(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 48

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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 48

 

Kokko’s children followed suit, thrusting their yellow beaks toward the man’s face. For reference, Kokko had once woken up Felix in the same manner.

 

I hastily stopped the half-grown chicks.

 

“No, no. You can’t do that.”

 

Grandma Lisa had said that while handsome men from our own house aren’t precious, handsome men from other houses are.

 

Regardless of my personal taste, there would be plenty of women who’d beat their chests in anguish over even the smallest scratch on that face.

 

“I have no choice.”

 

Now there’s only one method left. Pouring cool well water on his face.

 

I didn’t want to become a strange person who suddenly splashes water on someone I’d just met, but I had to save his life first, didn’t I?

 

I returned with a large gourd filled to the brim with water as cold as melted ice.

 

Kokko and her children were still surrounding the unfamiliar man’s face, thrusting their beaks at him.

 

From the way their black eyes were gleaming, it seemed like they might be admiring the handsome man.

 

“Please wake up. I need to go to work.”

 

I couldn’t bring myself to pour the gourd directly on his face, so I cupped water in my palm and sprinkled it like watering plants.

 

As dew formed on his transparent skin, his fairy-like appearance began to shine. Even I, who was firmly committed to my potato-loving taste, was momentarily mesmerized.

 

When the man showed no signs of waking up, Kokko pretended to drink water while bringing her beak even closer to his face.

 

“Kokko.”

 

“Coo?”

 

“Can you peck him gently so it doesn’t leave a hole?”

 

“Co.”

 

Kokko blinked confidently. Just as Kokko’s sharp beak popped one of the water droplets on his face—

 

The man’s blue eyes snapped open. A blood-curdling scream echoed across the clear sky.

 

“Aaaaah!”

 

“Hyaaah!”

 

Startled as well, I dropped the gourd, and cold water cascaded down like a waterfall onto the man’s face.

 

Splash! The water-soaked Kokko and her children squawked “Bawk bawk bawk!” while flapping their wings frantically.

 

“Oh my, I’m sorry!”

 

The man looked around with a bewildered expression before hanging his head with a sigh.

 

It was complete chaos.

 

After the situation calmed down.

 

The unfamiliar man stood up, shaking the water from his hair. His half-dazed expression remained, but at least he didn’t seem likely to fall asleep again.

 

I asked if he was okay while rambling through an explanation of the situation.

 

Kokko hadn’t really intended to peck him, if she’d meant to attack there would already be blood, I hadn’t planned to splash him with the gourd either—after listening quietly to my various excuses, the man slowly opened his mouth.

 

“Is this Ruden Village?”

 

“Yes… that’s right.”

 

The man’s pale, exhausted complexion brightened subtly.

 

He took out glasses from an inner pocket of his cloak, put them on, and stared intently toward the village.

 

Before putting on the glasses, he’d looked like a sickly young master from a noble family, but with glasses on, he looked like a studious sickly young master.

 

His gaze swept around the mountain once before returning to me.

 

A clear light shone in his jewel-like blue eyes.

 

“Do you happen to know where Golden Goods is located?”

 

“…Of course.”

 

I know that better than anyone.

 

***

 

The Mysterious Man is as peculiar as his appearance.

 

Despite looking like he’d only eat dew (being extremely picky), he ate the sandwich I made quite well.

 

While walking as if he might fall asleep any moment (completely lethargic), his steps were actually quick.

 

And strangely, he was difficult to make conversation with.

 

His attitude wasn’t rude, but the conversation kept cutting off abruptly.

 

It had been a long time since Baron that I’d met someone on whom my conversation skills, built up through my career as a general store owner, didn’t work.

 

“I haven’t seen you before. Do you have relatives here?”

 

“No.”

 

“It’s not easy to come to Ruden Village without connections. Where did you come from?”

 

“I came from Benu.”

 

“Ah, Benu. Are you perhaps an employee of Bashar Merchant Guild?”

 

“No.”

 

The conversation continued like this.

 

Too concise, perhaps. He felt as inhuman as his face looked.

 

The only part where I could sense any humanity in him was—

 

His right foot that limped slightly with each step.

 

It wasn’t very noticeable at first glance, but it couldn’t fool my eyes.

 

Most travelers who come to our village from far away are in this condition. Their soles are scraped or blistered from walking too long.

 

‘I should pitch shoe insoles when we get to the shop.’

 

For reference, the day after I received new shoes as a gift, I stocked Uncle Paul’s ambitious honeycomb scrubber insoles in the general store.

 

They weren’t items to sell to the villagers—they were exclusively for outsiders.

 

Stocking items in the store that I’d tried and liked was a basic quality of a general store owner.

 

Shortly after, we passed through the village center and entered the alley where the general store was located.

 

I pushed open the door with its slightly tilted sign and casually asked,

 

“By the way, what business brings you to Golden Sundries Shop?”

 

“I came to meet the owner.”

 

At his typical Mysterious Man answer, I couldn’t help but let out a deflated laugh.

 

“That works out well. Actually, I’m the owner of Golden Sundries Shop.”

 

The Mysterious Man’s half-closed eyes opened wide.

 

“What’s your shoe size? If they don’t fit, I’ll cut them to size for you.”

 

As I’d expected, the honeycomb scrubber insole sales pitch was successful.

 

The Mysterious Man showed interest in the news that there were custom insoles for travelers, and his face immediately brightened as soon as he changed into the insoles.

 

Even the dark circles under his eyes seemed to lighten.

 

“How is it? Comfortable, right?”

 

“Indeed. Very comfortable.”

 

“These are insoles that Luden’s greatest shoe craftsman devoted his life to developing using natural materials found only around Luden. You won’t be able to get them anywhere else in the Empire.”

 

The problem was—

 

“Grrrowl.”

 

Felix, who unfailingly turned into a dog in front of men of marriageable age.

 

I don’t know why he acts like this when he knows handsome men aren’t my type.

 

“If you’re looking for any other products, please feel free to ask.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

The Mysterious Man looked around the shop for a while with interested, sparkling eyes.

 

Seeing how he paid no attention to Felix growling and even drooling, he must have quite strong nerves too.

 

While this tense standoff that only made my heart race continued—

 

Knock knock knock!

 

Urgent knocking sounds came from outside the door. From the sound of multiple footsteps, it seemed like people from Bashar Merchant Guild had arrived.

 

“Come in!”

 

Perhaps because I’d rested yesterday, my voice was bright as I greeted the customers.

 

However, the Bashar Merchant Guild employees seemed to be in the opposite state from me.

 

People who were clearly exhausted entered the shop with their shoulders drooping.

 

His voice couldn’t have been more gloomy.

 

“Miss Hazel, we’re in big trouble.”

 

I swallowed nervously and asked cautiously.

 

“What’s wrong…?”

 

Just as they lifted their tearful faces and were about to say something.

 

The men’s mouths fell wide open as screams burst out simultaneously.

 

“M-Mayor!!”

 

“Wait, why are you here!!”

 

***

 

“Felix….”

 

“Yeah….”

 

“I didn’t mishear that, right.”

 

“No. You heard correctly.”

 

Surprisingly, the Mysterious Man’s true identity was—.

 

The Mayor of Benu.

 

Lucas Aden.

 

‘Wait, why would such an important person come all the way to Our Village?’

 

I stared down at the fairy-like man while holding my breath in shock.

 

I had heard rumors that Benu’s mayor was young, but to this extent.

 

‘What on earth have I done.’

 

The morning’s events flashed before my eyes like a panorama.

 

I had splashed water on the head of the Merchant’s Union and ruler of the Empire’s largest City, ordered a Chicken to attack him, and roughly wiped his hair with a rag-like cloth.

 

I even fed him a sandwich I hastily made when he said he was hungry.

 

I should have at least bought him a croissant from Maria’s Bakery.

 

Belated regret washed over me like a tide.

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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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