Staring at the silver coin in Yuuri’s hand, Iris recalled that Yuuri didn’t have many coins on her in total. As for these silver coins, it seemed Yuuri only had one left. The rest were a few copper coins with even less purchasing power.
Hmm…
Iris wasn’t sure how much buying power coins had in the human world, but judging from Yuuri’s words, it seemed like…
“Yuuri-chan, you seem really poor.”
She had originally planned to have Yuuri buy a few pretty dresses and let her dress up nicely for once. After all, with how Yuuri looked now, if she wore normal clothes, even if she strolled confidently down the street, no one would suspect she was a Cursed One.
If she did get suspected on the street, it would most likely be because of her strange way of dressing.
A perfectly lovely girl, not only wearing ill-fitting clothes, but always wrapping herself up in a cloak so tightly that she was completely hidden—wasn’t that just advertising to everyone that there was something suspicious about her? As if inviting inspection.
And if she were inspected, she’d be caught for sure.
“You can drop the ‘seem’ part.”
A vein bulged on Yuuri’s forehead. She knew she was poor—so poor she was almost out of food—so there was no need to remind her.
“Fine then, Yuuri-chan~ you really are poor.”
Hmm…
Yuuri fell silent.
Would it kill her not to bring this up?
She knew she was nearly broke, but… being called out like this by Iris, Yuuri suddenly thought maybe she could use Iris’ abilities to her advantage.
“I really am quite poor. Since Iris wants me to buy a few proper dresses so much, then,” she lowered her voice, putting on an overly respectful tone, “would the almighty, omnipotent Lady Evil God please use your unmatched power to make me some money?
Not much, just enough to buy a few dresses.”
As she spoke, Yuuri brought the coin even closer, practically pressing the silver coin against Iris’ eyes. She pressed one side, then turned it around to press the other side. Once both sides had been thoroughly inspected, Iris should remember what a silver coin looks like, right?
With her abilities, it shouldn’t be difficult to forge a few identical silver coins.
But Iris didn’t move.
“This isn’t helping me; you’re just trying to achieve your own goal. What, Lady Evil God, do you have some qualms about this? Or is this request beyond your abilities?”
“Hah? Are you doubting me?”
“No, no, I’m just waiting for Lady Evil God to work her magic. Something this trivial should be no problem, right?”
As soon as Yuuri finished speaking, Iris seemed provoked. She raised her palm, and the items in the room began to tremble slightly.
It’s coming.
Yuuri’s expression immediately grew serious. She remembered the last time, when Iris had used her power in the tomb, the whole chamber had trembled, and thick, black sludge had gushed up from the floor.
So this time, where would it appear from?
But the tremor in the room only lasted a few seconds before stopping. Iris turned away and snorted coldly.
“Yuuri-chan, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.
“What do you take my power for? It’s enough to shake heaven and earth, not to be used for such trivial and vulgar matters. If you don’t have enough money, solve it yourself. I’m not going to help you.”
“Eh, stingy.”
Well, that was the answer she expected. Yuuri hadn’t really thought Iris would help her make money anyway.
After all, she was just a projection right now, and who knew how long the black sludge she summoned would even last?
Maybe, right after she completed a transaction, the created coins would revert to black sludge and disappear.
With it being so unstable, making deals would be risky—it was best just to forget it.
Tomorrow, she’d have to find a way to earn a little money.
Whether for daily living or for traveling to the next city, the small amount of money she had was nowhere near enough.
Picking up the rough linen clothes she’d found earlier, Yuuri pushed open the door.
“In that case, let’s forget about dresses for now.”
Leaving those words behind, Yuuri left the room without looking back, heading downstairs, leaving Iris still floating in the room.
“Mmmmmm… What a shame about that body, really—such a great figure, too.”
Passing through the door, she caught up with Yuuri.
Iris made a decision in her heart: the day Yuuri had money, even if she had to drag her by force, she’d make her pick out some proper dresses. Otherwise, it would be such a waste of that body.
Leaving the inn, Yuuri found a cheap public bathhouse.
A bath cost only ten copper coins per visit. For someone whose pockets were emptier than her face was clean, there was no better choice.
After paying, Yuuri received a clean bathing kit, a towel, and a bath towel. Of course, all of these had to be returned afterward.
In the past, Yuuri would never have come to a public bathhouse. After all, she had a cursed mark on her shoulder and neck. If discovered, she would immediately become a target for everyone.
Now, as a girl, her thick, black hair made the perfect cover. As long as she didn’t lift her hair, there was nothing to worry about. Besides, ordinary people wouldn’t believe a Cursed One would dare enter a public bathhouse. As long as she acted naturally, there was nothing to fear.
Hmm…
She’d just been telling herself to act naturally, but Yuuri instinctively walked toward the bath marked for men.
Just as she was about to go in, she snapped to attention.
No!
Yuuri quickly took a few steps back and looked around. Whew… No one had noticed her.
That was close… She’d almost walked in by habit.
Realizing she was now a girl, Yuuri felt a bit dazed.
Some habits from the past were still hard to break in such a short time.
Looking at her slender, delicate fingers—so different from before—Yuuri realized that Shiri was now the past. From now on, she needed to slowly get used to being Yuuri.
She turned and went into the women’s bathhouse, heading first for the changing room. The moment she opened the door and saw the inside, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, no one was inside. Even though she’d become a girl now, it didn’t mean Yuuri could relax and share a cramped changing room with other girls. More importantly, in the process of undressing and getting dressed, her hair could easily get moved, exposing the mark.
Taking advantage of the empty room, Yuuri quickly stripped off her dirty clothes and tossed them into the nearby trash bin.
What a shame about that cloak that had accompanied her for so long. She’d have to spend money on a new one—and buy an extra set to change into.
She definitely needed to find a way to earn some money.
Before soaking in the bath, Yuuri headed to the shower area. She had to scrub herself thoroughly, inside and out.
Luckily, there weren’t many people in the shower area at this hour. Yuuri picked a corner away from others, set her towel and bath towel on the shelf, and began washing herself.
Ugh…
Though it wasn’t the first time, seeing her bare body still made Yuuri’s face flush bright red.
This body really was too alluring.
No, no… Don’t overthink it. Just wash up quickly and then she could have a nice, relaxing soak in the hot bath.
It’s just… she kept feeling as if someone was watching her.
Could it be…
She turned around, only to see the white-haired, red-eyed little Evil God floating behind her. Noticing Yuuri’s gaze, the little Evil God floated up in front of her and poked her lower abdomen.
“Yuuri-chan, you have to make sure to wash properly down there too.”