Chapter 2: Aspiring Mage girl
1216 Words
The medal of a Paladin, so to speak, are their identification documents. Without it, I'm just an ordinary traveler who can use magic.
That's why I was treated like a child in the inn from a while ago.
More importantly, why didn't I notice it till now?
I immediately left and went to search for it….However.
".......It's nowhere."
It wasn't seen anywhere.
I searched around where I clashed with Noire, but it was already dark outside, and the object in question was a tiny medal that could fit in hand. It wasn't something you could find by walking around for a bit.
".......Uhh."
After moving on the rooftops while even checking the cracks, I descended towards the ground and started searching around the houses.
But, just like before, I couldn't find it.
"It's no good! Miss Hanayuki, it's not here either!"
From above the rooftops, quite a loud voice came down and reverberated throughout the alley.
Looking up, there was a figure of Noire illuminated by the moonlight.
Immediately after I noticed that the medal was missing, she said
"I'm the one responsible for it, let's go together!"
And after insisting on it, we came to look for it together. I somehow entrusted the side of the merchant's home to another person.
As I walked down, she was in charge of searching above. There was a possibility of me overlooking it.
However, it seems that the outcome was the same.
I floated up to the roof with a broom.
"Not finding it after all this searching means that there is a potential that someone picked it up....."
I leaked a sigh without thinking.
"I think it might be because it's getting dark. Wouldn't it be better to search here once more tomorrow morning?"
As I dropped my shoulders, she called out to me with a cheerful voice. I'm a bit grateful.
"Let's do that......"
As I meekly nodded towards her, I decided to return.
I'm flying on a broom. Floating unsteadily, like a magician with clumsy broom handling skills.
"What should I do without?”
Anyhow, I feel down.
After that, I returned to the inn and ate a meal in half-fainted condition, took the key from Noire, and entered the room. However, remembering that I haven't taken a bath, I quickly went towards the large public bath.
Absentmindedly I immersed myself in hot water. Either way, I can't think of any other place where it could've dropped except where I crashed into Noire... There's no other explanation... It's such a mystery… thoughts like that passed through my head for nearly one hour. Remaining in the bath (Just me) until feeling dizzy, I dragged myself out after almost melting in the water.
Then.
"Ah, hello--"
After returning to my room, there was a figure of Noire for some reason.
I closed the door.
Taking a step back, I confirmed the room number. Hmm, It matches the number written on the key. Strange.
Maybe I imagined it?
I opened the door once more.
"Hello…"
It would've been good if it was a bad dream, but there was the figure of Noire in my room. She was happily waving her hand from above the wooden bed.
"......Why are you in my room?"
I asked as I closed the door with my hands behind my back.
"I thought I'd talk to Miss Hanayuki for a bit, so I was waiting."
"But it should've been locked."
"I'm working at this inn you know?"
Saying that she proudly showed off the ring with a bundle of keys on it.
Staying silent, I walked towards her,
"............"
And pinched her cheeks with both hands.
"It hurts! It hurts!"
"Going in other's rooms as you please, what's the big idea?!"
"Shey will be shorn! my cheeks will shear off!"
They will be torn, my cheeks will tear off! That is what she was trying to say.
"Ah? What was that? I didn't hear it."
"Awawawawah......"
After I got tired from stretching and playing with her soft cheeks, I decided to release her. As she covered her slightly reddened cheeks with both hands.
"How terrible......."
She said, but which one of us is terrible I wonder.
"So, what business do you have? Since you sneaked in my room, you must’ve had some kind of business with me, right?"
Noire started speaking as she stroked her cheeks.
"Miss Hanayuki, you are a Witch right?"
"Yes. I guess." I consented to answer. "medal is missing, but I am a Witch."
"Then, that means you successfully passed the Apprentice Witch examination, right?"
"That’s right."
I still remember the disappointment from easily passing it.
After Noire stared at me for some time, she suddenly lied down and folded her legs on the bed, and then touched the bottom of the bed's headboard with both hands.
"Please! Somehow, please teach me the secrets of examination!"
".....… What's with that posture?"
"This is a traditional prostration handed down in my hometown! It's a killer technique for apologizing towards others."
It's quite a strange culture....... Apologizing towards someone was that great in her hometown? However, sincerity is seen.
Somehow, I felt..........chills, or perhaps I should say, some kind of mysterious sensation. I held back the urge to trample on her saying
"Is that the attitude you should have when requesting something from someone?”
She kneels.
"For now, please raise your head."
"Alright!" She suddenly raised her head.
"You don't have to do it that fast," I added. "But first, won't you explain your circumstances?"
Let's talk after that.
As she sat on the bed once more, I took a cheap-looking chair from the desk and sat at the opposite side. Noire's black hair jolted as she weakly shook her head, and–
"Err........."
She shyly opened her mouth.
"I have a little sister. A very cute little sister, but…”
"?"
That was a very strange way of introduction, but whatever, let's hear it.
"We are from the eastern country. I and my little sister came from a faraway country to become great mages Because no organization performs examinations in our organization perform to earn money, we have been living here for years to take the examination, however......"
"But both of you are still mages, right?"
At that, she cast down her eyes and slowly shook her head.
"Last time, only my little sister passed the examination. So only she returned."
"..."
I see I see. Somehow, I feel I can see what happened.
"Since you were beaten to a punch by that cute little sister, you asked the great mage you just met for help. That's the case, right?"
"Well..........It's something like that."
Noire muttered as she scratched her cheek embarrassed.
"When is the next exam?"
"It's in one week.......There's no time anymore......"
Well, the Apprentice Witch examination can be taken any number of times so I think there's no need to rush.
But…
You want to meet your little sister that much, huh?
"............"
After staying silent, I declared "If it's until I find my medal, then it's fine."
In any case, I can't leave the country until I find my medal, so I think it would be fine to do it in the meantime and I might even get to stay at the inn free of charge.
- Writer
