..How did this happen.
I muttered in a soft voice so that no one could hear.
I placed both hands on my face in denial.
I mustered my courage and removed my hands to face reality.. Master is doing shadow boxing with nimble footwork despite his gigantic figure.
With all clothing removed from his upper body, sunlight could be seen reflected from his muscles, as though they were made of metal.
Between master and me stood Gigi-san who would be acting as referee.
On one end of the courtyard, a white table and 2 chairs were placed under a parasol. The madam sat in one of the chairs, while savoring scented tea that was brewed by Merc-san.
On the table is a fruit pudding, a masterpiece made by Malcolm-san, to complement the tea.
Shes completely in spectator mode.
Furthermore, shifting my gaze upwards, ojou-sama could be seen looking down unto the courtyard from the window.
(Just because of what I said last night)
I was once again hit with pangs of regret.
Last night, I invited Gigi-san to my room after the evening party had ended.
I wanted to let him know that ojou-sama held interest in observing our training session.
Upon hearing the news, Gigi-san
Ojou-sama, observing~tsu
He covered his eyes with one hand and turned his back on me.
In the instant he turned his back, was it just my imagination or was there something shining in his eyes.
Gigi-san continued the conversation with his back facing me.
Alright. In that case, the training tomorrow will be done in the courtyard which is visible from ojou-samas room. Be there without fail.
Understood.
It will be performed in ojou-samas presence tomorrow. I intend to carry out training thats more fired up than it has been until now. Prepare yourself.
After telling me that, Gigi-san returned to his room.
This is the first time I heard his voice so full of spirit.
To a large extent, he must have been happy that ojou-sama would be looking outside, even if its just from her window.
I shall work hard to make myself even a little more useful; I once again strengthened my resolve.
However, Gigi-sanwas more fired up than I had imagined.
Now then, we will now conduct a mock battle between master and Lute.
As a result of Gigi-san being too fired up, he once again decided to conduct a mock battle against the master as my special training.
With the [Me vs. Master] mock battle as a trigger, ojou-sama started taking an interest in my special training. Thats why, in order to secure her interest, Gigi-san arranged this encore revenge match.
Of course, itwas not done out of any consideration to me.
As I remembered the fear from yesterday, my legs trembled like a newborn goat, as if they had been injected with muscle relaxant.
There on one side is the master and company
Darling, do your best. Do not forget to go easy though. If darling fights Lute seriously, it would be weird if there are any remains left.
Hahahahaha! Dont worry, despite how I may seem, I am quite good at controlling my strength. As proof, Lute is still full of energy after yesterdays mock battle!
Hmm, thats true. His contained spirit could be seen from his trembling action. What a reliable child he is.
Thats not it, madam.
What you see is not a warriors trembling in excitement, but uncontrollable trembling out of fear.
Should I just hide myself until the evening?
Ever since the master had officially purchased me, the magic prevention choker was removed for the sake of my training.
After the purchase, it is on the owners discretion whether the choker would be kept on, and so it was removed.
The possibility to escape still exists.
However, there is a magic formation in my arm that is set to allow my owner to pinpoint my location (In my case, that would be Chrisse ojou-sama).
I might get sold to another place from the bad impression, if I were to try to escape.
But, I should be forgiven if I were to hide until the evening, to avoid the mock battle with master
Turning my gaze to my current owner, ojou-sama
[Father, Lute-san, both of you please do your best. I shall cheer for you!]
The mini black board sent words of encouragement from the window.
I closed my eyes in embarrassment, while a small hand could be seen waving shyly.
Damn! Such cuteness AaAargghhhh!
I returned her wave with a smile.
As a man, Lute must not run away!
Gigi-san raised his voice when explaining the rules so that ojou-sama could also hear him.
Then, the mock battle between master and Lute shall begin soon. It will be Lutes victory if he can withstand the masters attack for 10 seconds. Of course, other than evasion, attacks are also allowed. Master wins if Lute is defeated within 10 seconds. Is that alright with both of you?
Humu.
Yes.
After hearing our reply, Gigi-san headed to the side where the madam was at.
He raised his right hand up high, and glanced back at us again.
And so, mock battleBegin!
With Gigi-sans signal, I flew backwards.
I used body strengthening magic on my eyes and legs at the same time, this is done to especially put emphasis on evasion.
With this, I should be able to hang on for 10 secondshowever, I was too naive.
!?
Before I noticed, master was there right in front of me, his right hand was swinging towards me.
Even though I had strengthened my reflexes, I couldnt react in time. Like the image of a film being suddenly cut off, he was already in front of me.
OooooooooO!
I gave out a war cry that sounds like a scream as I dodged the right straight with a side step!
Masters side is open after his punch missed. Chance. Should I attack?
Masters eyes are shut.
Impossible!
If I dont increase the distance!
Where should I flee? To the back, right, left, or should I add an element of surprise and go upwards?
With the single desire to increase the distance with master, I poured all my magic into my legs and flew backwards.
However, I lost sight of masters figure again.
!?
When I noticed, a large shadow was blocking out the sunlight from behind me.
I burst into cold sweat.
My instincts envisioned my death.
That was all I could remember.
Its impossible, impossible, impossible. To continue evading for 10 seconds with the master as an opponent. The masters strength is on the level where it could be called a cheat.
That day, I complained incessantly while doing my duty of waiting on ojou-sama with Merc-san, at the evening party.
In the end, I was knocked out by the master in a single hit from behind.
I was defeated in the span of 3 seconds.
Although I was healed with healing magic, the second half of my training, which was supposed to be in swordsmanship, was cancelled just to be sure.
I was told to rest until evening.
When it is time for the evening party, I went to serve ojou-sama with Merc-san.
The topic of conversation is of the mock battle this afternoon.
[But to last 3 seconds with father as an opponent is amazing.]
Thank you very much. However, being barely able to avoidHonestly, it is so embarrassing. Moreover, to have special training everyday until I can evade for more than 10 seconds. Gigi-san is being too unreasonable.
Drooping her shoulder, ojou-sama looks flustered.
She looks so cute.
She wrote on the mini blackboard.
[How about closing the distance rather than increasing it next time? If you could deal with fathers feints calmly, I think you would surely be able to persevere for 10 seconds.]
Was there a feint used?
[Yes. After the first strike, he used a feint causing Lute-san to escape backwards, so that he could give pursuit.]
In other words, I thought that I was acting on my thoughts, but in reality it was all within masters grasp.
(That is like herding fish.)
Master seemed to be able to pull off those extreme reactions because he knew of the actions I will take.
However, ojou-sama has good judgement. Without even using magic, I blurted out and frantically shut my mouth.
I am not sensitive enough and threaded onto her trauma.
?
Ojou-sama tilted her head.
Whoops!
It was a hook thrown from an unreasonable stance and masters body staggered.
Chance!
Again concentrate magic power on my right arm!
I gave my all into the right straight and swung it inbut, there in my sight is ojou-sama shaking her head! Why!?
Master gave me the answer to that.
He with nimble movement, he parried my straight punch with his left hand.
It is a technique called parrying in boxing.
His body staggering is a trick, and I had totally walked into masters trap! Ojou-sama noticed it early and shook her head.
It is too late to regret now.
After having my punch knocked off, this time it is my bodys turn to stagger.
In a flash, masters hard fist assaulted me in the form of a right hook.
The sound of wind being pierced is not entirely different from those of a bullet.
There is no time to cast body strengthening magic to aid my head.
The future scene of my head being cleanly severed from the rest of the body in less than 1 second, floated into my mind.
Stop right there!
At the same time as Gigi-sans voice rang out, Masters right hook stopped.
The distance of the punch to my face is not even 10 cm.
As 10 seconds had transpired, the winner of this simulation battle goes to Lute.
Hu,hurrraaAAaayyyyy!!!
A very narrow win!
I unintentionally let out a cry of victory.
Master shook his head in disappointment, and I shifted my line of sight onto madam. She was smiling as she looked at the scene.
Then I left them alone and voiced out to ojou-sama who was observing from the 2nd storey window.
I pumped both hands into the air and joyfully sent her words of gratitude.
Ojou-sama! I did it! I managed to last 10 seconds against master! This is all thanks to ojou-sama!
Compared to earlier, ojou-samas cheek had blushed and her eyes are moist, she clapped her hands vigorously, as if her life depended on it, while her body leaned out from the window so much that it seemed as if she might fall over.
In response to her clapping, I pumped my hands into the air continuously.
Both ojou-sama and me are being bound with a sense of accomplishment.
Just how long did we stare at each other.
It was probably just for a few seconds.
After I recovered my sense of reason, it is extremely rude to openly express my joy so excessively over the defeat of my master.
Moreover, for a servant and the daughter to stare at each other.
I hurriedly apologise after noticing my mistake.
I, Im sorry! I apologise for merrymaking!
Hahahaha! Never mind! It is the privilege of the victor!
Indeed, there is no reason to worry. Actually you should puff your chest out more. You became able to survive 10 seconds in just one day, thats a significant improvement.
No, Its all because of what ojou-sama pointed out. I did no more than move according to her advice.
I used this chance to increase the hikikomori ojousamas share value.
You dont need to be so humble. Its hard even for a B- rank magician to hold out against Masters attack for 10 seconds. Lute-kun should be more proud like Madam said.
Gigi-san
Gigi-san, who put me through this ordeal, patted my shoulders and praised me.
Unusually for him, his expression loosened and he made a smile.
Tears spontaneously collected on my eyesbut Gigi-san himself ruined that moving moment.
Next you will have special training to be able to take 20 seconds of Masters attacks.
Ha, haaaa!? Wha! What do you mean!? O, ouuuuch! Gigi-sans fingers are digging into me! Youre putting too much power!
As I raised my head, I saw Gigi-sans eyes filled with definite bloodthirst.
Lute. You should know this already, but in the end youre just a servant. Keep your attitude in accordance with your position. Understood?
Even though both parents are okay with it, why is Gigi-san so angry!
Well he has been watching over ojou-sama since she was a baby, so he might think of her like his own daughter. but still, a rematch against master is too much! Its abuse of authority!
An ogre! A demon! Gigi-san!
I called him all the names I can think of in my heart.
But of course, Gigi-san did not take back his decision.
The evening party that night.
Merc-san and I were being waiters, as always.
The teacakes for the evening party was an assorted fruits platter.
The head chef Malcolm-san took an apple-looking fruit and cut it into a rabbit shape like I taught him.
Ojou-sama smiled delightfully at such a cute thing.
The evening partys topic of talk was of course about the mock battle I cleared with ojou-samas help.
Thanks to ojou-samas advice, I could somehow endure Masters fierce attacks. Please allow me to thank you once again.
[I didnt do anything. Its because Lute-san worked hard. Lute-san looked really cool today.]
Ojou-sama bashfully took her mini blackboard in front of her.
But it was obviously the result of ojou-samas advice.
If it were just me alone, I would have been crushed again without being able to retaliate against Master today.
In order to boost ojou-samas self-confidence, I gave her counsel.
No, It was really thanks to ojou-sama. If it werent for ojou-sama, I would have been defeated again today. It was all thanks to ojou-sama that I could win today.
[No, it was Lute-sans hard work. Even without me you could settle things on your own.]
That couldnt be so. It was thanks to ojou-sama.
[It was Lute-sans hard work!]
It was ojou-sama
[It was Lute-sans work!]
It was ojou-sama already!
PfftBoth of us broke into laughter.
Ojou-sama shyly laughed while hiding from behind her mini blackboard.
I put on an awkward smile.
Ojou-sama ran her fingers.
[Then, how about calling today both our victory?
Yes, it was both our victory
Again we confirmed our compromise and once again smiled at each other.
Ojou-sama seemed to be in a good mood, and started writing with her cheeks dyed red.
[Actually, I always wanted to have an [onii-chan] if it isnt too much trouble can I call Lute-san [Onii-chan]?]
As she said that to me, I took a glance at Merc. . She didnt seem especially opposed to that. Maybe it was something like Its okay if its for healing ojou-samas hikikomori.
You are of course welcome to. Nobody would oppose getting such a cute little sister like ojou-sama. But, since we have our statuses to worry about, please try to not do it in front of people if you can.
[Thank you very much! Lute-onii-chan.]
C, cuteeeeeee!
A golden-haired, loli, imouto-character I want to protect!
Truly a girl that triggers my protective instinct!
Lute-kun!
Suddenly, Snows words played back inside my head.
No no no, this is different.
Just a little sister! Its only love for a foster sisters cuteness.
I definitely did not mean that.
[Is there anything wrong, Lute-onii-chan?]
N, not at all. Im sorry.
I put on a fake smile to sweep away ojou-samas worry.
It was a little scary how Merc-san was silently watching us.
Thank you very much for reading this far!
Impressions, typos, and opinions are warmly welcomed!
I plan to update tomorrow, December 19th at 21:00.
This chapter is a bit long.
I wanted to split it at first, but then I thought that it would be more interesting to read this scene all at once. I would be glad if you enjoyed reading it.
Also, Ive been busy IRL recently so I havent been able to do activity reports or fix typos. Please wait quietly a little longer until I can get back to you. Well then (^)