And so, after doing… not much, I finally reach the age of five. Yeah, according to my previous plan, I let my body grow naturally, assisted by life energy, while enjoying this god-level luxury—the perfect prince lifestyle. I haven't trained in anything yet, and I'm not about to go asking my parents for magic books before they decide to introduce me to it themselves.
During this time, I've heard about many ongoing wars, which keep my father busy most of the time. But as the prince, such things don't affect me at all. Instead, I spend my time basking in the loving care of my mother and my adorable little sister. Yeah, I know what you're thinking—but unlike what most of you might assume, Hela is actually quite adorable. It was probably the constant wars and endless killing that ruined her in the original timeline.
But honestly, I think I can fix her.
Okay, that was a joke. But still, I really believe I can stop her from going completely off the rails. At the very least, I can turn her into a closet psychopath instead of an uncontrollable one.
"Hela, fighting is good, but we can't just fight all the time. Every time you fight, calculate the benefits that come from it. If the benefits outweigh the costs, then go all out—fight however you want, kill as many as you want. But if there are no real gains, show restraint. No matter what happens, always remember this," I said gently, patting her head.
"Ughhh, stop patting my head! I'm not a child! And what are you talking about? Fighting is fun! What's all this about benefits and costs? Did you hit your head and go crazy? Let's go get Mom to check you out," Hela replied, crossing her arms.
Ah, right. I forgot—she's just five years old. My bad.
[You could have used examples or something simpler to explain it, Master… I guess your teaching abilities suck. Anyway, I wanted to remind you of something—your mother is planning to visit Vanaheim to meet her brother, King Njord of the Vanir. She intends to take you and Hela along with her.]
'Yeah, I already know, Raph. Hela probably won't be interested in going—she'd rather stay behind and challenge the guards to fights. But I want to visit other worlds, so I'll be tagging along. What were you saying about the trip?'
[Well, not exactly about the trip itself, Master. Since you'll be going to Vanaheim, this is the perfect opportunity to ask your mother about the Vanir—and, more importantly, about magic. This will serve as a seamless excuse for your "sudden passion" for magic. Once you start, why stop? Just let your curiosity lead you to the Royal Library of Asgard. As the Crown Prince, hardly anything will be kept from you, giving you the perfect chance to study and master Asgardian magic. And once I have access to all that knowledge, I can optimize this magic system to its fullest potential. Also, I'd recommend learning about runes from your father. That will bring us one step closer to your plans. So from now on, act like a curious genius, Master~]
'A solid plan, my dear Raph. Don't worry—I know how to handle it. Just leave it to me, and I'll convince Mom.'
[Okay Master~, wish you all the best]
Since I was born naturally to my parents and didn't just replace an original character, I genuinely see them as my family. Even considering my past life, my parents are thousands of years old, so calling them "Mom" and "Dad" doesn't feel strange at all.
"Hela, you should study whatever Mom teaches us carefully. How can you be so stupid? You don't even know half the words I used earlier. Let's go to Mom, my dear sister—you need to learn more," I said with a very kind smile.
"Hmph! I'm not stupid—you are! You just made those words up!"
Huh… so the little Goddess of Death has tsundere potential. Interesting.
Still, despite her protests, I dragged her along as we went to visit our mother. I had already informed a servant to let her know we were coming. Honestly, this palace is way too big—I've gotten lost more times than I can count. Raphael probably has an exact number, but I'm not about to ask her.
"Mom! When are we going to Vanaheim?" I asked excitedly.
"Oh? Is my little Magnar interested in traveling with Mommy?" My mother, the Queen of Asgard, Frigga, asked with a warm smile, ruffling my hair.
Meanwhile, Hela continued to protest about not wanting to go before running off to watch the fights in the royal training grounds. That battle junkie...
"Mom, what's the difference between the Vanir and the Aesir?" I asked curiously, resting my head on her lap as she gently caressed my hair.
"Hmm… The Aesir are warrior gods, while the Vanir are the wise gods of the old. The Vanir specialize in magic, using it not only for combat but also for many other aspects of life. Unlike the Aesir, we are much more connected to nature and prefer peace over war. This difference was one of the reasons why the Vanir made peace with the Aesir through my marriage to your father. And you, my dear son, along with your sister, are the greatest symbols of unity between our two peoples," she explained softly.
"What is magic, Mom? Do you know how to use it?" I asked with genuine curiosity. This would be my first real introduction to magic, and with Raphael at my side, I already knew it would be one of my greatest strengths in the future.
"Magic…" She paused for a moment before smiling. "Magic is the ability to harness mystical energies and turn your wishes into reality. And yes, my dear, I am one of the strongest magic users in all the realms."
I nodded, but to be honest, this was all common knowledge. I needed deeper insights.
"Mom, teach me magic," I said with conviction.
With Hela already setting the precedent as a battle junkie, I could take the opposite path and become addicted to magic. Once I gained access to the royal libraries, I'd emerge as one of Asgard's most powerful figures in no time.
My mother looked at me warmly, then nodded. "Of course, my dear. Then let's start with the basics."
She turned serious, and I could tell—my lessons were about to begin.
_____
Sorry for the delay in uploading.
With the timeskip, the major plot of the story officially begins.
By the way, I'll be introducing the female lead in the next chapter.
Any guesses?