“Lumia has come to see you, Brother Yuuki. Could you please open the door?”
From beyond the door, I heard the voice of my little sister, Lumia. It seems she sneaked over to this building again.
The Glossaria estate consists of two buildings. One is the main house where my father, Brother Zeros, and my sister Lumia live. The other is the detached house where I reside.
The detached house is a small two-story building, home to just me and the maid, Martha. Although it connects to the main house via a corridor, I’ve been told not to show my face there.
“You know you’re not supposed to come to the detached house, right, Lumia?”
“I think it’s only natural for a sister to visit her brother, dear brother.”
The door swung open, revealing a blonde girl with large cherry blossom-colored eyes. This is my sister, Lumia, who is ten years old this year.
“It’s time for dinner, so I came to fetch you in Martha’s place.”
Fidgeting with her fingers, Lumia spoke.
“I wanted to talk to you, brother, before we head to the dining hall.”
“About what? Recent events?”
“Yes.”
“I woke up this morning, had breakfast, read a book to prepare for entering a school for commoners, and then tried to practice swordsmanship with Father, but Brother Zeros took over. After lunch, I swung a wooden sword by myself, and that’s how I ended up here.”
“I think you should be more in tune with a girl’s feelings.”
“Why are you angry?”
“I’m not angry.”
“Well, anyway, let’s walk together for a bit, Lumia.”
I took Lumia’s hand.
“Okay! Brother!”
Lumia’s face lit up with a smile. Honestly, humans are hard to understand.
The baronial house is old. My father inherited the once-extinct Glossaria family after achieving merit in battle. Since the territory isn’t particularly rich, they couldn’t rebuild, so they continue to use the old structure.
The estate is located north of the royal capital, and winters are extremely cold. The specialties are fruits and furs. For now, there are no hostile parties. The residents include my father, Brother Zeros, me, Lumia, and a few servants. There’s also one magic instructor.
“The detached house has quite a draft, doesn’t it, brother?”
“I wonder if there’s a way to fix that with magic.”
“It would be nice if there were items for that.”
“There might be something at the Lindbell Magic Guild where you go.”
My brother, Zeros Glossaria, is aiming to become an apprentice at the magic guild in the royal capital. The Lindbell Magic Guild is a massive organization that combines education and research in magic. It seems that becoming an apprentice there allows one to learn powerful Ancient Magic.
The guild includes high-ranking nobles like dukes and marquesses, as well as royalty. Therefore, enrolling children in the magic guild has become a status symbol among the nobility.
That’s why even the baronial house is hiring a tutor to get Brother Zeros into the magic guild. I’m interested too, but honestly, I don’t want to get involved. Just thinking about Ancient Magic reminds me of the Sacred Domain Church.
By the way… how many years have passed since my previous life?
I don’t think it’s been ten or twenty years. The names of the country, royal family, and nobility that I’ve learned since my reincarnation don’t match anything I knew. Has that much time really passed? For some reason, I wasn’t told anything about the Sacred Domain Church. I wonder what happened to the world after that.
“Brother Yuuki, are you listening?”
“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. What is it?”
“It’s the usual review. I’ll read aloud what we learned today, so please listen.”
Lumia began to recite a verse from a poem. It was a poem from my time, used to learn the pronunciation necessary for magic.
“…So, what do you think, brother?”
“The name of the first person mentioned was pronounced incorrectly. Also, the last phrase was too fast. You were trying to cover up your forgetfulness, weren’t you?”
“…Ugh. Father didn’t notice, though…”
“Lumia often stumbles over pronunciation.”
“Is that so?”
“Try to slow down. Be conscious of your tongue’s movements.”
“‘Roii—’?”
“Slow it down a bit more. Take a longer breath.”
“I’ll try, brother.”
Doing this reminds me of my past life. Back then, I was teaching the village children. The room where I died wasn’t a throne room or anything grand; it was just a classroom. I spent about 120 years there as the village teacher. Now that I think about it, I was surprised when the literacy rate in Fila Village reached 100%, and travelers from the royal capital were astonished.
After my reincarnation, I was taught by the butler and maids. Only Brother Zeros, the legitimate heir, had a tutor. I was content just learning the knowledge of this era, so I had no complaints… until Lumia came crying to me, saying she couldn’t keep up with her studies.
While I was “accidentally” supporting her, it became a habit.
I’ve told her to keep it a secret, and since no one has said anything, it seems I haven’t been found out yet.
“‘──Those who govern flames,’ ‘Ah, those who govern the great light’──What do you think?”
“Your pronunciation has improved. You should have Father listen to you in the next lesson. You might even be ready to advance to casting magic.”
“…Lumia wants you to see it too, brother.”
“I told you to keep it a secret.”
“Then next, brother. The next one is…”
“Time’s up, Lumia.”
Before we knew it, we had reached the first floor of the detached house. Straight ahead was the dining hall. If we turned left, we would reach the corridor leading to the main house.
“I’m going to the dining hall in the detached house. You go to the one in the main house, Lumia.”
I released Lumia’s hand.
“Hurry up. Father and Brother Zeros are waiting.”
“I want to have dinner with you, brother.”
Lumia puffed out her cheeks.
“Don’t you want to go to the dining hall in the main house with me?”
“I can’t eat there. You know that.”
“Father said it’s fine if you want to join us!”
Is that what Father told her? That’s unfair. He must know that as long as that man is there, I can’t go to the main house.
“Let’s go together. You’ll be going to some academy this year, right?”
“I haven’t decided on my path yet.”
“You’re talented, so you should be able to get into any academy!”
Lumia squeezed my hand with her small one.
“The way you teach is clearer than anyone else. I believe you could earn your magic license at the Lindbell Magic Guild!”
“You’re overestimating me.”
“That’s not true!”
Lumia looked at me with sparkling eyes.
“I’m serious. If you’re around, I won’t need a tutor!”
“You’re being too loud.”
“…Let’s eat together, Brother Yuuki.”
“…Lumia.”
“I believe you’ll become someone so great that I won’t be able to reach you. That’s why I want to be with you as much as possible right now. Please…”
“You’re being selfish, Lumia.”
A voice came from the direction of the main house. When Lumia and I turned to look at the corridor, a white-haired man stood there. Behind him was a blonde boy—my brother, Zeros.
“One must understand their own position, which is crucial for those involved in magic. It is not permissible for Lady Lumia, the daughter of the noble lady, to dine at the same table as Yuuki, the illegitimate child.”
The white-haired man spoke while looking at me. His name is Kachel Miegen, the tutor hired by my father to get Brother Zeros into the Lindbell Magic Guild.
“I’ll say it again. The illegitimate child should consider it a stroke of luck to even be in this mansion.”
Instructor Kachel said. I don’t like his tone, but what he’s saying isn’t wrong.
I am the child my father had with a local woman while he was away at war. That’s why I’m referred to as the illegitimate child, the bastard.
Being taken in by this mansion was merely a stroke of luck.
I think my father is quite a good person for a noble. Most nobles would abandon a child born from a fleeting romance with a local woman. Especially if that woman just sent a will saying, “Please take care of this child.”
But my father sought me out and brought me into this mansion. Perhaps because he’s a country noble, the whole family accepted me without any issues.
The situation changed three years ago when Tutor Kachel arrived.
“Yuuki… no, Yuuki-kun may not know, but people have a status they are born into.”
“I know.”
“Oh? Then go ahead and say it.”
“The highest rank among the races is humans. Next come the demi-humans, like elves. Intelligent monsters are at the very bottom, which includes liches and vampires.”
“And what about the ranking within a noble household?”
“The highest rank is held by my father, the head of the family. Next is my legitimate mother. Then there’s Brother Zeros and Young Lady Lumia… and beneath them is me, Yuuki Glossalia, the illegitimate child.”
“You’re mistaken. You have no right to bear the name of Glossalia. Use your maternal surname.”
“My apologies.”
“Professor Kahel!!”
“What is it, Young Lady Lumia?”
“Please correct that! Brother Yuuki is my brother and a member of the Glossalia family!!”
“Is that so? Brother Zeros?”
Don’t ask Brother about this. You’re an adult, for crying out loud.
“I taught you what it means to be a legitimate child of nobility, didn’t I? Have you forgotten?”
“…An illegitimate child is no different from a commoner.”
Brother Zeros averted his gaze from me and Lumia.
“As a noble, it is unacceptable to share a table with commoners. I must maintain my awareness as someone who stands above others.”
“That’s what my brother says, isn’t it? Young Lady Lumia?”
“…Brother.”
“Go to the dining hall, Lumia.”
I gently pushed Lumia’s back.
“I find it difficult to eat in the main hall as well. I’ll have my meal in the annex with Martha the maid.”
“……Understood. Brother Yuuki.”
Lumia nodded with teary eyes.
Class distinctions, huh? Humans really do love that sort of thing.
“May I ask you something, Professor Kahel?”
I turned to Instructor Kahel.
“How many years has it been since the Sacred Domain Church discovered ancient magic and artifacts in the Ancient Magic Civilization’s city, Elysion?”
“Do not speak the name of the Sacred Domain Church so lightly. That is a taboo!”
Instructor Kahel shouted.
“However, I will answer your question. It has been 220 years since the discovery of Elysion. Consider it an act of mercy, for otherwise, you would indiscriminately ask rude questions.”
With that, Kahel walked away.
“…The Sacred Domain Church is a taboo?”
Such a large organization? The one that discovered Elysion and obtained a vast number of relics?
It’s hard to believe that so much time has passed…
I died in my previous life twenty years after the Sacred Domain Church discovered Elysion.
So now, it’s been 200 years since my death.
Next time, Episode 4 will be updated tomorrow evening.