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Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter5 - MTL

2008-10-28T14:55:17Z

89.181.96.79:

After that, ten days passed.

After Tiffania’s ring intensive healing magic treatment, Saito’s fatal wounds, after two weeks of sleeping and three all together, almost completely healed….

Yet he was not heading back.

Leaning upon his elbows, Saito let out a lonely sigh.

“Haaah.”

What a painful thing to hear were those sighs.

Saito was sitting on the firewood pile behind Tiffania’s house. Tiffania’s house was made from logs and some mortar.

Before one’s eyes, sun-lit, beautiful trees grew.

Here, next to South Gotha, Westwood village was located. The village is near the highway connecting South Gotha and port city Rosais.

Based on Tiffania’s words, the hill where Saito held off the Albion army is not too far away either.

Indeed, it was a tiny, forgotten by people, village. Even if you would be looking its way, through small breaks within forest, you could see the ten small houses only from a really close distance.

Derflinger, who was leaning against the woodpile, said in a calm voice.

“Weeell, seems like Albion’s army missed the Allied Forces in Rosais. Because you won some time, the allies could retreat successfully. Partner, your life threatening clash with an enemy was not in vain.”

They learned this from the merchant that came to peddle in the village the other day.

He himself had seen that merchant who came to sell the cloth and chattered about the reverse defeat of the Albion republic army. He said - "We’ll survive through this and it will be a little bit easier" with a happy face. Albion’s nobles were not popular among the country people.

“Besides, the war ended as well. Goes without saying.”

They also learned that Galia suddenly entered the war, making the Albion army surrender.

“Even if we escaped, we won anyway.”

However, Saito still looked gloomy.

“…it is so.”

Louise and others should have been able to run away safely as well. Yet even though he should be joyous…

He kept on staring absent-minded at his left hand, and muttered:

"Clean isn’t it.”

So, the runes that disappeared did not come back.

Apparently, the contract was completely broken.

“I, I am not even a Gandalfr anymore.”

“Hmm. No, I was thinking, why would a familiar contract completely wear off…”

“What, why?”

“For one moment, your heart stopped. So mate, the familiars' runes died as well. Mage spell based magical objects can make assumptions too. Like flies escape the door that seems to be dead – runes may have left as well.”

“I see.”

Trying to comfort the glum Saito, Derflinger said,

“Hey hey, isn’t it good? This way you won’t have to deal with that fussy noble girl’s complaints. You will be counted as dead in her eyes.”

“Indeed, yet still…”

Bitterly, he was not able to give up. Saito looked up at Derflinger and asked.

“...Can Louise make a contract again?”

“What?”

“Indeed. You heard me.”

“Sort of like double using.”

“Yes.”

“Firstly, "Summon Servant" is not only about passing. It all depends if that noble girl will open the gate in front of you or not.“

“…”

“In fact, it is still unknown why a person is chosen to be a familiar. Based on the four element system, only a beast or a spirit that represents the element of the user can pass the gates… Anyhow, that girl’s element is ‘Void’. According to what principle the familiar is chosen, I don’t know. Yet…”

“Yet?”

“This is so called ‘fate’.”

“Hmm, if I and Louise are related by ‘fate’ then could the gate open again?”

“I don’t know. But, it was fated to bid farewell here. That’s one of the problems.”

“Hmm… well, and secondly?”

“Servant Contract.”

Saito recalled how he was summoned to this world and kissed by Louise. If you think about it - everything started from that.
“Aah, that kiss.”

“That is right. ‘Summons’ and ‘contract’. It’s because of the combination of these two, one becomes familiar for the first time.”

“So it is not just a kiss?”

“It seems it was the ‘type’. Actually, the runes carved deeply into your body after that right?”

Saito remembered the sensation of burning pain from that time.

“…so that’s everything left to do.”

“I would not recommend it.”

Derflinger muttered.

“Why?”

“Weeell, that, whether it is or not, if a familiar dies, the mage can summon another familiar… It’s different for familiars. For familiars, the ‘contract’ is a lifelong one. For familiars that live after the contract breaks, it becomes unpalatable.”

“Hmm hmm…”

“So, to put it this way, for a familiar breaking a contract with the mage twice, one can only guess what would happen to the body…”

Derflinger said in an inarticulate voice.

“…”

“So, it’s bad I say. After getting life back with much trouble and putting it back under risk again… And, if the contract fails, partner would not only embarrass himself. That girl also, would not want to see such thing. It would be depressing.“

…It is so.

It’s not only me who is in danger. It is possible that Louise would be jeopardized as well.

Still, Saito was not able to give it up.

It kind of feels like a hole in the heart. The bond that Louise and I had, is broken. It‘s like my body is split in two, painful.

“Therefore, don’t look so gloomy. This way you can travel to the east without holding back. We'll go together.”

“I am not a Gandalfr anymore, would it still be alright?”

“It’s good. For six thousand years, I've been alive. For me, partner‘s time feels like one second.“

Saito sighed and said.

“But what about Louise?"

“Oh dear. That girl is very prideful, it will be all right.”

In a not careworn voice, Derflinger said. Saito nodded in a persuaded way.

“Yeah. There is no purpose for her to admit me… I, who can’t use magic and am just a simple human, am a nuisance…”

Feeling depressed, he heard the voice from the back.

“Umm…”

When he turned around, Tiffania was standing there with an embarrassed face.

“N?”

“Firewood…”

Seems like Saito was asked to collect the firewood that he sat on.

She was wearing a large hat to hide her pointed ears.

“Ah, sorry.”

Saito stood up. Tiffania, avoiding Saito’s eyes, looked down and reached for the firewood. I have been careless, he thought. What if they learn that I am from a different world? I guess one cannot keep a secret who and from where he is forever. Even though she rescued me... and went through the trouble to look after me when I was recovering.

“Sorry. I am greatly indebted to you. I, it’s time to leave for me. So don’t worry. Yeah, because the war is over, such a kind of awkward guy like me is not needed to the village.“

Tiffania opened her eyes wide.

“Ah, it’s different! Different! It is not so! I… umm, because you are a boy of the same age like me, I could not speak properly… I was slightly tensed… But it is not because I am afraid. Therefore, until the wound heals properly, you may stay here for a long time. I am the one who should be sorry.”

Hesitantly Tiffania bowed embarrassed.

Seeing this girl, Saito brightened up for a moment. Besides, he was impressed. She is an extremely shy about strangers girl. Yet, she helped him despite herself.

“I see, you are not only cute, but gentle too.”

“I-I’m not cute!”

“You are cute. And I think you are gentle too.”

When Saito said so, Tiffania pulled the hat further down. She was feeling shy.

“I may be kind… But because of my mothers' words.”

“Mother?“

Saito asked. The word had a nostalgic sound to it.

“Yes. My… dead elf-mother. She said giving the ring to me. ‘Help when you find a person in need.’ My mother was like that. Without reflecting in it myself, I carried out the words of the person that I loved. Therefore, I…”

Derflinger nosed in.

“Somehow, I think that there were complicated circumstances to it.”

Tiffania looked down.

“This Westwood village. If you look at it, only children are in here.”

“That’s right.” Saito nodded. Though his head was full with thoughts about the runes disappearing up till now... He never saw an adult here.

“This village is an orphanage. Children who lost parents live in here.“

“Do you look after them?”

“Because I am the oldest, I take care of things, as for food however…”

“You don’t have money?” Derflinger asked.

“An old acquaintance sends the money. It’s enough to cover the basic needs.”
Tiffania said hesitatingly.

“What is a half-elf, with the ‘Primal Magic’ ring, doing in the orphan’s village?

“Derf!”

Saito warned Derflinger.

“It is alright if you do not want to tell the circumstances behind the ring. But is there something you could tell about?”

Tiffania became silent.

“Sorry, we shouldn’t pry for you to speak about something you don’t want to speak. Derf, act properly. That’s this swords habit, to pry about things…”

When Saito said so… Chink! A dry sound came.

When looking up, he saw one arrow stuck in one of the firewood that he sat upon.

“Dangerous. Is there a hunter?”

Chink! Chink!

The arrows flew one after another, sinking into the ground next to Saito and the others.

“Who the?!”

When he shouted, the group looking like mercenaries emerged from the forest.

“Hey you! Is there a village chief? Call him here!”

A lot of people came out. All members were carrying weapons - bows with arrows, spears and so on.

”Wh-what for?”

Tiffania muttered in a frightened voice.

“My, what a beauty. Here, in the middle of the forest, isolated from the world.”

One said and came closer. He was a small, sly looking man with a small cut on his forehead. Apparently, he was the leader of the group.

“And who are you? Mercenaries?”

“Ex-mercenaries. Since the war ended, we returned to our original profession.”

“Profession?”

“Robbery.”

One said, then the others started to laugh.

“Really, the easy battle time is over once we suddenly surrendered to Galia. You see, we need a compensation. So going back to basic business, to earn food.

“Leave. There is nothing for you in here.”

Tiffania answered back and looked courageously at them. The men laughed.

“There is some.”

“Eh?”

“Even if the village looks poor, there are still some valuable things, I think. For me, a great treat would be a beautiful woman like you.”

“I think you would be worth two thousand gold coins, right?”

These robbers seemed to do kidnapping too.

One approached and the moment he tried to touch Tiffania…

Saito stepped in.

“Stop.”

“What? Kid, don’t you value your life? Except for a few exceptions, there is no interest in the market for the likes of you.”

“Don’t touch Tiffa.”

“Myyy, such a serious fellow. Want more wounds? Move.”

Contemptuously evaluating him, the robber gave a vulgar smile.

Saito reached for Derflinger. Derflinger whispered in a worried voice.

“…Partner, stop. The way partner is today, there is no chance of winning.”

”Hey, youngster. Do you want us to murder you? Let us work in peace.”

One robber said while lowering a spear. Saito clenched his fist. My present self cannot use Gandalfr's power and is just a high school student.

But…

Saito gripped Derflinger.　

“I won’t abandon someone to whom I owe my life.”

“Partner…”

“Naa, little boy. Do you know something?” said a man holding the spear.

“W-what?”

“To attack the Tristain and Germania Allied Forces, we headed toward Rosais. However, we were stopped by only a single person. I don’t know much as I stayed behind... Yet you remind me the courage of that person. I praise it.”

“It was me.”

Saito, who gripped the sword, said in a shaky voice. Men began to laugh.

“Heyhey! You say you stopped the Albion army when your hand trembles just from holding a sword?”

“At least lie better if you are lying! It was 70,000! 70,000!”

“Shut up!”

Saito raised Derflinger and sprang at a man who laughed. Then the opponent made a serious face and received Saito's sword with the spear.

“Ugh!”

Derflinger was blocked without any effort. The man turned the spear skillfully, hitting Saito's feet with it. Disappointingly, Saito fell on the ground.

Pointing a spear at his face, the man said in a cruel voice:

“Naa, youngster.”

“Ku…”

“When you’re reborn in your next life, consider your words before boasting.”

The moment when Saito was giving up, he shut his eyes…

''Naushido Isa Elf-zu...''　

Voice came from the back. Gradually, it turned into song. A spell was being cast behind him.

''Hagaraz Yur Beog...''

…It was similar to Louise.　

''Needo Isu Arujiz…''

When turning around, he saw Tiffania grasping the small wand that she took out some time ago. It was a small and a thin wand, like a pencil.

“What? Nee-chan is a noble? Naah, it must be another bluff…”

''Berkan Man Raguu...　''

The moment when a single man closed in...

In a confident attitude, like a conductor lowering a rejected baton, Tiffania lowered her wand.

The air stirred like mayflies.

The air, surrounding men, distorted.

“Fue…?”

Like a fog clearing up, the distorted air returned back to normal… Men looked at the air dumbfoundedly.

“That? What just happened here?”

“This? Why we are in this place?”

Tiffania informed the men in a perfectly composed voice.

“You got lost in the forest.”

“R-really?”

“The army is that way. Go forth to the highway after leaving the forest and then head straight to the north.”

“T-thank you…”

Step by step men left without reliance.

In a blank surprise, Saito watched their backs.

After the last one disappeared in the forest, Tiffania relaxed.

Then Tiffania said in an embarrassed tone.

“…I have erased their memory. Their memory stops at ‘entering the forest.’ When they reach the highway, they will forget about us completely.”

“It’s magic?”

Tiffania nodded. Then Saito realized something.

“Then, the dragon knights that were helped, have lost their memory as well…”

“So. You know those people.”

Saito nodded.

Magic that erases one’s memory…

Wind, Water, Fire, Earth…

Whichever element he thought of, none could do that.

Unless…

But isn’t it a legendary element?!

While trembling, Saito asked.

“…just now, what magic was it?”

Instead of Tiffania, Derflinger answered.

“Void. It was void.”

“Void?”

Confused, Tiffania looked at Derflinger

“… what, this is its true identity.”

Saito, with a widely opened mouth, stared at Tiffania. This girl who had an impossible chest… secretly had an impossible power as well.

“Anyway… Why are you able to use that power, please allow me to hear.”

<center>* * *</center>

That night, to hear Tiffania's upbringing story, Saito came to the living room.

In Tiffania's house, there were three rooms. The room where Saito was resting, her bedroom, and this living room. The children lived in groups of three, but though they lived separately, they ate in Tiffania's house. After finishing the dinner and seeing off children to their houses, Tiffania took the wine out of the barn and placed it and the glasses on the table.

The firewood was burning in the fireplace, in addition, some bird’s meat was being roasted on it.

“I'm sorry for waiting. Unless the night comes, I feel too uneasy to talk.“

“It’s all right.” Saito said.

Tiffania, while watching the roasting poultry on the fireplace, began to talk slowly.

“My mother was, Albion's king’s younger brother’s… the Grand Duke's who was ruling over this whole land of South Gotha, mistress. My father was a Grand Duke of the royal family treasury, responsible for the management. My mother used to call it 'financial supervisors' attention'.“

“Mistress?”

Saito asked.

“Yes, mistress – a woman other than a wife.”

“Indeed.”

“Why would an elf be a Grand Duke’s mistress?”

“I do not know that. The reason why my mother, being an elf, came to the white country to become father’s, is unknown to me. Mother never spoke about it… However, once in Halkeginia, no one thinks of elves pleasantly, it must have been some really complex circumstances.”

“Because they say they try to get back the sacred ground from elves.”

“Aye. In the that sort of division, my mother was a truly obscure person. She never talked in public and rarely went out. In the residence, she waited for my father's return for a long, long time, continuing that sort of life. I still recall it. The back of a mother who absent-mindedly watches the door… Since I had the ears of my mother, I was not allowed to go out as well then.”

Saito was quiet and drank one glass of wine. So that’s why Tiffania was not used talking to teenager boys. Not only the boys, there must have not been any girl friends either.

“However, that sort of life with mother was not too difficult. Father, who came by occasionally, was gentle and mother told me various stories too. Mother taught me how to play musical instruments and read books.”

“I see.”

“The day when that sort of life ended came. Four years ago. Father, with a changed look, came to us. He said, 'Here is too dangerous' and took us to the house of one of father's vassals.”

“Why?”

“Mothers existence was the royal family’s secret. If it were to be found out some day that a royal family treasury manager, father, had an elf as a mistress, it would cause a huge scandal; if not more. Still, father refused to banish mother and me. The vicious king imprisoned father and did all sorts of tricks to search for our whereabouts. And, at last, we were found.”

Saito held his breath.

“I still remember it well. The day when the advent festival started. Many knights and soldiers came to the house in which we hid ourselves. The noble who was father's vassal, however, desperately resisted... but was no match to the king‘s military forces. Once the knights‘ footsteps echoed in the corridor, my mother hid me in the closet and locked it. I was holding the wand given to me by father, and trembled for a long time. When soldiers entered the room, mother said.“

Saito shut his eyes.

“'I will not resist. We elves do not want to fight.’ Yet, magic was the response. I heard a frightening sound when one spell after another hit my mother. Then the chasers tried to open the closet where I hid myself…“

Tiffania drank a glass of wine, with a painful expression on her face.

“And, were you caught?”

She shook her head.

“No…”

“Then, did someone help?”

“No. The spell, that I used today, saved me.”

“Then how did that magic awake?”

Not able to contain the overflowing curiosity, Saito asked it. With her eyes closed, Tiffania began to speak.

“In my house, there were a lot of riches as my father was the royal treasury manager. When I was small, I often played with them. There was an old music box among them.”

“Music box?”

“Yes. Treasure given to the royal family… However, it could not be opened without the ring. Yet, one day I noticed. That there was one ring similar to the lock in the treasury, and when I inserted it and opened the box, I heard a tune. It was a beautiful, somewhat nostalgic tune. Mysteriously, no one else but me could hear that tune… Even if the ring still fit.“

Saito held his breath. She looked like she was remembering something.

“Once I heard the tune, in my head… runes started to emerge. However, I did not say that to anyone, because I did not want them to find out I was playing with the treasure.”

“The runes that you used a while ago?”

“It is so. When the closet was opened by the soldiers, those runes came to my head. And I started humming it while rejecting the wand given by my father.”

The effect of the spell that Tiffania recited was identical to the one earlier today – soldiers forgot what they came to do in the first place, Tiffania said.
　
“The runes that came with the tune I heard from the opened music box, remained forever in my head. Since then, those runes saved me many times…”

When Tiffania finished talking, she drank up the glass of wine slowly. Then, she muttered to herself.

“So, ‘void’ you say. I however, thought it to be a mystic force…”

“You should not speak about that to people.”

“Why?”

“Void is a legendary power. There might be guys who try to use that power. It is dangerous.”

“Legendary? Exaggerated!”

Tiffania laughed.

“Me, such a failure, a legend? That’s too weird!”

“It is true.”

When Saito said it seriously, Tiffania nodded.

“Understood. If you say so – I won’t tell this to anyone. Or perhaps, I could tell, then just later remove their memory...”

To Tiffania, who has grown up in a separated from poeple place, it was hard to understand the importance of this thing.

Saito drank wine as well.

While drinking, his eyelids became heavy.

Tiffania was literally shining like moonlight.

Saito ruminated through the story.

Such a beautiful, fairy-like, girl, has such a tragic past.

With his eyes closed, Saito fell into the world of drunken slumber.

''The left hand of God is Gandálfr, the ferocious shield of the lord. His left hand wields a large sword and his right hand wields a long spear: protect me with endless vigilance.''

''The right hand of God is Vindalfr, the kind-hearted flute of the lord. He dominated all beasts of life, leading me through earth, sky and water.''

''The mind of the god is Myozunitonirun, is the book that carries the crystallization of thought. It carried all knowledge and provided advice whenever I was in need.''

''There was one more person, but remembering its name gave me trouble…''

''Taking the four disciples, I came to this land…''

Saito was woken up by a singing voice.

It was not daybreak, as the two moons were hanging outside the window.

“…Sorry. Did I wake you up?”

Tiffania sat in front of the fireplace, holding a harp.

“Could you sing that again?”

Tiffania began to sing again.

The way her voice permeates through the mind. The way the moonlight shines within her hair. She had a beautiful singing voice.

“Was this the song you heard together with the runes?”

Tiffania nodded.

After that, she started to play the tune with the harp. She didn’t sing this time. Saito, while listening to the tune, whisperingly asked Derflinger, who was leaning against the chair.

“…Hey, Derf. You know something?”

“What?”

“If there are other void supporters… there must be other familiars like Gandalfr too.”

“Aah.”

“Talk.”

“There is a possibility. However, just the possibility. Not the necessity.”

Saito got angry at Derflinger who pretended not to know.

“Tell me.”

“What?”

“Louise’s void must also have been awaken not by coincidence. There must be some kind of reason, right?”

“I do not know. After all, I am just a sword. I cannot understand some deep things. But, it is not that important to know anyway. Partner, you are not a Gandalfr anymore.”

“I think you are hiding something from me.”

For a moment, Derflinger’s voice became serious.

“Partner, I will say it once.”

“What?”

“I love you. Strange and honest. Therefore, please remember one thing: No matter what I say or do, I think about what is better for you. I will tell you when the time is right…”

“Is it so?”

“It’s wisdom, I tell you, it’s wisdom.”

Though Saito was about to say something… he shut his mouth.

Tiffania kept on playing. Saito closed his eyes

“..hmmm. Damn.”

“What is it now?”

“When I hear this song, I wonder why I am reminded of Earth.”

“Earth?... Is that partner’s hometown?”

“Aye.”

“It can’t be the reason for nostalgic feelings. It’s the tune that Brimir played while thinking about his hometown. It’s just homesickness I say.”

“Brimir's hometown was a sacred ground?”

“It is so. Maybe.”

“Maybe? Remember and answer properly!”

“Stop saying foolish things. It’s hard to remember things that happened thousand of years ago. Can you in detail, remember even the most recent things?”

Saito poured wine into the glass.　

He drank it and muttered.

“Brimir is a god, I guess. Everyone, in Founder Brimir’s presence… starts talking prayers.”

“Silly moss. He is not a god. Brimir was a free person. No, not much… he was god’s spokesman… The nearest existence to it… I think.”

“A great person anyway.”

“That is right.”

“Is this whole noise because this great guys' hometown was taken over by elves?”

“That’s not true.”

Tears were falling from Tiffania’s eyes now as she played the harp.

[[Image:ZnT08-141.jpg|thumb]]

Due to her bond with her mother … she could recall the homeland where the elves live.

Saito felt a sense of intimacy with Tiffania.

Her hometown was also not here.

She, like me, was a foreigner. That's why she feels so strongly about her pointed ears.

Tiffania's tears, illuminated by moonlight, shone brilliantly.

Various things whirled in Saito’s mind.

The war that finally ended…

The sign of Gandalfr that disappeared…

The meeting of a new Void user…

And… Louise.

I, who is not a Gandalfr, does not have the qualification to stay by the pink-haired girls side.

Therefore, I cannot return to Tristain.

I cannot meet Louise.

Because… all that Louise needs is Gandalfr… not this Hiraga Saito.

While thinking this way, unaware, Saito started to shed tears.

Saito felt how tears of homesickness and tears of heartache melted into one.

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter4 - MTL

2008-10-28T13:44:02Z

89.181.96.79:

On the day Saito woke up, one week ago…

One wind dragon landed on the courtyard of Tristain Academy of Magic.

All students, who were chatting in the courtyard, turned around.

Once seeing the boy on the dragon’s back, a sigh escaped from the schoolgirls’ chests.

“Look! What beautiful hair!”

“Look there!”

Seeing the boy’s eyes, schoolgirls became frightened in an instant. The color of the right and left eye is different

“The ‘Moon eyes’.”

One girl muttered.

Eyes with different right and left color were called ‘Moon eyes’, following the two moons of Tristain. In the provinces, where the superstitions are strong, it is believed that such person is evil and is despised by everyone too.

However… they still absent-mindedly watched the beautiful boy that got off the dragon.

“Hyaa… is he a noble from some country? He’s like a fairy!”

Shinto priest of Romalia - Julio Cesar.

Schoolgirls went on – “Kyaa Kyaa”.

Julio, ignoring such commotion, jumped down to the ground from his wind dragon’s back….

Thump.

He hit the ground with his head.

Schoolgirls, dumbfounded, looked at each other, and ran up to Julio.

“Are you… all right?”

Julio laughed with a smile, while laying on the ground. What a charming smile – all schoolgirls got swayed in an instant.

“The soil is on your face… P-please use this…” one girl gave a handkerchief to Julio, making the other girls stir as well.

“H-here use mine!”

“My handkerchief has a nice smell to it!”

“I’m alright.”

“Haah! The soil doesn’t suit your elegant features!”

“It’s good. Just about.”

“But…”

“I still haven’t washed my face after the war. That’s why it’s dirty.”

Julio waved off.

“For three weeks? Seriously!”

“Do you really hate washing your face that much?”

Laughter echoed.

“That’s not it. I just cannot make a lady's handkerchief dirty.”

He stood up and bowed.

“Nooon! Stop joking!”

Girls shouted joyfully.

From that sort of schoolgirls’ actions, schoolboys were watching unpleasantly. One schoolboy, with a challenging smile, approached Julio.

One girl shouted.

“Pelisson-sama!”

Third grader Pelisson was a ladykiller of Tristain Academy of Magic. Though he had a pretty face like ancient sculptures, he lacked the charm. He was jealous, when a popular person showed up suddenly, and could not stomach it.

Pelisson crossed his arms and glared at Julio and noticed a Holy Saget on his chest.

Fun, he gave a goofy smile.

“Priest, did you come to plead for offerings?”

Without loosing his cool, Julio answered.

“I came here to meet a friend.”

“This is a noble studying building. Go preach to the streets.”

“I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”

Pelisson’s brow slightly paled. Once understanding that Julio doesn’t have a wand, he pulled out a long, thin wand. It was a brand-new one, one that young knight’s get while joining the army.

“Judging from your words a little while ago, you seem to also have participated in the Albion campaign, Priest.”

“Aa.”

“I am a report officer from the Navarre unit. You?”

“Various jobs.”

Julio said, waving it off.

“It must have been taking care of your dragon. Like your follower. Yes.”

“For Shinto priests, any work suits.”

Pellison hit Julio’s head with his wand.

“By beating my head, you are insulting God and Founder Brimir, Officer-san.”

“I am not insulting god. I’m just teaching a cocky Shinto priest, who started acting like a noble, some manners. I’ll show you an insult.”

“So you were a noble? Then why you are so jealous about someone who is outside the noble’s circle?“

Pelisson's face reddened. Schoolgirls, who gathered around, became frightened.

“Then cast your spell!”

He shouted while uttering a spell…

The wind dragon, that was sitting behind Julio, sprang to his feet and jumped at Pelisson. And in one second, Pelisson, unable to resist, is held down by a big wind dragon.

“H-hey! It’s unfair! Don’t use a dragon! Guah!”

Pelisson, whose back was trampled down by a big wind dragon, fainted in agony.

“Since I cannot use magic, I use dragons instead.”

Hearing such commotion, teacher Chevreuse ran up in short steps.

“What’s this! What’s this! I think the war is already over, so stop fighting in the courtyard now! I’m serious!”

Chevreuse easy widened upon noticing Julio, who stood up.　

“Ara Ara, aren’t you an outsider? Whose permission do you have to enter? Not to mention, bringing such a dragon too!”

Taking the hand of rattling Chevreuse, Julio bowed gracefully.

“…Eh?”

After taking her hand, he looked into Chevreuse's face. Such a handsome face made Chevreuse blush despite her age.

“I am sorry. However, I only came here to meet a friend…”

“A-ara, is that so? Who?

“Yes, Miss Valliere. I want to get permission from your beautiful self, to see her today.”

“Beautiful? What?”

“Yes. In my mother country Romalia, there is an ancient painting of a holy woman. When you appeared, I have mistaken you with that holy woman in the painting.”

“Oh dear! Holy woman! That!”

Chevreuse shouted in a frolicking voice.

“May I enter the school?”

“The said holy woman cannot possibly refuse Shinto priest-sama! P-please take this!”

Chevreuse smoothly wrote down on paper the entrance permission, and with a dreamy face, handed it to Julio.

“Thank you. Ah, if I may, can I ask you to take care of the dragon?”

“Y-yes! Please go!”

Chevreuse stood upright and gave an emphatic salute.

“Azuro! I’m going then.”

Barking, wind dragon Azuro, nodded to his master.

Schoolgirls stared coldly at Chevreuse, who absent-mindedly watched the back of the leaving Julio.

“W-what are you looking at?!”

“Nothing… A teacher is still a woman. Indeed”

“D-don’t make fun of your teacher! Y-you! Stop sleeping forever on the ground! Faster, remove yourself from the foot of Shinto priest-sama’s wind dragon!”

Blushing, Chevreuse shouted at Pelisson who was groaning from being stepped upon by the wind dragon.

<center>* * *</center>

-Knock knock knock- someone knocked against the door. Louise absent-mindedly opened her eyes.

“Who?”

She asked.

It was silent for a moment, then,

“It’s me. Me”

Came the answer.

Hearing that voice, Louise instantly jumped up and ran. However… after some thought, she returned back and hid under the blanket.

Must be some kind of hallucination. Because of too much longing, she started hearing voices in her head.

“Please, open up. It’s me.”

The voice sounded again. Louise slowly stuck her head out of the blanket and watched the door.

“Real thing?”

“And why would I be the fake? Hurry up and open it.”

Louise sprang to her feet. Like pink lightning she dashed to the door, dressed only in a thin nightdress, and hastily tore the door open.

The face that she saw many times in her dreams, now stood before her.

“Saito…”

Louise almost crumbled to the floor.

Smiling, Saito held Louise’s shoulders.

“Sorry for taking so long.”

“Ba…”

“Ba?”

“Bakaaa…”

Louise’s eyes were full of tears.

-sob- -sob- ”I was worried so much… I was terribly worried if you were dead or not… waah, hic, waaah.”

Louise sobbed. Saito gently embraced her.

“Sorry… I’m really sorry. I desperately tried to escape, but finding a ship took time.”

Saito said in a very gentle voice.

“Why, why did you leave me and go alone?! Baka. Bakabakabaka!”

Louise started hitting Saito’s chest with her small fists.

Interested, Saito proved.

“Well, I am not dead, right?”

“Such ingratitude towards me, abandoning me…”

“That’s not why.”

Saito said.

“Then why?”

Louise asked.

“Because I love you.”

Being told so straightforwardly, Louise’s cheeks blushed.

“D-don’t be silly. No matter what you say, love has nothing to do with it.”

“Your voice is trembling.”

“It’s not trembling.”

“You love me too, right?”

He said with great confidence. Louise sank her eyes down. Louise was weak against such straight words.

“Ba-baka. Why would I be in love with you...”

“Your face gives it out, hey, it’s already red.”

“It’s not giving it out. It’s not red. I’m not in love.”

“You put such clothes on, wanting me to push you down, right? What. So shameless.”

Before noticing, she was wearing black-cat clothes again.

“N-not true. I am just playing a familiar. And I am only wearing such black clothes because that wasted sword said so.”

He grasped her tightly and laid her down on the bed.

“…Ah”

Even though she was complaining, a hot moan escaped her mouth.

Saito brought his face closer. Though she resisted, she closed her eyes.

“Awah, awah, awah…” Louise haloed, while Saito was kissing the scruff of her neck.

“Fuah, fuah, fuah…” noise escaped through closed lips.

Louise held Saito closer.

What great confidence this guy has.

Did I want him to embrace me tightly like that?

Lies. Lies.

However, my body is not listening at all.

Her arms wrapped tightly around him, clinging as if her life would depend on it, seemingly enjoying the feeling.

For a long time, Louise laid there with her face buried into Saito’s chest.

Then…

“Really, you made these black cat clothes for this?”

Casually, Saito, stripped off Louise’s black cat clothing. The part which covered her breasts.

“S…S!”

In an instant, Louise covered her breasts.

With a shocked face, she looked up at Saito. Usually, it is the place where bickering, hitting, kicking and shouting start, yet now a sweet voice escaped her mouth.

“S-stop…”

She muttered, averting her eyes from Saito.

“Show them.”

Saito blankly said such bold thing.

“S-stupid… that… not. No…”

“Why? Didn’t you change clothes back then without feeling shy at all?”

“B-because… because, familiar during those days…”

“And still a familiar.”

“T-that’s right, but now it’s different.”

“How is it different?”

Uuh… Louise faltered

“A-anyway, it’s no good now.”

“Why?”

“Because, well…”

“Tell me.”

Saito repeated words like a spell. Louise, like bewitched by it, honestly told what she was thinking.

“…little bit.”

“Slightly?”

“L-little bit. Wanted.”

Louise said while blushing.

“I know.”

“…really just a tiny little bit. But not much. Well you see, only because Saito would not hate me.”

“I do not.”

“You do. I know. You always look at other girl’s breasts. Princess-sama, maid, Jessica… when you compare theirs to mine…”

“When Louise shows them to me, I will not look at others.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

He said with passionate eyes. Louise’s arm lost its strength.

Louise said in an embarrassed voice.

“Just watch. Just watch, all right? You won’t do anything else, p-promise?

“Promise.”

Saito gripped Louise’s hand and slowly lifted it up. Louise feeling so embarrassed that she could die, squeezed her eyes shut.

It felt as if eternity passed.

“…h-how are they? Small? Right? Average?

Louise demanded for his impression.

However, there was no answer.

“S-say something. Hey.”

She continued to urge him, yet there is still no answer.

Because Saito didn’t say anything, Louise became insecure.
Aah, I shouldn’t have showed him after all!

But in reality, Saito was just amazed.

“Louise.

“W-what… baka… why you haven’t said anything when I asked…”

“Louise.”

He called again. Louise shouted.

“Noisy! Baka! Shut-up!”

Louise shouted, not noticing that it was a dream. Saito and Louise had similar… meeting in a dream.

“They are small anyway! Idiot! I will absolutely not show them anymore!”

In her room, Louise talked in her sleep.

“They are perfect, because I love you.”

Once he said so in her dream, Louise’s body lost the strength completely.

“You really love me?

“Yes.”

He said, smoothly and confidently…

Louise thought.

I should say it.

Say that important word to Saito.

But… even now she cannot say it easily.

She still lacks courage when it comes to that word…

Louise has woke up.

“…that.”

There were no Saito around. And she was clothed in her nightdress.

“A dream…” Louise said in a dull voice.

Even in a dream, she couldn’t say that important word. Saddened, she sunk her face in her palms. Then…

“Louise.”

Her name was called from the corner of the room, startled she turned around.

The beautiful boy with the blond hair stood there leaning against the wall.

“…Julio?”

It was Julio, Shinto priest of Romalia. With a standing out aura, he watched Louise with great interest.

Louise drew the blanket.

“Why are you here?”

“I came to meet you. You seemed to be having a very pleasant dream. I was not looking! Just a little bit! Umm, what on earth were you dreaming about?”

Even Louise’s ears turned crimson.

“Don’t enter without permission. It's not a battlefield tent here.”

Not giving out her emotions, Louise said.

Julio handed Chevreuse’s permit document.

“Is this paper good enough?”

“Still, why did you enter a lady’s room without permission?”

“Because we are connected by a strong bond.”

Julio gave Louise his right hand, covered with a white glove.

Louise ignored his hand.

“Stop joking.”

Julio gave a carefree smile.

“Finally, I was released from the dragon knight corps, so I decided to return to Romalia. Tristanians are such hard workers! Writing reports are foreign to me, that‘s why I always stayed with the squad! But I finally made a report.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Before returning home, I decided to drop in and greet you.”

“Well… thank you.” Louise said with a hollow face.

“Low-spirited?”

Louise tightened her lips and buried her face under the blanket.

“I am a person to whom you owe your life. Don’t I deserve at least a little bit of thanks?”

“What do you mean?”

Louise looked up and stared at Julio

“It was me who put you on the ship.”

Instantly, Louise sprang out of the bed to her feet, and urged Julio.

“Where did Saito go to?”

“I will say it clearly. He is surely dead.”

“Stop!

“I won’t stop!”

Julio put on a serious look.

“What are you saying?! Aren’t you a priest? If you knew he was going to die, why didn’t you stop him!?”

“He tried to get his job done. He couldn’t be stopped.”

“What 'Saito’s job?!'”

“He is Gandalfr. Becoming masters' shield – that job.”

Louise gave Julio a long hard look.

“Do you know why? You weren’t listening, Miss ‘Void’. A strange name for a girl. User of the great void.”

“…How do you know?”

“I am a Shinto priest of Romalia. I come from the country where the theology research is the most advanced. From Tristain to Galia.”

Losing her strength, Louise knelt on the floor. Though she was surprised about Julio knowing details about void, what worried her more now was Saito’s fate. Understanding Louise, and trying to gently admonish her, Julio said.

“Really, you might meet him. But not otherwise.”

“Keep your theology for the dogs to eat.”

“I do not want to lecture you about theology. In reality, Romalia needs you.”

“Leave me alone.”

“I can not… time is important. Now Louise, you love him - true or false?”

After brief reflection, Louise answered.

“True.”

“Good. Though I am not a mage, I know some spell principles. Could you explain what is a Summon Servant to me?”

“It’s a spell that summons familiar.”

“Is that all?”

He asked

“Ha!” Louise made a sour face.

“Though for mages, a familiar is an important being… it is not irreplaceable. After goodbyes you can always meet someone new. I think that’s what Summon Servant symbolizes.”

“Be silent.”

“I’ll pray for a new meeting. See you.”

With these words, Julio went out of the room.

Louise thought quietly for a while… and began to tremble.

“He is not dead…”

She whispered like a prayer.

“He is alive.”

She hung her head for a while, then…

Louise slowly lifted her head up again.

“Stay strong.”

He’s only missing, not dead yet, she told herself.

The door was knocked at again, Louise jumped and went up.

“Julio? Still have something to say?”

She shouted while opening the door. However, the one that stood there was…

“I do, Louise.”

It was Montmorency with an embarrassed face. She sighed once she saw Louise's face.

“I know you are very depressed. I understand your feelings… Yet you still need to go to class. You can’t rest for too long. The war is already over…”

Guiche, who stood behind, anxiously protruded his face as well. Montmorency squatted down next to Louise and softly said.

“Umm… It is still uncertain if he is dead.”

Louise, who had her face buried in her knees, stood up abruptly. As if desperately getting her courage back, she clenched her hands.

“…I know. He’s still alive.”

“T-that’s right! Saito is not one to die so easily!”

Guiche’s voice encouraged Louise as well. After that, Montmorency and Guiche, looked at each other looks and nodded.

“That’s right. He is still alive.”

Louise stood up and muttered with a determined expression on her face.

“I’ll confirm it now.”

“Heh?”

Guiche and Montmorency were confused.

“He is absolutely alive. I will confirm it.”

Louise continued to talk in a feverish tone.

“H-how?”

Guiche asked. Montmorency seemed to understand something.

“Summon Servant?”

“Indeed.”

Louise nodded.

“Spell that summons a familiar… If I can cast Summon Servant again, then my familiar does not exist in this world.”

“I, I see.”

“Therefore… since Saito is alive I will not be able to be complete the spell.”

Guiche hastily said.

“But, what if you complete th-”

Montmorency blocked Guiche’s mouth with her hand.

“Louise… maybe you should prepare yourself a little…”

However, Louise shook her head.

“If I won’t do it now, I’ll never do it.”

With a wand in her hands, Louise raised up her eyes.

Guiche began to tremble. Montmorency closed her eyes.

Silently, Louise began to utter an incantation.

Her hands trembled with tension.

Her heart trembled with fear.

‘Summon Servant’ was not an elemental, and everyone could use it. So Louise didn’t need to read runes to cast it.

“I, Louise Francoise Le Blanc de La Valliere, in the name of the great Pentagon power, following my fate, summon a familiar.“

She thrust out the cane towards an open space.

If Saito, who is a familiar bound to Louise, is alive… the summon gate will not open.

A few moments passed.

Montmorency, who did not have the courage to open her eyes, wondered why Guiche and Louise did not dare to open their mouths.

What happened?

“Hey Guiche. How did it go?”

She asked in a tiny voice, he answered.

“Nh!”

Giving up, Montmorency opened her eyes while holding up her breath

And… dazzled, fell to her knees.

In front of Louise, there was a mirror-shaped gate that shone with light.

[[Image:ZnT08-111.jpg|thumb]]

Soullessly, Louise kept on blankly staring at the gate.

“Aah, that’s terrible. A great man was lost. A very great man was lost. He… loved you dearly.”

Guiche said in a painful voice.

“Louise…” Montmorency muttered.
　
Many summons could be seen within the gates. By this time, the selected beast or spirit would pass through the shinning gates. They can pass it only on their own free will.

Before that happens…

“Close the gate!”

Louise closed the gate. Due to Montmorency’s scream, she did it without thinking.

Montmorency hugged Louise from behind.

“Louise… Aah, Louise…”

Louise like a rag doll crumbled to the floor.

In the end, with her courage shattered into pieces… Louise was engulfed in despair

<center>* * *</center>

At that time, in the Albions South Gotha’s forest village…

Saito, who was sleeping, woke up.

He felt something shining next to him

But… when he opened his eyes, there were nothing there.

“Somehow… Was it a dream? But I already had one dream about light.” Saito said to himself.

Then he watched his left hand again.

Every night he hoped for them to reappear…

Yet, they were gone for good.

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter3 - MTL

2008-10-28T13:20:59Z

89.181.96.79:

First thought that crossed Saito’s mind after seeing the girl was…　

Golden light.

During the dream before, he had seen the golden light at the end.

That light became reality, blinding Saito’s eyes.

He hastily squinted. Once you get used, it doesn't actually shine. However, that girl's impression is too strong to be felt as a false light.

The girl who showed up was beautiful. No, the word beautiful was too trite, she had a divine pretty face. When she moves, one wants to kneel down and worship her.

For the time being “Hada, wada, howada” Saito had trouble finding any words, as they were stuck in his throat.

“What's wrong?”

The girl asked in blank confusion.

“No, that, nothing, this.”

The girl look hesitant for a moment, then, as if having her mind set, took a deep breath and approached Saito. She wore a green, crude, short, one-piece dress, but rather than damaging her beauty, it suited her nicely. Slender lovely legs ran down her short skirt, with white sandals framing her pretty feet.

That simple attire eased up her beauty and created a friendly atmosphere.

Once coming to Saito, the girl laughed forcibly. She tried hard to make him relieved and smiled. Yet it wasn’t a beauty radiating smile, but kindheartedness.

“Thank goodness. Because you slept for two weeks…I was worried that you might not awaken.”

“Did I sleep for so long…”

Though he was surprised that he slept for two weeks, but the girl’s beauty was even more shocking.

Haa, it looked as if she was covered with light, because of her long hair falling left, right and through the middle. Her blond hair like a waving golden sea reflected sunshine rays falling from the window, puzzling and dancing on her face.

It was like CG showing the face with a perfect outline and a perfect silhouette, beautiful, but making one nervous at the same time. Such a beautiful person without any thinkable flaws.

And… through the crevice of her golden hair, unnoticed, pointed ears peeped.

Such ear shape is quite unusual, he though while trying to move, and incomparable acute pain ran through his side. Until now he has never felt such strong pain.

That pain made him feel "alive". I am not dead, I feel life, thought Saito while trembling.

The way wilted flowers suck in water, relief filled Saito. It was a torrent of relief. He was safe for now and was swept by a turmoil of emotions.

“I see… I am alive…”

Gradually he was moved to tears. I am alive, with such thought, even the aching wounds on his body felt dear.

“Ah, if it hurts it means I am alive.”

Teary-eyed Saito muttered.

Seeing that…

“W-well… are the bandages too tight?”

Blinking her clear, big, green eyes, the girl reached for Saito.

After confirming being alive, the girls' beauty in his presence, also became more real and made Saito’s heart tremble.

Aaah, the touch of such a beautiful person felt like a hit from a drumstick.

At once, feeling like a simpleton, Saito retreated.

Then the girl opened her eyes wide.

Then she noticed that an ear was peeping from the crevice of her hair and hurriedly covered it with both hands. In an instant her cheeks were dyed to pink.

“S-sorry.”

“Eh?”

“But don’t worry. I won’t do any harm.”

Saito looked blankly. It seems that Saito’s retreat was mistaken for fright. An unexpected misunderstanding. Saito lost his nerve only because of her beauty, not because of fright.

“No no! That, I am not afraid. But because of your b-b-bb…”

“Bb?”

“Beauty, well…”

Saying that Saito colored up. He was simply not accustomed saying 'You are beautiful' to a girl.

She made a surprised face.

“Beauty?”

“Y-yes.”

“You think so even after you saw my ear?”

She said removing hands from her ear.

“Yes.”

Suspicious, Saito nodded. Certainly, pointed ears were unusual. However, in Halkeginia with orcs, dragons, water spirits, there lived many strange beings. At this point, pointed ears did not surprise him much. Well, I guess there are people who would not think so.

“…really, you are not shocked? Not scared?”

The girl watched Saito with a doubtful face.

“Really, I am not shocked nor scared. Why would I be afraid? Why do you ask? Besides, there are a lot more scary ones. Like dragons and trolls.”

The girl was relieved.

“It’s unusual for a human to not be afraid of an elf.”

“Elf?”

He has heard the name. He sought in the bottom of the memory and recalled it. Well certainly, mentioned in some talks. This was a name of those who live in the ‘east‘. According to the rumors they are vicious, and live on bad terms with humans in a holy land.

He did think them to be terrible, but the girl in front of him was far from that.

“Yes, elf. And I am ‘mixed’ one at that…”

Muttered the girl with a touch of self-hatred. Thereupon, a shadow covered her porcelain features.

A melancholy took over her face.

Confused for a moment… Saito had second thoughts.

Hey Saito, it's not time to appreciate the pretty girl.

Isn't there anything else for you to worry about?

How did I survive?

What happened to the war?

Louise?

Siesta?

Everyone?

However, there was something else to do before that. He’ll ask later.

“Did you help me?”

Saito said pointing at the bandages around his body.

“Yes" The girl nodded.

“I see… Thank you. Honestly, thank you.”

Saito thanked her many times. Even so, it was insufficient to express his gratitude.

The girl smiled shyly.

Somehow; she seemed to be embarrassed and dodged Saito’s words. Despite being the owner of a beautiful face, she seemed to loose her composure easily.

Though this girls behavior was naturally cute, Saito endured. Now wasn’t the time to get love-struck. There were a lot of things that he wanted to hear first.

But... something was amiss.

Wasn’t it a little strange?

She helped me?

Heyhey, wasn’t I leaping against an army of 70,000?

From the looks, the girl wore village clothes. So how was she able to help him in the middle of the large army?

Gradually, suspicion built in Saito’s mind.

Then, her beauty, and the atmosphere surrounding her…

What if this elf woman was an enemy?

She tries to make me feel relieved to draw out some information…

When you think about it, this beautiful girl in front of me could really be an enemy’s trap. In movies and anime, the spies were usually beautiful women.

Moreover, after coming to this world and meeting Louise, Saito realized one the truth.

‘What looks cute may not be so from the inside.’

Such was the truth. And from the evidences that his body obtained – it was unshakable truth.

With such truth, his doubt in girl rose more.

“Fufufu…”

“What's wrong?”

Saito, cleared his throat, and asked in an calm voice.

“I really want to express my gratitude for helping me, however, there’s one thing I want to know.”

“Please.”

“Where I was helped?”

“Because you were lying in the forest, we brought you here.”

Lying in the forest?

Didn’t I fall, surrounded by a large army?

What forest?

Saito narrowed his eyes and watched the girl suspiciously.

Due to this, the atmosphere started to feel awkward…

“W-well, I’ll bring you food.”

Saying that, the girl tried to leave. Saito gripped her arm.

“Where have you put my sword?”

“Aah, that sword is yours? That, that sword, I did not know but he was making noise. I thought that it was better to not wake you up, so I placed him in the room on the other side….

Saito puckered up his eyebrows. He recalled words from an old detective drama. The beauty of a rose has thorns. And in the end, the beautiful woman was a criminal. Damn, and said aloud.

“There must be a reason for Derf to be so loud.”

“Even if you say that, there must be a reason…”

She said in an embarrassed voice. Then, seeing Saito clasping her hand, the girl shamefully bit her lip.

“W-well… please, that, hand…”

The girl struggled to shake off Saito's hand. However, Saito doesn't let go. Frowning in pain, he drew slender girl’s arm to himself. The blush on girl's cheeks increased even more.

“Umm… let go… please.”

“Tell me the truth.”

But Saito was completely lost in the role of the great detective hunting down a criminal. A very bothering character. Even an encounter with death could not fix such a painful personality.

“You are from the Albion army. Say it, A-L-B-I-O-N.”

“N-no. I am not related to Albion nor to an army.”

With frightened face, girl shook her head. However, Saito’s detective feelings sense was completely convinced that she was part of the Albion army.

“Then how I was “lying in the forest”? I lost my consciousness in the middle of an enemy army! So there!”

“I-I do not know how…”

“Spit it out!”

“Ah..”

Saito pulled the girl making her loose the balance. Then she fell dawn on Saito’s thigh.

“Spit it out! S-eh?”

In an instant, Saito's face became pale.

Something big and soft crashed against his thigh.

Detective doubts about the girl where blown off from his head in an instant, and now other doubt swelled up in his mind.

Hey, Saito asked.

What object crashed against my thigh just now?

…Breasts?

It should be breasts.

However… it cannot be breasts. Surely, there cannot be such breast size. So, it isn’t.

Yet what would be normal breasts like? Saito imagined cooking. Big, soft bread. Stuffed animal. And yes - rounded square cushion.

Then what.

Still, even if it would be breasts. There are physical laws that breasts cannot disregard.

By an accident he caught her profile with his eyes. She was crimson. From shame and tension she seemed to not to be able to talk any more. Because Saito’s grip on her arm she could not stand up. Still, bravely, the girl struggled trying to stand up.

[[Image:ZnT08-077.jpg|thumb]]

Something hard stuck in Saito’s throat.

T-this especially. I, aah, I…

These soft, heavy objects on his thigh changed shape while moving.

Saito, with his mouth agape, watched the girl. Felt like his heart valves were breaking, almost making blood spout from the nose. His pulse was beating like drums, enthusiasm of life was coming back to Saito.

While watching the pointed ear which peeped from the crevice of her thin golden hair… three letters sparked in Saito’s head

T B R

Or saying in words…

The bust revolution.

Indeed… this was a revolutionary breasts size.

When compared to the body lines, the size looks even bigger. This elf girl’s body was slender. He could see that when her body fell. Ankles are thin. Arms are also thin. Waist, neck – all are thin… However, only the breasts gone out of the ordinary groove. The breasts caused the revolt within this body.

If there was a law concerning the breasts size, then this would earn life imprisonment. No, death penalty. At least if Louise were a judge, it would be death penalty.

Aaah, because she wore voluminous clothes he had not realized. Aaah, because of her delicate arms, unconsciously mind applied that to the whole body. Aah aaah, for me, such breast size was all honesty.

“Ah, ya…ha, n.”

The girl let out sounds while struggling. This rascal, though her whole body is slender, why are the breasts so strange? It couldn’t be that the breasts gathered all the nourishment, could it? I learned one day in science class from Mendelian teacher... this miracle could be explained by the laws of dominant inheritance...

His brains boiled, while thinking.

“Big sister is telling the truth!”

“Don’t do anything to Tiffa nee-chan!”

“Stop doing weird things to big sister!”

Children suddenly rushed into the Saito’s room. Seems like the children were watching them from the open door.

“Remove your hands from Tiffania onee-chan!”

Tiffania – seems to be the name of this beautiful elf girl. Children started hitting Saito, who was grasping her arm.

“Eh! No! This! Different! Children, it’s different!”

Though Saito tried to make excuses… the children power was too strong. Though these kids a little while ago were frightened of the weird stranger.

With potential of huge breasts that cannot be expressed in a single phrase, this delicate elf girl, seemed to be the children's treasure.

“You are misunderstanding! This person’s breasts are too strange! Therefore I was surprised! It’s different! I was just surprised, that’s why I attacked!”

“Not different! It looked strange no mater what!”

It was justifiable.

“Ruffian! Be gone!”

“Wait! I’m not bad! That! Gyaa!”

“Eat this!” the girl with short blond hair hit his head severely with the frying-pan. Come to think of it, I was hit with the frying-pan in the dream as well, came the trivial thought, before Saito started a journey to the unconscious world again.

<center>* * *</center>

While rubbing his aching head, Saito woke up again.

Tiffania opened the door and entered. Even after seeing again, she was beautiful. The color of her hair was bright and sparkling with gold and white, tres bien indeed, he thought.

She was embarrassed.

“Just a while ago, s-sorry for the children… because they believed… that you were doing strange things.”

Tiffania was carrying the heavy Derflinger in her arms. Unsho, yokkorasho – panting, she put strained expression that didn’t suit her face and leaned it against the bed.

“Derf!”

“Yoo, partner… Are you finally awake? I'm so glad, I'm so glad.”

Derflinger explained the things after Saito had fainted.

How he fell immediately before attacking the general.

And how Derflinger using ‘absorbed amount of magic to move Gandalfr’ ability ran away to the forest.

“But, I was at a loss. And sad because you died. Your heart stopped too. I was fed up with making friends and then loosing them, what kind of legendary Derf I am.”

“Well, I survived…”

Saito, took a long look at himself again.

“Partner."

“Hold your tongue! Why haven’t you told me that you have such an ability?”

“I had forgotten… I am rather forgetful. But partner’s death made me sad. Partner is partner after all. No, not a legendary anymore, but partner is partner…”

He said in an inarticulate way, but Saito was not listening to Derflinger’s whining already.

Ignoring his aching body, he bowed to Tiffania.

“I'm really sorry! I… Though you helped me, I suspected you to take part in an enemy trap...”

“Eh? It’s all right. That, umm, don’t worry.”

Tiffania muttered, looking embarrassed.

“But, to heal such injury…”

Once again, the inborn curiosity raised it’s head. Saito asked anxiously.

“If you can, could you tell me? What magic you used to heal me when I was in an almost dead state?”

Tiffania, hesitating whether to say or not… showed a ring.

It was an old ring, only a dull silver plinth.

In that silver base for the fourth finger ring - there must have been a stone before.

“I was cured by this ring?”

Tiffania nodded with a stern face.

“Incredible ring! To cure such severe injury! If you have it, people won‘t die from injuries or diseases!“

Tiffania shook her head.

“That’s impossible.”

“What?” Saito was bewildered. Derflinger explained.

“Primordial magic. Elf treasure, isn’t it? The girl is half-elf.”

Tiffania was surprised.

“How do I know it? Anyhow, I lived very long, even though my memory is bad.”

“So… I'll tell you. As sword-san said the ‘primordial magic‘ with water power was placed into this ring. However, I do not know the name of it... it was given as keepsake from my dying mother.“

“Your mother was an elf?”

Tiffania nodded.

“This is rather complicated. I cannot tell you in full-detail… but, the magical power of the plinth was already used up.”

“Exactly. Since the water magic stone was placed in there, the magic was absorbed by the plinth itself. Therefore, there is only a plinth left. However, it cannot rise from the dead. It cannot heal the wounds of the dead ones.”

Saito was touched to the bottom of his heart. Though he didn’t understand well, somehow an important keepsake from her mother was used and he was cured.

“Tiffania-san… right?”

“Tiffania it is. Though, if it is too hard to call me that, you can call me Tifa.”

Tiffania said, giving a smile that was embodiment of beauty. Hard to call, indeed.

“Tifa then. Really really, that… Let me express my greatest gratitude… Though it was such an important ring, to cure me…”

“Eh? It’s all right, it’s all right! Tools are there to be used after all!”

Tiffania said in panic.

“Indeed…”

Saito looked up.

“I would like to thank you, but I do not have anything to give but the little "power" I have!“

“Partner.”

In an embarrassed tone, Derflinger muttered. Disregarding him Saito continued.

“I cannot tell the details, but I can use any weapon! Therefore, please tell me when you are in trouble! For instance if a fierce animal or monster attacks the village at night…”

Saito, on the bed, clasped Tiffania's hand.

“F-for now…”

Tiffania mutters, giving a wry smile.

“You’ll see! Weapon! Grab! And the runes on my left hand start to shine! Here!”

“Saito reached for Derflinger, who had been leaning against the bed and gripped him.

“Ah, partner…”

For some reason Derflinger’s voice sounded embarrassed.

“Hey! When I grip the sword this way, the runes on my left hand… T-that?”

Saito stared blankly. Though Derflinger was gripped, nothing shone. Usually, the runes on his left hand shined and his body felt light, as if growing a pair of wings… yet, it didn’t lighten.

“W-what’s wrong?”

In panic, Saito watched his left hand, with his mouth widely agape.

“Rururu…”

“See, partner? I told you so. Not legendary anymore, but partner is a partner. But we are still same old, right? Friends, right? Therefore do not worry. Because I am still your partner. Thu-…”

Derflinger’s words were interrupted,

“What’s with the runes?!”

Saito screamed.

And so…

The sign of Gandalfr disappeared without a trace.