Roa, the God

My name was Rudeus.

I had been in this world for two years.

I wasn't doing well here.

Even though I could use my identity as a baby to do all sorts of things I'd wanted to do before but never could.

But that damned pretty boy—no, that damned brat—had stopped me time and time again.

Today, I was going to make him understand the price of humiliating me.

With that in mind, he crept toward Roa's room. The door wasn't shut, so he eased it open. It didn't make a sound.

He burst into the room and saw a sight that left him stunned.

The pretty little boy held a dagger between his slender, fair fingers. Its entire surface was black, woven from countless strands of darkness.

When Rudeus pushed the door open, Roa gave the blond-haired brat a cold look.

The Magic Blade on his finger spun in a graceful flourish, tracing streaks of darkness through the air.

"Cool." Rudeus stared, transfixed.

Then a gaze devoid of emotion turned toward him.

"Rudeus, don't you know you're supposed to knock?"

Roa's voice was calm and elegant. Though still childish, it carried a faint air of authority.

Rudeus waved his chubby little hand, trying to explain himself.

But when he met those clear eyes, he inexplicably lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry."

Roa sighed, then continued, "Don't do that again." He waved a hand, signaling for Rudeus to get out.

But Rudeus was intensely curious about what he'd just seen, so he asked, "Big Brother Roa, was that magic you just used?"

Roa nodded indifferently.

Rudeus asked curiously, "What kind of magic is that? Why didn't you need to chant?"

Ever since learning at the age of one that supernatural powers existed in this world, Rudeus had been studying magic and training his mana. He had already reached the point where he could just barely cast intermediate magic, and had even figured out how to cast spells without chanting.

Roa's lips curled upward. To Rudeus, it looked like a sneer, but Roa said teasingly, "Who told you that casting magic requires a chant?"

Rudeus froze, then stammered, "But don't all the books say you have to recite a really, really long incantation?"

Roa glanced at him. "How could magic be such an inconvenient thing? You really believe those useless mages in the books? They can't figure it out themselves, so why don't you try to find a way? Just listen to them, but never take what they say to heart."

Rudeus fell silent. He looked at his four-year-old big brother, so soft and rosy-cheeked, and opened his mouth to say something. In the end, he said nothing.

His pride had taken a blow. He'd thought that after being reincarnated, he'd have amazing talent, but it seemed his big brother was even more of a prodigy.

After drooping his head for a while, he heard Roa explain, "This is a technique I developed. I call it the Magic Sword."

Rudeus's eyes lit up. He cautiously asked, "Um, can I learn it?"

Roa wasn't at all surprised that Rudeus had been secretly training his mana. He thought for a moment, then asked, "How well can you control your mana?"

"Pretty well."

"Can you gather it together?"

"I can." Rudeus nodded.

Roa continued, "Don't turn it into elements like wind, fire, water, or earth. Mana is just mana. Keep compressing it like that, and try to condense it more and more."

Rudeus frowned. His face soon turned pale, and he sighed. "I can't. I don't have enough mana. This technique takes way too much."

Roa waved his hand and sighed. "Looks like you can't do it."

The words "can't do it" stabbed into Rudeus's chest like a sword.

In an instant, Rudeus's face turned bright red. He looked at the cold little boy in front of him. Roa still wore an expressionless face, but Rudeus had every reason to believe the guy was deliberately teasing him.

Roa glanced at the bright weather outside. Summer's distinctive heat hung in the air, and white clouds rolled across the deep blue sky. After a moment, he said, "Let's go outside."

At the words "go outside," Rudeus instinctively shuddered. He wanted to refuse, but before he could speak, Roa said coolly, "Of course, that's an order, not a question."

Rudeus forced an awkward smile and looked at Roa. "Why do we have to go out? It's so hot outside, and it's so nice and cool at home. Why go out and bake in the sun?"

Roa didn't say anything. He just looked at him.

Rudeus swallowed. He met that deadly stare, but still couldn't bring himself to ask if they could go out together.

In the end, he was dragged outside by force. After telling Lilia, "I'm going out," he went with Roa, looking as if he'd lost a loved one.

The world outside was actually beautiful. The temperature wasn't too scorching today, and a gentle breeze brought a touch of coolness to them both. Golden wheat fields stretched out just beyond the house. Farmers were working, and children their age were playing. Rudeus looked at everything around him with a hint of fear.

Even after two years, the wounds in his heart hadn't healed. He had always been a coward.

The next moment, a warm hand took Rudeus's little hand. He froze, then looked up in a fluster and saw a faint smile on Roa's lips.

It was like sunshine in spring, like a breeze in autumn. His smile was faint, yet beautiful.

The dazzling sunlight shone on his golden hair, and his long, radiant locks swayed in the breeze. His eyes were always so calm, like a clear spring.

For some reason, Rudeus was a little entranced.

Roa led the shut-in over to the golden ears of wheat and said softly, "Reach out."

Rudeus held out his hand. Roa lifted it beside the wheat. The golden stalks swayed in the breeze, their plump grains gleaming brilliantly. Rudeus's fingers brushed lightly over them, and a ticklish sensation passed through his hand. He spotted a tiny bug crawling along one of the stalks and drifted into a daze.

Confused, Rudeus met Roa's eyes. They were clear and bright, as if they could see right into people's hearts. At a single glance, Rudeus felt that those eyes had seen through everything about him.

Roa spoke slowly. "I don't know what you're afraid of, but you only get one life. Your health, your responsibilities, and the people you love are what matter most."

Rudeus stared blankly at him. The handsome face was bathed in the dim golden light, looking so holy.

In that moment, Rudeus made his big brother his god.

Roa had taken Roxy's place as his god.