Chapter 19

"Right! I should get a pet!"

During the day, I was given the freedom to act as I pleased, but in reality, I didn't have as many options as others thought.

First, I was forbidden from helping with work because it could cause disputes over the inheritance of the territory.

Though I wasn't directly told, I was warned through the letters that came regularly from my older brother Ehrich.

'That Kurt brother doesn't have the guts to do something like that...'

If I were to contribute to land development, such as reclamation, digging irrigation canals, land leveling, or road construction, it would be fine for a territory of a certain size.

As the head of a major noble family, my older brother would likely try to keep me around with high treatment as a useful younger brother. He could also treat me favorably as the head of a branch family or a vassal.

However, the Baumayster family is poor.

There is only one branch family, the one my second brother Hermann married into. If I were to overachieve, the people in the territory would surely say that I would make a better lord than the current one.

Given the small size of the territory, this is a natural outcome.

If I were to contribute to the development of the territory with a proud face and be beloved by the people, everyone would say that I am more suitable to be the next lord than the legitimate heir.

'There's a possibility of being betrayed. I don't want to see such a brutal fight between brothers.'

Human jealousy is terrifying. Even in my previous life as a second-rate company employee, I experienced it several times.

Especially in the struggle for the next lord of a noble family, no matter how small, the fear of being killed in my sleep and the surrounding people saying 'he died of illness' is very real.

No matter how much magic I can use, if I'm caught off guard, it can be a quick end.

Moreover, for Kurt, the position of the next lord and the territory are the most important things, but I don't really need them. In fact, I can confidently say I don't need them at all.

'That's why it's better to pretend to be a good-for-nothing son. After all, Ver has always been treated as an oddball.'

The last sentence slightly hurt, but Ehrich, the smartest in the Baumayster family, is indeed a genius. If I were a girl, I might fall for him.

Though my family didn't feel very real to me, I was always willing to help Ehrich in any way I could.

Thus, while I was free to fly around the undeveloped southern area, I was still quite isolated. I went to Breichburg twice a week, but I couldn't make it public.

If it were known that I could freely teleport, the inheritance issue would become even more complicated.

If it were known that I could bring necessary trade goods whenever I wanted, without relying on the merchant caravans that come three times a year, it would create a significant difference from Kurt, who can't do that.

Moreover, if it became normal for me to supply goods, the question of what to do after my death would arise.

Being kind isn't always good. Short-term benefits can lead to long-term damage.

Therefore, my acquaintances in Breichburg were kept to a minimum.

In Breichburg, I was just Wendelin, the filial son from a nearby village who sells the game he traps and hunts, and does errands on the way back.

I knew a few gatekeepers, a few commercial guild employees, a few shop owners and their staff, and the receptionist at the library.

The receptionist at the library was a beautiful, intellectual woman who didn't wear glasses. She was, in a way, the second woman I interacted with the most in this world after my mother.

Given this situation, I thought to myself:

In my previous life, many people kept pets to alleviate the loneliness of living alone. In this life, as a magician, it wouldn't be strange to have a pet that doubles as a familiar.

Thinking this, I started to look through the magic books left by my master. I remembered that my master didn't have a familiar, but the reason was surprisingly simple.

'A familiar acts as the eyes and ears of a magician and sometimes replenishes the master's magic power. Therefore, only those with a high affinity for animals can form a contract.'

In simpler terms, it's difficult unless you're someone like ○Tsuguro.

"Master says that, but I'll give it a try..."

I didn't think I could pet a wolf and say "Good boy," but it's worth a try. Maybe one of them would become my familiar.

I took out some rabbit meat from my magic bag, found the nearest wolf pack, and tried to lure them with the meat.

"Here! Here's some delicious meat!"

"Uuuuuu!"

"It's not scary! It's not scary!"

I remembered a scene or line from an anime I saw before, but I didn't think it was a bad idea to try it again.

Suddenly, there was movement.

"Gau gau!"

"Wooooo!"

"It's not working!"

Instead of taming them, the wolf pack charged at me at full speed to eat me. I was honestly a bit scared.

"Damn it! It's not working!"

I realized the difficulty of interspecies communication and resigned myself to being alone for a while.

"Besides, humans fight each other, so it's impossible with other animals!"

In the end, all the wolves that attacked me were defeated and are now fur. I don't eat wolf meat because it's too gamey, but the fur can be sold for a decent price.

"If you had become my familiar, I would have given you meat. What a pity..."

While putting dozens of wolf furs into my magic bag, I looked for the next candidate.

However, every animal I tried to lure bared its teeth and attacked me. It's no wonder the people of the Baumayster territory are hesitant to come to the undeveloped area.

Wolves, boars, and even large deer—none of them were magical creatures, but they were incredibly aggressive.

"My inventory of meat and fur is growing."

In the end, no animal became my familiar. They all ended up being defeated by me, adding to my inventory of meat and fur.

"Well, it's fine. I'm fine with being alone! I'll continue my magic training."

There was no point in thinking about it anymore. I decided to start searching for something using the 'Detection' magic while flying.

"There it is..."

Today, I noticed that a nearby rock formation was emitting a faint light. I immediately took a sample and used the 'Identification' magic, which revealed it to be copper ore.

I didn't have the ability to distinguish between ores and gemstones, but with 'Detection' and 'Identification' magic, it was easy to tell.

The next step was to improve my refining techniques.

Having something to focus on helps increase my magic power and improve the precision of my spells. Naturally, time passes quickly.

"I have to go back to sleep at night, so I'll stop here for today."

The mountain that was emitting a faint light was mainly a copper mine. I decided to do a thorough exploration tomorrow and head back home today.

I really wanted to stay out overnight, but as a minor, it would cause various problems.

" Copper and silver. Maybe even a bit of gold..."

The next day, I continued to investigate the mine I found yesterday while munching on rice balls. I had eaten breakfast at home, but I still wanted to eat rice, so I kept it light.

I cooked rice in a large pot I bought in Breichburg, made rice balls, and stored them in my magic bag. This way, I could always have freshly made rice balls.

I used earth magic to create a makeshift stove in the undeveloped area and cooked the rice with my fire magic. It was like the powerful direct fire cooking I saw in a commercial before.

At first, I burned the rice several times because the heat was too strong, but now I can cook delicious rice with a nice crust.

For the fillings, I used meat from the undeveloped area, seaweed and fish from the sea, cooked with miso or soy sauce. Recently, I've even started making my own mayonnaise using eggs and vinegar bought in Breichburg, mixed with wind magic.

This method is very convenient. I can make a large batch and store it, so I don't have to make it frequently.

However, while it's versatile, there are issues with mass production and widespread use. I have no obligation to popularize it, so I can't be blamed for that.

"Besides, I'm not going to mass-produce and sell it. This is enough."

I only make what I need. It's a two-for-one deal, as it also helps with my magic training. I can think about making it a business after I leave home.

What noble family, no matter how minor, would think of doing business with an eighth son? I have to become an adult and leave home before I can do anything in the world.

Doing what I want in the undeveloped area is also a form of stress relief.

"Hmm? That animal?"

While trying to make a copper ingot and checking its quality, I noticed a bear a short distance away. It was quite large.

It was much bigger than the brown bears I saw at a bear farm in my previous life. The bear didn't seem angry at me; it was just observing me with interest.

"Could this be...?"

Maybe we have a connection. While it's rare for a bear to be a familiar, it's not impossible. Therefore, there's a good chance this bear could become my familiar.

(I can do it! I can do it!)

I was excited inside but remained calm on the surface as I took out some rabbit meat from my magic bag and showed it to the bear.

The bear sniffed the air and slowly approached me.

(A bear as a familiar. I wonder if it can move around? I'll think about that later.)

I also started to dream about riding on its back. However, my dream was shattered by a nightmare.

Suddenly, the bear, which was very close, bared its teeth and attacked me. It was quite dangerous.

Even if I'm told I have no talent, I'm glad I learned how to move my body along with my sword training every morning.

"Damn it! You're playing with my pure heart!"

In the end, the bear was struck in the head by a magic arrow and met its end, leaving behind a fine fur, meat, and a liver that could be used for medicine. At the same time, I was reminded of the difficulty of interspecies communication and the fact that I would be alone for a while longer.