Yustia Banquet (5)
“Thank you. Thank you…”
“...Please don’t.”
Soy’s mother kept trying to kneel and bow repeatedly.
Silia and James awkwardly followed their mother’s lead.
Of course, it wasn’t strange for a commoner like her to act this way after receiving a favor from a noble like Zeke. But to him, such formalities felt as uncomfortable as wearing ill-fitting clothes.
“I find these customs uncomfortable.”
“B-But still…”
“Please act and speak freely. I’m here as the teacher instructing Soy right now… As you’ve heard, status is equal for everyone at the academy.”
Of course, they weren’t inside the academy now, and a teacher and student weren’t exactly equals either—but she was the student’s mother, so it was close enough.
Even after he said that, Soy’s mother kept bowing her head.
No helping it.
“If you keep up with these excessive formalities, I’ll make you repay that debt to me.”
At that, her back straightened up like a picture-perfect posture.
“Is our Soy adapting well at the academy?”
Zeke could see exactly where Soy Spoon got her shamelessness from.
And so, an unexpected home visit took place at Hilais Bakery.
With freshly baked bread and tea laid out, Soy’s mother and Zeke sat facing each other.
Soy Spoon, as the person in question, sat beside her mother.
“Last time and this time too, things have been so hectic I couldn’t properly thank you. Thank you.”
“Debt.”
“Is our Soy keeping up with lessons?”
Zeke nodded without hesitation.
“Yes. Excellently.”
“It’s embarrassing to say, but we’re such an ordinary family… I’ve heard even the commoners there are mostly remarkable kids.”
“And among those remarkable kids, Soy took first place.”
Soy, unintentionally struck by the direct praise meant for her, flushed red.
No parent hates hearing their child praised.
Soy’s mother smiled faintly.
“Hehe… Our Soy has always been a bit exceptional since she was little.”
“She takes after her mother a lot.”
“No, she’s more like her father.”
Hero Spoon. Zeke had heard about her father from Soy before.
“What kind of man was he…?”
“Hmm, meddlesome… and strong. He couldn’t stand by when he saw injustice; he’d charge right in.”
Indeed, a man who lived up to his name.
Zeke, once a hero of a dark fantasy world himself, felt a slight kinship.
“Still, that sense of justice must have saved many people.”
“...What good did it do? That meddling got him killed so young.”
Soy’s mother shook her head with a hollow smile.
Hmm.
Zeke swallowed a groan.
He hadn’t meant to steer the conversation heavy, but the mood had sunk.
Well, I nearly died a dog’s death multiple times playing hero myself. If someone had worried about me like this back then, would things have been different?
Zeke let out a short sigh and turned to Soy.
It seemed best to wrap things up quickly and leave.
“Soy Spoon.”
“Y-Yes!?”
She’d been sitting silently like her mouth was glued shut, startled by Zeke’s sudden call.
“Time to work on your Mana Road now.”
“Uh… um. C-Can’t I skip it?”
The second prince’s agonized face from earlier wouldn’t leave her mind.
Iriel’s harsh warning terrified her too.
Zeke furrowed his brow.
“Why? It’s beneficial. Didn’t you see Serena’s growth earlier?”
“...It was impressive, but do I really need to get that strong…?”
“Power is never a bad thing to have.”
“Can’t I just train normally until I’m strong enough to protect myself…?”
“Possible, but I’d prefer if you did it.”
Mmm.
Soy Spoon pondered deeply.
Zeke had helped her out again this time.
She knew it wasn’t right to keep being protected like this.
But Soy Spoon still couldn’t make up her mind.
Could she really walk the grueling path of the sword to the end?
And.
Was it okay to keep wielding a sword with half-hearted resolve, not her own will?
Instructor probably wouldn’t want me doing it against my will either.
She’d been tempted by his words about protecting money and family.
But her father had lived that way and died.
What if later, I rely on Instructor again…
Oh no.
Soy Spoon realized how much she’d been depending on him.
He was like a sturdy, massive tree— she’d leaned on him without realizing.
She’d vowed to stand on her own without others’ help.
...Instructor has no reason to look after our family.
But he did.
He helped.
Why?
The reason was probably her.
He’d been good to her from the start.
He’d come personally to teach her swordsmanship,
saved her mother from the loan sharks,
and bought her bread with a single gold coin.
Why did he do so much for her?
I asked before, and he just said ‘just because’…
Soy Spoon still didn’t understand.
But whatever his reason now, it wasn’t for his own benefit.
Her accepting it wouldn’t do him any good.
It would only waste his time.
Suddenly, she felt a wave of self-loathing.
Instructor coming here like this is for my sake too…
She hated herself for taking his kindness for granted just because it hurt a little, scared her a bit.
Soy Spoon made up her mind.
She still didn’t fully get the sword thing,
but at least she’d go as far as he expected.
“Yes, Instructor. I’ll do it—”
““Wait.””
At that moment, voices cut in from outside.
One was Iriel, and the other… Serena?
The two most famous duke’s ladies in the capital had come to Hilais Bakery.
*
Huh? I figured Serena might show up, but Iriel too…?
Zeke felt flustered.
He’d rushed to Hilais Bakery right after class ended, anticipating Serena might come.
Her mom and family are here, so stripping would be awkward.
He’d planned to quickly slip his hand under Soy’s clothes and get it done.
But now Serena and Iriel had arrived.
Shit, guess I have no choice but to do it the old way…?
Zeke considered the situation.
No stripping.
If he tried that bullshit, he couldn’t imagine the looks Serena and Iriel would give him.
He’d be labeled a pervert for doing unnecessary things just to peek at girls’ bodies.
If it’s just pervert treatment, that’d be lucky.
He’d be kicked out of the Yohayden household, and his hard-earned favor with Iriel—now skyrocketing as a top heroine candidate—would sour again.
He had to avoid distancing from her, especially now with tensions rising against the Yustia family.
Tsk.
Zeke rubbed his chin.
“Soy Spoon.”
“Y-Yes!?”
“Let’s move. Ma’am, mind if we use a room for a bit?”
“Y-Yes, go ahead. Those two ladies…”
“They’ll come too. It’s a secret technique I share only with my students.”
“A-Ah, yes.”
Soy’s mother answered Zeke while unable to tear her eyes from the overwhelmingly beautiful duo who’d barged in.
Wait, Instructor’s students? Then they take classes with Soy Spoon… D-Duke’s ladies!?
She nearly knelt right then, but Zeke and the girls had already entered a room.
Creeeak—
“M-Mom…”
Silia, standing at a distance, finally approached after they entered the attached room and spoke up.
“Those ladies… they’re duke’s daughters, right…?”
“S-Seems like it?”
“...Suddenly Soy looks amazing to me…”
“...But this morning when I woke up in the bedroom… who cleaned up…?”
Ah.
Mother and Silia turned to James.
“Uh, uh, I overslept today…!”
They squeezed their eyes shut.
* * *
Zeke and the three girls gathered in one room.
It was so small that four people filled it completely.
A tiny storage shed?
A doghouse?
Harsh thoughts Serena and Iriel didn’t hesitate to have—ones that would scar Soy deeply if heard.
Their own rooms were worlds apart from this cramped, dingy space.
Having grown up in places ten times this size, this dusty commoner’s room was a shocking sight.
“Th-The bedroom’s a bit, uh, dirty.”
Soy said, glancing nervously.
James!!!
She cursed her brother inwardly and started tidying.
Folding blankets, picking up scattered clothes, kicking clutter into a corner.
“Hm, it’s fine. Feels nostalgic somehow.”
To Zeke, it evoked his old bachelor pad—actually pleasant.
Iriel’s face fell as she heard that.
Oh… right… This is about the size of that underground prison he was in before… No memories, but the feeling lingers, huh.
After quick cleanup, the four sat huddled on the floor.
Zeke spoke first.
“We’ll check your Mana Road.”
Gulp.
Soy Spoon swallowed dryly in tension.
“Remember, I have no ulterior motives with this. And keep it secret, even from family.”
Zeke added, oddly concerned.
Soy Spoon tilted her head, confused.
No ulterior motives? What’s that mean? It’s a secret technique, so secret makes sense.
Then she recalled the second prince getting his Mana Road.
She’d forgotten amid his agonized expression.
He’d taken his shirt off!
Soy Spoon’s face flushed bright red.
“N-No way!”
Zeke nodded.
“Mm.”
What’s with the nod!! What’s ‘mm’ supposed to mean!!! And these people too, to gawk at my b-body!!!