–
Somehow, Lakis seemed to be in a better mood than when he first revealed himself in front of me.
βMs. Yuri.β
Then after a while, Lakis asked me in a quiet tone.
βWhy did you settle in the east of all places?β
It seemed like a light question that was only asked in passing and at the same time, it seemed like a question that was difficult for me to decipher.
βThere are other good places to live in besides the East.β
Somehow, his tone sounded a little strange, so I raised my head to look at Lakis. However, I couldnβt see his expression because his face was turned the other way. It wasnβt exactly a question I couldnβt answer so I just told him flatly.
βIt had the cheapest prices.β
It was a simple and uninteresting reason.
Actually, when I left the destroyed research institute, I had considered the north and south for places to reside in. Only the west, Carnot, was never included.
Even if the research institute had disappeared, it made me uncomfortable to stay there when my identity was that of a test subject who escaped. In addition, at the time, a part of me thought Lakis might come after the test subject to kill them later.
Anyways, that was why I excluded Carnot when I was considering places for me to live in. And consequently, the place I finally chose was the East. Honestly, since it was the setting I saw in the book, I was more familiar with it so a part of that was also why I thought it would be peaceful to live there.
And above all, my main reason for choosing the east was Damon Salvatoreβs groundbreaking alchemy products. If I didnβt have memories of my previous life, who knows how things would have gone but it was difficult to give up on household product similar to modern ones once I knew of them.
There was strange enclosure in all the regions so the Eastβs alchemy as well as their alchemized goods were yet to be commercialized in other regions.
Although, Damon Salvatore in real life was a bit too much of an idiot to be an alchemy genius…Still, I had to acknowledge his achievements at least.
Of course, the genre wasnβt anything like a lively romance comedy and a part of me didnβt want to get involved the protagonists of an angsty romance thriller so that held me back a bit, but it was really only a tiny bit. This was because I had convincingly thought that there was a miniscule chance of me encountering them in this vast land.
However, the East was small…
In the end, with the female lead, Anne-Marie, moving in next to me, I ended up meeting all the characters.
βSo if not for that, you donβt necessarily have to live here?β
After hearing what I said, Lakis turned to me.
βI didnβt choose this place because I liked the East itself.β
His moonlit blue eyes met my gaze. In that moment, I felt something strange that was difficult to describe and after a pause for a second or two, I slowly opened my mouth.
βWell…all places are pretty much the same.β
βYouβre right. Theyβre all the same.β
A bright smile bloomed on Lakisβ face. He lifted a hand and gently tidied up my messy hair. From what I could tell, Lakis seemed satisfied by my answer. Seeing that, my mood turned somewhat odd again.
However, since Lakis didnβt add anything more to that, I didnβt bring up the suspicion I felt just now.
Like that, the night walk by the river came to an end.
* * *
The next day, as I was working in the coffeehouse, Mr. Gilbert approached me, looking hesitant. He seemed to have something to say but maybe it wasnβt easy for him to bring it up because he lingered around me for a while, stealing glances at me.
He tidied up the table next to me, glanced, took an order from a customer, glanced on the way to the kitchen then began watering the plants and glanced again…
βUh, Ms. Yuri…β
And finally, when I was about to talk to Mr. Gilbert first, he called me as if heβd made a decision.
βHow is your work with that noble family lately?β
Ah, I guess he was curious about my work with Bastian Crawford. Gilbert roughly knew that I was hired by the old man who came to the coffeehouse and that I was working over there. Of course, he didnβt know that Bastian was from the Crawford family.
βIβve only been there a few times, so I donβt have much of an opinion yet, but I think itβs okay.Β¬ The job is easy too.β
And the payment was huge.
Of course, I didnβt need to tell Gilbert that later part.
βI, I see.β
But even with just that, Mr. Gilbertβs eyes shook and there was subtle nervousness in his eyes. Soon enough, he spoke with an oddly desperate attitude.
βMs. Yuri, if thereβs anything that bothers you while working at the coffeehouse, just let me know anytime, no matter what it is! If the working hours are hard, I can reduce those too!β
βOkay, I will tell you if I need it.β
I nodded to show I understood.
I guess Gilbert was worried that I might quit working at the coffeehouse because I liked the new job I got.
Either ways, since he wanted to be accommodating, there was really no reason to refuse. Of course, I had no plans to quit the coffeehouse right now but even I didnβt know how long that would last.
βAl, Also, if the payment is too small, next month I can…a pay raise…β
βIt’s fine.β
However, I cut Gilbert off before he finished the sentence he began with resolution. Of course, if my salary was increased, that was a good thing but Mr. Gilbert was already treating me more than well. Besides if I need money, it was a hundred time better to suck it out of the great Crawford family of the East than squeeze the sweat and blood of an ordinary citizen like Gilbert.
However, Mr. Gilbert seemed to get more anxious when I didnβt ask for anything.
βM-Ms. Yuri. Youβre not going to quit, are you?β
He unconsciously asked desperately then he flinched like he was shocked by himself and shook his head rapidly.
βAh, no, no. Iβm more than thankful for all the help youβve given so far. You have your circumstances, Ms. Yuri. Of course, you can quit whenever you want…β
Mr. Gilbert tried to assure me it was okay. However, his eyes looking at me were damp, and his lips which were trying to smile were trembling pitifully. He didnβt want me to quit that much it seemed.
But Iβm not going to quit, though.
βI have no intention of quitting yet.β
βR-Really?β
βYes. Of course, I donβt know about later but for now, yes.β
I said quite straightforwardly.
At that, Mr. Gilbertβs face brightened.
βOkay, Ms. Yuri! Letβs work together for a very long time!β
Eh, I donβt mean that long.
That said, Mr. Gilbert seemed to be in a much better mood than earlier when he looked like there were dark clouds over him, so I didnβt bother adding that.
* * *
βHello, Ms. Yuri!β
That afternoon, Snow came to the coffeehouse in flesh. Actually, after I realized that Snow was Genos Sheldon, I wasnβt quite sure how to address him…
Since he was dressed as Snow, Iβll just call him Snow.
βA glass of lemonade, please.β
He ordered lemonade like he had always done ever since the coffeehouseβs beans changed. While I took his order and went to the kitchen, Mr. Gilbert went up to Snow and expressed his happiness.
βMr. Snow, I havenβt seen you in a while.β
Honestly, it hadnβt been that long. After all, heβd come to the coffeehouse a couple of times in the form of Genos Sheldon.
But since Mr. Gilbert didnβt know that, he thought Snow hadnβt come here in quite a while. Perhaps Snow realized that as well because he gave a slightly bashful smile and replied.
βHaha, I started some work a while ago and itβs kept me a little busy.β
βOh, youβve started working lately?β
βYes, somehow my friend happened to need some help so Iβm helping out.β
βI see! Thatβs great, Mr. Snow!β
βUh, yea…I guess…β
Facing Gilbertβs strong reaction, Snowβs response was a little awkward. He looked like he didnβt understand why Gilbert was so happy.
Of course, I knew exactly why.
Mr. Gilbert knew Snow was employed so hearing this, he thought Snow had finally succeeded in getting a job, so he was congratulating him earnestly.
Snow was a regular at the coffeehouse so naturally, he talked to the owner, Gilbert sometimes. So like now, there were times when they had brief conversations. And so, Gilbert was surprisingly intuitive enough to realized that Snowβs work right now meant he was no longer unemployed.
βMs. Yuri! Please bring a meat pie here!β
Mr. Gilbert even got Snow a gift to congratulate him on the job.
βThis is a service on the house, just for regulars. Itβs a new menu weβre developing, you can try it out.β
I figured Snow might feel burdened, so I told him it was a service for regulars instead of the truth. Such a beautiful display of warm affection in this harsh world…
Knowing that Snow was Genos Sheldon, I couldnβt help but feel this situation was a little funny. Anyways, I put the lemonade and meat pie on a tray then I went up to Snow.
βHereβs the drink you ordered and the pie.β
However, when Snow saw the meat pie, he briefly covered his nose and mouth with his hand.
βHm? He looked he was gagging just now.β
Mr. Gilbert was taking orders from a customer on another table, so he didnβt notice. But Snow also acted like nothing just happened as if he wasnβt aware of his reaction.
βWow, thank you. It smells really delicious; I guess itβs because itβs a new menu.β
However,Β his usual smile was a bit stiffer than usual.
*,*,*
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 62 - December 29, 2025
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 56 – 61 - December 21, 2025
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapters 50 – 55 - December 7, 2025
Ah…. Poor Snow.
As if crows pooping on him wasn’t enough, why do I feel he is the most miserable character yet so far?
Thank you for the update!
You’ve forgotten Damon ‘the idiot, the twat’Salvatore π
And Odin, poor him
Lmao!! Poor Genos , he will probably have to muscle down that pie to stay courteous ππ
Its still under developing genos…. or maybe its taste remind you of your bloddy job
I agree. It reminded him of the corpses he and Kalian inspected.
I feel sorry for Snow. The might’ve remindes him of all the things he saw in his job. π’
I always love the small moments Lakis and Yuri share. I think Lakis wanted to ask her why she did not stay in Carnot? Hehehe…
Thanks for the chapter Miss Ruby π₯°
Didnt even think of that! ….that would suck.
Nope he is probing her with the intention of taking her to the west when the time comes! Like, if you don’t have a particular reason to stay in the east, come with me and be my queen of the west!π€©
Genos, good luck on munhing down that pie!!π
Thank you for your hard work Miss Ruby!
Ah … I thought there were going to be romantic scenes … they just had casual conversation. But i am very satisfied.
This kind of slow romance is different from Lucia’s quick romance.
Thank you so much for the translation, Miss Ruby.
I usually dont like when it takes too long for the characters to develop feeling or whatever (if u get what i mean )but with Yuri and Lakis its very satisfying …and sweet….and cute
Thanks for the chapters this week again! What a nice walk with a friendly reminder that Damon was spared because of needing modern convenience not plot convenience.
π poor Snow, and Lakis planning to move with Yuri I guess π so sweet. Thank you
He’s Probably a vegetarian or vegan. Poor guy
xD you eat it genos kun ahaha
Thanks for the update!
Thank you for the update ruby-sama
β‘(Σ¦ο½Σ¦ο½‘)
Thanks for chap
did gilbert forget yuri’s Amazing cooking skills? π
Btw I’m glad lakris didn’t ask to follow him to carnot as yuri’s any place was actually any place execpt carnot.
Lol I low key hate that his name is Damon Salvatore bc I can only think of TVD. Itβs the exact same name. I wonder if the author is a fan or the translator is
I’m sorry, lol. The first thing I thought was Genos’ is pregnant? HAHAHA