The city basked in the morning light as the sun began to peek over the tall border walls of the capital city, Rosalia. Only a few birds chirped melodically as most of them were still resting in their nests. Citizens of Arame weren't much different, as most were still lost in their dreamworlds, catching some z's.
In the near silence of dawn, heavy and exhausted steps echoed through the empty streets. Jiro marched with a small leather pouch at his belt containing all his belongings: seven gold coins and nothing more. Jiro, why don't you tell me where you're heading?
"Urgh… I'm sleep-deprived and annoyed. Do I have to?"
Well… yeah.
*sigh* "Ok. After I got hit with that Konosuba 'You're screwed and you're severely in debt on top of it' type beat situation, Ms Carmen got me a job at a local bakery."
And that's where you're headed now?
"Yeah. Apparently, bakers start at 6 AM. I need someone to explain to me how these people wake up so early if they don't have alarm clocks."
They employ a night hag spirit that enters your dreams and wakes you at scheduled times. There's a whole industry in Rosalia providing these services.
"Oh… That's actually pretty clever. Anyway, I managed to wake up because my phone still had some charge left, and now I'm trying to find the Crispy Hoof Bakery."
Good luck, and Jiro?
"Yeah?"
You forgot to use your inside voice and have been speaking out loud this whole time.
Jiro looked around and noticed an older woman setting up her vegetable stall on the side, observing the young hero suspiciously. She pulled out a small pendant with a silver moon and started praying. It was hard to tell whether she was praying for the troubled teenager to find peace, or for this dangerous and deranged man to be deleted from existence.
Suddenly, wind whistled through the street, swirling and swooping under the stall, snatching the lady's vegetables like a tornado. It kept flying away from the poor lady. She shot Jiro a furious glare before chasing after the supernatural gusts that had swept away her entire stand.
"I guess the Goddess didn't like hearing a prayer for her chosen one to be deleted."
You're still using your outside voice.
(Shit. Right. Sorry. Too sleepy)
Jiro continued through the city that was just about to wake up. The cobblestone roads sparkled with morning dew. Single stray cat strolled gracefully along the edge of a small building, stretching its orange paws in the morning sun. The chirping of birds grew louder as time passed.
After turning the corner by the General Store, Jiro spotted a large magenta house with a pink roof. The tiles, usually dull with their brownish-grey tones, caught the eye of passersby. Turquoise beams supported the roof from the ground, and above the bright orange doors hung a large sign saying, "Welcome to Crispy Hoof Bakery!"
Stylistically and architecturally, this building was a bit of a mess. The clashes of hues and shades should create disquiet, but strangely, this chaotic palette made this establishment feel homier.
As Jiro pushed open the comedically bright door, a soft bell rang above his head. The inside was just as chaotic as the outside. Mish-matched furniture, each piece bought from a different carpenter. None matched, which made it all the more unique.
He stepped closer to the big wooden counter, noticing a call bell on top of the oak plank. Just as he was about to press it, a man came out of the kitchen.
"It's closed!" he said with a yawn.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Jiro. Ms Evergreen told me to come here first thing in the morning. I'm here for the baker's assistant job?"
"Right! Sorry, laddie. Even after all these years waking with the sun, I can't shake off this morning fatigue," he chuckled.
The man stepped in front of the counter. He wore a long white apron tied behind his back. His short, ginger hair was unruly and wavy, with a five o'clock shadow. On each side of his head, small elk antlers jutted proudly. His hooves clacked softly as he approached to shake Jiro's hand.
"I'm Rory. Glad to have you aboard, laddie. We've been so busy with the city folk's love for our bread that I put out a help request. Wanted to give me a little girly break before she heads off to the academy. I want her to study in peace without worrying about the shop."
Rory pointed at a picture frame of a family of fauns: Rory, his wife, and their daughter pretending not to care. They looked like a happy bunch. Reminder of his own family back home.
Jiro shook his head quickly. He didn't want to dwell on Japan right now; it was time to focus on the job.
"Thank you for the opportunity, sir. I don't have much baking experience, but I promise to listen carefully and learn everything you can teach me!"
Faun laughed heartily and slapped Jiro on the back with a broad grin.
"Now that's proper spirit, laddie. I'm going to train you up to be a genuine baker. You'll see."
"Honey? Is someone here?"
Suddenly, a young-looking woman entered from the kitchen. Fiona – Rory's wife – walked into the room, clicking her hooves on the floor, wearing a matching apron. Her lips curved into a gentle, motherly smile.
"Oh goodness! You must be Jiro. Carmen told us all about you, sweetie. It must have been tough with the whole purification abyss spirits situation."
"That's an understatement of the century," Jiro chuckled generously. "But I'm glad to be here. Lazing around would be lovely, but there's nothing better than earning your living like a proper man."
"That's right, laddie," Rory nodded approvingly. "I can see there's potential in you."
That was a complete lie. Inside his soul, Jiro screamed in agony, thinking about the fact that he could be doing absolutely nothing, collecting benefits, chatting with Paulina when she was off duty, drinking coffee outside the guild, snacking on some grilled meat from the food stalls.
Instead, he had to work – every fibre of his being detested that idea. Jiro did his best to stop himself from crying as he lied through his teeth. He simply couldn't summon any excitement about being there.
"I'm so excited to be here!" he said shamelessly.
"Urgh! Why is there so much noise?"
One last person entered the scene – Cassie, Rory and Fiona's daughter. A teenage girl going through her independent phase, she walked through the door in her bear-print pyjamas. Her face immediately flushed pink upon seeing Jiro. She was dressed in an overly cute outfit in front of a very handsome young man roughly her age.
"Stop staring!" she yelled as she threw a small plush bear she was holding. Realising she had just abandoned Sir Fluff-a-lot, she hurried over to Jiro to retrieve her teddy, blushing deeply, then made a quick, strategic retreat back into the house.
Rory hid his eyes behind his hand and let out a loud sigh.
"Sorry for my daughter. She can give us all a headache sometimes." He laughed it off. "Come. My wife and I will show you the art of making bread."
"Yes, Sir!"
Jiro stepped forward into the kitchen. Ready to get that bread.
Literally.