CH 33

Giselle Carpantier had a gloomy look on her face…

Lou and Fran follow Michelle and Olga, who were no doubt being taken away.

The three were heading to an outdoor arena.

Normally, this place was used for martial arts matches and training.

Giselle and the other two entered the fenced-in arena through the entrance.

As Lou and Fran were about to follow, Giselle’s voice echoed from inside the arena.

“Is that…Is Acting Principal Dumer in here?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

When Fran replied, Giselle looked puzzled and returned a few words.

It was apparent that Giselle had used the Scouting Magic.

“Do you have company? But I can’t say for sure…”

Lou put his index finger to his lips.

Signalling Fran to keep quiet and go through with it.

Giselle groaned, annoyed at the silent response.　

“Grrrr! Is there someone there or not? Don’t you understand me?… Are you human, a harmless wild animal, a dog, or even a cat, what?”

“What? Harmless wildlife? A dog or a cat? Hahaha.”

When Fran heard Giselle’s words, she couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

As for why, she didn’t know.

If Lou wanted to hide himself completely from Giselle’s search, he could easily do so.

However, Fran found that he was deliberately mimicking an ambiguous existence.

“Headmistress, your reaction tells me that there’s another human being… isn’t there?”

Giselle’s voice was filled with anger as she took it as a sign that Fran was poking fun at her.

At this point, Lou grasped Fran’s hand and stepped forward.

After all, an unidentified opponent could be concerning.

From the entrance of the outdoor arena, the tall Giselle appeared, exuding a magic aura of anger.

Her rich, wavy blonde hair fluttering.

She had a beautiful face with pronounced outlines of her nose and eyes.

Her mouth was tightly drawn, giving her a dignified aura.

Giselle’s dark blue eyes were inflamed with anger.

Behind her stood Michelle and Olga, both as listless as earlier.

When Giselle saw Lou, she nodded approvingly.

“Huh! Since you’re with the Principal, does that mean… are you the wizard who became her servant?”

“Forget about that, Giselle. What are you going to do with the students in my class?”

Fran replied to Giselle, behind Lou.

But Giselle looked at Fran with cold eyes and snorted. 

“It’s none of your business, Principal.”

“‘None of my business? Michelle and Olga are students in my 2C class.”

“Don’t make me laugh! Who has been so disinterested in her class and neglecting her students?”

“T-That’s!”

“I’m the one who has been taking care of Michelle and Olga. I don’t want an irresponsible person like you to tell me what to do now.”

“……..”

“Principal, you should know.”

“Know what?”

“Some time ago, out of sheer curiosity and for no good reason, the two of them decided to follow some strangers and snoop on their private lifvee. It’s still a part-human habit. They can’t even be a full-fledged lady, let alone a magical knight of the kingdom.”

Giselle said, and then put her hand noisily on the hilt of her shortsword and looked at Fran as if she was going to hit her.

“I take responsibility for your negligence, so to speak, in providing educational guidance to such unruly people.”

Fran couldn’t say anything back to Giselle and bit her lip.

She was also familiar with the power relations of the aristocratic society towards Giselle, a duke’s daughter.

And then.

“Are you blaming Michelle and Olga? But hey, you, too, want to snoop on other people. What’s it gonna be?”

Lou spoke.

“Huh?!”

In addition to being called ‘you’ out of the blue, Giselle was momentarily taken aback by the contradiction pointed out to her.

And then she was enraged.

“W-W-W-What? You! I want to snoop on others?!”

“It’s because you admire Cindy-sensei, don’t you? Her strength, her way of life.

“Whaaat?!”

“Ho, really?!”

Lou’s remarks surprised Michelle and Olga.

What was a Mage Knight of the kingdom, and a lady of the realm like normally?

From the point of view of these girls, who have been taught by example how to live, this was very surprising.

Their teacher, Cindy Ryan’s, maiden name was Cindy Albright.

When she was at the Magical Girls Academy, she was known as the ‘Iron Princess’ and was even more highly regarded than Giselle was today.

When Cindy was in school, she easily defeated the knight candidates of the Magical Boys Academy in a mock match.

She was so skilled that she was able to stand toe-to-toe with a male knight who was then the deputy captain of the Royal Capital Knights.

Cindy was originally the third daughter of a low-class knight family, but when she became a Female Mage Knight, she was suddenly entrusted with guarding the first princess of the Valentine royal family.

But when the first princess married into a neighboring country…

Cindy got married and easily quit her job as a Mage Knight.

The man she married was Count Calvin Ryan, who at the time was a young man but was serving as the Deputy Captain of the Royal Capital Knights.

In other words, they met at a mock battle and got married.

Then Calvin and Cindy had a baby boy…

After taking a break from raising her children, Cindy was invited by Chairman Adelaide to teach at her alma mater.

And became the teacher she was now…

People said that she was very happy.

“Giselle, you want to talk to her.”

“W-What the heck!”

“How did she become so strong? How did she protect the Princess? Why did she quit being a Female Mage Knight, the symbol of the elite? Was she happy with her marriage? What is her current state of mind? Dig up all the causes.”

“U-ugh, what makes you say that?!” 

Giselle couldn’t help but clam up at Lou’s point.

It was clear that he had hit the nail on the head.

Lou replied to Giselle with a smug expression.

“Hmm! Through Divination.”

“Huh?!”

“I actually specialize in divination, and it shows on your face.”

Hearing this, Fran struggled to hold back her laughter.

Lou said he wasn’t adept at Divination though ―――

Meanwhile, Michelle and Olga were still in a daze.

“Don’t play dumb with me! You’ve insulted me with a bunch of nonsense!”

Giselle seemed to have finally come to her senses in front of her juniors.

“Hmph! Let me tell you what happens when you insult a nobleman in this country! A duel! Principal, are you fine with it?”

Giselle’s eyes blazed with anger.

Fran couldn’t help but look at Lou… 

As usual, Lou was smiling calmly.

Then he clearly retorted.

“As a student, it’s you who insulted your teacher. Hence, I’m going to challenge you to a duel on behalf of my master!”

Giselle stuttered, not expecting to be cut back.

But she immediately bit her lip, vexed.

Wielding a sword properly and using magic could be deadly…

In this world, as in the medieval West on Earth, dueling trials and private settlements to the death were allowed.

However, as expected, Fran shook her head.

“As the principal of the school, I can’t approve the exchange of lives between a teacher and a student.”

“Then what do we do? There is no other way!”

Giselle confronted Fran with a biting snarl.

After thinking for a while, Fran clapped her hands with a pop.

“I’ve got an idea. How about next weekend, we hunt demons in the school’s hunting forest and compete in quality and quantity?”

Giselle was disappointed to hear Fran’s suggestion, but…

She pulled herself together. 

“OK!”

She agreed.

Fran went on to make an additional suggestion.

“And how about a … team game? Maybe a team of two?”

With this proposal, Giselle…

“I don’t care! I’m no better than a teacher! Principal! You can even team up with Lou.”　

“Then it’s settled.”

“Principal, it’s a deal! Don’t forget, the loser gets to do whatever the winner wants.”

Giselle reminded Fran and gave her a terrifying smile.　

Giselle was so excited that she completely forgot about Michelle and Olga, whom she was supposed to reprimand…

She even left the two of them behind in a flash.