I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I thought this was supposed to be a healing farming game.
Episode 12

Why do these choices keep showing up?
I brushed past the dialogue option and nodded toward Priam.
“It’s fine. Thank you for staying until I woke up. I’m Miel.”
I carefully folded the outer garment he’d draped over me and handed it back to him, then sat up straight on the bench.
Priam rose as well, then settled beside me with just a hand’s breadth of distance between us.
“I’m Priam.”
His voice held a note of shyness as he introduced himself, one finger pointing to his chest.
“Listen, I’m really sorry. I should have looked more carefully to see if anyone was below…….”
“Oh.”
Now the final memory came flooding back—the moment Priam jumped down from the tree and collided with me.
“Not many people usually pass through here anyway. And with all the leaves in the way, I couldn’t see anything below.”
Priam looked thoroughly flustered.
It hadn’t been intentional, so I waved a reassuring hand at him.
“No, really—I’m fine. The tree wasn’t tall, so the impact wasn’t bad. I only collapsed because I’d worn myself out working the part-time job……wait!”
Mid-explanation, realization struck me like lightning.
My milk delivery shift.
“What time is it now?”
I spun around frantically, hunting for a clock.
Priam checked the time readily and told me.
“Three o’clock.”
“What?!”
I bolted up in alarm, then caught myself as the deadline came to mind and placed a hand over my heart.
‘The part-time job deadline was four o’clock.’
“How far is it from here to the Village Hall?”
From what I remembered in the game, the distance wasn’t that great.
Priam nodded vigorously.
“Fifteen minutes on foot.”
“That’s a relief……. As long as I submit it in time.”
Seeing my visible relief, Priam asked with concern.
“You were working part-time……. You must be tired. Would you like me to submit it for you instead?”
“Hmm……no, it’s okay! I need to return the cart anyway. I should finish it myself.”
This was my first part-time job, and if another villager turned in the acknowledgment certificate for me, I’d look far too irresponsible.
“Still……it’s late because of me.”
Priam fiddled with his hands, glancing sideways at me with the tentative look of a puppy caught misbehaving.
“No. There’s still plenty of time, and I feel fine. Besides, I really wanted to meet you! I’m so glad we ran into each other like this.”
“You wanted to meet me? Why?”
A bittersweet pang went through me as I watched him—he had no memory of me at all.
“I heard there was someone about my age in this village. I wanted to meet you and become friends.”
I relayed it as I’d told Grandmother Mael, not hiding my eagerness to grow close to him.
“I see…….”
Priam’s cheeks flushed a soft pink. Quiet joy began to bloom across his face.
“I like making new friends. Will you be friends with me, Priam?”
His emerald eyes gleamed like jewels.

Priam’s Favorability +5

He nodded gently, his feelings laid bare.
“Actually, I’ve been wishing I had a friend my age. There aren’t many around here.”
“Really? I’m so happy.”
Time slipped away as we chattered, caught up in the moment.
I wanted to keep talking with Priam, but it was time to go submit my work.
I rose from the bench, my voice tinged with reluctance.
“I wish we could talk longer. I should head out to submit my part-time job now. Next time—.”
Priam called out urgently as I turned to leave.
“Wait. Just a moment, Miel.”
I stopped mid-bow and stared at him blankly.
Rising to his feet, Priam picked up the basket sitting on the floor and thrust it toward me.
“Take this. Please.”
It was a Fruit Basket brimming with various kinds of fruit. My eyes went wide.
“What is all this?”
“We harvested it from the trees earlier. I was saving it for you to see when you woke up.”
Priam’s Orchard was as carefully managed as his reputation suggested, and the quality of his harvests commanded three times the price of other growers’ fruit.
“Are you sure I can take this? You just picked it today?”
To give away such treasure so generously, and not just a handful either.
To buy this much myself, I’d need to work the milk delivery part-time job at least ten times over.
“You got hurt because of me. This is my way of apologizing—please, just take it.”
Priam offered me a gentle smile.
I gazed down at the Fruit Basket with tears welling up, then reached out my arms toward him.
He always came running to greet me with such joy; I wanted to give him the same happiness in return.
“Thank you, Priam!”
The body I’d wrapped in both my arms went rigid.
“I love fruit. I’ll eat it well… Priam?”
Mid-sentence, still chattering happily, I sensed something was wrong and called his name again.
But Priam said nothing in reply.
I hastily released my arms and looked up to meet his expression.
“What’s wrong? What is it?”
His eyes wavered, unable to focus.
His face was pale and sickly, beaded with cold sweat.
“Does something hurt?”
In that instant, seeing his condition, I knew instinctively that something had gone terribly wrong.

Priam’s Affection –20

The Affection decrease floated above his head.
The moment I saw it, my mind went blank as if struck by lightning.
“I-I’m sorry. Priam! Did I upset you…?”
My voice came out trembling without my meaning to.
I’d never expected Priam, who always greeted me so warmly, to react this way.
Seized by the dread that I’d made some terrible mistake, I couldn’t bring myself to touch him and stood there helplessly.
Thankfully, after a little time passed, color gradually returned to Priam’s face.
His unfocused eyes slowly regained their clarity.
Priam covered his mouth with his hand and swallowed hard.
“I’m all right… Ah. Miel.”
He murmured, gaze lowered.
“I was just startled. My stomach’s been off today—that’s all.”
“Should we go see Siad? We could get some medicine—”
“No. I get like this sometimes. I have medicine at home. I’ll be fine after I rest.”
Priam forced a reassuring smile.
Seeing him pretend indifference rather than show anger, my breath caught short.
“I’m sorry. It was my fault. I got excited and hugged you suddenly without thinking…”
“Miel… it’s really not your fault. I should be apologizing for alarming you. Okay?”
Though Priam tried to comfort me with clumsy reassurance, I could see the truth.
He was deliberately pretending everything was fine.
The way he always had while I was hospitalized, in front of the nurses and grandmother.
“But since I’m not feeling well right now… would it be alright if you went to the Village Hall alone?”
“Of course. Of course it would! Go inside and rest.”
At my words, Priam waved weakly, his smile faint.
“See you soon, Miel.”
I watched his receding form until it disappeared, then hung my head.
“What have I done…”
Gripping the Cart handle tightly, I let out a long, heavy sigh.
The drop in Affection displayed above Priam’s head had been shocking.
“He really was upset.”
The children didn’t know me yet, but I’d gotten swept up in a sense of closeness all on my own, charging ahead without permission.
They’d said it was fine, but the Favorability numbers told a different story entirely.
It was clearly my mistake.
I stood there in a daze for a moment, then dragged the cart back toward the Village Hall with a squeaking, squeaking sound.
“Here’s the Receipt.”
I returned the cart and handed over the acknowledgment certificate.
The clerk at the counter finished the data entry and handed me my part-time job compensation.
“All processed. Your Reputation will be updated right away. Good work out there.”

Reputation +3

The notification in front of my eyes felt like nothing but an annoyance now.
I took the small Money Pouch containing 5 Gold and bowed my head in thanks.
“Have a good day…….”
I picked up the Fruit Basket that Priam had prepared and trudged toward Siad’s house.
‘I’ll have to share the fruit with Siad…….’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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