Chapter 54: Holy Blood (8)

After entering the fitting room, I let out a small sigh.

“…..”

Hesitating for a moment, I soon began to take off the clothes I was originally wearing, one by one.

Trying my best not to be conscious of my naked body reflected in the mirror, I started trying on the items Yoanna had handed me, one by one.

The changes in my body caused discomfort in entirely different areas when getting dressed.

When I was a man, it was mainly my head or shoulders that got caught; now, it was my chest and hips that were cumbersome.

Each time, I would keenly realize how things had distinctly changed from before.

The texture of the fabric against my skin was also unfamiliar.

It was the soft, smooth feel characteristic of women’s clothing, clinging to the body.

“……”

Somehow, after putting on all the clothes and finally zipping up the back, I slowly turned to face the mirror.

‘….Is this, okay….?’

Truthfully, several months had already passed since I started living in this body.

So now, when I looked at the face in the mirror, whether I wanted to or not, the perception of ‘myself’ would come first.

But because of that, I couldn’t get an objective impression.

All I could think was that the attire, so completely different from usual, was unbearably awkward and embarrassing.

As I was idly loitering in front of the mirror, dragging my feet, I heard a knock on the door.

Knock, knock.

“Eve Unni, are you still not ready?”

At Yoanna’s urging voice, I answered in a flurry.

“Uh, y-yes! I’m coming out now!”

There was no helping it now.

I took a short, deep breath, slowly opened the fitting room door, and stepped outside.

=========

The moment the firmly closed fitting room door finally opened—

“Wow…”

An exclamation inadvertently escaped the lips of a store clerk standing nearby.

The customer who appeared before her was that beautiful.

Silvery-white hair flowed down her shoulders, and she had mystical blue eyes.

A light, airy dress covered her jade-like white skin and sculpted, smooth body lines, further enhancing her beautiful figure.

Shyness was held in her large, expressive eyes.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed.

Even the gesture of gently touching the hem of her skirt, as if awkward.

All of these elements harmonized to create a perfect picture that made viewers lose their senses.

“Wow….”

So the clerk, unaware, let out another short sigh.

The word “pretty” wasn’t enough.

She looked just like a fairy popped out of a storybook.

So much so that even the compliments she habitually uttered to boost store sales didn’t come out.

She was simply mesmerized, genuinely appreciating the sight.

It was only after a long while that she belatedly came to her senses and, as if to cover up the fact that she had been staring openly, began to shower her with praise.

“Ma’am, are you really… an actress or a model? Or perhaps an idol? No, I’ve sold dozens of this same item in this store… From now on, I don’t think I can tell anyone that dress suits them well. It’s just become a stage costume now-“

The praise poured out, enough to make even the listener feel embarrassed.

‘This is really embarrassing….’

Unable to bear the burdensome compliments, I awkwardly turned my head and replied.

“Yes, thank you….”

Even so, what concerned me was Yoanna’s reaction.

The girl had been standing rigidly, watching me without making a sound.

Her silent observation, devoid of any expressed opinion, was making me anxious.

So, braving my embarrassment, I asked her directly.

“H-How is it…?”

But Yoanna didn’t answer, merely scanning me slowly from head to toe.

Her gaze, sweeping over me without a single blink, sent shivers down my spine.

“Yo-Yoanna…?”

Finally, the girl replied softly.

“Yes.”

And then she smiled slightly….

It was an eerie smile, difficult to describe, one that made a person flinch.

“You’re beautiful, Unni.”

Suddenly feeling uneasy, I hurriedly urged her.

“Uh, okay. Then, we’re done with this, right…? Let’s get out of here quickly.”

“What are you talking about, Unni.”

But Yoanna didn’t budge and instead grabbed my shoulder as I tried to dash out of the store.

Then, pointing to the pile of clothes heaped in the shopping basket, she said.

“We haven’t even started yet. You have to try on everything here and pick out what suits you best.”

“…….”

===========

The shopping spree, which continued for a long time after that, finally ended only after Yoanna had placed a handful of thick shopping bags in both my hands.

“Throw away all those rags you have, and from now on, you’re only wearing these, okay?”

“……..”

Even though I had finally escaped the shopping mall filled with clothing stores, I wasn’t particularly happy.

After all, I had ended up coming out onto the street in this embarrassingly revealing outfit.

I could feel eyes on me from all directions just by walking down the street.

From passersby, from beyond the shop windows.

The gazes directed at me, regardless of age or gender, were sharp.

Of course, being the center of attention was something I had experienced quite a bit as a ‘Saintess.’

But the gazes then were filled with reverence, or perhaps admiration.

The kind of attention I was receiving now was completely different.

To be honest, the majority of the gazes fixed on me now were just….

“……”

My face flushed hot again.

A wave of fatigue washed over me.

It was even more so because I had been shopping for several hours.

However, unlike me, Yoanna showed no signs of exhaustion.

On the contrary, she seemed even more energetic and lively.

Yoanna, arm linked tightly with mine, chattered on in a still excited voice.

“You know, Unni. Do you know how much fun I had today?”

The girl looked up at me with sparkling eyes and said.

“Actually, it was something I’d been looking forward to for a long time. Spending the whole day with my favorite Unni, without any worries, looking at clothes that suit each other, browsing pretty stores…”

At her bright, age-appropriate voice, I suddenly remembered an important fact I had forgotten.

‘Come to think of it….’

This child, until just a short while ago, had been a seriously ill patient confined to her bed all day.

Her muscles throughout her body had atrophied, preventing her from even standing and walking on her own two legs.

She had spent most of her life wandering through cyberspace, searching for even the slightest glimmer of salvation—a truly pitiful child.

She had probably never once experienced the ordinary daily life of strolling down the street with friends her age, or going out to play like other children.

So, she had desperately wished for such an ordinary day, to the point of considering it a fervent ‘wish.’

When that thought occurred to me, the fatigue and shame that had been cluttering my mind until just a moment ago transformed into a slightly different sentiment.

“……”

I quietly looked down at the seemingly excited child.

Then, gently taking the small hand that was linked with mine, I said.

“Yes, if you’re okay with me…. I’ll hang out with you anytime from now on.”

At those words, Yoanna immediately turned around, her eyes sparkling.

“Really, Unni?! Then will you go shopping with me tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow too?!”

‘Oops….’

For a moment, I felt a chill run down my spine, wondering if I had been too rash.

So, I subtly averted my gaze and hastily added.

“No…. Tomorrow is a bit much…. H-How about once a week….?”

At my words, Yoanna’s face seemed to droop for a moment, but then she giggled softly.

“Hehe- I’m kidding, Unni.”

She gently wiped a tear that had formed in the corner of her eye and said.

“I know you were really tired today, Eve Unni. I got too excited and acted a bit childish, didn’t I? I was just being a bit grumpy because I wanted you to pay a little more attention to me too. I’m sorry. Still…. can we spend time together like today, even if it’s just very occasionally?”

I answered without hesitation.

“Yes, let’s hang out like this often.”

Suddenly, the memory of the day I first met this child came to mind.

Even though I couldn’t be her god, I hadn’t forgotten the promise I made that day to be her friend.

So, I resolved that while I would sternly scold her if she tried to go down the wrong path again, I would never let go of this hand.

Because I felt that the true nature of the girl I had observed so far was not truly evil.

And believing in a child is, after all, the duty of an adult.

‘Since she’s following along so well, I should treat her even better.’

As I was lost in such thoughts, Yoanna, smiling brightly, led me on again.

“Then, shall we look around just one more store and then head back, Eve Unni?”

“….Yes.”

Right, I am a bit tired.

‘But I can’t help it when she’s enjoying it so much.’

It was right when I was taking a step, following her guiding hand.

“Excuse me, just a moment! Pardon me!”

A man dressed in a somewhat flashy, colorful suit suddenly popped out in front of us, as if to block our path.

He was about to open his mouth with a rather greasy gaze that seemed to be looking me up and down.

“Miss, are you perhaps….”

However, before the man could finish his sentence, burly men who appeared out of nowhere in an instant restrained his approach.

They were the Church’s bodyguards who had been following us like shadows until now.

Stepping between the approaching man and us, their eyes, glaring warily, were as cold as ice.

“Do you have any business with Lady Eve?”

One of them asked in a low voice.

The man seemed extremely flustered by the unexpected presence of bodyguards.

“Uh, uh…. No, I was just… Th-That is to say….”

He stammered for a moment, then, forcing an awkward smile, hastily pulled out a business card from his pocket and held it out.

“Oh, please don’t misunderstand! I am by no means a suspicious person! It’s just that, this is what I do for a living.”

The bodyguard, still with a stern face, briefly glanced at its contents, then silently handed the received business card to me.

The moment I read the words written on the card, I couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned.

[STARLIT Entertainment – Head Producer, New Talent Development Team, Michael Lian]

‘This is….?’

My gaze stopped, as if nailed to one word on the business card.

Starlit Entertainment.

It was, in fact, the name of a company that was quite famous in this city, if one could call it that.

But what was puzzling was why I was encountering this name here, out of the blue.

‘That place… is an entertainment agency, isn’t it….?’