Chapter 444 Disciple
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Move it! Work like your life depends on it!”
”Heeen! Master, haven’t you gotten even stricter lately!?”
It had been a few days since I’d gotten… “intimate” with Saint Loire-Rose¹ and Sacred Artificer Nina-Mailse under the convenient excuse of drafting a sales strategy for the Wielope Empire. As I barked orders at her, Nina let out a series of half-baked, sniveling whines.
”Of course I have! Now that you’ve officially become my apprentice, I’m going to work you like a dog. Brace yourself!”
”At least be a little gentler when you teach me!”
Yes, all of this was happening because she had begged for an apprenticeship herself. I had spent a long time turning her down, but after Saint Rose asked me personally-and after the things we’d done together-I didn’t have much of a choice.
And if I was going to take an apprentice, I had no intention of half-assing it. Being my student made her the “grand-apprentice” of my own masters. If she turned out mediocre, I wouldn’t be able to show my face to them again.
I had already reported the news to my masters, and my mind was made up. I intended to whip her into shape so she could become a magnificent magic toolmaker… no, a proper Sacred Artificer. Besides, I had another motive.
”The launch date for the ‘Wiggler-Buddy’² is almost here! We don’t have time to sit around!”
”Th-that’s just for your own convenience, Master…”
”Zip it! The Master’s whim is the Apprentice’s law! Now, repeat after me!”
”Th-the Master’s whim is the Apprentice’s law!”
”Again!”
”The Master’s whim is the Apprentice’s law!!!”
”Now stop flapping your gums and keep those hands moving!”
”You’re so unreasonable!” Nina wailed.
To be precise, we were currently in the middle of packing “Wiggler” series products at the Convent of Canarias. We had already shipped the inventory for distant locations, but the local stock was still behind.
It was a point of professional pride for me; I wanted to aim for a simultaneous release across all regions whenever possible. Of course, since the distribution networks here weren’t as sophisticated as in my old world, I had to settle for “close enough.”
Part of it was to avoid making customers feel slighted, but it was also to gauge regional demand-and to prevent a single shop from being swamped by a concentrated crowd.
After all, the Sisters of the Church of Demon-Subjugation were among our biggest clients, and they were die-hards who would think nothing of making a “pilgrimage” to our main branch. If we released the product early in the Holy City, for instance, there was a real risk that every customer in the region would descend on that one location.
That might have worked for a special promotion, but there was no real benefit to it this time, so I’d scrapped the idea. Well, I might reconsider it once Saint Rose regains her political footing and I need to do her a favor.
”What in the world are you doing to her…?” Satsuki asked, walking into the room.
”Um, Kento-san, maybe you should be a little easier on her? The shipments are already on schedule,” Sister Amelia added softly.
The two of them-Satsuki the court mage and Sister Amelia-were both members of our shop who were helping out at the convent.
By the way, KUSHE, the head court mage of the Kingdom of Coalmine, had been working here until recently, but she was currently back in her homeland. The Princess Consort of the Crown Prince of Ierse had personally reached out, saying, “It’s about time you give us back our head mage.”
At the same time, my brother-in-law, Count POPOL Martin, had also returned to his own territory. Well, they’ll both likely be back soon enough. Martin is the kind of man who lives just to watch my darling daughter Momo grow up, and I have a specific job I need to ask Kushe to handle. But I digress.
”You’re being too soft, Satsuki, Amelia. Spoiling her like that won’t do her any favors. In this business, if you don’t stay ahead of the curve, you’ll end up regretting it later.”
”…Well, I suppose there’s some truth to that,” Satsuki admitted.
”But it’s still pitiful, Kento-san. You shouldn’t expect her to have the same work capacity as you,” Amelia said.
”Amelia-san! Satsuki-san! Please, tell him off!” Nina cried out. “This man is a total work-pervert!³ There’s no other way to explain his behavior!”
”Ah…” the two women sighed in unison.
True. I had a few choice words for Nina’s phrasing, but it was a fact that I’d been working harder than ever lately. Between managing the shops, meeting with business partners, my role as a “consultant” for the Royal Palace, and acting as a tutor for His Highness the King’s brother, my plate was full. Now, I’d added the Wielope sales plan and Nina’s training to the pile.
Our list of distributors had grown significantly too. Locally, we had the shops in the royal capital of Canarias. We had the Merchant Guild Tasogare taking the lead, followed by the Beast-person Association, Chairman Chromans’ Merchant Guild Brown Bear, and the Merchant Guild Garou-run by the family of my “Love-Wolf” Aerith-for the high-end market. Even the Adventurer’s Guild was a partner, in a sense.
Outside the capital, our most important clients were the Duchy of Badcage-home of my “beloved daughter” (?) Tina-to the north, and the Viscounty of Nixfen to the west. Of course, we were starting to take deep root in other noble territories and local towns as well.
Internationally, we started with the Kingdom of Coalmine in the north and moved counter-clockwise to the Kingdom of Ferguson in the west. To the southwest, the Kingdom of Sylvaol was still in the planning stages, but things were moving. With the Holy City to the southeast and the Wielope Empire in the east now becoming customers, we had essentially circled the entire map.
Heh heh heh… World conquest via the “Vibe-Buddy” was starting to look like a reality. That was a joke, obviously, but I really did want to do everything in my power to secure these markets. In the past, whenever a major crisis hit, we’d managed to solve it by expanding our reach.
It worked for the war with the Kingdom of Coalmine, and for the “Stampede” and the two Great Dragons. The current assassin problem from Wielope would likely be the same. Once we became “friendly” with the Wielope Empire, the problem would resolve itself.
More importantly, I couldn’t slack off if I wanted to protect the interests of the partners I’d befriended, not to mention supporting the women and children under my care.
Well, there was also my personal philosophy: a master has to show his student a strong back. If I wanted Nina to grow, I had to be the ultimate example. …Or maybe I just wanted to look cool so she’d respect me. Either way…
”Listen, Nina. I’m not being strict because I enjoy hearing you scream. I just want you to see how I work and hope that you’ll become someone just as capable.”
”M-Master…!” Nina paused, then narrowed her eyes. “Wait, I’m not falling for that! You definitely enjoy bullying me! You’re like this every time we do an ‘experiment’ too!”
”Guh-sh-shut up! First of all, an apprentice is supposed to be obedient! If you’re going to complain, you shouldn’t have asked to join me in the first place!”
”Aha! You said it! That’s it! This is a total abuse of power! Workplace harassment!⁴“
”Hmm,” Satsuki mused. “That’s a very old-fashioned view of the master-disciple relationship. Though, was he ever actually that obedient to his own masters…?”
”Wh-who knows,” Amelia replied. “He seems to respect them, but I hear he caused them plenty of trouble back in the day…”
I felt the tide turning against me. Between the concept of “power harassment” existing in this world and the fact that Satsuki and Amelia knew way too much about my past, I decided it was best to keep my mouth shut before I dug a deeper hole.
At any rate, we continued our bickering and banter as Satsuki and Amelia joined in to help finish the packing. Once that was done, we moved on to discussing the logistics for the launch day. When we released the “Anal-series” products, the demand was niche enough that we could handle it carefully, but this time was going to be different.
This was a new entry in our flagship line, following the “Trembler-Buddy” and the “Toasty-Buddy.” The “Trembler” launch had been chaotic enough, and our customer base had only grown since then.
Well, our staff had grown too, so I hoped we’d manage. As I was cleaning up, I felt a tug on my sleeve. I looked over to find Nina standing there, her face uncharacteristically flushed.
”…Um, I’ll probably keep complaining, but… I am going to give it my all. So… I’m in your hands, Master.”
”Yeah. Leave it to me. Even if you hate it, I’m going to make sure you’re the best.”
”…And,” she whispered, “if I work really hard… I’ll be expecting a ‘reward’ that matches the effort.”
”…Of course. Leave that part to me, too.”
Satsuki’s voice drifted over from across the room. “So, in other words, they were just flirting the whole time?”
”Ah… ahaha,” Amelia laughed nervously. “Well, if they’re getting along, that’s a good thing, right?”
I could have sworn I heard them sounding exasperated, but I certainly wasn’t in a position to argue.
—
Summary:
Kento begins Nina’s rigorous apprenticeship while preparing for the launch of the new ‘Wiggler-Buddy’ product. The team works together at the convent to pack inventory for a synchronized nationwide release. Amidst the chaos of business expansion, Nina and Kento share a flirtatious moment regarding her future ‘rewards’ for hard work.
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Trivia:
- Kento’s business now covers almost the entire map surrounding the capital.
- The ‘Wiggler-Buddy’ launch is a major logistical event aiming for simultaneous release.
- Kento previously had a master-disciple relationship with his own teachers, which he was apparently rebellious during.
- Kushe has returned to the Coalmine Kingdom at the Princess Consort’s request.
- The Church of Demon-Subjugation sisters are regular, hardcore customers
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Character Insight:
Nina shows growth by accepting the harsh training despite her constant complaining, signaling her transition from just an employee to a dedicated apprentice. Kento’s workaholism is framed as a protective measure to ensure the safety and prosperity of those he cares about.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author uses ‘pawahara’ as a meta-joke, highlighting Kento’s modern Japanese roots clashing with the fantasy setting’s training methods.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Nina-Mailse – Sacred Artificer from the Holy City with short violet hair and those thick, bottle‑bottom glasses that somehow still look good. A Ward from a big Purist family in the Wielope Empire, but she ditched the whole fundamentalist thing. Sticks close to the Saint and might end up as Kento’s apprentice in the Church of Demon‑Subjugation. Smart, loyal, and quietly rebellious.
• Loire-Rose – Current Saintess and top of the Great Cathedral food chain. White hair, pale skin, blue eyes—the full divine aesthetic. Can literally manifest light and blessings, but don’t let the holy glow fool you. She’s pragmatic, money‑minded, and way too playful for church politics. Runs a workshop (yeah, even sells adult goods on the side) and keeps her “holy” mask on… most of the time. Originally born to a Salvation Faction family, later adopted by the previous Holy Figure. Total mix of divinity and chaos, and somehow it works.
• Satsuki – Miranda’s granddaughter—a talented court mage with long black hair, staff, and palace robes. Prickly tsundere companion of Kento who fought in the dragon subjugation. Now humiliated yet fulfilled as Harvest’s new worker, her research thrives under his guidance while she whispers romantic tips to Amelia.
• Amelia – A light blue-haired Sister of the Church of Demon-Subjugating and Kento’s shy harem member. A newly awakened “Saint” from Holy Sleep, modest and easily embarrassed with red ears and neck. Wears her habit and treasures Kento’s ring on a necklace.
• Kento – Lord Harvest—the unassuming owner of the Harvest magic tool shop (with a discreet adult goods side). An isekai’d Japanese salaryman resembling Kazuma Satou, with dark hair and basic magic for crafting. Recently triumphed over a Great Dragon; now juggles his harem, tinkering, and ties to Amelia and the Queen at Ddo-Buddy Manor.
• Ierse – The Crown Princess and wife of Gilliam, originally from a foreign land. She is described as lively and healthy with a unique charm. She wants to cheer up her husband. Has long haired hair.
• Martin – Lily’s non-blood-related younger brother. Considered the strongest candidate to succeed the Popol family due to his lineage and manifested ‘power. He has pink hair.
• Kushe – Chief Mage of the Coalmine Kingdom—a blunt, mischievous court mage and Kento’s companion. Dark green hair worn haphazardly under a loose robe, she’s assertive, knee-complaining, and leaks secrets to push things forward.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes.
• Chromans – President of the ‘Royal Capital Beast-person Mutual Aid Association’ and the manager of the ‘Grizzly Merchant Guild,’ a top-tier weapons and armor dealer. He’s powerful, influential, and very business-savvy. Have round, cute bear ears (sooty brown), bushy beard and hair (sooty brown), and large build with muscular physique under a expensive gown.
• Aerith – A wolf beast-person and Ouka’s daughter. She is intensely attracted to Kento’s creative genius and is not shy about showing her interest. Have gray fur hair and tail, wearing elegant dress.
• Nixfen – A viscount aristocrat who has started manufacturing and selling adult goods similar to Kento’s products in the Royal Capital’s pleasure district. He is described as a ‘pretty boy’ or ‘gentle-looking man’ (yasao) but is a territory-holding noble likely trained in combat.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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