Support the translator on lazytranslations.com

　May 25 is my birthday.

Since I will be five years old this year, it should be celebrated in a very grand way.

　The mortality rate of infants in this world is very high. It seems that the age of five is one of the benchmarks, and it seems that once they reach this age, they are considered to have passed the first hurdle.

　Of course, this is a story of wealthy families who can celebrate, or of knightly families like ours, and ordinary families rarely celebrate. Only when one becomes an adult at the age of 15, even poor families celebrate it, but it is a little different from birthday celebrations because it means becoming an independent person.

　On the morning of his birthday, I checked his current status using [References].

　Zacharias Lockhart, 5 years old, Magic Swordsman Level 5

　Strength: 6/50

　Reflexes: 10/90

　Body Control: 10/90

　Endurance: 13/120 (80 x 1.5)

　Magic: 11/10

　Mental Endurance: 120 (80 x 1.5)

　Intelligence: 100

　Craftsmanship: 6/50

　Appearance: 87

　Charisma: 82

　HP: 140

　MP: 115

　Skills: 5 Sword Arts, 8 Body Arts, 32 Negotiation, 70 Calculation

　Magic: Wind Attribute 6, Light, Water, Wood Attributes 5, Fire, Earth Attributes 4, Darkness, Gold Attribute 2

　Special Abilities: Toughness, Disease Resistance, Poison Resistance, Mental Resistance, Enhanced Eyesight, Deadly Force, Previous Life Memory, References, Magical Combat

　I still have the same Skill Level, Occupation Level, and Sword Arts level. According to Nicholas, it usually starts to stop at around level three, so my grandfather’s teaching method must have been good.

　And compared to a year ago, my HP and MP have increased significantly. I think it is because I am in my growth period, but it is still nice to see them increasing.

　On May 25th, the inside of the mansion was fluttering from the morning.

　It seems that it is because I receive congratulatory words from the representatives of each district, but for me who go to the village quite often, I feel embarrassed.

　After breakfast, my father called me to my grandfather’s room.

　There was my grandfather, my mother, my brother, Walt, Nicholas, and other attendants.

　My grandfather said to me, “You’ve reached a certain age. Let me give you a gift to celebrate.” He pulls a knife out of a desk drawer.

　The knife appears to be an ordinary knife in a plain sheath.

“It was given to me by someone when I was knighted….” (Govan)

　According to my grandfather, it was given to him as a gift from his former lord, the Earl of Roswell, and the blade is a work of art made of mithril.

“This was prepared for me to use to carry my own death when I am ready to die. He gave it to me as a sign of his trust in me. …I carried it with me while I was in his service. I have kept it with me ever since.” (Govan)

　And he holds the knife out to me.

“I am giving it to you. You shall be your own master and live as you wish to live.” (Govan)

　My grandfather gave me this knife as a symbol of my own life and death, a symbol of my freedom.

(A tool to end one’s own life, and you want me to have it? …It’s just like my grandfather, isn’t it? Well, if I want to live in freedom, I should be prepared to make a sacrifice. …But then again, this is the first time I’ve seen mithril.) (Zack)

　I said, “Thank you. I will take good care of it,” and accepted it, bowing deeply.

　I also received a fine quill and a jar of ink from my father and mother, a wooden sword I had used from my brother, and various other items from my squires.

　I try my best to suppress my tears as I smile and thank them.

(I had never received such a thoughtful birthday present before. This alone was worth being born in this house. I can feel that this is truly my home…) (Zack)

　Around 10:00 a.m., representatives from each district come up to Castle Hill with gifts to celebrate.

　This one was more for the Lockhart family than for me personally, and there were many produce, liquor, and small daily necessities.

　Bertram, the blacksmith, came up the hill, out of breath.

　Perhaps he was worried about the eyes of the people in the house, he said in a smaller voice than usual, “I heard you’re five years old. It’s a celebration.”, he then offered me a cup with a copper handle and a copper shot glass about two centimeters in diameter and six or seven centimeters high.

　I almost laughed and said, “Thank you. It’s a little early for me, but I’ll take good care of it,” I said, lightly lifting the shot glass.

　He seemed to have remembered that I had told him that I used to drink from a smaller, slimmer glass when we had talked about scotch earlier.

“You’ll be old enough to drink it soon. I need to make that drink even better.” (Bertram)

　With a sly smile on his face, he said nothing more and immediately returned to his workshop.

　I was wondering if I, who is not the first son, would be celebrated so much, so I asked my mother about it. My mother who is a commoner tilted her head thinking for some time.”

“I don’t know about this, but I heard that in a knight’s family, it is not decided who will inherit the family until the eldest son turns ten years old. Rod is only nine years old. So, there is a possibility that you might take over the house. There is also the matter of sex.” (Tanya)

　When the eldest son turns ten, he is announced as the heir to the family, and until then, there is a good chance that the second and subsequent sons will also become heirs to the family. Sometimes, especially if the eldest son is sickly or lacks martial arts talent, he may not be unveiled as the successor on his tenth birthday.

　However, I was told that this was just an old custom and that it remains only a formality now.

(I have no intention of taking over this house, and my brother is in good health and his swordsmanship skills are high enough compared to others of his age. If my grandfather continues to raise me, I will have enough talent to protect this village. Well, both father and mother are willing to let my brother take over, so it’s much better for me…) (Zack)

　Afterward, I got gift kisses on both cheeks from Mel and Sharon.

　At that moment, my mother, Mel’s mother Polly, and Sharon’s mother Claire started teasing me.

　I was embarrassed and said to myself, “If you three laughed too much, the exertion will start your labor.”

　Dinner was more sumptuous than usual, with poached river fish, similar to char, cooked in oil (in this case, butter) and browned on both sides. The fish was a gift from the villagers, and it seems that Molly had remembered that I had once told her that I liked char, especially Omble Chevalier [T/N: Artic Char], which is best cooked, Poele [T/N: French-style cooking of white meat].

　After dinner, when I returned to my room, Liddy came in.

　She smiled and said, “Good for you. To be so blessed to be kissed by two beautiful women.”

“Yes, it was indeed a rare blessing.” (Zack)

　I say this with a serious face, and her expression turns a little pouty.

　I burst out laughing, and Liddy laughed too.

　After our laughter subsides, she shoves something into my small hand, “Here’s a present,” she says, gesturing with her eyes downcast.

　I opened my hand and there was a silver ring, too big for my finger.

“I thought I’d wait until you were a little older, but I just couldn’t resist. …This is a ring that has been handed down in my family, the Duprés.” (Liddy)

　Liddy explained that when this ring is worn, it reveals the condition of the person who holds the other pair—life or death, serious injury or illness, and so on.

　When I asked her for more details, she told me that it was one of the magical tools that cannot be made today and that it was a fortune in itself.

　While I was in shock, she flashed the ring on her finger and said, “It matches mine,” laughing.

　I say, “Are you sure? It’s important to you, isn’t it?” I say aloud, but my voice was shaky, I was feeling quite anxious.

　Liddy didn’t notice my agitation and continued talking in the same tone.

“I want you to have it. It’s too big for you right now, so I want you to put it around your neck.” (Liddy)

　She slipped a silver chain through the ring and hung it around my neck.

　I just said, “I’ll take good care of it,” and tightened my grip on the ring.

“Even so, isn’t this something that a man gives? You know, a ring?” (Zack)

　I said shyly.

“Well, then I’m looking forward to it.” (Liddy)

“That’s right. I don’t know how many years it will be, but look forward to it. I’ll give one to you.” (Zack)

　At the same time I was talking with Liddy, my brother Rod seemed to be having a hard time.

　The day after his birthday, my father called me into his office.

　There I found my brother with a serious look on his face and my father looking like he was biting a bitter bug.

　I waited for my father to start talking, but he did not open his mouth.

　Impatiently, I asked, “Why was I summoned, Father?” My father finally opened his mouth.

“Rod has decided to pass the reigns of the family to you. He says that you are more talented than he is and that you are better suited to be the head of the Lockhart family.” (Matt)

　My eyes widened at those words. I was carefully structuring the words that will leave my mouth,

“But my brother has a skill in swordsmanship… I know he will be a good lord.” (Zack)

　My brother said in a small voice, “That’s not the truth…”

T/N: Support me by donating on Paypal and Ko-fi or become a Ko-fi Supporter. You can also rate and review the series on Novel Updates. Don’t forget to add it to your reading list! Thank you. 

Support the translator on lazytranslations.com