Chapter 40 (1/2)

Volume 1

Atelier Tanaka Chapter 19.3

Chapter 19.3

Dorm Life 1

[Sophia-chans point of view]

It was now the next morning after the attack against Ester-sama. The night passed uneventfully and I awoke to see the sun brightly shining outside. A day like this would be perfect for drying clothes.

Tanaka-san stayed up all night and was now sleeping in his room. Ester-sama has gone to her class. By the way, Rebecca went with her to protect her. Apparently, she used to be an A ranked adventurer and is Ester-samas guard as well as her maid.

This is more so out of doubt than concern, but is it recall okay for you to not go to class, Tanaka-san? Hes clearly not attending his classes. Every day he returns home with some random souvenir that he must have bought at a street stall. Theres no mistake about it.

I doubt hell be able to graduate at this rate.

Hes acting like attending this school is just a hobby of his.

Although this is a school for high-class nobles, this school is rather strict. Ive heard that if a student isnt smart enough theyll fail no matter how good of a teacher they have.

.

Well, anyway, it has nothing to do with a maid like me.

Right now I need to prepare Tanaka-sans meal.

Its a maids job to get her masters meal.

Currently, I am walking down the corridor of the dormitory while pushing a metal cart with me. Originally, this cart would be used to carry Masters food, but today this food is just for me. There were several luxurious dishes lined up on top of the cart.

I was on my way back home after retrieving the meal from the kitchen on the first floor.

If I were still at home, I think wed just now be greeting our first customers

It made me feel a little homesick after thinking about my parents house I havent seen in days.

I wonder how theyre doing without me.

.

No, it wont do any good for me to think about it.

I wonder if theyre even worried about me? How could they send their own daughter off somewhere so easily? The other day I even got a rash on my feet from wearing my fathers shoes. Everyday itching and itching and itching. It was terrible.

Well, its not like they knew that.

I felt even more homesick, so, to get rid of this feeling, I increased my pace asI headed for my room. Tanaka-san wont show up at lunch this time. When I left the room, I checked on him to make sure he was fast asleep.

Even when Im moving it like this I can still smell the delicious food.

I have to endure it.

Todays meal seems even more delicious than usual.

This is truly a meal fitting of the nobility.

This is the real benefit of working here as a maid. Thats right. Im not sure how other people feel, but, for me, this is pure bliss.

Ugh.

Suddenly, another person wearing a maid uniform appeared from around the corner in front of me.

I immediately stopped my cart and made sure to protect the meal that was placed on top of it. The other maid could not stop in time and crashed into my cart. She fell face first on to the ground. That looked quite painful.

umm, are you alright?

Its not like I can pretend to not have noticed this.

Then, I realized I knew this person.

Ah.

Its the same woman that ran into me and dropped all of her laundry.

wait, its you.

W-What is that supposed to mean? She looked like a demon as she stood up and ran up to me.

You seemed to be acting all high and mighty for a newbie.

.

Im not trying to do anything.

The maid has scratches all over her forehead and I can see some blood dripping down her face. The dormitory is entirely made of stone. So Im sure falling face first onto the stone floor was quite painful. Her face must have hit pretty hard and it seems like she may have a lasting injury.

It almost seems like she didnt try to avoid running into my cart just now.

Doesnt that mean this injury is entirely her fault?

Wait a minute. Dont you have something to say?

W-Well, I actually have work to do so.

The maid begins throwing a fit in front of me. Why is she making a fool of herself?

I need to get back to my room already. I began to push the cart with all my power.

And the maid put her foot in front of the wheel.

The wheel catches on her thick leather shoes and I cant get past her.

Youll have to be punished for this.

Eh?

The maid suddenly moved.

She stopped the cart with one foot and then took a step toward me with the other. At the same time, she raised her hand above her head.

Ah, is she going to hit me?

I thought about moving but my body wouldnt move.

The next moment, the maid slapped my face. There was more force behind it than I expected and it caused me to take a step back.

Ugh.

I was close to falling.

I caught myself using the cart carrying my meal. The lid covering the food shifted a little and then came crashing to the ground. One of the bowls containing soup wobbled back and forth, aah, it spilled a little.

Hmm, Im sure youll remember this. Youll regret ever crossing me.

The maid seemed satisfied after hitting me and quickly left or maybe she was afraid of getting in trouble. Even if she has been a maid for a long time, the maids are still at the bottom of the hierarchy in the school.

Which is why bullying like this is always done out of sight of everyone else.

th-that really hurt.

I could see the back of the maid running down the stairs at the end of the hallway.

I rubbed my burning cheek as I stared at her running away.

At the same time, I could feel a warm liquid come rushing out from inside my nose.

Its a nosebleed.

Hah!?

Unfortunately, I could see some droplets of blood fall into the food on the wagon. It fell into a stew that had a white sauce. The white sauce soon became spotted with little red dots.

.

I can never forgive that woman.