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Chapter 17 part 1 – The Beginning of My Fifteen-Year War

A full year has passed since I became aware in this world.

Since the New Year, peaceful days have continued, allowing me to enjoy a luxurious—no, bourgeois—young girl’s life.
That said, there are no smartphones, no television, no internet, and not even radio yet, so my only real form of entertainment at home is reading books.

While my body, or rather my instincts, occasionally seek out childish play, I prioritize absorbing knowledge.
Thanks to that, I’ve even started reading literary works I never touched in my previous life.

As a result, people around me are consistently astonished by how much I devour books.
This reaction has practically become routine by now.

Because of this, most of the household no longer sees me as a mere four-year-old girl.
Since I had half-expected this outcome, I don’t particularly mind. 

In fact, I find it far more comfortable to be treated somewhat like an adult rather than as a helpless toddler.

However, for all my reading and research, I haven’t actually done anything yet.

Meanwhile, I received updates—not from my great-grandfather, but from ‘Souichirou-sama’—updates about the massive stock investments made using the vast hoard of gold acquired by the Ootori clan, following the guidance of my predecessor.
These investments continue to expand steadily. 

Around summer, I also received a report from Tokida after his return from a long-term business trip in Europe and America.
Tokida is scheduled to travel to the U.S. for stock adjustments sometime before spring of 1926.

By early 1926, the Dow Index stocks, which had been brought up in 1924 at prices ranging from the mid-to-high $80s, will reach a peak of nearly $160—almost double.

With $300 million already invested, the total will amount to around $500 million if you include the leveraged funds, even after deducting taxes, fees, and other costs.
At that point, a portion of the stocks will be sold off to secure a significant amount of cash.

This capital can then be used as leverage to take on more debt in Japan, or, since the dollar holds greater purchasing power than the yen, it will be retained in dollars.

And the purpose?
Of course, to prepare for the next move.

Additionally, in the spring to mid-1926, stock prices are expected to experience a temporary decline, at which point large-scale reinvestment will be made.
The advantage of knowing the future must be exploited to its fullest extent.

Naturally, during periods of minor market fluctuations, some short selling will be done as well—just enough to be considered a prudent measure.
Local organizations are already in operation, and everything is progressing smoothly.

This may seem like an unscrupulous act, but considering that people barely believe in future knowledge unless it’s framed as fortune-telling, there’s no need to worry about it.

Rather, I have come to terms with the fact that my very presence in this world is to make use of this future knowledge.

Whatever force brought me into this world and era has yet to reveal itself, so I might as well enjoy my reign while I can.

I found myself thinking such thoughts.

(Since I have no memory after going to bed, this must be a dream.)

With that in mind, I glanced around, but I had no idea where I was.
The surroundings were a hazy gray, including both the floor and ceiling. 

I couldn’t even tell if this was an indoor room or an outdoor space.

There was nothing here.
Only me.

Even my own form was unclear—I couldn’t tell if I was a four-year-old girl, my past self, or my adult self.

Then, something appeared before me.
I couldn’t quite grasp its shape, but it seemed to be a sphere or something similar.

It was an unknown entity, yet, for some reason, I felt a strange sense of familiarity.

Gradually, it began to take on a human form—most likely that of an adult woman.
She was quite tall, with a well-proportioned figure, long and slender limbs, and straight hair cascading down to her waist.

Everything about her was a pale gray, like an unfinished 3D model without textures.

But I immediately knew who she was.

She was my future self.

Then, my future self spoke.
Only her mouth moved on her featureless, gray face.

“Nice to meet you. Do you know who I am?”

“…Probably.”

“How vague. And to think, I am the one who gifted you that body.”

Her voice was elegant and haughty.
A voice that I recognize.

It was unmistakably Reika Hououin, the villainous noblewoman from the otome game Tasogare no Ichizoku.

The people in this world generally feel somewhat different from their game counterparts, but the entity before me—despite looking like a 3D model—perfectly matched the image from the game.
Still, I quickly realized that if I could get any answers from this suspicious figure that had
suddenly appeared, I needed to ask.

After all, she knew that I was someone who had reincarnated into this body.

“If you’re here to explain the situation to me, I’d be very grateful.”

“Yes, I came for exactly that. I had to use what little ‘power’ I have left. Oh, and by the way, I can’t stay for long, so I’ll have to keep this brief. If you have any questions, please make them as concise as possible.”

“Got it. So, what exactly is going on?”

“I appreciate the brevity, but what a vague question. It reveals your upbringing. Well, no matter—we don’t have time to dwell on that. Now then, where should I begin? Oh, yes—first, have you seen the ‘nightmares’ yet? They were one of the few parting gifts I managed to leave behind.”

“Yes, I see four of them every night.”

“Four? That’s strange. There should only be three.”

“Huh? Really? Then I must’ve been mistaken. But honestly, I’m getting tired of them.”

I didn’t even know why I had said four.

It was definitely three.
She seemed satisfied with my correction.

“My apologies for boring you. Three was the best I could manage. As for why each dream contradicts the others—well, I’ve lived this life several times over. But it seems I’ve finally run out of strength, so I needed someone to take over for me. It’s absolutely infuriating.”

“Several times? A replacement?”

“Yes, exactly. Several times. But now, it’s all over. That’s why you, the one who responded to my call, are the replacement. Do you understand?”

Even though there was nothing here, she spoke while assuming a seated posture, as if lounging on a luxurious sofa.
Her every movement was so perfectly villainous that I almost wanted to frame the scene like a portrait.

But that wasn’t what I cared about right now.
I needed information.

“Explain in more detail. Preferably in a way I can understand.”

“Let’s see… The first time, I froze to death in a Siberian prison. The second time, I managed to get rid of that wretched woman, but I got caught in an air raid and didn’t make it out. And the last one—ah, yes. A Soviet political officer showed me footage of the empire’s downfall. He was quite proud of how difficult it had been to obtain from the Americans. Does that answer your question?”

(I did get a little more detail on the nightmares, but that’s not what I really wanted to know.)

“Um, what I really want to know is—how did you manage to redo your life multiple times? And how did you make me reincarnate or possess your body as your replacement?”

“My first downfall was simply too tragic. It seems my sheer resentment somehow transformed into a kind of power. My apologies, but I don’t know the details. I was never particularly interested in that aspect, and there was no one to explain it to me, either.

What I do know is that I was able to restart my life while keeping my memories. But this time, even that became impossible. However, I discovered that by using what little power remained, I could appoint a replacement.

Truly, thank you for answering my call. I am very grateful to you.”

Even though she was just a 3D model, I could tell she had flashed a dazzling smile.
Judging by that expression, she really did seem to appreciate me.

“Well, you’re welcome, I guess. I had just died in an accident myself, so I suppose I should be grateful too.”

“That’s wonderful. In your vocabulary, this would be what you call a Win-Win situation, yes?”

“!!! You can see inside my head?!”