I groaned.
Ow.
My neck kind of hurt.
Like I slept on it funny.
I blinked and rubbed it.
“Kat, you’re awake!” Rey?
Rey!
Everything rushed back to me at the sound of his voice, and I jolted up.
We’ve been kidnapped!
We were in some sort of small room, with two beds and some dressers.
Our bags were by the door, and Rey was leaning over me, worried.
“Rey!
Rey are you okay?
Are you hurt!?” I grabbed onto him, looking at his neck, but there wasn’t even a bruise.
I breathed a sigh of relief as he nodded.
“I’m okay Kat.
Um…” He turned out, towards the rooms small window, round and between the beds.
Sunlight streamed through it, and when I peeked out, I saw we weren’t on the ground.
We were on the second floor.
I glanced back at the door, which had been casually left open, revealing a hallway with old floral wallpaper beyond.
“Where… where are we?” I pushed the blanket down, tense.
He turned to the open door, just as nervous.
“I don’t know.
I just woke up, like you.” I took a deep breath and swung out of the bed.
His hand found mine after we grabbed our bags, and we pushed into the hallway.
My wand was with my bag, but Rey’s swords were nowhere to be seen… Maybe we could escape?
I heard the distant sound of voices from the stairwell to our right.
Rey went first again, our hands locked together.
We tiptoed down the stairs, the voices becoming clearer.
“Angie, when I said I wanted to adopt, I didn’t mean you should kidnap two children!” “But they sounded like they were in trouble…” A sigh.
“We can ask them when they wake up.
But even so, I doubt we can keep them.
You said they had guild cards, so they’re recognized adventurers.
I’m sure they have their own goals to accomplish…” “I’m sorry Bella.
I just didn’t want to leave two kids out there alone.” “I know Angie.
I’ll fix up some lunch for all of us.
Why don’t you go check on them?
They should be getting up soon.” “Okay Bella.
Sorry… Love you…” Another sigh.
“I love you too.
I know you meant well, but they’re going to be scared as the dickens when they wake up…” Footsteps.
Headed this way.
Rey panicked, and we began running down the stairs, desperate to get out.
But right as he reached the bottom, a tall figure loomed over us.
“Oh, kids.
You’re awake.” The hunter who kidnapped us!
Rey let go of my hand.
“Run Kat!” He rushed forward and began punching at her.
The hunter looked down at him in confusion, just taking the punches.
“What are you…” Eek!
She looked back up at me.
I wanted to run, but Rey… I raised my wand and pointed it at her.
“I-I’m warning you!
I can use magic, so don’t mess with us!
Just let us go!” “Angie!
Step aside!” A small hand pushed the hunter out of the doorway.
Suddenly, there was a much more cheerful and friendly smaller lady, who smiled at us.
Rey froze, unsure.
“Sorry about Angie kids.
Don’t worry, we won’t hurt you.
Are you hungry?
I’m making some sandwiches now.” Sandwiches… as if on cue, my stomach growled.
Right.
We bathed instead of hunting this morning… Rey crossed his arms, stepping back with me.
“You kidnapped us!
How can we trust you?” Angie rubbed the back of her head.
“I mean, to be fair you two are on the run, so…” Ah.
I reached forward and grabbed Rey’s hand.
“Are you going to turn us in?” Bella shook her head.
“No!
Not at all!
From what Angie told me, your lives are at stake.
We wouldn’t send two children to their deaths.
Come into the kitchen.
We can all sit down, and you can tell us how the two of you ended up angering a noble.” Oh.
I looked at Rey and saw him wavering.
Angie, the hunter, still seemed weird, and dangerous, but the other lady was normal and nice.
I nodded to him, deciding to take another chance.
He sighed and turned back to the two of them.
“Fine.
But we really want those sandwiches.” Mmm.
I patted my filled belly.
Not even the sandwiches from Duval could compare to those.
The kitchen itself was warm, and welcoming.
Sunlight streamed in through the windows, and I could see animals and fields outside.
We were on a farm, I think… The pretty lady, Bella, poured us all a glass of tea.
“Like my father always said, you can’t have an important conversation on an empty stomach!” She sat down next to Angie, across the table.
Angie was a big eater, she at three of those huge sandwiches all on her own.
Bella gestured to herself and Angie.
“I’m Bella, and this is my wife, Angie.
I’m sorry about Angie dragging the two of you here against your will, but I swear, she didn’t mean any harm.
She’s just… extraordinarily dense.” Angie drooped again.
“Sorry.
I didn’t mean to scare you.
I was out hunting, and I heard the two of you talking about the knights and how your lives were in danger.
I couldn’t just leave you out there…” Well… Rey snorted.
“We accept your apology, but we can’t quite forgive you yet.
First, you have to swear not to turn us in to Count Solace.” Both Bella and Angie nodded.
Bella crossed her heart.
“Cross my heart darlings.
We won’t tell a soul.
But can you explain how the two of you ended up getting chased?” Rey turned towards me.
Saying it was my choice.
They… were nice.
They fed us.
Even if they were weird.
“Um… Count Solace wants to marry me.” Both stiffened.
And glanced at each other.
Bella turned back to us.
“O-Oh… I’m sorry about that.
So… you ran away?” I nodded.
“Rey helped me escape.
We joined the adventurer’s guild together, but after a few weeks, Count Solace showed up looking for us.
Since then, we’ve run here…” Bella covered her mouth.
“This… is a lot more serious than I expected.” Rey narrowed his eyes.
“Are you going to rat on us now?” Bella shook her head.
“Absolutely not.
If Count Solace found the two of you… I don’t even want to consider it.
How can he be considered a noble…” She sighed and stood up, grabbing our plates.
“For now, the two of you need to let the heat die down.
If you keep wandering around, Count Solace is going to find you sooner rather than later.
Why don’t the two of you stay here?
Just for a month or two.
Once the count gives up on finding you, you can head out again.” Um.
Rey and I shared a glance.
It… wasn’t a bad offer… Rey answered.
“We have to talk about it.
For now, can you tell us where we are?” Bella nodded, putting the dishes in the sink.
“Oh, of course!
Come along, and I’ll show you the farm.” We got up, and Angie trailed behind us as Bella took us to the front door.
There was a large wraparound porch that overlooked several fields of plants.
Wheat, vegetables.
And a big barn, and a coop along the side.
There was a field with a couple of cows, and chickens pecked around the farm, one roosting on the porch.
Bella clapped her hands and turned around, presenting the cozy sight to us.
“This E-rank farm has been in my family for generations!
Welcome to the Octuro family farm!” Oh?
This was a farming dungeon?
She grabbed a basket and took us into the fields.
“We grow a variety of vegetables and grains here to supply the town.
Let’s see… seems these pumpkins are almost ready…” She crouched down to inspect a pumpkin turning orange.
“Another day perhaps… Ah, children, do you know how farming dungeons work?” Vaguely.
“You grow all the food people eat in town.
Right?” “Well, Denton has two other farms as well.
But yes!
E-rank dungeons don’t produce monsters other than slimes, making them relatively safe compared to other dungeons.
But the mana in them speeds the growth of crops.
Take this wheat for example.
An entire field of wheat only take two days to mature!
And these pumpkins.
I planted them about a week ago, and they’re already almost ready to harvest.
This same effect applies to animals too!
Chickens only take two weeks to mature, and cows are fully grown in about six months.
You can imagine we have a lot of harvesting and butchering to do.” Oh!
I read something about this in a textbook.
“Thanks to the mana, you can produce enough food to feed a lot of people in a small amount of time!” “Precisely.
Denton has nearly two hundred people living within its walls.
But thanks to the mana, we can produce enough food for everyone with only three farms!
However, that just means it’s even more important for the farms to work well.
Angie and I run this farm ourselves, but we also have a few farmhands who come in from the town and help us once a week.
If you two are going to stay, could you also help out while you’re here?” Rey crossed his arms as we treaded after her.
“Depends.
What would be in it for us?” “Well, if you choose to stay, we will be feeding and housing you… you said the two of you are adventurers, right?
We can teach you some important skills for traveling.” “How would you know about adventuring?” She gave him a smug grin.
“In order to inherit a dungeon farm, you have to become a C-rank adventurer you know?
Angie and I have had our share of delving dungeons.” Wow.
C-rank?
“What can you teach us?” We made it to the barn, and she went to the coop and began checking for eggs, putting them in the basket.
“Well, I have experience with rapiers and herbalism.
I can teach you about foraging and cobbling together elixirs on the road to keep you healthy.
And Angie is a top-tier archer and hunter.
She even helps with a majority of butchering here on the farm.
She’s an expert in hunting, and tracking.
So?
Would any of that be helpful?” “I guess…” Rey reluctantly admitted.
“I’ve been dual-wielding short swords.
Are rapiers much different?” “Short swords… interesting…” She finished gathering the eggs, of which there was a lot, and she took them over to some small crates.
She began nestling them carefully among the straw in there.
“To answer you, rapiers synergize with dual wielding very well.
My father used dual-wielding rapiers, and I learned them too although I always preferred to focus on one.
But rapiers require a very fast and agile build.
Will you be leaner when you grow up?” “Um… my mom was on the smaller side.
My dad isn’t very burly either…” “Then it could work for you.” She finished putting the eggs away and put a lid on the crate.
She turned back and smiled.
“Let’s talk about it back in the house.” I fluffed my pillow, almost ready for bed.
The candle on the bedside table gave off a little light, and I hopped up.
Rey was already in the other bed, fiddling with a little elixir Bella showed us how to make with mana herbs, mint, and thyme.
It should help restore my mana quickly, giving me an immediate boost.
“It’s… not a bad offer.
Better than struggling by ourselves in the wilderness.” He sighed and set the elixir on the table.
“I know.
But… are you sure we can trust them?” “Angie is… weird.
But I don’t think she’s bad.
And we can learn a lot here… and not get caught by Count Solace.” I picked up my spellcasting book and cracked it open to where I left off.
“I know.
It… only makes sense to stay.
But Kat, we can’t stay forever.
Let’s say… three months.
That should be plenty for Count Solace to give up.” “I mean… why not?” I thumbed to the next page.
But I didn’t receive an answer.
I looked up to see him staring at me, aghast.
I snickered at his gaping mouth.
“Gosh, you’re acting like I just said we should turn ourselves in.” “Whuh, what do you mean stay!?
We can’t stay!?” He waved his arms, panicking.
I just kept giving him a look that said he was crazy.
“Again, why not?
Even if it’s not here, after the heat does down, we can make a living in this town.” “But didn’t you want to see the capital!?
The ocean!?
What about fighting monsters and becoming super powerful adventurers!?” Whoa.
He almost fell out of bed, leaning over to convince me.
My eyes widened as I realized this was actually important to him.
I… didn’t realize how strongly he felt about all that.
“Um… I’d be fine as long as we can make enough to support ourselves.
And… as long as I’m with you.” His blush crawled back, right on cue.
He scratched his face, turning away.
“O-Oh.
I… I’m… I really want to travel.
I want to see everything in the world.
I want to do something with my life.
Something important.” I watched him as he didn’t look at me, and gradually realizing he was scared.
That I wouldn’t agree.
To be honest, I didn’t really care about all that stuff.
All I wanted was to live happily.
Preferably with him.
But… “Okay.
Then after three months, we can leave.” He sharply turned back to me, surprised.
I smiled at him.
“As long as I’m next to you, I’m happy.
We can be famous globe-trotting adventurers.” His face turned even redder, like a tomato.
He turned away again, hugging his knees.
“Oh.” Heh.
I turned back to my book.
Maybe one day he’ll finally figure out why I said yes to running away with him.
But we still had a while until then.