SOL: Starting With The Unruly Characteristic

"Speaking of which, should I start burning incense before writing my diary next time? Maybe I wasn't pious enough today because I didn't offer anything."

The more Ren thought about it, the more it made sense. He decided that tomorrow morning, before writing his diary, he would take a bath, burn incense, and draw the prize in his best condition.

Maybe that would increase his chances of hitting the jackpot.

Then he suddenly remembered, tomorrow was the weekend, his part-time job day.

"Let's see…"

He pulled out his phone and checked his schedule. Sure enough, tomorrow was a workday, and it was at a place he dreaded going.

"Working as a mascot at Tropical Land… That place where the Death God and the Angel often hang out. It's also a hotspot for trouble."

"I really don't want to go."

Even though 16 years had passed since his previous life, the tragic events at Tropical Land in Detective Conan still lingered in his mind.

The decapitation case that occurred there was particularly unforgettable.

But this time, he couldn't skip his part-time job.

The pay was simply too good to pass up.

Working eight hours a day for 100,000 yen, 12,500 yen per hour was a very high wage.

Honestly, if it weren't for the tempting salary, Ren would've turned down this job without a second thought.

"Forget it. The money's worth it."

"It's okay to endure a little discomfort for money."

While 100,000 yen might not mean much to an average family, it was a considerable amount for someone like him who lived paycheck to paycheck.

Although Tropical Land carried its risks, the job seemed manageable. Ren convinced himself that nothing too serious would happen during his shift.

Having made up his mind, he continued scrolling through his phone to check the job details.

"Wear a mascot costume, hand out balloons to kids, and take photos with guests."

"Mascot costumes? They're probably bulky and heavy. The weather's fine now, but wearing one of those will definitely be exhausting. I'd better go to bed early tonight."

Ren was a firm believer in staying well-rested for work, and he had developed a habit of maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.

With nothing else to study or prepare for, he decided to call it a day and head to bed.

Placing his phone on the nightstand, Ren lay down and fell asleep almost instantly.

He always went to bed early, no later than 10 p.m. and tonight was no exception.

Not only was going to bed early good for his health, but it was also a necessary precaution in his current living situation.

In Beika Town, the best rental apartments weren't the ones with flashy exteriors or modern amenities.

Most well-lit, nicely decorated, and affordable apartments had dark histories.

In Beika, murder houses were the cheapest options. If you were lucky, you could snag a bargain.

For example, Ren's current apartment was a luxury unit on a high floor with excellent decor, rented at just 10,000 yen per month. It even included free utilities.

However, the cheap rent came with a catch, the place had a serious history.

To be precise, there were three "souls" haunting the apartment.

Initially, Ren had been hesitant to rent it, but the low price and free utilities were too tempting to pass up.

So, he'd rented the place for two years.

This was his second year living there.

Thankfully, he'd managed to live peacefully so far by sticking to a strict routine: going to bed early and waking up early to avoid overlapping with the spirits' active hours.

This arrangement had allowed him to coexist with the "souls" without any major incidents.

---

The next morning, the weather was clear and pleasant.

Ren's first task upon waking was to greet the spirits.

"Good morning. Looks like we made it through another peaceful day."

After some simple preparations, he grabbed his bag and left for work.

Tropical Land was one of Beika City's largest amusement parks, featuring numerous attractions and entertainment zones.

With its steady influx of tourists, it was also a popular place to work part-time.

At least, that's how most people saw it.

For Ren, however, it was a potential danger zone. Large, crowded places like this always seemed to attract the Death God.

Upon arriving at the park, Ren followed the registration procedures and was allowed entry.

The park had a system where workers were pre-registered, eliminating the need for individual check-ins on the day of work.

Once inside, Ren headed straight to his assigned location to meet his supervisor.

"Nice to meet you, Amamiya," said a female manager who appeared to be in her 30s. She had a kind demeanor, but signs of overwork were evident on her face.

This was an ice cream shop of some scale, situated within the park. Such shops were reportedly quite profitable in amusement parks.

Ren gave a polite bow. "Hello."

The manager studied him for a moment and seemed relieved.

"As I was told, you're not much of a talker. That's good. I prefer workers who don't talk too much, especially for mascot roles."

Ren understood her point. In this line of work, being reserved was actually an advantage.

"I won't waste your time with unnecessary details. Let me explain your hours and tasks."

The manager quickly outlined his schedule and responsibilities.

"You'll work from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by a lunch break. Afternoon shifts run from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m."

"Your duties include handing out promotional flyers, giving balloons to kids, and taking photos with guests. Got it?"

The instructions were straightforward, and Ren nodded slightly. "Got it."

The manager glanced at the clock. There was still some time before his shift officially began.

"It's not time to start yet. Go to the dressing room, put your things away, and try on the mascot costume."

Ren complied without complaint and made his way to the dressing room at the back.

Inside, several large mascot costumes were hanging, each in different sizes to accommodate various workers.

He chose a mouse costume with a hat, big round eyes, and a chubby mouth. It was adorable and seemed like the kind of character kids would love.

"I just hope there won't be too many accidents today."