It was noon. When my mother, Agatta Warden, saw that I had returned home early, she asked me what had happened. Before I told her what was going on, I asked her what my sister was up to. Since it was the weekend, she hadn't gone to school and when she saw that I was home, she jumped into my arms. I was prepared for this, so when she leaped onto me, I caught her by the waist. Having a little sister may sound nice at first but you believe me, it's not all that great. Of course, I love my sister Nalan but she does everything she can to annoy me. Besides, she was now twelve years old. She had become too heavy for me to carry, and she wanted me to throw her up in the air.
"Both of you, stop playing around."
My mother was just like she always was. Some strands of her blonde hair were starting to turn white. There was a hint of fatigue in her green eyes.
"Shall I help you with housework today? I can also tell you what's been going on."
My mother had always been against my working, but in recent years, she hadn't said anything about it. Perhaps because I was used to working, she didn't object to my offer, and while we did housework together, I told her what had happened. What she heard was somewhat of a surprise for her. She had already started preparing food because a ritchi, one of the emperors of trade, was supposed to come here. I could somewhat understand her worry. There were plenty of rumors about ritchis how they loved to show off and some of them had quite odd habits.
To be honest, I had never really believed these rumors. While my mother and sister were preparing dinner together for the evening, I went to my room and collapsed onto the bed. I wasn't busy after a long time. My mind was occupied with Hanbel, the person who was supposed to visit us. For some reason, I had a feeling that he had suddenly taken on the visit.
"What's the point of thinking about these things? I don't even know why or how I was reincarnated."
I had been reincarnated into this world and had lived a happy life up to this point, just like in my own world. I spent my days thinking that my questions would eventually come to me. I was living my life the way I wanted, and I would soon embark on an adventure. After years of working as a blacksmith apprentice, I had saved up some money. As I thought to myself 'After a few more days of work, I'll buy a wallistics and make a weapon for myself'. I began to walk toward the small desk in my room.
I placed the back of my idendity on the desk and headed toward the drawer next to my bed. I took out a marble that I was genuinely curious about how it was made. After picking up the marble, I back on the desk. The moment I placed the marble on top of my identification, some statistics appeared in three-dimensional form for me.
Strength: ???
Agility: ???
Intelligence: ???
Endurance: ???
Charisma: ???
Magic: ???
I took a deep breath. 'Sometimes I feel like calling myself an idiot. Why didn't I think to borrow my father's wallistics for just a few minutes!?' I said to myself. Now I would do that once I got my own wallistic. One reason I spent my life in indifference was the unknown. I didn't have a system that belonged solely to me, one that no one else could see.
After staring at the question marks in front of me for a while, I returned to the bed. It wouldn't hurt to take a short nap. After a brief nap, I was disturbed by my sister, and I helped her with her homework. I helped my mother set the dining table and when it was late in the afternoon we heard three intermittent knocks on the door.
It could only have been one person knocking on the door.
After a few knocks, the door opened, and a tall man entered. His red hair still retained its color, but there were gray strands in his beard. He was wearing a set of ornate armor, and he quickly noticed my sister running toward him with his black eyes.
"Is the princess of her father here too?"
Of course, the person who entered was none other than my father, Jules. Behind him was a ritchi who appeared to be a few years younger than him. He was wearing a black suit and seemed to be trying to look the opposite of my father with his black hair and red eyes. He had a clean-shaven face and wore glasses with a single lens. I knew that this man named Hanbel was close to my father, but they seemed to be talking more often than I had thought.
"So this little one is your daughter, Jules."
"Of course, she's my daughter! Who else would she resemble?"
"Your temper is as strong as ever. Don't tell me you're afraid of your wife, captain."
"The day you fall for a girl, I'll help you kidnap her."
Anyone listening to this conversation would think that they were very close friends. My mother and sister also seemed surprised by this familiarity. After entering together, my mother and sister introduced themselves and slightly bowed before Hanbel.
"There's no need to bow, ladies. It seems strange to me that the family of the man who saved my brother's life would behave this way."
After a brief conversation among themselves, everyone had gathered around the dining table. Given that our guest was a ritchi, I was amazed at how my mother had managed to prepare so much food. There was a delicious tomato soup, pastry stuffed with cheese and potatoes, a turkey filled with something like rice, and a wonderful milk dessert made with that rice and milk. While we were eating, I began to understand why my father and the ritchi were such close friends.
During the year my father had been missing in that uncharted region, Hanbel's brother had also been there. So Hanbel's brother was a soldier just like my father. I had witnessed Hanbel's eyes welling up when he spoke about owing his brother's life to him. Later, they had somehow maintained their connection and would talk every few months. Hanbel didn't seem like someone who followed the money like some ritchis did. He loved Ucretnight and mentioned that he usually consulted the royal family and regarding his commercial activities for the kingdom. What I was hearing was quite interesting, and I thought it was normal for Hanbel to be rich enough to be a ritchi. He might not have been the smartest person I had seen, but he was the most cunning.
The moment I realized this, I felt a strange tightening around my neck.
"By the way, have you trained your son well? He doesn't look very muscular for someone who works at a blacksmith's."
When the topic turned to me, I had to hold myself back a little to keep from frowning at the man. I had always thought of myself as being in shape, and it was clear that he was comparing me to my father.
"I taught him to swing a sword in my free time. At least he can do that."
"Is that so?"
It was no secret that my father had trained me during the times I didn't work at the blacksmith's. He was doing his job by making sure his son could at least defend himself, and I had no objections to that. As we were enjoying our desserts, my mother and sister began to clear away the empty plates. It was at that moment that Hanbel spoke up again.
"Then I can tell the young man what I told you."
"..."
"Uh... Mr. Hanbel. What exactly did you discuss with my father?"
After I asked this, I saw him place the dagger I had made on the table. I was definitely proud of the first weapon I had created, and I was curious about what the cunning ritchi would say.
"Well, there's no point in beating around the bush. As you can see, I quite like this dagger. You said it was your first work but I'm very pleased with what you've done. Also, you seem to me to be a very intelligent young man. I apologize for joking about your muscles. Of course, you must be capable of doing something in your own right, but what intrigues me are the things going on in your head."
For some reason, I felt the need to swallow, and I did. I wasn't calling this man cunning for nothing. He thought my perspective on the world was different from others, and he was absolutely right. After noticing that I hadn't said anything, he continued speaking.
"You seem to understand what I'm getting at. I've discussed this matter with your father as well. The final decision, of course, is up to you but I have a very important offer for you."
It seemed that I was going to make a weapon for Hanbel. At least I gathered that from his speech. Before continuing, he cleared his throat lightly and said that words I wasn't expecting to hear.
"I want you at the Academy. I will cover all your education expenses upfront."