Chapter 12

The welcome party ended after the first round, and we left the store.

"Zig, I'm going this way, so you take Erika home. Also, here's the key to your room."

The branch manager handed me the key.

"Understood."

"See you."

After parting ways with the branch manager, I walked through the darkened streets with Erika, who was heading in the same direction.

"Seems like I was the only one who drank alcohol."

"I'm not good with alcohol, and I heard the branch manager had a bad experience with it in the past."

Hmm...

"Erika, this might be a strange question, but how was I today? Was I weird? Did you think we couldn't work together?"

I was worried.

"Hmm... I could tell you were really concerned about that. But I don't think you need to worry that much."

Is that so?

"To be honest, when I saw your work, I thought, 'Why can't you understand such simple things?'"

"Zig and I are only two years apart, but I'm a 10th-class, and you're a 3rd-class. The difference in talent and ability is obvious. So it's understandable to think that way, and it's probably true. But you explained things clearly, and you're a great support. I was really anxious about working with just me and Leonora."

Two 10th-class members...

"Is Leonora young?"

"She's the same age as you."

22 years old...

She's indeed young.

But that means this branch has been run almost entirely by two newbies for the past year.

"That must have been tough."

"It was tough. No one was there to teach us, and we made many mistakes."

This branch is in worse shape than I imagined...

We walked along the completely darkened streets, talking, and arrived in front of the apartment building.

"Erika, I'm not good with interpersonal relationships, but I'll try my best to turn this branch around. Let's work together from now on."

"Yes, I look forward to it."

"See you tomorrow."

"Good night."

Erika bowed politely and entered her room. I looked at the room number on the keychain.

"My room is this way, I guess."

The keychain read [A-102], and it was in the same building as Erika and Leonora, right across from Erika's room.

I went to the door, opened it with the key, and turned on the light inside.

"Of course, there's nothing here. It feels a bit lonely."

"I saw Erika's room yesterday."

It had the same layout, but Erika's room was bright and cute, as you'd expect from a woman's room.

"Let's just unpack our things today and go to bed early."

"Sounds good. We'll organize our stuff starting tomorrow."

We took our things out of the spatial magic and set up the bed, then went to take a bath.

The bath had a proper bathtub, so we filled it with water and got in.

By the way, Helen was also soaking in a bucket of water.

Helen, despite being a cat, loves baths.

"This seems like a tough job..."

I muttered, looking up at the ceiling.

"I think it's a good job. Erika is great, and the branch manager, despite everything, is a good person."

Well, he doesn't seem like a hassle, and he's quite frank for a noble soldier.

"What about Leonora?"

"I can't say for sure, but I'm sure things will work out."

I hope so.

"Helen... the welcome party wasn't bad."

Even though I was the only one who drank.

"That's good. Sir Zig, people come in all sorts. There are many unpleasant people, but there are just as many good people."

"I see... I want to be a good person."

I must have been a bad person in the past.

No, I still am.

But to start over, I need to change.

Even if my path to promotion is cut off, my second life isn't over yet.

"Let's work hard from tomorrow."

"Sure."

We soaked in the bath for a while, then got out and went to the bedroom, which was full of cardboard boxes, and went to bed.

The next day, I was woken up by Helen, got ready, and headed to the branch.

As Erika said, the commute took only 30 seconds, which was very convenient.

"I can sleep a bit more from tomorrow."

I said this as I entered the branch, but, as expected, no one was there.

"Well, I haven't had breakfast yet."

"I forgot to buy bread yesterday. I'll just have some portable food and supplements later... Hey, where's Erika?"

I went up to the second floor, but no one was there.

However, the lights were on.

"She must be on the third floor. I can smell Erika from up there."

"Probably the storage room..."

I went up the stairs and arrived on the third floor, where Erika was putting potions into a magic bag.

"Oh, Zig, good morning."

Erika noticed me and greeted me.

"Good morning. Are you preparing for the delivery?"

"Yes. Once I put these potions in, I'll be done. We should go to the government office and the military post first thing in the morning."

"Got it."

I watched as Erika put the last potion in the bag and stood up.

"I'm ready. The government office is the closest. Since you'll be going there alone from now on, I'll show you the way."

"Thanks."

We went down the stairs and left the branch.

Erika walked to the left, so I followed her.

"Here it is."

Erika stopped in front of a three-story building.

It was about 300 meters from the branch, which was indeed very close.

We entered the government office, and it was bustling with many employees and visitors, a stark contrast to our branch.

"I feel a bit sad."

"Don't say that."

Erika seemed to feel the same way.

"Right... Where's the receptionist in charge?"

"Over there."

Erika pointed to the far right and walked over, so I followed her.

We stood in front of a receptionist, a man in his 40s.

"Mr. Rübert."

Erika called out to the man who was writing something.

"Hmm? Oh, Erika... What's up?"

"I've brought the graph paper and bricks."

"Huh? The deadline is still a ways off. Did you finish them already?"

"Yes. Zig, who just transferred here, helped us."

"Zig?"

Rübert glanced at me.

"Yes. He transferred from the capital. Zig, this is Mr. Rübert, our contact."

Erika introduced me, so I stepped forward.

"I'm Zickvalt Alexander. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Rübert. Nice to meet you too. Erika, it's good to have a new colleague."

Rübert smiled at Erika.

"Yes!"

"By the way, I have a new request for you. Is that okay?"

A request on the day of delivery...

The government office is always prepared.

"What is it?"

"I need 50 more bricks and 50 iron ores to be smelted into ingots. Can you do that?"

"Ingot..."

Erika glanced at me.

She probably hasn't done it before.

"No problem."

Smelting ingots is one of the basics.

It's not difficult at all.

"It's fine. What's the deadline?"

"About a month."

"Understood."

Erika nodded.

"Alright, I'll bring the iron ores. Leave the bricks there."

Rübert went to the back, and Erika placed the wooden box of bricks on the counter.

After a while, Rübert returned, and we took the iron ores and left the government office.

Thank you for reading.

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