I, Urashima Taro

I woke up and found that I was Urashima Taro.

The Chief Priest, who had been in the hidden room, hadn't changed at all, so when I woke up I didn't think anything of it—but the moment the Chief Priest lifted me in his arms and carried me out of the hidden room, I thought my heart was going to stop.

Everyone had grown so much it was startling. Nicola and Monica were now adults, with their hair swept up, noticeable bosoms, and longer skirts. Gil must have been in the middle of a growth spurt, because in my memory he had been about Fran's height just the other day, but now his head reached slightly above Fran's shoulders. On top of that, his voice had dropped and sounded like a completely different person.

...This was kind of scary.

I had fallen asleep, and when I woke up, everyone around me had grown in an instant. Honestly, it was scary—no, creepy. In reality I had been asleep for two years, so it wasn't truly instant, but from my perspective it felt like everyone had sprouted up overnight.

Meanwhile, I was the only one who hadn't grown. Or rather, I had regressed. Had my muscles atrophied during the two years of sleep? I couldn't move my body the way I wanted. Not only could I not move as I wished, but I was being stripped by people I knew yet didn't know, and bathed in a state of total dependence.

Even though I felt a fear and anxiety beyond words, I couldn't bring myself to say "I'll do it myself," nor could I ask them to stop. I kept my mouth shut, opened and closed my hands, and tried to put strength into my dangling legs.

Gradually coaxing my unmoving body to stir, I plastered a smile onto my face toward the people around me—people I knew yet didn't know—while being utterly terrified on the inside.

Right now I was back in the hidden room, listening to the Chief Priest's account of just how worried everyone had been and how they had waited for me to wake up, and I felt a bit calmer. Even so, witnessing the unstoppable flow of time firsthand made me feel as though there was an insurmountable wall standing before me.

The Chief Priest, who had just given me a digest of everything that happened while I was asleep, suddenly clapped his hands as if remembering something.

"Rozemyne, I'd like to go fetch a Magical Tool. Shall I wait here, or would you like to step out first?"

"...I'll wait here. Please grab me a book from over there."

I indicated the pile of books Gil had stacked up with only my gaze. The Chief Priest picked up the top book and placed it on my stomach. Then he turned on his heel and left to retrieve the Magical Tool.

"A new book. Heheh."

I slowly moved my hand to touch the book on my stomach. My cheeks relaxed involuntarily at the feel of a new book.

Alright, time to read! I steeled myself and moved my hands. With trembling fingers that could barely exert any strength, I desperately tried to turn the page, but even that simple act was incredibly difficult. Pinching a single sheet of paper and opening it—that alone was astonishingly hard.

"Ah..."

I couldn't even keep the hand that was steadying the book in place. It slipped, and the book fell to the floor with a *flap*. I reached out to pick it up, but even my arm dangling limply off the edge of the chaise was too heavy for me right now. Needless to say, there was no way I could pick up a book.

...So weak I can't even read a book.

I had sacrificed two years, yet I didn't feel remotely healthier. My body hadn't grown at all, my muscle mass had gone down, and Magic Power had increased instead—it was just too much.

Plastering a smile on my face so I wouldn't worry those around me suddenly felt pointless, and the moment I let my guard down, tears spilled out in a rush.

"Sorry to keep you waiting... Why are you crying?"

"I can't read the book. My hands won't move—I can't open the pages myself. I don't want this anymore."

With a sigh, the Chief Priest grabbed my left hand, and before I knew it he had slipped a decorative bracelet onto my upper arm. The Magical Tool bracelet shifted shape with a *shuun* and clung snugly to my arm, drawing in Magic Power with a soft *suuu*.

"Chief Priest, what are you—huh? My arm moves?"

"This is a Magical Tool to assist with body enhancement magic. I used it myself back when I was learning the knack of it. You have far more Magic Power to spare than you know what to do with right now, so something like being able to move normally should be well within reach. Give me your other arm too."

"Yes."

Once both bracelets were on, my upper body became wonderfully easy to move. This was incredible. I swung my arms around in circles.

"Now I can read the book!"

"...Could you be impressed by something else for once?"

"Hm? This is packed with my highest admiration and respect, you know?"

Shaking his head lightly as if to say "hopeless," the Chief Priest said, "Put these on your feet later," and placed two rings in my hand. I took them and tilted my head.

"Shouldn't I put them on now?"

"They won't work unless they're in direct contact with your skin. Do you intend to expose your legs here? That's positively indecent. I don't care whether you have a thing for exposure or not, but at least do it somewhere I'm not present. I'd rather not get caught up in any strange fallout."

I was wearing drooping socks that attached to a cloth belt tied around my waist—basically garters that were flimsy and not the least bit alluring. Over those I had bloomers-style underwear on. So if I wanted to put the rings in direct contact with my skin, I'd have to put them on my thighs, which meant removing my underwear first.

For me, who could barely move her legs on her own, saying I could put them on was tantamount to asking the Chief Priest to undress me. Of course, I had absolutely no intention of asking him for that. I had assumed I could just hook them onto my ankles or something. I didn't have an exposure fetish. Absolutely, categorically, I did not.

"What exposure fetish!? I don't have any such thing! You explained it poorly, Chief Priest. I just thought I could hook them onto my ankles. So it has to be the thighs, not the ankles. Understood. Please call Monica and Nicola."

I had the Chief Priest step out of the hidden room and Monica and Nicola come in instead. They undressed me, and I put the rings on my thighs. Swinging my legs back and forth, they moved exactly as I wished.

Monica and Nicola's eyes went wide at seeing my legs move freely when moments ago they had been sluggish at best.

"The Chief Priest lent these to me so I could move again. I'm going to try standing—would you two lend me a hand?"

"Of course."

With a bit of effort, I could stand exactly as I wanted. I let go of Monica and Nicola's hands, walked on my own, spun around, and struck a sharp pose.

"I feel like I've finally recovered."

"...The Chief Priest's Magical Tools really are something."

"It makes me so happy to see the smile return to Lady Rozemyne's face," Nicola said with a relieved smile. She had apparently seen through the fact that the smile I'd been straining to hold up was fake.

"I'm sorry for worrying you both."

I walked out of the hidden room on my own two feet. I never imagined that having my body move the way I wanted could feel this pleasurable. Appreciating the true value of health, I trotted lightly to the door and flung it open.

"Thanks to the Chief Priest's Magical Tools—look! I can move on my own now. I'm most grateful."

The Chief Priest nodded lightly, as if to say *naturally*, and beyond him, Fran and the others' eyes went wide before relaxing into relieved grins.

"Rozemyne, you'll be moving to the castle in three days. After that, you'll attend intensive lectures to prepare for the Noble Academy, then enter winter high society directly. If you want to meet with the Plantan Company, do it quickly."

"Understood."

...Intensive lectures all the way to the Noble Academy, huh.

Sensing the Chief Priest's passionate instruction looming ahead, I nodded with drooping shoulders. His business finished, the Chief Priest withdrew.

"Lady Rozemyne, may I report on the things that happened during your rest, one by one?"

"Yes, please."

When I looked up at Fran's words, my attendants were all assembled.

Fran, Zahm, and Monica—who had been looking after the High Priest's chambers—stood in a line. Nicola, who had been going in and out of the kitchen more often than not over the past two years, stood off to the side, ready to give her report on kitchen matters.

Wilma and Rosina were there to report on the orphanage. Wilma, who at some point had gained access to the High Priest's chambers, was waiting in line for her turn.

And finally, Gil and Fritz were there for the workshop report.

"There were no major incidents in the High Priest's chambers. To assist the Chief Priest, Zahm, Monica, and I were stationed in the Chief Priest's office every day. At the Prayer Ceremony and the Harvest Festival, Lady Charlotte and Lord Wilfried visited the directly administered territories on Lady Rozemyne's behalf. In the first year they were treated with some hesitation, but by the second year they administered the sacred tools and bestowed blessings beautifully."

"I'll have to thank them both."

"The fact that they visited the Temple for their departures and arrivals also had a subtle effect on the Blue Priests' awareness, and a few of them began taking their jobs more seriously for the sake of appearances."

It was mercenary, to be sure, but if it motivated them even a little, that was fine.

"Our biggest concern was probably the Chief Priest's medication. He's gone back to taking it regularly, just as before. Also, Lady Rozemyne, please say a word to him—he tends to brush off our opinions."

I nodded at Fran's worried words. The Chief Priest had been taking medication to the point that even he admitted he could barely handle clearing just the tasks before him. Even if I warned him, he surely wouldn't have been able to give up the medicine.

"...I suppose I need to help with his work so the Chief Priest doesn't have to rely on medication."

When Fran finished his report, Nicola stepped forward with a wooden tablet and began hers.

"Thanks to Lady Rozemyne, I was able to train as a cooking assistant for two years. I can now make all the recipes Lady Rozemyne left behind. Also, Hugo and Ilse had a cooking competition, and new recipes have been added."

...Cooking competition? What's that? Sounds fun!

"I'm looking forward to the new recipes, but how did the competition turn out?"

"It's currently one win, one loss—a tie."

"I'm curious to see how the next one goes."

"Also, Hugo and Ella have submitted a marriage application. Hugo asked me to let you know first thing when you woke up."

...What!? Hugo's partner was Ella?

"I hear that noble women usually quit their jobs when they get married, but Ella wishes to continue working. I would appreciate it if you could make arrangements for that."

"I'd be happy for her to keep working after the marriage. ...But what should we do about room arrangements? I'll ask the Chief Priest as well, but let's have everything ready so they can marry by next summer."

"Wow, Hugo will be so happy. Thank you very much."

Then, after announcing that the recipe book had been completed, Nicola ended her report.

After Nicola withdrew, Wilma and Rosina stepped forward.

"Next, we have the report from the orphanage. Three orphans were added during the two years Lady Rozemyne was resting. Two of them were babies left in front of the gate, and the third was born to Lily, a Gray Priestess who had been serving as Egmont's attendant."

Speaking of Egmont, he was the person of concern who had ransacked my library.

...This time he got his attendant pregnant, and the child ended up in the orphanage? Wait. Hold on. Is this normal here? Am I allowed to be angry about this? Or...?

Unable to react immediately, I decided to set aside the question of whether Egmont's actions were right or wrong for now.

"...Um, so the birth took place here?"

"No. Since nobody had any knowledge of childbirth, we couldn't handle it here. After consulting with Turi and the Plantan Company, we decided to move the Gray Priestess to the small temple in Hasse and have the residents of Hasse assist."

Apparently the Chief Priest had simply said the baby would come on its own. Wilma, who couldn't shake her unease at that, consulted Turi and Lutz. The two of them apparently pointed out his ignorance, telling him there was no way that was true. Good job, those two.

It came as a shock to learn that despite having around twenty women in the orphanage, not a single one had any experience assisting with a birth. On Benno's orders, the Gray Priestess was moved to the small temple in Hasse. Led by Nora, who had assisted with deliveries before, the women of Hasse were called in and the birth took place.

At that time, Wilma was scolded by Benno for not knowing what a person in charge of the orphanage ought to know, and she was taken to Hasse along with several Gray Priestesses.

"That must have been... very hard for you, Wilma? Are you... all right?"

Being scolded by Benno in that fury would have been a sufficiently terrifying experience for Wilma, who had androphobia. I could only imagine her piling trauma upon trauma.

"...It was certainly very difficult, but it was an invaluable experience. Mother and child are now staying in a room here at the orphanage. Using the experience from Dirk's time, we're taking turns looking after them."

"How is Dirk? Has his Magic Power absorption been proceeding?"

"Yes. As soon as we noticed signs, we contacted the Chief Priest through Fran right away. He responded immediately, so Dirk has been doing well without any particular issues."

I was relieved that even Dirk, who was in danger if his Magic Power accumulated too much, had gotten through it safely.

"The music education at the orphanage has also been proceeding smoothly. After letting the children try the fechspiel, we provided instruction only to those who showed interest. From what I could see, only one child has potential to become a musician. However, they don't seem to enjoy practicing much, so I don't think they'll improve."

Unlike noble children who have coming-out events, music education at the orphanage isn't mandatory. We were simply looking for children with talent and motivation. Some have talent but can't put in the effort, and some simply aren't interested in music. If the child lacks motivation, that's the end of it.

"However, there was a child who could become a painter. She loves drawing, copies Wilma's illustrations, and sketches on her slate whenever she finds free time."

"I see. Wilma, feel free to buy more stone styluses for her, and let her continue."

"Understood."

Rosina had apparently taken her job of educating the children at the orphanage quite seriously. I had been worried she might refuse, saying that sort of thing wasn't part of a dedicated musician's duties, but my concern was unfounded.

"Now for the workshop report."

Gil, who had grown taller, deepened in voice, and matured to a degree that was startling, gave me his two-year report.

It seemed the manuscripts I had left behind had run out, and he had borrowed books from Turi instead. In exchange, Turi and Lutz had been teaching etiquette and manners at the orphanage.

"I believe both of them have acquired enough manners to hold their own in front of middle-ranking nobles."

When Fritz, who had been teaching Lutz, said this, Wilma, who had taught Turi, nodded.

"They were extremely motivated and worked very hard. And because the two of them came to the orphanage regularly—providing advice and help with Dirk's upbringing and Lily's delivery—it was an enormous help."

"I see. Then I'll have to thank them both."

Gil added, "Turi suggested compiling a book on etiquette and manners, so we printed one last winter. A book summarizing greetings and interactions with nobles has been selling well among the wealthy. Please include that in your thanks as well."

...Turi might truly be an angel.

The books had increased by five in total: one book of knight stories I had compiled, one *Mother's Bedtime Stories* that I had given to Turi, one recipe book compiled by Nicola with illustrations by Wilma, two manner books compiled by attendants at Turi's suggestion.

"In addition to these, we also printed the books entrusted to us by Lady Elvira, but those were a last-minute affair—we printed exactly the required number, so there are none left. Lady Elvira also instructed us to take back all failed prints, so we have none of the originals, the finished products, or the failed copies here at the workshop."

The slight shift in Gil's gaze told me all I needed to know. Those couldn't be allowed to exist. If even one were found, the enraged Chief Priest would likely destroy the printing workshop with everything he had.

...Mother, did you really want Ferdinand's books that badly?

In addition, Gil reported on activities in Haldenzel. The Gutenberg relocation had been carried out, branches of the Plant Paper Association and the Printing Association had been established, profit splits had been determined, and Gutenberg craftsmen had been dispatched to the workshop prepared by Giebe Haldenzel to provide technology transfer.

"The metal components for making printing presses were brought in from Ehrenfest. Johan said that if the equipment was different, he couldn't guarantee the results would be identical."

"And?"

"They asked us to teach them how to make them there, but apart from the equipment, they don't have the skilled personnel..."

"I imagine not."

Because I kept issuing detailed order after detailed order, Johan's skills had been improving rapidly. He had reached a level beyond anyone else's reach.

"He wants us to check the quality of the metal type he'll be attempting over the winter."

"I see. Gil, you've had a tough time with all those trips to distant places."

"No. It's all in service of expanding the printing industry."

Gil grinned, and his face showed so much of the Gil I knew that I couldn't help but smile too.

"I can see that everyone gave their all while I was away. Thank you. As expected of my attendants."

After finishing their reports and my words of appreciation, Fran put me to bed along with several wooden tablets.

"Lady Rozemyne, the Chief Priest entrusted these to me today. Please read them while you rest your body. He said not to overdo it."

"But I need to write letters..."

"Rest assured. We'll contact the Plantan Company and the Gilberta Company for you. Leave the arrangements for the meeting to us, and get some rest. In three days you'll be heading to the castle, and the intensive study sessions to prepare for the Noble Academy will begin."

I nodded at Fran's words and lay back on my bed, skimming through the wooden tablets. The tablets the Chief Priest had prepared were a priority-ranked checklist of things I needed to accomplish before entering the Noble Academy.

At the top was memorizing the geography and history of the country, the influence rankings of territories based on Magic Power and economic strength, and the names of royal family members currently enrolled and lord candidates—by reading books and reference materials. This was good. It would be like having free rein over books for a while.

...Heheh, hmmm, there seem to be so many books to read. ...Hm? What's this about practicing a dedication dance? And special physical training with Grandfather? Am I going to die before I even make it to the Noble Academy?

True to his word, Fran arranged the meeting at once. It was scheduled for the following afternoon. In the morning, then, I carried out my usual Temple schedule.

With my awakening, Darnel had come to the Temple as soon as the second bell rang to resume his duties as a guard knight.

The boyish air about him was completely gone—Darnel had become a full adult. I had wondered if the tired look on his face was from heartbreak, but it turned out it was from being worked to the bone by Grandfather.

"Lord Bonifatius declared that he would train the guard knights of the lord's family so that Lady Rozemyne would never be put in danger again, and it's been daily training ever since. Angelica and Cornelius have both grown astonishingly strong."

"Is that so? I'm looking forward to visiting the castle a little now."

After breakfast, I practiced the fechspiel with Rosina, but was startled to find my fingers had seized up as though they had rusted.

"Even three days without practice changes the sound. You were asleep for two years, so it can't be helped. However, Lady Rozemyne, because from your own perspective you were practicing just the other day, you're recovering your sense faster than expected."

"...I'm worried I'll embarrass myself at the Noble Academy."

My level was frozen at age eight. Going to a place filled with nobles who had been practicing intensively up to age ten, I would be severely underprepared.

"No, there's no need to worry. If you continue practicing as you are, you'll be fine. The Chief Priest had you training with ever-increasing difficulty, so once your finger dexterity returns, there will be nothing to be ashamed of."

Even so, it would probably be just barely passing grade. With practical skills like these, there was no way to fill the gap except sheer repetition.

After the third bell, it was time to help the Chief Priest with his work. When I went to help, bringing along Fran, Zahm, and Monica, the Chief Priest's attendants greeted me with tears of joy and told me just how overworked the Chief Priest had been.

"I'll be heading to the Noble Academy, so I can only help today and tomorrow, but..."

"Even so, the morale boost is incomparable."

"Just a slight reduction in summons from the castle would be more than enough."

...Father!

To ease the Chief Priest's burden even a little, I calculated away. "Most satisfactory," he said, nodding with great satisfaction, and gave me a fatigue recovery potion.

"Thank you very much."

I felt rather conflicted about it, but half of the effort that had gone into improving this fatigue recovery potion was the Chief Priest's own kindness and concern. This was a moment to be happy about.

After finishing lunch, I took a light tour of the orphanage and workshop, delivering my recovery report and words of appreciation for everyone's hard work. My companions were Gil and Darnel, while Monica and Nicola had gone ahead to the Director's office to make preparations.

There had been many changes at the orphanage too. Several of the apprentice children had reached adulthood, and children who had been about my size before were now apprentices themselves. The pre-Baptism children consisted of Dirk and three newborns.

Deria, who had always had lovely features, had blossomed into a full-fledged beautiful girl, and Dirk had grown into a toddler with no trace of his baby days.

...Kamil must have grown this much too.

I had better start growing properly, or I'd end up being overtaken by Kamil and Dirk. The danger was very real.

After giving words of encouragement at the workshop, I entered the Director's office to prepare for our visitors. While I went over the workshop's financial documents Gil had given me, my attendants busied themselves cleaning the hidden room and preparing tea and snacks.

"Lady Rozemyne, the Plantan Company has arrived."

"Please show them in."

The three who came upstairs were Benno, Mark, and Lutz. Not quite to the same degree as Gil, but Lutz had shot up too—his shoulder was about level with Fran's now. Perhaps because he worked in a demanding environment, his expression was sharp, and he gave off the air of a capable man.

"Shall we talk in here?"

After finishing the stiff, lengthy greetings, I led them to the hidden room. The usual group: me, the Plantan Company contingent, and my attendants Gil and guard knight Darnel.

After closing the door with a snap and facing each other, I threw myself at Lutz.

"Lutz, you've grown so much!"

*Doon*—when I jumped and hugged him, my head, which used to reach around his shoulder, now sat at his chest or solar plexus level. The gap between us, once about fifteen centimeters, had widened to around thirty.

My mood sank, and then Benno came over. With me still clinging to Lutz, he lightly tapped my head and tilted his.

"...Rozemyne, haven't you shrunk?"

"I haven't changed, and I haven't shrunk. That's mean, Benno. It's not like I'm in this state on purpose..."

As I spoke, tears suddenly burst forth like a dam breaking. What was this? Maybe it was because this was a place where I could let my feelings out freely—once they started, I couldn't stop.

"Ah—sorry. Has someone already said something to you? ...Or were you holding back tears until now?"

The latter words dropped straight into my heart.

"The Chief Priest told me not to let my emotions run wild because my Magic Power might go out of control, but... I think I wanted to cry freely."

"Having your Magic Power run wild is serious, you know!?"

"I'm wearing four Magical Tools for body enhancement assistance right now, so it's fine."

"Oh. In that case, cry your heart out. There's nowhere else you can really cry, is there?"

Benno said this, ruffled my hair, and stepped back. Lutz laughed softly and patted me on the back.

"There, there. Cry it out. Honestly, I'm relieved you haven't changed. Turi and I had been talking about what we'd do if you suddenly turned into a completely different person."

"Mmm... Lutz..."

He told me to cry until I was satisfied, so I clung to Lutz, and tears poured out even more than I expected.

After a while, perhaps I had gotten it all out—the tears stopped gently, as though flowing away with the fog I had been carrying inside. I felt light and clear.

I raised my head and looked up at Lutz's face, which was higher than I remembered. His jade-like eyes, gazing down at me, hadn't changed, and I felt a wave of relief.

"Lutz, hugging you feels completely different from before. You're all hard and solid. Gil and Lutz have both grown way too much. And you've both gotten really cool. Gil's voice is even different now. Oh, and Benno has gotten older."

"Hey! What did you just say!?"

"Nyah-nyah!"

Hiding behind Lutz, I stuck out my tongue and laughed, while Benno's cheeks twitched and he roughly ruffled my head.

"Oww! That hurts!"

"It's only fair, since you don't know what we've been through."

"Wahh! I didn't come here today to hear about your hardships!"

"Then listen up! I'll tell you all about it in detail."

At Benno's urging, I sat down. On Lutz's lap. Benno, seated across from me, sighed.

"Hey, Rozemyne."

"I still haven't had enough of Lutz-time, so this is fine. I have to go to the castle, cram two years' worth of studying into a super short time, and then go to a school full of nobles. I need to recharge as much as I can."

"Ah, right. Do whatever you want then. I'll give you my report."

From Benno's report, I learned about the progress and situation in Haldenzel. There were apparently several points to verify on the next spring visit. And there were also several things that had stalled because they needed my approval.

"Understood. Let's ride our feath beasts, zip over there, and knock it all out."

"...Zip over there, huh. I wish it were that simple. But at any rate, I'm relieved you've woken up. Hold the reins tight around here. I've had enough of conducting business with upper-ranking nobles lined up while the Chief Priest watches with looks of sympathy."

I pictured Benno surrounded by my enthusiastic mother, who wanted to establish her own printing workshop, and her relatives from her family's side, who doubted it would actually turn a profit. I quietly averted my gaze.

"Ah—well, what can I say... You've worked hard."

Thanks to the Chief Priest, I can move again.

Now I can see Grandfather without worrying anyone.

And I've been reunited with the Plantan Company.

Lutz has grown really cool, but Benno has gotten a bit older.

They've all been through a lot.

Next, I head to the castle for intensive training.