If Sadao Maou had become a legend in the eyes of the staff, Sū ěr was currently a man walking the path toward legendary status.
With Maou as a living example before them, the staff couldn't help but wonder if Sū ěr was the same kind of... oddball. Or perhaps they knew each other? Was coming here just a way to kill time? Was the former the latter's idol? Or a mere copycat?
Behind them, inside the office, the staff's hushed whispers drifted out. Sū ěr—
"Sigh..."
"Sigh..."
He let out a breath, and Maou, as if sensing the cue, sighed at the exact same moment.
Both sat with legs slightly apart, wearing suits that were a bit worn but clearly washed with care to hide the fraying edges. Both had their elbows on their knees and their faces buried in their palms. Their identical postures gave them the aura of long-lost brothers.
If losers can indeed be called brothers.
The bench in front of the office, now occupied by two decadent souls, had no room for a third. Rubbing his cheeks hard enough to feel the grit, Sū ěr could hear Think bell-like laughter echoing in his mind.
The long-haired blonde Elf had long moved past her initial confusion. She was no longer questioning the meaning of Sū ěr behavior—she was thoroughly enjoying the show.
"It's not easy..." Sū ěr sighed.
"Yeah, not easy at all," Maou echoed, clutching his hair.
Sū ěr felt his own "hardship" was largely self-inflicted—a result of being too picky, his high standards for work, and his lack of credentials. Maou, however, was different.
The man, who looked roughly Sū ěr age, faced a much more comprehensive level of "not easy." At the very least, Sū ěr understood computers, phones, and the internet. Sadao Maou, on the other hand, seemed ignorant of even the most basic cell phone, appearing like a savage who had just wandered out of an uncharted mountain range. Everything in the city was an unknown to him.
Sū ěr didn't even need to dig for information; Maou various exploits and the blunders he'd made had already become common lore within this job center.
Sū ěr understood that Japanese society could be resistant to modern change, but this man was resistant to an extreme. Even his name carried a heavy "Showa Era" [1926–1989] aftertaste.
Well, Sū ěr wasn't exactly in a position to judge. Even with Hanekawa's info, he—a man from across the sea—had made his fair share of blunders, providing Think with an endless source of amusement.
"Finding a job is so hard," Maou lamented with a long, heartfelt sigh.
"Tell me about it..." Sū ěr couldn't disagree with such a universal truth.
He found it hard to accept the reality: without using magic or extraordinary power, he couldn't even find a job.
Ordinary humans. What an awe-inspiring life they lead.
"Things are tough at home?" Sū ěr asked, tilting his head. By his estimation, a man of Maou age wouldn't be alone in the city unless, like Sū ěr, he was doing it out of choice.
This meant that failing to find steady work was a fatal blow for Maou; it likely meant his whole family would go hungry.
"At home? Ah—ah! Oh! Yes, yes," Maou replied with a delayed reaction, flustered. "It's a bit hungry—no, I mean hard! But that doesn't matter!"
"E-Eh... Ashiya is taking care of the household affairs and looking for... ahem! Anyway, I'll be the one working to earn money! That's our perfect plan!"
In Sū ěr eyes, this young man, who had been drooping like a wilted plant a moment ago, suddenly looked like he'd been injected with adrenaline. He stood up, spun around with flair, and gave a thumbs-up, shouting with a level of confidence that practically made him glow.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
He glowed so brightly that Sū ěr couldn't help but applaud.
People who were full of hope and willing to work hard, refusing to admit defeat even after the greatest setbacks, were always worthy of respect. At the very least, Sū ěr admired that quality.
"You will definitely succeed," Sū ěr prophesied solemnly.
"Mmh, thank you," Maou nodded seriously. Then, noticing the strange looks from passersby, he instantly shriveled back into his seat.
"Are you in the same boat?" Maou asked curiously, suddenly remembering the social etiquette he'd been clumsily learning lately.
"Eh? No, I'm alone... the type where if I'm fed, the whole family is happy," Sū ěr shook his head.
"I see... that's not easy either," Maou said, seemingly projecting his own feelings onto Sū ěr. "Being alone..."
"It's alright, really. No big deal," Sū ěr replied. He didn't mention he had Think with him. "By the way, that Ashiya you mentioned... your younger brother?"
"Eh? No," Maou froze for a second. "He's more like, uh... a f-friend? Subordinate? Family? No, let's go with friend... actually, family."
In just a few seconds, Maou gave a vivid demonstration of what true mental conflict looked like. However, Sū ěr caught onto a strange detail.
"...A man? Or a woman?" Sū ěr expression was subtle. That didn't sound like a woman's name.
"Ah, correct. He's male," Maou confirmed, though he looked a bit puzzled.
"You earn the money outside, and he manages the household? You hand over your paycheck? He cooks, does the laundry, and cleans?" Sū ěr expression became even more nuanced.
"Uh, t-that's right?" Maou was confused by Sū ěr odd reaction, but after reflecting on the facts, he nodded.
"Impressive. You're much braver than I thought," Sū ěr couldn't help but give a thumbs-up. "Keep it up. You two will surely have a happy future together! Your dreams will definitely come true!"
To be clear: Sū ěr does not discriminate against any orientation. As long as it's the person's own choice and preference, it deserves respect.
"Don't worry about what others think. Keep working hard!"
"Eh? Eh, oh! Right! I'll work hard! I won't give up!"
Sū ěr: Encourager of Dreams.