Saijo no Osewa ~ Takane no Hana [LN] - V1 Chp 2 part 6

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

[We’ll start with tomorrow’s prep. You have a business administration class tomorrow, so let’s focus on that. The scope will be on corporate finance, yes?]

Many of the students at Kiou academy will be in management positions in the future. For that reason, business administration classes are more practical than other subjects. Students are taught the knowledge needed to run a company.

[I’ve graded the quiz. The score is 87… There are a lot of careless mistakes. You’re not concentrating hard enough]

[Yes]

♢♢♢

After three hours of endless prep work until I got a perfect score, I finally finished.

[Next is etiquette class. In addition to Ojou-sama, there are children of all kinds of wealthy families attending the Academy. If you are disrespectful to them, you may cause unnecessary offense, so learn them while you can. In this lesson, we will discuss French table manners]

During dinner, I was still taking lessons with Shizune-san.

Hold the fork and knife with your index fingers. Eat the fish hors d’oeuvres without breaking them, drink soup without making noise, cut the meat into bite-sized pieces according to the streaks, and then put it in your mouth. 　

[No. The British way is to put the knife and fork at six o’clock when you are done eating and in French etiquette, they are placed at three o’clock.]

[Y-Yes]

Place the knife and fork horizontally with the handle on the right side of the plate. The blade or spur of the knife should be facing you.

[Now for an exercise to help digestion, it’s time for self-defense lessons. Fortunately, Itsuki-sama’s part time job as a manual laborer has given you a good physical workout, so let’s moderately improve your strength and start learning the techniques. Today we are going to learn the art of Jujutsu. First, we’ll start with zenpo ukemi, 100 times] 

(TN: Zenpo ukemi: a forward roll from the leading foot’s shoulder to the hip on the opposite side.)

I changed into my judogi and received instructions in self-defense at the dojo of the mansion, just as I did the other day. 

(TN: Judogi is basically a Judo uniform)　

After practicing ukemi, she taught me the basics of throwing techniques, and finally, we practiced sparring against each other.

[Fuu–!!]

[Naive]

I pulled Shizune-san towards me, but at the same time, she did a leg sweep, and I used the kouchi gari. 

(TN: Kouchi Gari in english is known as minor inner reaping throw. If anyone knows martial arts, please correct me, I have 0 confidence on this field)

However, Shizune-san saw through me and let my body flow, and when I stumbled from failing, she easily slammed me down to the mat.

[The timing of your weight shift is obvious. You may be able to defeat an amateur, but you won’t defeat someone with martial arts knowledge]

[Yes…]

Unable to hide my exhaustion, I replied in a pathetic voice.

The reason I’m learning self-defense is because it is a precaution for things like kidnapping, which is how Hinako and I met in the first place. I heard that in many kidnapping cases, the perpetrators are accustomed to fighting. So the ability to beat an amateur isn’t enough.

[J-Just, a little… break…]

[No, you can’t. As a caretaker, you are expected to protect Ojou-sama in times of need. I can’t have you giving up on something simple like this]

She’s an oni, this person is… 

(TN: Oni is basically demon in Japanese)

Oni. Beast. Spartan. Devil. A lot of words came to my mind, but at the same time, I hold a lot of respect towards her. Shizune-san has perfected all of her studies, manners, and self-defense skills. One top of that, she does her maid duties such as cooking, washing and laundry without a problem. If Hinako is the perfect Ojou-sama, then Shizune-san is the perfect maid.

[That’s it for today. Thank you for your hard work]

[T-Thank you… very much…]

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

[You’re learning faster than I thought]

[Is that true?]

[Yes. You may have a talent for self-defense in particular. If you practice more, it will become something great… On the other hand, manners are harder for you to learn]

[Ugh… Sorry]

My family had a standard of living that was far from wealthy. I’m still not used to using a knife and fork properly.

[We don’t want you wandering around the mansion all sweaty, so please go into the bathroom as soon as possible. However, while you are soaking in the bathtub, please look at this]

Shizune-san handed me a stack of papers.

[This is…?]

[These are profiles of Itsuki-san’s classmates. It won’t hurt to know them]

I’ll research while taking a bath. …It’s a job with a wage of 20,000 yen per day. I have to take it.

[Ah, by the way, there’s another person I came in contact with this afternoon]

[Who is it?]

[Her name is Tennouji Mirei. She’s in a different class…]

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

[You came in contact with Tennoji-sama?]

[Yes. …Is there a problem?]

[No, there is no problem. However, it is rumored in the academy that Tennoji-sama and Ojou-sama has a cat and dog like relationship, so it’s a fragile situation]

That’s a new one to me.

[As for Tennoji-sama, Ojou-sama has no intention of doing anything. However, the Konohana Group and the Tennoji Group are almost identical in size. Because of that, there are many times conflict occurs between them, and depending on the situation, there may be times when the relationship between the two is strained]

[…I see]

[I will have Tennoji-sama’s data ready by tomorrow. For today, please concentrate on memorizing the profiles of your classmates]

[Yes] I replied.

Today’s lesson seems to be over, but Shizune-san asked me to do some self-study as well. I’ll try to memorize the profiles of my classmates by the time I go to bed.

Shizune-san was doing a light cleaning on the dojo, and I decided to leave first. I really wanted to help, but I was at the limit of my strength. If I offered help now, I’d just be a nuisance.　

[Itsuki…]

On the way back to my room, I met with Hinako.

What do you need? Before I could ask, Hinako closed in on me.

[…Muuu]

[What’s wrong?]

[…You smell like sweat]

[Of course I do]

I moved away from Hinako, who frowned at me.

[Where are you going?]

[I’m going back to my room and take a bath]

[Bath? …Then, follow me]

Hinako took my hand and led me somewhere.

[Here is…]

[My room]

The place we arrived at was Hinako’s private room.

It was more than 5 times the size of my room. It had a large brown carpet, a bed with a canopy, and it was decorated in a way that was expected of an Ojou-sama.

[The bath is… here]

Hinako opened the door at the end of the dressing room where she took off her clothes.

[Ah… It’s huge]

The bath was also quite large, incomparable to the one in my room. Or rather, the bath is about the same size as my room. This is like a small public bathhouse. 

But, why did Hinako lead me to a place like this?

[Let’s go in together]

[…Why?]

Why? (TN: It’s repeated twice, so it must be important)

Sorry that it took so long, I’m trying to get this done by end of January but it seems like my schedule doesn’t allow me to. I’ll try to maintain it as monthly, but now that school starts doing offline 100%, it might be longer. Anyways, look forward to the next chapter, editor has a lot more backlog.

Discord/Ko-fi

TL: Ezu
ED: Animu
PR: Mateo