A Young Woman Named Flora

“Come here, Rei.”

“Look at this cute Santa doll.”

“Dad? Mom?”

“That’s right, Rei, come here.”

I approached them and hugged them. My tears couldn’t hold back the longing I had kept to myself all this time.

“It’s okay, Rei, everything will be fine.”

“That’s right, we will always be with you.”

Right, this is better. This is what I wanted.

Eh? Dad? Mom?

They all disappeared. I screamed with all my might, but they didn’t reappear.

“Rei….”

“Why did you kill us?”

From below, a black shadow emerged. My legs were pulled by my uncle and aunt, feeling like I was being sucked into living mud.

“Damn it! Let me go! This is all your fault! You’re the ones who made me suffer!”

Their shadows pulled me deeper. As my vision blurred, I saw many figures I hated. They were smiling and laughing at me.

Damn it. Do you think I’ll let myself be a laughingstock? You’re wrong. I won’t let that happen, damn it! Screw hell! I’ll live!

Suddenly everything went dark, my body was very difficult to move. Slowly I began to open my eyes, a well-maintained wooden roof, a warm atmosphere around me.

Where am I?

“Are you awake?”

My eyes looked at the person who asked that. A young woman with short blonde hair wearing a long green dress and an apron.

“Who are you?”

The woman walked toward me. Was she going to kill me?

*Ctak!* (sfx flicked)

“Ouch!”

Suddenly she flicked my forehead. What is this woman doing?

“I don't like the way you talk. It's annoying. Besides, before asking someone else's name, introduce yourself first.”

“I'm Rei. Who are you?”

*Ctak!* (sfx flicked)

“Ouch! That hurts! What was that for?!”

“If you keep talking like that, I’ll keep flicking your forehead.”

The woman looked at me seriously, her hand ready to flick me again. She didn’t seem to be joking. Damn it, for now I’ll do what she wants. I’ll get her back someday.

“E-ehm, let me introduce myself, my name is Rei. If you kind lady don’t mind, may I ask where I am right now?”

The woman was still staring at me.

“Pfftt… you call me kind lady. Hahaha, you’re funny.”

Hold on, Rei. Hold on. Right now, I can’t do anything. When I can move, I’ll make her forehead turn blue.

“Oh, are you cursing in your heart?”

“N-no! Of course not!”

Damn it, how did she know?

“Really?”

No, no, no, your face is too close!

“What’s wrong? Your face is red, did your wound open?”

Opportunity!

“Uhuk… uhuk… sorry, miss, my body is still in a lot of pain. I think I need more time to rest.”

“Well… then what can I do. I still want to tease you.”

I smiled, trying to hold back my emotions.

“In that case, I'll leave first.”

I smiled until the door was completely closed.

*Dug* (sfx door closing)

Hah... Finally, I can escape from that terrifying woman.

“Hah...”

“Oh, are you relieved that I'm leaving?”

Wait, since when was she there?

“Of course not, miss.”

The woman approached me carrying a bowl and sat on the chair next to my bed.

“Eat this.”

“I'm sorry, miss, I don't mean to refuse your kindness, but right now I can't move my body at all.”

The woman suddenly handed me a spoon.

“Open your mouth.”

“It seems I can move my hands now.”

“You said you couldn’t earlier.”

“But now I can.”

“Hey… I’ve noticed you’ve been very wary of me since the beginning. Do I look like I’d harm you?”

I couldn’t deny it, but I had no other choice. In this world, I only trust myself.

“No—

“Earlier, an Alphenia guard came to this village looking for you.”

“Damn it! Are you also a dog of that bastard king?!”

*Ctak!* (sfx flicked)

“That guard was driven away by Mr. Roger, the man who found you under the waterfall and also the village chief.”

Why are they helping me? What’s in it for them to save a stranger like me? I don’t understand.

“You’re mistaken if you think we’re helping you for free.”

“I knew it.”

“Of course. Once you're better, you have to help the villagers who need it.”

“Huh?”

“Why? Don't you want to? Do I have to smack your forehead again?”

"No, no, that's not it. I just don't understand. Doesn't expelling the guards mean that you are rejecting the orders of King Rapo XI? Aren't you afraid of him?"

“Huh! That jerk of a king is not fit to sit on the throne. Our village has not been bound to them for decades and is now under the protection of the empire. He wouldn't dare mess with the empire.”

Hearing that, I felt relieved. At least I knew he and the villagers weren’t bad people.

“Now it’s your turn. Why are they looking for you? Who are you really?”

I thought deeply and decided I had to be honest this time.

“I’m a human from another world.”

The woman looked very surprised to hear this. Yes, I know this is not something that ordinary people can easily digest.

“Huhahaha! A human from another world, he says!”

Wait. I feel annoyed. Why is this woman laughing?

“Mother! It turns out we saved a human from another world!”

It seems like my decision this time was very wrong. I’m so embarrassed.

“Sorry, sorry, but that was really funny. My name is Flora. So what are you doing here, ‘man from another world’?”

“Flora… before that, I want you to promise not to laugh at anything I say from now on, or I won’t tell you.”

“Alright, I promise.”

I told her everything, starting from the moment I suddenly fell ill in my previous world until I came to this world, chased by guards, and decided to jump off the waterfall.

I could sense that Flora was trying to hold back her laughter every time I spoke, and it honestly annoyed me. But at least she kept her promise not to laugh.

“If you were summoned to this world as a hero, then why do they want to kill you?”

“That's what I want to know too. What is the real reason I was summoned to this world?”

I tried to remember, and the conversation between the junior high school students at the supermarket popped into my head.

“Is there a demon king in this world?”

“...”

"Pfftt Hahahaha! Demon king! Oh, my stomach hurts so much from laughing!”

Can I just slap this woman once?

“Sorry, sorry, but there’s no demon king here. But if there are monsters, they can be dangerous sometimes, but not always. For now, you don’t need to worry about such things. Open your mouth; this porridge isn’t good if it’s not hot.”

She speaks so easily. But doesn’t she feel ashamed? Maybe I’m the one thinking strangely? Damn, this isn’t like me.

“Are you afraid I’ll poison the porridge?”

*Slurp* (sfx tasting)

“Well, I’ve tried it, now open your mouth.”

I don't know why, but my heart is pounding right now and my face feels very hot. Maybe my illness is coming back.

"Flora, can you come here?"

"Oh, my mother is calling me. I'll leave the porridge here, okay?"

After she left, my body felt normal again. That woman was dangerous.