Category: Island Maker: Tensei Shitara Slow Life Game deshita. Nonbiri shima o sodatemasu

The next morning, both my level and happiness has leveled up.

It must be because I felt great to have such a good neighbor, Lulu. I also had a hearty meal, was able to wash up with the water from the well and sleep in a well-locked cottage. My happiness level had recovered from 76% → 86%, and my points had recovered to 6. The island has also been raised to level 2.

Now I can level up various facilities, flowers and animals to the second level. This cottage can be upgraded to the next level as well. However, I will need a certain amount of points, so I can’t use my points in that.

Yesterday’s dinner was made with fresh fish, so it was very tasty. We had horse mackerel grilled with salt, sea bass carpaccio and soup made with lily bulb. I really wanted to make more things, but the ingredients and seasonings were overwhelmingly insufficient. All I had in the kitchen was salt, olive oil, and vinegar. With only those seasonings, I couldn’t broaden my cooking options. I decided to go to Lubon town today and buy more ingredients.

On the other hand, Lulu was very surprised because I can cook. She even said,

“It’s tastier than what I make. Is it normal for young masters to cook these days?”

I don’t think they normally do. I think the only one who does it is the third son of the Dante Earl’s family, who liked to watch cooking channels in his previous life. That being said, I can only make simple things. My memories of my previous life are still unclear.

For breakfast, I ate the leftovers from yesterday’s soup. Afterwards, I head outside. I have something I want to do in the morning today. I have 6 points, so I decided to create a vegetable garden in front of my house.

Immediately after using the points, a vegetable garden appeared. As for the size…… hmm, it’s about 16 tatami mats. Since coming to this island, my memories of being a Japanese have been coming back a lot. I’ve even started to remember the units of measurements. Maybe I’ll remember about myself sooner.

The fields were ready, but there were a lot of stones and dead trees that had fallen. If I don’t clean it up properly, crops won’t grow. In that respect, it is the same as Island Maker. I removed stones and trees, pulled out weeds, plowed the fields, and then I sowed the turnip seeds. Of course I did not forget to water them with a watering can.

Even so, aren’t there a lot of turnip seeds in the fields of slow life games?

I don’t really get why though. This Gandalcia is a super stimulated cultivation. Once I successfully sow the seeds and water them well, I should be able to harvest them in about three days. I’m sure I’ll be able to eat delicious turnips in no time. I can pickle it in vinegar or add it to fish soup. I’ll need a jar to pickle it though.

Alright, let’s go to Lubon town today and do some shopping.

Since I am going to the town, I decided to invite Lulu as well. She said she wanted to sell fish, so it should be just right. As I walked down the road behind the cottage towards the beach, I saw Lulu’s fisherman’s hut. If you look at it from above, you can see that it has a red roof.

Hmmm, I can’t see her around. But the boat is tied to the pier. I’m sure Lulu is at home. I walked towards the fisherman’s hut.

Knock. Knock.

“Good morning, Lulu. I’m going to town today, why don’t you go with me?”

I knocked on the door, but there was no answer.

Could it be that she went to the town alone?

That would be fine it that’s the case but…. those debt collector from yesterday did not come back here and kidnapped her away, right? Just when I was getting anxious, a figure appeared from the sea.

“The ghost of Elaine!?”

“No, no it’s me. It’s Lulu.”

Through the hair that clung to her face, I could only see Lulu’s white teeth as she beamed at me.

“Oh~ I was surprised. You came out of the sea, so I thought it was the ghost of Elaine.”

“Ufufu, did Cedie think that I will drag you into the sea?”

Lulu seemed to be in a good mood. Rumor has it that the ghost of Elaine is beautiful, so maybe that’s what made her happy.

“By the way, what were you doing at the sea?”

“I was free diving. Gandalcia Island is really amazing. There are many precious abalone and large prawns crawling everywhere.”

Lulu looked a little tired, but also satisfied.

“Here, look at this.”

In the tub that she proudly held out, there were large abalone and large prawns jumping.

“Wow, that’s a big catch!”

“Right? I’ll share it with Cedie of course. And it’s not just for today. I will deliver fish every day. I think that’s not enough to repay your kindness tough….…”

Lulu’s eyes were serious.

“You don’t have to worry about it too much. As I explained, my power is activated by interacting with various people. I was able to build this pier and the fisherman’s hut thanks to Lulu.”

“Even so, I want to do something for Cedie.”

“Thank you, I’ll be grateful to have both.”

Thanks to Lulu, I don’t have to worry about today’s meal.

“By the way, was there something you need from me? I’m thinking of going out now to sell what I caught.”

“I’m going to Lubon town today too so I came here to invite you. Let’s go together.”

For preservation, the abalone and prawns were placed in nets and submerged in seawater. I really want to have a refrigerator in the kitchen, but I need 2 points for that. But there may be a time I’ll  need points, so it’s probably best not to splurge just yet.

When I get about 15 points, I’ll buy it. After all, the refrigerator is a valuable magic tool that makes full use of ice-cold magic. If I buy one here, I think it will cost about 1 million crowns. It’s great because I can get one with points.

If I could export the refrigerator I bought, it would be a ridiculous profit, but that’s not possible. As soon as it was taken out of the island, it will disappear. It is a rule of Island Maker that what you get with points cannot be taken outside the island. If it hadn’t been that case, I would have become very rich now.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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There were no shovels, so Lulu and I decided to pick up flat stones and sticks to dig up the soil.

“Alright, where are you, worms…… huh?”

I saw a star-shaped depression in the ground. Isn’t this a familiar mark in Island Maker?

I remember it now……

I’m sure that if I dig up here, I should be able to get some items.

“As expected, Cedie is really a young master. You won’t find any worms if you dig in a place like that you know. You need to look for a place with damper soil. Like this.”

Lulu turned over the stone and found a few squiggly worms clumped together.

“See? There are worms here.”

“Yes, but I want to dig this part where there is a mark.”

“A mark? What are you talking about?”

“Ah? Can’t you see it? Look, it’s in the shape of a star.”

“Even if you say that, I don’t really see it….…”

Lulu looks at the part I’m pointing to, but she can’t see the star-shaped depression. Apparently, I’m the only one who can see it. Maybe as my privilege, only I can see it since I know that this island is a game world.

“Anyways, I’m going to dig here. Maybe I’ll find a worm or maybe I’ll even find something better.”

I crouched down and started digging. Lulu joined me, squatting down with me.

“You behave like a grown-up but Cedie is still a little boy huh. But hey, even if you dig in there, all you can find is a stone……”

Tunk! Mmm, I felt something hit the end of the stick. Let’s dig out carefully from here.

“Oh, I found a tratta stone!”

What I dug out wasn’t just a stone. When I scraped off the dirt with my fingers, a beautiful sky blue surface emerged. It’s about the size of an oversized marble.

“Eeh!?”

Tratta stone is a beautiful stone and is often used for ornamental work. It is very similar to the turquoise in Earth. It’s not as precious as jewelry, but it’s in high demand because it is used in a variety of ornaments. It is an item that can be bought at a good price in Island Maker.

“So pretty……but how did you know there was a tratta stone buried there?”

“Hmmm, maybe this is also my magic……? But I can only do it here in Gandalcia island.”

“That’s still amazing!”

Feeling confident, I ran around and found three more star-shaped depressions. Of course, I dug them all up. In the first one, I found an old coin. In the second, I found Hermes’ wing and in the third, I found a lily bulb.

I don’t know how much this old coin is worth, but if I sell it to collectors, I might be able to get a good price. I think Hermes’ wings are alchemy ingredients, but I can’t remember how to use them yet. There’s a lot of vague memories after all.

I’ve already explained the uses of lily bulbs, I’m going to leave this as a side dish for tonight. I also found some earthworms so I think it’s about time we go fishing.

“Lulu, have you gathered enough bait?”

“I’ve found this many.”

There are a lot of earthworms wriggling in the basket. With this, we won’t have any trouble with the bait.

“It’s not yet evening, but shouldn’t we hurry up a bit?”

If I am a mansion, I would be having a meal this time. But in here, I don’t even have anything to eat at night.

“There is no need to rush. The best fishing time is in the evening and early morning.”

“Really?”

“Yes. The best time to go fishing is during dusk and dawn, around sunset and sunrise.”

“This is perfect then.”

“I’ll tell Cedie my secret fishing spots. That’s the only way I can repay your kindness right now.”

I’ve heard that fishing spots are very important to fishermen so they keep them a secret even from their parents and siblings. I am glad that Lulu is so thoughtful as to tell me about it. We headed out to sea in a boat. I was told that we could catch bigger fish there than if we fished on the shore.

The waves are calm, and the sea is sparkling at dusk. The area is quiet, and the only sound was the sound of the waves splashing against the boat. This is the first time I’ve been on a boat in this life. I’ve been on a ferry somewhere in my previous life, but I can’t remember when or where. This is my first time fishing in real life. I wonder if I would be able to catch any good fish?

“If there’s even the slightest bit of a reaction, raise the rod diagonally so the hook can sink into the fish.”

“Understood.”

That being said, I wasn’t confident at all. But if I can’t catch anything here, I’ll only have lily root for dinner.

“…………whoa!”

I felt a thug, I think it’s a big one!

The fishing line and rod are trembling and it looked like they will be pulled into the sea at any moment.

“I’ll reel in the line now. Cedie, get the net ready.”

Lulu, wearing leather gloves, reels in the line. I waited with a scoop net with a long handle. The line was reeled in more and more, revealing a silvery shadow of a fish.

“It’s pretty big!”

“It’s sea bass! It’s a very tasty fish. Make sure you scoop it up.”

“Got it!”

Sea bass is very delicious when served in meunière, soup, or as sashimi. I’ll make sure it won’t swim away!

“Now, Cedie.”

“Yaa!”

When I put the scoop net in the direction where the sea bass is swimming, it went head-in first.

“-Uh, it’s heavy!”

“Don’t let go. I’ll come to help you now.”

Lulu joined me from behind, supporting the handle of the scoop net.

“Here we go. One, two, lift!”

An impressive sea bass, about 50cm long, rose from the bottom of the boat.

“We did it, Lulu!”

“Don’t let your guard down just yet, it might jump and swim away.”

Lulu inserted a knife in its gills to kill the sea bass. Then she dips it in the seawater to drain the blood. She’s usually quiet, but in this kind of situation, she really proves that she’s a legit fisherman.

“This way, it stays fresh and tastes good, right?”

“Yes, you know about it huh.”

We’ll, I’ve seen it in videos.

—Suddenly, I remembered my previous life again. I hope I will continue to recall useful memories in the future.

“Come on, let’s catch some more before we go back.”

“Yes, let’s have a fish feast for tonight!”

On this day, we are able to catch one sea bass and four horse mackerel. There were five freshly caught fish lined up in the kitchen. I’m going to try to cook this now, but as the third son of the Earl, I’ve never really been in the kitchen. I mean I didn’t have to, and I didn’t have the opportunity to do it. I was told that if I have the time to cook, I should just focus more on study, horseback riding, or practicing swordsmanship. That’s what young masters are like in this world.

However, as a I was a Japanese in my previous life, I am a little different from the usual young masters. I may not have been a professional, but I felt like I could cook a whole bunch of dishes. I really wonder what kind of person was I there and what was I doing then. Right now, I can’t even remember my name in my previous life, but maybe I’ll remember it someday.

I feel like I’m forgetting something important…….

Anyway, right now is cooking time. I’m starving after all. There’s also the issue of my happiness. If I don’t eat well, wash up and rest, I won’t recover my points.

“Alright, let’s make some delicious food. This is the first step towards utopia!”

Under the starry night sky, I started cooking with enthusiasm.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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It is now possible to create a pier!

Since I helped Lulu, I can now build a pier. My circle of friends has expanded so some conditions for the development of the island have been unlocked. Part of the beach is now shining silver. If I put my points there, I will get a pier.

“Lulu, do you know what a fisherman’s hut is?”

“The fisherman’s hut is a hut where fisherman work. And sometimes, he sleeps there during the busy season.”

It’s perfect for Lulu, who lost her home. The status screen says, 『Get to know a kind-hearted fisherman. 』 In other words, Lulu is a good person. In that case, it seems that there is no problem in providing her with a fisherman’s hut.

“Okay, wait a minute. I’m going to show you my magic now.”

“Eh? Magic……?”

Despite Lulu’s bewilderment, I went down to the beach. I’ll end up using all the points I have left but I had no hesitation.

“All right, here comes!”

Four balls of light shot out from my body into the sea. The ball smashed into waves, and then there was a deafening noise and flash of light that made it impossible to keep our eyes open.

“Kyaaah!”

“Don’t be scared, it will be over soon!”

As soon as I shouted that, the strange phenomenon subsided and the beach became quiet again. The clouds floating in the blue sky, the sound of the waves coming and going, everything is back to normal.

—The only difference is that a wooden pier extending from the beach to the sea has appeared. A small boat secured by a rope is floating at the end of the pier, and a small fisherman’s hut stood on the beach.

“N-no way….”

“Surprised? Ehehe, this is my power as the lord of Gandalcia. It’s not something I can use all the time though.”

Lulu seemed to have lost her balance a while ago, she fell on the sand butt first. She was so shocked that she can’t even speak, and she just nods her head.

“Okay, stand up. Let’s take a look inside the fisherman’s hut.”

“Y-yes….…”

Let’s see, let’s see. I wonder what it is like inside the fisherman’s hut. I have no memory of ever being inside a building like this, either in my previous life in Japan, or in this life.

I opened the door excitedly.

“Heh~, it’s like this huh……”

The interior was a single room and there are various fishing tools hanging on the walls. It seemed to be basic necessities such as nets, fishing rods, harpoons and everything else seems to be there. There is a workbench and a chair in the center of the room, and a bed in the corner.

“I think you can live here just fine. The kitchen is outside though so it looks like it would be difficult to use.”

The kamado and washing area are outside. It has a roof, but it seemed to be difficult on rainy and windy days.

“This is impressive. The fisherman’s hut looks like this.”

The specs seems to be normal huh. This is a newly built property so it may be worth more.

“I see. Alright. Lulu can use this place.”

“Eeh? Why……?”

“You are in trouble, aren’t you? Besides, it’s all thanks to Lulu that I am able to build this hut and this pier.”

I briefly explained the characteristics of my abilities to Lulu.

“I’m grateful for that, but is it really okay for me to use it?”

“Of course. You can also use the boat outside. It looks less usable than yours, though.”

The boat that had been taken as debt payment had a small mast. However, this time, the boat is a rowing type with only oars.

“No, no. That will really be of great help you know. With that boat, I can go fishing tomorrow.”

“Really? Then come, let’s go see the boat!”

We went outside together. She didn’t seem to be depressed as before, and Lulu’s steps became lighter. I am also very happy to have a wonderful neighbor.

The pier stretched about 15 meters from the beach. The water doesn’t seem to be very deep so large ships won’t be able to dock. However, this can also be upgraded, and if I allocate points on it, I can change it from a 『pier』 to a 『wharf』.

“That boat looks easy to use. Is it really okay for me to use it?”

Lulu verified it again with a nervous look on her face.

“No problem, you can use it with peace of mind. Lulu seems to be a good person after all.”

“T-that…… ehehe.”

Lulu felt embarrassed by the compliment.

“In exchange, please teach me how to use the boat and how to fish.”

“With pleasure.”

I used up all my points so I can’t develop the island anymore today. So, for the sake of my future life, I want to spend the afternoon meaningfully.

“Then, let’s go fishing. But before we do that, I’m going to collect some worms as a bait.”

“I’ll try it too!”

“Eh? Can a child of an Earl touch worms?”

“No problem.”

In Island Maker, if you dig the soil in search of insects, you will often find unexpected treasures. It may be the same case in this world so I want to give it a try.

In the game, you can get sparkling stones, alchemy materials, and sometimes even gold nuggets. You could also get a lot of other useful things, like herb seeds and flower bulbs. I remember that lily bulbs had a wide range of uses, such as being sold, growing and blooming and used as food ingredient. If I can find one, I’ll boil it and try its taste.

“Okay, let’s go!”

We set off with smiles on our faces.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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When I reached the top of the steep slope leading to the sea, I saw people arguing on the beach. One is a female and the other two are male. The female had dark skin that had been well tanned by the sun. Judging from her height, she seemed to be a young fisherman.

She is about 16 years old, older than me, I think. She had a gentle-looking face, but right now she was frightened and flustered. In contrast, the two men had sharp eyes and brute looking. Carried by the sea breeze, I could hear their conversation all the way up the hill.

“Give me back my boat.”

“If you want it back, give me my money back first.”

“You guys are terrible. You already took our house, but you also want to take our boat as well.”

The older sister speaks in a drawn-out manner so there’s little sense of urgency. I’m sure she’s usually a much more laid-back person.

Who are these guys to bully such a kind-looking person?

“If you want to blame someone, blame your father for the debt. We’re just collecting the money he owed us.”

The men were laughing at her mockingly.

“If the boat is taken away, I won’t be able to go fishing.”

“That’s none of our business.”

One of the men coldly rejected her, but the other spoke in a soothing voice.

“I’ll introduce you to a better job than being a fisherman. Looking closely, you’ve got a pretty face. And your body isn’t bad either. If you’re up for it, I think you could make quite a bit of money.”

“Wh-what…?”

“Mmm, let me check it out.”

The man gazes at the Oneesan’s body with a lewd look.

“No……”

“Don’t say that. I won’t do you any harm. Hehehe.”

“Let me go.”

The man grabbed her arm!　

What should I do…?

The two of them have fierce faces and large bodies. I knew there was no way I could handle it, but I felt like I would regret it for the rest of my life if I pretended not to know. There’s no way I can turn a blind eye to such evil. After all, my goal is to make Gandalcia an ideal island!

Even if I can’t match them in strength, maybe I can repel them somehow with bluffing….

I steeled myself and shouted loudly.

“Hey, stop what you’re doing!”

As I ran down the hill, the three of them looked at me with quizzical expressions. It seems they never thought there would be people on this island.

“Why? Who the hell are you?”

I gasped in horror, but I forcefully retorted.

“I am Cedie Dantes, lord of this island!”

When the name of the Dantes family was mentioned, the two men flinched for a moment.

“Is he for real?”

“Look at his clothes. And he has a sword hanging on his waist.”

Even though I was kicked out of the mansion, I’m still wearing fine aristocratic clothing. Moreover, swords are very expensive, so few ordinary people could buy them. Most people would rather buy the necessities of life than buy such things. Surely, these people are also from Dantes’ territory. When they found out that I was from the Earl’s family, they changed their attitude a little.

“Greetings, young master. But we’re not doing anything bad, really.”

“That’s right. We are just collecting a debt that this girl’s father owed. I have the debt document right here.”

The man showed me the papers. It appears to be genuine, and it even stated that if the money is not paid back by today, the family will mortgage the house and boat.

“How is it? There’s no problem, right?”

“Yes. But that doesn’t mean you should be rough with this Oneesan.”

“No, no. Young master you see, the house and the boat alone are not enough to pay off their debt. I need this girl to work too…..”

Clearly, his underestimating me, thinking I’m just a child.

“That’s a lie! The deed doesn’t say anything like that. The only things mortgaged are the house and the boat!”

“Tch!”

The men clicked their tongues and looked around.

This is bad. Are they going to ignore me and kidnap this Oneesan? Or maybe they are planning to kill me to keep my mouth shut.

“Please leave this island quickly. If I call out loud, Alexei-oniisan and his vassals will come running here!”

Of course this is just a bluff. Neither of my brothers are on the island, and even if my eldest brother is here, I very much doubt that he would do anything for me. But a lie is a useful tool, and although my eldest brother is useless, I’ll at least try to make good use of his name.

“Ah? No, it’s not like that…”

“We’ve taken the things so let’s go now.”

It seems the men mistakenly thought that my brother was on the island. He let go of the Oneesan’s arm and quickly got ready to go home.

“Give the loan document back to her before you go!”

He looked like a bad guy, so he might take advantage of it. I won’t let him do that. My tutor taught me that once you’ve made the payment, you should destroy the document properly.

“Yes, yes…”

He handed the document to the Oneesan, then they got into one of their boats and her’s, and this time, they left for good. She watched in amazement as the two boats disappeared into the ocean. Tears flow endlessly from both her eyes. She looks so crestfallen that it’s hard to talk to her.

“What should I do? How should I live from now on?”

The way she looks, with her shoulders shaking, is just like me until yesterday. I wonder if there’s anything I can do to help her.

“Oneesan…”

“Sorry for causing a fuss. I was running away from those debt collectors. But in the end, they took my boat too. I thought that as long as I had the boat, I could continue working…”

“Were you short of money?”

“My father was sick. But he passed away the other day. Now I’m all alone in the world. I don’t have a home anymore, and I don’t know what to do from tomorrow onwards.”

The more I hear about it, the more it seemed similar to my situation. I guess I can’t just leave her alone. When I tried to invite her over for some herbal tea at home, a status screen suddenly popped up.

This is probably the same as with Eugenie, as the conditions for developing something have been completed.

“What’s your name Oneesan? I’m Cedie.”

“I’m Lulu.”

“Lulu-oneesan, maybe I can be of some help to you.”

When I checked the status screen, I couldn’t help but smile.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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The inside of the house had changed considerably. Thanks to the windows on all four sides of the wall, the room looks bright and much cleaner. The log material was neatly assembled, so there were no drafts like before.

“Oh, there’s a lock on the door!”

“What happened to you that you are so happy about such an obvious thing?”

Sigh. A sheltered young lady like you probably doesn’t know how much of a peace of mind you can have just by locking your door.

The door material is also made of thick boards so I can sleep more peacefully than yesterday. Immediately after entering the front door was a living room. The table and chair are the same as before, but the number of chairs has increased from one to two. There is also a mini kitchen in the corner that was not there before. It looked like some kind of playhouse set.

“What a cute kitchen. So you can cook here huh. Hey Cedie, let’s see if the stove works.”

I don’t think Eugenie has any cooking experience but she’s unusually excited. She’s been looking forward to using the kitchen.

“All right. I’ll give you the honor of igniting this magic stove for the first time.”

“Great! Ufufu, let’s boil some water.”

“That’s fine, but have you ever done it before?”

“I haven’t.”

As expected. Well, it is the same for me as well. (Not counting the ones in my past life of course.)

“I just need to twist this knob here.…..”

Eugenie is trembling, it is as if she is dealing with a forbidden magic tool.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yes, I’m fine. Whoa, the stove is getting hot!”

The coiled iron wire turned red as it was switched on.

“Calm down.”

“I, I’m fine. All I have to do next is put a pot of water on top of this, right? It’s pretty easy huh.”

Putting the pot on the fire, Eugenie continued to watch the water heat up without looking away. She’s just boiling water, but to her, it might have felt like she’s doing a grand magical experiment.

“Bubbles! Cedie look! The bubbles are coming out! What are we going to do, won’t it explode?”

This might be her first time seeing something boil. Well, it’s just as you’d expect from a pampered daughter of an Earl.

“That’s what happens when the water boils.”

Eugenie enjoyed the magic stove to her heart’s content. Anyway, I think this kitchen can be used. The stove has plenty of heat, and there are small pots, ladles, plates and cup and a kitchen knife provided.

“This cottage is like a secret base, it’s fun!”

Eugenie turned off the stove and looked around the room joyfully.

“But there’s still a lot missing here. The only furniture I have is a table and two chairs. At least I want a sofa.”

“Can’t you do something with the magic from earlier?”

I can get the furniture in the living room by allocating points. This also seems to be thanks to Eugenie coming to visit. Sofas can be installed with just 1 point, and there are high-end ones that require 5 points. But I only have four points left. I have to use it carefully.

“Not now. But I’ll do it soon.”

I’ll think about it once I’ve increased my happiness and my points have recovered.

“Cedie, what’s up there?”

There was a ladder in the corner of the room which leads to the loft.

“Let’s climb up.”

Eugenie was wearing a skirt, so I climbed up first.

“The loft is a bedroom huh.”

It’s not particularly luxurious, just a simple bed and a bedside table. The red lantern, which was the initial equipment, was also placed on the side table.

“The bed has been slightly improved.”

A simple bundle of straw was turned into a straw mat, and a brown blanket was also draped over it.

“Hey, the bed looks hard. Are you gonna be okay?”

“I can’t be lavish with my current state. I’m going to turn it into something good eventually.”

Once I accumulate points, I can even get a bed with a canopy. I’ll also have a wide variety of mattresses to choose from, including memory foam and waterbeds.

“Oh, there’s a window here.”

There was a dormer in one corner of the slanted ceiling. A dormer is a small, covered window that protrudes above the roof. They are often used when the wall to install a window in the attic cannot be removed. The window opens on both sides, and it looked like it could be used to access the roof of the cottage.

“Eugenie, why don’t we go outside?”

“Are we going out to the roof? Won’t we get in trouble for doing that?”

“Ahaha, we won’t be scolded because I’m the lord here you know. Or, are you waiting here?”

“Of course not! I want to climb on the roof too!”

“Okay, let’s go. Lady, please give me your hand.”

“Ufufu, this is the first time I’ve ever climbed on a roof.”

Eugenie’s right hand is trembling slightly. Still, she moved to the roof, and we climbed further up. From the top, we had a good view of the blue sea below.

“Are you not scared?”

“Not at all. I ride Gian every day, remember?”

Indeed. With her riding Gian, she could go even higher. But Eugenie is still excited right now. There is no doubt that she is feeling the sinful pleasure from being on the roof.

“What a nice view. Mmm, the sea breeze feels good.”

I could see a large port town at the end of the inner bay. It’s Belcca. That’s where I was born and raised. I’ve come a long way huh……

“Do you miss the mansion?”

Eugenie looks into my face worriedly.

“Not really. I’ve already decided to do my best here.”

“I see….…”

She didn’t say it out loud, but I’m sure Eugenie was very worried about me. She’s always been like that.

“More than that, I’m hungry.”

“Oh my, Cedie hasn’t had breakfast yet?”

“Not yet. I was actually in bed when Eugenie came.”

“You’ve already overslept, but I’m glad you did. I brought some snacks with me.”

We went back to the first floor and sat down at the table. Eugenie brought sandwiches and fruits from the basket she had brought.

“Thank you. I’ll have it for breakfast right away.”

“Oh right, why don’t I boil some water again while I’m here?”

“Sure. But there’s no coffee or tea here.”

“I just saw lemon balm and apple mint outside. Let’s pick them and make some herbal tea.”

Eugenie taught me how to pick herbs. There are actually quite a few useful herbs growing around the house.

Hmm…. Come to think of it, I remember picking a lot of herbs in the game.

Yes, I used it for cooking and alchemy. I can’t remember how to use alchemy, but I’m going to have to use these herbs from now on. I drew water from the well and then we boiled water on the stove to make fresh herbal tea.

The fresh aroma wafted through our nose and it is very delicious. Now that I’ve learned how to brew herbs, I’m going to keep making them. For breakfast, I had herbal tea, a ham, vegetable and cheese sandwich, and strawberries picked that morning. I am very satisfied.

A quick glance at the status screen showed that my happiness level had risen from 76% to 82%.

Time really flies when you’re having fun. While we ate and chatted, the sun was now high up.

“I have to go home now, I have piano lessons in the afternoon.”

Eugenie began to prepare to leave.

“How far is it from here to Eugenie’s mansion?”

“It’s just a quick ride with Gian. I’ll come again.”

Griffon can fly, so it’s easy to get anywhere. Even if the reef that connects to the island submerges at high tide, Eugenie will have no problem getting back there.

“I’ll develop the island as much as possible before the next time Eugenie comes.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

When we went outside, Gian, who had been lying in the grass, sat up. Gian grew up with Eugenie from a young age, so he doesn’t run away even if he’s not leashed. Looks like he was waiting obediently today as well.

I really envy Eugenie.

Eugenie, who’s straddling Gian, suddenly look at the woods with an uneasy look on her face.

“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay? Aren’t you scared to be alone in a place like this?”

Of course I’m scared. But I’m determined. Besides, I don’t want to show my uncool side in front of my childhood friend.

“I’m not scared at all. I’m the lord of this island. One day I’ll make this a magnificent place that rivals Gandalcia in the fairy tales.”

I tried to act tough, while Eugenie nodded at my words.

“Then I’ll come again. I’ll bring you some souvenirs next time too!”

Gian spread his wings wide and took off vertically. I watched Eugenie and Gian until they are out of sight. As soon as Eugenie was gone, I felt lonely.

Now that I am alone, the sounds of nature that I had forgotten, suddenly caught my ears. The sea breeze, the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, the world is full of sounds.

Wait….What was that strange voice just now?

I listened carefully.

“Uuu……”

Along with the sea breeze, I heard a woman’s cry. The voice came from the shore but….

Is it the ghost of Elaine?

The ghost of Elaine is said to be the ghost of a woman who died at sea. It is feared and it was said that it appears with a blue light every night. The ghost drags anyone who comes to check on it into the sea.

If that’s really the case, it would be really scary, but it’s still daytime now. Besides, there are other voices. It’s not just a woman crying, I could also hear a man yelling. They seem to be arguing about something.

I don’t think it would be a good idea to just ignore it, so I decided to go to the beach and check on it.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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I woke up because of the direct sunlight coming in through the crack in the slated shutters. It’s not just the sunlight, even the sea breeze also comes in. This hut is full of gaps. When the wind blows a little strongly, it makes a whistling noise. It was a pure ensemble of sorrow. To be honest, I didn’t sleep much last night. I couldn’t sleep because I was worried about the dangerous creatures. The door of this hut cannot even be locked after all.

My happiness level rose up to 76% and my points had recovered to 9. Unfortunately, I didn’t reach 100%, but I think this is to be expected.

For dinner, I only had well water and the baked goods Mary had given with. The bed was shabby, and the fear of being attacked by dangerous creatures was a triple whammy that prevented me from sleeping well. If anything, I wanted to praise myself for being mentally strong enough to maintain 76% happiness in that situation.

However, I also found 5,000 small silver crown coins in the bottom of the baked goods Mary had given me. Mary must have put them in for me. Mary couldn’t have afforded it, but she must have gone out of her way to help me out of her concern for me. My heart ached when I thought about it, but it also warmed my heart. The restoration of my happiness was entirely due to Mary.

Points are restored to 2 points for happiness levels of 75% or more, 4 points for happiness levels of 80% or more, 6 points for 85% or more, 8 points for 90% or more, and 10 points for 95 or more. On the other hand, if it is less than 70%, it will decrease, so I have to be careful.

In the beginning, it is important to use it as much as I can to prepare the foundation of my living. Points can also be accumulated up to 20 points. The points that can be accumulated increase as the level increases.

Just when I am checking the status again, I heard a voice calling me from outside.

“Cedie, are you there? Answer me if you’re there!”

Isn’t that the voice of my childhood friend, Eugenie?

Eugenie is the third daughter of Simpson Earl House, whose territory borders the Dantès House. We have been playmates since childhood. She’s a bit headstrong, but we’re of the same age and we get along well. I could say we are best friends.

“Eugenie, you’ve came to visit!”

When I went out of the hut, I saw Eugenie riding on a griffon. She grinned at me. It’s been about two weeks since we last saw each other.

“You look well, Gian too.”

I gently stroked the griffon, Gian’s neck. The griffon is a cross breed between an eagle and a lion. Eugenie received Gian as her fifth birthday gift and since then, they have been together everywhere she goes. Griffons can fly, and they’re powerful enough to keep ordinary monsters at bay. Thanks to that, Eugenie can go anywhere by herself.

Frankly, I’m pretty jealous.

“When I went to visit your mansion, I was surprised to hear that Cedie had become the lord of this place.”

“Un. Well, I was planning to write a letter after I settled down.”

Actually, I wanted to invite her after developing the island a little more. It’s embarrassing that there’s nothing in here so far. But I’m still glad that Eugenie came.

“Hmm, so this is where Cedie lives huh….”

Eugenie stared curiously at my hut.

“It’s like this right now, but I’m going to do a big renovation eventually.”

I was embarrassed by the shabby hut, so I just made excuses. No, I’m not making excuses. I’m really going to renovate it.

But it’s strange though. In the game, I could have upgraded my hut by allocating points, but for some reason I can’t do it now.

What’s the difference?

I looked at my hut again. Then, suddenly, a status screen opened.

It is now possible to upgrade the hut!

My good friend Eugenie came to visit me, so it was unlocked!

I’ve been reminded of it somehow. In this way, at Island Maker, various conditions are released by meeting and interacting with people. I’m so happy to think that I’m going to live in a slightly better house that I want to start dancing.

“What’s the matter, Cedie? Were you so happy that I came to visit?”

“Yes, yes! I’m so happy that I can’t thank you enough!”

I grabbed Eugenie’s hand with both of my hands and shook them vigorously.

“I-idiot. Why would you do something so embarrassing……?”

Eugenie blushed and looked embarrassed.

“Ahem. Eugenie, let me show you something amazing in return, okay?”

“Something amazing? What exactly is it?”

“It’s my new magic.”

“Oh, you’ve learned more than just Fireball huh.”

“It’s not offensive magic though. Well, just watch.”

I put my hand on the shiny part of the old hut. Then I think about allocating the points. And just like when I fixed the well, five marble-sized balls of light flew from my body towards the old hut. Once the balls of light hit the old hut, it starts to glow brightly again.

It’s more intense this time because there are more points. When the light subsided, the old hut had become a small cottage. The color of the walls is light brown, and the color of the roof is dark green. This house, which was made of assembled timber, seemed to have fewer drafts compared to the old hut before.

“Isn’t it amazing?”

“…………”

Eugenie was so surprised that she was left speechless. Her mouth was even twitching. Gian, the Griffon, also kept his beak open in surprise.

“W-what was that!? Is that really magic?”

“Well, it’s not exactly the same thing, but it’s something similar. How should I say it, hmmm…. it’s a skill that can only be used on this island.”

“That’s still amazing! I’ve never seen magic that could upgrade a house.”

“It’s not just houses. I can also build facilities and level up the plants and animals on this island. Anyway, let’s go inside the new house first.”

Until now, it was a rundown house with barely any furniture, but what about this time?

Has it become a little easier to live in?

I invited the still excited Eugenie into the cottage.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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“Haa, haa, haa…… found it….…”

There was no doubt that what is in front of me is the hut that was given to every player at the very beginning of the game. It is an old looking shabby house with paint already peeling. The hut is built on the edge of the woods, with the shore extending out below.

I cautiously opened the door and went inside. The room was filled with the smell of aged wood. There are only two small windows inside, so the room is dimly lit. Still, the view of the beautiful blue sea from one of window is quite relaxing. As for the small room inside the house, there is only a small table, one chair, and a shabby bed placed in it. There was no mattress on the bed, just straw laid directly on the bed. I had never slept like this in my life. But I shouldn’t be greedy. This is much better than sleeping outside.

Next, I lifted the magic lantern on the table. The red lantern has peeling paint and rust in some places. It’s the same as in the game. I wasn’t sure if it would turn on, but when I switched it on, the lantern brightly lit up the room.

“Thank goodness it works….… Thank you so much.”

Now I don’t have to worry about being frightened by the darkness. I prayed a prayer of gratitude to God.

This lantern is a type of magic tool that brightens an area and is powered by magic stones. A magic stone is a crystal of magical power obtained when a defeating monsters. And as long as you put one in, the lantern can last almost forever.

However, I don’t have any spare magic stone, so I have to buy more in the town. Of course, there is another way, which is for me to defeat monsters by myself and get their magic stone. But at this stage, I want to avoid that if possible. I am not sure if there are any monsters living on the island after all.

I can’t remember it well but hopefully, there are none here. I can’t sleep peacefully on an island where monsters roam freely after all. But thanks to Paul-oniisan, I have a lot of money to spare so it would be wiser to buy magic stones in the town.

I’ll offer a prayer of gratitude to my brother as well.

“May my second brother live a healthy life.”

Well, there was no mistake. This is the setting of Island Maker itself. At first, there was no one in the island, but as a player lives here, all kinds of people would come, and the island will develop through interactions with them.

In fact, I don’t really remember what kind of people would come. Even though my memory has returned, it is not so vivid. There are still many vague details in it.

Hmm, how do I develop the island again?

I think I remember that there is a point allocation system in the game to develop and nurture the island. With those points, I should be able to upgrade and build facilities as well as allocate points in the flora and fauna of the island, but…….

“Whoa!”

When the memories were connected, a status screen appeared in front of me.

Oh yes, it was like this. In the game, there was also a display of belongings and money, but in this world, it is omitted. What I’m concerned about is the happiness category. As the name suggests, this is an indicator of whether I am happy or not. Sleep deprivation, illness, injury, hunger and thirst can lower this number. The scary part is that if my happiness level is below 75%, my points will not improve. If I don’t get any points, I won’t be able to develop my island. Then if I can’t develop the island, I won’t be able to eat satisfactory food. This will further reduce my level of happiness. And in this way, I will fall into a negative spiral. In addition, whether I am extremely sad or happy, my happiness value could go up or down.

I currently have 10 points huh….

I should be able to find out where to allocate my points to if I go to that location, but.…. I looked around inside the hut, but there was nothing that elicited any reaction. I should be able to build a kitchen and living room here as well but, what are the conditions to unlock them again?

It was still early for dusk, so I decided to go outside. When I went outside, the soil in front of the hut was shining.

Oh right. I remember. I can grow a field here. By the way, aren’t turnips often the first crop grown in this kind of games? I wonder why though.

“Ahh!”

Remembering something even more important, I exclaimed.

Oh, yes…… that’s right!

If the fields on this island are as designed in the game, it would only take three days from sowing to harvesting. Of course, that’s assuming that I pulled out all the weeds and water the fields properly. But even so, this is pretty much cheating. This is way more than just a question of forced cultivation!

But if I can really grow crops in three days, just like in the game, then the inheritance I received is quite incredible, isn’t it? I wanted to plant a farm right away, but as the saying goes, “Haste makes waste.”

Let’s see what else I can make first.

It’s not important, but maybe because my memory is coming back, Japanese proverbs are popping out of my head every now and then.

When I looked next to the planned site of the field, I saw an old well. The edges of the well are covered with moss, and the inside is filled with soil. This doesn’t seem to be very usable. However, it seemed that this old well could also be allocated with points.

This is an absolute must.

“Island Maker” has a strict slow-life habit, and once you have zero life, the game will be over. The first time I played this game, I put the points on something else and put off making the well. Thanks to that, I got dehydrated and the game was over immediately. And even though this is very similar to the game world, it’s a real world for me right now. I don’t even know if I can start over from a save point. Thus, cherishing life is a top priority.

Speaking of which, I wonder what happened to save points. In Island Maker, once the player goes to the bed, the save screen will appear, but there was nothing like that here. Well anyways, that could only mean that if I make a mistake, I’m going to die, I guess. That’s the only realistic logic there is…….

Anyway, rebuilding the well is the most basic principle of Island Maker. I waved my hand at the glowing part with a bit of nervousness.

“-Guh!”

I felt something slip out of my body. Then I saw three marble-sized balls of light flew from me towards the well.

The points might have been created by my magical power huh.

When the ball of light hit the old well, it emitted so much light that I could not keep my eyes open.

Kyuuiiiiiiiiiiin!

The sound is so intense that it shook my eardrums. It became impossible for me to maintain a sense of balance. But the sound and light did not last long, the world soon regained its silence. When I opened my still numb eyes, there was a well, which had been beautifully repaired. The moss that used to grow densely on it are gone, and the piled stones sparkles. The well itself has been cleaned.

I instinctively ran over and looked inside the well. I saw the clear water glittering and reflecting the sunlight through the trees. I immediately used the bucket and pulley to draw water.

“Sniff, sniff. Hmmm…… it doesn’t have a weird smell….”

I drank it timidly, but it turned out to be a really tasty water.

“Gulp, gulp, gulp. Puhaaa!”

I was so nervous that I forgot about it, but I was actually very thirsty.

“…………”

Now that I had calmed down, I tried tasting the water again. The water tastes really good. If there were such a thing as the 10 best waters in the Findas region, I think this one would definitely be a taste that would jump to the top. That’s how much the water in this well stood out.

As expected, this island has tremendous potential.

Thanks to drinking a delicious water, I now feel energized. Oh, and my happiness level has recovered a little.

As long as there is water, humans can live for about two weeks on that alone. I don’t have any food yet, but I’ll get by for the time being. When I thought about it, I felt so much better. It doesn’t look like it’s gonna be game over soon.

If I remember correctly, I could also find food in the woods, and I could go fishing on the beach or on the rocky shore. If I work hard, I won’t have any trouble eating.

I really want to explore the island right away, but I’d better do that tomorrow. The sun is now setting in the western sky, and the color of the sea is also getting darker. I also recalled that dangerous creatures roam the island at night. What’s particularly frightening are the poisonous spiders and poisonous snakes. I don’t want to run into them in the dark.

The upside is that dangerous creatures can also drop valuable items and materials. In some cases, I may need to capture them, but not until I get used to the life here.

A sigh of relief escaped from me as I entered the house and sat down on a bundle of straw. I was at a loss until I regained my memory, but with this, maybe I can make it.

It’s an empty island right now, but it could be made like Gandalcia in the fairy tale.

I’ll do my best to create a wonderful utopia!

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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We traveled along the main road for half a day. There was nothing to do on the carriage, and for the first time in my life, I had a conversation with Paul-oniisan.

“Did Paul-oniisan get a fiefdom too?”

“Yeah. One ranch and two villages……”

Paul-oniisan doesn’t usually show much emotion so it was impossible to read from his expression whether he was satisfied with the territory he had inherited or not. However, considering the size of the earldom, Paul-oniisan’s share is insignificant. Most of the territory must have been in the hands of Alexei-oniisan. Maybe Paul-oniisan is unhappy, but I think it’s a matter that should be left alone.

The carriage began to climb a gentle hill.

“Do you know what my island is like?”

“I don’t know much about it. I’ve heard that there’s a small house built there.”

“Hmmm……”

I assumed I’ll have a house there of course. Moreover, I had imagined a place like a manor house. But from the way second brother talked about it, I guess it would be something smaller than that. It’s probably just an ordinary private house. But that’s okay. I don’t want it to be so extravagant, as long as I can survive the rain and wind, that’s enough.

Oh, wait. Maybe I’m going to live there alone? I was thinking that there would be someone there who would take care of me…….

“Are there any servants there?”

He stared at me for a moment before turning his gaze back to the front.

“Cedie, you are going to live on your own from now on.”

I see, so there are no servants.

Ah, the sky is so blue……

It’s so dazzling that it makes me want to cry. The carriage climbed the mountain pass, and the sea spread out below.

“I can see Gandalcia.”

When I shifted my gaze in the direction where my second brother is looking at, I saw a small island in the wide inner bay. It’s not too far from the coast on our side so it looked like it would be easy to cross by boat.

“It’s not a very big island……”

“Yeah.”

As far as I can see from here, the surrounding area is surrounded by sandy beaches and cliffs, and I can’t see a single house.

“Are there people living in such a place?”

“It’s a deserted island.”

“Eh……?”

“You haven’t heard?”

For the first time today, Paul-oniisan’s expressionless face, showed a clear expression. It was a look of  pity.

Yes, I think even the devil in hell would weep at this situation. I had imagined an island with a laid-back fishing village. No one told me that it was a deserted island!

I’m sure Mary, my wet nurse, and the others didn’t know it either. I can’t believe that it is a zero-resident territory. That sounds like the title of a well-written light novel, isn’t it?

Eh……? What is a light novel again?

It’s really strange. My memory is often clouded these days. It’s like memories from the past that I shouldn’t have experienced are coming back to me.

I hope I don’t have a strange illness…….

The carriage came to the shore with me still in a daze.

“You’ll have to cross over to the island from here.”

A path made of big rocks crashed by waves continues from the coast. Apparently, there is not even a bridge in my territory. It seems that once the tide is high, I will not be able to go to and fro the island. As I was unable to move, just standing there stupidly, Paul-oniisan called out to me in a gentler voice than usual.

“Do you want to come with me? If you want, you can work in the ranch.”

His kind words brought tears to my eyes, but I didn’t feel like doing so right away. It’s really hard to spend time on an empty island, but I want to see what the island is like first. Even though I am only 12 years old, I am the lord of that island.

“I’ll take a closer look at the island first. Can I give you an answer then?”

“I understand……”

Paul-oniisan didn’t hold me back, but he gave me a small leather bag instead. There were several silver coins in the bag.

“You can see the town over there, right?”

I could see a town by the sea far away. I can see a magnificent bell tower, so it must be a big town in its own right.

“It’s Lubon Town in the Simpson territory. There are many shops over there. If you have no other choice, you can buy something there to eat or something.”

“Oniisan……”

Suddenly, Paul-oniisan felt like a person closer to me.

“I was told that there are no dangerous creatures over your territory. But just in case, be careful. Have you taken care of your sword?”

I put my hand on the sword at my waist to make sure. The heavy weight strangely gave me a sense of security. As a child of a nobleman, I was also trained in swordsmanship extensively.

“Yes. I did.”

“Can you use offensive magic?”

“If it’s a fireball, I can.”

“If you can do that, there’s no need to worry. For wild animals, just shoot two or three shots of fireball and they’ll run away.”

Uh-, right. I have to worry about that as well. My outlook is still so naïve after all.

“I’ll be careful.”

“If you have no other choice, come to my ranch. I won’t provide you luxury, but I’ll make sure you can make a living.”

He gave me a small nod and then I watched as the carriage go. Only me and the ripples of the waves are left behind.

What will happen to me in the future?

The future seems to be as steep as the rocky path that stretched out in front of me.

“Eeeh!?”

When I looked closely, I found out that the rocky path is narrower than before!

Oh no, the tide is rising! I can’t stay here like this. If I don’t get to the house in the island today, I won’t even have a place to sleep tonight. I hurriedly lifted my heavy luggage and jumped onto the first rock that still stuck its head out of the water. Traveling along the lined-up rocks, I managed to reach the island of Gandalcia.

I fell on the way many times so my clothes and shoes were soaked. I sat down on the white sand and took a breather.

As expected, it’s a desolate island. As far as my eye can see from here, there are no man-made objects to be seen. There is a faint sign of a road, but the grasses are so bushy and tall that it seems difficult to walk through. There are also many lateral branches protruding from the trees along the road as well. If I were to maintain this place by myself, no matter how much time I had, it would not be enough.

I regretted coming here.

But—

Even though it’s such a terrible place, I somehow feel nostalgic. And although it’s my first time here, I feel like I’m somehow familiar with this area. In more complicated terms, it is like a déjà vu.

It felt like I was seeing a scene I saw a long time ago, a scene before I was even born. I looked around in search of something that would stir up my memory.

“…………”

But there is no way that’s true, right?

Perhaps I’m just too worried about the future and I’m having silly hallucinations.

Maybe I should have followed Paul-oniisan after all……

“No, no!”

I shouted loudly to encourage myself. I’ve only just arrived on the island, but I’m already feeling weak. At this rate I’ll just worry more about the future. I need to get moving instead of wasting my time crying.  

Alright, let’s look for the house that is supposed to be somewhere here for the time being!

“Urgh….…”

When I tried to stand up, I suddenly felt dizzy and then I fell to one knee.

Was it because I got stuck on the sand?  Or was it because the sun was too hot?

Maybe that was part of it, but the main reason was that the threads of memory that had been broken were suddenly connected.

—What was connected was a memory of my previous life. I can’t remember anything definite, but I recalled living in a country called Japan.

Then I came to realize it.

I remember it now!  

It’s not wrong to say that this island looks familiar. It’s very similar to the game I loved when I was in elementary school in Japan. The game was called Island Maker.

“Island Maker” is a so-called slow-life game, a game in which you develop an uninhabited island by yourself and enjoy island life. The player can develop the island by working hard at farming or going on adventures. Anyway, I feel like it was a game with a high degree of freedom. Similarly, the game was supposed to start with the player arriving on the island and finding his house.

Then, if I go this way…….

Relying on the memories of my previous life, I walked through the tall grass on a desolate road.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Before I knew it, my father’s funeral was over. The chief mourner was my eldest brother, Alexei. I have two older brothers. Alexei-oniisan, the eldest one, and Paul-oniisan, the second oldest. However, that being said, I don’t have much contact with them. Alexei-oniisan is more than twenty years older than me and Paul-oniisan is more than ten years older. They didn’t seem to be interested in children, and even though we lived in the same mansion, I never really exchanged greetings with them.

Three days after my father passed away, I received a summon from Alexei-oniisan.

Alexei-oniisan sat in father’s chair in the study. Right behind him is Sebastian, our head butler. Apparently, it has been decided that eldest brother will inherit the position of the Earl. I was left out of the loop from the very beginning, but it didn’t bother me. I had never thought about inheriting the title.

I guess I was called to discuss my future.

Maybe I’m going to enroll in a boarding school in someplace where I’ll get ready to enter society. It’s a routine course for the second and third sons of nobles after all. I’m nervous to leave the mansion I’m used to living in, but it can’t be helped, I guess.

Until now, I have been surrounded by servants and have done it without any inconvenience. However, from now on, I will have to take care of myself. Well, I’m kind of prepared in my own way.

—However, Alexei-oniisan said something I never expected.

“Cedie, you’re already thirteen, aren’t you?”

“No, not yet. My birthday is in three months.”

“Hmmm, that means you are about thirteen years old. Thirteen is an age where you can do well on your own.”

Oniisan, where are you at that age? I’m not even 13 years old yet in the first place…….

I swallowed the urge to talk back. After all, we are disciplined to listen to everything the other person has to say.

All right, let’s listen to what Alexei-oniisan has to say first.

“Fortunately, you are prudent, and I heard from your tutor that you are doing well academically. In other words, you can do well in society.”

You don’t even have common sense Oniisan. Don’t you know what has the private tutor been doing? I think this is bordering child abuse.

“Uhm, Alexei-oniisan, what do you mean?”

“I’m going to give you a fiefdom so you can live there from now. I’m sure you’ll be able to make it as a lord there.”

I looked at Sebastian, the head butler, but he elegantly averted his eyes.

As elegant as a butler can be……

This autumn at the age of twelve, I found the lame puns more painful than usual. I never expected to be kicked out of my house so suddenly. But it seems that there is no one on my side. I can’t just go against my eldest brother, who now succeeded as an Earl. Well, even if there are some who feel sorry for me, they can’t stand by my side as they don’t want to lose their jobs. Even I can’t go against my elder brother.

There’s even a saying that goes, “Wrap yourself up in long things.”

Eh? Was there such a saying here?  I think it was a saying from some other place……

But setting that aside, I think it’s strange that at the age of 12, I could understand that accepting things in life is the key. Anyways, let’s think about the future a little more positively. I’m not going to be thrown out naked, I’m even going to get a territory.

“Where’s my fiefdom at?”

“It’s an island by the sea. It seems like a nice, laid-back place.”

It seems that the small island called Gandalcia will be my territory.

“Where is the island located?”

I wanted to know more, but Alexei-oniisan waved his hand as if to signal the end of the conversation. It is a gesture of rejection that even a child can understand.

“Sorry, but I have a lot of work to do this afternoon. I’ll have someone explain the details to you. You will leave tomorrow morning.”

What a salty, light and spicy attitude..… I did not feel the slightest brotherly affection in him!

 ……Well, I guess there is no point in expecting that from Alexei-oniisan.

And so I was kicked out of the study and the next day, I will be even kicked out of the mansion.

Gandalcia Island is on the border with the neighboring Simpson territory. In other words, it is on the edge of the territory, a place with no shred of development whatsoever. It was said to be about a day’s walk from here. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it, but I’m also a little hopeful.

After all, Gandalcia has the same name as the utopia in fairy tales. Flowers bloom in all four seasons, crops are abundantly fruitful, and spirits and people help each other and live happily together. That is Gandalcia. The book I bought for myself came with illustrations of an arch of roses, grapes and figs in the bushes, and the smiling faces of the happy residents. It would be nice if Gandalcia, which I would be managing, would be like that.

After I finished packing, I went to bed with such a sweet dream.

I guess I have to say goodbye to this bed too….

I couldn’t stop crying that night and couldn’t sleep until late at night.

✲✲✲

I packed my luggage to the brim, so my small travel bag was heavy. I am now about to say goodbye to this mansion where I had lived since I was born. I stand in the wide hallway and looks around. Everywhere is full of nostalgic memories from childhood.

“That big pot…. I remember using it for hide and seek in the past. If I sit in the back, no one would find me.”

“Yes, yes, you did……”

Mary, my nanny, burst into tears. There are more than 50 people living here, but she is the only one who came to see me off.

I guess even a rat abandons a sinking ship. But, isn’t that a bit cruel?

“Cedie-sama, don’t blame the others. They really want to see you off, but Alexei-sama forbade us to do so.”

From Alexei-oniisan’s reasoning, it seemed that he didn’t want me to have any regrets.

“It’s all right Mary. But, Mary, are you going to be okay? You broke elder brother’s orders.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. It’s really hateful. To expel little Cedie-sama like this is really….”

Mary’s voice trembled and she covered her face with her hands as she sobbed. I knew it. Mary came to see me off despite being punished by brother. And yet, she is still thinking about me……

“I’m fine, so you can go now. I’ll write you a letter when I’ve settled down.”

I left Mary behind and started running. If I didn’t, I would cry. Crying would make Mary even more worried. I couldn’t let the heart of the person who had taken my mother’s place from a young age suffer any longer.

After running for a while, I looked back and saw that the mansion was quite far away. I can’t even see Mary anymore. As I stood dumbfounded, a wagon stopped beside me. Surprisingly, it was my second brother, Paul-oniisan, who called out,

“Get in. I’m going to my territory too. I’ll give you a lift.”

Maybe this is the saying, “If there is a god who throws away, there is a god who picks up.”

Paul-oniisan had a blunt attitude, but his words were appreciated by me, who is carrying a heavy luggage. I hadn’t had much contact with Paul-oniisan up until now, but his arms are strong. He pulled me and my bag up easily, and somehow, I felt a sense of security.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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