Taming the Young Lady (1)

Andy grimaced.

He had winced involuntarily at the text suddenly filling his vision.

Skipping everything else, he decided to analyze the most concerning part of the notification first.

The inheritance of Karma.

In these kinds of games, 'inheritance' usually referred to a system where stats and resources accumulated in the first playthrough carried over to the second.

And in this case, the first playthrough would be the world of the original novel.

He could understand the inheritance of Karma from a novel that ended in ruin. Andy's deduction on his first day here had been correct.

However, the traits themselves were completely unexpected.

Thirst for Blood and Contaminated Blood.

Both were symptoms that Cream developed in the latter half of the original novel. Although they weren't explicitly labeled in a system window like this, it was easy to infer from the descriptions.

The Witch of Blood.

The ancient witch who had brought the world to the brink of destruction had left behind a curse before being defeated.

"I shall return. That day shall truly be the end of the world, and you shall be bound to my blood, suffering for eternity—"

The host that curse had chosen in the present day was none other than Cream Hollybell.

The witch's seed, the witch's incarnation.

As she accumulated evil deeds, the curse dormant within her would awaken, transforming her into the witch.

Andy recalled that in the latter half of the original novel, as her Curse Manifestation Rate rose, Cream's blood became toxic, and she used it to torture, brainwash, and murder people.

There were also frequent scenes of her absorbing the blood of her victims.

'Contaminated Blood... Is that what Cream used?'

The means by which the maid Kanel's personality had been rewritten.

Since he didn't know the exact details of how it worked, he decided to move on for now and turned his attention to the Thirst for Blood.

'Thirst... But she hasn't shown any signs of it...'

Just as Andy had used his own trait naturally without any prior warning, Cream must have possessed these traits for a long time.

The notification at the very bottom of the 'Previous Notifications' log.

It was likely a penalty that had existed even before he entered this world.

Yet, Andy had never seen her complain of thirst or grow violent. At most, she would ask, "When are you going to make me a hambugi?" rather than begging for blood.

Was the thirst weak because it was only Level 1?

"Hmm..."

Whatever the case, Cream was still Cream. She had possessed these traits since they first met in this world, and the curse had not awakened.

Right. If she had a Thirst for Blood, he could just procure animal blood for her. If she had Contaminated Blood, he just had to keep it hidden from others.

Besides, Andy had a trait of his own.

He didn't know what the 'Guide's spirituality' meant.

Andy had only read the first playthrough as a novel; he hadn't actually done anything inside it.

Or perhaps 'inheritance' didn't mean carrying it over from a previous run, but rather that some transcendent being had bestowed it upon him.

Regardless, there was something more important than mysteries he couldn't solve right now.

The pile of laundry that had been covered in stains and mold was now as clean as if it had just finished a fresh wash cycle.

He had assumed it was a simple utility spell like the Clean magic often found in fantasy novels, but it was different.

The Purification trait.

With this, he might actually be able to help the child harboring the witch's curse.

'...Or will it? Would it actually hurt her instead?'

A power that cleanses dirty things versus a blood described as the dirtiest liquid in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠existence. On paper, they were polar opposites, so he needed to be cautious.

Still, whether he had this power or not, Andy's task remained unchanged.

No matter what kind of child Cream was, what sinister traits she possessed, or what her true inner thoughts were, Andy's goal was the same.

He would stay by her side, maintaining a proper boundary, and protect the life he had resolved to save. He would care for her until she could stand on her own. He would see a happy ending.

'...Alright.'

Having organized his thoughts, he gathered the bundle of clothes.

After temporarily moving the laundry—which no longer needed washing—to his own room, he headed back to Cream's room.

"Whew...! Oof...! Haa... Ah, Teacher!"

The young lady, whose face was still red from blowing bubbles, welcomed him. The moment she saw Andy, she set down the bubble kit and scurried over, looking for all the world as if she had a tail wagging behind her.

"You're back! Did the maid ahjummas say anything? Did they complain about there being too many clothes, or that they were too dirty?"

"No. Everything was fine."

Seeing her smile so innocently, as if their ominous conversation from earlier had never happened, Andy decided to play along and smiled back.

"Thank you for your concern, Young Lady. Now, let's put the bubbles aside for later and pack your things."

"Huh?"

"Make sure to pack your doll and sewing kit. Is there anything else you need to bring?"

"Uh... no, but what do you mean?"

"If you're ready, follow me."

Despite his beckoning gesture, Cream just stood there blankly. True, his explanation had been lacking.

"From now on, you will be using my room, Young Lady. In exchange, I will be using this room."

"What?!"

This girl lived in a cramped, damp room that never saw the sun.

Andy had repeatedly requested a room change from the Head Maid, but he was rejected every time under the pretext that there were no vacant rooms. While they now provided her with decent clothes and tea, the room remained unchanged.

And why? Because she had to be kept as far away from the Countess's quarters as possible.

Under such circumstances, what else could a tutor do but offer his own room? His cleaning spree today had been for this very purpose.

"It is bad for a child's health to live in a place like this. We can't have you catching a lung disease. My room has decent sunlight and is much larger, so it will be far more comfortable."

"No! But why would you take my room, Teacher...! This room is fine, it's livable!"

"Then it shouldn't be a problem for me to use it either."

"N-No! I mean, it's livable for me, but it would be hard for you, Teacher. It's, uh, cramped, and dark, and I... I like small, dark places..."

Even a child could tell the environment of this room was terrible.

Or perhaps she had something to hide.

To reassure Cream, who was rambling in an attempt to stop him because she didn't want to give the room to her teacher, Andy lowered himself to her eye level. Since she was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so small for a twelve-year-old that she looked closer to eight, he had to practically kneel.

Seeing her like this only made his heart ache more.

"It's alright, Young Lady."

"I-It's not alright... It's only right that I use this room. The Head Maid ahjumma gave it to me..."

"We can just keep it quiet. It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission."

"Uh..."

"And besides, it will simply put my mind at ease if I use this room."

"But—"

"Young Lady, you can't even sleep properly at night, can you?"

"..."

Cream's mouth instantly shut.

He had taken a gamble by bringing it up, and as expected, he was right.

.

.

.

Every morning when he woke up, a notification window always greeted him, showing that Cream's stress had slightly increased.

He didn't know why she felt stressed during the night. He had suspected it was because she kept tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Judging by her reaction now, his suspicion was correct.

Cream, her eyes wide, slowly lowered her head. She stood still, clutching her bizarrely shaped dog doll to her chest.

"......How did you know?"

"Because I am your teacher, Young Lady."

"..."

"And I can sleep well just about anywhere. Do you understand? So, let's pack your things."

"..."

If she changed sleeping environments, she would probably be able to sleep properly.

Andy was the type who could sleep well no matter where he lay down, so he was fine. He had lived in a cramped, tiny studio apartment in his real life, so this room actually felt luxurious by comparison.

If mold grew, he could just clean it with his Purification ability. If the air felt musty, he could purify that too.

'...Wait. Hold on.'

What exactly fell under the category of 'dirty things'? Surely monsters or evil energy would be included, right?

If so, if things went south at the mansion, would he be able to take Cream and run away? Perhaps they could seek refuge in a cathedral.

The more options, the better. Of course, becoming fugitives and dealing with Cream's Contaminated Blood would be issues, but it didn't hurt to plan ahead.

Since the room swap was already a done deal in Andy's mind, his thoughts naturally drifted.

Because of that, he was slow to notice.

"...Teacher."

"Hmm... Ah..."

"Teacher."

"Ah, yes. Young Lady."

He hadn't paid attention to the sudden, chilly shift in the girl's aura.

"I have a question."

"Yes? Ask me anything."

He didn't notice how tightly she was clutching the doll, her hands trembling slightly.

"Teacher, why are you being so nice to me?"

"Pardon?"

"You picked a fight with a maid on your very first day because of me, and you stood up to the Head Maid. Every day, you go to the trouble of making handmade snacks, and your lessons are all simple and tailored to my level. Aren't you worried about what the Count will say?"

"...Young Lady?"

"And now you're volunteering to live in this moldy, cramped room. No matter how I look at it, this isn't something a home tutor would do."

"..."

"Even... even when I told you it was okay to leave. You still came back like this..."

"..."

"Why on earth are you doing this? What do you stand to gain by being so nice to me?"

She asked her questions with a clear, precise pronunciation that was entirely different from her usual childish lisp.

Since it was a question with a predetermined answer, Andy had been itching to say it.

"Well... that's obvious."

"What is so obvious?"

It was a question he was more than willing to answer as many times as needed.

"I want you to be happy, Young Lady."

"...What?"

"I want to see you happy. Running around with a healthy, bright smile... That kind of sight."

"What are you..."

"That is how children ought to be. It is not good for them to cry or be sad. A smile is the best thing. If possible, I would like to be the one to make you smile like that."

"..."

"I hope that, in the future, you will live your life with a genuine smile."

Not a hollow laugh at the end of destruction, but a bright, beaming smile born of true happiness.

Really, that was all he wanted. Andy just wanted to see that.

That was his purpose for coming to this world, his ultimate mission.

"...Well."

"..."

"Ahem. Was that too presumptuous of me? I apologize. S-Shall we start moving your things first?"

Feeling embarrassed after saying it out loud, he turned around.

He had spoken sincerely, but since she didn't react at all, he wondered if he had acted too familiar. He thought she might at least pretend to smile, but this young lady was truly hard to read.

"...Teacher."

"Yes, yes?"

Just then, he felt a tug on his suit jacket.

Turning around, he saw Cream looking up at his face.

Her light pink eyes, which ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠should have looked warm based on their color, felt incredibly cold. Her usual innocence and energy were gone, replaced by a gaze so deep and sunken that it made him hesitate.

In a strangely commanding tone, she spoke.

"If I..."

"Yes...?"

"If I were a bad child, would you still be able to say those words?"

"A bad child?"

"Yes. A bad child. A very wicked and evil child."

"...How so, specifically?"

"Who knows."

Cream let out a small chuckle, as if swallowing back her next words.

The light streaming in from the open window in the corner of the room fell upon the girl. Her fangs gleamed slightly through her parted lips.

"Right, could you give me your hand?"

There was no time to stop her. While he was debating how to answer, the girl pulled the man's large hand toward her mouth.

A damp breath brushed his skin first, and what followed happened in an instant.

Just like how she ate her favorite snacks.

"Like this."

Chomp—

"I could hurt you."

She simply opened her mouth wide, bared her teeth, and bit down.

Andy flinched at the sharp sting, and his hand was immediately released. Checking his hand, he saw two small punctures ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠where his thumb met his wrist.

"Can you still say you wish for the happiness of a bad child like this?"

She had targeted a blood vessel well, as droplets of blood began to well up and trickle down from the punctures.

Seeing this, Cream lightly wiped her lips with her sleeve. While the corners of her mouth were curled up playfully, her eyes remained cold and sunken, just like before.

She knew she had done something bad, and she was testing him.

Under normal circumstances, she deserved to be scolded. He should have firmly told her that she shouldn't test adults, and that she shouldn't hurt others so carelessly. That was what a tutor was for, after all.

Or, as someone who knew her true nature, he should have been terrified and run away. He shouldn't ignore this signal that she could easily harm him.

However, Andy did none of those things.

"Yes, I can."

"See? In the end, you too...... What?"

"I can say those words. It doesn't matter if you hurt me."

He had made up his mind long ago.

It didn't matter if this girl was innocent or evil. It was fine if she was a bad child. Until she reached a happy ending and smiled brightly, he could not leave her side.

And he also knew that this girl possessed traits different from others.

Thirst for Blood. A tendency to feel thirst if she didn't drink blood for a certain period.

It wasn't a penalty she had asked for, nor was it anyone's fault. He only felt pity for her, having to live while hiding her differences from others, and having to continue doing so in the future.

So, he decided to use this opportunity to make his appeal as her Guide.

He had thought about procuring animal blood earlier, but there was no need for that, was there?

Right here, wasn't there a perfectly good blood bag?

"Here, Young Lady. I have an arm right here. Please, bite it as much as you want."

"Huh...?"

When he rolled up his sleeve and offered his arm, Cream took a step back, clearly caught off guard by his unexpected behavior.

But that was fine. If she moved away, he just had to step closer.

So, he took another step forward, prompting Cream to step back again, which only made him close the distance once more.

"Don't be shy, please bite. You can do it even harder than before."

"W-Wait a minute..."

"Haha. It's alright. Don't mind me, just do whatever you want. I don't think it's bad at all."

As he approached with a smile to show he wasn't afraid, her face filled with bewilderment.

With every step he took, her playful, impish expression cracked. With every step, her face contorted further, until finally, her eyes widened in shock.

It was a look of utter disbelief, as if she were a child startled by something wriggling under the bed.

Even so, Andy didn't stop.

"It's not scary. Come on. Don't hold back, Young Lady."

"No... Why, why are you coming closer? You're supposed to run away or be scared..."

"None of that matters. This is what's important right now. Come! Just like biting a hamburger, or a donut, you can do it! Go on, Young Lady!"

"Uh... Ugh...... Y-You're too close...!"

As Andy's voice grew louder, carrying a hint of madness, Cream, completely overwhelmed by this bizarre turn of events, stumbled backward.

Then, with a soft thud, her back hit the wall. Realizing she had nowhere left to run, she twisted her small body to the side, opened the door, and tried to flee.

Not about to let her escape, Andy gave chase.

What a bad child trying to push her teacher away needed was more positivity...

...and more affection!

"Young Lady! I am perfectly fine! So don't worry about what others think! *Huff, huff*, please, bite me!"

"I'm sorry! I'll apologize! Just don't chase me!!"

"*Pant, pant*, with that small mouth! Wide! With all your might! Bite my arm!"

"Please stop!! It's creepy!!"

"Uooooh! Young Lady!"

"Kyaaaaa!!"

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