Her head tilted, slow, deliberate.
And for a second, I could swear she smiled beneath that mask.
I took a step forward. Then another.
"Ivy," I murmured, not looking away. "Stay here."
She blinked. "Ahjussi—?"
But I was already walking. The world around me felt quieter somehow, like the crowd, the hum of the city, everything… had dimmed.
Vesper didn't move. She just stood there in front of the CU store, her eyes following me.
When I was close enough, I reached out— My hand hovered in the air, inches from her, because I finally noticed something in my palm.
"…vesper?" I whispered, holding it out.
That's when it happened.
A faint chime clear, like a single drop of water, echoed in the air.
A blue system screen suddenly flickered to life between us.
────────────────────────
> [QUEST: Have a Nice Day] <
Objective: Spend a peaceful day outside with ivy.
Reward: ???
STATUS: COMPLETE.
────────────────────────
I flinched. "Ack!?"
…Right. The system. I completely forgot it existed.
The light from the screen washed over Vesper's white dress, shimmering along its edging.
She slowly raised her hand, tracing the edge of the translucent window— Then, with a soft sound, she took off her mask.
Her face came into view. Calm, distant… almost painfully Beautiful.
A faint smile curved her lips, but just enough for it to not reach her eyes.
Then she stepped forward. Her form blurred like smoke, and she gently poked my chest with one finger. The touch was light, barely there, but something in my chest tightened.
Her lips moved slowly.
"W-what?" I asked.
She blinked a few times then—
Vesper hugged herself, fluster slipping through her divine act. "To think that I would see the mortal here," she muttered, trying way too hard to sound composed.
I stared. For a full second.
Then I broke.
"Pffft—"
I couldn't hold it anymore. The laugh just came out.
She tilted her head, confused. "…?"
I pointed down, barely catching my breath. "W-why—why don't you have slippers? Or shoes?"
"Or... or do you even know what slippers ARE?"
Her eyes widened slightly. Then she looked at her bare feet on dusty concrete.
"…ah."
The silence after that was painful. For her. Not for me, I was wheezing.
"Keheeheheke"
Her eyes darted away, ears turned pink.
"It's because shoes—" she paused, searching for a word."Or… slippers. What is… slippers?"
"You really don't know what slippers are?"
She lifted her chin. "They are not for a goddess like me."
"Uh-huh."
Her tone was regal, but her fingers were nervously fidgeting with the hem of her sleeves.
I couldn't help it, I grinned. "You don't know how to wear them, do you?"
Vesper's whole posture stiffened. "W-what! preposterous! I—"
I crossed my arms. "You don't."
She looked away, and started biting her nails. "those… straps… are confusing."
I died. "Pfft—! Kwhahahaha, Oh my god, you really don't!"
She puffed her cheeks, "You dare mock a goddess?" hugging herself as if to shield what was left of her pride.
I wiped a tear, in my eyes. "Alright, alright, but seriously…why are you here?"
Her gaze softened. "...I followed the thread," she murmured.
"What thread?"
"The one that connects you and that little mortal."
Before I could ask more—
"Ahjussi…?"
I turned. Ivy was standing a few steps away, clutching a plastic bag full of snacks. Why does she a have snacks?!?
She peeked at Vesper and immediately hid behind me.
"Hey, it's okay," I assured her. "She's not gonna hurt you— Or maybe she will."
"Ahjussi."
Vesper stomped her foot. "I'm not a monster!"
Ivy flinched. Vesper froze.
"…So this is Ivy," she murmured, studying her quietly. Then she looked at me. "May I… stay with you for a while?"
I blinked. "Stay? With me?"
Her fingers tightened around her sleeves, the regal act cracked a bit. "Is that… unacceptable?"
Before I could answer, Ivy tugged my jacket.
"Ahjussi…" she whispered, barely peeking from behind. "She's… scary."
Vesper gasped like someone had stabbed her divine pride. "Scary!? Me!? I am ethereal! Serene! I am—"
I placed a hand on her forehead and gently pushed her back before she got too close. "Relax. You're gonna make her cry."
She froze, then huffed, arms crossed. "…Mortals are rude."
"Vesper," I sighed. "Explain. Why do you wanna stay with us?"
She hesitated. It was tiny, but I saw it. The goddess who always spoke in riddles and dreams suddenly looked so unsure.
"The thread led me here. The moment you accepted the quest… the bond changed."
"The bond? Yo, what bond?"
Vesper brushed a finger along the fading blue transparent glow of the system interface still flickering in the air.
"Yo, actually what's bond?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she stepped forward— slowly, quietly— then crouched down so she was eye-level with Ivy.
Ivy hid again, only half of her face peeking out.
Vesper tilted her head. "Little mortal… Do you fear me?"
Ivy nodded fast. Her plush nearly flew off.
Vesper deflated. Like a goddess who just got told her divine aura was more "ghost under the bed" than a "beautiful celestial being."
I exhaled and nudge ivy forward. "Hey. It's okay. She's weird"
Vesper glared.
"but she's not dangerous. Probably."
"R-really…?" Ivy whispered.
"Really. She just doesn't know what slippers are."
Vesper stomped. "STOP BRINGING THAT UP!!!!!!"
Barefoot.
Which only made ivy clung to me tighter, vesper froze realizing what she did.
She immediately straightened, hands floating awkwardly in the air like she didn't know what to do with them.
"…I can be gentle," she said quietly. "Watch."
She reached out to pat Ivy's head. Except she missed. And patted my elbow.
"…that's my arm," I said.
Vesper's stared at me. "…Mortals vary in height."
I almost laughed again.
Ivy peeked at her again— a little braver this time. "…Ahjussi? Is she… staying with us?"
I turned to Vesper.
Who stood there, tall, barefoot, trying her hardest to look divine even though she had zero idea how the modern world worked.
"…Depends," I said. "Vesper, are you planning to cause chaos?"
"No."
"Destroy anything?"
"No???"
"Make Ivy cry?"
"…I shall try not to."
She clasped her hands in front of her chest. "Please… let me stay. Just a little while."
And for the first time… she didn't look like a goddess. But more like someone who just had nowhere else to go.
I sighed.
Deep.
Long.
Defeated.
"…Fine." I muttered.
She lit up instantly. Like a light that's been switched on.
Ivy tugged my arm, and whispered. "Ahjussi… does she get slippers now?"
I glared at Vesper.
Vesper glared at the ground.
"…Teach me," she muttered.
I lost it again. "PFTTF!"
"Okay okay. But why were you even HERE?"
"Curious."
"…You stayed outside a CU store for that?"
She nodded, completely serious. "Correct."
"…Why?"
She hesitated, just a tiny crack in the goddess mask. Before answering.
"Because… in the dream realm," she began, trying to sound regal, "you spoke of this 'con-vee-nyens store.' A temple of endless items. A mortal vault of wonders."
"…It's just snacks and drinks."
"I wished to see this mortal treasure for myself." She crossed her arms, chin lifted proudly. "Naturally, I waited for a guide."
"Guide." Yeah sure, totally not because she was scared to go in alone.
"Fine," I sighed. "Come on."
Ivy clung to my sleeve but peeked out from behind me, curious.
We stepped inside.
*Ding dong*
The automatic doors slid open and Vesper froze.
Her eyes widened, pupils dilating like a startled cat.
Neon lights wash over her pale face. Rows of colorful snacks towered in front of her. Refrigerators hummed. A microwave beeped somewhere. A staff member bowed.
She stared at everything. trying so hard not to look impressed.
Her hands were clenched at her sides, trembling.
Her mouth opened, closed, opened again.
I watched her struggle for dignity. Holding it for dear sake.
"…Do not misunderstand," she said, voice shaky. "I am merely… observing."
I raised a brow. "You're shaking."
"No, I'm not."
"You're literally trembling."
"I… I am vibrating with divinity."
Ivy giggled behind me. "She's funny."
Vesper straightened, pretending not to hear.
She walked stiffly to the nearest shelf and picked up a cup ramen.
She turned it over slowly. "…What manner of scroll is this?" she whispered.
I softly whispered behind her. "It's food."
She jumped. "It speaks!?"
"That was me."
"Oh."
She awkwardly placed it back, then reached for a pack of chips.
"…This one feels crunchy."
"That's because IT IS crunchy."
She moved on. Stopped at the slushie machine.
She tapped the glass of the Slushie machine. "…Is this… a swirling portal?"
"That's a Slurpee."
"A, Slur-pee…"
She repeated it like she was reciting an ancient spell.
Ivy tugged my sleeve. "Ahjussi, she's weird."
"Yeah," I muttered.
"I know."
Vesper turned back to the shelves, voice soft— honest for once.
"…Mortals have so many wonders."