MaruMAːMini-novel:mawitch

Giving their beloved daughter lots of love.

It seems that Princess Greta, His Majesty's adopted daughter is worried about 'not being able to use maryoku'....!?

The Girl is a Witch

Of all the things he could have said, this was his majesty's pun.

"I was thinking about having a "Let's Speak Keigo Night"

A Let's Speak Keigo Night?

When Yuuri said that, the only one who understood the pun was Conrad. But even he wasn't sure of the meaning and didn't immediately understand Yuuri's intentions. Did he mean they 'had' to speak Keigo? Or did it mean that they 'didn't' ?

"Ah! I don't mean something like having a formal event, but rather something that my inner circle can do happily and for fun."

To everyone around him looking puzzled Yuuri cheerfully explained.

"That's why I'm saying that it means :'You have to speak keigo' and 'You don't have to speak Keigo', both meanings are correct."

"What is that? A two layer pun?"

Was he interested in word arrangements? Lord von Bielefeld Wolfram peeked at the bottom of his cup.

"If it's about puns, I want in too! This beverage is too hot, I can't drink without a cup.

Yuuri forgot to close his mouth as he stared at Wolfram. Conrad thought it wasn't bad.

"Tha-That's enough of puns. What this is, is something pretty close to an educational plan, designed to reform my own life. In short ...."

He returned an open book that he hadn't been able to read for a while to the desk and crossed his arms:

"I mean, I'm usually somewhere between normal and foul-mouthed, right? Towards Conrad, or Wolf or even Gwen. As for Günter, well, that can't be helped. That guy just has something that makes me speak like that to him. Regardless, everyone here are elderly people, and even if I often forget, Wolfram is also considerably old. In other words, because I was never nagged for anything I continued to talk like an impertinent brat to those who are older than me. That's why I was thinking about trying to fix my attitude and speak with honorifics."

Before Conrad could say 'Oh, I see', an unsatisfied Wolfram opened his mouth.

”What are you saying? Even if you're rough around the edges, you're still the king, and everyone would be honored to have you speak to them. Even if you use your own words, it would be strange if they couldn't perceive the majesty of them."

"If I used proper honorifics, don't you think I'd be a Greater King?"

"Greater King.... hmmm"

The phrase "Great King" seemed to have touched a string in his heart. Wolfram lowered his blonde eyelashes as he pondered.

"On the other hand, when it comes to people who usually speak Keigo to me, I could take this opportunity to have a frank, closer talk with them. Although I won't say words like 'meshiageru' or 'ossharu' like in Gün-style. I'm especially talking about someone who calls me majesty all the time. I mean you."

"Me?"

"Yeah. So for one night, those who speak unrespectfully, would have to speak Keigo, and those who always speak Keigo would not be allowed to be formal. And that's what "Let's speak Keigo Night" is all about. In other words, for example with Murata, uhhhhhhh, I guess we'd speak Keigo to one another?"

Yuuri sighed after imagining a few situations.

"Sorta like 'Is m'lord going to the stadium? Well, yes, I am.'. No way, I can't do it! It sounds like an English textbook!"

"Which means that I would also have to speak Keigo with you, right Yuuri?"

"Basically, yes."

"Don't even joke about it! It's up to me choosing which words I'll use with you. Wait, this isn't an order is it!? And if it is when do we start!? Excuse me I meant, when will that begin your majesty?"

It's fine if he joins, even if he's saying he doesn't want to.

And while murmuring to myself things like 'Did you like this fresh project so much you wanted to start right away? Your words were also expressed perfectly, would you like to start now? Or is "Shall we start now" more polite?', I started showing some discomfort.

"Wait, wait! Wait, Wolf. You don't need to follow the rules so strictly. It's not like I'm going to do something like change my entire life. My plan was to speak a little more politely while it feels like a GAME."

"While it feels like a GAME?"

"That's right, while it feels like a game... What? You don't know this either, Conrad? Lately, if young kids don't feel like they're playing a game they can't learn or practice anything. Feeling like you're playing is important."

"When you talk about 'young kids' you mean..."

He looked at the half open door and pointed to the other side of the corridor.

"... about that age?"

With perfect timing, Greta came running up to them at the speed of a small whirlwind. Before even coming through the door, she yelled Yuuri's name, crossed the room in a split second, and jumped on her stepfather's knees as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

No one would tell her harsh words such as, it's forbidden to run in the hallways, or always knock before coming into the Maou's room. In a castle where there are few children, everyone who sees Greta running, relaxes their temple as a reflex. Like when after she runs pass them, she leaves muddy footprints on the floor.

"Yuu~ri"

"Ye~s?"

I replied like a PAPA on Sunday.

"What are you talking about?"

"We're talking about using Keigo on a certain night. Greta, would you like to join? In speaking Keigo that is. I feel like an older sister, talking like this."

"What is Keigo? Is it when you add osu. mesu. kisu. at the end of the words?"

"That's not Keigo, but Imori Miyuki...."

'That's weird... why is it that sixteen year old me, knows the debut song of the original BARADOR?' Yuuri asked himself while tilting his head to a side. Then he picked up Greta high.

"You need to add 'desu' and 'masu' at the end of the sentences. 'deshita' or 'mashita' is fine too."

"Oh~"

"And is that fun....mashita?" the little girl asked rolling her index finger in her bangs.

"Fun, huh? I don't know if it's fun, but it's about the manners one should have as a grown up. It's a step towards becoming a lady."

"Grown up!? Then, then, Yuuri!"

Greta hugged him for a second, and as her arms released him, the smell of sunlight and flowers floated in the air.

"When I grow up, will I be able to use majutsu?"

"What? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"

The extremely young father looked in the little girl's eyes, whose small frame was sitting on his knees. They were brighter than her red-tea colored haired. Her eyes that would usually glisten like augite when the sun reflected on them were cloudy today.

" Cuz even the kids outside the castle, they can all use majutsu. The only one who can't use it is Greta"

" There's no way that's true... I mean there must me other kids who.... can't use majutsu.... right?"

He looked at Conrad seeking consent. He could absolutely not use any majutsu. He wanted him to say "Of course", but he thought that the opinion of a half blood mazoku would not be very helpful. Wolfram replied instead.

"Of course, there are mazoku who have no maryoku. Dacascos is a good example of that."

An impressionable girl and Dacascos. What a regretable comparison.

Greta's eyes quickly became watery.

"Do kids with no maryoku lose all their hair?

(Y)"Ah, of course not! Of course not! There are also beautiful ladies who can't use maryoku! For example, uhm... for example Amblin who works for Gwendal. No wait, that's also an odd one. Oh, I got it, I got it. How about Beatrice, Hyscliff's daughter, she can't use majutsu, right? Or rather I should say, do kids play with majutsu? Isn't that kinda dangerous?"

"They do play with it~ "

I regretted the question, the moment the words came out of my mouth.

The usage of majutsu among children was actually quite common. According to Greta they would use it whenever a kite got stuck on a tree, when a kitten by the roadside won't come to you, when you can't hit the higher notes on the recorder.

Yuuri dropped his shoulders dejected.

"... but you don't need maryoku for that. When a kite gets stuck like that, rather than using majutsu, please call an electrician."

"But only Greta can't do it. Even if I mimic a cat's call, the kitten won't come. "

"Are you sure you're not accidentally mimicking the zomosagori dragon call?"

"I'm not~!"

"Then I'm sure Greta must be more of a dog person."

"That's not true, I love cats."

Worried, Yuuri thought of using himself as an example. He may be the person with the most information about baseball in the country, but when it comes to majutsu, he was a complete amateur. If Greta found out that her own father was an amateur in magic usage, she would accept it better, right?

"Then me, just look at me. I can't use that convenient majutsu for every day things, right? To reach higher places, I climb on a chair. If I have to change a lightbulb, I'll need a stepladder. I haven't had too many experiences getting cats to like me, but you can take your dogs for a walk even without maryoku."

Yuuri daydreamed for a second... poop would magically disappear during those walks.

"But you can use majutsu if you're in trouble, right? Anissina said it's the so-called ‘angry stupid man's dumb power'".

"I feel slight malice from her."

But for starters, Greta is human.

Even if she's now the adopted daughter of Yuuri, the 27th Maou, and lives in Shin Makoku, she's originally from a southern country. She was born in Zorashia, a country with dry lands.

After a long civil war, the royal family Greta was a part of, was abolished, and currently a revolutionary government rules it.

There are rumors that the last ruler and princess that governed that country, either lost their lives during the civil war; or got killed by the revolutionary government.

Either way, Greta is the descendant of the abandoned country of Zorashia; so there's no mistake that she's a princess of a human country.

On the other hand, majutsu originates in maryoku, which is said to be a quality of the soul.

A power that only the souls of mazokus have. Which means that those who aren't mazoku, don't have it.

"So what do the other kids say?"

"They say I'll be able to use it when I become an adult."

"Ah"

With a 'I knew it' face, Yuuri looked up at the ceiling.

'To avoid saying anything, make the tea turbid.' Although I understand why people can't firmly say "You're human so it's impossible!" to solve the issue once and for all.

It is now a well known fact that Greta is the adopted daughter of the king. So there's no way they would be hurting the king's beloved daughter with such remarks.

"Sa~y, what should Greta do to use majutsu? Wouldn't it be great if I could be a grown up quickly?"

Greta continued with regret in her voice, while making her small hands into fists.

"Why can't I use amazing majutsu like my fathers? Is it because Greta is not a mazoku...?"

"Greta..."

Sensing a heart-felt statement, the little girl bit her lips. Her manly eyebrows arched in disappointment.

"So that's how it is..."

Greta sighed and hung her head like little kids do. With her hair falling to the sides, her wheat colored neck skin peeps through it.

"Ah~ why did Greta had to be born in Zorashia? Humans are boring. It would have been better if I had been Yuuri's child from the beginning."

Yuuri hurriedly grasped Greta's hands.

Of course that would have been impossible due to his age, but there's no STEPFATHER that wouldn't be happy to hear something like that. However, he couldn't embrace the feeling of disgust that the ten year child felt for her parents' blood and country.

Because it's thanks to them that Greta exists in this world.

"You mustn't say that Greta. Your Zorashian father and mother loved you when you were a small child, right?

"But Greta didn't get anything from them!"

"Anything, you say...."

"Greta didn't get anything. Not a house, brothers, sisters, dogs, horses, treasures. Or maryoku. And because of that Greta can't be a Poison Lady! Greta would rather be mazoku than human! I'll use Keigo or whatever I need if I can make that happen!"

Unable to do anything but rub her back and say her name, Yuuri closed his eyes troubled. There's no guide book that tells you what to do in a situation like this.

Is it okay to just comfort her? If it was Conrad, he would say some beautiful words to lift the girl's spirit.

"You're wrong, Greta"

But Wolfram was different.

"Your hair, your eyes, your voice, your face, your hands and feet, everything, all the way to the tip of your fingernails, you got all of that from your parents, right? That head that thinks about fun things, that stomach that flutters when you're having fun, that heart that warms you before you go to sleep, you received all of that from your parents, right? There aren't any parents that don't give anything to their children."

Wolfram brought his face closer to Greta's and looked into her eyes, as he ran his fingers through her hair that had bright red strings mixed in between.

"There aren't any mazoku whose hairs are the color of rich soil like yours. If you wouldn't have been born in Zorashia, you would have the boring blonde hair you can find everywhere. Everything, your body and heart, were all given to you by your parents. As for me, I couldn't be more grateful to them for that."

With his daughter still on his knees Yuuri got goosebumps under his clothes and his heart was giving a standing ovation.

Couldn't expect less from a man carrying the blood of the Huntress of Love. Scolding her while praising, and praising her while rebuking. And even the praises themselves are different than that that an unpopular baseball brat can give. When a man this beautiful says them like that without hesitation, no matter who the lady is, she won't have any choice but to accept it.

At that time, Greta bit her lips and jumped off Yuuri's warmed knees. And just like that, without saying a word, she rushed to leave the room.

"She got angry!?!?"

"It can't helped. It might have hurt her feelings, but the things that must be said, have to be said clearly."

It seems Wolfram seriously believed he had not spoken tactfully. To appease Yuuri who didn't know what to do, Conrad said:

"She's not angry. She just realized her mistake, and was too embarrassed to admit it face to face."

"I see. If that's the case, then it's all good."

All of a sudden his knees felt cold and Yuuri's whole body trembled.

"But that was amazing, Wolf. Honestly, you fixed everything. I can't speak like that out of the blue."

Although he didn't want a warm beverage, it was at that moment, that he realized that the contents of the cup on the table were probably cold.

In the white cup, a cold, red-colored liquid.

Cup and red tea.

Body and soul.

A human body with the soul of a mazoku. Or the other way around.

"Say Conrad, do mazoku souls only get recycled for the mazoku?"

With a 'What are you talking about' face, the older one answered carefully.

"Who knows? I myself have not learned about such philosophical things. But I think it was decided that they only circulate among the demons, so there's no change in the population."

"What~!? Really? I guess sudden BABY BOOMS, or Baby Boomer Generations don't exist? So hey! Can a soul that used to be mazoku be now in a human, or the other way around, a human soul be in a mazoku? If that was the case, then Greta...."

Yuuri was poured a new cup. It was red-tea that was still warm.

"If her soul in her past life was mazoku, but it was reborn into a princess in Zorashia, could that soul have maryoku? Ah, but in that case, it would be really painful for those living in human territories. It even affects people's physical conditions..."

(W)"There's no way to investigate that. As for Adalbert... but even if a mazoku and a human share a soul, they shouldn't be able to use maryoku, because the memories of their previous life have been sealed."

"Yeah, that makes sense. Ah, this is difficult..... Wolf? Why do you look cranky?"

"Do I?"

After adding the points he got about 120 of them with just that. And even though he had just given a perfectly polite speech, Wolfram looked unsatisfied for some reason. He leaned back against his chair.

"When did we stray from the plan to speak Keigo, your Majesty?"

"Oh, shit Keigo, Keigo! Today is Speak Keigo Night! Uhhh... Excellency Wolfram, your sermon a moment back in time was truly a wonderful thing to experience."

Yuuri's unfamiliarity with polite language was painful. As for Wolfram, it seems that he was getting all the points.

"But beside the fact that maryoku and houryoku are opposite forces, isn't it hard to imagine a human that could use maryoku just like that if their souls possess it? Because if the soul can't distinguish between mazoku and human, then they would possess two conflicting powers. I(boku)... I(watashi) don't think it would be possible.

"Yeah, but..."

Soon after thinking 'In any case, there's not enough information, so this can't be discussed properly.', Conrad made a wry smile and said:

"But your majesty, a long time ago, they were the same thing."

"Hey, you're using Keigo again!"

I had to point it out.

"So I did. I meant in the past, they were the same..."

He stopped and looked up into the air thinking how to continue.

" ...stuff, Yuuri."

"As I thought ya' know..."

But as Yuuri was speaking again without using Keigo, he was interrupted by a visitor without reservations.

This was someone who would show their face at a time like that. Counting the amount of people who would be visiting at that time wouldn't take long. In fact, it could only be one person.

"Wait a moment, your Majesty, your Excellency, Commander!"

As expected, it was the spy with the muscular arms, Gurrier Josak.

And as usual, he was wearing female clothes that would make anyone close their eyes in a second.

"Gurie wants to play that fun word game too, but... In Gurie's case, how should I speak? Should I stop using Keigo and speak 'Sexy' instead?

"Maybe you could stop speaking like an onee?"

The childhood friend was brutal.

"I don't want to! If I do, I'd have to use 'ore'!"

"It's fine Gurie-chan, you can keep talking like that. So, what did you bring here? It's not for Gwendal, but for me (ore)? Oh, what did you bring me (ore)?

Conrad sighed heavily.

Josak made the face of a mountain cat who has meat dangling before them.

"Several young people from my section, infiltrated into the former country of Zorashia and... they brought something interesting back."

He put down the three thick booklets he was holding, onto the desk where the cup with red tea was. Dust speckles danced around them.

"I thought that his majesty, oh sorry, I mean Yuuri, would be interested in this."

"Gurrier!"

As soon as Wolfram yelled at him, Josak raised his hands in the air jokingly.

"Oops. But I mean, it was the day when we don't use Keigo today, right? Then it's fine if I call the young master by his name, right?"

(Y)" It's fine Gurie-chan, so, what is this?"

"If you know that, then you won't have to work hard."

Although their original color was white, sand and dust had colored them beige.

In order to read the thick folded paper, that was the size of a human face, one had to hold it at each end and spread it to turn the pages.

Each of them have holes carefully made in them.

Although they appear to be the same size, there are subtle differences in each and every one of those carefully made elongated circles. So much, that one should call it an oval rather than a circle.

"A practice ACCORDION! Nah, it can't be that."

"I have no clue what this is."

The capable spy, held the edge of the thick booklet and lift it up like the shed skin of a snake.

"It certainly is a part of Zorashian culture. It seems that it came out from the recently opened vault of the former king. Because look, the revolutionary government's strategy is to throw away everything related to the culture from the previous era. They just leave it in the desert so that it burns, and they're done with it.

"Although it is not directly related to our country, I thought it would be a good idea to bring it. There are still many more books."

"That was wise."

"Yeah. Truly amazing, Gurie-san." (Y)

That was actually a weird Keigo.

Wolfram didn't seem interested in the dirty booklets at the beginning. However his love for books must have attracted him to them, because he got closer and closer and then he picked up the newest looking one of them and stared at it. All of a sudden his jaw dropped.

"This...!"

He pointed to the title of the book.

"Here, it says Greta."

"Eh, it does!!"

Although mazoku and humans speak pretty much the same language, human letters are more intensely decorated than mazoku letters.

The way they separate the words is also unique. But if you read the orthography carefully, it's not such a big difference that one would struggle to read it.

The book that's the least deteriorated, has indeed the name "Greta" written on it. The other two are "Red flowers in the Valley" and "Harvest Festival". Only one of them had a person's name, and it was the king's daughter's name.

The last page has the author's name signed, but I was so overwhelmed I couldn't read it.

"Although the title says 'Greta' the content is encrypted. Ehhh~~, what's this? I can't understa~~ and Zorashia's culture. Cuz look, it's dusty, dusty~! Just put important documents in a box, so that sand and dust don't break it, c'mon. No, wait! I mean 'please'."

"If you show it to Anissina, she probably can understand it."

"Maybe, huh? She'll knaw tha', huh, ya think?"

Yuuri was about to forcefully wipe the dust off the cover but reconsidered and gently wiped it with his index and middle fingers instead.

So that he wouldn't damage the little holes, he blew the dust off them. In the middle of the room after midnight, the sound of a air moving could be heard.

"Perhaps it's..."

Everyone turned around to look at Conrad.

"Ah, no I might be imagining things but..."

"Just say it!"

"Just say it Conrad!"

"Go ahead Commander"

"I was just thinking maybe, it's a MUSIC BOOK?"

MUSIC BOOK? No matter how I look at it it doesn't look like a music textbook at all.

Anissina's Laboratory runs from early in the morning till late at night, year round, and WELCOMES everyone. It's the special location of the woman also known as Poison Lady.

Today too, even though the moon is high up in the sky, all the dubious devices seem to be quite active.

If you're not careful when you walk, you might step on one of the MACHINES. Everywhere you look there are 'mice', that are in fact "Super Mini Ma-Power Vacuum Cleaners - Cleaning Right Now". They're several times smaller if you compare them to their previous version. They're easier to use in crammed kitchens, and can even pick up the cheese crumbs that fall behind the kitchen stove.

Are mice popular this year? There are many new items of the Queen's Idea that look like mice.

For example, the 'Incredible Rotator' is a kitchenware utensil developed for weak women. It's just a rubber band to open the lid of containers, but mice ears were put on it, so that it can be used in a costume ball. The smaller version of it "It Rotates Well" was...

"Ah! But this isn't about the new products!"

When Poison Lady herself returned to the topic, everyone held their chest in relief. There isn't a man brave enough to try and stop Poison Lady once she has started talking about a topic; because if you do it wrong, she might end up explaining everything about every invention of hers.

"You want to know how to use this booklet... Oh. Where did you...?"

Anissina began observing the thick booklet covered in dust and sand from the moment she picked it up. After opening and closing the heavy booklet, she flipped it on its back and touched it softly; then she put it under a magnifying glass.

She didn't care that her hands and clothes got dirty.

While she was still asking where did you...? I couldn't stop myself and replied:

"It's a Zorashian Kakkyokusasshi!"(song booklet)

"Kakkyou.... ku... sasshi?"

Conrad could only copy Yuuri's words, but had an idea of what he was talking about.

(A)"Listen, your majesty. The position and length of this hole determines the scale and length of the sound. If you read this while playing the flute, you'll get a song for sure. The book contains the notes of a melody. And its name is on the cover of the book."

In that case, "Red flowers in the Valley" and "Harvest Festival" and "Greta" weren't book names.

(Y) "Um, but wait a moment Anissina-san..."

When Poison Lady looked at him with a dubious face, Lord Weller commented "We're currently talking using honorifics with all women." It seems he has given her a favorable impression.

(Y) "But if that were the case, why not write it in a more common music sheet? I don't know a lot about this world's musical notes but... I'm sure it's not supposed to be encrypted like this."

"Encrypted? It's nothing so complicated. Don't tell me your majesty thinks musicians have to read this?"

"Eh, am I wrong?"

Frightened by the man's ignorance, Anissina quickly went to the back of the room.

But she didn't disappear. She was back soon enough, pulling a cart, carrying a small vehicle on it. Under the brown wooden box was a red vehicle with its paint peeling off. Even though it only had one wheel on the right and one on the left, it could move forward on its own, because of the support it had in the front. On the side of the box, there was handle. It may be needed to operate it.

It was about the same size as a Theme Park popcorn machine. For someone to carry something like that alone, they must certainly be very strong, regardless of their body size.

"This guy here will read it."

"Huh?" - I uttered like an elementary school student when asked about factorizations. I had no clue what she's talking about.

"That's why I was telling you that this guy... no, actually it was the guy before this one. Your majesty, let me introduce you to it. This is the Zorashian born, Shin Makoku modified, ‘Ma-Powered Music Player’”

Modified!? Not raised in Shin Makoku, but modified in Shin Makoku!? Soon Anissina opened the lid of the wooden box. When she pulled the handle, it opened from the side, not from the top, and we could see the inside of the machine.

There were about 20 wooden cylinders inside. Their size and length increased from right to left.

"This is Tale of Nya! When you put a crystal ball in this record playing device and turn the handle, instead of hearing a whistle you hear 'nya'"

"Ah, I've heard of this too! They use it to play Christmas songs made entirely of kitten cries and such."

"You're wrong your majesty, they're not cat cries. This is obviously a melody made entirely of the roar of Zomosagori dragons. No matter how much a person boasts of their bravery, there's no doubt they'll end up trembling in fear. All right, Ma-Powered Music Player, play to your heart's content!"

Anissina put a palm-sized crystal ball in the right end of the wooden box and turned the metal handle. Right after this, compressed air was pumped in and the wooden flute made a clear sound.

Nyanya, nyah-nyah-nyah-,nyanya, nyah-nyah-nyah.

"Heh, it's actually quite cute isn't .... EEEEEEH!?"

I turned around to look at the mazoku soldiers standing behind me. How terrifying are you, Zamosogori dragon!? Is it my imagination or is even Conrad fidgeting?

"So, what do you think about this Ma-Powered Music Player, 'Tale of Nya'? By the way, this is part one of Zamosagori Dragon and Poison Lady's 'Love will bloom'"

"WILL IT!?"

As expected from a mazoku, there's no regulations against inter-species love. The person in question, Anissina, wiped the sweat off her forehead and smiled happily.

"Well now, the Ma-Powered Music Player before me is the remodeled and reborn Tale of Nya, but in the past it had a wild adolescence. That's right, back then it couldn't use Ma-Power, it was simply an music player. Day after day, it stood out in the street. And then one day, it was taken to a wealthy dinner party, and to its surprise it found that every time a song ended, they would throw coins at it... oh what futile days..."

"... Umm, how exactly is that a wild adolescence, I really can't..."

"But when its life as a Music Player had ran out, it got a chance at a new life. That's right! It was determined to come to Shin Makoku and develop ma-power within itself. That was the day when he was reborn!"

It felt like one of those stories you hear in the early morning religious radio shows...

"In short, it was a STREET ORGAN that a mazoku bought and brought it here to Anissina."

"Oh, I see."

Conrad's explanation was short.

"So, when that music booklet was written, Tale of Nya was still just a music player. And that's why a record paper was needed. When inserted it told the machine how to play music."

"That's what this is!"

Yuuri looked at the thick booklet intently. He couldn't see anything but a book full of holes.

"Well, it was a long time ago."

Poison Lady spread her arms open and shrugged her shoulders. It was the 'can't be helped' pose.

"It can't read it anymore, because it has been turned into a ma powered device."

Yuuri was so upset, he almost dropped the booklet to the floor.

Even though he was finally able to figure out the identity of the mysterious booklet, the encryption continued to be unsolvable.

He still couldn't listen to the song named Greta.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Although I asked Anissina if she could turn "The Ma-powered remodeled Tale of Nya" to its original form, it didn't end well.

Telling her it was for Greta, I persuaded her to remove the ma-powered parts, but when she did, the machine was in pretty bad shape.

"When you take out the ma-powered parts, it goes back to being a broken music player; because it was broken to begin with."

Just as the smart lady said, as soon as the crystal ball had been removed, the wooden box's sound stopped.

I tried putting the book in the right place inside the machine and turning the handle, but there was no music heard, just the sound of wind flowing through the pipes.

I begged her to fix what was wrong inside the machine, but she refused. Poison Lady doesn't have an interest in things that aren't ma- powered.

Josak, who's an intelligence officer, said that he had played and lost at "Speak Keigo Night", and disappeared soon after.

After examining and copying part of the music book, Wolfram too said he was leaving to investigate.

On the following day and although Wolfram should have stopped, he looked at me straight in the eye and said "But your Majesty, I desired to bring this subject up to light as quickly as possible", and after that I couldn't reply at all.

The effects of speaking politely are terrifying.

During the time before that, Yuuri was lying on his side, looking at the music player he had taken to his room with him; the lined up flutes were being illuminated by the moon. Yuuri looked a little bit like a child.

"Conrad, why did you know it was a music book?"

"I saw a similar instrument when I was on Earth. Rather than a STREET ORGAN, it was a type of old music box."

"Huh... a music box"

He couldn't remember that music boxes have a mechanism with a rotating cylinder that play music.

"In Shin Makoku there are many performers, also musicians. The records that Anissina uses are still in development, that is why that kind of technology wasn't highly prized. Perhaps in Zorashia, there aren't many performers."

"Nn"

He put the three booklets between the wheels and the wooden box.

"Red flowers in the Valley" , "Harvest Festival" and "Greta". The signature that can't be read on the last one is not that of an author, but of a composer.

Yuuri didn't know exactly how popular Greta's name was in that country.

Is it the name of a specific woman, or is it just the name of a Zorashian's musician's girlfriend? Or maybe one composer, put his love and respect to make a piece for the king and his daughter?

Up until that day, no one knew.

Only one thing is for sure, there is a song called Greta that can't be heard.

"Man, it's made of wood."

Yuuri smiled bitterly while remembering the suggestions in regards to speech for that night.

"I haven't held anything but bats made of wood."

"Oh, I see."

"And in my life I've held a lot more metal bats than wooden ones. So repairing something made out of wood is probably impossible for me."

"True"

"But..."

"But?"

While turning his back to Conrad who was sitting by the window, Yuuri said:

"But I want to fix it."

"I knew you'd say that."

"It's just that..."

He sat up reflexively and grabbed his own hand that was on his knees.

"The tubes in that wooden box came out as easily as the painting on the cart. I was so surprised! Although now, when you turn the handle the only thing that you can hear is air moving, if one were to repair it properly it would probably be able to play many songs like those in those thick booklets. Even though it's just a wooden box. I was just thinking that it would probably feel just like majutsu, for music to come out of that box. That's why..."

Conrad finally put everything together.

"... I wanted to fix it. So that I could show Greta Zorashia's sounds and culture."

"Yeah."

"Furthermore, being the way I am, I wanted to fix it with my own hands. How stupid am I? That's impossible! Even though I just said that I had only ever fixed bats...!"

"Yuuri"

"And yet, here I am, wanting to fix it with my own hands. I wanted to fix it because I want to show Greta the good things about her homecountry."

"I understand that feeling well, Yuuri."

After those emotional words, I suddenly remembered my 'decision' for that night's speech; but Conrad didn't seem to care. He just plunged both hands into the bed and said:

"First you have to tell me what you want. What do you want me to do?"

"You often go to neighboring countries and towns near the border, right?"

"I guess..."

"So I want you to look for people who know Zorashia’s artifacts. I want them to teach me how to fix it. I'm asking ya."

Is Conrad thinking about it? He hasn't answered yet.

"... please."

And so he raised his upper body and met Yuuri's line of view.

"There's no one in this country who would refuse a request from you."

For some reason Conrad couldn't stop laughing, he scratched the bangs on his forehead.

"There might be carpenters or craftsmen among the exiles and refugees from Zorashia. I'll give it a try."

"Thank... you... very much."

Half shocked, Conrad refused the strange thanks before it finished.

"That's enough with honorifics for now"

"Yeah"

A humble knock was heard.

"I'm back"

Maybe he thought Yuuri was already sleeping, because Wolfram opened the door without waiting for a reply and quietly slipped in.

When he saw the other two in a fully lit room, he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

The brothers exchanged quick words. Did they speak Keigo or did they speak intimately and without ranks? That is unknown. Because Yuuri couldn't hear what they said.

The only thing that was certain, was that Wolfram who had just walked into the bedroom, wasn't in a good mood.

Also it seemed that something serious happened. Is it nervousness that he sees in his bad mood?

"Oh my, your majesty is still awake."

"Wolf"

"While I was deep in serious research, your majesty seemed to be having a pleasant conversation with Lord Weller."

"U... t-that's not what happened~"

Beautiful green eyes stared angrily. And anyway, let's stop the Speak Keigo Night now. Keigo speaking Wolfram is too scary.

"As a result, I found out a very interesting fact. I think that the signature in the booklet of the song called Greta is that of the composer, but...."

"Sorry, I can't read it"

"Yes, I can't read it either. But I compared it to the signature in an old letter. And that name, is the name of Zorashia's previous ruler."

"So that would be the king... Eh!? What does that mean?"

Wolfram sat on the bed and put the document and the booklet one next to another. The name was the same.

"It means, it's Greta's father."

Wolfram made a serious face. If that signature was genuine, Shin Makoku would now be protecting a precious treasure from the Zorashian Royal Family.

Or actually, they've been keeping a Zorashian treasure for a long time.

Through the open window, you can see a clear sky. The early spring wind carries the smell of flowers.

If you lean on your elbows, you can see through it down at the inner gardens. There, lots of young mazoku on their knees, surround a person.

In the middle of them is Greta opening the lid of the wooden box attached to a vehicle. All the kids are cheering while watching a machine they have never seen before.

"No matter how many times you turn it, it doesn't make any sounds besides suuu, suu. But... "

While exaggerating her moves so that the other kids wouldn't see what she's doing, the girl placed the book inside the machine. And while opening and closing the lid with her right hand, she said some mysterious words to the wooden box.

"The way Greta performs magic is like this!"

She grasps the handle once again, and turns it slowly. That's when the wooden flutes start making sounds according to the booklet.

Starting with a high 'Mi' note, a beautiful song is played. Along with the running footsteps of the children, the parents watching over them were also able to listen happily to the melody.

It's like the tone transmitted a sense of family union to them all.

"Look Conrad"

Yuuri pointed at a laughing Greta. Her locks slowly stretching, waving with joy in the wind.

There's a witch over there.

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