The Fall Of A Maiden

Beside Nino, who was speaking passionately of his vision, Paula was quietly trembling.

When she first met him, her impression was of a person with polite manners but somehow dangerous eyes. His features were well-formed, but not particularly striking enough to draw people in.

However, the magical power overflowing from his body was in a league of its own.

True, if it were merely the quantity of mana, there were likely several high-ranking Imperial nobles who possessed an equal or greater amount. But Paula had never before seen mana that bore six distinct colors. It was not uncommon to see two or three colors of mana feebly entwining. But Paula had never before witnessed a wave of mana, colored as beautifully as a rainbow, surging forth in a tremendous torrent and filling the space in an instant.

Because of this, her heart was stolen.

And it was not only Paula who became a captive.

Once, in the Magical Empire, there existed two unimaginably ferocious magical beasts whose infamy echoed throughout the land. They were great calamities said to have been barely sealed away by the Emperor himself after a life-and-death struggle that lasted three days and three nights. When Paula secretly fled her home, the items she took with her—which had been strictly guarded as family heirlooms—were whispered to be the eggs of those very beasts.

Those legendary magical beasts were now utterly smitten with Nino.

Unlike conventional monsters, familiars and servants take their sustenance by drawing mana from their master. Judging by the way the two had taken to him, they must have grown extremely fond of Nino’s six-colored mana. Even among the servants controlled by her mother—one of the Empire’s preeminent monster tamers—Paula had never seen familiars show such intimate behavior.

Yes, at first, it was that unfathomable magical power that had attracted her.

However, Paula gradually began to realize that there was more to Nino than just that.

Even among the Mazin race, known for their superior looks, Paula’s beauty was exceptional. Furthermore, being of noble blood and harboring strong mana within her meant that gentlemen never left her alone. From a young age, it was a matter of course for her to be waited upon and cherished.

Of course, if one were to grow arrogant because of that, they would be unfit for life as a noble daughter. Particularly in the male-dominated society of the Mazin, women are taught that their place is to serve. Paula, too, had been given such an education from childhood as if it were natural, and she had absorbed it like dry sand soaking up water. Thus, many a man had been charmed to the very marrow by her beauty and her devoted manner.

Yet, Nino was somewhat different from the men she had previously enervated. Certainly, he would occasionally cast such a gaze her way, but he showed not a shred of proactivity beyond that. Moreover, to her surprise, he seemed interested not in Paula the woman, but in Paula the monster tamer. For Paula, it was the first time she had ever encountered someone to whom her charms did not apply.

And the events that defied her understanding continued.

In a place where even the villagers who were born and raised there had never noticed, a subterranean labyrinth suddenly appeared. Furthermore, the ominous aura pouring out of it rivaled—no, surpassed—the “Abyss of Calamity” in the Imperial Capital. Yet Nino, far from trembling in fear, went so far as to call it “hope.”

Stepping into the labyrinth with total composure, Nino then produced unknown medicines from nowhere and gave them to everyone. However, despite his absolute confidence, that was his only preparation. A girl who was a mage capable of producing only a flame the size of a fingertip, and magical beasts that were still infants despite their legends. Paula steeled herself to put her life on the line, but before her very eyes, a fireball swollen to several times its size pierced a monster. Furthermore, the two small beasts unleashed a fierce assault with movements unbelievable for newborn creatures.

It was an incredible sight. A medicine that could improve the power of sorcery to such an extent would fetch a price without ceiling in the Empire. To give such a thing to a mere village girl for free, let alone—

Those who serve in the military would surely pile up bags full of gold coins for medicine that enhances physical strength. Ignoring the deepening doubt and wonder felt by Paula, Nino traversed the terrifying labyrinth as if strolling through a well-known park. He did so without a guide or a map, never showing even the slightest hint of getting lost. Yet, in actual combat, he displayed an awkwardness and a reaction like a total amateur.

Thinking to cover for him, Paula steeled herself and threw herself into the battle. But she was soon lost for words at the fact that everyone’s movements—including her own—were improving at an extraordinary speed. On top of that, despite it being impossible, Paula easily mastered Subordination, which is hailed as the first and greatest wall for a monster tamer.

At this point, Paula reminded herself once again that common sense no longer applied. However, she firmly resolved to at least try to maintain her usual demeanor.

Or so she thought, until the battle with the next large monster. There, she inadvertently overstepped her bounds. Unknowingly, her desire to prove herself to Nino had won out. Ordinarily, it would have been only natural for him to be enraged that she had taken command without permission. Even if things went well, the nature of the men Paula knew was to become displeased.

“Thank you, you saved us. Please keep giving orders from now on. I want your help in other things, too.”

To have her feelings conveyed in frank words, entirely devoid of flattery or fawning, was yet another first in Paula’s life.

I want to be of more use to this person.

Before she knew it, Paula surrendered her body and soul to the emotion that had sprouted in the depths of her heart. And by the time she realized it, she was striking down unknown monsters one after another and adding them to her servants. Mia, who had been a simple village girl, became a respectable mage capable of using two types of sorcery. The young magical beasts, too, grew enough to show glimpses of their former power.

After many such heart-pounding experiences, they finally reached the fifth floor. Before a sight she could hardly believe, Nino finally revealed his true intentions.

“I will build my own Empire in this subterranean labyrinth!”

A commoner hearing this would likely laugh it off as absurd. However, Paula’s ears and thoughts within this labyrinth had long since ceased to be those of an ordinary person.

“This world will perish in three years. That’s why I need to achieve it before then… my ambition!”

Nino spoke of the future as if he had already seen it. Paula instantly understood that this was an unerring prophecy derived from his transcendent abilities. Her father and brothers, who doted on her and tried to bind her excessively, had declared at every opportunity:

“That man was not worthy of you. We will surely find a groom who possesses more mana. So you need not worry about a thing.”

The result of believing those words was a life of nothing but restriction and boredom. On one such occasion, her uncle Leocadio visited the mansion and remarked casually on the current state of his dear niece:

“Paula, are you satisfied with this life?”

“It is… appropriate for me.”

“Don’t you ever think of searching for it yourself? A path that is worthy of you?”

“Could I… really do such a thing?”

“Nothing begins if you don’t intend to do it, and nothing can be achieved if you don’t believe you can do it.”

At the words of her uncle, who had fled the Empire and found success in the capital of another race, Paula had quietly made her decision and acted upon it. And now, her heart, having found a path worthy of her, beat with a thumping she had never felt before.

—It is this person.

As soon as Nino finished speaking, Paula knelt on the spot and bowed her head deeply. The two magical beasts tried to mimic her exactly and ended up plopping down on their behinds. To the master she would serve for the rest of her life, Paula spoke her heartfelt wish.

“Please let me stay by your side forever, Sir. No… my Lord.”

“Master—!”

“Koo!”

And so, on this day, at this time. The young alchemist ended up gaining truly loyal servants.

“Wait, no—did what I said actually get through to you?! Hey, are you guys okay?”