opening day
"Chloe, where are the vegetables I asked you to buy, nya?" a voice from the direction of the kitchen.
"Ah, sorry, May, I forgot to buy them, nya," Chloe replied while sweating profusely.
"You're late, AND you forgot to buy ingredients. If this goes on, I'm going to cut your salary, Chloe," Mama Mia crossed her arms and wore a displeased face.
"I'm going to buy those ingredients. See you later, Xian," Chloe said while running to the door and quickly disappearing.
"Now that's dealt with, what's your name, Xian was it?"
"My name is Xián yǎ. I hope we can work together. Is there a room you can provide?" I said.
"Well, Xian ya, welcome to my establishment. You said you need a room and work, right? There is an empty room upstairs for you. But in the meantime, I'll give you your uniform."
Mama Mia walked to the back door, and after a minute, she came out with a green uniform.
"Go there and to the right. There you can find the changing room. We will be opening in the morning to evening. Right now is break, so get acquainted with your co-workers. But when the break is over, get ready," Mama Mia commanded.
Following the direction where she pointed, I found the changing room after some walking. Entering it, I quickly took off all my clothes but paused after looking at my body.
In the past, I was used to my scarred-filled body, ranging from sword cuts to beasts' claws. But now, it is pristine without any blemishes.
'This is my new life. The past has to be forgotten, and the future needs to be determined.'
Quickly putting on my new outfit, I exited the changing room and returned to the front of the pub.
"So, you're the new employee. Nice to meet you. My name is Ryuu," a stern voice came from behind me. Turning around, I saw a green short-haired lady with long ears.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Xián yǎ. I hope we can work together in the future."
"Same as well."
"Alright, all of you, we are about to open, so get ready!" Mama Mia shouted.
Ryuu and I stopped our conversation and got ready for the opening hour.
Mama Mia flipped the card outside the building to 'open,' and soon enough, adventurers and citizens entered.
"Ryuu, I want two beers and two roasted beef," one adventurer shouted.
"Oh, a new waitress!? Beautiful lady, what is your name?" one adventurer shouted, gathering the attention of all the others.
"My name is Xián yǎ. You can call me Xián."
"Haha, Xian is it? Let's cheer for Xian. CHEERS!"
"CHEERS!" all the adventurers raised their cups as they happily ate their meal. I helped them refill until evening.
"Xian, give me a refill!"
"Understood."
"Xian! Food for table 5," May placed two plates on the counter.
"On it."
---
"Good job, everyone," Mama Mia said.
"That was busier than before. Why the sudden rise in customers, nya?" Chloe panted while resting on one of the chairs.
"Maybe because our Xian pulled all of them from the streets, hehe," Syr replied.
"You guys can take a break or go home, Xian," Mama Mia added. Then she turned to me.
"Follow me upstairs. Your room is ready." Mama Mia began to walk to the stairs that led to the upper floor, and I quietly followed.
After stopping in front of a door, Mama Mia turned to me.
"Here is your room. If you need anything else to be added, ask me first."
"Thank you, Mama Mia." I nodded to her.
"Don't worry about it. A retired adventurer like you should be retiring, but you're working instead, so it's the least I can do."
Mama Mia began walking back, and I entered my room.
My room was moderately furnished, with a bed, a wardrobe, and a chair and a table near a window.
After changing into my work outfit and sitting in a lotus position on my bed, I decided that I needed to get stronger. This body has the weakest stamina I've ever seen, and the only reason I could keep up with the inflow of customers is because I enchanted my whole body with soul energy.
I slowly guided my soul to injure my bones and muscles to induce growth. Even though it was painful, my face remained calm. I had faced worse injuries than this. After making sure my entire body was injured, I lay on my bed and let drowsiness take me.
---
Waking up to the sun on my face, I checked my body to see it fully healed. I exited my room, searched for the bathroom, and, after wandering for a minute, found it. I quickly took a shower.
Exiting the bathroom, I returned to my room, quickly changed into my work outfit, and came downstairs.
"Oh, Xian, good morning," Mama Mia saw me while she cleaned some of the tables.
"Good morning, Mama Mia," I shortly replied.
"You haven't eaten anything yet, right? Come to the kitchen. I prepared breakfast."
Mama Mia walked to the kitchen door, and I naturally followed. There, I saw two plates filled with food.
Sitting down on a chair, I quietly ate, and Mama Mia also ate with me.
"Oh, Mama Mia, and also Xian! Good morning, you two." Looking over to who said it, there was a short cat girl with a cap entering the kitchen.
"Ah, May, good morning," Mama Mia said.
"Good morning," I quietly continued eating.
May approached a hanger in the kitchen, put on her apron, and prepared the food to be ready.
"So, Xian, if you don't mind me asking, are you blind?" May said to me.
"Indeed, I am blindfolded, but that does not mean I cannot see."
May stopped cutting the vegetables and with a confused look, asked, "How?"
"I use magic to feel around," I told part of the truth.
"Oh, that makes sense." May continued cutting the vegetables.
After finishing my meal, I quietly left the kitchen while Mama Mia was still eating and May was preoccupied.
---
Syr, POV:
Quickly shutting the door behind me, I tried to calm myself, but remembering what I saw only intensified the feeling.
What I saw was not human. Usually, a human soul is white with gray, representing tainted or bad deeds. But what I saw was not even a normal soul. No, what I saw was a soul colored in red, a soul covered with bloodlust, a soul that wanted nothing but to feed on flesh and blood, a soul that killed others for the fun of it.
But the worst part was that the soul contained a sword. Even looking at the sword, I heard screams of agony, thousands of faces tormented inside the blade, and the only thing sealing the sword was a worn-out cloth covered with sigils.
Who is she? What does she want from working here? Is she one of the gods disguised like me? Lots of questions are unanswered.
After calming down my body, I swore not to mess
with her. Even a god is helpless against a blood-hungry beast.