Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Helen's Empty Mansion
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The Silvesta mansion where Helen lived was utterly silent.
Normally, the servants would be bustling about in this space, but now it was filled with stillness.
Tweet tweet.
Trickle trickle.
Only the songs of birds and the sound of flowing fountain water filled the garden.
"A mansion this quiet is a first for me."
Even if the owner was away, the servants usually filled in for them.
"Is Veron not here either?"
Veron, the third son of the Silvesta family, was the captain of the 2nd Knight Order, so unlike his other siblings, he stayed in the capital, or so I'd heard.
No way he's gone too?
It was only now that I understood the meaning of "no one is here" written in the letter Helen sent me.
"Really... no one at all."
And in that moment, I could guess why she'd called me here.
Inviting a man to an empty house where a woman lives alone.
That was...
'I'm suddenly getting embarrassed.'
Of course, to her, I was just someone who provided that kind of service.
Not someone with any deep emotional attachment.
'I'd be in trouble if she misunderstood that I took her virginity.'
Helen was the eldest daughter of the Silvesta family and one of the Empire's top geniuses.
Considering her family's power, she'd soon become a high-ranking official in the capital or live lavishly as the greatest spirit mage.
You think I'm the same since I'm a genius mage too?
A commoner illusion mage with no background couldn't do much.
Illusion mages weren't treated well to begin with, and it was even worse for commoners.
Even geniuses weren't all on the same level.
I opened the door, passed through the garden, and entered the mansion.
"T-Teacher, i-it's been a while. Hahaha."
Helen greeted me awkwardly.
She looked completely different from the Helen who'd arrogantly spoken to me the moment we met.
'Probably because I came wearing glasses.'
Before entering Helen's mansion, I'd put on the silver glasses.
Because I thought it was the look she wanted.
Not just in illusions, but even before entering them, she always...
-Please wear glasses?
She'd begged me like that.
She wanted this glasses-wearing look even in reality.
So her face flushing red and her fidgeting shyly was probably because of these glasses I was wearing.
"How have you been?"
"Ah, y-yes... Th-thanks to you."
Helen stared piercingly at my face and body, her cheeks red.
She swallowed hard and met my eyes.
"Y-you wore glasses?"
"Yes. I thought you'd like this look."
"Ah..."
The corners of her mouth twitched up slightly.
Looks like I got it right.
"I missed seeing you, Teacher, while inspecting the territory."
Territory inspection?
"Did you inspect the Silvesta territory?"
"Yes. I went around with the family head."
Ah.
Now I understood why she'd called me all the way here.
"Then you'll have fewer reasons to see me from now on."
"Pardon? Wh-what do you..."
"I've heard the rumors. The Marquis of Silvesta touring the territory with his children is for heir training."
Now Helen would return to the Silvesta territory.
It was graduation season at the academy, so it was the natural progression.
Her abilities were undeniably outstanding.
It was only natural she'd catch the eye of the merit-first Marquis of Silvesta.
He probably wanted to evaluate her as a heir candidate too.
'I'll lose a good regular customer when Helen leaves.'
It was regrettable that she was going.
Helen had been an undeniable loyal patron of our shop.
"Aren't you supposed to go back to the Silvesta territory?"
"Ah, well..."
Helen continued, her mouth corners lifted slightly.
"I'm not going down there."
"Pardon? What do you..."
"I refused. The heir competition."
She refused that position?
"I'm staying in the capital."
"I thought you'd return to the family."
This was truly unexpected.
The Helen I'd seen valued her family above all else.
She was full of pride and self-esteem as a member of a great house.
That confidence in her skills led her to shine brighter than anyone at the academy.
And she was passing up this opportunity?
"I was going to... "
Helen, staring straight at me, smiled as she spoke.
"But I changed my mind."
"So you're planning to build power in the capital."
"Yes. That's how I got this house."
"Is it okay to tell me all that?"
"It's fine. You're Teacher."
I do keep my mouth shut, but...
"Telling everyone could expose your weaknesses."
"You're worried about me right now?"
"Something like that."
"I'm glad you say that, Teacher."
She beamed.
"I'm glad Helen's staying in the capital too."
"R-really?"
"Yes."
Helen approached me briskly, smiling brightly.
"You're a model student who listens so well in class."
What?
My spine chilled like I'd just stepped on a landmine.
"So it's because I'm a good customer?"
She asked, narrowing her brows slightly.
Instinct told me not to nod here.
Like a survival instinct.
"That's not what I meant."
"I see... I understand. That makes sense."
Helen pouted slightly and fidgeted grumpily.
"I even gave you my virginity."
Max didn't hear her mutter because it was too quiet.
Helen was a bit upset, but she understood Max's position.
In a way, as he said, she and Max were still just a shop owner providing a service and a customer consuming it.
They'd never directly exchanged emotions.
In illusions, they'd shared feelings countless times and she'd whispered her love to Teacher, but it hadn't carried over to reality.
Helen knew that.
But the disappointment didn't fade easily.
'I know, but...'
They say when bodies get close, hearts do too.
Helen couldn't take her eyes off the man standing before her.
That much.
Her heart had grown closer.
"Come in. I prepared a lot to do together when Teacher came."
"Understood."
And perhaps because of that rising dissatisfaction.
She tossed a petulant remark at Max as he entered.
"But you know. How long can Teacher keep treating a student so formally?"
"...You want me to be casual?"
"Yes."
Max looked at her in surprise.
"If it's what the customer wants, shouldn't you do it?"
"That's true, but earlier you looked disappointed as a customer, didn't you?"
"I-I should take advantage while I can!"
"You know there's a status difference?"
"What does that matter? Mages are quasi-nobles anyway, right? If you weren't in the Illusion School, you'd have a noble title by now with your skills."
"...That's true."
"So hurry up and try it. Here."
Helen spread her arms as if ready for anything.
Seeing that, Max took a slow breath and replied.
"Let's go in. Helen. My legs are getting tired."
"Hehe, okay, Teacher."
That was the moment Helen became an utterly adorable student.
"Th-then this way..."
Helen led the way.
To her room, filled with gifts she'd prepared to call Max here today.
I followed Helen's guidance into her room.
It was a room that reeked of femininity.
Walls painted in light sky blue like her hair, a bed veiled with lace curtains, a vanity full of sparkling jewels and cosmetics, and various dolls.
She was always the top student, skipping grades and drawing everyone's attention, but this room showed her heart was that of a girl.
"It's pretty. Nicely organized and tidy."
"I'm so happy Teacher praises it like that."
Of course, the separate desk was piled with countless books, but the room was so girly that they barely registered.
'Lots of books on spirits.'
There were tons of books on how to handle the water and wind spirits she'd contracted.
As I looked at the books, my eyes caught one.
-Proper Dog Walking Methods.
Dog?
Did Helen have a dog?
"P-please don't look at that, look here."
But my question vanished when she opened the bed hidden by the veil.
Why?
On the bed.
"These are the things I prepared for Teacher."
An eyemask, shackles, and a collar were neatly laid out.
In that instant, I realized the "Proper Dog Walking Methods" book on her desk wasn't for a pet dog she was raising.
It was.
"F-for training today too. Woof."
A training manual for Helen herself.
How could I just leave that alone?
At those words, I grabbed the collar.
"I should make an illusion that encompasses the entire mansion."
Helen cautiously grabbed my hand at my words.
"T-today, not illusion..."
"?
"I want to experience the real thing."
Then she placed that book in my hand.
-Proper Dog Walking Methods.
"Woof."