Vol 1 Chapter 1 – Childhood: The Summer at Age Five

The Line Mie Empire was an old power in the northern part of the western central continent—a monarchy boasting a vast territory.

An imperial family with three extensive domains selected the emperor by mutual election in collaboration with an electoral princely family that held the right of election. This method secured stable governance, and with 500 years of accumulated history, the empire remained an unshakable great power. In the south of the country—where a national custom of accepting humans, demons, and demi-humans alike spurred flexible development—the Heidelberg administrative district existed.

This territory, belonging to the cool climate of the south, mainly produced grapes for winemaking. Olive cultivation was also thriving, making it one of the empire’s most important regions for vegetable oil production.

On several manors governed by the Königsstuhl Fortress—which safeguarded the western part of this important yet commonplace land—one ordinary peasant farming couple was troubled by a particular concern.

The husband’s name was Johannes and the wife’s name was Hannah. In the empire, they were an utterly ordinary human couple, exemplary peasant farmers who worshipped the God of Fertility. They were merely a mid-sized peasant farming family—primarily producing rye and operating a single olive orchard—and one could find hundreds or even thousands of similar households throughout the empire.

What especially troubled the couple was their fourth son, Erich, who was about to turn six.

It wasn’t that he was a troublesome child beyond hope or utterly lacking in intelligence. On the contrary, he was a well-behaved son.

He obediently followed instructions, never engaging in the foolish antics typical of young children, and even at Sunday Mass he would recite the sacred verses in a slightly lisping manner without fuss. He was a son who would never cause embarrassment in front of anyone.

The couple’s worry was not about his performance.

Rather, for a fourth son, he was simply too capable.

They had four sons and one daughter; the eldest son was eight years old this year, and the twin second and third sons—born a year apart—were seven. The fourth son, Erich, who was born a little later, was now five, and it was at this point that the couple began to worry.

The dilemma was whom to send to the private academy organized by the district magistrate.

In the relatively affluent citizenry of the Mie Empire, even farmers were encouraged to be literate. As a peasant farmer seeking to impress the district magistrate or local lord, it was only natural to speak the court language—a refined derivative of the imperial language that employed precise enunciation, specialized expressions, and irregular grammar—as well as to compose poetry and play one or two musical instruments.

Thus, it was customary for peasant farmers to invest heavily in tuition to send their eldest son to the district magistrate’s private academy.

Even impoverished farmers would sometimes send their eldest son to secure a prosperous future, and families with means might even send a second son as a backup heir or in preparation for establishing a branch family. Therefore, it was entirely natural for the couple to send one of their sons to the private academy.

However, the problem was: whom should they send?

Johannes had only just been granted permission by the district magistrate to expand his farmland, and he had even purchased a draft horse in preparation—leaving little in the way of savings. To preserve funds for emergencies, their financial situation dictated that they should only send one child.

Under normal circumstances, they would have sent the eldest son without hesitation. Among a species with a relatively short lifespan like humans, a patriarchal system is common, and primogeniture is so widespread that it is even “principled” under imperial law.

However, the fourth son was so exceptional that he overshadowed the eldest.

Normally, if children are born three years apart, there tends to be a significant difference in ability. This is only natural, given the additional physical development and the gap in experience.

Yet between the eldest, Heinz, and the fourth son, Erich, there was a difference that could not be ignored.

While Heinz’s recitations of the sacred verses extolling the Creator and the hymns of gratitude dedicated to the God of Fertility were still dubious, Erich’s recitations—even with his typical youthful lisp—were flawless. Moreover, he had even memorized the more complex ancient language found in the hymns—a feat that earned high praise from the cathedral’s bishop.

Furthermore, whereas Heinz struggled even to fashion the hame of the draft horse, Erich’s nimble fingers were remarkably adept. If he desired something and was given a small knife, he could carve a sacred statue on the same day, and just last month, he had even managed to prepare an entire set of board game pieces by imitating what he had seen.

Moreover, Erich’s mind was sharper. When given several tasks, he would instantly deduce that it was more efficient to handle them collectively, and he never neglected even the smallest details—ensuring that each task was completed reliably.

In contrast, Heinz was prone to laziness and carelessness in almost everything. For instance, he would be so indifferent as to spill water all over the feed box when he was supposed to be feeding the draft horse.

It was evident, without needing much deliberation, whose prospects were brighter.

However, while primogeniture is not an absolute rule, it carries significant weight. Choosing a fourth son over the eldest—even over the second—would undoubtedly present numerous challenges for the family.

Moreover, as parents, they had to consider the feelings of the eldest, who had already set his sights on it, as well as those of the second and third sons, who would be surpassed by the fourth.

And so, once again today, the two wise parents found themselves troubled by the rapidly approaching enrollment deadline for the private academy…………

【Tips】Human Race: A species of humans distributed throughout the entire continent. Although the gap between the exceptionally talented and the utterly incapable is dramatic—so much so that they are sometimes called the species of wisdom and folly—they are by no means inferior when it comes to cruelty.

Building your foundation is important—more important than anything. This is because, in many cases, the actual number derived from bonuses speaks louder than the mere count of dice.

In TRPGs, I was what you might call a “fixed value” believer.

Well, it’s just that my luck was, well, lacking.

When playing as a player character, the expected value of rolling two six-sided dice (2D6) is a five, and in just one session, with a single roll, I could rack up as many as 250 experience points with my unbelievably crappy dice results.

On the other hand, when assuming the role of GM or Keeper, the expected value was a solid nine. In the pursuit of an ideal build, it was only natural to favor aspects that could even overcome slight misfortune. The divine ability of having a +1 hit bonus from Lord Meis was truly reassuring.

Of course, there was always the power play of overwhelming luck with an abundance of dice, but even within such systems, defeating foes with a fixed critical hit value was more effective. It can’t be helped.

That is why, without forcing things, I dedicated myself to improving my basic stats ever since my consciousness began to emerge.

The physical stats I dealt with were: 《Physical Strength》, 《Endurance》, 《Immunity》, 《Stamina》, 《Agility》, 《Dexterity》, 《Intellect》, 《Memory》, 《Magic Capacity》, and 《Instantaneous Magic Power》—a total of ten. These interrelated stats fed into a system that calculated an actual numerical value. The exact meaning of the two rather fantastical elements remains a mystery, however.

For now, perhaps as a backlash from my clumsiness in a previous life, I focused on improving my dexterity, and even my memory—which I was already somewhat confident in—was being enhanced further. After all, having nimble fingers and a good memory never comes with a downside.

The stat labeled “Intellect” was somewhat difficult to grasp intuitively, but it essentially referred to the speed and rationality of one’s thinking. Tinkering with it was a bit intimidating, but after allocating a few points as an experiment and confirming that it didn’t cause any disturbances in my self-awareness, I had no hesitation in further investing in it.

As a result, I transformed from a miserable five-year-old child harboring a thirty-year-old’s mentality into something of a wunderkind. After all, anyone can act like a prodigy if they possess the rationality of a 30-year-old, but when you add an extra boost, it becomes truly astounding.

In my previous life, I had experienced an ordinary childhood. Nevertheless, these days, I have come to be regarded as a bit of a prodigy in my neighborhood.

However, this was not done in order to satisfy some trivial sense of self-esteem.

Now, while I take pride in being a “fixed value” adherent and an efficiency-oriented data maniac, I consider my greatest trait to be that of an “idealist, a lover of romantic builds.”

In other words, while growth rate is not entirely unimportant, I place the utmost value on the ideal form one reaches upon completion.

In TRPGs, you can endlessly accumulate experience points, but there is, after all, an ultimate “finished form” or destination. Whether it’s the moment you reach Lv15 or an experience point build of 200, I believe there’s a certain beauty in the culmination of your efforts.

The beauty of characters who, in one strike, unleash overwhelming damage—hundreds of points that bypass defense reduction—across an entire scene, and who mitigate dozens of points from every physical or magical attack within their sight, combined with a GM’s exasperated “Just tone it down a bit!” expression, is, to me, the ultimate work of art.

That is precisely why I consider now to be the foundational phase, intended for future completion—both in terms of stats and in social aspects.

Physical stats are assigned an evaluation value, calculated based on the average for that species. The annotations on the stats stated that once a stat reached a value befitting its evaluation, its rating would change.

The evaluation for basic physical attributes began at 《Weak》, then, after surpassing 《Poor》 and 《Feeble》, eventually reached 《Average》, then climbed through 《Good》, 《Very Good》, and 《Excellent》, culminating in 《Best》, and finally, there existed the ultimate limit of 《Prodigy》.

Judging by the terminology, it likely referred to the pinnacle that could only be attained through being truly beloved by the gods.

Reaching that level would undoubtedly require a mastery so profound it could kill you. For now, my initial goal was to raise all my stats to 《Good》.

The road beyond the provisional goal is long—and just looking at the numbers needed to reach the summit makes my eyes spin. But I’m known as a data maniac—a weirdo who can even slay gods, provided the data exists. Finding bizarre skills and exploiting them for mischief is second nature to me.

I casually scanned the cylindrical skill tree and fixed my eyes on the 《Prodigy》 trait in its basic category.

Its effect was simple: a limited-time growth bonus that made skill mastery increase more easily while one was still a child.

It was a skill destined to expire eventually, but realizing that having it or not would create a huge gap in the total skill points earned over a lifetime, I immediately pumped every bit of skill I’d amassed into it.

Needless to say, as a rare trait it took weeks’ worth of skill points—earned through daily sculpting practice and helping out around the house—to finally acquire, but its effect delivered exactly the marvelous results I’d expected.

Within six months, my woodworking sculpture skill had advanced from 《Hand Practice》 past 《Novice》 and reached 《Basic》, with 《Skilled》 just on the horizon. Above that were 《Proficient》, 《Seasoned》, 《Masterful》, then 《Expert》, and finally the top tier 《Divine Domain》—which, for a craftsman, would be almost mid-career level.

This rapid pace of acquisition was all thanks to 《Prodigy》. Judging by the rate of skill point gain before acquiring it, without 《Prodigy》 I’d have barely reached 《Basic》.

Both stats and skills require exponentially higher amounts of skill points as their rank increases—the numbers demanded are downright outrageous. It became clear why 《Prodigy》 might be downgraded to a mere genius or even an ordinary talent.

Hold on—a key goal, as mentioned earlier, is to efficiently earn skill points through 《Prodigy》 while steadily lifting my abilities above average and building on my strengths.

I’d even like to reach 《Favored Child》 at least once… though that remains more of an aspirational target.

After all, the numbers involved are absolutely bonkers. The gap between 《Best》 or 《Expert》 and 《Favored Child》 or 《Divine Domain》 spans two orders of magnitude. Even the cumulative totals that can be dragged from 《Poor》 to 《Good》 don’t even come close—they’re reminiscent of the grind loops or endgame challenges found in mobile games.

For now, I’ll just keep an eye on how much I can eventually earn and decide accordingly.

Furthermore, aside from efficiently racking up skill points, I’m convinced that social credibility is the next most important factor.

It’s nothing to scoff at. In the future, when I want to accomplish something, it’s always best to be in an environment where people are ready to cut you some slack with a “Well, if it’s you…” attitude.

Whether it comes from my parents or the cathedral priests…

“Erich, what are you doing?”

The same goes for siblings.

“Ah, onii-chan.”

The boy who called out to me while I was sitting beside the barn on a pile of firewood was my older brother, Heinz. He is a big, robust guy with chestnut hair and rugged features like our father, but lately, being compared to me has left him a bit sulky.

I was once the youngest too—and still am the youngest boy—so I can’t fully understand him, but I do feel some sympathy.

When you’re a child, your parents build almost your entire world. Naturally, it stings when they favor your younger sibling—or whoever they think deserves protection more—over you. I can well imagine the painful spiral of trying to grab attention by acting irresponsibly, only to end up lowering one’s evaluation even further.

That’s why I rely on my thirty-something, matured perspective and my genuine care for my older brother to keep things in harmony.

“I made this.”

“Oh…!?”

What I handed to my brother was a child-sized wooden sword crafted from firewood and its offcuts. Shaped with a small knife and a file normally used to grind horseshoes, it took the form of a Western-style straight sword that would spark the imagination of any child—one that a green knight might carry.

Though the tip of the sword was somewhat exaggeratedly large, my five-year-old heart was screaming, “This is so cool!” so it wasn’t a problem.

“I’m giving it to you, onii-chan!”

“Eh!?”

Noticing the mischievous look in my brother’s eyes as he considered the wooden sword, I grinned and offered him my creation. I hadn’t made it for my own play; I made it for Heinz, who had recently watched another kid swinging one around with envy.

“Is it… okay?”

“Yeah, it’s a token of my thanks, onii-chan!”

“A token of thanks?” My brother tilted his head in confusion, and I began listing every favor I could think of—like eating the tomatoes he hates (which, strangely enough, are already sold as food in this world) and helping him with the arduous task of drawing water from the well because he hasn’t built much strength. I only meant to show him who’s boss, but when you live together, you think of plenty of ways to be helpful.

“So, thanks, onii-chan!”

As I smiled at my brother, expressing my gratitude, looked momentarily stunned before returning a bashful smile.

Surely, inside he must have been swirling with all sorts of emotions—childish jealousy, regret over his violent impulses, and more. If, among those, a fondness for me began to bloom, I couldn’t be happier.

“So, how is it?! Cool enough?!”

“Yeah, it’s cool!”

As I complimented my brother for gripping the hilt of what appeared to be a sword, I felt an unparalleled happiness at how delighted he was with my creation.

Regardless of my past life, he is my family. How could I not be overjoyed by his happiness?

Only those who have never truly been children would dare throw stones at him…

【Tips】There are many time-limited traits. 《Prodigy》 and its subordinate skills—like early maturity, which benefits the talented and the genius from childhood through adolescence—can even include bonuses for dazzling youth and beauty.

◆　◇　◆

The expectation value of 2D6 is 7, but I firmly believe that, depending on one’s luck, it is a fluctuating market.

2019/1/22 Revised title

2019/1/26 Typo corrections (thanks to caskaz)

・Dice [Dice]
Since ancient times, dice have been a familiar tool to humanity for gambling. They are one of the essential items that ensure the random elements in TRPGs played by people. While six-sided dice are most common, different systems call for different dice—eight-sided, ten-sided, twelve-sided, twenty-sided, even 100-sided dice, and, in some cases, four-sided tetrahedral dice that can cause disasters if lost.

・Fixed Value
This is the real number used in determining outcomes that does not include the dice roll. In TRPGs, judgments are typically calculated by adding the character’s inherent ability and the dice roll (with exceptions like “Pinzoro” or “Rokuzoro”). For example, if a character with a strength of 5 attempts to push an object against a target value of 12, they must roll two six-sided dice and achieve a total of 7 or more. If the fixed value is 6 or 7, the required dice result is lower, making success easier. Unlucky Erich, for instance, was determined to increase his fixed value.

・Expectation Value
This is the number you “should” get when rolling dice. For details, refer to a high school math textbook. In rough terms, think of it as about half the sum of the numbers on the dice’s faces. For 2D6, it is 7—the most common outcome. Therefore, many action difficulties are calculated using this as a base. However, probability only “converges over an infinite number of trials,” and there are always those with unfortunate luck.

・2D6
This abbreviation indicates the number and type of dice used. “D” stands for dice, “2” indicates the number of dice, and “6” specifies six-sided dice. The notation “xDx” is used to shorten and clarify the numbers. In casual speech, it is often pronounced simply as “two D six” or even “two D ten.”

・PL [Player]
Here, “player” refers to the human controlling the character. Since every character essentially has the same inner workings, there is even a meta-concept known as “PL meta.”

・Session
A single episode of a TRPG. Literally meaning “gathering,” it refers to the event where everyone comes together to play and progress the game.

・Experience Points
These are the points you accumulate to strengthen your character—commonly known as experience.

・GM [Game Master] / Keeper
The person who runs the game for the players: crafting the scenario, preparing the enemies, and acting as the final boss. Although “Game Master” is the most common title, some systems use “Keeper” or “Ruler,” among others. The title used often reveals which game is being played.

・Lord Meis
In a certain TRPG, this divine artifact grants a +1 bonus to hit. Although its damage efficiency is lower, the fact that “if you miss, you do 0 damage” and that rounds are heavy in TRPGs make landing attacks extremely important. As a result, some players with thin luck revere it. In one section, it is even referred to as the fourth sword—or rather, the first blunt weapon.

・Critical
A devastating or perfectly executed blow—akin to a “critical hit” in some console games—essentially an absolute success. For 2D6, this means rolling double sixes; for 1D100, a result between 01 and 05; for 1D20, a 20, etc. When this rare event occurs (with few exceptions), the action is an automatic success. In attack judgments, it signifies that an extremely powerful strike has hit; for example, some games allow you to “roll again” for additional damage dice if a 2D6 roll totals 10 or more, lowering the threshold for repeated, brutal attacks.

・Fumble
The epitome of misfortune—a guaranteed failure regardless of the fixed value, as opposed to a critical. In attacks, it means a complete miss; when walking, it might result in stumbling into a manhole; when reading, it could cause one’s brain to figuratively explode, with ideas dripping out. For 2D6, a fumble is a roll of double ones (Pinzoro); for 1D100, a result between 95 and 100; for D20, a 1. Some games force a roll on a fumble table—a list of incredibly unlucky events—which may result in damage or, in severe cases, even alter relationships with other PCs. If the GM is forced into yandere or overly dramatic scenarios among close characters, it can derail the game’s progression.

・Romantic Build
A term with many meanings, generally referring to a build that may not be the absolute strongest but is cool, or one whose unconventional actions eventually make it very powerful, or one that requires an enormous amount of experience points yet becomes formidable upon completion. TRPGs are role-playing games, and it’s natural to aspire to a cool fighting style or role-play; this represents the pursuit of that idealized, romantic way of living.