A new, strange, and quiet routine started in The Comfy Corner. The mornings were the most surreal. Before the first visitors of the morning had arrived, the Tea Nook would be filled with a quiet, focused energy. The only sound was the gentle, rhythmic clinking of porcelain.
Kaelen, the former assassin, had reported for her job. I watched from my core as she walked up to the big stone sink filled with warm, soapy water. There was no anger in the way she moved. She just had the same sharp focus she'd had when she was hunting me, but it was aimed at a stubborn tea stain on a mug.
Her hands, which were covered in small, pale scars from a lifetime of holding daggers, slipped into the warm water. I could feel her surprise at the simple, pleasant feeling. For a moment, she just stood there, her eyes closed, as if processing a completely new sensation. Then, she began to work.
She was amazing at it. She didn't just wash the cups; she cleaned them with a perfect, steady rhythm. Every dish was dried with a single, quick motion and stacked in a perfect, neat pile that seemed to defy gravity. The Tea Nook had never been so clean. It was spotless, and a little bit scary.
Sloosh, my slime waiter, seemed to think so too. It had tried to "help" once, by handing her a dirty bowl. She had taken it, washed it, and placed it on the drying rack in a single, fluid motion that was so fast, the poor slime just sort of wobbled back in awe. Now, it had taken to hiding behind the tea urn, peeking out every so often to watch its new, hyper-competent assistant work.
A happy, golden notification appeared in my mind.
> đź”” Alert: [Dungeon Morale Increased!]
> Source: Staff Member 'Sloosh'
> Reason: Is very happy because his daily workload is 95% less.
> Bonus: [+10 DP for Good Management!]
>
'Great,' I thought with a sigh. 'My dishwasher is now the most skilled person in the dungeon.'
The first adventurers of the day arrived. Their loud morning talk about a recent bounty died down when they saw who was behind the counter. They ordered their tea in quiet whispers. One knight, a young man full of more confidence than sense, tried to be brave and make small talk.
"So... new job?" he asked with a shaky grin as Kaelen took his empty mug.
She didn't say anything. She just gave him a cold, silent stare. Her eyes looked right through him, as if calculating the weakest point in his armor. The knight's grin vanished. He squeaked, "Great, thanks!" and hurried back to his table, where his friends patted him on the back for surviving.
Later, Pip came to get more tea. I could feel his nervousness from across the room. He took a deep breath, walked on his tiptoes to the counter, and tried to pay without looking at Kaelen. His hands were shaking so much that the silver coins slipped from his fingers.
Before the first coin could even hit the floor, Kaelen's hand moved in a blur and caught all three of them. She placed them neatly on the counter without a sound.
Pip whispered, "Thank you," and basically ran back to his seat, clutching his tea like a shield.
At the end of her first day of work, FaeLina floated near the counter. I made her visible, but only to Kaelen. The little fairy nervously held out a single, shiny gold coin.
"Ahem," FaeLina squeaked. "From the management. Here is your pay for the work you did. Good job. The cups are very... clean now."
Kaelen stared at the coin in her palm. It felt heavy. She had taken piles of treasure from her enemies before, but she had never earned a wage. The simple, solid feeling of it—a payment for a day of quiet, useful work—was a new and strange sensation. She turned the coin over, her thumb tracing the gryphon stamped on it.
As she was looking at her first paycheck, the Guild Bulletin Board chimed with a [Direct Message].
It was for her, from Guildmaster Peppin. Gilda, who was still there, read it over Kaelen's shoulder.
Your job as a prisoner is now to work at 'The Comfy Corner'. My guards have been called back. The Dungeon Core is now in charge of you. Do not cause trouble.
Another notification appeared, just for me.
> 🏆 [New Job Acquired!]
> Title: Parole Officer (Cozy Type)
> Person to watch: Kaelen
> Duties: Make sure she doesn't stab anyone. Give her tea. Pay her for washing dishes.
> Reward: Good reputation with the DLRB and Iron Gryphons.
> If you fail: A lot of annoying paperwork.
>
Gilda gave Kaelen a long look, then nodded. "Well, looks like you're officially staff now. Try not to stab the customers." With that, she and the other Iron Gryphons saluted me and left.
The legendary assassin was now my responsibility. My employee. My parolee.
All I ever wanted was a nap.