Zero no Tsukaima:Volume12 Prologue
Prologue
Magic academy, Alvis dining hall.
In the Tristain Magic Academy, it was custom for young nobles who commuted there to eat there in the morning, at noon, and in the evening for three meals a day.
A week had passed since the day Henrietta requested Tiffania be brought from Albion.
Henceforth, it's only natural for Saito's group, just like any other day, to eat breakfast here at the table provided for the third year students.
The long dining table, if seen from the entrance, is in three separate rows. The left side is for third year students, the middle for second year students, and the right side for first year students.
"She's really popular."
Saito stopped the movement of the knife just as he was about to cut the meat. A light, ignorant voice replied,
“What? Popular?”
Immediately in front of him sat Guiche, whose eyes widened. Surrounding the two of them, all the members of the Knight Corps of the Water Spirit were assembled. It was still daytime, but most of them were drunk. Saito and Guiche, whose eyes had turned red, were facing the same direction.
In that direction, a figure of a dazzling fairy with golden hair and a slender, charming body, however her facial expression suggested she was quite bewildered.
It was Tiffania.
With Henrietta acting as mediator, about one month had been needed to take care of admissions so Tiffania could enlist in the first year class in this school. Soon a single rumor had become wide-spread among students in this academy.
Not to mention, the result of the mixing of elf blood and Albion royal blood made her beautiful face more dazzling like a fined art.
Of course, both of her bloodlines were concealed. The few who knew her true colors were Henrietta, Principal Osman, Saito, and Louise. Plus, Tabitha, Kirche, and Guiche. Outside this circle, none knew about the secret.
Of the two secret Tiffania concealed, one can be figured out just by seing it....., so to conceal that, she wore a hat to cover her ears.
Normally, because of that appearance, she would be forbidden from participating in class. But Tiffania with the ostensible reason that “her body is extremely week to the sun's rays,” had been permitted to wear a hat indoors. “If sunlight reached her fragile skin from the window her skin will be sunburned,” was the reason Henrietta, as Tiffania's guardian, came up with in front of Principal Osman, the teaching staff, and the students.
Naturally, no one would be tricked by this lie, no doubt about it.
However, even any noble girl student would retreat if confronted by the chance Tiffania's white skin were to be sunburned. Whoever saw Tiffania's white skin, would also think this girl could not resist the sun's rays.
Like a flickering faint blueish moon light, that flickering does not suit with her unbalanced body, added with the rumors that she is some outstanding Albion noble......
With those three characteristics, an unknown fascinating aura seems to be emanating from her. Surrounding Tiffania were male students who have completely fallen for her.
Tiffania body was covered by magic academy uniform, but ten guys with their eye color changed were surrounding her like a group of ants crowding over a piece of candy.
“She is popular, to be more precise, highly popular.”
Guiche muttered while absentmindedly opening his mouth while gazing at Tiffania.
“Those guys, what could be in their minds? Their action seems more like a servant to a princess.”
Renard replied while lifting his glasses. In the seat to the right of Guiche, sat Renard, who carried the same duty as member of Knight Corps of the Water Spirit.
I see, it's just like Renard said.
Not only the brownish capes of 1st years, but dark blue capes of second years, and dark mantles of 3rd years could be seen around.
To those guys, Tiffania was a tea to be drunk in one gulp and request another one to be filled, Tiffania was an smörgåsbord that if eaten could make themselves continue to devour it, or Tiffania was a meat whose someone hand reached for in and cut to the last piece, or something like that..
Tiffania was troubled. Not less than ten people of waiter-like attitude simultaneously offered their services to this golden haired beauty, competing bluntly by showing each one's special talents. That is the complicated circumstances where one can't say a word carelessly, so the stalemate continued.
The crowded boys students eyes were focused at several visual points: her transparent white skin, her outrageously beautiful face, and one another point that were moving right now.
When that part was moved, Guiche feelings overflowed.
“You know, since the return from the Albion trip, I'm always thinking deeply. There's only one conclusion that can be reached”.
Just left of Guiche was Malicorne, whose lip's outer edge were rising, beginning a nihilist smile.
“Guiche, Please let this windward hear your conclusion.” Like a class debate, full of confidence in his opinion and with an excellently polished voice, Guiche replied.
“Very well, the result of my conclusions. That Tiffania lady's breasts, the true shape of those two round objects that make half of world's population insane, are magic weapons.”
“So, half of world population meaning .......”
“You are a man, aren't you?”
Malicorne, placing a finger in his chin, thought deeply. A few moments later, he seriously opened his mouth.
“Weapon. In other words, you mean lust for sex?”
“No doubt, it is lust for sex.”
Saito, who was watching the foolishness of the two, also nodded as if agreeing “it is reasonable.”
“You are a genius, Guiche.”
“Even so, this is just a half-assed conclusion. My hypothesis still needs to be proven.”
Guiche swallowed a whole wine cup with a gulp.
“Now, come!”
Bang, Guiche stood. Malicorne too made a grand gesture and rose. 'Now are granted an audience with her Majesty', that kind of act. The two began arranging their appearance. The two fools nodded to showed their readiness, and slowly approached the table of 1st year students.
Renard asked Saito.
“Those two, what could be in their minds?”
“Intoxicated with stupidity. Leave them for the time being!”
All the members of the Knight Corps of the Water Spirit watched Guiche and Malicorne with worried faces.
Like drunken men, the two pushed through the 1st year students that were swarming around Tiffania. The defense squad of 3rd year students complained, while 1st years students kept their mouths shut. The formation scattered, the path to Tiffania was open.
Guiche and Malicorne walked the path leading straight to the breasts.
Guiche stood beside Tiffania. Filled with nervousness and furthermore feeling inferior, she bowed deeply.
The next instant, “that” happened.
Without saying a word, Guiche's hand reached to the twin ragingly magical weapons. He reached the breast. Feeling distortion, Tiffania's expression sharpened. At that instant, the dining hall's atmosphere froze.
“That idiot.”
Saito stood up.
But in the next few seconds, Guiche's body was wrapped in a huge waterspout that suddenly materialized resembling an underwater flower. In the middle of the waterspout, Guiche's body wriggled. Further behind, as usual, Montmorentcy stood expressionlessly swinging her staff. Zerrt. The air inside the dining hall froze. The waterspout synchronized with the movement of the staff, she brought it outside.
A dining hall scenery couldn't be felt anymore, as if couldn't transformed to a dead space, Waterspout then sounding burst. Seconds later, Guiche's screams vibrated the air.
“Wait, I just want to make sure!, because I saw that thing my scientific curiosity grew, bigger, and bigger, and bigger until the point I couldn't resist it! I! Uaa! whuarrgl!”
Swing swing, a large amount of water attacks reached Saito's ears.
The sounds of raging water continued, after a while, the hall turned silent.
Saito helped himself to the food while sighing. Renard whispered to Saito,
“Incomprehensible isn't it?”
“I think it's usual for them, getting drunk and going crazy........touching anything in front of them until they feel satisfied.”
“That's not what I mean, I'm talking about you.”
“Me?”
Saito looked blankly staring at Renard.
“Usually you would accompany them.”
“About making sure whether Tiffania breasts were real or not? Only an idiot would go to that extent. Don't put me in the same class as them.”
Renard fixed his glasses, staring at Saito.
"Certainly, there is a possibility you were being a shy person, let's say we are feigning ignorance to your drunkenness' extent. In the middle of the day when there's something out of ordinary, didn't you want to make sure, like your hands were itching and you were being uncomfortable in your seat so you attempted to fix your waist, something like that?"
Renard analysis was sharp.
“Even though you're like that, what's wrong? With that attitude of yours.....”
“Whatever, just eat, it's going to get cold.”
Saito put on a cool face, starting to eat the food. The next instant, several girls gathered, surrounding him. The first on list was the 2nd year Katie. The rest of them were a flock of first year girls.
“Sir Saito! Would you mind eating this pudding as your dessert?”.
The pudding was made from milk and fruits utilizing cold magic, making it appetizingly cool and delicious. With a clear, composed attitude, Saito nodded “Thank you,” and received the gift.
Each member of Knight Corps of the Water Spirit watched Saito, their faces filled with enviousness.
“Saito is really dignified, I mean it.”
“That does not like it.”
With light affectionate attitude, Saito mimicking Guiche, groped at his feet. But even with that appearance, it created an oblate illusion in the girls mind to the extent to make them cheer.
“Coool! After all, Sir Saito is really different than Sir Guiche.”
Katie, with cold eyes, threw a glance in Guiche's direction.
“That's not it. I'm no different at all. You might say, it's just them that turned into fools. Ahhahaha.”
As if in trance, the girls continued to stare at Saito.
“Really... Sir Saito is really a wonderful person.”
“It's not only that. But also super powerful.”
“That's right! Somehow a person who could stopped Albion army by himself alone.”
Being fully absorbed, Katie said that.
“If it's Sir Saito, even those rascal Sky Armored Knight Corps would be beaten completely!.”
“I see, Katie, do you hate that knights from Kreudenhorve house, too?”
A question was asked to that girl, Katie.
“Of course, because that group always follow me whenever I take a stroll, to the place I usually go! Do you want to pick a flower? What a kind of talk is that!?“
“What a rascal!”
“I agree! There is a big difference with Sir Saito!”
Kyaa kyaa, that was the commotion created by the crowd of girls.
Being stared at like that, Saito was thinking,
Composure is important after all.
Not guts, but composure attitude, he felt like a flower which was being sucked by a bee(girls).
Ahh, had I ever experienced this breeze mood before?
Siesta cheers "kyaa kyaa," but... that's not too often.
Large numbers of girls yelling "kyaa kyaa." This sensation yet, make one feeling filled with happiness...
Louise's magic, “The reason to come here” when I was under that influence, this kind of reality won't make me feel joy. The encouragement from the flock of girls, were like distant sounds, that kind of circumstances. This could be a hallucination... But see, I'm a simple minded person...
Whatever it will turned out, for now I better enjoy it to the fullest. Only sound of “kyaa” resounding from the girls' voices, sweet internal secretion fluid in penetrating the brain.
While the still sound vibrates 'kyaa kyaa', Saito peeked a glance at Louise's table. There, Louise's face could be seen clearly, she continued to eat breakfast.
However he knew... once in a while she peeks this way with glittering eyes. With the same glittering eyes, once in a while Louise boisterously uses the fork to serve the plate.
Saito's nasal cavity widened, absorbing a lot of sense of superiority in his chest.
Now, now. Now is the time to finish what have left, on that ship. He whispered those words inside his mind.
Now let's stop for a moment, why was Saito feeling victorious like this?
What's with the real intention of “Composure is important” that Saito declared?.
What could be the meaning of the cat-like attitude that Louise acted?
The answer for all of that, lies in the the return trip from Albion, on that ship there existed the root of misunderstanding.
During the journey from Albion, on that ship that Saito rides... inside that certain cabin, he pressed against Louise's lips.
Transmitted the feeling to Louise, it was a hot kiss.
Even this small heat was straining, they were exchanging a kiss with each other, naturally of course Saito's hand reached to Louise. Louise's state is quite burned, consequently because of that she was holding his hand.
That was Saito judgment.
But instead, when Louise was laid down looking embarrassed... she turned down Saito's reaching hand. And with a silent, vanishing tone muttered something.
“...That's why, I don't want.”
Saito was hurt by that rejection. He couldn't believe, even you were in this heat, why? This is the inner Saito talking.
“W, wh, why?”
Louise reacted, shouting with anger,
“I won't repeat a second time.”
Actually, as Louise said that, Kirche slipped in the room from one besides her because of the noise.
“What's the matter, Louise?”
“No, nothing!”
Somehow, this indecisive situation was ended... the sweet atmosphere that was drifting along had gone to somewhere, their faces looking at each other, with each other looking, their faces dyed red they slipped into the bed.
A moment later, they closed their eyes and were sleeping.
That time, Saito didn't notice... Louise did not actually mean to reject Saito.
Only, the place chosen was not suitable.
The words Louise uttered with a small tone before was lost, the first parts of the words did not reach Saito's ears.
“...That's why I don't want to.”
The word just before that, “Because inside the ship” actually existed.
“Because inside the ship... I don't want to.”
Louise once said that.
It didn't really mean she was rejecting Saito.
However... Saito was feeling down already, he did not notice that, on the bed inside that cabin room, Louise's words were echoed several times, the hard to understand conclusion flies away.
The love of both of us should be enough.
Certainly, Louise's feeling directed towards me.
But still... in the end her high pride did not permit it, I'm sure of it.
What am I supposed to do?.
Suddenly that instant... An idea flashed in Saito's mind.
The time when Louise wore the black cat clothes was recalled.
I see now, Louise is a cat from all side.
Large fluid of tears transformed to small object spinning in his eyes, just like trifling with Saito on a whim.
Now, for a cat, to tame that animal, what am I supposed to do?
I know.
Cats, when they noticed we drew closer, they ran.
And then it eyes clearly disregard us.
That's totally Louise-like.
Then, what about if we ignored it, what will happens?
When that happens, the cat will first observe the situation... Even so it would continue to be ignored, eventually it will become impatient and draw closer.
In the end, saying 'meow meow', cuddling it's face against us...
This is it, this is it!
In the middle of the bed it is the only conclusion comes to his mind, he was merely nodded.
Li li, no licking, you insolent cheeky pink haired girl... who makes fun on a whim... The moment when you cuddle your face against me, Huhuhu, I will catch the scruff your neck. Huhu, I am expecting that moment.
The conclusion is, that was the only thought in the bottom of Saito mind.
For now, let's utterly ignore Saito whose holding tight to his paranoid misunderstanding. At midnight of the day after return from Albion, Louise who looked charming entered the bath, she thoroughly washed her body. After that she proceeded to the altar room and did a long, long confession to Founder Brimir.
Founder Brimir... before marriage, that's, how should I say it, the thing that shouldn't be said, that's, what's it called, I mean, the thing I want to do, that's, please forgive me, but because it's not I can't help it, that fellow for sure, I won't forgive it if the other woman, I mean, no seriously, helpless against the empty-brained maid, or, once acting strange with the respective princess, or lose himself to the strange breasts of the half-elf woman whose been here lately or maybe not, true, not only to the woman that have comparatively nice body, even to the small blue haired princess of Galia, I mean, it's not he really has the feelings for that woman, but between 1000 to 1 chance, it does not matter small or big anymore, just the dangerous objects has increased, in any case that's the situation, please forgive me. Amen.
The confession somehow confusing, somehow spit out words that didn't make sense, Louise's right hand and left foot that moved simultaneously entered the room.
What kind of expression Saito will show I wonder. I wonder if he nervous, while thinking that she entered the room. However her familiar attitude instead is quite calm, he is drinking tea.
Even though I'm greeting this special night with tenseness, his attitude hasn't changed. On the contrary, with eyes narrowed, “Yo, Louise. Isn't tonight a bright night”, he said those incomprehensible words.
What's with that? Louise entered the bed with that thought.
Next, followed by Saito.
Next, followed by the maid.
Why in this room there are three persons, without me noticing it this bed engraved a stream of characters for sleep. It has became a habit completely.
Louise was quite tense, as if being in trance. But, it's still too soon. Saito himself is not an idiot. Until Siesta falls asleep, that what is it, I have to act that, after thinking that, with all her might she was feigning sleep.
Soon, Siesta's sleeping breath could be heard.
Louise's nervous reached it's peek. She was quite tense, grasping the blanket tightly, biting it as if wanting to rip.
Next calmly... Saito's hand is placed on Louise shoulder.
Shiver shiver, her whole body was trembling.
“...Idiot, Si, Siesta is still here, see? Despite that to your master you're, re reaching your hand out. What could you be thinking”
Beyond doubt, Louise spoke with a small voice. I thought we will go to somewhere private such as a warehouse. No, I mean as expected a good, ideal room. However, In this bed just next to Siesta that was sleeping. How could this familiar be so bold!?
She was surprised, but it's not about Siesta, it's about the overwhelming superiority sense in Louise because his hand reached to her. Louise's heart was overflowed.
Even though it's just next to Siesta...
Even though the maid was just beside...
Despite this foolish maid was! Beside! here!
That's right, maid.
How dare you until now... well whatever... the victory... is mine? With this, this is my victory!
But, as I thought to do that in front of the other girl... somehow.
Haa.
That instant Saito's hand slipped into the center of Louise negligee, her moaning voice was leaked through her throat. Louise's mind was filled with white.
Although the maid is here! Even though the maid is here, despite the maid is here... pyun!
Saito's hand moved daringly, rolled the negligee and exposed Louise's thin breasts. Louise's eyes were closed, her face dyed red. Both her breath and her pulse ran rough.
At this rate, I can't think straight much longer.
But I can still think one reasoning... the pulse beating fast in my heart, this is the first time I feel it.
Saito hasn't yet said anything from his mouth but, many kind of imagination speak have been drifted along in Louise mind.
Could it be the orthodox one, “I will treat you gently”.
Or perhaps, “Don't be afraid?”.
What could it be? Hey you, what will you say at this time? I can't think. It must be the words he will say to me. “Let's forget ourselves in this moment. The embarrassment, just don't forget the sensation. Ah, I can't think...
However... the first words that slipped from Saito mouth were...
“Gu.....”
Louise's expectation could even exceed the soar of fire dragon mountain.
What was just said?
Was that a sleeping breath?
No, that couldn't be...
“Guu guu.”
His natural sleeping breath can be heard. Louise turned impatient.
Did he fall asleep? Why?
She held Saito's hand that slipped on her breasts to make sure. No response at all. On the contrary, the hand swiftly fell from the center of her negligee.
“Uhh, uh.”
Louise turned with fearful anger.
In that direction she found Saito's sleeping face. His face filled with happiness, wasn't that drool just dripped from his mouth?.
Louise's face turned blue, at the same time reddened. The other side of her lips were raising. Leaking the sound “ku ku”.
Should we punish him with death?
Will it suffice, the standard death punishment.
What should it be?
Despite all the preparations that have been made, despite this cute master just lying beside. Putting on a sleeping breath is really something.
She got her staff. For the time being let's convert to ash. But after that though...
Hhhh. Perhaps he's really tired...
With the futon covering her Louise closed her eyes. Quite a sleepless night began.
The next day, Louise was thinking. After all... do that just beside the sleeping maid is unpleasant. Feels like being in another persons room... that kind of feeling. Of course that applies to nobles, too.
Therefore, Louise, when Saito muttered, “It's time to sleep,” and then fell to bed, stood awkwardly from the chair.
“W, wa, wa.”
“Wa?”
“Walk, I think I will take walk for sometime!”
“How refined. Tonight is quite cold. You'll catch a cold”.
Saito laughed, when he utters that nonsense. Being gone too far to step back, Louise slipped out wearing her negligee.
She waited for two hours, but Saito didn't come. When she came back to the room... his mouth opened widely, sleeping. Today too, let's turn to ash. Instinctively holding her staff tightly, but a sense returned to her mind.
Perhaps he is really tired. For sure.
The next day, Louise once again took a stroll. This time she waited for four hours, but Saito still didn't come. When she returned to the room, Saito was crawling on the bed with a deep sleeping breath.
The same thing happened the next day.
For three consecutive days, Louise stubbornly took a stroll.
After waiting for a long time, Saito really didn't come. So, to kill time, Louise took a tree branch and sketched a drawing on the ground. The content of the drawing, the thickheaded Saito was kneeling before this wonderful noble Miss Vallière asking for forgiveness.
When the morning came, the drawing has turned into an artistic masterpiece.
Gradually this has become a habit, the next morning Louise took a stroll, too.
Still, Saito didn't come.
Half crying, Louise began to draw some sketch, the subject of the sketch was the idiot familiar being judged by the noble Miss Vallière herself, he was swiftly being hanged. When the morning arrived, the sketch has became an epic tale.
This consecutive event, happened for the whole one week.
Between these interval, Louise's sketches added day by day, Saito in the center of the sketch twenty two times being whipped, twenty times being hanged, eight times thrown to the hell, four times being reincarnated as an insect to be trampled by Louise.
At this rate Louise's anger has reach it's peak, she barely kept her sanity, and then a chilling exposure covered Louise.
Nevertheless, the thing is just a thing, she can't show that face of anger.
Because Louise's pride that was more solid than diamond won't permit it.
Suppressing the anger with her last power, Louise was trembling, shivering, and her face turned blue. Meanwhile, Saito made the comment, “My goodness.”
But the fact instead was the complete opposite. The way Saito was behaving indicated he did not notice at all.
Saito's thickheaded is the genuine one.
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