Chapter 20 — Moneymaking



Thinking back on it, Eris had always been nice to me.

-For example, the time when she hired me.

Theres no helping it. That Heal was incredible Well, Ill be counting on you from now on.

When I shamelessly pleaded on my hands and knees, half out of desperation for a job and half with an ulterior motive, Eris gave in and accepted me with a kind smile despite her concerns.

-For example, the first time I sexually harassed her.

That wasnt on purpose, right? Honestly, be more careful, ok?

The first time I accidentally brushed Eris ass and she laughingly forgave me. Eris was nice then, too. That novice reaction tinged with a little shyness excited me.

-For example, the Nth time I sexually harassed her.

There wont be a next time.

Her voice was cold. But still, Eris didnt kick me out. She understood my character, and she may have sent me a death glare, but when I prostrated myself and sang her praises she eventually forgave me in the end.

Then the day before I was thrown out-

On the other side of the door that was slightly ajar as if to tempt me. The room with a tiled floor that only contained a tub and a drain certainly used to be a bathroom.

But the magic item for generating hot water had already been sold due to the debt, and the tub that wasnt designed to be heated by firewood could no longer be called a proper bath.

The splashing of water was faintly audible, coming from that place that was only good for swimming.

In my wild delusions, it was a foregone conclusion that as a man I would impulsively peep into that room.

-On the other side of that door swam the body of Eris. Indeed, it was the Garden of Eden.

You could say it was inevitable that I would throw caution to the wind, and accidentally burst in and stumble onto her chest.

Just how badly, HOW BADLY do you want me to kick you out?

Eris had veins popping out of her forehead and was looking at me with a level of rage that was unbecoming of a girl.

She only kicked me out after I had saved up enough money to get back on my feet. That probably wasnt a coincidence, either.

Master

As Im lost in thought, Yuel gazes up at me as if she has something to tell me. I already know what shes thinking. Theyve only been working together as waitresses for a short time, but Yuel has become extremely fond of Eris.

Shall we go buy back Eris hospital for her?

! Yes, Master!

After spending some time in thought, I had come up with a few methods.

The first thing I have to do is get Yuel to work at the tavern. In order to allow me to move on my own.

Yuel, were going to need some more money in order to buy Eris hospital. Id like you to go to work for a bit at that tavern thats always short-handed. Ill come pick you up in the evening.

Well then, lets get this over quickly.

Youre not getting away! Follow him! Pulling that sheet on our turf, youre gonna wish you were dead!!

Had my doubts about that confidence, but he really foockin tried it! Like hell hes getting away!

Sheet, how can he run so fast!? You guys, over there! Cut him off!

So, as a result of trying to get it over with- Im currently being chased.

In order to make money quickly, I went to a gambling house, operated by some rather unsavory gentlemen.

In this country where gambling has been outlawed, its a fairly underground business. In a gaming room on the 2nd floor of a bar on the outskirts of town, a number of people hide their faces and identities and amuse themselves by gambling or so Ive heard.

Injured slaves? I aint got any. Got a healer who treats em for me on the cheap.

You can use EX Heal? Gimme a break. Aint no way a shabby guy like you is a high-ranking priest.

-A complete disappointment. Nobody with those qualifications would ever be caught in a slave market asking around for severely injured slaves.

Apparently Yuel was an extremely rare case. The slave trade wouldnt be interested in buying people with low resale value in the first place. Probably because of the maintenance costs involved in keeping slaves.

This was a fools errand.

Going to the gambling den, running my legs off, then coming to the slave market for no harvest. I ended up wasting a lot of time. Its almost evening. Itll be time to pick up Yuel soon.

After today, there will only be 6 days left until the auction for Eris hospital.

Master!

When I enter the tavern, Yuel comes running over to me. She looks adorable as a waitress.

Master, I got a lot of money today too! Umm, for buying Eris hospital? I want to make Eris happy too. So

Making such a pure remark, Yuel pulls out her bank card filled with thousands of Zeni. I would feel seriously guilty taking the money that Yuel worked hard to earn here, for such an admirable cause, after I just lost my betting money trying to fleece some gamblers.

Please hold onto that for now, Yuel.

I want to answer those feelings. But the two methods I thought up today ended up in failure.

What should we do tomorrow? Enter the labyrinth and search for treasure chests? I heard that many of them contain high-priced magic items. The most extreme get-rich-quick schemes are probably in the labyrinth.

Yeah, but I havent come across a single treasure chest yet in all the time Ive spent in the labyrinth. I feel like it would be impossible to find one within a single week. But in that case, what should we

Yo, Shiki, got a minute?

A voice breaks my train of thought. Its Geyser. Eights there by his side, too. I notice a trickle of blood running from Geysers hand.

Hes here for medical treatment, huh?

Whats the matter, Geyser? Need healing? One Heal is 400 Zeni yknow?

Nah, its just a scratch, Im fine. On my way here there was Slime Jelly all over the streets for some reason and I slipped and fell.

I-Im so sorry.

Hey, it was just a joke. I cant possibly accept money from you guys, right? Heal.

Ill definitely collect on it later.

Oh, seriously? Thanks man. Thats not why were here, though. We came to collect on the loan for taking you back to the surface.

The loan?

Oh right, they did say something about having me join their next trip in exchange.

You got it, Shiki. Can you come to the labyrinth with us tomorrow?

Sure, hunting slimes?

Well, sorta-

To be honest, I want to tell them Ill go slime hunting with them some other time. Right now I want to get rich quick. But I cant turn them down at this point. I told them they could call on me at any time.

And the odds may be low, but its possible we could find a treasure chest while were hunting slimes.

-If thats what it was, we could handle it by ourselves. Were not talking normal slimes here.

Eight grins as he says that. If its not normal slimes, that means

Huge Slime.