IVPCB 22

Chapter 22

When I arrived at the hut after walking along the red dirt path, I sensed something was off.

The front yard, which had been in disarray last night after the commotion with Juran, was now spotless.

When I had left my room at dawn, it had definitely been left exactly as I’d roughly cleaned it. But now, at a glance, it looked different from my haphazard tidying.

The bush that had been ruined when Juran crouched down looking for the book yesterday—even that bush had been restored to its original state.

And the book Juran had lost……

‘It’s gone!’

It had vanished without a trace.

As if time itself had been rewound.

‘Could it be that Aegir noticed? It’s still morning, surely he can’t be that light a sleeper.’

I tried to deny it and escape reality. But aside from my master, there seemed to be no one else who could have entered the garden in such a short time.

Shaking off the creeping sense of foreboding, I climbed through the window I’d left open and entered the room.

And the moment I saw inside the room, I once again realized a truth of life: ominous feelings are always right.

A neat and sturdy wardrobe, desk, and chair. The white-toned wallpaper visible beyond them. The bright morning light streaming through the window, and the room’s lamp shining cheerfully.

And finally, sitting on the neatly made white bed, sipping coffee……

“M-Master!”

“Have you returned, my dear disciple?”

My master flashed his white teeth in a dazzling smile. His crescent-shaped eyes were visibly trembling with rage.

Just locking eyes with him, I could tell he was furious to the tips of his hair. It was as if a black aura was rising behind Aegir.

“I believe you have something to say to me?”

I brought both hands up to my chin and spoke.

“Eek! To barge into a lady’s room without knocking……?”

Instantly, the corners of Aegir’s mouth pointed to 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock, and the air in the room froze over.

‘I was just trying to make a joke. No need to get so serious.’

I felt my courage grow cold, but I forced myself to calm my pounding heart.

Aegir let out a deep sigh and opened his mouth.

“First of all, this is my house. You are staying here as a guest.”

My master slowly took a sip of coffee and continued.

“So let me ask again. Do you have nothing to say to me?”

Instinctively, I sensed it. This was my last chance, and if I kept messing around, I didn’t know what might happen.

After choosing my words for a moment, I began heavily.

“First, let me apologize. I’m truly sorry for leaving my post without permission and for ruining the front yard. As for punishment…… I won’t accept it sweetly, but I’ll take it bitterly.”

“Good. At least you’re aware of your wrongdoings. Now then, shall we hear why the front yard was in that state?”

Several minutes passed.

I honestly confessed everything—that Juran had snuck into the garden last night in a sleepwalking state, that he’d tried to crumple and eat the book, and that I’d had no choice but to help him.

On top of that, I reported in detail what had happened in the kitchen. Even the promise to return the book to Juran and the agreement to investigate the whereabouts of the food baskets.

—

[Truly, the player reaches the peak of servility. You, who easily submit to power—Infamy 61.]

—

It was indeed servile, just as the message said.

But my master held the power of life and death over me. How many people could maintain their integrity in such a situation?

“……”

My master, who had been quietly listening to my story, remained silent even after I finished.

“Um, Master. I have one request.”

Since his expression wasn’t as rigid as before, I carefully tested the waters.

“I’ll hear it.”

“Could you please pretend you don’t know about my dealings with the young master? For the sake of your loyal disciple, who endured all sorts of hardships to go to the kitchen for you?”

“Hmm, that shouldn’t be difficult. I’ve never interfered in the affairs of Heliweka Castle on principle, and I plan to continue that way.”

My master’s answer seemed to carry many implications, but at any rate, it was affirmative. I let out a sigh of relief and patted my chest.

“Disciple, I won’t stop you from getting involved with that young master. It’s your free will.”

My master, looking down at me steadily, spoke again.

‘Free will? Isn’t this practically semi-slavery right now?’

I suppressed the protest rising to my throat and smiled.

“How generous of you.”

—

[Passive! (Timidly) The sarcasm skill has been activated!]

—

“However, please refrain from leaving the garden without reporting to me. And don’t ruin the garden either.”

Behind the system notification, my master’s unexpectedly reasonable request followed.

“And the young master’s book—the history book. Why are you the one returning it to him?”

“Hmm. I figured I could do that much as a favor.”

“And what about the fact that I went to the trouble of cleaning the front yard this morning?”

Aegir asked with a prim expression.

So that was the issue. I shouldn’t have expected loyalty to an employer from this man.

“Haha, I’ll work even harder, so please cheer up.”

I chuckled and tried to appease my master. It was absolutely not because I’d betrayed my loyalty to Juran by succumbing to fear. Absolutely not.

“Hmm, coincidentally, starting from this front yard, the weeds have been overgrowing along the path.”

Aegir, not missing the opportunity, raised the corners of his mouth and began.

“Well, if my disciple insists on cleaning up even the young master’s mess. I’ll return the book once you’ve neatly cleared away the weeds.”

And as soon as Aegir finished speaking, a blue quest window appeared before my eyes.

—

[QUEST! Let’s remove the weeds! — Difficulty C.

As both a gardener and your master, ‘Aegir Cassis’ demands that you remove the weeds in exchange for returning the book, as payment for ruining the front yard.

However, your achievements in the kitchen have been taken into consideration, so a light punishment has been given.

— Success reward: Gardener Performance +1, increased knowledge of ‘weeds’, Juran’s book.

— Failure penalty: If you’re curious, try failing^^. Of course, that’s if you have the guts!]

—

‘Who does that system think it’s teasing?’

I ground my teeth internally at the last smiley emoji.

Anyway, Aegir hadn’t said a single word about the kitchen, but it seemed he was secretly grateful. It made me feel a bit proud, thinking my hard work since morning hadn’t been in vain.

I silently shouted acceptance in my heart.

“Yessir! Leave it to me!”

I added a bright smile as I answered my master.

“Tch, what’s there to be so happy about? That basket—it looks like you brought quite a bit, so let me have a taste.”

Though Aegir himself clicked his tongue and turned his body toward the door.

A short while later, in the kitchen following Aegir.

After warming up the scones, serving them with rose jam, and adding ham, bacon, thinly sliced tomatoes, and green beans, a fairly respectable breakfast was complete.

“As expected, your cooking skills are quite useful.”

After taking a bite of the scone, Aegir remarked.

‘So that’s what a half-hearted compliment sounds like.’

“I mentioned earlier that I helped out in the kitchen. Did you give advice on making these as well, my disciple?”

‘Did the food please him that much? He’s asking quite detailed questions.’

“Yes.”

“When you were at the count’s estate, you said you were interested in cooking?”

“Yes. Since my mother passed away when I was young, I took on the role of the lady of the house and hosted events like tea parties.”

“Hmm……”

Aegir made a peculiar expression and stroked his chin, lost in thought.

“I’ve noticed this for a while, but you have surprisingly useful manual dexterity. Have you ever thought about learning herbalism?”

“Herbalism?”

“Yes. Poisonous plants and medicinal plants. And as a bonus, the magical plants that have long grown abundantly here in Sidony.”

I couldn’t help but be surprised by Aegir’s proposal. Because a certain scene from ‘Seonghada’ suddenly came to mind.

In the original game, when following Aegir’s route, he would help the wounded during monster waves. Of course, physical treatment was mostly handled by Luna, who had holy power, but he assisted with internal injuries and pharmaceutical matters.

‘Luna once said his healing effects were excellent and asked if they could be commercialized after the wave ended.’

At that time, Aegir politely declined, if indirectly.

—

“Since it’s a field I’ve researched on my own, and the herbs only grow here in Sidony, that seems difficult.”

—

But he refused to teach Luna even when she asked—and now he’s suddenly making this proposal to me?

“Why are you offering to teach me herbalism?”

“What, do you not want to learn?”

Aegir narrowed his brow and asked back. It looked like he was about to unleash a torrent of scolding if I said no.

I hurriedly shook my head.

“No, it’s not that. Honestly, you don’t seem like the type to teach your own researched studies to just anyone.”

At that, he thankfully relaxed his expression. He seemed to think my question was valid.

“I didn’t decide this on a whim either. There are three reasons.”

Three whole reasons?

I perked up my ears and waited for Aegir’s next words.

“First, you genuinely seem to have talent. Herbalism requires a delicate sense to distinguish various herbs, and as you mentioned, your manual dexterity, vision, and sense of taste seem quite useful.”

Right. That was a reason I could somewhat understand.

It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but I was fairly confident in those areas.

“Second, you don’t seem like someone who would misuse herbalism once you learn it.”

Hm? That’s a bit strange.

I tilted my head.