Chapter 171 - The Beast's Special Education!
"Can you make it back on your own?"
"......"
"Hmm... yeah, that's not happening. Luna, sorry, but could you escort the Viscount back to the front of the Lord's Castle?"
"Sure thing~♡ Right away, Master♡ This way, Viscount."
"I'll see you next time. Take care."
......
Celestia offered no reply to my farewell. She just staggered after Luna in a complete daze toward the Lord's Castle. Ever since she'd snapped out of it, Celestia had been in that broken state the whole time.
Right after opening her eyes, she'd frozen solid, staring in disbelief at her massively swollen belly...
And even while the slaves washed her rigid body, dressed her, and brought her lunch when noon rolled around, she stayed that way. At this point, I was starting to worry something was seriously wrong... Is she gonna be okay like that? Let's check her... Status Window...
Name: Radir Neve Celestia
Race: Human
Level: 52 (12800 / 164000)
Titles: Defeated Noble Bitch Who Realized Her Inner Desires
Age: 42 | Bitch
Bitch Skills: [Lewdness Lv.3] [Male Scent Addiction Lv.2] [Horse Semen Addiction Lv.4] [Desire Lv.4] [Submission Lv.3] [Disgust Lv.6] [Fear Lv.2] [Confusion Lv.9]
Bitch Records: [Husband: Radir Bell Albert] [Birth Record: 1]
Male Affinity: Radir Bell Albert 78% | Jeong Sema 22%
[Fear] – State of feeling fear toward the beast. Unless aiming for something special, this isn't good.
[Confusion] – Temporary confusion state. It will take time for this bitch's mind to recover.
Oh, uh, yeah. Confusion at Lv.9, huh. Pretty impressive. Unlike the others, it's temporary, at least. Good thing. The problem is the fear... It's not great for my bitch to fear me. I don't know what "something special" means, but it probably refers to domination through fear, right? Hmm... I don't particularly want to dominate Celestia with fear, so I gotta be careful.
Still, it's a relief that her disgust dropped from Lv.8 to Lv.6... And her affinity for me went up... Kinda fast, but after riding me all night, that's all I get? Eh, whatever. No need to rush. I'll take it slow and savor it. My relationship with Celestia is just getting started.
After sending Celestia off, I spent the next few days busy with Lianna's shop opening and tenant preparations for the building. But there was one unfortunate snag with the leasing...
Unluckily, almost all the shops wanting into our building deep in the entertainment district were bars. Can't have more bars since they overlap with Horse Hof... What a headache.
I figured something like a convenience store would be easy, but even they were lukewarm. ...Well, yeah. Essentia doesn't have hangover cures, so no one wants to set up shop amid all these bars. Just grab an antidote potion from a specialist or ask a mage or priest.
Ugh, I thought being a landlord meant sitting back and sucking honey from rents. Didn't expect this blind spot! Thought money would roll in passively, but the world's not that easy.
"Boss~ Fabric delivery's here~."
"Yeah, got it. Label 'em and store inside. We'll sort with Lianna tomorrow when she comes."
"Sure~."
At least I easily snagged employees for Lianna's clothing shop. Specifically, when Lianna returned to her husband's store, they hired new staff and loaned us three with free time for a year. Newbie clothing designers, so having them make casual wear here builds their experience... Handy for them.
With Lianna only coming one or two days a week, it's tough to dump casual designs on her too... Works for me. Only thing weird is all female employees, even from the clothing shop... Eh, no reason for me to touch 'em anyway.
"How's sales?"
"Not great. Location's the issue..."
"Yeah... This shop's just my hobby anyway. Can't be helped."
"We're barely breaking even on the red line... Our pay's safe, right?"
"Psh, don't worry. I budgeted for losses. Worst case, I'll go grind and cover it."
"True, you're a Divine Beast adventurer. We trust you, boss~"
"Puhuhu. Alright, I'll head up. Call if anything."
"Sure~"
"998... 999... 1000! Hoo...!"
During those busy days, whenever I had downtime, I started working out at home. Dungeons were awkwardly timed, so this would have to do. More importantly, the stat-level relation Lizbet and Klea explained... Training like this builds stats steadily.
Plus meditation alongside... Seems essential for Fighting Spirit. Doing 10-30 minutes daily. No fixed skill to grind since getting Demon Eye, but I can test stuff... Just can't figure out why no Fighting Spirit yet.
Once I get it, paired with my stats, I'll be insanely strong... Ngh, not like monsters can't use it, right?
"Master~ Letters from the Lord's Castle piled up."
"Huh? From the Lord's Castle?"
"Yeah. Some need direct handoff, so come down."
Lizbet called me from meditation. Lord's Castle? Oh ho...
"Puhuhu. Celestia, huh? Figured she'd react soon."
"Probably~ Wonder what she sent... Hehe♡"
Excited, I threw on outerwear, groped Lizbet's tits, and rode the magic elevator down. Outside, a newbie soldier waited at the entrance.
"Greetings! Divine Beast sir!"
"Yeah, hi. Good work."
"No, sir! Mail from the Lord and Radia Tax Office! Sign here, please!"
Whoa, fresh recruit? Full of pep. But... Tax Office?
"Sure... Uh, the ones needing signature—are those from the Lord?"
"Yes, sir!"
"What's with Tax Office? Not tax time yet..."
"Dunno, sir! Just delivering assigned mail!"
Soldier-delivered mail means important stuff... Guess I'll see opening them.
"Thanks for signing! Dismissed!"
Crisp salute, then gone. Good form. But why so much from Tax Office? Kinda ominous...
Feeling uneasy, I grabbed the mail and headed up with Lizbet to check one by one.
"Lord's first..."
Tore the fancy envelope. Inside...
Please serve as the combat training instructor for Lord Celestia's daughter, Cecilia.
Even if you decline, visit the Lord's Castle once to give your answer in person.
"...Teacher invitation?"
The Lord's letter requested I handle combat training for his daughter Cecilia. Even if refusing, come once for a direct reply. Creepy.
"...She do this 'cause I beat Celestia?"
"Maybe? Considering she vowed to kill you, she probably didn't spill the full duel details..."
"That bratty daughter with the foul temper... Hmm..."
Tough call. Cecilia was even more hot-tempered than Celestia. Me training her? Even after beating mom, Lord's Castle has better options than me.
"...Think on this later. Tax Office ones..."
Sinister stack from Tax Office. Trembling, opened one...
"......Delinquent?"
High delinquency amounts staring back. Acquisition tax on Lord's gifted building. Business taxes despite paying registration... Nine notices, 2-week deadline. End signed by Lord's wife. Celestia.
"Puh, puhuhu... Look at this?"
"Huh? Still not right in the head, our Celestia?"
"Yeah... This bitch."
Tax on gifted building? Paid business taxes already—why more? Burdensome but not impossible. Just enough to taunt, like "fuck you."
Alright, Celestia? Playing like this?
"Looks like our arrogant noble needs some special education... Liz, send a free slave to church for Klea."
"Sure~ Got it, Master♡"
Gave her time to come crawling, but this cute tantrum? Forgot our night with my horse cock? One night ain't enough, huh?
Fine. Time for an unforgettable experience. You, slated as my bitch, daring to fuck with me? I'll make you regret it, Celestia. Prep for tears and begging.
Savoring her cute defiance from the notice, I pondered her punishment.