Chapter 77: I’ll buy all of them
While I was guiding Nimi to the instructor’s room, making tea, and chatting, Erika came to visit.
Erika had received permission from Croana to have Nimi guide her around the academy, so the two of them left the instructor’s room hand in hand, happily chatting.
Using this moment, I sat at the desk and started organizing the documents.
Normally, I would organize documents in the instructor’s room until around 5 PM, but today I planned to leave the academy right after training to head out with Nimi.
As I organized the documents, time quickly passed, and the training start time was approaching.
I stood up and headed toward the training field.
I was worried about Nimi and Erika’s whereabouts, but since they were still inside the academy, there was no problem.
After training ended and we left the academy, it was around 3 PM.
We were walking along 12th Street, lined with many stalls on both sides, holding hands.
12th Street was busy because the goods were relatively cheap and there were many rare items.
This street had many stalls set up by travelers from other countries and rookie merchants, so it was always fun to watch.
As I glanced sideways at Nimi, she was covering one hand over her mouth, shoulders shaking with laughter.
Actually, since we left the academy, Nimi had been laughing continuously.
I gave her a wry smile and said,
"Nimi, you’re laughing too much."
"Fufu, sorry, but fufufu."
Nimi was laughing so much because of what happened during training.
One female student tripped and fell during training, and when Nimi, who was watching with Croana, rushed over to help.
At that time, she gently stroked the student’s head and talked with her.
Because Nimi was good at listening to stories, gradually more female students gathered around Nimi. In the latter half of training, it became Nimi’s special time for interaction.
Even Lucy had been happy and smiled as she listened to Nimi’s stories.
I was watching that scene from a slightly distant place along with Roy, giving a wry smile.
Roy had told me that Nimi’s words had a strangely persuasive power.
If she said it strongly and bluntly, there would be room to object, but when she spoke so gently and clung to them, they couldn’t help but listen. Roy laughed awkwardly.
Even after training ended, the students didn’t leave Nimi, and finally Croana had to warn her.
While being laughed at awkwardly by Croana and Erika, Nimi had said it was dangerous to bring her to the academy.
And when she tried to leave the academy, several students ran over to Nimi and said, "Please come again."
Because that had hit Nimi’s funny bone, she had kept laughing since then. Even when she thought she had stopped laughing, she would laugh again as if remembering.
"Because I never thought I would be asked to be held back like that."
"I thought the same."
"I politely refused because I had work at the inn, but I did say that if you came to the inn, I would be there."
"That’s good... Croana won’t have to be troubled."
"Yes, fufufu."
While Nimi and I were laughing together, the stall I was looking for came into view.
It was mainly a stall dealing with herbs, and Nimi had often visited it.
The reason Nimi often visited the herb stall was that a small amount of herbs was used in Nimi’s cooking.
It was a very small amount that the eater wouldn’t notice, added for health reasons.
I hadn’t noticed either, so the adventurers probably hadn’t noticed either.
As I approached the stall, I met eyes with a woman who had purple hair a little longer than her shoulders and tied in a ponytail.
Her name was Rique. I knew her because I had bought from her stall several times.
Rique saw Nimi’s figure, shook her grapefruit-sized breasts, and waved her hand high above her head.
Nimi also smiled when she saw Rique and waved her hand small in front of her chest.
Seeing Nimi wave her hand, I smiled and thought,
...Am I weird for feeling maternal when a woman does this?
While Nimi was chatting happily with Rique, I was browsing the arranged herbs.
Among them, I found a rare herb and picked it up to inspect.
The unique palm-shaped form was definitely Cynisoe Grass.
Its effect was to improve hair gloss, and it was also a herb I had been secretly looking for.
When Rique saw me holding the Cynisoe Grass, her eyes sparkled and she said energetically,
"Raide-san, do you know about this grass?"
"Hm? Yeah, I know it, and I want it... How much is there?"
"You’re amazing! Um, please wait a moment... Here it is."
Rique said that, then started rummaging through the cargo bed of the horse carriage parked behind the stall.
As expected, when she saw my face she smiled and took out two large baskets about as big as a shopping cart.
When I looked into the basket she brought right up to me, it was filled with Cynisoe Grass.
When I held it in my hand and checked, the freshness was good and the harvesting method was perfect, so the shape was also good.
I smiled and nodded, then asked Rique the price.
But Rique answered with a troubled smile.
"Um~ I don’t know what this grass is used for... because it’s a rare shape, I picked it up, so the price isn’t decided yet~"
"...I see. Then, could you tell me how much it cost to go collect this?"
When I asked, Rique came closer and whispered that it was one gold coin.
That was reasonable, considering the horse care, travel costs, and how far away it was picked. I thought so.
I folded my arms, thought for a moment, took out a gold coin from my magic bag, and smiled at Rique.
"I’ll buy all of them for five gold coins."
"Yes!? Is this a joke...? Ah, this isn’t a joke."
"It’s cheap?"
"It’s expensive! Eh? What the heck is this grass?"
I beckoned Rique over, and when she approached with her head tilted, I whispered in her ear.
I told her it was for improving hair gloss and that I would keep buying it if it worked well.
Rique looked at me with a surprised expression and a suspicious gaze, so I told her to check tomorrow because Nimi would be using it.
Rique glanced at Nimi, who was tilting her head with a smile, and nodded.
Well, she didn’t seem completely convinced.
I put the bought Cynisoe Grass into my magic bag and left the stall after buying Nimi’s desired item too.
When I returned to [Suzuya], I immediately boiled the Cynisoe Grass in a pot behind the inn.
The method to use Cynisoe Grass was simple — pour the boiled water into a cool place and use it on the hair.
It had no smell or fragrance, no taste, and a slight green color.
When used on hair, it would produce a little foam, so it was best to use it while taking a bath.
If I asked if it was shampoo, the description didn’t say it removed dirt, so I didn’t think it was shampoo.
If it only improved gloss, it was probably more like a rinse.
It was ready in no time, and when I transferred it to a small bottle, Nimi, who had been watching silently with a puzzled expression, smiled and said,
"Nimi, will you use it?"
"Fufu, of course. Hmm, shall I use it together?"
At Nimi’s reply, I nodded a little shyly.
Nimi, seeing my reaction, smiled gently, took my hand, and led me into the living space of the inn.
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