46 46 "External Story: Jack and the Wonderful Bean Tree ②" (2/2)

Moreover, its color, which would normally be a healthy green, was yellow like a dead leaf.

You can see that there are about three berries inside, but even through the skin bag, you can see that they are quite hard and not suitable for eating.

How am I going to apologize to her? I'll have to make amends by being her dinner table.

Just as you are about to return to your system and offer your life as a survivor to her table, someone opens the door and appears.

It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to find out what's going on with the ...... and this gloomy atmosphere.

Oh, Lily. Nice of you to show up. Can you cheer up Jack for a minute?

”What?　What are you talking about all of a sudden, why do I have to go to ...... and get off my back!

The two of them come closer to me, pushing Miss Lily's reluctance.

It's nice to hear your concern, but I've already made up my mind.

It's definitely a pumpkin casserole.

Just as I was about to move, Miss Lily saw the withered edamame in my mouth and made a startled noise.

What?　Where did you get that?

”Hmm, Lily. Do you know what it is?

”You know what? That's not gold beans!　It's a fantastic golden soybean that rivals S-rated in value alone!

...... golden soybeans?

--Konk.

Yes, please.

When I heard her voice, I quietly opened the door.

”Hey, good to see you. Mistress Est.

That voice is ...... Jack?　It's been a while. How has the seed grown since then?

She asked fearfully and I rolled three seeds on the table.

That's all I could harvest from the seeds she gave me.

Taking them, Miss Esto smiled somewhat puffed up.

”Was that so. No, it would have been enough to harvest just three. The seeds alone weren't worth anything to begin with, and just three would be enough for a meal.

”No, that's not a bean for you to eat. Mistress Est.

Mistress Est shakes her head at my comment.

She touches the bean in her hand again, testing its texture.

It's too cold and hard to be a bean, almost like a piece of metal.

Yes, it is--

”No way, this is ...... gold?

Yes, she had a seed. It was a golden-fruiting demon called gold beans.

But they are even more difficult to cultivate than the mandragora, and where they live is a complete mystery.

Above all, they produce ”only one edamame”.

If it bears fruit, the tree will wither and die right away.

If the edamame produced during this short period of time is not harvested, the gold inside will die with it, a valuable monster with an S-class harvesting difficulty level.

The seeds that her parents had desperately obtained at the last minute were literally worth enough to cure her illness.

Mistress Est. Sell it and use the money to cure your eyes. That should bring you plenty of change.

I turn my back on her and go out the door again, just as I did then.

You can see her back, and she screams out in a jumble of emotions that can be taken as excitement, joy, and gratitude.

Um!　Thank you!　This favor will never go unnoticed by ......!　If my eyes are healed, you'll be the first to see your face!

She choked back tears and I said to her, ”You'd better not be doing that.

”I don't think that's a good idea.

”Huh?

I quietly close the door behind her as she is stunned.

She didn't find out my identity until the end.

But I thought that was okay. It was a monster that had taken her parents away.

She didn't need to know that the person who saved her life was a monster like that.

This is just one of those ubiquitous stories of a meddlesome pumpkin giving charity to a strange woman.

But still, as he left--

One day, when my eyes are healed, I will definitely come back to thank you!　Mr. Jack!

Her voice left a warmth in my pumpkin heart.