Inside the convenience store.
Gabriel reached out and took some toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other daily necessities from the shelves. She also grabbed a large bottle of cola before stopping her shopping.
Following behind, Miko felt a massive wave of relief. She had been worrying whether her pocket money could withstand the assault.
'Thank goodness...'
As Gabriel placed the items on the checkout counter, she glanced at Miko's empty hands. "Didn't you come to buy pudding? Why are your hands empty? Don't tell me you don't have enough money."
"…H-How could that be! I have plenty of money! That was just an excuse earlier. We actually have some pudding left at home."
Miko guiltily averted her gaze, dryly laughing as she scratched her cheek with her index finger.
That was a lie!
There was only one of her favorite puddings left at home, and her younger brother likely ate it by now. But she had no choice; the remaining half-month's living expenses in her wallet weren't much. If she wasn't careful, could she even support herself and this angel?
'Could I?'
Miko felt uncertain.
"Fine then. Let's go home."
Gabriel stared at Miko for a moment but didn't expose her lie.
"Home..."
Miko was speechless. This angel was making herself at home far too quickly.
"Don't just stand there. Come and pay. Don't delay this young man's work."
"Coming!"
Miko pulled out her wallet, looking down to count the yen inside.
"That... will be 745.6 yen."
A low, raspy voice drifted from the checkout counter.
Miko, who was ready to pull out the cash, froze.
'Eh... why is it a woman's voice?'
She remembered the cashier was a man. Gabriel had even emphasized his gender just now. Miko immediately thought of something terrifying, her teeth lightly biting her lip in fear.
She summoned her courage and slowly looked up.
'No... it can't be. An angel is standing right next to me. Those things wouldn't be that bold...'
'An illusion. It must be an illusion!'
With Gabriel nearby, Miko felt much safer, so she looked up with confidence.
"..."
Miko looked at the monstrosity standing to the right of the male cashier. Her expression turned aggrieved as she pressed her lips together, desperately suppressing a scream.
Beside the male cashier stood a female clerk wrapped in death energy, also wearing a uniform.
Her skin was a ghastly, bloodless white, resembling a dead fish exposed to moonlight for too long, shimmering with a chilling pallor. Her neck was abnormally long, twisted like dough kneaded mercilessly by time, coiling around itself several times as if it might snap at any moment. Her eye sockets were sunken and pitch-black, as if they had swallowed all light, leaving only endless darkness and gloom.
Her mouth was split abnormally wide, the corners reaching almost to her ears. The fangs inside were sharp and sinister.
The spirit's neck stretched again, extending right in front of Miko's face. The hollow sockets stared intently at her, the mouth repeating: "Charging you 745.6 yen... 745... 745.6 yen..."
'Eeee!'
Miko let out a silent wail in her heart, but her face dared not show any fear. She acted as if she saw nothing.
But in the next instant, a small hand glowing with golden holy light slammed hard into the spirit's face.
Bang!
It didn't even have time to scream.
The spirit's entire head burst like a squeezed balloon. Decaying skull fragments and disgusting brain matter splattered into the air. Before these foul things could even hit the ground, they were covered in golden light. In less than a second, they were purified, vanishing along with the headless body behind the counter.
"There was a mosquito. I swatted it for you. Hurry up and pay. I want to go home and play on the computer... Do you have a spare computer for me at home?"
Gabriel had jumped high to swat the spirit and landed steadily on the ground, urging Miko with a hint of impatience.
"Y-You can use mine!"
'Saved!'
Miko felt her legs go soft. She gave Gabriel a grateful look and decisively agreed to her request.
After paying, the two walked out of the memorable convenience store together.
Walking down the brightly lit street, Miko felt a bit more at ease, but her body still trembled when she recalled the scene. There was one thing she couldn't understand: why didn't Gabriel act sooner?
Gabriel must have noticed that spirit long ago. Thinking of this, Miko couldn't help but steal a glance at Gabriel on her right.
"Why are you peeking at me? Did you get scared out of your wits? Want to try hiding in my arms? I'll be merciful and won't charge you this time."
Gabriel opened her arms wide, speaking seductively.
'She was actually going to charge money for that?'
Then she must have made a profit. Miko felt a slight urge to accept, but after hesitating, she refused. "…No thanks."
There were too many people outside; she couldn't lose face.
"Um, you actually noticed that thing long ago, didn't you?"
"That's right."
"Since you saw it, why didn't you just purify it?"
"Because it's a hassle... These things never end. As long as humans keep dying, there's a chance those ghosts will be born, unless you solve it at the root."
Gabriel waved her hand dismissively and continued willfully, "So I won't go looking for trouble for no reason. As long as those things don't actively hurt people, I generally act like I haven't seen them."
Those were the settings of this world. Unless the world itself was rewritten, the spirit problem was basically unsolvable. Fortunately, there were spirit-like reapers harvesting evil spirits and messengers ferrying souls to the other world, so the world wasn't too bad.
"I see..."
The question in Miko's heart was answered.
However... was this angel really okay? Being this afraid of trouble, did she sneak down to the human world just to seek pleasure?
Was she sure she wouldn't fall from grace like this?
'Wait, Gabriel already showed signs of falling!'
Miko remembered the first time she saw Gabriel. She was certain that the brilliant golden halo was indeed stained with something terrible.
'No! If I let this go and Gabriel falls, she might destroy the world!'
Alarm bells rang in Miko's heart. The good mood of meeting a real angel was scattered by a sudden, heavy burden.
For the sake of her family, and for this not-so-beautiful world!
She had to act! She absolutely could not let Gabriel fall!
Miko clenched her right hand, seemingly making a firm resolution.
Beside her, Gabriel glanced at Miko, who was lost in thought.
'Miko's constitution seems to attract trouble particularly easily. That spirit was minding its own business at first, but it lunged as soon as it saw her.'
'I should arrange some protective wards for Miko as soon as possible.'
'Speaking of which, the exorcism tools in this world have some merit. I might be able to step in and make some money. Heavenly divine arts are much stronger than the spells of those psychics.'
She could set a high price and only sell to those who know their stuff. The money earned would let her live very comfortably. As the saying goes, a single sale can sustain you for three years.
Actually, Gabriel understood Miko's family situation well, so she only asked for food and a place to stay. Otherwise, she would have started a shopping spree in the convenience store.
As for the gap in funds, she had plenty of cultivated flowers in her Inventory Module. She could have Miko sell them below market price or sell them directly to a local flower shop.
She was quite kind; she'd just take seventy percent of the profit. Once she had money, she could fall into depravity with a clear conscience.
'Perfect!'