Chapter 11 - Rebellion and the Court Mage
On the way home, she stopped by the market.
Carrying a whole pumpkin that Elenoa had bought cheaply, along with the bento box she had retrieved from Louis, she proceeded on her way home when she spotted a familiar trio in black robes. They were court mages.
If possible, she wished to avoid running into them; they were people she was not good with.
If they were coming from her direction, she would eventually be found. But she hesitated, judging that a sudden change in direction would only draw more attention, and thus the trio easily spotted her.
"Hmm? Isn't that the Stylus household's servant girl over there!"
The shortest man approached with an unpleasant smile. The other two joined in to support him.
Elenoa did not know their names, but she was certain of one thing: they were a 'species of person she disliked.'
"I believe the Research Institute's lunch break ended a while ago. Are you not returning?"
"Taking a voluntary break? I just felt a little off, you see."
"I feel like you said the same thing when we met before."
"Well, Louis-sama comes in every single day, after all. It's not exactly refreshing."
"Exactly. Even Louis-sama has shown understanding, saying, 'If you are unwell, please do not push yourself.' So, wouldn't it be a violation if you didn't rest? That's how I see it."
The man with glasses agreed with the short man and gave a thin smile. The third man, who was short and stout, said nothing from behind the other two, merely staring at Elenoa's body as if licking her with his eyes.
They hated Louis.
The short man had been discovered to have talent for magic at a young age and was whispered to eventually become the face of the court mages. He was supposed to be the center of attention. That is, if Louis, who was several years younger, had not appeared. The other two were also excellent and highly expected, so they particularly resented Louis.
Elenoa had heard of these circumstances through rumors, but that did not mean she felt sympathy for them. She corrected her tone, hiding her irritation.
"Louis-sama is distressed by your actions. I believe it would be best for you to return to the Research Institute immediately."
"Lies."
It was stated clearly and decisively.
The short man, who had bluntly severed Elenoa's 'lie' with a light tone, continued to smile suspiciously. His eyes narrowed, directing a damp, snake-like gaze at Elenoa.
"The Stylus bunch are all talk. There's no way Louis-sama is distressed, right? Heck, he probably doesn't even know we exist. Pretending to care with a silly smile, while not even knowing his subordinates' names."
"I am in no position to guess what lies within Louis-sama's heart. And with that phrasing, may I interpret it as you sulking because your superior does not even remember your name? Shall I make a suggestion? My master listens equally to all, provided they have not strayed from the path."
"Strayed from the path, like guys like us? How cruel."
"My master is not a clergyman. However, since you are still Louis-sama's subordinates, he surely—"
"Aah, enough. I don't care about that sort of thing. Listen, servant girl, that's not what we wanted to say."
The short man placed his hand on Elenoa's shoulder.
Although he was short, it was based on male standards. He was taller than Elenoa, and his presence was sufficiently oppressive.
Looking around, everyone pretended not to see and passed by. Since the position of court mage itself was a display of strength, there were no ordinary people who would dare oppose them.
The three men pressed closer to Elenoa, attempting to drag her into a narrow alley.
"Wait, let go...!"
"It's fine, it's fine."
"It is not fine! I have to prepare dinner!"
"We won't take much of your time. ...Well, you probably won't want to move for a while, but that depends on the servant girl's spirit, doesn't it?"
Her arm was forcibly pulled, and the pumpkin she was holding rolled away.
They did not intend to assault a woman. They simply wanted to brutally injure a servant and see Louis look distressed.
Yet, unable to even mount a proper counterattack, she felt her own powerlessness was pitiful, and despite that, there was nothing she could do.
"Since the servant girl is cute, we were actually aiming for you."
"No...!"
Just as Elenoa felt like crying shamelessly and loudly,
Suddenly.
A gale blew around the trio and Elenoa. Dense cold air swirled around the four of them, and the hands grabbing Elenoa were shallowly sliced. The man with glasses was the first to realize that this wind, which seemed to contain invisible blades, was magic.
The caster of the wind magic stepped forward from the crowd watching from a distance, glaring sternly at the three men.
"Oh my, isn't this Louis-sama's younger sister?"
"Greetings, I am the younger sister of my Big Brother. Could you please let go of our Elenoa?"
It was Lumina, returning from school. Her loosely wavy blonde hair fell onto her shoulders, carried by the wind. Brushing it aside with a snap, she glared down at the men with strong-willed eyes.
Lumina Stylus. Even if the widespread knowledge of her name was due to her brother's prestige, her magic was undeniable.
If she deliberately used magic in the middle of the city, the entire city would instantly become uproarious.
They had troubled two women of the House of Stylus. One was not merely a servant, but a legitimate family member.
The many ordinary citizens present would serve as witnesses. Even if the three men used magic here and won, there was no guarantee that Louis would not appear next.
Most of the citizens, who had been pretending to be bystanders, stopped their feet and blamed the men with their eyes.
"Tch... To think you had an attitude of not caring just moments ago."
The citizens, convinced of the House of Stylus's victory, instantly turned their palms and condemned the men. It was an unpleasant nature, but thinking of it as a display of Louis's strength made her feel complex emotions.
Watching the backs of the men who clicked their tongues and left, Lumina maintained a stern expression.
"This is a matter to report to Big Brother, you know, right?"
"...Yes."
Elenoa picked up the rolled pumpkin and chased after Lumina, who had started walking, with small steps.
Upon arriving home, she opened the door, let Lumina in, and followed.
"Is it boiled pumpkin today?"
"It's summer pumpkin salad. I can't use half of it, so I might use it tomorrow. Also, tomato soup and pilaf. ...What do you want to eat tomorrow? Risotto is out since we ate it the day before yesterday."
"Eh... But we have summer pumpkin?"
"But we have whatever? I think it's questionable to connect everything to risotto just with that phrase."
"Hmph. Then, then, something Big Brother likes."
"...Making pumpkin cream stew is really out of season... Besides, this is summer pumpkin..."
"Elenoa really values the seasons, doesn't she? Honestly, I can't tell the difference at all from what's called chestnut pumpkin."
"Taste-wise, they aren't that different, but it's about the difference between May Queen and Danshaku potatoes."
"May Queen? Danshaku?"
"Well, you wouldn't know. Don't worry about it."
"Understood!"
She was honest.
"By the way, don't you think summer stew is effective? In a small eastern country, there is a festival where people compete to be 'men' by drinking hot tea quickly in the summer. A legendary mage named Tanaka-san, who won for fifty consecutive years and drinks two thousand cups of tea a year, broke through one hundred and fifty years of age this year thanks to the power of tea! Big Brother said so!"
"That boy is telling such lies again. Well, whatever. Stew... I suppose I can make it."
"Yay! Stew, stew!"
"Today it's salad, soup, and pilaf."
"Yay, salad, soup, and pilaf!"
"You're living so cheerfully..."
*
In this world, bells rang three times a day. A short while ago, the evening bell had rung.
Elenoa was in the kitchen, draining the water from onions she had been soaking.
She had lifted the thinly sliced onions into a colander and was shaking them vigorously, but she muttered "Ah" and stopped moving.
Elenoa was sensitive to Louis's magic. She sensed the presence of teleportation magic from the palace.
She began to boil water and prepare tea leaves.
In the entrance hall, a magic circle about two meltors in diameter glowed blue.
Ancient words lined the gap between the thick outer circle and the thin inner circle immediately inside. A large hexagram was drawn within the circle. It was the simplest magic circle among those Louis possessed.
And this teleportation magic was one of the achievements that had led him to bear the title of Chief.
There had been teleportation magic from within the Research Institute to border checkpoints and various key points under research, but the ancient magic circles had been inconvenient to use. He had rewritten them.
Along with that, the following items were established.
One, those who have reached a certain standard in identification or examinations may open a magic circle for passage at their home.
Two, the magic circle automatically inspects the belongings of the passerby.
If foreign objects are recognized, the owner along with their belongings will be sent to a dedicated basement.
They must ring the installed bell to call the guards and undergo a body inspection.
Three, those who cannot use magic will be issued a Pass if they apply to the Research Institute. The magic circle reacts to the magic power infused into the paper surface.
The third item, in particular, was greatly appreciated by military personnel who had left their families in distant places.
Naturally, Louis himself could use teleportation magic as much as he liked.
When Louis, who had teleported to the entrance, entered the living room, he found his sister leaning on her hand and diligently reading a book.
"Did you bring out books from the study again?"
"It was cited in a book Big Brother wrote a while ago, so I was curious. I haven't touched the prohibited bookshelves! By the way, welcome home!"
"I have returned."
Returning Lumina's greeting, light footsteps were heard walking down the hallway. Soon enough, as Louis had predicted, the fairy he had met at noon arrived.
"Welcome back. The tea will be ready soon, do you want some?"
"Yes, please."
She naturally took the black robe from his hand, said "I see" curtly, and went back out into the hallway.
She had hugged the young Louis and taken meticulous care of Lumina, yet she would say with a straight face, "I have a style of not interfering more than necessary. Like a housekeeper." It seemed she occasionally remembered this 'principle.'
He did not know if not being spoiled was a Japanese virtue or just stubbornness, but he sometimes thought she was like an untamed cat. Louis looked at the door she had exited and narrowed his eyes slightly.
It was a short while later.
"Hieh!?"
—What is happening!?
Elenoa, who had prepared the tea and returned to the living room, shuddered from the cold air.
Louis was smiling pleasantly. He sat down, crossed his legs, and although only his posture was aristocratic, what reflected in Elenoa's eyes was the Great Demon Lord-sama. Level one, equipment consisting of cloth clothes, a wooden stick, and a pot lid. She felt like a Hero thrown in front of the final boss in a state equivalent to shoji paper.
Not knowing what to do with the tea she had brought, she poured the contents of the pot into a cup to fulfill her initial objective. She confirmed the dark amber liquid. Tentatively, she placed it in front of him. She could not hide the trembling of her hands.
Louis, who had been watching the series of actions with a smile, opened his mouth after seeing Elenoa place the teapot on the table.
"I heard something interesting from Lumina. Were you entangled by those guys? While you were alone?"
When Elenoa glanced at Lumina, she received only a smile similar to Louis's.
"Let's make tonight's practice a bit strict."
"Why!? But what happened today was unavoidable. I didn't get targeted because I wanted to...!"
Strict, meaning punishment or something like that, perhaps. She had only been involved by force majeure. Elenoa's argument, unable to accept it, was quietly suppressed.
"Elenoa. ...Elie."
Called by her nickname, Elenoa's eyes wandered.
"I fully understand that it is not your fault. If they pick a fight from their side, you should acquire the means to protect yourself."
"Yes."
"Tomorrow is a holiday, so it should be fine if you stay up a little late. It has been a while, but we will have actual combat practice at the 'Nild Hills'."
"...Uu."
Louis had finished saying what he needed to say to Elenoa, but he swept his gaze dangerously, glaring into the distance, saying, "Nevertheless, what is unforgivable is—" Although there was nothing there, the figures of his subordinates, who were in the midst of an excellent rebellion phase, came to mind.
"Should those three idiots be dealt with eventually?"
"Big Brother, that is a problematic statement."