Chapter 3

Thank you for reading.

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

Please understand.

There are people who use the typo reporting function to proofread.

I decline any reports other than those for typos and omissions.

If it becomes too excessive, I will block them.

Please bear with me.

In this world, which has similarities to the previous one, the cultural level is around that of medieval Europe, yet the heliocentric theory is common knowledge, and the planet we live on is called "Earth."

However, there are only four continents: Atlantis, Mu, Nusakan, and Astral, and they seem to use similar languages. The differences are like those between the dialects of Tokyo, Kansai, Kyushu, and Tohoku. Well, people from Kyushu and Tohoku speak the same Japanese, but their accents are so different that they sound like different languages.

I, Kikunoi Kuchou, live in the Qifeng Empire, which is located in the center of the Atlantis continent. It is a peaceful nation that promotes harmony between the East and West, skillfully incorporating their cultures and bloodlines.

At least, that's the public face.

Like any long-standing state, it suffers from all kinds of corruption, and the common people are exhausted due to the exploitation by some nobles.

The country is vast, and the wealth gap is severe, and relations with neighboring countries are poor.

It's not that there's no war because of diplomatic efforts... it's just that the country's strength hasn't declined to the point where it can be easily attacked, and the surrounding countries don't have the strength to attack.

Embarrassingly, the Kikunoi family is one of those exploitative nobles.

"...If I were to be found out for telling you this, I would be fired."

"I'm really sorry... to the people in the domain."

While saying this with a grin is my tutor, Mr. Aleksei Romanov.

He has emerald eyes and golden hair, a face so perfectly chiseled it makes your eyes hurt, and pointed ears, making him a typical elf.

I've been receiving tutoring from him for a month, introduced by Mr. Rottenmayer.

In this world, there are elves, dwarves, cat-eared and tailed wercats, spirits, monsters, and demons.

What a fantasy.

The previous "me" would have shouted that. But for "me," it's just a matter of course.

Moreover, there is magic—sorcery—in this world.

It ranges from communicating with the four great elemental spirits to control attacks and defenses, to healing injuries and protecting life, and even promoting plant growth. It is a well-established academic discipline.

I can't use any of it yet!?

However, the study of sorcery usually begins when one enters a young school, around the age of thirteen.

But if you have talent, that's not always the case, and there are even those who can use sorcery at around five years old.

Having sorcery talent from an early age is an honor.

Therefore, the nobles, who have money, hire tutors to teach their children the basics of sorcery before they enter young school.

But that's because they have expectations for their children, not for those they don't feel the need to visit even when they are on the verge of death.

Mr. Romanov is originally an adventurer and a traveler. When he happened to stop by the Kikunoi domain, his acquaintance, Mr. Rottenmayer, asked him, "Would you like to be a tutor?"

"Learning sorcery from an elf, and especially from Mr. Romanov, who is always practicing sorcery, is the best way to learn."

He must have been very persuasive, as he clenched his fists so hard they turned white. Mr. Romanov's lessons and assignments are indeed easy to understand and enjoyable.

Moreover, he teaches not only sorcery but also physical training with swords and bows, politics, economics, reading, writing, arithmetic, and stories about other countries.

By the way, right now, after the morning walk, I am continuing the embroidery I started with Elise, the seamstress, and in the afternoon, I will be selecting the types of vegetables to plant in the garden with Genzaburo and chatting about the world.

The needle I am threading through is for Mr. Romanov's mantle. The pattern is an elf tradition for warding off evil.

Being able to sew a small condor similar to the "Nazca Lines" condor is apparently the first condition for a good elf bride. I'm a boy, so it doesn't matter to me.

When I finished one small condor embroidery, Mr. Romanov stood up from his chair and said, "Let's check your status. Please open your status."

"Yes, 'Open.'"

Status refers to the status information from an RPG game, where you can see your biological information in full.

According to Mr. Romanov, anyone can see their own status screen, but to see someone else's, they must either disclose it, or you need a specific skill or tool. If you see it without permission, you might get a white glove thrown in your face.

To view it, you just need to say "Open," and the screen will appear. If you don't want others to see it, you can just think "Open" in your head.

Let's check the status.

Name: Kikunoi Kuchou

Race: Human

Age: Five

Level: 1

Occupation: Noble

Skills: Cooking A, Sewing A, Cultivation A, Craft A, Swordsmanship E, Archery E, Horsemanship D

Special Skills: Green Hand, Blue Hand

Mr. Romanov burst out laughing.

"Wow, your skills don't seem like those of a noble's child, no matter when I look!"

My skills are apparently so unusual for a noble that he was laughing so hard he was holding his stomach.

"Swordsmanship, archery, and horsemanship are just hobbies, but cooking, sewing, cultivation, and craft... I don't usually see those. And 'Green Hand' and 'Blue Hand'...!"

"Because! They're my hobbies! What can I do about it!"

"Green Hand" is a special skill that helps plants grow and promises a bountiful harvest, which only skilled gardeners, farmers, and forest-dwelling elves can obtain.

"Blue Hand" refers to skilled workers in various handcrafts, such as sewing, cooking, and crafting. It also includes massage skills. It's a special skill given to dexterous people, mainly housewives, cooks, seamstresses, carpenters, and dwarven blacksmiths.

This is the result of my daily routine and self-study. What a surprise.

When I protested with a pout, my chubby cheeks were pinched by his hands.

"No, no, it's not a bad thing. Having special skills at your age is something to be proud of... hah."

"You're laughing! You're laughing so hard!"

"Ah... I can't, my stomach hurts!"

After laughing for a while, he seemed to calm down and spoke calmly.

"Anyway, having special skills that indicate expertise is not a bad thing. You never know what might help you in the future."

"Even if we fall, having a skill will help us make a living."

"Exactly, it's important to have a sense of crisis even in times of peace."

I'm not being praised, am I?

Anyway, I'll aim to get out of being a dolt.

Right now, there's no indication of sorcery in my status.

Sorcery can be learned by anyone, and basic sorcery can be used by everyone.

However, to use sorcery, you need to convert the magic particles, called mana, that float in the air into your body and then into sorcery. The internal mechanism for this conversion is completed around the age of thirteen, when one starts attending a young school.

Those who can use sorcery early have a body mechanism that forms faster than others.

So, how is this internal mechanism formed?

It's very simple.

Imagine that nerves for absorbing mana spread throughout your body while meditating.

Just that.

If you repeat this, the mana-absorbing nerves will form in your body in about half a year, and if you have talent, you can use basic sorcery... apparently. Even those without talent can form the necessary mana-absorbing nerves in about five years.

Meditation seems like something you could do before entering a young school, but it requires a lot of concentration to maintain the image for a long time.

The period when one can develop the necessary concentration coincides with the time of entering a young school.

"Let's start by imagining and meditating."

"Yes."

Following Mr. Romanov's instructions, I sat cross-legged on the fluffy carpet, imagining fine threads spreading from the dantian, a point below my navel, throughout my body.

"When the threads have spread throughout your body, imagine that they are taking root."

"Taking root... like roots."

"Yes, like roots. ...Speaking of roots, do Mr. Rottenmayer's glasses have roots in his face? I've never seen him take them off, even a little bit."

Now that he mentions it, I don't think I've ever seen him without his glasses.

While my mind was starting to wander from the meditation, I slowly imagined the roots growing into my body.

"Maybe they have roots..."

"Scary!?"

I inadvertently imagined Mr. Rottenmayer's glasses with roots growing all over them at the whispered words.

The meditation was broken, and Mr. Romanov grinned.

"You still have a long way to go."

Elves are not only good at sorcery but also at mischief, apparently.

Thank you for reading.