Chapter 25: Charlotte and Hair Color

"Yesss! I did it, I did it, I really did it!"

In my room, I jumped around in excitement. I checked it over and over again. I counted again and again. And at last, I came to the conclusion—it wasn’t a mistake.

"It’s been so long... no, really, it’s been way too long. I’ve been saving money all this time, but hair dye and everything else kept draining it away. It was such a pain, really…"

That’s right. With this last request, my savings finally reached the target amount. A goal I had set as a milestone for my true objective. And now, I’d actually managed to reach it. The big payout from that investigation request helped a lot. Including the hush money, I got a huge amount. Since most of Riven’s share ended up in my pocket too, that one job alone brought me right to my goal.

The Skeleton General’s flag being bought at a high price helped as well. Apparently, it’s going to be put up for auction as a rare item. I even received an invitation, asking me to come and see it when the time comes. The auctions run by the Guild sometimes put up items once owned by adventurers, sold off as collateral for debts. I’ve always wanted to go see one at least once. So yeah, that part makes me a little happy.

But I don’t have money to spare for the auction. This money is all going toward one single plan.

"Hehe. Hehehehe…"

Laughter welled up from deep inside and wouldn’t stop. Ever since I started living in this inn—no, ever since I arrived in this town—I’ve secretly been harboring this ambition. And now, its realization had become a real possibility.

"With this… I can buy citizenship!"

Yes. A drifter like me would finally be able to obtain an official status! With citizenship, I could use land in this town. And if I’m registered as a citizen, the guards are more likely to protect me—well, unless they’re the type that takes bribes under the table. In this town, whether or not you hold citizenship makes a huge difference. Sure, around the Stray Cat Inn, the security isn’t too bad. But in the districts only citizens can enter, I’ve heard the safety is on a whole different level. Supposedly safe enough to walk around alone without being attacked. Wonderful.

For now, just citizenship. But one day, I’ll gain usage rights to land, and from that land I’ll generate income. That way, even if I keep living this money-gobbling lifestyle, I’ll have enough to live comfortably without working myself ragged. I wouldn’t have to do something as dangerous as adventuring anymore.

I’ll earn unworked income, and live my life in the safe districts of the city. Someday, that dream will come true. Yes, this is the first step toward a life of safety, free from anyone’s threats!

"Hmm-hmm-hmm~ Today, I’m in such a good mood!"

I caught myself humming. That’s just how good I felt. Now, what should I do today? Should I take the money and… no, that’s hasty. There’s no harm in saving a bit more first. Citizenship won’t be useful right away anyway, so I should wait until I can make good use of it.

Then, should I act to increase my money? Or should I splurge a little for once? I do have just enough to spend a bit without problems. Of course, I’d need to save again afterward, but keeping it tucked away without ever using it is a waste too.

"Alright, decision made!"

I decided how I’d use this day. Then I lay down on my bed. It wasn’t particularly soft, but right now, it felt like a luxury hotel.

"Today, I’m doing absolutely nothing!"

Lately, my days had been nothing but busy. So as a reward for myself, I decided today I wouldn’t do a single thing. Every day, money drains away just by existing. Doing nothing is such a waste, and also the ultimate luxury. I’ve heard rumors that nobles live like this every day. So unfair!

"Even the poster girl’s off duty today!"

I kicked my arms and legs on the bed. I hadn’t done something so childish in ages. Normally, I’d never do this—the dirt and dust would fly everywhere. But just for today, I didn’t care. Overthinking things is nonsense! I’ll just do what I feel like doing!

As I lazed around like that, someone knocked on the door. I didn’t wonder who it was. The master or the veteran staff would just open the door without hesitation—they all had spare keys. The only person in this inn who bothers to knock is just one.

"Yup, yup. What’s up, Alice-chan?"

I said as I opened the door. Standing there was a cute girl dressed in staff uniform—Alice-chan.

"Ah, big sis. Master wanted to know what you’re doing about work today…"

"Ahh, right. I should tell him. Let him know I’m taking the day off."

The moment I said that, Alice-chan’s eyes welled up with tears. Panicking, I quickly added more.

"Tomorrow! Tomorrow we’ll work together, okay? Just today… well, I’m kind of worn out, you know…"

"Really?"

"Really, really! Look, promise."

I held out my right pinky. Alice-chan hesitated, barely holding back her tears, and stared at my pinky. Ah, right. Pinky promises don’t exist in this world, do they? Well, whatever.

"Here, stick your finger out too. Then we hook them together like this…"

"Like this…?"

"Yep, that’s it! And then we sing—‘Yubikiri genman, if you tell a lie—’"

I sang the old nursery rhyme as we swung our linked fingers up and down. So nostalgic. My eyes went a little distant for a moment.

"‘—your pinky will be cut!’ Okay, promise sealed. We’ve made a real promise now."

"…Will I have to swallow a needle?"

"Figure of speech, figure of speech! It just means I’ll keep the promise for real, not as a joke!"

I guess she took it literally because it was a phrase she hadn’t heard before. The whole “swallow a thousand needles” thing—kind of terrifying, right? How did that even become a children’s rhyme? I only did it because she’s a kid.

Alice-chan was staring at her right pinky, looking puzzled. Hmm, maybe she found it strange? I slip up with things like this sometimes. Even my mom used to look at me funny. …Ah, feels nostalgic.

"Big sis? You okay?"

"Ah, yeah. I’m fine. So, do you think you’ll be okay on your own today?"

"N-no…"

She looked a little uneasy. Well, of course she would. Honestly, she still makes a lot of mistakes, and it feels like the only reason she manages is because everyone’s kind enough to laugh them off. But that’s how it is at the start. Everyone makes mistakes. I dropped plates plenty of times myself.

People grow by making mistakes, one at a time. I won’t go as far as to say “you only learn through pain,” but the truth is you gain more experience when you actually mess up. That’s why I want Alice-chan to keep trying without being afraid of mistakes.

I put my hand on her shoulder and explained that much. She still looked nervous, but it seemed like she understood.

"Got it?"

"Yeah… I got it."

"Good to hear."

It’s not like I’m telling her this just because I want to slack off. I really do want Alice-chan to stand on her own sooner rather than later. I mean it. Being able to work and support yourself is important. If I were to die in a dungeon one day, and Alice-chan was left stranded, then saving her wouldn’t have meant anything.

Sure, the master would probably take her in, but you can’t rely on people’s kindness too much. You have to be able to handle what you can on your own.

"Alright then, see you tomorrow. It’s a promise, okay?"

"Mm, promise."

Alice-chan looked back at me a few more times, almost reluctantly. Over the past few days, she’d settled into the inn well enough, and thanks to the regulars, she was just barely managing to work alone now. So really, there wasn’t anything to worry about. Honest.

"Ah, that’s right."

As she was leaving, Alice-chan suddenly stopped and turned back. With the door half open, she peeked back in and met my eyes.

"Big sis, your hair color looks really good on you today."

"Eh? Thanks."

"Yeah! Okay, see you!"

With that, she ran downstairs. I gently closed the door.

It was the first time anyone had ever commented on my hair color. Huh. Strange.

"…Ah. Crap."

I grabbed a lock of hair and brought it up in front of my eyes. That’s when I realized—I’d forgotten to dye it.

Just like Mom always told me, I’ve been dyeing my hair every single day before leaving my room. But today, since I wasn’t planning on going out, I’d let my guard down. Normally, I never made mistakes like this. And even if I did, I change my hair color so often that nobody could ever tell which one was my natural color.

Besides, it was just a habit I kept up because Mom insisted. It’s not like something terrible would happen over a hair color, right?

"Well, it’s just Alice-chan. I’ll make sure to tell her later not to mention it to anyone else."

Muttering to myself, I tossed a lock of pure white hair into the air.