Chapter 13

I took over the body of Wendelin von Bennau Bauermaster, the eighth son of the lord of the Bauermaster knight's territory in the southern border region of the Helmut Kingdom on the Lingaia continent, about three months ago.

During this time, various events have been playing out like a flood, affecting my small body.

However, I am basically enjoying this situation.

As the eighth son of a miso-kasu (a low-ranking noble family), I was only a nominal noble with no inheritance or territory, but it was clear that I had the rare talent of being a magic user in this world, and I could go out to practice without much restriction despite my child's body.

To be honest, I think they are too busy to pay attention to a six-year-old kid.

Furthermore, I had recently succeeded in significantly boosting my magical power through a special method called "vessel matching" from my master, Alfred Reinford, a renowned magician, and I was able to receive efficient magical training from him.

I would have liked to learn more from him, but he was a person who should have already been dead, and he had taken the risk of becoming a zombie to speak as a dead person, searching for someone with high magical power.

I would send him to the afterlife with peace using the holy attribute magic I learned last, thus receiving a graduation certificate from him.

And as his inheritance, I received various goods and supplies in a magic bag that would allow me to live without working for the rest of my life.

However, in the eyes of the world, I am still just a six-year-old child under my parents' protection.

Although I am actually twenty-five years old, it is unreasonable, but I should try to become independent as soon as possible and leave this house.

To prepare for the day of independence and freedom, I will devote myself to studies, magic, and martial arts training.

And there is one more thing.

I apparently turned seven a few days ago.

The "apparently" part is quite strange, but in this world, the custom of celebrating a child's birthday is only for the royal family, wealthy nobles, or the eldest son in families like ours.

Although I am already an adult, I don't need a birthday party, but the fact that my older brother, the fifth son Ehrich, came to congratulate me on my seventh birthday is why I am reporting this.

It's odd that he is the fifth son but is older than me, but it's easier to understand if you think that the brothers born to concubines are not included.

My mother told me not to call the sixth and seventh sons, who were born to concubines, my brothers.

As a noble, the status difference is strict.

Ehrich, the fifth son, who is turning seventeen this year, is a slender man with not-so-strong arms, but he is handsome and the kindest brother who cares about me the most, being a miso-kasu.

He is popular with the young ladies in the territory, the slightly older ladies, and even the older ladies.

Actually, the faces of the Bauermaster family are not particularly good-looking.

They are not ugly, but most of them are just average.

Furthermore, their talents are also questionable.

The first generation, who brought poor people from the capital to this land to become a land-owning noble, was a sharp person, but after that, while there were no incompetent lords, there were no outstanding figures who excelled in politics, war, or monster hunting.

My father, Artur, has been working the land with his sons every day to make up for the loss of many adult male workers in the disastrous expedition to the Demon Forest five years ago.

Of course, he cannot use magic, and his skills as a knight, such as swordsmanship, are also questionable.

Rather, he is better at using a bow, which is the main weapon for the joint hunts held a few times a year to secure meat.

This tendency is also a characteristic of all the children after the eldest son, Kurt.

Although there is a Demon Forest in the territory, it is not a threat unless you enter it, so they concluded that it is more useful to improve their archery skills to secure meat.

To reach the Demon Forest, a march of several hundred kilometers is required.

I see, that's why my sword training with my brother Ehrich always ends quickly.

As a knight, there are few or almost no opportunities to use a sword, so it's hard to get into the training.

However, Ehrich, who trains with me every morning, also said that he is relieved because he is not good at swordsmanship.

In return, Ehrich is said to be the best archer in the territory, and like me, he can read and write at the same level as me, unlike the rest of the family who can only read and write hiragana and katakana.

"I plan to go to the capital and take the lower-level civil servant exam soon."

I see, he is aiming for a solid career as a civil servant, unlike me, who focuses on magic.

Anyway, that's how our family was, but a significant change was about to occur in the household environment.

Father announced that a bride was finally coming for the eldest son, Kurt.

"Kurt's bride has been decided to be Amalie, the second daughter of the Mainbach family. She is expected to arrive here next week for the wedding."

At dinner, which was somewhat more luxurious thanks to me, with the usual black bread, vegetable and meat soup, roasted pheasant, and homemade mountain grape juice and wine, Father announced Kurt's marriage to the entire family.

"Finally, the time has come..."

After dinner, in the room where the beds of the four younger brothers were placed, Paul, the third son, and Helmut, the fourth son, who rarely speak to me, started gathering their belongings on their beds.

Since they are the third and fourth sons of a poor noble family, they don't have many possessions, so the task was quickly completed.

"Ehrich, why are Paul and Helmut gathering their belongings?"

"Because the heir, Kurt, is getting married. After the ceremony, we have to leave the house."

Ehrich, my older brother, explained in detail in response to my question.

Ehrich always explains things in detail without treating me like a child.

In this world, adulthood is generally defined as around fifteen to seventeen years old.

There is some flexibility, but it seems that the decision is up to the parents. However, Paul and Helmut seem a bit late.

When I asked about this, it turned out that even if they were not heirs, it was customary to provide some support when they left home, but due to the unnecessary expedition five years ago, there was no room for that, and the three of them, who should have left long ago, were kept to help with the housework.

In the end, they managed to save enough money by delaying Kurt's marriage, but it could also be said that Kurt was quite unfortunate for his marriage to be delayed.

"There was also the issue of dowry, but actually, our family is not popular as a place for brides to come to."

Indeed, it is unlikely that any noble lady would want to marry into this remote and cold village, separated by a mountain range from the neighboring territory.

Using children to bring the Bauermaster family into the bride's family, a common strategy among nobles, could also result in a significant deficit for the Bauermaster family.

"Well, at least Kurt is getting married, so he's better off."

The most pitiful is the second son, Hermann, who is kept as a backup in case something happens to the eldest son.

He will be free once Kurt and his bride have a child, but until then, he must endure the hardship of living in the house and helping with the land development.

Thinking about this, I felt that I was still fortunate.

I have only seen the children of the concubine, Reila, once, and due to their mother's status, they have no chance of inheritance unless all the legitimate children die, and they do not expect such a miracle. They will likely take over the family business or marry into other families and not become nobles.

Honestly, I felt a bit envious.

"Anyway, I will be going to the capital after the ceremony. Vel, it will suddenly become lonely, but live well."

"Yes, thank you for everything."

"I will send letters."

"I will write back."

"Good. There are few people in this house who can write letters properly. Vel can write properly."

Two weeks later, I lost my best understanding companion and, at the tender age of seven, found myself in a lonely situation.