CH 3

9-11 minutes 04.06.2023

Translated by Raizu

Early morning.

After the morning training in the garden of the mansion, everyone was taking a breather.

In order to quickly become familiar with this world, I participated in the morning martial arts training of my retainers.

I had to admit that there’s not much training I could do as a 7 year old, but I knew that actively participating in activities like this was the key to getting used to a new organization.

However, it’s just to the extent where I stick behind and swing my sword so as not to get in the way.

The training was mainly sword and shield. Apparently bows cannot be used in the royal capital.

[Varian, how are you? Have you remembered anything?]

After the training was over, my older brother Robel, who was also participating in the training, called out to me.

Robel is a refreshingly handsome man with light brown hair and green eyes, just like his mother.

He is 12 years old, five years older than me.

[Sorry, anijahito, still nothing at all]

I answered in the sloppy local language that I had finally learned.

[I see… Well, no need to rush things up. But don’t call me older brother. It’s too formal, you know.]

Robel made a wry smile and scolded me for my use of words.

I was using the “anijahito” expression since he’s after all my older brother. But, Robel apparently didn’t like it.

[Excuse me, then what should I use?]

[Nii-san, or aniki maybe…]

Robel seemed to be in a good mood after seeing my honest curiosity.

It’s almost like Varian was such a problem kid before I entered the scene. Apparently Robel and the other children didn’t get along well with him.

[Nii-san, today, I’m going to church with my mother.]

[Right…that’s a good thing. Though, I won’t be joining you. Church can be boring most of the times.]

Today is a day to visit the church.

I’m not interested in the religion of this land.

But, religion is like the OS (Operating System) of the society and often made of most of its common sense.

Deviating significantly may prove dangerous…even the Japanese would get angry when foreigners steal Buddhist statuettes, or when a large rock that was the sacred object of some shrine was climbed or desecrated.

In the Amoros Kingdom, where civilization had not developed much, it would be even more so.

On the contrary, actions that are thought to be deeply religious should be highly favored.

Thus, I need to learn about the religion of Amoros Kingdom.

===========

I headed to the dining room to eat breakfast with Robel.

In the Kingdom of Amoros, there are only two meals a day; a late breakfast and an early dinner.

Everyone eats dinner together, but breakfast is often eaten quickly in the dining room or kitchen.

The biggest room has a huge table, and I call it the dining room.

The breakfast menu is black bread, cheese, and root vegetable soup.

The bread is hard and the cheese has a strong smell and taste.

The soup is halfway between simmered food and soup, and has a light taste.

It seems that the culinary state of Amoros kingdom is not that good.

…it’s bad…

Even though I was disgusted in my heart, I still ate the meal.

Varian’s body has poor fuel efficiency, making me get hungry rather quickly.

I shouldn’t care about the taste.

[Haha, Varian is eating eagerly, isn’t he…is it good?]

[Yes, I’m happy to be able to eat this food.]

Robel was visibly stunned for a short while upon hearing my answer.

[Happy to be able to eat this food, huh… Varian, you’ve changed.]

Robel muttered earnestly.

[Varian, I like the you right now more than the previous you… Everyone else probably also think so.]

After saying so, Robel urged me by saying [Mother should be waiting for you by now].

…..To think that even my real brother would be happy that I lost my memory… Varian must have been one hell of a troublemaker…

I went to look for my mother with mixed feelings.

============

My mother took me to church.

Even though it’s called a church, it’s a simple one, with no stained glass or murals.

There are only chairs lined up in a rugged stone hall.

There’s not even a divine object, just a radial symbol mark drawn on the wall.

This is called the Sacred Heaven Church, and it spreads a religion with the sun god as the sole God… I don’t know, but it seems to be the mainstream religion in the Kingdom of Amoros.

After everyone chanted a scripture-like sutra, the monk’s sermon began.

Today’s monk was the same old man who tried to exorcize me… Apparently, he seems to be a high-ranking man, and everyone is listening intently to his sermon.

The doctrine of the Sacred Heaven Church is simple: “if you do good deeds you will go to paradise or heaven, if you do bad things you will go to hell”. …..I think it is easy to understand.

The『good things』here are also set, and the scripture mentions about nine virtues; tolerance, patience, mercy, temperance, courage, faithfulness, humility, diligence, and belief.

He’s preaching about the preciousness of faithfulness today.

After listening to the sermon, my mother and I met with the monk in a place like a special seat, probably because of our status as an Earl.

This monk is Reverend Rinel, a high priest of the church who is about 40 years old.

Rinel is a skinny monk with a smooth shaved head… It seems that the priests of the Sacred Heaven Church shave their hair.

[How are you doing, Varian-sama?]

[About that… I still haven’t remembered much.]

Reverend Rinel and Varian’s mother, Rushieno, looked at me with pity.

[Varian-sama listened to the teachings with great interest, are you interested in the teachings of the Sacred Heaven?]

Reverend Rinel spoke to me kindly.

[Yes. “A husband should be true to a faithful wife”! Shouldn’t it be that way? I understand it.]

When I sullenly answered about today’s sermon, Reverend Rinel and Rushieno opened their eyes wide in surprise.

[Rushieno-sama…this is…]

Rinel whispered something to Rushieno, but she shook her head slightly… Did I say something bad?

[Varian-sama, you’re right…then, do you understand why people have to live faithfully?]

[…if people are full of lust…the children will not understand who their parents are as their number keeps increasing, parents will not take care of their children, children will not respect their parents. This is what causes revolt in the world.]

I just answered with the contents of the sermon just now… It should be fine if I don’t make any changes…but I’m a little worried because I don’t know where this is going.

[No way, at the age of 7… Varian-sama, do you really know what being faithful is?]

[Yes. protecting something using the nine virtues…tolerance, patience, mercy, temperance, courage, faithfulness, humility, belief…umm…]

I counted using the fingers on both hands.

[Perseverance and diligence.]

Reverend Rinel spoke to me kindly.

[Rushieno-sama…this was surprising. Varian-sama is loved by God. His loss of memory must be the gift of God.]

[But, Varian is…]

Looking at the two of them, I realized that I was overdoing it… If a 7-year-old child is interested in a story that 12-year-old Robel can dismiss as “boring”, there is no doubt that it is unnatural.

I still didn’t have enough self-awareness as a 7-year-old.

[Varian-sama will become a great high priest in the future…by all means.]

[But, the monastery…]

I kept hearing some suspicious conversations…

This is no longer a joking matter. I have no intention of becoming a monk.

Having made up my mind, I interrupted the two. All the while trying to be as childish as I could.

[I don’t want to be a monk because I want to help my brother, and the Lioncoeur family.]

When I apologized to him, Rinel-san laughed and quipped, [I guess I was getting ahead of myself].

[Varian-sama, it looks like you really love your brother.]

[Yes, he’s kind, and strong.]

Hearing my words, Rushieno became teary eyed with emotion.

She must’ve been worried about the bad relationship between Robel and Varian as siblings… it’s normal for nobles to have siblings to fight over the family headships. It’s not unreasonable to worry.

[Then, what do you think about studying with us? Varian-sama is very talented, and we have a lot of books here in the church.]

[Yes, by all means, mother, I want to study.]

My mother smiled and replied with an [Of course].

Thus, I ended up studying at Sacred Heaven Church.

For someone like me, who was unfamiliar with the social norms of the Amoros Kingdom, this is a very welcome offer.

From the next day onwards, I would train with my retainers in the morning and attend church in the afternoon… if I continue like this, I should be able to acquire a certain level of skill by the time I become an adult.

As I learned a little later, the literacy rate in the Kingdom of Amoros is extremely low, and it seems that there are almost no people in rural areas who can read and write, other than the clerics.

Surprisingly, even lower ranked nobles are illiterate, saying that [being able to write their names is enough]… I’m really glad that my mother is a person who understands the importance of learning.

I savored the happiness of being able to study under Reverend Rinel.