Chapter 158: Nara’s Efforts

Chapter 158

Nara’s Efforts

Since the city of Set was preparing for its biggest event in decades, the town had been bustling for some time. No...Actually, the commotion began with the news that the eldest young lord of the Setter family had recovered. The excitement in the city significantly boosted trade as well.

Ellie’s village was a small, insignificant one, yet it still benefited greatly from this situation. Firstly, everyone’s trade improved. Many merchants traveled to the village to purchase raw materials back to the city themselves. Although the head of the Setter family didn’t use ordinary crops to welcome the guests, those not attending the event, including followers and guards, still needed to live outside while waiting for their masters. Consequently, many goods started running out.

Ellie seized this opportunity to sell quite a lot of pumpkins. These pumpkins had been stored in her dimension for a while. Currently, she was growing mostly herbs, with only a small section reserved for personal food crops. Although it was mentioned as a small section, thanks to her botanic power, the crops grew quickly and yielded a large harvest. Therefore, she had plenty to sell.

Nara remained a good fellow student. After seeing Ellie place over 40 pumpkins for sale to the visiting merchants, she provided an explanation, saying that Ellie had grown the crops well at the institute and that these pumpkins came from there. This allowed Ellie to avoid giving any elaborate explanations and made her feel good that someone was willing to speak on her behalf.

Of course, Ellie selling a large number of pumpkins made some villagers want to take advantage of her. Many suggested that Ellie should have enough money to buy herbs for concocting potions. However, she explained that she needed to save money for living expenses at the institute, and the money from selling these crops was barely sufficient. She also mentioned that if anyone was kind enough, she would like to borrow additional money. Because of these words, many people distanced themselves from her. Some kind-hearted individuals did lend her money, and Ellie gratefully accepted, intending to repay them later.

Finally, the day of the party arrived. Ellie had instructed the Setter family to wait outside the village and not to send anyone to pick her up, as it would draw too much attention. That morning, she went about her usual routine, planning to depart in the afternoon and hoping to arrive before nightfall, as the party was to be held after dark.

If it were an ordinary journey, it might take a long time. However, with the Setter family’s transportation tools, it wouldn’t take much time at all. As soon as Ellie said she was ready, she could reach the city of Set in an instant.

Thus, she had nothing to do all day. She postponed her power training and magical crystal absorption, treating the day as a rest before the upcoming chaos. More importantly...she wanted to observe the actions of the heroine, who was trying to attend the Setter family party.

Being a perpetually lucky heroine, Nara seemed to realize that she always received help from the "mountain" near the village. Many times, she benefited from it by sheer coincidence. Since she couldn’t find any other way, she ventured into the forest early in the morning to try her luck.

Throughout Nara’s journey, Ellie, who controlled a wide area of the forest, was surprised by the paths Nara took. Many times, as Nara walked, she stumbled upon hidden routes or spots where Ellie’s spores had not yet reached. Fortunately, following Nara in advance proved beneficial. The spores, controlled to accelerate their spread, reaped numerous advantages from this unexpected exploration.

Who would have thought that wherever the heroine’s feet landed, something amazing would be waiting ahead? Even a secret manual suddenly appeared in a cave Nara entered by chance.

Fortunately, Ellie’s spores managed to decompose them in time and absorb their power. Otherwise, the heroine would have gained another incredibly cheating skill.

Or take for example, the accidental discovery of a valuable herb, one that seemed impossible to find. Such as a fire-element herb, which if consumed, would greatly increase the purity of one’s fire elemental power. This rare herb appeared in a forest where many people had passed through to hunt for years without ever finding it.

If Nara had obtained that herb, perhaps with this herb, Aman might have taken an interest in her and allowed her to attend the Setter family’s event. Someone like Aman...who would trade allowing a single ant into the event for huge benefits, would certainly do it.

However, Ellie would never let Nara reap such benefits. Therefore, many spores decomposed these valuable finds, nearly advancing their own level immediately. Following this great heroine indeed brought great advantages.

All morning, Nara wandered the forest like a hamster on a wheel, but in the end, she couldn’t find anything to bring back. She felt that something was constantly disturbing her, making her feel slow with every step. Though she had this feeling, she couldn’t understand what it was, so she returned to the village in a dejected state.

“Nara, where have you been, dear? It’s lunchtime. Come, I’ve made plenty of your favorite dishes,” her mother warmly welcomed her. But when Nara saw the bits of meat in the bowl, a trace of mockery appeared on her lips.

“I’m not hungry, Mother. You and Father go ahead and eat,” Nara said before floating off to hide in her room.

Her small hands clenched tightly in anger. The food she once liked was just scraps of meat. How could it compare to the meals the Setter family provided for Ellie? Besides...all this time, even the junk food at the institute was better than what she had at home. If the institute food was junk, then at home...what should this be called? Dog food!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. While the Setter family was hosting a grand event, and Ellie was surely attending, she had to live in such deprivation. Was that fair?

“Damn you, Ellie!! Why does it have to be you! Why, why, why not me!!” Nara nearly smashed her door in frustration, her small voice escaping outside, causing her mother to feel a bit frightened.

Since Nara had grown up, she had never thrown a tantrum like this before. Who would have thought that after returning from the institute, Nara would seem so different? Her behavior and the way she looked at her mother now carried an air of disdain. Every time Ellie was mentioned, Nara seemed to fly into a rage.

Even though she always said that Ellie was just a pitiful child without power, why was she so angry with Ellie? Was there something more going on at the institute?

No! Perhaps ever since the issue with Ellie’s house...could it be that Nara didn’t want to give Ellie the magical house-building equipment, but Ellie stole it instead?

The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Otherwise, why would Nara be this angry with Ellie? They acted normal in front of each other, but behind the scenes, was Ellie bullying her daughter?

Yes! Nara’s mother was getting carried away with her thoughts. Now, for the sake of her beloved daughter, she would certainly have to do something about this.

While the mother thought one thing, the daughter was thinking another. This was truly a pitiful family, so pitiful that it made Ellie, who was watching, sigh.

“Well, by now...a heroine like you should figure out what to do if you want to attend the event.” Ellie rested her chin on her hand as she watched the mother and daughter fret over their own plans.

It didn’t take long—just past lunchtime—before Ellie finally saw someone appear in front of her house.

“Ellie...I’m so glad you’re home. Otherwise, I would have brought food here for nothing,” Nara called out to the girl who was sipping tea on her porch, her demeanor bright as if there had never been any issues between them. Ellie didn’t refuse and let the charming heroine into her home.

Nara walked past Ellie’s household items with envy, but now was not the time to express her desire for these little things. What she wanted was far more important—it was “opportunity,” something she had always longed for.

In the past, Ellie had been lucky to have the chance to get close to the Setter family, merely by a fortunate accident, right? Just by finding something that Lord Koross of the Setter family had lost and returning it, she gained the Setter family’s interest. If she had been the one to get that opportunity, she would certainly have received more recognition than a fool like Ellie did.

Nara walked up to the second floor, to the balcony where Ellie was sitting. The girl flashed a radiant smile at Ellie. Their eyes met, and if it weren’t for the smiles on Nara’s face, it might have looked like a scene where they were about to fight and kill each other...Mmm, saying that was not entirely correct. That’s because, even with the smile, it didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any conflict afterwards...

“Come on, let’s eat together. I made this meal with my own hands today.”

Nara sauntered in, acting very composed, though she was quite anxious inside. However, visiting Ellie like this was her last resort. It was as if Nara came here to gamble on whether what she believed was true.

After placing the bowl of food in her hand down, Ellie saw what was inside. It was as if past events were repeating themselves. The food in the same bowl looked just the same as before. If she were the old Ellie, she might have been reminded of the time when she had no one, and only Nara offered a helping hand. But now, as the new Ellie, a mocking smile appeared instead.

Who would have thought that what Nara brought was the same food she had made before? Ellie was very familiar with this sight: food consisting only of warm water and simply boiled vegetables. The first time she inhabited the girl’s body, this was the only food she saw from the heroine, who had been her idol.

“This meal is quite familiar,” Ellie couldn’t help but comment, to which Nara deliberately smiled.

“Yes, I thought that if it were you, Ellie...you’d definitely recognize it.”

“Trying to remind me of a dreadful past like this, you must have some plan, right?”

“Oh my, why does Ellie always think so negatively? Back then, if it weren’t for this plain-looking food, do you think you would have survived? It’s true that this food doesn’t look appetizing at all, but for someone who hadn’t even had plain water, warm water and a few vegetables were enough to keep you going. Surely, you wouldn’t criticize me and think I was being heartless, would you?”

Nara waved her hand; her words implied that she was the benefactor who Ellie should feel grateful for her past kindness. Of course, Nara didn’t truly believe that. Seeing how much Ellie had changed, she knew Ellie would never appreciate the hastily prepared food.

No! Ever since Ellie accused her of stealing money from the vegetable sales, Nara knew Ellie must have realized that the vegetables were grown by her parents. But doing this, Nara wasn’t trying to claim any credit; she was just doing the bare minimum. Her mother prepared meat dishes for their family, and if Nara had to bring food, it was only those dishes. Did she want to give those dishes to a disobedient dog? Absolutely not!

“Just say it, what do you really want?” Ellie asked directly, tired of the back-and-forth. Nara giggled, looking quite charming.

“Alright then. Actually...I just want to attend the Setter family’s party. Could the future lady of the family take me along?” Upon hearing this straightforward request, Ellie couldn’t help but laugh.

“Even if I could take you, why should I?” Ellie lifted her teacup, acting as if she wasn’t interested in the request. However, Nara’s next words made Ellie smile.

“How are you going to the party alone? Aren’t you worried the villagers will get suspicious if the village girl suddenly disappears on the day of the Setter family’s event? Moreover...once you show up at the Setter family mansion, many people will start talking about it.”

"From what I’ve observed all along, you don’t want everyone to know about your status, right? Whether it’s because of how Lord Arman keeps bothering you or how the Setter family gives you so much attention. I don’t know why you’re doing that, but...if I appear at the event with you, it will add another condition, won’t it?"

"Because the two of us are scholarship students from Set City, it’s not surprising that they would invite us to the event. I think this proposal isn’t too bad. Or what do you think..."