Living, to me, has always been about skillfully avoiding troublesome situations.
You see, I have unpleasant memories from my previous life.
I was diligently performing monotonous tasks every day, and I thought, "I want to somehow make this more efficient." So, I taught myself programming and secretly automated my work.
At first, I used it without telling anyone, but one day it was discovered. Then, my colleagues swarmed me with requests like, "Can you automate this and that too?"
I originally just wanted to make my life a little easier, but as a result, I ended up automating all sorts of tasks for the entire company.
Moreover, I had to do my original work at the same time, so I ended up working overtime late every day.
And even when the program was completed, I was just thanked on the spot, without it being recognized as an achievement.
...In the end, I became ill from overwork and distrust of people, didn't notice an out-of-control truck, and was hit and killed, ending my life.
And when I woke up, I had been reincarnated into this different world.
I don't want to experience the same suffering again. That's why I decided:
"This time, I won't carelessly reveal my abilities."
Even if I make something more efficient, I'll make sure no one around me notices.
As part of that, I'm working as a low-key adventurer.
Since I happened to have magical aptitude, I've been secretly experimenting on my own, but only "within a range where no one will notice." I don't want to get involved in troublesome things like flashy monster exterminations.
If I achieve great feats, someone will notice me again and say, "You're amazing! So you can do more, right?" and I'll be flooded with requests. That's the predictable outcome.
In the end, I chose the position of a perpetual F-rank adventurer who only takes on jobs like removing mud and garbage from gutters, and above all, getting rid of slimes—commonly known as ditch cleaning.
Ditch cleaning is the least popular and pays the least, but it's basically risk-free.
Many people avoid it because it's dirty, physically demanding, and not worth the effort, but this job was just right for me.
◆
Today, I slept soundly until late morning, slowly got ready, and nibbled on a piece of hard bread.
Learning from my past life, I make sure to do the bare minimum of health management, but I still find it difficult to prepare breakfast.
"Well, I guess I'll casually do some ditch cleaning work today."
I quickly change clothes and leave the house, heading to the Adventurer's Guild as usual.
But my visits to the guild aren't for some grand purpose as a dreamy adventurer.
It's simply to earn some money.
Even someone like me who wants to avoid troublesome things has to eat.
"...If I go this way, I might save a few seconds."
My "efficiency-loving" spirit from my previous life surfaces, and I step into the alley. There are no obstacles, and as a result, I arrive at the guild about five seconds earlier. Truly, many a little makes a mickle.
By the time I reach the guild, it's almost noon.
Lost in such small joys, the Adventurer's Guild was a bit past noon when I arrived.
As you can imagine, you can't get decent requests here unless you come early in the morning. Monster extermination and other flashy requests are all taken first thing.
Well, it's nothing to do with me.
Getting up early is a pain.
"I've been waiting for you, Setsu-san. You're here for ditch cleaning again today, right?"
As she says this, she hands me a stack of request forms one after another.
All of them are requests for mundane tasks like "mud removal," "slime blockage," and "gutter cleaning." So-called dirty work.
"I'm grateful that you always take on the work that others dislike! Lately, the gutters seem to be clogged with slime because of the continuous heavy rain."
"No, it's just that I'm most used to this."
Honestly, I don't understand why everyone else dislikes the job of removing slime from gutters.
After all, slime is the weakest monster.
Which means it's the easiest to defeat.
To me, it's the other adventurers who want to sweat and toil to subjugate other, more troublesome monsters that I don't understand.
In this way, I accepted about thirty gutter-cleaning requests and left the guild.
◆
The first place I headed to was a house located a little north of the guild. As with many others, the gutter was clogged with rainwater, household drainage, and slime, causing a foul odor, so they wanted someone to do something about it.
When I called out at the entrance, an intimidating middle-aged man came out. He turned to me and said in a very bothersome tone:
"...You're the one who came to clean the ditch. I've been waiting. Hurry up and get it done."
His attitude is curt, but oh well.
Ditch cleaning is F-rank work, and anyway, I'm on the side making a living from it, so I don't mind. Rather than being fawned over, it's easier this way.
"Yes, yes. Where is it clogged?"
"It's the drain at the back of the house. You'll know as soon as you take a look. The water isn't flowing at all."
As expected, the place I was led to had a drain clogged with muddy sludge and trash, emitting a pungent odor.
Slimes like this kind of smell. That's how they gather, and the slime accelerates the blockage.
Look, if you observe carefully, you can find slightly wriggling mucus.
"Well, let's get this over with quickly."
Saying that, my work began—.
◆
"The blockage was like this. Yes, this is the slime that was causing it."
I show him the slime weakly moving in the bottle. Then, the man's eyes widened, and he exclaimed in surprise:
"Eh, is it already done? Only a few minutes have passed, right? Did you really do it?"
"You can see it. The drain is flowing properly now. Please check."
He seemed skeptical, but when the man peered into the drain, he saw a clean state with not a speck of mud left.
Of course, I've been doing this dirty work for over ten years, so it's only natural that I can handle it without taking much time.
"A, amazing…. Honestly, I underestimated ditch cleaning as a shabby job, but this is a great help. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Then, please report the completion of the request to the guild."
Saying that, I left the house.
I'm grateful to receive words of thanks. Most customers don't even offer thanks for ditch cleaning work.
◆
I quickly went around to the requested locations, and the thirty jobs I accepted were completed in no time.
It was finished long before sunset.
Yeah, I was able to do it about ten seconds more efficiently than last time….
Just ten seconds. But still, ten seconds.
I've been doing ditch cleaning for over ten years, so I've become too skilled, and there's almost no room for improvement, but even so, I'm always conscious of making it even a little more efficient every day.
"Well… it's over quickly again today. I'm hungry… Should I go straight to my usual place?"
I'm heading to a tavern located a little off the main street of the town.
It's open even in the afternoon and is a common place where you can enjoy light meals and drinks. It's nice because even a low-key adventurer doesn't stand out, and no one interferes.
With a creak, I open the old door, and there are a few other customers sitting at the tables. But it's far from full. After all, everyone is probably busy with monster extermination and other things at this time of day.
Coming out from behind the counter is the landlady, who has a sturdy build and a generous smile. As soon as she sees me, she waves her hand.
"Oh, it's Setsu. You're early today. Did you already finish your requests?"
"Well, I specialize in ditch cleaning, so it's over quickly."
"Haha, you're always a hard worker. But it's a great help, because the town would be in trouble if someone didn't do that kind of work."
Speaking lightly, the landlady skillfully pours beer and places it on the counter.
I take the chilled mug in my hand and drain it in one gulp, letting out a satisfied sigh. The cool bitterness spreads through my body, making me feel refreshed.
"Ah… beer after work is the best."
"Isn't it? Yes, yes, I have some smoked meat as a snack, so please enjoy it."
I sit down at the counter and lightly pick at the meat served on a small plate.
Ditch cleaning is subtly physically demanding… Although, in my case, I secretly use magic, so I'm not really that exhausted.
Even so, beer after work is still especially delicious. Because I was so exhausted and died in my previous life, I cherish this everyday life of "skillfully escaping, doing a decent amount of work, and then resting slowly" more than anything.
"By the way, Setsu, my husband was worried about you. He said that you should graduate from ditch cleaning and do a more profitable job."
"Well, efficiency is my motto. Ditch cleaning is easier than troublesome monster extermination."
"Hehe, ordinary adventurers would be dumbfounded if they heard that."
The landlady laughs amusedly and refills my mug with beer. Gazing at the amber liquid, I think from the bottom of my heart that I'm happy.
If I can work just a little every day and live casually without anyone noticing me, that's enough for me. I don't want to work too hard and be driven to overwork like in my previous life.
"Well, today was a good day. I'll continue to earn money secretly and live leisurely."
Thinking that, I bring the glass to my mouth.
It's plain, but this is my ideal life. Because I've learned that small happiness is the most important thing, that's what I honestly feel.
And one sip, then another. There's nothing more delicious than beer after work.
To continue this plain life forever—that is my wish.
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