Kays Translations

Chapter 61: The Night Shift Is Far Sweeter Than the Day Shift

After spending the entire day working alongside his parents, Merlin finally allowed himself to stretch with a long, satisfying yawn. His back cracked faintly as he leaned against the counter, his tired eyes sweeping across the dimly lit tavern. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat and spilled ale, mingling with the faint embers still glowing in the hearth. A few dwarves, faces flushed red from heavy drinking, were slumped over the tables, snoring loudly and reeking of spirits.

Merlin lifted his gaze toward the old wall clock. “Damn… it’s already past one in the morning,” he muttered under his breath. “These dwarves really can drink like bottomless pits.”

At that moment, his mother, Kanna, staggered out from the back with a heavy wooden bucket in her hands. Her figure looked a little smaller under the weight of exhaustion. She dumped the murky wastewater outside, wiped the sweat from her brow, and then glanced at Merlin with soft, worried eyes.

“You must be worn out, child,” she said tenderly, her voice tinged with fatigue. “The tavern runs twenty-four hours now, but I think you should head upstairs and rest. Your father and I… we are high-level magicians. Our mental strength is abundant—we can manage with a session of meditation to restore ourselves.”

Merlin’s jaw tightened. Who in their right mind works without sleeping? This is madness! He clenched his fists, silently cursing. There’s no way I’ll let my parents exhaust themselves like beasts of burden. If anyone is going to do night work, it should be those spirit-brimming students from the Academy. Not them.

“Employees,” he declared firmly, his voice carrying the weight of decision. “We have to hire employees. Tomorrow, when I return to the Academy, I’ll find people to work in the tavern.”

He stepped forward, grasping his mother’s weary hands. “We’ll set up proper shifts—day and night separated. From now on, Father and Mother, you will focus only on managing the tavern, checking the accounts. Leave the actual work to others.”

“I’ll find the right barbecue chef,” he continued with certainty. “And we’ll hire waiters and bartenders too. Everything will be handled.”

Kanna, though used to pushing herself, could not deny the truth of his words. Her body ached; her heart too longed for respite. She nodded slowly. “Son, you’re making good money now, but don’t forget—your studies at the Academy mustn’t be neglected.”

Merlin felt a warmth stir within him at her words. On Earth, how he had once wished someone would scold him in this way, nag him about his future, remind him to take care. Many would find such words annoying, hearing them too often, but only after losing them would one realize how beautiful such sounds truly were. Never take for granted the voices you might one day yearn to hear but never again find.

The Next Morning

At dawn, Merlin rode a creaking carriage back to the Arcane Academy. The city streets slowly came alive with merchants calling, wheels clattering, and the cries of hawkers blending into a familiar chorus. Without wasting a moment, he marched straight into the Beast-Taming Faculty and nailed up a freshly written placard.

Dwarves Gone Wild Tavern – Hiring Now

Address: Arcane Capital, Mid-Level District, Central Street, No. 256

Positions Available:

• Barbecue Chef
  
  • Day Shift: Base pay [50 gold] + Attendance Bonus [10 gold] + Commission [Trial run guarantees at least equal to bonus].
    
  • One year of service earns an annual bonus; salary increases by 5% each year.
    
  • Four days of paid leave each month without loss of attendance bonus.
    
  • Hours: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
    
  • Night Shift: Base pay [60 gold] + Attendance Bonus [10 gold] + Commission [Trial run guarantees at least equal to bonus].
    
  • Same benefits as above.
    
  • Hours: 6:00 PM – 6:00 AM
    
  • Requirements: Tier 3 or higher Fire Mage, with expert control of flame. Patience, diligence, and responsibility required. One-week training, one-month internship with only base salary and attendance bonus.
    
• Waiters
  
  • Day Shift: Base pay [30 gold] + Attendance Bonus [10 gold] + Commission [Trial run guarantees at least equal to bonus].
    
  • Same yearly benefits as above.
    
  • Hours: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
    
  • Night Shift: Base pay [35 gold] + Attendance Bonus [10 gold] + Commission [Trial run guarantees at least equal to bonus].
    
  • Same internship conditions.
    
  • Requirements: Preferably female with fair skin, good looks, and long legs—excellent image and bearing. Handsome males also acceptable.
    
• Cleaners
  
  • Requirements: Tier 2 or higher Water Mage, with skillful control over water elements for cleaning. Same internship conditions.
    

When the notice was posted, many students of the Beast-Taming Faculty stopped to gape. Murmurs filled the corridor.

“This… this salary is insane!” one exclaimed. “A single month’s pay for a barbecue chef here equals what a major adventuring party earns after weeks of life-and-death missions!”

“Even noble guards don’t make this much… this is practically the same as a government post in the Empire!” another whispered, eyes glittering with temptation.

Before long, the students were buzzing with excitement. Some couldn’t resist any longer and hurried straight to Merlin.

“Boss Merlin,” one asked breathlessly, “is this tavern…?”

“This is my parents’ tavern,” Merlin replied, pointing at the notice. “The address is written clearly. As long as you meet the conditions, you’re welcome to apply. But keep in mind—our recruitment slots are limited.”

The crowd erupted. Dozens of students surged forward, voices overlapping as they shouted for the chance to become Merlin’s subordinates. The wages were as good as securing an imperial government job, and the tavern’s location—close to the Academy—meant they could even work part-time without issue.

Merlin raised his voice to steady the crowd. “One thing you all must understand—the tavern is in the Mid-Level District. If you’re coming from the Academy by carriage, it takes at least an hour. Only those who ride griffins or other flying beasts will make the trip faster. Land beasts with exceptional speed are also acceptable. Such applicants will be given priority.”

Just then, a third-year Beast-Taming student pushed through the crowd, chest heaving with excitement. He waved the application form in his hands.

“Boss Merlin!” he shouted. “I’m a third-year! I’ve finished all my core courses, and I’m a Tier 4 Fire Mage! My contracted beast is a Flame Hawk—perfect for the barbecue chef position!”

Gasps rippled through the students. The Flame Hawk was one of the stronger Tier 3 flying beasts—powerful, rare, and highly sought after. No one had expected that even senior students of such caliber would eagerly apply for a tavern job.

Merlin’s decision came swiftly. “Good. Do you want the day shift or the night shift? Be warned—the night shift is much harder.”

Normally, one would expect shifts to rotate; otherwise, a person’s willpower might crack under exhaustion. But magicians were different. Once they broke through to Tier 3, they could replace sleep with meditation, resting enough during daylight hours.

The student grinned. “I’ll take the night shift!”

Night shifts offered ten gold more than day shifts. Who in their right mind would give that up?

Sure enough, most of the Academy’s students favored the night slots. After all, during the day they still had classes, lectures, and training to attend. Only second-years with outstanding grades or third-years already in internships had enough free time to take daytime shifts.

Amid the commotion, a familiar figure appeared.

“Boss Merlin, you’re back,” Stacie called, hurrying over with a stack of papers in her arms.

Merlin’s eyes flickered with surprise. Something about her felt different—her once gloomy aura seemed entirely gone, replaced by a lighter, more cheerful energy.

“How’s the double-skin milk and condensed milk production going?” he asked.

“All prepared exactly as you instructed,” Stacie replied, her tone brisk yet filled with pride. “The sweet milk buns are especially popular. Students are already asking if we can make more.”

“And the double-skin milk?”

“Also very well received! The version topped with Frostland Blueberry Jam sells out fastest.” She pulled a shimmering magic crystal card from her pocket and handed it to Merlin.

“Boss, this contains yesterday’s earnings. As for the cash…” She slipped a massive wooden chest from her spatial ring and set it before him with a heavy thud. “It’s all right here.”

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