Comfortable Discomfort

"Hmmm," I murmur while rubbing my face against the pillow.

Makes me want to sleep a bit more. I hadn't even realized how comfortable the beds in this place were.

After not being able to sleep properly for three days, this night's sleep was wonderful.

Taking my face off the fluffy pillow, I turn to the side and feel around with my arm, searching for a familiar form.

Nothing.

Opening my eyes, still a bit confused, I realize I'm alone in bed.

"Oliver?" I furrow my brow while scanning the room with my gaze, finding a familiar figure sitting in an armchair, asleep, holding a book that's almost falling from his hand. In front of him, on the coffee table, a pile of books and plates are scattered about.

Still frowning, I lazily get up from bed. The feeling of the room's fluffy carpet on the soles of my feet makes my frown soften a bit.

Now in front of the familiar figure, seeing him sleep while sitting with his neck tilted back, making his mouth hang open in a silly way, my frown completely softens—trading the irritation of waking up alone in bed for a smile.

"Who would've thought I'd see Oliver reading something by choice." I murmur, delicately taking the almost-loose book from his hands and reading its cover.

"The History of the Kingdom of Glooven... Yeah, I would've fallen asleep reading this book too," I think out loud while placing the book on top of the pile on the coffee table.

"Hey, wake up, you're gonna end up with a stiff neck sleeping all twisted like that." I say, poking his cheek.

⁂

"Huh?" I ask confused, reflexively slapping my own face after feeling something, only to hear Helena's giggle as she stands beside me.

Straightening my already stiff neck, I groan from the pain of sleeping in an uncomfortable position.

I grab the glass with the leftover juice from between the pile of empty plates and the pile of books from last night and take a sip while massaging my neck with my other hand.

"Bitter." I can't help but scrunch my face.

"The juice here is bitter, isn't it?" Helena says, observing me.

Nodding in agreement, I ask: "What time is it?"

"Daytime... I think," she responds.

"..."
"..."

"What, you think I have a phone to check the time?" She says, raising an eyebrow.

"My bad," I acknowledge.

"You read all this?"

"Uh-huh," I respond while stretching.

"How?" she asks, surprised.

Getting up, I approach her and flick her forehead. "How could I read so many books in a few hours? I barely finished what I started."

While she makes an exaggerated expression and keeps rubbing her forehead.

Poof

I throw myself on the bed.

I spent the whole night reading after eating... Actually, I don't think I've ever eaten that much at once in my life.

Well, I've also never slept for three days straight.

"What are you doing?" I hear Helena ask.

"Sleeping."

"Didn't you sleep enough?" she insists.

"..."
"..."

⁂

"Tsk..."

He doesn't sleep with me and as soon as I wake up, he goes to bed.

Sigh

I'm not stupid, he probably feels uncomfortable sleeping next to a girl he doesn't remember.

Watching him lying in bed, I wonder: if he forgot everything, is he still the Oliver I know?

Approaching, I cover him with the blanket while smiling and pushing away unnecessary thoughts.

How could he not be?

⁂

"Father Francisco, are you certain of this?" A tall woman with red hair asks, surprised.

"Yes, Lady Evelyn. The summoned one who fainted upon arrival has awakened, and after checking his body, I found I couldn't determine his mana affinity limit," Father Francisco, with his blond hair and white tunic, responds.

"Even the other summoned ones who possess extreme mana affinity don't come close," he continues while calmly pouring tea from a teapot into a gold-adorned cup in front of Lady Evelyn. "Achieving a reaction with just a single magical particle is unprecedented."

"A single particle..." Lady Evelyn murmurs, placing her fingers on her chin while deliberating.

"Father Francisco," she calls after a brief moment.

"Yes, Lady Evelyn."

"Give this summoned one the best treatment. Provide him with whatever he desires."

"We can't just—"

"No!" she interrupts.

"Will you be able to handle him after he gains knowledge and experience?" she asks.

"I beg your pardon, Lady Evelyn," the priest acknowledges.

"You may go."

"I am at your disposal." He says goodbye with a brief bow.

The tall redhead watches as the priest withdraws from the room, stops in front of the large double wooden door, and gestures, making it open magically.

Outside, the priest makes another gesture and remains in a bow position until the large door closes.

Sigh

"A single magical particle, huh..." Lady Evelyn murmurs.

⁂

"Alice, did you see that shop in the shopping district?" ...

"Hahahaha, when I looked to see who was talking, it was a talking donkey!" ...

"I hate that we have to shit in a hole!" ...

The students were gathered at a large table—after all, it was lunchtime. Some chatted happily in pairs or groups, while others remained silent, as if reflecting on something.

I couldn't sleep much this morning. Helena woke me up and insisted I come have lunch with everyone.

I felt uncomfortable. I really don't know any of these kids, but it seems most of their interest in my situation didn't persist for long—or rather, their interest in me isn't greater than their interest in themselves and their peculiar new situation.

Of course, Oliver had friends.

"I never thought I'd see you eating salad," said a young man with platinum hair—Dan, as everyone calls him. From what it seems, aside from Helena, he's the one who had the most familiarity with me.

Despite his rebellious hair, he has a pretty friendly face and personality.

Not just him; Helena, Clara, Joseph, the fat Joh, and a new figure not present in the room yesterday: Alex, a young man of common appearance and stature who seems to be friends with my parallel version and Dan.

With everyone focused on me, I swallow the salad and ask, "And you guys, how are you processing all this? What have you been doing these past 4 days?"

"..."

That's a difficult question for these young people.

I look at Alex, his gaze wavering as he plays with the food on his plate.

"It's desperate, this situation is absurd!" Dan states, breaking the tension.

Another thing I learned: it seems where these young people come from, common sense or familiar things like 'isekai' or 'transmigration' seem to be nonexistent.

"At first, we were all scared and wanting to see our families. Many, like me, couldn't believe in the objective reality of the situation, but after they offered us tours around the city and bought us everything we wanted, it seems many have already forgotten the situation they're in or simply don't care anymore..." Joseph enters the conversation, discreetly pointing with his head toward a lively group of students.

"And what situation are we in?" I ask, curious.

"You don't remember, but within Lady Evelyn's welcome speech, it was clear we came here as reinforcement for the country's forces. So I bet they're treating us well as a way to convince us to stay and cooperate," Joseph completes, adjusting his glasses.