23. Toward Je-do (2)

Something, something is happening.

I don’t know what it is, but something is definitely going on.

For starters, Jane’s outings have become more frequent.

It seems like she has a lot of things to take care of, just like before our trip.

“I’ll be back.”

“Be careful… mmm…”

Seeing her off at the entrance, my legs gave out and I collapsed.

Jane stroked her ring gently while watching me.

Looking slightly annoyed, she continued teasing me until her mood improved.

“Ah, ahh♡”

“Well then, Lily. See you later.”

The reason for Jane’s bad mood was simple.

Her personal time to research strange adult toys had decreased.

That’s why she obediently played along with my teasing.

It’s absolutely not because she enjoys having her erogenous zones forcibly toyed with.

Really.

“Huu, huu, life…”

“Lily, are you okay?”

Marie, who was also heading out for her lessons, patted my back.

But something felt a bit off.

Though her words were concerned, there was a hint of annoyance mixed in.

“Huu, huu. I guess I shouldn’t have gotten involved…”

“I’ll be back too.”

“…Okay, be careful with the carriage, and watch out for people.”

-Ding-dong

The clear doorbell sound faded away.

A chilly silence settled over the dark, unlit shop.

-Click

After locking the door out of habit, I immediately lifted the hem of the dress I was wearing.

Then I pulled down my panties, which were soaked and uncomfortably sticky.

“Ugh, now I have to change again.”

The wind blowing between my bare thighs felt distinctly noticeable.

But I had no intention of continuing to play with myself.

Tossing the removed panties haphazardly into the laundry basket, I trudged down to the basement.

“No panties… might become a habit… Hup!”

As I descended the stairs, I slapped my mouth for moving on its own.

Jane had given me a magical ring as a “gift,” she said.

The one on my nipple was at least forgettable thanks to the bra.

The problem was the ring between my thighs-the one on my clitoris.

My most sensitive erogenous zone, usually well-hidden, was now forcibly exposed.

Even the softest fabric of my panties’ lining felt noticeable with the slightest touch…

I should have resisted back then, no matter what.

I resent my past self for being completely swayed by her transcendent beauty.

Sighing deeply, I slowly entered the laboratory and stood before the drafting table.

Then, picking up a ruler and pencil, I looked at the unfinished blueprint.

“Now, where was I?”

Suppressing the pleasure radiating from my groin, I focused my consciousness elsewhere.

A chaotic surge of motivation welled up inside me.

-Scratch scratch

The dance of straight lines drawn neatly across white paper.

The children of geometry, formed by combinations of circles and straight lines.

In my past life, I was more of a cog in the company, responsible for minute details rather than grand designs.

But here, it’s different.

I conceive as I please, I draw as I please.

If I don’t feel like it, I don’t. If I want to, I do.

“Hehe.”

I’m not exactly a Ph.D.-level genius.

Just a rookie who learned enough to work and struggled through it.

Naturally, I can’t solve every technical challenge either.

But in this world, there’s a reliable, all-purpose solution for such situations.

Magic.

Need to withstand high heat?

Use magic!

Having trouble maintaining pressure?

Use magic!

Excessive load?

Use magic!

A power akin to an unimaginable cheat code back on Earth.

Though expensive, magic can produce results.

And my guardian, my Master, is the pinnacle of that magic.

So my heart felt even lighter as I drew.

Suddenly, I remembered a strange incident from a while ago.

***

A day when I had finished a few blueprints.

A day when I planned to relax with a book and go to the market with Jane.

Three knights in gleaming armor visited the shop.

Clueless, I naturally assumed they were Jane’s guests and called for my Master.

But after entering, they only carefully collected the blueprints I had drawn and left.

“Wh-what just happened?”

“Nothing much. The royal family just officially got involved in our work.”

“Huh?”

The royal family?

As in, the head of the country we live in?

I’d heard before that they had taken a stake in the Maylily Trading Company, named after me.

But is it okay to be this deeply involved?

Seeing my thoughts reflected on my face, my Master patted my head and spoke.

“Don’t overthink it. Just think of it as the company growing bigger and making more money.”

Despite Jane’s reassurance, I couldn’t relax.

The steelworks.

It felt like the stone I casually threw didn’t hit a frog but a lion.

The things I’d done, starting with the condoms, had grown too big.

Cold sweat trickled down my spine.

“Sigh…”

With a low sigh, my Master took my hand.

Her warm body heat warmed my chilled fingers.

“Lily, who am I?”

“Ah.”

My pounding heart instantly calmed.

The feverish heat in my head cooled.

“My Master.”

“Don’t forget. I am Lily’s Master.”

Still holding my hand, Jane reached out with her other hand to stroke my cheek.

Her fingers scratched my chin like she was petting a cat or dog, and I instinctively closed my eyes.

Well, all’s well that ends well.

***

Anyway, the more time passed, the more fun work became.

Enjoying the weight of moderate responsibility, I enthusiastically moved my pencil.

Meanwhile,

The day I had been waiting for was steadily approaching.

***

Now fully winter.

The island nation of Albion is relatively warm in winter.

Aside from the very long nights and the really heavy rain, it feels surprisingly bearable.

-Pitter-patter

Raindrops hitting the window.

I blew on the fogged glass and drew meaningless pictures on the frosty surface.

Wiping the glass with a squeak, I absentmindedly gazed outside.

“Hmm?”

At that moment, a carriage approached through the rain.

The clip-clop of hooves grew gradually louder.

Spotting the awaited sight, I immediately called out loudly to Jane.

“Master! The carriage is here!”

Perhaps because of the rain, my voice echoed unusually loudly through the shop.

Hearing my call, Jane leisurely climbed the stairs.

“Carriage! The carriage is here!”

“Yeah, so it is.”

“Huh?”

Why is she walking toward me like that?

Jane strode over with her long legs.

Without hesitation, she reached out to me, sitting by the window.

“Huh?”

Like an eagle snatching a rabbit.

Grabbing the back of my head, Jane swallowed my lips.

“Mmph!”

-Slurp, smooch

A lewd, sticky sound.

As I closed my eyes slightly, fingers crept up to touch my neck.

Naturally gripping my throat, my Master checked my throbbing pulse with her fingertips.

If she wished, my life would be as good as gone.

But feeling little fear, I mindlessly accepted her tongue.

“Hmm, chup, hng, s-stop… we can’t go further.”

“…Why?”

“Ugh.”

Short of breath, I pushed Jane away, feeling slightly dizzy.

She let me push her back but demanded to know why I stopped the kiss.

Then, someone cleared their throat to get our attention.

“Ahem. Uh, Boss? Lily?”

We turned to see Marie, her ears bright red.

“Are your things packed? You’re just relaxing like this because you’re all ready to go, right?”

As Marie said, today was finally the day we’d depart for Pesht.

Our sharp-witted employee double-checked our preparations.

“Ah.”

Only then did Jane release me.

And leisurely headed back downstairs to the lab.

“Lily, did you pack everything?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Marie wiped away the tears I had shed.

I showed her the bag I had placed by the entrance.

“Is this all? Isn’t it too small?”

“Jane said we can buy what we need there. And since we’re flying, we don’t need much luggage.”

“Is that so? But the carriage is here?”

“We’re taking the carriage to the southern port first.”

The plans had been decided suddenly yesterday, but I didn’t question them.

I was just excited enough to lose some sleep over the thought of leaving the shop and traveling.

“It’s raining so hard…”

“Yeah. I was hoping it would stop today.”

Tomorrow it’ll stop, tomorrow it’ll stop.

I prayed like that yesterday, but in the end, God ignored me.

Thinking about it, I might be hated by God.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have opened my eyes in an unknown world after dying.

I wouldn’t have become a slave on the verge of losing my limbs.

Though considering that’s how I met Jane…

Hmm, maybe it’s forgivable?

Still staring at the gloomy sky, I pouted.

***

“Johnny~, long time no see.”

The most handsome and biggest horse I know.

Meeting Johnny for the first time since the day we went to harvest Killing Chesnuts, I immediately reached out to him.

Fortunately, he hadn’t forgotten me and rubbed his nose against my hand.

After briefly greeting Johnny and the coachman, I slowly turned around.

Then I waved to Marie, who had come out to see us off.

“I’ll be back, Marie.”

“…Yeah.”

“Wait, why are you crying?”

Marie’s nose was red, and her eyes were glistening with tears, leaving me flustered.

It’s not like I’m leaving forever-why cry like this?

“Just… thinking I won’t see you for a while.”

“We’ll be back soon. We’re just flying there and flying back.”

“Sniff, hng.”

“Oh, come on.”

I spread my arms to my tearful friend.

My intention was, “Come into my arms.”

But due to our unavoidable height difference, I ended up being the one hugged tightly by Marie.

“I’ll bring back lots of gifts. I have plenty of money.”

“Hng, be careful and come back safe.”

With our crybaby employee seeing us off, we boarded the carriage.

And slowly took in the scenery outside.

“Ah…”

My chest felt heavy.