NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 3: She's A Genius!
Lilith cradled Lyrasia lovingly, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Now that I think about it... I should probably breastfeed her."
'Breastfeed?'
Her mind screeched to a halt, and a wave of internal panic began to rise. Sure, if she were an actual baby, she'd be all for it. Hurray for motherly nutrition and all that. But she wasn't. Inside, she was still a 31-year-old woman.
A deprived, socially awkward 31-year-old woman.
'The world is testing me.'
In her previous life, she hadn't even been breastfed. Formula milk had been her savior while her overworked mother juggled two jobs. And now? Now she was hurtling toward a life-altering experience she wanted absolutely no part of.
Everything slowed to a dramatic crawl as Lilith started to adjust her blouse.
Her father, Felix, remained stoically supportive, standing there like an encouraging statue.
Lyrasia's baby eyes widened in horror as her mother prepared to reveal. One. Second. Away.
And then it happened. She let out a desperate, guttural scream:
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The world stopped.
Lilith and Felix stared at her, their jaws practically on the floor.
Their newborn, who had barely been in this world for a few minutes, had just screamed a coherent word. Lyrasia couldn't help but internally flail.
'Oh no, I overdid it! They're totally going to think I'm cursed!'
Her mind jumped to medieval witch trials - burning at the stake for unnatural knowledge! What if that was also the case in this world?
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[MISSION COMPLETE!]
[Rewards Earned:]
+10 Bargain Points!
+5 Influence!
+Parental Affection
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A system screen materialized before her eyes, congratulating her as if she hadn't just nearly died of mortification.
'Parental... Affection?'
Before Lyra could fully process what was happening, she found herself being hurled into the air like a sack of potatoes. 'Am I going to die?!' she panicked, imagining her tiny body splatting against the wooden floor.
But no.
Gravity, for once, was merciful.
She landed safely in her mother's arms, only to be immediately handed over to her father, who promptly repeated the maneuver with even more enthusiasm.
"I can't believe it! Our baby is a genius!" Felix exclaimed, his face glowing like he'd just discovered fire.
"A genius! Oh my god!" Lilith chimed in, tears sparkling in her eyes.
They hugged her as if she'd just cured world hunger, their excitement overflowing.
"Even though her first word is no... it must mean our daughter is a respectful person!"
'Oh, trust me, I'm not a respectful person,' Lyra thought, her tiny baby face as deadpan as possible.
But as their laughter filled the tiny, one-room house, she started piecing things together. They were dirt poor, barely scraping by, and now, they believed they'd struck gold with a prodigy child.
It reminded her too much of her own parents from her previous life. She felt a sudden pang in her chest. 'How are they doing now?' she wondered.
"We have to celebrate this!" Lilith declared, raising her arms triumphantly.
'Celebrate? How? With what money?' Lyra sighed internally, realizing she might just need to manage their finances sooner rather than later.
The journey to town was… blinding. Lyra squinted against the merciless sun, silently cursing its existence. Her new parents carried her through the streets like a prized trophy, pointing out the "miracle baby" to anyone who would listen. She couldn't decide if she was honored or humiliated.
The town itself was small and rugged, nestled beside a serene mountain range and a winding river. It had charm, sure, but it screamed neglect.
With a little work, it could thrive.
But for now, it was a sleepy rural community, alive only with the chatter of its hard-working people.
They arrived at a rickety tavern, where the so-called "celebration" commenced. Lyra, deadpan as ever, had to endure being passed around like a rare artifact. Her only saving grace was saying "no" repeatedly, a party trick that sent the crowd into fits of laughter every single time.
"Your daughter's something special!" boomed a bearded man with a mug of ale in hand. He slapped Felix on the back. "In the far future, we should save up and send her to school. My son's too dumb—just like his father!"
The room erupted into laughter, hearty and genuine.
Despite their threadbare clothes and humble surroundings, the townsfolk knew how to enjoy themselves.
They drank, sang, and joked as if poverty were just a pesky fly to shoo away. Lyra watched in silence, something stirring in her chest.
Back in her old life, she'd taken everything so seriously. Her world had been all deadlines and hustle until it wasn't anymore. And then she'd given up.
But here? These people didn't have half of what she once did, yet they lived as if they had everything. It stung a little. 'Is this my reality now? she thought. Maybe I could make something of it.'
Eventually, the festivities moved on without her.
They left her in a room above the tavern, where the muffled ruckus continued downstairs.
Alone at last, Lyra lay in her makeshift cradle, staring at the wooden beams above her.
[DING!]
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[SECOND MISSION: Rise & Shine!]
[Objective: Stand up for the first time.]
[Reward: Unlock Balance Management feature in the system.]
[Time Limit: 1 Minute]
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Makes perfect sense. If she could articulate a word earlier with such clarity, it only stood to reason she could master her own body too.
"Can I really speak properly?" she said aloud, her tiny baby eyes sparkling like stars. "Oh, I can!"
This was exhilarating. Finally, something to work with! At least she didn't have to endure the torturous baby stage where all she could do was lay helplessly, drooling and wailing like a vegetable.
Determined, Lyra tried to stand up. It was like attempting to balance on jelly. It wobbled, it shook, and she felt the betrayal of her baby-soft bones.
Refusing to give up, she flipped herself onto her front like an awkward pancake, pinning her hands against the bed.
With all the grace of a determined crab, she pushed herself up inch by inch until—success!
"I can stand!" she announced triumphantly.
[DING!]
________________
[MISSION COMPLETE!]
[Rewards Earned:]
- Balance Management Feature
________________
New Feature Unlocked: Balance Management
You've unlocked the ability to track, manage, and analyze your finances. Budget wisely, merchant-in-training!
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"Seriously, I'm an economic cheat code," she thought smugly.
Though she was still wobbling like a drunk toddler, she couldn't help but beam. Things were looking up, literally and figuratively.
"How do I open it..." Lyrasia pondered, cupping her chin. "Open balance management."
[COMMAND ACCEPTED]
[DING!]
________________
[BALANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM]
[Current Balance: ₭ Unlimited]
1. [Transaction History]
Latest Transactions:
+10 Bargain Points!
+5 Influence!
________________
2. [Expenditure Tracking]
Items Purchased: N/A | No Purchases Yet
Total Spent: N/A
________________
3. [Investment Opportunities]
Invest in Resources: Unlocks new business ventures, items, and shops for profit growth
[Requires: Profit Points]
Upgrade Merchants' Guild: Improve your ability to negotiate and increase Influence
[Requires: Bargain Points]
Expand Influence: Increase your standing in the world, unlock better opportunities and deals
[Requires: Influence]
________________
4. [Savings Account]
Total in Savings: ₭ Unlimited
Interest Rate: N/A (Unlimited Balance)
________________
"Now this is the language I know and I'm talking about..." she muttered to herself, grinning at the system interface in front of her.
It was straightforward and easy to navigate, for now, though she suspected it would grow more complex as she progressed. A few moments of fiddling and she understood the basics.
First order of business: the state of the world. Geography, politics, the local economy, and possibly where she could find a decent book or two.
The town she was stuck in appeared to be rather isolated.
From her experience with games, this town seemed to be part of a larger, dynamic world with wizards, adventurers, and bustling cities. But here? It was just... quiet.
She sighed, "If only I knew where to find books..."
Suddenly, a voice broke her concentration.
"Huh?!"
She whipped around, only to see a tall girl with long black hair and hazel eyes staring at her, wide-eyed and terrified. The girl's jaw dropped, and Lyrasia could practically hear her thoughts screaming, 'Is this some kind of horror show?'
"H-Hey, don't shout..." Lyrasia tried to calm her down, though she knew it was probably too late for that.
"A DEMON! A DEMON!" the girl shrieked, backing away like she had seen something out of a nightmare.
'Ugh, kids...'
Just as she was about to react, she heard hurried footsteps. The girl's frantic shouts had summoned the cavalry.
Lyrasia, in a moment of sheer strategic brilliance, threw herself back onto the ground, wailing dramatically to sell the act.
"What happened over here?!" A woman's voice called out, concerned.
"The baby!" the girl pointed at Lyrasia, "It stood up and it was talking to itself and—"
"Oh my!" The woman gasped, scooping Lyrasia up into her arms.
Lyrasia's head rested on the woman's shoulder, and as she locked eyes with the terrified girl, she couldn't resist. Sticking her tongue out and grinning mischievously, she thought, 'Game on, kid.'