Ein-san's unexpected behavior brought my mind off-topic. S- She just said that in a teasing manner, but I don't think she actually executed it. She... didn't actually execute it, right? W- What the heck happened?
I have Shiro-san's Blessing that nullifies some magic, but I don't know what the criteria were for it to nullify something. However, I do know that it nullifies magic that is judged to have hostile intent toward me.
For example, Alice's magical transformations would normally not be canceled by my touch. However, according to Kuro, if Alice uses her magical transformation "with the intent to deceive my senses", it would be judged as hostile magic.
Therefore, in Alice's case, her magical transformation was canceled when we first met and when she touched me during the mixed bathing at the Six Kings Festival, but at other times, even when our bodies were in contact with each other, her transformation wasn't canceled.
I think the same principle applies to Time Stop. In reality, I can't perceive or move within Chronois-san's Time Stop. However, I think that if the user, Chronois-san, were to try to restrain me or interfere with my action using Time Stop, it might be nullified... I'm not quite sure about the criteria in that regard, and even if I were to ask Shiro-san, the response I'd undoubtedly get would be an "I dunno?".
Or perhaps, since the Gods' Authority is a degraded copy of Shiro-san's power, it might still be effective... Ahh, but what about Fate-san's Authority of Fate though... Or rather, it seems that Shiro-san has made significant adjustments compared to the Blessing she had on me before. Now, the effects of those like Recovery Magic that used to be blocked by the Blessing can be received normally, so I'm not quite sure about the specific conditions either.
Heck, if I'm gonna ask someone, I feel like Chronois-san might have a more accurate understanding of Shiro-san's Blessing than Shiro-san, so I guess I should ask her about it next time.
Well, my thoughts went off on a tangent, but in the end, if you ask me if the act of "stopping time so that someone can kiss me" is a hostile act towards me... I'm not so sure.
In a sense, you could say that such a thing was an action that disregards my will. However, if asked whether I would feel uncomfortable if Ein-san were to kiss me... Well, that would be a definite no. Heck, being kissed is something that makes me happy.
[Kaito-sama?]
[Ah, no, I'm sorry. It's nothing!]
Well, since I can't really know for sure, there's no point in dwelling on this. Let's not worry too much about this matter. Overthinking might just lead me into a loop of uncertainty...
With that in mind, I switched my thoughts and brought out a can of tea leaves, the main subject of my visit, from my magic box.
[So this is Nebula-sama's... May I open it?]
[Ah, yes. Help yourself...]
[Please excuse me.]
Seeing Ein-san's eyes fixated on the tea can, I handed it over to her. Without delay, Ein-san opened the can and started examining the tea leaves with great interest.
[You see, these are...]
[...Tea leaves suitable for milk tea... No... for royal milk tea, right?]
[Eh? You can tell just by looking at it?]
[Yes, for top-notch maids, being able to envision the perfect brew just by looking at the leaves and smelling their fragrance is but a matter of course.]
There it is again, the maids' mysterious omnipotence. But in this person's case, while her thoughts may be eccentric, she isn't just being delusional. It's nasty how she can actually execute what she imagines.
In front of me, with a mixture of surprise and astonishment on my face, Ein-san continues to gaze at the tea leaves with a serious expression on her face.
[...However, the finished product that I picture in my mind is somewhat blurred. Is the process different? ...I see, perhaps, the tea leaves do not require unfurling the tea leaves with a small amount of hot water and can be extracted with only 100% milk?]
[T- That's right.]
[I knew that was the case. I can finally see a distinct image in mind. As expected of Nebula-sama, she's truly amazing. Even with my abilities, it would take me some time to envision its completed form... Fufu, this would indeed bring about a new revolution.]
No, it is quite amazing, or rather, it's astonishing that she could seriously guess everything just by looking at the tea leaves. It seems that I don't need to explain much anymore, but even still, I explained everything to her as Nebula told me, to which Ein-san nodded her head in understanding.
She seemed calm, but I could somewhat sense that she was getting excited and wanted to brew these tea leaves as soon as possible.
Wryly smiling at the sight of such an Ein-san, I suddenly remembered something and took out a wooden case from my magic box.
[By the way, Ein-san. Nebula said to hand this item to you... It's apparently something you commissioned from her?]
[Ahh, that's the tea set I asked her to make for me. Being a top-notch maid myself, I have also indulged in the hobby of crafting tea cups and other items used for tea... When she offered to make the trophy for the Maid Olympia, I knew that Nebula-sama's pottery-making skills surpass mine, so I have often commissioned her to make ceramics for me. As expected, as a maid, I can't compromise on my tea supplies.]
[...I- I see...]
I would like it if you'd refrain from assuming that being a top-notch maid automatically means being able to create a tea set. In normal circumstances, maids and pottery wouldn't have any connection at all... Wait, speaking of which, Illness-san can do it too... Arehh? Does being a top-notch maid seriously mean they can also do pottery?
Geez, seriously, I don't know how many times I've asked this already... but what the heck is a maid...