Ch.8Chapter 8. Should Contract Workers Not Dream of Becoming Permanent Employees?

# Household Chores…

In my current life I might not know much, but in my previous life I had quite a bit of experience.

Following my dad around in his truck business meant I often slept in the car or outdoors. I was pretty handy with odd jobs, even using camping equipment to manage household tasks.

So what I needed to focus on wasn’t whether I could handle the housekeeper duties, but rather the person who had hired me for this job.

“Yes, now that we’ve completed the contract, let’s review the details one last time… You are ‘Vivian Platonis,’ a scholar affiliated with the Magic Tower, correct?”

“Y-yes. You can call me Vivian.”

“Ah, yes. Then, Ms. Vivian…”

Vivian.

That was the name of my employer, a magician supported by the Magic Tower.

Naturally, someone of her status could easily ignore someone like me, a Foreign Laborer.

“…Hehe.”

Yet she showed no signs of looking down on me. Instead, she seemed to be the one feeling intimidated, with hunched shoulders.

Between her attire, her stuttering speech, and that awkward laugh…

She looked less like a Mad Scientist from the Magic Tower and more like an older student who’d lost confidence after multiple failed college entrance attempts.

“W-what’s your name?”

As my tension began to fade, Vivian timidly asked me this question.

Even this behavior seemed unexpected to me, having heard many rumors about Magic Tower personnel.

A Magic Tower magician, whose colleagues were known for dissecting random people, showing interest in someone else’s name? The world is full of surprises.

“Oh, yes. My name is Hyoseong Woo. You can call me Hyoseong…”

“Pfft.”

Just as I was starting to relax, Vivian laughed before I could finish speaking.

She then removed the hand covering her mouth, revealing a twitching smile.

“W-Woo Hyo… What an unusual name. It’s kind of funny… pfft.”

“…Haha, I hear that a lot.”

And it usually bothered me.

Back in school, classmates would tease me with things like “Woohyoo~!! What kind of name is that? It’s hilarious!” And I still occasionally heard similar jokes in this world.

But contrary to those past experiences, her laughter didn’t upset me at all.

I could tell she was laughing at my name without any malice, just pure amusement.

“Well, anyway…”

After clearing my throat to dispel the warm feeling,

I placed the reviewed contract that complied with Imperial labor laws on the table, and prepared to write additional terms on another document.

“As stated in the contract, I’ll be staying here for the duration specified in this document. I plan to organize what’s needed while living here based on my judgment. Are there any precautions I should be aware of?”

“P-precautions?”

“Ah, yes. For example, items that shouldn’t be thrown away, or areas that require special attention when cleaning.”

“Ah, I see. Well… first, don’t throw away any papers or books on the floor, and also furniture…”

Vivian explained earnestly despite her trembling voice.

Though she spoke a bit slowly, I could understand her well enough to plan the cleaning schedule without much trouble.

Except for the last thing she mentioned.

“And you must not enter the basement.”

Yes, that final warning.

It was delivered in a remarkably clear voice, without a hint of hesitation.

“…Pardon?”

“The basement.”

When I asked again, disturbed by the sudden change in tone, Vivian repeated her previous statement, all traces of her smile gone.

“Below the first floor, never enter it. Do you understand?”

Even in the dimly lit room illuminated by a faint blue light, her eyes stood out with striking clarity.

When I realized those eyes were fixed on me, goosebumps rose on my skin and I felt my breath catch.

Yes, while I couldn’t understand why she suddenly changed her attitude, one thing was absolutely clear.

“Y-yes, I understand.”

She too was a member of the Magic Tower, where people lacking ethical consciousness gathered, and disobeying her words would surely mean my death.

Keeping this fact in mind, I answered, and her tense expression immediately relaxed.

“…H-hehe.”

She returned to her previous demeanor in an instant.

Soon she gave an awkward smile, stood up, and prepared to head toward a room inside the house.

“W-well… I’m going to do my research now, so… please take care of the cleaning?”

“Yes, leave it to… Oh, just a moment, please.”

As she was about to leave, I called out to her, and she stopped, hunching her shoulders as she turned her gaze toward me.

“W-what is it?”

She looked anxious, as if wondering what else might be left.

Though she showed none of the intensity from when she mentioned the basement, I still decided to ask one question just to be safe.

“Would it be alright if I make some coffee later?”

“Coffee?”

“Yes. To help you concentrate.”

This wasn’t just a courtesy question.

Scholars from the Magic Tower were known to slaughter people for interrupting their concentration, so it wasn’t far-fetched.

If I approached while she was working and accidentally provoked her, that could be the end of me.

“You’d do that… for me?”

But contrary to my concerns, her eyes widened with excitement as she clasped her hands to her chest.

As if trying to suppress a racing heart.

“You’ll actually make coffee for me? Really?”

“Ah, yes. Well, that’s part of a housekeeper’s duties. If you’d rather not be disturbed…”

“No, no, no, no! I love coffee!”

Vivian rushed toward me in surprise.

Then, grabbing my hands, she whispered shyly with a trembling voice.

“I… I like it…”

While looking at me, saying she liked me.

…No, not me, but coffee.

“I’ll… be counting on you, okay?”

“Ah, yes.”

After finally regaining my composure, I clutched my flushed face once she had turned around and left.

…Damn, that was quite dangerous just now.

****

Yes, thinking someone’s kindness equals romantic interest is third-rate thinking.

Especially when business is involved, maintaining a certain level of caution or self-restraint is necessary to keep proper boundaries.

So while working as Vivian’s housekeeper, I constantly reminded myself of three principles.

First: Vivian and I have a business relationship. We might get along well, but I shouldn’t think of anything beyond that.

Second: Remember that we’ll be strangers once the contract ends. Don’t get comfortable with the high pay and stay too long, or I might end up in trouble due to her Magic Tower affiliation.

Finally, third: Never enter the basement. If I don’t want that chilling atmosphere to actually threaten my life.

“Right, I’ll just take the contract payment and leave. Life should be approached with a long-term perspective.”

Whether it’s relationships or money.

If you let greed cloud your judgment and try to handle more than you should, you might end up facing your final moments in freezing cold water.

That was evident just from recalling a man in this world who lived obsessed with gambling, dreaming of striking it rich…

‘Finally, 100 million.’

‘Oh, you’ve finally saved 100 million through hard work? Congratulations!’

‘Debt! You idiots!’

What happened to that indebted Foreign Laborer who attempted a bungee jump without a cord from under the bridge? Did he reincarnate, or was he offered as a reward set of gold and silver Foreign Laborers to the honest person who went looking for him?

Either way, that encounter greatly helped me control my greed.

With that in mind, I could approach Vivian without hesitation today, keeping my heart empty.

“Ms. Vivian. I’ve brought your coffee.”

“Okay, put it there.”

Fortunately, she spent all day sitting at her desk focused on research, and while concentrating, she only responded to my voice.

Her characteristic stuttering and awkward smile disappeared during those moments, as she just scribbled on papers filled with complex diagrams and equations.

Naturally, I couldn’t understand the content, so I would just watch briefly before continuing with my other tasks.

Occasionally I would clean up scattered books or crumpled papers, but the rustling sounds didn’t seem to bother her as she remained focused on her work.

“Ms. Vivian, it’s almost mealtime. Aren’t you hungry?”

“Yes, feed me.”

And this was true even at mealtimes.

As if she couldn’t spare even a moment to go to the dining table, I brought what I had prepared and set it up in front of her while she remained at her desk.

Naturally, the meal consisted of items she could eat while working: sandwiches, salad, and soup in a cup.

After serving the food and waiting for her to eat, she glanced at the tray, then focused back on her work and abruptly said:

“Feed me.”

“…Pardon?”

“If I stop working now, I’ll lose my concentration. Feed me.”

…Feed her?

Is she serious?

“Ah, yes… I should feed you.”

No, right now she’s in a state of extreme concentration.

She’s not the type to joke around, and prioritizing efficiency in her work makes sense.

So I’ll feed her with my own hands.

Like feeding a child…

“Munch, munch.”

She chewed the sandwich I placed in her mouth a few times, then swallowed.

When I offered her the cup next, she drank the soup to wash down what remained in her mouth, then gripped her pen again.

And again, I gave her another bite of sandwich, then a bite of salad with dressing…

“…Is it good?”

“Yes.”

Her brief answer continued.

At least she didn’t seem dissatisfied, so I smiled contentedly at the empty plate.

“Haha, I’m glad to hear that.”

Well, her eating well is certainly something to be happy about.

There were some terrible people who compared my camp cooking to royal court cuisine and complained, so this kind of response was truly appreciated.

“Th…”

Just as I was about to leave the room with the empty plate, her lips began to move while she still sat with her back to me.

The woman who had been responding curtly all this time, as if savoring the lingering taste of sandwich and soup in her mouth.

“Always th-thank you. For making… good food…”

When she conveyed her gratitude with that trembling voice, I stood frozen for a moment before forcing a smile and responding.

“Ah, yes. It’s nothing.”

-Click.

The door closed, and silence fell in the hallway.

Standing there alone, I pondered her thanks, then grabbed my face and reminded myself of my commitment.

“…Calm down, it’s just a thank you.”

Don’t get interested unless you’re certain.

What you should be thinking about here isn’t a green light but fence rules.

***

But perhaps because she, like Irie, fits my type of “older sister figure who listens well”?

As we spent time together, misunderstandings occasionally arose, and at those times, it wasn’t easy to shake off the temptation to cross business relationship boundaries.

Especially with her habitually wearing disheveled clothing, it felt like she was just within reach, making restraint quite challenging…

“Ms. Vivian. It’s morning, please wake up.”

Nevertheless, I steeled my resolve and went to help her wake up early as she had instructed.

Yet she, who had fallen asleep on the sofa rather than the bed, showed no signs of waking even after I drew the curtains and let in sunlight.

“Ms. Vivian, if you keep sleeping, you won’t finish today’s research.”

Yes, at least she wouldn’t get angry about research-related matters.

So thinking this approach would be fine, I shook her body, and she began to rise with a groan.

“Mmm…”

Drowsy eyes and disheveled hair. Her hair was messy from sleep, spreading voluminously in all directions.

Additionally, her clothes weren’t properly buttoned, emphasizing her distinctively full chest.

“…Ms. Vivian, are you alright?”

“Mmm, I’m fine. I’m awake.”

As I swallowed hard and stared at her, she answered in a languid voice and began to open her closed eyes.

Her blurry vision came into focus, then blurred again.

“Hehe.”

Nevertheless, she seemed to recognize my presence.

Then, turning her gaze toward me with the sunlight at her back, she greeted me.

“Th-thanks for waking me up. Good morning to you too, Mr. Housekeeper~”

“Ah, yes… It’s nothing.”

“…Ehehe.”

A faint smile gradually formed at the corners of her mouth.

Faced with such pure goodwill, unlike anything I’d encountered since coming to this world, I felt my carefully built self-restraint gradually fading.

I felt a growing desire to extend the contract and stay by her side if permitted…

Such greed was gradually emerging within me.