Chapter 9

The mornings at the Lieble Vineyard start early, with the picking work beginning before dawn and continuing until noon, with a break for breakfast in between.

Living on-site is required for this reason, and Bruno, the owner of the vineyard, comes to wake up the workers before dawn.

"Lord Kent, Lord Kent, it's about time!"

"Ugh... ugh... ugh! Ughhh... ughhh..."

On the third morning since starting work, I let out strange groans as Reinhardt woke me up. This isn't because I'm doing anything naughty or engaging in abnormal behavior. I'm simply groaning from the intense muscle pain all over my body.

Lieble has a taste that combines grapes and kiwi, but its shape resembles cherry tomatoes. The harvesting process involves picking the fruits by hand from the trees. We fill the baskets hanging from our shoulders until they're full, then transfer the fruits to barrels, repeating this process tirelessly.

To be honest, it's tough! It's incredibly tough. I had never done physical labor when I was in Japan, so I was hit with severe muscle pain after the first day of work.

On the second morning, the muscle pain was so bad that I could barely move, and I made strange groans and movements, which made the other workers feel quite uncomfortable.

However, as a light attribute mage, I have the privilege of self-healing. I stretched while focusing on self-healing to escape the muscle pain hell. This morning, I asked Reinhardt to wake me up a bit earlier so I could finish my self-healing stretches.

"Ugh... ugh, ugh... haa... phew..."

Even though I try to suppress them, groans still escape. However, the other workers, who are also tired from the continuous work, show no signs of waking up.

"Lord Kent, wouldn't it have been better to wake up with everyone else?"

"No, that wouldn't do. I work worse than the others, so I need to at least start at the same time as everyone else..."

Among the workers at the vineyard, there are a few people around my age, but they are more physically built and accustomed to physical labor. When Bruno first considered hiring me, he was hesitant because I looked so frail. However, I used the story of coming from the west with a merchant caravan to gain his sympathy and get the job. I don't want to be a burden at work.

On the first day, I was much slower than the others, and there was a significant difference in our productivity. Yesterday, I improved a lot, but I'm still behind the others. Today, I want to work as much as, or even more than, everyone else. This early wake-up call is also to get pumped up for the day.

"Ugh... ugh, ugh... haa... phew..."

I can't help but groan, but the other workers, who are also tired from the continuous work, show no signs of waking up.

"Lord Kent, wouldn't it have been better to wake up with everyone else?"

"No, that wouldn't do. I work worse than the others, so I need to at least start at the same time as everyone else..."

Among the workers at the vineyard, there are a few people around my age, but they are more physically built and accustomed to physical labor. When Bruno first considered hiring me, he was hesitant because I looked so frail. However, I used the story of coming from the west with a merchant caravan to gain his sympathy and get the job. I don't want to be a burden at work.

On the first day, I was much slower than the others, and there was a significant difference in our productivity. Yesterday, I improved a lot, but I'm still behind the others. Today, I want to work as much as, or even more than, everyone else. This early wake-up call is also to get pumped up for the day.

"Ugh... ugh, ugh... haa... phew..."

I can't help but groan, but the other workers, who are also tired from the continuous work, show no signs of waking up.

"Lord Kent, wouldn't it have been better to wake up with everyone else?"

"No, that wouldn't do. I work worse than the others, so I need to at least start at the same time as everyone else..."

Now that my body is warming up, I'll go outside and wash my face at the well. It's mid-September, and while it's still hot during the day, the mornings and evenings are cool and very comfortable. As I wash my face at the well, I can see Bruno coming to wake up everyone from the main house. It's still before dawn, and Bruno is using a light magic tool, but I don't need it thanks to my dark attribute magic.

"Good morning, Bruno."

"Hey, Kent, you're up early. You're quick."

"Yes, I'll work hard today. I don't want to fall behind everyone else."

"Alright, that's great. Count on you."

"Yes!"

When I was in Japan, I was terrible at waking up in the morning and was often late or fell asleep in class. I wasn't staying up late, but I was always so sleepy that I would try to sleep whenever I had a chance. Naturally, my school grades were poor, and I received many lectures from my parents and teachers. However, since coming here, I haven't felt sleepy at all, which might be thanks to my dark attribute magic.

On the third day of work, the other workers seem to be accumulating fatigue, and they look sleepy and move slowly. This might be my chance to work as much as, or even more than, everyone else. I've only been working for three days, but I feel like I've gained some muscle. While it might just be my imagination, I'm not as tired as the others, so I can still work hard. This morning, I picked more than anyone else before breakfast, and even Bruno noticed.

"Hmm, Kent, you did the best this morning. You really worked hard."

I also received praise from Dino, Bruno's father, who has retired from the field. On the first day, he had a very stern look, so this feels like redemption.

"Yes, I'm sorry for worrying you, but I finally got the hang of it, so I'll be fine."

"Ah, that's great. That's great... Ow..."

"Are you okay?"

"Ah... no, I'm fine, but... this back of mine..."

Dino fell from a ladder during pruning work two years ago and has been suffering from severe back pain ever since.

"Really, I don't want to get old. Kent, you were groaning from muscle pain yesterday morning, right? But now you're all fine. You really can't beat the young..."

Actually, I'm cheating quite a bit, but it still looks tough, and I can't bear to watch.

"Um... Dino, I used to be a healer's apprentice and learned some massage techniques. If you'd like, I can give you a massage after lunch?"

"No, no, Kent, you must be tired too. You don't have to go out of your way."

"Well, if I have the energy left after my massage, how about a little bit?"

"Hmm... if you insist, I'll let you try."

Honestly, I can easily heal my own body, but I'm not sure if I can heal others' injuries or pain. So, I need to be careful not to worsen Dino's back and try to make it better.

The picking work continues until noon, with a break for breakfast in between. After lunch, there's a long nap, followed by fruit wine production work until evening. During the nap time, I massaged Dino's back. I had him lie down on a bench where everyone eats, and I gently placed my hands on his back. I applied pressure with my palms and released it repeatedly, just like when I heal my own muscle pain. However, I couldn't tell if it was working, and I was overwhelmed with anxiety, breaking out in a cold sweat.

"Ah, my back is warming up, and it feels good. Ah, this is so nice..."

"I'm glad... I'll continue for a bit longer."

"Ah, it feels so good, I might fall asleep..."

After about twenty minutes of massage, Dino fell asleep.

"Kent, that's enough. You should rest too. We have work in the afternoon."

"Yes, then..."

Following Bruno's advice, I returned to the dormitory for a nap. The nap time is about two hours, so I can still get plenty of rest. Bruno explained that the nap is taken to avoid the heat during the months of July, August, and September. Even if I start my nap later than everyone else, I won't oversleep thanks to the skeletal alarm clock.

"Reinhardt, wake me up a bit early in the afternoon."

"Understood. Have a good rest."

After the nap, Reinhardt woke me up, and as I was getting ready for the afternoon work, Dino came running, his face flushed.

"Kent, Kent, Kent! You're amazing, Kent!"

"Whoa, Dino, running like that... are you sure it's okay?"

"I'm fine. Look, my back, which was so painful, is now... look, look!"

Dino started dancing, smiling widely. It seems my first treatment was successful.

"I'm glad. It must be a good match for your body."

"Wow, I'm surprised. I went to the healing clinic in Volzard so many times, but it never got better. Just one massage, and it's so much better."

"Ah, it's just a coincidence..."

Oh no... did I overdo it? I hope I don't get suspicious...

"Kent, can you massage my wife's knee before the afternoon work?"

"Ah... sure, but I can't promise the same dramatic improvement as with Dino."

"Ah, I understand. Even a little improvement would be great."

"Alright, I'll give it a try."

Dino's wife, Maya, injured her knee last year and ended up hurting her other knee as well. She now walks with a cane. I visited the main house and massaged Maya's knee in the living room. I used the same technique as with Dino, gently pressing and releasing her knee with both hands. I massaged each knee for about fifteen minutes, totaling thirty minutes, but I couldn't feel the effect myself.

"Um... how does it feel?"

After finishing the massage, Maya stood up from her chair, bent and straightened her knee, and then burst into tears.

"Ah... I'm sorry, it didn't work, did it?"

"No, no, it's not that. It doesn't hurt at all. I'm so happy... look, I don't need a cane anymore!"

"Wow! Maya!"

"You!..."

Seeing Dino and Maya hugging and jumping with joy, I felt happy too.

"Indeed, Lord Kent, you seem to have exceptional healing skills."

"No, it just worked this time, and I don't really feel it. I'm not sure if it will work in the future."

"Still as humble as ever. With your skills, you could become the best healer in the country."

"Hmm... even if that's true, I still have a lot of worries."

"Indeed, like the princess issue and your schoolmate issue. We'll deal with them later."

While it feels good to make people so happy, I can't become a healer until I make the evil princess cry properly.

"Then, I'll go back to work."

"Kent! You don't have to work today. Stay and relax here."

"No, no, I can't do that. If I don't work, it will be a burden on everyone else. I can't do that."

"I see... but you've done so much for us..."

"Dear, why don't we help out too?"

"Ah, that's right. My back is better now."

"Yes, my knee is better too... right?"

"Then, let's show the young ones our skills... Kent, let's go."

"Yes, thank you."

In the afternoon, the fruit wine production work continued with Dino and Maya joining in, making it a lively affair. Bruno was initially surprised by Dino's enthusiasm but relaxed when he realized his back pain was truly gone. The process involves crushing the Lieble fruits, removing the seeds, squeezing the juice, and transferring it to large barrels with yeast for initial fermentation. After that, the juice is filtered and stored in barrels for about three years to reach its best drinking condition. The crushing and seed removal require a strong grip, and transferring the juice is hard on the legs and back.

Dino taught me the tricks of the trade, and I was able to work much more efficiently than before. The other workers also seemed to learn from watching me, and we finished the work faster than usual.

After work, we took a water bath to wash off the sweat, and then it was time for the much-anticipated dinner. We eat at a large table in a corner of the warehouse, and the dinner with over twenty people, including Bruno's family and the hired workers, is one of the highlights of the day. Dino called me over.

"Here, Kent, sit here."

"Yes, eat a lot. You have work tomorrow..."

"Yes, thank you!"

Dinner consists of stewed vegetables and meat, bread, cheese, and boiled potatoes and corn. It tastes even better when everyone is eating together. Tonight, Dino and Maya were smiling and serving me, making it even more delicious.

After dinner, Bruno asked me to treat his frozen shoulder, his wife's shoulder pain, and the back pain and muscle pain of the other workers. Everyone was extremely grateful, but for me, it felt like a healing experiment, and I was the one who should be grateful. After a long day, I go to bed in the large room, preparing for the next day.

"Lord Kent, you've worked hard today."

"Thank you, Reinhardt... Wait, are you not getting tired anymore?"

"I haven't felt tired since I got this body."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"It's good for work, but if you find it boring, it might be a bit dull."

"I see... I'm a bit tired today..."

"Get a good rest."

"Okay, wake me up in the morning. Good night."

"Good night."

Practicing healing while working might not be so bad. I feel like I'm getting more accustomed to this world day by day.