The Afterlife of the Good Person (2)

The writing was somewhat distorted, but at this point, the necessary information had been gathered. The heavy basket filled with food was set down with a thud. The children's eyes were fixed on the glossy food. Freshly baked warm bread, dew-covered apples, fragrant plums, and the salty scent of cheese filled the alley.

"Hello. I just came to greet the neighbours. I'm from Sinistra, too."

I flashed a calm smile.

A boy with messy, unevenly cut short hair, Vittorio, gave me a wary look. He covered his eyes with one hand and picked up some random bread, tearing off a small piece and putting it in his mouth.

"See? It's not bad."

The children hesitated for a moment, then approached and grabbed some food. Their suspicion and distrust of the stranger were overcome by their hunger. For a while, the only sounds that filled the quiet were the hurried munching of food.

"I won't take it away."

I had excluded overly greasy or dry foods in case they might cause stomach issues, but it's still better to be cautious. I watched them blankly for a moment before casually sitting on an empty wooden box. As the meal began to slow down, the children's attention turned towards me.

With my audience now gathered, I began with a light introduction.

"I've seen you helping with the tough jobs and getting paid for it. Carrying heavy loads, delivering newspapers, preparing fish, helping with chimney cleaning—little workers of the city. Am I right?"

"….."

"Then I thought you might be able to help me."

At that, Vittorio, who had been silent for a while, asked sharply.

"What do you want?"

Despite his sharp response, I rested my chin on my hand and said leisurely.

"Don't rush and listen calmly. It's not a bad offer. First, let me introduce myself. I'm the owner of an inn. I run the inn across from the fruit shop. Do you know where that is?"

The children tilted their heads. Some were confused, while others nodded as if they knew. I didn't mind and continued.

"I haven't decided on a name for the inn yet. Business started a while ago, though. And today, I came to ask if you'd help with running the inn. Oh, not as employees. That's already taken care of."

"….."

Vittorio's expression was still grim.

"My inn provides lodging and meals, but it will also serve another purpose. It's going to be a hub for the information guild. People from other places gather at the inn, and they always want information. When traveling through land, there's a need for all sorts of news—like which nobles are at war or if a river has swollen and blocked the passage."

I took a small plum from the basket and bit into it. It wasn't sweet at all, just slightly astringent.

"It's not just that. There's also the silly conversations the guards at the gate share to stay awake, the baker grumbling about the rising price of wheat, the refined talks of gentlemen while polishing their shoes, or the fruit seller talking about how plums from a certain region are unusually sour. I want all of it. Doesn't matter what kind."

"I get the first part, but… do you really think those trivial things are important?"

"Of course they are. In well-polished, ready-made information, there's little to be gained. That's more like what you'd get from a messenger or a bulletin board, not an information guild. It's only when you gather up the fragmented pieces and mold them into something rich with meaning that the true identity of an information guild comes together."

I gave a half-smile and explained gently with an example.

"People need exactly that. Want an example? This is a plum from Rilke. It's not sweet, and the flesh is soft. What does that mean?"

Vittorio furrowed his brow and asked gruffly.

"…Does it even mean anything?"

"Of course. If the fruit is unusually not sweet at this time, it means the rainy season was long. If it rained a lot during the rainy season, the rivers along the road to Rilke would have swollen, blocking the passage. After the rainy season, animals that haven't been able to hunt for a while will start hunting in earnest. If you don't know this and just blindly head toward Rilke, travellers would be in big trouble, wouldn't they?"

The children hesitated but nodded. A cheerful laugh escaped.

"So the information I sell is literally a lifeline."

"I… I get it now."

Vittorio nodded.

"You're quick to understand, that's good. Now, back to the work. First, you all know this city, Sinistra, like the back of your hand. You live in this street, meet all kinds of people, and do things for them. But they probably don't even notice you much. Being unnoticed is a good thing. At least for this job. What you need to do is simple. Keep your ears open, listen closely to the stories."

I looked at Vittorio.

"Group the kids who work in the same trade together, and choose the smartest and most reliable one to lead the group. Those kids will be the middle managers. Then bring the information they gather to me directly. They can come to the inn."

"What will we get in return?"

"Enough food, a daily wage, and pure kindness."

"Isn't that last one a bit unnecessary?"

"You don't understand. That's the hardest thing to get in the world."

Vittorio hesitated. I had somewhat expected this, but it seemed this kid was the leader of this street gang. He nodded.

"…Alright."

"I'm glad things are working out."

I shook hands with Vittorio. Since no one in the street was watching for common street urchins unless they were pickpockets, I told them to come to the inn at a set time. I promised I would always have enough food and water ready for them.

It was around lunchtime, the time I had promised to return to Leonardo.

After travelling the long road back to the inn, I spotted Leonardo at the entrance, moving sacks of potatoes. He had pushed the tables, swept and mopped the floors, and the wooden floor was now gleaming. The dishes were washed, and the supplies I had received earlier that morning were neatly organized in the cellar.

Wow. He really works hard.

I wondered if he had ever done this kind of menial work back in his 'Leovald' days. He moved with surprising diligence. I, feeling like a noblewoman feeding a well-behaved servant, prepared an extravagant lunch for Leonardo.

For the side dishes, I prepared a plate of golden-brown sausages and a spicy tomato stew flavoured with paprika powder. I thickly sliced some wheat bread, greased the pan, topped it with cheese, and crisped it up. Then I added a runny, glistening egg yolk and some young greens to make a large, hearty sandwich.

The tomatoes and cheese were especially flavourful since they were fresh from the market. Thanks to a clerical error, I didn't have to worry about money, so I was generous with the salt and pepper.

Leonardo ate diligently. Seeing the colour return to his face, it seemed the meal suited his taste.

"So, how was the work? Have you had some training?"

"A little. It's not like I have no basics at all."

"Definitely doesn't look like you'll collapse from exhaustion while working. Even if you seem inept, you're from a family known for swordsmanship, right?"

"…Inept?"

While Leonardo muttered in mild irritation, guests started arriving, not as lodgers but as diners. They came in like regulars, ordered food, paid, and left. The cooking was good, but there weren't many options, so I was a bit stuck. Fortunately, I had made a large pot of stew for Leonardo, so I could pretend it was today's special and get by.

Once the meal was done, Leonardo got back to work. He did the dishes, shook out the bedding, and opened the windows to air out the rooms. Occasionally, he would lift the sacks of potatoes like weights, as if he were training or something.

The inn that doubled as a restaurant during the day transformed into a tavern when the sun set. Locals came for drinks, as did travellers from out of town, and they all gathered to raise their glasses. I made myself approachable and often joined in their conversations.

"…So, we're planning to build a new barn."

"Oh, about that. I heard from the market today that the carpenter here, Alberto, is really good. They say he even made the stall for Delas Bakery. Why not ask him to do it?"

"Really? That sounds great! Hey, Alberto!"

The initial exchanges were light, giving information and setting up deals, much like how adventurer or information guilds operate in RPG games.

"I'm trying to pass through Rilke, but the river's swollen. I couldn't cross it in the end. The locals say it'll take at least three weeks for the water to recede."

Such conversations were remembered and used when travellers heading to those regions would arrive.

"Customer, you're heading to Rilke? That could be tough for you…"

I would bait the traveller, take a deposit, and pass along the information. It wasn't until late at night, when the place had quieted down, that I could finally catch my breath. It was tiring.

"You did well today. Go upstairs and get some rest."

Leonardo, exhausted, went up to the second floor. I stayed on the first, starting the task of organizing the ledgers. I decided to categorize the value of the information, from S to D rank, based on its influence and the cost to acquire it. I also calculated the wages for Vittorio's group and figured out the daily pay for Leonardo as well.

Running both an inn and an information guild, I had ended up taking on far more than I expected. The role of a shady, versatile innkeeper seemed manageable at first, but the reality was that there was always something to do.

In the end, I spent the whole night working again. At dawn, I headed to the city walls once more, taking advantage of the clerical error. I knew these benefits wouldn't last once the next area opened up, so I gathered as much money as I could. Anyway, thanks to the error, I didn't have to worry about basic operational funds or a lump sum for a while.

I went to the basement and packed some food into a basket. Afterward, I came back upstairs and set up a simple breakfast on the cold table, arranging the baskets in a neat line. Not long after, I heard a soft knock at the back door.

"They're here."

When I opened the door, Vittorio and three little ones stood there. I pulled out chairs and made room for them.

The smell of a light breakfast I had prepared earlier filled the air. I could see their wariness melting away. It's funny how much impact scent has on relaxing the mood.

Since it was the first day, I didn't expect much, but I gestured for them to start talking. The kids hesitated for a moment, then quietly began chatting, their voices soft at first.