Songstress of Schwarzwald: The Secret of Zoe, the Exiled Music Mage Chapter 58 : At Maggie’s Training Place!

Apparently, mid-grade herb collection is considered a Copper-rank quest.

That’s why the receptionist looked so unsure last ti and swapped out with her senior colleague, Miss Lena.

“Hm? So I’m not allowed to take mid-grade herb quests?”

I cross my arms and frown at the request board.

But it’s late autumn, and the forest’s edge is already picked clean of low-grade herbs—or they’ve withered away entirely.

“Maybe it’ll work out if I get in Miss Lena’s line.”

The reception line’s still long, so I wander over to the Copper-rank request board to take a peek.

Monster extermination...

Iron-rank three-star quests include mole-types, rat-types, and—ugh—bugs. I hate bugs.

At Copper-rank, there are finally so real monsters: Almiraj, Pyrebirds, Big Boars. Also three-star.

Yikes… escort missions! No thank you.

The idea of babysitting a client makes my skin crawl.

I have zero tolerance for people acting all self-important.

Growing up in the Great Forest, I never exactly learned how to people.

Maybe that’s why I find Matthew so hard to deal with?

He’s not bossy, exactly, but there’s this air about him—like his opinions should automatically carry weight.

Probably because he’s the next village chief or sothing.

Anyway, focus! Back to the quests.

Looks like there are a bunch of escort missions tied to the Great Forest’s logging operations. They’re listed as ongoing.

Like Walter said, even tree-pruning is a permanent Iron-rank quest.

Honestly, I could finish both logging and pruning in seconds using Air Cutter.

And digging up stumps afterward? Easy-peasy with Storage.

Not that I plan to show any of that off.

I used them freely when expanding our field in the forest, but only because no one was watching.

I should talk to Selina about this. She did say she promised the court mage of Sarina Kingdom that she’d co up with a plan to stop the forest expanding.

But is she actually thinking about it? She just lounges on the sofa reading novels all day.

The line at the counter’s shorter now, so I hop into Miss Lena’s queue.

“Is it all right if I take this one?” I ask, holding up the mid-grade herb request.

“Normally, this would be a Copper-rank quest,” Miss Lena says, smiling kindly. “But… we’re short on herbs this ti of year, and logging gets tricky once the snow piles up.”

So they’re bending the rules a bit for convenience. Works for !

“Miss Zoe, please only do it if it’s safe.”

Aw, sweet Miss Lena.

But nope! I’m still doing it.

“So, if I complete fifteen mid-grade herb collections, I’ll qualify for Copper-rank, right?”

I’m such a problem child. I know I’m troubling Miss Lena, but I need that rank if I want to start selling magic stones and pelts.

I need money.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Perfect!

I collect my paynt and make a quick exit from the guild.

I’d rather not hang around. Walter seems decent, but there’s no guarantee other adventurers won’t try roping into sothing.

Next stop: the back alley apothecary. I sell ten high-grade herbs there, then wander out into the streets.

“Now, where’s Maggie’s training place…”

From what I heard in Lang Village, she’s apprenticing at a fairly large grocery store.

It should be on the main street!

Carlton’s main street has a big apothecary—the one I don’t use. I go to the smaller shop in the back alley.

“Oh, maybe that’s it?”

Two doors down from the big apothecary is a store with signs for at and eggs.

Looks grocery-ish. Bigger than I imagined, actually. A little intimidating to walk into.

But I’ve got 140 pennies saved up from before, plus today’s 150. That’s enough to afford fancy groceries.

“If I get scared of this, how will I ever survive the royal capital?”

I steel myself and push open the grocery store door.

“Welco!”

There’s Maggie, wearing her custor service smile.

I shouldn’t distract her during work, so I’ll behave like a proper custor.

“Do you have butter?”

We keep cows, so I could make my own by churning with Air Cutter, but… ugh, the effort.

“How much would you like?”

Maggie, please get the hint!

But I guess she can’t just decide that on her own.

“Could I get 100 pennies’ worth?”

It’s winter, so it won’t spoil, right?

Maggie’s eyes widen slightly. Was that too much?

Ah, yup. Too much.

I nod ekly and correct myself. “Let’s make it 50 pennies’ worth.”

She heads to the back, slices off a chunk of butter, and wraps it in Lulu leaves. Those grow all over the Great Forest.

In winter, they use ones pickled in salt from the sumr harvest.

Selina and I don’t use them much thanks to Storage, but apparently wrapping things in Lulu leaves helps preserve them—at, ham, dairy, the works.

“That’ll be 50 pennies. Please co again!”

There are other shop assistants nearby, and soone who looks like the owner in a back office.

So I thank Maggie with a quick wave and step back out.

“Next ti I’ll buy cheese!”

And since I went to the trouble of buying butter, I should grab so fresh-baked bread too.

Butter’s great for cooking, but it’s even better spread thick on warm bread.

Do we still have honey? If we’re out… guess I’ll have to raid a Killer Bee nest.

In the Great Forest, Killer Bees stay active even in winter.

They’re monsters, after all.