“‘Just kill me already…’ I had that thought at least 800 times.”

“Well done~ I’ve figured out the method for traveling through time and I even made the arrangements for two.”

“Ha?”

I set down the document I was writing away and wiped down the sweat drenched Eivind.

He, however, seemed more interested in the document than my kindness, so I showed him the results of my night’s work.

“The original would have placed a lot of strain on Eivind, the suppose executor, so I rearranged the magic circle formula to make it more evenly balanced. Also, there was this issue of leaving behind the fragments of the crystal I was held in, so I adjusted things so that they could all be converted into a power source.”

Even if I hadn’t said it out loud, I believed he could have grasped my intentions just by reading over it once.

Eivind looked up from the document, his eyes wide from disbelief.

“Do you seriously intend to go back in time together with me?”

“Would you look at your body first, and then ask me that again?”

Thus, I conjured a mirror for him with magic. Reflected was a handsome young man of 18 with soft-looking, flax, short hair and golden, cat-like eyes. Of course, his back was also perfectly straight, and even though he was slender, his build was such that anyone could clearly tell he was a boy. Even with those clothes, this was the form I was most familiar.

While he savored being a handsome man for the first time in ages, I set fire to all the scattered bundles of paper around us with a simple fire spell.

Naturally, with my precise control of the flames it didn’t turn into a wildfire. Eivind gasped out in astonishment

“M-my 60 years of hard work…”

“Eh, you were planning to leave something this ripe for misuse to future generations?”

Now that, I find even more shocking.

The ability to transfer human souls into a dolls, and the ability to travel back through time… If such spells fell into the wrong hands, how much would history be distorted…?

Well, I’m basically going to do just that though, aren’t I?

“Well, whatever. Looks like I’m going to have a more enjoyable sixty years anyway.”

Eivind Dahl, still the fine man he had always been, easily set down his own past.

Amid the spreading flames, he took both of my hands. At our feet, a beautiful magic circle spread.

With just a glance, he became able to perfectly invoke the spell exactly as I intended. As to be expected of him.

Eivind suddenly spoke up, looking flustered.

“Ah, you use magic so casually, I want you to keep an eye on it whenever you do. There’s also the issue of durability. Well, I’ll be with you, and I’ll probably be able to make a few repairs if anything happens, but… you understand there won’t be any spares, right?”

“You realize normal humans usually don’t have spares, right?”

“That’s true, yeah, you’re right.”

Yes, everyone is born with only one life and body, one of each. And yet, Eivind goes out of his way to worry.  Whether that makes him kind or just corrupted, I’m not sure.

I also focused my magic, channeling it into the magic circle he was weaving.

There didn’t seem to be any particular problems. The same went for this doll body of mine.

It was just before the time transfer began.

“Hey, Nora.”

“What is it?”

Eivind kissed my cheek, like he was slowly licking it.

“I love you.”

It came faster than I could reply.
The miracle that would hurl us back to the spring of our 18^th year activated.

“Alright then, for now I’ll get in touch with the director and take care of your transfer paperwork. I was originally planning to send you along with a letter from me, but… well, it’ll be faster if I just explain everything to him myself.”

Hey, Eivind. I don’t really need the reason for you kissing my cheek, nor you a reply, right?

We were transported to the outskirts of the royal capital Fragyl’s castle town.

In regards to time, the new Spring semester had just started. It was right around the time Cecily and I met.

From there, Eivind gave me directions to an inn along with the lodging fee, and then said, “Alright, I’ll meet up with you tonight,” before disappearing in a dashing manner. I mean, I know I’m in no position to talk, but isn’t that a bit selfish?

Still, even though I spent almost a year in Cecily’s body, for someone like me, now a doll without a registry or anything, establishing a new life foundation would be no easy task.

“Guess it can’t be helped.”

I started walking in search of the inn Eivind told me about.

Apparently, it was located in a back alley. Still, the amount I was given to pay with is pretty substantial, so maybe I should expect something nice? Or maybe this also includes some spending money?

“Now that I think about it, is eating and drinking like normal in this body alright…?”

Well, back at school Hana moved around vigorously and normally ate the meals served in the cafeteria. Although, since I haven’t felt any hunger yet, maybe I should check Eivind first.

With such thoughts in mind, I sang a tune while searching for the inn.

After all, from now on, I’m going to be “Hana.”

In other words, the first thing I needed to do after successfully transferring to the school was to play the supporting role at the new student welcome showcase.

Before, I failed the audition for supposedly singing a “cursed song,” but this time, I will show off my vocal talent on a magnificent stage!

And then, just as I was walking along, practicing my vocalization with great care—

“Well, well, young lady. Looking for something?”

The ones who spoke to me were what would normally be called thug-like older brothers.

What’s this? Do they feel like having some fun with a young maiden walking carelessly through some back alleys?

Come to think of it, I’m currently dressed in a frilly, young-lady-like one-piece dress. This modest exposure is probably for the sake of keeping this body’s joints from being noticeable. And maybe also a mix of Eivind’s tastes and consideration for me… All of that combined to make me into a black-haired, graceful, “young lady” with a lovely voice.

…Well, I guess that makes me a pretty good mark, then?

Then again, that goes both ways.

I had been thinking I still needed more tuning with this body anyway.

So, while humming a tune to myself…

I gave those thugs who were eyeing me unpleasantly some gentle attention.

—Up to that point, I thought it was a beautiful story.

“Why is it that in the mere half-day I took my eyes off you, a rumor has sprung up around here about a ‘maniac singing ancient cursed songs’!?”

“Oyo?”

As soon as Eivind came to the inn, I was given a lecture for some reason.

Well, about the rumor… yeah, I might’ve gotten a little carried away, letting my magic surge along with the zenith of the song, but… something about this rumor sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

After a few seconds of thinking, it clicked, and I clapped my hands together.

“That’s why I was rejected at the audition!”

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