novelThe Young Lady Who Woke Up Early
| ← Ch.023 | Ch.025 → |
Part 1
*Chirp chirp... *
There was the chirping of singing birds. The fresh sunshine was shining in diagonally from the window.
"... U... n"
It was 6 o'clock, early in the morning. Kamito rubbed his sleepy eyes even though he had woken up.
He combed out his unkempt hair by hand, and then first he checked under the sheets as usual.
"Alright, today's safe."
Kamito took a breath of relief.
Recently, there were times when a fully naked sword spirit was sleeping with him, so he couldn't let his guard down.
Feeling relieved, he nimbly folded the sheets and got up.
"... I have to make breakfast."
The breakfast of Claire and the others, who were roommates, was expected to be made by Kamito every morning.
Well to begin with, he didn't hate cooking, and he was a freeloader, so he had no complaints.
"Toast with salad with bacon and eggs... Shall I specially throw in some boiled eggs today?"
After all, there was a team battle that they absolutely could not lose this morning. He wanted his two teammates and his partner sword spirit to eat something good whenever possible to restore their energy.
It has been one week since the quest at that Mine Town.
A new member was added into Team Scarlet.
She was the former second princess of the Ordesia Empire, as well as the Divine Ritual Institute's second ranking princess maiden.
Fianna Ray Ordesia.
Having been once called the Lost Queen, she was trying to ensnare Kamito and participate in the Blade Dance to regain the power of her spirit contract.
Eventually, she was able to regain the power of her spirit contract by her own strength, however, she continued to remain in the academy for some reason despite attaining her goal, and ended up joining Team Scarlet.
Claire had seemed displeased, but there were already only several weeks left till the Blade Dance, so she reluctantly ushered her into the team.
It was different from the individual matches three years ago, this time's Blade Dance was a team battle. Unless they gathered five teammates, they could not even get the qualifications to participate. Besides, the true strength of Fianna, who regained the power of her spirit contract, was something that even Claire could not help but recognize.
She, who was from the Queen training organization—Divine Ritual Institute, had definitely not received any battle training, but she could provide various combat support by dancing ritual kagura.
Also, her contracted spirit Georgios was a knight spirit of defense specialty, something Kamito and the others were weak at. Because she joined, the resulting balance in the team greatly increased in its sense of stability.
There was also the achievement of the S rank quest at Mine Town. And then, there were the successive victories of the inter-school battles.
Team Scarlet's inter-school ranking was now increasing with great momentum.
If they kept up this pace, it would no longer be just be a dream to overtake Ellis' Team, which was currently in third place.
"All that's left is for those two to be on a little better terms with each other."
He shrugged his shoulders in disappointment as he faced the kitchen—
"Hn?"
The clattering sound of tableware came from the kitchen.
And then, there was a rich sweet smell that came wafting over. It had a slightly burnt, bitter scent.
(Is this smell... by any chance, chocolate?)
Kamito frowned, and softly approached with stealthy steps.
Through the gap of the door, he carefully peered into the kitchen—
"Hey, what are you putting in!?"
"Fufuu, something that is made of mashed-up baked newt?"
He heard Claire and Fianna's voices.
"Wh-What are you thinking?! Don't put in such a disgusting thing!"
"Ahh, I was usually using it at the Divine Ritual Institute. It seemed to have the same effect as an aphrodisiac."
"Ap-Aphrodisiac!?"
"Yes, if Kamito-kun ate this, even his true nature as the Demon King of the Night would appear, and he may come attacking in the middle of the night."
"At-Attack... wh-what on earth would he do?"
"Well... that is already something indecent to the extent that he could be said to have been bewitched."
"Be-Bewitched... y-you're lying, even for him, such a thing—"
"Furthermore, the two of us together."
"The two of us together!?"
"It isn't surprising for Kamito-kun to do at least that."
"Wh-Wh-What a guy... Un-Unforgivable, that pervert, cinders, cinders!"
As her voice trembled, there was the *pashin* *pashin* sound of something being hit by a whip.
(Those two... )
Kamito's temple twitched.
... Somehow, he felt that they were defaming his honor with staggering vigor.
(... Speaking of that, when did I become the Demon King of the Night?)
Even while Kamito was bearing this outrageous treatment, the two young ladies had continued their conversation.
"Fufuu, however, isn't it nice to also have Kamito-kun in an overbearing demon king mode once in a while?"
"Th-That's... Err, a-at any rate, that's a no. Putting in such a dubious thing. What are you going to do if his stomach is destroyed before the battle?"
"Oh, Claire you're no different. Do you plan on making him eat those burnt, black cinders?"
"Sh-Shut up..."
(... Cinders?)
Kamito peered into the kitchen, and a lump of something black had turned into a pile on top of the plate.
Coals for stove-use... they didn't seem like them.
"Really, the nickname of hell cat girl is not for show. After all, you turned everything into cinders."
"... I don't want to be told that by the fake breast princess."
"Oh, even without my pads mine are much bigger than yours, Claire, you know?"
"I-I want to try burning every surplus fat of those, princess."
Sparks scattered between the two of them.... How energetic early in the morning.
It somehow had become a critical situation, so—
"Hey, what are the two of you doing?"
Kamito, finally, made an appearance in the kitchen.
"Fua, Kamito!?" "Kamito-kun!?"
The two of them turned around in a shocked manner, and hid something behind them in a fluster.
"Y-You've already awoken!?"
"Yeah, because we've a battle today. I planned on making breakfast earlier than usual—"
Then, Kamito unintentionally stopped his words.
His eyes were being rooted at Claire's appearance, whom he was facing.
"Y-You, that appearance..."
"Wh-What... ? If it doesn't match me, then, how about saying that honestly?"
Claire's cheeks reddened, as she quickly turned away.
Her red twintail hair slightly swayed.
Her clear ruby pupils. Her lovely flower-bud-like cherry lips on her smooth white skin.
Her breasts' bulge was definitely gently-sloping, but that proportion was more than charming.
If it was just her physical appearance, she was a top-class beautiful girl among all the beautiful girls within Areishia Spirit Academy.
Furthermore, Claire was currently not in her usual uniform, which he had become used to seeing.
She was very lovely, putting on an apron attached with frills.
Towards this vexing thing... He really ended up feeling dizzy for a moment.
Her small cap suited her small build, this was also unfairly lovely.
Kamito raised up both his hands like he gave up.
"No, It suits you very well.... You're cute."
"... Wh-Wha-What are you saying, idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot!"
*Gaaa... !*
Claire's face increasingly turned red, and she was hitting Kamito's chest.
"Eh, Kamito-kun... What about me?"
Fianna slightly held her index finger to her mouth, and said, seemingly displeased.
She was wearing an apron, that was a matching set with Claire's, over her black dress-style uniform.
Her glamorous hair reached out to her waist. Her cleavage was deep, which he looked down into the chest area of her uniform.
Her dim colored pupils, which were fringed with lovely eyelashes, were extolling a mysterious light somewhere.
The former princess, Fianna, was also an evenly balanced beautiful girl as Claire.
"... Do I have to say it?"
"It's something girls would be happy when you earnestly put it into words."
Fianna giggled mischievously.
Kamito sighed in resignation.
"You're pretty, Fianna... Eh, what are you making me say in the morning?!"
"Fufu, Kamito-kun, you're surprisingly that, aren't you?"
"Aren't you the one who made me say it..."
With a deadpan look, Kamito glared at Fianna, who was giggling mischievously—
"By the way, what are you two doing? What are you hiding behind you?"
"Th-That's..."
Claire's and Fianna's faces swiftly turned red, and they bashfully entwined their fingers.
"Uh?"
Kamito frowned and pressed on—
"... Cho-Chocolate!"
Claire shouted like she turned defiant.
"Chocolate? Did you wake up to make candy or something?"
"W-Well, something like that. You know, isn't it Valentia Holy Festival very soon. Therefore, err, we're practicing... D-Don't misunderstand, I'll let you at least sample it, but that's all!"
—Valentia Holy Festival.
It was a popular ritual to commemorate the Queen Valentia Sadelca, who served the fire Elemental Lord several hundred years ago.
It was originally a ritual to dedicate baked sweets, which were baked by flames of purification, to spirits but— it had become "the day to give chocolate to the opposite sex, who one had a liking for" among the common masses.
"Hn? The opposite sex... But, there should only be girls in this academy—"
Kamito pointed out—
"Th-That's obvious, this is a friendship chocolate to be given to friends! Your role is just to sample it. Geez, what are you expecting? It's like you're a gluttonous pig!"
Claire talked on and on with her face bright red.
"... How mean. Wait a minute, don't you have no friends at all?"
"I-I do, things like friends! For example, Scarlet, and... errr, the stray cat staying in the academy's garden, Kitty."
"... I'm sorry, I was in the wrong."
... It seemed like he ended up stepping on a land mine.
"A-Anyway, hey, since I made them with great trouble, be grateful and eat them!"
Claire said in anger, and thrust that cinder lump before Kamito.
"Uh... Do I have to eat... this?"
"Wh-What... I woke up early to make it, you know!"
"No, I'm certainly thankful for that, but..."
"Kamito-kun, forget those cinders, you can eat my chocolate."
*Fuyon. *
"Fianna!?"
Suddenly, the former princess, who expressed an impish smile, was pressing her soft breasts against him.
Even without things like pads, her breasts were big enough, and a heart shaped chocolate was squeezed into her cleavage.
It was different from Claire's cinders, this one had an edible appearance, but he couldn't let himself be fooled. This impish princess had, in a certain sense, the cooking ability of a greater killing-level than Claire.
(... Just now, they said something about an aphrodisiac. )
"Kamito, quickly eat my chocolate!"
"Hey, don't hinder my Kamito-kun madly in love plan!"
As they jostled together, the two of them held out their chocolates.
"No, err, having such sweet things in the morning is..."
Kamito retreated, overwhelmed.
At that moment.
Suddenly, the living room's door opened—
"Kamito, I also tried making chocolate."
"E-Est!?"
The one who appeared was a lovely beautiful girl like a snow fairy.
Her brilliantly shining silver hair. Her tight milk-like white smooth skin.
And then, her clear violet pupils that confined a faint brilliance.
She was the sword spirit Est.
She was a sealed spirit, who made a contract with Kamito several weeks ago, and possessed exceedingly mighty power.
"..."
Kamito widened his eyes, and became stiff like he was frozen.
Claire and Fianna were also at a loss for words.
She was naked. Stark naked.
Est, who was in an appearance almost akin to that of a new-born, was simply standing there.
(Almost) referred to the fact that she was wearing black knee socks on her legs, but—
That appearance, which was called naked knee-socks[1] in slang, was in a certain way even more lascivious than being naked.
"Est, that's a crime."
"Is Est a crime?"
Est tilted her head to the side in wonder.
"... Yes, Est is a naughty criminal."
Kamito was in chaos and had blurted out something he didn't really understand.
"That's disappointing. I thought that Kamito would be delighted with this sort of appearance."
"What kind of eyes are you looking at your contractor with..."
Kamito deeply sighed with a deadpan look.
"And, what do you mean that Est also made chocolate?"
He could not see anything like chocolate in Est's hands.
Instead, she was holding a small tube made of cloth.
It was something that was often used for decorating things like cakes.
"Okay, over here."
Est nodded expressionlessly—
*Nyururun*
"Wh—"
What, she began drawing words with chocolate on her smooth white skin!
"..."
*Nyuru nyurun. * *Nyururururun. *
There was liquid chocolate freely surging out.
Drawn on her pure white virgin-snow-like soft skin were words written in the sacred language of the spirits.
When deciphered— they read "Eat me".
"E-Est!?"
The moment Kamito understood the meaning of the spirit language, his face turned bright red.
"Fuaa, y-you, what are you teaching your contracted spirit, pe-pervert!"
"Err... Kamito-kun, y-you like this sort of thing?"
Claire's face turned bright red, and she flew into a rage, and Fianna had a-little-drawn-back look on her face.
"Wait, you're misunderstanding! Hey, Est—"
"Kamito, please lick my chocolate."
The naked Est was walking with a chocolate smeared appearance.
That appearance of hers, which he peeked at through the gaps of his fingers covering his eyes, was so alluring that his heart spontaneously jumped up.
"... If you don't hurry, it'll melt."
"No, hey, wait—"
*Dotadotadotadotaa!*
Suddenly, he heard intense footsteps from the corridor.
*Bam. * The room's door was cleanly opened with force—
"Kazehaya Kamito, what on earth are you doing... Wh!?"
The one, who showed up, was—
A female knight, wearing azure light armor over her body.
She had frigid reddish brown pupils. Her rose-colored lips were tightly closed.
Her stunning blue hair was tied up in a ponytail with a ribbon.
She was the captain of the Sylphid Knights that managed the academy's public morals.
Ellis Fahrengart.
The moment she came bursting into the room, she opened her reddish brown eyes widely.
"Y-You... H-H-How shameless..."
"Wa-Wait, Ellis, you're mistaken, there's no way this is my hobby—"
"How unsightly, are you thinking that such an excuse would work?!"
*Gogogogogogogo... !*
Thunderous fierce gales blew violently around Ellis, whose eyebrows were raised.
She was a top-class wind spirit user even within the academy.
"I received a report that your room was noisy and came to see, but... I never thought that you were making your contracted spirit do such a perverted thing!"
The whirling gales mowed down the room's furniture and soon transformed into the form of a giant demon bird.
It was the high ranking demon wind spirit— Simorgh that served the Fahrengart family.
"Des-Despite that I had gotten a better opinion of you!"
It was certain that tears were slightly oozing around Kamito's eyes.
"E-Ellis, you're mis—"
"It's no use, be turned into paella[2] right here and now!"
*Kouu!*
She aimed and released a lump of fierce gale winds at Kamito.
Kamito's body was blown off in a straight line, and it smashed into the room's window and danced in midair.
Part 2
Areishia Spirit Academy.
It was a development school that trained noble girls, who were gathered from all over the empire, into fully fledged elementalists.
The school building was like a fortress, furnished with solid ramparts. This academy, which included the continent's largest Spirit Forest and Mine Town within its vast territory, was just like a small independent country.
"... Sigh, he doesn't change, that lad."
As she looked down at the boy's appearance of fluttering in midair from the second floor of the dormitory—
The Academy's headmistress, Greyworth Ciel Mais, made a small sigh.
Her ash-blonde hair was gently waving. Her grey pupils extolled sharp discernment.
She definitely could only be seen as a bewitchingly beautiful lady from her outward appearance, but she was once the head knight of the Numberstwelve-knight-commanders that were boasted as the empire's strongest.
During the Ranbal war, she was the legendary elementalist, the Dusk Witch that both friends and foes feared.
"Even though there's only a few weeks till the opening of the Blade Dance, how carefree."
They seemed to have added the former second princess, Fianna, into their team and were gradually raising their ranking, but— they still had not gathered five teammates.
"Nevertheless—"
The figure of a person appeared from Greyworth's shadow.
"Calamity Queen's sister with former second princess who lost her Queen qualification. Even within my superior problem child gathering class, they are a very peculiar group."
It was a woman with black hair and a white robe put over her suit.
Elementalist—Freya Grandol. Raven Class' teacher-in-charge.
"Headmistress, you seem to be pretty attached to him."
"That's right, after all, he's the one and only male elementalist in the continent."
Freya turned a strict gaze towards Greyworth, who shrugged her shoulders to dodge the question.
"Kazehaya Kamito... Who on earth is he?"
"Oh, did you also fall in love with that lad?"
"Sorry, but I do not have an interest in younger ones."
Freya shook her head, and Greyworth smiled, seemingly happy.
"Hmm... So, what information do you have for me?"
"We caught hold of information that the traders of MurdersCorpse Federation sneaked into Academy Town. They're probably trying to sell curse-binding seals to students just before the Blade Dance."
"What an annoying bunch. Order Ellis' Sylphid Knights to reinforce the security."
"Yes, there's another thing—"
"Uh?"
"Velsaria Eva has returned to the academy."
Greyworth slightly raised up her eyebrows.
"Haa, she completed the subjugation quest of a archdemon-class spirit in just a few weeks. As expected."
"Yea, she is without a doubt the academy's strongest elementalist at this point in time— So far, she had been doing the quests completely without assembling a team, but she would also have to recruit members to participate in the Blade Dance. She seems to be someone who would be at the top amongst the three participating."
"Well, I wonder about that?"
Greyworth smiled, seemingly amused, as she glanced towards the outside of the window.
Kamito was over there, being chased by Ellis' demon wind spirit and was frantically running from place to place.
References and Translation Notes
1. ↑ In japan, there exists a high level seductive technique called the naked apron, which is basically wearing nothing but a simple apron. Naked knee-socks is the knee-socks variant of that, in which one doesn't wear anything but knee-socks.
2. ↑ Paella is a Valencia dish consisting of rice with the addition of meat, vegetables or seafood.
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