Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter5 - MTL

After that, ten days passed.

After Tiffania’s ring intensive healing magic treatment, Saito’s fatal wounds, after two weeks of sleeping and three all together, almost completely healed….

Yet he was not heading back.

Leaning upon his elbows, Saito let out a lonely sigh.

“Haaah.”

What a painful thing to hear were those sighs.

Saito was sitting on the firewood pile behind Tiffania’s house. Tiffania’s house was made from logs and some mortar.

Before one’s eyes, sun-lit, beautiful trees grew.

Here, next to South Gotha, Westwood village was located. The village is near the highway connecting South Gotha and port city Rosais.

Based on Tiffania’s words, the hill where Saito held off the Albion army is not too far away either.

Indeed, it was a tiny, forgotten by people village. Even if you would be looking its way, through small breaks within forest, you could see the ten small houses only from a really close distance.

Derflinger, who was leaning against the woodpile, said in a calm voice.

“Weeell, seems like Albion’s army missed the Allied Forces in Rosais. Because you won some time, the allies could retreat successfully. Partner, your life threatening clash with an enemy was not in vain.”

They learned this from the merchant that came to peddle in the village the other day.

He himself has seen that merchant who came to sell the cloth and chattered about the reverse defeat of the Albion republic army. He said - "We’ll survive through this and it will be a little bit easier" with a happy face. Albion’s nobles were not popular among the country people.

“Besides, the war ended as well. Goes without saying.”

They also learned that Galia suddenly entered the war, making the Albion army surrender.

“Even if we escaped, we won anyway.”

However, Saito still looked gloomy.

“…it is so.”

Louise and others should have been able to run away safely as well. Yet even though he should be joyous…

He kept on staring absent-minded at his left hand, and muttered:

"Clean isn’t it.”

So, the runes that disappeared did not come back.

Apparently, the contract was completely broken.

“I, I am not even a Gandalfr anymore.”

“Hmm. No, I was thinking, why would a familiar contract completely wear off…”

“What, why?”

“For one moment, your heart stopped. So mate, the familiars' runes died as well. Mage spell based magical objects can make assumptions too. Like flies escape the door that seems to be dead – runes may have left as well.”

“I see.”

Trying to comfort the glum Saito, Derflinger said,

“Hey hey, isn’t it good? This way you won’t have to deal with that fussy noble girl’s complaints. You will be counted as dead in her eyes.”

“Indeed, yet still…”

Bitterly, he was not able to give up. Saito looked up at Derflinger and asked.

“..Can Louise make a contract again?”

“What?”

“Indeed. You heard me.”

“Sort of like double using.”

“Yes.”

“Firstly, "Summon Servant" is not only about passing. It all depends if that noble girl will open the gate in front of you or not.“

“…”

“In fact, it is still unknown why a person is chosen to be a familiar. Based on the four element system, only a beast or a spirit that represents the element of the user can pass the gates… Anyhow, that girl’s element is ‘Void’. According to what principle the familiar is chosen, I don’t know. Yet…”

“Yet?”

“This is so called ‘fate’.”

“Hmm, if I and Louise are related by ‘fate’ then could the gate open again?”

“I don’t know. But, it was fated to bid farewell here. That’s one of the problems.”

“Hmm… well, and secondly?”

“Servant Contract.”

Saito recalled how he was summoned to this world and kissed by Louise. If you think about it - everything started from that. “Aah, that kiss.”

“That is right. ‘Summons’ and ‘contract’. It’s because of the combination of these two, one becomes familiar for the first time.”

“So it is not just a kiss?”

“It seems it was the ‘type’. Actually, the runes carved deeply into your body after that right?”

Saito remembered the sensation of burning pain from that time.

“…so that’s everything left to do.”

“I would not recommend it.”

Derflinger muttered.

“Why?”

“Weeell, that, whether it is or not, if a familiar dies, the mage can summon another familiar… It’s different for familiars. For familiars, ‘contract’ is a lifelong one. For familiars that lives after the contract breaks, it becomes unpalatable.”

“Hmm hmm…”

“So, to put it this way, for a familiar breaking a contract with the mage twice, one can only guess what would happen to the body…”

Derflinger said in an inarticulate voice.

“…”

“So, it’s bad I say. After getting a life back with much trouble and putting it back under the risk again… And, if the contract fails, a partner would not only embarrass himself. That girl also, would not want to see such thing. It would be depressing.“

…It is so.

It’s not only me who is in danger. It is possible that Louise would be jeopardized as well.

Still, Saito was not able to give it up.

It kind of feels like a hole in the heart. The bond that Louise and I had, is broken. It‘s like my body is split into to two, painful.

“Therefore, don’t look so gloomy. This way you can travel to the east without holding back. We'll go together.”

“I am not a Gandalfr anymore, would it still be alright?”

“It’s good. For six thousand years, I've been alive. For me, partner‘s time feels like one second.“

Saito sighed and said.

“But what about Louise?"

“Oh dear. That girl is very prideful, it will be all right.”

In a not careworn voice, Derflinger said. Saito nodded in a persuaded way.

“Yeah. There is no purpose for her to admit me… I, who can’t use magic and is just a simple human, is a nuisance…”

Feeling depressed, he heard the voice from the back.

“Umm…”

When he turned around, Tiffania was standing there with an embarrassed face.

“N?”

“Firewood…”

Seems like Saito was asked to collect the firewood that he sat on.

She was wearing a large hat to hide her pointed ears.

“Ah, sorry.”

Saito stood up. Tiffania, avoiding Saito’s eyes, looked down and reached for the firewood. I have been careless, he thought. What if they learn that I am from a different world? I guess one cannot keep a secret who and from where he is forever. Even though she rescued me... and went through the trouble to look after me when I was recovering.

“Sorry. I am greatly indebted to you. I, it’s time to leave for me. So don’t worry. Yeah, because the war is over, such a kind of awkward guy like me is not needed to the village.“

Tiffania opened her eyes wide.

“Ah, it’s different! Different! It is not so! I… umm, because you are a boy of the same age like me, I could not speak properly… I was slightly tensed… But it is not because I am afraid. Therefore, until the wound heals properly, you may stay here for a long time. I am the one who should be sorry.”

Hesitantly Tiffania bowed embarrassed.

Seeing this girl, Saito brightened up for a moment. Besides, he was impressed. She is an extremely shy about strangers girl. Yet, she helped him despite herself.

“I see, you are not only cute, but gentle too.”

“I-I’m not cute!”

“You are cute. And I think you are gentle too.”

When Saito said so, Tiffania pulled the hat further down. She was feeling shy.

“I may be kind… But because of my mothers' words.”

“Mother?“

Saito asked. The word had a nostalgic sound to it.

“Yes. My… dead elf-mother. She said giving the ring to me. ‘Help when you find a person in need.’ My mother was like that. Without reflecting it myself, I carried out the words of the person that I loved. Therefore, I…”

Derflinger nosed in.

“Somehow, I think that there were complicated circumstances to it.”

Tiffania looked down.

“This Westwood village. If you look at it, only children are in here.”

“That’s right.” Saito nodded. Though his head was full with thoughts about the runes disappearing up till now... He never saw an adult here.

“This village is an orphanage. Children who lost parents live in here.“

“Do you look after them?”

“Because I am the oldest, I take care of things, as for food however…”

“You don’t have money?” Derflinger asked.

“An old acquaintance sends the money. It’s enough to cover the basic needs.” Tiffania said hesitatingly.

“What is a half-elf, with the ‘Primal Magic’ ring, doing in the orphan’s village?

“Derf!”

Saito warned Derflinger.

“It is alright if you do not want to tell the circumstances behind the ring. But is there something you could tell about?”

Tiffania became silent.

“Sorry, we shouldn’t pry for you to speak about something you don’t want to speak. Derf, act properly. That’s this swords habit, to pry about things…”

When Saito said so…Chink! A dry sound came.

When looking up, he saw one arrow stuck in one of the firewood that he sat upon.

“Dangerous. Is there a hunter?”

Chink! Chink!

The arrows flew one after another, sinking into the ground next to Saito and the others.

“Who the?!”

When he shouted, the group looking like mercenaries emerged from the forest.

“Hey you! Is there a village chief? Call him here!”

A lot of people came out. All members were carrying weapons - bows with arrows, spears and so on.

“”Wh-what for?”

Tiffania muttered in a frightened voice.

“My, what a beauty. Here, in the middle of the forest, isolated from the world.”

One said and came closer. He was a small, sly looking man with a small cut on his forehead. Apparently, he was the leader of the group.

“And who are you? Mercenaries?”

“Ex-mercenaries. Since the war ended, we returned to our original profession.”

“Profession?”

“Robbery.”

One said, then the others started to laugh.

“Really, the easy battle time is over once we suddenly surrendered to Galia. You see, we need a compensation. So going back to basic business, to earn food.

“Leave. There is nothing for you in here.”

Tiffania answered back and looked courageously at them. The men laughed.

“There is some.”

“Eh?”

“Even if the village looks poor, there are still some valuable things, I think. For me, a great treat would be a beautiful woman like you.”

“I think you would be worth two thousand gold coins, right?”

These robbers seemed to do kidnapping too.

One approached and the moment he tried to touch Tiffania…

Saito stepped in.

“Stop.”

“What? Kid, don’t value your life? Except for a few exceptions, there is no interest in the market for the likes like you.”

“Don’t touch Tiffa.”

“Myyy, such a serious fellow. Want more wounds? Move.”

Contemptuously evaluating him, a robber gave a vulgar smile.

Saito reached for Derflinger. Derflinger whispered in a worried voice.

“…Partner, stop. The way the partner is today, there is no chance of winning.”

”Hey, youngster. Do you want us to murder you? Let us work in peace.”

One robber said while lowering a spear. Saito clenched his fist. My present self cannot use Gandalfr's power and is just a high school student.

But…

Saito gripped Derflinger.　

“I won’t abandon someone to whom I owe my life.”

“Partner…”

“Naa, little boy. Do you know something?” said a man holding the spear.

“W-what?”

“To attack the Trsitain and Germania Allied Forces, we headed toward Rosais. However, we were stopped by only a single person. I don’t know much as I stayed behind... Yet you remind me the courage of that person. I praise it.”

“It was me.”

Saito, who gripped the sword, said in a shaky voice. Men began to laugh.

“Heyhey! You say you stopped the Albion army when your hand trembles just from holding a sword?”

“At least lie better if you are lying! It was 70,000! 70,000!”

“Shut up!”

Saito raises Derflinger and sprang at a man who laughed. Then the opponent made a serious face and received Saito's sword with the spear.

“Ugh!”

Derflinger was blocked without any effort. The man turned the spear skillfully, hitting Saito's feet with it. Disappointingly, Saito fell on the ground.

Pointing a spear at his face, the man said in a cruel voice:

“Naa, youngster.”

“Ku…”

“When you’ll be reborn in your next life, consider your words before boasting.”

The moment when Saito was giving up, he shut his eyes…

Naushido Isa Elf-zu...　

Voice came from the back. Gradually, it turned into song. A spell was being cast behind him.

Hagaraz Yur Beog...

…It was similar to Louise.　

Needo Isu Arujiz…

When turning around, he saw Tiffania grasping the small wand that she took out some time ago. It was a small and a thin wand, like a pencil.

“What? Nee-chan is a noble? Naah, it must be another bluff…”

Berkan Man Raguu...　

The moment when a single man closed in...

In a confident attitude, like a conductor lowering a rejected baton, Tiffania lowered her wand.

The air stirred like a mayflies.

The air, surrounding men, distorted.

“Fue…?”

Like a fog clearing up, the distorted air returned back to normal…Men looked at the air dumbfoundedly.

“That? What just happened here?”

“This? Why we are in this place?”

Tiffania informed the men in a perfectly composed voice.

“You got lost in the forest.”

“R-really?”

“The army is that way. Go forth to the highway after leaving the forest and then head straight to the north.”

“T-thank you…”

Step by step men left without reliance.

In a blank surprise, Saito watched their backs.

After the last one disappeared in the forest, Tiffania relaxed.

Then Tiffania said in an embarrassed tone.

“…I have erased their memory. Their memory stops at ‘entering the forest.’ When they reach the highway, they will forget about us completely.”

“It’s a magic?”

Tiffania nodded. Then Saito realized something.

“Then, the dragon knights that were helped, have lost their memory as well…”

“So. You know those people.”

Saito nodded.

Magic that erases one’s memory…

Wind, Water, Fire, Earth…

Whichever element he thought of, none could do that.

Unless…

But isn’t it a legendary element?!

While trembling, Saito asked.

“…just now, what magic was it?”

Instead of Tiffania, Derflinger answered.

“Void. It was void.”

“Void?”

Confused, Tiffania looked at Derflinger

“… what, this is its true identity.”

Saito, with a widely opened mouth, stared at Tiffania. This girl who had an impossible chest… secretly had an impossible power as well.

“Anyway… Why are you able to use that power, please allow me to hear.”

* * *