1-3. It’s not Earth, either.

One day when the whether is fine, I was placed in a baby basket for an outing.

Since a few days ago, Hegard had been away from home due to some business.

My sister was taking care of me like usual after having lunch when my brother called out to her.

“Mill, come to the room and take Al with you.”

“Eh~ Al looks already sleepy.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Mill headed towards Fern’s room while cradling me in her arms.

Though I just turned a year old, my sister might be having a hard time carrying me.

Even so, my older sister held me in her arms and left for the room in unsure steps – similar to my tottering manner of walking.

Don’t fall down and drop me, alright?

“Mill, can we put Al in this basket?”

Oi, what the h.e.l.l are you saying!

“Hmm, I think he’ll fit, but why? Onii-chan, are we going to sneak out?”

I can certainly fit inside judging from its size, but it’s a little small. To begin with, doesn’t it look like a large shopping basket if you close it? If they put me in, wouldn’t Fern have a hard time carrying me?

“Yep, I thought I’ll show Al to d.i.c.k and Kelly. Because those two never saw a little baby yet.”

“Eh? But Kaa-san didn’t take him outside yet, doesn’t that mean it’s no good?”

Oh? You’re taking me outside? It seems like I can gather even more information.

I’m very glad to hear that.

“Myun said that Al’s neck is already stable, so it’s fine.”

“Is that really okay? If that’s the basket, then it’s too small. But if it’s too big, we can’t carry the basket. We’ll get tired and it will be bad if we dropped it.”

Oh, the older sister appears to be diligently worried about her little brother.

“Hmmm, that’s definitely right. Mill, there’s a basket in the warehouse. How about that?”

If it’s the same to what I’m imagining (similar to the ones used by a peddling obaa-san in the countryside), then it will be enough to fit me in. Perhaps, it will allow me to see the outside scenery if I stand up inside the basket and place my hands on the brim, but can the seven-year-old Fern carry me on his back?

Maybe I should just walk from here on out.

“I can walk,” I said.

“We know you can walk. But Al is still a baby. You’re slow, and you might fall down. It will be bad if you get hurt from falling over, so I’ll carry you.”

Is it because Shal will scold you terribly if I get hurt?

“Onii-chan, I’ll bring the basket. Wait a minute.”

Mill said so, then began to run out of the room.

“Al, I’ll introduce you to everyone today. It’s just perfect that tou-sama is not here, it’s safe if we sneak out quietly.”

It’s strongly prohibited for me to go outside the house, probably because I’m still a baby.

Naturally, my older brother and sister should be the ones to make sure that it’s carried out.

“Un, it’s my first time going outside. I’m happy.”

However, I can walk by myself even if it’s waddling, and I have plenty of knowledge because of my additional 45 years of experience in my previous life. If you look at it from my perspective, even my father is a youngster. The number of times I visit outside is not a big deal.

“Is that so? That’s just great.”

My sister came back while we’re talking about those things. The rattan-knitted backpack basket she’s holding is slightly smaller and more rectangular than the one I imagined being used by an obaa-san. The cover is similar to a grade-school kid’s satchel, and is about three times larger. Sitting in the basket is impossible if it’s like this, but there would be no problem at all if I stand inside while holding onto the brim.

“Alright, shall we go? Let’s go to d.i.c.k’s place first.”

He lifted me and put me inside the basket while saying that.

“Al, hold on to this properly. Don’t let go, okay?”

Mill advised me seriously.

“Then, here I go… Oops! I forgot something.”

My brother, who was just about to go out while accompanied by my sister, placed a sword on his waist.

Although I expected that this might not be the modern era, but a sword is just…

Furthermore, it looks like he’s slightly accustomed to it.

Ah, this perfectly negates my theory on the modern era. Should I settle with time travel?

“Onii-chan, is it fine to bring a sword?”

“Yes, Tou-sama also said we should be prepared to fight anytime.”

Fern adjusts the sword belt while saying so. Can you even use it?

“Besides, I’m doing some sword training after all, and being armed is only natural for a knight.”

Eh? So he’s training? I didn’t know. Also, showing a knight’s mentality even if he’s still seven is amazing. I reviewed my opinion on my older brother. I thought he was just an impertinent brat.

“Training, you say… It’s not even a month since you started doing it, right? It’s not heavy?”

My re-examination of him has come to naught. He’s still a stupid brat after all.

“I can do it. See? It’s fine.”

My brother walked around the room, standing in firm steps without staggering, either.

Oh, maybe there wouldn’t be a problem if it’s like this.

“Al’s face is completely displayed. Won’t he be discovered?”

Mill looked slightly worried as she said that.

“Hmmm, okay, get the sickle and a cloth or straw mat.”

Ah, it seems like I’ll be covered up.

They used the straw mat as cover just as I predicted. The sickle was placed on the gap between the basket and the straw mat.

“Al, hold on to the handle of the sickle. Then, let’s go.”

The sightseeing will be postponed for the time being, huh?

I held onto the sickle’s handle while crouching down so my head won’t be seen from outside the basket. And the top is being covered by the straw mat. It looks like we’re outside the house. Someone immediately called out.

“My, my, Young Master Fern. Where could you be going?”

It’s the middle-aged man named Bogus, whose voice I hear occasionally. I’m guessing he is Father’s subordinate from the way he speaks.

“Hey, Bogus. I’m just going to the riverbank to harvest reed. Mill will also do the same.”

“Is that so? Be careful and have a nice day.”

If I say so myself, an adult talking politely to a brat like him is unnatural in any way – even if he happened to be the lord’s son. Likewise, it’s not normal for a kid to not get worked up and answer calmly instead, either. But this is based on a one-year old’s observation regarding what’s “normal”.

In particular, it seems like we were able to leave the grounds of our house without problems.

Several minutes later, my brother said “you can remove the mat now,” and my sister did so. I stood up in the basket after gripping the basket’s edge tightly, then looked around.

Ooh, it’s the scene of a s.h.i.+tty countryside as expected. The building about 200 meters tall I can see ahead might be my house. (My view is the opposite of our traveling direction since I’m being carried by Fern on his back.) There are three small buildings in addition to the main one, enclosed with wooden fence. As for the season, (It’s probably February now.) it’s slightly chilly, but the sky is clear blue.

The path we are treading down extends straight from the house. Both roadsides are clear from trees, seeming to be some kind of field where the ridges are neatly lined up. It must have been plowed properly.

I felt somewhat sick after a few minutes of looking around, maybe because I am being shaken a lot or because I am looking behind me.

I informed my brother that I am going to face ahead and managed to turned around inside the basket, such that I am looking at the direction we’re travelling. Currently, I had my hands placed on Fern’s shoulder. Across the river, I saw a house to our left when we moved on after a while.

The door of the house is open. There are four children in gathered near the house. Everyone looked younger than my older brother. More like, they’re the same age as my older sister Mill or just slightly younger than her.

“Hey, d.i.c.k. I’ll introduce you. This is Alein. Isn’t he cute?”

It’s a new information I learned for the first time. Is my full name Alein? So that is why my nickname is Al. If that’s the case, Fern and Mill probably have their own proper names, too.

My brother called out, and an older kid rushed over just as I was being taken down.

“Eeeh?! Fern-sama! You brought him along!?”

I looked at the boy who seems to be d.i.c.k, running up to us while grinning. Though I almost fell back in surprise when he raised his voice. While I watched the kid with big, round eyes, the three other children came over just behind d.i.c.k.

What made me fall back in surprise are the children’s hair color. Light yellow-green, light blue, pink and dark blue. Everybody had completely dyed hair. From the distance, I thought they are wearing hats due to the a.s.sorted colors. No one in my family has dyed hair and this period (I don’t want to admit, but it looks like I really time-traveled.) is probably from 12th~16th century, I a.s.sumed there would be no technology of hair dyeing. From what I am currently seeing, hair-dyeing seems to be common so it probably doesn’t cost so much. Even these kids who don’t belong to this poor village’s workforce can have dyed hair, too.

“He’s still a baby! So cute… wait, this kid has black hair! Did you dye it, Fern-sama?

Right, hair-dyeing is common just as I expected.

I wasn’t surprised when my hair color was pointed out since I already knew it from the strands that got caught in the comb, but is it typical to dye a baby’s hair in this world?

“Al’s black hair is natural. Even his eye color is black, see?”(Mill)

Oh, are my eyes also black?

Even though I especially want to have green or blue eyes…

But Mill said that proudly for some reason.

“It’s true, his eyes are also black!”

“How unusual~”

All the children got excited because of my hair and eye color.

My eyes are black because I’m not dead.

Do you not understand that idiom?

‘While my eyes are black’, that’s a j.a.panese idiom.

“h.e.l.lo. I’m Al. Nice to meet you.”

Let’s say h.e.l.lo first. Greetings are one step to communication, I also want to make a good impression.

“Uwaaa! He talked!”

“Eh? He can already talk even though he’s still this small?”

The children were surprised when I replied with a greeting, everyone of them had their mouths opened widely while looking me.

“Yes, Al can already talk. He can walk, too, but he’s not good at it since he’s still young.”

Mill boasted again, seemingly proud of her little brother.

“Well, he’s still a baby as you can see, so he’s not allowed to go out. But today, I especially showed my little brother to you guys. That’s why we’ll just hang out with you for a while and that’s that. Then, let’s go.”

Fern carried the basket up again while saying so. He turned to the right after walking a little. They walked without rest for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, we pa.s.sed by several houses. Fern and Mill said h.e.l.lo properly and introduced me briefly to those we met on the way. Likewise, they asked if my hair was dyed. Then, a lone house came into view ahead of us. It seems like the area beyond it is already the forest.

Fern opened the door after reaching in front of house and then called out, “Kelly, are you here?”

Oi, oi. Is it alright to enter other people’s houses without permission?

An answer came back immediately, and a kid approached.

I was so surprised that I almost shouted. How do I say this, it’s how the kid’s ear is attached. It’s atop her head.

“What is it, Fern-sama?”

When Kelly asked, Fern introduced me like a while ago. After the exchanges regarding my hair color in the same manner as before, Fern said something.

“Kelly, the sun is still high. Why don’t we have some sword training?”

Ohh, you’re going to train? I want to watch.

“Alright, Fern-sama. Our house’s training ground is still some ways ahead, is that fine?”

“Is it close? Then it’s fine.”

I got carried again in the basket, it looks like I’m going, too. So I can watch the training. It seems interesting so I’m grateful.

After walking several minutes further along the road from the house, we arrived at a place where there’s an open s.p.a.ce approximately 10m in radius, the gra.s.s in it trimmed. Apparently, this is the training area. Fern dropped me by the roadside and immediately drew his sword.

Eh? You’re going to do it seriously? I thought, but it appears to be just practice-swinging. Kelly has a wooden sword. By the way, should I now ask the question I’ve been wondering about? I asked Mill while watching the training.

“Nee-sama, why do Kelly have animal ears on her head?”

“Ah, it’s because Kelly belongs to the Werewolf tribe.”

Haa? Lupine tribe? What’s that? Did she mean werewolves?

“Eh? What’s the Werewolf tribe?”

“Kelly’s parents are both Werewolves. That’s why Kelly is also a Werewolf.”

How do I say this — it’s just common sense.

“I see, werewolves huh?”

I replied as if I understood it properly. — Wait, eeeeh!? A tail sprang up… There’s even a tail, really? I understood it from how her ears are atop her head. I also get that she has a tail. But, do hairs grow in her body aside from her ears and tail? I wanted to ask, but I thought that there would be plenty of opportunities again so I endured it.

But I never heard Fern or Mill mention about the Werewolf tribe before. Or rather, aren’t werewolves not human? Their appearance is not much different from a human. In the distance, the ears are not that noticeable if you are not paying attention, and it’s impossible to even see the tail once it’s hidden. Does it feel really tight inside their underwear and does it feel unpleasant to have their tails tucked in?

As I watched Fern and Kelly swing their swords endlessly while thinking about things like that, I became a little tired.

I felt sleepy after fifteen minutes.

Mill is knitting stems of some plant, probably intending to make a crown or something.

At that time, Fern was doing some practice swings in the vacant lot that he named as training hall when something jumped in. What? As soon as I thought of that, I saw a figure of a person. It is about the same height as Fern… wait, it’s not human!

It has green skin and something like an old rag wound around its waist. It is bald and has sharp-looking eyes. It also has pointed-ears and tusks above the chin, protruding from its lips a little. The build is similar to a human, but it has low stature and is somewhat adult-like. It is holding a long stick about one meter in length, similar to a spear. It doesn’t look like a usual spear, either. The spearhead is rusty.

“Go-goblin!”

Kelly cried out.

Whaaat? What did she say!? Goblin? No waaaaay!

But comparing to “goblins” in fantasy movies and games, it is indeed a goblin. I can only see it as goblin. At the same time, I’m confused. Is this place not Earth, either?

“Kelly, get back! Mill, protect Al with the sickle! This guy is mine!”

Eh? Fern, are you really going to fight the goblin? You’re 7 years old, you know? No matter how small it is, isn’t the opponent a monster? That’s impossible. In the first place, you only do practice swings right?

“Got it, Onii-chan. Kelly, call someone to come here!”

Haaa? Mill, you’e not going to say say anything? This is where we run away. Please use common sense. A child fighting a monster is incomprehensible. It’s my first time seeing a goblin including my previous life. I raised a yell, which I can’t identify whether out of excitement or confusion, while observing it continuously with interested eyes. Rather, it’s only natural for normal humans.

“Nee-sama, throw stones to cover Nii-sama! I will get the sickle!”

“Eh? Alright. Nii-chan, I’ll throw stones. Give me openings, please!”

Mill crouched down as she said that, picking up stones.

The goblin charged at Fern while positioning the spear. Fern deflected the spear with the sword and retaliated by slas.h.i.+ng it with the katana. Ooh, Fern is so cool.

“Ryaaa!”

Goin!

With all his might, Fern run the sword into its palm. Cleaving the palm of the goblin, he once again pulled out the sword and aimed for the goblin’s foot.

“Giiii!” (Goblin)

He successfully slashed at the goblin’s left foot as well. I can see the sword partly dig into its left leg. It seems like he can do it this time.

“Yaa!” (Mill)

Mill threw stones at it, but they did not hit. Use the sickle now!

“Nee-sama, aim at the neck with this!!” (Al)

I lifted the sickle as soon as I shouted that but, it’s so heavy! Is it because I am still a one year old that I don’t have much physical strength?

“Got it!” (Mill)

Mill s.n.a.t.c.hed the sickle from me and ran off to the goblin.

“Yaaa!” (Mill)

Zusha! The sickle hit the goblin’s neck, but probably because it’s a five-years old child unused to handling the weapon, the blade doesn’t cut into it. As if it was mostly hit with the handle instead. However, it was enough to destroy the posture of the goblin, covered with wounds all over. Fern was able to pull out the sword lodged in.

“Raaaaa!” (Fern)

Fern aimed the sword at the goblin’s torso and attacked.

“Guuuh!” (Goblin)

The goblin’s movement remarkably became sluggish when the sword pierced its torso, and collapsed soon after.

Great, they defeated the goblin! A seven-year-old kid and a five-year-old kid defeated the goblin!

“Mill! Finish it!” (Fern)

When Fern screamed that, Mill already started beating the goblin’s head senselessly. It groaned every time it was. .h.i.t. Meanwhile, Fern pulled out the sword from the fallen goblin’s torso and stabbed it in once again.

The goblin quavered for a moment, and did not move since then.