Chapter 1
Oh, I died.
I guess that's the only thing that could happen when you skip up the station's stairs during a typhoon.
But like, I absolutely had to go see the concert, y'know. After all the times I applied to the online raffle for them I wasn't letting them go to waste.
The group was already pretty popular to start with, but once their theme song to a movie became a smash hit, tickets were just impossible to get.
So there I was, skipping up the stairs trying to reach the concert venue.
Yup. The heavy cascading rainfall made getting up the stairs a no-go where it flowed.
I recalled slipping along the way; the scenery pa.s.sing me by in slow motion.
I heard the sounds of the train; the sound of water and people's shrieking.
I felt my head collide with something hard while I was falling.
Aw man… I so wanted to see the concert…
With that feeling in my heart, I shut my eyes.
Somewhere, I heard a bird singing.
Yeeeeah. That's a chicken, isn't it?
The sucker's crowing with an overly energetic voice.
Hey wait, wasn't my plan to go to the concert today?
Right, right. Because of that I slipped down the stairs…
I suddenly popped my eyes open.
What was reflected in my eyes was a blinding light. Outside? That's not it… a room then?
Which would mean, somehow I was saved right? Well, having said that, I must've been taken to a hospital.
But I mean, I hit my head pretty hard y'know.
Well considering I'm alive, why don't I try moving my body?
Got to gently put strength into my fingers.
Yep, they're fine.
Now to bring my hand in front of my face.
My feet… Seem okay too.
After worrying about my neck a bit, I looked around. What I saw was a grand room, but far from any furniture, there weren't even any curtains.
No matter how I look at it, this doesn't seem to be a hospital. The heck is this place?
Since I struck my head, I was careful in raising it up.
Am I dizzy… doesn't seem like it.
But man, even though I smashed my head real good falling down those stairs, I'm just fine.
Yet again, there went that chicken crying outside the window.
Beyond the window, I could see clear blue skies dotted with trees.
For reals, the f*ck am I.
Oops, let my language slip there. But this situation is so out of the norm, couldn't be helped!
…Wait, that's not it at all! What in the f*ck happened to me!?
While I furtively glanced around me, I found a letter placed down beside me.
I was kinda afraid to read the words written there, so I frightfully reached for it.
I mean, the thing had "To the stranger waking up in this house" written on it.
To the stranger waking up in this house:
How do you do, I am the World-Crossing Witch. Waking up in such a strange place must be quite shocking, am I right?
My apologies dear, I would have loved to explain things to you in person, however I had to immediately head out on a journey, so we'll just have to settle for this here letter.
Well, let's get on with it shall we.
Regrettably, you've already pa.s.sed away in your home world. You could argue that right now you're only a soul.
There were three conditions I had set for the summoning:
- To be a soul on the verge of departing.
- To hold an apt.i.tude for alchemy to inherit this house.
- To hold no animosity towards the world.
Please forgive my selfishness in dragging you to this room.
However, after going through all the trouble to make this miniature garden, I absolutely had to find someone to take care of it in my stead.
As for my journey, it involves this and a separate world. That's right, perhaps it would be better to call it "Another World", wouldn't it?
Haha, well, I wonder if you'll believe in such a thing as other worlds.
But hey, it's the truth you know. I've been travelling through various worlds for a long time now.
To tell the truth I crossed into that world the same as any other, but it was just so comfortable that I ended up staying a while.
In order for you to live comfortably here I've gone ahead and left you with the ability to use Alchemy, along with an aide for you to make use of.
Your strength, along with the guardian's should be enough to protect the garden, don't you think?
Cocco, the guardian, is a moody child, but if you give him his favorite golden fruit from the garden I think you two will get along just fine.
If there's anything you don't understand, asking the guide will be fine…
I went to great lengths to keep your memories as untouched as I could, but I had to take some that might shake you emotionally. Those would just exacerbate the wounds on your soul and cause you great pain.
My apologies for asking for forgiveness rather than permission.
Well then, I pray that your life from here on is filled with many blessings.
To you, stranger, with love,
World-Crossing Witch
Wait a sec, World-Crossing Witch? WTF is that?
Witch, or Alchemy, or whatever, daf*q you talking about?
Someone…
Could someone explain pleeease!
