Chapter 100

"Is it a day off?"

It had been three days since we first ventured into the dungeon. After returning to the inn as usual and finishing our meal, I was relaxing when my master suddenly said that tomorrow would be a day off.

"Yeah, you've been working hard every day. But you've been working a bit too hard, so let's take a break tomorrow. I'm sorry for pushing you so hard."

My master apologized, looking a bit guilty. A day off... I can eat my fill every day, and my level has gone up, so I'm not tired, but do I really need a day off?

Not only me, but Marco and Kikka also received apologies from my master. Indeed, Kikka is still young, so a day off might be good for her.

"Tomorrow, you can do whatever you like. However, the adventurers know that you are my disciples, so you might get involved in some trouble. If you go out, let Sylph go with you, and let me know."

Sylph is a wind great spirit who has a contract with my master. Even Fuk-chan, who can easily defeat monsters, is a floating spirit, which is said to be the weakest among spirits. The power of the great spirit Sylph is beyond my imagination.

Even a Fire Dragon, which made my legs tremble just by seeing its corpse, was easily defeated by Sylph. My master seems to be unexpectedly overprotective.

"Um, can we freely go out of the dungeon city?"

"Yeah, it's a day off, so it's important to rest your body, but it's also good to go out and change your mood. I remember Sara saying that she was looked at unpleasantly by the slum people before, but with Sylph, there's no need to worry. Enjoy yourselves."

Walking around the dungeon city... When I was in the slums, I had to hide to avoid being seen by people because the children in the slums had a bad reputation. But maybe I don't need to do that anymore?

I was able to survive because there were kind people like Martha and Torque at this inn who shared their food with me, but most people would become wary when they recognized me as a slum child. Being able to walk around freely is like a dream... Is it a dream?

"Sara?"

"I'm sorry, Master. I was thinking."

"Sure. Well, since it's a day off, it's good to enjoy various things. Here's some pocket money."

After saying that, my master gave each of us 30,000 elts. When I said it was too much, he replied that it's better to have more than not enough, and if there's any left, he would keep it for us, so take it.

I think it's too much, but if I can return the extra, it's a relief. My master lightly patted our heads and left the room.

"Sara-nee, it's a day off tomorrow. What should we do on a day off?"

"You can do whatever you want since it's a day off. Marco and Kikka, is there anything you want to do?"

"Hmm, can't we go to the dungeon?"

"We can't go to the dungeon on a day off, I think."

"Yeah, that's right. Then, I don't know what to do. Kikka, is there anything you want to do?"

"I don't know."

"I see. Kikka doesn't know either. What should we do?"

Marco groaned and thought. Come to think of it, I was always busy with lessons when I was at peace, so I don't remember having a day off. What should we do?

"Fuk-chan, what should I do?"

I asked Fuk-chan, who was thinking. It's not a question that can be answered with a yes or no, and Fuk-chan seemed to be confused, flying around my head.

According to my master, Fuk-chan is a small, cute owl. I wish I could see it with my own eyes, but I can't, which is very disappointing.

"I'm sorry, Fuk-chan. I asked you a difficult question because I was a bit worried. I don't know what to do on a day off."

When I apologized, Fuk-chan gently approached my cheek and moved up and down. According to my master, it means Fuk-chan is rubbing against my cheek.

"Thank you, Fuk-chan."

I don't know if I'm communicating with the spirit well, but being with Fuk-chan makes me feel happy.

After thinking for a while with Fuk-chan, nothing came to mind. As I was thinking, Kikka pulled my clothes. Did she come up with something?

"Kikka, did you come up with something?"

"Yeah. Sara-nee, Kikka wants to see the uncle."

"Uncle?"

"Yeah, the meat uncle."

The meat uncle is the man who runs a stall near the slums. He sometimes shares leftover skewers with us, which was a great treat for us.

"The meat uncle. I want to see him too. I promised to buy from him when I grow up, so let's go to the meat uncle's stall, Sara-nee."

"Sure. Let's also visit the people who have helped us and thank them."

"Let's buy a lot." "Yeah, a lot."

Marco and Kikka were excited. When I first met my master, I never thought it would come to this. I was worried about Marco and Kikka following a suspicious person, but I decided to go with them, and I think that was the right choice.

The uncle who helped me couldn't return from the dungeon, and the money he entrusted me with was gone. After finding a place to stay in the slums, I barely managed to survive, but now, if we work hard, we might be able to be happy together.

"Hehe. Marco, Kikka, I'm looking forward to tomorrow!"

"Yeah!" "I'm looking forward to it!"

I closed my eyes, grateful for the happiness of being able to eat my fill and sleep in a warm bed. I hope tomorrow is a fun day.

***

"Master, we're going out." "Master, we're going out." "We're going out."

"Go ahead. Be careful. Oh, do you remember the signal with Sylph? You don't need to worry about Sylph in normal times, but if the signal comes, you must follow Sylph. Got it?"

"Yes, I remember the signal, so it's fine."

"Okay, then have fun."

"Yes."

I bowed to my master, who came out to see us off, and walked through the dungeon city, a bit nervous. We always follow my master, but walking on the main street alone made me a bit nervous.

"Sara-nee, is the meat uncle there?"

"I think he is. He sells breakfast to adventurers heading to the dungeon in the morning."

"Right. Hey, Sara-nee, let's buy a lot. The uncle's lamb skewers are delicious, and Kikka loves them too."

"Yeah, Kikka loves the meat uncle's skewers."

"Hehe. But we'll have lunch at Gina-nee's, so let's get three each. Master said he will make regular days off, so we can visit the uncle's stall many times."

"That's right. Gina-nee's soup is also delicious, so I'm looking forward to it. Today, we're not getting leftovers from the back, but eating at the restaurant."

"Right. We'll get bread, soup, and meat."

"Wow. Let's go quickly, Sara-nee." "Let's go."

I chased after Marco and Kikka, who started running excitedly. Recently, we've been eating our fill thanks to Master, so we don't need to rush, but it feels good to be able to pay for our meals.

***

"Uncle, can we have nine skewers?"

"What's the matter, kid? Are you in a hurry, on an errand...? Oh, are you Marco? And Sara and Kikka are here too. I didn't recognize you in proper clothes. You haven't been here for a while, what's up?"

"Hehe. Uncle, we became adventurers. Master took us in, and today is our day off."

Marco is excited and saying a bit of nonsense.

"Hmm? I don't understand, but you became adventurers and earned money, so you're here to buy skewers, right?"

"Yeah, we made a promise with the uncle."

"To come when we grow up. I didn't expect it to be so soon, but if you can earn money, I have no complaints. Nine skewers, right? Wait a moment."

We talked about the past while waiting for the skewers to cook. I couldn't talk in detail about the spirit communication, but the uncle listened to us happily.

When I told him that I became a spirit mage's disciple, the uncle was very worried. As Master said, spirit mages have a bad reputation.

"Uncle, it's fine. Master is a great person. He lets us eat our fill every day, so we're very happy."

"Is that so? Hmm. You're dressed well and look healthy. You seem to have gained some weight, so I believe you, but he might be fattening you up to sell you. Be careful."

Is that possible? For Master, the money from selling us would probably not be much. It would be more profitable for him to go to the dungeon alone than to go through all that trouble.

"I think it's fine." "Yeah, Uncle. Master is great." "A good person?"

"Is that so? Well, if you trust him, he's probably not a bad person... but keep a little doubt in the back of your mind. Here, they're done."

"Here, 900 elts. Thank you."

"Sure, come again."

We paid the uncle and waved goodbye as we left the stall.

"Sara-nee, should we eat while walking?"

"No, it's dangerous. Let's eat in the square. There, we can sit and buy drinks."

"Got it. Let's hurry before they get cold." "Kikka wants to eat quickly too."

We hurried to the square, bought drinks, and ate the skewers.

"Delicious." "Tasty." "Delicious."

Marco and Kikka smiled. The food Master gives us is probably more delicious, but the meat uncle's skewers were a treat in our hard lives, so they tasted especially good.

We shouldn't be as hungry as when we were in the slums, but we finished all three skewers quickly without talking.

"Phew. It was delicious. Sara-nee, let's go to the uncle's stall again."

"Sure. Let's go to the uncle's stall on the next day off too."

"Okay."

"Alright, what should we do next?"

We've visited the uncle's stall, our first goal. We'll go to Gina's restaurant for lunch, so we still have some time.

"Let's look around various shops. We won't be chased away now."

We decided to follow Marco's suggestion and visit places in the dungeon city we couldn't go to before. Walking will make us hungry, so it's perfect.

Thank you for reading.