Chapter 43: Dungeon 3

The workroom held many items, and the earthquake had scattered them badly.

I temporarily moved undamaged things, along with damaged things that remained usable, into another room.

I threw away anything broken beyond use and any ruined materials.

Naturally, I first asked Marina to inspect every item before placing it in a rubbish bag.

◇

[Cleaning] training completed.

1 EXP acquired.

EXP until skill acquisition: 52/100.

◇

The workroom was finally clean.

Nothing unusual happened. While inspecting the items, Marina helped me clean the areas I couldn’t handle on my own.

We finished shortly after noon.

I’d gained a great deal of [Cleaning] EXP, and at this pace, I might acquire the skill before the day ended.

“Mmm, everything is clean and refreshing! Thank you so much, Erik!”

“I’m here for work, so it’s only natural. And I don’t need an additional reward this time. The original reward is already high.”

When Marina began rummaging around for something, I spoke before she could act.

“…May I really not give you one?”

“No. I’ve already received a great many things.”

“I suppose I have no choice. I’ll restrain myself this time.”

She removed her hand from inside her robe and waved it idly.

Then I asked her to sign the report.

“…What is this?”

“Hmm, I wonder?”

The report felt strangely thick when she returned it.

Hidden behind it was a small wooden box.

“…Now then, you’re busy again today, aren’t you, Erik? Come handle another request sometime!”

“Next time, I truly won’t accept anything! This is the last time!”

“Come again!”

Ignoring my refusal, Marina saw me out.

I didn’t inspect the box in front of her, but I opened it on the way to the Adventurers’ Guild.

It contained five silver coins.

“That’s too much. Together with the listed reward, that’s thirty-five silver coins…”

I muttered after seeing Marina’s additional reward.

When I returned to the Adventurers’ Guild, I completed the procedure at the counter.

“Could you deposit this along with the reward I just earned?”

“My, you received another additional reward.”

“Yes. I told her I wouldn’t accept one, but when she returned the report, she’d hidden it behind the paper…”

“Marina values your cleaning ability especially highly.”

I kept the reward from my morning request on hand but deposited everything I’d received from Marina.

My account now held ninety silver coins.

“My savings are growing incredibly quickly, but most of the money has come from Marina. Is she truly all right?”

“You don’t need to worry about Marina. Her potions are good enough to be stocked by the Adventurers’ Guild, so she shouldn’t lack money.”

After Reina explained that, I prepared to leave for my next request.

However, she didn’t show me any forms.

“Erik, you haven’t eaten lunch yet, have you?”

“…I-I did eat.”

“What did you eat?”

“U-Um… Well…”

She stared at me, and I couldn’t invent an excuse.

In the end, I had to eat lunch before accepting another request.

This time, instead of our usual restaurant, we went to a slightly fashionable café.

Apparently, one of Reina’s acquaintances had recently opened it.

“My, Reina brought a boy? He’s extremely young, though. Reina, is that your preference?”

“Erik, I’m sorry. This woman is Sarah, a former colleague. She found a husband early, left the Adventurers’ Guild, and now manages this café.”

Reina introduced her while grinding a fist against the woman’s head.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Erik, an adventurer.”

“Ah, you’re that boy! You’re the adventurer who’s recently become a bit famous around town for cleaning, aren’t you?”

When I introduced myself, Sarah said that.

“Um, I’m the subject of a rumor?”

“It’s only beginning to spread, but Marina told me over tea that you clean carefully and can transform even a filthy room in no time.”

“…So Marina is the source.”

Sarah told me that she and Marina were friends.

Reina and I sat and placed our orders.

The café specialized in bread, and its menu listed many kinds of sandwich.

It also offered numerous drinks, including fruit juice, tea, and black tea.

I ordered apple juice and sandwiches filled with egg and ham.

“Still, for Reina to eat with an adventurer like this, you must be one she likes very much.”

“Yes. Among recent adventurers, Erik is certainly one of my favorites.”

“Wow! For Reina to say that, you must truly be a favorite!”

Customers entered the café, so Sarah went to serve them.