Horsa.

A hometown that its people are deeply proud of.

A small village located far at the western edge of the Kingdom of Minoghra. If you were to look at the official map issued by the local government, the distance is roughly equivalent to 183 days of travel from the royal capital. Oh, and don’t expect the place to hold any strategic position, quite the opposite, in fact.

The village is surrounded by regions that, if you look at the map, are always marked along the edges with a small note: 'Avoid at all costs!!'. To the east lies the Mistwood of Tarax; to the north, the Rain Valley of Gu; and to the south stretches the vast Yurk Grasslands.

And yet, strangely enough, life here flows in quiet peace. Calm, comfortable, no weekly monster attacks like in other villages. Somehow, Horsa has remained standing strong, even continuing to grow year after year.

Its development even went so far as to catch the attention of the Queen of Minoghra. We were then bestowed the title of the best village in the Erdisia region. As a reward for this extraordinary achievement, we were granted three very special bonuses: a 15% reduction in both monthly and annual taxes, absolute protection and top priority from the kingdom, and—this is the coolest part—the construction of a teleportation gate that would serve as a direct link to the capital of Erdisia, Domus-Viam. This gate also functions as the main route connecting regions.

Simply put, Horsa has transformed into an important transit point for anyone wishing to travel to major cities across Minoghra.

Crazy, right?

A village that was once nothing more than a simple settlement with a traditional way of life, through rapid progress year after year, has transformed into a large-scale trading hub and become a primary route in trade networks across key regions. Its trade route would eventually come to be known as the Malaka Route—one of the largest interregional trade routes of the present age.

That’s not all. According to official archives of the Erdisia regional government, the crime rate in Horsa has seen a significant decline each year. The graph shows criminal activity decreasing steadily each year. Thanks to its safe and comfortable conditions, Horsa’s population has risen sharply. As of today, dated the 3rd of Mor’nai Hen, year 1,458 P.E., its population has reached 16,719, up from just 641 in the year 1190—the year this village was first established.

With numbers like that, I think it’s fair to say Horsa has already become a small town, don’t you think?

Life here can also be considered highly productive. In the past, almost everyone in the village relied on agriculture—it was practically the lifeblood of this place. But as time went on, the villagers—including me—began to open ourselves to the outside world. And as you can see now, a wide variety of businesses have sprung up in our village. There’s a verified Guild, an adventurer supply shop, an alchemist’s shop, a magic stone shop, a materials store, an herbal shop, a library, cafés, restaurants, inns, and even nightlife establishments. Seriously, we have almost everything here.

And the most famous of all? Of course, the blacksmiths. Their skill is beyond question. They are even ranked among the top ten blacksmiths in the entire kingdom.

In short, if you need a sword that can cut through iron, a shield that can withstand deadly blows, or equipment of exceptionally high quality—come to Horsa. I’m not joking when I say it, the quality of goods here is top-tier.

Now then, recently, amid all the hustle and rapid development, a new shop suddenly appeared—painted white and green, standing neatly beneath the largest tree in the village. Its location is directly across from the most famous inn there, Adaleida Inn. From the outside, you can see its clear glass windows, and behind them hangs a wooden sign that reads ‘Shop Open,’ slightly tilted because one of its strings is longer than the other.

And that is my shop! Its name is Tealicious.

If you were to stand outside and glance in, you might catch sight of a girl sitting casually behind a white counter. Her long brown hair is loosely tied back, a few strands falling freely around her face. There’s a certain brightness to her features—round hazel eyes, a small nose, and a faint dimple that appears whenever she smiles. There’s something in her expression that puts people at ease, as if they were being welcomed home by their own mother after a long time apart.

Honestly, you’d probably be captivated by her cuteness, well… shining like the morning sun, right? If that’s what you’re feeling, then I’d like to say, "Thank you, handsome gentlemen. Hahaha."

But wait, before you interrupt and say, "Wow, so confident? We’re clearly captivated by the shop girl, not you."

Well, actually, she’s not a shop employee. Not my mother, and definitely not my sister.

But rather...

Me.

Yup. You didn’t hear wrong. That’s me. Wilis Zassia. The sweetest, cutest—no, the absolute cutest girl in the entire village!

And you know what? A lot of men are completely infatuated with my cuteness. Every time I pass by, they’re always captivated by me, praising how pretty and sweet I am. Sometimes they even give me expensive gifts—though I don’t really like them.

But for some reason, since six days ago… everything started to change. They suddenly began avoiding me, as though I were a deadly plague that had to be kept at a distance.

Just yesterday, for example, I went to the market to buy daily necessities and tea ingredients for my shop. Some of them looked like they were about to greet me—their hands already halfway raised. But a few seconds later, their expressions changed drastically. Their eyes widened, their faces turned pale, and they hurried away. As if… afraid?

Maybe some noble threatened them to stay away from me?

At first, that was what I thought. But then, something suddenly crept up from the depths of my little mind. In an instant, I realized… the true reason behind all this strangeness.

Ah, so that’s how it is. This must be because of him. I’m certain he ordered something—whatever it may be—to scare off any men who try to approach me. Who else would be insane enough to threaten people like that if not that annoying old man?

Realizing that, I could only let out a long sigh.

What does he even want? Why does he always interfere in everything? I’m already an adult—I know what’s good for me and what isn’t!

Well, thinking back on all those irritating things would only ruin my peaceful morning mood. How annoying!

“Guess I’ll just start my morning ritual.”

I snapped my fingers, and in an instant, a dark purple light appeared above the white table before me. It grew larger—then slowly faded. As it vanished, a luxurious set of teacups and a teapot took its place. They were white, adorned with flowing golden engravings that formed elegant, abstract patterns. Beside them lay a small matching golden spoon.

I then opened the drawer beneath the table and took out a wooden box, its every side carved with intricate and beautiful floral patterns. Inside was my most precious treasure: Simona Green Tea powder. The moment I opened it, the tea’s fresh aroma spread through the air.

“Ahh… just smelling it alone is enough to calm my mind…”

Carefully, I scooped just the right amount and placed it into the cup, then slowly poured warm water from the teapot. Once it reached the perfect level, I stirred it gently. And the rest? What else but to savor it.

Before taking a sip, as usual, I lowered my head slightly, breathing in the steam rising from the surface of the tea. Its aroma… so refreshing, so soothing. Once satisfied, I finally took a slow sip, letting its warmth spread throughout my body. And... yes, as always, it never failed. That sense of relief came like the warm, comforting embrace of a mother. All the anger, frustration, and negative emotions within me simply melted away.

Letting out a long breath, I murmured, “...This is perfect...”

No matter how heavy the problems that come my way, how terrible the emotions raging within my chest, how tangled my thoughts may be, everything feels lighter—as though this tea holds a magic of its own, dissolving all the darkness within me, like clear water washing a dirty pane of glass until it shines once more.

You could say... this is my remedy—the best remedy there is.

Oh, right! I almost forgot! You must be wondering, aren’t you, how I could obtain such detailed information about this village? My apologies. Whenever I start talking about myself, I tend to get carried away and lose track of time.

Alright, as for that question of yours—even though I don’t really like revealing my identity, since it’s more enjoyable to keep it a secret—but for the sake of the story, I’ll make an exception.

So then. As for my true identity, in truth, I am—

*DING!*

Before I could finish, not even ten minutes into enjoying my morning ritual, that sound completely ruined everything. And the one responsible for all of this is… ugh, of course! It has to be that old man.

If you’re wondering who he is, that old man’s name is Graham Bell. He is the head butler of my household. He has a long face, with firm lines of age around his eyes and mouth. His eyes are sharp, dark brown in color. His graying hair is neatly combed back. His beard and mustache are thin and well-kept, giving him a clean and dignified appearance. His posture remains upright despite his age. Broad shoulders, a straight back—he always appears composed.

Well, composed in front of others. But in front of me… it’s different. He always acts like a grandpa dealing with a tantrum-throwing grandchild.

That bast—ugh, I mean, that annoying old man entered my shop without permission, ruining the peaceful atmosphere of my morning. He walked toward me with his usual calm steps. Then suddenly, he slammed his hand on the table right in front of me. Not hard, but… seriously, where are your manners, Old Man?

“Is there something I can help you with, Customer?” I asked calmly as I sipped my tea. A smile remained on my face, even though my heart was already overflowing with irritation.

I could clearly see his eyebrow twitch the moment he heard the word customer.

Holding back his annoyance, he said, “Customer… is that what you called me?”

Just as before, I remained calm as I answered him. “I’m sure the two things attached to your head aren’t just for decoration, right? So I don’t need to repeat what I said.”

After I said that, I saw it again—his eyebrow twitched once more. I’d say he was already losing his patience, and I was certain he would soon state the purpose of his visit.

Sure enough, not long after, words left his mouth.

“Young Lady, do you realize the consequences of your ac—”

“No!”

“… ”

“Do you know how worried your fath—”

“No!”

“… ”

“Could you at least stop interr—”

“No!”

“Young La—”

“No! And for whatever you’re about to ask next: NO!”

“… ”

“Are you seri—”

“Yes! So get out of here! You make me sick!”

“… ”

After hearing my rather heartless words, I saw him fall silent. It seemed I had successfully crushed his already-obvious intention. Thankfully, the stubborn and irritating temperament I had trained together with Teddy-B to deal with troublesome people like the one standing before me had paid off.

I was sure he would leave. I was sure of it!

Well, that was what I thought at first, and what I hoped would happen. But in reality… it was the complete opposite.

That damn old man was still here, in my shop. He even sat down calmly in front of me, and brewed my favorite Simona Tea without asking for my permission!?

Seeing that sight, my eyebrow twitched violently. I was truly irritated now. With a smile that… well, wasn’t very sincere, I said, “Oy, Old Man! Are you deaf? I told you to leave, not to sit down. And on top of that, how dare you touch…” slamming my hand onto the table, “my treasure!!!”

That damn old man only chuckled softly, as if mocking me. “Calm yourself, Young Lady. Getting angry will only make you age faster.”

Hearing that, I almost lost control. I really wanted to snap back at him—I even wanted to hit him. But thinking about it again… what he said wasn’t entirely wrong.

Rather than prolong this drama that had already become a daily routine, and besides, I had no interest in continuing this pointless conversation, I chose to remain silent and let out a long breath, trying to calm myself. My hand rose to massage my temple. I was already fed up with all of this. Doing this every day made my head ache.

“What does Father actually want? I’m already grown up! I can take care of myself here!”

“Master only wishes for the Young Lady to return home. He is worried about leaving his beloved daughter alone outside. That is all.”

I stared at him flatly. “Don’t lie to me, Old Man. I’ve been able to guess what he wants for a long time now." I continued. "Father intends to make me… his successor, doesn’t he?”

Hearing my words, the old man—who was about to sip his tea—suddenly froze. It was clear to me, his eyes revealed a hint of panic.

Trying to remain composed, he said, “It is not like that, Young Lady. This is not what you think—”

“That’s enough!” I cut him off, my voice rising beyond my control. “I’m tired! Tired of repeating all of this every day, every morning, at the same time! As if I’m trapped in an endless loop of time!” I stared at him sharply, piercing straight through him. “I’ll say this once more, as clearly as possible. I. Will. Not. Return!!” The emotions I had been holding back finally burst forth like water from a broken dam.

“You know what my dream has been since I was little, don’t you, Old Ma—no… Grandpa?!” At that, his eyes widened slightly. I continued. “To run a business. To open my own small shop. To live freely without being bound by endless rules. Not to live under someone else’s shadow.” My voice began to tremble. “I want to live the way I choose, not a life decided by my parents, nor a fate forced upon me since birth! There’s my older sibling who is far more suitable to become the successor. Why does it have to be me?! Out of all the children he made!?”

“Y-Young Lady, p-please mind your wo—”

“Silence!!!” I shouted, my voice echoing throughout the room. I then snapped my fingers. In an instant, a dark purple light enveloped the old man’s body. Before he could even react, his body vanished and—

*POOF!*

He was already standing outside the shop.

“…Eh…?” He could only stare in disbelief, blinking in confusion.

“Y-Young Lady!” he called out, hurriedly trying to open the door.

Huh, too bad. I had already sealed it temporarily with my barrier magic. No one would be able to open it without my permission.

“Young Lady!” He kept calling out to me, pounding on the glass door of my shop. “Please open the door! If this old man cannot bring you home today, I will be scolded mercilessly by your mother!”