Chapter 51 - First Day of Community Service

With midsummer approaching, daytime is noticeably longer than nighttime. Because of that, Saku grew a bit more exhausted as he needed to work longer hours per day.

"Good grief...how long do I have to endure until winter comes?" He let out a deep sigh as he rested his chin on the mop handle.

It was indeed a very tiring day for Saku, yet he can't just leave his sister do all the work at the inn. While Saki is busy preparing the dinner menu at the kitchen, his task is to mop the wooden floor and clean the tables. Any time soon, hungry and tired men and women just like him will come in and the whole place will be in chaos again.

During winter, everyone's holing up inside their own homes...I could take a rest the entire season and wake up the next spring.

"Big Bro, I'm done preparing the dishes...--why are you just standing there and doing nothing, huh?" Saki crossed her arms as she spoke.

"A-Ah, Saki! Sorry, I just spaced out for a moment," he replied out of surprise.

"As I thought, you're still not feeling well. Do you want to take a rest for today? I will prepare the sheets now--"

"Ahhh, I told you already I'm fine!" Saku spoke in a loud voice. "Whatever happened in the past, stays in the past. I don't want to stress myself more over that."

'Conflicts of that magnitude are just natural when one is running a family business', he said. If a person is easily affected by problems involving either his personal life or his way of living, how much more if there's a crisis involving both?

"Saki, listen here. Your brother is the most awesome man in all of Plate Town and obviously, the most

chill--"

*clang*

In the middle of their discussion the chime hanging on the door rang suddenly, indicating someone

entered the inn.

"Ah, good evening dear custo--wait, what the hell happened to you?!"

Saku and Saki turned their gazes towards the person, only to find out Ren standing in front of them,

looking at them with deadpan eyes.

"Brother Ren, did you got into a fight? Your clothes look so dirty!"

'Not only that, but you looked like a tired corpse!', Saki remarked.

"N-No...I didn't." Ren replied feebly.

Saku rushed towards him. "What happened to you? No matter where I look at you, it really looks like

you got beaten up real bad."

Contrary to Ren's appearance Aoi's white dress still looked as pure as ever, as she cling tightly on her

brother's back while sleeping.

"It's just that...I slipped on a mud puddle in the middle of the forest. Yeah," Ren averted his gaze from them.

He can't tell the truth anyway, so as usual he had to make an excuse.

"Well, nevermind about that. You two, take a bath and change your clothes immediately. The hot water on the tub is supposedly for my own use, but you two could use it," Saku shrugged his shoulders.

"Eh? Is it really okay?"

"Of course. If we leave you guys at that state, someone might call the town Health and Sanitation

Department and it's not good for the business."

Hearing those words, Ren felt his cheeks burn in embarrassment.

"W-We'll take you up on your offer!"

"That's fine, that's fine. Hurry up and clean yourselves already."

"I'll prepare the towels too!" Saki added.

After Aoi and Ren went for the bath, Saki noticed her brother looking at them with a puzzled face.

"Hey Saki...is it just me or I'm feeling a different aura in those two than before?"

"Surely it's just you, Big Bro. I don't sense anything different from Brother Ren or Aoi."

'You're just tired, just admit it already,' she added.

Saku shook his head lightly. "Looks like...you're right. What am I thinking, they're just a regular brother-sister duo just like us. Seems like my energy has dropped enough to affect my senses."

A few minutes later the first wave of customers for the evening has finally arrived, and with that the

siblings has completely forgotten about the strangeness of their two friends as they focused more on giving the best service they could give to their customers.

Just like what they say, business as usual.

-----

"Now that I'm clean again, it's your turn now to take a bath, Aoi."

After she passed all the [Sacred Curses] she knew to me, Aoi immediately felt sleepy and her complexion became a bit pale. Thanks to that I had no choice but to clean her body all by myself.

"I wonder, do gods like her really need to take a bath the same way humans do? No matter how much she moves she doesn't smell sweaty and while her clothes do get dirty sometimes, they only need to be soaked in warm water to become clean again," I asked to myself.

Washing her long, silky, bluetiful hair has became a favorite pastime for me, but I still think that what

I'm doing right now is a crime.

After that, drying time. This too, is also my favorite pastime.

More than just feeling exhausted, I think I already surpassed the limits a human being can exert before dying of fatigue by hundreds of times.

Also, a human body is made up of about 60 percent water, right? But this little sadist replaced all of it with smoke! How cruel!

Still, I won't take a rest yet as I have to take care of Aoi first. She did more things for me than the ones I did for her after all, so doing this is alright.

"Not just her, but everyone did more for me as well."

I can't help but to feel embarrassed sometimes, thinking that I don't have anything to give them in

return. Just being myself is enough, they said, but in reality it isn't and will never be enough.

"Tomorrow...my community service will start. Okay, I will do my best to help many people needing

assistance!"

-----

This isn't the first time I experienced this, but I'm still amazed that I could recover all my energy in just a single night. All thanks to the little blue goddess.

"...Big brother, you're going out already?" Aoi asked me after we had our usual breakfast together. Just like me, Aoi is back on her usual self.

"Yeah. I have to start early, so I could still do missions at the Guild afterwards," I replied to her.

"...So today's the first day," her eyebrows frowned in dismay. "Then, can I come with you big brother?"

"Only if you behave properly in front of other people."

"...Ugh, that is troublesome."

"That's the rule. Either that, or stay here and help the siblings manage the inn."

"...Uuuuu. I understand, big brother," Aoi spoke after she pondered about it for a moment. "As long as you won't be separated from me, I will endure it!"

That's great and all but clearly you're not happy with it Aoi and it shows.

"Then, let's go!"

I have to meet the town chief first before I could start doing anything. I heard that he is a nice man, so I hope he would go easy on me.

"It is a pleasure meeting you, Ren Mortel. I am called Finn Verner, and I am the current administrative

chief of Plate Town," a white-haired man wearing a faded brown coat greeted me upon entering a small office inside the town hall.

"A-Ah, it's my pleasure to meet you too, sir!" I almost stuttered my words in front of him.

"Now, now, don't be so tense," the town chief laughed. "I'm just the head of a small town so there's no need for you to be so formal."

He then shifted his gaze towards Aoi, and smiled. "If I'm not mistaken, this girl right here is your little

sister. Am I right?"

"Ah, yes! Her name is Aoi."

I slightly nudged her with my elbow, telling her to introduce herself to the other person. She looked at me in contempt, but I returned a sharp gaze to make her obey.

"...Uuuuu. M-My name's Aoi. P-Pleased to meet you..."

The town chief laughed again. "Just like what that kid Saku said to me, you two are really stuck to each other like glue."

He stood up for a moment and went inside another room, then returned afterwards carrying tea and

snacks.

"Y-You don't need to bother too much, sir. We're just here for the community service sentence."

"I see. Well then, let's get straight to the point."

Pulling a drawer under his table, he took out a bunch of forms, a pamphlet, and a pen then handed

them over to me.

"In exchange for your temporary freedom, you are sentenced to undergo community service starting

today, which will last depending on the severity of your case."

'Each day there will be various tasks given by the residents which must be done on the same day. Once a task has been done the client resident will put a sign on the notepad which we'll provide you later, indicating that he or she is satisfied with your work. One sign is equal to one point, take note. In case the client felt dissatisfied with your service, you are allowed until the next day to comply with the requirements. Failing to do so, a five point deduction will be imposed on you, which will make the duration of your sentence longer,' he further explained.

"If you fail to do all the tasks and managed to have your points reach zero, you will be sent back to jail again for a full duration of your sentence. Am I clear?" the town chief let out an imposing look at me.

"A-Ah, yes!" My back felt a chill when I met his gaze.

So in short, my sentence is just a glorified version of an errand boy, in steroids? As I thought, the other option isn't any better than the first one.

Afterwards he guided us to another room, and gave me a yellow vest, a black cap, and a small notebook--things I needed for my community service sentence.

"With this you're set. Well then, we will go now to your first assignment."

"I-I will do my best!" I hurriedly replied.

"...Muuuu..."

I know what you're feeling Aoi but please, behave.

-----

In order for my sentence to be lifted I needed to complete 50 tasks from different people, that's 50

points all in all. It might be a small amount to other people, but for me it's huge of a tussle.

"For your first assignment allow me to introduce to you Miss Rebecca Mallory," the town chief didn't

waste any time as he had me meet my first client right away.

By the way, the place where the town chief has brought us is a place I haven't seen before. The whole place is surrounded by square hedges, flowering trees and there are several statues placed around a fountain, which spew out streams of water high up in the air.

A garden in Plate Town? I haven't seen any signs of its existence in the maps before.

"Ah, p-pleased to meet you, Mish Mallory," I completely stuttered on my words. So embarrassing!

The woman in front of me, is different from the ones I commonly see around town. As usual, it's obvious if someone came from a wealthy family.

"So this is the offender you're talking about, Chief? I'm amazed they're becoming younger and younger over the years," she spoke to the town chief with an air of haughtiness exuding out of her.

"He just violated a minor offense, however due to some circ.u.mstances he have no ways to pay the

damages caused to the complainant."

"Is that so? How pitiful."

Hey...I may be dirt-poor right now, but I'm not that pitiful yet! Don't talk in front of me like that!

"Ah, pardon us for that. Anyway, she, in case you haven't heard about her, is one of the region's leaders in the wine business. Her main office is located here in Plate Town, so it's a great honor for us to have her here," the town chief explained.

I see. Not only on this town, but she's well known in the entire region. No wonder she has that kind of aura around her.

"I have some important matters to attend to, so I will leave you people for now," the town chief tipped his hat before leaving.

Miss Mallory waved her hand at him. "See you later, Chief."

After the town chief left, she returned her gaze to me. "So, about your task...honestly I haven't decided about it yet."

"I will do whatever you require me to do, Miss Mallory!" I said to her sternly.

As long as it's not degrading or illegal, that is.

"Hmm...let's see. Maybe I'll have you do...--"

She paused when she heard a rustling sound coming from one of the hedges near us.

"What's that, an animal?"

"It might be, Miss Mallory. I noticed this place doesn't have any tall fences so it's easy for beasts to come here."

I don't have a sword with me right now, so the only way to protect Miss Mallory is by using the things I learned from Aoi. However, I think it's not a good idea to use it all the time especially in front of other people.

The hedge shook lightly once again, causing Miss Mallory to become fl.u.s.tered.

"Miss Mallory, stay back. I will drive the animal away."

Luckily I found a stick that I could use for the task. I then asked her to move back as careful as possible, while I poke the plant with the stick.

*pomf*

"Hm?"

"What's wrong, kid?"

"Ah, it's nothing. I think I poked into something soft," I replied, while letting out a wry smile at her.

Poke, poke...

*pomf* *pomf*

"What kind of an animal is inside this hedge?!"

Unable to endure the curiosity swelling inside me, I used my two hands to pry open the hedge.

The creature inside--

"A-Aoi? What in the world are you doing there?!"

Unexpectedly, the 'animal' that's been hiding inside the hedges all this time is none other than my little sister, as she busily munched on homemade cookies and biscuits away from our sight.

"You...you really brought here the snacks the town chief prepared for us earlier, aren't you?" I said to

her as I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and wiped the crumbs off her mouth.

Maybe the reason why she's hiding is because she doesn't want the town chief to see her eat the snacks.

"Ah, what a troublesome girl..."

I glanced on my side for a moment, and I saw Mis s Mallory looking at us for a while now with a

perplexed expression on her face.

"You...who's that child?"

"M-Miss Mallory, I'm very sorry! Y-You see, this girl is my little sister Aoi! I b-brought her with me so that

I could still watch over her even though I'm on my sentence!" I explained to her in a panic.

Oh no, will she get angry at us? Will my first assignment turn into a failure? Please, I don't want to go

back to jail again!

"Hmm..." She slowly walked towards our direction.

In a surprising turn of events, she--

"This..."

--?!

"This is the cutest thing I've ever seen in my whole life!"

Miss Mallory--exclaimed as her eyes are dead set on Aoi whose cheeks are puffing up as she stuff her mouth with snacks. Unable to control herself, she placed her finger on Aoi's cheek, then--

"UUUUUGGYYAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! TOO SOFT, TOO BOUNCY! SHE'S REALLY A SMALL BALL FULL OF

ADORABLENESS!!!!!"

Her voice spilled out like the water on the fountain as if all the impressions she have shown to the town chief is just nothing.

"Ah, I have finally decided!"

She stood up, and hurriedly went to a building a bit far away, which apparently is her home.

Eh...eh?

For some reason I can't process the situation in my mind right now.

After a few minutes she returned, carrying a big tray of cookies on her hands.

"For your assignment allow me...to fondle your sister's cheeks even for just a few minutes!" She said

while breathing deeply and unevenly.

"F-Fuuu--?!" I almost spit my soul at her sudden request.

Hey. Hey, hey, hey! D-Don't tell me, this woman...

I turned my back towards her, and carried Aoi on my arms. "I'm sorry Miss Mallory, but I'm afraid I can't do that."

"H-Huh?!"

"You see, if I fail on my first day of community service I would be going straight to prison again. However, as long as for my little sister's safety, I won't regret going back there."

I won't just allow anyone with impure intentions to just casually touch Aoi like that. Unless she herself consents then I shall allow it, but I don't think she'll let people other than me to cuddle with her anytime soon.

"We're sorry for the trouble we've caused you that's why, please excuse us!" I said before carrying Aoi away from this place.

"H-Hey, please wait--"

Seeing the two hurry out of her place, Miss Mallory let out an exhausted sigh, as she bite on the cookies that she should've given to Aoi.