Thanks to the receptionist, I got a better idea of ​​the local seekers. They were not so different from the adventurers I knew from movies, books, games, manga, or anime. Only in Castiana, a city built on an ancient structure, instead of embarking on an adventure somewhere in the unexplored wilderness, they ventured into the depths of the labyrinth below the city. Instead of visiting places undiscovered by humans, they dived deeper under the city.

I had no illusions that being a seeker would be safe work. My skills weren't exactly suited for combat. So why did I even think about it? Why was I not satisfied with ordinary work, settled down, and lived in peace until my death? Because you never know what will happen. I had such a plan. To open my own flower shop, get married, have children, and retire. Everything changed when the fae appeared in front of me.

I had no idea when the next one would appear.

That's why I wanted to be stronger, not to experience the helplessness I felt when I involuntarily became a slave. Being a seeker was an excellent way to start working on my strength.

"Castiana offers training courses for beginning seekers. They are led by experienced seekers who will teach you basic combat knowledge," the receptionist at the town hall told me.

Of course, she was trying to sell me something else.

"How much does the training cost?" I asked.

"Basic training 50 coppers an hour," she said.

"Wow - that's a lot."

"They are experts, miss. They earn much more than that in the labyrinth."

"I understand that, but my bag isn't that big," I said.

The receptionist just shrugged. "It's up to you. I can register you now. You can then go to the labyrinth. If you successfully conquer the first floor yourself, you will officially become a seeker. I'm just pointing out that it's more dangerous than it may seem."

"What exactly does it mean to conquer the first floor?" I asked.

"You must find the entrance to the second floor on the first floor."

I nodded. "Isn't it easy to buy a map then and head straight for that entrance?"

"It would be, but this is a labyrinth, not a dungeon. The layout of each floor is different each time you visit it. Otherwise, it would not be a labyrinth. You can visit a floor a hundred times, but it will never be the same as on previous visits."

"That sucks," I sighed.

"It has always been that way. Do you want to register and try your luck? However, the city hall bears no responsibility for you in the labyrinth," the receptionist warned me again.

I shook my head. "No, I have to think about it."

"I'm glad to hear that. I've seen enough young people find their deaths on the first floor." The receptionist sighed. "You should know that labyrinth seekers are also called death seekers, but most often they are called deekers."

"That's not exactly flattering."

The receptionist nodded. "It's not, but death is what a lot of seekers find in the labyrinth."

I couldn't say anything to that.

"Timmy mentioned something about companies as well?"

"Yes, only employees of companies with the appropriate authorization can enter deeper floors of the labyrinth. There are many companies in Castiana. They differ in what they do. Some focus on mining, others on meat, and raw materials from monsters. Other companies are looking for artifacts or just trying to dive deeper into the labyrinth. It's up to you which company is closer to you and your interests, and it's up to the company to accept you. Usually, it is not a problem because there is always a lack of seekers according to them."

"When you hear the name Fallens Cry, don't be surprised. It is the name of the labyrinth on which Castiana stands. Each labyrinth has its own unique name." she added.

"Does it have some meaning? Is it based on the monsters in the labyrinth?"

The receptionist shook her head. "No, nothing like that. It's just a name it has."

I thanked her, went through the job offers once more, and sighed. Nothing had changed on the notice-boards. However, I knew of two places where I could get a job. Broken Mug and Broken Heart. I needed to think carefully about my career as a seeker. Don't rush my decision. The first thing I should do before throwing myself into the labyrinth was to reorganize my skills.

I strolled back to the Broken Mug, where I was greeted by an innkeeper with a smile on his face and open arms. The room I slept in last night was still free, so I retook it. His job offer was also still valid, and he was glad that I was willing to help him. My enthusiasm for this kind of work was not high, but it was a start.

But most of all, I was dying of impatience to change into my new clothes, put my feet in socks and shoes. Before that, however, I wanted to take a bath. More precisely, I needed one. My unplanned bath in the river washed away a lot of grime from my body, but it also added a few new odors. Nobody told me anything here, but I stank. Basically, I had constantly activated skill [Odorless odor] that erased all the smells that my body produced. But not their source. I didn't dare sniff my armpit without this skill activated. My feet smelled even worse. Yes, my nose was better than it used to be, but this was not just the fault of my sense of smell.

So like I said, I needed a bath.

However, Broken Mug did not have its own bathroom. I must say that I was a little surprised. On Earth, I couldn't imagine a hotel without a bathroom. Even the worst ones had at least a shower. Hostels had at least a shared bathroom on the floor.

Nevertheless, there were public bathrooms in the city, one of which was on the same street as the inn, just a few buildings further to the center. I had to pay them, which made my horde shrink again. But it was worth it. I got a metal tub full of clean hot water, and that was something I had to do without since coming to Eleaden. I really enjoyed the time spent in the tub and left it only when the water was cold. Cold and brown.

In the last year, I have had to give up a lot of things, actually everything. I completely forgot how to be clean felt, and I felt amazing right now. I didn't smell any unattractive odors from my body, and all the dirt and mold was gone. The shoes, underwear, shorts, and shirts I was wearing now lifted my spirits incredibly. I finally felt human again.

"I feel alive!!!" I shouted with joy as I was returning to Broken Mug.

People walking past me looked at me like I was crazy, probably slandering me behind my back. I was in such a good mood that I didn't care. My tail also showed it with a joyous sway from side to side.

At the inn, I had a roast chicken with potatoes for lunch, which I really enjoyed. I tossed my backpack into my room. Inside were two pieces of canvas that I used to use as clothing until now. I was considering throwing it away, but I decided to keep these fabric pieces for now as a reminder of Mr. Scoresby. I was very sorry that I did not thank the old man. This cut sack will serve me as a reminder that I must not forget to express my gratitude when I meet him again.

Innkeeper Byron was wiping the tables when I entered the ground floor of Broken Mug.

"Mr. Byron, did you say they're looking for someone to do laundry at Broken Heart?" I asked him.

He raised his head and looked at me. "That's true. You're interested?"

"Yes, I've been looking for work in the city all morning, but I haven't found any," I told him the truth.

Innkeeper nodded. "It's especially tricky for the Terrans to find work now. Alyson will be happy to see you."

"Alyson?"

"Owner of Broken Heart. You don't have to be afraid of her. She may seem a little dominant sometimes, but at her core, she's a nice woman."

I didn't want to think about why the innkeeper knew the brothel owner so well or how often he visited the business. Maybe that's why the inn looked the way it did. But that wasn't my concern. I thanked him and went to the brothel full of energy.

In my whole life, it never occurred to me that I would visit a brothel voluntarily and not at all that I would look for a job there. Nor did I ever think I would be a slave.

There is a first time for everything.

However, I did not let these thoughts sway me. Therefore, when I stood in front of the brothel, which was the complete opposite of the inn, neat and maintained, I didn't hesitate.