"Damn it!!..., I misjudged you. You're one of those damn systems that threaten users with death. Tsk! I knew it was all too good to be true... Tell me quickly how to place the stigmata."
[Due to the proximity of the first customer, responses to questions are temporarily suspended. Preparing the user to begin practicing their profession...]
"Tsk!"
I understand that the situation has changed; even so, it bothers me that everything is so one-sided, although I am also guilty of wasting time.
If I had just let its explanation continue smoothly, this wouldn't have happened. At least I would have more leeway and information.
Now the system seems to be in a hurry due to the supposed proximity of a customer, and it didn't answer me.
I really wanted to believe that the penalty for the second mission was a misinterpretation on my part, but it seemed that the opportunity to ask had been temporarily lost.
[Starting information transfer.]
And as if that weren't enough, I suddenly began to feel multiple things abruptly entering my head. At first, they just confused me.
"What is all this? Mana management? Massage techniques? The art of lethargy? Ugh, damn it, it hurts!"
But in the end, with so many complicated things going on in my head at once, the pain intensified into a massive headache, to the point where my head felt like it was splitting.
I began to writhe in agony and feel dizzy, until everything spun... until finally: blank.
..
.
"Ugh! What happened? I was just... wait, don't tell me I died again!"
[You are mistaken. The user lost consciousness for 5 seconds. Please go downstairs and attend to the customer. If the customer leaves, it will count as a failure of the mission.]
"Hey, even if you're an insensitive system, you should understand how I feel right now! Wait, that's contradictory... tsk. Well, whatever, I'll follow your instructions for now. I think I know what you want me to do."
As that thing said, from the beginning, its premise was that we would run this massage parlor.
What it just did was send me a lot of information, but it was actually three things: first, what mana was and its basic handling.
There was a lot, and even things that made me feel like they were experiences from many years of my own, which gave me confidence that I could handle it.
And it gave me that because it was very important, as it worked in conjunction with the second thing.
Massage techniques. They had multiple ways of being applied, some that even worked in combat, combining mana and manual techniques.
With this, I also felt that, in addition to the technical information, there was a load of memories, thoughts, and practice, as if I had been doing it for years.
The third thing didn't seem to have anything to do with massage, but it was a combat art and a breathing technique.
I quickly deduced that it was the method to make me strong in this world. Together with the first, they were essential things.
And finally, as a bonus, information about this place, what it had to offer, and some established rules. I felt that was light compared to the previous three.
So quickly, following that last instruction, I went to my drawer. There were two options there: men's clothing and women's clothing.
Right now, I had Iris's appearance, but I thought about it and felt that, even though we were still one, I would have more situational control with Astar's appearance.
I needed to be careful in my first interaction with this world.
I took the yukata—yes, a yukata. I had already noticed that the room's decor and theme were a hybrid that somehow worked between Western and Eastern styles.
And if it weren't for the information that had just entered my head, I would think it was part of the culture here.
But no. You could just say it's thanks to one of my good decisions.
Tink, tink.
I got dressed a little hastily, as I heard the doorbell ring. I walked down the hallways that were now familiar to me and went down to the first floor.
The place wasn't that big: it had two floors, with three rooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen upstairs; downstairs was the reception area and two large massage rooms, with many amenities—some that I didn't even think were necessary for massage—but that wasn't important.
Tink, tink.
"Is there no one here? Haah~ well, it didn't really seem trustworthy anyway."
There was a person at the reception desk ringing the bell. They seemed to have been there for a while and were clearly impatient.
The missions are obviously important, and without knowing what the consequences of the failure actually entail, it is best to complete them.
Although this one doesn't seem to have as bad a punishment as the other long-term one, I don't know if not completing it will make the other one more difficult. So I'll do my best.
I hurried downstairs.
"Oh, sorry for the delay. We just opened, I was fixing some things upstairs."
I offered a quick apology and put on a regretful face. The person in front of me was a head shorter than me and wore a loose-fitting cloak, so large that I could barely see a strand of her black hair. Only from her voice did I know she was an adult woman.
She must be Azalea, to whom I must leave a good impression and get a subsequent appointment to complete the mission.
"I don't understand this lack of professionalism. If the sign outside said 'open,' it really doesn't seem like a trustworthy place."
"I apologize again for that. ehem, yes, I'm really sorry, and considering that you are our first client since opening, I think it will be fine if ..."
[Users must charge all customers correctly, according to the service offered.]
"I'll give you a nice discount. Also, I assure you that if you are not satisfied with our service, we will not charge you."
Hey, she's not listening to you, is she?
[That's correct.]
I guess I've been talking in our head from the beginning... Well, whatever. As long as I charge her, it's okay, right? There was nothing about not being able to offer discounts.
[...That's right.]
I had a quick conversation with the nosy system, which apparently understood that I intended to provide her with a free service and interrupted me.
Well, I think that was among the information I have in my head, only I got overlooked among so many other things.
The important thing is that the woman doesn't leave.
"Money really isn't a problem. Haah~ well, I'm already here, but first... hmmm, I see you don't have one, so I'll use mine. Put your hand here; I want to see that you're a real massage therapist and not just pretending to be one. They are very rare, and the only reason I deigned to waste my time was because the sign claimed the owner was a massage therapist."
At that moment, the woman rummaged around inside her robe and took out a small blue sphere, the size of a baseball, with a faint glow, and she was asking me to put my hand on it.
"It's to prove that I'm a massage therapist, right?"
"Yes. If you don't do it, I'll leave and tell the guards that you're committing fraud."
"Oh, I see. Well, okay." It's not okay at all.
She really caught me off guard. I didn't know what that stone was or what it showed. I didn't have enough time to understand what was okay to show and what wasn't.
But it's obvious that I must have something special, something unique that no one else in this world has. That's what my logic and my experience watching so many anime and novels tells me.
And if this brings to light things that shouldn't be revealed, it would mean that I got off to a bad start in this world.
But refusing would be just as bad, and the result would probably be that they would force me to evaluate myself later.
So I put my hand there, without looking nervous at all, and hoped that—...
--------------------------
Massage therapist Rank 1
--------------------------
Ufff... yes, that's it. If that's all it is, it should be fine.
That was the hope I had when I quickly accepted it, and I won the bet.
"Okay, I see that you are. Well, that's fine. I've been under a lot of stress lately, and I hope the slogan on the door is true."
"Yes, of course."
'¿What does it say outside...? I don't really know what expectations this woman came in with, but I need to meet them.'¿
"What kind of massages do you have?"
"Oh, right, my lady. We have many at different prices. You can read, right?"
Wait, how the hell do I know how to read and speak? We're obviously not speaking English. Is this a passive skill of the reincarnated?
"Yes, of course I can read."
There were many things to question. I also didn't understand the level of literacy or other details.
That damn system should have given me common sense before the arts and breathing techniques that are now unnecessary.
But since that wasn't the case, all I could do was feel my way carefully.
I took a piece of paper from under the counter with a chart listing the types of massages, their effects, and prices.
I handed it to her, and she read it for a while; finally, she seemed to make her decision.
"I want the tension relief and relaxation massage."
Good, that's one of the easiest ones, and I feel like I can do it comfortably. Now I just have to do my best and then fade away, waiting for a more complete explanation of the system.
There were still things I didn't understand, especially that one-month limit mission, which really bothered me a lot.
I guided the woman to one of the massage rooms.
"Well, at least they have a good standard, and I guess you're the one who'll be giving me the massage, right? You're not going to ask me to get naked, are you?"
"It depends on the type of massage you want, but the one you requested can be done over your robe; there are some here that will cover you and make my job easier."
"Well, I'm starting to like everything you have here, but the important thing is you and your ability."
At that moment, the woman entered what was a byōbu.
"Even these clothes... I see that this place is very influenced by the culture of the neighboring country. Are you from there?"
"Oh, no, dear customer, but my wife liked this kind of thing when we were decorating and remodeling."
I wasn't sure if I should answer yes; I didn't know the current state of affairs, if there was conflict or war, and I couldn't change the decor, so I played it safe.
From what I understand, this place was created based on our preferences, which is why it was a hybrid between Western and Eastern styles, with modern nuances.
Basically, Iris wanted some Eastern culture, as she was a fan of it, and Astar stuck with the accidental, since that's where we come from, so there's a little bit of everything.
Although it seemed to me that she had more influence than he did, the clothes and the atmosphere were more dominant towards the Eastern style.
Honestly, I really like it, but I don't know if it will be good for the residents.
"Oh! So you're married? I suppose your wife is upstairs."
Well, it's not important enough to pursue. That's fine.
I was taking note of everything I could while preparing the massage table and what I would use.
I was glad that the fact that he was married was more important than the decor, which had nuances of a neighboring country.
"Hehe~ well, she's a heavy sleeper and...Holy shit!!,W(°Д°), those enorm-"