Chapter 2

The title of the novel I had been reincarnated into was The Baby Saintess from the Future.

People shortened it to Future Saintess.

It was my favorite novel in my previous life.

I had read it more than five times.

But liking it didn’t mean I wanted to be reincarnated into it…!

Just because someone likes horror stories doesn’t mean they want to become a ghost.

Anyway.

The reason I first started reading the novel was because its setting was unique.

Future Saintess wasn’t about regression, possession, or reincarnation.

It was a time travel story.

The plot was a little complicated, but in short, it went like this.

After awakening as the Saintess, Melody was abused and used by the people of the temple despite being just a child.

One day, she gained the power to travel through time.

She decided to escape by going seven years into the past, to a time before she had even been born.

She arrived in the year 636.

There, she was adopted by a kind woman and finally began living a happy life.

But if that were the end, it wouldn’t be a childcare novel.

Her adoptive mother suddenly died.

Melody was once again in danger of being taken by the temple.

Then, like a miracle, she was rescued by the Dragon Duke and became his adopted daughter.

After that, it became a typical heartwarming childcare story.

The cold Duke slowly became a doting father.

His nephews also became loving older brothers who spoiled Melody.

For some reason, I couldn’t clearly remember the ending.

Still, stories like this usually ended happily.

I sighed.

Well…

I’m glad Melody gets a happy ending.

That’s a good thing.

But at the same time, I was completely hopeless.

Because the mother who dies early in the story…

…was me!

Please let the mother live too.

Even if it’s a childcare novel…

I’m still a person!

If I could, I’d grab the author by the collar.

But that wasn’t possible now.

“Ah… what terrible luck.”

Just when life was about to get better, something like this always happened.

In my previous life, I had been a kindergarten teacher.

It was the job I had dreamed of my whole life.

It truly suited me.

Although it was physically exhausting sometimes, hearing children smile and call, “Teacherrr,” always made my fatigue disappear.

I wanted to spend my whole life surrounded by children.

Who would have thought I’d die less than a year after getting the job?

And now, after finally being reincarnated, I was still destined to die soon.

I let out another sigh.

As I lifted my head, I saw Melody quietly standing on her tiptoes.

You little rascal.

Your mother is worried sick right now.

Don’t tell me you’re pretending nothing happened?

“You there, little girl trying to sneak away. Freeze.”

“Yaaawn… Uu?”

Melody pretended to yawn sleepily.

But it was obvious she was acting.

I spoke in a serious voice.

“Come here, Melody. You have something to tell Mommy.”

“…”

Realizing she couldn’t fool me anymore, she slowly walked over.

“Mama… Hehe.”

This time she puffed out her chubby cheeks and smiled sweetly, hoping to charm her way out of it.

What a clever little girl.

Do you think I’ll fall for that?

Of course I will.

She’s just too adorable.

Unable to resist, I gently pinched her soft, dough-like cheeks.

“Hehe…”

Seeing my expression soften, Melody became even more affectionate.

She knew me far too well.

But I couldn’t let her distract me this time.

I gently held her hand so she couldn’t run away.

Her eyes darted around nervously.

“I’m not going to scold you.”

“Uu.”

“Really. I won’t.”

In fact, I wasn’t even planning to ask for an explanation.

I already knew everything from the original story.

More importantly, Melody was a deeply hurt child.

I knew she had even developed mutism because of the abuse she suffered in the temple.

I didn’t want to force her to relive those painful memories.

Even so, she still looked anxious and fidgeted with her fingers.

“…Melody, you know that people with holy power are supposed to go to the temple, right?”

“Uu?”

Her face immediately turned pale.

She slowly pointed at herself, as if asking,

“Will you send me there too?”

“No. I won’t.”

“If there’s anything Melody doesn’t want, I won’t force you.”

“Uu?”

Really?

“Have you ever seen me lie to you?”

She quickly shook her head.

She had obviously been worrying about this for a long time.

She repeatedly patted her chest in relief.

Silly little thing.

You were so timid.

How did you manage to keep such a huge secret all this time?

Now that I knew the temple was evil, I would never send Melody there.

But that didn’t mean we could continue living like this.

If nothing changed, I’d be murdered in a few months.

In the original story, Melody hid her true identity from Viola.

She believed they could stay together happily forever if she kept it secret.

But that was only a child’s innocent wish.

One day, the temple discovered the existence of the Saintess.

To take Melody away, they brutally murdered her guardian, Viola.

If I want to survive, I have to change the original story.

But how?

Come to think of it… there was a holy relic that could block holy power.

It was a necklace.

It had disappeared twenty-three years ago.

If I could find it, everything would become much easier.

…But how could I possibly find something even the Dragon Duke couldn’t find in the original story?

That left only one option.

Cain Ashelrn.

The man who became Melody’s adoptive father in the original story.

He could protect Melody from the temple.

And probably save my life too.

Honestly, I was terrified of meeting him.

His reputation alone was frightening.

But…

I had to do it.

For Melody’s sake.

Once I made my decision, there was no time to hesitate.

“Melody, let’s get ready to go.”

“Uu?”

“We’re going on a long journey. I’ll explain on the way.”

Although she looked confused, she quietly obeyed.

“First, let’s brush your teeth.”

“Ugh… Bleh.”

“Now raise both your arms!”

“Uu.”

With a little effort, I pulled her travel clothes over her head.

Now she was dressed warmly.

We were finally ready.

I confidently opened the front door.

“Let’s go, Melody!”

“Uu!”

Grrr…

A loud growling sound interrupted her answer.

Looking down, I saw Melody scratching her cheek awkwardly.

“Hehe…”

She avoided my eyes in embarrassment.

Didn’t she say she was full just a little while ago?

Her round little tummy had already gone flat.

I quietly closed the front door again.

Let’s go meet your future father.

But first…

Let’s eat.

And that was how we arrived here.

“Waaah!”

Melody happily bounced around before suddenly stumbling.

“Oops.”

“I knew you’d get tired after all that running around. You’re exhausted, aren’t you?”

She nodded.

Well… it had been a long trip.

We had spent three whole days riding in a carriage.

After arriving in the city, we headed toward a residential area.

Luckily, I knew someone here and planned to stay with them for a few days.

“Get some rest, Melody.”

“Mm… Mama?”

“I’m going to look around for a while.”

Leaving the already sleeping Melody behind, I stepped outside.

The sun was beginning to set.

Beyond the houses, rows of shops lined the streets.

People hurried back and forth everywhere.

It was completely different from the peaceful village of Hayron.

Only then did it truly sink in.

“I really made it to Winterwald.”

The central city of the Ashelrn Duchy.

One of the main settings in the original story.

I took a deep breath.

Although I had confidently left the village, I couldn’t meet Cain right away.

The Duke’s residence was extremely closed off.

There was no way someone like me, who wasn’t even a noble, would be allowed to see him.

I’d be lucky if they didn’t mistake me for a troublemaker and throw me out.

So for now, I planned to stay here and gather information.

I did have one last option.

But even that would take time before I could use it.

As I walked while thinking, something colorful caught my eye.

A toy shop.

Melody would definitely love those toys.

Maybe tomorrow I’d bring her here.

Just as I leaned closer to look through the display window—

I gasped.

Reflected in the glass was the figure of a man covered in dark red blood.

Instinctively, I turned around.

My mouth fell open.

Wait…

That’s really blood.

I knew cities were different from villages.

But this was far beyond what I expected.

A man covered in blood was casually walking down the street.

Even stranger, everyone simply avoided him, as if they didn’t want to get involved.

Is this what city life is like?

Still… I’m a pharmacist.

I couldn’t just pretend I hadn’t seen him.

I hurried over.

“Excuse me! Are you alright?”

“…”

The man ignored me and kept walking.

“Excuse me! Please wait!”

Why was an injured person walking so fast?

“You look hurt!”

Breathing heavily, I finally caught up with him.

Without even looking at me, he calmly replied,

“It’s not my blood.”

“Oh… I see…”

Then whose blood is it?

I supposed it was good that he wasn’t the one bleeding.

I was standing there speechless when—

The man, wearing a hooded black robe, slowly looked down at me.

The moment our eyes met…

My breath caught.

Beneath the black hood, I caught sight of his sharp nose.

Even though half his face was hidden, he was unbelievably handsome.