Chapter 30
“Um, excuse me—sorry to interrupt while you’re talking.”
Heidi, who had been carefully waiting for the right moment to speak, finally opened her mouth.
Curious gazes mixed with a hint of wariness turned toward her unfamiliar face.
“I happened to overhear your conversation, and I heard you mention the Imperial Academy. I actually graduated from there.”
“Oh? Really?”
“No wonder—just from your eyes, you look sharp!”
The faint wariness in the guests’ eyes slowly melted away.
I don’t usually like bringing up my academic background when meeting people for the first time… but there’s no easier way to gain goodwill this quickly.
Admission to the Imperial Academy was fiercely competitive, and its graduates were considered elites, guaranteed a certain level of social prestige.
What’s more, the people gathered here clearly wanted to send their children to the Imperial Academy. With their children’s future aspirations right in front of them, it was only natural that they would be friendly.
“Oh, it’s nothing. It seems some of you have children preparing for the Imperial Academy, so if you don’t mind, may I offer a bit of advice?”
“Oh my, oh my! A distinguished person visiting a backwater like this! It’s so hard to get information out here. We’d welcome it with open arms!”
The attention of the guests sharpened immediately.
“I’ll focus on what usually comes up on the entrance exam. For Imperial Language, it’s best to review grammar thoroughly…”
Heidi carefully explained the study methods she herself had used to enter the Imperial Academy.
By the time she finished sharing her “secrets,” the guests’ eyes were filled with boundless trust and goodwill toward her.
“By the way, are all of you farming?”
Seizing the softened atmosphere, Heidi finally brought up what she truly wanted to ask.
“Well, pretty much everyone in this village has at least one foot in farming. Why do you ask?”
“That’s perfect! I actually had something I wanted to ask about farming. I’m a beginner—I only recently moved to the countryside.”
Heidi deliberately emphasized that she was a novice farmer.
People usually feel inclined to teach someone they like when that person admits ignorance in a field they know well.
“Oh? What kind of farming are you curious about?”
“Mandrake.”
“Tsk… that won’t be easy. The Grand Temple has monopolized it for a long time, so mandrake farming has practically died out.”
At her swift answer, the guests frowned.
“I know that. But isn’t it unfair for one group to monopolize mandrakes? That’s why I want to give it a try. I plan to research thoroughly and grow them as fast as the Grand Temple does.”
Heidi expressed her determination clearly.
It might have sounded a little reckless, but it was brimming with passion.
“Hm… you’re choosing a difficult path. Still, someone educated like you might manage better than clueless folks like us.”
Fortunately, her enthusiasm seemed to move the guests.
“Why don’t we introduce you to old man Ben? He used to grow mandrakes back in his youth.”
They even offered to introduce someone who had once grown mandrakes. Thankfully, things seemed to be proceeding exactly according to her plan.
“Really? There’s someone who’s grown mandrakes before? I’d love to meet him—I have so many questions!”
At Heidi’s bright reply, the women exchanged glances before continuing cautiously.
“We can introduce you, sure. But that old man has a truly awful temper—stubborn and ornery.”
“That’s right. Especially when it comes to mandrakes, he won’t open his mouth at all. It was such a long time ago, so we don’t know the details, but I guess the shock of failing at farming hit him hard.”
…It seemed that this “Grandpa Ben” had quite the personality. Still, Heidi couldn’t back out now.
For the money I’ll earn growing mandrakes, for the coachman’s pitiful situation, and for the blood, sweat, and tears of struggling small farmers.
With a resolute expression, Heidi spoke again.
“It’s okay. Just introducing me is more than enough. I’ll figure out the rest myself!”
“It’s finished, sir.”
The hairdresser said as he removed the cutting cloth.
Standing up, Ber let out a sigh of relief.
The barbershop felt strangely unfamiliar to him. It was only natural—his hair had always been cut by a dedicated maid throughout his life.
Given his dislike of strangers, having someone he’d just met touch him didn’t feel pleasant.
Even so, he didn’t regret coming to the barbershop.
Because—
“Wow, you look so neat! I didn’t realize it before, but your forehead and eyebrows are really well-shaped—you’re handsome!”
Heidi, who had been sitting on the sofa, approached him. Her light-green eyes sparkled with excitement as she examined his face closely.
…Coming to the barbershop at the woman’s suggestion had definitely been the right choice.
Her eyes, as always, shone with vitality. He was not someone who spoke unnecessarily, but when he looked into those eyes, he felt an odd urge to say at least something.
“That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yes. I was told that when I frown, people get scared, so I should just keep my hair down instead.”
“Hmm, that was your older sister who said that, right?”
“How did you know?”
“Siblings usually don’t compliment each other! From what I’ve heard, even if their own blood relative is the most beautiful or handsome person alive, they still think orcs or goblins look better, you know?”
He nodded in agreement—it rang true. Though others praised his sister as a peerless beauty, to him she was nothing more than a violent blood relative.
“Men’s haircut—thirteen thousand rute.”
At the hairdresser’s request, Ber reached for his coin pouch.
“Here—”
But the woman was faster.
“I was planning to pay.”
“Ah, it’s fine! This kind of thing is something the boss pays for.”
Heidi waved it off cheerfully.
She was subtly raising his favorability by advertising the small, family-like benefits of a farm that even covered haircut expenses.
There was a rather sly intention behind it.
Unaware of her inner thoughts, Ber felt an unfamiliar sensation wash over him.
Objectively speaking, thirteen thousand rute wasn’t a large sum, and it wasn’t strange for an employer to pay for a worker’s haircut.
Still, it made him uncomfortable. Perhaps it was his nature—he couldn’t live easily while owing someone.
Suddenly, he wanted to do something for her as well. Since there was still time left in his employment, the day would surely come when he could repay today’s debt.
Would pink suit her? The pink blouse she wore today suited her so well. She was like a rabbit made of pink cotton candy.
Of course, lacking eloquence, he kept such thoughts to himself.
Behind his scarf, the corners of Ber’s lips lifted slightly—without him even realizing it.
“Boss, I’ll come again next time.”
“Sure, take care!”
“Mr. Ber, let’s go too. Next, we’re going to visit the elder who used to grow mandrakes.”
“Yes.”
Heidi stepped outside, and Ber followed her. But then he noticed several women from the barbershop following them.
Who are they?
Ber looked at them with curiosity.
“Ah, these ladies kindly offered to guide me to Grandpa Ben—the one who grew mandrakes.”
Heidi explained, noticing his gaze.
“I see. Thank you very much.”
Ber bowed politely to the women.
Calling middle-aged women she’d just met “older sisters”—her sociability was truly impressive.
After walking for a while—
“Here it is.”
The women stopped in a corner of the village.
Heidi looked around.
A shabby wooden house, a small field planted with beans, and behind the house, a chicken coop surrounded by wire fencing.
She was about to dismiss it as a typical rural scene when—
“Eek…!”
Her breath caught as she happened to glance toward one corner of the yard.
“What is it?” Ber asked.
“Th-there are bones!”
With a trembling finger, Heidi pointed toward the corner of the yard.
There, piled up in a heap, were bleached, dried bones.
