Outside the eastern suburbs of Koga City, there was an orchard—Claude had told him about this before.
Because the south was very hot in summer, transporting fruit from afar risked spoilage along the way, so some perishable fruits were also grown nearby.
But the taste wasn’t good!
That was Claude’s exact words at the time, so Sean figured he’d try to find the little girl’s peach seeds first. If not, he’d use his own seeds to start cultivating—it’d take some time, but a few months should be enough.
Or…
Maybe get Ignia to help out with magic?
Sean glanced at Ignia beside him. She was quietly following along without a word, with a 【Thoughtful!】 status hovering over her head.
“What’s up? So quiet today—that’s not like you.” She’d been nagging to come out for a stroll, yet now she was silent.
“Don’t talk to me, I’m mad right now!” She deliberately stepped aside.
This area was just outside the city, and Ignia knew it well. If they needed to find fruit farmers, they’d have to ask her.
“Oh~ So our pretty witch can get angry too… Hmm, what’s the anger about? Spill it.” Sean teased.
“Hmph, even saying that won’t make me happy.”
No angry status appeared above her head—it was just her mouth talking.
The silly act made Sean chuckle inwardly.
“Looks like you’re really mad?”
“Of course I am, and the one who made me mad is still making me mad!” Ignia turned to face Sean.
But Sean pretended not to get it.
“Who dares to make you mad?”
Hearing that, Ignia actually raised her fist and thumped Sean on the chest.
“Stop playing dumb, it’s you! Why didn’t you tell me who you were before? And you lied, saying you were a resident of Brukan Avenue, hmph…”
Ever since Sean’s identity as Baron Tyremian was exposed by Aria, he’d been staying at the Count’s house, so Ignia never had a chance to ask him face-to-face then. Later, at the Count’s place, she dared not bring it up.
Only now, when they were alone together, did she bring up that day’s matter…
“You didn’t ask me back then.”
“Who says I didn’t! I did ask, and you said you were a city resident.”
“Really? I don’t remember you asking.” Sean said.
“I’m telling you, I asked—figure it out yourself…” She shot Sean a fierce glare.
By now, they could hear the sound of flowing water.
This wasn’t a canal but a small stream that actually ran through the outskirts, and in the distance, they could see many wooden houses at the foot of a hill.
“The fruit farmers must live there. I’ve seen lots of people over there before.” Ignia pointed toward the cluster of houses.
People who could afford orchards outside Koga City weren’t poor. Their families likely lived in the city, and those staying here were either just checking in or, more often, hired workers.
“Let’s go check it out!”
The two walked toward the caretaker’s house.
The place was spacious, stretching from the base of the hill all the way to the distant foothills, with the nearby stream as a water source—a really good spot.
If he wanted to set up something this big in Tyremian, it’d take a long time. Using those seeds, who knew how long it’d take to cultivate!
The entrance to the orchard was blocked by a stone wall, so they had to go around by the caretaker’s house to get in.
And anyone entering would usually be spotted.
“Excuse me, who are you?” The caretaker was an old man around sixty.
Only someone that old could probably stand the loneliness of staying far from the city year-round. There was almost no one around, just a couple of younger children.
“I’m Baron Weigel, visiting from elsewhere. I’ve come to inspect and learn from Koga City’s orchard with permission from Miss Aria Hamil.” Sean wasn’t sure if that word was right, but he didn’t plan to use any other identity.
This was a private orchard, not a market.
If they wouldn’t let him in, no identity he claimed would matter. Only by directly stating his noble title and dropping the Hamil Count’s name would it get their attention.
Sure enough, hearing the noble status, the old man immediately stood up.
He instinctively knelt to greet them but was stopped by Sean.
“B… Baron!”
An old man who’d spent years in a suburban orchard wouldn’t know which noble family had what surname, but he understood the title—hearing “Baron” and even the Count’s daughter’s name, he naturally didn’t dare be careless.
“Don’t be scared. I’m just here to take a look. I want to plant an orchard on my own land, so I came to see this one.”
“Oh, oh…”
The old man kept nodding, probably not even hearing what Sean said.
For a simple, honest old man, he might never have had a chance to speak directly with a noble in his life. Suddenly facing one, he didn’t know what to do.
Sean didn’t mind much and just led Ignia into the orchard…
The orchard was huge, with quite a variety planted.
Besides several common fruits, there were even some vegetables inside.
This family really knew how to do business.
“How long has this orchard been here?” Sean asked.
“About thirty-some years. When I first came here, I was an apprentice—back then, I was just a trainee, and now so much time has passed.” The old man followed them, explaining.
Thirty-some years!
So he’d been here guarding the forest that long.
“The Joe Gillard family has planted fruit all around the foothills of Koga City—a very large area.”
“Joe Gillard?” Sean asked curiously.
“He’s the fruit king of Koga City, a famous wealthy merchant.” Ignia added beside him.
The three entered the orchard…
Though the old man was the caretaker, there were workers busy tending and watering.
Then, one worker squatting with a 【Panicked!】 status caught Sean’s attention.
“What’s going on over there?”
They walked over.
It was a kid about twelve or thirteen, who quickly covered the plants beneath him with his hands when he saw them coming.
“What are you doing? Weren’t you told to water?” The old man said angrily.
The boy’s hands couldn’t hide much. Behind him, at his feet, was a row of small saplings propped up with wooden stakes—they looked a bit like tomatoes but smaller.
But all the leaves were withered. A whole patch of about a dozen square meters of saplings had shriveled up.
“You… what did you do? Didn’t I tell you to take care of them!” Seeing this, the old man roared in fury.
“I… it’s not… waaah…”
The boy couldn’t explain and started crying.
“I took good care of them, watered them every day. But I don’t know why they turned out like this.”
“Nonsense, you must have slacked off and not followed instructions.”
As the caretaker in charge, the old man was naturally angry seeing this.
But Sean noticed the bucket set aside.
He looked closely at the water inside…
“Where did you get this water?!” He suddenly said.
Because the water in the bucket slowly showed its properties…
【Wastewater】.