Chapter 220 : The Story Of Camilla, The Owner Of Iris Bar
*This is Camilla’s point of view*
We could hear Mark-chan’s voice from the mysterious green stone that was shining faintly on the table.
He told us what happened to him, Nicola, and their guardian, Celine during their trip. He also told us about the hidden village called Schultria where they currently are.
It seemed that Mark-chan and Nicola-chan grow cucumbers and exchange them with other villagers to make a living.
He built a house in the middle of the forest and exchanged magic stones he got from lizard monsters he defeated in Sadola Town for magic tools.
Normally, you would think that it was just a child’s delusion. There was no way an eight-year-old kid could defeat monsters, build a house, and make a living by himself. However, I know that Mark-chan is not just a normal child. What he told us is undoubtedly true.
「ーーand recently, I can use dark magic. I learned it from Celine’s mom… Uhh, Camilla-san, I’m sorry. I’m about to run out of mana. Umm, can you take care of Pamella for me? Please tell her that I’m sorry if I made her cry.」(Mark)
「Fufu. Mark-chan, you should tell her yourself.」(Camilla)
Pamella was looking down while sitting next to me. I put my hand on her shoulder, brought my face closer to hers and whispered.
「You’ve calmed down already, haven’t you? You should answer him yourself.」(Camilla)
「U, Un…」(Pamella)
Pamella looked at me with slightly moist red eyes and nodded. She then turned her face toward the glowing green stone on the table.
「Umm… Mark-kun, I’m sorry for crying all of a sudden… I won’t cry anymore so can I talk with you tomorrow as well?」(Pamella)
「Ah, Pamella! Are you alright? Of course, you can! How should I put it… Umm… I’m sorry if I said something that made you sad…」(Mark)
「No, Mark-kun, you don’t have to apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just… I’m… lonely that… you’re not around…」(Pamella)
「Pamella, I’m sorry, I’m out of mana. I’ll contact you again, so make sure you come to my parent’s house around this hour tomorrow. See you tomorrowー」(Mark)
「Mark-kun?」(Pamella)
Pamella talked too quietly so it seemed that Mark-chan didn’t hear that.
The green stone stopped glowing, returning to its normal state, and then we could no longer hear Mark-chan’s voice.
What a strange stone. I’ve never seen a stone like this nor heard about it from my customers.
「Mom… Did I just make Mark-kun hate me…?」(Pamella)
Pamella put her hands on her knees and looked down at the floor.
This is an empty room in the inn run by Mark-chan and Nicola-chan’s parents. When Pamella and Mark-chan started talking, Delica-chan, who guided us here, went to work in the cafeteria, leaving us behind, so now it’s only us mother and daughter in this room.
「Don’t worry. You know him very well, right? Mark-chan is a kind child. There’s no way he would hate you.」(Camilla)
「Un… I know…」(Pamella)
Not only her eyes but now her cheeks are also dyed slightly red.
She knew that Mark-chan would never hate her but she was still worried about it. Ahh~ My daughter is so cute~
「Pamella, I understand your feelings. You were upset that Mark-chan talked about how fun his trip was while you’re here feeling lonely because he’s not around. Moreover, he talked about another girl he met in that village. You felt bad that you were upset about it and you were disgusted with yourself. That’s why you cried. Am I right?」(Camilla)
「Mom… How did you know…?」(Pamella)
Pamella, who was looking down, raised her face and turned her red, watery eyes toward me. She seemed somewhat surprised.
「Fufu, of course, I know. I’m your mother. I had similar experiences multiple times in the past, you know?」(Camilla)
「Is that so?」(Pamella)
「Yup. Pamella, letting your feelings out like earlier is not good. A good woman should always be unwavering.」(Camilla)
「Un, I’m sorry…」(Pamella)
Pamella dropped her shoulders again.
The bluish-black hair that fell off her shoulders resembled mine.
「There’s no point in apologizing to me, right? Also, you shouldn’t make Mark-chan feel sorry and apologize to you. I don’t want you to become a woman who makes the man you love to feel sorry. Pamella, after listening to Mark-chan’s story, you know what to do, right?」(Camilla)
「Umm… Practice magic more often?」(Pamella)
Pamella answered while tilting her head.
「Fufu. That’s right, but that alone is not enough. Mark-can told us that he has seen, heard, and learned many things during his trip, right?」(Camilla)
「Un.」(Pamella)
「So as not to get left behind, you should also improve yourself like Mark-chan. Of course, you can practice magic more, but you should also improve your studies, get better at work, and improve your fashion sense as a lady. I’m sure the next time you meet with Mark-chan, you will be much better than you were the last time you saw him. If you want Mark-chan to like you, you have to work harder than you are now and try to become a woman suitable for him.」(Camilla)
After listening to me, Pamella looked a bit unconfident, but then she raised her head and looked me in the eye.
「Un! You’re right, Mom. I’ll do my best!」(Pamella)
「That’s my daughter! When we get home, let’s have Edda help you practice serving customers. I started serving customers at the age of twelve, but I think you can make your debut earlier.」(Camilla)
「Do you think so…? Honestly, I’m still not confident about it but… I’ll do as best as I can!」(Pamella)
Pamella put her hands together on her chest and looked at me with determined yet worried eyes.
「Fufu. You’re such a good girl. I’ll guarantee you that you will become a good woman in the future.」(Camilla)
A woman in love grows up quickly.
Pamella tends to stay at home but I think she has grown into a better lady since she got to know Mark-chan.
However, Mark-chan is without a doubt a child prodigy, and on top of that, he’s insensitive to women’s feelings. There’s no doubt that Pamella will have a hard time conquering his heart.
Nevertheless, I will always support my daughter so that she can continue to walk forward.
I don’t know how Pamella’s relationship with Mark-chan will end but I’m sure she won’t end up in misfortune.
「Well then, shall we say thank you to Mark-chan’s parents and go home?」(Camilla)
「Un!」(Pamella)
I put the stone in a leather bag, held it in my hand, and opened the door.
As we went down the stairs to the first floor, I smiled at my beloved daughter, who was still rubbing her chest, trying to build up her confidence.
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Build up her confidence~ Like Celine ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Mark gets more unlikable every time he talks to a love interest.
I honestly don’t really blame him for being insensitive to their feelings.
As a reincarnated person he’s kind of stuck in a weird space, as far as love is concerned. Delica, Pamilla, and Ester are all currently too young to be seen as viable love interests at his mental age, and until recently he thought Celine was too much older than his physical age to be expressing any real interest in him.
Pamela is really the best partner for Mark here since Mark is a type of protagonist who likely prefers a slow life rather than adventuring. Besides, no one other than him would inherit their inn and Nicola is gonna stick to him as a freeloader/assistant for the rest of his life.
There are various types of slow life scenarios possible. His talents are suited better for becoming a magical tool craftsman or alchemist than working in the service industry for life. And his personality seems to be more withdrawn than of someone sociable, making fast friends with everyone he meets.