Zero no Tsukaima:Volume3 Chapter3 - MTL

This text is a machine translation (MTL). Be warned that the degree of translation error may be higher than usual. This page was created before the updated (July 19, 2015) MTL guidelines and has not been reviewed. For details, see the machine translation guidelines.

Chapter Three: The Founder's Prayer Book

Sir Osmond stared at the book the palace had delivered, absent-mindedly twirling his beard. The book's cover, sheathed in old leather, was so worn out that it looked like it would tear from a single touch. The book's pages had a tawny color to them.

Hmm...

Muttering, Sir Osmond turned a page. Nothing was written on it. There were about three hundred pages in the book; all of them were blank.

"‘The Founder's Prayer Book’ has been handed down through Tristain's royal family…"

Six thousand years ago, Founder Brimir had offered a prayer to God: using magic runes as letters, Brimir wrote down God's spells.

“Isn't this a fake?”

Sir Osmond looked suspiciously at the book. Fakes… all too common with ‘legendary’ artifacts. Apparently, only one ‘Founder's Prayer Book’ existed in the world. Rich nobles, temple priests, royal families of all countries… everybody claimed to have the real ‘Founder's Prayer Book.’ But regardless of each one's authenticity, all were collected as genuine articles in the library.

“But if it is a fake, it's an awful one. All the characters are gone.”

Sir Osmond had seen many ‘Founder's Prayer Books,’ several times before. On numerous occasions. The runes always seemed to leap from the pages. However, he had never seen a book like this one, without any contents. Could it be genuine?

At that moment, he heard someone knocking. I should hire a secretary, Sir Osmond thought as he invited the guest into the room.

“It’s not locked. Please, come in.”

The door opened, and a slender girl stepped in. She had pink-blonde hair and big, reddish-brown eyes. It was Louise.

“I heard you called for me, so…” Louise said.

Sir Osmond stood up and spread his hands, welcoming the petite visitor. He wanted to thank her for her efforts from the other day.

“Oh, Miss Vallière. Have you rested from your tiresome journey? Your great efforts have ensured the alliance's safety, and prevented a crisis in Tristain.” Sir Osmond continued softly; “And, next month in Germania, there will finally be a wedding ceremony for our Princess and Germania’s Emperor. It's all thanks to you. Be proud of yourself.”

Hearing this, Louise's spirit momentarily faltered; her childhood friend Henrietta was going to be used as a political tool. Her marriage to Germania’s emperor was without love. Though there was no other solution for the alliance, Louise's chest tightened every time she recalled the sad smile on Henrietta’s lips.

Louise silently bowed. Sir Osmond became quiet for a while and watched her. Then, remembering that he had the ‘Founder's Prayer Book’ in his hands, he held it out for Louise.

“What's this?”

Louise looked suspiciously at the book.

“The Founder's Prayer Book.”

“The Founder's Prayer Book? This?”

It was given to the royal family. And it's a legendary book. But why does Sir Osmond have it?

“According to Tristain’s royal tradition, when a royal family member is wed, one aristocrat is chosen to take the role of the bridesmaid. Following the Imperial edict, the selected bridesmaid is traditionally given the ‘Founder’s Prayer Book'.”

“Uh huh.”

Louise, being unaware of such detailed palace etiquette, replied blankly.

“And the Princess has chosen Miss Vallière to be that bridesmaid.”

“The Princess?”

“That's right. The bridesmaid must also compose a written edict when receiving the ‘Founder’s Prayer Book’”

"A...ah! I must think of an edict?"

“Indeed. Of course, there still remains certain palace etiquette which you must learn… traditions can be rather bothersome. That said, Miss Vallière, the Princess is looking forward to it. This is a great honor. So follow the palace regulations, and write the edict; something like this happens only once in a lifetime.”

Henrietta, my childhood friend, chose me to be her bridesmaid. Louise firmly looked up.

“I understand. I will respectfully obey.”

Louise accepted the ‘Founder’s Prayer Book’ from Sir Osmond’s hands.

Sir Osmond, looking at Louise, smiled;

“You are willing to undertake this. Good, good. The Princess will be pleased.”

That evening, Saito was preparing a bath. Tristain's Magic Academy certainly had a bathhouse; it was a Roman style bathhouse lined with marble. Inside was a huge swimming pool filled with hot water, with perfume mixed in: it was said to feel quite heavenly. Of course, Saito could not enter; only nobles were allowed to use it.

The commoners' bathhouse, compared to the nobles' bathhouse, was rather shabby, and looked more like a hovel. It was placed on stones, with a fire burning underneath; the strong smell of sweat and the tightly pressed bodies only made one sweat more.

One day in that bathhouse was enough to disgust Saito; the sauna was just too unsatisfying. Bothered, Saito asked Marteau, the head chef, for a big old washbasin. Being raised in Japan, Saito chose to create his own bath, and filled the basin to the brim with hot water. He burned firewood below his metal tub to heat the water, then placed the wooden lid at the bottom of the tub to stand on. Voila! A hot water bath was created.

Saito placed his personal bath in the Vestri Courtyard’s nook. It was convenient, since people did not often come to this courtyard.

The day was coming to an end; the two moons appeared, shining faintly. Once the water was hot enough, Saito quickly threw off his clothes and sank into the big kettle.

“Aah... the water is nice and hot.”

He put a towel on his head, and started humming a melody.

Derflinger, leaning against the wall of the kettle, called out to Saito:

“Does it feel good?”

“Yeah.”

“By the way, partner, why didn’t you take advantage of the young mistress a while ago?"

Saito threw Derflinger a tepid glance.

“Don’t look at me like that. It feels bad, partner.”

“Hey, legendary sword.”

“Indeed, I am a legendary sword. What is it?”

“During the past six thousand years, did you find someone important to you to protect?”

Derflinger shook lightly.

“I do not protect. It is the one wielding me who protects.”

“You poor thing…” said Saito from the bottom of his heart, his voice sympathetic.

“Poor, you say? On the contrary, it is quite comfortable.”

“Is that so? By the way, what do you remember about this ‘Gandálfr’? How great was he, and what kind of stuff did he do?” Saito, showing his innate curiosity, questioned Derflinger.

“I forgot.”

“Huh.”

“It was a long time ago. Besides, partner, someone is coming.”

A shadow appeared in the moonlight.

“Who is it?”

Saito’s call startled the shadow; with a clatter, it dropped the object it was carrying. Under the moonlight, one could hear the sound of a breaking pot.

“Waaah, it broke… I'll be scolded again… sniff”

From that voice, Saito was able to recognize the person hidden in the darkness.

“Siesta?!”

Illuminated by moonlight, the figure of a housemaid who worked in the Alviss Dining Hall - Siesta - appeared. She had just finished her work and, although she was still wearing her usual maid clothes, the kachusha covering her head was now gone. Her loose, shoulder-length black hair shone glossily in the moonlight.

Siesta squatted down to pick up the pot that she had dropped earlier.

“W-what are you doing here?”

Saito’s question made Siesta turn around.

“Uhmmm… today I was able to get a really tasty treat and I wanted Saito to try it! I would have given it to you in the kitchen, but you didn’t come today! Waah!” Siesta said in a panic.

Indeed, there was a tray lying next to Siesta, along with an overturned teapot, and some cups. Surprised by Saito's sudden cry, it seemed like Siesta had dropped one cup.

Still submerged in the bath, Saito asked, “A treat?”

Siesta suddenly became aware of Saito’s nudity and, for a moment, averted her eyes in shame.

“That’s right. An unusual good came from ‘Rub' al Khali’ in the east today: Tea.”

“Tea?”

Tea was an extremely rare commodity. Siesta poured some from the teapot into one of the unbroken cups and gave it to Saito.

“Thank you.”

Saito lifted it to his lips. The sweet aroma of tea tickled his nostrils. And when it was in his mouth, it tasted like Japanese green tea.

Saito suddenly felt overwhelmed by nostalgia. Aah, Japan. Dear mother country. In his big makeshift bathtub, Saito spontaneously wiped the corners of his eyes.

“W-what’s the matter! Are you alright?”

Siesta bent over the edge of the basin.

“N-no, I just felt nostalgic for a moment. I’m alright. Yeah.”

After saying so, Saito brought the cup back to his mouth. Though tea and a bath made for a strange combination, both soaked Saito with longing.

“Do you miss it? That’s right, Saito-san comes from the east.”

Siesta flashed a shy smile.

“I… I probably feel that way. Anyway, did you know that I was here?"

Saito’s words made Siesta blush.

“T-that’s, that’s. I’m just here because I saw you going this way with hot water and…”

“You peeped?” Saito said blankly.

Siesta hastily shook her head.

“N-no, I didn’t mean it that way!”

Flustered, Siesta tripped over the edge of the tub, and with a loud splash, fell into the bath.

“Kyaaaaaaa!”

Siesta screamed, but her shriek was muffled by the hot water inside the iron tub.

“Are you alright?” Saito asked, nonplussed.

“I-I’m alright… Wah, but I am soaked now…”

Siesta pulled her wet head out of the hot water.

The poor girl’s housemaid uniform was sodden. And when she remembered Saito’s naked state, a furious blush spread on her face.

Saito panicked.

“S-sorry! Even though the bath is on a stove, it is still possible to fall in!”

“N-no, I’m sorry!”

Although she was apologizing, Siesta didn’t try to leave the bath. Saito then decided to take a defiant attitude as well. He pretended in a somewhat manly manner that it was no big deal she was not getting out.

At such times, he tried to act in a calm and collected manner. Was it manly? Saito thought so. Which meant that Saito was a fool as well.

“Ufufu”

Siesta, her clothes still soaked, and still inside the big washbasin, laughed. Though it wasn’t a laughable situation, still, she laughed.

“W-what’s wrong?”

Perhaps his size was a laughingstock? Though it was dark and no one could see below the surface of hot water, Saito suddenly felt insecure.

“Nothing, but, it feels nice. Is this how you bathe in Saito-san’s country?"

Feeling relieved, Saito answered.

“That’s right. Though, it is unusual to get in while wearing clothes."

“Ara? Is that so? Yet, if you think about it, that must be true. Well then, I’ll take them off.”

“Yes?”

Pop-eyed, Saito asked Siesta.

“What did you say just now?”

Siesta, usually hesitant and shy, for some reason became bold. Slightly biting her lip, she looked at Saito in a determined way.

“I said, I’ll take them off.”

“But Siesta? I am a man…” Saito said, dumbfounded.

“That’s alright. I know that Saito-san is not a person who would hurt me.”

Saito nodded, though he hadn’t heard a single word.

“No, oh my, don’t do such a thing…”

“But I also want to use this ‘Bath’ properly. It is nice.”

And, eh? Saito stared as Siesta rose from the hot water and started taking off her soaked clothes. Saito turned his eyes away in panic.

“S-stop it! Siesta! Wait a moment! This is awkward!"

However, Saito’s ‘Stop’ sounded weak, betraying his real thoughts.

“B-but, I am dripping wet… The Chief would be mad if I returned to the room like this. I think I should dry my clothes off by the fire first.”

Although she was usually obedient, Siesta could be really bold when she decided to.

The buttons of the blouse and the hook of the skirt were unfastened in a flash. It felt good taking off wet clothes.

Siesta took off her housemaid uniform and underwear and left them to dry on the firewood, close to the fire. After that, she stepped into the hot water again. Saito, through the corner of his eyes, watched Siesta submerge her legs. He had never seen Siesta’s bare legs, as they were always hidden behind a skirt. They were white and healthy. Aah, if only he could turn his face that way, he would be able to worship her entire body.

“Uwaa! It feels good! Sharing a bath this way, soaking in the hot water really does feel good! It feels like taking a noble’s bath. I am so jealous, but I can make it myself, right? Saito you are really smart.”

“N-not really.”

Saito answered, his face still turned away. It felt as if the hot water suddenly turned hotter. Next to him was a naked girl. In that sort of situation, Saito felt dazed, and almost fainted. A shy smile on her lips, Siesta said,

“Please don’t be so shy. I’m not shy as well. It is all right to turn this way. Look, my breasts are hidden behind my arms… besides it’s so dark that you cannot see through the water anyway, so stay calm.”

Saito, feeling half-confused, half-happy, turned around.　

Siesta was sitting right before Saito, submerged in the hot water. Because it was dark, you couldn’t clearly see the body behind the surface of the water. He was somewhat relieved.

Yet, Saito took a deep breath.

In the darkness, Siesta's wet black hair glittered fascinatingly.

From this close, one could see that Siesta was actually a very lovely girl. He hadn’t noticed until now, but she was different from Louise or Henrietta; she had the charm of a lovely flower, freely blossoming in the field. Her big dark eyes, friendly nature, and tiny nose were delightful and pretty.

“Hey, Saito, what kind of place is your country?”

“My country?”

“Yes, please tell me about it.”

Siesta innocently bent forward to listen. Ah, when bending forward so much one could see, ah, aah… Saito fell backwards in panic.

“W-well! There’s only one moon, there are no magicians, that’s why they use switches to turn the light off, and they fly in the sky with planes…”

Because Saito was so incoherent, Siesta puffed her cheeks.

“Stop it. One moon, no wizards, are you making fun of me? Don’t look down on me just because I’m a village girl.”

“I-I’m not making fun of you!”

Saito thought that even if he told her the truth, it would only confuse her. After all, the only ones who knew at the moment that Saito was from a different world were Louise, Sir Osmond and Henrietta.

“Well then, tell me the truth.”

Siesta looked up into Saito’s eyes. Siesta’s black hair and dark eyes wistfully reminded Saito of a girl from Japan. Of course, her face was different from a Japanese girl. Nevertheless, a simple, nostalgic feeling still shot through Saito, making him flurried.

“R-right… We have different eating habits.”

Saito started talking about distant Japan. Starry eyed, Siesta listened attentively to his story.

Though it might have felt like vapid talk, Siesta eagerly caught every single word. And before they realized it, Saito and Siesta lost any track of time as he told her about his hometown.

After some time passed, Siesta stood up, covering her breasts. Saito hastily turned his eyes away. However, for one moment, he still saw Siesta’s breasts through a gap in her arms, and felt his nose bleed. Without a word, a thin trickle rolled down. Holding his nose, Saito looked the other way, while Siesta put on her now dry clothes and bowed her head, thanking him.

“Thank you. It was very fun. This bath was great, and Saito-san’s story was amazing as well,” Siesta said gladly.

“Can I hear it again sometime?”

Saito nodded.

Then, Siesta cast her eyes down with a blush, and shyly fiddled with her fingers.

“Well, err? The talk and the bath were great, but you were the most amazing…”

“Siesta?”

“Could you…”

“W-what?!”

But Siesta ran away in tiny steps.

Such a thing happening with this girl from a foreign world felt like a joke to Saito, so he dazed out, and snuggled in the big iron tub.

After the bath, Saito returned to Louise’s room and found her doing something on the bed. Once she saw Saito, Louise hid a big, old book in panic. 　

Why? Since it was Louise, he didn’t worry much about it; he might not have understood even if she told him about it. Besides, Saito’s head was filled with the sight of Siesta’s body. What he'd seen through the gap of her hands was firmly imprinted in Saito’s mind.

Saito approached the laundry basket, shaking off the worldly thoughts. He decided to start doing laundry right away. He planned to use the remaining hot water from the bath so that his fingers would not be cold.

However, the basket was empty.

“Louise, where’s the laundry?”

Louise shook her head.

“Washed already.”

“You washed…”

And then Saito saw Louise.

"Huh!?"

He was shocked; Louise was wearing his nylon parka! He had taken it off and left it in the room just before leaving to take a bath. Whenever Saito went to bathe, he always took off his parka, and went wearing only his T-shirt; otherwise his body always felt too hot after stepping out of the bath.

Louise was probably wearing it right over her underwear. Because the sleeves were too long, and the waist too loose, it looked like some weird dress.

“You, why are you wearing my best suit?!”

Louise buried her mouth in his nylon parka. Louise (whose cheeks were blushing for some reason) said,

“Because… after doing the laundry, I had nothing left to wear.”

“Nonsense! It’s full!”

Saito pointed to the closet. There were lots of Louise’s clothes; as she was a noble, she had many expensive dresses to choose from.

“Still, I wanted to try something else on.”

Louise, sitting straight on the bed, had spoken in a sulky tone.

“Couldn’t you wear some casual clothes?”

Saito held a plain dress in his hands.

“I don’t want to wear something like that!”

“But those are my only clothes. Return them.”

However, Louise didn't try to take it off. On the contrary, she rolled the sheets around her fingers.

“Well, it is light and fits nicely. What is it made of?”

Indeed. Saito had to concede; it really fit her rather nicely. Reluctantly, he decided to give in. Inside the room it was not cold, even if one was wearing only a single T-shirt.

“Nylon.”

“Nailon?”

“That’s a fabric from my world. It is made from oil.”

“Oili?”

“The plankton that collects at the bottom of the sea is stored for years, and later becomes oil.”

“Pulankuton?”

Louise stared blankly at him; she looked like a child parroting Saito’s words. Her expression was unreadable, as half of her face was hidden behind Saito’s parka. For a moment, Saito thought that this Louise looked irresistibly cute.

Furthermore, Louise even washed the laundry for him. It was impossible. Saito became scared somehow. Up 'till now, such actions were unimaginable for Louise.

Her cheeks were red. Saito was concerned, so he decided to check and make sure she wasn't ill or had a fever.

Louise got startled when Saito approached her. She trembled, and… turned away.

Trying not to think about how she must hate this, Saito grabbed Louise’s shoulders and brought his forehead close to her. Louise stiffened, but didn’t fight; she quietly closed her eyes.

Just as I thought, her body condition must be really bad, Saito thought.

“It seems you have a fever.”

When Saito pulled his forehead away from Louise's, for some reason she clenched her fist tightly.

“What is it?” he asked, as Louise turned away from him; after some quiet rustling, she snuggled under the covers.

“Hey,” Saito poked.

“Sleep,” Louise answered, and became silent again.

Wow, the fever must have eased up, Saito thought as he crawled into his pile of hay.

It was quiet for a moment. And then a pillow flew at him.

“What the…?” Saito asked.

“Bring back the pillow I just threw. Didn’t I tell you to sleep in the bed from now on? Idiot.”

Louise’s sulky voice was heard.

He just couldn’t understand Louise’s mood, whether it was gentle, or saucy as usual. What does it matter? thought Saito as he slipped into Louise’s bed.

Though Louise stirred restlessly in her futon, she soon quieted down.

Now Saito could think about how the day had passed. Anyway, now his head was filled with Siesta. Siesta’s parting words repeated in his head again.

She had certainly said “The most amazing was you…”.

Was it a confession? No, was she making fun? That’s not it. Am I popular? He wasn’t popular either. The only one who showed interest was Kirche, but it was surely because I am convenient.

Aah, but, Siesta was cute. Although Louise was cute, too, Siesta had a completely different allure.

Naive, simple, but honest. Unlike Kirche, she looked wonderful when taking her clothes off. Ghaah. T-that’s right. Nice. W-w-w-what. Damn. Beaten. I’m beaten.

For something that he hadn’t considered much until that moment, the impact was huge. Fascinated by the girl, Saito began to think of how to return back to Earth.

He would surely find it, even if he hadn’t even the slightest clue how.

Then, feeling dizzy, he started to think about Louise. He loved Louise. But, because Louise is a noble, she would never think of me that way. Besides, I decided to protect her. That way I wouldn’t be that far from a lover.

Still, to be lovers one would need to sway a girl… No, even Siesta might be only having fun. Aah, I guess that’s how it is.

Becoming sleepy while thinking about various things, Saito fell into the happy sensations of the dream world.

Outside Louise’s window floated Sylphid, Tabitha’s familiar. On top of whom, as usual, Kirche's and Tabitha’s figures were perched. Tabitha was reading a book in the moonlight. Kirche was staring into Louise’s room from the window's crevice.

Kirche snorted.

“After all, it is not looking good.”

She remembered the blush on Louise’s face as she had sat, cuddled with Saito, on the back of the dragon during the return from Albion. Louise did not seem to be her usual self.

“Really, he doesn’t treat me seriously? Every time I approach him, I get rejected; it makes me worried, against my will.”

Until now, there was no man who would refuse to court her; it was Kirche’s pride. Truly, she felt forgotten, like an inconvenient thing.

Kirche was irritated. A little while ago, he had even bathed with a commoner's daughter. She was ignored and two-timed. Kirche’s pride was shaken. She was defeated by Louise, she was defeated by a commoner girl; this shamed her name of “Ardent” to tears. She had to plunder Saito from Louise, by any means possible. Snatching away La Valliere’s lovers was an old Zerbst tradition.

“Yes, though plotting isn’t my specialty, I can still think of some strategy. Right, Tabitha?”

Tabitha shut her book, and pointed at Kirche.

“Jealousy.”

Kirche blushed. And then she shook her head at Tabitha’s words.

“D-don’t say that! I’m not jealous! I cannot feel jealousy! A game! This is just a game of love!”

Nevertheless, Tabitha was not convinced. She repeated the same word again.

“Jealousy.”

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