“And he died?”
Headmaster Osman nodded.
“I buried the Staff of Destruction that he had used to save me along with him in his grave, the other one I named the Staff of Destruction and kept it inside the vault in order to commemorate my savior…”
Osman gazed far away and said, “While he was resting on the bed till the day he died, he kept saying repeatedly ‘Where is this place? I want to go back to my world.’ I guess that he must have been from the same world as yours.”
“Who was the one who brought him to this world then?”
“I don’t know. Right till the end, I still had no idea how he ended up here.”
“Damn it! Just when I thought that I had a clue.” Saito lamented. The clue had led him into a dead end. Osman’s savior was most probably a soldier of that country. But how did he end up in this world? Even though Saito wanted to know badly, there was no way to know anymore.
Osman held Saito’s left hand, “The runes on your hand…”
“Oh yes. I wanted to ask about that, too. Once the runes glow, I can use any weapon proficiently. Not just swords, even the weapons from my world too…”
Osman pondered for a moment and said, “…That I know. That is the runes of „Gandálfr“, the legendary familiar.”
“The runes of the legendary familiar?”
“Yes. Gandálfr was a legendary familiar who could use any weapon at will. That is most likely the reason that you could use the Staff of Destruction.”
Saito was confused. “…Then, why am I the legendary familiar?”
“I don’t know.” Osman quickly replied.
“I’m sorry. But there is a possibility that the runes of Gandálfr are related to you being transported to this world.”
“Haa…” Saito sighed.
Saito thought that he could get the answers that he wanted from the headmaster, but apparently he did not know much either…
“I’m sorry that I could not be of much help. I’ll always be on your side, Gandálfr!” Osman hugged Saito. “I must thank you once again for bringing back the possession of my benefactor.”
“It’s all right…” Saito said tiredly.
“I tried to find out for you how you arrived in this world but…”
“But what?”
“But I could not find anything, please do not be dismayed. You’ll get used to this world as time goes by. Maybe by then you could find a wife here too…”
Saito sighed again. The clue to return to his original world slipped through his fingers just like that.
On top of Alvíss Dining Hall, there is a great hall. That is where the ball was being held. Saito leaned on the railings of the balcony and looked at the grand reception.
The students and teachers who were dressed grandly gathered around tables filled with exquisite food and chatted amongst themselves. Saito arrived there through a flight of stairs leading up to the balcony. Seeing them, Saito felt that he would not fit in at all and therefore, decided not to enter.
Next to Saito were some food and a bottle of wine that Siesta had brought for him earlier. Saito poured for himself a glass of wine and drank it.
“Eh, haven’t you got a drop too much?” said Derflinger which was leaning on the balcony worryingly. As the sword that Kirche gave to Saito broke during the ordeal, Saito brought Derflinger for protection. As usual it had a rotten tongue but it still had a happy go lucky personality so having him for company still had its merits.
“You’re noisy. To think that I had found the way to go back home, in the end it’s just a dream… can’t I drink to drown away my sorrow?”
Just before the ball started Kirche, who was beautifully dressed in an evening gown, was accompanying Saito. But as soon as the ball started she was nowhere to be seen.
Saito had no choice but to use Derflinger as a companion to drive away boredom.
In the middle of the dance floor, Kirche was surrounded by a group of young males, talking and laughing. Even though Kirche promised to dance with him, it would be quite some time before Saito had his chance.
Tabitha dressed in a black gown feasted away on the sumptuous food on the table.
Looks like everyone is enjoying the dance to the fullest…
The doors to the great hall opened and Louise appeared.
The guards at the door notified everyone on Louise’s arrival. “The daughter of Duke of La Vallière, Louise Franзoise Le Blanc de La Vallière arrives!”
Saito held his breath. Louise was dressed in a white evening gown with her long, strawberry blonde hair tied up into a pony tail. Her hands were covered by pure white gloves which adorned her grandeur. Her petite face along with her low cut evening gown made her sparkle like a gem.
After confirming that the guest had arrived, the musicians started playing music that was extremely soothing to the ears. All around Louise were males that were captivated by Louise’s beauty asking for a dance with her. Before this, no one ever realized Louise’s beauty and only thought of her as “Louise the Zero.” Now, that same group of males were trying to win her heart.
The nobles started dancing gracefully on the dance floor. Louise turned down everyone’s invitation for a dance, saw Saito on the balcony and headed over. Louise stood in front of the slightly drunk Saito and placed her arms on her waist, “Looks like you’re enjoying yourself” She said.
“Not really…” Saito moved his gaze away from the dazzling Louise, thinking to himself that it was lucky he had drank some wine, so Louise would not realize that he was blushing.
Derflinger looked at Louise and said, “Haha. Clothes really do make the man!”
“None of your business.” Louise stared at the sword and crossed her arms.
“Aren’t you going to dance?” Saito asked while avoiding Louise’s gaze.
“I have no dance partner.” Louise replied.
“Didn’t a lot of people ask you for a dance just now?” Saito asked.
Louise did not answer and extended her hand.
“Huh?”
“Even though you’re just a familiar, I could make an exception.” The blushing Louise said while avoiding Saito’s gaze.
“Don’t you mean ‘Could I have this dance?’?” Saito said while trying to avoid Louise’s gaze too.
After a moment of silence, Louise sighed.
“Only for today!” she said.
Louise then held the ends of her dress and made a curtsy.
“May I have a dance, sir?”
These actions made the bashful Louise look even more cute and alluring than ever before.
Saito, trembling held Louise’s hands and together, they walked towards the dance floor.
“I have never danced before.” Saito said.
“Just follow my rhythm,” Louise said, and then gently held onto Saito’s hand. Saito imitated Louise’s actions and followed her rhythm. Louise did not seem to mind Saito’s stiff actions at all and concentrated on dancing. “Saito, I believe you now,” She said.
“What?”
“…You said that you were from another world,” Louise replied while dancing gracefully.
“Huh? Didn’t you believe me already before that?”
“I originally only took what you said with a pinch of salt… but the Staff of Destruction… It’s a weapon from your world isn’t it? When I saw that, all I could do was to believe,” Louise lowered her head and asked, “Do you wish to go back?”
“Yes. I want to go back, but since there’s no way to go back yet, I’ll have to get used to life here for a while.”
“You’re right…” Louise muttered to herself then continued dancing.