Chapter 4: Thief

The steps were well measured and light, without putting force and very quiet.

The figure passed very close to where Hiroshi was sleeping.

As soon as it passed, Hiroshi's sleep vanished and he woke up. Hiroshi, who had spent his entire life in business, was used to having light sleep, ready for any unexpected business calls.

So as soon as the figure passed next to him, he woke up immediately, but he didn't make any movements. He had sensed that something was wrong.

There's someone here and they're going upstairs.

What do I do? Do I stay like this and do nothing?

No, it could be dangerous if it's an assassin.

But if I get up, they might kill me too, and I don't know if they have magic or not because I certainly don't.

But it could also be that they go to kill and, to not leave evidence, they might kill me too. But it could also be that they leave me alive so people will think I killed them. In both cases I'm not sure, so what do I do?

Hiroshi couldn't decide what to do, but in the end he took courage.

The figure was about to go up the stairs when Hiroshi threw his blanket over the intruder's head, grabbed them and threw them down on the floor, starting to shout: "THIEF! THIEF!"

The figure tried to break free but Hiroshi had really grabbed onto them.

Hearing Hiroshi's voice, old Eldorra woke up and quickly came down with an axe in her hand.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?!" shouted old Eldorra.

She lit the lanterns with her magic and saw Hiroshi who was clinging to a figure.

Then the old woman quickly came down, told Hiroshi to move away and removed the blanket. While the old woman was removing the blanket, tufts of orange-colored hair started to become visible.

Hiroshi already understood that maybe he had done something stupid.

Indeed that figure was none other than Rania, but it was too late now. Hearing Hiroshi's shouting voice, the neighbors had also woken up and were outside waiting to know what had happened.

Old Eldorra quickly went outside and told them that nothing had happened and to stay calm, then in the blink of an eye she closed the door and with an angry expression came to ask Rania:

"Can you tell me where you had gone?"

Rania, with her arms crossed and still sitting on the floor, said: "I was just here wandering around."

The old woman, raising her voice a bit, said: "How many times have I told you not to go out? Why don't you listen to me!"

"I told you I was just here and then I was coming back, if this guy here hadn't put his foot in the way."

"Rania, why do you have to embarrass me in front of everyone?"

"I didn't do anything." Rania turned her gaze away.

"Rania, look at me!"

Rania lost control of herself and shouted: "What is it, aunt? You don't let me do this, you don't let me do that, don't go there, don't go out with him or her. AUNT, I'm not a child now, let me live in peace please!"

Saying this she got up and went to her room slamming the door.

"Ahhhhh..." The old woman, perplexed, sat on the chair and said to Hiroshi: "I'm sorry boy that you had to wake up in the middle of the night."

Right at that moment Hiroshi's head gave an indication:

"I don't want apologies."

"Then what do you want?"

"I want you to allow me to work and stay here, nothing else. Then everything else is fine."

"Why do you want to stay here? Here you won't improve your life."

"It doesn't matter. If something will be written in my destiny, it will happen by itself."

The old woman thought and said: "If you want it so much, then fine, but the pay won't be fixed. If there are good earnings it will be more, if not less."

"Fine."

"Now go to bed."

After that the old woman also went to her own room and Hiroshi lay down again on that mattress.

The only reason I made this choice is so I can have a base that will keep me alive with the little money I'll earn. Meanwhile I'll search for my objective in this world.

Then Hiroshi closed his eyes and went to sleep for another two hours.

As soon as the sun rose, the old woman came down to reopen the tavern.

Hiroshi was awake too.

"So, what do you say we sign the work contract then? I'm telling you beforehand that you'll have to work from morning until evening, without interruptions. It's not an easy job and the tavern will only be closed on the last day of the week," said the old woman.

"Fine, no problem," said Hiroshi.

So the old woman prepared the paper and then gave it to Hiroshi.

Once signed, the old woman said: "So, when you work, try to show a smile on your face. People feel more comfortable and happy."

"I can't guarantee that," said Hiroshi.

"I don't want to be annoying, but can you tell me why? It's been since yesterday that I see you like this with this empty expression. What's wrong?"

"I can't feel emotions."

The old woman, hearing this, started to laugh a little: "But how is this possible? It's something inhuman. Not even magic can take this away from you. You have a sense of humor that I don't know."

"It's the truth."

"Fine, I don't want to force you. Just do the job well."

"I'll do my best."

One hour later.

The tavern was now open. Still early morning, so the customers who had to go to work were arriving, so there wasn't too much chaos.

Hiroshi was working hard, and the old woman was in the kitchen. While Rania was still in her room.

Hours passed and it became afternoon, around noon in Hiroshi's world.

The people were now crowding the tavern. Hiroshi's feet and the old woman's hands were like machines.

And Rania still hadn't come out yet.

So the old woman furiously shouted: "RAANNIAAAA! COME DOWN RIGHT NOW!"

Her shout overcame all the noise of the tavern. Some started to be afraid about what could have happened.

So Rania finally came out of her room, came down, went to the kitchen, took the things and started working too.

During work she looked at Hiroshi with anger and made faces, but he didn't care and simply focused on the work.

Seeing this, Rania got even angrier.

Even during lunch break, Rania secretly added too much salt to Hiroshi's plate. Hiroshi tasted the food, took the plate and put it under the sink.

Rania, still frustrated by the lack of reaction from Hiroshi.

In the evening, when the tavern was now full of customers and orders were frequent, Rania didn't want to give up.

So while Hiroshi was carrying about six beer glasses on a tray toward a table, Rania passed near him and tripped him.

This made Hiroshi's balance wobble and he fell down making all the glasses fall to the floor in front of everyone.

Everyone's eyes turned to him and silence appeared. Rania finally thought she found peace in her heart.

But Hiroshi got up, apologized to everyone, collected everything and proceeded to go, but right at that moment:

"HEY! WHERE ARE YOU GOING EH? DON'T YOU SEE THAT YOU RUINED MY CLOTHES WITH THE BEER? NOW WHO'S GOING TO FIX THIS?" said a customer who grabbed Hiroshi by the collar.

"Sir, don't worry. I'll compensate for the damage I caused."

"AH, JUST MONEY? YOU THINK I'LL SETTLE THIS WITH JUST MONEY AH?"

"Sir, I think so. I pay for the damage I caused and the matter is finished."

"AND YOU'RE WRONG DEAR, I'LL TELL..."

Right at that moment the old woman came out of the kitchen and said: "WHAT WRONG THING IS THE BOY SAYING AH?" Old Eldorra looked at him furiously.

"No, nothing, I was just joking ahaha." The man's tone became like that of a rat that had just seen a hungry cat.

"Be careful with your jokes," said the old woman throwing a small bag of money. "TAKE THIS MONEY WHICH IS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR YOUR SHIRT."

So the guy let go of the collar, took the bag and left grumbling.

Hiroshi looked toward Rania for a few seconds and then went away getting back to work.

* * *

Night came, the tavern closed.

Hiroshi ate his food, this time normal and not salty, and then proceeded to sleep. The lanterns went out and it became dark.

A few minutes later someone kicked Hiroshi, but not hard. Hiroshi, who had the blanket over his face, removed it and saw Rania with the lantern in her hand staring at him.

"What do you want?" asked Hiroshi.