Kairi's words left the young man who called himself a god with a blank expression.
"No, the world you will be reborn into is far behind your world. The security situation is poor, and it's a world of swords and magic where bandits run rampant and monsters and demons exist. Without some outstanding abilities, it will be difficult to live safely..."
Despite the god's worried words, Kairi's resolve did not waver.
"No, it's fine. Please make my abilities, appearance, and social status all average in that world. If I'm reborn into that world, I will make my own happiness with my own strength this time... Besides, with modern knowledge alone, I have a significant advantage."
Seeing that Kairi's resolve would not change, the god nodded.
"Understood. By the way, about that world, it's a world where we conducted large-scale interference as an experimental case, making magic possible. Nanomachines that automatically proliferate until they reach a certain concentration are spread throughout, and they react to the thought waves of living beings, causing various phenomena. Chemical changes, physical changes, and other phenomena that you would think of as magic.
Actually, that world has faced the collapse of civilization several times, losing all technology and leaving only a few survivors. As a rescue and experiment, we conducted large-scale interference that we wouldn't normally do. However, the nanomachines, which mimic magic, were too versatile, leading to a certain level of recovery but stagnation in the progress of civilization. It was deemed a major failure and left abandoned without anyone taking care of it...
We do feel a bit responsible, but the residents are living quite vibrantly, so it's not such a bad world. It's just that civilization hasn't progressed, the security is poor, and there are many dangers, making it easy for people to die..."
(No, is that really "not such a bad world"?)
Kairi thought, but figured that this probably applied more to men who frequently went outside for work, while women who didn't leave town much were not in as much danger. She convinced herself of this.
Since she would be born as a child in that world, there was no need to ask detailed questions about it now. She could learn gradually as a child. Thinking this, Kairi didn't really want to ask many questions. Therefore, she listened to the god's minimal explanation and didn't ask any specific questions.
"Then, I will begin the reincarnation process. The couple who will be your parents was not supposed to have a child, so you don't need to worry about the soul of a child who was supposed to be born. The fertilized egg is prepared for you.
I wish you a happy life. It's a bit strange for me, who is pretending to be a god, to pray, but I am truly grateful to you. Thanks to you, one day the people of Earth will be able to ascend to a higher existence. Please have a good life..."
And now, Kairi was supposed to be Adel von Ascam, the only child of the Ascam Viscount family, at the age of 10. However, something seemed off.
Returning her memories at 10 years old was fine. It felt a bit late, but it was a relief that her 18-year-old mind wouldn't burden a toddler's brain or body, and she wouldn't have to play as a child or learn to speak. She welcomed the idea of her memories returning after some growth.
However, upon carefully reflecting on the integrated "Adel's memories"...
Two years ago.
Her parents were supposed to attend a party at a neighboring lord's house, but her father suddenly fell ill on the day of the event. Her grandfather attended in his place and was killed by bandits on the way back, along with her mother.
Despite the relatively good security and no bandit incidents for years, this one-time appearance of bandits was peculiar.
The day after the funeral, a woman and a girl of Adel's age, whom the woman brought, entered the viscount's mansion.
From then on, her father and the woman attended parties, and the girl, Priscilla, was introduced as their daughter. Adel was left alone in the mansion.
Most of the servants were replaced, and only a few, like the cook, remained.
"...Is that what happened?"
Ironically, in her previous life, her parents and sister were her only emotional support, but in this life, they were her enemies. Her parents and the girl—likely her father's child from an affair—ignored Adel or deliberately mocked and bullied her daily.
But that would change in three days.
The viscount and his new wife seemed to be sending Adel to a boarding school in the capital to get rid of her. The departure was in three days, and Adel welcomed this.
Three days later.
Adel, without any farewell from her family, boarded a shared carriage to the capital. Of course, she couldn't use the viscount's carriage.
She had almost no luggage, just a few changes of clothes, toiletries, and personal items.
Her destination was the Ecland Academy in the capital.
This academy was attended by poor lower nobles, middle-class merchants' children, and a few very talented commoners on scholarships.
There was another academy in the capital, attended by royal and noble children, and the heirs of major merchants. Adel's half-sister, Priscilla—likely her father's biological daughter—was to start attending that academy next week, and her parents would accompany her to the capital in the viscount's luxurious carriage. They would live in the viscount's capital residence and commute to the academy.
On the empty carriage, Adel spent her time thinking, as there was nothing else to do.
"Of course, they're trying to get rid of me. The daughter of the first wife is unnecessary, and they want to arrange a marriage for the daughter of the second wife.
If I'm around, it's obvious that Priscilla is an illegitimate child due to our age difference. If they say she's a stepchild, she can't inherit the viscount's name because she's not of the Ascam bloodline. So, they have to make me the heir. That's why they're treating me as if I don't exist and putting Priscilla in my place.
They might still have a son, but as long as I'm not killed, I might be kept alive for a political marriage or something."
In fact, upon enrollment, Adel was forbidden by her parents from using the Ascam family name. They seemed to intend to completely ignore her and make Priscilla the eldest daughter. Adel thought they might be keeping her around as a potential asset or out of reluctance to kill her.
Adel planned to learn as much as she could during her three years at the academy and disappear upon graduation. Returning to the viscount's domain would only mean more bullying and being sold to some middle-aged man as a "political marriage."
She would gather knowledge and funds to escape.
This was her goal at the academy.
"But why was I born into a noble family? I asked for average abilities and status... Oh!"
Adel finally found the answer to the question that had been bothering her.
"King, Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount.
Slave, Commoner, Knight, Baron, Viscount.
Fifth from the top. Fifth from the bottom. Yes, it's right in the middle...
But that's not right! What about the distribution of people? Besides, that's not the median. The median is the middle value of all elements, not the middle of the categories.
If you're going to make a mistake, at least make it the mode..."
She should have been a commoner, whether by average, median, or mode, unless the selection was done this way.
Tired of thinking, she started making dolls by whittling wood with a knife she picked up on the second day. She was dexterous and had a talent for such things from her previous life.
The knife was a small one that noble girls carried as a matter of course.
They were told to use it to commit suicide if attacked by bandits or men to avoid being defiled.
While thinking that it would be better to use it to stab the attacker, she whittled the wood with the knife, which was not meant for such use.
It was strange how easily it cut the wood, but it must have been a very good knife or a particular type of wood.
The wooden dolls she gradually created were more like "figurines" than simple carvings, something quite innovative in this world.
The other passengers on the carriage were anxious, worried that she might cut her fingers as she whittled the wood with the knife.