episode_0009

When I woke up, it was already past lunchtime.

I was so tired that I didn’t even know when I fell asleep.

Anyway, I should start heading back to the Arkbariho soon.

After leaving the inn, I stretched and loosened my stiff body.

On the way, I bought a skewer with my last 5 silver coins and headed towards the Arkbariho.

* * *

Upon arriving at the ship, the captain of the Arkbariho was at the dock checking the condition of the ship.

As soon as I spotted the captain, I approached him and greeted him first.

“Have you arrived? It looks like the cleaning will be finished by today. I did my best.”

“Hmm.”

The captain looked at me with his sharp, piercing eyes and said, “When I went up to the deck earlier, you worked harder than I expected.”

“Well, if you give me a task, I should do it diligently.”

“What’s that?”

The captain asked, looking at the robe I was holding.

“Oh, this is a mop for finishing the cleaning.”

Actually, it was Meruru’s clothes.

The captain nodded.

“I see. Anyway, finish it by tomorrow. We have to do the loading work tomorrow. I’ll pay you then.”

“Understood, just leave it to me.”

“Hmph, you’re more diligent than I thought. If only you had more stamina, I would have used you as a crew member.”

The captain chuckled and, with a twinkle in his eye, disappeared towards the streets of Kubele.

He’s indeed a formidable person.

But he felt much kinder than he looked.

If only he didn’t have the habit of opening his eyes like that, he wouldn’t seem as intimidating.

Maybe he became like that from years of rough sea work.

I climbed back onto the Arkbariho’s massive hull and headed towards the cargo hold where Meruru was hiding.

I didn’t realize it while cleaning, but coming back during the day, I realized I did a good job cleaning.

I feel a sense of pride for some reason.

By the way, what was that wooden barrel Meruru was hiding in?

Hopefully, nothing happened, and he’s safe.

He should be.

“Hey, Meruru. You can come out now.”

I kicked the bottom of the wooden barrel and called out to him.

After a moment, the barrel shook, the lid opened, and a disheveled Meruru peeked out.

“Ugh! I thought you weren’t coming! You’re so late!”

“Anyway, I’m here now. Let’s eat this.”

I took out the remaining 5 silver coins and handed him the skewer I bought.

“There’s only one, so we’ll take turns eating from the top.”

“Me… meat!”

Meruru’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the skewer.

I took the top meat and leek, ate it, then handed the skewer to Meruru.

He grabbed the next meat and leek, put it in his mouth, and chewed.

“This is so delicious… I’ve never tasted anything like this in my hometown.”

Meruru’s eyes welled up as he chewed on the meat and leek.

What did he usually eat to be so moved by this?

Anyway, seeing him enjoy it so much, I’m glad I brought it.

After sharing it twice, the skewer disappeared in no time.

It was definitely not enough to fill our stomachs, but we have no money right now, so it can’t be helped.

“Alright, try this on.”

After finishing the skewer, I gave Meruru the robe I haggled for with a street vendor.

It still looks torn and dirty.

I hope it covers his tail and ears properly.

“Ugh, am I supposed to wear this? I thought it was a big mop.”

“Well, for now, it should be fine for wandering around once your ears and tail are covered.”

“Ugh…”

“Or I’m a rare being from afar. Please sell me at a high price. Advertise and go around.”

Upon hearing those words, Meruru immediately put on the robe I gave her.

Although the hem was severely tattered, the ears and tail were neatly covered.

“Good. If you go around like that, there shouldn’t be any problems for a while.”

“There’s a strange smell….”

Meruru wrinkled her nose and sniffed the smell on her sleeve, frowning.

I’ve done everything I can for her.

I think I’ve paid her enough for helping with the cleaning.

“You said you had something to do on the continent.”

“That’s right. I have to find my sister.”

“Sister?”

“My sister left home when she was young and went to the continent. And she never came back. I miss her.”

“Looking for family….”

Looking for family on this vast continent won’t be easy.

“I hope you find her. You can leave now.”

I reached out and patted Meruru’s head.

There was only finishing the cleaning left on the Arkbariho, so I could do it alone.

“Thank you for the clothes and meat. Oh, I’m not thankful for the cleaning.”

“Okay, okay.”

“You asked for my name. I still don’t know your name.”

“Yunoa, you can just call me Noah.”

Meruru glanced at me for a moment, then left the Arkbariho wearing the robe I gave her.

* * *

“He was an interesting fellow.”

After seeing off Meruru, I finished cleaning the Arkbariho perfectly on my own.

I was basking in the sunlight pouring down on the deck, looking out at the distant sea.

Since I didn’t have a penny today, I’ll have to sleep on the ship while starving.

I remembered Meruru saying she had taken the crew’s food, so I went to the kitchen. But it seemed that all the food and water had been taken off the ship during the loading work.

The sea, bathed in sunlight, sparkled with gentle waves.

The breeze, tinged with salt, brought the unique smell of the sea.

The scenery of this world was definitely more beautiful than the world I used to live in.

Not just the night sky, even the daytime scenery was healing to look at.

I’m not a hero saving the world, nor an adventurer famous on the continent.

When I first came to this world, I aimed for that kind of life without knowing any better, but what is my goal now?

If I had a little more leisure, I could have enjoyed the beautiful sights of this world a bit more.

Maybe I didn’t really want to climb thousands or tens of thousands of stairs in one step.

The narration is surprisingly quiet.

As I thought about it, it seemed like it was time for it to suddenly appear and gently scratch my heart.

But my desire to become an adventurer hasn’t changed.

The difference now is that I don’t want to be the ‘strongest in the world, a great adventurer.’

I want to travel this fascinating and beautiful world a bit more.

I want to see more diverse and interesting things.

I want to have the leisure to look around this world without worrying about making a living.

So, I want to be an adventurer.

What do you think, Narration?

Isn’t that quite impressive of me?

I waited for the voice that might come, thinking such thoughts in my head.

As expected, the narration remained silent.

“They won’t even praise me if I die.”

The sea breeze was blowing strongly.

I moved inside the ship to avoid the wind.

* * *

“Good job. Here’s the promised money.”

“Thank you.”

The next day, the captain of the Arkbariho handed me the payment for cleaning the ship as promised.

On the beach, the crew lined up, loading large boxes onto the ship.

“To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations, but you did a good job cleaning. Better than most of the cleaning crew.”

“I did my best.”

“Hahaha! Well, with that kind of determination, you’ll be recognized wherever you go.”

Laughing with a shiver-inducing smile, I checked the amount of money in the pouch I received in front of the captain.

Let’s see… Huh? It was slightly more than the money I was supposed to receive.

The captain, with widened eyes, said to me, “It’s 2 gold. You did the cleaning better than I expected. It seems like you’re having a hard time making a living, so work hard while you’re young.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

I bowed my head several times and expressed my gratitude to the captain of the Arkbari.

Captain, I’m sorry for thinking you looked like someone who would run away from a kraken just by appearance.

Indeed, judging people by their inner selves is the right thing to do, isn’t it?

It was the first time I did a proper job and received a fair reward in this world.

I must not waste it and spend it only where it is necessary.

* * *

After receiving the captain’s reward and returning to the streets of Cube, I decided to have a hearty meal first.

I had only eaten a 5-silver meat skewer, how many days did I endure?

It’s not a 24-hour famine experience, if I want to do something productive, I need to fill my stomach properly.

Even though 2 gold would be spent in a week if I saved and saved, having this money made me feel content.

I walked through the restaurant street of Cube, enjoying the food scents wafting from all directions.

This time, I plan to eat a proper meal in a real restaurant, so the menu selection has widened accordingly.

『Yuno, who was feeling good at the thought of having a proper meal after a long time, didn’t notice.

That someone was following behind her.』

Then, a voice suddenly echoed in my head.

I quickly put the money pouch I was holding deep into my pocket and looked back.

Is it a pickpocket following me? No, that can’t be.

If there’s someone trying to steal the hard-earned money, I will chase them down and not let them go, even if it costs my life.

Since the narrator said someone was following me, it must be certain.

Who on earth is it?

Could it be the tracker sent by Bishop Javiel, who found out that I escaped with the saint?

A pickpocket eyeing the money?

Or maybe a slave trader who changed his mind after seeing my miserable appearance?

With an uneasy heart, I resolved to find the person following me no matter what.