I slowly awoke to a room that was barren of light and furniture. The darkness of the sky that I can see out of the small window told me that it is still very early in the morning. It was a time where any normal person would still be asleep. The chill of winter had come and gone and now the gentle cool air of late spring was here. I rubbed my eyes to wipe away the exhaustion that remained from my slumber.
I stood up and got out of bed. I began to stretch my limbs in order to loosen my stiff joints in preparation for another day of work. I have done this action so many times that it has become automatic. I could probably do this ceremony of preparation in my sleep if I felt like it. Nevertheless, I still got up and prepared for my big day that was still ahead of me.
I had finished limbering my body up and removed any lingering sleep I still had remaining. I dressed myself in some thin clothes. A lightweight faded blue shirt, a pair of thin trousers, and my leather boots. I knew the day ahead would be hot, so I ensured that I would sweat as little as possible.
After I finished getting dressed I went to the toilet to relieve myself. As gross as the sewer slime in the toilet was, I had grown accustomed to its noises and understood that the symbiotic relationship was beneficial for us people living in large urban centers… though it's still gross.
Once I had finished my business, I went up to the sink. As I turned the faucet on, I took a long look at myself in the mirror.
The Kenji Fujima from seven months ago was only a memory at this point. My skin is now slightly tanned due to my exposure to the sun more in my day to day life. My hair is slightly longer now since I can no longer get it cut by a professional. I have instead opted to cut it on my own. I'm not entirely certain, but I think that I've also grown two centimeters. The most important shift, however, is that I am no longer overweight. In the time that I have been here, I have transformed my previously overweight body into a muscular build. Hours of standing every day, daily muscle training that became more intense as time went on, and a lack of junk food had resulted in this drastic change. If I had to estimate how much I weighed now, I would say that I now weigh somewhere around eighty six kg.
To be entirely honest, I feel like I'm looking at a stranger. It's not as if this change has been to my detriment, however. The changes that I have experienced thanks to this body shift have improved me drastically.
I feel better than I ever have before. My breathing is strong, my limbs feel light and fast, and I feel energized when I would have been exhausted before. This change has been gradual so I haven't entirely noticed the subtle shifts, but looking back now, the change is all too apparent.
I held my hand upwards and clenched my fist and released it. I did this motion a few times before putting my hand back down. I don't know why I did this motion, but it felt like the right thing to do.
After a moment, I collected myself and finished washing my hands. I took one last look at the new me and then opened the door to leave the restroom.
"Have a good day, Slime-san." I said into the restroom when I was leaving. I ensured this was quiet as I didn't want to wake Ania-sama before I had prepared breakfast.
I made my way to the pantry and assessed the contents of the interior.
"Hmm, let's see…" I muttered as I scratched at my chin.
In front of me there are a wide variety of different foodstuffs. This single stockpile could feed a family of four for at least a week before a shopping trip would need to be made, so for just two people it was overkill.
"Perhaps eggs with a plumric sauce…?" I asked aloud as I lifted the ingredients. "No… that would be too rich and would overwhelm the flavor." I shook my head as I placed them back down.
I have to ensure the food I am making is good. I have spent a long time perfecting my cooking craft and Ania-sama is very picky with the specific tastes and textures of the foods she eats. I cannot haughtily grab any random item and expect it to be good. My preparations must be meticulous and intelligent.
"Perhaps some meat with a boiled tumun and some peppers to add spice to the mix…?" I tilted my head from side to side as I spoke aloud.
I deliberated the choice of breakfast for several minutes before finally coming to my conclusion. Once I had chosen, I grabbed several items from the pantry and went to the kitchen. I filled pans and pots with water and ingredients of many types as well as spices in preparation for the meal that would be made.
Once all the items necessary for the cooking of breakfast had been prepared, I put my thumb on the symbol of the stovetop in order to ignite the flames and begin cooking. I have done this so many times that I no longer feel the drain of mana when I do this action. I cannot tell if I lack the feeling due to a rise in mana within myself or because I have simply grown blind to the sensation of the loss of such an amount. No matter what the reason may be, a multitude of small fires ignited beneath the assortment of pots and pans.
"Alright and a little there… and a little there… and a stir… and a bing and a boom!" I chanted this to myself as I cooked the various parts that would encompass the breakfast.
After around fifteen minutes I assessed the state of the ingredients.
"...Perfect." I took a deep wiff as I smelt the deliciousness.
Over the course of these seven months I have tested and studied all types of recipes and combinations of food from different cookbooks as well as my own inventions. Not every recipe worked well and I specifically recall going to bed hungry on more than one occasion, but now I would say that my ability is considerably better than a normal person. I am still far away from a professional chef, but I know that I can now handle cooking breakfast for someone like myself and Ania-sama.
I placed my creation onto two separate plates and placed them onto the dining room table. Once every step that I needed to take had been done, I went to Ania-sama's room and knocked on her door.
"Ania-sama, breakfast is ready." I announced as gently as I could.
I could hear the grumbling noise of someone being roused from slumber as a tired reply came to me.
"Alright... Give me a moment." A groggy murmur answered.
I complied with Ania-sama's request and took a seat in the dining room and thought about what I would be doing today. Today was an important day after all.
After several minutes, Ania-sama entered the dining room and took a seat. I placed my hands in prayer and we began in unison.
"We thank the creators for the bounty we will receive this day. We thank the creators for allowing us to overcome our faults. We thank the creators for giving us the patience to work with those that we are surrounded by on a daily basis. Amen." Our voices echoed in harmony as we repeated the prayer we had done many times before.
Once we had finished our prayer, we began to eat our food.
Ania-sama swished the food around in her mouth, mulling over the flavor before finally swallowing. "Good work today, boy."
"Thank you, Ania-sama." I bowed. "I hoped to achieve a light texture with the mixture of plumric and ham, but I wasn't sure if that would be enough so I mixed a small amount of apple juice into it to ensure that it would soften correctly as well as to enhance the flavor."
"Mmm." She didn't seem to pay attention, but I didn't say anything about it.
With this, we continued eating in silence. After a short period we had both finished our food so I took the plates to the sink and began washing them.
"What's got you so excited, boy?" Ania looked towards me suspiciously as she took sips of water.
I sighed and smiled. "As expected of you, Ania-sama. Your astute perception is as good as ever."
"Enough with the flattery boy, just tell me."
I stopped cleaning the dishes and turned towards Ania. "I am quitting my job at Biar-san's store today. Tomorrow I am going to become an adventurer."
Ania-sama spit out her water.
"WHAT?" She began to choke. "You're going-" She gasped. "-to do what now boy? Are you serious?"
After wiping off Ania-sama with a washcloth, I replied to her.
"I'm sorry if this is a shock to you, Ania-sama, but I have been preparing for this for quite some time. I have a duty I need to fulfill and I don't intend on sitting idly by as time passes me."
She slapped the back of my head. "Boy have you gone insane? You've been working with those people for quite a while now! To just quit your job out of the blue like that… You're being downright ungrateful for everything those two have done for you! They depend on you working there to get things done! How are they going to manage without you?"
"I am not quitting out of the blue, Ania-sama. I have ensured that the necessary steps have been taken as to where my absence would not cause issues in the store."
After pausing for a moment, Ania-sama looked towards me. "How can you be so certain...?"
"I can be certain due to the intricate preparations I have made for this day. I have been planning this since I got here after all, Ania-sama."
"For seven months? How can you expect me to believe that?" She slammed her glass on the table as she shouted.
"Yes, Ania-sama. I have been planning for this ever since I moved in here with you. I apologize for the shock, but it is all true. Today is the culmination of a lot of planning."
I can understand why Ania-sama would be so taken aback at this. To her, this must simply be the inconsiderate and hasty actions of a child, but that is not what these are. My actions stem from one absolute rule.
I must defeat the Demon King. This fact has been ingrained into me for these past seven months, ever since I was sent to this world. Though I didn't get along with God, I still owe him my service for even offering me this opportunity in the first place. It's not that I feel a specific sense of duty towards God, it's just that I don't like the idea of being sent to this world and not even attempting to do what I was assigned to do.
Ania-sama looks very uncomfortable. It seems as if she is in deep thought about this predicament. Truthfully I am worried about what she is thinking about. It's entirely possible that she had already planned for me to do this at some point and so now she is going to enact her secret plan.
Ania-sama slowly removed her hand from her chin as she looked to me. "If you quit your job, I will throw you out."
She has delivered an ultimatum. Unfortunately for her...
"I expected you to. I have already made the necessary preparations to move. I have plenty of juns saved up over the time I've spent here thanks to you paying for the expenses such as food. I am grateful for all you have done for me, Ania-sama."
I had already prepared for this ultimatum. Logically speaking, Reese-san had more than likely asked a favor of Ania-sama in the way of allowing me to stay with her, and even then it's not as if Ania-sama was particularly happy about my presence here. I have diligently paid Ania-sama the forty juns that I owed every time I was paid, I even continued to do so when she stopped asking for them. Along with the weekly payments, I also cook breakfast, and more recently dinner, every day. Following a line of logic, Ania-sama has no reason to keep me living here if I am no longer working for Reese-san and Biar-san.
Financially speaking, I have enough money to enable me to live on my own for a month without any issues at this point. Thanks to my frugality with my spending these past few months combined with interest rates on my account in the bank, I currently am sitting on a stockpile of 12220 juns with an additional 400 on the way once I am paid today. This amount, while not enough to survive off of indefinitely, is still more than enough to pay for my equipment and housing for at least a month. As an adventurer, I will be capable of making money quickly if I am lucky, so this cushion should protect me for the foreseeable future.
"Is there really nothing I can do to stop you? No castigation or phrases that would make you reconsider?" Ania-sama whispered.
"I'm sorry, Ania-sama, but there really isn't. If you so choose, I will move out before the night ends."
Ania-sama's face held an expression of something I have never seen before. Ania-sama looked depressed. I feel bad making an old woman sad, but unfortunately this is a duty that I will not throw away. One could call this the pride of a man and they would be correct.
After a few moments, Ania-sama took a deep breath and exhaled calmly. "I understand that I cannot stop you, and if I'm going to be entirely honest with you I expected this to happen at some point. I won't throw you out on the street tonight. Come back here once you leave your work."
I gave a genuine smile for the first time in months as I made my declaration to Ania-sama.
"Understood, Ania-sama. I will return once work is done!"
"Hmph. Don't get arrested." She lazily waved off to me.
"I promise I won't, Ania-sama!" I waved back as I opened the door.
With that, I stepped out of Ania-sama's home and out onto the stone streets. The bite of cold wind struck me as I began to take a step towards the general store that I have been working at for these past 7 months.
"Am I… really ready?" I asked myself.
Surely I am ready. I have honed my body to this point for such a purpose. I don't see why I would not physically be ready.
"Am I… mentally ready?" I asked myself.
Whenever I had the opportunity I would study books or ask people at the shop about things about this world. I have learned many things about the basics of this world, from well known diseases to general information on plants or herbs, even ones that can be applied medicinally or can be eaten. Mentally, I have honed my mind for my mission as well as I possibly can.
"What about my finances?" I pondered.
Every time I was paid the four hundred juns, I would give fourty to Ania-sama. The remaining three hundred and sixty juns would immediately be placed into my bank account where it would accumulate an interest rate of point zero five percent on a monthly basis. Thanks to the fact that I never had to pay for housing or food, I could focus my spending on things like clothes and books. Clothes were never particularly expensive, nor were books, so I could get by every month by only spending between one hundred to two hundred juns a month. I did buy Ania-sama a gift for Christmas, but that was more of a formality than anything else so I didn't spend a bunch of money on it. I don't feel bad about this since when I asked for a gift she scoffed at me and said "You living here is plenty a gift, boy."
So… why am I still nervous?
Logically speaking, I have handled everything I need to worry about. I have learned enough about the steps I need to take and now I just need to follow through. Giving up now would be just like a pitcher going up to the mound and leaving because they weren't feeling up to it. Is this just some childish reservation about leaving home that I am still holding on to, or is it something more? Maybe it's because I am doing this alone and this is a similar feeling as to what I felt seven months ago. Unlike seven months ago, however, I have placed myself in a far better position. My hard work after all this time is about to pay off.
So why am I freaking out now? Is it just fear? Every step towards the store is hard to make. I can feel a chill in my body that isn't being caused by the wind, but instead is being caused by my own nerves.
I'm about to wrap the corner to the store. I can't stop now. I've already made up my mind. Come on Kenji Fujima, no giving up now! You're stronger than this!
With that mental preparation, I slapped my face a few times with both hands and rounded the corner. Standing outside of the front door of the shop just as he had every day since I first started this job was Biar-san in his loose shirt, baggy pants, and leather boots. As always, he is fumbling with his keys and searching for the one for the door in front of him.
I took a deep breath, psyched myself up for my final day of work, and called out to him as I always have.
"Good morning, Biar-san!" I shouted as I ran up to him.
"Ah, Kenji-kun! Good morning! It's Sunday so we don't have much work today! Let's get our jobs done as quickly as possible, shall we?" He flashed me a toothy grin.
"Yes sir!" I smiled back.
With that, Biar-san found his key and unlocked the door with a clack noise. My final day of work at this shop began in the same way it has since I started.