"I have given you my Blessing, so you should be able to fight more easily than usual. However, I must insist that none of you initiate combat. Please restrict yourselves to defense only. Our sole duty is to protect
When we later needed to justify ourselves, the fact that we had not drawn first would be crucial. As the others nodded at my words,
"Lady
"Rushing out on your own is prohibited. The primary objective is to protect Schwartz and Weiss and return them safely to the Library. If we fail at that, you should act under the assumption that Lord
"Ugh... Understood."
While I had been asleep for those two years, I had heard that Grandfather had thoroughly trained the guard knights who failed to protect their charge. Angelica and Traugott must have been scolded regularly—the moment I mentioned Grandfather's name, their expressions hardened immediately.
"Princess, not enough magic."
"Weiss has magic."
"...Eh? I just infused it a moment ago, didn't I?"
As I racked my memory wondering whether I had indeed stroked their heads, Schwartz and Weiss rubbed their bellies.
"Wrong. Clothes."
"Protect. Fight."
I did as told and stroked the buttons on the vest, infusing Magic Power into each one one by one. The magic circles sewn into the vest rose up one after another, then faded away.
"Stronger now."
"Princess, protect."
...What?
Being told they would protect me left me thoroughly confused. The ones who needed protecting were Schwartz and Weiss—the treasures of the Library.
"For now, let's move. Don't let your guard down."
Everyone had readied their schtappes as we left the dormitory. To ensure we could negotiate upon encountering the enemy, I placed
"This is like a Treasure Stealing Ditter. We protect Schwartz and Weiss while making our way into the Library. The goal is not to defeat the enemy but to protect. Don't misunderstand that."
I hoped there would be no ambush. Passing through the central section of the Main Building where the lecture hall was located, I turned south toward the corridor leading to the Library. The instant we reached it, I spotted cloaks of several colors.
...This isn't just one territory!
Four different cloak colors fluttered about. Against Ehrenfest's thirty or so, there appeared to be roughly a hundred people. The cloak color positioned at the very front was blue—
I narrowed my eyes at the sight of multiple adversaries waiting for us, not to mention a large territory having shown up, and I gripped Schwartz and Weiss's hands tighter.
Cornelius halted a short distance away and took a step forward.
"Lord
Standing some distance behind with his arms at his sides like a Nio guardian statue was Lestilaut, a lord candidate. His build suited a knight apprentice far better than a lord candidate. He merely narrowed his eyes dismissively at us without answering.
Instead, it was the people from the smaller territories trailing behind Dunkelfelger who cried out one after another.
"What is our intention? You're the ones who should answer that!"
"To claim as your own a Magical Tool left behind by the ancient royals—what utter insolence!"
"We're taking those large schmuils back from Ehrenfest!"
To me, they were villains trying to steal Schwartz and Weiss, but to them, apparently, we were the villains who had stolen a royal Magical Tool.
Lestilaut watched the Ehrenfest knight apprentices waver at the volume and substance of the opposing voices, the corner of his lips curving upward.
"Exactly right. Those are relics of the ancient royals, property of the Nobility Academy's Library. A mere 13th-ranked lord candidate has no right to claim ownership, steal them from the Library, and take them away! Retrieve the royal Magical Tool!"
As the large enemy force cried out in agreement, I could see the Ehrenfest knight apprentices losing heart. Annoyed, I raised my voice in rebuttal.
"How rude! We did not steal anything! I did become the master of Schwartz and Weiss through circumstances, but today I was merely fulfilling that duty by taking them to the dormitory. I have Teacher Solange's permission!"
The moment I stated that I had obtained permission to remove them from the Library, the enemy's momentum faltered.
"You have permission?"
"They didn't steal them after all?"
There were many of them, but it was clear they hadn't even properly shared information among themselves. The smaller territories had jumped on board with the noble cause raised by the large territory of Dunkelfelger, hoping to beat down Ehrenfest along the way. Since they would lose their nerve without a just cause, they must have been territories ranked below Ehrenfest.
To dispel the wavering among our side, Lestilaut swept his cloak aside and raised his hand.
"To claim the title of master of something that belongs to the royals is the height of arrogance in itself. And you took them to the Ehrenfest dormitory of all places!? Given how Teacher
...Teacher Hirschur, honestly!
She apparently had skipped her afternoon lecture. Lestilaut was probably angry about that too. I was completely collateral damage.
"If a 13th-ranked Ehrenfest student can become master, then Dunkelfelger, which is far more worthy, is clearly the proper master. Simply accept the change of master and hand over the schmuils. Do that, and I'll refrain from accusing you of stealing a royal Magical Tool. You wouldn't want to be charged with treason, would you?"
The knight apprentices around me murmured "treason" under their breath. I could see hesitation in their eyes. Being accused of treason by the royals was far too severe a blow for any noble.
"Indeed, being charged with troublesome. Moreover, if I were to hand them over to someone who would properly care for Schwartz and Weiss, I would not mind at all."
As I said this, I looked at Lestilaut.
If there had been an upper-noble Librarian, I would never have become master in the first place. Ideally, it would be best if the Library staff who served as librarians could be the ones to become dual masters.
"Lady Rozemyne."
I shook my head slightly to brush off Angelica's reproachful voice and kept my gaze on Lestilaut.
Schwartz and Weiss were Library property—Magical Tools meant for assistance. Even as their master, I could only give them Magic Power; I couldn't use them however I pleased.
If there were someone who would give even more Magic Power for the Library's sake than I did and assist Solange—someone who fancied themselves a fellow library committee member—I would happily relinquish the title of master. Since I had to return to Ehrenfest for the Dedication Ritual, having someone I could entrust everything to would be reassuring.
However, the man standing before me was clearly the muscular, athletic type—hardly someone who would want to call himself a self-proclaimed library committee member.
"If I am to transfer Schwartz and Weiss, there is something I must ask. What would you do as their master?"
"What would I... do? What do you mean?"
Lestilaut furrowed his brow as if he didn't understand the intent of the question.
"If that's difficult to answer, let me rephrase. How many times a week do you visit the Library? Please tell me how frequently you have visited the Library to date, and how many books you have borrowed."
"A lord candidate has no reason to visit the Library. You simply order an apprentice civil official to retrieve books for you. What on earth are you talking about?"
Not visiting the Library. That alone disqualified him as a master of Schwartz and Weiss. Lestilaut could not be entrusted with them.
I shook my head, refusing Lestilaut's proposal.
"You are disqualified as a master of Schwartz and Weiss. Someone who never visits the Library cannot become their master."
"Disqualified? What absurd—"
Schwartz and Weiss needed their master's Magic Power. Visiting every few days would be ideal, and if that wasn't possible, extra Magic Power needed to be infused to cover the gap so Solange wouldn't be inconvenienced.
Someone who never visited the Library could never serve as their master.
"We are in the process of returning Schwartz and Weiss to the Library. I have a duty as their master to protect them. We cannot allow them to be taken by someone who would not use a Library Magical Tool for the Library's benefit. You are the one who should be charged with treason—by obstructing us and attempting to take them by force!"
"How dare you speak so impudently!"
I shouted back at Lestilaut's bellowing voice.
"I will protect Schwartz and Weiss, and by extension, the Nobility Academy's Library! No matter how impudent you call me, even if you are a lord candidate from a large territory, I will show no mercy to anyone who tries to take Schwartz and Weiss from the Library!"
At my words, the Ehrenfest knight apprentices fixed their eyes on the enemy, glaring at the opposing group.
By refusing to back down despite the enormous disparity in both numbers and ranking, we had shaken the confidence of the smaller territories, and they began hedging their bets.
"At this rate, we won't be able to tell who's in the right."
"I want no part of being accused of treason."
"Perhaps we should ask a prince to arbitrate."
With that, the people from the smaller territories withdrew in unison, apparently having reached a silent agreement. Only Dunkelfelger's blue cloaks remained, still blocking the path to the Library without abandoning their hostile intent.
"Please step aside. I am returning Schwartz and Weiss to the Library."
"I won't. I will be the one to become their master. Hand them over before you get hurt."
As he spoke, Lestilaut drew his schtappe and shaped it into a sword. Seeing this, the Ehrenfest knight apprentices all readied their schtappes in unison.
"You are not fit to be the master of Schwartz and Weiss. I must refuse."
"Seize that impudent runt and capture the schmuils!"
Lestilaut swung his schtappe, and a mass of Magic Power came flying at us. Cornelius chanted "Gettel," created a shield, and deflected it immediately.
"Angelica, Traugott—the two of you will carve us a path! Everyone else, hold up your shields, protect against attacks, and advance toward the Library!"
"Right!"
The instant I entrusted the two hot-blooded fighters with clearing the way, Angelica grabbed the magic sword
Using body reinforcement, Angelica moved lightly, leaping over the Ehrenfest knights holding shields and surging to the vanguard.
"My body is so light! This is wonderful! Let's go, Stenluke!"
Stenluke's greatly extended blade was brimming with Magic Power. Angelica swung the magic sword and swiftly cut down enemy after enemy.
Honestly, I could barely follow what was happening. I could see Angelica moving with Stenluke, but I couldn't make sense of what she was actually doing. Unlike the Angelica I knew, she had clearly mastered body reinforcement. Her movements were distinctly faster than those of the enemies around her.
"Pardon me, Princess."
Richarda knelt before me and lifted me into her arms. Schwartz and Weiss, whose hands I still held, bumped into each other against Richarda's back and dangled loosely.
"Princess, please be careful not to let go of Schwartz and Weiss."
"Yes!"
As Richarda-centered group of knight apprentices began running to break through the center, the enemies who had transformed their schtappes into bows loosed a volley at us. A rain of light arrows poured down—more than the shields the knights were holding could block.
Bang! A sound like something bursting rang out, and simultaneously, the archers crumbled to the ground.
"What happened!?"
"Princess, protect."
"Enemy's power, returned to enemy."
The golden eyes of Schwartz and Weiss swaying on Richarda's back glowed with Magic Power, and the buttons on their clothing shone as well.
"Amazing?"
"Princess, praise!"
"I do want to praise you, but I can't let go right now, so please wait until we reach the Library."
...Schwartz and Weiss's protection was incredible.
Being able to handle multiple enemies at once—it might even surpass the Chief Priest's charms. The Chief Priest had said to wear multiple charms to deal with multiple enemies.
...Actually, Schwartz and Weiss were essentially wearing multiple charms themselves, weren't they?
I remembered there had been many magic stone buttons and gave a small nod.
"The protection of a royal relic, you say?"
"Now's our chance! Into the Library!"
Amid the growing melee, we made our way toward the Library. Just as the door came into view, a booming voice descended from above.
"Stop! Both sides, sheathe your weapons!"
At the appearance of a royal, everyone simultaneously sheathed their weapons and knelt. With the Library door right before us, I too was set down and knelt.
"I heard there was a disturbance in the Nobility Academy. What exactly is going on?"
At Anastasius's irritated voice, Lestilaut lowered his head but made his case nonetheless.
A Magical Tool that belonged to the royals and was supposed to remain in the Library had been stolen by Ehrenfest. He had been attempting to reclaim it.
"A royal relic?... Those schmuils? Ehrenfest, do you have any objection?"
"We do."
I explained that I had obtained Solange's permission and was removing them in order to fulfill my duty as their master. That they needed to be returned to the Library, yet someone was trying to take them by force. That we had been protecting a royal Magical Tool.
"Summon the dormitory supervisors of Dunkelfelger and Ehrenfest! I'll hear the details in the conference room."
"Prince Anastasius, forgive my boldness, but before we go to the conference room, may I please return Schwartz and Weiss to the Library? They belong there."
No matter how the subsequent discussion turned out, if I could safely deliver Schwartz and Weiss back to the Library, I would win.
"Returning a Library Magical Tool to the Library is only proper. Go ahead and return them."
"My gratitude."
I took Schwartz and Weiss and, with Richarda and my guard knights, entered the Library.
"Teacher Solange. I've brought Schwartz and Weiss back."
"Oh, Rozemyne. That was quick."
"I have been summoned by Prince Anastasius and must leave at once. Please excuse me."
I stroked Schwartz and Weiss's foreheads, thanking them for protecting me, and infused them with Magic Power. Despite having given them Magic Power at noon, they had depleted quite a bit. It must have cost a great deal of energy to defend us.
Having safely returned Schwartz and Weiss, I left the Library and let out a sigh. My task was done, and honestly, I wanted nothing to do with the upcoming discussion.
"Princess, you must not show such a tired expression. Your opponent is a lord candidate from a large territory. If you don't approach this with focus, things will go exactly as they intend."
"...Even if you say that, I truly have no idea what Lestilaut was thinking in wanting Schwartz and Weiss."
When I said this with a sigh, everyone from Richarda onward looked at me in astonishment.
"What do you mean, you don't know!?"
"A 13th-ranked first-year lord candidate became the master of a Magical Tool that cannot be touched without the master's recognition and permission, requires the master's approval for transfer, and cannot be removed from the Library."
"If it were possible, wouldn't it be natural to want to become master oneself?"
"...Is there really that many people who want to collaborate for the Library's sake?"
I thought this sounded promising, but everyone around me shook their heads in frustration, denying it.
"That's not it! Being recognized as the master of a royal Magical Tool means being entrusted with the management of a royal relic. It's an honor!"
"They probably think it would put them in the royal family's good graces."
That kind of reason was nowhere near sufficient to make me hand over the master's seat.
"Princess, please consider well the deep gap between your own understanding and those around you before you speak."
"...Yes."
When we arrived at the conference room, a line of blue cloaks knelt before Anastasius. And standing beside Anastasius was Luegen. Apparently, Dunkelfelger's dormitory supervisor was Luegen. When I looked at the two side by side, they actually made a surprisingly fitting pair.
As we lined up and knelt before the prince in the same manner, Anastasius's attendant—who had apparently been dispatching ordonnanzes—entered with a troubled expression.
"Teacher Hirschur says she is too busy with her research and cannot come."
"Ehrenfest seems to have been abandoned by its dormitory supervisor."
Lestilaut snorted and said this. He was mocking us, but I couldn't even get angry. It was simply the truth. All we could do was exchange glances and shrug.
"...Teacher Hirschur is rarely seen in the dormitory, so this is perfectly normal for Ehrenfest."
"What!?"
"If only there were a different dormitory supervisor."
Perhaps the students would be better off with a more serious dormitory supervisor. When I muttered this, Anastasius shook his head slightly.
"If you want a new supervisor, send someone capable to the Central District. Ehrenfest has no one capable enough to serve as a Central official, which is why the supervisor cannot be replaced."
"...I believe Teacher Hirschur will continue serving as supervisor for the time being."
Ehrenfest's shortage of talented individuals was dire. Anyone with the ability to serve in the Central District was someone I would rather keep in Ehrenfest.
"But it is problematic when the supervisor doesn't show up. Rozemyne, can't you summon her?"
"If I try, I can. Richarda, an ordonnanz, please."
Richarda produced an ordonnanz for me. I spoke toward the ordonnanz she had created.
"Teacher Hirschur, it's Rozemyne. Please come to the conference room immediately. If the dormitory supervisor doesn't appear, the master of Schwartz and Weiss will be transferred to another territory, and you won't be able to continue your research."
As Richarda sent the ordonnanz flying, I smiled at Anastasius and said, "I believe she'll be here shortly."
"Ehrenfest's dormitory supervisor has arrived. Was there something you needed?"
She must have flown here on her beast. Just as I predicted, Hirschur appeared in the conference room, and the students cried out in shock that "Teacher Hirschur came out of her research lab of her own free will!"
"...Very well. Let's hear about the Magical Tool at the center of this incident. Rozemyne, why are you the master? I recall it was a Magical Tool that couldn't be touched without a master. How did you come to be one?"
"I can only describe it as a chain of circumstances. Please ask Teacher Solange for the details. Her account will be more credible than mine."
Explaining that I had prayed to the gods out of joy at being registered in the Library, causing my Magic Power to erupt as a Blessing that activated Schwartz and Weiss—I doubted anyone would believe that. Lestilaut would probably tell me to stop making things up.
"Hmm. That does sound about right."
"Prince Anastasius, Ehrenfest was attempting to take a royal Magical Tool into its dormitory and claim it as their own."
At Lestilaut's words, Anastasius raised one eyebrow slightly. His gray eyes seemed to demand an explanation, so I gave a small nod.
"I have no intention of making Schwartz and Weiss my own. If a more suitable candidate exists, I will gladly transfer the master's seat immediately."
"Don't lie!"
"Lestilaut, quiet. I am currently hearing Rozemyne's opinion."
Anastasius waved his hand dismissively to silence Lestilaut. Seizing the opportunity, I looked up and made a request to Anastasius regarding a new master.
"Prince Anastasius, please restore a Librarian of upper-noble standing to the position. Solange, who is of middle-noble rank, was unable to become master. Managing the Library's operations alone is extremely difficult, and I have merely been serving as a temporary master to assist. Please dispatch personnel from the Central District. I believe that would be the most proper arrangement."
Anastasius nodded with a complicated expression at my words about wanting to transfer the master's seat to a Central-dispatched Librarian.
"...I see. Your point is well taken. However, it is not something that can be done immediately. If there is a temporary master and the Magical Tools are functioning without issue, isn't that sufficient?"
There apparently was a reason he couldn't immediately restore a Librarian. When Anastasius said the status quo was fine, Lestilaut scrambled forward on his knees.
"Prince Anastasius, then please designate me as the temporary master! Surely I am more fitting than 13th-ranked Ehrenfest!"
"A master who never visits the Library is not needed by Schwartz and Weiss. At minimum, one must be able to make it to the Library three times a week."
As Lestilaut and I glared at each other, Luegen, wearing a smile that appeared pleasant on the surface but was actually stiflingly intense, made a proposal to Anastasius.
"Why not settle the matter of the rightful master through Ditter, Prince Anastasius?"
Luegen then launched into an impassioned explanation of the merits of deciding the master through Ditter.
Without sufficient strength to protect a Magical Tool that was a royal relic, Ehrenfest could not be entrusted with it. Dunkelfelger would demonstrate its superiority over Ehrenfest and honorably claim the master's seat.
"Wouldn't that always favor Dunkelfelger, since they win all the time?"
"That is precisely why Ehrenfest only needs to defend. There is no need to attack us."
He said there was no need to attack Dunkelfelger—simply defending would be enough. Whether that was truly a fair difficulty setting, I had no idea.
"Indeed, it would be a problem if Ehrenfest lacked the power to defend. ...Very well. A Ditter match will be held in the arena of the knight apprentice specialized building, and the Magical Tool's master shall be decided by the winner."
Once Anastasius made the decision, we had no choice but to comply. I stood to head for the arena.
"Hmph. Earlier you had the Magical Tool's protection, but you won't this time. Don't think you can beat us."
Lestilaut murmured this in passing. I quietly returned his condescending gaze.
"Lady Rozemyne, you absolutely must not lose!"
Hirschur grabbed my shoulder with a desperate expression, her eyes wide. The fact that she let slip "my important research subject" showed just how honest she was. Her mind was probably thinking of nothing but the magic circles of Schwartz and Weiss.
"...I won't lose. I have absolutely no intention of making someone who doesn't care about the Library into the master of Schwartz and Weiss."
...Besides, when it comes to magical accessories, I've got just as many as Schwartz and Weiss, don't I?
Schwartz and Weiss were safely returned to the Library, but a Ditter match would be held to decide their master.
Next time: Ditter.