Chapter 353
Chapter 353
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 353
Chapter Title: Home Tutor (3)
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1.
The Levana Grand Bathhouse was famous for its luxury, to the point where there was a saying: "Until you visit the Grand Bathhouse, you've only enjoyed half of Gehenna's abundance."
Even digging through Siu's memories of his visit, it had been as dazzling as a resort from legend.
The morning after Viscount Esode's offer of a tutoring position.
Siu dropped by the Viscount Esode mansion bright and early and found himself in awe.
For one thing, the facilities attached right next to the Grand Bathhouse were so outstanding they could make your eyes bulge. But more than that, it radiated a completely different vibe from the twins' mansion.
The Jemernai mansion's refined atmosphere came from contrasts of light and shadow.
Rich red carpets blanketed the floors, paired with deep-toned wallpapers that plunged the interiors into darkness.
Lavish candelabras and chandeliers then threw off brilliant light in opposition, creating a literally glittering, radiant mood.
In contrast, the Esode mansion felt incredibly bright overall.
Domed and arched architecture featured round pillars lined with ornate frescoes that weren't the least bit tacky.
Gehenna's architecture was so idiosyncratic it was hard to pin down exactly...
But if the Jemernai estate drew from British or French roots, this place oozed Roman or Italian flair?
It had an airy openness, yet didn't skimp on opulence—strolling the corridors made Siu feel like a prince visiting a neighboring kingdom's palace.
In reality, though, he was just a contract home tutor.
"Then Diana, you have to listen well to your teacher, okay?"
"...Yes."
"Have fun all day for now."
"...Yes."
"We're counting on you with our Diana, Teacher."
"I'll do my best."
"See you at dinner~"
Viscount Esode vanished into the distance after those words.
Siu had barely talked her out of forcing a pair of rimless glasses on him—some new form of torment—but the neat butler suit and slicked-back hair she'd insisted on still weighed on his mind a little.
Who the hell was supposed to like this getup...?
A glance sideways revealed Diana standing there blankly, already looking deeply confused.
Judging by her reaction at their first meeting, she hadn't heard a word about any home tutor.
It felt like he'd been handed a live grenade.
"Nice to see you again like this."
Whatever the case, he had a goal.
To quote the viscount: turn Diana—who was as inactive as a hibernating rabbit—into someone diligent and playful.
Funds would flow freely, so the standing order was to make her play with enthusiasm, whatever it took.
In exchange for promises of magic studies and research assistance, he'd need to show solid results to secure next week's renewal.
"I'm not even a chick's tear worth of glad to see you. And use formal speech."
He'd tried an upbeat greeting for once, only to get a curt snap back.
Her soft-looking lips were jutting out, and her healthy cheeks were puffed up in clear dissatisfaction.
It was just as he'd expected, but she clearly hated the situation.
"Right now, I'm your home tutor. Viscount Esode said so herself."
Diana was stubborn by nature.
As the pampered jewel of the viscount's house, she'd been indulged her whole life, and she had a bright future ahead as a witch to boot.
To get even a loose grip on her reins, he needed to establish a clear teacher-student dynamic—and the first visible step was their forms of address.
Of course, it wasn't just titles; he'd gotten permission to scold her if needed.
The viscount had tried to smooth the way, in her own fashion...
"Mom's gone, and it's just us two, so it doesn't matter. And don't act all friendly?"
Diana's response suggested it hadn't helped much.
She shot back sharper than ever before and started ambling off somewhere.
"Where to?"
"Napping. Don't follow."
"Sorry, but I can't do that."
One look at her and it was clear: if he took her at her word and bantered back informally, he'd come out worse than even.
To avoid ruffling her feathers too much, he switched to formal speech and trailed after her.
"For starters, I have to show some results too. Feels like I need to do something..."
"Follow all you want—I'm still going to sleep."
"I'll stick with you to the end anyway."
"Do whatever."
It was pathetic, but there was no helping it.
Viscount Esode's help was essential for reining in the Red Branch.
And for that, he needed this girl's cooperation—and she was even harder to pin down than the twins.
A sigh escaped him naturally.
If it were something structured like math tutoring, that'd be one thing.
But wrangling a girl who looked like she hated everything into "doing anything" was a real headache.
-Tap tap tap
-Thud thud thud
What followed was a mildly comical scene.
Diana weaving through the corridors like she was trying to shake Siu off her tail.
Siu doggedly following right behind.
"Nice weather—how about some fishing outside?"
"……."
"Shopping at the Malkuth Gallery?"
"……."
"Want to try magic shooting? I've never done it, but it looks pretty fun."
"……."
For this unprecedentedly tricky tutoring gig, Siu had done his homework.
Thorough research on Gehenna's amusements and leisure spots, with full concierge-style courses planned out.
The problem was, if the subject wouldn't even listen, no amount of luxury itineraries mattered—they'd be dead in the water.
If they ended up doing nothing like this, the viscount would cut him loose without a second thought after a week.
He wanted to avoid that at all costs.
"Or maybe catch a show at the theater?"
"……."
Siu kept chattering away as he tagged along while she scouted nap spots.
Diana didn't so much as glance back, stubbornly ignoring him.
But her rising steam was practically visible from the back of her head.
Truth be told, this was half a gamble.
Like shoving a spoon in front of someone who refused to eat.
But Siu had already gotten a read on Diana's traits to some extent.
According to Viscount Esode's briefing: chronic lack of motivation and innate laziness.
Those two combined into laziness on an untouchable level.
But Siu knew more than just that side of her.
The Diana who'd shown up at the Wizboard every morning without fail, too sharp to miss her own laziness.
The Diana who'd flown into a tantrum, stomping mad after defeat.
The Diana who'd flashed a triumphant grin and teased Siu after victory.
That's right.
Diana might be a slacker, sure.
But beneath that lazy nature slumbered a gambler's spirit and a fiery temper that repaid provocations double—even more so.
And someone who hated hassle couldn't just ignore someone persistently hounding them.
"Ah, enough!"
Thirty minutes into the tutoring job, Diana finally turned to face Siu.
Her drowsy eye corners were pulled up taut, and her twisted lips might as well have shouted, "Leave me alone!"
Hair color, eye color, even height all like her mother's—yet their vibes could be night and day.
Siu marveled anew even as he cracked a grin.
"Finally giving me a response."
"Can't you understand? I have zero interest in playing with you. Zero?"
Diana had tried stonewalling Siu's nagging with a turtle shell defense.
But she'd finally hit her limit.
Fists clenched, she huffed out her frustration.
"I'm not doing anything with you anyway! Tonight, I'm telling Mom to fire you right away! You're seriously annoying!"
"……."
Diana vented her outburst, then panted roughly.
With her naturally low energy and a few nights of poor sleep lately, yelling like that had drained her stamina hard.
"Still, no choice. Have to work diligently today at least."
"Diligently harass me, you mean... Do whatever. I'm ignoring you."
Truth was, Diana wasn't thrilled with the situation at all.
The guy had never sat right with her to begin with.
And lately, her head was a tangled mess of all sorts of thoughts.
She had no bandwidth left to accept some "surprise tutor event."
For all her gripes, Shin Siu was still a "man," wasn't he?
Memories from the novel—of beastly, filthy men—were fueling a swelling cloud of repulsion and disgust toward the unfamiliar.
She was projecting those negative feelings onto Siu.
Thoughts like with the deliveryman: "This guy's looking at me with those dirty eyes too, right?"
An already uncomfortable presence chasing her as her mother's ordered tutor was pushing her patience to the brink.
In the end, they'd looped back to Diana's room.
She'd hoped for a sun-warmed nap or floating lazily in the pool.
But this man had ruined it all.
At least he wouldn't follow here.
"...? What are you doing?"
"Hm?"
"This is my room?"
Siu breezed right into Diana's living room, blithely ignoring her assumption.
Completely nonchalant.
"I see."
Like he owned the place.
"Casually barging into a lady's room—what kind of etiquette training did you even get...?"
"Apologies, but I'll prioritize Viscount Esode's instructions."
Diana was left utterly bewildered by Siu's audacity beyond imagination.
Irritation and anger bubbled up belatedly.
"You think my words are a joke?"
"Sorry, no intent to make you mad. But it's my job."
"Fine, whatever. You'll lose the gig tomorrow anyway. Do what you want. Just never step into my bedroom. I really won't hold back then."
Deflated by the sheer absurdity, Diana grabbed the doorknob with a weary voice.
Siu's voice followed from behind.
"If I'm such a bother, how about something we can do sitting down? Even as a one-day tutor, going back with nothing done leaves me no face with the viscount."
"Sigh, that's your problem."
"Too bad. I figured even you might bite on this."
"This?"
A sly glance back revealed a familiar orb shape.
In the heat of the intense shock, she'd forgotten—but before the demon deliveryman, this Wizboard crystal orb was what had her glued to her studies.
"Overall score was something like 4 to 2, with me in the lead, right?"
"So what?"
But Diana's reaction to Siu's taunt was utterly flat.
Emotions from minor incidents tended to get drowned out by bigger ones.
If this had been before the demon deliveryman added new worries, she'd have snapped right then.
Fallen for the 4-2 score jab without a doubt.
"Who'd fall for such an obvious provocation? Not playing, so leave. I won't go far."
"You really won't?"
"...Hmph."
A Wizboard was just a game anyway.
No point huffing over losing one game to this scrawny guy she could probably beat with basic magic.
That was kid stuff.
Diana sneered to herself as she gripped the knob.
"If I may be so bold, but just maybe..."
Right up until those arrogant words.
"...chicken...?"
"Let's do it. Right now."