Sairi now began to ponder why the Goddess had summoned her to this world.
It surely wasn’t just to make friends and enjoy herself here.
There must be some task she needed help with.
On her way to the bakery, passing by a row of benches, the voice in Sairi’s mind started up again.
“How’s it going? How have these past two days felt?”
“Hm? Goddess, is that you?”
“Of course it’s me. Who else could connect directly and seamlessly to your brain?”
“That’s true. After two days, it feels quite strange.
I was blind, peacefully dying under the sun, then met a goddess no materialist would believe in, was reincarnated into a different world, changed gender and body, and even my personality and memories shifted quite a bit.
Later, I got into trouble and Hilvia saved me. Didn’t expect Hilvia to be a human hero, going out hunting only to get ambushed by the kingdom’s people. Tomorrow, we’re heading to the Bloodspirit Empire.
These experiences are truly beyond what an ordinary person could imagine. Just changing into a woman has been a headache for many.
I’ve managed to hold on these two days mostly because I remind myself constantly that I’m completely dead, and this new life is my whole lifetime. Now I see everything more openly—after all, fretting won’t change anything.”
“I feel like your way of speaking is quite precise and thorough, Goddess. These past two days, I’ve truly seen both beauty and darkness.”
“So, how do you feel about your journey in this world so far?”
“I haven’t started traveling yet. Tomorrow I’m going with Hilvia to the Bloodspirit Empire.”
But a voice in her mind immediately contradicted her.
“No, no, no. Your journey began the day you arrived here.”
“The day I arrived? So you mean the journey won’t end until I’m sent back? Leaving this place?”
“That’s still a long way off. We’ll talk about that later. For now, the Bloodspirit Empire is a good place. Wherever you go, you’ll gain a lot.”
“What do you mean? You don’t mean I’ll make a vampire friend who sticks with me forever, right? That’d be too much already—Hilvia alone is hard enough to handle.”
(This is a lie!)
“Didn’t you truly believe Hilvia was your best friend deep down?”
The Goddess’s words were always so straightforward.
“Th-That’s just because she’s a strong ally I’m clinging to for now! A temporary alliance. Goddess, you—don’t say things like that.”
Sairi’s tone was weak. On the first day, she probably saw Hilvia as someone to use, but after bathing, sleeping, eating, and hunting together, Hilvia felt like a real friend.
Sairi couldn’t even clearly say how much of their bond was “clinging to a strong ally” and how much was “true friendship” if ten points was the total—she simply couldn’t answer.
Yet the Goddess’s reply was sharp.
“Then… who are you buying the cake for? Why are you going?”
At that, Sairi fell silent, unable to answer, and just kept walking quietly.
“That’s my business. I wouldn’t do anything inappropriate. I’m a righteous young woman!”
“Looks like you’re quite motivated. Be careful of the Earth Vein Blackflow in the future.”
“Hey, you’re revealing your true colors, right? And Goddess, your topic change is awkward. But the Blackflow is just the stuff polluting monsters come from.”
“That’s right. The Blackflow was controlled a thousand years ago, but it sometimes leaks out, causing harm. So people here have gradually adapted. I don’t really know what its status is now, but you have to be extra careful.”
“Okay…(…) okay. But Goddess Sister, why did you turn me into a girl? These past two days have felt so strange and sensitive.”
“Hmm… just a whim? I thought you looked cuter and more harmonious this way. It’s easier for you to communicate with others like this. If you were still a man, do you think Hilvia would have brought you home that day?”
“Th-That’s true. Men and women don’t touch casually, after all. But I really feel unsafe in women’s clothes—they’re so thin and breezy. I’m scared of a gust suddenly blowing my skirt up, like right now, I keep pulling it down.”
“You’ll get used to it. Besides, don’t you think these clothes are comfortable? Don’t worry so much about others’ eyes.”
“If I didn’t care about others’ eyes, wouldn’t I be some kind of pervert flashing people in public?”
Sairi started to suspect the Goddess might have some strange values…
“Also, turning me into a girl has made me weaker. What if I’m at a disadvantage in battle?”
“This is a world of magic. It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female. With talent, practice, and frequent training, you force others to be strong—it’s got nothing to do with gender. Physical ability differences are negligible in battle since everyone has magical enhancements.”
“Bo…”
Looks like it’s just that my magic is still too weak.
“Besides, you didn’t use any magic when you defeated those four bad guys, right? You just relied on physical attacks?”
Indeed… Sairi realized she hadn’t used magic against the four ambushers that day. It was pure classical mechanics.
“Alright… don’t think too much about it. Keep moving forward. I’ll always be watching you. Your friends will too—watching over you, caring about you.”
“My friends? Always watching me…”
What did the Goddess mean by that? Sairi wanted to ask more, but the voice in her head vanished.
Looks like the Goddess had “hung up” again—always like this, chatting a bit to understand the situation, then disappearing.
Sairi had now reached the junction between the lower road and Snack Street. She leaned back and glanced toward the path she’d come from.
Only a few magic street lamps scattered light here and there; everything else was pitch black.
Sairi officially entered Snack Street to look for the bakery.
In the darkness, Hilvia was tense. She had noticed Sairi leaving the orphanage and talking to herself again, but no one else was nearby.
So she planned to follow closely, but Sairi kept silent. At the intersection, Sairi suddenly glanced back. Luckily, Hilvia stayed hidden in the shadows along the roadside.
Snack Street was bustling with people, all chatting and relaxing before bedtime.
Sairi followed her memory along the street. After a short while, she found the bakery near where they’d eaten.
Her memory was pretty good after all.
Fortunately, the bakery was still open, lights shining inside, though no customers were visible.
Sairi opened the door. The bell chimed “ding-ling.” Suddenly, a beautiful and familiar voice called out.
“Welcome! Almost closing time. What can I get for you?”
Sairi approached the counter, looking around the shop.
A woman lifted the curtain from the kitchen and came forward. Sairi realized she looked familiar.
Wasn’t this the mother of the little boy from the restaurant earlier?
“Ah… what a coincidence to meet you here…”
“Hm? Oh! Isn’t this the little girl who looked so worried at the restaurant?”
“Don’t tease me.”
“Alright, alright, no more teasing. It’s late—what would you like?”
“Um, do you make cakes here? Nothing too expensive, just something ordinary.”
“Of course! What kind of cake would you like? Here are some options.” The woman handed Sairi a card with several cake designs.
“Ah… it’s not for me. It’s… for a friend. I want to buy it as a gift…”
Sairi’s voice grew more nervous as she spoke, fingers fidgeting, head lowered.
“A friend? Little girl’s got a boyfriend? Is he good to you?”
The bakery owner misunderstood, putting Sairi in an awkward spot. She quickly looked up to deny it, blushing.
“No, no, no. Not a boyfriend. Just an ordinary friend…”
“An ordinary friend?”
The conversation paused for a moment. The owner recalled what she’d seen at the restaurant and seemed to have figured it out.
“Looks like you want to surprise the girl you ate with today, right?”
How did the owner know that?
“Yes… but how do you know?”
“First, I’m a mother. I know about young people and their kissing and hugging. Second, your friend is a regular here, always buying cream cakes.”
“Cream cake? She likes that?”
“Yes. Of all the cakes in this shop, she only likes cream cake.”
“Hey, how much is your cream cake?”
“Two Silver Coins.”
The owner’s reply was quick, but it left Sairi troubled.
Two Silver Coins! Is this bread made of gold, or is the cream made of gold?
“It might be a bit pricey. Cream is hard to get here—it has to be transported from elsewhere. Regular bread isn’t that expensive.”
“Well… but… I only brought…”
Sairi’s words faltered. She twisted nervously, voice growing faint and full of grievance.
Her hands clutched the single Silver Coin pressed to her chest, trembling.
She wished she had asked Hilvia for an extra coin. She shouldn’t have handed over all her funds for management. At least keeping a small private stash was essential.
“Looks like you didn’t bring enough.”
The owner spoke frankly, which hurt Sairi’s feelings.
“I’m sorry! Sorry to bother you!” Sairi bowed deeply, about to turn and run. Without enough money, she’d surely be kicked out.
“Wait!”
The owner suddenly shouted.
Sairi froze on the spot, trembling as she slowly turned back to the counter.
Her feelings overwhelmed, Sairi lowered her head, afraid of being scolded next, eyes already red.
But instead of scolding or insult, the owner reached out a hand. Sairi instinctively tried to duck away, but it was too late.
What came wasn’t humiliation, but a gentle, soothing touch—like a mother comforting a child. The owner stroked Sairi’s hair.
“Silly child, no need to be so tense. You smiled so rarely today. Why are you so close to tears now? No one likes a face ruined by crying.”
“Eh… sister, what are you doing…”
“You’re such a kid. So cute and sunny, but you always wear a miserable expression. Smile more; it’ll touch people’s hearts.”
As she spoke, the owner uncurled Sairi’s fingers and took the Silver Coin from her hand.
“Don’t be so afraid. Today, I’ll only charge you one Silver Coin. Just for today—someone wants to give a surprise to a beloved friend. It won’t be like this again.”
“Th-Thank you, boss.”