Saito closed his eyes and thought for a while.
“But, if you die, wouldn't it be all over? Why do you noblemen drop terms like 'death' and 'honor' so casually? Are you guys idiots?”
No answer. After a closer look, it turns out that Rene had already fallen asleep.
“Guluuu...”
“What the... He fell asleep after saying his piece.”
Really, these so-called “nobility” are a bunch of stubborn fellows. Louise is also like that. She said herself that “I'll definitely help you find a way to get home.” But, once the war began, her attention became entirely focused on it.
He actually followed Louise all the way to this; was he out of his mind?
...For what am I fighting like this, even putting my life on the line?
A few reasons popped up in his mind.
He wanted to lend a hand to the pitiful Henrietta.
He wanted to protect Siesta's hometown, for the girl had always cared for him.
But, the most important reason of all... is that he's worried about Louise.
That's probably it... he thought, as he looked at this young lady with peach-coloured hair, who was sleeping on his knee. To put it plainly, it's because he loved her. That's why he always worried.
Louise is really cute, and he really wanted to feel her. But, he'll have to hold back for now, as everyone was here.
Ah, but will his feelings be reciprocated?
Whether this relationship will have an outcome, perhaps only God himself knows. The God of Earth... or the gods of this different world... who should he ask for the answer?
Thinking about this, Saito immediately shook his head.
Am I an idiot... Why am I thinking about such silly questions?
It was then that he recalled what Louise had said just now.
Death may sadden people.... But that was a glorious death in the battlefield... for honor. They died for a great victory. They're too pitiful if you felt sad about their deaths...
He had a very strong distaste for this. It felt unnatural.
At the same time, he felt that Louise, who was sleeping on his lap, was getting further and further away from him. She's just in front of me...why do I have this feeling?!He couldn’t fathom the reason for it at all.
Huu... Let's sleep... thought Saito, allowing Louise to continue using his leg as a pillow as he lay down to sleep.
All the while, the bright moonlight from the two moons beamed down upon him, as if to comfort him and his many troubles...
Chapter Two: Fairy
It was the third day after the miraculous return of the dragon knights. Rene and Saito, along with the rest, were partying in their tent all this while.
Ever since that party, Rene and the other members of the 2nd Dragon Knight Squadron had been making fools of themselves at Louise's tent everyday. Being so-called “guards” was merely an excuse; in reality, they were there for other reasons.
“Cheers! To our miraculous survival!”
Saito lifted the 17th toast of the day, delivered in a half-drunken stupor.
“Cheers! Cheers!”
Slurry voiced dragon knight’s cacophonous chorus joined in. Again, the lot emptied their cups, filled to the brim with grape wine, in one gulp.
“It's great to be alive. You could still drink like this!”
Said Rene's deputy, a crimson-haired youth named Matthew Pennterdon, as he casually waved his wand, creating a mini whirlwind to stir the wine. As the third son of a petty noble family, he always drank in a miserly manner - diluting the wine with water before drinking it. So, he would occasionally use magic in this manner to stir his cup.
That pair of attention-grabbing twin dragon knights, were called Gilbert and Siegfried. With soft, pale golden hair and cute maiden-like faces, these two came from a noble family which had fallen into ill times. They helped each other to fill up the cups with wine, while grinning away.
Besides Louise, the rest were already dead drunk. No.... one of them seemed to have some sort of trouble, and was in deep thought, the somewhat taciturn Fernand. When Saito toasted him, he merely shook his head. He appeared to be worrying about something.
At this point, the plump Rene showed up, hugging a sack full of stuff.
“Captain of the 2nd Dragon Knight Squadron, Rene Vonke, has returned!”
“Hat's off. It's been hard on you.”
Saito, who was sitting in the center seat, burst into laughter, the with dragon knight’s following him.
Sitting in the nook of the tent and hugging her knees, Louise could only watch the spectacle in frustration.
What is it with this bunch?
Simply put, they are treating the place as if it was their room. Pretending to guard but coming here just to drink, away from the prying eyes of senior officers. Here they could do whatever they wanted.
Louise bit her lip in hatred. Of course, it wasn't easy for them to escape death, a little wine for celebration would still be tolerable.
But...
They were doing this every day! EVERY SINGLE DAY! And it was from dawn to dusk!
And these fellows have absolutely no idea on how to keep a room clean! Louise's grinding of her teeth became very audible. Bottles, bones of fowl and leftover scraps were scattered everywhere; the sight of it all was unbearable.
Whenever she complained, she got a chirpy “Okayyyyy!” in reply, but that was all. No one cleaned up the mess. As a result, the rubbish grew by the day, along with Louise's frustration.
Saito was the most unforgivable one. Initially, she thought that he'd warn them on Louise's behalf. Instead, that idiot began leading the racket, and was now the “High Commander.” “An absolute general of fools, how fitting for him,” thought Louise, as she sighed.
“Status report!” said Saito, who really thought that he had become a general. Rene noisily opened the sack.
“Smoked ham, dried meats, sausages... and wine!”
Upon seeing all the food that was handily “requisitioned” from the warehouse; everyone cheered at once.
“Now, I shall decorate this officer with a medal...”
But, he has no medals with him. Just as Saito was being troubled by this, someone stuffed something into his hand. It was a light, pure white piece of fabric.
“Wha-what is this?”
Having figured out what that “something” really was, Louise hastily rose to her feet.
“Hey! That's my underwear! What are you guys thinking?!”
“Ah, because it was left there,” said Matthew, who was the one who passed it to Saito.
“There... there's plenty over here,” hollered the trembling Gilbert and Siegfried, as they opened Louise's wardrobe.
“This's the best medal ever!” One by one, the knights laughed.
“Lowest! You truly are the lowest!”
Blushing Louise hit Gilbert’s head and Siegfried’s chest with the wine bottle, threw a poultry bone at the rolling Rene, and all other drunken dragon knights were kicked and hit.
Lastly, she kicked a flustered Saito in the groin, and sat riding on his neck.
“Constantly making noise! Habit of a familiar! That’s the status of the familiar! D-d-dogs status! Dogs! Suiting status!”
Turning around the social standings. Irresponsible thoughts.
“It can’t be; so you are her familiar!” Rene and others watched Louise’s and Saito’s flustered faces and started laughing loudly again.
“Person – a familiar, weird story!”
Rene and others summoned “Pon!” And many familiars jumped into the tent. Because they were Wind mages, most of their familiars were winged… An owl, a taka, a flying fox… a small griffon and a hippogriffon, even a phantom beast’s figure could be seen.