Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Grandma Can't Pass By a Hungry Child (1)
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We relied on the patissier's map and headed out to the suburbs. At the entrance to the forest, a small village appeared. It was a neighborhood with more ruins than inhabited houses. After crossing narrow, shabby streets for a while, a cabin-like house came into view.
"People live in a place this remote?"
It was a house that wouldn't be strange if it collapsed at any moment. But separate from the dilapidated building, it reeked of human habitation. White smoke billowed from the chimney like clouds. An old dog lounged in the yard, and the fence was mostly crumbled, propped up only by plant vines.
"Master, what should we do? Should we check if someone actually lives here?"
"What? Are we here to fight?"
"We're not here to fight, so don't get excited!"
Enbi was already peeking at the shabby house, her fighting spirit ignited. Pippin struggled to hold back the wriggling Enbi.
"There's signs of life inside! Is it a strong one? Doesn't seem like there's anything strong?"
"We're here to visit an old person! There's nothing more barbaric than attacking an elder!"
"Oh! So the old person is strong?"
"That's not it!"
Dalia pulled at my hand and shook her head.
"Brother. Pippi looks tired."
"No choice. We brought her along to make use of her like that."
Enbi thrashed to break free, while Pippin fought to restrain her. Instead of bothering to stop the two, I headed toward the door.
With the fence almost completely collapsed, I had to knock on the front door directly. It wasn't a very noble-like sight, but I seemed to be the only normal person capable of entering the house.
As I approached the entrance, crunching small weeds underfoot, the wooden door creaked open with a squeak before I could even knock.
The door, which could break at any time, caught on a stone with a clunk. A small shadow darted out from inside.
"Who are you?"
The homeowner was a very short old woman. I had to bow my head low to see the top of hers—it was about Dalia's height. Her hunched back made her seem even smaller.
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Name: Paba Dairy
Job: Retired Patissier
Personality: Affection - The loving feelings toward the target are conveyed, making mutual affinity rise easily.
Trait: Talent - The quality of completed crafted items increases by one level.
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A retired patissier. And with a trait to boot, she clearly wasn't an ordinary old lady. They said her pastries were amazing, and maybe that trait amplified the effect.
'If it's pastries from her, even that ocean idiot might be impressed.'
My plan was perfect after all. I nodded in self-satisfaction.
"Strangers, huh? What brings you all here? Is something wrong?"
The small, skinny old woman approached with quick, chick-like steps that tapped intermittently. Dalia stared at her intently, then stomped her feet excitedly.
"Amazing grandma!"
"Dalia. Use more refined language."
"Refined... incredible grandma!"
"That still sounds off somehow."
I approached first. Dalia fluttered her skirt hem and greeted the old woman. I also slightly bent at the waist, matching her eye level, and bowed politely.
"Hello, Teacher Paba. I'm Duke Sierra Gluttony. I came on the recommendation of your student from the lady's household. She said you're a master of pastries."
The old woman looked up and met my eyes. Her eyes were cloudy with age. Yet the smile on her lips had a childlike innocence.
"You came after hearing of my fame?"
Hahaha! She burst into loud laughter. With each laugh, the hairpin ornaments in her neatly combed-back hair shook. She thumped the ground with her thick wooden cane, then suddenly grabbed my hand and started shaking it vigorously. Contrary to her frail appearance that seemed ready to topple, her grip was no joke. Her wrinkled hand was about the size of my palm, but its strength rivaled Pippin's, who could crush magical beasts.
"A little old lady like me with no fame to speak of. Though I do have fond memories of baking pastries and serving them to guests in my day."
"Could we experience your skills as well, Teacher Paba? I have a guest who's setting foot on land for the first time."
"You want to experience my skills. You want me to bake pastries... that's what you're saying, right?"
The old woman chuckled softly and shook her head. She wore a gentle smile, but it was clearly a refusal.
"Sorry, but that's not possible."
Her small, worn shoes shuffled backward.
No! You're the only one who can make pastries to move Enbi right now!
I cried out urgently.
"Please, I beg you!"
She's the teacher raved about by the head chef of the most luxurious shop in the capital. With her, even that empty-headed Enbi might give a meaningful reaction.
"I'll pay any fee you want. Isn't the cabin quite rundown? I can hire people to build you a proper mansion."
"Heh heh."
"Money, jewels—name it."
"Money and jewels. Such a confident young man. But it's not a matter of money."
"If I may be so bold, is it a lack of strength? What if I provide assistants?"
"Yes, I do lack strength. I can't even walk to the lake anymore. My body is so weak I can't do my daily strolls. Sigh, I wonder if I'll make it through this year."
The old woman suddenly clutched her forehead as if dizzy and staggered. Her expression was so serene it was hard to tell if she was truly ill or acting.
"No, more than that, this old heart of mine has caught an illness..."
The atmosphere around the old woman, blinking her small, wrinkled eyes, was anything but ordinary. She clearly had something specific she wanted.
Ah, I have a bad feeling this is going to be a hassle.
'She looks like the type to give an annoyingly bothersome quest just from the vibe.'
She neither backed away nor invited us in, just standing there in confrontation. She was obviously waiting for us to ask first.
"Ahem, oh dear, this heart that's about to croak from old age has fallen ill. Ill, I tell you..."
"Ah, yes..."
If I astutely asked what the problem was, she'd probably send me on some trivial errand. That was how this game progressed.
I'd forgotten since I hadn't paid attention, but the original game had minor quests like that. Hunt wild animals, deliver items, pass letters, and so on.
'Once I tried them, the rewards and content were all pretty worthless.'
At first, I thought even these little quests were important and sought them out one by one, but later I realized they were pointless and started skipping them. The rewards weren't great, and the content was boring as hell.
I figured these small quests were just stumbling blocks like rocks in the road, padded out to extend playtime.
And now, that lame mechanic was picking a fight with my smooth 'make Enbi happy' plan at the worst possible time. Holding the item hostage and forcing a boring quest on me.
What does this grandma want? I hope it's not anything major.
'Come to think of it, there was something like this too.'
The "help the grandma who lost her granddaughter" quest. Not sure if this is that grandma.
I rubbed my face dry repeatedly, forced a smile, and tilted my head.
"If you're facing any difficulties, my companions and I might be able to help."
Not that I really wanted to.
"What's the matter?"
"Oho, it's a big problem. Lately, I can barely eat or sleep."
"Yes... Did you perhaps lose your granddaughter and are heartbroken over it?"
"Oh, exactly! Have you met our Cookie by any chance? Such a lovely child. Not much to look at, but..."
A sigh escaped me. Of course. I knew it would be a quest like this.
It was a quest I remembered from previous playthroughs. The grandma living in the suburbs loses her granddaughter in the nearby forest and is devastated. The heroine Anemone, out on a suburbs date with a capture target male lead, happens to run into this grandma.
'Maybe the quest triggered because I came with Enbi.'
As intended by the game, Anemone feels sympathy for the grandma's plight and convinces the male lead to search for the granddaughter together in the forest. The quest difficulty itself was low. The lost granddaughter wouldn't be far. Walk a bit into the woods, and you'd reach the lake. She'd probably be around there.
'Not hard so much as annoying.'
The girl was hidden in the background illustration like a hidden object game. Find the hidden girl and talk to her. She sniffles and says she got lost while picking wild strawberries for grandma's berry pie. Then take her back to grandma and quest complete.
The quest reward was "Grandma's Special Berry Pie." A simple item that restored stamina—not amazing, but useful.
As for taste, well, it was delicious. No matter which capture target you brought, they'd marvel at how good it was. Even that icy crown prince.
'Annoying, but... the pastry effect is promising. Should I just accept it? This quest.'
I pondered for a moment. I glanced at the pitiful-looking old woman, the rundown cabin, and my companions.
"Hmm."
My answer came quickly.
Reject this quest.
The reward was too stingy compared to the hassle. Walking to the lake was annoying enough, and right now I had three pieces of baggage.
Sorry to call Dalia baggage, but it was true. No way could I drag a five-year-old on a bothersome journey.
On top of that, I had Enbi, who was like an untamed beast.
Even the usually reliable Pippin was honestly baggage-level right now. Pathetic, constantly bickering with Enbi and whining for me to take her side.
'No way. No need to go through the trouble for some pie.'
Missing out on the master's pastries was regrettable, but substitutes could be found anywhere. If push came to shove, tackle other events first. I wasn't the type with the leisure to meddle in every stranger's affairs.
'Reject it. Too annoying. Too much hassle.'
Just as I was about to turn away with a blunt "That's too bad," Dalia ran forward and grabbed the old woman's hand.
"Grandma's family got lost?"
"Yes, little miss. This old lady is very sad. That's my only family left now, and I haven't seen her for a while. Something must have happened. Our poor Cookie..."
As the old woman started wailing, Dalia tugged at my clothes.
"Dalia, hold on."
"Brother, brother."
No way. If she's the future villainess lady, she'd tell me to heartlessly abandon the old woman and go shopping.
"Let's go find Grandma's Cookie. Her Cookie."
Please, no. This brother doesn't want to do some trivial little quest.
"Huh? Brother."
Her expression was so pitiful I couldn't refuse. Clinging to a sliver of hope, I coaxed Dalia.
"Dalia. Aren't your legs sore? Aren't you tired? Don't you want to go home? Finding Cookie means walking a whole lot."
"No! It's okay! Dalia wants to find Grandma's Cookie!"
Such un-villainess-like kindness. Touching, so touching...
It would have been better if she were just wicked.