Age 14 Part 6
After finishing breakfast, Mal and Fritz were getting ready to go to school. There's a temple where commoners can attend school for free. However, many children from poor families couldn't attend because they had to work, but Mal and Fritz seem to be attending it.
"Mom, after school, Fritz and I are going to the forest to gather medicinal herbs."
"The deeper parts of the forest are dangerous because of monsters, so don't go too far in."
"I know."
They discuss today's plans over breakfast. Since this is a family conversation, I can't really join in. But I wonder what gathering herbs entails.
"What's with gathering herbs?"
I ask Clue since I can't interrupt the family conversation.
"Mal and Fritz are registered with the Adventurer's Guild and earn money by completing simple requests. Gathering herbs is one of those tasks."
"If it's a simple one, then does that mean it doesn't pay much?"
"There are various kinds of herbs, and some are very valuable, but those are usually found in places where monsters appear. Herbs that can be collected where there are no monsters are easy to come by, so they're cheap. But there are people who still want those herbs, so it's perfect for kids who've just become adventurers to earn pocket money."
"I see. There are different kinds of businesses out there, huh."
By the way, what they learn at the temple school Marle and Fritz attend is reading, writing, and arithmetic. To aim higher, they would have to attend a paid school. Annette was talented, so she was able to attend the paid school for free as a scholarship student.
When Mal and Fritz go to school and gather herbs in the forest, I thought they might get hungry, so I wrapped some scones I had baked earlier in paper and handed them to them. They accepted the paper bag without saying anything.
"You don't have to worry so much. Those kids are used to not eating lunch."
Mother said that, but I still want to give the growing boys something to eat, at least to stave off hunger a bit.
There's no faucet in this house. Water has to be carried from a communal well.
While cleaning the house, I saw Mother carrying heavy water and filling the jar. Apparently, they use this water for washing dishes and cooking. There seems to be a communal laundry area for washing clothes, so I offered to carry water after bringing it, saying I would do it. Mother looked surprised.
"Water is very heavy. I don't think you can handle it."
Mother muttered while looking at my hands. I looked at her arms and hands. Indeed, compared to Mother, mine are thinner and less calloused.
But I have a trick up my sleeve, so it'll be okay.
"I'm stronger than I look. Leave the water carrying to the young me!"
Even so, Mother still seemed worried, so I suggested she go to the laundry area, and I went to the well with two wooden buckets. I actually didn't know where the well was.
"Clew, where's the well?"
"You took on the task without knowing where it is?"
Clew looked incredulous. But since Clue knows, it shouldn't be a problem.
The place Clew guided me to was quite far from the house. It would be tough to make multiple trips carrying heavy water over this distance. I'm glad I learned body strengthening magic.
There was only a girl about my age at the well. Since it's my first time using a well, I decided to observe her to learn how to use it.
The girl had green hair and chestnut eyes like mine. She had long hair braided into three sections.
It seemed to be a pump well, which was reassuring. I've read about it, so using it should be easy.
"Oops, I put in too much. It's too heavy to carry."
The bucket the girl was holding was large, and it seemed she couldn't carry it when it was full. She seemed hesitant to pour it out even though she had put it in.
"I'll carry it for you. How far do you need to go?"
The girl was surprised to see me suddenly appear. But she didn't mind, so I effortlessly picked up the bucket.
"Um, it's over here..."
She guided me towards her house.
"I'm Anna. I've just moved here, so nice to meet you."
"Huh? You're Anna? The Anna who was raised as a noble?"
Even though it's only been a day, it seems rumors are already circulating about Annette and me being swapped.
"Yes, but I'm not a noble anymore. I have a lot to learn, so please teach me."
"...I heard you were raised as a noble, so I thought you'd be scarier. And I thought you wouldn't be able to carry heavy things. Oh, my name is Marie. I live in this house. Nice to meet you too."
After filling the jar in the room, I parted ways with Marie. It seemed like they didn't have a stove oven in Marie's house, but they cooked using something like a fireplace. Their room was small, and I realized our house was quite big.
It was said that Annette earned money, but I wonder how much she earned with her healing magic. Can I really replace her?
After two trips, the jar was finally full. As I felt as full of accomplishment, Clew said,
"Hey, couldn't you have used household magic to transfer the well water to this jar? Was it necessary to carry it all the way?"
I wish Clew had told me that sooner.
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