Chapter 41 - Game 30: Chika—

I managed to get admitted to the Magical Academy, despite being a low ranking noble of the Wisteria Royal Capital. I can't afford any leeway since my family only runs a small Magic staff blacksmith workshop. But, behind all of this our family lived contented and cheerful. We can't care less about the rankings, or even the standing of our social status. My father is happy in what he was doing and blacksmithing seemed to be everything to him.

Being enrolled at the famous Magical Academy half a year ago because of my potential as a great mage of alchemy gave me a nervous wreck.

At first I was stiff and didn't know what to do. I am just a low ranking noble who has no title at all. But it all went to dusk after not long. I made friends since I was cheerful. One after another, I gained friends and became the center of the class's mood. Being cheerful really made a profit for me.

In the academy, I lived happy and surrounded with my new friends. However, my point of view changed after witnessing one of my senpai(Senior) in this school. She was sitting all alone under the shade of the three behind the school building.

Silent, cool, beautiful, and always wore this majestic aura of her every single time without herself even noticing it. I was awed and astonished the moment I saw her. In my vision she was filled with mysterious things.

But... in her beautiful eyes I saw something different. Something that resembles sadness, loneliness, and it was somewhat empty.

So with all this things in mind, without even thinking twice, tried to approached her... I did...

"What do you want from the young lady?"

...only to be stopped by this other beauty. I met her emerald eyes that looked like a gem. It looked almost sleepy but it was filled with life. Somehow it was different from cheerful, but it shines neglecting emotions. Light blue hair that barely reaches her shoulders. It was as if they were strands of ice. The girl who stopped me was the very image of  a maid: Black long skirt that reached her knees, a white headband that exclusively belonged to her, a white apron that almost looked like a natural outdoor dress, and even a full maid dress. She looked like a princess—one that may remind you of what an older sister is. But what she really is a Maid.

I already knew that the lady sitting in that shade of the tree was a high standing noble, but who would have thought that I would meet her maid at my very first attempt of approach.

"I... My name is Chika Hammerton. I... I just want to talk to her... maybe?"

I answered. My voice was trembling with her doubtful look. I was nervous just by being stared at by her emerald enchanting eyes. But after saying those line, she turned her back on  and said in a cool tone,

"Is that so? Follow me then."

walking towards that beautiful lady under the tree.

"My lady, it seems like she has some concern about you that she intends to talk about. Is that fine?"

"Wha-..."

I let out a worried sound hearing what she just said. I have no concern, neither a good topic to talk about. I just want to greet her, and see her closely. That is all supposedly. I was worried that she may give me a cold shoulder thinking that a small insect like me would want something from. But.. I proved myself wrong.

"R-really? She wants to talk to us?!"

I was surprised. This expression is the very opposite of my expectation. She gave out an adorably accepting face obviously blushing as a sign of happiness. She even covered her mouth to hide her unexpectedly happy face.

"Have a seat please! Ah, do you want something to eat? Cake or cookies maybe? We also have tea! Do you want to try one? Here, come!"

I was left speechless as I made a confused glance at the maid who was giggling next to the somehow nervous lady that almost looked like a newly hired sales lady at a famous store.

"Fufufu. My lady calm down. Look at her, she was making a face that can't explain what's happening."

"B-but..."

"She'll sit with us."

She glanced at me after saying that. Are all the maids like her? She was very close to her lady and could even read the atmosphere perfectly. I nodded as a response and slowly went nearer those two. The lady with the golden hair smiled gorgeously as we proceeded our unplanned tea party under the tree. And while at it, she reached her hand to mine, saying,

"My name is Ellisbeth de Blaze-Wisteria. You may call me Ellisbeth as it is."

"Ah, eh...?"

I was surprised by her rather sudden introduction. Isn't Wisteria a noble family?! And Royals at that!

I made a worried face, but then I felt a light touch on my shoulder.  The maid smiled at me as if she wanted me to take that hand and introduce myself in return. So with that in mind. I took it,

"I am called Chika. Chika Hammerton."

and introduced myself as well. The maid also stated her name. Her name is Mai Freezia. I was sure I already heard that surname, but since I am not sure I forgot about it for the time being. And since that time, almost everyday, we hang out at the same spot to have tea and small talks about non essential things.

I realized it then. She was no cool beauty, she was not mysterious... She was just lonely. I was sure of it since I was with her almost everyday.

For some reason, no one in the academy tried to approach her. Not a single person who seemed to know her. They are not hostile or anything about her. But they felt like for some reason, they had to distance themselves from her.

Thus, I decided... I want to be a support for her. I  want to be her strength. After being together everyday—straight more than three months, I decided to work as her maid.

I want to be her support. I want to be of help for her anyhow I can... and yet I... with even just a little blackmail... I was..

¤

From the students council, I wobbled as I walked away from that awfully ugly room. Depressed about almost anything that happened from there, I went looking down.

Huh? What is that? Someone's following me!

I rushed to the school building after hearing some footsteps behind me. I was being followed for sure.

Hurriedly, I went straight to my classroom as fast as I could, having this uneasy feeling of mine in my chest. 

Hurry, anywhere as long as there's a lot of people! 

But then... I was so worried that I never realized I was in front of the library where people are almost not going at this time of the day!

Before I knew the light before my eyes suddenly went distorted as my nose was covered by a scented scarf.

Most likely a sleeping drug was put in it.

"Hmfff!!!"

And even before I could react, my body went numb and I could not afford to make a single limb of my body move on my will. My vision went black completely...

Not long after my body went numb, I could feel some strange feeling on my arms rendering my movements. 

Ropes? I was completely in bind while being blindfolded.

On my side I can hear the familiar voices of four people laughing maniacally full of malicious intent. I am sure of it.

I started feeling scared, my body trembled in fear as my heart beat like a drum without a pattern. I have a bad feeling about this...

One of the voices went nearer to me. Removing the blindfold, what appeared in my vision was the image of the four student council members who were just in the meeting earlier...

"What do you need from me?! Why are you doing this?!"

I screamed in anguish as I am not sure what would happen to me at this moment.

The ropes binding me were removed but in exchange the two of the four held by each of my arms.

I was crying. But in response the four only made a loud laugh and said,

"Bwahahahaha! Scream all you want! No one will hear us here!"

"Indeed, indeed! cry! Let us hear more of that cry!!!"

"Kyaaaa!!!"

This human scums!

One of them started ripping my cloth by force. It was the school uniform I was given by Mai-neesan to wear. I treated it as a gift but it was all gone in just a moment!

As it shredded little by little, my tears started falling as I screamed my heart with this disgusted feeling.

"No! Please let me go! Stop this!"

But— it was to no avail.

"Gahahaha. Before taking care of you, we should just enjoy ourselves!"

"Bwahahahaha!"

Is this my punishment? Is this the price I have to pay for betraying the trust of my lady and Guren-san? Is this how am I going to end? I couldn't even apologize to any of them. I couldn't even experience that thing called love that my female classmates are always talking about...

If anything... If anything were to happen to me, then I would just bite this tongue of mine and die pure than live in shame more than I am bearing now!

I will die on my own hand and die with even a little honor left for me.

My underskirts started showing. My upper underwear showed after ripping the top of my clothing. And underwear after shredding my skirt— I was crying and as a hand drew nearer my chest, 

"Oh! Despite being so small, you have a nice asset! Kuhahaha!"

"Itadakimasu!!! (Time to eat!!!)"

This is it… I shall just…

I was readily going to bite my tongue to death! I'd rather die than be stained by this disgusting lot! It was all the thoughts that came in my mind.

But then...

"Arrgggg!!!"

a thick book landed with a thug on the head of the person who was ready to grope my chest. Leaving him unconscious!

"Wha—Oi what happened to you?!"

A panicked voice left the guy who was holding my right arm.

"A book hit him out of nowhere!"

"It's impossible no-one should be here! We even locked the door!"

The guys started panicking as they stared at one of their members lying unconscious on the library's cold floor. The hands holding my arms were loosened and I was released. It is my chance to use magi—Lord! I forgot my staff, it was in Mai-san's care for now! I'm doomed!

"Where did it come from?!"

"I-I don't know! What should we do if someone saw us?! The students council name will be tarnished!"

"It is simple! Just silence them together with that useless girl there!"

They are having these conversations with voices trembling. That guy who said I was useless, I will get him later!

I was in a rage but then suddenly...

A cold chill in the breeze mixed in the air, and as I looked above a person floating with books surrounding him appeared before me. He was staring at me... No, at us with cold eyes colored with blood. A gaze that never showed any interest nor care about this world.

His long misty hair swayed in every blow of the wind. He looked so majestic as he was clad in a pure-black clothing he slowly landed in front of me.

Throwing a piece of his outer clothing, probably for me to cover myself. He said in a tone almost as if Guren-san at the first time of our meeting.

"You, who dared to dirty the sacred room of information... How do you plan on paying with it? For what you did, your life is not even enough!"

While saying this, in his hand a crimson light started emitting. As he glanced at me, the light even grew bigger and redder as blood. On the other side, the guys who tried to assault me started to look as pale as papers, and started running away trying to find somewhere to escape.

"Run! Run for your life!"

"Get out of my way! I need to get away from this place!"

"Gaaaaa... I don't wanna die!"

They cried in anguish. Voice trembling extremely. Crying like a child running to their mothers! It should be refreshing for me to see those guys cry their eyes as a payment for what they have done. But my eyes were never on them... It was locked on the person who was standing tall, gallantly in front of me.

Why... Lord, why are you so tease. Letting me witness someone like him and even letting him save me. If you do this, then it won't be a punishment! This would be...

He stood firm in front of me, and seeing all the guys run away he released that dark crimson light from his hand.

"Pay your sins you fools and see the depth of hell!{ETERNAL NIGHTMARE!}"

"GYAAAAAAA!!!!"

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!"

As his voice sounded, the whole library was filled with black mist. And from there, the dreadful screams of requiem echoed all over the supposedly silent space.

They all fainted looking terribly pained as if they experienced something not possible to imagine. And by sheer curiosity, I've let out an asking voice,

"Wh-what happened... to them?"

"Hmm? What. I just made them see a glimpse of hell."

He replied...

Dry...

Cold...

But that coldness somewhat warmed my heart.

...Just what... Is this feeling?

¤

While in Benjirou's head…

"Ah, crap. I have shown myself in front of a student. A human… My lord will surely scold me this time."

Then let out a sigh.

...To be continued...