***Final Arc, One Who Obtain Happiness, Chapter 260 Part 2 Of an Unfinished Tale***
T/N: Last chapter of main story, however there's still 90 side stories (still ongoing)!!
Kleinmeer inherited much of Alberan's legacy.
Naturally, much of it was burned down during the collapse, and it was said that a considerable number of historical books and documents were lost.
However, just as there were those who destroyed it, there were also those who protected it.
Passed into the hands of various people there were many things left behind, and the Albeneria Magic Academy has focused its efforts on collecting and preserving those legacies from the past.
Kleinmeer's great development lies in Alberan.
It seems that exploring there was considered to be connected to future development.
Due to the witch hunt, magic technology has fallen far behind from its peak.
Oftentimes it would quicker to search than to reinvent some things.
The gathering of materials for investigating the past is being conducted alongside research, and what was exhibited in this museum was a part of that——things that were not currently being researched or had no connection to the magic of that time, but hold value as historical documents.
Although some people like Calshe had no interest in it, there were also some who come from afar specifically to see them.
A local scholar or perhaps painter.
Many people were looking at the exhibits intently, writing in their notebooks with the latest trendy pencils.
Calshe was not interested, but she could somewhat enjoy it the first time, though she was already tired of it, being dragged along by Mii for the seventh time.
she found herself more interested in the movements of the two next to her than the exhibits.
“It might be rude to say this but...it’s surprising, that you like it.”
"...?"
Once inside, the servant took care of the girl's cloak and folded it over her own.
The servant also took her hat, the girl was wearing a white scarf, shirt, and black skirt.
Although she was not gorgeous, she was elegant and had the appearance of a young lady.
When Calshe said that, the silver-haired girl tilted her head and traced her lips with her index finger.
A seductive gesture—perhaps a habit when lost in thought. The servant alsi did the same, it seemed that the two had similar mannerisms.
Although she seemed troubled by Mii's proposal, when she went inside sh seemed to be surprisingly enjoying herself.
Linked arm in arm with the servant named Bery, having gun.
It didn’t seem like she was not interested in Mi's boring explanations, and she seemed to be quite knowledgeable about the history of that era.
It's not common for someone to be able to keep up with Mii's Albeneran trivia.
However, the servant Bery was able to do that with Mii's story.
Krische followed her around, listening happily.
"Like...Ehehe, maybe. It's fun."
“I thought Mii-sama would be the only young person who is interested in this kind of history.”
"Hmm...Certainly Krische-sama is definitely a child."
Although the girl was thinking a little, for some reason she nodded with confidence.
‘I didn’t say that much though’, Calshe said with a wry smile.
"My bad. Most of the people who like to look at things like this are older people, so I just thought it was a little surprising. Please don’t mind it."
On the other side of the magically protected glass, there were swords and spears used at that era, works of art, letters from Queen Crescenta, etc., and many of the people who enjoy these things were old people, even among magicians.
This was because the young people, wanting to achieve some kind of results, tended to focus exclusively on the Kleinmeer era, which was rather sophisticated and numerous.
Pure historical research was done only by those who have established themselves or were mere scholars, halfway as a hobby.
For example, even though there were many young people who were interested in Alberan's ‘magical crystal carved by the unprecedented genius Alberinea’, there were not many young people who are interested in such literary materials from that time.
It’s one thing if a new magic theory could be created by researching it, but humans were more material things.
It was natural that few people would want to undertake research that involved a huge amount of effort but had no reward.
It was still understandable that Bery, who was at the level of a Doushi, a servant who was clearly not just as what she seemed, was interested in this kind of thing.
If one have Doushi-level skills, they will be highly sought after wherever you go. However, since she was an eccentric person who works as a servant, it was not surprising that she had unusual hobbies.
However, it was a little surprising that the girl was that knowledgeable about this history.
Maybe it was influenced by her educator's hobbies.
As they walked deeper inside, they came to a place where military flags were displayed.
Calshe looked at one of them and frowned.
The Black Flag Special Forces Company, which was said to have been led by Alberinea――alongside the black flag with a crescent moon and skull, was the crest of lightning and hawk.
The design was more elegant and vivid, but the lightning and hawk depicted on the flag seem similar to those on the cloak they were wearing.
――It felt familiar.
Calshe nodded and looked at the cloak the servant was holding.
Naturally, she could not see the emblem she had seen earlier.
The absence of one on Bery's cloak suggests that it was the Argan house crest.
"This one is the military flag of the Christand house. Over here the flag of the Black Flag Special Forces Company――as you know, it is the flag of the private army led by Alberinea."
"For such an old thing...it's surprisingly well-preserved, isn't it?"
With each explanation, Bery would chime in, and Mii seemed to be having a lot of fun.
‘Ooh’, Krische also let out a small voice, looking impressed.
Calshe overheard Krische whispering something to Bery something like Bald Eagle and Meow Meow but she couldn't make sense of it.
Calshe tilted her head and wondered what the bald Bald Eagle and Meow Meow were about, but Bery seemed to understand.
Did she mistak ‘hawk’ for ‘Bald Eagle’——but what did "Meow Meow" represent?
The mystery only deepened.
She might be looking at a completely different part of the world than what Calshe was looking at.
"Yes. It seems that a merchant secretly kept these things for display as a hobby. Magical protection was also applied, so that's probably why such beautiful pieces have survived."
"I see... the embroidery on the military flag is beautiful, and if you think of it as artwork, it can certainly be enjoyed that way."
The maid never mentioned anything about the girl's family crest. Mii either didn't notice, or chose to ignore it as nothing particularly strange, without a comment.
This military flag was used 1,300 years ago.
oth the thunder and the hawk were suitable symbols for a noble family, and there were other combinations of symbols that seemed familiar.
It might not be unusual to come up with similar designs.
In this area of the museum, there were many things related to the late Alberean period, especially to Queen Crescenta, her confidante Alberinea, and the Christand family. Their pace slowed down since they entered here.
Alberan—the age of ancient heroes.
Their observation of it seemed oddly nostalgic, different from Mii and the others.
"What's the matter?"
"N-nothing..."
Bery seemed a bit flustered at Mii's voice, shaking her head slightly and blushing.
What was displayed there was a painting――a red-haired girl wearing an apron dress, and a silver girl wearing a glittering dress kissing each other.
And a large dragon peeking out from outside the frame.
"This is Filipeine’s Holy Spirit of and the Maidens. It's said that Alberinea challenged an Ancient Dragon to save her beloved servant and formed a covenant... Ah, of course, you already know."
"Y-yes...it's a beautiful picture."
“The Dragon Covenant is often used as a subject to depict Alberinea, along with the previously mentioned Hawk Maiden, but Filipeine in particular left behind a particularly large number of works. In fact, his grandfather was a member of the Black Flag Special Company...It was said that this drawing was based on a drawing that his grandfather left as a hobby in his later years.”
Mii said, holding up her finger proudly.
"The kiss between the two caused quite a stir at the time and became the catalyst for Filipeine's rise as a painter... Unfortunately, the original was burned, so what's here is a forgery created during its existence. Still, I think it's valuable and extremely beautiful."
Calshe looked at the painting and looked next to her.
A red-haired servant.
A beautiful silver princess.
Purple eyes――of course it was a painting after all, and her face wasn't exactly similar, but it was an odd coincidence.
"C-certainly it’s a very beautiful picture..."
Alberinea depicted in paintings usually has silver hair and purple eyes, although there were differences in her clothes.
Both trait were actually rare, but it seems that they were described as such in various records as her characteristic appearance.
Moreover, if Calshe remember correctly, the red-haired servant's name was Bery.
She remembered Mii saying something like that all the time, and judging from Mii's reaction when she heard the girls' names, it was definitely true.
‘So what’, she thought, but there was something in her throat..
Krische was looking at the painting and watching the servant's face, which had a somewhat amused light blush on it.
She had her arms wrapped around the servant and would not let go, and they were indescribably close.
Even if she were to see the two of them kissing each other on the mouth right in front of her not, she could only think, ‘I see’.
The relationship between the two was strangely similar to that of the girls mentioned in the anecdotes.
Neither Alberinea nor her sister-in-law Selene nor Queen Crescenta left any trace of their blood. ――They didn't have any typical love stories, and it seemed like they were forever locked away in the mansion with the servants, living in close harmony, and the prevailing view was that they had ‘that kind of relationship’.
In the end, it was said that Alberinea died due to a rift with Queen Kreschenta, and that she died due to some kind of experiment. One theory was that they transcended humanity and became gods, and there were many stories of people encountering them all over the world.
Perhaps these two truly mysterious people are...
"...No, no."
――It's not like she was Mii.
It was just a strange delusion, she thought to herself.
If those two still existed, there's no way they would be walking around town like that.
However, the mysterious atmosphere surrounding them somehow lead Calshe to such thoughts.
If she thought about it the other way around, there was only proof to deny it, and even if she look around them, no one was paying attention to their beautiful appearance.
Moreover, it felt as though even Calshe and Mii were blending into the air.
Calshe had no doubts that she was beautiful, and Mii, despite her childish personality, is good-looking.
If one think about it normally, this group of four should have attracted a lot more attention――yet, contrary to the times when the two of them walked the streets alone, they felt fewer gazes upon them.
She didn’t feel any sign of magical power that inhibits recognition.
Such an atmosphere, and comfort, wasn't unpleasant either, so as long as she didn't mind, it wouldn't bother her at all.
She thought it was fine if she didn't worry about it, but as she was walking along with the three of them and looking at their backs, she was still concerned.
She felt a bit confused.
Even if she asked, she wouldn’t get the answer she want, whether it's right or wrong.
Besides, it seemed like the atmosphere would be destroyed if she did that, and seeing the two of them seem to be having fun made her feel strangely hesitant to pry like that.
She was already tired of seeing the museums――but walking around with them like this seems somehow fun, and she shook off her misgivings, thinking that it's not a bad idea to spend some time in a little wonder.
"――Krische, it’s not Jaragasha, but Jarea Gashea. Don't call the crystal of Alberinea’s wisdom by a strange abbreviation."
“…It’s Jaragasha.”
"M-my apologies. Krische-sama has always liked that name..."
“It’s not like but… Ugh.”
While gazing at Krische, who seemed dissatisfied for some reason, she looked at the exhibits.
A huge sword as the arms. On display was an eight-foot-long iron machine soldier―Jareia Gashea.
Kleinmeer's replica――not from the later period, it was an original made during the Alberinean era.
The head core, which serves as the control tower, was not on display, but the cores of each joint have been removed and were on display for viewing.
Currently, the production of mechanical dolls for combat purposes is strictly prohibited, with no questions asked, but there were some exceptions that allow mechanical dolls for chores and artificial limbs.
Still, it was rare for the original Jarea Gashea to be exhibited, as even students at the Magic Academy wouldn’t get a chance see it unless they major in it.
Thit was Mie's purpose, and excitement couldn't be hidden from her face.
"Still, these the artistic engravings... I wonder how Alberinea managed to mass-produce something like this."
Exquisite formula engravings that even skilled magecraft technicians would find difficult to mimic.
A god of death on the battlefield who was said to have had such power that it could be said to be completely different from the imitation made by Kleinmeer――the Kleinmeer had a monopoly on the originals, said to be in the number of 3,000, and this made their control rock-solid.
In the final stages, some magicians who were fed up with Kleinmeer's excessive control policy lent a hand to the Allied Forces, but their insane combat power and mobility were still overwhelming.
"The ruler of a battlefield that should never be fought...That's why its final moments are so interesting."
“The end...?”
“Mysteriously, this Jareia Gashea also seems to have a strange weakness, and never wield the sword against a red-haired woman.”
The only survivor of the unit that was annihilated by Jarea Gashea――a red-haired female soldier.
She testified that she felt as if she had been overlooked by Jarea Gashea, a mindless killing doll.
During the late stages of the war, many women participated as soldiers in the Allied Forces, and there were several similar cases. One staff officer noticed that it wasn't a coincidence.
That person was originally a historian and knew several anecdotes about Alberan and Alberinea.
"The subject of the Dragon's Covenant was famous enough to be depicted in paintings... It's common knowledge for those who study history that Alberinea deeply loved a red-haired servant. They investigated whether there might be a clue to conquering Jarea Gashea, and formed a special force called ‘Red Goddesses’ made up of red-haired women. It was said that they successfully captured Jarea Gashea, and that served as a turning point for the Alliance to make up for the loss.
Bery's mouth dropped open as she listened to Mii nodding her head with satisfaction.
Then, her cheeks flushed again, she looked at Krische in confusion.
She couldn't see Krische’s face from this angle, but Krische grabbed her arm tightly and seemed somewhat embarrassed.
“...There are many different evaluations of Alberinea, but I believe that she was someone who possessed extraordinary power but was at the mercy of fate. This is proof of that... It's no exaggeration to say that her love hidden in this murderous doll is what ended that war after a thousand years”
"I-I see..."
Her white skin was dyed red, and her voice was a little hoarse.
Calshe looks at the ‘red-haired servant named Bery’ and felt the haziness that she had shaken off swell again.
"It is also true that this has created hundreds of years of peace and stability... After all, tools are created and manipulated by human hands. Seeing this makes me think about various things even though I live in a peaceful era."
Mii said quietly and nodded to herself.
The servant who was blushing also nodded silently.
“Well, I agree with you.…Alberinea probably made this to protect her small daily life.”
――At least that's how I.
And as she continued, Calshe watched as she lovingly caressed the girl's silvery skin.
By the time they came out of the museum, the sun had already set a little and the air was getting colder.
The two thank Mii and Calshe, saying that they had a great time, and bid farewell.
‘I'll see you again soon’, Mi called out to them, and the two of them smiled wryly, as if they were troubled. Perhaps there were other people with them, but there were several women standing a little further away.
The graceful blonde haired girl raised her eyebrows, asking and complaining where they were and what were they doing, and so did the pink haired girl.
Behind them, the two servants looked troubled but laughed happily.
Now that she thought about it, she remember what the girls were saying about shopping, and her body stiffens when she noticed that behind them――a huge magical beast was pulling a cart while yawning.
There was a large amount of luggage on it.
No matter where you look, they were horse-drawn carriages and women who stood out.
However, they naturally blended into the surroundings, and even Mii, who is looking at the same thing next to Calshe, was not surprised or even notice the monster pulling the carriage――a huge Suiko.
Calshe no longer thought that that girl and her servant were just new students and servant, nor did she think that the girls who looked from a distance were normal human.
The girl took the red-haired servant's hand and ran over to one of the servants over there, and she whispered something in her ear.
As expected, the voice could not be heard over the crowd.
However, Calshe could clearly see the servant staring at her with a slightly surprised look on her face.
A beautiful servant with black hair neatly cut to the shoulder.
She then shook her head at the girl who told her something, and smiled bitterly.
She took a step forward and smiled, but she bowed deeply and beautifully.
She didn’t know what the intention was or what it meant――but there was something nostalgic about it, and Calshe bowed her head, feeling a strange feeling as well.
Mi followed suit, looking confused, and when she looked up, she smiled again and called out to the girl.
The girl lightly bowed with the red-haired servant and turned her back, then walked away with them.
As they turned the corner ahead of them, Calshe suddenly started running――but there was no sign of the girls' backs anywhere.
It was as if no one was there from the beginning.
"――Why didn't you tell me!"
"Even if you ask why, well, it's just that the atmosphere is..."
――That night, in the great library of the Magic Academy.
Bookshelves and a spiral staircase are neatly lined up inside the tall tower.
The seat on the third floor, called the Tower of Knowledge, was a place where books related to Alberan, which had relatively little to do with magic, were lined up, and it was a reserved seat for Mii.
She spendt most of her free time here, and Calshe kills time by looking at books containing old folklore, stories, plays, and short stories.
At first, Mii was also looking at the book as if filling her own interests, but today, she noticed that Calshe was unusually flipping through a book related to Alberan and reading it as if searching for something.
When asked why she was reading something like that, Calshe didn't hide anything and talked about the two they met today――Mii was furious.
"Atmosphere!? You, do you how important――?"
"Midyliarize! If you make too much noise, I'll ban you from entering for a while!"
"Y-yes!"
Mii flinched at the head librarian's voice from downstairs and glares at Calshe.
Calshe laughed and calms downed her down sayong ‘now, now’.
“Mii-sama didn't seem to notice, and the two of them seemed to be having fun...Even if my imagination was correct, it probably wasn't what those two wanted. Mi-sama will definitely make a fuss.”
"Guu...B-but..."
“Or would you say it would have been better for Mi-sama to learn from me and then bombard the two of them with questions while they were enjoying themselves?”
"Uh... I mean..."
"I'm sure it's fine just to remember that rare things happened."
Mii groaned in frustration as her eyes swam around.
It was her ‘But But I mean Syndrome.''
It was a serious illness that makes her unable to say anything other than ‘but’ or ‘I mean when her emotion argument was challenged with reason.
She was so frustrated that she looked like she was about to cry, and with a wry smile, Calshe patted Mii on the head and said, ‘It’s okay’.
"A valuable experience, a precious encounter. Even if Mii-sama didn't realize it, Mii-sama was able to talk to someone Mii-sama admires, so it's great. Well, there's also the possibility that this was all my misunderstanding."
Even while saying this, she strangely didn't really think it was a misunderstanding.
It was just a hunch, but Calshe knew that her hunch was accurate, and the more she looked into it, the more convinced she became.
Thunder and hawk emblem――the family crest of the Christand family.
It was different from what was depicted on the military flag, but it was probably the real thing.
When she unraveled the book, she discovered that it depicted exactly the same thing.
A military book that was a little different from a history book.
Remembering that the current military structure was called the Christand style, she opened it and saw that the same one drawn on the cloak――on her left breast, was written at the beginning of the book.
It praised the achievements of the great Christand family and described the common crest used by the Cristand family for clothing and belongings.
However, for some reason no one who used the crest recorded in a book like this existed.
There were nobles who used or were given the same crests in honor of heroes of the past, and people from different countries may have similar family crests.
However, Kleinmeer has a long history.
Most of the families that have family crests today were given to them during the Kleinmeer era, and it was rare to find a ‘coat of arms that is still alive’ in books.
The thunder and hawk of the Christand family werre not just ‘dead crest' that were recorded in books.
"...What are you looking for, Calshe?"
"Hmm, I wonder what I’m looking for."
“You, are you making fun of me?”
“No, no, I’m just looking at things because I’m kind of interested.”
The book she was currently flipping through was called ‘In the House of the Noble Hawk’.
This appears to be a manuscript written and left behind by a servant of the Christand family.
It was a difficult and heavily ornamented text――even though it was the basis for the current Meere language, it was tiresome to decipher, but surprisingly, the content written seemed more like a diary than an autobiography.
It was quite thick, but it seemed like it could be halved if the unnecessary parts were removed.
From her birth to her meeting with the respected Cristand servant, Berry=Argan.
When she saw this, she was exasperated at the lame lie that that servant had come up with on the fly, and also at her own master.
There was little mention of the names of Alberinea’s beloved servants.
It is well known among scholars that she had red hair, but in most cases she was simply described as Alberinea’s servant.
However, in this book, which Mii must have read many times, her name, surname, and physical characteristics were clearly written down over half a page.
Even though it should have been normal for Mii to feel that it was odd, she didn’t even had a doubts.
That servant probably didn't even know that her
Otherwise, she didn’t think they had any intention of hiding, using the name Krische Argan and berry.
Now that she thought about it, they seemed to know a lot about Alberan, but she felt like their knowledge of later generations and Kleinmeer was quite limited.
If they had that much knowledge, it's only natural that they would know about Kleinmeer's famous paintings, but it was as if they were seeing it for the first time.
Flipping through the pages, the characters written down are the residents of the mansion.
Queen Kreschenta, future Marshal Selene.
At the moment of parting――the two people who appeared on the Suiko’s side overlapped.
If that's the case, the two remaining servants――one of them could have been the one who wrote this.
There weren't many characters.
There were three princesses and two servants――and after the civil war, one more.
"...Elvena"
When she said it, it strangely comes to her, and she trace the words with her fingertips and her eyes narrowed.
A beautiful servant with black hair cut at the shoulders.
It seems that she and the author, Anne, had a friendly relationship.
"...Already there? I think you're reading too fast."
"No, there are a lot of things that don't seem to matter. Isn't there a continuation of this?"
"No. It was destroyed in a fire. I think it's strange that they haven't even made a manuscript of something this important."
The book was almost over.
It seems that there was actually one more book, but it was lost.
It seems to have been a gift to her father in the Giterns family, where she was born, and it was kept there for many years, along with his huge collection of books, and was buried there.
The head of the family at the time, who noticed its forgotten existence after the mansion caught fire, sold it to a scholar as something of historical value, and this was the only book that remains.
she turned the page while smiling bitterly at Mii who was angry.
After the civil war was over, the story was about Elvena, as a rival for a while.
It then talked about Krische’s establishment of the famous Black Flag Special Forces Company, and says said its members would occasionally visit mansions in the royal domain.
It seemed to be quite rare for the time, as she simply praised the character of her master, Alberinea, who did not discriminate against nobles and commoners, including Elvena.
Judging by his appearance today, she certainly seems like that kind of person.
When the book said that she was a pure and kind person, she could only nod.
The book said that Elvena had an older sister who belonged to the Black Century, the predecessor of the Black Flag Special Company, and that it was she and her corps' adjutants who often visited.
Her name was――
"......, As if"
Her ears on her head stiffened and her tail stretched taut.
She felt her cheeks twitched as she smiles bitterly, and she rubbed the corners of her eyes.
"What happened? Did something happened?"
"No, I'm just tired from reading something I'm not used to."
"...I think you know, but I'm staying up all night today."
"Huh? Why?"
"I'm going to write it all down so I don't forget. It's everything the two of you said and what I realized, right? It's an event that should be recorded in history. When I get big enough and have the right to speak, I'll publish it. That’s why.”
Mii seemed to be saying this seriously, and before she knew it, Mii had prepared ink, a fountain pen, and a notebook.
Calshe’s cheeks twitch again.
“…Um, Mi-sama, can you do it tomorrow?”
"I can't trust Calshe because if you sleeps, you will forgets it the next day. It's master's orders, okay?"
"Haa...guess I can't just keep it in my memories."
"Shut up. Write down what you remember so you don't forget them."
Sighing at those words, Calshe turned her gaze back to the book.
‘――I guess that’s what being so close that they can fight look like. Krische-sama always looked at the two of them troubledly, and Elvena-sama would soothe them. Even though Elvena-sama would be smiling bitterly, she looked very, very happy.”
Then Calshe closed her eyes for a moment and recalled the girl's purple color.
Just like when she was looking at various things at the museum, the way she looked at Mi and Calshe seemed to be as if she were nostalgic.
She remember that servant's slightly surprised look and her smile.
Smiles and gestures that seem strangely nostalgic.
She thought that her name was probably Elvena, and for some reason she never doubted it.
She didn't believe in reincarnation, and she didn’t think it exist.
But when she thought about it, today's seemingly coincidental encounter seemed a little bit fateful, and Calshe quietly relaxed her cheeks.
The trivial and pleasant daily life depicted in the book has no end to it, and continues half-heartedly.
Their unrecorded days were sure to continue as they were even now, and she wonder if they too will look at today's trivial memories and laugh.
When she imagined how various scenes would be depicted in the continuation of the book, Calshe smiled bitterly to herself.
There were only a few more pages left in the book.
However, what lied ahead seems to be infinite and endless.
However, as depicted here, it seemed strangely fun and happy.
Mii, who had been writing down today's details in her notebook, looked up at her, and her lips pouted, as if asking for help.
She then looks over at the line on Calshe where her finger rests, and she says in amazement.
"What an amazing person. That person."
"yeah?"
When Calshe tilted her head, Mii continued.
“I can’t believe she called that Alberinea by a nick name.”
Calshe traces the letters with her finger while smiling bitterly at those words.
"Really? Fufu... But, unlike Mii-sama, I guess I can understand this person's feelings."
What she remember was a girl frolicking on the snow like a rabbit.
Why did she think she was a rabbit?
As she thought about this, she smiled and hummed.
"I think it's very cute. ――Usa-chan."
***Final Arc, One Who Obtain Happiness, Chapter 260 Part 2 Of an Unfinished Tale***
T/N: Last chapter of main story, however there's still 90 side stories (still ongoing)!!
Kleinmeer inherited much of Alberan's legacy.
Naturally, much of it was burned down during the collapse, and it was said that a considerable number of historical books and documents were lost.
However, just as there were those who destroyed it, there were also those who protected it.
Passed into the hands of various people there were many things left behind, and the Albeneria Magic Academy has focused its efforts on collecting and preserving those legacies from the past.
Kleinmeer's great development lies in Alberan.
It seems that exploring there was considered to be connected to future development.
Due to the witch hunt, magic technology has fallen far behind from its peak.
Oftentimes it would quicker to search than to reinvent some things.
The gathering of materials for investigating the past is being conducted alongside research, and what was exhibited in this museum was a part of that——things that were not currently being researched or had no connection to the magic of that time, but hold value as historical documents.
Although some people like Calshe had no interest in it, there were also some who come from afar specifically to see them.
A local scholar or perhaps painter.
Many people were looking at the exhibits intently, writing in their notebooks with the latest trendy pencils.
Calshe was not interested, but she could somewhat enjoy it the first time, though she was already tired of it, being dragged along by Mii for the seventh time.
she found herself more interested in the movements of the two next to her than the exhibits.
“It might be rude to say this but...it’s surprising, that you like it.”
"...?"
Once inside, the servant took care of the girl's cloak and folded it over her own.
The servant also took her hat, the girl was wearing a white scarf, shirt, and black skirt.
Although she was not gorgeous, she was elegant and had the appearance of a young lady.
When Calshe said that, the silver-haired girl tilted her head and traced her lips with her index finger.
A seductive gesture—perhaps a habit when lost in thought. The servant alsi did the same, it seemed that the two had similar mannerisms.
Although she seemed troubled by Mii's proposal, when she went inside sh seemed to be surprisingly enjoying herself.
Linked arm in arm with the servant named Bery, having gun.
It didn’t seem like she was not interested in Mi's boring explanations, and she seemed to be quite knowledgeable about the history of that era.
It's not common for someone to be able to keep up with Mii's Albeneran trivia.
However, the servant Bery was able to do that with Mii's story.
Krische followed her around, listening happily.
"Like...Ehehe, maybe. It's fun."
“I thought Mii-sama would be the only young person who is interested in this kind of history.”
"Hmm...Certainly Krische-sama is definitely a child."
Although the girl was thinking a little, for some reason she nodded with confidence.
‘I didn’t say that much though’, Calshe said with a wry smile.
"My bad. Most of the people who like to look at things like this are older people, so I just thought it was a little surprising. Please don’t mind it."
On the other side of the magically protected glass, there were swords and spears used at that era, works of art, letters from Queen Crescenta, etc., and many of the people who enjoy these things were old people, even among magicians.
This was because the young people, wanting to achieve some kind of results, tended to focus exclusively on the Kleinmeer era, which was rather sophisticated and numerous.
Pure historical research was done only by those who have established themselves or were mere scholars, halfway as a hobby.
For example, even though there were many young people who were interested in Alberan's ‘magical crystal carved by the unprecedented genius Alberinea’, there were not many young people who are interested in such literary materials from that time.
It’s one thing if a new magic theory could be created by researching it, but humans were more material things.
It was natural that few people would want to undertake research that involved a huge amount of effort but had no reward.
It was still understandable that Bery, who was at the level of a Doushi, a servant who was clearly not just as what she seemed, was interested in this kind of thing.
If one have Doushi-level skills, they will be highly sought after wherever you go. However, since she was an eccentric person who works as a servant, it was not surprising that she had unusual hobbies.
However, it was a little surprising that the girl was that knowledgeable about this history.
Maybe it was influenced by her educator's hobbies.
As they walked deeper inside, they came to a place where military flags were displayed.
Calshe looked at one of them and frowned.
The Black Flag Special Forces Company, which was said to have been led by Alberinea――alongside the black flag with a crescent moon and skull, was the crest of lightning and hawk.
The design was more elegant and vivid, but the lightning and hawk depicted on the flag seem similar to those on the cloak they were wearing.
――It felt familiar.
Calshe nodded and looked at the cloak the servant was holding.
Naturally, she could not see the emblem she had seen earlier.
The absence of one on Bery's cloak suggests that it was the Argan house crest.
"This one is the military flag of the Christand house. Over here the flag of the Black Flag Special Forces Company――as you know, it is the flag of the private army led by Alberinea."
"For such an old thing...it's surprisingly well-preserved, isn't it?"
With each explanation, Bery would chime in, and Mii seemed to be having a lot of fun.
‘Ooh’, Krische also let out a small voice, looking impressed.
Calshe overheard Krische whispering something to Bery something like Bald Eagle and Meow Meow but she couldn't make sense of it.
Calshe tilted her head and wondered what the bald Bald Eagle and Meow Meow were about, but Bery seemed to understand.
Did she mistak ‘hawk’ for ‘Bald Eagle’——but what did "Meow Meow" represent?
The mystery only deepened.
She might be looking at a completely different part of the world than what Calshe was looking at.
"Yes. It seems that a merchant secretly kept these things for display as a hobby. Magical protection was also applied, so that's probably why such beautiful pieces have survived."
"I see... the embroidery on the military flag is beautiful, and if you think of it as artwork, it can certainly be enjoyed that way."
The maid never mentioned anything about the girl's family crest. Mii either didn't notice, or chose to ignore it as nothing particularly strange, without a comment.
This military flag was used 1,300 years ago.
oth the thunder and the hawk were suitable symbols for a noble family, and there were other combinations of symbols that seemed familiar.
It might not be unusual to come up with similar designs.
In this area of the museum, there were many things related to the late Alberean period, especially to Queen Crescenta, her confidante Alberinea, and the Christand family. Their pace slowed down since they entered here.
Alberan—the age of ancient heroes.
Their observation of it seemed oddly nostalgic, different from Mii and the others.
"What's the matter?"
"N-nothing..."
Bery seemed a bit flustered at Mii's voice, shaking her head slightly and blushing.
What was displayed there was a painting――a red-haired girl wearing an apron dress, and a silver girl wearing a glittering dress kissing each other.
And a large dragon peeking out from outside the frame.
"This is Filipeine’s Holy Spirit of and the Maidens. It's said that Alberinea challenged an Ancient Dragon to save her beloved servant and formed a covenant... Ah, of course, you already know."
"Y-yes...it's a beautiful picture."
“The Dragon Covenant is often used as a subject to depict Alberinea, along with the previously mentioned Hawk Maiden, but Filipeine in particular left behind a particularly large number of works. In fact, his grandfather was a member of the Black Flag Special Company...It was said that this drawing was based on a drawing that his grandfather left as a hobby in his later years.”
Mii said, holding up her finger proudly.
"The kiss between the two caused quite a stir at the time and became the catalyst for Filipeine's rise as a painter... Unfortunately, the original was burned, so what's here is a forgery created during its existence. Still, I think it's valuable and extremely beautiful."
Calshe looked at the painting and looked next to her.
A red-haired servant.
A beautiful silver princess.
Purple eyes――of course it was a painting after all, and her face wasn't exactly similar, but it was an odd coincidence.
"C-certainly it’s a very beautiful picture..."
Alberinea depicted in paintings usually has silver hair and purple eyes, although there were differences in her clothes.
Both trait were actually rare, but it seems that they were described as such in various records as her characteristic appearance.
Moreover, if Calshe remember correctly, the red-haired servant's name was Bery.
She remembered Mii saying something like that all the time, and judging from Mii's reaction when she heard the girls' names, it was definitely true.
‘So what’, she thought, but there was something in her throat..
Krische was looking at the painting and watching the servant's face, which had a somewhat amused light blush on it.
She had her arms wrapped around the servant and would not let go, and they were indescribably close.
Even if she were to see the two of them kissing each other on the mouth right in front of her not, she could only think, ‘I see’.
The relationship between the two was strangely similar to that of the girls mentioned in the anecdotes.
Neither Alberinea nor her sister-in-law Selene nor Queen Crescenta left any trace of their blood. ――They didn't have any typical love stories, and it seemed like they were forever locked away in the mansion with the servants, living in close harmony, and the prevailing view was that they had ‘that kind of relationship’.
In the end, it was said that Alberinea died due to a rift with Queen Kreschenta, and that she died due to some kind of experiment. One theory was that they transcended humanity and became gods, and there were many stories of people encountering them all over the world.
Perhaps these two truly mysterious people are...
"...No, no."
――It's not like she was Mii.
It was just a strange delusion, she thought to herself.
If those two still existed, there's no way they would be walking around town like that.
However, the mysterious atmosphere surrounding them somehow lead Calshe to such thoughts.
If she thought about it the other way around, there was only proof to deny it, and even if she look around them, no one was paying attention to their beautiful appearance.
Moreover, it felt as though even Calshe and Mii were blending into the air.
Calshe had no doubts that she was beautiful, and Mii, despite her childish personality, is good-looking.
If one think about it normally, this group of four should have attracted a lot more attention――yet, contrary to the times when the two of them walked the streets alone, they felt fewer gazes upon them.
She didn’t feel any sign of magical power that inhibits recognition.
Such an atmosphere, and comfort, wasn't unpleasant either, so as long as she didn't mind, it wouldn't bother her at all.
She thought it was fine if she didn't worry about it, but as she was walking along with the three of them and looking at their backs, she was still concerned.
She felt a bit confused.
Even if she asked, she wouldn’t get the answer she want, whether it's right or wrong.
Besides, it seemed like the atmosphere would be destroyed if she did that, and seeing the two of them seem to be having fun made her feel strangely hesitant to pry like that.
She was already tired of seeing the museums――but walking around with them like this seems somehow fun, and she shook off her misgivings, thinking that it's not a bad idea to spend some time in a little wonder.
"――Krische, it’s not Jaragasha, but Jarea Gashea. Don't call the crystal of Alberinea’s wisdom by a strange abbreviation."
“…It’s Jaragasha.”
"M-my apologies. Krische-sama has always liked that name..."
“It’s not like but… Ugh.”
While gazing at Krische, who seemed dissatisfied for some reason, she looked at the exhibits.
A huge sword as the arms. On display was an eight-foot-long iron machine soldier―Jareia Gashea.
Kleinmeer's replica――not from the later period, it was an original made during the Alberinean era.
The head core, which serves as the control tower, was not on display, but the cores of each joint have been removed and were on display for viewing.
Currently, the production of mechanical dolls for combat purposes is strictly prohibited, with no questions asked, but there were some exceptions that allow mechanical dolls for chores and artificial limbs.
Still, it was rare for the original Jarea Gashea to be exhibited, as even students at the Magic Academy wouldn’t get a chance see it unless they major in it.
Thit was Mie's purpose, and excitement couldn't be hidden from her face.
"Still, these the artistic engravings... I wonder how Alberinea managed to mass-produce something like this."
Exquisite formula engravings that even skilled magecraft technicians would find difficult to mimic.
A god of death on the battlefield who was said to have had such power that it could be said to be completely different from the imitation made by Kleinmeer――the Kleinmeer had a monopoly on the originals, said to be in the number of 3,000, and this made their control rock-solid.
In the final stages, some magicians who were fed up with Kleinmeer's excessive control policy lent a hand to the Allied Forces, but their insane combat power and mobility were still overwhelming.
"The ruler of a battlefield that should never be fought...That's why its final moments are so interesting."
“The end...?”
“Mysteriously, this Jareia Gashea also seems to have a strange weakness, and never wield the sword against a red-haired woman.”
The only survivor of the unit that was annihilated by Jarea Gashea――a red-haired female soldier.
She testified that she felt as if she had been overlooked by Jarea Gashea, a mindless killing doll.
During the late stages of the war, many women participated as soldiers in the Allied Forces, and there were several similar cases. One staff officer noticed that it wasn't a coincidence.
That person was originally a historian and knew several anecdotes about Alberan and Alberinea.
"The subject of the Dragon's Covenant was famous enough to be depicted in paintings... It's common knowledge for those who study history that Alberinea deeply loved a red-haired servant. They investigated whether there might be a clue to conquering Jarea Gashea, and formed a special force called ‘Red Goddesses’ made up of red-haired women. It was said that they successfully captured Jarea Gashea, and that served as a turning point for the Alliance to make up for the loss.
Bery's mouth dropped open as she listened to Mii nodding her head with satisfaction.
Then, her cheeks flushed again, she looked at Krische in confusion.
She couldn't see Krische’s face from this angle, but Krische grabbed her arm tightly and seemed somewhat embarrassed.
“...There are many different evaluations of Alberinea, but I believe that she was someone who possessed extraordinary power but was at the mercy of fate. This is proof of that... It's no exaggeration to say that her love hidden in this murderous doll is what ended that war after a thousand years”
"I-I see..."
Her white skin was dyed red, and her voice was a little hoarse.
Calshe looks at the ‘red-haired servant named Bery’ and felt the haziness that she had shaken off swell again.
"It is also true that this has created hundreds of years of peace and stability... After all, tools are created and manipulated by human hands. Seeing this makes me think about various things even though I live in a peaceful era."
Mii said quietly and nodded to herself.
The servant who was blushing also nodded silently.
“Well, I agree with you.…Alberinea probably made this to protect her small daily life.”
――At least that's how I.
And as she continued, Calshe watched as she lovingly caressed the girl's silvery skin.
By the time they came out of the museum, the sun had already set a little and the air was getting colder.
The two thank Mii and Calshe, saying that they had a great time, and bid farewell.
‘I'll see you again soon’, Mi called out to them, and the two of them smiled wryly, as if they were troubled. Perhaps there were other people with them, but there were several women standing a little further away.
The graceful blonde haired girl raised her eyebrows, asking and complaining where they were and what were they doing, and so did the pink haired girl.
Behind them, the two servants looked troubled but laughed happily.
Now that she thought about it, she remember what the girls were saying about shopping, and her body stiffens when she noticed that behind them――a huge magical beast was pulling a cart while yawning.
There was a large amount of luggage on it.
No matter where you look, they were horse-drawn carriages and women who stood out.
However, they naturally blended into the surroundings, and even Mii, who is looking at the same thing next to Calshe, was not surprised or even notice the monster pulling the carriage――a huge Suiko.
Calshe no longer thought that that girl and her servant were just new students and servant, nor did she think that the girls who looked from a distance were normal human.
The girl took the red-haired servant's hand and ran over to one of the servants over there, and she whispered something in her ear.
As expected, the voice could not be heard over the crowd.
However, Calshe could clearly see the servant staring at her with a slightly surprised look on her face.
A beautiful servant with black hair neatly cut to the shoulder.
She then shook her head at the girl who told her something, and smiled bitterly.
She took a step forward and smiled, but she bowed deeply and beautifully.
She didn’t know what the intention was or what it meant――but there was something nostalgic about it, and Calshe bowed her head, feeling a strange feeling as well.
Mi followed suit, looking confused, and when she looked up, she smiled again and called out to the girl.
The girl lightly bowed with the red-haired servant and turned her back, then walked away with them.
As they turned the corner ahead of them, Calshe suddenly started running――but there was no sign of the girls' backs anywhere.
It was as if no one was there from the beginning.
"――Why didn't you tell me!"
"Even if you ask why, well, it's just that the atmosphere is..."
――That night, in the great library of the Magic Academy.
Bookshelves and a spiral staircase are neatly lined up inside the tall tower.
The seat on the third floor, called the Tower of Knowledge, was a place where books related to Alberan, which had relatively little to do with magic, were lined up, and it was a reserved seat for Mii.
She spendt most of her free time here, and Calshe kills time by looking at books containing old folklore, stories, plays, and short stories.
At first, Mii was also looking at the book as if filling her own interests, but today, she noticed that Calshe was unusually flipping through a book related to Alberan and reading it as if searching for something.
When asked why she was reading something like that, Calshe didn't hide anything and talked about the two they met today――Mii was furious.
"Atmosphere!? You, do you how important――?"
"Midyliarize! If you make too much noise, I'll ban you from entering for a while!"
"Y-yes!"
Mii flinched at the head librarian's voice from downstairs and glares at Calshe.
Calshe laughed and calms downed her down sayong ‘now, now’.
“Mii-sama didn't seem to notice, and the two of them seemed to be having fun...Even if my imagination was correct, it probably wasn't what those two wanted. Mi-sama will definitely make a fuss.”
"Guu...B-but..."
“Or would you say it would have been better for Mi-sama to learn from me and then bombard the two of them with questions while they were enjoying themselves?”
"Uh... I mean..."
"I'm sure it's fine just to remember that rare things happened."
Mii groaned in frustration as her eyes swam around.
It was her ‘But But I mean Syndrome.''
It was a serious illness that makes her unable to say anything other than ‘but’ or ‘I mean when her emotion argument was challenged with reason.
She was so frustrated that she looked like she was about to cry, and with a wry smile, Calshe patted Mii on the head and said, ‘It’s okay’.
"A valuable experience, a precious encounter. Even if Mii-sama didn't realize it, Mii-sama was able to talk to someone Mii-sama admires, so it's great. Well, there's also the possibility that this was all my misunderstanding."
Even while saying this, she strangely didn't really think it was a misunderstanding.
It was just a hunch, but Calshe knew that her hunch was accurate, and the more she looked into it, the more convinced she became.
Thunder and hawk emblem――the family crest of the Christand family.
It was different from what was depicted on the military flag, but it was probably the real thing.
When she unraveled the book, she discovered that it depicted exactly the same thing.
A military book that was a little different from a history book.
Remembering that the current military structure was called the Christand style, she opened it and saw that the same one drawn on the cloak――on her left breast, was written at the beginning of the book.
It praised the achievements of the great Christand family and described the common crest used by the Cristand family for clothing and belongings.
However, for some reason no one who used the crest recorded in a book like this existed.
There were nobles who used or were given the same crests in honor of heroes of the past, and people from different countries may have similar family crests.
However, Kleinmeer has a long history.
Most of the families that have family crests today were given to them during the Kleinmeer era, and it was rare to find a ‘coat of arms that is still alive’ in books.
The thunder and hawk of the Christand family werre not just ‘dead crest' that were recorded in books.
"...What are you looking for, Calshe?"
"Hmm, I wonder what I’m looking for."
“You, are you making fun of me?”
“No, no, I’m just looking at things because I’m kind of interested.”
The book she was currently flipping through was called ‘In the House of the Noble Hawk’.
This appears to be a manuscript written and left behind by a servant of the Christand family.
It was a difficult and heavily ornamented text――even though it was the basis for the current Meere language, it was tiresome to decipher, but surprisingly, the content written seemed more like a diary than an autobiography.
It was quite thick, but it seemed like it could be halved if the unnecessary parts were removed.
From her birth to her meeting with the respected Cristand servant, Berry=Argan.
When she saw this, she was exasperated at the lame lie that that servant had come up with on the fly, and also at her own master.
There was little mention of the names of Alberinea’s beloved servants.
It is well known among scholars that she had red hair, but in most cases she was simply described as Alberinea’s servant.
However, in this book, which Mii must have read many times, her name, surname, and physical characteristics were clearly written down over half a page.
Even though it should have been normal for Mii to feel that it was odd, she didn’t even had a doubts.
That servant probably didn't even know that her
Otherwise, she didn’t think they had any intention of hiding, using the name Krische Argan and berry.
Now that she thought about it, they seemed to know a lot about Alberan, but she felt like their knowledge of later generations and Kleinmeer was quite limited.
If they had that much knowledge, it's only natural that they would know about Kleinmeer's famous paintings, but it was as if they were seeing it for the first time.
Flipping through the pages, the characters written down are the residents of the mansion.
Queen Kreschenta, future Marshal Selene.
At the moment of parting――the two people who appeared on the Suiko’s side overlapped.
If that's the case, the two remaining servants――one of them could have been the one who wrote this.
There weren't many characters.
There were three princesses and two servants――and after the civil war, one more.
"...Elvena"
When she said it, it strangely comes to her, and she trace the words with her fingertips and her eyes narrowed.
A beautiful servant with black hair cut at the shoulders.
It seems that she and the author, Anne, had a friendly relationship.
"...Already there? I think you're reading too fast."
"No, there are a lot of things that don't seem to matter. Isn't there a continuation of this?"
"No. It was destroyed in a fire. I think it's strange that they haven't even made a manuscript of something this important."
The book was almost over.
It seems that there was actually one more book, but it was lost.
It seems to have been a gift to her father in the Giterns family, where she was born, and it was kept there for many years, along with his huge collection of books, and was buried there.
The head of the family at the time, who noticed its forgotten existence after the mansion caught fire, sold it to a scholar as something of historical value, and this was the only book that remains.
she turned the page while smiling bitterly at Mii who was angry.
After the civil war was over, the story was about Elvena, as a rival for a while.
It then talked about Krische’s establishment of the famous Black Flag Special Forces Company, and says said its members would occasionally visit mansions in the royal domain.
It seemed to be quite rare for the time, as she simply praised the character of her master, Alberinea, who did not discriminate against nobles and commoners, including Elvena.
Judging by his appearance today, she certainly seems like that kind of person.
When the book said that she was a pure and kind person, she could only nod.
The book said that Elvena had an older sister who belonged to the Black Century, the predecessor of the Black Flag Special Company, and that it was she and her corps' adjutants who often visited.
Her name was――
"......, As if"
Her ears on her head stiffened and her tail stretched taut.
She felt her cheeks twitched as she smiles bitterly, and she rubbed the corners of her eyes.
"What happened? Did something happened?"
"No, I'm just tired from reading something I'm not used to."
"...I think you know, but I'm staying up all night today."
"Huh? Why?"
"I'm going to write it all down so I don't forget. It's everything the two of you said and what I realized, right? It's an event that should be recorded in history. When I get big enough and have the right to speak, I'll publish it. That’s why.”
Mii seemed to be saying this seriously, and before she knew it, Mii had prepared ink, a fountain pen, and a notebook.
Calshe’s cheeks twitch again.
“…Um, Mi-sama, can you do it tomorrow?”
"I can't trust Calshe because if you sleeps, you will forgets it the next day. It's master's orders, okay?"
"Haa...guess I can't just keep it in my memories."
"Shut up. Write down what you remember so you don't forget them."
Sighing at those words, Calshe turned her gaze back to the book.
‘――I guess that’s what being so close that they can fight look like. Krische-sama always looked at the two of them troubledly, and Elvena-sama would soothe them. Even though Elvena-sama would be smiling bitterly, she looked very, very happy.”
Then Calshe closed her eyes for a moment and recalled the girl's purple color.
Just like when she was looking at various things at the museum, the way she looked at Mi and Calshe seemed to be as if she were nostalgic.
She remember that servant's slightly surprised look and her smile.
Smiles and gestures that seem strangely nostalgic.
She thought that her name was probably Elvena, and for some reason she never doubted it.
She didn't believe in reincarnation, and she didn’t think it exist.
But when she thought about it, today's seemingly coincidental encounter seemed a little bit fateful, and Calshe quietly relaxed her cheeks.
The trivial and pleasant daily life depicted in the book has no end to it, and continues half-heartedly.
Their unrecorded days were sure to continue as they were even now, and she wonder if they too will look at today's trivial memories and laugh.
When she imagined how various scenes would be depicted in the continuation of the book, Calshe smiled bitterly to herself.
There were only a few more pages left in the book.
However, what lied ahead seems to be infinite and endless.
However, as depicted here, it seemed strangely fun and happy.
Mii, who had been writing down today's details in her notebook, looked up at her, and her lips pouted, as if asking for help.
She then looks over at the line on Calshe where her finger rests, and she says in amazement.
"What an amazing person. That person."
"yeah?"
When Calshe tilted her head, Mii continued.
“I can’t believe she called that Alberinea by a nick name.”
Calshe traces the letters with her finger while smiling bitterly at those words.
"Really? Fufu... But, unlike Mii-sama, I guess I can understand this person's feelings."
What she remember was a girl frolicking on the snow like a rabbit.
Why did she think she was a rabbit?
As she thought about this, she smiled and hummed.
"I think it's very cute. ――Usa-chan."
