Due to the magic power bar, or perhaps because my mind had unintentionally become a little clearer, the time I woke up was far too early in the morning.
At 6 AM, I suddenly felt a burst of excitement and put on a coat that was slightly larger than my body, standing again in front of the full-length mirror.
There wasn’t much that had changed since the first time I transformed into a girl. My flowing wavy silver hair, pupils that shimmered with a deep blue light reminiscent of the ocean, and pale skin that seemed to glow in the sunlight.
And the new black gothic outfit that I had just finished washing yesterday. It felt a bit awkward, but my black coat fit.
Should I go get new clothes?
As I briefly twisted my hair, I noticed a distortion in the air beside me, and a purple crack formed.
[Hmm… Oh? Are you awake?]
Although there were no hands, the expression seemed like it would be rubbing around the eyes if there were.
“My eyes opened quickly.”
[A casual outfit, I see. Where are you going?]
“The gate is in the process of being created, and I want to take a look.”
Even if there is a labor shortage, at least a minimal number of hunters and awakened ones exist. Some come to target the magic stones that can be obtained by hunting the demons that come out of the gate.
Watching them running around earnestly for their benefit is quite a good sight. I also want to collect some blood. After passing the time in the vicinity, I can sneak in. The magic stones will also help me.
[Is that so…?]
Bloody, seemingly shaking his head, blinked several times before looking outside. It was a bit far, so it might not be visible, but it seemed small cracks were forming.
[It will take some time to open, maybe a few hours. I’d like to sleep a bit longer. Take me with you.]
“How?”
[The coat pocket looks quite comfy. Hurry up.]
“Sure. Of course.”
I closed my eyes and lightly tucked a tiny marble that flutters my cloak into my pocket and turned my head.
A hat is necessary. A hoodie would be good. Hmm.
After pondering for a moment, I turned my back. I waved my hand in the air, dispersing my magic power. A textured hat suitable for my black coat generated at the correct position and aligned with my neck.
“Well… this should be fine.”
Unintentionally nodding, I moved my steps forward.
The level of the gate can only be known once I see it. Whether a few hunters will suffice or if a veteran hunter is needed for entry, something like that.
Of course, to know the exact specifications, time until the evolution of the gate is required.
[Hmm…! It’s soft…!]
“I’m glad.”
[Did you buy a new coat?]
“It’s the same one I had before.”
[You should buy more in the future… I want to sleep a bit more.]
Peeking out with his head, then slowly retreating back in, he resembled a cute little animal.
I exhaled and widened my field of vision. The lined buildings and the chirping noises. And the gradually shining sunlight.
Early morning. There’s hardly anyone around. No, is it practically empty? Still, I didn’t want to cause unnecessary commotion.
I can’t help it.
“Ehm.”
I pulled the coat’s hood over my head and pressed it down tightly. Only my bangs peeked out, with my silver long hair completely hidden under the large coat.
My arms feeling a bit shorter, giving a slight loose sensation was a side effect.
Lightening my body, I raised my speed while drifting. I felt the air currents as I changed direction.
Familiar scents, familiar noise, familiar vibrations.
I widened my sight and looked up. For a moment, there was a sudden pain in my neck, along with something notable in sight.
A crack.
When I say crack, it’s a distorted shape in space. In the clear sky that seemed to be perfectly fine, it looked like something sharp from another world had brutally torn through it.
A natural irregularity, seemingly trying to blend in with the surroundings, had its small mouth open around it like that, distorting the surroundings as if glass were shattered.
And that is the sight before me right now.
It hadn’t even properly evolved yet, but with that size, it seemed likely to evolve into a high-ranking layer gate.
So, it means that the local side might put in some veteran personnel.
Since becoming a girl, perhaps I’ve gotten used to it; unconsciously, I tried to twist my side hair but got stuck by the hat that covered my head.
“…Wow.”
I shifted my gaze to the small girl’s voice. The figure at the end of my gaze was also a girl. With black hair and red eyes,
And in one hand… was that an axe?
“The, the gate…”
The age of the girl murmuring that seemed to be close to mine. Her height also seemed to match mine. As she looked at the crack, occasionally blinking, she appeared to be fascinated.
Ah, our eyes met.
What? Why is she approaching me? Wait, you, what—
“Um, um, hello? Is that the gate?”
Is it normal to start talking like this?
She had quite a lively voice. Could she be an aspiring hunter? Was there even such a rank in this world?
“…”
I hurriedly pressed my hat down tighter. I wrapped the collar around my neck. Yet I couldn’t tear my gaze away from her. It was passionate and aggressive.
“Oh, I’m sorry if I startled you. I was just, curious…”
Glimpsing around, it seemed there was no one but us. Is this really her personality?
More importantly, why am I not saying anything? I should respond with something.
“…Yes. It’s soon going to… evolve into a gate.”
“Oh! So it’s still not a gate yet!”
That’s one way to put it. But why am I trying to hide by clinging to my collar?
It’s strange. I used to relish in the attention of many people back then.
Now, I wonder if there’s any point in acting like this.
Am I trying to appear as an ordinary girl to others? Just a few hours ago, I was swinging a knife.
But I couldn’t deliberately ignore this girl’s persistent interest in me.
Nodding, I removed the hand that held onto my hat and lowered it. My gaze felt more relaxed.
“…It’s a crack. It will take a few hours to become a gate.”
“Ah… I see, I see…”
The girl was nodding as if she had acquired new knowledge, hesitating slightly.
“That kind of size can be dangerous. It’s okay for now, but soon enough, people will flock in, and hunting parties will set up.”
Even so, the numbers won’t be very high. It will likely just be a moderate amount.
“Try not to get too close.”
That’s the least I can do for courtesy.
If anyone catches you with me, what would happen?
I slightly bowed my head and turned my steps away from her. For some reason, my legs felt heavy.
“Looks like there are little ones like that.”
[Hehe. So cute.]
Well.
“Are you awake?”
[The pocket is comfortable, but… the shaking is not great.]
“How can I help that?”
[Do better.]
If this gate is a high-ranking layer, how high will it go?
Should I send only one ranker?
Thinking silly thoughts, I kicked off the ground and leaped. I landed on the rooftop of a low-rise building. My coat fluttered.
[Agggh… Didn’t I tell you to do better!?]
Shut up.
I pulled a piece of bread from my coat pocket and crumbled it. Shoving small pieces into Bloody’s mouth while I took a large bite as well.
I took a glass bottle out of my bosom, gathering various cubes and marbles and spreading them around.
In the air, they naturally unfurled, creating lines that connected with one another.
An oval magical circle was generated, and red currents scattered around. From inside, I took out a knife and levitated it at the center of the magical circle.
Red viscous materials were drawn into the knife, adding strength and layering it. Magic power flowed, and the knife glowed.
Is this enough?
Now, let’s pass the time.
It’s not a simple task.
It’s a stepping stone.
“Welcome.”
It’s a cafe.
During the year I had been missing, and even now, as I began to show myself actively again, I hadn’t stepped into a public place like this.
Naturally, if I appeared, the store would become chaotic, and besides, well, there wasn’t really anywhere I wanted to go.
But now that I have become a girl, my daily life has changed, and I decided I would be a bit bolder.
After all, early morning is nice. There aren’t many people, right?
I pressed my hat down even deeper and slowly walked to the counter.
“Would you like to order?”
At the soft-spoken staff’s words, I barely lifted my head to glance at the menu attached to the wall.
…What is all this?
Cappuccino, cafe mocha, latte, strawberry yogurt smoothie… frappe…
Despite the various names, the tastes and scents are all different, making the types too numerous.
It definitely wasn’t like this a long time ago. When was it? A few years ago?
Or did they have this many even then? I might not have remembered the types well since I always insisted on just one drink.
“I’d like an iced Americano, please.”
In the end, what I chose was my favorite drink, one that I had had the most often.
Originally, I was going to order just one, but unable to resist Bloody’s glance asking for one as well, I ordered two.
I felt the sharp and slightly bitter taste of the Americano.
[Ugh! What is this! It doesn’t taste great!]
“It’s an adult’s flavor. It won’t fit children’s palates.”
[What? Are you insulting me now?]
Not really.
Something seems off; my tongue doesn’t seem to adapt to the long-absent coldness. It’s not that it tastes bad.
…I should have just ordered a fruit smoothie or something. I used to like it.
[From the look on your face, you seem like you can’t eat it! See? I told you!]
Ignoring him, I added a bit of sugar to the coffee. After putting in a small sugar cube, the bitter and sweet flavors perfectly melded, balancing out.
Not bad.
…If that’s the case, I should have ordered something sweeter.
[You too, give some to me!]
I added another sugar cube for him and watched as Bloody sucked it through a small straw, then took a sip myself.
The ice rattled, clinking against one another.
[It’s getting better now.]
“It’s child-like taste.”
[Aren’t you going to tease me more?! Didn’t you think it was gross too?!]
I smiled slightly and turned my head.
In the warm sunlight, tiny particles sparkled. The light reflected off the ice, forming a small rainbow. The pleasant scent and good atmosphere are nice. I closed my eyes for a moment.
I like this daily life. At this moment, I appreciate the unruffled peace, even if someday I might have to grasp the broken pieces with bloodied hands, I want to enjoy this time more.
Lost in dreamy thoughts, I opened my eyes at the sound of a slight noise.
“Huh? What, what’s that?”
“It’s a gate!”
“Is it already opening?”
Naturally, my gaze turned to the window. Since it was a cafe beside the crack, it was easily visible. The fact that the table I was sitting at was by the glass wall must have contributed as well.
It had barely been an hour. The crack had evolved past several stages before becoming a high-ranking layer gate.
The transparent barrier seemed to split, with dark purple lines rooting into the air, surrounding a massive space that was grotesquely opening its mouth.
This gate seems quite irregular. It’s evolving rapidly.
As I shifted my gaze, I saw hunters positioned around the gate.
And she—the blonde girl who had terribly hated me—stood out. It looked like she was talking to her companions, her mouth opening and closing.
Unconsciously blinking, I straightened my posture. The hat that had been tightly pressed over my head slipped off against the air, exposing my face as my collar, which had covered my mouth, came undone, slightly opening my coat.
The gazes of the people looking out the window naturally turned towards me, seated by the glass.
Our eyes met.
Commotion ensued.
Well fuck.