Vol 9 Chapter 14.1: Interlude-1: Junior Witch and Hidden Dragon

“…So, what do you need, Senpai?”

“Teto, don’t be so wary. I’m heartbroken here, you know.”

Several days after that nightmarish victory celebration slash birthday party. A room in the Linstar Duke’s mansion.

​I was here enjoying tea with my adorable junior—Teto Tiherina.

​Today, she wore her usual witch-girl outfit. With her hat off, I could see two small horns poking out.

​Teto clutched a white ceramic cup of tea, maintaining her defensive stance. Suspicious eyes. Still, the fact that she came immediately with Anko-san after receiving my letter showed what a truly good girl she was.

​Anko-san meowed from the sofa as if in agreement.

​”Ah, I heard from Lidia-senpai. It was incredible, apparently. Hehe… Now you’re famous too, Senpai★ In the Water City, aren’t you practically a messenger of the gods ?”

​”…Teto.”

“No. I won’t change my mind. I’ve been busy lately with the Royal Capital Cat-Lovers Society work. …Punishing the profess—ahem. I have to judge him♪”

​”In moderation, please.”

I chuckled while petting Anko-san.

​In the room were me, Teto, and the Professor’s familiar in black cat form, Anko-san. One more person had gone to fetch a boy.

​Lidia and the others were currently preparing to return to the royal capital.

​Teto asked.

​”Senpai, please skip the roundabout stuff. Tell me what this is about. I’ll listen—I’ll listen. But nothing unreasonable or reckless, okay ? I’m a representative of ordinary people, so just because Lidia-senpai and you can do something doesn’t mean I can !”

​”…Teto calling herself an ‘ordinary person’ ? That’s quite the joke. That title is the one thing that only I can claim in the Professor’s research lab !”

​”Someone who faces the ‘Jade Wind’ head-on is beyond human★ If people from the West heard that, they’d worship you just for it, you know ?”

​”…Anko-san, Teto—that adorable Teto—is bullying me. Time is so cruel… Even though she lives with Yen, she still won’t tell me.”

​”!?!! Wh-wh-why do you know th-th-that !?”

​Teto jumped up without spilling the tea in her cup—impressive coordination.

​Her cheeks instantly turned bright red. The flush spread all the way down her neck.

​I crossed my legs and rested my elbow, grinning.

​”It’s my policy to never miss stories that let me teas—ahem. Stories about my cute juniors.”

​”Y-Your wording ! Your wording hasn’t changed at all ! U-um, uh… L-Look, it’s not like I was hiding it, okay ? F-First of all, it’s your fault for not coming to the research lab, Senpai !! That’s right!!”

​”Hmm… So when’s the wedding ?”

​”!?!! W-w-w-we’re not ! M-Me and Yen, we, um… W-we don’t both have that much money, so w-we’re just sharing a room… We’re not d-dating or anything…”

​Teto’s voice grew quieter and quieter.

​…Oops, better stop here.

​Anko-san on my lap tapped my stomach. Yen’s getting a lecture when I get back.

​I took a sip of tea.​

The wooden door at the entrance suddenly opened.

​”I’m baaack～♪ Allen-san～ He’ll be here in just a moment～”

The one who arrived was the older red-haired maid.

​She’d changed back into her usual arrow-patterned dress and long skirt. According to her, ‘This feels more natural～’.

​She sat down next to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

​Teto, who’d instantly put on her hat, gave her a flat stare.

​”…Senpai, who is this person ?”

​”Hm ? Oh, I haven’t introduced you directly yet, have I ? This is Lily-san from the Linstar household maid corps. She wears this outfit and claims to be a maid… but the troubling thing is, she’s Third Seat. The world doesn’t make sense, does it ?”

​”That’s mean～! I am a maid, a maid ! Just the other day, you fought so bravely for my sake !!”

​”Yes, yes. I won’t do it again.”

​”You only said ‘yes’ once～ No ! I think Allen-san will do it again and again for me～♪”

​My junior listened intently to my banter with Lily-san, then after thinking for a moment, clapped her hands.

​”—…Ah ! I see. I understand. You fell for it too, didn’t you ? That hair color means Linstar Duke bloodline. And yet… that courage to approach Senpai without fearing

Lidia-senpai. Honestly impressive. Good luck. I’ll cheer for you. Just cheer. Anyway, Senpai needs to be charged with some crime—…actually, let’s pool together all the juniors’ resentment and complaints for a junior trial in the royal capital★ How many women do you have to charm before you’re satisfied ? You’re going to get stabbed someday, you know ?”

​”…I’m happy my junior has become so reliable.”

​”Ehehe～♪ You got me☆”

“Lily-san, please don’t encourage this. Ah, looks like he’s here.”

​A knock sounded.

​I could tell from that alone how extremely nervous he was.

​”Come in, it’s open.”

​”E-Excuse me !”

​A boy entered.

​His hair was an extremely pale blue. His skin was pale, his magic power faint, and his body thin. His eyes showed extreme nervousness.

​I raised my hand.

​”Hey, Niccolo. Thanks for coming. Please, have a seat.”

​”Y-Yes !”

​Moving his arms and legs together, he came to sit beside me.

​The boy looked at Teto with flushed cheeks.​

Teto looked at me in confusion, so I grinned. She immediately looked away.

​”Teto, let me introduce you. This is Niccolo Nitti. You know the Nitti family, right ?”

​”…I know of them. They’re one of the pillars of the allied princedoms that you seized in this recent Southern War, right ? Taking people instead of gold or land—as always, what you do is ruthless.”

​”You won’t get anything by flattering me, you know ?”

​”…I wasn’t flattering you !”

​Meanwhile, Lily-san was munching on sweets and leaning on my shoulder. I refilled her tea.

​Teto pulled down her hat brim—clearly considering escape. So obvious.

​I spoke to the boy.

​”Niccolo, this girl is my university junior—and starting next term, she’s confirmed to have a research lab in the ‘Dracomancy Tower’ as the youngest in university history, the ‘Star Mage’ Teto Tiherina.”

​”!?!! Senpai !?!!”

​Teto’s face filled with shock—and immediately she stood up, pointing at me.

​”…Y-You’re the culprit !!”

​”Unfortunately. It was me, the Professor, and Anko-san.”

​”Guh ! Wh-When did you… N-Not only avoiding our information network, but the Royal Capital Cat-Lovers Society’s network too !”

​”Ha ha ha. Teto, the Professor and I aren’t behind you yet. Lidia also gave her full approval, saying ‘Isn’t that fine ? A tiny magic tool shop talking about dreams is impossible. It’ll collapse in a month.'”

​”…Lidia-senpaaai.”

​Teto’s shoulders slumped as she collapsed onto the sofa.

​I delivered the finishing blow.

​”Naturally, Yen already approved too.”

​”…Yen, you traitor. …Senpai, please be very careful on dark streets at night, okay ?”

​”Eh ? Night crawling ?? That’s a bit… Yen would kill me.”

​”Ugugugugu !!”

​”Allen-san, Allen-san. I know it’s fun to tease your junior～ but there’s someone waiting for you, you know～?”

​Lily-san gently poked my left cheek.

​Oops, my bad.

​I’d been having so much fun teasing my cute junior that I forgot the main topic.

​”Ah, right. Teto.”​

“Y-Yes !”

​The witch-girl’s spine straightened as she waited for my words.

I placed my hand on the boy’s head and delivered the main point.

​”I’m entrusting this child—Niccolo Nitti—to you. He has more than enough talent. Please guide him.”

​”…Huh ?”

​Teto let out a dumbfounded sound and stared at me.

​Her eyes clearly pleaded ‘That’s im-pos-si-ble…’ and then she opened her mouth —

​”I absolutely—” “Refuse—” “No refusals allowed.”

​”…Senpaaai.”

​”I won’t hear complaints either. Technically there’s one more girl too. Niccolo.”

​”Y-Yes ! T-Teacher Tiherina, th-thank you very much !”

​The boy stood up and bowed deeply.

​Teto was severely flustered.

​”P-Please don’t call me teacher.”

​”Then, Master ! I-I’ll work really, really hard !!”

​”………… “

​Sparkling eyes like a puppy’s. Not a trace of malice.

​…Ah, this is tough.​

Teto received that gaze, muttered “S-So bright…” and collapsed on the sofa, flailing.

Then she directed her resentment at me.

“…Fine. Though I’m unworthy, I accept. How-ev-er ! You’re helping too, Senpai !! As soon as we get back to the royal capital, it’s teacher trial time !!!”