I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game - Chapter 64

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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 relaxing farming game.
64

With each piece of brioche paired with a sip of tea, the pastry vanished as quickly as a crab closing its eyes.
“Ah, I’m stuffed.”
I patted my belly, breaking into a satisfied smile.
“Tastes good.”
When I came to my senses, Kaies had only worked through two pieces at a leisurely pace while I’d devoured the rest.
“Kaies. Not enough? Should I get you something else?”
“Sufficient.”
Watching him dab the corners of his mouth with a tissue, I lifted my gaze suddenly.
His ears were still perked up.
“It’s fascinating. You really do look like a fox, Kaies.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Of course! Foxes are pretty.”
Kaies let out a dry laugh and poured tea into his cup.
“In all my days, that’s the first time I’ve heard myself called pretty. Your perspective is quite peculiar.”
“Is that so? How do I look to you, Kaies? What animal do I remind you of?”
“A princess?”
His dark eyes swept quickly from my head to my toes.
Soon enough, he answered without hesitation.
“A chick.”
“A chick?”
There were so many other impressive creatures, yet he chose a chick?
Seeing my bewilderment, Kaies added with playful mischief.
“One that gets back up whenever it falls, and always does what it’s meant to do.”
The specificity of it only made it more absurd.
Taking in my reaction with a leisurely gaze, Kaies set down his teacup.
“By the way, the Trading Ship should arrive in a few days.”
“Has it really been that long?”
“Anything you want to buy?”
“Of course! I’ll need to spend four days browsing.”
“Better watch your spending, or you’ll drain your coffers before you can even look at the Trading Ship and buy that fountain.”
“I’ll spend carefully and strategically.”
“Right. If you’re ever short on funds, come find me anytime.”
So that was the real point all along.
I nodded in admiration at his consistent sales technique.

* * *

A ship’s horn blared long and clear.
The Trading Ship had arrived safely, piercing through the heavy downpour.
“Ugh. So damp.”
Since entering the rainy season, rain poured down almost daily.
I waded through puddles of standing water to board the Trading Ship.
Just earlier, I’d heard from villagers that the artisan merchant also dealt in earthenware jars.
As I entered the tent, the merchant greeted me warmly.
“Welcome, welcome. Anything in particular you’re looking for?”
“Could I see some earthenware jars?”
“Earthenware jars? Of course, this way, please.”
While browsing through various goods, a coarse, deep brown earthenware jar caught my eye.
The texture under my fingertips was exactly what I’d been searching for.
“That’s it. I’ll take two of these!”
“Shall I have them delivered to your home?”
“Yes, please!”
I’d finally found what I’d been looking for all this time.
After gathering koji powder for fermentation, cooking ingredients, and a few miscellaneous items, it seemed I’d bought everything I needed.
From wandering about in the rain for so long, by the time I finished shopping my body had grown chilled and sluggish.
“Achoo!”
I rubbed my goosebump-covered arms and hurried back home.
“Oh, I still need to install the corn drying rack…….”
If I pushed myself too hard on a day like this and caught a cold, I’d suffer for days more.
After warming myself with hot water and drinking a cup of something steaming, drowsiness came creeping over me.
“Yaaaawn…….”
I burrowed into my blankets early in the evening.
“How wonderful…….”
The moment I pulled the soft blanket up to my neck, sleep washed over me entirely.
Soon I fell into a slumber so deep I dreamed nothing at all.
Bang!
Then a harsh, explosive sound like gunfire jolted me awake, my body trembling.
“What, what—what is it……?”
It sounded as though someone had fired a gun right in front of the house.
Sleep fled in an instant. My startled heart pounded with anxious urgency.
I steadied my breathing several times as I crept carefully toward the window.
It was past midnight now, and outside was so dark not a single star showed itself.
The soft patter of falling rain tapped against the windowpane.
I considered returning to bed, but my frightened heart refused to settle into sleep.
‘The night market should still be open at this hour.’
Curious to know what had happened, I pulled on my raincoat and pushed open the front door.
I could hear the sound of people murmuring not far away.
‘Thank goodness. There are still plenty of people outside.’
I felt somewhat less afraid.
Changed into my boots, I splashed across the yard and hurried toward the street with its street lamps.
Whether everyone had gathered at the night market or retreated entirely indoors, the path was eerily empty—not a soul to be seen.
‘Go faster.’
As I drew closer to the square, the murmuring grew louder. It wasn’t the ordinary bustle of a crowded place.
It was the kind of commotion that erupted when something had gone wrong.
Then I spotted a location where people had gathered in particular density. It was in front of the tavern.
“I’ve never seen such chaos.”
“What possessed them to make such a threat.”
“I knew an accident was coming.”
I pushed through the crowd to peer inside.
“Excuse me, excuse me…… what on earth has happened?”
The moment I spotted a person collapsed on the tavern floor, my breath caught.
The sound of my own frantic heartbeat filled my ears.
An arm drained of color, hanging limp.
Dark red blood trickling viscously from the head, pooling with rainwater across the ground.
Beneath trembling eyelids, the whites of rolled-back eyes were visible.
Without thinking, my breathing grew rough.
“……Ah. Oh…….”
I clenched and unclenched my fists with shaking fingers.
Someone suddenly seized my shoulder as I stood motionless, staring blankly at the blood-stained clothing.
“Hey. Are you alright?”
As though released from a nightmare, all tension drained from my body and clarity returned.
“Ah, I…….”
“You’re quite shaken. Don’t stay here—go inside quickly. You’ve gone very pale.”
“I…… I. Oh, I was frightened…….”
Without understanding what I was saying, I simply nodded slightly.
Then I felt someone approaching with firm, purposeful strides. I lifted my head a moment too late.
“Miel.”
Siard’s face came into view. A wave of relief washed over me at once.
Tears threatened to spill, but the moment I glimpsed blood smeared on the white gloves covering his hands, my stomach churned.
As I rushed to cover my mouth against the urge to retch, Siard removed the gloves and tucked them into his pocket.
“You’re trembling.”
His hand, which had been slowly brushing down my shoulder, soon wrapped itself around mine.
My shaking hand gradually steadied within the warmth of his grip.
“Take slow, deep breaths. You heard the gunshot and came outside?”
“I was sleeping, and there was this loud noise. I got frightened and came out…….”
Her voice trembled as she fumbled through the words, then she bit her lip.
As a short whimper escaped and her words trailed off, Siard spoke quietly.
“You must have been terribly frightened. Please calm yourself and return to your home. I’ll handle this matter.”
Handle it? That person?
My breath caught short, and no words would come.
I simply stood there trembling, unable to speak.
“Out of the way.”
Kaies pushed through the crowd and appeared before us.
“Kaies…….”
“Come here.”
“I…….”
As I hesitated, Kaies closed the distance and swept me into his arms.
Then he pressed my head against his shoulder.
“Close your eyes.”
I squeezed them shut at those words.
As he carried me away, the image of the fallen body overlapped in my mind with memories of my parents in their accident long ago.
‘Perhaps I should have kept my eyes open…….’
Just as fresh terror began to wash over me, unable to erase the lingering afterimage——
“Open your eyes now.”
At the sound of his quiet voice, I cracked open one eye.
We were in Kaies’s office.
“Why are we……here?”
Kaies set me down on the sofa, then pushed my shoulder back.
“Oof.”
I tumbled limply onto the sofa without resistance.
He draped a blanket over me, then looked down at me intently.

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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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