When I opened my eyes, the very first thought that popped into my head was:
I fell asleep on a manga again…
Well, what else could possibly explain the wooden ceiling above me, the smell of hay, and a prickly mattress doing its best to turn my back into a porcupine shell?
I even smirked—until I turned my head and noticed that the leg sticking out from under the blanket was definitely not mine.
First of all, way too pale. Second, way too thin. Third… is that really my leg?
I wiggled my foot in the air, testing it. The foot obediently wiggled back. Suspicious.
Okay. Deep breath, Saya. This is just… heck, I have no idea what this is. Where am I? Who am I? And why does my forehead hurt so much?
Trying to calm myself only made me panic more.
In a desperate attempt to get a grip, I tried to stand up—which turned out to be way harder than expected.
I managed to get up, almost tripping over a nightgown that had wrapped around my legs like it was trying to reenact "python vs. victim."
My eyes landed on a small mirror by the wall.
Reflected there was a sixteen-year-old girl with chestnut hair, a stunned expression, and a truly impressive lump on her forehead.
Well, that explains why my forehead is throbbing like someone just opened a portal to hell in there.
"So, Saya, let's think: who are you, where are you, and what's up with that face?"
"Okay. My name is Saya Narasake. I'm 16. I'm from Japan. A high schooler with a record of failures—algebra, fried eggs, you name it."
I cleared my throat a bit.
"My mom loves me, sure… But after my last math test, she looked at me like she was considering adopting a robot vacuum instead."
I tried to remember last night. I remember binge-reading isekai manga until late. And… that's it.
So, by all logic, this is a dream. The only silver lining right now is the thought that this might all be a dream—which keeps me from spiraling into panic.
"Great, I landed in an isekai dream."
I said it out loud, trying to convince myself, then quickly added in my head:
Just please—not with a harem…
I folded my hands in a prayer pose, just in case some nearby god was listening.
I glanced at my red forehead and the lump again.
Did someone hit me with something? The real question—why? And is it possible to sue in a dream?
I tried to recall any memories from this body, like they always do in isekai. But… nothing. Just my own memories.
Of course, I didn't win the transmigration lottery. As usual—no bonus, no instructions.
Deciding to play along with the dream for survival's sake, I went to the dresser and pulled out something that looked suspiciously like a maid uniform.
"If this really is a maid uniform… my condolences to anyone who's forced to wear it."
The clothes were so worn they looked stolen from a scarecrow and forgotten in the laundry. Dirty, wrinkled, and with a suspicious smell.
I changed and decided to look around. Not much light—just a wall lamp with a dim glowing stone, barely bright enough to see. It wasn't nearly enough.
I walked over to the window, which hadn't been washed in, what, a century or two?
I swung it open, and fresh air swept through the room, blowing up clouds of dust. A moment later, a pleasant chill tickled my skin and played with my long hair.
"…Wait. Long hair?!"
I reached up—sure enough, my hair was nearly down to my waist.
I could hardly contain my joy.
I'd always wanted long hair, but in real life never managed to grow it out.
I glanced around the room again. It looked more like a storage closet—or a locker room in the style of someone lived (and died) here before you.
Thick layer of dust, grimy windows, the only source of light that same dim wall lamp.
The furniture: a bed if you could call it a bed, a small wardrobe almost my height, a cracked mirror, a table covered in a century's worth of dust, and one lonely chair.
No books, no curtains, no carpet, not even a trash bin.
Absolutely. Nothing.
Well, now I know for sure: I got isekai'd—without a survival discount and without a 'God-Mode Cheat Code' bonus.
I thought grimly, tightening the belt around my waist, which looked more like a snake having a tantrum.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
"Mira, did you decide to sleep all day?" came an irritated voice.
"Just because someone accidentally hit you with a teapot doesn't mean you get to skip your duties!"
Mira—that's the name of this body? Great. Better remember it, before I get fired… or burned at the stake.
Wait. Hit me with a teapot?!
I yanked open the door.
On the threshold stood a stone-faced maid, wearing a uniform that looked a lot better than my ragged disaster.
"If you can stand—go to Miss Evelyn's room. You know only you're allowed in her chambers."
She left, and I just stood there, completely lost.
Wait, why am I the only one allowed in her chambers?...
Of course, my first reflex was to think something dirty.
But I immediately shook that out of my head, like trying to clear out a computer virus.
No pervy thoughts, no harem, no fan service… please, at least for the first week.
Getting a grip, I looked toward where the maid had gone, and suddenly realized something important:
"Wait… where am I supposed to go?!"