Unfamiliar World [Prologue]
"Blast furnace? Open hearth? What a joke."
In medieval fantasy novels, they always casually talk about forging steel in blast furnaces, but that's complete nonsense from people who know zilch about manufacturing. Where the hell are you supposed to get the massive amounts of coal, iron ore, and limestone needed to run that gigantic setup? Even if you somehow managed it, where do you sell the dozens of tons of pig iron pouring out in this backwater? No logistics, no big markets, mass production here is basically suicide.
What I needed was practical tech. Buy up the cheap wrought iron flooding the market, seal it in crucibles with charcoal powder. Then bake it at high heat in a small furnace built from firebricks. One simple process yields homogeneous steel free of impurities, on par with modern carbon steel. Dirt-cheap materials, sky-high prices. That insane margin was the key to my economic freedom.
I came to my senses.
The faint consciousness of four-year-old Gallein Bayfort was swept away in an instant by a flood of memories. It felt like the fog filling my head had lifted all at once.
"Young master~, you just woke up, but you're falling asleep again~?"
I froze mid-motion, staring blankly, and someone beside me scooped me up in a warm embrace. Twisting my head in her arms, I saw a pretty face with red hair and dog-like beastkin ears, smiling brightly.
The name floating in my mind slipped out unconsciously.
"Lize...?"
"Yes~, it's Lize~, today too... Oh! Young master! Young master? Why are you so hot? Madam! Madammm—! The young master...!"
Lize burst out the door with me in her arms and bolted down the hallway. The world spun from the jostling. How long had it been since someone carried me like this? Soft... warm...
"...!..., ...!!"
And just like that, I blacked out again.
I spent nearly a week stuck in bed.
A raging fever scorched my body, and a priest of the Earth Mother God—some middle-aged guy, visited daily, blasting golden beams into my body and head. Instead of food, I sipped thin soup and some mysterious red liquid that looked like medicine.
I didn't feel any pain myself; it just seemed like I was sleeping more than usual. But with my taste buds shot and everyone around me freaking out, it must've been bad.
While they panicked, I lay there pondering.
My previous life summed up to studying on command, landing a job, working till a traffic accident killed me young. Decent college, solid company, good bonuses from performance, smart investments, plenty of cash saved. But what good was it? Died without spending a dime.
No trips, no hobbies beyond novels on the commute. Just work.
'Ah, shoulda played around a bit.'
Travel, games, I held back for work, planning to grind hard, cash out before 40 when the job would've chewed me up, and use it as seed money for my own business. Never imagined I'd procrastinate myself to death.
What a waste.
Drifting in and out over that week, I pieced together: this world was medieval civ with fantasy tossed in. Priest shooting beams from his hands, Lize with animal ears, dad a knight who's rarely around. Mix of beastkin and such, gods and magic, classic fantasy setup.
Bedridden, it was all guesswork; I'd need to investigate properly. But I was young; opportunities would come naturally. Seemed well-off, no rush.
Oh, right, Lize was my nanny. Hired over a decade ago when my much-older brothers were born, mid-20s married mom of three. Her kids, older than me, already apprenticed in the manor and village.
Medieval style: kids under seven tutored at home, then learn trades. Low-rank nobility like our knight family meant no fancy tutors; Lize and the priest taught letters and etiquette.
Anyway. Body recovered, memories sorted, time to resume normal life.
"Young master~, up already~?"
"Yeah."
Lize entered with a basin, pitcher, clothes. Set the basin on the washstand, poured herb-scented water. I sat up, washed face and hands; she dried them with a clean cloth from below, wet my hair with the pitcher, wiped and combed it.
Wash done, washstand to the wall, dressed with her help, morning routine complete. Familiar drudgery for my four-year-old self, but post-reincarnation? Pure luxury every time.
Hair not fully washed felt iffy, but bath memories eased hygiene worries.
Ten minutes tops, all polished.
"Priest Ben said today's lesson's at the temple~, first time out of the manor in ages, so stick close, okay~?"
I followed Lize's slow pace out of Bayfort Manor.
First outing since awakening, heart raced. Not my first time out, but past-me barely noticed the village; now, everything sparked curiosity.
Crossed the courtyard to the main gate. Stepped out.
'Whoa.'
A panoramic view of Bayfort Village unfolded, familiar yet alien. Manor on high ground gave a wide vista.
A towering palisade wall encircled it seamlessly. Watchtowers and bastions everywhere—wooden, but castle-wall worthy.
A broad gravel avenue ran from the palisade gate through the central square to the manor. Around the square, a dozen 2-3 story buildings clustered densely. Nearer the wall, houses spaced out, fewer second stories, more stables than homes.
Felt like touring a medieval movie set.
'Buildings... about 250, maybe.'
Rough count of one side, multiplied, good population estimate. Past-life memory: medieval average household couple + three kids. Factoring non-houses, 1,000-1,250 folks.
Solid defenses, armed guards visible, frequent raids, probably.
'Palisades cost a fortune to maintain...'
Wood rots without upkeep. Full non-stone defenses meant reasons. Knight dad busy subjugating? Borderlands, bandits, hostile neighbors... or fantasy beasts? Monsters?
Musing as we walked.
"Young master~, no daydreaming outside~"
Arrived at the temple unnoticed; Lize chided my wandering gaze. Quiet street, no one around, unlike bustling square below.
'Not a high-traffic spot.'
Earth Mother Temple sat midway up the hill from square to manor. Thick tree trunks as pillars held a triangular roof; stone base hid roots, log-cabin vibe. Above entrance: familiar symbol from priest's robes, tree in an arch, Earth Mother God.
Landscaping neat, not flashy, elegant, refined.
Wanna explore solo. 'How many years till I can?'
Swallowed a sigh, followed obediently.
No door on entrance, peered right in. First sight: massive statue.
A beautiful woman cradling a small tree in outstretched hands.
'Earth Mother God...'
Her benevolent gaze down front explained the symbol.
"Young master~, this way~"
Unlike outside, inside bustled with people.
'Oh...'
Horned folk. Long-tailed. Pointy-eared. Giants. And kids my age resembling them.
Most human-like, but non-humans outnumbered, making normals stand out.
'Or reverse?'
Assuming human-normal was bias? Here, diversity was norm. Past-life prejudice?
While pondering, Lize led through to front row by statue. Glanced up at brazier heat.
And...
"...?"
My eyes met the statue's.