TCMED 01

Chapter 01

**01. I Should File a Complaint**

In a historic moment, I opened my eyes amidst unfamiliar language and unfamiliar scenery. My very first thought left upon this new world was this:

‘Wow, that employee is definitely going to have to write a statement of reprimand.’

Either the water I drank from the River Lethe must have been faulty, or else my memories from my past life remained perfectly intact.

I had to start over from learning to walk again, but with the mind of an adult.

That fact made me feel no small amount of frustration, but still, I managed to adapt in my own way.

After successfully navigating a somewhat turbulent second puberty, as of yesterday, I had officially come of age.

“Thetis! Are you ready?”

“Yes! Let’s go!”

I grabbed my notebook and dashed outside. Uncle Fel, the village headman, was waving his hand from the driver’s seat.

“I’ll be in your care again today.”

“Alrighty.”

As I climbed onto the cart, the horse began to move forward. I flopped onto my back and saw the blue sky peeking through the leaves.

The place I was reincarnated into is the continent of Bashur’s only empire, Varos.

…Well, the remote, isolated village of Ollygo, to be precise.

They say this world has an Emperor, the one true god Mitev, a Saint, as well as mages and Sword Masters, but that’s only if you can actually feel their presence.

Ollygo, a small village nestled in the forest, is a peaceful community made up of only ordinary people. Honestly, it still feels like I’ve just immigrated to a foreign countryside.

“We’re here, Thetis.”

The dense trees began to thin out, and sunlight poured down without obstruction. I sat up straight and saw the town street lined with shops.

Finally, we’d arrived.

After leaving the horse and cart at the stable, we stood side-by-side at the entrance of the market street.

“Going to the bookstore again today?”

“Yes, I wanted to see if any new books had come in.”

“I see. Well then, let’s meet back here when the town square clock strikes four.”

“Got it. See you later.”

“Alrighty.”

I watched Fel’s back as he walked away to buy necessities the village lacked, then I too started moving.

Whether it’s fate you’re born with that doesn’t change, I was an orphan in this life too.

On a hot summer night, I was abandoned in the middle of nowhere in the forest. Unable to bear the injustice, I wailed along with the cicadas.

The person who found me and brought me to the village was the late former village headman.

The people of Ollygo were simple and kind. Instead of mistreating a child without parents, they chose to become my family.

I suppose I’ve been able to live up until now thanks to this kindness.

“Hello.”

As I entered the only bookstore in town, a bell chimed, *jingle*.

A clattering sound came from the attic storage above. Soon, the bookstore owner peeked her head out from the stairs.

“Welcome… Oh my, is that you, Thetis?”

“Anias, it’s been a while.”

Anias, the bookstore owner, fluttered her apron as she came down the stairs.

“Looking for new papers again today, right? You came at a perfect time. Yesterday, my husband bought all the newly published Academy papers from the capital. Oh, right. I heard Baron Bron published a book on light this time, so he said he brought that too. Now, where did I put it…”

Without giving me a chance to even say thanks, Anias disappeared between the bookshelves and returned carrying what looked like five or six books with ease.

“Here you go!”

“I really appreciate it, every time…”

“Oh, please. It’s good for us too if we carry a wider variety.”

“Still…”

“Thetis, if you’re not busy, why not stay for some tea? Jerome just published a new book, and I need someone to talk about it with! There’s no one else I can have a good conversation with like you.”

She said *if I’m not busy*, but Anias was already pulling me towards the tea table by the window.

It was true I wasn’t busy, so I obediently sat down. Anias was a great conversationalist, fun to listen to, and her tea was the best I’d ever had.

“Thetis, come again.”

“Yes, Anias. I’ll be going now.”

After purchasing seven books, including the ones Anias recommended, it was already 3 o’clock. I felt like my ears were bleeding, but it was still a good time.

“I should just buy some snacks for the village kids before heading back…”

As I adjusted the stack of books tied together with string and turned towards the shops, that’s when it happened.

“Grab that bastard!”

A rough shout echoed from afar.

At the same time, a small child darted past in front of me, as if being chased. The child wore a mask and had their nose and mouth wrapped once more in cloth—a peculiar getup.

I watched the child for a moment, then resumed walking.

Three adults carrying clubs came running from the direction the child had come from. They stopped in front of me.

“Miss, you haven’t seen a little Mafel brat around here, have you?”

“No, don’t say you haven’t. We clearly saw the bastard head this way!”

A large man stepped closer and looked down at me threateningly. I cowered as if frightened and pointed to the roof of the building next to us.

“Th-that kid in the mask climbed a tree and quickly got onto that roof over there…”

I even made my voice tremble slightly.

Enraged, the thugs who had been threatening me ran back the way they came.

“Damn rat bastard!”

“He must be heading back there!”

“Shut up and just run!”

I waited until they disappeared and let out a deep sigh. Hopefully, that kid got away safely.

The cursed city, Mafel.

The child the big brutes were chasing, the one desperately covering their airways, probably came from there.

After I learned about ‘Mafel’ here, I felt a pain in the back of my neck for two reasons.

First, Mafel is, to be precise, a city with polluted air.

The air within Mafel’s borders slowly alters the respiratory systems of living creatures. So much so that humans who have adapted to that air actually find it difficult to breathe in the clean air outside Mafel.

That must be why the child I saw earlier had their face so tightly wrapped.

The problem is that the Varos Empire is a country that believes in the one true god, Mitev, and the influence of religion here is considerably strong.

What does this mean?

Instead of investigating the cause, lazy nobles and priests labeled it a divine curse and isolated Mafel. They even exiled troublesome criminals to Mafel, all while providing absolutely no supplies.

‘My red blood is boiling…’

Of course, I don’t have the courage to summon a guillotine. So when I learned of Mafel’s existence, I could only feel pity in my heart.

But how is it that I know Mafel so well?

That can be explained by the second reason that follows.

Second, Mafel is the hometown of the protagonist in a novel I was reading in my past life.

Yes. Not only did I retain my memories upon reincarnation, but I was also spoiled about the future by entering a novel.

I resolved myself.

When I finally go to the afterlife, I’m definitely filing a complaint.