I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game - Chapter 19

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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 19

“I’ll take four sets.”
I accepted only as much as I could comfortably finish within two days.
I saw no reason to be greedy. If I missed the deadline even by a hair’s breadth, I’d face a Penalty for it.
“I’ll pack the Work Clothes in a box for you. Here’s your Request Form. Once the alterations are complete, just enclose this form in the box and submit it.”
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
I received the box in both arms, bowed politely, and made my way toward the grocery store.
‘These Work Clothes take up more space than I expected.’
My Inventory could hold items in what felt like unlimited quantity, but each time I picked something up, its weight pressed down on my actual body.
As if I were carrying an enormous, invisible backpack on my shoulders.
Of course, raising my Strength stat would let me carry more, and carry it more easily.
“Sigh, looks like I’m stuck exercising no matter where I go…….”
Even as I patted my shoulders, I greeted every resident I passed with cheerful energy.
Many walked by without a word, but occasionally my Affinity with someone would tick up slightly.
“Hello.”
“Oh, hello there~.”

Tavern Worker’s Affinity +1

Before long, my busy greetings had carried me to my destination.

Node Market

Below the sign in English, the shop name appeared like a subtitle.
Ding—.
The moment I opened the door, my eyes fell upon the spacious interior and the dizzying array of groceries.
“They have that sauce too? Looks delicious.”
Come to think of it, the game had implemented real-world products with incredible detail.
‘It’s all out of reach for now…….’
Once I made good money from farming, I’d buy whatever I wanted.
Even while I was lost in browsing, spotting Siad proved effortless.
She was tall and striking, impossible to miss even from a distance.
I quickened my pace and hurried over to her.
“Siad!”
“Welcome.”
“Hi. What ingredients are you looking for? I can help find them.”
“In that case, would you mind finding just one Carrot for me?”
“You got it!”
I answered with vigor and immediately set out on my Carrot hunt.
“Carrot, Carrot…….”
After browsing several sections, I spotted the vegetable aisle with its chilled air.
Onions, cabbage, cucumbers.
“It should be somewhere around here.”
Searching for that orange hue, I soon spotted a Carrot in the bottom shelf.
“Carrot!”
Delighted, I crouched down and eagerly snatched the firmest one I could find.
“Now we’re digging through the bottom shelf. You’re a rabbit?”
At the low voice drifting down from above, I jerked my head back, Carrot still in hand.
Kaise stood there with his hands tucked into his dress pants, looking down at me.
“Yikes! Hello!”
I yelped in surprise, but reflexively offered a greeting anyway.
“You’re consistent, I’ll give you that, customer.”
I straightened up, watching Kaise lean his head lightly against the wall.
“What brings you here? Shopping for groceries?”
“Me? That’s hardly likely.”
He wasn’t someone I ran into often, yet I’d been lucky enough to see him several days in a row.
“Word gets around, you know.”
He tapped his ear with a finger, gesturing toward me.
“What sort of word?”
“Friam.”
The name dropped without explanation left me bewildered.
“His face was absolutely crimson when he passed by.”
“Ah…….”
Then I remembered—his face flushed red, hurrying away as though fleeing.
Kaise, arms crossed and watching me with a skewed gaze, opened his mouth again.
“What did you do?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Did you lay hands on him?”
The shockingly blunt phrasing that came so casually froze me solid where I stood.
“L-lay hands? I only said he was c-cute—”
“Cute?”
Mid-protest, a terrible thought struck me.
Could embracing Friam to startle him the other day have counted as misconduct?
“Is that why his face turned red?”
Before I could respond, Kaise seemed to arrive at his own understanding and dropped his interrogating stare.
“Well, if that’s all, it’s none of my concern.”
I broke into a cold sweat watching Kaise yawn, his eyes heavy with drowsiness.
“K-Kaise.”
“I handle the village’s peace and order, so I’ll let this slide—for now, customer.”
“No, that’s not what I meant…….”
Kaise nodded as if to tell me to go on.
I fumbled for words.
“If I were to cause trouble for another resident…….”
Kaise’s eyebrows twitched. He bent one leg and tilted his head to meet my gaze squarely.
“Customer.”
“Yes?”
“That sort of thing shouldn’t happen in the first place, should it?”
Kaise offered a ceremonial smile, the same one he wore when pushing loans.
“I…… suppose not……?”
“Causing incidents around the village—that’s not acceptable.”
Kaise straightened up and brushed off his hands.
“I’ve been quite merciless with my work lately, you see.”
For all his casual tone, the meaning underneath was ice-cold.
‘What do I do…….’
Clutching the carrot, my spirits had sunk to rock bottom.
“You’re getting smaller by the day, customer? At this rate, you really will become a mole.”
“That’s not it. The truth is, I received some fruit from Friam yesterday…….”
“Fruit?”
“Yes.”
“He gave you fruit? Why?”
“Because Friam knocked me unconscious…….”
“Now what sort of story is this…….”
Someone abruptly stepped between Kaise and me as his frown deepened.
“Allow me to explain. Kaise.”
The figure who appeared like a savior was Siad. Behind his back, I could almost see the outline of an angel’s wings.
“Please wait here a moment.”
Siad met my eyes with a reassuring look and spoke gently.
As the two moved away to talk, I melted like watered-down juice and sagged against the refrigerator.
‘I’m going to get scolded……? Or maybe worse than scolded…….’
If Kaise judged my conduct to be misconduct, I might be thrown out of this place entirely.
“Eeeek…….”
My Affinity with everyone was still at Level 1, I hadn’t even met the twins yet, and I hadn’t started farming.
If Kaise kicked me out into the forest, what would become of me?
Desolately clutching the carrot, I watched the two of them conversing from a distance.
Siad always stood ramrod straight, while Kaise lounged with his hands in his pockets, leaning at an angle.
Even from a distance, they radiated utterly opposite atmospheres.
‘Even their clothes.’
Siad was white from head to toe, while Kaise was black from head to toe.
‘Like white stones and black stones in a game of baduk.’
The thought struck me suddenly, and I clamped down on the carrot to stifle my laughter.
‘Hold it. Just hold it.’
This wasn’t the time to laugh.
“Miel.”
Siad called to me just then.
I scurried over eagerly at his summons, and he took the carrot from my hand as he spoke.
“Everything’s been settled. Let’s head home now.”
I watched Siad walk toward the counter with an unruffled expression, then glanced aside.
Had it been resolved well?
I saw Kaise stretching languidly, his fingers interlaced.
Like a drowsy cat, I edged backward toward him, step by careful step.
“Kaise.”
“What game is this now, customer?”
The moment I met his gaze, words seemed to stick in my throat, so I turned away and confessed.
“I—it’s fine to punish me! If my actions hurt Friam, I’ll gladly accept whatever penalty you give.”
Whether it’s pulling weeds from a hundred-yard plot or tilling a rocky field with a hoe.
I shut my eyes tight and spoke with resolve, but no answer came back.
The silence stretched out, and my unease grew with it.
After waiting a moment, I was about to turn back to Kaise when he leaned close to my ear and whispered.
“What makes you think I know how to punish?”
A chill ran down my spine.
The instant his whisper reached me, goosebumps broke out across my arms.
‘Could he mean a year of unpaid labor?!’
Kaise loved gold above all else, so he’d surely make me settle it in Gold.
I looked up at him, trembling with fear, but found an unexpected expression on his face.
The curve of his lips curled up in a grin, smooth and fluid.
No one would mistake it for the face of someone angry or displeased.
Rather…….
“If you carry on like that, anyone would want to use you.”
Now that I looked back at it, the light in Kaise’s eyes was unmistakably one of intrigue.

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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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