Chapter 1: Girl left in ruins (1)

There is romance in medieval fantasy.

A hero embarking on a journey to confront a great evil.

The noble spirit of chivalry, respecting and aiding the weak.

A mage who wields the mysteries of nature.

Therefore, when Serena first opened her eyes in this new world, she harbored a subtle expectation for her new life.

Even though she was reincarnated as a beggar orphan…she believed she would have privileges unique to a reincarnated person.

So, with anticipation, she posed a few questions to the beggar old man next to her.

“The great evil that threatens our survival? Ah, are you perhaps referring to the corrupt nobles who exploit innocent serfs?”

“The spirit of chivalry, respecting and aiding the weak? Look at that. Do those guys who extort protection money and ransack perfectly good villages look noble to you?”

“You want to be a witch, but can you even read? Logically, if anyone could cast magic, wizards and witches wouldn’t be treated so preciously.”

“Status window? What’s that?”

However, the answers she received were disappointing.

Unfortunately, the world Serena was reincarnated into was merely a medieval world where magic and mana existed.

The advanced knowledge of the 21st century was useless to an orphaned girl, and no matter how much she shouted for a status window in the air, all she received were pitiful gazes from those around her.

In the end, Serena had to admit that she was a helpless child.

The medieval fantasy world was definitely not a friendly place for reincarnated individuals.

The future that would unfold was as clear as day.

An ordinary life of becoming a serf’s wife, giving birth to children, and building a harmonious family.

The problem was the memories of her previous life, deeply rooted in Serena’s heart.

In her previous life, she was a full-fledged adult male who had even served in the military.

There was no way Serena, who had lived as a man for 26 years, could marry another man.

In the end, there was only one way left for Serena.

To escape her status as an orphan and make a name for herself.

In that sense, Serena could be considered a relatively lucky reincarnated person.

Five years since becoming an orphan.

She had been taken in by a witch who was looking for a disciple, and recently shed her apprentice witch title to become a full-fledged witch.

Her master, while pinning a star-shaped brooch symbolizing a witch on Serena’s chest, said.

“Now that you’re a full-fledged witch, do an errand for me.”

“…Wow, an errand even on such a joyous day?”

“Are you going to stay and help me, or are you going to shut your mouth and go roll around a bit?”

Her master’s indifferent gaze turned towards the cabin in the woods.

The gloomy cabin, reminiscent of a wicked witch’s house in fairy tales, was the residence of the great witch Ophelia, who lived in the Southern Great Forest, and the place where Serena had endured various hardships.

For Serena during her apprenticeship, carrying out her master’s unreasonable instructions was almost a daily occurrence.

Ophelia was a witch with a natural talent for pushing people to their limits.

A truly devilish talent for accurately seeing through a person’s limits, pushing them to the brink, and extracting the maximum efficiency.

Thanks to that, she was able to complete the process that other wizards took nine years to complete in just three years by the age of 14, but she had to work incredibly hard.

Serena shuddered as she recalled those memories.

She never dreamed that she would have to sit at her desk and study for 12 hours a day even after the college entrance exam.

The hardships didn’t end there.

Ophelia dropped Serena, who was able to do her part at the age of fourteen, in the middle of a Lizardman village.

The three years of desperately struggling in actual combat like that, created the seventeen-year-old full-fledged witch Serena.

“Ugh, I understand.

I’ll do it…”

“Good choice.

This is your graduation exam.”

“…Yes?”

Serena, who had been pushed so hard, was startled as soon as Ophelia uttered the words “graduation exam.”

Her blue eyes fluttered.

Even when teaching the basics of the basics, she was like that, so a graduation exam.

What on earth is she going to make me do?

Feeling an instinctive fear, Serena took a step back and reached out into the air.

Her long silver hair flowed beneath her pointed hat, and a 160cm oak staff, as tall as the girl, appeared from subspace.

Even as she did so, Ophelia’s dark green eyes followed Serena as if amused.

“Oh my, anyone would think I’m trying to eat Serena alive?”

“It’s because of what I’ve been through…?”

It’s said that the witch of the Southern Great Forest, who had lived alone for half her life, didn’t know people’s hearts, but that’s all nonsense.

Anyone would change their mind after seeing that expression, which always tries to tease her disciple.

“Puh-huh, don’t be so wary.

It’s just a very simple task of delivering a letter to the place where the Witch Council is held.”

“The Witch Council…?”

“Yes.

Serena is now a proper adult, and it’s about time she became independent as a witch, isn’t it?

As Ophelia gestured in the air, dark green particles gathered and created a letter envelope.

Looking at Serena, who quickly snatched the falling letter envelope, Ophelia continued.

“So, take this opportunity to see the world outside the forest and build some connections with the people of the Witch Council.”

“Yes.”

“And, this is your graduation exam, so I won’t interfere?

Now that you’ve become a full-fledged witch, my responsibility as your master is over.”

At words that might seem irresponsible at first glance, Serena steeled herself inwardly.

Because her master laying the groundwork to that extent meant that this errand would definitely not be an easy task.

Looking back, it was always like that.

Even when she dropped a thirteen-year-old girl in the middle of a Lizardman village, when she told her to deal with the bandits who had invaded the forest alone, and when she sent her down to solve the plague that was rampant in the village near the forest.

Her master always drew a line, saying she wouldn’t interfere.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Master.”

Even so, Serena didn’t hate her master.

Because she secretly helped when Serena was really in danger.

Her master is a bit too eccentric and playful… but still, all the tasks she entrusted were because she had faith in her disciple.

In fact, the experience she gained in that way was very helpful.

This time too, it was to give her disciple, who was entering society for the first time, a connection with the Witch Council, which could be said to be a gathering of outstanding witches.

To help her disciple become independent.

Serena bowed her head with a feeling of regret.

“Still, I should say my last goodbyes.

During that time, really.

Really.

Thank you.”

“Why are you making such a funny face when we’re not never going to see each other again?

Even if you’ve become a full-fledged witch, it’s too early to think about becoming independent?”

“Ugh, am I that unreliable?

And, a disciple can try to set the mood a bit…!”

Of course, the heavy atmosphere that she had managed to create was shattered by Ophelia’s joking question, but a faint smile lingered on Serena’s lips as she replied in a sulky tone.

Serena had fallen into the medieval era as a girl with nothing, but thanks to her master who cherished her, she was able to not lose her smile.

To Serena, Ophelia was like a parent.

Thinking that one day she too wanted to become someone like her master to others.

She asked the question she had been putting off until the very end.

“By the way, when and where is the Witch Council being held this year?”

“Hmm… let’s see, it was held here 6 years ago.

Three years ago, it was held in the Westeros plains in the west, so maybe it’s in the north this year.

The Winterfell Mountains at the northernmost part of the continent, I guess?

If you leave now, you should be able to arrive on time.”

“…Yes?”

Serena’s expression rapidly stiffened.

Because the distance from the Southern Great Forest to the Winterfell Mountains was a distance that would take at least half a year to travel.

“Could you tell me that I misheard you?

Please.”

“Unfortunately, no.”

“…I take back what I said about being thankful.”

…Still, I shouldn’t learn even this aspect of her.

Serena packed her bags to leave, making that resolution.

Giant walls several meters high, and elite soldiers guarding the main gate are benefits only given to wealthy cities.

Small rural villages scattered here and there had no choice but to entrust their village’s fate to flimsy wooden fences.

Therefore, rural villages without proper walls or combat troops were very good prey for pillagers.

Originally, it was the country’s role to deal with rampant robbers and bandits… but the strong centralized government that would fulfill that role had perished due to internal strife a hundred years ago.

So, villages ruined by looting were quite a familiar sight to travelers in this era.

“They really didn’t leave a single blade of grass.”

Thanks to that, Serena wasn’t too surprised even after seeing the devastated rural village of ‘Bern.’

Because a village disappearing from the map wasn’t that surprising.

The first thought that came to mind was worry about how she should spend the night.

It seemed like the distance to the next village was quite far.

The sun hanging over the mountains was burning the sky, squeezing out its last strength before setting.

The surging red sunset signaled the end of the day.

In the village mixed with the smell of burning wood and rotting corpses, Serena unfolded the map again.

“To the Barony of Errelim…is it about 15 miles?”

With less than 30 minutes left until sunset, it was impossible to walk another 15 miles (about 24km).

Serena, who had been walking all day for several days, was quite exhausted.

Romantic broomstick travel is the privilege of wizards who wield the mysteries of the wind.

And unfortunately, Serena couldn’t wield the mysteries of the wind.

So Serena decided to spend the night in the ruins.

The first thing she had to do for that was search for survivors.

“…Then, should I look for survivors first?”

With a glimmer of hope, she took out her staff.

Sapphire-colored eyes shimmered beautifully, and starlight mana gathered around the girl.

The mystery Serena was best at handling was stars and constellations.

To be exact, it was the people’s belief tied to stars and constellations.

The belief passed down for thousands of years becomes power in itself.

This is what is commonly called an astrologer.

Or an astronomer, a branch of wizards who deal with human desires and beliefs contained in the stars.

And Serena was the most outstanding astronomer and astrologer in this world.

Because in this world where the night sky looked exactly the same as in her previous life, Serena had the outstanding astronomical knowledge of the 21st century.

The boy from her previous life who loved the constellations in the night sky knew more about the starry sky than most medieval people.

[Unique Magic – Guiding Star]

Magical characters are engraved in the air.

What comes to mind is the brightest star in the northern sky.

The guide for travelers wandering aimlessly and sailors embarking on voyages, the North Star.

The three spheres gathered at the end of the oak staff merged into one, and were shot towards the sunset-colored sky.

Serena, who shot a small star into the sky, muttered.

“Find survivors.

If there are no survivors, then at least a place to lay my body down for tonight.”

Then, the star moved.

The tail made of starlight particles cut through the crimson afternoon sky.

Serena quickly began to move following its trace.

The small meteor, which had been swimming in the sunset-colored sky for about five minutes, crashed into the ruined village square.

The sphere that fell over the ruins shattered, scattering starlight particles in all directions.

“There were survivors.”

Serena muttered softly and approached the square.

A faint sign of life is felt near the place where the meteor crashed, among the scattered corpses.

She approached with her staff in front in case, but fortunately, there was only one grimy girl in the square.

The girl’s condition was hard to call good even as a platitude.

Because she was barely wearing half-ragged clothes, and staring blankly into the air with lifeless eyes.

The girl sitting still in the middle of the square looked somehow desolate.

Her once beautiful blonde hair was covered in dust and had lost its color, and her amber eyes were only staring blankly at the setting sun.

Serena carefully called out to the girl.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“…”

The girl didn’t respond.

A heavy silence settled over the darkness covering the village.

No emotion surfaced on the doll-like girl’s face.

Serena hesitated for a moment, then carefully approached the girl.

Because in Serena’s ethics from living in the 21st century, leaving a young girl on the street was clearly wrong.

“Should I take you to a nearby village?”

As she muttered that and held out her hand to the girl, only then did the girl’s eyes turn to Serena.

The girl, who hesitated for a moment and moved her lips, finally opened her mouth.

“…Run away.”

“What?”

“When the sun goes down, the bandits will come back.

If you don’t want to die, get out of this village right now.”

Most travelers would have turned around as soon as they heard those words.

No matter how dangerous the night road was, it was much safer than encountering bandits.

However, Serena was a witch.

Witches and wizards who wield the mysteries of nature were basically very curious.

That was the same for Serena, a proper full-fledged witch.

And, sitting in the square of the ruined village.

The girl who calmly predicted the bandit attack was a really interesting subject.

So Serena plopped down next to the girl.

“I don’t want to.”

“…Yes?”

For the first time, there was a change in the girl’s blunt expression.

Bewilderment surfaced on her cute face.

Serena, looking at that figure, burst into laughter.

That was the first meeting between Serena and the girl.