Chapter 98
“Hehehe… I never expected to get so many cute pictures~”
Dorothea de Chamber was satisfied.
Holding a pile of Polaroid photos in her arms, she hadn’t expected Murmur to be so cooperative.
So, she was feeling so happy that her cheeks were flushed red.
“Dorothea, the elementary school vice-principal.”
Monica gently tugged at the hem of Dorothea’s skirt.
“Huhuhu… Does our cute Saintess also want to take a bunch of pictures?”
Dorothea had just left Nicasia’s room.
She had only walked about twenty steps.
“You shouldn’t do such things.”
It was a single remark from the Saintess with shining golden eyes.
“Oh my.”
“I don’t understand difficult things. I’ve been in the Tower of Capella for so long that there’s a lot I don’t know.”
Monica tugged at the skirt with her small hand, putting all her strength into it.
“But I know how to say when something is wrong. What you’re trying to do, Teacher Dorothea, is wrong.”
“You’re saying this with those sparkling, pretty eyes~”
As Dorothea turned her body, Monica nodded.
Having met Murmur, Monica knew that fate could change, so she was gathering her courage.
“Unlike our Saintess’s worries~ Teacher, you don’t intend to do anything bad, right~?”
“I may not have learned much… but even I can tell that it’s wrong.”
Dorothea smiled and crouched down.
The elf with shimmering emerald hair gently stroked the Saintess in front of her.
“The reason our Saintess thinks that way is because she’s been locked in the tower for so long, right?”
“…That’s right.”
“Teacher~ You’re just trying to prevent such bad things, right? Huhuhu, so don’t worry~”
Dorothea stroked Monica’s head with both hands, hugged her, and rubbed her cheeks vigorously.
“U… Uwaah?!”
“Ah! So cute! This is why kids are the best~!”
Dorothea laughed brightly and even stroked Monica’s back.
Even the passing students and staff could see that the two looked soft and warm.
‘This feeling… It’s just like Sister Irene!’
No matter how sincere she was, it didn’t reach.
Monica knew well that to break down this huge emotional wall, she needed a warm miracle.
* * *
“I thought it was a joke from Vice-Principal Dorothea…”
Professor Aiaie Hekati, who had entered Murmur’s room, gave a bitter smile.
“Murmur needs help!”
The elementary school vice-principal kept her promise.
She brought out every single item listed on the paper Citrine had handed over with concern, without missing a single one from the academy’s warehouse.
“Murmur even brought this magic book!”
“It must be a magic book written a long time ago… You brought a well-preserved one.”
It was a magic book Citrine had worked hard to obtain.
As expected from someone who would do anything money could buy!
“Murmur thinks Professor Aiaie can fix Vesta!”
“Modifying or repairing Maghauscia is quite dangerous.”
“That’s why Murmur is asking the smart Professor Aiaie for help!”
Murmur urgently grabbed Professor Aiaie’s hand.
Honestly, no other method came to mind.
Repairing Maghauscia wasn’t an event in the main story.
“If it’s too much, please let me know. Murmur really wants to repair Vesta.”
“If we inquire around, we might find a craftsman skilled in the creation methods written in the magic book.”
“Huhuhu… You’re really working hard for your friend.”
Professor Aiaie stroked Nicasia and Citrine’s heads.
“Vesta, right? This Maghauscia was made fundamentally differently from the ones made recently. So even if we find a craftsman, they might not be able to repair it.”
“Uh… Then, what do we do? Can’t it be repaired?”
In front of the flustered Esme, Professor Aiaie opened the magic book and began to read.
“This Maghauscia was made with magic. It’s a combination of Transformation Magic, Herbology… Black Magic, and Contract Magic.”
“Did you say Black Magic? Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Huhu, a long time ago, even Transformation Magic was called Black Magic. Even Contract Magic was called evil and twisted Black Magic.”
Professor Aiaie skillfully drew a magic circle with the wand tucked under her arm.
In an instant, blue light filled the room.
As expected, choosing our magic professor was the right answer!
It might have been a bit of luck, but Vesta’s body was made by a magician!
“Normally, if someone wanted to repair such an old Maghauscia… I’d recommend buying a new one.”
Professor Aiaie glanced at Murmur.
“Murmur, I’ll help you just this once because I appreciate your good heart.”
“Murmur is really happy! I’ll attend after-school classes diligently starting tomorrow!”
Professor Aiaie stroked Murmur’s horns and head thoroughly.
─ Flash!
Then, like a true professor, she moved her wand smoothly, splitting the prepared materials in half, grinding them into powder, or squeezing out their juices to proceed with the ritual.
“Professor Aiaie is truly a genius.”
“I don’t know much about magic… but is there a reason Esme is saying that?”
“Professor Aiaie isn’t specialized in this kind of magic, right?”
Esme frowned and groaned.
“Professor Aiaie is a professor of Elemental Studies.”
“Ah! Right! Elemental Studies!! I heard that’s incredibly difficult!”
Esme probably wanted to say it was like a farmer suddenly repairing a smartphone.
“Murmur, you should continue to listen to the professors and be a good girl, okay?”
“Murmur promises!”
Professor Aiaie smiled and held her wand with both hands.
The magical energy emanating from her body was so sweet and heavy it made your nose tingle.
As expected, fixing a small, broken maid was nothing for a genius magician.
* * *
“Thank you, Murmur.”
Vesta, with her arms and legs perfectly repaired, was still smaller and more delicate than Murmur.
“Wow… She’s really cute.”
“But is it okay? It seems like Murmur has a little sister to take care of now.”
While Nicasia clapped, Esme was pondering something more realistic.
“You can trust me, ladies.”
Vesta, wearing only a white dress and a slip, reached for the bed she had been lying on.
─ Swish swish!
In an instant, Vesta neatly arranged the thick blanket and pillow.
“She’s faster than Sister Anna!”
“Professor Aiaie said she was made hundreds of years ago, right?!”
It’s no wonder Monica and Citrine were clapping in surprise.
Even Murmur was clapping in amazement.
“I will do my best to take care of Murmur from now on.”
Though small, Vesta was the perfect super maid, just as Murmur remembered.
And as Vesta bowed, Bianca also bent at a 90-degree angle.
“I will also do my best to take care of Murmur.”
Unexpectedly, there were now two super maids.
“That’s really great! Murmur won’t feel lonely even when sleeping.”
“Murmur usually sleeps well.”
“But still, isn’t it nice to have a doll to hug tightly while sleeping?”
I get what you mean, but it’s kind of embarrassing.
“Ah! But! You’re not going to dress the little maid… I mean, Vesta like this, right? Murmur?”
“Murmur will dress her in a proper maid outfit.”
“But it doesn’t seem like there’s a suitable maid outfit right now?”
Citrine chuckled lightly.
“I’ve already prepared a maid outfit that suits Vesta. Balkan!”
“Yes, miss!”
Balkan, who appeared like lightning, somehow managed to pull out ten maid outfits and hung them on the wall in an instant.
“Wow… There are so many cute maid outfits?”
“Some of them even look like they’d suit Murmur!”
Why are you suddenly trying to dress me, Murmur, in them?!
Anyway, the maid outfits Citrine prepared ranged from traditional black and white combinations to pink, frilly doll-like outfits.
“This one looks like a shiny, cool knight’s outfit?”
“Wow… This one feels very magical!”
“Where did you even get these outfits?”
Amidst the natural compliments from her friends, Citrine smiled brightly and tightly grabbed Murmur’s arm.
“Oh~hohoho! I’m the woman who will marry Murmur in the future! This level of investment is just basic!”
“…If Professor Aiaie hadn’t repaired her, wouldn’t this have been a waste?”
“Investments can fail sometimes~”
Citrine smiled brightly and offered her cheek to Murmur.
A kiss was out of the question, so Murmur just patted her head.
Honestly, considering Murmur’s financial situation, buying new maid outfits would have been impossible.
“Hmm… But still, I hope it’s a maid outfit that suits cute Murmur.”
“Sister Bianca dresses like Nicasia’s maid sisters, so maybe something eye-catching?”
“I think a red maid outfit would be pretty too!”
Naturally, the room’s atmosphere turned into a playful search for the perfect maid outfit for cute Vesta.
Without even hearing the owner, Murmur’s opinion, they were already going “This one’s good! That one’s good!” and squealing like kids, which was oddly heartwarming.
“I look forward to working with you, Murmur.”
While the friends were busy with the ten maid outfits, Vesta approached Murmur and spoke.
“Murmur also wants to get along well.”
Vesta, now smaller and cuter than Murmur, was still the same ‘Vergilia,’ which made Murmur feel at ease.
Surely, she could still use all the convenient features from the high school chapter, right?
Like getting useful doping items every week, skill books, or crafting items that couldn’t be made due to lack of skills or knowledge!
“First, today, after spending a fun time with your friends, you’ll take a clean shower.”
Oh! What’s this? A schedule recommendation feature?
This is pretty good! It’s like the ‘growth recommendation’ feature you see in mobile games, but spoken by the character!
By the high school chapter, even if you raise your character carelessly, the player learns over ten skills.
At this point, casual players are like “Huh? What’s this? Huh???”, ‘The hammer goes bang!! The head gets squished!’, but the maids you can hire in the high school chapter solve that problem.
They kindly tell you which cards to put in your deck, which classes to take, and which friends’ affection to raise.
And our super maid Vesta, being a ‘hidden’ character, had even more diverse additional features.
“After that, I’ll trim your hair and horns a bit. Then, I’ll help you with your homework for the remaining time.”
“Murmur is happy.”
“Then, before you sleep, I’ll teach you any magic you want.”
…Huh?
“Also, since your body is very weak, you’ll need to do some exercises I’ve prepared.”
Wait, this feels a bit off.
This isn’t just a recommendation, is it?
“Murmur is tired today…”
“That won’t do, Murmur. To become a splendid hero, you must move your body as I say.”
“U… Uuuuh…?”
What’s with this Spartan training?!
“You don’t have to hate it that much. I did the same when I was young. It won’t be as hard as what I did in the Imperial Palace.”
“And you have to exercise anyway, right? Professor Marea said Murmur is short because you don’t exercise.”
What’s with this atmosphere?!
And Murmur is short not because of exercise but because of a genetic defect trait!
“Mu, Murmur doesn’t like it…”
“I will do my best to help Murmur, who wishes to follow Seren’s will and become a splendid hero.”
Is that what this is about?
You mean you’re going to train me all day in a Spartan way?!
“Murmur wants a refund…!!!”
Vesta’s eyes, smaller than Murmur’s, shone like molten lava.
This… Is this really okay?
It doesn’t seem like it!
Honestly, even if Vesta didn’t tell me, I already know all the strategies!
I’m already studying well on my own!
“Anyway! Don’t hate it too much and quickly pick out a maid outfit. Murmur. We’ll shower after that.”
Nicasia, who couldn’t possibly understand Murmur’s feelings, pinched her butt today, making her even more unbearable.