I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game - Chapter 80

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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.
Episode 80

“Hey, Kaies. What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”
“You said you wanted a ride?”
I protested, straightening my posture belatedly.
“You should’ve mentioned it beforehand. Asked me to come along.”
“Think I’d let the Twins get their hands on you without causing trouble?”
“……Then why did you pick me up in the first place?”
“You know what kind of chaos would break loose if I left you two alone?”
The way he spoke, you’d think we were nothing but a pair of troublemaking children.
I stared at Kaies, then voiced my complaint.
“Still, you scared me.”
“Sorry.”
Kaies apologized matter-of-factly, then moved the boat as if nothing had happened.
He opened his mouth, his gaze fixed on the rippling lake.
“Since we’re already out here, how about you tell me some old stories, Princess?”
“My old stories?”
“What you were doing before you came to Node.”
“Oh—I’d love that!”
I hadn’t expected him to ask about my past during our trip. I accepted eagerly.
“Hmm. Where should I start? Well, when I was young…….”
I told him, step by step, about losing my parents in childhood and everything up until my hospital admission.
As I finished the story, Kaies was watching me with a somewhat complicated expression. After a long silence, he offered a brief reflection.
“……Your life has been exhausting, hasn’t it, Princess?”
“Has it? But there were more good things than that!”
“You said being alive was a miracle, right?”
“A miracle happened, so that means my luck is absolutely incredible!”
I bragged with a shrug, and Kaies let out a soft laugh, nodding.
“You’re optimistic.”
“There’s nothing good about having a negative mindset—it won’t change anything in life.”
I smiled and reached toward the lake, splashing it lightly with my hand. Kaies murmured something quietly.
“That’s why you last so long.”
“Pardon?”
Not catching his words, I leaned my upper body closer. Kaies asked again from a short distance away.
“You’ve been here a while now, haven’t you?”
“Spring and summer. I’ve spent two months here? It’s crazy how fast time goes.”
Each time our conversation paused, the sound of water being cut echoed from a distance.
At first, I didn’t pay it much attention, but the noise seemed to be getting closer.
“Do you want to stay in Node?”
“What? Um…… I’m not sure.”
It was a question he asked regularly, but answering it was always difficult.
Still, I could be honest with Kaies. It felt like he wouldn’t judge whatever answer I gave.
True to expectation, he simply nodded with an unbothered expression after hearing my reply.
“Then don’t get too attached to the residents.”
“What? Why not?”
“The more they grow fond of you, the more reluctant they’ll be to let you go.”
The moment I blinked at Kaies’s words, the boat rocked sharply.
Reflexively, I gripped the edge of the boat with both hands and turned my head.
A Duck Boat came rushing toward us, cutting through the water at high speed.
“What? Wait—hold on. Why is that one going so fast?”
“They must’ve picked one with high speed.”
Soon the Twins’ boat caught up with ours, passing right beside us and kicking up a huge spray.
Water splashed into our boat, and I flinched in alarm.
“You two, wait a second!”
But the Twins just made a wide loop and came charging toward us again.
This isn’t a bumper car!
Every time the boat collided, water sprayed in all directions.
“Argh! You lot, what were you thinking—we’ll fall in if you keep that up!”
My frantic cry didn’t reach them.
The boat kept smashing into obstacles, lurching violently again and again.
“Ahhh!”
Splash!
Finally, the boat capsized and plunged into the lake with a tremendous splash.
I held my breath instinctively, then oriented myself and paddled my arms toward the shore.
By grace, I’d fallen near the shallows rather than in the middle of the lake.
As I thrashed toward land, a hand slipped under my arm.
Someone grabbed me with both hands and hauled me out of the water. It was Kaies.
The moment my feet touched bottom, I burst into a fit of coughing.
“Cough, cough!”
Kaies wiped away the water clinging to my face with the back of his hand, then set me on a nearby rock.
He disappeared into the train and returned with a towel.
“Here.”
Kaies himself was dripping wet, but he seemed barely concerned about it.
“Cough! Th-thank you.”
He pressed one towel into my hands and used the one he held to roughly dry my hair.
The residents who’d disembarked from the boat looked at my bedraggled state and sighed.
“Twins, come with me a moment.”
Siard called to them in a firm voice. The atmosphere made it clear they were in trouble.
“You’re not going to stop them?”
Kaies asked, glancing at the Twins.
“No. We can’t overlook something like that. It could’ve been dangerous if there’d been an accident.”
I shook my head and turned my gaze away from them.
“You’re strict about these things.”

Kaies’s Affinity +10

We had to wait during the station stop to dry off somewhat in the sun before we could board the train again.
“Ugh. Starting the morning like this…….”
At least the day was warm.
Since my clothes were still wet, I drew the curtain and changed into spare garments.

[Departing in 5 minutes.]

The moment I opened the curtain and took my seat, Kaies flopped into the seat across from me.
“Mind if we sit together?”
“Makes more sense if wet people sit together and dry off at the same time.”
“Right.”
Kaies toweled his hair and squinted one eye.
Siard boarded next, sent the Twins to their seats, and offered a quiet word of explanation.
“They’ll be well-behaved for the next hour.”
“They got banned from playing?”
“Yes.”
An air of discontent hung thick around the expressionless Twins.
I turned my gaze away deliberately, swallowing a small laugh.
Shortly after, the train departed toward the Flower Field, our second destination.
As I watched Kaies continue to dry off, I remembered what I’d overheard by the lake.
‘Don’t dig too deep with the residents…….’
Could this actually be connected to the Hidden Quest content?
I was just about to open my mouth and ask Kaies for details.
“Lunch is coming up soon—want to order box meals, Miel?”
Priam spoke from behind, and I lost my chance at perfect timing.
“Oh, yeah. Let’s eat.”
“Here’s the menu.”
I took the menu Priam handed me and began reviewing it with Kaies.
There were three options for the box meals.

[1. Buttermilk Chicken Tenders & Coleslaw]
[2. Croissant Sandwich & Fruit]
[3. Burger & French Fries]

“I’ll have the buttermilk chicken tenders.”
“Sandwich for me.”
After ordering quickly, I gazed out the window, and what had happened earlier kept circling through my mind.
I waited for Kaies to broach the subject again first, but he seemed content to let the conversation by the Lake drop.
‘Oh, what do I do? It feels too late to ask now.’
That’s how the human heart works—tell it not to do something and it craves it all the more; tell it not to know and it grows only more curious.
“Your meal is ready.”
Before I could find the right moment to speak, the attendant appeared.
My portion arrived with five golden chicken tenders, coleslaw, and sauce on the side.
Before eating, I placed one tender on the empty spot in Kaies’s tray.
“You eat too, Kaies!”
He stared at the chicken tender I’d offered him for a moment, then silently handed me one of his croissant sandwiches.
“Have a bite, princess.”
“Really?”
Surprised, I opened my mouth and accepted the sandwich he held out.
“This is delicious too!”
I smiled contentedly and began eating my chicken tenders, dipping them generously in sauce—they were wonderfully crispy.
After finishing my meal with satisfaction, I gazed out at the passing landscape.
In the distance, I could see windmills turning slowly.
Soon rolling hills covered entirely in flowers came into view, their brilliant colors flooding my vision.

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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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