Chapter 77

c77: Promise

In the end, the skirmish with Sacrament at the national border, ended as just a skirmish .
It seems neither country intends to treat it as a major incident, this chapter closed without reaching a state of war .
Most likely the person who caused all this, the old man’s activities are a concern but, there’s no need to poke a bush and cause a snake to jump out .
For the adult’s affairs below the water surface, ignore, ignore, I’m as happy as can be with my daily life returned to me .


「Ano, are you angry……?」


――Thus I, returned to the principality’s capital, visited Maria-san’s office to report to her and withered in front of her .


「Ara ara, Alice-dono, might you done something that would anger me?」


Some～how, her smile is?
A scary person, is here right?
It couldn’t be helped even if I lied so I reported what happened at the national border .
That we captured Leoneil and Leymia .
And that――we just let them go .
Also, about Eclair……
As Maria-san was entrusted with Wilmington, it can’t be helped if she became angry .


「Looking just at the objective truth, while my troops were in an inferior position you took the vanguard and defeated the enemy commander . Then you faced another commander class enemy and defeated him . Minimizing the damage to my troops, you cornered the enemy force into a retreat . 」


Pon, Maria-san put her hands together in front of her breast .


「Perhaps, a medal is in order?」
「N, no, I must respectfully decline……」


For now it seems like she isn’t really angry .
But if I dig any deeper that’d be, uncouth……


「That is a shame . Ufufu, but having you do work for us for free, would sully the principality’s name . Using some form like a commission from me, we will deliver remuneration . 」


U～～n?
If it’s to that extent, might it be welcome?
Money, is important isn’t it .


「Then, don’t hold back . 」
「In that case, how about, somewhere around five million rooks?」
「Five mil!?」


Five million rooks!!?
Such a thing is……five platinum coins!?
What sort of sum is that!?


「That is, well, I feel like it’s too much……!」
「Alice-dono, it seems that you do not understand what a great achievement you’ve accomplished then? Preventing a war, saving the lives of the troops, and bringing victory to my country . Considering those gains, don’t you believe this is cheap?」


Watching it be said like that, it does feel that way……
No, Maria-san is skilled with her mouth so, I can’t let myself be fooled can I!


「Etto, at least leave it at one platinum coin!」
「No, that would be too little . Four coins . 」
「If it’s two then, somehow!」
「I won’t compromise further than, three coins . 」


By the way, what is this!?
Rather than bargaining down a good, I’m in some strange state where I’m bargaining to lower my own remuneration!


「U～n . 」
「Even if you moan cutely like that, I can’t go any lower than this you know?」


And, Maria-san smiled and looked at me without saying yes or no .
No, no good is it……


「I understand……I’ll receive it thankfully, really……」
「Ufufu, hai . 」


I ended up taking in a great haul……


「Ah, as we’ve prepared a mansion within the principality’s capital, please make use of it when you stay over . 」
「Ha?」
「Since Alice-dono often travels in a large group, without one or two mansions, would it not be inconvenient?」


Isn’t this strange, even though I just haggled down my remuneration, can I have something even bigger paid out to me like an installment plan?






「Ano……I am not a noble, you know?」
「Eh?」
「Eh!?」


What is, that surprised reaction!?
Thinking there might be some sort of mistake, I’m surprised here!?


「Maa, don’t worry about the minute details . 」


They aren’t minute are they?
Something like being generously presented with a mansion, isn’t minute is it!


「Rather than such a matter, Alice-dono . 」
「……Such a matter?」


Calling it such a matter, this conversation seems like it’ll just flow past it……


「Your friend, seems to be waiting you know?」


Maria-san stood up, and looked down at the courtyard visible from the office window .
Thinking about it later, she exquisitely switched out the topic .
With just those words my mind rushed and I jumped out of her office――――it seems I naively let the flow become one where I gratefully accepted the mansion .
Marianna Houston, is quite able……





「Eclair, what happened? That is, that eye! What happened with your necklace!?」


Descending to the courtyard, that Eclair’s behavior surprised me .
With Eclair’s left eye shut, she flaunted her crimson eye to me .
We plundered the demon eye sealing necklace from Leymia as war spoils .
Why, doesn’t she have it on!?


「Maa maa, Alice-chan . Deep breaths deep breaths . 」
「You’re not, Eclair!?」
「Pin po～n . 」


Making a mischievous face, that girl opened her left eye .


――Silver eye .


「……Just who, are you?」
「――Estoria . It’s fine to call me Est okay?」


Though her atmosphere was entirely different, as far as I can see she’s Eclair right……
U～n, maa, I guess it’s fine .


「Est-san……about Eclair, you won’t take her over right?」
「Ahahaa! Don’t worry, there’s no way I’d do that . This child is my cute disciple after all . 」


That is to say, this person is Eclair’s shishou?
In short……Demonic Flame!!


「I have something to say, so this place is a kind of……That’s right, shall we go to someplace quiet?」
「Ah, hai . 」


And, as I was invited I went along with Est-san .





And so we arrived at a quiet place .
To say it specifically, we’re above a lake .
As expected of the capital of water .
Borrowing a small boat, as Est-san and I faced eachother I rowed .
It’s no good if I don’t row is it, un, since a lady shouldn’t be made to do such a thing .


「Fuuu, fuuu」


There’s no mistake, un, no mistake at all .


「Are you okay, Alice-chan? Should we switch out?」
「It’s fine! Zee, zee…… I can’t leave, this sort of power work, to a girl . 」
「? This child says strange things doesn’t she . 」






This is my pride after all!
Distancing ourselves from the beach to an extent, when we reached the center of the lake I was finally able to rest my hands .
I’m tired .
…………Tir,ed .


「Drink?」
「Thank you, very much……」


Accepting the canteen, I drank water .


「Though I drank from it a bit ago . 」
「Gohou! Keho, keho!」
「Ahahaa, Alice-chan, amusing～」
「……So, what did you want to talk about?」


I can’t let myself go along with her pace……


「Un, I thought I should talk a little about the demon eye so . 」


Saying that, Est-san pointed toward her right eye .
The shining crimson right eye .
But even though I’m facing it, I don’t feel any attack like magic power .
……I suppose it’s, because she’s controlling it then?


「This child’s demon eye is something she’s had since birth . Demon eye of gem . 」


Though because of that she went through some difficult experiences didn’t she, Est-san gave a bitter smile with that implied meaning .


「Though I believe that what came of that, is something Alice-chan also knows――Past sight . 」
「Hai . 」


Past sight .

That is, an incredible power .
To say it clearly, Eclair didn’t pull that power out at all .
The demon eye able to 『See』 every event in the past, and manifest it anew .
In a manner of speaking, anything is possible with it .
Even cheats, have a limit .


「Really, a lot happened . Because it was such an extreme power so……So, get along with her okay?」
「That’s, a given . 」


……Since we’re close friends!
Est-san, smiled kindly .


「This demon eye, can see every event of the past . It sees things that shouldn’t be seen and, Eclair still can’t control that torrent of information on her own . Peeking at the conscious of myself, a person of the past, her conscious became mixed, she no longer knew who was who . That is its greatest danger . Since Eclair could disappear altogether . 」


I see……Then, she lost sight of herself to such extent then .


「So, the main issue is from here . 」


With the preface finished, I righted my posture and nodded .


「I’d like to entrust Alice-chan with――the demon eye’s seal . 」
「……Eh?」


Entrust the seal?
In place of the necklace, I would do it or something?


「Relying on something like a necklace is dangerous . The incident this time is a good example . Therefore, I’d like to leave the tuning of the demon eye to Alice-chan . 」
「Is that sort of thing……possible?」


Est-san nodded toward me as I was surprised, she pointed toward my left hand .


「That, that ring . Vow ring . 」
「This ring is?」


Vow?
I guess it’s not just a ring that heightens the power of magic .


「Right, if you have that, sealing one or two demon eyes, isn’t a problem . 」
「Hee?」
「……Just using it as equipment is, unfair to its purpose isn’t it . 」






While I gazed at the ring in admiration, Est-san murmured with a small voice .


「As expected of my old enemy’s disciple isn’t she! Isn’t she quite able! Ahaha!」


――That’s it .


This person, knows Till doesn’t she?
……
……H,uh?


「……Ano, about past sight……can it also see, people who are still alive?」


Getting a sudden idea, I asked her a question .


――I regretted it .


At that question, Est-san didn’t say anything――――she replied with a very tranquil smile .


「――」


Lie……
She, knew Till?
Till noticed the true form of the demon eye .
Above that, at the battlefield Est-san……she met with the past vision of Est-san .
As such……she knew, didn’t she……?


「Such a thing……」
「……A kind child aren’t you . But it’s fine not to grieve . I as well as Till, are adults after all . 」
「Because you’re adults, that doesn’t mean, it’s not sad when sad things happen you know……」
「I see……that might be true then . 」


Est-san, smiled like she was troubled .


「I want to leave this to you, precisely because Alice-chan is like that . About that child, I want you to stay beside her and give her your support . 」


At those words, I nodded strongly .


「……I pledge to Ice and Snow and Demonic Flame, about Eclair, I will support her . 」
「……Thank you . 」


To an extent that won’t lose to those two’s bond, to an extent that will give them peace of mind, let’s become a splendid pair okay, Eclair?


――And so, Est-san looked up to the sky .


Like it was bright, very, bright .



「――――――Good bye . 」



Without knowing who she spoke to, or with what meaning, Est-san murmured .


「……Sa, I have a request, Alice-chan . Put you prayers into the ring, and do a kiss okay?」


She spoke mischievously and, Est-san closed her eyes and pointed towards her right eyelid .
It didn’t feel like she was lying and, I didn’t feel any malice .
I couldn’t think of this as anything but something sacred .


「Hai . 」


I put my prayers in as I was told to, the ring gleamed with a faint silver light .
Looking at that――I slowly placed my lip on Est-san’s right eyelid .
That light enveloped Est-san, and eventually, disappeared .
I separated and checked her appearance .
After a little while, she slowly opened her eyes and the color of her iris was――In both eyes, a refreshing aqua like the clear sky .


「Eclair……」
「……don’t make a depressed face, Alice . Shishou is, always here inside Eclair after all . 」
「That’s, true isn’t it . 」
「Of course . 」


As Eclair smiled brightly as if to cheer me up the impression from her smile was just like the first time I met her, a smile like the sun .
Like just looking would bring out energy, that sort of vivid smile .


「Girls are, strong aren’t they . 」


I smiled bitterly .
I intended to support her but, I might be the one being supported .
But supporting and being supported, that relationship is nice .


「……You are, at this time, cool . 」


Fun, so sounding her nose, while her cheeks became colored the Eclair who said such a thing is cute .
Somehow, harmonious issn’t she .
Right in the middle of the lake, quietly, there were only the two of us .


「……Huh, this is a date?」
「Naa!?」


I suddenly realized it .


「What, sort of stupid thing are you saying! It’s because of this, elves are……!」
「Eeh!? Is this racial discrimination!?」
「That’s wrong, you, natural temptress! Racially and, as a person too!」


Absurd!


「Even though Eclair also, seduces me with that cute slight fang!」
「That’s nothing but my body’s physical characteristic isn’t it!?」
「But, somehow it feels incredibly cute!」
「An idiot!? Are you, an idiot!?」
「Calling people idiot idiot is bad, you mother-san told you that!」
「Ah～ ah～, is that right, that’s how it is!」


With an inadvertent heat up, I rubbed my forehead up against hers .


「Gununu, Eclair you stubborn person!」
「Alice you, overly amiable person!」


――I was relieved .


Truly, I was relieved that I could do this sort of stupid thing together with Eclair, I unintentionally loosened my tear gland .
Occasionally, nevermind, when I felt the time was precious, does it not give a sensation that makes me want to cry excessively?
While embarrassing, truly, right now like that my tear gland burst .


「Why……you’re crying, Alice . 」
「You also, are all teared up . 」
「I was pulled in, by you you know……tsu」
「Eclair’s the idiot……A big idiot . 」
「What is this……My bad, really . 」


The two of them finally, without hiding it cried massively .
We’re immature .
So if it were Till or Est-san, I don’t know what kind of world it’d be .
Together, I want us to become stronger .


「Please don’t worry about, me……as we’re rivals . 」
「I understand, I understand soo……」
「It’s a, promise then……?」
「Ee, I promise……」


At some point, the two of us embraced eachother .



「――」
「――」



Without knowing who started it――――――――――we kissed .










Just a little, it tasted like tears .

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