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Baka to Tesuto to Syokanju:Volume2 The Second Question

2011-03-11T03:22:43Z

Danlemagne: Spelling

===The Second Question===

'''Please answer the following question:'''

Please write down the names of the three Baltic states.

'''Himeji Mizuki’s answer:'''

Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia.[http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Baka_to_Tesuto_to_Syokanju:Volume2_Translator%27s_Notes]

'''Teacher’s comment:'''

Correct.

'''Tsuchiya Kouta's Answer:'''

[[image:BTS_vol_02_031.jpg|thumb]]
Asia, Europe, Urayasu.[http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Baka_to_Tesuto_to_Syokanju:Volume2_Translator%27s_Notes]

'''Teacher’s comment:'''

Sensei is more worried about what Tsuchiya-san defines as ‘country’.

'''Yoshii Akihisa's Answer:'''

Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, Kochi.[http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Baka_to_Tesuto_to_Syokanju:Volume2_Translator%27s_Notes]

'''Teacher’s comment:'''

Before I correct your answer, sensei wishes that you notice that you didn’t answer the correct number of answers.

“Aki, can I talk to you for a while?”

Right now, school is over. Just as I plan to go home with nothing special in mind, Minami called me.

“Un, you need my help?”

“Instead of needing your help, it’s more of discussing something with you.”

She seems rather normal now, seems like she’s not planning to say anything random.

“Discuss? I’ll listen if you like.”

“Um, thanks. I feel that Aki’s the most suited person to talk to regarding this—about that, is there really no way to get Sakamoto involved?”

Speaking of Sakamoto, that’s my best bad friend, the representative of class F—Sakamoto Yuuji.

Seems like Minami believes that the teahouse would only be successful if Yuuji is the one leading class F. by not trying to do this the foolhardy way, it seems that she’s a pretty smart girl.

“Mm—this is going to be hard…I just said it before, Yuuji won’t care about anything that he’s not interested in.”

That guy probably doesn’t even know what the class would be doing.

“However, if Aki is to ask him, maybe he might do something?”

Minami stares at me with an expectant look.

“Eh? I feel that even if I’m to ask him myself, that guy won’t change his answer—”

“No, this won’t happen. He will definitely accept Aki’s request, because—”

“Even though we’re together often, there isn’t really much difference…”

“Because both of you guys are in love, right?”

“I CAN’T GET MARRIED ANYMORE!!”

Why can you say such a thing with a straight face…

“Who wants to be with that Yuuji in the first place? Even if that’s the case, I’ll prefer Hideyoshi!”

“…Ah, Akihisa?”

At this moment, Hideyoshi, who’s just standing beside us, stopped his movements. Oh dear? Is the situation somewhat weird now?

“That…about that, I’m grateful for your feelings, but even if you’re to say that, there are many obstacles that can’t be overcome. That, let’s think, something like age difference…”

“Hi…Hideyoshi! It’s not like that! You completely misunderstood me! It was just a figure of speech! And the biggest obstacle between us isn’t the age difference!!”

Hideyoshi blushes as he lowers his head. What, what now! I’m starting to think that it’s fine if it’s Hideyoshi!

“Then, you mean that you can’t convince Sakamoto as well?”

“Eh? Ah, mm, that’s basically it.”

I shook my head, trying to get these dangerous thoughts out of my mind, and turn to look at Minami.

“Isn’t there any way we can do this? If this keeps up, the teahouse will be a failure.”

Her eyes are looking down, her face looking gloomy as well. That’s right, I’m also thinking about how to get Yuuji involved in this.

Once the teahouse succeeds, we can use the money to improve F class facilities, and lessen the burden on Himeji-san’s body as well. if possible, I’ll also want this shop to succeed.

“Oh yeah, what are you talking about? Seeing both of you looking so troubled, it should be serious.”

“It’s not really something serious, we’re just talking about store management and class equipment.”

“Aki, it’s not really like this. This is really serious.”

“Eh, what’s it about?”

Minami looks rather weird. She’s not really unhappy with the facilities, but for her to be this enthusiastic, what is she thinking?

“Though she told me not to tell this to anyone, but this situation…can you keep a secret about it?”

“Um, mm, I got it.”

I’m rather shocked by Minami’s serious expression.

“Actually, this has something to do with Himeji.”

“Himeji-san? What’s wrong with Himeji-san?”

“She may end up transferring school.”

“Eh?”

Himeji-san’s transferring school? How is that possible! We’re finally in the same class, and just getting started. Now she’s about to transfer schools! I haven’t created any wonderful memories with her, nor have I lay on Himeji-san’s lap and let her dig my ears. Come to think of it, what will happen to this class? As the class idol, the whole class would be left to ruin if she’s not around, and would be reduced to a hell full of violence and plundering. The hairstyle of the whole class will become a Mohican that’s of a late-century savior, after that, it’ll be an all out bloody war for Hideyoshi—

“Ugh, not good, Akihisa’s losing it.”

“That idiot! He really can’t deal with this unexpected situation!”

“Akihisa, snap out of it!”

Who’s shaking my shoulders so hard? Ah, it’s Hideyoshi. You’re cute today.

“Hideyoshi…even if I have a Mohawk, would you still like me?”

“…How did you associate that with Himeji’s transfer?”

“In a certain sense, this may be a rare talent.”

…Ack! Damn it, I thought too much!

“Minami, what’s with Himeji-san transferring school out of a sudden?”

“Exactly what I said. If this keeps up, Himeji may end up transferring schools.”

“If this keeps up…?”

This is really a strange way to say it. I thought that in normal circumstances, once someone decides to transfer school, it’s inevitable.

“Shimada. Isn’t the reason Himeji-san’s transferring school unrelated to what you’re talking about?”

Hideyoshi reveals a puzzled look.

“It’s not like this. The reason why Himeji is transferring school is ‘the environment of F class’.”

“In other words, it’s not because of her parents’ jobs—”

“Yeah, it’s basically the facilities.”

Hearing her say this, I suddenly realized it.

Anyone can easily understand that the facilities of class F isn’t suitable for Himeji-san. Though I’m not against the school’s method of increasing the competition through education, it’s weird for Himeji-san, who’s at such a high level, to have to endure this poor treatment. We have only straw mats and cardboard boxes. Even if she has to study with our class, there are only idiots all around us. She hasn’t done anything wrong herself, yet she’s forced to study in this poor environment, any parent would want her to transfer schools.

“And besides, Himeji’s condition isn’t very good.”

“That’s true, this is really troublesome…”

Like what Minami said, this poor conditions may end up damaging Himeji’s health in the long run. Though we do sweep the floor sometimes (well, rarely), it’s still not a hygienic place. Right now, the conditions are okay, but when winter comes blowing through the windows, even if it’s not Himeji-san, a lot of us will end up falling sick.

“I see, so you want the teahouse to be successful so that we can upgrade the facilities?”

“Hm, even though Himeji wants to change her dad’s view of F class by winning the ‘summoning tournament’, if we don’t upgrade the facilities…”

One of the reasons why Himeji-san is transferring is because F class is full of idiots, so Himeji-san’s actions aren’t just for
show. However, the most important thing is still Himeji-san’s health. If we don’t find a way to improve it, her parents will never change their mindset.

“…Aki…you don’t like the idea of Himeji transferring school, right…?”

Minami looks at me with a tentative look. This is really unexpected; do I really look that cold-blooded?

“Of course, I don’t like it! Not just Himeji-san, even if it’s Minami and Hideyoshi would also feel the same.”

If it’s because of family problems, then it can’t be helped, I don’t want to be separated from my friends because of this stupid reason.

“Really…well, I guess you’re that kind of person.”

Incidentally, if it’s Yuuji, I won’t even bother.

“If so, we have to get Yuuji involved no matter what.””

“That’s right. After hearing this, I can’t stand around and remain silent.”

“Then we better contact Yuuji.”

I took out my handphone and dialed Yuuji’s number. That guy has his school bag in school even though he’s not around, which means that he’s still in school.

Duludulu. The phone chatter bell continues to ring on the phone.

“Hello—”

“Ah Yuuji, I got something I want to—”

“Akihisa? Good timing. Sorry, can you help me get my bag—Argh! SHOUKO!”

“Eh? Yuuji, what are you doing now?”

“Damn it, I was discovered! Anyway, I’ll leave my bag to you!”

“Yuuji? Hello, hello—!”

The phone line was cut, leaving behind a ‘du du du’ sound.

“What did Sakamoto say?”

“Eh, something like ‘I was discovered’ and ‘I’ll leave my bag with you’.”

“What on earth does that mean?”

Minami is glaring at me with a ‘you useless bum’ expression, how rude!

“Seems like he was being pursued by Kirishima Shouko. Despite his outer looks, he’s rather weak to the opposite gender.”

Hideyoshi folds his arms, nodding and making a ‘mm’sound in agreement.

Kirishima-san is the school representative, jet-black hair and slender limbs, a charismatic and talented girl. However, for some reason, there is something wrong with her, to fall for Yuuji like that…

Um, why must Yuuji run around and hide? If it’s an ordinary boy, they won’t be pursued by her, but would pursue her instead.
Yuuji, to think that you would waste this opportunity!

“If so, it’ll be hard for us to contact Yuuji.”

“No, this may be our best opportunity.”

“Eh? What does that mean?”

“In this current situation, it’s the best moment to get Yuuji to lead us in preparing the teahouse. Mm, can both of you help out?”

“Well, there is no problem…but do you know where Sakamoto is?”

“No problem, I can most probably guess what he’s thinking.”

“Seem like you have a plan in mind.”

“Well, most likely.”

I reveal a cunning smile, bringing both of them out of the classroom.

<center>☆</center>

“Oh my, Yuuji, what a coincidence to see you here.”

“…Can you tell me how it is a coincidence that we’re meeting each other in the girls’ changing room?”

That’s right. Like what Yuuji said, this is the girls’ changing room. Because it’s Yuuji, I don’t think that he’s honestly hiding inside the male toilet or changing room, where the girls are not allowed to enter, and would use reverse psychology and hide inside places that guys are forbidden to enter…it’s just that I never expected myself to find him so easily.

“What are you talking about, it’s just a coincidence.”

“Don’t lie, as if you’re supposed to be here.”

Kacha—

The door is opened as soon as the sound is heard, a girl wearing P.E. attire is standing at the door.

“Erm…eh? Aren’t you guys the problematic duo from F class? This is the girls’ changing room, you know!”

“Oh my, Kinoshita Yuuko-san, what a coincidence.”

“OH, Hideyoshi’s sister, nice meeting you here.”

“Ah, yeah, what a coincidence.”

I tried to let out a casual laugh. Hmmm, this IS too coincidental.

“SENSEI! THERE ARE PEEPING PERVERTS HERE!!”

“HURRY UP AND RUN, AKIHISA!!”

“Got it!”

We leaped out of the small window in the changing room, seems like there’s no way we can get past this.

“YUUJI AND SAKAMOTO, YOU SAY? THOSE TWO AGAIN?”

“Damn it, Yuuji! It’s Ironman!”

“Anyway, let’s run!”

Though we’re wearing only slippers, we still continued to run. The opponent is Ironman, we’ll be dead if we’re caught.

“Found you! I’m not going to let you get away!”

The gruff voice can be heard from behind. Damn it! He’s chasing up!

“Akihisa!”

Yuuji’s voice came from behind. His eyes are aimed at an open window on the seconds level of the new campus. Are we going to escape through there?

“OK!”

After receiving Yuuji’s signal, I took off my coat as I ran. At this moment, Yuuji starts to run past me.

“There’s no way out there! Give up and accept your supplementary lessons!”

“Ironman’s voice is becoming closer and closer. To be honest, I’m rather scared myself.”

“Come on, Aki!”

Yuuji, who was running in front of me, stops and turns towards me.

“Got it!”

I jump onto the platform formed by Yuuji’s hands, and at that moment, Yuuji swings his hands up, allowing me to get up to the
second level easily.

“Ugh, those idiots! Having such athletic abilities only in stupid events like this!”

Ignoring Ironman’s loud roar, as I got into the school compound, I lowered the coat that I just took off.

“Whoosh!”

This time, Yuuji kicks the wall, using the momentum to lift himself up into the air and grab my coat.

“Ha!”

At this moment, I swing my coat up. Though the coat creates an irritating flapping sound, at least we managed to get in safely.

“YOSHII! SAKAMOTO!! I WON’T LET YOU GET AWAY TOMORROW!!”

Even if it’s Ironman, he can’t get up to the second level. What we are hearing is the sound of a defeated dog barking.

“Sigh…now our bad reputation has just went up again…”

Wearing my coat again, I let out a sigh. This is too much.

“I should be the troubled one. If you weren’t here, this wouldn’t have happened.

Yuuji acted as if he wasn’t in the wrong.

“What are you saying. Aren’t you the one in the wrong? To hide in the girls’ changing room?”

It’ll be alright if Yuuji were to just hide in a random classroom.

“It, it can’t be helped! It’s Shouko we’re talking about here! It’s not like I can hide anywhere when it’s her!”

Certainly, she does give the vibe that she’ll enter a male changing room without any hesitation.

“Come to think of it, why are you hiding from Kirishima-san?”

“…She wanted me to go to her house.”

Yuuji reveals an unhappy look. What’s so irritating about that?

“From my perspective, this is something worth being envious about right? Is it to Kirishima-san’s room? I want to go in—”

“She wants to introduce me to her family.”

“…You’re not going out with her yet, right?”

Maybe her emotions are a bit too much. I start to feel some pity to Yuuji. However, this regret has nothing to do with why I’m looking for him!

“Then Yuuji, since you’re in quite a fix, I got something good to say to you.”

“Really? I’m gonna kill you if it’s bad news.”

“…”

Yuuji’s serious tone makes me speechless momentarily.

“Anyway, please use my phone.”

I pull out my phone, presses Shouko’s number and passes it to Yuuji.

“Really, what sort of plan are you thinking of?”

Yuuji reveals a surprised look as he receives the phone and places it by his ear.

“Hello? Is it Sakamoto?”

“Oh Shimada, what are you guys doing?”

“Wait a sec, I’m handing over the phone.”

“To who? Hello—hey, hello hello? ”

From the sound of it, it seems like Minami has handed the phone over to the other person.

“…Yuuji, where are you right now?”

“Wrong number.”

Such a scary split-second decision. Not a lot of people in the world can immediately reply ‘wrong number’.

“I’ll kill you…”

This phrase gives me an unprecedented chill down my spine.

“Now, now, calm down. If you’re willing to help, I won’t do anything bad to you.”

“Help? Humph, it’s about the teahouse, right?”

Every time this sort of situation pops up, I’ll have to remember the fact that Yuuji was known as a prodigy, because his mind reacts extremely fast.

“Really, you didn’t have to do it in such a roundabout way. If you just said that ‘I want to do something for my beloved Himeji-san! Please help me!’, I would have helped even if it’s a hassle.”

“Wha? I haven’t even said such a word!”

“Ah—okay okay. I know your request. Guess I’ll help you then.”

Yuuji immediately puts on an enthusiastic expression. Why is he always like this…!

“Never mind. Anyway, thanks for your help.”

“No problem. Come to think of it, are Shimada and Shouko close?”

At this moment, Yuuji reveals his probing eyes. Seems like he’s wondering why Kirishima-san from class A would be together with Minami from F-class.

“Un--you won’t be angry after listening?”

“Idiot. Since I’ve already agreed to help, there’s no point in getting angry, right?”

That’s true, Yuuji has agreed to help.

“Then let me tell you. Actually, the one who was imitating Kirishima-san’s voice was Hideyoshi.”

“CLOSE YOUR EYES AND CLENCH YOUR TEETH!!”

Yuuji! You liar!

<center>☆</center>

“I see. So Himeji-san is transferring schools…”

After Yuuji and I met up with Minami and Hideyoshi, we’re now in our F class.

“If so, it’s not enough even if the teahouse is successful.”

Yuuji looks around the tattered classroom as he said this.

“That’s not enough? Why?”

“There are three reasons why Himeji-san’s dad wants her to transfer.”

Yuuji says as he puts up three fingers.

“First, the learning facilities that are so lacking that there are only straw mats and cardboard boxes. In other words, this isn’t a pleasant studying environment. If the teahouse succeeds, at least we can use the money to settle the problem.”

Yuuji says as he folds one finger down.

“Second, this old and dilapidated classroom. In other words, the study environment here will be damaging to her health in the long run.”

“So you’re saying that the first is the setup of the classroom, while the second is the classroom itself?”

“That’s right. As for these, there is no way we can settle this by using the small amount of money we earn through the teahouse. If we want to repair the classroom, we have to get assistance from the school.”

If we have money, we can buy tables and chairs. However, if we want to improve the classroom, we have to settle the admin matters and get contractors over. This isn’t something that we can do ourselves, which is probably what Yuuji’s trying to imply.

“And the third point, the last one—is the poor standard of our class. In other words, this environment isn’t going to let
Himeji-san continue to improve.”

Though we can take part in social clubs, in order to improve ourselves, close competition is required. As long as Himeji-san’s in F class, she can’t expect this sort of competition around.

“I give up, there are too many problems.”

“That’s true. It’s alright if it’s just one point, the second and third are going to be difficult.”

At first, having a summoning battle would have settled the problem, but right now, the situation has gotten complicated.

“That’s not true. As for the third point, hasn’t Himeji and Shimada come up with a plan?”

Yuuji turns to look at Minami.

Come to think of it, Himeji-san said that she wanted to surprise her dad during class today. If she can win the summoning battle,
it can definitely prove that F class has the capability to compete with the best. If so, the competition is settled.

“This is because Mizuki asked me, saying ‘I don’t want to transfer schools, so please help me.’ Even though I hate to take part in
unnecessary entertainment like summoning battle, I can’t refuse if she asks me like this, no?”

Minami looks rather gentle, which is so unlike her. In an instant, it took my eyes away. She looks like an onee-chan who’ll take
care of her sister. Maybe she has a younger brother or sister?

“If Shouko is to take part in the tournament, it’ll be hard for us to win. However, she doesn’t seem to be interested in such things. With Himeji and Shimada’s ability, there’s a high chance that they’ll win.”

“That’s right, both of you can do it.”

If Kirishima-san is to take part in this, her partner would be from class A as well. It’ll be a tough battle. It’s great that she’s uninterested in this summoning battle.

“Actually, it’ll be best if some student other than Himeji-san is to participate.”

“Let’s not talk about it.”

If it’s another pairing, we probably won’t be able to make it past the preliminaries. This is because F class is full of idiots.

“If Himeji and Shimada is to win, it’ll generate publicity for the teahouse, this would be killing two birds with one stone.”

Hideyoshi says as he nods in agreement. Since our class is in the old and dirty campus, this sort of publicity would be great.

“Then, Sakamoto, leaving that aside, what about the second problem?”

“No matter, we’ll just talk to the principal.”

Yuuji says with ‘a matter of fact’ look.

“Just this? The principal will settle this once we talk to her?”

“I say, no matter how terrible this is, it’s still an institute of education, you know? No matter what kind of policy they have, as long as a student’s health is affected, we have the right to request for an improvement.”

If we can do this, then there’s hope that all three problems would be solved.

“Then let’s see the principal.”

As the saying goes, strike the iron when it’s hot, is that it?

“That’s right, so now, we’ll march into her office. Hideyoshi and Shimada, you two think about the preparations for the school
festival. Also, if you see Ironman, tell him that we’ve already gone home.”

Yuuji stood up as he gives the instructions. To be able to give orders so naturally, I guess that’s a talent in itself.

“Mm, I got it. If we see Ironman or Kirishima Shouko, we’ll tell them that.”

Hideyoshi smiles as he says that. Once Kirishima-san’s name was mentioned, Yuuji looks flabbergasted.

“Aki, you got to do it well.”

“OK, leave it to me.”

Receiving Minami’s voice of support, Yuuji and I left the classroom, and head towards the principal’s office.

<center>☆</center>

“…The prize…hidden…”

“…This time…on their own…Kisaragi Highland…”

As we arrived in front of the principal’s office, which is located in a corner of the new school campus, there seem to be some sort of argument going on inside.

Prize? Kisaragi Highland? What are they talking about?

“What’s wrong, Akihisa?”

“Nothing, it’s just that they’re talking inside right now.”

“Really? In other words, the principal’s inside. It’s great that we didn’t make a wasted trip, let’s go in.”

Well, we’ll decide whether they’re busy or not. Yuuji’s right. Anyway, since we’re here, we might as well finish off what we came here for.

“Excuse me!”

After knocking on the fancy doors of the principal’s office, Yuuji and I immediately barged in.

“You rude brats, normally one would wait for a reply before entering.”

The person inviting us is a principal with a head full of white hair, Todou Kaoru. She’s also the person who’s behind the test
summoning system. Is it because she’s a scientist? She does seem to have quite a few quirks. And the first thing she says when she first met us is ‘you rude brats’.

“Really. We’re busy here, and yet there are some unexpected visitors. Well, we can’t continue on like this…don’t tell me that you planned this?”

The man adjusting his glasses and glaring at the principal is the dean, Takehara-sensei. He’s very popular with some of the girls due to his sharp eyes and cold attitude. However, I don’t really like him.

“Stop saying such stupid things. I have nothing to hide in the first place, so why must I use such meaningless tactics?”

“Oh really? You’re really good at hiding things.”

The conversation continued on, with us not even understanding anything. The principal and the dean are discussing something related
to the running of the school. Maybe it’s better to come over another day.

“Like I said before, I’m not hiding anything. You’re just mistaken.”

“…Oh really. Since you want to deny it, then that’s it for today.”

After he finished speaking, Takehara-sensei glances at a corner of the room—

“Then I’ll be leaving”

After that, he turns around and leaves the room. Just now, Takehara-sensei seems to be confirming something, but what? Is it in this room?

“Okay, brats. What did you come here for?”

The principal, who definitely doesn’t look like she minded having her conversation with Takehara-sensei interrupted, asks us.

“Excuse me, madam. We came to discuss something with you.”

Standing in front of the principal, Yuuji spoke. I’m surprised that he can even say such polite words.

“I have no time to talk to you regarding this. If it’s regarding the school administration, look for Takehara-sensei. Also, it’s common courtesy to give your names, remember that.”

To be lectured about manners by such an arrogant granny, this is truly the end of the world.

“Sorry for my rudeness. I’m the representative of second year, F class, Sakamoto Yuuji, and he—”

Yuuji introduces himself, then points at me.

“—The idiot representative from the second year.”

Why can’t this guy just introduce me using my proper name?

“Oh…I see. You’re Sakamoto and Yoshii from class F, right?”

Wait a sec, principal! I haven’t even introduced myself yet! To be able to associate my name with that introduction, I’m about to cry...

“I change my mind, so let’s hear what you have to say.”

Like a big bad looking up, the principal’s lips curls up. For such a person to be an educator, this is really inexplicable.

“Thank you very much.”

“If you have the time to say your thanks, hurry up, you half-wit.”

“Okay then.”

Come to think of it, the scene in front of me is really surprising to me. To be verbally abused like this, Yuuji’s attitude is
still so cold. I never ever thought that he’ll be this mature.

“We’re here to request for improvements in class F’s facilities.”

“Oh really, I’m impressed that you have so much free time.”

“Right now, F class is like an old-wrinkled brain with a hole, the state is so deplorable that cold wind would always flow inside.”

Ah, he’s finally started to scold.

“If it’s the principal, who’s like a piece of trash that existed since the Sengoku era, it’s alright. But now, this sort of
studying environment is too dangerous for a normal high school student. We feel that it might endanger someone’s life.”
To mix in some provocative words in this respectful tone, seems like Yuuji’s about to go crazy as well.

“Anyway, because the cold wind has been blowing into our classroom, some students have already fallen sick. So hurry up and fix it, you stupid old granny! That’s about it.”

Mm, this is the Yuuji that I know.

Hearing Yuuji’s seemingly polite words that are actually rude, the principal gives a thoughtful expression, not uttering a single word.

“Excuse me, principal…”

Maybe she’s enraged by Yuuji’s attitude? Sigh, any ordinary person would be angry by it.

“…Mm, this is the perfect timing…”

Hm? What is the principal muttering just now?

“Alright, I understand what you mean.”

“Eh? Then can you help us fix it?’

Yuuji was right. Even though the policy is weird, Fumitsuki Gakuen is still an institute of education. As long as it involves a student’s health, the school would take appropriate action. This is good, this is good.

[[Image:BTS vol 02 055.jpg|thumb]]
“I refuse.”

“Yuuji, fill this old granny with mud and toss her into the sea.”

“…Akihisa, watch your attitude.”

Ah? I accidentally said my true feelings!

“Really, this idiot is too disrespectful. If possible, can you tell us the reason? You stinking granny.”

“That’s right. Please tell us, you damn granny.”

“…You two, do you really want to know?”

The principal stares at us in a surprised manner. Did we say something weird?

“There isn’t any need for any reason. This is because creating a difference in the classrooms is our objective. So don’t give me this nonsense, you brats.”

This, this old granny!

“That’s not good! If this keeps us, forget about us, the weaker girls in our class would collapse—”

“—Is what I’ll say under normal circumstances.”

The principal interrupts me, placing her hands under her jaw as she says this.

“Besides, since it’s my cute students saying this. We’ll have a deal if you listen to my request.”

A deal? In other words, there’s no such thing as a free meal, huh?

“…”

Eh? Yuuji’s not reacting at all. He places his hand near his mouth, seemingly thinking about something.

“What’s the condition?”

Now that the situation has turned out like this, I can only substitute Yuuji and prompt the principal into speaking.

“Do you know of the summoning tournament in the cool summer festival?”

“Mm, somewhat.”

“Then do you know what’s the prize?”

“Eh? Prize?”

I didn’t even know that there was a prize. This is because I didn’t want to take part in the tournament, and I don’t think that I can win even if I’m taking part.

“To the winners of the tournament, we’ll give them a certificate, trophy, and a platinum bracelet. For the runner-ups, we’ll give them a pair of ‘Kisaragi Highlands’ pre-opening premium tickets.

Hearing this prize, Yuuji froze up. What’s wrong with him?

“Oh…what has this got to do with the conditions?”

“Let me finish first, haven’t you heard of the saying ‘if you rush, you’ll whatever’[http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Baka_to_Tesuto_to_Syokanju:Volume2_Translator%27s_Notes]?”

No idea.

“It’s regarding the premium tickets. I heard some bad rumors about it, so if possible, I’ll like to have it back.”

“Have it back? Then why not you just don’t give them the tickets?”

“I would if I could. However, though the dean is in charge of this, he signed an agreement with Kisaragi corporation, and right now, we can’t back out of it.”

Come to think of it, I heard of the rumor before that ‘the principal was busy with the summoning system, and allowed the dean to run the school’. Seems like this is true.

“As the principal, shouldn’t you be careful when you sign an agreement?”

“Be quiet, brats. I was already busy with the platinum bracelets. Besides, I only heard of these bad rumors recently.”

The principal frowns. She sounds rather casual, but it seems that she feels that she has some responsibility to bear.

“Then, what’s the bad rumor about?”

The principal starts to explain with the words ‘just something troublesome’ and explains the entire situation.

“The Kisaragi Corporation want to create a omen at the Kisaragi Highlands, the content being ‘couples visiting there will be very happy’.”

“What’s so bad about this rumor? Isn’t that a good thing?”

“In order to create this omen, they want to create a wedding atmosphere for couples who go there with the premium tickets. For marketing purposes, their methods are rather forceful.”

“WHA, WHAT DID YOU SAY?”

Yuuji suddenly roared—ah, it scared me.

“What now, Yuuji. Why are you so scared?”

“OF COURSE I WOULD BE SCARED! WHAT THAT OLD GRANNY MEANT WAS THAT ‘KISARAGI CORPORATION WILL USE ALL THEIR POWER TO FORCE THOSE COUPLES WHO USE THE PREMIUM TICKETS TO MARRY’!!”

“Uh huh. I understand without you explaining it a second time.”

To see Yuuji act up like this, it’s rather refreshing.

“What this mean is that the couple would have to be chosen from our Fumitsuki Gakuen.”

“Damn it. For some reason, we have quite a lot of beauties in our school, and everyone’s talking about the summoning system. It’ll be perfect for them to create this omen if they create this rumor of getting married during high school! Of course we’ll be targeted by Kisaragi Corporation!”

Yuuji bites onto his lips in anguish. Why is he acting so strangely up till now?

“Hm, as expected of the prodigy, your mind works pretty fast.”

Hearing Yuuji say this, the principal nods her head. She seems to know Yuuji quite well, and she immediately called me by my name just now.

“Yuuji, calm down first. Kisaragi Corporation’s plan isn’t so bad. Besides, we know about this plot, so we just don’t have to go there.”

He’s most likely scared of being dragged along by Kirishima-san. I’m so jealous of him.

On a side note, if it’s me, I’ll probably have no one to go with. This makes me feel so lonely…

“…She will definitely participate in the tournament to win…if I go, I’ll have to get married. If I don’t go, I’ll also be forced to get married…my…my future has…”

Yuuji’s eyes have gone blank, what on earth is going on? He probably promised Kirishima-san that ‘we’ll go together once we get the premium tickets’. Though I don’t know what’s the price for not fulfilling the promise, it should be something stupid.

“Hm, like what he just said, I don’t like the idea of ignoring the wishes of the couple in question and forcing a future onto my cute students.”

Does she really think that the students are cute? I’m really suspicious about that.

“In other words, the condition is to—”

“That’s right. It’s to win ‘the prizes of the summoning tournament’. If you can do it, I’ll get your classroom repaired.”

Oh, in exchange of the prizes of the summoning battle, huh? Then—

“Of course, you can’t take them by force from the winners, nor can they voluntarily give up the tickets. I’m telling you to win the tournament.”

Ugh! She read my mind! Though she’s a weirdo, she’s still an educator, huh? Seems like she wouldn’t allow anything like cheating.

“…If we win, you’ll promise to fix our classroom and upgrade the facility?”

“What are you talking about? I only agreed to help you guys fix the classroom. As for the facilities, that’s part of the school’s policy, and I don’t intend to change it.”

As expected, she answered like this. If we can get new facilities through this deal, it’ll be a bad example to the other classes…

“However, if you’re to use the money earned through the cool summer festival, that’s another matter altogether. I’ll close one eye on that and allow you to upgrade your facilities.”

This is the principal’s proposal. Normally, according to the school’s policy, buying our own facilities like tables and chairs is forbidden. But it seems like as long as we can agree to her condition, she’ll give us leeway.

“Can you help us improve the standard of our facilities? To us, repairing the classroom is as important as improving our facilities.”

“And then?”

“If our teahouse isn’t successful, and we’re not able to improve our facilities, we’ll be worried about the situation down there, and won’t be able to concentrate on the tournament. This won’t be good for us and principal…”

“What? That’s it? No way, I won’t allow it.”

“But! If you can promise us to improve our facilities, we can concentrate on the tournament—”

“Akihisa, it’s useless. That granny has no intention of stepping aside. We have no choice but to accept the deal.”

Unknowingly, Yuuji regains his composure and pats my shoulder.

…Damn it. Though I hate it, we really have no choice but to go along with the conditions.

“I understand. We’ll accept your conditions.”

“Really? Then our negotiations are complete.”

The principal reveals a sly ‘just as planned’ look on the face.

“However, we have another proposal as well.”

Just as I thought that the negotiations are complete and intend to head back to class, Yuuji adds another condition on the
principal.

“Oh really? Let’s hear it.”

“I heard that the summoning tournament is a two-on-two contest. An elimination type match. The first is mathematics, and the second is chemistry.”

If the first subject is mathematics, all the participants would have to compete in mathematics. The reason why they would change
the subject in the second battle is probably because the points lost in the first battle would reduce the entertainment value of
the competition. No matter what anyone says, this is a school promotional activity.

“So what?”

“Once the participants are decided, please allow me to decide the subjects.”

After Yuuji said this, for some reason, he showed some sharp eyes at the principal, trying to probe her. Is he feeling suspicious about anything?

“Hm…alright. I won’t allow it if you request for an inflation in points. But if it’s just this, then I guess I can help you with
it.”

“…Thank you very much.”

Yuuji’s eyes became even sharper. It’s definitely beneficial to us already, so why bother giving such an expression. I really can’t understand him.

[[image:BTS_vol_02_065.jpg|thumb]]
“Then, that’s as far as I’m going to help you. I presume you’re going to win in the summoning tournament, right?”

The principal asks. Does she really intend to prevent the Kisaragi Corporation’s plan?

“Of course, who do you think we are?”

Yuuji reveals a bold smile. This is a fully motivated look that he had during the test summoning battle.

“We’ll definitely win, so don’t forget about our promise!”

Of course, I’m fully motivated as well. This is because the method to solve this problem is right in front of us, and we only need
to finish the job.

“Then brats, I’ll leave it to you.”

“YEAH!!”

Just like this, the worst partnership in Fumitsuki Gakuen is formed.

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| Back to [[Baka to Tesuto to Syokanju:Volume2_The_First_Question|The First Question]]
| Return to [[Baka to Tesuto to Syokanju|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Baka to Tesuto to Syokanju:Volume2_The_Third_Question|The Third Question]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Baka to Tesuto to Syokanju:Volume2 The First Question

2011-03-11T03:05:56Z

Danlemagne: Tense, brevity

[[Image:BTS vol 02 003.jpg|400px]]

“…Yuuji.”

“What?”

“Do you know about ‘Kisaragi Highland’?”

“Ah, you’re talking about the huge theme park that is under construction, right? Seems like it’s about to be opened soon.”

“…There seems to be a very scary haunted house inside.”

“Oh, the one that they remodeled from the abandoned hospital? Sounds interesting.”

“…And the best Ferris Wheel in Japan.”

“Ooo, seems rather large. It sure sounds impressive.”

“…And the world’s third fastest roller coaster.”

“It’s that facility that accelerates many times and keeps spinning around. Though I don’t know how it looks like, it sure makes me excited.”

“…And there are many other interesting things.”

“That’s great, it’ll be really fun.”

“…Then, when that place opens, we should…”

“Yeah, I know what you want to say. If you want to go there—”

“…Nn.”

“Go there with a friend.”

“I have confidence in my grip.”

“GUAAHHHH! Don’t use the devil’s grip on me!”

“…I want to go with Yuuji, the two of us.”

“The opening ceremony will be crowded, I don’t want to—AHH!!”

“…If so, does that mean that you will go if I have tickets to the pre-opening?”

“Pre…pre-opening tickets? *coughs*, isn’t that hard to get?”

“…Will you go?”

“Hm—of course, if you can get it, of course—”

“…Really?”

“Yes yes yes, that’s right.”

“I told you I won’t already, didn’t I? Do I look like someone who would break a promise?”

“—Please stamp your name on this marriage certificate.”

“I’ll keep that promise, even at the cost of my own life.”

===The First Question===

'''In order to decide what the class will do during this school festival, please answer the following question:'''

“What do you wish for now?”

'''Himeji Mizuki’s answer:'''

“To create wonderful memories with my classmates.”

'''Teacher’s comment:'''

I see. Being a part of the guests’ memories isn’t a bad thing. Sensei will remember to include a photo album of all these as standby.

'''Tsuchiya Kouta's Answer:'''

<del>A-magazines</del> Adult-oriented magazines

'''Teacher’s comment:'''

[[image:BTS_vol_02_007.jpg|thumb]]
So what’s the point of you crossing that out?

'''Yoshii Akihisa's Answer:'''

“Calories.”

'''Teacher’s comment:'''

Sensei feels that your life is in danger when you answered this.

The Cherry-colored flowers is gradually disappearing from the streets, what replaces it is the season of germination.

Our Fumitsuki Gakuen is preparing for the first event of the new year – ‘Cool Summer Festival’.

Some classes are turning their classrooms into haunted houses, and some of them are preparing the utensils, setting up their yakisoba stalls. There are also classes that are exhibiting the ‘summoning system’ that only this school has. In order to prepare for this school festival, class time was extended, and every class is full of energy.

And then, as for F class—

“Bring it on! Yoshii!”

“Let’s settle this, Sugawa-kun!”

“I want to send that weak ball of yours flying over the fence!”

We aren’t preparing anything, just playing baseball in school.

“What did you say? Like I’m going to let that happen!”

I use my feet to adjust the mound, waiting for Yuuji, the catcher, to give the signal. As my bad friend, who was also hailed as a genius in the past, he can definitely give me instructions on how to beat Sugawa-kun easily.

“The next ball—”

Here it comes, Yuuji’s signal. The first ball indicates the type of ball to be thrown. Then, what kind of ball?

“Curveball, target…”

Hmmm. The next one’s a curveball, the location is—

“The batter’s head.”

“ISN’T THAT A FOUL?”

Even though it’s impossible to get a homerun off that, isn’t there something wrong with it?

Just as I intend to not throw the ball that Yuuji signaled—

“OI, YOU GUYS! WHAT ARE YOU DOING INSTEAD OF PREPARING FOR THE SCHOOL FESTIVAL!!”

“ARGH! IT’S IRONMAN!!”

Our homeroom teacher, Nishimura-sensei (a.k.a. Ironman), rushes in with a raging and imposing manner. If we’re caught, we’ll be beaten up really terribly by the refined fist of that guy! Got to get away!

“YOSHII!! ARE YOU BEHIND ALL THESE!!”

“IT’S, IT’S NOT ME! WHY ARE YOU SINGLING ME OUT ALL THE TIME!!”

Though I have used up all my energy to run, I can’t shake away the enemy. As expected of the man who focuses on P.E and is interested in triathlons—OI! This isn’t the time to be impressed!!

“IT’S YUUJI! CLASS REP YUUJI SUGGESTED THAT WE PLAY BASEBALL!!”

The one who suggested using the prep time to play baseball was Yuuji, so he should be the one responsible for this.

Thinking about this, I turn towards Yuuji, and that guy is using his eyes to tell me, “A forkball between Ironman’s legs.”

“THAT’S NOT RIGHT! I DIDN’T ASK FOR THE TYPE OF PITCH!! ALSO, WOULDN’T THAT MAKE ME THE SOLE TARGET OF HIS WRATH!!?”

Come to think about it, what’s the point of throwing a breaking ball?

“Everyone get back to class! We’re the only class which doesn’t know what to do at this point!!”

Ironman’s terrifying roar sends back scurrying back to the broken and dirty classroom.

“Then, it’s about time to decide what we want to do for this spring festival—‘cool summer festival’.”

After the baseball match was interrupted, F class representative Yuuji makes this announcement as he overlooks us, who are sitting on the mats.

“Anyway, we’ll have to nominate someone to be the committee member. I’ll let the nominated person settle all these.”

Yuuji, just because he’s uninterested, is he planning to push the responsibility to someone else and take a nap? While we were preparing just now, he was the one who suggested that we play baseball. This is so completely different from the attitude he showed during the summoning battle.

“Yoshii-kun, Sakamoto-kun doesn’t seem to like school festivals, is it?”

My classmate, Himeji Mizuki-san asks in a soft voice that won’t disturb any meeting at all. Her beautiful smile and large breasts dazzle me.

‘I never asked directly before, so I’m not sure, but it seems like he’s not passionate about it. If he’s interested, Yuuji would immediately take action.”

“I see…that’s too bad…”

Himeji-san, who would normally reveal a cheerful expression, looks rather gloomy.

“Is Yoshii-kun also uninterested?”

Himeji-san’s face closes in on me, her eyes looking up. So, so cute…

“Erm--how should I say it? I don’t really want anything.”

This is my honest opinion. Though I’m glad that there is less lessons now, I don’t have a clear goal on what to do during the school festival.

“I…I want to create memories of the school festival with Yoshii-kun.”

“Eh?”

That meaningful sentence made me sound like a fool.

[[Image:BTS vol 02 013.jpg|thumb]]
“Then, Yoshii-kun, do you know…? It’s said that there would be lucky couples formed during the school festival-- *Cough cough cough*!”

Before she finished speaking, Himeji suddenly covers her mouth with her hand, coughing. Her face is slightly red, does she have a cold?

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry…”

She looks a bit uncomfortable, her eyes are still teary. Come to think of it, Himeji-san seem to be coughing quite a lot recently.

Right now, our equipment has been demoted from the lousy tatami mat to just a straw mat and cardboard boxes. Compared to normal tables and chairs, using these things to study is not only tiring, but unhygienic. For Himeji-san, whose body is very weak, it’s not strange for her to fall sick so easily. No, it’s to be expected, actually.

If we don’t do something…

A hygienic environment, and facilities that don’t strain the human body much. If we don’t prepare these two things, I feel that Himeji-san will faint one day. There’s two months to the next summoning battle, but if we can raise our class rank earlier…

“Then, Shimada-san will be our school festival committee member, is that okay?”

Yuuji’s words enter my mind subconsciously. At this moment, we’re still discussing about the festival.

“Eh? You want me to do it? Hn—But I have to take part in the summoning tournament, it might not be too convenient.”

The person who suddenly rolled her eyes in surprise is Shimada Minami-san, who was staying in Germany since she was young before she returned back to Japan with her parents. In terms of looks, well, she has scary eyes and a ponytail.

“Yuuji, if it’s a committee member, I do feel that Himeji-san would be better suited than Minami.”

“Eh? Me?”

Now that her name has entered the conversation, Himeji-san looks a bit puzzled. Compared to a fierce Minami, I feel that there wouldn’t be many arguments if gentle Himeji-san is involved.

“Himeji probably won’t be able to do it, since by the time she finished listening to everyone’s comments, time’s up.”

Our class representative says lazily.

Now that he mentioned it, Yuuji is right. Himeji-san would definitely be unable to give up on some decisions. Normally, this
gentleness would be a plus, but at this moment, it’ll become a critical disadvantage.

“Also, Aki. Mizuki has to take part in the summoning battle as well.”

“Eh? Is that it?”

“Yes, I intend to take part in the tournament together with Minami.”

Himeji-san clenches her small fists tightly.

“It’s supposed to be just a school publicizing event, both of you really like to get involved.”

In our Fumitsuki Gakuen, there is a ‘test summoning system’ that the whole world is watching out for. And this year, it seems like
they wanted to hold a ‘test summoning battle’ during the ‘cool summer festival’ to showcase this highly anticipated system to the world. However, I’m just not interested in this.

“It’s Mizuki who invited me to this tournament. Because she wanted to changed her stubborn father’s view and surprise him.”

“Change her dad’s view?”

“Hn, she said that her dad was grumbling about many things, so she said a lot of stuff to him angrily. Something like, ‘I won’t forgive you for treating F class as idiots!’.”

“Oh my, it’s rare for Himeji-san to get worked up.”

“Because otou-san [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Baka_to_Tesuto_to_Syokanju:Volume2_Translator%27s_Notes] doesn’t understand anything at all, to treat everyone as idiots just because I’m sent to F class? I won’t forgive this.”

“…”

Sorry, even I, who understand everyone in the class well, feel that F class is an organization of idiots.

“So Himeji wants to form a F class team, win the tournament, and surprise her dad.”

I see, for Himeji-san, who’s second in our year, if she’s to team up with Minami, who can get rather decent marks if she can understand the question, it’s not impossible for them to win the tournament.

“Can the three of you get back on topic?”

“Ah, sorry Yuuji. It’s about letting Minami be the committee member, is it?”

“I already said that I’m taking part in the tournament.”

“Then we’ll just select an assistant committee member. Will that do?”

Yuuji glances at me. Don’t tell me he’s going to use me as a living sacrifice? But won’t Minami accept this sort of troublesome work if there is help?

“Hm…that’s right. If I can work together with the assistant committee member, I can do it…”

“Really? Then will everyone please nominate the substitute committee member? Shimada, please select two people for the final vote.”

Everyone okay? Yuuji asks the class. At this moment, names start to pop up from everywhere in the class.

“I feel that Yoshii is suited for this.”

“Wouldn’t Sakamoto be more suited for this?”

“I want to get married with Himeji-san.”

“Think we can just let Sugawa handle this.”

Maybe it’s time to get rid of these guys who are showing their passion to Himeji-san.

“I do feel that Akihisa can do this.”

The person who said these words is the beauty who always talk in an old fashioned way, Hideyoshi. Though he’s really a guy.

“But Hideyoshi, I don’t want to do such a troublesome thing—”

“About this, since everyone probably have the same opinion . why don’t we choose a suitable person?”

“Uu…you’re kinda right…”

Though I don’t know whether I’m suited for this, as he’s right, I can’t refute it.

However, there isn’t much difference. It doesn’t mean that everything’s settled once I’m nominated. Minami will have to choose two nominees, and once that is done, everyone has to decide.

“Nominee ①…Yoshii.”

Ah, it’s me.

“Nominee ②…Akihisa.”

Ah, it’s still me.

“Then now, can everyone please choose your nominee?”

“Oi, Yuuji, don’t you feel that there is something obviously wrong with the way Minami chose them?”

“So how? Who do you think is better?”

“About this…both of them are rubbish, there isn’t much difference.”

“OI! Stop acting as if you’re bothered! Also, those guys who are ridiculing your classmate as rubbish, you guys are rubbish among humans!”

Really, what’s wrong with my class’ reasoning?

“Oi oi, Aki. Compared to this trivial stuff, since it’s decided that I’m working with you, you have to come out here and settle
what we are discussing.”

“Why do I feel that I’m always getting the short straw…”

Being prompted by Minami, I got up lazily and walk to the front.”

“Then I leave the rest to you, yawns—”

Yuuji replaces me and returns back to his own seat. He doesn’t even bother to suppress his yawning, revealing a lazy look.”

“I’ll lead this meeting. Aki, you’ll write the ideas on the board.”

“Un, got it.”

Standing in front of the tatter blackboard, I pick up the chalk that can’t be even shorter. Really, these facilities are in such bad conditions, is there even any way for us to study?

“Then now, please present your ideas. If you have any suggestions on what the class should do, please raise your hands, okay?”

After Minami finished speaking, several classmates raise their hands. Seems like not everyone is uninterested in this.

“Tsuchiya.”

“…(Getting up).”

The one being called out, standing up now, is one of my friends, Tsuchiya Kouta. Compared to his name, a nickname that he got for being perverted and silent—Muttsuriini , should be even well known.

“…Photo Gallery.”

“…Tsuchiya, I’m getting a dangerous vibe from your photo gallery idea.”

Minami says this without hiding her expression of disgust.

From the viewpoint of a female, Muttsuriini ’s photos are rather disgusting. However, to the guys, that photo gallery can be said to be a mountain of gold. Maybe we can call it a peeping house.

“Nevermind, Aki, this can pass as a suggestion. Can you write it on the blackboard?”

“Got it.”

Eh, Muttsuriini ’s proposal is—

‘Option ①: Photo gallery: ‘Secret Peeping house.’

“Next, Yokomizo.”

“A maid café—is what I want to say. I do feel that it’s unoriginal, so how about a bride’s café?”

“A bride’s café? What’s that?”

“Like an ordinary café, but the girls get to wear wedding gowns.”

Actually, it’s still a café, it’s just that we’re wearing different. The atmosphere has to be similar to that of a wedding event, no? This might be interesting.

“That’s definitely original.”

“There are also many girls who want it.”

“Isn’t it hard to move in them?”

“It’s going to be time consuming for us to prepare them.”

“Won’t the male customers hate it? Besides, a wedding is also called a human life’s grave.”

Such suggestions created a little commotion in class.

“Haiz, Aki, write down that suggestion on the board as well.”

“Ah, ngh.”

Being prompted by Minami, I face the blackboard again.

‘Option ②: Maid café ‘a human life’s grave.’

Really can’t stand this chalk that’s so hard to use. Seems like we really need some decent classroom facilities.

“Then, are there anymore—Sugawa.”

“I propose a Chinese café.”

Sugawa said this as he stood up.

“A Chinese café? You’re going to make the girls wear cheongsams[http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Baka_to_Tesuto_to_Syokanju:Volume2_Translator%27s_Notes]?”

“Nope, not that. I propose that our tea shop sell some authentic oolong tea or some simple tea. This isn’t a business that uses sexy clothing to earn money. To begin with, they said that the term ‘food’ came from China [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Baka_to_Tesuto_to_Syokanju:Volume2_Translator%27s_Notes]. In terms of ‘food’ culture, none of them are as profound as Chinese cuisine. Even though in recent years, the rise of the European culture is forcing Chinese cuisine onto the brink of elimination, in terms of food—”

Wha, what? Though I’m not exactly sure what’s going on, now that Sugawa-san is talking till his saliva is flying out, seems like he’s rather knowledgeable about it, no? Maybe it’s just that I don’t have any idea of what’s going on?

“Aki, can you write Sugawa’s suggestion on the board?”

“Ah, un.”

…This is terrible, what the heck did Sugawa-san say? I didn’t listen to what he said at all because of all the complicated terms
and because he was so long-winded. I don’t even know what to write on the board.

“What now? Hurry up and write.”

“Okay, okay, I got it.”

Anyway, got to write what’s left in my brain.

‘Option ③: Chinese teahouse ‘European culture’.’

After I finished writing, the classroom door was pushed open with a ‘clak clak’ sound. What appeared is a face of a man whose
thick muscles matches his face.

“Has everyone decided on what to do for the ‘cool summer festival’?”

This is the homeroom teacher of F class, the one who sent us running—Nishimura-sensei, also known as Ironman.

“We have three proposals, they are on the board.”

Hearing Minami say this, Ironman slowly turn to look at the blackboard that is covered with my words.

‘Option ①: Photo gallery: ‘Secret Peeping house.’

‘Option ②: Maid café ‘a human life’s grave.’

‘Option ③: Chinese teahouse ‘European culture’.’

“…Perhaps an increase in number of supplementary lessons will do you good.”

Oh no! We’re being treated as idiots!

“Sen, sensei, these aren’t our ideas!”

“That’s right! Yoshii wrote them himself!”

“We’re not idiots!”

The crowd start to argue back, obviously not wanting to increase supplementary class time. However, why do I feel like everyone intends to treat me like an idiot to avoid supplementary lessons…

“YOU IDIOTS! STOP USING SUCH LOUSY EXCUSES!”

Ironman’s roar causes everyone to sit up straight.

However, no matter how terrible he is, he’s still a teacher. To think that Ironman would be angry about them betraying their own classmate to avoid supplementary lessons, this made me think better of him. Well, slightly anyway.

“Sensei is saying that the fact that you chose Yoshii is itself stupid.”

If we were of the same age, this is where I’ll tie him up.

“You guys, really…can’t you guys be a little serious? Haven’t you guys even thought about using the money you earned to upgrade
your facilities, or something like that?”

Ironman sighs as he says this. Hearing this, everyone’s eyes lit up.

“Oh yeah! To think that there’s such an idea!”

“We don’t have to wait till a summoning battle to improve our facilities!”

“I had enough of these lousy facilities!”

The atmosphere in the class intensifies. For us, who have waged summoning wars because we’re unhappy with our facilities, we obviously can’t stand having facilities that are worse than what we had originally.

“Eve…everyone, let’s do our best!”

That’s Himeji-san’s voice. Looking back, she’s standing up, clenching her fist in front of her chest, showing her enthusiasm.

What’s going on? Though I don’t think that Himeji-san would be satisfied with these facilities, I do feel that her being so enthusiastic and proactive doesn’t suit her nature.

“What kind of activity are we doing? Would a café be more profitable?”

“No, a photo gallery requires less money to start up, it’ll be better.”

“However, won’t we be forced to shut down if the committee members catch us?”

The class is becoming very active, all sorts of suggestions flying all over the place.

“We most probably won’t get caught if we do a Chinese teahouse.”

“But that lacks creativity. This old campus is so dirty; no one wants to come over. Won’t we be punished by the lack of special features?”

“How about a bride’s café?”

“The investment cost is too large, we probably won’t be able to earn enough money during these two days.”

Now the class is getting noisy. Everyone is enthusiastic all right, but this isn’t going to bring a definite conclusion.

“Okay, okay, can everyone remain quiet for a while?”

“I feel that a haunted house would be more popular.”

“Let’s have a simple casino.”

“Let’s sell grilled corn.”

The suggestions are becoming more divided, this isn’t good.

Are we such a disorganized class? Why do I feel that it was much easier when we had our summoning battles…

“Sigh…I have enough of this. Geez, Aki, can we drag Sakamoto in? We can’t have a conclusion if this keeps up.”

Minami says to me silently.

As expected of F class. Is it because everyone has a strong personality? I can’t even feel a tinge of ‘teamwork’. For Yuuji to lead this class, it’s truly a remarkable job. However—

“Hm…I don’t think it’s possible. It’s scary how cold Yuuji’s attitude can be when he’s not interested in something.”

Yuuji isn’t interested in the school festival or the teaching facilities. Though I do feel that he can integrate everyone’s views if he leads everyone like during the summoning wars, Yuuji probably won’t do it.

“I see…ENOUGH! JUST BE QUIET FOR NOW! SINCE YOU CAN’T DECIDE, JUST PICK ONE FROM THE CHOICES!”

Minami, who’s now especially angry and irritated, ended this conversation forcefully. This is the correct decision.

Minami uses her eyes to prevent anyone from objecting, forcing everyone to vote. This is something not even Himeji-san or I can do.
Seems like Yuuji didn’t just pick anyone at random .

“Then, those who want the photo gallery!—Okay, the bride’s café next! – last one, Chinese café!”

Minami’s voice echoes throughout the hall. However, this doesn’t seem to be able to control this noisy situation.

Among this noisiness, Minami starts to count the number of votes. The final result is—

Though there were very few votes, the Chinese teahouse won by only a few votes. I feel that this is a reasonable result.

“Then I’ll prepare the green tea and snacks.”

Sugawa-san says as he stands up.

“…(Standing up silently)”

Then, for some reason, Muttsuriini stood up as well.

“Muttsuriini , can you cook?”

“…This is a necessity of a gentleman.”

Chinese cuisine is a gentleman’s necessity—I’ve never heard of this before. Maybe he learnt it after going to Chinese restaurant to see the female attendants who are wearing cheongsams for such a long time. Muttsuriini ’s hands are nimble, and he learns extremely quickly, we should just leave it to him.

“Then we’ll split the class into kitchen and hall groups. Those who want to work in the kitchen, go to where Sugawa and Tsuchiya.
Those who want to work in the hall, go to Aki!”

For some reason, I ended up being the person in charge of the hall.

“Then I’ll go to the kitchen—”

“HIMEJI-SAN NO! IT’LL BE BAD IF YOU’RE NOT OUTSIDE!”

I immediately stopped Himeji-san, who looks like she really wants to work in the kitchen. Now that we’re betting on our facilities,
we can’t let the store close because everyone gets food poisoning!

“Akihisa, GOOD JOB!”

“…(Nodding head!)”

Hideyoshi and Muttsuriini both understood this destructive power and quickly exchanged glances with me. The biggest victim, Yuuji probably didn’t notice as he’s sleeping—that should be it, but looking closely, one can see that he’s twitching slightly. Is he dreaming of Himeji-san’s cooking as well?

“Eh? Yoshii-kun, why must I be in the hall?”

The person who’s unaware of the lethality of her own cooking reveals a puzzled expression.

It’s simple to say the truth, but it’ll break her heart.

“Ah, eh—well, think about it, because Himeji-san’s so cute, we’ll be able to get customers if you stay outside—IT HURTS! MI,
MINAMI! MY BACK IS NOT A SANDBAG!”

“You…you’re saying that I’m cute…since Yoshii-kun said this, then I’ll do my best outside then ☆”

If possible, I’ll hope that you’ll just do your best outside.

“Aki, then I’ll help in the kitchen, okay?”

“Hm, I guess you’re well suited for it.”

“…”

“Then I guess I’ll help out in the kitchen as well.”

‘Hideyoshi, what are you talking about. You’re so cute, of course you have to be outside—GYYAAAHHH! MI, MINAMI-SAMA! IT’LL BREAK! MY SPINE! IT’S A VITAL BONE THAT’LL AFFECT MY LIFE!”

“…I’m going out to help.”

“Well, well…I guess, this is good.”

In this chaotic situation, the school festival that allows us to return back to normal life begins.

<noinclude>
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|-
| Back to [[Baka to Tesuto to Syokanju:Volume2 Illustrations|The Novel Illustrations]]
| Return to [[Baka to Tesuto to Syokanju|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Baka to Tesuto to Syokanju:Volume2_The_Second_Question|The Second Question]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume1 Story1 Chapter1

2011-02-17T05:12:43Z

Danlemagne: Diction

=== Chapter One: I'm a Familiar ===


"Who are you?" asked the girl intently, examining Saito's face, the clear blue sky behind her.

She seemed to be close to Saito's age.
Underneath a black cloak, she wore a white blouse and a gray pleated skirt.
She knelt down and looked, shocked, at his face.

''Her face is... cute.''
Reddish-brown eyes danced upon the stage of her flawless, white skin and strawberry blonde hair.
''She looks kind of like a foreigner.''
In fact, the girl ''must'' have been a foreigner.
A cute, doll-like foreigner.
''Maybe she’s half-Japanese?''

''Still, that's some kind of school uniform she's wearing, isn’t it? I don't recognize it.''

Saito was lying on the ground, face up, though he was unsure of how he had got there.
He raised his head to take a look around.
A crowd of people in black cloaks were curiously examining him.
In the distance, on an endlessly rich grassy plain, he saw a huge castle with stone walls, just like the ones in those European tour photographs.

''It's just like a fantasy.''


''My head is killing me.'' Giving his head a shake, he answered, "Who am I...? I'm Hiraga Saito."

"Where are you from, commoner?"

''Commoner? What does she mean by that?'' Everyone around him had some sort of stick in their hand and wore the same uniform as that girl's. ''Did I wander into an American school or something?''

"Louise, what were you thinking, calling a commoner with 'Summon Servant'?" someone asked, and everyone but the girl who was looking at his face started to laugh.

"I... I just made a little mistake!" the girl in front of Saito shouted in a refined voice that carried like a bell.

"What mistake are you talking about? Nothing unusual happened."

"Of course! After all, she's Louise the Zero!" someone else said, and the crowd burst into laughter again.

It appeared the girl looking into Saito's face was named Louise.

''Either way, this is no American school. You won't see those kinds of buildings just anywhere.''

''Could it be a movie set? Are they filming something?'' But then Saito thought all of a sudden,
''but it's too big to be a movie set. Could this kind of scenery really exist somewhere in Japan?''

''Maybe it's a new theme park? But then, why was I sleeping here?''

"Mr. Colbert!" the girl, Louise, shouted.

The crowd parted, revealing a middle-aged man. Saito thought it was funny, because the man looked ridiculous. He carried a big wooden staff and was covered in a black robe.

''What is he playing at? He's dressed like a wizard. Is he even sane? Oh, I've got it, this must be a cosplay gathering. But it doesn't seem to have that kind of atmosphere.'' Suddenly, Saito was gripped with fear. ''What am I going to do if this is a religious sect? It's possible. They could have put me to sleep somehow and brought me here while I was taking a walk in town. That mirror must have been a trap. If not, I have no other explanation for this.''

Saito decided that he ought to stay quiet until he understood what was going on.

The girl named Louise seemed to be in a panic, begging to redo something and gesticulating frantically.

''I feel sorry for her, being stuck in this weird religious group, since she's so cute.''

"What is it that you want from me, Miss Vallière?"

"Please! Let me try the summoning one more time!"


''Summoning? What's that? They mentioned it earlier.''

Mr. Colbert, the man wearing the black robe, shook his head. "I cannot allow that, Miss Vallière."

"Why not?"

"It is strictly forbidden. When you are promoted to a second year student, you must summon a familiar, which is what you just did."

''A familiar? What's that?''

"Your elemental specialty is decided by the familiar that you summon. It enables you to advance to the appropriate courses for that element.

You cannot change the familiar once you have summoned it, because the Springtime Familiar Summoning is a sacred rite.
Whether you like it or not, you have no choice but to take him."

"But... I've never heard of having a commoner as a familiar!"

Everyone around laughed. Louise scowled at them, but the laughter didn't stop.

'''Springtime Familiar Summoning'? What's that?''

''I don't understand. What are they talking about? How did I end up in a place like this? It has to be one of those [[Talk:Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume1_Chapter1#new_religions|New Religions]]. The safest thing to do is to take the first opportunity to run away.''
''I mean really, where is this place?''
''Was I taken to a foreign country?''
''A kidnapping! I've been kidnapped!''
''I'm in real trouble,'' thought Saito.

"This is a tradition, Miss Vallière. I cannot allow any exceptions; he,"
the middle-aged wizard cosplayer pointed at Saito,
"may be a commoner, but as long as he was summoned by you, he must be your familiar.
Never in history has a human been summoned as a familiar, but the Springtime Familiar Summoning takes precedence over every rule. In other words, there is no other way around it: he must become your familiar."

"You have got to be joking..."
Louise drooped her shoulders in disappointment.

"Well then, continue with the ceremony."

"With ''him''?"

"Yes, with him. Hurry. The next class will begin any minute.
How much more time is this summoning going to take?
After mistake upon mistake, you have finally managed to summon him.
Hurry and form a contract."

Everyone voiced their agreement and began jeering.

Louise stared at Saito's face as if troubled.

''What is it? What's she going to do to me?''

"Hey,"
Louise addressed Saito.

"Yes?"

"You should count yourself lucky. Normally you'd go your whole life without a noble doing this to you."

''Noble? How stupid. What nobles are you talking about?''
''Aren't you just a bunch of twisted cosplaying new-religion freaks?''

Louise closed her eyes with an air of resignation.
She waved around the wooden stick in her hand.

"My name is Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière. Pentagon of the Five Elemental Powers;
bless this humble being, and make him my familiar."

She chanted those words over and over, like a magic spell, and touched Saito's forehead with the stick.
Her lips then slowly drew closer.

''What... What are you doing?!''


"Just stay still,"
Louise said, a touch of irritation in her voice.
Her face got closer.

"Oi, wait a second. I'm... Well, I'm not... ready for this..."

His face twisted in panic.

"Ah, geez! I told you to stay still!"
Louise grabbed Saito's face roughly with her left hand.

"Huh?"

"Mmm..."

Louise's lips touched Saito's.

''What is happening?! What kind of contract is this?!''
The touch of her soft lips confounded Saito even more.
''My first kiss! Stolen in this weird place by this weird girl whose motives I don't understand!''
Saito remained frozen, paralyzed.

Louise removed her lips.
"It is done."


<center>[[Image:ZNT-page-019.jpg|thumb|KISU!]]</center>



''Her face is all red. Is this idiot embarrassed by her boldness?'' Saito thought.

"I should be the one embarrassed, not you! It was me who was kissed all of a sudden!"

But Louise ignored Saito completely.

''You kissed me and now dismiss me? If this isn't rude, I don't know what is.''
''Really, who are they?! I'm scared. I want to go home right this minute. I just want to go home and get online,'' Saito thought.
He had just registered with a dating site, so he wanted to check his e-mail.

"You have failed 'Summon Servant' many times, but you have managed to succeed with 'Contract Servant' in one try,"
Colbert said happily.

"It's just because he's only a commoner."

"If he was a powerful magical beast, she wouldn't have been able to make a contract."

Some of the students laughed.

Louise scowled at them.
"Don't make fun of me! Even I do things right once in a while!"

"Truly 'once in a while', Louise the Zero,"
laughed a girl with gorgeous curly hair and freckles on her face.

"Mr. Colbert! Montmorency the Flood just insulted me!"


"Who are you calling 'the Flood'? I'm Montmorency the Fragrance!"

"I heard that you used to wet the bed like a flood, didn't you? 'The Flood' suits you better!"

"I hadn't expected better manners from Louise the Zero."

"Watch it! Nobles ought to show each other the proper respect,"
the middle-aged wizard cosplayer interjected.

''What are they talking about? What contract? Who are they calling a servant?''

Suddenly, Saito's body started to heat up.

"Aaah!"
Saito stood up.
"I'm burning up!"

"It will be over soon; just wait. The Familiar's Runes are being inscribed,"
Louise said, irritated.

"Stop it! What are you doing to me?!"

''There is nothing I can do, but I can't just lie around quietly. It is unbelievably hot!''

"By the way."

"What?"


"Why do you allow yourself, a commoner, to use that kind of language in front of nobles?"

The burning sensation lasted only for a second.
His body rapidly cooled down.

"That was quick..."
The middle-aged cosplay wizard, known as Colbert, approached the kneeling Saito
and checked the back of his left hand.
There, jumping out at him, were unfamiliar letters.

''Are those runes? It looks like a wriggling snake in some strange pattern.''
Saito stared at it and thought, ''If this isn't a trick, then what is it?''
"Hmmm..."

"These are very unusual Runes,"
said the middle-aged wizard impersonator.

At this point, Saito suddenly lost it.
"Who are you people?!"
he yelled out, but no one reacted.

"Well, let's go back to class, everyone."

The middle-aged cosplay wizard turned on his heel, then rose gently into the air.
Saito gaped after him.

''Is... Is he really flying? Is he floating in the air?''
''Unbelievable!''
The other people who looked like students also floated up.

''It can't be! The whole lot of them? One person could rise up into the air by some trick, but so many?''
Saito looked for wires or even a crane, but the surrounding area was just a large grassy plain.
There was nothing to suggest that any tricks or setups were used.

Everyone who was floating quietly moved towards the stone walls of the castle in the distance.

"Louise, you'd better ''walk'' back!"

"She shouldn't try to fly. She can't even manage levitation."

"A commoner is perfect as your familiar!"
the students jeered as they flew away.

The only ones left behind were Saito and the girl named Louise.

As soon as it was only the two of them, Louise took a deep breath,
turned toward Saito, and yelled,
"Who are you?!"

That made Saito mad. ''That's my line!'' he thought.

"Who are ''you''? Where ''is'' this place?! ''Who'' were all those people?! Why can they ''fly''?!

What did you ''do'' to my body?!"

"I don't know what backwoods you came from, but all right, I will explain it to you."

"Backwoods? This is the backwoods! Tokyo is nothing like this!"

"Tokyo? What is that? What country is it in?"

"Japan."

"Never heard of it."

"Oh please! But why are they flying?! You saw it too! They flew! They all did!"

But Louise took no notice of it at all, as if to say, "What's wrong with flying?"

"Of course they flew. What would we do if mages couldn't fly?"

Saito grabbed Louise's shoulders and yelled,
"Mages? Where the hell am I?!"

"This is Tristain! And this is the renowned Tristain Academy of Magic!"

"Academy of Magic?"

"I'm a second year student, Louise de La Vallière. I am your master from now on. Remember that!"


All of Saito's fire suddenly disappeared.
He was starting to get a really bad feeling about the situation.
"Uh... Miss Louise..."

"What?"

"Did you really summon me here?"

"That's what I've been telling you over and over again. I can't believe you're that dense.
Why does my familiar have to be so uncool...
I wanted to have something wicked like a dragon or a griffin or a manticore.
At least an eagle or an owl."

"A dragon or a griffin? Really?"

"Yeah, those would be totally cool familiars."

"Do they actually exist?"

"They do. Why?"

"You've gotta be kidding me,"
Saito said, laughing. But Louise didn't seem to be joking.

"Well, you've probably never seen them before,"
Louise said seriously, pity in her voice.


The mages who had flown away and the fantasy words they used suddenly connected.

He felt a chill run down his spine, and broke out in a cold sweat.
"Maybe... These people, they really flew, didn't they? Are you really witches and wizards?"

"Of course we are! Now, let go of my shoulders!
You shouldn't even be talking to me!"

"A dream... This has to be a dream..."
Slowly, his strength left him, and Saito fell to his knees.

"Louise",
he said with a weak voice.

"Don't call me directly by name."

"Hit me."

"What did you say?"

"Please, hit me in the head as hard as you can."

"Why?"

"I want to wake up from this dream. I'm gonna wake up and get online.
Tonight's dinner is [[Talk:Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume1_Chapter1#hamburger|hamburger steak]]. My mom said so this morning."

"Get online?"


"No, it's nothing. After all, you're just a part of my dream, so you don't need to worry about it. Now just let me escape this dream already."

"I don't know what you're talking about, but you want me to hit you, right?"
Louise clenched her hands into fists.

"Yes, please."

Her fists began to tremble.
Louise's expression became unreadable, but it seemed a lot of thoughts were going through her head.
"Aren't you concerned at all about being summoned?"

"How should I know?"

"How could I, the third daughter of the Vallière family... a noble who takes pride in her proper pedigree and ancient lineage, end up having to make someone like you my familiar?"

"How should I know?"
Saito repeated.

"...And just who decided that the contract had to be sealed by a kiss?"

"How should I know? Look, will you just get it over and done with? I hate nightmares."

"Nightmares? That's my line!"
Louise clobbered Saito in the head with all her strength.
"That was my first kiss!"

Perhaps she was a bit too forceful... "Mine too," thought Saito, losing consciousness.




<center>* * *</center>

Hiraga Saito. Seventeen years of age and in his second year of high school.

Athletic ability: normal. Grades: average. Duration without a girlfriend: seventeen years. Overall: no positives or negatives.

Teachers' evaluation: "Ah, Hiraga-kun. He refuses to give up, and he has a strong sense of curiosity, but he's a little slow."

Parents' evaluation: "You should study more. You're on the slow side."

Being slow, he was rarely bothered by accidents, and accepted pretty much anything — relative to most people, at least. Earlier, when he saw people flying, he made a commotion, but given that an ordinary person would have been so shocked as to be brought to their knees, he owed much to his disposition.


To put it plainly, he just didn't think too deeply about things before acting.

Also, he had a fiercely competitive spirit. In that sense, he might have been quite similar to Louise in personality.

Anyway, a mere thirty minutes ago, Saito had been walking down a street in Tokyo, Japan; on Earth.

He was on his way home after having his notebook computer repaired. He was quite happy, in fact, since he could go on the internet once more. He'd recently registered at an online dating site and had a chance to finally find himself a girlfriend.


Though what he really wanted was something to spice up his otherwise monotonous daily life.
However, instead of discovering it on the internet, he found it in the middle of the street.

He was walking past the train station on his way home when suddenly a shining mirror-like object appeared in front of him.
Saito stopped to take a good long look at it. Remember, his curiosity was about twice that of a normal person.

It was a large ellipse, about two meters high and one meter wide, with no substantial thickness.
Then he noticed it was actually floating a little above the ground.

This piqued his interest.
"What kind of natural phenomenon is this?" he wondered, scrutinizing the sparkling mirror-like object. "This is beyond odd, I've never seen or heard of any kind of phenomenon like this."
He considered sidestepping it, but his curiosity got the better of him.
He wanted to see if he could walk through it.

''No, maybe I shouldn't,'' he told himself. ''But it's just a couple of steps,'' he reasoned. He really did have a hopeless personality.

But first, he picked up a pebble and threw it experimentally at the disk.
The pebble disappeared into the middle of the mirror-like object.

''Oho,'' he thought. When he checked the other side, the pebble was nowhere to be seen.
Next he pulled his house key out of his pocket. He poked the mirror-like object with the tip of the key.


Nothing happened.

Withdrawing the key, he examined it, but nothing about it had changed. Saito judged that there wouldn't be any immediate danger if he walked through, which only tempted him further to do it.

In the end, even though he knew he shouldn't, he stepped forward. It was much like opening up a manga just after deciding you were going to do nothing but study from now on.

He immediately regretted it, as an intense shock assailed his senses. He suddenly remembered back to when he was a child, when his mother had bought him a strange machine that supposedly made a person smarter by running an electric current through their body. It felt a lot like that. Saito fainted.

When he opened his eyes...

He was in a strange world as if out of a fantasy book.

<center>* * *</center>

"Is that true?" asked Louise, looking at Saito with an expression of disbelief. In her hand, she held bread from tonight's dinner.

They were in Louise's room. It looked about [[Talk:Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume1_Chapter1#12_jou|12 tatami mats]] in size. If you treated the window as south, the bed would be situated on the west side, the door would be to the north, and a big wardrobe would stand to the east. All the furniture looked like valuable antiques.

Louise had brought Saito here once he had regained consciousness.

Saito, trying to ignore the ache from the blow earlier, answered her,
"So what if it wasn't?"

Saito had never felt the slightest bit resentful of his own curiosity until today.
''I never should've walked through that stupid thing...''
''This isn't Japan. It isn't even Earth.''

If there were a nation with wizards who flew through the sky, even only a few, he certainly hadn't learned about it in middle school geography.
And even if there were, what about those huge moons floating in the sky? They were easily twice the size of Earth's.
Their huge size was not the issue; it was entirely possible that in some countries there were nights like that.
However, that there were two of them was strange. Could the moon have multiplied into two without Saito noticing?

No. It couldn't. In other words, this was definitely not Earth.

It was dark now... Night had already fallen. ''I guess my family is worrying about me right now,'' he concluded sadly.

From the window, he could see the grassy plains where he'd been lying. Across the plains, illuminated by moonlight, he could also see a tall mountain range. Over to his right was a vast expanse of dense forest. Saito let out a sigh.


''Evergreen forests like this one simply should not exist. It's totally different from what you'd see in Japan.''

The castle and the grounds he had passed on his way looked very much like something directly out of the Middle Ages. It had been a breathtaking spectacle that would've amazed him if he'd come here on a trip.

An entrance arch and a sturdy staircase, both made of stone...
This was the Tristain Academy of magic, Louise had explained.
All the Academy students lived in dormitories on the school grounds.

''Academy of Magic? Wonderful! Dormitories? Splendid! It's just like a movie!'' 

''But this isn't Earth...!''

"I can't believe it."

"Look, neither can I."

"By another world, what do you mean?"

"There aren't any magicians. And there's only one moon."

"There's such a world like that?"

"I'm telling you, it's where I came from!"
Saito shouted.

"Don't yell at me, you commoner."

"Who are you calling a commoner?!"


"Well, you're not a mage, right? So you're a commoner."

"Why does it matter if I'm a mage or not?"

"Look, do you really know nothing about the world?"

"As I've been telling you all this time, I'm not from this one!"

At that, Louise set her elbows on the table with a troubled look.

On the tabletop was a lamp with an art deco style shade. Its flickering light filled the room with a pale glow. It seemed as if electricity wasn't used.

''Jeez, electricity isn't that complicated to set up, is it? I feel like I'm back in the old foreign settler's hut that our family went to ages ago.''

''Wait, 'setup...'''
''Oh, could it be... This is...''

"I've got it."

"What did you get?"
Louise asked, looking up.

"This is one of those candid camera programs. It's just a trick everyone is pulling on me, isn't it?"

"What's a 'candid camera'?"

"They stopped airing a while ago after someone got hurt, but you don't have any material so you're resorting back to the same kind of stuff, are you? So where's the camera?"


"What are you talking about?"

Saito sprung upon Louise.

"Kya--! What are you doing?!"

Knocking over a chair, he bore down on her.

"Where's the mike?! Is it here?"

Grabbing her roughly, he started to unbutton her blouse. However, a swift kick to the groin brought that to a halt... This left him on the floor in pain.

"Gaaaaaaaaaarrrgh..." 

"H-how dare you... To a noble such as me..."
Louise stood up, trembling furiously all over.

Through the intense agony, Saito thought, ''This is no dream.''
''Plus, this isn't Earth. It's an entirely different world.''

"Please..."

"What?!"

"Send me back home..."


"That's impossible."

"But why...?"

"Because you've been bound by a contract as my familiar; it doesn't matter if you come from the countryside or a completely different world like you've said. Once the bond is established, it can't be undone."

"You gotta be kidding..."

"Look, I don't like this either! Why do I have to be stuck with a familiar like you?!"

"Well then, send me back."

"Are you saying you're really from another world?"
asked Louise, seemingly still perplexed.

"Yeah."
Saito nodded.

"Show me some proof."

Still wincing at the pain, Saito stood up and opened his bag.

"What's that?"

"A notebook computer,"
replied Saito.


The surface of the recently repaired notebook gleamed with reflected light.

"I've certainly never seen anything like this. What kind of magic artifact is it?"

"It's not magic. It's science."

Saito pushed the power button, and the computer whirred to life.

"Uwah! What is that?!"
Louise gave a surprised yelp as the screen flickered on.

"The notebook screen."

"It's pretty... What element of magic does it use? Wind? Water?"

"Science."

Louise stared at Saito blankly. Clearly she didn't get it.
"So, what kind of element is this 'science'? Is it different from the four elemental powers?"

"Argh, that's enough! I told you, it's not magic!"
Saito waved his hands around wildly.

Louise sat on the edge of her bed and dangled her feet. Then, shrugging, she said with a dispassionate look,
"Hmm. But I don't really understand it..."

"Why? Is there anything like this in this world too?"


Louise pouted.
"No, but..."

"Then just believe me! There's nothing to understand!"

Clutching her long hair, Louise just shook her head.
"All right! I'll believe you!"

"Really?"

Crossing her arms and cocking her head, Louise gave an annoyed growl.
"Only because you would've gone on about it if I didn't say so."

"Well, it doesn't matter, as long as you've got it. Now, send me back."

"I told you, it's impossible."

"But why?!"

Louise's face was etched with discomfort as she answered Saito.
"That's because there's no spell that can connect this world to your world."

"Then how did I end up here?"

"I wish I knew!"

Saito and Louise glared at each other.

"Listen, I'm being completely honest when I say there's no such spell. Nobody's even heard of another world."


"There obviously is one if I'm here!"

"'Summon Servant' is used to call living beings from within Halkeginia. Normally, only animals or magical beasts are summoned. This is actually the first instance that I've seen it work on a person."


"Stop talking about it like you're not involved. In that case, cast that spell on me one more time."

"Why?"

"It might return me to my world."

Looking discernibly perplexed, Louise tilted her head to one side.

"...That won't work. 'Summon Servant' is a strictly one-way spell. No incantation of any kind exists to return a summoned familiar back to where it was brought from."

"Whatever, just try it."

"It's impossible. And I can't even cast it now."

"What? Why?"

"...Using 'Summon Servant' again is..."

"Yeah?"

"...Completely ineffective unless the familiar you first summoned has died."

"Say what?"

Saito froze.

"Would you like to die?"

"Err... Guess I'll pass."
He hung his head.
His eyes trailed down to the runes that had been inscribed on his left hand.

"Do you want to know what that is?"

"Yeah."

"That's like a stamp that says you're my familiar."

Louise stood up and crossed her arms.
This close, she was actually quite cute. Slender and well-proportioned legs, thin ankles. Not very tall, at around 155 cm.
Her eyes were like a curious kitten's, and her eyebrows traced a subtle line over them.

If Saito had met her through the message boards of a dating site, he would've hopped and leaped for joy. But alas, this wasn't Earth. No matter how much he wanted to go back, he couldn't. Saito choked up at this thought, and his shoulders sagged.

"...Yeah, all right. For now, I guess I'm really your familiar."

"Come again?"

"What, you got a problem with that?"


"I see you're still not used to formal speech. It should be, 'Is there something you wish to address, master?'"
corrected Louise, one finger raised as if lecturing. The gesture was cute, but the tone was quite strict.

"But, um, what exactly does a familiar do?"
asked Saito. Of course, he had seen ravens and owls appear as familiars in anime involving magicians. But mostly they would just sit on their master's shoulder and do nothing particularly relevant.

"Firstly, a familiar is able to grant its master an enhancement in vision and hearing."

"Like how?"

"That means what the familiar sees, the master can also see."

"Oh."

"But it seems that doesn't work with you. I can't see anything."

"Yeah, but it's not like that matters,"
Saito said off-handedly.

"Also, a familiar will retrieve items that its master desires. For instance, reagents."

"Reagents?"

"Catalyst to be uses when casting certain spells. Something like sulfur, or moss..."

"Uh-huh..."


"But you won't ever find me stuff like that, will you? Considering you don't even know what kind of reagents there are."

"Nope."

Louise frowned irritably, but continued talking.
"And this is most important of all... A familiar exists to protect its master! The task of protecting them from any and all enemies is a duty of the highest priority! But that might be a little bit problematic for you..."

"Since I'm human..."

"...A powerful magical beast would almost always defeat its enemies, but I don't think you could even beat a raven."

"Shut up."

"That's why I'm only making you do things I'm fairly sure you can do: laundry, cleaning, and other miscellaneous tasks."

"That's offensive. Just you see, I'm sure I'll find a way to get back home!"

"Sure, sure. In fact, I'll be glad if you do. Because when you return to your world, I'll be able to summon a new familiar."

"Why you..."

"Right then, all this talking has made me sleepy,"
said Louise with a great yawn.

"Where do I sleep?"


Louise pointed to the floor.

"I'm not some dog or cat, you know."

"But there's nowhere else. And there's only one bed."
She threw him a blanket.

She then brought her hand up to the top button of her blouse.

One by one, the buttons came undone.

Soon she was down to her underwear. Saito blushed.
"Wh-wh-what are you doing?!"

Louise answered as if it was the most obvious thing.
"I'm going to sleep, so I'm getting changed."

"Do it somewhere else where I can't see you!"

"Why?"

"Because! It makes the situation awkward! Seriously!"

"It's not awkward at all."

"Is that because you're a mage? You're okay with doing that in plain sight of a guy?"

"A guy? Who? I don't need to think anything of being watched by my familiar."

''What the heck. That's exactly how you'd treat a dog or cat.'' Saito grabbed the blanket, threw it over his head, and turned away.

He decided to revoke any and all thoughts he'd previously had about her cuteness. She just really got on his nerves. ''A girl like her, a mage? Yeah right.''

"Oh, and these. Wash them for me tomorrow."
Several items came flying over to land softly beside him.
He picked them up, wondering what they were.

A lacy camisole and matching panties. White, too. ''What exquisite and delicate pieces'', Saito thought as his face began to flush. He clenched them tightly as a mix of indignation and delight welled up.

"Why do I have to-- Your underwear?! Wash them?! Frankly, I'm both flattered and offended!"

He bolted upright, without even realizing he'd done so. Louise was pulling a large nightgown over her head. And in the dim light thrown off by the lamp, he could see the outline of her figure. While he couldn't make out any other details, it didn't seem as though she was embarrassed. It was kind of disappointing. He felt as though his masculinity were being denied.

"Who do you think is going to support you? Who do you think is going to give you food? And just whose room are you going to sleep in?"

"Uhh..."


"You're my familiar, right? Laundry, cleaning, other menial tasks - they're naturally your job."

Saito pulled the blanket over his head again.

''This girl is hopeless,'' he thought. ''She just doesn't see me as a guy at all.''

''I want to go home. I miss my room. I miss my parents.''

The feeling of homesickness was overwhelming.

''...When will I be able to go back?''

''Is there even a way to go back?''

''I wonder if my family is worried about me right now...''

''I need to find some way of returning...''

''What should I do? Should I try running away from here? But then what?''

''Maybe I'll try asking someone. But from what Louise told me earlier, nobody even knows another world exists, so there's no way they'll believe me.''

''No, I need to think this through rationally. In any case, struggling won't get me anywhere. I don't have any clues, and even if I escaped from here, there's no guarantee that I'll even find a way back.''

''I don't even have relatives in this world. There's nobody I can rely on besides a conceited girl by the name of Louise.''

''Guess there's no choice. For now, I'll be her familiar. At least she said she'll keep me fed.''

''It'll be tough, since I'm not much more than a familiar to her.''

''Sure, she's a bit arrogant, but at least she's fairly cute. I suppose I can just imagine I made a girlfriend. Someone I happened to meet through the dating site. Treat it as if I came overseas just to see her. Or as if I came as a foreign student. Actually, that's better. Yeah, that's what I'll think. Hah, I'm so simple like that. It's great.''

''Okay,'' thought Saito. ''It's not like I've been stranded on a deserted island. Moping will achieve nothing.''

''I'll live as a familiar, and in the process, I'll look for a way to return home.''

Now that his plan was set, he felt noticeably sleepy.

No matter the situation, Saito's amazing adaptability had always saved him. Where anyone else would've panicked and crumbled, Saito came through thanks to his flexible personality.

Louise snapped her fingers, and the glow of the lamp died out.

''The lamp is magical too? I guess that means there really is no need for electricity,'' Saito reasoned.

A shroud of darkness descended upon the room.

Outside the window, the two moons shone down mysteriously.

Mrs. Hiraga, your son Saito has arrived in a world where there are wizards. He will not be able to attend school for quite some time, nor will he be able to study. Please forgive him.

And so began Saito's life as a familiar.



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Zero no Tsukaima:Volume4 Chapter6 - MTL

2010-05-15T04:57:52Z

Danlemagne: spelling, grammar

{{Template:PREVIEW}}

===Chapter Six: The Water Spirit===

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

Saito and others arrived at the lake by horse.

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

Montmorency and Guiche were riding on separate splendid grey horses.

"This must be the famous Ragdorian lake! No, the beauty of this lake is indescribable! The Water Spirit is in there! I’m impressed! HO-HO-HO – YAHOO!"

Yelled Guiche, whipping the horse and sening 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 was flung off the horse and, with a thunderous crash, fell head first into the lake.

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

Guiche desperately cried out for help while struggling in the water. It seemed that 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 completely ignored Guiche and was instead looking at the lake suspiciously.

“What is it?” Saito asked.

“Strange.”

"What's strange?"

"The water level is up. 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 dark shadow of the sunken house under the limpid surface of the water.

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

"It seems as if the Water Spirit is angry."

"How do you know that?"

”Because I am a Water-element user, Montmorency the Fragrance. The Tristain Royal family is connected with the Ragdorian lake Water Spirit by an old oath. The Montmorency ‘Water’ family has 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 a drainage for the territory, the family sought the Water Spirit's cooperation. A big glass container was made to transport it. However, because the Water Spirit has a lot of pride, it can be extremely aggressive. In fact, it is because of their aggressiveness that my family's 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 wet shirt that he had taken off, 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 the Water Spirit? If so, then we have been saved! Please, quickly make your negotiations and solve this flood problem."

The party looked at each other. It seemed like this farmer was a resident of the village that sank into 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 the queen are now only interested in the war against the Albion, not noticing such remote villages as ours. They can’t even imagine how hard it is to collect harvest…”

“Haa,” the farmer sigh deeply.

“What on earth happened to the Ragdorian 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 the eagles' nests are flooded. The local lords that are responsible for this territory indulge in 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 bottom of the lake... We really want to understand why it has suddenly become interested in our land. Because this land belongs to men! But, only a noble could communicate with it. I'd like to know what we poor farmers did to make it lose its temper.“

Saito and the others bent their heads in embarrassment.

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 bright yellow with many black spots.

Montmorency put 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 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 stuck her finger with it allowing a ruby of bright red blood to gush. Turning her finger over she let a drop fall on the frog.

After that, Montmorency cast a spell, treating the wound on the tip of her 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 the 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 disappeared into the water with a splash.

"Now, Robin went to call the Water Spirit. If she can find it, she is likely to bring it here.”

Saito looked doubtful.

“When it comes, we have to tell it a sad story, but I wonder what could be good. Maybe this story I know about a 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 the Water Spirit. How else would we get it if not making it cry?”

“You really are ignorant. Well, I guess since even non-water element mages do not know it either, so it is impossible to expect a commoner like you to know. The 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 was really weird! Though one could die from such a 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 lifespans, it can live a long, long, long time. It is said to have existed 6,000 years ago, when the Founder Brimir established Halkeginia. Its body, like water, can freely change its shape... and in a sunshine it glistens with seven colors…”

The moment Montmorency said this, 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 amoeba. Though its flashing lights were beautiful... it made them uncomfortable.

The frog, Montmorency’s familiar, hopped back to its master with a splash. Montmorency held out her palm and caught the frog. She patted the 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 Fère de Montmorency. User of water, member of the lineage of old oath. I have put my blood on the frog to help you remember. If you remember, answer in the way and words that we understand.”

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

Saito's eyes popped out from surprise when watching this.

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 changed into various forms. After the smile followed angry, then - crying faces. Each time she tried a new expression, the lump face of water moved.

Indeed, she looked beautiful. Like an always changing jewel.

Then her face became expressionless again as the Water Spirit answered Montmorency’s question.

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

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

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

"Although it is a tear, it is impossible to make immortal 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 its 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 understand 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 a 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! A little bit! Only a little bit!“

The 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, who was moved to tears already, nodded. Louise, feeling insecure, kept on clinging to Saito.

The Water Spirit changed her appearance few times before taking Montmorency’s shape again, and said to Saito,

“Very well.”

“Yes! Really?”

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

“Yes! That's what 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 forbidden 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 the Water Spirit lives – the very bottom of the lake. Someone, using magic, attacked her there in the middle of the night.

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

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

Louise was in an extremely bad mood because Saito was only talking to Montmorency.

''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 blanket wrapped up around her. Guess anyone would be like that if a potion made them fall madly in love.

“The people that attacked the Water Spirit went to the bottom of the lake. How can they breathe under the water?”

Saito asked Montmorency.

Montmorency thought for a while.

“Maybe it’s a 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. At the same time, even if you use water magic and are able to breathe underwater, directly touching the water would be suicidal as the Water Spirit controls it here. So maybe it was an air element mage, that way one can avoid touching the water.”

According to the Water Spirit, she was attacked every night on a regular basis, having bits of her body cut off.

“But how could someone wound it and still go unnoticed?”

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

“It is impossible to turn back?”

“The Water Spirit's soul 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 complicated creature compared to us.”

“Hmmm…”

Saito nodded.

“And because the 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 the Water Spirit can be… Even if for a single moment one lost concentration and the air ball disappeared allowing the water to connect – then it would be dreadful. Water controls other creatures' lives, if you 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. It's midnight.

Saito shut his mouth and with 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 the maiden from 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. The fighter’s intuition that he gained from experiencing many fights was now telling him that someone was near. His mouth was filled with saliva. ''Guess that someone is an enemy? But, will it be all right. I am the legendary Gandálfr. I should be able to beat mages up. What would it matter against the number of those dragon knights that attacked me before?''

Not noticing himself, Saito became very self-conceited.

He gazed at Louise’s sleeping face. ''Wait for me, I will definitely bring you back'' – he muttered silently.

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

Saito gripped Derflinger's handle. The rune on his left hand began to shine. However, he hadn’t left the hiding spot. He still could not decide whether it was these people that attacked Water Spirit or not.

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

It looked like they started chanting 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 match. Because I already… defeated Wardes and ten-times larger orc demons, and this is just a pair of people. Hey, they are not even looking in my direction. Easy victory, easy victory, I could 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 became a huge hand-like tentacle that twined around the assailants' feet.

Silence.

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

However, the enemy’s reaction was quick. The assailants started muttering spells the same time as 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 their spell towards Guiche, the person aimed it towards Saito, who wasn't prepared for this.

The body turned around quickly and the wand swung around. Just like in the 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, an ice arrow followed. Saito turned his body and jumped up dodging it, but the taller mage shot a big fire ball at him. Though Saito tried to dodge that too, the aiming was accurate as Saito’s movements were anticipated beforehand.

“Partner! Raise me!” Derflinger shouted.

Saito boldly blocked the flame ball with his sword, yet, even though it was absorbed 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 became more hasty. ''Crap! Their wands.''

He lowered his guard thinking that the enemy would concentrate on Guiche. Yet the enemy was experienced in combat and anticipated an attack from a different direction, not being 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 tactic, the results were very effective. Anyhow, there was no opening.

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

His body suddenly felt heavy. In the 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. Gandálfr's power gave me more confidence than my 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 the fireball knocked against Saito, the area in front of 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 for an attack, 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.

<noinclude>
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Zero no Tsukaima:Volume11 Chapter7

2010-04-04T00:13:44Z

Danlemagne: spelling

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===Chapter Seven: The Pope Of Romalia ===

Seeing the guest who came to the royal reception room, Henrietta could only stare in blank surprise.

His dark-purple priest robes and high cylindrical hat symbolized the highest authority among all of Halkeginia’s priesthood… in other words – he was the Pope of Romalia.

Because he held a position higher than any king in Halkeginia, Henrietta invited him to take the most honorable seat.

However, the young man’s face did not suit well with the priest clothes that he wore. His gentle eyes, sculpturesque nose, and well-shaped lips formed into an ever-present smile - beauty that made everyone turn to look. Even if one searched all the theaters in Halkeginia, it would be difficult to find an actor as beautiful as him.

To Henrietta, it seemed that his smile was filled with godlike affection.

“Doing well, Henrietta-dono?”

Ashamed, Henrietta snapped out of her trance.

“I am sorry, Your Holiness. I was deeply moved by your holy power.”

His hair, like thin gold threads, shivered as the Pope of Romalia laughed.

“Call me Vittorio. I don’t like such formal manners. Treat me like a regular priest of the country.”

“That is gracious of you. I am very sorry I could not attend the enthronement ceremony.”

Vittorio Serevare St. Aegis the 32nd had been enthroned three years ago. Though it was a custom for each of Halkeginia’s royal families to attend the ceremony, Henrietta had caught a cold and was not able to be there.

St. Aegis the 32nd… the one who succeeded the name of "Founder's Shield," the thirty-second Pope. A very young person who had just passed twenty years of age, and though Henrietta had heard rumors that he was a very handsome person, she didn’t think it would be to that degree.

“I don't mind. Enthronement is just a ceremony. You still follow God and are the Founder's pious servant; that is enough for me.”

It is said that despite his young age, St. Aegis the 32nd received ardent support from the Romalian citizens. The reason for that was because there was a special liberal feeling that surrounded him. To a degree, Henrietta could relate to that, as she could not feel anything haughty in this young Pope either.

However… though nice, it was a really unexpected visit.

St. Aegis the 32nd announced his visit to Tristain just two days before. The palace went in an uproar preparing for the sudden guest. After all, the Pope’s visits were very rare.

The last time the Pope had come as a guest was for the coronation of the King, her father.

So the reason for such a sudden visit of St. Aegis the 32nd was a mystery.

During the rushed dinner between the Queen and the Prime Minister Mazarin, Henrietta discussed the problems regarding the reception.

“However, as expected from the rumored Halkeginia’s Flower, Henrietta-dono is really beautiful. I am extremely honored to meet you. If I were not the priest, I would ask you to dance.”

“Can I ask something?”

“What?”

“Can I learn the reason for such an unexpected visit?”

Surely, he did not come here just to have idle chat.

St. Aegis the 32nd gave a deep sigh.

“Henrietta-dono, what do you think about the prior campaign?”

The war in Albion. The league of nobles who introduced themselves as Reconquista, the destruction of Albion’s royal family, the war started by the union of all nobles who did not rely on a monarchic government and sought the Holy Land…

The war between Reconquista and the united Tristain-Germania army, the sudden intervention of Gallia, which ended in the victory of the Allied Forces…

The war that took away Henrietta’s beloved.

She did not want to recall that difficult war.

Henrietta lowered her head in sadness.

“It was a sad war.”

“…”

“I would not want to repeat such a war a second time, I think.”

St. Aegis the 32nd nodded approvingly.

“Seems like Henrietta–dono is my friend.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means that I agree. I too was grieved at heart by such a war. I was determined to let the militia participate as well, as soon as possible, because I wanted this useless war to be over with.”

Useless war… at such words, Henrietta's heart reacted strongly.

“Is it because it was not profitable?”

St. Aegis the 32nd gave a big nod.

“It is as Henrietta-dono says. Such conflict has no benefit. I am always troubled because of this. We are all Founder Brimir's pious servants, so why should we fight against each other?”

Henrietta answered in a constrained voice.

“Though I am immature as a politician… I think that as long as people have desires, wars will never be over.”

“Founder Brimir also acknowledged the existence of desire. When desire captivates a person, he is likely to stray away from the path of righteousness. That’s why self-control is beautiful. We, priests, vow celibacy and once a week devote ourselves to vegetarian ration in order to not forget self-control.”

“If all people could control themselves like his Holiness, there would be no wars in the world.”

“It is so, there would be none. However, I am a realist. Asking Halkeginia’s people to have as strong belief as Romanians would be a foolish demand to make, we know that well.”

“It is as his Holiness said – true faith sank to the ground because of the nature of the world.”

For a moment, the Pope closed his eyes to her words… and then looked up.

“This country is a very beautiful one. The colors that decorate the kingdom in spring, rich forests, gorgeous rivers, suiting the name of the Water Country… Romalia is poor in water. It makes one envious. And when such a beautiful country is involved in a war, I take it as blasphemy to God.”

“I think that it is my mission to defend the peace.”

Said Henrietta. It was slightly disappointing that the Pope of Romalia really had come for simple sightseeing and preaching about pacifism.

Taking a look at the clock on the wall, Henrietta tried to stand up.

“Well then, the room and the servants are prepared. Please stay here as long as you wish. In case you’ll want to explore the place, we’ll give you our guards.”

However, St. Aegis 32nd didn’t stand up.

“Your Holiness?”

“I came today to help Henrietta-dono accomplish her mission.”

St. Aegis the 32nd and Henrietta went to the royal courtyard. The courtyard of the palace was bathed with rays of springtime sunlight, and though its magnificence was not as great as Gallia's Palace of Lutèce, the flowerbeds were filled with various flowers in full bloom.

While walking through the path between the flowerbeds, St. Aegis the 32nd kept his silence.

“What did you want to show me?”

Breaking the silence, Henrietta asked. St. Aegis the 32nd noticed something in the corner of a flowerbed and squatted down.

“Please look here.”

There were ants.

"Aren't those ants?”

“Black ants, red ants – fighting for food.”

Indeed, small group of insects - the red and black ants - were fighting. The two kinds of ants were desperately competing against each other.

“Strife exists even between small creatures.”

St. Aegis the 32nd placed a hand between the insects, putting a barrier between the opposing parties of black and red ants.

Eventually the fight between the two groups ended, and both returned to their nests.

“Splendid arbitration.”

“The ants will not be able to understand that they have been arbitrated. It’s because my existence is bigger than they can perceive. A human has full power over the ants. If I wanted to, I could destroy the ant nest. Of course, I do not intend to do such a thing.”

“What do you want to say?”

“In short - power. For the preservation of peace, a huge power is necessary. A huge power that could arbitrate the two warring factions…”

“Where to get such power…”

As Henrietta started to say so, her eyes grew wider upon realization.

“That’s right. Henrietta-dono also knows about the legendary power…”

“I cannot understand, what do you mean?”

Henrietta tried to play dumb. But St. Aegis the 32nd continued to speak.

“The power given to us by God. The power that like water, has no color. A person’s mind can make it either white or black.”

“Your Holiness, ooh, Your Holiness…”

Henrietta shook her head.

“Do you know the Founder's element?”

“The Void.”

“Yes. Great Founder Brimir himself divided this powerful power into four – it was entrusted to the treasures and the rings. The Ruby of Water and the Founder’s Prayer Book are what Tristain got.”

“Correct.”

“Again, the people who should bear this power were also divided into four. Perhaps from the fear that the power would concentrate in one person's hands.”

Henrietta recalled Louise. And the ones similar to Louise - the supporter of Gallia, who had not revealed his true colors still. And the elf girl who lived quietly in Albion and whom she hadn’t met…

Was she alright?

''She has Albion’s royal treasure, so she must be my cousin… Though we left her alone because she was happy living on her own… will she really be alright?''

Thinking like this, Henrietta tried to focus back on the conversation.

“The Founder said it himself – ‘Four treasures, four rings, four familiars and four users – when all four of them are gathered in a single place, my Void will awake.’”

“What a frightening power.”

“Frightening you say? It is power given by God. It depends on the person whether it becomes white or black.”

“Power makes one corrupt. I learned it from my mother. I, myself, think so as well. If possible, I would like to leave it alone.”

“For how many years have we been involved in these useless fights?”

Henrietta was at a loss for words. She had to agree that the history of Halkeginia was a history of conflicts.

St. Aegis the 32nd took out something from his pocket. It was a colorful candy.

And threw it at the ants.

All the ants became crazy about the sudden blessing. They clung to the big candy. And they were not fighting against each other. Because there was plenty for them all, there was no need to fight.

“Together with the power, a common destination is needed. We already have it.”

“Destination?”

“Something like this candy, do you understand?”

“I don’t.”

“The Holy Land.”

St. Aegis the 32nd said.

“…the Holy Land.”

It was Founder Brimir’s promised land guarded by elves. Though all kingdoms of Halkeginia united many times and aimed to recapture the land, it never ended in success…

“The Holy Land that is not free. That’s where we should aim our minds at. Without this aim there would be no true peace.”

“But… elves are strong…”

“They practice Ancient Magic. It is so. The Kings of Halkeginia have been defeated many times. However, they did not have the ‘Founder’s Void.’”

“…yet another war? This time with elves? But that’s not what you said before?! You said you wanted it to end!”

“The existence of such strong power would likely be enough to occupy the wise elves. You do not need to actually ‘use’ it, but rather to ‘show’ that you have it.”

St. Aegis the 32nd gave Henrietta an intense look. In those eyes there was not even a slight shadow of doubt in oneself. However, such absolute confidence in oneself could only be in a clergyman’s eyes.

“…is this what you wanted to show me?”

“Indeed. We can have a peaceful ‘negotiation’ with the elves. For that we need a great power… in other words, the Founder’s power is necessary.”

Henrietta felt herself attracted to the young Pope’s way of thinking. Without a doubt, it was realistic… and it sought for an ideal to pursue. But ideals and reality were two conflicting matters and the innumerable sufferings could be created when trying to combine them both.

That was the attitude she had right now.

But, she could not take a step forward.

She did not have the courage.

Seeing Henrietta like this, the pope smiled.

He smiled like a boy.

A boy who before growing up had grand ideals. These ideals, with the coming of age, are usually swallowed up by reality.

However this pope, looked… like a boy in adult's body.

“Your Holiness's words are too grand… I cannot judge their correctness at the moment. Can I ask for some time for consideration?”

“The thing that Henrietta-dono says is very understandable. However, there cannot be a long delay.”

“Delay for?”

“Gallia. Sadly, it is a country ruled by a man who has no faith. People’s happiness is dominated by his personal desires. Henrietta-dono, we need to ally our ideals together.”

In her mind, Henrietta recalled Joseph, King of Gallia. His attitude to take over the other nations in the conference. An ambitious person, who persecuted Louise on a number of occasions. The Duke of Orléans who was the younger brother of the true king was a tyrant. A cruel man who harmed his own niece Tabitha repeatedly…

“You saw how his mind works? If he was given the power of Void, we would not survive.”

“Yes.”

Henrietta nodded. Really, she could do nothing but agree.

“As a Pope, a servant of the god and of all people of Halkeginia, I order you - take the ‘Void’ from that place, we cannot leave the amulet in the hands of a person who has no faith.”

Agnes quietly watched the queen and the pope's discussion in the courtyard. There were a lot of musketeers in the surroundings, guarding the place from a distance.

Once the discussion was over, Henrietta called Agnes with the small gesture.

Agnes kneeled down on one knee when facing the queen.

“Commander-dono, His Holiness, the Pope needs rest. Please guide him to his room.”

“As you wish.”

Standing up, Agnes turned towards the Pope.

“Your Holiness, please follow me.”

“Thank you very much for your efforts.”

Once looking up at St. Aegis the 32nd’s face, Agnes lost her tongue. Gone was her usual calm soldier mask, replaced by a pair of wide, glistening eyes.

“Is something the matter?”

Hearing the Pope’s gentle words, Agnes lowered her head in panic.

“F-Forgive my rudeness.”

Agnes, feeling like her heart was torn… started to walk. For a moment, she was reminded of her past, 20 years ago.

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Zero no Tsukaima:Volume11 Chapter4

2010-04-03T21:33:18Z

Danlemagne: spelling, repetition

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===Chapter Four: The Vallière Family ===

“Now then, did you just say ‘Void?’”

That night... the queen, enclosed in the living room of the La Vallière house, confessed a secret.

Duke de La Vallière was sitting wordlessly in front of the fireplace, watching the flame burn. Next to the father, two elder sisters were listening carefully with a serious looks on their faces.

Karin Desiree  was there too, she had changed her mantle back to her usual duchess dress. The sharp eyes of that fearsome knight of Heavy Wind also disappeared somewhere. An indescribably quick change.

Louise and Saito’s friends – Guiche, Kirche and others, due to Henrietta’s request, were taking a rest in the room nearby.

Saito and Louise themselves were sitting together on the sofa, nervously fiddling their fingers. Because Saito was severely injured by Karin’s wind magic, parts of his body were covered in bandages. Even Henrietta’s water spells could not cure him completely.

Henrietta, who sat in the top seat, gave a strong nod.

“That’s right. Louise’s awoken element... is the legendary element of ‘Void.’”

Duke de La Vallière fiddled with his mustache for a while, then stood up slowly and approached his daughter.

Then he gently patted Louise's head.

“Your fairy tale-esque story is hard to believe. The Void element disappeared from history long time ago. And only religious theology still asserted that ‘it existed...’”

Karin’s sharp eyes shone as she made a small cough.

“I believe it.”

“Karin.”

“My spell was canceled by Louise’s spell today... It started to shine even though I could not see any explosion. Was that the ‘Void,’ Louise?”

Louise nodded.

“It is so, Mother.”

“Hmm...”

Duke de La Vallière fell silent. Eléonore fell down on the floor.

“Void... You – void? It’s impossible to believe...”

Cattleya stood up and began to look after her elder sister.

Henrietta continued talking.

“I myself could not believe it as well. However, it is true. ‘Void’ returned and it’s not just Louise who controls it.”

The family members felt silent again.

It felt like silence lasted for an eternity.

Finally, Duke de La Vallière broke the silence.

“I would like to hear the intentions of Her Majesty’s visit.”

Taking a deep breath, as if finally setting her mind on something, Henrietta looked straight at Duke de La Vallière.

“Please entrust Louise to me.”

“She is my daughter. Her body and mind are dedicated to you, Your Majesty.”

“There’s no need for such formality.”

Henrietta motioned to Agnes.

Then Agnes nodded and opened the big leather bag at her side and took a black mantle out. Duke de La Vallière’s eyes widened when he saw the crest shaped Lily on the purple lining.

“This is Royal family crest... young Marinanne used to wear this mantle!”

“Louise, you were already given the punishment for illegally crossing the national borders.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Wear this.”

“B-But this...”

“Yes. Wearing this, you’ll become my sister. In other words – you will be the second successor to the throne.”

“G-G-G-Gracious. Or should I say too gracious...”

“You, your power is too great. This is a huge responsibility for one’s shoulders, and the obligation to help the country this way will be remembered twice as much.”

Henrietta watched Louise with stern eyes. On wobbly legs, like a frog bitten by snake, Louise received it.

Duke de La Vallière’s mouth opened wide to this unexpected Louise’s promotion.

“Your Majesty, I wish to express my gratitude for such warm reception of my daughter. No, even the biggest gratitude, cannot compare to such warm reception. However, there is something I’d like to ask Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“Does Your Majesty know what to do with this legendary power that my daughter has? Indeed, ‘Void’ is a legend. It was even able to cancel Karin's magic, so that power is considerably strong. Did you use it in a battle during the recent war campaign?”

“This... I will reflect it deeply.”

“My daughter is neither a cannon ball nor a flaming arrow. If some bad things are done to my daughter, Your Majesty...”

“Then?”

“Then, alas, I will throw away the history of serving the Royal family for years, and cross wands with you.”

It was not the duke but the father sympathizing with his daughter. Seeing that, Saito’s chest began to throb.

Hearing the duke’s words as such, Agnes tried to pull out her sword. Henrietta stopped her.

“Then, I myself, have a question for the duke. For you as an old-time noble and the protector of this country’s pride and dignity.”

“Yes?”

“Why does war happen? We who are wise, who reign over other lord’s creations, who are more outstanding than mythical beasts and demi-humans - for what do the same family members fight against each other?”

“...”

“On countless occasions wars have occurred. With our own eyes we see people important to us become injured or die. I too, caused a war blinded by revenge. The result – not only important for my people, but many other people died... parents, children, brothers and friends were lost. I myself am carrying the guilt that can never be taken off my shoulders.”

“...you are not responsible for that war, Your Majesty.”

“No, under my name, everyone fought, got injured, died. If I myself don’t shoulder it, who will?”

Henrietta deeply lowered her head.

“I want to use Louise's power... for something right. But how can I, when I can’t even understand my current self yet? However, I do not intend to use it to fight. Please believe that, Duke.”

“I fear Your Majesty, that even if there is no intention to use it to fight, sooner or later a time will come when it will be necessary to use it anyway. No, such strong power attracts people.”

“It is as the duke says. Now, other countries are active behind the scenes too. I want a strong power for those who try to take us. I want to put it in a hand, because I want to defend Louise from such fellows.”

“It’s exactly why I feel uneasy. There are enemies who want a strong power. What if it is only Your Majesty’s words? Now you say you are determined, but who can guarantee it won’t change sometime? Is there something with which Your Majesty's determination can be proven?”

Henrietta veiled her eyes embarrassed. She tried to think of something to prove her way, and gave a deep sigh.

“There is none. I will be honest, even I do not fully believe in myself. Therefore, there is no way to prove it.”

After that, Henrietta smiled. It is not a careworn, but a sincere smile that touched every person who saw it.

“Therefore I... would not want a friend whom I cannot completely trust nearside. I want a true friend who could point out my mistakes. A friend who, when seeing me straying from the path of virtue, would not hesitate to turn her wand against me...”

The old duke watched Henrietta. For a while, after looking deep into her eyes, he returned the glance back to Louise.

“Didn’t you tell your father before, that ‘the awoken element is fire?’ Was that a lie?”

Louise nodded in shame.

“It was something like that, father.”

“It is alright Louise. But it should be the first and the last time you tell your father lies.”

Then, the duke turned back to Henrietta,

“I am an old aristocrat. An old-fashioned elderly person. Things were simple, to a degree, when I was young. Loyal with honor and pride, defending only that, and there was no worry to be scorned by anyone. However... the times are different now. Now, since the power of the legend revived - old justice, old sense of values... they all might lose their meaning.”

The duke looked at Henrietta, like at his daughter.

“Your Majesty said before, that you ‘cannot believe in yourself.’ Such a doubting mind... is the best guide to enter the brighter future.”

“Father-sama.”

Louise ran up and clung to her father.

“You are growing Louise. My Louise. This father thought you would stay the same forever. However, you already started your own life.”

The father gently patted his daughter's head.

“Just father’s garrulity. Devotion is to point out mistakes. And… courage is to admit them. True courage. Louise, do not forget. My little Louise.”

“...Father.”

“Whenever you are in trouble, always return here. Because here is your home.”

The duke kissed Louise’s forehead and quietly pushed her away. Then he deeply bowed to Henrietta.

“Take care of this inexperienced daughter of mine. I pray for the Founder’s divine protection for the road you walk.”

For a while silence followed the words... then Duchess Karin clapped hands.

“Karin.”

“The long story seems to have ended. Though it is late, let’s prepare for dinner. Though it's a poor way to entertain Your Majesty, who came all the way here, please attend. Louise, call your friends and come; Cattleya, Eléonore, please continue your favors as host.”

Like a gracious soldier from the past, Karin briskly left the room.

Following her, the two elder sisters left. Then Louise went to call Guiche and others...

When Saito also tried to go, he was stopped by Henrietta.

“...Princess.”

Though Henrietta’s face clouded for a moment, she still was able to force a smile.

“I apologize.”

Saito’s cheeks dyed red and he looked down.

“No… there is no reason to. I did a selfish thing to begin with.”

“Courageous gentlemen are like wild falcons and stallions. They say ‘I am going,’ and they go without turning back.”

Henrietta received a mantle from Agnes and handed it to Saito. The Chevalier's crest was sewn up on it – it was a knight‘s mantle.

“Take it back. What the queen gave once - cannot be returned.”

“But...”

Saito hesitated.

“This is not the chain that binds you. These are the wings for a falcon. It won’t hurt you to wear it.”

Henrietta said. Saito nodded and received the mantle.

Henrietta watched with tenderly smiling eyes as Saito put the mantle on.

The look in her eyes surprised Saito for moment.

The fever in her eyes that she used to show for Saito recently, was now gone.

Instead, it was a pair of lonely... very lonely but determined eyes, that understood their resolution.

Henrietta drew her mouth to Saito's ear and silently whispered.

“Calm down. It’s not the face you should show to the queen.”

“Eh?”

Abruptly, Henrietta extended her left hand. He wouldn’t make the same mistake this time. Saito, feeling slightly nervous, gently took the offered hand and pulled it to his lips.

Then Henrietta gave a happy smile and left the room.

Like a shadow, Agnes followed her.

The meaning behind Henrietta’s words left hanging. However he could not understand it well somehow. No, it was not love. Something different.

Something different.

''As I thought, it was just her momentarily loneliness. That’s why she depended on me this much. That’s ok. But those words just now, what meaning did they carry?''

Though she was a little lonely, Henrietta was still prideful.

When Saito tried to leave as well, he was called to stop by Duke de La Vallière who stayed last.
“Wait.”

Saito trembled. A cold shiver went down his spine. Somehow he had a bad feeling about this.

In his mind he revived the recent event in the courtyard.

He saw him pushing Louise down in the boat, and ordered to behead him. Maybe he, as Louise’s papa, a person with high position, didn’t remember a commoner's face?

However, circumstances are circumstances. Somehow he could guess that he made an indelible impression back then. Maybe at least, Louise’s mama, Karin was not there long enough to remember?

“Incidentally, I have not heard your name.”

“S-Saito. I am Saito Chevalier de Hiraga.”

Saito added the title to his name. Maybe he would not be treated with suspicion this way.

“It’s our first meeting.”

After Duke de La Vallière's words, Saito could only feel a great relief inside.

''I'm so glad. I won‘t be necessarily killed. F-Founder Brimir-sama, thank you... Saito dedicated his deepest gratitude to the founder in whom he did not believe.''

“Yes. It’s our first meeting after you became Chevalier.”

In a single moment, Saito was thrown from heaven down to the depths of hell. Duke de La Vallière, placed a hand on Saito's shoulder.

“Calm down. I cannot order the beheading of a knight of Her Majesty's Imperial Guards.”

“T-Thank you very much!”

“However, how about a little practice before the dinner?”

The duke grasped Saito's shoulder with a strength that a man of his age could not posses.

“Ouch! Aiiiiiiii!”

“So that your body remembers whose daughter you are trying to wolf away.”

Duke dragged Saito away.

Happy chatter about the day's events filled the dining room that evening. Reunion was accomplished when Agnes brought Colbert. As a bonus, Henrietta did not say no, and listened to the beaming face Guiche – everyone was amusing themselves in this fuss.

However... the dinner fest ended, and even when bed-time came too, but Saito did not appear.

“Do any of you know if something happened to Saito-kun?”

Colbert asked, but all members in the room shook their heads.

“I wonder where he went...” Kirche said.

While everyone inside was concerned, asking where he was, Saito was lying half-dead in the corridor.

“M-Move...”

Saito sighed, lying prostrated in the hall. He was first beaten up by Louise’s mama during the day, and during the night time he was trashed by Duke de La Vallière – so now his body was screaming.

Though Louise mama's magic was fearsome, Duke de La Vallière was truly terrifying.

The eyes full of anger even now were making Saito tremble from head to toes.

The eyes of the father whose daughter you pushed down were really terrible; Saito could not make even a single move. And the target of that anger was Saito of course...

“...both are parent and child.”

He staggered trying to stand up but fell down.

“Right now, everyone must be happily enjoying the meal...”

Saito leaned against the wall. Outside the window, he could see the pair of moons.

However... no matter how stern they looked, both Louise’s parents loved her.

Even Louise's mother did not want Louise to be hurt badly, and because of that she inflicted a cruel punishment, as if asking Henrietta - "Please forgive her."

Even Louise’s father was ready to throw away his duke title to protect Louise.

“I, of course, do not have anyone to protect me like this.”

Saito complained, looking at his wounds.

“Parents...”

Saito recalled his parents, whom he had not seen for more than a year now.

When was I last protected that way… Wasn’t that back at grade-school? When, some day, school-commuting roads were set. A decided route from house to school, where one had to come and go using only a single safe road. In a word, though the purpose was to prohibit from going the other way, Saito one day chose to take a different road to return back.

It was because the usual stationery shop, where he used to always buy erasers, did not have some at that time. There was a classmate who saw Saito not using the school-commuting roads, and informed the teacher about it.

The teacher was angry at Saito.

He talked to his parents and said “Really, he is bad.”

"He’ll learn," was the only thing that his mother said. His father was a reticent salary man.

They were a very ordinary family...

Before noticing, Saito was shedding tears again.

“Huh?”

''Strange'' – he thought rubbing his eyes.

''Until now, I never cried thinking about parents... ''

Is it because seeing Louise’s parents’ communication reminded him of the past? ''However, I can’t show such crying face to Louise and others. ''

All alone in a dark corridor, Saito sat, hugging his knees.

“What are you doing?”

A clear, soft voice, made Saito jump up.

In her room, Louise was brushing her hair.

Before she entered the Academy of Magic, this was the room where she spent the most time and grew up. It was a large ten square room. A big bed with canopy was standing a little away from the window.

Moreover, it had a mountain of stuffed animals packed inside. A large number of picture books and a gorgeous sculpture of a vaulting horse. She said she wanted it and bought it herself some time ago...

While living in this room, she had been dying to get out of this residence as soon as possible. A severe education from her mother, who seemed to only think of how to marry her out; a father, always associating with the neighborhood, and the only thing he seemed to be interested in was hunting.

Those two people once said she could not learn magic. A girl who cannot do magic cannot marry off properly, they said strictly - thus, every day felt like a prison.

However, her parents and this residence were not a prison, they were the castle that protected her. Though love was not visible on the outside, deep inside she was defended and treasured.

She looked at her bed.

“...has it gotten smaller?”

''No, it is not so. During childhood, that bed felt very big, but now it looks small, because I grew up.''

''Does that furniture look a little bit nostalgic because I grew up too?''

''No,'' Louise shook her head, ''I haven’t grown up at all.''

While combing her hair with the brush... Louise was losing herself in deep thought.

''Everyone... is worried about me. Mother and father, Henrietta... ''

''And yet I am constantly only doing selfish things.''

Louise let out a cute sigh, looking doubtfully into the mirror.

“Hey Louise. Louise the Zero. You being a ‘legend’ cannot be the true.”

''That’s what I was told. ''

Louise placed her cheek against the dressing table and closed her eyes.

“What... am I going to do in the future...?”

She remembered the words that she said to Henrietta before she left to Gallia.

''To persist in the “reason” I believe... I am losing, but my spirit as a noble is somewhere here.''

Louise was worried.

She did not care to pass the reason she believed. It was all fine. But, what if, as a result, many people were to suffer because of it? And that number would not be small. ''Because my “Void” power is too strong. The justice that I carry out may cause a lot of injuries to many people. Such a thing is possible.''

''If I were a simple user of one of the four elements, I would not need to worry this much...''

“Really, what should I do...?”

Louise felt troubled.

Then Saito’s face popped into her mind. ''Just when I'm worried this much, where has that fool gone to? Is he still asleep? After all, he did not come to sit at his dinner seat.'' When she asked her father, who was late as well, he said that he went to sleep because he was tired and did not say anything else.

Since their trip to Gallia, they were always accompanied by others and barely had the time to be just the two of them alone. That’s why they could not talk about a lot of things the way they used to. However, as the situations continued to change bewilderingly, they always found themselves denied of such time alone.

“If you love me, why do you leave me alone?”

Louise asked.

''But, in this residence, finding the room may be difficult, I guess. Is Saito still searching for the room I am in?''

“...really, that idiot is indeed capable of pulling stunts like that.”

Louise pouted.

Then, someone knocked against the door.

“Who?”

In an instant, the heart in her chest started to beat fast when she thought about Saito.

“It’s me, Louise.”

[[Image:ZnT11-083.jpg|thumb]]

“Princess-sama.”

Henrietta's voice. Panicking, Louise ran up and opened the door. There stood Henrietta, who had changed to plain clothes, and smiled.

Louise made a profound reverence.

“Is something wrong, Louise?”

“No… sorry for the big trouble we caused...”

''Fuuh'' - Henrietta sighed.

“It’s alright Louise. Alright. Though we had a conflict, everyone is safe. Therefore, it is alright. You just followed your reason. And I followed mine.”

“...Princess-sama.”

“Friends again?”

Henrietta smiled. Without thinking, Louise hugged Henrietta.

It was impossible to move because he was hurt, and the one who appeared in front of Saito, who was crouching in the hall, was...

“C-Cattleya-san.”

It was Cattleya, with Louise-like blond-pink hair. The second from the three La Vallière daughters was a beautiful woman with a slight sex appeal. She didn’t have Louise’s sharp look, and Saito was attracted to both her looks and the atmosphere surrounding her, so when she appeared out of the blue, he was left breathless.

“Ara, ara. So, so.”

With a surprised expression on her face, Cattleya squatted down in front of Saito.

“Those are nasty injuries... Are you alright?”

Saying so, Cattleya started checking Saito’s injuries.

“Is your head bleeding?”

She asking looking closely at his head. Then Saito’s eyes landed on Cattleya’s... body part, which, compared to her younger sister Louise’s, was developed the most... in other words - her breasts. Because of that heavenly presence, wrapped only in a light pink blouse, Saito almost died.

“I-I’m alright!”

Saito tried to stand up in panic. However, sharp pain hit him at once.

“Tte! Ouuuuuuuuch!”

“Don’t overdo it.”

Cattleya took out her wand and began to utter an incantation.

“Come water spirits...”

The healing spell slowly cured the injuries received from Duke de La Vallière.

“T-Thank you very much!”

Flustered, Saito bowed to Cattleya. But when he stood up and tried to leave, she grabbed his arm.

“Don’t. A healing spell cannot cure you completely. You need to be treated properly.”

Cattleya gave a wonderful smile. The smile was indescribably filled with affection. Saito felt like his spirit was already healed just by seeing it.

He was very nervous when Cattleya pulled him towards her room. Saito was surprised when he was guided inside.

A flying squirrel flew right at him, aiming for his face, making Saito cry out.

“Uwaa!”

When shouting he managed to shake it off, he leaned against something big.

It was a small bear.

“D-Damn!”

He cursed trying to escape, but stumbled on something large. It was a giant turtle. Animals came near one after another, drawing closer to Saito.

“Hey, hey. He is injured, so no games.”

After Cattleya’s words, the animals, which crowded around Saito, parted slowly.

It was as if the room was a little zoo. Saito recalled that time in the carriage too. Cattleya definitely loved animals.

“C-Cool!”

When he voiced out his impression, Cattleya laughed joyfully.

“Were you surprised?”

“No…”

Cattleya started searching through the drawers, and after some rustling, pulled out some bandages and medicine from the inside and began to cure Saito's injuries. Cattleya said from the bottom of her heart.

“My mother and then my father were your opponents. That’s why your body... I am really sorry. They are not bad people. They are just sometimes stubborn...”

“They are Louise’s parents. So I don’t mind.”

When hearing him saying so, Cattleya laughed. And fell into a violent coughing fit.

“A-Are you alright?”

“I am. It’s just that I haven’t used magic for a long time, so my body is not accustomed.”

“Eh?”

Seeing Saito’s surprised face, Cattleya shook her head.

“Ah, sorry, sorry. Never mind that. It’s nothing really.”

“R-Really?”

“Yep. I don’t usually use magic.”

Somehow, her words were filled with kindness. Without thinking, Saito started to open up.

“Nee, nee, can you tell me stories?”

Though she was older, Cattleya seemed to talk like an innocent girl. Without hesitation, she openly gazed at Saito’s face.

“A-About what?”

“Since you left, various serious things must have happened. It must have been very dangerous in Albion. I was very worried, about you and Louise.”

So Saito told Cattleya about events that followed after they came to this residence to get the permission to participate in the war. The war. How he went missing. When she heard about him charging against 70,000 soldiers, Cattleya’s eyes grew wide.

“So...you faced grave danger instead of Louise.”

“It isn’t that! I just took her place, because someone had to...”

“You are great. You did such a great feat without swaggering at all.”

Being praised by Cattleya this much, Saito felt extremely awkward.

“No that, this, that...”

“Really amazing. Louise must be happy. You are a real knight.”

Cattleya praised Saito without any ulterior motive. Being praised like this by an older woman... somehow reminded Saito of his mother.

Of course, Cattleya and his mother did not look even the slightest bit similar. But... this honest compliment was no different from his mother’s. He was not praised all that much. But he carried those praises in his memory forever.

Accidentally getting a good mark on a test...

Helping to clean the dishes...

And all those other times when his mother complimented him a lot...

“What’s wrong?”

Anxiously, Cattleya looked into Saito’s face. Unbeknownst to himself, Saito started to cry.

“S-Sorry! It’s nothing!”

“Though it is nothing, you are still crying. What’s the matter? Go ahead and talk to me.”

“No, really... really it’s nothing.”

No way could he say that he was moved to tears because he remembered his mother. She would think he is a wimp.

“Sorry. I just recalled something.”

Cattleya made a sorrowful face and gently hugged Saito’s head. Her faint perfume scent mixed with gentle kindness, made Saito close his eyes.

Being held close against warm Cattleya’s chest, settled his mind down. At the same time, he felt something very nostalgic.

“...why, why did I recall it now? Since I came over here, I did not remember that often. So weird.”

Hearing his absent-minded voice, Cattleya gently asked.

“Mother?”

“Yeah.”

Cattleya did not ask anything else. She just made a slightly lonely face and coughed out “Sorry.”

Though Saito did not understand the reason why Cattleya apologized... he did not think of it any further. He just kept his eyes closed, hugged against Cattleya’s rich chest... as if cradled by a deep sea... his heart calmed.

The conversation Henrietta and Louise shared was as if one of old.

Just like during childhood the two giggled and spoke of various things.

“With the coming of summer, I often spent my time in here.”

Eyes reminiscing of the old days, Henrietta said.

“That’s so, isn’t it.”

Louise suddenly felt the need to consult with Henrietta.

“Princess, there is one thing I would like to consult you about.”

“What is it?”

Louise asked Henrietta what was worrying her.

“With passing the own reason, there is a possibility of wounding someone, what should I do then?” Henrietta, who became silent, listened to Louise's story... her face turned slightly serious and she nodded to Louise.

“I, too, thought about it as a queen.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Though I received the crown, I am still a greenhorn... I have to learn many things about politics. And I understood one thing: In this world fights cannot be avoided.”

“...”

“But one can decrease the loss a little. You know what I am saying? I can’t endure seeing my important people getting hurt. It is not just me. Everyone feels the same. Therefore, I try to decrease the missions where people would lose important people or get wounded because of me. This is my job as a queen. Fights and war will never disappear, but they should be reduced.”

Louise slightly nodded.

“I want to help princess with that.”

“Thank you, after all, you are my best friend. You and Saito-dono, please continue to help me further.”

Hearing that, Louise became slightly tensed. How did Henrietta feel about Saito? Whether Henrietta noticed Louise’s insecurities or not, she smiled.

“Do not worry about him. I am sorry Louise, for what I did. I was lonely and needed a person to depend on, and I made this grieve disservice.”

“P-Princess, what...”

“He is your knight; not mine. But at least for a little while I wanted to be like ‘Louise...’ Though it all ended in a big pain and now I feel uneasy thinking about it.

“Eh? Eeh?”

Even Louise's ears crimsoned. Henrietta gave a mischievous smile.

“Nee, Louise. Some time ago, we made a promise here... That whenever we will find a person we love, we would tell each other about it. Yet, I still haven’t heard your report.”

“...t-that's...because there is no person I l-love.”

Biting her lips, utterly embarrassed, Louise said.

“Liar. You are really bad at telling lies.”

“N-Not lies at all.”

Louise slipped under the sheets and covered herself with the futon. Henrietta jumped on her and started to tickle.

“Hey Louise! Speak out! Whom do you love?”

“No... princess! I love no one in particular... hiyan!”

Tickling continued and Louise soon was tired out.

“If you are playing dumb about it, lets ask Cattleya-dono.”

“...Chii-nee-sama?”

“Yep. That’s right. In the past, from the window of this room, didn’t we used to sneak into Cattleya-dono's room?”

Henrietta’s face became one of a little girl’s, reliving old times again.

“Indeed that’s how it was. Because of princess' magic...”

“Yes. Back at that time I was using the ‘Fly’ spell.”

Henrietta took Louise's hand with a cheerful expression.

“Well then, let’s go.”

“Eh? But...”

“When having love troubles, it is the best to ask a senior!”

Henrietta pulled Louise's hand, going to the window. A mild night spring wind danced outside.

Henrietta, set up the wand, clasped Louise's hand and stepped out to the gentle night sky.

Saito was resting his cheek against Cattleya's lap.

“Previously... When Cattleya-san praised my courage... To tell the truth I do not know if it is mine or not.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look, am I not Louise’s familiar? When I hear her utter a spell, I feel a boost in my courage in my mind. Derf... ah, that’s the name of my sword, once said ‘Listening to the master’s spell will give you courage, like a child hearing mother’s call reacts.’ In other words, my courage is...”

“So when you become a familiar, you gain that courage?”

“Yes. That’s why when I say to Louise ‘My courage,’ deep down, I am not very confident at all. That’s why deep in my heart I always doubt if it's me, or if it's the ‘Familiar’ who thinks like that.”

Cattleya patted Saito's head. It had a strangely smoothing effect on him, and the things that he kept hidden in the depths of his mind flowed easily out of his mouth.

“...such a mystery. Amazing.”

“What?”

“Like this, I recall mother. Though Cattleya-san doesn't look like her at all. However, it is warm somehow...”

“...I see.”

“It’s really mysterious. After coming to this world, I did not usually remember those things all that often.”

“To this world?”

Saito was startled by Cattleya’s question. He did not intend to say that he was not a human from this world. But... since it was Cattleya he could as well say that.

“I am not person from this world.”

“...I see.”

“You are not surprised?”

“Somehow... No, I did not imagine you being from a different world... But I did get a feeling that you did differ from others and that you were not a common plebeian.”

Cattleya’s words reminded Saito of the words said on their previous meeting.

“It feels like you’re a completely different human from your very core. Are you?”

“Therefore, even if I’d want to meet my family, it is impossible to do so. However, I forgot about it for a long time. So why do I remember them now?”

“...maybe those feelings were suppressed.”

“Suppressed?”

“Yes. When something painful happens, human hearts tend to lock the painful events away from the mind. It’s not all that strange.”

“...”

“Surely, when you were brought to this world your mind was shocked. That’s why it locked the memories of your hometown so you would not remember them. Yet, there are ways; ways to find keys to unlock the mind...”

That’s right, Saito thought. Communication between Tabitha and her mother. Bonds between Louise and her parents... Maybe, seeing these kinds of things, the suppressed feelings were revived.

Feelings of homesickness. Feelings for his mother.

Saito shut his eyes.

“...and I am like your mother.”

Cattleya whispered.

“Ah, Cattleya-san is not my mother, you are different! And yet tears still fall. Tears...”

Trying not to look weak, Saito tried to make a joke, but it became useless, when tears started overflowing. Cattleya tightly embraced Saito.

[[Image:ZnT11-097.jpg|thumb]]

“Good child. You are a strong child.”

Saito kept on weeping.

He cried like he hadn’t cried in a long time.

He couldn’t tell how long he cried this hard.

He was pressed close to Cattleya's chest while crying... and it mysteriously relieved his mind.

It slowly settled his heart down.

“Sorry... I don’t know what came over me.”

Saito said, while rubbing his nose.

“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. When you want to cry, you should cry.”

“But...”

“Haah, what a sore loser you are. You don’t like showing your weakness to others, right?”

“It’s just not something a man should do.”

“So stubborn. But once in a while I think it's also necessary to depend on others too. You can‘t pent it all inside, not relying on anyone.”

Saito sighed. He was surrounded by women who relied on him. Though he was staying strong in the events... the truth was that he wanted to depend on someone too.

“...it might be so.”

“That different world... Is it possible to return there?”

“I don’t know. But, besides me, there was a person who came to this world from there, so... I may be able to return and I may be not able to.”

Cattleya looked straight at Saito.

“You will be able to return. You will be able to return, surely. And you will be able to meet your mother after some time. You will be able to return to your original family. I think so.”

Reassuring, Cattleya said. Saito nodded.

“Thank you very much.”

“Though I can’t console – Hah, I am sorry. If only my body were stronger - I would help you to look for the way for you to return... That’s right! Though it is impossible for me to be your mother, I can still be your elder sister.”

She said out of the blue. Saito was in panic.

“I-I-If I would have such beauty as my elder sister, I would return home early every day.”

“Come on, call me elder sister.”

Saito blushed.

“T-That... There’s no need for that.”

“There is a need for such thing. Come on, say it.”

When gentle Cattleya urged him this way... Saito responded instinctively,

“O-onee-san.”

“There you go, it wasn’t so hard.”

Cattleya happily patted Saito's head.

“...yes.”

Something warm filled his mind. ''There is a chance that I will never meet my family. However... there are a lot of people who are nice to me like this.''

Saito rubbed his eyelids.

“There’s no time for crying. There is a fellow who is aiming for... Louise’s ‘Void’ power. That person did cruel things to Tabitha and her mother. I will not forgive that guy.” ''We have not met him yet, but we imagine that it may be Joseph, King of Gallia. ''

''What kind of guy he is? ''

''It doesn’t matter... I won’t let him lay a finger on Louise or Tabitha anyway. ''

''We’ll return home, after this story is finished. ''

“Just don’t overdo it, alright?”

Cattleya hugged Saito again.

“I don’t want anything else, just you and Louise to be safe.”

That moment, a loud sound of breaking glass echoed.

“W-What?!”

“Aitatatatatatatatatatatata...”

“Not good, added too much power.”

The ones that fell into the room, were no other than Louise and Henrietta. Then they both stood up while rubbing their hips in the pain, and then both stared with astonishment at Saito.

“Ara. Saito-dono?”

“W-What are you doing in here?!”

“That’s my line! Why did you both jump in through the window?!”

Without answering Saito’s question, Louise eyes narrowed.

“Y-You are going after Chii-nee-sama now?! Unbelievableeeee!”

Flushed faced Louise charged forwards.

‘Gon!’

Louise’s jump-kick cut the three meters distance in no time and hit Saito on the temple. When Saito fell down, Louise straddled his waist and started to strangle him.

“Of all things, Chii-nee-sama! Of all things, Chii-nee-sama! Won’t allow! I won’t allow this!”

Then animals started to react to Louise’s shouts, who was straddling on top of Saito.

Waf, waf. Bow, wow. Meow, meow. Gao, gao. Buh, buh.

It was as if a lot of animals that began to lean on Saito were asking – “Can we play too?”

“Mgh...”

Saito’s consciousness started to slip away.

Louise looked down at Saito, who fainted, with demonic eyes.

“There’s no time to sleep!”

“Louise, Louise! You should not kick gentlemen like this!”

As might be expected, because Saito was kicked, Henrietta stepped in to end this.

Cattleya started to laugh out loud.

“Stop Louise. I did not try to take away your sweetheart.”

“He’s not my sweetheart! It’s different!”

Crimsoned, Louise waved her hand.

“...That, I only thought about dangers awaiting Chii-nee-sama. That was my only thought.”

“I only cured his injuries. Really.”

“...I did not miss this guy’s look. This fellow has absent-mindedly implanted his face in Chii-nee-sama’s cleavage. F-f-face buried between C-Chii-nee-sama’s breasts! H-how dare he! Chii-nee-sama’s breasts! B-b-b-b-breasts!”

In other words, Louise’s blood rushed to her head. And, because she lifted her leg for another kick, Henrietta had to step in again.

“Excuse me, Louise? Stop!”

“Stop, what for?!”

Henrietta smoothingly looked over the place and voiced her opinion with a forced smile.

“Well... umm, Cattleya-dono is just like Louise. Like her hair color. Therefore, Saito-dono has surely absent-mindedly regarded her as grown-up Louise.”

“Eh?”

Henrietta‘s simple words made Louise think.

“It’s hard to believe! That sort of...!”

Though Louise said that, waves of happiness filled her heart.

“Louise is really lucky, to have such great gentleman's feelings dedicated to her.” Cattleya added with the smile as well.

“S-s-s-such a bother.”

Embarrassed, Louise mumbled.

Later that night... laying unconscious Saito on the sofa, the three noble girls slept in one bed after a long time. Cattleya in the center, Louise on the left and Henrietta on the right.

“It has been such a long time since all three of us slept like this.”

Henrietta said in a cheerful voice.

“During the summers, Your Majesty used to visit our home a lot.”

“Yes. During those days I was really happy. Because every day there wasn’t a thing to worry about…”

Looking distant, Henrietta said.

“We used to play a lot.”

“Oh Louise. In any case, we came to Cattleya-dono for some questions.”

The three girls were laughing and chatting happily for a while.

In the course of time, the conversation moved to Louise and Saito's relationship.

“Hey Louise, why are you always so violent towards Saito-dono?”

“N-not always.”

When asked by Cattleya Louise denied it, blushing hard.

“Always.”

Henrietta noted, making Louise even more perplexed.

“P-princess only witnesses the worst moments!”

Henrietta let out a loud sigh.

“Haah, it is not hard to hate that. But I guess since Saito-dono is so occupied with Louise, it is alright.”

“As an older sister I do not agree with that. Such usual nastiness may make him run away. For example, remember what happened to elder sister Eléonore?”

In Louise’s mind, the image of her eldest sister, whose engagement was canceled, popped up.

“It is alright to allow gentlemen to act on their own once in a while. If you are angry at him just for speaking with other girls, he will end up disgusted sooner or later. It’s not just me. I do not want to see Louise taking older sister’s place in being disappointed with love.”

“D-don’t question such things! He is madly in love with me!”

Like a child she shouted, but Cattleya only shook her head to that.

“There is no such thing as a person who could not change their mind. Give him breathing space from time to time. If you do so, he will still return to the person he loves the most in the end.”

Louise became silent.

What Chii-nee-sama said was always correct.

Maybe she was indeed not giving him enough space.

Henrietta and Cattleya continued to give Louise advices one after another.

The chatter of three girls continued throughout the night.

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Zero no Tsukaima:Volume11 Chapter3

2010-04-03T21:18:40Z

Danlemagne: malaprop

{{Template:PREVIEW}}

===Chapter Three: Karin the Heavy Wind===

It was the morning of the second day since leaving Tristain when the Queen's carriage crossed the drawbridge of the La Vallière residence. Since it was a low-profile visit, other than Agnes and Colbert, there were only five musketeers guarding the wagon.

As the party passed the bridge and gates, the servants who gathered there rejoiced. The flagpole in the front yard had the Lilies emblem, the arms of the Tristanian royal family, on it. A small courtesy for the incognito queen.

When Agnes got off the horse, she opened the door of the carriage.

The armor of a magic knight was seen in the center of the stairs that continued to the castle. Agnes squinted at it.

“What’s the matter, commander?”

Then Henrietta saw the knight who stood at the center of the stairs, and gasped in surprise.

“That’s the armor of the Manticore Corps.”

Indeed, the armor had the big black mantel with the Manticore Corps' emblem sewn on it.

“But the Manticore Corps works at the castle now. Besides, that shuttlecock decoration… That hat belongs to a commander.”

“But the body is too thin to be De Cesaire.”

“Perhaps it’s not his to begin with.”

The knight slowly went down stairs. Musketeers, surrounding the Queen, watched the figure intensely with their hands on their guns.

Then Agnes took one step forth and blocked the knight’s path. The lower half of his face, under the knight's hat decorated with shuttlecock, was covered with an iron mask. Feeling intense pressure for the moment, Agnes grasped the handle of her sword.

“Are you a friend of Duke de La Valliere? To go out to meet Her Majesty like this - it’s too much even for a prank. Introduce yourself.”

However, the knight ignored Agnes's words, and knelt down on one knee in respect.

“It's been a long time, Your Majesty. However, you will surely not remember me, because it has been a good 30 years since the last time I served the castle.”

“Umm…”

Henrietta, with an open-jaw, looked at the knight. Indeed, though the mantle's colors faded a lot over the years, it was still nicely kept - neither stain nor tear could be found.

“I am Karin, the former commander of the Manticore corps. However, even though I introduced myself with a different name back then, my loyalty for the royal family has not changed.”

Henrietta had heard about the former commander of Manticore Corps, so her face turned pale.

“Then, you are Karin the Heavy Wind?!”

“Yes, I am honored that you know the name.”

“Of course I know – you are infamous! Agnes, this is Karin the Heavy Wind, the legendary magic knight commander! I grew up hearing about her heroic adventures!”

Henrietta had the face of a starry-eyed little girl as she took Karin’s hand.

“I had yearned to meet you so much since childhood! Fire dragon extermination! Rescue of a city attacked by orcs… Gorgeous use of weapons! Presence massive as a mountain! Ages when nobles were still noble, and true knights. A lot of knights respect you and try to be just like you!”

“It’s embarrassing.”

“What would you say?! I-I know all your adventures by memory! You are a woman, right? After you retired, though, I heard that you disappeared like the wind, but you were with La Vallières. What are you doing now?”

Karin removed her mask abruptly. Seeing her face, Henrietta’s eyes almost popped from their sockets.

“Duchess! You are the Duchess!”

Agnes was surprised too.

“Then, this…”

“In other words, I am the Duchess de La Vallière – the mother of Louise…”

“I took the opportunity to marry and took off my armor. But it is a long story since that time, so please pardon me.”

“I understand, but why…”

Henrietta wanted to ask why she now wore the armor that she previously took off.

Karin stood up straight.

“For today, I am not the Duchess Karin. I am Karin, the former commander of the Manticore Corps, who respects the rule of steel. And I will punish that law breaking daughter of mine. This will be the proof of my loyalty to Your Majesty and family.”

“Punishment?! Heavy Wind’s punishment on Louise?!”

Henrietta watched Karin in deep shock, shaking her head. Her face turned pale. She had gone there with the intention to punish Louise, so her feelings withered for a moment. But this person would give a much more severe punishment than she herself intended. Should the punishment be dealt, Louise would die for sure!

“You should not be violent! I came here to deal with Louise’s punishment myself. Because I am young, at first I was resented. However, I thought about it a lot. Though Louise passed national borders certainly without my permission… I am also worried about it as a friend too. Just a strong reprimand will do, I do not intend to give a violent penalty.”

“Your Majesty, your words are kind, and you feel regretful. However, Your Majesty's royal prerogative is of the sacred non-aggression given by the Founder. Thus, you have to protect the laws of the country promulgated in that name, too.”

Karin quickly raised her right hand. From the shade of the castle, a huge, black shadow flew. A strong dust storm rose as it touched the ground.

It was an old and huge mythical beast, the Manticore.

“If the laws of the country that should be respected are neglected, Your Majesty should keep her royal principles. But because the law-breaker is my own daughter, I cannot forgive it all the more.”

Karin effortlessly flew up fifty meters and straddled the manticore.

“K-Karin-dono!”

The Manticore flapped its huge wings. And, with amazing speed, the mythical beast flew up to the sky with its master.

La Vallière's castle was closer to the border of Germania than the capital. After passing the nation's borders at three o'clock, they could already see the high steeples of the castle.

“H-Hey Louise… Your mother is really the Heavy Wind of the Manticore Corps?”

Saito opened his mouth, breaking the heavy silence. However, Louise did not say a thing. Those days, Louise passed her time trembling and staring at the ceiling.

“As good as thirty years passed, maybe she's changed? Nah? It is not unreasonable that the scary knight of the past mellowed out over the years. Even if you say punishment, I think you will just be grounded, at most.”

“…You don’t understand.”

Louise said in the voice of someone at her own execution.

“Violence is part of youth, no human can keep it steady forever,”

Montmorency rationalized.

“…You just don’t understand.”

“Don't worry so much.”

“…Saying so plainly, my mother. That person…”

After those words, everyone in the wagon felt nervous. It became impossible for Saito to bear the tension, and he laughed aloud. Mere bravado.

“Ahahaha! Worrying this much!”

“Really! Even if she was the legendary Heavy Wind, she may just be a Duchess now! Refined by society, she may have completely forgotten the dust and dirt of the battlefield!”

At that time, Tabitha pointed to the window,

“A manticore-riding knight.”

Louise suddenly sprung to her feet, and as if overtaken by panic, broke the window of the carriage and flew outside.

Gooooooooooooooooo!
　
A huge tornado appeared and followed Louise’s tracks.

“W-What’s that?!”

The moment Saito was dumb-founded… the tornado enlarged and hit the entire carriage with enormous strength. The violent power blew off the harness that tied horses to the wagon and sucked it and the horses in, lifting them up into the sky.

“What’s thaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!” Saito shouted.

“Giyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” Guiche screamed.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaa!” Malicorne bellowed.

“Nooooooooooooooooooooo!” Montmorency cried.

“I give uuuup…” Kirche complained.

“…” Tabitha was silent.

It was as if a huge hand made of wind grabbed the carriage and lifted it up. Six people in the wagon were shaken like a cocktail in a shaker.

“Aii! Dee! Giyaaa!”

The six screaming people were hitting walls, seats, and each other. Then the tornado stopped abruptly and the wagon fell to the ground.

“Falling! Falling! Falling!”

''Is this how it feels to be in a lift that had its cable cut?'' Saito thought dumbly as the carriage casually floated in the air.

The knight had placed the “Levitation” spell on them.

Though the wagon slowly landed, the party was lying scattered and worn out inside the carriage.
　
Saito, thinking desperately, crawled out of the wagon. Louise was lying shaking on the ground.

“Lou-i-se!”

Though he tried to shout and run up to her, he could not move well.

Riding atop a huge manticore, the knight wearing a black mantle appeared. That must have been Louise’s mama. However, she was frightening. Standing there, it looked like “stern” was the character of this knight and that “fear” was deeply emblazed in this armored doll-like figure.

Then she stopped at the fallen Louise and called out her daughter.

“Get up, Louise.”

Louise raised herself.

“Mother-sama…”

She was shaking violently as if suffering from a strong cold. Like a small dog threatened by a big German shepherd. Though Louise could be scary when she was angry as well, this had a completely different feeling to it – it was like comparing a bear to a rat.

“You. Report what you have broken to your mother.”

“That… b-border without permission, umm…”

“I cannot hear you.”

“B-Border crossing without permission.”

The tornado flew. It caught Louise and threw her two hundred meters up into the sky, and once she started falling down, the wind started spinning her around like a tiny fallen leaf.

“Is this what your mother taught you?”

Her pink hair was disheveled and her skirt was blown off somewhere, revealing her underwear in their full glory, but it was not the place for Louise to feel shy about it.

“I-I’m sorry for breaking the laws of the country! But there were extenuating circumstances!”

The knight extended the wand.

“Your little good deeds do not matter much in this respect. Whatever the circumstances were, the law has been broken. As a result, it can make a lot more people unhappy.”

The storm blew hard against Louise.

Not able to look at this anymore, Saito ran up to stand in front of Louise.

“P-Please stop!”

“And you are?”

Wearing black mantle, her lower half of the face hidden behind the mask, Karin asked Saito.

“Well… umm, Louise’s familiar.”

“Aah!”

Karin nodded.

“You were the boy accompanying Louise the other day. So, you were a familiar.”

Saito then knelt on the ground and took Louise in his arms, trying to wake her up.

“Hey! Are you alright? Are you alive?”

“Fhn… mou, no… fhn”

Louise’s eyes were still spinning and she looked out of shape. It could hardly be otherwise. It was as if she had been thrown into a huge washing machine– washed, rinsed, dried and blown. Even the prettiest girl in the country would look a mess after such ride.

Karin set up the wand again.

“W-Wait! Can’t you stop for now! Louise is already worn-out!”

Seeing Saito acting like this, Guiche called out.

“Stop it, Saito. It’s a problem between family members. Are you tired of living?”

Karin quietly watched Saito.

“A familiar is their master’s shield. For that reason, the shield needs to be blown off. No hard feelings I hope?”

A huge tornado appeared behind Karin. It was almost on the same size as the one that blew the wagon. Saito grasped Derflinger. The runes on his left hand started to shine.

[[Image:ZnT11-059.jpg|thumb]]

“Hey Derf.”

“What?”

“Is it bad?”

Saito pointed at the huge tornado.

“It is bad. It isn’t just a wild tornado. The layer of the vacuum narrows around it and will cut deeply if touched. Frightening square spellcraft…”

There was no time to hear the explanation.

It leaped right at him and Saito, aiming the sword forward, received it at once.

“Stop! Run away!”

Though Derflinger shouted, there was no time. Long, deep cuts, as if done by innumerable sharp razors, appeared all over Saito’s body.

“H-Huuuuuuuuurts!”

“Told you so! This fellow is a ‘Cutter Tornado!’ You will be cut to pieces before I can absorb it!”

Though Saito was soaking with blood, he did not move an inch.

Confused and paralyzed with fear, Louise’s eyes caught the sight of wounded Saito. In an instant, her mind, dyed with the pure white of fear a few moments before, now blazed with anger like a raging fire.

Normally, Louise would never rebel against her mother. She grew up disciplined like that.

Without thinking, Louise lifted her wand and recited the "Void" spell.

Once the sounds of spell chanting reached Karin’s ears, she slightly puckered up her brows. She never heard of such spell. It was not fire. Not water. Nor wind. It wasn’t even an earth spell.

Louise rejected the wand and lowered it. The rampaging "Cutter Tornado," that engulfed Saito, started to shine.

Not used to such light, Karin flinched for a split second.

What on earth was that spell that her daughter cast?

Though the preparation time was short, it was still strong enough to cancel her own spell.

Louise’s "Dispel Magic" made her mother’s "Cutter Tornado" vanish…

When Karen finally recovered from the shock and started to utter an incantation again, something pressed against her back.

“Please stop it! That’s enough! Please stop!”

It was Henrietta, who rode by the horse all the way from La Vallière castle. Agnes was right behind her.

“I won’t tolerate any more fights in front of me! Moreover, you are parent and child! If you want to continue, you’ll have to turn your wand against me!”

Following the queen’s words, Karin put down the wand. Louise and Saito, who had already reached the limit of their physical strength and energy, both crumbled to the ground.

Henrietta ran up to the fallen Saito.

“You are badly injured!”

Panicking, she started to recite a water magic spell. Saito's injuries were healed by the queen’s "Healing." He lifted up his bloody face.

“Princess-sama…”

“Don’t talk! You are badly hurt!”

Henrietta recited another water magic in succession.

“Louise…”

Henrietta's cheek trembled.

“It’s alright – she is safe. Her friend is looking after her.”

It was Montmorency who left the wagon and now was tending Louise.

“I see…” muttered Saito and fainted.

Next to the tending Henrietta, Karin knelt down

“Your Majesty, I punished my sinful daughter. Hope you will show her a greater punishment than mine.”

Henrietta let out a long sigh.

“Mo! What is that! You! When child and parent point their wands at each other – it makes the Founder Brimir grieve! Didn’t I say that I did not intend to give any punishment since the very beginning!”

“Solving everything with wands - is the way of old nobles.”

“Unnecessarily bloodshed is what I hate the most! You there! Quick, carry these two injured people to the residence!”

Following Henrietta's orders, Guiche and others put "Levitation" on Louise and Saito and started to carry them to the castle.

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Zero no Tsukaima:Volume9 Chapter5

2010-03-13T07:13:01Z

Danlemagne: I-Me confusion

===Chapter Five: Ondine ・ Knight Corps of The Water Spirit===

Saito publicly became a noble, but his life did not change very much.

Because the "Chevalier" title comes with an annuity, his financial status became somewhat more stable, although his life did not change drastically.

Despite the different places, the living expenses in Tristain per person was 120 Ecu. The sum of annuity Saito receives is 500 Ecu. It was a sum with which a commoner's family of four could live quite comfortably. It was something like the income of the lower class nobles without any lands.

At the start of every month, he would receive a sum of money which amounts to one twelfth of his annuity from the finance office. Therefore, every month, Saito had to bring his “Chevalier” letter of appointment, and squeeze with the other lower class nobles who would be trying to take their salary or annuity at the Tristain's finance office's counter.

The place he lives in was still unchanged- Louise's room. Although there were other rooms available if he wanted to rent a room, Louise disliked the notion. "Aren't you wasting your extra money?" Louise said.

For the time being, according to Louise's suggestion that it is indispensable in his service to the knight corps, Saito borrowed the annuity in advance and bought a horse.

It was grey and sleek-looking, and was quite a good army horse.

And influenced by Louise's advice that a good rider needs not just a good horse but also a good harness, he bought a good harness as well. His two months' annuity almost disappeared just like that. Because an angry Louise would not cease to bother him and let him win, Saito bought the horse and the harness reluctantly.

But, he was not satisfied, and in the beginning, Saito named the horse “Louise.”

“Louise. If you want a carrot, neigh.”

“Yo! Louise. We're having a long ride today, hang on there, run! If you're slow, I'll punish you! Get it?”

While he was mimicking Louise's mouth, his releasing his small resentments was quickly discovered.

“I prohibit you from naming the horse 'Louise'!”

His cheek was twice its size after being hit by Louise, so Saito changed the name of the horse.

As for the rest of the money, a hangar for the Zero Fighter, which was taken down from the ''Varsenda,'' was built beside Colbert's laboratory using wood and metal sheets for protection from the rain.

He thought of visiting Colbert's grave, but apparently Kirche had brought the corpse of the teacher, who did not have any relatives, to her parents' home. Tabitha had gone along as well. He did not understand the reason Kirche did so, but for now, once she comes back from Germania, he would ask her about the location of the grave, and would visit him someday, Saito thought.

Well then, regarding Louise's familiar who had become a noble suddenly, the people at the Academy of Magic had different responses.

The headmaster, Osman, was delighted.

“You can bury your bones in this world, huh?” His eyes narrowed. “I don't have any intention to do so,” when Saito explained, “In the future you'd say that because you don't have a wife, so to commemorate your becoming a noble, why don't you marry my niece and fortify your body? Although she married four times, failed them, and is forty-years old, she is still not bad.” At those words, Saito ran away.

As for Chevreuse the Red Clay, “Well...” she narrowed her eyes and was pleased.

Miss Vallière was also proud at this, as her feelings leaked out. “Are you taking classes here as well? If you are, buy this book and this book and that book. Although they are expensive, they are useful.” She started recommending her books which were used as textbooks. Saito ran away again.

Well then, the ones among the teachers who were happy were only those two. The rest did not look very happy. Just like before, they ignored Saito like the air. There were also teachers who whispered, “I don't agree with his promotion.” As expected, the ones who were angered because Saito, who was once their companions, was now their superior, just ignored him.

The students' reactions were different as well.

Making fun of the ascent of a commoner, their minds did not think properly. Things like being afraid to approach Saito because of his war achievements, indifference...

''That incident is fabricated, he is just a commoner, don't be so proud,'' et cetera... Students who did this consisted of about half of the total ones. “Well, it's okay if you want to challenge me,” whenever Saito said that, duels would be provoked.

Well, they were at Guiche's level for him to defeat, at most. “I stopped the 70,000, there's no mistake about it.” Saito caused them to change their opinion about his ability after they tasted defeat from him.

He had beaten the hell out of at most three persons simultaneously at Vestri Courtyard, and they did not insult him anymore.

A fortnight after Saito became a noble...

In the midst of the morning haze, at Vestri Courtyard, one by one, students appeared. They were all participants in the Albion war in one way or another.

With easily nervous-looking appearances, they stared at the two persons who were standing in front of them.

In a black mantle, Guiche, and Saito.

Whether or not it was due to nervousness, Guiche stiffened.

Saito poked Guiche's elbow.

“Wh-What?”

“Aren't you the Commanding Officer? Address them properly!”

“Uu...”

Guiche groaned.

“What's the problem!?”

“My stomach hu-hurts...”

The students who gathered exploded in laughter.

“...Hang in there!” Mixed with sighs, Saito said.

“As I thought, isn't it better for you to become Commanding Officer? I am too heavy a baggage to be the Commanding Officer of Ondine ・ Knight Corps of the Water Spirit.”

Troubled, Guiche said.

Ondine...

Under the prodding of Henrietta, this Imperial Guards corps was formed 3 days after Saito returned to the Academy of Magic. After making his resolution, he immediately went to Henrietta's and was informed of his assuming the position of Commanding Officer of the knights. After that, Henrietta suggested the forming of a new knight corps, and this was carried out.

The legendary Imperial Guards had a glory which existed in the past. That knight corps, which was capped with the name of the Water Spirit in the deep waters of the Tristain royal family and its surrounding, was established thousands of years ago.

However, during the political disorder a few hundred years ago, it had been abolished, until now...when Henrietta picked that name again.

“Don't care what type of history it has.”

Saito said to Guiche.

Guiche and the others thought that it was possibly the name of the legendary knight corps, but, as for Saito, when he thought about it, he neither had awe nor yearning.

“B-But...though I am the commanding officer of the legendary knight corps, it means, umm...”

Guiche rolled his eyes in difficulty.

At first, Saito thought he would be the Commanding Officer, but... “Someone who was promoted from a commoner to suddenly become a commanding officer, he'd be under a lot of pressure.” Listening to Agnes' words, he abandoned his plans. He did not want to provoke needless jealousy.

Eventually, after discussions with Louise, for the time being Guiche would be the Commanding Officer, and Saito the Assistant Commanding Officer.

Henrietta wanted Saito to be the Commanding Officer, but, as expected, Saito was not well-rehearsed with the rules of this world, not a mage, and a formally strange human who could not do things.

Guiche had made some achievements at the city of Saxe-Gotha, had received a medal, and besides, his father was a general in the army. Although his appearance, ability, or experience might be insufficient, based on his lineage and war achievements, there would be no objections to his becoming the Commanding Officer of the knight corps.

“Oi, Guiche! Saito! Until when do you want to talk? Start the training! Don't you all want to train us until we're exhausted!?”

At these two slowpokes, the students who had become the members of the knight corps, shouted.

Anyone who looked around could tell that Ondine was made up of students from the Academy of Magic. Henrietta had established the third Imperial Guard corps after the Magic Imperial Guards and the Musketeer Corps with youths who were not from the factions of the society or the palace.

“Hey, because you are slow, shouldn't you not complain?”

Saito spoke while poking Guiche's cheek. Guiche answered back undauntedly as well,

“Aren't it you the one who does nothing but complain?”

“Because you're pathetic!”

“That's why I said that you should become the Commanding Officer!”

Both of them glared at each other. Suddenly, Saito turned his face away, and declared in a slightly contemptuous tone,

“...Damn. Because of that, Monmon did not forgive you, isn't it?”

At that instant, Guiche cut in.

“My affairs with Monmon had nooooooothing tooooo doooooo wiiiiiiith yoooooouuuuu!”

Half weeping, Guiche pulled out his wand.

“Interesting... Oh right, I haven't settled the score with you the other time!”

Saito let out a bellow and grasped Derflinger with his hand. The runes on his left hand shone. Guiche put down his wand and clenched his fist. Chevalier Saito was the man who stopped the 70,000. ''When he has a weapon, I have no chance to win.''

“Because you can't use magic, too bad! Let's fight bare-handed!”

Saito released Derflinger, and leaped towards Guiche.

The gathered students were ecstatic as well.

“Get him! Punish that impertinent commoner! Guiche!”

“Oi, Saito! Go get that prideful Guiche!”

From a bench a distance away, two girls were watching the begin of the loud scuffle between Saito and Guiche. They were Louise and Montmorency. For some reason or another, every morning before breakfast, they would watch the scenery of Saito and the others' trainings.

“Geez. After the war, now it's make-believe knights? No matter how you think about it, looks like it's a quarrel this time. Huh, boys... Guess it really can't be helped, huh?”

Montmorency said in an amazed voice.

Speaking of Louise, since some time ago, she was doing something with an unusually nervous look.

“...What are you doing?”

With a slightly irritated voice, Louise replied.

“Mending something.”

At one look, it was indeed the parka Saito wore. Holes where everywhere all over it. Louise was mending it somehow with great difficulty. But...no matter what, she was unskilled. With her thread entangled in a complicated way, the holes which were supposed to be mended were conversely bigger.

“Aren't you making it worse?”

“Sh't up.”

“To mend something, isn't it better to call a maid to do it?”

“It's alright. I'll do it.”

While Louise was groaning ''mmm...'' she started mending the parka again.

“Louise, you haven't changed at all, huh?”

“Why?”

“Nope... mending a torn boy's shirt... girls who fall in love change, huh? I wonder.”

Louise lifted her face hastily. Her face reddened.

“Love, neeeevvvveeeerrrrr! A t-torn parka is pi-pipi-pitiable, so I'm s-sewing it. That's all!”

“You're so disorientated. As if you had admitted it yourself.”

“Truthfully, I don't want to do it! Aaahh, sorry! Geez!”

While she said that, she was moving the needle painstakingly.

Louise was trying to think of a way to help Saito who was engrossed in the knight corps. But, she was not a member of the knight corps... No matter how much she thought about the things she could do, she did not know of any at all. For the time being, she would just mend his parka.

When it comes to Saito, like an idiot, he became engrossed in striving for the organization and the training of the knight corps. Because of that, the moment classes ended, he would train them. Returning to the room after he was worn out, he would sleep after that. Every morning, just like that, since dusk, he'd be very busy gathering with the other knight trainees, swinging their swords, practicing using magic all at once, and sparring.

He practically left Louise alone.

It was just like an attitude of “I don't need your help.”

That is, well...maybe because Louise was not a member of the knight corps, to which nothing could be done.

''Huhhh...'' Louise let out a small sigh.

She could not amuse Saito well, and could not help him as well. As she thought of that, her self-confidence wavered even more.

''As I thought, I can't do it, huh...?'' Tears welled in her eyes. With the sharpness of a Water user, Montmorency noticed Louise's agony, and narrowed her eyes.

“Whhhhat? Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Well, a lover who neglects you and engrosses himself in other things; so you become dispirited, huh?”

“Haah? What are you talking about? What lover? Stop it!”

“Am I wrong? Weelll, is it a secret crush then? Naturally, you towards Saito.”

“Wrong! Absolutely wrong! Completely different from love! I never think of him at all!”

Blushing deeply, Louise protested.

“It's fine. But let me give you a warning.”

“What is it!?”

“Although you like him, you cannot allow him immediately.”

“Haaaa! What are you saying!? Isn't that stupid!?”

[[Image:ZnT09-123.jpg|thumb]]
“A person like you appears to be firm on the outside, but you flow according to the ambiance easily. Listen. Men are all unfaithful beings. 'A little bit is okay,' when you unintentionally allow him too much, he'll lose interest in you and go find other girls.”

“St-Stupid! There's no reason to allow them! Allow what!?”

Ignoring the things she did in the past, Louise yelled.

“Your voice is shaking. When you are struck at the bull's eye, you would be shaky immediately, eh? But you don't have to worry. Lately you are left aside by him, right? A completely frustrated woman is a no-no. Because of only little things, you get irritated, huh?”

“Haaaaahhhh!? The one's who's left aside, isn't it you!? Montmorency the Fragrance. What are you doing at such a place? To look out for Guiche? That idiot unexpectedly received a medal, and now he's getting more attention than before, eh? The girls who like him even like that, should have increased, right!?”

''Chonchon.'' Montmorency hit Louise's shoulder, and pointed towards Saito's direction.

She looked, and noticed that the scuffle had ended before they realized.

“Eh?”

Louise stared, pop-eyed.

A certain girl wearing a light brown mantle was handing something to Saito.

“Looks like the one getting the attention isn't Saito, eh?”

“What's wrong?”

Saito asked the girl in front of him.

The one in front of him with her cheeks crimson red was the girl who had once two-timed with Guiche... Katie. Beside them were a few fellow female academy students who were staring at Saito with similar expressions. All of them were wearing light brown mantles... which meant that they were first-year students.

“Um-Umm... do you want to read this?”

With a bashfully radiant face, the long-haired, lovely Katie took out something which looked like a letter.

“I-I wrote it as well.”

“Please look at it.”

The other female students handed their letters to Saito one by one as well.

“Letter?”

“Umm... I wrote a poem. By all means, please read it.”

With his mouth agape, he asked the girls of the lower grade.

“...Why me?”

The girls exchanged glances and nodded in unison.

“Because, you are so cool. You could stop 70,000 military troops alone right?”

“Next time when you are free, could you please tell us more about it?”

From behind, Guiche's bitter voice could be heard.

“Wh-What about me? No letters for me!?”

“Guiche-sama already has Montmorency-sama right?”

Aloof, Katie declared clearly.

“You girls are always the best, all the time! Montmorency is Montmorency, you are you! I say! A valorous man only has love for courage and achievements! Please understand!”

Shouting that, Guiche bit on his rose and put on airs. But at that moment, a cluster of water enveloped Guiche's body.

“Ugh! Aargh! I-I! I can't br-breath... ughhh...”

In the water column, Guiche was in agony. Before they noticed it, Montmorency was already on her feet, wielding her wand. Expressionless, and very frightening-looking.

“Uuuuuwwwaaaaa, Monmon is scarrrryyyyy.” While she was saying shakily, Katie quickly handed over a package to him.

“Umm... I'm not sure whether it fits your taste or not, but I baked these biscuits myself. Please try them.”

“Biscuit?”

A gently and softly luscious smell from the bag was hanging in the air.

Apparently delicious, involuntarily he extended his hand... and a small hand stretched out from beside him.

That hand tore up that bag, and removed the biscuits from the inside.

''Gnash...''

''Aumaumaumaum...''

He timidly looked beside him, and saw Louise's face which was as if the biscuits were extremely awful.

“Wh-What are you doing?”

“What is this? It tastes awful.”

“I tried so hard in making them!”

“Don't give pet feeds to other people's pet dog.”

“What 'pet dog'!? Saito-sama is a hero!”

“Hero? Who?”

Without thinking, Saito puffed up his chest.

“I am!”

The next moment, Louise's knee struck his stomach, and Saito tumbled to the ground. Louise placed her feet firmly on Saito's face. In a completely typical style, Louise yelled.

“You had merely stopped the 70,000, what are you so proud of? It's just like stopping a farmer's cattle. What's so great about it!?”

Next, Louise trampled Saito's groin, delivering the finishing blow. ''Oouucchhh!'' Saito groaned, and became silent.

Everyone at that place thought that Louise was great. She had referred to the 70,000 military troops as farmer's cattle. The female students were frightened of such a person with unusual strength, and running away, dispersed.

Louise seized Saito who had fainted in agony by the legs, and dragged him along.

With his hands and legs tied by ice loops, Guiche was taken away by the floating Montmorency.

With the Commanding Officer and Assistant Commanding Officer absent, the assembled male trainees exchanged troubled glances. Malicorne let out a sigh, and said,

“Wouldn't it be great if Louise and Montmorency become our Commanding Officers?”

The male trainees nodded their heads unanimously.

In the room, Louise who had been dragging him all along, ''thump!'', chucked him onto the bed.

Saito came to, and shouted angrily at Louise.

“What the heck are you doing?”

Louise's cheeks puffed, and she folded her arms.

“There's no problem being enthusiastic about it. I thought it's good for you to let you do as you please, but...”

“But what?”

Louise became silent.

“What's the problem?”

At his inquiry, ''huhh...'' Louise let off a weak sigh, and slipped into her bed.

“...Damn. You just carry on with your busy life.”

Saito was hit by those words. Evidently, because he was too busy lately and did not care about Louise, she was sulking now.

That was inevitable. His recent self was somehow full with fervor.

New position, new events which he had not experienced before...

Such things made his heart beat in excitement. Naturally, the time he spent with Louise decreased as well; nothing could be done about that.

''Besides, those guys who attacked us the other day...''

“Those guys who attacked us before this... it would be troublesome if they strike again right? Isn't it good to have more allies now?”

''Well, that's true, but...'' Louise pursed her lips.

“But during the other time, you managed to win by your own.”

“That could not be told at all!”

Saito bellowed angrily, but Louise was more displeased with his not spending more time with her than that incident.

“Which means that you can't spend time with your master, eh?”

Louise kicked her legs around under the blanket, and complained.

“Why the displeased look?”

“Nothing... but that means that I don't have to call you master now.”

“Why!?”

“Well, I'm a noble now right!? We are equal now right!”

“Haaah? What the heck are you talking about!? I've said it already! Don't confuse a mere 'Chevalier' with the Duke de La Vallière's position! We've only risen from the status of a human with a dog to a human with a MONKEY! That's all! Don't get the wrong idea!”

Louise combed her hair up and declared.

“Ah, I see...” Saito was further unamused.

And he had been thinking for a while that he could be equal to Louise. Looks like that wasn't the case at all.

Saito became quiet, and looking bored, Louise crawled into her bed... and pulled the blanket over her head.

Louise was not seriously thinking that they were "not equal". In other words, she did not care about the difference in their social status. Saito is Saito. That's all that matters.

It was simply that she did not know her feelings, and felt that Saito who was engrossed in the knight corps was a little unforgivable; at which she unintentionally insulted the Chevalier title.

At Saito's silence, Louise poked her head out from under the blanket.

“...”

Like a rabbit, the face which was peeking out from the hole stared at Saito, after which it slipped back in again.

“Think about what you should do to improve your master's mood.”

“Although you say that.”

Seemingly troubled, Saito scratched his head. From the bed, Louise extended her hand, with a finger pointing up

“Hug me tightly? A-And whisper at my ears 'I would like to serve you.'...or something like that.”

''What do you mean by “Hug me tightly”!?'' Saito was a little angry inside.

''So you want to tie me down using that bait...?'' He was thinking that, but not unwillingly, he still hugged Louise from on top the blanket.

Under the blanket, Louise became quiet like a cat.

Louise... unconsciously relaxed her face.

''No... Being hugged by a boy one likes somehow feels good. Although it is from the top of a blanket.''

''If possible, I want it like this all the time. But I cannot permit that. Aah, but what should I do if he requests that? If I allow him once, will he really be unfaithful as Montmorency said? What should I do?'' As she was thinking about that... Saito opened his mouth.

“Hey Louise.”

“Wh-What...?”

“Is that enough?”

“Heh?”

In the blanket, Louise squinted her eyes.

“How do I say it? Everyone is waiting for me since I am an Assistant Commanding Officer... if I skip practice, how could I discipline them?”

Leaving those words behind, Saito left the bed immediately, and went out of the room.

Left behind, Louise was in a daze for a little while, and she shook...

She sprang up from the bed swiftly, and started kicking the wall.

“What was that!? What does he mean! All my pride is shattered now!”

After kicking the wall for a while, Louise muttered while panting.

“You just wait and see... When I am serious... Be it a maid or an elf... All of them will wag their tails and run away!”

The next day...

After school, Saito went to the kitchen to greet those over there.

He remembered that he had not seen Siesta's face for a while. He ought to inform her about his becoming a noble properly in person.

Siesta's figure could not be seen. Saito asked her boss, Marteau, who was tasting a stew.

“Do you know where Siesta is?”

At his question, Marteau glared fiercely at Saito.

“I won't tell someone who has been wagging his tail at nobles.”

He declared. As if having the same opinion as their master, the other cooks who once praised Saito so much, were now watching him with cold eyes.

Compared to the times when he was insulted by the students, Saito was many times sadder now.

Being told such words by such kind people, Saito gradually broke out in tears. Subsequently, Head Chef Marteau panicked.

“Oi oi! You had taken all the trouble to become a noble, and now you're crying?”

“But... you all were so kind to me... and you had changed... but I didn't change at all...”

“Don't cry! Geez, for God's sake, why on earth did you want to become a noble!?”

Saito bit his lips.

“I don't know how to put it properly, but... somehow I wanted it. Hey uncle, you can touch people's hearts through your cooking. So you became a chef, and this is somewhere you would be. Am I wrong?”

“Hmm, well... now that you say that, maybe that's true.”

“I'm like that as well. I want a place I belong to, a place where I can have a go at the things I can do. I believe that my position as a noble would make it easier for me to do so. It doesn't mean that I specially wanted to become a noble. If that place is near the thing I want to do... I would use that place conversely, I think.”

At his words, Head Chef Marteau shrugged.

“I don't have much knowledge. You tell me difficult things, but I don't get it. Just that, didn't you become haughty...?”

Seemingly embarrassed, Head Chef Marteau muttered.

“Haughty? I don't have any such intention at all!! Please treat me the same way as before! If you think I'm unreasonable and detest me, then don't say anything.”

Head Chef Marteau snorted. After that, he promptly hugged Saito.

“S-Sorry... To tell you the truth, I am jealous of you... To become a noble from a commoner, that is as hard as a human becoming God! But hearing your words, I am now relieved. You are you. Right? 'Our Sword'!”

“Although I don't really understand, I am glad to become your sword, as always!”

''Guriguri'', Head Chef Marteau stroked Saito's head.

“Tell Siesta the same thing! That girl is feeling really down now...”

At that instant,

''Bang!'', The kitchen door was opened hard. ''Thump thump thump'' Siesta rushed in.

“Waaaah waaaaah! This is bad! Waaah, waaah!”

It was a somewhat huge pandemonium.

“What's wrong?”

Head Chef Marteau asked.

“I! I have been transferred! Aargh!”

“Transferred?”

Saito and Head Chef Marteau exchanged glances. Then Siesta noticed Saito's presence and blushed furiously.

“Saito-san...I, I...”

Filled with emotion, Siesta murmured.

“Wh-What on earth... aren't you feeling really down now?”

“You're right. I am a bit down. Because Saito-san had become a noble. I thought after you became a noble, you would forget about me.”

“I won't forget!”

“But it's alright now.”

“What the heck is going on!?”

Head Chef Marteau asked as Siesta lowered her head.

“Thank you very much for the taking good care of me so far.”

“Haaaah?”

Siesta showed a paper she was holding to the blank Head Chef.

“Isn't this the signature of the Queen?”

Sure enough, that was an official document on which Henrietta's name was written. Underneath it, there was Old Osman's signature as well.

“What, what? "Arrange a servant from within the academy to serve Mr. Saito Chevalier de Hiraga". What is this?”

“This morning, this letter from the Royal Palace arrived at Osman-sama's. After that, he ordered the head of maids to choose someone. But the head of maids chose me. To wait on him, someone who's close to him would be better, which is me.”

Not understanding why it happened, Saito became nervous, and Siesta quickly bowed her head.

“Because of that, please treat me well.”

Meanwhile, Louise... was trying to carry out the strategy which she had been scheming secretly for the past two days.

“Until now, the way to do things is wrong.”

“How is it wrong?”

The one asking Louise, who was murmuring continually, was Derflinger. As usual, Louise had appointed the intelligent sword as her fellow staff in her operation plans.

“How should I say it? I had been trying to win at places outside my field. Be it a black cat appearance, or a maid-like appearance...anyway, these are not things nobles do.”

“That's possible.”

“For the time being, while satisfying my pride, I should go back to basics.”

Louise exaggerated. The clothes she was wearing were... that legendary “sailor uniform.” Some time ago, she had bowed her head low and borrowed it from Montmorency. It was a present Guiche gave her after he had received the remains from Saito. It was tailored to fit the lean body of Montmorency, but somehow it fitted Louise as well. Obviously there was a lot of space left in front of her breasts, and the clothes were too long as well... but Louise held it together using pins.

“Basics?”

“Yes. It's useless parading in weird stuff. The ears of the cat were overdone. Anyway, after confirming that your ideas are out of the question, I will win by using my own thoughts and my inspirations. That is what a real noble would do.”

Louise folded her arms, and peered into the mirror, satisfied.

With her body wearing the baggy sailor uniform, Louise turned around the spot. Her pink hair, scarf, and the pleated skirt of her uniform flew up simultaneously.

“Aren't you imitating that maid?”

[[Image:ZnT09-137.jpg|thumb]]
“Shut up. Between the maid and I, our power varies a lot!”

“Aren't you the weaker one? It's somewhat fatter...”

Inhaling a deep breath, Louise reached out for the wand on top of the small desk beside her. Derflinger's attitude changed completely.

“Nope, stronger.”

“Obviously!”

With a triumphant face, Louise posed before the mirror.

Holding the hem of her skirt up, Louise put her little finger into her mouth. At her look, Derflinger put in.

“Anyway, if partner likes such things... how about if you're more frank? Don't turn around, isn't it good just to say 'I'll do the same'? It's over.”

“NO!”

“Why is that so?”

“Well... if I do that, won't he get carried away? It is not like the other time. As I said, he groped those breasts, so I put him down. He is unforgivable.”

“You're not honest.”

“Or perhaps I should say.”

Louise gripped the sword, and peered into the hilt part with a scary face.

“I did not like him specially.”

“Yes.”

With a voice of complete disbelief, Derflinger muttered.

After that, ''Haaaaaa...'', let off a deep sigh.

“What's the matter?”

“I am still cute after all. This is, another sin.”

“...My dear, you are really calm huh.”

“After seeing such a tidy and cute me, that insect would have to fall on his knees.”

“Really?”

“Fufu. Fufufufufufu.”

“Sorry, I'm scared.”

“He will surely feel like this eh?”

Carried away, Louise crawled at the bed. Under Derflinger's amazed scrutiny, Louise's favorite monodrama of late began.

“Louise<nowiki>~~~</nowiki> Louise<nowiki>~~~</nowiki> You are so cute... Your appearance is better than the time you wore maid clothes<nowiki>~~~</nowiki> I had fallen madly in love with Louise<nowiki>~~~</nowiki>!”

After that, Louise stood up quickly.

“Hmph! Isn't this obvious! Now you notice my charm? Aah, I can't do anything about it!”

Again, Louise knelt at the floor.

“I'm sorry<nowiki>~~~</nowiki> Sorry for ignoring you<nowiki>~~~</nowiki> I got carried away after becoming a noble, sorry for that<nowiki>~~~</nowiki> Sorry for engrossing in the knight thingy<nowiki>~~~</nowiki> Sorry for looking for at the maid<nowiki>~~~</nowiki> Sorry for groping that half-elf's ridiculous breasts<nowiki>~~~</nowiki>!”

Louise stood straight.

“If you want to apologize, you know how to treat me right?”

Flat on the ground, Louise licked dust.

“Yes! I am a humble dog... Louise-sama's vile pet dog... I would do anything... Please let me stay by your side...”

Standing up, Louise folded her arms. She was carried away excitedly, as if her familiar was just right there. With a smile full of bizarrely swelling excitement an a victory boast, she looked down on the imaginary familiar.

“If you understand, li-lili-lick my sh-shsh-shoes.”

“Yeeess! I will lick it! This Saito-dog will lick it!”

Louise cringed down and lowered her head.

“Hey lady.”

“What!? Now's the climax! Don't disturb! It's really exciting after this!”

“The door is...”

“What's with the door!? What happened to the door!”

Louise turned around. With eyes as if they were looking at a miserable creature, Siesta and Saito who were present there were staring at her. Louise's face paled.

Siesta rushed over to Louise, and held those hands.

“Let's go to a place with free medical treatment, okay? You're affected from the warm spell of spring huh... It's all right. You be healed quickly.”

Saito approached her, and peered into Louise's face.

“Say honestly. What did you eat?”

Strongly, Louise shook both of them off, and went to the window. From there, she tried to jump down.

“Wa-Wait!”

“Louise! Oi! This is the third floor!”

Siesta and Saito ran after her. Louise yelled frantically.

“Leave me! Please, leave me alone!”

After they managed to calm Louise down, two hours had already passed.

With her face fuming, Louise glared at Saito and Siesta. Both of them drooped their heads. To hide her embarrassment at their seeing THAT, Louise muttered with a sullen face.

“Why did you bring her back?”

“Please take care of me!”

Beaming, Siesta bowed down at Louise.

“If you come here to wait on me, there is no need for me.”

Gazing at Siesta who was looking at her, Louise declared.

“That... Despite your words, I did not come to take care of Miss Vallière. I came to take care of Saito-san.”

“He can take care of himself.”

“It is the personal command of Her Majesty The Queen.”

“The Princess did!?”

Louise shouted wildly.

“Yes. Please look at this.”

Siesta showed the official documents from Queen Henrietta which had been going around, to Louise.

“...That's true, huh. A servant for Mr. Saito Chevalier de Hiraga.”

“Although it's me, I would still not come here to intrude.”

“I don't know,” Louise shook her head.

“What about it?”

Louise glared at Saito.

“Eh? Me?”

“Yes. You want to be with Siesta, right? What about it?”

With a jerk, Louise glared at Saito. Looking troubled, Saito scratched his nose.

“Lately, I became busy... honestly, I can't clean the room...”

Upon a closer look, one could see a layer of dust had settled in the room. Previously, Saito was the one who cleaned the room. But since the formation of the knight corps, he had no time to clean it.

“I would do anything!”

“Is that okay? I have a bad feeling about this...”

“To take care of Saito-san is my happiness.”

Siesta smiled pleasantly.

''Oh no'', Louise thought. ''Wh-What noble words.'' As usual, Saito's face reddened a bit.

For guys, there aren't any words which would make them happier than this. And Siesta had declared those words.

Because of the grave situation, Louise counterattacked from another angle.

“Well, since you're unwilling to give in... it's bad, but never mind... Where are you going to sleep? There's only one bed.”

“Isn't it okay for us to sleep together? Because the bed is big enough.”

“No! No! Noooooo! It's too small! Besides, isn't Siesta...”

''A commoner''; as Louise was about to say this, she swallowed her words. She remembered her debt of gratitude towards Siesta. And now, she could not bring herself to treat commoners with disdain.

But still sleeping together is an absolute NO. Louise did not know what this Siesta would do to Saito when she was sleeping.

“Well then, okay. I will sleep in my straw again. It should be okay for you two to sleep together.”

Saito said dryly again.

“Heh?”

In a daze, Siesta shook her head.

“The idea! Saito-san is now a knight! You MUST sleep in a bed! Well, I'll accompany you!”

“...Heee?”

Saito's face reddened all the more. Louise was trembling all over. And finally, she said those words which she did not want to say.

“O-Okay. No pr-problem. Let's sleep together.”

“...But, sleeping together with nobles...”

“Saito is now a noble as well.”

“But, Saito-san is Saito-san...”

Siesta shifted uneasily.

With a stiff smile, Louise said.

“That's okay.”

“All right...”

Apparently embarrassed, Siesta hung her head in shame.

After that- “Well then, first of all, cleaning!” -Siesta started cleaning the room, apparently enjoying it.

“Let me help,” Saito suggested, and started helping Siesta's cleaning. For a while, Louise fixed her eyes on the two who were cleaning the room, seemingly enjoying it... Eventually, she felt somewhat unable to stay there any more.

“I'll do it as well.”

Siesta and Saito opened their eyes wide.

“What? Is it funny for me to clean up?”

“Nope, because this has never happened even once before.”

Louise snatched the dustcloth from Siesta's hand, and started polishing the bed. Yet, not matter what, she was inept at it. Because she had crumpled the dustcloth into a clump and did it like that, it did not become cleaner at all. Finding it hard to continue looking at her- “This is the way to do it.”- Siesta explained to Louise.

After a few hours, looking at the sparklingly clean room, Siesta said joyfully.

“We had made it clean!”

“Yeah,” Louise nodded. Looking at that clean room, somehow her anger subsided...''Huh, well, forget it...'' She felt like this.

During that night.

The three of them slept “like the [[Zero no Tsukaima:Volume9 Translator's Notes#River Character|character for river]]. Saito was in the middle, with Louise at his right and Siesta at his left.

Louise felt rather embarrassed at sleeping like she did on other days, which was to lay her head on Saito's chest. So she separated herself a little from him, with her back facing him. Siesta had the same feelings, or else she was thoughtful; but she slept apart from Saito as well. Initially, Louise could not sleep, and kept an eye out on the two of them. If they did anything strange, she planned to jump up and whack Saito.

Nevertheless, Siesta and Saito were perfectly still. Not used to cleaning, Louise slowly fell asleep.

Saito really was Saito, stiffening just like that. At any rate, beside him were Louise and Siesta who were sleeping. With two sleeping girls beside him, he did not have any fantasies at all.

''...This isn't really a good thing.''

Saito thought. Because he was too nervous, he did not even feel a tinge of sweetness. Or perhaps, stuck between the silent pressures from the feelings of animosity, anger, and not knowing what to do, which were not visible to Louise and Siesta, he was about to be flattened.

''But...now isn't the time to worry over these girls.''

''Louise had said that as “That is a reward...”''

''I am loved completely by her, but if I have any feelings left for other girls, I can't do anything weird to Siesta...''

His mind became more and more troubled.

''First of all, I have to forget the girls' affairs.''

''Somehow or another, right now the organization of the knight corps is the most important, so...''

''I have to focus completely on doing a man's job, so...''

Saito drove Louise and Siesta out of his head... and thought.

''In this world, what can I do?''

''I don't know.''

''Even if I devote myself to training, as I thought, the answer did not appear.''

''Oh well... it has just begun. Just understand little by little will be good enough.''

Displaying his optimistic characteristic, Saito closed his eyes.

''Teacher, I will do my best...''

He whispered softly.

Worn out by the noon's training, Saito slowly went into the dream world.

After she dozed off for a while, Louise suddenly opened her eyes. She was sleeping lightly.

She had an unpleasant premonition, and she looked towards Saito... and without her knowing it, ''hadn't Siesta been using Saito's upper arm as a pillow? But until just now, she was still apart from him!'' Louise ground her teeth.

''Fuuunn'', and she placed her head on Saito's left arm. After that... Siesta's head moved, and this time, assumed a part of Saito's shoulder as her pillow.

Louise clenched her fist, and just like her, placed her head on his left shoulder. Siesta's head moved all the more, and finally reached his chest.

“...You are already awake, right?”

“Mmmpphh...”

Siesta's face blushed a bit, and snored unnaturally. As if she wanted to say “That's my place!”, Louise placed her head further up Saito's chest.

Siesta's eyes opened slowly.

Between Saito's chest, both of them glared at each other.

“Leave.”

When Louise said that, Siesta counterattacked.

“If Saito-san says that, only then will I leave.”

“Because he's sleeping, I'll give the command. Leave.”

“No.”

“You surrendered at Albion right? You backed out.”

“Wrong. That is merely because I pitied Miss Vallière.”

Louise trembled for a while. ''Huuuuuu...'', she took in a deep breath, and gently pressed her lips against the sleeping Saito's.

“Eh?”

“Mmmph...”

And then, she inserted her tongue flamboyantly.

“Mmph, mmpppphhhh, mmm...”

Dumbfounded, Siesta looked at them. Or perhaps, at the terrible intensity of Louise. Much greater than kiss, it was like the force of stabbing with a knife.

After turning her tongue around in Saito's mouth forcefully, Louise's lips left, and declared to Siesta.

“We are not really lovers. But, he is my property. It's awful for you to interfere between us,"

Louise stated, with a heavily implied killing intent in her voice.

For a while, Siesta was overwhelmed by Louise's force... but eventually regained herself. Facing Louise's glare straight on, she grasped Saito's right hand.

And before Louise could even stop her, Siesta inserted his hand into the gap between her nightclothes. Grandly, she held his hand in her cleavage, making Louise feel suffocated.

“Mmmphh, mmmmmm...!”

“Until now, I know nothing at all at how to attract boys.”

“...Liar!”

“It's true. But the girl who could not stand looking at such a me... taught me various things. Various things.”

“I-I see. Because of that you let him touch your breasts? And you said you knew nothing at all?”

Louise asked, her face twitching.

“Different from Miss Vallière, I can't go on just waiting. Please treat me well.”

“Take care... Well, I'll try to do my best. But, I still think that's useless. This guy has fallen madly in love with me!”

Louise exclaimed triumphantly.

“Ah... He must have been confused by that noble ambiance.”

“That's not true at all!”

“If that's the case, he likes every part of you?”

Louise fell silent. She was not sure about that.

Siesta peered into Louise's face and said.

“So how about this? In the coming Sleipnir Ball, if Saito-san can find Miss Vallière... I'll admit that Saito-san really likes Miss Vallière. When he does that, I will truly give up.”

“Isn't this interesting?”

Blowing her top, Louise accepted that proposal.

“You won't regret? On the other hand, if he does not find you...”

Saito was unaware of the girls' fight which was unfolding on top of his chest...

At this time, Saito, who was possibly the most fortunate and unfortunate man in Halkeginia, was having an ironic nightmare consisting of him being wooed by both Guiche and Malicorne in the midst of the training of the knight corps.

On top of Saito's right arm, Siesta started to snore. After scowling at her face... Louise let off a sigh.

''Is it true that as Siesta says, Saito is only attracted to me because of my noble ambiance?'' Her self-confidence was increasingly swaying.

And he was so near to her... but she did not know his feelings at all. This thing had made Louise really uneasy.

At the same time, a question arose in her mind.

It was about Henrietta.

''No matter how great Saito's achievement was, it is impossible for a queen herself to assign a personal maid to him.''

''That is too kind.''

''What on earth is Henrietta's motive?''

''Don't tell me that she intends to assign another dangerous task to him?''

''If Henrietta is going to visit this time...'', Louise fell asleep.

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