68 Passing of a month (2/2)

”Coming!!” Sarah yelled in response as she stood up from her stool with Isamu lagging.

As the two youngsters joined with Bren, the old farmer could not help but tease the both of them.

”I can't help but notice how awfully close you two are for the past month.” Bren eyed them with sly, most notably at Sarah, as he faces the young girl mischievously. ”No wonder you have been rejecting the romantic advances from the various young men from town. It appears that your preferences are… outside the boundaries of the racial norm. No offense, of course, hahaha.”

”What?!!… no!!” Sarah's face completely reddens like the color of the ripe tomatoes that were harvested not so long ago. ”W-what nonsense are you babbling about old man?!! We're just friends, and nothing is going on between us!!”

Isamu reacts as well, albeit calmly, in contrast to the human girl's reaction. A small blush also assumes in his face, but he does not make his awkwardness about the matter too obvious.

”Haha, of course, whatever you say, lass,” Bren smirks at the young girl's comical reaction. He then turns his gaze at Isamu as he taps the cat-folk's shoulders. ”She can be a pain in the ass at times, but

She's a good girl. Take care of her, alright?”

Isamu could only nod calmly in response, not even bothering to deny the older man's statement as it'll only open more teasing remarks coming from him.

After the teasing, Bren gave his final smirk as he joins with the farmers taking their lunch at a nice open spot near Krothu's manor.

”D-don't listen to him, Isamu.” Sarah stutters in her speech, unbecoming of her outgoing personality as she denies the old farmer's statements. ”Elder Bren merely enjoys making fun of the youth like us for his amusement.”

'Heh, she's actually cuter when acting all shy and girly.' Were the cat-folk's thoughts about the girl's current situation.

Despite his thoughts of attraction about the girl, Isamu merely shrugs his shoulders in response, not wanting to embarrass her any further as he gestures for them to join with the lunch as well.

Sarah happily nods as she allows Isamu to go first, staring at his back with a mesmerizing gleam on her hazel-colored eyes.

***

Lunch is served with bread and vegetable soup in a cooking pot to accommodate enormous portions for the farmers to eat.

While lunch is ongoing, Krothu emerges outside of his manor, causing all the farmers to acknowledge his presence with them standing up in an instant.

”I have an announcement to make.” The orc said loudly for everyone to hear as the farmers all listen attentively to what the orc is going to say. ”I have some business related to the guild. As such, I'll be leaving this afternoon and won't be back sometime until tomorrow at noon. In the meantime, Bren here will be in charge of you all.”

”What will you be doing in the guild, Baron Krothu, sir?” Bren asks on behalf of the farmers.

”The senior members of the guild tomorrow will be sparring against one another to showcase the whole guild a thing or two in some tricks about combat.” Krothu shook his head in annoyance. ”As much as I want to refuse, Malic insisted that I come, saying that I already missed the event two times, and doing a third might earn me a bad reputation to the guild.”

”Wait, that's tomorrow?!” Isamu reacted shockingly from the crowd. ”Damn, I'm going to miss the Guild Master's legendary combat techniques.”

”Tough luck for you, then.” Krothu simply comments with a smirk. ”Anyways, you folks continue the good job that you are doing, and I look forward to the fruits of your harvest.”

”Will do, sir.” Bren bows down with respect as all farmers shortly followed after.

After Krothu's announcement, he then went back inside the manor to make his preparations in departing to the town area.

The farmers then all went back to their respective tasks after finishing their lunch.

Somewhere in the background, a farmer with his face hidden with a hood ponders with a profound look, rubbing his chin as he considered the announcement that was given by Krothu.

'With the orc gone, now is the perfect opportunity to act.' The 'farmer' thought as he joins with his fellow workers, blending into their social circle like it was all too natural for him.