Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Holy Blood (8)
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After stepping into the changing room, I let out a small sigh.
"..."
I hesitated for a moment, then began removing the clothes I'd been wearing one by one.
Trying not to pay too much attention to my naked reflection in the mirror, I started trying on the items Yoanna had handed me.
The changes to my body caused discomfort in entirely different places when getting dressed.
Back when I was a man, it was mostly my head or shoulders that got caught, but now it was my chest and hips getting in the way.
Every time it happened, I was struck anew by just how different everything felt now.
The texture of the fabric against my skin felt unfamiliar too. It was that soft, smooth cling typical of women's clothing.
"..."
Somehow I managed to get all the clothes on, and after zipping up the back, I slowly turned to face the mirror.
'...Is this... okay...?'
In truth, it had been several months since I'd started living in this body.
So by now, whether I wanted to or not, the face in the mirror registered first as "myself."
But that made it even harder to judge objectively.
All I could think was how unbearably awkward and embarrassing this completely different outfit felt.
I lingered in front of the mirror, dragging out the time, when a knock sounded at the door. Knock knock.
"Eve sis, you almost done?"
At Yoanna's urging voice, I hurriedly replied.
"Y-yeah! Coming out now!"
There was no helping it now.
I took a short, deep breath and slowly opened the changing room door, stepping out.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The moment the tightly shut changing room door finally opened—
"Wow..."
A gasp of admiration slipped unbidden from the lips of the nearby store clerk.
The customer who had appeared before her was that stunning.
Silver hair cascading over her shoulders, mysterious blue eyes.
Porcelain-white skin, a flawlessly sculpted figure draped in a light, airy dress that only accentuated her beauty.
Shy eyes wide with embarrassment, cheeks faintly flushed.
Even the awkward way she fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.
Every detail blended into a perfect picture that left onlookers spellbound.
"Wow..."
The clerk let out another soft sigh without thinking.
"Pretty" didn't even begin to cover it. She looked like a fairy stepped straight out of a storybook. The habitual compliments the clerk usually tossed out to boost sales wouldn't even form. She was simply lost in genuine awe.
Only after a long moment did she snap out of it, hastily showering praise to cover for staring so openly.
"Miss, you are seriously... Are you an actress? A model? Or maybe an idol? I've sold dozens of that same dress in this store, but... I don't think I can ever say it suits anyone else now. You've turned it into stage attire—"
It was praise so effusive it would make anyone blush.
'This is so embarrassing...'
Overwhelmed by the burdensome compliments, I awkwardly turned my head and responded.
"Th-thanks..."
Even amid it all, what I was really worried about was Yoanna's reaction.
The girl had stood frozen without so much as a breath, staring straight at me.
'What on earth is she thinking...?'
Her silent, expressionless gaze was starting to make me anxious.
So, steeling myself against the embarrassment, I asked directly.
"H-how... does it look...?"
But Yoanna just slowly scanned me from head to toe without a word.
Her unblinking eyes sent chills down my spine.
"Y-Yoanna...?"
Finally, the girl murmured softly.
"Yes."
And she gave a slight smile...
It was an eerie smile, hard to describe, one that made me flinch.
"You look beautiful, sis."
Suddenly feeling ominous, I quickly urged her on.
"Y-yeah. So, we're done here...? Let's get out of this place."
"What are you talking about, sis?"
But Yoanna didn't budge, grabbing my shoulder as I tried to bolt from the store.
She pointed to the pile of clothes stacked in the shopping basket.
"We haven't even started. You have to try on everything here and pick the ones that suit you best."
"........."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The marathon shopping session finally ended only after Yoanna loaded my arms with thick bags full of purchases.
"Toss out all those rags you have. From now on, you only wear these, got it?"
"........."
Even after finally exiting the clothing store-packed mall, I wasn't exactly thrilled.
In the end, I'd have to walk the streets in this mortifying outfit.
Just strolling along, I could feel eyes on me from everywhere.
From passing pedestrians, from reflections in shop windows.
Regardless of age or gender, the stares prickled like needles.
Of course, drawing attention came with the territory as a "Saintess." I'd experienced it plenty.
But those gazes had carried reverence or envy.
This attention was entirely different.
Honestly, most of the looks fixed on me now were just...
"......"
My face heated up again.
A wave of fatigue crashed over me. After hours of shopping, it hit even harder.
But Yoanna, unlike me, showed no signs of tiring.
If anything, she seemed more energized and lively.
With our arms tightly linked, she chattered on in her excited voice.
"You know, sis, do you have any idea how much fun I've had today?"
The girl looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
"I've been looking forward to this forever. Spending the whole day with my favorite sis, no worries, just having a blast—trying on cute matching outfits, browsing pretty stores..."
Her bright, age-appropriate cheer made me suddenly recall something important I'd forgotten.
'Come to think of it...'
Just a short while ago, this girl had been a critical patient confined to her bed all day.
Her muscles atrophied so badly she couldn't even stand on her own legs, spending most of her life wandering cyberspace in search of slim hope—a truly pitiable child.
She'd probably never enjoyed ordinary days like other kids, strolling streets or hanging out with friends her age.
So this utterly mundane day had been a desperately wished-for "dream" for her.
That realization shifted the fatigue and shame cluttering my mind into something else.
"......"
I quietly looked down at the beaming girl.
I gently clasped the small hand linked in my arm and said,
"Yeah, if it's okay with me... I'll hang out with you anytime from now on."
Yoanna whipped around, eyes lighting up.
"Really, sis?! Then tomorrow, and the day after, you'll shop with me too?!"
'Oh no...'
For a split second, I regretted jumping the gun, a chill running down my spine. I averted my eyes and hastily added,
"N-no... Not tomorrow right away... M-maybe once a week...?"
Her face fell for a moment, but then she let out a small "Hee-hee."
"I'm kidding, sis."
She wiped a tear from her eye and said,
"I could tell you were super tired today, Eve sis. I got carried away and acted childish. I was hoping you'd pay a little more attention to me, so I threw a bit of a tantrum. Sorry. But... could we maybe spend time like this once in a while, even if it's rare?"
I answered without hesitation.
"Yeah, let's go out and have fun like this often."
Suddenly, I remembered the day we first met.
I might not be able to become her god, but I hadn't forgotten my promise to be her friend.
So I'd scold her sharply if she strayed down the wrong path again, but I'd never let go of her hand. I'd seen enough of the girl to know her true nature wasn't that bad.
And trusting the child was the right thing for an adult to do.
'She's following me so well, so I need to treat her even better.'
Lost in those thoughts, Yoanna suddenly smiled brightly and tugged me along again.
"Then, last one—just peek in that store before we go, Eve sis?"
"...Yeah."
Man, I am a little tired.
'But she loves it so much, what can I do?'
Just as I followed her lead—
"Excuse me, wait a sec! Sorry to bother you!"
A man in a flashy colored suit suddenly jumped in front of us, blocking our path.
He eyed me up and down with a somewhat sleazy gaze and opened his mouth.
"Miss, are you by any chance..."
But before he could finish, burly men appeared out of nowhere to block his approach.
They were the church's guards who'd been shadowing us like ghosts.
Positioned between the approaching man and us, their wary glares were ice-cold.
"Do you have business with Lady Eve?"
One of them asked in a low voice.
The man looked utterly flustered by the unexpected guards.
"Uh, n-no... I just... well, you see..."
He stammered for a bit, then flashed an awkward smile and hurriedly pulled a business card from his pocket.
"N-no misunderstanding! I'm not some shady guy! I just do this kind of work."
The guard's face remained stern as he glanced at it briefly, then silently passed the card to me.
The moment I read the text on the business card, I was left stunned.
[STARLIT Entertainment - New Talent Development Team Chief Producer, Michael Lian]
'What the...?'
My eyes locked onto one word on the card.
STARLIT Entertainment.
It was a fairly well-known company name in this city.
But what was baffling was why I'd run into it so randomly here.
'Isn't that... an entertainment agency...?'