"Ugh... Where... is this...?"
Jin opened his eyes to find himself in a dim room.
"Oh, you're awake?"
He turned toward the voice, and a sharp jolt of pain shot through his entire body.
"Agh!"
The sudden agony forced a cry from his lips.
"A-Are you all right? You didn't seem to have any injuries, but..."
"I'm... okay, I think."
It was painful, but not the kind of pain that paralyzed him. It felt more like the deep, heavy ache of moving a body that had been frozen stiff.
This was the inevitable backlash of moving from a low-potential universe to a high-potential one. No one in this world knew of such things, nor was anyone ever likely to.
Jin sat up slowly and began to stretch. Gradually, the pain started to recede.
"Phew. It looks like I can move now."
"That's a relief."
Jin took a proper look at the owner of the voice. She was a young woman dressed in simple, rustic clothing.
"I'm Helga. My father is the head of this house."
"I'm Jin."
"Jin-san, then."
Helga had chestnut hair and eyes of the same color. She appeared to be in her early twenties.
"Why am I here? Could you tell me what happened?" Jin asked, beginning his search for information.
"Of course. You were found collapsed by a spring up in the mountains. My father found you and brought you here."
"...I don't remember that. And your father is?"
"His name is Sergei. He's the village chief."
"I see."
Jin nodded and pressed for more details.
"Um... my memory is a bit hazy. What year is it, and what is this place called?"
"Wait, really? It's the year 320 of the Continental Calendar. This is Taji Village, on the Pandor Continent."
"What...?"
Jin was struck with a sudden, freezing shock.
Both the date and the geography were entirely different from the Ars he knew. Since they spoke the same language, he could only guess that he was in a closely related parallel world.
Was this also an 'error'...?
His heart felt as though it were about to break. Seeing his visible distress, Helga spoke up with concern.
"Um, Jin-san? Are you still feeling ill?"
"Ah... yeah. It seems... so..."
His face had gone so pale that anyone could see he wasn't well.
"Please, lie back down for a while. I'll bring you something to eat."
With that, Helga left the room.
Damn it... Is this another wrong world? Elsa... Reiko... Laojun... Hanna...
Jin felt hot tears of frustration well up and spill over.
I'm... I'm...
Waves of homesickness crashed over him. He had been away for less than a week, yet he missed his home with an intensity that hurt. Perhaps it was because his home was no longer a place he knew he could return to, but a place that now seemed unreachable.
I really am weak...
He mocked himself. A human being cannot truly stand alone; Jin felt that truth down to his very marrow.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!"
About thirty minutes later, Helga returned with a tray. By then, Jin had managed to calm himself and was thinking more clearly.
"Ah, thank you, Helga-san."
Jin sat up in bed. Helga pulled a simple side table closer and set the meal down. It was barley porridge, sautéed vegetables, and water.
"Thank you for the food."
Jin hadn't thought he was hungry, but his body told a different story. The moment he took a bite, his appetite roared to life. He finished every scrap in moments.
"Thank you. That was delicious."
"I'm glad. You look like you've got some color back in your cheeks. Would you be up for speaking with my father now?"
"Yes, of course. I'm fine now."
Jin pushed himself. He felt it would be shameful if he couldn't even offer a proper thank-you to his savior. Besides, with a full stomach, his mental fortitude was beginning to return.
"Understood. Wait here a moment."
"Um, should I get up?"
"No, stay there. My father will come to you."
Helga picked up the tray and left.
Now, how should I handle this?
Jin tried to think logically. The food and water were compatible with his biology. He recalled Ichi's promise that he would be sent to a place where he could survive.
Which means...
They would likely ask where he came from. He debated whether to be honest.
If I say I'm from another world, who knows how they'll react? For now, I'll stick with the amnesia story.
He decided that withholding information was the safest bet.
Once I'm used to this place, I can pretend to regain my memories little by little.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Jin-san, my father is here."
Helga's voice broke his train of thought. Behind her stood a man in his forties, of medium build, with dark blond hair and gray eyes. Jin stood up to greet him.
"I'm Jin. Thank you so much for saving me."
"I am Sergei, the village chief. I found you near the mountain spring. I couldn't just leave a man dying in the wild. But please, sit. Let's talk."
"Thank you."
"Here, use these."
Helga brought over two stools from the corner. Sergei sat on one, and Jin sat on the edge of the bed. Helga took the second stool and sat beside them.
"You look much better," Sergei noted.
"Thanks to you."
"So, Jin-dono. What exactly were you doing out there?"
"I... I don't know. My memory is a bit of a mess..."
Sergei looked concerned. "I see. Is that so? Do you remember anything besides your name? Where you're from, perhaps?"
"No. Almost nothing. I didn't even realize what year it was until Helga-san told me."
"I see. That is a heavy burden to bear."
Sergei seemed to accept Jin's words without suspicion.