Side Story: Frans Recommendation
A day has passed since the succubus countermeasure meeting. As Im petting Yuels head while she sits on my lap in the guest room provided to us by the lord, the door suddenly opens.
I heard it. You, your mana was actually perfectly fine.
The second I notice that Fran has entered the room, she abruptly asserts that.
I sense a hint of anger in her voice. Her expression is also giving off a sullen, offended feeling.
Apologies for disturbing you so suddenly.
I take a look, and Sera is with her as well. She enters the room chasing after Fran, and immediately bows her head to me.
Because you did not tell the truth when I taught you about magic, I consequently misdiagnosed it as mana leakage disease, no? Why did you not say anything!
Fran glances at Yuel, but immediately returns her gaze to me, raising her voice at a constant rate.
Ahh, that
Oh yeah, Fran did teach me a little about attack magic before.
If I recall correctly, back then, she concluded from the large quantity of mana I was giving off that I didnt have enough left to use attack magic.
Since I could potentially fix it with training, Fran also gave me a magic tool for measuring the mana concentration around myself at that time.
I stayed silent since I didnt really want to reveal my true ability, but Im pretty sure that for her part, Fran was feeling fairly sympathetic for me.
Well yeah, no wonder shes mad.
But its not like I hid it from her just for the heck of it. There was a good reason for that.
My bad. But its not like I kept silent about it for no reason. I wanted to keep my ability hidden as much as I could unless absolutely necessary.
There was no need for that. What was the problem with letting me know!
Fran brings her angry face increasingly closer. Looks like she finds it hard to stomach.
This distance is close.
Her face is close.
This is dangerous, huh.
When this b*tch gets angry the fists really come out.
No, rather than her fists, its magic that comes out.
Furthermore, since she has some halfway-decent ability, she can cast chantless (albeit unstable) magic.
She cant very well shoot magic at me in this situation with Yuel on my lap, but it pretty much feels like she could lunge at me at any moment. My legs tense up.
Then, when I open my mouth to try and explain,
Fran, I heard that Shiki-sans EX Heal was what got him wrapped up in the recent plot by the archbishop you also saw the shape he was in at that time, did you not?
Sera preempts me with that.
That was
Fran is at a loss for words.
Well, until I was able to borrow the baths at the lords mansion, I was completely covered in blood.
Thinking back on it, when we arrived at the lords mansion, I seem to recall Fran looking at my appearance in shock.
Most likely, Fran remembers that too.
But, I heard it from Father. That miracle from god during the time with the Krankheit Turtle. That was your work as well, was it not? To do such a thing when you are loath to stand out, is that not a contradiction!
Nevertheless, Fran still wont back down.
Most likely, she doesnt know where she should vent her anger anymore.
Maybe its because she was trying to teach me magic so earnestly.
But I cant answer that question honestly. Yuels just quietly sitting on my lap getting her head petted, but shes here.
That was, you see um, right it was for the sake of the citizens.
Thats what I told Yuel, but I was honestly just doing it to distract Yuel and comfort her when it seemed like she was going to break down in tears.
In front of Yuel, whos still depressed about I couldnt protect you, I cant tell Fran that it was actually to comfort Yuel.
For the sake of the citizens? You, you mean to say that it was for the sake of this very Merhatz? You took on such a risk to rescue this city from a crisis?
However, Fran ends up being more shocked than I imagined.
Oh right, Fran is the lords daughter.
In other words, you could say shes the next lord.
I didnt mean it that way, but I might have come off a bit patronizing.
Fran, who is all up in my face at this point, stops and looks at it.
Too close!
Then she quickly takes her distance as her own face reddens.
Flipping out about Too close! when shes the one who approached me, its totally irrational.
I am going back to my room.
After that, Fran turns her back to me in a somewhat despondent-looking mood.
And just like that, she leaves the room.
Fufu, please excuse us, Shiki-san.
Sera also exits the room with a somewhat pleased face after bowing to me.
Finally, they left.
All of the tension while Fran was here, that she could lunge at me at any moment out of nowhere, drains from my legs.
Maybe Im being overly cautious, but that girl has previously committed the offense of shooting attack magic into her marriage interview partners crotch. And it was only an attempt, but she did try to fire attack magic at me too.
You truly wont take her? If Shiki-dono were her partner, I sincerely believe it would turn out well.
The lord mutters in an imploring voice.
Frans face isnt bad. Besides, her attack magic is excellent, and she has her position as the lords daughter. I doubt hed be completely unable to find a partner for her.
From the lords perspective, he must see me with my nonstandard healing magic as a superior article to some degree.
But I wish hed ask someone else.
At this rate, finding a suitor will truly be with that personality, once she exceeds a marriageable age ohh, what will I do?
The lord seems to shrink a little as he hangs his head.
Its been ten-odd minutes since the lord said Let us speak of this again and left the room.
Once again, the door opens.
My apologies for earlier.
Immediately I assume the lord has come back, but Fran and Sera are the ones who enter my room.
Fran charges into the room and stands in front of me.
Then, averting her gaze slightly, she begins to speak.
You saved not only my life, but the lives of the citizens that I will one day govern that is to say, I am not unwilling to make myself available to you.
Fran says, fidgeting a little.
But I dont quite understand what she means.
Not unwilling?
What could that mean?
Wait, based on what the lord was saying earlier,
Dont tell me youre talking about marriage?
No! Where did you get that idea!?
Guess not.
Well, considering Frans personality, theres no way.
But then what did she mean?
I-I meant if anything were to happen again, do not hesitate to rely on me, that is what I meant to say.
Looking down, Fran adds that.
Oh my!
Sera covers her mouth, letting out an awfully pleased voice.
I-It is simply that as the lords daughter, I feel obligated to repay the debt for saving the city, that is all! That truly is the only reason!
As if reacting to Seras voice, Fran starts to panic.
Somehow or other I understand.
This is probably Fran trying her best to repay the favor out of obligation for my saving the city.
But shes wasting her effort.
Fran is too impulsive, and if I ask her for something I can only imagine it turning sour.
But still, Im not so twisted as to reject this wholehearted declaration from Fran.
Well, Ill consider it.
When I answer like that, Fran puts her hand on her chest in relief.
She might have been anxious over whether or not I would accept. Although if she was that anxious about it, she may as well have just ignored the debt.
I thought the same thing when she taught me magic, but she really is a conscientious person.
If only she didnt have a quick temper, there would be tons of suitors after this side of her.
As Im contemplating, Sera suddenly approaches me.
Please consider an engagement to Fran as well, alright?
Not happening.
Perhaps because its the same thing the lord was talking about earlier, I end up answering reflexively in no time.
But I only realize after the fact.
Fran is currently right in front of me.
Oh crap.
~~~~!?
No matter how I look at it, denying it in no time was unwise.
Even Fran is a woman, more or less.
No matter how little she thinks of me, she still has her pride.
Frans face rapidly reddens.
This redness is undoubtedly not anything in the shy category.
Shes mad.
Just from seeing her complexion, I can tell that her anger is amping up.
I, I-I, I should be the one saying that!!!
Then, a red light forms on the side of Frans face.
A chantless Fireball.
She slams it onto the stone floor.