Theodor Umbralis's first year was a combo of frustration, humiliation, and moments that would make great memes.
Lee Ji-Hoon, an average college student, was now… a noble baby.
A baby.
Son of Duke Umbralis.
Heir to a duchy famous for sucking the joy out of people as easily as they chopped off heads.
Congrats, life. Good prank.
But even in all that confusion, Theodor had one absolute certainty:
He was inside the novel "THE BATTLEFIELDS WHERE THE STRONGEST RULE!"
And that meant two things:
1. He knew spoilers.
2. The protagonist, Zarkon, died in such a stupid way that he still felt secondhand embarrassment.
"It represents the fragility of life," the author said.
Yeah… it represented laziness.
And then it happened: a blink, dizziness, a weird light—boom.
He was reincarnated.
---
The Grand Birth Festival
The Umbralis Duchy doesn't do small events.
If the baby sneezes, there's a banquet.
If the baby smiles, there's a ritual.
If the baby is born… OH DEAR LORD.
The night he was born, the castle exploded into a festival: black banners waving, endless food tables, and half the empire showing up just to be seen.
Nobles, knights, mages, distant relatives—everyone wanted to glimpse the "Heir of Shadows."
Theodor, newly born and already annoyed, had only one thought:
> "I died tripping over a rock. Why are these people screaming like I'm a baby god?"
Selene, his new mother, held him like a priceless treasure.
Raizen, his father, watched from afar.
No smile.
No warmth.
A walking monolith.
But the best part was the crowd commentary:
— "He has his mother's eyes!"
— "He has his father's aura!"
— "He has… um… drool."
The system didn't exist yet, but if it did, it would've said:
[Analysis: 99% of people have no idea what they're talking about.]
By the end of the party, Theodor was tired, hungry, and irritated.
But for the first time, seeing Selene waving happily at the crowd, he thought:
"She looks happy that I exist."
And that was something.
---
The System Wakes Up (and Starts Bullying Him)
It appeared during a diaper change.
Of course.
Life loves irony.
[Umbrae Codex System Activated]
[User Level: 0]
[Mental Weakness Damage: 87%]
— "Eighty-seven?!"
— [Correct. You are emotionally fragile.]
And so began the love–hate relationship between Theodor and the Codex.
Or just hate.
Things got worse when Raizen came to "evaluate" his son:
— "Is he strong, Selene?"
— "He is healthy."
— "Healthy isn't enough. I want Kael training him as soon as he can walk."
And he left.
Just like that.
No "my beloved son," no "he's adorable," not even a "cute baby."
Raizen talked like he was inspecting a warhorse.
[Status Updated: +2% Mental Weakness]
> "Congratulations! You became weaker just by hearing your father speak."
Theodor wanted to cry.
But he refused to do it in front of the system.
Even reincarnated babies have pride.
---
Year 1: Life With His Parents
Raizen was colder than a freezer full of ice cream, but Selene made up for everything.
She hummed songs while holding him.
Put arcane bracelets on him that glowed softly.
Told him ancient stories of the empire.
Theodor loved it.
But he also felt something weird—like nostalgia mixed with fear.
— "Is this what it's like to have a mother who cares?"
— "Is this what a real family is supposed to be like from the start?"
He didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or tell the system to shut up.
Kael, the butler, was also part of his life… unfortunately.
The man looked like he had been sculpted out of pure shadow.
Cold, serious, eternally judging.
The system adored this:
[Urgent Mission: Stare at Kael for 3 minutes without crying.]
[Reward: –1% Mental Weakness]
[Result: Failure. You cried at 40 seconds.]
---
Ages 2–6: Getting Better… or Worse
Age 2 — First Codex Mission
Kael walked into the room.
Theodor tried to look brave.
Failed miserably.
Earned a useless Glitch.
The upside?
He started walking… and Selene celebrated so much even the system stayed quiet out of secondhand embarrassment.
---
Age 3 — Vareon Is Born
The castle shook.
Another giant party, but this time Theodor could walk, so he experienced everything:
People picking him up, food flying, musicians singing, mages throwing sparks into the air.
And the important part:
Vareon was born strong.
Crying like a warrior.
Aura heavy.
The system didn't wait:
[New Rival Detected.]
Theodor: "Ugh…"
---
Age 4 — Lilith Arrives
The cutest little shadow ever.
Tiny, black hair, quiet.
And she clung to Theodor like he was her favorite toy.
For the first time since reincarnating, he felt something new:
protection.
Like someone truly cared about him.
Not out of duty — but because she liked him.
The system:
[Healthy Obsession Detected.]
Theodor: "Healthy?"
System: [Healthy for her. For you, I make no promises.]
---
Ages 5–6 — The Plan
By six, he could read.
Could train.
Could sneak into the forbidden library.
The Codex showed everything it remembered from the novel:
The mistakes.
The villains.
The doomed paths Zarkon took.
And he realized something:
The plot was trash.
The ending was even worse.
And if he didn't take control, he'd end up the same way.
So he wrote his goal:
— "I'm going to rewrite my destiny."
And the system answered:
[Script Rewrite Activated.]
[New Objective: Change the fate of the world.]
Theodor smiled.
For the first time—
not as a baby, not as a child—
but as someone who was ready.