Erich nii-san
‘So the heir is finally getting married…there are many things that will happen to us too…’
The next day when Father reports that Kurt nii-san, who became 26 years old this year, is finally getting married, Erich nii-san, together with me as usual, goes to the forest for hunting and gathering.
If you ask why, it is because the bride will arrive at this Baumeister Knight Territory within a few days and the wedding will be held.
A bit small, but it’s pretty much a wedding for a n.o.ble.
And for ceremonies in a remote area in the countryside village with nothing in it, people in the territory that are usually hungry for entertainment want to celebrate together.
Actually, our Baumeister family, in the end, will bear the cost of the served dishes and liquor at the wedding, is what I think.
Well, leaving aside the stories about real intention and theory behind, there must be hundreds of people who will come to the wedding party to eat and drink, which means a huge amount of food and liquor.
On the other hand, it will become a problem if the lord that governs this land is stingy in that part.
For n.o.bles that govern territory, if people think poorly of the territory for being stingy, it can become the source of many bad things later.
Although we usually endure the tasteless brown bread and very bland vegetable soup, we can’t eat them this time. We must prepare the feast and liquor until they can’t gulp it down anymore.
For the dowry that is paid by the bride’s parents’ family, even if the bride’s clothes and accessories were prepared by her parents’ family, the husband’s clothes must be newly made as well and there is also the matter of the feast and liquor to be served at the party that I just talked about.
We are just poor n.o.bles. Anyways, the material and monetary loss from recklessly sending troops to the Demon Forest can’t be ignored.
Rebuilding the territory’s structure while finding a wife for Kurt nii-san who is the heir… only by saving can they hold the ceremony.
Normally, male n.o.bles usually get married before the age of 20. Why is Kurt nii-san single until the age of 25?
That is the present harsh reality that can’t be talked about without tears.
‘It’s good that Kurt nii-san is getting married.’
Honestly, a territory with only a poor village in such rural area.
I can’t inherit it from the start as I am the eighth son, but I’ve never thought that I’d want to inherit it either.
Become independent quickly to live as an adventurer.
This has been my only dream.
‘But isn’t it too fast for the other brothers to be driven out?’
After the wedding, as it was uncommon for adults like brothers to remain in the house, each of them must leave the house to become independent.
According to n.o.ble customs, the children after the second son leave the house since they can’t take over the territory and the family name. It is common knowledge that handing over money for the outfit cost is implied as an apology to those that cannot succeed the territory.
The sum of money is not really a big deal, but since I have many brothers on top of being poor, this apparently takes time to prepare.
Except for me, who is still 7 years old, and the second son, Helman, the three people from the third son to fifth son leave the house to become independent.
Helman nii-san who is not married yet as a backup for Kurt nii-san who is unlikely to die suddenly would also became a bridegroom, but for the va.s.sal’s family that belongs to the relatives’ lineage in several months later.
The va.s.sal’s family is my Father’s uncle’s parents’ family who previously led our Baumeister Knight territory army that was sent to the Demon forest.
Of course at the time, he was killed in battle and Father’s male cousin who was the heir and son was also killed in battle.
Elsewhere, the remaining male heirs also had one misfortune after another. The person who’s related to granduncle’s granddaughter is now barely maintaining the house.
Helman nii-san is married to that granddaughter to succeed the house.
I mean, the story looks like the drama in NHK.
Though the place is pitifully small.
Back to the topic, with our Baumeister family deciding many plans like that, we will be busy to prepare the wedding which is the reason why Erich nii-san and I are in the forest.
Though the reason can be imagined easily, Father ordered me to gather ingredients for the dishes that will be served at the wedding.
And I end up partnering with Erich nii-san for some reason.
I don’t want to show magic in the presence of others, and now I have a companion for some reason.
And as I said earlier, that partner is Erich nii-san.
He was the closest to me so I can’t be deceitful to him. But it is impossible for a 7 year-old like me to harvest without magic.
When I’m wondering what to do, Erich nii-san comes to talk to me.
“Do not hold back, you may use magic.”
“Erm…”
Erich nii-san sudden remarks “You may use magic” make me speechless, but in fact I didn’t think I could conceal it from others that I can use magic.
Thinking about it normally, a child that’s still 7 years old has entered the forest, in which wolves and bears appear, alone. Furthermore, he has obtained the result of hunting and gathering that can put an adult to shame.
Magic that’s usually used to strengthen the muscle strength and speed for powerless people, and although this magic has a difference in grade, it’s also a relatively popular magic.
One of the reasons that I was not worried about entering the forest alone was because I had imagined that my family had laid out a gag order or tacit consent of using magic minimally.
“Vel was smart enough that it was unthinkable for a 7 year-old.”
The day I incarnated into Baumeister house as Wendelin, the eighth son, it was possible to know his state from before his sixth year in a dream.
Before I was reincarnated into Wendelin, he didn’t show talent as a mage, but he always read books, staying in Father’s study room. Apparently he had shown behavior unsuitable for his age.
He seems to have had many things in common with the current me.
“Right. Father, Mother, and also brothers. The whole family knew except Vel. About Vel having talent in magic.”
I had such a premonition, but one question appears.
Why can’t I make the best use of my magic to develop the territory more?
And as if Erich nii-san notices my question, it is answered at once.
“If the young Vel decides to demonstrate his talent in magic to the territory people, it will be the beginning of a family feud.”
For family succession of the n.o.bles in this world, the eldest son is basically given priority.
And this is also for royalty and n.o.bles; the social position of the wife who gives birth to the child is important.
The village headman is not a n.o.ble. The children of Leila, who is Father’s mistress, basically have no rights for inheritance.
They would only inherit, if ever, when no male children are born to the legal wife.
In the case when the legal wife’s children are only girls, the judgment depends on the n.o.ble.
In some cases a bridegroom is married to the eldest daughter to make him inherit, and in other cases, the eldest son from the mistress inherits.
In short, the legal wife’s child is given priority. There is also a custom of the eldest son being given priority, but in the end the Father’s decision as the family head takes precedence.
Because of this, family feuds often occur resulting in bloodshed on both sides. When noticed by the royal families, their territory is reduced as punishment if they can’t get the uproar under control on their own and in the end they receive punishment such as a change in rank.
“Vel wants to leave the house just like us right?”
“Yes, I want to make my way up as an adventurer during my youth.”
“Don’t bother then. Father also understands that.”
“Really?”
“He can’t read kanji, but he is pretty much the head of a n.o.ble family.”
Father expected that in case I grandly demonstrate magic for territory people, more than benefits the territory, the va.s.sals and territory people will make a commotion by irresponsibly said “Since Wendelin able to use magic, isn’t he more suitable as the current Baumeister family head?”, and it would likely be unbearable once they create a suspicious faction.
“Even if that doesn’t happen, the failure of sending troops five years ago will pull the string.”
For this, forget land clearing to expand the agricultural land, there’s not even enough manpower to manage the normal agricultural work.
Even in the name of temporarily raising the tax slightly until the damage is recovered, that can become the reason for the territory people’s dissatisfaction.
Above all, there were no victims, not even one person from the Baumeister head family that had sent troops.
Perhaps due to the family not sending any members, there is a certain portion of territory people who were dissatisfied.
“In fact, there’s also the grand uncle of the va.s.sal lineage and the three sons in the branch family who were killed in battle.”
And due to the eldest son being killed in battle, in granduncle’s family only the girls are left. It’s because of this that the second son Helman will take over the house as bridegroom a few months later.
It would be a lie to say now that there is no dissatisfaction from grand uncle’s family.
“So Vel’s magic doesn’t have to be openly advertised.”
There are definitely people who will come out to make a fuss that I am only the one suitable as Baumeister house’s next family head.
“Though there might be a person who has noticed it indirectly, that doesn’t mean they have any evidence unless Vel shows magic to everyone.”
“Got it, I’ll stay tacitly in the forest for that.”
“You can leave the house without hesitation when you turn 15.”
“Personally, I want to leave home earlier.”
I know from Erich nii-san that there is a bud of a small-scale family feud. I seriously think about growing up faster to leave this territory.