Zero no Tsukaima:Volume18 Chapter7

Chapter 7 - Our Home

“Hurry up! You guys need to be more careful with that!”

In the deep Mons mines, located in the southern part of Tristain: right at the end of Tunnel No. 16, Eléonore, dressed in working clothes, was making a fuss.

In front of her, the guys from the Ondine were struggling with all they have to handle a strange machine.

The magical device was used to search the mines for "wind stones" lying in the interior of the earth.

After digging through the earth, in order to locate the wind stone deposits, a light in the device would indicate its relative position. The tip of the machine was then inserted into the ground, and the soil will then be expelled from its back, and thus opened the way for the boys.

This device had been designed in reference to the manner by which earthworms moved across the ground.

Normally the machine had a limit, which it did not allow a search to a depth greater than 200 mails. This device for wind stones research was modified by Eléonore herself, the chief executive engineer of Department of "Earth", Magic Research Institute.

By using this machine, they able to reach a depth close to 1 riig(kilomail). However, in exchange, those who operated it must constantly recite spells– in order to handle the device’s "remote". This type of operation must be performed with the extreme precaution otherwise, this may break midway, or there is a risk that it may stop to function completely.

So the guys of the Ondine who handled that device were nervously reciting the spell, as their foreheads remained soaked in sweat.

However, the reason why they were so nervous was commander of special search team, who was frightening and unbearable.

Until recently they managed to achieve a great distance, cooperating all together while reciting the spell needed for the remote control of the machine. However, for an order of knights who were not used to recite specialized spells, it was obvious that they would show great difficulty and commit constant errors.

“Damn! What secret mission is this?! At least they should have assigned with me a competent staff from the Magic Research Institute!” Eléonore said, as her anger was increasing.

Since returning from the garden party, Henrietta had given the order for the Magic Research Institute to begin an investigation in the wind stone mines. Also, they are specified to dig as deep as they could. Due the high degree of confidentiality involved in this research, it was decided to deploy the Ondine Knights to carry out this task.

And this was why Eléonore was so angry, throwing tantrums as she had to endure the young inexperienced group who don’t have the slightest idea on how make a true Academic Research. “E-Eléonore-sama ... We stopped,” reported Malicorne to Eléonore, while trembling.

The moment she heard this, Eléonore’s eyes were lit with anger.

“Hah? You! A while ago you also said that! So now you're saying it again? So tell me, what was your excuse now?”

Upon hearing this, Malicorne tried to answer in a low scared voice:

“B-but ... I, is that yesterday I didn’t sleep ... and besides, this work should not be done by a knight...”

A vein appeared to burst in front of Eléonore.

With a face that seemed to say, "Does this guy knows what he is saying?" Guiche observed Malicorne’s behavior. If anyone were to say all this kind of excuses in front of a woman like Eléonore, it was clear that it would just make her angry. At least for a hard headed person, who has an inexplicable confidence like Guiche, this truth was quite easy to understand.

As expected Guiche had something to say, but at the moment he was going to interfere with the conversation, Reinald managed to stop him.

“Wait, let’s just for observe for a while.”

“What do you say? Yesterday, you told me you received instructions about the mission you had to do today. And now you had the nerve to tell me you haven’t sleep yet? You don’t even have the shame to hide your carelessness!”

It was then when Guiche observed Malicorne’s face closely. "Uh!" he growled, Guiche found that his face was shaking... but what really showed the brilliance of his eyes, was a great and boundless pleasure.

“He anger her for purpose, and his technique is amazing!” Reinald said while his face tensed with shock.

From that moment, Malicorne started saying things like "Forgive me for being born" or "Sorry for being so irresponsible", each and every one of those excuses, were solely for the purpose of teasing Eléonore.

“AND I ... I'm tired, please give me a few minutes, Onee-san!”

As expected, after hearing this, Eléonore lost her patience.

Suddenly, she began to chant a spell that turned the tip of her wand into a whip, then she mercilessly whipped Malicorne.

“Vermin! Incompetent Pig! Good for nothing! And now you’re saying you are... Tired!? Tireeed ~!!”

“Hah! Forgive me ...! For being born ...!”

“A pig like you! Stop living, be buried and fertilize the earth!”

“Eh-pig! Burying a pig will the earth happy!”

Just when they started this "game", Saito returned from the top of the tunnel. He was pushing a wagon which rattled as he walked. For a non-magic user like Saito, the only work that remained for him was to bring outside those stones and soil that were expelled from the machine, he being the only one in charge of this task it was extremely a heavy work.

Anyway, due to fatigue that caused by this task and because of the exhaustion of his legs, Saito stumbled and worse, ended up falling on Eléonore.

“Kyah!” Due to the force, Eléonore fell with her face pressed to the floor.

“F-forgive me!” Saito apologized.

Then, Eléonore rose slowly from the ground, her face was still covered in mud, her clothes were covered with dirt.

“Uwaa ~! The face of my Empress has been...! The mud covers the face of my Empress ...!” Malicorne began to say unnecessary words.

While Eléonore was wiping her face, an atmosphere of danger never before felt by Saito suddenly arise. This sudden terror had assaulted Saito, one that made him remember the Louise before, which made him pay 10 times as anything she had done, probably the best word to describe this type of woman whom Saito was facing is: "Merciless".

“You ... the only thing you want do is to make me angry right?”

“Please I beg you, forgive me!”

Before realizing it, Saito was already kneeling in front of her, this gesture was the only thing he had left to save his life, or at least, that was what dictated his body, that primitive fear assailed him in those moments.

“Now I remember, there are several things I have to talk with you, you say you are determined to marry a daughter of the Vallière, innn youuur dreaaams! Haha!...”

Hearing Eléonore's voice began to tremble, Saito thought hopelessly "I'm dead ".

“And you dare to do that to me!?... it seems unimaginable, but mostly... no matter whether it is a noble or a commoner, a man like you always exist...”

“Onee-san... you see... that was just...”

“Do you think that by raising your social status you have the right to do that!?”

So that's when Eléonore started to pounce her whip against Saito. In that time, Louise was present in that tunnel. She can only use void magic, so she had different orders and various other tasks. Louise was carrying with her a basket of lunch for everyone. Upon seeing Eléonore hitting Saito, she was surprised and ran immediately to where they were.

“Neesama! Eléonore-neesama! Calm down please!”

Louise hugged her sister, holding her by the hips. Eléonore in respond, only stared closely at her little sister.

“Louise! You came at a good time! Just in time!”

“Stop! Please!”

[Eléonore stares]

Louise instinctively stood firm after feeling the heavy eyes of her sister.

“Tell me, is it perhaps you don’t even have pride anymore!? How come you are with this unfaithful stray dog!”

At that moment Louise froze.

“Tell me Louise, perhaps you haven’t consider that moment, what would happen if the daughter of a duke will be paired ... With a dog like this!?

Eléonore, while saying this, pointed contemptuously to Saito.

“How dare you to stain the name La Vallière!”

Upon hearing this, the small body of Louise did nothing but continue shaking more and more.

But, after gathering all the courage she had left, she said:

“Eh-that is a matter that does not concern you Eléonore-oneesama, this is our problem and we will see how to fix it, I am no longer a child!”

In the time that Louise said "I'm not a child," a faint blush colored her cheeks.

At that moment, as if it is a revelation, seeing Louise blushing, Malicorne added:

“What’s with that? Being not a child eh?”

The shock made by those words, was felt by the all members of Ondine. Eléonore, equally shocked, came hurrying to his little sister.

“Louise! Do not tell me you...! How could you? Before me!?”

Louise, in response, could only look away while her cheeks blush more and more. Meanwhile, Saito was so nervous in that situation, it seemed as if he was dying.

After such statements, Eléonore suddenly realized that all the Ondine guys were looking at her. Realizing what she had said, his face flushed completely.

“... Hey! What are you looking at?”

From that moment, the tense atmosphere gradually increased until Eléonore decided to shout:

“You are all useless! Go back to work!”

After that intense exchange of words, the magical device began to move once more. Eleonore, who was busy checking the control panel, noticed at that time a large number of figures appearing in the console.

300 ... 400 ... 500 ... and so, time slowly passed while the device was digging into the ground. When they reached 600, Eléonore eyes began to blink.

“Onee-sama?”

Louise, with a face that reflected her concern, she approached his sister Eléonore. However, Eléonore's face remained serious at all times.

“Stop!”

Those young people who manipulated the remote device, hearing the order, stopped for a moment. Immediately after, Eléonore prepared to start with her work, enchanting a simple spell.

While she diligently fixed her gaze on the delicate movement of the needles of the control panels, immediately her face revealed a sudden shock as it turned completely pale.

Everyone held their breath in anticipation, while carefully watching the movements of Eléonore.

“What is this? How is it possible to formed such immense reservoir of wind stones...? Then ... that means ... just as I imagined ...”

Louise, along with the guys from Ondine, began to look at each other in these moments.

“With these mines lying in the depths of earth ... these would be sufficient to cause the whole continent to be drag up when these began to rise,” Eléonore said, while a cold sweat ran down her back.

Having lost control of themselves and almost terrified by the sudden revelation of Eléonore, each of the guys hurriedly run to the exit.

“Hey! Idiots! Do not run! It's not as if it would happen today or tomorrow! Probably may be in a few decades ... However, given our case, we were in the worst case scenario, it would take a few years,” Eléonore said, 'Now, this is getting a little complicated ... rather, what are we supposed to do?”

Eléonore began to murmur at that time.

“Mining rocks at this depth is unlikely... and in case it could be done, transporting many wind stones would be a daunting task.”

“Ahhh~! What will we happen~?!” The boys began to shout, while they fastened their hands overhead.

Louise and Saito, observing the state of their companions nervously held hands.