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Chapter 37
Until now, Herden had lived trapped in his own sense of incompetence.
‘You can’t even do that?’
‘Are you satisfied with that, when you’re supposed to become the head of the Katieron family?’
‘Don’t you realize your inadequacy is a threat to the Empire?!’
The voice of Taibern, who used to rebuke him, remained with Herden like a nightmare.
Of course, Herden knew well that he wasn’t capable of handling Exilon.
He was utterly useless as the heir to the Katieron family.
And yet, Katieron was left in his hands.
Even now, Herden wasn’t ready to lose Taibern. Taibern was a wall that would never crumble, at least in Herden’s eyes.
The father I hate and resent. Please, come back alive.
Three days later.
“Ki—Kito has grown this much already!”
Someone’s excited voice stirred the morning. It was Dania. Anxious that Katieron might truly fall apart, she had developed a habit of going out to the Kito field every morning.
I yawned and stretched.
And as usual now, I checked the status window.
[Name: Taibern
Status: Starving. Severely wounded. Exhausted.]
He’s alive! Well, he is the master of Exilon after all.
After a light wash and brushing my teeth, I headed downstairs. People were already crowded around the vegetable patch, observing it.
The little leaves that had barely peeked out now grew vigorously, reaching up to my waist.
“Is that even possible?”
“Was Kito always this fast-growing as a herb?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! If it were, it wouldn’t be sold at such high prices.”
“Then what exactly are we looking at?”
“How would I know? Maybe there’s a fairy around.”
A fairy? That’s me.
[Class: Druid Lv.5]
Since I’d been getting everyone’s shared experience, I had already reached level 5. That was the secret behind Kito’s rapid overnight growth.
“Now we can harvest it. If we sell this, we’ll be able to live comfortably for several days!”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Besides, they say high-quality herbs like these are rare. Thankfully, they all look fresh!”
“Of course they’re fresh—they grew in just three days. But Lani, can you carry all that and go out alone? I heard there’s a way out, but still.”
Everyone stared at me with puzzled eyes, as if I were one of the world’s seven wonders.
Yeah, I am amazing.
Even I think so sometimes.
“Anyway, it’s quite a load. It might be better to take it in parts over a few days.”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that! This much is nothing for me!”
People shook their heads in disbelief. If words weren’t enough, I’d just have to show them.
Everyone worked together to harvest the Kito. Perhaps encouraged by the thought of soon receiving money from the sales, they all had bright, excited expressions as they worked.
“Young master, please go train instead! We can handle this.”
Despite my protests, Hider picked up a sickle.
“If you don’t work, you don’t eat. And you’re really going out to sell all of this?”
“Yes. Do you need anything, young master? I can get it for you.”
“No, I’m fine.”
Hider shook his head. With even Hider diligently harvesting, the rest of the group couldn’t help but pick up the pace.
By the time we finished harvesting the Kito, it was around 1 p.m. After enjoying lunch prepared by Madam Luella, I lifted the basket high.
“Ooooh!”
People clapped like they were watching a circus show. I waved at them and slipped out through the servants’ side door.
Once I made sure no one was watching, I activated my stealth skill. With my arms full of Kito, my heart felt light.
But the world wasn’t as light and easy as I had imagined.
“I’m not buying unless it’s for this price!”
I let out a hollow laugh as I looked at the herb merchant with his stomach puffed out, acting smug.
“Come on, I know the market price. These are top-quality Kito! Do you know how hard it is to find herbs this good right now?!”
The merchant smirked wickedly. Clearly, he thought little of me—a child.
People like him exist everywhere.
He rested a hand on his hip and bent down slightly to look me in the eye.
“You little witch brat, when I say the price is this, it is this! Try another store—no one will buy your herbs! Without me, you’ve got no chance!”
What a local thug. Are all the other stores afraid of him?
Looking around, I saw no one was willing to help me. Even the merchants I’d gotten to know during previous visits to the market ignored me. Well, there’s always a villain like this in every story.
Wanna see how scary a potato peeler can be?
But I was clearly at a disadvantage. Still, selling Kito at that unfair price was unthinkable.
I gritted my teeth and turned away. One step back to take ten forward.
“What, just leaving? I told you, no one else will buy it!”
“Still not selling! I’ll eat it all myself if I have to!”
“You cheeky little brat! Wherever you came from, you’ll regret this!”
Where am I from? From Katieron. And you’ll be the one regretting it! Ptooey!
Even though I poked around some other places afterward, I got rejected at every shop. In the end, I had no choice but to return empty-handed.
But that didn’t mean I would give up.
As soon as I got back to the estate, I went to find Sir Hilden and Hider. The two were discussing swordsmanship together. Ever since the mansion was shut off, they’d been focusing intensely on training.
“I have something to ask, young master.”
Hider nodded.
“Is there anyone outside the estate who could help us? Someone for whom saying we’re from Katieron wouldn’t be a problem.”
I explained the unjust treatment I received from the herb merchant.
“So I’m going to make that fat man’s belly flatten right out!”
I clenched my fist.
“Ugh. People like that still exist, huh? Young master, there are Katieron people outside. But whether they’d help is another story.”
Hider fell silent for a moment. Right now, all authority rested with Kiera. If word got out that I was freely moving about outside, it might reach her ears.
“Still, it wouldn’t hurt to try. Better than being swindled.”
My face lit up at Hider’s words.
“They’re probably not doing great themselves right now. According to grandfather, they’re people who loved Katieron deeply. He also said they took pride in their work.”
“That’s true.”
“And I doubt the duchess will manage things properly. She’s never run anything before.”
“She only knows how to indulge in luxury.”
Hider nodded. I agreed wholeheartedly. From what I’d seen, Kiera was a woman consumed by vanity.
She splurged on dresses but didn’t know how to manage her staff. And that woman is acting as the family’s proxy? Total disaster.
“Then where should I go first?”
“Hmm… I think the easiest approach would be to visit Viscount Aros. He handles the trade division.”
“Let’s do that. Oh!”
Hider pulled something off from around his neck and handed it to me.
What’s this?
“It’s a pendant that symbolizes the bloodline of Katieron. Grandfather gave it to me. If you bring this, things should go more smoothly.”
“Can I mention your name too?”
“Of course. Whenever the situation calls for it. I don’t know if it’ll help much, but still.”
See?
I had solid backup too. Seeing the two of them ready to stand by me no matter what filled me with a comforting sense of strength.
Tomorrow’s outing would be a lot less stressful now.
