Derek just wanted to quietly make some quick cash, but before he knew it, things had spiraled out of control. He felt uneasy even trying to sleep.

Hufu hadn’t been dealt with yet—he was too important. Before Derek arrived, Hufu alone managed Dakelos. Nearly all affairs passed through his hands. A smooth handover required his cooperation.

Whether scared or simply wiser, Hufu had become very obedient. He did exactly as told and coughed up huge sums of money.

Watching crate after crate of coins transported to his manor, Derek felt his spirit soar. He believed both wallet and life should be this full.

He wanted to keep it all, but knew he had to hand some over. Newly appointed, he’d raided Hufu’s home—a bold move. Rumors would reach his terrifying father soon. Better to proactively “show filial piety” than wait for demands.

Send half to the royal capital?

Half?

Derek picked a gold coin from a crate. He gently rubbed it, savoring its beautiful metallic feel. Money was just an external possession. Keeping so much was useless. Was half too stingy?

Hand over one-tenth instead~

His father, Duke Wudewen, should be generous. Half was excessive.

One-tenth…

Well, that was happily decided!

Naturally, he wrote to Duke Wudewen. Derek emphasized Hufu’s greed. He wouldn’t mention the one-tenth—his filial devotion was always one hundred percent. Any claim otherwise was slander.

The moment the messenger pigeon flew from Dakelos, Hufu’s hidden real accounts burned to ashes. Derek refused to leave troublesome evidence. This made his piety seem more genuine.

Once handovers finished, Hufu was useless. Derek handed him to Xinzel. Even if freed, Hufu had offended Duke Wudewen and couldn’t escape. Besides, he wasn’t a good person.

…

More money lifted Derek’s mood. But losing Hufu left him without an accountant. Bookkeeping itself wasn’t hard here. The calculation methods were just too backward, complicating simple tasks. Handling accounts personally felt reassuring, yet Derek hated dull, tedious work. He’d pick someone close, teach them calculation, and delegate.

Xinzel?

Xinzel was shrewd. But honestly, this Gold Rank Assassin intimidated him too much. Derek didn’t dare be his teacher. Few trustworthy people remained besides Xinzel…

Derek glanced at Teresia, then Sophia. No contest.

“Sophia, I’ll teach you calculation next. Master this skill—you’ll manage my accounts from now on.”

It wasn’t that he looked down on Teresia. Her impression was… truly hard to put into words! Just imagining Teresia shrewdly counting coins felt unimaginable. Besides, the future rich lady needed money skills. Per his plan, the Holy Lady would soon leave for the Holy See to train as a healer. She couldn’t stay to work for him.

“Yes, Young Master Derek.”

Sophia agreed excitedly, her face flushed. She’d been anxious since learning Derek called them to choose one for his superb accounting skills. Teresia had spent more time with him—surely she’d be favored. Unexpectedly, Derek chose her!

Ah! My beloved deity, I won’t let you down!

Sophia’s gaze toward Derek grew fervent.

“Young Master Derek, I want to learn too!” Teresia suddenly exclaimed. That night in the study, Derek calculating accounts looked so impressive! She wanted that skill too.

Derek didn’t reply. For some reason, just hearing her shout made him reluctant to teach her. How to put it? A hopeless feeling.

Sensing his hesitation, Teresia moved closer. She wrapped her small hands around his arm and shook it. “Young Master Derek, I really want to learn~ Please teach me~”

Long-term feeding made Teresia exceptionally affectionate toward her “feeder.” She ignored all gender boundaries. Gazing at Derek, she coquetted cutely, hugging his arm tighter.

Caught in her “grappling hold,” Derek panicked inwardly. He’d fed her constantly—food vanished into her stomach. Yet except right after meals, her waist stayed slender and graceful. Where did all that nutrition go?

All poured into building Teresia’s “Great Mountain Range”!

So in every sense, the Holy Lady had grown clingier. If she kept this up, Witch Claudius might be summoned!

Derek tried to calm down, but Teresia’s mature charm overwhelmed him. With no choice, he agreed.

Completely unaware, Teresia heard she’d be taught too. She happily rushed aside shouting, “Yay!”

Sophia watched from nearby. Seeing Teresia’s coquettish advance, she burned with envy. She also wanted… to feel Derek’s warmth up close, breathe his scent, share intimate skin contact.

But…

Sophia glanced at the jumping Teresia. Her gaze lingered on Teresia’s chest. Then she lowered her head, deeply reluctant.

Sophia felt inferior.

Had Derek known her thoughts, he’d comfort her: don’t lose heart. He’d seen Sophia’s character art—like foreseeing her future. Though not as magnificent as “Teresia’s Great Mountain Range,” Sophia’s plump, alluring figure needed no worry. Things would improve. Teresia herself had been flat as a washboard at first meeting.

Enough of that—math class began.

The lesson wasn’t hard: pure rote memorization. Master the multiplication table, and they’d practically graduate. Ordinary bookkeeping needed no advanced math.

The abacus? Hufu operated his fiercely like a tiger, yet ended up an idiot.

Simple to Derek, but not to Sophia. Simplifying number accumulation like this was divine wisdom! Indeed, Young Master Derek was a god! Watching his written numbers, Sophia’s admiration deepened.

Not to mention Sophia drifting toward fanaticism, Teresia—the one Derek worried about—actually learned his teachings. Puzzled, he suddenly heard her shout: “Young Master Derek, this is great! With your method, I won’t worry about counting cakes when I find many!”

You damn! What a promising Holy Maiden!

Teacher Derek gave his student an extremely fair assessment…