It seemed like someone I would need to meet eventually.

“That’s not something I’m particularly curious about, but for now, I understand. By the way, please use this to settle the payment. How about adding the items you want to the ones I requested and purchasing them together?”

I suggested the idea I had prepared and handed over the bracelet I had brought with me.

Uncle John accepted the bracelet with wide eyes, treating it with great care. He had only heard of such things and was seeing one for the first time. He examined the identity tag for quite a while, seemingly unable to stop, so I left after saying my goodbyes.

I stayed at home, preparing dinner while waiting for Alisa to return. I wasn’t an expert cook, but I had learned enough to make meals that were decent.

‘How many times have I told you to focus on your work? Cooking is the job of other employees. Don’t take their work away.’

When he scolded me with a frown, as usual, I pretended not to hear for the first time. Cooking was a great way to clear my mind, and I had no intention of giving it up.

“For someone who spoke humbly, the taste is excellent!”

Alisa, who had returned home, complimented me with a genuinely impressed expression. Feeling shy, I changed the subject.

“Alisa, do you happen to have any tools for digging potatoes at home?”

She raised her eyebrows slightly, perhaps surprised by the unexpected question.

“A hoe? Of course! Do you need one?”

Instead of just ending with words, she got up from her meal and took me to the annex. There, she opened a burlap sack that had been tucked away in a corner, unnoticed.

“Oh my.”

Inside, there were hoes perfectly sized to fit in one’s hand, enough to elicit an exclamation. She took one out, tapped it a few times with her hand, and handed it to me.

“The handles are weak, so they break easily. That’s why we keep many at home.”

“Can I borrow one? I need it for gathering herbs! You have to dig a bit for root plants.”

I explained eagerly, and she chuckled.

“Use as many as you like. Take a few more spares with you. Just let me know if any break, so we can get them repaired.”

“Got it, thank you so much!”

I immediately took out two more. In a situation where I had nothing, this small tool felt incredibly reassuring.

The next morning, I woke up early to survey the surrounding fields first. There weren’t many plants I could gather with just a hoe, but I couldn’t just sit idly by until the tools I requested from Uncle John arrived. Some herbs required a long drying period, and others needed to be simmered for over three days.

During my academy days, we used to go herb gathering together every season. Our herbalism teacher was very particular, and if we brought back roots or leaves that were even slightly damaged, he would never pass them. Because of that, many of my friends would complain and struggle.

Reminiscing about old memories, I went downstairs with a slightly excited heart. At the same time, I heard the front door open and Alisa’s voice.

“Ben? What brings you here so early in the morning?”

Ben was the dark-haired boy who had helped Rose up when she fell.

“The person who lives with the teacher… I want to meet them.”

“The person who lives with me? Do you mean the healer?”

Peeking from behind, I saw the boy nodding shyly. I stepped forward to show myself.

“Are you looking for me?”

Ben’s face brightened for a moment, then he looked down at the ground again.

“Um…, can you please heal my uncle?”

“Your uncle?”

Not understanding the situation, I looked at Alisa, who nodded as if she understood.

The story was roughly like this: After I visited, Rose had been bragging to her friends that Larian no longer complained about her chronic back pain. Ben seemed to have envied that.

“What’s wrong with your uncle?”

“His leg.”

For a moment, my expression hardened. I had already encountered many people with leg pain in the principality, so why was my mother’s face suddenly coming to mind? Perhaps it was because the sense of duty to heal still weighed heavily on my heart.

The child became anxious when he saw my expression darken, but Alisa intervened at just the right moment.

“Stefan has a limp.”

“Stefan? The one who used to be a mercenary?” I asked, pretending to know.

“How do you know that?” she replied in surprise.

“Rose’s grandmother told me. Uncle John also mentioned that if I needed anything essential, I should go see Stefan.”

Alisa seemed to ponder this for a moment before hesitantly speaking.

“I feel a bit embarrassed making such a request, but I hope the healer can take a look at Stefan.”

There was no reason not to help. I intended to care for all the sick villagers eventually, even if it took some time. However, I was curious why Alisa made this request first, so I looked at her with a questioning gaze.

“Stefan has done a lot for the village. I don’t know how much you heard from Grandma Larian, but he had an accident while setting up explosives in the mountains by himself to stop bandits. It was only after that incident that all the villagers helped.”

She spoke with a bitter tone. From her suddenly darkened expression, I could guess why Alisa’s parents were not around.

I bent down to meet the child’s eyes. His eyes, as black as pearls, sparkled with anticipation.

“So, it’s thanks to Stefan that I can stay here safely now, right, Ben?”

His sullen face quickly brightened with a wide smile as he cheerfully replied.

“Yes!”

I set down the basket I had prepared for gathering next to the door.

“Then I should express my gratitude. Alisa, I’ll be back. See you later.”

“Please take care!” she called after me.

Leaving Alisa waving behind, I followed Ben.

Ben seemed a bit shy but couldn’t hide his excitement. He ran ahead with long strides, then came back to look at me with a grin before matching his pace with mine again.

We crossed the bridge, passed Uncle John’s place, and walked a bit further. At some point, Ben sprinted ahead again and stopped in front of a one-story house.

“Stefaaaaan!”

The child shouted at the top of his lungs and ran into the house first. The commotion was a bit startling, and I suddenly wondered if this had been arranged.

As I stood in front of the closed door, about to knock, someone yawned loudly and opened it.

“Ben, what’s going on?”

“Eek!”

“Ahh!”

As soon as I covered my face with both hands, the door slammed shut with a loud noise. The man was shirtless, and my cheeks flushed instantly.

“Ben! You should have said there was a woman here!”

“Uncle, do you even care about that?”

“That’s not the point; it’s about manners, manners!”

The argument beyond the door was loud. I fanned my face vigorously, but the heat wouldn’t subside easily.

A voice called out to me from inside.

“I’m so, so sorry! Please wait a moment!”

However, the request to wait seemed unnecessary as the door opened quickly.

The man appeared wearing a faded green long-sleeved shirt. He had black hair reminiscent of Leopold’s, but everything else was different. His beard was unkempt, his hair was shaggy and sticking out, and the clothes he wore had small holes here and there. I didn’t know where to rest my eyes.

“What brings you here?” he asked.

Despite his appearance, his demeanor was polite. I had imagined mercenaries to be rough individuals.

“Ben came to me asking to treat his uncle…”

As my voice trailed off, the man asked again with a confused look.

“Ben did? What treatment are you referring to…?”

I glanced at his leg. Soon, he seemed to realize and spoke with understanding.

“My leg doesn’t need treatment… Ah, instead of standing here, would you like some tea?”

I nodded slightly without a word. Behind him, Ben was grinning widely.

Contrary to the man’s first impression, the house was very neat and charming. The ceiling, walls, and furniture were all white, but colorful fabrics were used as tablecloths, curtains, and screens. There were also uniquely shaped wooden dolls decorated around, perhaps for Ben. A rather ornate vase sat on the dining table.

“The water will boil soon. Please have a seat for a moment.”

It was fascinating how his appearance, speech, and the atmosphere of the house were so different from each other. As he turned, I noticed he limped heavily on his left leg.

“This way, this way!” Ben called out.

He had already taken a seat on the sofa and beckoned me over. In front of him was a low table, and beneath it lay a carpet with geometric patterns.

The child patted the seat next to him with his small hand. Smiling, I sat beside him, and he asked for my understanding as if he were the host.

“My uncle’s a bit of a fool, so it might get noisy, but please understand.”

“Alisa told you not to say things like that,” I whispered in a scolding manner, loud enough to be heard.

Ben snorted unapologetically. “But that’s the word that suits Uncle the best.”

I was at a loss for words, his personality completely different from Rose’s. Being just a guest, it was awkward to say more.

“Just let him be; it’s easier that way. He’s as stubborn as a mule,” the man said as he returned, placing a large mug in front of me. The amount was enough to fill my stomach with tea. Worried if I could drink it all, I stared at the mug absentmindedly.