Chapter 14

"Finally, the eldest son is getting married... We had our own circumstances..."

The day after my father announced that my eldest brother Kurt, who is turning twenty-six this year, was finally getting married, I was in the forest where we usually go hunting and gathering with my brother Ehrich.

The reason for this is that the bride will arrive in the Baumwieser knight's territory in a few days, and the wedding will take place.

Even though it is a small-scale event, it is still a noble wedding.

Moreover, in such a remote and desolate village, the residents, who are usually starved for entertainment, also want to celebrate together.

In reality, I think they are more interested in the food and drinks that my Baumwieser family will provide for the wedding.

Anyway, when it comes to the food and drinks that hundreds of people will consume at the wedding party, it will be a massive amount.

If the lord of the territory, who governs this land, were to be stingy about this, it would cause problems.

If the noble who governs the territory is perceived as stingy or poor by the residents, it could become a source of significant trouble in the future.

Even if we usually make do with dry black bread and thin vegetable soup, on such occasions, we need to prepare an abundance of food and drinks that cannot be finished.

Even if the bride's family prepares the dowry, clothing, and accessories, the groom's family also needs to prepare new clothing, and there is the matter of the food and drinks for the party I mentioned earlier.

Our family, originally poor, has suffered significant human, material, and financial losses due to the reckless expedition to the Demon Forest.

While rebuilding the territory, we have been searching for a bride for the heir, Kurt, and saving up for the wedding.

Normally, a nobleman would get married by the age of twenty, so why did my brother Kurt remain single until he was twenty-five?

There was a harsh reality that could not be discussed without tears.

"It's good that Kurt is getting married."

To be honest, our territory is just a cold, rural village.

I am the eighth son, so I was never going to inherit the estate, and I never wanted to.

I wanted to leave early and live as an adventurer.

That was my dream.

"But isn't it too early to kick out the other brothers?"

After the wedding, according to the customs of this world, the older brothers, who are already considered adults, will leave home and become independent.

As a noble custom, the second son and subsequent sons who do not inherit the estate or land are given a settlement allowance as a form of consolation.

The amount is not significant, but since we have many siblings and are poor, it took a long time to prepare this allowance.

This time, the third, fourth, and fifth sons, excluding the second son, Hermann, and me, who is only seven years old, will leave home and become independent.

Hermann, who is not yet married, will marry Kurt in case of an emergency and will join a vassal family in a few months.

Incidentally, this vassal family is the home of my father's uncle, who led our Baumwieser knight's army in the expedition to the Demon Forest.

Naturally, he died in battle, and at the same time, his heir, my father's cousin, also died.

Additionally, the remaining male heirs suffered a series of misfortunes, and now the great-uncle's granddaughter is barely maintaining the family.

Hermann will marry this granddaughter and take over the family.

It's a story that sounds like a Japanese drama.

The scale is pitifully small, but that's the reality.

Returning to the topic, despite the various decisions made by our Baumwieser family and the busy preparations for the wedding, the reason why Ehrich and I are in the forest is easy to imagine.

In short, it was my father's order to gather the ingredients for the wedding feast.

Moreover, for some reason, I ended up partnering with Ehrich.

I don't want to show magic in front of people, but my partner is Ehrich, with whom I talk the most.

It's cruel because I can't refuse him, and if I don't use magic, the seven-year-old me might not be able to gather anything.

As I was thinking about what to do, Ehrich spoke to me.

"Don't hesitate to use magic."

"Um..."

I was taken aback by Ehrich's sudden permission to use magic, but in reality, I never thought I could keep my magic a secret from others.

After all, a seven-year-old child entering a forest with wolves and bears and achieving hunting and gathering results that rival those of skilled adults is unusual.

There are magic spells that can enhance the strength and speed of normally weak people, and this magic is relatively common, though the degree varies.

One reason I wasn't worried when I entered the forest alone was that my use of magic was tacitly accepted or a code of silence was imposed within the family.

"Veld, you are indeed wise beyond your seven years."

On the day I was reborn as the eighth son of the Baumwieser family, Veld, I learned about his life before the age of six in a dream.

Before I was reborn, Veld did not show any magical talent but was often found reading books in his father's study, which was unusual for his age.

In that sense, I share many similarities with him.

"Yes. Father, Mother, and the older brothers all knew. They knew that Veld had magical talent."

I had a vague feeling about this, but it raised a question.

Why don't they use my magic more for the development of the territory?

Ehrich seemed to notice my question and answered immediately.

"If Veld had demonstrated his magical talent to the residents at a young age, it would likely have sparked a family dispute."

In this world, the inheritance of a noble family is generally prioritized for the eldest son.

Additionally, for royal and noble families, the status of the wife who bears the heir is important.

The children of my father's concubine, Reila, who is not a noble, generally have no right to inheritance.

The only exception is if the legitimate wife does not have a son.

If the legitimate wife only has daughters, the decision varies among nobles.

Some choose to have the eldest daughter marry into the family and take over, while others choose the eldest son of the concubine.

In short, while there is a custom of prioritizing the legitimate wife's children and the eldest son, the final decision is made by the head of the family, the father.

This often leads to family disputes, resulting in violence, or the disputes may become so severe that the royal family intervenes, reducing the territory or even exiling the family.

"Veld, you want to leave the family, just like me, right?"

"Yes, I want to become an adventurer while I'm young."

"Then it's good. Father is aware of this."

"Is that so?"

"Even though I can't read kanji, I am still the head of a noble family."

Father is concerned that if I were to use my magic openly for the residents, the benefits to the territory would be outweighed by the risk of the vassals and residents irresponsibly suggesting, "Veld, who can use magic, is more suitable to be the head of the Baumwieser family," and forming factions.

"Besides, the failure of the expedition five years ago is still a sore point."

Due to this, not only is there a lack of manpower for expanding farmland, but also for regular agricultural work, leading to difficulties.

Taxes have been temporarily increased to recover from the losses, causing dissatisfaction among the residents.

Most importantly, no one from the main Baumwieser family died in the expedition.

In fact, no one from the main family was even sent, which has further eroded the trust of the residents.

"Actually, the great-uncle and his three sons from a branch family and vassal family died in battle."

Moreover, the great-uncle's family is left with only his granddaughter, who will soon marry the second son, Hermann, to continue the family.

It would be a lie to say that the great-uncle's family has no grievances.

"That's why Veld's magic is not openly advertised."

Undoubtedly, there would be people who would claim that I am the most suitable to be the next head of the Baumwieser family.

"Some people might already have a vague idea, but as long as Veld doesn't demonstrate his magic in front of everyone, there is no evidence."

"I see, so that's why my going into the forest is tacitly accepted."

"Once you turn fifteen and become an adult, you should leave the family without hesitation."

"Personally, I want to leave even earlier."

I learned from Ehrich that there is a potential for a family dispute, no matter how small, and I seriously considered leaving the territory as soon as I became an adult.

Thank you for pointing out the typos.

I double-check, but it seems my eyes are failing me.