Hachinan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou - Volume 01, page 1
Chapter 01: When I Wake Up...
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"Eh? Where is this?"
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As usual I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock that was set for 6 am and quickly prepared to go to work.
On my way to work, I stopped by the convenience store and bought breakfast: onigiri and oolong tea. I ate my onigri and drank the oolong tea while on my way to work.
I forgot to introduce myself; my name is Shingo Ichinomiya, 25 years old. Furthermore, I graduated from a decent university. Upon graduation, I entered a trading company like everyone else.
Currently it is my third year of working at the company and I have subordinates who are younger than me. However, I am constantly pulled into dilemmas between them and the boss.
But it was something that somewhat applied to everyone, so I never really felt like quitting.
Though for ordinary members of society, it should not be strange to think about quitting at least once. However, they will only end up thinking that they are not brave enough or lack the financial resources to actually quit.
I still live alone with no wife or girlfriend in an apartment within a ten minute walk from the company. Most of my meals are eaten outside.
Usually I get barely enough sleep because of fatigue from working until morning. I even spend the remainder of my holidays doing household chores such as cleaning and laundry. I can say that too is also ordinary.
There are many people like me in Japan.
I am not really that dissatisfied with life. As long as I keep working in the company, I might get a girlfriend, get married and have a child.
You could say it was a pretty ordinary life.
Or so I thought...
* * *
I wake up as always, not remembering the contents of my dream.
Strangely, the sound of my alarm clock that was always noisy was not present. I did not know what time it was but my eyes tells me it is dark outside.
The room was pitch-black, so I decide to investigate my surroundings and get up.
As my eyes begin to gradually get used to the dark, I noticed many unfamiliar things, one after another.
This was supposed to be my apartment room that I currently reside in yet I don't see any of the familiar wallpapers or any recognizable furniture.
Three similar beds to mine had been placed near me. Then I notice that including myself there are three figures sleeping in the beds.
And as I focus my eyes on the bulges on the other beds, I could see they were human-like figures in the beds.
So this place is a quadruple room.
"When did I become a freeloader?"
To shake the confusion from the sudden change in environments, I decide to check my own condition.
Just as I thought, my condition was quite different from before I went to bed.
First, was my bed itself (which should have been a high quality product by Nitori) was now an old-fashioned bed which was not all that comfortable.
Even the blanket I was using was worn out and a little smelly.
Then I thought about something trivial, "I just bought that blanket a week ago, it was a new blanket too..."
After which, I steel my mind and begin to confirm the condition of my own body.
"Eh? Did my body become smaller?"
Sure, I am not that tall but my body should have been the average height of a Japanese male.
However, right now, no matter how I look at it, my body had shrunk down to that of a child's height.
"Eh? This is?"
I had been reading web novels lately, so the idea of reincarnation into another world came to my mind at once.
And as for not becoming a baby, there is a possibility that my consciousness now possesses another human being in another world.
"That would mean..."
It is dark now and the other people sleeping near me might think I was crazy if I made any noise at this late hour.
Plus, I do not even know the relationship between the owner of this small body and the remaining three bed owners.
However, it is most likely a big family though I don't know who they are.
"I must behave myself till I can confirm my situation. So another nap will suffice for now..."
I was overcome with the desire to sleep as I thought about this and fell back to sleep.
Chapter 02: I Think I'm In A Trance
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"A boy again... This is the 8th one." (Man)
"Dear, he's such healthy boy. Give him a suitable name." (Woman)
"You're right. How about Wendelin? His chance to succeed Baumeister house is almost zero though." (Man)
Within the dream world, it was as though my consciousness drifted away from my body; I witnessed the birth of a baby boy as if it was a scene from a movie.
I, apparently, have been born as the eighth son of this Baumeister house.
Or is it more accurate to say that I took over his existence?
As I later learned, this Baumeister house is a lower-ranked noble family that governs around three villages on the frontier, each with a population of two to three hundred villagers.
Artur von Benno Baumeister is the current family head, and for better or worse, he is a mediocre man in his forties with a similar class noble as his legal wife (Johanna) and the local village chief's daughter as his mistress.
The two women together had eight boys, including me, Wendelin.
Should a lower class noble, who governs a population of around eight hundred, really have this many children though? In this era, I don't think they practice family planning.
From the information I've gathered up until now, I came to understand that this world resembles Europe during the Middle Ages. Even if a child is born, there is no guarantee that all of them will grow up safely either.
However, they can't afford to have only one child either, and as there is no guarantee that the legal wife may give birth, I can at least agree on the matter regarding a mistress.
But eight boys is definitely too many... In the worst case scenario, a family feud will ensue.
I feel sorry for the mistress' children but that is probably not something I should worry about. I still haven't actually seen the mistress' face either.
She is the mother of two boys and two girls, and if the memory of this body is accurate, the first boy will be the village headman's heir while the second will be wed to the daughter of a wealthy, but heirless, farmer. The girls also seem to have their marriages decided already.
But enough about them; their futures have been decided.
The legal wife gave birth to the remaining 6 sons. I thought that I was the the mistress' child, but I was given birth by the legal wife when she neared 40 years old.
Honestly, I don't think a woman of her age should be getting pregnant. But then again, from the financial aspects of a poor territory, it would be impossible to acquire a new, younger wife.
To put it the other way around, I'm glad that their relationship as a married couple was excellent.
"Dear, perhaps Wendelin might have talent for the sword or magic." (Johanna)
"It's possible for him to be independent if that's the case." (Artur)
From the small child's memories I've taken over, I gradually came to understand my current condition.
First of all, I am Wendelin, the eighth son of this shameless poor noble, a five year old. Six when counted from the start of the new year.
Despite being born in a noble house, I cannot inherit any territory because I have so many elder brothers. In the worst case, I would be unable to live as a noble.
Generally, the eldest son would take over the house, the second is considered his spare, in case something happens, and any other sons are sent out to seek their own lives.
Unlike a great noble family with vast territory or a noble family in an important position spanning generations in the capital city, for this poor lower-ranked noble whose only merit is bearing children, the third son and onward needs to make plans about their own future or else, risk their own life.
That's harsh.
What will happen to me, who should be sleeping at home in his apartment?
I don't have time to be happy about hearing the phrase "Magic" a little while ago.
I don't know how the adults live in this world, but I must find my own way to live for when the time comes to leave.
It won't do any good to panic, but I have no idea how to live as a child who is just playing around...
I confirmed Wendelin's life up till now by digesting it through this omniscient view. Afterwards, I'll wake up and hastily collect information so that I won't be suspected by my new family.
Chapter 03: A Poor Noble House In The Southernmost Frontier
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"........."
After absorbing the previous Wendelin's memory from the dream, I woke up along with my new brothers to eat breakfast in the mansion's dining room.
Although I say mansion, it was just the mansion of a lower ranking noble.
As there are a limited number of rooms, they are divided accordingly by utility.
There's a study; a warehouse for food, money, goods and armor; and etcetera... In my opinion, it's at best similar to a wealthy farmer's home.
Those who have their own personal room are the current family head, Artur (45 years old), and his legal wife, Johanna (44). The others include Kurt (25, the eldes
The four remaining brothers from the legal wife had been shoved into one room.
Besides me, they are Paul (19, the 3rd son), Helmut (17, the 4th son), and Erich (16, the 5th son).
This is the depressing scene of an overcrowded home... though it's a good setting for an old novel.
It should be noted that the mistress. Leila (31). resides at her parent's house, the villa of the village head.
Living with her are her children, Walter (14, the 6th son), Karl (13, the 7th son), Agnes (11, the eldest daughter), and Karina (10, the 2nd daughter).
Although their name belonged to proper German nobles', the fact is the same in either world.
From the information in yesterday's dream, it seems that there aren't enough rooms for everyone residing in the mansion.
As it was not necessary for the mistress' child to receive a noble's education, there was no need for them to stay in the mansion, nor for interactions with them.
Though, the previous Wendelin have met them several times in his memory.
Others living there include the village head's heir and his wife, who happens to be an influential person in the territory, but the politics of it all don't matter to me since I won't inherit it.
Back at the mansion, there are retainers that could be seen maintaining the house. Abel (71) is the butler who has been serving the family since the previous head. There are four maids as well, but all of them are grandmas from the village since there is a possibility that Artur, with zero family plans and values, would impregnate them.
There are also retainers that command the militia in times of war, but they are essentially ordinary farmers, artisans, hunters or blacksmiths from the village. Since they don't live in the mansion, all of them commute to work from their family houses in the village.
In poor villages on the frontier, like this one, there is no difference between a warrior and farmer.
In the case of an emergency, their governing nobles can mobilize them at will.
Even so, there has been no occurrence of conflict in a small territory like this for the last 200 years.
To begin with, the Baumeister territory of the current family head, Artur von Benno Baumeister, is in the southern end of the Helmut Kingdom on the Lingaia continent.
The only potential enemy for the Helmut Kingdom would be the Urquhart Holy Empire that lies to the north of the continent. However, the two nation are divided by a massive wilderness.
The Urquhart Holy Empire had made headway by contributing money and labor on the development of this area, but has yet to secure a safe approach to the Helmut Kingdom located to the south.
That is to say, both sides are unable to afford war due to logistic expenses.
Nonetheless, until about 200 years ago, both nation have repeatedly summoned armies as a cautionary measure.
They proceeded to signed a cease-fire treaty afterwards, as the exercise only wasted food and resources. Thus, a peaceful borderline was established.
In addition, since trade between the two countries was opened, and excluding some hard-liners, it can be said that the flames of war has been extinguished.
Hence, I am at ease as I won't have to experience war. I can say that I was lucky in that respect.
"Dear, what's the matter?" (Johanna)
I turn my gaze to the meal in front of me.
Brown bread served with a small portion of meat and vegetable. A bowl of soup seasoned with only salt. It is an incredibly bland meal, but it seems like eating meat in the morning is a proof of nobility.
Nobles ate three meals a day whereas farmers ate only two.
Since both of the menu included bread and soup, the social distinctions doesn't appear so different.
The brown bread was hard and tasteless, if only it was followed with some soft white bread, jam, butter, cheese and tea or something. The poor set of soup would become gorgeous with just that.
I heard that there are big differences in the menu between rural, urban, and other areas.
Is that true? I wouldn't know unless I go to the other areas though.
If it is true then I have some disappointing news: our Baumeister territory appears to be quite poor.
"The matter of establishing a branch office of the Adventurer's Guild has been refused." (Artur)
"They might have been busy with work." (Johanna)
"Clearing more transportation routes or the like would've been fine too." (Artur)
My new father, Artur, has a sour look in front of his remaining dish of soup.
It was confirmed before that magic exists in this new world, as well as the famed Adventurer's Guild.
Magic and creatures like monsters exist too, so there must be adventurers who hunt it to make a living.
"Since the monsters in our territory are quite strong..." (Artur)
"Father, can't you just call the army in to hunt them in one sweep?" (Kurt)
"Kurt, that's not possible. We can't repeat the same blunder as the late Breithilde margrave-dono." (Artur)
The heir and eldest son, Kurt nii-san, suggested raising an army but was immediately rejected by Artur.
"Can I say something... Father?" (Wendelin)
"What is it, Wendelin? And no more soup for you." (Artur)
From yesterday's dreams, I, as the eighth son, am 6 years old if counted from the new year. I was even seven years younger than the seventh son.
Hence, my seat is at the end of the dining table, at the edge even.
I was simply asking a question, but was misunderstood as wanting a second serving. You could consider it to be more evidence that this house is poor...
"No, I am not asking for more soup. I want to ask about the Breithilde margrave-sama that tried to hunt the monsters." (Wendelin)
"About that huh, we were requested to aid with the monster subjugation in our Baumeister territory a few years ago..." (Artur)
Judging from the terms of the request, they seemed to have been confident in the endeavor, but after provoking the monsters on their own turf pointlessly, the margrave's army of 2,000 received a miserable crushing blow.
Just after the new head of Breithilde margraviate took over, his first work was to rebuild the destroyed army.
"The new Breithilde margrave-dono said that as a noble, he doesn't have the rights to the territory currently occupied by the monsters. To put it in another light, it means that he would never engage the monsters in our Baumeister territory ever again." (Artur)
And so, I have to spend my life in a terribly ominous place until I grow up.
The soup that I put in my mouth felt tasteless when I thought so.
It wasn't that tasty to begin with, since it's only seasoned with small amounts of salt.
Chapter 04: Baumeister Knight Territory
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"The territory under the Baumeister House is actually large enough to be comparable to the territory held by an archduke." (Erich)
After breakfast, I got an explanation from Erich-nii-san. He has the same mother as me. That is to say he is of noble descent as well.
He gives me a brief explanation on the facts of our parent's family's, the Baumeister Knight Territory.
I was worried that they might have thought that it was strange for a 6 year old boy to ask such questions but my new parents, my other brothers and the servants didn't find anything strange about it.
Or rather I, who is ten years younger than the fifth son Erich, whom looked mild and intellectual, was treated like an immature eighth son. As such I did not garner that much attention until now.
It actually saved me some trouble sometimes being treated as an immature kid.
"If we develop everything then, Father..." (Wendelin)
"If we can develop it. Yeah... it must be hard for the margrave." (Erich)
But from Erich-nii-san's dull tone, He left the question of if we could develop it open.
My new hometown, Baumeister Knight Territory, was located on the south-east side of the kingdom and faced the sea.
But in-between the coast and the villages, a vast amount of savage land and forest still remained.
The forest was called the "Demon Forest" by the people and inside had ingredients and medicinal herbs of various natures. There were also some places mineral and jewel deposits could be found. It would make the territory enormously wealthy if it could be developed.
