The dull hum of conversation mixed with raucous laughter echoed out as I crossed the dimly lit room, halting right between Mana and the table of soldiers. The stench of cheap ale and unwashed bodies hung heavy in the air. I could feel her sharp eyes on me before I even spoke.
"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice calm but firm, cutting through the noise. After the initial rush to stop her, I somehow managed to calm down, organizing my thoughts as I awaited her response.
She frowned, her lips pressing into a tight line.
"Get out of my way, Kayle," she replied sharply, irritation evident in her tone.
Looking back into my memories, I knew Mana wasn't one to waste words, nor did she often allow anyone to question her decisions. In many ways, she was the complete opposite of her sister.
I stayed put, ignoring her attempt to brush me off. "Not until you tell me what you're planning." My gaze shifted briefly toward the soldiers. "I hope you're not seriously considering them as your patrons for tonight."
Her silence spoke volumes. For a moment, her mask of composure faltered, a fleeting hesitation crossing her face. She knew, just as well as I did, what would happen if she approached that table.
"Look," I said, keeping my voice steady, "I saw what they did to you last time. This morning, you could barely stand without Nana's help. And now you want to go for round two?"
Her posture stiffened. I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear. "Do you have any idea what will happen if you push yourself again? If you get hurt again in your current condition?"
Mana went silent at my questioning. She knew the rules as well as I did. Injuries didn't excuse us from work. If anything, they made things worse. David, our overseer, wouldn't hesitate to cut her portion for the night if she couldn't perform. For Mana, that meant not just going hungry herself but also worrying her sister, Nana.
If she were to get hurt again here and end up bedridden, it would be the end of the line for her.
Finally, after a few moments of silence, she spoke, her voice quiet but resolute. "I don't want to starve, Kayle."
Her words carried a weight that caused me to pause, as a soft sigh escaped my lips. I could see it in her eyes—she wasn't backing down.
Just as she tried to step around me, I made one last attempt. "If you didn't have to starve, would you stop pushing yourself?"
She paused mid-step, her head tilting slightly as she looked at me, confused.
"My meal," I offered, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. "I'll give you my meal tonight. Just leave them alone. Let Lena and the others handle it."
She stared at me, stunned, her disbelief clear. Her expression softened briefly before a frown returned, bringing the same distrust she showed most people.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of suspicion.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Because if I don't, you'll end up wrecking yourself. And at this rate, forget taking care of Nana—you'll be the one who needs looking after. Nana and I already have enough on our plate as is and don't need the extra burden of having to take care of you." My tone was cold, but it was the truth.
She hesitated for a moment before letting out a resigned sigh.
"Fine," she said, at last, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Good," I replied, stepping aside. "Now head back and help clean up the last few tables. And try to keep Hannah away from the soldiers too. She wasn't doing too well either, but at least she's already got a regular for the night."
As I spoke, I realized that at some point I had already started ordering Mana around. 'Crap, I hope she doesn't get upset by some younger kid ordering her around...'
Despite my expectations, she didn't berate me or display any visible emotions. Instead, she merely gave me a strange look before turning to leave.
"Alright," she said softly, her voice barely audible, as she walked away.
'Thank God that ended well...' I sighed in relief and got moving again, picking up the tray of dirty dishes I had set down earlier in my bid to intercept Mana. I carried it back to the kitchen, thinking the matter was resolved.
What I didn't realize at the time was that our brief interaction had been observed.
From the balcony above, a tall figure leaned casually over the railing, a predatory smile playing on his lips as if he'd just stumbled upon something amusing. His snake tattoo coiled menacingly, slithering up his neck to his chin.
....
The rest of the night passed in a blur of noise and exhaustion. The soldiers, predictably, drank themselves into oblivion, their faces flushed and their movements sluggish.
Lena, Yana, and Kana bore the brunt of their attention, each employing their own methods to survive the night with minimal damage. They had learned to coax the men into drinking more, dulling their senses and ensuring their energy fizzled out before things could get rough.
I caught sight of Mana later, quietly clearing a table in the corner. Her movements were slow and deliberate, as though each action required incredible effort.
'You were this injured and still wanted to walk into the fire? Idiot,' I thought, my stomach wincing in pain.
The thought of going hungry tonight made me feel a little down, but it wouldn't be the first time. I'd survive.
Around midnight, the soldiers finally left in a stumbling mess. Most could barely walk, while a few had to be hauled out on the shoulders of their comrades. A senior officer had arrived at some point to collect them, and together they disappeared into the night streets.
Back in the tavern, everyone gathered around, waiting for David to come downstairs. Typically, we didn't get our meals until after he finished checking the accounts.
Glancing to the side, I noticed most of the girls were already exhausted. Lena did her best to keep smiling as she spoke to everyone, but even her beautiful face looked haggard.
Creak.
The sound of footsteps echoed as David's thin figure descended the creaking staircase, Dale following close behind with his usual casual smile.
When David reached the bottom, he cleared his throat and began announcing the results for the night.
"Lena served a total of six men tonight. You can collect your meal from the kitchen."
Lena nodded at his announcement, offering everyone a tired smile before heading toward the kitchen. Hearing her score, I couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
'As expected of Big Sis.'
"Yana served a total of four men tonight. You can collect your meal from the kitchen."
Next was Yana. She left without looking back, her expression as cold and impassive as ever. Honestly, it was a mystery to me how men found her attractive. Sure, I understood the appeal of an ice queen, but with Yana, it felt different, almost like disgust but not quite.
"Kana served a total of three men tonight, and Hannah served one. Both of you can also collect your meals from the kitchen."
"Ugh, finally," Kana groaned, standing up and stretching before heading off. Hannah followed quietly behind her.
"Nana performed her duties as expected. You can collect your meal," David announced. Nana didn't leave immediately, instead waiting for Mana and me to get our evaluations.
As I awaited my turn, I noticed Dale's smirk. A bad feeling started to churn in my gut.
"Mana served zero men tonight. No meals will be given."
The verdict wasn't unexpected, but it still stung. Mana let out a sigh, the weight of the announcement evident on her face. Then, she turned and glanced at me.
I made a small gesture with my hand, reassuring her that our deal was still on. After seeing it, she nodded subtly and left to meet up with Nana.
"Kayle," As the two of them were walking away, David finally turned to me, his tone noticeably sharper.
Just from the way he called me, I could tell that something was off, the gut feeling only intensifying when I saw the smirk on Dale's face.
"Tonight, not only did you not perform up to standard, but you also got in the way of another coworker's business. As punishment, you'll receive no meals tonight." David said emotionlessly.