Vanir and Whit watched their mysterious chief leave the tent with odd expressions.
There were a few seconds of silence before Whit spoke up.
"Hey boy, is it just me, or does our chief seriously not believe she's beautiful? She doesn't seem to be joking."
"...That's what I think too."
"Seriously, her looks could already start a war between nations!"
"Indeed."
"What caused her to act that way? Are the adventurer's standards just really high?" He said with a resigned smile. "It's scary. When I saw her I thought my heart would stop and I'm already so old. Her beauty doesn't necessarily make people fall for her, but it's just strangely charming. Charismatic? I really never expected for our chief to be a female, and such a stunning one at that."
"Mhm."
"Hah...having such beauty is like a curse. I understand why she covers herself up all the time. I pity our chief a bit. Many people wish for beauty but they never realize how terrifying it is to be targeted because of it. I bet our chief has troubles living a normal life."
Vanir just kept nodding in agreement.
Whit glanced at him suspiciously. "Why are you so silent? Don't tell me you've fallen for her."
Vanir quickly shook his head.
"It's not that. Just.....for some reason, I find her face very familiar? Have I perhaps seen her before....?"
"You must be mistaken, when would a noble like you ever have gotten the chance to meet an adventurer? I don't think the kingdom has any."
Vanir gave his silent agreement but continued to stare at the entrance of the tent with furrowed brows.
---------------------------------------
Sophia looked away from the mirror and stepped out onto the room's open balcony. She seemed to be within a tall tower. The building was located on a tall isolated mountain and surrounded by chilling mist. The surrounding gave off a very solemn and sacred vibe.
She looked down and saw a few people chatting while taking care of the beautifully decorated garden below.
She couldn't recognize the clothes that they wore. Their skin was light and their facial features looked European. Did she somehow wake up in Europe? The last thing she remembered was being in a car crash...
Coincidentally, a worker glanced up and locked eyes with her. He was stunned for a moment before shakily stumbling back and falling onto his bottom.
"S-she's...the Saintess is awake....!"
All the workers around him immediately looked up and saw Sophia. There was a moment of shocked silence before shouts resounded.
"The Saintess has finally awoken!?"
"Seriously?!
"Quick, tell the Pope!"
"How many years has it been! Finally!"
The excited yells and cheers quickly spread throughout the large building. Sophia simply observed everything happening with calm eyes. She then noticed something and lifted her eyebrows in surprise.
They were speaking Japanese?
Seeing so many people who were obviously not Asian speaking and yelling in fluent Japanese gave her an odd feeling.
Soon, a nervous knock came from the room's extravagantly engraved double door so she walked back into the room and scanned it for anything useful items. Seeing a sharp hair ornament, she smoothly tucked it into her hair and covered it up.
"Come in."
Two women dressed as maids pushed open the door with their heads bowed respectfully before scurrying out and guarding the hallway.
A young man with long silver hair and a golden band around his forehead elegantly entered the room. He didn't even dare set his eyes upon Sophia before getting on his knees and bowing in a reverent position.
"This humble servant Leo greets the Saintess."
Sophia silently watched him. This man was most likely the Pope, and she was the Saintess they were talking about. Her mind started to spin as she thought of the many possibilities that had led up to this situation.
She was either dead and in the afterworld, was transported to another world, was in the future, or was captured and being made fun of.
She quickly crossed off the latter two. The workers and the Pope weren't acting or lying. She would have been able to tell if they did.
The building didn't seem to have any electrical devices and she had seen the garden workers use something like...magic.
Was she really transmigrated? But she doubted that people would be using Japanese in another world.
So where was she? An undiscovered place in the world? That really didn't exist at this age.
Sophia decided to just straight out ask.
"Where am I?"
"Your Holiness is currently in the Temple of Heaven. This sacred temple was built for Your Holiness while you were in your slumber. Please forgive us for this place is unbefitting of Your Holiness."
"Why were you waiting for me to wake up? How long?"
"Your humble servants have been waiting for two decades, ever since Your Holiness used up all your magic to save this world. Your Holiness is the world's savior! We will wait forever just for Your Holiness to once again grace us with your presence!"
Sophia slightly frowned. This man was saying enough 'Your Holiness's to make her eardrums bleed.
"Stop calling me with 'Your Holiness'. It's annoying."
"Yes. Whatever the Saintess orders. Your will is my command."
"What is this world called?"
"This is the world of Sapphire, Saintess."
Sophia froze.
Sapphire?
She suddenly flashed back to an old memory she had with her husband.
'Hey, Rei.....why is this world named Earth? Who named it?'
'Haha, honey, why would you ask such a question?'
'I'm simply curious! Why didn't they chose a better name? Earth sounds so dull...'
'What would you have named it then?'
'I dunno...maybe after something beautiful instead?'
'Like?'
'Hmmm.....I've always loved the color of Sapphire. Maybe that would work. It sounds like a pretty cringy name though huh.'
'It's a beautiful name.'
'Liar. Don't let me name our children in the future.'
Sophia remembered that Rei had only chuckled in response before readily agreeing with her.
This world was called Sapphire?
Then, Rei...transported her consciousness into the VR game he was working on? No, were these memories even hers, or were they just implanted in her? How could he do this?
She suddenly felt a creeping feeling wash over her, as if she was being watched by some omniscient gaze. Was he watching her right now? Was she already dead in real life?
Sophia curled her hands into fists as she held herself back from glancing around. She stood still lost in her thoughts for few minutes before Leo hesitantly spoke up.
"Please excuse my interruption, Saintess. But your awakening has alerted the rules of nations all over the continent. I predict they will visit soon."
Sophia stiffly nodded and took a deep breath. A determined light glinted in her eyes.
Whether or not she was in a VR game currently didn't matter. If Rei had really released his game then her kids should be playing as well.
"Get me a change of clothes, you can explain more after. I will prepare to meet these 'rulers'." She ordered with a determined glare.
She would do anything she could to see her children again.
Even if that means becoming this so-called Saintess.