Chereads / Jikirukuto: Takoyuki Arc / Chapter 8 - Yuki, a smelly and disheveled adventurer, navigates the market with humor and wealth, overcoming social awkwardness to satisfy her hunger

Chapter 8 - Yuki, a smelly and disheveled adventurer, navigates the market with humor and wealth, overcoming social awkwardness to satisfy her hunger

Have you ever walked out of a dungeon looking like you lost a fight with a goblin and got dunked in swamp water? Smelling like rotten fish left out in the sun? Well, I have. This is your guide to surviving those moments when you're rich in treasure but poor in hygiene.

Imagine this: forty days underground. No sunlight. No fresh air. Forget showers. Just me, my filthy sword, and a smell so bad it could peel paint off walls. When I finally stepped outside, I looked like I'd been spit out by the earth itself—covered head to toe in grime, my hair a tangled mess, and squinting into the sunlight like a horror movie monster climbing out of a grave.

The smell? Let me explain. You know surströmming, that famously stinky fermented fish? Take that, multiply it by ten, add damp dirt, goblin sweat, and a hint of mold, and you've got me: a walking stink bomb.

But hey, my stomach was growling, and I had a heavy pouch full of shiny platinum coins—the reward for surviving my dungeon nightmare. My first stop? The glorious Takoyaki stall. The smell of grilled octopus and sweet sauce was like a miracle, cutting through my personal stench cloud.

Holding up my gleaming coins like a trophy, I shouted, "Hey, I've got the money! Feed me!" People in the market recoiled as I passed, staring at me like I was a sewer monster waving gold.

The vendor? He froze. Imagine running a food stall, minding your business, when someone who smells like a trash heap appears, holding shiny coins. You wouldn't think, "What a great customer!", right? You'd think, "What is that thing, and is it contagious?"

"Look," I said, forcing a smile, "I know I look like garbage, but these coins are real. I just need food before I pass out."

After a nervous pause, the vendor chuckled, relaxing just a bit. "Alright, looks like you've had a rough time. Give me a second."

And finally, victory: Takoyaki. I took a bite, steam rising from the hot, delicious octopus balls, and for one brief moment, life was good—despite my horrifying smell.

What did I learn?

1. How you look matters: Even mountains of gold can't cover up a legendary stink.

2. First impressions are important: You may be a hero, but smelling like a goblin won't win you any fans.

3. Laugh at yourself: Sometimes, a little humor can save you from complete embarrassment.

So next time you crawl out of a dungeon looking and smelling like you've lost a fight with the underworld itself, remember this: treasure is great, but a bath might be worth even more.