My Maid is Cute Chapter 52 : Time Passed (Patreon)

“Riesie!!”

When Rebecca shouted, Rieserago’s shoulders twitched, and she looked away.

“What is the meaning of this!!”

When Rebecca asked again, practically screaming, Rieserago mumbled her reply.

“Ah, well... I messed up a little.”

“M-Messed up...?”

“I tried to somehow rewind the time of your body itself... and I overdid it...”

“Eeeeh...?”

Her voice trembling, Rebecca turned her gaze back to the mirror. The reflection showed a face full of innocence. No matter how she looked at it, she was completely a little girl. Looking closely, the eye color she had changed to black with magic had also returned to its original blue.

While staring dumbfounded at her completely transformed self in the mirror, she remembered the strange sensation she had felt earlier. She realized her hand felt different because it was smaller than the hand in her memories, and she held her head in her hands.

“...I can’t believe it... What is this...?”

Developing a headache, Rebecca groaned. She asked Rieserago directly.

“This... can it be undone?”

“...”

Rieserago frowned and glanced at her own hand. She curled her fingers, opened them, and then replied.

“Presumably, it is impossible... I used too much magic treating you... I am not confident in using complex, large-scale magic right now. Besides, I cannot explain it well, but... in order to heal your body, I poured my own magic into you. Right now, inside your body, your magic and my magic are in a fused state... If we disrupt that, it is dangerous. I do not know what would happen to your body.”

“Eeeeh...”

“Umm, how should I put it... I am truly sorry.”

Rieserago bowed her head deeply on the spot.

“...I thought I could heal you perfectly, truly... I do not intend to make excuses, but... since that curse was broken, my magic has not fully recovered... and I could not adjust the spell properly... I am truly sorry.”

Glancing at Riesie, who was apologizing awkwardly, Rebecca opened her mouth, her expression still sour.

“...It’s fine now.”

Normally, she might have died if Rieserago hadn’t treated her. She should be grateful just to have her injuries healed and consider herself lucky. She decided to stop blaming Rieserago any further. Thinking this, Rebecca forced a smile to reassure the apologetic Riesie.

“...You pushed yourself to heal me, didn’t you? I’m sorry for saying things that sounded like blame. And, thank you.”

When she said that, Rieserago let out a breath of relief.

“...Rest here for a while. You have been through a truly difficult time.”

Rieserago said that, but...

“No, I can’t do that.”

Rebecca slowly moved her legs.

“I’m going home.”

She tried to stand up while wobbling, but it didn't go well. She immediately lost her balance and sat back down. Seeing this, Rieserago’s face stiffened.

“You don’t have to move so soon...”

“No.”

Rebecca shook her head.

“There is someone waiting for me. So, I have to go back.”

If she spent any more time in this world, the time gap would only grow. Thinking this, she asked Rieserago.

“Please tell me. Where is the exit?”

Rieserago let out a huge sigh.

“...I will guide you.”

As she said that, Rieserago moved her arms. In the next instant...

“Whoa.”

Suddenly, Rebecca felt pulled in and experienced a sensation of floating. Before she knew it, she was settled in Rieserago’s arms.

“R-Riesie! What are you doing!?”

“It is likely still difficult for you to walk. Until your body gets used to it, we can move like this.”

“B-But... I’m heavy...”

“You are not heavy. It’s fine, just be quiet and let me hold you.”

Told that, Rebecca closed her mouth.

Still carried by Rieserago, they exited through the hole leading outside.

“...Ah.”

Rebecca looked at the hole she had been in and let out a voice. She had assumed it was a cave, but it appeared to be the hollow of a tree. A gigantic tree stood there, looking down upon them.

Rieserago, paying no mind to Rebecca’s reaction, walked briskly, advancing without hesitation through the forest glowing with vibrant green. Staring at Rieserago’s face, Rebecca spoke up.

“Is the exit this way?”

“Yes.”

“As quickly as possible, please!”

At Rebecca’s words, Rieserago gave a wry smile.

“I know, I know. —Look, we’re almost there.”

Rieserago stopped. When Rebecca turned her face forward, there was a large pond.

“Alright, hold on tight. And you should probably keep your eyes closed.”

“Eh?”

Before Rebecca could reply, Rieserago dove vigorously into the pond before them.

“Eeeep!”

Rebecca let out an involuntary scream and squeezed her eyes shut tight. Her whole body turned cold in an instant. For a moment, she felt as if the world had frozen. Strangely, despite diving into water, she didn't feel wet. The sound of rushing water filled her ears.

Before she could grasp what was happening, she heard Rieserago’s whispering voice.

“Alright, we have arrived.”

Hearing Rieserago’s voice, she opened her eyes.

“Eh?”

Rebecca cried out.

It was an unfamiliar place. A magnificent room, spacious and filled with expensive-looking furniture. Looking behind her, there was a large mirror.

Rebecca looked around and opened her mouth.

“...Where is this?”

“Who knows?”

“W-What do you mean 'Who knows'...”

Rebecca, who had assumed they would go to Daniel’s villa on Milbatha Island, was dumbfounded.

Rieserago shrugged as she spoke.

“You wanted to leave quickly, so I found a random mirror that was easy to connect to and created an exit.”

“Eeeh!? That means...”

At that moment, footsteps could be heard from outside the room. Rebecca flinched and looked toward the door.

“This... this is bad. Someone is coming. We’re trespassing, aren’t we...”

“Yes, yes.”

Contrary to the flustered Rebecca, Rieserago stepped forward with a calm demeanor. She approached the room's window and opened it silently.

“Eh, Riesie...”

Rebecca cried out, but Rieserago ignored it and jumped out the window while still holding Rebecca.

“Uwaaaah!”

Apparently, it wasn’t the first floor, as there was no ground immediately outside the window. To the shocked and screaming Rebecca, Rieserago replied:

“You’re noisy.”

While saying that, she landed lightly and softly, then took a step forward.

She quickly left the scene just like that.

***

Apparently, it was a large house, though not as big as the Caldwell estate. Rieserago succeeded in escaping from the house quickly without being seen by anyone.

Once outside the house, Rebecca looked up at the sky. She could see the soft light of the sun. Buildings in muted colors lined the streets. Before she could look around, Rieserago carried Rebecca and slipped into the shadows.

“Riesie, where are we going?”

Rieserago replied in a whisper.

“That hair stands out, doesn't it? So, let’s change it a bit.”

Saying that, Rieserago lowered Rebecca to the ground once and lightly patted her head.

“Ah.”

Then, Rebecca’s hair color changed to black.

“Good, this shouldn't stand out.”

Rebecca looked at Rieserago and widened her eyes. Before she knew it, Rieserago’s hair color was also dyed black.

“I thought you couldn’t use magic...”

“Complex and large magic, that is. But simple magic like this is easy.”

Rieserago smiled wryly.

“...For now, I’d like to know where we are.”

“Alright, alright. Let’s look for a map in town.”

Rieserago picked Rebecca up again. Rebecca hurriedly spoke to her.

“Riesie, I can walk now.”

“It’s probably faster this way than letting you walk.”

“Muu.”

Rebecca puffed out her cheeks.

Together with Rieserago, they finally began to walk under the sun.

It was an unfamiliar cityscape. There were many small houses lined up, and hardly any large buildings. She could see many people coming and going. It was a lively town.

Rebecca looked around restlessly and opened her mouth.

“Umm... I wonder where we should go...”

“Is this land completely unknown to you?”

She shook her head at Rieserago’s question.

“Yes. I don’t recognize it... Do you, Riesie?”

“I do not know. It has been only recently that I could come to this world, and I know almost nothing about the geography.”

“Ah, that’s right... Ah.”

A sign caught her eye, and Rebecca raised her voice. It read: Tourist Information Center Ahead.

“Here! Let’s go here, Riesie! They might have a map!”

Rieserago nodded at Rebecca’s words.

“That is true. Let’s go.”

When they proceeded in the direction indicated by the sign, they found a building that seemed to be the information center.

“Is this it, I wonder?”

“Probably...”

Hesitantly, she entered the information center with Rieserago.

Inside, a woman who appeared to be an employee sat at the reception desk looking bored. There seemed to be no one else. Seeing Rieserago and Rebecca enter, the female employee hurriedly put on a smile and called out to them.

“How may I help you?”

“Um, do you have a map? If possible, I’d like to see a map of this town and the surrounding lands as well...”

When Rebecca asked, the employee cheerfully brought out several maps.

“Will these do?”

“Ah, yes...”

At that moment, Rebecca realized belatedly that she had no money and her face went pale. She couldn't buy the map like this. Just as she wondered what to do, Rieserago took out several coins from her clothes and handed them to the employee.

“Is this enough?”

“Ah, yes. That’s fine. Let me give you your change...”

Rebecca was startled by the sight but forcibly swallowed her words because the female employee was watching.

While wondering why Rieserago had money, she took the map. Just as they were about to leave the information center, still carried by Rieserago, she noticed a piece of paper posted on the nearby wall. Seeing it, she hurriedly tapped Rieserago’s shoulder.

“W-Wait a second!!”

“Ah?”

Rieserago stopped, looking puzzled.

Rebecca stared intently at the paper, her mouth falling open in shock.

With a trembling voice, she called out to the employee.

“E-Excuse me.”

“Yesss?”

The female employee replied immediately.

“Th-This... this is for this year, isn’t it?”

When she asked fearfully, the female employee smiled brightly and nodded vigorously.

“Yes, of course!”

At that answer, Rebecca’s mind went blank.

“...You’re lying.”

Holding her head, she muttered under her breath. The female employee and Rieserago looked at Rebecca with puzzled expressions.

What was displayed on the wall was a calendar.

The calendar indicated that approximately four years or more had passed since Rebecca was abducted by her brother and sisters.

***

“Ugh... Even though I look like this, I’m 21... The Young Lady is... 17? ...You’re kidding...”

After leaving the tourist information center, Rebecca muttered to herself repeatedly. Watching this awkwardly, Rieserago spoke to her.

“...Let’s just look at the map for now, Rebecca.”

Saying that, they went to a place that looked like a large square nearby and sat down on a long bench installed there.

“Here, Rebecca. Where do you want to go?”

Rieserago said as she sat Rebecca on the bench and spread out the map.

While still sniffling, Rebecca turned her gaze to the map. She examined it carefully. Eventually, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

“It’s... far...”

Apparently, this was a small town called Harudha. The map showed that there was a considerable distance from this town to the Caldwell estate.

“Umm, take a carriage, get on a ship... then walk, and another carriage? Maybe...”

Long. It was incredibly long and far. Just thinking about it was exhausting.

“Riesie, can’t you use ‘Teleport’ magic?”

At Rebecca’s question, Rieserago replied in a small voice.

“As I said earlier, my magic hasn’t recovered. Using small magic is the best I can do... The ‘Teleport’ you speak of is magic to go to a destination instantly, correct? That’s a bit difficult...”

“So it’s impossible after all?”

“Yes. Can you not do it?”

Rebecca grimaced and shook her head.

“It’s impossible... Originally, I barely ever studied magic properly...”

Rebecca’s raw magical power was high, but her technique was quite low. She had learned magic a long time ago, when she was still a child, and there were many things she had forgotten. Therefore, using complex and large-scale magic was difficult for her, just like it was for Rieserago.

Hearing that, Rieserago crossed her arms. She thought for a moment and opened her mouth.

“If we wait a few days, my magic will return a little, so if that is acceptable...”

Rebecca thought for a moment and shook her head.

“I can’t wait. I want to go home quickly.”

It seemed she had no choice but to make steady progress.

Rebecca sighed and closed the map.

How on earth was she supposed to get home alone? Could she return looking like this? Just as she was thinking that and trying to stand up from the bench, Rebecca’s stomach growled loudly. At the same time Rebecca blushed, Rieserago spoke.

“Hm, I see. You are hungry.”

Rieserago picked Rebecca up again and stood up.

“Let’s eat something. We’ll find a shop.”

At those words, Rebecca hurriedly spoke up.

“R-Right! Riesie, why do you have money!?”

“Eh? No, well, that is...”

Rieserago averted her eyes. At that reaction, Rebecca’s gaze sharpened.

“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me you st...”

“No!”

Rieserago shouted a little loudly, then mumbled her reply.

“...Before I saved you... while I was waiting for my magic to recover, I poured magic into random stones to test my spells a few times. It went quite well, and the stones turned into magic stones. You know, like the stone I gave you before? Like that.”

“And?”

“I made them, but I had no use for them... So while you were sleeping, I secretly came to this world and sold the stones in a big city. I needed money, you see. I wanted water and clothes for you...”

Rebecca gasped and looked at the one-piece dress she was wearing. She had thought it was an unfamiliar outfit. Apparently, Rieserago had prepared it and dressed her.

“Th-Thank you. I’m sorry for suspecting you...”

At Rebecca’s words, Rieserago laughed.

“I do not mind.”

To Rieserago, who was shaking her head, Rebecca asked again.

“So, those stones sold, did they?”

“Yes. I took them to a shop that handles magical tools and vaguely claimed I found them around there and sold them. Then, a bunch of noisy humans came out saying things like ‘An impossible new discovery!’ or ‘Is this really from this world?’ They kept asking me over and over where I found them, and it became a hassle to deceive them, so I took the money and ran away quickly.”

“Th-That is...”

At Rieserago’s words, Rebecca smiled wryly, though her lips twitched.

“So, do not worry about money.”

At Rieserago’s reliable words, Rebecca let out a breath of relief.

“...Thank you very much.”

“After we eat, let’s discuss how to get to your destination. If we take a ship, we find the harbor... no, shall we look for a carriage first?”

Rebecca cried out in surprise.

“Eh!? You’re coming too?”

Rieserago frowned and turned her face to Rebecca.

“Of course. I cannot leave you alone. In the first place, it would be impossible for you to return alone, wouldn't it?”

“W-Well, that is true, but.”

“It is partly my responsibility that you ended up like this, so I will stay with you until the end. So, rest assured.”

Rieserago smiled.

Reassured by those strong words, Rebecca smiled back at Rieserago.