(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 37

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 37

 

That evening.

 

Orange sunset light colored the mountains and streams as quiet stillness settled over the village.

 

It was the time when even the village’s most diligent workers stopped their labor and the cows went into their pens to clock out.

 

Felix was leaving the house with a large shovel, heading down toward the mountain.

 

I followed my brother out of the house and stealthily tailed him.

 

It was to see with my own eyes what he was doing every night.

 

If he was just fetching tons of purification water like before to build up bad inventory, I could accept that.

 

But this latest bizarre behavior was beyond my imagination. Strange rumors spreading through the village were just a bonus.

 

‘Hazel, did you hear that rumor? About how a bear has been appearing in the forest lately, pulling up all the trees?’

 

‘There are no bears in our forest, right? And why would a bear pull up trees?’

 

‘But they say that bear is actually Felix.’

 

‘…?’

 

‘Bill saw him. He thought it was a bear, but when he got closer, it was Felix.’

 

This was a rumor from Sara.

 

‘Hazel! Hazel! Did you hear the news?’

 

‘What news?’

 

‘The bear that’s been appearing on the back mountain has been pulling up stones since yesterday.’

 

‘…Why?’

 

‘How would I know when you don’t? Anyway, if you go to the middle of the mountain, there are stones the bear pulled up stacked like a tower. Want to go make a wish?’

 

‘…No. Still, that bear is kind. It doesn’t hurt people.’

 

This was a rumor from Maribel.

 

I couldn’t lift my head in shame in front of my friends.

 

Whenever the villagers met me, they asked why Felix had become a bear, but I couldn’t explain anything.

 

I could only say I was just watching with half trust in my brother, half resignation.

 

That was my honest feeling, but even that patience had a limit of one week.

 

I followed my brother’s traces, passing through the village and entering the mountain.

 

They said he’d pulled up all the trees and stones, and indeed the entrance from the village to the mountain looked quite bare.

 

I slowly walked down the mountain following the path the bear had cleared.

 

Perhaps because there were no tree shadows, the path wasn’t as dark as I’d expected.

 

At the end of the path I’d walked for a while, I saw my brother holding a shovel.

 

I immediately understood the villagers’ reactions.

 

‘Ah, right. He’s a bear.’

 

Felix in the mountains was no different from a bear. His build and behavior were that of a bear.

 

He was even a bear holding a shovel today…

 

Thunk!

 

He was digging a hole.

 

‘Why is he doing that?’

 

Was he preparing a den for hibernation? Winter was still far away though.

 

Felix, who had been enthusiastically shoveling, seemed to sense my presence and turned his head.

 

“Hazel?”

 

“Felix, what are you doing here?”

 

Instead of answering my question, my brother suddenly frowned.

 

“Why did you come all the way here? Go back quickly. Before the sun sets.”

 

“I won’t go back until you tell me what you’re doing.”

 

“Shoveling.”

 

“I’m not unaware that’s the dictionary definition of shoveling.”

 

Felix shrugged his shoulders. It meant he had no intention of giving a proper answer.

 

“Then just think of it as the other meaning of shoveling.”

 

“You mean doing something useless?”

 

“For now, it’s better if it looks that way.”

 

“What…?”

 

I crossed my arms and stood there, looking my incomprehensible brother up and down.

 

His bare feet, dirty with mud, caught my eye.

 

“If you’re going to shovel, at least wear shoes.”

 

***

 

Bang bang bang bang!

 

The sound of leather being hammered loudly assaulted my eardrums.

 

Thump thump thump! Clang clang clang!

 

I covered both ears and entered the workshop. However, no one paid attention to me.

 

The men’s attention, dripping with sweat as they hammered, was focused solely on the leather before their eyes.

 

I watched them carefully and cautiously called for the workshop owner.

 

“Uncle Paul, are you here?”

 

The moment my faint voice spread through the shop.

 

Thud-.

 

Everyone put down their tools and turned their heads toward me.

 

Uncle Paul, with his jagged beard growing roughly, greeted me with a bright smile. It was a face that made you feel good just looking at it, carved with a beaming grin.

 

“Oh, is that Hazel?”

 

The young workers working with the uncle waved their hands happily.

 

“Miss Hazel, it’s been a long time!”

 

“What brings you all the way here?”

 

Bewildered by the sudden warm welcome, I blinked awkwardly.

 

Men who wouldn’t lose even if they arm-wrestled with blacksmith workers approached me with their sleeves rolled up.

 

My lost gaze stuck somewhere on a window.

 

“Well…, it’s nothing major, I’d like to request a pair of leather shoes for my brother.”

 

“That works out perfectly. My shoe-making skills have improved amazingly lately, so leave it to me this time.”

 

“What does a guy who only makes horse gear all day know about shoes? I heard Felix has been working hard lately. I’ll make the most comfortable and sturdy shoes in the world for him.”

 

Uncle Paul’s workers were excessively enthusiastic, probably because of the tax increase.

 

But I couldn’t entrust my brother’s shoes to them.

 

Felix’s feet are different from ordinary people’s.

 

Uncle Paul, who knew this fact, laughed heartily and shooed away the young workers with his hand.

 

“Get lost, you guys can’t make Felix’s shoes with your skills. You don’t know how roughly he wears shoes – he’s the greatest adversary I’ve met in my 30 years as a craftsman.”

 

“I feel unnecessarily sorry when you put it that way.”

 

“No, if it weren’t for that guy, I wouldn’t have completed my secret technique that wouldn’t be worth trading for a thousand gold.”

 

Uncle Paul gave a thumbs up.

 

When I reflexively gave a thumbs up, the young workers also waved their thumbs.

 

I don’t know why they’re doing this, but it’s lively and nice.

 

“I should make the shoes like before, right? It’ll take three days.”

 

“That’s fine. Don’t give me a discount this time. I can pay full price.”

 

The uncle immediately frowned and waved his hands dismissively.

 

“Forget it. If it’s because of taxes, don’t worry. My shop and Franz’s blacksmith will have no problem with several months’ worth of taxes once Count Cedric’s army comes and goes.”

 

“Still…”

 

“I heard the rumors. I thought that Felix guy had come to his senses, but he’s shoveling again?”

 

“…That’s true.”

 

Surprisingly, this time it really is actual ‘digging.’

 

For the rumor to spread even to Uncle Paul, who lives with his ears closed to village news. Really, there are no secrets in our village.

 

“Still, it’s fortunate that you have the means to endure it, Uncle. Suddenly doubling the taxes—this is like a bolt from the blue.”

 

“They’ll raise it double for a couple months, then from the third month on, they’ll cut it back like they’re doing us a favor. Since it seems like we’re making some money, they’re scheming to shake us down for everything we have.”

 

“It’s always been that way. The excuse is just whatever they decide to make it.”

 

“I heard the Herb Gatherers have been making some money lately, so they must be really heartbroken. It would be great if we could sell medicinal herbs without going through Cromwell Castle.”

 

The long-cherished wish of the village people is to have a ‘road’ that would allow trade with other regions without going through Cromwell Castle.

 

But even Benu, the closest city, is blocked off by mountain ranges, so we gave up on building a road long ago.

 

In the end, we have no choice but to pay trade fees to the Lord in exchange for borrowing the road.

 

‘I wonder how much commission they took from my prototype.’

 

The price hasn’t even been set yet, and the tax officials don’t know the market value either, so they probably didn’t take too much.

 

But if by any chance the purification water drink becomes a hit product for the Bashar Merchant Guild, it’s obvious I’ll get hit with enormous fees and taxes.

 

The Herb Gatherers pay a 50% commission plus separate taxes. My future probably won’t be much different.

 

After all these thoughts, I unconsciously let out a sigh.

 

“Life really isn’t easy.”

 

“Straighten up that face. A kid who’s barely twenty-two shouldn’t be making expressions like that.”

 

My complaint was followed by warm, affectionate advice. I don’t dislike the kind meddling that’s characteristic of our village people.

 

“If you just quietly walk your own path, luck tends to come at unexpected timing.”

 

“Like how you perfected your secret technique thanks to Felix?”

 

“Exactly. That’s when I truly realized that crisis can become opportunity.”

 

Along with the uncle’s gentle smile, good-natured wrinkles spread across his face. I followed suit, scrunching up my nose as I smiled.

 

I was calculating the cost of Felix’s shoes and about to leave the workshop when a young worker suddenly blocked my path.

 

“Um, Miss Hazel, do you happen to have some time?”

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