I don't want anything less than fourth grade!
No way I'd feed a sixth-grade cook to a sixth-grade cook!
'We're an upscale shop specializing in second class and above!　Get the hell out of here!

　I went to several more restaurants, but they all refused to let me come to them.
　I couldn't find any restaurant that offered a sixth-grade meal.

What can I do?

　Just when I was beginning to wonder if there was a restaurant that would allow the sixth grade to enter in the first place, I found a restaurant.
　It was so shabby that I wondered if it was really open.

'If it doesn't work here, it's probably not going to work,'

　Thinking that this would be the last time, I walked into the restaurant.
　Perhaps because it was already past lunchtime, there wasn't a single customer in the store.

''........hmm?　Welcome.

　A middle-aged man who was rowing a boat at the back of the store wakes up to find me.
　Perhaps he is the owner of the shop.

'It's the sixth grade,'
...the sixth grade?

　The man was blindsided.

'Can we eat here?'
Yeah. Hold on.

　The man nodded and stood up, put his apron back on and walked into the kitchen.

　I finally found him.
　I sat down at a nearby table and ordered a proper set meal.

　A few moments later, the food is brought to me.
　It was a dish of minced pork wrapped in cabbage leaves and stewed in tomato soup.
　The savory smell, with just the right amount of acidity, tickled my nostrils.

'Delicious,'

　As soon as I put it in my mouth, the juices poured out of it.
　The cabbage was well seasoned and the tomatoes had just the right amount of acidity.

Thank you. I'm proud of the taste, though. And this is how the customers are coming in.

　Apparently, there are usually not enough customers.

Why?
No wonder people don't want to eat at a sixth-grade restaurant.

　The owner said as a matter of course and shrugged his shoulders.

''You don't seem to be a city dweller by any means, do you? I'm sure you must have realized that this is a city where there is a clear distinction between the first and sixth grades of occupation, and those in the lower grades are discriminated against in many places. That's the kind of city we are in, you know.

　It seems that in this city, all professions are always assigned to some grade.

　That's why that gate soldier warned me.
He must have known that I, as an 《unemployed》, would not even be able to use it for most of the shops as I would be in the sixth grade, the lowest grade.

''It's a city that's like heaven for upper grade people, but for lower grade people, it's hell. It's a paradise city for the higher grades, but hell for the lower grades. It's exactly the same as slavery.

　Discrimination based on occupation is not uncommon.
　But this is the first case that is so blatant, or rather, the city itself is promoting it.

I'm sorry, but they don't even treat me like a human being when it comes to the sixth grade. Do they think they have some kind of bad disease or something, to the point where they don't even want to come near it?
'Then why did you let them in at grade six?

　At my question, the shopkeeper often looked like he had swallowed something bitter.

My daughter is also a sixth grade.

　Then, as if to break the dam, the shopkeeper vented his anger.

'He's no different than any other human being!　She's pretty to look at, and she's a sweet girl who cares about the feelings of others!　By the time I was ten years old, I was very popular with the customers, and the neighborhood kids even confessed to me once or twice!　And yet........the moment the occupation given to me by the goddess was "Unemployed" and I reached the sixth grade, all of them seemed to have changed their hands......!　He himself hasn't changed at all!

　Hmm.
　I see that the owner's daughter is an unemployed woman like me.

.... but there is hope.
"Hope?
Yeah. Have you ever heard of the Empire?
No, I've never heard of it.
There is a country that was established only a few years ago and is now a great power, with one place after another under its control. It's a dream country for my daughter. It's a dream come true for my daughter.

　Is there such a country?
　It would certainly be nice for people who are struggling for their profession.
　Well, it's not my problem.

'I'd love to go there right now, but unfortunately, citizens of the sixth grade don't have the right to go outside the city. But the country is close by, and rumor has it that they'll be targeting this city next. It would be bad if someone of a higher grade heard about it, but I'm hoping they'll attack us as soon as possible.

　And then the owner looked up as if he noticed something.

''Well that's strange, isn't it?　I think it's about time you came home.
Is this about the girl?
'Yeah. I'm having the market go out to buy some things for me...

　The proprietor twists his eyebrows anxiously.

'If you're worried, why don't you go see?　Thanks for the treat.

　He had finished eating while he was listening to the owner, so I paid for it while suggesting that.






　I came to the market with the shopkeeper.
　Many stalls are lined up in a row.
　A lot of people are coming and going, it's quite a busy place.

But even so, there are only a few shops where you can buy the sixth grade.

　That's when the owner blurted out in frustration.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please forgive me!

　I turned my gaze towards the voice.
　A girl, about sixteen years old, was frantically apologizing to the young man with her head down.
　The man had what appeared to be a whip in his hand and was about to strike the girl.

　The proprietor of the shop shouted with a hint of blood.

'Melia!
"...hmm?　Oh, Dad!