"Leutte… hey… hey…."
"Ara ara, looks like you did something wrong Ares-kun."
"Y-yes… I got too absorbed in my magic lessons so I forgot our lesson yesterday evening."
"She caught a cold you know? She was waiting for you in the balcony all night."
"Ugh… I have no excuse for that…"
What exactly happened? Then let's go back a few hours earlier.
1 week have passed since I started learning magic with the guidance of Martha-sensei.
When they all learned that I was able to use magic without chant like Alou, she also decided to participate with my magic lessons every morning.
It was the same routine for me every day now. I woke up early to run around the courtyard, and have breakfast with Alou before our morning magic lessons begin.
Martha-sensei said that if I were to master using magic without chanting, I need to be in good shape so that my body can keep up with the continuous amount of etheria being released on my body and so I began to do laps every single day.
As I was running I spotted Leutte sitting on a wooden bench while holding a book.
She is not reading it, just staring at it.
Since she was there, I wanted to ask what she was doing but when I approached her she suddenly runs while sniffing.
Wait, is she crying?
No, definitely not. I did not see any tears, but either way, there has to be something wrong.
"L-Leutte, wait!"
I catch up on her and hold her hand to stop her but,
Before I could ask what the problem was, I was sent flying in the air.
"…Eh?"
With my body suddenly flying with the birds in the sky, I let out a dumbfounded sound.
"AHH!!!" I panicked once I realized that I was falling from the sky.
Right now I could use intermediate wind magic and elementary fire magic. Ever since starting how to use magic, I was only taught how to use wind magic and fire magic.
In this situation, wind magic should be the right choice to use and so I extended my arm, pointing it downwards and used a magic to decrease the speed momentum of my fall.
"A-air cushion!"
I have the habit of saying the magic term even though I can use it without any chant. It just gave me more accurate picture of what magic I'm trying to use.
Strong amount of wind came gushing to the ground and slowed the momentum of my free fall.
"Huff!"
I landed on all fours.
Phew, I thought I was going to die. Good thing Martha-sensei's training gave me the edge to make a fast and right decision.
Now I understand why they are scared of her when it comes to being trained by her. It's because she doesn't go easy on you when it's magic practice time.
I actually suffered injuries when we were doing a sparring.
The scary thing about her is she can defeat you without using magic. Her hand to hand combat style is top-class.
My arms and shoulders got dislocated many times during our sparring.
Thanks to Alou's healing magic and some potions, I was able to get back on my feet within the day. The gruesome experience sometimes hunts me in my sleep.
This is also the reason why Alou decided to be my partner in sparring because I would die first before I could master how to use magic.
Right now, I was able to put her trainings into use so I'm thankful for her.
The problem now is why Leutte did that. I have no clue at all… is what I'd like to say but when I came into realization, my face turned sour.
"Ah damn… I messed up. I forgot that we have a lesson yesterday evening!"
Knowing that Leutte is sensitive with this kind of things, I almost want to punch myself for forgetting.
I looked around to find her but I could not see even her shadow.
She is good in concealing herself because of her job.
It would take a while to find her.
Thinking that I would not find her in the courtyard, I decided to look for her at the backyard.
I rarely go here because I have nothing to do in here.
When I get into the backyard, I saw Espina hanging some washed clothes.
She is hanging a white piece of cloth. A white underwear.
I immediately turned my head away and was about to get out of there but Espina suddenly called out to me.
"Ara? It's rare to see you here Ares-kun. Do you need something?"
Because she already saw me, I turned around and walked up to her.
"Good morning, Pina. I was just looking for Leutte-san. She ran off when I tried to approach her just now."
"That so? Hmm, did you do something to make her angry?"
"…maybe?"
I said while scratching the back of my head.
"In times like this she would always lock herself on her room."
So she's in her room huh.
"Then, can you tell me where her room is located, Pina?"
She crossed her arms and think for a while, while closing her eyes and then she opened it.
"Sure, but can you help me first?"
"Help you in what?"
"This~"
She took a piece of cloth in her laundry and she stretched it open.
It was a piece of underwear…
"Huh?! Why do I have to do th-that? Then I'll just ask Martha-se―"
"Are you sure you want to ask Martha for a favor?"
I was about to walk away when I heard those lines. I stopped and think for a little while.
I closed my eyes and saw Martha-sensei laughing with her hand raised above her chin with 'Ohohoho~' laugh.
I turned around and walked straight to Pina with bold stride.
I reached my hand on the basket and took out a piece of laundry.
"I would gladly undertake your request."
I said in serious tone while holding the pink cloth with both of my hands.
Rustle, rustle…
I heard the sound of the grass being stepped on. Pina and I turned around and my face stiffened.
I saw Leutte standing there, frozen.
"Ara~"
"Ah! Leutte, I was looking for you," I pointed at her with the hand holding the pink cloth.
The pink underwear was in full view on my hand and was swaying with the blowing of the wind.
"awawaawawa―" Leutte's face was painted with red as she looked at my hand.
"Eh-err.. th-this is not wh―"
"Th-th-th-th-that's mine!!! Wh-what are you doing with it?!"
"H-huh?! No you've got it wrong! This is Pina's fault!"
"Eh? Mine? I don't know what you're talking about~"
"P-Pina, you…."
"Kyaaaaaaaa!!!!"
I was once again thrown at in the air.
"ugh!" this time I was not able to cast any spell in time.
I hit my head on the ground while pondering something.
I thought only Alou can use chantless magic amongst them? Then why was she able to use it without any chant?
I thought while I was looking at the running Leutte.
"Err, I'm sorry, I guess?" Pina said her apology without sincerity.
I held my aching head while on the ground for a while.
Kuu, Pina, remember this. I said inwardly.
And that leads to the current situation.
I'm in front of Leutte's room with Martha-sensei and Pina. Pina was 'sorry' for what happened earlier so she wanted to 'help' talk with Leutte.
"Leutte, come on out now. It was just a misunderstanding."
"But if it were my underwear I won't really mind."
"Hey Martha-sensei! Please don't add more fuel in the fire!" I said in a whispering tone.
"Eh~ you've lost interest on it already? You always see it during our training after all."
So she knew!
Because she would move and jump around the place I could sometimes have a glimpse of her underwear.
"Th-this is not the time to be talking about that! Please just help me convince Leutte-sensei!"
While we were making a ruckus in front of Leutte's room, Alou appeared in the corridor.
"What's going on here?"
Her hands was placed on her waist to make her look a bit intimidating with her mouth in へ position.
She didn't look intimidating in the slightest though, she looked cute like a little girl who is acting mature.
"pfft~"
The 3 of us let out a giggle when she saw her in that position.
"Wh-what are you 3 laughing about?!"
She became angry and walked to us while stomping her feet with a little force.
Pomf, pomf… it just made a cute sound because she was wearing a fluffy footwear.
"I-it's not－ aw! Aw!"
Before I could say my piece she reached out on my ears and pinched it.
"I could tell you're laughing because of my appearance right?"
"H-hey Alou… why only me? They also―"
When I turned to the 2 maids, they are already lowering their head to greet Alou.
These 2!!!
"Well? So I was right huh?"
"O-ouch! N-no, you're just too cute so I couldn't help,"
"H-huh?! Wh-what are you saying?! S-something like c-c-cute is!"
"Aw! Ouch ouch ouch! First, just let go of my ears, please…"
She became flustered when I called her cute. I forgot that she is a sheltered girl who is weak with compliments.
She began flailing her hand while still holding on my ear.
"A-ah! S-sorry Ares…"
She immediately let go of my ear. I caressed it with my hand.
"I-it's fine."
My ears became red… ouch.
"…so, what are you 3 doing here in front of Leutte's room?"
"The thing is―"
"Wait a minute! Please let me handle this sensei!"
Martha-sensei was about to explain the situation but thinking that she might make my position worse I immediately cut in.
"I-it was because I forgot about yesterday evening's lesson with Leutte, and she seems to have waited in the balcony and catch a cold."
"Huh? S-so that's why. Very well, let me handle this."
"Really? Thank you!"
"Yeah, you owe me one okay?"
"Y-yes…"
She knocked the door with a little force.
"Leutte, are you there? Come out now."
"E-eh?! Aloumine-sama?!"
We heard rumbling sounds inside the room with the surprised shout of Leutte.
She opened the door and when she saw me she suddenly shut it again.
"Wh-what is wrong with her…" I mumbled.
"Can you come out now Leutte? Please?"
Alou said in calm and gentle voice.
You would think that Alou is the older one here.
"…Y-yes."
The door slowly opened with creaking sound.
Leutte stepped out of the room while looking down. She was gripping the hem of her clothes tightly.
"What's wrong Leutte?"
"U-uhm… I'm just…"
Alou placed her hand on her shoulder as she asked her calmly. Leutte stuttered as she tried to explain.
Seeing her like this I did not waste any time and lowered my head.
"I'm sorry Leutte-san! I forgot the lesson yesterday evening! Please forgive me."
"E-eh? No, that's not it! I don't really mind that!"
"Then why?"
"Th-that's…"
She fell silent for a while and we all tilted our head to the side with, 'hmmm?' while waiting for her answer.
"M-my face looked bad because I caught a cold s-so, I don't want you to see me like this so…."
Eh? Just that? But the reason she got a cold is because of waiting for me right?
"Then I apologize for making you wait, because of that you catc―"
"Eh? That's not it though? I told Martha-san to tell you that I catch a cold so I can't teach you yesterday…"
"Eh? That's news to me though?"
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
We just exchanged a baffled expression.
Then I slowly turned to Martha-sensei.
"…s-sensei, you…"
"A-areee~ I forgot to tell you about it. tee hee~."
"'Tee hee' my foot! Then why did you tell me that she waited there and catch a cold?"
"Ah, that! Hmm… I forgot why? Sorry okay?"
Th-this 50 years old loli!!!
In the end, it was her fault after all.
Alou had her pull some grass weeds on the courtyard as punishment which she reluctantly accepted.
Then Alou and I proceeded to training together like usual and spend the rest of the day with the usual routine.