Chapter 29
The young man spewed harsh words at the elderly lady, who was about the same age as my mother.
His attitude was so unpleasant that even onlookers felt uncomfortable.
Yet, Rima’s mind was entirely focused on the humiliation she had experienced at the general store.
“Damn…!”
As if my thoughts were getting in the way, I muttered to myself roughly and squeezed my eyes shut.
“This isn’t how I wrote it! I didn’t write it like this!”
I remembered the expression of the general store clerk, who had looked at me with utter disbelief as I recited the code.
Even the indifferent gazes of other customers, who were watching as if it were someone else’s problem, felt threatening.
Nervous, Rima clenched and unclenched her cold hands repeatedly.
“Why isn’t there an informant in the general store? This shouldn’t happen…!”
This was the world of the novel.
The future was certain.
The information was infallible.
These two things were clear proof that Rima was worthy of being loved by everyone, and that her future would thrive.
After all, it was a story she had written herself. As the creator, she couldn’t deviate from her own intentions.
“I have to make it happen…!”
Overwhelmed by uncontrollable anxiety, she started biting her nails.
Before she knew it, her body trembled as if she had a fever.
“Hey.”
“…….”
“Hey, you.”
“…….”
“Rima.”
Only then did Rima finally regain her composure.
When she lifted her head, she saw the elderly lady and the clerk looking at her.
The elderly lady asked,
“Are you alright? Do you feel unwell?”
“I’m fine. You don’t need to worry.”
Rima replied in a strained voice.
Though the elderly lady’s gaze was kind, somehow it reminded her of the unpleasant stares from the general store.
“For now, this clerk would like to hear your story.”
The elderly lady moved slightly aside, and the clerk stepped in front of Rima.
He looked at her with an unreadable expression.
“You know the code, right?”
At that, Rima quickly nodded.
“Yes! Y-yes! I know it!”
Like someone being chased, Rima hurriedly recited the code she had memorized.
“Five old wooden staffs, please! One made of oak, and the other four with black socks on their ends!”
Just in case, she explained the meaning of the code.
“The five wooden staffs represent the two rules an informant must always uphold, right?”
An informant must plant roots wherever they go and stretch their branches widely to gather information. Hence, the oak.
But they must hide their breath, footsteps, clothing, and any sign of their presence from others. The four black socks represented that.
“I know everything!”
“Who taught you?”
The clerk asked.
Rima, having regained a bit of confidence, raised the corners of her mouth slightly.
Then, with a rather charming expression, she shook her head.
“That’s a secret.”
“Hmm…”
The clerk scratched his chin with a troubled look.
For a brief moment, his eyes met the elderly lady’s.
She only smiled silently.
“Well then, I shall take my leave.”
After the elderly lady left, the clerk spoke.
“That code is for meeting the master of the informants. But even so, you can’t meet him easily. You’ll need to prove your identity to some extent…”
“Mr. Delac doesn’t have time right now, does he?”
“…….”
“His younger sister is sick right now.”
“How do you…!”
Rima had completely regained her confidence.
“Finally, things are moving exactly as I wrote!”
The earlier incident at the general store must have been a ‘glitch’.
“Come to think of it, even though I really got possessed into the world of the book, a small glitch could happen.”
Moreover, Rima had a rough idea of what that glitch was.
To confirm it, she needed to build rapport with Delac, the master of the informants.
“…Follow me.”
The clerk led Rima somewhere.
They opened an old, shabby wooden door at the far end, a door not even used as a storage room. Beyond it lay a spacious and luxurious reception room.
And in the main seat on the sofa sat a young man.
The moment Rima saw him, she was certain.
“Delac…!”
He was the master of the informants who would become her reliable ally.
“Dad! Dad!”
Whenever Nibelia returned from kindergarten, she would tell the adults everything she had learned.
“Ask Nini what she learned today!”
“What did you learn at kindergarten?”
“I learned a song! A song about plants growing quickly!”
“That’s wonderful! Did you learn it too, Aref?”
“Yes! We danced and sang together.”
“If you sing this song, the plants will grow fast! You’ll grow tall like Nini!”
Nibelia stood on her tiptoes, stretching both arms high.
“Do it too, Aref!”
Following the captain’s orders, Aref also stretched his arms skyward, standing on his tiptoes.
“Stretch, stretch! Stretch towards the sun!”
“St-stretch…”
When Nibelia energetically led, Aref followed with his timid voice.
“Hahaha! You’re really good!”
Kaleo, enjoying the performance, suggested,
“Then today’s work will be singing songs in front of the medicinal herbs in the garden. Deter, make sure you watch closely.”
The children immediately headed to the garden.
After forming a partnership with Azel, a special section was created in the Dei-Amore mansion to collect only medicinal plants.
The children’s labor was also involved in the garden.
As proof, the children’s payroll books clearly recorded it as ‘Creating a Medicinal Herb Garden.’
On the way, Nibelia suggested,
“Aref, shall we go to the stables next?”
“Yes!”
Aref was thrilled.
“And we’ll ride horses too!”
“Great! Shall I put Venti on you? Venti can be a bit arrogant, but he listens well. He’s Nini’s subordinate.”
Azel was already waiting at the garden.
“Azel!”
Nibelia ran over excitedly.
“Miss, young master.”
Azel, wearing gloves covered in soil, greeted warmly.
“Back from kindergarten?”
“I learned the song about plants growing quickly today, so we’ll sing it here! Then the plants will grow fast!”
Various medicinal herbs were planted in the small garden.
Thanks to Azel’s skill, the herbs had sprouted in just a few days. Some plants were even swelling with buds.
“Prepare for the motions!”
Following Nibelia’s command, Aref got into position.
Feet shoulder-width apart, hands on his waist.
“Azel too!”
“Me? Me too?”
“Doing it together makes them grow faster!”
“But I don’t know the motions or the song…”
“Do it!”
Unable to resist the cute command, Azel awkwardly got into position.
“Plant the tiniest seeds!”
Stretch, stretch! Stretch, stretch!
The small performance began.
“Through the dark gloom! Sprouts grow!”
The movements weren’t synchronized, and the song soon became Nibelia’s solo.
“Stretch, stretch! Stretch towards the sun!”
“Stretch…!”
“Stretch!”
Deter, watching the three dance and sing in front of the herb garden, thought,
“It looks like a ritual of a cult.”
But could anything be cuter and more lovable than this ritual?
Deter clapped and cheered for them.
Now Nibelia was practically bouncing, Aref danced shyly to the end, and Azel didn’t know what was happening.
But they all ended laughing together joyfully.
“Wow!”
Deter cheered with applause.
“That was amazing. Really a wonderful performance.”
“Hehe! Was it great? Really great?”
“Very great. Now, shall I give you both your payroll books?”
Today’s work was recorded as ‘Herb Care.’
Receiving their books, Nibelia and Aref smiled proudly at the record of their efforts.
Azel watched and quietly admired them.
“You work this hard? And you’re a noble lady?”
“Nobles must sweat too.”
Nibelia lifted her chin proudly.
“Being a noble means knowing how hard work is. Nini will grow up to be an amazing adult who earns lots of money!”
“I’m going to be a knight.”
Aref shared his dream as well.
“You both have wonderful aspirations.”
“What’s an aspiration?”
“What you want to do when you grow up. Like being an apothecary, a teacher, or just eating lots of cakes.”
“Nini wants to eat chocolate cookies!”
But after such an energetic performance, Nibelia immediately went for a nap to recover her energy.
Meanwhile, Aref trained with a wooden sword in the annex.
He had just recently reached an average weight.
Today, Ardores allowed Aref to hold a training wooden sword for the first time.
“…!”
Aref’s eyes widened.
It felt different from the toy wooden sword Soles had given him.
The toy sword was heavy enough, but this training sword was even heavier.
“Heavy, isn’t it?”
Ardores asked as if reading his thoughts.
Aref admitted it obediently.
“Yes. It’s heavy.”
“That’s because your strength isn’t enough yet. You’ve gained some weight, but compared to children your age, it’s still lacking.”
“I… I eat a lot though…”
“Now, you must exercise as much as you eat. When you gain muscles, this sword will feel lighter than a feather.”
It might still feel heavier than a feather, but Aref nodded without complaint.
“Ardores.”
“Yes.”
Aref asked what he had heard from Soles before.
“Why is the lady afraid of swords?”
“Did Soles tell you?”
“Yes.”
“Well, it’s complicated to explain to you now.”
“Did she get hurt badly?”
“Something similar happened.”
Sadness appeared on Aref’s face.
“It hurts and it’s tough when you get hurt…”
