Chapter 7: No Lewd Stuff Allowed

When I opened my eyes, what I saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.  

So, it wasn’t a dream.  

I recalled the intense and heated dawn I had spent with Ari.  

“Right there, right there…!”  

“A little to the side! Ah, yes, there…”  

“Clean it up properly…”  

“Be careful…! You’re getting it all over the sheets!”  

Just recalling the dialogue makes it feel a bit strange.  

It was a terrifying abandoned house that looked like ghosts might jump out at any moment, but cleaning the entire place was out of the question. 

We managed to clear out just one room.  

Despite the saintess having run away first, I worked up a sweat to create a room where at least Ari could sleep.  

Then, I returned to the shop, staggering, and passed out.  

After finishing a brief recollection, I stretched.  

Day 2 of being immersed in the game.  

It was time to start the shopkeeper’s busy day.  

Before we parted yesterday, the saintess had whispered to me with a serious expression,  

“That hood is an item blessed by the goddess. Please try not to take it off, even if it’s a bit uncomfortable.”  

So, today, I put on the slightly uncomfortable hood again.  

Clatter.

Clang.

Thud.

I gathered all the daily sale items from the shop.  

After checking the updated daily quests,  

I began the shopkeeper’s day.  

***

The first customer.  

“Did you sleep well, Ark?”  

“…Thanks to Johanna, I slept very well.”  

[The customer is satisfied.]  

…?  

What?  

Why is she satisfied just by greeting me?  

Anyway, I got a free quest count.  

Feeling good.  

“It’s a gift for being the first customer.”  

I took out a favorable item from my inventory.  

Johanna’s face lit up with a beautiful smile.  

“Thank you, Ark.”  

Hmm.  

A perfect, 100-point smile.  

“Here, have a potion too. It’s good for your health.”  

Johanna’s smile faded slightly.  

It’s really good for you, though.  

After sharing a bit about yesterday’s events,  

“Um, please don’t use the slate in front of others. It could cause unnecessary misunderstandings… And make sure to keep the hood on.”  

She left with those words of advice.  

She said she’d come back to the shop later.  

We both have our own jobs, after all.  

See you tonight, Saintess.  

After Johanna’s good morning visit event,  

Ordinary customers started lining up.  

‘Serena, Hayan, Sorin, Frederica…?’  

They’re all familiar faces.  

Most of them were 3-star friends, and like last time, they mostly traded small amounts of strange items.  

I thought about grabbing a couple of them and offering contracts, but  

3-star common contracts require quite a lot of resources, so I decided it was still too early.  

But I’m short on hands.  

I don’t know about other things, but  

rebuilding the guild house with just Ari and me… ugh.  

We’ll have to build other buildings in the future, but surely we won’t have to grind everything manually, right?  

“Excuse me, shopkeeper. Can you ring me up?”  

“Ah, yes.”  

Snapping out of my thoughts, I took in the sight of the cool, tanned, muscular female warrior,  

“By the way, what do you do for a living?”  

I couldn’t help but ask.  

I’m just curious.  

What does a cool, blonde, tanned warrior girl (3-star) usually do?  

Even the ancient texts of Goguryeo don’t mention that.  

At my sudden question, the golden-tanned warrior, Miss Brown, tilted her head and then answered cheerfully,  

“I’ll do anything as long as I get paid!”  

“I see.”  

Anything, huh?  

Anything.  

A lightning bolt of inspiration struck me!  

Hehe.  

Hehehe…!  

“Brown, could you help me out? I’ll make sure you’re well compensated.”  

Muhahaha…!!!  

***

In front of the temporarily closed shop, ten 3-star warriors gathered.  

Ari? 

Why are you there?  

Anyway.  

“Thank you all for coming. We’ll now begin the reconstruction of the guild house, where the Seeker will reside in the future.”  

Actually, I’ll be living there, but my party members will too.  

But since it’s originally the Seeker’s building, it’s not a lie.  

Exaggerated information for mental motivation.  

And.  

“Here, everyone, have a drink before we start.”  

“Elixir…!”  

“This precious thing that only comes from the tower… As expected of the Seeker…”  

“Just one sip, and I’m overflowing with energy!”  

The satisfaction of the nine soared instantly.  

“Ari!?”  

The only one with a bad expression was Ari.  

Ah.  

She must be a bit uncomfortable seeing what she was supposed to drink being given to others.  

Anyway, we’ll be farming more in the tower tonight, so it’s a small investment for high efficiency.  

To help her understand my deeper intentions, I approached Ari and whispered,  

“You drank a lot earlier. I’ll make sure you have more to drink tonight.”  

“…”  

Anyway, I’ve gathered the workers, and the materials needed for the building repair and the furniture to decorate the interior are all stocked in the shop,

So being a shopkeeper is the best!  

“Let’s go. Let’s finish this quickly. For the Seeker!”  

“For the Seeker!”  

“For the Seeker!”  

I felt a little guilty.  

A few hours later.  

As the sun was setting,  

[Guild House]  

– Current capacity: 1/8 people  

– Current comfort level: 17  

– Current coziness: 20  

– Current grandeur: 8  

Still.  

Ah.  

It’s a nice house.  

It’s not at the level where I can say that yet, but at least from the outside, it’s evolved into a decently livable house, and the interior has been cleaned up nicely.  

“Everyone, you’ve worked really hard.”  

I praised the warriors for their efforts.  

And of course, rewards shouldn’t just end with words.  

Jingling, clattering

“Here’s your pay for today, plus a bonus. Please help out again in the future.”  

“Thank you, Ark!”  

“Now I can have beer and snacks tonight!”  

“Call us again, Ark!”  

The warriors’ satisfaction was also at its peak.  

If I had conducted a survey, I would’ve gotten 5 stars right away.  

3-star warriors giving 5-star ratings. 

That’s precious.  

…No. Let’s stop with the discriminatory thoughts.  

One by one, they left with happy smiles.  

We’ll gather again tomorrow.  

Now that the construction has started.  

The only one who stayed by my side.  

The guild house’s resident and my direct subordinate warrior.  

“Haah, I’m tired…”  

Ari sprawled out.  

While stroking her head,  

“Rest a bit. We’ll be busy again tonight.”  

I promised her a bright and hopeful future.  

***

It had been a long time since I soaked in warm water.  

As I immersed myself in the old but still functional bathtub, filled with my own sweat,  

“Haah…”  

I reflected on the busy day and  

the man who had jumped into my life since yesterday.  

Ark.  

The man who always wore a hood, looked quite ridiculous, so I used to tease him playfully whenever I passed by.  

But no matter how much I teased him, he never reacted, so I quickly lost interest.  

But.  

‘Drink.’  

‘Take your time.’  

‘Don’t spill it.’  

“Eeek…!”  

The moment I recalled his gentle voice and mesmerizing appearance,  

A shiver ran down my spine!  

The memory of drinking was quite exhausting, but  

…I think I have a bit of trauma every time I see a potion bottle sloshing.  

But still.  

Thanks to him, I gained an enormous amount of mana that I could never have achieved on my own, and he rejoiced in my growth as if it were his own, and gave courage to me, who lacked confidence, 

And even provided a place to sleep and wash for me, who used to cram into the attic of an inn with friends every night.  

I was grateful.  

Moreover.  

That touch earlier.  

The gentle hand stroking my head.  

“It felt good…”  

It had been so long since someone showed me such kindness.  

Even though I became a warrior by receiving a revelation, there was a strict hierarchy among warriors.  

I was only a 3-star.  

A warrior in name only, closer to a warrior apprentice.  

There were countless impressive ladies who seemed far more capable than me.  

Not just in skill, but even in age.  

Having just become an adult, Ari had never received such warm affection and attention, even in her hometown.  

Is this what having an older brother feels like?  

“Alright, I’ll work hard again today…!”  

After relieving her fatigue and recharging her motivation,  

Rustle, rustle.

Ari dressed and left the bath, heading to the guild house’s lobby-cum-living room.  

“Ah, perfect timing. You were disappointed earlier, right? Let’s finish this before we head to the tower.”  

“Eeeek…!”  

Even though she drank so much yesterday,  

seeing the box filled with the same amount that was given to the other warriors,  

Ari had a seizure.  

***

“Ark? Are you here?”  

Creak –

Johanna, who couldn’t find Ark at the shop, carefully opened the door to the guild house and entered.  

“Ari…?”  

Damp hair.  

Flushed cheeks.  

A slightly pained expression.  

Heavy breathing.  

A hand gently stroking her lower abdomen.  

Johanna took in Ari’s entire body, which seemed to exude a strange allure.  

Oh, come on.  

‘Isn’t it too soon for something like that?  

Shouldn’t it take at least six months, no, a year?  

The saintess’s chaste thoughts briefly shone through her imagination, but it didn’t last long.  

“Johanna, you’re here! I was waiting for you…!”  

Ari forced a bright smile as she greeted Johanna.  

Then.  

“Johanna, you’re here? You’re late.”  

From the room connected to the living room,  

Ark’s face peeked out.  

His face was calm, but Johanna didn’t miss the single line of sweat running down his forehead.  

…It’s winter, so it’s not the kind of weather to sweat in.  

Johanna sensed something was off, but she couldn’t outright ask, ‘Did you two do that?’  

For some reason, something deep inside her welled up.  

“…The space has definitely improved. I’ll be living here from today too. Please take care of me.”  

In a fit of pique, Johanna exercised her freedom to change residences.