Not the Hero
After leaving the reception room, I objectively examined my own behavior and couldn't hold back my embarrassment.
I made a mistake.
This is exactly what the grandfathers wanted.
But the moment I first saw him...
When I saw the hero who had spent over a month on romance instead of setting out on his journey immediately, it felt like my blood was boiling.
A person who looks at the world with such indifferent eyes is supposedly the only one who can save the world?
I couldn't accept it.
Judging from Grandfather's reaction, everything up to this point had probably gone according to plan.
Really, it seems he wants to tie me to the hero no matter what.
After his meeting with Grandfather, the hero and the mage's gazes toward me will likely change as well.
They'll see me as the girl who has desperately waited for the hero for over a month, the girl who admires him.
Haah…
I need to cool my head.
Instead of returning to my room to change, I turn toward the chapel.
Kneeling before the Goddess's statue, I offer a prayer of repentance.
Before long, a familiar voice echoes in my mind.
—Leila.
'…Goddess?'
It seemed like You've been quite busy lately…
—Things resolved themselves nicely, so I dropped by. Are you uncomfortable?
'Of course not. Time spent with You is always my greatest happiness.'
—Hehe, that's my child.
'Hehe…'
—Don't hate the hero too much.
'…The hero? But…'
—He simply hasn't adapted to our world yet. His true nature is kind.
'If You say so…'
Since I was the one who had suspected him and begun investigating, I felt a twinge of guilt.
Still, if the Goddess vouches for him, then the hero is merely wandering the path of trials.
—Everyone has secrets, don't they? In truth, I also intervened in this hero summoning.
'…Pardon?'
—I told you before. One saintess is enough for me. I simply want you to be loved.
'You did say that.'
Originally, saints existed to resolve the world's singularities.
When I worried that I had been born for such a purpose, the Goddess told me otherwise.
In my case, regardless of any grand purpose, She simply wished to give me love.
I felt guilty, as though I were being treated differently from others, but I believe She has Her reasons.
So I follow without worry.
—But when the Demon King suddenly appeared, do you know how much of a headache it gave me?
'Huhu… If You simply ordered me to go, I would have followed any command.'
—Boo, but I don't like that.
'Yes. If that is Your wish, then Your Leila will step back.'
—As expected, you're a good child. I wish the angels were a little more like you.
Her cute complaints were so endearing that I wondered if She had been holding in her frustrations.
—Anyway, that's how it is. Don't worry too much. Just support the hero from behind and see a bit more of the world yourself.
'Yes. I will do as You wish.'
—Also, you're being too stiff again. Won't you call me "Mama~" like before?
'That… feels like a dark history now. It's too embarrassing.'
—Hehe, if you want, you can call me Mama anytime. I'd really like it if you did.
'…I'll try.'
Tonight the blankets won't survive again.
—Then have a good time. I always love you.
'I am happy, always feeling Your love.'
Even so, talking with the Goddess truly feels like speaking with my mother.
Whenever our conversation ends, I always feel a little wistful.
While savoring the lingering warmth of that happiness, I sense someone at the chapel entrance. Has someone come to pray?
Thinking so, I rise and see the hero standing there, slightly stiff.
Now that my head has cooled, I feel sorry for how harsh I was earlier. Remembering the Goddess's words, I speak to him as gently as possible.
"Did you come to pray as well, Hero-nim?"
"Yes…"
"Please don't mind me. Make yourself comfortable."
"…Thank you."
Seeing how visibly burdened he is by my presence, I step aside a little.
I considered leaving out of consideration, but my own prayer isn't finished yet.
He looks awkward, as though he's never prayed before. I watch him quietly.
—Ah, right.
"Huh?"
I react out loud without thinking to the Goddess's sudden voice.
—Come to think of it, I have a gift for you.
'A gift?'
—I told you. I intervened in this hero summoning.
'You did.'
It wasn't merely about interfering with the hero's selection.
—I placed inside the hero a gift I thought you would like.
'…Why put it inside the hero?'
—If I gave it directly, it would count as interfering with the lower world. I had no choice.
'I see. I will gratefully receive it.'
—I'll tell you how to use it. It's simple. Hold the hero's hand.
'Yes?'
She says it's a gift, yet tells me to hold the hero's hand.
What is this, is She about to say the gift is a boyfriend?
—The rest is up to the hero.
'What does that mean?'
—Anyway, just try it.
"Haah… Yes."
Sighing at Her playful tone, I answer and realize the hero is now looking at me.
"The Goddess spoke to me."
"Yes?"
"She said you possess a special ability."
"Ah."
"She asked me to pass on the instructions for using it."
"Aha."
Well, if you came to pray and suddenly heard the Goddess's voice beside you, a little confusion would be understandable.
I don't particularly like this, but since the Goddess prepared it for me, it must be something I would enjoy.
"Could you give me your hand?"
"…Yes?"
I reacted the same way when I first heard it, so I wait for him to process my words.
Soon the hero extends his hand as if for a handshake, and I take it.
"Oh."
"…?"
I can't hide my confusion at his exclamation, as though something amazing has happened.
Nothing happened on my end.
"Uh, Saintess-nim?"
"Yes."
"Do you like sweet drinks?"
"I don't particularly dislike them."
That's what I say, but I actually dislike sweet flavors.
They say every girl loves sweets, but apparently I'm not a girl.
Even though I'm this cute.
Anyway, I prefer salty and savory tastes, so sweet drinks aren't my favorite…
Still, the mention of sweet drinks stirs memories of my previous life.
Back then I didn't particularly like sweets either.
I only consumed them occasionally to replenish sugar during hard work.
Eventually, a can of carbonated drink became an indispensable part of my daily routine whenever I had a moment to spare.
Others called coffee their lifeblood, but mine had become carbonated drinks. The memory feels faintly nostalgic.
In this world, carbonated drinks don't exist, so never tasting them again is a little sad.
—Click, pop!
While thinking this, a strange sound comes from the hero, who has already let go of my hand.
The sound of an aluminum can being opened—one that shouldn't exist in this world.
—Hiss, hissss~
The refreshing sound I thought I'd never hear again.
"…Huh?"
"Uh… Would you like to try this?"
In the hero's hand is a can of Dr. Pepper (355ml)—my favorite drink from my previous life.
"Oh…"
"It might surprise you with the fizz, so I'll warn you in advance. There's nothing wrong with it, so don't worry and just drink it down."
I never imagined she would know even this small pleasure of mine and prepare such a gift.
Along with the feeling of my heart tightening from this overflowing love, my faith in the Goddess deepens even further.
Once again, I offer my gratitude for this grace.
* *
Startled by the sudden request to give my hand, I see the urging look in her eyes and quietly extend my right hand as if for a handshake.
Wondering what she's planning, I feel her hand grasp mine and, without time to be flustered, exclaim at the sight before my eyes.
"Oh."
"…?"
My reaction must puzzle her.
Of course it does.
The moment Leila took my hand, an absurd scene unfolded before me.
—Dr. Pepper (Recommended).
—Coca-Cola.
—Chilsung Cider.
—Pepsi Cola.
—Sprite.
—……
Images and familiar drink names floated before my eyes.
Seeing the "Recommended" mark carefully attached to certain drinks, I almost laughed out loud.
Is this really the Goddess's gift?
It's true I lived practically addicted to carbonated drinks, but this ability is ridiculous.
Curious what would happen if I chose one, and not wanting to become a pervert simply enjoying the feel of Leila's soft hand, I decide to try something.
"Uh, Saintess-nim?"
"Yes."
"Do you like sweet drinks?"
"I don't particularly dislike them."
Letting go of her hand, I ask, and receive a reply that she doesn't particularly like them either.
First, that strangely polarizing weird drink with the recommended mark is bothering me.
What I like is Pepsi Cola, but for the first try, I'll pick the one with the recommended mark.
Honestly, part of me hopes Leila dislikes it and gets pranked.
—Pop
It was just an image, but when I reach toward the floating option, the drink appears as if emerging from another space.
Then, seeing Leila looking slightly dazed after hearing my question, I open the can to quickly pass on the chilling coldness.
—Click, pop!
—Hiss, hissss~
I offer the carbonated drink can, making familiar sounds, to Leila.
"…Huh?"
"Uh… Would you like to try this?"
Surprised by the drink that suddenly appeared in my hand, her expression filled with pure curiosity is quite cute.
"Oh…"
"It might surprise you with the fizz, so I'll warn you in advance. There's nothing wrong with it, so don't worry and just drink it down."
I warned her because this world seems to have no concept of carbonated drinks.
"I'll gratefully drink it."
Leila accepts the Dr. Pepper from me, puts her mouth to the can as if familiar with it, and chugs it down—something one might be surprised by on first taste.
—Gulp. Gulp.
"Puha~"
"Did it suit your taste?"
"Heup. Excuse me."
The cool image from earlier is gone; her focused drinking looks exactly like a cat given churu. Grinning, I ask, and she turns her gaze away, embarrassed, realizing she drank absentmindedly.
Looking at her covering her mouth and turning her head, her ears are slightly red.
"…It, it's delicious."
"If it suited your taste, that's fortunate."
I said that, but that weird drink actually suited her?
Good grief.
By the way, when I held hands with Millia there was clearly nothing like this. Is it only possible with Leila?
"Uh, Saintess-nim?"
"…Yes."
"Did the Goddess perhaps not explain my ability to you?"
"……"
Silence. It seems there was no special explanation.
"Is the ability called Goddess's Gift really just a function to pull out drinks…?"
"……That."
It seems she has something she wants to say.
"…She said it's a gift."
"Yes?"
"Not the hero—my gift…"
The truth confessed while averting her gaze in embarrassment.
…So.
It means the ability is exactly as written.
The "Recommended" mark was also for Leila's taste.
"……Aha."
Just like that, I became the saintess-exclusive soda vending machine hero.
Good grief, seriously.
* *
Mistake. It was a real mistake.
I must have lost my mind from drinking carbonated soda after so long.
The moment I saw my favorite drink offered by the hero, my body accepted it without giving my mind time to stop, and I chugged it down in one go.
I held back the burp that almost escaped using even divine power, but the refreshing feeling in my chest after drinking couldn't be helped, so I opened my mouth.
"Puha~"
"Did it suit your taste?"
"Heup. Excuse me."
Whether my behavior was amusing, seeing him grin makes me feel slightly—very slightly—angry enough to want to punch him.
But the embarrassment is too strong now. I can't meet his gaze anymore.
"…It, it's delicious."
"If it suited your taste, that's fortunate."
I try to change the subject, but no suitable topic comes to mind.
Please, someone do something about this embarrassment!
"Uh, Saintess-nim?"
"…Yes."
"Did the Goddess perhaps not explain my ability to you?"
"……"
Fortunately, the hero changes the subject, seeming to have the same thought.
…This is even more embarrassing to answer than before.
"Is the ability called Goddess's Gift really just a function to pull out drinks…?"
"……That."
It seems there's a way to view one's own ability somehow.
Probably something like the status windows from subculture in my previous life.
One thing has become certain.
The familiar Dr. Pepper can, even the Korean ingredient label written on it.
This hero is from Earth. And from Korea.
For now, since I've received this grace, even if embarrassing, I should tell him.
"…She said it's a gift."
The words don't come out well due to embarrassment.
"Yes?"
"Not the hero—my gift…"
Enduring the swelling embarrassment as best I can, I confess the truth to the hero.
That… It's a gift the Goddess prepared for me, not for you…
"……Aha."
This is bad.
His figure no longer looks like the useless hero from earlier.
Feeling embarrassed, I can't look at him properly.
Goddess, please forgive me.
I can no longer see the hero You chose in an ordinary light.
…Honestly, he looks like a walking soda vending machine.