Chapter 22
Even after thinking about it again, I was trembling with anger. 3,000 coins! How many cocktails would I have to make!
I was serious, but the man chuckled.
“Where would I get money? All I have is some emergency jerky and a dagger buried somewhere.”
“Why would you bury those?”
“In case of a sudden attack. If I lost my place, I’d starve to death otherwise. You have to be prepared.”
An attack? Losing his place?
Should I be worried about such situations, considering my ‘low’ safety rating?
“….I don’t know about that, but if you’re broke now, go back home and get it.”
At my words, the man’s eyes flashed.
“Fine. Good idea. How do I get back?”
“You just go back through the door you came from.”
The system told me that, if a lost guest shows up, to let them know they can go back through the door they entered.
“The door I came in?”
“It’s a bit complicated, but this place is a different dimension from where you live. If you open the door you came through, you’ll find your dimension.”
“Which door did I come in through?”
“I don’t know that part. I just found you in front of the bar.”
Initially, I never left the area around the cocktail bar, so I don’t know the geography well either.
The farthest I’ve gone is when I first met Johan, but even then, I didn’t see the door he came through directly.
“A different dimension… hah, I guess it’s not where I lived after all. I crossed dimensions.”
The man laughed hollowly and glanced around the cocktail bar.
“Well, if it was, they wouldn’t have left this liquor behind. Wonderful fire bomb ingredients.”
“Fire bomb ingredients? How dare you insult someone’s precious liquor…”
While I was muttering, the man strode out.
“I’m leaving. I have to find the door. I need to go back before it’s too late.”
“Wait! My 3,000 coins! Pay me back!”
Despite my desperate cry, the tall man had already disappeared from my sight. I hurried after him, but…
<Notice> You are in an area with low control.
I was blocked by the system’s warning.
If I ignored the warning and followed, I risked being attacked by monsters.
I wouldn’t get anything back if that happened.
“Ugh… ah, forget it. I’m tired of this. I’ll just wash up and go to bed.”
Why did this day become so long? I thought I’d have a beer party and go to bed in a good mood, but the day was ruined. Completely ruined.
“Never pick up random people again.”
Having learned a bitter lesson in life, I trudged back to the cocktail bar. The thought of losing 3,000 coins made my head throb.
“Ah, forget it…”
I was tired and exhausted. I just wanted to forget everything and sleep. With that thought, I threw myself onto the bed.
“Huh?”
But I noticed a strange smell.
Ah, that’s right. Until a moment ago, a patient I had carelessly picked up was lying here.
I didn’t notice because the bedding looked neater than usual, as if he had cleaned it up himself.
“Looks like he’s cleaner than he seems. The guy who ran off with my 3,000 coins…”
Hmph, I hope he trips and breaks his nose while walking.
As I poured out all sorts of curses, I fell asleep without realizing it.
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Squeak.
A peculiar sound that grated on my nerves was detected.
It wasn’t a loud banging noise. Rather, it felt like someone was deliberately moving quietly.
“A thief?”
Or could it be…?
I rubbed my eyes repeatedly and went downstairs in my sleepwear, carrying a mop handle just in case.
A giant silhouette appeared in the darkness. I turned on the light to identify them.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
The man, leaning against the wall dozing off, slightly lifted his head and spoke.
It was the guy who ran off after taking my 3,000 coins.
“How did you get in?”
“The back door was open?”
I had wrestled with that stiff door for a while, and it finally broke.
Truly fitting for a building with the lowest safety rating.
I carelessly tossed the mop handle aside and approached the man.
“You said you needed to go back before it was too late.”
“There’s no door. I couldn’t find it no matter how hard I looked.”
“Wait, did you get injured again in the meantime?”
As I got closer, the smell of blood hit me strongly.
“It’s not my blood.”
“That makes me even more worried…”
Just what did he get up to?
“Some weird creature attacked me.”
“That ‘creature’ wasn’t human, I assume?”
“It seemed like a monster. Should I call it a demon? You’ve certainly set up shop in a strange place.”
It seems he encountered a monster. Fortunately, that monster was no match for him.
“……”
Looking closely, he didn’t seem well. Probably because he moved around too much while still injured.
“Are your injuries okay?”
“Yeah. This much will heal if I’m careful for a few days.”
I sighed and crouched down next to the man.
“So what now?”
“I have to keep looking for the door.”
“What if you can’t find it?”
The man didn’t respond. He’s probably more troubled than I am.
Though a complete stranger, I was reluctant to let him go because of those 3,000 coins.
Moreover, his injuries haven’t fully healed yet, and he still hasn’t found a way back.
‘Hmm, he does seem quite fit to do some physical labor…’
It might not be bad to have a part-timer around.
If I want to increase customers, I need to expand business to other dimensions anyway. His rugged looks could be an excellent bait.
Plus, if I left tasks like washing dishes and cleaning to him, I could rest more.
‘Look how neatly he made the bed. He’d probably do better than me.’
If I taught him a bit, even just to prepare some snacks or cut fruits, it would be perfect.
‘And I wouldn’t even have to pay him a salary.’
This was a huge win.
As I eyed him with interest, the man shot me a wary look.
“What’s with that impure look?”
I was even thinking of employing you. Having you work and rest at the same place, the same workplace, so I could fully take advantage of you.
“That’s what’s going on.”
“What exactly is ‘going on’?”
“First, tell me your name.”
Though looking skeptical, the man obediently told me his name.
“Christide de Elsha Vycheris.”
“Chris…”
It was so long I couldn’t even remember it all.
All that stuck in my head was ‘Chris’.
“So I owe you my life. Fine, I’ll cooperate until we find that door, at least. So? What do you want? Setting up a fort? Or securing food supplies?”
I stared blankly at what seemed like a deranged final boss.
“None of that is needed. If you’re broke, just peel some onions.”
“What?”
Chris’ expression was priceless—eyes wide open and blinking, mouth agape.
Even with a beautiful face that seemed carved by the gods, he could make such a stupid expression.
“I mean work to pay off your debt. Part-time job, you know? Ah, clean up first.”
I couldn’t let him wander around covered in monster blood. It would be a nightmare if the smell lingered.
“This way.”
I led Chris to the second floor bathroom. It had a cozy atmosphere, but the bathtub and shower facilities were a bit cramped for him.
Since the shower was a bit modern, I thought I’d explain how to use it.
“Look, if you turn this knob, warm water will…”
Whoosh—
I meant to fill the bathtub, but the showerhead mounted high sprayed water instead.
‘Oops! I forgot to turn it off after my shower yesterday.’
Caught off guard by the sudden water spray, Chris hurriedly shielded his head with both hands. He seemed to have excellent reflexes.
“Cold water?”
Realizing it was nothing serious, Chris made a blank expression.
As the blood washed off, his brilliant silver hair glistened, and his soaked shirt clung to his body, revealing his figure.
I quickly turned the faucet. Hot water poured into the bathtub.
“It’ll warm up soon…”
Chris took off his drenched shirt and tossed it aside. His toned upper body was covered in countless scars, making me wonder what kind of life he’d lived.
‘Ah.’
It’s rude to keep staring at someone else’s body. I quickly averted my gaze.
“Why the sudden shyness? I was wrapped in bandages, which you must have done yourself. You’ve already seen me inside out.”
In-inside out?
His choice of words was so crude that I couldn’t bring myself to retort.
‘If I sit him next to Johan, the contrast would be unbelievable.’
I suddenly missed Johan’s presence.
“A-Anyway, hurry and wash up.”
“Any spare clothes?”
“Of course not.”
“So what, I walk out naked?”
His casual remark made my mouth fall open.
But it was true that I didn’t have any spare clothes for him.
Looking out the window, the day was starting to break.
“Wash up! Don’t come out, just wait! I’ll go buy some clothes!”
I firmly instructed him and dashed out with just my wallet.
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Thank you for reading! ♡
