NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 2 - Another World (Part 1)
Amelia sat on the chair beside the bed, holding her beloved son’s hand, gently stroking his head.
“…Mom, it’s time,” her daughter Loretta called out.
“Yes,” Amelia replied tersely.
She kissed her sleeping son’s forehead and stood up, her heart heavy.
She was already prepared. Now all she had to do was go to the textile factory where she worked.
As Amelia headed towards the front door, she spoke to Loretta.
“Loretta, I’m leaving. Please take care of Mika for me.”
“Sure, go ahead. Don’t worry too much. Sister Radi said it’ll be okay.”
“I know, but…”
Loretta’s reassurance was understandable, but Amelia’s expression remained clouded. Her 7-year-old son had been found injured and unconscious. It was impossible not to worry, especially since he still hadn’t regained consciousness.
“Sister Radi said she would come in the morning, and she’ll let you know as soon as he wakes up.”
“…Please,” Amelia said.
She kissed Loretta’s forehead, just like she did for Mika, and gently stroked her head. Then, with a resigned expression, she left the house.
In truth, she shouldn’t be going to work at a time like this. But there were circumstances that left her with no choice. Fortunately, Loretta, despite being only 13 years old, was reliable and took good care of Mika.
To protect her beloved family, Amelia lifted her downcast face and walked away.
When Amelia saw her off to the front door, Loretta hid the bright expression she had consciously put on.
Loretta was just as worried about her younger brother Mika as Amelia. However, if she showed her worry to Amelia, her mother would push herself even more to cheer her up. That’s why she was trying to act cheerful.
(…I have to take care of Mom as well.)
Amelia was the one who wanted to nurse Mika the most. Normally, she would take time off work to care for him. But today, she was begged by Horatio, the factory manager, saying, “I really need you today, no one else can do it.”
Usually, no matter how much he asked, Amelia would have taken the day off and might have even asked Horatio if he could manage without her. After all, compared to a major incident concerning her only son, work was not even a consideration.
But the one who found the injured and unconscious Mika, and protected him, was none other than Horatio himself. Moreover, it was on the highway more than an hour away from Lish Village, where we lived.
Yesterday was the day when the textile factory delivered its products to the lord once a month. Horatio loaded the textiles onto the cart early in the morning and went to the town where the lord lived, Cotton Tessa. Then, after delivering the textiles, he received instructions for next month’s production from the lord.
After successfully completing the delivery and finishing various tasks, when he was on his way back, he noticed someone collapsed on the highway.
The highway connecting Lish Village and Cotton Tessa was a single straight road. There was no other road beyond Lish Village.
**Chapter 2: The Miracle of Healing**
Beyond the village of Lish, the road was blocked by a dense forest and treacherous mountains, making it nearly impossible to traverse. Therefore, anyone using this highway could be almost certainly identified as being associated with Lish Village.
Horatio spurred his horse, hurrying towards the fallen figure. As he got closer, he realized it was a child lying there, completely motionless. That’s how Horatio discovered Mika, collapsed on the highway. Mika, lying in the bushes with only his legs visible, seemed to have lost consciousness at that point. His face and limbs were covered in scratches, blood clinging to his skin. His body was burning up, and his limbs were trembling.
Seeing this condition, Horatio immediately sensed that time was of the essence. He rushed back to the village with the cart and went straight to the church.
On the way, he met a villager and asked him to convey a message to Amelia and Loretta, “Tell them to come to the church immediately.”
Lish Village had around 200 residents, and everyone knew each other. If the news about Mika’s situation spread, everyone could understand the gravity of the situation.
However, unfortunately, Sister Radi was absent from the church. She was the only person in the village who could perform the miracle of healing, a divine gift known as “God’s Miracle.” In case of emergencies like injuries or illnesses, there was a bell installed near the church entrance to call for Sister Radi.
Ring the bell loudly to summon her, and she would arrive with a bucket of water from a nearby well.
In the meantime, the elderly priest residing in the church appeared, and Sister Radi returned to the church. At the same time, Amelia, Loretta, Horatio, and the elderly priest arrived at the church.
Upon hearing about Mika, Sister Radi immediately began the treatment. Amelia, Loretta, Horatio, and the elderly priest assisted in the healing process.
Following the instructions of the elderly priest, they first cleaned the wounds with clean cloth and the water they had brought. Every time they wiped the wounds, blood seeped out again, but it seemed that cleaning the wounds thoroughly before performing the healing had a higher efficacy.
As they cleaned the wounds, Loretta couldn’t stop her tears as she saw Mika in pain.
Once all the wounds were cleaned, Sister Radi began her prayer and used **”God’s Miracle”** to heal Mika. Tiny, faint yellow particles of light floated around Mika’s entire body, and the wounds began closing rapidly.
However, even with the healing, Mika’s painful expression persisted, and his trembling did not cease.
At that moment, Sister Radi began another prayer, seemingly invoking **”God’s Miracle”** from a different god this time. The prayer was longer than before, and a shimmering heatwave-like presence appeared around Mika’s body.
Gradually, Mika’s pained expression softened, turning into a calm one.
Afterwards, the elderly priest went to another room and brought back a cup of water. Sister Radi patiently helped Mika drink it.
By the time he finished the cup, Mika’s body had stopped trembling, and he seemed to be just peacefully sleeping.
When Sister Radi smiled and said, “He’s going to be okay now,” Loretta felt an immense sense of relief.
Amelia, too, had tears in her eyes. She thanked Sister Radi, Horatio, and the elderly priest repeatedly.
This way, Mika was saved.
However, knowing all these circumstances and being Mika’s lifesaver, Horatio still insisted on coming back the next day, leaving Amelia in a dilemma.
That’s when Horatio suggested, “How about letting Loretta rest in my place?”
Loretta and Amelia worked at the textile factory.
Loretta had been working for just about a year, while Amelia was skilled enough to be the lead weaver, a role that usually required at least three years of experience. It seemed that all the skilled workers, including Amelia, were gathered for an urgent discussion regarding the lord’s production plans.
This was something Loretta couldn’t handle, especially in Amelia’s absence.
Reluctantly, Amelia left Mika’s care to Loretta.
Loretta had washed Mika’s clothes last night and had hung them by the window. The pants were still damp, but the jacket seemed dry. Mika’s clothes were stained with sand, mud, and blood from his numerous falls. Loretta had cleaned them, but there were still several holes from where he had fallen. She had noticed them while washing and planned to mend them later.
She left the pants to dry and carried only the jacket into the bedroom. Sitting on the chair where Amelia had been, Loretta peered at Mika. His usually adorable face now looked peaceful as he slept.
Seeing his serene expression, Loretta felt a wave of relief. The sight of Mika from the previous day would likely remain etched in her memory forever.
(I must express my gratitude to Mr. Horatio and Sister Radi.)
She didn’t know why Mika had collapsed on the distant road. But if Horatio hadn’t found him and Sister Radi hadn’t used “God’s Miracle” to heal him, what might have happened?
The road connecting Lish Village and Cotton Tess was a single straight path, but it wasn’t frequently traveled. Yesterday, Horatio had happened to pass through because it was a delivery day. Other than that, the village’s shops made the trip to Cotton Tess for supplies only a few times a month. If it hadn’t been a delivery day, nobody might have passed by for several days.
(I don’t want to think about that.)
To dispel these unpleasant thoughts, Loretta spread out Mika’s shirt. Examining the areas that needed repair, she picked up a needle, thread, and a patch she had prepared.
Mika, despite his cute appearance, was surprisingly mischievous. Even after mending, he would quickly create new holes. Taking over Amelia’s responsibilities, taking care of Mika, had become Loretta’s job. Although, with her work at the textile factory since last year, her responsibilities in this regard had significantly decreased.
(Alright, let’s finish this quickly.)
Occasionally glancing at Mika, Loretta sewed happily.
“Loretta-san, it’s Radi. I’ve come to check on everyone!”
After finishing a few repairs with concentration, Loretta heard a voice from the entrance. She hurriedly put away her needle and went to the door.
Upon opening it, a petite woman in a nun’s habit stood outside. This woman was Radi. She was a few years older than Amelia and worked as a nun in the church. A wielder of the precious “God’s Miracle,” the church had hoped she would work in a larger town, but she had rejected the promotion, choosing instead to return to her hometown.
**Chapter 2 (Continued): The Miracle of Healing**
Radi wore a kind smile, but despite her appearance, she had turned down promotions and resisted higher-ranking priests to return to her hometown.
(*She’s really a very gentle person though.*)
Yesterday’s incident with Mika aside, everyone in Lish Village had benefitted from Radi’s care. The children learned reading and math at the church, and adults had been healed from illnesses and injuries. Since the elderly priest assigned to the village couldn’t handle all the rituals, Radi oversaw important events like the Harvest Festival, managing all the preparations.
The village had received support from everyone, but even when thanked, Radi would just smile and offer gratitude to God’s love.
“Good morning, Sister Radi. Thank you so much for yesterday,” Loretta greeted politely, expressing her gratitude once again.
“Good morning, Loretta-san. You don’t need to thank me; I merely prayed. It’s thanks to the actions of both you and Amelia-san that we received God’s mercy.”
*(God is always watching over us.)* Radi gestured in prayer.
“So, how is Mika-kun?”
“He still hasn’t woken up. His expression is calm, and he seems like he’s just sleeping.”
“That’s a relief, but it’s worrying that he hasn’t woken up yet. May I examine him?”
“Yes, please.”
Loretta led Radi to Mika’s room and offered her a chair. Standing beside her, Loretta observed the examination.
Radi checked Mika’s pulse and touched his neck.
“…No fever, and his breathing is calm. It seems like he’s just asleep.”
Radi smiled softly and gently poked Mika’s cheek with her fingertip.
“There doesn’t seem to be a cause for worry, but has he been sleeping like this since yesterday?”
“Yes. His mother, Amelia, stayed up all night watching over him. Even this morning, her complexion… She looked…”
As Loretta spoke, she recalled Amelia’s appearance in the morning. Her complexion had been terribly pale. Loretta had tried to persuade her to lie down, and although she had eventually complied and lay on the bed, she hadn’t slept much.
“You shouldn’t push yourself either. I understand your worry, but both of you might collapse too.”
Radi glanced at Mika’s clothes on the nearby bed.
“Is this Mika’s?”
Loretta nodded in response.
“I mended it a little. He had some holes in it.”
“I see… It was quite muddy. But why was he alone on the road?”
Radi spoke in a puzzled tone, and Loretta had no choice but to answer, “I don’t know.”
“He was apparently helping the neighboring children in the fields yesterday. Just a bit down the road. But going all the way to Cotton Tess… I just can’t fathom it.”
Radi, curious, inquired further, “The neighboring children? In exchange for helping, they often receive a share of the harvest. But why would he go so far?”
Children usually gathered and played together, and they often helped out in neighbors’ fields. They pulled weeds or assisted with the harvest. In return, they received a portion of the crops. Families who couldn’t watch their children all the time found comfort in the watchful eyes of their neighbors.
That’s how things worked in the village, everyone supporting each other, but of course, nobody took the blame if something went wrong. If you didn’t like it, well, then watch out for yourself.
“By the way, about horatio-san,” Radi changed the topic abruptly.
“What happened?”
horatio, who had helped Mika, had insisted that Amelia come to work today. Normally, he was understanding and would say, “Think of the child first,” and allow for time off if needed. But today, he was unusually adamant. Something must have happened.
“The lord demanded that we produce twice the amount of high-quality fabric,” Radi explained.
“Twice!?”
Loretta couldn’t help but raise her voice in astonishment. High-quality fabric was a special type of weaving that only three skilled weavers, including Amelia, could produce in the factory. The yarn used was unique, and they couldn’t simply produce more because the lord demanded it.
“Can that even be done…?”
“I don’t think they expect it to double immediately. However, the decision to double the production has been made. It’s the lord’s order. Today, they seem to be discussing how to achieve this.”
The situation was dire for the factory manager. Faced with an impossible request from the lord, he sought everyone’s opinions. The weaving factory belonged to the lord, and the manager was just that, a manager. If they couldn’t meet the demands, they would lose their job. They could easily replace the person in charge of producing high-quality fabric, but they wouldn’t know who could handle the task until they tried.
“…Do you think it’s possible?”
“I believe so, but it will take time. Well, horatio-san is a good person, and I’m sure everyone will cooperate.”
horatio wasn’t from the village. He had been brought in by the lord a few years ago when the previous manager retired due to old age. Despite his sturdy, no-nonsense appearance, he was terrible at confrontations. He was earnest, kind, and trustworthy, earning the villagers’ confidence. However, children who met him for the first time invariably burst into tears, unable to handle his imposing presence.
“That’s why I really wanted Amelia-san to participate in the discussion. Please forgive horatio-san.”
“Forgiving him isn’t the issue… We’re really grateful to horatio-san, but Mika!”
While Loretta was talking to Radi, she saw Mika’s eyes slowly opening.
****************************************************************
“……, …………………………………”
In the distance, someone was speaking. Their words were muffled, and Mika couldn’t quite make out what they were saying.
(…What… are they talking about…?)
His consciousness was slowly resurfacing, but his mind felt numb, as if he were in a daze. His body felt heavy, and he didn’t have the energy to move even a little.
**Chapter 2 (Continued): Unexpected Reunion**
“……i…………………………。”
“……u……………………？”
Someone seemed to be talking, their voices still soft and muffled, making it impossible to discern the conversation.
(…Can’t hear… properly…)
Feeling the lethargy enveloping his body, Mika surrendered himself to it, intending to drift back to sleep for a little longer. The slow descent into unconsciousness felt oddly comforting.
“………………、……o……i………………u……………………i……。”
“Twice!?”
In the midst of letting go of his consciousness, a clear word suddenly pierced through.
(…Twice…? …What’s… twice…???)
Up until now, he hadn’t been able to distinguish anything from the muffled voices. However, the sudden clarity of a single word jolted him awake. He became aware of his surroundings growing brighter.
(…Ah… The alarm…?)
Loretta’s alarm clock had a built-in light system. Not being a morning person, Loretta tended to ignore traditional alarms, but with this gradual brightening, her brain would wake up without the need for loud noises.
The room got gradually brighter, making it easier for the brain to awaken, significantly reducing drowsiness. As long as there was no extreme sleep deprivation from staying up too late, the desire to go back to sleep wouldn’t arise at all.
“…to participate in the discussion. Please forgive Horatio-san.”
“Forgiving him isn’t the issue… We’re really grateful to Horatio-san, but Mika!”
As Mika slowly opened his eyes, he found himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
Nearby, two women were talking. One appeared to be in her late twenties, with slightly wavy, beautiful blonde hair and striking blue eyes. The most notable thing about her was her attire—a kind of religious habit. Although Mika had seen such outfits on TV or in pictures, he rarely encountered someone wearing one in real life.
The other woman looked to be in her mid-teens, with bright chestnut hair and a finely shaped face. Her large, round eyes were a clear shade of green.
Both of them seemed shocked, their eyes wide open.
(…Mika? Or maybe Mika…ka? Mikan? Or perhaps Mikana?)
There were too many possible kanji characters that could fit, leaving him unsure of which one was correct.
While he was lost in thought, the chestnut-haired girl suddenly enveloped him in a tight hug.
“Mika!”
“Eh!? W-Wait, huhhhhh!?”
Startled by the girl’s powerful embrace, Mika let out a surprised cry.