Chapter 002
The title of the novel I had been reincarnated into was none other than The Baby Saintess from the Future. Shortened to Future Saintess.
It was my favorite work—one I had read more than five times in my past life.
‘But just because I liked it didn’t mean I wanted to be reincarnated into it like this…!’
You don’t want to become a ghost just because you like horror movies, do you?
Anyway.
The reason I first read the novel was that the setting was quite fresh.
Future Saintess wasn’t a story about regression, possession, or reincarnation; it was a “time-leap” story.
The plot is a bit complicated, but to summarize:
Melody, who awakened as a Saintess, is abused and exploited by the people of the Temple despite her young age.
In the midst of that, she gains the power of a time leap and decides to flee to a timeline seven years into the past—before she was even born.
Thus, she arrives in the year 636.
Melody is adopted by a certain woman and begins a happy life, but…
‘If it ended there, it wouldn’t be a child-rearing novel.’
Suddenly, the adoptive mother dies, and Melody faces the crisis of being captured by the Temple once again. At that moment, as if by a miracle, she is saved by the Dragon Duke and becomes his foster daughter.
From then on, it’s a typical “doting” child-rearing novel.
The cold Duke becomes a fool for his daughter day by day, and his nephews become fools for their little sister—that kind of story.
‘For some reason, I can’t exactly remember the ending.’
But like most works of this genre, it must surely be a happy ending.
Whew. I let out a sigh.
Right, well. My Melody’s life being a happy ending isn’t a bad thing…
But honestly, aside from that, it was hopeless. Because the mother who dies early on is my role!
‘Please, save the mother too.’
Even if it is a child-rearing novel.
I’m a person too, a person!
If I could, I’d want to grab the author by the collar, but that was impossible now anyway.
“Sigh, what a life.”
It’s always like this just when I’m about to become happy.
In my past life, I was a kindergarten teacher.
Perhaps because it was the profession I had dreamed of my whole life, it was my true calling.
Even though it was physically demanding, all my fatigue would melt away when I saw the children smiling and calling me ‘Teache-er.’
So I thought I wanted to live my whole life surrounded by children…
‘Who would have known I’d die less than a year after getting a job.’
And even now, having finally been reincarnated, I’m destined to die shortly. Sigh.
When I jerked my head up from its dejected slump, I saw Melody tiptoeing around.
Look at this little one. Her mom is dying of distress here.
Is she trying to play innocent as if nothing happened?
“You, the child trying to sneak away. Freeze.”
“Huaaam. Uu?”
Melody yawned as if she were sleepy, but it was obviously an act.
I called the child in a stern voice.
“Come here, Melody. You have something to say to Mom.”
Urgh.
Realizing that playing innocent was no longer working, the child approached hesitantly.
“Mamaaa. Heehee.”
Hoping to get away with it through cuteness this time, she pulled up her chubby cheeks and smiled playfully.
This sly little child.
Did you think I’d fall for that?
Well, of course I did.
Ugh, so cute. Because her beaming face was so adorable, I gently pinched her dough-like cheeks for a moment.
“Hehe…”
As the atmosphere softened, Melody acted cute once more. She really knows me too well.
But I couldn’t just get swept away like usual.
When I grabbed Melody’s hand so she couldn’t run away, her eyes darted around.
“I’m not going to scold you.”
“Uu.”
“Really. I won’t.”
Not only that, I had no intention of asking for detailed circumstances. I had already figured out the whole story through the original work.
‘Above all, Melody is a child with many scars.’
I knew very well that she suffered from elective mutism due to abuse at the Temple, and I didn’t want to poke at her trauma.
However, the child still seemed worried as she fidgeted with her fingers.
“…Melody, you know too, don’t you? That people with divine power have to go to the Temple.”
“Uu?”
Thump. With an expression as if the sky had fallen, Melody pointed to herself. As if asking if I was going to send her away too.
“No. That’s not it. I won’t do anything that Melody dislikes.”
“Uu?”
Really?
“Have you ever seen me lie?”
Shake, shake.
As if she had been deeply worried, the child shook her head vigorously and repeatedly stroked her chest in relief.
Oh dear. How did such a scaredy-cat hide such a massive secret all this time?
Now that I knew they were villains, there was no way I would ever send Melody to the Temple.
But that didn’t mean I would continue living the way we were now.
‘At this rate, I’ll be murdered in a few months.’
In the original story, Melody hides her identity from Viola. She believed that by doing so, the two of them could live happily forever.
But that was merely the naive wish of a young child.
One day, the Temple discovers the existence of the Saintess and brutally kills her guardian, Viola, to take the child.
‘To survive, I have to twist the original story.’
But how?
‘Come to think of it, I heard there’s a holy relic that blocks divine power.’
A necklace-shaped holy relic that disappeared 23 years ago.
If I could just get that, things would be solved easily…
Mmm. Is there any way I could get it? Even that great Dragon Duke failed in the original story.
In that case, there was only one path left.
‘Cain Achilles.’
The one who takes on the role of the father by adopting Melody in the original story.
He should be able to protect Melody from the Temple. And my life too, of course!
To be honest, I’m a little—no, actually, a lot—scared of seeking out a man rumored to be so terrifying…
But I have to do it. Even if it’s for Melody!
Since I had reached a conclusion, there was no more time to hesitate.
“Melody, let’s get ready to go out.”
“Uu?”
“We have to go on a long journey. I’ll explain as we go.”
Though Melody looked puzzled, she followed my words obediently as if she had expected this deep down.
“Now, first, brushy-brushy.”
“Uuu. Blegh.”
“This time, both arms up!”
“Uu.”
Hup. Melody’s head popped out through the top of her outdoor clothes.
Since I dressed her warmly, preparation is finally complete!
I pushed the door open boldly and shouted with determination.
“Let’s go, Melody!”
“Uu!”
Grumble!
Huh? When I looked down at the sound of a stomach growl louder than her reply, Melody scratched her cheek.
Ehehe… The child looked away in embarrassment.
She said she was full earlier, but has she already digested it? Her chubby belly had become flat again.
I closed the wide-open door.
Let’s go meet your daddy soon.
But first, we eat!
* * *
And that brings us to the present.
“Wow!”
Melody jumped around in excitement, then staggered as if her legs had lost strength.
“Ugh.”
“I knew this would happen when you were acting so restless. You’re tired, aren’t you?”
Nod, nod. Her small head moved.
‘Well, it was a long way.’
Since we had been on a carriage for three whole days.
Having arrived in a certain city, we headed toward a street lined with houses. Luckily, I knew someone nearby, so I decided to stay with them for a few days.
“Get some rest, Melody.”
“Uuung, Mama?”
“I’m going to go look around the neighborhood.”
After leaving the fast-asleep Melody behind and heading outside, the sun was setting.
As I left the residential street, I saw rows of shops. Pedestrians were moving busily between them.
A scenery distinctly different from the peaceful, rural Heiron Village.
Only now did it feel real. Where I had come to.
“I’ve really come to Winterwald.”
The central city of the Duchy of Achilles and one of the main settings of the original story.
Phew. Feeling nervous for some reason, I took a deep breath.
Though I had left the village boldly, it was actually impossible to go meet Cain right away.
‘The Duke’s residence is fundamentally a very closed-off place.’
There’s no way they’d let me in, someone who isn’t even a noble. I’d be lucky if I wasn’t dragged away as a vagrant.
So, I planned to stay here for a while and gather information.
There is a last resort, but that would require some time to use anyway.
As I was walking and thinking about what to do, colorful toys suddenly caught my eye.
‘Oh. Exactly a child’s taste! Melody would love that.’
Should I come out with Melody tomorrow and take a look?
It was at that moment, while I was peering closer into the shop window.
Gasp.
In the glass window, I saw the reflection of a man drenched in dark red liquid.
Instinctively turning around, my mouth fell open.
No way, I thought…
It really is blood?
I knew it was different from a rural village, but this was far too different.
A man covered in blood was walking the streets as if nothing were wrong.
Even the people were just subtly avoiding him as if they didn’t want to get involved in something bothersome. Is this the coldness of the city?
‘But I’m a pharmacist by trade.’
I couldn’t just pretend not to see it. I hurried toward him.
“Excuse me! Are you okay?”
“…”
However, the man ignored me and simply walked past.
“Excuse me, wait a moment!”
How can an injured person’s stride be so fast?
“You look like you’re hurt…!”
Just as I barely caught up to him, huffing and puffing, the man replied nonchalantly as if he were annoyed.
“It’s not my blood.”
Ah, I see… Is that so…
‘Then whose blood is it?’
For now, should I say it’s a relief that it isn’t his own?
It was then, while I was standing there dazed and speechless. The man, with his robe pulled down low, looked down at me indifferently.
“…!”
The moment my eyes met his, I involuntarily held my breath.
Below the black robe, a sharp nose revealed itself. Even though it was only partially visible, the man had an unrealistically handsome face.
