I Didn't Want to Teach Either, but People Should Honor Their Contracts

Of course, Eris's talent was displayed most vividly in swordsmanship.

In swordsmanship class, Eris might get beaten up by Ghislaine.

But at the very least, she possessed tremendous enthusiasm and astonishing talent for swordsmanship itself.

Ghislaine's brutally practical teaching style—one word: fight; two words: get beaten—was indeed highly effective.

Her swordsmanship foundation was being honed at an astonishing rate, growing more solid by the day.

As for arithmetic and reading and writing, there had been no progress whatsoever.

Naturally, the heart of the problem lay with Lady Eris herself.

For the arithmetic, reading, and writing lessons Cui Ciyou was responsible for, she displayed only one word—"run."

Perhaps it was because Eris knew perfectly well that she was no match for Cui Ciyou in a direct confrontation.

With her previous tutors, she had always chosen to fight back.

Ever since their first meeting, Eris had listed Cui Ciyou as her number one "enemy."

She used every method her little brain could think of to avoid Cui Ciyou's lessons.

Either she would vanish the moment class began, using every trick she had to hide in some secluded corner of the house.

But she would usually be found almost immediately by Cui Ciyou, who possessed extraordinary Perception.

Or she would pretend to be sick, lying weakly in bed and groaning.

But Cui Ciyou would always look at her with that calm, unruffled gaze, as though he could see through everything, making it impossible for her to keep up the act.

"Please, continue your performance, Eris."

Finally, even after being forcibly "escorted" to the classroom, she would absolutely refuse to cooperate.

Either she would tear the books to pieces, or deliberately knock over the ink bottle and make a complete mess.

Or she would simply lie face-down on the desk and snore, using every method she could think of to wage passive resistance.

Cui Ciyou had tried all sorts of methods as well:

He tried patiently guiding her, explaining the importance and enjoyment of learning knowledge;

Eris snorted at that and dismissed it with contempt.

He also tried using interesting stories and novel games to guide her through those dull numbers and letters.

Eris had no interest in that whatsoever, and even found it childish;

Cui Ciyou had even... when he could no longer endure it, used the scabbard again.

When she tried once more to tear up the teaching cards Cui Ciyou had painstakingly prepared.

However, unlike last time.

This time, although Eris was beaten until her eyes brimmed with tears, she bit her lip tightly and refused to make a sound.

Those stubborn eyes were filled with undisguised... hatred.

She seemed determined to oppose Cui Ciyou to the bitter end.

Whatever Cui Ciyou wanted to teach, she would refuse to learn. She absolutely would not cooperate!

After an entire week, Cui Ciyou's arithmetic and reading and writing classes had not managed to hold a single proper lesson.

Either the student could not be found, or the student would engage in every form of "nonviolent noncooperation" during class.

"Ugh..."

Cui Ciyou watched as she once again nimbly climbed out through the classroom window.

Looking at that figure, like an energetic red-haired little monkey, he could not help but sigh softly.

Are you a Saiyan? A wild red-haired monkey, Eris Boreas Greyrat.

My original goal was only to make use of Boreas's noble influence to read more books and study this world's systems of swordsmanship and magic.

The job of a tutor... perhaps it truly was just something incidental. Whether I taught well or not... didn't seem all that important?

Cui Ciyou comforted himself with those thoughts.

But his mother's words echoed clearly in his mind once again:

"Even if a person dies, their debts do not disappear!"

"The most important thing between people is a promise. You must be responsible!"

Thinking of that, Cui Ciyou murmured to himself:

"Well!... Forget it. If you hold the position, you do the job."

"Since I accepted Philip's invitation and took this generous salary, I have a responsibility to fulfill my duties."

"'The spirit of contract'... 'Promises'..."

Cui Ciyou rubbed his slightly throbbing brow, feeling a long-forgotten headache.

He suddenly realized that he did not seem to be as indifferent and... purely rational as he had imagined.

Cui Ciyou decided to seek some "outside assistance."

He found Eris's father, Philip, and explained rather tactfully:

Eris was completely uncooperative when it came to studying.

He hoped this father could step in and at least restrain his daughter's behavior, ensuring that she maintained the most basic classroom attendance.

After all, education was not solely the teacher's responsibility. Parental cooperation was equally crucial, was it not?

However, after Philip heard Cui Ciyou out.

He elegantly took a sip of the red tea in his cup before speaking unhurriedly:

"Ciyou, that child Eris... truly does have a rather mischievous personality."

"However, I believe that with your abilities, you will surely find an appropriate way to deal with her."

"After all, ensuring that a student attends class properly and follows instruction is also part of a tutor's duty, is it not?"

His tone was gentle and polite, and his wording was quite proper, but the meaning beneath his words was perfectly clear:

"This is your job. Figure it out yourself, and do not bother me."

Cui Ciyou looked at Philip's face, wearing that standard nobleman's smile.

Hearing those casual words that completely shifted the responsibility onto the teacher, an uncontrollable, nameless anger surged within him:

Making students attend class properly is part of a tutor's responsibility... Is he one of those monster parents? Or just an irresponsible parent?

As he thought of Philip's words, blurry, piercing images flashed uncontrollably through Cui Ciyou's mind:

The front door that had once been kicked open by a drunken, furious man, left hanging by a thread...

The vicious insults and endless curses filling that cramped space...

The fleeting, false concern and casually made promises that appeared after he occasionally sobered up...

And... the back of that irresponsible man, who amid endless arguments, complaints, and avoidance.

Had taken all the burdens of the family and all responsibility for education, and naturally pushed them onto that increasingly haggard woman...

Yes, Philip before him and the man he had once called "father" in his memories.

In certain ways, they were remarkably alike.

Both were accustomed to lightly shifting their own responsibilities onto others.

At that moment, Cui Ciyou felt as though their shadows overlapped to some extent!

Just like many parents in that previous world, stubbornly believing that education was solely the business of schools and teachers.

An irrepressible anger slowly rose from the depths of Cui Ciyou's heart.

But it also completely extinguished any thought of continuing to communicate with Philip.

As for Eris's mother—the noblewoman Hilda, who also had flame-red hair, an exceptionally voluptuous figure, and was said to hold considerable standing within the Boreas Greyrat Family...

Cui Ciyou did not even consider paying her a visit.

Ever since he had "disciplined" Eris last time, that fiercely protective mother had held undisguised hostility and deep disgust toward him.

Though judging from the aftermath, Cui Ciyou, who had been bitten, seemed to have "suffered more."

But in a mother's eyes, anyone who dared lay even a finger on her precious daughter was an unforgivable enemy.

There was simply no possibility of normal communication between them.

Strangely enough, whenever Cui Ciyou saw Lady Hilda from afar in the courtyard, he would inevitably think of the woman from his previous life who had also been a mother, yet was completely different from Hilda.

The woman who had always given silently, pouring all her love into him without reservation. Even when life was difficult and bitter, she had never given up on educating or caring for him—his mother.

That sharp contrast always made Cui Ciyou's feelings even more complicated and... heavy.

Since the father was unwilling to intervene, and the mother could not be reasoned with...

"Looks like Eris's education really can only depend on me."

Cui Ciyou left Philip's study, and the last of his thoughts of seeking "outside help" faded away.

However, what gave Cui Ciyou a slight sense of "comfort" was this:

Although Eris had not attended a single proper arithmetic or reading and writing lesson with him for an entire week.

House Boreas did not seem to have any intention of dismissing him or docking his pay because of it.

Philip remained polite toward him, while the butler Alphonse, the servant Thomas, and the others all treated him with great respect.

Philip had even advanced that month's salary: two Asla Kingdom gold coins.

Perhaps... Eris's already notorious reputation had something to do with this as well.

Cui Ciyou thought with some amusement:

After all, a tutor who could last more than a week under Lady Eris, the "Mad Dog," without being beaten away was already something of a minor miracle.

Philip probably did not want to replace me so easily, in case he could not find a substitute who could take even more beatings?

Whether Eris attended class or not, no one seemed to truly care. As long as she did not drive another teacher away?

And besides, this month's salary is already in my hands...

Reading and studying in the Boreas library, while also having a quiet place to research swordsmanship with Ghislaine... that actually doesn't seem too bad?

After all, in any world, getting paid without doing any work feels pretty good.

A mentality of simply giving up quietly surfaced in Cui Ciyou's mind.

Forget it, let things stay like this for now. I'll focus on my own affairs first. As for Eris... I'll take it slowly. In the original story, she stayed like this for four years anyway.

Cui Ciyou shrugged helplessly, deciding to temporarily cast aside the small annoyance caused by Eris skipping class.

He turned and headed toward his current favorite place—the enormous library of House Boreas.

To him, absorbing the wealth of knowledge contained there was far more appealing than teaching a completely disobedient "brat."