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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Forest Herb Hunt
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“Ahaha!”
Muniel burst into a hearty laugh and gently patted Nibelria on the back.
“Let's have lots of fun while we're camping.”
“Yeah!”
Nibelria's blue eyes sparkled like waves kissed by the sunlight.
Nibelria slung a small basket over her back.
Arep and Solles each carried similar ones on theirs.
Being handmade, the baskets varied a bit in shape and size, but they were perfect for gathering mushrooms or berries.
The children's first game during the camping trip was an errand.
“These herbs grow in the summer forest. If you find any, would you gather them and bring them to us?”
And it was a request from the witches, no less.
It was valuable work that could be recorded in their pay ledger, plus they'd get five lumps of honey as a bonus.
“Let's yank 'em all out!”
“We can't pull them all up. But why is Nini so full of energy today, anyway?”
Muniel muttered as she wound the strap—attached only to Nibelria's basket—around her hand.
She was usually spirited and lively, but today it was on another level.
We all ate the same breakfast...
Was there something extra in her food?
Her suspicion seemed reasonable—Nibelria was brimming with vigor.
Tying the strap only to her granddaughter's basket was because she worried the girl might charge headfirst at a wild boar and swing her fists if they encountered one.
“Pull up grass that looks like this.”
Ardores Dayamor plucked a fresh light-green herb growing beneath the dense trees and showed it to the children.
“See how the leaf tips look like snake heads? Look for light-green grass shaped like this. If you're not sure, just call me or Muniel.”
“What kind of herb is it?”
Solles Dayamor asked.
“It's a fever-reducer. Chewing it and spitting it out also stops bleeding. But don't eat too much, or it'll make you nauseous.”
Solles nodded attentively, then turned to his younger siblings.
Time to play the responsible big brother role for the three siblings.
“Got it?”
Even if you find them, don't eat them.
Solles said quite seriously.
Muniel and Ardores Dayamor exchanged glances and smiled silently as they watched.
“Yes!”
Arep nodded right away.
“Can I eat it if I'm hungry?”
But Nibelria asked just in case.
“What if I get super hungry?”
“Then eat the cookies in your pocket.”
“Got it! Can I drink water with the cookies?”
“You have to, so you don't choke.”
“Okay!”
Under the adults' supervision, the children's herb hunt began.
The witches' requested herbs were mostly found near large trees, especially around exposed roots on the ground.
“Pull them up roots and all. That's right, just like that.”
“You're doing great. Put strength into your arms and waist...”
Under the adults' watchful eyes, the children's small hands diligently dug up the herbs.
The bottoms of the baskets on their backs were soon covered with the unearthed herbs.
“Whew.”
Nibelria, now covered in dirt, wiped fake sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
“This is intense.”
“You mean 'it's tough,' right?”
“It's touuugh.”
“This work is a bit hard today, isn't it?”
Muniel offered her a canteen.
Nibelria took it with both hands and gulped down the water.
Muniel wiped the trickle that ran down her chin with a handkerchief.
Phew. After quenching her thirst, Nibelria nodded vigorously.
“But it's fun. It's like treasure hunting!”
Just like when she'd worked in the mansion's warehouse a few days ago, this chore was a cool adventure of finding treasure called herbs.
The forest wasn't just full of herbs.
Red berries, nameless flowers, inedible mushrooms.
And...
“Kids.”
Ardores Dayamor shushed them and pointed somewhere.
A herd of deer was passing through the forest there.
Horns stretching high like tree branches, fur dark like earth and wood yet healthy and glossy, sparkling eyes.
The king stag, who had been warily scanning the surroundings, fixed its gaze on Nibelria and her group.
“...”
Nibelria, meeting the stag's eyes, gave a little wave.
Hello, she greeted silently.
The stag king nodded slightly in return, then led its herd deeper into the forest.
Only after the deer vanished did Solles and Arep let out their pent-up excitement.
“Deer! Real deer, like in books!”
“Their antlers were huge! And their legs were so long!”
“It felt like it was saying hi to us, right?”
Unlike the excited pair, Nibelria didn't say much.
“Aren't you amazed, Nini?”
Solles asked, surprised.
“Nope.”
Nibelria answered honestly.
Because the stag had truly nodded back—it had greeted her.
Since being born human, Nibelria could no longer talk to animals like she had as a cat.
But just now, for the first time in ages, she'd spoken with one.
Hello? she'd greeted silently...
“So, you're a child who knows the Great Witch's name.”
The stag king had said, taking her in with its eyes.
“...Not an ordinary deer, it seems.”
Ardores Dayamor said, lightly stroking Nibelria's head.
“Stags have long been called forest guardians. Not all are, but that leader we saw felt different.”
“I hope so...”
Solles murmured dreamily, as if he'd glimpsed a fairy from myth.
Then he added maturely,
“I'm having so much fun in the forest.”
“We're happy to be here with you.”
Satisfied smiles spread across the witches' faces as they carefully inspected the herbs the children had gathered.
“These herbs are top quality.”
“Roots intact, no damage. You did an excellent job.”
Honestly, they hadn't expected much even when asking.
They'd figured noble kids could only do so much.
It was mostly just to give them some forest experience while they camped.
But surprisingly, they'd picked only the best—no blemishes on even a single leaf.
“Did we do good? We did good, right?”
Nibelria, filthy with dirt, asked with sparkling eyes full of anticipation.
It wasn't just Nibelria. Solles and Arep were covered in dirt from digging herbs too.
“You did amazingly well!”
One witch gave them a thumbs-up.
Nibelria grinned and thumbs-upped back.
“See? What did I tell you?”
Azel emerged from another tent, boasting as if it were her achievement.
“As if the young lady and young masters wouldn't do well.”
“Azel!”
“Young lady! Have you been well?”
Azel, who had left the Dayamor mansion, was now living with the witches.
She'd been building her skills by assisting the Great Witch and learning herbs in her spare time.
“Once the pharmaceutical company opens, I'll work there as a researcher.”
Azel shared how she'd been doing.
“I even went to the square recently and rented a house.”
“Nini knows that! Paying monthly rent?”
“Yes, exactly.”
The witches couldn't keep pitching tents outside forever.
Kaleo had provided them with several vacant buildings owned by the family.
He was also developing land near the forest into a village for the witches to live in.
“So Daddy gets the rent money?”
“He's lending them for free now, but once we get jobs at the company and start earning, we'll pay rent.”
Of course, it'd be at employee-discounted rates.
“Lucky...”
Nibelria, now charmed by the allure of being a landlord, looked up at Muniel and Ardores Dayamor.
“Nini wants rent money too...”
“Earn lots of money, buy a building, and you can get it later.”
“I want it now. Buy me a building.”
“That was the first time you felt like a proper noble young lady...”
Rustle. The bushes shook, and everyone turned around.
“...A cat.”
Arep blurted out reflexively.
What burst from the bushes at the forest's edge was a pitch-black kitten.
Muniel's eyes narrowed sharply.
“Is it yours?”
“No, all our cats wear collars.”
“And they're all adult cats besides...”
Fearless, the kitten hopped over on short legs toward the group.
“Meow.”
It let out an utterly adorable cry.
Aww. The onlookers' expressions melted.
“So cute! It doesn't seem scared of people.”
Solles crouched and beckoned it over.
The kitten hopped right up and sniffed his hand.
“Where'd it come from? A forest cat?”
“Its fur is the same black as Al and Lord Rubens. You alone?”
Arep sat beside Solles and offered his lightly fisted hand.
“Hi?”
He greeted cautiously.
Arep loved cats.
He'd realized it naturally while hanging out with Nibelria and the cats at the Dayamor mansion.
“What animal do you like, Arep?”
“Me...”
At that moment, Nibelria—gazing at him with sparkling eyes—somehow looked like a white cat.
Her gentle, droopy eyes resembled a puppy more than a cat, but to Arep, she appeared as a fluffy white longhair cat.
“...Cats.”
“Nini likes Wolf! Nini likes Arep!”
Her beaming smile, as if that were the perfect answer, had been so cute.
“Meeeow.”
The kitten's sweet mewl snapped Arep from his happy memory.
Even back in reality from happy memories, this present was far happier.
Arep loved that too.
The kitten sniffed Arep's hand too, then stuck out its tongue to lick.
Anticipation bloomed on Arep's face.
“...Uwooooong.”
Then.
“Uwooooong.”
A bizarre growl rumbled from behind.
Arep pulled his hand away just before the kitten's tongue touched and turned around.
His eyes went wide as saucers.
“L-Lady...?”
