Bonus Short Stories

Suiren’s Teacher

It may be a bit too late now, but, while I didn’t feel like I was unprepared to be the chief of Ajole village, I was objectively lacking in knowledge and etiquette. Normally, I should have learned these things at the military academy, but alas, I hadn’t been able to go. Fortunately, there was another place of learning for people like me—the Church. Thanks to Maika and Ash’s recommendation I was able to study under Yae, who was also a teacher at the academy.

“Now then, let’s continue reading from the scripture today!”

Even though I was a woman, I was captivated by Yae’s beauty. Whenever she taught me, she was always so calm and her movements were so elegant. She was revered by all the other priests as a reliable and accomplished woman. No wonder men fell for women like her—I admired her too.

“How about we start with this passage right here? ‘Thus, the monkey god spoke: “Wisdom brings forth beauty,”’” Yae read aloud.

“Mmh... Let’s see. Uhm... That’s very deep, right?”

I hadn’t heard this one before. I had no idea what it could have meant, so I just tried to say something that sounded smart.

However, Yae shook her head with a smile. “If you don’t know, just say so—that’s the rule here. Besides, you’ll need a better poker face if you want to fool me.”

She was lecturing on multiple levels at the same time. I’ll just surrender quietly.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what it means.”

“Let me start by explaining, then. You need knowledge to produce good and beautiful things, exactly as stated. Or alternatively, some interpret it as saying that you need knowledge to appreciate beautiful things.”

I guess that makes sense. Although, not really...

As I tilted my head in confusion, Yae rested her elegant chin on her fingers and started thinking out loud. “Hmm... For example, I don’t know what’s so great about the Territory Reform Promotion Office’s wheat fields.”

“What?! But those fields are amazing! The orderly ridges, the equal separation between plants, and the uniform height of the wheat when it’s grown! Just thinking about how much effort those require makes me admire their fields!”

“That’s exactly what I mean. Since I don’t know anything about farming, I can’t appreciate its beauty either. Conversely, you do admire them because you are knowledgeable when it comes to farming.”

I think I get it now! It was true that you needed to know some things first in order to value the subject. The scripture passage started to make sense.

As expected from a priest teaching at the academy, she was really good at explaining. Whenever I studied by myself, I threw in the towel after not even half a day. Yae just kept looking cooler and more beautiful in my eyes. Actually, this may have been another instance of “wisdom bringing forth beauty!” If I keep studying, someday I might look as beautiful as Yae! For Glen’s sake and for my own future, I have to give it my all!

Just as I had strengthened my resolve, someone knocked on the door.

Surprised, Yae tilted her head and replied, “Yes, who is it?”

“It’s George Baleas. I would like to confirm something with you, Mother Yae.”

“I’ll be there right away, Baleas! Suiren, please excuse me for a moment.”

Yae fixed her hair, straightened her collar, and smoothed the wrinkles of her priest’s gown. The mature, beautiful woman had suddenly reverted to being a young teenage girl.

Wondering who had knocked, my gaze followed Yae as she rushed to open the door. On the other side stood a virile man in knight’s armor. How handsome! As expected from a knight. He looked a bit like Ash with his red hair. However, unlike Ash—who appeared gentle on the outside—this man gave a pointed look and an intimidating air. His expression and movements were probably closer to Glen’s.

Captivated by the knight, I hadn’t realized that their conversation had already finished. Before leaving, the knight greeted me with a courteous bow. Yae looked cute as she reluctantly waved him goodbye.

“Yae, who was that?”

“My apologies. That was Sir George. Lord Itsuki trusts him with his life. He’s a relative of your friend Ash.”

That makes sense. No wonder they looked alike. But what I want to know is... “Are you two dating?”

“What? Dating? D-Does it look like that?”

It was mainly Yae’s behavior that had made me think that they were a couple. Despite her awkward demeanor, she was grinning from ear to ear. It didn’t seem like she wanted to hide her feelings. On the contrary, it seemed like she wanted to tell someone.

“Uhm... Well... As a matter of fact, you could say we are a couple... We’re thinking of telling His Excellency the count and making it official in the near future.”

The usually very rigid Yae suddenly appeared dreamy. Wow! What a cute expression! It must be a love match, then!

“Congratulations, Yae!”

“Thank you. Sorry for interrupting our class to talk about my private life.” Yae smiled with a happy yet embarrassed look on her red face. “I know I should keep it to myself, but my love was unrequited for so many years... Recently I decided to suppress my feelings no longer.”

“I don’t mind at all! I’d love to hear more! In fact, there is this young knight in training...”

It was embarrassing, but I felt comfortable telling Yae. I needed some love advice!

“Do you like him?” Yae asked.

“Yes... So I was wondering what kind of stuff you talk about with Sir George and what he might like...”

“I know exactly what you mean! Leave it to me!” Yae had a broad grin on her face. She no longer looked at me as her pupil but rather as a fellow young girl in love. “I also had some help in getting closer to Baleas. I’ll teach you what I know on the subject of love.”

“Thank you, Miss Yae!”

“Heh heh. This will make you the second student I teach about love. First, let’s start with the most important lesson.” I sat up straight and honed my senses as I awaited my teacher’s first lesson. “Love is war. If you make a mistake, you will be left for dead! You need to be the last one standing no matter what happens and no matter how difficult it may be! A maiden in love doesn’t know defeat!”

“Y-Yes!”

What?! Was that statement something a cute maiden in love should agree with?!

Reina’s Last Stand

“We’ve got an emergency!” Maika exclaimed with an intense look on her face as she stormed into the lab.

I was surprised to see her this serious. Usually, Chief Maika let her charm shine through and appeared slightly playful even when giving out orders. I exchanged glances with Hermes next to me. No doubt this meant that Ash was involved.

What could it be this time? In regard to the lab’s current tasks, Ash was especially eager for the preserved meals. He must have wanted us to speed up the process. That wasn’t too bad of a request.

I sat up straight in anticipation of Maika’s next words. I kept telling myself that it was going to be all right. However, if it truly were something not worth considering a problem, why make such an ominous face?

“Ash is fired up like never before!”

In an instant, all my Ash-defense mechanisms that I had built up over the two years at the academy were crushed. Maika saying “like never before” was terrifying. If even Maika—who displayed her affection for Ash whenever possible and who had known him longer than any of us—was saying this, then his momentum now must be unprecedented in all of human history. And as the person in charge of the laboratory, I was supposed to face off with this unprecedented Ash.

An effective countermeasure came to mind. What if I put someone else in the line of fi—I mean, what if I delegated the task? Looking around, my gaze fell upon Hermes and Belgo, who looked away just like everyone else. As expected.

“What exactly happened?”

As I reluctantly asked for details, Maika promptly started explaining.

“I see... Ajole’s current situation and the relationship between Renge and her childhood friend Suiren struck a chord with Ash,” I summed up what I had understood.

“Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say it hit him like a ton of bricks?”

Stop it, Hermes! That metaphor is too violent. Even if it’s more accurate to describe it like that, at least let me imagine the situation more peacefully!

“Anyway...” I muttered.

As I was trying to mentally escape from reality, Maika came to kick down my dreamy bulwark. Guards, there’s a rioter! Stop her! Unfortunately, Maika also slew my brave dreamy guards instantly, saying, “The Territory Reform Promotion Office needs to prepare for battle! We don’t know when Ash might show up at the laboratory! As your chief, I order you to comply with his unreasonable demands!”

“You already know they’re unreasonable?!” I reflexively shouted upon hearing our chief’s first ever real order. Usually, her requests were more like a friend asking for a favor.

With a gentle smile, as if she had just plucked a pretty flower, Maika asked a question in return. “Is there any chance that the demands will be reasonable coming from a fired-up Ash?”

That sounded strangely persuasive. There had been so many past examples of Ash’s unreasonable demands that I couldn’t even come up with a rebuke.

As I was hanging my head, Hermes patted my shoulder to console me. Thanks, but I’ll need more than a shoulder pat to cheer up. Get me a drink later.

While I was trying to recover from this blow, Maika continued, “There’s no doubt that the demands will be unreasonable, but I won’t allow anyone to run away!”

“You want us to fight to the last man?” I heard Belgo murmur.

He was right! It was unimaginable to receive such an order at a research lab! Moreover, an order to fight to the last man was never given right from the start unless the military expected demons in numbers capable of tearing down the city walls.

“Say, Maika...I understand that his demands are unreasonable, but...what exactly does he want? At the very least, I want to prepare myself a little bit...”

After hearing my—or I should say, the whole lab’s plea, Maika just nodded slightly. “No idea! I just know he’s reckless!”

At that moment, I understood how a soldier must feel during their last stand.

Maika’s Curiosity

“Welcome back, Lady Maika.”

After I had finished helping my uncle, I rushed back to the Territory Reform Promotion Office, where I met Renge.

“Hi there. Where’s Ash?”

“H-He said that you should be back soon, so he went to prepare tea for the three of us.”

If Ash was serving tea, that usually meant that there were also going to be sweets! Yay!

As I reflexively started grinning, Renge also gave a bright smile. Renge’s tendency to look downwards paired with her long bangs made it so her facial expression was always hidden. However, whenever our eyes met or when she was laughing with all her heart, I could tell she was a very beautiful woman.

“Say, Renge.”

“Y-Yes? What is it?”

“Could you do me a little favor?”

“Yes? U-Uhm, Lady Maika? Wh-Why are you coming closer?”

Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. Heh heh... I just want to lift your bangs a little and take a look at your face. No need to recoil in fear—I won’t let you get away.

I cornered her with her back against the wall. It was clear that Renge didn’t know how to physically defend herself. I had won the moment I decided to confront her face-to-face.

“L-La-Lady Maika? Wh-What are you doing?!”

This is no big deal. Resistance is futile.

First, I grabbed her right hand, then the left one. I proceeded to press her against the wall.

“Eeep...! Wh-What is ha-happening? People will get the wrong idea if they see us like this...”

She was right. I looked like an evil aristocrat trying to forcefully subdue his maid.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’m not going to take off your clothes anyway.”

“I-In that case... Wait, no! That’s not fine at all!”

Don’t be afraid. It’ll be over in a second.

With a smile, I blew air onto her bangs to get a good look at her face. And lo and behold...

“I knew it! You’re so pretty, Renge!”

She had a slender nose and smooth skin. Her round eyes were cute too.

“N-Not at all! Compared to you, Lady Maika... Uhm, it’s embarrassing... Can you let me go?”

It was almost unfair how cute she looked! Especially with that bright red face!

“I’m jealous! You’re so cute, Renge! And big!”

I was currently pushing her against the wall while holding down both her hands, so we were very close to each other. And since we were both girls, that naturally meant that our breasts were touching. It felt soft. Or squishy? Either way, hers were big. Overwhelmingly so. Just like my mom, who was also Ash’s first crush. Did that mean that Ash liked them big?

“What’s your secret, Renge?” Come on, tell me. For the sake of love, I would even take advice from an enemy.

“Wh-What secret?!”

The scandalous one that’s currently pressing against my chest.

To be honest, having big breasts would probably be a disadvantage for sword fighting, but putting that aside, winning over Ash was my top priority!

“I don’t have any secrets!”

“Hmm... I see—it’s confidential information. I won’t give up so easily though!”

“L-Lady Maika, calm down! Please calm down! You’re acting a bit—very strangely right now!”

My love for Ash was always at its maximum power!

At that moment, the figure of the person always capable of firing me up even further entered the room.

“What is all this noise? Did something happen?” It was Ash! Upon seeing Renge and me in a presumably compromising situation, he tilted his head. “Are you trying to have your way with her? I cannot turn a blind eye to that as Sir George’s adjutant.”

W-W-Wait! It’s not what it looks like, Ash!