Time Healer Ceres
Chapter 27
<027>
“His favorite food…? Well.”
At the chef’s question, the aide Dell’s expression stiffened.
He had served Kainel for a long time, but he suddenly realized he didn't truly know what the man liked or disliked.
‘He is not the type of person to express such things in the slightest.’
Long sighs escaped both Dell and the chef at the same time.
“Excuse me…”
Just then, a maid who had been standing quietly to the side spoke up cautiously.
“My younger brother has a regular spot he visits often.”
“A regular spot?”
Unlike Dell, who looked puzzled, the chef’s brow furrowed slightly.
Was she suggesting they bring outside food to the Grand Duke now?
Seeing his reaction, the maid spoke hurriedly.
“I-It’s just that, when my brother was feeling unwell, he ate the stew they sell there and recovered his strength immediately… I’m sorry.”
“Even so, how could we give street food to the Grand Duke…”
“Did you say stew?”
“Dell-nim?”
The chef, who had been scolding the maid, widened his eyes.
Ignoring him, Dell took a step closer to the maid and gave a kind smile.
“It helps with recovering strength?”
“Yes. My brother once got trapped in the Black Forest and came back, and his body was in very bad shape because of it. Even though he wasn't physically injured.”
“I see.”
“Surely… Dell-nim, you aren't actually thinking of bringing him street food?”
“I am.”
“Pardon?”
“What wouldn't I do if it means he’ll actually eat?”
What did it matter if it was street food or cheap food? If he could find something that suited his master’s palate, he would buy anything.
“Where is this shop?”
“Sorry to keep you waiting, valued customer.”
An insurance company employee, wearing a practiced, kind smile, handed a bracelet to Ceres, who was seated across from her.
“The treatment insurance payout of 879 gold and 95 silver has been successfully deposited.”
What the woman returned was Ceres’s bracelet—more accurately, the one linked to the Drow Barony’s bank account. All banking transactions were conducted through this single bracelet.
‘879 gold.’
It wasn't a bad amount.
Even though it bothered her slightly that this money was obtained through Agne’s schemes.
‘To think she even took out insurance.’
Insurance taken out in Yulia’s name.
It was something no one in the family, including Ceres, had known about.
She had recently learned that Agne had secretly taken out insurance before Yulia became seriously ill—in other words, before she started drugging the child.
‘I suppose she planned to collect this later too.’
She had even taken out life insurance under Yulia’s name.
Upon confirming this, Ceres seriously considered whether she should sneak into the prison right now and give Agne a thorough thrashing.
‘It’s not money from a good source.’
But it wasn't like she was receiving it directly from her criminal aunt; the insurance company was offering it, so it would be ridiculous to refuse.
She had learned of this thanks to the efforts of the butler, Colin.
Insisting that someone of Agne’s character wouldn't have been satisfied with just what she’d already taken, he had persistently dug through past expenditure records.
‘Agne took Yulia-nim’s seal once before. Would it be alright if I investigate a bit, just in case?’
She had told him to go ahead, and he had discovered this hidden insurance.
‘Make sure you collect it!’
Ceres had no choice but to nod vigorously at the intense look in Colin’s eyes as he pressed the insurance documents into her hand, urging her to collect the treatment funds for Yulia immediately.
“Is there anything else you need, ma’am?”
“No, that’s all.”
“Then have a safe trip home. We hope to see you again.”
Leaving behind the insurance clerk who kept her kind smile until the very end, Ceres slowly stood up from her seat.
‘Hm?’
As she walked, her gaze came to a sudden halt.
The moment she was about to leave the insurance office, she spotted a familiar face.
‘That person is…’
Did they say he was Dave’s father?
The man she had seen on the day she visited the bookstore with Yulia.
Didn't they say his wife had an affair and ran away with their son?
“Here are the insurance records registered under your son and wife.”
“Yes. Over here, but…”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m just asking in case, but how much time has to pass after someone goes missing before they can be declared dead?”
“If the person went missing in a Black Forest occurrence area, it’s one year; otherwise, it is usually five years. Regardless of which it is, we will dispatch our own people to conduct an investigation.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Do you have any further questions?”
…Insurance?
Ceres cast a suspicious glance at the fragments of conversation she overheard.
Why was he checking the insurance details of the wife and son who had supposedly run away after an affair?
Ceres watched Dave’s father talk with the insurance clerk for a moment longer before putting it out of her mind and leaving the premises.
“*Yaaawn*, how many minutes has it been?”
“Thirty minutes.”
“Dammit, those bastards should just eat and get out once they’re inside.”
“Should I go in and drag them out?”
“Don’t you dare. If the owner catches you, it’s over.”
Delasi 1st Street was full of life today, as always.
Among the shops, there was one place where a particularly long line of people stood—in front of a small, shabby building.
<Where Your Steps Linger>
Passersby glanced at the queue of customers spitting out rough words, but they soon moved on, thinking nothing of it.
It wasn't like this was a new sight.
Step.
“Hm?”
It was then.
Someone strode past the people in line toward the entrance of the shop.
“What’s with that guy?”
“Dunno. Is he crazy?”
The eyes of the people who had been waiting and yawning lazily turned fierce in an instant.
Some madman was fearlessly trying to cut the line since morning. And so boldly, at that!
“Hey, you there.”
“…? Me?”
The man heading toward the shop with light steps, Magic Tower Master Cheion, turned his head at the sharp call of the waiting customers.
“Can’t you see the people lined up here?”
“Where do you think you’re cutting in?”
“Get in line before you get beaten up.”
Cheion shook his head as if there was a misunderstanding.
“I happen to be an acquaintance of the owner here.”
“And?”
“Pardon?”
“So what?”
“We’re well-acquainted with the owner too, you know?”
The people actually snorted at his words.
“The baseline here is being a regular for five years. You look like a guy who just got here, where do you get off talking about being close?”
“No, I didn't come here as a customer…”
“If you’re not a customer, I guess you won't be eating the stew either?”
“…….”
…Well, that wasn't right.
Even now, the rhythmic sound of chopping and the smell of warm food came to mind.
He was very curious about what kind of food was sold here.
When Cheion couldn't give a proper answer and just stammered, the customers simultaneously raised their hands and pointed behind them.
Go get in line!
“…….”
In the end, Cheion had to trudge to the very back of the line.
‘Maybe I should have just snuck in with magic.’
Cheion pouted as he looked at the never-ending line.
“Aren't those people eating too slowly?”
“Tell me about it.”
“Ah! Did you see that just now? Putting in another order? Eating two bowls at once is cheating!”
“Wow, that jerk is doing it again.”
“Where’d he sell his conscience? Can’t he see the people waiting outside?”
“That guy is like that every time. I’m telling you, he sometimes orders three bowls.”
“Should I go and give him a secret smack?”
A short while later, Cheion was passing the time by hitting it off with the people around him and cursing the people inside the shop together.
“Do I stand in line here?”
Just then, a man quietly approached behind Cheion and spoke.
“Yeeep.”
Kainel’s aide, Dell, smiled broadly as he looked at Cheion, who gave a simple answer without even turning around.
The shop the maid had recommended a few days ago was right here—Where Your Steps Linger.
‘There are certainly many customers.’
From the outside, it was a truly shabby little shop.
Was it because the surrounding shops were particularly flashy? It felt even more pitiful.
However, seeing the people eating food inside the shop, Dell couldn't help but break into a satisfied smile.
‘Everyone has such good expressions.’
It was as if he could see how happy they were with his own eyes.
The faces of the people eating just a single bowl of stew were full of laughter.
That alone made him feel that standing in this long line was well worth it.
If the food sold here suited Kainel-nim’s palate even a little, and that kind of smile appeared on his face…
‘…Kainel-nim’s smile.’
The mere thought gave him goosebumps.
Let’s stop thinking about that.
Patter, patter.
At that moment, a small figure ran quickly past the many people toward the front of the shop.
