ALL NOVEL 53: The Usual Summer
In the end, Riol spent the entire vacation seeking guidance from Grandpa Al.
Grandpa Al seemed to take a liking to Riol’s thirst for knowledge and taught him without a frown.
Sorry for my lack of ambition?
Still, with such a top-notch teacher for free, is there any point in attending the academy in the royal capital?
Wouldn’t it be better to study under Grandpa Al here instead?
“Indeed. However, attending the academy is not solely for academic purposes. Interacting with peers of the same age is also an important aspect of learning.”
Burton gently lectured me.
But Riol was muttering, “Should I just skip ahead and graduate…?”
I doubt Riol can manage socializing, though.
“You’re not one to talk,” Riol laughed coldly at me.
Is he pointing out that I don’t have any human friends?
I have a countless number of spirit friends!
So there!
In early July, Benjamin arrived with a broad smile.
The jam sold like hotcakes to the wealthy in the neighboring region.
“The power of the word ‘limited edition’ was beyond imagination! Thanks to the baron’s innovative ‘taste test’ suggestion, everyone eagerly purchased it! The first batch of fifty jars sold out in no time, and the additional fifty jars you prepared also sold out through reservations! We’re currently waiting to produce the final fifty jars, but those are also already spoken for! After selling out the radberry jam, we’ll be selling a hundred jars of blueberry jam. Thank you so very much!”
Benjamin was sweating profusely and speaking rapidly as always.
Indeed, after the radberry jam, blueberry jam production will follow.
This year, we’ll provide blueberries from the garden at the mansion and my botanical garden, but from next year, we’ll need to create a blueberry field.
After the blueberries, we plan to experiment with vegetable jams and aim for sales next year.
It’s a great thing to create new specialties on our own!
In mid-July, it’s the season for white peach gifts.
When I asked Mee-Mee for saplings, two magnificent trees were planted without my permission. With the sapling planted two years ago, there are now three trees.
Even though these two trees weren’t bagged, they bore plenty of pink fruits.
The harvest time was early, and it’s thanks to powerful magic!
With Billy and the spirits’ help, we’ll carefully harvest them.
We have special trays prepared for the peaches, so we’ll harvest them one by one.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it!
“Spirits, please handle the upper parts of the trees. Billy, please take care of the lower parts. To harvest a white peach, gently grasp it, twist, and pull down. Be careful not to leave fingerprints. But if you make a mistake, we’ll all eat it, so don’t be too nervous.”
With my vague knowledge, I gave orders confidently.
“Okay!”
“Understood.”
The spirits and Billy responded well!
The only one who’s difficult is Mee-Mee!
Now, shall I harvest the lower parts too?
Huh?
Oh no…
“…Young master, shall I lift you up?”
Tom, who happened to pass by, offered help when he saw me jumping and reaching.
Grrr.
In the end, Tom gave me a piggyback ride, and I managed to harvest just a few before my task ended.
When I stretched my hands upwards while riding on Tom’s shoulders, my head tilted back and wobbled.
Tom had a hard time balancing, and we just kept shouting.
“…This is dangerous, let’s stop, young master.”
“Okay.”
I should drink lots of milk…
Sniff.
Feeling a bit down, I came to the workshop and handed freshly harvested peaches from the magic bag to Burton.
Burton and Martha sorted the peaches and carefully packed them in boxes.
I went back and forth between the garden and the workshop a few times, finishing my delivery job.
I feel so useless…
I was a little heartbroken.
Feeling dejected.
We shared the damaged or small peaches with the staff and the children at the orphanage.
Everyone was delighted to take them home.
This kind of thing is an employee perk, after all.
By the end of July, it was time for my brothers to return to the royal capital.
Summer always goes by in a flash!
The usual fruit packing task was done.
Starting with summer vegetables, radberries, melons, watermelons, white peaches, and of course, edamame and corn.
Oranges, apples, and mikan are must-haves.
This year, we’re adding the new super-sweet pineapple and ultra-sweet mango.
They should be grateful and enjoy these!
Mee-Mee also handed over white bread and spirit-marked jam, so I’ll pack those too.
Grandpa Al even said, “Include some potions,” and brought various top-quality potions, which I packed.
Should I also add a large pot of radberry juice?
Take as much as you can! Here you go!
I said it in an Edoite manner.
Just in the mood.
Sorry.
Wait, I just realized, isn’t this magic bag’s content too much?
…Maybe I should warn them just in case.
“Brothers, aside from the vegetables, make sure to eat the other things when you’re alone! Don’t let anyone see you.”
“We understand. We won’t share with anyone!”
“Of course!”
Hmm, it feels like they might be missing my point, but they’ll be fine, right?
I trust you guys, okay?
Make sure I don’t get scolded by scary adults!
“Also, there’s a pot of radberry juice in there, so don’t drink it all at once! You’ll get a stomachache.”
My brothers nodded solemnly.
No wonder, they drank it all at once before and got sick.
Martha scolded them a lot.
They were downgraded to using cups the same size as mine.
…Hehe.
Huh.
Something dark just crossed my mind.
Was it Mee-Mee?
I got a smack on the back of my head from behind.
Sorry, I won’t say it again.
“Well then, we’re off. See you at the Marquis’ residence in October, Father.”
Ren said his goodbyes to Father, and Riol also bowed his head, saying, “We’re off.”
“Take care on the way.”
Father nodded in acknowledgment.
I held Father’s hand and saw my brothers off.
I’ll see you again next year.
Bye-bye.
I felt a bit melancholic, but this busy season of summer isn’t over for me.
It’s time to harvest melons and edamame from behind the mansion!
I’ll leave the edamame to the retainers and harvest the high-end melons!
With a sunshade cloth attached to my straw hat, wearing Martha’s handmade farm clothes and boots, I’m all set for farming!
Let’s go!
From early morning, with dew still on the ground, I went out to the fields and carefully harvested ripe melons, putting them in the magic bag.
…The spirits are doing the harvesting.
I don’t have much to do, just standing in the corner.
“…Young master, was that outfit necessary?”
Lewis, standing next to me, pierced me with his warm gaze.
“Because Martha made it for me. She said it looked cute!”
“Ah, yes, yes. Very cute.”
He repeatedly said “cute” without any sincerity!
Hmph.
I’ll tattle to Martha later!
Thanks to the spirits’ excellent work, the melon harvest finished without any issues.
The high-end melons are resting in the magic bag in perfect condition.
Now, we just need to sell them!
This year, they’ll also go to wealthy homes!