"Hey, Bread Guy. It's lunch time."
"...Don't call me Bread."
Suddenly, I heard a scream and threw the hammer I was holding on the ground violently.
I wasn't really mad.
To begin with, throwing hand tools at irregular places on construction sites was a common occurrence.
"What? I called you by name."
"Yeah~ Isn't the name Gingerbread?"
I wanted to think about it and move on, but damn, even a passerby was talking nonsense.
Even though it was a fake name, I thought it was a stupid idea.
"Okay, come eat."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming."
But as annoying as it was, I needed to eat to live.
I grumbled and followed them to the cafeteria.
The place I finally arrived was a food truck supported by the labor agency I work for.
Since mass cuisine is the staple, everyone gets the same meal, but since the menu is different every day, I can enjoy a meal without getting bored.
Since it also aims to promote a multicultural society, it's also a small pleasure to try foods from various cultures.
"What's this?"
"Oh, this dish is called jajangmyeon (a Korean dish, basically noodles with bean sauce, pork, and vegetables). I heard it's the food people in the East eat when they work in construction."
"That black stuff looks like sewage or something..."
- Swallows.
"Wow~ It's delicious~!"
"...Isn't the change of position too fast?"
"What do you think? It's not like the labor agency will give me a scolding, unless they're crazy."
"Let's stop talking nonsense while we eat."
An impolite tone, a harsh attitude, a dialect different from the common language of the continent, etc...
Race was race, but since all kinds of people gathered together, it was pure chaos.
Of course, as long as you were in good physical shape, the day laborers didn't discriminate.
"Even a bachelor eats a lot."
"But is it acceptable for a bachelor to eat this? Its name is Bread, so shouldn't you eat bread?"
"If you don't want to go to jail for defamation, don't provoke it too much."
"Of course, they're both made from the same flour, so what's the problem?"
I felt my chopsticks gaining strength at the sound of their laughter.
Anyway, these gentlemen are louder than a horn.
If they didn't pay the hourly wage, they should have found another job long ago.
"By the way, the heroes worked hard today."
But the reason why the hourly wage was high wasn't a very good thing, if you look closely.
The workers looked around the construction site while having a quick meal.
Most of the remains of the collapsed building were gone, and the structure of a new building was being built on top of it.
The construction has been going on for about a month now. It will be completed in another month.
"Do you know what the most popular business was after the cataclysm?"
"The construction industry. The continents were all gathered in one place, so they lost their places to live, right?"
"No, no, that was half a century ago. Since then, the villains have been destroying all the places they live in, so the speed of construction has to automatically increase, right?"
"Hey, it's not that the villains caused the terror, it's that the heroes go around destroying everything?"
"Sometimes, when you see it, the heroes are scarier, you know?"
"Well, it's good for us because they create jobs."
"What's good about that? Even the construction of this building is paid for with taxes."
A worker grumbling and using chopsticks.
He doesn't seem to have a good feeling about the heroes either.
Well, that's only natural.
They make a lot of propaganda here and there, but in the end, they're just throwing a party to hide their discontent from the people.
"Don't you guys get tired of talking about building and making things all the time? Since we're all here, let's talk about something different."
"What are you guys talking about?"
"What do you guys do here?"
As I listened to the conversation in silence and continued eating, a worker suddenly tried to change the subject.
A topic that always starts when several people get together.
Those who were previously gossiping about the heroes also started to join in, one by one.
"What are you doing here? You did this and that, so you're just hanging around, right?"
"I'm in debt, that's why. It's not easy to pay the interest, so I guess I have no choice but to come to a place with a low hourly wage."
"I got fired from my job."
"...A criminal."
"A criminal?"
"Heh heh, there used to be a famous organization. It was called Uroboros."
Wow.
The strength in my hands that were holding the bowl almost disappeared.
Thankfully, no one around me noticed. Instead, they were interested in the fact that a big name
had emerged.
"Isn't that Uroboros? The one who split the Hero Association in half..."
"Honestly, it was better when those guys ruled. Once that organization collapsed,
all sorts of scum started "...making a fuss here and there, saying they would fight for supremacy."
"So you're saying you're affiliated with them?"
"No, no, you weren't affiliated with them. You were just subcontracting."
"Even if you're a subcontractor, it's great to have connections."
Subcontracting.
It certainly costs a lot of money to run an organization.
You've done business in many ways, so there were some instances where you needed connections, whether on the light or shadow side.
If I think about it that way, am I an employee of a large company that has a lot of subcontractors, even if I'm just a low-level employee?
"And what's a bachelor doing here?"
Of course, I couldn't just tell them all the details.
I thought I couldn't help it, even if I ate in silence, and I turned my gaze to them.
No need to get so worked up.
There are excuses ready for times like this.
"I have a daughter."
"Daughter?"
"Yeah, I'm raising my daughter alone... There are a lot of things that cost money, so I got involved in this."
A widower with a daughter....
That was the fake identity I've been using for the past three years.
Of course, I haven't found a real job yet, so it's not stable,
but it's still effective enough to convince other people in a situation like this.
"Wow, the kid lost his mother when he was young."
Of course, it's not a pleasant thing to hear if you say it directly.
"Hey, if you throw that in their face, will it get better?"
"Oh, no. It's okay. I'm used to it."
It's rude to ask about the details of someone else's story.
Shortening the story itself reduces the possibility of suspicion,
so I felt more comfortable when it came out like that.
"Here, I'll give you some more meat, so have some."
The problem was that the effect was a little strong.
"Okay. What I've eaten so far is enough…"
"Hey, buddy. Do you think raising a daughter alone is easy?
It's much better now that I have a wife.
But aren't you single?"
"You must have had a hard time. Here, have some of mine too."
"Take mine too."
Hey, guys, don't mess around with your slobbery chopsticks.
Without showing it, I took the bowl and refused, whereupon the staff belatedly apologized and started backing away.
Fortunately, I realized that forcing honesty was a nuisance.
"By the way, Mr. Brad. How old is your daughter?"
"She's seven this year."
"I see, shouldn't she go to school at seven?"
"You must have a lot to prepare. Which school is she going to?"
But why do these old bastards take so much interest in other people's affairs?
Even though it's an agency where you work by the day and get paid by the day, after a few days and months, the number of people you meet in person increases.
Even though I like the daily wage, I still do it, but it's not easy to find other places...
"Uh, can I go to the bathroom first?"
"Uh, okay. See you later!"
Putting the conversation aside, I walked to a nearby portable toilet
and took out my smartphone from my pocket to check a message.
[Guidelines on how to register for compulsory education for children belonging to Pangea District C.]
"...Damn."
No matter how hard you try to hide, you can't get rid of the resident records with the fake ID I prepared.
Of course, this kind of notice will come when the time comes, so I have to follow this notice to avoid suspicion.
Yes, I have to send the boss to the school.
'All of this is a precious experience for me.'
Of course the boss won't refuse.
After watching TV at home for almost 3 years, even I would be interested in outdoor activities.
But the problem is that I don't have much money to spare right now.
Tuition, textbooks and all kinds of materials... ... Damn, what's the point if only the construction industry is developing?
All the taxes go to this area. Since I'm being cheated, I have to pay all the tuition.
"What's up, boss? Do you have any free time in the evening?"
But that's all for rebuilding the organization.
I thought about it and asked for overtime at the employment center where I work.
And...
***
"My father."
"Yes, go ahead."
A few days later.
I nodded to the boss who had just opened the curtain and revealed himself,
and replied.
"If you don't raise your head, you won't be able to see me, right?"
"...Yes, yes. That's right."
It was a burden, but I couldn't refuse her words.
When I raised my head, I saw my boss wearing a one-piece dress to go out, facing me with both arms outstretched.
"I'll ask again."
Yes.
My boss asked while wearing a pure white dress with lots of frills.
"Do you think this dress suits your body?"
The boss of the organization.
None other than the God of Destruction who descended from space towards me, a humble soldier.
"Well, it suits you well."
"Yes~ It really suits you!"
As I reluctantly joined her, a cheerful voice suddenly burst out from beside me.
It was the clerk at the clothing store I had stopped at.
In his hands were a bunch of clothes with unique designs.
"As expected, since these collections are good, you can wear anything~ But isn't that enough!? Since you're already in the store, you should try on some more! Of course, if you like something, you can buy it..." He's talking like a machine gun, but his intention to sell as much as possible is obvious.
But unfortunately, the money I have to spend here is limited.
I wanted to buy the first outfit I could fit in and run away, but the boss's gaze, fixed on the clothes the clerk brought, was filled with curiosity.
"I see, since wearing them is free, it wouldn't be bad to try on a few things."
"That's a wise choice~ Okay, here, how about these clothes? Or this one?"
...Damn.
I have to watch my master turn into a dress-up doll.
How should I take this?