Zero no Tsukaima:Volume11 Chapter9
Chapter Nine: Reunion in Westwood
“I-is that the village where the half-elf with unnaturally big chest lives?”
Guiche asked restlessly
“What the heck are you talking about.”
“Didn’t you say that? You described the features of that half elf girl - long ear and ‘ridiculous chest’.”
“You seemed to have quite a sneaky conversation behind our backs.”
Kirche teased while grinning.
“B-because it’s the thing that this guy wanted to know the most about!”
“Don’t blame it all on me!”
“But, are that girl’s breasts really that big? Bigger than mine?”
Kirche puffed her chest.
“D-don’t know.”
Saito said feeling awkward.
It was already evening when the party reached the Westwood village. Though due to the position of the moon Albion was considerably closer to the Tristain, it still it took half a day with Sylphid flying at full speed to get here.
Compared to that other time when they went to Galia, the party was in a completely different mood. This time they had a duty to take Tiffania with them.
The only trouble was the need to persuade Tiffania the best they can. It was not dangerous so the party was in a bright mood.
It may not be as trouble-free a duty though, Saito thought.
After all, Louise's cannot use Void now.
Speaking of which, Louise was the only one who was not in a good mood and remained silent most of the time.
Kirche poked Saito.
“Hey, Saito. What did you do to Louise? She is been acting weird since the morning. Always silent…”
“No… to tell the truth…”
After a moment of hesitation, whether to say or not to say, Saito told Kirche about it.
“Oh my! Willpower!”
“Shh! Not so loud!”
Saito lowered his voice so that Louise, who was walking ahead of them, would not hear.
“Araa, so she returned back to Louise the Zero again? However, even if she hides it, it may be a serious disease.”
“Don’t say that. You’ll just make me more worried.”
“But, maybe it’s for the better?”
Kirche said with a serious expression on her face.
“What?”
“This child always had to carry the burden of the ‘legend’ on her shoulders. I would be happy to pass it to someone else.”
It may be so, Saito thought.
Saito threw a nostalgic look at the village in front of him. The Westwood village hardly changed.
Built deep in the forest, the plain, compact houses were hard to notice.
Once entering the place, they immediately headed towards Tiffania’s house. White smoke was rising from thatched roof.
“Oi, you’ll just come in like that?”
“Yep, it’s an easy mission anyway. Compared to the usual hardships, it will be a child’s play.”
Guiche said while humming.
“Mo, really, you should be the last man to relax.”
“Says who? Wasn’t it you who was acting strange lately?’
“Me?”
“Indeed. Though I understand your enthusiasm about becoming sub-commander and all, but somehow it is still strange, as normally you would not be so uptight. It doesn’t feel like an old you at all.”
“Really?”
“Aah, before you lived more comfortably. More at ease! Ahaha!”
Guiche laughed aloud.
“Indeed, when you do not let your guard down like this, it is no good.”
Kirche said.
“I command! Demon or not! Come out of this house this instant!”
Guiche stepped in front of Tiffania’s house and shouted.
“I speak in the name of whole clan! I, Guiche de Gramont, The Knight Corps of the Water Spirit commander! In the name of Her Majesty! This is a royal order!”
When there was no answer, Guiche opened the door.
Momentarily, his body stiffened.
“What? What's wrong? Is the girl changing her clothes inside?” Amused, Kirche wondered and peeked inside.
Her body stiffened as well.
Saito and Tabitha looked at each other. Then nodding to each other, they both at the same time pushed their heads through the doorway...
Behind the door, in the living room at the table where Saito also used to eat, two people were sitting.
One of them was Tiffania who stared at the party with a blank surprise written all over her face.
However, the nostalgic friend Tiffania was not the only one in the room. And the main problem was that other one.
Tabitha, who poked her head out of the doorway, stated.
“Fouquet.”
Indeed, Tiffania's house guest was none other but the enemy Fouquet. Saito's shoulders began to tremble. He recalled the face of Wales, who met his death on the ground of Albion.
This was the woman who cooperated with the Crown Prince’s murderer Wardes.
The thief Fouquet, the Crumbling Dirt.
He recalled Henrietta’s crying face, the burnt village of Tarbes and a lot of other spectacles during that miserable Albion’s campaign.
“Fouqueeeeeeeeeeet!”
Saito screamed pulling the sword from his back and leaping forwards.
The rune on his left hand shone.
His swing cut an air within a hair of Fouquet’s face. However, Fouquet was a person of no common order. Standing up without a fear of the leaping Saito, she pulled out the wand and blocked the sword.
For a moment their weapons crossed before both of them jumped back and took the attacking positions.
“What are you doing in here?”
“Those are my words.”
The two simultaneously intensely stared into each others eyes, adjusting the timing. Then…
“Stop!”
Tiffania jumped in between them..
“Why are you two fighting?! Saito! Put your sword away!”
“B-but…”
“Matilda nee-san! Do not raise your hand against this person!”
“Matilda nee-san?”
Saito watched Fouquet. Wrong person? Though he thought so, those sharp eyes on the strong face, he really thought against her Golem before – no doubt, it was Fouquet, the Crumbling Dirt.
Fouquet, wondering what was happening, watched between Saito’s and Tiffania’s faces.
After that she shook her head.
“It can’t be helped.”
Saito though, still blinded with anger, tread to plunge forward… but Tiffania clung to his arm.
“Please, Saito. Stop. Though I do not know what happened between you, stop fighting. Please…” Tiffania was crying.
“Damn” Saito silently cursed under his nose but pulled the sword back into the heath again. And then with a plop sat down on the floor.
”Thank you.”
Tiffania showed the expression of gratitude while sobbing.
Guiche, Kirche and Tabitha looked at each other.
“Maybe now, after such a very long time, we should renew the old friendship again?”
Fouquet asked in a tired voice.
