VOL 2 Chapter 61: A small display of kindness.

"Certainly, young master."

After responding in an elegant and professional manner, Seraphina guided the group to an empty spot nearby under the trees, where there was a short stretch of well-maintained grass. There, she spread out a beautiful cloth of a pristine white color, adorned with delicate, elegant embroideries in what looked like gold and silver near the corners. The cloth seemed more like a fabric fit for kings and emperors, rather than a simple picnic blanket.

The young guide felt her breath hitch slightly when she noticed the fabric, that seemed incredibly expensive, being used as nothing more than a simple picnic cloth. She could swear that fabric wouldn't look out of place if used to create clothing fit for the very king of the Auroria system.

But the surprises awaiting the young woman were far from over. Not long after laying out the cloth on the grass, the maid—dressed no less impressively than the other three lovers—placed upon it a gorgeous set of dishware that seemed straight out of a fairy tale. On it rested food that looked fit for royalty: from sandwiches to cookies, and even a risotto that appeared to be made from a rainbow, exuding an enchanting aroma that finally caused her stomach to roar loudly.

The group of four, who were seated on the cloth as they distributed the plates, turned in the direction of the roar only to find the young guide looking like a tomato. Her face deeply flushed due to the powerful sound her stomach had let out. At the same time, she bowed respectfully and then apologized, clearly embarrassed.

"I deeply apologize for my rudeness. I will be waiting at the fountain, so I can return immediately when you call me."

After her apology, the young guide headed for the fountain, but upon arriving there, she was surprised to find a beautifully decorated plate with several perfectly cut sandwiches that looked incredibly appetizing. Recognizing the plate, the young woman turned to look at her clients, where she found the star-haired young man laughing and waving his hand, indicating that she should eat them without worry.

Seeing his gesture, the young guide bowed respectfully in the direction of the young man, feeling genuinely moved by this small display of kindness—something very uncommon in her life. She then approached the plate, taking it with great delicacy and care, convinced that just this plate alone must be worth more than everything she had ever earned in her life.

After picking up one of the sandwiches, the young woman brought it to her mouth with trembling hands; but upon taking the first bite, her world seemed to turn upside down. The taste of that sandwich was beyond anything she had tried before—truly food for the gods—so much so that she felt a jolt of pleasure course through her body.

With that first bite, the initial sensation the young woman perceived was layers of artisan bread, slightly toasted and crunchy, which quickly gave way to a symphony of flavors: juicy, sun-ripened tomatoes, and fresh, crisp lettuce leaves that provided the perfect contrast. After that first burst of flavor, the next thing to delight the young woman's palate were thin slices of ham and cheese that melted in her mouth, each contributing its own richness and depth. Along with mayonnaise and mustard, applied precisely, they brought all the components together, creating a unique flavor experience that was simultaneously comforting and exquisitely refined.

Before she realized it, the young woman had finished her sandwich, leaving her with a sense of profound loss. She hurriedly grabbed another one to eat, but just as she was about to bite into it, she stopped. With a slight sigh and a hint of resignation, the young woman took a simple red handkerchief from her pocket. Although it appeared old and worn, it was impeccably clean and meticulously pressed.

Using the handkerchief, she carefully wrapped the remaining three sandwiches and tucked them into her skirt pocket with care, striving not to damage them in any way. Silently praying that they would remain intact until she reached home so that her siblings could also taste these godly sandwiches.

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After finishing their snack, the group left the square and strolled through a variety of tourist spots, led by the young guide. She never forgot to share a brief history of each place they visited, imbuing the beautiful locations with a historic and fantastical aura that greatly enhanced the experience.

When the sun was setting and a lovely orange hue filled the sky with a tranquil, serene ambiance, Erik bade farewell to the young woman after giving her a generous tip as promised. This brought a wide smile to her face, and she gave them several recommendations for good places to spend the night. After saying goodbye to her generous and pleasant patrons, the young guide left in the direction of her home, eager to see her siblings as soon as possible and share her good news.

Walking quickly, the young woman spent various hours traversing the cobblestone streets of the city, leaving behind the beautiful capital, abundant in beauty and art. She entered a neighborhood that seemed torn from another world, its deserted, narrow streets showing no sign of maintenance. Anyone walking there would feel only the neglect and despair that seemed to emanate from the surroundings.

The buildings, worn by time and abandonment, leaned dangerously as if about to collapse under their own weight. Coupled with the weak light from a few flickering lanterns and furtive shadows, this cast an atmosphere of constant vigilance over the area.

The young woman walked cautiously through these streets, fully aware of her surroundings, while clenching a worn-out knife tightly in her skirt pocket. She used the small amount of mana she possessed to slightly bolster her body, preparing herself to run home as quickly as possible—ever alert and expecting the worst.

After a time, the young woman reached a structure that was difficult to call a "home", without encountering many problems along the way. Its leaning, time-worn frame appeared on the verge of collapsing from gravity's pull, while its walls were riddled with cracks that spread out like veins. The roof, obviously battered, offered little protection from the elements, allowing rain and wind to pass through.

Despite its evident decay, the building concealed an unexpected detail. In spite of its tilted form—clear evidence of years of abandonment—the facade showed signs of meticulous cleaning. The walls, though marked by time and the harsh weather, were free of dust and dirt, displaying evidence of home remedies for maintenance and repair.

Even the tattered roof, which had several holes in different sections, had been patched up in multiple spots, making parts of the house habitable. It also showed signs of being swept and cleaned regularly, fighting back the inevitable accumulation of leaves and debris.

The young woman arrived at this unusual house in quick steps and promptly took a key from her skirt, opening the main door and stepping inside hurriedly. After closing the door, she leaned against it briefly, letting out a tired and somewhat relieved sigh. She usually did not arrive home so late, but her clients had been so generous that she did not want to leave them too soon.

In stark contrast to the battered exterior, the inside of the house exuded warmth and cleanliness, speaking to the care its inhabitants took. The inner walls, though marked by time, were painted in bright colors, and from them hung different photographs and drawings of three people, all displayed with great care and love. They seemed to recount the family's history and their most cherished memories.

After resting momentarily by the door, the young woman ventured farther in, stopping before an entryway covered only by a worn curtain acting as a "door". She pushed it aside and entered. Though the room contained merely an antique-looking bed in one corner, a small table, and a couple of wooden planks screwed into the wall as shelves bearing some neatly folded clothes, it was impeccably clean and well looked after.

The bed was made up with carefully mended sheets, and though the floor was damaged in several places by time, it showed evidence of constant upkeep, displaying lighter-colored patches covering various cracks. The same was true of the walls, which, like the exterior, also bore numerous drawings, giving the simple room a warm, homey feeling.

Once inside the room, the young woman removed from her clothing the plain bags she had managed to earn that day, then walked to a corner of the room where she lifted a small piece of the floor. Beneath it lay a tiny hiding spot containing several mana crystals, which looked a world apart from those she had received earlier that day.

The mana crystals in the hiding place were not only much smaller than the intermediate-purity ones she had gotten today, but also lacked the almost artistic appearance that mana crystals typically possessed. In fact, they were so plain that they hardly merited being called mana crystals at all, resembling tiny, random fragments of a slightly iridescent crystal stalactite.

Wearing a joyful smile, the young woman hitched up her dress and sat down on the floor. She took out her savings from the little hideaway and scattered them on the ground alongside the newly earned crystals, then began to count them carefully, trying her best to hold back her growing excitement.

"It's enough… It's enough!"

Nearly overwhelmed with joy, the young woman murmured to herself, clenching her fists and smiling widely, feeling that this had truly been the best day of her life. However, she quickly collected herself and began to put the crystals away in the bags, returning them to the small hideaway, which was now nearly full—an observation that further broadened her smile.

After covering her little hiding place once more, the young woman got up from the floor and walked over to a small table in the room, where she set down the red handkerchief holding the sandwiches. Along with her old knife. Then, she carefully removed her beautiful dress, leaving herself in simple underwear that looked somewhat worn and patched but, like everything else she owned, was very clean and meticulously cared for.

Now in her underwear, the young woman sat on the bed and began inspecting her dress all over with a focused gaze, looking for any damage that might have occurred during her work. She checked the seams, the hems, the ribbons and bows, until she finally spotted a small issue: one of the dress's buttons seemed slightly loose.

After gently testing how loose the button was, the young woman placed the dress on the bed and returned to the small table, where she picked up a spool of thread and a small steel needle. With these, she carefully re-sewed the button, making every effort to keep the original style of the stitching and avoid damaging the dress's design, preserving its beauty.

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