47 - Novem Foxus
――Early morning.
Having finished washing the laundry for the manor, Novem was out in the garden.
Laundry was piled up like a mountain in the basket.
Some of it was from when they had been away, but there was even more from their challenge in the labyrinth.
"The weather is lovely today... I wonder if Riel-sama is alright."
Recalling how things looked this morning, she figured he probably wasn't.
Novem understood that, but once the man himself said he was going, that was that.
Novem believed that the power of decision rested solely with Riel.
Looking at the garden, since it hadn't been tended to before they left, the weeds and grass had grown long.
Novem looked around and snapped her fingers with her right hand.
As she began hanging the laundry, the weeds were pulled out, the grass was neatly trimmed, and everything was gathered in one spot.
It happened in a matter of seconds.
"I don't really want to use it this way, though."
She knew that using magic for such purposes was frowned upon, but if she tried to maintain such a large manor alone, there wasn't enough time.
Today, she intended to clean the manor and prepare lunch as well.
"Miranda-san and Shannon-chan will be returning, and since I'm in their care, I should splurge a little... But I wonder how much of a reward Riel-sama will bring back."
Tilting her head, Novem relaxed in the garden for a short break.
Then, her eyes met with a cat walking atop the wall.
As Novem approached with a smile, the cat let out a "Hiss!!" with its fur standing on end and hurriedly scrambled away.
Looking at her outstretched hand, Novem fell into thought for a while.
"I suppose it really is no use."
Switching her mindset, she tried to pick up the basket to clean the kitchen.
That was when a voice called out.
It was Shannon.
"Heh, you're alone."
Even seeing Shannon with an atmosphere different from usual, Novem was not surprised.
"What happened? I don't sense Miranda-san's presence."
Shannon spoke.
"She went to the academy, leaving me behind. Apparently, there was some problem. I wonder what your companion did."
Shannon chuckled, and her eyes were undoubtedly looking at Novem.
Novem had realized that she could see her. However, for the sake of Shannon, who was pretending not to see, she decided to guide her to a room.
"It's dangerous, so I'll guide you to a room. Still, a problem at the academy?"
She wondered if something had happened to Riel.
But she could also imagine Damian had done something.
Believing that Riel could handle it, Novem reached out her hand to Shannon.
Then, Shannon directed a vulgar smile toward her.
"...You should stop that smile, Shannon-chan."
When she warned her, Shannon spoke.
"I don't know what happened, but Big Sister resisted quite a bit. Even when I tried to touch her heart, I couldn't... So, I'll try manipulating you. You're like Riel's doll, after all."
Riel's doll.
Being told that, Novem thought for a moment.
It probably wasn't wrong.
She acted for Riel's sake and existed for Riel's sake.
However, she also knew that these were not words to be said to others.
Therefore, she cautioned her.
"You mustn't say such things to people. Let's go to the room."
Then, Shannon grabbed Novem's right arm.
It was an action clearly based on her being able to see.
"...Shouldn't you be doing this more skillfully? At the very least, you've been pretending not to see until now."
Until now, Shannon had been acting as if she couldn't see.
She wouldn't take such an obvious action.
(Is she impatient?)
Having heard that Miranda resisted, Novem felt something like impatience from Shannon.
It seemed that because the doll she was finally about to obtain had been snatched away, she was acting in a way she normally wouldn't.
Then, something of Shannon's touched Novem.
"Stop acting so poised! With this, you're my doll! If it's you, who looks weaker than Big Sister... then you... you..."
Shannon's behavior was strange.
Novem spoke in a gentle tone.
"Please let go, Shannon-chan. Now, let's go to the room."
As she said that, Shannon's eyes widened as she looked at Novem.
She hurriedly let go of her hand and fell backward, landing on her buttocks.
However, she didn't seem to be in pain.
Without taking her eyes off Novem, her limbs were trembling.
"Are you alright?"
As Novem took a step closer, Shannon let out a "Hic!" from her throat and backed away in that same position.
"Your clothes will get dirty. I'll wash them, so let's change."
For Novem, this was a natural course of action, but for the current Shannon, that was the least of her concerns.
"What... what are you... you're not human. You're absolutely not a human..."
At Shannon's words, spoken with wide eyes, Novem stopped and reacted for just a moment.
Then, she touched her own expressionless face.
(...Not human. I've been told that again.)
How troublesome. Thinking this, Novem formed an expression again.
Then, she wondered how to address the terrified Shannon—.
"Shannon-chan's eyes... they're very beautiful. I thought they were yellow, but now they look gold. I wonder what kind of world you see. I'm curious as well."
In truth, she knew that Shannon saw a different world and possessed an ability.
She knew, but Novem had been pretending not to know.
However, since Shannon had stopped pretending not to see, she tried pretending to be interested. She brought up the topic, but—.
What would Shannon think upon hearing that?
She hadn't thought that far.
"Hic! Don't come closer, don't come closer!!!"
Screaming, Shannon fainted before the approaching Novem.
Novem saw this.
"Again, this result..."
Letting out a small sigh, she stroked Shannon's head.
She then picked Shannon up.
It was a princess carry.
Then, she felt a presence approaching the manor with incredible momentum.
"Riel-sama?"
When Novem looked beyond the wall, Riel leaped out from there—.
"Are you okay, Novemuuu!!"
A skill I happened to use.
Being able to see a wider range than I imagined, I sensed a red reaction near Novem.
I rushed out from the academy, using the fourth generation's skill to reach full speed.
Just as I leaped over the wall of the House Sarcly manor, I tripped because there was a pile of pulled-out weeds where I landed.
As I slipped and fell, I ended up moving right in front of Novem in a manner similar to sliding.
While I had some thoughts about falling, I felt that I had appeared before Novem in a wonderful pose.
"...A-Are you alright, Riel-sama?"
Standing up and brushing off the dirt with my hands, I spoke.
"I'm fine. I'm almost scared of myself for inventing a new landing pose. More importantly, was Novem alright?"
Looking at Shannon being carried, there probably wasn't a problem.
I checked with Novem just in case.
Then—.
"Yes. She seemed a bit surprised... By the way, why are you holding an insect?"
Novem, seeing the insect gripped in my right hand, looked puzzled.
I had found it while running and caught it.
Since I couldn't exactly punch her, I thought I'd punish her with an insect she hated.
"It's a punishment for Shannon!"
I said this and held the insect out in front of Novem, but—.
"Ow! This thing bit me!"
My finger was bitten by the insect, so I threw it away.
The insect flew off just like that, and seeing this, Novem laughed.
"W-What is it?"
"Because, Riel-sama... you're just like a boy playing pranks on a girl he likes."
Being told that, I brushed back my hair and spoke.
"Men always live with the heart of a boy. Well, have you fallen for me all over again?"
As I said that, I heard the sound of tables being slapped from inside the Jewel Orb.
Several people together, laughter and the sound of slapping tables—.
However—.
(Hmph, for the current me, it doesn't matter how much my ancestors make a fuss. The amount of magic overflowing from this body... truly wonderful.)
As I felt my talent becoming terrifying, Novem looked at me and nodded.
"I have fallen for you all over again, Riel-sama. Now, let's carry Shannon-chan to the room together. Oh, and what happened to the materials and the reward?"
Since I was asked about the reward, I answered.
"No, the maid said those were good things or something, so I decided to have them stored. The buyout price was only slightly higher than the guild's purchase price, anyway."
I could have sold them, but because she started talking about how the sense of weight was wonderful, we hit it off and the conversation moved toward not selling them.
Since Damian took a liking to the maid who woke up, we've agreed that if I visit regularly, there will be no management fee.
The maid seemed to be thinking of a way to utilize me.
"A maid, you say? Was she not an automaton? And regarding the magic..."
"Don't worry! I was taught a magic called [Golem]. But she'll certainly be angry about that. It's the type that anyone can use, but requires talent to master."
"Ah, that explains it."
Novem was convinced.
The Golem magic I was taught was actually simple.
It was simple, but... to put it bluntly, it's difficult to use.
Even when moving it, you don't operate it from the doll's perspective.
You have to think about how to move it from your own perspective, and furthermore, if your vision is blocked, you don't know what to do.
To handle it like Damian, you certainly need talent.
Even for me, the limit was two units for simultaneous operation.
"Then, you've received the reward. I heard Miranda-san rushed to the academy, did something happen?"
"What, you knew... Actually, the automaton I got as a reward became a topic of conversation. They were saying it was a crystallization of ancient technology and such, and academy students came to see it. It's amazing, it's just like a real human!"
As I explained with excitement, the fourth generation cut in.
『Hey, you bastard. Enough with the explanation, how long do you plan to make Novem-chan carry Shannon-chan? Carry her to the room already, you idiot.』
The third generation too.
『It's true. While you're at it, please say a word while carrying her.』
Since I was asked to say a word, I figured that much would be fine and spoke to Novem.
"Oops, sorry. I'll take her."
"Please do."
Saying that, I picked up Shannon and looked at her face.
I don't know what happened, but her eyes were rolled back, her mouth was open, and drool was dripping.
The beautiful girl was ruined.
"Hmph... I have a connection with sleeping princesses today."
However, not letting it be ruined here is my strong point.
"A sleeping princess?"
"Yeah, you wake them with a kiss. The automaton woke up that way too."
"...A kiss, is it? I see..."
As I said that, the sixth generation spoke.
『Riel's edge is outstanding today!!』
The seventh generation too.
『This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, Riel! You really are... good, do it more.』
The second generation was suffering.
『Stop it alreadyyyy! My abs can't take any more of thissss!!』
I wonder what they're making such a fuss about.
Thinking that, I entered the manor.
Novem, walking behind me—.
"Riel-sama, what do you think of Shannon-chan?"
Being asked that, I replied.
"Hmm? I think she's cute. So much so that I want to eat her up. But it's a pity... I can't exactly wake a girl who isn't sleeping from a curse with a kiss."
Then, Novem thought for a moment.
"...Her body seems sturdy, and apparently she doesn't get sick. As for her eyes... well, let's call that a pass. She has a blood relation to the House Walt, but it's distant, so there's no problem. I understand. I'll handle it somehow."
"Yeah, I'll leave it to you. Oh, I left Aria behind. I'll have to go pick her up later."
"Yes."
I looked at Novem, who gave a small smile.
Unlike usual, she gave a soft impression.
It put me in a good mood too.
(Me, making Novem show a smile like that... I'm so amazing it's terrifying!)