Chapter 176 (1/2)

Territory Pioneering 2

I rushed to the front door with Ester-sama following close behind me.

We quickly arrived at the front door which I had grown familiar with despite only living in the dorm for a month now. I unlocked the door and was greeted by the Elf-san.

“It’s the maid again…and also….”

The Elf-san’s face went stiff once she spotted Ester-sama.

My heart had settled down when I heard the Elf-san’s voice, but now it was starting to hurt again. This time it was due to a painful memory. When Tanaka-san and the Elf-san were eating together in his room, Ester-sama was left outside looking in through the window. I should try to avoid reminding either of them of that event.

But Ester-sama spoke before I could say anything.

“You’re that elf that was in his room before. If I remember correctly, you gave him the recipe for the medicine. You’re his alchemy teacher, correct? Sorry if I don’t remember you accurately.”

“…no, that’s all correct.”

Is this that so-called preemptive strike?

The intensity in their eyes increased as they stared at each other.

Should I just stay silent?

“What business could you have here this early in the morning?”

“Well…umm, I just wanted to confirm something.”

“Ah, well that’s too bad, the master of this room is not currently in the capital.”

“Oh, that’s not what I meant. It’s that maid that I need to speak to.”

“Sofi?”

“Yeah.”

They’re both staring at me.

W-What is it now?

“Would you understand if I say it concerns the matter you brought up two days ago? The matter involving that noblewoman.”

“Ah, so you were there as well? With that rude Nannuzzi woman.”

“…you know about that?”

“Sophia told me everything that happened.”

“I see.”

The Elf-san was glancing back-and-forth between Ester-sama and me.

“I’ll ask you again, what business do you have here? I’m sure you can tell that Sophia and I are very close. If it involves her, then it involves me. Or do you just not want me to be here?”

“O-Oh…umm, that’s….”

She must be thinking Ester-sama might not be on our side considering she’s a noble.

“We really shouldn’t be having this conversation at the front door. Should we go inside? Since you’re his acquaintance, we can get tea and snacks ready for you. Right, Sofi?”

“O-Of course!”

“…fine.”

After the Elf-san nodded, I guided her inside to the living room. After they were both seated on the sofas, I left to the kitchen to prepare the tea and snacks.

Seriously, what does that elf want?

My chest tightened just by imagining what she might say.

I hastily prepared tea and snacks for two before running them out to the living room. While I was arranging it on the table, I noticed the Elf-san’s eyes shifting between me and the ground before she finally whispered to me.

“Are you…close with this noblewoman?”

Does she understand the implications this question can have?

I don’t know, but I should just give her a reasonable response.

“Yes, we get along very well.”

“…I see.”

Ester-sama noticed when the Elf-san nodded.

“Ara, are you talking about something without me? I’ll start to get lonely if i’m left out like this.”

“….”

The Elf-san looked embarrassed when she was discovered.

“Because you’re that man’s maid, I thought I’d help you escape.”

The words that left her mouth were nothing like what i expected.

“Eh, umm, well….”

She’s going to help me escape the country?

I’ve seen her many times, but I’ve never spoken with her before today. The only reason i even know here is because she occasionally comes to the dorm to visit Tanaka-san. Just thinking about that man has a strange affect on my heart. I haven’t seen him for days now, yet he’s caused me so much stress and also indirectly offered me salvation.

“Fuu~n, so we’re on the same side.”

“…a noblewoman wants to help a commoner?”

The Elf-san had a defiant look in her eyes.

The answer Ester-sama gave was indifferent.

“I am Sofi’s friend.”

“….”

“Or don’t you believe that?”

“…fine, I’ll believe you.”

After a brief moment of hesitation, the Elf-san nodded.

The bad atmosphere that had slowly been building dissipated.

Thank goodness.

“You were at the conference, correct? I wonder if you could give me a detailed explanation of everything that happened there. I already heard about it from Sophia, but I’d like to hear about it from an expert as well.”

“That seems like a good place to start.”

“Thank you, it will be a big help.”

I’m amazed that the Elf-san is able to speak so casually with a noble. Perhaps this is the power of a famous master alchemist. Tanaka-san did say he got the recipe for the potion that cured the Princess from this elf.

While I thought on this, they began their conversations.

I could tell most of what they were talking about concerned magic and alchemy but, for the most part, they might as well have been speaking another language. I suppose I can just try to pick up whatever I can unders from their conversation. I straightened my back and let them continue.

“…so she claimed that this was what caused the reaction and….”

“…hmm…so that’s how it was.”

The Elf-san spoke while Ester-sama would occasionally acknowledge what she said. They both looked serious. The fact that these two are taking this matter so seriously in order to help me makes me happy.

“…she broiled the pigment in water under a fireball? Why does that sound familiar…?”

“Yes, and then she used what remained of the liquid powder mixture and transferred it to a capsule….”

At the same time, I feel incredibly apologetic to both of them. They’re both far superior to me in society and yet here they are doing whatever they can to help me. I should be able to do more on my own.

What a useless woman I am. I never wanted to become like this. Ah, I’m so miserable. Will there ever come a day when I can stand on my own and, dare I say, even protect someone I care for? Honestly, I don’t ever see that day coming.

“…hmm, so that’s how it is.”

Ester-sama listened to the Elf-san’s story until the end. She closed her eyes and silently nodded. The information I gave her last night wasn’t enough to give her any answers, but after listening to the Elf-san’s story she seems to have realized something.

It’s my fault for being uneducated.