Forced to Sell Myself to the Female Lead After Killing the Male Lead

Vol 2. Chapter 41: The Observer

Under the influence of certain psychological traumas, Miss White Yama involuntarily retreated several steps after seeing the fox-eared woman.

A trace of fear appeared on her dirt- and blood-stained face.

"You profiteering merchant! Why are you here?!"

Hearing White Yama's accusation, the platinum-haired fox woman raised her brows with amusement.

The next moment,

She leaped forward and landed gracefully before White Yama. Extending a finger, she teasingly lifted the girl's chin.

"Calling me a profiteering merchant is too harsh~, shouldn't you call me Big Sister Noya, or at least Shopkeeper? Isn't that right, little Kanade?"

The woman called Noya spoke in a thoroughly teasing tone, and even her actions were filled with flirtatious intent.

The moment she heard those words, especially the title "little Kanade,"

A complicated expression appeared on Miss White Yama's face.

She hastily stepped backward, widening the distance between herself and Noya, before sternly saying:

"Don't call me that!"

"Hmm?"

Noya elegantly took out the folding fan hanging from her waist and used it to hide her playful smile.

"But, I didn't call you wrong, did I? That's your real name after all, Miss Bai Xiaokanade~"

As soon as those words came out,

The imposing and murderous aura surrounding White Yama instantly weakened.

She bit her lip unwillingly.

However,

White Yama did not deny Noya's words.

After all, Bai Xiaokanade had indeed been her original name before she became an Earth Apostle...

Back when she had just become a Hero, she felt that her original name was too cute and lacked any intimidation. In order to make her name match her identity, she adopted the name White Yama at Archbishop Nick's suggestion—a name that sounded slightly more "domineering."

It also symbolized White Yama bidding farewell to her weak former self.

And,

She had used that name all the way until now.

Nowadays, nearly every member of the Church knew that the leader of Light of the Sun was Heavenly Apostle White Yama.

Yet almost no one knew that White Yama's real name was Bai Xiaokanade...

After such a long time,

Being addressed as "Bai Xiaokanade" by an old acquaintance once more awakened a small piece of the nature buried deep inside her heart. She unconsciously became somewhat timid.

"D-Don't call me that!"

"Okay, okay, the customer is king. Whatever you say, I'll do~"

"...Somehow I feel like you're fooling me..."

White Yama's eyes were full of suspicion.

She immediately began surveying the countless bookshelves around her with wary eyes, afraid that another trap had been arranged somewhere, just like before, and that she'd somehow get tricked again.

After observing for a while, White Yama looked strangely at the smiling Noya.

"Y-Your shop was in the capital of the Crimson Leaf Empire, wasn't it? Why is there another identical shop here in Olos?"

Regarding this question,

Noya waved her fan meaningfully and glanced toward the world map hanging on the wall.

"As for me, I just wanted to open a few more branch stores~"

"Tch."

Seeing how playful Noya was, White Yama knew asking further was pointless and simply got straight to the point.

"I-I won't waste time talking! I need to save the Child of Destiny! I need recovery scrolls! Teleportation scrolls too! And do you have Saint Domain-level search magic in stock?!"

Upon hearing that White Yama wanted to make a purchase,

Noya's expression became even more playful.

Taking out a catalogue of magic scrolls and an account book, she glanced through them before tilting her head and carefully examining White Yama's attire.

Then,

One of her fox ears drooped.

She deliberately sighed.

"As for goods, although items suitable for a Sword God are rather rare, of course I have them. It's just that~ the price is a little high. Miss Bai Xiaokanade, in your current state, I'm afraid you can't afford them."

White Yama had already expected this question.

"Yes, I really can't right now."

"Then, sorry, I can't give them to you~"

"But! I can condense Holy Aura into magic crystals for you like before! I can use those crystals to pay off the debt!"

"Hmm?"

Noya raised an eyebrow.

Yet under White Yama's slightly disappointed gaze, she shook her head.

"Sorry, but I already have plenty of magic crystals. I don't need any right now. So~"

"Then let me owe you! You know who I am anyway! You can just go to the headquarters of Asumos Church and collect the money later! I won't default!"

"As for that, I know Miss Bai's reputation, but~"

"But what?"

"This shop doesn't do credit~"

"Y-You! Can't you make an exception this once?! I need to recover quickly and find the Child of Destiny! It's a matter of utmost urgency!"

"No."

Noya answered firmly.

"Y-You, we've known each other for so long! Will making an exception kill you?!"

"No~"

"You!"

Miss White Yama vaguely felt like she was about to cry.

Seeing the ripples already forming in the white-haired girl's azure eyes, Noya helplessly shook her head.

"Fine then, I'll give you a chance. We can do a barter trade instead~. Do you have anything valuable on you that can be exchanged?"

"Hey! Do I look like I still have anything valuable left?!"

"Enmm, that's for you to decide~"

Hearing those words, White Yama clenched her fists. Terrifying Holy Aura began to ripple around her as she angrily looked down at her remaining possessions.

Unfortunately,

Having been robbed nearly clean, what valuable thing could White Yama possibly still possess?

...

Wait.

It wasn't like she had nothing valuable.

Wasn't her body itself valuable?

And she was still a virgin...

Thinking this, White Yama, in a fit of desperation, placed a hand over her chest.

However,

Before she could speak, Miss Noya seemed to have already guessed her thoughts and immediately said with a look of disgust:

"I-I don't need a bedwarming maid~. Forget it~"

"Y-You!!"

Hearing such merciless rejection, Miss White Yama was overwhelmed by grievance.

In Asumos Church, she was practically adored by tens of thousands!

After becoming a Sword God, her appearance had grown closer and closer to perfection. Nowadays, she had countless admirers within the Church!

And someone actually despised her?!

Wuwuwu!

You can't do this!

"Then what exactly do you want?!"

"Enmm..."

Noya held her chin and pretended to think.

After a moment,

Under White Yama's puzzled gaze, a sky-blue radiance slowly spread around Noya.

The next instant,

A contract scroll appeared in her hand and was handed over to White Yama.

"How about this? Seeing how pitiful you are, I'll generously show some mercy~. Sign this maid contract, and I'll give you the things~"

"T-This is a soul contract? And for three years?! Isn't that too much?!"

"Hmm? Is it? Then forget it..."

With that, Noya couldn't even be bothered to continue talking and simply turned around to head deeper into the shop.

Seeing her leave so decisively, White Yama panicked and hurriedly grabbed Noya's hand.

"W-Wait, wait! I'll sign! I'll sign, okay?!"

Listening to the white-haired girl's voice that already carried a hint of tears, Noya, whose back faced her, revealed a sly smile.

Thus,

In her eagerness to save someone, Miss White signed the "deed of sale" just like that, took a pile of magic scrolls, and rushed out of Noya's magic bookstore in [N O V E L I G H T] a flurry...

...

Watching White Yama's rapidly disappearing figure on the horizon, Linxi, who had silently been cleaning the whole time, somewhat gloomily walked toward her mother. A trace of reluctance appeared on the little girl's face.

"Mom, this..."

"What's wrong, little Linxi?"

Noya affectionately rubbed the girl's head.

The little girl sighed helplessly.

"The Child of Destiny has obviously already been found. Why didn't you tell her?"

"If I had told her, would she still have agreed to sign?"

As she spoke,

Noya looked playfully at the contract in her hand.

"Being able to make a Heavenly Apostle into a maid~ that's something countless people dream of~. Tell me, if I auction off this contract, how much do you think I could make?"

"Enmm, Mom, you're so bad."

"Hehe, just a small matter~"

"Still..."

After sighing helplessly, Linxi looked in the direction White Yama had disappeared with confusion.

"Mom?"

"What is it?"

"Even though Pickled Radish is already in such a miserable state, her aura pressure is still terrifying. It seems she's still stronger than many seventh-tier beings, right?"

"That's naturally the case. After all, the gap between the eighth and seventh tiers is huge~"

"But..."

Linxi looked in confusion at her mother, who was already fantasizing about counting money.

"But if that's the case, Mom, why did you tell that harem scumbag that he had a sixty percent chance of defeating a Demon King-class existence?"

"Hmm, well, actually~"

"Actually what?"

Hearing her daughter's adorable voice, Noya smiled faintly.

Then she slowly turned around and gazed meaningfully toward the statue of the Goddess resting upon the desk nearby.

"The Goddess herself~ told me to say that."