Chapter 95.5 - The Second Year at the Academy - Suppliers and Servants (5)
With this, the troublesome little girl should be done.
I want to believe that, but there were still concerns.
It's Ted and Lily.
Two people from the Walbar territory who encountered Luchena, and what would happen if their place of origin was revealed.
Knowing that woman, she'll punish them for fleeing from the territory.
It'll be a diversion, too.
Ted is a member of the Adventurer's Guild and is under their protection, so there's not much to worry about.
Allowing punishment for those who fled from the territory would cripple the operation of the Guild.
If we indirectly warn them, the Guild will also pay attention.
So, Lily is the one in danger.
Because she works in the garden, the chances of an encounter are incomparable to Ted's.
No one would know the village girl she used to be, but we couldn't predict what would reveal it.
I separated from Doris and immediately went to the garden.
When I went to the back of the library and walked on the cobblestone path, I could see the dean carrying a bulging cloth bag.
When I put down the bag and straightened my back, the dean noticed me.
"Cleaning the garden?"
"Yeah, stuff that won't be useful."
"Altair-sama, hello."
Whether the dean overheard the conversation, Lily also appeared from the back.
She has been working in the garden for almost a year now.
She seemed to have become accustomed to her job and had the appearance of a gardener's assistant.
"It seems to be going well."
"Yes."
Surrounded by her favorite plants, Lily looked happy.
Having a vocation helps, but stable employment also brings peace of mind.
There's no sign of the emaciated little girl.
"Oh, by the way…"
Lily clapped her hands and pointed to a flower bed deep in the garden.
"Look, the Cislas grass has started to bloom."
"Is that… planted in the ground?"
Among the riot of colorful flowers, the Cislas grass was quietly blooming.
It's a material for high-level healing potions.
But it's delicate, so it should have been grown inside the facility. And in pots, too.
Wiping his hands, the dean stood beside me and watched as well.
"I'm trying to plant it in the ground. It's best if it grows naturally."
"I understand that, but doesn't it take more effort?"
"It does. Do you want to observe it up close?"
"Yes."
The dean asked Lily to finish the cleaning, and he led me deeper into the garden.
In a neatly organized flower bed, the Cislas grass was blooming.
It's still a beautiful flower, but it looks much weaker than the one I saw before.
"Can you collect nectar?"
"It's difficult. If we can provide a stable supply, we can lower the price of healing potions overall, but… it's still tough afterward, and we have to be patient."
The dean said this and plucked a withered leaf.
Magic guilds, commercial guilds, and some nobles cultivate plants that can be used as potion ingredients.
However, in those places, only robust plants like Celon Grass were grown, and the scale wasn't that large.
Increasing the cultivation area would require an increase in security personnel.
And it wouldn't guarantee absolute protection against theft. Unpredictable weather and pests further heightened the high-risk, high-return nature of expansion.
Especially with plants like Cislas Grass, which are difficult to cultivate, a complete loss would result in substantial damage.
So, despite cultivating them, the current situation was to limit the numbers under strict management.
"So, what brings you here today?"
"You probably know, but just as a precaution."
"The first-year student, right?"
The dean responded relaxedly as if having a casual conversation over tea.
His keen sense had not changed. Had he already been on guard?
"She's a considerably troublesome individual. Probably more so than you can imagine. Can you protect her, even as the dean?"
"Is it that serious?"
"I've already been through a lot. Just a while ago, too."
"I see."
With a calm expression, the dean cast a glance toward Lily.
"In that case, let's make a deal. From today, she's my granddaughter."
"Suddenly? Without her consent?"
"Of course, we'll get her consent. Besides, if she's my granddaughter, it wouldn't be strange for her to help me. Her background as a refugee doesn't matter."
The dean nodded with satisfaction, but I looked at him with a skeptical gaze.
"Aren't you using this as an excuse to fulfill your desires?"
"What are you saying, my boy? If she's a councilor's granddaughter, regardless of the circumstances, I can't simply take action on my own. No, I won't! It's the best means to protect her!"
He clenched his fist and spoke passionately.
He's still driven by personal emotions.
However, it's a good idea.
Indeed, it's not easy to interfere with her if she's the counselor's granddaughter.
What remains is Lily's decision.
There's also Ted's situation to consider, and there must be actual grandparents involved.
"To avoid making it seem like you're imposing your goodwill, please be extremely careful. Lily can't go against the dean's wishes."
"I-I understand."
Seemingly hit on a sensitive spot, the dean appeared flustered.
At that moment, Lily called out.
She had finished cleaning and had apparently brewed some tea.
We ended our conversation and sat down on the chairs for a break.
"We don't have the usual tea, but…"
"It's fine. I like black tea too."
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢