Zero no Tsukaima:Volume3 Chapter2
Louise’s Lovesickness
The following morning after returning from Albion, Louise’s attitude began to change. To say it simply, she started to become nicer. After waking up, Saito prepared the wash basin for Louise as usual. He'd pour water into the basin and then Louise would make him wash her face. It was troublesome, but if Saito forgot about the wash basin, severe consequences would follow.
Once when Saito forgot to prepare the wash basin, he wasn’t allowed to eat. The next morning, being quite angry, he caught a frog from the pond at the back of the Academy of Magic and put it in the wash basin. Louise, who hated frogs, cried at the sight of the swimming amphibian. She burst into tears when it suddenly appeared in front of her face. Saito apologized profusely, but Louise did not forgive him for making her cry by such a prank.
That time, Louise was not satisfied by merely not feeding Saito. She tried to whip Saito, resulting in Saito escaping the room and sleeping outside.
They would get into fights like those over a mere wash basin, but after going to Albion, something changed. Warm feelings for Saito started to sprout within Louise, and visa verse. However, they did not realize each other’s feelings.
In the morning, Saito prepared the wash basin feeling slightly awkward. Louise sat on her bed with a drowsy look.
With the wash basin was placed on the floor, Saito scooped up water with both his hands but Louise didn’t move. Her pinkish blond hair dangled on her face. Seemingly tired, she rubbed her eyes. With an absent minded expression, she said: “Leave it there, I’ll do it myself.”
Saito was shocked. He didn’t think the words “I’ll do it myself” could come out of Louise’s mouth.
“Louise?”
Saito waved his hand in front of her face. Louise pouted, facing to the side. She was blushing. As if she was angry, Louise said, “I’ll do it myself. Leave me alone”
Louise dipped her hand in the wash basin, scooped up water, shook her head and washed her face. Water scattered everywhere.
“So, you’re the type that likes to move their face when they wash it huh?”
Louise was slightly taken aback by Saito's comment. Her face blushed and she got angry.
“H-Have a problem with that?”
“No, not at all…”
Saito then took out Louise’s clothes from her closet, and placed them on her bed face down. This was when Louise put on her panties. After thinking Louise had finished putting on her panties, Saito turned around. His hands were holding Louise’s uniform. This was to be put on Louise.
When Saito had turned around, Louise, who only had panties on, started to panic and quickly covered her body with her sheets.
“Leave the clothes there”
Louise said, with half her face covered by the sheets. What had happened? Thought Saito. Normally, with a sleepy face she would say something like “Quickly dress me”…
What is more, she was hiding her body with the sheets. Normally, she wouldn’t care about being seen. Why is she embarrassed?
“Leave it there? Um, are you sure?”
Louise popped her head up above the sheets
“I said leave it there didn’t I!?”
Louise then buried half her face in the sheets and glared at Saito.
Well this is strange, thought Saito who placed the clothes next to Louise like he was told.
“Face that way”
“Eh?”
“I said face that way”
It was as if she was the type of person who didn’t want to seen while changing. This is a very normal reaction for adolescent girls, however Louise had been fine being seen in the past.
Saito turned his back to Louise while thinking, “What the hell happened?”
Well, many things did happen in Albion. Her fiancée was the betrayer and Henrietta, her childhood friend, had lost her lover. It was a horrible experience for Louise. Perhaps those events changed her.
Has Louise really changed?
With an expressionless face, Saito remembered the feeling of Louise’s lips. While on the dragon, Saito kissed a half sleeping Louise softly on the lips. Kissing someone while they are sleeping is cowardly, and something he ought not have done. But, he couldn’t control himself. He cared a great deal about her.
Could it be…, Saito thought. That Louise knows about that kiss? She didn’t change in private because she felt I was dangerous and thought I was going to make a move on her right?
Saito stopped his thoughts there and shook his head. If Louise was awake that time, she wouldn’t have kept quiet. Wake up. Get angry. Abuse. That sense of harmony would have exploded into bits. The times like when I crept into the bed where horrible weren’t they? A dog. That’s me, a dog. A dog that is led by a chain and says “woof”.
Ah. I see now. Saito finally realized.
On the night two days before going to Albion, Saito crept into her bed while she was sleeping, and thus feels uneasy. This isn’t about the kiss at all. Ah, that’s why she doesn’t want my help changing anymore.
Saito felt somewhat sad. In fact, he was deeply regretting it. If only he hadn’t done such a thing. She doesn’t want me making a move on her. Well that’s only natural, but it means she doesn’t like me. That’s also natural I guess…
It is only natural…. Yet saddening.
A ray of hope? Nope. None. Louise doesn’t like me. I’m only a familiar. That being said, I’ve only been a dangerous familiar so far. A bad familiar that transforms into a wolf during the night. A barrier has been already made.
Dark clouds started gathering. The hope inside Saito’s heart started to whisper desperately. “But, on the way back home on the dragon, she cuddled with me right?” The despair within Saito’s heart replied coldly. “That’s just my imagination. The evidence is that when I was merely pointed out by Kirche, I was sent flying wasn’t I?”
…..Ah, that’s right. There’s no mistake about it. Louise doesn’t think anything of me.
Realizing his own feelings for Louise, the sadness was overwhelming. Saito had a personality where if he got carried away, he would be extraordinarily carried away, but when he felt depressed, he would be extraordinarily depressed.
“What are you whispering?”
Without realizing, he was whispering things quietly. When he turned around, Louise, who had already finished changing, looked into Saito’s face dubiously.
In merely twenty seconds of thought, he had reached a conclusion. Feeling down, Saito replied in a sickly voice.
“Sorry. I won’t talk to myself again”
“Yes, it’s somewhat repulsive”
Louise, who was looking dubiously at Saito, walked out.
“Come on, let’s go to breakfast”
“Yes”
Saito followed after her, down hearted.
Even in the Alviss Dining hall, something surprising occurred.
Saito sat down on the floor as always, but his plate of soup was not there. Saito grew impatient. Did I do anything to make Louise angry, angry enough to not feed me? No, I don’t think so.
Last night, after the five of them returned to the academy they reported to Osman. Osman, who had already heard from Henrietta, thanked and praised them for their efforts.
They then returned to their rooms…, and quickly went to sleep. Saito hadn't done anything to anger Louise. With a miserable look on his face, Saito looked up at Louise who was sitting on a chair. Louise started blushing and while turning away she said, “From now on, eat at the table.”
“Eh?”
Saito looked blankly at Louise. Those words were very unexpected of Louise.
“Come on, sit down, quickly.”
Dumbfounded, he sat next to Louise. Malicorne who had always been sitting there and had caught a cold, started to protest.
“Hey Louise. That’s my seat. What do you mean you’ll let your familiar sit on it”
Louise glared at Malicorne.
“If you don’t have seat then just go get a chair”
“Don’t play around with me! Letting a commoner familiar sit down yet I have to go get a chair? That’s just wrong! Hey familiar, piss off, that’s my seat. This is a dining table for nobles.”
The fat Malicorne tried to look somewhat intimidating, but he was trembling slightly. This was supposedly the legendary familiar who defeated Guiche and caught Fouquet.
What is more, it had seemed like they had accomplished some incredible feat while they were away from the academy those couple of days. Malicorne was in fact in cold sweat when he told Saito off.
Saito, who was feeling extremely down from Louise creating a barrier between them, reacted to the pestering voice. He stood up and grabbed Malicorne’s collar.
He didn’t use much force, but whispered in a threatening voice.
“Hey fatty, what did you say?”
Terrified, Malicorne dropped his act and shook his head repeatedly.
“A-Ah, nothing, I didn’t mean it!”
“I didn’t mean it sir.”
“Y-yes, I didn’t mean it sir!”
“Then go get a chair. Let’s eat happily together.”
Malicorne rushed off to get a chair. With an unconcerned look, Louise was waiting for the prayer time before the meal. I wonder what happened. What change of heart is this? Why is she being so nice? Surely there’s a reason. Nope, he thought. The trip to Albion changed Louise.
It must be… seeing people getting injured and getting killed, these warm feelings have started to sprout within her. This reminded Saito of the story about the general Tokugawa Tsunayoshi of the Edo period and his command of compassion for animals. The dog shogun took pity on a stray dog, and punished those who bullied it.
So that’s it.
The command of compassion for animals has been set upon Tristain
The law setter: Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière
And the object, familiars as well as dogs, me in other words.
Saito stopped his imagination and watched Louise warmly.
You’ve become nice haven’t you Louise.
You’ve become like a girl haven’t you Louise.
You’re dazzling like that~
Being so nice to someone like me…
You’re growing up like a girl
I’ll watch over you carefully~
I won’t make a move on you ever again
Until I return to Earth, I’ll protect you.
Even if you don’t like me, I’m happy that you’re being so nice to me~
With her radiance mixing in with his sadness and despair, Saito smiled warmly. Louise noticed Saito who was watching her intently and blushed.
“W-Why are you looking at me like that?”
Noticing the way he was looking at her was quite repulsive, Saito adverted his eyes and tightened his hands into fists on his knees. Listen carefully Saito. Nobles aren’t for dogs like you. Compared to Louise, who’s so beautiful and pure, you are just a homely mole. There’s no way a mole can look at such a cute girl in a good way.
It repeats, but Saito’s sadness is quick, and is like a bottomless swamp. Saito obediently whispered, “Sorry for being repulsive.”
Louise quickly turned the other way. Ugh, she must think I’m weird. The master thinks this mole is weird.
Saito stared at the food served on the plate with a dull face. It had been luxurious since the morning, but he felt very gloomy.
The usual prayer proceeded and breakfast started. Saito quietly ate his food. It was delicious, but he was so miserable he could not taste it.
When Louise entered the classroom, she was quickly surrounded by classmates. While Louise was absent for those few days, there were rumors that she had been on a dangerous journey and had accomplished great feats.
The truth was, a number of students were watching when the leader of the Magic defense squad was departing. It wasn’t a quiet scene. They were all eager to know what happened. They would have asked during breakfast if it weren’t for the teachers that were there.
Kirche and Tabitha had already sat down. Around them too, were a group of students.
“Hey when you and Louise were absent from class, where did you go?” Said Montmorency, grasping her arm.
After glancing at her, Kirche started to elegantly redo her make up and Tabitha quietly read her book.
Tabitha wasn’t a person who talked much, and for Kirche, she was usually in the mood, but she wouldn’t go around telling classmates about their secret journey.
No matter how much the classmates pushed and pulled they couldn’t get anything out of the two and so they changed their target to Guiche and Louise who had just appeared.
Guiche, being one who liked being surrounded and made a fuss about, got carried away as predicted. You want to ask me right? You want to know about the secrets I know? Ahaha, such a troubled little rabbit!
Louise broke through the crowd of people and smacked Guiche over the head.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
“You’ll be disliked by the princess if you say anything Guiche”
With a single reference to Henrietta, Guiche became silent at once. The classmates grew even more suspicious after seeing this. They surrounded Louise again and started pestering her.
“Louise! Louise! What actually happened?” “Nothing at all. I was just sent by Osman to the palace for an errand, that’s all. Right Guiche, Kirche, Tabitha?”
Kirche smiled mysteriously, while blowing on her polished nails. Guiche nodded. Tabitha continued to read her book. As no one was willing to say anything, the classmates returned to their own seats. Like a group of sore losers, they started to talk about Louise in an angry manner.
“Heh, it’s probably nothing important anyway”
“Yeah, it’s Louise the Zero we’re talking about here. I can’t imagine what great feat she can possibly accomplish when she can’t even use magic.
Catching Fouquet was only a fluke. That familiar just accidentally drew out the power of the staff of destruction” Montmorency irritatingly said, waving her curly hair.
Louise bit her lip, wearing an annoyed expression on her face whilst keeping silent. Saito was shocked. How dare this curly haired woman insult my Louise. Well, not “my” Louise I guess. A mole like me could never have Louise. Ah well. Even if it’s a girl, Saito does what he has to do.
Just as Montmorency was about to walk off with a satisfied face, Saito casually put his foot in front. Montmorency didn’t notice her footing and tripped over Saito’s foot.
“Aaah!”
With a red nose from falling face first onto the ground, Montmorency angrily shouted at Saito.
“What are you doing? I’m a noble, how dare such a commoner like you make me trip like that”
Louise said from the side, “It was you who wasn’t looking carefully”
“What, siding with the commoner now? Louise the Zero!”
“Saito might be a commoner, but he’s my familiar, Montmorency the Flood. Insult him and you insult me, it’s the same thing. Have anything to say to that?”
Montmorency left muttering angrily to herself. To Saito, Louise, who had just stuck up for him, was suddenly dazzling, and he found himself staring at her with a warm gaze. Louise noticed his gaze and turned her face aside, blushing.
“W-What are you looking at?”
Saito yet again realized his repulsive way of looking at her and apologized to Louise. This homely mole has done it again.
“S-Sorry”
Louise noticed that Saito had been strange since this morning. He was a more reserved than usual. What more do you want, I’m even being so nice to you.
Louise was about to say something to Saito about it but Mr Colbert had entered the classroom, so she sat back down. The class started.
“Well, everyone”
He patted his bold head slightly. Up until yesterday, he was very frightened about how Fouquet the Dirt Crumb broke out of prison, suspecting there was a traitor in the castle and that it was a serious affair in Tristain.
This morning however, Osman summoned him, telling him that it was “alright already”, and he returned back to his normal self. Besides, things like politics did not interest him much.
What he did have interest in was knowledge, history and…research. That’s why he liked lessons. He could freely state the results of his research. And on that day, on a joyful note, he showed the class something strange placed on top on the desk.
“Mr Colbert, what’s that?” one student asked.
It really was a strange looking thing. It was long metallic cylindrical tube, which had a metallic pipe stretching out of it. A pair of bellows was connected to the pipe, and a crank was attached at the top of the cylinder. The crank was connected to the wheel on the side of the cylinder. Finally there were gears attached to the wheel and the box.
Staring at the equipment, the students were all wondering what sort of lesson would follow. Clearing his throat, he began his lesson. “Firstly, who can tell me the main characteristics of the fire branch of magic”
The whole class turned to Kirche. If you were talking about the fire branch of magic in Halkeginia, then it would be the Germania nobles. And among them, the Zerbsts were a famous family. Also as her nickname, Slight Fever, indicated, she was good at fire magic.
Even though the class had started, Kirche still continued to polish her nails. Without taking her eyes off her nail filer, she replied languidly, “Passion and destruction.”
“That’s right!”
Colbert himself having a nickname of “Flaming Serpent”, the triangular mage in the fire branch of magic smiled and said.
“However, besides passion, only being able to destroy is a bit lonely I think. It depends on the usage, everyone. Depending on how you use it, you can actually do some really fun things. It’s not only for destruction Miss Zerbst. A battle is not the only time you will see fire.”
“There’s no use in trying to tell Tristain nobles about fire magic” Kirche said, filled with confidence. Colbert was not agitated by her disagreeing, but instead smiled.
“But, what’s that strange thing you have there?” Kirche said, with a blank look, pointing at the equipment on the desk.
“Hehe. So you finally asked. This is something I invented. It works by oil and fire magic.” The students gaped, watching the mechanism intently. The mechanism seemed somewhat familiar to Saito, as if he had seen it somewhere before but being a curious person, he too remained silent and watched intently.
Colbert continued.
“First we vaporize the oil in the bellows”
Colbert stepped repeatedly on the bellows with his foot.
“And then, the vaporized oil will go into this cylindrical tube”
With a cautious look, Colbert stuck his wand inside a small hole he had opened up.
He recited an incantation for a spell. The sound of a blazing fire could suddenly be heard, and as the fire ignited with the vaporized oil, the sounds changed into that of explosions.
“Watch carefully everyone! Inside the metallic tube, the power from the explosion is moving the piston up and down!”
The crank attached at the top of the cylinder started to move and the wheel along with it. The spinning wheel opened the door on the box. The gears started to move and a snake puppet came out from inside.
“The power is transferred to the crank which spins the wheel! Look! The snake then comes out to greet us! So interesting!”
The students watched it unenthusiastically. The only one interested seemed to be Saito.
“And then? What’s so special about that?”
Colbert was sad at the fact that the invention he took so much pride in had been totally ignored. Clearing his throat, he began to explain.
“In this example only a snake showed up, but say for instance this mechanism was placed on a carriage, then the carriage could move even without horses! It would work on the side of a boat as well by turning a water wheel. Then there wouldn’t be any need for sails!”
“You could just use magic in those cases. There’s no need to use such a weird mechanism.”
After one student said it, all the others started to agree and nod.
“Everybody, listen carefully! If it is improved upon, this could run even without magic! I relied on my fire magic to ignite it at first but say for example if a flint was used, and a way to ignite it every so often was found…”
Colbert was obviously getting excited, talking on and on, while the students were all wondering what was so special about it. The only one who seemed to understand the greatness of his invention seemed to be Saito.
“Mr Colbert, that’s great! That’s an engine!” Saito called up while standing all of a sudden. The whole class turned to him.
“Engine?”
Colbert looked at Saito with a blank look.
“Yes, an engine. It’s used in my world for things just like Mr Colbert said”
“I can tell you’re a perceptive person. You’re Miss Vallière’s familiar yes?”
The fact that he was the legendary familiar Gandálfr who had runes on the back of his hand suddenly came back to Colbert. He had forgotten since Osman had said to leave it to him… but due to his enthusiasm he started to hold an interest in Saito.
“Where were you born?” asked Colbert eagerly
Louise tugged at Saito’s parker slightly and glared at him slightly
“…Don’t say anything unnecessary, we’ll look suspicious”
Agreeing, Saito sat back down.
“Hm? Where were you born?”
Colbert approached Saito with a bright expression. Louise answered for him.
“Mr Colbert, he’s uh… from… ロバ・アル・カリイエ(place name, Roba Aru Kariie)…in the east.
Colbert was taken aback.
“What?! Past the frightening lands of the elves? Wait, he was summoned wasn’t he… so he didn’t have to go through those lands… I see. I hear that the lands the elves govern in the east are quite advanced in research. So you were born there… I see.
Colbert nodded in comprehension. Saito turned to Louise.
“What?”
“Just play along” Said Louise, stepping on his foot.
“A, Ah yes. I’m from um… ロバ (same place as above, Roba).”
Colbert nodded again, and returned to the mechanism. Standing on the platform once more he looked around the classroom.
“Alright then. Who would like to try operate the mechanism? It’s very simple! Just open the hole in the cylinder, put your wand in and recite the “ignite” spell repeatedly. The timing is a bit tricky but once you get used to it, it will be as easy as this”
Colbert stepped on the bellows with his root and operated the mechanism once more. The explosive sounds echoed throughout the classroom while the crank and gears moved, followed by the snake showing its face.
“And the joyful snake greets us!”
No one put their hand up. Colbert tried to get the students interested in his mechanism, saying “joyful snake”, but it seemed like it didn’t quite work. Disappointed, Colbert drooped his shoulders. Montmorency, suddenly pointed at Louise.
“Louise, you try it!”
Colbert’s face lit up.
“Miss Vallière! You have an interest in the mechanism?”
“Catching Fouquet the Dirt Crumb and having something to hide, surely you won’t have trouble with something like this right?”
Louise then realized. Montmorency was trying to embarrass her by making her fail.
It seemed like Montmorency didn’t quite like Louise getting all the attention, such as accomplishing great feats and being the star at dance balls. Her jealousy was deep, and the fact that she was a show off suddenly came back to Louise.
Montmorency continued provoking Louise.
“Hey, do it? Louise. Louise the Zero.”
Something in Louise cracked, she just couldn’t keep quiet when Montmorency called her zero. Louise silently stood up and approached the platform. Seeing Louise in this state, Saito glared at Montmorency.
“Hey Monmon.”
“It’s Montmorency for god’s sake!”
“Don’t provoke Louise! It’ll end up in an explosion!” Said Saito, without thinking.
Louise shifted her eyes at what Saito said. The front row students hid behind their chairs.
After hearing what Saito said, Colbert suddenly remembered Louise’s skill and the origin of her nickname. Trying to desperately change her mind, he began to persuade her in a flustered manner.
“Ah, Miss Vallière. Er, you can do it another time, alright?”
“I got insulted by Montmorency the Flood” Said Louise in a cold voice. Her reddish brown pupils were filled with rage.
“I shall warn Miss Montmorency. So er, could you please withdraw your wand? I’m not doubting your skill, but magic doesn’t always succeed. I mean, ‘a dragon can also die of a fire’, after all.”
Louise looked sharply at Colbert
“Please let me do it. I’m not always failing. Occasionally, I succeed. There are times when I, occasionally, succeed.” Said Louise, as if her words were meant for herself. Her voice was shaking. Saito knew there was no stopping Louise now. When Louise got absolutely angry, her voice would start to shake.
Colbert looked up at the ceiling and sighed. Louise followed what Colbert did and stepped on the bellows. The vaporized oil was sent to the cylinder. With a big breath she stuck her wand inside the cylinder.
“Miss Vallière, uhh…” Whispered Colbert as if he was praying.
With a voice as clear as a bell, she started to recite the spell incantation. The whole class froze. As expected, the mechanism exploded. Louise and Colbert were sent flying to the black board while the whole class screamed. The explosion caught fire with the vaporised oil and spread everywhere. The students chaotically ran around, avoiding the flames. As the chair and table were burning, Louise stood up slowly. It was a cruel sight. Her clothes were scorched, and her clear complexion was covered in soot. Totally ignoring the chaos within the classroom, she grabbed Colbert’s arm and whispered, “Mr. Colbert. That machine breaks quite easily.” Mr Colbert didn’t reply, feeling faint headed. The students replied for him.
“It’s you who broke it! You zero! Louise the Zero!”
“Never mind that, there’s fire! Someone put it out!”
Montmorency stood up and recited a spell incantation. It was the water spell ‘Water Shield’. The barrier of water extinguished the fire and the students applauded Montmorency. Montmorency, as if she had triumphed, said to Louise, “I wonder if that was unnecessary? Since you’re such a skilled mage. That was a weak fire after all” Angry, Louise bit her lip.
That night… It was night by the time the classroom was cleaned up. Tidying up the chairs and desks and wiping the floor clean of the water was a big task. Exhausted, Louise and Saito returned to their rooms. Saito collapsed on his haystack. Louise sat down on her bed. It was almost time was bed. Like a habit, Saito went to the closet to get Louise’s change of clothes, however Louise stood up suddenly to do something
“W-What are you doing?”
Louise blushed and did not reply. Her hands gripped her sheets and started to hand it down from the ceiling. The sheets acted as a curtain and covered the bed. Watching Saito from the corner of her eye, she went to the closet, got her clothes and returned back to her bed. The ruffling of clothes were heard as she changed behind the curtain. Depressed, Saito returned back to his haystack.
She doesn’t want to be seen by someone like me. Even if I see you I won’t try to do anything strange. I won’t even look anymore. I’m not a wolf like you think I am… I’m a mole. Well you were kissed by a mole, but that was when I got carried away, I made a mistake. I won’t ever do it again Louise~. I’ll watch over you properly~. This homely mole will watch over you from this haystack~.
Saito endlessly tortured himself with these thoughts. The curtain was taken down. Wearing a negligee, Louise was bathed in the moonlight, with her hair flowing smoothly. Under the brilliant moonlight, her divine beauty was accentuated. After combing her hair slightly with her hands she lay down on her bed. She switched off the lamp on her bedside table with a flick of her wand. It was a magic lamp that was imbued with magic so that it would switch off at the signal of its master. It wasn’t exactly special, but it seemed like something expensive. With the moonlight bathing the room, the atmosphere became similar to that of an illusion.
Just as Saito was about to sleep, Louise sat up and called out to Saito.
“Hey Saito”
“Yes?”
“Always sleeping on the floor is a bit extreme…you can er, sleep on the bed if you want”
Saito’s body stiffened.
“W-What?”
“Don’t get the wrong idea! I’ll hit you if you do anything strange.”
Saito was overwhelmed. Ah, Louise you really are kind aren’t you. It’s like you’ve changed completely. That harsh experience really did change you…You’re even becoming kind to a disgusting mole like me. With every step closer to the bed, his pulse seemed to increase two fold. Louise faced the window, wrapped up in the blanket on the edge of the bed.
“It’s… ok? Even for me? A mole?”
“Yes, it’s ok, don’t make me say the same thing. What do you mean a mole?”
Saito slipped into the bed and covered himself with the blanket.
“Sorry”
He had to apologize for getting carried away and kissing her. He felt he had to. Saito whispered, “Sorry…for kissing you like that”
Louise didn’t reply. Saito thought she was sleeping, but it didn’t sound like it. Saito continued.
“I…, decided already, before that. I promised the prince of Wales that I’d protect you. Not only from enemies, but from my own desires as well. I can’t say I’ve done a good job of protecting you so far, so, I’m sorry.” Said Saito, saying what was in his mind.
Louise replied in a small voice. ”It’s fine, don’t worry about it.”
Saito grasped the blanket and whispered, “I don’t do it again.”
“Of course.”
Louise started to talk, as if determined to tell Saito something.
“But, I too have to apologize. Sorry, for just summoning you.”
“That’s ok. It’s not good, but it’s alright.”
“I’ll find a way for you to return home. I don’t know how, but I will. I haven’t heard of another world before.”
“Thanks.”
Saito felt relieved. Squirming a bit, Louise asked Saito, “Your world… there aren’t any mages there right?”
“Nope.”
“There’s only one moon?”
“Only one.”
“That’s weird.”
“No it’s not, it’s this world that’s weird, mages and stuff.”
“What were you doing in that world?”
“I was a high school student”
“High school student?”
“Well it’s not much different from being a student here I guess. Studying is kind of like your job.”
“What do people do when they grow up?”
Louise started to bombard Saito with questions. While wondering why, Saito replied, “Hm, a company employee perhaps, that’s the most common.”
“What’s a company employee?”
It became slightly irritating, but Saito replied, “You work and you earn money.”
“I don’t really understand… but is that what you want to become?”
Saito remained silent. He hadn’t thought of what he would want to become in the future. He spent his days doing what he liked. His future was neither bright nor dark. Thinking those days would last forever he just absent mindedly attended school. Saito was a bit troubled with his reply.
“I dunno. I haven’t really thought about that.”
“Waldo said you were a legendary familiar. Those runes on the back of your hand are the mark of Gandálfr apparently.”
“I don’t really understand but it seems like Gandálfr are meant to use that sword Derflinger.”
“I wonder if that’s true…”
“Well it has to be, I couldn’t use a sword like that normally.”
“Then, why can’t I use magic? You’re a legendary familiar, yet I’m Louise the zero. Ugh.”
“I don’t know.”
Louise remained silent for a while. Then she spoke with a slightly serious tone.
“You know, I want to become a great mage. I don’t mean a very powerful mage. I just want to be able to use spells properly. I don’t want fail every spell I cast and not even know which branch of magic I’m good at.”
Saito remembered the class they had earlier. As usual, Louise had failed.
“Since I was small, I was told I was hopeless. My father and mother didn’t expect anything of me. I was always treated like an idiot, always called zero…I really don’t have any skill. There isn’t a branch of magic in which I’m good at. I’m even clumsy at reciting incantations. I understand it. My teachers, mother and sisters have said it. When you recite an incantation for a spell in your skilled magic branch, something within your body responds, and it circulates within your body. When that rhythm is at a climax, it means that the spell is completed. I have never felt that before.”
Louise’s voice became smaller.
“But, I want to at least be able to do things like everyone else. It not, I get the feeling I won’t be able to be happy with myself.”
Louise became silent once more. Saito was troubled on what to say to comfort her. Some time passed and Saito began to speak.
“Even if you can’t do magic…you’re normal. Not just normal…you’re cute. And you’ve been so kind recently as well. You have your own qualities. Even if you can’t do magic, you’re a great person…”
Ending his incoherent reply, Saito turned towards Louise. Louise had slept already. Her innocent face took his breath away. It seemed like she had fallen asleep when Saito had been thinking of something to say to her. Her pinkish blond hair mixed with the moonlight, shining brightly. A steady breathing could be heard from her small pink lips.
Looking at those lips, he wanted to press his lips against hers once more, and without even realizing he started to move his face forward. But, he stopped. It was cowardly to kiss a girl who wasn’t even his lover while she was sleeping. I’m not your lover…but I will protect you. So don’t worry Louise.
Smiling warmly at Louise, Saito closed his eyes. With Louise’s breathing as a lullaby, Saito fell asleep.
Louise opened her eyes once Saito had fallen asleep. She knit her eyebrows and whispered, “I was even sleeping”. Louise hugged her pillow, and bit her lips. It’s so different she thought. When he was making a move on her, he did it rashly like an idiot, and yet when he’s obedient, he’s totally obedient.
I don’t understand. I don’t understand what he’s thinking at all. Louise rested her hands on her chest. When Saito was next to her, her chest really did throb. So these feelings really are true?
She wanted to return the favor to Saito, who had been so kind and had saved her so many times… But that wasn’t the only thing. It was the first time she felt these feelings for someone of the opposite sex, and Louise didn’t understand what to do. It was because of this, she didn’t allow Saito to help her change. When she began to recognize these feelings, she became embarrassed at the mere thought of him looking at her skin. She didn’t actually want to show him her face when she had just woken up.
When did I start having these feelings for Saito? Probably since that time, Louise thought. Just when she was about to be killed by Fouquet’s golem, she was hugged by Saito. Her heart throbbed. Despite the fact she was about to die, her heart beat loudly. And there was also that time when she was about to be killed by Waldo, Saito jumped in and saved her. But the time her heart beat the fastest was when they were riding the dragon and he had kissed her. After that she couldn’t look at Saito’s face. I wonder how Saito thinks of me? An unpleasant girl? A selfish and mean master? Or perhaps he likes me? Well, he kissed me, so he must like me. Or could it be that he’s like Guiche and just liked women? I wonder which one. I want to know. Anyhow, why didn’t he do anything when I was just sleeping beside him, Louise thought.
Of course, if he did anything now I’d kick him in the crotch.
But…but… Louise tapped Saito’s pillow. He didn’t wake up. Then she looked around restlessly. Other than the moon, nothing else was looking at her. Louise moved towards Saito’s face. Her pulse started to quicken. She pressed her lips upon his softly, only for about two seconds. It was the kind of kiss where the person wasn’t sure if they had kissed at all. Saito turned over.
Louise panicked slightly and drew distance from his face, sinking into the blanket hugging her pillow.
What am I doing?
To my familiar as well.
I’m such an idiot.
She looked at Saito’s face. He was kind of cool; coming from another world, being obedient at times yet carried away at other times for absolutely no reason. The legendary familiar… I wonder if I really do like him? Is this what they call liking someone?
While she repeated her thoughts, she traced her lips with her fingers. The heat was like a heated iron pressing against her. How can I find the answer to this question?
I don’t want to be left not knowing the answer… whispered Louise as she closed her eyes.
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