Chapter 23 : Ugly twelve years old (6)

It was just another day.
Late autumn at twelve, when having three people in the shop felt familiar.

“Ain, Sniveler.”
“I’m not Sniveler.”

With the woman still trailing me, helping with work, Uncle called me out of the blue.
“Anyway, Sniveler, I’ve been thinking.”
“What’s up?”

His proposal caught me off guard.
“It’s about that girl you brought. How about teaching her to work here officially?”
“Huh…”

I hadn’t expected that from him, so I just stared blankly.
Scratching his head awkwardly, he continued.
“She’s helping you anyway, so why not hire her properly? Or does that seem off to you?”

My silence wasn’t doubt.
“No… It’s a good idea.”

It was something I’d felt too guilty to suggest, overwhelmed by his kindness in letting her stay.
I’d been agonizing over how far I could push.
“Won’t pay much, but she’ll get a salary.”
“It’s fine. Cut mine a bit to give her more, just let her work.”

See, her future had been nagging at me.
I planned to travel someday, and I worried about leaving her behind.
I wanted her to adapt, to live normally.
Even if I traveled for decades, I didn’t intend to part with her forever.
My small, big wish was for her to thrive in the Empire without me.
For her to step further into the world.

Uncle offered that first.
Gratefully.
“Then ask her and let me know.”
“Thanks, Uncle.”
“For what? I’m getting cheap labor, you brat.”

I grinned and hugged him lightly.
“Heh, really, thanks.”
“Hey! Don’t hug me, you creep!”
What a kind guy.

After talking, I approached the woman, sitting blankly, watching us.
She spread her arms as I neared, like she wanted a hug.
I chuckled and faced her.

“Ain, what’s up?”
“Wanna work at the shop too?”

I asked, her arms still outstretched.
“But I’m already helping?”
“Not helping—getting paid to work.”

She tilted her head, puzzled.
“Oh, salary…”
“….”

Her face hardened, thinking it over.
“…Can I earn money too?”
“Yeah, you get paid for work. It’s normal.”

At my assurance, she tilted her head a few times, then—
“Then I wanna work like Ain…”

Her face brightened, agreeing.
I grabbed her waving hands, pulling her up—not hugging, just helping her stand.
That earned me a pout.

“Ain, you hugged that guy but not me.”
“It’s not like that.”
“You said being fair matters. This isn’t fair.”
“…Fine.”

She stomped, arms wide, demanding a hug.
When I gently hugged her, she flinched, smiling happily.

I boldly said she should work, but there were hurdles.
First, she didn’t know formal speech.
She hadn’t learned to respect elders, superiors, or customers.
I’d planned to teach her before leaving, but it shot to priority.
To work here, she needed to learn polite speech.

“Formal speech is easy. Just add ‘~seyo,’ ‘~hasnap,’ or ‘~isnap’ to what you say.”
“Goodbye-seyo?”

It wasn’t that simple.
“…Uh, not wrong, but more politely…”
“What’s polite-yo?”

She absorbed it oddly.
“Like… respecting someone above you.”
“Are shop people above me-isnap?”

I struggled to explain.
“….”
“If you don’t know, skip it-seyo.”

She tilted her head, and I just stared.
Yeah, formal speech… we’ll take it slow.

Next, she needed something to hide her appearance.
The robe, covering her head, wasn’t practical for shop work.
“Yansen, got anything to change someone’s look?”
“What’s this sudden… not a kid, but a lanky creep now.”

I went straight to the adventurer’s shop, asking.
“Something to alter appearance.”
“That’s not the point. Haven’t seen you in ages—greet me first, you beanpole.”

His baffled look baffled me.
“Huh? Don’t you just care about money? I didn’t know you wanted greetings.”
“…What do you take me for?”

Honestly, I saw him as Money-Grubber Yansen.
“Uh… You like money?”
“That’s true, but… I’m human. Seeing you grown up after so long makes me glad. Get that, at least.”

His slightly hurt tone made me scratch my head awkwardly.
I hadn’t expected him to say that.
I’d treated him like a novel character.
Unlike Lendo or market folks, I saw him as scripted.
His name in the novel, his “Money-Grubber” title, his customer-first attitude even for kids—it made me see him as less human.

“…Uh…”
“Don’t overthink it. It’s just been a while.”

I’d treated him like a machine, outputting results for inputs.
Rude, really.

It hit me.
Leaning on his hand, watching me, he was a person in this world.
This novel-world was becoming real.
I started accepting that.

“So don’t treat me like a machine. Act like I’m human. I’m as glad as I’m miffed.”
His grin after that made me laugh too.

I greeted him as he wished.
“Yeah, long time no see, Yansen.”
“Right, customer. Been a while. What’re you after?”

It felt formal, but I went through it.
“Here to buy something to change someone’s look.”
“Hm, for you?”
“No, someone else.”

His face turned sly.
“Aha, for that robe’s owner, eh?”
“…Something like that.”

He spun wild theories from me buying a robe ages ago.
“Keh, this kid’s planning a lover’s escape or what?”
“Not like that. Just need it.”
“Sure, they all say that. I’ll get something pretty for the lady.”
“Seriously.”

Like Lendo, Yansen’s weird assumptions were absurd, but—
“Here, how’s this?”
“…Nice.”

The sapphire gleamed shyly sky-blue.
Imagining her smiling with it around her neck—
the necklace he offered was stunning, and I nodded.

“It’s a good one. Only high mages or top adventurers could see through it.”
“You’ve got stuff like that?”
“Adventurer connections, kid. Don’t pry—you’ll get hurt.”

The novel didn’t detail that, so I knew nothing.
I nodded vaguely, taking the item.

But—
“30,000 dera.”
“That’s… too much. Discount it.”

The necklace cost more than expected—over four months’ wages.
“Discounts don’t feed me. 30,000 dera.”
“20,000.”

I haggled.
“…Crazy? 30,000’s already cut, you nut.”
“20,000.”
“No way. Scram.”

The robe was a month’s pay; I couldn’t burn this much on a necklace.
“20,000.”
“40,000, you brat. You’re too cheeky.”
“Why? You said treat you human, not a money-grubber! Cut it more!”
“I said human, not sucker!”

But human bonds sometimes mean taking a hit.
“Like you said, it’s for a girl, so discount it. 25,000 dera, deal?”
“Deal, my ass. Want a cut? Be polite.”
“Honored Yansen, please lower the price. This fool begs. 25,000 dera, please.”
“Nope.”
“Damn—”

Ugh, this money-grubbing jerk.
All my earlier sentiment’s canceled.

After much haggling, I got the necklace for 25,000 dera, promising to buy travel gear here too.
“…Greedy jerk.”

Thinking of its original 45,000 dera price, I was the greedy one.
Hm.
“….”
Yeah, thanks.

I headed to the shop, steps light.

Dusk darkened the sky.
I’d come to Yansen’s after closing the shop, so I hurried back.
Clutching the necklace’s case, I walked with odd excitement.
It was a painful expense, but unlike before, I felt no regret.
My resolve was firm.

Her unchanged kindness post-awakening eased my fears.
I knew she was trying to stay the same, even if I didn’t know how much.
A gift like this? I could give it gladly.

That’s all it was.
Knock knock.
The shop door clicked open.
“Ain? Forget something?”

Her lips twitched, happy to see me.
“Take this.”
“Huh…?”

Her eyes widened at the small case.
“You’ll need it to work here.”
“….”

I smiled, offering the necklace—for that simple reason.

My hand trembled as I held it out; hers shook as she took it.
Silence passed.
She opened the case cautiously, peering inside.

Ashen hair.
Ashen eyes.
Delicate jawline.
Pale skin.
Slender hands.
A now-womanly figure.

She gazed at the necklace, lips curling up.
“Ain, is this a gift for me?”
“…I bought it ‘cause you need it.”

Her eyes softened, asking if it was a gift.
“Thanks… I’ll treasure it.”
“It changes your look, so wear it always.”

Her emotions flickered, hard to contain, her face shifting.
Sad, then joyful, it kept changing.
Her eyes gleamed, then clouded.
Then she held the necklace out to me.
“…Can you put it on me?”
“….”

She sparkled.
Maybe it was the evening lamplight, but she glowed.
“…Can’t you?”
“I will.”

I nodded, taking the necklace and fastening it around her neck.
The blue gem touched her, glowing shyly sky-blue.
Her hair and eyes slowly shifted to another color.
Not a total transformation—just hiding what needed hiding, still a beautiful woman facing me.

“How’s it look, Ain?”
“…Suits you.”

With her bright smile.
Her eyes fixed only on me.
We faced each other.