Eeeeh!?

◈

That evening.

I reported this memorable happy event to Miriana-noona.

“And that’s what happened!”

“My, our Jin-sang did well, didn’t he?”

“Heheh, this should change the perception of that damn Samurth and other adventurers. That I’m an incredibly skilled healer! Hahahahaha!”

“Well, this time you have an achievement? of healing Celine’s father. Not just anyone, but Celine’s father. Healing the family member of a receptionist who everyone relies on is quite credible.”

“Right?”

“Jin-sang’s reputation will improve a little? bit.”

“Hihi, you think so too, right?”

“But you shouldn’t get too excited, Jin-sang? When people hear good rumors, shameless folks who thoughtlessly come asking for treatment tend to appear. In those cases, you must charge them money?”

“O-of course!”

“…You were thinking that since you’re feeling good, it would be fine just once, weren’t you? That’s something you do when you don’t have trust. Got it?”

“I-I’ll be careful!”

“Luna, you keep an eye on Jin-sang too. Understood?”

“Y-yes! I’ll w-watch Jin-sang c-carefully!”

“Good! Then since Jin-sang performed well today…”

“Luna-noona deserves credit too.”

“Don’t interrupt, Jin-sang. Since you both performed well, tonight we have what’s called a delicacy—grilled minotaur!”

“Yay!”

“Y-yay!”

The minotaur meat was absolutely delicious.

◈

The next day.

“Hey, Jin-sang. I heard you’re good at healing? I still have some inflammation, can you treat it?”

“I still can’t remove my splint, can you handle this too?”

As Miriana-noona predicted, while serving, people asking me about treatments increased.

And there were also people who tried to get free treatment without paying.

“If you want treatment, pay a fair price?”

“Didn’t you say the first time was free last time?”

“That was a limited-time offer when I had no companions at all!”

“What a stingy guy.”

“That’s right, that’s right!”

“Hey, salad!”

“Shut up, bandits! And Samurth! You just ordered! You’re just trying to pester me, aren’t you!”

“How did you know?”

Damn elf!

After finishing my serving job.

After meeting up with Luna-noona, when we were about to do the basic registration for herb gathering with Celine.

“Jin-sang, would you be available tomorrow?”

“Huh?”

Both Luna and I tilted our heads simultaneously at Celine’s words.

“Available?”

“Yes. I’ve decided to take a day off tomorrow. The Guild Master also told me to take a break after such a big incident.”

“I see.”

It makes sense. Even though her father recovered safely, it was an accident, so she did suffer emotionally.

It seemed the Guild Master gave her time off considering Celine’s circumstances.

“So during my time off, I would like you to spare some time so I can repay you.”

“C-Celine wants to repay me?”

“Yes. Since my father gave Luna golden carrots… I would like to personally repay my debt to you, Jin-sang.”

“R-really?”

Now that Celine was talking about repaying me, I felt a bit dazed.

“C-Celine. H-how are you g-going to repay him?”

Luna-noona asked Celine.

That’s right! How are you going to repay me!

Thank you for asking on my behalf, Luna-noona.

“That’s…”

“That’s?”

Celine put her index finger to her lips, winked, and said:

“A secret.”

“Uhhh…!?”

“Ooh.”

Celine saying “it’s a secret” was somehow charming.

“Huhu, Luna. You don’t need to worry too much. It’s a repayment within the scope of what a receptionist can do.”

“R-really? Th-that’s good…”

“Yes. Please be assured.”

Can I ask what the scope of what a receptionist can do is?

I’m extremely curious.

“More importantly, Luna. I believe the golden carrots my father sent will arrive tomorrow.”

“G-golden carrots!”

Luna-noona, who had been relieved, immediately perked up her ears and her eyes sparkled at the mention of golden carrots.

She really likes golden carrots, huh.

“Since I want to repay Jin-sang tomorrow too… how about taking a break from quests tomorrow? Carriages that deliver goods regularly come in the morning. Luna, how about receiving the golden carrots in the morning and enjoying Carrot Day?”

“C-Carrot Day!”

“Carrot Day?”

“It refers to a day when rabbit beastkin eat a lot of carrots.”

“C-Carrot Day…! Except when I was in the v-village, I-I’ve never h-had one…!”

“Then that’s even better. I hope you enjoy Golden Carrot Day, savoring Carrot Day with golden carrots for the first time in a long time.”

“G-Golden Carrot Day…!!!”

Hmm~ I can’t match Luna-noona’s excitement, but let’s congratulate her anyway.

Clap clap clap clap clap!

I applauded and said to Luna-noona:

“Congratulations, Luna-noona! Not just any Carrot Day, but Gol~den Carrot Day! Any rabbit beastkin would be jealous!”

“Ahh, G-Golden Carrot D-Day…! Th-thank you, J-Jin-sang! Ah. B-but I was g-going to give you one w-when you c-came…”

“Hahaha, it’s fine. They said a whole box is coming, right? Surely you won’t eat an entire box in one day, right?”

“…”

“Luna-noona?”

Why are you looking away?

“I-I’ll definitely s-save one!”

“…Wait, can a whole box fit in your stomach?”

“C-carrots go to a s-separate stomach!”

Are carrots snacks for rabbit beastkin?

It seems like Luna-noona might need to rest not just tomorrow but the day after too?

“Luna-noona. If you want to eat them all without saving any, go ahead.”

“Yes!? I-is that okay? B-but…”

“I’m not a rabbit beastkin, so I might not appreciate the golden carrots as much. Celine, are golden carrots super delicious to regular people too?”

“No. Not as much as for rabbit beastkin, just a fairly tasty carrot from what I hear.”

“Then it’s fine! I’d rather see Luna-noona enjoying them and being happy than just trying one fairly tasty carrot by my standards!”

“J-Jin-sang…!”

Luna-noona was extremely moved, with tears welling up in her eyes.

Is that… something to be so moved about?

“Then it’s decided. Luna will have Golden Carrot Day tomorrow. And I will spend time repaying my debt to Jin-sang tomorrow.”

Our schedules for tomorrow were set!

◈

And the next day.

“Ummmm…! I slept well!”

Having greeted an energetic morning full of anticipation, I washed up, changed clothes, and went down the stairs to start my serving job.

“G-golden carroooooooots!”

“Oh, Luna-noona.”

As soon as I came down, Luna-noona entered the guild with wide eyes.

“J-Jin-sang! G-good morning!”

“Good morning, Luna-noona. Are you here to receive the golden carrots?”

“Y-yes!”

She must be really looking forward to it.

Gol~den Carrot Day.

Creeeeak

“Welcome, Luna.”

At that moment, Celine opened the door to the guild’s storage room and came out with a box of golden carrots.

“Wow, wooow! G-golden carrots!”

“Here you are.”

“Y-yes! Th-thank you! C-Celine!”

“Not at all. This is the reward that Luna rightfully deserves. I hope you enjoy your Golden Carrot Day.”

“Y-yes! J-Jin-sang! S-see you tomorrow!”

“Yes, Luna-noona. See you tomorrow.”

That is, if your stomach isn’t too full to do quests.

Luna-noona took the box of golden carrots and zoomed out of the guild.

Celine, who had slightly waved her hand at Luna-noona, quickly turned to me and said:

“Now then, Jin-sang. Please follow me so I can repay my debt.”

“Huh? I need to prepare for my serving job now though?”

“It’s fine. I’ve arranged for you to take the day off today.”

“Really?”

As I turned my head to look at the kitchen chief who happened to be there.

He waved his hands dismissively, gesturing that I should take the day off.

Wow, so I’m receiving Celine’s repayment from the morning?

I don’t know what I’ll receive.

But I’m really looking forward to it.

“Um… so I just follow you?”

“Yes. Please follow me.”

I followed Celine outside the guild.

While walking, I asked Celine:

“Celine, I just noticed you’re still in your receptionist uniform even though it’s your day off?”

“Ah… my apologies. I’ve been wearing this outfit for so long that it’s become a habit. Did you mind?”

“No! I like Celine’s usual outfit too!”

Especially thinking about the Second Archives incident, I actually prefer the receptionist uniform!

“I’m glad.”

And the place Celine took me to was.

“Huh? This is…”

The place Celine took me to was the guild staff dormitory outside the guild.

While the guild itself has rooms prepared for adventurers who have nowhere to stay, kitchen staff, or servers like me.

This dormitory was mainly for staff like Celine, recovery team members, and employees who handle various paperwork tasks.

Of course, the chief had told me that the facilities here were better than the rooms inside the guild.

Following Celine into the dormitory, she stopped at one room, took out a key from her bosom, clicked it into the lock, and said:

“Please come in.”

“Y-yes!”

Huh? Am I… entering Celine’s private room? For real?

I entered in a daze, going with the flow.

“C-Celine. Is this where you usually stay…”

“Yes, this is the room assigned to me by the guild.”

It really was her private room.

Celine’s room was very neat and tidy, reflecting her usual appearance.

And in the center of the room, Celine turned to me and, with her usual angelic smile, said:

“Jin-sang, as promised, if there’s anything you want, please tell me. I’ll grant anything that’s within my power.”

“Huh?”

I reflexively repeated the question, blinking at her extremely bold statement.

Eeeeh!?