Sixteen-two: You wanna stick close 'cause you're nervous, huh?

Maina clinging to me, eyes watering, after Kyle’s grotesque grin.

In this situation, I can’t help but feel a faint itch—just a little—of my alchemist’s instinct. Maybe it’s okay to collect her saintly tears? She brought this on herself, after all.

But no way am I doing that in front of Kyle, radiating that black aura.

Kyle just stared at Maina, then suddenly let the mood dissolve with a deep sigh.

“Didn’t think Maina’d go this far.”

Me neither.

But then again, lately she’s been hanging out with the Kendall siblings. So really, this isn’t that surprising.

“…I’ll go too.”

Maina murmured, barely above a whisper.

“I’ll go too.”

Maina… I’ve said this already, but no one knows what’s waiting for us out there. It’s dangerous. Forgot about the eight-headed hydra we ran into in the swamp?

That time, we were careless, but Maina was the one the hydra targeted. She hid alone in the hollow of a giant tree—she felt real fear.

She flinched, remembering.

“So…!”

“Huh?”

“So! I’m going with you!”

Maina clung to me, but her grip on Kyle’s sleeve tightened like a vise.

“Alone… waiting… I can’t do it!”

Her words hit me hard. Kyle’s eyes widened too, stunned.

“Maina…?”

Kyle looked at her, caught between worry and disbelief.

I thought for a second.

“Raidock.”

“What?”

I turned to Raidock, who’d been standing nearby. He smirked, like he already knew what I was thinking.

“If more Maina shows up, will guards become harder to manage?”

“Hey, hey. Who’re you talking to? As long as it’s conditional Maina-sama always sticks with Kyle-sama, I won’t repeat that Hydral mess. Lightly, both of them… no, including you, I’ll guard all of you myself.”

Saying that, he flashed his left hand. There, the mark of Sword Saint gleamed fiercely.

Like a declaration of his resolve, strong and clear.

“Kyle-sama. Even if numbers are down compared to that time, our strength doesn’t even compare. One more Maina-sama? Not a single problem.”

He turned a confident look toward Kyle.

“Of course. Even if we’re escorting Maina-sama to the base camp, no problem at all.”

Raidock shrugged lightly. Maina’s eyes widened in despair, clinging to me even tighter.

You! This isn’t the place to be playing hero for Maina!

“Kyle, what now?”

“……”

Kyle closed his eyes, quiet, thinking.

Maina looking up at me, eyes wide with worry.

I let out a long, exaggerated sigh—then played the hero.

“Why not? Getting out there, seeing the world, that’s experience, right? And this time, I’ll protect Maina, just you watch.”

“Brother…”

That must’ve been it—Kyle gave a reluctant nod.

“Maina. During the trip, stay close to Craft brother. Study every day. Listen to everyone. No whining. Keep up the manners befitting a noble’s blood. Can you do that?”

Maina lifted her head, sharp and quick.

“I promise… I’ll do it.”

“Is that how a noble behaves?”

Maina, who’d been clinging to me, blinked wide-eyed, then let go, lifting her skirt with elegant precision and giving a delicate curtsy.

“I promise… I’ll do it.”

She bowed like a proper lady. I blinked. So did Kyle.

“Hah. Fine. I’ll allow it.”

Kyle finally gave in, sighing.

“Craft-sama. Contact Persia. She’s probably in trouble by now. If Maina’s coming along, she’ll need protection.”

“True.”

I ruffled Maina’s hair, and she turned, beaming at me—bright, like sunlight through glass.

For some reason, I couldn’t look away.

She can actually smile like that, huh?

Eva shot me a half-lidded, exasperated glance.

“You should get on that call already, don’t you think?”

Her voice was ice.

Always the cool one, huh? Magic user, through and through!

I fumbled to activate the communication golem.

This golem uses orichalcum—it links our minds, lets us share what we see and hear.

Only problem? Massive mana drain. Only me or Professor Javir can initiate or connect.

...Wait.

If Eva’s got the Wise Man’s sigil, she might be able to activate it.

Should ask Kyle later—maybe get her a full-send-and-receive golem instead of just receive-only. Two of us in the party? That’d be reassuring.

Actually, Ryuuko can send too—but only to me. Some kind of restriction. Maybe because she’s a familiar. I can send to her with minimal mana cost, but trying to send through her to someone else? Total waste. Practically useless.

While thinking that, I send permission to connect mentally with Persia.

You can’t establish mental resonance without the other’s consent.

“Hello, Persia? You okay—”

‘Too late! Too late!’

No need to even ask—she’s already linked mind to mind with me.

The scene she’s seeing floods into my head.

Looks like she’s on some balcony.

Having a fancy tea party or something?

‘Maina-sama’s gone missing! She’s escaped from the room by lowering a rope from the balcony! I’m heading to Alphard right now to rouse all the soldiers—’

“Wait, wait, wait! Calm down, Persia!”

‘How can I calm down!? I think it’s her own doing, but she could’ve been kidnapped!’

You can’t see my line of sight!? Focus! Share my vision!

Now's not the time for that...!

I shift my gaze to the table.

Maina was eating with total focus, served by Ryuuko at her side.

Yeah, I hadn’t eaten a thing since morning.

Elegant, as befits a noble—yet the motion to bring it to his lips is quick.

...What?

You see her? Maina’s over here. Relax.

'K-...k-...'

Huh?

I thought she was calm, but Persia’s body’s shaking slightly.

You’re the kidnapper, huh!?

You gotta be kidding me! This piece of junk!

My shout echoed through the night woods.

Someone fix this useless knight! This damn female knight!

In the end, it took about as long as it takes for water to boil to calm them down.

Tsk tsk.

◆

"——So, I've allowed Maina to come along."

Kyle explains the situation to Persia.

"So, Persia, we'd like you to join us here. Can you make it in time?"

"Of course! I'm heading your way right now!"

I cut in at Persia's useless remark.

"You can't do jack till that steamship comes back. What're you gonna do, just sprint there?"

"Guh...!"

"Don't worry, Persia. With your two-legged bird, you'll catch up in a few days, right?"

"Of course! As soon as the ship arrives, I'll leave at the speed of a broken-down engine!"

"Stop breaking it!"

That's a precious steam engine, you idiot!?

Normally, I'd just laugh it off as empty bravado. But with Persia, I wouldn't put it past her to actually do it.

We can't let the ship sail at night. I think it’s about time we headed back. Just don’t let it leave before sunrise. Got it? Persia.

‘……Huh?’

Why the hell are you giving me that look?!

‘My magic’s getting thin. Can we wrap this up?’

‘Right. I’ll leave the explanation to Persia.’

‘Huh?!’

Managed to talk that useless lump into shutting up, and cut the transmission.

‘Phew.’

‘Brother, you did well.’

‘Yeah. Damn it. Ran the explanation too long. Wasted magic. Let me sleep in today.’

‘Of course.’

‘First thing’s first—food.’

‘Yes.’

We’ll take turns eating.

And right away, Maina was getting lessons from Kyle.

A little chaos earlier, but now finally, peace settled in.

When the stars filled the sky, Kyle made a startled face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing… Maina doesn’t have any clothes.”

“Ah.”

Maina pointed to the crate she’d been hiding in.

“Clothes. Here.”

Peering inside, sure enough, there was a garment.

Just one.

And it was a nightgown.

“…Brother, contact Persia.”

“…Got it.”

Kyle and I shared a tired smile.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the best this year too!