Chapter 30: The Forlorn Girl in the Rain

After the simulation’s rewards were settled, Tina regained her senses in reality.
Opening her eyes, she saw the familiar ceiling, unchanged from when she first transmigrated.

Rain pattered outside, and the wall clock was frozen at the moment she entered the simulation.
So, time in the simulation didn’t affect reality—she wouldn’t starve from spending too long in there.

Then why not jump straight to the next simulation?
Tina spotted a loophole.

Speed-run all simulations, become a fully restored witch—perfect, right?
[No can do. Simulations require massive magic power, and the last one drained all your reserves.] The system crushed her dreams.

“What?! You’re useless! Step it up!”
[…Here’s a suggestion to start the next simulation quickly.]

“Oh? Do tell.”
[Go back to Kellivir, find the current Althea, and ask her to give you half the kingdom’s crystal mines. That’ll get you into the next one.]

“But wasn’t everything I experienced just a simulation? How would she know me in reality?”
[You never know.] The system’s words carried a cryptic weight.

“Forget it…”
Tina couldn’t imagine the outcome. If they were strangers and she demanded that from a king, she’d die horribly.
If they did know each other, going to her would be even worse.

In short, that plan was the absolute worst—only a last resort.
“By the way, I should be able to move now, right?”

Tina slowly sat up on the bed. Her long-ailing body was still frail, unable to take much strain.
“Ouch, still need rest.”

Creak—
The door opened, and a maid delivering food froze at the sight of Tina sitting up.

“Holy—ghost!”
Realizing her mistake, she covered her mouth. “No, no! Guest, you’re finally awake! I’ll inform the master at once.”

She set the tray on the table and scurried off.
“Master?”

Tina remembered: she was in this mansion because she’d saved a girl upon transmigrating.
That girl was the daughter of a minor noble, who, in gratitude, offered Tina a room when she was homeless.

This was that place.
Notably, while bedridden, this family had cared for her.

As a mere passerby, she owed them deep gratitude.
Soon, a refined, bespectacled middle-aged man hurried in.

Tina could tell he was happier about her mobility than she was.
“Benefactor, how’s your condition? Still in pain like before?” His joy was palpable.

“I can move for now, but the illness isn’t fully gone.”
Tina needed more simulations to completely heal.

But for the next year and a half, she could live a true isekai life—no goals, no fake roles, no complex relationships.
Just be herself.

“Wonderful! But…”
His joy gave way to sadness and tension.

“I wanted Vanessa to see you too, but she’s gone missing recently.”
“Missing?”

Tina’s heart sank. Vanessa was his daughter, the noble girl.
Missing at a time like this? Clearly, she had to help.

Out of duty or kindness, she couldn’t stand by.
“How long has Miss Vanessa been missing? Where? Have you reported it?”

Seeing Tina’s concern, the man’s face lit up, emotions flipping faster than a book’s pages.
“She vanished near a corner by the main road, likely kidnapped. The city’s investigation bureau has been searching for a day, but no leads.”

“Got it. Leave it to me. I’ll bring Vanessa back.”

Tina patted her chest confidently. If it was a simple kidnapping, she could track the culprits using Vanessa’s belongings’ scent.
But in her current state, acting alone was risky—she’d likely be in trouble against strong foes.

She needed a helper.
After dinner, Tina began moving her stiff, machine-like body.

She decided to explore the kingdom of Valencia to get familiar with it.
“Kellivir had elf taverns—wonder what’s here? So excited!”

Calling it kingdom exploration, but really checking out the sights.
Tina, umbrella up and veil on, hit the main road.

Even in the rainy night, the streets bustled. No wonder Vanessa’s disappearance went unnoticed in the crowd.
But passing an alley, Tina heard sounds of a fight—someone being beaten, unable to resist.

“Let’s see what’s up.”
She folded her umbrella and entered.

A group of ragged thugs was ganging up on a blonde girl curled up in the corner.
“What are you doing? Grown men bullying a girl—have you no shame?”

“Yo, another one’s serving herself up! So scrawny—one punch and she’ll cry for ages, haha!”

The thugs shifted their focus to Tina, fists raised as they charged.
“Boring…”

Tina was about to act when the blonde girl stood, slicing off the lead thug’s arm with a single sword swing.
“?” Everyone froze, the air filled with the thug’s agonized screams.

“Run!”
The others ditched their friend and bolted.

“Hey, you guys!” The injured man clutched his missing arm, scooting toward the wall.
“Who are you? With that skill, you let them beat you without a word? Are you even human? Wait—I’m sorry, don’t—”

A crisp sword hum echoed, and with one clean strike, the world went quiet.
“Huh?” Tina was baffled.

The girl before her seemed dangerous, with sky-high combat skills—Tina might be next.
But the blonde tossed her sword aside, returned to the corner, and sat silently in the rain.

“What?”
What was this?

Tina had seen wild plot twists in novels, but this was a first.
As a bystander, it was hard to grasp: one moment, the girl was being beaten; the next, she slaughtered everyone, then went back to sulking.

Such bizarre behavior made Tina question if this world was even normal.