Chapter 20
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Lunch with Adelin
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The next day at noon, I arrived at the main building of the Tolly Mansion alongside Emma.
Two maids dressed in traditional French maid uniforms stood waiting at the mansion's entrance to greet Emma.
Upon entering through the main doors of the main building, one maid led me up the stairs to the second floor,
while the other took Emma across the living room to a room at the opposite end.
Puzzled, I turned to the maid guiding me.
"Where is Emma headed?"
"Oh. Emma can't join us for lunch. She'll probably be serving the Lady of the House and our guests alongside the rest of us."
Emma, who was heading off in another direction, glanced back at me and said,
"Master Jin. I'm fine. This is just my usual work."
'Is this lunch going to have a different vibe than I imagined? I didn't see this coming.'
The moment we reached the second floor, I was overwhelmed by the soaring ceiling height and the crystal chandelier adorning it.
The crystal pieces caught the natural light streaming in through the mansion's wall windows, reflecting it in a way that made them sparkle like stars.
Yet, in stark contrast to the beautifully lit interior that drew gasps of admiration, the air in the second-floor dining room pressed down on me oppressively.
'What a stunningly decorated space... but what's with this crushing pressure from the mana?'
Turning my gaze straight ahead, I spotted a long marble table etched with flowing golden wave patterns.
Seated in the chair at the center, framed in gold with pure white velvet upholstery, was Adelin.
Sitting side by side in the chairs along the side of the table facing the wall were Ella and Eirin.
Ella's expression was darker than when she'd invited me yesterday, and she looked somewhat strained, as if feeling the oppressive atmosphere around her.
Eirin fared a bit better than Ella, but her face twisted the instant she saw me.
'Ella, who can't handle mana, must be affected more strongly by the mana weighing down the room than Eirin is.'
Following the maids' guidance, I was shown to the seat directly across from Ella.
Adelin, seated at the center of the table, gave a slight nod of greeting in my direction.
"You've arrived. Jin, I hope you can understand that this is the first time we're properly hosting you."
Her demeanor was worlds apart from when I'd visited the annex for the lesson demonstration.
'The mana emanating from Adelin is making the dining room air heavy.
Is this the typical ability of a noble who can wield mana?'
Today's Adelin carried less of the kindly air I'd known before and more the solemn, dignified presence of a noblewoman.
"Not at all. I never dreamed I'd be treated to such a lavish meal. Thank you so much, Madam."
Eirin puffed out her cheeks and spoke in a sulky voice.
"Mom! What's so great about this commoner that he's eating at our table? I said I didn't want this!"
Adelin addressed Eirin in an elegant tone laced with firm authority.
"Eirin. No matter Jin's status, he is Ella's teacher. What rudeness is this at the dinner table?
Apologize to him at once and mind your manners."
Caught off guard by Adelin's heavy tone, Eirin muttered a quiet apology.
"S... Sorry. Teacher. Tch..."
What Eirin did next was of no concern to me right now.
I needed to clearly grasp Adelin's intentions and the situation.
'Why has Adelin's attitude shifted like this?
Has the mana erosion that started during the lesson demo worn off?
Or has it progressed just enough to result in this?'
As my thoughts spiraled endlessly, Adelin smiled and said to me,
"Well then, let's chat slowly over the meal."
The moment Adelin finished speaking, the maids began attending to us one by one.
Emma, who had changed into her maid outfit in the meantime, approached to serve me, but Adelin stopped her.
"Emma, you've worked hard enough. Go rest in the break room. We've prepared a meal just for you."
Emma bowed deeply in gratitude.
"Yes, Madam. Thank you so much."
Watching Emma back away, I felt oddly uneasy and spoke to Adelin.
"Madam. Emma's been helping me all this time too. Why not let her join us for the meal?"
Adelin, hearing my words, looked utterly surprised and asked back,
"Hm... Do you mean you want Emma to continue serving you through lunch, Jin?"
'...Does she not even conceive of eating at the same table as her own servants?
Then that tea time with Emma she mentioned during the demo—it was just about her serving us, huh.'
"Ah, no. I spoke out of turn."
Adelin smiled as she replied.
"This must be your first time at a meal like this, so I suppose your mind is racing. Jin—Teacher,
if there's anything you don't know, don't hesitate to ask anytime."
'As if... Every word from you clogs my throat.'
The formal seven-course meal began with a simple aperitif, followed by appetizers, and centered around a Rossini steak topped with foie gras on beef tenderloin, all served by the maids.
Throughout the meal, there was little conversation—just the clink of cutlery and the sounds of the maids attending to each course in sequence.
'The food tastes great, but the stifling atmosphere makes it hard to even notice it going down.'
Glancing at Eirin and Ella during the meal, they seemed no better off than me.
Eirin was openly radiating discomfort,
while Ella looked exhausted just from enduring the pressure of the mana emanating from Adelin.
She probably didn't even realize the heaviness in the air was due to mana.
After finishing the main course, passing a simple cheese course, and having dessert set on the table,
Adelin finally spoke to the maids.
"I'll be having a private word with the teacher now, so no more serving is needed. You've all done well."
The maids, who had stood waiting against one wall throughout the meal, descended to the first floor in unison.
"Jin. Did you enjoy the meal?"
'The food was delicious. If only it went down easy...'
At that moment, Eirin cut in.
"Where would a commoner have eaten anything like this? Of course it was great, right? Mom's asking the obvious~!"
"Eirin!"
"Tch... Mom always picks on me..."
"Yes, Madam. It was the most delicious meal I've ever had. Thank you for the wonderful experience."
'You hypocritical bitch. I'll make you my slave and toy with you however I please one day, Adelin.'
Adelin beamed at me as she spoke.
"I'm glad you liked it. I really wanted to thank you properly.
For the past two years or so, Ella had shut herself away emotionally and grown more and more troubled,
but after just a few of your lessons, she's truly brightened up. It's like the Ella from before she came of age."
"All I did was teach the Young Lady a few basics.
It's all thanks to her own talent that she's started overcoming her slump on her own."
"No need for humility. Jin, what I'm curious about is how you changed her so much in such a short time?
Of course... I got a taste of your lessons myself during the demonstration,
but even when I ask Ella, she never gives me the details?"
'So this was the real purpose of inviting me to lunch today.'
Adelin's gaze pierced into me sharply, as if trying to see right through me,
and her mana-infused words pressed down on me even harder.
"Haha... It was nothing special. I just repeated the demonstration I did in front of you during lessons
and reviewed the basic mana theory Ella already knew."
Adelin pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Ah, I don't mean to interrogate you, Jin. It's just that my daughter tells me nothing, so... hm.
Since she started your lessons, Ella hardly leaves her room anymore. Is that related to the classes too?"
At that, Ella spoke up in a strained voice.
"Mom... that's..."
"Ella? We're talking to the teacher right now. You wouldn't say a word when I asked,
but now that he's here, you've finally decided to tell your mom?"
Overwhelmed by Adelin's words, Ella hung her head and said nothing.
"Hm... I understand your concern, Madam. The truth is... the Young Lady has started sensing her own mana bit by bit.
At this rate, I think Mana Awakening could happen within the month.
She probably wanted to perfect it quickly and surprise the family."
Suddenly, the mana that had been crushing the entire dining room vanished, and the heavy air lightened.
'Was that the answer she wanted...?'
Adelin smiled brightly and turned to Ella.
"Oh my! Is that true? You should have told me sooner if that was the case. I was worried for nothing..."
"Mom... I'm sorry for not saying anything earlier. I stayed in my room because I wanted to relive the sensation of the mana inside me from the lessons,
to focus and feel it again on my own..."
"No, my dear. Mom trusts you. I was just worried you might be heading in the wrong direction."
After speaking to Ella, Adelin turned her gaze to me.
"Teacher. I apologize for any discomfort. It must have looked like I was doubting you unintentionally."
Her tone had returned to the warm, kindly one from our annex conversations.
"Not at all, Madam. I should have shared Ella's progress sooner. It was my shortcoming."
"Then, Jin—Teacher, I'll look forward to it in a month? Of course, there's no guarantee Mana Awakening will happen then,
but hearing this, I can't help but get my hopes up. From now on, I'll wait for Ella to tell me herself."
'Can't let my guard down around her. It sounds like she's giving me a one-month grace period.'
I smiled as I replied to Adelin.
"Yes, Madam. Have faith. I believe the Young Lady can do it."
As I answered Adelin, cold sweat trickled down my forehead and back from the tension.
'Whew... I'll be satisfied with learning Adelin's true face today. Looks like I can't afford to slack off.
If I don't conquer her, I'll be out on my ass soon enough.
No—judging by what she showed today, something even worse could happen.'
Adelin, noticing the sweat on my forehead or so it seemed, looked there and smiled as she spoke.
"Well now, the meal is finished. Shall we get up?"
As she spoke, Adelin pressed a button on her left side,
and the sound of maids ascending the stairs from the first floor echoed up.
At the main entrance of the main building, as Adelin saw me off, Emma handed her a paper bag.
"Madam, I've brought the diffuser and tea set that were so popular at the annex last time.
I've also included a few other items like bath salts, so please accept them."
"Oh! Thank you. Jin, I'm always so grateful to you—for Ella and everything. Take care on your way back."
The tension didn't ease until I reached the annex and sank into the living room sofa.
"Haaah... What was that? Adelin's not quite what I pictured. Emma, is that her real self?"
Emma lowered her voice slightly, as if afraid Adelin might hear, and replied.
"Adelin creates an atmosphere of total control whenever something doesn't sit right with her.
It feels like the space itself crushes down on you, and just hearing her speak makes your stomach churn."
'Emma can't sense mana flow, so she doesn't realize it's magic.'
"If Master felt the heavy mood during the meal, it was definitely intentional on Adelin's part.
She's warm to those beneath her normally, but she makes sure no one even thinks of crossing the line."
"Whew... Not exactly a pleasant meal. If it weren't for today, I'd have written her off as just a kind noble lady.
Emma. To shake off this frustration and get some fresh air, let's go play with our new toy."
Emma thought for a moment, then seemed to realize something and replied.
"Yes, Master. To Sonya's, right? I'll prepare right away."
I slipped a few small items into my jacket's inner pocket, then headed to the village with Emma.
Passing the general store, I said to her,
"I'll head to that square up ahead. Go in, bring Sonya out."
"Yes, Master."
Leaving Emma entering Pierre's general store, I walked a bit farther until the open village central square came into view.
At the center of the square stood a marble fountain adorned with intricate sculptures.
Up close, it depicted what I assumed was Ruan the knight hunting a massive black bird.
'Sculptures metaphorically representing the Western Continent expedition. Ruan must have made this one too.'
As I frowned at the sculpture, I felt Emma's hand on my back.
"Um... Master? Did something bad happen...?"
I reassured Emma and turned to Sonya standing beside her.
"Sonya. Fancy touring Pierre's house?"
"Yes. You're always welcome, Master."
Pierre's house, guided by Sonya, was surprisingly modest.
It was a two-story structure in the village residential area, identical to the surrounding homes.
'Pretty ordinary for a merchant who controls local logistics. Money leaking somewhere else?'
Following Sonya inside, Emma entered behind me and closed the door.
Once inside, I looked at Sonya and Emma.
"Strip."
Emma obeyed instantly, undressing and folding her clothes neatly just like the first time at the annex before kneeling dogeza at my feet.
Sonya hesitated slightly but followed Emma's lead, assuming the same pose and speaking toward me.
"Thank you for gracing this lowly tool's home, Master."
Seeing the two slaves naked and prostrated at my feet lifted my foul mood from the fountain sculpture a bit.
"Just your average commoner home. Sonya, lead me straight to the bedroom."
The bedroom Sonya guided me to was at the far end of the second floor.
As she opened the door, Sonya spoke in a trembling voice.
"Master. This is the marital bedroom where Pierre and I... stay."
"Sonya, why's your voice shaking? Thinking of Pierre making our master-slave dynamic waver?"
I pointed out her attitude forcibly, in preparation for what I planned to do next.
Sonya dropped to her knees at the doorway the moment she heard me.
"No, Master. Before being Pierre's wife, I am your tool for sexual relief. Forgive me."
"Then get in the room, lie on the bed, spread your legs wide, and stay straight!"
"Y-yes!"
With those words, Sonya hurried into the bedroom.
There she lay on the center of Pierre's bed, legs spread wide and held by her arms, exposing her pussy.
Approaching her, I pulled a small item from my jacket pocket.
It was a livestock identification tag marking ownership.
"Sonya, do you know what this is?"
Lying there, Sonya strained to lift her head and answered.
"I... I don't know, Master."
"Sonya, who are you?"
"I... I am Master's tool for sexual relief... and a lewd milk cow..."
"That's right. A living tool. No different from livestock like a cow or chicken.
But earlier, it seemed like you were forgetting that now and then? So I prepared this.
You need a tag like the other livestock to remind you of your owner."
Fear flickered briefly in Sonya's eyes.
"Y-yes? What do you..."
I used my mana inside Sonya to numb her navel area, then pierced a small ring piercing through it and attached a round identification tag.
The tag read Sonya's name and her bust size: 75G.
Sonya alternated her gaze between the tag on her navel and me in panicked confusion.
"Wh-what? Master, what is this... Aah!"
Slap
Emma strongly slapped the cheek of the flustered Sonya.
"When livestock receives a gift from its owner, it should give thanks. What are you doing?"
'She wasn't told to do that... Well, I came to torment Sonya anyway, so this is fine.'
Sonya, clutching her struck cheek, straightened up at Emma's words, prostrated herself on the bed, and took dogeza position.
"Master. Thank you for giving this mark to your inadequate livestock..."
"No matter what, never remove that tag from your body."
Sonya trembled her lips and expressed thanks once more.
"Y-yes... Master. Thank you for gifting this to your lowly livestock."