Chapter 3

How much time has passed since then?

How did I end up here?

When Rina realized it, she was in some room.

Someone must have brought her here, but there was no way Rina could know how she got here, as she had stopped thinking about it.

How much time had passed? Rina, sitting on the sofa, looked around blankly.

"A room that looks like it belongs to a noble."

That was her impression.

A room for a young lady living in a very nice place. Her expression was quite limited, but she couldn't describe things she had never seen before.

A room for a young noble lady in medieval Europe. It was luxurious but not vulgar, with a calm and elegant atmosphere. The sofa, table, curtains, and other furnishings seemed to have been chosen by someone with good taste, and for some reason, it was a particularly calming room.

... On the small table in front of her, there were fruits.

Are the red ones apples? The small purple fruits are larger and have a firmer skin than grapes.

Whether this is another world or not, it's certain that this is not Japan.

Next to the fruits, there was a paring knife, presumably for cutting them.

Rina unconsciously picked up the paring knife and pressed it against her fingertips.

Then, she slowly pulled it.

"......"

A sharp pain ran through her.

This world, which she had half-expected to be a dream, was not a dream.

And it seemed that the summoning those men spoke of might be real.

A gash opened on her fingertip, and fresh blood flowed, accompanied by a stinging, unpleasant pain.

... Ah, I'm really alive. This is reality.

The warm blood flowing, ... it was almost funny.

"......!! ... W-What are you doing!?"

At that moment, a high-pitched, almost scream-like voice echoed through the room.

Two women, who had either entered the room at some point or were already there, seemed shocked by Rina's situation.

"......"

Rina looked up at them with a blank expression.

Even if they asked her what she was doing, she herself didn't really understand.

"Monica!! Get a potion from the infirmary quickly!!"

"......Y-Yes!!"

A woman in her 40s, presumably, gave the younger Monica hurried instructions.

Then, she slowly took the paring knife from Rina's right hand.

Taking a handkerchief from her pocket, she pressed it against Rina's fingertip. It seemed to have cut deeper than expected, as the handkerchief quickly turned red.

"......Why did you do such a thing?"

The woman said this with a tone that could be interpreted as slightly angry.

... Kind of, for no reason?

If she said that, would they be disappointed?

Or would they be angry?

"......"

Unable to say anything, Rina lowered her head and remained silent.

"......I haven't been told anything, so I can't understand your feelings. ... But, even if you are in pain, please do not harm yourself."

To this woman, who seemed more pained than Rina herself, Rina could only respond,

"......I understand......"

-- Bang!!

"......Lady Rana!! I've brought the potion!!"

Monica burst into the room.

The woman holding Rina's wound was Lady Rana, presumably the head maid.

"Here!! Apply it to the wound!!"

said Lady Rana.

... Wait, what? Did she say potion!?

Rina, hearing the unfamiliar word, doubted her ears. The wound was painful, and she had many questions, but her curiosity overcame her fear of this impossible world.

"......"

As Rina was thinking about all this, Lady Rana took the handkerchief and was about to apply the potion.

"It's okay, right? This kind of wound will close without pain."

Rina reflexively tried to pull her hand back, but Lady Rana firmly held her wrist.

... What!?

No preparation or explanation?

"......Ahh......"

Please forgive her for making such a pitiful sound.

It wasn't painful, right? It wasn't painful.

But, the process of the wound closing was creepy. Not just the look of it, but the feel of it!!

... It's like ants crawling all over!!

Whoever came up with that phrase is a genius. I always wondered what "ants crawling" meant, but this is it!

It feels like worms are undulating and swimming on your skin as the wound heals.

... To be honest, it's disgusting!!

"It wasn't painful, was it?"

Lady Rana smiled and said.

"......Huh"

The sound that came out was more of a sigh than a response. That's not the issue...

There was no moment to say thank you.

Next to her, Monica efficiently wiped away the blood and cast a spell.

"Purify"

At that moment, the table seemed to sparkle.

It was brief, but it must have been a spell.

"Purify" must mean disinfection. The table was stained with blood.

... And it's magic!! Magic!!

So, this is another world... she fully understood at that moment.