Characters in this chapter:
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Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge
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Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier
“……Wouldn’t it be better to hurry and call Belisario-sama?”
I stopped and turned at the sudden sound of my own name.
Two familiar ladies were whispering to each other, their faces close together. The two girls are the ladies who have tea parties with Sapphiras in the salon several times a month, as I recall. The ladies, who were whispering to each other, noticed me and came running towards me in a panic.
“Belisario-sama! Just in time!”
“We were just now talking about whether it would be better to call Belisario-sama.”
“What’s going on?”
“Sapphiras-sama is taking a nap in the courtyard……”
“Even with his summoned beast by his side, it might be a little dangerous.”
I understood the general situation from the ladies, who raised their eyebrows and appealed in turn.
“I understand. Thank you for informing me.”
I thanked them and walked quickly to the courtyard.
The courtyard is one of Sapphiras’ favourite places. If he is not in the cafeteria, he is usually in the courtyard. He used to swing his wand around in pursuit of a good-looking wand swing, but I haven’t seen him doing so recently. He has probably decided on a form that he is happy with.
Sapphiras is a magician who does not need a wand in the first place, but he has always worn one since he discovered the aesthetics of wands. Influenced by him, there are many students who use wands in this academy.
Sapphiras, who is a master of powerful advanced magic, wields his wand proudly. He pulls out his wand with particularly flamboyant gestures. His appearance has completely changed the idea that wands are magic tools for inexperienced magicians, which everyone had previously held.
According to Sapphiras, it is those who have strong magical powers and are good at magic who should use a wand. If you use a compatible wand, the flow of magic power is said to be much better. A magician as good as Sapphiras says this, so it must be true.
I am always impressed by his flexible way of thinking, which is not bound by the common sense of the world. Every time, I think I must learn from his attitude.
As the ladies said, in the place where the afternoon sun was pouring down, Sapphiras, with his arms and legs thrown out, was sleeping soundly on Cu Sith’s stomach as a pillow. When I approached, Cu Sith opened his eyes and raised his head, but he immediately put his chin back on his aligned paws and closed his eyes, seemingly disinterested.
But still, he can sleep while summoning a phantom beast, so it seems to show the inexhaustibility of his magical power. There was a time when he spent more than a month with a calm face with four giant beasts summoned. I was chilled when I found out, but it is nostalgic now.
I sit quietly beside Sapphiras so as not to wake him.
He has silky, shiny black hair and translucent white skin. Sleeping in the pale, dusky sunlight, Sapphiras seems likely to disappear if you accidentally touch him.
“He is truly a sleeping spirit……”
Sapphiras was originally good-looking, but when he entered the third year, he became even more beautiful as if he had taken off the veil he had been wearing.
His mysterious appearance, perhaps because he has lost his innocence and become more mature, attracts the hearts of many people, both men and women, regardless of whether he wants it or not. However, he is not at all conscious of attracting attention, and his carelessness seems to leave an opening.
The academy is basically a safe place, but unfortunately it is not completely free from people with bad ideas.
Since around last year, cultural exchanges with other countries have become more active, and aristocrats from neighbouring countries have been coming to the academy as exchange students. Some of the foreign students have feelings for Sapphiras, even though they know that he is my fiancée. As expected, there is no one who would openly try to interfere with the engagement of a Margrave’s family, but they are trying to get close to him in any way they can, wanting to welcome him, an excellent magician.
Naturally, they don’t know Sapphiras and assume that he is a quiet and obedient person due to his ephemerality.
The true nature of Sapphiras is the complete opposite of his fragile appearance. Above all, he is free, strong and resilient. He can face any calamity or threat and wipe it out single-handedly, without the slightest fear.
On top of that, he also has a compassionate side, which is why he tries to protect all those he welcomes into his bosom as a matter of course. With average courage, one would not be able to stand with him.
Even now, there are signs that they are watching us from a distance, but no one has the guts to approach the big fairy dog.
Some call him the favoured son of the Goddess, and perhaps that is exactly what he is. In the first place, he may not be the kind of person that I, a mere mortal, would be able to be a partner to. Even so, I have decided to be with Sapphiras.
I am there to make sure that Sapphiras, who goes wherever his heart takes him, does not have to stop and look back.
“……Sapphiras.”
I call out softly, but the eyelids that hide the blue star do not open. He must be sleeping too deeply. While brushing the hair on his forehead with my finger, I gently dropped my lips onto Sapphiras’ white forehead.
“Nn……Percival?”
A languid voice calls my name. A blue jewel that looks like it’s still dreaming, reflects me. Apparently, the kiss awakened the sleeping spirit.
“It’s not safe for you to sleep here.”
“It’s okay……Cu Sith is here. Besides…….”
The still sleepy Sapphiras must have been up late reading an old book he said he had found somewhere just recently. He was excited that it was a ruin-class rarity. If he didn’t stop at the right place, he would get into it until he collapsed. It will be time to take care that he gets a good night’s sleep.
“Besides?”
“There’s Percival here now…….”
Sapphiras touched my cheek with his thin white fingers and rubbed the tips of our noses together in a spoiled manner. My heart trembles at the sweet gestures he shows me from time to time, only in my presence.
Ah……this is why I can’t stand it.
Sapphiras, who had stood alone without relying on anyone since the time we first met, finally began to show me this side.
But such bliss was short-lived. The hand that had been touching my cheek lost its strength and fell away. Sapphiras had already closed his eyelids and was breathing peacefully in his sleep.
“Fuu……it can’t help.”
I take off my jacket and gently drape it over Sapphiras, who has fallen asleep again.
The light that floods his long eyelashes is so beautiful that you want to stare at it forever, but the sunlight seems to be a little too bright. I shift my body and use my own shadow as a sunshade so that the sunlight does not shine directly on Sapphiras’s face.
“Nyah! You fairy dog! Why are you here nya!”
After a few moments of calm, a loud, inappropriate voice suddenly rings out and a small black cat comes running towards us.
It was Sapphiras’ little buddy, Cait Sith. He must have come here from a dimensional gap.
I often see him one-sidedly attacking Cu Sith, but according to Sapphiras, it doesn’t mean they are on bad terms. Normally, that would also be pleasing.
I restrain Cait Sith, who is about to cause a needless commotion, with my hand and hold up my index finger in front of my mouth. Cait Sith stops dead in its tracks at my gesture. It’s a clever summoned beast. That’s all it took for him to sense it immediately.
“……Is master sleeping nya?”
Cait Sith peers at Sapphiras’ face.
“Aah, yes. He looks tired, please let him rest.”
‘……It can’t be helped nya.”
Cait Sith touched Sapphiras’ cheek a few times with his small front paws, and this time, not sure what he was thinking, he slapped Cu Sith on the nose with all his might. Cu Sith looked up in surprise when he was hit, but he didn’t stand up because Sapphiras’ head was on his stomach.
“Cait Sith.”
When I called his name as if to reproach him, Cait Sith wagged his tail.
“Somehow, I’m irritated nya.”
……I see.
It’s probably jealousy. I’ve never heard of a summoned beast clinging to its contractor. I hear that summoned beasts will not interfere with each other if their magical powers with the contractor are cut off. So there is currently no connection between the unsummoned Cait Sith and Sapphiras. However, he who crosses over to this side on his own accord will always come to Sapphiras.
Saphiras does not use summoned beasts as servants, but always treats them as equals and respects them. It’s not just a relationship of giving magical power, but they are connected by a solid bond.
“Couldn’t Cait Sith also protect Sapphiras here? I feel uneasy with Cu Sith and I alone.”
“Nya nya. It can’t be helped nya.”
Cait Sith gently snuggled up to Sapphiras’ side and adjusted his sitting position several times before curling into a ball and letting out a sigh. He looks like a normal cat when he does that, but it’s a powerful summoned beast. His temperament, which jumps on beasts much larger than himself without fear, is somewhat similar to Saphirus. People who look alike might get along better.
The sight of Sapphiras and the summoned beasts peacefully sleeping is truly a heartwarming sight. I love this tranquil time so much.
O merciful Goddess of fate, Fortina. Can you hear my voice?
I swear to you now.
No matter what happens, I will never leave Sapphiras alone. I will be his sword and shield, no matter how unsightly I may have to act, I will struggle until the last minute.
I will not board a ship bound for the land beyond until I have seen Sapphiras returned to you safely, having enjoyed his life in this world to the fullest and fully satisfied.
So please.
Let my destiny be a part of Sapphiras’s life.
