Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume15 Chapter3 (section)

===Part 5===

Reunited with Restia, Kamito chatted with Restia for a while then made his way to the ship's conference room when it was time. Although he was curious about Est's disappearance, he dismissed it as something that happened often after all. She was probably taking a stroll inside the ship.

"Hmm, what's this aroma I smell..."

He pushed open the conference room's door to look&mdash;

"Oh dear, Kamito-san, you are the earliest to arrive."

Holding a pot of black tea, Rinslet turned around.

On the table in the conference room with solemn decor, a very delicious breakfast was laid out.

A mini-salad made from several kinds of vegetables, fluffy sugar toast, spinach and bacon quiche, fresh milk, and fruit yogurt for dessert.

"You made breakfast for us? I'm amazed you did that in such short time..."

Kamito could not help but offer praise.

Thanks to Greyworth's education, Kamito could be considered a cook, but it would be asking for the impossible if he had to prepare breakfast for so many people in such short time.

"I didn't do it alone. It was all thanks to Velka and Delia's assistance."

"...Velka and Delia?"

Kamito asked in response. At that moment...

"Master, the teacups are here." "Master, what do we do next?"

Two identical girls poked their heads in from the gap in the door.

"It's fine now. Both of you worked very hard."

Rinslet patted the two of them on the head.

"Understood&mdash;" "Master praised us&mdash;"

The twins ran noisily along the corridor after saying that expressionlessly.

By Velka and Delia, she was apparently referring to the twins. Judging from their combat outfits under the aprons, they were probably Instructional School orphans taken in by Rubia.

"That's amazing. I can't believe you totally tamed assassins from the Instructional School..."

Kamito muttered while he sat down. Next...

"Kamito, I helped out too."

"Est?"

Under the table, Est poked her head out.

"What? So you went to the galley, huh?"

"Miss Sword Spirit helped in cutting ingredients."

Rinslet explained.

"No fingers were cut, right?"

"No, I only cut ingredients, Kamito."

Est nodded.

...Kamito never thought Est would turn herself into a kitchen knife.

As though competing against Restia, who was seated on Kamito's left, Est took over the seat to his right.

"Good morning, Miss Sword Spirit."

"...Good morning to you, darkness spirit."

However, when Restia greeted her with a smile, Est also returned the greeting politely.

...Somehow, it felt like Est's relationship with the amnesiac Restia was pretty good.

"Oh my, this is the fragrance of black tea."

Soon after, Fianna and Ellis entered the room.

"Which varieties of black tea would you like, everyone?"

"I would like to have Laurenfrost tea leaves, please."

"Same for me."

"I want to add honey and milk&mdash;"

After everyone indicated their preference, the two girls sat down opposite to Kamito.

"Ellis, how's Velsaria?"

Kamito asked the question, since the two of them were supposed to share a room&mdash;

"My esteemed sister is recuperating in the room. It seems that she pushed herself too much during the battle against the Imperial Knights."

With a slightly depressed look, Ellis answered.

She had displayed the Elemental Panzer's astounding destructive power back when Kamito's group were imprisoned at the Academy town. Due to its massive strain on her health, its operation time was apparently limited to only a minute, but reportedly, Velsaria had fought with power beyond the limit in order to buy time for Kamito's team to infiltrate the capital.

"...I see. I should visit her later."

"Hmm, if you come, I think my esteemed sister will be happy."

At that moment, Claire entered.

"...?"

Seeing her appearance, Kamito felt strange.

...She did not look too energetic. A bit distracted.

"Claire, what happened? You don't look too well."

Noticing her childhood friend's change, Rinslet asked with concern.

"R-Really? You're imagining it. Just your imagination."

Claire hastily shook her head and answered in a cheerful voice as usual.

"Looks like a very delicious breakfast. Oh, it's my favorite sugar toast!"

(Your acting is a bit fake...)

...Did something happen between her and Rubia?

A while after everyone had sat down, Rubia was the last to appear.

"&mdash;All present I see. Well then, let me explain the plan from this point onwards."

Kamito did not miss it. At that moment, Claire had awkwardly avoided eye contact.