Zero no Tsukaima:Volume1 Story1 Chapter1
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Chapter 01
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Chapter 01 - Part 1.1
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Chapter 1 I'm a familiar spirit
Page 12
"Who are you?"
The girl looked into Saito's face steadily, with the blue sky behind her which seemed like it would fall away. She seemed to be around Saito's age and she wore a white blouse with a gray pleated skirt under a black cape. She crouched down, looking at his face as if she was disgusted.
Her face is... Cute. Her reddish-brown eyes danced, with her strawberry blond hair and her flawless white skin for their stage. She seems like a foreigner. Well... She is. But she is such a cute foreign girl, like a doll. Or is she a half-Japanese?
Anyway her uniform, I wonder which school it belongs to? I have never seen it before. Saito seems to be lying with his back on the ground, he lifted his head up to look around.
There were a lot of people with black capes looking at him as though he were a stranger. There, on an endlessly rich grassy plain, he sees a huge castle with stone walls in the distance just like he has seen in those European trip photographs. This was just like a fantasy.
Page 13
This is giving me a headache. Saito said as he shook his head.
"Who am I...? I'm Saito Hiraga."
"Where are you from, commoner?"
A commoner? What is that? Everyone around him is holding a stick in their hands and wearing the same uniform as she is. Did I get lost in an American school or something?
"Louise, what are you going to do calling a commoner at the Servant Summoning?" When someone said that, everyone but the girl who was looking into his face started to laugh.
"I... I just made little mistake!"
A girl in front of Saito shouted in a refined voice that carried like a bell. "What are you talking about a mistake? That's your usual."
"Of course! After all she is Louise the Zero." When someone mentioned it, a wall of people laughed out loud.
It seems like the girl who is looking into Saito's face is named Louise. Either way this is no American school. I don't see any recognisable buildings. Could it be a movie set? Filming for a movie? Saito thought all of a sudden. But it is too big to be a movie set. Was there any location like this in Japan?
Page 14
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Or could it be a new theme park? But then, why am I lying down in such a place?
"Mr. Colbert!" The girl called Louise shouted. The wall of people divided, and there, appeared a middle-aged man.
Saito thought it was funny because this man looked ridiculous. He sported a big wooden cane and was wearing a black robe that covered him entirely. What kind of look is that? He seemed like a wizard, is he sane?
I got it, this place must be a place for cosplay. But this doesn't seem to be the right atmosphere for it.
All of a sudden Saito was gripped with fear. What am I going to do if this was an religious group? It is possible. They must have put me to sleep some how and brought me here while I was taking a walk in town. That mirror must have been a trap. If not I have no explanation for this.
Stay quiet, until he knows what is going on, Saito thought to himself.
That girl Louise kept saying "Let me try it again", or "please", whilst shaking her arms wildly.
I felt sorry for her to be in this weird religious group, especially since she is so cute.
"What is it, Miss. Valiale?"
"Please! let me try the summoning one more time!"
Chapter 01 - Part 1.2
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Page 15
A summon? What is that? They mentioned it earlier.
Mr. Colbert shook his head, a man wearing a black robe. "That won't be allowed, Miss Valliare."
"Why not, sir!"
"It is the rule. When you are promoted to a second grader, you will summon a =familiar spirit= Just like you just did."
A familiar spirit? What is that?
"You fix a future attribute in the familiar spirit which appeared by a summoning and then advance to a specialized course with it. You can't change the familiar spirit once you've summoned it. Because the Familiar Spirit Summoning of Spring is a holy ceremony. Whether you like it or not, you don't have a choice but to have him as your familiar spirit."
"But! I have never heard of having a commoner as a familiar spirit!" Everyone around laughed as Louise said it. Louise scowled at them. But the laugher wouldn't stop.
A 'Familiar Spirit Summoning of Spring'? What is that?
Page 16
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I have no idea. What are they talking about? Why have I come to such a place.... It has to be a new religious group, It might be possible to find a chance quickly, and run away. I mean really, where is this place? Was I brought to a foreign country? An abduction! I was being abducted! He was in real trouble thought Saito.
"This is a tradition, Miss Valiale. I can't allow any exception, he is..." A middle-aged man who is cosplaying as a wizard pointed at Saito. "He might be a commoner but as long as he was summoned by you, he has to be your familiar spirit. We have never had a human summoned as a familiar spirit in history, But a Familiar Spirit Summoning of Spring has priority over every rule. Therefore he will be your familiar spirit."
"You are kidding me..." Louise dropped her shoulder, disappointed.
"Well, then. Continue with the ceremony."
"What? With him?"
"Yes, with him. Hurry. The next class will begin any minute. How long do you think you are taking for the summoning? Mistake after mistake, you have finally summoned him. So hurry up and make a contract."
Page 17
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Everyone agreed and jeered.
Louise stared at Saito's face as if she is being troubled.
What is it? What is she going to do to me?
"Hey." Louise called Saito.
"Yes?"
"You should be appreciative. It usually never happens, a thing like this by a noble."
A noble? How stupid. Give me a break, a noble? You are just a perverted cosplaying new religious group.
Louise closed her eyes as if she had given up. She shook around a little wooden stick, which was in her hand.
"My name is Louise. Fransowazu. le. Blan. de. la. Valiale. A pentagon, which holds five powers. Bless this humble, and make him become my familiar spirit." She begun to advocate words like an incantation sonorously. She touched Saito's forehead with a wooden stick. Then her lips were slowly getting closer.
What... What are you doing?!
Page 18
"Just be still." Louise said as if she was upset. Louise's face got closer.
"Hey, wait. Well, I'm... Well, I'm not ready for this..."
His Face gradually shook as he panicked.
"Uh! I told you to be still!" Louise roughly grabbed Saito's face with her left hand.
"Huh?"
"mmm..."
Louise's lips touched Saito's.
What, what is this! This is what that contract means?! The touch of soft lips confused Saito more.
My first kiss! But it was taken by this weird girl at this weird place! Saito laid there, paralysed.
Louise let go of his lips. "It is done."
Page 20
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Her face was red, She seems to be embarrassed with impudence. She was stupid, I thought.
"I should be the one embarrassed, not you! You kissed me all of the sudden!"
But Louise completely ignored Saito. You kissed me and that is how you act? How rude. Really, who are they?! I'm scared. I want to go home right this minute. He just wanted to go home and get online Saito thought. He has just registered himself to a dating site, so he wanted to check his e-mail.
"You have failed The Spell of Familiar Spirit Summoning of Spirng many times, but you managed to succeed the Servant Contract" Colbert said happily.
"She was able to make a servant contract, because he is just a commoner."
"If he was a high ranked illusion beast, she would never have made a contract" A few students laughed at the frequently said comments.
Louise scowled at them. "Don't make a fool out of me! Even if it happens rarely, I can still do things right!"
"You are right, it rarely happens. Louise the Zero" A girl laughed at Louise, a girl with gorgeous curly hair and freckles on her face.
"Mr. Colbert! Montmorency the Flood has insulted me!"
Page 21
"Who are you calling "the Flood?" I'm Montmorency the Fragrance!"
"I heard that you used to bed-wet like it was flooding! So "the Flood" suits you more!"
"How dare you! Louise the Zero! What can you say, you are the zero!"
"Watch it! Nobles are to respect each other." The middle-aged cosplaying man tried to stop them.
What are they talking about. A contract? Servant Contract spell?
That instant Saito's body started to get hot.
"Awwww!"
Saito stood up. "It's hot!"
"It will be over soon, just wait. The Runes of the Spell of Summoning are being engraved." Louise said irritated.
"Don't engrave it! What did you do to my body?!"
There was nothing i could do, I couldn't just lay around quietly. It was unbelievably hot!
"By the way?"
"What!"
Page 22
"Do you think it's forgivable for a commoner to use that kind of language at nobles?"
However, that feeling of heat lasted only for a second. His body had rapidly returned to a normal state.
"That was quick..." The middle-aged cosplaying man who is called Colbert came to the kneeing Saito, And checked the back of his left hand. There, jumping around were un-familiar letters.
But is this a word? It looks like a wriggling snake, in a pattern he had never seen before. Saito stared at it and thought if this isn't magic, then what was it?
"Hummm..."
At this point, he really losted it.
"This is a very rare Rune." The middles aged wizard like said.
"What are you, people?!"
Saito yelled out but no one reacted to it.
"Well, let's go back to class, everyone."
The middle-aged cosplaying wizard turned around then floats in the air. Saito's jaw dropped, as he stared at him.
Page 23
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Did..did he fly? Floating in the air? It can't be. Others that looked like students floated up in the air at once.
It can't be, more of them? The man could float in the air with illustions, but all of them? He looked for wires, even a crane. But the surrounding area was just a large grassy plain. There was nothing to suggest a trick or setups. Everyone who floated up in the air flew towards that stone wall castle quietly.
"Louise, you walk!"
"She can't even fly, she can't even manage levitation"
"That commoner is just what you need!" They said, as they flew away.
The ones who was left behind was the girl named Louise and Saito. Louise took a deep breath as soon as there was only two of them.
Then she looked at Saito and yelled at him. "What are you?"
Saito got mad. "Who are you? Where is this place?! What are you all?! Why you fly?! He thought that was his line.
Page 24
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"What did you do to my body?!"
"I don't know which country you are from but I will explain it to you"
"A country? This is a country? Tokyo is nothing like this!"
"Tokyo? What is that? What country is it?"
"Japan."
"What? I have never heard of it before"
"Oh please! But why are they flying?! You saw it too! They flew! They all did!" But Louise took no notice of it at all.
Instead, she seems... 'What's wrong with flying?' "Of course they do, what would we do if Mage's couldn't fly?"
"A Mage? What is this place?!" Saito grabbed Louise's shoulder and yelled.
"This is Tristein! And this is the well known Tristein magic school!"
"A magic school?"
"I'm a second grader Louise. de. la. Valiale. I am your master from now on. Remember that!"
Page 25
Every strength from Saito disappeared. He felt something really unpleasant about this situation. "Excuse me... Louise-san"
"What?"
"Was I really summoned?"
"I told you so, so many times. Over and over again. Just give up. I will give up too. Why is my familiar spirit a creature, which is not cool a all... I wanted to have something cool. Like a dragon, griffon, or manteca. At least an eagle or an owl."
"A dragon and griffon? What do you mean?"
"I was just saying that I wish had those as my familiar spirit."
"Do they really exist?"
"They do, why?"
"You are kidding me." Saito said it as he laughed. But Louise was not laughing.
"Well, you probably have never seen them before." Louise said it with pity in her voice. She doesn't look like she is joking.
Page 26
Those Mages who flew away from here, and those fantasy words, suddenly connected.
He felt a chill down his spine, and cold running sweat. "I thought maybe... Since they flew. Are you people really witches and wizards?"
"Yes we are, if you understand it, let go of my shoulder! You shouldn't even be talking to me!"
A dream... This is a dream... Slowly his strength left him from his waist down and Saito fell on to his knees.
"Louise." He said witha weak voice.
"Don't call me by name."
"Hit me."
"What?"
"Hit my head as hard as you can."
"Why?"
"I want to wake up from this dream now. I will wake up from this dream and get online. Tonight's dinner is hamburger. My mother mentioned it."
"Get online?"
Chapter 01 - Part 1.3?
Pages 27-34 to be added (I suppose)
Chapter 01 - Part 2.1
Revision 1 - This section is in satisfactory condition ready for processing. The following Editors Approve:
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Page 35
"That's impossible."
"But why...?"
"Because, you've been bound by a contract as my familiar. It doesn't matter if you come from the countryside, or even a completely different world as you've said. Once the bond is established, it cannot be undone."
"You gotta be kidding..."
"Look, I don't like this either! Why did I have to be stuck with a familiar like you?!"
"Well then, send me back."
"Are you saying you're really from another world?" asked Louise, seemingly still perplexed.
"Yeah." Saito nodded.
"Show me some proof."
Wincing at the pain where he'd just been kicked, Saito stood up, and opened his bag.
"What's that?"
"A notebook computer," replied Saito.
Page 36
The surface of the recently-repaired notebook gleamed with reflected light.
"I've certainly never seen something like this. What kind of magic item is it?"
"It's not magic. It's science."
Saito pushed the power button, and the computer came to life with a 'whirr.'
"Uwah! What is that?!"
Louise gave a surprised yelp, as the screen flickered on.
"The notebook screen."
"It's pretty... What element of magic does it use? Wind? Water?"
"Science."
Louise stared at Saito with a blank expression. Clearly she didn't get it. "So, what kind of element is this 'science?' Is it different from the four elemental powers?"
"Argh, enough already! In any case, it's not magic!" Saito waved his hands around wildly.
Louise sat on the edge of her bed and dangled her feet. Then shrugging, she spoke with an unconcerned look. "Hmm. But that's what I don't understand...."
"Why? Is there something like this, in this world too?"
Page 37
Louise stuck out her lips in a pout. "No, but..."
"Then just believe me! There's nothing to understand!"
Clutching at her own long hair, Louise just shook her head. "All right! I'll believe you!"
"Really?"
Crossing her arms and cocking her head, Louise made an annoying sound. "Only because you would've gone on about it if I didn't say so."
"Well, it doesn't matter, as long as you've got it. Now, send me back"
"I told you, that's impossible."
"But why?!"
Worry was etched on Louise's face as she answered Saito. "That's because, there's no spell that can connect this world to your world."
"Then how did I end up here?"
"I don't know how!"
Saito and Louise glared at each other.
"Listen, I'm being completely honest when I say there's no such spell. Most people don't even know that another world exists."
Page 38
"It obviously does, if I'm here!"
"The spell of Summoning is used to call living beings from within Halkeginia. Normally only things like animals or fantastic creatures are summoned. This is actually the first instance that I've seen a person summoned."
"Stop talking about it like you're not involved. In that case, cast that spell on me one more time."
"Why?"
"It might return me to my world."
Looking discernably perplexed, Louise tilted her head to one side.
"...That won't work. The spell of Summoning is strictly a one-way spell. No incantation of any kind exists to return a summoned familiar back to where it was brought from."
"Whatever, just try it."
"It's impossible. And I can't even cast it now."
"What? Why!"
"...Using The spell of Summoning again is..."
"Yeah?"
"...completely ineffective unless the familiar you first summoned had died."
"Has what?"
Page 39
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Saito's body froze.
"Would you like to die?"
"Err... I'll pass." He hung his head. His eyes trailed down to the runes that had been inscribed on his left hand.
"Oh, that?"
"Yeah."
"That's like a stamp that says you're my familiar."
Louise stood up and crossed her arms. If you looked closely, she was actually quite cute. Slender and well-proportioned legs, thin ankles, and not too tall with a height of 155cm. Her eyes were like a curious kitten's, and her eyebrows traced a subtle line over them. If Saito had met her through the message boards of a dating site, he would've hopped and leaped for joy. But alas, this wasn't Earth. No matter how much he wanted to go back, he couldn't. Saito choked up at this thought, and his shoulders drooped.
"...Yeah, all right. For the meanwhile, I guess I'll be your familiar."
"Come again?"
"What, you got a problem with that?"
Chapter 01 - Part 2.2
Revision 1 - This section is in satisfactory condition ready for processing. The following Editors Approve:
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Page 40
"I see you're still not used to formal speech. It should be 'is there something you wish to address, master?'" corrected Louise, one finger raised as if lecturing. The gesture was cute, but the tone was quite strict.
"But um, what exactly does a familiar do?" asked Saito. Of course, he had seen ravens and owls appear as familiars in anime involving magicians. But mostly they would just sit on their master's shoulder and not actually do anything relevant.
"Firstly, a familiar is able to grant its master an enhancement in vision and hearing."
"Like how?"
"That means what the familiar sees, the master can also see."
"Oh."
"But it seems that doesn't work with you. I can't see anything."
"Yeah, but like that matters." Saito said off-handedly.
"And also, a familiar will retrieve items that its master desires. For instance, reagents."
"Reagents?"
"A catalyst you use when casting certain spells. Something like sulfur, or moss..."
"Uh-huh..."
Page 41
"But you won't ever find me stuff like that, will you? Considering you don't even know what kind of reagents there are."
"Nope."
Louise frowned irritably, but continued talking. "And this is most important of all... A familiar exists to protect its master! The task of protecting them from all and any enemies is a duty of the highest priority! But that might be a little bit problematic for you..."
"Since I'm human..."
"...A powerful magical beast would almost always defeat its enemies, but I don't think you could even beat a raven."
"Shut up."
"That's why I'm only making you things I'm fairly sure you can do. Laundry, cleaning, and other miscellaneous tasks."
"Don't insult me. I'll be sure to find a way to get back home!"
"Yeah yeah. In fact, I'll be glad if you do. Because when you return to your world, I'll be able to summon a new familiriar."
"Why you..."
"Right then, all this talking has made me sleepy." said Louise with a great yawn.
"Where do I sleep?"
Page 42
Louise pointed to the floor.
"I'm not some dog or cat, you know."
"But there's nowhere else. And only one bed." She threw him a blanket.
And then she brought her hand up to the top button of her blouse.
One by one, the buttons came undone.
Soon she was down to her underwear. Saito blushed. "Wh-wh-what are you doing?!"
Louise answered as if it was the most obvious thing. "I'm going to sleep, so I'm getting changed."
"Do it somewhere else where I can't see you!"
"Why?"
"Because! It makes the situation awkward! Seriously!"
"It's not awkward at all."
"Is that because you're a mage? You're okay with doing that in plain sight of a guy?"
"A guy? Who? I don't need to think anything of being watched by my familiar."
What the heck. That's exactly how you'd treat a dog or cat. Saito grabbed the blanket, threw it over his head, and turned away.
Page 43
First of all, he decided to revoke all and any thoughts he'd previously had about her being cute. She just really got on his nerves. A girl like her, a mage? Yeah right.
"Oh, and these. Wash them for me tomorrow." Several items came flying over to land softly beside him. He picked them up, wondering what they were.
A lacy chamisole, and matching panties. White, too. What exquisite and delicate pieces, Saito thought, face heating up. He clenched the items tightly as a mix of indignation and delight welled up.
"Why do I have to-- Your underwear?! Wash them?! Frankly, I'm both flattered and offended!"
He bolted upright, without even realising he'd done so. Louise was pulling a large nightgown over her head. And in the dim light thrown off by the lamp, he could see the outline of her figure. While he couldn't make out any other details, it didn't seem as though she was embarrassed. More like, she seemed rueful (note: originally 'kuyashii', but I toyed with various synonyms), like a boy who'd just been rejected.
"Who do you think is going to support you? Who do you think is going to give you food? And just who's room are you in?"
"Uhh..."
Page 44
"You're my familiar, right? Laundry, cleaning, other menial tasks - they're naturally your jobs."
Saito pulled the blanket over his head again.
This girl is hopeless, he thought. She just doesn't see me as a guy at all.
I want to go home. I miss my room. I miss my parents.
This feeling of homesickness is overwhelming.
...When will I able to go back?
Is there even a way to go back?
I wonder if my family is worried about me right now...
Anyway, I need to find some way of returning...
What should I do? Should I try running away from here? But then what?
Maybe I'll try asking someone. But from what Louise told me earlier, nobody even knows another world exists, so there's no way they'll believe me.
No, I need to think about this critically. In any case, struggling won't get me anywhere. I don't have any clues, and even if I escaped from here, there's no guarantee that I'll even find a way back.
I don't even have relatives on this world. There's nobody I can rely on, except for a conceited girl named Louise.
Guess there's no choice. For now, I'll be her familiar. At least she said she'll keep me fed.
Page 45
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It'll be tough, since I'm not much more than a familiar to her.
Sure, she's a bit arrogant, but at least she's fairly cute. I suppose I can just imagine I made a girlfriend. Someone from the dating site I've finally managed to meet. Treat it as if I came overseas just to see her. Or I came as a foreign student. Actually, that's better. Yeah, that's what I'll think. Hah, I'm so simple like that. It's great.
Okay, thought Saito. It's not like I've been stranded on a deserted island. Moping will achieve nothing.
I'll live as a familiar, and in the process, I'll look for a way to return home. (note: everything up to now was him thinking)
Now that his plan was set, he felt noticeably sleepy.
No matter the situation, Saito's amazing adaptablity has always saved him. Where anyone else would've panicked and crumbled, Saito came through thanks to his fluid personality.
Louise clicked her fingers, and the glow of the lamp died out.
The lamp is magical too? I guess that way there's no need for electricity, Saito reasoned.
A shroud of darkness descended on the room, enveloping it in shadow.
Outside the window, the two moons shone down mysteriously.
Mother, Saito thought. I've ended up in a world of actual magicians. I don't think I'll can go to school for a while. I won't be able to study either. Please forgive me.
And so began, Saito's life as a familiar.
