Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Your Unfathomable Depth and Mine

When Ji Huan called Ajin that evening, he mentioned that he had gone job hunting.

"Oh? Have you run out of the money I left for you?" Ajin's first reaction to Ji Huan's news was this.

Ji Huan noticed that the wallpaper behind him had changed color again.

"No, I only took out five gold bars. The rest are still in the original bag, in your bedroom," Ji Huan explained. His expression remained as indifferent as usual, but Ajin now understood that he simply wasn't good at expressing himself.

"It's unsustainable to only spend without earning. Even a low-paying job would do, I think having some form of employment is more secure," Ji Huan shared his thoughts slowly, while Ajin listened attentively on the other end.

Moreover, Father is getting on in years; at his age, he really shouldn’t be going out to hunt anymore… The youth’s tone was weighed down with a tinge of sorrow.

Ajin fell silent. He pondered Karas's... age. Then, he considered his own.

"In truth, your grandfather isn't considered very old among monsters," he suggested with great tact.

"Yet, Grandfather already has a grandson. I'm an adult now; he shouldn't have to work so hard anymore," Ji Huan dismissed the suggestion with a single statement.

Ajin: ...

He finally understood why people in that world were so keen on having children.

Their conversation soon turned to the topic of job assessments. As Ji Huan was describing the appearance of the old monster, Ajin suddenly interrupted him:

"Ajin: "Is that old fellow still there?" His gaze shifted away as if he recalled something, and the corners of his mouth gradually curled up into a smile. "Does he still stick out just one finger from time to time?"

Ji Huan: "No, now he sticks out all five fingers."

Ajin: ...

"Someone we tested with today gave him an extra ten bone coins because of that..." Ji Huan recounted the mishap that occurred during the assessment, and Ajin burst into laughter.

For the rest of their time together, Ji Huan mentioned the positions of a bandit group's vanguard and a sack carrier, both known jobs. Uncertain about their merits, he sought Ajin's advice.

It was a rare shared interest, and Ji Huan's discussion clearly stirred up distant memories for Ajin. Graciously, he offered Ji Huan some wisdom from his own experiences as someone who had been through the job-hunting process.

"There, the best job you can find is probably joining an organization, and being a hitman would likely offer the highest salary."

Ji Huan: =-=... Alright, this indeed isn't Earth.

"Secondly, being a bandit can be quite lucrative. As a frontliner, it's a bit risky, but the pay is quick, even though there's no base salary. As your experience grows, you can live comfortably just from the commissions alone. It's considered a high-paying occupation."

"However, if you take on this job, make sure to purchase insurance beforehand. You can buy it in the nearby town, the same one we took a taxi from earlier."

Ji Huan silently noted this advice, intending to remind Abu of it should they cross paths again.

"…The job 'Cargo Handler' might have a low wage, but it's suitable for beginners. A weekly salary of 100 Bone Coins is currently the market average." Ajin then began analyzing the "Bag Carrier" position – or, as he elegantly put it, "Cargo Handler." Ji Huan quietly made a mental note of this, thinking it could come in handy when updating Little Grey's resume in the future.

"I recommend you start by looking for work as a freight handler." After his analysis, Ajin offered his suggestion.

Ji Huan nodded, then shook his head again. "But... the result of my power assessment was indeterminable."

A rare expression of surprise graced Ajin's features: "Oh? How intriguing, my test results back then were also indeterminable."

Taking a careful look at the young man's body, he noted limbs elongated and slender, appearing wiry and strong, yet not so much so as to suggest a strength beyond measure...

And then...

The youth's otherwise indifferent face revealed a slight look of relief. "Is that so? I feel a bit more at ease now. I thought I was the only one with strength too insignificant to even measure. After all, even Little Grey Demon's power measures at 1.8 stones..."

Ajin: ...

=-=

It seems that, the more I chat with the young man, the more frequent are the moments when I find myself at a loss for words.

Long lashes lowered to shade his eyes, Ajin appraised the youth before him.

Having arrived here for less than half a year and already daring to seek employment, his courage was indeed commendable. But—

Does he, at this moment, feel discouraged by the vast gulf in power between himself and the monster?

It must be quite frustrating, right?

After all, the humans in that world were delicate creatures. Very often, without any external force, they could be overwhelmed merely by mental and emotional burdens.

Would this young man before my eyes, too, ultimately succumb to being overpowered?

Gazing intently at the youth before him, he listened as the young man gradually unfolded his tale:

"My strength is so minute that it defies measurement, and my speed is far from swift, merely two per minute. I once thought my eyesight was excellent, being at 1000, but alas, other magical creatures start at a staggering 10000..."

"It saddens me to think about the times when I couldn't find employment."

"Not because of my own vulnerability, but because I'm concerned about my inability to take care of Grandpa and Hei Dan."

The thought that I might become a burden to them fills me with profound sorrow.

The youth, bit by bit, shared with the dark-haired demon on the other end of the phone his inner world, which he had never before disclosed to anyone.

Then, he suddenly smiled. His slender eyes turned abruptly towards Ajin, and the corners of his lips lifted into a slightly stiff grin. "I'm glad I heeded your advice, Ajin. Reading more truly pays off. Not only does it improve my literacy, but it also enhances my arithmetic skills. Moreover, during the time I worked for you, I learned how to clean proficiently..."

"Eventually, I stumbled upon a position that required literacy, basic arithmetic, and housekeeping skills, offering a monthly wage of 500 Bone Coins with a complimentary lunch included."

"Oh?" The black-haired monster seemed somewhat surprised.

However, ——

"Thank you, Ajin," the youth said earnestly, his smile gradually widening as he expressed his gratitude to Ajin.

Ajin was taken aback.

His eyes met the youth's deep, obsidian-like, narrow gaze, and after a moment, he shook his head. "There's no need to thank me. I merely suggested it—it was you who acted upon it."

For a child to attain a level of language proficiency that allows him to converse with locals in such a short time, he must have exerted tremendous effort indeed.

However, mere diligence wasn't enough; he was also incredibly sharp.

"Come to think of it, while I may fall short in other abilities compared to the natives, my literacy skills are rather commendable. Perhaps I should have endeavored in this direction sooner," the young man continued, his words trailing with a hint of self-reflection.

Indeed, he was quite sensible.

Rather than dwelling on self-pity when he realized his shortcomings, he would promptly redirect his focus to areas where he excelled, contemplating potential paths forward.

Truly clever.

"Ajin, could you tell me more about the nature of this job?" He continued smoothly, "Perhaps I could offer some advice."

"It was offered by Adan. Apparently, I'm supposed to help illiterate monsters compose resumes for job assessments, thus standardizing the talent market. He'll provide a currency printer, and my role is to design application forms and data entry systems."

"Adan?" The black-haired monster's eyebrows furrowed, a rare occurrence. After pondering for a while, he couldn't recall the name in his memory.

"That old monster from the testing center, he said his name is Adan."

"Oh— I really didn't know his name... ." Ajin's chin lifted slightly, his expression nuanced.

The old monster, who appeared to be of great age even back when Ajin was there, seemed unremarkable and like one who merely lingered for survival. In reality, however, he was the master of the testing area and the entire monster employment market, owning vast lands in Ye Falar – truly the territory's overlord –

But this was known only to a select few monsters.

Lowering his gaze, Ajin recalled events that took place many years ago in the testing area.

When he finally looked up after a moment, he asked Ji Huan for a favor: "Can you help me with something?"

"Huh? Sure, what is it?" It was always Ajin helping Ji Huan, so the latter was surprised to be asked for assistance now.

"Could you return 87 Bone Coins to that old monster... no, Mr. Adan? It's a debt I once owed him."

"Mm... It's been too long, I didn't expect him to still be alive. He must have an incredible lifespan." Covering his mouth with one hand, Ajin seemed to be talking to himself.

Well... let's just pretend I didn't say that... Ji Huan thought to himself silently.

But having a job was a good thing. Previously, he had relied entirely on Ajin for help, but now, with his new job, he could finally lend a small hand to Ajin.

Despite his stoic expression, Ji Huan felt an unexpected surge of joy.

It was a sense of stability.

Following that, Ajin offered Ji Huan some advice for his first day at work. From the perspective of an employer, Ajin shared what bosses generally appreciated and disliked in their employees, analyzed the old monster's personality, and together, they devised a comprehensive plan for Ji Huan's first day. This included: what he should wear, items he needed to bring, a gift for the boss, Adan, and even the menu for the first day's cooking!

"A Kom beast would be fine for the main course. Cook it in a braised style – braising is a unique method from your region, and most monsters would enjoy it." Ajin's suggestion was detailed down to the cooking technique!

"But, wouldn't a Kom beast be expensive?" Ji Huan asked cautiously.

"Trust me, your boss is wealthy. You just need to confirm if he likes eating Kom beasts. However, occasionally giving him some bones would be nice too. I believe he hasn't had them in a long time and has probably forgotten how they taste," Ajin encouraged gently.

Ji Huan diligently noted down every word.

In the end, it was Ji Huan who ended the call initiative.

"It's getting late. I should start cooking." Checking the time, Ji Huan realized their conversation had indeed dragged on.

"Ahh... Go ahead then." Ajin smiled gently.

The young man waved goodbye, and the screen of his phone returned to its original display.

Staring silently at the phone for a moment, Ajin tossed it onto the bed.

"Mm... Speaking of Kom beasts, I suddenly have a craving for their meat." After muttering to himself, he pressed the call button.