The Quack Lady - Chapter 9

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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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Episode 9

The woman adorned with fancy decorations greeted him warmly.

“It’s been a while, Shasha. But today, this little one is the customer, not me.”

“Pardon?”

The woman decked out in flashy jewelry looked around for a moment, then spotted me and tilted her head in confusion.

“Your daughter…”

“Daughter! To a handsome man like me with a bright future who isn’t even married yet…!”

“But these eyes, they’re similar to Brighton’s, aren’t they?”

She looked at my half-closed eyes, what you’d call a sour expression, and started spouting nonsense.

“Not at all.”

“Not at all.”

“…?”

“…?”

At the same words that came out simultaneously, we both looked at each other. The woman called Shasha watched us both and smiled broadly.

“Oh my, you even speak in the same style. Anyway, don’t worry. Today I’ll make this little lady here absolutely beautiful.”

“Me?”

Mr. Hanel waved his hand dismissively as if explaining was too bothersome. Then, as if they’d been waiting, the ladies popped out and began leading me behind the curtain.

And in an instant, my clothes were stripped off.

After trying on about fifteen outfits that were more modest than dresses, suitable for nouveau riche to wear comfortably, I realized something.

This was revenge. There was no other reason for a person to change clothes fifteen times.

However.

“Hmm, this won’t do. The color doesn’t suit your pale skin. It looks a bit tacky.”

When he waved his hand dismissively, the curtain was immediately drawn.

Then various hands popped out from around me to help with undressing and bring new clothes…

“Mr. Hanel, can’t we really stop now?”

“No, we can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Can’t you stop with all that ‘why’ nonsense? When an adult says to do something, you do it.”

“Since you’re an adult, you can tell me the reason.”

“There are many things in the world without reasons. Quite a lot of them.”

Mr. Hanel’s way with words was no ordinary thing.

Anyway, since I had received food and all, I reluctantly followed his words with tears in my eyes.

After putting on the eighteenth outfit, he finally jumped up from his seat.

“Yes! This is it! Bright-colored fabrics suit you well!”

“Huh? What…”

To me, this one looked like that one and that one looked like this one?

“I’ll take this one.”

Mr. Hanel proceeded to purchase numerous outfits.

When I thought he was buying them all for me and said it wasn’t necessary.

“I’m not giving them to you though?”

I only got that embarrassing answer, and after four hours passed, I could finally get on the carriage.

“Whew…”

“Tired?”

“Yes. Very much so.”

“It’s because this is your first time. You’ve probably never done proper shopping before…”

“…”

“The first time is always difficult and tiring, right? Next time you come, you’ll get used to this too.”

“Huh? Next time again?”

“Of course. I mean, who buys clothes just once?”

“Me.”

Facing my confident gaze, he frowned deeply.

“…Let’s not talk about it.”

Mr. Hanel pressed his temples with his hands as if he had a headache.

Still, fortunately, although he looked tired too, he didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.

“But why are you buying me so many clothes?”

“I told you they’re not yours.”

“Really not?”

“…”

“Then whose are they? Whose clothes are custom-made to my measurements…”

“Ah! Fine, they’re yours. So just quietly accept them.”

“I don’t want to. There’s no reason to accept them.”

“Let’s consider it payment for saving Pairon then.”

Mr. Hanel came up with a plausible reason as if he’d expected this. But.

“If that’s the case, I already ate a lot yesterday so it’s fine. It wasn’t such a big deal anyway.”

“It was a big deal. No one else could cure it.”

“…Huh?”

“Everyone said his arm had to be amputated. But Pairon kept his arm to the end. And you treated that arm…”

Mr. Hanel trailed off for a moment, then cleared his throat and averted his gaze.

And at the sudden sense of déjà vu, I also frowned following his lead.

‘What on earth is it that makes him so secretive?’

I felt a bit stubborn. Because this was already the second time.

That’s why. Before I could even finish my thoughts, my mouth moved first.

“Is it because of your daughter?”

“What?”

“I roughly know. That you lost your daughter…”

That’s when it happened. The playfulness disappeared from his face that had looked so annoyed.

He spoke with a very serious tone and expression, putting sincerity into his words.

“No, I haven’t lost her yet.”

“Huh? Yet?”

When I asked back, he bit his lower lip so hard I could feel the pain.

Then.

“What are you doing!”

He raised his large hand and messed up the hair that had been styled at the boutique.

I protested immediately, but Mr. Hanel forced a smile.

As if to say, you don’t need to know.

Perhaps because of the line clearly drawn before my eyes, I couldn’t ask anything more.

“Anyway, kid. You did something amazing, so it’s fine. And if you’re really uncomfortable, you can work to pay it back.”

“I can’t pay back all that money. One outfit costs half a year’s salary for me.”

“If you’re going to handle medicinal herbs, you need to know how to handle money. You’ll be dealing with even bigger money in the future.”

“Do you know you sound like a total scammer, Mr. Hanel?”

“Hey!!”

Finally exploding, he shouted loudly. I chuckled at him, and he too let out an incredulous laugh looking at me.

Just then, with the sound of horses neighing, the carriage began to slow down.

“Hey, kid. Anyway, go get your luggage. If you have anyone to say goodbye to, say goodbye and come back.”

At his words, I looked out the window and indeed saw the green roof of the infirmary.

“Saying goodbye…”

“Right. You probably don’t have anyone, so just go get your luggage…”

“I do!”

“You do?”

“What’s that supposed to mean.”

When I asked with narrowed eyes, Mr. Pairon started spouting strange nonsense about how herbs and weeds weren’t friends.

“I have friends too, you know.”

I said that with a grin.

That’s right. I have an unforgettable friend.

After jumping down from the carriage like that, I entrusted my pre-packed luggage to Mr. Pairon.

He looked at my two simple bundles and asked about four times if this was all my luggage, then obediently loaded it up.

And then.

“I’ll just go meet my friend for a moment!”

Leaving those words behind, I waved my hands vigorously and quickly headed toward where he was.

Of course, carrying a small bundle of herbs to give him in my hand.

* * *

“Stay conscious! You can’t lose consciousness!”

On a night when fierce snowstorms were raging.

Finding him collapsed in one corner of the herb garden was all by chance.

“Are you coming to?”

“Who are… you… ugh!”

The one who was wary like a stray cat was the first one I had saved.

For some reason, he had become alone, and perhaps because I took care of him, he treated me quite warmly.

I also didn’t dislike how he approached me so naturally.

After that, having nowhere else to rely on, we leaned on each other’s shoulders and endured together.

“Mia? What brings you all the way here?”

His eyes widened at my unexpected visit as he hurried over.

Today too, Eruten’s refreshing smile like a pleasant spring breeze was sparkling in the sunlight.

His dark navy hair, and even his gleaming dark red eyes beneath it.

He was a kid who gave the feeling of being alone in a different world.

I quickly shook my head and immediately held out the herbs I had prepared in advance.

“Your mercenary group and the infirmary are close anyway. It’s reasonable for me to visit like this once.”

“That’s true, but… did the sun rise in the east today?”

“The sun always rises in the east. Dummy.”

“Ah! Did it?”

Eruten’s eyes curved into crescents. His elegantly curving eyes created an innocent smile like clear seawater.

It was a different feeling from the cool atmosphere his usual red eyes gave off.

“Anyway, take this. You’re not hurt anywhere this time, right?”

“I can’t get hurt, not when someone would worry. If I got cut by a sword like last time, imagine how much nagging I’d have to endure again.”

“That’s because you take wounds too lightly. If wounds aren’t treated quickly, all kinds of infections…”

“I find you cute when you talk about things I don’t understand like this.”

He smiled while casually placing one hand on top of my head.

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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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