Before Breakfast
「Mou, is it morning already…?」
Having awoken, I get up while opening my heavy eyelids.
The interior dimly emerges as the morning sun faintly shines inside the room.
So far my life’s rhythm hasn’t changed within these last 3 days.
Because I went to bed late at night I feel like I didn’t get enough sleep, but if I were to lie down again I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to sleep again.
Looking at my wrist.w.a.tch, the time now is a little past 5 o’clock, the time which I usually wake up.
Laying my head down and recalling yesterday’s events, I recognise this is one of the rooms within the castle.
While suppressing my yawn, I change my clothes.
Fortunately, since my change of clothes were thin summer clothing they have already dried. Because the summer sweater still feels a little wet, I leave it to dry.
As a result of the thick fabric, my dougi is only half-dried so I leave it as it is.
I wash my face then leave the restroom.
There is no paper manufacturing technology in this world.
When speaking of paper, it’s usually bad quality parchment or animal skin. If I’m not mistaken, from what I recall within my knowledge, the so-called paper from my original world can be made using a plant fibre from a country far east.
However, the degree of it is just a rumor that I’ve heard, I don’t have actual knowledge of it.
What I want to say, in other words, the story of what happens after we do our business.
Long ago, wheat straw and hay, plant leaves and the like that was soft were used.
However, it was changed when someone invented a magic tool which could perform a washing and drying function.
This so-called magic tool was named「Bidet」.
It was around A4 sized in the beginning, but improvements were piled upon repeatedly 25 years ago, and now currently it’s about the size of a pebble. Because of its small size, improvements were made again and the cost had dropped, thanks to this the magic tool was spread out domestically shortly after. Although it isn’t to the point where everybody had one each, it’s still very popular. It’s an indispensible item for travellers too.
Which reminds me, in the beginning when utilizing my previous life’s knowledge, unless I consciously thought to utilize it, information wouldn’t emerge, but now if there was relevant information to what I’m thinking of, it would just pop up in my head. Is this because after coming to this different world, I’m directly in contact with the things related to my knowledge? Because I don’t feel any demerit, I’m not dissatisfied, but still…
The time is still early, if this was j.a.pan I would take a jog then have a shower, I’d make breakfast and a bento, but I’m inside a castle, although I’m a guest I’m still inside someone else’s residence.
I doubt it’s a good idea to wander around at this time.
I look at the room which has considerably brightened since I woke up. It’s quite s.p.a.cious.
Although I can’t practice my form, there should be enough room to practice swinging. (Sword swings)
Should I practice swinging until maid-san calls for me?
「Good morning」
Finishing my practice swings, I wipe off my sweat as the maid-san from yesterday enters.
Since I heard the chimes of the bell a little while ago, it should be half past 6 now right? Un, should be right.
「Good morning. What should
I be doing today?」
Last night, the King and the Prince wanted to reward me, was what they said
It’s fine even if they don’t reward me but, no one is prohibited to leave the castle. No, was it only prohibited yesterday? At any rate, there should be some relation to that.
For the time being, I should thank them for the night’s lodging and meal, right?
Most likely because of this, instructions should’ve been given out to maid-san.
「Yes, breakfast has been arranged in the dining hall at 3.3 koku. The royal family will be joining you, is what I’ve been told. I have not been told after that.」
Still an hour before breakfast, right? That’s plenty. However, together with the royal family huh, I’m not really willing to…1
The way to read time is 1 koku equals to two hours so 0 o’clock midnight equals to 0 koku or 24 koku, 2 o’clock in the morning equals to 1 koku, 4 o’clock in the morning equals to 2 koku and so, every two hour interval increases koku by 1. As for the time between it, each 30 minute mark is divided, for example half past 6 in the morning equals to 3.1 koku, 7 o’clock in the morning equals to 3.2 koku, and 3.3 koku would be half past 7 in the morning.
To demonstrate time by unit, four 30 minute segments are in a koku, 1 hour is half a koku, -snip-2, and 2 hours becomes 1 koku.
I felt it just now but, this information pops up into my head unconsciously. It seems that the contents of my knowledge, from「Knowledge of my Previous Life」, appears to have practically become「What I Currently Know」.
Could this be something like a correction after I got transported? Since I don’t have to think of it each detail one by one, it’s good because it’s convenient but…
To use the time before breakfast effectively, I had maid-san make some tea and teach me what has changed in the past 25 years.
「Let me think… The me 25 years ago, though I say that, I hadn’t been born yet so I don’t know but… Even so, if you don’t mind, I’ll explain within the scope of what I know.」
This Maid-san, seems to be 19 years old. Even though we only have a difference of 4 years, she’s over 170cm tall, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s are plenty big, at the level where you can call them huge b.r.e.a.s.t.s…
With my complex stimulated, depressed by the reality at hand, I listened to maid-san’s story.
「Although there have been too many small details, I think those shouldn’t be too different. To speak of the large changes, although I spoke of it last night, it’s the water and sewer services. Regarding that, it’s just as I talked about last night. Besides that, a trade with a distant country has newly begun, it’s for a shipbuilding industry if I’m right. I’ve heard there’s a trade partnership with an eastern and southern country. Rare goods are being imported, however because of the high price it’s difficult to come across, is what I’ve heard. It seems from this trade, our shipbuilding technology was introduced by a southern country. Thanks to this technology, I’ve heard that the Western Great River is being used to easily transport baggage.」
Maid-san says,「That’s the extent of which I know.」and bought it to an end.
I see, the parts which I’m familiar with hasn’t seemed to have changed.
Nevertheless, because there are changes which maid-san doesn’t know of, I can’t understand the situation.
However… maa, I’m relieved that my knowledge from 25 years ago hasn’t changed much.
If it was 25 years in j.a.pan, there would’ve been huge changes. Like the rapid economic growth after the Second World War…
Thanking maid-san, the time for breakfast should soon be approaching while I was thinking of such things.
With a knock coming from the other side of the door, I hear a woman’s voice.
It appears to be the guide to the dining hall.
Maid-san and I leave the room, and part with maid-san as I follow the woman.
The dining hall is on the 4th floor, which should be this floor.
The 1st to 3rd floor are the offices and halls, parlour and waiting rooms, from the 4th floor onwards becomes the upper cla.s.s parlour and living s.p.a.ces, is what pops into my mind.
After walking for a short while, the female guide stops in front of a door. We seem to have arrived at the dining hall.
I follow the female guide into the dining hall.