▶ Open.
A small sign hung in the window.
As I opened the door and stepped into the shop, the interior revealed itself to be unimaginably spacious compared to its exterior.
"Was there such a place in Sankisan Village?"
Lucia looks around in amazement.
Come to think of it, I had never brought Lucia here before.
Since I first discovered it, it's been a place you could quickly reach within the village, so I almost always came here to save time.
While we were exploring the store, a slow voice emerged from behind a wall.
"It's a face I haven't seen before."
The moment the voice was heard, Lucia's expression changed, and she stepped in front of me as if to protect me.
"It's okay. Step back."
"…Yes."
Lucia stepped back upon command, but her eyes remained fixed on the direction from which the voice came.
*Sliding—*
The closed wall splits to the sides, revealing a woman reclining on a magnificently lavish sofa.
"Welcome to the Witch's Comic Shop."
A beautiful woman dressed in a sheer red negligee, smoking a long cigarette, with a notable beauty mark.
"Hoo… A handsome young man and a lovely lady. I like it, but aren't you a bit young to be here?"
「Pleasure Merchant Tristia」
One of the few characters in 'Academy Trainer' that cannot be romanced.
"Heh, young man, you look at me so fiercely. Did you know what kind of store this is?"
"A pleasure shop."
My response momentarily widened Tristia's fox-like eyes before they settled down.
"Hmm, who told you? Mrs. Sarita? Mrs. Roman? Which one could it be?"
"Neither."
"Well, it's not important. I'm operating with an official business license."
Tap-tap—
A business license was proudly displayed in the designated area.
"The license says it's a general store."
"This is a general store. A general store that enhances human pleasures."
"Would the empire think so too?"
"Oh, I'm not using anything illegal."
She was not using it yet.
As you continued transactions in the store and built trust, she could also make addictive potions.
"So, are you an imperial inspector, young man? You're too young for that."
"No, just a customer. There's something I'd like made."
"Hmm, what is it?"
Tristia approached as I handed over the blueprint.
Tristia briefly scanned the blueprint and speaks, seemingly disappointed.
"A remote-controlled vibration stone? You don't need to ask me for this; it's already widely available…"
"Read till the end."
"Hmm… Anyway."
Tristia's initially bored reading turned fierce as her red eyes blaze.
"…Young man. How did you know about this? It was still under research?"
Tristia wasn't really interested in me; she's just curious because I was so young and digging around.
Just a momentary distraction.
That was all the interest she had.
But now, having read the blueprint, her opinion of me changed.
Something that no one else had spoken of…
Something only Tristia knew, and now I knew too.
"That too is not important."
"…Ha, interesting. Young man, what's your name?"
"Sven."
"Drop the alias. Not telling your real name is wise, but I don't do business with someone whose name I don't know."
Typical Tristia.
She recognized an alias without a change in expression.
"It's Yujin."
"Yujin… Yujin, I feel like I've heard that somewhere before."
Tristia pondered while flicking ashes.
"…It must have been the name of the third son of the Calliope family."
"Is my identity important?"
"No, I just wanted to know your name."
"Then let's get back to the main point. Can you make it by next week?"
I had somewhat anticipated that the product was still under development.
When I first purchased it, there was a line suggesting I try buying it as a new product had just been completed.
That was right after my first year had ended, so it probably wouldn't be complete by now.
"It's not a difficult item to make, so I could do it if I put in the effort. But my motivation has waned a bit. I don't mind making things when I want to, but making them for someone else isn't really my style…"
"Of course, I'll pay. How much do you need?"
Having this made a huge difference in the difficulty of romancing Vivian. I'd skip meals if necessary to buy it.
"Ha, I've made enough money. Do you know how many noblewomen there are who can't satisfy themselves with their husbands' possessions?"
—Hoo.
Tristia's exhaled cigarette smoke tickled my nose. The scent was intoxicatingly potent.
"…So, what do you need?"
A bit of tension crept into my clenched fist.
Until now, this was the Tristia I knew. From now on, it's a Tristia I didn't know.
The Tristia I knew dealt only in money.
Tristia, with eyes narrowed like a crescent moon, points at me with her pale fingers.
"You'll have to compensate me with a body."
"…Are you saying I should pay with my body?"
"No. You are quite handsome, but you don't attract me."
Tristia flicked her finger, signaling me to move aside.
Frowning, I stepped aside, and Tristia's finger pointed to Lucia standing behind me.
"I'll take that lady as payment."
"Are you saying to pay with this girl's body?"
"Yes, I prefer women."
There was a reason she was listed as 'unromanceable.'
I thought it was because the shop sold training items, and if items were given up too easily, it would lower the difficulty.
…She was just a lesbian.
I was not sure if this made sense, or if it's just ridiculous.
But the response I needed to give was clear.
"I refuse."
Right now, Lucia was my primary condition for surviving in this world.
Absolutely.
To no one.
I could not let Lucia be taken away.
I glared at Tristia as I pulled Lucia closer by the shoulder.
"…She's mine. I have no intention of letting anyone take what's mine."
"Master…"
Tristia, who was smiling with her eyes narrowed, shrugged her shoulders.
"Hmm… It's a pity, but let's pretend this transaction never happened. Farewell, young man."
Click, click, click.
Tristia's footsteps echoed as she turned to leave.
'…Hey, this isn't right?'
I thought she would propose another condition once I refused, but she simply left.
I should stop her, but I couldn't now say I'd give up Lucia.
Sliding.
The wall closed slowly. Anxiety builds as my mind raced with how to keep her.
Just as the wall was about to fully close, it suddenly reopened.
"…You're cold, young man. Normally, people bend to my will in such situations. This is a first for me, and it hurts my pride."
Tristia, now standing in front of me again, spoke.
"Then, let's change the trading conditions. How about spending a night together?"
"…I've said it. I have no intention of losing what's mine. Not even for a night."
"Uh, it's not her who would be sleeping with me, but you, young man."
"…?"
What wa sthis witch talking about?
Nothing she said makes sense.
"…Didn't you say you're not interested in men?"
"Yes, I'm not interested."
As Tristia spoke matter-of-factly, it only made things more confusing.
"But young man, I do like beautiful women, but I find it even more delightful when beautiful women suffer."
Tristia smiled like a fox.
"That lady over there doesn't seem like she would bow to violence… and I don't particularly favor physical violence anyway. What I enjoy is watching the collapse of the mind, induced by pleasure, guilt, sorrow, and jealousy—those negative emotions."
Just hearing it made my head spin.
So, was this woman a lesbian and a sadist?
…How come there seems to be not a single sane woman in this world?
"And for that lady, losing you to another woman would probably be the most shocking. Right?"
I almost snickered at Tristia's smug statement, as if she knew everything.
But she's wrong about this one.
As I had said before, Lucia didn't care what I did with other women.
Because I made her that way.
"…What are you talking about? If my master wishes, I wouldn't mind if he takes another woman anytime."
See, just like that.
"Do you really want to think that way?"
"…I don't understand what you mean."
"Do you not know, or are you pretending not to know? If you keep it all bottled up, it will explode someday."
"I don't have anything bottled up."
Lucia smiled brightly, while Tristia whispered softly.
"So, you wouldn't mind if your master completely falls for me."
"Yes, of course. I belong to my master, but that will never happen."
Lucia tilted her head as she speaks, causing Tristia to chuckle.
"Why do you think that?"
"Well, you're less attractive than me."
Lucia's blunt comment, said with a smile, left Tristia looking stunned.
…Tristia's appearance was certainly not bad enough to warrant such remarks.
Even by imperial standards, she would rank within the top ten in terms of beauty.
But the opponent was Lucia.
Even though she hid her appearance with dye and makeup, her status as "The Moon of the Empire," a top-tier beauty in the universe, didn't fade.
"…It's the first time I've heard someone call me ugly."
"If you're next to me, you might hear it a lot in the future."
"That's very cheeky."
"It doesn't matter. I don't need to look good for anyone other than my master."
Lucia continued to smile brightly while Tristia's lips quivered.
It's impressive that she could maintain her composure without getting angry after such a direct comment.
"Heh… Okay. Fine. Then it's up to the young man. Just remember, don't think I'll hold back after a second refusal. If you refuse this time, it's really the end."
"…"
For me, there's no reason to refuse this offer.
I was prepared to spend a lot of money to get training equipment, but this way, I can get it for free, plus a chance to test out the 'prince on the bed.'
"I accept. I'll pay with my body."
"Good choice."
Tristia flicked her finger, and the sign hanging in the window spun around.
▶Closed.
"Come, both of you, this way."
Tristia gestured to me as she entered through the open wall.
*****
Support me on my pat reon and gain early access to my creations.
https://www.patr eon.com/RroY_r18 (remove the space)
You can access up to 10 advanced chapters.