Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Epilogue - MTL

“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.“

In the living room of Tiffania's house, Contract Servant was done.

Though they searched in the forest… the woman in black robe, who introduced herself as Sheffield, was gone. Only a large amount of Alvisses were lying around.

When Louise and the others returned to Tiffania’s house… they decided to give another ‘contract’ to Saito. If they would be attacked like a few moments ago, it may get serious after all.

Siesta and Tiffania watched Saito's contracting with Louise with worried expressions. Agnes, with her arms crossed, was nonchalantly watching what the mage was doing.

“I guess he's willing to become a mage’s tool again. The runes make the sword training useless.”

“Maybe…”

Derflingr, who was leaning against the sofa, said in a somewhat painful voice. Agnes looked up at Derflingr surprised.

“Why so gloomy. Isn’t your partner coming back?”

Not answering Agnes’s question, Derflingr kept being silent.

Once the spell ended, Louise brought her lips to Saito’s.

Saito watched at her thin, but nicely shaped lips.

When you think about it… everything started from here.

Various adventures crossed his mind.

After this, a new adventure might start from here. With his hopes and fears in turmoil, Saito stirred a little. Seeing Saito acting this way, Louise asked him.

“You won’t regret it?”

Saito, gazing straight into Louise’s eyes, said.

“I have already decided it when I passed the gate.”

Louise nodded, and slowly pressed her lips against Saito’s.

At once… a burning pain hit his body.

“Guaaaaaah!”

Siesta tried to run up to Saito, who was rolling in agony.

“S-Saito-san!”

“I-it’s all right… it’s just runes of the familiar being carved in…”

Both, Saito and Louise, said in a same time.

And at once the pain subdued.

Saito watched curves appearing on his left hand.

“Haah…” he moaned. Louise shut her eyes and pressed herself closer to Saito.

“D-did it fail?”

“No… it succeeded.”

Saito showed Louise his left hand’s top.

Gandalfr's rune was firmly carved.

Louise gently traced each rune with her finger. This character string… is a bond between me and Saito. While caressing them… the amount of time when they were separated, the despair she felt, she was overflowed by the feelings.

Though everyone were still there, Louise desperately clung tightly onto Saito… and buried her face below his chest. And stayed like that, not moving. Saito gently held Louise’s shoulders.

Everyone stared at the couple.

“Well, as I said, I need to sharpen my sword for the battle.” Agnes muttered.

Though Siesta lifted up her eyes for a moment, she gave out a smile in the end.

The naïve Tiffania blushed.

“Your left hand… don’t stress it too much… I can’t help but worry.”

Derflingr muttered so silently that no one heard.

For a while, it will be very sensitive…　

Tiffania with saying: “Well, I’m sure you need various things to discuss”, hurriedly dashed out of the bedroom.

Siesta came up to Louise and muttered quietly in her ear.

“…Only for today, I will lend him to you.”

…And left as fast as Tiffania left the room.

When Derflingr tried to say something, he was gripped by Agnes.

“All right, you also have to go.”

Finally alone, Saito and Louise gazed at each other in silence.

While they were looking at each other… tears started to fall from Louise’s eyes.

“Louise.”

When Saito unconsciously hugged her shoulders tighter, even more tears started to fall from her eyes. Not whipping them, Louise opened her mouth.

“Th…”

“Th?”

“Thth….”

“Thth?”

“Th-thought I will never be able to meet you again…”

While looking straight at him Louise sobbed.

“I-I…thought I, gu, had something important to t-t-tell, you, gu, went somewhere…”

Her speech was overflowed with feelings.

“You didn't show up on the ship, you didn't show up in the bed, back at home… Do you know how worried I was?.. I couldn’t take it anymore… I couldn’t take it because…”

Louise was heavily pulling out words mixed with tears. Though she was incoherent and hard to understand, Louise’s feelings poured right into Saito’s heart.

“But y-you visited me in my dreams… you were gentle, and, and…”

“D-don’t cry…”

Saito hugged Louise tightly, encircling her head with his hand. Louise started to weep stronger.

“Cruel… You left me alone, cruel…”

“I won’t leave.”

Saito said.

“I won’t leave you any more.”

When he said those words… he remembered how it hurt him so badly as well, since the runes disappeared.

“Mo, don't go anywhere.”

“Aye.”

“S-stay by me.”

”Aye.“

Saito nodded many times.

The inner of his nose started to tickle.

That’s right, this what I really wanted to do from the beginning.

Since I was not Louise’s Gandalfr, though I wanted to protect her… I misunderstood. I thought that not being a Gandalfr, I couldn't protect her.

But, I was wrong.

I can protect you, Louise.

Not someone else, me… I want to protect you.

When he thought so, something warm spread inside Saito’s heart.

This warmth made Saito more determined.

Some day, I might return.

But… not until I make Louise happy.

For the master who needs me so much, I will pursue her dreams.

When he was determined like that, everything seemed simple.

Louise was still crying.

“Y-you can look at other girls… You can touch them… You can k-k-k-kiss them, but… don’t go anywhere…”

Louise kept on crying for a while.

* * *