30. Because it’s the first day

“Porridge and… half a rye bread…”

“Yes.”

Judging by the appearance, the condition doesn’t seem very good. For an explorer’s most luxurious dinner, porridge worth 8 coins and half a rye bread worth 3 coins is quite meager.

Although not saying much with words, the whole body is clearly signaling that there’s no money and it’s a tough situation.

Clink-

After receiving 11 coins from Tresha, I put them in my pocket. I went to the kitchen, handed a silver coin to the lady, and received meat, cheese, salad, and soup, then brought them to the desk.

Sarah, who was watching from the side, smiled at my kindness, but for some reason, it felt eerie.

“I, I didn’t order this…”

“Just eat. I ordered it with my money.”

“I can’t accept this-”

“Then I’ll throw it in the trash. Once taken out, the food can’t be sold again.”

“N, no! I’ll eat well…”

Even though the amount wasn’t small for a petite woman to eat alone, the bowl was emptied in an instant. Is it a universal trait to hesitate once before eating well?

It feels like when adults in the family give pocket money and you say it’s okay. 1 silver isn’t all for the food. She looked quite tired, so I booked a room just in case.

The Goat’s Horn Inn had a good price of 50 coins per night for such a decent place.

“After eating, do some work. Just go to the kitchen, get the food, and put it here.”

“What?”

“What? Yes?”

At those words, Tresha glanced around nervously before nodding. She immediately stuffed her mouth full of food, so I gave her a look to tell her not to eat so quickly.

In the kitchen, Sarah and the lady did most of the cooking, and when I wasn’t around, Sarah often left the kitchen to serve the food.

When I was there, Sarah and I would split the task of bringing the food out about half and half. If there was any heavy lifting to be done in the kitchen, I would help. Clearing the dishes was almost entirely my job.

Just helping to bring the food out to the lobby made the work much easier. After Tresha finished her meal slowly, I told her to go to any room on the second floor and unpack her things, then I assigned her the task of bringing the food out to the lobby.

It’s an easy job that anyone past the age of losing their baby hair can do. Not that bald people can’t do it, of course.

* * * * *

“Good job, Sarah.”

“Yeah. The guests stayed really late today.”

“Indeed. Sarah, you’re very popular.”

“Me-?”

I finished clearing the last table as I passed by Sarah, who was smiling bashfully, and called Tresha, who was awkwardly standing in a corner of the inn’s first-floor dining room, to sit at the desk.

“Hmm.”

“Uh, um….”

“Alright. Let’s hear it. What is it?”

The lady just went along with it. She glanced over once and then went to her room to get ready for bed. Sarah sat next to me, listening quietly, but she seemed to be in judge mode.

She crossed her arms, holding a large chest cushion. It looked quite intimidating.

It seemed fun, so I crossed my arms and sat down with my legs casually crossed.

“Th-thank you.. The food was delicious….”

The first words out of her mouth were thanks. Bonus points for manners.

“The party was badly injured on the fourth floor. Ant is unconscious, and Lupina is awake but has a broken right leg….”

“Oh my….”

Sera’s expression, who had been listening beside me, completely softens. Her strict judge mode is deactivated, and she suddenly switches to sympathy mode. What on earth was she thinking to be so guarded?

Ant must be that boy, and Lupina is likely that archer. I have some memory of hearing their names.

“S-so… I have to make money. But I also got a cursed skill, so….”

“What kind of skill did you get?”

“That is….”

Tressa hesitated, then finally opened her mouth.

“A wolf fetish skill….”

“Huh.”

“Eh.”

The story coming from Tressa’s mouth was beyond my comprehension. A wolf fetish skill? Wolf? Fetish? Is it possible for those two words to coexist?

I am a healthy man with a very open mind, but unfortunately, I don’t have a good perception of the act of feeling s*xual arousal for non-human species. As I said, I am someone with a healthy mindset.

“No, is there even such a skill?”

“Yeah…. I heard there are skills that change s*xual preferences.”

Sera said, rubbing her arm beside me. It’s truly pitiful. Not becoming a cripple or a blind person, but suddenly having her s*xual preference changed. I didn’t know skills like that were possible.

‘Well, there’s even a skill that increases strength by eating poop, so.’

Wolves are the first monsters you meet in the dungeon, besides kobolds, so the story of falling in love with them is the same as not being able to enter the dungeon at all.

“T-This is a skill suppression potion I got from the appraisal center.”

“That’s the potion you got from the Sateria appraisal center.”

“Yes…. I took a sip for the performance test, and now….”

They said they went to the monster auction after drinking the potion to see if it worked well. The monster auction is a place where captured monsters are traded, and except for a few legitimate sellers, most of them are illegal places located in the southeast.

“So, did it work well?”

“Yes, it did have an effect. They said a single sip lasts for about a day.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“You don’t encounter dire wolves unless you’re in a labyrinth. I’m saving it.”

Right. Where would you see those wolves inside the city? The potion isn’t cheap, so you have to save it.

“So. You couldn’t go to the labyrinth, couldn’t make money, and spent the money you had on treatment and potions?”

“Yes…”

“Then why did you come to see me?”

“Well, it’s not like I specifically came to see you…”

“Well, let’s say that’s the case. You must have a plan.”

Tresha mumbled a few times, then stood up from the chair and bowed her head deeply.

“Please, please go to the labyrinth with me! Even as a porter is fine! I’ll try to be helpful!”

“Hmm.”

Sera, who was next to her, seemed to be contemplating with her eyes closed for a while, then grabbed Tresha’s shoulders and lifted her up.

“What’s your name?”

“Tresha… I don’t have a last name.”

“What about your parents? Do you have anyone to turn to?”

“No. We… I mean, the two people I formed a party with and I are from a small village to the east…”

It seems that a bunch of kids from the neighborhood gathered to make a name for themselves in the labyrinth city, saved up a bit of money, went to the big city next door, and took a caravan to this labyrinth city.

No, what were the parents doing while these kids were trying to do something so reckless?

“Our parents cheered us on and told us to give it a try…”

“Oh my goodness.”

“But, they did support us a lot! Each of us brought 50 silver coins from home…”

Aren’t the parents too open-minded? Anyway, it seems they didn’t just irresponsibly send them off. They gave them a lot of money to support their children. But this is the result.

One is unconscious, one has a broken leg. And the last one suddenly became a wolf enthusiast. I have no idea what to do with this.

“Where are the two injured friends now?”

“Ant and Lupina are resting at the cathedral in the west. Lupina should be fully recovered in about a week, but Ant…”

“Is it uncertain when he will recover?”

“He’s unconscious, and his injuries were severe…”

Fortunately, they said the treatment costs were all covered. They didn’t have much money, but since they were of bronze rank and young, the cathedral took good care of them. Still, it must have cost quite a bit.

“Is there no money left?”

“We even sold Ant’s armor to raise money…”

Well, what use is metal armor to an unconscious guy?

Anyway, it’s a difficult story. Honestly, I want to enter the labyrinth alone from now on. I don’t see any merit in traveling together. I can sleep at the base.

“Please..! I’ll work hard!”

“Hmm…”

Alright, I have a good idea.

“Sera. The inn is busy, right? I think it would be okay to hire someone.”

“Um- it’s difficult. It’s busy, but not so much that it’s hard to manage, and it might be a problem to pay a salary as much as other places.”

“Is salary the issue?”

Up front, Tresha is busy looking around, very cautious. Looks like a Madara meme.

“What’s the average monthly salary for an inn employee?”

“It varies from inn to inn, but for a place like this, it’s usually around 40 silver coins.”

If you have three proper meals a day, you’re left with only 10 silver coins. Considering clothes and other necessities, it’s a bit tight.

“Sera. I’ll pay the salary. Please hire Tresha.”

“Look at these kids, selling land and houses when the owner isn’t around.”

At some point, the lady came out of the room and leaned against the wall, listening to the conversation. Of course, this part needs to be discussed with the lady.

“Ma’am. Just for one month. You have such a kind heart.”

The lady scratched her head and turned to look at Tresha.

“I’ll work hard! Please give me a job!”

“Alright, fine. I won’t charge you for the room, but make sure you pay her well.”

“Don’t worry. I’m earning a bit these days.”

Thus, we got the lady’s permission, and the sympathetic Sera also agreed readily. With one more employee, my workload has decreased a bit.

“And, take that thing in the bucket and throw it in the pit.”

“Yes. Tresha, did you hear that?”

“What? Oh, yes!”

I gestured for Tresha to follow me, and Sera grabbed Tresha by the arm.

“Aven~? I’ll show Tresha around the inn. Okay?”

“Sigh.”

No, should the employer handle the trash disposal?

“I-I’ll do it!”

“No. Go with Sera and take a break.”

It’s the first day, so I’ll let it slide.