Zero no Tsukaima:Volume9 Chapter5
Chapter 5 – Ondine ・ Knight Corps of The Water Spirit
Saito was publicly made into 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 at 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 to name 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, to put the Zero Fighter which was taken down from the Varsenda, a hangar......was built beside Colbert's laboratory using wood and metal sheets for protection from rains.
He thought of visiting Colbert teacher's grave, but looks like 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 the 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 teacher, “Well...”, he narrowed his 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 amongst the teachers who were happy were only those two. The rest looked not very happy. Just like how they were 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 ascend 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 thus 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 Court, and they did not insult him anymore.
A fortnight after Saito became a noble.......
In the midst of the morning haze, at the Vestri Court, 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 more than thousands of years ago.
However, during the political disorder a few hundred years ago, it was 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 South Gotha, had received a medal, and besides, his father was a general of 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.
One who looked around could tell that Ondine was made up of the students of 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 whilst poking Guiche's cheek. Guiche answered back undauntedly as well.
“Aren't it you the one who do nothing but complain?”
“Because you are pathetic!”
“That's why I've 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 Derfliner with his hand. The runes on his left hand shone. Guiche out 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 was 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 T-shirt Saito wore. Holes where everywhere all over it. Louise was mending it somehow with great difficulty. But......no matter what, she was unskillful. 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.”
Whilst Louise was groaning mmm......, she started mending the shirt again.
“Louise, you hadn'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! T-torn shirt is pi-pipi-pitiable, so I s-sew 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 thinking to somehow 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 shirt.
When it comes to Saito, like an idiot, he became engrossed in striving for the organization and the trainings 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 be very busy with 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 the user of Water, Montmorency noticed Louise's agony, and narrowed her eyes.
“Whhhhat? Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Well, a lover who neglects you and engross 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!?”
“A person like you appears to be firm on the outside, but you flow according to the ambiance easily. Listen. Men are all promiscuous beings. A little bit is okay, when you unintentionally allow him too much, he'll lose interest in you and go find other girls.”
“Stu-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 Flood. What are you doing at such a place? To lookout for Guiche? That idiot had 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 academy female students who were staring at Saito with similar expressions. All of them were wearing light brown mantle......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 did 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.
“It's me!”
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 ran 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.
“Isn't it fine if Louise and Montmorency become our Commanding Officers?”
The male trainees nodded their heads unanimously.