It's been two years so far, and I've learned quite a lot, some good, some bad. I can already understand what everyone's saying.
At first, I fully expected it to be Russian, but it's not.
The language spoken here is called Zhuva Luth, the native tongue of this world. From what I've gathered, a Russian man must've been sent here long ago, though he never managed to fully implant Russian culture.
But one thing bothers me: if that Russian man was also reincarnated, are there others like him? And more importantly… were they all sent by Somber Man?
I have seniors.
So, I'm not that special after all.
The maidservant, on top of handling every household chore, spends her free time lecturing me, teaching me the language and preparing me for formal academics.
She nourishes me not only with food but also with wisdom each day, and I attentively absorb everything this remarkable woman shares.
"Arsen, you are such a good boy," Yuri says softly as she tutors me at the table.
Good boy, she says? Yes—I'm a good boy!
"I'll always do my best, Yuri!" I reply in my cutesy two-year-old voice.
"Glad to hear it. Let's keep going," she answers gently, opening the textbooks for our next lesson.
I've spent this stage of my new life learning from Yuri about the Sorcerer Kingdom, this land within the world of Euthanasia, the place where I was born.
The name itself intrigued me. Euthanasia.
Why was it called that? Mercy killing…
While Mother works hard to provide for us on her twenty-thousand Krevna Solins salary—five thousand for rent, two thousand for the maidservant, and the rest for food and other necessities, while I remain here, studying and learning everything I could, as I fully intend to abuse my advantage of being young again.
Apparently, there's electricity in this world; I've seen the lines running outside. But Mother refuses to install it in our home to avoid the extra cost.
Unfortunate, but I can't really complain.
Natalia, however, uses her fire crest, it's quite impressive. She powers the lamps and heats the room with her mana.
It's fascinating, really. I often wonder where I could get a sorcerer's crest of my own, but Yuri insists it's too early for me to learn about such things.
Now then, what else… ah!
Every household in the Sorcerer Kingdom follows Rodovoye Obuchenie, the ancestral practice of educating children from the moment they can speak. It is the duty of the parents, or those close to them, to teach the child before they enter formal education.
By law, every child must begin formal schooling at the age of five, provided their parents can afford it. I believe Mother is already saving up for that day.
Once we step onto school grounds, we'll be tested to determine whether we were properly taught by our parents or by others, such as Yuri, our maidservant.
Yuri told me that if a child fails to meet the standard, they won't be accepted, and worse, their parents will be ridiculed and punished, depending on how poorly the child performs.
The punishment ranges from financial penalties for low-income households, to loss of government benefits for the failed parents, and in the most severe cases… imprisonment.
That's why Yuri, sitting beside me at this very table, works so diligently to teach me everything she can.
And I'm cooperating, for I have no wish to burden such a hardworking lady.
What a strict culture… they truly don't play around with education.
Then, I'll do my best, not to fail.
Another side note: most parents with sorcerer crests show them off to their young children—hoping to impress them and inspire them to work harder for such a magical gift.
I get it.
I would've definitely been inspired if something like that existed in my old world.
Ever since learning about the punishments for parents of underperforming children, I've had to stay focused and give it my all.
Honestly, I hate it. It's tedious, but it's also an opportunity.
At least the child isn't punished directly. If they show even the slightest hint of learning potential, the government will personally take over their education.
That's a fate I really don't wish to experience. I can only imagine how hellish that must be.
Now then, let's review what I've learned after two years in this world.
The Sorcerer Kingdom…
It's quite fascinating. A massive circular domain located in the northern regions of Euthanasia, surrounded by red and black walls towering about fifty meters high.
Around the main circle, known as the Radonezh, stand four smaller circles positioned to the north, east, south, and west, collectively called the Four Cardinals.
I saw them once, when Mother carried me outside. Those tall, imposing walls of black and crimson surrounded the kingdom like a fortress. I later learned they were made from a material called Magi Stone.
Magi Stone was created from ancient True Ice, slowly transformed through dark crest magic by the Sorcerer God, Oleg Koscheyenko.
I'm guessing he's the Russian man who reincarnated here. From what I've gathered, that happened about a hundred years ago.
If that's true, then he was probably blessed with a powerful crest, and might even be the reason sorcery crests exist in the first place.
But that's just my speculation.
Now, about that Magi Stone. The material absorbs solar energy and distributes it throughout the Cardinals and the Radonezh as both electricity and heat, through wires that run along poles and beneath the ground.
It even radiates a gentle warmth outward, keeping the citizens within the walls from freezing.
Pretty clever and efficient for a kingdom in such a cold climate.
There are times I wonder if I could one day share my arsenal crest with other people—no, no.
How would that even work?
How do I even use this thing? The only thing it does is hurt my right hand every night.
It disturbs my peace and my sleep.
Sometimes I stick my arm out into the sky when I'm outside our house while it's snowing.
The snow… the whiteness of it all. It makes me think of the arsenal realm.
Siege Fiend—when are you going to talk to me?
Chapter End.