“Well, I could tolerate high schoolers hitting on me.
After all, they’re just kids.
They think they’re incredibly charming, but in reality, they’re just… kids.
Besides, I used to be a guy, so I wasn’t even remotely interested.
It seemed like my sister felt the same way.
She deftly dealt with kids trying to stretch out conversations or subtly asking for her contact information.
Honestly, it was impressive.
It’s a skill to turn people down in a way that doesn’t make them feel bad.
Back in the other world, almost everyone lowered themselves before me.
Even if I told them not to, their attitude wouldn’t easily change.
At first, it was hard to adjust, but… after hearing their stories, I understood why.
Unlike this world, where many question the existence of a god, in that world, the goddess’s existence was a proven fact.
Her divine power was an essential part of everyday life.
As someone chosen by the goddess and sent to save the world, I was a crucial “guest” whom even the king couldn’t treat lightly.
I didn’t have a title.
Legally, my status wasn’t much different from a commoner’s because I hadn’t been officially granted a rank.
But it wasn’t out of disregard for someone from another realm.
It was more of a religious issue—‘How could humans dare grant a position to someone appointed by the goddess?’ For the same reason, Saintess Pia had no title either.
But her status alone granted her the authority to summon the Pope or meet the king whenever necessary.
In essence, I held a ‘supra-legal’ position.
I could requisition anything I needed and demand anything from even royalty or dukes.
Having lived in such a position for five years, I was surprised when I started this job.
Not by people harboring malice or ulterior motives toward me, but by my own ingrained attitude.
I wasn’t looking down on others, per se, but I unconsciously expected them to adjust to me.
Like standing silently in front of me at the counter until I finished the calculation without saying a word.
Or sneaking glances at my chest with a strange expression.
Once, an older woman even pried oddly into my personal information.
I still don’t know why.
Fortunately, when I froze in front of a customer, my sister would step in and politely chase them away.
It felt a bit improper to rely on her so much, considering I was being paid to work, but—
‘Everyone struggles at first.’
My sister said that with a smile, waving it off.
As I work, I realize something.
My sister hasn’t changed at all.
Kind, compassionate, and always willing to help those in need.
Seeing her like this makes me wonder if others haven’t changed too—my mom, my friends, and the people around her.
I haven’t seen my mom yet while working here.
Maybe she moved far away.
Perhaps, over the past five years, she and my sister lost touch.
Relationships often drift apart naturally without any dramatic event, and that might’ve happened between them too.
I haven’t seen any of my old friends from the neighborhood either.
They might’ve scattered after redevelopment.
I still remember a few phone numbers, but… I couldn’t bring myself to reach out for the same reason I avoided my sister.
Nothing’s creepier than a stranger suddenly calling and pretending to know you.
Truthfully, aside from being near my sister, I hadn’t achieved much else.
Even conversations were difficult—
‘Where did you go to school?’
When my sister casually asked that, I couldn’t answer easily.
If I said I went to the same high school in her neighborhood, she’d inevitably ask if I knew someone.
The deeper the conversation went, the more she’d realize something was off.
But I hadn’t graduated from college either.
Though I’d been accepted to the same university as her, I hadn’t even attended before…
‘Uh, I, um…’
On top of that, I wasn’t good at making up stories, so I stammered awkwardly in front of her.
The more I struggled to answer, the more her expression became uncertain.
‘…Ah… sorry.’
In the end, she apologized, probably assuming something personal.
It wasn’t hard to guess what she might’ve imagined—maybe that I hadn’t been able to attend middle or high school due to personal circumstances.
I did graduate high school without issue, though.
Not being able to convey that was frustrating.
Still, thankfully, my sister didn’t give up on trying to talk to me.
‘Do you have any hobbies?’
Hobbies.
If I’d lived in this world the entire time, maybe I’d have enjoyed watching movies or dramas.
Back in high school, I even donated blood regularly just to afford movie tickets.
As a university student with a part-time job, I’d probably have subscribed to streaming platforms I couldn’t afford before.
But in the other world, those things didn’t exist.
Even reading books was difficult because they were in that world’s language.
I learned enough to read and interpret formal reports, but novels full of literary expressions and poetic licenses were beyond my grasp.
Idioms and expressions made it even harder.
I could’ve asked my companions to read for me, but they were all busy with their own work.
Interrupting their precious free time felt wrong.”
“So, I usually spent my free time training.
I wasn’t particularly fond of exercising by nature, but once I started seeing muscles form and results manifest, I found it surprisingly enjoyable.
Though I couldn’t maintain a low-sodium diet fit for bodybuilding due to my constant travels, I managed to build a body that was decent enough.
That five-year ‘hobby’ carried over, and even after returning to this world, I kept it up consistently.
Every morning before work, I went jogging, and after work, I worked out, sweated it out, showered refreshingly, and went to bed.
‘I jog every morning.’
The air wasn’t as clean as in the other world, but it wasn’t bad enough to stop me.
‘Jogging?’
My sister’s eyes widened in surprise as she spoke.
‘You must really like working out.’
‘Ah, yes, a little.’
‘That’s impressive…’
Her words, filled with genuine admiration, made me feel a bit proud.
If it had been the old me, I wouldn’t even have had a conversation like this with her.
I wasn’t someone who particularly enjoyed exercise, not even as a pretense.
I didn’t dislike hanging out with friends outdoors, but if someone asked me what I preferred, I’d always choose staying indoors.
Camping? I’d never actually gone and only fantasized about it.
Thinking about it, I’d changed quite a lot too.
It must’ve been from living so closely with my party members.
I was about to call her “Noona” but quickly stopped myself and rephrased my words.
‘Do you enjoy reading books?’
The word “Eonni” felt very unfamiliar to me, but using “Noona” with this body felt even stranger.
And addressing her as something like “Miss Ayun” felt unbearably awkward.
Since she hadn’t objected to me calling her “Eonni,” I decided it was fine for now.
‘Well…’
My sister had always liked reading books.
But the reason I asked wasn’t because I remembered her original hobby.
It was because I often saw her reading during breaks while working here.
‘Do you like it?’
She tilted her head slightly, murmuring the question to herself, then laughed sheepishly.
‘Yeah, I guess you could say reading is a hobby of mine.’
Seeing her answer shyly like that overlapped with memories of her past self.
It was just like how she used to awkwardly laugh whenever I admired how good she was at studying.
I was curious about her past.
Did she graduate from college? What led her to work at this bakery afterward?
I didn’t even know much about the store manager here.
Since it was my sister who interviewed me and got me hired part-time, there was a lot I didn’t know.
But frustratingly, I didn’t feel like I had the right to ask everything all at once yet.
‘Do you have any books you’d recommend?’
Still, catching glimpses of her old self made me happy, and I continued the conversation.
Back then, I’d read a few books she’d recommended.
They were mostly fun and inspiring stories.
Her eyes widened slightly at my words.
And just as she was about to reply—
Ding.
The sound of the doorbell echoed as someone entered the store.