I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game Chapter 25

By the time we finished walking together in silence, we had arrived at the front of the house.

Siad took out his key and opened the door, stepping aside to let me enter first.

It was dark inside. As soon as I stepped in, I turned on the lights.

“Then I’ll go wash up first. I’m covered in dirt.”

Worried that I’d leave dirty footprints on the floor and cause trouble, I lifted my heels and hopped all the way toward the bathroom.

Seeing my fidgety movements, Siad burst out laughing.

“You can walk normally. I clean the floors every day.”

“E-even so!”

Just before closing the bathroom door, I poked my head through the gap and called out to him.

“No matter what happens, I’ll always be on your side, Siad!”

Siad stopped unbuttoning his sleeve and looked at me.

I struck a fighting pose to encourage him.

“Even if someone says something mean about you, don’t let it get to you!”

I closed the door with the sight of Siad’s gentle smile etched into my mind.

Maybe he had to deal with a difficult patient today.

Having seen all sorts of patients during my time in the hospital, I couldn’t just ignore the possibility.

I washed my filthy body thoroughly under the hot stream of water and came out feeling fresh and clean.

A cozy, warm room. A soft, drowsy body, all clean and fluffy…

Before I knew it, I was nodding off while sitting on the bed.

“Ah, I shouldn’t fall asleep yet…”

I hadn’t even eaten dinner, but my eyelids kept drooping.

This won’t do. I’ll rest for just ten minutes, then finish the mending work…

Imagining how diligently I’d work afterward, I let myself sink into the blankets for a little while.

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Save Complete

Ding!

I’d definitely intended to sleep for just another ten minutes.

Chirp—chirp—

But when I opened my eyes, it was already the next morning.

 

***

 

“How could this haaaappen…?”

With an expression of disbelief, I brushed my teeth vigorously.

I’d only meant to close my eyes for a moment, but when I came to, eight hours had passed.

“No way. Seriously.”

Stamina: 100/100

At any rate, my fully replenished stamina bar proved that I’d enjoyed a long, restful sleep.

I rinsed my mouth and splashed cold water on my face, finally managing to wake myself up.

Click.

“Good morning!”

The moment I burst through the door, I greeted Siad energetically as I came face-to-face with him.

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

An affection indicator appeared beside Siad as he smiled warmly.

Siad’s Affection: Level 2

My eyes flew wide open.

“Oh!”

My first Affection Level 2!

Reaching Level 2 meant that my relationship with him had progressed considerably, from a stranger to an acquaintance.

At Level 3, characters let you enter their personal spaces!

Of course, the required level for freely entering a character’s private room varied depending on their personality.

Priam was Level 2, while Kais was Level 4…

Siad and the twins were probably Level 3, right?

While I was going over my memories, Siad held out a glass of water.

“Are you busy again today?”

I accepted the glass with both hands, took a sip, and answered.

“Yes! I have to work my part-time job and plant seeds in my vegetable garden.”

“Do your best.”

“I’ll be back!”

[Miel]

I left the house early in the morning and stopped in front of the vegetable garden I had registered the day before.

My Vegetable Garden

Condition: Fertile

Crops: None

As expected, thanks to the fertilizer I’d mixed into the soil yesterday, the garden was already in perfect condition for planting seeds.

Unlike the real world, one day is enough here. It’s nice how fast everything happens.

After pulling out the remaining weeds, I also finished the mending work I hadn’t managed to complete the previous night.

“Good work. Here’s your payment.”

“Thank you!”

Part-Time Job Completed

Part-Time Job Completed

Part-Time Job…

As soon as I received my wages, I bought some seeds and planted them in my garden.

For the next few days, I was busier than ever.

Every bit of money I earned from part-time jobs went straight back into farming. Whenever I had a spare moment, I stopped by my garden to water the soil and check on its condition.

As I busily went back and forth, my creditworthiness and affection levels steadily increased, too.

And then, today…

“Gasp!”

Squatting in my vegetable garden, I stared at a light-green sprout poking its head out of the soil.

“It sprouted!”

All the care I’d put into it had finally paid off.

I evenly sprinkled water over the soil with my watering can, then gently patted the earth as I checked its moisture level.

After spending an hour or two there, I returned home with a huge smile on my face.

“You’re back early today.”

Siad said as he handed me a glass of water.

“Thank you!”

I gulped it down in one go, then flapped the hem of my shirt to cool myself off. Once the sweat had begun to dry, I felt much more alive.

“Siad, guess what? My vegetable garden finally has sprouts!”

“Already?”

“Yes! They’re these little light-green sprouts, about this big…”

I excitedly showed him the length of my pinky finger as I chattered away.

Siad listened quietly before giving me a faint smile.

“Your hard work has paid off. Congratulations.”

“Right? I can’t wait to see how much bigger they’ll get!”

After talking excitedly for a while, I noticed that Siad seemed to have something he wanted to say.

“By the way… is there something you wanted to tell me?”

Siad hesitated briefly before asking,

“Do you have any plans for this afternoon?”

I thought for a moment before answering.

“Hmm, nothing definite. I was thinking of going to the town hall to look for another job, though…”

“I see.”

Siad nodded calmly.

His reaction made me curious.

“Why? Is there something you need help with?”

“Nothing like that.”

Siad looked at me for a moment before slowly continuing.

“The villagers are planning to go into the mountains to gather herbs today. If you don’t mind, would you like to join us, Miss Miel?”

Ding!

Spring Event: Herb Gathering

Rewards: Affection +10 with ordinary villagers, harvested items

Location: Mountain foothills, around the village, fields

Accept / Decline

“Herb gathering?”

“Yes. It will also be a pleasant walk.”

Siad paused for a moment before carefully adding,

“You’ve been so busy lately that it’s been difficult even to see you. Of course, if you have other plans, there’s nothing to be done, but…”

My mind buffered for a moment before I finally understood what he meant.

“…Oh!”

Had I been so caught up in work over the past few days that I’d made Siad feel neglected?

Thinking back, we’d barely managed to exchange greetings in the morning and evening lately.

Between farming, part-time jobs at the town hall, and visiting the villagers, it was already nearly time for bed whenever I finally returned home.

Even though we live under the same roof, I guess I’ve been a little inconsiderate.

“Would it be difficult for you?”

His voice carried a hint of disappointment, so I quickly shook my head.

“Of course not! I’d love to.”

Without giving it much thought, I pressed the option on the screen.

Accept

“Let’s go together.”

Gathering herbs sounded fun, and I was happy to spend time with Siad, too.

“Heave-ho!”

I made my way up the mountain path, picking my way through the rocks.

“Siad, it looks like people have already been here, too. Let’s try a little farther to the side.”

Just as we changed direction, my foot caught on vines covering the ground.

“Ah!”

I nearly fell, but Siad quickly caught me and effortlessly pulled me upright with one arm.

“Even a gentle slope can be dangerous if you trip over exposed roots or rocks. Please be careful.”

“Yes! Thank you.”

I dusted the dirt off my hands and picked up my hoe again.

I rolled my eyes around, thoroughly scanning the area.

Although this was supposed to be an herb-gathering event, to me, it was practically no different from a wild-vegetable-foraging event.

There are so many things here that would be delicious as seasoned vegetable side dishes!