Ch.30Conversation (3)

The disciple who said he was going to the Academy to get something hadn’t returned.

Where had this guy run off to instead of preparing his master’s meal?

Just as Riano’s hunger and patience were reaching their limit.

Bang! Bang!

Someone roughly pounded on the back door.

Wondering what madman would knock like this at this hour, Riano opened the back door and was startled.

Because that madman was her disciple.

Her face automatically wrinkled at the strong smell of alcohol coming from her disciple.

He usually controlled himself well, but what wind had blown today to make him drink like this?

“Master! What are you doing! Why aren’t you sleeping yet?!”

“It’s not bedtime yet. And if you’ve been drinking, just come in quietly and go to sleep.”

“Oh my, hic, how scary.”

Riano clenched her fist at her disciple’s drunken rambling, then released it.

What good would it do to hit a drunk disciple?

It was all the master’s fault for not teaching him properly to control himself like this.

“Come in and go to sleep.”

“Yessir!”

For all his excellent response, the disciple’s actions were terrible.

Just how much had he drunk that he couldn’t even walk properly?

The fact that he’d found his way back to the workshop was praiseworthy in itself.

Unable to bear the pathetic sight of her disciple any longer, Riano supported him by putting his arm around her neck.

But that was the beginning of trouble.

“Ah! Master, you need to sleep, hic, and you’re staying up because of me, aren’t you?”

She had clearly said earlier that it wasn’t bedtime yet.

But what good would it do to explain to a drunk person?

“Yes, I’ll go to sleep after I see you to bed.”

The disciple shook his head vigorously.

That wasn’t what he meant, apparently.

“I’ll, hic, go to sleep after I see you to bed.”

Even drunk, the disciple’s consideration for his master remained unchanged.

While his heart was in the right place, she couldn’t allow it.

He didn’t seem capable of making it back to his room on his own.

“Listen, it’s fine. I’ll take care of you today. Just go to sleep.”

“Hic, I’ll escort you.”

“No, there’s no need… don’t drag me! Hey!”

“Ah, just stay still for a moment.”

Riano was dragged to her room with her neck caught between the disciple’s body and arm.

Of course, she struggled to break free, but a frail woman’s body couldn’t overcome a grown man’s strength.

If she’d known this would happen, she would have worn her ring even at home.

The thorn ring was convenient for using black magic, but it was actually quite uncomfortable to wear at home.

So she had taken it off, but from now on, she’d have to wear it whenever her disciple was even slightly late.

Damn him, really…

Still, he wasn’t completely unconscious, as the disciple carefully laid Riano down on the bed.

“Ah, I’ll cover you with the blanket too. I’m sorry.”

The disciple apologized with an excessively deep bow, then grabbed the blanket at Riano’s feet and covered her up to her neck.

The problem was that in the process, the disciple fell over and collapsed on top of Riano.

Riano froze in that moment.

Was he doing this on purpose?

To explore his master’s body?

“My disciple, no matter what, this seems to be crossing a line. Think about it a little more.”

While Riano said it was absolutely not allowed, inwardly she thought there was nothing she could do since she was overpowered.

But at the same time, she felt anxious.

What kind of relationship would they have after crossing this line?

She couldn’t predict what lay ahead.

Would it hurt? It would definitely hurt, right?

Everyone said a woman’s first time was painful.

But come to think of it, warlocks were accustomed to enduring pain from the beginning.

Then…

Would it feel good?

As Riano’s mind was filling with lewd thoughts.

Deep breathing sounds came from beside her.

Peaceful breathing sounds, as if fallen into sleep.

When she slightly turned her head, her disciple had his eyes closed.

It seemed his consciousness had already departed for dreamland.

Seeing this, Riano let out a deep sigh and muttered quietly.

“Crazy bastard.”

Thanks to her disciple rolling over, Riano escaped from his embrace and headed to his room.

Sleeping in her disciple’s room wasn’t particularly welcome, but she couldn’t sleep on the hard floor either.

There was no other option.

Lying on the bed, Riano couldn’t easily calm down with her disciple’s scent wafting from all directions.

This is crazy.

Saying “crazy bastard” in that situation made it seem like she had expected something and was disappointed when her disciple fell asleep.

…Had she expected something?

Thinking about it, at that moment, she might have expected it a little, just a tiny bit.

That’s why she only spoke but didn’t struggle on the bed.

Realizing it was too late to blame the atmosphere, Riano let out a deep sigh.

But is it normal to develop feelings for someone you’ve raised like your own child?

Of course, he wasn’t her actual child, but she had raised him since he was young, so it was similar.

Riano pulled the blanket, saturated with his scent, up to her neck and kept kicking her feet.

She really didn’t know what was what anymore.

* * * * *

My head feels like it’s about to split open.

Why am I here?

Yesterday, I definitely drank with Professor Leonhart, and at some point we excitedly talked about Lael.

But that’s all I remember.

I don’t know how I parted ways with Professor Leonhart yesterday, how I got back to the workshop.

And where’s Master, and why am I sleeping here?

I sat on the bed, holding my forehead.

It felt a bit awkward to just stay here, and I wondered if Master might know the reason.

As I tried to get up, my head suddenly spun, and I sat back down on the bed.

I must have drunk quite a lot yesterday.

Fortunately, there was no sign of anything coming up from my stomach.

I’m dying…

Just then, the door opened and Master entered the room.

“You’re awake?”

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. Here, drink this.”

I took the cup Master handed me and checked its contents.

This is that thing Lael gave me before, good for hangovers.

“Thank you.”

I drank it all in one go and returned the cup to Master.

But Master’s tone seemed a bit strange.

More gentle than usual, I’d say.

Enough to make me wonder if something had happened yesterday.

At that moment, an ominous thought crossed my mind.

A drunk man sleeping in a woman’s bed, anyone would think…

“Master, I’m just asking in case, but did I do anything to you yesterday?”

“…No, you didn’t.”

“Why did you hesitate just now?!”

“You definitely didn’t! So don’t mention it anymore!”

Master’s ears were flushed red as she shouted at me.

That sight fueled the anxiety in my heart.

Did I really cross the line…?

This is insane.

No, “insane” doesn’t even begin to describe it.

If asked whether I like Master, of course I do.

But I’ve never thought of her as a woman.

This is no time to be like this.

What I did was clearly something I shouldn’t have done to Master.

Even if I can’t be forgiven, I need to apologize at least.

I immediately got off the bed, knelt down, and pressed my head to the floor.

“Master, I’m truly sorry.”

“What, what for?!”

“I know you’re trying to hide it out of consideration for me. If you tell me to pack up and leave, I will.”

“No! What are you sorry for?!”

I swallowed once, then answered her question.

“For getting drunk and covering you—”

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder and my body rolled on the floor.

Lying on the floor, I opened my eyes to see Master standing in front of me with a completely flushed face.

“You didn’t do anything!”

“Really, I didn’t?”

“Yes, you came home yesterday and went straight to my room to sleep. So I slept in your room.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

Master doesn’t seem to be lying, so truly nothing happened.

Then, a question arose in my mind.

If nothing happened, why were Master’s ears red?

Is she running a fever again?

I got up and placed my hand on Master’s forehead.

There doesn’t seem to be a fever.

Master swatted my hand away with a startled expression.

“What, what are you doing?!”

“No, I thought you might have a fever.”

“I’m fine, so go back to your room. Isn’t your head hurting?”

I was too distracted to notice until now, but hearing Master’s words, it started to hurt.

“What about your meal, Master?”

“I’m fine. Just go to your room and lie down. I’ll bring you medicine that works well for headaches.”

Almost chased out by Master, I returned to my room and lay on the bed.

The faint scent of Master coming from the blanket somehow made me feel at ease.

It’s like when Master hugged me when I was young.

A feeling like I could fall asleep at any moment.

But because of the throbbing headache, I couldn’t easily fall asleep.

I’ll never drink that much again.

After tossing and turning in bed for a while, Master entered the room with medicine for headaches and water.

“How are you feeling? Any better?”

“Better than before, but I still have a bit of a headache.”

“What am I going to do with you?”

“I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Just take your medicine.”

I put the white powder Master brought into my mouth. Then I quickly drank water to wash it down.

I’ve been taking it since I was young, so I know it’s effective, but I never get used to this bitter taste.

My grimacing face must have been funny, because Master let out a small laugh.

Master’s smile, reflected in my eyes, was a little more beautiful than usual.