100 - - Episode 98 Sarah's Holidays

"Is it a holiday?"

Three days have passed since I first dived into the labyrinth. I returned to the inn as usual, finished my meal, and was relaxing when suddenly the master announced that tomorrow would be a holiday.

"Yes, I've been working hard every day. But I've been working a little too hard, so I'll take tomorrow off. I'm sorry for making you work too hard.

The master apologized to me, looking a little offended. I can eat a full meal ...... every day, and I'm not tired because I'm at a higher level, but do I really need a break?

The master is apologizing not only to me but also to Marco and Kikka. It is true that Kikka is still small and it would be better for her to have a rest.

"Tomorrow Sara and the others can spend the day as they please. But the adventurers know that you are my apprentice and you might get into trouble. If you want to go out, please let me know and I'll ask Sylphy to go with you."

Mr. Sylphy is a great spirit of the wind who has a contract with the master. She is a floating spirit, which is said to be the weakest spirit in the world. I can't even imagine the power of the great spirit Sylphy-san.

The Fire Dragon, whose legs trembled at the mere sight of a corpse, was easily defeated by Sylphy. I think Master is surprisingly overprotective.

"Um... Do you mean we can go out freely in the labyrinth city?

"Yes. It's important to rest your body, but it's also good to get out and change your mind. Sara told me before that the people in the slum gave her a bad impression, but I don't have to worry because I have Sylphie here. Just relax and enjoy yourself."

We enjoyed our walk through the labyrinthine city ...... slum kids have a bad reputation, so we hid as much as possible to avoid detection, but does that mean we don't have to?

I was able to survive because there were kind people like Martha and Tork at the inn who shared their food with me, but most of them were wary of me when they found out I was a slum kid. It's a dream come true to be able to walk around freely. ...... Is it a dream?

"Sarah?"

"I'm sorry, Master. I was just thinking."

"Yes. Well, I'll tell you what, you have a lot of fun tomorrow. Here's your allowance.

The master then gave each of us 30,000 elt. When we said it was too much, he told us it was better to have some than not enough, and that he would keep the rest for us if we had more.

I think it's too much, but it's easy to think that I can return it if I have more. Master lightly patted us on the head and left the room.

"Sara. Tomorrow is your day off. What am I supposed to do on my day off?"

"It's your day off, so you can do whatever you want. Marco and Kikka, is there anything you want to do?"

"Ummm. I'm not allowed to go to the maze, am I?"

"I don't think so, since we're taking a break from the labyrinth."

"Of course. Then I don't know what to do. Is there something you want to do, Kikka?"

"I don't know."

"I see. So you don't know either. What a thing to be.

Marco growls in thought. I don't think I ever had a day off because I was always learning things when I was at peace. What should I do?

"Fuk-chan, what am I supposed to do?"

I keep worrying and can't help but ask Fukuchan. It is not a question that can be answered with a "yes" or "no," and Fukuchan is flying around my head in circles as if she is in trouble.

Master says that Huku-chan is a small cute owl. I would like to see it with my own eyes, but I am very sorry that I cannot see it myself.

"I'm sorry, Huku-chan. I was a little hesitant to ask you such a difficult question. Tomorrow is my day off, so I don't know what to do."

When I apologized, she moved gently closer to my cheek and moved up and down. Master told me that he was rubbing my cheek.

"Thank you, Huku-chan.

I don't know if I am communicating with the spirits as well as the master says, but I am happy to be with Huku-chan.

I think about many things while communicating with Huku for a while, but nothing ...... comes to mind. While I was thinking, my clothes were pulled off. Kikka is looking at me. I wonder if she came up with something.

"Kikka, what did you come up with?"

"Yeah. You know, sis Sarah. Kikka, I want to see my uncle."

"Uncle?"

"Yeah. Uncle Onuki.

Uncle Meat is the guy who runs a food stall near the slums. He was a kind man who would sometimes share his unsold skewers with us, which was a great treat for us.

"The meat guy, huh? I miss him too. He promised to buy some when he grows up, Sara. Let's go to the meat guy's and buy some."

"Great. Let's go to the people who have helped us besides Uncle Meat. Let's go and thank them.

Let's buy a lot. Yeah, a lot.

Marco and Kikka are happily fussing. I didn't think this would happen when I first met Master. I was worried about Marco and Kikka following a suspicious person, so I decided to go with them, but I think I made the right choice.

The uncle who helped me couldn't come back from the labyrinth, and the money he kept for me was gone. Even after I managed to find a place in the slum, I was still struggling to survive, but maybe we can all be happy together from now on if we just hang in there.

"Hmm. Marco. Kikka. I'm looking forward to tomorrow!"

"Yeah!" I'm looking forward to it!"

I close my eyes, grateful for the happiness of sleeping in a warm bed with a full belly. I wish you a happy day tomorrow.

**

"Master. Master. I'm off.

Have a good day. Be careful. Remember the signal we agreed on with Sylphy?　You don't have to worry about Sylphy during normal times, but you must obey him when he gives you the signal. Good."

"Yes. I'll remember your signals.

"I see. Then have fun."

"Yes, sir."

We bow to the master who came all the way outside the inn to see us off, and walk through the labyrinthine city, a little nervous. I am a little nervous about walking alone on the main street, even though I always follow Master on this path.

"Sara, sis. Is the old man with the meat here?"

"I think so. I'm sure they sell breakfast to adventurers heading to the labyrinth in the morning."

"I see. Hey, sis. Let's buy lots of stuff. My daddy's rawhide kumquats are delicious. Kikka loves them.

"Yeah. I love Uncle Okuni's kushiyaki, Kikka."

"Heh. But since we're going to have lunch at Gina's sister's restaurant, let's limit ourselves to three bottles each. Master said he's going to make regular holidays from now on, so we can go to Uncle's stall as often as we want to buy some food."

"It was. I'm looking forward to eating soup at my sister Gina's place, it's delicious. Today we're going to eat at the restaurant instead of sharing the leftovers in the back, right?

"Yes. Bread, soup, and meat are included.

"Wow. Sarah, let's go, let's go, let's go!

I run after Marco and Kikka, who are excitedly starting to run. I should not be in such a hurry, since Master has been feeding me full of food lately, but I'm kind of glad that I can pay to have a meal.

**

"Oops! Give me nine kushiyaki in all."

"What's the matter, boy? In such a hurry to run an errand ......?　Are you Marco by any chance?　There's Kikka and Sarah. I didn't recognize you in your proper clothes. You haven't been here for a while. What's going on?"

"Heh heh heh. Hey, Pop. We're adventurers now. Master found us and we're having a good night."

Marco is excited and saying some crazy things.

"Hmm?　I don't understand, are you saying that you became an adventurer and earned enough money to come here to buy skewers?"

"That's right. I made a pact with the old man.

"You promised you'd come and get it when you were older. It was sooner than I expected, but I'm not complaining if I'm making money now. Nine bottles. Just give me a minute."

I wait for the skewers to be cooked, talking briefly with my uncle about what has happened so far. We couldn't tell him the details of our communication with the spirits because it was a secret, but he seemed to enjoy listening to us.

When I told him that I had become an apprentice of a genie, he was very worried about me. Master is right, the genie is not well-reputed.

"Uncle, don't worry. Master is a great man. And he feeds me every day. I'm very happy.

"Really?　Hmm. You're wearing the right clothes and you look good. I don't think he's lying because he looks like he's put on some weight, but maybe he's trying to fatten you up and sell you out. Be careful."

How is that possible?　The money the master made from selling us is probably not worth much to him. Instead of going through all that trouble, it would be more profitable for the master to dive into the labyrinth by himself.

I'm sure it'll be fine. - That's right, old man. The master is a good man.

"Is that so?　Well, he's probably not a bad guy if you guys are so wary of him, but ...... keep that "just in case" feeling in the corner of your mind. Here, it's baked.

"Yes. Nine hundred elts. Thank you very much.

Oh. Come again."

I pay the uncle and leave the stall with a wave of my hand.

"Sara, do you want to walk and eat?"

"No. No. It's not safe. Let's eat in the square. There's a place to sit down and we can buy drinks.

"Okay. Then let's hurry up because it will get cold and Kikka wants to eat quickly.

We hurried to the plaza, bought some drinks, and ate the skewers.

It's delicious.

Marco and Kikka both smile. Perhaps the food they are fed by their master tastes better, but the skewers from their meat uncle are so delicious that they feel special because they were a treat in their hard life.

I am not as hungry as I was when I was in the slum, but I finish all three skewers at once without speaking.

"Whew! They were delicious. Sara, let's go to my dad's stall again.

Yes, I do. Let's go back to my uncle's stall on our next vacation to buy some more."

""Yes.""

"Well, what shall we do now?"

I showed up at my first target, my uncle's stall. We were going to Gina's diner for lunch, so we still had quite a bit of time left.

Let's look around at all the stores. We can go to all kinds of shops and see what they have to offer.

Adopting Marco's idea, we decide to tour the previously inaccessible areas of the labyrinth city. It's a good idea, since we'll be hungry after all that walking.