I'm on Maintenance Duty

Arc 1.10 - Awake

PARCHIE!!

"This world is broken."

PARCHIE! I'M GOING TO DIE!

"Well, it can't be helped. When I get out of prison, I'll tell staff to evacuate you. Say bye to your salary."

Eh?! Wait no!!

Popi was more afraid of losing his salary than dying. He pleaded with Parchie to let him continue working. His tears streamed down his face as he continued falling in the never-ending void.

The protagonist had long since fainted. It had already been quite a few hours ever since they fell in the void. The strain on his body took its toll.

"Sheesh. You won't be able to finish your job now that the Eyes of Greed have interfered. There's bound to be a ton of glitches now."

But the 1.. My 1 soul food QAQ

"Listen, the glitches will be worse from here on out. It will consume everything until all living beings have amnesia every five seconds."

Well, that still sounds.. manageable.

"It's not, you stubborn fucker! AAAAA!!"

Popi and Parchie fought in a heated argument. Neither side backed down. Their logic and reasoning were reduced to bouts of incoherent screaming.

...

The weather was calm and sunny. It was a perfect day for the elves to roam and go about their business. The market was particularly lively as there was a special event going on.

"50% discount! Cheap porcelain wares!"

"Buy one take two free! Homemade burgers made by the legendary chef, Angeli!"

"Limited time sale! Buy now or you'll regret it later!"

Vendors called out to attract potential customers. They put up their own makeshift stalls to present their products and protect themselves from the searing heat.

A woman pushed a cart filled with goods. She roamed around the market while holding out one or two of her products. Her blonde hair was damp from sweat and stuck closely to her forehead.

"Hot cakes, candy, and ice cream! Perfect for the hot weather! Come and buy!"

The woman uttered the same words every time she turned to a new corner or encountered interested customers. When the sun climbed to its peak in the afternoon, she had successfully sold more than half of her goods.

She wiped away her sweat and tucked her hair behind her pointy ears. She held out her hand and revealed a few coins to the little boy in front of her.

"Wow, Lune! You earned that much already?" The boy's eyes sparkled in delight.

"Yes. Now go buy that toy." Lune smiled and gave the coins to the boy.

"Thank you! I really, really wanted it! I'll pay you back a thousand times when I grow up!" The boy promised with a determined look.

"Don't think about those. Just be happy today."

"Right, right. I'll go now, Lune!"

The boy waved Lune goodbye as he dashed to a nearby toy stall. It made Lune chuckle.

Now then...

Lune counted the remaining goods. If she could sell them all, it would be enough to feed her family for a day. Just the thought of having a full stomach brightened Lune's face.