Vol 1 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Chapter 1 - Disciple of the Last Hexe
Lyle Waldstein woke up to the annoying chirping of birds.
covering his face, his eyes were a.s.sailed by the morning sun, which the
”Ugh......”
then rubbed his childlike face that was unlike that of a sixteen year old.
immediate surroundings, searching with half-awake eyes.
Upon expanding his search area, his outstretched hand came into contact
Wondering what exactly it was, he groped around with his hand, and that
”Nnnya...... aahn......”
But still, what is this object with such a remarkable elasticity coefficient?
opening and closing his palm,
The birds today sure are making some really weird sounds. They're even
here or what—
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At last, Lyle became fully awake, and he opened his eyes.
beautiful copper colour, adorning an even more beautiful face. A slender
sensuousness of her cherry lips were vividly engraved in his sight.
Lyle's body stiffened in surprise.
”Hah, mm.... mm, Lyle ~”
Lyle looked as though he was about to scream—and he suppressed the urge
Discreetly removing his right hand in which the feeling of that soft something
extended his hand at the girl's blissful looking sleeping face—
Having her nose pinched mercilessly, the girl flailed her limbs about, sending
blinked her jade green eyes, looking at Lyle's face, and elegantly—while still
”Gfffmgghning, fuaafuu.”
Releasing his fingers from pinching her nose, Lyle got up from the sofa.
eyebrows in a frown.
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while in the company of others.”
The girl with hair the colour of copper—Maria, saying that, crossed her legs
Indeed, she was wearing black garter stockings and silk undergarments, but
”Stop being so shameless already!”
because the laboratory door wasn't locked, I couldn't help but think that it
Laughing out loud, Maria shrugged her shoulders, sending those abundantly
Before he realised it, his gaze had fallen there. Noticing that, Lyle corrected
”.... Certainly, if I were to consider your personality, it might have been
”Aren't I right?”
ought to be more modest...”
For a n.o.ble whose t.i.tle was bought, even if I conduct myself with modesty,
Maria's eyes that were long slits flickered sharply, and she brushed her long
elegant.
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Revolution>, there would be many of whom would want to buy the Viscount
[Capitalist n.o.bility]—the more abusive term for it would be [nouveau riche
However, Maria Highline was openly unconcerned with that sort of thing.
marriageable age. You ought to conduct yourself with firmness.”
was sleeping right beside you when you awoke, you know? Would it kill you
”A fine woman, you say....”
comprehend that. Precisely because she was a fine woman, it could not be
at that, too.
you had torn off my clothes and pushed me into the river? Without even
finis.h.i.+ng off with our first kiss?”
doesn't count!”
time, it can't be helped that you would be fl.u.s.tered about it.”
”A hedge between keeps friends.h.i.+p green. Unlike a certain somebody, I'm a
”What, you're making me out to be like some promiscuous woman who
”If you disagree, why don't you prove it by putting some clothes on right
Upon Lyle's rebuke, Maria started to put on her clothes while grumbling.
In order to block out his imagination that was running wild, Lyle got down on
”What are you doing?”
”Gla.s.ses? If that's what you're looking for, they're right here.”
When he looked back, Lyle's words were caught in his throat.
bustier. Because of her underwear, which pushed up her b.r.e.a.s.t.s moderately,
caught between, of all things, those soft mounds of hers.
out for me?”
”Hmm? I'm a n.o.ble's daughter, I can't lift anything heavier than a quill pen.”
”Look here, if you want me to put on my clothes faster, you have no choice
Maria bent forward, further emphasising her cleavage. With a mischievous
treated so coldly.
Lyle fixated his glance at her, returning Maria's seemingly mischievous
”.....Maria has always been an outrageous tomboy of a n.o.ble's daughter,
”It is an honour to receive your praise.”
of her heart.
Part 2
In order to cool down his burning hot body, Lyle took a deep breath and
He had managed to retrieve his gla.s.ses. Putting them on and stretching his
Vergenheim Academy, an inst.i.tution for liberal arts that occupied a vast area
comprehensive enriching curriculum, there was a saying that went, 'there is
As he walked through the academy's garden that was hazy with the morning
of the lawn. It looked like a bonfire was burning brightly in the day.
”Ah? Go-Good morning, Lyle.”
wearing old work clothes, who looked as though he was from a painting.
”Are you heading back to the dorm? I was just thinking of having some food,
”Alright. But, what were you doing?”
While walking, Hazel stretched his shoulders.
to drive away the winter's cold, a bonfire was kept burning for three days and
”Isn't that supposed to be the student council's job?”
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everyone is busy playing and enjoying themselves, so they're short-handed.
council is organising, it seems.”
”Am I not a dest.i.tute n.o.ble who has to rely on a scholars.h.i.+p to attend
It was not just the Capitalist n.o.bility like Maria's Highline family that had
increased, that was how the situation went. The time when n.o.bles could
Then again, unlike Maria, Hazel had pretty much nothing to do with [n.o.bility],
appearance. Thanks to various complicated circ.u.mstances, they
Returning to their dormitory whose only forte was its old-fas.h.i.+onedness, the
boarding students, but as one would expect, it was deserted during the
”Tch. It looks like everyone has already left a long time ago.”
recently they had brought in a refrigerator—it operated through ammonia
ingredients that had been effectively stored.
”By the way, what are you planning to do during the holiday, Lyle?”
”I too am planning on spending it being a computer1
to earn
Dipping rye bread into the slightly watery soup, Lyle answered.
calculations twice as fast as private contractors.”
experimental results was done through contracting with a private computer
human wave tactics by having novices glare at the calculation tables, small
To avoid having to rely on them, they had also researched on what was called
calculator for mechanism equations—but as of now, they had not announced
”Thanks to that, I thought I was going to be bored even when on break... but
”That copper-haired n.o.blewoman, eh.”
”......What?”
”What do you mean by 'how far have you gone', didn't I say that Maria's only
my childhood friend......”
1
calculator, if you will
A contractor is... let's say you run a business. You require the services of, say an
electrician. He will then become a 'contractor'. A sub-contractor is someone the
definitions, just for the record.
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rotted away?”
saying that sort of thing?”
five generations ago once had a wise saying that went 'Men of n.o.bility will
for above her belly'.”
meaningless phrase which sounds like a wise saying.”
Highline, the only daughter of the Highline Group, which is the central figure
”Evidently, that would be the reason. An upstart youngster like me, would
”Aren't you modest, Mr «Disciple of the Last Hexe»?”
Lyle frowned.
countries far west.
«Disciple of the Last Hexe» behind his back at Vergenheim Academy.
substantial? Aren't you well-to-do financially?”
transferred to the Highline Group.”
”After all, the leader of the previous generation—Maria's grandfather, is my
master had. The only thing left for me was that lonesome mansion in the
”But, y'know, is the thing about the unpublished rbe der=”” last=”” hexe=””> 3
”That again....”
truly a 'genuine witch'. For the sake of concealing that fact, she had virtually
to her being given a second t.i.tle, that of being a «Witch».
there being unpublished knowledge and technology that had been concealed
That was called the rbe der=”” last=”” hexe=””>, the urban legend that was being
(Indeed, it would not be strange for that master of mine to have hidden
”.... All I'm doing is simply relying on my master's research and fortune. I'm
There was no credibility behind the rumours of the rbe>, was what Lyle
To Lyle, the most important things left to him were the wisdom and
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
could be interpreted the Inheritance/Legacy of the Last Hexe (witch), as it might end up as
”Leave me alone—and Maria too. Eventually, she'll be married to a wealthy
”Is that n.o.blewoman really so precious to you? Being 'ladylike' is already an
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.
”That senior from the fifth year? Last year, at the age of eighteen, he
, an extraordinary man—
Zest?”
always surrounded by and bringing along younger n.o.bles from prominent
at the end of the holiday, had even made advances on her... how do you
Looking at the smiling, seemingly happy Hazel, Lyle had a rather unpleasant
”She slapped that dandy right across the cheek, and told him, 'Did that quite
were in admiration than in surprise.”
Lyle resisted the dizziness that afflicted his head.
personality was like......
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province of a kingdom. In this case, the kingdom is Ilsestein. The setting is influenced by
”... Even absurdity should have a limit.”
hurry up and make something happen already. In the first place, how are you
honest. Are there any guys who dislike b.r.e.a.s.t.s? None.Ain't that right, my
While cackling, Hazel moved both his hands in an extremely obscene manner.
that I want to say.”
”I won't lend you my notes at all, nor will I show you the way to the exam.”
dropping out of cla.s.s! And to make matters worse, if I can't sell the
”Why is this guy putting food before his exams... wait, what was it that you
”Heheh, pardon me, Lord Lyle. Bestow upon this pitiable lamb your scriptures
”Very well.”
little better.
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After setting up a fire in the stove and taking a hot shower, Lyle changed into
vest, slacks and an overcoat on top.
unfas.h.i.+onable and thus unpopular, Lyle saw it as a mage's robes and hence it
”—Hm. I forgot something.”
saving grace was that he was a neat freak) when he checked and did not feel
left on top of the desk. On the exterior cover that was adorned with delicate
It was the watch that Erllua, Lyle's teacher, had given him just before her
cover of the watch that was made with cutting-edge mechanisms, was truly
”One could even say that this is the rbe der=”” last=”” hexe=””>.... Oops, gotta go,
When he opened the lid to check the time, he realised that a significant
Stuffing the pocket watch deep into his pocket, Lyle flew out of the
The dormitory was located at the northern end of the vast academy. Lyle
A single horse carriage was stopped before the st.u.r.dy and old-fas.h.i.+oned
stance and pouted as Lyle arrived panting and out of breath.
Though she was making a racket over Lyle first thing in the morning, still, she
the ground were precisely measured, custom-made boots. On her head was a
the image of a high-cla.s.s n.o.blewoman.
Lyle.
that I'm late is rather unreasonable.”
always been that way since the past?”
Shaking his head exasperatedly, his gaze met with the girl sitting at the
had large green eyes and light brown skin that gave one the impression of a
which was the symbol of maids.
”Good morning to you, Master Lyle.”
reminiscent of a sunflower.
comrade in arms in being abused by Maria.
Maria pushed Lyle towards the carriage. Once they had boarded the
crack of her whip.
towards the central area. Upon arriving at the street where government
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stalls that were giving off sweet aromas were everywhere, and so were the
Much less a horse carriage, even the trams were not able to move, it seemed.
”It looks like there's still a fair distance to go... ah, I remembered. I've got
Saying that, Maria took out a single envelope from the bag beside her.
having a hard time with it. Could I get your opinion on this?”
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
”...... This is...... a communication device that uses radio waves? With that, it
”If implemented practically, it would probably be referred to as a
While buying mead that was mixed with soda from the carriage window,
doc.u.ments.
there's electrical resistance in that thin film... How about a carbon or metal
ago I did some calculations on the piezoelectric effect using crystals for the
approach could be possible, but... it's overly delicate, so putting it to practical
Lyle was unconsciously moving his finger along the doc.u.ments, holding out a
doc.u.ments.
his thoughts formed an idea according to the notations and equations
baby who had just learned to write.
Struck with an idea, he finished writing out the layout of his design as much
Filled with a sense of accomplishment, he raised his head, and saw that Maria
carriage had changed from the city central to that of the outskirts.
”—It's already been an hour?”
Although Maria was smiling bitterly as though she was amazed, but that
”...... This ought to have been only one hour. I doubt there was any need to
raised three different methods one after the other and even pointed out our
”I didn't do that much. The part on the microphone that changes sound to
building a little house over a solid foundation.”
make you the chief-in-charge of that little house right away?”
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Lyle shook his head hurriedly.
this is beyond what I deserve.”
on me a little more.”
understand, but...'
At the western outskirts of the royal capital, there had once been a
considerably large-scale facility, a sudden fire had destroyed everything three
of the second s.h.i.+pbuilding factory that was under construction at that time.
be used for, and thus it ended up as a so-called multi-purpose plaza that had
That multi-purpose plaza at the western outskirts of the royal capital was, as
The popularity of the place had surged to an extent that would not lose to
It was a performing arts festival that a.s.sembled street performers, circuses,
performers had to go through before they could conduct operations in the
location.
their sightseeing.
tiger!”
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that was lying sprawled at the roadside. The opposite of the timid Lyle, she
”Isn't it cute? Hey, let's raise one at home.”
will approve because he hates