Vol 1 Chapter 3 (1/2)
Chapter 3 – The Maiden of Copper
Part 0
She was frightened.
The girl was feeling fear.
There was something that she did not understand, something that she should
have understood. Without knowing why, the girl trembled.
Feeling fear, horror, and after trembling—the girl finally realised it. That she
was a mere la.s.s who knew nothing. A tiny, worthless and insignificant person.
That became her pride.
And that pride still remained within her heart, even now.
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Part 1
Upon waking up in the morning, Lyle saw that the shoes he had taken off last
night before going to bed had been slightly s.h.i.+fted. Shaking it upside down, a
great number of nails and screws spilled out of it.
”.......My bad for not falling for it, Hazel.”
Facing the empty bed opposite, Lyle sighed and apologised.
Just before he left the dormitory, he borrowed some suitable ingredients
from the fridge and wrapped them in cloth. On the way to the laboratory, he
thought over and over about what kind of face he should put on.
”Hmm........ It'd be awkward........”
There had been something irresistible about seeing her crying face, but he
already understood that girls functioned without logic nor reason, from his
experience with Maria.
The safest option would be to honestly apologise....
”.........She'll keep insisting that she was not crying, huh.”
She might have had some serious reason behind her obstinacy, as Lunaria
had firmly denied her tears. Probably, her desperate manner might have
been due to the same reason.
Whatever the case, she seemed to think that she was 'one without any
worth'.
”.....I don't like this one bit.”
Once, Lyle's master, Erllua Azoth had said that magic was 'simply waiting to
disappear'. Indeed, that had been ironic. As his master's face briefly flashed
across his mind, Lyle felt a faint sorrow pa.s.s over him.
And thus, even when Erllua was instructing him on science, Lyle never
stopped his research on magic. There was nothing that did not have worth.
Nothing that simply disappears. That was what he had thought.
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If he had to come up with a reason for saving Lunaria—it was probably that
she had been the exact opposite of Lyle's desires and wishes.
”.....Her denying that she was crying is going to do her no good.”
Renewing his determination, Lyle trudged towards the laboratory.
Climbing the creaking staircase, leaving the dim corridor, Lyle then inhaled
and knocked on the laboratory door.
*Knock, knock*—*Thump, bang!*
”.........”
Almost like that was the sound of books that were carried had been dropped
onto the floor in surprise at the knock—that he heard.
”...Excuse me.”
Timidly opening the door to his own laboratory, it looked like the dust cloud
in the air had been just formed.
To make matters worse, the skirt of the girl who was half-buried by the
mountain of books was lifted up, and the revealed underwear was facing
right towards Lyle.
”......”
It was an awkward silence.
The slender legs struggled noisily, and dragged out the upper body that was
buried in the mountain of books.
”...A good morning to you, Lunaria.”
”Good morning, Master Lyle.”
Without any lingering trace of her tears last night, Lunaria looked back at Lyle
with her usual expressionless face.
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”...”
”......”
Lyle closed his mouth thinking of what to say while Lunaria held her gaze
steadily.
The awkward silence continued.
”......How lewd.”
With that one leaked out whisper, Lyle jumped up with a start.
Turning around in a circle, Lunaria begun to pick up the books that had fallen
onto the floor.
”.....Erm, Lunaria?”
”What is it, Master Lyle?”
Lunaria replied without even looking back, in her usual monotone.
”....What are you doing?”
”Cleaning up.”
Holding an armful of books, Lunaria went to place them on the bookshelves.
”I had knocked them onto the floor. Am I not your a.s.sistant, Master Lyle? If
so, it is my responsibility to keep this room tidy and neat.”
Her pale silver hair swaying, Lunaria went about arranging the books
diligently.
However, her movements were strangely awkward, and when she tried to
stack up the books,
—*Thud, thump*—
”....”
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—*Thud, thump, thud*—
”........!”
—*Thud, thump, crash*.
”Need a hand?”
”No, I am plenty fine on my own.”
Lunaria said while feigning total ignorance.
”......Please feel free to go for a stroll while I put things in order. Or perhaps,
Master Lyle, are you not satisfied with just a girl's tears, and would go as far
as to take pleasure from the sight of her sweating from toil?”
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Though what she had said seemed like hypocritical courtesy, her ears had
been dyed red.
Frantically stifling his smile, Lyle quickly left the room before he reached his
limit.
”Hnngh, heh..... she's the surprisingly clumsy type, eh.”
Unexpectedly, her base personality might be that of a contrarian who hates
losing. On top of that, she was pretty bad at hiding her emotions even though
she wore that expressionless face.
Lyle's mood became pleasant, and placing the wrapped up breakfast in front
of the door, he left the laboratory behind.
The academy grounds were still quiet. It was finally a holiday, after all. The
boarding students might have stayed out after a night of playing, or were
indulging in inactivity even now.
Walking with a destination in mind, he somehow ended up in a rather lively
place in the midst of all the quiet. Many students were going in and out of a
traditional dance hall.
”Come to think of it, the ball that the student council is organising is
tomorrow.”
The Vergenheim Academy organised many such refined functions like garden
parties and b.a.l.l.s, for the numerous high cla.s.s citizens and sons of n.o.bles.
The ball held on the last day of the Springfire Festival was one of the most
popular established traditional event. Before the short holidays, many guys
could be seen confessing to girls everywhere in their search for a partner.
Finding a familiar face in the midst of the diligently working students, Lyle
raised his hands lightly and approached.
”Good morning, Haz...el.........”
”......Morning, Lyle Waldstein.”
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Looking over with sunken, skeleton-like eyes, Hazel returned with a shadow
of a greeting.
”.......Are you really Hazel?”
”Who else could you possibly be looking at!”
Hazel threw the carpenter tool he was holding in his hand and shouted.
”You, you... cannot be forgiven......”
Wanting some help, Lyle faced the other students who had noticed the
disturbance. However, they too returned the gaze with the same grim look in
their eyes as Hazel did.
”.....Lyle.”
”W-What is it.....?”
”Do you understand who are these people that are making the preparations
here?”
”Kindhearted people who are helping the student council..... That's probably
not the answer, eh......?”
”Yeah. The ones here are those without any arrangements with a girl, and are
left with no choice but to work their a.s.ses off, a bunch of miserable
b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.”
The guys whose confessions had been rejected before the holidays, had a
s.h.i.+ning glint in their bloodshot eyes.
And then Hazel said to the overwhelmed Lyle with an overly tender voice.
”Hey, Lyle? Don't you think that there are only two types of guys in this
world?”
”........Let's see. You can't really say that there are only two types, can
you.....?”
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”No, actually, there are only two major types. Guys who have no luck with
women...... and guys who have luck with women.”
Za!
Hazel and the others stamped their feet simultaneously.
”........Surely you must be different from us, Lyle Waldstein, as one who is
burdened with a partner for the ball.”
”No, in the first place I completely forgot about the ball—”
”Stop s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around! Are you telling us that it's nothing to panic about!”
”Kuh, it's not something to feel envious about, is it!”
”Not staying as childhood friends with [The Rose of Fire], whom all guys
yearn for, Miss Maria Highline.”
”Hiring an adorable a.s.sistant, and doing this and that!”
Somehow, the news about Lunaria had spread really fast. This time, he had to
try turning the transmission of the rumours into a numerical formula—if he
were to survive this safely.
Lyle slowly increased the distance between him and the guys who were
thirsting for blood and women.
”Let us carry out the Men's Inquisition!”
Hazel called out to the other guys at his back loudly.
”The accused, Lyle Waldstein, what charges do we have against him!?”
”One of the major crimes would be s.e.xual misconduct!” ”s.e.xual
misconduct!s.e.xual misconduct!”
”Guilty or innocent!?”
”Guilty! Guilty!”
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”Then, what sort of punishment does he deserve!”
”If it's larceny, chop off his arms!” ”If it's perjury, cut off his tongue!” ”If it's
s.e.xual misconduct—we have to lop it off!”
”Good!”
Accepting the decision of the jurors, Hazel turned towards Lyle.
”W-Wait! Those are false accusations! A misunderstanding! Give me the
chance to defend myself!”
”There's no room for defence or extenuating circ.u.mstances. To the Men's
Inquisition, there is only judgement.”
”Affirmative!Affirmative!”
”What kind of trial is this!”
”Be at ease. We won't really cut it off. That was just an expression of speech.”
”I-I see.......”
”We'll just disseminate delicate details like its size and length to the entire
student body.”
”Isn't that just as horrible as piking a decapitated head!”
Hazel and the others were holding tape measures and set squares, even
balancing scales. Truly feeling their seriousness, Lyle started breaking out in
cold sweat.
He stood on guard against them—waiting for an opportunity to come.
”—This looks pretty interesting.”
At the sound of that soft yet powerful voice, all who heard it ceased in
motion.
”You're all so lively in the morning. Impressive, impressive.”
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And at the second time they heard it, everyone's gazes turned at the same
time.
That taut, tall figure of the young man was clad in high grade clothing, with
everyone's gazes fixed upon him.
Charisma, was it? The presence he gave off was like a sharp, keen sword.
Giving off said presence, he carried a strange attraction that drew the
attention of others.
”—Greetings, Lyle Waldstein.”
Vilhelm Zest turned his smiling face towards Lyle.
And then, he also smiled at the male students who were carrying measuring
instruments.
”Would you mind if I borrowed him for a little while? I have some business
with him.”
”S-Sure......”
As if their maliciousness had been extracted out of them, Hazel and the
others nodded.
By simply arriving at the scene, Vilhelm Zest had changed the entire
atmosphere.
Vilhelm turned that powerful gaze once again towards Lyle, and closed his
eyes partly as if to make Lyle feel at ease.
”And there we have it. Would you mind?”
”.....Not at all.”
Lyle nodded while maintaining his vigilance, and followed after Vilhelm.
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Part 2
With Vilhelm leading the way, Lyle was brought to a deserted gazebo
constructed next to a lotus pond.
Sitting down facing each other at an already prepared table, Vilhelm
promptly bowed his head.
”—I must apologise for yesterday. I am partly responsible for the recklessness
Gerim and the others have indulged in. I am truly sorry.”
”Ah, no......”
Lyle was unnerved by the polar opposites of dignity and meekness that was
displayed.
Upon raising his head, Vilhelm smiled as though he was relieved from the
bottom of his heart.
”I'm glad that you are not hurt. Yesterday and earlier, both those occasions. It
would be our country's loss if you had suffered any harm.”
”No way, you exaggerate.”
”Such humility, from one who is both a scientist and a mage, «Disciple of the
Last Hexe».”
”!”
His body stiffened instantly at that.
If only for a moment. While correcting the position of his gla.s.ses, Lyle played
innocent.
”What do you mean by—”
”Ah, there's no need to be on guard. I am not taken aback that magi or their
like exist. We, the Zest Margrave family are a border chivalric order
responsible for guarding the east. Being in that position has granted us many
opportunities to patronise engineers and technicians. Excellent warriors,
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great architects, builders, and—brilliant mages. During the Dark Ages, we
sheltered many a magus, and have even exchanged secret agreements with
the Phantasms.”
”......I see.”
Even though magi and Phantasms have gone into seclusion with their dislike
for the state of the world, those who had connections with them would
naturally still exist. And amongst them had to be influential people who had
sheltered them.
”....And so, Lord Zest.”
”You can call me Vilhelm. Or if you like, I don't mind if you call me 'Vil' for
short.”
Vilhelm corrected him, smiling.
He was unusually friendly.
While trying to imagine what had made him this pleased, Lyle continued the
conversation without changing.
”......Lord Zest. I understand that you are well-acquainted with magi.
However, the fact is that in modern society, 'magi' are a.s.sumed to be nothing
more than a superst.i.tion. What are you planning to do about me?”
”Calling me Vil would have been fine.”
Vilhelm's brows wrinkled. It was an expression that seemed like he was really
hurt.
”—What do I plan to do about you, eh? Without beating about the bush, I'd
say, 'let us start from being friends', how about that? I did not think of
anything like, say, starting an out-dated Inquisition, or trying to destroy the
public opinion of you.”
”Are you serious? Even though those guys from yesterday, hated me as
though I were some eyesore of a bug?”
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”That's because they are fools.”
The natural-born n.o.ble bearing a court rank, scoffed at the youth n.o.bles with
a smiling face.
”Do you know what is of the utmost importance to a n.o.ble? Power?Wealth?
Or is it lineage? They are all wrong. Those who are known as n.o.bles, what
they must have, are eyes that can judge worth.”
Saying that, Vilhelm focused his gaze onto Lyle.
”—A n.o.ble is one who manages others. As the times change, if n.o.bles want
to remain as n.o.bles, then they have no choice but to continue thus correctly.
You have 'worth'. If Gerim and the others failed to see that, then all I can say
is that they are incompetent.”
”.....I doubt that that's the correct judgement. Isn't your judgement being
clouded by the nickname of the «Disciple of the Last Hexe»?”
”And again, such humility. Then how would you explain the [Introduction to
Steam Calculation] you proposed three years ago?”
”That—”
And this time, Lyle was rendered speechless.
Vilhelm smiled even wider as he had hit the nail on the head.
”As I thought, huh. The automatic machine that moves because of the steam
engine—that thesis of yours was truly astounding. It was officially spread
with Erllua Azoth's name, but it was something that was based on your ideas,
wasn't it?”
”..........Why do you know that?”
”The Last Hexe who was never interested in publicity stunts, had proactively
publicised that. And as I was wondering why, I thought of this. It would fit
together all of the pieces of the puzzle—wasn't it in order to safeguard your
talent, as you were still young at that time?”
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”......”
Lyle was silent. It was just as Vilhelm said.
”You, who had came up with such a thesis at the age of thirteen, have
already exceeded what is known as a genius. Based on that, I will ask you this
again—Lyle. Come with me.”
Vilhelm held out his hand towards Lyle.
”I want you. Your talents hold ma.s.sive potential. And to that worth, I hold the
utmost respect. Will you let me lend you a hand in accomplis.h.i.+ng the things
that you want to accomplish?”
Those were the words of the young Margrave who had succeeded his family,
filled with a force that fascinated others. Men would bow their heads, while
women would be charmed.
The voice of one who manages—or a leader.
Even Lyle felt the sway of wanting to serve this man.
”.....It is an honour, but I must refuse.”
Lyle said while shaking his head.
Vilhelm let out a small groan with a seemingly surprised expression.
”Hmm....... Why?”
”Because I don't have that kind of worth. At least, that's what I think.”
”Humans are unable to accurately judge their own worth. You yourself will
not be able to comprehend your own.”
”Is that so?”
”Yeah.Because that holds true for me as well.”
Vilhelm said, gracefully shrugging his shoulders.
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”I too, am unable to understand 'one's own worth'. And that is also one of
the things which drives me forward. In order to understand my own worth, I
will continue to accept whatever challenges I may face.”
”One's own worth.....”
”You are the same. What is different, is that I push my own excessive self up,
while you are content with yourself—no, you try to be so. Am I wrong?”
”That's not—”
”Not true, is it.”
A smile as though he were facing a stubborn child flashed over Vilhelm's face.
”Those are not your true feelings. It's merely natural that you should want to
exercise your power.”
”That's not—”
”What you fear about your own power is that it might be the only thing Miss
Maria requires of you, and you suspect that, am I right?”
”.......”
”Heh. Having the things you realised pointed out to you renders you
speechless. How cute.”
”Please do not make fun of me.”
”I'm not making fun of you. Wondering whether the goodwill from the girl
you are intimate with is directed towards 'you' or your 'talent'.... that is a
rather cute worry. It seems that you can make a decision even right away.”
”..........”
”Yes, go ahead and display your talent. That talent is also your power.
Wouldn't there be nothing to worry about if you just exhibited that power
and won her favour? Don't you think that my coming would be a direct
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shortcut to that? Establis.h.i.+ng your power, and doing so, your relations.h.i.+p
with her would be fine. Right?”
”......”
Lyle stared at that outstretched hand as though drawing it in. Instinctively, he
raised his hand.
Vilhelm narrowed his eyes, looking pleased.
”—Aren't you being a little too hasty, Lord Vilhelm Zest?”
At the same time as the dignified voice, a hand stretched out from the side
and grasped Lyle's wrist tightly.
And then Lyle's field of vision was filled with copper-coloured hair.
”........Maria.”
While feeling just the slightest bit of guilt, Lyle called out the name of the girl,
his childhood friend.
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Part 3
Maria, who was heading to the academy first thing in the morning, clicked
her tongue when she saw that Lyle was neither in his laboratory nor in his
dorm room.
Searching the academy grounds, she found the group of people who were
making the preparations for the ball at the dance hall.
”A good morrow to all of you. It is rude of me to interrupt you in the middle
of your work, but would you mind telling me if you have seen Lyle
Waldstein?”
Although Maria did not care much for etiquette and the like when she was
young, she seemed to have grasped how to be an elegant Viscount's
daughter during these recent years. It had been because she realised its
convenience.
Therefore, Maria Highline was the target of the affection of many, regardless
of gender. There were only a few n.o.bles that truly scorned the n.o.bles who
had bought their n.o.bility.
The men that she had called out to straightened their backs sharply, and
smoothly answered Maria's question.
”Thank you, and for your hard work as well. Please keep up the good work!”
Upon her giving them a smile and words of praise, the male students fainted
with a seemingly charmed smile on their faces.
Then and there Maria quickly exited the scene. When she was out of public
sight, she broke into a run at full speed.
Perhaps it was because her prayers had gotten through, that she immediately
found Lyle.
However, the one who was speaking with Lyle was, of all people, Vilhelm
Zest.
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No sooner than she found him, it seemed she had been just in time to see his
face turn into a look of surprise.
Though there were many things she wanted to say, but what she did first was
to glare at the man before her eyes.
”......How scary. Being looked at with such an expression would stop my
heart, Miss Maria.”
”If it stops from a la.s.s' glare, then the Lord Zest of the current generation
must really have a delicate heart.”
”A la.s.s, eh? They say that even a lioness protecting her young would loosen
her guard every alternate night. Aren't you being a little overprotective?”
”Oh? Since you've said that, it does look like you understand what you're
trying to do, don't you.”
Sharpening the look in her green eyes, Maria then said, as though she were
slas.h.i.+ng with her words.
”—Please turn back and leave with haste, Margrave Vilhelm Zest. That is, if
you do not wish for another mark on your cheek.”
”Dear me...... It seems I'm not welcome.”
Vilhelm sighed, looking really sad.
That gesture was truly refined, as one would expect from the young n.o.ble
who could charm women as though it were child's play, but Maria did not
loosen her intense glare even for a bit.
The young Margrave—a high rank even among n.o.bility which he had
succeeded, was still an illegitimate second son. Though he should have gone
through unimaginable hards.h.i.+ps, he had adapted himself altogether to the
trials and tribulations that were imposed on him.
He was different from those idiots who had gotten their ranks just by
opening their mouths. He possessed both an extraordinary spirit that denied
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his limits and burning ambition, a person worthy of being respected, even
Maria felt thus.
However, that was only initially. After meeting him and exchanging a word or
two, her impression had been turned around, and that was when she started
swinging her hand.
She did not have a clear and distinct reason for that. In other words, it was a
'woman's intuition'.
She did not like this man. She could never understand a person like him—No,
it should be said that she must never understand him.
And that thought, did not change even now.
”.....Somehow, it looks like it would be best if I took my leave.”
Shaking his head, Vilhelm got up.
”Ah—before I forget. Miss Maria, would you care to hand over Gerim
Schwatten and the other four that you captured yesterday over to me?”
”...I cannot do that. They had pointed a gun at Lyle, and that makes them
fully-fledged criminals. The ones I should be handing them over to are those
in charge of administrating justice.”
”Of course, it won't be completely unreasonable. I will silence their tongues.
Wouldn't that save you the trouble of stopping them from spinning out some
absurd fabrication?”
”Do you think we would believe the words of a man who might have
instigated them in the first place?”
”At the very least, I see Lyle as someone with immense worth. I'd like you to
trust me on that.”
”......Fine.”
With a stiff expression, Maria nodded her head in a.s.sent.
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The 'worth' that she herself had placed on him told her that it was unlikely
that he would double-cross them. Based on that alone, she could trust him.
”I'll send a messenger tonight. That concludes things, I believe, Miss Maria
Highline and Lyle Waldstein.”
With a smile br.i.m.m.i.n.g with confidence, the young Margrave departed.
As the sight of his figure disappeared completely from her line of sight, Maria
finally let out a slow breath of relief.
”.........When they say someone can't be dealt with with ordinary means, they
must refer to someone like him.”
”Maria.....”
Upon him calling out to her, Maria sternly glared at Lyle.
”.........What were you thinking?”
”Sorry?”
”Were you thinking of joining forces with someone like him?”
Without minding the fact that Lyle was cringing, Maria narrowed her eyes.
”Leaving me, whom you've had an inseparable relations.h.i.+p with for over ten
years, for that kind of guy?”
”Ma-Maria, calm down....”
”Calm down? I am already calm enough!”
Contrary to her words, Maria raised her voice.
Maria thought it was mortifying.
As she feared, she only meant that much to Lyle.
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”........I am no longer the girl who only ever got lost, y'know? I'm begging you,
at least discuss things with me first. At least share with me your worries........”
Involuntarily, her voice had dropped down to a softer tone, and Maria cast
her eyes downwards. It was rare, for the girl who was always trying her best
in front of Lyle.
To Maria, Lyle Waldstein was a very important person. He was a youth who
was said to be a memento of her family's benefactor, her trusted childhood
friend, and more than anything, the 'benefactor of her soul'.
That was why the fact that Lyle did not rely on her, vexed her this much.
”Ma-Maria......!”
At the depressed state of Maria which he had practically never seen before,
Lyle went into a panic.
”I-I'm sorry! I didn't consult you because I was in a miserable state, and I
didn't want to show you how awful I was! It doesn't mean that I was ignoring
you or anything! I'm sorry! Really sorry! I apologise! I'm sorry, Maria!”
—Eh?
Maria was surprised that her childhood friend was desperately apologising.
Lyle was someone who always brushed off her advances. It was unusual that
he would proactively be concerned for her.
Should I.....?
Inside the depressed Maria, hope and expectation were starting to well up.
It was also convenient that she had not let go of his hand. Like a spoiled child,
Maria brought Lyle's arm to her body.
”......Are you really sorry?”
”Y-Yeah.....”
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Lyle nodded, his face gradually reddening due to the softness of the chest
that was pus.h.i.+ng against him.
Sticking her body close to him, Maria's face was blus.h.i.+ng bright red. If he
were not at least embarra.s.sed himself, she would definitely not be able to
face him.
”.......If so, will you be my partner for the ball tomorrow?”
”S-Sure..... wait, what?”
Lyle blinked. Recovering his composure, he eyed Maria with a suspicious look
in his eyes.
”..........Were those crocodile tears?”
”Hmm? I have no idea what you're talking about, y'know?”
Treating it like a contest, Maria rubbed her chest against him hard. He was
fearful that his heart would burst any moment with how fast it was beating,
as her expression was full of a woman's sensuality, her eyes looking at him
suggestively.
”You said 'sure' and agreed, didn't you? Since you've already said so, you'll
keep your word, won't you?”
”........I understand. I'll promise you, Maria.”
Lyle nodded, having seemingly given up.
Crying out inside with joy, Maria hugged Lyle by the neck with all her
strength.
”Thank you so much, Lyle!”
”Whoa whoa! Maria— !”