The Saintess and the Maid

The saintess and the maid. After blasting magic at some unknown bastard. One fact became clear.

'All mages in this world need incantations?'

There was something like a law of nature, a fucking rule of the universe. Mages couldn't use magic without chanting.

'What an insane world. So.'

"Blaze, crimson flames!" or "Freeze all in hellish ice! Descend!" Stuff like that. Did I have to spit out embarrassing crap like that to cast spells in this world?

What a shitty world... It was straight-up horrifying.

Having to say that crap while firing off magic?

'I'd rather bite my tongue and die.'

Too fucking embarrassing. I didn't have a fetish for that shit.

Making mages chant? Did ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that even make sense?

'Was that in the book?'

I didn't know. I'd read the book, but there was no mention of chanting.

Ah, maybe it was in the parts I couldn't read? There were tons of unknown words.

Maybe that was the incantation section. Who knows.

'...'

Unable to comprehend, I casually raised my hand. Giiiing-! Not long after, a thorn arrow formed.

I hadn't said shit. I just tried weaving it, and it worked?

"Why the hell would this need an incantation?"

I couldn't wrap my head around needing words to use it. Couldn't you just do it?

For real, no clue. Why bother with chants?

'Is there a problem?'

If mages had to chant, that meant I was the weirdo.

'Nah.'

Special. Yeah, that's better. Oh, fuck, this rules...

'Whatever it is, it's OP as hell.'

I still remembered the faces of August and Colton back then. And everyone else's shocked expressions.

That surprise. Felt so damn good.

Yeah, this was right. As a webnovel transmigrator, I needed at least one cheat trait.

'Is this no-chant casting?'

Maybe. Either way, it was awesome. You could tell from people's reactions.

"This rules. Romance-fantasy world, you're too easy."

Euphoria welled up. Just firing it off felt like I'd gotten some insane perk.

'The problem is.'

This goddamn mana tank of mine. One spell and I'm wiped—did no-chant even matter right now?

"Hmm."

I tilted my head. Was it always this rough? Collapsing after a couple spells meant something was wrong.

"No-chant or whatever."

If I couldn't fire it, it was pointless.

"Gotta be a way."

Leaning back in my chair, I pondered. And an idea hit me.

'Back then.'

During the troll subjugation, that mana depletion. Right when I thought I was done for, I'd siphoned mana from the ice troll.

'That.'

Could I do it again? Not only did my mana refill, but...

'My mana tank itself got bigger?'

If it wasn't a delusion, yeah. I could probably fire three thorn arrows now.

'This.'

For a premature ejaculator like me... Wait, I hadn't tried with this body yet, so not quite. Ah, not that I was one in my past life either.

Anyway. I had to escape this mana-crippled bullshit. That was priority one.

'By the way.'

What about the other thing? 'Did I fuck up?'

I recalled the daytime incident with Duke Colton. That guy he brought. Blasting magic at him. Was that okay?

'Looked like a high-class noble.'

Arrogant prick. Nah, nobles being shady was par for the course.

Wouldn't backfire on me for hitting a guy like that?

'Should be fine.'

He told me to fire. His problem now, fucker.

"Hoo..."

Why was everything in this crazy world so damn hard? Or was I just charging in blind?

Yeah, maybe?

'Dunno. But if I keep ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this up, I'm screwed.'

Time to think seriously. What did I have right now?

Okay, let's think rationally...

So. 'What's my name again?'

Ah, Ruin. Right, Ruin. This orphan punk... Ah, not an orphan anymore.

Anyway, I kept forgetting this guy's name.

'Ruin, think.'

What did I have? 'Jack shit, fuck.'

No parents. Adoptive mom vanished. All I had was this frail body and...

'Some talent.'

Objectively, my brain seemed sharp, and I had magic aptitude.

'Gotta use that.'

To survive this world, I needed to get strong. This wasn't just some romance-fantasy. Monsters? Trolls? Realized that facing one.

"This goddamn romance-fantasy world."

Not peaceful at all. Staying put would fuck me over.

I glanced at the book. The one Elise left. I read it again.

'To survive right now, gotta learn magic anyway.'

She said my mana sickness wasn't cured, just dormant. Without mastering magic, it'd flare up again.

"...Fuck my life."

Transmigrated and nothing's normal. What a shitty hand.

'What to do? Gotta struggle to live.'

Only one way. First page on thorn arrow. Still hard-to-read text. Words I hadn't memorized yet.

'Hmm.'

Should I learn the next spell too? I could use thorn arrow anyway. Needed to check the next one.

I flipped the page. Spell name:

'...What the hell.'

Blade Edge. Simple name. Felt similar to thorn arrow.

'Method...'

I eyed the casting method. Similar to thorn arrow. Some scattered words, but readable enough.

Should I try? As I pondered—

Knock knock knock. A knock from outside.

Iris? Coming to teach letters again? But...

"...Who's there?"

A total stranger appeared. Brown hair, glasses. Around Iris's age. And her clothes... maid outfit? Yeah.

"Ah, uh, h-hello... Hello!"

"...Uh, yeah. Hello."

"Um, I'm Aria, the maid assigned to assist Mage Ruin from now on..."

"...Aria. Maid...?"

"Y-yes... Yes, a maid."

"Maid... maid, huh...?"

I peeked behind her. Something ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was there.

'What the fuck is that?'

A translucent woman. Wings folded in three pairs, floating midair with eyes closed.

Scary as shit.

'A ghost...?'

Ghosts now too? My eyes twitched in shock.

What the hell?

"Um..."

"Huh? Y-yes?"

"If you need anything, just call me..."

Aria bowed. Then the one with her, Alphonse, explained to me.

"From today, she's your dedicated maid."

"A maid for me?"

"Mages are rare even in the North, so we assign personal attendants. Sorry it took so long."

"...Uh..."

Mage life was fucked. Noble treatment for real? Now even a maid?

Life reversal? Like that?

"A-anything, just tell me."

Aria said. Anything? For real?

Exciting words.

'The ghost thing bugs me though.'

Nah, more than bugs. Should I point it out?

As I agonized—

"Excuse us. Rest well."

"Huh? Yeah."

Alphonse and Aria left. No time to ask.

"Hmm."

I scratched my cheek. Something...

'What is it.'

It bugged my eyes. That Aria girl.

＊＊＊＊

Next day. Dragged out right away.

Search again? More searching? Fuck, this shit again.

But luckily, not search today.

Just...

"What're we doing?"

"Your assignment changed from today."

"...Meaning."

"Yes. From now on, you'll operate with the subjugation unit soldiers."

"..."

Worse. Not even search—subjugation now? Straight-up hunt monsters?

Wait, we'd been hunting anyway. Maybe no diff—

"All gathered?"

Iris appeared. Armored, sword at hip. Looked badass. Couldn't help thinking it.

'Ah, unit change meant her squad.'

She glanced at me sharply. Eyes fierce. What? Harsher than usual.

Hallucination? Nah.

'What's up?'

Felt off.

"Today's main task is search, even in subjugation. Keep that in mind."

--Yes!!

Soldiers shouted. Search? Switched to subjugation unit for search again? What a twist.

Oh, used a fancy term. Nice.

'Search, huh.'

Brain spun despite thoughts. Looked like finding something. But why me in this party?

'Just let me do safe searches.'

Every day a spectacle.

'Still.'

With Iris, should be fine? She was crazy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠strong.

Then someone spoke beside me.

"P-please take care of me..."

Trembling Aria.

'Why her...?'

Maid in subjugation unit...?

She explained.

"...Um... Mages usually bring maids..."

"...Why bother?"

"They say attendants are essential since they don't do chores..."

"...Damn, mages are OP on average."

All mages like that? Taking maids hunting? Romance-fantasy rule?

Seemed pointless.

"W-well, take care of me..."

Was it okay with someone this fragile?

"...You sure you can keep up?"

"Y-yes...!"

Didn't seem okay. Translucent woman still bugged me.

"Alright."

I nodded.

'What could go wrong?'

That's what I thought then. But this dumbass Ruin forgot a few things.

"...Fuck, for real."

First: I had the shittiest luck.

Second: "This make any sense?"

Second was my luck being shit.

Shwooooaaaaah---!!!!

I pinched my brow at the raging blizzard. Barely dodged into a cave, sat, stared out.

Massive snowstorm. Sighed, and reactions came.

"...Calm down. There'll be a way."

Iris, stiff despite words.

"G-Goddess... Wh-what do we do...?"

Maid Aria praying suddenly.

And.

"Life fucking sucks."

Stranded me between them.

One hell of a winter.