Chapter 35: The Past 3

Once we’d completed today’s confirmation, I left to handle a request inside the city.

My destination was the Stacia Trading Company’s warehouse, which I hadn’t visited in some time.

The work involved cleaning again, but this time it wasn’t the result of one of Marina’s mishaps. They were hiring people to help reorganize the warehouse.

“Hee hee. I thought you might come if we submitted a request, Erik, but you truly did.”

“I’m happy to hear you say that.”

Hanna was at the site and was delighted that I’d come.

The employees who’d been present when I cleaned the warehouse before were there too, and they were also pleased to see me.

We went over the day’s work.

Because they were reorganizing the warehouse, merchandise would need to be moved.

My own task primarily involved cleaning.

“Erik, you aren’t merely good at cleaning. You’re truly fast, yet still thorough… Did the villagers teach you that too?”

Once we finished one stage of the cleaning, it was time for a break.

I sat in a chair to rest, and Hanna, who’d come to see how things were progressing, asked me that.

“Yes. I learned most of the basics, then arrived at my present methods through trial and error, asking myself whether there was a better way. I was being paid for the work. If I merely finished quickly, I might leave rubbish behind. On the other hand, if I took too long, I’d waste the client’s time. I tried to work as quickly and thoroughly as possible and refined my technique with that in mind.”

“I see. You developed your technique while always thinking of the person who hired you.”

“Yes. I’m glad the time I spent then wasn’t wasted, since those skills are still serving me now.”

When the break ended, I resumed cleaning.

Because the request involved a large warehouse, it took a substantial amount of time. We finally finished just around noon.

Although it took a while, the reward was five silver coins, which was exceptionally high for a city request.

I was also offered clearance merchandise as an additional reward.

“You truly don’t need to give me anything extra.”

“It’s fine. We’ll either divide these among the employees or throw them away. Besides, these children have already received enough that they wouldn’t be pleased by more.”

“That’s right. You worked extremely hard, Erik, so you should take some.”

“Yes. Don’t hold back.”

Hanna and the employees all said that, so in the end, I couldn’t refuse.

Some of the items were underwear, which I honestly wanted.

That desire also influenced my decision to accept.

“…I’m weak against the words ‘additional reward.'”

When something was free, I’d accepted it even if I didn’t currently need it.

I’d always had a habit of keeping things because I might need them one day.

I repaired torn clothes myself and continued wearing them.

I’d polished old pots and frying pans and occasionally cooked with them.

Gifts had often enriched my life.

That same mentality remained with me, and I somehow always ended up accepting whatever people offered.

“I’ll grow into a respectable adventurer and repay everyone.”

With that thought, I returned to the Adventurers’ Guild.

“Good work, Erik. It looks as though you received the highest evaluation again.”

“Cleaning is my specialty.”

“Even so, receiving evaluations like this again and again is unusual. It’s because of your character.”

Reina praised me, completed the procedure, and gave me the reward.

“Come to think of it, Erik, what do you normally do for lunch?”

“Normally? I probably skip it more often than not. I eat a larger breakfast, so that keeps me going during the day.”

“…Do you skip it because you don’t want to eat?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to. I often worry that eating would waste time and money.”

My breakfasts at the inn were larger than an ordinary person’s.

Thanks to that, even without lunch, I had enough energy to remain active.

Skipping lunch didn’t significantly affect my work, so I treated it as another way to save money.

Occasionally, I became hungry. At times like that, I rinsed edible wild plants with water and ate them.

“…Then I’m buying you lunch today. Come and eat with me.”

“With you?”

“Yes. My lunch break begins now.”

Reina went behind the counters, informed a colleague that she was taking her break, and returned.

While I was still uncertain what to do, she’d somehow taken my hand and led me outside the Adventurers’ Guild.

“U-Um, I have money, so I can pay for my own food.”

“It’s fine. I brought you because I wanted to feed you, so let me pay. I’ll take you to my favorite restaurant.”

Reina led me to a restaurant about ten minutes on foot from the Adventurers’ Guild.

It had a calm atmosphere, and every table occupied a space resembling a partially private room.

Once we sat, a female employee came over.

“My, Reina? This is unusual. You came with a boy today.”

“He’s an adventurer I’ve recently been responsible for. When he told me he usually skips lunch, I dragged him here.”

“I see. You’re particular about food, after all. Shall I bring your usual set meal?”

Reina nodded.

“Erik, is there anything you can’t eat?”

“No, I don’t have any likes or dislikes, but…”

“Then two of my usual meal, please.”

“Two set meals. Understood.”

The woman left our table and went toward the kitchen.