Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter8 - MTL

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Chapter Eight: The Users of Void

After two weeks, the nations conference ended without too much trouble.

The Result was, Tristain and Germania claimed the vast territory of Albion and added them to their territory.

The remaining lands were under the joint rule of three countries: Tristain, Germania and Galia, as it was decided to restore the monarchy. Therefore, the regions, including capital Londonium, were managed by the three countries as a joint ruling territory.

As a ruler, Tristain’s old noble duke Marushiyuaque was recommended. He was aged and didn’t have much ambition. His excellent domestic affair abilities made sure that the troubled Albion will be restored. From Germania and Galia, a representative will be elected, and placed as the king's advisers.

And, with four countries taking part, the monarchy of Halkeginia was defended, the rise of the Republic stopped, and the Alliance monarchy of four countries was announced.

If a new believer in republic ideology starts to cause a revolt in the kingdom, the three country alliance would be able to start military intervention. As a result, new attempts of revolt will be noticed by four governments at the same time.

With the establishment of this alliance, the nations conference was closed.

They were told to return to their countries tomorrow…

In the room of Havirand palace, Henrietta was desperately looking over documents. Cardinal Mazarini could be seen next to her.

“Her Majesty, take some rest already… Lately you hardly sleep.”

Henrietta attended the nations conference almost round-the-clock. For Tristain’s interests, she took part in heated discussions. Albrecht the III concluded in a whisper, ‘Not accepting the marriage was the correct choice.’

“Even if we return home, there are piles of work. I want to do as much as possible.”

“However, it is already 12 o'clock.”

“I will rest later.”

However, the queen does not go the bed.

“Leave such table work to the secretary…”

“I want to look over everything. Otherwise, there will be no point of coming on the cloud.”

Mazarini sighed. Because Henrietta was so young, he couldn’t help but worry. However… Mazarini watched Henrietta through half-way closed eyes. He wanted to keep the princess, whom he was watching over when she was just a baby, out of danger forever.

As if preparing to lecture a student, Mazarini cleared his throat.

“Your Majesty, as I have said repeatedly, we have to be careful of Galia.”

“Uhum.”

Henrietta nodded, not lifting her face from documents.

“Though it was… Galia that brought an end to this war. Yet, their demands were insignificant… They only wanted one port. Also their words, ‘All that we wanted we already obtained.’…”

As a direct control rule territory, Tristain and Germania obtained considerable amount, Galia did not want it. Mazarini is cautious of Galia’s such disinterest.

“Indeed.”

Henrietta nodded.

“Fuaah.” Mazarini let out a big yawn.

“You seem to be sleepy. Please take some rest.”

“No… I won’t leave until Your Majesty goes to bed.”

Henrietta smiled, putting away the documents.

“Will you take some rest?”

“Yes. Because I cannot risk your health.”

“Stay healthy not just for me. Sleeping is also part of work.”

“Yes.” Henrietta nods obediently.

Then… reassured, Mazarini left. Girlishly, Henrietta fell onto the bed. And muttered absent-minded…

“Tired…”

Right now, she could sleep like the dead. But, there was one thing left to do before that. An act which became every days custom before sleep.

Henrietta pulled out a rope next to her pillow.

At once… a court lady appeared in front of the door.

“You called, Your Majesty?”

“Did Agnes return?”

“Musketeer commander, Agnes–sama, hasn't returned yet.”

“I see. Thank you.”

After hearing the footsteps of the court lady disappear, Henrietta shut her eyes tight. Like a child, she bit her fingernail. Looking troubled, Henrietta buried her face into the pillow, with her eyes closed.

* * *

At that time, in another room of the Havirand palace…

The lord sitting with his back to burning fireplace, with his elbow placed on the sofa‘s armchair, was watching the guest with great interest.

“Hmm, what does the great ambassador of Romalia want from the ‘incapable king’ of Galia?”

Joseph, while giving a barely contained smile, looked down at the ambassador of Romalia who had 'A personal message from the Pope'.

He had outstanding blond hair… It was Julio.

While kneeling on one knee on the floor, he answered.

“Incapable king?… You are way too modest.”

“Not modesty at all. It is a fact that government and assembly officials, nobles too – they all laugh at me. Calling me ‘incapable’ in the shadows. If you look at it – the domestic affairs and country diplomacy is weird and wrong. Just like playing with a toy.”

“Your Majesty ended the war. The history will remember your name as a great king.”

“Is such compliment of any good? I am not interested in history at all.”

Joseph took a music box that was on the table, and placed it on his hand. It was an old, worn-out music box. It was brown, with the varnish completely fallen off. It was cracked in some places. However, Joseph patted it dearly.

”Antiquary?“

“Aye. I’ve got it from Albion’s royal family, an excellent article, called ‘Founder's music box’.”

“Founder's treasure?”

Joseph's eyes shone.

“Precisely.”

“Romalia, Galia, Tristain, and Albion… Each royal family received something called founder's treasure.”

“I wonder what would happen if the people of Halkeginia were to learn about that?”

“And the ring of the four elements…”

“This one?”

Joseph showed Julio the ring on his finger.

“Indeed.”

“Hmm, so what business do you have? I am slowly getting sleepy. After all, conferences everyday are tiresome. Like that greedy lass, who never seems to get tired. I want you to be brief.”

“I’m afraid, though Your Majesty doesn’t like it much, it is connected with history. Those treasures, with founder’s will and blood were said to be placed in Romalia… And recently a certain prophecy was excavated.”

Joseph watched Julio evaluating him. So beautiful, that it made all words of description seem banal. Poets would have to invent new words for this… And his eyes, both different color, had a strong light in them.

This fellow… Julio Cesar named Shinto priest… to take part in nations conference, he could not be a useless guy. He might be Romalia’s best man in terms of diplomacy.

“Fum. What prophecy?”

“The Founder's power was great. He divided his power into four parts, putting it into the treasures and rings. There were four people to keep it too. The Founder said ‘For treasures, four rings, four familiars, four users… when all four will gather again, my Void power will awaken.’”

“What was that?! In other words, four users of void exist?! Really?!”

Joseph laughed aloud.

“Stop saying foolish things! Users of void, and four people at that! Founder’s void can be replaced by four people? This is masterpiece!”

“It’s not a lie. Romalia collected true information. Two users existence was confirmed.”

“Well, who?”

“I cannot tell. Only when I will be convinced upon Your Majesty’s cooperation, I will reveal it. “

“What cooperation?”

“Well , that’s easy. As soon as you discover user of Void, I want you to inform our country about it. Don’t worry. Our country doesn’t have great ambitions. However, we want to accompany founder's mind in the fullest sense… only that purpose. Royal alliance concluded today… The alliance between three kingdoms might correctly lead to founder’s true intention - one united country.”

“Tsk…” Joseph shook his blue head.

“About users of void... I know nothing at all. Because I am an ‘incapable king’, the arriving vassals will not inform me about most essential things.”

“There is a way of discovering Voids users. With one of the four rings open the music box. If that person is a user, he will hear founder's melody.”

Joseph nodded.

“I agree. Let’s try it.”

“Well then…” Julio stood up.

“Wait.”

“What?”

“What about sharing Romalia’s true information of everything?”

“Because you are tired, so…”

“What, it may be just right entertainment to kill ones' time during this long night.”

“I am sorry. But it is as I said – only when Your Majesty's cooperation will be assured, I will get the the permission to reveal it.”

“Though young, the king is stronger than the pope.”

“More than others, he has more faith. Therefore, the corresponding level of faith from others is demanded.

“Then are you saying - a faith like one in the founder and god awakening?”

Julio gave a smile.

“This topic of Your Majesty’s interest is closed, but there’s another one.”

"Very well.”

“All substance in the world is made from small grains. Grains smaller than water drops or sand. As clarified and in our recent theology, four element spells influences them.”

“Fuum.”

“But those grains are made from even smaller grains. It is said, that those smaller grains are what Void controls.”

"So what?"

“Following Founder’s mind, and ‘four of four’ would gather… It would be a completely loose situation… in case of the complete Founder’s void’s power resurrection, the void spell might have a dreadful effect. Furthermore, the smallest grains effect could be so big that it may change this world’s existence completely… In fact, there is such spell mentioned in the prophecy.”

“What spell?”

Julio bowed.

“I would hate to obstruct Your Majesty’s rest any further.”

“Shinto priests always seem to be ardent in propaganda.“

Julio, who tried to leave, was called back to stop by Joseph again.

“Wait.”

“Has your faith in the founder’s and god’s truth been reignited?”

“I have a question concerning that faith. You, Romalian’s and these provoking Reconquista… is there any difference between you?”

With a smile on his lips, Joseph gave a deep meaning question to Shinto priest.

“Reconquista was a disorderly crowd after all. They were just bunch of kids against the king. They used term ‘To recover sacred ground’ just to unite themselves. I don’t think they seriously thought about getting back the sacred ground from the elves.’

“…”

“Our Romalia is trying just trying to recover the sacred ground. Besides that, there are no other motives.”

Joseph buried his eyes into the Romalian’s.

“Against Elves primordial magic used to control the sacred ground, there is only a founder’s void left as a counter. Well, in case if we were to use it…”

Julio murmured to himself while turning to leave. Joseph said in a happy voice.

“You are mad.”

With his different-colored ‘moon eyes’ shining, Julio answered gleefully..

“This is what faith is about.”

* * *

After Julio left, Joseph took up the doll from the table. The doll had a shape of a thin, brunette woman. After patting it dearly for a while, Joseph brought his mouth close.　

“Did you hear it too, cute goddess? Yeah! That’s the right thing you heard! Romalia still does not know truth about us. The fellows that were running after Founder’s tail for thousands of years, still do not have enough knowledge!”

Joseph brought his ear close to the doll.

“That’s right! It’s like you say, Myozu! They have information, but not the tools. Haha, in this game, we have an unquestionable advantage. Ruby of earth, Founder‘s censer, Founder‘s music box… three parts are already ours. Aye, Tristain has three too… but they do not have the information. With the knowledge about prophecy and Albion‘s royal family treasure, it could be worrisome. Yet that lass is only interested in money and land. Haha, stupid beyond help! In other words, only we have information and tools. It‘s more than anyone else has.“

Joseph shut his mouth.

“What? Is that so?! Tristain’s user is coming to Albion? Moreover, alone? It’s like a chicken waiting to be cooked! Capture it immediately. We need to get the founder’s prayer book and the ruby of water, before Romalian raccoon dogs do. Hurry up!”

After giving instructions to the doll, Joseph sank into the sofa.

Seems like he will be able to sleep well tonight.

Joseph, opened the lid of founder's music box, which was on table’s left.

And… closed his eyes.

After a while, the door next to his bedroom opened. Mrs. Moliere, in slovenly night clothes, showed up.

“Your Majesty, did the guest leave?”

“Aye.”

“Such a rude person, barging in, in the middle of the night! I hate that Shinto priest! Just because they believe in Founder and the God, they think they can obstruct lovers!”

Mrs. Moliere ran her hand up Joseph’s neck. And combined hair in lover’s way.

Hey, Your Majesty. Is it all right?”

“What?”

“You always listen to the music box… Isn’t it broken though? I can not hear anything. Maybe I should have a master to mend it? I know a master with good, crafty hands, who makes me nice jewels. Now, look at this godly necklace. When it comes to that, he is really skillful…”

Joseph interrupted Mrs. Moliere's chat with an annoyed waving.

“You are impeding the appreciation of a beautiful experience. Shut up.”

“…But, I-“

“Let me listen.”

On his finger… in a vivid brown color, the Ruby of Earth shone.

* * *

Louise and Siesta arrived to Rosais on the third week of February, it was the fourth day of the Eoro week, and an evening of Raag day.

Usually, it would take twice as much time.

The shipping service between the Albion continent and Halkeginia had many people to serve. There were long lines of people who waited their turn to leave to Albion from the port in La Rochelle.

Unless one uses Her Majesty’s commission to get on board of a private ship.

This way, Louise interrupted the regular order of flights, and arrived in Rosais after one week.

Louise, upon arriving at Albion, was amazed again.

The reason for that was, port Rosais was even more overcrowded than La Rochelle.

Peddling merchants whose business by war in Albion, speculators trying to get rich, government officials, people who were visiting the ones that they could not due the war… it was over flown with big crowds of people from all over Halkeginia.

“So many.”

Louise, who descended from the port, muttered and sighed. From the port, the road to the city was framed with arsenals and commanders, like exposition of Halkeginia.

Along side the road, a lot of people stood with wooden signs with names on them.

“What are those names?”

Wearing an apron and coat taken from the Academy of Magic's housemaid clothes, Siesta stuck out from under her cap and asked, wondering. She was carrying a big bag over her shoulder. It was packed with traveling needs.

“They are looking for people who have gone missing during the war.”

Louise said in a sad voice. Though she was wearing the usual Academy of Magic uniform, she had a big leather rucksack over her shoulders as well.

“I wonder if we’ll find… Saito-san.”

Their only clue was an order note given to Louise. There, it was written:

“Stop the enemy at the northeast hill, 50 leagues away from Rosais.”

Though she inquired the army about the missing Saito, clues were not obtained. Though she thought about meeting Henrietta, she was not in the royal palace. Seems like she went to some conference in Albion.

“Mo, after all the only ones that we can rely upon are ourselves, right?”

“But, why couldn’t we borrow a horse?”

Looking at her, Siesta said:

“We go by foot, there is no distance we could not walk.”

She said and began to walk… while Louise slumped onto the ground.

“Auu…”

Because she was dragging a heavy luggage since she came here, her body screamed.

“Pathetic.”

“We've been on foot since we left the ship. It’s late already, let’s stay for the night and start searching by tomorrow again. You have some stamina, don’t you?”

Saying that, Louise looked over at Siesta’s bag on her shoulder. It was three times bigger than Louise’s rucksack. She was carrying such a big bag, which looked to be heavy.

“I grew up in the countryside. It‘s nothing special.“

Siesta said nonchalantly.

* * *

Of course, there were no rooms to rent. A lot of people that failed to get a room gathered around the hotels and spread their cloths there, preparing to sleep. Trying to find a vacant slot somewhere, led them to the front yard of the command base that Galia fleet had blown off. The red brick rubble left by the bombardment looked miserable.

However, the string people, though with a sense of trepidation, have had their tents set up in here to sleep and stay over. Some were even selling red bricks as the end of the war symbols.

Siesta took out the cloth from the bag and started to set put a tent skillfully. The sticks were put, the cloth was put. A sleeping place for two people was made with a surprising swiftness.

Then she collected a few bricks and, drawing few surprised looks, made an improvised kitchen. Then, after some rustling, she took a pan out of the bag and started preparing a stew.

After finishing, she placed it into the wooden bowl and hand it over to Louise.

“Please,”

“T-thank you.”

Louise looked suspiciously at the presented stew. She could not see the color of it. A peculiar aroma of mountain herbs and meat drifted.

Anxiously Louise peeked inside…

“It is good, don’t worry. It’s my village’s special dish - Yoshenave.”

“Yoshenave?”

“Yes. Dish made by my grand-grandfather.”

“Heee”

Louise timidly took one sip.

“Delicious!”

“Eheh. It suits everyone’s taste.”

Then Siesta muttered.

“My grnad-grandfather came from the same country as Saito-san.”

Louise popeyed.

“Really?”

“Yes. Umm… He came to this world with ‘dragon raiment’, 60 years ago…”

“Hm.”

Louise was surprised to see such link between Siesta and Saito.

“You did not know?”

-nodnod- Louise nodded.

Siesta gave a smugly smile.

“Why are you smiling?”

“One thing I win. Ehehehe.”

“Win what?! Hey!”

Thrusting herself towards Louise, Siesta began to sing a strange tune.

“Grand-grandfather and lover are from the same country♪ Same country ♪Same country ♪”

“Lover who?! Hey!”

When Louise boiled and it shouted, Siesta said in the triumphant voice.

“Kissed.”

“Wh-what?”

“A lot.”

Louise tightly clasped a fist. Loosing her temper here, would be what enemy wishes her to do.

After taking a few deep breaths, she shook her head. Then slapped her own cheeks.

Then, desperately fighting for composure, fixed her hair and placed her arms together.

“I-I did it a lot of times too. Or I should say, it was done to me.”

“Heeh. How many times?”

Cold-eyed, asked Siesta

“W-well…the first one was when we made familiar contract, sealed with a kiss.”

“A contract? It doesn’t count.”

Ignoring Siesta, Louise looked up.

“Then, second time! On the dragon! It was when he kissed me while I was sleeping!”

“That’s impossible! Saito-san would never gloss over such thing!”

“Possible! Because, I was pretending to sleep!”

Louise declared triumphantly.

“What about it, he forcibly did it while I was sleeping! Then, why he was giving me, his master, those kind of looks – starestarestarestarestaaare. In bed, at the table, even in classroom, everywhere! With perverted dog’s eyes too! Why would a servant force his master? When I was unaware too! Isn’t those stuuupid ideas! Phui! Such feelings!

Phui! Louise was showing off.

Siesta, watched such exaggerated Louise’s reaction, coldly, and calmly delivered a blow.

“But if you were unaware, how come you know everything in such details?”

Louise was at a loss of words.

“It wasn’t forced. You could resist, but you didn’t, right?”

Bulls-eye. However, it would not be Louise, if she would admit it. Averting her eyes, she muttered to herself.

“I, I became numb.”

“Why you became numb?”

“I was s-stung by a bee… Yes, a bee.”

“Think of a better lie next time!”

Not able to trick her, Louise decided to go on instead.

“Third time!”

However, the third time was certainly done by Louise herself. For some reason she couldn’t resist while watching sleeping Saito’s face and kissed him. Therefore, Louise decided to skip the explanation.

“Fourth time!”

“Wait a moment! What happened with the third time?

“Nothing!”

“Not nothing! Explain it properly! Don’t lie!”

The fourth time happened on the shallop.

That time the reason they kissed… was Louise saying that he can touch her anywhere he wants, and then they kissed. Louise was worried. She decided to not explain it in full details to maid again. Therefore Louise skipped.

“Fifth time!”

Though as far as the memory reach… there was no fifth time. To deceive, Louise pointed her finger at Siesta.

“So this is it! I was kissed five times overall! No, I didn’t like it! I was embarrassed!”

Louise glared at Siesta with killer eyes.

However Siesta didn’t gave in to such Louise’s stare and returned it.

“I did it seven times!”

“Yes?”

“During single night, however.”

“Then it was a single time! Single one! After the sun rose, you were not kissed for even once!

Siesta looked at Louise with fake sympathy, and, with triumph in her eyes, she dully stated.

“Please listen me carefully. Don’t use spell on me, ok?”

“What are you saying.”

“Promise

“All right.”

“I used tongue.”

Even Louise's ears crimsoned. Her body shook with anger.

The two kept throwing daggers with their eyes at each other for a while, and then sighed together.

Then, Siesta muttered.

“He is absolutely alive.”

Though Louise was looking down, she looked up at once.

“We have to believe it.”

“That’s right.”

Then it became silent…

The shouts of joy came from behind.

“N?”

When turning around, they saw a crowd gathered.

“What?”

When they approached it, they saw a lot of small dolls dancing on their feet. Knights, mercenaries, demi-humans, griffons and dragons… Seems like it was some kind of play.

“Aruvuu?

Louise whispered silently

“What is Aruvuu?”

Siesta asked blankly.

“Gargoyle species.”

“Gargoyle?”

“Yes. Unlike Golems, these are magic dolls with their own will and movement. Aruvuu are said to be small ones. Hey, remember that small statue standing many in the dining school’s dining room? It is Aruvuu. When night comes they magically start to move and dance…”

On the other side dancing aruvuus, highroad artist could be seen. It was a beautiful woman with a deep hood put on her head. From the hood, long black hair peeped. She, without stirring, gazed at The Adventure of the Dancing Men.

The dance seemed to imitate the fight.

When a single fencer attacked dragons and mages, the shouts of joy boiled from the viewers. Commoners received it well, when a fencer was the plot hero.

When the last dragon was knocked down, Fencer aruvuu bowed to the viewers. All other mages and dragons stood up and bowed to the spectators as well. The people who gathered threw coins one after another and left. Siesta also took out of the pocket one copper coin and threw it.

Then…Two aruvuus ran up to Siesta's feet and sat down demurely on her shoes.

“Ara, araarara. I can’t walk this way.”

Siesta quietly reached for them.

“Itta!”

Siesta gave a small yelp. She touched the sword of the fencer doll that began to move suddenly. The finger got cut, and blood started dripping out.

“Don’t touch aruvuus with your hand.”

Louise kicked the doll to the ground with her feet.

“Lets go.” Louise urged Siesta, and they returned back to the tent.

Watching Louise’s and Siesta’s figures disappear, the hooded woman smiled. 　

Quietly, she lifted the hood up.

Ancient runes could be seen on her forehead.

When she gripped aruvuu they started to shine.

It was Sheffield.

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