From Sweat to Soak ( 14 )

Later in the Evening.

"Okay, lads! All done for the day! You can head home now!" the chief shouted, clapping his hands.

I noticed everyone lining up to receive their pay. Of course, I joined the line—what do you think? I need money here.

"Alright, here you go," the chief said, handing coins to the worker in front of me.

"Time to drink booze!" the man cheered, holding up his coins like a trophy.

"Let's hit the bar!" another worker chimed in.

I rolled my eyes as I shuffled forward in line, waiting for my turn.

Finally, it was my turn. The chief handed me a small pile of coins—25 copper coins, to be exact.

I stared at the coins, feeling like I'd just been scammed by life itself. "Uhh... that's it?"

The chief let out a roaring laugh, slapping his thigh. "What do you expect!? 100 gold coins for hauling rocks? You must be dreaming, crazy guy!"

"Well, maybe not 100 gold coins, but at least enough to eat something decent!" I grumbled, looking at the meager amount in disbelief.

The chief smirked, crossing his arms. "That's a fair day's wage for unskilled labor. If you want more, learn a trade or become an adventurer."

I sighed heavily, pocketing the coins. "Fine, fine. At least I won't starve... I think."

As the other workers cheered and headed off to the bar, I felt a pang of envy. "Must be nice to have enough for booze... meanwhile, I'm out here budgeting bread and stew."

The chief clapped me on the back, almost knocking me forward. "Cheer up, crazy guy. You'll figure it out... maybe." He walked off, still laughing.

"Yeah, thanks for the motivational speech," I muttered, dragging my feet toward nowhere in particular. "This is the worst isekai ever..."

"Oi, new guy! Wanna join us for a bath and some booze?" one of the workers shouted, grinning as he walked alongside his rowdy friends.

"Huh? With this money?" I held up my pitiful 25 copper coins, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course!" the guy said, slapping my shoulder. "Bath's just 5 copper coins. A glass of ale is 3 copper, and food? Anywhere from 3 to 7 copper, depending on what you order."

I did a quick calculation. "So... I can get clean, have a drink, and still eat something decent with this?"

"Exactly!" another worker chimed in. "Well, maybe not a feast, but it'll keep you full enough to work tomorrow!"

"Plus, it's better than sitting around feeling sorry for yourself, crazy guy!" someone else added, and the group burst into laughter.

I scratched my head, considering it. "Hmm... a bath and some food actually sound amazing right now. Alright, I'm in."

"That's the spirit!" they cheered, dragging me toward the bathhouse. I cracked a small smile. Maybe this day wasn't a total disaster after all.

While walking with the group, a sudden realization hit me. "Oh crap!"

One of the guys glanced over, concerned. "What now, new guy?"

I groaned, rubbing the back of my neck. "If I spend this money on booze and a bath, I won't have anything left for a place to sleep."

The group erupted in laughter.

"Huh? You can sleep in the stable!" one of them shouted, cackling.

"Yeah, crazy guy, cozy up with the horses! They might even keep you warm!" another chimed in.

"Real funny," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Maybe I'll just sleep under the stars."

"Hey, it's free!" someone added, patting me on the back.

I sighed, realizing this was going to be a long night. "Fine, whatever. Let's just get to the bathhouse."

"Hey! Don't worry about that," one of the guys said with a smug grin, pulling out a handful of coins. "The salary you got today is because you came in late! Look at mine!" He held out 50 copper coins, jingling them. "More than enough for booze! And… ehem… the brothel." He grinned mischievously.

"Brothel?" I blinked. "Wait, there's a brothel in the capital city?"

"Of course!" he said, puffing out his chest. "But with this kind of money, let's just say it won't be one of the fancy ones! Gyahahaha!"

Another guy laughed, slapping his knee. "Yeah, with 50 copper, you're looking at a girl in her 30s or 40s! A bit older, but hey, it's better than nothing!"

The whole group burst out laughing, nudging each other like they'd just shared the best joke.

I scratched my head, unsure whether to laugh or cringe. "Uh… yeah… I think I'll stick to a bath and some food, thanks."

"Suit yourself, crazy guy!" one of them hollered, still laughing as we made our way toward the bathhouse.

We all entered the public bathhouse, greeted by the old lady's sharp tone. "Oh, here come the wall repairmen!" she called, waving us over. "Make sure you clean yourselves properly before using the tub!" Her voice was raspy but motherly, like a hen keeping her chicks in line.

"Aye aye, madam!" the others chorused as they headed to the changing area.

She then looked at me curiously. "Oh, you've got a new face here."

"Ah, granny! This guy's a new worker," one of the guys said, nudging me playfully.

The old lady nodded and pointed to the counter. "Pay first before going in!"

We all fished out our copper coins, handing over 5 each for the bath. I reluctantly joined in, parting with my hard-earned money.

I grabbed my towel, the familiar musty scent of the bathhouse mingling with the earthy, steam-filled air, and headed to the changing area.

"Oh, and remember!" the granny yelled after us. "Once used, put the towel in the basket!" Her tone was sharp but caring, a rule every newcomer had to learn.

"Aye aye, madam!" we all responded, making our way to the tubs.

"And for you, the usual?" she asked the group, referring to their post-bath drink.

"Yeah, the usual!" they replied, grinning at me. "Wanna try it? Big glass of ale. It's good stuff!"

The granny raised her hand, showing the price. "Three copper for a big glass."

I frowned, calculating. Could I spare that much? It wasn't like I had anything else to do tonight, and a little drink wouldn't hurt, right?

"Fine, I'll join you," I said, handing over the coins as she winked and went to prepare the drinks.

Well, it's only 8 copper so far. With 17 left, I think I can manage… for now. Inside, I cursed this harsh isekai world. Haaa… nothing like what I expected.

I headed to the changing area, stripped down, and wrapped a towel around my waist. The other guys laughed and chatted as they cleaned up before entering the bath.

Finding an empty spot, I squatted by the wash station, removed the towel, and splashed myself with warm water to scrub away the dirt and sweat from a long day's labor.

Finally, I stepped into the public bath. "Haaaa... this is nice," I muttered, sinking into the warm water. The heat wrapped around me, soothing my aching muscles.

Leaning back, I let the water work its magic. This was a slice of heaven in an otherwise tough day. Who would've thought a public bath in a medieval-ish world could feel so luxurious? Warm water, the chatter of the workers, and steam rising… almost enough to make me forget my situation. Almost.

As I soaked, I began to think about where I'd sleep tonight. If I had to sleep on the road, so be it. But what if that caused problems later? Damn… I can't keep living like this.

I looked over at the group of workers. "Guys... how much does an inn cost for a night?"

One raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Around 30 copper."

"Ehhh!?" I nearly jumped, splashing water everywhere. "That expensive!?"

"Of course!" another laughed. "This is the capital city! That's the cheapest you'll find. But don't expect anything fancy—it's just a bed and a tiny room."

I sighed, sinking deeper until only my nose and eyes were above the surface. "Thirty copper!? Damn! I only have 17 left."

The first guy shrugged. "Well, you get what you pay for. If you're broke, try the stables or find a quiet corner. But watch out for thieves, crazy guy!"

Everyone laughed, and I groaned internally. This isekai world was starting to feel like a real test of survival.

( End Of Chapter )