Chapter 034 – War
Acting as chaperone for ojousama, we saw Karen and her other friends off.
Then we accompanied ojousama back to her room.
The head maid Mercè-san brewed some scented tea to calm down ojousama’s mood.
Seated beside the bed, ojousama made an anxious face.
[I wonder if father and the others are alright……]
“I’m sure they are fine. No matter who the enemy was, we have master who is an A-ranked mage, right? He won’t lose no matter what.”
I had Mercè-san, who was returning after she finished brewing the scented tea, replace me in accompanying ojousama.
“I need to leave my post for a while, so please take care of ojousama.”
“…… All right. Don’t do anything rash.”
“?”
Mercè-san guessed my intentions, and immediately gave her approval.
But ojousama made an anxious face again and grasped the hem of my shirt with her small hand.
[Lute-oniichan, where are you going?]
“Don’t worry, I forgot something in my room, I’m only going to go back and get it.”
[Is…. that so.]
Ojousama also seemed to have guessed and released her tiny fingers, making a gloomy expression.
She bravely put on a bitter smile like she’s trying to endure something.
[Be careful, and godspeed.]
“Yes, I’ll be off. I’ll be back soon.”
I left ojousama’s room and hurriedly made for the great dining hall.
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“No way. We can’t possibly bring Lute along.”
Master and the others proceeded with the preparations in the dining hall.
The remaining food were put in ceramic bowls and became instant field rations.
Weapons and armor were taken out of armories and were checked for damage.
Master had already taken off his coat, and was warming up by doing shadowboxing.
Madam was putting on the equipment brought by the maids in a practiced manner.
In all likelihood, these are the weapons and armor she used in her pirate hunting days.
I ran up to Gigi-san who is directing the battle preparations and reported that I wanted to participate in the war this time.
It’s because of the matter the other day—when the baka-brothers insulted not only ojousama but master and madam, I won’t be satisfied unless I get to hit them at least once.
But Gigi-san refused.
I snapped back at him.
“Why!? I can use magic a little, I can be useful for the war!”
“No. Lute is ojousama’s guardian, right? Do you intend to leave your post for the battlefield. You don’t have battle experience in the first place, right? Bringing a green soldier along is just going to hold us back.”
My arguments were cut off by Gigi-san’s valid reasoning.
Master’s side has only a few participants.
Probably no more than 50 people.
However, every one of them are people with experience from the previous war or former adventurers he got to know a long time ago.
Therefore they were at the level where they can cooperate without any complaints.
If an inexperienced newcomer were to come in, that could become a source for discord.
Furthermore, even the head butler Merry-san sided with Gigi-san.
“That’s right Lute. You’re ojousama’s guard and blood bag. Just leave this war to us. If it’s that kind of rabble we’ll finish them off in the blink of an eye baa~”
Certainly, our side has master.
The other servants’ morale were high, too
Some of the maids participating in the battle were menacing, wearing armor and shields on top of their maid uniforms and carrying weapons.
Even the head chef Malcolm-san seems to be participating with kitchen knives hanging from all over his body.
He was scary in an absurd way, like something out of a horror flick.
However, I was told off.
“C, certainly I don’t have battle experience, but I’m sure I can be helpful…”
“I told you you can’t, give it up. Rather, you should stay by ojousama. Then… protect ojousama with your life. I beg of you.”
“Gigi-san?”
Strangely, Gigi-san pleaded me with a stern look and tone of voice.
Questions popped up in my mind for an instant, but he started with the preparations once again.
“Gigi, prepare the anti-silver drug for curing silver poison just in case. We still have some in the stores don’t we baa~?”
Like Dracula in my previous life, silver is poison to the vampire race.
This poison can’t be removed with normal antidote, it’s the natural enemy of vampires.
Silver poison cannot be cured other than by using special medication, the anti-silver drug.
Therefore normally, tableware and accessories made of silver are never ever used.
“Of course. It’s the head of the guards’ duty to prepare enough to deal with it once the need arises. I already ordered to stuff it inside the carriages.”
“As expected from Gigi, you’re quick when it comes to your work baa~”
If I’m here any longer, I’ll be a nuisance….
With a bow, I left the great dining hall.
Like a child who left home with harsh words and came back, I returned to ojousama’s room.
I knocked and entered after receiving a response.
“Excuse me. I apologize for leaving my post.”
Seeing my face, ojousama let out a sigh of relief.
[Welcome back, Lute-oniichan. Did you find the thing you’re looking for?]
Perhaps revenge for making her worry, ojousama gave a strangely malicious retaliation.
I made an ironic smile.
“No, I remembered that I forgot the important thing here and came back in a hurry”
Hearing my reply, ojousama’s face turned red and she shyly hid behind her mini blackboard.
Ojousama’s reaction is really cute, huh.
*cough*
With Merce-san’s cough, the pink atmosphere went back to normal.
She relaxed her expression a little.
“Well then, let’s wish for master and the others’ victory and safety and wait in the castle.”
We nodded at Merce-san’s words.
I should also stop selfishly insisting to go fight together with them and just wish for their safety.
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