Chapter 1

Thank you for reading.

Regarding the parts that have been published in book form, I have intentionally left in the typos, omissions, and additions as they are, hoping that they might serve as reference material for future book publications. Please understand.

There are people who use the typo reporting function to proofread. I decline any reports other than typos and omissions. If it becomes too excessive, I will block them. Please bear with me.

My day begins with looking in the mirror and confirming my appearance with the words, "You look like a fine white pig today."

I, Kikunoi Koutyou, was born as the eldest son of the Kikunoi family, a baronial house in the Kihou Empire, and I am five years old this year. To be precise, I am five and a half. But somehow, I have a body that doesn't look like I'm five.

First, my black hair, which reaches my shoulders, gives off a heavy atmosphere, and my eyes are purple, but they are completely hidden by the puffy fat around them. My nose is round like a pig's, and my lips are shiny with oil. The only thing I can praise is my skin, which is as white as snow. That's why I'm called a white pig.

I understand that my body parts are round and short because I am a child, but the thickness is extraordinary. My wrists are as thick as an adult's, and my belly protrudes so much that it's hard to bend over.

I am a typical fatty, thank you very much. What kind of torture is this?

But even so, I've improved a lot.

Until half a year ago, my belly was so protruding that I couldn't see my toes, I couldn't scratch my back, and most importantly, I couldn't wipe my own bottom after using the toilet.

Now I can use the toilet by myself.

Regardless of other things, the toilet was really tough. It was really embarrassing to have someone else take care of my lower half!

But thanks to that embarrassing experience, I've been able to stick to my diet, so I'll take it as a good thing.

... What are you surprised about?

I don't look five?

Ah, I often hear that, and in fact, my mental age is probably about six times that.

Actually, I have memories from my previous life.

Ah, wait, don't back away!

I understand how you feel, but don't back away!

This happened to me half a year ago.

At that time, the Kihou Empire was suffering from a severe epidemic, and I, who was about to turn five, was also hit hard.

I was delirious with a high fever for a week, and the doctors gave up, calling in the undertaker just before I managed to survive.

I don't really understand this part because I heard it from Rottemeyer, the wet nurse who has been taking care of me since I was little.

What I do understand is that during that high fever, I devoured the memories of the previous 'me' that sprouted in my head, and somehow managed to survive as 'me.'

Let me tell you a little about the previous 'me.'

I was born in a country called Japan, just as the bubble economy was ending.

My hobbies were cooking, sewing, DIY, and watching musicals, especially the performances of the young ladies of the Violet Garden. I was the kind of man who is often asked to marry, the so-called 'average-looking, good-natured man.'

I was single, but I had a good relationship with my parents, and I worked as a civil servant, which was a bit of a black job, but I was lucky to work alongside my childhood friend from elementary school.

But looking back, that was probably the problem.

My childhood friend, 'Tanaka,' was a big fan of anime and light novels, and he often asked me to make costumes for him.

Anime costumes have a lot of decorations, and they share similarities with the costumes of the Violet Garden, which I admired. It was fun, and since the materials were mostly paid for by his part-time job, I enjoyed the luxury of pursuing my hobbies with someone else's money.

Not as a trade-off, but when he came to my house, I would treat him to meals, and I would also help him with meals while he was writing, and I would do the makeup for his cosplay.

We were just two guys having a good time, doing silly things and living happily.

One summer day, 'Tanaka' said he couldn't let go of the copy books, and we spent three days of the week-long Obon holiday writing, and on the fourth day, the day of the event, after three all-nighters.

That day was a scorching hot day, with temperatures exceeding thirty degrees from morning.

While I was binding the copies at the circle space, the temperature in the venue reached the point where a "Comiket cloud" formed.

In a high-spirited state after three all-nighters, I sold and bought books, dressed up in cosplay, and took photos.

After playing and being absorbed in all that, I was hit by a mysterious phenomenon of feeling cold despite the heat.

After taking a bath at home, I collapsed and lost consciousness while hearing my parents desperately calling my name.

Given the lack of memory after that, I probably died. Probably from heatstroke. How stupid.

And 'I' was reborn as 'me.'

I think the reason I use 'I' instead of 'I' is that the knowledge of the previous 'I' has successfully merged with the current 'me.'

'I' is 'I,' no longer 'I.'