57-57. The beginning of life in another world

Let me tell you what I, Riko Satomi, have been doing when I came to this world.

After Tetsuya was driven out of the castle, I left the castle.

Is that why you left the castle?

Because the human royalty and the four delinquent men were terrible people.

If they had stayed there, their lives might have been a little easier, but I still couldn't forgive them for trying to kill Tetsuya-san because of his low level.

There was no way I would be able to stand to fight with them. It was an inevitable choice to leave the castle.

But that's not to say that I didn't regret my choice, because I didn't regret it at first.

I didn't know how to survive in this world at first, anyway.

You need food to live, and to get food you need gold. When I leave the castle, of course I am penniless.

I get out of the castle and look for a job in the town under the castle.

But I can't find a job. There is no place that would hire a person of unknown origin like me. I wasn't very good at speaking, and I wasn't very good at showing people that I could work properly.

Maybe if I had known how to get my status out then, I might have been able to get by, but I have no idea how to do that.

Anyway, with no money or food in my possession, I would starve.

I was born into an unremarkable Japanese family and that was my first introduction to the concept of hunger. I had never been hungry before, but I had never suffered the pain of not being able to eat, even though I wanted to.

I was starving and thought I might be able to get by in another town.

People in the town would at least tell me how to get to the next town, so I walked to the next town.

But it was a long way to the next town. I was not good at exercise and I didn't have the stamina for it.

I was hungry and tired at the same time.

Gradually my body began to wobble and I began to lose my composure.

This is the only time I wish I had stayed in the castle," I think to myself. That's how badly I was pushed.

I was about to close my eyes, thinking that I was going to die here, when a miracle happened.

'Are you okay?'　Onee-chan.

A little goddess of salvation appeared to me.

The child's name was Issa Sherm. She was a ten year old girl. She had short red hair and wore a white dress. She was a sunny girl who smiled a lot.

I said in a hushed voice, "I'm hungry..." and answered the question.

Issa said, "Oh my God!　Eat this! and gave me a loaf of bread.

It was bread with no flavor or anything on it, but it was still the best bread I've ever eaten alive.

I had the knowledge that it was dangerous to eat it suddenly on an empty stomach, but when it happened, I ate it all at once. Fortunately, I didn't die.

'Onee-chan, why did you fall down hungry?'

Issa asked me.

I told her what happened.

'Don't you have somewhere to go?　Then come to my house!

She suggested with a smile.

I would have originally thought I would have refused, as I am not one to bother others, but the desire to never experience hunger again prevailed and I followed Issa.

'I'm Issa Sherm. Where's your lady?

That's when I first learned her name. I introduced myself back to her.

Rico, you must be Rico Onionee!

And this is also what she says with a cute smile on her face.

The place Issa was headed to wasn't a town. It's a hut-like place near the forest.

There was only one house standing alone, and it seemed to be living in the middle of nowhere.

'I'm home, grandma!'

Issa said as we entered the hut. I follow Issa into the hut as well.

'Welcome home Issa.......hmm?　Who is that kid?

Inside, an old woman was sitting in a chair. She was Issa's grandmother, Isabella Sherm.

Issa had lost her parents early and was living alone with Miss Isabella.

Issa explains the situation to Isabella.

"Hmmm, you have no place to go?

Isabella's eyes are sharp and her tone is even harsher, and my first impression of her is that she is a scary person.

I later learned that she was actually a kind person, but we had just had one at the time.

Yes, sir.

I was a little frightened as I replied.

Isabella laughed, as if I was being funny, and

Hahahaha, we're not going to take anything for granted, so there's no reason to be so intimidated. Well, if you don't have anywhere else to go, you can stay at my place, but I can't afford to be a foodie, so I'll let you work.

Okay, I understand.

At any rate, I was one step away from dying and my life was saved and I was going to live with Issa and Isabella for a while.