I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game - Chapter 20

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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
Chapter 20

‘What? Was that just a joke the whole time?’
I stared at him with a dumbfounded expression and protested in a small voice so Siad wouldn’t catch on.
“I said that with full resolve……! Do you find it funny to tease me like this?”
“Yeah.”
I raised my fist at Kaies, who answered without hesitation.
He shrugged his shoulders with an unbothered expression.
“Violence is punishable, by the way. Customer.”
“Ugh……!”
Just then, Siad finished his calculations and jumped in, cutting short my argument with Kaies.
“Kaies. What are you doing?”
Siad let out a faint sigh.
Kaies lifted his eyebrows slightly and looked at me with one corner of his mouth drawn up.
“Building rapport with the customer?”
“Sorry?”
A notification appeared before my bewildered eyes.

Kaies’s Favorability +5

Well.
Even though I’d been teased mischievously, somehow I felt like I’d received a reward.
I didn’t protest further and kept my mouth shut.
“Right, customer?”
“Yeah…… I mean, sure.”
I nodded in agreement. Kaies turned his back to both Siad and me and left.
“See you next time.”
“Goodbye.”
Still, I gave a proper farewell as I’d been trained. He was the village headman, after all.
“If you’re going to act confident, don’t complain first.”
“Huh?”
“It’s the easiest way to get caught.”
With that unexpected bit of advice, Kaies slipped out of the shop.
The moment he left, people spotted him and came rushing over in droves.
“Wow.”
Avoiding the suddenly crowded front entrance, Siad and I headed toward the back door.
“Kaies is incredibly popular, isn’t he?”
Siad opened the door for me and answered matter-of-factly.
“To be precise, he’s dealing with administrative work.”
“Ah…….”
Understanding dawned on me, and I sighed.
So he was also handling the residents’ complaints and requests.
It was the moment Kaies’s habit of lying down and sleeping anywhere, always looking tired, suddenly made perfect sense.

* * *

After finishing our shopping, Siad took me to the Herb Field as promised.
“This is the Herb Field.”
“Wow!”
I gasped the moment we stepped inside.
The greenhouse was filled with lush, green medicinal herbs.
Siad was dressed neatly as usual, while I’d changed into clothes that were easier to move in.
I was planning to subtly lend a hand while learning about the herbs.
Siad, now wearing white Gloves, extended his open palm toward me.
“Some of them have thorns, so you could get pricked.”
I placed my hand onto Siad’s palm. He slipped the gloves onto my hands and spoke.
“I’ll explain each one step by step, so please feel free to ask if you’re curious about anything, and if you grow tired, you’re welcome to head inside first. I have some work to attend to here.”
“I’d also like to try picking herbs myself… is that not possible?”
I asked hesitantly, and Siad’s eyebrows rose briefly before settling again.
“There’s no reason it couldn’t be done, though I suspect it might prove taxing.”
“I’m interested in herbs, and I thought it would be useful to learn from you in advance how to harvest them!”
In other words, I was telling him there was no need whatsoever for him to feel burdened about entrusting me with work.

Siad’s Favorability +10

“You have quite a keen interest in Herbalism.”
I smiled brightly and simply nodded.
“Allow me to show you this section first.”
As we drew near the herbs bearing white leaves, a familiar, soothing fragrance tickled the tip of my nose.
It was that fresh scent I’d grown accustomed to breathing in during my walks in front of the house.
“This is the most practically useful herb. With its blue stem and three white leaves, it’s easy to distinguish from other plants.”
“What is it used for?”
I bent down to get a closer look.
Siad grasped the stem and tilted the leaves toward me so I could catch their scent.
“It has exceptional efficacy in removing odor and blemishes. That’s why it’s primarily used when wounds become infected or pus develops.”
“I see.”
“Additionally, it’s used to cleanse medical instruments. It even removes stubborn bloodstains completely.”
I inhaled deeply near the leaves, sniffing appreciatively as I listened to his explanation.

Herbalism +22

My Herbalism Experience Points increased simply from listening to Siad’s explanation.
“It’s useful in many ways, then. Is that why you’ve planted so much of it?”
“Yes, we harvest it as needed and use it, and new leaves sprout quickly, making it easy to maintain. Would you like to try harvesting some?”
“I’d like to.”
“Just pick the leaves—don’t snap the stem itself.”
Siad demonstrated the motion with his hand.
Pop, pop, pop.
The leaves fluttered down one by one into the basket.
“This herb is non-toxic, so there should be no problem handling it. However, be careful with other herbs, as they may be dangerous.”
I nodded at Siad’s warning, then mimicked his hand movements as I picked the leaves from the herb in front of me.
Pop, pop-pop.
When I twisted the joint where the leaf met the stem with my fingers, it came away easily.
“Precise. You’re doing very well.”
Watching Siad’s expression, which seemed slightly surprised, I felt inwardly pleased.
After completing my first harvest, I moved on to examine the other herbs in turn.
“The purple herb is an ingredient for a potion that heals wounds.”
“Like a Recovery Potion?”
“Yes. However, the spines contain a paralyzing compound, so you must use tongs when harvesting it.”
“It really does look like a vine…”
The sharp spines jutting out were unmistakable, making it easy to identify.

Herbalism +33

“And this one has properties for stamina recovery and calming effects…”

Herbalism +15
Herbalism +18
Herbalism has reached Level 2!

“Should I harvest these now?”
“Yes. Simply keep in mind the precautions I mentioned earlier.”
“All right!”
I picked up the harvest basket and moved to one side of the Herb Field.
Then I began harvesting the various herbs just as I’d learned moments before.
Tap, tap, tap.
Tap, tap, tap.

Herbalism +11

My Experience Points ticked upward in small increments even as I harvested.

Double Experience Points Buff active!

Unable to fathom the reason for the doubled rate, I stared intently at the buff window.
Then, with a soft, cheerful chime, an explanation window appeared.

When I’d played the game before, I’d earned buffs through reading Herbalism books or taking on related part-time work, but never one quite like this.
‘Right, since Siad is this village’s healer, maybe it’s only natural.’
I couldn’t pass up a doubled Experience Points event.
With renewed vigor, I threw myself into the harvesting.
Herb leaves tumbled into the basket with each pluck.
With every step forward, the herbs shed their leaves entirely, leaving only bare stems behind.

Farming +10

Back when I lay in the hospital, whether reading or gaming, there’d been a pervasive helplessness shadowing everything I did.
‘People really do need to engage in productive work,’ I thought.
Lost in quiet concentration, I plucked on until I’d cleared all three rows of the Herb Field.
Gazing down at the basket now brimming with greenery, a thought came to me.
‘I should fetch another basket.’
The moment I lifted my head while cradling the full basket in both arms, my eyes met Siad’s.
“You’ve already harvested all of this?”
“Yes. It’s so full I was just about to go get another basket.”
Siad examined the herb leaves, then offered a brief assessment.
“No damage anywhere. You harvested very cleanly.”
A tone of satisfaction emanated from him.
“Is it all right?”
“This should last me a week at least. Since it’s more than I’d planned for, there’s no need to harvest further.”
“I see.”
“More to the point, it’s already been two hours since you started. Aren’t you tired?”
Checking the time, Siad studied my face with a note of concern in his voice.

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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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