NOVEL NEXT Chapter 84: Repent!
Zach felt like there weren't enough hours in the day, eyes on his face, or limbs on his body to do all that he needed and wanted to do. He had to gather information for several separate goals. He had to train and learn how to stand on spikes.
He had made some progress on that front. He could practice by making spike-formed barriers. Unfortunately, they weren't as sharp or pointy as the spikes in the swamp Locale. There was something about a defensive barrier skill not making good weapons.
They were a good beginner step, but it wasn't enough to really get those chiseled foot muscles and the balance he needed.
Zach still had ordinary lessons to attend. He had monsters from Anerias to send Yanael to kill. He had classmates to give information to. He had to prove to the instructors that he contributed to almost every piece of information, resource, or material that his classmates brought back. He had to harass Anerias. He had to eat.
He had to sleep. He had to train in combat with Dukiel and Julius.
The combat training with his friends wasn't anything special. The instructors teaching personal combat belong to other academies or grades. So, they ended up just fighting under Yanael's and the Sentinel's supervision. Sometimes they used weapons and other times, they used only their fists.
Rather than training, it was more accurate to call it a method of releasing the stress that they accumulated while also getting accustomed to weapons and people attacking them with weapons in hand.
Zach returned to his dorm after another tiring day. He couldn't even be bothered to eat, so he collapsed straight into his bed without even undressing.
Nora stood with her hands on her hips and shook her head.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." She clicked her tongue repeatedly in disappointment.
"Go away, Nora." Zach didn't want to be disturbed.
Unfortunately for him, Nora's loyalty as a maid didn't include not disturbing her master.
"I was hopeful when you returned last time and looked like you wouldn't run into every other doorframe. But looking at you now, it's obvious you have no clue what you're doing."
"So?" Zach's voice was muffled since his face was pressed against the mattress. He didn't need Nora's comments. But if she were going to tease him, she would tease him, not bully him.
"Are you stupid?"
"I'm too tired to deal with you right now, Nora. If you're going to be like this, either get to the point or fuck off."
Nora smacked Zach's butt hard.
"Ouch!" Zach cried out and turned around with a disgruntled and irritated glare while massaging his buttocks.
"What the fuck was that for?!"
Nora pointed at herself with both hands.
"Do you not see this? Are you blind? And that!" Nora pointed at Yanael.
"What?"
"Goodness, you really are stupid! What are we wearing?"
"Dresses…?"
"Maid dresses! We are maids. Your maids!"
"And…?"
Nora was a hair away from flinging herself at Zach and beating the cotton out of his head. She clenched her hands and one eyelid twitched repeatedly.
"How the fuck did the Master and Madam spawn such a lackwit like yourself, Young Master?"
"I don't fucking know. Are you done?"
"Are you done being stupid? I won't stop until you realize the error of your ways, foolish brat." While saying so, Nora grabbed Zach and sat down on the edge of his bed. He couldn't resist. He was tired and bruised from his so-called spar with Dukiel and Julius. But Nora was strong.
She was too strong for him to fight back without her sticking a finger on a pressure point and making him convulse in pain.
She bent Zach over her lap and started smacking his ass.
"Realize the error of your ways!"
She landed a quick strike to Zach's already sore cheeks.
"Repent!"
"Stop!" To Zach's surprise, she actually stopped. He tried to get up, but Nora's hands were like vices as they held him in place.
"What are you doing? Let me go!"
She let him go.
Zach frowned in confusion and irritation.
"What the fuck do you want, Nora?" Zach glared at his maid.
Nora shook her head.
"That's the one question I won't answer. By now, it should be obvious."
Zach's frown deepened and he actually tried to think of the answer. Since he was tired but not sleep anymore, he quickly went through today's interaction with Nora.
"...Are you saying you want to help me?"
"No. I'm saying me and Yanael are here to help you. That's literally why I came with you to this place. You don't have to do everything alone. You're on the verge of collapse, Young Master, and you don't even notice because you're too busy!"
Zach's frown eased.
"You should have said something, Nora. If you want to help, of course, I'll let you help. I was just thinking that I needed a couple more hands and eyes to get through everything." Zach smiled and nudged Nora's shoulder, but she slapped away his hand.
"Damn it! This is exactly why I didn't want to say anything! Couldn't you just have realized on your own that you're not on your own?" Nora stormed off before Zach could tease her further, but he didn't mind. He needed to sleep.
He looked at Yanael.
"You heard her. Can you handle the monster extermination alone tomorrow?"
"Of course, Master."
"Perfect, I'll just…" Zach fell asleep.
Yanael made sure he was deep in his slumber as she tucked him in before leaving his bedroom and closing the door behind him. She looked at Nora, sitting in one of the chairs.
"You told him in the end."
"Of course, I did. Although he needs to learn some humility and how to act, I still don't think letting him crash and burn is the way to do it. Speaking of which, how could you be fine with it when you're his familiar? Shouldn't you be, you know, worried about his well-being?" Nora looked at Yanael with slight accusation.
Yanael gave a simple shrug.
"I believe he will come back stronger. He wouldn't be my Master if simple overwork and burnout were enough to keep him down. And to set something straight, I was fine with either telling him or not."
"But…?"
"But to be honest, I was a little offended he refused to rely on me."