(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 80

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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 80

After Felix and I finished our combined lunch and dinner, we cleaned glass bottles while watching the setting sun.

To be precise, Felix cleaned the glass bottles while I used sterilized tweezers to place medicinal herbs into them one by one.

Though it’s a home-based handicraft business, Golden Goods maintains strict hygiene standards. Producing quality goods even without supervision is only natural.

‘We’re running low on medicinal herbs… I wonder if Baron has time?’

Baron hadn’t been seen much in the village since he rescued me from the forest that day.

According to what I heard this morning, Baron has been busy hunting mammals other than wild boars in the mountains lately.

Animals that live in the mountains, have strong attack power, move on two legs, and even use weapons – bandits.

Bandits chased by Cromwell Castle’s soldiers had entered the mountains near Ruden.

Chief Hunter Diter praised Baron’s (human) hunting skills so much that the entire village talked about Baron from morning on.

Hearing news about him, I had a brief moment of self-conscious thinking.

‘…Is it because of me?’

But thinking he’s catching bandits solely for my sake would be delusions of grandeur.

Hunters originally handle village security as well, and since he works under Chief Hunter Diter, he’s probably just doing what he should.

Yes, that’s it. Let’s go with that.

Of course, he did ask me on dates twice and came to rescue me when I was in danger, but it’s forbidden to arbitrarily inflate and interpret someone else’s feelings.

‘If you’re grateful, shall we go on a date?’

Recalling his red eyes that shone like jewels in the darkness made my heart flutter.

That day, I faced three life-threatening crises, and different men saved me each time.

The first was Baron.

The second was, though I hate to admit it, Axel.

The third was Felix.

It was truly a strange night.

If Baron, Axel, and Felix hadn’t appeared one after another to help me, today’s peaceful daily life might not exist.

‘Of course, Kkukku played a part too. It would be wrong to forget Kkukku’s contribution.’

I smiled wistfully while thinking of Kkukku, who saved me and then disappeared without a trace.

While resting at home yesterday, I tried calling out in case Kkukku was nearby, but the hundred-year-old cute monster didn’t show its face to me.

‘…’

Wait a minute. Can it only come out from dirt floors? Should I have gone outside to call for it?

When I reached the thought that Kkukku might have bumped its head while trying to break through our house’s floor, my expression naturally became serious.

This is why simple labor is dangerous. It makes you imagine all sorts of things.

“Hazel, what are you thinking about?”

“…Nothing, I’m not thinking about anything in particular.”

My voice sounded cold even to my own ears as I answered curtly.

I could picture Felix’s expression without even looking. He must be completely dejected.

Felix kept watching my mood while cleaning the glass bottles and suggested 27 times that he’d handle the overtime work so I could go home and draw.

Does he think I’ll go easy on him for that?

I’ll stick close to his side and keep giving him the cold shoulder until nightfall. This is the only revenge I can manage.

“…Hazel.”

“What.”

“Are you going to stay angry?”

“I’m not angry though?”

“I see… I can accept the punishment for moving money without telling you, but please know I didn’t embezzle it for frivolous purposes, okay?”

Though his restless appearance as he claimed his innocence, worried I wouldn’t believe him, was a tiny bit pitiful, I couldn’t give in now.

Humans are cunning, and if you keep letting things slide, they tend to become more selfish.

If he pulls something like this again next time, then I’ll really get angry.

“…We’ll see what you do.”

“I really came to my senses. I’m not a scoundrel anymore. And I won’t be in the future either.”

“Hmph.”

Though I deliberately snorted, my expression had softened considerably. I tried to furrow my brow again, but couldn’t muster the strength.

Felix glanced at me sideways and grinned foolishly. Really, Felix is like a transparent glass marble too. His heart shows right through.

Annoyed that he was already relieved, I picked a fight with him.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Just because.”

“I’m still not over being angry, you know?”

“But you said you weren’t angry.”

“…Ah.”

I was being inconsistent. My mistake.

Since it was too late to fix the mistake, I pretended nothing happened, played dumb, and shut my mouth.

Only my hands closing the glass bottle caps moved faster, while his large body shook as annoying chuckling sounds reached my ears.

“Ah, don’t laugh! It’s irritating.”

I couldn’t hold back and shouted angrily. The end of my words, mixed with laughter, trembled slightly.

“Sorry… *snort*, honestly it’s funny though…”

“I told you not to laugh.”

Felix burst into laughter like a tree frog and dropped to his knees.

Without even the courtesy of covering his mouth with his hand, he let out his laughter freely. It was innocent laughter that cleared your mind just by hearing it. If he wasn’t laughing to tease me, I’d want to hear it every day.

I stared down at him blankly, then burst into laughter myself in surrender.

Laughing meant losing. I felt a tiny bit wronged for losing again today. This is why fights with Felix never last long. That’s what’s good about it.

Felix stopped laughing while crouched down and rummaged through a corner of the counter. It was where he’d placed the ingredients he’d received from the village adults this morning.

After rustling around for a while, he pulled out shiny, long meat from a paper bag.

It was butcher Carson’s ambitious oak-smoked something-or-other bacon.

Though it’s suspicious that the bacon has a sweet smell, it’ll definitely be delicious. Bacon is always right.

Felix made an “ah” sound and lifted the bacon toward my mouth.

“It smells delicious. Eat this and feel even better.”

“Is it okay to eat it without cooking it?”

“It’s smoked and cured in syrup. It’s as good as cooked. It’ll be delicious even eaten raw.”

“How do you know that, Felix?”

Felix laughed as if it was absurd.

“I’ve read so many cookbooks trying to raise you properly, how could I not know that?”

“You read cookbooks too, Felix?”

“I borrowed them from Albert to read. Now, hurry up and open your mouth. My arm hurts.”

I leaned my head close to the bacon, sniffed it, then bit off the end. The harmony of the tingling sweetness that touched my tongue and the saltiness that emerged as I chewed was fantastic.

“Wow, it’s delicious…”

I opened my eyes wide and snatched the bacon from Felix’s hand.

By my standards, it’s a snack more wonderful than candy. Since it has meat in it, it’s probably good for the body too. As expected, my taste preference seems to require both sweet and salty flavors. Sweet-salty-sweet-salty, you could say.

When I devoured half the bacon strip in an instant, Felix wore a satisfied smile as if he’d made the bacon himself.

“Is it that delicious?”

“Yeah. Felix, don’t eat any. It’s all mine.”

At my playful joke, Felix glared sulkily and whined.

“Ah, why? I thought you weren’t angry anymore? Give me just one bite.”

“Just one bite only.”

Felix opened his mouth wide like a crocodile, then barely nibbled the tip like a rabbit.

Only after I pushed it toward him telling him to eat more did he properly take a bite.

Felix’s eyes grew round.

“It’s delicious!”

“This would be good as a drinking snack too, wouldn’t it?”

“Oh…”

Felix the drunkard’s opinion is worth considering.

If it’s perfect as both a snack and drinking food, there should be demand in the city too.

I should ask Carson later if he has plans for mass production.

“Mmm~ delicious.”

Maybe because my blood sugar went up, my mood improved dramatically. We finished our overtime work while nibbling and sharing the bacon.

For reference, when eating bacon we only did labeling work. Golden Sundries Shop’s hygiene rules are thorough.

That night.

As soon as I returned home, I searched around the head of my bed. I had an ominous feeling that Felix would have also stolen all the money pouches hidden in the house.

“…It’s gone.”

Unfortunately, my premonition didn’t miss the mark.

Knowing his guilt, Felix dropped to his knees on the floor and bowed his head just before I was about to scream.

“Give me back my money! You scoundrel!!!”

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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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