Chapter 7
"You do seem to enjoy farm work!" Raquel san said indulgently. " Of course! This exercise feel very pleasant to me!" I replied, shuffling my feet to sprinkle fertilizer onto the cucumber roots, tapping the earth with the ladle to make the sediment more compact.
"It's common to exert for the experience, but the ambitious ones rarely stay. Come into the house soon after you're done, daughter. I made steamed buns, roasted chicken and pickled cucumber. Your favorites." Raquel san touchingly gestured from the porch. Standing up from her wooden chair, she turn to go into the house. The tabby cat in her lap, Sergei, meowed as he jumped off to follow his owner.
I quicken my movements with vigor, covering the soil from line to line with dexterity. "Score!" I could hear the goddess' flute playing in my ear.
It seems Raquel san made too much food again.
Raquel san live with her husband, Tom. Their son, Macken, is currently studying in college in the capital. A month ago, Tom and his son had a fight, Tom san was very insistent in making him continue the family job of farming. Feeling the expectations, Macken san compromised to take up the farm after a few years of growth. For now, a young hand was needed at this farm.
Thus, I am currently living an ordinarily peaceful life as a farm girl. However, a schedule where the rooster sing you to consciousness at 5:00 AM to start on various tasks until twilight arrive hasn't allowed me enough of a break to find a bakery. But today is a free day. Time to put my dog-like nose to the test. Maximum exploration power, go!
You'd expect stores such as a bakery to be in the village square. However, in all the times that I have been here I have yet to see any.
By the way, in addition to helping Raquel san work the field, I also change shift with her at the vegetable stand In the market. Though the work hours are by no means weak, until today I was relaxed, and happy days came with this way of living.
Dutifully, my feet by momentum led me out of the house and onto the gravel road, sidestepping traces of wild grass outlining where people and carts have yet to go through. On the side of the road, perfect rectangles and squares of land intersect, neatly bordering the low hills beyond the horizons where ranches and forest smooth the inclines. A lake nearby supply the village water supply, and many stories about fae were the talking topic of village children.
As to more of what's good, there's plenty of imports such as candles and letters delivered by carriage from the capital almost every couple of days, and the market is only fifteen minutes of walking to get to. The scent of warm air accommodated by appealing hints of their respective foods soon fill the air as I draw closer. The people often use the market as a place of socializing, and though there is a fair amount of opinions, thankfully no talk of engagement ever come up in this crowd.
Among the vibrating particles of warring smells, I try to grasp one that would surely bring delight. As if my heartbeat were the regularly rotating wheels of a train, I am determined to shamelessly follow the red thread of fate.
But alas, ending up with some grocery bags in my hands, I suffer the embarrassing defeat of not finding a bakery once again. Maybe even red strings of fate can fray.
"Yowl!" Before I could react, a white cat had jumped up behind me, snatching the bag of fish off my hand.
"Wait!" I exclaimed, rushing after the unexpected thief.
The cat darted into a shaded alleyway, and I anxiously followed. It finally stopped on the roof of a building, dropping the bag to the roof surface in a smug demeanor. I was about to climb the building and drag that cat down personally when the building door open and a melodious voice sounds through.
"What are you doing?.."
Ah. A girl caught me in the middle of climbing the building.
"Ya hoo! What a nice day it is isn't it?" I grinned and curtsied with one hand. It was lucky I wasn't caught in this position by a boy.
"Let's talk about the weather?" The brunette girl called from underneath. She had round glasses and her hair tied in double fish tail braid.
Why not.
"Um. There are such gentle breezes today."
No matter if it was a boy or a girl, having someone look up my skirt is at least mildly embarrassing. I in fact have no idea if I should climb down or continue towards the roof. But no way I'm going down empty handed if I've gone this far.
"Garfield?"
The brunette girl spotted the cat, recognition sparkling behind her circular lens.
"It's your cat isn't it?
Looks like he's stuck. Alright, I'm going to get him down for you!"
Turning excitedly, I climb up further, reaching my hand toward the cat, towards the bag of fish that it held. Within a moment swiped both the animal and my grocery. They didn't call me monkey for nothing.
Except my other hand slipped due to the sweat that's accumulated.
I closed my eyes. Readied for impact.
But it never came.
*THUD*
"Ungh" I groan, sitting up. The cat jumped away from the cradle of my arms. The bag of grilled fish slipped, strewn on the ground. So much for luck today.
I look down. Under me was the brunette girl, her glasses askance and a starry halo of dizziness around her head.
"Are you okay??!! I can't believe I killed another person with my butt!!!" I shook her intensely by the shoulder.
"Waahh?!" As if suddenly woken and realizing her situation, the brunette abruptly sat up.
*PYON*
My face was smothered by two heavy weights. It was hard to see or breathe.
"Mmm...Mfmpf!."
Looking around for the noise, the brunette's eyes landed on an eastern girl. Whose head was forced betwixt her breasts, and the poor girl was asphyxiating.
"Ehh?!" She pulled back sharply, relieving me of the suffocating pressure.
"Are you okay? I didn't kill you with my bosom right?!"
"I'm..okay" modesty returning, I scooted three feet away and stood up, a light blush spreading over my cheeks.
"I'm sorry for troubling you, miss-"
"Amelia. Amelia Laengsel. Pleasure to meet you." She held her hand out for a handshake. I pulled her up so that we both got to our feet. Suddenly we were very close due to the excessive force of the pull. I let go of her hand awkwardly, patting the dust off my skirt.
"Likewise. In any case, I'm sorry for falling on you. I swear, my hand just slipped! Are you sure you haven't suffered any injuries?" I attempted to speak, anything to break the sudden silence.
"Oh, none. Not at all. Thank you for saving my cat. He's a stray and just wander around this part. I sometimes feed him. Here. I'll help you pick up your grocery bags."
"No, it's OK. I can do it myself." I hurried to pick up the rest of the bags.
"It's alright, helping people is in my nature anyway. Say, were you looking for something or someplace?"
She must realize immediately that I'm not from around these parts. It really is a close knitted community.
"You're right. I was trying to look for a bakery. It seems this village doesn't have any. You see, my land lady doesn't let me bake. She used to let me do it, but since then she has become worried about kitchen fires. I'll have to starve I guess." I mockingly faked a dying shrug.
Amelia's cheeks puffed up. Then she bursts out laughing.
"Huh? What's wrong, are you OK?" I didn't think it was that funny of a joke?
"There is one in front of you right now. It's my family bakery."
"Ehh??!!" My eyes widen. The store in front of me does look like a bakery. Even better. It was a huge cafe! At last! I found a bakery. The thread of fate did not abandon me. The sign is labeled "Laengsel Efter". I haven't had sweets in so long that such a sight made me feel like a man discovering real water in a desert.
Snapping out of my astonishment, I asked:
"So does that mean that you work here?"
"Precisely, yes."
Now that I pay closer attention, Amelia's overall appearance really make its effect known. Twin braids, an aproned dress, and glasses. The definition of the infamous "Moe Moe Kyun!"
"Is this a maid cafe?" I nervously pointed, not sure if I'm ready for this.
"What's a maid cafe?" Amelia innocently replied.
That's right. The concept of maid cafe doesn't exist in this world.
"No, nothing, never mind." Hugging the groceries closer to myself, I turned to leave. But Amelia caught my wrist.
"Well then, would you mind discussing it with me over a cup of tea?"
What luck I have today.
"Yeah, gladly." I smiled warmly.
"By the way, you can call me Mel."