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Machine Translated by:

• Goldkills

Proofread by:

• Shadow

Japanese-English Checking By:

• Vinicaian

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※This story has spoilers for Tanpenshuu eleven’s version of Elegant Lesson. Please read that first before reading this story.

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1

 

???: [Come to think of it, you’ve known Roswaal for a long time, right, Clind-san? Does that mean you and Beako are also on good terms?] 

While undergoing training to level up at the Miload residence, an exhausted and sweaty Subaru casually asked this question to the calm-faced Clind.

While Subaru looked exhausted and groggy, Clind was stylish and had not even broken a sweat.

Clind, who always seemed so calm and collected, slightly raised an eyebrow at Subaru’s question.

As if to see if he had asked something he shouldn’t have, Subaru looked at Beatrice, who was holding his hand and fanning the air with her hand.

However, Beatrice shook her head slowly from side to side at Subaru’s gaze, and said,

Beatrice: [Not particularly, I suppose. Of course, it was known that Roswaal employed a servant named Clind, in fact. But Betty hardly had any contact with him, I suppose.]

Subaru: [Really? That’s surprising. After all, when it comes to how pretty Beako is, she’s straight down the middle for Clind-san.]

Clind: [In the sense that Beatrice-sama’s childlike and vibrant sensibility touches my heart, yes. Affirmation.]

Beatrice: […Honestly, that evaluation doesn’t feel very pleasing, in fact.]

When Clind nodded as if to confirm the sweetness of a piece of candy, Beatrice, whose cheeks had stiffened, turned away from him slightly.

However, as mentioned before, it was a bit of a surprise.

Subaru: [She has lived in the Roswaal mansion for four hundred years. So, Beako’s like a zashiki-warashi[1] or a powerful lady-in-waiting to the Mathers family. The fact that she’s had no real contact with him for so long is proof of her extremely reclusive lifestyle.]

Beatrice: [What an expression to use for someone such as Betty, I suppose! Even Betty had some of her own contacts with the people in the mansion, in fact! Meals were delivered, I suppose!]

Subaru: [That’s just the routine of a shut-in! You shouldn’t be proud of that!]

That was a comment that raised concerns about Beatrice’s lifestyle at the Roswaal mansion before Subaru and Emilia arrived. From now on, Subaru decided to never let Beatrice eat alone again――,

Subaru: [Given that Beako’s personality can’t be helped… what about you, Clind-san? If you haven’t always been with Annerose at the Miload residence, is there a reason for that?]

Clind: [Yes, correct. If I had to say, I was forbidden from having any contact with her by the Master. Strict orders.]

Subaru: [As soon as you said it was Roswaal’s orders, it started to smell really fishy…]

As the dark schemes that Roswaal had been plotting involving the Sanctuary and the mansion were revealed, he inscribed an Oath on himself, saying, “I won’t commit any mischief like thaaa~t again.”.

However, the order to avoid Beatrice was given to Clind before said Oath, so it was possible that that order itself had been related to Roswaal’s plans.

So, in the same way as Beatrice, Subaru also felt like keeping his distance from Clind. Seeing this, Clind adjusted the position of his monocle, and,

Clind: [There is no need to worry. My orders have already been rescinded. I believe this recent training trip is proof that the Master has changed his mind. Self-evident.]

Subaru: [Yeah, you’re right. Mhm, sorry. I was being rude to you even though you were being so kind to me.]

Clind: [Nevertheless, even though my orders to avoid contact were lifted, I have received new instructions to minimize contact as much as possible. Mitigation.]

Beatrice: [It’s possible that he still hasn’t learned his lesson, in fact! Maybe he needs another beating, I suppose!]

When Beatrice heard Roswaal’s next instruction, her face grew angry, and she screamed. While Subaru was wondering if there was something more to his plans, he was also curious about the contents of the instructions.

For whatever reason, Roswaal’s instructions made it feel like they were intentionally keeping Clind and Beatrice apart.

Subaru: [By the way, you’re not forbidden to have contact with me, right?]

Clind: [As for you, Subaru-sama? Affirmation. The Master has graciously instructed me to train you thoroughly. Roused.]

Subaru: [I’m glad you’re excited to get working! …But, I see.]

After he heard Clind’s reply, Subaru nodded in agreement and looked at Beatrice. She wore a questioning expression at Subaru’s look, but Subaru somehow understood Roswaal’s thoughts. ――Roswaal’s affection for Beatrice was probably genuine.

Subaru: [It seems to me that it’s like an uncle who can’t get his cute niece to like him and is just trying to keep the bad adults away.]

Given that, Roswaal’s affection was not being conveyed to Beatrice at all, and he seemed too clumsy and pitiful. However, considering what Roswaal had done, he had better suffer for a while, so this amount of misfortune was probably well-deserved.

Anyway――,

Subaru: [Getting back on topic, how long have you been working for Roswaal, Clind-san? I heard you were in charge of Frederica’s education.]

From what he had heard, it seemed that Clind was the one who had trained Frederica as a maid when she had first left the Sanctuary and still did not know her way around. It was hard to believe that he was the head servant at the time, but he was definitely a promising young man. When Subaru asked him this, Clind put his hand to his chin and said, “That is right. Rumination.”――,

Clind: [I believe it has been about four hundred years.]

Subaru: [Clind-san is another member who tremendously increases the camp’s average age!?]

With that, Subaru was greatly surprised.

 

2

 

Emilia was a hundred-year-old half-elf, Beatrice and Puck were four-hundred year old spirits, and here was Clind, who had just joined the ranks of the long-lived group――.

Subaru: [With this, the average age of the Emilia Camp has suddenly risen again… Even if we include the young members like Petra and Annerose, they don’t even come close…]

Beatrice: [Good grief, Subaru always gets so flustered, in fact. On the contrary, the increased reliability of having so many individuals of high age is something one should be proud of, I suppose.]

Subaru: [On the contrary, I strongly suspected that cuteness and prettiness was what increased with a person’s age, but that theory was completely put on its head with Clind-san!]

As Beatrice played with her twin drill tails with her fingers, Subaru admitted to the collapse of the “Longer-lived Cute Theory” he previously held. Both Emilia and Beatrice, as well as Puck, with his cute appearance and fluffy fur, were influential factors that supported the theory.

However, the inclusion of the out-of-place Clind changed the situation.

Subaru: [No, wait? Clind-san is a strikingly handsome man, so if you include cute in the more general definition of beauty, then you can’t say that my theory has been disproved, can you?]

Clind: [It is an honor to receive such a high evaluation; however, I apologize for the confusion this has caused. Gratitude.]

Beatrice: [This is just some stupid Subaru nonsense, in fact. It’s okay just to ignore him, I suppose.]

Subaru, in response to Beatrice’s harsh words, patted her head, and she said, “Aghh, In fact!”,

Subaru: [By the way, Beako, what you said earlier about not having any connection with Clind-san has a totally different implication when you think about it on a four-hundred-year scale! You’re too good at being a shut-in! Go get some sunlight!]

Beatrice: [T-That’s why I’m out in the sun with you, Subaru, I suppose… Because Subaru pulled Betty outside, in fact.]

Subaru: [What a fucking cute thing to say!]

It was a reply that was overflowing with love, and Subaru energetically picked Beatrice up and placed her on his lap, sitting cross-legged, and then turned to face Clind again.

Subaru: [On that note, I’m sorry about my Beako being so rude. Also, ignoring my confusion is OK because it’s just nonsense, like Beako says. May I ask you something else?]

Clind: [Your words were quite frantic, but I will listen. Lend an ear.]

Subaru: [You don’t have long ears or anything like that, so you’re probably not an elf, but where are you from, Clind-san?]

Clind: [Hmm. Why do you wish to know? Verification.]

His eyes widened as Subaru was asked a question in reply to his own. Then, after the seed of doubt formed in his mouth, he asked, “Why?”,

Subaru: [Look, it’s not like Roswaal’s orders have been rescinded, but he’s agreed to let you be my instructor for this training, and it looks like we’re going to see each other more often from now on. So I want to get to know you. Because you’re going to be my Master, right, Clind-san?]

Clind: [――. Your Master, is it? Awestruck.]

Subaru: [Isn’t that right? I’m being taught how to use and train my body from scratch, and I’m being generously given the wisdom and techniques of my predecessors… this is what you call a master-disciple relationship.]

Subaru did not really realize it until he said it himself, but when he actually thought about his situation, it was most natural to define it as a master-disciple relationship.

Although he knew he was being selfish because he had not even asked the other person’s permission, Subaru considered Wilhelm to be his spiritual master. Subaru deeply respected the spirituality of the swordsman called the “Sword Demon”, who spent fourteen years avenging his wife’s death.

And now, Clind has emerged as his physical master.

Subaru: [It’s not just about where you’re from, of course, but surely I’m not the only one who wants to know about the people they respect.]

Clind: [What is this “respect“? Inquiry.]

Subaru: [It means I hold you in high esteem! It’s a little embarrassing when you have to explain it, though!]

Clind: [――――]

Clind narrowed his eyes slightly at Subaru’s answer as he held his breath.

His unusual reaction, or at least the first time Subaru had seen such an agitated one, made him wonder if he was too unemotional in telling him straight out.

However, when Subaru reflected on this, Clind shook his head with a “No”,

Clind: [I was marginally surprised. You have a rare way of thinking, Subaru-sama. Loss for words.]

Subaru: [You say that you’re at a loss for words, but I didn’t mean to say something so crazy… what’s wrong, Beako, why the cute puffed-out cheeks?]

Beatrice: [Uh-huh, that’s why Betty is proud of Subaru, I suppose.]

Subaru scratched his cheek with his finger at the smug impression of Beatrice on his lap. In response, Clind responded with an embarrassed affirmation, “That is right,”,

Clind: [However, my apologies. I am unable to disclose my origins. I have a Contract… no, a Covenant. Humble pardons.]

Subaru: [A Contract, or rather, a Covenant… is that also with Roswaal?]

Clind: [I am also unable to answer that. If my origins were made public, I am certain that it would cause great inconvenience to the camp. Violent upheaval.]

Subaru: [Amazing. This is the second time someone has kindly explained to me that they’re a time bomb.]

Of course, the first and most memorable experience was with none other than Emilia.

It seemed ridiculous that Emilia would be treated unfairly just because she shared the appearance of the Witch of Envy from the distant past.

Subaru: [First of all, Emilia-tan’s super-cute beauty can’t be easily reprod――]

Subaru was about to continue, but then he remembered the tea party and became tongue-tied. The face of the Witch, whom he had met only once at the tea party in his dream, inside Echidna’s tomb. Like a haze, that memory had a complex and mysterious hue in Subaru’s mind.

As if his soul was refusing to think about it in detail.

Subaru: [At any rate! I understand if you can’t talk about it, Clind-san. I won’t ask from which field the fresh vegetable Clind-san was picked. But can I ask about other things? For example, what you like and what you don’t like, or… ah, like Roswaal’s weakness!]

Clind: [That would be Beatrice-sama. Informing.]

Beatrice: [You made it seem like you sold your master out instantly when it’s clear that you have no intention of answering seriously at all, in fact!]

Beatrice shouted at Clind for his prompt reply, but unexpectedly, Subaru thought that it might not be a lie after all, and he decided not to tell Beatrice about his thoughts.

Whatever the case, Clind’s attitude seemed to have changed based on the corners of his slightly softened eyes, and he did not seem to reject the master-disciple relationship head-on, to which Subaru was relieved.

Clind: [So, is this respite over? Resume.]

Subaru: [Yeah, that’s right. We can’t keep dragging our feet forever. We have to make the most of every second and level up. Let’s go, Beako――!]

Beatrice: [Yeah, yeah, hurry up, I suppose!]

He lifted the enthusiastic Beatrice and placed her on his shoulders, completing the docking. The combination of Subaru and Beatrice, who have truly become one, proceeded to take on Clind once again.

In response to this fresh attack, Clind gracefully turned, and,

Clind: [――Ill-prepared. Discourteous.]

Subaru & Beatrice: [[Ahhhphew!]]

 

3

 

Emilia: [Ahh! They got hit again…!]

???: [I know you are worried, Emilia-sama, but you should not take your eyes off me.]

With that, Frederica cautioned Emilia, whose eyes were wide with shock.

Emilia blinked her amethyst eyes and apologized with, “I’m sorry”, but her mind kept wandering to the scene of Subaru and company’s training.

Frederica could understand that feeling. After all――,

???: [――Clind seems to be having a very good time.]

Annerose, sitting opposite Emilia, elegantly brought a teacup to her mouth, perfectly following the rules of etiquette as she looked at the same scene and spoke. Having had Clind by her side for so many years, she could see the same thing as Frederica.

Emilia: [Eh? Clind-san is excited? He doesn’t look like he is at all…]

Frederica: [That is not true. Toying with Subaru-sama and Beatrice-sama simultaneously like that, smirking in a truly disgusting way, is quite infuriating.]

Emilia: [Smirking…?]

Annerose: [It is unsurprising that you can not recognize it, Emily. You are not used to seeing him. Besides, there is no need to specifically learn the skill of being able to read Clind’s facial expressions.]

Frederica deeply nodded inwardly in agreement with Annerose’s well-reasoned opinion. However, Emilia, with a serious expression on her face, prefaced her response with a “No”, and then,

Emilia: [You say that, Anne, but I don’t think I should accept it like that. No matter who it is… especially Clind-san, who’s helping us, right? If I disregard someone like that, I’m sure the sun will turn its back on us.]

Annerose: [Oh my. Emily, how admirable of you… as expected of my Emily!]

Emilia: [Sorry. But, I’m not your property, Anne…]

Annerose: [That was just a figure of speech! Even still, it hurts when I am rejected like that…]

Annerose looked sour at Emilia’s innocent reply, then cleared her throat and tried to recover her composure. She held up one of her slender fingers, and,

Annerose: [That is alright. Then, I will personally teach you how to discern Clind’s faces.]

Emilia: [P-Please help me out…!]

Frederica could not help but give a wry smile at Emilia, who was taking notes with such enthusiasm.

No matter who they were or what kind of person they were, she had to face them sincerely without making any distinctions. It was a very difficult thing to do, but it had been the policy Emilia had adopted for the Royal Selection.

Although it infuriated her to no end that Clind’s name was being mentioned as one of these embodiments.

Frederica: [At the very least, he has to be useful for that.]

As a person who was once swept away by the slightest differences in the subtle changes in his facial expressions, Frederica hoped that the difficulty in Clind’s expressions would be useful for Emilia’s pursuits.

On the other hand, she did not have zero feelings. ――If the day ever arrived when Emilia could read Clind’s facial expressions without issue, things would probably get a little awkward.

Frederica: [It really is a troublesome thing.]

With that, Frederica mumbled those feelings to herself, but no one heard them―― it was a matter of her own heart that ought to have been treated as a minor thing compared to the future of the Emilia Camp.

《End》

 

Translation Notes:

[1] – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zashiki-warashi