I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game - Chapter 99

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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 99

When the strange shift in mood made me hesitate, his eyes reddened. As if he might cry any moment.
“You don’t like me anymore……?”
“I do like you. Of course I do.”
For a brief moment, it struck me that this didn’t sound like a question between friends.
But I hadn’t made my meaning clear either, so…….
The moment Priam heard my answer, his tense expression softened.
Yet even as he smiled, a fragile uncertainty lingered in his face, and I could feel his churning emotions laid bare.

* * *

Back home, I cradled my face in both hands and let out a long, heavy sigh.
“I hope he’s all right, Priam…….”
The expression I’d seen on Priam’s face kept surfacing in my mind.
‘Lately, between the quests, I’ve only been thinking about Kaies. Maybe that’s why he felt neglected…….’
Even so, there were things that made no sense.
‘In the game, Priam never resented me like this.’
He’d never questioned why I gave someone else the same gift, or asked who I liked more. Not once.
Something was definitely off. The look in his eyes just now, the way he acted, the whole atmosphere…….
‘Something’s wrong……?’

[Priam had changed too.]

Suddenly, I recalled clearly a sentence I’d seen in the Twins’ sketchbook.
‘Is the reason Priam’s been so sensitive right now…… all because of that visitor?’
I had some idea what that woman had done to Priam, but I still didn’t know the exact details.
‘But the Twins said she was a strange person. If she did something odd enough to catch even their eye…….’
My imagination drifted toward darker possibilities.
‘If it was that woman who made Priam afraid of being touched by others…….’
It was the sort of thing you couldn’t bring up carelessly without courting disaster.
I racked my brain for every possible explanation, but none of them led anywhere good.
‘……I just hope all my guesses are wrong.’
Pushing down the ache in my chest, I focused on what I could actually do.
‘I need to pay more attention to Priam for a while.’
Write him letters often, visit whenever I had a chance, spend time together…….
‘Maybe that will help ease his anxiety a little.’
After that, I made good on my promise—writing Priam letters frequently and visiting him whenever I could.
The effect showed quickly.
Every time I visited, Priam greeted me brightly, returning to his old cheerful self.
Each time I saw that radiant smile, my own heart grew lighter.
“The Autumn Festival is coming soon.”
“That’s right. There are supposed to be a lot of events. I’m looking forward to it.”
I naturally suggested that Priam come with me to the Dress Shop.
“You’re going to buy clothes?”
“I have a Clothing Exchange Voucher from the Twins, so I came to use it.”
I handed the voucher to the attendant. Once she’d verified the code inside, she welcomed me warmly.
“Ah, Miss Miel. The outfit that Yuen and Eunyu left for you is this way.”
I followed the attendant into the back room while Priam said he’d wait outside and look around.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time. Miel.”
The sharp edge I’d seen in him days ago had vanished without a trace. I nodded, relieved.
“Here is the dress.”
When I caught sight of the shimmering Blue Dress, my eyes widened.
“I’m……going to wear that? It’s so extravagant…….”
It wasn’t the sort of dress I’d ordinarily reach for—something more suited to Yuen.
“Oh, you’d be surprised once you try it on. It has far fewer ornaments than Miss Yuen’s dress.”
With the clerk’s assistance, I slipped into a gown that fell all the way to my ankles. Strange as it felt, there was truth to the saying that clothes make the person—it was rather beautiful once I had it on.
‘I’ll wear this when I ride to the Twins’ Mansion.’
There was no way I could walk the streets in something this flowing.
Still, the thought of showing it to the Twins directly lifted my spirits. I wondered if they’d like it.
“Let’s make sure there’s nothing uncomfortable when you walk.”
As the clerk opened the door, I stepped into the shop and took a few cautious steps.
Priam, who’d been browsing the merchandise, turned at the sound of my footsteps.
“Miel!”
“Priam……”
I felt suddenly self-conscious, my shoulders drawing inward. But Priam’s face lit up like a child’s, radiating pure delight.
“You look like a princess. Absolutely stunning.”
“Th…… thank you.”
The sincerity of the compliment only made me blush harder.
The clerk who followed emerged with a practiced smile and made her pitch.
“You’d look absolutely perfect if you wore earrings or a necklace to match the dress.”
“Hmm, well……”
While I hesitated, Priam spoke up with a bright voice.
“Then since the Twins gave you the dress as a gift, let me give you accessories.”
“What? No, I can buy them myself!”
“No, I want to choose them for you.”
Priam smiled warmly and moved toward the jewelry display.
“Let me see. Something to match Miel’s dress……”
“Really, I’m fine——”
Priam brushed off my protests and examined each piece one by one, his face alive with genuine pleasure.
After holding various accessories near my ears and neck, he finally settled on two.
“One pair of earrings and one necklace. They’re both beautiful.”
“Yes, I’ll help you with the payment.”
Before I could stop her, the clerk carried the two pieces to the register.
“The earrings are 45 Gold, and the necklace is 70 Gold.”
My eyes went wide the moment I heard the price.
“Wait, hold on. That’s over a hundred Gold combined! That’s too much.”
“…… You won’t take them?”
Priam’s cheerful expression crumbled in an instant.
“You accepted the dress from the Twins, but you don’t want what I’m giving you?”
“No, it’s not that I don’t want it. It’s just so expensive……”
“The dress the Twins gave you probably cost more. Can’t I give you a gift?”
Seeing the downward turn of his eyes, I felt beads of perspiration form on my skin.
Had I said something wrong again?
He’d seemed so happy just moments before, and I didn’t want to dim that brightness.
“That’s not what I meant. Priam. Then, th… thank you. I’ll accept it gracefully……”
Even thinking about it now, the price was staggering.
I blinked back tears and resigned myself to accepting.
Only then did color return to Priam’s face.
“Good.”
The accessories were quickly wrapped with care and placed in a small jewel box.
The moment I received the jewel box, I opened the lid and peered at the earrings inside.
Then a message bubble appeared.

Sapphire Earring: An earring set with genuine sapphires.

Real gems, then. No wonder they cost so much.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“No. No, that’s all.”
I shook my head firmly and clutched the shopping bag close to my chest.
“Oh, you don’t need an outfit for the Autumn Festival?”
“Pardon?”
“In Node, people wear traditional dress on festival days.”
“I see.”
At those words, I recalled the traditional garments the villagers in the game had worn.
“Would you like to see them?”
“Oh, yes! That would be lovely.”
The women’s traditional dress was a lightweight one-piece, easy to wear without burden even on ordinary days. And the price wasn’t steep either.
I browsed the displayed clothing and selected a dark green one-piece dress. The refined yet fresh feeling of it appealed to me.
“I’ll take this one.”

– 5 Gold

I’d come to exchange the Clothing Exchange Voucher, received a gift, and now I’d even bought a dress to wear at the festival.
As I left the Dress Shop with shopping bags in both hands, Priam spoke shyly.
“It’s nothing compared to the Twins’ gift, but use it well, Miel.”

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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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