Chapter 2

My name is Hermann. I am the third son of a farming family in a rural village, born to my father Atsio and my mother Noelia. I am now two years old, but I still have memories from my previous life. In my previous life, I was apparently a salaryman in a country called Japan, but I don't remember much about it. However, I am certain that this world is different from the one I remember from my previous life. I have encountered animals I've never seen before and met magicians, among other things.

I concluded that it would be best to put my memories of the previous world aside. After all, I was born into a world that is different in every way. This world has its own set of norms. If I were to disrupt them, I wouldn't grow up to be a decent adult. I might still be influenced by my past life, making me a child who doesn't act like a child. ...I think this is within acceptable limits. My family already treats me as a smart child.

However, my mind is that of an adult. I can't go back to playing in the mud with other children like I used to. ...I once thought I wanted to be a child again. If that's the case, I should try it. But if I do, I'll end up lonely. In fact, I haven't been able to fit in with the other children in the village. They seem to be having fun, but I don't understand what's so enjoyable. Moreover, this world lacks entertainment.

Everything I see is new, but most of it doesn't move me. It's an unfamiliar life, but one where the results are visible. My parents received a bird from a hunter. It's a bird I don't know. I think it's beautiful, but that's all. The result is that it ends up in my stomach. My emotions are those of an adult. I don't even ask, "What's for dinner today?" in an innocent way.

However, even if most things are gray, this world has colors that my previous world didn't. Magic, something that didn't exist in my previous life. This was the first thing that moved me in this world. The first magic I saw was performed by an alchemist who was doing a traveling business. A golem was pulling a cart. I suppose you could call it a golem cart. When I first saw it, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!" I even asked if I could touch it. It was a golem that carried loads, like a centaur walking on four legs. The moment I touched it, I felt something. I wanted to learn this kind of mystery. I asked the traveling merchant how to do such things, how to do magic. The answer was to become an alchemist.

The problem was how to become an alchemist. After the traveling merchant left, I honestly told my parents that I wanted to become an alchemist. ...Their response was a wry smile. They then began to lecture me. They said that when I turn six, there will be a ceremony called the Star Allocation at the church, where I will receive talents from God. If I show potential for alchemy during this ceremony, I can aim to become an alchemist.

They said that out of ten people, one might have the talent for alchemy. ...However, they didn't know how the stars would be allocated. Apparently, each person has ten talent stars, and God distributes them. One star might be allocated to ten talents, or all ten stars might be allocated to one talent. ...In other words, I need to draw alchemy in the talent lottery.

Even so, I understood that if I were to aim for this, I would need to save money. Or rather, I should say I already knew this. According to my parents, there is a school in the capital where one can learn alchemy. I would need to save enough money to go there. I didn't know how much I needed to save, but I wasn't going to give up. First, I needed to draw the right talent, but if I waited until I drew it, it would be too late to prepare. Since I am the third son, I have no reason to stay at home. I decided to do everything I could.

So, I took action immediately. In the morning, I asked my parents if there was an alchemist in the village. Even if there wasn't, it was fine, but if there was, I planned to visit. Fortunately, there was an alchemist in the village. Although the alchemist lived at the edge of the village, in front of a forest, people from the village sometimes went to buy potions. The alchemist was often not there, but was usually at home. It took me about 15 minutes to run there. I decided to act quickly and went straight there.

After running for 15 minutes, I found a mud house in front of the forest. It seemed to be set up as a shop, with a sign I couldn't read. ...I was a bit excited from running, but I opened the door, hoping the person inside wasn't scary. When I opened the door, a bell rang and echoed inside the shop.

"Excuse me."

"Wait a moment!"

A woman's voice came from the back. It was a clear voice, so I thought she might be young. After waiting a bit, a woman who looked to be in her late 20s or early 30s came from behind the counter.

"Oh, welcome, little boy. Are you here on an errand?"

"No! I want to know how to become an alchemist. What do I need to prepare? How much money will I need?"

"Wait a moment. ...Boy, shouldn't you wait until you've had the Star Allocation ceremony? You're still too young, aren't you?"

"It will be too late if I wait. I need to save money. Is there anything I can do?"

"Money, you could ask your parents... but that's not possible, is it? You're a commoner. Alright, first, you need to be able to do this."

She said this and then her right hand split open, revealing a white space. She took out some bottles and other items and then put them back.

"This is a magic called 'Extend Space.' First, you need to be able to use this. Magic power... come here and put your hands on the counter."

I did as she said and put my hands on the counter. ...They didn't quite reach, but it couldn't be helped. I was still small. She held my hands as if to grip them and generated an Extend Space between them.

"This is the feeling of magic power. Remember it. Now, try to activate the magic I just showed you. Then, go to the church and learn to read and write. Come back when you can read and write. If you can activate the magic by then, that's even better, but focus on learning to read and write first. ...Good luck."

She gave me a small encouragement. I now knew what to do: learn the Extend Space magic and learn to read and write. ...It was still morning. Next, I needed to go to the church to learn to read and write. I knew where the church was. It had a cross on the roof. I had been there before. I ran back the way I came and headed to the church.

The church was in the center of the village, across from the village chief's house and the well. It was a grand stone building with a door that was twice as tall as an adult. The double doors were both open, allowing free entry and exit. I stepped in without hesitation. I wasn't doing anything wrong, so I walked in confidently. Inside, a priest and a nun were cleaning and noticed my footsteps. They looked at me.

"Welcome to the church. Are you here on an errand?"

"Um! I came to learn to read and write... What should I do?"

The priest and the nun looked surprised but then the priest smiled kindly and said,

"I see, you want to learn to read and write. Sister Camilla, please take him to the classroom and teach him."

"Understood, Father Simon. Come this way."

I followed the nun. We turned past the altar and entered a room near the back. The room had a few sets of chairs and desks. As I looked around, the nun brought a textbook.

"Sit here. I'll start by reading to you. I'll point to the letters as I read, so listen carefully and try to remember. Let's start from the beginning. Kami wa..."

I started to learn the letters from the holy book. It seemed to be a phonetic script, similar to learning hiragana in Japanese. ...I felt I could learn to read and write quickly. I didn't know how many letters there were, but I would have to learn them one by one.

...I studied without saying a word until it was dusk. I could read some of the letters, even though I had only been learning for one day. If this feeling grows, I should be able to read everything. Writing should be manageable if I can read. I think I can do it in a month. ...I haven't tried the magic yet, but I think it will be difficult in a month. It's something I never did in my previous life, and I have no confidence. However, I can feel the magic power. I just need to move it and manipulate events. I feel this sensation in my hands.

"Let's end here for today. You did well to study for so long. If you want to study more, come back to the church."

I received permission from the nun to come back and left the church. All that was left was to report to my parents, but I felt a bit heavy-hearted. I was only two years old, but I was already doing things that would prepare me for independence. I had to do it, but I was still a child. I still had a long way to go until I reached adulthood at 12 years old. However, I had finally found what I wanted to do and who I wanted to become. I hoped I could be allowed to pursue it freely.

When I got home, I told my parents everything that had happened. I told them that the alchemist had encouraged me and given me a task, and that I planned to go to the church to learn to read and write. I told them everything that had happened today and my plans for the next day.

"...You'll be kicked out of the house eventually. Try your best."

"Yes. I know it's a bit early, but you've always been a well-behaved child. Try your best."

"Understood. I'll do my best."

It might be a bit early compared to others, but I'll start working hard for my independence. Ah, I practiced the Extend Space magic until I went to bed, but I couldn't do it at all.

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...Probably.