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“Ummm
”
“Sihyeon, are you awake?”
“Senior, are you okay?”
I slowly opened my eyes and heard the voices of Andras and Alfred from the side.
The worrying feeling in their words quickly reminded me of the fact that I had fainted.
There was no pain or discomfort, but strangely, my whole body was weak.
When I tried to get up with a groan, the two people next to me immediately helped me.
“How long have I been lying down?”
“You were like this for about two hours. Is everything alright?”
“I think it’s alright. Except I don’t have any strength in my body
 Ugh! Come to think of it, I have to write a report to send to the Demon Lord Castle.”
“First of all, you need to rest. I’ll report it directly to the Demon Lord Castle.”
Andras said in a calm voice.
I nodded for now because I thought I shouldn’t force myself to do it due to the atmosphere.
Looking around, I found a sword lying on the ground.
I remembered that I fainted while trying to put mana into the sword.
“What happened? I think I did something
.”
“Umm
.”
“



”
Andras and Alfred didn’t say anything and tried to avoid making eye contact.
The answer to my question came from elsewhere.
“You did do something. But you didn’t do what we expected.”
Kaneff, who sat a little far away, said with a discontented look.
“Was there a problem? I think I did a great job at the end.”
“What do you mean you did a great job? It’s just
..”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“Usually, a hard-working, obedient person always makes a weird accident. That too at a moment when no one expected.”
Kaneff confronted me as if he was scolding a child who got into trouble.
I felt a little guilty, so I couldn’t say anything and bowed my head.
“You’re banned from using Reinforcement magic, for now, never try when I’m not around. I’m going to teach you myself.”
“Well
 can’t I just learn from Andras or Elaine?”
I looked at them for help.
However, they gave me a different answer than I expected.
“I’m sorry, Sihyeon. I think you should learn Reinforcement magic from Mr. Kaneff.”
“That’s right Senior. I don’t think I can handle it.”
“No
wait
. What’s that?”
Suddenly I felt betrayed by the sight of the two people stepping out.
“Shut up! That’s it, it’s decided.”
Kaneff yelled with a Stern look on his face.
I had an unfair look on my face, but no one took my side.
Alfred nodded in agreement with Kaneff, and Andras just smiled bitterly.
What did I do wrong?
I should’ve said I’d learn from someone else from the beginning.
The next day.
I visited Elden Village for the first time in a while.
Today all the farm members were with me except Kaneff.
“Candy Uncle!”
“Miru!”
As soon as I entered the village, a cute cat-girl rushed to me and hugged me.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“Yes, Uncle Lagos said you would come today, so I’ve been waiting since morning.”
“I see.”
When I patted her slightly, Miru made a gurgling sound.
The hair ornament that I gave her as a gift could be seen on her head.
She also greeted other farm members.
In particular, she was very happy with Speranza’s visit and stuck to her.
“Speranza, it’s been so long.”
“Yes
Sister Miru.”
“Let’s keep playing together today. All right?”
Speranza quietly nodded and held her hand tightly, as if she liked Miru’s idea, who also looked pleased.
I looked at the children sitting together like real sisters with satisfaction.
As soon as the news of my visit to the village spread, the children of the village began to gather one by one.
As always, I handed out the snacks that I prepared today one by one.
Andras and Alfred drew the attention of more children than usual.
“Mister! Did you really beat all the bad guys in the city with your sword?”
“Did you really save Miru?”
“I told you so! I heard it from my dad. The Red molars can’t do anything now. You went with the big Demon Mister, right?”
The children were passionately interested in the two as they heard about the rescue of Miru.
In particular, Andras was not popular with children compared to Alfred, but his popularity soared thanks to the rumors.
From Alfred’s one swing of the sword to the collapse of dozens of members of the gang to the fact that Andras blew the enemy’s home base with an artifact.
The two had already become children’s heroes.
The two said they were embarrassed by the influx of attention, but continued to smile and dealt with the children.
Lia looked at the figure curiously.
“That’s amazing. I didn’t know those two would be loved this much by children.”
“Yeah, especially Andras, previously a lot of kids were scared of him.”
The big, robe-covered figure wasn’t easy for kids to approach.
I felt something rising from my stomach as I looked at the two, who were getting more attention from the children than I did, but my heart was warmed by the happy sight of the two.
“By the way, Lia.”
“What?”
“Doesn’t it look like the eyes of the grown-ups also changed a little?”
“Eyes? I don’t know.”
“Ummm
”
It’s hard to put it into words, but I’m sure that the eyes of the townspeople looking at me have changed a little.
In the past, it used to contain friendliness and gratitude, but now it’s kind of
 I felt a very careful and bizarre aspiration.
While thinking about the reason for the change, a cute baby voice came from the side.
“Bwandy Uwancle!”
“Hi, Kathy.”
“Hello, Sir. Sihyun.”
A female rabbit Beast-woman came up to us with a little baby rabbit in her arms.
Kathy was still so cute with her droopy rabbit ears.
The baby lifted her hands and reached out to me.
“Mommy! I’m gwoing to uwancle!”
“Kathy, don’t bother Sir. Sihyeon!”
“Ahhhhhhh
I’m gwoing, I’m gwoing!”
Kathy complained that she wanted to hug me.
“I’m fine. Come on, come here.”
Kathy smiled as I hugged her carefully.
The feeling of soft and warm fur was so lovely.
Speranza and Miru, who were next to each other, could not take their eyes off the cuteness of the baby rabbit.
Kathy’s mother, who was next to me, spoke carefully.
“Actually, Kathy had a terrible stomachache a few days ago.”
“Oh, my God! Is she fine now?”
“Not to the point of worrying anymore. So, if you don’t mind, could you stroke her belly?”
“
What?”
I looked puzzled at the incomprehensible request.
It was even more confusing because she looked so serious.
It was vague to refuse, so for now I put my hand on the baby’s stomach as she asked.
RUB RUB
“Hehehehehe! It tickles Uwncle!”
At first, she struggled in my arms as if it was a little ticklish, but she accepted the touch with a comfortable expression as if she had gotten used to it a little after time.
“Papa, me too, me too!”
“Okay. But you should be careful.”
I lowered my posture and let Speranza stroke Kathy.
Speranza moved her hand very slowly and stroked the baby rabbit’s fur.
“It’s so warm and soft. And it’s so small.”
Speranza glanced at the baby, who was smaller than her, wondering.
She held the small rabbit’s hand and touched her droopy ear slightly.
I felt strange happiness as I saw the big baby stroking the little baby.
“Now, shall we go to Kathy’s mother?”
“Papa, can’t she stay a little longer?”
Speranza was very disappointed and held the baby rabbit’s hand tightly.
“Unfortunately she can’t, let’s hang out more next time. Okay?”
“Un
”
Soothing Speranza, who was disappointed, I sent Kathy back to her mother’s arms.
“Thank you. Thank you very much, Sir. Sihyeon.”
She repeatedly thanked me with her arms around Kathy.
I still didn’t know the reason for the thanks, so I just smiled awkwardly.
The baby rabbit left with her mother, and this time other Beastmen crept toward me.
” Sir. Sihyeon, I hurt my hand while working. Can you touch me once?”
“Prince, my son has been having nightmares for days. Could you pat him on the head if you don’t mind?”
“I’d like to confess to the girl in the neighborhood town. Please make sure it works.”
Like Kathy’s mother, there were some people who asked me to touch, some to pat, and some to pray for them.
At a time when I was very confused, Reville appeared and cleared up the surroundings.
“Everybody back off! Don’t you know Sihyeon is a busy person?”
“We’re just
”
“Don’t say anything weird and just finish getting ready to greet the merchants. If you keep doing this, I’ll tell Lagos, and he won’t let you go to the strawberry fields.”
“Ah, Okay. We’ll go.”
Reville growled and threatened people.
He dispersed the crowds that had flocked.
As he cleared up his surroundings in an instant, he told me with an awkward look.
“It’s been a while, Sihyeon
.By the way, what’s wrong with your face.”
“No, it’s just
.. What’s happening? What’s wrong with the villagers all of a sudden?”
“Well
 It’s because of a strange rumor circulating.”
“A strange rumor?”
“Let’s talk about that next time, and now let’s go to Lagos’ house. The merchants will arrive in a little while.”
As Reville said, we decided to move.
“Candy Uncle. Can I take Speranza to play with me?”
“With Speranza?”
“Yes, I want to introduce her to my village friends and we will play with them.”
When I looked at Speranza’s face, she seemed to want to go play with Miru rather than follow me.
“Speranza, do you want to go play with Miru?”
“Yes, Papa.”
Meeting merchants would be too boring for Speranza.
But I’m a little nervous about sending only the kids.
“Then I’ll take care of Speranza and Miru.”
“Lia, Is it okay with you?”
“Yes, don’t worry about the children and have a proper talk.”
Lia, who quickly noticed my thoughts, said she would take care of the children.
Thanks to this, I was able to leave the children with a light heart.
The rest of us, Andras, Alfred and me followed Reville and went to meet Lagos.
At Lagos’ place, Ergin of the Golden Clock Chamber and Algott of the Orphine Chamber of Commerce had already arrived.
As soon as they found me, they came running and greeted me politely.
“How have you been, Sir.Ester?”
“Long time no see Sir. Sihyeon. You haven’t forgotten me, right?”
“Haha, no way. Nice to meet you both. Ergin and Mr.Algott.”
“You can call me Algott just as comfortably as Ergin.”
“Ummm
 I’m still not used to calling you that. I’ll call you Mr. Algott for now.”
Algott looked older than Ergin, so it was hard to just call him by his first name.
However, the two looked confused as if they misunderstood what I meant.
Ergin looked like saying with his eyes, ‘This is the difference between me and you!’ and Algott fiddled with his mustache with a slightly uncomfortable look.
Well, that’s not what I meant.
I should’ve just called him by his first name.
Ergin, who gained confidence in unintentional discrimination, spoke.
“By the way, Sir.Ester. I heard the bad news on the way
 
that all the strawberries in the storage room were exhausted
”
“Sorry. Due to complicated circumstances
 I think it will be difficult to trade strawberries this time.”
“Huh. I see. So the news was true.”
Neither of them was surprised to hear the news, but they couldn’t hide the feeling of disappointment that was leaking out little by little.
“Would you mind telling us how many strawberries got exhausted?”
“Ummm
 
maybe a carriage.”
“Uh?! Kuck!”
“Uh!”
“Uh
”
Ergin coughed in surprise, and Algott swept his mustache hard enough to pull it out with a deep sigh.
It wasn’t that I didn’t think it was a waste either.
Still, I had no regrets.
If I hadn’t saved Miru, I would have carried a bigger burden.
“I’ll say it again. I didn’t prepare the strawberries that I promised to give to you this time. I’ll pay the penalty according to the contract.”
“Well
”
“That’s the right way to proceed according to the contract.”
The two of them had some sort of grim look on their faces.
For them, it was not a loss if they received a penalty, but it was not as profitable as when they received strawberries.
At that time, Andras, who was looking at the situation, stepped up.
“How about this?”