Interlude 1: What lies for a former Maou in this unknown world.

Frederie Spence, Modern Earth 20xx

Envy:

It’s been a week since I was transported to this world. A lot has happened during my first night which have led me meeting Ingrid, this girl in front of me right now. She lets me stay at her apartment complex right now, very generous of her. I don’t really mind but this girl might still be hiding secrets of this world. I can’t let my guard down.

“Say… Why are you so quiet?” she asks.

Do I really have the reason to answer her? Is she trying to have me spill out more information? What if I told her I’m a maou from my previous world.

Wait… Does she even believe me at first place? If this world really doesn’t have any traces of magic, then that could only mean that she doesn’t believe what I’m telling to her from the start?

“Ingrid, why do you believe in me?”

“Did you really think I’ll go on and believe everything you are saying right off the bat? Please stop giving me things to think about already. I’m just as stressed as you.”

That’s right, she have a point.

“Heheh, I guess that includes me now saying that I’m a Maou from where I came from.”

“Oh god… If you can already makes those kinds of jokes, please do me a favour and do household chores every once in a while?”

Household chores. Are you seriously telling that me, a former Maou, should lower himself like a commoner and do household chores?

—is what I would like to say but things are different now.

I need to survive in this world. And for that I need to learn everything from scratch. I’m sorry Ingrid but I’m not in the position right now to slack myself. You might think that I’m freeloading but this is for the better good of the two of us.

I returned to my silence.

“Wha—Hey don’t ignore me!! I’m talking to you.”

Whack!!

“Ouch! Wha—What is that?!!!”

“This? This is a fan, and getting hit by this reeeeeaaally hurts! Now don’t ignore me when I’m asking you a favour and help me with household chores!”

“You know… I’m really envious of this world.”

“Wha—Come again?”

“What I noticed from the people living in this world… What I notice from observing you… This really is a peaceful world. Back from the world where I came from people always live in anxiety, with fear. War always exists, nations don’t get along well, as well as races.”

“…”

“Seeing your world like this… really makes me feel envious.”

“You know… I really want to know when you have time to go out this past week when all you do is read those materials I’ve given you.”

Ah she really has the habit of breaking the mood.

I then returned to my usual quiet self.

Gluttony:

This is the very first day that I started living at unit6 of Ingrid’s apartment.

Quit it… I’m fucking hungry…

This really is a tormenting day. I never knew living alone like this would be this tormenting…

I’ve lived at the palace for so long. There are always maids and butlers attending to my needs. And there’s also Morgianna. Though she’s one of my loyal generals, she also acts like a head maid at times. No, make it like my second mother.

I wonder what she’s doing as of now. I wonder if Yuusha ended the war. I would really hate her if she continued to exterminate every last one of my race though.

But I knew her.

She won’t, that’s why I love her.

Thinking so much about the past aggravated my hunger. What time is it already? I don’t even have a clock here. That’s to be expected. I don’t have anything in me yet. I don’t even have a job. Maybe I can start searching tomorrow. I don’t want to owe Ingrid much. I bet she’ll hit me again with that annoying fan.

Perhaps I could ask me fellow tenants to give me their leftovers?

Ugh…

Based on what happened last night, I really think the tenant from unit8 will spare me any. She sounded like a child. Is that even allowed in this world? A kid living alone without a guardian. This world really has it easy.

What about the tenant from unit3? I really haven’t met her even once. Me suddenly appearing on her doorstep will sound trouble. She might call the police and have me arrested. Wait, is she even there? Is she awake? I’ve never really considered the possibility that she might be working at night shift.

Grumbling…

“AAAAAH!! For fuck’s sake Ingrid please come home already!!”

What can I do, this is the fate of a shut-in that suddenly decided to live alone. I haven’t even asked Ingrid for leftovers from yesterday, now her door’s locked and she’s at work. How can I mess up so bad.

I’ve spent my whole afternoon savouring this famine I’ve brought upon myself. And while waiting for Ingrid to get home, I fell asleep.

The scent of beef stew woke me up. The lights are on which I haven’t even turned before I slept.

Is it night already? Fuck I overslept. I’m too hungry to move.

“Look here Fred. How could you be so careless? You suddenly barged here in this unit without food? Now tell me how will you last a week?”

“Ingrid, you’re here, huh? You’re my saviour. Once we get back to Mytherion I’ll reward you with everything within my power.”

“Oh please, if you bring me back there please take responsibility.”

“Don’t make it sound like we’re going to get married. There’s someone waiting for me there.”

“Hoooh~~ That’s rich coming from you. I thought you’re just another heartbroken spirit.”

“Now serve that food and don’t break my heart any longer. This starvation is at its peak.”

I gathered up the remaining strength in my body and dragged myself towards the table where Ingrid’s beef stew is served. I chowed everything up besides Ingrid’s servings to the very last drop. I admit it, this is one of the best meals I’ve had my entire life.

“Now now, just don’t choke. I won’t help you if you did… Hahaha!! What are you, a glutton or something? By the way I’ve brought you some manga volumes for pastime.”

Greed:

So, this former maou from Mytherion, is now attending a job interview. This town is small. Ingrid advised me to give the town proper a quick tour. A job with a normal pay could cover up for the house expenses, so she said.

The problem is…

“HOW THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THE NORMAL RATES!!”

Again, this is my fault. Out of all the things I decided not to cover while studying how this world works: job. Well, how am I supposed to include it? It has been my mindset already that my family’s wealth could cover everything I need.

How could I be so careless again? We’ll for starters, let me try bargaining myself.

Scenario 1 (Publishing company)

“Well, before everything else, can you give me a quick overview of your educational background?”

“I’ve had a personal tutor, one for each profession. A course spans from ten up to twenty years of full mastery, but within our lineage, I’ve completed each of the course for three years, those I’ve found interesting I took ten years of mastery. All in all, I’ve spent almost ninety years studying different professions.”

Application Rejected.

Well, that’s to be expected. Somebody should be out there controlling my mind. Those are not the answers that I needed of course. Let’s try lessening out answers which include my past experiences from Mytherion.

Scenario 2 (Department store clerk.)

“I’m sorry but I’m foreign to this country and have just started living alone. If possible there are any positions you could offer that does not require any educational background.”

“Well, there is, but the pay is not that high.”

“Can we talk bargain about the pay?”

“Hmmm, the pay is pretty much fixed, so if you are still going to be greedy I’m sorry I could not offer the position to you.”

Application Rejected.

Aahg. That’s my fault again. I’m in no position bargain myself. I don’t have to be greedy. Besides having close to zero experience here in this world, no educational and work background, training for a new work environment will also take time until I get used to it.

How can I adapt fast?

Wait…

“What if I just work under Ingrid at her apartment complex, some assistant maybe, or a caretaker. I can promote the complex too.”

That’s far too realistic. Let’s formulate the pros and cons for that:

Ingrid doesn’t have enough to pay my wage.

Ingrid will continue to hit me with that annoying fan.

Wow that’s a lot of cons.

Walking down the road I can see the convenience store near the apartment complex. From afar I can see someone smoking outside the entrance. Is he a delinquent or something?

I stopped by at the entrance. My eyes glittered as I see the posted ad. This is the answer to all of my problems:

“Wanted:

Store Helper!

No experience required

Decent Pay

Start right now!”

“Wait a second… Doesn’t this sound too shady?”

“What are you talking about brat, this is the most instant job you can get from this town. So, you finding one?”

“Eeh… I don’t want to hear that from a smoking delinquent at the front of a convenience store.”

“Say that again and I won’t give you a chance to get hired.”

Wait, he does sound like a high-position employee… Wait… is he the…

“Ma-manager?”

He just puffed his cigar. Ah yes, that could only explain it. But why!! Why in the good heavens will a manager sit in front of his store and have a cigar?? Why does people of this town always stay out of human logic? Is this a tradition? A hobby?

“Uhm… Manager… I’m quite interested on the available position.”

He threw the tip of his cigar to the trashcan and stood up.

“Come inside. Let’s proceed to the interview.”

Everything went on with a breeze. The interview feels like a sham, the screening was quick too. If this is not a convenience store I’ll brand it as a shady business. I was immediately accepted, with a monthly wage of sixty grand, it’s pretty enough to cover for the monthly rent and daily expenses. Though I’m not sure whether I can save money immediately to pay my debt with Ingrid.

Phew what a day. At now I have a job. I’m one step closer to my goal.

It was a long tiring day. I can now go home.

“Geez little Ingrid grew up so fast right after taking over the apartment complex. What’s with all the setup? You can just referred him to me and conduct the screening. Why cover up a good deed?”

The store manager said inside the manager room as he looks into Fred’s resume.