novelThe Night of Beginning (2)
| ← Ch.039 | Ch.041 → |
Hiakari Koyuki saw a dream.
Magic intoxication―Humans who demanded for magic power surpassing their own limit would have their mind dragged in to Astrum and faint. And then their self would be broken apart in pieces and see a dream.
Astrum was the root of people's mind. When humans are pulled into this empty space that resembles the Mother Sea, their mind wouldn't be able to preserve their ego and grow weak rapidly, inside this infinite space.
Koyuki's heart was disassembled into many disconnected parts and were scattered and fluttered about in this Astrum.
While Koyuki was drifting inside the darkness with no sky or ground, she viewed her memoriesfragments blankly.
Her own fragments―that was what she was molded of, memories of her 15 years of life.
Those were cold bygone days that made her frozen.
The symptoms started appearing little by little when she was around three years old, when she transformed into an Elf.
It was normal for people to feel disgust and fear for something that has a different outward appearance-toward the Elves that were endowed with strong magic power.
Even her own family directed their gaze at Koyuki like they were seeing a repulsive thing.
In those days, the elves' existence was not understood, they were seen with discrimination by society as [a thing that was similar with Demon Beast]. Surely it was repulsive how her own parents considered that their own child might be an inhuman monster. It was sorrowful, but Koyuki could understand where they came from.
That was why Koyuki grew up while bearing in mind that [she was a monster]. Ostracized by her own parents since three years old, she lived with determination of being alone forever for the twelve years after.
An enigma appeared when she was 14 years old―at the very least her surroundings had expectations even if it was only for her aptitude in magic. She felt that she had discovered the meaning of her existence.
Even so, she was nothing more than a fighting machine that was only demanded to fight.
A cold draft always drifted in her heart.
However, she encountered people at the Magic Division that might consider her as a comrade.
[Welcome to the Witch Mansion―! Starting from today you are the prospective newcomer of the Witch Mansion you know!? Eh? Am I not feeling repulsed because you're an elf? Even if you say repulsive...Elf-chan is so cute!! Su―per―cu―teee!! I want to hug you and rub those white cheeks!!"
Otonashi Kaguya. She didn't fear Koyuki. She had a conviction of her own strength, so there might not be any need for her to be scared of an elf.
[Certainly Hiakari-san is unsociable, that's why the people around you might have a misunderstanding. However I am not misunderstanding Hiakari-san's kindness!]
Hayashizaki Kazuki. He was trying to understand Koyuki directly from the front. He who was once an orphan couldn't permit Koyuki who tried to take refuge in solitude.
Even Koyuki herself felt sympathy secretly towards him who tried hard in the middle of the discriminatory atmosphere in the Magic Division.
[I'll win against you quick and easy, and prove my suitability as a Rank A―!!]
Amasaki Mio. She regarded Koyuki as an annoying rival. She was a similar person to Koyuki in some respect with how her heart relied on her own magic aptitude to support herself.
―DOKUN. A hot pulse was running inside this cold mental world. When she thought about them, perhaps she could also grow closer to them by some chance, she embraced such faint hope.
Actually...I don't want to give up. I really cannot express it through words or through actions, but...!
DOKUN, DOKUN. She felt her own heart grow hot. I still want to keep on by my own will, she felt such strong longing. When Koyuki wanted to return back to the former world, she started to wish strongly.
She struggled in the depths of the mental world. Like she was saying that she was able to rattle as long she still had her limbs. With the pulses as her clues, Koyuki's consciousness was rising to the surface aiming for her flesh body.
The scattered fragments gathered naturally and her ego was reformed. The sorrowful past entered her eyes once more.
―They too are like your parents who were once kind people, they might betray you. Anxiousness flashed in her mind. It was scary to have your hope betrayed. However she brushed aside her anxiety and strongly wished.
I want to return back to the Witch Mansion...!
And then Koyuki returned to the real world from her magic intoxication.
The cold heart embraced the head of the flesh body. The very intimate senses calmed down her heart.
The light right beside her tore up the darkness, the world extended above and below.
Koyuki opened her eyelids and woke up.
What entered Koyuki's sight when she woke up was a really incomprehensible scene.
What first entered her sight was an unfamiliar ceiling. When she raised her body, she realized that she wore an unknown pajama. Her surrounding was a Japanese room Koyuki had never seen before...
"Wan―! Kazuki-oniisan, wan, wan! Ku~n?"
Charlotte Liebenfrau was licking Kazuki's cheek with [peropero] while making an innocent smiling face. Koyuki who was still dazed from just waking up instantly froze in place.
"Wait a second Kazuki, look at me too! Nyaa! Come on nyaa―!
Mio who was on Kazuki's other side, even though she looked embarrassed but she was also licking [peropero] Kazuki's other cheek with determination competitively.
Both girls were wearing dog ears and cat ears respectively, in addition they were also wearing maid uniforms.
"Wai...I said cut this out!" Kazuki was bewildered of having been sandwiched and licked by both of them.
"Kazuki-oniisan, even though you said that but you don't hate this desu?" With that Charlotte laughed.
"Kazuki, you're happy? Ehehe, nyaa―?" Mio too turned sweet with her feelings unbounded.
Koyuki was sleeping in the corner of the Japanese room on top of a spread out futon. A little distance from where she was sleeping was the unfolding scene of three people who were doing a maniac sex play on top of a spread out futon.
"...What are all of you doing?"
A voice so cold it even surprised herself, came out from Koyuki's mouth. The three jumped in surprise and faced toward her.
"Hiakari-san, you are awake!?" "Wawan!?" "Nyanyanya!?"
The girls shrieked while keeping their animal acting.
"...Can you explain the situation?"
—————
Kazuki was faltering from Koyuki's gaze that looked like she was staring at raw garbage.
Koyuki quietly sat on top of the futon in a seiza posture, so Kazuki also faced her in seiza. A big pressure could be felt from the small Koyuki.
"This is...when we got too bored and were talking idly, Lotte talked about the time when we went to the Solomon cosplay café."
"Solomon cosplay café?"
The impetus in the beginning was when Lotte told Mio of the happenings in that unusual space.
While Mio was raging about the two people's date, she was burned with strange opposition.
"I can lick more skillfully you know!" ―something like that.
"What did she mean with that?"
This time Koyuki moved her gaze of contempt to Mio.
"What is the point, that talk of able to lick more skillfully compared to other people? It was overly strange to be burned with opposition in that area."
Mio hung her head down hearing that pointed out bluntly.
"Act, actually, hearing that story from Lotte make me envious somehow... But when we tried it for real it was quite fun and deliriously..."
"So it was fun to lick [peropero] a man in a trance. You're a hentai to the core, aren't you?"
"Somehow that make me suddenly feel really, really embarrasseeeedd!! I'm not a hentai okay! I won't do that kind of thing to just anyone, only because the other party is Kazu-nii oka―y!!"
Mio hid her face with both hands and rolled around 'gorogorogoro' on top of the tatami.
"As for me, as long it make Kazuki-oniisan happy, I don't care even if it is perverted―"
Lotte puffed her chest boldly.
The girl was able to sense Kazuki's feelings by using telepathy. As long as Kazuki didn't hate it, she had the boldness to attack Kazuki barely within the border line.
"So you yourself was happy with this. To be served hand and foot by two girls and being licked."
"...I won't lose to this kind of temptation, I was resisting desperately before."
But even he was doubtful until how much he could resist with his resolution.
"Lotte is not fair. But, I'm not a hentai okay...I don't particularly want to please Kazuki so much until I become a hentai..."
Mio was looking up bitterly at Lotte who accepted the title of hentai unashamedly while lying down on the tatami and worrying endlessly. Suddenly Kazuki was aware of the positivity level from the girls.
Amasaki Mio―134 Lotte―106 Hiakari Koyuki―53 Hoshikaze Hikaru―41 Otonashi Kaguya―Measurement Impossible
Kazuki's magic dress, the ~Ring of Solomon~ was able to take the measurement of a girl positivity level.
But what he was concerned about was how Kaguya-senpai's positivity level was impossible to be measured right now. The number was constantly fluctuating up and down, like a spinning slot machine that couldn't be read.
Was senpai's feelings shaking like this number...?
"Or perhaps I should say, the explanation that I seek is not about those perverted acts....Where in the world is here? Why are we in this kind of place?"
"...What, so the explanation that Hiakari-san wants is not about the licking?"
It was natural if he thought about it. Because she had been unconscious for a whole two days.
―Two days ago was a really stormy day.
The mortal combat with Beatrix in the evening. And then Kaguya-senpai's shocking assault.
They were saved from a dangerous spot by Koyuki, even so they were still cornered ...
The one who rescued them from that crisis was Kohaku from the Sword Division.
Koyuki should remember the development until that point. However Koyuki abused the Moves in the Field to equip all the members with ice boots in that place and in the end fainted because of magic intoxication. From there―
"After that, we were sheltered by Kohaku. Here is a room of Sword Division's student dormitory."
"The Sword Division? Why?"
"The assistance that the Magic Division provided for the government in abandoning Lotte had became a stain for the Magic Division. Kohaku and the others planned to protect Lotte from the Magic Division, proclaim the matter of Lotte to the society, and then show the justice and strength of the Sword Division and sink the social status of the Magic Division."
"I see...so we are being confined as a component of their strategy. They are not helping us from the kindness of their heart."
Koyuki seemed uncomfortable, but she whispered in comprehension.
Even their cellphones were confiscated, and mind message using telepathy could only reach nearby people.
Though it was not like they weren't able to escape if they wanted to. There was a window in the room, and they were able to destroy the door and the walls easily using Summoning Magic. It was fairly hard to confine the being called Magica Stigma.
However―it was dangerous right now for them to go outside. What could they do to bring the best conclusion for this chaotic situation, that was what they must think about first.
"Well, I don't have any interest though about the quarrel between the Magic Division and the Sword Division for social status."
Koyuki released a long sigh.
"But they are dreaming too much if they expect to win against Kaguya-senpai by only having Sacred Treasures. Whether the amount of magic power, magic skill, or even the affinity with her Diva, everything about that person is outside the norm."
Kazuki had experienced Kaguya-senpai's strength with his own body, Koyuki's words was filled with even more feeling than that. Because Koyuki had accompanied senpai even longer than Kazuki.
"Kaguya-senpai, is her affinity Asmodeuswith that perverted devil king really that good..."
"It would make the person herself cry if you talk to her about it. It only took that person two months to acquire the level 10 Summoning Magic, she broke the Japanese records by a very huge margin. This is about how much you could match the wavelength with your Diva."
"...Even I still have the chance to break that record right? I'll show you soon that I can even use level 6."
Mio who was still lying down on the tatami whispered secretly with burning opposition.
Mio had acquired the Summoning Magic until level 5 since she entered the school one month ago. That was a fairly fast pace. However, it was said that the crucial moment of Summoning Magic acquisition began from level 5.
"I'm still at three desu." Lotte was blinking her eyes in surprise.
It seems the average pace was to reach around level 7-8 around when the students reached the graduation.
"But talking about the magic aptitude, if it is the amount of magic power then Hiakari-san should be above right?"
"If it's only magic power's amount then I'm still above, but...magic aptitude is not decided with just that. Moreover Kaguya-senpai also has more than enough magic power. Because it is not a sure thing that a person with a lot of magic power would turn into an elf....Somehow it feels that person's magic power was acquired later on in a rapid growth."
"Isn't the amount of magic power a person has fixed since they were born?"
It was said that the amount the magic power could grow had been roughly decided at birth. That was why Solomon 72 Pillar selected the knight candidates at the time when they reach 14 years old and grant the Enigma.
"Who knows, because there are still many things we don't know about magic. There was even a story about secret research of a technique to expand human's magic faculty artificially."
Artificially expanding human's magic faculty... Magic power, in other words the strength of the mind.
Scientifically altering human's mind and strengthening magic power―Kazuki had heard that kind of shuddering urban legend before, that there was a secret human experiment performed somewhere.
"Now that I remember I still haven't said my gratitude to you Hiakari-san. Even though Hiakari-san spent all your strength until magic intoxication to save us. Thank you, Hiakari-san."
"Thank you very much, Koyuki-oneesan!"
Together with Kazuki, Lotte also conveyed her gratitude to Koyuki.
"It's not like I particularly wanted to save all of you. I only couldn't agree about senpai's method of doing things. It's not like I don't want to be separated from you. I just cannot morally agree with such a thing. It's only that, so there is no reason to thank me."
"Don't be stupid. It's okay to just honestly accept our thanks, isn't it?"
Mio raised up sluggishly from the tatami.
"I'm thanking you too for the moment. Now that we are talking about it, isn't your timing in helping Kazuki always too perfect? By any chance, is that actually your aim?"
"....................................What are you saying? That's just a coincidence."
After a long silence, Koyuki protested with a slight stir in her inflection.
"Hiakari-san is simply calm and has a wide outlook, that's why she could always catch the hint of danger immediately. Her danger sense is different from us. Many times she appeared with dramatic timing when I was in a pinch. I'm not exaggerating when I'm saying that Hiakari-san is already a hero to me. I respect you from the bottom of my heart."
"Every single thing you said are too exaggerated! ...Besides...it's heroine, tentatively."
"Muu, it's always Hiakari only... Even though I'm Kazuki's number one partner..."
Mio pouted and became sulky.
"For me, I only keep being saved by Kazuki-oniisan desu―"
Lotte hugged Kazuki tightly with a trusting expression to him.
"Muu...Lotte is always that upfront...I'm as well to Kazuki more...uuuu."
Mio knitted her eyebrows and her face was sulking even more.
"Kazuki idiot! I won't lick you anymoreee!"
"It's fine if you don't do it."
"Cold!? Why are you saying things like that~!"
Mio hit Kazuki over and over. Koyuki suddenly whispered while watching over that situation.
"By any chance, do I have to spend my time with this three who have their head in la-la land for a while inside this closed room?"
"Who is it that have their head in la-la land!"
"It won't become like that. Though it is a little cramped because originally this room was intended only for two people sharing. According to what Kohaku said, right now it's a mess in the Magic Division and it seems we cannot go out."
"That..."
Koyuki seemed afraid of something and her expression hardened while she cast her eyes down.
"Hiakari-san might be uneasy to be in the same room with a man, but upon my word as Hayashizaki-style's practitioner, I won't do anything strange to Hiakari-san. There are even other girls here, so please be relieved."
"For Kazuki to lay his hand on something like me, I don't have that kind of improper worry."
"What, so that's not what Hiakari-san is worried about? ...But wait, don't say thing like [something] anymore. I have said it so many times that Hiakari-san is very charming. I'm going to attack you for real."
"Fuh, even though you have no guts for that. I'm more worried whether one of those two people there is going to do something improper to you, rather than what you are going to do to me."
"Do, don't say something so stupid! There is no way a girl will do such improper thing before marriage, isn't it!!?"
Mio lost her temper, but Lotte tilted her head with a pure and innocent look.
"What are you all talking about desu? [Anything strange] [lay his hand] [do something improper] [improper thing]...all of you keep using obscuring words strangely from a while ago, I don't really understand the meaning."
"...It's okay for Lotte to continue not knowing those kinds of things."
"If Kazuki-oniisan said so, then it doesn't matter desu―"
After Kazuki talked to Lotte like he was talking to a little kid, Lotte fawned on Kazuki purringly.
"We can't do anything indecent okay...But, I want to kiss Kazuki more..."
Mio who wore cat ears was mumbling some gibberish with an anguished expression.
"I mean, why are you guys wearing animal ears maid clothes? Kazuki is wearing a normal pajama while the people in his surroundings are wearing that kind of thing, already I cannot see Kazuki as anything other than a master with a dangerous hobby."
"Just so you know that girl Hikita Kohaku brought this when she came. She said that she was arranging changing clothes for us, then I said maid uniform is okay."
"...Why maid uniform?"
"Because Kazuki, he likes maid so much you know―"
Right―, with that Mio happily peeked at Kazuki's face.
No, I didn't have such a special like though.
But he felt like he started to like them a little seriously recently...
"She brought the animal ears so we can reproduce the licking for real desu."
Lotte also talked with cheerful tone. A little cosplay party behind the closed door.
"Kohaku was [doing that kind of absurd behavior is...], she was quite troubled. But because she felt quite guilty because she locked us in this room, so she gave us most things we asked."
"But when Prometheus wanted to try playing galge and made a request to her, she refused that completely desu. She said because it was embarrassing for her to buy that kind of thing."
A Diva of Greek Mythology, Prometheus was residing inside Lotte's flesh body. This sage of civilization together with his host Lotte had an overflowing interest towards Japan's otaku culture.
Playing cards and games that Kazuki and the others had already played were scattered inside the room.
"That's right, she also brought us some books, these are very interesting."
When Kazuki held out a pocket edition book, the color of Koyuki's eyes changed just a little.
"I'll read."
"Let's exchange thoughts after you finished reading okay?"
"...I'm not interested in such things like your thoughts." Koyuki turned her face after saying things like that.
"Come on, don't say things like that. That book is really great, that character on the cover is..."
"Please don't say any spoilers!"
Koyuki flared up in panic to Kazuki who almost let something slip because he was impatient and wanted to talk.
"Later on, there is also a maid uniform for you too."
"Ha?" Koyuki raised her eyebrows in surprise hearing Mio's words while still holding the book in her hand.
"...Please wait, it's going to be unseemly even if something like me is wearing a thing like a maid uniform, don't you see? That sort of thing is only suitable to be worn by you all..."
"You said [something] again!"
Kazuki interrupted Koyuki's self-torturing words and grabbed her small shoulders tightly.
"Haven't I said so many times that Hiakari-san is pretty! That transparent white skin, that glittering silver hair, you're going to be resented by your surroundings if you only say such self-depreciating things! Besides, the maid uniform will suit Hiakari-san very much! Certainly Mio and Lotte's maid figure are charming, however if a cool girl like Hiakari-san becomes a maid, giving all sorts of special treatment only to the master...that is surely a man's supreme romance!!"
Koyuki's eyes were wide open hearing what Kazuki rattled on without pause.
"What, what a great passion. As expected, Kazuki's interest in maids is not an ordinary thing."
Mio was taken aback at Kazuki's menacing look.
"Because a cool girl is the one that does it, a heart filled with dedication becomes even more attractive...Kazuki-oniisan, what a wonderful observation desu!"
Lotte gave her approval with eyes shining. True, I thought if it was Lotte, she would understand.
"I want to see Hiakari-san in a maid uniform! It will absolutely suit you for sure!!"
Koyuki's face turned red...a small skull mark flew from her.
That was the sign that her positivity level was decreasing slightly. And then she shook off Kazuki's arms.
"Ple...please release me, please don't place your face so near right from the front!!"
{...My King, sometimes you are too passionate you know?}
Leme's voice echoed inside Kazuki's mind using telepathy.
{You always look at the party right in their eyes when you're talking, but for an insecure and cowardly woman, it's better to be more prudent with your behavior so they can be more relieved. }
...Eh? Hiakari-san is a coward?
I thought she is the type of person who says things bluntly though...
{Someone who says things bluntly to other people is not limited to thick-skinned guys only. Someone who is scared so they make a barrier to not let other people get close by speaking bluntly also exists. }
...Leme who was a Diva did a lecture regarding girls' matters.
{But don't forget...the positivity level from that girl has exceeded 50 already. }
In short don't approach her from the front too much, but approach her from the rear gate boldly, like that?
Kazuki who received the suggestion from Leme released his hands from Koyuki and moved back one step.
Koyuki raised her lowered face slightly, then she examined Kazuki's expression like a small animal.
"...Is there no other change of clothes?"
"Nothing else desu! Just maid uniform desu!"
Lotte replied immediately, from there she winked at Kazuki with sparkling eyes.
Kazuki immediately guessed that signal and he "That's right." nodded his head.
"Because Mio asked for maid uniform, there is no other changing clothes except maid uniform."
"But it is no good if you don't change from that pajama soon desu!"
Kazuki and Lotte hearts were connected with their desire to change Koyuki into animal-eared maid uniform, the two people's combination were approaching near Koyuki.
"...If that's the case...it can't be helped, can it? But the form of monster maid is going to be unsightly though."
Koyuki accepted the clothes surprisingly easily.
By any chance perhaps she also thought something like [want to try wearing it] a little?
"No, there is no way it will be unsightly! It's going to be really moe desu!"
The girl who came from Europe and loves anime very much, Lotte was breathing excitedly from her nose.
"Which reminds me, it's fine to change clothes, but Hiakari-san, aren't you hungry?"
"...Now that you said it, my condition is almost at the limit."
She was confined to bed for two whole days, so it was obvious that she would be at her limit.
"There are ingredients that Kohaku brought in the refrigerator, so...hey, wait a second!"
The moment Kazuki said ingredient, Koyuki started to walk unsteadily to the refrigerator, but her foot slipped and she fell backward. Kazuki embraced and supported her from behind.
"You had fainted for quite long, so don't force yourself. I will make something, okay?"
"...I'm fine, I will do my own personal matter by myself. Please don't hug me, are you a pervert?"
"Hiakari-san became like this because of me, so this is my matter too. Come on, Hiakari-san just wait here with a feeling like a princess."
"Kyaaa!?"
Kazuki raised up the girl while keeping her in his arms and did the princess carry.
And then he was spinning and spinning on the spot. Doing this used to make Kanae happy.
"Wha, what is the meaning of spinning like this..."
After doing Merry-go-Round for a while, Kazuki laid Koyuki down on top of the futon.
"Then I will go make something that's also good for tiredness."
"Ah, I will also help! I mean, it's not fair that only she got princess carry!!"
Mio chased Kazuki who was heading to the kitchen with her maid uniform's frills fluttering behind.
"Then I will nurse the patient desu!"
Lotte leaned forward and pushed down Koyuki who was trying to raise her body.
| ← Ch. 039 | Ch. 041 → |