Compensation θ ~ I might be late for reincarnation, but since I was born as the talented eldest son of a prestigious noble, I might be on the winning side.

In a meeting with my father and the heads of branch families, the successor of the Kilyam Duke’s family, the next head, was decided.

Apparently, it was decided that the eldest son, me, has been chosen.

‘The possession of the most outstanding covenant in this generation.’

This is the qualification desired for the head of the main family, and the decision was unanimously made, and this decision cannot be overturned by anyone.

Because the selection of the successor to Kilyam is beyond the influence of the royal family. In the agreement when the Glass region joined the Belfast Kingdom, any intervention was prohibited.

Therefore, the role of the royal family is to receive the report that someone has been decided and confirm it. In other words, it is only an after-the-fact approval without veto power.

However, the inheritance of noble titles is a different story and requires the royal family’s charter, just like other families.

However, negotiations on that matter are difficult. If the royal family resists, it would be a perfect reason for the Glass region to withdraw from the kingdom.

Therefore, if the prescribed procedures and proper contributions are made, charters for the duke’s and subordinate titles are issued. At least, that’s how it has been until now.

Now. Even though it’s called an internal decision, since the successor has almost certainly been decided, I had to go greet the past heads of the family. They, including the previous head before my father, are all deceased.

In other words, I have to visit the family graves.

“Do you know that the main family’s mausoleum of Kilyam is divided into two places?”

“Of course. I heard that one is in Valenfield, and the other is in Glassbridge.”

The mausoleums up to the fourth generation were indoors in the lakeside mansion. It was a small room with a chapel-like atmosphere, where not only remains but also mementos, locks of hair, and baby teeth shed in childhood were preserved.

“As you say. The second mausoleum is here in the main house’s lower compound, where the remains of the heads of the family from the fifth generation onwards are buried.”

Remains. Yes it seems that in this world, the funeral practice is cremation, just like in Japan.

“The smoke that rises when the body is cremated is said to show the path for the soul to return to heaven. On the other hand, the body turns to ashes and dust, naturally returning to the earth. Also, in the Glass region, there is a strong belief in spirits, especially the water spirits, and people do not wish to be buried in the ground after death.”

The ashes are scattered by the water’s edge of the land where they were born and raised.

“The only exception is the remains of those who formed covenants with spirits. Usually, this applies to the heads of the main and branch families.”

While different from when they were alive, they have a nature that attracts the spirits with whom they had close interactions, even after being cremated.

Therefore, the remains are managed by burying them in the mausoleum and continue to fulfill a role in bringing more blessings to the Glass region even after death. This seems to have an insurance-like meaning for times when someone with covenant are not born for a long time.

In the past, there were cases of grave robbers attempting to break in and steal the remains.

However, taking the remains away and bringing it to the dominion of unfamiliar spirits outside, the effect of attracting spirits will not work.

This contributed to the reputation that forming covenants with spirits outside the Glass region is hard.

Therefore, even within the Glass region, it is generally considered basic practice to bury the remains of someone with a covenant in the place where they spent most of their lives.

“The customs of cremation and scattering the ashes are unique to the Glass region, while in other regions—such as the Belfast Kingdom and many foreign countries—burial is practiced.”

“Why do funeral customs differ by region?”

“The difference in funeral customs is closely related to the religion they believe in. The religion that was preached in the Holy Rosario Empire prohibited cremation. That influence still remains strong.”

“The Holy Rosario Empire?”

“It will come up in ancient history class, but it was a religious state that proclaimed dominance in the central plains before the unified kingdom.”

Oh, so there was a big country before the unified kingdom.

“What kind of religion did that country worship?”

“They established the state religion called the Life God Faith, worshiping the life god as the only god, and the emperor, as the representative of the god, had imperial authority. In other words, they claimed that the emperor had the legitimacy of rule.”

The only god. It’s surprising that it’s not a polytheistic religion.

“While they praised the life god, their teachings were quite different from what the current Life Church preaches. It can be called a unique interpretation.”

“With that unique interpretation, did they prohibit cremation?”

“Yes. The Life God Faith preached, ‘At the time of the world’s end, the dead will be resurrected.’ It was an apocalyptic thought, and only the devout believers would have their souls called back to their bodies, receiving eternal life in the earthly paradise that would manifest after the destruction. Hence, the practice was burial.”

“I see, the teachings are completely different. The current Life God’s teachings preach reincarnation.”

“Yes. In addition, the Life God Faith openly used soul-binding magic that forced mental manipulation and enslavement, which the current Life Church prohibits. It’s better to consider them as separate things just based on that point.”

Soul-binding magic. Wow, there’s such a technique. It means puppetry, charm, enslavement, and domination, right? This world is scary.

Even if forbidden, it might be good to think of some countermeasures. There are always people who think of bad things regardless of era.

*

Moving through the corridor inside the building from the upper compound to the middle compound, then going outside, passing the large moat and looking at the old main house on the left, I finally arrived at the lower compound.

You know, the lower compound feels very lively.

There are accommodations and a dining hall for resident knights and employees, as well as a stable and riding ground, a workshop and forge, and a clinic. It’s like a small village or even more than that.

There are various other facilities, and in prominent places, there are military training grounds and a grand hall for knight conferment ceremonies.

The solemn grand hall looks like a high-class European chapel, and in a corner of its grounds, there was the mausoleum I was looking for.

“This is the mausoleum of the family. There are places where names are engraved on silver plates instead of paving stones at their feet, and beneath them, the remains are stored.”

Bright limestone floors arranged like a checkerboard on white plaster walls. There are no idols or fancy decorations, and the lighting and ventilation are good, giving an unexpectedly refreshing feeling.

There should be 11 silver plates neatly embedded in the floor stones should, from the fifth to the fifteenth generations.

Stopping in front of each silver plate from the end, I checked the names. The grave markers sometimes have inscriptions like the motto of the time, recalling the social conditions at that time, it is unexpectedly interesting.

Like the “Guidance to Tranquility” by the 4th Lord Theo, the “Be Fruitful and Multiply” by the 6th King Mason, the “Bond of Brothers” by the 7th King Benjamin, and the “Prepare for Natural Disasters” by the 8th King Louis.

“Huh? It’s not in order?”

The name engraved on the first silver plate was that of the sixth generation, King Mason. Where is the fifth generation?

“King Mason built this mausoleum. The name of Lord Hugo from the fifth generation is a little further down.”

Coming after the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth, I finally found the name of the fifth generation. Why is it in this position? After the fifth generation, it’s in proper order from the tenth to the sixteenth, isn’t it? Hey, wait a minute?

“Huh, sixteenth generation? Isn’t he still alive?”

The name of my father, who is the current head, was already engraved on the sixteenth generation’s silver plate.

“Yes. It is customary to have the name engraved here upon assuming the position of the head.”

“Isn’t it too early? Can’t it be done after death?”

“It’s not that it can’t be done, but it’s a tradition since the first lord.”

The first Lord Lucas prepared his own grave before his death and engraved his name on a silver plate instead of a tombstone. Then the subsequent heads of the family followed suit.

The lakeside mansion was filled with spirits all over the lake. There are also quite a number of small spirits in the main house. The mausoleum is no exception.

—Who?

—A new kid?

—Small but big

—He’s so cuteeee

Actually, I’ve been hearing whispers of wind and light spirits all along. They are different from the group of spirits that gathered in the middle compound. These are new ones. So.

“I am Lyon, the designated heir of the Kilyam family. I intend to live a life that, even in ashes, will be cherished by spirits, much like the past leaders who rest here. I would be happy to become friends with all of you. Thank you in advance.”

I expressed my current feelings and greeted them.

Even if the master of the covenant passes away, I wanted friendly spirits who would come to visit. “Let’s get along,” I said to them. And then…

— Lyon

— Get along

— Please

— Happy

— Wish

Little spirits gathered one after another and were drawn in.

Where were they drawn to?

To the spirit ball of Faein, the wind spirit that had been clinging to me since morning. Recently, the surrounding wind spirits inexplicably flocked to the growing Faein, and they became one.

— Together with everyone

“What just happened? Are the other kids with Faein?”

Faein, who had grown more than a size, making it difficult to call it a little spirit anymore. I asked about the mysterious phenomenon that occurred right in front of me.

— All together

“Is that so?”

— All connected

Since giving it a name, there seemed to be a link of sorts between me and Faein, and it felt somewhat strengthened.

“All together” probably referred to a form like a collective consciousness, where new little spirits hitched a ride on Faein’s link?

Even so, I didn’t really understand the ecology of spirits. I can only grasp it on intuitively.

I want to know more about spirits. Are there any documents left by past leaders? It might come up if I ask. I’ll look into it