Zero no Tsukaima:Volume9 Chapter7
Chapter Seven: Solicitation
Thirty mails in the sky of Tristania... a dragon knight was patrolling in the air.
Though it was not war time, there were always one or two dragon knights in the air, since air pirates and mysterious creatures could attack the capital anytime.
On this day, the one who was on air was Rene of the capital escort Dragon Knight Regiment First Battalion, the one who had previously fought together with Saito.
The dragon he lost in Albion was replaced by a new white wind dragon he obtained, and Rene was circling the sky of Tristania slowly. Seemingly cold, Rene buried his face in the neckband of his boar-leather coat.
“The sky is freezing... Dammit! And the war has already ended! But when it comes to handling the men of the Dragon Knight corps, it's always the same! As for that SAITO who was installed as the Assistant Commanding Officer of the Imperial Guards, it is completely different! Well... just because he stopped that seventy thousand strong army, that promotion was still not the way to do things... or was it?”
As if responding to Rene's grumbles, that new partner dragon purred, Kyui.
“Ryusto, it's not really your fault. Because it's the duty of the dragon knights to fly in the air.”
He stroked the dragon's head gently, at which the wind dragon narrowed its eyes happily.
However, at the following instant... the wind dragon opened its eyes widely. Not allowing even the smallest glint of light escape, those pupils opened like an animal from the cat family.
“What's wrong, Ryusto?”
Waruuuuuuuuuuu...
A low growl came out from the Wind Dragon's mouth.
He followed the field of vision of those eyes.
Different from the dragon which was excellent in night vision, Rene, a human being, could not really detect the “thing” over there.
“What? That is...”
Illuminated by the moonlight, between the opening of the clouds, there was something there.
There was a gigantic wing... The overall width could easily be more than 100 mails.
That thing was flying slowly in the air. Moreover...Shunshunshunshun...it made a sound which he had not heard before.
Rene gulped.
He was frightened by the silhouette which was like a gigantic demon spreading its wings.
“Don't tell me that's a reincarnation of the legendary demons... Oi, Ryusto! Get closer!”
But the wind dragon did not obey his command. Far from it, it turned on it's heels and started to retreat.
“Oi Ryusto! What's wrong! I have to check out what that thing is!”
Despite Rene's desperate rebuke, Kyui, with a purr, the wind dragon descended away from the object. Ryusto, who was still young, was evidently afraid of such a huge thing.
“How I miss Virkan who died in Albion!! Without being afraid, without even a command, he would just rush forward!!”
Rene cried out regretfully.
The next afternoon... the location was changed - Tristain Academy of Magic.
“The Ball of Sleipnir?”
During lunch, both of them seated, Saito asked Malicorne who was in front of him. Lately, he was not at Louise's side, and at many times, he was with the company of the Ondine • Knight Corps of the Water Spirit, having his meals with them.
“Yeah. Now is the start of the new school term, right? Well, you might not know about it though.”
Although he said “new school term,” Saito still didn't get his point. Because he could not get used to the feeling of the months over here. Still, for some reason, it was quite lively lately. He vaguely felt the springtime-like atmosphere.
Come to think of it, there was a certain ceremony recently, and many noble teens attended. Unnoticed, the figures of the third-years could not be seen anymore. It was a graduation, and the replacement with first-year students. Oh I see! That was the school entrance ceremony? Saito hit his knees.
“Why is there a ball for the new school term?”
Guiche, who was sitting beside him, explained,
“Well, isn't a welcome necessary? Among the newly enrolled noble lasses, there is quite a number who are entering the higher society for the first time. I will carefully teach those girls the adult social life! Yeah, adult social life! Oh, there are boys as well...”
Looks like the point is to welcome the new students. Fuuun, as Saito nodded, he filled his mouth with grilled meat. With the sour taste of the fruit sauce, it was delicious.
At a careful look, everyone's way of using the table utensils were not that elegant. Hitting the plate with the fork, making a loud “gacchagaccha” noise, gulping down the soup with a “zuzuzu” noise, spilling it unconcernedly.
Although Louise and the other girls eat quietly with polite table manners, Guiche and the other boys' way of eating was terrible.
As for “manners” which was really irritating, I could surely do it in this world recently, I suppose..., While thinking that, Saito ate politely.
“But, this is not an ordinary ball!”
Draining his wine cup quickly, Guiche stood up. Malicorne gulped his down forcefully as well. Anyway, these guys had been drinking heavily since noon. With good manners, Saito squeezed lemon juice into his carbonated drink and drank it. Speaking of nobles, these guys were of the inferior group. Saito made the weird resolution to be at least of the superior group.
“What do you mean by 'ordinary'?”
“Masquerade.”
Guiche said triumphantly.
“Masquerade? This isn't that special. There are many balls like this.”
At Saito's words, with a fuun sound, Malicorne laughed lightly at Saito, displaying a smile.
But at the next moment... the conversation behind his seat entered Saito's ears.
“Have you heard? The words of a 'mysterious bird' which appeared at the sky of Tristania.”
“Yeah. My elder brother who serves in the dragon knight corps heard the rumor as well... is it true?”
The ones who were conversing were two lads of the same class. Saito strained his ears towards them. Not noticing Saito's actions, Malicorne continued his explanation.
“Get it? The masquerade ball of the Academy of Magic is not as simple as the usual “masquerade”. It is a masquerade which uses magic. The “Mirror of Truth” is used. The thing one admires the most... you can transform into something like that.”
After that, Guiche declared pridefully.
“The ideal self. Well, my ideal self is me!! Ah, because I am the most handsome one in the world! Ahaha! Ah! Everyone will change into my appearance! Ah! Ahaha! Ah!”
As he was yelling this, Guiche hugged himself tightly.
However, Saito was no longer listening to Malicorne and Guiche's chatter. He was thoroughly into the conversation behind his seat.
“...And, I heard that its width achieved 150 mails!”
“Isn't it a ship?”
“Is there a ship with such an appearance?”
“In that case, a dragon? An enormous one. The legendary huge dragon.”
“Nope, its wings were completely different from the ones of a dragon class. If I had to say, it had the form of a bird... the word was that it was a creature with spreading out wings.”
Unconsciously, Saito had left his seat to listen to those words.
“Can you tell me the details?”
Those guys told him the rumor that had transpired at the palace lately.
In his night flight in the air, a dragon knight sighted a huge “shadow”.
Its width was more than 100 mails.
It made a strange sound, and so on...
“So, what on earth was that?”
“I don't know. The dragon of that dragon knight was frightened... no, the one who was frightened might've been the dragon knight himself... escaping before approaching that object to check it out. Upon the receipt of that information, when another dragon knight ascended the air, it had already disappeared from the skies of Tristania like a mist.”
“What is that...?”
“Well... you can say that he had mistaken it for a cloud or something else...”
“Fuuunnn...”
Saito was somehow uneasy about that. He remembered “Myoznitnirn” they met before this.
Able to manipulate all magical items, same as him, the “familiar of Void”...
Assuming that it was neither a dragon nor a ship... is that something like a type of magical items?
Since details of that thing could not be seen, nothing could be said about it... at any rate, they could not be negligent. Those guys Saito and the rest met in Albion, who had animosity towards them, were not Fouquet or Wardes or Reconquista; their true motives could not be grasped. Was it a particular country, or was it some organization... even that could not be told. They were an eerie lot.
Henrietta would investigate it... but they did not acquire any new information, no words came to them at present.
Saito thought that over while returning to his seat.
Malicorne found fault with Saito, and said as if he was displeased.
“Oi, listen properly to our words! Leaving your seat in the middle of a conversation is really rude!”
“Hmm? Aah, sorry. Umm, what kind of masquerade?”
He remembered that they were in the conversation about a different type of masquerade ball.
“That's enough!”
“Sorry, sorry. Don't be angry like that. Don't you guys worry about that? The mysterious, enormous shadow which had appeared at the skies of Tristania!”
“They had seen wrongly. A series of misrecognitions during the night air patrol! Information like the naked princess flying in the sky. What is that? It's be better for us to set out to investigate it!”
Guiche spoke in a foolish tone.
As this chatter continued, a spectacled lad opened his mouth.
“Hey, you guys. The ball or the mysterious shadow, whatever it is. Think more about the affairs of the knight corps!”
Saito sat down beside Guiche, and stared at that lad. It was definitely the chap from the class beside Reynal's. During Albion's military campaign, he apparently directed the wagon corps. Not discouraged during the chaos of their retreat, he had put that corps in order. Because of that, he was commended.
“Do you know how we are called in the palace? “Student Knights Thingy”! My uncle who is serving in the palace heard a rumor, something like we had made her majesty disappointed and worried.”
All the members present there displayed affronted-looking faces.
“What? Although we might not have contributed many valorous deeds, hadn't the Imperial Guard corps already been specially promoted? Compared to the great warriors of the past, it can't be helped that we are known as “Child's Play”. But we have no reason to accept it just like that. For this reason, we want you to think consider this seriously, Guiche, Saito!”
Guiche and Saito exchanged glances.
“Your thoughts might be correct, b-but, what should we do?”
“We want you to empower our battle arrays. Presently, isn't Saito the only Chevalier?”
“Although you say that, Chevalier isn't a title you can receive just like that...”
At Guiche's words, Reynal smiled sweetly.
“I know of another one.”
During lunch break, all the group members went to the library.
At the side of the library where most of the people won't go, there was a lass there.
The small body leaned over and was reading a book with her utmost attention.
The blue-haired lass was Tabitha.
“Huh? When did she come back?”
Guiche whispered. Indeed, she was supposed to stick close to Kirche and go to Germania with her.
“Looks like she came back two or three days ago.”
“She is not someone who stands out. Umm...”
Guiche spoke as if he was troubled.
“Yet, can she come into our company? Isn't she a girl?”
“But still, she is truly a 'Chevalier'. In such a case, we cannot have gender distinctions, I suppose. The condition to be enlisted in “Ondine” is “a student of the Academy of Magic”. Only that. It doesn't mean that there is a rule which forbids the participation of females.”
“The official documents do not set apart these things. It just happened like that unexpectedly. Which ever girl can also join...”
Guiche said.
“But I'm not a student here...”
Saito pointed out.
“Isn't it fine? If that's the case, we can also change it to “Beings that live at the Academy of Magic”. It's decided now. That's it. I decided it.”
Reynal declared arrogantly. Not matching his obedient and quiet-looking appearance, looks like he had a really forceful character. Evidently, he intended to persuade the Commanding Officer and the Assistant Commanding Officer to let him shoulder the practical business of the knight corps.
“Is it okay? After all, both of you have no interest whatsoever in “administration” and “reputation”. For the continuation of the knight corps, above everything else, these two things are indispensable. I think that if the knight corps follow my own way, we would not be called fools in the palace. If you have a better plan, tell me.”
At those words, Saito and Guiche were speechless.
“Well then, I'll persuade her.”
Reynal stepped forward, but Saito stopped him.
“Wait!”
“What's the problem? Do you have any complaints!?”
“No. Just in case, Guiche and I will go. Hey, Guiche!”
“Huh? A-Ah.”
Leading Guiche, Saito sat beside Tabitha who was reading a book.
“Yo, yo...”
Saito was fairly bad at dealing with this blue-haired girl. At any rate, when it comes to this lass, she neither chatters, nor responds, as if she has an air of pressure.
Although Saito sat down, Tabitha still did not have any response.
“You had gone to Germania together with Kirche huh. Oh yea, umm... together with Colbert-sensei's corpse...what happened after that?”
Tabitha did not reply.
“Is Kirche still there?”
At which Tabitha nodded. However, she seemingly did not intend to say anything at all.
“I see... When will she come back?”
“Don't know.”
Anyway, it was as if there were things she did not want to say. No, she probably just spoke little... After that, Saito had given up asking.
“Other than those things, I have a favor.”
Guiche cut into their conversation.
“By all means, won't you join our knight corps?”
“...”
Tabitha did not even try to lift her face from that book.
“Err... we had only been made into a knight corps... We want to borrow your power.”
Saito said, but as expected, Tabitha did not respond.
“You're a Chevalier right? By all means, won't you use that power for the sake of our Ondine?”
“I am a Gallian.”
Her answer had barely escaped her lips,
“Is there any problem with Gallians? If you like, a 'guest knight' status is fine as well.”
Reynal who had been standing there without them noticing, said that.
“We can negotiate the increase of annuity as well...”
Tabitha shook her head. The blue hair above her head shook as well. Saito remembered the dream he saw in Albion some time ago. During that time, he recalled the throbbing breasts of this cold face, a little embarrassed. Upon a closer look, Tabitha was really a beauty as well. Just that... the few layers of cold air covered Tabitha's facial expression, thus concealing her charm.
When he looked at that face... There's nothing I can do?, Saito somehow thought that.
With a serious face, Saito said to Tabitha.
“I have become a 'Chevalier' as well, just like you.”
“Chevalier?”
At that, Tabitha lifted her face for the first time.
“Yeah. Because of that, I want to be of use to people. I kept thinking like that. More than just a commoner, pertaining to the Chevalier-like title, maybe I can do something. Whether I would do well or not, I do not know such things. But now, I would do it with my life. You're strong, right? How do I put it? Umm...”
Seemingly ashamed, Saito said.
“Won't you try to use that strength for the sake of this society? Sort of.”
Upon which Tabitha closed her book and stood up.
“Oooh, you're coming along, right?”
Guiche let out a delighted voice.
But...
“I have no interest in pretending to be knights.”
Leaving that short sentence behind, Tabitha walked off.
“Grrrrrrrrr... What's that brat's problem! We had asked her so humbly, and she left with such a tone!!”
Guiche stamped his feet in frustration, apparently regretful.
“Well, it shouldn't be her ego. She should have some other things to do, I think...”
Saito tried to cheer up the angered Guiche.
Tabitha went back to her room, and discovered a raven on top of her bed. It was definitely a carrier crow, bringing a secret message from the Gallian royal family. It was always a delivery bird, although there were times when owls or doves were used.
Nevertheless, today's crow was not holding any secret message.
Tabitha inclined her head to one side, and bang!. Emitting a sound, it cracked into half.
Upon a closer look... that was an elaborate model of a crow. It was probably a kind of 'gargoyle'. There was a hole in the crow model which cracked apart, and a letter was inserted into it.
She picked it up and browsed through it. Tabitha's eyebrows lowered slightly.
During that night... the one Tabitha visited on her wind dragon Sylphid was not Gallia, but Tristain.
Above the town which was glowing with lights, Tabitha jumped off from Sylphid. She recited a spell, and her body floated with Levitation, landing slowly.
That place was a street along which suspicious-looking bars and gambling dens lined - Chicton Street. Drunkards and ladies in revealing clothes who were walking along that street at night saw Tabitha who had landed from the sky, and was stunned for a moment... and realizing that it was a young child, they smiled bitterly. Although their opponent might have been a noble, she was still a kid. From the mouths of the drunkards who had become brave, sneers came out of them.
“What's wrong, miss? Isn't this a place where children shouldn't come?”
“Oh my! You have lost your way? If I lead you to your dear father, would you give me a reward?”
As if those were just a breeze which flew past her face, Tabitha ignored those sneers, and head towards that specified bar.
Although that place was on Chicton Street as well, it was a more refined bar. There were many people in noble and knight outfits. The shop owner sitting behind the counter stared at Tabitha suspiciously.
“This is not a shop for a noble's daughter to visit. Our premises should be quite chaotic right now. It is better for you to return home.”
In spite of that, Tabitha did not move.
Shaking his head, the owner drew near to Tabitha's face.
“Hey, miss. Although I dunno what sort of magic you use, those people who conspire bad things come along as well. While you are not involved in anything troublesome yet...”
At the moment when the shop owner was threatening Tabitha, a lady deeply buried in a hood sat down beside Tabitha.
“Sorry for being late. Your friend, huh?”
The latter half of her words were directed towards the shop owner. From the ambiance of that lady, the shop owner who sensed that it would be better for him not to poke his head into their affairs, withdrew to the inside of the bar.
The lady in the thick robe looked at Tabitha.
“How do you do? Knight of the North Parterre, Tabitha-dono.”
After Tabitha lightly nodded, she spoke.
“Why?”
Why is she to receive her task in Tristain and not Gallia? That was her question.
“This country will be the setting of the task this time.”
“...”
That lady removed the hood she was wearing. Slit, almond eyes. Between the rustling black hair, runes were written messily. The mind of god, Myozntnirn.
“Our master's thoughts were this: although he wanted to let the four "dragons" of this world fight among each other... for some reason I don't know, he decided to capture one of them.”
“...”
“That 'dragon' has a strong guard. That's why he wants you to exterminate that guard. During that time, I will steal that 'dragon.'”
“Exterminate the guard?”
“Someone you know very well.”
Myoznitnirn showed Tabitha a slip of paper.
Seeing the name and portrait on it, Tabitha's eyes opened widely.
“If you manage to accomplish this task... there is a big reward. Your mother... she drank poison and became mentally ill, right? It's the medicine to regain her sanity.”
Tabitha bit her lips lightly, and quivered. After that, she shifted her view towards Myoznitnirn. Those eyes contained obvious animosity.
“Eh? The great Knight-sama of the North Parterre, had personal feelings towards her acquaintances? Don't you get it? This is a chance for your mother to regain her sanity.”
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