Chapter 110
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 110
That afternoon.
I found myself not at the Outskirts of the Island where Curtis Rohan was, but rather in the market street of the Town Square.
The reason being....
"So you're saying you'll bake the bread yourself?"
"Yes."
Of course, if I only prepared something for Curtis Rohan's portion, it would look rather meager, so I intended to gather everything needed for the entire 2nd Knight Order.
However, upon hearing my ambitious plan, Lahedis's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not entirely convinced."
"About what?"
"Your cooking skills."
For some reason, my pride was wounded by Lahedis's remark.
'It seems like he's been underestimating me ever since the New Year Ceremony.'
I bristled and countered.
"Honestly, what are you judging my skills by!"
"Wasn't the bread baked by your father?"
"No, it wasn't! My father is just the shop's figurehead! I'm the one who's been running Vivian's Bakery for the past ten years!"
It's unfair to credit all my hard work to my father!
As I protested indignantly, Lahedis began to chuckle.
'He deliberately provoked me again!'
Realizing belatedly that I'd fallen for his game once more, I pinched Lahedis's side relentlessly.
But Lahedis easily caught my hand and interlaced our fingers—quite naturally, at that.
"Do you really have to select the ingredients yourself?"
"Of course. Choosing fresh ingredients is the first step to making delicious bread."
And so, dragging Lahedis along, we arrived at....
"...an Herb Shop?"
"Yes. I'm going to make bread infused with herbs."
Ten years ago, the blue herb bread my father had developed naturally never sold.
But believing the idea itself had merit, I began my own research a few years later while learning baking.
And finally, I developed herb bread that was both delicious and appetizing in appearance.
'That bread played a significant role in boosting our shop's sales. Hehe.'
It was the perfect bread to give to my father and the Knight Order, who were working tirelessly day and night.
Lahedis still seemed skeptical about the herb bread, but I scoffed at his doubt.
"Hmph, once you taste it, you'll have no choice but to admit it."
As I pulled Lahedis's arm to enter the shop, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to look back down the street.
His eyes had grown distinctly cold.
"Lahedis? What's wrong?"
As I tilted my head in confusion, alternating my gaze between the direction he was looking and him, Lahedis erased his previous expression and turned back to me.
"...No, it's nothing. Just my imagination, I suppose."
Together, we stepped into the Herb Shop.
However, the Herb Shop, which I had expected to be quiet, was instead filled with the heated argument between an early customer and the proprietor.
"So you sold all of it?"
"When someone came offering good money for that useless weed, what reason would I have to refuse?"
"No! That's exactly why I told you so earnestly to set it aside and not sell it to anyone else!"
...That voice arguing with the Herb Shop owner—why does it sound so familiar?
"How was I supposed to wait for someone who might not even come? Besides, I don't even know your station."
"I am in this nation...! No, never mind. Forget it."
The moment I recalled the owner of that familiar voice from memory, the person turned to face me.
Our eyes met, and both of us widened in surprise.
"The Imperial Princess... or rather, Hilde?!"
* * *
We relocated to a nearby Dessert Cafe.
Seated between Lahedis and the Imperial Princess, I discreetly observed the two of them.
'But are the two of them alright?'
The Imperial Princess had said she harbored no particular ill will toward Lahedis.
And from what I could tell, Lahedis hadn't shown any animosity even when he was with the Guard—it seemed he didn't mind either way.
'Well, since they were never particularly close to begin with, it's hard to tell if they find each other awkward or not.'
With a lingering concern, I observed the two of them, and the Imperial Princess, after moistening her throat, spoke first.
"By the way, what brings you two to the Herb Shop?"
"My father seems to be struggling lately, so I wanted to make something for him."
"Ah, Lord Rowswide."
"And you, Your Highness? It seemed like the herbs you were looking for had all been sold. Did someone in the Guard get injured?"
"It's not a Guard matter. I've been looking after some children lately, and there are certain herbs they need."
"Children?"
"I happened to meet them while working with the Guard, and I've grown concerned about them."
At the Imperial Princess's words, my eyes widened.
I already knew she was a good person, but I hadn't expected her to be helping children separately as well.
"What herbs do you need? We can help you find them too."
The Imperial Princess, who had initially seemed pleased, hesitated before speaking.
"Actually... what I'm looking for isn't an herb, but a poisonous plant called Tartrium."
"A poison?"
"Do you happen to know about a condition called mana overabundance syndrome?"
At that word, which I hadn't heard in a long time, I froze.
I couldn't possibly not know it.
By my original fate, I was destined to die from that very disease.
"Yes, I do. It's a condition where mana is generated excessively beyond one's capacity, isn't it?"
"Two of the children I'm caring for have this disease, and I'm currently researching a cure for it."
"I see."
"Tartrium is a poisonous plant that suppresses mana generation, and it's being used as a key material in my research for the cure."
Mana is the very source of life in this world.
Just as blood is essential to living beings—a complete lack of mana means death—excessive mana can actually become medicine when properly utilized.
'Now that I think about it, I've heard of this in the original story too.'
In the original narrative, Allen discovered Vivian's illness belatedly and pressed for research into a cure.
'But even in the original story, the research stalled when someone else monopolized all the Tartrium supply.'
Since Tartrium was a plant that grew only in the deserts of the Southern Region, it couldn't be cultivated on the Island.
However, in the present timeline, my relationship with Allen had deteriorated completely, so he never pushed for that research.
Instead, it seemed the Imperial Princess had taken an interest in the research.
"That's why we need so much Tartrium, but someone keeps buying up the entire supply. I can't fathom what they intend to do with so much of this toxic plant...."
Watching the Imperial Princess sigh with worry etched across her face, my own heart grew heavy.
'Children afflicted with mana overload syndrome.'
Especially knowing they suffered from the same condition as I did, my concern deepened.
After a moment of contemplation, I carefully opened my mouth.
"Your Highness, if it's acceptable, might I meet those children?"
"The children?"
"Obtaining the toxic plant will be difficult right now, but I believe I could offer them some support."
"How?"
Facing the Imperial Princess's puzzled gaze, I offered a confident smile and continued.
"I've suffered from that same illness. And...."
I trailed off, glancing toward Lahedis seated beside me.
I couldn't reveal it before the Imperial Princess, but Lahedis's constitution—his ability to absorb mana—could temporarily alleviate the children's condition.
Just as it had helped me when I was young.
Lahedis met my earnest gaze and gave a small, reluctant nod of assent.
Only then did I smile broadly and add.
"Lahedis also seems to have a way to help the children."
* * *
The Imperial Princess led us to a small orphanage in the Slums located on the Outskirts of the Island.
"Most of the children living here were abandoned because they were sick."
The moment I heard those words, memories from my past life surfaced, and I suddenly understood why this place had so many afflicted children.
'It's because this is the Slums.'
Poverty meant lacking both the environment and resources to protect oneself from countless dangers.
In other words, exposure to all those perils increased the likelihood of injury and illness.
Having come from an orphanage in my previous life, I knew the dark underbelly of such places better than anyone.
A bitter smile crossed the Imperial Princess's lips as she explained the situation here. For a moment, I sensed something like guilt beneath her expression.
Yet the Imperial Princess quickly composed herself and continued in her usual bright tone.
"Still, most of the simpler illnesses heal quickly, and many children grow healthy."
"Oh, big sister!"
Before the Imperial Princess could finish her explanation, children who spotted us came rushing over.
But contrary to my concerns.
"Sister, did you go punish those bad men again this time? How many did you punish?"
"Did you fart a lot?"
"Boogers too!"
The sheer energy radiating from the children was already making my head spin....
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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