Totally Fucked (4)

"Made you wait long, did I? My apologies."

About thirty minutes later, the door creaked open with a heavy thud. In walked a man so handsome it was hard to believe he was the kid's father. Typical romance-fantasy world.

I wonder if Ashu will grow up to look like that. No wonder women flocked to him.

"G-Greetings, Your Grace."

I bobbed an awkward bow, and he waved it off, mentioning he'd just become the duke. A far cry from the guy who'd slapped Ashu across the face moments ago.

"Sit comfortably. Since I kept you waiting, let's get straight to the point."

I nodded and sank back into my seat.

"As you might have guessed, there's only one reason I called you here."

The duke crossed his arms, sighing as if the ground might cave in beneath him.

"Fix that boy's personality, somehow. Any method's fine. Beat him until he's crippled if you must—I won't hold it against you. Martial training? He doesn't give a damn about that anyway."

He spilled it all in a rush. Long-winded, but the summary was simple: he was giving me carte blanche to beat the shit out of Ashu, no limits. Like hiring an unethical tutor from some twisted drama.

I got why the duke was saying this.

That personality ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is pretty fucked up, yeah.

Charging at someone with a real sword out of nowhere? Not normal. Swearing to become their disciple if he lost? Same deal. It was like the mindset of a beast obsessed with pecking order.

But something about the duke's words felt off.

"That damn brat... clawed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his way out of his mother's womb and hasn't stopped tormenting me since."

A candid mutter, laced with words so vicious it felt like he wanted me to hear. He was blatantly airing his hatred and loathing for his own son.

...Not the thoughts of a normal 'father.'

"Ideal, I know you're a criminal."

The duke smiled, but his eyes were ice-cold.

"Killing your superior on the front lines and deserting? Military law demands immediate execution."

Our gazes locked. His smile licked at me like he was about to devour me whole.

"The ducal house can protect you. A teacher should understand what that means."

With that, the duke rose. His footsteps echoed firmly—thud, thud—without a hint of hesitation, his business done.

"Oh, and one more thing. Classes start tomorrow."

Bam. The door slammed as he left.

"...Hah. What a guy."

Like father, like son, huh?

If I screw up midway or the results suck, it's obvious what happens.

He called me a teacher, but I was still a criminal. If Ashu died during 'training,' I'd be next—silenced. Unsatisfactory results? Same fate.

How's that possible? Simple: a closed-off territory. Absolute power and status. With those two, anything goes. Basically a dictator.

"Fuuuuck..."

I had some street smarts from my past life. And they were screaming what kind of shit I'd landed in.

...I'm basically kidnapped.

Teacher in name only—I was a prisoner. I slumped onto the sofa like a deflated slime.

...Shouldn't have come.

Too late for regrets now. What could I do? Priority one: find a way to survive. I'd dealt with crap like this before.

Time is always unfair, just like that.

Duty shifts drag on forever, but downtime vanishes the moment you blink.

Same for me now. After the chaos settled, it was past lights-out, so I crashed in my assigned room.

Sitting on the bed, zoning out... and boom, over an hour gone.

Not that I actually relaxed, of course.

With class tomorrow, slacking was out. No time for bitching about the short notice—I had to rack my brain.

Groaning, I started jotting down novel details in a mind-map style on a notepad.

Why the hell did Ashu become the main villain?

Truth is, I don't know.

Not even in the original story. 'Lady Merhen's Something-or-Other' was pure black-and-white justice—villains got no tragic backstory. As if nuance was a luxury for bad guys.

Ideal was the same. Just "the gaslighting mentor," no details.

So I wracked my brain for hours. The result?

"Self-introduction?"

"Y-Yes... I-It’s our first proper meeting, s-so, um..."

"Strictly speaking, it's not our first."

"W-Well, true, but..."

Next day, class time. Ashu lounged before me, legs crossed arrogantly. His swollen cheek from yesterday's slap made his face hilariously lopsided.

"...What's with that creepy smile?"

"Eek!"

S-S-Scary!

But I was a full-grown adult. No way I'd cower before some brat not even ten...

Tremble tremble. As our eyes met, Ashu sighed.

"...Haa. Fine. I'm the eldest son of Kan Hart. Ashu Kan Hart. Pleased to meet you."

And then—surprise—he uncrossed his legs, stood, and bowed to me. Perfect noble etiquette. (I wasn't an expert, but even to my amateur eyes, it was flawless.)

More polished than the escort knight.

But why's his mouth such an asshole? Bad parenting?

"What're those irreverent eyes?"

"N-Nothing..."

The disconnect between his actions and words was cognitive dissonance city.

"...Aren't you gonna introduce ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠yourself?"

"N-Not 'you,' it's Teacher... Eek! S-Sorry!"

Ashu's eyes turned frosty; I apologized fast.

Deep breath. Why am I shaking over this? My massive tits heaved with the motion, and my pounding heart finally calmed a bit.

How long since I'd done a self-intro? Not much even in my past life. Felt like being a student again—except now I was the teacher.

"N-Nice to meet you. I'm Ideal. Starting today, I'll be Teacher to disciple Ashu. Please take care ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of me."

It was an intro, but when introducing yourself, you gotta seize the initiative! ...Or so some YouTube vid said. Good thing I watched it.

Now to put that trivia to use...!

I curved my lips into a smooth smile, eyes firm on Ashu. Then extended my hand.

Offering a handshake? Only superiors do that to inferiors...!

Ideal's delicate jade fingers reached for Ashu. Maybe the slight tremble made my cheeks heat up.

Ashu stared blankly, then grabbed it like he was mesmerized.

"...Please take care of me."

His voice had softened. I couldn't help grinning.

Nice, initiative seized.

Heh heh, Ideal's got charisma for days.

Victory buzz made my lips twitch upward. This little shit. Time to flex adult authority hard...!

I shook his hand with an evil inner smirk.

"Alright, intro's done. I'm out!"

Ashu yanked his hand away like he'd been burned and bolted.

He'd seen noble ladies aplenty without a stir. But Ideal? Something tugged at his chest.

That self-intro wouldn't leave his mind. Smoothly upturned lips, pink and vibrant—pure temptation. Crescent eyes curved softly toward him, fox-like and bewitching. Then that slender, soft hand reached out, peach scent wafting, drawing him in like a spell.

Have I been pushing too hard lately...?

Ashu clutched his throbbing chest. Training be damned—early bed tonight.

"...Success!"

Great start. Ashu had been a handful at first sight, but nailing an intro on day one? Beyond expectations. Hell, he even showed up for class.

Though that sudden bolt for the door nagged at me.

Did I scare him too much?

Yeah, he's just a ten-year-old. Ideal's hot, sure, but her face has that intimidating edge.

Guess my past life's macho vibes play a part too!

"Heh heh heh."

Ten minutes total, but first classes are always orientation—webnovel rule. Drag it out, and kids hate it.

"M-Maybe I've got a knack for teaching?"

Take it slow from here. ...Though the duke's a worry for later.

I'm more nanny than teacher right now.

Upside: Ashu's manners were perfect—no need to teach 'em. The duke wouldn't care anyway. What they wanted was Ashu abuse.

Hence hiring a deserter-murderer like Ideal.

"Status window."

"Still at zero percent, huh..."

No surprise. Ideal was top-tier in this world—enough to give the protagonist's endgame party hell. Whatever her traits were, one unlock and escaping the ducal house would be cake.

"Can't run anyway—might as well milk the Kan Harts dry."

Smooth sailing, and 20% would come quick...!

Whistling, I drifted off. First time in another world I was pumped for tomorrow.

And so, next day's class arrived.

"What're you staring at?"

"Eh, uh...?"

That's when I realized my solid illusion had shattered.