It has been a year since I started my second life as a human baby boy.
Although I've grown accustomed to this new life, that doesn't mean I enjoyed it.
Life has been sh*tty for low-ranked people like me.
And also, apparently, I live in a modern era where everything is advanced.
There were strange technologies like smartphones or those boxes called lifts that take you up and down a building. People are obsessed with social media, where everyone shares their daily lives and thoughts through pictures or videos. They are obsessed with clothes that cost more than their rent and suffer through intense labor to pay for everything they need to live.
Why are people so obsessed with money?! And why is everything so expensive! I want that awesome-looking dinosaur toy we got when we went to the mall! WHY CAN'T I JUST TAKE IT!
And the most ridiculous thing that ever existed in this era is that people with powerful magic are considered Gods.
Don't they know I beat down their butts back in my day?
What's the big deal with these stupid ranks anyway?
According to my Dad, our family's magic is practically nonexistent, which classifies us as ranked F. However, our relatives are an exception. My mom's sister is ranked C, which is considered the minimum level to be treated with respect as a decent human being.
Anyone who's ranked lower than C is basically the lowest of the lowest.
And as an F? I'm practically trash in everyone's eyes.
Maybe trash is too valuable. I'm like an insect's poop or something.
No, insect's poop's bacteria.
But anyway, my aunt and her family didn't even consider us a part of their family. Her husband is ranked C, and she has two kids who are ranked B. Despite having decent ranks, they still think they're lacking because they're related to us.
Those snobby pricks.
If I'm still a demon, I'd beat their butts.
The only one neutral about our ranks is actually my grandpa. He's ranked A, but Dad said he never comments rudely about us. He's just indifferent.
I never met him, so I got curious about what he's really like.
"What's causing my adorable baby to frown like that?" Mom suddenly asked, poking between my eyebrows, successfully pulling me away from my thoughts.
"Nyo," I flailed my chubby arms at her to stop poking my face.
She giggled, smooching my cheek. "You're so cute,"
"Nyo,"
"Yes, you are," Mom scrunched her nose as she smiled brightly. "The cutest baby in the whole world,"
I stayed quiet at that.
Heh, I like compliments.
"My baby, are you excited to meet your cousins again?" Mom suddenly asked, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
I paled.
"Nyo!"
"I figured," Mom snickered. "But unfortunately, we have to attend grandpa's birthday tomorrow. I already bought a cute outfit for you! I can't wait to put it on you,"
My mom kept rambling about how she saved up to buy new outfit sets for me, but my thoughts kept swirling back to how my cousins—who were three years older than me—love to bully me.
I'm just a one-year-old! I can't kick their butt or defend myself!
They always use their ice magic to give me frostbite on my fingers, and crying about it was too humiliating.
I also hate how my aunt and her husband belittle my parents like it's nothing, and my parents can't do anything about that either!
"You're frowning again," Mom poked my forehead. "Though you look cute pouting,"
I'M NOT CUTE!
I huffed, opening my mouth as Mom shoved a spoonful of solids, and I chewed angrily.
I need to do something about this.
After I'm done eating, mom places me in the middle of the living room and turns on the TV to keep me entertained. She gave me a lot of smooches on my face before going to the kitchen to do her chores.
I crossed my tiny arms under my chest and started to think.
Ever since I woke up as a baby, the thought of activating my demonic heart never crossed my mind. Because I should've lived quietly as a human, right? I've already lived my life as a demon prince, I already know how everything went. I want to experience what it feels like to be a human.
But I also can't tolerate these butts treating me and my family like we're an annoying bug.
That's it.
I made my decision.
I'm going to put these arrogant snobs in their place. With my two tiny, chubby baby fists!
I concentrated and closed my eyes. I steadied my breathing, slowly starting to feel my skin warming up. And then, a faint pulse coiled deep within my chest. I focused on it, on the warmth buried under my ribcage. The first thing that came was pain—a sharp twist, like needles puncturing my lungs.
I gasped for a bit, hoping my mom wouldn't hear it and break his concentration.
My body began to tremble, but I didn't stop. This hurts because I'm in a human body. A baby human, to be precise. But I need to ignore the pain and keep going.
My breath hitched, and heat crawled up my spine. The pulse thumped loudly once, and searing heat spread through my veins—thick and burning. I gritted my teeth and focused harder, breathing heavily.
And then.
Thump.
Thump.
I could feel it.
The rhythm of my usual human heartbeat vanished, and I could feel the slow, deep beats of my demonic heart. It's still there.
"Baby? Riven!" My mom's voice was the last thing I heard before I collapsed to the ground.
The edges of my vision were black dots, and the pain dulled.
F*ck yeah. I have my heart back.
And I'm ready to kick people's butts.