Chapter 23: True Education

“…You…?! What are you doing here…?!”

That’s what I want to ask. The hero party b*tches, except maybe Yerin, have no reason to be here.

Even Yerin would only come here for Allen.

So, whoever it is, it’s unexpected. But especially…

“Why are you here, you pathetic Allen…?!”

“…Why are you here, Helena?”

I really didn’t expect her.

Helena, the archery fanatic of the hero’s party.

A proud elf who’s more arrogant and rude than anything else. Her attitude towards the hero’s party, especially Allen, is completely different from how she treats others.

She hated Allen from the start, constantly swearing at him. He definitely finds her unpleasant.

But why is she here?

Lilia might have business with the knight order.

Angelina might be here for something related to her magic.

But Helena? It’s not like the elves want to import potions from this place. She has no obvious reason to be here.

Could it be… she knew I was here? But how?

Is she going to try and drag me back, like Yerin…?

“Why am I here? What else would I buy at a potion shop besides potions? Get out of my way.”

“Oh…”

I was wrong.

She’s genuinely here for potions. Her surprised expression fades, and she walks into the shop as if nothing happened.

It’s the most normal reason to be here, but… it’s still strange.

Helena, the ranged dealer, relied on potions the least during their journey.

Lilia needed them for stamina, and Angelina for mana. But Helena? Her position didn’t require them.

…So why?

And this shop is unpopular, with few customers.

Footsteps… thud

‘That’s…’

Helena goes to the display case and picks up a potion…

‘…Concentration potion?’

It enhances focus, even for elves.

“Is the owner here…? Damn it, do I have to wait again…?”

And judging by her tone, this isn’t her first time here.

She looks for Deva, as if she’s done it many times before, and sits on the guest sofa in the living room.

“Hey, stupid Allen.”

“What.”

“Hah, you’re talking down to me now. Let’s talk. The owner’s probably out, or busy with something.”

Talk… right. She wouldn’t just leave after seeing me here.

“…Just state your business.”

I have nothing to say to her.

She seems calm, not emotional.

She’s probably not going to try and drag me away.

I’m curious why she wants the potion, but… I’d rather she just leave.

“State my business? Don’t be ridiculous. Are you getting arrogant just because your situation has improved, you pathetic loser?”

“So, what do you want to talk about?”

“What do you think? Why did you f*cking leave the party?”

As expected.

“I have nothing to say about that. Wait for the master and then leave quietly.”

“‘Master’… I see how you’re able to stay here. But you’re being chased by Yerin, aren’t you?”

“…How do you know that?”

“Why should I tell you? You’ve really forgotten your place, haven’t you, idiot?”

She’s not easy. Yerin was surprisingly compliant, but Helena is on guard.

“But you’re the one who’s more curious. I don’t need to know, but aren’t you curious why I left?”

“Yes, I am. But I’m more concerned with how to… re-educate you after I drag you back.”

This hopeless b*tch. She still sees Allen as beneath her.

Elves tend to look down on humans, but this is like a master-s*ave relationship.

Re-educate? What a joke.

“…I did learn one thing. To offer tea to guests.”

“Fine. I don’t expect much from tea made by an idiot like you, but go ahead.”

“Just wait a moment.”

I head to my room. The tea bags and leaves are in the kitchen, not my room, but I need to prepare something.

“…Just as I expected.”

I deliberately make the tea poorly.

“This tea is infused with my desire for you to leave quickly. So drink it, buy your potion, and get out.”

“There’s also the fact that you went into your room. You brought something out. What did you put in this tea?”

“…!!”

Damn it, she’s sharp.

Helena doesn’t know why I left, but she knows I hate her. She’s aware of the emotions her actions evoke.

“Hey, you drink it first.”

“…It’s rude to drink tea meant for a guest.”

“Cut the crap and drink it. How do I know you didn’t poison it or put a sleeping draught in it?”

Half right, half wrong.

I did put something in the tea, but it wasn’t poison or a sleeping potion. It was the attraction potion.

There are no sleeping draughts here, and sleeping potions lose their effect when mixed with other substances.

And I have no reason to kill her.

I didn’t want to waste the opportunity, so I added the attraction potion I was just studying.

But I’m not expecting much. I don’t know its exact effects, and it might lose its potency when mixed, like the sleeping potion.

But if it works as I hope… I can control this Helena b*tch.

But… this is a bit risky.

“What are you waiting for? Drink it. Or should I just pour it down the sink?”

“You suspect the tea I offered, and now you want to throw it away? You have no manners.”

“What? You’re really pushing it, aren’t you?! Are you saying we won’t see each other again after this? What pathetic confidence. Just like your master.”

Gulp…

“…It tastes better than I expected.”

“Hmm, was I just being paranoid?”

No, your paranoia was justified.

“Satisfied? I didn’t go to my room for any particular reason. We were party members, I wouldn’t do anything.”

“Fine. I apologize for that. An idiot like you wouldn’t have the guts anyway.”

Gulp, gulp…

“Hmm… it doesn’t taste bad… Ugh?!”

“That’s what you get, you stupid b*tch.”

Your paranoia was justified… but I was one step ahead.

I anticipated you wouldn’t drink the tea, so when I went to my room, I grabbed the attraction potion and drank an antidote beforehand.

“…This is incredibly effective.”

That refers not only to the instantly activating attraction potion, but also to the antidote I drank.

Allen’s potion stash had almost every potion imaginable. There were a lot of antidotes, some that worked instantly, and others that provided immunity if taken beforehand. I took the latter.

It was a gamble, so I had to prepare. But honestly, the antidote only lasts for ten minutes.

If Helena had stalled any longer, I might have fallen under the attraction potion’s spell myself.

Or she might not have drunk it, or the potion might have lost its effect when mixed.

There were many ways it could have failed.

But my drinking the tea dispelled her suspicions, and she downed it in one go.

And the attraction potion retained its effectiveness even when mixed.

You should have remained vigilant, you foolish b*tch.

Thud

“You… you f*cker, what did you put in this tea… Haaang…!”

She falls off the sofa, face flushed, eyes losing focus. Her voice, once strong and assertive, becomes feminine and frail.

“Why… why… you pathetic Allen… why…”

“Why? What do you want to say?”

“Why… do you look so damn handsome… Haaa… What is this…?”

Hmm, it seems to be working well. Is she trying to resist the attraction?

…Interesting.

“…Follow me.”

“Ugh… What? Why should I follow y—”

Smack

“Kyaaak…!!”

“Are you going to keep talking…?”

“Hmph, hmph…”

“Just shut up.”

Drag drag drag…

I grab Helena by the hair and drag her to my room.

‘…He’s not even flinching?’

With all this commotion, I expected Deva to come out and see what’s going on…

‘How can he not react at all?’

Is he ignoring it, or is he incredibly focused…?

He probably wouldn’t even notice if a thief broke in.

Anyway…

Slam! Click.

I drag Helena into my room and lock the door.

“Wh-Where… Ugh… this is the room you went into earlier… Wh-What are you going to do to me…?!”

“…What do you think?”

Slap!

“Hmph!”

“I’m going to educate you.”

This foul-mouthed, tsundere elf who doesn’t know her place needs to be educated.

A re-education, with a bit of… training.