I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game - Chapter 84

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

I Thought This Was a Healing Farm Game
84

Once I had the hint, things began to click into place.
‘But to confirm this… I’d have to poke around in someone else’s space or belongings, wouldn’t I?’
I set the bread I’d bought down on the table, furrowing my brow.
The Request Office could uncover things without me lifting a finger, or so they claimed.
‘The problem is, I don’t have 1,000 Gold to spare right now.’
And according to the staff, that was just the starting price—I had no idea how much it would cost to dig up all the secrets.
That money would be far better spent on seeds, tool upgrades, or daily expenses.
‘Or maybe… I could interact more often with the residents I’m close to? If I do that naturally, I might eventually learn what the Question Mark means on its own.’
The moment that thought took shape, Siard came to mind first.
I’d been close to him from early on, so I knew quite a bit about him already. And unlike other residents, he was easy to approach.
‘Siard… would he be at the Herb Garden? Or the Medical Clinic?’
I decided to create an excuse to be near Siard first.
If I was naturally by his side, an opportunity would come to look around—whether at the Herb Garden or the Medical Clinic.

* * *

“Welcome. Please, come in.”
“Pardon the intrusion!”
I stepped into Siard’s room. I’d been here a few times before, but today I examined my surroundings far more carefully than usual.
‘Nothing seems particularly odd, though.’

Successful Party Buff: Experience Points +50% for 3 days

Since I’d gained the Experience Point Buff anyway, I asked Siard to teach me Potion Crafting—killing two birds with one stone.
It was my first time learning from him since I’d studied the basics from Siard before.

-10 Gold

Siard readily agreed and invited me into his room.
“This is the Potion Crafting workstation. Basically, you grind the herbs into powder, mix in the solution, then boil it at the proper temperature and the Potion is complete.”

Siard’s Herbalism Lesson Buff: Herbalism Experience Points +30%

Dressed in the same clothes as Siard while learning from him, I genuinely felt like I’d become his apprentice.
“Learning from you is wonderful! Self-study was so much harder.”
“Please come study whenever you wish.”
Siard took hold of my arm and guided me as he spoke.
“When regulating the temperature, be careful not to burn yourself.”
“Understood.”
“It’s best to stir once every thirty seconds. This potion needs three minutes of boiling.”
As I concentrated on the lesson, the result came together quickly.

Stamina Potion (Intermediate)

I held the finished potion in both hands and gazed at it with satisfaction. It restored forty Stamina Points.
“Even among the same rank, the potency varies depending on how meticulously you follow the process.”
“Let me try making one on my own this time.”
Riding the momentum, I made a Stamina Recovery Potion, Crop Growth Serum, and Plant Nutrient Solution.
“This is so fun. Potion-making, I mean.”
“I’m glad you’ve taken an interest in it. Let’s take a short break.”
“Already?”
“If you work too long, the sensitivity in your fingertips can dull. Rest for a moment—I’ll bring some refreshments.”
Siard left the room.
I stretched with a tinge of regret, then recalled my real purpose and covertly scanned the room.
Once I confirmed Siard’s footsteps had faded into the distance, I crept toward the dresser.
‘I’m sorry, Siard…!’
I eased open the drawer and quickly rifled through its contents. Bottle caps, gauze, forceps, syringes.
Nothing but medical instruments.
Nothing suspicious caught my eye.
‘Should I search the Herb Garden or the Medical Clinic instead?’
I couldn’t very well injure myself just to visit the clinic.
‘Or maybe I could just tell him I wanted to see him? Would that seem too suspicious?’
As I racked my brain, Siard returned with a snack.
“Would you care for a Macaron?”
“I’d love one!”
The Macarons were absurdly tiny.
“They’re adorable. So perfectly bite-sized, aren’t they?”
“They serve as a cereal substitute.”
Siard poured the small Macarons into a bowl and added milk.

Stamina +5
Stamina +5

After finishing the bowl of cereal, I watched Siard’s serene expression and carefully broached the topic.
“Would it be all right if I visited the Herb Garden? I’d love to see the herbs I’ve been studying in person.”
“Of course.”
And so I made my way to the Herb Garden quite naturally.

– Siard’s ???

But the Question Mark remained unchanged—the Herb Garden wasn’t the answer.
‘Is it not a place but an object? Maybe he’s hidden something somewhere in the Herb Garden…’
I gazed down at the verdant herb beds.
‘Should I dig up the ground?’
If I did that, Siard would definitely grow suspicious.
“Miss Miel.”
“Yes? Yes?”
Siard called me at the perfect moment. I flinched and turned to find him pointing outside with an apologetic expression.
“I’ve forgotten to bring the dried herbs into the room. Would you mind looking around alone for a moment?”
“Oh, of course! Absolutely! Take your time.”
I brightened at the prospect and waved encouragingly as he left.
What a golden opportunity.
Once Siard had gone far enough, I walked through the Herb Garden, bouncing lightly on the soil here and there.
“I can’t tell any difference this way, though.”
With no other choice, I picked up a spade leaning in the corner of the garden.
When Siard returned, I planned to claim I’d dug a little out of curiosity about the soil.
I began by digging in a remote corner of the bed.
Then the opposite corner, the center, and near the entrance.
I dug up every promising spot.
“There’s nothing here at all…”
I patted the soil back down with the spade, my voice hollow. All that digging for nothing.
It wasn’t the answer.
He’d mentioned it could be a personal item, but nothing Siard carried around stood out to me.
‘Then it must be the Medical Clinic?’
But what excuse could I possibly use to visit there?
‘Should I bring some homemade dessert?’
I wasn’t sure if it was right to show up with such ulterior motives and start prying.
But I didn’t want to suspect the villagers I’d grown fond of without good reason.
Back at home, I checked the calendar.

[Trading Ship Arrival Day]

“There’s quite a lot I need to buy from the Trading Ship this time.”
I carefully noted down rare potions and items that might help with the Hidden Quest, then tucked them into my Inventory.

* * *

The calendar pages turned, and at last the cool autumn arrived.
“Wow, the weather is absolutely beautiful.”
I climbed into the carriage and headed toward the Twins Mansion.
“Miel.”
“Miel!”
I caught sight of children thundering down the stairs and threw open my arms in surprise. They barreled straight into me.
“Oof! Ah.”
Their solid weight landed one after another against my stomach. I bore the impact silently and wrapped my arms around them both.
“I… I’ve missed you so much. You two…….”
“We have too.”
“We waited for you. Miel.”
With each visit, their affection seemed to deepen, and I felt a quiet sense of purpose in return.
“Can’t you come every single day?”
“Haha. You’re so sweet.”
I took each child’s hand and we climbed the stairs together.
Today I’d planned not only to play with the Twins but also to search for clues to the Hidden Quest.
‘Since the children only stay at the mansion, there must be a clue somewhere inside the house.’

— Twins’ ????

The Twins’ Question Mark showed four question marks.
What could be a four-letter object or place?
‘The Doll Room?’
The thought came to me suddenly, so I asked the Twins for permission and took a look at the Doll Room.

— Twins’ ????

But the Hidden Quest’s Question Mark remained unchanged.
‘That’s not it then.’
So what about a dollhouse?
I played with the Twins and their dollhouse, rolling around and eating snacks together, but.
‘I have no idea.’
In the end, I hadn’t found a single clue—only ended up spending the time playing with the Twins.
Thinking I should explore elsewhere, I made a suggestion to them first.
“How about we play hide and seek?”

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