After a long and hard-for-arms cleaning session, the chore boys and girls were finally relieved from their duties.
After taking a final stroke with my trusty floor scrubbing brush, I tossed it away and kicked the half-empty bucket over.
''Fuck cleaning!'' I let out a scream of frustration. Then, I saw chore boys and girls walking past my rooms with equally exhausted looks.
I wondered whether they would feel as excited about cleaning in the future. I definitely would be even more annoyed and might as well just jump overboard.
I followed after them, left the indoors, and met a middle-aged woman dressed in the usual Marine getup. Her black hair was styled as a ponytail, while her lips were dyed in bright red lipstick, I assumed.
''I am Petty Officer Lotus. Please follow me.'' She said and walked out of the ship. There was a smooth flight of stairs that led to the wooden harbor.
The chore boys and girls followed after her. I took another glance at the ship and quickly followed after them.
After we left the harbor, we continued strolling in the streets. The path that guided us went past the crowded restaurants and entered a peaceful part of the City.
There weren't any cars or vehicles; instead, everyone moved with their two feet. I tapped my chin and pondered whether this place even had vehicles.
Some things I saw looked rather odd and old. Definitely far from something modern. However, the buildings resembled modern buildings quite a bit.
Lotus suddenly crossed the street, and we followed in a singular line. For some reason, chore boys and girls marched like proper soldiers while I walked casually with hands in my pockets.
Soon, we all stopped in front of a two-floor building that was built apparently from wood but was painted in color white.
The windows were round-shaped and were placed nicely to allow light to enter the building.
The building was somewhat separated into two parts. However, it was connected by one hallway, and that was surrounded by large square-shaped windows.
Two doors led to the hallway. The first was the front door, and the second was the back door that took to a beautiful-looking garden.
The garden had a beautiful flower bed that was obviously taken good care of. In the middle of the garden was a stone fountain with clear blue water. Then, there were a few flower patches and strands of grass.
''This is your residence.'' Lotus said and pointed at the right-sided building, ''This one is for the girls. The boys aren't allowed to enter there, or there will be dire punishment.''
The chore boys nodded vigorously while the girls looked curiously at their new residence.
Then, she pointed at the left-sided building and said, ''This one is for boys. The girls aren't allowed to enter there, or there will be dire punishment.''
This time, the girls nodded while the boys tried to peek inside the building through the windows.
''Girls, you may enter,'' Lotus said and opened the front door. The girls entered with a single line and turned right after stepping inside the hallway.
Soon, they had entered their building and met with another black-haired lady that took them to their rooms.
Then, Lotus entered the hallway, followed by us. She took us inside the building and walked up the stairs.
After entering the second floor, there were several doors, but there was one that was the biggest out of them all. That was precisely the door to our room.
After she opened the door, we saw a large room with over a dozen beds. There was a small chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and small square-shaped windows barely let in light to the room.
I followed after the chore boys and entered our new residence. While they looked excited, I wasn't. The room was rather crude than what I was used to. But I didn't complain and secured the closest bed to the door.
After everyone had reserved their own beds and put their bags down, Lotus said, ''This is where you will sleep and mingle with your fellow chore boys.''
''The bathroom is outside this room, the first door on the left. If you want to leave the residence, tell me. I am always situated in the first floor's office.''
After seeing everyone nodding, Lotus left the room while closing the doors behind her.
The chore boys began unpacking their stuff and squeezed most of their things into cabinets and clothing containers.
Since I didn't have any stuff, I lay down on the bed and watched the light dancing around the ceiling.
However, a chore boy that reserved a bed next to me asked, ''D-Do you not have any stuff?''
I turned my head toward him and saw his shy look. He seemed rather anxious about talking to a stranger. He had short brown hair and a very average face. His body wasn't athletic or fat.
Overall, he was ordinary youth.
''No,'' I answered truthfully.
''O-Oh.'' The chore boy nodded and gulped before continuing, ''M-My name is Peter… What is yours?''
''Liam,'' I answered while placing my hands behind my head. The sound of clothes being crammed into small containers entered my ears and the groans of the young boys.
At first glance, many were around the age of 10-15, while I was 19. The age difference was quite huge, and I wondered how I even arrived at my current position.
Peter nodded and concentrated on the unpacking.
'Ah right… Do I have interface…' I pondered and decided to try.
''Interface…'' I decreased the volume of my tone by a lot.
Soon, out of nowhere, a holographic screen with a light blue glow appeared in front of him.
When I touched it, it felt solid and cold. Like I was handling a window. But, when I tried to knock on it, there wasn't any sound.
…
[Name: Liam Ward]
[Level: 1]
[HP: 100/100]
[XP: 0/100]
[SP: 100]
[Credits: 0]
[Title: None]
[Class: None]
[STR: 0]
[AGI: 0]
[VIT: 0]
[STA: 0]
[CHA: 0]
[DEX: 0]
[HAK: —]
[DF: —]
[Map]
[Inventory]
[Log Out]
…
''Cool…'' I said and saw the 100 SP. I knew instantly what it stands for.
Stat Points.
'Now… Where would I assign them…'