Atelier Tanaka

Book 2: Chapter 18 (2)

Alchemist Edita 2

[Sophia-chan’s point of view]

I really do have terrible luck.

I got involved with that crazy noble, was forced to join the dragon extermination party, and then the very next day after getting home, I’m forced to work at this school as a maid.

What did I do to deserve this?

I never even got a chance to spend a single gold from the money I received.

“But, this morning was really difficult….”

Even if I’m the one that prepared the meal, it’s just impossible for me to eat at the same table as Tanaka-san.

Ah, just thinking about that experience makes my stomach hurt.

Before I knew who was going to be living in this dorm, I was still a little calm. I thought I’d be able to deal with anyone.

However, Tanaka-san has received the approval of one of the Great Noble families. He’s no different than a nobleman now. No, he’s even worse. He’s an incredibly talented magician.

“He must have been angry. He was definitely mad at me, that’s why….”

I’m sure Tanaka-san noticed. He must have been unhappy with the meal and was trying to punish me in a roundabout way.

Why else would he force me to eat at the table with him?

“The way he was so calm about it made it even scarier….”

The maid is supposed to eat her meal separately from her master. Of course, this much is only natural.  

Even if I’m only the daughter of a simple restaurant owner, I know at least this much. There’s no way it’s normal for a servant to eat with her master.

It’s such a cruel form of punishment to force me to eat my meal in front of him. And now, Tanaka-san was smiling while he was watching me clean the dishes.

That smile scares me. I can’t stand it.

“…Haa.”

This is so depressing.

I don’t even want to do my job, but I don’t even want to think about what he’d do to me if I were to do that. Being a maid is truly a terrible job.

So, I’m doing my best to finish my morning work.

That’s why I’m currently carrying a basket full of Tanaka-san’s dirty clothes walking to the watering hole used for doing laundry.

Why do I have to wash his clothes?

I’d usually be preparing lunch around now at the restaurant.

The smell from his old clothes is kind of strong. Though, I guess it isn’t as bad as my father’s clothing. Anyway, having to do this at school really is terrible.

But if I don’t do it, I don’t know what will happen to me. The pay for a maid at the school is actually pretty good, but I’ve heard that the work is hard and the maids can be severely disciplined.

How long will I have to live like this?

“Aah….”

I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

I looked down at the ground as I continued walking.

That wasn’t the best idea.

I couldn’t see where I was walking.

“Kya….”

“Ah….”

I ran into someone just as I turned a corner.

The person I ran into was another maid.

I think I hit her in the stomach. She only caused me to stumble a little, but she fell to the ground. Apparently, she had just finished doing laundry. The basket of clothes she was carrying fell to the ground and there were clothes spread out all over the ground.

I managed to hold on to the basket I was carrying.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking….”

The girl that fell on her butt was looking up at me.

“….Wait, why wouldn’t you be looking forward while walking?”

She’s probably a little older than me. Maybe 20 years old?

Even though we’ve never met, this person is just coldly staring at me.

“R-Right….”

“What am I going to do with this? I’ll have to wash them all over again.”

“I’m sorry….”

Because we ran into each other when we turned the corner, it was a complete accident. Looking down at the girl that fell on her butt, she clearly wasn’t paying attention either.

It’s pretty terrible that she’s trying to blame me for it before she even tried to apologize.

However, I’ll still be polite to her. I’ve only just started here; I should really try to avoid getting into any pointless arguments. I’ve heard that there’s a big problem with maids bullying other maids here.

“Hah? What was that?”

“No, well…I’m sorry.”

“Could you speak up a little?”

“I-I’m sorry….”

Does she really need to keep glaring at me?

Also, even though she could’ve stood up right away, she’s been sitting on the floor for a while now. Is she doing this just to make it seem like I’m the one at fault here? If so, she’s a terrible woman.

Of course, I have no reason to say that to her.

“If you’re really sorry then you’d wash these for me! What are you going to do!?”

“Well, I’m actually in a hurry right now….”

“Ah, wait a minute!”

It’s best if I don’t get involved with people like her.

I need to quickly wash Tanaka-san’s clothing. He was already disappointed with me at breakfast, if he’s also not satisfied with this, I don’t know what will happen. I don’t know what a man capable of defeating a dragon will do to me.

I don’t have time to deal with this unknown woman.

“Wait a second! I said wait!”

She was yelling something at me but I wasn’t listening.

I ran away while repeatedly saying, “I’m sorry.”

I quickly finished the laundry and was now relaxing in the gorgeous living room.

I don’t think I’d be able to continue doing this if it wasn’t for these amazing living conditions.

◇◆◇

The meeting with Edita Sensei went well and she promised to teach me the recipe for the elixir of youth. This is a big step forward toward reaching my goal. I’m really starting to get fired up. Like this, I became an alchemist in earnest.

That’s why I was in a really good mood as I was heading home to the dorm.

The current time is exactly noon.

If I’m lucky, I may be able to eat lunch with Sophia-chan.

Just thinking about it gets me excited.

“I’m home.”

I entered the dorm and said this out loud. I walked to the living room.

And there, I could see the girl that should’ve been preparing lunch right around now.

“Ah….”

“I’m back.”

She was sitting at the dining room table with her fork extended to a meal set out in front of her. It seems I was right about her preparing lunch around this time.

I’m glad I rushed home.

If I order it now, I can probably get my own meal pretty quickly.

I let out a sigh of relief and sat down in the chair facing her. It’s nice to rest my feet after such a long walk.

I’ll definitely be needing a bicycle to comfortably travel around the city. Maybe I should talk about that with the noble mage as soon as possible. I’ve also heard that using flight magic to fly around the city isn’t allowed.

“Eh, u-umm…I-I-I’m very sorry!”

As I was starting to imagine how I’d go about making a bike, Sophia-chan suddenly stood up from her seat.

Immediately afterwards, she bowed her head and apologized to me. What’s wrong with this blonde, beautiful girl in front of me?

Her large breasts are poking out from the opening in her maid dress.

This is insanely erotic. It’s the best.

“I-I-I’m very sorry!”

“Umm, why are you apologizing?”

“While my Master was gone, I decided to do something selfish like this….”

Did something happen while I was gone? Her face has gone pale and she’s still hanging her head. Well, I first need to order my own meal. If I order it now, it will still be some time before it gets here.

Eating lunch with Sophia-chan is my top priority.

“I’m not sure what you’re apologizing for but let’s eat lunch first.”

I’m starving after walking around the city so much.

“Y-Yes, I’ll get it ready for you at once!”

“No, you don’t need to do it your…self….”

Immediately after replying, Sophia jumped out of her seat

She sprinted out of the room.

I don’t know why she’s so frightened.

Well, it can’t be helped now.

She is doing this for me, so maybe this is her way of being nice to me.

The meal Sophia-chan brought me was a rice dish. This could even be a nice dinner if there was some miso soup to go with it.

◇◆◇

[Sophia-chan’s point of view]

I didn’t expect Tanaka-san to come home until it was time for dinner. He returned. Of course, he did. Just as I was about to enjoy a delicious meal prepared for the nobility.

Of course, I got this meal under the pretext that it was for Tanaka-san.

My master has discovered me.

I didn’t think lunch would be as bad as breakfast.

And I can give no excuse.

It will be impossible for me to get out of being punished for this. However, Tanaka-san just sat down at the table and started eating his meal. He’d occasionally glance up at my face or chest.

“This is delicious.”

“…Yes.”

Just like this morning, there are two people eating a meal at the table.

Is this his perverse way of bullying? He, once again, wanted me to eat the same meal as him at the dining table. Does he find enjoyment in this strange form of bullying? If that’s the case, he truly is a perverted man.

“By the way, while I was in town, I found some of the vegetables that were used in the salad this morning. I was surprised at how expensive they were.”

“…Y-Yes.”

He’s even trying to talk about the breakfast from this morning.

Is he enjoying tormenting me like this?

He must be enjoying himself.

Tanaka-san is definitely a sadist.

I don’t want to be bullied because I want to be the one bullying. We’re a terrible match. I think the difference in personality is more of an issue than a person’s looks.

“By the way, this lunch is just as delicious as breakfast.”

“…Yes.”

Well, I shouldn’t let this meal go to waste. He even ordered me to eat it. I’ll enjoy this delicious meal.

Though, I’m not sure I can enjoy it with the creepy looks he keeps giving me.

He keeps looking at my face and then staring at my chest.

“Sophia, do you prefer the salad from this morning or this one?”

“…Yes.”

“I prefer this one because it has a strong flavour.”

“…Yes.”

I tried to say as few words as possible as this uncomfortable meal continued. But, a meal is a meal. And a meal of this quality is something I’d never be able to enjoy in my normal life. I’ll just focus on enjoying the meal. Yep, that sounds good.

“…”

“…”

This taste, this flavour, it’s just too good for a maid. It’s so delicious.