The only reason why Baiyi’s plan did not hit any stump was because he had the help of a competent sleeper agent who was on the inside. So, as a reward, he loosened up the restriction on the man’s powers so that he may return to Master-level.
“You have two choices now. You can stay by the Duke’s side with your Master-level strength and Legendary-level experience, I think you’re gonna earn quite a living with him. Alternatively, you can leave on your own and find a new way to live,” Baiyi told him in a hushed voice.
“I don’t mind working for you as long as you’re still honoring your promise,” the elderly replied sincerely.
The elderly was originally a wanted vagabond. He had only turned over a new leaf because of the Duke’s willingness to bring him in as Vidomina’s bodyguard. From that alone, one could tell that the Duke trusted him, and in return, the elderly were loyal to him. When Baiyi had requested help from him, the elderly had promised his cooperation as long as Baiyi does not harm the Duke in any way.
The Fifth Walker had agreed, and he had not broken that promise by resurrecting the Duke in a pretty unorthodox way.
“Oh, I’m keeping that promise. All I did was to ask him for some money and resources. I would never ask for his life, or I wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of saving him.”
The elderly nodded lightly. He did not have the ability to guard the Duke’s money and property; plus, his top priority has been to regain his original powers. It was not like the Duke was low on cash, either.
“Well, that settles it. You stay where you are with the family, and wait for our future plans,” Baiyi finished, turning back to the coach before Vidomina returned.
“W-wait, Master Hope.” Came the elderly’s voice behind him. “If… If you may, please, treat Miss Vidomina well, alright? She’s a kind, good girl, without the common flaws aristocratic girls her age always seem to possess. Not only that, she’s still very young. C-can you… Can you not take away her innocence just yet?”
The elderly had forged an affectionate bond with the girl back when he was still her bodyguard, but he had not been able to see her after his disgraceful fall. He even managed to evade her notice while being their coachman through disguises like a big straw hat and a face mask. Nevertheless, his sentiment was fully understood and appreciated.
“What do you mean by ‘taking away her innocence’? Do I look like that sort of person to you? Why do you think that way?” Baiyi’s asked in a dangerous voice.
“Um, well, there are rumors that you heavily favor young, beautiful maidens, and afterward, you keep them away from the opposite sex, which isn’t normal… Of course, there’s no way I would believe those calling you a sexual deviant or whatever,” the elderly replied in a hushed tone.
‘Then what was the whole thing before you said, “There’s no way…” Who doesn’t like young, adorable, and docile little girls? Isn’t that normal? And also, when have I ever kept them away from the opposite sex! I just haven’t found a worthy member of the opposite sex that I should not keep them away from!’ Baiyi’s mind was filled with such tirades as he went back to the coach.
After a while, Vidomina returned to him with a stack of boxes, carried by the confectionery staff. It seemed that the little girl had gotten everyone a gift of their own.
‘Hmm… At least, when it comes to gifts, this child expresses commendable acumen. She is so much better at picking out gifts — which is unlike the things Mia and t he others present as “gifts”; for example, a green cape, a decorative feather, animal-themed tin boxes, letting me kiss them for a while… can these really considered to be gifts 1 ? You guys can’t possibly fight Vidomina!’
The problem was, after a whole night without a wink of sleep and sobbing her heart out, Vidomina finally fell asleep in the coach for the first time since they left the Sorcerer Association building. The coach they rented had refused to carry the presents, so Baiyi had to make them float in midair and drag them back home, like a circus trick.
When Baiyi pushed open the door, he found himself looking at his students doing homework in the living room, instead of playing outside. That was a very remarkable display of obedience; if only Baiyi could get them to do that without having to leave them with a whole pile of assignments.
When they spotted the two returnees, the students surrounded them and peered at the sleeping Vidomina, who was being carried in Baiyi’s arms, curiously.
“A lot has happened to her, so let us just let her rest in her room,” Baiyi said to the curious eyes.
Vidomina was carried to her room and covered with her blanket. Attie passed a warm towel to Little Mia who carefully wiped the tears off Vidomina’s face. Looking her swollen eyes, Mia felt a twinge of anguish and muttered, “She must have cried very hard just now…”
Attie laid down at the side of the bed and turned to Biayi, “Did you spank her, Master?”
“Well, since that it involved some private issues, I’m just gonna give you guys a rough outline of it. So this is how it went…”
Baiyi began to recount the story as much as he could without spilling the private details.
The students were very invested in the story. Mia, Attie, and Nota the fairy were resting their heads at the side of the bed; Tisdale and Laeticia stood behind him, and the great fox, who had the owl perching on its head again, was also listening intently.
Meanwhile, Sunny the Sunflower was dancing in a very strange way atop the headrest of Vidomina’s bed; apparently, its dance could put people at ease.
When Baiyi finished the story, the girls were crushed; their eyes were red. Little Mia stuffed her own hammerhead shark plushie into the sleeping girl’s arms so that she could sleep better. The great kitsune licked the girl’s cheek softly, trying to comfort her.
The warm and sticky sensation of its tongue woke the girl up. Her eyes were treated to the concerned gaze of everyone present, which gave her a hint of what had just occurred.
She gave a bitter smile. “Thank you all for your concern, but I’m fine.” Then, when she looked down and saw an extra plushie in her arms, she cried out in joy, “Sharkie!” And started rubbing her face on it.
Mia, who was really concerned, asked, “So… Vidomina, what are you going to do from now on?”
“Well, I’ll be staying with my Godfather for a while, I guess! Or maybe I’ll find a reliable man and marry him?” She replied casually, implying that she, too, had no concrete plans for her future.
However, Tisdale noticed the change of address. “Vidomina, did you just… call Sir ‘Godfather’?”
“Oh yes! My father had passed me to Godfather, so I supposed I need to use a title that denotes that sort of relationship,” the girl explained as she gave Baiyi a thoughtful glance.
“Damn it! That’s so sly… And so, so smart…” Tisdale grumbled under her breath. She watched Baiyi pat Vidomina’s head gently and thoughts started bubbling in her head again.
‘Me too! …I mean, I only have Sir as my guardian. Shouldn’t I call him something else, too?’ Tisdale thought.
Baiyi led everyone out of the room, giving Vidomina some space to rest. Tisdale deliberately lagged behind until she was the very last to leave.
Before the Soul Armature could close the door, she softly but surely cried out, “Dad…?”
Baiyi froze, and his grip tightened, turning the wooden doorknob in his hand into sawdust instantly.
“Wh-what did you just call me?” He turned stiffly, his eyes falling on the girl who was hanging her head low and clutching the hem of her skirt. She was very anxious, seeing as the grip she had on the hem of her skirt was so tight, her knuckles had turned white, and her hands shook so much that Baiyi could almost see the part that her black stocking was supposed to hide.
“W-w-why can’t I… call you that?” Tisdale muttered in a soft but shaky voice; she seemed ready to burst into tears. “Vidomina already calls you her Godfather…”
Baiyi stepped close to her and enveloped her into an embrace, letting her chin rest on his shoulder as he softly stroke her back.
“Don’t get too caught up with a title, my student. Our bond is more than just what we call each other, do you understand?” He said reassuringly.
She nodded, feeling dumbfounded. She really did not understand at all.
” We are already used to the names we call each other, so there really isn’t any need to change it.” Baiyi loosened his hug and placed his hands on her shoulders, gazing deep into her beautiful eyes. “Besides! Do you know that I adore the way you pronounce the word ‘sir’?”
“Really?!” Tisdale replied, half-believing. “Well, okay, Sir.”
“Good, that’s it!” He ruffled her hair. “You should get back to your assignment. You haven’t finished them yet, yes?”
“Got it. I’m… I’m gonna have to wash my face first.” Tisdale’s face was scarlet, so naturally, she needed something cold to extinguish the heat between her ears.
As she took off to the bathroom, Baiyi looked at the doorknob he had just destroyed. Neither of them had noticed a pair of brightly-lit eyes that had watched the entire exchange from a distance.
That night, Baiyi was alone in his room, marking the submitted assignments. He made comments, wrote tips and solutions, and recorded the students’ progress in a little notebook. He wanted to use these notes as a reference for his curriculum.
Suddenly, a soft knock came from the door.
Baiyi opened the door with his mana and found Little Mia standing bashfully outside.
“Mr.Hope? I can’t sleep,” she cooed pitifully. “Sharkie’s with Vidomina at the moment…”
‘I don’t think she’s hoping that I tuck her in,’ Baiyi examined her curiously. Her clothes were still in a good state; her short skirt, her blouse, her coat, and her black stockings were all still in their place.
She did not look like she was about to go to sleep at all, yet she had already decided that she could not sleep. ‘She’s just looking for an excuse to be coquettish again, isn’t she?’