The Rippling Library
Meigan's words had a solidity to them that made it hard for anyone to answer. She let her eyes travel slowly over the faces turned toward her, then went on.
"But that is only the situation as it stands. The young master I have watched from his side is, without question, a man who will move forward."
"I also know very well what all of you are worried about. His past, of course. But the young master as he is now peels the potatoes with his own hands, and he has even given up his room to the servants. Not once has he looked down on anyone, and he works harder than the staff themselves."
It was a difficult story to believe. Even so, it carried such force that the listeners' hearts had begun to beat a little faster by the time Meigan pressed on.
"Of course, things at present are far from good. More than half the investment entrusted to him by the head of the house is already gone. It is not a promising state of affairs. Even so, this Meigan Browngrass has seen a certain possibility in Young Master Blow."
"He holds a dream that is truly noble, and truly bright. A dream of selling all things to all people."
"……"
"It is for the sake of that thread-thin possibility, and to find those who would share in the young master's beautiful dream, that I, Meigan Browngrass, have come all the way down to Blanya!"
She spoke with her fist clenched tight. She was quick and clear, and she did not stumble even once. Watching her, Luce felt a private ache of regret. She ought to have sent the girl to a proper school.
"The madam granted me full authority over who would be chosen to go with us to Caipol. I intend to relinquish that authority."
For a moment everyone was too startled to do more than glance at one another. Put another way, those words meant that anyone Meigan had pointed to would, under the original arrangement, have had no choice but to go up to Caipol.
"I will not force you. This is, in a sense, a challenge. It is an invitation to cross the sea together on a raft. In exchange, he has said that if we do make that crossing, he will give us everything it is in his power to give. There are things I myself have been promised as well. That much is certain."
"……"
"If there are those willing to come along on this journey, which is already set to be a road of thorns, and to lend us your strength—those who will trust this Meigan Browngrass, and who will cheer for Young Master Blow's dream—I would be grateful if you came to me. It is perfectly all right if not a single person steps forward."
With that, Meigan swept her gaze over them all and nodded.
"That is all. I do not have much time left, so if any of you mean to come up with me, I would be grateful if you found me by tonight!"
Applause broke over her.
So that she would not stumble even once, Meigan had stood before a mirror from the night before until just moments ago, rehearsing the speech dozens of times, hundreds of times. Her voice had gone hoarse for it, and she looked even more worn. This was as far as her preparations went.
…Her work here was done.
Whether their loyalty was to House Deblique, whether they believed in her, Meigan Browngrass, whether they had the insight to see through all of this as theater, or whether they simply wanted the adventure of leaving Blanya for Caipol—whatever the reason, they would be people with courage.
Thinking so, Meigan smiled as if her duty were fulfilled, then staggered down from the platform.
At that same hour, Blow Deblique had gotten through the morning rush with Linne, Rowbedi, and Haghia, and was talking with them. Hans approached and spoke with care.
"Young Master, please go inside and rest a little! I'll keep an eye on things."
"I can't do that. Haghia, from now on you can advise Red Forest on potions and the like. Just as I said a moment ago."
"I'll do my very best."
"You're an insider, but watch us as if you were an outsider. You might see problems we can't."
"Oh dear. Then I suppose I ought to keep a bit of distance from people like Miss Jane and Miss Linne."
"Well, that would be the idea, wouldn't it?"
Disappointment colored Haghia's face. Blow tilted his head.
"Something about that expression looks uneasy."
"Ah, no. It's only that Miss Jane and Miss Linne are so very pretty."
"Hm?"
"I've always been surrounded by knights, so I've had a certain lack, shall we say. A longing. For people who look as if they'd snap if you so much as tapped them."
"Don't keep too much distance. Just be careful about what you say."
"Oh my? Truly? Then I won't hold back."
Haghia ran her tongue along her lips. Blow shook his head, thoroughly put off.
"Never mind. Keep your distance."
"I'll be appropriate about it. In any case, since I have the chance to work at your side, even for a time, I'll give it everything I have."
"For a while, you'll need to look after the second shop."
"Yes. Understood. Oh, and this is only my own thought, Young Master."
"What is it?"
"What would you say to my teaching Miss Jane communication magic?"
"I was planning to install a device."
"Even so. If a trusted aide who is always with you can use communication magic, it is remarkably convenient."
"I'm a mage myself, you know."
Haghia looked him over and, instead of answering, smiled. So that's her way of saying it won't be easy. Well. No one has to be good at everything.
"If you have the time, it'd be good if you went ahead with it."
"Yes. I do have to earn my keep. I mustn't bring shame on my lady, Rachel."
"Good. Would it be too much to help out on the floor at Hills now and then?"
"I'll be on standby at Red Forest, so please use me however you wish."
"I'll do that."
She was the sort whose true thoughts were impossible to read, but she was Rachel's trusted aide. Her skill, at least, was surely beyond doubt.
Blow was still trading this and that with her when the door of Hills opened. Jane came in with Kunsai Cherohun and Liliane to report on the morning's business, and the two of them greeted him.
"Young Master!!"
"Everyone's looking cheerful."
"Yes! I think I'm going to pass the exam!!"
Yesterday—the day after the spar, and the day before the exam—had been the written test at Caipol Magic School. Partly to cheer her on, Blow had packed her a sandwich himself.
"Is that right. When's the practical?"
"Friday."
"The day after the third exam ends, then? Confident about the practical?"
"Yes. I've prepared so I won't fail."
"Good. Once Kunsai moves over to Ace Donut, an office romance wouldn't be—"
"Young Master, what in the world are you saying?!"
Kunsai's voice shot up, thoroughly flustered. Blow let out a short laugh and went on, all mischief.
"Oh? Kunsai, you could make a sound that loud?"
"Ha, ha. I was just so surprised…"
Kunsai laughed, sheepish, and Liliane looked at him with a faint smile.
"Young Master, this Liliane has something to say."
"By all means."
"If I pass and get into the magic school, could I work at Red Forest? I truly want to!!"
She asked it like a plea, eyes shining. Blow saw no harm in it, and shifted his gaze to Jane, who currently ran Red Forest.
"That one's Manager Jane's call, though."
"Liliane knows her magic well, so I think it would be fine. It seems she's done quite a lot of research on her own."
"Yeah? Then we won't be in any rush to add people on the research side."
"Pardon?"
"Haghia here has agreed to work too."
Haghia fluttered her fingers at Jane in a little wave. There was still an awkwardness between them, and Jane received the greeting a little stiffly.
"Ah. I see."
"Right. Try keeping them in line, Manager Jane. Under you already we've got Linne, Cosette, Radness, Haghia, Manager Lil at the second shop, and now Liliane as well?"
"I'll do my very best."
"And for washing the potionware, I think it'd be better to put one person on it full time. Have Meigan do it, maybe. The girl's thorough."
"I think we can decide that depending on what sort of people Meigan brings back."
"Until the system is in place, I'll need you to work hard."
"That's a bit of a burden."
"I'll be running around plenty myself. And once things settle, I'll let you focus on the research side."
Jane nodded, plainly relieved. Liliane, who had been listening in silence, asked Blow in a trembling, careful voice.
"Then, Young Master, I…"
"Of course. You're an introduction from none other than Kunsai."
"Thank you so much!!"
"If you want, you can start as soon as tomorrow. Go down to your hometown in the winter or something."
"Such an opportunity!!"
"It'd be even better if you learned a lot from our Manager Jane and the others."
"That's exactly what I wanted!! I will never forget this kindness!"
Liliane's face flushed in a way anyone could read. One worry set aside, Blow turned to Kunsai, who could not take his eyes off her.
"When do they say the donut shop will be finished?"
"It looks like next week!"
"Hm. Right. They said the first shipment of tomatoes would come in around then, too. It's going to get incredibly busy."
"Yes! For the opening, we're still adjusting the date. We want to give ourselves some room."
"Good. No need to rush it."
"I'm developing a few menu items, and I was hoping to show them to you on Friday. Would that be all right?"
"Fine by me. But bring them when there are a lot of the kids around. They'll like them more than I will."
"Yes. I'll do that."
Kunsai wrote the exchange straight into his notebook. Liliane watched him take the notes, then asked Blow as if something had occurred to her.
"Young Master, I heard the exam period starts today. What is the school's third exam like?"
"Put very simply, it's a report party. There isn't much of an exam to it."
"So that's why everyone looked oddly unburdened."
"The second one is the real thing. Skadi did well this time, so she needs to finish inside the top thirty overall."
"Ah. Is there a reason…?"
"She might get to ride a wyvern."
"A wyvern?"
Perhaps because it was such a violent-sounding word, everyone reacted with interest.
"Yeah. That thing that's sort of like a dragon."
"Wow. If I ever get the chance, I really want to ride one."
"Ask Skadi. She might give you a ride."
"I heard Skadi is good at flight magic, too. Is there quite a connection?"
"Seems so."
Blow nodded at Jane's question, and Liliane launched into a bright chatter of explanation.
"Of course! Magic has to do with how well you can feel the wind, and there is nothing that lets you feel the wind as well as riding a wyvern! It's one of the hypotheses I've formed. If, in the early stages of magic, you taught with a pinwheel—"
The explanation ran on in careful detail, and Blow felt pleased. It seemed one more remarkable kid had joined them.
While she was still talking, the door of Hills opened again.
"Ooh, this place is hopping even at this hour."
In came Karlfeld of the dress shop. He had arrived with Liz, the two of them carrying a great deal, and he held something out to Blow with a brilliant smile.
"Young Master, what you requested is ready!"
"Oh, it's done?"
"This Karlfeld stayed up through the night to make it! You did say it absolutely had to be ready today."
"And the orders?"
"It already looks as if there won't be a day off all winter."
"You'll need to hire a few more people, then?"
"That is exactly what I'm thinking! I have truly benefited a great deal, Young Master! Thank you!!"
Having made his greeting, Karlfeld showed Blow what he had brought. Jane saw what it was, thought that he really was fast, and was quietly impressed.
Where did everyone prepare for the third exam at Caipol Magic School, the one whose main event was the report?
Naturally, most students wrote theirs in the library, where the books were plentiful. Whether it was an individual project or a team project, a dense report—and any check of its contents—required information of real quality. Nearly the entire student body spread through every corner of the library to write, and so, during the third exam, it was an unspoken rule that outsiders did not come in. There were so many people that even in a library meant to be silent, a certain amount of talking was allowed.
Among them, the group people had taken to calling the Blow Fam had gathered in the Water Room of the Lisleia Zone, on the third floor of the library. Hervena, Skadi, Linne, Rowbedi, and, slipping in as if it were nothing, Cindy and Indoor.
Now and then, students passing through the Lisleia Zone could only look into the glass-walled room, wear faces full of envy, and walk on. The reason…
"S-Senior, th-this part here…"
"Hm. For that, check Harmony of Attribute Magic. Twelfth shelf, Section B."
"Senior Cindy, this formula…"
"Rowbedi, did you sleep through class? Where do you find someone who works through this in such a brainless circle?"
The fourth year's first- and third-ranked students were holding an open question-and-answer, and it was enviable beyond belief. Skadi, pressing on with her work under their help, burst out in a sulky voice.
"Ugh. That bastard Blow is probably living the easy life right now."
"He is on leave."
"No, at this point, shouldn't he at least match the head count and bring donuts? Why does that guy have no sense one minute and then suddenly have it the next? I don't get it."
At Cindy's irritated shout, the others were breaking into little laughs. Among them, Hervena looked particularly tired. Worried, Skadi spoke up.
"Hervena, why do you look so exhausted?"
"It's exam period."
"You look especially tired, though…"
"True. Maybe because she lost the spar?"
Cindy looked from one to the other, then cried out as if relieved.
"You two made up?"
"Yeah. We made up."
"But why on earth did you fight? Sorry, Hervena, but Skadi isn't the type to do that with just anyone."
She said it with a swagger. Skadi and Hervena exchanged a look, then cleared their throats.
"…What? Did you fight over something weird? Why isn't anyone answering?"
They held that silence. They could not bring themselves to say the fight had been over Blow. Indoor, vice-head of Finance, studied them, stroked his chin, and asked.
"Don't tell me this is a love triangle."
"Hey, you crazy bastard, what the hell kind of bullshit is that!!"
"Indoor, have you lost your mind!?"
Hervena and Skadi roared with such ferocity that Indoor, feeling his life threatened, had no choice but to look elsewhere. Cindy, who had been watching closely, tilted her head.
"These two are reacting way too vividly…"
"Cindy, just look at your herbology report."
"Tch. I'm telling you, something's off no matter how I look at it."
Cindy followed the point where they had flared, then cocked her head to the side. No matter how she looked at it, their only common denominator was Blow.
These two. Don't tell me?
Just as Cindy's eyes narrowed to slits, the first floor of the library grew noisy past all comparison with before, and people began crowding toward the entrance.
"What is it, did a fire break out?"
"Didn't someone go tearing around on flight magic last year? I think it was exactly this loud then, too."
"Uh. That was me?"
"Skadi, you really only get away with it because Blow overshadows you."
Cindy shook her head at her. Everyone in the room looked down. A moment later, their eyes went wide.
The Traffic Light Trio was striding in, proud as anything, wearing the very slacks Yulia had worn on Sunday.