Chapter 47
Five days after they started to work as flower pickers, Maki and Chiharu had gotten into the rhythm of it . They started near the clearing and went in the opposite direction before coming back . When they did this twice, they were given snacks . This consisted of sweet soup, but the soup and dumplings within were different each time . The base was always potatoes, but sometimes there would be beans or sesame seeds in as well . Sometimes the potatoes had something mixed in with them . In any case, sweet food tasted especially good when you were tired .
They made two more rounds and then it was midday . For some reason, the guard was helping with the cooking . A large grill had been brought out and some meat was being cooked in lavish amounts . However, Maki and Chiharu were after the vegetables .
Of course, they would eat the meat as well . However, the small vegetables that resembled paprika or corn or other summer vegetables were especially delicious . Vegetables that were too big or too small to sell were brought here and cooked .
They rested a little here before making two more rounds and coming back . Then they ate steamed buns and then did three more rounds before finishing .
And at night, they would drink with Grudo . Sometimes the bird folk would fly over them to see how they were doing .
They were currently having an afternoon snack on their fifth day .
“You know, it really is nice to live like this . ”
Chiharu said happily .
“It really is . ”
Maki said as she picked up a flower . And then tossed it .
“To be honest, when I was still a student, I had this dream of getting a part time job harvesting corn . And then going on a trip with the money I made . ”
“But wouldn’t you need a bike for that?”
“Well, let’s ignore that for a moment . ”
“It’s impossible . ”
“Also, maybe harvesting kelp? I could work on an island for one month, and with the money…”
“Wouldn’t that also be hard without a bike?”
“Or even harvesting sugarcane . ”
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“…”
Chiharu seemed to really like the idea of a part time job in the farming industry . Chiharu and corn . Maybe . But Chiharu and kelp or sugarcane? It didn’t suit her . Besides, it would mean going far north or south in Japan .
“Well, maybe you do need a motorbike for that . But I was mainly scared of being alone . That’s why I never did it . ”
And there was also the matter of physical energy . Kelp and sugarcane seemed very heavy .
“And the dream has now come true . ”
She looked like she was going to dance . Maki opened her mouth .
“Please don’t break into a song . ”
“I-I won’t . What are you talking about!”
Chiharu said in a flustered voice . She finally woke up from her little dream .
“But, well, it’s nice to be able to move your body . ”
“Yes, it’s not bad at all . ”
This flower harvesting would end in another two to three days . After that, they were going to cut the stems . But that was for the men to do, and so Maki and Chiharu’s jobs would end there . They would do their best until then .
Just when they were about to come out on the other side…
Maki disappeared .
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“Huh? Maki?”
Chiharu took a step towards where Maki had been .
Something wrapped around her head . Then in her surprise, the basket was pulled off of her back . Then her body was pressed down and she was gagged . Something else was wrapped around her body and then she was thrown onto a wagon . Straw was then thrown over her . She didn’t even have enough time to scream .
Maki! Maki! As she moved around, she hit something .
“Mmm…Mmmm…”
“Mmm…”
It was Maki . At least they were together . Chiharu was relieved . But at the same time, she thought that it would have been better if one of them could have called someone for help .
There was no point in moaning against the gag, so she stopped to think . What had happened? Judging by what she had seen from the corner of her vision, there were four men . They had been waiting there in order to kidnap them . They had been targeted from the beginning .
Were they after the Saintesses? Probably not . Sadly, they didn’t even seem to be recognized as women .
So were they after children? But they didn’t look rich enough to be taken for ransom?
As slaves then? No, there were no slaves in this world .
No matter how much they struggled, they could not get out of the wagon . And they could not drop anything like Hansel and Gretel . In that case, they should at least try to take note of the direction they were going in .
However, they had eaten so many snacks and worked all day . Their bodies could not lie . The comfortable rocking of the wagon that was carried by levitation stones was like a lullaby to them .
And so they slept as the wagon entered the back gate of a mansion and entered the garden and stopped by a door . Then someone knocked on the door with an air of familiarity .
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“Tell your master that we got our hands on something very unusual . ”
“He is not in a good mood today . The princes have gone . ”
“That’s even better . We found two pretty boys . ”
“Hey, do not say that out loud! In any case, I will deal with this . Just wait a moment . ”
The nervous man said as he went back into the mansion .
The men moved the hay from the wagon .
“Hey, these two are unconscious . ”
“Of course, they are . They were tied up and left here for two hours . ”
“I hope he comes back soon . We can’t leave them tied up for too long . ”
Just then, the door opened .
“The master will see you . Come this way . ”
The men smirked and then picked up the two children . They held them like princesses .
Luckily, Chiharu and Maki were still sleeping . Maki would not have been happy to know this was her first time .
“They look to be about twelve . The poor things . ”
“Still, they are so skinny . ”
“He likes them like that . And at least we get paid . ”
They were led to a dimly lit room where the children were then laid out onto beds . The mayor arrived just as they were both untied .
“Ohhh . Blonde hair . We don’t have their type here . Take off their gags . ”
They did . While there were marks on their faces, it was still clear that they had smooth skin .
“Ohh, it’s smooth like cream . Small mouths, small noses, long lashes . ”
The mayor’s fingers traced the lines of Chiharu’s face .
“And this one here . ”
The mayor looked at Maki and seemed like he was about to drool .
“Such relaxed limbs . This is the moment before a boy turns into a man . How wonderful!”
Everyone else watching was disgusted, but they wanted their money .
“No one will follow them, will they?”
“They apparently came with the Midland soldiers, but they were ignored after coming to Gromble . They were forced to work in the flower fields to survive . ”
“Oh, and their family?”
“They were supposed to have come to Gromble to rely on relatives . But since they never went, that story is very suspicious . ”
“Hmm . Hmm . All the better . I was getting so bored now that those arrogant royals are gone . Good . I shall buy them . ”
“Thank you . ”
As this dark transaction went on, Maki and Chiharu were in a deep sleep .