Chương 50: Chapter 26 : A First Assignment

Aldric arrived at the café several minutes early. The waitstaff were beginning to recognize him. He greeted the one setting up the terrace before heading inside and making his way to the table by the window where Emma had gotten into the habit of sitting. A few minutes later, Emma walked through the café door. The moment she spotted Aldric, she noticed his notebook was already open. Several more pages had been filled since their last meeting.

"You're already working?"

"I'm organizing my objectives."

"Let me see." He turned the notebook toward her. At the top of the page, one objective had been boxed. Obtain a CDI. Temporary agency assignment. ↓ Gain experience. ↓ Successfully complete a trial period. ↓ Obtain a CDI. Emma smiled.

"You really do treat this like a quest."

"It is one." After spending so much time with him, she had come to understand that this way of seeing the world helped Aldric move forward. Every new concept became a mechanic he could learn, and every difficulty became another trial to overcome. She opened her laptop.

"All right, let's see what we can find today." As she browsed through the latest job listings, Aldric watched the screen. The postings already seemed far less mysterious than they had only a few days earlier. He now recognized working hours, different contract types, salary ranges, and the cities where the companies were located. There were still words he didn't understand, but he no longer felt as though he were trying to decipher a foreign language. Emma scrolled through several listings.

"This one requires three years of experience." She moved on to the next one.

"This one requires a driver's license." Then another.

"Mandatory training..." She sighed.

"That's usually the biggest problem when you're just starting out." One listing caught Aldric's attention.

"Why does this assignment only last one day?" Emma turned the screen toward him.

"Oh... that."

"A company may only need someone for a single day. For example, if an employee calls in sick or if there's an unusually heavy workload."

"So it's like a mercenary company called in as reinforcements before a battle. An army doesn't always recruit new soldiers. Sometimes, it only needs extra hands for a short time."

"That's exactly it." Aldric immediately wrote the new information in his notebook: One-day assignment = temporary reinforcements. They continued searching for nearly half an hour. Emma kept sending out applications. Despite their efforts, most companies required qualifications he didn't yet have. Suddenly, Emma's phone vibrated on the table. She glanced at the screen. Julien. She answered the call.

"Hi." For the first few seconds, she simply listened.

"Wait... really? Tomorrow morning?" Another pause.

"Yeah... I might know someone." She turned toward Aldric.

"One second." She covered the phone with her hand.

"A moving company just lost one of their workers for tomorrow. They need someone immediately."

"Are you capable of carrying furniture?"

"How much does it weigh?"

"He's asking how heavy the furniture is..." Emma listened to the reply before turning back to Aldric.

"Mostly boxes, a wardrobe, a sofa, a washing machine, and a few household appliances."

"That shouldn't present any difficulty."

"Yeah... he says he can do it." She continued listening.

"All right."

"What time does he need to be there?"

"Six-thirty." She wrote down an address in her notebook, then looked up at Aldric.

"Can you be there at six-thirty?"

"Yes."

"And work until the move is finished?"

"Yes."

"Do you have suitable clothes?"

"If necessary, I can acquire them." Emma nodded before returning to the call.

"All right." Julien continued explaining the details while Emma wrote down the important information.

"He's never worked as a mover before," she added. She listened for a few more seconds.

"Yeah... I understand." Then a smile appeared on her face.

"Okay. Thanks." She finally hung up.

"They're willing to give you a one-day trial tomorrow."

"I accept this assignment." Emma burst out laughing.

"Hold on a second."

"What is it?"

"You don't even know how much it pays."

"That is of no importance."

"Of course it is." She explained how much he would earn for the day and how he would be paid. Aldric listened carefully, but his enthusiasm never faded. To him, the money wasn't what mattered most. He was finally going to be able to work.

"You've just landed your first job." △ SIDE QUEST △ Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Complete Your First Job Difficulty: C Objective Complete one full day of paid employment. Rewards +750 XP Employment Knowledge +1??? Emma put her phone away before sliding the sheet of paper with the address written on it across the table to Aldric. Since arriving on Earth, this was the first time an employer had genuinely entrusted him with a task.

"Before you get too excited," Emma said, "there are still two or three things you need to understand."

"I'm listening."

"Do you at least know what a move involves?"

"A family leaves its territory to settle elsewhere. They transport their belongings. Several guards escort the wagons to their new destination, protecting the caravan from bandits or monsters that might attack along the way."

"Not exactly."

"So there won't be a caravan?"

"There will... well, a truck."

"Bandits?"

"No."

"Monsters?"

"Still no." She burst out laughing at the look on his face.

"The job is to empty an apartment, load the furniture into a truck, then move everything into another home."

"So no one will try to steal the supplies?"

"No."

"Attack the convoy?"

"Not that either." He looked almost disappointed.

"This is an unusually peaceful assignment."

"Don't worry. You'll have plenty to keep you busy."

"Now listen carefully. There are a few important rules." Aldric immediately opened his notebook.

"First, you arrive early." He carefully wrote down the instruction.

"Next, you wear the work clothes they give you." Another note.

"You always listen to the team leader."

"Naturally."

"And you don't lift furniture however you feel like."

"Even if I can carry it by myself?"

"Especially if you can carry it by yourself." He wrote that down as well.

"You make sure not to break anything."

"Of course."

"You protect the furniture."

"Understood."

"You stay careful on the stairs."

"Understood."

"And if something seems too heavy, you ask for help."

"I understand. Who will be in command of this assignment?"

"Probably the team leader."

"How many of us will there be?"

"Three or four, I think."

"Does the building have multiple entrances?" Emma burst out laughing.

"I have absolutely no idea."

"Then I shall need to scout the area before the operation begins."

"If that helps you stay organized..."

"Will I be required to sign a contract before the assignment?"

"Yes."

"With the team leader?"

"Not exactly."

"The temporary agency officially becomes your employer for the day."

"And the moving company?"

"That's simply where you'll be carrying out the work."

"So the guild is temporarily assigning me to another company." Aldric turned to a fresh page in his notebook. At the top, he carefully wrote: Assignment #1. Then he added several lines: Employer: Temporary Agency. Assigned Company: Moving Company. Team Leader: Unknown. Duration: One day. Primary Objective: Transport all belongings without damaging them. After a brief moment of thought, he added one more line: Secondary Objective: Make a good impression.

"That's good."

"This assignment will probably determine the ones that follow."

"If the supervisor is satisfied with your work, he can call the agency and ask to work with you again."

"So he will be evaluating my reputation. Will I be assigned a rank?"

"No."

"Then how will I know if I've improved?"

"He'll simply tell the agency whether you did a good job." A few dozen minutes later, they left the café and headed to the temporary agency where Julien worked. The office occupied the ground floor of an apartment building. A poster advertised several job openings, while a handful of applicants waited their turn in a small reception area. They had barely stepped inside when a man in his thirties approached them.

"Hi, Emma."

"Hey, Julien." They shook hands before Julien turned to Aldric.

"So this is him?"

"Yes." Julien looked Aldric up and down.

"You told me he was built like a tank... you weren't kidding."

"I warned you." Julien gestured for Aldric to sit down.

"All right, just a few questions." He glanced at a form.

"Have you ever worked on a move before?"

"No."

"Can you work as part of a team?"

"Yes."

"Any problem with heavy lifting?"

"No."

"Can you drive?"

"Horses, yes." Julien looked at Emma. She raised a hand.

"Don't ask any more questions." Julien burst out laughing.

"Fair enough..." He printed several documents before handing them to Aldric.

"Here's the address." Then a second sheet.

"Your schedule." Finally, a third page.

"And a few instructions. Most importantly, don't be late."

"I will arrive before the appointed time."

"If you show up after the truck leaves, the assignment will be canceled."

"Understood." At last, Julien held out his hand.

"Good luck tomorrow."

"Thank you. Today, you've given me my first real opportunity to find my place in this kingdom. I will never forget it." Julien stood there for a moment without replying. Then he smiled awkwardly. To him, he had simply placed a temporary worker in a position that had been difficult to fill. To Aldric, this man had just entrusted him with the first true quest of his new life. As they left the temporary agency, Emma glanced at the time on her phone before turning to Aldric.

"We still have a little time."

"For what?"

"We need to get you properly equipped."

"Armor?"

"Not exactly." They crossed several streets before entering a discount clothing store. Emma headed straight for the workwear section. She picked out a sturdy pair of work pants, a dark T-shirt, and a zip-up hoodie before handing them to Aldric.

"Start by trying these on." Aldric studied the clothes for a few seconds before looking down at his armor.

"Do I truly have to remove my equipment?"

"Yes." Since arriving on Earth, he had almost never taken off his armor. For years, it had been far more than simple protection. It had become a second skin. At last, he nodded and disappeared into a fitting room. A few minutes later, the curtain opened. Aldric stepped out wearing the work pants and the dark hoodie. Without his armor, his broad build looked even more imposing. His brown hair fell freely across his forehead, framing a strong face with a square jaw and brown eyes.

Emma stared at him in silence for a few seconds. He really was...

"Is something wrong?" His voice abruptly brought her back to reality. She immediately felt her cheeks grow warm.

"Y-Yes... I mean..." She cleared her throat before regaining her composure.

"They look really good on you." Aldric looked down to inspect the clothes.

"They seem particularly durable." Emma then picked up a pair of steel-toe work boots from a nearby shelf.

"And most importantly, these."

"Are they truly necessary?"

"Normally, the company should lend you a pair. But since it's only a one-day temporary assignment, I'd rather not take any chances. If they don't have your size, you might not even be able to start work." Aldric picked up one of the boots and turned it over several times before frowning. His fingers stopped at the reinforced toe.

"There's a metal plate inside."

"That's right."

"Why do workers wear armor only on their feet?"

"Because heavy objects can fall on them." The explanation seemed perfectly logical to him. He examined the boot for another few moments before deciding to test its durability himself. He brought the reinforced toe toward a metal shelf. Emma immediately realized what he was about to do.

"Aldric..." Too late. Clang. The shelf vibrated slightly. Emma immediately grabbed his arm.

"We don't test safety boots on the store's furniture."

"They seem effective." She shook her head, laughing.

"Next time, just read the label." They continued shopping until they reached the aisle with moving equipment. Emma picked up a pair of work gloves.

"These too." Aldric put them on. He opened and closed his hands several times.

"The protection they provide seems rather limited."

"They're just gloves."

"In my world, they would be classified as very low-quality equipment."

"Maybe."

"They slightly reduce dexterity."

"True."

"And they offer almost no protection against blades."

"Fortunately, no one should be trying to cut your hands off tomorrow."

"That is reassuring." Emma burst out laughing once again. Once they had finished shopping, they made their way back to the hotel at a leisurely pace.

"There's one more important thing. If something is too heavy, never try to carry it by yourself."

"Why?"

"Because you could get hurt."

"I will be careful."

"And the heaviest items are meant to be carried by two people. If you start doing everything by yourself, the others will eventually let you. Some people won't even realize they're taking advantage of you." Aldric thought about that for a few seconds.

"I understand. It is therefore better to respect the way the work has been organized." He immediately took out his notebook. A few seconds later, Emma noticed a new line: Never carry alone anything intended for two people. By late afternoon, they returned to the hotel. The moment he entered his room, Aldric began preparing for the next day. The work pants were neatly folded, the T-shirt placed on top, and the boots lined up at the foot of the bed.

The gloves were packed into a bag beside a bottle of water, the documents Julien had given him, the assignment's address, the work schedule, and his metro ticket.

"Do you always do this?" Emma asked.

"Before every mission." Emma rummaged through her bag. She pulled out a small box and handed it to Aldric.

"I have something for you."

"A gift?"

"Yes. For your first day at work." He opened the box. Inside was a small round alarm clock. Two silver bells protruded from the top, and the face was decorated with a tiny smiling knight raising a sword toward the sky.

"He's wearing armor."

"I thought you'd like it." He inclined his head.

"Thank you." Emma sat down beside him.

"Wait, I'll show you how it works." She turned a small dial on the back.

"This is where you set the time." Then she pointed to a second one.

"And this one sets the alarm." She moved the hands forward.

"When the two line up..." She flipped a tiny switch. The alarm immediately rang throughout the room. RIIIIING! RIIIIING! Aldric jumped. Emma burst out laughing before switching it off.

"The idea is to wake you up... not to signal the assault on a castle." Aldric set the alarm hand to 4: 30 a. m., checked it twice, and placed the clock on the bedside table. Emma then unfolded the metro map.

"You'll get off here. Then you'll change trains at this station. After that, it's only a five-minute walk. But if you'd rather, I can come with you tomorrow morning."

"This assignment is one I must complete on my own. You've taught me how to use the metro, prepare for an interview, look for a job, and understand the rules of this world. If I continue relying on you for every step, I will never truly progress." She stood up and held out her hand.

"Then... good luck tomorrow." Aldric shook it.

"Thank you. I will never forget everything you've taught me."

"It was nothing."

"On the contrary." When she finally left the room, silence settled once more. Aldric sat down on the edge of the bed. He opened his notebook one last time. △ SIDE QUEST ACTIVE △ Complete Your First Job Start Time: 06: 30 Time Remaining: 7 h 44 min △ OPTIONAL OBJECTIVES △ • Arrive on time. • Follow all instructions. • Complete the mission without revealing supernatural abilities. • Earn the respect of your team.