Zero no Tsukaima:Volume4 Chapter6 - MTL

Chapter Six

Warning: This translation is considered a PREVIEW Script. Be warned that the degree of translation error may be higher than usual due to the translation method employed.

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The hills and mountains overlooked the waves of lake Ragdorian as they rippled dark blue. The sun's illumination on the lake seemed to spread like a layer of shimmering glass.

Saito and others arrived to the lake with horses.

Because Louise disliked riding alone, she and Saito took the same horse. She sat in front. Seems like she didn‘t want to leave Saito‘s side even for a single moment.

Montmorency and Guiche were riding on separate splendid gray horses.

”This must be the famous Ragudorian lake! No, this beauty of the lake is indescribable! Water spirit is in there! I’m impressed! HO-HO-HO – YAHOO“

Yelled Guiche whipping the horse and sending it plunging down the hill.

But the horse was afraid of the water and when it reached the shore it came to an abrupt stop. Following the law of inertia, Guiche flung off the horse and, with a thunderous crash, fell head down into the lake.

“Can’t reach the ground! It’s deep! Deeeeeeep!”

Guiche desperately cried out for help struggling in the water. Seems like Guiche did not know how to swim.

“I wonder if we should reconsider our fellowship after all”

Montmorency muttered.

”That would be nice“

Saito nodded. Louise looked up at Saito with a worried face.

“Montmorency is nice?”

“I d-don’t mean that. Just wait. I will return you to your original self. “

Saito brought the horse close to the shore.

Guiche, after a long struggle, was shivering and soaked from head to toe as he finally reached the shore. He had a bitter look on his face.

“Hey hey, shouldn’t you help me! Do not desert someone who cannot swim!”

However, Montmorency was completely ignoring Guiche and was suspiciously looking at the lake instead.

“What is it?” Saito asked.

“Strange.”

"What's strange?"

"The water level is up. Lake Ragdorian's shore should be further up there."

"Really?"

“Yes. Look over there. There is a rooftop sticking out. It seems that village has been flooded.“

Following Montmorency's gaze, they could indeed see the roof. Saito could even recognize the black shadow of the sunken house behind the limpid surface of the water.

Montmorency walked up to the shore, inserted her finger into the water and closed her eyes. After a while she stood back up with a worried expression on her face.

"It looks as if the water spirit is angry."

"How do you know that?"

”Because I am a 'water' element user, Montmorency the Fragrance. Tristain Royal family is connected with the Ragudorian lake water spirit by an old oath. Montmorency ‘Water’ family have been negotiating with it for many generations.

“And now?”

“And now, for various reasons, other nobles are doing it.”

"Then, have you seen the water spirit?"

“Only once when I was small. When we needed to create drainage for the territory, the family sought for the water spirit cooperation. A big glass container were maid to transport it. However, because water spirit‘s pride is high, it can be extremely aggressive. In fact it is because of their aggressiveness, my family drainage scheme failed. My father said to the water spirit ‘Do not walk. The floor gets wet’…”

"What does the water spirit look like?"

Saito asked, showing curiosity.

"I have never actually seen it."

Guiche, flapping his taken off wet shirt, nodded in agreement. Louise, who had absolutely no interest in the discussion, hid herself behind Saito’s back and unconsciously held on tightly to his parka’s hem.

“Beautiful! Quite so…”

At that moment, an old lonesome farmer, who was hiding behind the tree, stepped out

“I suppose, my lords, you are nobles.”

A middle aged farmer looked up with an embarrassed face.

“What’s the matter?” Montmorency asked.

“My lords, did you come to negotiate with water spirit? If so, then we have been saved! Please, quickly make your negotiations and solve this flood problem."

Party looked at each other. Seems like this farmer was a resident of the village that sank in the lake.

“That, well, we ... came here just to see the lake“

Surely, Montmorency could not tell that they came here to get the water spirit‘s tear.

“I see… Really, lords and queen are now only interested in war against the Albion, not noticing such remote villages as ours. They can’t even imagine how hard it is to collect harvest…”

Haa, deeply sighed the farmer.

“What on earth happened to the Ragudorian lake?”

"The water started to rise about two years ago. The water level increased slowly, flooding the port first, then the temple and fields... See? Now even eagle‘s nest is flooded. The local lords, that are responsible for this territory, are indulged into royal court entertainments and pay no attention to our pleas“

Yoyoyo, the old farmer weeped bitterly.

“For years we lived on this land. Depending on the moody water spirit. Honestly, it‘s good when it stays at the lake's bottom.. . We really want to understand why it has suddenly become interested in our land. Because this land is Human land! But, only a noble can communicate with it. I want to know what poor farmers did to make it loose it‘s temper.“

Saito and other’s bend their necks embarrassed.

* * *

After the farmer finished grumbling and left, Montmorency took something out of the bag attached to her waist. It was a tiny frog. It was brightly yellow with many black spots.

Montmorency laid the frog in the palm of her hand, it stared up at her inquisitvely.

“Frog!”

Louise, who was afraid of frogs, screamed and drew closer to Saito.

“What is wrong with this poisonously colored frog ”

“It is not poisonous, I tell you! It is my dear familiar!”

Apparently, this tiny frog was Montmorency's familiar. Montmorency raised her finger, and ordered to her familiar.

“Listen Robin, I want to contact an old friend of yours.”

Then Montmorency reached in her pocket and took out a needle, in one brief moment she struck her finger with it allowing a ruby of bright red blood gush. Turning her finger over she let a drop fall on the frog.

After that, Montmorency instantly cast magic, treating the wound on the tip of a finger. Then she brought the frog close again.

"Since she knows who I am, she should know who you are. Robin please, in the name of great spirits of the dead, seek the old water spirit, and tell her I wish to speak with her because of our alliance. Do it for me, understood?

The frog slightly nodded and with a splash disappeared in the water.

“Now, Robin went to call the water spirit. If she will find it, she is likely to bring it here.”

Saito looked doubtful.

“When it comes, we have to tell a sad story, yet I wonder what would be good. Maybe a story about master and a dog would do. However, it is considerably old, I wonder if it would suit these guys…”

“Sad story? What are you talking about?”

“Because we need tears of water spirit. How else would we get it if not making it cry?”

“You really are ignorant. Well, I guess since even not water element mages do not know it either, it is impossible to expect a commoner like you to know. Tear of the water spirit is only a name. It doesn't really shed tears“

Saito and Guiche looked at each other. Louise, lonely without Saito’s attention, ‘rub-rub’ rubbed her cheek against his back. It is really weird! Though one could die from such cute Louise, all that mattered now was Montmorency’s story.

"Then, what is the tear of the Water Spirit?" Guiche asked.

“The Water Spirit ... compared to human lifespan, it can live a long, long, long time. It is said to exist 6,000 years ago, when the Founder Brimir established Halkeginia. It's body, like water, can freely change its shape...and in a sunshine it glistens with seven colors…”

The moment when Montmorency said so, the surface of the water began to shine.

The water spirit appeared.

* * *

30 meters away from the shore where Saito and others were standing the water was shining.　

The surface of the water was wriggling non-stop. Then the water welled up like a rising cake. Saito watched it with an expression of blank surprise. The water was constantly changing shape so one could not even see hands. It looked like a huge ameba. Though it's flashing lights were beautiful... it made them uncomfortable.

The frog, Montmorency’s familiar, with a splash hopped back to it’s master. Montmorency held out her palm and caught the frog. She patted frog’s head with her finger.

"Thank you for helping to bring it."

Then Montmorency stood up, spread her hands towards the water spirit, and opened her mouth.

“I am a Montmorency Margarita La Fere de Montmorency. The user of water, a member of lineage of old oath. I have put my blood on the frog to help you to remember. If you remember, answer in the way and words that we understand.”

The Water Spirit... the rising surface of the water... started slowly to gain one shape like a clay figure.

Saito’s, who was watching it, eyes popped out from surprise.

The mass of water slowly shaped itself into Montmorency‘s form and faintly smiled.

However it was bigger and had no clothes. It looked like a transparent nude Montmorency. Just like an ice statue.

The water spirit’s expression was changing variously. The smile followed angry, then - crying faces. Each time shy tried a new expression, the lump face of water moved.

Indeed, she looked beautiful. Like always changing jewel.

Then her face became expressionless again as water spirit answered Montmorency’s question.

“I remember, mere human. I remember the liquid that flows in your body. The moon changed 52 times since our last meeting.”

“I’m glad. Water spirit, I need to ask you something. Although somewhat insensitive, but could you give me a piece of your body?“

Part of it's body? Saito wondered. What‘s that? When he poked Montmorency, she turned around annoyed.

"Although it is a tear, it is impossible to make undead spirits cry. They are... different from us. I do not even know if one can call them living beings. Either way the tear of the Water Spirit is a part of its body."

"So we have to cut down it's body?!"

Saito shouted in surprise.

“Shh! Not so loud! The water spirit can get very angry! That’s why it is nearly impossible to obtain the tear. How the people in the city's black market are able to get it… I simply cannot imagine."

The Water Spirit smiled.

"Oh, it smiled! It must mean it's ok!"

But, the words that came from its mouth...maybe because it still didn‘t understood how to to speak properly, were completely opposite.

"I refuse, mere human."

"Is that so. How unfortunate. Oh well, we'll be heading back now."

Saito was shocked by how easily Montmorency gave up.

“Hey hey! Wait a moment! Don’t give up on Louise so easily! Hey, Water spirit!”

Saito pushed Montmorency aside and faced the Water Spirit.

“Wait! You! Stop it! Don’t anger the water spirit!”

Montmorency tried to thrust Saito aside, but Saito didn’t even flinch. Guiche inclined his head wondering. Louise silently drew closer to Saito. Seeing such scene, it was hard to tell which one of them was a familiar.

“Great water spirit! Please! I will do anything you ask for your tear! Little bit! Only a little bit!“

Montmorency shaped water spirit didn’t answer anything to Saito, who was down on his knees pressing his head against the ground. Prostrating.

"I beg you! The most important person to me right now is in trouble! Don‘t you have someone important to you as well? My important person right now needs help... and for that, a part of your body is needed! Therefore, please! Look!“

Hearing this Montmorency stopped trying to pull Saito away and let out a deep sigh. Guiche, easily moved to tears, nodded. Louise, feeling insecure, kept on clinging to Saito.

Water spirit changed her appearance few times, before taking Montmorency’s shape again, and asked Saito.

“Very well”

“Yes! Really!”

“But with one condition. A mere human that doesn’t know the reason of this world, have you said that you would do anything?”

“Yes! I said!”

“Then repel those that attack me, your comrades”

They looked at each other.

“Repel?”

“Yes, I have raised the water level as far as I could. I no longer have the energy to fight them. If you can fight them off, I will bestow unto you my tear.”

“No, I hate fights”

Saito put his hand on Montmorency's shoulder and patted it.

"You want to eat prison food instead?"

Saito once again threatened Montmorency about the prohibited potion and she, like the day before, could not help but to give in.

“I know! Already! I’ll do it!”

So it was decided that they needed to discover the identities of the people attacking the Water Spirit.

* * *

The place where water spirit lives – the very bottom of the lake. Someone, using magic, attacked her there in the middle of the night.

Saito and others, hid themselves in the shade of the tree on the shore at Galia’s side – a place that water spirit showed them – and waited quietly for the assailant to come.

Guiche, to cheer himself before the battle, took a sip of wine that Saito brought. When all of his anxiety was gone and he started to sing, Saito pushed his head aside.

Louise, because Saito was talking only with Montmorency, was in extremely bad mood.

Why he is nicer with Montmorency than with me, does he love her, or maybe he just hates me, waah waah – she cried angrily, and, with her roaring around like that, Saito had to kiss her cheek many times to calm her down and put her to sleep. Because of that, right now she was sleeping calmly next to him, breathing softly with a blanked rolled up around her. Guess anyone would be like that, if a potion would make them to fall in love badly.

“The people that attacked water spirit went to the bottom of the lake. How can they breath under the water?.”

Saito asked Montmorency.

Montmorency thought for a while.

“Maybe it’s an water element user? With a ball of air created around the user it’s not that hard to get to the bottom of the lake. On the same time, even if you use water magic and are able to breath under the water, a direct touch with the water would be suicidal as water spirit controls the water here. So maybe it was an air element magic, this way one can avoid touching the water.”

According to water spirit, she was attacked every night on regular basis, cutting down a bit of her body.

“But how can wound someone and still go unnoticed?”

“Water spirit movements are slow… Besides, if you separate water spirit from source of water, her magic eventually wears out. Using a strong flame would make her to evaporate gradually. It becomes impossible to connect back to a liquid again, once being turned into gas.”

“It is impossible to turn back?”

“Water spirits soul being is like moss. Even being torn to pieces it can reconnect itself into one again, as long as it has all the pieces. It is a really different creature compared to us.”

“Hmmm…”

Saito nodded.

“And because an attacker is not touching the water, the water spirit cannot reach him.”

“Then it is not that powerful at all.”

“Really… You do not know how scary water spirit can be… Even if for a single moment one would loose the concentration and the air ball would disappear allowing the water to connect – then it would be dreadful. Water controls other creatures life, if you would lose the protection of an air ball, then you would enter the water spirit’s territory where challenging her is something that even the greatest daredevil should not do.”

Saito sighed. Really, Halkeginia is filled with creatures that he could never even imagine before.

Two moons were shining high above in the sky. Midnight.

Saito shut his mouth. And with a one hand brought Derflinger, that was hanging on his back, closer. Montmorency, scared by the sudden tension, muttered in a shaky voice.

“Anyhow, because I hate savage fights, I’ll leave it all up to you.”

“Don’t worry Montmorency. I am here. I will bravely protect maiden from the war and punish the villain.”

Guiche, who obviously drank too much wine, started leaning towards Montmorency.

“Listen, just go to sleep already. You reek of alcohol.”

“Guiche, be a decoy”

Guiche nodded red-faced.

Saito took a deep breath. A fighter’s intuition that he gained from experiencing many fights was now telling that someone was near by. His mouth was wet from saliva. Guess that someone is an enemy? But, will it be all right. I am a legendary Gandalfr. He should be able to beat mages up. What would it matter against the number of those dragon knights that attacked you before.

Unnoticed to himself, Saito became very self-conceited.

He gazed at Louise’s sleeping face. Hold on, I will definitely bring you back – he muttered silently.

* * *

One hour passed after that. Shadow appeared on the shore. It was two people. Because those figures were wearing jet-black hooded robes it was hard to tell weather it were men or women. 　

Saito gripped Derflinger's handle. The rune on his left hand began to shine. However, he hasn’t left the cover. He still could not decide weather it were the fellows, that attacked water spirit, or not.

Yet, the pair pulled out their wands while standing at the waterside.

Apparently, they started to chant spells.

Convinced that there was no mistake by now, Saito stood up from the shade of the tree and moved towards the pair. Two people should be an easy win. Because I already… defeated Wardes and ten-times bigger orc demons. And this is just a pair people. Hey, they even do not even look at my direction. Easy victory, easy victory, he should overpower them with a whistle.

Saito hid himself behind the tree right next to the pair. Seeing him squatting himself down, Guiche started chanting the spell.

The ground where the pair stood suddenly rose and becomes a huge hand-like tentacle that twined around assailants feet.

Still.

Saito dashed out of the shade of tree. The distance to mages was about 30 meters. Saito, demonstrating the Gendalfr power, closed the distance in less than three seconds.

However, enemy’s reaction was quick. The assailants started muttering spells the same time when the ground raised. The flame flew out of the end of the wand, burning down the soil that was gripping the pair’s feet. The smaller shadow, acted even more surprisingly. Instead of releasing her spell towards Guiche, it aimed it towards the unprepared Saito.

The body was turned around quickly and the wand was rejected. Just like in a fight with Wardes before, an air hammer hit Saito’s body. Saito, who did not expect such attack, was hit in the front and easily blown away.

In no time, ice arrow followed. Saito turned his body and jumped up dodging it, Yet, the taller mage shot a big fire ball at him. Though Saito tried to dodge it as well, the aiming was accurate, as Saito’s movements were anticipated beforehand. . 　 “Mate! Set me up!” 　 Derflinger shouted.

Saito boldly blocked the flame ball with his sword, yet, even though it was inhaled into the sword, it exploded, scattering around the fragments of fire.

Saito looked dazed and petrified.

Though he frantically tried to rub the pain away, his eyes still hurt. Sparks got into his eyes. Saito’s became more hasty. Crap! Their wands.

He relaxed his attention thinking that enemy would concentrate on Guiche. Yet enemy an experienced in combat and anticipated an attacked from different direction, not surprised in the slightest.

Moreover, they worked together skillfully. While one was preparing the spell, the other was releasing it. Though this was a simple tactics, the results were very effective. Anyhow, there was no gap.

Raging wind snatched the sword out of the hands of petrified Saito.

His body suddenly felt heavy. With a corner of his eyes he could see another huge fireball coming his way. Saito gave up. His momentary self-conceitedness was gone very quickly.

Aah, I am an amateur after all. Gandalfr's power gave me more confidence than the actual skills. Being straightforward doesn’t work on all enemies! Aah, Louise, sorry! Louise!

However, the goddess of fate even now did not desert Saito.

The moment before fireball knocked against Saito, the space before him exploded. The fireball and Saito were blown off. This magic was… Louise’s ‘Void’!

“Don’t bully Saitooo!”

Louise’s scream echoed through the night. It almost made Saito cry. Louise helped me. Though she was asleep… but she was probably woken up by all this noise.

Louise waited. But their guard was off now. Thus now he could recover himself. Somehow, Saito wrenched his right eye open and picked up Derflinger

But before he burst into another attack…

The pair stopped moving. Louise’s scream made them realize something. The two shadows looked at each other

And removed their hoods.

The faces that appeared in the moonlight were…

“Kirche! Tabitha!” Guiche shouted loudly.

“What?! It was you?!”

Feeling relieved, Saito tiredly kneeled to the ground.

“You? Why, darling?!”

Surprised, Kirche shouted as well.