Morning light streamed through the glass window of the Sword of Saint Radiance squad’s kitchen, casting warm patches across air filled with the sweet scent of flour and honey.
『When will you awaken, embrace your true self, and turn the world’s wails into our sustenance?』
『Sustenance, my foot.』
Aurelia replied grumpily in her mind, deftly pouring oatmeal into boiling milk.
『It’s early in the morning. Can’t I make breakfast in peace?』
As a top-tier modern homebody, her morning grumpiness hadn’t vanished just because she’d changed worlds and genders.
『Ignorant ant, how dare you—!』
『Yeah, yeah, the ant is hungry, so keep quiet for a while.』 She retorted at the voice in her head while stirring the pot with practiced hands to prevent sticking.
It had been nearly a month since she transmigrated into this black-haired, red-eyed girl called Aurelia. She still couldn’t figure out if the thing in her head came standard or was an extra from transmigration, but one thing was clear.
She had to survive before finding a solution.
Her greatest challenge now wasn’t adapting to a female body, nor the “Source of Calamity” with a terminal case of chuuni in her brain.
But maintaining this “gentle, virtuous, shy, and introverted” persona every day, living as a Logistics Officer.
【To think I, a strapping young man, now have to tie on an apron to cook porridge and fry eggs, all while playing a gentle, introverted beauty… Isn’t this ridiculous?】
As steady, purposeful footsteps approached from behind, Aurelia instantly switched modes: lips curled into a gentle smile, eyes softened, even her turn carried an intentionally practiced grace.
If she’d achieved nothing else this month, her acting and reaction time had definitely improved.
There was no choice; to survive in this unfamiliar world, a little acting was a must.
After all, who could tolerate a teammate with a voice in their head constantly shouting about world destruction? Especially when that teammate’s body might really be some source of calamity.
“Good morning, Captain. Breakfast is almost ready.”
Laurence stood at the kitchen doorway, his short red hair catching the morning sun, features clean-cut—the type who, in her previous world, could debut as a lead in a hero drama.
Every time he stepped into this tidy kitchen filled with the warmth of food, he couldn’t help but think that inviting Aurelia into the squad was perhaps one of his best recent decisions.
In the past month, all the trivial headaches from food and logistics had basically vanished.
Amusingly, among all these people, even Vice-captain Vera and the mage Iris—both women—didn’t seem skilled at this.
Everyone else? Zero life skills. They were better at gnawing on rations and drinking cold water. In extreme cases, they might even chew bark and drink muddy water.
Such draining, petty pressures had always been a top concern for him as captain.
She finally understood what those web novels meant by “sword brows and starry eyes, dashingly handsome.”
Laurence looked at Aurelia, nodding with a soft chuckle, his tone steady and reliable as ever.
“Good morning, Lia. Thank you for your hard work. You don’t need to do all this alone; if you ask for help, I doubt anyone would refuse.”
“It’s no trouble.” Aurelia lowered her head, tidying the stove as she started her internal rant.
【Playing the sweet little kitchen fairy and Logistics Officer every day is really stressful. I wonder if living in another world will make me lose my hair…】
『He draws near—this is the perfect chance! Use the dormant power of calamity within you to kill this Heroic Bloodline!』
『Huh? You want a total weakling like me to take on a warrior who can solo monsters? Have you lost your mind, old man? You must be drunk.』
Aurelia ladled the cooked oatmeal into bowls, then began frying eggs with brisk, practiced motions.
Laurence naturally stepped forward. Seeing she was about to lift the heavy tray, he took it from her. “Allow me.”
He set the tray on the table, laying out utensils as he spoke.
“Shadowlight City’s been a bit chaotic lately. The others have been assigned a bunch of bandit-sweeping and monster-slaying commissions, so they left early. Looks like it’s just the two of us today.”
“Just the two of us?”
Aurelia’s hand paused mid-scoop.
A man and a woman, alone at breakfast? Isn’t this a little too classic?
With all her years of anime and web novel experience, this usually meant a flag was about to be raised—either for deepening feelings… or triggering an event.
『A heaven-sent opportunity! Now, unleash your latent power and end the bloodline of this false hero!』 The voice in her head grew suddenly excited, full of encouragement and incitement.
『End him? With what? This wooden spoon? Or do I smash this fried egg in his face?』
Aurelia felt nothing but amusement.
『Look at those arms, that build—me, a frail little kitchen girl, how am I supposed to “end” him?』
“I see…”
She gave Laurence a shy but appropriate smile, sliding the bowl of porridge to him.
“I’ll go get some of yesterday’s bread. It goes perfectly with porridge.”
The table soon fell quiet, broken only by the soft clink of utensils. Aurelia took small bites of oatmeal, but her mind raced.
【Gotta find a topic… Not too forced, or it’ll seem unnatural. Too quiet, and it won’t fit the “introverted but wants to belong” vibe.】 She closed her eyes for a moment, spoon pressed to her lips in thought.
【Weather talk? Ugh, too lame. Discuss the mission? Captain doesn’t like business talk over food… Then…】
“Captain,” she looked up, setting down her spoon, voice gentle.
“How’s the oatmeal today? I tried adding a bit of honey—does it suit your taste?”
Laurence paused mid-scoop, savoring the bite.
The perfect sweet warmth reminded him of the days, not so long ago, when he’d returned from training to nothing but hard black bread and cold water.
That rough existence already felt like a distant memory. He nodded, a clear note of praise in his golden eyes.
“It’s delicious. The richness of the honey goes well with the oatmeal, and the sweetness is just right. Lia, you’re truly talented at cooking.”
“Eh? Really? I’m just glad everyone likes it.”
She ducked her head, ears tinged pink in line with her “shy and introverted” persona, while inwardly scheming.
【Perfect, the conversation continues! From porridge to honey, then naturally segue to his last mission—flawless!】
“That beehive we found on the forest edge last time—though the Giant Bees were troublesome, the honey’s quality really is rare.”
Laurence picked up the thread without missing a beat.
Perhaps her solid work as Logistics Officer made him feel that sharing these adventure spoils had more meaning; his tone grew gentler.
And, he realized, lately whenever he finished training or returned from missions, he’d unconsciously look forward to the warmth and scent of food at the base.
This feeling of anticipation… had never been there before.
It was as if all the day’s fatigue and the cold left by battle and killing could be quietly melted away in that kitchen’s warm glow and the slim, busy figure within.
He didn’t dwell on the change, attributing it to the convenience brought by an excellent Logistics Officer.
But his body was more honest than his thoughts; his step was indeed lighter.
“Never expected you to be so good with ingredients. If there’s ever a spice or special food you’re curious about, let me know—if I spot it on missions, I’ll bring it back.”
【See? So considerate! This teammate’s a keeper! The only supplier of reliable food and a protagonist with plot armor—one of a kind!】
Aurelia silently upped her practical evaluation of Laurence’s value yet again.
“Thank you, Captain.” Her voice grew even softer, carrying a genuine gratitude and delight. “Then… I’ll take you up on that offer and won’t be shy.”
Laying the groundwork—maybe someday she’d actually get her hands on some chili peppers or unique seasonings. After all… the food in this world tended to be a bit too bland and sweet for her tastes.
【One day I’m going to end up with high blood sugar and not even know it…】
『Pathetic! To be swayed by food and false words! Your mission is far nobler than these mundane affairs!』
『Noble missions don’t fill my belly, nor keep me alive a few more days before some future hero chops me down.』
Aurelia fired back in her mind as she added half a ladle more porridge to Laurence’s bowl, her motions smooth and natural.
“Eat a bit more, Captain. You have training later, right? You’ll need the energy.”
“Mm. I feel like I’m about to break through. Maybe with a little more effort, I can make a push for Silver Rank.”
Laurence obligingly took another big bite, then turned gentle eyes on her. As captain, it was his job to confirm the new recruit’s status and sense of belonging.
And this gentle, virtuous girl had, in just a month, won everyone’s trust with her impeccable behavior and flawless logistics work.
“By the way, Lia, it’s almost a month since you joined the Sword of Saint Radiance. How do you feel? Is the training too much? Getting along with everyone… have you adapted?”
【Here we go, the classic “boss heart-to-heart” segment!】
Aurelia perked up—this was her chance to showcase the eager-to-belong, grateful little flower persona.
She put down her spoon, folding her hands on her knees with a look of thoughtful seriousness tinged with nervousness.
“Very… very good. Everyone takes such good care of me.”
Her voice was soft, tinged with a gratitude she tried but failed to hide.
“Training… I’m still not very good, and it took a long time to fix my sword grip, but all the seniors are very patient. Vera helps me often too…”
She paused, glanced quickly up at Laurence, then dropped her gaze again.
“The base feels so warm. It’s so much better than when I… wandered alone.”
The last sentence carried a hint of real emotion.
She wasn’t entirely acting—fragments of the original body’s memories were full of cold and unease from struggling alone in a dangerous world.
It wasn’t so different from her own previous solitary life. In a way… she could relate.
Laurence watched her, hearing the subtle note of vulnerability in her voice.
As captain, helping every member feel a sense of belonging was his responsibility—especially those who’d been adrift.
A stable, united team was the foundation of true strength.
A gentle understanding flashed in those golden eyes, his reliable aura even more apparent.
“That’s good. Here, you’re never alone. The Sword of Saint Radiance isn’t just a squad—it’s comrades who have each other’s backs.”
“A team’s strength comes from every member’s effort and sense of belonging. I hope… you can see this as your home. If you have any difficulties or need anything, please tell us.”
Comrades… to trust with her back… home?
Those words made Aurelia’s heart tighten, a wave of warmth mixed with absurdity and anxiety swelling inside her.
【Brother, you mean that now, but if you knew there was a world-ending curse in my head, you’d be the first to stab your sword through my heart…】
“Mm, I understand. Thank you, Captain.”
She fought to steady her surging emotions, thick lashes trembling as she finished the last bite of bread, masking her fleeting distraction.
Breakfast ended in an atmosphere that seemed calm and cozy, but with undercurrents churning in Aurelia’s heart.
Laurence stood, and Aurelia instinctively got up too, gently checking the simple Laurence’s Swordbelt and the Adventurer’s Equipment Bag by his chair.
Inside, besides the basics—whetstone, rope—were the Healer’s Kits and Antidotes she’d carefully sorted and packed in clean linen over the last few days.
“All your potions are topped up, Captain. Please be careful during training.” She fastened the bag’s clasp, her fingers deft and skillful.
Laurence took the gear, his long, strong fingers brushing briefly against her hand, a fleeting warmth.
He looked down at her, his gaze lingering on her downcast lashes.
Her arrival really had made the squad’s daily life much smoother, and a faint, genuine smile curved his lips.
Bathed in the morning light, that smile carried a reassuring warmth that made Aurelia uneasy—she looked away reflexively.
“With such a careful and reliable Logistics Officer, everyone can rest much easier.”
He made clear his appreciation of her value to the team, then left the base.
***
As soon as Laurence’s figure vanished through the door, Aurelia’s carefully constructed look of shyness and gentleness collapsed, all strength drained from her body.
She let out a long breath, finally relaxing her shoulders, and rubbed her cheeks, sore from holding a smile too long.
“Phew—finally done with the morning performance…” she muttered, her voice lazy and tired.
Dragging herself back to the dining room, she couldn’t be bothered to clear the table just yet, instead plopping into the nearest chair and very nearly putting her feet up.
She managed to stop herself at the last second—this body was a beautiful girl now, after all. Too unrestrained and she’d ruin her image.
【Pretending to be a gentle, shy, cherishes-her-comrades beauty every day is more exhausting than clocking in at a factory.】
【Especially in front of someone like Laurence—sharp, observant, and so honest and upright. I have to be on guard every second, afraid that one day—snap—I’ll slip up.】
She wandered back into the now-empty kitchen, leaning against the cool counter, grabbing the leftover half of rye bread and taking a big, unladylike bite.
Sunlight shimmered through the window, sparkling in her crow-black hair, her red eyes like the purest rubies.
If you ignored the light of utter resignation in them…
『…To wallow in this false, fragile peace, how shortsighted! Your fate is to make all things tremble before calamity—not cozy up in a corner and flirt with our nemesis!』
“Pfft—!” At the last word, Aurelia spewed water, coughing for quite a while before recovering.
『Flirt?! Which eye of yours saw me flirting? I’m just trying to survive! Survival, you get it? Building rapport, gathering resources! It’s called strategic disguise! And besides,』
She rolled her eyes, though no one could see.
『Nemesis? You’re giving me too much credit. With my abilities now, I wouldn’t last two hits. If he really wanted, I’d be split in two with one battle skill.』
After a rest, she resigned herself to clearing the table. The moment the voice in her head started another syllable, she cut it off.
『All you ever talk about is destruction and murder. If you’re so great, why’d you suddenly go quiet last night when I had nightmares, huh?』
When it fell silent, Aurelia sighed and got on with her chores.
Her movements, while efficient, no longer had that carefully maintained “light and graceful” feel—now, there was a casual, sometimes even rough practicality.
【Whatever, forget it. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Worst case… I’ll just run for it?】
The thought flickered through her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.
Run where? She had nothing, zero power, and a brain full of world-ending static. She’d stick out wherever she went.
For now, she’d better cling to the Sword of Saint Radiance—especially Laurence. Heroic Bloodline, advancing fast, totally protagonist material.
Sticking with him had to be safer… right?
She washed dishes, unconsciously humming a favorite instrumental tune from her old life. Suddenly realizing, she quickly stopped and glanced guiltily at the door, clearing her throat.
***
Just as she was finishing up, the cold voice rang out again without warning, this time tinged with a sinister excitement.
『Hmph, it seems you won’t need to seek out power yourself. The Fragment… is coming to you.』
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