Chapter 25

“Then I’ll head in first. You all worked hard today.”

“Alright. Good work.”

“Yeah. Bye, Yuria! See you tomorrow!”

“….”

Bye-bye.

I waved my hand lightly at Alice, who seemed to be in a hurry to leave, probably because she had something important to do.

Was my farewell really that delightful?

She returned the wave with a bright smile and quickly left the office.

‘She likes me too much. At this rate, I might start getting the wrong idea.’

Perhaps it was because I genuinely felt her affection without any pretense.

For someone like me, who’s awkward with these things, she was impossible to dislike.

Maybe she’s the type who gives love freely without expecting anything in return?

It was an incredible mindset that a petty person like me could never imitate.

Of course, the slightly sweaty excessive physical contact was a bit uncomfortable…

But if I set clear boundaries, that should take care of it. She isn’t the type to force herself on someone who rejects her.

“You worked hard today too, part-timer. Today was tough with all those unique clients… Here’s your pay for today. Check it out.”

“…!”

After Alice left the office in a flash,

Maybe feeling sorry for how busy it had been, Raven scratched the back of his head and handed me an envelope from his pocket.

Today’s pay already!

I happily took the envelope from him and eagerly opened it.

Inside were freshly crisp bills as if just pulled from an ATM.

One, two, three… Counting them, there were two extra bills than we had agreed upon.

Isn’t there more than there should be?

When I flapped the envelope at Raven as if questioning him, he chuckled and casually replied.

“Two are bonuses. Buy some snacks on your way home. Need me to see you off?”

“…!”

“If not, then no problem. Get home fast before it gets completely dark. Don’t get tangled up in any unnecessary trouble.”

Swish swish.

With his business done, Raven turned his back to me, gave a casual wave, and slowly walked into the inner office.

True to form, he’s the modern tough guy who won’t offer help unless asked.

Thinking about how he would have grumbled while walking me home if I nodded made me want to laugh.

‘Well, time to go.’

After carefully placing today’s pay envelope in my skirt pocket,

I bowed deeply to Raven’s retreating figure, filled with gratitude.

Then, turning around, I carefully opened the door and stepped outside, trying not to make too much noise.

‘Cold. It’s really going to snow soon.’

A cold, sharp wind blew through Night Haven at night.

Most people on the streets were wearing thick coats.

So, being dressed only in a maid outfit without any outerwear, the chilly breeze seeping through was almost unbearable.

Just yesterday, it was chilly but not this bad.

My breath escaped in a white puff that scattered into the air.

‘…Now that I’ve got some money, maybe I should buy something to wear?’

Clothes are meant to be worn repeatedly once bought.

There’s no reason to be stingy now that I’ve got some cash.

Having decided, I hurriedly entered the first clothing store I saw, shivering and taking tiny steps to ward off the cold.

“Oh, what a cute customer! What kind of clothes are you looking for?”

“….”

“This coat? Hmm, it’s so big it might cover your whole body…”

That’s exactly what I want. Wearing a maid outfit in public is embarrassing.

Without hesitation, I quickly paid the shopkeeper and bought a long coat that reached down to my thighs.

Throwing it on, I stepped back outside.

Perhaps people really need money to live comfortably.

The instant warmth from wearing a coat brought a soft smile to my lips.

“Welcome! Would you like your purchase wrapped?”

“….”

“Oh, one basic sandwich? Got it!”

Afterward, I clutched a wrapped sandwich—my dinner for the night—and retraced the path I had walked earlier with Greg.

Even though Night Haven is a big city, it seems inevitable that fewer people are around once you leave the bustling areas.

By the time I reached the gray zone where Greg’s general store was located,

The streets felt eerily empty, with hardly anyone in sight.

Even the back alleys shouldn’t be this deserted.

Greg must be quite something to have opened a shop here.

‘Well, this place is why I visit often.’

Reflecting on this newfound realization, I cautiously unlocked the shop’s door with the spare key Greg had given me, just in case.

“Whoa, it’s freezing inside! Like a freezer! First, I need to block the windows.”

The shop was chillingly cold, enough to give you goosebumps.

Probably due to the broken window letting in the cold wind thanks to the vampire.

I knew this would happen.

I blocked the broken window with thick cloth to stop the cold wind and immediately turned on the heater.

Then, using telekinesis, I swept away the debris and dust rolling on the floor outside.

Fetching several mops from the storeroom, I meticulously cleaned every corner of the shop.

Though the general store wasn’t small, it would have been exhausting manual labor for someone like me.

But moving tools with telekinesis made it neither difficult nor time-consuming.

‘This should do for now. I’ll buy glass separately tomorrow. As for the holes in the wall… stuffing them with sponges will do until Greg fixes them later.’

Swoosh.

Feeling sufficiently warm, I took off my coat and neatly placed it on the sofa.

Heading inside the shop, I changed into the comfortable clothes I had forgotten last night.

After washing my face and body appropriately in the bathroom, I carried my maid outfit and sluggishly walked over to the sofa, plopping down.

Actually, my body odor is unusually faint, so I could go days without washing and no one would notice.

Still, dust and sweat inevitably build up. Cleanliness is important.

‘Hmm… Not particularly delicious. Maybe a 6 out of 10.’

I unwrapped the sandwich and chewed thoughtfully, rating it in my mind.

It was half the price of the sandwiches I usually enjoyed, so perhaps that explained the cheap taste.

Still, it provided a new kind of stimulation, so it wasn’t all bad. But I’d get tired of it after eating it twice.

Still, I should be grateful I can enjoy it now.

Gazing at the nearly finished sandwich, I sank into deep thought.

‘I’ll wear the maid outfit while working and relax like this otherwise. Come to think of it, I need more everyday clothes. I want to change underwear daily. And since it’s winter, a scarf and gloves too…’

Sigh, why are there so many expenses?

Cleaning up the remnants of the sandwich, I suddenly felt drained and slid onto the sofa, lying down to stare at the ceiling.

Ah, I just came to clean the shop. Now I don’t feel like getting up.

Thinking about it, my base—it’s not exactly home—is so cold it chills my bones, and the bed I made myself is painfully hard.

Here, even in thin clothes, it’s warm, and even the sofa is incredibly soft.

Since Greg’s not here, why not sneak a nap?

I did clean thoroughly, so maybe I deserve it?

‘No, sleeping without permission is not right. How conscienceless can I be? Stupid. Idiot.’

Don’t mistake someone else’s kindness for entitlement. Be a grateful person.

Suppressing the rising desire, I turned to my side and curled up like a shrimp.

But Greg’s a kind orc. He’ll forgive me for resting a bit.

Nuzzling my head against the soft sofa, I comforted my tired body and mind from all the walking.

After rolling around for a while, lying down started to feel boring.

Suddenly, I remembered the Tesseract hanging around my neck.

‘When will it wake up? And what exactly was that thing yesterday?’

How could the Tesseract talk, and why did it help me?

And with the Tesseract now in my possession, what changes will occur in the original story?

Frowning slightly, I delved deeper into my thoughts, feeling increasingly overwhelmed.

It was like being lost alone in a vast ocean on a small sailboat.

Will this lead to a good outcome or spiral into something bad?

Unable to predict the future, I tightly gripped the Tesseract and quietly pondered.

Whatever happens, I won’t regret it. It’s my choice.

Perhaps it was a firm promise to my future self.

‘Ahh, whatever. Things will work out somehow. Ugh! Let’s just go home.’

Being serious doesn’t suit me.

Feeling oddly awkward, I patted my cheeks and neatly folded the maid outfit I had set aside, placing it gently on the sofa.

No space at home anyway. Plus, I planned to come every morning to change and keep the shop clean from dust.

Thanks to telekinesis, cleaning wasn’t difficult. Besides, I’d have to work here again in a month.

Whether I clean now or later, it makes little difference.

Having roughly finished tidying up, I double-checked that the lights and heater were off and took one last look around the dimmed shop.

‘See you again tomorrow.’

Hopefully, tomorrow will be as peaceful as today.

Closing the quiet shop door, I silently wished.

Of course, peace in this noisy city? What a funny thought.