Chapter 4

I was hired as a servant.

Mr. Modal said he would treat me as a guest, but I politely declined. I can't use magic, and I'm ignorant of this world.

"I don't have any magical power, so please give me a job that doesn't require it."

Mr. Modal waved his hand in front of his face.

"No, no, most commoners, including me, can't use magic, so don't worry. My daughter Sherry is one of the rare commoners who has magical power. Thanks to that, she was hired by the royal castle."

Is that so? I felt like my legs would give out with relief.

I was to be trained by the head servant, Claire. Claire is a plump woman in her fifties with her hair tied up in a bun. She led me to the servants' room with a gentle smile.

"I heard from the master. What a terrible thing to happen. Don't worry; everyone here is very nice. This is your room. It's a shared room. It's small, but it has everything you need. You'll be sharing with Connie. She's still working, so I'll introduce you later. Your belongings... you don't have any. You were really summoned and thrown out without anything, weren't you?"

Claire hugged me tightly.

"That must be hard. You had your own life. But this country isn't full of such people. Please try to stay positive."

Claire's arms were warm and soft, and my rough heart felt a little soothed.

I was assigned to clean the guest rooms. When I said I was good at cleaning, Claire said, "Let's see your skills," and gave me the task of cleaning a room after a guest had left. After I finished, Claire inspected it.

"There's nothing to criticize. Did you do cleaning work in your previous world?"

"No, I was a regular office worker. My hobby was traveling alone on my days off, and I often stayed in cheap inns. Some were clean, and some weren't, so I can see from a guest's perspective what needs attention."

"I see. You can start working alone from today."

That's good. I can be of use. I'll do my best. If I can't go back, I have to live in this world.

"I want to start working right away. It will help me not think about anything," I pleaded, and Claire handed me a uniform, saying, "I'm sorry." It was a maid's dress shorter than the one Sherry wore.

Most of the guest rooms were for one or two people, with one for four. I cleaned using a broom, dustpan, bucket, and mop. I also used a rag from the cleaning supplies. I polished under the bed, the window frames, the top of the small dresser, and the table and chairs. Changing the sheets and covers on the bed was also my job.

I got so absorbed in my work that I didn't have to think about anything. I carefully cleaned the corners of the room, the underside of the chair legs, the edges of the window frames, and the edges of the mirrors. When I was cleaning, I didn't feel anger or sadness.

I worked so hard that the day ended. For lunch, we took turns eating sandwiches quickly. Late at night, when all the guests had settled into their rooms, the servants gathered. Mr. Modal explained how I came to be here, that I was hired as a cleaner, and that Sherry had recommended me.

"Except for your hair and eyes, you're just like any other girl in this world. What a terrible thing. To summon someone and then throw her out just because she can't use magic."

A well-built man in his thirties was clenching his lips. He was the cook, Miles.

"You'll be sharing a room with me from tonight. I'm Connie. Nice to meet you!"

Connie was a cute person with reddish-brown hair. I felt relieved that she seemed nice. Then we had a late dinner.

"So, why were you summoned? There must be a reason, right?"

"Maybe they wanted to summon an excellent magic user. I don't know any details."

Everyone was grumbling about the high-ups at the royal palace, saying they were too arbitrary and inhumane. I nodded in agreement but didn't mention the great disaster. If I let it slip and got killed, that would be terrible. I value my life.

"Come on, Haru, you must be tired today. Get some rest early tonight."

"Thank you, Claire."

In the days that followed, I sometimes felt down, but when that happened, I threw myself into my work to forget. I worked hard, got tired, and slept well. Before I knew it, it was my day off every two weeks.

"Haru, you have the day off today. What are you going to do?"

"I want to go to the market. I don't know anything about this country, so I want to learn a little at a time."

"Okay. Be careful of pickpockets. Oh, right, you don't even have a purse."

I had the money I was paid weekly. I didn't even have a purse, let alone any personal belongings. Connie gave me a cute pink cloth pouch as a gift. It was a purse. I put my money in it and set out.

"I'm going!"

"Be careful not to get lost!"

The market was just a short walk from the inn. The presence of many people, the calls of vendors, and the smell of food. The important people said a great disaster was coming, but there was no sign of it. The weather was refreshing, and the market was full of vitality. Is the great disaster really coming?

A major earthquake? A huge typhoon? But even in Japan, countless disasters have occurred, and the country hasn't been destroyed. Maybe I'm worrying too much.

Exploring the market was fun. I bought and ate things I had never eaten before from street vendors. I also drank a juice with a flavor I had never tasted.

And then, I met someone I didn't want to see.