198 Dekan’s Front and Backhand Teaching
“I can feel you’re thinking some very impolite things…”
Dekan observed Tarta’s expression and frowned.
Tarta seemed to be questioning his race.
Dekan was purely human, and he didn’t like it when people mistook him for a demon.
Last time at the Demon Academy, when Baron Bachelor shouted at him, “You demon,” it really angered Dekan.
He immediately gave Baron Bachelor a lesson right then and there.
However, Tarta was, after all, just a child.
It was normal for her to not know any better.
Dekan sighed helplessly and said,
“I’ve already laid everything out for you, you should at least believe in me a little bit, right?”
“…”
Tarta remained silent for a moment, then clenched her small hands and asked Dekan,
“Will you protect me?”
“Of course. If I don’t protect you, and you get captured, others will see how similar you look to me and they will definitely start to question my race being a demon.”
Dekan nodded, and then countered with his own question.
This made Tarta fall into deep contemplation.
Even though at that moment she genuinely felt that dealing with a real demon was somewhat terrifying,
Considering the mutual benefit situation, this demon would protect her.
And for some reason, this demon didn’t seem that bad.
Even though she had heard that demons could be more charming than angels when they tempted humans.
Yet, this guy was bad when he needed to be bad, and good when he needed to be good, making her somewhat confused.
Seeing Tarta’s perplexed look, Dekan didn’t interrupt her, allowing her to think it through.
Since such matters needed her to make her own judgment clearly.
However, about the issue Dekan had just mentioned regarding “being suspected as a demon,”
Chloix couldn’t help but quip from the side,
“Dekan, is there a possibility that you have always been suspected to be a demon? And it’s not a race issue but a behavior issue…”
“…”
Dekan rolled his eyes.
It must be everyone having a bias against him.
Finally, it seemed that Tarta had made her decision, but she still had one concern to confirm.
She fixed her eyes on Dekan and asked,
“If one day I become useless to you, will you still protect me?”
“Hmph, I am not your nanny.”
Dekan sneered in response.
“…”
Tarta timidly avoided Dekan’s gaze.
She was not surprised by this answer.
And Dekan’s straightforwardness was better than deception.
Dekan had no obligation to continue protecting her with potential risks.
After all, Dekan had perfect disguise skills while she was like a ticking bomb. Once the act of hiding her was discovered, Dekan would also find himself in deep trouble.
Thus, logically, she was just a tool that Dekan could discard at any time.
“You can’t expect me to protect you for a lifetime. You need to quickly become strong and protect yourself. But until you grow powerful, I promise no one will threaten you.”
After teasing Tarta, Dekan continued.
Tarta’s petite figure stiffened, and she looked at Dekan again.
She had never imagined that someone would say they would protect her until she grew stronger.
Because she knew herself that given time and a peaceful environment, she could become fearless.
But this freedom to grow was the hardest thing for her.
“You’re not deceiving me, right?”
“What’s there to deceive you? Once you get to Norton Kingdom, others will call you ‘Sister Tarta’ just by seeing your looks, without me having to do anything. You’ll truly experience what it means to rule with brute force. Of course, you still need to restrain yourself a bit since I’ve always been low-key. If you get too flashy, you wouldn’t seem like my sister anymore.”
Dekan said proudly.
Chloix seemed to want to say something after listening, but then held back.
He felt that if he continued, he would end up like Teacher Cat, always doing the commentary role.
Tarta finally loosened her tightly gripped sleeve and her eyes gradually stopped being as guarded against Dekan.
She took out that savings card from her pocket and handed it to Dekan.
“I took out 800 gold coins, there’s still 200 gold coins left.”
Tarta said.
However, Dekan didn’t take the card, he was just muttering to himself,
“Hmm, after you return with me to Norton Kingdom, there won’t be a salary.”
Upon hearing this, Tarta lowered her head slightly, and nodded faintly.
She knew it would be like this.
These few hundred gold coins and the promise of protection, she would have to pay back with a lifetime of work.
“But I’ll give you pocket money according to the salary of a Third-Rank First-Class Cardmaker, 120 gold coins per month.”
When Dekan finished saying this, Tarta widened her eyes, finding it hard to believe what she saw in Dekan.
She seemed to doubt whether she had heard wrong.
120 gold coins per month, even if she made counterfeit “Captain De’Erkan” cards and sold them right away, she wouldn’t be able to make that much.
“Your daily card-making practice will be limited to within four hours, with rest on weekends, after all, you’re still growing.”
“As for this bank card, you don’t have to return it to me. I’m too lazy to get a new one for you, it’s better if you keep some money. Also, don’t bother me for trivial matters. It’s 1000 gold coins you owe me.”
“No interest will be charged. Each month, take out 40 gold coins from your pocket money to settle the debt. So I’ll only give you 80 coins. In 25 months, you won’t owe me any more. Do you agree?”
Although Tarta was in a daze from hearing Dekan’s question, she still instinctively nodded.
“As for accommodation, you’ll have to stay in the mansion where the company is located. Of course, if you want to move out with your pocket money, that’s also fine.”
“However, in my opinion, it’s safer for you to stay within the company, as someone will look after you there. The only drawback is that there might be three elder sisters who could be quite noisy during the day. I’m not sure if you will get along well with them.”
After hearing Dekan’s conditions, Tarta couldn’t help but doubt whether Dekan was tricking her.
Could there really be such a good thing in the world?
“You… aren’t fooling me, right?”
“Do I have any reason to deceive you?”
“…”
Tarta also knew.
Certainly, Dekan had no reason to deceive her.
“Once in, you better bring out your talent, because some steps of cardmaking are something only you can help me with.”
“What about after I pay off the 1000 gold coins?”
“You can choose to stay and learn from me or just quit, whichever you choose is your freedom.”
“Learn?”
“Of course, you’re still somewhat half-baked right now. Before you formally start helping me, I still have to teach you a lot of things.”
“…”
Tarta fell silent again, seemingly a bit unwilling.
Although Tarta’s attitude towards Dekan had already improved significantly and she no longer guarded against him,
Tarta in her heart, as a cardmaker, still felt competitive towards Dekan.
She thought the only reason Dekan was stronger than her was because of his higher rank.
And if they were compared at the same rank and if she improved her skills, she was confident that the cards she could make wouldn’t be inferior than Dekan’s.
“Hmph.”
Dekan easily saw through Tarta’s thoughts.
This honest child’s expressions were quite easy to read.
He took out two cards himself.
They were “Mental Collision” (both spirits collide, the winner renders the loser unconscious) and “Cursed Doll” (Double Pain Feedback).
Dekan: “These two cards’ methods are very familiar to you, right? And you’ve also made identical functions.”
Tarta looked at Dekan’s two cards and nodded.
“Compared to your ‘Mental Impact’ (both spirits collide) and my ‘Mental Collision,’ which one do you think is stronger?”
Dekan asked.
Tarta mumbled, unable to articulate.
Dekan: “Just say what you truly think is fine.”
Tarta: “Mine is stronger…”
After hearing Tarta’s words, Dekan couldn’t help but laugh. This kid was indeed honest.
“Since you think your card compared to my ‘Mental Collision’ avoided the side effect of dizziness. Have you ever thought why I unnecessarily include that side effect?”
Dekan asked.
“…”
Tarta didn’t reply, but her inner thoughts were starting to waver.
Now she doubts that whether the side effect of “dizziness” was actually added by Dekan on purpose.
After all, since Dekan asked like this.
With Dekan’s skills, it’s not possible that he can’t remove the side effect of “dizziness”.
But she couldn’t comprehend its reason.
Dekan didn’t continue explaining, but had Chloix activate “Magic Reversal.”
After activating “Magic Reversal,” if an enemy casts a spell card of rank 3 or lower on oneself, it will automatically trigger and become ineffective while entering double cooldown time.
Then Dekan let Tarta use “Mental Impact” on Chloix.
The result was very clear. Tarta’s “Mental Impact” became ineffective.
Tarta looked at Chloix’s sixth-rank magic card “Magic Reversal” and felt somewhat desperate.
This rank suppression was something she couldn’t deal with.
“You need to understand, once we use this card, we’re generally at the critical moment. If it gets reversed, it could be a dead end. For example, at noon when I was in the shop, if I reversed your spell, you wouldn’t even have a chance to bypass me.”
Dekan commented sharply.
“Could yours not be…”
Tarta said uncertainly.
But as she spoke, she probably had a guess about the mystery behind Dekan’s “Mental Collision.”
Dekan nodded.
After the cooldown ends, Chloix hung “Magic Reversal” once again.
Then Dekan casted “Mental Collision” on Chloix, and it worked.
And the two of them got hit, both covering their heads.
“What’s going on…”
Tarta seemed to be doubting her reality, staring at Dekan’s “Mental Collision,” murmuring.
When Tarta couldn’t figure it out,
Dekan picked up another card, “Cursed Doll.”
“As for this card, didn’t you think it was similar to your ‘Cursed Doll’? Or when you reach rank two, you can even make one that is numerically better?”
Dekan asked with a smile.
“Besides the numbers, is there any other difference…”
Tarta’s tone lacked all confidence now.
But she still expressed her truest thoughts.
Even if there was principle she didn’t understand between “Mental Collision” and “Mental Impact.”
But between “Cursed Doll” and “Cursed Doll,” she couldn’t find any difference besides the figures.
Dekan did not answer Tarta.
He only equipped his “Cursed Doll” and sat quietly.
Though Tarta didn’t know what Dekan was up to, she kept her eyes on him.
However, after a while, Tarta felt her heart tighten, feeling a slight pain.
Simultaneously, Dekan collected his “Cursed Doll” and smiled at Tarta.
Tarta understood right away that just now was probably caused by Dekan.
“Did you do it?”
Tarta asked in disbelief.
Can such a counterattack equipment be activated this way?!
“Of course.”
Dekan nodded.
Tarta bit her lip.
Not only had she never thought about making the enemy feel nauseous in this way, but her “Cursed Doll” was absolutely incapable of this level of pain feedback.
And she couldn’t even guess how Dekan programmed such an additional effect.
This made Tarta’s confidence shattered all at once.
She finally realized.
The gap between her and Dekan was not just a little.
Even though they both used Demon scripts to make cards, and the same type of cards looked alike in effects, but the practical application was likely worlds apart.
“But, the distorted face version of “Captain Dekan” you made indeed generated some changes I haven’t tried before, so you are pretty talented, worth my good cultivation.”
Dekan said, looking at Tarta whose confidence had been hit.
Tarta looked at Dekan for a second.
Then bowed her head again.
She knew Dekan was comforting her.
“So, do you want to learn from me?”
Dekan asked with a smile.
“…”
“Please teach me.”
Tarta’s voice was like a mosquito’s buzz, avoiding Dekan’s gaze.
“Sounds reluctant. Looks like you still think you’re better than me, I don’t want to waste my time.”
Dekan spread his hands, pretending to be helpless.
“Please teach me!”
Tarta grabbed Dekan’s shirt, looked up at him with pleading eyes.
Dekan nodded contentedly.
“Alright, I’ll be your teacher from now on.”
“Hmm…”
“Then everything happened today went well, we can return home coolly.”
While talking, Dekan picked up the dinner and snacks he had bought before.
It would take quite some time on the road, if they didn’t eat soon, they would all starve.
He handed the snack to Tarta, but Tarta did not intend to take it.
She should have been very hungry.
But she had just received a huge shock and her mood hadn’t come back.
Also, since Dekan had done so much for her, she felt awkward just taking Dekan’s food as if it’s something she deserved.
She suddenly felt a bit shy.
Dekan: “What’s wrong? No appetite? Well then, I’ll have to tell you a fairy tale, “Teacher Bachelor’s Kitchen”.”
Tarta: “?!”
Her watery eyes filled with great doubts.
Just like that, after she listened to Dekan’s dark fairy tale, she felt scared and finished her dinner.
Dekan nodded contentedly.
He indeed knew how to take care of children well.
