“…Huh?”
When I opened my eyes, I found myself collapsed in what seemed like the courtyard of a large, Western-style mansion.
On top of that, for some reason, my body was in shambles—covered in cuts, burns, and various other injuries. It hurt like hell.
“How useless! You pass out from just that level of fire magic? Get up! You useless fool!”
As I lay there, dazed and unable to comprehend the situation, a guy who looked to be in his thirties glared down at me, shouting angrily. His yelling was so loud my ears hurt. Seriously, what a pain.
“…”
I ignored his shouting and sat on the ground, patting my body to assess the damage.
(Huh…?)
But as I touched myself, I realized something strange. My body felt really small, like I’d become a child. I was probably around ten years old?
(No, wait, I should definitely be an adult well over twenty…)
I crossed my arms, thinking over my situation.
I’m just an ordinary office worker in my late twenties living in Tokyo. Just yesterday, I was pulling an all-nighter in the office, coding like a maniac.
So how did I end up in this European-style courtyard? I had no memory of coming here.
(Hmm… what is this? Could this be a dream?)
I tilted my head, utterly lost, arms still crossed. I had no idea what was going on.
“Hey! If you’re awake, get up already, you useless fool! How long are you going to keep me waiting?”
“…”
The man shouted at me again, frustrated with my blank stare. Why is this guy so pissed?
(Who yells like this at a kid, anyway? What’s his deal?)
In normal circumstances, no adult would be this angry at a kid in this beat-up state. Where did this guy learn to act like this?
I took a better look at him. He was an average-built man in his thirties, dressed in expensive-looking clothes with fancy accessories, suggesting he might be rich.
But his words were laced with thorns, and it was grating on my nerves. Did he hate… me—or rather, this child I’d apparently become?
Even if he did, berating an injured child like this was just sad. He’s supposed to be an adult; shouldn’t he be helping?
“Move faster, you worthless scum! Don’t keep me waiting! Get up now, you incompetent fool!”
But the man showed no inclination to help me, just kept yelling with even more anger when I didn’t stand immediately. He was beyond annoying.
Since my ears couldn’t take any more of his yelling, I reluctantly decided to follow his order and stand up. But as soon as I tried…
“Argh! Ngh…!”
Intense pain shot through my body the moment I moved. Well, of course—I was covered in wounds.
Still, I somehow forced myself up, dragging my battered body to my feet.
Seeing me struggle, the man began to sneer with a twisted smile, clearly pleased by my pain.
(So… all these injuries… are his doing?)
If that’s the case, this guy’s seriously messed up. Getting joy from hurting a child? That’s criminal. Maybe I should report him.
“Hmph, making pathetic noises over such minor injuries—how utterly useless you are, you worthless trash!”
“Father, please. That’s enough. Even if he is garbage and utterly incompetent, he is still my elder brother.”
“…?”
Just then, a kid standing next to the angry man spoke up, stopping him.
(So he’s not helping me… just looking down on me too.)
The kid glanced my way and smirked in contempt, making it clear he also looked down on me.
“Oh, Schwartz! Even to this worthless trash, you speak such kind words… Truly, Schwartz, you are a gentle soul. I’m so proud of you, my son.”
“No, no, Father. As someone of the noble Alfeid lineage, it’s only natural to show such dignity. Even useless trash may serve some purpose. Heh.”
The man and the bratty kid continued chatting and laughing, mocking me openly.
I had no clue what was going on, so after standing up, I blankly watched their exchange.
From what I could gather, the man seemed to be my father, and the bratty kid was my younger brother. And this mansion… belonged to a well-known noble family, or so it seemed.
“Hmph! Out of respect for your outstanding younger brother Schwartz, I’ll end today’s magic training here. You should be grateful to Schwartz! Worthless fool!”
The man returned to his angry tone and barked at me, looking genuinely disgusted. He clearly despised me.
“Kusukusu… How fortunate for you, Brother Seras. Even though you’re nothing but a useless piece of trash who can’t use any magic at all in the esteemed Alfeid family, which is known for its magical prowess, you should be grateful to Father for still allowing you to remain in the family. Truthfully, it wouldn’t be surprising if you had already been expelled from the Alfeid family by now, don’t you think?”
The brat in front of me sneered with a nasty grin as he said that to me. Why do I have to be mocked like this by my own family?
Also, it seems my name is “Seras.” I suppose I’d better make sure I at least don’t forget my own name.
“Hmph, just like Schwarz says! Normally, a useless wretch like you who can’t use magic at all would have been expelled from the Alfeid family by now! If you don’t want to be expelled, prove to me that you have some value! Not that a piece of trash like you could have any value at all! Hahaha!”
“Kusukusu, Father, if you keep saying the truth like that, it might hurt him, you know.”
“Oh, Schwarz, you’re truly such a kind child! That you would even think of this useless piece of trash as your brother… hahaha! I’m truly proud to have such a kind son!”
The old man and the brat looked down on me, laughing. It was so absurd that my head started to hurt.
“Alright, today’s magic training will end here! Now, Schwarz, let’s head back to the mansion. We’ll go straight to dinner. I’ve ordered the finest wyvern meat, so let’s enjoy an exceptional steak tonight.”
“Yes, Father! I’m really looking forward to it! Let’s hurry to dinner!”
“……”
I didn’t fully understand, but it seemed that today’s magic training was over.
The old man and the brat then started walking toward the large Western-style mansion nearby. That must be our home.
So, I dragged my feet, following behind them. But just then…
“!? What do you think you’re doing, you piece of trash! Don’t even think about setting foot in the same mansion as us! Are you stupid?”
“That’s right, Brother. Since you’re a worthless good-for-nothing, you’re not allowed to enter the main mansion of the Alfeid family at all. So, go back to the separate building by yourself.”
“…The separate building?”
“Huh? Did you hit your head and lose your memory? Fufu, you were already pretty slow, so that’s just sad, Brother. Let me tell you where it is. See that little shack over there?”
“…Over there?”
The brat, grinning mockingly, pointed slightly behind me. It seemed the so-called separate building was in that direction.
So, I turned to look where he was pointing. But then…
“…You’ve got to be kidding me…”
I was at a loss for words.
Standing there was a small, shabby shack that looked like it could fall apart at any moment. It was probably smaller than the one-room apartment I’d been living in until now…
(Surely, it’s too cruel to make me live in such a run-down place…)
Wait, aren’t I only about ten years old right now? To make such a young child live in such horrible conditions… This old man is way beyond just a bad parent!!
“Now that you understand, hurry up and go back to your separate quarters. Oh, and don’t ever come near the Alfeid mansion again, alright? We wouldn’t want your uselessness rubbing off on the rest of us, kusukusu.”
“Yes, exactly as Schwarz says! Just having a useless piece of trash like you around the mansion is unpleasant and troublesome for us. So hurry up and go back to your quarters! You worthless garbage!”
“……”
Their words infuriated me, but stirring things up here would be pointless.
So, I decided to comply with the old man’s instructions for now and headed toward the shabby shack on my own.
