And so, on the day of the tea party, Noah and Gazel appeared in the school courtyard just as I had summoned them.
"Hi there, you two. I’m glad you could make it."
"……"
Despite me welcoming them with both hands raised, the two of them looked displeased.
Well, it was exactly as I had expected.
"To receive an invitation to a tea party from Master Lloyd and yet show such rudeness... How unpardonable..."
"W-W-Wait, Sylpha-san, no! Put the sword away, put it away!"
Sylpha, whom I had asked to help, looked ready to draw her sword from her waist, but Ren, who had also come to assist, was busy stopping her.
"I am aware, Ren. Our goal is to make these two get along, is it not?"
Muttering that, Sylpha drew her sword.
In a single flash, the cake placed on the table was sliced beautifully, and with the return stroke, the pieces were deposited onto small plates.
"Whoa, that’s amazing, Maid-san! Was that what they call blinding speed?"
Gazel, seeing the brilliant swordplay, let out a voice of admiration.
"The Swordsmanship Department’s 'Beautiful Crimson Rose', Sylpha-san, and the one who recently became the Medicinal Arts Department’s 'Fragrant Purple Rose', Ren, I presume. I see, so the two of you are Lloyd-kun’s attendants."
Noah also nodded, looking impressed.
To be honest, putting Sylpha aside, I wondered when Ren had managed to earn a title like that.
"Remember that girl I became friends with? There was an exam the other day, and my score beat hers. So she told me, 'I shall grant the Title of the Rose to you'… I didn't really intend for that to happen, though..."
Come to think of it, I had heard about this from Noah before.
The names of the Roses are titles given to the most excellent student in each department. I believe Noah was called something-Rose of the Magic Department as well.
"Oho, quite a collection of Roses in full bloom we have here. But Lloyd, it must be tough being compared to such amazing people all the time, isn't it? I understand that struggle."
Gazel put an arm around my shoulder while spouting his insults.
"Master Lloyd is someone beyond even our comparison. Do not think of him on the same level as yourself—a man who merely feels inferior to his talented older brother."
"……Ah? What did you say…!?"
Sylpha kept a cool face even as Gazel glared at her.
"Heh, it seems my foolish younger brother struggles with handling women. Might I ask you to calm your spirit, Beautiful Crimson Rose?"
"No, well… you are gross."
"!?!?"
"Pfft!"
Seeing Noah rendered speechless, Gazel burst into laughter.
"Gyah-ha-ha-ha! She called you gross, Scumbag Older Brother! Serves you right!"
"……Silence, foolish brother. Do you wish to be erased?"
"Wa! W-Wait! You two, fighting is no good! W-What should I do, Lloyd…?"
Ren stepped between the two as sparks flew, but unable to stop them, she sought help from me. However, this was within my expectations.
"Don't worry, Ren. I asked Sylpha to stir things up like that."
Indeed, to confirm the effects of the magic tool I was about to use, it would be easier to understand if their emotions were shaken as much as possible.
Therefore, I had asked Sylpha to rub them the wrong way. ……It felt a bit like she was being serious, but it was probably just my imagination.
"At any rate, now is the time to demonstrate this power. ……And, click."
When I pressed a button inside my pocket, mist began to discharge from the nozzles I had hidden under the table.
The tasteless, odorless mist enveloped the surrounding area in an instant.
At the same time, the sharp expressions Noah and Gazel had until a moment ago visibly softened.
"Nng… Huh? Why was I so irritated just now…?"
"Hmm… This comfort is as if I am listening to the babbling of a clear stream… My previous irritation has vanished as if it were a lie…"
As the two of them smiled broadly, Sylpha pulled out their chairs and invited them to the table.
"Please, have a seat."
"Ohh, thanks, Maid-san."
"Then, if you'll excuse me..."
Watching the two sit down as told, Ren whispered into my ear.
"They were so angry just a moment ago… Is this the effect of the magic tool you were making, Lloyd?"
"It was me and Connie. This magic tool, the 'Amusement Incense Burner', creates various aromas by burning a blend of countless medicinal herbs in a unique pattern."
What we were currently burning was an aroma that had the effect of calming the emotions of those who inhaled it. That was why the two of them were feeling so relaxed.
"So those are the herbs you were gathering a while back. But herbs with sedative effects, starting with the Purple Bloom Herb, are supposed to have a strong scent. Why is there no smell at all?"
"I shall be the one to explain that."
Connie popped her head in from the side.
"Normally, the scent of these mixed herbs would be so intense that it would be painful just to be present. However, this 'Odorless Incense Burner' makes complete deodorization possible by burning them in a cauldron wrapped with special metal wiring. Yet, human senses are unexpectedly sharp; Silver Acid is what is used to eliminate that sense of wrongness. When this comes into contact with air along with the aroma, it turns into a poison that deranges even the weak senses humans possess. Well, even if I call it a poison, it is harmless to the human body, but..."
"Y-Yeah… I see..."
Ren listened with a bewildered expression as Connie spoke volubly while pushing up her glasses.
Well, simply put, it was a magic tool that prevented the opponent from realizing what kind of incense was being used.
The reason these two got along poorly was, in short, because they started fighting immediately; under the influence of the calming aroma, they should be able to have a decent conversation.
"Phew, this tea is delicious..."
"Yes, it truly warms the heart..."
In addition, the medicinal tea I had Sylpha brew also contained decocted herbs with similar effects.
Now then, you two, let’s begin the tea party on friendly terms, shall we?
◇
"Hey, Brother, pass me those sweets over there."
"Heh, you are a helpless younger brother. Here, take them."
"Thanks."
"It is no great trouble."
The calming and soul-resting effects of the magic tool and the special medicinal tea were surprising, and the two seemed to be getting along well.
"It’s an amazing effect… Those two are actually being friendly."
"Yes, it’s beyond my expectations. Lloyd-kun, did you perhaps tweak the spell formula somewhere?"
"Yeah, just a little."
I nodded at Connie’s question.
Since this was a rare opportunity, I didn't want it to fail, so I was using holy magic, 'Dazzling Light', to maximize the effect of the aroma.
Normally, this kind of holy magic is meant to forcibly reform wicked people, but 'Dazzling Light' has the effect of making one lose hostility itself.
There was a risk of being detected if I used it directly, but in front of these two whose consciousness had been weakened by the aroma, they wouldn't notice if I used it at its weakest.
"Couldn't you ask them now why they get along so poorly?"
"Hmm, you’re right."
I had forgotten because making the magic tool was so much fun, but the original goal was to find out why the two were fighting.
And so, I asked them immediately.
"Hey, why are you two always fighting? You should just get along."
"Why, you ask… Well, in a word, it’s a family matter."
Gazel answered my question in a vacant tone.
"Yes, my brother and I are successor candidates for House Bordeaux. Since we were old enough to understand our surroundings, we have been in a relationship where we compete with and try to kick each other down."
"Ah, yeah, yeah, that’s how it is."
I see, come to think of it, these two are descendants of House Bordeaux.
They likely made them compete since they were young to decide on the most excellent one as the successor.
"House Bordeaux has an important duty that has continued since ancient times. I cannot leave that to my incompetent younger brother."
The moment he heard the word 'duty,' Gazel’s brow furrowed.
"Hah, I’ll return those words right back at you, Scumbag Older Brother. You might have a better head on your shoulders, but if we really went at it, I’m definitely stronger. To guard the Majins and Demons sealed by our ancestors, combat power equal to theirs is essential! I don't think you can manage with that snot-like magic of yours!"
"Heh, I will certainly acknowledge your combat power. However, battle is not something where one just charges in alone. It is something where one employs ingenuity and strategy. With the intelligence of a wild boar like my foolish brother, there is a risk you would fall for their talk and release the seals. I do not believe you are capable of the duty at all."
The two who had been easygoing until a moment ago began to speak passionately the moment the topic of their duty came up.
Come to think of it, there are several shrines sealing Majins and Demons on this continent. I see, so House Bordeaux's duty is to protect them.
"What!? I’m the one more suited for it! Scumbag Older Brother, you stay out of it!"
"How foolish. You are the one who should stay out of it. Leave the family duty to me; my foolish brother is more suited to going out into the outside world and living freely."
"You’re supposed to be talented, Scumbag Older Brother! Leave dangerous work like guarding seals to me, and you go contribute to world peace with that brain of yours!"
"You foolish brother who does not understand your older brother’s feelings! Do you think I, as the older brother, could leave a job where he might die to my younger brother!? You are the one who should live while using that genius-like magic sense for the sake of the world and its people!"
Seeing the two raising their voices, Sylpha and Ren looked at each other.
"Um… so this means it wasn't that they hated each other from the bottom of their hearts and were fighting..."
"They were feuding because they care for each other and don't want the other to do a dangerous job, I suppose? How misleading..."
Noah and Gazel pressed their foreheads against each other and barked.
"There is no need for you to become the successor of House Bordeaux, where you never know when you might die!"
I had read in a book somewhere before that the heads of House Bordeaux are short-lived.
It was written that it was a cursed bloodline, the grudges of defeated Majins and Demons, the rebound of possessing too much mana… and so on, but in the end, it was because the master’s mission—the maintenance of the seals on Majins and Demons—was just that dangerous.
"Putting aside Majins, sealing a Demon with dozens of times more power would require a considerable amount of mana. Using mana beyond one's own vessel would even shave away at one's lifespan. That is likely the reason they are short-lived."
Jiriel nodded as if convinced, but I was gnashing my teeth in frustration.
Darn it, what a fun-sounding thing they’re doing.
Ancient Majins and Demons must have absolutely amazing magic. To be able to play around with guys like that… man, that’s nice. I’m jealous.
"Master Lloyd, rather than that, wouldn't it be better to have them drink more tea? Those two are quite excited."
"Oops, you’re right. I have to calm them down."
I caught Sylpha’s eye and asked her to pour the calming medicinal tea, and teacups were immediately lined up in front of the two.
They must have been thirsty after getting heated up. The two immediately put the teacups to their lips.
Good, good. Now that I’ve drawn out their true feelings, if they just drink this and calm down, they should both be able to get along.
As I was thinking that, I felt Grimo move slightly in my palm.
"……?"
The next instant I felt that doubt, the cups slipped from their hands.
A dry crash echoed, and the two slumped onto the table.
"Noah! Gazel!"
I rushed over in a hurry and shook them.
It seemed they had lost consciousness. Both of them had their eyes rolled back, and they were foaming at the mouth.
Ren, who had rushed over next, licked the rim of a teacup with her finger.
"Lick… This is the poison of the Withered Crimson Flower! Just how did such a thing get here…?"
"There is no way to know. To begin with, there was no such thing in this place from the start!"
Even while answering, Sylpha was pounding on their backs.
Withered Crimson Flower—it was something we found when I went herb gathering with Ren before. When I tried to touch it, she had stopped me, saying it was dangerous.
Its leaves contain an extremely fast-acting poison that begins to dissolve the moment it enters the human body, causing the one who ingested it to lose consciousness. It’s a deadly poison that takes a life within a few hours, and it’s not uncommon to result in death if treatment is delayed.
"Urgh-blech!"
With a retch, Gazel threw up the tea he had swallowed.
Noah also seemed to have regained consciousness and was coughing violently.
"Are you two okay!?"
"Cough, cough… Wh-What on earth happened…?"
"Someone poisoned the both of you. Fortunately, the treatment was quick and you were saved… but to interfere with Master Lloyd’s tea party, how outrageous..."
Sylpha made a face as if she had chewed on a bitter bug.
Poison, huh? But the first one to be suspected should be—
Noah and Gazel turned their eyes toward me with direct suspicion.
—Well, no matter how you look at it, it’s me, right?
"There is no way Master Lloyd would do such a thing."
Sylpha said quietly, but in a very strong tone.
"That’s right! If he really intended to kill you, he wouldn't use a poison as obvious as the Withered Crimson Flower, and to begin with, there’s no way he’d perform recovery treatment! Someone who has a grudge against you must have poisoned you somehow!"
Ren also continued.
In fact, if I were the one who did it, the method was far too sloppy. If I really wanted to kill them, there were any number of ways.
The two of them seemed to realize that immediately, as they let out hums of contemplation.
"……Well, I guess so. I suspected you for a second, but Lloyd is a more straightforward guy. He wouldn't use such a cowardly trick."
"Yes, I have observed Lloyd-kun for some time now, and his actions are pure and innocent. There is no doubt that someone is operating from the shadows."
The evaluation they had of me was strangely high, but I couldn't help but feel that the one who had been with them was mostly Grimo.
However, just whose doing was it?
Both of them have the deep trust of the students, and they haven't done anything that would get them poisoned.
Hmm, I don't know.
"Do you know anything? Grimo…"
As I started to say it, I noticed that my palm felt strangely empty.
When I looked, Grimo, who should have been in my palm, was gone.
"Ma-Ma-Ma-Master Lloyd!!"
The one who raised a panicked voice was Jiriel.
"I saw it! Him… I saw Grimo poisoning the two of them!"
Before I knew it, Grimo had vanished from my palm.