Chapter 3

"Thanks a lot, Noll! You always save me!"

"No, no, it's my pleasure. I'm always grateful for your requests, Stella."

I finished the usual "gutter cleaning" job and received the completion sign from the lady, then ran to the next job.

I remember the first time I visited the lady's house very well. It was my first job as an adventurer, a memorable one. This area is on the outskirts of the capital, quite far from the center. Unlike the central area, where the government's cleaning services are well-established, the residents here have to clean up by themselves.

But my client, Stella, had bad legs and eyesight, and had lost both her husband and son. She lived alone and had no family to rely on, so she couldn't manage the cleaning. As a result, the ditches around her house began to emit a foul smell.

Desperate, she decided to make a request to the Adventurer's Guild. She wanted someone to help her, to do something. However, it was difficult to find someone willing to take on her request. The reward she offered was not very attractive to ordinary adventurers.

The guild prioritizes requests for monster slaying and emergency gathering. Cleaning the city's ditches is something that can be done by anyone with free time.

So, it was left unattended for a long time.

That's when I happened to appear, feeling at a loss. After completing the job, I was very appreciated. Since then, she has been a regular customer who specifically requests me.

She always shows great appreciation after I finish the cleaning. Because of this, I end up doing more than what I'm asked to do. In fact, as I get more used to the cleaning, the requested area is quickly finished, so I always expand the scope a bit and do a little extra. The people around also appreciate it, and I don't mind at all.

This job doesn't pay much, but I find it fulfilling. Seeing people's smiles is great, and most of all, it feels good to see the city gradually become cleaner with my own hands.

However, today I seem to have been a bit too enthusiastic. I got so absorbed in the cleaning that I lost track of time and was late for the next job.

"Will I make it...?"

I rushed through the city streets, turned two corners, and arrived at the construction site, where the site supervisor greeted me. This is my second client of the day.

"Hey, right on time, Noll. I'm counting on you today."

After the morning gutter cleaning, I usually work at this construction site every day, doing "soil carrying."

The capital is famous for its ancient, massive labyrinth and is also known as the "adventurer's holy land." Recently, a large-scale road expansion project has been underway in front of the labyrinth, requiring a significant amount of manpower. However, there seems to be a shortage of workers, so the Adventurer's Guild has been receiving requests.

But, the construction site jobs are not very attractive to ordinary adventurers. I'm one of the few who willingly takes them.

For me, it's a dream job. Anyone can be evaluated based on the amount of work they do. The more soil I carry, the more I earn, and it's a completely commission-based system.

I can carry five times the amount of soil that an ordinary person can, thanks to the "Strength Enhancement" skill I learned during my training as a "Warrior." Additionally, I constantly recover with the "Low Heal" skill, which is a low-level "Cleric" skill, so I don't feel very fatigued.

These skills, which were not considered "useful skills" for registering as an adventurer, are very helpful in my current life. The "Stealth Step" skill I learned during my "Thief" training is perfect for searching for and capturing stray cats, and the "Puchi Fire" skill from my "Mage" training is convenient for cooking. The "Stone Throw" skill from my "Hunter" training is not used much, but when I show the kids how to hit distant objects with stones, they think it's amazing.

The only skill I haven't found a use for is the "Parry" skill, despite all the training I did.

I still continue to train. I've been training for 15 years, so it's hard to break the habit. Plus, there's still a faint hope that it might be useful someday, no matter how unlikely.

Whether or not I can become a regular adventurer, at least I can earn enough to live in the capital.

I want to believe that my past self-training wasn't a complete waste, but – this alone isn't enough to make me a regular "beginner" adventurer. It makes me realize how much I was overestimating myself, thinking I could become a hero in a heroic tale.

Sometimes, I wonder if it's okay to just continue like this.

Because "becoming an adventurer and helping people" –

that dream has already been realized.

I complete the requests I'm given, receive thanks, and get the corresponding reward.

By doing this, I live my daily life –

hoping for more might just be a luxury.

Besides, I don't have a family to protect, and I don't need much money. I don't need to take dangerous jobs to make a fortune.

"Maybe I can continue like this until I die."

While thinking such things, I've been working in various places in the capital for three months now. I have a place to live in the city. I was introduced to a cheap inn by a guild uncle, and I've been staying there ever since because I like it. The meals are not included due to the low price, but I've always made my own meals, so it's not a problem. There are no baths in the inn, but there are many public baths in the city. I can walk a little and choose different baths depending on my mood. Sometimes, I enjoy eating at street stalls that serve delicious food.

– That's how I've been living comfortably in the capital.

"You really work hard, Noll.

It's a waste to keep you as an adventurer.

Don't you want to work for us?

At least double... no, triple the pay of a regular employee.

If you want more, I can give it to you.

You seem to be worth that much."

The supervisor of this construction site likes me and often says such things. But I always decline.

"Thank you, but I'm fine as I am."

"Really, what a waste..."

I feel sorry for the disappointed supervisor. But, I can't give up my dream. It's like a habit. I still want to be an adventurer. I want to go on adventures like in heroic tales, even if it seems reckless.

So, I worked enthusiastically on the soil carrying, and before I knew it, it was time to finish.

"Today's work is done.

Thanks to you, we have a lot more time to spare.

See you tomorrow, Noll. I'm counting on you."

"Sure, I'll do my best."

As usual, I received the client's signature on the request form. After reporting the completion to the guild and getting the reward, I plan to take a bath and do my usual training in an empty lot. Just as I was about to leave the site,

I saw a flash of light from the back of the construction site – the entrance to the "Endless Labyrinth." It was a strong, purplish-red light.

"What's that?"

At the same time,

"– Someone, help –"

I thought I heard a faint cry for help from somewhere.