《The Daily Life of Akashi Takabi (Draft I)》


 Prologue

    The Daily Life of Akashi Takabi


    A baby lays in the middle of a giant bed.


    The personal bed of the late Viscount Akashi, the baby¡¯s now-deceased father. It has been almost 8 months since it was last used. See, the Viscount could be considered someone rather scandalous, and his marriage was an arranged one. The viscount and his wife slept separately most of the time. The viscount rarely slept alone.


    8 months ago though, Viscount Akashi left home to answer the call of the king to head to war.


    A war he would never return from.


    Many would never return. Even the king himself wouldn¡¯t.


    The great war for the Kingdom of Lithari, which saw it face off against a coordinated assault from all of the surrounding neighboring countries at once. The thing that saved the nation is its sheer size, being at least twice the size of the largest of the neighboring opposing nations.


    Well that, and it''s genius Marshal, Marquis Wyle.


    Marquis Wyle had managed to fight off, and successfully counter-invade the largest of the neighboring nations with less than a fifth of their army.


    He managed to make the kingdom fall. Around a quarter of the fallen kingdom was then used as a bribe to convince another nation to join the war.


    This was the turning point in the war, in which the battle was won a mere 22 days ago.


    But regardless, it was far too late. The baby is now fatherless.


    And at the moment, his mother is in the middle of dying.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Death due to childbirth complications. Specifically, amniotic fluid embolism. That means that amniotic fluid, which is the fluid that surrounds the baby during pregnancy, somehow got into her bloodstream.


    Sadly, fixing something like that is beyond the capabilities of magic and medicine that is even worse than Earth''s medieval age. Healing magic may be able to close a wound extremely quickly, and clear infections with spells being created specifically to counter them, but in terms of disease and sickness, this world is rather helpless.


    As such, the baby who was born a mere few hours ago is already going to be an orphan.


    The first and only child of Viscount Akashi, despite the viscount having numerous mistresses. The last of the Akashi bloodline.


    One of the mistresses enters the room and stares at the baby.


    She begins to think.


    The baby is the new head of house Akashi.


    The house won¡¯t collapse from just a few years of negligence, as the Akashi house has a decent amount of money stored away and the territory is functioning fairly well. It probably would be preferred to keep the child from becoming a ward.


    But the house will have difficulty responding to any problems within that time. The main thing keeping the house afloat is that all the houses are recovering from the war at this moment, and that attacking a territory via violent means that''s run by someone so young would be horrible for one¡¯s reputation.


    As such, the child needs to be raised correctly, since, by the time they turn ten, or they become a ward to another noble, they¡¯ll qualify to be a target for other noble houses to conquer.


    At that time, the child needs to at least know how to choose between good and bad decisions on a basic level, so that they don¡¯t become a ward and be swindled out of the territory, and their life.


    At that time, all the mistresses will likely be evicted.


    If the child learns properly, and I¡¯m the mother figure...


    It¡¯ll surely be the key to life in the future.


    ...


    The baby stares at the mistress who just entered the room.


    ¡°U2FsdXRhdGlvbnMsIGhvbG9saXZlIHN0YWZmLiA=¡± the woman coos at the baby


    It¡¯s another world¡¯s language. Naturally, it¡¯s not something that can be understood so quickly.


    The mistress smiles at the baby, before picking him up and cradling him.


    A definite good decision, by all means.


    For the baby once lived in another world.


    They once lived on Earth.

 Chapter I: Ive Been Reborn in Another World?

    It¡¯s dark all around me. Did I wake up in the middle of the night again¡­?


    Haaa¡­ it¡¯s been happening far too often lately.


    I haven¡¯t slept well since the fire.


    Well, a lot has changed about me since the fire¡­


    I try to sit up, but fail to do so due to some sort of wall. It¡¯s slippery, warm, and kinda soft. Actually, it¡¯s really comfortable¡­


    Is this some sort of dream? It¡¯s gotta be.


    It¡¯s squishing me a bit.


    I seem to be curled up a bit, and it feels like it¡¯s trying to squeeze me out or something¡­


    I move my hand up.


    There¡¯s an opening above me.


    Hmm¡­


    Well, I don¡¯t see a problem with complying with it.


    If it wants me out, I should probably head out before it resorts to something more forceful.


    Even if it¡¯s a dream, there¡¯s no point in ending it. It¡¯s a very interesting dream.


    It starts pushing me out.


    I pull my arm back in and place my head at the opening.


    My head is spun to the side and then I¡¯m shoved out further and further.


    Hey wait! It¡¯s really cold outside!


    Aaaaah! It hurts it hurts it hurts! This is not a dream! I hurts too much!


    The opening grows as wide as it can, before I¡¯m pushed out.


    I¡¯m wrapped in something warm.


    I squint my eyes open.


    Aah! It¡¯s bright! I really regret coming out¡­


    My eyes shut immediately.


    I hear a baby¡¯s cries.


    How annoying¡­


    My senses are full of bad things right now. My eyes hurt from too much light, my skin feels like it¡¯s freezing, and my ears are only hearing the cries of a baby!


    It¡¯s really loud, like it¡¯s coming from right in front of me.


    After that, I¡¯m wrapped in something warm.


    My face is left out though. It¡¯s really cold¡­


    The thing I¡¯m wrapped in feels kinda silky.


    Something hit¡¯s my face. It hurts a little. It dries it though, which is better than the cold.


    The crying is interrupted though, so that¡¯s good at least.


    ¡°SXQncyAyIGFuZCBhIGhhbGYgeWVhcnMgdG8gZWFybHkgZm9yIG1lIHRvIGJlZ2luIG15IGJhY2tzdG9yeQ==¡± it¡¯s a woman¡¯s voice.


    What gibberish is this? They¡¯re completely foreign sounds and words.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°QnV0IEnigJlsbCBzdGFydCBub3cgYW55d2F5LiA= !!!!¡± another woman shouts


    So loud¡­


    I¡¯m picked up and quickly rushed away.


    The shouts turn distant.


    ¡°SG9wZWZ1bGx5LCB0aGF04oCZbGwgc2hvdyBteSBkZXRlcm1pbmF0aW9uIGVub3VnaC4=¡± a woman says ¡°QXMgc3VjaCwgSSwgQ291bnQgQWthc2hpLCBodW1ibHkgcmVxdWVzdCB0byBqb2luIEhvbG9saXZlLg==¡±


    I¡¯m placed on a bed, and then the sounds of someone rushing off can be heard.


    Soon after, there¡¯s more footsteps.


    There¡¯s a few moments of pause.


    ¡°SSBob3BlIEkgY2FuIHByb3ZlIHRoYXQgSeKAmW0gd29ydGggdGhlIHRyb3VibGUu¡± a woman says


    I¡¯m picked up soon after, and held the same way you would hold a baby.


    Hey, put me down. I¡¯m a teenager, you know? Being carried like this is embarrassing.


    The crying around me stops.


    Well, at least that¡¯s gone¡­


    My head¡¯s placed on something soft.


    ?


    I open my eyes just a little, this time hiding my face behind my hands in order to block some of the light.


    It¡¯s her chest¡­


    My face probably goes red.


    My mind is racing.


    I¡¯ve never been this close to a woman that isn¡¯t family before¡­


    Wait, wait! I don¡¯t know them! This isn¡¯t okay!


    Then I realize something.


    Looking at my hand¡­ it¡¯s tiny. My hair that normally covers part of my vision is also missing¡­


    I look at the woman.


    Is she¡­ my mother?


    Have I been reborn or something? Isekai?


    She¡¯s really pretty, so I wouldn¡¯t really mind it. Hopefully, I inherited her good looks.


    Her golden locks, emerald eyes, and perfectly symmetrical face.


    Wait no, I was¡­


    I was just¡­ uh, inside my mother¡¯s womb, and I was moved. I don¡¯t think anyone in their right mind would move a woman who had just given birth too much, so she¡¯s probably not my mother.


    That begs the question though- who is she?!


    I squirm out of her arms and fall onto the bed. I don¡¯t think I should be held like this by a stranger.


    The woman sighs and pats my head.


    Then she tucks me in.


    Hmm¡­ maybe she¡¯s my aunt?


    I don¡¯t know¡­


    The woman heads to the doorway, saying ¡°SWYgSeKAmW0gbm90IGdvb2QgZW5vdWdoIHRob3VnaCw=¡± before leaving the room.


    Alright, now what do I do¡­?


    ¡­


    Uhh¡­


    Now that whatever that was about is over, I suppose I should wait for my actual mother, right?


    Hmm¡­ right, so I¡¯ve been isekaid, let¡¯s see what perks I have, and if there¡¯s a system or something.


    I stare at the blanket in front of me.


    ¡°Appraisal! Activate Appraisal! Under the blessing of the goddess of Knowledge, I appraise thee!¡± I mumble while flailing my arms


    ¡­


    My face heats up.


    1, I¡¯m a baby, and wouldn¡¯t be able to activate it even if it¡¯s a thing and I have it. My words are mumbled and unlear.


    2, though¡­ That last one sounded a little chuunibyou¡­


    I hide my face under my blanket.


    My mouth wobbles and tears start to form.


    NONONONO!


    That¡¯ll be even more embarrassing!!


    Haaa¡­haaa¡­haaa


    Whew, I stopped myself.


    ¡°W-W-W¡± I start


    I shut my mouth with my hands.


    A ¡°Wwwwwhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaa!¡± leaks through my fingers, which I can¡¯t stop with my clumsy hands


    ¡­this is so embarrassing¡­ Why is my body so hard to control!?!?


    A young woman dressed in a maid outfit enters the room.


    She has maple brown hair and large golden brown eyes. She¡¯s adorable looking.


    ¡°SeKAmWxsIGltcHJvdmUgbXlzZWxmIHdoaWxlIGNvbnRpbnVpbmcgdG8gc2VuZCBpbiBhcHBsaWNhdGlvbnM= ?¡± she asks


    This makes it even more embarrassing! Please go away!


    She immediately heads out of the room, closing the door behind her.


    Whew¡­


    The longer something like that goes on, the worse.


    I manage to stop my crying.


    Better.


    I need to get my body under control as soon as possible.


    Especially my bladder and crying.


    The bladder thing especially. It¡¯ll be pure suffering before I can fix that¡­


    Right, I should probably not do anything that can instigate either of those for now. I also got to figure out how to get to the bathroom as soon as possible, since I can¡¯t walk right now.


    I¡¯m not sure I can even crawl at the moment.


    A yawn comes out of my mouth.


    Right, I think I¡¯ll just head to sleep now though¡­


    A baby needs plenty of sleep, after all.


    <hr>

 Chapter II: Mother

    I¡¯m lifted up into the air.


    My eyes open. It hasn¡¯t been more than an hour since I fell asleep, I think.


    It¡¯s the woman who I originally thought was my mother.


    Where is she taking me?


    She opens up the door and walks me through the hall.


    A few people dressed in the outfits of priests and priestesses are crowded next to the bed of a frail and sickly looking woman.


    Her skin is pale, and her face is ghastly. There¡¯s blood all over the sheets.


    She looks at me with an incredibly warm and strong gaze.


    Even in such a condition, she¡¯s rather enchanting.


    Her light golden brown hair seems to sparkle in the sunlight, and her ocean blue eyes seem to drag the soul in.


    There¡¯s a noble aura emanating all around her. There¡¯s also a huge sense of familiarity I have with her.


    The people dressed in outfits of the church mutter strange words and chants as a glow ranging from green to white emanates from their hands.


    Is it magic?


    Whatever it is though, it doesn¡¯t seem to be working.


    The people dressed as priests or priestesses look pale, and like they¡¯re going to collapse.


    I think I can understand that they¡¯re healing the woman.


    I think I can also guess what¡¯s happening now.


    I feel like¡­ this woman is my mother. And I think she¡¯s dying due to complications related to my birth.


    An immense sense of guilt swells in my mind. Did I somehow kill her when I isekaid into her?


    I mean, it¡¯s not my fault, but it also is?


    I don¡¯t understand what I should do about it.


    I¡¯m not a peace-loving person who would never kill anyone regardless of the situation. I¡¯m not even someone against killing people in general. Some people need to die.


    But accidentally killing your own mother upon being born makes me feel beyond guilty. Like I want to tear my heart out in apology.


    She¡¯s not even someone I see as my mother even if she is my mom technically, but the guilt is immeasurable.


    Imagine being born into another world- a dream come true for many of us weebs and otaku, I presume- and then finding that while being born, you killed your new mom.


    Watching them die helplessly in front of you.


    ¡°VW50aWwgSSBzdWNjZWVkLAo=¡± The woman who I believe to be my mother utters


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°UmVnYXJkbGVzcyBvZiBob3cgbG9uZyBpdCB0YWtlcyw= ?¡± A priestess asks


    ¡°VW5sZXNzIHlvdSBzdHJhaWdodGZvcndhcmRseSB0ZWxsIG1l¡± A priest relies instead


    Then the woman who I believe is my mother in this world begins to cough violently.


    ¡°VGhhdCBJIHNob3VsZCBzdG9wIHRyeWluZy4= !¡± someone shouts, before the woman holding me is rushed out of the room, me with going her.


    The woman heads back to the bed and lays down on it. She holds me in between her massive mounds that are her chest.


    I¡¯m too busy contemplating about the woman who is probably my mother to bother being embarrassed.


    I¡­ killed someone, haven¡¯t I?


    Not intentionally, but still.


    ¡°U28gSSBzZWxmaXNobHkgYmVnIG9mIHlvdSB0byBhY2NlcHQgbXkgbGlrZWx5IHVud29ydGh5IHNlbGYu¡± the woman who might be my aunt says me as she pats my head.


    I¡¯m sorry miss, if you are my aunt, I¡¯ve killed your sister.


    The woman squishes my head between her chest.


    My face goes red once I realize where my head is.


    The woman laughs, despite watching that woman just start dying.


    I don¡¯t think they had a good sibling relationship. I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s a good idea for me to stay where I am, in that case¡­


    I attempt to lift my head out, but find my neck doesn¡¯t have enough strength to do so.


    The woman headpats me.


    Soon, I fall asleep once more.


    <hr>


    Inside my dream, I¡¯m standing in front of the woman who I believe to be my mother, in my original form from before I was isekaid.


    Whiteness is all around me.


    ¡°Salutations, my dear child,¡± my mother greets


    ¡°¡­Salutations? Why not just a hello?¡± I mutter subconsciously.


    ¡°I suppose you could say that our cultures are simply different? A word like ¡®Hello¡¯ doesn¡¯t exist in this world. There is Salutations for the upper class, and Hail for the lower class.¡± she explains with a light laugh


    Did I say that out loud? That wasn¡¯t intentional.


    But that¡¯s interesting¡­


    Wait, this is a dream. It¡¯s probably not accurate¡­


    Though it¡¯s a world that seems to contain magic. It could be magic.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to just let you know that it wasn¡¯t your fault that I died. It¡¯s something that runs in this a large portion of this kingdom¡¯s noble families, mostly those who are part of the anti-crown pro church faction. I also want to tell you to live your life as happily as you can as my son, and that if you want, there¡¯s a way you can return to your old world, in a way.¡± she tells me


    Huh, really? To all those things.


    ¡°How can I return?¡± I ask


    I¡¯d like to return to my family. My mom, my dad, and my two siblings. Also my dog.


    It¡¯s the downside of isekai.


    But what does she mean by ¡®in a way¡¯?


    ¡°There¡¯s actually numerous ways to return. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll manage to find one. The downside though is that like on your way here, you¡¯ll likely lose your body, and will be granted another body. Though it shouldn¡¯t be a problem as there will be at at least a little more potential in that body.¡± she explains


    That doesn¡¯t really answer what I asked, but that¡¯s good to know.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± I tell her


    ¡°Good.¡± My apparent mother replies. ¡°Now, I believe I can answer one more quick question of yours. I must depart soon¡±


    ¡°Do I have any sort of cheat ability?¡± I ask


    My mother laughs. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call anything you have a ¡®cheat¡¯, but you certainly have some extremely abnormal statistics and skills. Basically, your potential from both bodies is combined. It could be developed into a cheat though...¡±


    Then she fades into the whiteness around me.


    The whiteness slowly fades into darkness.


    ¡°Be sure to keep the family name alive and well son. For you are the last of the Akashi¡¯s. Takabi Akashi, do not end the family name with you.¡± A man¡¯s voice sounds


    It sounds regal.


    Is it my father from this world? They called me son. Are they dead too or something?


    Also, so my new name is Takabi Akashi, huh. I guess it¡¯s alright. My old name will probably sound suspicious if I were to use it.


    Also, telling me to not end the family name, I¡¯m not really planning on staying. I¡¯m not planning on building any romantic attachments either.


    If I¡¯m the last, I guess I could adopt another child like me or something to keep the family name going, even though the genetics won¡¯t be transferred. That¡¯s the greatest compromise I can make.


    Then I fall into true sleep.


    <hr>

 Chapter III: My Status

    It¡¯s been around seven months since I¡¯ve been isekaid here.


    I can understand a decent amount of words now.


    Apparently they think I¡¯m a genius or something. It¡¯s only something since I can skip the steps of understanding what language is, and my thoughts don¡¯t have to develop.


    Additionally, I can learn even faster since I have a child¡¯s brain.


    It¡¯s perfect conditions, really.


    I¡¯m pretty sure anyone else would be able to learn as fast or nearly as fast. Some people certainly faster.


    I¡¯ve also come to kind of understand the situation.


    My father was a man who was not loyal to my mom. My perception of him is greatly lowered by that. He¡¯s also dead now due to some sort of large conflict that happened before I was born.


    There¡¯s five woman in this household who I¡¯m pretty sure were mistresses.


    3 of them seem to be trying to run the household illegitimately, and 2 seem to be trying to curry my favor or something.


    One of them being the woman who I thought was originally my aunt. I found her name is Betha.


    The other one took a while to start trying to take care of me. Her name is Rira.


    I don¡¯t have a great perception of any of the 3 others. They¡¯re taking advantage of the situation, and I¡¯ve seen each of them being apprehended by the guards for trying to steal.


    Seems the guards can¡¯t do anything though. I still don¡¯t know the words necessary to form the sentence ¡®Kick them out¡¯ either.


    As for the other 2, Betha seems to be trying to take over the role of my mother, and I have a fairly good impression of her.


    Rira is¡­ fine, I guess. She¡¯s kinda dumb though. She¡¯s just following the example of Betha.


    Betha takes me back from the wetnurse who¡¯s been feeding me.


    She pats my head.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite smart so I¡¯ve been thinking for a while that we should go get your status checked. What do you say?¡± Betha asks. I can¡¯t actually understand all of her words, but I understand enough to get the gist.


    ¡°Sure!¡± I reply


    Betha smiles.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go then.¡± Betha says


    She carries me as we walk through the hallway. I¡¯m still embarrassed that I can¡¯t walk yet.


    Being carried is better than crawling though¡­


    I¡¯m not someone who¡¯s even trying to pretend to be a baby. That would be humiliating¡­ I don¡¯t really crawl much.


    It won¡¯t be long until I can walk again. I can walk only if I have a hand on the wall or something, and I¡¯m really slow.


    Betha brings me to the head butler.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be taking him to get his status checked. Could you prepare an escort?¡± Betha asks


    ¡°He¡¯s too early for that, isn¡¯t he?¡± the butler asks ¡°He probably won¡¯t actually be able to comprehend status yet.¡±


    No, I can comprehend it. Better than the 2 and 3 year olds who normally get their status checked.


    It might be a different story whether or not I can communicate my skill though¡­


    Hmm, I should explain.


    See, in this world, there is this thing called a ¡®status¡¯.


    It comprises an extremely simplified version of what your capabilities are.


    Strength, Vitality, Dexterity, Speed, and Magic are the categories.


    There¡¯s also one¡¯s element or elements, along with any skills they may have.


    Skills are basically things that someone could do or capabilities they have that aren¡¯t remotely normal.


    My mother had a skill called [Afterdeath Messages].


    However, there¡¯s a reason why children must be old enough and why it¡¯s not good to check multiple times.


    See, there¡¯s this thing called a ¡®Status Crystal¡¯, which shows the person holding it their status. However, no one else can see the information.


    As such, the child needs to be able to communicate what their status is.


    It doesn¡¯t require being able to read though, as it shows the information in the mind.


    As for why it¡¯s bad to check multiple times, it¡¯s something offered by the church, and they have some specific rules around it.


    See, as the church, they will give the first time to anyone for free.


    However, they take it as something highly offensive to be needing to check your status multiple times. It¡¯s taken as ignoring the word of any deity in existence.


    It¡¯s offered by multiple churches and offends every single one of them. It¡¯s one of the main things that they all unite in, for some reason.


    As such, the child must be able to tell someone else their status.


    ¡°I can do it!¡± I tell the head butler.


    He sighs. ¡°Alright, young master. As you wish,¡±


    He heads off and begins collecting our escort.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    It¡¯s dangerous for me to be unprotected outside during these trying times.


    Killing me would throw the house in chaos, which is a good opportunity to steal or something.


    And while conquering a house with a baby head is bad for reputation, taking over a house without a head is seen as responsible, and as saving the people that house had previously lorded over.


    All they¡¯d have to do is kill a little baby¡­


    There¡¯s guards all around the house too.


    We wait for the escort to come.


    It takes a few minutes before a couple of guards have gathered.


    We head out of the estate.


    I¡¯ve been outside before.


    The Akashi house is as rich as some dukes despite being mere viscounts.


    We¡¯re this kingdom¡¯s only sugar producer and the kingdom¡¯s main producer of candies.


    Goods that are mostly reserved for special occasions for commoners, and not used particularly often for poorer nobles.


    However, due to the high price, and richer nobles who bought plenty of sugar and sweets, it¡¯s a booming business.


    As such, the estate is gigantic.


    To think, I¡¯m the sole owner of all of this¡­


    We make our way past the wall that the estate is inside of, and head directly into the town.


    Even though I¡¯ve been outside, I¡¯ve never been out of the estate¡¯s grounds before.


    It¡¯s a prosperous town. It¡¯s not particularly pleasant though.


    It smells quite bad¡­


    I¡¯m glad that the magic barrier that protects the estate also protects the estate from smells.


    It¡¯s especially bad because the smell of human waste, rotting food, and lots of BO, is mixed with smells like cooking food and baking bread¡­


    It¡¯s gonna ruin stuff like that for me¡­


    I¡¯ll have to fix that as soon as possible.


    Betha carries me into the church. The nauseous smell from outside has disappeared.


    An elderly bald man in priestly robes and a missing left arm, with a kind-looking elderly woman in similar clothing walk over to greet us.


    ¡°Lady Akashi¡¯s baby! What a pleasant surprise.¡± the elderly woman exclaims with a grin ¡°It¡¯s good to come here so young.¡±


    ¡°Down please,¡± I tell Betha


    She nods and complies.


    I grab onto her leg and attempt to bow down. ¡°I¡¯m Takabi Akashi, pleasure to meet you,¡± I try to greet


    My words aren¡¯t very clear though, and it comes through in a jumble.


    Then I fall over. I manage to catch myself though. I pick myself back up using Betha¡¯s leg as a stabilizer.


    The elderly woman chuckles, and a grin can be seen on the elderly man¡¯s face.


    ¡°Salutations, little one. I¡¯m Priest Lars Alankis, and the woman beside me is Priestess Anne Pollen. Have you come here to pray?¡± he asks


    I haven¡¯t, but it would probably be rude to not. Also, I still can''t get used to how people keep saying Salutations all the time...


    Since I somehow ended up in another world, I fully believe that a deities of some sort exists, even if I didn¡¯t believe in them previously in the slightest.


    I may not like them, but it¡¯ll be best to pray to them before my status is revealed.


    I hold up two of my fingers.


    ¡°Two things! I would like to get my status check, but I¡¯ll pray before that!¡± I tell the old priest with a grin.


    Best to act kinda innocent about it.


    It¡¯s also good to be on the good side of the church. I¡¯ve read far too many novels that have the church being evil. And the wrath of the church is certainly something that would not be nice to have. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m a protagonist of any sort either, so it would likely just kill me.


    Betha has a slight look of intrigue on her face, as does the Priest and Priestess.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit too early for that?¡± Anne asks


    ¡°I can communicate well enough,¡± I tell her


    Lars sighs. ¡°Anne, I do believe that even if he is extremely young, his communication skills are enough to get across his status, especially after prayer.¡±


    Lars has Betha sit down in one of the church¡¯s many chairs, with me in her lap. I put my hands together and close my eyes.


    Yea, okay, I¡¯ll pray.


    Please can I have good stats?


    I wait there for as long as I can in the same position, before opening my eyes again. It¡¯s super boring¡­ but I¡¯ve gotten used to going into a blank state of mind by now.


    The sun is brighter now, and the sounds of working can be heard all around.


    ¡°I¡¯ve done my praying,¡± I tell Betha


    ¡°You¡¯re quite good at it, being able to pray for longer than an hour as a little child.¡± Betha tells me


    Betha stands up and brings me to Lars, who is watching over a group of commoners as they pray silently.


    ¡°Little one, are you done already?¡± Lars asks


    ¡°Lars, he¡¯s not even a year old yet.¡± Anne tells him ¡°It¡¯s longer than many adults¡±


    ¡°Right then, hold your hands to this and it will tell you your statistics,¡± Lars sighs as he pulls out a perfectly spherical white crystal.


    I do as he says.


    My mind goes blank for a little and my eyes shut, and the information begins to twirl into my mind.


    The first part of my status appears, all in black and white, matched with various images.


    I let it play to the end in my mind before organizing it.


    Strength- 12


    Vitality- 12


    Dexterity- 13


    Speed- 15


    Magic- 12


    Whiteness is all that¡¯s left after the images.


    Then balls of color begin to form, each seeming to signify an element. Space, Light, and Earth.


    Strands of them break off and weave around me.


    They twirl until it¡¯s all the same color.


    Then, it¡¯s white again.


    Skills are next.


    A person dying, before being reborn incredibly strong.


    Isekai Reincarnation- You will remember your past life when you reincarnate. You will also be granted a ¡®cheat¡¯ ability upon reincarnating.


    The person looks back into their previous life and pull their skills and statistics along.


    Soul Statistics Accumulation- Your body will Accumulate all of the stats, elements, and skills you¡¯ve had throughout all of your lives in each body. This skill will not be lost through death.


    A person flinching back from a swing of a sword, teleporting backwards as they do it.


    Spacial Flinch- When you flinch, you instinctively jump through space in a way in order to dodge. You cannot flinch through walls and cannot flinch farther than a meter for every stat in magic you have. [Spacial]


    Passive.


    Another person chants something before a spear made of earth appears in their hands.


    Earthen Spear- Create a spear made out of the earthen metals. Spear strength depends on magic+vitality average of the user (based on Moph¡¯s hardness scale). Only one can be active at once. [Earth]


    Chant: [Deity of Earth, allow my Spear of Earth to form at my side! Earthen Spear!]


    Then it goes dark.


    It¡¯s imprinted lightly on my mind. I can remember it clearly, though it¡¯s like it¡¯s telling me it won¡¯t be for forever.


    I burn Isekai Reincarnation and Soul Statistics Accumulation into my mind. I¡¯ll be keeping them a secret.


    My eyes open once again.


    ¡°What are your statistics, little one?¡± Lars asks, a piece of parchment and a feather pen at ready.


    I repeat what happened, apart from my two secret skills. My mind goes a little blank again before Lar¡¯s eyes go wide.


    ¡°A deity favored!¡± he shouts with joy


    Are my stats good? It must be if he¡¯s calling my status ¡®deity favored¡¯ If they are though, how can he tell that I¡¯m not lying¡­?


    Betha¡¯s looking at me with wide eyes, and a grin.


    The commoners and the guards look at me with wide eyes.


    It¡¯s definitely good. Very good.


    We head back into the town, and then to the estate quickly after that.


    I¡¯d later find that the average for each attribute is 5, and that normally one will only have a single skill, and at most 2 elements. Space is also a ¡®rare¡¯ element, apparently.


    <hr>

 Chapter IV- Skills

    It¡¯s the middle of the night now.


    Earlier I figured out what my skills were, so now it¡¯s time to test them out. Well, I¡¯m not sure how I¡¯d be able to test my Spacial Flinch, but I can certainly test out my Earthen Spear.


    I sit up in my giant bed. As the young head of the house, I can sleep alone despite being practically a baby.


    ¡°[Deity of Earth, allow my Spear of Earth to form at my side. Earth Spear.]¡± I chant


    A silvery-brown glow forms at my right hand, and my fingers, which were in a fist previously, are forced apart.


    It takes the shape of a spear before the glowing stops.


    It¡¯s sized correctly for me. That¡¯s nice.


    I try to lift it up.


    ¡­it¡¯s too heavy still, it seems. I think it¡¯s made completely out of metal¡­


    I drag it to an area of my bed where the light shines. I can move it, at least. I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be much of a problem to wield it once I grow up a bit.


    My spear looks like steel, but with blueish highlights. It seems to sparkle in the moonlight.


    Right, I should put it back now since I can¡¯t do anything with it, but how?


    It disappears as soon as I get that thought.


    How convenient. Does that mean it disappears upon the user¡¯s wish for it to disappear?


    That¡¯s useful. Though not overly useful.


    Hmm¡­ I should probably do some thinking about my other skills.


    I¡¯ve realized what my hidden two mean when put together earlier. Either of them alone is powerful. Soul Statistic Accumulation is a delayed cheat that goes extremely well with Isekai Reincarnation. I wonder how one would lose that skill though. There has to be some sort of fine print to it.


    I¡¯m almost willing to bet that there¡¯s a multitude of other ways for it to become lost. If you carry skills over as part of the Soul Statistic Accumulation, skills are probably lost upon death or something. If that wasn¡¯t the case, wouldn¡¯t a bunch of people be a lot stronger and more versatile? I¡¯ve seen some somewhat strong people, but nobody really overly powerful.


    However, since Soul Statistics Accumulamulation keeps skill through death, and I have Isekai Reincarnation, I¡¯m basically immortal. I¡¯ll keep getting stronger and stronger after each death too.


    It¡¯s a very nice thing. I wonder what I¡¯ll do if I become too powerful though. If I grow powerful enough to destroy the planet I¡¯m born on, won¡¯t that be bad?


    It¡¯s not really work worrying over right now though. I don¡¯t have any possible solutions to fix a problem like that.


    ¡­


    I should probably also think a bit about my spacial flinch skill a bit too, even though it¡¯s not testable. If I were to test it, I¡¯d probably teleport into something and become discovered.


    I mean, it says I can¡¯t flinch through walls, but that does mean I can¡¯t flinch into objects.


    But anyway, ¡®Spacial Flinch¡¯... I mean, it doesn¡¯t sound that strong. Flinching just isn¡¯t something that comes to mind as powerful.


    Teleportation may be nice, but I won¡¯t be capable of controlling it¡­ at least, not at the moment.


    It would definitely be overpowered if I could control it, that would basically be free teleportation, but I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s possible¡­


    Hmm¡­ I mean, people basically train their flinching into a good reaction to dodge stuff though, right?


    It could be a very good combat asset.


    I yawn.


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    I should go to sleep now. I can test my spacial flinch tomorrow or something.


    I shut my eyes, and slowly, very slowly, drift off to sleep.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes.


    Alright, first order of business, I need to test my skill.


    I use the wall to help steady myself on my bed. Then I bring my hand right up to my face as if I was going to smack myself.


    Suddenly, I¡¯m not on my bed anymore.


    I¡¯m right next to it, and not on the ground.


    Oh no¡­


    I flinch back before I hit the ground, finding myself at least above my bed this time.


    I almost hit the bed before flinching back up.


    Don¡¯t tell me I really flinch this much¡­?


    I brace myself for impact. This time, I don¡¯t actually flinch right away.


    My knees hit the bed first, then my face is almost basically launched into my bed.


    I flinch up again.


    I shut my eyes and brace myself again. I need to stop this¡­ I¡¯m getting dizzy.


    Teleporting is not good for my stomach.


    I fall into my bed successfully this time.


    I turn my head towards my door to see one of the maids staring blankly.


    ¡°I woke up and decided to test my skill,¡± I tell her before shutting my eyes again.


    I feel really nauseous right now, like the whole world¡¯s spinning. It¡¯s a side effect that I¡¯ll have to get used to though.


    Spacial Flinch is more than I expected.


    I think it might be my actual cheat if I can train it correctly.


    I can imagine using it¡­


    I¡¯m about to get hit by a sword, and then I teleport right next to it¡¯s wielder and drive my spear into their head.


    Another foe comes rushing up, who I teleport above and drive my foot into their head.


    I teleport forward with my spear punching through the armor of my enemy with ease¡­


    Yea, that will be really cool-looking and deadly¡­


    I snap out of my delusion.


    I won¡¯t be able to do anything like that until I train myself. At the moment, it¡¯s more of something that¡¯s a danger to myself than an asset.


    ¡°Can you get the head butler?¡± I ask, trying not to let my nauseousness show in my voice.


    I can¡¯t remember his name, which makes me kinda bad for him, so I¡¯ll just refer to him as ¡®the head butler¡¯.


    ¡°...As you wish, Little Master,¡± the maid replies


    She rushes off.


    I bet she¡¯s going to spread a bunch of rumors¡­ it¡¯ll be good in the case that it might stop some assasination attempts for now, until those who want me dead can figure out how to deal with someone who¡¯s flinch is a teleport.


    It¡¯ll act as a good deterrent.


    However, it¡¯ll be bad if she realizes how nauseous I get afterwards.


    As for why I¡¯m calling the head butler, he might have a good idea on how I can train how to use my skill properly.


    He¡¯s an experienced and dependable head butler, after all. He must know at least a little bit.


    After holding down my nausea for a bit, the head butler enters my room.


    ¡°Salutations, Little Master, what is it that you have called me for?¡± He asks with a bow, his voice having a creepy amount of joy leaking from it.


    ¡°Do you have any ideas on how I can train my skill ¡®Spacial Flinch¡¯?¡± I ask ¡°The maid has told you a bit, correct?¡±


    ¡°...That is right, she has told me about it. ¡®Spacial Flinch¡¯, according to the church, is an extremely rare skill. Any documents about it will have to come from either a Holy Ground or a Capital City.¡± the Head Butler explains ¡°As such, any information about it will have to wait for now. However, from what I can suggest, simply practicing how to flinch in the correct direction, and how to not flinch when you don¡¯t wish to flinch, as well as how to flinch on cue, will be important.¡±


    ¡­Alright¡­ So just practice, basically?


    That wasn¡¯t very helpful¡­


    I sigh.


    ¡°Can you get some information on my skill?¡± I ask


    ¡°As you wish, little master.¡± the head butler replies


    ¡°How about my ¡®Earthen Spear¡¯ skill?¡± I ask


    He grins.


    ¡°Earthen Spear is the main skill of this house, even though it¡¯s quite rare, I can answer any and all questions you have of it.¡± he tells me


    That¡¯s better.


    ¡°What metal is it?¡± I ask


    ¡°May I see it?¡± The head butler asks


    ¡°¡°[Deity of Earth, allow my Spear of Earth to form at my side. Earth Spear.]¡± I chant, before handing it to him.


    ¡­I sound so chuunibyou saying that¡­ it¡¯s embarrassing¡­


    The head butler narrows his eyes. ¡°Steel with hints of mithril, I believe. It could be used as both a magic staff and a spear, with the amount of mithril it has in it.¡±


    I can be a magic spearman?


    I grin.


    That¡¯s very, very nice.


    My weebish dreams are coming true.


    It may suck that I can¡¯t go home, but it won¡¯t be that bad here.


    ¡°Head Butler, let¡¯s go train¡± I tell him


    I wanna make my delusions become not delusions as soon as possible.


    "I think your body isn''t quite ready for that, little master." He tells me


    ...I guess not then. I''ll try to figure out walking again as soon as possible first then.


    Maybe I''ll be ''ready'' to train by then.


    <hr>

 Chapter V: Purge I

    Chapter V: Purge I


    Hehehehe.


    I¡¯ve done it. I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯ve finally learned how to say ¡®Kick them out!¡¯


    It¡¯s been 9 months since I was born.


    I¡¯m not even sure how it took me that long to figure those words out.


    ¡®Kick¡¯ isn¡¯t used often. That¡¯s why.


    Rira, who was just demonstrating how to properly kick, sees my massive grin.


    ¡°Rira, bring Bedo here.¡± I tell her


    Bedo is the head butler¡¯s name. I¡¯ve finally learned it.


    Rira nods ¡°Okay!¡±


    She rushes off and into the hallway.


    Soon enough, Bedo heads in. Rira¡¯s following him.


    ¡°Bedo, the mistresses who have been trying to take this house over. Kick them out.¡± I order with as much authority my extremely high pitched voice can muster.


    Hmm¡­ actually, you know what? I¡¯m pretty much a baby.


    No one will blame me if, say, I were to purge my entire territory of those who are trying to claim the riches of the Akashi House, are taking bribes because they think a little baby like me won¡¯t notice, or anyone who¡¯s corrupt, really.


    ¡°Right away, Little Master.¡± Bedo replies with a bow and a smile that makes him radiate excitement.


    He heads out into the hallway and brings a guard in.


    ¡°Bring over all Harold¡¯s mistresses.¡± he orders


    The guard nods and heads off.


    After a few minutes all of my father¡¯s mistresses are gathered.


    Betha has a scowl across her face, and the other three look quite angry.


    I motion for the guards to let Betha go.


    I didn¡¯t mean for Bedo to bring her here, but kicking the other three out will surely be something to be happy about. They¡¯re bringing the entire house down.


    Bedo¡¯s expression falls a bit for some reason.


    Then, with glee, I point at one of the mistresses.


    ¡°Kick her out.¡± I order


    Bedo looks like he¡¯s about to laugh, Betha has a slight grin on her face, and the expressions of the two mistresses who I¡¯m planning on kicking out look at me in fear.


    The mistress who¡¯s getting kicked out begins to beg for forgiveness.


    She¡¯s not someone who knows how to earn her own living, and has been relying on the house for all her needs.


    Sure, she could get married to someone else so they can take care of her, but to most commoners, doing so would be an insult to me, a viscount. They don¡¯t have the status to survive such a thing.


    As for nobles, taking the mistress of someone else is something that could burden their social life significantly.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    As such, if she were to do that, she would have to make it worth the risk.


    The same goes for the other two.


    Two of the guards take the begging woman out of the room.


    I point to another mistress. Fear freezes her in place.


    My aura isn¡¯t something a baby would normally have.


    It¡¯s perfectly fine to be a sadist towards sub-trash like the three mistresses. Personally, I have no issues with anything bad at all being done to them. They could become slaves for all I care. In this world, slaves are something that are rather common.


    Around maybe a third of this country¡¯s population are slaves, though it¡¯s higher than normal now since plenty of slaves were taken from the defeated countries in that war from a bit before I was born.


    If someone¡¯s trash, I¡¯d be willing to personally wield the reaper¡¯s scythe.


    The world would be better without trash, so trash should die.


    These women have taken advantage of the Akashi house¡¯s kindness, and so they must be dealt with, by my honor as a noble.


    This world, especially all those fairy tales Rira and Betha have been reading to me, has really taken their toll on my mindset.


    A noble¡¯s honor must be protected with their life!


    ¡°Kick her out,¡± I order the guards to take out the next mistress.


    She stares blankly into space.


    I point to the final mistress and tell the guards to kick her out as well.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have my revenge on you for this!¡± she shouts at me as she¡¯s being dragged out


    I narrow my eyes at her.


    ¡°Actually, keep her in the cells for now instead,¡± I tell the guards


    They lower their heads and drag her down the halls.


    That¡¯s clearly a flag, and an easily avoidable one at that.


    So the best option is to shut her up now. By the law of this kingdom, as a noble, I can execute any commoners that belong to my territory without any reason. With any reason at all, I can execute any commoner.


    I¡¯ll be as ruthless as necessary to build some prestige as well.


    Fear is the best thing to keep foes at bay, and anyone thinking of rebelling after I purge a bunch of people will have to be very mad in the head.


    Even if it¡¯s a baby at the head, that baby is the one that decides your fate. And if they don¡¯t have to fear backlash, there¡¯s no reason for them not to decide to cut your life short.


    ¡°Bedo, bring me the files on those in power within my Territory.¡± I order


    Bedo¡¯s eyes gleam.


    ¡°Right away little master!¡± he shouts excitedly before rushing off.


    It¡¯s not long before he enters the room carrying a small stack of parchment.


    Did he prepare for this or something? He¡¯s very dependable.


    ¡°Little master, here¡¯s the list of those in power within your territory.¡± Bedo tells me as he hands me the stack.


    ¡­I forgot I can¡¯t read yet.


    ¡°Read it to me.¡± I order


    Bedo nods.


    Then he begins reading it out.


    I tell Bedo to dig up dirt on many of them as we go along. Anyone even slightly bad will have to be suspected.


    ¡­There¡¯s 182 Houses of Knights. It¡¯s a huge list.


    And that¡¯s after the war¡­I wonder how many there were before that.


    I¡¯ve asked Bedo to dig up dirt on 132 Houses of Knight¡¯s whose interests do not align with mine.


    73 I suspect of committing treason against me, 38 are probably just trash who shouldn¡¯t exist, and the rest are probably radicals for various factions of the succession war.


    The 21 radicals aren¡¯t to be purged unless they cause trouble. But the other ones are to be purged immediately.


    The rest of the houses are fine.


    There¡¯s a lot of houses to purge mostly because as a baby, they see me as someone they can easily take advantage of. Someone who they can get away with stuff with easily.


    I mean, it¡¯s sensible, but in this particular case, it¡¯s very bad for them. I¡¯m not a normal baby.


    After we¡¯re finished, Betha has a shocked expression on her face, whereas Rira looks pretty angry.


    ¡°Why are there so many evil people in our territory?¡± Rira asks


    She can¡¯t really understand things well. That¡¯s probably why she didn¡¯t try anything even though I¡¯m a baby.


    Bedo sighs. ¡°Mistress Rira, it¡¯s best that you keep your Naivety and Innocence on the ways of the world.¡±


    Betha nods.


    My stomach growls.


    It¡¯s time to eat. In my concentration, I¡¯d forgotten to eat at the correct time despite the maids coming in with food for me.


    I take a bite out of the bread.


    The food in this world sucks¡­


    After that, I spend the rest of the day recovering my brain power. It¡¯s complicated trying to figure out if someone¡¯s suspicious or not sometimes¡­

 Chapter VI: Pulling Strings

    It¡¯s been a little over a year since I was born.


    This world doesn¡¯t actually celebrate birthdays other than taking note that the person is then a year older though apart from a few important ones. I don¡¯t mind much though since after you reach a certain mental age birthdays aren¡¯t really important anymore anyway, in my opinion.


    Also, today I¡¯ve reviewed the dirt dug up on the various knight households.


    Knights are a huge pain for me right now¡­


    They¡¯re pretty much sub-nobles, and can¡¯t be executed without reason. Any executions would also result in large amounts of backlash for the territory, with scared knight households leaving and new ones being unwilling to come.


    Knights aren¡¯t chivalrous or honorable as one would think.


    They¡¯re basically nobles to nobles like nobles are to the royal family. Not all of them can even use a sword properly¡­


    Swords aren¡¯t actually as popular in this world as most fantasies would suggest they are though.


    For one, with the exception of greatswords, swords aren¡¯t a battlefield weapon. You wouldn¡¯t charge into battle with one.


    They¡¯re the world¡¯s most popular sidearm. Like a modern pistol.


    Also, duel wielding swords isn¡¯t a reliable thing at all. Shields are far more useful than them.


    It¡¯s broken my perception of swords a bit.


    In this world, polearms are king. Things like Pikes, Billhooks, and Spears of all kinds.


    It¡¯s due to the reach advantage that polearms have over other weapon types. It allows it¡¯s wielder to hit their opponent without the opponent being able to hit them. It¡¯s something that seems like cheating.


    Not all Knights can use a polearm either though.


    At least all of them can actually fight, whether that be with a Bow, Sword, Spear, or Staff is up to them.


    But anyway, I need to figure out how to get rid of a great amount of knight houses without harming my territory''s reputation very much.


    This means I can¡¯t directly execute them.


    ¡­I¡¯ll have to be pulling strings from behind the scenes. Sell information on the knights with dirt dug up on them slowly throughout a few years to opposing knight houses. Or plant seeds to allow them to dig dirt up on eachother naturally.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    This will also cause them to have an internal war with each other, which is extremely good for the stabilization of my rule over the Akashi Territory, surprisingly enough.


    After all, they¡¯d be far too busy fighting each other to think of going after me.


    I think the royal family is doing the exact same things with the nobles¡­


    The various anti-royal factions are always fighting each other while the pro-royal factions don¡¯t fight each other and try to stay away from any fighting unless the anti-royal faction really pushes them.


    ¡­I hate politics, I think.


    At least, I hate being a tool in politics. Being the one pulling the strings isn¡¯t bad though, I suppose.


    I call Bedo to my room.


    ¡°Yes, little master?¡± He asks


    ¡°I need to pull strings from behind the scenes.¡± I explain to him ¡°Over the next few years, cause the knight households to dig up dirt on each other and fight against each other. Cause enough chaos that they don¡¯t pay attention to me. When they bring evidence to the table on each other, eliminate risks to the territory by readily executing them, but not always. Get someone lazy to do it so they don¡¯t always eliminate all threats right away so as to not be noticed. Allow them to be particularly lazy with knight households that aren¡¯t threats, however.¡±


    Bedo¡¯s eyes shine. ¡°Little master, you¡¯re a genius!¡± he praises


    Is it really that impressive¡­?


    ¡°We can deal with the risks to the territory without alerting any knight households this way while also improving our reputation among noble households! It¡¯s an excellent plan, especially from someone so young.¡± Bedo tells me with a grin


    Ah¡­ I suppose that¡¯s right. A noble will certainly notice that I¡¯ve gotten rid of all the knight households that oppose me in a naturalish way, which will make me look competent.


    It¡¯s also hidden enough to the busy knight households that they won¡¯t discover it until it¡¯s far, far too late.


    ¡°Right¡­ I suppose so.¡± I reply to Bedo


    Hmm¡­ it might be best to have an official operation to make any movements from the Akashi house masked.


    It could be called operation ¡®Cleaning¡¯.


    It¡¯ll have two goals. Both of which are excellent. Additionally, a successful operation isn¡¯t as suspicious as a failed one.


    After all, why not hit two birds with one stone?


    The hidden goal would be getting rid of Knight Household risks, whereas the official goal would be to fix the problem of the smell in the Akashi Territory towns and villages. It¡¯s something that¡¯s normal across the land, but still something that should be fixed.


    This would also give an excuse to travel throughout the territories. Information could be placed for various Knight households while there.


    As for how to fix the smell, a sewer system to take better care of human waste, public bathhouses to fix the BO, and creating places for people to dump garbage, along with a job for taking that garbage far away from the city or town.


    The main things being thrown out are rotten food, wood pieces, and things that are completely unusable. Those are pretty much all degradable.


    Things like metal is already sold to be melted down and reforged, and equipment repaired over and over again to save money.


    I explain my plan to Bedo.


    He¡¯s panting with excitement.


    ¡°Now get to work.¡± I order, dismissing him before he can get too creepy.


    He nods his head excitedly before running out.


    Alright, now that that¡¯s done with, all I have to do is wait.


    I call a maid and order her to get some food for me. I¡¯m really hungry¡­


    <hr>

 Chapter VII: Caretakers

    Curses¡­


    This is bad. This is very bad¡­


    At the moment, at the front of my door are a group of 5 people. Each of them is a member of a different faction of royalty.


    They¡¯re really trying to drag a little baby like me into the succession war, aren¡¯t they¡­?


    Well it makes a lot of sense though.


    The Akashi House is very rich, and as I¡¯m a baby, they probably assume it¡¯ll be very easy to get funding for their war from me.


    After all, my parents didn¡¯t influence me into joining any faction since they died too early.


    I¡¯m aware they were part of the Church faction.


    I¡¯ve honestly expected them to come earlier, it¡¯s been almost a year and a half since I was born, but I can guess why they¡¯re late. They were probably trying to stop each other from getting here before them. After all, the first one here could convince a normal baby to close the door on the others. That, or they were more focused on other houses. Not a member of every faction is here.


    I take a look at the House Crests from the people at the door.


    At the very least they had the courtesy to send only nobles. It would¡¯ve been an insult otherwise.


    Though there aren¡¯t any 1st or 2nd children¡­


    There¡¯s even a person from a Baron House. Cent Ulden.


    House Ulden from the Theophania faction, that¡¯s a little bit rude, no?


    I¡¯m even wondering if I should turn them away¡­ I don¡¯t like what I¡¯ve heard about Theophania either. She¡¯s not kind towards low nobles and apparently treats non-peerage nobles and commoners like livestock.


    I¡¯ll focus on kicking them out first.


    I don¡¯t want to be an enemy of any of the factions unless I choose to join one first, so I¡¯ll be a little courteous, and won¡¯t turn them away right away.


    I look through the others.


    Viscount Rillin¡¯s seventh child, Saith, from the Church faction.


    The Church faction is the one my family was part of before. It¡¯s also a rather interesting one. It¡¯s one of the few not named for the royal who heads it.


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    The church faction¡¯s figurehead is Calavia, the 3rd Princess and 7th Child of the royal family.


    Being a household that was part of the Church faction, I¡¯ve heard good things about her. My impression is that she¡¯s basically a shonen anime protagonist or something.


    If aristocrats were allowed to be part of the church, she¡¯d apparently be a Bishop already. She¡¯s only 22.


    Viscount Answorth¡¯s 4th child, Rosalie, from the Tabito faction.


    The Tabito faction is headed by the country¡¯s 4th prince and 6th child of the royal family.


    Supposedly the Tabito faction is one of the factions that are rather strong. They have the support of most of the kingdom''s merchants, as well as the logistics division of the military.


    Both of which are already powerful, and abnormally powerful at this moment because of the recent war.


    If Tabito becomes the king, it¡¯s likely that the kingdom will have great economic growth.


    The Answorth house is rather interesting as well. Rosalie¡¯s only 15, barely an adult by this world¡¯s terms, though I can guess why they sent her. The Answorth house is a house that produces extremely talented mages quite often. I¡¯m guessing that they lost a lot of members in the war. A powerful AOE mage can change the course of a battle, so they¡¯re also a huge target.


    In a battle, a normal mage is only actually about as useful as a couple of archers, and can normally be taken out quite easily. However, a good mage is far more useful than a couple of good archers. Especially elite ones who can cast mass AOE spells that can ruin an enemy army.


    Anyway, onto the next ones.


    The other two factions are factions that I don¡¯t know much about. They aren¡¯t very notable either. The only reason I know about Theophania faction is because they¡¯re especially dislikable.


    The Luther faction and the Artur factions.


    The Luther faction has sent Theresa of the Resa house. She¡¯s the 2nd Daughter and 5th Child of that house. Theresa Resa, huh? Interesting name.


    The Artur faction has sent Bert of the Fallah house. He¡¯s the 4th Son and 6th Child of the Fallah house.


    ¡°Allow them to enter. I¡¯ll receive them soon.¡± I tell Bedo


    He nods his head. ¡°Yes, little master,¡±


    After he leaves my room I slowly get out of bed. This is going to be a huge pain¡­


    I slowly make my way to the receiving room. The estate¡¯s large enough that there¡¯s a room especially for that purpose alone.


    Luckily I can walk properly now. I¡¯m just a bit slow. I probably should have gotten more practice in. I haven¡¯t practiced enough.


    It takes a little bit, but I make it to the receiving room properly.


    The representatives sent from the houses are waiting there.


    They introduce themselves one by one, as well as explain what they¡¯re there to do, which is to be options for me to select a Caretaker. The caretaker will end up raising me for at least a few years.


    Saith is someone who looks like some sort of pretty-boy. He seems very confident and friendly.


    Rosalie looks rather cute. She¡¯s quite small for someone her age. She seems quite shy.


    Theresa is a somewhat large woman who¡¯s otherwise rather plain looking.


    Bert is a skinny and small guy with a smart look about him.


    Cenk is a huge mountain of a man who looks quite bullish. There¡¯s an intimidating aura emanating from him.


    I introduce myself in turn. ¡°Salutations, I am Takabi Akashi, the head of the Akashi Viscounty. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, so the baby can talk, huh? Can the baby fight too?¡± Cenk asks with an evil sounding laugh.


    Err, what? Excuse me?


    You can¡¯t be serious¡­?

 Chapter VIII: Dueling Cent

    I stare at Cent. What¡­ just what in your mind makes you think it¡¯ll be a good idea to fight me, a baby?


    ¡­at the very least this gives me a good reason to kick him out.


    Saith looks at Cent in disgust. ¡°Cent, we¡¯re here to be the child¡¯s caretakers. Not to bully him.¡±


    Cent clicks his tongue.


    I debate my options of his challenge anyway.


    He¡¯s probably tough and strong, but possibly slow and clumsy. I doubt he can use magic. I¡¯ve done a little research and someone will tend to look in a way their statistical balance supports. It¡¯s also rare that someone will have too many high stats.


    Speed and Vitality, and Strength and Magic don¡¯t need to both be high. Only one of each needs to be particularly high compared to the others.


    People tend to have statistics that fall into ¡®builds¡¯. The speedy warrior, the tough knight. Stuff like that.


    I don¡¯t think Cent could possibly hit me anyway with my skill. A flinch is really, really fast. I can¡¯t control it other than choosing to flinch or not to flinch at the moment though.


    As such, the question is more of can I even seriously harm him? My earthen spear isn¡¯t something I can use since it¡¯s too heavy for me. I wonder if I could muster enough force to penetrate deeply into his body with a knife?


    I pull off my left glove and toss it at Cent¡¯s face.


    It¡¯s one of the ways someone can challenge another to a duel. Most nobles wear gloves as part of their normal attire since it¡¯s considered as one of the least brutish and quickest ways. A way like Cent used is unacceptable to most nobles.


    A concerned look flashes across the eyes of the others.


    After all, if the baby were to die, it would be a blow to their reputation, as well as a mission failure.


    Cent swipes up the glove before it reaches him with a grin.


    Now if they were to interfere, it would be even worse for them. A duel is something that is sacred,no matter what, in the Lithari Kingdom, as well as the surrounding kingdoms.


    Saith narrows his eyes at Cent. He seems to have a sense of justice.


    He throws his glove at Cent. ¡°You can¡¯t seriously expect me to allow you to bully a baby and jeopardize our mission. I¡¯ve heard you like to bully people, but Akashi is a baby and not a mere commoner.¡±


    Cent simply laughs as he picks up the glove. ¡°I¡¯ll fight you after I¡¯ve had my fun.¡±


    ¡­at least you tried, Saith. I thank you for that. Though I doubt Cent can beat my Spacial Flinch. You can¡¯t beat someone if you can¡¯t hit them.


    The only things that I think would be able to beat my flinch is if I were traps meticulously, or if an AOE spell with a range larger than 24 meters were fired at me. Though an AOE with 24 meters of range would have to be a dead-center shot to do anything.


    ¡­AOE spells with more than 24 meters of range in terms of diameter aren¡¯t particularly rare among good mages though¡­


    But still, I¡¯m quite invincible in a melee that this will probably be. I can¡¯t imagine Cent using AOE magic. I would¡¯ve heard about him being someone exceptional.


    As such, due to the low risk, it¡¯s worth the risk.


    ¡°I want you out of here if I win.¡± I tell Cent


    He laughs. ¡°I¡¯ll still be staying here another day, little baby. Do you think you have any chance against me? Heh. I want some money for my faction for beating you up.¡±


    Such a rude guy¡­


    Theophania faction and House Ulden, I¡¯ll be taking this as an insult.


    ¡°I believe I do. Now, let us go to the courtyard.¡± I reply


    I slowly make my way towards the courtyard as Cent leers at me as if I was prey and the rest of my potential ¡®caretakers¡¯ follow us.


    Rosalie has a shadowy looking face, Theresa looks rather shocked, Bert has a look of fear and dread on his face, and Saith looks angry.


    Cent really seems to like causing trouble, huh?


    I¡¯ll be sure to cause you trouble. If you were beaten by a mere baby in a duel, no matter who that baby grew up to be, your honor and pride would be dead, no matter what you did afterwards.


    Though by the looks of things, Cent doesn¡¯t have much honor or pride to speak of in the first place.


    Hmmm¡­ I wonder if I should kill him in the duel? It¡¯ll be a shining example to never mess with me.


    Killing during a duel, no matter who it is, especially if it¡¯s someone of a lower station, isn¡¯t against the law. You also can¡¯t expect a baby to hold back, can you?


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    I¡¯ll kill him if it¡¯s possible.


    We reach the courtyard. I call a maid over and have her bring me a knife.


    Cent takes his sword out of it¡¯s sheathe after I have a dagger in hand.


    His sword is rather fat and short. It¡¯s especially top-heavy.


    I¡¯ll be dead if it hits me. Probably most people would. I bet it would trash armor as if it were an axe or something.


    Cent swings his sword a few times.


    He¡¯s faster than I expected for someone who¡¯s so big¡­ he¡¯s about average in terms of speed.


    I hold the dagger out in front of me like a sword and crouch down a bit, careful to keep my balance.


    ¡­I wish I had a spear¡­ I feel so unsafe being outreached like this¡­


    Cent closes in slowly and tauntingly, taking advantage of my lack of reach.


    He stabs towards me.


    I dodge to the side. I¡¯m actually fast enough that I¡¯m not much slower than him despite being so small.


    He takes his miss in stride and spins his sword to take advantage of centripetal force for a particularly fast and heavy blow.


    He¡¯s using the thing not like a sword, but more like a club or something.


    He would¡¯ve hit me if not for my skill.


    I teleport out of the way as the blade comes down on me.


    I land a bit to his side.


    He freezes a bit and starts to look around. By the time he¡¯s spotted me, my dagger¡¯s already cut into his leg.


    It¡¯s not very deep, sadly, but it¡¯ll do for now. I can tell that I¡¯m bad at using this dagger.


    He takes a swipe at me.


    I teleport out of his range.


    He grunts. ¡°So that¡¯s your skill, huh? No wonder you were so confident. Chantless teleportation is quite strong. You won¡¯t be able to keep it up for long though.¡± he laughs


    Teleportation is something that isn¡¯t actually overly rare. It can be learned as a spell if you have the space affinity without too much trouble. However, all magic takes the user¡¯s concentration and their brain¡¯s energy. Doing it chantless makes it even more difficult.


    As such, keeping it up for a long portion of time is super difficult.


    However, I¡¯m not teleporting the traditional way, but with my skill. My skill lets me teleport with barely any effort.


    I rush towards Cent, but this time I lose my balance when I¡¯m next to him.


    This is still fine.


    I teleport upwards above Cent and slice at the side of his neck with my knife. Then I teleport back away before I¡¯m slammed against his shoulders.


    I land on the ground in a crouch.


    Cent huffs in anger. He rushes at me with one large step as he swings his sword as hard as he can. I see sooo many things that would be openings if I had the same reach as him¡­


    I try to dodge but have to teleport away in order to do so.


    At this point, Cent¡¯s bleeding a decent bit.


    I can wait for him to bleed out enough for it to affect him.


    Time¡¯s on my side.


    Cent holds his sword out in front of him and steps forward.


    I back up.


    We repeat this a few times. He goes towards me, I go back and turn a little.


    That way we stay in a circle.


    ¡°You little shit you¡¯re frustrating¡­ stop retreating and fight me¡± Cent grumbles, limping by now


    Could you be any less like a proper noble¡­?


    I continue backtracking.


    Cent loses his cool and charges at me. He¡¯s telegraphing really badly¡­


    If he doesn¡¯t beat me sooner or later, he¡¯ll lose though.


    I manage to dodge correctly.


    The feeling of danger is almost completely gone because of my skill¡­ it¡¯s replaced by confidence.


    I drive my knife¡¯s tip up and into his groin. It hits bone.


    I can see Bert¡¯s face visibly lose color. I pull my knife out and back away.


    Cent¡¯s knees buckle.


    He collapses.


    ¡°Do you surrender?¡± I ask


    I¡¯ll make you feel pain. 1, you¡¯re my enemy. 2, I heard someone mention that you heard that you enjoy bullying people and wanted to bully me¡­ Also, anyone who challenges a mere child like me is definitely trash anyway.


    If you enjoy bullying people, you¡¯re quite a trash of a human being.


    ¡°I¡­ su-surrender¡­¡± He groans


    ¡°Hmm? Did you say something?¡± I ask with an evil grin.


    Looks like my sadistic side is showing up again¡­ I won¡¯t stop myself though. I love putting trash through hell.


    ¡°B-bastard!¡± he shouts at me


    I push his sword out of his reach with my foot.


    He could grab it if he were to fall onto the ground completely.


    He falls to the ground to try to reach it. Perfect for me.


    I place the tip of my dagger to his neck and place my foot on its hilt.


    ¡°Trash like you can go die.¡± I tell him


    His finger touches his sword.


    I step down.


    My dagger slides through a good portion of his throat nicely before it hits bone. I¡¯m not strong enough to get through bone yet, even with something as sharp as my dagger.


    Aah¡­ that felt kinda good actually. I should let it get to me though. Only killing people that are trash like this is okay.


    I pull my dagger out of his neck and wipe it off on his shirt. I gently hold the knife near its tip and hand it back to the maid who was watching.


    She grabs it and wipes it off with a towel, before sheathing it and holding it tightly to her chest.


    I pull out my handkerchief and wipe Cent¡¯s blood off of me.


    Something touches my back.


    I flinch away and teleport forwards.


    That¡¯s a good reminder that my skill doesn¡¯t make me invincible¡­


    I look at what caused my flinch.


    Saith¡¯s standing there. It looks like he was trying to pat me on the back.


    There¡¯s a nervous grin on his face.


    ¡°You really can fight, huh little viscount?¡± he laughs before leaning in close to me and whispering in my ear ¡°Also, great job on getting rid of him. He¡¯s a shame to the kingdom¡¯s nobles¡±


    I think I kinda like Saith. If I have to choose one I¡¯ll choose him.


    Bert, still wincing, probably from imagining Cent¡¯s pain from his nuts getting cut open, also congratulates my win.


    Theresa does in the proper way a noble should. It¡¯s common noble etiquette to congratulate someone after they win a duel.


    Then Rosalie comes along.


    She looks very intimidated and shy¡­


    She also congratulates me. She¡¯s stuttery and timid and shy about it though. It¡¯s quite adorable¡­


    We start heading back towards the receiving room.

 Chapter IX: I Dont Want a Caretaker

    ¡°Viscount Akashi, now that that bastard Cent is gone, let¡¯s continue our talk about why we¡¯re here. You¡¯re to choose one of us as your caretaker, who will then raise you up to be a proper noble.¡± Saith starts, insulting Cent as he does.


    There¡¯s also the ¡®hidden¡¯ reason that is to get money for the succession war that¡¯s likely going to hit the kingdom soon. As soon as the power struggle in the lower ranks of society are calmed down, the power struggle in the higher ranks will begin.


    The money the succession war is going to take is not small. Succession wars are necessary things to get the best possible king or queen.


    The kingdom of Lithari is surprisingly good about gender equality. Power is power, and knowing how to use that power is knowing how to use it. The positions held are almost completely equally split between the genders. Though there¡¯s a small difference purely due to chance.


    However that means that the power struggle is much larger.


    Every royal blooded person from ages 15 to 30 participates. Those who are older are too old to start ruling, and having someone too old start their rule would mean too many succession wars over the years.


    ¡°I would like abstain from having a caretaker,¡± I reply to him


    I¡¯m not ready to enter the succession war yet. I¡¯m too young and I don¡¯t want to die yet. I definitely got lucky this time with becoming a noble who¡¯s a sole heir to their territory.


    Plus, just because I probably have infinite lives, that doesn¡¯t mean I should just waste any life. Dying wouldn¡¯t be fun either. This is kinda like a game of sorts to me since it seems I can¡¯t really die. But even so I don¡¯t want to ¡®lose¡¯ that game. I don¡¯t want to die.


    I also don¡¯t want someone running my life. Mentally, I¡¯m capable of choosing for myself.


    Who wants their life to be run by someone else?


    I¡¯ve come to realize that the freedom I have is nice.


    ¡­I still wanna get back to Earth though.


    I¡¯ve started to lose my will to get for my family. I would¡¯ve had to leave home in a few years anyway, wouldn¡¯t I?


    However, there¡¯s still so much here that I hate¡­


    It¡¯s like when you move to another country. At first everything is amazing, but then slowly, you begin to really dislike it there.


    Culture shock.


    Some things I just can¡¯t get used to are the complete lack of equality, slaves being normal, the terrible, terrible food, and the mannerisms of this place.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    I mean, seriously? Salutations? It¡¯s strange saying that all the time.


    And with the food¡­


    The Akashi territory has a bunch of sugary foods. I¡¯ve elected to not have as much sugary foods since it¡¯s bad for me.


    Much of the food that isn¡¯t sugary in the Akashi territory is terrible. The bread especially. Pastries are what replace bread in most of the meals in the Akashi territory.


    At least things like muffins and cakes are really good¡­


    There¡¯s also a lack of condiments and sauces to go with meals. It¡¯s very salty, though that¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing. I like salt.


    ¡­I just miss having teriyaki sauce.


    There¡¯s also a complete lack of any saltwater fish. The Akashi territory, along with the entire Lithari kingdom, is landlocked.


    My thoughts have gone off on a tangent, haven¡¯t they?


    ¡°You have to choose one of us. Orders of the capital.¡± Bert speaks up


    ¡­forcing me into it, huh?


    I really don¡¯t want to get into the succession war.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take some time to consider my options,¡± I tell them


    Hopefully, I can stall for long enough that the succession war will be over before I have to make a decision.


    Or maybe I can figure out how to get back to Earth by then?


    I mean, I can kinda think of a way¡­ apparently there are many though.


    One way would be to live enough lives that I randomly am reborn on Earth. Though I¡¯m not sure how many worlds there are, and it¡¯s possible by that time that Earth will be completely unrecognizable to me.


    I could also want to get involved with the succession war in the future. I¡¯m just enormously underprepared right now, and once I feel ready I may want to join in. Right now though, it¡¯s certainly not good for me to join the war.


    Saith sighs. ¡°Viscount Akashi, it seems we¡¯ll be staying here until we get an answer then.¡±


    Oh¡­


    That¡¯s even worse for my freedom¡­


    It¡¯s not as bad as getting in the faction war in my current state, though.


    Looks like I¡¯ll be having multiple caretakers until I can figure out how to get rid of them without joining any one faction.


    I just hope they don¡¯t bother me too much.


    I do want to resist it though¡­


    ¡°I¡¯d rather you all just leave. I know you just want the money of the Akashi house for your factions,¡± I say upfront. I¡¯ve lost this one, so I¡¯ll have to at least put up a final resistance. I¡¯ve lost my cool.


    Their faces look a little shocked and quite angry.


    It¡¯s not good etiquette to reveal something the other party is trying to hide, I¡¯m aware.


    There¡¯s silence.


    They look quite flustered.


    It¡¯s a difficult conversation we''re having. A verbal joust.


    ¡°That could never be the case. We¡¯re here on the combined orders of those who may eventually hold the crown. It¡¯s a noble¡¯s duty to take care of the young generation who can¡¯t take care of themselves.¡± Theresa replies


    I really don¡¯t like this conversation¡­


    ¡°I believe I can take care of myself just fine,¡± I counter


    ¡°You¡¯re not even a toddler yet.¡± Bert sighs


    ¡­I almost forgot.


    It would seem that a single mind cannot beat four. Though that should¡¯ve been obvious.


    ¡°...Fine then, stay for now.¡± I sigh


    This is going to be a pain¡­


    ¡°Guide them to the guest rooms,¡± I order a nearby maid


    After that I make my way slowly to my room.


    I need to find a way to get rid of them as soon as possible


    <hr>

 Chapter X: Rosalie

    I¡¯ve been locked in my room since yesterday.


    How do I get rid of them¡­?


    I need to make them make a mistake somehow.


    No¡­ I need to get rid of them all at once.


    If one of them is left alone with me, it¡¯ll be seen as me joining that faction. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t want to choose a caretaker.


    Having one of them as a caretaker will make it seem like I¡¯ve joined another faction. I also won¡¯t get any of the benefits that come with joining a faction. All the negatives, and none of the positives.


    In that case it would be dumb not to go get the positives too.


    I also can¡¯t get rid of them by killing them like I did Cent. That would lower my reputation. I don¡¯t think they¡¯re willing to challenge me to a duel after seeing what I can do.


    Teleporting that quickly and that often is no joke.


    I wonder how many of them also want me to join their faction for my potential?


    Certainly Saith has that in mind. The church of light probably leaked my status to him.


    Though Saith isn¡¯t someone from the church of light. He¡¯s someone from the church of nature¡­


    The churches are still one faction though.


    They don¡¯t agree with each other, but they do all want the kingdom to be more controlled by religion.


    It¡¯ll turn into a war of faith after the succession war is done with. All of them will be trying to convert everyone to their religion.


    I¡¯m in a really tough situation.


    My other option is to just accept it and try to make the best of it.


    I¡¯ll still get rid of at least two of them, but leaving the other two will be necessary to keeping me a neutral party in the succession war.


    I¡¯ll do that then.


    I get out of my bed, then I look through my curtains. It¡¯s morning now. I didn¡¯t sleep last night. I was too stressed thinking of how to avoid getting a caretaker while also avoiding the succession war.


    I¡¯m not smart enough to think of a decent solution, it would seem.


    I sigh. I feel like some kid on the day of a big test that they didn¡¯t study at all for¡­


    Fine. I¡¯ll just accept it while getting rid of two of them.


    I reach for the door handle. I don¡¯t think I handled yesterday very well. I lost my cool.


    It keeps playing in my mind over and over again.


    I should have just kept to noble etiquette¡­


    ¡­


    Haaa. I forgot that I can¡¯t actually reach it¡­


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    I ring the bell beside the door and wait. It¡¯s not long before a maid opens it up for me.


    ¡°Salutations, little master,¡± she greets with a bow. Commoners who greet a noble are supposed to say Salutations though they normally greet each other with a ¡®hail¡¯.


    I nod my head at her.


    Nobles aren¡¯t supposed to respond with a ¡®salutations¡¯ to a commoner¡¯s salutations.


    Nobles also aren¡¯t supposed to say hail.


    As such a nod is the proper etiquette to use.


    ¡°Please bring me to the dining room.¡± I ask the maid


    ¡°As you wish, little master,¡± she replies with a bow before turning around.


    I¡¯ll just ignore them for now¡­


    I¡¯m really quite hungry now since I was up all night.


    Heading to the table, I find Rosalie sitting there eating. There¡¯s plenty of food there along with evidence of three others sitting there previously. Though some of them look like they were longer ago than others.


    They probably ate earlier.


    In this world, there¡¯s not really such a thing as eating together regularly. Jobs start and end at different times, so trying to do such a thing would be impossible.


    It¡¯s just something that¡¯s different here. On Earth I always had to eat at the very least dinner with the rest of my family.


    ¡°Ah, salutations¡­¡± Rosalie greets quietly.


    She hasn¡¯t done much at all since she got here, so I don¡¯t have an issue with her.


    ¡°...Salutations,¡± I greet in return, climbing up onto my chair, which is at the head of the table.


    I take a look at the food available. Muffins, Sweet Bread, Eggs, and some bacon-like thing. There¡¯s also a couple of leafy greens, but I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re called.


    ¡°A muffin, please.¡± I tell the maid


    She goes to the kitchen, grabs a small plate for me, and puts a muffin on it. She puts the muffin directly in front of me. She places a fork and knife in front of me as well.


    It¡¯s nice having servants¡­


    It¡¯s really embarrassing though, and I can feel that it¡¯ll make me lazy.


    For this kingdom though, it¡¯s something completely normal. Even a number of commoners have slave servants.


    I don¡¯t use my servants often. Normally I¡¯ll grab everything myself.


    It¡¯s considered improper for a noble to not use their servants though.


    I resist the urge to just use my hands to eat the muffin and begin to cut it into small pieces that I slowly eat one by one.


    There¡¯s an awkward silence hovering in the air.


    ¡°If¡­If you don¡¯t want me to be your caretaker I can just leave¡­¡± she mumbles just loudly enough for me to hear.


    ¡­that¡­ that¡¯s very kind of her. To be able to accept that I don¡¯t want anyone to be my caretaker and drag me into their faction.


    I¡¯m not quite sure how to respond, so I¡¯m silent for a few moments.


    ¡°...That¡¯s very nice of you to offer.¡± I tell her


    ¡°Err, not really, it¡¯s just really uncomfortable for me to be here¡± she replies.


    Eh? I¡¯m not entirely sure how to respond to this insult. It really caught me off guard¡­


    ¡°Oh, uh, I mean, your estate isn¡¯t what¡¯s making me uncomfortable. It¡¯s the people here¡­¡± she says, jumbling over her words


    So you¡¯re insulting the people of my territory¡­?


    Her face turns slightly red.


    ¡°Ahh, no that¡¯s not what I meant either¡­ Sorry¡­ I¡¯m not very good at talking¡­ What I meant is that social situations like interacting with your other possible caretakers make me very uncomfortable¡­¡± she apologizes


    ¡­


    I sigh. I used to be bad, and probably still am, at getting my point across properly, so I can understand.


    ¡°I find it rather difficult to imagine your position in this too¡­ you¡¯re incredibly smart for a child, maybe even almost as smart as your average noble, so you figured out what¡¯s going on beyond the front so quickly¡­ It was a plot meant for someone with a child¡¯s mind. It must be difficult to try to avoid being dragged into a faction¡­So I¡¯ll do my best to help you out even though I¡¯ll still try to get you into my own faction.¡± she mumbles


    So she is nice, huh?


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I tell her


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s not an issue¡­ it¡¯ll be bad for me if any other faction gets you anyway¡­¡± She replies hurriedly.


    She seems to put herself down a lot, huh?


    I finish up my food and leave the table.


    Now¡­ I wasn¡¯t really planning on doing that, but now if I don¡¯t go and at least try to talk to everyone else it could push me a bit in the direction of the Tabito faction¡­


    Haaa¡­ I hate politics when I aren''t one of the people in control¡­

 Chapter XI: A Deal for 3 and a Half Years of Time

    I sigh and work up my nerve.


    I gotta do this¡­ because politics.


    I walk up to Saith, who¡¯s practicing with his spear in the training room.


    ¡°Salutations,¡± I greet


    Saith replies with a ¡°Salutations¡± of his own and continues to practice.


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be bad if you joined the church faction, you know. You¡¯re mom and dad were part of the faction too. If you met Calavia, or listened to one of her speeches, I¡¯m sure you¡¯d join readily.¡± he tells me


    ¡°I have no interest in the succession war at the moment. I¡¯d like to at least grow up a little first.¡± I reply ¡°I¡¯m more interested in improving my own personal strength and keeping the territory from falling apart.¡±


    Saith¡¯s a little quiet for a few moments. ¡°If I helped you with your personal strength and waited until you¡¯re introduced to the noble world, will that be enough to get you to at least pick someone?¡±


    Nobles are introduced into the noble world at the age of 5. It¡¯s a long time from now¡­ and it could save me a lot of trouble over the next few years¡­ it¡¯s really just procrastination though, isn¡¯t it? Not having problems due to being dragged into a faction is good though¡­


    It would be worth it if I can get Rosalie into that deal too. Plus, it¡¯s not like he¡¯s necessarily saying I have to pick the church faction. I¡¯ll just have to pick someone, right?


    In that case, I can try to make a similar deal with each of them. I¡¯m aware that at the very least Rosalie¡¯s and Saith¡¯s training would be rather useful.


    Saith¡¯s an expert with swords of any kind and is highly competent with most of the more common weapons.


    Rosalie¡¯s a powerful Fire, Wind, and Electric mage. Even if we don¡¯t share any elements, her knowledge would still be highly useful and applicable.


    I¡¯m not sure about Theresa or Bert, but Rosalie or Saith¡¯s help alone could possibly make it worth it¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll seriously think about it,¡± I tell him


    He nods. ¡°Be sure to give me an answer relatively soon.¡±


    I turn around and leave.


    A passing servant bows to me.


    ¡°Can you bring Bedo to my room?¡± I ask


    She nods her head ¡°As you wish, little master,¡±


    I head back to my room and wait.


    I need to discuss with him whether or not Theresa and Bert would even be worth getting training from.


    It¡¯s not long before he knocks on my door. ¡°Enter,¡± I tell him


    ¡°Salutations, Master Akashi. What is it that you wish of me?¡± he asks


    ¡°I trust that you¡¯ve done some research on our guests?¡± I ask


    ¡°Of course, little master. Our information networks aren¡¯t the best, but I¡¯ve been able to gather a little bit of info.¡± Bedo replies


    ¡°Good. Now, tell me- is there anything that Bert or Theresa are particularly competent at or anything I need to know about them?¡± I ask


    Bedo thinks for a few moments.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°For Theresa, there¡¯s nothing she¡¯s particularly competent at, however, something that should be known about her is that her skill is the same one that your father has, and the same as one of yours. Earthen Spear.¡± Bedo tells me


    She¡¯d probably be able to teach me how to use it better than any of the servants of this household then.


    ¡°As for Bert, there¡¯s also nothing he¡¯s particularly competent at. There¡¯s not really anything special about him in general, actually.¡± Bedo continues


    Ah. right then.


    ¡°Bedo, please begin to dig up dirt on Bert, or try to make him make a mistake that¡¯s enough to kick him out of here.¡± I order


    ¡°With pleasure Master Akashi,¡± Bedo replies


    Hmm? It¡¯s different from normal. Normally it¡¯s ¡®little master¡¯... I think.


    Bedo stands up and turns around.


    Alright. Tomorrow I¡¯ll deal with offering Rosalie a deal. I¡¯ll try to make a deal with Theresa tomorrow as well.


    I don¡¯t do anything particularly productive for the rest of the day.


    <hr>


    I open my eyes.


    Alright. I need to go offer Rosalie and Theresa the deal. For about 3 and a half years of my peace, I¡¯ll do this.


    I¡¯ll think about what to do after those three years when that¡¯s upon me.


    Before that I¡¯ll try to make it not a big problem for when I have to actually choose a faction.


    I sigh.


    The maid who normally wakes me up walks into my room.


    ¡°Please check on the situation in the dining room.¡± I tell her


    ¡°Ahh, yes little master.¡± She replies in a bit of a fluster before heading out


    I wait.


    It¡¯s not long before she comes back.


    ¡°Salutations little master. The situation in the dining room is that breakfast is eggs with a side of bacon. Currently Rosalie is eating.¡± she tells me


    That¡¯s a fairly good situation for me. One of the objectives for today alone.


    ¡°Right, bring me to the dining room then.¡± I order her


    ¡°As you wish little master,¡± she replies, turning around to lead me


    I follow her.


    After a little bit, I enter the room.


    ¡°Salutations,¡± I greet


    ¡°Salutations,¡± she returns


    ¡°I have a deal for you,¡± I tell her after telling a maid to get me a small portion of both eggs and bacon.


    ¡°What is it that you propose?¡± She asks


    ¡°Can you teach me magic if I choose someone to be my caretaker before I¡¯m finished with my introduction to the rest of the noble world in three and a half years?¡± I ask


    Rosalie thinks for a bit. ¡°That would be acceptable,¡± She replies ¡°We can start tomorrow.¡±


    Good.


    I quickly finish up my small portion of food and leave the room.


    Right, now to talk to Theresa. After that I¡¯ll talk to Saith again.


    Now, I wonder where I would find Theresa?


    I head to the training room where I found Saith yesterday.


    Today I find him there again.


    He¡¯s quite diligent with his weapons training.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to accept your deal from yesterday,¡± I tell him


    ¡°Excellent.¡± He replies ¡°Let¡¯s start now then. You¡¯ll need to train up your body adequately first. Start with running around the training room¡¯s edges twice for today.¡±


    Wait what?


    Already¡­?


    I obediently do as he says, trying not to trip while I run around.


    I¡¯m very tired by the end of it. I may have high statistics but that doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t suffer from the same problem as all other babies. I¡¯m still very weak. I¡¯m just less weak.


    ¡°Right, you can go now. Come back here tomorrow midday.¡± he tells me


    I nod my head before getting a maid to carry me back to my room. It¡¯s embarrassing but I really don¡¯t want to walk right now and it¡¯s not so bad because I¡¯m still a baby.


    I rest for a bit while I get a maid to figure out where Theresa is.


    It¡¯s not long before I know where she is.


    She¡¯s sitting in her room eating the specialties of this territory. Candies and pastries.


    Maybe I don¡¯t need her¡­


    Yea. I don¡¯t need her to help with my training.


    It¡¯s the fact that I really don¡¯t want to talk with her, or Bert for that matter. I didn¡¯t actually want to talk to Rosalie or Saith either actually¡­ I still have my social anxiety sometimes.


    However, someone just sitting there doing nothing actually isn¡¯t necessary. It¡¯s an excuse that¡¯s reasonable.


    I tell a maid to tell Bedo to begin digging up dirt and to begin trying to find a reason to kick Theresa out.


    I¡¯m aware it¡¯s not efficient in terms of the deal, but I¡¯ll give in to my social anxiety and not do it this time.


    I¡¯m not a real introvert, but I still have some of their problems.

 Chapter XII: How Magic Works

    I¡¯m sitting at the dining table with Rosalie, eating a muffin.


    The muffins here are really good¡­


    ¡°Yesterday you said you¡¯d teach me magic today, yes?¡± I ask


    ¡°Ah, yea. Come with me to my room after we eat. I¡¯ll start teaching you. First of all though, may I ask, what elements can you use? I can use the Fire, Wind, and Electric elements.¡± Rosalie replies


    ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be capable of Wielding the elements of Light, Space, and Earth,¡± I tell her


    ¡°Space is a rather rare element¡­ it¡¯s an extremely sought after one as well. Having three elements like myself is something quite good as well. Though not having elements in common may be a bit of a problem.¡± Rosalie tells me ¡°I won¡¯t be capable of teaching you your elemental specific words.¡±


    Rosalie finishes eating her food and I finish up quickly after her. We get up and leave together.


    She brings me to the guest rooms and into her room.


    She hasn¡¯t been here long at all, and it already has an entirely different feel to it compared to before she was here.


    It¡¯s very¡­cluttered now.


    A small table¡¯s in the middle of the room with a glowing blue orb held on top of it, which lights the entire room in a bright blue glow. On a stand in the corner of the room is an armor stand with a set of combat gear dressing it.


    Two tables have been placed across two of the walls with books and pages with writing on them covering them. A fancy and expensive looking bag is at the edge of the table.


    Trinkets of all sorts are haphazardly strewn about the floor, though a pathway of sorts does exist through it all. A pair of clothes is also spread across the floor.


    ¡­How did it become such a mess so quickly¡­?


    Rosalie shuts the room¡¯s door.


    ¡°Sorry it¡¯s such a mess¡­¡± She apologizes.


    I sigh. ¡°Do you not let the maids clean here or something?¡± I ask


    ¡°I¡¯m in here too often for them to do any cleaning.¡± she replies


    Ah¡­ that makes a bit more sense then. But still. How? How is such a huge mess made this quickly¡­?


    Rosalie nimbly makes her way to her two tables next to the walls, where the floor¡¯s actually clear. She searches for some papers and after a while picks a few up.


    I stand there, unwilling to head far into the mess that is this room.


    ¡°Alright, so do you know the basics of magic?¡± She asks


    ¡°Not at all.¡± I tell her


    She sighs. ¡°Right, well I guess that¡¯s reasonable since you¡¯re so young.¡±


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Then she begins to explain. She sounds much more confident than she normally seems to.


    ¡°Magic is an energy that exists inside all living beings, from plants, to animals, to humans. While it¡¯s not quite understood how exactly plants or animals use magic, humans use magic in one of two ways. Chantless, or Chanting. Chantless, as you may expect, is silent, and requires no movements at. However, it¡¯s less stable and is more difficult to use. Chanting magic requires the user to be given enough time to speak the words of the magic they wish to use, but it¡¯s more stable and easier.


    I know how to cast magic both ways, and will be teaching you both. Both of them work by uttering or thinking words of a now lost, ancient tongue. Legends say that magical creatures such as dragons and phoenixes were what the language originated from.


    However, not all magical words work for everyone. Someone who does not have the Water element will find it impossible to apply magic to words in a way that relates to the water element. An example of this would be for me to chant the words ¡®iidal ertel¡¯, which means ¡®Aqua Blade¡¯, it would not do anything.¡±


    Rosalie pauses and holds her pointer finger up.


    ¡°However, if I were to do something such as chant [lehtriil goiluu uuliin]...¡± above her finger, a small flame floats. ¡°Ah, that meant ¡®Floating Finger Flame¡¯, by the way.¡±


    Wow¡­


    It¡¯s just a small bit of magic but it looks so cool¡­


    ¡°Changing the order of the words can also often change the spell. Take this for example. [lehtriil uuliin goiluu].¡± Rosalie explains, opening up her palm and facing it upwards to reveal a finger made out of fire floating above it.


    The finger wriggles a bit.


    Can she control it¡­?


    ¡°Now for the chantless way. Simply thinking the words in your mind will do.¡± then the small flame that was floating above her finger appears once more.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be teaching you chantless magic for a while though. It¡¯s something very difficult to keep stable.¡± Rosalie


    Ah¡­ that¡¯s a pity but I guess that¡¯s reasonable.


    Chanting is fine.


    ¡°However, there¡¯s also another limitation applied to the whole word-magic thing. Something that¡¯s too powerful for your magic stat won¡¯t be able to be cast. May I ask what your magic stat is?¡± Rosalie asks ¡°I¡¯ll tell you mine after.¡±


    It¡¯s a highly guarded secret¡­ but I suppose if she¡¯s telling me hers as well it¡¯ll be fine, right¡­?


    ¡°My magic stat is 12,¡± I tell her


    Rosalie nods. ¡°That¡¯s very good. Mine is at 15. While it¡¯ll be incredibly difficult for you to surpass me, you¡¯ll be an excellent first apprentice.¡±


    That¡¯s¡­ 15 is incredibly high. I¡¯m quite shocked.


    ¡°In any case though, until you get to the point that you¡¯re forming most of your own spells and translating new words, which is something that a great number of mages never even get to anyway, you won¡¯t hit your limit of strength.¡± Rosalie tells me ¡°Your potential is rather incredible. I¡¯m just a rather large outlier. You¡¯re actually someone who¡¯d be considered more valuable as Space is an extremely rare and rather powerful element. Fire and Wind are very common and Lighting isn¡¯t that rare.¡±


    ¡°Right, anyway, let¡¯s actually get started now. Since space is the thing that¡¯s the most valuable, I¡¯ll start you off with some basics. Spacial is ¡®iknuu¡¯. Can you repeat that?¡± Rosalie asks


    I repeat back to her my best attempt at saying ¡®iknuu¡¯. It¡¯s not that difficult of a word and I manage to pronounce it somewhat understandably in a single try, I think.


    After that, Rosalie teaches me how to say ¡®dliin¡¯, which means cut.


    ¡°That¡¯s all for now. For the next week or so, practice getting your pronunciation correct and controlling your spell.¡± Rosalie tells me


    I nod my head.


    ¡°The first step is the most difficult, so that¡¯s why it¡¯ll take a long time.¡± Rosalie explains


    I nod my head again.


    ¡°Right, so now that lesson is done with, you should go practice the spell.¡± Rosalie tells me


    ¡°Ah, yea, I¡¯ll go do that,¡± I reply before heading out


    I¡¯m excited to do magic!


    I rush towards the courtyard as fast as my little legs can stability take me.


    Once I get there I find Saith doing some sort of warm up.


    Oh¡­ right¡­ I need to work out too¡­


    After forcing myself to go through with my daily training, I have a maid carry me back to my room.


    ¡­I¡¯ll just practice magic later¡­ I¡¯m too tired to stand up any longer¡­

 Chapter XIII: A Lesson in Cutting Magic

    It¡¯s the middle of the night. I ended up falling asleep in the middle of the day earlier, so I¡¯m not tired at all right now.


    I¡¯m standing in the middle of the training room.


    ¡°[Iknuu Dliin]!¡± I chant


    What looks like a small portal of some kind opens halfway between me and the target and a large amount to the right. A second later it disappears.


    ¡­ missed horribly.


    ¡°[Iknuu Dliin]!¡± I chant again


    The portal opens up a bit closer to my target.  I¡¯m gonna keep trying until I actually hit it.


    I¡¯m getting kinda frustrated that I can¡¯t hit it, and that makes me want to prove that I can do it.


    ¡°[Iknuu Dliin]!¡± I chant once more


    Come on¡­ a bit to the left


    ¡°[Iknuu Dliin]!¡± I try again


    ¡°[Iknuu Dliin]!¡± and again


    And a few times more until I luckily hit my target.


    The portal opens up right in front of the target and once it disappears a second later, a large cut is left across the target¡¯s upper body.


    It feels good using magic¡­


    I feel kinda like I used all my mental energy now though¡­ I wonder if that¡¯s an effect of using magic?


    It would make sense, I think. When someone utilizes a part of their body too much to fast, it will get tired.


    I turn around to find Rosalie standing there.


    ¡°How¡­?¡± I begin


    ¡°I heard shouting so I came over to look.¡± She replies ¡°Ah, and by the way, those were very far from being acceptable. It¡¯s not nearly as efficient as it should be, and it¡¯s also far from being compressed or sharp enough. It¡¯s also slow. I¡¯ll show you some proper cut magic.¡±


    Rosalie chants ¡°[uuliin dliin]!¡± and swings her arm. A bit in front of her arm, a streak of flame appears. It¡¯s extremely thin and very bright. It¡¯s also extremely fast.


    ¡°Spacial cut magic is one of them that are ranged. Normal ones are melee and are used by either magic melee fighters or by mages for melee defense.¡± Rosalie explains ¡°That also means you¡¯ll need to learn how to make your cut aligned with your arm, how to control it with your arm, as well as how to control it¡¯s distance. I¡¯ll show you an example of this with my wind cut, as it¡¯s one of the ranged ones.¡± Rosalie tells me


    She karate chops the air while also chanting ¡°[deinii dliin]!¡±


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    The target in front of her is left with a cut all the way through that starts at it¡¯s shoulder and comes out at the side, cutting through almost the entire thing. It¡¯s holding on by a thread. It¡¯s loud¡­ the cut is very audible.


    Eh? What just happened¡­?


    The repairment time magic fixes the scratch I left on it previously, then after a bit, fixes Rosalie¡¯s damage.


    ¡°Were you able to see it?¡± Rosalie asks


    ¡°...no,¡± I reply


    ¡°That¡¯s the strength of wind magic. Though it¡¯s weaker than other magics, and has comparatively little defensive power, it¡¯s difficult to see, and faster than most other magics.¡± Rosalie explains ¡°I¡¯ll show you again with some fire magic to light it up.¡±


    A small flame orb appears in Rosalie¡¯s hand before she chants once more ¡°[deinii dliin]¡±


    The small flame orb is launched towards the target, leaving only a streak of red. It¡¯s pulled back after passing through the target like it wasn¡¯t even there, going out upon meeting back up with Rosalie¡¯s hand.


    It kinda reminds me of a yoyo¡¯s arc¡­


    It¡¯s kinda beautiful, actually¡­ I wanna watch more.


    ¡°Can you show me how you would fight with it?¡± I ask


    ¡°Please head to the edge of the room. I wouldn¡¯t want to hit you.¡± Rosalie tells me


    I do as she asks.


    ¡°Alright, keep your eyes peeled.¡± She tells me


    Then she begins moving her arm in strange motions.


    Wherever her arm goes though, a streak of light follows. It blinks in and out of existence, coming back to her hand every time it does so.


    It looks really cool. It¡¯s quite hard to describe it properly¡­


    The streaks of light stop.


    ¡°Alright, now you try doing it properly.¡± she tells me


    Ah. Okay. I¡¯ll do my best.


    I go in front of the completely destroyed targets and wait for them to repair themselves.


    After they do so, I try.


    ¡°[iknuu dliin]!¡± I chant


    It appears off to my right. I try swinging my arm.


    ¡­I completely missed the target¡­


    ¡°Ah, I can imagine it¡¯s difficult to use spacial cut. It¡¯s unusual in the fact that it doesn¡¯t start off with starting at your hand like other cut magics.¡± Rosalie tells me ¡°So it¡¯s one of the hardest ones to learn.¡±


    ¡­why would you start me off with something difficult?


    ¡°If you can do a spacial cut though you¡¯ll be able to learn how to do the cut magics for the other elements you can wield much more easily.¡± Rosalie explains


    Ah¡­ well I guess I can see where she¡¯s coming from, but¡­


    I sigh, before trying again.


    ¡°[iknuu dliin]!¡± I shout


    I hit the target, but it¡¯s a lucky shot and only glancing blow.


    Again.


    ¡°[iknuu dliin]!¡± I shout again


    It¡¯s another fail.


    My head¡¯s starting to hurt¡­


    It¡¯s fine not to get it tonight¡­ I¡¯ll try again tomorrow.


    ¡°Is my head hurting after that normal?¡± I ask her


    ¡°Ah. Yes. Using magic takes up much of your brainpower. It¡¯s like having a sore muscle. Hmm¡­ you''re still a baby so you might not understand properly¡­ you¡¯ve recently started training with Saith, correct? You know how your legs feel a little bit like they¡¯re slightly burning if you use your legs too often? It¡¯s similar to that. It¡¯s worse later though so you should stop now. A particularly bad magic sore is extremely painful.¡± Rosalie replies


    ¡­hmm¡­ okay. I¡¯ll stop now then.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The pain won¡¯t last for longer than a night.¡± she tells me


    That¡¯s good at least.


    ¡°Well, good night then, Akashi.¡± Rosalie tells me as she turns back and starts heading towards her room


    Okay then. I¡¯ll head to bed now then too.


    <hr>

 Chapter XIV: Moonlight Past

    I make my way through the lonely halls of the estate, stopping at one of the windows near the entrance to my room. I grab one my stools from my room and go to I look out.


    I can¡¯t help it. I haven¡¯t been out of my room this late at night, and haven¡¯t seen what the view looks like. I¡¯m not necessary a person that really enjoys nice views, but I need to at least know what it looks like from right next to my room.


    Outwards towards the town that surrounds the estate, and into the distance.


    The full moon shines above, half-hidden by the sky by the clouds as it shines a dim blue glow, which colors the entire world below a tint of blue.


    It paints a beautiful picture. It¡¯s a sight I don¡¯t think could be quite as beautiful in most places on Earth. The sky is perfectly clear, devoid of any pollution in the slightest.


    I think this is in the perfect place to make this view an enchanting one.


    I can see the walls of the estate, with a single pathway going out in that direction that seems as if it¡¯s winding around a straight line that goes from me to the moon.


    The path continues until it becomes the main street in the village. It doesn¡¯t twist and turn, so I can see all the buildings that line the way.


    The main street leads straight out of the village, and begins to curve slightly back and forth again, winding between the irregularly-shaped fields that line it.


    A river flows past on the other side of half of the fields, which continues downstream to become a natural barrier on two sides of the town.


    The road meets up with the river upstream, and follows it as the terrain breaks into the forest.


    The area around the river and the road are kept clear of trees though, and I can see it all the way until it reveals the source of the river, a massive lake.


    The moon¡¯s reflection shines across the lake¡¯s rippling watters.


    Yea. A breathtaking scene.


    I look up at the moon and the stars.


    It makes me think.


    About how I died.


    About my life from before.


    About things I don¡¯t really want to think about. Things I¡¯ve been avoiding thinking about.


    It looks almost identical to the moon from home. From Earth.


    A sad smile goes across my face.


    A few tears drip from my eyes. I wipe them off.


    I want¡­ I want to go back. I want to go back home.


    Back to Earth. Back to my family.


    It¡¯s enjoyable here¡­ but it¡¯s not the same.


    I remember Earth. I remember the people I know there.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    I instinctively try to push my emotions back in again.


    No, it¡¯s not good to bottle things up.


    I¡¯m bad about that.


    I always bottled up my emotions, and put on a mask.


    I¡¯ve been putting up a mask to myself since I was born here, haven''t I? A mask that hid my real emotions from myself.


    I shut my eyes.


    Why did I die? It¡¯s blurry, but I¡¯ve regained some memories of what happened that weren¡¯t there before.


    Waking up in the middle of the night.


    Feeling like I was drowning. A pain in my chest.


    The same feeling I was feeling on a lesser level for the past month previously.


    The same feeling I was feeling since the fire which burnt my family¡¯s house down.


    The fire that burnt nearly everything I knew down.


    I think only one person died, since nearly the entire town made it out on time¡­


    But¡­


    The buildings that contained the hopes and dreams for the future. The buildings full of memories.


    I distinctly remember what it looked like when I was taken back to the town after the fire passed.


    What it was like, walking down the streets with a triple layered mask compared to normal decked out in winter gear, as it had started to snow as the last of the fire was burning. The hope when I saw rows upon rows of homes looking completely fine and covered with a thin layer of snow, thinking, was the fire really that bad?


    The wind picked up and white ash that looked like snow drifting by, making a thin layer above the actual snow.


    Passing by my neighbor¡¯s house, which was on a turn, I didn¡¯t notice it right away.


    I walked into what looked like an apocalypse.


    My neighbor¡¯s house was half-missing. And my own home¡­


    Gone.


    Not even standing.


    The husk of my dad¡¯s old truck that we were going to scrap last year and every month since but never got around to, and the gray ash just below the snow.


    ...Home, was gone.


    ...


    The houses starting from there were in various stages of being gone. Some had a few walls left, some had a single room, burnt to a crisp, but still standing.


    I don¡¯t remember crying. Not quite absorbing what had just happened within the span of less than a single day. Not feeling it was real.


    After that, the school that somehow made it through the fire reopened after a few weeks.


    I got sick after visiting what was left of my family¡¯s home once and taking my mask off because I had trouble breathing and not a single soul other than my family and people in hazmat suits was around.


    It got worse when going from place to place trying to find a home.


    I couldn¡¯t go to school anymore.


    I started to feel that pain in my chest.


    A month later I died, and reincarnated back here.


    Even through that though, I still want to go back.


    I want to go back and see if my family¡¯s doing okay. I want to go back and see if they made it through.


    I want to go back and see them once more.


    I open my eyes again, and wipe away my tears.


    I need to guarantee I can get back properly though. I don¡¯t want to kill myself when I¡¯m in this advantagous position, where I have a good enough life and a high status. Where I have the resources to find my way back. If I screw up once, who knows? I might be too late to see them once more.


    I¡¯ve heard a lot of stories about different times between dimensions and it would make sense.


    If this world is faster than Earth, I¡¯d be screwed regardless. I have no idea how to control my reincarnation, so I need to figure it out first. Who knows how long that will take?


    If it¡¯s a place on the same scale as Earth, then I just can¡¯t take decades and decades. I just want to see them again.


    If it¡¯s faster, then screwing up and killing myself again in hopes of blind luck guiding me back to Earth, then I also run the incredible risk of ruining any chances I have now.


    ¡­I also want to try to enjoy my life here in this world.


    I¡¯m at least 5 times as in-efficient in my thoughts when I¡¯m in a bad mood. So it¡¯s more efficient to try to enjoy my life still.


    Plus there¡¯s apparently many ways. I¡¯ll try to find one by luck, I¡¯ve always had a good amount of pride in my higher than normal luck, so it could work out.


    So I¡¯ll take my time to do this properly and get home in one go.


    I get off the stool and head to bed, my semi-plan laid out.

 Chapter XV: Going out to Town

    ¡°Bedo, how¡¯s the situation on getting rid of Theresa and Bert?¡± I ask in a rather annoyed tone.


    I haven¡¯t interacted with them much, but even so, I¡¯m getting annoyed with two of the candidates for being my ¡®caretakers¡¯. Bert, he has this depressing aura around him that makes me not want to go near him, and Theresa, since a few days ago, started asking me to let her become my caretaker in literally the exact same way, almost word for word. She¡¯s not coming up with something different at all.


    I know some people think that way, but if you keep asking someone to do something in the exact same way, word for word, day after day, unless you make them break down and just give you what you want by sheer annoyance, nothing¡¯s going to happen!


    ¡°Apologies, Master Takabi, but our intelligent networks aren¡¯t more developed than the basic level¡­ it¡¯s not realistic to expect our agents to be able to find information on equally ranked members of nobility in such a short timespan.¡± Bedo explains


    ¡°Take as much money as necessary to make our network capable of at least beating the average count. Information is an extremely important thing.¡± I order Bedo as he nods his head.


    The Akashi house seems to have previously been of the mindset, ¡®money is power¡¯.


    While that¡¯s very true, spies and the information network are also very important. The Akashi are only really good at seeing the flow of prices in the kingdom, and aren¡¯t particularly good at seeing the flow of politics.


    Investing in information is good.


    The Akashi house has enough funds that funding more isn¡¯t much of an issue.


    ¡°Yes, Master Takabi.¡± Bedo replies


    Great.


    Hopefully I get information on that soon¡­ I don¡¯t want to deal with those two.


    ¡°How about operation cleaning?¡± I ask


    ¡°Around a half of the knight households have enough information dug up to execute them.¡± Bedo tells me


    ¡°Begin to leak information and put the main efforts of the information gatherers on getting rid of Theresa and Bedo,¡± I order


    Half of the information necessary is fine. The rest can be left up to the knight households to dig up on their own.


    All I have to do is start the chaos¡­ and let the traitors, trash, and radicals take care of themselves.


    ¡°As for the upfront part of the operation, construction has started in most of the towns in the territory.¡± Bedo tells me


    That¡¯s good.


    I send Bedo out after that. It¡¯s very late at night, after all.


    Then I head off to bed. Tomorrow I¡¯m supposed to go outside¡­


    <hr>


    I step into the carriage.


    Today I¡¯m supposed to do three things.


    The first is to go to the church of light or the church of earth that are in this city. Either one is fine and it¡¯s best to mix it up. I have to go to at least one of them monthly though.


    The second is to take a look at the situation in town in order to take note of some things that might be good to add to the territory.


    And the third is to try to enjoy myself. Go to a restaurant or something. I don¡¯t go out to town often, so it¡¯ll be good to take a look at some of the amenities.


    Betha, Saith, and Rosalie enter the carriage as well.


    Betha so she can carry me places, and Saith and Rosalie to try to get to know them a little better. I know only one side of them at the moment.


    Saith as a diligent person who constantly trains his skills in weaponry, and Rosalie as a kind person who¡¯s incredibly smart.


    ¡­ah, I guess I have four goals, not three.


    The driver starts the carriage.


    Past the magical barrier, the stink of the town hits us.


    It¡¯s not unbearable, but it¡¯s still bad¡­


    The carriage stops in front of the church of light. It¡¯s the more popular church, and it¡¯s also the most official one, so if there isn¡¯t a church that¡¯s specifically for your deity, it¡¯s normal to pray here instead. It¡¯s not like the other deity¡¯s don¡¯t have representation in the church of light. They¡¯re just off to the side and are smaller.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    That¡¯s why I¡¯ve brought them here rather than the church of Earth.


    An escort leads the way into the church.


    Anne and Lars, as usual, are watching over the praying people. They come over to greet us.


    ¡°Little deity favored, welcome. I¡¯m glad to see you remain devoted even in times like these.¡± Lars greets with a smile as he looks at Saith.


    Oh¡­ oh no.


    Right. Politics.


    ¡­ Curses.


    Trying to tie me closer to the church faction, huh?


    ¡°I¡¯m happy to see you¡¯ve brought guests as well.¡± Lars grins ¡°We¡¯ll show them around. Anne, would you care to show Young Lady Answorth around? I¡¯ll guide Young Lord Rillin.¡±


    Anne gives a light glare to Lars, but accepts, beginning to show Rosalie around the church.


    Lars brings Saith under one of the farthest statues in the room.


    It¡¯s obvious that Saith and Lars are exchanging information, no?


    I sigh before heading to the goddess of light¡¯s statue and getting in a position to make it look like I¡¯m praying.


    Rather than pray though, I just end up spacing out.


    I¡¯m not actually religious, even if I acknowledge that gods and goddesses exist in this world. I¡¯ll fake-pray unless there¡¯s something I want that I think they could possibly give me.


    My spacing-out begins.


    I open one of my eyes to glance at the clock after a while.


    It¡¯s been an hour and a half, huh?


    I¡¯m getting better at spacing out.


    I stand up.


    Rosalie and Betha are standing towards the back of the church talking in hushed voices about something while Saith is praying in front of the statue of the goddess of Nature.


    It¡¯s time to leave, I think. We don¡¯t have all day.


    All of the escorts stand up in usion.


    I head over to one of them and tell her ¡°Let the others know we¡¯re leaving.¡±


    She nods her head ¡°As you wish little master Akashi.¡± before going to Saith to tell him that we¡¯re leaving.


    Another escort heads over to Betha and Rosalie.


    We gather up before leaving.


    <hr>


    The carriage takes us through town.


    It¡¯s full of people working, and children playing.


    Most people bow down as we pass.


    The huge gap in social status is something I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll get used to.


    It makes me really uncomfortable¡­


    I sigh.


    Even if it greatly annoys me, I don¡¯t believe I¡¯d abolish nobility even if I had the power to do so without repercussions.


    After all, I¡¯m a person benefiting from nobility.


    However I¡¯d greatly lessen the gap if I could. That way some benefits could be obtained without any great annoyances.


    I would probably do something like making nobility something that is a pretty empty role. Something that¡¯s pretty powerless, though not completely powerless, but with next to no negatives.


    We pass by a bowing merchant with slaves, who are identified by the collars around their necks. Two of the prettier ones have a necklace around their necks, which in this world, is very different in meaning compared to Earth¡¯s necklaces. It essentially marks someone as a slave whom is greatly valued by the owner. It¡¯s jewelry for valued slaves.


    I harden my eyes at the sight of the merchant.  I¡¯d get rid of the slavery system if I could. Something like that disgusts me. I can¡¯t actually do that though. The people of the Akashi territory have more slaves than the average territory, and it would cause major outrage if i were to ban them.


    ¡­wait, did my father keep slaves?


    I haven¡¯t been down to the basement floors since I was reborn, and I don¡¯t even know how many servants in the household there are.


    Guilt seeps through me.


    If there are slaves in the basement¡­


    I think it might¡¯ve been something my father could have done, from what I¡¯ve heard of him.


    I kinda want to go back and fix the problem now, but that¡¯s not really an option socially.


    I have things I need to do today.


    Well, taking note of things to improve in the territory is one of those things.


    I need to think of how to quickly get rid of the slavery system without angering the people¡­


    I start making a list in my mind of things to fix.


    1, Get rid of the slavery system.


    I keep an eye out on the nearby buildings as the carriage takes us through the territory.


    Checking the streets and surface level things is first, and after that we¡¯ll be walking around going from building to building to make inspections. Though we¡¯ll eat lunch somewhere in-between, if we have time. If I specifically want to take a look at a certain establishment right away though I¡¯ll do that.


    I¡¯m getting kinda hungry¡­maybe we¡¯ll grab a muffin or two and eat it in the carriage?


    Ah, right. I have to try to enjoy myself¡­


    Also I should probably stop eating so many muffins. I don¡¯t know quite how my body works in this world, so I might get fat.


    In my last life I was very underweight and skinny, part due to genetics, and part because I decided to keep myself underweight by simply foregoing from eating sweets often, and skipping out on meals around half the time.


    ¡­maybe it was just the skipping meals part actually.


    Food here isn¡¯t great though¡­ there¡¯s not even any rice.


    I miss eating rice.


    We reach one of the town gates.


    A merchant¡¯s carriage is being checked. It looks like there¡¯s plenty of sugar in it.


    The town¡¯s the trade hub of the Akashi territory, being pretty close to the middle, and with the river leading right up to it, and the lake that it comes from being connected to lots of rivers that span the territory.


    The town is where lots of pastry making occurs, with lots of pastries then being imported out of the town, and apprentices to the craft


    Another merchant stops behind the merchant being checked. Her luggage seems to be lots of food.


    Most of the town¡¯s food is actually imported.


    I was previously mistaken about the bread of the Akashi territory being bad. It¡¯s actually quite good comparatively.


    The wheat in this region just flat out sucks. It¡¯s an inferior tasting species compared to anything modern.


    The carriage moves on.

 (Infodump) Why I Dont Want to Be a Ward

    The carriage drives us through the town from the outside, spiraling inwards.


    We pass by the church''s orphanage.


    In this Kingdom and in Earth¡¯s medieval times, orphanages were run by the church. Though all of the churches that are in the area have to do the job jointly.


    Going and looking back on the situation, I¡¯ve actually been ridiculously lucky on many accounts, becoming an orphan when I did.


    Becoming an orphan becomes more and more tragic the more riches you were born into, depending on how you look at it.


    For those of lower social classes they¡¯ll simply end up in the orphanage. They¡¯ll be taken care of as much as the church reasonably can take care of them. The church also tries to nurture any talents that are orphans, even if it doesn¡¯t relate to religion.


    For the middle classes whom are the rich but not noble, they¡¯ll be sent to live in the relatives home, where they won¡¯t actually receive any inheritance, and their treatment is in the hands of their relatives. They¡¯ll also become married off without their consent.


    Often that isn¡¯t very good, and they¡¯ll end up becoming servants.


    For nobles I believe it to be more tragic.


    See¡­ it¡¯s also the main reason I refuse to become a ward with all my might, other than the loss of my control.


    I¡¯m technically not supposed to inherit the house yet.


    And becoming a ward gives a high likelihood that I will never inherit the house.


    See, an orphan noble becomes a person under the ruler¡¯s control. The ruler will most of the time not take care of them.


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    This leads them to selling the orphans to nobles, who will happily receive the ward.


    See, when the orphan is in their household, they have the right to use any future property the orphan has. They are also allowed to choose who the orphan marries to.


    This leads to one of two things happening with exceptions being that the noble actually begins to care genuinely for the ward¡¯s happiness, in which case they are treated like the noble¡¯s own child.


    One, the ward and their property will be sold off to another house via marriage.


    Or two, the guardian will marry the ward into their own house to keep the property.


    ¡­I did a lot of research on the topic a few days ago, after I started training with Saith and Rosalie.


    And now for why I was extremely lucky.


    See, at the moment, there is no ruler to start the process.


    The factions that sent candidates can¡¯t actually make me their ward unless I choose one of them, which would give them just enough authority to make me a ward.


    It turns out I was somewhat wrong in my thinking when they originally came.


    Their goal isn¡¯t just funding for the faction. It¡¯s the entire House Akashi. The riches that come with it, and the territory.


    If, however, I win enough favor of the future crown, I can become a ward only in name. It¡¯s completely impossible for me to tell who that will be at this point. Luckily I bargained for my freedom until I¡¯m five. By them it will probably be at least a little more clear.


    If I gain enough of my caretaker¡¯s affection, then it could also solve the problem and they¡¯ll just raise me, take the profits of the time I¡¯m under control, and then let me go free.


    I look at Rosalie and Saith. It¡¯s a complicated thing, and I can¡¯t really wrap my head around it either.


    The education of this world, even for nobles, isn¡¯t near the education of Earth¡¯s 1st world countries. It¡¯s not at the level of medieval Earth¡¯s nobles either.


    I don¡¯t really blame them for what they''re doing.


    I don¡¯t think they have much control over the situation either.


    I¡¯ll still try to get close though eventually, if I choose them, they could nearly solve the newly revealed problem for me.


    I think I¡¯ve already lost on the front of not getting dragged into the faction war, since there¡¯s a much, much more dangerous thing revealed.


    I sigh.


    I just gotta make it to 15, the kingdom¡¯s age where people can start controlling their own lives.


    The carriage continues onwards as I think about how to avoid my problem.

 Chapter XVI: Mission Failures

    We reach a part of town that¡¯s rundown and old.


    It¡¯s the place that is basically the slums.


    ¡­It¡¯s also a place, that even though I want to fix it, I will not completely fix it.


    The slums are a necessary part of a city.


    I don¡¯t believe that many lords understand that, because of all the attempts they make to fix it.


    See, the slums are places where the poor freemen and freewomen go when they cannot pay for a place to live in the city, but are stuck. It¡¯s also a place where refugees often end up.


    That¡¯s because, even if the slums are absolutely miserable places to live, they¡¯re also free to live in.


    While no one moving to a city expects to live in a slum, in this medieval day and age, it¡¯s a place that many end up going to.


    They also make extremely valuable sources of unskilled manual labor.


    It¡¯s very easy to get a desperate person to work for little pay.


    As long as you keep the population of a slum alive enough to not start looking to crime to survive, and in a bad enough condition that they are desperate, and wish to escape the slums, it¡¯ll make the perfect condition for being a source of manual labor.


    It¡¯s really mean too, but it¡¯s the best case scenario.


    It¡¯s not possible to get rid of the slums for long, either.


    Even the capital city has slums.


    I start thinking.


    Okay, so¡­


    Hmm¡­ actually, wouldn¡¯t it be better to replace the entire slums with something similar to a workhouse?


    Though only being paid in food and accommodation would make the freemen and freewomen, who end up in the slums specifically because they want to avoid being paid in food and accommodation, which is what Villeins, Servants, and Slaves are paid with.


    Villeins are people who live on the land of a lord in return for food and accommodation, Servants work for someone in return for food and accommodation, and Slaves¡­ well, they just have to hope they stay alive.


    I don¡¯t know if the servants in the estate are Servants in these terms, or are simply serving the estate.


    They want to stay free, really.


    As such, it would be better to give them the ability to get out eventually.


    I take note of it in my mind.


    Make a giant building in the slums where people can buy cheap food that no one else wants, and buy pretty much public accommodation.


    They can also find places to work in nearby buildings, which are controlled by the territory. Those buildings can also be rented out to merchants.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    The places they can work will not pay them well.


    People are allowed to enter, but must prove they are financially capable before leaving.


    It¡¯s a bit exploitative, but it¡¯s mostly positive compared to just slums


    Avoids death to many people living in the slums, Avoids a lot of crime that would spring up in slums, and is more productive for the territory.


    Merchants may make a little less, but it¡¯s also less risky. A trade off that enough merchants would see as worth it.


    The carriage goes through the almost-slums.


    There¡¯s some buildings here and there that don¡¯t look run-down, but a lot of buildings are.


    Many people here can¡¯t pay tax, since they can¡¯t find stable work. They are also unwilling to lose their freedom by becoming a villein or servant.


    There¡¯s no easy way to stop being a villein or servant.


    The poor watch the carriage pass.


    I see Saith toss a hundred Klinel coin out of the carriage.


    Klinel are what this world uses for the word money. It actually comes from the magic tongue. It¡¯s also the only way to produce money, actually.


    It takes a little bit more to produce money as the mage¡¯s labor is worth, actually.


    So most mages just work properly, except for the socially inept ones, which are more than there should be, who produce money with magic.


    There¡¯s actually nothing keeping money from fluctuating a bunch, since the entire thing depends on the price of a mage¡¯s labor.


    But since the currency is used seemingly universally, it¡¯s only really regional fluctuations, and never really something permanent.


    A mage¡¯s labor is always worth about as much as money is worth.


    I take note of what Saith does. Donating to the poor, huh¡­


    It¡¯s something that¡¯s very much someone from the church faction would do. The church of this world¡¯s actually quite holy. It¡¯s avoided the corruption that most fantasy world churches seem to have.


    I wonder how much money a hundred Klinel is?


    We head through a few more streets on the way back. I can tell the driver skipped a lot, but it¡¯s gotten a lot later than I expected. There¡¯s nothing else to take note of though since we mostly went down busier streets that were clear from anything that needs much improvement.


    I guess it takes a lot longer than expected when you¡¯re going across each street though. Crossing something is bound to take a much, much, much shorter time than going through each and every bit of it.


    The town is much larger than I thought it was, so I guess my plans weren¡¯t great.


    It¡¯s almost dinner now, and we had only grabbed a muffin.


    ¡­hmmm, I said I shouldn¡¯t eat a muffin, didn¡¯t I?


    ¡­Oh well.


    It¡¯s not like one muffin will make a difference, right? That muffin was really sugary too¡­


    I¡¯m used to being forever skinny though, so I¡¯m not really sure¡­


    Eh. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be fine.


    We head back into the estate.


    ¡­I have failed on all four of my goals¡­


    I didn¡¯t manage to get through all the streets, didn¡¯t manage to go into any buildings at all, and didn¡¯t manage to get to know Saith or Rosalie much since it was mostly silence. I also never did manage to enjoy myself. I was just mostly bored.


    Well, I got enough problems taken note of to deal with though, right?


    I guess that¡¯s not a complete failure. I need to figure out my plans.


    I head back to my room, climb up onto it with my stool, and sigh as I lay down.


    I feel like skipping dinner tonight. Best to forget one¡¯s failures and move on.


    I shut my eyes and try to fall asleep.


    Three operations failed today. I don¡¯t fail often, but¡­


    Failing isn¡¯t nice.


    At least it¡¯s not a big deal. I can always go and finish it off.


    <hr>


    The driver of the child viscount¡¯s carriage stands in one of the town¡¯s many new dark alleyways, along with one other man.


    ¡°Mission Success, I managed to keep the child viscount away from all of our locations,¡± the driver tells the man

 Chapter XVII: The Start of the Conflict Against the Underworld

    It¡¯s currently dark out right now.


    I push open my room¡¯s door and slip out of it.


    The moon¡¯s not particularly bright tonight, so it¡¯s quite hard to see.


    ¡°[lehtriil enrii varil]¡± I chant


    I had to learn some words specifically for this. ¡®lehtriil¡¯ means floating, enrii means light, and varil means orb.


    I open up my palm and a small glowing white orb floats out of it.


    Tonight I¡¯m heading down to the estate¡¯s basement.


    ¡°I greet the little master,¡± a guard bows ¡°I see you are without an escort. Will you allow me to guide you to wherever you are heading?¡±


    I wasn¡¯t necessarily planning on having an escort, I believe I could be able to safely escape from something on my own if the situation came to using my spacial flinch skill, but I guess better safe than sorry.


    ¡°You may accompany me,¡± I tell the guard ¡°I¡¯m heading down to the estate¡¯s basement¡±


    I¡¯ve been most places in the estate, and haven¡¯t seen any slaves. If the estate has them, they would be there.


    ¡°I¡¯ll lead you there,¡± the guard tells me


    He heads out in front of me, acting extra warry.


    We make our way down to the estate¡¯s ground floor.


    There''s a tension in the air.


    I feel like I can almost feel that something¡¯s wrong¡­


    The guard pulls his shield off his back and grips his spear tighter.


    The guard opens up the door to the stairway down to the basement.


    He heads down in front of me.


    The stairs creak as we head down.


    This place isn¡¯t very well taken care of, is it?


    We make it down into what looks like a dungeon.


    I stop my spell in order to cast one that produces more light.


    There¡¯s a clash of metal and a grunt of pain.


    ¡°Intruders!¡± the guard shouts


    ¡°[lehtriil enrii varul]¡± I chant. I need to see if I¡¯m too do anything.


    Varul in the magic tongue means sphere.


    A glowing light roughly the size of a bowling ball appears and floats slightly above my hand.


    The guard is in a defensive position.


    There isn¡¯t any clear injury, so I guess he somehow managed to block the attack.


    A sharp pain hits my right shoulder.


    I teleport away.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Oww¡­


    I touch the spot.


    My hand comes away bloody. It¡¯s not a terrible wound by this world¡¯s standards, at least. It¡¯s around the amount of damage a dull pocket knife would do.


    I¡¯m definitely not invincible to this person.


    If they take me by surprise, they can get a cut into me.


    I¡¯ve known assassins would come sometime by now though. I just haven¡¯t adequately prepared yet¡­


    The guard rushes to my side to protect me.


    The sound of running can be heard.


    The guard moves his shield in front of me as there¡¯s another clash of metal.


    ¡­I think Cent might have been a bit low level compared to these people¡­


    The guard can react faster than I can. They also don¡¯t have better statistics than me.


    It¡¯s a matter of training. I¡¯m not remotely close to hitting the potential of my statistics.


    The guard here probably is close to or at his limit.


    Cent probably wasn¡¯t particularly close to his limit either. From what I¡¯ve heard he was more of a bully than an actual fighter.


    Another guard arrives. She strikes a place in the shadows with her spear.


    A person dressed entirely in black dodges out of the way, but into the light.


    The guard I¡¯ve been with the entire time takes the opportunity to stab the person.


    It¡¯s a hit.


    His spear penetrates into the assassin¡¯s stomach.


    The assassin clenches their jaw and swallows something before going limp.


    ¡°Search the manor for any other assassins.¡± I order


    Seeing if my father kept any slaves is no longer of importance with what¡¯s going on right now.


    ¡°Yes little master. Allows us to get you healed first though,¡± the first guard replies


    That¡¯s sensible.


    The 2nd guard rushes upstairs, then I go up after her. The 1st guard follows up from behind.


    A couple of other guards meet up with us.


    The guard who¡¯s in charge takes a quick look at the situation.


    He points to three guards and tells them ¡°You three, get the little master to a healer. The rest of you, pair off and search for any intruders.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± the other guards shout


    Other than the three who are to escort me, the others run off.


    ¡°Little master, follow me.¡± One of them tells me


    I give a nod.


    They begin slowly making their way towards the guard¡¯s barracks.


    I¡¯m in the middle of them. The other two are slightly behind and to my left and right.


    The somewhat familiar hallways don¡¯t feel the same. They feel foriegn, and dangerous.


    Every shadow feels like it could pose a danger.


    Normally I¡¯d be in pain because of my shoulder, but I can barely feel it with all the adrenaline.


    Rather than what we expected, however, no enemy assassin attacks us on our way to the guard¡¯s barracks.


    I sit down on one of the chairs.


    Normally, for things related to my health, one of the members of the church would come over to heal me, however, there¡¯s no time to that right, and I need to be kept in a place where I can be easily protected.


    One of the two healers that work in the guard barracks arrives. He looks really young. Just a teenager.


    ¡°Hello little master, I¡¯m Aldo Brain, the 2nd child of the head of knight house residing in your territory. I''m an apprentice under Miss Iwaki, but I¡¯ll do my best to heal you up properly.¡± the healer introduces himself


    ¡­An apprentice? I hope you don¡¯t mess up¡­


    ¡°Could you take off your robe so I can get to your wound properly?¡± he asks


    In this world, modern shirts and pants don¡¯t actually exist. As such a robe is the normal wear for a guy. It¡¯s looks a bit like a dress, in my opinion.


    I do as Aldo asks and slowly pull it off. I¡¯m glad I actually dress myself, unlike quite a few nobles who have servants dress them. If I didn¡¯t dress myself, I would¡¯ve been unable to do this unless I was willing to really agitate my wound.


    Aldo  holds out his hands and mumbles something under his breath. I can¡¯t hear the words he¡¯s using to cast his spell¡­


    A light green glow emanates from his hands.


    My wound visibly scabs over, and a small amount of pain I was starting to feel past the adrenaline stops.


    ¡°Sorry I don¡¯t know the necessary spells to do anymore¡­ All I can do is scab it over and speed up the natural healing a bit.¡± Aldo tells me


    That¡¯s good enough I guess.


    I put my robe back on.


    ¡°Little master, we¡¯ll guard you here. Please be at ease while the other guards take care of the intruders.¡± one of the guards that brought me here says


    Alright.


    I go and sit down on one of the chairs as I wait for more news.

 Chapter XVIII: Blood Lost

    Chapter XVIII: Blood Lost


    A guard rushes into the barracks.


    ¡°Little Master, I bring bad news! Both mistress Betha and mistress Rira have been killed!¡± she shouts


    ¡­What?


    A bit of blood drains from my face.


    Rira and Betha were my family of this world.


    ¡°Bring me to them immediately.¡± I order


    ¡°But little master, the assassins haven¡¯t been taken care of yet¡­¡± the guard resists


    ¡°Bring me to them immediately.¡± I order again


    I need to confirm¡­ I won¡¯t accept it otherwise.


    ¡°...As you wish little master,¡± the guard sighs as she begins gathering up the guards remaining in the barracks in order to act as my escort.


    I hope in my heart that it¡¯s a lie and they aren¡¯t dead.


    I¡¯ve only spent the entirety of this life with them so far, after all¡­


    My mood has plummeted to the lowest it¡¯s been in this life.


    The guards gather around me. I stand before the doors and order it to be moved.


    As soon as the door has opened enough, I quickly step through the door.


    There¡¯s a flash of metal coming towards me.


    Leave me alone, assassin. I¡¯m pissed off right now.


    ¡­You know what?


    I flinch towards the metal rather than away from it. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve attempted such a thing.


    It works, however.


    I pull the tiny dagger, which was made custom for me and finally made its way to me while I was waiting, out of it¡¯s sheath, and stab it into the neck of the assassin, who¡¯s shoulder I had teleported right onto.


    Lady luck seems to be with me.


    I¡¯m more powerful when I¡¯m angry.


    Luckier, and much more skillful.


    The tiny dagger is small enough that I can drive it deep enough to kill with ease.


    I pull it out and flinch back to the ground.


    The assassin holds onto their neck and begins to choke on something. Whether it be from lacking air, or their own blood, I don¡¯t know.


    I sheathe my blade again.


    The guards rush up to me.


    ¡°Little master!¡± one shouts


    What?


    ¡°Come on, hurry up,¡± I growl, before walking off in the direction of Betha and Rira¡¯s rooms.


    Anger and sadness burn inside of me.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    The guards catch up and surround me.


    There aren¡¯t any more attacks until we reach the room.


    A guard opens the door for me.


    I look at the contents of the room in horror.


    Betha and Rira¡¯s heads have been separated from their bodies.


    The only relief is that it seems to have been done quickly.


    ¡­The same cannot be said for the other bodies in the room.


    The mistresses that I had previously purged from the household are also here. Well, their corpses are.


    Their heads are left next to Betha and Rira¡¯s heads. Their bodies are torn into pieces, dragged throughout the room. Cuts and evidence of torture cover their bodies.


    There¡¯s also a blood-covered note.


    I pick it up.


    ¡®This is a warning to not be nosy. The Underworld of the Akashi Territory is watching.¡¯


    Rage fills me.


    So that¡¯s who¡¯s done this?


    They will pay.


    Pay for Betha and Rira¡¯s lives. With their own.


    Who do they think they¡¯ve killed?


    What house do they think they¡¯ve messed with?


    ¡­This moment in time isn¡¯t the right moment to go hunt them down though.


    I drop the note and kneel down in front of Betha and Rira¡¯s heads.


    Now is the time to grieve.


    ¡°Guards, leave the room.¡± I order


    ¡°But little master, the assassins could still-¡± a guard starts before I interrupt them.


    ¡°Leave.¡± I order again, this time louder, and in a harsher tone.


    I shut my eyes and let my tears out.


    ¡­No one this close to me has ever died.


    Death has never been part of my life.


    They¡­ they are gone.


    I admit I¡¯m not even overly close to either, but they¡¯re still the entirety of this world to me.


    The sound of chanting comes from around me. ¡°[alanul fliil varul] (Sound Lock Sphere)¡±


    My eyes snap open.


    The guard was correct. Assassins are still here.


    My anger has clouded my judgment.


    ¡°Guards!¡± I shout.


    A high pitched hyena-like laugh rings out from around me.


    ¡°They can¡¯t hear you~! I¡¯ve trapped you with my magic, little viscount. You¡¯re mature enough to grieve, dumb enough to not walk into obvious traps, and have enough authority to kick away any protection you would have had! It¡¯s perfect, really.¡± the man laughs as they step out of the shadows.


    They¡¯re tall and lanky, and covered head to toe in black. I cannot even see their eyes. It¡¯s like they''re only a shadow.


    ¡°Lucky me~ I¡¯m only in middle management, but that won¡¯t be the case for much longer~! Ah, I¡¯ll take great pleasure in savoring this! My promotion is coming!¡± he shouts in glee


    I panic a bit. I don¡¯t think I can handle someone who isn¡¯t a grunt¡­


    No. I have to deal with him. He interrupted my grieving, which I had barely started.


    I pull out my dagger.


    The man leaps towards me, stopping right before me.


    He¡¯s fast!


    His own dagger seems to appear in front of my face.


    I had missed him pulling it out.


    I flinch away from him.


    ¡°You have a very useful skill there, dontcha? It won¡¯t help you here though.¡± He says


    He goes right up to me again and slowly drags his dagger across my left cheek.


    It¡¯s intentional. He¡¯s just playing with me. He can kill me at any time.


    I try to flinch-teleport away but I find myself to be trapped against the wall.


    I have no way out this time.


    ¡­I need to alert the guards somehow¡­ or at least get them here.


    ¡°[iknuu dliin] (Spacial Cut)]¡± I chant, facing my arm towards the wall


    Let¡¯s hope that it makes it through¡­


    The blade, being spacial, goes straight through the wall.


    ¡°Trying to alert them still, huh?¡± he asks ¡°You¡¯re so weak¡­ will it even do anything?¡±


    The door bursts open.


    The man clicks his tongue.


    ¡°Lucky. I¡¯ll be off then. It¡¯s sad I can¡¯t savor it, but I suppose that¡¯s not too big of an issue. Remember that Blake Powell killed you, once you¡¯re in the afterlife, little boy. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll let you go out with as much suffering as I can. It¡¯s not like the Lady Healer can heal you, I¡¯ve already killed her.¡±


    He stabs his dagger into my stomach, before leaping off.


    The pain in my stomach comes in waves, and my vision darkens.


    My consciousness leaves me.


    Is this how I die in this life?


    Maybe the next one will be better.


    I¡¯ll make sure the next one is better.


    <hr>

 Chapter XIX: My Past Self

    Darkness. That¡¯s all that¡¯s around me.


    My mind is drifting. Drifting through the darkness.


    I haven¡¯t died yet. I can feel it.


    Is this a side effect of my skill? Am I on the line between life and death?


    My thoughts continue to drift. They feel slow. Almost impossibly slow.


    My thoughts blurr.


    In my mind, another version of me appears. It¡¯s me from my past life.


    ¡°That was dumb of you,¡± They comment ¡°Safety should have at least been taken into account. There wasn¡¯t any reasonable reason for you to grieve without protection.¡±


    ¡­No. To me, something just doesn¡¯t seem right about that. Mourning for someone should be only with the people actually mourning for the person, at the very most.


    It¡¯s preferred to be kept private, I think.


    I just need to be stronger.


    The me from my past life sighs. ¡°I suppose that may be the case for¡­ You? Me? Us? Us. Yea, us. I haven¡¯t experienced the death of many others in my own life, so it isn''t like I would know.¡±


    Well, before this world, I didn¡¯t experience the death of anyone close to me, not just not many.


    The drifting of my mind continues.


    The me from my past life circles around me as it floats.


    Is this my personality splitting, maybe?


    Did it split long ago?


    There¡¯s a long silence.


    My mind drifts to Betha and Rira.


    I need to live so that I can be sure they are ¡®sent off¡¯ properly. The culture of the Lithari kingdom dictates that people are buried, along with a token.


    A burial token, which is to act as a lord¡¯s approval or disapproval towards the buried person.


    The lord of the deceased is the one who chooses the token. Generally, the token is made of wood, and the lord rates the deceased based on how valuable they were to the lord. The rating is between -100 and 100, and engraved on the wood.


    For a lord, the nobles above them will choose, and for Rulers, the nobles of count and up will collectively say how good of a ruler they are.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    However, unless the deceased was important to the noble or lord themselves, the token¡¯s rating will be decided by an official who is aware of how the lord thinks.


    The rating is important in the culture of the Lithari kingdom, since, similar to many religions from Earth, the dead are judged and placed accordingly by a higher entity.


    Since, unlike on Earth, those in the Lithari Kingdom''s cultural region don¡¯t believe that this higher entity has enough time for every single deceased person to be judged with great care.


    Instead it¡¯s generally believed that they take a quick look through their life and take a look at the token. If the token¡¯s rating isn¡¯t something they think to be unreasonable, they just go with the token¡¯s rating.


    It¡¯s exceedingly normal for a deceased to be given a rating of 0. It¡¯s the average. The average for commoners, and below, are actually generally lower than 0, so that the average for nobles and royals can be higher.


    Servants to the lord normally get a rating between 5 and 10, which Betha and Rira are, technically.


    If I could give them ratings of 100, I would, I wish the best for them, but if the token is too unreasonable, it¡¯s opinion is ignored.


    Actually, anything above 20 wouldn¡¯t be very reasonable¡­


    As such, I¡¯ll put a rating of 20 on the coin.


    I sigh.


    It feels so wrong, rating another person¡¯s life, even if I¡¯m not really rating it, so much as giving them the highest score that I reasonably can.


    I have to rate it though. It¡¯ll probably end up between 5 and 10 if not.


    ¡­I used to be an atheist¡­ I¡¯m not anymore. This world has magic. It has evidence.


    Then again, I still don¡¯t pray to deities. I acknowledge that they exist.


    The world around me starts to speed up again.


    Have I died and am being reborn? Or am I waking up?


    The me from my previous life sighs. ¡°Well then, farewell for now, I¡¯ll be back eventually. Maybe in your dreams, maybe next time you lose consciousness in a similar fashion.¡±


    They disappear into the darkness.


    My consciousness slowly returns.


    <hr>


    My eyes open. The sunlight¡¯s streaming down on me.


    I sit up.


    My stomach hurts an incredible amount, and I feel rather pale, but I¡¯m alive, at least.


    The man said he killed the lady healer? Albert and her were the only ones with medical knowledge, so that means he healed me¡­


    I decide to keep an eye on him. He seems to be quite talented¡­ that, or it¡¯s just my newfound bias from having my life probably saved by him.


    I sit down again. I¡¯m feeling kinda dizzy.


    ¡­The dizziness reminds me of my situation from before I died.


    It¡¯s not something I want to be reminded of¡­


    It¡¯s pretty miserable, not being able to get up often, unless you want to throw up.


    It wasn¡¯t just dizziness that my sickness brought.


    I threw up regularly as if it was on a schedule.


    I coughed up blood somewhat often.


    My stomach never stopped hurting.


    And there was a lot of diarrhea¡­


    I sigh.


    I really hope I don¡¯t end up in the same situation.


    It¡¯ll be worse without any internet.


    I¡¯ve been forced to learn how to handle some boredom, but I still really hate being bored.


    A wave of pain feels like it comes from my heart. It¡¯s not a physical pain. It¡¯s emotional.


    Betha and Rira are gone¡­


    What am I going to do without them?


    I shut my eyes again. I¡¯m still sleepy since I haven¡¯t really woken up yet.


    It¡¯s better to sleep, so I can avoid the stomach pain, avoid the emotional pain.


    ¡­I¡¯m sure Bedo will take care of it properly.

 Chapter XX: Orders Against the Underworld

    My eyes open again.


    I¡¯ve somewhat digested what¡¯s happened. Am capable of understanding what¡¯s happened.


    I¡¯m angry. No, that word doesn¡¯t cut it.


    I don¡¯t know what the word I want to use is. In english, nor in the language of this world.


    I¡¯m very, very, very, very angry. And also quite sad.


    Even if I get the chance to leave this world, for now, until the underworld of the Akashi territory is burnt to the ground, and its members are dead.


    I will not rest until I¡¯ve completed that objective.


    They will pay.


    They will pay dearly.


    I¡¯m certainly not in my right mind right now. I do not care.


    I push myself off of my bed.


    Owwww¡­


    I immediately lay down.


    That really, really hurts.


    I look down at my stomach.


    It feels like it¡¯s gotten worse¡­ a lot worse¡­


    I ring the bell by my bedside.


    Bedo should have the answer.


    I wait impatiently for him. I must have my revenge as soon as possible. So I need to fix this problem as soon as possible as well.


    It takes a minute before Bedo arrives.


    ¡°Little master! You¡¯re alive! I¡¯m overjoyed!¡± he shouts


    ¡­I cannot say the same.


    I¡¯m depressed and more than angry about my current situation.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Put all personnel related to information gathering into finding out everything we can about the Underworld of our Territory.¡± I order


    ¡°...Little master, many of those personnel are necessary for the current operation cleaning, as well as keeping the territory safe from many other potential attacks.¡± Bedo resists, somewhat awkwardly.


    ¡°I do not care. The Underworld will pay dearly.¡± I tell him ¡°I¡¯m also ordering all people living in the territory whom we know have connections to the underworld arrested, and executed if they cannot prove themselves innocent.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, little master.¡± Bedo sighs reluctantly


    ¡°Additionally, please call some healers here. My stomach needs to be fixed completely. Also, I heard that the guard¡¯s healer was killed. Get Aldo another mentor, I believe he has talent¡± I order


    ¡°As you wish little master,¡± Bedo replies,


    ¡°I also want Theresa and Bert out of the territory immediately. I do not care about the social repercussions.¡± I tell Bedo


    He nods his head.


    ¡°Dismissed.¡± I tell him


    Bedo leaves my room


    I think back to that night.


    My regrets are immense.


    I should have put more guards in Rira and Betha¡¯s rooms. Maybe they wouldn¡¯t have died that way.


    They wouldn¡¯t have died if there were more guards, right?


    I touch my finger to my cheek. I¡¯m crying.


    This world¡­ I don¡¯t like it.


    I want to leave here. I want to go home.


    Why did I have to die?


    I need to stay here until revenge for Betha and Rira is taken, however.


    I also have a personal grudge against that Blake Powell assassin.


    I¡¯m only alive because he was toying with me. Only alive because he unestimated Aldo¡¯s healing capabilities and he was trying to make my death as long, drawn out, and painful one.


    The fact I was toyed with isn¡¯t acceptable.


    I need to make myself stronger. I need to make my territory stronger.


    I shut my eyes and think.


    I¡¯m not exactly physically capable, since I¡¯m barely even a toddler.


    Magic, though¡­I think I can become good enough with it to become capable in combat, even with my current body.


    I don¡¯t feel like training right now, however.


    Other than getting revenge, all that¡¯s on my mind is wanting to huddle up and be sad.


    I shut my eyes.


    And I just lay there.


    Rather than how it would be for something small, or non-permanent, my anger and sadness doesn¡¯t slowly simmer down, it doesn¡¯t slowly leave me.


    It grows.


    The more I think about it, the more sad and angry I am.


    My determination to be stronger grows, while also making me want to just lay there lazily and be sad, as well.


    ¡­It¡¯s like I want the result without putting in any of the actual work¡­


    In my mind I imagine killing Blake Powell.


    As painfully as the pain he inflicted upon me, as painfully as the pain he had caused with Betha and Rira¡¯s death.


    My imagination runs.


    And it runs until I eventually fall asleep.

 Chapter XXI: Aftermath of the Underworlds Attack

    I¡¯ve recovered well enough to begin getting back into normal life now.


    It¡¯s only been a few days¡­


    Healing Magic is quite amazing.


    First the wound is closed up extremely quickly, and then, over the next few days, healing magic to increase one¡¯s natural healing speed is applied. Though that¡¯s not always necessary, and most of the time it¡¯s just left to the person¡¯s own natural healing, since, unless they are of a rich noble family, or it¡¯s during a war, it¡¯s not worth it.


    Luckily I¡¯m part of the population that can just get my natural healing speed sped up.


    I haven¡¯t gone outside my room for the past few days.


    I¡¯ve kept everyone away while I recover.


    Actually, I¡¯d rather just keep everyone away right now. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll lose my cool over anything at this time.


    My anger is burning, I don¡¯t believe it¡¯ll stop.


    I¡­ have some issues with lashing out at anyone when I¡¯m upset, so I¡¯d prefer to keep myself from doing that by staying away from other people.


    ¡­I miss the internet.


    With this world being a fantasy world, and not really feeling real, it was my entertainment.


    I regret having that mindset, deeply.


    It¡¯s not a game, it¡¯s real, even if it is different.


    Even if against slower opponents can¡¯t touch me, those who are even somewhat fast can cut into my skin and flesh.


    I think back again to what happened with Betha and Rira.


    This world of fantasy lacks literal monsters. It does not lack monsters, however.


    The monsters of this world are people.


    I hate this world.


    ¡­Will I come back to Earth, only to hate it as well?


    After all, Earth is a place with the exact same problem.


    There are monsters among humans.


    Surely, it won¡¯t be as bad?


    I think about the Underworld of the Akashi Territory.


    Why would they do such a thing¡­?


    I shake my head of my thoughts.


    Even if they had a good reason for it, even if it¡¯s deserved, I do not care. It¡¯s unforgivable to me.


    No use thinking about it.


    If it¡¯s a conflict I want to resolve, or at the very least don¡¯t mind resolving, I¡¯ll try to understand both sides.


    If it¡¯s something unforgivable, then that¡¯s not something worth doing.


    I know myself well enough to know that I wouldn''t care about their reasons.


    No mercy shall be shown.


    I ring the bell for Bedo to come.


    It¡¯s not long before he appears.


    ¡°Bedo, I never asked what exactly happened after I was stabbed that night, or what exactly happened. Could you explain it to me?¡± I ask


    ¡°Ah, of course, little master. I¡¯m ashamed I¡¯d forgotten to do so already.¡± Bedo replies before starting to tell me.


    ¡°After you had gone into the room to grieve alone, which was very reckless of you, little master, the guards had been waiting outside. Saith had luckily been nearby when your attack went through the wall and alerting Saith. He had broke down the door only to see a tall shadow leaping out a broken window, and you on the ground with a dagger in your stomach.


    We went looking for Miss Iwaki, the healer for the guards so she could heal you, but she had been killed in the raid while running around trying to heal as many of the guards as she could. They killed her escort as well.


    You almost didn¡¯t make it. Aldo, despite being an apprentice, managed to heal you enough. I can see why you believe him to be talented.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    After that, the entire household began to clean up the mess and bodies.¡±


    ¡­I¡¯d pieced together enough, then. I didn¡¯t miss much.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go and thank Saith now then, for saving my life.¡± I tell Bedo


    I dismiss Bedo before stretching in my bed a bit.


    Ah!


    I flinch upwards above my bed before the wind is knocked out of me on the way down.


    Oww¡­


    That hurt.


    Both the stretching and the fall.


    My stomach hurts just stretching¡­


    I stand up.


    It¡¯s¡­ not pleasant, but it¡¯s more of an annoyance than anything.


    Healing magic beats modern medicine in this sense, I think.


    Though I wouldn¡¯t know, back on Earth, I¡¯ve never had any serious injury.


    The real danger in this world is genetic illnesses. Sickness, injury, and infection can be treated with magic.


    For those sick with anything else, for things such as Celiac, a disease which makes people seriously allergic to gluten, to put it shortly, there is no such hope.


    Healing magic of this world cannot help with that.


    I hope my genetics of my past life don¡¯t transfer to this life. It was a high likelihood that I had it, just not triggered yet.


    Well, it also can¡¯t deal with stuff like cancer either.


    ¡­Personally, as I¡¯m someone who knows no one with cancer, it¡¯s not the first thing on my mind of things healing magic of this world wouldn¡¯t heal.


    Rather than jump up to pull down the door handle like I normally do, I bring one of the stools scattered in the corners and walls of my room over and put it next to my door.


    I open my door up and stick the stool¡¯s leg in the doorway. Hopefully no one moves it.


    I don¡¯t want to have to talk to someone. That leads to problems, and problems, I cannot deal with right now without blowing up.


    It¡¯s good etiquette, however, to thank Saith for saving me.


    I make my way slowly down the stairs, taking the long way around so as to avoid the way down to the dungeons and to avoid Rira and Betha¡¯s rooms, and to the guest rooms. Ah, good, Theresa and Bert seem to be gone.


    Their rooms are empty. Thank you, Bedo. I wouldn¡¯t want to have to kick them out myself.


    I knock on Saith''s door.


    There isn¡¯t any response.


    Ah, right. He¡¯s probably training, isn¡¯t he?


    Such diligence¡­


    I slowly make my way towards the training grounds.


    The servants that pass me give me a bow and a greeting. I reply with a nod, which is proper from a noble towards a commoner.


    It feels weird not to have heard a normal ¡®Hello¡¯ in so long¡­


    ¡®Hail¡¯ from the most common of commoners, ¡®Greetings¡¯ from commoners exposed to lots of nobles, and ¡®Salutations¡¯ from nobles¡­


    For all of the strange and terrible things I get a lot of culture shock from, this is what I seem to get the most hung up on¡­


    Simple greetings.


    I enter the training grounds.


    Saith, as expected, is training.


    ¡°Salutations Saith. I¡¯d like to thank you for saving me that night. Is there anything you¡¯d like in turn?¡± I ask


    Saith pauses and turns towards me.


    ¡°Salutations, Takabi.¡± He returns my greeting.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s not really a big deal. As someone who may end up as your guardian in the future, it¡¯s a job of mine to keep you alive.¡± He replies


    ¡°Still, is there anything you¡¯d like in turn?¡± I ask


    Saith raises an eyebrow.


    ¡°...Well, yes, but it wouldn¡¯t be proper, and wouldn¡¯t match with my morals to ask you to do that. I¡¯ve pushed enough on that front.¡± He sighs ¡°So no, for now, just take it as you owe me a favor.¡±


    A favor?


    I¡¯ll need to clear that up before I need to choose a guardian, but that¡¯s something acceptable.


    I nod my head.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try to return the favor as quickly as possible, in that case.¡± I reply


    I leave the training grounds, and begin heading towards¡­


    F***


    I forgot her name. I¡¯ve forgotten my Magic Teacher¡¯s name.


    I stop in my steps.


    What was it again?


    Rose¡­?


    Screw it.


    I continue onwards.


    My memory may be better in this life, but it appears it¡¯s still not particularly good¡­


    Ah, in my last life I had more than enough experience with similar situations to know how to properly bull**** my way through a series of conversations.


    I knock on her door.


    Hello? Are your there?


    Normally she doesn¡¯t leave her room¡­


    I wait for a couple of seconds.


    She opens her door just a bit and peeks her head out.


    ¡°You can come in,¡± She tells me


    I enter her room.


    She closes the door.


    ¡°Salutations, I¡¯m sorry to hear about what happened.¡± She says


    ¡°...¡± I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m supposed to reply with in this situation¡­


    Am I supposed to say it¡¯s fine or something?


    That wouldn¡¯t be honest.


    ¡°...That¡¯s partly why I¡¯m here. May I request that you train me more? I want to become magically powerful, so something like that, where I¡¯m helpless to do anything, doesn¡¯t happen again.¡± I tell her


    My magic mentor¡¯s face darkens. Her messy red-ish pink hair covers up her face in a curtain of hair.


    ¡°...I know the feeling.¡± she sighs


    Oh¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll train you more.¡± She tells me


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I reply


    ¡°Now, please come back at our normal training time. We¡¯ll just have longer sessions.¡± She explains to me


    Ahh¡­ okay.


    She moves through the mess that is her room to her desk and continues working on what she was previously working on.


    She¡¯s¡­ busy, huh?


    I leave her room and head back to my own.

 Chapter XXII: Planning with Officials

    I step into the room where the plans for the territory are kept.


    It¡¯s something almost all nobles at least keep an eye on. After all, it¡¯s incredibly easy for corruption to happen, and for decisions that go against one¡¯s will to occur.


    I¡¯ve actually decided against such a thing. I¡¯m far too lazy for that.


    As long as I have the power to change what I want to change, and the money being taken on the side is an unnoticeable amount, and the decisions being made don¡¯t often go against my will, then I see no problems.


    Sure, I¡¯m supposed to keep an eye on it, with it being so easy to avoid my responsibilities and with not many problems occurring because of it, then I see no issues.


    Having an official in charge of things works better in my opinion anyway.


    I give a look of pity at the 2 women sitting at desks.


    Other than the plans my father left, they¡¯ve been running the entire territory.


    It is, however, their job.


    There¡¯s actually three of them, and only 2 ever work at one time, so they actually have a lot of time off.


    The people deciding how the territory is run should be happy.


    I pity the nobles who have to run their territories all alone.


    Bedo steps into the room after me.


    The two women stop work as the third official, an elderly man, enters the room.


    ¡°Salutations, young Viscount Akashi,¡± the elderly man greets


    ¡°Salutations,¡± I reply in turn.


    The elderly man is a member of a knight house. Even if he¡¯s technically a servant to my house, it¡¯s still acceptable to give a Salutations in a return greeting.


    I sigh.


    ¡°Right, so, let¡¯s begin this. I wanted you all here since you three are the ones running the territory, even if I¡¯m technically supposed to. I¡¯d like to talk about the recent issue with the Underworld of my territory. I announce


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve gotten the message already, but I want anyone with even a sliver of a connection with them dead. I don¡¯t care who they are, either.¡± I order


    ¡°Little master, we get most of our slave labor from the underworld,¡± the man tells me


    ¡°...I¡¯d like to get rid of the slave labor too.¡± I reply


    ¡°...Little master, the territory get¡¯s a huge percentage of our slave labor for our sugar production¡­ If we execute everyone with any connection, a grand majority of our farmers will have to be executed¡­¡± one of the women say


    ¡°...I¡¯d still like for slave labor to be gotten rid of.¡± I reply


    ¡°Little master, that¡¯ll significantly reduce the production of the territory¡­ it would be impossible to survive the backlash from the commoners too¡­ the territory would collapse, and there would be rebellions.¡± she explains


    ¡­


    This is a really terrible world, huh?


    I need to fix that¡­


    Slavery being something normal is something that makes me extremely uncomfortable.


    I think about how to survive backlash from such a thing.


    ¡­


    I¡­ can¡¯t think of any good solution.


    I¡¯m not going to risk my own life for the lives of people who¡¯s suffering brings me profit.


    I¡¯d free them if I could think of a good solution, but I don¡¯t know of one.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I sigh. ¡°Find a branch of the slave market that isn¡¯t very involved with the underworld, and treats it¡¯s slaves somewhat more humanely. We¡¯ll attempt to allow them to outcompete the underworld. We¡¯ll do something similar for the other markets that have ties with the underworld. After people can have a source that provides things that the underworld normally supplies, we¡¯ll announce that dealings with the underworld are banned, and execute those who still don¡¯t comply.¡±


    ¡°...That will a lot of money, little master,¡± one of the officials tell me


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Yes. Thank you, Ms Captain Obvious.


    ¡°I¡¯d still like it implemented.¡± I tell her


    ¡°As you wish,¡± She replies


    ¡­This is going to take a long time, isn¡¯t it?


    It¡¯s also not a very favorable solution¡­ slave labor will still be easily accessable¡­


    I can¡¯t think of a good way to make slave labor dissapear.


    If I strait up abolish it, they¡¯ll be significant backlash, which may lead to dangerous situations for me.


    If I make it unprofitable, merchants will move territories and continue using slave labor. After all, in this ancient world, slave labor is everywhere.


    The same could be said about Earth too, I guess, huh? Slave labor is just a thing that is incredbly helpful for civilizations before human rights were important.


    Before human rights are something important, is it even possible to get rid of slave labor¡­?


    ¡°Ah, also, do we have any slaves in this household?¡± I ask


    ¡°We do, yes,¡± Bedo tells me


    ¡°Please free them. If we need their labor, we can just hire them.¡± I tell Bedo


    Bedo nods. ¡°As you wish, little master.¡±


    Getting rid of slave labor should start with what you yourself can affect. In this case, my own household¡­


    I think back to the topic of the underworld.


    It really pains me, but I don¡¯t think I can really get rid of it at this moment. I need to make it so that getting rid of it is actually possible first. I need to replace it with something I can at least somewhat control.


    If it¡¯s going to take a long time, which could be a number of years, I should also train people to help me get rid of it. Time allows for it. I¡¯ll also be raiding quite a few underworld hideouts while I¡¯m at it, making things even more unprofitable for them.


    I sigh. ¡°Well then, next order of business.¡±


    ¡°How many orphans would you estimate are in this territory?¡± I ask


    Orphans are an excellent portion of the population to recruit talented people who will be useful in the future.


    Many are young, and loyalty can be instilled in them.


    They also likely don¡¯t have many attachments, as they would very willing to be welcomed into a viscount¡¯s household.


    Also, it makes the world a better place. That¡¯s a positive.


    ¡°It¡¯s something impossible to predict¡­¡± one of the officials tell me


    I sigh again.


    That¡¯s not very helpful.


    I¡¯ll deal with it myself, in that case.


    ¡°Please arrange for me to speak with one of the higher order members of one of the churches existing in our territory. I have a proposal for them.¡± I tell the officials.


    I stand up to leave.


    ¡°Ah, little master, I¡¯d like to recommend calling a meeting with the knight households, since we¡¯ve stopped most of operation cleaning with your more recent orders. It¡¯s still important to keep the knight houses in check until the operations can be resumed.¡± one of the officials tell me. ¡°I¡¯d recommend a party to do so¡­¡±


    ¡­My antisocial self will be forced out of my shell. That¡¯s a good thing, I guess. And if I can show them that I¡¯m someone who can keep the territory going, that could lessen the amount of knight houses who want to go against me¡­ I can also form ties with the young members of the houses.


    ¡°That can be done¡­ plan a party and invite all the knight houses to it. Be sure to have them bring younger members as well. Plan it to be in two weeks, and prepare the largest room in the household for it. Bedo, please plan out the details.¡± I order


    I head out the door, and head back to my room after that.


    <hr>


    I lay in my bed. Normally, at this time of the day, Betha, maybe Rira, would be reading me something.


    Instead I¡¯m sitting alone in my room. Feeling kinda lonely.


    I¡¯m quite relieved I¡¯m physically not a teenager yet.


    If that were the case, my loneliness, my power, and, as something all teenage boys are, which is being horny, may have gotten to me.


    There¡¯s a reason I want to remain pure, in those terms.


    Whomever I want to be with in the future, I want them to be completely pure, in those terms. A pure maiden. I have all the time in the world, so there¡¯s no harm in being picky.


    As such, I¡¯ll remain as pure as I can in turn.


    Something childish, but something I find should be followed, is the golden rule.


    Do you remember that? From what, kindergarten?


    Do unto others what you want to be done to you?


    I want someone pure, so I, myself, must remain pure as well.


    Also, to be honest, there¡¯s something I find very romantic about that- Two pure maidens, who will be each-other''s one and only.


    Well, I can¡¯t really be a maiden- I¡¯m a guy, after all.


    ¡­As for why I want someone pure?


    I¡¯m someone who believes that time is irrelevant when it comes to something such as love. It feels like cheating-in-advance to me, I guess?


    I¡¯m someone who hates cheating with a passion.


    I¡¯d beyond hate it if it were to be done to me, and¡­ well, do to others what you¡¯d like to be done to you.


    I¡¯m someone who¡¯s quite possessive, and someone who isn¡¯t really against violence.


    ¡­In short I¡¯m a Yandere, who likes other Yanderes.


    Doesn¡¯t something like a Yandere loving a Yandere just feel¡­ right?


    ¡­


    ¡­I¡¯ve gone off-topic, haven''t I?


    I sigh.


    I should probably be working on what kinds of orphans I¡¯d like to recruit.


    It could be a good time to also recruit people to be administrative figures, as well as maybe personal servants.


    Nobles should have personal servants, and I don¡¯t have any personal servants yet.


    I look at the desk in my room. There¡¯s something similar to paper on it, too, along with a feather and a jar of ink.


    ¡­I¡¯ll start writing down what kinds of orphans I want.


    ¡­I should probably also think about how to prove to the knight houses how I¡¯m someone the territory will be in good hands with, as well as the younger members of the knight houses that I want to be on good terms with.


    I feel the pressure and anxiety building on me, as well as my unwillingness to do it.


    It feels kinda like homework¡­


    I sigh.


    Fine, I¡¯ll get to work.


    I get up and start listing traits I want in the orphans to recruit.


    I¡¯ll deal with the knight house business another time.

 (Ongoing Tangent) Lazy Plan to Avoid Recruitment Plans

    I¡¯m sitting in the bathtub.


    I¡¯ve finished bathing by now, and am just sitting there, soaking in the warm water.


    ¡­I miss having hot showers¡­


    Hot showers are something I think all humans are guilty of taking, unless they really try to avoid them.


    They seem to be good places for thinking, as well.


    Right now, I¡¯m replacing the hot shower with a warm bath.


    I¡¯m glad I¡¯ve gotten the bathroom renovated recently¡­


    I sigh, and continue my thinking.


    I think I¡¯ll have to get more land if I want to recruit a lot of orphans, which I do.


    Haaaa¡­


    I want to get things done, but there¡¯s so many issues with all of them¡­


    Maybe it¡¯ll be better to focus on the future party with the knight houses?


    It¡¯s more time sensitive, after all¡­


    ¡­There¡¯s even more issues with it though, aren¡¯t there?


    That¡¯s my guess, at least.


    I feel so very lazy right now¡­


    I just want to sit here and do nothing¡­


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    I sigh again and lean back.


    ¡­I¡¯ll leave these problems for after I¡¯m done with this bath.


    I mentaly promise myself that I¡¯ll start working on one of them right afterwards. If I don¡¯t do that, it¡¯s highly likely that I would delay it further.


    ¡­


    I end up sitting in the bath for longer than I should before I get out. After that I take longer than I should to dry off and dress myself.


    I sigh at my unwillingness to do any work.


    ¡­I should really be trying to enjoy being a toddler. I¡¯m only¡­


    Wait, how old am I again?


    I¡¯ve forgotten.


    I¡¯m bad with ages¡­ even before I was reincarnated, I¡¯d forgotten my own age more than once.


    Now that I¡¯m reincarnated, it¡¯s even worse.


    I sigh as I walk back to my room.


    I look at my bed and shut the door.


    No¡­


    I force myself to sit down at my desk.


    I really don¡¯t know why I don¡¯t want to do this so much¡­


    Hmmm¡­ ah, you know what? Instead of listing the traits I want on a paper and sorting out which orphans would be good for recruitment, can¡¯t I just ask the high ranking member of the church to just recruit special and talented individuals instead?


    I mean, sure, I won¡¯t get exactly what I want, and since I¡¯m not part of the church faction, they¡¯ll probably just give me orphans who are just talented enough to match my criteria, as long as I pay them enough and give them a good enough reason to do so, that is.


    However, I don¡¯t have space for a lot of orphans right now anyways, and it fixes a lot of my problems.


    It¡¯ll be a worthy trade off, right?


    I get up from my desk. That can be considered taking care of one of the problems, yes?


    I sigh at myself.


    Fine¡­ fine.


    It¡¯s good enough of a solution.


    I go and lay down on my bed.


    ¡­and I just lay there.


    It¡¯s boring. I miss electronics¡­


    ¡­I need to do something to keep myself somewhat busy, don¡¯t I?


    I sit up again.


    What to do, what to do?


    Other than actually working, that is.


    I yawn.


    Huh. okay then¡­


    Laying back down, I shut my eyes. Maybe I¡¯ll take a nap or something¡­


    Slowly, I drift into a dream.

 Chapter XXIII: I Should Probably be Doing Something

    ¡°Hello there, fellow me. I¡¯ve come to tell you to stop procrastinating.¡± the me from the past giggles.


    I give a light glare at them. ¡°It¡¯s not like you aren¡¯t guilty of the same.¡±


    ¡°Yea, and? Humans are hypocritical creatures¡± he replies ¡°Just because I don¡¯t do something I should, doesn¡¯t mean I shouldn¡¯t encourage you to do it properly.¡±


    I sigh.


    ¡°Ah, and, I mean you should really focus on the party with the knight houses¡­ I have a good feeling about it.¡± the me from the past tells me


    ¡°Just a feeling?¡± I ask


    ¡°Trust your instincts,¡± the me from the past replies ¡°You¡¯re well aware of how good they are when your emotions aren¡¯t everywhere.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Fine, fine.¡± I reply. ¡°I¡¯ll work on that when I wake up¡­¡±


    ¡°Great, you¡¯ll be waking up now then.¡± the me from the past tells me, ¡°Before you start procrastinating again.¡±


    <hr>


    My eyes open again.


    I sigh.


    ¡­I¡¯ve been sighing a lot lately.


    Time to manage the ¡®party¡¯ with the knight houses¡­


    I think I¡¯ll take the chance to also publicly announce my hatred for the underworld of the Akashi territory.


    I tell a maid to get Bedo here for me.


    It¡¯s not long before he enters my room.


    ¡­I¡¯m going to be pushing on as much work as I can onto Bedo.


    ¡°Bedo, please tell me what the basic details of the party with the knight houses are so far.¡± I ask


    ¡°...Little master, I haven¡¯t been able to organize any of the details within such a short time¡­¡± Bedo replies, his voice somewhat nervous


    ¡°...Well, I suppose that¡¯s normal.¡± I tell him. ¡°Anyways, that¡¯s probably for the best. I want to change the plans up a bit. I¡¯d like to make the party one that¡¯s somewhat grand. It¡¯s my first official appearance, after all. Additionally, please prepare the party in a way that flaunts our territory¡¯s strength. Being raided by the underworld has given us a weaker appearance, so we need to show the knight houses our strength to make up for that.¡±


    ¡°Those two can be done without any issues, little master. Is there anything else?¡± Bedo asks


    ¡°Please investigate the knight houses for any involvement with the underworld, while scouting for any particularly talented or strange individuals at the same time.¡± I tell him


    Bedo nods his head. ¡°Those shall be done, little master.¡±


    I shoo Bedo away.


    ¡­now for my own preparations.


    I¡¯m not familiar with much of the noble etiquette of this world. The noble etiquette is something I need to be well aware of, as a noble.


    At the very least it¡¯s not something that¡¯s really expected of me at my current age. However, with my past life, I don¡¯t act like someone my physical age. It¡¯s easy to forget I¡¯m not yet even 3.


    ¡­At least I think I¡¯m not yet 3¡­ I really, really need to check sometime.


    ¡­It won¡¯t be good if I forget how old I am when I¡¯m asked.


    I walk over to the bookshelf in my room and reach for a courtesy book.


    I don¡¯t pull it off the bookshelf though.


    You know what?


    I push the book back into the bookshelf.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    No, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll work on my etiquette.


    I¡¯m barely used to basic greetings. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll be able to raise my etiqutte to a level sufficent for an average noble.


    Wouldn¡¯t simply doing my best to be polite be enough?


    ¡­I¡¯m acceptable at being polite, I think.


    Well, on most occasions.


    If I don¡¯t have any respect for them, I¡¯ll be end up being quite rude and disrespectful.


    Generally, I do show respect if I don¡¯t know them. That amount will vary based on my knowledge of them, though.


    I sigh.


    My laziness is getting to me once more¡­


    I wonder if this is going to come back to bite me¡­?


    Eh.


    I think to myself what other things I¡¯m going to need.


    Hmm¡­


    I look in my wardrobe.


    ¡­I think the clothes I have are sufficient enough.


    I mean, they really aren¡¯t from most noble¡¯s point of view, since I¡¯ve made an effort to avoid buying to many clothes.


    I really hated clothes shopping on Earth, and here, it¡¯s worse.


    The kingdom of Lithari is a kingdom in the region that has relatively ¡®unfashionable¡¯ nobles, even, so I¡¯d hate to see how bad it is in ¡®fashionable¡¯ nations.


    See, for nobles, you have to go to a tailor, they have to take all your measurements, and then, you have to come back a few days later and pick out a couple of designs out of basic descriptions. After another few days, you have to go back and pick the actual designs that¡¯s based off of the basic description.


    Generally, this must be repeated every few inches you grown, or, once every three months.


    ¡­now that I break it down, it doesn¡¯t sound that bad, huh? It¡¯s still something I hate though. It still takes much more than three times longer than it is was on Earth to get some clothes.


    New clothes, for some nobles, are a thing they love to get.


    I can¡¯t understand them.


    I don¡¯t really have a sense of fashion, and get bored and annoyed fairly easily.


    I think of something else I should at least check. And something I¡¯ll be willing to do.


    When it comes to things I want to do, if I¡¯m not in a bad mood, I¡¯m not lazy about it.


    ¡­I can¡¯t say I¡¯m not in a bad mood, but at the very least I¡¯ll be less lazy about it.


    ¡­


    I can¡¯t think of anything.


    I sigh.


    You know what, I have a bit of a bad feeling about my wardrobe.


    I head to the bathroom, stand on a stool, and take a look at the mirror.


    Eh¡­?


    My features¡­


    They¡¯re not overly different compared to my past life¡¯s features.


    Sure, my hair and eyes are different, but a lot else is similar.


    My skin tone still looks anime-esque, my hair is still very thick, though it¡¯s to short for my liking right now, my eyelashes are somehow even longer than they previously were. They were already really long.


    My fingernails even match up. They''re the ¡®perfect¡¯ shape, and not overly long. Same as before.


    Ah, my dimples are still there. They¡¯re deeper as well. Before it was somewhat easy to miss.


    There¡¯s also a mole below my right eye, roughly in between my eye and chin.


    It¡¯s almost the same place as it was in my last life.


    ¡­I don¡¯t think my body is completely randomly generated. It must be at least be partially based on my past life¡¯s body.


    This body seems to be better looking.


    Nice . .


    As for the hair and eye color changes, my hair is dark brown rather than black, and my eyes are blue rather than brown.


    ¡­I probably won¡¯t be using these looks though.


    I have longer than the time in the world to find someone, so I¡¯ll be really, really picky. I don¡¯t think this life will be the one where I find someone.


    ¡­I also have a habit of being friendzoned, so there¡¯s also that.


    I move away from the mirror and head back into my room.


    ¡­I still think my clothes are alright.


    The common clothes of this world for noblemen aren¡¯t pants or shirts, rather, they¡¯re robes.


    They look kinda girlish from my point of view, but, since I looked somewhat girlish in my past life and it seems I¡¯ll look similar in this one, it¡¯s fine.


    I have no qualms with looking like a girl.


    ¡­I wonder what I¡¯d do if I ended up in a girl¡¯s body?


    I¡¯m sure it¡¯s something that¡¯s bound to happen eventually.


    ¡­actually, I don¡¯t think I¡¯d have to many issues.


    What gender I¡¯m attracted to depends entirely on my own gender. I¡¯m a guy, so I¡¯m attracted to girls. Simple as that. If I was a girl, I¡¯d probably be attracted to guys.


    I just find a match up of the opposite genders to feel¡­ correct, I suppose.


    I don¡¯t have issues with people that feel differently, but that¡¯s my take, for me, personally.


    ...I¡¯m off topic, aren¡¯t I?


    I go back to thinking of what I should be wearing.


    Ah, I think I should wear a hat.


    I feel a bit uncomfortable with short hair, so a hat to cover it up would be good.


    Now, what sort of hat would be best?


    I don¡¯t remember what any hats from Earth are called, and have no knowledge of the ones in this world.


    Aha, I¡¯ve found something to do.


    Great.


    I¡¯ll go do that later.


    No, wait, I¡¯ll go do that now.


    <hr>

 Chapter XXIV: Starting the Recruitment of Orphans

    ¡­This is boring.


    I¡¯m sitting with the Akashi House¡¯s tailor, looking at a bunch of quick pictures he¡¯s drawn for ideas he has for hats for me to wear.


    This is why I hate shopping. The boredom.


    I¡¯m bad with deciding wether or not something looks good or not, but none of them look good in my opinion.


    I¡¯ve never really worn many hats on Earth.


    I sigh, and end up picking what looks something like a magican¡¯s hat, but with extra decoration.


    ¡­I¡¯ll be getting rid of it as soon as my hair grows long enough that I feel comfortable without it.


    I just want to get out of here¡­


    A maid enters the room.


    ¡°Little master, Priest Lars says that he¡¯d like to meet with you. He¡¯s waiting in the reception room.¡± she informs me.


    I wonder why¡­?


    But in any case, it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ve made a mistake going to pick out a hat, and it¡¯s a mistake I¡¯d like to escape from.


    ¡°Tell him I¡¯ll be there very shortly.¡± I order the maid


    She bows. ¡°Right away, little master.¡± she replies


    She quickly makes her way out of the room, just as quick as she had entered it.


    ¡°May we continue when your business is taken care of?¡± the tailor asks


    ¡­No.


    Definitely not.


    ¡°Err, I think what we¡¯ve picked out so far will be enough¡­ I only need one hat, after all.¡± I reply


    ¡°You¡¯ve only picked six hats,¡± he replies


    ¡°That¡¯ll be enough,¡± I tell him again


    ¡°Little master, from my experience, it¡¯s best to get as many options as possible,¡± He insists


    ¡­Haaa¡­


    ¡°We¡¯ll just go and do this again if none of them work.¡± I tell him


    He¡¯s silent for a bit, so I make my escape.


    I know that he¡¯s probably right, but I¡¯m going to ignore that anyway.


    I really don''t like the process of getting clothes.


    I make my way to the receiving room as quickly as I can, being kinda out of breath by the time I get there.


    It¡¯s not proper for a noble to be out of breath.


    I wait at the doorway, hidden from view, until I recover sufficiently enough to hide it completely.


    ¡­I should probably exercise more¡­ I mean, I do my daily exercise with Saith, but other than that, I do nothing physical.


    I should probably also have more energy. Toddlers such as myself have a lot of energy generally, don¡¯t they?


    ¡­I don¡¯t really understand it.


    Even in my last life I wasn¡¯t hyper often. Only after eating way to much sugar, which was rare.


    Mostly because of the lack of sweets that were accessible to me.


    Not actually due to my parents banning them or anything like that.


    I was allowed to buy them on my own. It¡¯s just that I was to lazy to take the 5 minute walk to the store to get some, and to stingy with my money to buy anything unless I had a coupon or something.


    I¡¯ve been avoiding the finances of the territory specifically because of my stingyness. I¡¯ll probaly screw something up if I do. I like to horde my money. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t though.


    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    There¡¯s some passed down knowledge from somewhat that having to much money will attract a dragon, but I think that¡¯s more of an excuse the poor nobles have to as why they¡¯re poor.


    Then again, something like that has never been attempted. There aren¡¯t any souls powerful, stupid, and brave enough to try.


    After all, in this world, there¡¯s evidence of dragons existing. And the kingdom has a few scales that was shed from one.


    ¡­The thing is though, no one¡¯s found a way to break a scale.


    But in any case, you have to spend money to make money, and hording money breaks that flow, so I¡¯ll keep avoiding looking at the finances of the territory unless it starts going downhill.


    I¡¯ll let the people good with such things handle it.


    I stand tall as much as my little body can, and walk into the room.


    It¡¯s important to present myself as well as possible. Especially so because of the attack from the underworld.


    Even if I know Priest Lars somewhat, I don¡¯t know him well enough, and I¡¯m quite suspicious of nearly everyone at the moment, the exception being Bedo.


    Bedo¡¯s raised by the house, and someone I interact with very often.


    If it¡¯s known that I¡¯m acting especially weak, I¡¯ll likely be made a ward even faster than I am currently.


    ¡°Salutations, Viscount Akashi,¡± He greets


    When talking to a noble, everyone is expected to greet them with a ¡®Salutations¡¯, even if they are a commoner.


    I nod my head at him in return as I sit down.


    ¡°So, what is your business here today?¡± I ask


    ¡°I heard you requested to meet one of the more important members of the church? May I ask what it is? I may be able to help instead.¡± Lars asks


    Ah, so that¡¯s what it is.


    ¡°I was¡­ thinking of taking in a few orphans. Preferably peculiar and talented ones. I hear taking in orphans is a service to the church, yes?¡± I ask


    The priest nods. ¡°Taking in orphans is a service to the church, correct. Is there a need to go ask a Bishop though?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for especially peculiar orphans. Special ones. Ones that are¡­ quite different, from the rest. I was thinking there wouldn¡¯t be many, or any at all, within your area of jurisdiction. Ah, I¡¯d be willing to pay for bringing the orphans here, plus make a donation, of course.¡± I reply


    Lars lets out a small, somewhat angry sigh. His smile, which he almost always has on his face, disappears.


    ¡°Viscount Akashi, the orphanage isn¡¯t a place for you to buy unique slaves.¡± Lars tells me


    ¡°Oh! That isn¡¯t my intent. Apologies if I¡¯ve upset you.¡± I quickly reply


    ¡°Ah, of course. What would your intention be, then?¡± He asks


    ¡­Well, crap.


    My intention is to recruit talented orphans for my own purposes. It¡¯s not an answer that he¡¯ll accept.


    The face I¡¯m saying I¡¯m looking for peculiar orphans is a way to hide it, if just a little.


    Hmm, I think I got it.


    ¡°Well, I was thinking, and, I don¡¯t belive many of the especially peculiar orphans ever get takin in, do they? I mean, most orphans don¡¯t get taken in, but the peculiar ones especially. Is that correct? So I though, I¡¯d take some of them in.¡± I tell the priest.


    His smile returns.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a young girl in the south of the territory who¡¯s growing at an incredible rate, and that no one in the area wants to take her in since they¡¯re quite frankly, a little afraid of her growth. She doesn¡¯t have a skill that would explain her growth either, making her case worse.¡± Lars tells me


    That sounds¡­


    Extremely interesting.


    I wonder if this world has the same diseases as Earth?


    If it does, and my memory serves me correct, she¡¯d have giantism. Gigantism? Something like that.


    The problem with that is that her growth, if not stopped, will possibly become an issue.


    ¡°I¡¯d love to take her in,¡± I tell Lars


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful. How many orphans are you planning on taking in, may I ask?¡± Lars asks me


    ¡­I suppose I should start with just a few, huh?


    ¡°5, I suppose,¡± I reply


    ¡°I believe I can take care of your request just fine, with a bit of time to go ask some other members of the church of light in some other territories.¡± Lars tells me ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for a chance to make a pilgrimage to the capital, and this is an excellent chance to do so.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s excellent. Would you like me to fund your travel, then? How much will you need?¡±  I ask


    ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you to offer, Viscount Akashi, however, I¡¯m well versed enough in living off the land that I won¡¯t need much at all.¡± Lars replies ¡°I won¡¯t need any payment for bringing the orphans to you either,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be making a donation to the church instead, then,¡± I tell him


    Lars nods. ¡°That would be excellent. I¡¯ll excuse myself now, then. Farewell for now,¡±


    Lars stands up and leaves the room.


    I grin.


    That¡¯s one issue of mine, taken care of for me.


    It was a good decision to not try to take care of that.


    I shouldn¡¯t get used to that though. It¡¯s luck, rather than any intelligence on my part. If I keep procrastinating on stuff, I¡¯ll screw myself over somehow.


    I tell a servant to get Bedo for me.


    Bedo soon enters the room.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to let you know I¡¯ve taken care of the business with the church. There¡¯s no need to request the attention of a bishop anymore,¡± I tell him


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s wonderful, little master,¡± Bedo replies tiredly.


    I think he¡¯s been quite busy lately. Maybe he hasn¡¯t been getting quite enough sleep.


    It¡¯s probably fine. Plus, with the church business taken care of, that¡¯s a little less work.


    I leave the room after informing Bedo of that.


    <hr>

 Chapter XXV: Before the Banquet with the Knights

    I open my eyes and sit up in bed.


    ¡­Today is the first day of the party, err, banquet, with the Knight houses.


    I wonder how it will go¡­


    I decided to let Bedo handle things, as he¡¯s certainly more adept at throwing parties than myself¡­


    I admit that it¡¯s an excuse, but at the very least it¡¯s a valid one. At least I¡¯m not going in completely blind, since I listed to his briefing on what the plan is for the banquet.


    I¡¯ve never thrown a party in this life or the last. That includes birthday parties. I¡¯ve never had any, since my family, and myself, to some extent, view them as too much of a hassle to be worth it.


    I take a look at the clock. It¡¯s of terrible quality compared to modern clocks, but it¡¯s something that are really only widespread among rich nobles. Commoners use sun dials.


    It¡¯s around 7 in the morning. My sleep schedule is essentially non-existant, so waking up at an excellent time such as this, is a pleasant surprise.


    I¡¯ll have to start welcoming guests soon¡­


    Probably.


    I¡¯m not sure when they¡¯ll start arriving. It could be now, but it could also be quite late at night.


    I hope it goes quickly.


    ¡­It¡¯s probably not a good thing that it hasn¡¯t even started, and I already want it to be over, huh?


    Haaaa¡­


    I think, for this Banquet at least, it¡¯s going to last until tomorrow night.


    Accommodations will not be provided. For the ones that feel like sleeping, they¡¯re expected to bring their own tents.


    ¡­At least they get to sleep.


    One¡¯s vitality stat can influence how long one can stay awake. Actually, for a few nobles of this world, their sleep schedules are even worse than mine. That¡¯s saying a lot, since I don¡¯t have one. The ones with the highest vitality stat can last days without sleeping, and then be asleep for multiple days in a row.


    This certainly doesn¡¯t apply to all nobles, but nobles, in general, have higher stats than most.


    There¡¯s also a sense of pride a noble gets from being able to continue being awake for very long periods of time. It shows their vitality is high. It¡¯s something of a bragging right to be able to stay awake and be at a party, feast, or banquet, or some similar occasion, for long periods of time.


    Well, in this world, at least in noble culture, a lot of things are bragging rights. And nobles love to brag. Well, at the very least they seem to. They have to, after all.


    A noble that doesn¡¯t brag, doesn¡¯t give a show of strength, and is perceived as weak.


    And a noble that is perceived as weak ends up with other nobles looking to take over their house, or at the very least, their land and wealth. Well, their wealth, if they have any.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Nobles aren¡¯t always wealthy.


    All the wealthy may be nobles, but not all the nobles are wealthy.


    I stretch and yawn as I get out of bed.


    I check for the top of my head for any bedhead.


    ¡­ dangit.


    With my hair being shorter, having a bedhead is far, far, far more common. For me at least.


    See, when your hair is longer, gravity pulls it down enough that it goes down almost no matter what. It might just be something for me though, since I have really thick hair. Thick enough that if someone has thin skin, and their cutting my hair, they¡¯ll get hair-splinters. I feel bad for those who¡¯ve gotten hair splinters from me¡­


    When it¡¯s shorter, the gravity acting on it isn¡¯t strong enough, and it sticks up.


    ¡­At the very least, I think that¡¯s what the situation with my hair is. There¡¯s a good chance I¡¯m wrong.


    Actually, I don¡¯t believe it matters much, does it? I¡¯m going to be wearing a hat the entire time anyway.


    I take the hat off of my desk and place it on my head. It was incredibly boring, getting this.


    It looks pretty basic. Think of a magican¡¯s hat, but triangle-ish in shape.


    It¡¯s the generic hat in this world for the rich.


    I don¡¯t really like it much, but I don¡¯t like wearing hats in general.


    However, my hair being as short as it is, isn¡¯t something I would prefer to show. I like longer hair, since I like looking at least somewhat gender-neutral.


    I pull a cloak out of my wardrobe and put it on.


    ¡­Alright, I think I look acceptable now.


    I wouldn¡¯t really know though, since I¡¯m terrible with fashion.


    ¡­I¡¯m quite bad at a lot of things, actually¡­ Most of things I¡¯m bad at though, are things I can hopefully push onto other people. I¡¯ll do what I¡¯m good at, and leave the rest to others.


    I reach for the handle, and pull open the door.


    If the knight houses aren¡¯t going to come soon, I¡¯ll start my day off with training my body with Saith, and then training my magic with Rosalie.


    Saith¡¯s training is kinda boring. It¡¯s just running, since he says I shouldn¡¯t be doing any harder training with how young I am.


    I go up to the first servant I see and ask him to get Bedo.


    Bedo will surely know if any of the knights are coming soon or not. After all, he essentially runs the place.


    ¡­I really really on him far too much, don¡¯t I?


    Though he¡¯s a little weird sometimes, he¡¯s incredibly dependable. I¡¯m kinda wondering whether or not he even sleeps¡­


    I head back to my room and sit at my desk.


    It¡¯s not long before Bedo enters my room.


    ¡°What is it that you wish of me, little master?¡± Bedo asks


    ¡°May I ask how long it shall be before one of the Knights arrive?¡± I ask him


    Bedo doesn¡¯t even need to think for a little. ¡°A few of them are fairly close. 1, perhaps 2 hours of travel.¡±


    ¡­Okay, seems I won¡¯t be training. It takes a while to train, and I wouldn¡¯t want to train with one of them, without training with the other. That might create problems.


    I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to eat either at the moment.


    At the banquet, I¡¯ll be expected to eat a little of each of the 5 courses. Maybe half of each.


    I have a habbit of skipping meals anyway, so it won¡¯t be much of an issue to skip two instead of the normal one, so that I can eat the necessary amount at the banquet.


    ¡­I wonder what¡¯s to be done with all the leftover food?


    ¡­I think it might be good to give it to the church, along with the donation I¡¯m making. Surely, the church could find some use for it?


    If I could, I would eat the leftovers as to not waste them, but that would certainly be bad for the Akashi House¡¯s reputation.


    For a noble house, reputation is life or death.


    I send Bedo out before sitting back on my bed and mentally reviewing what I need to be doing during the banquet.


    Mostly, it¡¯s just exchanging pleasantries, but I also need to keep track of what knight houses I believe to be useful.


    Also, I need to keep an eye out for whatever my dream¡¯s past self has a feeling about. My instincts are telling me something¡¯s up as well, and my instincts are something that are something that are very dependable.


    Not much to lose by keeping an eye out, in any case.


    <hr>

 Chapter XXVI: The Real Protagonist

    I stand near the door, greeting and introducing myself to most of the knight house¡¯s heads as they pass me by.


    I can tell so very easily that their smiles are fake.


    It¡¯s painfully obvious that most of them they don¡¯t see me as someone worth talking too, despite me being essentially their boss.


    For the ones that don¡¯t make it apparent how they see me, seem to still look down on me for being so young. Even the ones that are of houses that aren¡¯t needed to be purged. There¡¯s few exceptions. I do my best to remember the expectations.


    They seem to think I won¡¯t punish them for such thoughts.


    After all, even if knight houses don¡¯t have any peerage, the title gets passed down exceedingly often. Rather, it¡¯s rare that it doesn¡¯t.


    It¡¯s one of the many things that are expected of a noble to do for their knights and dames.


    A noble will repay their knight¡¯s or dame¡¯s loyalty by passing their title to their children.


    These knights and dames seem to forget that it¡¯s a repayment of loyalty, rather than something I need to do.


    I¡¯m almost done with this greeting and introducing myself.


    Just a few houses left, before I have to go and deal with children. I¡¯m not sure what will be worse.


    I haven¡¯t really spared any glances towards the knight¡¯s and dame¡¯s harems or their children that they brought along with themselves.


    This is a society in which genders are completely equal. Knights and Dames both have harems of their own.


    The country¡¯s one that¡¯s very accepting of LGBTQ, though with the T from trans turning in a T for trap, as Trans isn¡¯t an existing thing in this world.


    Though, only if the condition of providing a heir is fulfilled.


    Yet another thing I¡¯m not used to.


    Not the LGBTQ, I¡¯m fairly used to that. In my past life, my sister, along with quite a few of my friends, were part of the LGBTQ community.


    The part about the harems.


    To be frank, I¡¯m a little disgusted by them. Though, I suppose it isn¡¯t to bad as long as I don¡¯t become part of one in any way.


    At the very least, it¡¯s not as bad as the gender¡­ situation on Earth.


    I mentally throw my thoughts to the back of my head before they start affecting my facial expressions to much.


    I greet and introduce myself to the final head of the knight houses.


    Wonderful. Hopefully, noble children will be easier to deal with than adult nobles.


    In any case, to me, they¡¯re more important than the adults. I¡¯ll be dealing with them for far longer. They¡¯re likely also far easier for me to sway to my side, and control.


    I make my way to a couple of rooms that were prepared for noble children.


    While I¡¯m supposed to fulfill the duties of both the host and the young heir, I see it as more important to focus on the duties of the young heir.


    It¡¯s not like the adult nobles are really expecting me to fulfill role of host, apart from the very basics, such as greeting them, and explaining the reason for the banquet. The true reason of keeping them in check, is, of course, not the official reason. Nor is it the only underlying reason.


    The official reason is to discuss attacking a baron household to prove that we¡¯re still strong even though the head of the house was lost in the war.


    It¡¯s actually something I kinda hope is successful, even though it¡¯s just a fake reason.


    The baron house of Ulden.


    The house that Cent was from.


    They seem to be quite furious with me killing Cent, and demand compensation that¡¯s frankly ridiculous. The entire house is quite dumb. I never received news of it, as it was something deemed unworthy of my attention, which it quite frankly isn¡¯t.


    First of all, I¡¯m of a viscount household, second, he died in a duel, and third, he was the challenger.


    However, as it¡¯s something that can be used as fake objective, it shall be used.


    Conquering other noble houses isn¡¯t really something looked down upon on it¡¯s own. Though things like conquering too much, and conquering houses run by children are.


    I¡¯d be surprised if there were consequences for me conquering the Ulden house, as long as I do it somewhat humanely.


    And by that, I mean, as long as I treat members of house Ulden humanely.


    For the most part, nobles don¡¯t much for the lives of commoners, and true nobles don¡¯t care particularly much about members of knight houses, as long as most of them stay alive.


    The secondary underlying reason for the banquet is to grow the conflict within the knight houses. It¡¯s especially important now. If they¡¯re too busy fighting each other, they won¡¯t have the time or unity to cause any significant trouble for me.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    They would be less likely to do so when I¡¯m around, now that I think about it. Another reason for me to be in the children¡¯s area.


    I step through the door to the main room of the noble children¡¯s area.


    The area allocated to them is fairly large. A main room that connects them all, that¡¯s currently serving as the dining room, a few small rooms where smaller groups can talk, and a bathroom.


    Each of those small rooms is roughly the size of a somewhat large single-person bedroom, but with a table in the middle rather than a desk.


    The main room is roughly the size of a classroom.


    There¡¯s plenty of chattering in the room.


    I do my best to look as regal as I can, as I look through the room.


    My eye catches on a boy who looks to be about six, standing in the corner, eating a pastry.


    It¡¯s not something a normal noble child would be doing.


    He¡¯s not wearing something a normal noble child of this kingdom would be wearing.


    It¡¯s not a somewhat fancy cloak, but rather, something that looks far too similar to a tuxedo. Something unmistakably modern.


    I know why my instincts told me something good would happen at this banquet now.


    This.


    I have the skill ¡®Isekai Reincarnation¡¯, so it¡¯s not impossible for someone else to have it as well¡­


    As I think to myself, the boy goes and heads into one of the rooms for no apparent reason.


    A large blonde boy, who looks to almost be around 8, walks up to me.


    He towers above me. There¡¯s a sly grin on his face.


    ¡°Salutations¡­who may you be?¡± he asks, in a slow, and cocky way, chuckling a little as a few other noble boys and girls come up from behind him.


    I slowly raise my hat out of the way of my view as I stare up at the boy with a deadpan expression.


    ¡­Really, already? At the very least whomever your parents are had the courtesy to try to make pleasantries.


    You seem to be quite the bully.


    ¡°...Salutations, I¡¯m Takabi Akashi. Who may you be, little boy?¡± I ask, in a slow and cocky voice of my own.


    There¡¯s certainly something insulting about someone who looks to be less than a third of your age calling you little boy.


    The boy glares at me, seething. He¡¯s red in the face. It¡¯s an embarrassment to Knights how quickly he angers.


    ¡­Even if they aren¡¯t easier to deal with, I¡¯m exhausted by the noble adults, so causing a little trouble might be fun¡­


    Wait, no, that¡¯s not a good idea. It¡¯s also kinda mean. I need to see what¡¯s going on with that boy who looks modern.


    He pulls off a glove and tosses it at me.


    ¡­Are you serious? It¡¯s not treasonous behavior, even a commoner can throw a glove at a king, but it is something looked down upon, to through a glove at your direct superior.


    There¡¯s silence in the makeshift dining room, though chattering sounds still continue from behind closed doors in the smaller rooms.


    I sigh, and pick up the glove.


    The crowd moves to the sides.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite the idiot, aren¡¯t you? The entire reason this banquet is taking place is because some idiot baron kid did the exact same thing as you just did, and, what do recall happened to him?¡± I sigh


    It¡¯s partly a lie, in a way, but I have to follow the official reason.


    The boy sneers, and pulls out a rapier from his side.


    His weapon choice isn¡¯t dumb, at the very least.


    Rapiers are the best side arm you can carry. Long as a longsword, and much lighter and faster.


    ¡°I won¡¯t need a weapon to fight the likes of you,¡± I taunt.


    I can make use of this chance to intimidate, and maybe help control these noble children. Plus, I¡¯m confident that the boy isn¡¯t strong enough to go against me. A child isn¡¯t faster than my flinch. Most nobles don¡¯t start really training in combat until they turn seven or eight.


    It¡¯s also best to be as terrifying as possible.


    ¡°You won¡¯t scare me, Viscount,¡± The boy states


    That¡¯s alright. You will in due time, or you won¡¯t live.


    Now, which is better? To give him multiple scares over a period of time? To swiftly bring my magic¡¯s blade to his neck? To kill him quickly? Or maybe to torture him to death?


    While he¡¯s not exactly an enemy, he¡¯s dumb, and a detriment to the territory. A slightly dumb person with his temper and arrogance, in some form of power is far worse than any very dumb person who isn¡¯t in some form of power.


    I suppose I don¡¯t want to cause too many issues, since that would pit the knight houses against me.


    ¡°[lehtriil enrii varul]!(Floating Light Sphere)¡± I chant, putting in quite a lot of my magic into it as I shut my eyes as tightly as I can.


    I turn off my magic quickly, and open my eyes again just a sliver.


    Quite a big effect. They seem to have difficulty seeing at the moment.


    I need to do this, since my aim with my magical attack is¡­ bad, to say the least.


    ¡°[iknuu dliin]¡±(Spacial Cut) I chant, doing my best to hit my opponenet¡¯s hand and only his hand.


    My aim is rather disapointing, but it¡¯s good enough.


    My spacial blade made quite the gash on a small table, and cut deep into my opponent¡¯s left leg, which is facing me.


    It didn¡¯t get the bone, but the damage is enough.


    The boy screams out and collapses.


    Weakling. Can¡¯t handle that?


    I certainly can¡¯t either, but that¡¯s what you get for being overly arrogant, and from what I can tell, being quite mean. Then being idiotic, and challenging a viscount.


    While the knight¡¯s children are still recovering from the light, I head into the room where the obviously modern boy had went. I feel like I should take care of this first.


    I shut the door behind me and take a look at what¡¯s going on inside the room.


    ¡­


    ¡­Seems I¡¯m not the only one who¡¯s gotten into a fight.


    The boy who¡¯s unmistakably modern has quite the pretty girl behind him, and a group of three boys and two girls surrounding him.


    Noble children really are quite evil, aren¡¯t they?


    I¡¯ve already wasted more magic than I should have, so I pull out my dagger. Didn¡¯t expect to find more combat this quickly.


    ¡°Salutations¡­Please explain to me what is occuring at this moment.¡± I ask


    The combatants stop.


    ¡°Viscount Akashi, this imbicel was attacking us.¡± one of boys tells me


    ¡°They were bullying this girl!¡± the modern looking boy shouts


    ¡°...Well, whatever was going on here, I advise you to take a look at the situation outside before causing any more issues.¡± I tell them all


    The bullies nods and leave the room first.


    I stop the modern looking boy before he leaves.


    The boy looks like a generic anime protagonist, and it seems his harem¡¯s already begining to form around him¡­ he also seems to be quite powerful, as he can fight against all five of those kids at once.


    He¡¯s a talent I must acquire. Someone who might be from Earth would be nice as well.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± I tell him, flashing a smile


    The boy nods his head and leaves.


    I stay in the room for a little bit.


    ¡­He¡¯s the one who¡¯s the protagonist of this, isn¡¯t he?


    <hr>

 Chapter XXVII: Beginning of the Protagonists Recruitment

    Mentally, I begin making a plan to recruit the other person who¡¯s reincarnated.


    Well, he¡¯s almost certainly reincarnated, anyway.


    Even if he isn¡¯t, he still seems to be quite powerful. More than powerful enough to recruit.


    Even though the knight house is under me, that doesn¡¯t mean that I can just do whatever I¡¯d like.


    In my mind, there¡¯s two ways I can go about this.


    1, I can befriend the protagonistic boy, then allow the knight house he¡¯s part of to fall, and take the boy in, with the excuse being he¡¯s my friend, after his house falls.


    Or 2, I can keep in touch with the head of his house, and convince them to have the reincarnated boy train here once he turns seven or eight.


    It¡¯s not uncommon for nobles to send their children who won¡¯t inherit the title away to train at a superior noble¡¯s home, in hopes that they do a good enough job to gain a title of their own.


    Though, it is seen as a slight weakness, it¡¯s a weakness more than made up by the possible support of the house they sent their child to.


    It¡¯s a risk that quite a few, take, though most do still just keep their children at their own home.


    The preferred option for me is the 2nd option, as the viscounty needs to try to keep the knight houses that are actually loyal from falling. I¡¯ll even excuse a little treasonous action if that¡¯s what it takes in order to recruit the protagonistic boy. Though only a little. Then the 1st option is more viable.


    The 1st option is more of a backup. It¡¯s just far more likely.


    I peek out through the door. I¡¯m already starting to regret causing such a scene¡­That was pretty stupid. It was too much¡­


    ¡­I¡¯m gonna have to at least make use of it though while trying to talk to other noble children.


    Even if it was a bad decision, I should at least be making use of it. Turn it back into an acceptable, though somewhat bad, decision.


    My anxiety, which wasn¡¯t doing anything earlier, has really gone up now that I have a chance to think.


    ¡­I kinda have to do it, don¡¯t I? I gotta head out of here.


    I force myself to stand up straight, and head out the door trying to look as confident as I can.


    Apart from a few extra glances my way, no one seems to care about what had just occurred.


    I look around to try to find the boy who seems protagonist-like. Oddly enough, he seems to have completely disappeared, along with the girl he was protecting.


    I do find the ones attacking the girl though. I walk over to them.


    ¡°So, care to explain to me what was going on in that room in detail? I¡¯d particularly want to get names.¡± I ask


    Since I can¡¯t ask the boy myself what his name is since I don¡¯t know where he is, and I forgot to ask, I¡¯ll be doing this to get his name instead.


    ¡°That would certainly not be an issue, Viscount Akashi.¡± One of the boys replies


    His speech is certainly fitting for a noble, even if he isn¡¯t one of peerage. He seems to be a pre-teen, like the rest of his friends.


    Not looking down on me is something I like.


    I suppose, even though he was bullying, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll get rid of him.


    Being mean and being a noble are two things that have no issues co-existing.


    I¡¯ll do my best to discourage his bullying if I don¡¯t get rid of him.


    The noble boy introduces himself, and his friends, and then tells me what the names of the two he was fighting.


    The girl is called Towa Fan, and the boy that seems like one of those generic anime protagonists is called Akio Arita.


    I try my best to remember the unimportant names of the bullies.


    After that, the noble boy explains his version of the story.


    It¡¯s a version that¡¯s quite twisted, I¡¯m sure, but I¡¯ll make use of it anyway, if only to convince the two they were bullying to give their side of the story.


    Essentially, he¡¯s saying the girl, Towa, brought one of his friends into the room to fight, and he and his other friends went in to protect their friend. Then Akio went in and attacked them.


    It¡¯s a story that would make sense if I didn¡¯t have a bias for Akio.


    I mean, he looks so much like a generic anime protagonist. He seems like one too. And generic anime protagonists aren¡¯t really often wrong when it comes to forming their harems¡­ The girl who¡¯s saved by the protagonist soon after he¡¯s been reincarnated is the childhood friend.


    I¡¯m very inclined to believe I¡¯m a character in a web novel who¡¯s either a side character or a main character. Though not the protagonist.


    I¡¯ve been way too influenced by web novels and light novels, but not arrogant enough to believe myself to be the protagonist.


    As such, I¡¯m inclined to use things like stereotypes and tropes to influence my thoughts on people I don¡¯t know.


    It¡¯s not something that I should do, probably, with the whole, ¡®Don¡¯t judge a book by it¡¯s cover¡¯ thing, but it¡¯s something I¡¯m pretty much doing subconsciously, and it¡¯s not something that is entirely wrong. For the most part, it¡¯s correct. If you look like a farmer, you¡¯re probably a farmer. If you look like a noble, then you definitely are one. If you weren¡¯t, you¡¯re either in the process of being killed by a noble, or will be soon.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Nobles take great offense to those who pretend to be nobles.


    I make my way out of the area.


    I should see what the adults are doing¡­ and what takes place at banquets.


    I¡¯m quite curious, actually.


    On my way, I see the girl that was being bullied down the hallway.


    ¡­Her name is Towa, right? I might have already forgotten¡­


    Since she has already triggered some flags to becoming a member of the protago- sorry, Akio. I should call him by his name. Towa has triggered a flag to become a member of Akio¡¯s harem.


    I can probably use her to get in touch with Akio in a more natural, and less odd manner.


    I mean, it¡¯s quite normal to have a friend introduce you to another one of their friends.


    Rather, in this world, that¡¯s the primary way people get to know each other.


    Of course, as a candidate for Akio¡¯s forming harem, she¡¯s likely quite talented too. I¡¯ll attempt to recruit her as well, though I¡¯ll also double-check.


    There¡¯s a chance that she¡¯s not a combatant. Though not a high one.


    I walk up to her.


    ¡°Salutations, I¡¯m Takabi Akashi. I¡¯m asking those involved what I saw occurring in that room¡­ I¡¯m quite curious. It didn¡¯t seem to be a duel,¡± I ask


    While combat in duels is something respected, as well as combat where both parties have agreed to battle, combat where only one side wishes to fight, is quite looked down upon.


    Actually, combat between nobles where only one side wishes to fight is seen in a very bad light. It¡¯s natural for a bystander noble to do a little investigation, especially if the location it took place is inside their territory.


    ¡°They were bullying me, and Akio went to protect me¡­¡± Towa explains,


    ¡­You should probably learn proper noble etiquette. You need to start with a greeting.


    I push the thought to the back of my mind and reply to the girl.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already asked the other party for their side of the conflict. It¡¯s essentially the opposite of what you¡¯re saying happened¡­ you¡¯ll have to explain better than that, else I¡¯ll have to place punishment upon you and Akio,¡± I tell her


    I have to make everything seem the least suspicious as I can.


    Trusting her immediately would be incredibly suspicious.


    It¡¯s hard to become friends with someone you¡¯re suspicious of.


    ¡°...You can punish me if necessary. Please, whatever you do, don¡¯t punish Akio please¡­ He was just helping me.¡± Towa immediately pleads, a few tears leaking out of her eyes


    ¡­That was fast. Really, really fast.


    I sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, yet, I need to see both sides-¡±


    I¡¯m interrupted.


    ¡°What are you doing to Towa?¡± a voice from behind me asks


    It¡¯s Akio.


    ¡­well isn¡¯t that wonderful?


    ¡°I¡¯m simply requesting an explanation on what was going on in that room. I was going to look for you after this, but it seems it¡¯s a better idea to do so now,¡± I reply ¡°The other party has already given me an explanation.¡±


    Akio looks at me with a bit of suspicion, but much less than previously.


    ¡­Da-...Dangit. No cursing, Takabi.


    This might put a bit of a wrench into my plans¡­


    What Towa¡¯s reason for quickly crying to paint me as another enemy or something? Would I be bad for the plot of the story if I were to be on friendly terms, or something?


    ¡­Do I need to fit into an Archetype?


    What Archetype would I even fit into? I¡¯d refuse if I¡¯d have to be part of a harem, or a love interest, in general.


    I¡¯m straight¡­ mostly. I mean, other than just regular girls, I¡¯m fine with traps and reverse traps¡­


    Err, never mind.


    In any case, I refuse to fit into a love interest Archetype no matter what.


    Couldn¡¯t I just avoid the protagonist and whatever the protagonist is here to stop, while also dealing with the underworld on my own¡­?


    I kinda feel like I should be avoiding Akio now¡­


    ¡°And, who, exactly, are you? Just because you walked in on the situation doesn¡¯t mean you have to be involved in it.¡± Akio asks


    ¡°I¡¯m Takabi Akashi. I walked into a situation that¡¯s against noble etiquette, occurring inside my own home. So, I do belive I have reason to involve myself.¡± I reply


    ¡°...Fine.¡± Akio sighs ¡°I¡¯ll tell you my side of the situation.¡±


    Akio goes on to explain, with Towa filling in some information, and speaking up to vocally agree with Akio, here and there.


    Essentially, it¡¯s that Towa was brought into the room by one of the bullies, and the other four went in to bully her with their friend afterwards. Akio followed them in, and they began to fight.


    Akio didn¡¯t last long in the slightest, but then I interviened.


    Now that I think about it, it¡¯s not that impressive that Akio held on that long. I think it felt longer to me since I was also in a combat situation between seeing Akio leave to enter the room, and entering the room myself.


    Combat is something that is often very fast. It¡¯s never as long as anime and the like portray it. Being able to hold out as long as he did was quite good.


    I act like I¡¯m convinced by Akio and Towa.


    I was never really planning on passing a fair judgment. A protagonist-like person such as Akio is far too valuable to pass up on recruiting.


    ¡°...I¡¯ll punish them harshly when I next get the opportunity,¡± I tell them, before continuing to head off towards the adult¡¯s area.


    I¡¯ll take things slow. I¡¯ll figure out if there¡¯s anything tying the bully¡¯s families to any illiegal activities, and call upon Akio and Towa to watch once it¡¯s time for their judjment.


    A somewhat worse punishment compared to average is not a big deal. Often, when passing judjement for something, the results are heavily influenced by the judge''s mood, in this world.


    Judges are mostly also nobles, are royalty. They aren¡¯t trained, so mood has a large influence. A bad mood can lead to particularly bad punishments. A good mood often leads to some punishments that aren¡¯t difficult.


    As such, it wouldn¡¯t be suspicious in the slightest.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you punish them for their actions now?¡± Akio asks


    ¡°Though I¡¯d prefer to, what they did what a breach in noble etiquette, though not a breach in law. As no one was really harmed, it¡¯s not something I can punish them for. The best I can do is punish them particularly harshly when they next get punished. Else, I¡¯d be the one breeching noble etiquette. In a worse way than them, as I¡¯d be breaching the trust between house Akashi and the other knight houses. That could, in turn, prove deadly to the territory. Something such as a particularly harsh sentence, can be assumed to be me having a particularly harsh day, however, and would not breach noble etiquette.¡± I explain


    ¡°...What does noble etiquette matter when people like that are just walking around?¡± Akio asks


    I sigh.


    Well, I suppose my mindset doesn¡¯t clash particularly well with the mindset of someone protagonist like such as Akio.


    ¡°Well, will you take the explanation of ¡®Politics suck¡¯?¡± I ask ¡°I don¡¯t particularly want to get into detail of such a thing.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re like two¡­¡± Akio sighs


    ¡°Yes, and? I¡¯m a particularly mature person for my age, even for nobility.¡± I reply


    ¡°...Fine. Please send a message to houses Fan and Arita, while those bullies are being judged.¡± Akio requests,


    ¡°I will,¡± I tell him, before heading off to the adult¡¯s area of the party.


    A success. How nice. Now, I just need to last the rest of the night while working on the other objectives, and this night will go down wonderfully.

 Chapter XXVIII: The Knights Banquet Pt.1

    I look into the room.


    In the back, a group of bards are playing music. A single huge and long table reaches across the massive room.


    Food and drink that are quite expensive in this world¡¯s technological age are going every which way. Though I can¡¯t see the food, I know some of what¡¯s on the menu.


    I wonder how much this has cost?


    As I stand there wondering that, a man who looks to be in his early thirties walks up to me.


    ¡°Salutations¡­ Viscount Akashi.¡± he greets, sounding quite angry.


    ¡°Salutations,¡± I reply


    I wonder who this guy is¡­?


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you¡¯re duel with my son¡­ did you really have to injure him that badly?¡± The man asks, almost shouting


    Ah¡­ has news spread that quickly? It didn¡¯t feel like long.


    ¡­This is quite a bad situation I¡¯m in¡­ a noble who seems just past his prime such as this man is someone I don¡¯t believe I can handle in a duel.


    A majority of Nobles have higher stats than the common person, haven¡¯t ever worried about starvation, and have much better training.


    Cent was reckless, dumb, and not yet at the prime of his combat prowess.


    The assassins, discounting that hateful guy, Blake Powell, didn¡¯t seem to be that well trained, nor particularly well-fed.


    ¡°...An injury is to be expected in a duel, no?¡± I ask


    The man¡¯s eye twitches. ¡°I suppose the same could go for death if I were to challenge you?¡± the man threatens.


    ¡°Surely, it would be greatly looked down upon if a noble well into their adult life, such as you, were to challenge someone, such as me, who isn¡¯t yet even two?¡± I reply, trying to sound confident.


    ¡°...¡± The knight has no response.


    ¡°I¡¯ll challenge you when you reach an acceptable age, in that case.¡± the knight growls


    ¡°Sure¡­¡± I reply, sounding rather cocky.


    The man walks off.


    ¡°...not like you¡¯ll last that long anyway,¡± I mutter under my breath.


    Even if he¡¯s not doing anything illegal, he¡¯s someone who¡¯s a danger to my health. I¡¯ll push some sort of crime onto him if I have to.


    Sure, it¡¯s corrupt, but letting someone like him live freely as a knight is something that could turn into a disaster.


    I make my way through the room, avoiding the small crowds of nobles and the members of their harems that follow them as I do.


    To be frank, I¡¯m somewhat afraid of being stepped on¡­


    Most of the knights don¡¯t seem to notice me, so it would be quite easy for them to step on me.


    I reach one of the corners of the room.


    I¡¯ve never been to a party before, but it just seems so very natural for me to gravitate towards a corner such as this.


    Quite a few knights have done the same.


    Talking to others isn¡¯t very fun.


    Before long, a dame who looks to be in her early twenties walks up to me.


    Even though I¡¯ve fully committed to purity until I come across a fellow immortal, it¡¯s quite difficult not to notice her massive chest.


    ¡°Salutations, Viscount Akashi,¡± she greets


    ¡°Salutations,¡± I reply


    In my mind, I¡¯m hoping she goes away.


    My mind is still that of a teenage boy. While I have no intention of doing anything lewd, it¡¯s still a bit of a complicated situation. I might''ve had a hard time not thinking of lewd things if I wasn¡¯t a toddler.


    Her chest blocks the view of much of her face, and I feel really awkward looking at her chest. It¡¯s kinda similar to how a normal guy feels when there¡¯s a girl in front of them going up the stairs.


    I¡¯d stare at the floor, but it¡¯s quite rude to look away when someone¡¯s talking. I¡¯m very unsure of what I¡¯m supposed to do¡­


    I¡¯m also socially exhausted, and I feel like every sentence I speak to someone is going to screw something up somehow.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°I¡¯m quite impressed that you managed to beat Baron Ulden¡¯s son Cent in a duel. He may not be a fighter, but he¡¯s still a noble.¡± the dame compliments


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m quite surprised I managed to beat him as well. I have a rather¡­ special skill though that renders the average combatant quite useless against me, despite me not yet being two.¡± I explain


    ¡­I¡¯m sure it¡¯s fine to share some details on my skill, as long as I don¡¯t share to many.


    ¡°That is still quite impressive¡­ rather, I¡¯d say it makes it even better. Such a skill will surely bring great success to the house in the future¡­¡± she tells me


    ¡­She¡¯s just sucking up to me, isn¡¯t she?


    How far has her house fallen that she¡¯d resort to sucking up to me?


    ¡­No, no. Maybe she¡¯s being genuine?


    Still doesn¡¯t change the fact that she¡¯s sucking up to me, but it takes most of the negatives out of it.


    ¡­I really doubt that though. It feels kinda painful getting compliments as hollow as these. Worse than my norm of getting absolutely zero compliments.


    The girl continues to suck up to me for a while, and I ignore her the best I can. She leaves after getting the hint that it won¡¯t work.


    After the dame leaves, the rest of the banquet goes on with knights and dames coming up to talk to me every once in a while, with me becoming more and more social exhausted and becoming sleepy slowly, until it¡¯s time for me to get to the point of the banquet at roughly the midpoint of the entire thing.


    <hr>


    Bedo walks up to me.


    ¡°Salutations, Master Akashi,¡± He greets


    ¡°...Salutations Bedo. I¡¯m quite exhausted. Would it be alright for me to rest for a bit?¡± I ask


    ¡°Apologies. It¡¯s time to get to the official reason for this banquet.¡± Bedo tells me


    ¡­


    A bleeped-out string of curses go through my mind.


    I sigh. ¡°...Alright then¡­¡±


    Let¡¯s not screw this up. After this, I¡¯ll head to the children¡¯s area, where hopefully most of them are asleep, and I¡¯ll be able to rest my social battery a bit, at the very least.


    Though I still won¡¯t be able to sleep, so I¡¯ll just have to deal with that.


    I stand straight and try to wake myself up. I raise my hand over my mouth and yawn.


    I¡¯m not used to this amount of activity, even if it isn¡¯t really physical.


    My attempts to make myself feel not as sleep fail. My eyelids of drooping.


    ¡­Maybe it would be acceptable for me to sleep¡­ I¡¯m not even two yet, so it should be fine.


    I yawn again.


    Momentarily, I¡¯m awake. I can tell I won¡¯t be able to keep myself awake for long though no matter what though.


    I make my way towards the head of the table and sit down at it.


    I take a quick look at my cheat sheet speech, before sighing, folding it up, and placing it into my pocket.


    I won¡¯t be following it. I didn¡¯t prepare it, and I never do well with strict scripts like this anyway, based on my experience in school.


    Knowing what¡¯s going on in your subject, and being able to answer any questions necessary while still also keeping to a few main points, is the best way to do a speech or presentation, or something similar, in my opinion.


    The points I need to touch up on are what happened, what¡¯s going on right now, and then have the knight houses come up with ideas for what to respond with. I don¡¯t really have the energy to think much right now, so I¡¯ll go with allowing the knights to vote tonight.


    I stand up on my chair and Bedo rings a special instrument. It¡¯s not something that exists on Earth, to my knowledge. It¡¯s called a Banquet Bell, and it¡¯s used to signify that it¡¯s time to get to the point of the banquet.


    Conversation quickly dies down. Once it stops, I begin.


    ¡°Salutations, I¡¯m Viscount Akashi... I¡¯m quite sure you all are well aware of the reason for this banquet¡­ I¡¯ll give those who are unaware a refresher, though¡± I start, getting a bit more into talking.


    ¡°Perhaps¡­ two weeks ago, Baron Ulden¡¯s Son, Cent Ulden, had challenged me to a duel. I, quite offended, accepted. Thanks to my special skill, I had won the duel. Rather offended by Cent challenging someone not yet two years old such as myself, and quite afraid of what would happen to the next child in such a predicament, I ended his Life.¡± I explain


    I pause for a bit. ¡°Surely, you all agree that such a man is best left dead, correct?¡± I continue without much pause for a response. ¡°Though, let¡¯s keep that information away from Baron Ulden, yes? Probably, that wouldn¡¯t end too well for you all. Baron Ulden has quite the nasty personality.¡±


    ¡°This nasty personality of his was revealed to me with his response to the duel. He¡¯s asking for reparations for his son¡¯s death.¡± I enhance and multiply my inner frustration at Baron Ulden from minor annoyance, to actual anger. ¡°In the first place, his son is the one who challenges me, and in the second, death is something to be expected in a duel! I¡¯m sure you all can see why I¡¯m so frustrated with such an insolent fool.¡±


    I stop for a bit, to allow for some knights and dames to mutter their agreement. I no longer feel so sleepy.


    ¡°...Now, this doesn¡¯t quite make it enough to call this banquet. I, being a viscount, can surely squish Baron House Ulden.¡± I start the final part.


    ¡°However, with how nasty of a personality Baron Ulden is, I¡¯m sure he¡¯d attempt to kill off you, and your families while he¡¯s in the process of being squished. I¡¯m fairly sure he has something to do with the attack launched on me recently.¡± I tell the knights and dames, trying my best to rile them up, while also painting myself as relatable and as someone who cares for them. It¡¯s not even really a lie, more just an over-exaggeration of some minor suspicions.


    After all, I¡¯m quite incapable of uttering something I think is a lie. A full lie goes against my personal values, and makes me feel incredibly guilty.


    A great over-exaggeration, however, is fine.


    ¡°...As such, since you¡¯ll likely be the ones more impacted, I¡¯ve decided to call this banquet, so you may decide. The attack on me was almost certainly led my some other faction, so I don¡¯t believe they¡¯ll attack once more. However, I don¡¯t believe he¡¯ll have much trouble killing houses that are less armed, and of lesser rank.¡± I continue.


    ¡°Now, if anyone has any ideas, they may take the head chair. At dawn, you shall vote, and whichever idea has the largest following will be followed.¡± I finish


    Then I force myself to flinch-teleport off the chair, and to the floor, before heading back off into a corner, to give myself a flashy finish.


    Mentally, I give myself a pat on the back.


    Bedo comes up to me.


    ¡°That was excellent, Master Akashi. It seems as if you¡¯re genuinely angry at Baron Ulden.¡± Bedo praises


    ¡­I¡¯m sure it¡¯s not that good until you take my age into account.


    Perhaps it was alright, though.


    ¡°To be frank he is quite the imbecile. If I actually had to deal with him I¡¯d be quite angry.¡± I reply, choosing to ignore the more direct praise. ¡°Now, I¡¯m going to go to the children¡¯s area once more. Hopefully they¡¯re asleep and I can sleep as well. If I¡¯m not back before dawn, send someone to get me.¡±


    With that, I head off.

 Chapter XXIX: The Knights Banquet Pt.2

    I enter the children¡¯s area of the banquet.


    Dangit¡­


    While the area is significantly more empty, plenty of young possible heirs are still awake and talking.


    It¡¯s the middle of the night¡­


    Most of those who are awake are pre-teens, but that doesn¡¯t mean I can sleep.


    I¡¯m starting to really feel the effects of my sleepiness. The speech used up my last bit of energy to stay awake.


    ¡­Maybe I can nod off in a corner? I know it¡¯s a bad idea, but¡­


    I just really feel like I need to sleep¡­


    If it¡¯s the same as in my first life, I tend to get delirious and act how I¡¯d probably act if I were to ever get drunk.


    I¡¯m not sure how I¡¯d act if I got drunk, and I never will.


    My dad gave me some when I was like, nine, or something. It was one of those super-cheap ones though that taste terrible,though.


    I don¡¯t remember the taste other than it was bad.


    Regardless, I¡¯m never having any alcohol. I¡¯m well aware that that was his intention, but it¡¯s something I should be staying away from anyway.


    ¡­Now that I think of it, a lot of common things that are bad for people, like soda, or coffee, have gone through a similar process for me.


    I mean, not too similar with some. I¡¯ve just never had soda and don¡¯t see a reason to try it.


    But for coffee, it¡¯s essentially the same as how it is with alcohol.


    ¡­I don¡¯t mind tea though. I wish I could have some though. For the bit of caffeine.


    I need to be awake right now¡­


    I head into one of the side rooms.


    ¡­the children of knights and dames are all over the place, asleep. Most of them in this room seem to be between the ages 5 and 8.


    Very improper, but I do understand. With the culture of the nobles, going to sleep at an event such as this is something that should be avoided.


    I head to a corner and lean against it, so that I at least look more awake while being asleep than the other children here.


    With that little bit of support, darkness closes around my vision, and my consciousness fades.


    <hr>


    My eyes open and I stand up against the wall at the same time.


    I¡¯m still really sleepy, but I think I¡¯m awake enough to continue for a while.


    I look around me.


    Still asleep. Good.


    I make my way out of the small room. By this time, the older children, apart from a few almost teenagers who¡¯ve seem to have gotten their hands on alcohol, somehow.


    I make my way around the ones who are awake and make my way to the adult¡¯s area.


    I look out a window that''s on the way.


    It¡¯s of far worse quality than any modern window, but windows are extremely hard to make in this world, and are really, really, really expensive.


    It¡¯s still night time.


    Excellent. So I just took a bit of a nap.


    I¡¯ll probably fall asleep at midday, but that¡¯s not an issue.


    I enter the adult¡¯s area once more and stand in a random corner.


    It¡¯s not too long before some knights and dames come over to talk to me.


    It¡¯s all just ¡®pleasantries¡¯, which aren¡¯t so pleasant, but it¡¯s better than having an actual conversation. My brain isn¡¯t quite ready for that right now.


    Slowly, so very slowly, time drags on.


    Once the exchange of pleasantries of a knight and I end, I make my way out of the room to take a look at the rough time via a window.


    It¡¯s early dawn.


    I¡¯d like to end the banquet as quickly as possible, so I¡¯ll get all the votes and propositions now. It¡¯s a little early, but I didn¡¯t specify what time of dawn.


    I head back into the room and head to the head of the table. It¡¯s a bit odd how fast Bedo notices and rings the banquet bell.


    I stand up on my chair and begin.


    ¡°Salutations once more. I¡¯d just like to announce that the time to discuss things has come to an end. Those who¡¯d feel like their proposition has a good chance based on your conversation during this time, please come up to give a quick recap on your proposition.¡± I tell the knights and dames, before filch-teleporting back to stand behind the chair.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    I wonder how the knights think of my teleportation?


    It never came up as a topic of conversation.


    A dame who looks to be about thirty or so comes up and stands next to the chair.


    She begins her proposition.


    I don¡¯t really focus on what she says, but in short it¡¯s that the Akashi viscounty should provide soldiers to protect them.


    While my opinion of the woman is lowered by her proposition, I could make use of it to easily spy on all of the knight households.


    A eldery knight comes up afterwards.


    The basics of his proposition is to provoke the Ulden Barony into attacking us, and request other territories to stop trade with the Ulden Barony due to the negative political effect of attacking someone who isn¡¯t two yet.


    Then once their territory is starving, and their troops are exhausted, counter-attack and conquer their territory.


    It¡¯s a very bold plan, that I think would have a decent chance at success. The big problem is that the Ulden Barony and Akashi Viscounty aren¡¯t connected.


    The viscounty of a neighboring noble would have to be beaten and conquered to allow for that.


    That viscount has a head who is quite cautious, and well liked. Declaring a war against them would paint me badly in the eyes of other nobles, which is dangerous, and it¡¯s extremely unlikely that I could get them to declare war with me in a way that doesn¡¯t also paint me badly.


    As such, even if the main part would be a success, the benefits would not be able to fall into my hands.


    Another middle-aged dame comes up next.


    Her proposition is to send a complaint regarding the behavior of the Ulden Barony to one of the closer Dukes or Counts, and put a bit more funding into the military to train more reserve soldiers, but otherwise ignore the Ulden Barony.


    This is the proposition I like best so far. I can¡¯t immediately think of a major flaw, either. Though I¡¯m sure there are some.


    I can send soldiers under my command to train the reserve troops to spy on the knight houses, I can prepare for war, and I don¡¯t actually have to go to war, unless the Ulden Barony decides it¡¯s a good idea, or I decide I want to head to war with them. I don¡¯t have to foot the entire bill either.


    Even the thing that¡¯s closest to being a major flaw is solved rather easily. Sending a complaint to a duke or count may normally tie me to a faction, but there¡¯s a count that currently hasn¡¯t chosen a faction quite close. They¡¯re on the other side of one of the Ulden Barony¡¯s neighboring baronies.


    Deciding that the solution is quite good, and it wouldn¡¯t be worth it to spend more time on propositions, after the dame sits back down, I give a glare across the room.


    If anyone really wants to give a proposition, they have the freedom to, but it will annoy me, and I¡¯m making that known.


    No one decides their proposition is good enough to risk gaining my ire, and after around two dozen seconds of no one stepping up, I move back to stand on my chair again.


    ¡­I¡¯m getting a bit hungry¡­ servants have replaced the food with more fresh food, and now I can really smell it right below me.


    I¡¯m glad they were also going around serving food to those standing, since I ate some before I took my nap.


    ¡°Seems we have our three propositions. I¡¯ll be giving my opinion on each of them, and then the three who have given propositions can give their opinion on my opinion, as well as their own opinion on the other propositions if they feel that to be necessary.¡± I announce. I¡¯m not really expecting any of the three to actually give an opinion on my opinion, but maybe a discussion will start from them giving opinions on each other''s propositions.


    ¡°For the first proposition, I believe it will be acceptable as long as each knight house pays for the soldiers that are to be sent to them. I will send a few soldiers for free, though.¡± I explain.


    I¡¯ll be keeping my opinions as short as I can.


    ¡°For the second, it¡¯s a rather bold plan, but it has a chance to have great benefits. However, there¡¯s another viscounty in the way, and so holding the Ulden Barony once it falls would be difficult, and so the only option would be to sell it. Alas, that much money is quite the boon.¡± I continue


    ¡°As for the third proposition, taxes will rise slightly to pay for the training of soldiers, but otherwise, there are no issues. I¡¯m aware of a count that¡¯s currently factionless, and is also very close to Baron Ulden¡¯s territory, so no issues will come from that.¡± I finish


    I get down normally this time, and walk backwards until I hit the wall.


    The elderly man stands up and makes his way to the head of the table.


    ¡°The two options proposed by the two ladies will certainly be unprofitable to the territory, whereas my proposition has a good chance of increasing the riches of the territory. We can also use the war as a chance to gain allies, and decrease our losses significantly. As long as we balance which factions our new allies come from, there will be no risk of being forced to join a faction. As such, there aren¡¯t any significant negatives, but great benefits.¡± the elderly man leaves to head back to his seat after saying his bit.


    The second dame gets up and goes to the head of the table.


    ¡°The viscounty is extremely rich already, so there isn¡¯t any real need to attack for the sake of amassing more wealth. It may also be difficult to gain allies in a way that keeps us neutral. While some attention should certainly be placed in defense, and we should attack if attacked first, the wealth of a poor barony such as the Ulden Barony isn¡¯t enough to warrant conquering or selling it.  As such, it¡¯s best to save some resources.¡± the viscountess explains


    She heads back to her seat.


    The first dame doesn¡¯t get up from her seat.


    I wait for half a minute before moving back and climbing onto my seat and standing on it.


    ¡°Alright, now that that¡¯s over with, let¡¯s begin voting. If you are in favor of the first proposal, please head next to the door, if you¡¯re in favor of the second proposal, please head to my right, and if you¡¯re in favor of the third proposal, come behind me. Leave your lovers behind, as that will mess up counting.¡± I order


    ¡­I don¡¯t feel like tallying it up, so I¡¯m hoping whether option two or three have a clear victory between them. I don¡¯t really care either way. The elderly knight explained his better, but the middle-aged dame has a proposal that I initially liked more.


    Having those who chose the first option head to the door is another hint of me disliking that option, for those dense enough to have not gotten it already.


    Slowly, the nobles make their decisions and head to either option two or three.


    After a bit, when no more people make there way to either side, I ask ¡°Has every knight and dame made their decision?¡±


    No one says otherwise.


    I look at the sides.


    I think option three has won.


    At least, it looks like that. It¡¯s not close enough to count. I¡¯m 80% sure.


    ¡°Seems we¡¯ll be going with proposal three.¡± I announce


    ¡°You¡¯re all free to leave whenever you¡¯d like, as long as you¡¯re all gone by noon.¡± I tell them, before heading back into my corner.


    Due to my sleepiness, my memory becomes more and more blurred.


    There I stay, talking to some nobles every once in a while, as I watch the nobles congregate with eachother, while some slowly leave after grabbing their children.


    A good unseen side affect is that the knights and dames seem to have started getting upset with eachother over which proposal was chosen.


    The more they¡¯re fighting with eachother, the better for me.


    At noon, the last knight leaves.


    I head up to my room, and quickly fall asleep.


    <hr>

 Chapter XXX: Reminder of the Basic Human Rights Issue

    Reminder of the Basic Human Rights Issue


    The me from my past life floats above me. It¡¯s been a week since the Knight¡¯s Banquet. I wonder what¡¯s taken him so long to decide to speak to me after it?


    ¡°I suppose that was passably done.¡± they tell me.


    ¡­A compliment wouldn¡¯t cost much, right¡­?


    ¡­Actually, no, it would, wouldn¡¯t it?


    Across both my lives, I¡¯ve somehow managed to compliment someone only a single time. Sure, I¡¯ve complimented people¡¯s work, but never someone themself.


    As such, any compliment coming from me means far more than a compliment from someone who compliments others often, right?


    The one compliment I gave was to a female friend, and I remember it distinctly because my face almost went anime levels of red. Mostly in embarrassment. It was around a year before I died. Quite long ago, from my perspective.


    ¡°...I suppose it¡¯s better than I can do.¡± they sigh


    ¡­haaa.


    Fine.


    ¡°Anyways, I didn¡¯t come here to congratulate you.¡± my other self tells me, looking serious and somber.


    ¡°I came here to let you know that you forgot to deal with the slaves living in this household. I can¡¯t believe you forgot about such a violation of human rights happening quite literally right under your nose.¡± my other self tells me.


    ¡­


    I¡¯m not sure how to reply.


    I feel guilty¡­


    I should have taken at least a look at the situation when I had time¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll go fix that right away.¡± I tell my other self, having the guilt leak out of my voice more than necessary.


    My other self¡¯s expression goes back to normal.


    ¡°Good. Now, before I go, I¡¯m gonna tell you to just custom order a miniature spear for yourself. We¡¯re both well aware that you¡¯re bad with a knife. Even if the main advantage of a spear, it¡¯s reach, is most, it¡¯s still far better than using a knife. I¡¯m not sure why you haven¡¯t thought about just getting a custom order yet.¡± they tell me. After saying that, they leave.


    I¡¯m left sitting in darkness.


    Seems my dream is yet to be over.


    My dream heads to a place in my memories I don¡¯t want it to go.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Rira and Betha¡¯s funeral.


    It¡¯s not a very clear memory. Feeling like you¡¯re dead does that.


    I push the dream away.


    End.


    I don¡¯t want to think about this right now.


    To my surprise, it does end, returning my mind to darkness.


    I should wake up. Take a look at the situation with the slaves.


    Though I¡¯d like to, I realize it¡¯s dumb to do such a thing without first finding out if they could even survive as freemen and free woman.


    While their existence likely is horrible, slaves who haven¡¯t been anything other than a slave for a long while would likely not be capable of surviving on their own. It¡¯s not something I really want to think about, while slaves that are used as servants, and slaves used for labor wouldn¡¯t have to many issues surviving, those used for¡­Err¡­uhh¡­s-sexual needs, wouldn¡¯t be capable of surviving on their own.


    This society places importance on one¡¯s purity, and loyalty, if they are marrying in a submissive position.


    Only the very best looking men and women would be able to marry someone while they are no longer pure, and that¡¯s sometimes a stretch.


    Those who want to be in a dominant position, or love purity, would rather die a virgin or work for years of their life to buy a slave, than do it with someone impure.


    Those who don¡¯t have such strong will, or don¡¯t care as much about being submissive or purity, become the people in the submissive position.


    It¡¯s a system that works well enough.


    Though it doesn¡¯t work well when it comes to equal relationships, those aren¡¯t something that are common.


    While on average, there is equality, on a basis between individuals, there¡¯s almost no such thing.


    It¡¯s ingrained into the culture of the region.


    ¡­getting rid of slavery will be really hard, won¡¯t it?


    At the very least I can do my best. If all else, at least I¡¯ll make it not as bad.


    I shut my eyes within my dream. No point in keeping them open, if I¡¯m only going to see darkness.


    Shutting my eyes makes me feel like time¡¯s faster. I¡¯ll just wait for my dream to finish.


    <hr>


    The early morning sunlight hits my eyes.


    I look at the clock.


    Roughly 6 in the morning.


    I sit up.


    ¡­I feel like I¡¯m in a bad mood right now.


    But regarldess, I must to go check on the situations with the slaves. I do hope, it isn¡¯t too bad.


    I change into proper noble attire, before calling for a servant to get Bedo for me. Wouldn¡¯t it actually be faster to have someone who knows who the slaves are round them up first?


    I wait at my desk for him.


    It¡¯s not long before, as always, Bedo appears before me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re well aware that I have a¡­ distaste¡­ for slavery. Please gather all the slaves in the household in the dungeon. I¡¯m going to fix the problem.¡± I tell Bedo


    ¡­I don¡¯t think that came out quite how I wanted it to. I don¡¯t believe that really matters, though.


    I¡¯m worried there¡¯s some slaves in the dungeon that can¡¯t be moved. Who knows what my¡­ father¡­ has done.


    ¡°As you wish, Master.¡± Bedo replies with a bow.


    He makes his way out of the room.


    I wonder just how many slaves there are?


    I really hope there¡¯s not many¡­ it¡¯s practically an impossibility that there¡¯s none, but I won¡¯t feel as guilty for putting it off for as long as I have if there¡¯s not many of them.


    It¡¯s not long before Bedo comes back to get me.


    He leads me down to the dungeon.


    We stop in front of a door. The door that is the dungeon¡¯s entrance.


    I¡¯m somewhat reluctant to go in. Reluctant to deal with the problems inside.


    I sigh deeply.


    Alright.


    Bedo opens up the door for me, and I head inside.

 Chapter XXXI: The Human Rights Issue

    Chapter XXXI: The Human Rights Issue


    ¡­


    ¡­H-How many is this¡­?


    I count them in my head.


    32 slaves¡­ As expected of my father, there¡¯s not a single male.


    Most of them are wearing the uniforms for household staff. About twenty. They sit on their knees on the floor, some rope tied around their wrists.


    ¡­But the rest of them are chained. My father¡¯s¡­ errm, pleasure slaves.


    All of them are dressed in rags. It¡¯s easy to see their treatment has been rough.


    ¡°Consider all of yourselves no longer slaves.¡± I tell them. ¡°If you wish to continue working here, you may stay. Your current lives will be maintained, if you choose to do so. You will receive a small amount of pay at the end of each year.¡±


    ¡°...For those who were my father¡¯s¡­ pleasure slaves, if you wish, you may be trained to replace those who want to leave.¡± I finish, before turning around and walking away, back to my room.


    I don¡¯t want to deal with this. I really don¡¯t. I don¡¯t understand why I find it so difficult.


    I head back up to my room and lay down in bed. I feel exhausted from just that alone.


    I pull my blanket over my head and just lay there. I¡¯ll get up later, when I have to do my magic training.


    <hr>


    ¡°Bedo¡­ What¡¯s¡­ the situation with the slaves, now?¡± I ask ¡°...How many have left?¡±


    It¡¯s been a couple hours since I freed the slaves. It¡¯s night now.


    ¡°...Most of Former Master¡¯s pleasure slaves have decided to leave, along with 7 of the servant slaves.¡± Bedo tells me


    ¡°...Please hire 7 servants from the town¡­ choose those who are poor, and in dire condition, preferably, so they can be a bit more loyal¡­¡± I tell Bedo.


    ¡°As you wish, master.¡± Bedo replies.


    ¡°Dismissed.¡± I tell him


    Bedo leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.


    My mind is on the situation with the slaves. I¡¯ve been distracted today.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡­Situations such as that need to be prevented. They need to be prevented as much as possible.


    I think to the cause of most of the slaves.


    With the war being rather recent, most slaves are former soldiers from the neighboring countries. They¡¯ve done no wrong. Only being born on the wrong side of the border.


    However, if not being made into slaves, what should be done with the prisoners of war? There are many who are bought back by their country, but those are the more wealthy individuals. Many have families who can¡¯t pay to get them back. And their country certainly can¡¯t either.


    If prisoners of war were released immediately after the conflict ends, then the other side wouldn¡¯t pay to get any of their nobles or soldiers back.


    Killing prisoners is a barbaric thing.


    Additionally, both are rather expensive.


    People just sitting there, doing nothing, is useless.


    There¡¯s also criminals who become slaves, but having jails is, well, stupid, to say the least. It¡¯s a drain on resources.


    There¡¯s also people who are kidnapped, and those sold by their families.


    If they were sold by their family, then they¡¯d just end up starving or being abandoned if their family was found. And it¡¯s not easy to find their family again in the first place.


    ¡­


    It¡¯s a complicated issue that you can¡¯t win in. It¡¯s made even more complicated by the fact that many kidnappings are done by framing the victim with a crime.


    ¡­haaa.


    There¡¯s also the problem that people of the Akashi territory love slavery. There would be riots if I were to get rid of it.


    ¡­


    I suppose the best I can do is try to prevent the abuse of slaves, as well as prevent unfair kidnappings via framing¡­


    Hmmm¡­


    Okay¡­


    I head to my desk and pull out a paper and a feather pen, along with a jar of ink.


    I begin writing out my idea.


    Have 3-4 checks on the slaves of slave owners each year to make sure the slaves aren¡¯t being abused. Though slaves that were enslaved due to certain charges such as murder or treason, do not have this as protection.


    Slaves that are being abused are taken by the government, and the owner is to face a heavy fine. Enough charges will lead to the slave owner being made a slave themself.


    As of now, the person who reports a crime will get the criminal as a slave. I take away this reward, which was fraught with corruption. There are no benefits to reporting crime, other than being safer, which should be good enough.


    Slaves due to crime will be taken control of by the government.


    Those slaves will be provided to trusted slave traders.


    Slave traders will have forced to have a licence. If not, they will be deemed as criminals, and become slaves. Their wares will be confiscated.


    ¡­It¡¯s a situation that is a bit better. It¡¯s also one that deals a small blow to the Underworld, since they¡¯ll end up having to pay bribes to corrupt officials to get licenses, or, better yet, fail to do so and become slaves.


    Their competitors will also be provided with benefits.


    ¡­


    While I¡¯d like to get rid of slavery entirely, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s really possible to do so. This is the best I can do for now. I can tell that this alone will cause some problems for me¡­


    I put away the feather pen and close the jar of ink, before heading to bed. I need to let it dry, so I¡¯ll wait until morning. Before having Bedo implement it.


    <hr>

 I will be back later.

    I''ve decided to write something else for a bit.


    I''m not entirely sure why, but I don''t feel like writing this anymore at the time.


    I''ll come back to it. If I ever decide I definitely won''t, I''ll delete this story.


    Thank you for reading what you have read so far. I''m well aware that this piece of writing is rather terrible, and hopefully, when I come back to write this, if I do, I''ll be a much better writer.


    I''m much more likely to end up re-writing this entire thing, if anything.


    ...


    I need to continue to talk. I have to fill up the 500 word requirement, after all. I refuse to simply put down a bunch of ''a a a a a''s though.


    ...


    I really wonder what I should talk about though? Well, write about.


    Hmmm...


    ...I suppose I''ll go on a tad bit of a rant. I''m sorry.


    I feel like a part of the reason I''ve lost motivation is the complete lack of interaction with you... I know my writing''s bad, but somehow, 3 people follow it.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Why?


    Please, please tell me. I would really love to know.


    What do you like about this piece of writing?


    ...


    And why the silence? It''s been more than two months of crappy writing, and yet... not a single comment. I feel like even a snarky criticism would be better than this... complete silence.


    Are the views on my story simply robots? Or are those of you reading this, real? It would be really, really comforting to know that an actual human has read what I''ve written.


    I suppose it''s not a good idea to go down this rant.


    I''m sorry.


    I''ll stop, now.


    Haaa...


    ...


    ...


    ...I still have to talk for 200 more words, huh?


    I''m an introvert. If there''s nothing to speak about, I prefer the silence. Writing a story is my will to make figment of my imagination, figments of dreams, real. I feel like I''ve done those dreams no justice. This pitiful trashy writing doesn''t match with the images pulled from dreams in my mind.


    I want to make them real, if only words on a page. To make them more than mere thoughts.


    That''s how all my stories come to be. This isn''t my only account on this site. I have another, though all the stories on it are dead.


    For this one, I''ve managed to stop myself from deleting it.


    After a month or two, looking back on your story, you cringe, and you want to kill it. To erase it.


    They aren''t good enough for the figments of imagination in my head. The figments of my dreams. I''m not good enough of a writer to give them justice.


    ...This one is different though, in somewhat of a bad way.


    I feel like, this time, the only reason this one lives, is because I do have another reason for writing, apart from my dreams that I want to make words on a page.


    ...


    I won''t talk about that.


    ...


    It''s embarrassing, my ulterior motive.


    So, I''ll end it here.


    If I return, which I do hope I do...


    I hope I''ll paint the picture in my mind, write the story in my dreams.


    Goodbye. I hope we''ll speak again.