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It wasn’t easy, just as my sister said.

The place where we volunteered was a Free Meal Service run by the Church. My sister came once a month to help out, but it seemed the Church opened this place every day. Usually, the Church staff came to assist as well.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Throughout the bus ride, my sister asked me this multiple times during my work.

It was mostly when I was carrying heavy food ingredients. To be fair, I didn’t really look that strong. I didn’t have a particularly weak physique, but I also didn’t look like someone who could carry bags weighing several dozen kilograms without issue.

However, when I repeatedly showcased my ability to lift boxes full of potatoes, my sister’s jaw literally dropped.

That was indeed something. I found it amazing myself.

I had been exercising hard, but I certainly didn’t have a body full of muscles. Yet, even in this world with limited magic, the fact that I could exert strength far beyond the average, as I had when I was a Hero—well, that would just mean the Goddess’s blessing was still upon me.

“You don’t need to worry too much. Even if I look like this, I’m still strong,” I said as I demonstrated my strength a few more times, and my sister stopped asking me those questions.

Even the Pastor was watching me with wide eyes, so I could easily imagine how unusual I seemed to them.

The main meal was curry. Side dishes included rolled eggs, kimchi, braised quail eggs, and a small pudding served for dessert.

The amount I ate with this body I received from the Goddess was similar to what I would consume when I was a Hero. Perhaps a side effect of gaining such strength? Of course, it was bearable. In this world, I had no reason to skip meals, and on the flip side, I had frequent need to use that strength.

But when the smell of curry hit my nose, I couldn’t help but feel hungry.

Fortunately, I had eaten a hearty breakfast, so I didn’t end up in the embarrassing situation of my stomach growling in front of my sister. One such incident was more than enough.

“Can I have a lot, please?”

Not everyone who came while we volunteered was kind. Just like among the wealthy, there are good and bad people, there are those among the less fortunate who have good and bad personalities too.

“I’m sorry. If you take too much, there won’t be enough food for the people behind you.”

Luckily, I was accustomed to encounters like these.

I had never worked a job for money, but I had dealt with such situations numerous times over the past five years.

…Of course, the situations back then were far worse than they are now. The reactions from those who blamed me for things were much more painful to see.

Distributing meals at a Free Meal Service was nothing compared to rescuing civilians swept up by the Demon King’s army.

No matter when I arrived, it was way too late. The only difference between arriving early or late was whether I managed to save a few more people or not.

Moreover, even if I did manage to save them…

/If only you had come just a bit earlier…!/

Some had lost their children. Some had lost their loved ones.

Not just their lives, but right before their eyes…

It took me a long time to endure the voices of those people shouting at me.

They were not evil people, just pitiful souls who had lost something and were seeking the reasons for their loss. That’s why I could never just brush them off.

A Hero is a beacon of hope. It wasn’t possible for someone like that to shed tears or show anger in front of those they rescued. Therefore, after such events, I would quietly retreat to my tent. Curling up and praying to the Goddess improved my mood just a bit.

I also had companions. Kalia would pretend not to see me in such moments, taking over the duties with the people if she thought I wouldn’t manage. As the daughter of a noble house and the captain of the knight order, she had faced various nobles multiple times and was much better at handling such situations than I was.

Pia would pat my back, while Dana would try her best to redirect my gaze elsewhere.

As for Arna… well, back then, when I mentally struggled, Arna was also going through her own difficulties. “Ah, even someone like her feels that way,” it dawned on me how heavy the position of a Hero could be.

Thus, I actually felt at ease when I was faced with someone demanding something from me. Those arrogant barons or counts who thought they were entitled because of my status as a Hero. Some people believed I had to sacrifice for them just because I was a Hero. Thieves eyeing supplies.

Even if it wasn’t something grand, there were plenty of regular folks who thought I should take their frustrations because I was a Hero.

In reality, the best way to deal with such people was to persuade them with words and calm them down as much as possible…

…But even now, I was still a former Hero.

“It’s your fault for making something inadequate! You can just run and get more materials! Or what am I, showing up early for?” I shouted. “I don’t know what to say about the people behind you—”

“……”

I quietly looked at the person who had just spoken.

There’s a thing called presence.

Though it’s something that usually goes unnoticed in regular folks, those who have undergone systematic training like knights, or warriors from distant mountains can emanate what they call killer intent towards others.

Of course, it’s more of a verbal quip than anything magical, actually instilling fear into the minds of those observing with their base instincts. It can subtly stir not just fear but other emotions too, either appearing somewhat ridiculous or majestic as a Hero.

It’s about moving the hearts of men and in some sense, even ‘persuading’ through such presence.

And this power isn’t really magical at all. It’s about using expressions, postures, subtle movements, and the surrounding circumstances to convey what I wanted to express.

“What’s with that look…”

The other person’s voice trailed off.

In an instant, their pupils constricted, and their face paled a bit. The hand holding the tray began to tremble.

In terms of height alone, I was shorter than that person. I was much younger and the differences between men and women were apparent.

But I could tell they sensed something strange instinctively.

They couldn’t comprehend why they were afraid of me.

But people don’t always fight alone. Anything they hold in their hands can become a weapon. In this world, it isn’t common to risk one’s life during fights. Just showing intent to kill can intimidate an opponent—

“Sir.”

Just as I was expressing that killer intent, a voice interrupted from the side, causing my concentration to break.

It was my sister.

“We always prepare enough materials. This is your first time here, right?”

“Ah, um, yeah, but…?”

My sister calmly explained with a smile to the still bewildered man.

“We always know how many people are coming. We always prepare extra, so by the time we finish serving everyone, there will definitely be leftovers. But just in case. If there are leftovers, feel free to have more.”

“……”

After my sister’s calm explanation, the man opened and closed his mouth a few times before quickly turning to leave.

“Feeling a little overwhelmed?”

My sister quietly whispered as she sidled up beside me.

“There are people like that sometimes. Still, he was a bit more reserved than most…”

…I guess it’s because I frightened him first.

“……”

Did I go too far?

I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I came to this world to save people, not to kill them.

But reality is much more complicated and harsh than that. Even if I think that way, it doesn’t mean the other person does.

So every time such a situation arose, I’d use this presence to intimidate them first. If they wouldn’t yield, I’d subdue them without killing and hand them over to the Kingdom’s forces. Since they’d been captured by the ‘Hero’ directly, someone would hardly bother looking into their case. They had already been judged, so to speak, by the one chosen by the Goddess.

That habit almost crept back out this time.

“Still, there are many who thank you. It’s not that there are only people like that… I just hope you can think of it that way.”

My sister said that and returned to her spot.

“……”

So it was.

Back in that other world, there were indeed people who expressed their gratitude towards me.

And that was what allowed me to keep seeking forgiveness.

Perhaps those here felt the same way.