「Could it be… you don’t like vegetables?」
「No, it’s not that I don’t like them, it’s just that…」
Although she avoided giving a clear answer, it was apparent from her unease that she had an aversion to vegetables.
「Well well, come on, try one.」
「Eh? B-but…」
Although hesitant at first, Kiara’s hunger got the best of her and she picked a tomato and popped it into her mouth.
「It’s delicious! Why is it so good?」
Kiara exclaimed with a beaming smile brimming with praise.
「This tastes totally different from any tomato I’ve ever eaten before… why is that?」
「I suppose it’s the environment.」
「The environment… did you get it from a special place?」
I pointed silently towards the window.
I purchased glass earlier and the Woodsmen had installed them. You can see the view of our farm through the window.
「What?! A farm!? In a dungeon!? How is that possible?!」
Kiara was even more confused now.
It was understandable to be taken aback at first glance.
After all, dungeons were not places where people lived.
However, the space that led to this underground lake was isolated due to the placement of evil repelling plants along the only path that leads here. It prevented monsters from approaching.
Furthermore, Kiara began to experience the additional effects of having eaten the vegetables.
「What is?! My magic power is increasing?!」
Kiara couldn’t hide her surprise as she felt the sensation emanate from the core of her body.
「The tomato you just ate is a Flame Tomato, which has the effect of increasing the amount of fire attribute magic power.」
「I’ve heard of that before, but I’ve never actually eaten one. So, that thing I ate earlier really had that effect..Wait, so all the vegetables in that farm have some effect?」
「Yes, they’re all vegetables with additional effects, much like the Flame Tomato.」
「What… But Mother tried to source them from farmers all over the continent and gave up because they were so difficult to obtain…」
「In addition, the flower growing next to it is a material for magic tools.」
「Even that too?!」
Kiara’s mother—Slafin Fontenmayer, a world-renowned authority in magical research. Certainly, from a research perspective, she would be clamoring for those vegetables.
「Who exactly…..are you?」
「Just a farmer—that runs this dungeon farm.」
Well, once the farm gets established, I have a desire to try out a few other things, such as exploring this dungeon.
Anyway, Kiara, who used to dislike vegetables, overcame her aversion with ease by eating the vegetables grown in the dungeon. She also enjoyed the taste of the Thunder Paprika.
「With vegetables that are so delicious and increase magic power, they’ll be in high demand in the market, won’t they?」
「I do plan to sell them in the market. That’s why I plan on having Gregory-san from the Rymal Company taste the vegetables and give his evaluation of them tomorrow.」
「Gregory-san? Are you talking about the representative of the Rymal Company….? He is a strict businessman, but I think he’ll definitely appreciate these vegetables, no matter how much it costs!」
「Thank you, Kiara.」
「Wha?! It’s not like I was praising the vegetables for your sake! I made an objective evaluation and gave my honest opinion!」
「Even so, I’m happy to hear it.」
「Ugh～…」
Kiara grumbled while feeling embarrassed.
Maybe I went a little overboard?
Anyway, her praise gave me even more confidence.
Now, it’s time to ask the important question.
「Hey, Kiara.」
「…What?」
She replied but still sounded sulky from earlier.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but ask.
「Why did you fall from up there?」
「Wh-Well….」
Above the dungeon was a dense forest, where few people ever ventured.
If Kiara had fallen from there by accident, measures are needed to be taken, such as putting up fences around the area.
However, this was just a hunch, but I suspected that Kiara had a purpose in being around that area.
「Were you searching for something in the forest above?」
「?!?」
Kiara’s expression changed blatantly.
She was so easy to read.
「…I was searching for medicinal herbs that are necessary for making a new magic potion.」
「Medicinal herbs?」
「Yes. It was necessary for an assignment at the academy.」
Academy.
That was also in the game, wasn’t it?
「By academy you mean……the Minesto Royal Academy?」
「Yeah. Do you know about it?」
「…I’ve heard the name before.」
I was strangely convinced, considering Kiara’s mother, Slafin Fontenmayer, was a researcher of magic in the academy. It was natural for her daughter to attend the academy.
However, Kiara’s behavior was somewhat strange.
Her face was very tense…..it seems like there was some urgent matter at hand. If she had fallen while searching for medicinal herbs, it could be a sign of distractibility, in other words—she must have been quite agitated.
「……Kiara.」
「What?」
「What kind of herb is that you were searching for?」
「It’s called rannerou. It has a unique aroma, often used as a type of spice.」
「It’s also well-known as an herbal tea, right?」
「Yes, it is. Personally, I like that aroma and drink it often.」
「I like it too!」
「R-Really?」
「Yes!」
The two of us unexpectedly found common ground.
This could be a chance to become good friends – but there was something more immediate that needed priority.
「When is the submission date for that assignment?」
「I-It’s one week away…」
「One week… Yeah. It should be fine. We might be able to make it.」
「What do you mean?」
「After delivering the vegetables to Gregory tomorrow, we’ll start cultivating rannerou in our farm.」
「What?! But…」
「Searching for rannerou in the deep forest with no clues would be difficult. Besides…going alone in that forest could be dangerous.」
After all, she’s a noble’s daughter.
Come to think of it, she doesn’t seem to have any bodyguards with her.
It’s hard to imagine the daughter of the Fontenmayer family traveling alone.
I felt hesitant about asking her about the circumstances surrounding her situation. But from Kiara’s words and actions, I could sense that she was in a difficult position.
I wanted to help her out.
That’s what I honestly think.
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