It's been exactly one year since I was reincarnated into this world.
Of course, my neck has stabilized, and I've started to speak a little. It was good that my taste buds developed so I could enjoy the taste of food, but I didn't expect the baby food to taste so bland. Well, it's not bad, just... gentle on the body.
But I managed to reach my first birthday without dying. That's something to celebrate, especially since I survived those terrifying 'Demon Eater' episodes multiple times.
And over this past year, I've learned something important.
There is magic in this Japan.
Magic, meaning things like turning pumpkins into carriages or building houses out of candy... Okay, that's too influenced by picture books, but you get the idea. Such things exist in this world.
At first, I thought this place wasn't Japan. But I was wrong. This country is definitely Japan, and I live in Tokyo. The difference is that there's a concept of magical power, and magic exists.
And apparently, all humans have magical power... and 'demons'—monsters like yokai and other creatures—attack people. That's the kind of world this is.
I was born into the Kisaragi family, a family of exorcists who kill these monsters for a living, and I am their eldest son.
When I first reincarnated here, my father never came home because he was busy with his exorcist work. And those scars all over his body? He got them fighting 'demons'. I heard these heroic tales before bed.
Those 'demons'—let's call them monsters because it's easier. These monsters are strong, very strong. Normally, exorcists gather in numbers to subdue them, and some even die in the process.
When I was crawling around the house, I was startled to find an altar with many memorial pictures... Later, my father explained, and I understood.
I saw a baby's photo among the memorial pictures, which explained why my mother prayed so fervently.
I probably had a brother... and he couldn't survive the 'Demon Eater'.
That's why I became the eldest son. It's a grim story.
'Demon Eater' is terrifying. If left alone, you die. That's clear. The image of 'death' is etched into my brain and won't leave.
So I couldn't help but complain.
"Ya!"
It was supposed to be "I don't want this," but as a baby, I couldn't articulate well.
The pronunciation doesn't matter. I'm not satisfied with this situation.
I was stabbed by a random attacker and died. Then I was reincarnated. I can accept that, reluctantly.
But why do I have to face death again in my reincarnated life!?
Moreover, the job awaiting my grown self is an exorcist—a job with a high mortality rate. Naturally, I don't want that job. I don't want to experience pain or death again.
But unfortunately, I don't have the option to not become an exorcist.
I'm the only child and the eldest son of this family. And traditionally, the family business of exorcism is inherited by the eldest son. So I have to become an exorcist.
It's absurd. What kind of logic is that?
To avoid 'Demon Eater', I need to endure it. It sounds contradictory, but it's true.
Although I don't want to think about it, my vessel grows each time I face 'Demon Eater'. I can feel it.
Probably, my body is adapting to contain the rampaging magic power. It's like muscle pain from level-up training.
So, to grow my vessel, I need to trigger 'Demon Eater'. How? It's simple: accumulate magic power in the vessel without releasing it. It will overflow on its own.
But seeking death to avoid it is counterproductive.
I was stuck.
While my mother was changing my diaper, I had a thought.
What if I channel all the magic power into the vessel at this moment?
Usually, I distribute the magic power throughout my body to prevent 'Demon Eater'. If I return it, the vessel will overflow, causing 'Demon Eater'.
But... I can expel it immediately.
Let's try it.
I gave it a shot.
In the next moment, heat surged from my abdomen.
Just before the unbearable pain and heat overwhelmed me, I quickly expelled what needed to be expelled.
"Come on, Itsuki! It's good that it happened before I changed your diaper..."
My mother scolded me, but the important thing was whether my magic power vessel had grown.
I focused on the vessel inside me.
...It increased.
No doubt about it.
Even that brief 'Demon Eater' expanded my magic power vessel.
The pain was short-lived, and I successfully expanded the vessel without facing death. My mood soared.
Yes! The experiment was a success!
A training method only a baby, unafraid of public embarrassment, could use!
I'll call it the expulsion training!
Look! Exorcists of the world!
This is the privilege of the reincarnated!!!