Atelier Tanaka

Book 3: Chapter 4 (3)

Baronage

I pressed my body against the wall and got close to the doorway leading to the kitchen.

I peered inside the room and strained my ears to try to hear inside. They were already talking. Sophia-chan was standing at the stove boiling water and Ester-chan was quite close to her.

Sophia, theres something I wanted to ask you. Is that okay?

Y-Yesh, what is it!?

Ester-chan looked serious.

Sophia-chan straightened her back and corrected her posture.

Ive been thinking, and I think the person he likesis you.

Eh?

Something entirely unexpected happened.

A fastball right down the middle of the plate.

Back in Doris city, he said he had someone he liked.

Ah, r-right.

I think he really likes you.

The loli bitch was looking at my maid.

Due to their difference in height, the former was looking up at the latter.

However, given the distinct power difference between the two, it looks like the opposite. Rather, Sophia-chan looks like shes about to start crying. Ester-chans eyes were serious and she had the imposing look of a noble that would cause any commoner to tremble.

No, theres no way thats possible!

Are you sure?

Im j-just a simple town girl! Theres no way an amazing person like Tanaka-san would ever fall in love with me! Y-Youre much better suited for him E-Ester-sama!

No, thats not true. My love for him is unrequited.

But.

Honestly, youre much closer to him than I am. Havent you noticed his eyes often move to you when he thinks youre not looking? You cant tell me its not at all possible.

Thats, umm, I-I guess Ive noticed.

What!? She noticed that!?

I read about that in some magazine. Women are sensitive to the gaze of the opposite sex. I never thought women would pay enough attention to me to notice me looking at their chests.

Damn. Ill have to be careful from now on.

Well, whatever, I need to focus on their conversation.

Exactly. If youve noticed, I wonder if youve thought about how you feel about him.

N-No, I dont think about Tanaka-san like that! Besides, I-I work as his maid, umm, a-and theres s-someone else I like.

really?

Y-Yes! Its true! It really is!

Its like that.

Sophia-chan has someone she likes.

I see. Thats how it is.

may I ask who it is?

No, Im not sure Im ready to say.

Is it Allen?

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Eh!?

Sophia-chans body trembled.

Your reaction is too obvious maid-chan. Even a virgin like me can read you.

You really are a good girl, Sophia. Youre worried about my own feelings towards Allen.

No, u-umm.

I was in love with Allen at one point, but those feelings are in the past. Please, dont worry about me.

B-But, wellisnt there a chance that you two will get back together?

I dont think so.

The blonde lolitas response was immediate.

I have no doubt that shes only saying that in order to avoid hurting Sophia-chans feelings. That blonde couple should just get back together. Reconcile with Allen already and leave me Sophia-chan.

Umm, I believe you.

The blonde loli gave Sophia-chan a satisfied smile.

Sorry for making you feel uncomfortable. Sophie.

its fine.

Im shocked.

Im completely shocked.

How else can I say Im shocked?

I understand how she feels now but it still hurt me to hear it.

However, Allen is a ladys man, so you may have a hard time with him.

Eh? W-Well, about that, Ive never.

What? Sophie, have you never been with a man?

.

The loli bitch asked the question that had been weighing on my mind. I guess she does say some good things on occasion. This is it. Ive been anxiously waiting to hear the answer to this question for several days now.

Then, Sophia-chan nodded.

I never have.

Its here.

She still possesses her hymen.

Then you should cherish your first time. There will be only one first for you.

Thatstrue. But Iwith Allen-sama.

If she still has her hymen, I have a chance.

Nevertheless, after seeing Sophia-chans reaction, my situation is equivalent to being in the ninth inning with bases loaded and two outs.

This situation is regrettable.

Recently, Ive been taking my happiness for granted. I was living under the same roof as her with her working as my maid. I never took the time to truly appreciate how great it was.

I dont want this.

.

I have to do something.

I dont have time to wait for the elixir of youth.

By the way, Sophie, whats in that bottle?

Eh?

That bottle filled with yellow liquid beside the stove.

She was talking about a transparent glass bottle filled with a mysterious yellow liquid.

.

As soon as Sophia-chan realized what Ester-chan was talking about, her face went rigid.

I-Its nothing! Its something Tanaka-san likes. Umm, I-I always mix it in with his tea, but a lot of other people dont like the taste!

Oh, how interesting. I want to try it too!

.

Oh, this is the first Ive ever heard about this.

Has Sophia-chan been making me her special tea this entire time? Id be incredibly happy if that were true. A maid who went the extra step to make extra delicious tea for her master. Even if its something so insignificant, it means theres still a chance.

Thats right. Its still too early for me to give up.

Can I have some?

No, t-this isnt ready to drink.

Is that so?

Y-Yes. It needs to ferment for a while.

I see. Well, thats too bad.

Eventually, o-once its ready, Id be happy if youd try some. Until then, p-please forgive me.

You dont need to panic. I wasnt angry.

Thank you very much.

I need some time to think.

I need to find a solution as quickly as possible.

I guess Ill take a walk.

***

I left the dormitory and took a walk through the crowded streets of the capital.

Thoughts of love between a man and woman swirled around in my mind.

I was obsessing over everything I felt was wrong with me. First, I thought about my appearance. Im a busamen in his mid-thirties, Im not very tall, and I have a below average body. No, in a medieval world like this where most of the men work hard jobs that train their bodies, Im sure Im at the bottom when it comes to looks.

Would it be possible for a man like that to win the heart of a beautiful young woman?

Of course not.

Ive become deluded by having all of these beautiful girls surrounding me. A woman in her thirties could be with an ikemen in his twenties, but if think about it rationally, its not possible for a man like me.

Then, how can a man like me win the heart of a beautiful woman?

I have to make up for my lack of good looks in other ways.

Other ways.

The only thing that comes to mind is money.

I remember reading in a magazine that money equals love.

After all, look at how lavish weddings are. Hundreds of flowers, everyone throwing rice, releasing doves, a grand hall, and releasing a thousand balloons to finish it all off. How nice, an extravagant wedding that costs several months salary.

thats why it will be bad for me if I dont have a lot of money.

I still have around two hundred gold coins from the dragon extermination party. One gold coin is worth one hundred silver and one silver is worth about ten thousand yen. That means I have around two hundred million yen on hand.

Sophia-chan should have about the same amount.

A couple hundred gold wont be enough to impress her.

Shes also the daughter of a family that owns a restaurant in the heart of the capital. If her parents own that land and that building, she and her family probably have a lot of valuable assets.

Theyd want someone with just as much money or assets to marry their daughter.

And if I consider Sophia-chans beauty, she could easily marry a noble.

When I consider everything I have to offer.

I have no chance.

In the first place, I want someone that will love me back. I dont want to buy someones love. Even if I use money to create an opportunity for love, it wont matter unless the girl actually loves me back.

.

Still, if I start a relationship with money, Ill never be able to get the idea that she only wants money out of my mind. I dont think I could ever expect a person like that to develop real feelings for me. I want someone that can love me and not my money. If I married someone that loved my money, Id expect to receive divorce papers before our honeymoon.

.

What should I do? I dont see any clear path.

Should I ask the noble mage for love advice?

I continued walking through the streets, desperately trying to come up with a way to win Sophia-chans love when I realized where my legs were taking me.

I walked down a certain street that I recognized before coming face-to-face with a building I hadnt seen in a while. It was the house I once owned.

Its been a long time.

It was Edita Senseis atelier.

It seems that my legs carried me here while I was lost in thought.

My mind must be desperately seeking the comfort of the blonde loli elf.

The loli with the body to heal my soul.

should I stop by and say a few words?

I dont want to bother her, but she did say I can stop by any time.

I walked up to the front door and gave it a light knock. After waiting a brief moment, there was no response so I knocked a few more times a little harder this time. When youre on the second floor of this house, you cant hear someone knocking on the front door. Its something Ive learned from experience.

Then, Sensei appeared.

She cracked the door open just enough to poke half of her face out. Im guessing she was still sleeping. Her eyes looked sleepy and she had bedhead.

oh, youre here?

Were you asleep?

Its already past noon.

Her daily life really seems to be abnormal.

It kind of adds to her cuteness though.

Whats wrong? Suddenly coming to my home like this.

Umm, I just happened to be in the area and thought Id stop by and say hello.

The blonde loli that just got out of bed looks as if the softness of her hair and skin has increased by thirty percent.

Thank you, God, for bestowing this beacon of cuteness on me.

you came to say hi? Is that really all?

Yeah, well, I had some free time.

.

Edita Sensei kept staring at me.

I wonder if shes in a bad mood after I woke her up. She looks sort of annoyed. Her eyebrow even seemed to be twitching. This annoyed expression actually suited her European look with her blonde hair and blue eyes.

Im sorry. I didnt think youd be asleep. I can come back another time.

I-I get it. Wait a minute, okay? Wait right here.

Eh, are you sure?

Wait here properly!

I silently nodded as Sensei went back inside without fully closing the door. I was able to hear the sound of her rushing about inside. Occasionally, shed run upstairs to the second floor before quickly coming back down.

She must be quickly trying to clean up after I surprised her.

Maybe shes a messy person.

Shes the type of loli that has a messy room. The most attractive kind. I wanted to dive naked into a pile of her dirty clothes.

.

Then, the sound of her sprinting downstairs and to the door.

There was a brief pause before the door opened and Sensei reappeared.

All good. C-Come in.

Umm, Im really sorry if Im causing you trouble.

I told you its fine. Just come in already.

Pardon my intrusion.

Following Senseis instructions, I stepped into my old home.

***