Chapter 5: Save 02 – Lost Item

It has been seven years since I was reincarnated in this world, unofficially I have only seven years old; but my actual age is fifteen, it feels horrible to be this age again.

Apparently in this strange and bizarre fantasy world you are considered an adult at this age, my older brother, Lyle, told me that the children of the nobility had a debut in society before the age of thirteen, after that age it would be shameful to have one. But we didn't have one since we were not considered part of it.

It feels sad to be marginalized just for being poor.

My older siblings are currently in their respective academies. Bram, is in the academy for future knights ´which I will also attend´ while, Lyle, being the next head of the household attended the royal academy of the kingdom, after finishing his schooling he will go to prepare himself to go to the military academy. I feel a little sorry for him as he left in tears.

After they moved out of the house, I thought I was finally going to have my own room, unfortunately, it wasn't like that since I live in the shed and that reason is....

"Onii-chan~~ good morning ♡"

Without knocking on the door and opening it abruptly, a girl with long black hair came in, it was my little sister, Pola.

She is my reason why I can't have my own room. But, I don't mind since she is superrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr adorable.

Apparently, my parents truly wanted a girl, so after much trying they were finally blessed.

Like the other members of the family her hair and eyes were black, but her face was very fine and beautiful, from the moment I saw her, I vowed to make her happy.

Before my parents threw the three of us into the shed to live. Me, I suggested sleeping in the stables until my brothers or at least, Lyle, took off to the academy who had their own bedrooms. The stables were bigger than my old apartment so I was kind of happy for the space, even though it reeked of excrement.

"Buuah~~, good morning Pola-chan, is something wrong for you to be so energetic in the morning?"

With some sleepiness I asked her if something was wrong, and with her sweet voice she replied.

"Anone~ anone~, father asked me to tell you to go immediately to his studio after getting up."                                                               

After hearing that, I told her it was okay, I went to get dressed and then brush my teeth while she rushed home.

"It's too early to plant and harvest before the proper time, will you need help with anything?"

I muttered as I buttoned my shirt, opened the door and walked out closing it as I thought about it.

"The sky with a sun just rising in the east indeed is beautiful."

It was supposed to be a day like any other.

That's right, it was supposed to be until I heard that news.

◇

"Excuse me... I think I misunderstood, could you repeat that...?"

That was me, replying to my father, still confused by what I had heard while in his studio, though to be more correct. It was just a medium sized room with a desk, several papers around it and a large window in the back.

"..."

"As I said, I'm sorry, but we've decided to sell you to pay off some debts. I hope you understand that this is to support the family."

"..."

"..."

After an awkward silence between the two I said to myself.

(Fucking old shit!!! What kind of debts? You think I don't know about your midnight runs to the village or that mother buys expensive dresses to pretend to feel upper class?)

(Don't give me that crap, if you knew how to save, invest money and not spend it on bullshit, we wouldn't be scared of debt collectors!)

My mind was with many hostile and unpleasant thoughts towards my father.

*cough*

"Well, as I was telling you, you will be sold, but not as you imagine it, rather. Is this an opportunity for you, I'm sure you remember that from the age of fifteen you will be of legal age to seek an engagement, and, coincidentally you will be spared the search as someone has watched you a lot."

I was still cursing my father, but what he said caught my attention.

It's true that from this age it's already legal to look for a fiancé and get married, I thought that I should do that in the academy, but, it seems that fate fell on me earlier.

"C-certainly it's true... i-I don't really care if my partner is an older woman as long as she's fertile and-"

"You're wrong..."

Father suddenly interrupted me as I spoke.

"C-certainly is an older person, but... that's not the problem."

(If that's not the problem then why are you sweating so much?)

I didn't understand what was making him so nervous, he already confirmed that she's an older woman, if she's not attractive that wouldn't be a problem for me.

"It's a baron..."

"Is she the unmarried daughter of a baron? Then I don't see a problem with it, what's got you so weirded out?"

"No... it's literally a male... a man he who desires you."

"..."

"..., ..., ..."

"What the fuck are you talking about!!!"

My brain was trying to process this as my mouth moved on its own.

"You see, it's just that apparently the Baron Lebron has been watching you lately and you caught his interest."

"..."

"L-Lebron... you're talking about the guy from the neighboring territory, the one everyone in town is talking about that despite having a son, this one has an excessive interest in the male physique!"

"...That's the one."

In a very shameless way my father replied.

"I know it sounds awful, but the baron is a man of renown in these parts. I'm sure you will live well as he has several businesses and it seems he is only interested in your physique, thank him for the seven years of hard work I put you through!"

"You're a terrible father, you know that!!!!! It bothers me now that he's interested in my body, but my face doesn't seem to matter to him. Wait, that's not the problem here!"

I was indeed annoyed and scared. An old man wanted my body, do I have an ugly face for him to just mention my body?

I know since I grew up my innocent face was not something normal, my iris and pupils are the same color, so you would think the center of my eyes is a big black dot and shadows like dark circles had appeared under my eyes. I was scared at first, but it seems to be just a cosmetic problem, I can see totally fine and I feel fine. Not to mention my hair which seems to have a life of its own, as several strands stand up on their own and my bangs magically fall to the right.

I asked ominously how long I had left before I had my butt taken care of.

"I'd say about four months, since he'll be back from a seventeen month trip."

(Okay. I'll pack up my stuff and run away.) -I thought and what I wanted to say, but responded with something equally as shocking.

"Early tomorrow morning I'll set out to find treasure on some island far away. They are supposed to be abandoned islands since no one goes in because they are so dangerous, aren't they? Well, I'm going to find treasure."

My father was open-mouthed to hear my crazy plan. It may be improvised, but it's true, my great-great-grandfather and several ancient nobles achieved their wealth and land by going out to conquer them. No problem, I will do it too, I have blood of one and also a body worked for seven years; I learned fencing, martial arts and use firearms, although the only weapon I had used was a rifle called Winchester; it seemed to have been created several years ago by a very revolutionary nobleman, all this time I have forged my body to prepare it for the future, I knew that being a son without heritage I was going to be sent to some battlefield and that's why I trained hard.

"I will keep some weapons, food, water and use the boat you have made me take care of all this time, for once in your lives have faith in me."

After saying that I left the room. I went to talk to mother and Pola, obviously their faces were of astonishment and horror in that order, they looked like they wanted to cry, but I didn't care. I went to get everything ready that I needed for tomorrow.

◇

I was very optimistic. I really was very optimistic and ignorant.

"Ha... ha... will they be gone by now?"

I was hiding on a big sturdy rock, the reason I was hiding was because of that damn thing.

"When I was told that these islands were inhabited by magical beasts. I figured something totally weak and adorable would come out, but I never thought it would be freaking dinosaurs!!!"

They were four meters long and one meter tall, some were orange or brown, they looked exactly like those fast running bastards in a certain movie I saw, but what scared me the most was that the white part of their eyes as they were black with white pupils, there were also some with purple pupils, but those were the ones that seemed to use some kind of magic circle in their mouths and shoot fireballs among other things.

The reason I am on this island is because I crashed, to be more exact I jumped for my life because of some bandits and ended up here. After being on the boat for two or three weeks.

It was a horrible experience, I ran out of food earlier than planned, then I ran out of water, I spent two days thinking I will die of dehydration, but to my bad luck I ran into an air pirate ship.I thought it was a joke about sky pirates, but I remembered I was in a strange fantasy world so my fear became greater. They fired cannons at me just for fun, I tried to run away, but these were faster so as they came in collision towards my boat, I grabbed the guns and my backpack to jump.

I fell to a height of twenty meters, I should be dead, but thanks to some super-developed palm-trees is that I managed to reduce the blow and fell unconscious, I was about five or eight hours asleep because when I woke up it was night, fortunately there was a palm-tree which had a hole to hide and sleep there.

I have been on this island for four days, there is a lot of vegetation and exotic fruits, but the biggest danger are those creatures, they seem to be carnivores as well as cannibals, in my first encounter with them I could see that they were eating one of their own, I fled from there, but it seems that when they put their eye on something they follow it to its end.

After escaping from those bastards I kept walking while eating some berries, they are delicious, although somewhat tasteless at first. There was also a large lake from which I drank water, the bastards also drank from this so I deduced that it was healthy.

After I died, my belief about the other world and divine beings became quite widespread, just now I was praying to find some lost object, get out of here and avoid my ruin at home.

While I was having my pure and sincere thoughts about surviving, a crack began to form where I was walking and I fell through it. I couldn't process very well as when I understood what was happening I saw myself fall into a long dark hole, after a few seconds I reached the ground and stood up, it was dark and my flashlight was cracked, but it worked so I kept going, I walked for several minutes until I reached another end which was lit up and I was amazed at what I saw.

"I-is this for real?"

Words are short to express what I saw, but it was because of the majesty my eyes saw; buildings, houses, and ships made entirely of steel stood as far as my eyes could see.

Like a child, without looking around me I walked admiring what I saw, the structure looked as if it was a combination between natural and industrial, it was very unreal, but what left me shocked for a few seconds was....

"Those... are... human bones!!!?"

In one of the streets there was a big pile of bones and skulls grouped together as if it was a mountain of garbage, moss had covered the bones and structures so you can't see them with the naked eye.

I kept walking aimlessly, I had no idea where to go so I just kept going and without paying attention I came to something like a hangar.

Half, about eighty meters high, maybe and it seemed to have no end as to how long, I entered with caution taking out my rifle, the place just like the town was destroyed and covered with moss, the light filtered from different parts illuminating almost everything, it was there where I saw it.

"Hey, hey, isn't this thing freaking huge!!!"

There was some sort of metallic black airship big enough and long enough, I couldn't estimate the size in length, but since the hangar didn't seem to have an end it looked like it was long enough to get in here. Maybe, if I'm not mistaken, about three or four hundred meters in length; in terms of height it was thirty or fifty meters, despite being covered in moss it didn't look damaged.

Luckily there was a large pile of debris that formed a ladder to the top, I kept my rifle and climbed it until I reached the top where I saw a large hole which showed its interior, with a big jump I reached the bottom and gave me a great pain in my calves.

"Atatata, how it hurt, but it doesn't matter, I'm already inside. Now let's find the center cockpit and see if I can get this guy out."

I pulled out my rifle, my flashlight and walked up and down, left to right, I have no idea how long it took, but my legs hurt.

"Come to think of it, the flashlight is bruised, but it still emits light, indeed this thing called prana is very useful."

In this fantasy world it seems that the most cliché element of all, 'magic', could not be missing. According to my brother, Bram, beneath the floating islands there is a strange energy called odd. When it rises to the surface it mixes with oxygen and becomes aether/mana. We can't see it, but it's there.

Apparently centuries ago there was a calamity that caused the earth to float away because of the overload of odd, as humans could not survive at great heights obviously many died, but the new generations became stronger and these inherited a great factor that had never been seen before, this was called magical power.

The new generations that inherited this through immense leaks of odd from the ground to the surface, made people develop a strange power which they called prana, prana is something like a switch that turns on by will when breathing oxygen and aether together. Interestingly after they began to build up their territories and communities is where the current hierarchy of nobles and commoners began.

In ancient times, those born with magical power would be considered nobles and those who did not obtain it would be treated as commoners. Apparently commoners can have children who develop magical power, but that would only mean that the father or mother was a noble and that would be very embarrassing for the child.

For some reason despite possessing magical power they don't call themselves magic users/magicians, when I told this to my brothers they laughed and called me stupid.

You are reading story World Ixion/SAGA at novel35.com

Since then I never again asked anything that seemed strange to me, I even once tried to ask my father how come we can get fresh water if the sea water comes up to the islands, he called me a fool and gave me a very hard knock on the head.

I also being a nobleman I have magical power, but, compared to the great families that have passed it from generation to generation improving them unlike mine, which seems a union between people from different communities thus obtaining something that hardly allows us to create a flame on our finger.

While I was walking in my thoughts, I found a big door, it was half-open so I entered slowly without cutting myself.

I shined the light inside and everything looked to be in order for some reason, despite being dark it looked clean and tidy, as I walked around curious, I tripped over something and fell to the floor with my whole face hitting me.

"Ouch, what's this piece of junk doing here and how come I didn't see it when I-?"

I was stunned at what I saw, as this was a very similar object to what was in my old world.

"A bowling ball? No, it's too medium sized to be one, has the weight too light for its size, feels cold, and has many lines from being assembled... huh, what's this, it looks like a pair of fork-shaped noodles on the bottom."

Fiddling a bit with the strange sphere which was metallic gray in color, I found on the back something resembling a button, it should be emphasized that it truly is a back in the whole word.

"Let's see if this junk still works."

I put my finger in and plunged it all the way in, as I reached the bottom, my finger was pricked by something and I could feel blood coming out.

I pulled the strange bowling ball to treat my finger, with the light of my flashlight focusing straight ahead, the strange sphere slowly stood up.

It had no legs to do so, but for some reason it floated slowly and its arms noodled dangling. It slowly turned around and face to face we were.

"W-what is this strange sensation I feel? It's different from when I felt death on the train tracks or from those strange dinosaurs."

"□□●○."

While I was thinking about it, I heard a strange sound coming from the floating metallic sphere.

"○●□■□●○□○."

"Y-You're trying to communicate with me?"

"I'm sorry, I don't understand anything you're saying."

"..."

After saying that she didn't understand him she kept quiet.

"..."

"..."

We both remained mutually silent. I wanted to get out of here since I have no idea what this thing is.

"...me."

"Huh?"

"Yu.. kan.. me."

(This thing, it's trying to speak my language!)-I thought in amazement at what I saw.

"YU can... derstAND mE."

"Almost."

In a light tone to his question I replied in amazement.

"Now can you understand me?" -said the machine.

"..."

"It spoke!!! This thing actually spoke my language!!!"

My mouth opened wide in amazement. Then a bright red light illuminated from the center of the sphere, it was so bright it mowed me down and I had to cover myself with both hands.

"I'm sorry for the discomfort, but, as my central system was turning on after a long time, I couldn't regulate its luminous effect and it hit you in the face."

With a very polite tone he spoke to me, then magically turned on the lights in this place.

"W-who are you?" -I asked in fright. "what is this place?" -I asked again in fear.

"..."

"I am the administrator of this ship, approximately three hundred and twenty eight thousand and five hundred days have passed since my last function. Ah, in case you didn't understand, that's exactly nine hundred human years."

"Through your blood I was able to calculate the year and your language."

"How long!!!! And even more so..."

"What incredible technology!!!"

"Have you really been all that time here idle?"

(It's unbelievable, really the people of ancient times were very advanced, but how did such an advanced civilization end up becoming extinct?) -I thought.

"Before I continue with your questions, I want to confirm something."

"What thing do you wish to confirm?"

"You... you're not a descendant of ancient mankind are you?"

(Got me, this thing knows that I am not part of the ancient people who lived here, what should I do? What should I do to get out of this situation?)

I was scared as I was thinking about how to get out of here, its red eye was looking at me with intensity, what should I do... I would shoot it or maybe....

"You're right I'm not, I'm an adventurer, I came here looking for riches and something I can use." -i answered honestly while thinking how to trick this thing.

"But I did not come alone." -I replied. "I came with a large fleet and since I am the captain's son, I came to gain honor and respect from the members by coming without escorts." -With a big smile and confidence I told the strange machine with the glowing eye.

"So, if something happens to me and I don't return soon, they will send a large force to raze this place, so even you won't have it so easy."

(Yeah, that should work, so definitely-) -I was claiming in my thoughts my victory when his words left me in suspense.

"You well know that's a lie."

"Huh!?"

"It's impossible for someone so important to be alone and unescorted, no matter how the times are different, never will an important person walk around as a marked object."

(That's the end of me!) -I thought.

"I have a request to ask of you." -I exclaimed.

"And may I know what that one is?" -Asked the machine confidently.

"It's not asking much, but... please make it quick."

With my eyes closed and in a kneeling position with my head on the floor and my hands resting on the same spot, I asked the machine to make it quick.

"..."

"What are you talking about?" the machine said intrigued with its red eye making a fly sound.

"I said if you're going to end my life, please make it quick and painless!"

With my head on the floor I shouted it at the top of my lungs. But I was left speechless by what he said next.

"Kill you? Why should I do that, maybe you have some problem in your head and this generated a low level of self-esteem, or maybe... it's masochism?"

In utter amazement, I was speechless at what he said. But this was only the beginning of my shock.

"I never said anything about eliminating you, I think your brain has a serious comprehension problem, should I analyze and detect if you have any faults?"

This thing... you're making fun of me aren't you?

"I only asked if you were not a descendant of the people who lived here, since you used a secret method of activation, which consisted in case of theft of this property. It will be used to recover the command, that's why I am the administrator of this ship, since ignorant people would think that this ship is an automaton... by the way I am the automaton much pleasure."

Every word he says is a surprise to me, but, even so, it really bothers me that he speaks with that confidence of superiority.

"Pressing your finger all the way down makes a needle prick your finger, drawing blood and analyzing it to check that it is the true owner."

"But having spent so much time inactive and that you will use the secret method, I misunderstood to think you were a descendant of the owner of this ship, causing me to my misfortune to make you the new owner of mine."

Momento... what is this thing saying.... am I perhaps the new master/goshujin-sama and lord of this thing!!!?

"..."

I'm happy and laughing inside.

"Hahahahahahahahahaha!" -I unintentionally let out a big laugh at the machine.

For the first time in my life, fortune smiles at me.

A gigantic ship, a personal automaton, everything on this earth will now be mine.

I am happy, I will no longer have to put up with anyone's humiliation or be a doormat.

I will finally be someone who looks down on those below and not the other way around.

"Alright strange floating sphere, from today on I will be your new lord and master, you hear!!!! Engrave the name of your new patron and may you never forget it. I'm Rudel van Bradford, the new master of this whole place, hahahahaha."

"Understood. Rudel van Bradford, you have been appointed as the master of the ship [Brunhild], now that everything is in order I would like you to quickly escort me to the medical room."

As I was laughing like a champ I heard something strange.

"Huh, medical ward, why and what for, and wait, is there a medical ward here!"

"There's no time anymore it seems..."

I was asking quizzically at what he was saying when suddenly I felt dizzy, and from deep in my throat came a large amount of hot red liquid.

The dizziness intensified and I fell like a tree in the direction where the sphere was. I began to writhe and convulse after that.

The sphere approached looking at me very calm.

"Through the analysis of the blood I took from you, I detected that you manage to ingest large amounts of water from the River, which has organ eating parasites added to eating black berries, which are very toxic. My analysis calculates that since four days ago his immune system was arduously battling to avoid the current situation, but in the end he lost."

I did not understand what he was saying as my ears were secreting fluid and my vision was red so I did not know where I was.

"Don't worry, the treatment I will have to do here, but I guarantee your life will not be in danger, did you hear me?"

A piercing sound I heard in my head and my consciousness faded, having come this far...I will die here. My mind shut down after that.