Chapter 275

[Side Story] Chasing Butterflies (2)

The maids at Ross Taylor Mansion already know to some extent.

This means that it makes no sense for them to control Lucy when she has regained even a small amount of magical power.

As I said, Lucy’s magic sense far exceeds that of an ordinary wizard, so it’s not a problem to play with ordinary maids with only a small amount of magic power.

Nevertheless, the reason the maids at Ross Taylor Mansion were able to control Lucy was thanks to Belle Maia, who held the position of head maid.

Lucy Mayril followed Belle Maia’s words surprisingly well, but it seemed like the fear she had learned while attending Sylvania Academy still remained.

Thanks to this, the work of the maids under Belle Maia became quite easy, so I couldn’t help but let down my guard a little.

“...Miss Lucy is missing.”

As soon as Bel Maia received the report, she couldn’t help but think it was a mistake.

Even if Bel Maia handles everything perfectly, it cannot be completely without flaws.

“...You mean Miss Lucy...?”

In response to Belle Maia’s question, the maid who served as a staff member quietly lowered her head.

Although it was a short report, it was not difficult to imagine how much review went through for that report.

Taking good care of Lucy Mayril was an order given with special care by Ed Rothtaylor, who is currently away from the mansion. It is safe to say that it was a so-called special order.

Belle Maia didn’t change her expression at all, but inside she was quite embarrassed.

“...”

Lost in thought for a moment, Belle Maia quietly leaned against the cabinet.

Meanwhile, the maid who served as a staff member reported the specific situation in detail.

When I went to the VIP room to pick up Lucy Mayril in the morning, the room was empty with the window open.

There were traces of Lucy moving from the central garden of the mansion to the front gate.

It seems that Lucy escaped early in the morning by hiding in the carriage of a merchant who came to deliver supplies to the mansion. The destination of the carriage will probably lead to Aken Island.

“...Should I contact the merchant association and ask them to take a look at the carriage?”

“By the time we contact you, it will already be too late.”

“...Is that so?”

It was a special order given by Ed Ross-Taylor himself, but I can’t believe he made such a pointless mistake.

Belle Maia, who has perfectionist tendencies in everything, wiped her forehead and sighed, but the situation did not change just because she was sighing.

And considering the current situation, it was obvious where Lucy’s destination would be.

“It’s right... to report to the head of the family and the master... right...?”

As the maid spoke carefully, Belle straightened her clothes and stood up again.

“I will deliver it to the head of the family. And to Master Ed... you will find out soon enough without me having to contact you.”

“...Is that so?”

The reason for Lucy’s sudden run away from home is also obvious.

Ed Rosstaylor has been too busy lately to come back to the mansion. It was obvious that this would happen once the semester started. It’s a shame that Belle Maia didn’t anticipate this situation in advance because she was busy with work at the mansion.

Perhaps Lucy went to see Ed in person.

No matter how much you enjoy solitude and prefer to be alone, there are times when you want to see someone.

Even stray cats, who are stubborn and arrogant, sometimes jump down the fence because they miss human touch.

How is it different from humans?

“Miss Lucy’s deviation... I don’t think it’s a big deal for now. Since you have recovered your magic to some extent, you are not in a state where you can be attacked...”

Lucy Mayril can deal with a wizard who uses middle-level magic with just a fingernail-sized magic power.

At that level, protecting one’s own body would not be a task.

“...I think it would be a good idea to write a statement in advance...”

Belle sighed and said that.

Still, it was necessary to some extent.

Lucy Mayril’s personality allowed her to endure living in this stuffy mansion for quite a long time.

It’s time to take a break from work at least once.

It’s comforting to think that what’s coming has come. From Lucy Mayril’s point of view, this is enough to endure.

*“These are the theories needed to deal with mid-level magic. In the first place, the way magical power is perceived is completely different for each element... It will be much faster to get a feel for the details through personal practice.”

Professor Ed Rosstaylor’s elemental science lecture is the most competitive among the classes for freshmen.

Ed’s name was worthy of his name, but his teaching skills were far superior to those of older professors.

New students who want to quickly learn mid-level magic have become famous for rushing to class with their eyes lit up, so it is not easy to get a spot these days.

Ed Rosstaylor spoke calmly in front of the students packed into a fairly large lecture hall.

“I’ll leave it at this for today. It can be dangerous to attempt to manifest mid-level magic when you are not yet familiar with basic elemental magic, so make sure you prove your basic magic abilities in the evaluation at the end of this month before you can research mid-level magic circles. And get the practical exam schedule from the teaching assistants. more.”

Ed put down the chalk, gathered up the lecture materials, and walked out of the classroom.

This elemental science class was the last of today’s morning lectures. If I wanted to watch the first-year students practicing mid-level magic in the student center lab in the afternoon, I had to make time to eat lunch now.

I was just coming out into the hallway to quickly head to the faculty cafeteria.

Students filled with various questions were already waiting in the hallway.

“Do it while moving.”

In the students’ minds, Lucy is already a benevolent, beautiful, mature, and respected archmage that everyone can’t help but look up to.

I didn’t want to point the blade of truth at them... In the end, the destination I chose was my personal laboratory in the northern forest.

It used to be the site of a cabin, but now there is a simple wooden laboratory building with support from the university.

“A lot has changed here... but the campfire is the same... “Whenever I come here... I feel like I’m falling asleep...”

“Lucy, it’s been a while since you’ve been here. “My heart is still home here.”

“...”

Early evening as the sun sets.

I sat Lucy down next to the campfire and boiled water in an iron pot.

The sound of a pot heating up was overlaid on the crackling campfire.

I now have a lot of leisure time in my life, and I can live in a luxurious place if I want.

Nevertheless, when I need to organize my thoughts or want to take a break, I come to the campfire in the northern forest.

It doesn’t have the scent of life as it does when living in the wild every day, but it still feels like everything is there.

I quickly brewed a cup of herbal tea, put it in a mug, and handed it to Lucy, who accepted it with her small hands and sat down neatly on a nearby tree stump.

In the past, I would have laid down, but at least I don’t do that while holding something to drink in my hand.

Whether they know it or not, the efforts of the mansion’s maids are bearing fruit in their own way.

“I thought you would be angry.”

“...”

Lucy spoke quietly with a mug on her lap.

After setting up the bonfire with a poker, I answered lightly while holding a cup of herbal tea in my hand to drink.

“why?”

“I escaped from the mansion on my own and came to Aken Island to see you.”

“It’s not that tight. “I’m sure all the maids in the mansion are tearing their hair out, but...”

I myself was a bit surprised.

Despite the various problems, the emotion I felt as soon as I saw Lucy’s face in the lobby of the Trix Building was... a feeling of joy.

“I’ve been so busy with work these days that I’ve been quite lonely.”

Lately, it feels like I really don’t have any time to rest.

It’s been quite a while since I haven’t seen the people in the mansion, so I couldn’t help but be happy to see Lucy’s face for the first time in a while.

Well, it’s like escaping from the mansion or something... There’s nothing you can do about it once you’re here, right?

“I’m glad you look healthy, Lucy.”

I said that honestly.

Then Lucy glanced down at the mug she was holding tightly with both hands and was about to say something in a hushed voice.

Maybe he’s embarrassed.

The subtle change in his mood is difficult to notice, but he has become more diverse than when we first met.

Lucy had suddenly become a full-fledged girl.

There are times when changes in people are felt so suddenly.

“...Anyway, since this vaporization occurred, I have to tell you. “I think I may have to go towards the Rameln Mountains area soon.”

Zelan the cutter.

I plan to meet with the war hero and make a deal with him for information about Archmage Glokt’s residence.

When I told her that I might need a little help from Lucy in the process, Lucy just nodded that she understood without much emotional change.

The issue of Glokt’s former residence may be a sensitive one for Lucy, but she doesn’t seem to care that much.

I’m not sure how much time I’ll have since it’s the middle of the semester, but if I get Lucy’s help, everything from now on is simple.

No...

It’s simple, isn’t it...

“Hmm...”

“... You don’t look good.”

“no. Lucy, this is a problem that has nothing to do with you...”

In the end, if you want to head to the Rameln Mountains, you have to pass through the Kohelton lawless region in the middle.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to pass through the Kohelton Lawless Zone without permission from the imperial family. This is because it is the most famous golden tool in the empire.

Even if we are a country under the protection of the imperial family, it is difficult to demand unlimited privileges. You have to have at least a justification to save the royal family.

Even if you come up with a plausible justification, you will run into another problem.

Currently... there is a monarch from the royal family who manages the Geumgu area, including the Kohelton Lawless Zone.

She... doesn’t have a very good relationship with me right now... Strangely, she whines or raises her voice when she sees me, so I don’t really want to fight with her.

Still... if it’s necessary, I’ll have to do it...

I rubbed my chin a few times and thought about it.

As I was doing that... Lucy, who had finished drinking herbal tea, came onto my lap and started teasing me. Lucy seemed very happy to see me after a long time.

I placed my chin and hand on Lucy’s head and quietly fell into thought.

The northern forest, where the sun was setting, was quiet and peaceful as always.