I Don't Know the Original, I'm Too Busy Trying to Make a Living-Chapter 160

Looking around, Penelope spotted her family gathered on one side of the roof. They were gazing at the vast northern forests and the estate’s sweeping landscape, their faces glowing with awe.

Despite Laura’s earlier claim that Florin and Clara were on the verge of fainting, the two approached Penelope with calm, serene expressions.

“Miss, are you done with your work now?”

“It’s amazing that you get to see this view every day. I’m so jealous.”

“W-well, yes, it’s... something like that,” Penelope replied, caught off guard. She glanced down at their feet.

Both Florin and Clara were standing precariously close to the edge of the roof, yet they didn’t seem the least bit concerned. They appeared to trust Ahwin’s magic completely.

'What if the spell fails all of a sudden? These people are unbelievably reckless!'

Having grown up in a world where everything was explained by science, Penelope still found magic hard to fully accept. To her, humans flying belonged either in space (with a spacecraft) or in dreams.

The two women gave Ahwin a polite nod before returning to their spot, where it seemed the view below was even better.

Meanwhile, Baron Rencer and Abe were deeply engaged in a discussion, pointing toward various parts of the estate.

“That’s where the Halo train station will be built.”

“Isn’t the location too far on the outskirts?”

“If the train runs through the estate, won’t it be noisy?”

“Hmm, that’s a good point.”

Listening to their conversation, Penelope turned to Ahwin, only to find him watching with an incredibly pleased expression.

She grabbed his hand and yanked him toward her. Startled, Ahwin was pulled close.

Penelope leaned in, her lips near his ear, and began firing off her complaints in a rapid whisper.

“What were you thinking, bringing my family up here?”

“Uh...”

Ahwin’s earlobes turned red in an instant, and the blush spread quickly from his neck to his face.

“W-what did you just say?”

'Unbelievable. Truly unbelievable.'

Lowering her voice even more, Penelope ground out her words through clenched teeth, her tone almost a growl.

“Look, are you going to keep doing whatever you want? Do you think I won’t call you out just because my family’s watching?”

“Ah, so you really do only use informal speech when you’re mad,” Ahwin remarked, completely missing the point.

Penelope grabbed his collar, her mind already envisioning strangling the infuriating wizard. Sensing the danger, Ahwin quickly responded.

“Your father said he wanted to see the estate.”

“And that meant bringing them to the top of the tower?”

“Well... this place does have the best view,” Ahwin admitted, his gaze avoiding hers.

Every time Penelope huffed angrily, her breath brushed against his cheek. No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, his throat went dry, and his heart began to race.

'How can she still look so adorable even when she’s furious?'

Even her anger was irresistibly cute to Ahwin. If he were being honest, she reminded him of a bunny huffing out little puffs of air.

From a distance, Florin called out, “Penelope, why don’t you come over here and enjoy the view? It’s truly breathtaking.”

“Oh, yes!” Penelope replied hastily before turning to glare at Ahwin. When he simply looked at her, bemused, she shot him a pointed look. Well? Aren’t you going to take me over there already?

Ahwin nearly laughed out loud.

'She’s too scared to go by herself. How adorable.'

He extended his hand, and Penelope pressed her lips into a tight line before grudgingly taking it.

Ahwin felt a tickling sensation in his palm, though whether it was from her touch or his own emotions, he couldn’t tell.

As they walked, her family discreetly glanced their way.

'How sweet. They’re practically dripping with honey,' they all seemed to think.

‘They seem to care for each other deeply.’

‘If you ask me, it looks like the Tower Master cares for her much more.’

‘You think so too?’

Florin whispered to Clara with a satisfied smile.

Ever since Penelope had joined them at the tower, Florin’s attention had been entirely on her daughter. The others were no different. Even as the father and son discussed the estate and its development, their gazes frequently flickered toward Penelope.

When they first learned that Ahwin was the Tower Master, they had nearly fainted in shock. But seeing how utterly smitten he was with Penelope, as if ready to sacrifice his life for her, they couldn’t help but feel reassured.

“Dear, about Penelope... It seems she’s not the person we thought she was.”

“We’ll see...”

“Look at the estate residents and retainers. They all seem to respect her deeply.”

“It’s natural for residents to respect their lord. But retainers are another matter. What if they only pretend to respect her while taking advantage of a young woman behind her back? Besides, can Penelope really manage an estate? What has she learned besides etiquette lessons?”

“...Still, let’s meet with her and hear what she has to say.”

“Even if we do, my opinion remains unchanged. Marrying a respectable man is the best path for her happiness.”

That had been the last conversation Florin shared with her husband before reuniting with Penelope.

And when they finally met her...

'What on earth happened while we were apart?'

Florin felt both unfamiliarity and pride as she looked at her daughter. It was already enough to be grateful that Penelope had endured through difficult times, but to see her thriving and ruling such a magnificent estate felt like a dream.

'It’s like a miracle.'

When news of Baron Halo’s death during a monster subjugation reached them, Florin’s heart had shattered. She couldn’t imagine how painful and devastating it must have been for Penelope, who had just been married. Florin had wanted to rush to the Halo estate and bring her daughter home.

But Baron Rencer, ever stubborn, had brushed off her worries. He insisted it was Penelope’s duty to oversee the baron’s funeral and manage the estate’s affairs.

As they debated, winter came and went, and Florin anxiously waited for spring.

Then, unexpectedly, she heard astonishing news: Penelope had been seen in the capital.

Before long, Penelope’s every move began appearing in the newspapers, leaving not only Florin but the entire Rencer family in a state of shock.

“Penelope couldn’t have suddenly transformed into someone else. There must be some conspiracy or behind-the-scenes manipulation at work.”

“I distinctly remember her skipping her tutoring sessions repeatedly. How could someone like her start businesses and run an estate? She must have been coerced!”

“We have to do something.”

“We should find her a husband to take her away ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) from Halo.”

Thus, Baron Rencer had brought the entire family to Halo, intent on uncovering the truth.

And they discovered that all the so-called rumors were, in fact, reality.

Meanwhile, Penelope was fighting her own battle.

The second tower climb was even scarier than the first. She hadn’t gone far before her legs started trembling uncontrollably.

Holding tightly to Ahwin’s hand, Penelope suddenly stopped in her tracks.

“W-wait! Did something just move?”

“Huh? Maybe it was just the wind?”

“No, I’m telling you, something definitely passed by!” Penelope insisted with fervor.

“I-I can’t go any further!”

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She dug in her heels, refusing to take another step. Ahwin looked at her, dumbfounded.

If even he hadn’t detected a presence, it had to be a figment of her imagination—or maybe even a ghost. But no matter what it was, nothing could roam freely within his magical barrier.

'None of her family members are this skittish. Who does she even take after?'

Her family had adapted quickly to walking on air, marveling at the magical experience. Yet Penelope remained uniquely terrified. Perhaps it was her fundamental mistrust of magic itself.

“What do you want me to do?” Ahwin asked.

“Carry me. And not a princess carry—absolutely not!”

'A princess carry? What’s that supposed to mean?' Ahwin wondered briefly before sighing. He crouched down without complaint, offering her his back.

Penelope wasted no time. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, clutching him as tightly as possible.

Ahwin squeezed his eyes shut as a rush of heat coursed through him. His breath caught, and his mind reeled.

'Just hang in there. You’ve got this.'

With Penelope on his back, Ahwin began walking slowly toward her family.

But she suddenly yelled again.

“Wait, stop!”

“What is it this time? Is the wind too strong?”

“No... Oh my goodness! How did the estate change so much?”

Peeking out from behind him, Penelope stared intently at the transformed landscape below.