06-32 Stearina and Dominique
“Let me introduce myself. I am Stearina. Stearina Gamma.
“Ah, I’m Jin.”
The intellectual-looking woman called Stearina Gamma was in front of Jin, had bronze-colored hair that reached to the middle of her back and reddish brown eyes.
She was a bit taller than Jin and had a well-proportioned body.
“I’ve got something to talk to you about. Is now an okay time?”
She said and threw a fleeting glance towards Elsa and Beana.
“Uh, sure, it is.”
“Alright, thanks.”
She said and drank a sip of wine from the glass in her hand.
“Your Craft Magic was amazing. I wonder just who did you take lessons from? If you can, please tell me.”
She stared at Jin with her reddish brown eyes and said. Jin met her gaze with a searching look of his own and said,
“From my teacher.”
“And their name is?”
“It’s Adrianna.”
Jin replied, and,
“Adrianna! That’s the same name as a great magus who lived around 1000 yeas ago. Ah, I guess she must be named after her.”
She was the third person who knew the name Adrianna, after Reinhardt and Elsa. And she also made the same misunderstanding with the name.
“I see, your teacher must’ve been an outstanding person just like that ‘Adrianna’ was.”
Stearina had a little faraway look in her eyes. She then once more looked at Jin and said,
“I happened to overhear that you’re travelling with Reinhardt-sama to Shouro Empire?”
Jin replied with a short yes, to which Stearina said,
“I see, in that case you’ll have to go through Celuroa Kingdom. At that time, if you so desire, I’d like to invite you to my home.”
“Sure, I’ll try asking Reinhardt if we’ve got leeway timewise for it.”
“Well, I’ll be looking forward to it then.”
They then made some polite small talk, after which,
“If I monopolize Jin-kun too much the young lady behind us will surely get upset. And so, see you around.”
Stearina said and walked towards the direction of Reinhardt.
Elsa came close to Jin who was watching Stearina walk away and,
“Jin-kun also thinks the bigger bosom the better?”
She whispered and it caught Jin off-guard and surprised him,
“Wha-, what are you talking about?”
“…You just stared at her.”
Because Jin was an orphan she didn’t have anything like a mother. Perhaps because of that he was weak to, or had some yearning for older women.
Stearina was in her mid-30s, and the calm feel about her only gave him a vague sense of security, however saying that to Elsa was too embarassing and shameful, and so,
“I was just worried about her going to where Reinhardt was.”,
He told her a white lie. Elsa readily believed him,
“…Rai-nii does like breasts.”,
She muttered under her breath.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Reinhardt-sama’s Schwarz-ritter was terrific!”
Maybe Dominique was drunk from the wine, as her face was a little red while she excitedly talked.
“Haha, you honor me. Your ‘Loiseau’, was it, was well done.”
“Oh, you embarass me. Though, during that commotion its three plumes happened to break off.”
“That’s unfortunate. I really wanted to see it up close, you see.”
“Oh, you flatter me too much.”
She humbly said, but in fact seemed delighted.
“I would’ve also liked to show it to you and hear your opinions.”
She said seeming regretful, and moved on,
“By the way, Reinhardt-sama, why didn’t your Schwarz Ritter go berserk?”
She asked such a question. As expected of a Magi Craftsman, she was curious about it.
Because afterwards Jin and Reinhardt were going to spread the countermeasures for the temporarily-named [Subordination Rewriting Magic], he explained it to Dominique.
“Since the Magi Device is built to defend against magical surges.”
“Come now, why did you do that?”
Accordingly, Reinhardt explained briefly about how the enemy encountered a while ago, had a golem who used the temporarily-named [Subordination Rewriting Magic].
Hearing it Dominique seemed disbelieving and was greatly surprised. Then,
“Reinhardt-sama, I’d like to talk to you more in depth. If you don’t mind, could we meet after the meal?
She asked in a whispering sort of voice. In response,
“I don’t mind it but…”
As Reinhardt was about to respond,
“My my, in that case I’d certainly also like to have an in-depth talk with you.”
With these words Stearina forced herself into the conversation.
“You’re…”
“Yes, just like Dominique-san, I’m a Magi Craftsman from Celuroa Kingdom, Stearina Gamma.”
She greeted him. To Stearina,
“Oh my, Gamma? My goodness indeed.”,
Reinhardt replied, and,
“Ah, Reinhardt-sama’s familiar with the significance of ‘Gamma’, I see.”
“Yeah. If I recall correctly, every –how many was it– years screenings are held to choose the honorary positions all over the country. Gamma is the third rank, am I correct?”
He said. As expected of a diplomat.
“You’re well-informed. But I also wanted to have a talk with you, so…?”
“Sure, I don’t mind. Well then, shall we meet at my room??”
“Sure, tonight, at eight o’clock. Dominique-san is fine with that too, right?”
“…Yes.”
Dominique agreed with a tone that was a little unpleased.
＊ ＊ ＊
“I wonder just how Beana thinks of me…”
Earl Kuzuma was drinking wine bit-by-bit by himself. Then,
“…Earl-sama.”,
The Beana in question appeared.
“Uh!? Be-Beana!?”
Wine spilled over from the glass in the Earl’s hand, and got it on his sleeve.
“Oh, oops.”
“Ah, please don’t move. I’ll dry it.”
Beana said and took out a handkerchief, and quickly wiped dry Earl Kuzuma’s sleeve.
“…I wiped it as fast as I could, but there’s still a small stain.”
Beana said apologetically, and the Earl said to her,
“Ah, don’t worry about. I’ll just change my clothes when I go back.”
However,
“Oh, let me make it clean. [Cleanup].”
The Craft Magic [Cleanup] was magic that removed impurities and such. And because of that magic the stain on Earl’s sleeve completely disappeared.
“Ooh, sorry to bother you.”
“No problem, I’m not very skilled but I can do at least this much.”
Beana said with an awkward smile on her face, and looking at her the Earl made up his mind.
“Beana.”
He put aside the glass and grasped Beana’s hand with both of his,
“Would you marry me?”,
He finally asked.