Chapter 147: A ‘normal’ job in a strange place
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Translator: Denryuu; Editor: Ryunakama
Author’s note: This is a mini chapter dating back to when Roland just started his new job.
「Roland-san, the rest days for next week will fall on Tuesday and Friday. Please have a good rest!」, said Milia, my mentor.
Tuesday… and Friday?
「…Does that mean you don’t need me around?」
「Eh? They’re rest days, you know? The days everyone waits for?」
That can’t be right. Being allowed to ‘rest’ means you’re being laid off.
「I see… so a newcomer isn’t of any use. This is my first time in this line of work, and I may have caused a lot of trouble. But I was doing my best to be diligent…」
「Why are you being so serious!? I know exactly how hard Roland-san has been working, so you can relax! A rest day is a day for you to enjoy life!」
Enjoy life? ‘Enjoy’?
What does that word even mean?
「Is it expected of us to ‘enjoy’ being told to rest?」
「Well, yes… for me, at least. Not only can I laze around in bed, but I can even fall asleep again — not to mention that I can stay up late the previous night!」
「…」
「Hm? You still seem confused! I’m talking about going back to bed and falling asleep again! It’s a luxury you can’t afford on a work day!」
Why does she emphasise it so…? Is that really a form of enjoyment? How do you even manage to go back to sleep?
Wait. You don’t mean… with the help of some psychedelic substance…!?
[T/N Note: The idea of ‘falling asleep again’ can be encompassed within a single word in Japanese, which Roland assumes is the name of some sort of drug. This is essentially untranslatable, so some lines have been rewritten to make it work in English.]
「??」
She looked like she was speaking on behalf of the entire town. But thanks to my life as an assassin, I was acutely aware — painfully so — that books can’t be judged by their covers alone. She may not be the most persuasive person, but I guess I’ll have to take her words as they come.
After all, she’s right. Drug abuse on a work day is extremely dangerous.
I’ll have to find a way to get hold of some, I thought. I’ve just settled down here, and there’s no way I’m letting this place become a drug cartel’s lab.
「But taking a rest will affect my salary, won’t it?」
「Nope, not at all. Our salary is credited by the month, and we are entitled to two rest days a week.」
「I can rest without taking a pay cut…!?」
「You, uh… seem kinda shocked.」
Milia squinted.
「So you mean there are two days on which I can just not come to work…」
「Yeah. This is ‘normal’ as long as your work environment is a healthy one!」
「!」
I see. So this is common sense around these parts. I honestly can’t believe that I can draw a salary without even coming to work…
「And that’s why, Roland-san, you can relax! It’s part of your job, honestly.」
「I understand. As an elite salaryman, I will do my best to relax.」
「Okay! Please do!」
「Also, Milia-san. Long-term drug abuse will take a toll on your body sooner or later. Taking drugs just to fall asleep again… it might be a good idea to give it a miss.」
「Eh? What do you mean? I never said anything about taking drugs! I just wake up, laze around and naturally fall back asleep!」
So that’s how it works. My bad, then.
That night, I told Lyla about these ‘rest days’.
「Ooh. How quaint. You get to rest without affecting their impression of you.」
「Yeah. But I suppose that’s just how it works here.」
I turned my head to kiss her in silent recognition that we were a step closer to a ‘normal’ life.
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