<Episode 2>
"Here, the third room on the second floor happens to be vacant. There are so many applicants that we often don't have space."
Stunned by the sudden reality crashing down, by the time I came to my senses, I had already arrived at the 'Vagabond Relief Project Shelter'.
"Ah, yes......"
"Good for you. Even the vagabonds are under His new Majesty's benevolent gaze. Haha."
A sturdy-looking man flashed a bright smile and opened the door for me.
"Y-Yeah...... right."
That's right. Exactly.
Information from the novel bubbled up in my mind.
The Vagabond Relief Project was, simply put, a welfare program providing shelters for the homeless by the state.
'It was mentioned as the first initiative after the Emperor's ascension.'
The nobles criticized the Emperor for 'wasting taxes' on aiding lazy vagabonds, but the commoners cheered 'Long live His Majesty!' with both hands raised.
Lazy vagabonds. What a ridiculous label.
After the epidemic that swept the Empire over a dozen years ago, the number of homeless surged dramatically.
They were people who lost family, jobs, and burned their fields to stop the disease, only to lose their property. Victims of misfortune, not laziness.
Nobles, with their vast wealth, never faced homelessness, so vagabonds were mostly commoners.
Neither the state nor the nobles improved their plight, so even after a long time, their numbers didn't dwindle... until the new Emperor, Theodor Elliott, prioritized them.
No wonder the people adored His Majesty.
Going further, the Emperor employed these rehabilitated homeless across the Empire to establish scientific institutions everywhere.
With the state providing jobs, the vagabonds reformed, and labor shortages vanished!
It was killing two birds with one stone.
"It's only been a year since His ascension, yet he's already implementing policies to care for his subjects. The guards grumble about being busier, but I think it's great."
If it's not even a full year yet...
"Well, it's not fully established yet. Haha! Still, great expectations for His Majesty."
This was a time not covered in the original story. The Emperor had just...
No wonder the shelter felt so disorganized; it was a brand-new initiative.
The scientific revolution and vagabond employment I recalled from the novel were all tales of the distant future.
"Here you go."
"Ah, yes."
I received a thick blanket and pillow from the man managing the place.
A key was placed on top.
"Room key. Copying it costs a pretty penny, so don't lose it."
"Yes, yes......"
"I'm Morris, the manager here. Used to be this city's guard captain, but when I was about to retire, they asked me to manage this place, and somehow I ended up settling here."
Morris extended his hand as if for a handshake. I awkwardly reached out and shook it.
"You said you had no name?"
"Pardon? I do have a name!"
Being told I had no name for the first time in my life, I reflexively objected.
"Really? The guards classified you as a nameless vagabond."
"Ah. They couldn't understand my name."
"Oh? Then what's your name?"
"Park Seon......"
They won't hear it as 'Saintess' again, will they?
I paused mid-sentence.
Thinking about it, the word 'Seon-nyeo' probably didn't exist in this world.
[Dorothy. Can you hear me? That's strange. Hmm... You're the first human whose wavelength matches mine, so maybe I'm inexperienced.]
At that moment, Agatha, who had been quiet, spoke up again with a mutter.
"Dorothy......"
"Dorothy?"
"Yes. I'm Dorothy."
With no other name coming to mind, I unwittingly echoed Agatha.
Dorothy. It was a cute name.
Anything was better than Park Seon-nyeo.
I was fated to die while trying to change my name anyway, so I had no attachment to my original one.
I swiftly discarded my old name and adopted Dorothy.
"Alright, Dorothy. Lunch and dinner are at noon and six. They serve in the courtyard, so be on time. Lunch is soon."
Finishing his words, the man hurried off as if busy.
Only then did I look around the shelter.
It was a five-story building with rooms packed tightly like a rundown motel, shaped like a 'U'.
In the center was a spacious grassy courtyard where vagabonds sat in groups, basking in the sun.
For some reason... it felt like a prison.
[Dorothy! You heard me just now, right? I said Dorothy! Great, we're connected!]
Just as in my past life ignoring gods and spirits, I naturally ignored Agatha and walked inside.
I'd unwittingly promised to accept the divine calling at the moment of death, but facing this situation, it was truly hard. Having denied it all my life, instinctual repulsion kicked in...?
So I postponed thinking and ignored her. I wanted to calm down and process this absurd situation first.
The room, neither too small nor spacious, had a bed, desk, and stool.
[Doroothy. That's weird. It felt like you heard me.]
What kind of ridiculous thing is this?
I thought I died, but I'm alive; I've entered a novel; and now I have a body that communicates well with gods, just like my previous life.
If I'm reborn anyway, couldn't I have been born as a normal person?
"Alright...... for now...... let's rest."
My head throbbed as if splitting.
As I moved toward the bed,
Thud.
"......Ow."
I tripped and fell flat in the empty room.
[Oh dear, Dorothy. Are you okay?]
The stone floor made my whole body ache fiercely.
Instantly, memories of countless misfortunes from my past life flashed by.
The inevitable misfortunes and illnesses that plagued those who rejected the divine call.
"Haha, must be coincidence. Just a coincidence."
Forcing a smile, I got up and dusted myself off.
"Ah. Speaking of which, it's lunchtime! Haha. Food. Let's eat. I must be weak from hunger."
I headed outside. Hunched slightly, I scanned the surroundings warily. The courtyard where meals were served was utterly peaceful.
I got my tray and finished eating without incident. Whew. The fall must have been just a common accident. I was overreacting due to memories of gods tormenting me in my past life!
"Newcomer?"
"First time seeing such a young girl."
And sure enough.
The endgame villains appeared.
Middle-aged men approached with sleazy smirks, picking a fight.
"Miss. How old are you?"
"Hehe. Could you step aside?"
I mustered all my strength to smile sweetly and respond gently.
I didn't want trouble. But the men ignored me.
"So young, and you were living on the streets?"
"I wish I'd been homeless with a miss like you."
"Jackpot, jackpot."
I couldn't even register their chatter; my heart pounded like a drum. This is misfortune, right? From defying the gods?
Do I have to get beaten too? Is this a divine curse?! Even so, violence is too much!
Anger and injustice surged.
"Outsiders can enter, but don't let men in, miss. Soundproofing here's bad."
"I like the bad soundproofing."
What are they saying?
"True. Hearing your voice would be bliss."
The burly man blocking me grinned and continued.
[Tsk tsk. Jane. Can't use that tongue if you wag it like that. Time for reflection and repentance.]
Jane? Is that his name?
"Hey, Alexander. You're scaring the miss. Step back one step."
"Her fear is kinda cute."
"......Alexander?"
"Oh, finally responding. Miss. Wanna hang out with us?"
"Not Jane?"
I blurted it out unwittingly.
[Jane's his real name. It's more common for girls, so he's got a complex. Alexander is his 'manly' alias. But Dorothy. You really heard me this time, right?]
The man's face ahead paled instantly.
"Jane? Who's that?"
"Your name, miss? Jane. Suits your delicate look."
"U-Um. Hey, guys. Shall we go eat now?"
"Huh? Alexander, we already ate."
"No, I'm hungry again. Weird. Haha."
Jane awkwardly replied and shoved his group away.
This is it. I looked straight at Jane and gave a sly smile.
'Don't mess with me again.'
It seemed conveyed; Jane averted his eyes subserviently. Then, dragging his protesting friends away with incredible strength.
[Hmm? He backed off easily? Must have repented.]
'This...... is insanely effective......?'
I'd been worrying if I could survive calculating the end of misfortunes, but Agatha's help came.
The gods in my past life didn't help; they tormented me to death for rejecting the calling. I'd close my eyes and dream of blood-soaked horrors with ringing bells, my body constantly aching.
Mom scolded me to accept it, saying her prayers kept it to that level. So I hated it more.
Locking eyes with terrifying spirits became routine.
Would becoming a shaman fix it? No. Mom, whose knee cartilage hurt so much she could barely walk, climbed mountains daily for a hundred days to bow three thousand times because the gods commanded it. How my guts boiled then.
The gods were capricious, offering no real help. Even 'help' was indirect—like appearing in dreams to hint at luck like receiving a pig.
No details on timing, type, or even if it was mine. When tormenting, they'd dredge up deepest traumas, haunting dreams and pressing sleep paralysis.
I especially hated the bratty child god nagging Mom for food. All my childhood snacks went to its altar.
But a god who didn't fuss and helped directly? First time. And the help was substantial.
What is this? Like starting a game at max level?
Or thrown into war with a top-tier jet, dominating?
[They scampered off quick. Boring. Dorothy, you okay?]
And this sister...... is worrying about me.
She's so kind......!
My mind raced.
'Plus, this world's Western setting. No shamans or divine descents... just oracles maybe.'
This is a total jackpot.
[Anyway, you can finally hear me. I was worried. Thought I imagined it.]
So this cursed shaman constitution I've seen as a curse becomes a perfect cheat key here?
Like just now—if misfortune from tormentors arises, she'll tell me how to repel them! Past life gods didn't help; they resented my refusal and conjured misfortunes to gift me...
In this unknown place where I know nothing, a god who knows everything actively helps. And won't torment me.
[......God?]
[Oh! Dorothy. Finally talking to me!]
[You're not here to torment me, right?]
I asked one last time. A personality test for Agatha.
[Huh? Why would I torment you, Dorothy!]
Aha.
With eyes open in my second life, my era of success begins.
