NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6
When I, Shizuku Saioji, first arrived in this other world, the initial event that occurred was my escape from kidnappers.
It was shortly after I had entered high school. I was waiting for the family car in front of the school gate when the view of asphalt ground and towering skyscrapers suddenly transformed into a hilltop with magnificent natural scenery, the likes of which I had only seen on TV.
“That girl must be the Divine Child! Capture her!”
The place where I landed was close to a town, offering a clear view, but there was also a forest nearby where bandits were said to lurk.
Walking alone and unaware along the forest path leading to town, it was only natural that I became a target for these bandits.
Had I not possessed special abilities, I would have been captured by them, possibly becoming a plaything or sold into slavery.
At the very least, a grim future awaited me.
Several months passed after being transported to this other world. Initially, I was targeted by evildoers, but soon enough, I found good fortune in the town nearby called Shinensa, leading to a relatively smooth life in this other world.
I lived in Shinensa, working at a small shop run by a kind elderly couple, while searching for a way to return to my original world.
Living in Asphial, this world, had its challenges, but the game-like assistance I received helped me manage.
What particularly aided me was the fact that despite the medieval European setting, the language and script were comprehensible, and my physical abilities were extraordinary.
Though I had not engaged much in physical activities during junior high and high school due to family obligations, and had no particular sense of being athletic, my leg strength surpassed the fastest horses in town, and I could run all night without tiring.
People I met attributed this supernatural strength to the Divine Child. Upon inquiring, I learned that the term “Divine Child” referred to individuals like me who had been transported to another world.
Divine Children possess extraordinarily high physical abilities and powerful blessings, with varying degrees of strength, but all are considered to be immensely talented.
Hence, I was frequently scouted by adventurers whenever I went to town.
Due to these circumstances, I was naturally guided to become an adventurer. Initially, I traveled alone, hunting formidable monsters akin to a traditional RPG hero, which eventually attracted people who had heard of my exploits.
While I didn’t become completely distrustful of men, my initial attack after being transported made me choose only women as companions.
People often speculated that I might be a lesbian or hate men, but that wasn’t the case.
At the very least, I still desired to experience love, and my companions understood that I wasn’t against men.
My companions never questioned my purpose for traveling around. I hoped that one day, I could share my story with them.
About three years had passed since I was transported to this world.
My adventurer team had grown to about 30 members, capable of soloing previously unexplored dungeons.
We now received attention from prominent merchants and nobles in major cities, expanding my information network significantly.
From the information I had gathered over these three years, I learned that there were other transported and reincarnated individuals like me in this world.
Many approached me, seeking contact, but most harbored ulterior motives. While not all were enemies, I remained cautious.
Therefore, there were no reincarnated or transported members in my team.
Then, a turning point arrived suddenly.
In a town called Erachton, unremarkable in many ways.
While we were resupplying for our journey to the royal capital, we held a meal in a small restaurant we had rented out.
While enjoying a rare moment of leisure in the world of Asphial and chatting with my team members, Aina, who had arrived late, handed me a package addressed to me.
According to Aina, the sender claimed it contained something that would greatly interest me.
Our adventurer team, the “Brigade of the Crescent Moon,” received numerous gifts and invitations from the town’s influential figures due to our exploits.
The reasons varied, from those simply wanting to form connections to those desiring to hire our entire team.
Some even sought to make me their bride.
The package Aina handed me was wrapped in thin paper, different from the luxurious tea sets and equipment usually sent by merchants and nobles.
Curious about its light weight, I unwrapped the paper to reveal its contents.
Inside the package were the latest issue of the fashion magazine *JUAN* and the first volume of *Yume Koi*, a nationally popular romance manga I had been a huge fan of back in Japan.
People often claimed they could surprise me, but this truly did.
I had received extravagant gifts before, like dragon scale accessories from those wishing to marry me, but none had ever left me feeling amazed or moved.
As someone who could single-handedly defeat a dragon, such gifts were beautiful but hardly surprising.
With wealth and power at my disposal, I could obtain most things by myself. Hence, I didn’t expect much from this package.
But seeing the latest issue of *JUAN*, a magazine my fashion-loving classmates read daily, and the first volume of *Yume Koi*, a manga I adored, filled me with joy and nostalgia.