ERMS CH 14

Chapter 14

I was relieved to know that living here was possible, but Label’s question made me embarrassed, and my face felt hot.

“Ah… yes…”

Raven’s gaze shifted to Baron. Immediately, Baron crossed his arms and frowned.

“Don’t worry about useless things. Just answer what’s necessary,” he said.

I was startled and tried to stop Baron.

“Eeek, Baron! You can’t say that!”

But Baron didn’t care.

“So, is it better to leave this house? Or not?”

Raven answered right away.

“Sometimes, notifications come later—like orders to vacate or pay taxes. If that happens, you deal with it then. Pay the taxes and stay, or move somewhere else. If there’s a demolition order, you’ll have to leave unless you buy the usage rights.”

I sighed and covered my burning face with my hands.

“Ah, thank you for letting me know.”

“You’re welcome. Do you have any other questions?”

“That’s enough. And… I’m sorry. I don’t know how to apologize for my sibling’s rudeness.”

“It’s fine. I only see her as brave, so don’t worry.”

Raven smiled warmly, waved slightly, and returned to his place. He really seemed unfazed.

I reached my own conclusion.

“He must be naturally kind and humble. Plus, he’s handsome and rich, so life must be easy for him. No wonder a good, wealthy man comes here to relax. Ah… now I see, he’s a great man.”

“…Huh?”

Baron’s eyes rolled.

“What, great? That man?”

I felt lighter at Baron’s comment.

“Of course. If a man like him isn’t great, who is? He’s a real man among men.”

I patted Baron’s head and smiled.

“I’m glad we met such a good neighbor. Let’s grow up to be successful like him too, Baron.”

For some reason, Baron’s cheeks puffed up, but it didn’t seem important, so I ignored it.

“Alright, now I have to work on the garden. You rest, Baron.”

I led Baron inside the house.

Rolling up my sleeves, I put on gloves, hung a towel around my neck, and took a wooden stick to mark the garden’s boundaries.

“This should be enough, right?”

About 20 meters by 20 meters. A bit big for one person, but enough for us to eat and even sell some produce.

“I need to work hard, just in case we want to buy the usage rights later.”

It would be terrible to get a demolition order right when the crops are ready.

I put sticks at each corner to mark the boundaries and began turning the soil with a hoe I had bought. Soon, I hit a large stone that needed both hands to lift.

Looks like this land has a lot of stones.

‘Ah, that’s why this land hasn’t been used.’

It seemed like a long job ahead, but there was no choice. I placed the stone along the boundary and planned to build a small wall to keep animals out.

For thirty minutes, I worked the soil, removed stones, and dug again. Sweat dripped constantly, and my arms and back ached.

“Ugh…”

Stretching my back, I rubbed my sore arms.

I remembered the tractors from my previous life. The neighbor, Mr. Kim, used to plow our field with his tractor for a small fee.

Then I heard Baron’s voice from behind.

“When are you coming in?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been outside for a long time.”

I looked at the garden. I had barely finished a small section.

“I have to plow all of it.”

Baron frowned at the size of the garden.

“All of this… alone?”

“Yes. It needs to be this big for us to eat and sell.”

“But we earn with clam digging.”

“That’s true, but we can’t survive on seafood alone. And clam digging depends on the tide and weather. We can’t just play at the wrong times.”

I wiped my sweat and smiled.

“We need to earn enough to feed Baron properly, raise him well, and send him to the academy.”

Baron’s small smile lifted unexpectedly.

“I don’t need to go to the academy. I already know a lot.”

I picked up the hoe again.

“You’re young. You need to learn more. There’s no end to learning.”

Thwack!

I struck the ground with the hoe.

“Ouch, another big stone.”

I dug around and rolled it aside.

“Phew… good.”

Just as I wiped my sweat, Baron suddenly touched the hoe in my hands.

“Let me try,” he said.

“Huh?”

“I’m stronger than you. Step aside.”

I handed the hoe to him and stepped back.

Baron raised the hoe and struck the ground.

“Baron, stop!”

I quickly intervened, seeing him struggle with a tool taller than him.

“Why? I’m stronger than you.”

“Yes, but—”

I took the hoe back. Baron was stronger, but it hurt to see him swing it.

“I said before, kids shouldn’t do this. Go inside and rest.”

“I can do it.”

“Listen to me.”

Baron pouted but obeyed.

“Then… don’t overdo it.”

“Okay. I’ll just do a little.”

After more work, the sun began to set. The tide was still coming in, so we could have dinner and go clam digging.

Dinner and clam digging with Search were fine, but by the time we returned, I felt exhausted.

The real problem was the next day.

My whole body ached, especially my arms.

I remembered waking up as Hailey, my body almost on the verge of collapse.

‘I didn’t expect the muscle pain to be this bad…!’

Even though I felt a bit stronger now, plowing the garden was too much.

“Are you okay, sis?”

Baron touched my forehead as I groaned.

“No fever.”

“It’s nothing serious. My arms are sore from plowing yesterday.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Baron. But first, breakfast.”

I forced myself up.

“Huh? You’re hurting, but you’re making breakfast?”

“Of course. You need to eat well to grow well.”

I cooked soup and warmed the bread, while Baron followed anxiously. I couldn’t let my little Baron eat cold bread or go hungry.

I spread strawberry jam on the bread and set it on the table, then lay back in bed.

“Eat quickly. Sorry, I’ll sleep a little longer.”

I closed my eyes, leaving Baron staring blankly. Just a little more rest, then back to work.

***

Later, a dream begins:

My heart raced. The air smelled of smoke and herbs, thick and hot, making it hard to breathe.

“Princess! Open your eyes! You’ll die if you don’t!”

Startled, I opened my eyes. The luxurious room was on fire, and I crouched in fear.

Instinctively, I looked for an escape. There must be a secret passage…!

“Hurry! This way!”

A woman in a knight’s uniform pushed a burning cabinet aside with her bare hands, seemingly unhurt. A passage appeared behind it. I dragged my trembling legs toward it.

A mirror on the wall caught my eye.

A girl with platinum hair, blue eyes, and a pretty dress, looking like a mid-teen, smiled.

Following her into the dark passage, I heard shouting from afar:

“Everyone evacuate!”
“The king and queen?”
“They’re dead! We only can’t find the princess!”
“Then find her!”
“We can’t! The place is collapsing. Get out!”
“Ahhh!”