The Case of Being Reincarnated as a Noble in a World with a Skewed Gender Ratio - 6

Chapter 6: First Time Going Outside

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“El! We’re going to the village today! It’s time to show your face to the villagers!”

“Madam… Even if you say ‘show your face’ to El-sama, I don’t think he understands what you’re talking about…”

“El is smart though. I’m sure he understands, Miinya.”

“….Now that you mention it, indeed. He’s quick to understand… Maybe… He’s a genius?”

Miinya, I’m not a genius, okay? Well, I just somehow can understand the language. I don’t really know why either…

“Anyway, let’s go!”

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Apparently, there was a straight road connecting the mansion to the village. The road was wide enough for one car to pass by. There were fields and paddies on both sides of roads. I could see the mountains. The mountains looked pretty close. This place was really surrounded by nature, reminding me of what the countryside looked like. 

I walked along down the road hand in hand with my mother and Letty.

“Look, look, El! There’s a dragonfly flying over there!”

“Ooooh!”

“Hm. There are a lot of dragonflies.”

Thinking back, it had been a while since I last saw a dragonfly. I couldn’t help but to get excited upon seeing one. 

“Fufu~ El, you’re really adorable!~”

“Hm. Just like what the Madam said. He’s absolutely excellent, to put it mildly.”

Hearing that made me feel embarrassed, and so, to cover my embarrassment, I changed the subject as  brick houses started coming into view.

“Mother, I can see the houses!”

“That’s right. The people that live in those houses grow the rice and vegetables in the fields around here, you know?”

“I see.”

“…El.”

“What’s the matter, Mother?”

“I know I’ve said this all the time, but when you’re with us, I’d love it if you could talk a bit more casually with Mama, you know?”

Right. I heard that my mother was of noble blood, so I thought I should talk politely. That was why I talked like this with her… I guess my way of speaking was a bit too formal for a 3 year old..

“…Okay, Mom.”

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We continued walking while talking and eventually, we reached the heart of the village. It turned out the villagers had already gathered at the square. 

“That’s the Feudal Lord-sama.”

“Feudal Lord-sama.”

“Feudal Lord-sama!”

“And the young child walking behind Feudal Lord-sama is…”

“Maria-sama’s…”

“Indeed… There’s no mistaking it!”

“He’s really a boy..”

“So that’s a boy…”

“He’s only 3 years old, but he already looks so dignified…”

Hmm… I wonder why… For some reason, I feel a bit uneasy… I wonder what this unsettling feeling is…

I thought to myself when the village chief greeted us before addressing the villagers. 

“Everyone… Listen well! Today, our Feudal Lord, Maria-sama, has brought her son, El-sama to introduce him to us! Remember his face well! Hear his voice well! Etch them into your very hearts!!”

“””YES!!”””

This village was pretty solidified. The senses of community among the villagers looked incredibly tight. It was impressive to see how cooperative everyone was. Maybe this was all thanks to my mother’s personality? But for some reason, I still felt a bit uneasy…

“Everyone… Thank you so much for gathering here today for my son!”

“Why, of course, Feudal Lord-sama!”

“It’s all thanks to Maria-sama that this village is safe and sound!”

“Maria-sama! Please, raise your head!”

“Ah, Feudal Lord-sama, your words are too kind…”

“We should be the ones thanking you, Feudal Lord-sama!”

Amazing… My mother was really popular… And this village was safe thanks to her. I felt really proud of my mother.

“Please, watch over my son, since she’s the only male in this region…. I ask for everyone’s cooperation in protecting him!”

“Leave it to us, Feudal Lord-sama!”

“ABSOLUTELY!!”

“The whole village will protect him together!”

I see!!! I finally know why I keep feeling uneasy! It’s because there isn’t a single man out here! Just what is going on… Why are there no other men around? I’ll need to ask Mother about this later….

“This is my son, El! El, come over here.”

“Yes.”

“So that’s him…”

“He’s… He’s only 3 years old, right?”

“He looks really put together…”

“Ah, this village’s safety is guaranteed…”

“He’s the same age as my daughter…”

“Greetings! Just like what my mother has introduced, my name is El! Please take care of me!”

“””El-sama!~”””

“Ooh~ How wonderful~”

“Everyone… We’ll protect him, right?”

“Of course!~”

“Well, duh!”

I felt relieved to know the villagers accepted me with a warm heart. My mother was smiling happily too.

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On our way back home after I was introduced to the villagers…

“Mother..”

“What’s the matter, El?”

“Are there not many men around here?”

“Rather than ‘not much’… It’s more precise to say there are no men in this region that I govern.”

“…Huh?”

“Men are sparse in number in other regions as well…”

No man in this region… And not many men in other regions as well.. Just what was happening here?!

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