Chapter 358 : Nostalgic Morning
We enjoyed the party with our family and friends, talking about so many things that happened on our long trip while distributing souvenirs I bought from various places.
Delica, who wanted to become a skilled fighter someday, was excited to hear the story of us capturing the vicious bandit group that had been terrorizing Tryon’s region for a long time. She also was interested in Ester and said she couldn’t wait to see her when she comes to visit this town in the future.
Nei is a female dwarf, and dwarves are proud of their strength, so she was excited when I told her about my fights against powerful monsters like the Evil Fungus I fought in the forest near Schultria Village. (ch 248)
Unlike the two, Pamella is a pure girl who doesn’t like violence. She was admiring the life of a princess, so she was excited to hear about our days in the castle, but for some reason, she pouted when I told her about Liane.
Yuuri likes reading books and studying new things. He was excited when I told him about Schultria Village. He seemed to be interested in the unique cultures of that village, such as the morning market, the Portal Crystal, and the festival.
Our chef, Dad, was interested in culinary. I told him about the unique food we ate in various places. He had heard about the rockworm soup we ate in Sadola Town from Nei, but he wanted to hear it from my mouth. (ch 137)
Mom and Grandpa were interested in everything I talked about. Just like the others, the two had been good listeners. Grandpa looked a bit worried when I talked about fighting monsters and bandits, though.
While I was busy telling stories, Nicola went to get pampered by Pamella’s mother, Camilla, while Celine was having a drinking contest with Gill oji-san and the guests who were staying in our inn for the night. Delica’s father, Gauche oji-san also joined them. I remember Gauche oji-san having a bad hangover after drinking too much when we stayed in the mayor’s house in Secard Village (ch 59). I handed him a potion just in case when the party was over.
We really had a blast last night. The party came to an end when Nicola returned to Mom with sleepy eyes. She said she wanted to sleep with Mom, but Mom had to clean up, so I brought her to our room and put her in her bed.
Being surrounded by the familiar scenery of the children’s room and the familiar scent of my bed, I closed my eyes and slept soundly last night.
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The next day, the ring of the morning bell of Fatia Town woke me up. It’s been months since the last time I heard that bell.
The fatigue from the long trip hasn’t completely gone, but it doesn’t bother me much. Besides, I always wake up at this hour, so there’s no reason to go back to sleep.
I got off my bed, did some stretching, and approached Nicola’s bed next to mine. She was sleeping while covering her entire body with the blanket, including her head.
「Nicola, it’s time to wake up.」(Mark)
I shook her blanket-covered body that looked like a strange, fluffy lump.
「Zzz…」(Nicola)
「Come on, wake up. You don’t want Mom to scold you again, right?」(Mark)
Nicola has gotten fatter and lazier, so Mom told her to wake up when I woke up and immediately go downstairs to help her prepare breakfast for customers.
After I shook her body two more times, she finally stuck her sleepy-looking face out of the blanket.
「Ugh… It’s so cold…」(Nicola)
It’s indeed cold here. The capital was cold, but Fatia Town was even colder.
「I know it’s cold but you have to wake up. Come on.」(Mark)
「Onii-chan, it’s too early to get up… It’s still dark outside…」(Nicola)
She opened her eyes slightly and looked at the window.
「You know I usually get up around this time, right? Mom and Dad wake up even earlier. They’ve already started preparing to open the dining hall downstairs.」(Mark)
「Se, seriously…? Running an inn and dining hall is pretty tough, huh…?」(Nicola)
「Hahh… You didn’t know that because normally you’re still sleeping when they start working.」(Mark)
「Of course, I’m very grateful and I’m proud of my hardworking parents, but getting up this early every day is too tough for me…」(Nicola)
「You will get used to it. Stop complaining and get off your bed already.」(Mark)
「…Aight…Hwaaahhh *yawn*」(Nicola)
She got off her bed and crawled sluggishly toward the wardrobe to grab her clothes.
After we changed clothes and washed our faces, we went downstairs to help our parents for the first time in a while.
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When we went down the stairs, we saw a pink-haired short girl wearing an apron wiping up a table in the dining hall.
She is Nei. She is currently living as a live-in employee here. Mom lent her one of the rooms for guests upstairs. Our inn is rarely fully booked, so there won’t be a problem if she uses one of the rooms.
Seeing her in an apron reminded me of when I first saw her in the Iron Ore Bar in Sadola Town. She is a dwarf, and dwarves are all short. At first, I thought she was an adult woman with a small body, but turned out she was actually a child, though she was older than me.
Her father is a blacksmith in Sadola, but he doesn’t make much money, so she had to work at the bar as a waitress to make more money. She decided to temporarily move to Fatia and work here to train.
「Yo, Mark, Nicola, good morning!」(Nei)
「Good morning.」(Mark)
「Good morning, Nei-chan!」(Nicola)
Noticing us going down the stairs, she turned her face to us and grinned.
At the same time, Mom came out of the kitchen and approached us.
「Good morning, Mark, Nicola.」(Mom)
「Morning, Mom.」(Mark)
When I greeted Mom back, Nicola ran toward her and clung to her waist.
「Mama~! I woke up early as you told me! Am I a good girl~?」(Nicola)
「Yup! Good girl, good girl~ It’s kinda fresh to see you here this early.」(Mom)
While stroking Nicola’s head, Mom turned her gaze to Nei.
「Mark, Nicola, you two help Nei prepare this place. Nei-chan, Mark will work as he usually does, so I’m not worried about him, but you make sure Nicola works hard too, okay?」(Mom)
「Got it, Boss! Nicola, are you ready to work~?」(Nei)
「Uhh… Please go easy on me…」(Nicola)
While we were absent for months and with Nei’s presence in our inn, things had changed a little bit here, so Mom thought it would be better if we followed Nei’s instructions.
After giving us orders, Mom returned to the kitchen to help Dad prepare the food.
「Well then, Mark, you clean up the outside and handle the trash. Nicola, you help me clean this dining hall. We’ll make the tables and floors sparkling!」(Nei)
「「Yes, Ma’am!」」(Mark & Nicola)
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After cleaning up the entrance and the road in front of our inn from dead leaves and litter, and putting the gathered trash into the trash can, I put the broom away and returned inside.
I could see Nicola lying face down on a long chair. She looked so tired after working under an enthusiastic and energetic leader like Nei.
A while after we were done preparing the dining hall, the guests staying on the second floor came down to the dining hall to have breakfast, including Celine. She held her head as she went down the stairs. It looked like she had a bit of a hangover.
Other than them, customers from the outside also started coming and filling the empty seats.
「Oh? Mark, you’ve returned!」
「Welcome back, Kid!」
「How’s your adventure?」(customers)
「Thank you. It was fun.」(Mark)
Some of the customers are regulars who I know well.
Not just customers, we also got a helper. Adele oba-san came to help out. She is the lady living next door who has been working part-time in our inn for years.
「Ara, Mark, welcome home. I’m sorry I couldn’t be here last night.」(Adele)
「No, it’s alright. I’m home, Adele oba-san.」(Mark)
After greeting me, she immediately went to the kitchen to help Mom.
*/TL : Although Adele has been working there for a long time, she doesn’t have much of a presence. She only appeared once in (ch 48).
After working for a while, Delica finally came to work, replacing me and Nicola.
Nicola, who was super exhausted, went straight back to our room to sleep without eating lunch, which was unusual for her. She was so tired that she didn’t have energy left to eat.
It’s tough for her, but I’m sure she will get used to it after a while. Hand in there, Nicola!
As for me, I went to the vacant lot with Nei who was on her lunch break to check my vegetable field.
Howeverー
「What the… 」(Mark)
「This is terrible…」(Nei)
I built a small playground for children and a place of relaxation for their parents next to my vegetable field on this vacant lot.
However, the lively place I knew had turned into a barren field overgrown with weeds and a lonely place with no children playing there.
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