Zero no Tsukaima:Volume7 Chapter1

Chapter One: The Temperature Difference between the Two

A young lady with peach-coloured hair was lying horizontally on the bed, with only a thin cape wrapped around her bare skin.

She's the one whom they call "Louise of the Void": Louise Françoise, and only a few high ranking officers of the royal army knew of this secret.

It's now the end of the year, the second week in the month of Wein. Going by Halkeginia's climate, it's now the equivalent of autumn... It's still not considered very cold in the tent. Winter will have to wait until the coming of the new year. It's also because of this that she can dress so sexily without the fear of catching a cold.

On a simple bed made up of a piece of cloth draped over straw, Louise bit her small finger, and sulked indignantly.This gesture of hers has an unbelievable cuteness to it. On that porcelain doll-like face of hers surfaced a peach colour, arising from discontent. Louise sat up, and hugged her knee.

This gesture of hers has a cuteness akin to a god's. With her feelings immediatly written on her face, Louise cannot hide completely the uneasiness in her heart. This uneasiness caused some sort of dramatic change in Louise's girlish air, adding to it a layer of perfume called "sexiness".

Louise's hands non-chantantly touched her long slender legs beneath the cape.

The fingers touched the toes, and returned to the knees.

Unknowingly, Louise did such a seductive move, even gently tugging upwards the cape covering her. It exposed her legs, and her slim yet sexy thighs- All this, were done unconsciously.

Beneath the cape, was her skin, a young maiden's skin now full of charm, due to her passion.

Which is to say, she's wearing nothing. To ask why; that's because Louise only wears pajamas when she sleeps. Since she forgot to bring her pajamas, she had to replace it with a cape.

If she's wearing her undies, Louise will not fall asleep.

Although the sexy and cute pose from Louise is spreading out an irresistible charm...It's a pity that the other person in the tent took no notice of it.

On the back of the cape covering Louise, was the lily emblem of Tristain. This cape was different from the one worn in the academy. The emblem, a way to distinguish friend from foe, clearly indicated that this area, was a battleground.

As a female officer directly under Her Highness's command, Louise was assigned her own personal tent. In the military port of Losayes, buildings icresembling hostels were rare so tents were put at every stop. Such treatment was equal to a general‘s, but since Louise‘s legendary magic element ‘void’ was considered to be a last resort, it was normal.

Inside the tent lit by a magical lamp, was a simple bed made up of a piece of cloth covering some straw, a foldable dining table, a small cabinet for clothing and accessories, and a bell for ordering the accompanying soldiers. In the battlefield, these items inside the tent can already be considered the "luxurious" type.

In a corner of such a tent, Saito was staring blankly in front of him, feeling low.

"Hey, Saito."

No reply.

Louise sat up, and called him again.

"Hey, I'm going to sleep soon. Come here, quickly."

Although Louise was red in the face as she called him, there was still no reaction.

"It's already past 10. We'll have to be up early tomorrow morning to inspect the frontlines. You've better sleep now."

Even so, there's still no reply from Saito.

This familiar of Louise, who came from another world, was now sitting crossed-legged on the floor, his face full of depression. He was already like this a week ago. When Louise recalled the battle which caused Saito's depression, she felt a dull pain in her heart.

A week ago, the combined armies of Tristain and Germania successfully occupied this port-town of Albion. As the main force of Albion's armies were attracted to the northern port-town of Talnis, there were only about 500 defenders in Losayes. The landing party, numbering 60,000, effortlessly destroyed the defenders and set up camp in Losayes.

During the enticing of the enemy into battle, Louise's "Void" magic showed its power.The Void spell "Illusion', is a spell that can create huge illusions.

Louise used the "Illusion" spell to create illusions of the combined armies landing in Taldanis, causing the enemy forces en route to Losayes to turn back.

But... in order for Louise and others to reach Taldanis, some sacrifices had to be made. That, was the 2nd Dragon Cavalry Company, attached to "Varsenda", the flagship of the Albion expedition.

It was because of their engagament of enemy forces, that the Zero Fighter carrying Louise and Saito could successfully escape the pursuit by the enemy's dragon cavalry.

The price for this battle's success.... The 2nd Dragon Cavalry Company was annihilated.

Although dragon cavalry were very expensive, compared to the possible losses while landing in enemy territory, this sacrifice can be considered minimial. The commanding officer being rewarded was a matter of fact. Also, this was something to be happy about.

The thing is, for those who took part in that battle, and witnessed the destruction of the company for themselves, it was an entirely different feeling,

Louise observed Saito, and pouted her lips.

Of course, it was a sad thing that had happened, but…

During the landing battle, there were sacrifices as well. War definitely brings Death along with it. If every death is mourned, there will be no end to it.

In Halkeginia, there were wars almost every single year.

For Louise, although death was something sad, it was also something very close to her.

Louise stood up. Under the dim glow of the magic lamp, the room was rather dark. Under such conditions, even if the cape didn't cover certain areas, the body should still remain unseen.

Louise crossed her hands in front of her, as if hugging herself, and held the hems of the cape tightly. She walked up to Saito, who's hugging his knees as he sat, and said, "Buck up, alright."

"Emm." Saito grunted lifelessly.

"But, I can't help it. After all, it happened right before my eyes. Although it's for the execution of the mission, still...."

Saito was really down in the doldrums. It was only then that Louise remembered: those teens were about Saito's age.

Saito… he must have projected himself onto them. This kind-hearted boy from another world, with what's going on in his mind being a mystery, must have been hurt by this self-projection.

Just as how Saito had comforted her before, Louise felt that this time, it was her turn to comfort him. But, she didn't know how to go about doing it.

Louise squatted, and sat back-to-back with Saito.(See illustration)

"That.. Although you may find me cruel by saying this.. Compared to the deaths of the company, what makes me sadder is to see you being so depressed. Although I shouldn't be thinking like this, but facts are facts. However, maybe because…you are my familiar and were by my side. I really felt very sad."

Saito slowly turned his head, and stared quietly at Louise.

" Death may sadden people.... But that was a glorious death in the battlefield... for honor. They died for a great victory. They're too pitiful if you felt sad about their deaths..."

"Do you mean what you say... regarding this?"

He felt that something was amiss when Louise started talking like this.

”Of course not, but we have to. We're now at war."

Louise's right hand let go of the hem it was holding, and gently patted Saito's forehead, now that he has turned around. Her fingers caressed the streaks of dried tears on his cheeks.

Saito shook his head, and cried.

"I... I didn't even know their names."

Instead of calling it an unbearable pain, it was more of the inability to forgive.

To die for the mission, to die for honour.

He couldn't imagine the feelings at all.

Doesn't Louise understand this?

He recalled teachers Colbert's letter. The teacher wrote: Never become used to death, never become used to slaughter.

He was wondering at the time "How is it possible that one could get used to such things?"

As Louise looked at Saito's forlorn face, she felt terrible. What she had just said were not lies. Although she felt sad for those youths who had sacrificed themselves, but they had died for the victory of their country.

Louise, who had grown up receiving the education of the nobility, and Saito, who grew up in Japan on the peaceful Earth: there was an obvious gulf between them.

Louise felt pain seeing Saito’s crying face. Compared to mourning the dead, she had a greater desire to heal the pain of the living. If Saito's tears were a kind of gentleness, then perhaps this can be said to be another type of gentleness.

Louise thought of -

What should one do at a moment like this? How does one comfort a boy who had been hurt?

And...

If it was that maid, what would she do? She used just a little bit of her imagination.

She would.... use the warmth of her body. It's all that commoner can come up with.

On this train of thought, she suddenly became angry.

That... that sort of thing... I can do that too!

Recalling that time where he pushed her to the floor, and kissed her a few times on the neck, Louise's face became red at once.

Since at that time, he was being excited all of a sudden (That's how Louise saw it), Louise hadn't forgiven Saito for what he did. Definitely not.

He said something about liking her; surely he said it with doing that sort of thing in mind. Once her mind was on this thought, a burst of anger erupted from within her. After that, she couldn't even forgive herself. Although she was affected by the mood at the time, but she actually lowered the hand which had risen to slap him.

That means... that is to say.....

But, at the back of her mind, Louise shook her head furiously.

That doesn't mean that I've accepted him.

Because he wanted to do it the hard way; he's doing it unconsciously. That's right: unconsciously.

Although Louise didn't know what "unconsciously" actually meant, she hugged Saito tightly, her face crimson-red. Hugging a familiar is something which isn't supposed to be done, due to the difference in status between the two. Yes... letting him sit beside the dining table could be said to be a form of pity. But, hugging him like this wasn't pity.

Louise shook her head. She thought,"What am I doing?" The incredible thing was that her heartbeat was quickening. Her racing heartbeat, seemed to be dissolving the cruel atmosphere of the battlefield.

Despite all this, Saito was still depressed.

Is it still not enough?

Is simply hugging him tightly not enough?

Hoping that he would pucker up didn't mean that she liked him or anything. However, if a familiar was like this, it would affect missions in the future.

Louise intended to try her best at imitating Siesta. She is trying hard, even putting aside her noblewoman's pride. Although she didn't have any other feelings for this familiar, she didn't want to lose in battles, no matter what. However, there was no movement in Saito's vision.

She remembered what she was wearing now. Underneath the cape was her skin.

No undies.

Louise took a deep breath. It's only a tiny bit. If doing this could comfort Saito a little, isn't it worth a try?

No way, Louise.

How can you show others your body when you're unmarried?

If you treat him as a familiar, that's still alright. But now, what are you doing?

If he sees it, there will be trouble.

You'll have to marry him.

Those are the rules.

I want to marry?

Marry who?

This familiar?

No way! Impossible! He's a commoner from another world!

Her brain began to fry, as if it was about to explode. Saito stared at Louise in her current predicament, his eyes emotionless.

Sob...Now, even Louise was feeling down.

She really wants to heal this wound of Saito's.

Does Saito really like me/To think about it, although he did say that he liked me/but that was for taking advantage of me/But does my body have that kind of charm/Aaahhhh! This is frustrating!!

Louise grew more and more confused; her brain was really going to explode soon. Just as she was loosening her grip on her cape.....

Just as the gentleness of the mourner, and the gentleness of the comforter for the living, are about to meet....

Whoosh!

A sudden gust of wind blew the tent away.

"What.. what's going on?"

"What!"

Saito and Louise shouted at the same time.

Looks like something just landed beside the tent.

On a closer look, it was a wind dragon.

On its back, one can see the silhouettes of dragon knights.

"Ene... enemies! The enemies are here!"

Saito grabbed his sword hurriedly. At this, a man peered out from the dragon's back, and said to Saito in a soft voice," Oh, you're..."

Upon seeing his face, Saito's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets; he was stunned.

"Aaahhh!"

The men sitting on the dragon, were the dragon knights thought to have been decimated.

Saito's mouth fell wide open. He asked softly,

"Wh.. Why?"

"It's... a long story."

That was the reply from a plump dragon knight. The rest of the knights bowed their heads, as if in embarrassment.

"We'll talk again later. So.. so sorry to have interrupted the two of you."

The plump knight captain said shyly.

Louise, with only a cape covering her, was blankly leaning against Saito.

Louise hurriedly kicked Saito away, and screamed,

"We.. we... we didn't do anything!"

Perhaps, it's the miracle caused by this temperature difference between the two types of gentleness.

The dragon knights, thought to be deceased, were standing before them, with not a single men missing.

Besides the dragon which they rode on, the knights lost the rest of their dragon mounts... But no matter, all the men returned safely.

Before Saito and Lousie felt relieved, their mouths, now wide open, could hardly speak.

"You all... Why..."

"No... Well... actually, we aren't sure ourselves."

Seeing the sudden return of the knights, the senior officers in the dragon cavalry's headquarters tent nearly had their eyes popping out of their sockets.

From the day they were annihilated, a week had passed.

Furthermore, this is enemy territory - the land of Albion. Their survival was already written off as hopeless.

Count Kirnumel, the commander of the 2nd Dragon Cavalry Battlion, which is in charge of three dragon cavalry companies, was the first to open his arms and welcome the return of these warriors, who have miraculously survived.

"Never mind! Regardless, returning alive is something worth being happy about! It really is incredible! A miraculous survival, I say!"

Immediately, applause and cheers rang out inside the tent.

Standing beside Saito and Louise, who brought the whole lot here, a young knight with a shy expression said in a loud, clear voice,

"Actually, even I find it hard to believe myself."

"Also, even the wounds on our bodies were healed completely."

A knight took a closer look at the survivors, and exclaimed,

"You're right!"

"Was it the enemy who treated you guys?"

"I... don't know. Regardless, I shall first narrate my personal experience of the battle."

As the leader, the young knight began narrating his report to those in the tent.

The 2nd Dragon Cavalry Company was surrounded by more than a hundred enemy riders. One by one, the riders fell to the enemy's magic attacks.

Almost every knight and dragon mount was severely wounded, and lost consciousness as they plumment to the ground.

"So, what happened after you guys regained consciousness?"

"At the time, I was already riding on the dragon's back, along with the rest, all the way to Losayes. It's only upon reaching here did I realise that a week had already passed."

"You're saying that you guys have no memory of what happened from the moment you guys were shot down til today?"

The knights looked at each other sheepishly.

"Yes, sir. Absolutely nothing."

"Hey... Don't tell me you guys lost an entire week's memories?"

"That's exactly what happened."

The knights nodded in shame.