God Of Crafting

Chapter 28: You are not quitting! I'm firing you!

I wasn't all that used to taking a walk outside just for the sake of calming down my thoughts. Up until now, whenever I left my place, I would go somewhere to achieve some sort of purpose, be it to throw the trash out, go get some groceries, or meet up with friends.

But to just take a walk outside... for the sake of talking a walk?

'I wonder if that's just another part of becoming a proper grown-up...'

It was just one of the many random thoughts that popped into my head as I walked through the relatively empty streets of the morning town.

In just about an hour, those streets would fill with both people and cars, killing the peaceful ambiance the city had right now. Just an hour before the peace would turn into chaos of everyone rushing to their jobs, to their schools, or to whatever made them leave the comforts of their home.

Before that, though, I continued to just pace around, allowing my legs to drag me whenever.

'Thinking back, I've yet to train again after leaving the institution,' I thought, suddenly feeling an urge to get some exercise done.

It wasn't a matter of keeping myself healthy or even keeping up all the gains I've got over the years of keeping up with the harsh discipline of my regime. I merely missed the strain on the body killing my thoughts, forcing me to focus on achieving perfection with my next strike.

'Now that I think about it...'

Before I could even finish a single line of thought, my body jerked up before breaking into a dash, as if some ghost suddenly started to chase me down the morning streets of the city.

I wasn't dressed up for a jog. My shoes were nothing like what I should be wearing for a running exercise. Even my fit was just whatever I threw atop my back before leaving rather than proper exercise clothes. In short, I didn't look the part of a jogger currently out on their morning run. But at the same time...

'How is it so liberating?' Running through the streets, I thought nothing of what the passersby would think of me. I steadily ran across the streets despite wearing clothes many would feel ashamed to throw the trash out in.

But just like I thought, to cast away all my worries, all my concerns, and all my inhibitors and just run freely...

'Wait, aren't I a lot faster than usual?'

"Thanks, man. And yes, I did."

There was no need for us to explain our short messages in depth. We worked the graveyard shift together for long enough to pretty much understand each other just from our expressions alone. After all, how else could we have detailed conversations over who is to take care of the next troublesome customer... with said customer already standing at the counter?

And so, I didn't need to explain how I've finally managed to start cultivating. He could tell from how I've avoided his back-slap before.

I didn't even need to tell him that I've now faced a completely new set of struggles that only became apparent once I finally overcame the wall that stopped me for so long - if I wasn't struggling, he wouldn't see me at the work right the moment the shift I skipped came to an end.

And definitely, he wouldn't hear me asking if the boss was in the shop if I didn't have the plans to...

"Tim!" A sudden shout broke me out of this self-reflective state meeting Tom put me in. "What the hell? Weren't you..."

Pushing the glass doors open, a tiny-looking oriental lady stepped out, her eyes first concerned only to then nearly turn red when her expression turned fiery as she connected the dots and realized the likely truth.

"Do you think you can skimp on work now? Someone really grew some balls, didn't you, huh?!" With every word, the middle-aged panda-like lady came a step closer, her knuckles already turning white from how hard she squeezed down on the reins of her bag.

She was the owner and the boss of the shop I was working at. A fierce lady who only ever appeared kind when she had to. And now that I've put myself in her anger's way...

"Kids these days really don't know how to work hard!" she screamed out through the empty street, the bag in her hand already starting to move back and forth as if she started to spin it up for an attack. "It seems I have no other choice but to teach you a damn less..."

"I quit," not missing a beat, I stared the middle-aged lady right in the eye as I revealed the news.

"Huh?" Tom jumped a little, slightly taken aback by the suddenness of the news.

"What?" Even the boss lady appeared to be caught off guard by my reveal. But she wouldn't be herself if she just allowed it to pass, would she? "No! You are not quitting! No one quits on me!"

And then, with the most vicious smile, I've seen her make thus far, "You are not quitting! Ha! I'm firing you!"