Chapter 96: Mis?understanding (4)
Chapter 96: Mis?understanding (4)
I headed to Fay’s workshop to let her know I was back, introduce her to my new slave, Elisha, and clear up the rumors currently floating around.
-Junior…?
“Oh, you’re in. Open up, Senior Fay. We need to talk.”
-N-no!
“???”
My beneficiary is… talking back to me?!
Flustered by Fay’s unexpected reaction, I pounded on the door.
Thud! Thud!
“Hey! What’s gotten into you, Senior Fay?! Is this any way to treat your sponsor?”
-I… I heard everything!
“Heard what?”
-The news that you’re actually a Young Lady Collector!
What kind of nonsense is this now?
While I let out a hollow laugh of disbelief, Carla and Elisha, standing on either side of me, giggled and nodded.
“Hehe… You can’t really deny that one, Master.”
“Oh? I agree as well. Strictly speaking, I do have a trace of the Alfheim royal bloodline in my veins.”
Well, she’s a High Elf, so it’s only natural she’d have royalty among her ancestors.
Whether she heard that or not, Fay shouted in a voice full of conviction.
-I knew it! I saw through you from the start! You’re here to target me next, aren’t you?! I won’t go down easily!
“Are you still harping on that? I told you, it’s a misunderstanding.”
-Ababababa! I don’t believe you! I don’t believe you!
Fay made the kind of noise a child makes when they cover their ears and shake their head.
“Sigh… Anyway, even if I were a Young Lady Collector, so what? You’re not even a noble lady, Senior.”
-…I am a noble lady, though?
“Ah.”
Now that I think about it, Fay did come from a prestigious family. Even if she was born out of wedlock.
Fay, looking a bit dejected by my reaction—which suggested I had genuinely forgotten—continued.
-A-anyway! Until you prove you’re not planning to turn me into a slave too, I’m absolutely not opening this door!
“Hmm.”
She was being strangely stubborn.
At this point, a slight sense of annoyance began to rise within me.
“Fine, then.”
-Huh?
“I sponsored a huge sum of money, trusting a senior who hasn’t produced any results and can’t even promote herself… I even gave you extra living expenses so you wouldn’t starve….”
-…….
“If you still can’t trust me, Senior Fay, then there’s nothing I can do.”
-…Ah.
“Let’s just call the sponsorship off. You don’t need to spit back the money I already gave you, so don’t worry about that.”
-W-wait, Junior!
“Goodbye, Senior. We probably won’t see each other again, but I hope you don’t go hungry.”
-Wait just a second, Junior!
Her voice was urgent. But instead of answering, I marched in place, making my footsteps loud enough for her to hear.
“Wait, Yandel, what are you—mph?!”
Unlike Elisha, who looked bewildered, Carla seemed to have caught on to what I was doing.
She quickly covered Elisha’s mouth and spoke in a feigned, worried tone.
“Master… are you really leaving?”
“Yeah. Let’s just consider last month’s sponsorship money as the cost of the Elixirs.”
“Mmm… if that is your wish, Master.”
Her words sounded like she was comforting my hurt feelings, but in reality, Carla was smirking.
As expected, Carla is the only one who can play along like this.
I briefly stroked Carla’s cheek with the back of my hand as a sign of praise.
-Junior…? You didn’t really leave, did you…?
-I’m opening the door now! I’m opening it!
-No, I’ll come out! I’m coming out, so stay right there, Junior!
Clatter, bang!
Noisy sounds erupted from behind the door.
Sensing the right moment, I turned around and pretended to walk away. Not long after, the firmly shut door burst open, and Fay came flying out.
“Junior!”
Fay lunged and clung to my leg without hesitation.
As she hugged me tightly as if she’d never let go, her unrivaled breasts naturally pressed against my leg.
My body involuntarily stiffened at the soft sensation I could feel even through my clothes.
Did she take that as hesitation? Fay pressed her head against my leg and began to plead.
“Don’t go… I was wrong, Junior!”
“Let go of me, Senior Fay.”
“No! I’ll never let go! My body has become one that can’t live without you anymore, Junior!”
“Ahem. Don’t say things that people might misunderstand. You just said you couldn’t trust me a moment ago.”
“I was wrong! I’ll never doubt you again! So please don’t abandon meeeee!!”
“I don’t know. My heart has been deeply wounded….”
“I’ll do anything! So please… please, I beg you… I think the fruit of our labor is about to come out soon….”
“…….”
Watching her cling to my leg, sobbing and throwing a tantrum, a deep sense of satisfaction welled up from within.
I struggled to suppress the corners of my mouth that kept trying to curl upward and cleared my throat.
“Ahem. Since you’re begging like this, Senior Fay, I’ll let it slide just this once.”
“Gasp! Really…?”
“Yes, really. So let’s head inside.”
“Yes, yes! I’ll even brew some tea for you!”
Fay stood up clumsily and pulled on my sleeve, dragging me toward the workshop.
Following her, I looked back over my shoulder with a triumphant look.
But what I got in return was a subtle expression from Carla and a look from Elisha that suggested she was looking at a piece of trash.
How cruel.
Well, I achieved my goal, so isn’t that what matters?
*
Even though I and my party were the only guests who ever visited, perhaps she felt bad about making us sit on the floor every time.
Fay had brought a new sofa into the workshop. I sat on it, blankly watching her back for a moment.
Elisha poked my side and whispered.
“So? What is this ‘fruit’ she’s talking about?”
“Huh?”
“Tell me the truth. Even if I am your slave, I have to say this.”
“Tell you what?”
When I tilted my head in confusion, Elisha continued with a serious face.
“I won’t ask why you sponsored Miss Fay. But if… if a ‘fruit’ has been created, I believe it’s only right that you take proper responsibility.”
“…Aha?”
“Master, is this perhaps….”
“Shh. Be quiet.”
So there was another one like Fay here.
I exchanged a meaningful glance with Carla and smirked, causing Elisha to look around anxiously.
“W-what is it? Did I say something strange?”
“No, no. Right. Where were we? Responsibility? Of course, I have to take it. Absolutely.”
“Phew… then that’s fine. I didn’t expect a situation like this, but I’m sure you’ll handle it well, Yandel….”
“Of course, I’ll take responsibility and sell it to a good place.”
“…Eh?”
I stole a glance at Fay’s side-boob, which was visible even from behind, and wore a deliberately sinister smile.
“Man, I’m going to be busy from now on. It might not be at a sellable level yet, but once it grows a bit more, it’ll be a different story. I should start looking for buyers in advance.”
“W-what do you mean by that…?”
“Actually, I have plenty of money, so is there even a need to sell it? We can just use it ourselves. That would be better, right, Elisha?”
“Yandel, you….”
Elisha’s expression turned icy cold.
But then, did she realize something was off?
She frowned as she looked at the nonchalant expressions on my and Carla’s faces.
“…I’ll ask again. What exactly is this ‘fruit,’ Yandel?”
“What else? It’s obviously… Senior Fay’s research results.”
“…….”
Only then did Elisha realize she had made a massive misunderstanding, and her face turned beet red.
“Eeeek! Eeeeeek…!”
Elisha stomped her feet, making frustrated noises.
Watching her blue drill-hair bounce and hearing her breathing grow heavy with every stomp, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Why do I feel such a strong urge to tease Elisha whenever I see her?
Still, I’d feel bad if I only teased her, so I should ease up a bit.
“Up we go.”
I leaned my body sideways and lay down, using Elisha’s thighs as a pillow.
Thanks to Carla, who instinctively leaned back and placed my legs on her lap, I was able to lie down quite comfortably.
“W-what is this? All of a sudden.”
“Pervert.”
“You’re blaming me for this?!”
I rubbed my face against Elisha’s horrified thighs and continued.
“What on earth were you thinking? You even tried to get mad at me after misunderstanding all on your own.”
“Ugh… I have nothing to say to that, but….”
“Elisha, you need to be punished. Be prepared for tonight.”
“How does it always end up like that…?”
Elisha was flustered. But because of the effect of the Slave Imprint, she couldn’t do anything to me and could only timidly poke my cheek.
Enjoying that sensation, I rubbed my cheek against her thigh and watched Fay approach, carrying a large tray with teacups and snacks.
With breasts that big, can she even see her own feet…?
No, that’s not it.
Research results are already on the verge of coming out?
That was faster than I thought.
Well, it makes sense. In the early stages of H&A, the only support one could give Fay was finding rare materials for her, making sure she ate three square meals a day, or comforting her when she was depressed.
Since she’s never been directly sponsored with money like this before, it’s not strange that the pace has accelerated.
In fact, it’s desirable.
I should also move faster to bring Fay the things she needs.
I smiled contentedly to myself, thinking about Fay’s storyline.
Fay, who had finally placed the refreshments for the guests on the small table, pouted.
“…Why are you being so lovey-dovey in someone else’s workshop, Junior?”
“Hey! Someone else’s?! Are we strangers? I sponsored you! We ate together! We exchanged Elixirs and Potions! Huh? We’ve done everything! And we’re still strangers?!”
When I made a move to sit up, Fay panicked and pushed my head back down.
“Ah! It was a joke, a joke! You can stay as comfortable as you want! Yes! So don’t get up, just stay there, Junior! Oh, right! Look at this!”
Fay smiled brightly and held up a kitchen knife she had brought on the tray.
…What? Is she threatening me with a knife while telling me not to get up?