Chapter 1: The Page Will Absorb Your Tears

Finally, I, Ash, had arrived in the big city!

After having done so many things in the farm village, the village chief had praised me—or at least I took it as praise—saying, “Ash, you’ve already done so many amazing things. I wonder what you’ll achieve once you go to study in the city.”

My first impression of the city from a distance could have been summed up with the words “stone walls”—that was all you could see from the outside. Combined with its location on a hill, the city seemed to be well-protected. Indeed, it was a place in need of high-defense capacities. Just looking at those walls almost made me fall down a spiral of anxiety. Thankfully, the city was also the birthplace of my great benefactor, Mrs. Yuika, so I could more or less view it with a different perspective.

Right away, I noticed that the walls had several crooked parts, which I assumed to be hastily-executed emergency repairs after battle damage. This was alarming. I sensed that the inside of the city was much further away from the cultural standards of my past life—or even that of this world’s ancient civilization—than I had expected. Once I took care of the village, this city was going to fulfill the extremely important role of becoming my next base of operations in my quest to achieve a cultural revival, so I was worried about its condition.

You could say that the city was like a nest where I was going to incubate my dreams. First and foremost, there needed to be enough food in the surroundings of the nest. This was necessary before laying the eggs, while taking care of them, and after they had hatched. The nest itself required superior building materials and construction techniques to avoid the tragedy of it falling down. In my case, this meant all sorts of raw materials and technology. And last but not least, threats from outside enemies were of course a big problem for the nest. We had to be prepared to repel any predator eyeing the eggs, and depending on the situation, we would need appropriate defensive structures as well as enough food and raw materials to hold out.

So, does this city currently fulfill these requirements? I’m afraid not.

Firstly, applying the average amount of food produced per capita at Noscula village, where I was born and raised, to the population of this city, there was no way that would adequately feed 50,000 people. First strike.

Secondly, considering that the stone wall had only undergone emergency repairs, it could be assumed that there was a lack of either raw materials or adequate technology, or maybe even both. That was seriously concerning, since this city also acted as a military base, which meant that it received preferential treatment in terms of budget and latest technology. I was a bit scared to learn about the actual conditions. Second strike.

Lastly, on top of the defensive structures themselves being inadequate, it appeared that the only weapons atop the stone walls were ballistae. There were no traces of any chemical weapons. I could not see any gunpowder or muzzleloaders. The defensive system relied entirely on physical strength, and thus was unreliable. Third strike and out. Good game. Thank you for playing.

Regardless, I was not going to give up, so it was not game over yet. I was determined to continue until I would win. The odds were stacked against me, but I was aware of that since my time in the village. If I could be stopped by that little bit of despair, I would not have come this far. I just had to do it myself! I needed to increase food and resource production, as well as improve technology and defensive structures until they met the standards necessary to hatch my dreams!

Leave it to my guts and fighting spirit to change this city with a bang! Surely I can do it! Maybe... Well, it might be a bit difficult... Just a bit. Even if my passion was burning as bright as the sun, it was hard to channel that energy with a single human body as an output device. So, what could I do?

I gave a fiery look to Lady Maika, who was standing next to me gazing at the city.

“Uhm... W-What is it, Ash?” She smiled and fixed her hair after noticing me.

It looked like the first lady of our village was embarrassed by the appearance of her hair, which was all messed up from the wind. This was a stark contrast to the girl who used to love playing in the dirt back in the village. She was making an effort to appear more ladylike.

“I am looking forward to continuing to work with you,” I said.

“To continuing to work with me?”

Yeah, I’m still counting on you. I could most definitely use the help of someone with such a promising future as you in order to achieve my ambitious dreams. Of course, there’s something in it for you too—I’ll reward you with a happier and more prosperous life.

As I smiled at her with these thoughts in mind, she nodded in agreement with a bright-red face. “O-Of course! You can always count on me!” she said flusteredly.

That was the kind of enthusiasm I expected! I needed more helpers like her. If on my own I was limited, I just needed to rely on others. Rather than remodeling myself to have 100 arms, it was much easier to recruit the help of 50 other people. According to Mrs. Yuika, many talented people lived in the city. All the children who came to the city like Lady Maika appeared to be from influential families in the countryside. In that case, this was the perfect place to recruit and strategize with collaborators.

Hehehe! Just wait and see, city which doesn’t seem to live up to my expectations! Together with Lady Maika, I’ll change you into a place fit for my dreams!

First, I needed to take care of food production. More food equaled more people, which in turn increased the potential for talented human resources whom I could drag in as collaborators. It was the perfect plan to turn this city into a safe and comfortable haven to live in.

As my flames of ambition were burning, a strong wind started blowing. Poor Lady Maika kept trying to fix her hair, but to no avail.

“My hair’s a mess!”

“The season of strong winds is almost over, but today it is still quite strong.”

From fall until winter, this kind of wind was common in this region. If only I could become a wind shield for Lady Maika... But unfortunately, she was taller than me; a body of my height could not really prevent any winds from messing her hair.

At that moment, Mr. Quid, who had promised to take us to the city, came to our rescue with his covered wagon.

“I finally caught up to you two,” he said. “Please stop going ahead by yourselves. After all, it’s part of my job to make sure you’re safe.”

“Ah, Quid. You have come at the right time. We are sorry for making you worry.” While apologizing, I took Lady Maika’s hand and guided her into the wagon. Much better already, isn’t it? “The horse carriage is indeed a good cover. Let us use Quid as a wind shield until we reach the city.”

“T-Thanks, Ash!”

It’s the least I can do as a gentleman.

It seemed that Mr. Quid wanted to say something. “I mean, I want to keep you safe, but I didn’t expect you to treat me as a cover.”

“The wind is strong after all.”

“But it is also a sign of good luck,” he remarked. “It gives you a push when starting something new. The same wind was blowing when I changed my job to become a merchant.”

Oh, did I hear that correctly? It seemed that a lot of people started on a new path in the season between fall harvest and winter, the leisure season for farmers. People who came to make some extra money in the city, away from their home in the farm village; people who decided to change careers after obtaining some funds from the harvest; and people with development plans who had a surplus of produce and manpower.

If people who had succeeded in their ventures said that “The wind blew me into the direction of success,” it was no wonder that it had become a sign of good luck. There must have been just as many—if not more—stories of people who failed, but they usually stayed quiet. In other words, if you had fully developed wings, the wind would help you soar through the skies, but if your wings were still underdeveloped, it would just blow you off in a random direction.

Interesting. So, I’m guessing this wind is currently testing me to see whether my wings are the real deal or not. Very well, I accept the challenge!

“What’s wrong with Ash? He seems to have drifted off. Do you know what happened, Maika?”

“Oh, that’s just what he’s like when he gets fired up. I’m not really sure why he does that or what to do to bring him back.”

“Hm, I see...”

“But don’t worry! He’s invincible once he’s in this state!”

“Oh!”

And off we went to the still-disappointing city, which I was eventually going to turn into a place of my liking.

As expected, the inside was utterly disheartening. After passing through the gate, all I could see were wooden, single-story buildings. I was in shock. The houses were mostly likely single-story because of the stove, which acted both as a heating and cooking facility. They were constructed out of clay, so I could not imagine any scenario where such an open fire installation inside a wooden, two-storied house did not lead to a fire. Besides, two-story buildings would have been more difficult to keep clean. As a result, they were extremely rare both in the countryside and in the city.

To be honest, I was a little surprised at first, since I had hoped to see a slightly more developed cityscape. If by any chance a fire broke out, it could easily end up destroying the whole city. Aside from the manor we presently found ourselves in, I had only seen three or four other buildings made of stone. Was there a lack of stone materials?

“I am sure there is a valid reason. Anyhow, my stay here already promises to be interesting.”

After observing the parlor for a while, I sat down again next to a stiff Lady Maika, who awkwardly giggled. “You’re something else, Ash. Even in a situation like this, you don’t seem nervous.”

She had a point. In a situation like this, where I found myself in a luxurious room as I had never seen in this world, and where I was about to meet an influential person, it would have only been natural to be nervous. However, I was used to this much due to my past-life memories.

On the other hand, though, Lady Maika looked like she was about to turn into stone. I tried to ease up her tension a bit.

“There is nothing to be afraid of. After all, the person we are about to meet is your relative, right?”

“Yeah, he’s the eldest son of the count of the Sacula region.”

If you think of him this way, it’s no wonder you’re nervous. “Do you not mean he is your uncle? I am sure he is eagerly awaiting to meet his cute niece.”

“Well... you may be right, but I’ve never met him.”

“Your mother should have explained everything to him. And he is supposed to be very kind, so I am sure it will be fine as long as you are polite.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“And I will help you as much as I can.”

“Really?”

As I nodded in agreement, Lady Maika finally smiled and relaxed. “I’m happy I could come to study in the city together with you. I would’ve been anxious on my own.”

“I am also very pleased.”

I had not anticipated being able to step outside the village so quickly. I could not be thankful enough for the providence of Mrs. Yuika.

While I was sending off my thoughts of gratitude towards the hometown I had left behind only this morning, Lady Maika blushed. Was she nervous again?

“I’m amazed by both of you,” the third person in the parlor and our chaperon, Mr. Quid, murmured enviously.

“You do not seem very nervous either.”

“By now I’ve gotten used to it. Thanks to you.”

“What did I do?”

“My business related to the aloe ointment usually takes place here.”

It was no surprise that Mrs. Yuika had immediately taken the business straight to the count’s manor, given that they were family.

“At first, I was extremely nervous,” Mr. Quid continued. “Even at my age, I was still as stiff as Maika.”

“In the end, this whole business changed your life, so it is only natural you would be anxious. There is much less at stake here for me.”

“Well, I’m relieved to hear you say that. Although it feels weird to always be reassured by someone younger than me.”

Lady Maika tried encouraging Mr. Quid, who looked rather serious now. “Don’t worry! It’s Ash after all!”

What’s that supposed to mean?

“You’re right. It is Ash.”

What do both of them think I am?

As Lady Maika had calmed down again, someone knocked on the door. In place of Lady Maika, who had been taken aback by surprise, I went to open the door. It was the maid.

“Thank you for your patience. The acting count, Itsuki Amanobe Sacula, is ready to meet you now. May I let him in?”

After taking a deep breath, Lady Maika replied to the bowing maid. “Yes, we are ready.”

“Very well.” She receded in a refined manner and gave way to a man in his mid-twenties.

“I am the acting count, Itsuki. I welcome you in place of our lord, who has left for the capital.”

In contrast with the formal greeting, he had a gentle look on his face. Especially when gazing at Lady Maika’s face, he almost seemed to smile. While he made a sharp impression, his kind personality was shining through. There was no mistake—this was Mrs. Yuika’s younger brother.

Lady Maika briefly caught her breath before replying to her uncle, whom she just had seen for the first time. “Thank you for gracing us with your presence. I extend my warmest greetings in place of Klein, the chief of Noscula village.”

It was a textbook greeting. Back at the village, she had been a cheerful and lively young girl, but now she showed herself as the daughter of the village chief. Her parents had taught her well. It took a lot of practice to master such a pleasant, formal greeting. Lord Itsuki seemed impressed too; you could faintly hear him let out a gasp.

“I have brought you a report detailing the village’s activities over the past year,” Lady Maika continued.

“I will gladly accept it. Thank you for your hard work.” Lord Itsuki nodded as he accepted the rolled-up and sealed bundle of papers. He looked pleased, and his serious expression was slowly transforming into a smile.

After a brief pause, he began as if he could not refrain himself anymore, saying, “Pardon me! I’m sure you don’t mind me becoming a bit more personal now that the greeting and the village report business is over.”

After assuming our agreement, Lord Itsuki, who had kept a calm and rigid expression until just a few moments ago, knelt down in front of Lady Maika to speak at eye level. “It’s been a while Maika! Although I imagine you don’t remember me, since you couldn’t even speak back then.”

“Ah... Uhm... Y-Yes. Unfortunately, I do not remember. But my mother has told me about us meeting before.”

“I see. How much you’ve grown! I mean, I’ve known you since you were a baby! You were born in this very house. You’ve really become beautiful! You look so much like my sister.”

Lord Itsuki was overwhelming Lady Maika with his excitement. Still, the reaction was normal considering he had not seen his niece in such a long time.

He reached out to caress her head. “Oh, you have your mother’s eyes, but your ears seem to come more after my dear brother-in-law. Your formal greeting from earlier also seemed a lot like his seriousness!”

“Is that so? I’ve learned about proper etiquette from my mother and...” She looked towards me in the middle of her sentence.

What is she trying to say?

“I mean, my mother has taught me all I know about etiquette!” she finished saying.

“I see, I see. Are my sister and brother-in-law still as happy together as ever?”

“Yes, very much so.”

While Lady Maika was still a bit perplexed, she answered on the spot when it came to her parents’ loving relationship. Her parents’ love was so strong that it even roped me into nodding along in agreement.

Upon hearing that, Lord Itsuki burst out into laughter. “As expected! Sacula’s favorite couple is still going strong!”

Sacula’s favorite couple? I wondered what they both had done during their time here. Since neither of them was really forthcoming, the only thing I knew was that there had been some commotion when they decided to get married.

Even more than myself, Lady Maika did not know how to respond. However, Lord Itsuki did not dwell on the subject for too long either. “I’ve been looking forward to your visit! I couldn’t wait to see with my own eyes how my sister and brother-in-law’s daughter had grown up.”

“Yes, thank you for giving me the opportunity to study—” She stopped in the middle of her formal words.

For a moment, it looked as if she had trouble finding the right words, but the next line out of her mouth showed how much she was her mother’s daughter.

“Thank you so much, Uncle!” Lady Maika looked up hesitantly, wondering if it had been okay to call him that way.

Lord Itsuki pressed his hands on his face. He seemed to be taken aback and at loss for words from pure happiness. “Please excuse me. I was just so moved... If you don’t mind, I’d be more than happy for you to keep calling me Uncle in private.”

He was trying to contain his joy, but not very successfully. Lady Maika had splendidly responded to his request to act more personally towards him.

Seemingly aware of his shaky expression, Lord Itsuki turned away from his niece and toward Mr. Quid and me. “Please forgive me, you two,” he said.

“Don’t worry about us.” As expected from a merchant, Mr. Quid tactfully shook his head as if he had not seen anything.

“Yes, I agree. It is only human to be overcome with emotion at a long-awaited reunion with a blood relative.” Personally, my eyes had also become slightly watery at the sight of their interaction.

“Thanks for your understanding. I’ve met Quid several times now, but I think it’s the first time we met.”

“Apologies for my late introduction. I am Ash, from Noscula village. Thank you so much for granting a farmer like me the opportunity to study in the city. There are no words enough to express my gratitude for your kindness. I will repay my debt by working hard and achieving results.” Starting with an agricultural reform to increase food production, I’ll work as hard as I can!

Lord Itsuki seemed momentarily surprised by my enthusiasm, but quickly looked satisfied. “I can see why my sister and brother-in-law recommended you. I don’t often see such a flawless greeting. Please excuse me if this sounds rude, but you don’t look like a farmer boy at all.”

Mr. Quid agreed without a moment’s delay. “Yes, Ash is special. I don’t know what to say other than he’s brilliant.”

“I think I’ve learned a lot from Ash in terms of my manners,” Lady Maika added.

I did not think I had such a big influence on her manners. As far as I was concerned, it was the result of her parents’ education. Although it was true that Mrs. Yuika had sometimes asked me for my opinion on her behavior.

After a bit of small talk, Lord Itsuki moved the conversation forward, saying, “I’m looking forward to introducing you to the army academy. As you may have heard already, my younger brother, who is one year younger than Maika, will also take part.”

To Lady Maika, that was her younger uncle. In this world, this did not seem to be a rare occurrence—she just nodded along without any hesitation.

“Yes, his name is Lord Arthur, if I remember correctly.”

“You don’t need to address him as lord; I want you to treat him as an equal. That’s his wish too.” Lord Itsuki was smiling pleadingly as he looked at me, letting me know that this was also meant for me.

Then, he continued his explanation. “The army academy was founded by influential people related to this city, and it acts doubly as a place of education and exchange for their children. Since it’s also a place for creating social relations, you can’t completely free yourself of your status, but... it’s a good chance to make friends of your own age.”

According to Lord Itsuki, he had fond memories of the academy. He told us how he had found true friendship there. His nostalgic smile was worth a thousand words.

How splendid. I nodded along repeatedly while painting an exciting picture inside my head.

“I imagine that, as a public figure, it is important to have a person whom you can trust in private,” I said.

“Exactly! I’m in a position where I can’t even freely have a drink with anyone beneath my rank. You know what you’re talking about, Ash. Are you sure you’re just a farm boy?”

“I like reading books, and I have come across stories like that.”

I was referring to stories from my past life, but I said it with a look of innocence. I was not lying; I was merely hiding some things.

“Oh, you can read already? Ah, yes, I remember my sister mentioning it in her letter. You’re indeed very talented.”

“Not at all. I am not worthy of studying in this city, and my social standing is on shaky grounds, to say the least. However, I will try my best to talk to your younger brother.”

“That’s the spirit! I was hopeful when my sister and my brother-in-law recommended you, but you may even be exceeding my expectations.”

I replied with a radiant smile to his words of praise.

After the events at the village, I was not too keen to talk to a boy my age, but I was willing to approach the child of an influential count. While I had said that I had no social standing and was not worthy of studying in this city, I was in fact filled with self-interests. However, listening to Lord Itsuki, I had to admit that it sounded fun to build a genuine friendship. I had pure adoration and impure expectations. I did not know which one took precedence. It was like the relation between an incendiary device and fuel.

Lord Itsuki was in the middle of another story when he was interrupted by a knock from the maid. “Lord Itsuki, it is time.”

“Ah, just a little longer...” He sounded like a child begging for only five more minutes of sleep in the morning.

“I am afraid there is no more time.”

“I’ll work a bit harder later.”

“I am afraid there is no more time.”

“I finally met with my niece.”

“I am afraid there is no more time.”

“It’s oka—”

“I am afraid there is no more time.”

After having all his objections shot down, he decisively stood up. “Alright, I got it. I’m sorry you three, but work is calling me. Quid, thank you for bringing these two here.”

“I was on my way here anyway and I already received a reward. Besides, if it’s a request from these two, I’ll gladly oblige any time.”

Lord Itsuki expressed his gratitude towards the peddler’s words with a nod.

Then, he addressed us. “Maika, Ash. We have prepared your accommodations. You’ll be living together with the other children at a dormitory. Please wait here until someone comes to show you the way.”

“Thank you for your consideration,” Lady Maika said.

“I am glad you granted us some of your precious time.”

Lord Itsuki smiled in response. “I really enjoyed talking to you. Let’s meet again once things have calmed down a bit.” He reluctantly looked at our bowed heads—or rather he mostly looked at Lady Maika—before gallantly leaving the room.

His painfully hesitant stride was pressed on by the maid’s footsteps close behind him. His behavior showed a lingering attachment to his niece.

“The future count is quite the interesting character,” I remarked.

As I expressed my opinion regarding the person who had entered and left the room in a completely different manner, I was met with a lukewarm gaze from the two people next to me.

The maid led Lady Maika and me to a separate residence. The stone building where we had been until earlier was the administrative hall, where the affairs of the city and its surrounding areas were governed. Located next to it was the feudal lord’s dwelling, and adjacent on the opposite side was this residence, which was also made of stone. Most likely, it had been built to match the administrative hall. It was an imposing building, standing out from the rest, possibly in an attempt to communicate that it was housing the future leaders of the city.

The maid explained that, apart from the common area, the residence was divided into a boys’ area on the first floor and a girls’ area on the second floor. The reason for the girls being housed on the second floor was simple: the first floor was easier to access for intruders.

My room was all the way at the back of the first floor. I took my luggage and knocked on the door of what was going to be my new room. Since rooms were generally shared by two people, I did not want to just suddenly enter.

“Yes, come in.”

My roommate had a pretty, high-pitched voice. I imagined them as a skinny boy as I opened the door and greeted them with a bow.

“Sorry for intruding. My name is Ash. I will be your roommate starting from today.”

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

As I had expected from the tone of the voice, I was jovially greeted by a skinny person. They looked like a fine young noble with smooth blonde hair, fresh clothes, and a calm smile. Their beautiful slender face and listless expression would have been capable of charming the women of the world with a mere sigh.

“You can call me Arthur.”

Yes, my roommate was Arthur Amanobe Sacula, whom acting count Lord Itsuki had told me to get along with just earlier. The younger brother did not look anything like Lord Itsuki or Mrs. Yuika. Apparently, this was because he had a different mother. The current count had remarried a woman from the capital, and he was their only child.

“Understood. I look forward to our time together, Arthur.”

“I prefer not being too formal. I like to break free from the social norms.”

“Yes, please go ahead. Do not mind my formality. I have just gotten into the habit of speaking this way from reading a lot of books. I know it is childish, but I am easily influenced by fictional stories.”

My manner of speaking was in fact influenced by my past life, but I put all the blame on my reading. Books truly were magnificent tools. I had always been getting strange looks due to how I spoke, since I talked like this even with my parents. However, once I started matching my words with my eccentricity, they stopped paying it any mind. I wanted to believe that was a good thing.

“Are you sure? I’ve heard you come from a farmer family.”

“Yes, indeed. Have you heard that from Lord Itsuki? I have been rummaging through the books of the village church. I assure you I am very informal on the inside, so please treat me as such.”

“So, there are still some villages where the church system works, huh?”

I mean, the Noscula one wasn’t really working either, but I made it work.

Even now that Maika and I had left, Tanya and Jigil were still studying at the church. And Father Folke seemed to be properly teaching them too. I felt a little proud to see Ar—Lord Arthur admire our village.

“It’s rare to hear of a church that properly fulfills its duties nowadays. Lord Itsu—my brother said it was amazing. And you’re the top student of such an amazing village.”

“In regard to the numbers of books read, I can say with confidence that I am indeed number one.”

I had read even more than Father Folke. Well, probably not if we counted the books which he had read outside the village, but that was not a fair comparison. Eventually, I was going to catch up though.

“I see. You’re more interesting than I had expected. Looks like it’ll be fun around here.”

“I am flattered. I am looking forward to our adventures too.”

I smiled as I firmly grasped the hand which Arthur held out. It felt rough, possibly from sword training. But even more so, it felt small.

What should I do? I repeated this phrase several times at the back of my head while keeping up my smile.

The truth is, I was not sure which pronoun to use for the youngest of the house of Count Sacula. Honestly, I was even inclined to say “she.”

At this age, it was not unusual for a child to look like the opposite sex. However, men and women had a different bone structure in the hip and shoulder areas. While Lord Arthur was not wearing any clothes that particularly revealed their body outline, I could tell from their movements... In other words, “she” had dressed to look like a boy. This spelled trouble.

If they were a trans person, that would have been totally fine. It would have just been a case of them matching their looks to their gender identity. But in Lord Arthur’s case, they were born into an influential family. Not to mention that they looked completely different than any of their siblings. Officially, this was due to them having different mothers, but I was not fully convinced... They must have been hiding something.

I wanted to ask Lord Itsuki why I had been put into the same room as his younger brother, but at the same time, I was afraid of the consequences. I needed to act carefully and be prepared for whatever move Lord Arthur was planning. I did not want to leave a bad impression in case they found out that I had noticed. If I tried too hard to cover for their secret, it was sure to get blown wide open. In the worst-case scenario, they would end up thinking that I had been deceiving them. In the best-case scenario, on the other hand, they would embrace me with gratitude for acting tactfully.

For now, it was probably best to just think of them as someone, possibly a girl, who had suddenly become my roommate due to unspecified personal reasons. Man, that sounds like the beginning of a romantic comedy.

It felt like the beginning of a story. The possibility of me being in trouble completely went away as my bookworm mind took over—I burst into excitement. I could not believe I was so close to such an interesting person!

“By the way, Arthur, have you heard about Maika, who has come with me from the village?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard. She’s my... niece.”

“Yes, exactly. If you do not mind, would you want to meet her? I think it would be the first time you meet, but she is your family after all.”

“Sure.”

It looked like they were hesitating when I mentioned the word “family,” but I might have just been overthinking.

Lord Arthur nodded with a fresh smile. “Can you introduce me?”

“Of course. I want my friends to get along.”

“Friends...”

I was going to relentlessly keep pushing Lord Arthur, who seemed surprised. They had said that they wanted to break free after all. I was ready to tear down the wall around them.

“Maika is a friend of mine, and now we are friends too, so you two are already friends by extension.” I readily expanded my circle of friends to everyone.

Let’s keep roping in more and more people so we can share our pain, our sadness, our impulses, our ambitions, our troubles, and our worries. Let’s find solutions together. My plan needed numbers to succeed, after all.

Not aware of my inner thoughts, which maybe could have been interpreted as an evil scheme, Lord Arthur muttered the following words. “So, we’re friends?”

“Is that a problem?”

Even if they did not like it, I had no intention of letting them go at this point.

“No, I’m happy.” Their smile seemed more bashful than earlier.

“I am glad to hear that.” I was indeed glad I did not have to convince them.

“Could you please wait a moment? I have an appointment in the lobby after putting down my luggage.”

“Yes, sure.”

Finally, things were calming down a bit after an eventful first day. Although I had expected nothing less from the city.

Arthur’s Perspective

I arrived here a month ago. Back then, I still was myself. And I was hesitant to turn into the lie called “Arthur.”

The vibrations of the horse carriage were shaking every bone in my body. Having traveled like this for the past two weeks, I could no longer hide my boredom. I voiced my sorrow with a barely audible sigh—I didn’t want anyone to notice my dissatisfaction. After all, this boring journey only took place to guarantee my safety, so I held back. I didn’t want to cause any more trouble than I had already. Therefore, I didn’t complain about the unbelievably bumpy road compared to the ones in the capital. Or the fact that the inside of the carriage was completely shut off to avoid prying eyes.

I noticed my face muscles moving. Don’t think about it. Just hold it in, I told myself.

While I may have been a helpless child incapable of properly defending myself, I was quite confident in my restraint. Or rather, that was about the only thing I had confidence in.

As I was thinking that, I felt a sneer come over my face. So much for my restraint.

“Lord Arthur.” Someone called from the outside.

I opened the wooden window to talk to the knight accompanying me.

“What is it, Sir George?”

“Itsutsu city of the Sacula region has come into our sight. I thought that maybe you wished to take a look at it.”

I blinked at the words of the knight, who had fulfilled his duty on this journey with such rigidity that using the word “loyalty” to describe him would have been an understatement. Sir George had perfectly executed his mission of escorting me without attracting any attention to a point where I was fed up as much as I was grateful.

“Are you sure it’s fine?”

“At this point, I don’t think there will be any problems. Besides, there is currently no one else in sight.” He talked with a caring expression on his face. I could see why this admirable man had been chosen as my escort.

The knight appeared to feel sorry for having to put me through such a tiresome journey. If possible, he would have loved to make it easier and more comfortable. However, he didn’t give in to his personal feelings, and faithfully carried out his orders. This was indeed a man worthy of the count’s trust.

“Thank you. In that case, I’ll have a look.”

To be honest, at this point I didn’t even care anymore. However, I also had had an itch to stretch my body for the past ten days.

I opened the carriage door and set foot on the ground. As someone who was used to the stone pavement of the capital, it was strange to feel the bare soil covered in wild-growing grass under my feet. It was as if the ground was telling me that I didn’t belong here. And it’s true. I’m sure I’ll end up bothering a lot of people. But it’ll only be for a little while.

My acknowledgment seemed to calm down the ground. Of course, it was all just my imagination. The only one thinking that I didn’t belong here was none other than myself. I already wanted to leave. Nonetheless, I intended to behave appropriately in order to be accepted here. Even if that meant pretending to be someone I’m not.

“Lord Arthur, please look this way,” Sir George said to me as I was facing down gazing at the ground.

I need to be careful. I put on a smile and shifted my attention to the direction he had pointed out.

The river ahead split into two streams, embracing a hill like a goddess stretching out her arms. Atop that hill stood a stone wall unfitting of this beautiful scenery.

“That is the city wall protecting Itsutsu.”

“That stone wall?”

It took a lot of effort not to sound too disappointed. Most people would have imagined an iron wall surrounding the city of Itsutsu, which was at the heart of the Sacula region, and known for being the location where heroic tales of fighting back demons took place. In contrast, this stone wall looked unsteady and crooked, even from this far away. It didn’t seem to be very tall either, and its depth was most likely uneven across its length. It gave the impression of being a toy that children had built with blocks of wood. Compared to the capital’s city and castle walls, which didn’t have a single crack despite yearlong wear and tear from rain and wind, this was...

“Do you think it’s unsightly?” Sir George clearly spoke out the words that I had refrained from saying. He had an air of pride about him. “Since the arrival of His Excellency, the first Count of Sacula, this wall has repelled thousands of demons and protected tens of thousands of people over the years. All this time, these stones have kept standing tirelessly no matter the damage.”

He pointed out a slightly lower part of the wall before continuing. “Seventy years ago, a flying dragon crashed into that part. On impact, the top of the wall crumbled and it’s been like this ever since.”

His finger wandered towards a part that looked like it had unnaturally caved in. “Forty years ago, when a group of treants attacked, that outer wall looked like it was about to collapse. To prevent a tragedy, they hurriedly built an emergency wall on the inside and succeeded in repelling the enemy. However, since they used parts of that emergency wall for repairs, it looks a bit crooked now.”

After hearing those stories, I started to understand. Those unsightly parts of the city wall were like scars detailing all its victories against incoming threats over the years.

“Given the nature of this area, this unsightly wall is about the only thing we can feel proud of. All the warriors of Sacula agree that it is a great monument to their achievements.”

There was a saying that “Knights are the stones of the wall.” When faced with an enemy attack, they stood alongside the wall, fighting and getting hurt. And in the next battle, Sir George was going to be among them.

As one stone of this scarred barrier, Sir George held his hand to his chest and swore. “From today on, this unsightly wall will protect you! Rest assured.”

Hearing those words, my smile slipped away for a brief moment before I recomposed myself. “Thank you, Sir George. I am counting on you.”

“Yes, Lord Arthur.” It was a perfectly bland answer, but the knight’s face looked a bit sad.

I was anxious. This region was nothing like the capital, and I didn’t know anyone. I was on my own. At the same time, I had to make sure not to let my guard down. I needed to avoid any careless mistakes and not stand out from the crowd, so I didn’t expose this lie.

It was going to be alright as long as I kept my head down and wore a cloak over my face. Seemingly, I needed to hide my thoughts as well. All in all, it was not much different from my life in the capital. This was for the best. This way, I wouldn’t bother anyone.

Still, this unsightly city wall kept grabbing my attention. I was not used to seeing such an unevenly-shaped structure in the capital. The wall stood tall, not caring about anyone mocking its appearance. It was as if it eloquently told me that a whole new world was waiting for poor little me.

My chest was throbbing. Could it be? Maybe here I could... My heart skipped a beat. At that same moment, the wind started blowing, as if moved by my emotions.

“Woah...” What a strong wind. I felt my body waver as I closed my eyes and covered my face. I guess this place hates me after all.

“This is a sign of good luck.” Sir George smiled at the wind as if he was sending off a friend.

“Good luck?”

“Yes. This is a wind particular to this season. His Excellency, the first Count of Sacula, who laid the foundation of this city wall, came to this area accompanied by this same wind. It is said to be a sign of good luck for new beginnings. In fact, it was also blowing when a friend of mine set out to become a merchant. Apparently, he struggled at first, but recently he has been doing very well. He told me that he has been praying in the direction of the wind.”

I understood this as a superstitious belief that doing so would let you share the good luck of our great ancestors.

With that in mind, I asked, “Isn’t it a little bit too rough for that? It doesn’t have to blow this strong.”

“It takes a lot of strength to move forward. This strong wind gives the people of Sacula the necessary push.”

The strong wind blew once again, as if to confirm Sir George’s statement. But to me, it just felt as if it was trying to snatch away the veil that I had cast over my mind.

In order to avoid the public eye, the horse carriage stopped at the back of the lord’s mansion. At arrival, a maid swiftly greeted us and led me inside the building.

“Please forgive my rudeness. I was ordered to avoid the public eye as much as possible, so I skipped the formalities. My name is Rihn.” The maid deeply bowed her head.

At first glance, she looked strict—just like Sir George. I wondered if all the people from the Sacula region were this strict and serious. The count seemed quite... dynamic and laid back when I met him in the capital.

“I am aware of your circumstances. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask me.”

“Thank you very much, Miss Rihn.” I politely replied with a nod.

She reciprocated before reprimanding me. “Please don’t be so formal. You can just call me Rihn. After all, you are interacting with me as the son of the Count of Sacula.”

“Got you, Rihn. Is that okay?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“No, thank you. I’m still not used to being Arthur.”

She was right. While it may not have mattered when dealing with outsiders, it was important to use the right language for my own maid. As Arthur, I was a member of this house, after all.

“If I make any other mistakes, don’t hesitate to point them out.”

“Yes, My Lord. That is my duty.”

Behind my smile, I was quite tense due to her strictness. However, similar to Sir George, this was also a sign of loyalty for her.

“Please let me explain some details about your current situation, Lord Arthur.”

According to Rihn, I had been living here for the past three months. As the youngest child of the count, born and raised in the capital, I was brought here to join the army academy. As a result of my long journey and the change of environment, I had fallen ill and stayed in bed, but now, I had finally recovered. That was my background story.

“Since only a limited number of people were taking care of you, it is best for you to treat everyone as if it was your first time meeting them. Given your circumstances, I am certain no one will mind a slightly awkward response from your part.”

“I see... So I’m supposed to be the child of the count’s second wife. Although I assume most people will think of me as the child of his mistress...”

“I am afraid so.”

That would have been the natural reaction to someone arriving from the capital without any attendants. I would have been lying if I said that I didn’t mind at all. Imagining the judging stares from the public didn’t feel good. However, it was miles better than the looks I had received as “my real self” back in the capital. I was going to persevere.

“Got it. I’m prepared for that. Is there anything else I need to look out for?”

“Yes. I will have to inform you of the count’s family relations and dealings.”

“Yeah, it would be strange if I didn’t know those.”

“Similarly, if there is anything you need, you can always count on me. Of course, Sir George will also be at your disposal.”

Rihn glared me down as if she was telling me to obey her words. Her look scolded me to rely on others whenever it was needed. I didn’t know how to reply, and once again my smile started to crumble.

Seeing my face, Rihn broke the silence. “Let us start with relatives in the city. I assume you are already aware of the acting count, Lord Itsuki. Next, we have Mother Yae, his young cousin, who resides in the temple. She is one of the teachers at the army academy, so you will probably interact with her frequently. I should also mention that Sir George and I will also be teaching you.”

After she had finished the explanation detailing various city residents, I heard someone approaching the door. Rihn stopped talking and seemed alarmed, but Sir George reassured her.

“Those footsteps are from Lord Itsuki—you don’t need to worry. He seems to be alone too.”

And indeed, it was my new older brother who knocked and entered the room.

“Oh Arthur, you look well today!”

The loud voice and the vivid smile, paired with his rapid, long stride made him appear both dynamic and rustic at the same time. Maybe a bit more on the rustic side. Judging from Rihn and Sir George’s reactions, he seemed to be acting like a different person.

The acting count enthusiastically patted my shoulders. “You don’t need to worry anymore! Enjoy Sacula as much as possible!” My new older brother winked at me. His words were directed at the Arthur who had stayed in bed for the past three months as well as the one who had just arrived today.

“Thank you, Lord Itsuki.”

“Haha, don’t be so formal! You’re my adorable little brother! Just call me Itsuki!”

Rihn came to my defense. “It may be a bit difficult for him to be so informal with you.”

“Is that so? If it were me... Well, I can’t bring myself to call my dear sister simply by her first name either...” After thinking for a moment, he nodded. “That’s it! How about you just call me “Brother” too? That should be fine, right?”

“That is indeed a good idea. That might even prevent some meddling into Lord Arthur’s affairs if people think that the two brothers get along well,” Rihn said.

“Then, it’s decided!” he happily exclaimed.

Lord Itsuki looked at me in anticipation with glowing eyes. Guess I’ll have to actually say it.

“Uhm...” I hesitated, but Lord Itsuki just kept smiling at me. Rihn and Sir George didn’t show any signs of intervening either. “My dear brother?”

“Yes! I look forward to spending time with you here, my brother!”

My dear brother looked overjoyed as he laughed and patted my shoulders. Rihn and Sir George, who had stayed quiet for the most part, now stepped in, telling him to stop patting people’s shoulders so forcefully.

Once again, I felt my fake smile slip away. This was the first time that an older brother was staring at my face this closely.

“Have you already told him about the army academy?” my brother asked.

“Not yet. And I still need to talk to him about your sister Lady Yuika and her daughter Lady Maika, as well as the boy,” Rihn said.

“Would you mind if I explain it?”

“Please keep it short.” Rihn agreed, but not without a warning.

“My older sister Yuika, who is the oldest daughter of our house, is currently living together with my brother-in-law Klein in a village called Noscula. My sister is much more suited to city life than I am, but she is just so enamored with my brother-in-law, who is a wonderful person, and—”

“Please keep it short, Lord Itsuki.”

“Oh, but I’ve only just started talking?”

“Please keep it short, Lord Itsuki.”

“Okay, got it.”

Rihn glared at him with a look as unsettling as a ballista ready to fire.

“Well, anyways, they are a wonderful couple with a wonderful daughter. She is two years older than you.” Murmuring under his breath, he added, “I haven’t met her in ten years myself either.”

If she’s two years older than me and he hasn’t met her in ten years, wouldn’t that mean he last saw her when she was a baby? Is that enough to assert that she’s wonderful? Could it be that this guy is just very amicable towards all his relatives?

Besides these trivial doubts, I had understood the gist of the conversation. Since she was of similar age, she was likely going to join the army academy too.

“Her name is Maika. Make sure to get along with her.”

“Yes.” I will make sure of it.

I didn’t give much thought to the statement at first, since it came across naturally, but was that an order?

“Anyhow, she is the daughter of my sister Yuika and my brother-in-law Klein. She is intelligent, excellent at judging other people’s character, and physically strong too! She’s got the best of both her parents!”

It felt more like he was boasting about his niece rather than giving an order. Regardless, she did indeed sound like a wonderful person. She was not just intelligent and had good social skills, but she had physical strength too.

“Oh, and there is one more person who will join the army academy on the basis of my sister and my brother-in-law’s recommendation.”

“Besides their daughter?”

“Yes, he is a farm boy... It might be difficult to believe, but he is an incredibly talented person, so make sure to get along with him too.”

“I will.”

That was rare, but I could understand the logic of admitting a farm boy if he was talented enough. Anyway, why did that concern me?

“Arthur, with the addition of that farm boy, there will be an even number of boys at this year’s army academy.”

“Okay.”

“Normally, two people share a dormitory there.”

“...Okay.”

I had come here as the count’s son, Arthur. In other words, as a boy. I went along with it, as I was told that it would be easier to deceive my pursuer this way.

“Wait, are you saying my roommate will be...?”

“Yes, I’m thinking of putting you two in a room together.”

However, when my brother told me that I had to share a room with a boy, I was no longer as convinced of the plan.

“I know I’m in no position to argue, but are you sure that is going to be alright?” I asked.

“I’m worried. At first, I was thinking about letting you commute from this mansion due to health concerns if we couldn’t come up with the perfect camouflage.”

But it appeared that something had changed his mind.

“When my dear sister heard about your situation, she said that it might be better to let you live in the dormitory. According to her, there is no need to worry if you share a room with that farm boy. And I wholeheartedly trust her talent to judge people.”

“I see.”

Personally, this wasn’t something I could readily agree to. Even if my roommate had been Lord Itsuki’s son, I couldn’t have blindly trusted him. Much less when it came to a farm boy who hadn’t received a proper education, no matter how talented he might’ve been.

In the end, though, I nodded in agreement. “I’ll leave the decision to you, my dear brother.”

I was in no position to voice my opinion. All I could do was smile and nod along. At least I wouldn’t be bothering anyone that way.

“I’m sorry for making you worry.” Lord Itsuki bowed his head. “If there is any problem, let me know right away. I’ll have Rihn keep an eye on you too. As I said earlier, it’s always possible for you to commute from here if anything goes wrong.” He repeated that it was just a measure based on his trust in his older sister Yuika; an attempt to perfect my disguise.

“Yes, I understand. I’m sorry for bothering you.”

“You don’t have to worry about bothering anyone,” he insisted while shaking his head and looking at me as if I was a hurt bird.

One month had passed since my arrival, and today, I was finally going to meet my roommate. Rihn, who was the dorm supervisor, informed me of his schedule and urged my caution.

“Presently, he is waiting to meet with Lord Itsuki. Once they have finished, he will be making his way to the dormitory. I assume Lord Itsuki will take as much time as possible to talk with Lady Maika, so it might take a while before he arrives here.”

“Got it, thanks.”

Rihn’s careful consideration had saved me a lot of trouble until now. But even with the help of a talented maid like her, I felt uneasy about meeting someone of the opposite sex. And on top of it all, he was a farm boy, who probably didn’t know much about manners or proper hygiene. I would endure as much as possible, but I was still scared.

“So, this boy called Ash... What’s he like?”

“I have yet to meet him myself, so I can only go by what the maid of the administrative halls says...” Rihn was being unusually hesitant as she chose her words. “According to that maid, both children had impeccable manners.”

I wasn’t sure how to process this information.

“So, they were both behaving appropriately?” I asked.

I couldn’t understand how a farm boy without education had manners on par with those of a girl from a noble lineage who had received an appropriate education.

Seeing my confusion, Rihn nodded in affirmation before elaborating. “To be precise, it seemed that the farm boy was calmer than the nervous Lady Maika... and he was even backing her up.”

“Are you sure the other maid didn’t mix them up?”

“You may be inclined to think so, but Lady Maika looks just like her mother, so it would have been obvious to any maid in this house who is Lady Yuika’s daughter. Besides, while the farm boy’s clothes weren’t too plain, there was a clear difference in the quality of their outfits.”

“In that case, I guess it’s true...”

I didn’t know what to make of this. It looked like I had misjudged the person I was about to meet.

“Lord Arthur, please calm down. So far there has been no bad news, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Really?” No bad news? I guess she is right.

My roommate was said to be well-mannered and extremely calm. That was good news. I was just... perplexed.

“Thanks, Rihn. I’ll just engage with him politely for now.”

“Yes, I don’t think there will be any problems given his manners. However, I will be on standby, just in case.”

I started to feel a bit excited. Thanks to Rihn, I had calmed down some, but my heart was still racing. I was overcome with emotions and I could no longer stand still. I had never felt like this before in the capital. I didn’t know what to do. I wondered what kind of person Ash was. I tried imagining him, but nothing felt right.

While mumbling to myself, I kept walking back and forth in my small room. Eventually, I heard footsteps in the hallway. Was that him? That must have been him. They stopped in front of the door and knocked.

Since I was used to my maid or servant answering the door, I almost forgot to say something. In a panic, I answered in a high-pitched voice. “Yes, come in.”

The door gave way to a red-haired boy with a gentle smile.

“Sorry for intruding. My name is Ash. I will be your roommate starting from today.”

He was indeed very polite, and seemed elegant compared to some of the ruder high-society city folk. It also looked like he was taking great care of his appearance. While his clothes were rather plain, they were free of any dirt or frayed spots.

Due to my upbringing, I observed him for a moment before replying. “You can call me Arthur.”

It took me about a month to get used to introducing myself this way. I no longer heard my own name. Lying became my only reality. I felt how my self-identity became more and more ambiguous each day.

I was glad that Ash was talking to me in such a friendly manner. Although I had to admit that his overly-formal manner of speaking was a bit strange, it felt like the more we talked the friendlier he became.

“Yes, the church in Noscula village is fulfilling its function as an educational institution. When I left, the number of students had increased to eight. I imagine Master Folke is doing his best.”

“Master Folke? Is that the name of the priest dispatched to your village?”

“Yes. I refer to him as Master Folke to express my deep affection and respect towards him, and various other things.”

“He must be a respectable person. I’ve never heard of someone properly running their church in a village. That’s quite the achievement.”

“You are giving him too much credit. He is a severely hopeless case, so you should not praise him too much. Otherwise, he might end up with difficulty breathing from sneezing in rapid succession.”

“What do you mean? Now I’m confused about this Master Folke’s reputation.”

This must have been what people call “silly banter.” Ash didn’t ask anything about my upbringing or current situation. I assumed he was holding back. At the same time, I also felt like he didn’t really care that much.

Ash just kept on talking. “His reputation? Mmh... An intelligent crook? Or maybe the devil’s errand boy?”

“He is a priest, right?”

“Yes, he is. But he used to be a zombie.”

“What? A zombie?”

“He is fundamentally a good person, but he has an extremely unhealthy lifestyle and stranger mannerisms, so I usually try to lower the expectations when introducing him to someone else. Especially thinking about the dignity of the Church. I do not dare putting him on the same level as all the other refined priests. I do not want to anger the three gods.”

“Hahaha. Wait, the more you talk, the less I understand.”

It was almost unfair how funny everything that came out of this guy’s mouth was. I worried slightly about my current facial expression, but I couldn’t stop laughing. My body felt hot and my shoulders were trembling. To make matters worse, the source of my laughter, Ash, just didn’t stop. It had been a long while since I enjoyed myself this much. It got to a point where I ended up huffing and puffing from laughter, but eventually, the conversation calmed down a bit. I would have never imagined that I was going to have this much fun before he had even unpacked his luggage.

“By the way, Arthur, have you heard about Maika, who has come with me from the village?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard. She’s my... niece.”

“Yes, exactly. If you do not mind, would you want to meet her? I think it would be the first time you meet, but she is your family after all.”

Family. That word reminded me of my older brother, who saw me as an enemy; and my father, who always came up with excuses to not help me. I associated both their faces with vigilance and sorrow, colder than any winter wind.

Even though my body temperature had risen from the excitement of talking to Ash, it immediately froze down again. This was no good. I couldn’t let him notice my change in mood, or else he was going to start worrying about me. That was the last thing I wanted. After all, I was used to this emotion, so there was no need to worry. I put on my usual fake smile.

“Sure,” I said.

I don’t think he noticed. However, I was not entirely confident, as I could see Ash’s expression changing slightly.

“Can you introduce me to her?” I added.

“Of course.” Ash’s smile looked even warmer than before. “I want my friends to get along.”

“Friends...” He just said friends, right?

My frozen heart started throbbing again. Or rather, I felt it burning. I was slightly embarrassed. That was strange. Why was I so flustered even though he only said that he wanted to be friends?

As I was trying to suppress my shaking, I realized why. Come to think of it, he might be my first friend.

I had met many marquis or viscounts eager to shake my hand, but none of them wanted to be my friends. They just treated me as a part of their faction in an attempt to curry favor with my family for their own benefits and convenience.

Contrary to them, Ash was the son of a farmer, and I felt that I could take him at his word. Even if he had ulterior motives, I couldn’t see them going beyond him wanting me to teach him something. It already felt like a true friendship. I had yearned for this ever since I read about it in a book. Although I would have never admitted it out loud. Did he really want to be my friend?

“Maika is a friend of mine, and now we are friends too, so you are already friends by extension.”

There was no mistake. I was just slightly sad that I didn’t make my first friend as my true self. But I realized that was selfish, because, after all, this was still me. I should be content, I thought. Feeling this happy was enough. Really. Asking for anything more would have just been selfish.

“So, we’re friends?”

“Is that a problem?”

Ash asked me with a gentle and warm smile. It made me feel that, no matter how I answered, he was still going to be my friend.

“No, I’m happy.”

I wished I could have just simply accepted his smile. I should have just left it at that. But the lie that was weighing heavily on my heart made me add the following words.

“I think.”

I am happy. I truly am. But...

He was the first person who wanted to be my friend, but I couldn’t bring myself to give him a clear answer. After all, I was nothing but a lump of lies. And there was nothing worse than lying to your friends. While I was an uncertain mess of a person, this sadness was undoubtedly mine.

Maika’s Perspective

The dorm room where I was going to spend the next two years came furnished with a very energetic young girl. Maybe that was a slightly rude way of putting it—she was my roommate after all.

“Hello, my name is Reina. I am the daughter of Rihn, who works as a maid for the Count of Sacula.”

Hehe, what a cute name.

At first glance, she looked mature. Maybe it was due to the way she was standing up straight, but she looked tall. Her tightly closed lips and wide eyes made it seem as if she had thrown away all her childish desires. The straight posture was surely a result of her upbringing as the daughter of a maid; it didn’t look like it came from martial arts training. I could easily win against this girl, I thought.

With a feeling of relief, I politely replied to her greeting. “Nice to meet you. I am Maika Noscula. I look forward to living with you for the next two years.”

“My mother has told me all about you, Lady Maika. Oh, I forgot to mention: my mother is the dorm supervisor, but she is not in charge of assigning the rooms. That is Lord Itsuki’s task.”

The dorm supervisor? I guess that means she’s an important person around here. For Ash’s sake too, I should probably try to get along with her.

“I see. If you want, you can address me more casually. Since we are going to live together, we don’t have to be so formal,” I proposed.

“I think I would agree.” Reina spoke in a quiet voice as she bowed with her eyes closed. How cute! It showed that she was still a girl my age even though she appeared more mature.

“Let’s talk as friends then! You can just call me Maika.”

“Are you sure that’s okay?”

“Yeah. You can take your time getting used to it.”

I shrugged my shoulders at the hesitation on her face. My mother was the count’s eldest daughter after all. It may have been difficult for Reina to drop the formal address right away.

“Since I grew up in a farm village, all my friends just called me Maika there, so I don’t mind at all. You don’t need to worry.”

“Understood. I will consult about it with my mother.”

“Whenever you feel ready. It’s also my first time in the city, so I have a lot of questions for you too.”

I wanted to taste all the delicious food of the city, like all the sweets and the meat. I didn’t really have the opportunity to eat those things back at the village... Although, admittedly, recently I’d been able to eat a fair share of those delicacies thanks to Ash being amazing.

I had to unpack my luggage and hurry to the lobby to meet up with Ash. Now that we lived in the same building, I no longer had to worry about my curfew at night. I needed to make the most out of this situation.

After I had finished putting all my stuff into the empty side of the cabinet, Reina stared at me in wonder.

“Have you already finished? Is this all you carried with you?”

“Yes.”

I had carefully sorted out my belongings and only brought what was necessary, as I had learned from my dad. My point of reference had been the baggage that he took on his marches as a soldier. His sword and a dagger were probably the heaviest things he carried.

“What about your other luggage?”

“I don’t have any more.”

Inside Quid’s horse carriage there were still a lot of goods that Ash had brought, though.

“What about your clothes?!”

“Oh, I’m fine.” So that was what she was worried about. “Once Quid has sold Ash’s goods, I will buy new clothes and various other things with that money here in the city.”

“Ash? Is that the farm boy from the same village as you?” She was in disbelief.

Hehe. You can’t lump him together with those run-of-the-mill farmers.

“Ash was the biggest breadwinner in all of Noscula village!”

Anything Ash had produced, starting with the aloe ointment, the honey, and the medicine, had sold at an incredible pace. My mom always said that his talents were a godsend. Apparently, we were lacking the money to finance our stay in the city until Ash consulted with my mom and Quid. They decided to sell some materials from our village which hadn’t been up for sale until now.

It seemed that the demand for Ash’s products was so big that it couldn’t be matched with our current supply. The reason was simply the lack of proper transportation and communication between cities and villages. This world desperately needed the power of an interconnected public transport system! Or at least that’s what Ash is always murmuring to himself. I still don’t really know what it means, but it sounds cool.

Most of the luggage inside Quid’s carriage was goods that Ash was going to try and sell for the highest price around the city. In other words, that luggage would transform into our new clothes.

After I tried explaining all this to Reina, she seemed even more confused. “I’m not sure I understand what you are saying, Lady Maika.”

Don’t worry, I don’t either. The only thing you need to understand is this. “It just means that Ash is amazing!” Once you see it with your own eyes, you’ll get it.

When I asked Ash during the journey, he laughed it off, saying, “Once there are paved roads, you will be able to experience it for yourself.” My heartbeat raced at the sight of his smile, capable of pushing away all obstacles.

“I’m done unpacking! What do you plan on doing after this, Reina? I’m going to meet up with Ash.”

“I will go see my mother and ask her how I should interact with you.”

“Okay, I’ll see you later then!” I waved at her before leaving the room.

When I got to the lobby, Ash was nowhere to be found. I wondered if he was still in his room. I peered into the hallway of the boy’s area. The frail winter sunlight shone through the crevices of the wooden shutters, only to be bounced back by someone’s red hair with a significantly increased order of magnitude.

It was Ash! My face lit up as soon as I saw him. When I waved at him, he reciprocated. Yay!

Behind him walked another boy with blonde hair. I assumed this was his roommate Arthur, whom my uncle had talked about. Ash was so quick at making new friends. As he always said, “Friends are important, connections are useful, and more allies equal more power!”

Arthur’s hair was blonde, but it didn’t reflect the light as much as Ash’s. Her refined features resembled those of a doll, and she seemed to be the quiet type. While her clothes weren’t too flashy, they were still fashionable. Or to put it simply, she was the epitome of a city girl. She was a different type of beautiful than me. This was alarming. I needed to make sure she wasn’t going to steal Ash’s hea—Wait wha?!

I took a good second look at Arthur’s face. It was very cute and feminine. But Arthur was a boy, right? There was no way that a girl could have stayed in the boys’ dormitory. If that had been an option, I would have wanted to move in with Ash!

I was about to shout, but muffled my voice. Ash gave me a serious look while keeping his usual gentle smile. His expression acted as a warning that I was about to do something risky.

How rare! He barely ever showed this face. How lucky I was! Although, by the time they got to the lobby, Arthur’s gender was still a mystery to me.

“Sorry for making you wait, Maika!”

“Don’t worry, I just arrived too.”

I should be able to determine their gender while the two of them stand side by side for comparison, I thought.

“This is my roommate, Arthur. He is your uncle, but you both are roughly the same age, and he is a very friendly person.”

So he was a boy after all! Ash also acted as if Arthur was someone of the same sex. Why had I mistaken him for a girl at first sight? I guessed he was just that sort of person; he was cute after all. Ash also had some adorable features. Still, I couldn’t let my guard down just yet.

“Nice to meet you, Maika. Is it okay if I call you like that? I’m still younger than you, so I’m not sure.”

“You’re not younger by that much. But yeah, you can call me Maika. I’ll call you Arthur too.”

While shaking Arthur’s hand, I tried reading his facial cues. He had a beautiful smile, but it reminded me of Ash’s from a couple of years ago. It was the smile of someone who was hiding a lot of pain and suffering on the inside. I used to be bad at dealing with this kind of smile, as it had always brought me to the verge of tears. However, now I was fine. Although I still hated it. I hated that it made me feel like I had been stabbed in the chest.

“Good luck, Arthur!” I said to him.

“Oh, yes, let’s all do our best!”

No! That’s not what I meant.

He had misunderstood it as a cheer for our upcoming studies at the academy. What I wanted to say was, “Good luck being at Ash’s mercy.”

That fake smile was going to be blown away in no time. So, once again, good luck. You’ll need it!

●　●　●

It was my second day in the city. In the morning, all the students at the army academy were told to gather at the temple to attend lessons on how to read and write. I was looking forward to reading all the books in the temple, but I obviously did not want to learn reading and writing again—I had done that already three years ago.

When I asked Lord Arthur for advice, they reassured me, saying, “There will be other students who already know how to read and write, so they should be flexible. You’ll probably get some free study time to read whatever you like.”

“That would be splendid!”

I liked the sound of a syllabus adapted to each student’s abilities.

In anticipation of the temple’s library, I excitedly ran off. Lord Arthur trailed behind, since they were taken aback by my sudden sprint, but Lady Maika smoothly managed to keep up with my pace.

“We’re lucky to get to go to the library already!” Lady Maika said.

“Yes! I did not expect in my wildest dreams that I was going to achieve my goal of visiting the temple library on my second day in the city.”

First, I needed to find a book on the basics of chemistry and chemical engineering. Or maybe a guide on practical farming methods. My goal was to create a chemical fertilizer to increase food production.

“Will you help me too, Maika?”

“Of course! All I have to do is look for a book about fertilizers or compounds, right?”

“Yes! I expected nothing less from you.”

Luckily, I had told her about what I was looking for before leaving the village. It was good to have an ally and friend whom I could rely on.

Finally catching up to us, Lord Arthur hesitantly joined the conversation. “I don’t fully understand what you’re talking about, but you are looking for a book?”

“Yes, exactly. I have some questions that the books in our village unfortunately could not answer.”

“I see. That sounds interesting. Do you think I could be of any help to you?” Those were words of true friendship from Lord Arthur.

Welcome to the labor force.

As I showed them a broad grin, Lord Arthur recoiled for some reason. Grabbing their shoulder, Lady Maika tried explaining the situation with a strained smile.

“Don’t be afraid. He’s just grinning like that because he got excited.”

“Oh... Thanks for telling me. He has a strangely intense smile...”

“Don’t worry, everyone says that at first.”

I wondered what exactly I had done wrong. I was only a bit excited and trying to be friendly.

At the temple, we were greeted by a beautiful and intelligent-looking woman who vaguely resembled Lady Maika and Mrs. Yuika. She had a calm demeanor and appeared to be around 20 years old.

“You two must be Maika and Ash,” she said. “It is my pleasure to meet you. I am Priest Yae. I will be one of your teachers at the academy.”

“The pleasure is on my side. I am Maika. I look forward to studying under your guidance.”

Standing next to Lady Maika, who had just formally greeted the priest in front of us, I felt a strange sense of affinity towards the latter. This was Mother Yae.

I felt a strong urge to thank her. “I am Ash. This is the first time we met in person, but thank you for all your help and assistance until now.”

“Oh, have we been in contact before?”

Mother Yae propped up her right cheek with her hand as she tilted her head to the side. Her gestures were quite charming.

“Yes, indirectly through Father Folke. I heard that you went through great efforts to search for a book that I wanted.”

“A book for Father Folke...” the smart-looking and beautiful woman opened her eyes wide in amazement. “You’re the young man whom Father Folke mentioned! You wanted to read such a difficult book?”

“I am afraid I do not remember which exact book it was. However, I do not think Father Folke would have been able to request such a book from anyone else.”

Slowly swaying, Mother Yae took a few steps backwards. “I’m feeling a bit dizzy...”

“Are you alright?”

Was she not feeling well? As I approached to look after her, Lady Maika grabbed my shoulder to stop me. “Don’t get closer! You’re the reason for her dizziness.”

What does that mean?

“The other villagers and I are already used to your behavior, but to someone who sees you for the first time, you can come off as overwhelming. You need to be careful.”

“You make it sound like I am some sort of hazard.”

“Not at all!” Flustered, Lady Maika denied my statement. I was glad to hear that I was not yet considered a toxic substance. “But my mom told me to make sure you don’t interact with anyone when you get fired up.”

That made it sound like I was a runaway car. I guess I’m a hazard after all.

I knew that I was an oddball, but was it really that bad?

As I was taking in this shock, Mother Yae recomposed herself. “Please excuse me. It’s just that you’re so much younger than I expected.”

“No, please excuse our Ash for startling you like this.” While I was still in shock, Lady Maika went into polite mode to apologize.

Wait, did she just say, “our Ash”? Am I now a property on top of being a hazard?

“Did Father Folke not write in the letter that Ash was a child?”

“No, he did mention that he had been threaten—asked by a child.”

Mother Yae took a good look at me. However, it felt like I was too far away and out of focus for her to make out any details.

“But I certainly did not expect him to be this young. I mean, he asked for a book whose contents no one here at the temple understands. And I had previously heard that he was a genius who had come across an essential clue in deciphering the language of the first period of ancient civilization.”

“Father Folke is exaggerating. After all, we are talking about Ash here!”

While casting skeptical glances at the bewildered Mother Yae, Lady Maika seemed to be strangely happy.

As I wondered what had gotten into her, she quietly whispered into my ears. “As expected, you’re just as amazing here in the city. You really are our village’s finest.”

Am I a specialty export now?

Was that why I had been sent to the city? I did not realize Lady Maika and Mrs. Yuika were thinking of me that way.

“Is that so? You really are the young man Father Folked mentioned?” After persistently asking for confirmation, Mother Yae let out a sigh of exhaustion. “In that case, I guess you won’t need to learn how to read and write.”

“I agree. My father, the village chief, and my mother, his advisor, have also given him their stamp of approval. And while I am nowhere near as proficient as Ash, I also know how to read and write already,” Lady Maika said.

“Understood. Then it is decided. Both you and Ash will be exempt from the reading and writing lessons. You can use that time to consult whichever books you like. I hope you will broaden your knowledge and eventually contribute to the development of this city.”

“Thank you. I am certain Ash will not betray your expectations.”

Lady Maika had managed to push past Mother Yae’s doubts with an assertive, formal speech befitting a village chief’s daughter. I was glad, but at the same time, I could not fully rejoice—her previous statements were still ringing in my ears.

At that moment, Lord Arthur said to me, “Ash, what did they mean by ‘the deciphering of the ancient language’?”

“Oh, they were just talking about that time I helped with the deciphering of the language used in the early period of the ancient civilization.”

“You mean those letters that people can’t read anymore?”

“Yes, exactly.”

Lord Arthur’s beautiful face looked as if they had seen a ghost. “Ash... you might indeed be a bit overwhelming, just like Maika said.”

“I realize that I am a bit of an oddball, but there really is not that much to be surprised about. Please let me explain. It just so happens that Father Folke is a researcher of ancient languages and I helped him out a little.”

“Even so... I’ve seen those letters before, and I don’t think I could have helped out even in the slightest.”

Neither could I if it wasn’t for my past-life memories.

I was sure that if I had let them in on my secret they would have understood. But then they would have considered me even more of an oddball, so I just kept quiet. I felt my dilemma gradually increasing.

As I put on a strained smile, Lady Maika interfered. “Ash may be overwhelming, but he’s also a lot of fun. And if you spend time with him, more and more good things tend to happen.”

Her bright smile permeated to the depths of my heart. It seemed to have a similar effect on Lord Arthur as well, since their surprised face loosened up.

“You may be right there. I’ve never seen anyone like Ash before. Hehe, it does indeed seem like things are about to get fun.” Lord Arthur let out a charming, child-like chuckle. If only they had not been disguised as a boy, I would have loved to compliment them.

“I’m guessing the search for your book might also turn out to be quite the adventure,” Lord Arthur added.

“I am not so sure about that. I only want to manufacture something to help improve our agricultural practices.” Don’t raise the bar so high. I’m not researching to impress anyone after all.

“Don’t let your guard down, Arthur! A lot of things that Ash considers ordinary end up being quite amazing.”

“Hehe, I thought so.”

Lady Maika and Lord Arthur were both giggling. And while I was the subject of their laughter, I was the only one left out.

The temple’s library was indeed somewhat worthy of the title “library.” However, it was still quite small, showing once again how precious books were in this world. It made me reconsider how vast the resources and advanced the technology of the libraries in my past life had been. One of my goals was to introduce libraries of that magnitude in this world too.

But first, it was necessary to secure ample food. Food was at the base of everything, including the advancement of civilization. As long as that foundation was not wide enough, you could only erect small pyramids.

At once, I asked Mother Yae regarding the organization of the library. “Are the books here sorted into different categories?”

“Yes, they are separated by their contents, such as history, geography, and literature... For the ones relating to technology, there might be some mix-ups, though, as they often cover wide areas of knowledge. Still, we are using a sorting method employed by the Church since ancient times.”

“Wonderful. In that case, the book I am searching for should be in the section for...”

I wanted to say natural sciences or chemistry, but that would have only led to confusion, like when I had asked Father Folke about them. There was no use relying on concepts that did not exist here.

“Is there a shelf dedicated to fields that prospered during the ancient civilization?”

Mother Yae thought to herself for a moment before shaking her head. “I’m afraid not. Those books are mostly just kept at the temple in the capital.”

“So you do not have any here?”

“Temples in regional cities and churches in villages prioritize the storing of books designated by the Church. It is said that most of them are pragmatic books helpful with the development of new settlements.”

The phrase “it is said that” seemed a bit ambiguous. And considering that the Church had existed for centuries, would there not have been a few success stories by now?

“Are there any records on settlements using those books as a foundation for their development?”

“Yes, there are records and tales... Although they are rather old. For example, there are documents reporting that the foundation of the capital was built with the help of books provided by the Church.”

“I see.”

It made sense considering the books kept at the church in Noscula village. There was a useful botanical guide, the guide to practical farming, and many books on construction and smithing techniques.

Most likely, when the Church was established—or maybe even prior to that—they had made a list of “useful books” for new settlements. Back then it was probably an adequate list, but decades later, after the rise and fall of countless cities and villages, the foundations needed for those books to be useful (knowledge, resources, equipment) had been lost.

The names of the chemicals and the refining process mentioned in the farming guide, which had frustrated me so much, fell into that same category. Things that used to be commonplace had gradually become less accessible and, as a consequence, were lost. As such, the priest’s statement, “it is said that,” was honest and accurate.

When I communicated those impressions to Mother Yae, she enthusiastically nodded along. “I feel like you are onto something. The Church was only able to obtain as much power as it holds right now because it provided essential help for the development of settlements. However, now that they have failed to adapt to the current situation, people are starting to have doubts regarding the Church’s teachings. It makes sense.”

It seemed that there were differing opinions concerning the future of the Church’s teachings among the clergy. In this world, the Church was not only a religious institution, but also an educational institution in charge of keeping and maintaining the books. In other words, it was an entity resembling an honest and conscientious scholar—that was its best trait.

“Maybe it would be better to update the list of books that are distributed to each area,” Mother Yae suggested.

“If the doctrine allows for such a change, that would probably be for the best. But would such a drastic change be possible for a religious organization like the Church?”

After I voiced my concerns, Mother Yae smiled gently. “Since it is a large organization, it won’t happen overnight. However, the Church’s teachings are said to originate from a fellow priest; a fellow human. They are based on the wisdom of ancient civilization. Therefore, it is not blasphemous or insolent to rack our brains trying to figure out a way to carry over that wisdom to the future.”

The priest’s speech was worthy of a guardian of wisdom like her. She had the will to protect the books and preserve their wisdom for future generations.

“Please allow me to express my deepest respect for that magnificent statement. As someone born in a remote farming village, I hope to obtain new wisdom from you and the Church’s teachings as much as possible.”

“Since that is the Church’s duty, I will gladly impart my wisdom to you.”

It was refreshing to see how she replied to my words of encouragement with such delight. I felt like I was among kindred spirits. Starting with Father Folke, it seemed that I got along well with the priests whom I encountered in this world.

“I will also do my best to assist the Church! Since you said that there are practical guides, I think I will start by looking for a book about farming!” I said enthusiastically.

After I proclaimed my intention to effectively use the temple, I turned around to see Lady Maika and Lord Arthur. The latter wore a solemn expression on their face.

“Ash, I have a feeling this is pointless, but I’ll go ahead and say it anyway.” I wondered what it was. “I think it’s very odd to be as calm and unconcerned as you when raising questions about the Church’s teachings.”

I was not calm; I just pretended to be. How could an 11-year-old child have known that a little suggestion like that would turn into a discussion about religion? I was breaking into a cold sweat on the inside. But it was not like I had committed a crime, so I should not worry too much.

Following the above train of thought, I replied with a line probably indicative of my true feelings. “Rather than worrying about that, let us get started on looking for the right book. I have waited long enough to set foot in here.”

Even Lady Maika gave me a look of resignation, as if I was beyond all hope.

Arthur’s Perspective

“The books relating to farming are up on this shelf.”

After Mother Yae had proposed to help show us around, Ash’s expression kept frantically changing as he looked up the bookshelves.

First, it was a childlike smile, as if he met with friends for whom he had been waiting impatiently. It was quite cute. Soon, that smile started to cloud in doubt. He had a sad look on his face, as if he was disappointed by the low turnout. It made me want to give him a pat on the back. Finally, he squinted with the expression of a dangerous beast ready to latch onto its prey at any moment. I have to admit that that look paired with his smile makes him look frightening...

“I see... I guess there are not many more books even at the heart of the region... Well, for now, this should do...”

It looked like Ash had declared someone—or rather something—his enemy.

Wait a minute. How was it possible for someone to express so much tension just from looking up at a bookshelf? I’m not the only one who finds this odd, right?

Everything about it was strange, from the fact that a child like Ash was letting off a threatening aura to the fact that it was directed at a bookshelf. What’s happening? Who or what is Ash?

In my confusion, I directed my gaze towards his long-time friend to watch her reaction.

“Ash, I found a stool.”

She set up the stool for Ash to grab the books off the shelf with a calm expression on her face.

“Thank you, Maika.”

“Hehe, don’t worry about it! I’ll hold down the stool.”

Maika looked delighted as she observed Ash climbing on the stool and grabbing books. This wasn’t normal, right? Or was I just too naive?

I sent a look over to Mother Yae, who seemed to be just as confused as I was. So it wasn’t just me who thought something was off. Either me and Mother Yae or Ash and Maika were the odd ones. I would have placed my bet on the latter.

“Looking at the titles, I think we should start with these ones for now.” Ash was holding four books as he came down the ladder. “Maika, can you take a look at this one?”

“Yes!” Maika took the book and headed towards one of the reading tables.

“What should I do?” I asked.

“Wait a moment, Arthur. I will scan through them and mark the parts that seem interesting.”

Ash started flipping through one of the books.

“Hm... There is nothing about fertilizing the ground, but maybe there is some information on how to plant and raise crops and vegetables... Ah, right here.”

He put the open book in front of me.

“Could you please read this part? It would be great if you could briefly summarize the contents for me after you are done. I am looking for anything relating to compost, fertilizers, and agrochemicals.”

“O-Okay?”

Cold sweat started running down my face when I skimmed through the text. I was supposed to read this? It was ten times—no, more like a hundred times more difficult than I had expected. I had received a good education and studied as hard as possible, but even so, this book was beyond my abilities.

“Are there any unfamiliar terms?” Seeing me freeze, Ash sat down next to me.

“S-Sorry. There are so many words I don’t know...”

“That is natural. I imagine there are a lot of words unfamiliar to someone of your standing. It is a book about agriculture after all. And on top of that, many of the terms in here are no longer in use or differ from their current use.”

“I see. That makes me feel a little relieved.”

Listen, Ash. While I get that, as someone who grew up in a farmer village, you would have a better understanding of agriculture in general, how do you possibly know those terms that are no longer in use?

“How about we read it together for now? Once you familiarize yourself with the basic terms of farm work and the names of the tools, you should be able to quickly get the hang of it.”

“Thanks. Sorry for taking up your time.”

I had intended to help Ash, but instead I was holding him back.

As I ducked my head in guilt and shame, Ash spoke very naturally in a warm tone. “There is no need to apologize. I should be the one thanking you since you are helping me out.”

“But...”

As I tried to convey that I was taking up his time, he just deflected my concerns with a smile.

“Come, let us start reading. Have you done farm work before? Probably not, right? So we need to start with the basics. That is great! Learning new things is always fun, so let us enjoy ourselves lots!”

He looked to be enjoying himself more than me.

“This describes how to plow the fields. It tells you how fine or firm the soil must be and how much you need to pile up. There are differences depending on the crops.”

His smile kept pushing my bewildered self along.

“Oh, this must be an old expression for ‘onions.’ I have seen this before in one of the cooking books at the church in my village. Therefore, this must be advice on how to raise onions. Do you like onions?”

This was the first time I had this much fun while being pushed along.

“Ah, this is it! I found a section on compost! I want to know how to make and use this!” Ash embraced the book with glistening eyes.

Hey, now I can’t see the text anymore.

But I didn’t mind. I enjoyed myself just looking at Ash’s happy face. So this was what it felt like to have a friend. You enjoyed yourself even if you were bewildered or just observing. It warmed my heart.

“Look, Ash! There was a similar description here! Are they talking about pigs?” Maika joined the conversation.

“Really? Let me see!”

As soon as Maika called out to Ash, he rushed over to her. Suddenly, I felt cold as I saw them talking about some difficult concepts next to each other with their shoulders touching. I guess this feeling is also part of being friends, I thought.

“The city library is something else after all! I can get my hands on promising new books so easily! This gives me hope for other fields too! Next, I should try looking into medicine and engineering-related ones!”

After Ash had proclaimed his excitement, Maika raised her fist, yelling, “Let’s do our best!”

It was impressive how she managed to keep up with Ash’s pace. At the same time, I was still trailing behind. At least for now. Eventually, I wanted to catch up to them. After all, we were friends.