I stayed perched on the edge of the crate, cloak pooling around me, fingers brushing the worn wood.
The storehouse was quiet, too quiet, but not uncomfortable. The musty scent of dried herbs clung to the air, and despite the worn appearance of the place, it felt… safe. Temporary or not, this space was mine, for now.
It hadn't been long since Rina promised to bring food. I half-expected the door to swing open any moment, but instead, Time stretched on, filled only with the faint sounds drifting in through the cracks,children laughing, a dog barking, the occasional clatter of tools.
Maybe they were still deciding what to do with me.
I stood, stretched my legs, and slowly walked a circle around the small room. Crates lined two of the walls—some sealed, others partially open and packed with dried goods. A small window near the ceiling let in soft afternoon light. Judging by the angle of the sunbeam, it wasn't quite evening yet.
I sat again and leaned back against the wall, trying to gather my thoughts.
Where exactly was I? I recognized neither the names they mentioned—Daichi, Elder Haru—nor the layout of the land. And none of it explained how I'd woken up in a clearing with no memory of how I got there. If I hadn't read so many isekai stories, I might've been screaming in panic by now.
A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.
It creaked open, and Rina slipped in, holding a cloth-covered tray. She gave me a small smile as she approached.
"Sorry for the wait," she said, placing it beside me. "Things got a bit… busy."
I uncovered the tray: a bowl of rice, grilled fish, some pickled vegetables, and a wooden cup of water. Simple, but warm and filling.
"Thanks!" I said with a smile, already reaching for the chopsticks.
Rina gave a small smile in return as she leaned against a crate, arms crossed. "They're still talking about you, y'know. Some people are nervous."
"I figured." I paused between bites. "But no one's come in with pitchforks, so that's something."
She huffed a soft laugh. "Koji wanted to, I think."
I blinked. "Seriously?"
She waved a hand. "I'm joking. Mostly."
We lapsed into a quiet rhythm. I ate while she watched, her gaze thoughtful.
"You're calm," she said after a while. "Too calm, for someone who just… appeared."
I set the bowl down, meeting her eyes. "Panicking won't change anything. Besides, you're giving me food. That's more than enough reason to stay civil."
She looked like she wanted to ask more, but held back.
"I'm not here to cause problems," I added. "I'm just trying to figure things out."
I've repeated that line so often, it's driving me a little crazy now
Another pause.
Then she nodded once and stood. "We'll be gathering in the square soon. Just a few people. It's… sort of a village thing. You don't have to come, but Daichi said you could watch if you wanted."
"What kind of thing?"
"You'll see." She offered a sly smile and headed for the door. "Come if you're curious."
Once she was gone, I cleaned up the tray and stepped outside, blinking as the late afternoon sun warmed my skin. The village was still busy, kids chasing each other, a few women tending to small gardens, smoke rising from cooking fires.
Curious, I followed the path Rina had taken earlier.
The village square was little more than an open space between a few homes. A raised wooden platform stood at one end, where Daichi and a few others were setting something up. Koji leaned against a post nearby, arms folded, eyes flicking toward me as I approached.
I stayed near the back, not wanting to make a scene.
Rina spotted me and waved subtly before turning back to the group gathering near the platform. Taro was there too, whispering something to a small girl beside him.
"What's going on?" I asked softly when Rina passed near again.
"Just a meeting," she murmured. "Daichi's going to address the village. He'll probably mention you."
Great.
As the crowd settled, Daichi stepped onto the platform. His voice carried easily.
"We've had an unexpected visitor," he said, no preamble. "You've all seen her. She's not from this island, but she's not a threat. She'll be staying in the old storehouse while we learn more."
Whispers rose around me.
Daichi raised a hand. "I won't tolerate fearmongering. Until Elder Haru returns, we treat her as a guest. Understood?"
A few heads nodded. Some didn't move at all.
Still, no one shouted. No one stepped forward to protest. Just a few mutters and sideways glances as people began to drift away.
I let out a slow breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Something inside me loosened, like a knot starting to come undone. Maybe they didn't accept me yet—not completely—but they were giving me a chance. That was more than I could've hoped for.
System: | Mission progression rate increased — current Progress: 15% |
The glow of those words in my mind made me smile. Nice. Things are going smoothly. That was the only thought in my head.
Then I caught it.
A man, older, standing at the edge of the crowd. He hadn't said a word, hadn't moved since Daichi's announcement. He was staring directly at me—not with anger or fear, but something quieter. Sharper. Like he was trying to figure something out, something just beyond reach.
And when our eyes met, he didn't look away.
He simply turned and walked off without a word.
The smile faded from my face.
The way some villagers looked at me. The way others didn't look at all. How quiet it had gotten so quickly.
Something about this place was too calm. Too careful.
And I was starting to wonder what, exactly, they were trying so hard to keep quiet.