Chapter 1 - Disciple of the Last Hexe
Part 1
Lyle Waldstein woke up to the annoying chirping of birds.
He was on the laboratory's sofa. Pushing aside the research papers that were
covering his face, his eyes were assailed by the morning sun, which the
curtains could not block out.
"Ugh......"
Running his hand through his steel-coloured, albeit bed hair afflicted hair, he
then rubbed his childlike face that was unlike that of a sixteen year old.
Noticing that he was not wearing his glasses, he fumbled about his
immediate surroundings, searching with half-awake eyes.
"Nnn... my glasses, glasses......"
Upon expanding his search area, his outstretched hand came into contact
with something tender and soft in the vicinity of his solar plexus.
Wondering what exactly it was, he groped around with his hand, and that
soft something changed its shape gently in the middle of his palm.
"Nnnya...... aahn......"
Was that a bird? They're making some pretty strange sounds today.
But still, what is this object with such a remarkable elasticity coefficient?
As Lyle reaffirmed the feeling of that soft something with his hands by
opening and closing his palm,
"Nnh... no... oh, Lyle..."
The birds today sure are making some really weird sounds. They're even
calling out my name, did a parrot from the southern archipelago get mixed up
here or what—
6
"......Mmm?"
At last, Lyle became fully awake, and he opened his eyes.
Even with his shortsightedness, Lyle could tell that before him was hair of a
beautiful copper colour, adorning an even more beautiful face. A slender
face, with delicate features. Her well-featured face, and the subtle
sensuousness of her cherry lips were vividly engraved in his sight.
"Wh— Ma—"
Lyle's body stiffened in surprise.
Of course, Lyle's hand had already grabbed firmly onto that soft something.
"Hah, mm.... mm, Lyle ~"
Stretching inside the blanket, the girl pressed her soft body on top of Lyle.
Lyle looked as though he was about to scream—and he suppressed the urge
to do so, after mustering all his self-control.
Discreetly removing his right hand in which the feeling of that soft something
still lingered and had been thrust into the blanket covering the girl, he then
extended his hand at the girl's blissful looking sleeping face—
"Mm...... nya? Nanyanyanayaya?"
Having her nose pinched mercilessly, the girl flailed her limbs about, sending
the blanket flying. The girl who had been unreasonably roused from her sleep
blinked her jade green eyes, looking at Lyle's face, and elegantly—while still
having her nose pinched—smiled.
"Gfffmgghning, fuaafuu."
"Good morning, Maria."
Releasing his fingers from pinching her nose, Lyle got up from the sofa.
Folding his arms and looking at the girl's face—and just her face, he raised his
eyebrows in a frown.
7
"...... Although this is already the sixtieth time...... please don't get naked
while in the company of others."
"I'm not naked, y'know?"
The girl with hair the colour of copper—Maria, saying that, crossed her legs
while sitting on the sofa.
Indeed, she was wearing black garter stockings and silk undergarments, but
the exposure of that was, on the contrary, even more seductive.
"Stop being so shameless already!"
"Lyle, be that as it may, aren't you also partially responsible? You see,
because the laboratory door wasn't locked, I couldn't help but think that it
was an invitation!"
Laughing out loud, Maria shrugged her shoulders, sending those abundantly
developed twin hills of hers shaking.
Before he realised it, his gaze had fallen there. Noticing that, Lyle corrected
his gaze in a panic.
".... Certainly, if I were to consider your personality, it might have been
careless of me to have not locked the door."
"Aren't I right?"
"But even if it's a joke, you are still a viscount's daughter, aren't you? You
ought to be more modest..."
"Pfft. Isn't 'Viscount Highline' just something that was bought with money?
For a noble whose title was bought, even if I conduct myself with modesty,
only malicious gossip is going to be spread about me anyway."
Maria's eyes that were long slits flickered sharply, and she brushed her long
copper hair upwards. She was easy-going and rough, but somehow also
elegant.
8
For the bourgeoisie who had obtained wealth from the <Steam Engine
Revolution>, there would be many of whom would want to buy the Viscount
title that anyone would recognise. The Highline family, was one of the
[Capitalist Nobility]—the more abusive term for it would be [nouveau riche
nobility], among others.
However, Maria Highline was openly unconcerned with that sort of thing.
".... If that's the case, I take back what I said about you being like a girl of
marriageable age. You ought to conduct yourself with firmness."
"Lyle, you don't sound like a boy your age at all. And also, such a fine woman
was sleeping right beside you when you awoke, you know? Would it kill you
to at least drool over me a little?"
"A fine woman, you say...."
Lyle bitterly smiled at Maria in secret, as though he were unable to
comprehend that. Precisely because she was a fine woman, it could not be
said that she was singing her own praises. And she was an extremely fine one
at that, too.
"Even so... Aren't you tired of being naked together? Have you forgotten that
you had torn off my clothes and pushed me into the river? Without even
wearing your underwear, you dragged me down into the depths, and finally
finishing off with our first kiss?"
"That happened like ten years ago! And artificial respiration doesn't count, it
doesn't count!"
"Yes, for ten years we've had an inseparable relationship. After such a long
time, it can't be helped that you would be flustered about it."
"If that's the case, why are you turning your head away?"
"A hedge between keeps friendship green. Unlike a certain somebody, I'm a
modest person."
"What, you're making me out to be like some promiscuous woman who
doesn't have a single bit of modesty."
9
"If you disagree, why don't you prove it by putting some clothes on right
away?"
Upon Lyle's rebuke, Maria started to put on her clothes while grumbling.
The sound of rustling clothes filled the room.
In order to block out his imagination that was running wild, Lyle got down on
his hands and knees and resumed searching for his glasses.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm looking for my glasses."
"Glasses? If that's what you're looking for, they're right here."
"Is that so? That's great— !"
When he looked back, Lyle's words were caught in his throat.
Maria, who he had thought was putting on her clothes, had only put on a
bustier. Because of her underwear, which pushed up her breasts moderately,
her cleavage was emphasised even more. Moreover, Lyle's glasses were
caught between, of all things, those soft mounds of hers.
"Look, it's really troublesome for me to have it here. Won't you quickly take it
out for me?"
"...... Can't you pass it to me normally?"
"Hmm? I'm a noble's daughter, I can't lift anything heavier than a quill pen."
"Isn't that the total opposite of what you said earlier?"
"Look here, if you want me to put on my clothes faster, you have no choice
but to quickly take your glasses out."
Maria bent forward, further emphasising her cleavage. With a mischievous
smile and expression, it looked like she was taking her revenge for being
treated so coldly.
Bring it on. As if something of this level will faze me.
10
11
Lyle fixated his glance at her, returning Maria's seemingly mischievous
expression with a glowering look.
".....Maria has always been an outrageous tomboy of a noble's daughter,
even from before."
"It is an honour to receive your praise."
Narrowing her jade eyes, Maria smiled, seemingly delighted from the bottom
of her heart.
Expressionlessly maintaining his caution, Lyle reached out with his hand.
12
Part 2
"...... Sheesh."
In order to cool down his burning hot body, Lyle took a deep breath and
inhaled the air of early spring.
He had managed to retrieve his glasses. Putting them on and stretching his
back, he looked like an average student. Lyle was affiliated with the Royal
Vergenheim Academy, an institution for liberal arts that occupied a vast area
in the eastern outskirts of Verg's royal capital, Ilsestein. Due to their
comprehensive enriching curriculum, there was a saying that went, 'there is
nothing you cannot learn at Vergenheim.'
As he walked through the academy's garden that was hazy with the morning
mist and vapour, he spied a person's shadow moving across the open space
of the lawn. It looked like a bonfire was burning brightly in the day.
"—Good morning, Hazel."
"Ah? Go-Good morning, Lyle."
The one who returned the greeting was a blond-haired, blue-eyed youth
wearing old work clothes, who looked as though he was from a painting.
Hazel Clairy. Lyle's classmate, whom he shared a room with in the dormitory.
"Are you heading back to the dorm? I was just thinking of having some food,
so let's go together."
"Alright. But, what were you doing?"
"Well, I'm in charge of the [Springfire Festival]."
While walking, Hazel stretched his shoulders.
The Springfire Festival was a festival held at the beginning of spring. In order
to drive away the winter's cold, a bonfire was kept burning for three days and
nights straight.
"Isn't that supposed to be the student council's job?"
13
"It's a special part-time job. During the Springfire Festival holiday period,
everyone is busy playing and enjoying themselves, so they're short-handed.
Not just the night sentry, but even the preparations for the ball the student
council is organising, it seems."
"Don't you have other things to do, Hazel?"
"Am I not a destitute noble who has to rely on a scholarship to attend
school? I have to earn some cash when I have the chance to."
It was not just the Capitalist Nobility like Maria's Highline family that had
increased in number; the number of nobles who had made losses had also
increased, that was how the situation went. The time when nobles could
simply make a living off being a noble had long since ended.
Then again, unlike Maria, Hazel had pretty much nothing to do with [nobility],
even though he looked like one with his blond-haired, blue-eyed and rosycheeked
appearance. Thanks to various complicated circumstances, they
could get along with each other.
Returning to their dormitory whose only forte was its old-fashionedness, the
duo headed for the dining hall. Usually, it would be flooded with hungry
boarding students, but as one would expect, it was deserted during the
holiday.
"Tch. It looks like everyone has already left a long time ago."
Although the dorm matron who made the meals was also not around,
recently they had brought in a refrigerator—it operated through ammonia
coolant, circulated by a small steam engine—and it was packed with
ingredients that had been effectively stored.
The duo improvised a simple breakfast, and started eating restlessly.
"By the way, what are you planning to do during the holiday, Lyle?"
Hazel asked, while biting on salted cabbage.
14
"I too am planning on spending it being a computer1
subcontractor2
to earn
some spending money."
Dipping rye bread into the slightly watery soup, Lyle answered.
"Ah—You're popular amongst the professors. They say you can do the
calculations twice as fast as private contractors."
In most laboratories nowadays, calculation processing for large amounts of
experimental results was done through contracting with a private computer
company, known as a [Computing Factory]. Naturally, since they employed
human wave tactics by having novices glare at the calculation tables, small
errors were often reported.
To avoid having to rely on them, they had also researched on what was called
the [Difference Engine], based on steam engine technology, an automatic
calculator for mechanism equations—but as of now, they had not announced
any practical implementations of the research results.
"Thanks to that, I thought I was going to be bored even when on break... but
then Maria forcibly invited me to go sightsee the festival."
"That copper-haired noblewoman, eh."
The moment he heard Maria's name, a wide grin showed on Hazel's face.
"......What?"
"I'll be straightforward then; how far have you gone with her?"
"What do you mean by 'how far have you gone', didn't I say that Maria's only
my childhood friend......"
1
A computer refer to 'one who computes', before computers were invented. A human
calculator, if you will
2
A contractor is... let's say you run a business. You require the services of, say an
electrician, but you don't have one employed. Hence, you engage the services of a
electrician. He will then become a 'contractor'. A sub-contractor is someone the
contracted electrician (for example) contracts with, for support. All these are legal
definitions, just for the record.
15
"You haven't laid your hands on something that fine? Has your little stump
rotted away?"
"...... I've said this many times before. Don't you think you ought to stop
saying that sort of thing?"
"I got it. Nobles have a reputation for liking dirty jokes, y'know. My ancestor
five generations ago once had a wise saying that went 'Men of nobility will
die if they are forbidden from touching elsewhere on a woman's body except
for above her belly'."
"...... Although I fail to understand it, what I do understand is that it's a
meaningless phrase which sounds like a wise saying."
"Moreover, what you're letting slip away is making a mistress of Maria
Highline, the only daughter of the Highline Group, which is the central figure
in the industries of iron, steel and railworks. Why are you even hesitating?"
"Evidently, that would be the reason. An upstart youngster like me, would
never be allowed to do so."
"Aren't you modest, Mr «Disciple of the Last Hexe»?"
".....It's embarrassing, stop calling me that."
Lyle frowned.
The name of «The Last Hexe», Erllua Azoth, was well-known even in the
countries far west.
And Lyle, who had been raised by Erllua, was given the nickname of the
«Disciple of the Last Hexe» behind his back at Vergenheim Academy.
"To begin with, isn't the fortune left behind by your master rather
substantial? Aren't you well-to-do financially?"
"The patents for things that my master had invented have all been
transferred to the Highline Group."
"What!?"
16
"After all, the leader of the previous generation—Maria's grandfather, is my
guardian, and furthermore, in the first place, he was the biggest financier my
master had. The only thing left for me was that lonesome mansion in the
countryside from years ago, and that too was sold half a year ago."
"But, y'know, is the thing about the unpublished <Erbe Der Last Hexe> 3
true?"
"That again...."
Erllua, who was known in the world as a 'rare prodigal scientist', was also
truly a 'genuine witch'. For the sake of concealing that fact, she had virtually
conducted all her research by herself. That secretiveness, ironically, had led
to her being given a second title, that of being a «Witch».
After her disappearance, it was rumoured that 'there was a possibility of
there being unpublished knowledge and technology that had been concealed
by the Last Hexe'.
That was called the <Erbe Der Last Hexe>, the urban legend that was being
circulated around.
(Indeed, it would not be strange for that master of mine to have hidden
various things, but...)
".... All I'm doing is simply relying on my master's research and fortune. I'm
truly a failure as an apprentice."
There was no credibility behind the rumours of the <Erbe>, was what Lyle
felt.
To Lyle, the most important things left to him were the wisdom and
knowledge that Erllua had taught and drilled into him. He took pride in that,
and it was all the inheritance he would need.
".... Rather than admire, I don't really think that part of you is very sensible."
3
Erbe Der Last Hexe is part-German, part-English. 'Erbe' is an inheritance/legacy, so it
could be interpreted the Inheritance/Legacy of the Last Hexe (witch), as it might end up as
a wordplay in the end and have double meaning (Last means something else in German).
17
"Leave me alone—and Maria too. Eventually, she'll be married to a wealthy
noble financier. It would not do to mar her in any way."
"Is that noblewoman really so precious to you? Being 'ladylike' is already an
old-fashioned conservative way of thinking. Rather, she's the type you should
go stab with your sword head-on, y'know."
"......"
Lyle sipped his soup in silence, as he had already known that a long time ago.
"Come to think of it... do you know who Vilhelm Zest is?"
"That senior from the fifth year? Last year, at the age of eighteen, he
succeeded the military Zest family as a Margrave4
, an extraordinary man—
rumours of whom have spread so fast that even I've heard of them. That
Zest?"
"A really different kind of noble compared to me. Even in the academy, he's
always surrounded by and bringing along younger nobles from prominent
families. A Margrave like that, for the sake of inviting Miss Maria to the ball
at the end of the holiday, had even made advances on her... how do you
think that turned out?"
Looking at the smiling, seemingly happy Hazel, Lyle had a rather unpleasant
premonition.
"She slapped that dandy right across the cheek, and told him, 'Did that quite
wake you up?'. It was an act of brilliance. There were more students who
were in admiration than in surprise."
"That happened, huh....."
Lyle resisted the dizziness that afflicted his head.
Though I already knew how her uncontrollable, reckless, and without-a-carefor-what-others-may-think
personality was like......
4
Margrave is a medieval title for a nobleman who had military responsibilities for a border
province of a kingdom. In this case, the kingdom is Ilsestein. The setting is influenced by
Germany, I guess, there are quite a few German words here and there.
18
"... Even absurdity should have a limit."
"You're the only person who can get along well with that noblewoman. So,
hurry up and make something happen already. In the first place, how are you
able to hold yourself back with such a perfect pair of breasts before you? Be
honest. Are there any guys who dislike breasts? None.Ain't that right, my
brother?"
While cackling, Hazel moved both his hands in an extremely obscene manner.
"...... Hazel. If you're going to be that persistent about it, I have something
that I want to say."
"Eh? What's that?"
"I won't lend you my notes at all, nor will I show you the way to the exam."
"Ngh! Th-That would be troubling! If I don't have your notes, I'll end up
dropping out of class! And to make matters worse, if I can't sell the
transcriptions of your notes, I'll starve to death in an instant!"
"Why is this guy putting food before his exams... wait, what was it that you
said?"
"Heheh, pardon me, Lord Lyle. Bestow upon this pitiable lamb your scriptures
and promises."
"Very well."
Looking down at Hazel who was prostrating himself on the ground, Lyle felt a
little better.
19
Part 3
After setting up a fire in the stove and taking a hot shower, Lyle changed into
his outdoor clothes. But to be exact, it was only the usual clothes, a shirt,
vest, slacks and an overcoat on top.
Though the standard black overcoat specified by the academy was
unfashionable and thus unpopular, Lyle saw it as a mage's robes and hence it
was his favourite, comparatively.
"—Hm. I forgot something."
Lyle was just about to depart from the cramped dorm room (Hazel's only
saving grace was that he was a neat freak) when he checked and did not feel
the usual sensation in his pocket. Hurriedly, he picked up the pocket watch
left on top of the desk. On the exterior cover that was adorned with delicate
silverwork, a polished amber was giving off a dull shine.
It was the watch that Erllua, Lyle's teacher, had given him just before her
disappearance. Inserting amber which was indispensable for magi, into the
cover of the watch that was made with cutting-edge mechanisms, was truly
like something «The Last Hexe» would do.
"One could even say that this is the <Erbe Der Last Hexe>.... Oops, gotta go,
gotta go."
When he opened the lid to check the time, he realised that a significant
amount of time had passed.
Stuffing the pocket watch deep into his pocket, Lyle flew out of the
dormitory.
The dormitory was located at the northern end of the vast academy. Lyle
rushed towards the western side of said vast academy's interior.
A single horse carriage was stopped before the sturdy and old-fashioned
main gate made from iron. The young girl folded her arms in an imposing
stance and pouted as Lyle arrived panting and out of breath.
"—You're late!"
20
Though she was making a racket over Lyle first thing in the morning, still, she
did dress up rather seriously today. An elegant pale pink dress. Tapping on
the ground were precisely measured, custom-made boots. On her head was a
wide-brimmed sun hat. No matter how one looked at her, she was exactly
the image of a high-class noblewoman.
I would have no complaints if she were dressed like that all the time, sighed
Lyle.
"Weren't you the one who suddenly called me out? Doing that and saying
that I'm late is rather unreasonable."
"Why do you say that, seeing as you've known me for so long? Haven't I
always been that way since the past?"
"...... Now that you mention it, I guess I should have known."
Shaking his head exasperatedly, his gaze met with the girl sitting at the
coachman's position on the carriage who was stretching her neck out. She
had large green eyes and light brown skin that gave one the impression of a
Southerner. Over her light blond hair, she wore a pure white headdress,
which was the symbol of maids.
"Good morning, Milla."
"Good morning to you, Master Lyle."
The maid serving under Maria, MillaGauche, returned with a smile
reminiscent of a sunflower.
Lyle knew her from when he was a child. One could say that she was Lyle's
comrade in arms in being abused by Maria.
"Looook here, what are you waiting for, get on quickly."
Maria pushed Lyle towards the carriage. Once they had boarded the
passenger's compartment, Milla started to move the horse carriage with a
crack of her whip.
The liveliness of the atmosphere grew as one travelled from the outskirts
towards the central area. Upon arriving at the street where government
21
boards were located, they were caught up in an absurd disturbance. Food
stalls that were giving off sweet aromas were everywhere, and so were the
resounding sounds from ringing glasses of malt beer.
Much less a horse carriage, even the trams were not able to move, it seemed.
"We can't proceed any further, eh."
"It looks like there's still a fair distance to go... ah, I remembered. I've got
something here that'll be good to kill some time with."
Saying that, Maria took out a single envelope from the bag beside her.
"It's a report from the research institute that I'm financing... they seem to be
having a hard time with it. Could I get your opinion on this?"
"... Did you bring me all the way here into this crowded town centre for
that?"
"I wonder? Leaving that aside, won't you do this for me, p-r-e-t-t-y-p-l-e-a-se♪?"
There was never an instance when he had refused Maria's 'please'. Lyle
promptly gave in, took the envelope, and retrieved the contents inside.
"...... This is...... a communication device that uses radio waves? With that, it
is also possible to transmit sound......"
"If implemented practically, it would probably be referred to as a
[telephone]. We're in no hurry, so take your time."
While buying mead that was mixed with soda from the carriage window,
Maria had said that carefreely, but Lyle was already concentrating on the
documents.
"A film to receive sound... Using pig's intestines, that's pretty classic... What if
there's electrical resistance in that thin film... How about a carbon or metal
film? But that would mean direct contact... come to think of it, a little while
ago I did some calculations on the piezoelectric effect using crystals for the
professor who taught electricity. If I apply those principles, a no-contact
22
approach could be possible, but... it's overly delicate, so putting it to practical
use would be......"
Lyle was unconsciously moving his finger along the documents, holding out a
fountain pen and taking careful aim. Then, he promptly thrust it hard at the
documents.
Unifying the accumulated knowledge and repeating the counter-arguments,
his thoughts formed an idea according to the notations and equations
running through his head. Lyle moved his writing brush, with the likeness of a
baby who had just learned to write.
"...... It can be done."
Struck with an idea, he finished writing out the layout of his design as much
as he could.
Filled with a sense of accomplishment, he raised his head, and saw that Maria
was playing around with her hair in boredom. The scenery outside the horse
carriage had changed from the city central to that of the outskirts.
Upon taking out his pocket watch to check the time,
"—It's already been an hour?"
"Honestly, your concentration is superb."
Although Maria was smiling bitterly as though she was amazed, but that
quickly changed to shock when she read his memo on the documents.
"...... This ought to have been only one hour. I doubt there was any need to
purposely take you through the town centre. In such a short time you've
raised three different methods one after the other and even pointed out our
problems... We'll be able to start producing a prototype right away."
"I didn't do that much. The part on the microphone that changes sound to
electrical signals was already made clear. What I did was something like
building a little house over a solid foundation."
"That must have been a really splendid little house then. If you like, I could
make you the chief-in-charge of that little house right away?"
23
"That's absurd!"
Lyle shook his head hurriedly.
"The evaluation is based off accumulated results. Doing that for scrawls like
this is beyond what I deserve."
"That's simply modesty, or rather, how should I put it....... I'd like you to rely
on me a little more."
Maria shrugged her shoulders, with an expression that seemed to say, 'I
understand, but...'
Shortly after, the horse carriage arrived at their destination.
At the western outskirts of the royal capital, there had once been a
shipbuilding factory directly under military control. Although it had been a
considerably large-scale facility, a sudden fire had destroyed everything three
years ago. The reconstruction of the factory was integrated as the expansion
of the second shipbuilding factory that was under construction at that time.
There were no practical plans that stood out for the remaining burnt area to
be used for, and thus it ended up as a so-called multi-purpose plaza that had
no distinct function.
That multi-purpose plaza at the western outskirts of the royal capital was, as
of now, filled with many multi-coloured tents with people going in and out.
The popularity of the place had surged to an extent that would not lose to
even the central district of the royal capital.
It was a performing arts festival that assembled street performers, circuses,
amongst others, all at once. As there were many troublesome procedures the
performers had to go through before they could conduct operations in the
royal capital, it was comparatively easier to get approval for shows at this
location.
Stopping the horse carriage at the chosen spot, Lyle and the others started
their sightseeing.
"Wow! Look there, Lyle! It's the first time I've seen something like a saber
tiger!"
24
Without delay, Maria hugged the two metre long beast of the big cat family
that was lying sprawled at the roadside. The opposite of the timid Lyle, she
was in high spirits.
"Isn't it cute? Hey, let's raise one at home."
'It's regrettable, but I do not think the master1
will approve because he hates
cats', said Milla who was gently smiling.
"Tch.Even though it's so cute."
Being stroked by Maria, the saber tiger opened its half-closed eyes. Because
it was pleasant, it did not look as though it disliked it, and it opened its
mouth, as though yawning after being tickled at the nape of its neck.
Upon seeing those large knife-like fangs, Lyle abruptly fainted.
"Are you alright?"
Milla gently stroked Lyle who was green in the face on his back. That
diligence was appropriate for the image of a maid, but on the other hand,
Lyle was rather pitiable, as a man.
"Ugh... sorry about that, Milla."
"You're welcome."
"Next, let's keep moving on!"
Before long, having had her fill of the exotic wild beast, Maria's attention
turned towards a target practice shooting stall.
"Hmm? Doesn't that look pretty fun?"
Normally, at these shooting stalls, they used balls, toys and arrows, for
example, but it seemed like what that stall used were toys with a spring
mechanism that imitated rifles. They had reproduced the bolt action
mechanism that had just been made practical recently. It was a rather
elaborate toy.
1
This master here refers to the head of the household.
25
"Welcome. It'll be seven coppers for three tries."
"Isn't that a little pricey?"
"Please take a look at our prizes. There are perfumes famous in the
neighbouring country of Galea, quality hair ornaments produced in the
industrial city of Imata. They may be expensive, but there is a good reason for
that."
"I see. Well then—Lyle", as she was saying that, Maria passed over the toy
rifle over to Lyle.
"I want that earring."
"You can get it yourself, can't you? Isn't marksmanship your forte?"
"Lyle, I'm doing it for your benefit, y'know? It's a girl's responsibility to leave
the spotlight to the guy."
"So it's that kind of reason......"
He could not understand it, but nevertheless, it was not like he did not have
an interest in such an unusual game.
Paying the copper coins and loading a cork bullet, Lyle prepared the toy rifle.
Aiming at the centre of the wooden tokens that represented the prizes, he
pulled the trigger. With a 'bon', the cork bullet was fired, but it went wide off
its mark.
"Aah! Do it steadily, Lyle!"
Maria hit the back of his body, giving him a pep talk. Does she really like that
ornament so much? Aiming carefully, he fired the second round. Because he
got a little more used to it after the earlier try, the shot would not be as off as
the first time. Though he thought that it would hit, the bullet went in a totally
wrong direction.
"This is......"
26
Because the parabola was totally different from earlier, Lyle noticed the trick
of the cork bullets. In order to make the shooter unable to grasp how to aim,
the centre of gravity had been purposely altered.
"Go on, don't you have just one more shot left?"
At the words of the shopkeeper who was wearing a peaceful expression, Lyle
loaded his last round while feeling astonished.
(...... No other choice.)
Although I'm rather reluctant to do so, let me try a little something here as
well.
While preparing the toy gun, Lyle extended his hand to the watch in his
pocket, touching the amber that was inserted onto the cover with his
fingertip.
"———— That which exists at the end of light, the end of darkness. That
which denotes the origin of wind, the origin of fire.Of forgotten dusk, of
heretic gold.That which is the cradle of time. ————"
Lyle whispered in a soft voice that blended into the clamour of the
surroundings.
Exciting the magical power that was imprisoned within the amber, was the
incantation known as <Oracio>.
Before long, at the fingertip touching the amber on the cover of the pocket
watch in the pocket, a tiny warmth that could not be said to be heat was
born. It was the sensation of excited magical power.
The hidden amber resonating with his mind, Lyle started constructing the
'magic'.
(The acceleration due to gravity is fixed at 9.806m/s^2—the mass of the
bullet, the speed of the wind—grasped. Hypothesising 'magic'—)
Magecraft was a study of how one could, using magical power, interfere with
reality with 'magic' that distorted the laws of said reality. For that reason, it
27
was necessary for one to have a deep understanding of the underlying
principles of the cosmos. Without that, one would not understand what was
being distorted.
That is to say, turning the user's knowledge into 'power'.
Although magic could distort even the laws of reality for the desired results,
it was not omnipotent. A practitioner would fail if they hypothesised
excessively unreasonable 'magic', and receive the entire backlash of the
distortion.
However, what was being manipulated this time was the trajectory of the
cork bullet, which was a rather meagre thing.
In accordance to 'magic', Lyle formed a mental image of the trajectory. That
image bearing a sense of reality, his belief reached its peak—
— *Pon*.
The fired cork bullet was corrected, following the trajectory of Lyle's mental
image, and hit dead centre of its mark.
With a *batan*, the mark easily fell over.
"B-bull's eye....", said the shopkeeper while ringing the bell, flabbergasted.
(...... That wasn't very mature of me.)
Lyle contemplated a little.
'Magic must be kept secret. By no means should you expose it to the public
eye. They are but illusions made into fabrication.' —that was an unspoken
rule of all magi, carried on since the Dark Ages, when the [Magus Hunters] of
the Church had been powerful.
Though he did not fear being exposed, it might have been somewhat rash of
him to use it at target practice stand in the festival.
However, when he saw how pleased Maria was as she took the earrings, Lyle
felt much better about it.
"Does it look good on me?"
28
It was a high-grade item, but Maria already had as many of them as she
wanted. Although he felt it was a little inferior compared to her current
attire, he thought that the bead earrings which matched her emerald green
eyes looked good within her copper hair.
"Yep. It looks really good on you."
"Is that so? Then let's go! —Wait, I forgot something."
With a clap, Maria took into her hands the toy rifle that was used for target
practice.
"Where was this made?"
"Huh? Oh, it's just a little something that was made by a small factory
indebted to my family."
"I see. —Milla, this toy is pretty well made. Dispatch an envoy right away to
the factory that made this and obtain an exclusive contract."
"Understood."
The shopkeeper stared in wonder at the exchange between Maria and Milla.
Lyle too, was in admiration of the promptness of that decision.
Though the Highlines were just one household among others that were
blessed with business ability by nature, Maria was one who stood out from
the rest even amongst that. Both her grandfather and father had complained
that, 'it's a waste to have that in a woman'.
—Then again, whether it was in a man or a woman, that had nothing to do
with Maria.
Within Lyle's field of vision, Maria had turned her head back abruptly.
"Hm? What is it? Did you fall for me?"
"As if. I'm always seeing you around, so much that I get tired of it. I was
looking at the earrings."
29
"Oh? Well, let's just leave it at that."
Smiling as though she had played a prank and twirling around, Maria
returned the toy gun, seemingly in high spirits.
30
Part 4
Wandering about in the day, Lyle and the others continued their sightseeing
as they bought foodstuffs like smoked meat and spit-roasted potato.
And then, what had caught their eyes was a performance stage that involved
knives and swords. That in itself was sure to attract an audience.
A man had his entire body up to his neck entirely covered in an oblong box,
and his partner was stabbing sword after sword into it.
"Whoa, doesn't that pierce straight into the centre!"
"Aren't they doing that right in front of an audience? It should be safe."
The master and servant pair Maria and Milla, and the surrounding spectators
raised their voices in surprise upon seeing the swords piercing into the box.
"Thrusting the sword in is part of their show, isn't it?"
"Is that so?"
"I think that that guy is a contortionist. They'd be able to perform that kind of
stunt, right? When the audience sees the swords being stabbed inside, surely
that would play a trick on their minds, wouldn't it?"
Lyle explained in a serious tone.
The spectators who heard that slowly started to spread the information, and
the audience gradually grew bored with the performance.
"P-Please wait a second, everyone! Since you've said that much, then we
cannot remain silent any longer. Let us present our grand finale—"
Upon saying that, the magician pushed in a wagon that a big box was placed
on.
"Now, we'll split the body of the man inside the box into two—"
31
"Ah, for that, a man will already be present in the box from the start with his
legs sticking out. They use a slanted mirror inside so the audience sees that
it's empty."
The men on the stage hardened their business smiles.
The completely spoiled audience left the stage, one by one.
"L-Look at what you have done, you brat!"
The men got off the stage in a rage—while brandishing swords in their hands.
"Not good! Let's run away!"
Maria and Milla immediately broke into a run, and Lyle followed suit in a
hurry.
Shoving their way through the tides of people through the curving path, the
sound of angry voices slowly receded. His hands on his knees, Lyle tried to
catch his breath.
"Oh dear...... Come to think of it, it's been a while since I've been chased
around with Maria— ?"
Looking around, he saw neither shape nor shadow of either his copper-haired
childhood friend and her maid. It looked like he had been separated from
them while running away.
"I'm beat......"
Just as he was thinking of heading back to the horse carriage, he heard the
same angry voices of the men from earlier. Lyle then dived at the closest tent
nearby in a panic. Hiding himself behind the curtains, the passing angry men
disappeared into the distance.
"—Are you a customer?"
Turning around, he saw that a man who looked like the cashier, was looking
at Lyle suspiciously after he had suddenly entered the tent.
32
"...... How much will this be?"
He would feel embarrassed if he had just left like that. Paying the admission
fee, Lyle went further into the tent.
Inside the tent, twenty or so spectators were sitting on benches. For some
reason, they were practically all males. With the addition of Lyle, it seemed
like the numbers were filled up. Before long, the tent was closed up.
A candlestick illuminated the stage, and with that, a man who seemed like
the host appeared on the stage and bowed his head.
"A good day to you, ladies and gentlemen. Who we have on stage now is our
beautiful, one-of-a-kind songstress, who will be gracing us with her heavenly
voice! The moment of a transient illusion, please enjoy it!"
Aah, no wonder. Lyle now understood the reason why there was an unusual
number of male customers. It looked like it was because they were drawn by
the 'beautiful songstress'.
As he was lightly regretting his choice due to the fact that it had not been his
original intention to participate, the illumination in the tent was
extinguished.
When the light was relit, the illumination revealed a massive birdcage in the
middle of the stage. What was imprisoned inside the birdcage was no bird,
but a lonesome small girl.
'Hoo...', went the audience, leaking out a sigh.
It had not been a lie. The girl inside the birdcage was truly, extremely lovely
and beautiful.
Her pale silver hair was softly undulating as it reached down to her waist,
captivating the eyes of the audience.
Because of the repeatedly overlapping thin black cloth, the wings of a bird
could be seen at the hem of the dress in which her slender body was clad.
33
From the openings of the dress were limbs so fine that they seemed like they
would break, so white they seemed like snow dissolving from the heat of a
candle's flame. It might have been because of that, that the choker and lock
around her slim neck further emphasised the impression of her being
imprisoned. As though it was a play depicting an imprisoned nightingale.
The girl lifted her head.
She was probably around two or three years younger than Lyle. Her features
were smooth like white porcelain. A small nose and mouth, and large
charming eyes that were obscured by her long eyelashes.
However, nothing could be felt from that expression of hers, which gave off
an impression of being man-made, inhuman.
—Almost as though she's a doll of excellent craftsmanship....
While he was thinking that, the girl on the stage looked towards Lyle.
Their eyes met.
Lyle's breath was taken away at the sight of the girl's golden eyes that were
looking his way—but she immediately averted her eyes, and faced directly
forward, expressionless.
The men in the audience while grinning broadly, were throwing dirty looks at
the girl. Her black dress that opened up wide at the shoulders and back
prominently displayed her white, ephemeral figure.Coupled with her doll-like
emotionless face, in some respects that had a charm that invited perversion.
And then,
"....... Aah————————"
The moment the girl began her song, the atmosphere in the tent completely
changed.
The looks of curiosity from the men, had all become expressions of
astonishment and wonder.
Lyle was no exception, his eyes had widened instinctively.
34
—What a......
With a feeling akin to shuddering, the hairs at the back of his neck standing
on ends, Lyle thought.
What a beautiful voice.
Almost as though someone was plucking the strings of the midwinter night
sky—a soprano that soared higher and higher. Like a crystal reflecting the
pale moonlight—was her extremely clear voice.
The girl's voice resounded, even resonating with the air within Lyle's lungs.
He noticed that he had been deeply moved emotionally, after the girl's song
had drawn to a close. Lyle was the first to clap his hands in applause, and the
rest of the audience who seemed as though they had their souls extracted
out of them followed suit simultaneously, though albeit delayed.
Without a change in her expression, the girl bowed.
Amidst the applause, the host earlier then made an appearance on the stage.
"Had it not been a treat for the ears? However, our show has not quite
ended! Everyone—do you all know what a witch is?"
To the words of the man who was saying that it was a 'secret not meant to
leave this tent', Lyle unintentionally hiccoughed. As the attention of the
people focused upon him, Lyle smiled and waved his hand apologetically.
"..... Ahem. Everyone here has ought to have heard of fairy-tales. This girl
does not just have a beautiful face and a heavenly voice, but is also a user of
ancient magic! Have a good look at that power!"
As the man finished his speech, the girl went out of the birdcage onto the
stage. Quietly opening her eyes, she slowly raised both her arms toward the
sky.
"...... Oooh!"
35
36
The audience raised their voices in surprise. The two candlesticks at both
ends of the stage were gently floating into the air. With the candle flames
flickering, they flew around in circles above the audience's heads.
This is.......
In the midst of the audience who were making a stir, Lyle was overcome with
a wholly different kind of surprise.
It is no optical illusion, nor a trick using thread. Whilst that may be true.... I
cannot see any hint of the usage of amber....
Lyle was then struck with a sudden realisation, and thrust his hand into his
pocket. The amber inserted onto the cover of the pocket watch, was giving
off a fleeting luminescence without <Oracio>.
It's resonating with the magical power? ..... That's no parlour trick. This is
genuine magic!
Believing that and looking towards the stage, Lyle saw that an unusual
phenomenon was happening to the girl. She was perspiring heavily at her
brow, and she seemed to be slightly wincing, even as she maintained her
previous emotionless expression.
"...... Uu."
The girl moaned, and her body began to shake violently.
The candlesticks that were flying about in the air suddenly stopped
momentarily,
"Ouch! It's hot!"
Cried the spectators who suffered burns from the flames of the falling
candlesticks.
The inside of the tent turned into an uproar, and the performance was
ceased with immediate effect.
37
Part 5
"Why are you giving this to me? Huh?"
Outside the tent, a youth who had been burned raised his voice. Because of
his well-dressed appearance, one could instantly tell that he was nobility, and
a wealthy one at that.
The male host from earlier was repeatedly bowing his head.
"That was an unforeseen occurrence...... We'll return your admission
charge— "
"As if that can compensate for this! What are you going to do about my
hair?"
The youth, holding up his burnt hair—though in all honesty, he did not have
that much in the first place—threatened.
"We, the family of Count Schwatten, have served the country of Ilsestein ever
since its founding! To have turned a flame towards someone of that lineage,
you've gone too far!"
Lyle who had slipped into the crowd of curious onlookers, frowned at the
overbearing young man.
Moreover, it looked like he was not alone. His companions numbered four,
all of whom were well-dressed youths like him, and they surrounded the
host.
"H-How should I apologise in order to......"
"How about this."
The group of young nobles grinned broadly, having thought of something.
"The girl who had made that blunder—we'll have her apologise to us
personally."
"Huh? That's—"
38
"In other words, we'll take care of her. Surely you guys won't want to keep
someone who made such a serious blunder? If you agree, we will not press
the issue further and let bygones be bygones."
In short, they were telling him to 'sell the girl to us'. Their tone was heavy
with coercion. Lyle then slipped out from the crowd.
Slipping into the tent which had become empty due to the racket outside and
concealing his worry, he walked into the backstage. In a small room
separated by curtains, the girl from earlier was seated on a chair quietly.
The silver haired girl then opened her closed eyelids, and faced Lyle with a
flowing movement.
"Is there something you require of me?"
As I thought, her voice is beautiful—breathtakingly beautiful and calm.
"....... The men whom you dropped the candlesticks on earlier, it seems like
they are nobles."
"Yes."
"They were surrounding your boss. Saying something about handing you
over."
"Yes."
Lyle frowned at the completely unchanging voice and expression of the girl.
"And you're fine with that?"
"It was my mistake. I cannot be a burden to those who had taken me in."
A sense of obligation—he could not imagine that being the case, as her voice
made it seem like those were the affairs of strangers.
Just as Lyle was about to argue further, there were signs that indicated the
approach of others from the back.
39
Not good—as he thought that, Lyle was pushed behind the curtains into
hiding by the girl.
Repositioning herself back on the chair, the young noble from earlier then
entered without calling out.
"Hmph, you were here?"
The young noble boldly approached the girl, and lifted her chin up casually.
"The folk song you sang was truly beautiful. What's more, it was with an
indescribable elegance. By any chance, are you from a noble family that had
suffered ruin?"
".........."
"Don't want to speak up? Well, whatever. Be grateful, for after this you'll
have no need to worry about either food or clothing."
"........................."
The youth angrily manhandled her face. The girl was probably thinking
whether she should be frightened or flattered.
However, the girl only looked back at him intently in silence.
The young noble, grinding his teeth, suddenly struck the girl across her cheek.
The girl's slender body fell from the chair, her pale silver hair fluttering.
"Those ..... insolent eyes of yours!"
Readily throwing aside the image of a well-dressed noble, the youth leaned
over the girl. Grabbing hold of her neck with his hands, he was smiling widely,
feeling a sense of superiority at the sight of the girl's agonised look.
"Hmph, that's the look I wanted to see. If you'll cry out with that kind of
face— !"
"Argh!"
40
Smashing the chair downwards onto the youth's back, Lyle winced, his hands
numbed by the sheer impact. The young noble who had not noticed the
approaching Lyle, fell on top of the girl.
"Let's go! Quickly get up!"
Taking the hand of the girl with a vague, unsure expression, Lyle rushed out
of the tent.
"H-Hold it right there! H-He got away— ! Give chase! Get him— !"
Looking as though he was forcing the girl along, Lyle cut across the noisy
plaza.
Upon slipping into and hiding in the spaces between the tents, the group of
young nobles then came running, out of breath.
"Where are they!"
"Not here. They're pretty fast."
"Damn......! They're making a fool out of me!"
While cursing loudly, the group of young nobles then dashed off elsewhere.
Lyle released the breath that he had been holding in.
"....... Why did you do something like that?"
The girl who had hidden along with Lyle, called out to him, still wearing that
emotionless expression, tilting her head to the side.
"Why, you ask...... if something like that happens right before me, then I
cannot stand by and do naught."
Hearing that answer, the girl closed her mouth and looked as though she was
finding it hard to comprehend.
Sticking his head out and taking a look, he ascertained that their pursuers
were gone, and then Lyle started running again.
The girl, who had completely no sense of 'self,' was pulled along, doubt
showing on her porcelain-like face, and she asked Lyle for the second time.
41
"Is it because you are a magus?"
"You noticed?"
"I felt the vestiges of faint magical power from you. When I was casting
magic, I clearly sensed the magical power of amber..... because I had been
distracted by that, I lost control over the magic."
"That's not the only reason, is it? If you were in such a weakened state, it is
only inevitable that you went past your limits."
The slenderness of the girl's arm that he gripped. It could not be explained
just as a matter of physique. Though her expression had not changed, she
was already tottering, unsteady on her feet.
"You— "
"There they are!"
In the crowds far away, the young noble whom Lyle had smashed a chair on
had raised his voice angrily.
"............. For the whole of today, all I've gotten is to get chased around!"
Hearing the bellows of rage chasing him from behind and finding no escape
routes, Lyle surveyed the surroundings.
"There!"
Just ahead on the road, was a large-scale performance of magic tricks being
held on a stage. And onto that stage, Lyle jumped, carrying the girl.
"W-What are you doing, Mr Customer?"
"Let me borrow the casket."
Together with the girl, Lyle slipped into the casket placed in the middle of the
stage. As the magician was confused, the party who were chasing Lyle had
also jumped onto the stage.
42
"We've got him!"
"Did you think you could hide yourself with just this?"
The youths, with clenched fists, vigorously threw off the lid of the casket.
"T-There's no one there!"
The youths were all looking at the interior of the casket, but they could see
neither shape nor shadow of Lyle or the girl.
"Oooh!"
In the midst of the applause by the audience, who had thought the chain of
disturbances were a part of the performance, the group of young nobles
were at a loss.
"What on earth...."
"Oi! Look at that!"
In the direction that one of the youths was pointing, were the figures of the
escaping Lyle and the girl.
"D-Damn it!"
"Hey! Give chase!"
Although they shoved their way through the applauding audience, they were
being delayed, and the size of the two figures running away slowly became
smaller and smaller.
43
Part 6
"...... Did we lose them?"
For now, it looked like they had shaken off the group of noble's sons from
earlier. Lyle let out a sigh of relief.
"If— "
Lyle looked to the side.
The girl with the pale silver hair, expressionless and emotionless, was looking
intently at Lyle.
"If we have shaken them off, then it would be best for you to go back during
this interval of time."
"..... What about you?"
"I will be returning. I cannot be a burden to them."
"You can't possibly be thinking of going back there, can you?"
Lyle said while looking into the girl's eyes. The peculiar colour of those eyes
could have been described as either golden or amber.
"You're able to cast magic without the use of amber, and those [Eyes of
Amber]—You're a Phantasm, right?"
The girl's expression wavered, even if only a little.
Phantasm.
Different from human magi who had to draw out magical power from amber,
they were races whom were born carrying magical power within them—
Phantasm was the general term for races like fiels, lycans and devils. Once,
they had lived among humans in coexistence.
However, as magic was assumed to be a thing of fairy-tales, they too, were
considered to be a product of fantasies.
44
During the Dark Ages, when the church's oppression had been at its peak, the
magi, for the sake of guarding themselves had sealed away their knowledge;
and the Phantasm, hating the conflict that had been brought about, secluded
themselves away in the deep mountains and ravines where humans did not
tread.
"Although I don't know the reason why you were there in such a place, right
now you're in such a weakened state because you're lacking in magical
power, right? It would be best if you went back to the hidden haven where
you belong to, right away."
"...... That would seem best."
For the first time, a faint trace of emotion flickered across the girl's pale face.
Faint and vague, Lyle could not clearly distinguish what it was, but it seemed
like it was self-derision.
Just as Lyle was about to enquire further into it, they ran out of time.
From the crowds in the distance, once again he could hear the sounds of
angry voices. They were amazingly persistent.
"Nobles nowadays sure have a lot of free time on their hands. Let's get away,
I'll leave the questions for later—What's wrong!?"
The girl's face was growing increasingly paler and paler, her breathing was
haggard and it looked painful.
Lyle hurriedly caught her swaying, slender body.
"....... Please do not be concerned about me, kindly get awa— "
"Absolutely not."
To the words of the girl who was not concerned in the least bit about herself,
Lyle replied, slightly irritated.
"There's no way I can overlook someone who's in trouble."
45
Saying that, he was just about to move, but from the path ahead, the sounds
of the pursuers drew closer. Unable to make a move, Lyle was surrounded by
the group of young nobles.
The surrounding people gathered around a distance away, curious, as though
they were sightseeing an attraction.
"What a rude fellow."
The youth with the burnt forelocks, was the one to start the ball rolling.
"Recently, it has been bugging me how many people there are who have
been enthusiastic about the equality of social classes. I'll firmly give your
body a lesson on how wrong that misapprehension is."
The youths slowly approached.
Although Lyle had some confidence in running away, but it would be
extremely unlikely he would succeed while carrying the girl who could not
move. He moved in front of her, as the least he could do was to shield her
from violence, and one of the youths seemed to notice something.
"Wait a second........ isn't he Lyle Waldstein?"
"What? The «Disciple of the Last Hexe»?
It looked like they were also students of Vergenheim.
The youth with the burnt forelocks, glared at Lyle with a fiendish grin.
"I see........ that Lyle Waldstein?"
"...... I don't know which Lyle Waldstein you're referring to, but indeed, that is
my name."
"It's great if you're him. Because you've been quite the eyesore."
It seemed like the group of them shared the same opinion. With violence in
their eyes, they glowered at Lyle.
46
"He's only just a commoner scholarship student.... and too impertinent for
one."
"In the current times, won't people think badly of you if you don't get off
your high horse?"
"You little...... ! A commoner dares to tell that to us!"
Looking at the suddenly angered sons of nobles, Lyle nodded his head within
his heart, as they were reacting just as he had wanted them to. Their
attention was solely directed at him. This way, they would forget about the
girl and would probably end up hitting him.
Though he had considered things calmly, Lyle's prediction was quickly proven
false.
The silver-haired girl silently stepped out in front of Lyle, and bowed her head
deeply to the noble's sons.
"........ From the beginning, it is I who is the cause of this. This person had
gotten involved halfway. By all means, please take your anger out on me
instead."
"Wh— ?"
Lyle was more indignant, rather than surprised or shocked. Even though she
was so weak she looked like she would collapse any moment, this girl could
still say something like that. At this rate, she would be taken away by them,
and things would turn out badly.
Her outstretched hand motioned for him to fall back, but before that Lyle
was seized by the girl's eyes.
In the midst of her pale silver hair, the girl's eyes released a light. Like the
colour of dusk—it was magical excitation light...... !
Just as he recognised that, Lyle's body stiffened.
('Shadowstitch'........ No, the magic of 'Bewitchment'!)
47
As he expected, she was a Phantasm. Those amber eyes that gave off the
light of magical excitation were proof of that.
The girl who had stopped Lyle's body, had those thin eyebrows of hers
strained as though she was enduring the pain. However, she quickly returned
to her expressionless self, and bowed her head once more to the noble's
sons.
"..... If it is within my ability, I will do whatever I can to apologise. Please."
"........"
The youth with the burnt forelocks, silently stepped forward. Stopping in
front of the girl who still had her head bowed, he mercilessly swung his arm.
The weakened girl fell to the ground helplessly.
"I'll have you apologise to me in full later on. For now.... he goes first."
Saying that, the youth looked towards Lyle.
The paralysis that overcame him when the girl had been struck lifted, as Lyle
was grabbed and locked from behind by the young nobles that had
surrounded him.
"...... Lowly and impertinent commoner, know your place!"
Smiling sadistically at Lyle who could not move, the youth noble raised his
arm overhead.
Firmly resolving not to scream out, Lyle gnashed his molars together.
— However, no fist landed on Lyle's face.
Out of nowhere, a cork bullet had hit the forehead of the youth noble.
"Ow..... W-What was that?"
"Yep yep, that's as far as you go."
48
The voice was not loud, yet it still resounded throughout the area, drawing
the attention of people.
Separating the wall of onlookers, a single girl stepped forward. She was
holding a toy rifle in her hands, it looked like that was what had fired the cork
bullet earlier.
She brushed her seemingly burning copper hair upwards, and threw a
piercing glance with her jade green eyes.
"Maria....."
"Maria Highline!"
Around Lyle, the youth noble raised his voice in astonishment.
Maria, whose name was called out, answered with a sarcastic smile.
"Well well, look who we have here. Sir Gerim Schwatten, what kind of racket
are you making, in the middle of the road?"
"........ Nothing much."
The youth with the burnt forelocks—Gerim answered while holding back his
earlier overbearing attitude.
In response, Maria, with what looked like an expression of pity,
"It's 'nothing much'? Chasing two persons around with such great numbers,
pouring cold water on such a fun festival and you call it nothing much?"
Gerim and his cronies did not have a response, in the face of Maria's
ridiculing words.
"...... Well, whatever. If you say it's nothing much, then I won't say anything
more. If you leave these two alone and leave, I'll overlook this issue."
"These two, you say? How absurd. In the first place it was Waldstein, who
took this girl from us—"
49
"Took her from you? What was that? You can't be saying that you bought
her? What a ridiculous anachronism. If that's the case, wouldn't you be
engaging in slave trading?"
"Gu....."
"Oh yeah, by the way, I contributed a large sum of money to that troupe of
itinerant entertainers from earlier. In doing so, their owner had promised to
transfer a portion of the rights of their entertainment business to me>."
"What!"
To have bought the songstress girl—she was straightforward as usual, but
this time, the business-inclined Maria's actions were several times more
daring than said usual.
"What will you do? Although if you still want to go at it, there's no way I'll
remain quiet, y'know?"
Maria declared assertively, and the audience who heartily agreed with her
went, "That's right!", or "Go back to where you came from, moron nobles!",
in loud voices.
Grinding their teeth in vexation, Gerim and his cronies glared at Maria.
Though they wanted to depart, their pride as nobles would not allow them to
run away shamelessly.
"You little..... !"
Just as Gerim was about to raise his lowered arm—
"—Cease your actions."
A composed and low voice reverberated through the air, and the group of
youth nobles froze at the same time.
"Should a noble be raising his fists against a lady?"
The one who had stepped out saying that, was a tall young man. He was as
well-dressed as Gerim and the others, but was it the longsword he carried at
50
his waist, or the air of confidence as he walked, that made it seem like he was
one, two, or even more steps above them?
"Lord Vi-Vilhelm......"
Vilhelm Zest.
While still a student, he had already succeeded his family, the person who
should be known as the Margrave Zest.
Maria who had been courted by such a young Margrave, wore an expression
that seemed to show that she was feeling bothered.
"....... Speaking of which, weren't these guys were your followers, Lord Zest?"
"Speaking of which, this guy was your childhood friend, Miss Maria."
Vilhelm shifted his attention to Lyle. His powerful eyes were like sharpened
blades that were without a single nick.
"—If they were the cause of the disturbance, then we shall withdraw right
away..... Let us be off, Gerim. As Miss Maria had said, it would be pouring
cold water on the festival should you go any further."
"B-But, Lord Vilhelm! Indeed, it is inelegant of us to make such a racket, but
they have not yet apologised for my hair..... "
Said Gerim, displaying his burnt forelocks.
In an indifferent manner, Vilhelm contemplated, then nodded his head—and
faster than the eyes could see, he drew his sword.
A flash of silver.
Leaving nothing besides an afterglow, he sheathed his sword, and Gerim's
burnt forelocks gently fluttered through the air and onto the ground.
"—What about your hair?"
Although he had just displayed blindingly fast swordwork, Vilhelm's voice was
in fact, calm. Even so, within that calmness was concealed a confidence and
conceit about his own sword arm.
51
52
Though Gerim was more dumbfounded than anyone else, he shook his head
so furiously it looked like something would come loose.
"We are done here. —Everyone, I apologise for the trouble they have caused.
It would be my honour if you have obtained some form of amusement from
that shoddy performance of mine."
With an elegant bow to the wide-eyed onlookers, Vilhelm Zest departed
dashingly. His followers, Gerim and his cronies, followed suit in a hurry.
Thanks to that, Lyle was at last released from the lock.
"Seriously, you're the same as always."
To Lyle who was easing his shoulders and wrists that had been gripped very
hard, Maria pushed the toy rifle while smiling bitterly.
"You're smart, and yet you don't have that much sensibility. With that, you
can't lead a comfortable life, can you?"
"I know that. More importantly, I must apologise for causing you trouble,
Maria."
"I'm used to it. You've always been softhearted, after all."
Although she was sighing, Maria looked at Lyle with a light in her eyes that
somehow gave the impression that she was proud of him.
"—So, who is that girl?"
"Oh, yeah......"
Upon looking at the silver-haired girl who had been struck down, he noticed
that Milla had already appeared unnoticed and was skillfully tending to the
girl.
"She has fainted. Furthermore, her body is severely weakened. It would be
best if we brought her to a doctor immediately...."
"No, a doctor would not be able to help her."
53
Interrupting Milla's diagnosis, Lyle then lowered his voice.
"Rather than that, it would be better to supply her with magical power. That
would heal most of her damage, and her physical strength should also
return."
"What exactly is this girl?"
"I don't know the exact details, but..."
Lyle who was the target of Milla and Maria's gazes, stared at the girl's face,
and said.
"A Phantasm using the magic of 'Bewitchment'. Most likely—She is a
«Nosferatu»1
."
Before they had realised it, the sun had begun to set, illuminating them with
an amber light.
Chapter 1 - Disciple of the Last Hexe
Part 1
Lyle Waldstein woke up to the annoying chirping of birds.
He was on the laboratory's sofa. Pushing aside the research papers that were
covering his face, his eyes were assailed by the morning sun, which the
curtains could not block out.
"Ugh......"
Running his hand through his steel-coloured, albeit bed hair afflicted hair, he
then rubbed his childlike face that was unlike that of a sixteen year old.
Noticing that he was not wearing his glasses, he fumbled about his
immediate surroundings, searching with half-awake eyes.
"Nnn... my glasses, glasses......"
Upon expanding his search area, his outstretched hand came into contact
with something tender and soft in the vicinity of his solar plexus.
Wondering what exactly it was, he groped around with his hand, and that
soft something changed its shape gently in the middle of his palm.
"Nnnya...... aahn......"
Was that a bird? They're making some pretty strange sounds today.
But still, what is this object with such a remarkable elasticity coefficient?
As Lyle reaffirmed the feeling of that soft something with his hands by
opening and closing his palm,
"Nnh... no... oh, Lyle..."
The birds today sure are making some really weird sounds. They're even
calling out my name, did a parrot from the southern archipelago get mixed up
here or what—
6
"......Mmm?"
At last, Lyle became fully awake, and he opened his eyes.
Even with his shortsightedness, Lyle could tell that before him was hair of a
beautiful copper colour, adorning an even more beautiful face. A slender
face, with delicate features. Her well-featured face, and the subtle
sensuousness of her cherry lips were vividly engraved in his sight.
"Wh— Ma—"
Lyle's body stiffened in surprise.
Of course, Lyle's hand had already grabbed firmly onto that soft something.
"Hah, mm.... mm, Lyle ~"
Stretching inside the blanket, the girl pressed her soft body on top of Lyle.
Lyle looked as though he was about to scream—and he suppressed the urge
to do so, after mustering all his self-control.
Discreetly removing his right hand in which the feeling of that soft something
still lingered and had been thrust into the blanket covering the girl, he then
extended his hand at the girl's blissful looking sleeping face—
"Mm...... nya? Nanyanyanayaya?"
Having her nose pinched mercilessly, the girl flailed her limbs about, sending
the blanket flying. The girl who had been unreasonably roused from her sleep
blinked her jade green eyes, looking at Lyle's face, and elegantly—while still
having her nose pinched—smiled.
"Gfffmgghning, fuaafuu."
"Good morning, Maria."
Releasing his fingers from pinching her nose, Lyle got up from the sofa.
Folding his arms and looking at the girl's face—and just her face, he raised his
eyebrows in a frown.
7
"...... Although this is already the sixtieth time...... please don't get naked
while in the company of others."
"I'm not naked, y'know?"
The girl with hair the colour of copper—Maria, saying that, crossed her legs
while sitting on the sofa.
Indeed, she was wearing black garter stockings and silk undergarments, but
the exposure of that was, on the contrary, even more seductive.
"Stop being so shameless already!"
"Lyle, be that as it may, aren't you also partially responsible? You see,
because the laboratory door wasn't locked, I couldn't help but think that it
was an invitation!"
Laughing out loud, Maria shrugged her shoulders, sending those abundantly
developed twin hills of hers shaking.
Before he realised it, his gaze had fallen there. Noticing that, Lyle corrected
his gaze in a panic.
".... Certainly, if I were to consider your personality, it might have been
careless of me to have not locked the door."
"Aren't I right?"
"But even if it's a joke, you are still a viscount's daughter, aren't you? You
ought to be more modest..."
"Pfft. Isn't 'Viscount Highline' just something that was bought with money?
For a noble whose title was bought, even if I conduct myself with modesty,
only malicious gossip is going to be spread about me anyway."
Maria's eyes that were long slits flickered sharply, and she brushed her long
copper hair upwards. She was easy-going and rough, but somehow also
elegant.
8
For the bourgeoisie who had obtained wealth from the <Steam Engine
Revolution>, there would be many of whom would want to buy the Viscount
title that anyone would recognise. The Highline family, was one of the
[Capitalist Nobility]—the more abusive term for it would be [nouveau riche
nobility], among others.
However, Maria Highline was openly unconcerned with that sort of thing.
".... If that's the case, I take back what I said about you being like a girl of
marriageable age. You ought to conduct yourself with firmness."
"Lyle, you don't sound like a boy your age at all. And also, such a fine woman
was sleeping right beside you when you awoke, you know? Would it kill you
to at least drool over me a little?"
"A fine woman, you say...."
Lyle bitterly smiled at Maria in secret, as though he were unable to
comprehend that. Precisely because she was a fine woman, it could not be
said that she was singing her own praises. And she was an extremely fine one
at that, too.
"Even so... Aren't you tired of being naked together? Have you forgotten that
you had torn off my clothes and pushed me into the river? Without even
wearing your underwear, you dragged me down into the depths, and finally
finishing off with our first kiss?"
"That happened like ten years ago! And artificial respiration doesn't count, it
doesn't count!"
"Yes, for ten years we've had an inseparable relationship. After such a long
time, it can't be helped that you would be flustered about it."
"If that's the case, why are you turning your head away?"
"A hedge between keeps friendship green. Unlike a certain somebody, I'm a
modest person."
"What, you're making me out to be like some promiscuous woman who
doesn't have a single bit of modesty."
9
"If you disagree, why don't you prove it by putting some clothes on right
away?"
Upon Lyle's rebuke, Maria started to put on her clothes while grumbling.
The sound of rustling clothes filled the room.
In order to block out his imagination that was running wild, Lyle got down on
his hands and knees and resumed searching for his glasses.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm looking for my glasses."
"Glasses? If that's what you're looking for, they're right here."
"Is that so? That's great— !"
When he looked back, Lyle's words were caught in his throat.
Maria, who he had thought was putting on her clothes, had only put on a
bustier. Because of her underwear, which pushed up her breasts moderately,
her cleavage was emphasised even more. Moreover, Lyle's glasses were
caught between, of all things, those soft mounds of hers.
"Look, it's really troublesome for me to have it here. Won't you quickly take it
out for me?"
"...... Can't you pass it to me normally?"
"Hmm? I'm a noble's daughter, I can't lift anything heavier than a quill pen."
"Isn't that the total opposite of what you said earlier?"
"Look here, if you want me to put on my clothes faster, you have no choice
but to quickly take your glasses out."
Maria bent forward, further emphasising her cleavage. With a mischievous
smile and expression, it looked like she was taking her revenge for being
treated so coldly.
Bring it on. As if something of this level will faze me.
10
11
Lyle fixated his glance at her, returning Maria's seemingly mischievous
expression with a glowering look.
".....Maria has always been an outrageous tomboy of a noble's daughter,
even from before."
"It is an honour to receive your praise."
Narrowing her jade eyes, Maria smiled, seemingly delighted from the bottom
of her heart.
Expressionlessly maintaining his caution, Lyle reached out with his hand.
12
Part 2
"...... Sheesh."
In order to cool down his burning hot body, Lyle took a deep breath and
inhaled the air of early spring.
He had managed to retrieve his glasses. Putting them on and stretching his
back, he looked like an average student. Lyle was affiliated with the Royal
Vergenheim Academy, an institution for liberal arts that occupied a vast area
in the eastern outskirts of Verg's royal capital, Ilsestein. Due to their
comprehensive enriching curriculum, there was a saying that went, 'there is
nothing you cannot learn at Vergenheim.'
As he walked through the academy's garden that was hazy with the morning
mist and vapour, he spied a person's shadow moving across the open space
of the lawn. It looked like a bonfire was burning brightly in the day.
"—Good morning, Hazel."
"Ah? Go-Good morning, Lyle."
The one who returned the greeting was a blond-haired, blue-eyed youth
wearing old work clothes, who looked as though he was from a painting.
Hazel Clairy. Lyle's classmate, whom he shared a room with in the dormitory.
"Are you heading back to the dorm? I was just thinking of having some food,
so let's go together."
"Alright. But, what were you doing?"
"Well, I'm in charge of the [Springfire Festival]."
While walking, Hazel stretched his shoulders.
The Springfire Festival was a festival held at the beginning of spring. In order
to drive away the winter's cold, a bonfire was kept burning for three days and
nights straight.
"Isn't that supposed to be the student council's job?"
13
"It's a special part-time job. During the Springfire Festival holiday period,
everyone is busy playing and enjoying themselves, so they're short-handed.
Not just the night sentry, but even the preparations for the ball the student
council is organising, it seems."
"Don't you have other things to do, Hazel?"
"Am I not a destitute noble who has to rely on a scholarship to attend
school? I have to earn some cash when I have the chance to."
It was not just the Capitalist Nobility like Maria's Highline family that had
increased in number; the number of nobles who had made losses had also
increased, that was how the situation went. The time when nobles could
simply make a living off being a noble had long since ended.
Then again, unlike Maria, Hazel had pretty much nothing to do with [nobility],
even though he looked like one with his blond-haired, blue-eyed and rosycheeked
appearance. Thanks to various complicated circumstances, they
could get along with each other.
Returning to their dormitory whose only forte was its old-fashionedness, the
duo headed for the dining hall. Usually, it would be flooded with hungry
boarding students, but as one would expect, it was deserted during the
holiday.
"Tch. It looks like everyone has already left a long time ago."
Although the dorm matron who made the meals was also not around,
recently they had brought in a refrigerator—it operated through ammonia
coolant, circulated by a small steam engine—and it was packed with
ingredients that had been effectively stored.
The duo improvised a simple breakfast, and started eating restlessly.
"By the way, what are you planning to do during the holiday, Lyle?"
Hazel asked, while biting on salted cabbage.
14
"I too am planning on spending it being a computer1
subcontractor2
to earn
some spending money."
Dipping rye bread into the slightly watery soup, Lyle answered.
"Ah—You're popular amongst the professors. They say you can do the
calculations twice as fast as private contractors."
In most laboratories nowadays, calculation processing for large amounts of
experimental results was done through contracting with a private computer
company, known as a [Computing Factory]. Naturally, since they employed
human wave tactics by having novices glare at the calculation tables, small
errors were often reported.
To avoid having to rely on them, they had also researched on what was called
the [Difference Engine], based on steam engine technology, an automatic
calculator for mechanism equations—but as of now, they had not announced
any practical implementations of the research results.
"Thanks to that, I thought I was going to be bored even when on break... but
then Maria forcibly invited me to go sightsee the festival."
"That copper-haired noblewoman, eh."
The moment he heard Maria's name, a wide grin showed on Hazel's face.
"......What?"
"I'll be straightforward then; how far have you gone with her?"
"What do you mean by 'how far have you gone', didn't I say that Maria's only
my childhood friend......"
1
A computer refer to 'one who computes', before computers were invented. A human
calculator, if you will
2
A contractor is... let's say you run a business. You require the services of, say an
electrician, but you don't have one employed. Hence, you engage the services of a
electrician. He will then become a 'contractor'. A sub-contractor is someone the
contracted electrician (for example) contracts with, for support. All these are legal
definitions, just for the record.
15
"You haven't laid your hands on something that fine? Has your little stump
rotted away?"
"...... I've said this many times before. Don't you think you ought to stop
saying that sort of thing?"
"I got it. Nobles have a reputation for liking dirty jokes, y'know. My ancestor
five generations ago once had a wise saying that went 'Men of nobility will
die if they are forbidden from touching elsewhere on a woman's body except
for above her belly'."
"...... Although I fail to understand it, what I do understand is that it's a
meaningless phrase which sounds like a wise saying."
"Moreover, what you're letting slip away is making a mistress of Maria
Highline, the only daughter of the Highline Group, which is the central figure
in the industries of iron, steel and railworks. Why are you even hesitating?"
"Evidently, that would be the reason. An upstart youngster like me, would
never be allowed to do so."
"Aren't you modest, Mr «Disciple of the Last Hexe»?"
".....It's embarrassing, stop calling me that."
Lyle frowned.
The name of «The Last Hexe», Erllua Azoth, was well-known even in the
countries far west.
And Lyle, who had been raised by Erllua, was given the nickname of the
«Disciple of the Last Hexe» behind his back at Vergenheim Academy.
"To begin with, isn't the fortune left behind by your master rather
substantial? Aren't you well-to-do financially?"
"The patents for things that my master had invented have all been
transferred to the Highline Group."
"What!?"
16
"After all, the leader of the previous generation—Maria's grandfather, is my
guardian, and furthermore, in the first place, he was the biggest financier my
master had. The only thing left for me was that lonesome mansion in the
countryside from years ago, and that too was sold half a year ago."
"But, y'know, is the thing about the unpublished <Erbe Der Last Hexe> 3
true?"
"That again...."
Erllua, who was known in the world as a 'rare prodigal scientist', was also
truly a 'genuine witch'. For the sake of concealing that fact, she had virtually
conducted all her research by herself. That secretiveness, ironically, had led
to her being given a second title, that of being a «Witch».
After her disappearance, it was rumoured that 'there was a possibility of
there being unpublished knowledge and technology that had been concealed
by the Last Hexe'.
That was called the <Erbe Der Last Hexe>, the urban legend that was being
circulated around.
(Indeed, it would not be strange for that master of mine to have hidden
various things, but...)
".... All I'm doing is simply relying on my master's research and fortune. I'm
truly a failure as an apprentice."
There was no credibility behind the rumours of the <Erbe>, was what Lyle
felt.
To Lyle, the most important things left to him were the wisdom and
knowledge that Erllua had taught and drilled into him. He took pride in that,
and it was all the inheritance he would need.
".... Rather than admire, I don't really think that part of you is very sensible."
3
Erbe Der Last Hexe is part-German, part-English. 'Erbe' is an inheritance/legacy, so it
could be interpreted the Inheritance/Legacy of the Last Hexe (witch), as it might end up as
a wordplay in the end and have double meaning (Last means something else in German).
17
"Leave me alone—and Maria too. Eventually, she'll be married to a wealthy
noble financier. It would not do to mar her in any way."
"Is that noblewoman really so precious to you? Being 'ladylike' is already an
old-fashioned conservative way of thinking. Rather, she's the type you should
go stab with your sword head-on, y'know."
"......"
Lyle sipped his soup in silence, as he had already known that a long time ago.
"Come to think of it... do you know who Vilhelm Zest is?"
"That senior from the fifth year? Last year, at the age of eighteen, he
succeeded the military Zest family as a Margrave4
, an extraordinary man—
rumours of whom have spread so fast that even I've heard of them. That
Zest?"
"A really different kind of noble compared to me. Even in the academy, he's
always surrounded by and bringing along younger nobles from prominent
families. A Margrave like that, for the sake of inviting Miss Maria to the ball
at the end of the holiday, had even made advances on her... how do you
think that turned out?"
Looking at the smiling, seemingly happy Hazel, Lyle had a rather unpleasant
premonition.
"She slapped that dandy right across the cheek, and told him, 'Did that quite
wake you up?'. It was an act of brilliance. There were more students who
were in admiration than in surprise."
"That happened, huh....."
Lyle resisted the dizziness that afflicted his head.
Though I already knew how her uncontrollable, reckless, and without-a-carefor-what-others-may-think
personality was like......
4
Margrave is a medieval title for a nobleman who had military responsibilities for a border
province of a kingdom. In this case, the kingdom is Ilsestein. The setting is influenced by
Germany, I guess, there are quite a few German words here and there.
18
"... Even absurdity should have a limit."
"You're the only person who can get along well with that noblewoman. So,
hurry up and make something happen already. In the first place, how are you
able to hold yourself back with such a perfect pair of breasts before you? Be
honest. Are there any guys who dislike breasts? None.Ain't that right, my
brother?"
While cackling, Hazel moved both his hands in an extremely obscene manner.
"...... Hazel. If you're going to be that persistent about it, I have something
that I want to say."
"Eh? What's that?"
"I won't lend you my notes at all, nor will I show you the way to the exam."
"Ngh! Th-That would be troubling! If I don't have your notes, I'll end up
dropping out of class! And to make matters worse, if I can't sell the
transcriptions of your notes, I'll starve to death in an instant!"
"Why is this guy putting food before his exams... wait, what was it that you
said?"
"Heheh, pardon me, Lord Lyle. Bestow upon this pitiable lamb your scriptures
and promises."
"Very well."
Looking down at Hazel who was prostrating himself on the ground, Lyle felt a
little better.
19
Part 3
After setting up a fire in the stove and taking a hot shower, Lyle changed into
his outdoor clothes. But to be exact, it was only the usual clothes, a shirt,
vest, slacks and an overcoat on top.
Though the standard black overcoat specified by the academy was
unfashionable and thus unpopular, Lyle saw it as a mage's robes and hence it
was his favourite, comparatively.
"—Hm. I forgot something."
Lyle was just about to depart from the cramped dorm room (Hazel's only
saving grace was that he was a neat freak) when he checked and did not feel
the usual sensation in his pocket. Hurriedly, he picked up the pocket watch
left on top of the desk. On the exterior cover that was adorned with delicate
silverwork, a polished amber was giving off a dull shine.
It was the watch that Erllua, Lyle's teacher, had given him just before her
disappearance. Inserting amber which was indispensable for magi, into the
cover of the watch that was made with cutting-edge mechanisms, was truly
like something «The Last Hexe» would do.
"One could even say that this is the <Erbe Der Last Hexe>.... Oops, gotta go,
gotta go."
When he opened the lid to check the time, he realised that a significant
amount of time had passed.
Stuffing the pocket watch deep into his pocket, Lyle flew out of the
dormitory.
The dormitory was located at the northern end of the vast academy. Lyle
rushed towards the western side of said vast academy's interior.
A single horse carriage was stopped before the sturdy and old-fashioned
main gate made from iron. The young girl folded her arms in an imposing
stance and pouted as Lyle arrived panting and out of breath.
"—You're late!"
20
Though she was making a racket over Lyle first thing in the morning, still, she
did dress up rather seriously today. An elegant pale pink dress. Tapping on
the ground were precisely measured, custom-made boots. On her head was a
wide-brimmed sun hat. No matter how one looked at her, she was exactly
the image of a high-class noblewoman.
I would have no complaints if she were dressed like that all the time, sighed
Lyle.
"Weren't you the one who suddenly called me out? Doing that and saying
that I'm late is rather unreasonable."
"Why do you say that, seeing as you've known me for so long? Haven't I
always been that way since the past?"
"...... Now that you mention it, I guess I should have known."
Shaking his head exasperatedly, his gaze met with the girl sitting at the
coachman's position on the carriage who was stretching her neck out. She
had large green eyes and light brown skin that gave one the impression of a
Southerner. Over her light blond hair, she wore a pure white headdress,
which was the symbol of maids.
"Good morning, Milla."
"Good morning to you, Master Lyle."
The maid serving under Maria, MillaGauche, returned with a smile
reminiscent of a sunflower.
Lyle knew her from when he was a child. One could say that she was Lyle's
comrade in arms in being abused by Maria.
"Looook here, what are you waiting for, get on quickly."
Maria pushed Lyle towards the carriage. Once they had boarded the
passenger's compartment, Milla started to move the horse carriage with a
crack of her whip.
The liveliness of the atmosphere grew as one travelled from the outskirts
towards the central area. Upon arriving at the street where government
21
boards were located, they were caught up in an absurd disturbance. Food
stalls that were giving off sweet aromas were everywhere, and so were the
resounding sounds from ringing glasses of malt beer.
Much less a horse carriage, even the trams were not able to move, it seemed.
"We can't proceed any further, eh."
"It looks like there's still a fair distance to go... ah, I remembered. I've got
something here that'll be good to kill some time with."
Saying that, Maria took out a single envelope from the bag beside her.
"It's a report from the research institute that I'm financing... they seem to be
having a hard time with it. Could I get your opinion on this?"
"... Did you bring me all the way here into this crowded town centre for
that?"
"I wonder? Leaving that aside, won't you do this for me, p-r-e-t-t-y-p-l-e-a-se♪?"
There was never an instance when he had refused Maria's 'please'. Lyle
promptly gave in, took the envelope, and retrieved the contents inside.
"...... This is...... a communication device that uses radio waves? With that, it
is also possible to transmit sound......"
"If implemented practically, it would probably be referred to as a
[telephone]. We're in no hurry, so take your time."
While buying mead that was mixed with soda from the carriage window,
Maria had said that carefreely, but Lyle was already concentrating on the
documents.
"A film to receive sound... Using pig's intestines, that's pretty classic... What if
there's electrical resistance in that thin film... How about a carbon or metal
film? But that would mean direct contact... come to think of it, a little while
ago I did some calculations on the piezoelectric effect using crystals for the
professor who taught electricity. If I apply those principles, a no-contact
22
approach could be possible, but... it's overly delicate, so putting it to practical
use would be......"
Lyle was unconsciously moving his finger along the documents, holding out a
fountain pen and taking careful aim. Then, he promptly thrust it hard at the
documents.
Unifying the accumulated knowledge and repeating the counter-arguments,
his thoughts formed an idea according to the notations and equations
running through his head. Lyle moved his writing brush, with the likeness of a
baby who had just learned to write.
"...... It can be done."
Struck with an idea, he finished writing out the layout of his design as much
as he could.
Filled with a sense of accomplishment, he raised his head, and saw that Maria
was playing around with her hair in boredom. The scenery outside the horse
carriage had changed from the city central to that of the outskirts.
Upon taking out his pocket watch to check the time,
"—It's already been an hour?"
"Honestly, your concentration is superb."
Although Maria was smiling bitterly as though she was amazed, but that
quickly changed to shock when she read his memo on the documents.
"...... This ought to have been only one hour. I doubt there was any need to
purposely take you through the town centre. In such a short time you've
raised three different methods one after the other and even pointed out our
problems... We'll be able to start producing a prototype right away."
"I didn't do that much. The part on the microphone that changes sound to
electrical signals was already made clear. What I did was something like
building a little house over a solid foundation."
"That must have been a really splendid little house then. If you like, I could
make you the chief-in-charge of that little house right away?"
23
"That's absurd!"
Lyle shook his head hurriedly.
"The evaluation is based off accumulated results. Doing that for scrawls like
this is beyond what I deserve."
"That's simply modesty, or rather, how should I put it....... I'd like you to rely
on me a little more."
Maria shrugged her shoulders, with an expression that seemed to say, 'I
understand, but...'
Shortly after, the horse carriage arrived at their destination.
At the western outskirts of the royal capital, there had once been a
shipbuilding factory directly under military control. Although it had been a
considerably large-scale facility, a sudden fire had destroyed everything three
years ago. The reconstruction of the factory was integrated as the expansion
of the second shipbuilding factory that was under construction at that time.
There were no practical plans that stood out for the remaining burnt area to
be used for, and thus it ended up as a so-called multi-purpose plaza that had
no distinct function.
That multi-purpose plaza at the western outskirts of the royal capital was, as
of now, filled with many multi-coloured tents with people going in and out.
The popularity of the place had surged to an extent that would not lose to
even the central district of the royal capital.
It was a performing arts festival that assembled street performers, circuses,
amongst others, all at once. As there were many troublesome procedures the
performers had to go through before they could conduct operations in the
royal capital, it was comparatively easier to get approval for shows at this
location.
Stopping the horse carriage at the chosen spot, Lyle and the others started
their sightseeing.
"Wow! Look there, Lyle! It's the first time I've seen something like a saber
tiger!"
24
Without delay, Maria hugged the two metre long beast of the big cat family
that was lying sprawled at the roadside. The opposite of the timid Lyle, she
was in high spirits.
"Isn't it cute? Hey, let's raise one at home."
'It's regrettable, but I do not think the master1
will approve because he hates
cats', said Milla who was gently smiling.
"Tch.Even though it's so cute."
Being stroked by Maria, the saber tiger opened its half-closed eyes. Because
it was pleasant, it did not look as though it disliked it, and it opened its
mouth, as though yawning after being tickled at the nape of its neck.
Upon seeing those large knife-like fangs, Lyle abruptly fainted.
"Are you alright?"
Milla gently stroked Lyle who was green in the face on his back. That
diligence was appropriate for the image of a maid, but on the other hand,
Lyle was rather pitiable, as a man.
"Ugh... sorry about that, Milla."
"You're welcome."
"Next, let's keep moving on!"
Before long, having had her fill of the exotic wild beast, Maria's attention
turned towards a target practice shooting stall.
"Hmm? Doesn't that look pretty fun?"
Normally, at these shooting stalls, they used balls, toys and arrows, for
example, but it seemed like what that stall used were toys with a spring
mechanism that imitated rifles. They had reproduced the bolt action
mechanism that had just been made practical recently. It was a rather
elaborate toy.
1
This master here refers to the head of the household.
25
"Welcome. It'll be seven coppers for three tries."
"Isn't that a little pricey?"
"Please take a look at our prizes. There are perfumes famous in the
neighbouring country of Galea, quality hair ornaments produced in the
industrial city of Imata. They may be expensive, but there is a good reason for
that."
"I see. Well then—Lyle", as she was saying that, Maria passed over the toy
rifle over to Lyle.
"I want that earring."
"You can get it yourself, can't you? Isn't marksmanship your forte?"
"Lyle, I'm doing it for your benefit, y'know? It's a girl's responsibility to leave
the spotlight to the guy."
"So it's that kind of reason......"
He could not understand it, but nevertheless, it was not like he did not have
an interest in such an unusual game.
Paying the copper coins and loading a cork bullet, Lyle prepared the toy rifle.
Aiming at the centre of the wooden tokens that represented the prizes, he
pulled the trigger. With a 'bon', the cork bullet was fired, but it went wide off
its mark.
"Aah! Do it steadily, Lyle!"
Maria hit the back of his body, giving him a pep talk. Does she really like that
ornament so much? Aiming carefully, he fired the second round. Because he
got a little more used to it after the earlier try, the shot would not be as off as
the first time. Though he thought that it would hit, the bullet went in a totally
wrong direction.
"This is......"
26
Because the parabola was totally different from earlier, Lyle noticed the trick
of the cork bullets. In order to make the shooter unable to grasp how to aim,
the centre of gravity had been purposely altered.
"Go on, don't you have just one more shot left?"
At the words of the shopkeeper who was wearing a peaceful expression, Lyle
loaded his last round while feeling astonished.
(...... No other choice.)
Although I'm rather reluctant to do so, let me try a little something here as
well.
While preparing the toy gun, Lyle extended his hand to the watch in his
pocket, touching the amber that was inserted onto the cover with his
fingertip.
"———— That which exists at the end of light, the end of darkness. That
which denotes the origin of wind, the origin of fire.Of forgotten dusk, of
heretic gold.That which is the cradle of time. ————"
Lyle whispered in a soft voice that blended into the clamour of the
surroundings.
Exciting the magical power that was imprisoned within the amber, was the
incantation known as <Oracio>.
Before long, at the fingertip touching the amber on the cover of the pocket
watch in the pocket, a tiny warmth that could not be said to be heat was
born. It was the sensation of excited magical power.
The hidden amber resonating with his mind, Lyle started constructing the
'magic'.
(The acceleration due to gravity is fixed at 9.806m/s^2—the mass of the
bullet, the speed of the wind—grasped. Hypothesising 'magic'—)
Magecraft was a study of how one could, using magical power, interfere with
reality with 'magic' that distorted the laws of said reality. For that reason, it
27
was necessary for one to have a deep understanding of the underlying
principles of the cosmos. Without that, one would not understand what was
being distorted.
That is to say, turning the user's knowledge into 'power'.
Although magic could distort even the laws of reality for the desired results,
it was not omnipotent. A practitioner would fail if they hypothesised
excessively unreasonable 'magic', and receive the entire backlash of the
distortion.
However, what was being manipulated this time was the trajectory of the
cork bullet, which was a rather meagre thing.
In accordance to 'magic', Lyle formed a mental image of the trajectory. That
image bearing a sense of reality, his belief reached its peak—
— *Pon*.
The fired cork bullet was corrected, following the trajectory of Lyle's mental
image, and hit dead centre of its mark.
With a *batan*, the mark easily fell over.
"B-bull's eye....", said the shopkeeper while ringing the bell, flabbergasted.
(...... That wasn't very mature of me.)
Lyle contemplated a little.
'Magic must be kept secret. By no means should you expose it to the public
eye. They are but illusions made into fabrication.' —that was an unspoken
rule of all magi, carried on since the Dark Ages, when the [Magus Hunters] of
the Church had been powerful.
Though he did not fear being exposed, it might have been somewhat rash of
him to use it at target practice stand in the festival.
However, when he saw how pleased Maria was as she took the earrings, Lyle
felt much better about it.
"Does it look good on me?"
28
It was a high-grade item, but Maria already had as many of them as she
wanted. Although he felt it was a little inferior compared to her current
attire, he thought that the bead earrings which matched her emerald green
eyes looked good within her copper hair.
"Yep. It looks really good on you."
"Is that so? Then let's go! —Wait, I forgot something."
With a clap, Maria took into her hands the toy rifle that was used for target
practice.
"Where was this made?"
"Huh? Oh, it's just a little something that was made by a small factory
indebted to my family."
"I see. —Milla, this toy is pretty well made. Dispatch an envoy right away to
the factory that made this and obtain an exclusive contract."
"Understood."
The shopkeeper stared in wonder at the exchange between Maria and Milla.
Lyle too, was in admiration of the promptness of that decision.
Though the Highlines were just one household among others that were
blessed with business ability by nature, Maria was one who stood out from
the rest even amongst that. Both her grandfather and father had complained
that, 'it's a waste to have that in a woman'.
—Then again, whether it was in a man or a woman, that had nothing to do
with Maria.
Within Lyle's field of vision, Maria had turned her head back abruptly.
"Hm? What is it? Did you fall for me?"
"As if. I'm always seeing you around, so much that I get tired of it. I was
looking at the earrings."
29
"Oh? Well, let's just leave it at that."
Smiling as though she had played a prank and twirling around, Maria
returned the toy gun, seemingly in high spirits.
30
Part 4
Wandering about in the day, Lyle and the others continued their sightseeing
as they bought foodstuffs like smoked meat and spit-roasted potato.
And then, what had caught their eyes was a performance stage that involved
knives and swords. That in itself was sure to attract an audience.
A man had his entire body up to his neck entirely covered in an oblong box,
and his partner was stabbing sword after sword into it.
"Whoa, doesn't that pierce straight into the centre!"
"Aren't they doing that right in front of an audience? It should be safe."
The master and servant pair Maria and Milla, and the surrounding spectators
raised their voices in surprise upon seeing the swords piercing into the box.
"Thrusting the sword in is part of their show, isn't it?"
"Is that so?"
"I think that that guy is a contortionist. They'd be able to perform that kind of
stunt, right? When the audience sees the swords being stabbed inside, surely
that would play a trick on their minds, wouldn't it?"
Lyle explained in a serious tone.
The spectators who heard that slowly started to spread the information, and
the audience gradually grew bored with the performance.
"P-Please wait a second, everyone! Since you've said that much, then we
cannot remain silent any longer. Let us present our grand finale—"
Upon saying that, the magician pushed in a wagon that a big box was placed
on.
"Now, we'll split the body of the man inside the box into two—"
31
"Ah, for that, a man will already be present in the box from the start with his
legs sticking out. They use a slanted mirror inside so the audience sees that
it's empty."
The men on the stage hardened their business smiles.
The completely spoiled audience left the stage, one by one.
"L-Look at what you have done, you brat!"
The men got off the stage in a rage—while brandishing swords in their hands.
"Not good! Let's run away!"
Maria and Milla immediately broke into a run, and Lyle followed suit in a
hurry.
Shoving their way through the tides of people through the curving path, the
sound of angry voices slowly receded. His hands on his knees, Lyle tried to
catch his breath.
"Oh dear...... Come to think of it, it's been a while since I've been chased
around with Maria— ?"
Looking around, he saw neither shape nor shadow of either his copper-haired
childhood friend and her maid. It looked like he had been separated from
them while running away.
"I'm beat......"
Just as he was thinking of heading back to the horse carriage, he heard the
same angry voices of the men from earlier. Lyle then dived at the closest tent
nearby in a panic. Hiding himself behind the curtains, the passing angry men
disappeared into the distance.
"—Are you a customer?"
Turning around, he saw that a man who looked like the cashier, was looking
at Lyle suspiciously after he had suddenly entered the tent.
32
"...... How much will this be?"
He would feel embarrassed if he had just left like that. Paying the admission
fee, Lyle went further into the tent.
Inside the tent, twenty or so spectators were sitting on benches. For some
reason, they were practically all males. With the addition of Lyle, it seemed
like the numbers were filled up. Before long, the tent was closed up.
A candlestick illuminated the stage, and with that, a man who seemed like
the host appeared on the stage and bowed his head.
"A good day to you, ladies and gentlemen. Who we have on stage now is our
beautiful, one-of-a-kind songstress, who will be gracing us with her heavenly
voice! The moment of a transient illusion, please enjoy it!"
Aah, no wonder. Lyle now understood the reason why there was an unusual
number of male customers. It looked like it was because they were drawn by
the 'beautiful songstress'.
As he was lightly regretting his choice due to the fact that it had not been his
original intention to participate, the illumination in the tent was
extinguished.
When the light was relit, the illumination revealed a massive birdcage in the
middle of the stage. What was imprisoned inside the birdcage was no bird,
but a lonesome small girl.
'Hoo...', went the audience, leaking out a sigh.
It had not been a lie. The girl inside the birdcage was truly, extremely lovely
and beautiful.
Her pale silver hair was softly undulating as it reached down to her waist,
captivating the eyes of the audience.
Because of the repeatedly overlapping thin black cloth, the wings of a bird
could be seen at the hem of the dress in which her slender body was clad.
33
From the openings of the dress were limbs so fine that they seemed like they
would break, so white they seemed like snow dissolving from the heat of a
candle's flame. It might have been because of that, that the choker and lock
around her slim neck further emphasised the impression of her being
imprisoned. As though it was a play depicting an imprisoned nightingale.
The girl lifted her head.
She was probably around two or three years younger than Lyle. Her features
were smooth like white porcelain. A small nose and mouth, and large
charming eyes that were obscured by her long eyelashes.
However, nothing could be felt from that expression of hers, which gave off
an impression of being man-made, inhuman.
—Almost as though she's a doll of excellent craftsmanship....
While he was thinking that, the girl on the stage looked towards Lyle.
Their eyes met.
Lyle's breath was taken away at the sight of the girl's golden eyes that were
looking his way—but she immediately averted her eyes, and faced directly
forward, expressionless.
The men in the audience while grinning broadly, were throwing dirty looks at
the girl. Her black dress that opened up wide at the shoulders and back
prominently displayed her white, ephemeral figure.Coupled with her doll-like
emotionless face, in some respects that had a charm that invited perversion.
And then,
"....... Aah————————"
The moment the girl began her song, the atmosphere in the tent completely
changed.
The looks of curiosity from the men, had all become expressions of
astonishment and wonder.
Lyle was no exception, his eyes had widened instinctively.
34
—What a......
With a feeling akin to shuddering, the hairs at the back of his neck standing
on ends, Lyle thought.
What a beautiful voice.
Almost as though someone was plucking the strings of the midwinter night
sky—a soprano that soared higher and higher. Like a crystal reflecting the
pale moonlight—was her extremely clear voice.
The girl's voice resounded, even resonating with the air within Lyle's lungs.
He noticed that he had been deeply moved emotionally, after the girl's song
had drawn to a close. Lyle was the first to clap his hands in applause, and the
rest of the audience who seemed as though they had their souls extracted
out of them followed suit simultaneously, though albeit delayed.
Without a change in her expression, the girl bowed.
Amidst the applause, the host earlier then made an appearance on the stage.
"Had it not been a treat for the ears? However, our show has not quite
ended! Everyone—do you all know what a witch is?"
To the words of the man who was saying that it was a 'secret not meant to
leave this tent', Lyle unintentionally hiccoughed. As the attention of the
people focused upon him, Lyle smiled and waved his hand apologetically.
"..... Ahem. Everyone here has ought to have heard of fairy-tales. This girl
does not just have a beautiful face and a heavenly voice, but is also a user of
ancient magic! Have a good look at that power!"
As the man finished his speech, the girl went out of the birdcage onto the
stage. Quietly opening her eyes, she slowly raised both her arms toward the
sky.
"...... Oooh!"
35
36
The audience raised their voices in surprise. The two candlesticks at both
ends of the stage were gently floating into the air. With the candle flames
flickering, they flew around in circles above the audience's heads.
This is.......
In the midst of the audience who were making a stir, Lyle was overcome with
a wholly different kind of surprise.
It is no optical illusion, nor a trick using thread. Whilst that may be true.... I
cannot see any hint of the usage of amber....
Lyle was then struck with a sudden realisation, and thrust his hand into his
pocket. The amber inserted onto the cover of the pocket watch, was giving
off a fleeting luminescence without <Oracio>.
It's resonating with the magical power? ..... That's no parlour trick. This is
genuine magic!
Believing that and looking towards the stage, Lyle saw that an unusual
phenomenon was happening to the girl. She was perspiring heavily at her
brow, and she seemed to be slightly wincing, even as she maintained her
previous emotionless expression.
"...... Uu."
The girl moaned, and her body began to shake violently.
The candlesticks that were flying about in the air suddenly stopped
momentarily,
"Ouch! It's hot!"
Cried the spectators who suffered burns from the flames of the falling
candlesticks.
The inside of the tent turned into an uproar, and the performance was
ceased with immediate effect.
37
Part 5
"Why are you giving this to me? Huh?"
Outside the tent, a youth who had been burned raised his voice. Because of
his well-dressed appearance, one could instantly tell that he was nobility, and
a wealthy one at that.
The male host from earlier was repeatedly bowing his head.
"That was an unforeseen occurrence...... We'll return your admission
charge— "
"As if that can compensate for this! What are you going to do about my
hair?"
The youth, holding up his burnt hair—though in all honesty, he did not have
that much in the first place—threatened.
"We, the family of Count Schwatten, have served the country of Ilsestein ever
since its founding! To have turned a flame towards someone of that lineage,
you've gone too far!"
Lyle who had slipped into the crowd of curious onlookers, frowned at the
overbearing young man.
Moreover, it looked like he was not alone. His companions numbered four,
all of whom were well-dressed youths like him, and they surrounded the
host.
"H-How should I apologise in order to......"
"How about this."
The group of young nobles grinned broadly, having thought of something.
"The girl who had made that blunder—we'll have her apologise to us
personally."
"Huh? That's—"
38
"In other words, we'll take care of her. Surely you guys won't want to keep
someone who made such a serious blunder? If you agree, we will not press
the issue further and let bygones be bygones."
In short, they were telling him to 'sell the girl to us'. Their tone was heavy
with coercion. Lyle then slipped out from the crowd.
Slipping into the tent which had become empty due to the racket outside and
concealing his worry, he walked into the backstage. In a small room
separated by curtains, the girl from earlier was seated on a chair quietly.
The silver haired girl then opened her closed eyelids, and faced Lyle with a
flowing movement.
"Is there something you require of me?"
As I thought, her voice is beautiful—breathtakingly beautiful and calm.
"....... The men whom you dropped the candlesticks on earlier, it seems like
they are nobles."
"Yes."
"They were surrounding your boss. Saying something about handing you
over."
"Yes."
Lyle frowned at the completely unchanging voice and expression of the girl.
"And you're fine with that?"
"It was my mistake. I cannot be a burden to those who had taken me in."
A sense of obligation—he could not imagine that being the case, as her voice
made it seem like those were the affairs of strangers.
Just as Lyle was about to argue further, there were signs that indicated the
approach of others from the back.
39
Not good—as he thought that, Lyle was pushed behind the curtains into
hiding by the girl.
Repositioning herself back on the chair, the young noble from earlier then
entered without calling out.
"Hmph, you were here?"
The young noble boldly approached the girl, and lifted her chin up casually.
"The folk song you sang was truly beautiful. What's more, it was with an
indescribable elegance. By any chance, are you from a noble family that had
suffered ruin?"
".........."
"Don't want to speak up? Well, whatever. Be grateful, for after this you'll
have no need to worry about either food or clothing."
"........................."
The youth angrily manhandled her face. The girl was probably thinking
whether she should be frightened or flattered.
However, the girl only looked back at him intently in silence.
The young noble, grinding his teeth, suddenly struck the girl across her cheek.
The girl's slender body fell from the chair, her pale silver hair fluttering.
"Those ..... insolent eyes of yours!"
Readily throwing aside the image of a well-dressed noble, the youth leaned
over the girl. Grabbing hold of her neck with his hands, he was smiling widely,
feeling a sense of superiority at the sight of the girl's agonised look.
"Hmph, that's the look I wanted to see. If you'll cry out with that kind of
face— !"
"Argh!"
40
Smashing the chair downwards onto the youth's back, Lyle winced, his hands
numbed by the sheer impact. The young noble who had not noticed the
approaching Lyle, fell on top of the girl.
"Let's go! Quickly get up!"
Taking the hand of the girl with a vague, unsure expression, Lyle rushed out
of the tent.
"H-Hold it right there! H-He got away— ! Give chase! Get him— !"
Looking as though he was forcing the girl along, Lyle cut across the noisy
plaza.
Upon slipping into and hiding in the spaces between the tents, the group of
young nobles then came running, out of breath.
"Where are they!"
"Not here. They're pretty fast."
"Damn......! They're making a fool out of me!"
While cursing loudly, the group of young nobles then dashed off elsewhere.
Lyle released the breath that he had been holding in.
"....... Why did you do something like that?"
The girl who had hidden along with Lyle, called out to him, still wearing that
emotionless expression, tilting her head to the side.
"Why, you ask...... if something like that happens right before me, then I
cannot stand by and do naught."
Hearing that answer, the girl closed her mouth and looked as though she was
finding it hard to comprehend.
Sticking his head out and taking a look, he ascertained that their pursuers
were gone, and then Lyle started running again.
The girl, who had completely no sense of 'self,' was pulled along, doubt
showing on her porcelain-like face, and she asked Lyle for the second time.
41
"Is it because you are a magus?"
"You noticed?"
"I felt the vestiges of faint magical power from you. When I was casting
magic, I clearly sensed the magical power of amber..... because I had been
distracted by that, I lost control over the magic."
"That's not the only reason, is it? If you were in such a weakened state, it is
only inevitable that you went past your limits."
The slenderness of the girl's arm that he gripped. It could not be explained
just as a matter of physique. Though her expression had not changed, she
was already tottering, unsteady on her feet.
"You— "
"There they are!"
In the crowds far away, the young noble whom Lyle had smashed a chair on
had raised his voice angrily.
"............. For the whole of today, all I've gotten is to get chased around!"
Hearing the bellows of rage chasing him from behind and finding no escape
routes, Lyle surveyed the surroundings.
"There!"
Just ahead on the road, was a large-scale performance of magic tricks being
held on a stage. And onto that stage, Lyle jumped, carrying the girl.
"W-What are you doing, Mr Customer?"
"Let me borrow the casket."
Together with the girl, Lyle slipped into the casket placed in the middle of the
stage. As the magician was confused, the party who were chasing Lyle had
also jumped onto the stage.
42
"We've got him!"
"Did you think you could hide yourself with just this?"
The youths, with clenched fists, vigorously threw off the lid of the casket.
"T-There's no one there!"
The youths were all looking at the interior of the casket, but they could see
neither shape nor shadow of Lyle or the girl.
"Oooh!"
In the midst of the applause by the audience, who had thought the chain of
disturbances were a part of the performance, the group of young nobles
were at a loss.
"What on earth...."
"Oi! Look at that!"
In the direction that one of the youths was pointing, were the figures of the
escaping Lyle and the girl.
"D-Damn it!"
"Hey! Give chase!"
Although they shoved their way through the applauding audience, they were
being delayed, and the size of the two figures running away slowly became
smaller and smaller.
43
Part 6
"...... Did we lose them?"
For now, it looked like they had shaken off the group of noble's sons from
earlier. Lyle let out a sigh of relief.
"If— "
Lyle looked to the side.
The girl with the pale silver hair, expressionless and emotionless, was looking
intently at Lyle.
"If we have shaken them off, then it would be best for you to go back during
this interval of time."
"..... What about you?"
"I will be returning. I cannot be a burden to them."
"You can't possibly be thinking of going back there, can you?"
Lyle said while looking into the girl's eyes. The peculiar colour of those eyes
could have been described as either golden or amber.
"You're able to cast magic without the use of amber, and those [Eyes of
Amber]—You're a Phantasm, right?"
The girl's expression wavered, even if only a little.
Phantasm.
Different from human magi who had to draw out magical power from amber,
they were races whom were born carrying magical power within them—
Phantasm was the general term for races like fiels, lycans and devils. Once,
they had lived among humans in coexistence.
However, as magic was assumed to be a thing of fairy-tales, they too, were
considered to be a product of fantasies.
44
During the Dark Ages, when the church's oppression had been at its peak, the
magi, for the sake of guarding themselves had sealed away their knowledge;
and the Phantasm, hating the conflict that had been brought about, secluded
themselves away in the deep mountains and ravines where humans did not
tread.
"Although I don't know the reason why you were there in such a place, right
now you're in such a weakened state because you're lacking in magical
power, right? It would be best if you went back to the hidden haven where
you belong to, right away."
"...... That would seem best."
For the first time, a faint trace of emotion flickered across the girl's pale face.
Faint and vague, Lyle could not clearly distinguish what it was, but it seemed
like it was self-derision.
Just as Lyle was about to enquire further into it, they ran out of time.
From the crowds in the distance, once again he could hear the sounds of
angry voices. They were amazingly persistent.
"Nobles nowadays sure have a lot of free time on their hands. Let's get away,
I'll leave the questions for later—What's wrong!?"
The girl's face was growing increasingly paler and paler, her breathing was
haggard and it looked painful.
Lyle hurriedly caught her swaying, slender body.
"....... Please do not be concerned about me, kindly get awa— "
"Absolutely not."
To the words of the girl who was not concerned in the least bit about herself,
Lyle replied, slightly irritated.
"There's no way I can overlook someone who's in trouble."
45
Saying that, he was just about to move, but from the path ahead, the sounds
of the pursuers drew closer. Unable to make a move, Lyle was surrounded by
the group of young nobles.
The surrounding people gathered around a distance away, curious, as though
they were sightseeing an attraction.
"What a rude fellow."
The youth with the burnt forelocks, was the one to start the ball rolling.
"Recently, it has been bugging me how many people there are who have
been enthusiastic about the equality of social classes. I'll firmly give your
body a lesson on how wrong that misapprehension is."
The youths slowly approached.
Although Lyle had some confidence in running away, but it would be
extremely unlikely he would succeed while carrying the girl who could not
move. He moved in front of her, as the least he could do was to shield her
from violence, and one of the youths seemed to notice something.
"Wait a second........ isn't he Lyle Waldstein?"
"What? The «Disciple of the Last Hexe»?
It looked like they were also students of Vergenheim.
The youth with the burnt forelocks, glared at Lyle with a fiendish grin.
"I see........ that Lyle Waldstein?"
"...... I don't know which Lyle Waldstein you're referring to, but indeed, that is
my name."
"It's great if you're him. Because you've been quite the eyesore."
It seemed like the group of them shared the same opinion. With violence in
their eyes, they glowered at Lyle.
46
"He's only just a commoner scholarship student.... and too impertinent for
one."
"In the current times, won't people think badly of you if you don't get off
your high horse?"
"You little...... ! A commoner dares to tell that to us!"
Looking at the suddenly angered sons of nobles, Lyle nodded his head within
his heart, as they were reacting just as he had wanted them to. Their
attention was solely directed at him. This way, they would forget about the
girl and would probably end up hitting him.
Though he had considered things calmly, Lyle's prediction was quickly proven
false.
The silver-haired girl silently stepped out in front of Lyle, and bowed her head
deeply to the noble's sons.
"........ From the beginning, it is I who is the cause of this. This person had
gotten involved halfway. By all means, please take your anger out on me
instead."
"Wh— ?"
Lyle was more indignant, rather than surprised or shocked. Even though she
was so weak she looked like she would collapse any moment, this girl could
still say something like that. At this rate, she would be taken away by them,
and things would turn out badly.
Her outstretched hand motioned for him to fall back, but before that Lyle
was seized by the girl's eyes.
In the midst of her pale silver hair, the girl's eyes released a light. Like the
colour of dusk—it was magical excitation light...... !
Just as he recognised that, Lyle's body stiffened.
('Shadowstitch'........ No, the magic of 'Bewitchment'!)
47
As he expected, she was a Phantasm. Those amber eyes that gave off the
light of magical excitation were proof of that.
The girl who had stopped Lyle's body, had those thin eyebrows of hers
strained as though she was enduring the pain. However, she quickly returned
to her expressionless self, and bowed her head once more to the noble's
sons.
"..... If it is within my ability, I will do whatever I can to apologise. Please."
"........"
The youth with the burnt forelocks, silently stepped forward. Stopping in
front of the girl who still had her head bowed, he mercilessly swung his arm.
The weakened girl fell to the ground helplessly.
"I'll have you apologise to me in full later on. For now.... he goes first."
Saying that, the youth looked towards Lyle.
The paralysis that overcame him when the girl had been struck lifted, as Lyle
was grabbed and locked from behind by the young nobles that had
surrounded him.
"...... Lowly and impertinent commoner, know your place!"
Smiling sadistically at Lyle who could not move, the youth noble raised his
arm overhead.
Firmly resolving not to scream out, Lyle gnashed his molars together.
— However, no fist landed on Lyle's face.
Out of nowhere, a cork bullet had hit the forehead of the youth noble.
"Ow..... W-What was that?"
"Yep yep, that's as far as you go."
48
The voice was not loud, yet it still resounded throughout the area, drawing
the attention of people.
Separating the wall of onlookers, a single girl stepped forward. She was
holding a toy rifle in her hands, it looked like that was what had fired the cork
bullet earlier.
She brushed her seemingly burning copper hair upwards, and threw a
piercing glance with her jade green eyes.
"Maria....."
"Maria Highline!"
Around Lyle, the youth noble raised his voice in astonishment.
Maria, whose name was called out, answered with a sarcastic smile.
"Well well, look who we have here. Sir Gerim Schwatten, what kind of racket
are you making, in the middle of the road?"
"........ Nothing much."
The youth with the burnt forelocks—Gerim answered while holding back his
earlier overbearing attitude.
In response, Maria, with what looked like an expression of pity,
"It's 'nothing much'? Chasing two persons around with such great numbers,
pouring cold water on such a fun festival and you call it nothing much?"
Gerim and his cronies did not have a response, in the face of Maria's
ridiculing words.
"...... Well, whatever. If you say it's nothing much, then I won't say anything
more. If you leave these two alone and leave, I'll overlook this issue."
"These two, you say? How absurd. In the first place it was Waldstein, who
took this girl from us—"
49
"Took her from you? What was that? You can't be saying that you bought
her? What a ridiculous anachronism. If that's the case, wouldn't you be
engaging in slave trading?"
"Gu....."
"Oh yeah, by the way, I contributed a large sum of money to that troupe of
itinerant entertainers from earlier. In doing so, their owner had promised to
transfer a portion of the rights of their entertainment business to me>."
"What!"
To have bought the songstress girl—she was straightforward as usual, but
this time, the business-inclined Maria's actions were several times more
daring than said usual.
"What will you do? Although if you still want to go at it, there's no way I'll
remain quiet, y'know?"
Maria declared assertively, and the audience who heartily agreed with her
went, "That's right!", or "Go back to where you came from, moron nobles!",
in loud voices.
Grinding their teeth in vexation, Gerim and his cronies glared at Maria.
Though they wanted to depart, their pride as nobles would not allow them to
run away shamelessly.
"You little..... !"
Just as Gerim was about to raise his lowered arm—
"—Cease your actions."
A composed and low voice reverberated through the air, and the group of
youth nobles froze at the same time.
"Should a noble be raising his fists against a lady?"
The one who had stepped out saying that, was a tall young man. He was as
well-dressed as Gerim and the others, but was it the longsword he carried at
50
his waist, or the air of confidence as he walked, that made it seem like he was
one, two, or even more steps above them?
"Lord Vi-Vilhelm......"
Vilhelm Zest.
While still a student, he had already succeeded his family, the person who
should be known as the Margrave Zest.
Maria who had been courted by such a young Margrave, wore an expression
that seemed to show that she was feeling bothered.
"....... Speaking of which, weren't these guys were your followers, Lord Zest?"
"Speaking of which, this guy was your childhood friend, Miss Maria."
Vilhelm shifted his attention to Lyle. His powerful eyes were like sharpened
blades that were without a single nick.
"—If they were the cause of the disturbance, then we shall withdraw right
away..... Let us be off, Gerim. As Miss Maria had said, it would be pouring
cold water on the festival should you go any further."
"B-But, Lord Vilhelm! Indeed, it is inelegant of us to make such a racket, but
they have not yet apologised for my hair..... "
Said Gerim, displaying his burnt forelocks.
In an indifferent manner, Vilhelm contemplated, then nodded his head—and
faster than the eyes could see, he drew his sword.
A flash of silver.
Leaving nothing besides an afterglow, he sheathed his sword, and Gerim's
burnt forelocks gently fluttered through the air and onto the ground.
"—What about your hair?"
Although he had just displayed blindingly fast swordwork, Vilhelm's voice was
in fact, calm. Even so, within that calmness was concealed a confidence and
conceit about his own sword arm.
51
52
Though Gerim was more dumbfounded than anyone else, he shook his head
so furiously it looked like something would come loose.
"We are done here. —Everyone, I apologise for the trouble they have caused.
It would be my honour if you have obtained some form of amusement from
that shoddy performance of mine."
With an elegant bow to the wide-eyed onlookers, Vilhelm Zest departed
dashingly. His followers, Gerim and his cronies, followed suit in a hurry.
Thanks to that, Lyle was at last released from the lock.
"Seriously, you're the same as always."
To Lyle who was easing his shoulders and wrists that had been gripped very
hard, Maria pushed the toy rifle while smiling bitterly.
"You're smart, and yet you don't have that much sensibility. With that, you
can't lead a comfortable life, can you?"
"I know that. More importantly, I must apologise for causing you trouble,
Maria."
"I'm used to it. You've always been softhearted, after all."
Although she was sighing, Maria looked at Lyle with a light in her eyes that
somehow gave the impression that she was proud of him.
"—So, who is that girl?"
"Oh, yeah......"
Upon looking at the silver-haired girl who had been struck down, he noticed
that Milla had already appeared unnoticed and was skillfully tending to the
girl.
"She has fainted. Furthermore, her body is severely weakened. It would be
best if we brought her to a doctor immediately...."
"No, a doctor would not be able to help her."
53
Interrupting Milla's diagnosis, Lyle then lowered his voice.
"Rather than that, it would be better to supply her with magical power. That
would heal most of her damage, and her physical strength should also
return."
"What exactly is this girl?"
"I don't know the exact details, but..."
Lyle who was the target of Milla and Maria's gazes, stared at the girl's face,
and said.
"A Phantasm using the magic of 'Bewitchment'. Most likely—She is a
«Nosferatu»1
."
Before they had realised it, the sun had begun to set, illuminating them with
an amber light.
