4 This Hero Finds a Home!

The dark sky told me that the night had arrived. I could see the frosting on the glass as I began to follow Biar's instructions.

"We need to ensure that each item matches up with our inventory." He pulled out a sheet of paper which listed numbers and names on it and handed me one as well. "You take the shelves in front and I will take the shelves to the side."

Biar and I began to do inventory for the day. My job is to count each individual item and ensure that their numbers lined up with our written numbers. This system was intended to make sure no items had been stolen from us during the day as well to know what items we needed to order before they ran out.

This process is both long and tedious. I need to make sure each jar of every item is there and then I need to write it down in a ledger. I understand why they needed me to be able to read now.

"12 jars of barcrus. 16 cloves of naxrut…" I said aloud as I counted and wrote down the number of each item. Why does every vegetable and fruit in this world have such a weird name? Now that I think about it though, isn't "potato" a weird word as well? I guess it's just my perception of the world shifting a bit.

After checking the inventory of the items, Biar stepped over to me and looked at my sheet. "Are we missing anything?"

"It doesn't seem like we are. Every item that is missing was sold today." I declared while double checking the ledger just to be sure.

"That's good! What's the total sales for today?" Biar smiled as he walked over to the register.

"If my math is right... then..." I read off the sheet, adding the numbers up as I went. "It seems like we made a profit of one thousand seventy eight juns in total."

Biar shrugged as he started emptying the register. "Hm, an average day then. That's good to hear."

The side door opened as Reese stepped out. Reese looked a slightly sweaty from whatever she had been doing in the side room. I fought back the urge to ask her what she had been doing, telling myself that I'd find out eventually.

"So, how did his first day go?" Reese asked Biar as she fanned herself.

"He did just fine! I think we can take him on as a full time employee!" Biar announced as he crossed his arms and smiled at me.

I felt a sense of pride rise in my stomach as well as a sense of relief.

"How wonderful!" Reese clapped her hands together. "I could tell he'd do just fine here!"

Please stop, I'm not used to being praised. I think my face is burning off.

"Now I need to change the subject." Reese stepped towards me as she spoke. "Kenji, you spoke about not having a place to stay, is that correct?" She asked in as gentle a tone as she could.

Now that I remember it, she was right. It's cold outside and I don't want to have to sleep in an alley.

This is… a predicament. I still don't have any money and I've only done one days worth of work so I doubt I can get paid already. What do I do?

"I spoke to someone I've known for a while, her name is Ania-san. She said she had a spare room that you could live in for the time being, at least until you're back on your feet." Reese placed her hand upon my shoulder as she told me this.

SCORE!!! I have a place to stay! This is the best possible scenario!

Wait... Did Reese say it was Ania's home that I would be staying in? That old woman from earlier?

"The woman that came to the store earlier today?" I looked towards Reese as I asked.

"Yes, she's a very nice woman." Biar spoke up as he stepped beside Reese. "She lives on her own so it's probably a big help to her that you're here as well!"

Living with an old woman. This is not exactly a glamorous life... But a free house is a free house...

I'm weighing my options.

"Here, let me show you to the place!" Reese grabbed at my arm as she began to pull. She's surprisingly strong for an older woman.

"H-Hey, wait-!" I shouted before she pushed open the door.

I felt a strong chill as I stepped outside. The cold wind of fall struck my face as my teeth began to chatter. My clothes may be new, but they aren't very thick. I'll need to invest in thicker clothing in the future when I have the chance.

Reese pulled me along the torch lit street until she stopped in front of a small wooden doorway between two larger shops.

"This is the place." Reese held her hand off as to present it to me. "It's not too far from our shop and it's pretty close to the rest of the shopping district. Quite a lucky break for you, isn't it?" She looked at me with a proud smile as if begging me to praise her.

Honestly, this is great for me.

A place that I can return to that's stable. Someone else living with me that can explain things to me, and a job nearby so I can make some money. I can't really ask for much more.

The door opened.

"Ah, it's Korgi-san. How are you?" The old woman called out. She had a glass of red wine in her hand that swished around as she greeted me.

Ania was standing in the doorway wearing notably… thinner clothes than she was earlier today. I was revolted, but a house is a house.

"I made some soup and you can have some too. Come in, please!" Ania motioned to me with a weak wave towards herself.

"Well!" Reese pat me on the back. Her sudden strike knocked the wind out of me. "I'll see you tomorrow then! Remember you need to be at the shop by 7 A.M. sharp!" She declared as she walked away while waving goodbye.

"Come in, come in!" Ania insisted while waving more energetically to me.

After a moments hesitation, I complied with Ania's request.

I climbed the wooden stairs up to the second floor that was Ania's home. Ania lived above the two stores that her door is between.

"Ah… let me just unlock the door here…" She muttered as she arrived at the locked door at the top of the stairs.

Ania was checking her side again. Judging by how long it took Ania before, it's possible that she would take another ten minutes just to find her key. If this is going to be a daily occurrence then I should probably get my own.

"Ah, there it is!" Ania proclaimed after only a few seconds. She held a brass key upwards into the light.

"Huh?" I let out.

Wait, she found her key that quickly? Why did it take her so long to find her coin purse earlier if she is able to find something smaller at such speeds?

"I have a bowl of soup ready for you but let me show you around first." Ania told me as she opened the door.

Immediately my nose was assaulted by the smell of old woman. I could see that on every wall there were either pictures of people, paintings of landscapes, or documents of sorts. There were even bookcases.

Wait... If she has books does that mean she can read? Why was she making me read all those labels for her then?

The room itself was not large, but there were many doorways to other rooms. Inside of the room there was a faded carpet, a small sofa that could barely fit two people, and a small coffee table with a large white doily on it.

"It isn't very fancy, but it's certainly better than out on the streets, eh Korgi-chan?" She tossed the key upwards and caught it before quickly returning it to her pocket.

Honestly speaking this place is fairly ghastly. I doubt this building has been dusted in years and I am scared of what types of things may be hidden from my view.

"Your home is very nice, Ania-san. Also my name is Kenji, not Korgi." I forced a smile as I spoke.

"You will use the term 'sama' from now on when referring to me, boy." She frowned. Her face held an intensity that I did not expect to see from a woman of her age.

Huh?

"I took you off the streets out of my own good will. As a result of my good will you will follow my rules. Do you understand?" She crossed her arms and scowled at me.

What's with this old woman? Am I about to be subjected to something dangerous?

"A-alright…" I said meekly. I don't like where this is going.

"Wrong!" Her voice boomed as she stomped on the ground. "From now on whenever you respond to me you will add 'Ania-sama or Ma'am' to it! Am I understood?"

Did I actually just get sent to hell instead of going to a fantasy world? Is that what happened?

"Y-yes ma'am…" I responded forcefully.

"Good!" She nodded energetically.

"Rule 1!" She held up one finger. "You will respect all my desires as absolute! If I tell you to get something for me then you will. If I ask you to rub my feet then you will. Is this understood?"

Oh no.

"Yes ma'am." I slowly nodded to her.

"Good! Rule 2!" She raised a second finger. "You will be happy with what you are given. I am not running a charity. If I so choose I will send you back out onto the streets." She pointed behind me. "Is this understood?"

"Yes ma'am." I stood at attention as I answered her. Something about acting like I'm in the military might make this more easy to bear.

"Good! Rule 3!" She held up her third finger. "Before you go to bed you must give me a kiss on the cheek-" She pat her cheek and held it close to me. "-and say goodnight!"

Should I try my luck with an alley tonight? I think I saw a nice spot while I was walking here…

"Rule 4!" She held up a fourth finger as she shouted. "You owe me fourty juns each time you get paid. Living here isn't free. Is that clear?"

I have to pay to live here it seems, but considering that that's only a tenth of my earnings, it isn't that bad. It's not like I have many choices when it comes to housing right now anyway. I can't afford anywhere right now, so at minimum I'm going to pay this woman fourty juns.

"I SAID IS THAT CLEAR?" Ania yelled at me.

"Y-YES MA'AM!" I shouted out of reflex. I clicked my shoes together for added effect as I stood at attention.

"Good!" She relaxed. She seemed to immediately shrink in size. "Now that that's been cleared come sit down for some food. You must be starving."

I have never been so terrified in my entire life. I went along with whatever this woman told me to out of fear alone.

I was led into a room that appeared to be a dining room. There is a rectangular table with four chairs around it and a bowl of steaming soup on either side.

"Sit." She motioned towards the nearest chair.

"Yes ma'am." I nodded as I stepped in.

I sat in the chair I was told to and waited for Ania to sit down as well.

"In this house, we thank the gods for every meal." She clasped her hands together. "Pray with me, boy."

I quickly put my hands together in prayer.

Ania took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. "We thank each of our creators for the bounty we experience today. I thank the creators for allowing me to help this poor sorry child. I thank the creators for giving me the patience to deal with the people I meet every single day. Amen."

Having met God, I could somewhat understand why he was so aloof after hearing prayers like that.

I took a spoonful of soup and sniffed it. It looked appealing and I could see steam coming off of it. I can't remember the last time I ate a home cooked meal ever since mom started working.

I placed the soup into my mouth. The taste was different compared to what I was used to, but it is not bad. In fact it is actually rather good. It's savory, but light.

I only now just realized how hungry I was. I took spoonful after spoonful greedily. I couldn't stop myself.

It only took me a short time before the food was all gone.

"Whew." I placed the spoon back into the bowl as I slapped my stomach. "Thank you for the food."

"You gulped that down rather quickly." Ania eyed me up and down as she spoke. "It must be nice to be young..." She placed her spoon into her bowl. "Well, now that you've finished your food, you should go to bed. I'll show you to your room."

Ania stood up and led me to a door.