The Extra who regained his past life memories

Amy wasn’t done yet.

”Oh, little Gray.”

She gently patted my head.

”You really need to become a better liar.”

I looked at her with a serious expression.

”I’ll take that constructive criticism to heart.”

Amy immediately burst into laughter.

At that point, even I couldn’t stay annoyed.

After several more minutes of bickering, the atmosphere finally settled down.

I crossed my arms.

”Alright.”

”Can I finally show you my new spell?”

Amy nodded.

”Go ahead.”

Astrid’s expression also became serious.

”I’m curious.”

I walked toward the center of the training ground.

”It’s not exactly a complete skill yet.”

”It’s more like... a technique.”

I slowly raised my hand.

Mana gathered around me.

One after another, dozens of Ice Spears materialized in the air, surrounding me in a perfect circle.

The temperature around us dropped noticeably.

Frost spread across the ground beneath my feet.

Amy and Astrid watched in silence.

Then—

I activated my Space Affinity.

The surrounding space rippled like the surface of water.

The Ice Spears...

Vanished.

For the briefest moment, the air became eerily still.

Then—

The spears suddenly appeared around the training dummy from every direction.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

The barrage struck almost simultaneously.

Wood splintered.

Chunks of the dummy exploded into the air.

By the time the echoes faded...

The training dummy was barely recognizable.

It was riddled with holes from every angle.

Silence filled the training ground.

I slowly turned around.

A smug grin spread across my face.

”So?”

I folded my arms proudly.

”What do you think?”

”Pretty awesome, right?”

For several long seconds...

Neither Amy nor Astrid said a word.

They simply stared at the ruined training dummy.

Then at me.

Then back at the dummy again.

Finally, Astrid broke the silence.

”...Gray.”

Her expression was unusually complicated.

”How do you keep coming up with ideas like this?”

She pointed toward the shattered remains of the dummy.

”Most people rely on the predictable trajectory of an Ice Spear to dodge it.”

”They watch the caster.”

”They judge the angle.”

”Then they evade.”

She shook her head slowly.

”But you...”

”You removed the trajectory entirely.”

Her crimson eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

”The attack doesn’t travel.”

”It simply... appears.”

She folded her arms.

”An opponent wouldn’t have time to react.”

”They’d only realize they were under attack after the spell had already materialized.”

Amy slowly nodded in agreement.

”I have to admit...”

”That’s terrifying.”

She looked back at the destroyed dummy.

”Imagine fighting someone whose attacks can appear from any direction without warning.”

She shivered dramatically.

”That’s nightmare fuel.”

I puffed out my chest proudly.

”Hmph.”

”Isn’t your little brother amazing?”

Amy rolled her eyes.

”There he goes again.”

”Getting full of himself after receiving one compliment.”

Astrid chuckled softly.

”I think he’s earned the right to be proud.”

She looked back at me.

”Not because the spell is powerful...”

”But because of the way you developed it.”

”You didn’t simply copy an existing technique.”

”You identified a weakness.”

”You thought of a way to eliminate it.”

”And then you created a solution.”

She smiled faintly.

”That kind of thinking is far rarer than talent itself.”

Hearing that, I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.

”When you put it like that...”

”It sounds pretty impressive.”

Amy laughed.

”It is impressive.”

”But don’t let it go to your head.”

She pointed a finger at me.

”You still have a long way to go before you can beat me.”

I grinned.

”We’ll see about that.”

She snorted.

”Hmph.”

”I’ll be waiting.”

Astrid looked between the two of us before shaking her head with an amused smile.

”You two really never stop competing.”

Amy immediately replied,

”Of course.”

”He’s my little brother.”

”If I don’t keep him in line, who will?”

I looked at her innocently.

”I thought Mom already had that job.”

Amy’s eye twitched.

”...Do you want me to pull your ear again?”

I immediately took two steps backward.

”I take it back.”

”I deeply apologize.”

Astrid finally gave up trying to suppress her laughter.

A soft laugh escaped her lips.

”You two really brighten this place.”

The three of us stood there for a while, chatting as the evening sun bathed the training grounds in a warm golden light.

It had been another productive day.

I had created Space Storage.

I had learned to teleport objects.

And now...

I had successfully applied that knowledge to combat.

As I looked at the ruined training dummy, another idea quietly formed in my mind.

If I could teleport my own attacks...

Then one day...

Could I teleport an enemy’s attack instead?

A slow smile spread across my face.

The possibilities of Space Affinity truly seemed endless.

Chapter 36 – Space Element Training

The rest of the day passed peacefully after that little incident.

Just like always, Amy and I grabbed some fresh juice after training before washing up and heading to lunch together. The afternoon was spent wandering around the estate, playing games, arguing over meaningless things, and laughing at each other’s antics.

Nothing particularly exciting happened.

Yet...

I enjoyed days like these the most.

They were calm.

Relaxing.

Filled with warmth.

Before I knew it, evening had arrived.

As usual, the three of us gathered around the dining table for dinner.

Mother looked at me with a gentle smile.

”So, how did today’s training go?”

My eyes immediately lit up.

”It went really well!”

I eagerly began telling her everything that had happened.

I explained how I had improved my understanding of Space Affinity, how I had successfully combined it with my Ice Spears, and how Astrid had praised the idea behind the spell.

Mother listened quietly, never interrupting.

By the time I finished, surprise had appeared on her face.

Moments later, it melted into quiet pride.

A warm smile spread across her lips.

”I already knew my son was a genius.”

She reached over and gently patted my head.

”But don’t overdo it, Gray.”

Her voice remained soft, yet carried the quiet authority only a mother could possess.

”I don’t care if you become the strongest person in the world.”

”What matters to me...”

She looked directly into my eyes.

”...is that you and Amy come home safely every single day.”

”So don’t push yourselves too hard.”

Her smile became even gentler.

”Strength isn’t everything.”

”Don’t spend your entire childhood chasing power.”

”Make memories.”

”Play.”

”Enjoy yourselves.”

She chuckled softly.

”This family doesn’t lack strength.”

”If we truly wished it...”

”Even the royal family would have to step aside.”

”So leave those burdens to me.”

”You two should simply enjoy being children.”

Her words warmed my heart.

I smiled and nodded.

”I know, Mom.”

”But I really do enjoy training.”

”I love creating new spells.”

”I love experimenting.”

”And learning new sword techniques is fun too.”

A grin slowly spread across my face.

”Besides...”

”We always finish training around lunchtime.”

”After that, Amy and I spend the rest of the day together.”

”We play games.”

”We relax.”

”So don’t worry.”

”We’re not overworking ourselves.”

I turned toward Amy with a smile.

”Right, Sis?”

Amy nodded immediately.

”Of course.”

”I’m enjoying training too.”

Then a mischievous smile appeared on her face.

”And besides...”

She looked dramatically toward Mother.

”Do you really think someone as lazy as Gray would train this much if he didn’t enjoy it?”

She burst into laughter.

I immediately protested.

”Hey!”

”You’re the lazy one!”

”I’m a very diligent person, thank you very much!”

I crossed my arms proudly and huffed.