Chapter 7
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1. As Louis Acyx’s tutor, lessons will be held twice a day, one hour each time.
2. Lesson content is up to the tutor’s discretion, but a monthly report must be submitted.
3. Weekly pay: 14 gold. If Louis intentionally causes harm, appropriate compensation will be given.
4. Under no circumstances shall the tutor intentionally harm the child.
Contractors:
Asus Acyx
Swallow
****
“That looks good enough to me,” Asus said.
It was a fairly favorable contract for me — but I still had one more condition.
“One more thing.”
“What do you want to add?”
“During my employment as a tutor, no unfair treatment toward the teacher will be tolerated. That applies to the child and parent, and in a broader sense, to anyone in this mansion.”
“Unfair treatment?”
As a small bird-type beastman — a sparrow — I’d been through plenty at the Beast Academy. I couldn’t ignore a possible risk like that.
“Yes. Just in case something happens.”
Asus nodded lightly and added the clause without hesitation.
“You’re quite meticulous.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“It is. But people that rigid sometimes can’t bend when they need to. You’ll find life easier if you can be a little flexible.”
I blinked at him — not sure if he was praising me or warning me.
“So basically, you’re telling me not to think too much and just behave?”
“Not at all. I actually like people who stand firm. Even if they break instead of bending — a person should have pride. In that sense, you pass.”
“Too bad I already got the job. Hearing that now doesn’t feel new.”
While we talked, he signed the document. I signed next, rolled the papers, and tucked them away.
“That should do it.”
“And one more thing. I prepared a room for you in the mansion.”
At that, Asus looked toward the door.
Standing there was a man with golden hair and eyes — clearly a leopard beastman — smiling pleasantly at me.
My tail feathers practically stood straight up. I still wasn’t used to carnivorous beastmen.
At least I didn’t faint like some herbivores did when they saw one — small victories.
I nodded awkwardly.
“You prepared a room for me?”
“Yes. I can’t have a tutor I barely managed to hire dying on the way home. Even though this is a neutral area, sometimes carnivores still attack herbivores.”
“Oh…”
“And my mansion is deep inside the neutral zone — not exactly the safest place. Plus…”
That was… unexpected. I’d thought he was the arrogant type, yet he was being considerate — to a mere tutor.
“You’re surprisingly kind.”
“Kindness is an insult to our kind.”
“Then you’re terribly rude.”
“Exactly. That’s a compliment.”
…Was he serious? Or joking?
I couldn’t tell. I’d never really interacted with carnivores at the Academy, so reading one like Asus Acyx was impossible. But one thing was clear — he was strange.
“Yes, yes. Anyway, sir — I mean, Father.”
“Father?”
“Calling you ‘the young master’s father’ is too long.”
“Then just call me Asus.”
“‘Father’ sounds easier. Anyway, is it okay to leave the young master alone? I was worried about him just now.”
“Are you asking for overtime pay?”
Did this man have rocks in his ears? He completely missed the point.
Still, extra pay sounded nice…
“I’d appreciate that, but that’s not what I mean. You really plan to keep leaving him alone?”
“Hmm. It’s hard to trust just anyone, and no one has been able to handle Louis anyway.”
“He’s only five years old!”
“Yes. But in our family, children are left alone from an early age.”
“You too?”
“That’s right. I was raised that way.”
I’d heard of parents doing that to toughen their kids, but still… this was different.
“I don’t think that’s right,” I said quietly.
His expression turned serious.
“Is there a particular reason you have to do it?”
“The black-panther family has always done so — to make the children strong.”
Right. I’d heard that some carnivores push their cubs off cliffs so they’ll learn to survive.
Maybe black panthers weren’t so different.
I stayed silent, waiting for what he’d say next.
“I was also raised alone, without a nanny. And because I grew up fine that way, I never thought there was anything wrong with it.”
So he assumed his son would turn out fine too — just because he had.
I understood that each household raises children differently, and Asus, raising his son alone without a wife, probably didn’t know better.
As the leader of the leopard clan, there was likely no one to teach him how to parent, either.
“Judging by your face, I take it I’m doing something wrong,” he said.
“Well… every family is different, but I didn’t grow up like that.”
“Oh? How did you grow up, then?”
His eyes shifted slightly — maybe he was actually willing to listen.
“With love,” I said simply.
“I love him too.”
“Then maybe love him more. See him more. Hold him more. Do things like that. I know you’re busy, but…”
I phrased it carefully, knowing Louis had that allergy problem.
Thankfully, Asus nodded, seeming to take the point.
“There is someone my child listens to better than anyone else. I’ll ask that person what to do. I can’t just take a sparrow’s word for it.”
He was still annoyingly arrogant, but at least he’d listen to someone.
“I’m glad you have someone to ask. Also, please make sure to hire a nanny or maid for him.”
“He won’t like it.”
“Who, the young master? Still, you should. Someone will fit.”
Asus’s expression turned odd.
“So… you just don’t want to hire anyone, right?”
“No. I do think I should. It’s just— I’ve failed to find anyone suitable so many times that I gave up. Louis also said he’s fine being alone.”
“You do know that’s not something a normal child says, right?”
Louis just wanted to be good — so he endured his loneliness quietly.
I couldn’t say that aloud. If I did, he’d lose even that small reason he had to keep going.
“…Understood.”
“Then, I’ll rest in the room you’ve provided, Father.”
Perfect. My current inn was terrible anyway.
I’d been staying there for a year — the cheapest one I could find, saving money to rescue my mother.
The bed gave me back pain every night, it was boiling in summer, freezing in winter, and I caught colds all year round.
Recently the innkeeper even raised the rent, saying prices had gone up. For someone barely earning, that had been tough.
“Alright. And, Sparrow—”
“It’s Swallow, Father.”
“Right. Swallow. If you need to go out, take him with you. Don’t wander alone and get yourself sold.”
“…You’re telling a sparrow to take a leopard as an escort…?”
People would definitely think I was a snack on a leash.
I shook my head firmly, but he seemed dead serious.
“Yes.”
