4

The next morning.

In Ains’s room were Riste with a troubled expression and Ains, who refused to leave the bed no matter what happened.

“Ains-sama, it is morning. You have plans with Laika-ojōsama today.”

Riste called out from a step away from the bed.

“…Mmm? That, ah…”

He rolled over, his voice so faint it seemed about to vanish into sleep.

“Yes. I was instructed by Laika-sama last night, so I have come to wake you.”

Riste spoke, but Ains was in the melting boundary between dream and reality and could not hear her words.

Still, Riste waited for a while, believing Ains would wake on his own, but there was no sign. He pulled the blanket over himself again, turned over, and soon began breathing in sleep.

“Ains-sama.”

Riste called again.

This time her voice was firmer.

“…I’ll pass. For Riste-san and Laika… well… so, sorry…”

He spoke, but his head was not working at all and his words were incoherent.

After that, Riste called to him several more times, but Ains no longer responded.

“…This cannot be helped. I do not wish to resort to deception…”

Riste sighed quietly — something she had never shown Kansas or Laika — and steeled herself.

So this was why Laika had given her advice in case Ains would not wake, she realized.

“…Ains-sama.”

Her voice was not raised.

“…”

Of course, there was no response.

Riste knew that already.

“I have not told you until now, but… I can use sorcery.”

With just that one quiet sentence, Ains’s brain was shaken.

Immediately he sprang upright.

“Sorcery!? From you, Riste-san!?”

He sat up and stared wide-eyed at her.

“…Yes. A spell to awaken a guest indulging in slothful sleep and stubbornness.”

Saying so, Riste lowered her head slightly.

“My apologies.”

“…Come on. Lying isn’t good, Riste-san.”

Realizing it was a lie, Ains slumped in disappointment.

Holding the blanket he had kicked aside, he began lying back down.

“…And another spell.”

“…Eh?”

Ains could not perceive her movement.

His hand grasped empty air; the blanket had been separated from the sheet covering him.

Furthermore, the sheet was in Riste’s arms, and the blanket was neatly folded at the foot of the bed.

“Ains-sama, how is my sorcery, ‘Modest Duty’?”

Riste, without changing expression, struck what she believed was an appropriate pose.

At the same time she thought she might have overacted.

“…It was refined enough to wake me instantly.”

Ains got out of bed smoothly, as if he had never resisted moments earlier.

After leaving the bed, Ains told Riste he could dress himself and that she could return ahead of him, then headed to the closet.

Even under her suspicious gaze, he laughed and took his clothes, saying,

“I won’t lie down again.”

Seeing this, Riste bowed at the door and left the room.

She walked down the hallway with straight posture.

However, her cheeks were slightly redder than usual.

“…Acting so lightly was embarrassing. I never wish to do that in front of others again.”

After changing, Ains quickly ate breakfast beside Laika, who was already prepared and elegantly drinking tea in the dining room.

“Sorry, sorry, I’m late.”

Ains wiped his mouth with a napkin and approached Laika, who tilted her teacup.

“…Sigh. I knew this would happen. The advice I gave Riste just in case… seems it worked.”

Laika spoke while glancing sideways at Riste, whose cheeks were slightly flushed more than usual.

The result was extremely effective on Ains.

Apparently Riste herself had also suffered some embarrassment as collateral damage, and Laika slightly regretted it.

“So that was your mischief, Laika. That wasn’t nice… though the way Riste-san separated the sheet and blanket was amazing! Even I couldn’t perceive how fast it was. And the pose looked cool too.”

“Oh? Sorcery, huh. What kind?”

Hoping to see an unexpected side of Riste, Laika asked with a mischievous smile.

“What was it again? ‘Modest—’”

“…Ains-sama, that will be enough.”

Riste cut him off with indescribable intensity, making Ains fall silent.

“…Hehe. Well, fine. I’m curious, but the sun would fully rise before we finish talking. I’ll save it for next time.”

Laika said so, but Riste closed her eyes and stayed silent, clearly having no intention of ever saying it herself.

Ains too had been completely intimidated by her earlier pressure. Gentle Riste becoming fierce beyond that line was unimaginable.

He decided he would absolutely avoid telling Laika himself.

After that, Laika and Ains left the mansion.

Sophia and Talidge stayed behind. (Sophia wanted to accompany Ains, but Talidge refused out of annoyance.) Bringing them would make too large a group, so Ains left them home.

The Sorcery Academy was located northeast of Kirk, and leaving from the mansion on the eastern side allowed them to head there without passing through the already crowded general district.

They arrived smoothly at the Sorcery Academy, where a crowd had already gathered around the bulletin board.