“Hehehe.”
“Why are you laughing like a demon army executive plotting something evil?”
“Look at this. It’s Charlotte’s massage coupons. I have 15 of them. I bought 10 and got 5 extra as a bonus.”
“Wow. Yeah. That’s amazing.”
“And?”
“Um. Well. I’m jealous.”
“Of course, you are.”
As Sylvia looked at the coveted massage coupons with envy, I held them up proudly.
When and how should I use these?
Just imagining it makes me happy.
I haven’t even received a massage yet, but I already feel my fatigue melting away.
“Julia seemed to be preparing something too. Do you have anything from Julia?”
“Oh, that.”
I let out a small laugh.
Charlotte brought me such a precious massage coupon that even I was tempted by it. But what Julia confidently presented was nothing but a lesson coupon.
She wanted to sell me a coupon for her excellent lessons.
“She got upset and decided not to sell it.”
“What did you say to make her upset?”
“I said it probably wouldn’t be in high demand.”
“…”
[The Evil God, ‘Kali’, criticizes you harshly!]
I know. I know.
I was wrong.
I was too honest.
I should have said something nice, even if it was a lie.
“Wouldn’t it be better to console her? I could try… um, never mind. It wouldn’t be effective with me.”
Sylvia tried to step in but then cleared her throat and retreated back into the shadows.
While Charlotte likes Sylvia, Julia doesn’t.
Julia trusts and relies on Sylvia as a strong ally but not as a spiritual anchor like in the original story.
‘Maybe I should console her myself.’
Julia is very sensitive, unlike Charlotte, so it’s tricky in these situations.
But what should I say to console her?
I’ve never raised a child before.
“I’ll think about how to cheer up Julia later. For now, I’ll enjoy my massage and think about it.”
“When you say it like that, it sounds like a line from a jerk who ignores his angry lover to go to a party.”
“Hey, watch it.”
I held back from reducing Sylvia’s pay.
When a person is tired and worn out, their brain doesn’t function well.
Getting refreshed comes first.
“So, where is Charlotte now?”
“She’s preparing to demonstrate the Super Super Strong Sword at the makeshift training ground.”
“Ah, today’s the performance test for the Super Super Strong Sword?”
I had forgotten.
Until now, we had estimated the sword’s specs roughly. I remember planning to do a quantitative test someday.
I guess today is that day.
“Get ready to go out. Bring Julia too.”
I heard that many residents from Ariente and Vermont territories are coming to witness the spectacle of the demon sword that splits mountains.
Maybe I should go and watch too.
“Julia is refusing to leave the study.”
“…Tsk.”
[The Evil God, ‘Kali’, is furious with you!]
She’s really upset.
What to do?
After thinking for a moment, I took out the lesson coupon Julia had left behind and placed it in the drawer.
“Go ahead and tell them I’ll be a bit late. Proceed with the performance test without me.”
“Yes, understood, Master.”
Sylvia smiled and bowed, satisfaction evident in her smile.
.
.
.
Tick-tock.
Only the sound of the clock hinted that time hadn’t stopped in the quiet study.
I broke the peaceful silence and stepped forward.
In one corner of the study, Julia’s favorite sofa was occupied as usual.
The only difference was that Julia held a book high, covering her face.
Isn’t your arm tired?
“Make some space for me.”
“…”
Without a word, Julia shifted slightly, making room while still holding the book high to hide her face.
I sat down next to her and opened a book I borrowed from the Imperial Magic Academy Library.
I didn’t glance at Julia or show any sign of noticing her.
I just pretended to be absorbed in my reading.
Let’s see how long she can keep sulking.
Her arm must be getting tired.
She’ll want to lower it.
“It’s cramped…”
After a while, Julia finally reacted.
She tried to leave the sofa, claiming it was too cramped.
Where are you going?
I took out the lesson coupon from my pocket and spoke.
“Don’t go. I’m using this coupon now.”
“Why are you still holding onto that!?”
Julia’s face turned red with anger.
Finally, she was paying attention to me.
Watching her get irritated made me feel oddly happy.
Like a young boy teasing a girl he likes.
“I never sold that to you! So it’s invalid!”
“The validity of a coupon begins when it is issued. So this is a valid coupon. Trying to invalidate it would greatly damage your credibility, Julia.”
“Ugh… Fine, give it here…”
“I’m not okay with that. I must use it.”
“What are you planning to use it for… when you haven’t even listened to any of my lessons… all your compliments were just empty words…”
Sob.
Julia seemed on the verge of tears, her eyes twitching before she turned away, her shoulders trembling.
Even so, she didn’t run away completely, as if hoping to be held back, to be reassured.
When she felt proud after some praise.
But now, after getting a hint, she’s digging herself a hole all the way to the earth’s core.
Such a troublesome girl.
“To be honest, at that time, I wasn’t very interested in the basic magic lessons.”
“I knew it…”
[The Evil God, ‘Kali’, is glaring at you.]
Listen until the end, you brats.
Both of you lack patience.
“You were just trying to mock me, pretending not to know basic magic…”
“I wasn’t interested in the content.”
“…!”
“The important part was not the content but the process. Anyone can memorize and recite the content. But it’s through explaining it that an individual’s understanding and thought process are revealed.”
“You were trying to evaluate my teaching ability?”
“Partly. But mostly, I genuinely wanted to learn basic magic because my knowledge in that area is severely lacking.”
“Lies! Who would believe that! Basic magic is something you can learn at seven years old…”
“…”
Brr.
Julia was still trembling, thinking I was mocking her.
This is frustrating.
I really just wanted to learn basic magic.
Is it my face that’s the problem?
Or my tone?
Either way, it’s clear my sincere intentions aren’t reaching Julia at all.
Gaining Sylvia’s trust gradually and meeting Charlotte, who has no prejudices, made me forget about the debuff my face causes.
But with Julia, it’s still 100% effective.
I feel a little helpless.
But still, I will take a step forward.
To make Julia believe in my sincerity, this is the only way.
“If you think I’m lying, no dinner for you tonight.”
“What!?”
[The Evil God, ‘Kali’, looks at you disdainfully, thinking you’re childish.]
What’s childish?
I have feelings too.
Even though Julia is a contemptuous character, without any carrots, only getting the stick would break my spirit.
What kind of tsundere is that? Just a tsun.
Ah, maybe she’s not a tsundere towards me?
Well, can’t help it then.
“How could you be so unfair!”
“What are you going to do? Starve yourself in a pointless fight? You know I’m not soft. If I say no dinner, you won’t get a drop of water until you yield.”
“Ugh…”
Flap.
I waved the lesson coupon, smiling leisurely.
Go ahead, try a hunger strike. See if it works.
I’ve squeezed Count Ariente dry, such a tactic won’t work on me.
Julia knows I’m not an easy opponent.
She can’t easily say she’ll just starve.
“Sit down. Let’s continue from where we left off in Basic Magic, Volume 2.”
“You really have a bad hobby. Do you enjoy seeing me get proud just to laugh at me secretly?”
“Think what you want. But know this, even if I did enjoy that, it’s a one-time joy. Once you realize it, there’s no joy left in it.”
“That…”
“And I plan to take all 10 volumes. All the way to the end.”
“…”
Julia’s pouting lips started to calm down.
Her shoulders, which had been raised in agitation, slumped.
Her gaze also dropped to the floor.
“It’ll be boring. Very long.”
“I don’t mind.”
“Tsk. You’re peculiar. The books…”
“They’re here.”
“Hehe. You’re a prepared student. If you insist so persistently, I guess I have no choice! Hmph!”
Thump.
Julia plopped down next to me and opened a book.
Although there was still some annoyance on her face, it was different from before.
Should I call it passive irritation? It wasn’t really annoyance, it was the kind of tingling annoyance that Julia would just casually put on the surface.
“But what’s that book?”
“It’s a book about black magic.”
“Yuck. Is it okay? It hasn’t been that long since Her Majesty the Empress visited.”
“It’s purely for research. What’s there to worry about if it’s for academic purposes? The content is quite complex, so how about we research it together? I need your help.”
“I don’t know anything about black magic…”
“Neither do I. That’s why I want us to study it together. I need your brain, not your knowledge.”
“Hmm. Hmph. If you put it that way…”
Julia’s mood seemed to improve, her tone lighter.
Maybe she finally accepted my sincerity?
As she opened the book, she leaned closer to me.
A pleasant scent wafted from her.
