Morrison Detective Agency (2)
"...And this makes the last one."
Meia gazed at the twenty-seven illustrations bound together with leather straps into the form of a book. They depicted the movements Alan had asked her to demonstrate, captured with such precision it was as if someone had sketched them straight from her live performance. The level of detail made it hard to believe they'd been drawn merely from reading a novel. As she walked, Meia's white hair cascaded like a waterfall, swaying gently with each step. She stopped in front of the door to Alan's lodging and knocked.
"Young master, it's Meia. May I come in?"
"Come on in."
"Pardon the intrusion."
Opening the door, she found Alan sprawled halfway across the sofa, just as usual.
"Lounging around again, young master?"
"I was just taking a break after working on the manuscript. That's a bit harsh."
"I've gathered all the illustrations you requested, young master."
"Took longer than I expected, didn't it?"
"...It seems they weren't circulating only in the Knight Faculty."
Alan furrowed his brow at Meia's words.
"Not just the Knight Faculty?"
"Apparently, some cadets in the Magic Faculty—our rivals—are collecting them for research purposes as well. I secured the ones from the Knight Faculty with the young master's older brother's help, but..."
Of course, not everyone had listened to Albert, so Meia had been forced to intervene personally.
"What, did you have some betting duel or something? You don't look too happy, Meia."
"It was more tiring than I anticipated."
"Come sit down. I'll rub your shoulders."
"I'm fine."
"That's an order."
Alan issued the command casually. He was her master, yet he rarely used the word "order" with her—except when she hesitated to obey. It was a reminder that she had no right to refuse. Meia let out a short sigh and stepped toward him.
"I'll leave the book here."
She placed the crudely bound leather-covered tome on the table. As she sat on the sofa, Alan cautiously placed his hands on her shoulders. His slow, kneading touch drew a soft groan from her.
"...Ngh."
"Don't make weird noises, Meia. It's giving off the wrong vibe!"
"Ah... ngh..."
Watching the cool beauty twist her body with a face flushed bright red for some inexplicable reason stirred something odd in Alan. Come to think of it, Meia was unusually sensitive to his touch. Her shoulders were the worst offender. He could feel the knots, but he could never quite work them out properly. Finally, he pulled his hands away with a sigh.
"Aren't you a bit too sensitive, Meia?"
"...My apologies, young master."
"Your shoulders are especially weak—it's worrying."
"I'm fine."
It's because it's you, young master, Meia thought, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
The moment Alan picked up the book from the table, a knock echoed through the room. As he moved to open the door with the book still in hand, it burst open as if about to shatter.
"What shameless deed are you committing, Alan Mueller?!"
"Gah?!"
Caught off guard by the suddenly flung door, Alan tumbled backward, his nose slamming right into it.
"Young master!"
"Ow, my nose."
Half-supported by Meia, Alan rubbed his nose. His mana had reacted just in time—otherwise, it might have been flattened.
Lifting his head, he saw Stella, her face beet red, in his line of sight.
"Stella von Evans?"
"I came to deliver a message from Her Highness, and I find you two up to some shameless...! What the hell are you doing with a maid in your lodging?!"
"Eavesdropping like a thief again?!"
"I'm no thief! Eavesdropping is an essential skill for any guard knight...!"
Ah, what a headache.
Alan pressed a hand to his forehead at Stella's outburst. This knight candidate probably had no idea what she was saying.
"This is getting ridiculous."
The princess's guard knight, still flushed, glared at Meia.
"Miss Meia, what did that shameless bastard do to you...?"
"It's fine. He was just massaging my shoulders."
"Such a shameless...! Even if she's a servant, how dare he touch a woman's shoulders so freely...!"
"I told you it's fine, Lady Evans," Meia said, still supporting Alan.
"He was only trying to relieve my fatigue."
"Then why were you making those noises?"
"I'm a bit sensitive."
Stella shot Alan an incredulous look. Meeting her gaze, he scowled.
"What're you staring at? I'm the shameless one, right?"
"Alan Mueller, is what Miss Meia says true?"
"She's 'Miss Meia,' but I'm just Alan Mueller? Cut the favoritism, would ya?"
"Hmph, I call people what I want! Just answer the question!"
"Why should I? Can't you see my nose?"
Alan pointed to his nearly crushed nose. He'd shielded it with mana in time, but the impact had left it swollen and bright red anyway.
"This is your fault!"
"Th-that's..."
"You should learn proper apologies, Lady Evans."
Meia helped Alan to his feet and brushed off his clothes. Standing behind her master with hands clasped, the superhuman maid fixed Stella with a cool stare.
"An apology to the young master would be appreciated."
"I-I..."
Stella squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head deeply.
"Sorry, Alan Mueller. I didn't mean to. I heard... weird noises from inside..."
"I was just trying to loosen her knotted shoulders, but she always reacts like that. It's a hassle for me too."
"My apologies, young master."
"Forget it. It's not your fault, Meia."
Alan sighed deeply and turned to Stella.
"So, what's the errand?"
"Her Highness summons you, Alan Mueller."
"Me? Why?"
"She said she'd be waiting at the cafe. You wouldn't dream of keeping the princess waiting, would you?"
"...You trying to get my head chopped off?"
No matter how prestigious a ducal house, the imperial authority was beyond imagination. It was only natural for the royal family ruling the Tyranto Empire, which spanned the Roselia Continent from east to west.
Alan grumbled as he adjusted his collar.
"I was gonna have to see her anyway because of this."
"What's that?"
Stella belatedly noticed the book in Alan's hand.
"What else? Illustrations of the sword techniques from Shuren Chronicle Volume 1."
"Illustrations?"
"A swordsmanship manual."
"...From Kun'Rung, huh?"
"Yeah."
Alan tapped the leather book against his palm.
"Someone made these and spread them around. I'm trying to find out who."
"You're looking for the one who distributed the drawings? Why?"
"To protect my peaceful academy life... Damn, it went out the window on day one anyway. Point is, with these floating around, betting duels are popping off in the Knight Faculty."
"Ah, that. Yeah, they really are."
Stella glanced sideways at Meia. The white-haired maid behind Alan pressed a finger to her lips in a hush gesture.
Alan caught the slip.
"'They really are'?"
"Uh, nothing. So, the doh-fay... doh-heh... doh-hway? You recovered them all?"
"Doh-hae. It's 'hae,' not 'heh' or 'hway.'"
"You're weirdly fluent in Kun'Rung. Taking extra classes or something?"
"Foreign languages are mandatory in the Humanities Faculty. No clue how I ended up studying them."
Alan sighed. This insane academy even had second foreign language courses. Tyranto Imperial was the national language, first foreign was Dong Empire and Kun'Rung, and second foreign covered places like the Palos Kingdom and other minor realms. Aspiring diplomats buried themselves in foreign language electives like Kun'Rung.
Why isn't the imperial tongue the continental common language? Alan grumbled inwardly. Most fantasy novels just handwaved everyone speaking the common tongue.
"Ahem. So, you recovered all the doh-fays?"
"Meia got them, so yeah, mostly."
"...I destroyed any duplicates during recovery."
"Too thorough sometimes."
Alan shrugged.
"Anyway, I'm curious who spread these and why. Was planning to drop by Morrison Detective Agency regardless."
"And that ties into meeting Her Highness?"
"Killing two birds with one stone. Why she wants to see me? That's a secret."
"Whatever."
Alan tucked the book into his bosom and rubbed his nose.
"If I show up like this, she'll grill me. Gotta hit the temple first."
"...S-sorry, Alan Mueller. It wasn't on purpose."
"It was a misunderstandable situation, but don't go busting into a male cadet's room like that."
Alan pointed to the dangling, broken doorknob.
"If you wanna show off your strength, arm-wrestle a bull or something."
"Y-you think I'm strong enough to take on a bull?!"
"Just a figure of speech."
"Grr...!"
"Young master, if you're heading to the temple, best to leave now."
"Ah, damn. It's Saturday."
The Temple of Goddess Temisia, which doubled as the academy's infirmary, closed medical services early on weekends due to crowds of worshippers. Realizing this too late, Alan grimaced.
"Let's hurry!"
***
"...So, Stella did that to your nose?"
"Yes."
Unable to make it in time, Alan had no choice but to meet Felicia with his nose still red and swollen.
Felicia sighed at the sight.
"I sent her to deliver a message, not break your nose, Stella."
"S-sorry, Your Highness."
"What if Sir Albert or Miss Alice saw?"
Stella fell silent, overwhelmed by the names Alice Scarlet von Mueller and Albert Eling von Mueller.
Felicia snapped her fingers lightly. A pure white light flickered at her fingertip, and Alan's nose returned to normal in an instant. He touched it, marveling.
"This is holy magic...?"
Felicia smiled.
"Magic Faculty major, remember? Basic healing is in general magic courses, but advanced stuff requires the higher holy magic elective. Second-year level."
"Magic Faculty isn't just straight magic classes, huh."
"Curious about magic? Ask me anytime. I can give you all the advice you want."
"Will do. Thanks for the heal, Your Highness."
"No problem."
Felicia beamed, clearly pleased.
"I loved Volume 2, Alan."
"Ugh. Already read it?"
"Stella got it for me. Planning to buy my own copy too. It was heartbreaking seeing Shuren shut himself off from the world like that."
Alan managed an awkward smile. Felicia's gaze drifted to the shabby leather-bound book on the table.
"What's this?"
"Illustrations of the sword techniques from Shuren Chronicle Volume 1, compiled and bound."
Meia answered. Curiosity sparked in Felicia's eyes.
"Can I take a look?"