Chapter 217.1

First chapter of Middle School Arc

Chapter 217.1. Two Years Later

It’s two years later.

The sky is a clear blue with no single cloud, and a gentle spring breeze blows.

Many people have been busy since early morning on the vast grounds of Takano County’s estate in the capital.

Maids in slippers are bustling around the corridors, and maids are taking down the curtains for seasonal changes, piling them up like mountains.

Gardeners are pondering how to shape the flower beds, and butlers are discussing the tasks for the day.

Amidst the bustling activity, the head of Takano County, Takano Miu, sits in her room, feeling the pleasant breeze on her cheeks, appreciating the arrival of spring.

Since she had too many stuffed animals she had collected before, she selected only a few of them.

Rabbits, lions, and even an insistent ant were lined up on her king-size bed, surrounded by elegant sofas, tables, and furnishings.

Spring is in full bloom, cherry blossom petals flutter and dance, and the green starts to show on the branches, indicating the end of the cherry blossom viewing season.

Today marks the start of her junior high school life, and I, sitting on a very soft sofa that almost swallows her body, cross my arms, feeling deeply moved.

“Today is the first day of junior high, huh?”

I mumble like a little chick, lifting both hands as if trying to get up.

“I can’t get out. Someone, help~.”

This sofa is just too soft, and she can’t get out. She’s not deep in thought as Mii-chan sinks too deep into the seat.

With an “aau aau,” I try to get out like a seal, but her petite figure cannot escape.

“That sofa is a custom-made item, master.”

Nimue, who is wearing her maid uniform has become a proper maid over the past two years.

She sits gracefully next to me with a calm smile.

“We tried to pursue the utmost softness.”

The sofa, installed just yesterday, seems to have been Nimue’s choice. She yawns gently, making her mouth cat-like.

“Hmm, hmm, I’ll nap to check the comfort.”

She closes her eyes and pretends to take a nap.

As she does, she sinks into the bottomless swamp that is the sofa.

It seems the maid’s appearance was just for show.

She has become bolder, openly taking a nap.

“Since you seem to want a taste of hell, I’ll carry you away.”

“Ah!”

Ranko-san suddenly appears behind the sofa, catches Nimue as she sinks, and delivers a clean German Suplex.

It’s a beautiful move that shows their deep bond.

That’s a relief.

“Miu-sama, allow me to comb your hair. Please come over here.”

“Yes, sure.”

Ranko-san pats Nimue, who pretends to be in pain and picks up a hairbrush.

She pulls Mii-chan out of the bottomless sofa and makes her sit in front of the dressing table.

“Your hair has grown quite a lot.”

“I only trim the tips occasionally, so it has grown quite a bit.”

She gently combs my hair with the brush.

My gray hair is lustrous and feels as smooth as silk. It had a halo of an angel, and it stretches down to her waist.

My large, deep ice-blue eyes hold an intellectual glimmer, and my once-childish face has transformed from cute to beautiful.

“Hehe, Miu-sama is always adorable, no matter when I see her.”

Reacting to Ranko-san’s comment that she’s even more adorable than beautiful, Mii-chan pouts and puckers her lips.

“Don’t you think I’ve become a beautiful cool-type girl instead of just cute?”

“No, there is still some childlike charm in Miu-sama, and you’re petite, which adds to her cuteness.”

From an outsider’s perspective, their image of me differs slightly. I think I’m beautiful.

My height hasn’t changed much, and my armor hasn’t changed too.

As Ranko-san combs my hair, Nimue places a cup of cocoa in front of me and starts operating the terminal while sipping it.

Holograms appear before me, and I check the content I want to see.

“It seems Ulhara-made magic armor, Wartan, has been officially adopted by the warriors. If all goes well, the military may adopt it too. The power balance among magic tool companies will change, they say.”

“Ever since we invented the universal magic circle ‘Karen’, Ulhara’s progress has been remarkable.”

“Karen-san was embarrassed at first, but she was delighted when a large sum of money came in, and she could restore her family’s status!”

Grandpa Odin’s ability-enhancing magic circle ‘Karen’, has now spread widely throughout the world.

It’s a dream magic circle that could boost magic tools’ output by 5%.

Nowadays, the Katou family, who can use [Magic Stealth], is very popular. Karen-san was busy calling back her younger brother and gathering all relatives to grant enchantments to dedicated machines and create the universal magic circles.

“Even if she rejects marriage proposals, they keep coming in.”

Karen, who no longer has to walk on night streets, is raising a delighted cry amidst a flurry of marriage proposals.

“Miu-sama, you also receive mountains of marriage proposals, you know?”

“The top contenders are always Yamiyo-chan and Tamamo-chan. Why do they play such pranks? I think tendon is no good.”

The top of the mountain of marriage proposal pictures always features either Yamiyo-chan or Tamamo-chan.

It’s quite amusing.

I think they should refrain from using the same joke over and over.

I’m a bit particular about comedy routines.

“Investing in Ulhara has paid off. Takano County, who invested in Ulhara, and Aburage Viscounty, who are jointly developing magical tools, are reaping huge profits.”

There are so many noble families crowding around now, forming a queue. Papa looks busy every day.

“By the way, to celebrate master’s entrance into middle school, a large number of congratulatory gifts have arrived.”

Nimue, who is helping me change my clothes, joins the conversation.