Thomas: The Reincarnated Person Who Became the Adopted Child of a Knightly Noble Family :
As everyone practiced swimming—well, it looked more like playing in the river—I manned the grill, cooking skewers for everyone.
“Master Toma, if you’re only grilling the food, we can take over. Why not join in for a swim?”
“Thanks, Lala, but I’ve always wanted to do this. Please indulge my whim.”
“In that case, I’ll assist you.”
“Sure, I’d appreciate that.”
With over a hundred people, including servants and guards, grilling for everyone was no small task. I was grateful for the help.
“Alright, the skewers are ready. Can you call Reinhardt and the others for me?”
I asked one of the knights to gather everyone. The six who had been swimming looked pretty exhausted, especially Reinhardt, who was breathing heavily.
“Everyone, warm up your cold bodies by the fire.”
I seated the six in front of the campfire and handed out warm soup.
“Here, drink this.”
“I was feeling chilly—thank you,” Lady Lene said as she sipped the soup, draped in towels for warmth and modesty.
“It’s delicious!” she exclaimed.
The soup was a consomme I made, filled with finely chopped vegetables, meat, and mushrooms. Even the consomme base was homemade.
“It’s warming me up,” Reinhardt said.
“It has such a gentle flavor,” Claudia added.
“It’s perfect for this chilly moment,” Deborah remarked.
“Can I have seconds?” Daniel eagerly asked.
“This is my first time trying soup like this, but it’s amazing,” Bruno chimed in.
It seemed like everyone loved it. Next up was the barbecue’s main attraction—meat!
“Dig in, everyone!”
“Delicious!” they chorused.
The perfectly medium-rare meat and my homemade sauce amazed even me with their flavor.
The tuna, vegetables, and mushrooms were all incredible. Eating with friends in the great outdoors made everything taste better.
“Master Toma, what is this red meat?” Lene asked.
“That’s tuna,” I replied.
“The ocean fish you mentioned before?”
“Yes, this time, I used the lean part, but medium fatty tuna and fatty tuna are also delicious.”
“I’d love to try them someday.”
“When the chance comes, I’ll prepare them for you.”
“Oh, I’d be thrilled!”
Lene sure has a big appetite.
“This is amazing,” Baron Partcool remarked as he devoured skewer after skewer.
Even Ben was eating as much as the baron. These two seemed to get along well. It was heartening to see everyone enjoying the food—it was infinitely better than hearing complaints.
After eating, I finally joined in the swimming. It was the main event, after all.
First, freestyle: slicing through the water like a fish.
Next, breaststroke: gliding smoothly like a frog.
Then, butterfly: powerfully breaking the surface with every stroke.
Finally, backstroke: floating peacefully under a cloudless blue sky.
I also dived, exploring the riverbed’s sandy and rocky floor. The clear water teemed with fish—a testament to its purity.
Suddenly, something shiny caught my eye. I grabbed it and surfaced.
“Is this… crystal?”
Looking back underwater, I saw more gleaming spots on the riverbed. It seemed there was a crystal deposit upstream.
When I got out of the river, everyone was watching me. While observing someone swim might be educational, they should enjoy the water themselves—it’s a river, after all!
“Toma, you’re an incredible swimmer,” Reinhardt said.
“Really? This is pretty standard.”
Reinhardt, who was swimming for the first time, struggled, but with practice, he’d improve.
“You swim like a mermaid, Master Toma,” Lene praised.
“Indeed, I almost mistook you for one,” Deborah agreed.
Their compliments were flattering, though I doubted I could outswim a real mermaid.
“Baron Partcool, here,” I said, handing him one of the crystals I found.
“This is…!”
At first, he didn’t realize what it was, but once he did, he was astounded.
“It’s crystal. I found it on the riverbed.”
Crystal of this clarity was valuable.
“Such a thing…”
The baron suddenly ran and jumped into the river.
“Blub… I forgot I can’t swim!”
“… … …”
What was he thinking? A soldier from the riverine unit helped pull him out. It was shallow enough to stand—he didn’t even need to swim.
“Sorry for the trouble… but there really are more crystals down there!” he said, holding one in each hand. He’d managed to grab them while floundering. His greed was… impressive, if nothing else.
“Marquess Rocksfall, I cannot thank you enough. I will repay this kindness someday, I promise.”
Once the baron left, calm returned. Under the clear skies, we swam and played in the river again.
Reinhardt managed to swim by the end of the day, though he was too exhausted to move afterward.
The others also improved, especially Lene, whose progress was remarkable. She mastered freestyle and breaststroke with grace, looking more like a mermaid than I ever could.
“Swimming is great for building strength with minimal strain on the body,” I remarked.
“But… there’s… nowhere… to swim… in the capital…” Reinhardt panted.
“That’s not entirely true. You could build a pool,” I suggested.
As nobles, having a pool in their estate wasn’t outlandish—many already had ponds.
Merry Christmas!
This marks the final update for this year.
Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas!
Please ignore this author’s note part (it’s for site’s technical reason)
Author’s Note:
Thank you for joining us on this heartwarming journey of camaraderie, adventure, and discovery! As we wrap up this chapter, we hope you enjoyed the blend of slice-of-life moments and dramatic undertones that make this story so special. From the joy of outdoor feasts to the thrill of uncovering hidden treasures, this tale is a celebration of friendship, perseverance, and the simple pleasures of life. Stay tuned for more updates in the new year, and don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments below. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season!
Worldbuilding Glossary:
- Crystal Deposits: Rare, naturally occurring formations found in pristine environments like rivers. Known for their clarity and value, they are often used in crafting and trade.
- Riverine Units: Specialized soldiers trained in aquatic environments, skilled in swimming, diving, and water-based rescue operations.
- Consomme: A clear, flavorful soup made from a rich broth, often enhanced with finely chopped vegetables, meat, and mushrooms. A delicacy in noble households.
- Tuna: A prized ocean fish, known for its versatility and rich flavor. Different cuts, such as lean, medium fatty, and fatty tuna, offer unique culinary experiences.
- Freestyle, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Backstroke: Swimming techniques that showcase agility, strength, and grace. Each style has its own unique benefits and challenges.
