I was welcomed by the steward and entered Baron Kimball’s residence.
Why did Linda-san come with me?
“Go back to the Great Temple,” I said.
“No, I’m going to give my greetings to Danshaku-sama.”
“Geeze,” I said.
“Makoto-ojou-sama, don’t be so nasty to Linda-sama,” the steward said.
“Thank you,” Linda said.
When I enter the entrance hall, Okaa-sama hugged me.
“Makoto-chan, Okaa-san missed you so much,” she said.
“I’m home, Okaa-sama, I missed you, too.”
Okaa-sama smells good.
She smells like the sun.
It smells of happiness.
“Hey, Makoto, how was school?”
“Brad-onii-sama. I didn’t realize you were home?” I asked.
“Aah, I wanted to see you for the first time in a while, Makoto,” Brad said.
“Well, Onii-sama, was it? You’re acting very good,” Linda said.
Hey, Linda, don’t look at me like I’m a strange creature.
When I’m in the Baron’s household, I’m properly acting like a young lady.
“You’re Linda-sama, I’m indebted to you for always taking care of Makoto-chan,” Okaa-sama said.
“No, no, my name is just Linda Crable, don’t be so polite,” Linda said.
“I see, I see, Makoto-chan has been talking about you a lot. You’re so cool, Linda-san.”
I didn’t say a word of that, Okaa-sama.
Too much social commentary.
And Linda-san, what a face you’re making.
“Oh, are you back, Makoto?”
“Oh, Otou-sama, you’re home, too?” I said.
“Umu, you’re coming back, so I came home early,” Otou-sama said.
“Well, I’m glad for that, Otou-sama,” I said.
“Oh, that must be…” Otou-sama said.
“Good to meet you, my name is Linda Crable.”
“Oh, you’re the famous Mad Angel of the Great Temple! You did a great job in the upheaval in the north,” Otou-sama said.
“You humble me,” Linda said. “It is an honor to meet the distinguished Scholar, Clark Kimball.”
“I suppose you always take care of Makoto, and every time Makoto comes home, she tells us about you, Linda-san,” Otou-sama said.
No, so don’t cry out and look at me, Linda-san.
I didn’t like it, but Linda-san and I decided to have dinner together at the baron’s house.
Uzeh.
Hurry up and get back to the temple.
Except for Linda sitting at the same table, it was a wonderful Kimball family dinner.
Okaa-sama’s food is lightly seasoned and very delicious.
She prepares a lot of side dishes that she always made, and the food goes on and on.
Delicious, delicious.
Onii-sama is going to ask about school, so I’m going to tell the story of these turbulent six days from the beginning.
For some reason, as we talked, Otou-sama’s complexion kept getting progressively worse.
“Did you defeat the knight of Duke Pottinger’s daughter, in order to help Caroline-sama of House Albright…?” Otou-sama said.
“Yes, I did do that,” I said.
“… N-No, please continue, it’s still the first day,” Otou-sama said.
“Yes, it was before I entered school,” I said.
“Well, you turned Duke Pottinger into an enemy, it’s a big deal,” Okaa-sama said, though her gentle tone makes it not seem as much of a grave thing.
“Clark-sama, don’t worry, the Holy Saint-sama will be protected by the Holy Knights in the name of the Temple.”
“A confrontation between Duke Pottinger and the Temple sounds like a terrible clash…” Otou-sama said.
He’s not feeling well
I wonder if I made a mistake.
The story turns to the attempted poisoning at the welcome party in the girls’ dormitory.
Somehow, Otou-sama’s posture began to sink further and further downward, and sweat began to form on his forehead.
“Otou-sama, if you’re not feeling well, why don’t you take a rest?” I asked.
“Ah, no, it’s not a problem, it’s not a physical problem,” he said.
“Even though it’s the first day of school, you were so amazing, Makoto, as expected of a candidate for a saint,” Brad said.
“Stop that, Onii-sama, I feel embarrassed when I am praised.”
“Praise me… ah, no, that’s right, it was a crisis,” Otou-sama said.
“And after that,” I started.
“”There’s still more?!”” Otou-sama and Onii-sama both shouted.
Okaa-sama looked skyward.
“I got acquainted with Curtis-sama of House Browright, and he also joined the faction,” I said.
“Is that right, are you going to join a faction?” Otou-sama said.
“If you join the Royal Faction, you’ll be safe, good for you, Makoto,” Brad said.
What are you talking about?
These two.
“No, at the recommendation of Curtis-sama, we decided to create the Saint’s Faction,” I said.
“””…”””
Why are you so surprised?
Otou-sama is a historian, so I’m sure you can understand that the Royal Faction can’t stop a powerful new faction.
“Wh-Wha-What are you doing, Makoto?” Otou-sama said.
“In order to stop Duke Pottinger’s faction, we have to deal with it our own faction,” I said.
“I-I understand that, but… is it a new faction of with House Browright?” Otou-sama said.
“No, I’m the leader, so it’s House Kimball’s Faction,” I said.
“So that means… we’re the head of that faction?” Otou-sama said. “And Houses Browright and Albright are with you?”
“Well, what should I do? I never thought I’d be the head of a faction. I wonder if I need a new dress or something, no, first of all, you all need new formal clothes,” I said.
“Well, well, even a small faction can be a check against the Duke of Pottinger. There are three noble houses participating, yes?”
“Just three houses might not be strong enough to counter Duke Pottinger, is it?” Brad said.
“Ah, no, it’s getting more and more swelling up, how many are there now?” I asked.
“One duke’s family, one marquis’s family, one margrave’s family, one earl’s family, one viscount’s family, two baron’s families including yours, Kimball-sama, so there are seven families,” Linda counted off.
“A-A duke’s house?” Otou-sama said. “No, it can’t be…”
“Duke Appleby has joined us, Otou-sama,” I said.
“Im-Impossible!” Otou-sama cried.
“Also, Marquis Clayton, too,” I said.
“Wait a minute, Clayton, you said, that’s the family name of the Ministry of Magic’s Director, Makoto!” Brad said.
“Yes, my dear Onii-sama, because I became friends with Elmer-sama in class,” I said.
“Six days, why is it growing so fast in six days?”
“Yeah, I’m not sure about that,” I said.
Otou-sama is looking like he’s about to cry.
Why is that?
“It seems that House Clayton will hold a faction launch party during Golden Week, so Otou-sama, Okaa-sama, please do make sure to attend,” I said.
“Ah, it’s impossible, House Kimball is a just baron, so why would you become the leader of a faction that has a duke in it?” Otou-sama said. “Aaah, I didn’t mean to imply that you can’t do anything for something like this, Makoto.”
“It’s going to be tough, I have to prepare a dress and formal clothes for all of us,” Okaa-sama said.
“Kaa-san…” Brad said.
Otou-sama and Okaa-sama, do your best.
