Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
As soon as I got up, I heard the sound of Baek Hana quickly running up the stairs.
'…Is something wrong?'
I couldn't find any cases where someone's personality changed after Awakening, neither in my memory nor in my research.
However, although I didn't find anything concrete, I decided to keep an eye on her for a while longer.
After Baek Hana completely disappeared from the stairs, I headed upstairs to the second floor.
The floor filled with private prayer rooms.
A space I had visited countless times.
I entered the nearest prayer room and closed the door.
Since I wouldn't be staying long, I didn't take off my coat, instead sitting casually on a chair and saying,
"Come out without hiding."
[Hing...]
The clear voice of a child echoed softly throughout the prayer room.
At the same time, a faint spiritual body appeared in front of the statue of the child, quickly taking on a solid form.
[Why do you communicate with Claire through emails but not with me?!]
The child, now fully formed, immediately latched onto me, chattering noisily.
[I even assigned Claire to you exclusively, giving you so much convenience!!]
"Cut the nonsense."
I removed the clinging mass of will and said,
"You don't lose anything by her resting."
Unlike other gods, the god of amusement, who enjoyed the 'amusement' of mortals, gained divinity simply by observing them.
That was why this small god sat at the highest seat of the pantheon.
[...Hmph.]
The god pouted, unable to refute my statement.
Then, the god sat next to me, looking up at me with a serious expression.
[So, what do you want me to do for you?]
The god, whose appearance matched its childish nature, quickly changed its attitude and asked me in a friendly manner.
"Baek Hana."
[She grew up to be as pretty as Claire. Humans really grow up too fast. I wish I could have seen her when she was cuter.]
The god, who enjoyed observing humans through electronic devices as much as communicating with them, immediately started rambling about Baek Hana's childhood as soon as I mentioned her name.
It was this eccentric hobby that led to our first meeting, when the god found Baek Hana.
[I thought she wouldn't Awaken since she was with you, but it was a bit unexpected.]
"Stop blabbering."
I turned to the god and said,
"Except for that, tell me everything."
[It's a very uncomfortable power.]
The god of amusement, unlike other gods, was aware of the nature of the power within Baek Hana's body, perhaps because it had manifested itself.
"Just omit that part and tell me the rest."
[Fudging a few lines shouldn't be difficult.]
-Ops
The god made an unintelligible grunt, then got up from its seat and stood before me.
[In return, I want something from you.]
"...Fine."
The god, who had helped me countless times without asking for anything in return, now made a serious demand with a face that didn't match its appearance.
'I have no choice but to agree this time.'
There was no option to seek help from another temple. The other gods were not trustworthy.
In fact, it was unusual for this god to accept my proposal, aware of the nature of the power within Baek Hana.
"I'll give you anything within my power."
It was an open-ended offer, and if the god needed my Authority, I would gladly use it for the god this time.
[No take-backs.]
The god glared at me.
I glared back and said,
"...Stop wasting time and get on with it."
[Good. What I want from you is...]
.
.
.
"See you tomorrow."
"...Okay."
Claire felt that Baek Woo-jin's attitude towards her had subtly changed.
However, before she could dwell on it, Baek Woo-jin turned and left the temple.
The thick door slowly closed.
Claire turned and started climbing the stairs, pausing briefly on the third floor.
At the end of the long hallway was a room where Baek Hana, who had just had her ability appraised, was chatting with the two girls she usually hung out with.
'Transformation…'
Awakened individuals who could transform part or all of their bodies into beasts or special substances were called transformers. And Baek Hana was one of them.
'She does fit the bill…'
Transformers were further categorized based on their abilities. For example, some transformers could transform into mythical or fantastical beasts, while others could only transform into ordinary animals. Baek Hana belonged to the latter category.
Baek Hana's Awakened ability was to transform parts of her body into a wolf.
'Since Professor is here…'
Awakened individuals usually had a growth limit based on the ability they acquired. Baek Hana's ability was, at best, of average caliber.
To aim higher, one needed to possess a rare ability, a special artifact, or a fortuitous encounter.
And Baek Hana had the very fortuitous encounter in the form of Baek Woo-jin.
Believing that Baek Woo-jin, who cherished her dearly, would do something for her, Claire headed to her room.
Clack—
As soon as she closed the door, Claire began unbuttoning her shirt, one button at a time.
-Beep beep beep~
"..."
Just as she was about to take off her shirt, Claire frowned at the unfamiliar alarm sound coming from her smartwatch.
There was only one being capable of setting an alarm without her permission.
She looked at her wrist.
[ (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ Claire!!]
Although the sound was inaudible, she felt the commotion.
"What is it?"
[ (>ω^) I have good news for you!!]
"...There's a Korean saying that no news is good news."
It was a proverb she had learned while reading books to Baek Hana.
[ (⇀‸↼‶) Do you want to regret not listening?]
"You'll keep pestering me until I listen, won't you?"
[ (´∀`)ｂ That's right.]
Claire swallowed a sigh that was about to escape.
"...Just tell me already."
She wanted to lie down on the bed, listen to music, and rest.
And the god who was ruining her plans, Buer, enthusiastically sent her a message.
[ (≧∀≦) He's interested in you!!]
"Pffft...?!"
Claire, who had been sitting on the edge of the bed, stood up abruptly.
"W, w, w, w, w, what… what… are you talking about?"
[ (* >ω<) What do you mean, what?! I mean exactly what I said!! So, Claire, you need to appeal more aggressively to him!!]
"But… I mean… suddenly—"
[ (´∀`) Because I've been causing you trouble, I decided to help you out~ It was too obvious that he was interested in you!!]
"This mi… I mean… what did you say to Professor to make such a bold statement?"
If it weren't for her reverence and love for the god, Claire's patience would have run out long ago.
[ ٩(^ᴗ^)۶ I made a deal with him. In exchange for granting one of his wishes, he promised to answer any question I asked honestly!! Wasn't I great?]
Claire's mind flashed back to a recent memory.
-…Yes.
She had felt that his attitude towards her had subtly changed.
And unfortunately, it wasn't a figment of her imagination.
[ ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ Don't you feel reassured now? Just trust me, Claire!!]
And the foolish god who had caused all this was right in front of her.
Claire barely managed to hold on to her sanity and asked Bwiar,
"...What question did you ask him?"
Depending on the question, Claire was ready to strangle herself tonight.
But Bwiar, still oblivious to the situation, or rather, enjoying it, replied, ruining her resolve.
[ (❁´◡`❁) It's a secret~]