Now, ten years have passed, and at the age of fifteen, I am widely recognized as a lazy, pleasure-seeking son.
As the second son, I am merely a substitute for the eldest, and the only path for me is to live a carefree life.
Everything depends on the eldest son of the Eltor family, my elder brother, Eric Eltor.
Unlike my ordinary self, he possesses magical talent and is a prodigy scouted by the Magic Tower.
“Brother, how could I possibly feel any resentment towards someone as exceptional as you?”
Even if you ask me if I feel any regret, I don’t feel any at all. Just being able to reincarnate and live this life is already a huge win. Moreover, I can use magic, have regained my youth, and was born into a wealthy family.
With just this, I’m already a winner in life. All that’s left is to figure out how to enjoy it.
“Hmm, Fly, you don’t understand yourself!”
“What are you talking about? Brother, your magical power is ten times that of an average mage. That alone is impressive, and on top of that, you can use all attributes!”
Magic is primarily divided into four main elements: fire, water, wind, and earth. Additionally, there are applied attributes such as lightning, ice, light, and dark, making a total of eight basic attributes.
My brother can use all of these basic attributes. A wielder of all attributes is essentially a cheat character.
As expected of the future duke who will support the empire. He’s in a completely different league from a nameless mob character like me.
“No, that’s you!”
“Huh? Brother, you’re amazing. I can’t use any of the basic attributes.”
That’s right. My brother can use all eight attributes.
In contrast, I can only use non-attribute magic.
“Ugh! Fine, Fly. You need to show more motivation! And you need to step forward and demonstrate your abilities!”
For some reason, my brother has always tried to push me forward.
Even though I’ve given up on my own abilities, he’s a caring older brother who thinks of his younger sibling.
“It doesn’t matter. In the end, you’ll inherit this household. I can’t even get married. I’ll just be kept around until I die.”
The life of a second son in a noble family is a hollow existence.
As a substitute for the eldest son, I can’t even marry freely. If I were to marry and have children, it could lead to a succession dispute, so marriage is forbidden.
“Grr! That’s exactly why you need to step forward and make your presence known!”
“No, no, it really doesn’t matter. Just being the second son of a ducal family means I receive a considerable allowance. Plus, starting next year, I’ll be attending the academy and studying.”
Appearances are always important. Enrolling in the academy is a rule for imperial nobles, and even the second son must attend.
Until the age of fifteen, we are taught by private tutors hired by the family, and from sixteen onwards, we are sent to the imperial academy where nobles and commoners study together without distinction.
A major event that will engulf the entire continent will occur at that academy, but as a mob character, it has nothing to do with me.
“Ah, right! The academy. I’ll have already graduated by the time you attend, but I’ll make sure to inform the teachers about you.”
“Ugh, please don’t bother. It’s too much trouble.”
He’s really a doting older brother. I wish he wouldn’t go out of his way to do everything for me.
Although he’s a handsome brother, I don’t have any feelings beyond familial love. In fact, with my memories of my past life, he seems like a much younger, adorable boy, so I just cheer him on.
“Make sure you attend the academy properly.”
My brother, who even cares about a mob like me, is a wonderful person, but it’s troublesome if he expects too much from me. In this world, you’re considered an adult at fifteen, so drinking alcohol is allowed.
Magic? No good. Swordsmanship? No good. Tactics and strategy? No good.
The only thing I have going for me is my past life’s experience and the fact that I could speak and do calculations from infancy thanks to my reincarnation. Well, as I grow older, I’ll be surpassed by more talented kids, so being average is just fine.
“Since my brother has left, I think I’ll go out for a drink.”
My current hobby is bar-hopping.
I don’t have anyone I can call a friend, but within the ducal territory, even if I wander around drinking, the townsfolk don’t mind and even greet me. It’s really a nice town.
“Lord Fly! You’re here again today?”
“Yep. I’ll have the usual high-quality wine. And give everyone a round on me. I’ve got money from my father, after all.”
The skinny shopkeeper doesn’t seem to be doing well financially, so I’ve been coming here every other day recently.
“Huh?! A gold coin? That’s enough to drink for a month, not just one round!”
The shopkeeper is saying something, but to me, it’s just a portion of my allowance, so I don’t really care. I just wanted to treat someone and feel good about it.
Most importantly, I get served the best wine in the shop, which also puts me in a good mood.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
Mmm. It’s easy to drink and delicious. I actually prefer ale, but the quality of ale in this world isn’t great. Plus, it’s not served cold, which is a problem.
“Do you have ale?”
“Are you going to do that again?”
“Yep. Is that okay?”
“Of course, feel free. You’ve already paid more than enough. Besides…”
“Besides?”
“Never mind.”
The shopkeeper brings over a barrel of ale.
I can only use non-attribute magic.
So, what is non-attribute magic? The answer is simple: it’s magic without any attributes.
While my brother can use all eight attributes, I can’t use any of them.
Magical power is like a mass of energy, and attribute magic can convert that energy into other substances.
In contrast, non-attribute magic can only use magical power as pure energy.
In other words, non-attribute magic changes depending on how you shape the energy.
In fact, non-attribute magic changes according to my imagination, so it’s easier for me to handle. Not that it really matters to me.
“Temperature, drop.”
Since I can’t use fire or ice attribute magic, I thought of directly commanding the energy of magical power to change the temperature and adjust it.
I believe the best temperature for ale is around 6 to 8 degrees Celsius.
It was difficult to adjust it to that temperature at first, but recently I’ve been able to get it just right.
“Mmm. Is this good? Give me a master jug.”
“Yes! Lord Fly.”
“Mmm! Delicious.”
I only drink one glass and return the rest to the shopkeeper.
“Can I sell this?”
“Sure. I only care about the first glass.”
“Thank you!”
The shopkeeper happily lifts the barrel of ice-cold ale.
“Lord Fly has chilled the ale for us! Limited to fifty people! And it’s on Lord Fly! First come, first served for those who order a meal!”
In response to the shopkeeper’s announcement, even people outside the shop come in, and the place becomes bustling.
Everyone really loves ice-cold ale.
“Thank you! Thank you!”
Several adults bow to me, but as long as I get to enjoy ice-cold ale and a good meal, that’s all that matters.
After all, living in the territory means being a resident of the Eltor ducal family, right? That makes them like family to me.
“You’re all like family to me. Don’t worry about it. Drink up and work hard tomorrow!”
I cheer everyone on.
“Everyone is welcome! Welcome, welcome!”
I’m not socially awkward, so I talk to anyone freely. In my past life, I just went back and forth between work and home, with little interaction with others.
That’s why in this life, I want to be friends with everyone. Plus, in my past life, I couldn’t do what I wanted because I was always worried about money, but now, as part of a ducal family, I can spend money freely.
Spending money and being thanked by everyone—there’s no greater sense of superiority.
I’m probably just a mob character destined to be killed before the war or die before becoming useful in the war. So, there’s no problem with living as I please now.
“Thank you! Thank you!”
“Ahahaha! You’re all exaggerating. Eat and drink up! Shopkeeper, here’s another gold coin. Let them eat as much as they want! If you run out of food, go buy more.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
I enjoy my food and drink, then leave the shop.
I don’t go out every day, but this carefree, wandering lifestyle isn’t bad. Starting next year, I’ll be attending school and won’t be able to do this anymore…
