Ch.5Prologue (5)

After properly understanding the scale of the Alzar Barony, I spent my time focusing on learning about the world, having finally gained a good teacher in the form of the library’s mage-librarian.

Given that I had recently experienced firsthand the problems and limitations arising from my lack of knowledge and common sense, I figured that even if I wanted to think about the future, filling these knowledge gaps had to be my priority.

And the results of my efforts were extremely encouraging.

‘Hmm…’

I had reached a level where I wouldn’t be troubled by a lack of common sense in most fields I could think of, and simultaneously, I was able to acquire knowledge not available in books by asking the mage-librarian.

For example, knowledge related to ‘magical power’—the foundation of the ruling class’s authority in this world—which isn’t readily described in books.

“Young master, I’m not sure if you’ll understand, but since you asked, I’ll explain. Magical power is the force that manifests the mind of a soul-bearing living being into a material form.”

“The mind? Material? So… although I don’t know how, if I want to breathe fire from my hands while using magical power…”

“Yes, that’s precisely what magic is. You’re quite perceptive, young master.”

“I don’t really understand what you’re saying…”

I had to feign ignorance since a mere 4-year-old understanding such intricate and complex principles would arouse suspicion, but nevertheless, I was able to grasp the general mechanism of how this special energy called magical power worked.

A power and energy that manifests non-material things like thoughts and emotions into material form. If I had to make an analogy, magical power is the energy, and what the librarian often refers to as ‘magical aptitude’ must be the processing device that uses that energy.

For now, I don’t know anything precisely, so I can only imagine it through vague images, but even being able to understand these vague concepts was enough to make me happy.

Anyway, while I was happily spending my days engrossed in studying…

No matter how interesting it was to study this world—like reading a fantasy world setting guide—once it became actual studying, the enjoyment inevitably diminished.

And at the same time, as I approached about a month since recovering my past life’s memories, I began to feel an unfamiliar emotion.

‘…I feel suffocated!’

That is, the stifling feeling of being confined within this castle for almost my entire life.

To be fair, there was a garden resembling an inner courtyard within the castle, so I hadn’t spent my entire life indoors, and I occasionally went up to the castle walls to look outside, so I wasn’t completely confined indoors.

But that didn’t alleviate this suffocating feeling at all. To be honest, I constantly wanted to go outside and experience the world directly, no matter what.

Of course, I had no intention of doing something reckless like hiding in someone’s luggage to sneak out.

My well-being wasn’t just my personal concern but an issue for the entire domain where I served as heir, and if I were to go outside and get kidnapped, the consequences would be unmanageable.

Therefore, the approach I chose was a direct confrontation. Rather than wasting time beating around the bush, I decided to go straight to my father and make a direct request…

“Very well, let’s go out together. You must have felt confined all this time, so it’s understandable that you’d feel restless.”

“Wow, really?!”

The response I received was, surprisingly, a family outing.

※ ※ ※

After my father decided on an outing, the situation changed with remarkable speed.

“Head steward, please prepare for our departure.”

“Is this an official tour, my lord? Then I should notify the destination and send official documents…”

“No, no. I’m just taking Camille to look around the bustling district for a while.”

“I see. I’ll arrange everything according to your instructions, taking the utmost care.”

“Yes, I’m counting on you.”

My father, who understood better than anyone what would happen if the highest ruler of the domain went on an official tour, gave such orders, and soon after, the baron’s castle completed all preparations for the outing.

Father changed from his usual colorful attire to something similar in design but more subdued in color, and my situation wasn’t much different.

Additionally, the two knights who usually guarded the entrance to father’s office—who I could sense possessed terrifying power—changed into outfits resembling ordinary soldiers and accompanied us as escorts.

Thus, disguised as moderately wealthy merchants, we completed our preparations and finally left the castle.

Anyone who noticed that the escorts were actually formal knights would recognize that we weren’t ordinary people and wouldn’t approach carelessly, and even those who knew my father’s face would likely understand the situation if they saw us moving so discreetly.

Thanks to this, hardly anyone recognized our identities as we secretly exited through the castle’s back door and made our way to the bustling district…

“Here we are.”

“Wooooow…”

The bustling district of the Alzar Barony’s capital city that we arrived at closely resembled the medieval fantasy city I had vaguely imagined.

Carriages traveled on roads well-paved with processed stone, while people in various attire and even non-human races walked alongside them.

The quaintly built houses honestly resembled architecture from the Renaissance or early modern period rather than medieval times, and various shops occupied the first floors of the buildings.

As I stood there, unable to close my mouth at the sight of such vibrant scenery, I could vaguely sense my father’s pleased gaze on me.

Thanks to this, I felt one corner of my heart filling with satisfaction and joy, and as I was about to say something to father to get a closer look at the bustling district…

‘…Hmm?’

Suddenly feeling something tingling from the square located beyond the central avenue of the bustling district, I asked my father about it.

“Father, what’s over there in that square?”

“The square… Ah.”

I had simply asked out of curiosity, but my father seemed to interpret it differently, as if he knew something.

“…Sir Basque, will it be alright?”

“There shouldn’t be any immediate problems. …Ah, are you referring to ‘that’ scheduled in the central square today?”

“Yes. I’m afraid… it might be somewhat shocking for a child to see.”

“…Ah, I suppose so. We might not even blink at the sight, but it could be shocking for someone seeing it for the first time.”

“Indeed, that’s true.”

The conversation between my father and the knight referred to as Sir Basque both piqued my curiosity and sent a chill down my spine.

What could possibly be happening there to elicit such a cold response?

In a world where corporal punishment was considered a virtue, for them to specifically say “it’s not good for a child to see”—it didn’t sound educationally beneficial at all…

[The burning of heretics will begin shortly! Those who wish to witness it, please gather at the central square!]

‘…Ah.’

The announcement made by someone who appeared to be an official, with a voice seemingly amplified by magic, was enough to immediately resolve my question.

Burning at the stake… A horrific execution method where people are burned to death. Indeed, that didn’t seem good for the mental health of not just children but adults as well.

The sight of a person burning in agony before your eyes would undoubtedly be beyond terrible, and truthfully, I had almost no desire to witness such a scene with my own eyes.

But contrary to my wishes, the conversation between my father and Sir Basque was taking a strange turn.

“Baron, though it may be overstepping my bounds… if the young master is to become a lord someday, it might be better for him to witness the execution of heretics at a young age.”

“…To serve as an example?”

“Yes. I apologize to the young master, but to prevent him from straying onto the path of heresy…”

“Sir Basque, that’s enough loyal counsel for now. …Indeed, we can’t raise him with gentleness alone in this situation.”

Their conversation was conducted very quietly and in whispers, but my super-intuition… my enhanced senses captured this information and fed it directly into my mind.

Of course, I had absolutely no desire to see the horrific sight of a person burning to death, but then again, how can anyone live doing only what they want to do?

Moreover, in an era and world where it wasn’t uncommon to find abusive parents who beat their children just because they were in a bad mood, going beyond mere discipline, I couldn’t even think of defying my father when he was being so considerate…

“…Father, I want to go see it.”

“Alright, I understand. …Let’s move, Sir Basque.”

“Yes!”

And so, I found myself reluctantly participating in a campfire where heretics would be burned alive.