened carefully. In his past life, he often ignored these small moments, but now he wanted to remember every word. Every tone of love. Every bit of warmth he once took for granted.
He tried to focus harder than ever before—the rise and fall of his mother's voice, the deep laughter of his father, even the small noises of the house. His ears strained, his mind sharpened.
Ding!
A glowing box appeared.
[New Skill Generated]
Skill: Listening
Proficiency: Basic (0%)
Description: The ability to focus on and interpret sounds more clearly. Higher proficiency allows better understanding of tones, emotions, and hidden details in speech.
Arin blinked. Listening…? He hadn't even thought about it, but the system recognized his effort. Just by paying attention, he had gained something new.
He kept going. Each day, as his parents spoke, he focused harder. He noted every laugh, every sigh, every small whisper.
Ding!
[Skill Proficiency Increased]
Skill: Listening
Proficiency: Basic (6%)
Arin's heart swelled with joy. He could feel himself improving—not only physically with crawling, but mentally with listening.
This was different from his old life. Back then, his efforts had been invisible, lost in the crowd. But now, even the smallest dedication became growth.
His father lifted him into the air one evening, spinning him gently. "You're going to grow up strong, Arin. I can see it."
Arin smiled, tears welling in his tiny eyes. Yes… I will. And this time, I'll make both of you proud.
Two skills now glowed faintly inside him: Crawling and Listening. Both simple, both ordinary—but to Arin, they were the first steps toward an extraordinary life.