Chapter 61 - Morning Work
Normally, one would probably skip to the flower field scene. However, for some reason, I couldn't skip it.
After finishing our peaceful morning time, we ate breakfast and set about the work we had to do in the morning.
First was cleaning the inside of the house. When I cleaned the bedroom with Toak yesterday, there was quite a bit of dirt, so the living room where we mainly active would probably be even worse.
As expected, Flora and I cooperated to clean the living room where dirt had accumulated.
Once the cleaning of the living room was finished to a satisfactory degree, Flora took the harvested radishes and headed to Elgis-san's house.
She was going to bring the freshly picked radishes as a souvenir and apparently bring back the personal items she was missing on her way back. It seems she wants more cloth for sewing tools that she can use inside the house.
After that was finished, Flora would prepare the lunch to eat outside. She said she would make sandwiches for lunch, so I'm really looking forward to it.
It's been quite a while since I've eaten sandwiches made by Flora.
On the other hand, as for me,
"Well then, I'll head back home for a bit."
"Yeah, got it. Well then, I'll go take care of the fields and gather some nuts and things."
Yes, the work I should do is tending the fields. Unfortunately, I'm not heading to Elgis-san's house with Flora.
To be honest, I feel like I want to be with Flora, but for the sake of our livelihood, I have to do what I have to do.
"Perhaps because we've been together all this time lately, I feel lonely even if we're apart for just a little bit."
I felt happy at Flora's words, which she said while smiling a bit lonely.
Ah, so Flora also felt lonely being apart from me.
"Me too."
Feeling somewhat lonely, Flora and I hugged each other.
Then, Flora's warm body temperature and the sensation of her soft skin were transmitted, and a sweet scent tickled my nostrils.
Even I thought it was an exaggeration for a distance of only about fifteen minutes, but I intensely desired Flora's warmth.
After embracing for a while, Flora let go of her arms while looking reluctant to part.
"I have to make lunch too, so I'll come back as soon as possible."
"Yeah, I'll finish my work as soon as possible too. I want to go to the flower field with you quickly, Flora."
We said that and laughed together, and without either of us prompting it, we pressed our lips together.
It was a kiss that only touched for an instant, but I could firmly feel Flora's affection.
"Well then, I'm off."
"Yeah, take care."
Saying that, Flora started walking toward the plaza. Looking at Flora's back, I could clearly see that her ears had turned bright red, which I thought was very cute.
"...Sigh, I wonder if I can even go hunting while leaving Flora at home."
I headed toward the fields while harboring such a serious worry.
Today, the field in front of my house is also energetic.
It's growing steadily, not losing to the sunlight that has started to get hot. The way it swayed its leaves in the wind looked like it was welcoming me as I came to tend it.
I approached the vegetables making cute leaf sounds and sat down.
Then, unfamiliar weeds were growing here and there around the vegetables.
They are bad guys trying to suck the nutrients out of my cute vegetables. I identified the weeds with a sharp gaze and set about removing them with eyes that looked like I was seeing my parents' murderer.
Not only did I pull the weeds growing in the field, but I also checked for insects that would probably flock to the vegetables.
I checked each and every leaf, not forgetting to look at the underside as well.
"...So you were in a place like this too."
When I peeled back and checked the underside of a leaf, a green caterpillar was stuck to it.
Picking it up with my hand, I threw it far away.
Ah, ah, a little bit of the leaf has been eaten. Well, Flora also said that vegetables that insects come to are proof of delicious vegetables, so I'll try not to mind it too much.
That doesn't mean I have any intention of letting the insects go, though.
After finishing the removal of insects, I drew water into a watering can and poured an amount of water suitable for each vegetable.
Transparent water poured down onto the vivid green leaves.
I carefully adjusted the water so as not to pour too much, wetting the leaves and the soil.
"...Oh, you guys have gotten bigger too."
While pouring water, I reconfirmed the growth of the vegetables.
Then, I saw that the radishes had gotten bigger again.
The radishes I planted later were also getting bigger and bigger, so it looks like I'll be able to harvest radishes again next week.
Besides radishes, when I checked leaf vegetables like carrots, snap peas, and sheil, I could see that they were growing little by little.
In the beginning, I only noticed changes in the fast-growing radishes, but lately, I've come to notice the growth of other vegetables too.
Like a leaf getting one size larger, or a stem getting slightly longer.
The reason I've come to notice such small changes is surely because I'm looking at them with these eyes every day.
I'm happy that I've become able to grasp the state of the vegetables.
Lately, I can't help but look forward to checking the growth of the vegetables like this.
I've really adjusted to village life.
After finishing the maintenance of the field, I didn't enter the mountains but gathered small nuts like those from nearby forests and kuku fruits. In this village rich in nature, you can gather nuts and medicinal herbs everywhere even without entering the mountains, so there's no trouble with food.
After finishing gathering nuts and edible grass, I returned home to store them.
"Ah, Aldo-san!"
While walking along the river with a basket in hand, a voice called out to me.
When I turned around, Kyle was there, carrying a large cloth bag on his back.
"Oh, Kyle. Are you gathering food too?"
"No. Master told me to give this to you."
Kyle, who shook his head, untied the brown cloth bag he was carrying on his back and handed it to me.
It was a heavier weight than I expected. Long and somehow thin. It didn't seem like food at all.
"What's this? Can I open it?"
"It's your property, Aldo-san."
Told that by Kyle, I untied the cloth while wearing a suspicious expression.
Then, a red cloth came out from inside the cloth.
No, that's wrong. This isn't a red cloth...
"A Red Bear pelt, huh..."
"Yes, that's right. After all, you defeated it by yourself, Aldo-san. Basically, the Red Bear materials belong to you, Aldo-san. I think you'll also gradually receive thanks for the portion of meat shared with the villagers once things settle down."
"...I-I see."
Having heard Kyle's explanation, I nodded with a solemn look.
I remembered defeating the Red Bear, but I had completely forgotten about what happened after that.
I see, as compensation for the bear meat distributed to the villagers, I'll receive some kind of items from other people.
If that's the case, it looks like I'll be able to lead a good life just by concentrating on the field for a while.
It looks like I'll be able to set about expanding the field sooner than I thought.
While I was thinking about that, Kyle for some reason looked up at me with a cold stare.
"...By any chance, Aldo-san. Did you forget that you could get the Red Bear materials?"
"Um, I guess I forgot a little? No, at that time I was single-minded in wanting to save Flora, so I wasn't thinking about getting materials."
Since Kyle's gaze was strangely painful, I hurriedly made an excuse.
"............Materials from something like a Red Bear would be worth quite a lot, wouldn't they?"
...Come to think of it, that was true. A Red Bear is a monster that boasts a fair amount of strength too.
Since I became active as an A-rank adventurer, the opponents I would intentionally aim to get materials from were all monsters that boasted truly ridiculous strength.
It seems my senses were a bit off.
While I was worrying about what to say, Kyle gave a short laugh and said,
"...Well, you are quite airheaded, Aldo-san. Right now, nothing but your wife, Flora-san, is entering your sight, I suppose."
To think I'd be teased even by Kyle, who is younger than me.
However, while we were going hunting, I had Kyle listen to my worries about women, so I can't strongly resist either.
"...Well, there's no mistake about that."
In fact, it's also true that I was obsessed with Flora and forgot.
"You're so lovey-dovey."
"When the time comes for you to like someone or get married, Kyle, I'm going to tease you to death, okay?"
That's right. With Lauren-san as a must, I'll also have the villagers who were acting like monkeys in front of Elgis-san's house cooperate. If it's them, they should be able to accurately gouge out his heart.
"...I have a bad feeling about this, so I'm going home."
While I was thinking about that, Kyle turned his back and started back the way he came.
"Hey, hey, since you're here, stay for some tea."
"I won't barge in when you're busy starting to live together. Please invite me once your life has settled down a bit more."
Aisha and Toak came over immediately, though.
Well, Flora isn't here right now anyway, and I'm in the middle of work too. It's probably a reservation precisely because Kyle is perceptive. As usual, he's grown-up to the point where it's hard to believe he's twelve.
After seeing off Kyle's back, I spread out the Red Bear pelt in my arms.
When I spread out the folded pelt, it was so large it easily exceeded my height and touched the ground.
I guess that's natural since it's a monster larger than a human.
I stared intently at the rough red pelt that looked like fire.
It had been properly processed, and there were no strange pieces of meat attached or any foul odors. There was a bit of a beastly smell, but it seemed to have undergone sufficient pre-treatment.
Having confirmed the quality of the pelt, I thought about how to utilize it.
Normally, I should save it all for the cold winter and use it as winter cold-weather clothing.
Considering the thick pelt of a Red Bear, that's natural.
However, a red pelt would be quite conspicuous for cold-weather clothing.
Besides, I think the Red Bear is a symbol of fear for Flora, so I don't want to keep it around her too much. Every time she sees the red pelt, she might remember the fear of being attacked.
I don't want to distort Flora's expression and hurt her with something like that.
Even if I tried to barter it, it would be the same if someone in the village was wearing it.
"I guess I'll consult with Flora and sell it to the next peddler who comes..."
Fortunately, I'm a hunter, so I can hunt animals and obtain pelts.
I find myself wanting to write about these kinds of everyday life details. The flower field is next.