Chapter 9 - The Fairy and the Chief Court Mage
The setting was medieval. Cobblestones and arched bridges, fish-tail lamps and brick buildings.
Amidst the many nations of such style, there were occasionally those with Japanese or Chinese influences.
And in every country, there existed retained mages, who were naturally called upon for everything from attending to the royal family to waging war.
That was the stage of 『The Demon Lord and the Hourglass』. This world.
In the morning, she woke with the sunrise.
The mana that Louis had generously bestowed upon her since yesterday remained within her, inexhaustible.
As faint orange light filtered into the dark room, her eyes opened as if invited. Peering from beneath her lashes were eyes the color of the deep sea.
She rose slowly. From between the gaps in her silver hair, which draped like a veil over her slender back, delicate wings could be seen drooping from around her shoulder blades.
More graceful than a sheltered young lady, or perhaps more sensual than a pet cat.
"...Nn."
Turning her back, her taut wings sparkled, translucent against the morning sun.
She—Elenoa—began her day.
Since she planned to go out today, she could not remain in her fairy attire. She donned a brown cotton one-piece dress and leather lace-up boots. Because she had to press her wings against her body to hide them, it felt a bit cramped.
Putting on an apron in the kitchen, she took out the pre-made gnocchi dough and ingredients from the cooling box Louis had built. While shaping and boiling them, she started on the sauce on the adjacent stove. She added onions, fried until sweet, to tomatoes simmered down using only their own fresh moisture. Stirring constantly, she added cheese to melt it, seasoning with salt and pepper. The hidden touch was the addition of sliced chili peppers.
Preparing a separate bento box in addition to breakfast, she finally reached a pause.
Elenoa arranged a plate of salad and boiled eggs, a plate of gnocchi, and orange juice on the table, then went upstairs to call for Lumina.
The first thing that caught her eye upon entering the room was a golden waterfall—blonde hair scattered across the bed. It waved softly, shining in the sunlight.
Lumina, who had grown into a maiden of marriageable age, suited the description of a princess from a fairy tale.
Her still-sleepy eyes began to shine brightly the moment she saw Elenoa's face.
"Good morning, desu."
"Good morning. Breakfast is ready."
It did not take long for Lumina, who woke up well, to get out of bed. It was enough to confirm that she was fully conscious.
Elenoa promptly returned to the living room and began eating her own breakfast.
—Well, I wonder if he'll come down today.
If Lumina took too long getting ready and couldn't have breakfast with Elenoa, her day would apparently become gloomy. Elenoa had suggested they eat together once they were both ready, but several years ago, Lumina had displayed some inexplicable pride, stating that doing so felt like admitting defeat.
Elenoa welcomed Lumina with a smile as she came down the stairs with noisy, clattering footsteps.
"I-I-I-I made it in time!?"
"You made it, but you lose points for being unladylike."
"Eeh. Then, maybe today will be a so-so day, desu."
Looking at the prepared breakfast, the girl's face lit up with a bright smile.
"It's tomato sauce!"
"Mm, it's gnocchi."
"I love it! Thank you, Elenoa, please marry me!"
Lumina had been raised on Elenoa's cooking. Her list of favorite foods had grown and grown, until eventually, food was categorized only as "like" or "love."
Watching the girl happily stuff her face with breakfast, Elenoa also put a piece of gnocchi in her mouth.
Flutter.
Something white crossed her field of vision.
Floating around Elenoa was a butterfly made of paper. It was an applied magic technique combining wind and dark magic, frequently used by the master of this house. Wind magic lifted objects, while transformation magic, which altered their form, belonged to the dark attribute.
Elenoa held out her palm, waiting. The butterfly recognized it as its destination within seconds and landed. Then, the butterfly reverted to its original form: a letter.
"Onii-chan, what does it say this time?"
"Let's see... 'Please bring lunch. I'm in the mood for teriyaki chicken.'"
"Teriyaki!? Is my bento that too!?"
"Unfortunately, your bento is already prepared. It's fried chicken."
"Fried chicken! Fuufuu!"
In the end, Lumina seemed fine with anything Elenoa made.
After breakfast, Lumina checked her uniform and belongings.
The school Lumina attended was a prestigious institution attended by many of noble birth, so her attire was naturally appropriate. The knee-length black one-piece dress flared out softly toward the hem, a uniform design that nobles would surely favor. Putting on a matching black beret, the girl headed for the entrance.
"I'm leaving, desu!"
"Yes, take care."
She, too, had inherited the good looks of the House of Stylus. She had been cute since childhood, but since starting school, her brilliance had only been polished further.
Although she had many days where she was bedridden, she was more lively than in the past.
Elenoa, watching her grow, felt like a mother.
It had already been ten years since Elenoa met Louis. He, who had been a court mage, was now a highly skilled Chief Court Mage, with endless rumors surrounding him in society.
He was undeniably handsome. As the high-paid Chief Court Mage with a good personality—though Elenoa wished to vigorously object to that last assessment—he naturally attracted women.
However, for now, the women pursuing him seemed to be mostly nobles.
He was apparently already out of reach for commoners.
Draping a raw-colored shawl over her shoulders, she left the house.
The Stylus residence was a common house, with three rose flower beds in its small garden.
Located along the main street, stepping out of the property led directly to a major road bustling with people.
In a culture where exposing the skin of an adult woman was considered suspicious and averted, skirt lengths were always long. Thus, she proceeded step by step, careful not to splash water from puddles.
Elenoa was disguised as a human woman.
The reason people occasionally looked back was due to her face. Elenoa was set as a beautiful girl, distinct from the common mobs.
—But.
Elenoa also knew that the citizens who looked back were whispering something among themselves.
And that it was not good gossip.
—Let's hurry. It's almost lunchtime at the court.
Treading on cobblestones with mud stains in the cracks, she passed by the familiar general store—the item shop, in game terms.
The white Royal Castle, visible from kilometers away, could only be described as majestic. The ceilings were unnecessarily high and luxurious.
The Royal Castle occupied a vast site, with a main hall that drew particular attention in the rear. The buildings on the left and right in the front were the barracks on the right and the Magic Research Institute on the left. Scattered around them were several other buildings, including the Grand Library, indoor gardens, guest houses, administrative buildings, training grounds, and dormitories.
To enter the grounds, one had to obtain permission from the guards standing on either side of the main gate.
"Oh, if it isn't Elenoa-san."
"Hello."
The one who noticed Elenoa and called out was a man with short dark brown hair, looking about the same age as her. Seeing the wrapped bento she carried, he nodded in understanding with an "Ah."
"Has the lunch break already started?"
"The bell should ring in just a moment."
And then,
—Gowawawa~n.
The bell rang.
Whether that grand, reverberating metallic sound should be called holy or oppressive was hard to judge.
"It rang."
"It did. I need to hurry, so could you let me through?"
"Sure thing. Umm, the Magic Research Institute, right? I'll send you through. Here's your pass."
"Thank you very much."
It was practically a face-pass. At first, they had asked for her name, origin, address, and so on, but now it was extremely lax. Elenoa sometimes worried if this was really okay, but this special treatment was largely due to Louis's achievements.
The path continuing from the main gate was wide enough for ten adults to walk side by side with room to spare.
There was a large fountain square midway, with the front entrances of the barracks and the Magic Research Institute facing each other across it. Going straight further would lead to the main hall, but Elenoa basically only went to the Institute.
"...Oh?"
She noticed something unusual.
From the shadow of a pillar under the eaves, the hem of a black robe was visible. Furthermore, female mages and ladies-in-waiting enjoying lunch in the fountain square were sending that person fleeting, intense gazes.
—Ah, I think I get it.
Ascending two steps up the stairs to the front entrance of the Magic Research Institute, the person leaning against the pillar smiled faintly.
"You're late."
Louis Stylus, Chief Court Mage. Eighteen years old.
His blonde hair carried a soft glow in the sunlight. His sharp, moon-colored eyes were always gentle, never hurting anyone. His beauty was so perfect it was surprising he wasn't a doll maker's creation, allowing no rivals.
And essential to describing him was that smile. His lips, always bearing a gentle smile, were such that many women would say they could die happy if kissed by them.
He didn't know what was so amusing that made him smile, but he had been the same in the game Elenoa knew. Beneath his black robe, he wore a casual outfit of a white shirt and slacks, yet his demeanor and posture rivaled that of a model.
Beauty is justice. What a vain world.
Swaying his robe, he descended the stairs and took the bento Elenoa was holding. Incidentally, with his other hand, he also took hers.
From somewhere, a mournful scream of "Kyaa!" rose up.
"What's wrong?"
"Please stay with me until the lunch break ends."
"I don't think it's good to bring an outsider like me in like that."
"You are contributing to research, so it is permitted. Or rather, I permit it, so it is permitted."
Basically, among mages, those with ability held significant authority.
Louis, the most capable even among the Court Mages, had been bestowed the title of Chief Court Mage. He had many subordinates, two private offices, direct subordinates and an Adjutant, and a certain degree of authority.
The title of 'Chief' was as unstable as the rankings in the academy's regular exams. If a decline in ability was observed during irregular assessments, or if a more powerful caster appeared, one would be demoted on the spot.
Louis, who had assumed the position of Chief several years ago, had continued to reign supreme despite undergoing twenty-four assessments since then.
Having held the position of Chief for many years, his future was solid.
It was as good as being promised the future position of 'Mage Corps Commander.'
While being led by Louis through the Institute, Elenoa said,
"That's refreshing abuse of power."
"Yes, there is no problem."
Louis's private room served as both a laboratory and a multipurpose room. The latter was used during breaks for naps or reading. On the way there, the two bowed their heads to many robed figures. Those without emblems on their chests were low-ranking court mages within the Institute. Those with emblems were Court Mages who used powerful magic.
Louis smiled equally at all of them, saying, "Good work."
It was a magnificent meritocracy, no matter when one looked.