Ah, I died.

I knew I shouldn’t have skipped a step on the stairs at the station, especially during a typhoon.

But I really wanted to go to that concert. I had applied online multiple times just to get a ticket.

The group was already popular, but after their song became the theme for a hit movie, it became even harder to get tickets.

So I was skipping up the stairs to get to the concert.

Yeah, I shouldn’t have been so excited while climbing stairs that had turned into waterfalls from the heavy rain.

The moment I slipped, the scenery played out in slow motion.

The sound of the train, the rain, and the screams echoed around me.

I felt the back of my head hit something hard as I fell onto my back.

Ah, the concert… I really wanted to go…

With that thought, I closed my eyes.

Somewhere, I could hear something making a sound.

Hmm… Is that a chicken?

It’s crowing, “Cock-a-doodle-doo,” with a lot of energy.

Wait, I was supposed to go to a concert, right?

That’s right. And then I slipped on the stairs and fell…

I suddenly opened my eyes wide.

What I saw was bright light. Not outside… but indoors?

Does this mean I somehow survived? Maybe they took me to a hospital.

But I fell hard down the stairs and hit my head.

I’m glad to be alive, but can I move my body?

I tried to move my fingers gently.

Yeah. They both move.

I slowly brought my hands in front of my eyes.

My legs… they seem to move too.

As I looked around, I saw a completely empty room. No furniture, not even curtains.

…This doesn’t look like a hospital at all. Where am I?

I tried to sit up carefully, since I might have hit my head.

No dizziness… at least.

But still, after falling so hard down the stairs, is it possible to be completely unharmed?

Then, I heard the chicken crowing again from outside the window.

Through the window, I could see a blue sky and some trees.

Really, where am I?

Oh no! I’m so shocked I started speaking in Osaka dialect. I’m not even from Osaka, but I needed it to express my shock.

…Wait, this isn’t the time to worry about that! What on earth is going on!?

As I looked around nervously, I noticed a letter placed beside me.

I hesitantly picked it up, and the words written on it shocked me.

Because it said, “To the stranger who woke up in this house.”

---

To the stranger who woke up in this house,

Nice to meet you. I am a witch who travels between worlds. You must be surprised to wake up in an unfamiliar place, right?

I’m sorry. I wish I could have been there to explain everything, but I had to leave on a journey, so I left this letter instead.

First, I need to tell you something important.

In the place you came from, unfortunately, you have already passed away. Only your soul made it here, if I can put it that way.

The conditions for summoning you were threefold: “Your soul must be on the verge of leaving,” “You must have the aptitude for alchemy to inherit this house,” and “You must not harbor ill intentions towards this world.” So, since you met those conditions, you can no longer return to your original place.

I’m sorry for bringing you to this house because of my selfishness.

But I wanted to leave behind this little garden I had created.

The place I’m traveling to is a different world… Well, it’s easier to call it an alternate world, I suppose.

Hehe. Are you doubting whether such a place really exists?

But it truly does. I’ve traveled to many different worlds like that.

I came to this world through my travels as well, but it was more comfortable than I expected, so I stayed longer than I planned.

I’ve left you a guide to help you live comfortably here and to use alchemy. Together with the guardian of this garden, it will assist you.

The guardian, Koko, is a bit temperamental, but if you give it the golden fruits found in the garden, you’ll be fine.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask the guide.

Also, I did my best to keep you in your original form when summoning you, but I had to erase any memories that would stir strong emotions. Otherwise, your soul would have been damaged, and I wouldn’t have been able to summon you.

I apologize for doing this without your consent.

Now, I pray that your new life here will be full of happiness.

With love,
From the traveling witch to the stranger.

---

Wait a minute. Who is this traveling witch?

A witch? Alchemy? What on earth is happening?

Someone…

Please, someone explain this to me!