THTE 45

Chapter 45

“Ahahaha!”

Muniel laughed heartily and lightly patted Nibellia on the back.

“Let’s have fun while we camp out.”

“Yeah!”

Nibellia’s blue eyes sparkled like waves glinting in the sunlight.

Nibellia carried a small basket on her back.

Aref and Soles also each carried a similar basket.

Since they were handmade, the shapes and sizes varied slightly, but they were perfect for holding mushrooms, berries, and other forest finds.

The children’s first activity on the camping trip was an errand.

“In the summer forest, these kinds of herbs grow. If you find them, can you gather them and bring them to us?”

And, it was even a request from the witches.

Not only could it be recorded in their paybooks, but they could also earn five honey jars—a precious reward for such work.

“Let’s pull them all out!”

“You can’t pull them all. But why does Nini seem so full of energy today?”

Muniel muttered as he twirled the string attached to Nibellia’s basket in his hand.

She was usually lively and spirited, but today it seemed especially pronounced.

‘We had the same breakfast….’

Was something different put in her food?

Nibellia’s energy was enough to make that suspicion reasonable.

The reason Muniel tied a string only to his granddaughter’s basket was that he worried if they encountered a wild boar, she might recklessly swing her fists.

“Pick herbs that look like this.”

Ardores showed the children a bright, fresh green herb growing under the dense trees.

“The tip of the leaf looks like a snake’s head, right? You just need to find this kind of light green herb. If you’re confused, call for me or Muniel.”

“What kind of herb is it?”

Soles asked.

“It’s a herb that reduces fever. And if you chew it and spit it out, it helps stop bleeding. But don’t eat too much, or it’ll make you nauseous.”

Soles nodded and looked over his younger siblings.

It was his turn to act as the responsible eldest child among the three.

“Got it?”

No matter what, they must not eat the herbs.

Soles said seriously.

Watching them, Muniel and Ardores exchanged smiles without saying a word.

“Yes!”

Aref nodded immediately.

“But what if I’m hungry?”

Nibellia asked just in case.

“What if you get really hungry?”

“Then eat the cookie I put in your pocket.”

“Okay! Can I drink water when I eat the cookie?”

“Make sure to drink water too, or it’ll get stuck in your throat.”

“Okay!”

Under the adults’ supervision, the children began searching for herbs.

The herbs requested by the witches were often found near large trees, especially around exposed roots.

“You have to pull them out by the root. That’s right, just like that.”

“You’re doing well. Use strength in your arms and waist…”

Under the adults’ guidance, the children’s small hands dug up the herbs diligently.

The bottoms of their baskets quickly filled with the harvested herbs.

“Phew.”

Covered in dirt, Nibellia mimicked wiping sweat from the back of her hand.

“Tough work.”

“You should say ‘hard work.’”

“Hard work, then.”

“Today’s labor is a bit tough, isn’t it?”

Muniel handed over a water flask.

Nibellia took it with both hands and gulped down the water.

Muniel wiped the trickling water from her mouth with a handkerchief.

After quenching her thirst, Nibellia nodded.

“But it’s still fun. It’s like a treasure hunt too!”

Just like the other day when she worked in the mansion’s storage, this labor was also an exciting task—finding treasure in the form of herbs.

The forest wasn’t only filled with herbs.

There were red berries, unknown flowers, and inedible mushrooms.

And then…

“Kids.”

Ardores shushed them and pointed somewhere.

Several deer were moving through the forest in a group.

Their antlers stretched high like branches, their dark but healthy fur blended with the earth and trees, and their eyes shimmered brilliantly.

The leader of the deer, keeping watch, fixed its gaze on Nibellia and her companions.

“……”

Nibellia waved her hand slightly at the deer, greeting them silently.

The leader deer nodded slightly and then led its group further into the forest.

After the deer disappeared, Soles and Aref could no longer contain their excitement.

“Deer! Real deer! We only saw them in books!”

“The antlers are so big! And their legs are so long!”

“It really seemed like it was saying hello to us earlier, right?”

Unlike the two boys, Nibellia didn’t say much.

“Are you not amazed, Nini?”

Soles asked, surprised.

“Yeah.”

Nibellia answered simply.

Because the deer’s nod really was a greeting.

After being born human, Nibellia could no longer communicate with animals as she once did as a cat.

But just now, she really had interacted with another animal after a long time.

“Hello?” she had greeted silently in her mind…

“You’re the child who knows the Great Witch’s name.”

The leader deer seemed to acknowledge her.

“…Not an ordinary deer.”

Ardores lightly patted Nibellia’s head.

“Deer have long been called the spirits that protect the forest. Not every deer is like that, but the leader we saw earlier seems to have a special aura.”

“I hope that’s true…”

Soles whispered in awe, as if he had seen a fairy from a myth.

Then, he straightened and said responsibly,

“I’m very happy to be in the forest.”

“We’re happy to be with you too.”

The witches looked pleased as they carefully examined the herbs collected by the children.

“The quality of these herbs is excellent.”

“Even the roots aren’t damaged. You did well.”

Honestly, they hadn’t expected much.

They thought noble children wouldn’t do very well, and had only asked them to give them some experience in the forest.

But surprisingly, the children had picked only the highest quality herbs, with no blemishes on a single leaf.

“Did we do well? Did we do well?”

Dirt-covered Nibellia asked with eager eyes.

She wasn’t the only one. Soles and Aref were also covered in dirt from harvesting herbs.

“You did extremely well!”

The witch gave a thumbs-up.

Nibellia smiled brightly and returned the gesture.

“See, I told you so.”

Azell, coming from another tent, boasted as if it were his achievement.

“I knew the young lady and young masters would do well.”

“Azell!”

“Miss! How have you been?”

Azell, who had come from the Dayamor Mansion, had started living with the witches.

She had been learning herbs while assisting the Great Witch and honing her skills.

“When the pharmaceutical company opens, I plan to work as a researcher too.”

Azell shared how she had been living.

“Recently, I even rented a house in the square.”

“Nini, did you know? You pay rent?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The witches couldn’t stay in tents outside forever.

Kaleo provided several vacant buildings owned by the family for the witches.

They were also developing a village nearby where the witches could live.

“So Dad is collecting rent?”

“For now, he’s letting us stay for free, but once we earn money from the company, we’ll pay rent.”

Of course, it would be set at a reasonable price as part of employee welfare.

“That’s nice…”

Having discovered the charm of being a landlord, Nibellia looked up at Muniel and Ardores.

“Nini wants to get rent too…”

“If you earn a lot and buy a building, you can get it later.”

“I want it now. Buy me a building.”

“You just looked like a proper noble lady for the first time…”

Rustling from the bushes made everyone turn.

“…A cat.”

Aref spoke reflexively.

A small black kitten leapt out from the bushes at the forest entrance.

Muniel’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Do you take care of it?”

“No, all our cats wear collars.”

“And they’re all adult cats…”

The kitten, fearless, hopped closer to the group on its short legs.

“Meow.”

It let out an incredibly adorable sound.

“Oh, so cute! Not afraid of humans, huh?”

Soles crouched down, calling it over.

The kitten hopped over and sniffed Soles’ hand.

“Where did you come from? Is it a forest cat?”

“Its fur is the same black as Al and Rubens. Are you alone?”

Aref joined Soles and extended a slightly clenched hand.

“Hello?”

He greeted cautiously.

Aref liked cats.

He had naturally realized his fondness for them while spending time with Nibellia at the Dayamor Mansion.

“What animal do you like, Aref?”

“I…”

At that moment, Nibellia, looking at him with sparkling eyes, somehow seemed like a white cat.

Her drooping eyes gave a gentle impression, closer to a dog than a cat, but to Aref, she looked like a fluffy white cat.

“…Cats.”

“I like wolves! I like Aref!”

Nibellia laughed brightly as if this answer were perfect, looking incredibly cute.

“Meow.”

Hearing the sweet sound, Aref snapped out of his happy memory.

Even when waking from happy memories, an even happier reality awaited him now.

Aref was truly glad about this.

The kitten sniffed Aref’s hand and tried to lick it with its tongue.

Aref’s face lit up with anticipation.

“…Uuuuuuugh.”

Then.

“Uuuuuuugh.”

A strange noise came from behind.

Just before the kitten’s tongue touched his hand, Aref pulled back and looked over his shoulder.

And his eyes widened as if they would pop out.

“Ah, Miss…?”