CH 14

The Maid's Extreme Lesson

Translated by Hikaru

Edited by VampireKnight

When I got back from the academy, I immediately started lessons with Shizune-san.

“First of all, we will start preparing for tomorrow. Tomorrow you have a class on business administration, which Itsuki-san has never studied, so let’s focus on that. The class will focus on corporate finance.”

Many students at the Imperial Academy will take up management posts in the future. Therefore, the business administration class was more practical than other subjects. Various knowledge on how to run a company was drilled into me by Shizune-san.

“I scored the quiz. The score is 87 points…… There are a lot of careless mistakes. You’re not concentrating hard enough.”

“Alright.”

It took me three hours to finally finish the preparation, which goes on and on until I got a perfect score.

“Now that the preparation work is complete, the next step is etiquette class. In addition to the young lady, there are many children of the rich and powerful who attend the academy. If you are disrespectful to them, you may cause unnecessary offense, so it’s best to learn a few things while you still can. This time, let’s talk about table manners for French cuisine!”

Even during dinner, Shizune-san and I were alone in the kitchen taking lessons. We each held a fork and knife with our index fingers. I ate the Fish Hors D’Oeuvre without breaking it and drank the soup without making a sound. I cut the meat with my knife according to the threads, and cut it into bite-sized pieces before putting them in my mouth. 

“There is a difference between the British way and the French way. The British way is to place the knife and fork at the six o’clock position when you are done eating. In French etiquette, they are placed at the three o’clock position.”

“Y, yes.”

Place the knife and fork horizontally with the handle on the right side of the plate. At this point, the blade of the knife should be facing you.

“After reviewing the stomach exercises, it was time for a self-defense lesson. Fortunately, Itsuki-san’s body is well-trained from your part-time job as a manual laborer, so let’s not worry about improving your basic physical strength and start learning the techniques. Today’s lesson is Jiu-Jitsu. First, we’ll start with a forward ukemi a hundred times.”

After changing into my judo uniform, I went to the dojo in the mansion to receive instruction in self-defense, just like the other day. After practicing ukemi, I was taught some basic throwing techniques, and finally some actual fighting practice.

“Huh―!!”

“Sweet.”

I pulled Shizune-san to the front, and at the same time, did a leg sweep to set up a kouchi-gari. However, Shizune-san saw through my move and let my body escape, and when I stumbled back from the unsuccessful attempt, she easily knocked me from my back to the mat.

“You can see the timing of the weight shift. You may be able to defeat an amateur, but you won’t be able to defeat an opponent with martial arts mastery.”

“Yess…..”

I couldn’t hide my exhaustion anymore and replied in a pathetic voice. In the first place, the reason I’m taking self-defense classes is to be on the lookout for kidnappings like the one that led to Hinako and my encounter. I’ve heard that in many cases, the perpetrators of commercial kidnappings are experienced fighters. That’s why it’s not enough to be able to beat an amateur.

“I’m gonna take a little break……”

“No, you can’t do that. As her caretaker, you are expected to protect her in times of emergency. I can’t have you raising your voice over something like that.”

Demon…… Demon, this person. She is a demon. Spartan. The devil. Many words came to my mind. But at the same time, I felt respect for her. Shizune-san has perfected all of her studies, etiquettes, and self-defense skills. On top of that, she does her maid duties such as cooking and laundry without a hitch. If Hinako is the perfect young lady, Shizune-san is the perfect maid. And unlike Hinako, Shizune-san is perfect in the truest sense of the word, not just on the surface.

“That’s it for today, then. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Ah, thank you……”

In the end, the self-defense lesson was over after two hours had passed since I had almost screamed once.

“You’re taking it in much faster than I thought you would.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You may have a talent for self-defense in particular. If you polish it up, I’m sure you’ll be good at it. On the other hand……, etiquettes are not so easy for you to learn.”

“Ugh… I’m sorry.”

My family had a standard of living that could not be described as wealthy. I’m still not used to using a knife and fork.

“We don’t want you wandering around the house all sweaty, so please take a bath as soon as possible. However, while you are soaking in the bathtub, please take this.”

Shizune hands me a bundle of papers. On the papers were the names of my classmates at the academy and other information.

“This is……?”

“These are profiles of Itsuki-san’s classmates. It’s probably worth knowing.”

Studying while taking a bath… It’s a job that pays 20,000 yen a day. I have no choice but to accept it.

“Oh, by the way, there’s another person I had an interaction with this afternoon.”

“Who is it?”

“Her name is Mirei Tennoji. She is in a different class……”

When I said that, Shizune-san arched her eyes.

“You were approached by Tennoji-sama?”

“Yes…. is there something wrong?”

“No, there is no problem. However, it is rumored within the academy that Tennoji-sama and the young lady are in a cat-and-dog relationship with each other, so it would be a delicate situation.”

That’s my first time hearing it. I haven’t heard any such rumors since I had only attended the academy for one day.

“Aside from Tennoji-sama, the young Lady has no such intention. However, the Konohana Group and the Tennoji Group are almost the same size corporate group. As such, there are many situations where they compete with each other, and depending on the situation, there are times when their relationship is strained.”

“……I see.”

“I will have Tennoji-sama’s materials ready by tomorrow. For today, please concentrate on memorizing your classmates’ profiles.”

Yes, I reply. This is the end of today’s lesson, but Shizune-san has asked me to do some self-study as well. I’ll make sure to memorize my classmates’ profiles before bedtime.

Shizune seemed to be cleaning the dojo lightly, and so I decided to leave first. I really wanted to help, but I was at the end of my strength. If I offered to help now, I would only be slowing her down.

“Itsukiー…”

On my way back to my room, I ran into Hinako. There are only servants’ quarters around here. What does she want? Before I could ask, Hinako came close to me.

“Mm.”

“What’s wrong?”

“… Sweaty.”

“Of course I am.”

I moved away from Hinako, who frowned at me.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to go back to my room and take a bath.”

“A bath? ……Then follow me.”

Hinako takes my hand and leads me somewhere. The sight of me being led away by Hinako, wearing a judo uniform, was noticeable in the mansion. Feeling uncomfortable from the attention of the servants, I follow Hinako.

“Here……”

“My room.”

The place we arrived at was Hinako’s private room. It was more than five times the size of my room. The room was decorated in the style of a young lady’s room, with a soothing brown carpet and a canopy bed.

“The bath is… here.”

Hinako opens the door at the end of the dressing room.

“Ohh… it’s wide.”

The bath was similarly large, incomparably larger than the one in my room. Or rather, the bathroom was about the same size as my room. It was like a small public bathhouse.

But why did Hinako lead me to a place like this? As I wondered, Hinako told me.

“一Let’s go in together.”

“……why?”

Why?