This is about a day when I was six years old.
I was in my room, organizing the mana consumption for the skill “Transformation.”
- Straw (1 kilogram) to meat (100 grams) transformation: 5 points
- Earth (10 kilograms) to iron (1 kilogram) transformation: 50 points
- Wood (1 kilogram) to soybeans (300 grams) transformation: 10 points
- Viewing my own information: 10 points
- Viewing someone else’s information: 15 points+ (The mana consumption increases with the target’s level and rarity)
- Transforming my own information: 10 points+ (The more items are transformed, the more mana is consumed)
- Transforming someone else’s information: 50 points+ (The more items are transformed, the more mana is consumed)
Looking at it this way, converting plants to food takes a relatively low amount of mana points. Maybe the mana consumption for food necessary for my survival is set lower. I should be grateful to “The One Whose Name Was Taken and Forgotten.”
“Toma Isurugi . I’m coming in.”
“Okay.”
My mother entered.
“What’s the matter?”
“I have something to talk about. Would you come with me?”
“Talk?”
It seemed like there was something more behind this, but I decided to follow her anyway. When we entered the living room, a man in his late twenties was waiting.
“Sit down.”
“Okay.”
My mother and I sat side by side on the sofa, and the man sat across from us. My mother made tea and handed it to him, and then gave me some as well.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Rob Ashud Rocksfall. My title is knight, and I govern a small estate. Pleased to meet you.”
“I’m Toma Isurugi . Nice to meet you.”
The man had dark crimson hair and gentle lapis lazuli-colored eyes.
“You look worried. Do you wonder what I came here for?”
“Until now, no noble has ever come to visit my mother or me, so I’m a little nervous.”
“You’re an honest boy. Also, as I heard, you’re quite intelligent.”
I wasn’t used to being praised, and I felt a bit awkward.
“Today, I have an important matter to discuss. Could you listen carefully?”
“Yes.”
With his mouth wet from the tea, Lord Rocksfall would tell me something I never expected.
“In fact, I have decided to marry your mother, Aliusha .”
“Eh!?”
My mother is going to marry Lord Rocksfall… But wasn’t she the mistress of Lord Oyakata? What?
“To put it bluntly, I’ve come to terms with Lord Lightstar, who has given me Aliusha as my wife.”
So, Lord Oyakata sold my mother? What is this? That guy really is useless!
“Actually, I lost my wife two years ago to illness. I wasn’t thinking of remarrying, but after being advised by Lord Marquis Lightstar, I had a few discussions with Aliusha . I decided I truly wanted her as my wife.”
So this had been quietly discussed behind the scenes…
“Toma Isurugi . I’ve decided to accept this proposal happily.”
“…Will you be happy with this, Mother?”
That was the most important thing. Ever since we moved into the annex, Lord Oyakata had visited my mother a few times, but she didn’t seem happy. Perhaps she had been enduring it all because of me, letting that old man embrace her. If that’s the case, maybe I’m just a burden on my mother.
“Yes, I will be happy.”
My mother smiled and answered firmly to my question. It was painful to think about being separated from her, but if it made her happy, I would send her off with a smile.
“Then, I won’t say anything more. Lord Rocksfall, please make sure to make my mother happy. I’m counting on you.”
I stood up from the sofa and bowed deeply.
“Although I am just a poor, weak noble who can’t offer luxury, I will make her happy.”
When I thought about it, my mother was still only twenty-three. She had been skinny and dirty when we lived in the storage room, but lately, she had been eating properly and wearing modest dresses, which made her even more attractive as a woman.
Lord Rocksfall is still young too, and if they wanted, they could even have children.
I’ll be fine on my own. After all, I had lived alone in my previous life, so I can manage in this world too.
“By the way, Toma Isurugi , are you misunderstanding something?”
“Misunderstanding?”
“You and Aliusha will both come with me.”
“Eh? Me too?”
“Of course. I won’t separate you from Aliusha .”
I can still stay with my mother. I’m so happy! There’s nothing more I could wish for!
“Thank you. I’ll work hard for Lord Rocksfall, so please take care of us.”
“Wait, I think you’re misunderstanding.”
“Huh?”
“I didn’t have any children with my late wife, unfortunately. So, I intend to officially adopt you, Toma Isurugi .”
“Someone like me…?”
“I’m a foster child of the Lightstar Marquis family. Oh, being a foster child means I’m like their child, and if something happens, they’ll provide support. So, I have various acquaintances within the Marquis family, and Toma Isurugi , you’ve earned quite a good reputation.”
I’ve got a good reputation? But no one talks to me, not even the servants or the soldiers at the main estate!
“Toma Isurugi , I heard that Jaize treats you badly, but you never complain, and you always act so strong. People notice things like that.”
Jaize has been bothering me, but he’s not much of a threat. Especially lately, my level has increased, and I don’t take much damage anymore. In fact, it’s probably Jaize ’s fists that are damaged when he hits me. That’s why he switched to using a wooden sword instead of punching me.
“Are you really okay with me?”
“You should be more confident. I truly want to adopt you.”
“…Thank you.”
“I’ll come to pick you up in two days. There’s not much time, so please pack your things.”
Lord Rocksfall left with a refreshing smile. I almost wanted to have the nobles from somewhere snobby drink his refreshing energy.
