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Zero no Tsukaima:Volume7 Chapter4

2008-10-11T17:03:11Z

89.180.130.53:

===Chapter Four: The Secretary and the Emperor===

At the capital city of Albion, Londonium, there was a heated discussion going on over the sortie at the White Hall.

Because the Albion army was attracted to Datarnes by Louise's "Illusion", they let the chance to defeat the enemy army at the coast escape. If they had properly assaulted the enemy as they landed in Rosais, it would have been possible to chase the enemy from Albion to Halkeginia......

"Now that the enemy has finished disembarking and set up camp, it would be suicidal to attempt a counterattack from this side."

At a round table where around fifteen people sit, a young general sitting on the north side said in exhaustion. It is just like he said. Half of the Albion air fleet, that still had fourty vessals, were sunk in the fleet battle the other day and the remaining ships received heavy damage. They can't even sortie out ten ships.

On the other hand, for the Tristain・Germania fleet, twelve vessels were sunk and eight received heavy damage, but there are still fourty able to fight. They have complete air superiority in this situation.

On top of that, the number of people in the Albion army were decreasing. At the battle of Tarbes, they lost a whole three-thousand, and the loss the other day caused the morale of the entire army to drop and some groups end up estranging. The vigor shown during the revolution was no longer there.

Against the sixty-thousand who own air superiority, there's no way they could continue attacking.
Stares of blame were focused on Cromwell, the Holy Albion Republic Diet chairman and first Albion emperor, who was sitting in the middle.

Because after failing many strategies, he had let the enemy land.

However, Cromwell shook off the stares...... and remained nonchalant.

General Hawkins, who was substantially taking command of Albion's main force, opened his mouth.

"The inversion is my miss. I let opportunity to annihilate the enemy in one move escape. There are no words of apologies."

"Our army is in rags." Cromwell smiled.

"And the operation to take the children at the academy hostage failed too."

Even though he failed, it doesn't seem he was troubled over it.

Hawkins said in a sigh. It was a tired voice.

"The magic weapons the enemy uses was above what we imagined."

"Miss Sheffield"

The black-covered secretary behind Cromwell, Sheffield, nodded and read the report written on the parchment.

"The "illusion" that appeared near Datarnes stayed for thirteen hours and suddenly disappeared afterwards."

"It is just a makeshift magic that creates illusions. What is there to fear?"

"It had enormous effect."

Closing his eyes, Hawkins said that. Perplex through illusions and cause the army to be brought back...... In other words, it was creating an effect that doesn't change from a military force of tens of thousands. He couldn't make light of this as just an illusion.

"To be honest, I am afraid of the enemy. Besides the illusion of Datarnes, the enemy uses many unknown magic. That magic light which destroyed our fleet......"

Cromwell faces Sheffield and nodded.

Sheffield once again read the parchment in a well resounding voice, like a choir singing a hymn in a temple.

"It is concluded... that the enemy is not in the condition to attack with the light that annihilated our fleet at Tarbes."

"Why is that?

"If they were to use it, they would have used it in the fleet battle before landing the other day."

"The possibility they were reserving?"

"The enemy army would have been in a devastating situation if they lost that fleet battle. If they were to use everything they could, then, most certainly, they would have released that "miraculous light". But the enemy fought normally. Though our army lost regardless."

"It is fine if we win on land." Cromwell took over for her.

Hearing this, the general staff headquarter's general stood up.

"Your Excellency, general staff headquarters assumes that the enemy is headed to capture City of South Gotha. This is......" Tapping the tip of his staff on the map on the table, he explained.

"It is the meeting point of the main road and an important metropolis. As a factor that supports the assumption, the enemy's reconnaissance has become active around here. A few days ago, dragon knights, thought to be for reconnaissance purposes, came flying and fought with our army's dragon knight squad. We should position our main forces in City of South Gotha and wait for the enemy."

The other generals raised voices of approval. It was a plausible strategy.

However, Cromwell shook his head.

"The main forces will not move from Londonium."

"Do you plan to sit and wait for defeat?"

Hawkins looked at Cromwell in the way as if rebuking a child who refused to let his toys get taken away. Cromwell shook his head once again.

"General, I do not mind if the city of South Gotha is taken."

"You say to give the enemy a strategic base from under your nose. The enemy will probably replenish their low supplies at the metropolis and rest."

"We will not give them supplies."

"How?"

"Take all of the food away from the residents."

Hawkins was at a less for words. What a...... Cromwell was trying to use the residents of South Gotha.

"The enemy will end up having to give their little amount of food to the residents. It'll work well on stopping them. This plan is wiser than rashly proceeding through a defensive battle and suffering losses."

"What will we do if the enemy abandons them! Many people will die from starvation!"

"That will not happen. What, even if the enemy abandons them, it is just one city. Between the importance of a country, it is a trivial sacrifice."

Those were cold words, unthinkable of an ex-prelate. However, what he said was right.

The allied forces did not invade to negotiate with Cromwell. They came to abolish Cromwell and dominate this land. Eight to nine chances out of ten, they will think about the civilians after the war and perform charity.

Still...... What will we do if we will? At the worst, a whole metropolis could revolt. That is how fearful the resentment from food is.

"You plan to make a whole metropolis your enemy...... Either way, there will be unpleasant aftereffects..."

"Why do you think I arranged for those sub-humans to be sent ahead? All we have to do is say it was their own decision."

It was unknown how, but Cromwell excelled in negotiation with sub-humans. Knowing that the sub-humans were sent ahead not for a normal army operation but this kind of strategy, the generals were dumbfounded.

Their leader broke a treaty, not only used makeshift means to commence strategies, but finally plans to betray his own country's civilians through cowardly measures.

"I will also place a trap in the water of South Gotha."

"Do you plan to throw poison in the water? Something like poison will be quickly washed away."

"Not poison. 'Void'."

"A trap of 'Void'?"

"That's right. It will become interesting. However, it will take time for the effects to work."
Cromwell smiled.

And standing up...... He raised his fist.

"Gentlemen, it's the Pentecost! Stop the enemy until then! When the Pentecost ends...... 'Void" and the crossing of two staffs will drop the iron hammer upon our haughty enemies!"

The crossing of two staffs is the crest of the Gallia royal family.

"OHH! Finally, Gallia!" As the conference room became excited.

"At that time, our army will advance! To demolish our haughty enemies! I promise you!"

Sensing the atmosphere on the grounds heating up, Cromwell walked briskly to the balcony.

The generals and cabinet ministers stood up and followed him.

"Let all of our cabinet ministers encourage our brave and loyal soldiers!"

Voices of jubilation surrounded Cromwell and the others.

In the vast courtyard once built to wait on the king's audience, crazily enthusiastic trust was being offered to Cromwell, and the monarch's guards were lining in rows.

Thousands of voices of jubilation reach him. Cromwell waved his hand to answer.

"The enemy has landed on fatherland! Everyone! I question you brave revolutionary soldiers! Is this defeat?"

"No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!"

A ring of jubilation surrounded Cromwell.

"Exactly! This is not defeat! Absolutely not! I promise you victory! To you all, peerless, loyal, and brave, who stole the crown from that incompetent king, I promise you victory! The haughty enemies will be destroyed when the Pentecost ends! They have touched God's wrath! Listen! Listen! The ones to leading the lost Halkeginia are the civilians of Albion, who are chosen by God! For that reason, the founder has entrusted power to me!"

There were numerous soldiers who died in battle lined up on the balcony.

Cromwell raised his ring up high.

Doing so...... the dead soldiers revived and walked off.

"Everyone! As long as we have this "Void", we have no defeat! Believe in me! Believe in our fatherland! Believe in 'Void", the power of us who were chosen by the founder!"

"Void! Void! Void! Void! Void! Void! Void! Void! Void! Void! "

"That's right, Void!" Cromwell swung his fist.

"The founder is with us! Do not fear! The founder is with us!"

The enthusiasm in the courtyard reached a climax. Cromwell shouted in a loud voice.

"Revolution, Banzai! Destroy the enemy!"

The enthusiasm even reached the balcony.

"Revolution, Banzai! Destroy the enemy! Revolution, Banzai! Destroy the enemy! Revolution, Banzai! Destroy the enemy!"

"Holy Albion republic, Banzai!"

"Holy Albion republic, Banzai! Holy Albion republic, Banzai! Holy Albion republic, Banzai! Holy Albion republic, Banzai!"

"Holy emperor, our highness, Banzai!" One of the cabinet ministers stood up and shouted in a loud voice.

"Holy emperor, our highness, Banzai! Holy emperor, our highness, Banzai! Holy emperor, our highness, Banzai! Holy emperor, our highness, Banzai! Holy emperor, our highness, Banzai!"

The endless shouting was sucked into the air.

After the wildly enthusiastic audience...

Cromwell was sitting, troubled, in a gigantic private room that was once the king's bedroom.
His body was shaking slightly.

Sheffield was standing in front of him, and whispered to him while looking down at him.

"That was a brilliant speech, Prelate."

The man, who was called prelate at his previous position, as if falling off the chair, kneeled down at Sheffield's feet.

The mask of dignity he had shown earlier has been blown off.

Just a man in his thirties that was panicking in fear, just a thin man who was nothing but a prelate was there.

"Ohhhhhhh! Miss! Miss Sheffield! That person! Will that person really send soldiers to this abominable country? This is not the words of that general just not...... I! I am scared! I, a thin man who can't even control magic, am afraid!"

To that Cromwell, Sheffield spoke in a voice as if to comfort a child.

"What are you saying. To be afraid now! The one who said 'I want to be king' at that bar was you. Because I was impressed by those candor words, I decided to give you, as my master, Albion."

"Perhaps a mere prelate has dreamed too much...... Tempted by you and "that person", I obtained the Andvari's Ring, collected nobles that held contempt towards the royal family, and began my revenge towards the Albion royal family who embarrassed me... To that point, it was fun, oh it was fun, it was like I was dreaming."

"It's that sufficient."

"Ohh, just this continent above the sky is too much for an accessory like me...... Why was it necessary to invade Tristain and Germania?"

"How many times does it take for you to understand. There is the necessity to collect Halkeginia into one. To recover the holy land is the only way to follow the founder and God's will."

"To me, that is a part of a clergyman. Though there is no mistake that recovering the holy land is a dream......"

"Then continue to dream."

"The responsibility is too heavy! The enemy has invaded! Enemy in my country! The enemy has come to hang me like those incompetent kings! What should I do! Tell me this isn't a nightmare. Miss......"
Smiling, Sheffield squatted down in front of Cromwell and looked into his tear-soaked face. Cromwell raised his face. Lifting up his chin, Sheffield...... "Stop acting spoiled." whispered quietly.

"Hii!"

The polite and warm demeanor just now had disappeared, and Sheffield had made a complete change into a Raptores-like face.

Her brunette hair, like deep darkness, fluttered and the eyes below it were releasing a bewitching radiance. Taken in by those eyes, Cromwell began to tremble.

"You dream a sweet molasses-like dream that a normal priest couldn't see even if he reincarnated a hundred times and now you say you don't want to see a nightmare? 'My country'? Your land doesn't even stretch fifty centimeters on this uselessly destitute Albion."

"I'm! I'm very sorry!"

Cromwell slid his face on the floor beside Sheffield's feet . Sticking out his tongue, he licked Sheffield's shoes.

"Forgive me...... Fo, forgive me...... Ha, hagi...... Forgive me......"

"The Andvari's Ring"

Timidly, Cromwell handed the ring he was wearing to Sheffield.

Treasure of the water spirit, the magic ring that can grant the dead fake life......

Cromwell remembered the day where he went with Sheffield and Gallia's magic knights to Ragdorian Lake to steal this ring from the water spirit.

What caused the start of everything was him talking at a bar. He was heading towards Gallia's capital, Ryutis, because he was delivering something......

Cromwell was treating a beggar to a bottle of sake.

"Prelate, as thanks for the sake, I will grant you one thing you wish. Tell me."

Being told that by the beggar, Cromwell said as a joke.

"Let's see, I want to be king."

"King, is it."

The beggar, with his face covered in a deep rope, smiled and said.

"Yes." Cromwell nodded.

Of course, he meant it to be a joke. Playing around after sake. He wasn't serious about it.
However, the next morning...... This Sheffield came to the lodge he was staying in. She said.

"I will make you king. Follow me."

At that moment, his life as a local prelate delineated to a different path. At a violent momentum......

Sheffield was patting the Andvari's Ring dearly.

The stone on the ring was, enchantingly, glowing deep light blue.

"What do you think is the power stored in this ring?"

Cromwell shook his head. He knew that it could revive corpses. That is the truth. There is no way he could know about the mechanisms of "Void".

"Unable to control magic, I do not know. You are the one who told me to call this power 'Void', right?"

"Do you know about the 'wind stone'?"

Cromwell nodded. It is the material used to allow flying ships to float. A magic stone said to be the condensed power of "wind". There are countless numbers of mines for digging out wind stones in Albion.

"This is a similar substance."

"Then it isn't 'Void'?"

"Correct, this is not 'Void'. 'Wind stones' and this 'Andvari's Ring' are just drops of the source of the powers that rule this world. This is the material that becomes the source of magic called predecessor magic. There are all kinds of names it is called by though. Sage's Stone, Orb of Life...... Historically, it would be called 'Void's' enemy......"

"I am constantly impressed by the profoundness of your knowledge."

"That is why every time it is used, its magic is whittled and it gets smaller. See."

Cromwell nodded.

"The point is, this is a crystallization of the predecessor's magic of 'water'. The condensed magic hidden in this is incomparable to the wind stones common around here...... A rare stone. Which is the reason this is the protected treasure of the water spirit...... Andvari's ring. In other words, the predecessor's treasure......"

Sheffield stared at the ring.

Doing so...... Her forehead started to shine.

The light was flowing from inside.

When Cromwell first saw this light, he was surprised. When Sheffield touches this Andvari's ring, her forehead shines.

Are there times when people's forehead shines?

Even if he asks Sheffield, she does not answer. This mysterious female will not teach him anything that matters, anything essential. She only hands down orders.

With the stone, Sheffield lightly combed Cromwell's cheek.

"Ho, hohhhhhhh......."

Cromwell twitched and shivered. The Andvari's ring was vibrating slightly. Just touching it made him feel like an electric current was running through him.

When it touched Sheffield's hand, the Andvari's ring awoken...... it was that kind of vibration.

"Do you know? The trait of the power of water."

"He, healing wounds......"

"That is on the surface. The power of 'water' rules over the body's constitution. The heart too."

".......Ha, hah"

"Moving corpses is only one of the powers this ring holds."

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume7 Chapter3 - MTL

2008-10-11T16:45:13Z

89.180.130.53:

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===Chapter Three: The Shinto Priest of Romalia===

The Tristain and Germania united army landed in the port town Rosais, which is located about 300 leagues to south from the Albion capital Londonium (One league, turned in Saitos' worlds unit, would be almost one kilometer).

Immediately after landing; Allied Forces expected the enemy's counterattack. First of all, land units build a circle around Rosais.

Yet… Albion made no counterattack.

The most supreme commander of the united army De Poitiers, lost the momentum to invade. They were to have set up the strategy, expecting for the enemy to attack after the landing. The ‘decisive battle’ ought to happen near Rosais, which would let them to destroy enemy’s large army in one blow and march to Londonium in a dash.

They planned for the campaign to be over in three weeks, until the Yara’s month begins… In other words, before the advent festival of Founder Brimir which is ‘New Year's Day’ in Londonium comes.

In other words, a short-term decisive battle was planned.

This cannot be helped now. A large amount of food is necessary to maintain the large army of 60,000 people. The specific medicine (Especially, the water element based recovery medicine) to recite strong spells, war materials like bullets, gunpowder and the cannons are needed. And it all had to be carried from their own country, to the army in the front.

Fighting a long war in the enemy's territory, would be nothing but a nightmare. Besides, Tristain’s economy made such long war impossible.

Albion main army successfully retreated from Dartanes, barricaded in the capital Londonium now.

Apparently, the enemy army evaded fighting a decisive battle. In a word, after Albion air force received damage beyond imagination, and lost the sky control, the Albion army might have abandoned the counterattack tactics.

Allied forces were prepared for the Albion’s attack.

But because the expectations went down the drain and concrete damage did not occur, constructing positions and preparing for decisive battle became. Allied forces wasted food for one and a half week.

Allied Forces could not plan anything but a short-term decisive battle, so they only took food supply for six weeks. But now it became necessary to carry food and gunpowder from their own country by ship. For the two countries that organize the expedition army with very limit finances, the situation was worrisome.

It was the eight day after the landing and the tensed atmosphere… surrounded the future plans of the invasion.

Air base in Rosais, Royal Albion Air Headquarters and the sacred Albion republic air force headquarters, and a Tristain Germania united martial army command base now, these walls of red bricks changed masters three times in one year. A great hall within the second floor was where the history was made.　

At the round table, on the central seat, the supreme commander of coalition forces, General de Poitiers, sat. He was listening to two different opinions.

First one came from Germanian general, Marquis Handenburg, who insisted upon a short-term decisive while shaking his fist and white mustache.

“Let’s march! March! March! We have food only for four an a half weeks. Make a detour at a fort on the way and march to the castle! Anyway, lets aim to Londonium. Fortunately, we controll the sky. We have to end the war before the Founder Brimir's advent festival, as the morale will drop after advent festival!

Seems like Germania’s general insisted upon advancing like a flame.

“Ending before the advent festival, but I wonder why there are no such short war endings in Halkeginia’s history?”

Wimpffen, chief of general staff, objecting coldly staring through the pane of his glasses.

“Then, we’ll create a precedent.”

Said Marquis Handenburg giving a piercing glare to Wimpffen.

“By circling Londonium we would expose our back to their castles….We can’t act without strategy. Moreover, if we start marching the supply lines would be left behind. Without supply we would end up in a deadlock. Though it is troublesome we should proceed carefully, step-by-step. We should advance capturing fortresses and castles before marching.”

“Capturing fortresses or castles would inflict too much damage! Supply? We only have to take over Londonium before advent festival!”

“As the marquis said, we control the sky, right. So the damage upon capturing will be suppressed to minimum. Londonium taken over by the advent festival? That’s nonsense!”

Marquis Handenburg said with a face full of contempt.

“…this is ‘wind’ element thinking, wind that cowardly evades obstacles.”

“As if ‘fire’, which hastily out-burns itself , element thinking is any better.”

Two people stared each other.

“Courage is what cowardly Tristainians need to be taught.”

“There’s nothing to learn from barbarians.”

They both pulled out their wands at the same time. Supreme general De Poitiers stepped in between them.

“We argue too much! Marquis! Marquis! Show germanian courage in the battlefield! Wimpffen! Stop disgracing yourself.!”

At last, they both calmed down.

“For now we have to admit that the first plan, beating Albion main forces and then advancing to Londonium, getting Cromwell’s head and rising white lily’s flag in Whitehall, failed. Yet we advance through war according to plan it is still possible.”

After overthrowing the Albion revolution government, they will rule in the name of Henrietta. Of course, part of the territory will be ceded to Germania. Afterwards, Albion royal family's remaining alive survivors will be searched out and placed in the throne of the territory under Tristain’s rule, thus reviving the monarchy. To avoid possible revolutions they decided to look for surviving Albion’s royal family members, once a suitable noble with royal blood is found, the throne will be passed to him.

De Poitiers shook his head, trying to brush of this imagination from the thoughts.

It’s not the time to think about it. Right now they need to think how to annihilate the enemy.

De Poitiers bit his lip. Anyway, my promotion hangs on this.

If he would win this war he would become a field marshal.

Everything could have been easily settled by one decisive battle… De Poitiers felt a grudge against the Albion army. Why did Cromwell barricade himself in Londonium and doesn't go out?

What about the country being infringed by the enemy?

What about facing ministers, nobles and public opinion.

What is he counting on?

While being lost in a thought, he noticed ally general and the chief of the general staff looking worried at him, De Poitiers announced the strategy plan by himself.

“…there is no decisive battle anymore, but the plan must be executed anyway. We have to take over Londonium Emperor‘s palace Havilland and rise Her Majesty‘s flag there. Now, it would be too dangerous to attack Londonium directly. And capturing castle after castle could take decades.“

The marquis and the chief of the general staff nodded frowning. De Poitiers showed the map that has been expanded on the table and pointed at the place between Rosais and Londonium.

“The City of South Gotha. An ancient town, favorite tourist spot. We will take it over and turn it into the foothold for Londonium capture. We will leave 5000 soldiers here in Rosais to secure the supply and the retreat path. The remaining troops will participate in capture with the support from the air forces. If the enemy's main army comes out, we will bring it to the decisive battle, of course.”

The marquis and the chief of the general staff nodded. It was a compromise proposal, though it was a noncommittal strategy plan, it wasn’t bad.

South Gotha is a big town. The crossing of all roads. If it is taken, it becomes possible to be effective against other castles and towns. Even if the war is not settled before the advent festival, it would be easy to hold out longer as it is a big city.

At that time when the strategy was decided someone knocked against the door.

“Who?” asked guard.

“Me. Her Majesty's court lady, La Valliere.”

De Poitiers signaled the guards to let her in. Even though he wasn’t particularly eager to let the girl take part in army business, but he can’t treat her unkindly as she was Her Majesty’s court lady and the user of the legendary ‘Void’. Even though it may be offending and bothersome.

De Poiters saw Louise as nothing more than a ‘tool’.

“Aah, Miss Void. We have prepared a gorgeous tent for you. Leave all the trouble to servicemen and take a rest. I will call you if you are needed.

Louise was nervous about the great surroundings. However, she can‘t do what she decided to if she acts cowardly. So she gathered her courage and spoke out

“W-well…”

“What? Oh, you were not rewarded for your work at Dartagnes. As expected of Void. You did well. Gentlemen! Applause!“

Indifferent applauses echoed in the conference room.

“I will request for the royal family reward.”

“N-no that…”

“What? Are you still here?”

De Poiters tone became diluted with dour.

Is a single reward not enough? What a greedy chit!

That human beings are greedy, it is one of the basic habits of human beings. De Poitiers felt offended that after praising her Louise wanted more.

“It is different. Umm, I did not come here to get a reward. It’s about the dragon knights who returned alive…”

Generals for a moment could not understand what she was talking about… But then they remembered the dragon knight unit that returned alive and nodded.

“Aah, what about it?”

“Well… though it’s great, don’t you think it’s strange? A whole week passes after the crash and they returned safe and sound… Moreover, they don't remember anything in between?”

“Indeed.”

Annoyed generals listened to her. How was it effecting the army? They were about to say it.

“It’s a place near South Gotha. I think it should be investigated.”

When Louise says so general waved his hand.

“Oh, OK. Near the marching route. Search expedition will be organized to investigate the mystery." he said in a dull tone not really believing in such expedition.

“Did they hit their heads and saw some kind of ghost?”

“…they reported it was a fairy.”

“A kind fairy!”

Someone said and the conference room was wrapped up in laughter. It does not matter whom she would ask. The ten surviving knights were just another war miracle and they would not explore it even if the knights minds were clear.

“No way! What if behind it lies an important secret?! Something that might change the flow of war!”

“Miss, though it certainly is a mysterious event, it is not likely to change such grand situation. We do not have time to care about such trivial matter.”

“But…”

Then, as if just having an idea, De Poitiers added.

“Right, I want you to go to investigate it. Can you do that?“

<center>* * *</center>

Louise came out of the red-brick command center as if being driven out. Saito and Rene, who were waiting at the entrance of the building, ran up to her.

“How was it?”

Fuun, Louise looking the other way walked directly past them.

Saito snorted. He hardly talked to Louise since yesterday. After leaving Louise in front of the tent of the dragon knight battalion, the couple has been in a very ugly mood.

Saito walked behind Louise’s back.

“Haah, princess and her servant.” Rene said sarcastically.

Then he lowered his voice and whispered into Saito's ear.

“Just between us… Are you Academy’s researchers?”

“Academy?” Saito looked at Rene in utter amazement. Interested dragon knights gathered around the boy.

“I guess the flight machine was made by Academy.”

“Are there any new magical weapons?”

“Like in the recent mission, where one was used in Dartanes to confuse enemies?”

The boy knights’ eyes were sparkling brilliantly while talking to Saito. Apparently, they thought that Louise and Saito were researchers of the magic laboratory. Indeed, the only ones that knew about Louise's Void were only a few generals.

Though it is easy to convince masses outside the court that it all was a war miracle, the same excuse doesn’t really work with nobles. So the most plausible explanation would be ‘Academy’s new magical weapons’.

Louise, listening to Saito’s conversation attentively, halted.

*Pon!* Saito stopped as well. Everyone stood upright. A tensed atmosphere emanating from Louise, sank into all of them. What else could one expect from the duke’s third daughter?

Louise, not turning around, said in a clear voice.

“Not exactly. I do not belong to Academy researchers. I am Her Majesty's court lady, under her direct control.“

Saito panicked. Hey! Baka Louise! Void should be kept a secret! It might be a big trouble, if the rumors would reach the enemy! They would be targeted! He thought in feverish haste.

“We are the members of ‘Zero organization’ responsible for researching new weapons, under direct royal family command.”

Huh? Saito was speechless. What Zero Organization? Never heard of it.

“I-is that so?! Great!”

“Though I do not really understand, it sounds like a really powerful organization!”

“Really? Secret Organization? Then you can’t tell anyone? Then you research magical weapons, but what does it differ from the academy’s researches? There must be a death punishment for revealing it.

“R-really?”

“Everyone swear by the founder to not disclose it!”

They all, being kind, swore sincerely.

We could pretend to be members of zero organization researching new magical weapons. This way enemies or allies would not be able to even imagine about ‘Void’ existence.

Saito thought then. If someone would start denying the rumors it would cause even more rumors. But one could to make a plausible ‘true’ rumor, to avert curious eyes from the truth.

It was the right thing to do in order to manipulate the information.

He ran up to Louise and whispered.

“…but have you told me about such plan. Not much.”

“…I only said following the order of the princess. Even the allies should not know about the void, thus I said an excuse.”

“You! You are not paying attention to my words. You are not listening to what I say at all!”

“It would be useless, as you cannot act, idiot.”

With a snort, Louise turned her face away and started walking.

“What’s wrong between you and your mistress, you are moody lately.”

Rene muttered.

Saito answered casually.

“Fuh. You are imagining things.” Hearing his words, Louise turned around.

“You were acting uneasy ever since we returned from giving that report, you were acting dejected and angry. That’s unusual.”

“I am not angry” Saito repeated.

Louise gave a cold stare to Saito.

“Wha-what…”

With a snort, Louise turned around and started to walk in silence. Saito, remembering his decision to ignore her, turned his face away as well.

<center>* * *</center>

However, the destination that Louise headed to was not Saito‘s tent.

“Hey, where is she going.”

She passed the port where two iron towers were lined up… passed the arsenal blast-furnace… and the training grounds on the great plaza.

“Not to our corps.”

Rene said. Indeed, there was the tent of the dragon knight battalion headquarters, which they visited yesterday. For some reason she passed all the other tents and walked alone, looking around as if searching for someone.

Around there were 20 wind dragons tied to the stake, roaring and barking. It was dangerous going there so far away from other units.

There was only one person taking care of them.

It was the beautiful and tall Shinto priest of Romalia… Julio.

As if spoiling a lover, Julio patted wind dragons scurf of the neck. He was talking about something with the dragon. Seeing Louise heading straight to Julio, made Saito’s mood drop more.

He ran after Louise. Rene followed Saito.

“Mister Cesar.”

When Louise called, a smile appeared on Julio's face. He approached Louise in a hoity-toity manner, took her hand and kissed it.

“Please inform me with an owl or pigeon next time. I would have escorted you.”

“No, I have a business concerning you and your wind dragon.” Louise said.

“Me and my wind dragon?”

“If you are free now, I would like to fly with you.”

Julio, without asking why, bowed with a smile plastered all over his face.

“Not everyday one gets the chance to help such beautiful people! There cannot be questions about it! Really, this is an unexpected pleasure!”

“What are you doing?! Stop playing around!”

Saito muttered in an unpleasant tone

“That’s what Romalians are” Rene frowned.

“In any case, where should I fly you to?”

When Julio said that, Saito instantly forgot his oath to ignore and grabbed Louise’s shoulder.

“Hey, Louise.”

“What? You are in the way. Move it.”

Saito, after taking a few deep deep breaths, said.

“If you want to fly, why are you not using my zero fighter? Why this foppish… No, why did you ask the Shinto priest -sama of Romalia.”

*Snort* “Because you are unpleasant.” Louise said clearly.

“Huh?”

“He is well mannered, gentle and smart. Moreover he doesn’t have strange thoughts. T-t-those strange thoughts. Anyone would be better.”

“But that does not matter when flying!”

“I will tell you clearly. When riding behind anyone, it is better to ride behind a good-looking boy.”

The moment Louise said so, Saito's body hardened.

“…W-w-wha-what?”

While dripping in cold sweat, only by thinking, Saito said - Louise pointed her finger at Saito.

“What? Jealous? Are you stupid? Whom are you comparing yourself against? Isn’t this handsome, well dressed Shinto priest of Romalia, three, four, five, six times better than a dog-mole, yet it compares itself against him and is jealous? Isn't it funny? Are you stuuupid? Why don’t you drop dead?”

“Y-you…”

Saito as if suffocating, closed and opened his mouth few times. The flame of the jealousy blazes up violently, almost burning up his body.

“Better luck next time. Since I and this handsome Shinto Priest are going for a secret duty, you can clean the tent meanwhile. Since you made it dirty, make sure to make it sparkingly clean. And do the laundry.“

Louise sticked her tongue out at Saito.

[[Image:ZnT07-079.jpg|thumb]]

Julio, who climbed on the dragon, called Louise out.

“Ready to go, Miss Valliere.”

“Hold it! I'm coming!“ Louise jumped onto the wind dragon

“Please hold me tightly. You are a jewel of Tristain. There would be a great diplomatic problem if you were to fall!”

“You flirt!”

Louise, giving Saito a wide grin, wrapped her arms around Julio's waist. And, smugly fixed her hair.

The wind dragon flapped his wings powerfully. Sand and dust flew off the ground, making Saito and others instinctively shut their eyes.

When they opened them, the wind dragon was already high in the sky, flying vividly. Feeling like a fool, Saito watched the wind dragon disappear.

“What’s with her! What was that! What an attitude!”

Saito pulled out Derflinger from his shoulder and brandished with it in anger. Rene and others jumped away from Saito panicking, watching him with blank surprise.

”Hey. Nooo, partner, I am also having a tough tiiime”

“What was that!”

“Everyone, save me from this guyyy…”

“Take this and that! What malicious words!”

“Snap out of iiit…. Listen to me, partner. Ah, well, don’t pay attention. ”

<center>* * *</center>

Extending over the wind dragon, Louise looked down at the ground. The people at the tent were becoming small fast. Noticing the look of blank surprise all over Saito’s face, put an oversize grin on Louise’s face again. Look! Such stupid expression on his face! Whaat? Feeling jealous?

“Bleeh!” Louise stuck her tongue out towards the ground again.

“Now then, where should I fly to?”

A voice coming from the front, brought Louise back.

“W-well…” she hesitated weather to say it or not.

“Where should we scout?” Julio repeated.

“F-from where do you know that it is a scouting mission?”

“Even a child could guess that! It can’t be anything but duty! But, one thing I cannot understand!

“What?”

“A VIP researcher of the academy like you doing a scout duty! Unimaginable! Don’t familiars usually work as scouts.”

Louise with her left hand tightly grabbed the Founders prayer book. In order not to loose it, she made a bag reaching down her waist, with a leather string over her.

“That’s the test from upper department. To see…how good our researched magical weapons are. Surely all tests will be passed.”

“To check the good and bad sides.”

Louise nodded.

Louise started thinking about her legendary power – she learned that it was nothing more than just a gear in the giant country and army mechanisms. How much can you use it? What for can you use it? Can you use it for your own needs? The great generals also looked at me with those kind of eyes.

Though it is natural, there is no point to lie to myself. I am not Louise Françoise, I am a user of void.

But that might be one and the same. I‘m just fooling myself up with family members and classmates, because I am just user of Void...

While she was lost in such musings, a laughter echoed.

“W-what?“

“Ah, sorry! City of South Gotha!”

“Ancient Town. I heard it is beautiful. We cannot let it be destroyed by a war.”

This made Louise speechless and Julio turned around.

“Well, I understand - there is war now. However, I am a Shinto priest” he laughed while saying.

He gave her a charming smile. This made Louise’s cheeks blaze on their own.

“I, I see”

Julio, still turned around, brought his face close to Louise’s.

“You are truly beautiful, Miss Valliere.”

Slightly pulling away, confused Louise asked
　
“B-but why is Romalia helping? They are not our allies…”

“On our own will! Small help! Today’s Albion may effect all countries in Halkeginia. The monarchy would be overthrown, what would happen with the nobility in republic? If that would happen it would be a serious threat! Republic is all countries nightmare. No exception is Romalia, governed by pope-sama.

“I do not understand the politics well.”

“I am the same. I also do not have much interest in it. I am much more interested talking about other things...“

“Like?”

“How can you be so beautiful, just like a fairy?

He asked with a serious look, Louise looked down slightly.

“Don’t say silly things, look more carefully. You are badly mistaken.”

“Excuses. According to Azuro’s we are on the right way. We are flying to the City of South Gotha right?”

Louise became suspicious. This Shinto priest is not a mage. In other words his abilities are those of a commoner. And even for a mage it would take some time to establish a connection between him and his familiar…

So how can a Shinto priest, who is not even a mage, communicate so well with a beast that is not a familiar? How is this possible?

Julio laughed at vacant Louise’s look.

“The same way that you can use academy’s magic weapons, I can use god's miracle.”

“Stop joking.”

God's miracle? It must be some kind of joke. God is a metaphysical being. Such source of power in a world where magic rules the reason of the world is impossible.

“What! Yes, it's a joke! However, I know about animals more than others! Naa, Azuro!“

The wind dragon barked and started increasing his speed.

Two people were flying through the sky of City of South Gotha for one hour.

The town was encircled by walls, with colorful brick houses behind them. Town’s population was close to 40000 people.

“Fly lower.”

Julio nodded and started to fly lower. They could see town people wave. Probably they mistook them for allies. Then Julio smiled and muttered something to wind dragon. Azuro spread his wings and started to shake in a strange way.

“What are you doing?“

“Mimicking Albion wind dragon’s movement. With this ‘dance’ Albion’s wind dragon looks for the companion. Albion dragon knights use it to identify foe or friend.”

“Your Azuro is from Albion?”

“Are you kidding? I trained him myself!”

“You are great.”

Louise felt admiration. It is not easy even to an average mage to train a dragon.

“It is good to study enemy movements beforehand.”

When Louise nodded and looked at the town scenery below. She could give a report while using ‘illusion’ spell, providing vivid images seen from above. After seeing this, she could restore images from her memory with the illusion spell.

The instructions to use ‘illusion’ came from the staff section. Louise "void" can be applied in military planning. It was the moment when she finally realized that she was just a tool.

In the town’s plaza, they noticed a big monster striding.

“An orc”

“Yeah. Is it my imagination… or are there a lot of soldiers missing?”

Not just imagination. There were just orcs, trolls and demi-humans armed with spear and club. Though they could see a mage commanding them… there were no soldiers in sight.

“Using demi-humans for army replacement is a cheap stuff. However… those brutal orc demons are following the human as well…”

“There must be some kind of trick. However I do not know how that mage can make them obey.“

Louise concentrated her spirit and began imprinting the spectacle to her mind.

When you use the void element for big one-time spells, collecting willpower takes some time. And since it was already used today … the big illusion spell covering wide landscape could not be created now.

“Circle over the town once more.”

“It might be dangerous. This cover will not last forever.”

Julio muttered - he was dancing an Albion wind dragon dance for five minutes.

“Facts and figures are needed. The amount of will for the spell is insufficient, so I can do nothing but write on paper.”

Louise, ignoring the danger, information about the town was written down on the parchment, while shuttling many times over the town. With those notes ‘illusion’ was used in order to take as many facts and figures home as possible. While seeing such Louise, Julio smiled.

“There was no point for jealousy, right?”

“Eh? Eeh? What are you talking about!”

“Without weapons it is dangerous and you were worried. Not for yourself …but for that familiar –kun. Danger cannot be helped. Because of duty. However, I cannot be brave in the rash danger. Do you differ? Why oh why, you are leaving this calm part out in anger. I wonder if it is because you are a girl?”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

Louise said with a furious blush on her cheeks.

“That flying machine is out of bullets, right. There was no use of secret weapons. Other than fast flights it is useless.”

“…How do you know this?”

“I was on Varsenda’s board. Being curious, I examined that flight machine attached to the deck . Extremely well done! Amazing!”

“Curiosity killed the cat.”

Julio laughed from those Louise’s threatening words.

“Please relieve! I am your ally! I wasn’t thinking of any ploy to use you, unlike your generals… Now then, our time ran out.”

“Not yet. Wait a little.”

“It is impossible.”

“It is an order!”

“It is an enemy.”

Julio pointed with his chin. Nine wind dragons were flying directly at them.

Louise was stupefied.

“Escape!”

“…nnh, impossible. I've become too addicted to the chat!“

Smiling, Julio muttered. The enemy is faster in the sky. It is not possible to get away even when flying at one's best.

Staring at the closing down wind dragons Louise trembled. Gathering information for the generals, may have been overdone. She bit her lips, thinking about death possibility in terror.

She shook her head, trying to shake off such fears…. Somehow… she needed to counterattack with void. But how many explosions can be shot? Willpower… is low. The scale is small. Would they hit well enough?

While she was thinking that, the instructions came from Julio.

“Louise, are you good at horse riding?”

Though she was suddenly called by her first name, it wasn’t the right time to complain about it. She nodded with a suspicious expression on her face.

“Y-yeah…I am.”

“Hold on tight then! As if you would be jumping over fences with a stud! Azuro!“

The wind dragon let out a small bark and sped up aiming towards the enemy.

“Hey! Hey! Don’t go there! You can’t use magic!”

Julio thrust straight into the enemy's dragon knight formation. Louise screamed.

“Hey! Ah! Magic spell! Nooooo!”

All nine dragon knights shot spells one after another. Shining blades and fireballs flew towards them. When she started to recite magic too, Julio shouted at her.

“Don’t let go!”

When the magic was about to hit… the wind dragon suddenly pulled an unexpected movement. It twisted it’s body and suddenly shot up in the air, avoiding spells one after another.

Unbelievable. A wind dragon was moving at a speed that was unimaginable for such body. It was moving like a small bird, surprising even the enemies. For a moment, their speed decreased.
“Breath! Azuro!”

A big fire breath escaped the wind dragons mouth. It hit the dragon knight in the front making him crash down.

Then, passing through the other, it used its nails to tear up another dragons wings. Another one headed down.

Dumbfounded, Louise stared at such spectacle.

How can a wind dragon release such big breath! Unbelievable!

Remaining enemy dragon knights whose number decreased to seven, turned around and headed back at them.

As one would expect from Albion’s Dragon knights.

Though they were surprised by unexpected Julio’s wind dragons movements for a moment, they regained their composure now. Dividing into two lines they flinching moved forwards.

They started spreading and closing a circle around them

Seems like they closed their retreating paths carefully, planning to kill them.

In the movement that could be called casual, Julio's Azuro entered the circle. The enemy in front, tried to run, keeping a considerable distance.

But once Azuro turned a head towards that enemy, another one flew from the back. Seems, like the one in front was just a decoy.

“Behind you! Behind you!”

Though Louise screamed, Julio, with a smile on his lips, kept on running after the decoy.

The enemy from behind, thinking that Julio's attention was surely focused on the decoy, started to closing in steadily.

At the same time when enemy from behind released the spell, Azuro twisted around. Following enemy’s movement’s from behind, dodging the attack with a wild somersault, Azuro spewed another breath.

Wrapped up in the breath, the attacking dragon knight fell down.

Shocked Louise stared at the sudden development of things.

The movements of the dragon were unbelievably vivid, without making any unnecessary movements

“H-how can you make a dragon move like that!”

“Don’t talk, or you’ll bite your tongue.”

Julio’s tone of voice remained perfectly composed.

With three of them gone, the atmosphere around the enemy changed. Louise ducked her head, felling the bursting anger. Encirclement loosened for a moment, and then, all dragon knights at once, plunged at them.

For a moment, Louise‘s rocking up and down, side to side. Her body felt like a ball in the hands of juggler. Forgetting to keep her eyes open she closed them... Louis was clinging to Julio.

Every time Azuro turned, he was doing a severe damage with his fangs and claws to the opponent‘s wind dragons. To avoid enemy‘s attacks, he attacked himself　

In only four seconds, six of them were beaten and fell down.

“The end. Let's return then.

Julio said in a nonchalant voice.

“Wh-what happened?”

The wind dragon together with raider, were a single movement.

No, it was beyond any explanations, the movements of unbelievable Azuro,

“I just brought out a true ability of the dragon. Everyone else’s dragons were making too many useless movements. That’s all.”

Julio said casually. And Louise understood… why him, not being a mage, became the commander of the third unit.

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume7 Chapter2 - MTL

2008-10-11T16:08:27Z

89.180.130.53:

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===Chapter Two: Fairy===

Today is the third day of the miraculous return of the dragon knights. Rene and Saito, along with the rest, were partying in the tent all this while.

Ever since that party, Rene and the other members of the 2nd Dragon Cavalry Company had been making a fool of themselves at Louise's tent everyday. Them being so-called "guards" was merely an excuse; in reality, they were there for other reasons.

"Cheers! To our miraculous survival!"

Saito lifted a 17th toast of the day, delivered in a half-drunken stupor.

"Cheers! Cheers!"

Slurry voiced dragon knight’s cacophonous chorus joined in. Again, the lot emptied their cups, filled to the brim with grape wine, in one gulp.

"It's great to be alive. You could still drink like this!"

Said Rene's deputy, a crimson-haired youth named Matthew Pennterdon, as he casually waved his wand, creating a mini whirlwind to stir the wine. As the third son of a petty noble family, he always drank in a miserly manner - diluting the wine with water before drinking it. So, he would occasionally use magic in this manner to stir his cup.

That pair of attention-grabbing twin dragon knights, were called Gilbert and Siegfried. With soft, pale golden hair and cute maiden-like faces, these two came from a noble family which had fallen into ill times. They helped each other to fill up the cups with wine, while grinning away.

Besides Louise, the rest were already dead drunk. No.... one of them seemed to have some sort of troubles, and was in deep thought. He's the somewhat taciturn Fernan. When Saito toasted him, he merely shook his head. Looks like he has some kind of worry in his mind.

At this point, the plump Rene showed up, hugging a sack full of stuff.

"Captain of the 2nd Dragon Cavalry Company, Rene Vonke, has returned!"

"Hat's off. It's been hard on you."

Saito, who was sitting in the center seat, burst into laughter, with dragon knight’s following him

Sitting in the nook of the tent and hugging her knees, Louise could only watch such spectacle in frustration.

What is it with this bunch?

Simply put, they are treating the place as if it's their room. Pretending to guard but coming here just to booze, away from the pry eyes of senior officers. Here they could do whatever they wanted.

Louise bit her lip in hatred. Of course, it wasn't easy for them to escape death, a little wine for celebration would still be tolerable.

But...

They were doing this every day! EVERY SINGLE DAY! And it was from dawn to dusk!

And these fellows have absolutely no idea on how to keep a room clean! Louise's grinding of her teeth became very audible. Bottles, bones of fowl and leftover scraps were scattered everywhere; the sight of it all was unbearable.

Whenever she complained, she got a chirpy "Okayyyyy!" in reply, but that was all. No one cleaned up the mess. As a result, the rubbish grew by the day, along with Louise's frustration.

Saito was the most unforgivable one. Initially, she thought that he'd warn them on Louise's behalf. Instead, that idiot began leading the racket, and is now the "highest commander". "An absolute general of fools, how fitting for him," thought Louise, as she sighed.

"Status report!" said Saito, who really thought that he had become a general. Rene noisily opened the sack.

"Smoked ham, dried meats, sausages... and wine!"

Upon seeing all the food that was handily "taken" from the warehouse, everyone cheered at once.

"Now, I shall decorate this officer with a medal..."

But, he has no medals with him. Just as Saito was being troubled by this, someone stuffed something into his hand. It was a light, pure white piece of fabric.

"Wha-what is this?"

Having figured out what that "something" really was, Louise hastily rose to her feet.

"Hey! That's my underwear! What are you guys thinking?!"

"Ah, because it was left there," said Matthew, who was the one who passed it to Saito.

"There...there's plenty over here," hollered the trembling Gilbert and Siegfried, as they opened Louise's wardrobe.

"This's the best medal ever!" One by one, the knights laughed.

“Lowest! You truly are the lowest!”

Blushing Louise hit Gilbert’s head and Siegfried’s chest with the wine bottle, threw out poultry bone at rolling Renes, and all other drunken dragon knights were kicked and hit.

Lastly, she kicked flustered Saito between the groins, and sat riding on his neck.

“Constantly making noise! Habit of a familiar! That’s the status of the familiar! D-d-dogs status! Dogs! Suiting status!”

Turning around the social standings. Irresponsible thoughts.

“Can’t be, so you are her familiar!” Rene and others watched Louise’s and Saito’s flustered faces and started laughing out loudly again.

“Person – a familiar, weird story!”

Rene and others summoned “Pon!”. And many familiars jumped into the tent. Because they were wind system mages, most of their familiars were winged… Owl, taka, flying fox…small griffon and hippogriffon, even phantom beast’s figure could be seen.

“These are the familiars! Aahahaha!”

“Don’t think I l-love this guy or anything! This idiot came on his own!”

“Well, Summon servant doesn't let you choose the partner!”

Rene, while laughing, approached Louise and said.

“However, you, Miss Valliere, summoned a boyfriend. The familiar and the lover in one, might be ideal for a mage!”

The dragon knights burst out laughing.

“He is not my lover! Idiot! All idiots! How can’t you understand!”

Then Matthew said grinning.

“How about the other day, hmm?”

“You very naked under the mantle! What about that!”

Even Louise's neck crimsoned.

“Ribaldry! Lowest! Boys of your age shouldn’t have thoughts like this!”

At last, Louise grabbed the blanked and put it over her head.

Even after calming down she won’t come out. Was pretending to sleep.

“Spicy. I wonder why she is so angry?”

Rene muttered anxiously. After that they all simultaneously looked for Saito's reaction.

And Saito… had a frown of worrying on his face.

Where do we stand?

What is our relationship now?

Familiar and master, however it seemed that their relationship progressed…

But did it really progressed?

However, that time in the shallop, they became close when he called for Louise. But what does Louise really think of me?

He felt uneasy.

“We didn’t mean any harm, sorry buddy.”

“A, aah” With mixed feelings, Saito nodded.

Rene and others exchanged looks.

“Ribaldry has been said.”

“It can't be helped. We are lower class nobles.” Matthew said.

“It happens to peerage as well! But Miss la Valliere called it ribaldry and was annoyed! Aahahaha!” Siegfried and Gilbert laughed into each others faces.

Indeed, thought Saito. Children in Academy of magic are all young nobles and ladies. They are all from high-status families like Louise’s, and even though Guiche’s and Montmorency’s families had financial problems, Guiche’s father was still a field marshal, and a field marshal is very respected within the military, right?

Louise and the others study in a private, prestigious school which is very different from public schools.

Aah, so that’s why I felt so close to these guy's from the beginning, Saito thought.

Then he recalled Rene's words.

He said, that you can only advance in ranks through war field. Feeling sympathy, Saito sobered in a moment.

“Ha, drinking certainly makes me happy, after a great deed!
　
Said Rene.

“That’s right! Dragon knight second unit even wingless will show how great they are!”

“Aahaha” Gilbert and Siegfried neighed.

“Aaah, when will we finally attack Albion’s army in Londonium? It has been ten days since we landed!”

Matthew said impatiently.

That’s right. There were no marching signs from the Allied Forces. Seems like they are waiting for an Albion army to come to Rosais where they could repulse them… But Albion army didn’t seem to move either.

At that time… the dragon knight's wish seemed to come true, as a single child soldier came to the tent.

“Haah, an order from the dragon knight battalion headquarters.”

The boy seemed to be thirteen years old. He had a frighten look on his face seeing vulgar senior nobles with mess all around.

“Battalion headquarters? What good are dragon knights without dragons?

Rene sarcastically asked.

“I do not know. I am just reporting orders…”

What duties could they be given? Gilbert grumbled, and everyone, now with a serious look, started cleaning after themselves.

<center>* * *</center>

But… unfortunately for the dragon knights, it was not about getting a chance to prove themselves. Rene, who ran into the tent with his sword ready, after seeing yawning earl Ginnumer, lost any kind of expectations.

“Forget about the report. For now, please tell the story of your returning alive.”

Saito and Louise also came. Mostly because they could not leave without their ‘guards’.

Rene, in a not very motivated voice, began the report. Most of it was the same as the time he spoke the other day.

They were shot, they fell… one week later, they all awoke on the dragon’s back. That’s it.

A certainly mysterious story. However, during the war in magic using Halkeginia, unexpected things happen a lot. Because of war, no one really cared about it.

However, Louise quietly listened to that story. Seems it caught her interest.

Well, when it comes to an end...

A single boy started speaking hesitantly.

It was an obedient Fernand. He, after making a thoughtful face, said words.

“T-that…”

“Whats wrong Fernand, do you want to go to the bathroom?”

Matthew teased. Making the boy flustered.

“T-that’s not it! Report! Stop making fun!”

Because always obedient Fernand had a serious look on his face everyone fell silent.

“W-well… I cannot say for sure if it was illusion or reality the other day…but when I calmly think about it, but that…”

“What’s the matter? Give a brief report.” Said Ginnumer.

“Ye-yes! Report! When crashed I was thrown out from the back of the dragon… and laid on the ground for a while. Not moving anything… the body was paralytic. Ha ha, I thought I was about to die… But then, I saw.”

Ginnumer, seemed not to be in a mood for this, and urged him on.

“What?”

The boy, in doubt for a moment weather to say or not, muttered hesitantly.

“It was a fairy.”

“What kind of fairy? Water? Then it was a spirit.”

“It’s different! It was not that flabby! It was… more beautiful! Fairy of the wind!”

“Fairy of the wind does not exist. Fairies, unlike the spirits of the dead, are legendary living beings.”

“I do not understand myself! But, I know was a fairy…”

“How did it look like?”

“Very beautiful…girl. With beautiful blond hair… her body shone. No doubt, it was a fairy! An ancient fairy!”

Everyone scorned at such Fernend words.

Then.

“Beautiful blond hair, like mine?”

A clear voice said. The voice sounded so sweet that at first it was hard to tell if it belonged to a man or woman.

A tall, blond boy entered the tent. Saito’s and Louise’s eyes were drawn at once to that beautiful boy. The second dragon knight troops made unpleasant faces.

“What do you want to say about your blond hair, Romalian?”

“Please remember my name first – Julio Cesar.”

The name seems manly. A handsome dragon knight, who introduced himself as Julio, after gracefully bowing to Ginnumer, reported.

“The third dragon knight unit, returned from the patrol flight.”

Ginnumer nodded with a smile.

“Was the first unit successful?”

“Yes.”

“Well then, take some rest.”

“Certainly.”

The knight made a soft bow.

Julio looked around the tent. This reminded Saito of the similar antipathy he felt towards Wardes when they first met. Huuh, he really did not like this fellow.

Well anyway, it is not surprising. Though Guiche was lady-killer, he was different. Was he a woman? He looked like one, with those thin and slender, appealing lips. Long eyelashes that created a beautiful shadow. While listlessly rolling the around his thin finger covered with white gloves, he looked around the tent.
Seeing Saito, in surprise he stopped playing with his hair.

Though the left eye of the boy who introduced himself as Julio were same color as Louise’s…the right eye that had been mostly hidden by his hair was crystal blue. In other words - the color of his right and left eye was different.

He smiled at Saito

“Is it so weird that the color of my eyes is different?”

“N-no…” he blushed instinctively. What was that, he is a man, Saito tried persuade himself

“Then don’t feel so shy looking at it.”

He said not bashfully at all. In fact he was smiling and grinning, seemingly enjoying the reaction of Saito. Foxy guy, Saito thought

“Talking about abnormalities. You are the rumored familiar Saiton-kun, right?

“Saito.”

In a hoity-toity gesture waved it away and introduced himself. He bowed gracefully.

“Sorry! I was being rude! I am a Shinto priest of Romalia, Julio Cesar. I was looking forward to meet you… Because human being a familiar is very rare. I wanted to meet you at least once… Ah, and you…”

Noticing Louise, Julio took off his cool mask, and gave a wide smile. It was an innocent smile, just like an opened flower.

“And you are Miss Valliere? As rumored! You are very beautiful!”

[[Image:ZnT07-047.jpg|thumb]]

Louise’s mouth opened agape, while he took her hand and placed to his lips.

Saito trembled.

Just whose hand you think you are kissing? Get away, this is mine. My master.

Saito tried to calm himself down. Louise, having mouth pressed to her hand so suddenly, won’t let it slide. The kick will fly, the punch will fly, and a lot of blood will gush out. Saito stared in anticipation… but nothing flew at all.

Instead

“You shouldn’t.” She cast her eyes down, with a blush on her cheeks, and said shyly.

Saito was in a cold sweat.

What’s with reaction?

He was reminded of Wardes. He remembered that Louise was weak against such charm. Saito felt like throwing up.

“It is inexcusable! To discover such beauty outside Romalia, in the middle of the war! I was born just to meet such beauty! Mavelous!

He was talking rubbish like Guiche. Saito’s shoulders trembled. He was also angry at Louise for not taking offense at this rascal’s actions.

“Are Shinto priests allowed to touch women like that? Is it common between Romalia people…”

Instead of Saito, it was Matthew who said it with a scowl. Seems like Julio wasn’t very popular among second dragon knight unit members.

“Since I was going into the war, I received a temporary secular life permission from the pope.”

“That’s sophistry.’

“I would call it expedient. Priest's privilege. However, what you said is true. Miss, I am sorry. My body was not contained by my priesthood, and reacted on its own after seeing a charming woman.”

Reverting back to joking tone, he teasingly smiled and bowed to Louise.

“But… though leading our way god is a great being, he sometimes mercifully closes his eyes. I am looking forward in seeing you every day.”

Foppish like a fool.

However… the way he acts. Though Guiche is a lady-killer and foppish, he tries to escape the relationship. However, this fellow doesn't have such gap. Compared to Wardes, who felt cold somehow, this fellow was strangely friendly. Saito understood it from the instinct.

This guy was real flirt.

Without weaknesses either.

Then Julio put on a serious face again. Such sudden change of mood, only made him feel more hateful towards the man. Saite chewed on his handkerchief in anger.

“The story before. Were you telling the truth about that fairy?”

Fernand nodded.

“Y-yeah.”

“Can you show where you were shot down?”

Julio pointed at the map of the Albion continent spread on the table and asked.

Rene answered.

“Certainly… about one hour of flight from the continent border…”

He pointed at the corner of the map.

Interested, Julio nodded.

“Hmm, near South Gotha.”

At that time, Ginnumer coughed.

“Maybe it’s time for you to take care of your dragon.”
　
Julio spread his hands, “I envy those who do not have to take care after a dragon”, and after leaving this sarcastic message, he left. Everyone from the second dragon knight division, who lost their dragons in battle, watched Julio’s back in hatred.

<center>* * *</center>

“Who is that foppish rascal?”　

When Saito, who went out of the dragon knight battalion headquarters, asked, Rene frowned.

“He is a Shinto priest from Romalia. Shinto priests shams to be dragon knights… disgusting.”

“Romalia?”

Dumbfounded Saito asked.

“You don’t know Romalia?”

He asked surprised. Saito shook his head. Saito who is not from this world, was not aware about the countries and local places. However, because telling that he was from different world, was very troublesome he came up with an excuse.

“I am from the east… From Rob Al Kaiire.”

“Hee! So you come from the land that always quarrels with elves!”

Have you passed the ground where elves live?! He was surprised. Apparently, in this world, elves are frightening and seemed to be a belligerent race. Moreover, they are on bad terms with humans.

“Romalia is a ‘religious authority’ country, that manages buddhists temples in Halkeginia and some other countries. It is a country where there are a lot of Shinto priests, who are domineering, even more than nobles.”

“Romalia’s Shinto priests, because of the God servant status, can travel abroad freely.”

Though they are nobles, their attitude is just as haughty.

“Can Shinto priests conjure too?”

“Surely!” one noble shouted.

“If he is born in noble's house, where the magic is practiced, then he still caries the same blood even turning into Shinto priest… In case he is a commoner, naturally, he cannot use magic.”

“Julio comes from commoners”, someone said.

Ahh, he was not a mage.

“Then why is a guy like him riding a dragon? And on top of that is a Unit commander!”

“Aah, for a commoner he is abnormally good at riding dragons.”

“It’s really mortifying” one muttered.

“It is said that even though he is not a mage, dragons listen to him. I do not know if it’s true.”

“Because of it he became earl’s Ginnumer’s favorite, and was made into commander of the third unit. Because a third unit is a foreign legion, it is unprecedented career! Because a priest became dragon knigh commander, dragon knights became a laughing stock of other troops!”

Saito continued the talk, but was stopped by the officer with a wand who entered the tent.

“Heyhey! Do not sit around and talk in here! Nuisance! Nuisance!”

Saito and others looked at each other.

“Let’s return to Miss Valliere’s tent. That’s where our place is.”

Then, remembering Louise, Saito turned around.

Louise stood there alone *Haaaah* with a dreamy expression on her face

Saito became suspicious.

Why is Louise making such face?

Then he remembered.

Uh! Could it be because of Julio?

By that handsome dragon knight?

No, that Shinto priest?

Eeeh, whatever you call him!

Anyway from awhile ago, that blush doesn’t leave her face…

Saito began to burn with jealousy.

She is making such face just because her hand was kissed! What a woman. Unfaithful! Unfaithful! Though not being a lover himself, Saito cursed.

This is certainly ‘wrong’. Just because she was complimented by that beautiful face!

What about my love confession.

No…Why? He thought for a moment…

Something flashed in Saito's head.

He recalled the last party with Rene and others. ‘Louise and I, what relationship do we have now?’ and his doubt increased.

Before, at Louise's home, she talked about ‘Rewarding the loyalty’ even though I confessed.

Then…if you think about it…

The war has started no and we were in haste, and I was depressed in a room, thinking that everyone died…

When you think about it very well…

Maybe this is a rejection?

I though I was favored or kind of accepted…but when you think about it…is it an acceptance?

Loyalty reward. That’s what it was.

In other words…

He was rejected.

Saito felt like he was hit by a hammer. He kneeled down on one knee and shook his head. Rene, seiing Saito in such state, uneasy asked.

“H-hey…Saito?”

However, others' words have not reached Saito.

He was completely lost in his own world.

Then came despair and anger.

Be damned 100 times for being so cute.

Aaah, for this woman wishes I went into the war that I did not want.

What for eas I trying so hard and risked my life.

Cuuurse you.

Guilty! Cuuuuuuurse you!

Anger towards Louise whirled violently. Like lava that gushed out of the volcano it washed away the sensible man in him.

Hiraga’s private trial was opened and the decision was given in two seconds.

Defendant – Queen’s attorney, court lady Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere

Presiding judge – me.

Ahhn, guilty! Guilty! Go to circumstances consideration room!

Presiding judge's word

Following society regalement this man here said ‘I like you♪ Lets start from friend love♪” but the answer was…

T!H!I!S!

‘Loyality reward’

‘You may touch only one place you like the most’

You are not allowed to touch the master in public.

My dog. Not a dog. Ah, still a dog.

But yet you say a dog. And then not a dog.

Then, he recalled the other day in the Louise‘s tent

He thought Rene was dead and was sad, he dully was not even able to understand, that she was only wearing a mantle on her naked body. T-this woman is an idiot! Can’t she understand the feelings of a man?

Presiding judge Hiraga, based Articles 3 of love between man and woman, gives a verdict to the defendant.

Verdict – ignore.

Starting from now.

Saito began to walk ignoring Louise.

<center>* * *</center>

After leaving dragon knight’s headquarters tent, the story and the beautiful boy made Louise’s mind confused.

Somehow she felt uneasy.

When she saw him she felt a strange uneasiness.

Was she startled because it was a beautiful boy?

Somewhat. Louise was a girl in her pubescence and she did not hated beautiful boys. But to put it simply she did not thought of him as a lover. Only one boy occupies her thoughts for the time, even though she wasn’t fully aware of it, other boys even with a ‘nice face’, failed to move in there.

The resident though, was constantly making the landlord angry.

This uneasiness was part of the natural appeal.

And this uneasiness was not only because of that.

It was the ‘fairy’ that one of the dragon knights witnessed. Though it would be easy to laugh it off as a dream… they all have actually lost the memory for one week. Their carefree attitude of not worrying about anything after returning alive, made Louise annoyed.

But that’s because they are soldiers, she thought, they cannot think about every little thing in the middle of the war.

While thinking about the true colors of the uneasiness… Louise came back to herself.

Heyhey, where is Saito’s going.

Louise was ignored.

With dragon knight's boys laughing in a weird laugh laughed, and started to drink alcohol again, disregarding Louise. That idiot, just now, why was he laughing so unnaturally.

Was he trying to ignore me for a joke?

And to discuss things while drinking again?

Whatwhat! Don’t joke around.

“Hey, wait!”

But Saito did not turned to her call. He did not heard? This time she shouted.

“Saito! Wait! Escort your master to the tent properly~!”

However, he ignored.

Heh? What! What is this!

Saito didn't even turn around. The distance can’t be too big. He should have…heard me.

Louise started to boil with anger towards Saito. Such behaviors by the partner (sealed with Louise) made the pink-blond girls temper explode.

One can’t blame such short Louise’s temper. When you are in love with someone, even the smallest things can be damaging and easily make one happy or angry.

Though Louise wasn’t aware of her love, it was 100% pointing at Saito. Thus even his slightest action could easily make her angry.

Hey! I haven’t even offended this guy! And yet I am ignored!

Stop ignoring my words!

Clenching her hands into fists, Louse kicked a stone on the road away.

　
<center>* * *</center>

Noticing raging Louise, Rene turned to Saito and whispered.

“Isn’t she your master? Are you angry at her? Why do you ignore her?

Saito looked at Louise.

Louise was angry. She was raging on the road.

Angry at being ignored by her familiar. That’s understandable. I am just a familiar anyway. Yes yes.

Aaah, that’s right. Its impossible for humble noble-sama to fall in love with the familiar.

Saito almost cried, while thinking so.

He wanted to cry bitterly, letting Rene to comfort him.

But… Saito choked the tears down.

What girl do you think Louise is. Noble girl.

You have to be gentle.

Saito clasped fists and looked up at the night sky.

The star was blinking …beautiful.

And two moons hone…like in a dream.

Aaah, the moon-star, please wash away this ugly jealousy of mine.

Yes. I am a man right?

I should ignore in anger… after all.

Then, Saito, thinking so, gave a cramp smile

I am honorable man, he tried to persuade himself while trembling.

He thought already beaten with cold sweat.

But when he turned with concession to say “…ah, Louise come over”…

But then surprisingly!

Louise looked the other way.

“Come over here, right”

With her arms crossed and puffing her cheeks, she turned away.

Wh-what’s this!?

Disgusting. Even now this woman is treating him coldly..

But this time, it wasn’t usual Louise’s angry attitude.

But… this time Loise’s face looked uncomfortable.

Is this all that Louise thinks of me? Uncomfortable.

Such Louise attitude was over-reracting.

Saito turns around around and began to walk away quickly.

“Hey what is this? You must be joking.”

Rene looked anxiously between Saito and Louise… and then, ran after Saito.

<center>* * *</center>

Louise, left behind, trembled with anger.

She bellowed towards the direction where Saito left.

“What was that! Come over here!”

And waited for a while. But ... he was not coming back.

Wha-w-w-what a selfish thing!

Louise was a really pissed off.

Even though I feel insecure in the middle of the war…

I am being exploited… And what kind of compassion do I get?

Saito seemed to completely not in the mood to explain anything.

Steadily, her eyes grew teary. L-lately she just wanted to escape it all.

Separately, well, that's ok. Bad, but it's ok. I‘ll forgive him. That boy is like that, can not be helped. I don’t like him, really, I don’t like, aah, maybe a little.

Louise shook her head.

Don’t think. No good. Absolutely no good.

Honestly, well, he said he likes me, she thought.

However, what is this ‘Love’. Is it true?.

But if it’s love why he does treat me so coldly? She could not understand.

Besides, he would not be hanging with that maid.

Really he must be saying that to all girls. Idiot. Not only to the maid.

He said ‘love’ to me as well.

Inexcusable. Fibber. Dislike. Dislike.

“That’s enough” Louise muttered while biting her lips.