133: Master and Disciple

"...So, she actually sleeps like a normal person, too."

I sat there, staring blankly at her face while mulling over the obvious. With her fiery red hair splayed out, Milk Abitus was fast asleep. We were currently in a carriage, the rhythmic swaying lulling me into a comfortable drowse.

But I’d snapped awake, and now I found myself simply watching my master. If you looked only at her face, there probably wasn't a more beautiful woman in the world. Perfectly proportioned features, a toned physique, and that top-tier jiggle—whoops, bad Weiss. Stop that.

I’d seen her countless times before, but I never imagined she would ever make an expression that... soft.

"Weiss, I have a favor to ask."

It went back to right after the Tag Tournament ended. Just before our short break started, she’d approached me out of the blue. I’d braced myself for some kind of horrific hell-training, but it wasn't that at all.

"My parents are being a bit... persistent," she'd said. "I have to head back home for a bit, and I was wondering if you’d come with me. Once you reach my age, they get loud about all sorts of things. I figured if I actually showed them my disciple, well, that might shut them up for a while."

"Of course I don't mind, but am I really the right one? Isn't there anyone else—?"

"What are you talking about? You’re the only person I’ve ever officially taken as a student."

That actually made me pretty happy. Even if Master Zebis had put in a good word for me, knowing she viewed me as special felt good. I mean, there were Cynthia and Lilith too, but strictly speaking, I was the only one she'd formally taken on.

The biggest shock, however, was finding out that Teacher Milk was actually a high-ranking noble. I guess it made sense why her parents were worried. She’d become an adventurer, then a knight, then a teacher...

I didn't really know the "old" Milk Abitus. What she’d felt or what she’d seen. All I had was a basic profile from the Original Story. That was why I’d jumped at the chance to go. Cynthia had been kind enough to send me off with a smile, which helped. While the threat of the Demon Race still loomed, I figured with Teacher Milk and me together, we’d be fine. Besides, everyone else was getting their own proper guards.

Well, considering the matter with Lilith, I didn't think they'd make a move immediately, but I couldn't afford to let my guard down.

"...Mm."

Anyway, looking at her now... man, she really was beautiful. Even if she was a noble, maybe her family was the rough-and-tumble sort? Thinking back, the Fancent estate was also out on the frontier, so I felt a strange sense of kinship. Was her family line just absurdly powerful?

Maybe I should ask them to train me...

I drifted back to sleep with those thoughts swirling in my head.

◇

"Welcome back, Lady Milk. And welcome to you, Lord Weiss Fancent."

"Yeah. Are my father and mother in?"

"I believe they will return this evening. If you would allow us, we shall take your garments first."

"Weiss, you should change too. Want to hit the bath while you're at it? Hmm? What's the matter, Weiss?"

If there’s one thing Noblesse Oblige loves to do, it’s subverting expectations. But this time, it genuinely knocked the wind out of me. Sure, I knew it was a frontier estate, but—

"A-ah, yes..."

The interior was draped in glittering decorations and expensive-looking paintings. Butlers and maids stood in perfectly spaced rows to the left and right. It was big. Way too big. And there were way too many people. The Fancent estate had a massive garden and mansion, sure, but House Abitus was easily double its size.

Seriously, why the hell did Teacher Milk leave all this to become a knight and an adventurer?

"Lady Milk, this way."

While my master—the noble scion of House Abitus—was led deeper into the estate, I was descended upon by four very cute maids.

"Allow us to take your garments," they said.

One by one, my clothes were stripped away with the precision of a master surgeon. Talk about refined. Then, the sound of splashing water reached my ears. I gulped. ...I'm getting excited.

"We shall assist in washing away your travel sweat, so—"

"No, I'd prefer to be alone."

"But that won't d—"

"I like being alone. It's fine, right?"

I told the maids in a voice five times more handsome than usual—putting the "Voice" in Weiss—and changed by myself. The Way of the Bath is a delicate art, after all.

I suppressed my racing heart and stepped into the bath. It was... glowing. Literally. There was gold everywhere, and the hot water poured from the mouth of a stone dragon. It looked like a palace.

Incredible...

For some reason, the developers of Noblesse Oblige always went all-out on bath designs. There was a rumor that one of the devs was a massive hot spring fanatic, but who knows? Either way, it was magnificent.

But I wasn't some amateur who just dove right in. First, I thoroughly scrubbed myself clean. Only then did I ease into the water, starting with my feet. It was a bit hot, but perfect for me. Ahhh, yes. This was it.

"So this... this is what happiness feels like," I muttered, losing track of time as I soaked.

If I were the protagonist, Allen, this would be the part where Teacher Milk walks in for a fanservice scene. But I'm Weiss; that kind of luck doesn't happen to me. Just as I was about to get out, I heard voices outside.

"Milady, you mustn't!"

"Please, Milady, stop!"

"I'm going to see my older sister's fiancé for myself!"

...Older sister?

A second later, a girl burst in. She had beautiful, deep crimson hair and a youthful face. She looked to be about my age, maybe slightly younger. But more importantly, she looked exactly like Teacher Milk. If someone told me she was a teenage version of my master, I’d have believed them on the spot. Which meant...

"—A pleasure to meet you. I am the younger sister, Cafe Abitus. You must be Weiss Fancent."

She gave me a very polite, elegant bow. That was when I realized that my "Weiss" was completely exposed to the world. Cafe—the mini-Milk—blushed a faint pink.

Wait, she had a little sister? There was nothing about this in the Original Story!

"Y-you pass. With flying colors."

Where exactly were you looking when you said that?!