Louise bit her lips.
“A familiar is a mage’s partner. You fail as a mage because you can’t treat him properly. Well… you are zero after all.”
And with that, Kirche left. Louise didn’t reply. She crawled back onto her bed, full of sorrow and regret, and cried like she used to when she was small.
By the time Kirche had come to Saito’s tent, it was late at night already. Saito’s drunken voice could be heard within the crude tent. Flame’s “Kyuru kyuru” could also be heard in the tent. It must had come here to play when she had gone out to the streets.
Kirche opened the flap of the tent. The scene inside was disgusting. Guiche had his face buried in his mole, crying. Saito was hugging Flame, while grumbling with a wine bottle in his other hand.
“It’s just like you said! You're an idiot!” shouted Saito. It seems like he had drunk so much he couldn’t even articulate properly.
“I didn’t even do anything with that Katie. She held my hand, and I had only lightly kissed Montmorency! Despite that, I-!”
Guiche burst into tears. He was the type who cried when he drank. Kirche sighed. Why do men have to be such idiots? Derflinger noticed Kirche and informed Saito.
“Gentlemen, there’s a guest.”
“Guest?”
Saito looked groggily at Kirche.
“Kirche?”
“Looks fun, can I join?” Said Kirche, with a smile on her face.
Saito, who couldn’t possibly get any more drunk, was angered by the sight of a woman. He faced Kirche.
“Those large tits, if you show me them, you can join.”
Guiche started clapping his hands.
“I absolutely agree! In the name of Tristain’s nobles! I totally agree!”
Instead of replying, Kirche took out her wand and started reciting an incantation.
“Less drunk now?”
Saito and Guiche, who were both sitting straight now, nodded.
Everything around them was scorched. Even they were scorched. Kirche’s fire magic made Saito’s hair and Guiche’s nice shirt ragged looking. They had heard of water being a good trick to use, but they didn’t think fire would work just as well.
“Well then, get ready to leave.”
“Get ready to leave?”
Guiche and Saito looked at each other.
“Yes. Hey Saito.” Kirche called him by his name instead of darling.
“What?”
“Do you plan on living in a tent for the rest of your life?”
“No, but… I got driven out, and I haven’t found a way back home either…”
A way back home? Kirche and Guiche looked at each other. Saito suddenly shook his head.
“No, I mean, that, Rub' in the east!”
“Ah, you were born there weren’t you?”
Kirche nodded in comprehension. Saito sighed in relief.
While Kirche caressed Saito’s cheek, she said, “Don’t you want to become a noble?”
“A noble?”
Guiche was slightly taken aback.
“But Kirche, he’s a commoner. He can’t be a noble since he’s not a mage.”
“In Tristain that is. By law, commoners are strictly forbidden to purchase land or become nobles.”
“Exactly.”
“But, in Germania it’s different. If you have money, even if you’re a commoner, you can buy land and become a noble, or buy the rights to a position and become a tax collector or a commander.”
“And that’s why they call Germania uncivilized.” Said Guiche as though he were feeling sick.
“Uncivilized? People who are fussed over traditions and customs like ‘if you’re not a mage you can’t be a noble’, which make their country weak, have no right to talk. It’s the reason why Tristain has to ally with Germania to be able to oppose Albion.”
Saito, who had been quietly listening, finally opened his mouth.
“Um, so Kirche. What you’re saying is that I should become a noble through money, in your country?”
“Exactly that.”
“I don’t have that kind of money. I’m penniless.”
“Then earn some.”
Kirche tapped Saito’s face with a bundle of parchment.
“What’s that?”
Guiche and Saito looked at the bundle. They seemed like maps.
“They’re treasure maps.”
“Treasure?!” Guiche and Saito said, surprised.
“Yes, we’re going to go treasure hunting and sell the treasure we find. Saito… you can do whatever you want then.”
Saito gulped. Kirche was embracing Saito, with her breasts pushing against him. Saito was shaking as though he was suffocating.
“When you become a noble… you can propose to me ok? I like guys like you. I don’t care if you’re a commoner or a noble. People who can overcome their difficulties and obtain things beyond people’s imagination… I like people like that.” Said Kirche, who was smiling seductively.
Guiche, who was looking at the map, whispered doubtingly, “No matter how I look at it, these maps seem a bit suspicious…”
“I got them from various places like magic shops, stalls, general stores…”
“It’s definitely something dodgy. I know of a few people who just sell ordinary maps, calling them treasure maps. There are even nobles who become bankrupt because of these hoaxes.”
“That attitude won’t do!” Said Kirche, with her hands clenched into tight fists.
“Most of them might be scrap, but there might be a real one hidden inside there.”
Gah…Guiche groaned while slapping his forehead.
“Saito, let’s go. Let’s go find treasure and abandon Louise… and then you’ll propose to me, ok?”
Abandoning Louise… that did have a nice ring to it. Nobles… they are always so proud, and they even forget about the people who have saved them before. Saito made up his mind.
“Alright, I’m in. Let’s go!”
Kirche hugged Saito tightly. Suddenly someone burst in.
“Nononono, you can’t do that!”
“Siesta?”
Before them was Siesta in her maid outfit.
“You can't marry, Saito!”
Siesta pulled on Saito.
“Don’t you wish the man you love to be happy?”
Siesta was taken aback by Kirche’s words and looked at Saito. She suddenly shook her head.
“Just because you’re a noble doesn’t necessarily mean you’re happy. You can stay at my village, and buy a vineyard with that money!”
“A vineyard?”
“In my village, there are a lot of good vineyards! We can make nice wine together! Its brand name could be Saito Siesta!”
Kirche and Siesta were both pulling on Saito. It was the first time in his life that he was fought over by girls. He blushed deeply. This probably wouldn’t happen ever again.
“As if you’d find treasure.” Guiche said in a bored tone.
“Guiche. If we find treasure you can give it to the Princess as a present and perhaps she will see you in a different light.”
Guiche stood up.
“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s go.”
“Take me along please!” Siesta called out. If she didn’t go along, there would be no doubt that Kirche would seduce Saito.
“No, you can’t. Commoners are just a burden.”
“Don’t treat me like an idiot! Even though I look like this, I’m…”
Siesta was shaking. Both her hands were clenched tightly together.
“Yes? Go on.”
“I can cook!”
“As if we didn’t know,” everyone said.
“But, but, meals are important right? While we’re searching for treasure, we’ll be camping right? We can’t just rely on the food we bring. I could make good food for everyone.”