"Oi, Crazy Guy!!! Faster!"
"Aye aye, Chip!" I shouted back at the Chief, pushing the wheelbarrow full of stone toward Zaben and the others.
Yep. Another day, another pile of rocks.
Honestly? I've been working with these guys for about a month or two now. In between shifts, I've been doing "part-time" slime hunting outside town.
…
And I still haven't checked my adventurer card.
Or plate? Or whatever it is.
But who cares?
For now, money is important.
Yeah, that's the real deal here—and everywhere.
Unlike some protagonists who get summoned, reborn, transmigrated, or whatever with OP skills, OP power—
And…
OVER WOMEN!
Oops.
Well, I'll check it later when I have time. Not like it's going anywhere.
And this group? Rarely hangs out anymore. Everyone has a woman for themselves.
…
And me?
I'm still sleeping in the stable.
Duhh.
"Oi, Shitman! More stone here!" Ahlem shouted.
I clicked my tongue and grabbed another pile. "Coming right up!"
Seriously, do these guys think this is a restaurant?!
Just shouting orders like I'm serving food?!
Damn these guys.
…Well, that's all in my thoughts. If Chief heard me mumbling complaints, he'd yell at me on the spot.
Nothing interesting to tell you guys, seriously.
Apart from getting free food from the Chief, earning a daily salary, going to the bath, drinking ale, getting drunk, sleeping in the stable, and killing slimes…
Yeah. That's my life.
This is reality.
I'm not some hero meant to save this world.
And according to the people here? The demons and humans aren't even at war.
The hell?!
Sure, there have been minor skirmishes, but it's not serious. Just some noble from the human side trying to show off against some noble from the demon side.
And guess what? They're not even fighting for land, power, or honor. They just want to flaunt their army.
Because, apparently, nobles here all have personal armies.
And the worst part? Some of them fight over a woman!
Duhhh!
Damn!
"HUGYAAARRHHH!!!"
Pain! PAIN!
I hopped on one foot, clutching the other as the heavy stone rolled off my toes.
"Hahahaha! Look at Crazy Guy!"
I turned to see Zaben and the others dying of laughter.
"The stone dropped on his foot! Bwahahahaha!"
"Pfffft! A true legendary adventurer, defeated by a rock!"
"Damn! Not even a monster, just a damn STONE! Bwahaha!"
I gritted my teeth, holding back my curses.
Damn these bastards!
This world is against me. Even the rocks.
Evening came, and it was time to receive our salaries.
The crew lined up in front of the Chief, who stood there with a small pouch, handing out our hard-earned copper.
"Here, Crazy Guy."
"Thanks, Chief!" I grinned as I caught the 50 copper coins, quickly counting them before slipping them into my pouch.
Ahh… my lifeline. My survival fund. My precious beer money.
As I admired my pathetic fortune, the Chief suddenly spoke up.
"Oh, by the way, our job here is finished. So, thanks to everyone who kept working hard on these walls."
"WOOOO!!!"
The crew cheered, clapping and laughing, some already talking about how they'd spend their pay.
"About damn time! Finally, a break!"
"Drinks on me tonight, boys!"
"Gotta go home early. Wife's been nagging me for weeks."
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement.
But me? I stood there, staring blankly.
Wait. Wait. WAIT.
"EHHHHHHH?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE JOB'S FINISHED?!"
The celebration screeched to a halt as everyone turned to look at me.
Zaben blinked. "What do you mean, Crazy Guy?"
I gestured wildly at the half-built wall. "Where do I go work after this?!"
Zaben shrugged like it was no big deal. "I don't know, kid. Better find it yourself."
I froze.
The realization hit me like a flying brick.
No work = No money.
No money = No food, no drinks, no stable to sleep in.
No stable = No roof over my head.
…
Haaaa…
This… is BAD.
"Crap! Crap crap crap!"
I buried my face in my hands, my brain spiraling into panic mode.
"What now, Crazy Guy?"
We were at our usual eating place, surrounded by the smell of grilled meat and cheap ale. But I couldn't enjoy any of it because my mind was too busy screaming about my future.
"Damn! If I don't have a job, what the hell am I gonna eat tomorrow?!"
Zaben raised an eyebrow. "Huh? You still have the money you've been saving, right?"
"Yeah, but what happens when it's all gone? What then?!"
Zaben paused, thinking. "Errr… I don't know, Crazy Guy."
"Shit!"
This was BAD. No work = No food. No drink. No nothing.
Zaben sighed and patted my back. "Hey, relax, man. How about a drink first? The first one's on me."
I blinked. "…For real?"
He grinned. "Yeah. But just the first one."
…
Well, it's a start.
I took a big gulp of ale, the cool bitterness washing away my stress. With each bite of grilled meat, my worries felt lighter.
Eh… screw it. Tomorrow's problems can wait.
Ehehehe. I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms.
"For now, let's enjoy tonight!"
I took another sip and turned to the guys. "By the way, since the job's done, where are you all heading after this?"
One of them shrugged. "Hmm? Me? I'm going back to my hometown."
Another laughed. "I'll be farming again."
The third grinned. "Ah, me? Probably helping my dad run his store."
I almost spat out my drink. "Huh?! You all have good lives, yet you chose to work as wall repairmen?! Damn!"
They all laughed.
"Well, the Chief is our uncle. Our parents asked us to help him out."
…
"EHHHHH!?! FOR REAL?!"
"Yeah! We're all from the same hometown."
One of them nudged another guy, grinning. "But this one's got a wife!"
The guy chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. She's a bit jealous, so she follows me wherever I go."
"Wait… so you actually have a home in your hometown, but she still follows you?"
He sighed. "Yup. It's not like I don't have a house, but, you know… wives."
The table erupted in laughter.
And me? I just sat there, realizing once again—
I'm the only single idiot here.
…
Damn normies.
"Let's toast!"
"Yeah!"
Mugs clanked together as everyone raised their drinks.
I lazily lifted mine. "Yes, yes, toast, toast… whatever."
I gulped down another sip of ale, wiping my mouth with my sleeve.
"Man, this is the life. Good food, good drinks—who needs a job, right?"
Zaben smirked. "Says the guy who was panicking five minutes ago."
Tch. Damn him for having a good memory.
Zaben watched Hazuki down another drink, shaking his head. This guy really lives in the moment, huh? A few hours ago, he was freaking out about having no job, and now he was laughing like he had won the lottery.
Still, there was something… oddly entertaining about watching Hazuki's rollercoaster of emotions.
"Oi, Zaben! You spacing out or something? You look like you're thinking too hard. Dangerous for a guy like you."
( End of Chapter )