Chapter 2

The Kingdom of Holbart is a country where women hold significant power.

Thinking about how the fluffy settings of a dating sim could create such an ugly world, I feel a surge of anger these days.

It has been ten years since I regained my memories.

Fifteen years old.

My black hair is kept short. My body is lean, probably due to daily training and farm work.

Perhaps because of the training, my face looks good.

Though I still have some resemblance to my past life, I don't look bad.

Even if I'm not exceptionally handsome, I'm grateful for that.

However, this is the world of a dating sim.

My second older brother, who I used to get along with, is attending a school on the mainland and living in a dormitory there.

In his letter, he wrote, "The marriage hunt is tough."

In this world of a dating sim... men who don't get married by the time they graduate from school are seen as problematic, and men who don't get married by the age of twenty are treated as defective goods.

It's an incredibly harsh world for men.

Reading my second brother's letter in my small room, I prayed that he would find a wife soon.

After all, not getting married can affect future employment and promotions.

Even for nobles, second or third sons have predetermined paths after they become independent.

Most become soldiers or civil servants.

Men who can't get married are treated like low-level workers.

Until a few years ago, I shared a room with my second brother. Now, it's used by my fourth brother, Colin, who is six years younger than me.

In a world with wars, skirmishes, and bands of air pirates, the probability of losing one's life is high. Therefore, in the border regions, having more children is considered better.

Men risk their lives in battle and die easily, yet they are treated poorly.

"...What an unreasonable world."

My younger brother, Colin, was lying on the bed, snoring softly.

He had an innocent face.

We, who are not the heirs, are essentially backups or extras.

In game terms, even if we can enter the school, we are just background characters.

Extras who aren't even side characters.

If we have a line or two in the game, we're considered lucky.

We're probably just Mob A or B.

I've never even heard of the Baron von Baltfort family in the game.

"An extra... I guess that's fitting for me."

I don't want to accept it, but a part of me does.

Next year, I will also enter the school.

The only advantage of this world is that nobles can enter the school.

It's a bit strange to think that the game's settings have become reality, but being able to study there and become a civil servant or soldier is a blessing.

Without the opportunity to leave the territory, I might be forced into an arranged marriage.

If it were with someone my age or in their twenties, it would be better, but if it were with someone in their thirties or forties, it wouldn't be a laughing matter.

"Thinking about it, being able to enter the school is really a blessing."

Looking at my innocent sleeping brother, Colin, I let out a sigh of relief.

◇

"...A, an arranged meeting? What do you mean by that!"

After breakfast.

Called to my father's study—more like his workroom—I was speechless.

The reason was the talk of an arranged meeting brought by the lady sitting on the sofa in the room—Zora Fia von Baltfort.

My father, sitting in his usual chair, had a bitter expression.

I was speechless after receiving the profile—documents with the photo and details of the potential match.

My father looked troubled but then looked at me after glancing at Zora.

"This is a marriage proposal brought by Zora. It seems her acquaintance is looking for a second husband."

Zora was drinking the expensive tea we keep at home and complaining, "Cheap stuff is just that."

I couldn't accept it.

"But, this is—!"

The potential match was terrible.

The profile stated that the person was over fifty and had been married more than seven times.

She was the daughter of a baron and had children, but they were older than me and not independent.

Zora placed her cup down roughly.

Her irritation was palpable.

"She is someone I usually take care of. A noble family with a long history of serving the royal family. What's wrong with that?"

What's wrong? If you think I'd be satisfied with this, you must be an idiot.

"Why is there talk of marriage when I haven't even entered the school!"

In Holbart, talk of marriage usually starts after entering the school. Early cases include those already engaged for political marriages.

Even in political marriages, it's usually between heirs.

There are cases where a man marries into a family without a male heir, but the woman in question is not independent and has no property of her own.

Just the daughter of a baron.

Moreover, this would be her eighth marriage... It seemed like a clearly dangerous match.

Zora was irritated.

"I'll let the second son enter the school, but there's no point in letting the third son enter. Even if the tuition is free, other expenses are still required."

When I glared at Zora, my father apologized.

"I'm sorry, but the family is short on money. There are ways to earn money after entering the school, but—"

My father looked at Zora.

Zora was lounging on the sofa.

"You won't get a decent job even after graduating. You'll die in the war anyway. Just do your best for the family."

It sounded like she was saying, "Die in battle and leave your honor and pension to the family."

Nobles receive a pension for their widows.

Soldiers receive a lump sum.

The proposal Zora brought seemed like she wanted to kill me and get the money and honor.

"I refuse. I decline."

Zora slammed her hand on the table in response to my refusal.

"Be quiet! How dare a bastard like you give me your opinion!"

This woman, Zora, basically lives in the capital, the Royal City.

My father provided her with a house and sends her living expenses.

Despite the family's financial struggles, he still sends her money, yet she acts this way. However, if my father were to abandon her, it would tarnish the family's reputation.

They would be seen as abnormal.

That's why they can't divorce.

I rack my brain to find a way out of this situation.

Remember.

I have knowledge from the game.

I've tried various things until I turned fifteen, but without money or time, I couldn't try everything.

But if I don't try hard here, I have no future!

"...If I had money, it wouldn't be a problem, right?"

Zora laughed through her nose at my question.

"Oh? A good-for-nothing who has never earned a penny is suddenly acting so high and mighty."

I want to tell her to look in the mirror.

"Refusing this arranged meeting would be rude. If you're only thinking about earning the tuition, you should stop it."

It seemed my father didn't know about this proposal and looked dissatisfied.

However, he couldn't take a strong stance.

"Leone, you're still young. There's no need to rush—"

"Be quiet! Men are worthless after twenty! I'm trying to find you a match while you're still young, and you complain and pick and choose... That's why I hate country kids."

I don't think it's right to blame everything on the countryside.

When I tried to complain, my father intervened.

"Consider the child's feelings. Refusing a first marriage to a woman in her fifties isn't unreasonable. The age difference is almost forty years."

Moreover, she has children older than me.

Living in such a household... It gives me chills.

"...If I can prepare the money, will you cancel the arranged meeting?"

Zora sat down roughly and crossed her legs, looking at us mockingly.

"Oh? I've never heard you say you have such capabilities. You should ask for more monthly support."

Not all women in this world are as delusional as her. But seeing women like her makes me dislike them.

The image of women in this world—especially noblewomen—is terrible.

My father was covering his face with one hand.

He looked down and said in a strained voice.

"Give me some time. I'll try to prepare it."

Seeing my father like this made me angry, but I felt more grateful for his efforts on my behalf.

What a cruel world this is.

◇

After Zora left, only my father and I remained in the room.

What an infuriating woman.

"Did she come all the way here just for this, making us prepare a ship and accommodations?"

Since she usually lives in the capital, preparations are needed when she comes here.

Even if we use a regular airship, we have to prepare the room and meals. The travel expenses are also on us.

My father is weak.

There's a reason for that.

"Don't be angry. This marriage was necessary. By marrying Zora, we gained the status of a baron."

My father thinks it's a blessing that Zora, who is from the capital, married into our family in the border region. Noblewomen from the same border region often dream of living in the city and find husbands there.

There are exceptions, but those women become highly sought after.

My father believes that by marrying Zora, he received a favor.

"By the way, do you have any plans to prepare the money?"

I asked my father, but his troubled expression told me the answer.

"Even borrowing money is difficult. From the looks of it, he might even try to marry off Colin. How did it come to this?"

"...Why didn't you talk to my older brother about this?"

My father scratched his head after hearing my question.

"Nick is much older, but... it is strange. He seemed reluctant to let me enter the school."

Concerned, we decided to write to my second brother to check on the situation.

But his response exceeded our expectations.

◇

One week later—our family's warehouse.

I was taking out the weapons stored there.

Since the weapons are part of our family's assets, my father would be angry if I took them without permission. But no one can stop me now.

The old rifle I picked up can only hold five rounds in the magazine.

I chose the best one and began disassembling it for maintenance.

I placed the sword, which was on display, on the table and checked if it was usable. I also gathered all the necessary tools.

My father watched me.

"Hey, what do you plan to do?"

After reading my second brother's response, I made up my mind.

I had been thinking of using my game knowledge to earn money, but after learning the truth, I couldn't afford to be complacent.

"I have to earn money before I'm sold to that perverted old woman! I don't want to. I absolutely don't want to!"

My mother, standing behind my father, had tears in her eyes.

The family I would be sold to as a husband has a terrible reputation.

They hold gatherings called "Ladies' Forest" where they treat men as slaves and believe they can do whatever they want to them.

They actually treat men as slaves, worse than the subhuman servants.

They enjoy using men up...

It's the worst.

Moreover, these high-ranking noblewomen send useless men to the battlefield to be killed.

The worst part is that Zora was involved with them.

She wasn't a member of the gatherings but planned to sell us, the heirs' backups, to make a profit.

They are a group that normal people avoid, even other women are repulsed by them.

"Why do such perverts get involved with a nobody like me? A peaceful and uneventful life would be better!"

My mother looked worried.

"I don't understand what Leone is saying."

"I don't understand either. What do you plan to do with those weapons? Are you going to storm the capital? No, don't do that."

My father looked worried as I maintained the weapons.

I want to storm in and eliminate them, but I can't with my current strength.

The capital, the Royal City, has armed knights.

Even if I stormed in, I would be apprehended. The subhuman servants that noblewomen keep are often well-trained and strong.

"...If I want to make a fortune, becoming an adventurer is the best option."

My parents exchanged glances after hearing my words.

In this world, adventurers are a recognized profession. It's a profession that must be recognized.

After all, nobles are descendants of adventurers.

In the game's setting, nobles are those who discovered new lands as adventurers and obtained territories. Adventurers who gained wealth through numerous adventures became nobles.

Therefore, in the game, there's a reason why nobles need to become adventurers in school.

The reason the protagonist is pampered and gains affection in the dungeon can be used to save me here.

My father shook his head.

"Stop it. Dungeons aren't something you can handle alone, and it takes time to earn money."

My mother agreed.

"Y-Yes. Besides, finding a habitable floating island is difficult now. You won't be able to earn a fortune."

If you discover a floating island that can be inhabited or has resources, it becomes the adventurer's property. If you wish, you can have your own territory and live independently, but there are no good islands left around the continent.

There are no good islands left, but I know of one.

"Sorry, I've made up my mind."

If I were alone, I could run away, but my younger brother, Colin, is only nine years old.

I can't stand by and watch him be sold to perverts.

My father seemed to understand my resolve and asked.

"Is there anything you need?"

I immediately told my father what I wanted him to prepare. It's a bit of a stretch, but for me, it's a matter of life and death.

Rather than being toyed with by perverted old women, I want to take a chance on a possibility.

"A boat will do. An airship. And I need bullets. I want special bullets."

My father was puzzled.

"What do you plan to do? Are you going to challenge a dungeon? If so, a regular ship would be fine."

"I'm going to a place where regular ships don't go."

I raised the rifle.

In this world of swords and magic, rifles are a bit awkward, but it's a world where airships fire cannons. Magic and guns coexist.

When I pulled the trigger, the rifle operated with a metallic sound.

I had been living in this world after reincarnation, just going through the motions.

But even as a nobody, there are things I can't compromise on.

I'm tired of being toyed with.

So I will resist.

My father nodded.

"Alright. I'll prepare it as soon as possible. But you must promise to come back. If you can't promise that, I won't prepare it."

I want to come back too, but my life is at stake.

"...I will definitely come back."

I want to protect my life, help my brother, and as a bonus, humiliate Zora. I want to take revenge on the woman who tried to sell me.

With this strong resolve, I prepared for my departure.

◇

"This is the first time I'm taking it seriously."

Even though it's the world of a dating sim, it's still a game world.

I've thought about using my game knowledge to dominate more than once.

But I was tired from daily life.

Simple meals. Training with my father in the morning, followed by farm work.

By the time I finished, it was already dark, and when I got home, I had to study.

In this world, the border regions and island baronies are poor.

The reason is partly due to marriage partners, but generally, they are poorer compared to the city.

My father often complains that we were better off when we were a viscount and didn't advance in rank.

There are certainly wealthy baronies, and some are incomparably richer than our family.

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