Chapter 19: Work
Shennong sat in silence, listening to the woman's story. Her voice was calm, but there was a sadness behind her words that weighed heavily on him.
"My husband died in the mines," the woman said, her hands gripping the edges of the table. "A wall collapsed on him. The foreman said it was just bad luck."
Shennong lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry."
The woman gave a small smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "It's okay. I just don't want people to think that just because the mines pay well, it's a good job." She shook her head. "My husband thought that way too."
Shennong had no words to offer. He simply sat there, letting the weight of her words settle between them. After a moment, he took a breath and straightened up. "My name is Shennong," he said, introducing himself. He turned to the side and gestured toward Romina standing near the entrance looking at everything. "And this is Romina."
The innkeeper, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. "I'm Josie," she said, offering a warm smile. She then mentioned about the young girl working in the kitchen. "And that girl was my daughter, Jeni."
Shennong watched as Jeni skillfully stirred a pot, moving with an ease that suggested she had been doing this for a while. A playful grin formed on his face as he turned back to Josie. "Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? The mother cooking while the daughter serves?"
Josie chuckled. "I'm letting her practice for the future. She needs to learn how to run this place someday."
Shennong smirked but didn't press further. He stretched his arms and stood up. "I should get going."
Josie got up with him, but before he could take a step toward the door, she suddenly called out. "Wait!"
Shennong paused and turned around, curious. "What is it?"
Josie hesitated for a moment before meeting his gaze. "Are you really going to work in the mines?"
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't have much of a choice. I'll try to find work somewhere else but... I think mine will be the best option."
Josie frowned slightly, then took a deep breath, as if coming to a decision. "Maybe you don't have to," she said. "I've been trying to find a man to work here, to help out around the inn. If you take the job, it'd be a huge help to me."
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Shennong blinked, caught off guard. "Work here?"
"Yes," Josie nodded. "It's hard running this place alone. I could use an extra pair of hands."
Shennong looked down, thoughtful. He wasn't opposed to the idea, but he knew money was an issue. Josie seemed to sense his hesitation because she quickly added, "I'll pay you five silver coins."
His head shot up in surprise. Five silver coins? He instinctively looked at Romina, as if asking her whether that was a lot. She gave a small nod, her expression equally surprised. Normally, common workers in the town wouldn't get more than two silver coins. Only noble workers or specialists received five or more. It was clear to both of them that Josie was really trying to keep him here.
Shennong exhaled, thinking for a moment. "I'd do it for far less," he said finally, "if I can find a room to stay in."
Josie's face brightened immediately. "I can arrange that!" she said enthusiastically. "There's a spare room upstairs. It's not much, but it's got a bed, and it's warm."
Shennong exchanged a glance with Romina, who gave him an approving nod. He turned back to Josie with a small smile. "Then, I guess you have yourself a new worker."
Josie clapped her hands together, looking delighted. "That's great! You won't regret it, Shennong."
For an entire week, Shennong worked tirelessly at the tavern, serving customers with a calm smile and efficient movements.
At first, the tavern was mostly filled with the usual patrons—rough-looking mercenaries, exhausted adventurers, and the occasional drunk noble slumming it for a night. But as the days passed, the clientele started to shift.
More and more female adventurers and ladies began to frequent the tavern. Some came in groups, others alone, but all of them seemed drawn by something—more specifically, someone. Shennong never paid much mind to it, treating every customer with the same professionalism and the same welcoming nature, but Josie saw it all from the open kitchen, watching with an amused smile as the young women found excuses to talk to him.
She had seen many things in her time running the tavern, but never had she seen such a shift in the crowd. And the reason was obvious—Shennong had unknowingly become the tavern's most popular attraction.
The rumors about the new worker who looked just as handsome as the princes from the stories spread through the town. At first, people dismissed them, but after a while, curiosity got the better of them, and they started visiting the inn—only to be left in complete shock.
When the last customer left and the doors were shut for the night, Jeni walked up to him, her hips swaying slightly as she stretched her arms over her head showing her boobs.
"Good work, Shennong," she said, giving him a grin noticing he was looking at her. "You've really got a way with the customers, especially the ladies. Thinkin' of settling down with one of them? I saw some rich ladies were trying their luck their with you."
Jeni looked same age as Shennong and she had the attractiveness of her mother with her slightly developed body, unlike her mother.
Shennong chuckled, tilting his head slightly. "I have no hopes about that."
Jeni smirked. "Oh? Are you not interested in a relationship?" She was dying to hear the answer, as her heart was beating fast.
"I do want, but right now I am focused about making money."
He simply smiled in response, neither confirming nor denying. Jeni huffed, pouting slightly before stepping closer. "You know... a hardworking man like you deserves a good woman. Someone who can take care of you when you're not busy being everyone's favorite bartender."
Shennong raised an eyebrow but continued to play along. "Oh? And do you have someone in mind? You're talking like you have one."
Jeni clicked her tongue. "Tch, I wonder about that."
Before he could respond, Josie let out a quiet chuckle from the kitchen, shaking her head as she wiped down the counter. Watching Shennong work, seeing how the girls hovered around him, and noticing how he handled it all with ease—it gave her a thought she hadn't considered before.
Maybe she had found her future son-in-law.
But before she could entertain the thought any further, Shennong let out a tired sigh. "I'm heading to rest. See you all tomorrow."
With that, he walked toward the back, disappearing up the stairs and into the room given to him. Once inside, he locked the door and turned to the bed, where Rilith and Velara lay sprawled out, lazily stretching their limbs.
"Good work," Velara murmured, her voice thick with sleep.
Shennong clicked his tongue. "Did you do what I asked?"
Rilith grinned and, with a dramatic flourish, pulled out a folded paper. "Of course we did."
Taking it from her, Shennong quickly scanned the contents. The parchment was something only nobles would have access to, and the names written upon it made his eyes narrow.
He read them aloud under his breath. "A few adventurer groups... and Sir Maron Vendal, commander of Percival Barony."
His fingers tightened around the paper. "So these are the ones I should be careful of."
Before he could ponder further, a presence loomed behind him. A pair of golden eyes peered over his shoulder, and a smooth, sultry voice whispered close to his ear.
"Should I get rid of these people?"
Shennong glanced back with a smirk. "No, but where have you been, Yenissa?"
She smiled coyly. "That's a secret."
His expression darkened slightly. "You didn't do anything to those adventurers that attacked me, did you?"
She turned her head away slightly. "I didn't."
"Liar."
Yenissa sighed dramatically, placing a hand on her chest. "I swear, I didn't do anything... yet." Her golden eyes flashed dangerously. "But soon enough, they'll regret ever laying a hand on you."
Shennong shook his head. "When that time comes, I'll be the one to decide what happens. Until then, lay low."
At that moment, a loud grumble echoed through the room. Shennong turned to see both Rilith and Velara sitting up, looking at him with large, expectant eyes.
Velara clutched her stomach. "We're hungry."
Rilith nodded, pressing her hands together. "Feed us?"
Before Shennong could say anything, Yenissa scoffed. "Not going to happen. Go feed on some other human."
But instead of refusing, Shennong suddenly grinned. "Actually... I've been looking forward to this."
Yenissa's eyes widened slightly. "What?"
Shennong stepped forward, cracking his neck slightly. "Tonight, I'm going to feed you all."
The room fell into a stunned silence before Rilith and Velara broke out into excited grins. Yenissa, on the other hand, crossed her arms, watching him with narrowed eyes. "You're way too eager about this. What are you planning?"
Shennong simply smiled and said nothing.
Across the room, Romina sat on a chair, pretending not to hear anything. By now, she had gotten used to living with these crazy, sex-hungry demons. At first, it had been overwhelming, but after spending so much time around them, she had accepted that this was simply her new normal.
She just hoped she wouldn't have to hear any of what was about to happen next.
Shennong took a step forward, his sharp eyes glinting in the dim light. "Let's not waste any more time, then."
And with that, the night truly began.