Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Eli's Scheme
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Rize arrived at Furuta Yoichi's lab with Eli.
"Welcome, Miss Rize. And... ooh! If it isn't Miss Eli. A pleasure to meet you."
"Hello, Dr. Furuta."
"You're doing well, I see. You already know who I am, Dr. Furuta."
"Hahaha! Of course I do. The young master's fiancée! How could I not know the woman who'll become his wife!"
"Ohohoho! You know your stuff!"
Eli whispered softly to Rize.
"He seems like a really good person, Rize."
"Don't go believing flattery so easily, Miss Eli."
"Is he a bad person?"
"Not at all."
Stopping her whispers with Rize, Eli turned to Furuta Yoichi—better known as Hubunkun—and spoke up.
"Dr. Furuta. I asked Rize to guide me here because there's something I absolutely had to ask you."
"Something to ask... Does that mean you're interested in magic weaponry too, Miss Eli?"
"No, not that... ahem!"
Clearing her throat to steady the mood, Eli asked Hubunkun.
"I heard you're quite close with Rubelt."
"Haha, me close with the young master? What an honor. He's the benefactor who saved my life. That was about five years ago..."
"Dr. Furuta, Miss Eli's question isn't finished yet."
"Ah, my apologies."
"No, no. It just shows how big a presence Rubelt is in your life. What I really want to ask... Before I do, everything said here stays absolutely secret! Nowhere else, never! Got it?"
"Yes, understood."
"Good. Whew... What do you think I should do to make Rubelt happy enough to embrace me!"
"...Pardon?"
"I'll explain briefly."
Rize explained the situation to the puzzled Hubunkun doctor.
"Hahaha! I see! So that's it! The young master is truly blessed! To have such a devoted beauty as his fiancée!"
"Well! I'm Rubelt's fiancée, after all! This much is only natural! Anyway, Rize told me you know all about his... tastes and such. So, what do you think I should do? Give me your ideas!"
"Leave it to Furuta Yoichi for that! For the young master and Miss Eli's happy nights! I'll suggest the most effective ideas!"
"Oh my! Really? You seem so reliable, Dr. Furuta! So, what are they?"
Hubunkun adjusted his slightly slipped glasses with his index finger and spoke.
"In my opinion, the key is showing him that you truly want it yourself. For a stunning, charming fiancée like you, Miss Eli, that's already half the battle won."
Eli had already pulled out a notepad and pen from her bosom, jotting down summaries of Hubunkun's words.
Scribble scribble.
"Emphasize wanting it myself... Next!"
"Showing a new side is crucial."
"A new side... For example?"
"Not attitude. A new appearance! In other words... cosplay!"
"Cos... play?"
"Exactly! Cosplay! Simply put, dressing up! Wearing different clothes from usual and acting the part."
"Different clothes from usual?"
Hubunkun nodded vigorously and continued his explanation.
"Yes! Something completely different! Seduce him in fresh attire! It's extremely attractive and guaranteed to work for men. In fact, couples dissatisfied with their intimacy have tried cosplay and reported great satisfaction!"
"Such results exist! So cosplay is the way!"
"Precisely!"
"Then, Dr. Furuta! What cosplay should I do?"
"Hmm, well. The first thing that comes to mind is...!"
Hubunkun pointed at Rize.
"Miss Eli wearing the maid outfit that Miss Rize has on!"
"Me wearing Rize's clothes?"
"Yes. You're always in dresses, waited on by others. But if you wore a maid outfit in front of the young master and said, 'Tonight, I'm Rubelt's maid Eli~,' he'd love it."
"Th-that... makes sense!"
Eli didn't fully get it, but Hubunkun's enthusiasm convinced her.
"Rize! Get a maid outfit in my size right away...!"
"But that won't have the biggest impact on the young master."
"Cancel! Wait, Rize! Dr. Furuta! Finish what you were saying!"
"I was still in the middle, Miss Eli."
"Right. Please continue."
"Yes. So you'll need something even more different. My top recommendation is...!"
"Your top recommendation is...!"
"This!"
Hubunkun held up his phone for Eli and Rize to see clearly.
"Th-this... this is!"
Riiiing!
"You're growing every day, Rubelt."
"It's all thanks to Master's excellent guidance."
"Then today's lesson ends here."
After Eli and Rize went off to talk privately.
I'd been receiving private instruction from the newly arrived Master.
He sheathed his katana and stroked his short chin beard with his thumb.
"Academy enrollment is right around the corner, young master. Once you're in, you'll be busy with all sorts... Hmm, I wonder when we'll get to share some Heavenly Thunder Brew..."
"Sorry for making you wait, Master. I'm pretty used to alcohol now. How about three days from now?"
Thanks to wine with Father and the occasional Kitsune Goroshi with Ayame, I'd gotten quite accustomed to drinking.
So Heavenly Thunder Brew should be enjoyable now too.
Delighted by my words, Master blinked and smiled.
"Ooh! Truly? Then three days from now! I'll bring the Heavenly Thunder Brew! Hahaha!"
He seemed thrilled at the prospect.
If only I'd known; I should've gotten used to it sooner.
Oh, speaking of alcohol.
Denrai Chisaki was canonically a heavy drinker.
Though academy stories rarely showed drunken scenes.
I wonder if that's still the case.
"Do you drink with your daughter?"
"Chisaki? Ugh, don't get me started. Our lovely Chisaki's already hooked on booze. Such a tragedy."
"That saddens you?"
"At first... at first, it was great! She'd pour for her old man, drink so prettily! But... ugh! Now she's hooked and barely has one or two with me before downing the rest alone!"
"I see."
"Next thing you know, she's emptying bottles solo and demanding more from her father! Ugh! That stuff's expensive...!"
Alcoholism must run in the family.
"I'll prepare some wine for Master to enjoy tonight—Heavenly Thunder Brew optional."
"What?! Really? I wasn't pressuring you, Rubelt."
"It's fine. Consider it a gift from your disciple."
"Ugh! What a fortunate master I am to have a disciple like you, Rubelt!"
If a little booze tightens master-disciple bonds, it's a bargain.
"This time, make sure your daughter doesn't swipe it all so you can drink alone."
"Hahaha, I will!"
After texting the gift butler to prepare wine for Master via phone, we left the training grounds together.
"Good work, young master."
"Anna?"
As we exited, Anna—not Rize—greeted me.
"Rubelt, I'll take my leave."
"Ah, yes. Farewell, Master."
Bidding Master goodbye, I turned back to Anna.
"Where's Rize?"
"Rize is out with Miss Eli right now."
"I see."
They must've gone shopping, chatting happily.
The closer they get, the better for me.
"Got it. Next is magic lessons, right?"
"Yes. Nothing after that."
I'd originally had subsidiary company decisions to handle post-lesson.
But with academy looming and busyness ahead, I'd delegated company ops to trusted staff this year, freeing up time.
Unless critical or needing my direct input, nothing comes to me.
That's how I could skip lessons for full days to pursue Ayame, and visit often after.
Since Eli and Rize's shopping might drag on, after class I'd... play some app games to kill time.
Finishing lessons, I holed up in my room, glued to my phone until word of Eli and Rize's return.
Boom! Boom! Brrrboom!
FINISH!
"Yes! New record!"
A trendy mini-game with casual vibes: Block Crash.
Move colorful stacked blocks to burst as many as possible.
Time-limited scoring with rankings adds light competition.
Perfect for passing time lightly.
Though I got a bit carried away and snagged first place.
Hey, talent, right~?
Genius training and stat boosts make topping mini-game ranks a breeze.
Sorry to the former top hikikomori engineer.
"Hmm, but they're awfully late coming back?"
Dinner time was approaching, yet Rize and Eli were overdue.
"Guess I should check in..."
Right then.
Creeeak.
"Young master, we've returned."
Rize entered my room.
"Ah, Rize. Welcome back. Where's Eli?"
"She's waiting for you somewhere. Please come with me, young master."
"Huh?"