Marie's mansion.

　To celebrate the successful completion of the negotiations, we are going to have a tea party with our master.

　Why not my mansion?

　There's Lelia's sister who shouldn't be provoked, so I'm the landlord and I'm going to leave.

　...I'm guilty of my own kindness sometimes.

　Well, that's that.

'Look, Master!　A tea set from Arzel.

　The master takes the cup in his hand with a careful hand.

'It's quite delicately crafted,'

It was a bit expensive, though. We're buying the set in bulk with the Republic's reparations.

　Thank you, Arzel Republic!

　As I'm getting a look at my new tea set that I'm proud of, Marie looks in.

'Is this expensive?　How long?

　I'll give Marie an earful.

'There are several of these cups, but one alone costs between four hundred thousand and five hundred thousand Japanese yen.

　Marie picked up the cup and stared at it.

'You have no idea how much easier life is going to be with one of these!　And it's a set!

Sorry, but I'm rich.

　He left the kingdom without all his wealth - and became a wealthy man in the Republic.

　I've made the Republic look good - and I've made them pay for it. I squeezed as much as I could out of it.

　Marie looks at all the tea sets, calculates the price and collapses from her knees.

'This is terrible. I'm working my way up to a cheaper tea set.'

　The master began to comfort Marie in a gentlemanly manner.

'Of what. 'Miss Marie, it's not the price that's important. It's the spirit of hospitality that counts.'

　The one who interrupted our conversation was Zilk, who brought a leather bag with him.

''The headmaster is right.''

　A confident Zilk looks at the tea set I've purchased and shakes his head.

'What?'　If you have something to say, say it.

Then let me tell you something. That tea set is overkill. In a word, it's tacky.

What?

　Zirk explains, looking at my tea set.

'Overly elaborate decorations. It looks like a work of art, but it's not suited for everyday use. It's a tea set, but it proves to be a decoration. The taste for the rich - excuse me. It's a fancy tool for the well-heeled. It's often bought by amateurs who say they've become obsessed with tea.

　I'm annoyed.

　Marie grabs my arm to stop me, but my mentor follows me.

'Mystagilk, that is not true. It's certainly a lot of decoration, but the fact that people who are interested in tea want it means that this tea set has that much more to offer.

　After receiving my master's words, I spoke back to Zilk, feeling like I had ten thousand armies on my side.

''That's right. That's right, calling someone a money-making hobby. You're rude.

　You want me to get a lecture from senior Clarice?

　No, no. It was forbidden to talk about Zilk in front of Clarice senior.

''That was certainly an overstatement. But if I may say so, Count Baldfalt doesn't know anything about real tea.''

　When Zirk opened the leather bag, he found a very old tea set.

　Some of it is missing.

　I point and laugh.

'What the hell is that?　That's a long time ago. That's the real thing?

　Zilk put his hand to his forehead and shook his head.

　'You don't understand at all,' he said, and so on.

　The look in his master's eyes changed.

''Hey, this!''

''Has the headmaster noticed? "Did the headmaster notice it? "Did you notice the lean form of the school and the long history of the building? The real thing is not just a matter of being luxurious.

　Marie was impressed with Zilk's explanation.

'From a layman's point of view, something that doesn't seem to be worth much at all can be expensive. 'Huh?　Zilk, did you have a tea set like this?

I bought it. It was cheap.

Oh, you're a good shopper. How much was it?

　Zilk puffs his chest out.

''If it were the currency of the Horphath Kingdom, I'd say 50,000 diah.

　Hearing this, Marie began to rattle and shake.

'What?　Wait a minute. 　No!　Oh, that was an important living expense!

　If I were to say in Japanese yen, it would be about five million.

　When Marie is surprised, Zilk politely explains to her.

''It's okay, Marie-san. I bought it in a solid shop, and most importantly, if you do a normal transaction, it will be worth twice as much. If you take it back to the Horfert Kingdom, they'll give you a hundred thousand or two hundred thousand if you like. Look at this beautiful white. It's not pure white, but isn't it a nice, tasteful color?　Do you see the slightly different shades of each?

　It looks like a stain to me, but it's strange because it looks that way when you ask me.

　Marie is being talked down to by Zirk.

　Zilk's guy, it seems, found the cash in the mansion and bought it.

　Marier was getting more and more into it.

'Well, that's okay. 'Well, it certainly looks good. Looking at this, Ani--Rion's tea set is definitely too much of a mess.'

　It's frustrating to be told, but listening to Zilk's explanation makes it look like a good one.

　d*mn I want one too.

　Wabi-sabi, you say?　It's starting to look like a great tea set.

''It would be difficult for Count Baldfalt to do that. I've always been exposed to the real thing at the royal palace and at my parents' house, so I know the value of things. Today I'll treat you to my special blend.

　It was frustrating to see Zilk's triumphant face.

　This guy is a boner.

　I mean, he's certainly a man who has grown up with the real thing.

　It's frustrating, but with me, I only saw what was on the outside.

　And so I would drink the tea that Zilk had blended, a tea that wasn't even good to me and had a subtle aroma.

　Maybe it's because I'm drinking it in an expensive tea set, but I can't taste it at all.

　........Is it because my tongue still can't understand it?

◇

　When the tea party was over, Zilk was cleaning up the tea set with Marie.

　I consult with my mentor while slumping my shoulders.

''........Jirku was right. I don't understand what the real thing is. That tea set looks just old, and I didn't think the tea leaves were good either.

　I don't know if the fancy stuff is necessarily for my taste buds.

　I was losing confidence in myself.

　When people say it's expensive, it seems so, but up until then I'd just seen it as an old tea set. I'm very embarrassed about that.

　But my master is in trouble.

''What's wrong, Master?''

　It's rare to see that normally spare master in trouble.

''Mystarion, that tea set, it's just a normal mass-produced product.

What?

'It's really just a complete set of poor quality items. It's not worth fifty thousand diyas. The aroma is also, well... it's a matter of taste, but it didn't suit me.

　The master was troubled.

　Zilk was a man who had grown up seeing, touching, and tasting the real thing. He couldn't understand how it was possible for him to be grabbed by such a fake.

　But it was Marie, at the entrance to the room, who was stunned by her master's words.

　She is hanging on to the door with a blue face.

''Ugh, lie.''

'Miss Marie!　No, I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about--

　The Master stands up and tries to comfort Marie, but

Wait!　Zilk spent about half of his cash to grab a fake one!　I thought life was going to get easier from here on out!　Give me back my delight in a tea set that only does a hundred dias!

　Even I didn't find the situation a bit funny.

　Marie is crying on the floor with her hands on the floor.

'I've bought so many things I need, I don't even have much left!　I was hoping for a new nightie or some plain clothes!　I can get through the summer, but how am I going to get through the fall or winter?!

　Zilk is surprised when he returns to a crying Marie.

'Marier-san, it's okay--ah!

　Marie slaps Zilk on the head with her tray and then leaves the room, shouting as she goes.

'You dumbass!'

　Zirk looks at us, holding his head.

　I avert my gaze.

　The Master.

"...Mr. Zirk, you must not use everyone's common property without permission.

'What?　Oh, yes. But it's a good one.

'But still!　Look, it's normal to talk to the mismaliers who manage the money in the first place. Don't spend it without permission.

Ha, ha, that's true. But I thought it would be good for you and everyone else, Marie, too.

'Sit down there. 'You have one more job at Arzel. Teaching you all some common sense seems to be the most important part of your job.

　The sermon usually started.

　Still, Marie is too pathetic...but I'm relieved to see that she's a bit funny somehow.

　If it looks like it's going to be hard again, I'll assist you.

''It's going to be a long one, so I'll prepare a cup of tea.

　Zilk, you say he's the real thing, but he's got a fake one. Well, he's the one who was tricked by Marie and lost his fortune and position. He was a blind man.

　I prepared a cup of tea with a smile, with Zilk being lectured at the side.

◇

　Back at home, I was talking to Lelia's sister.

　I'm the one talking about the daily events anyway, in order to be careful and talk to her.

　She doesn't talk about anything in particular.

　Maybe she was too mentally driven, or maybe she was too mentally driven, but she was quiet at home with her holy tree sapling.

　The reason for having a holy tree sapling?

　He said it would help you relax. I wish he'd just taken it away.

Afterwards, Julius and the others gathered to hear a sermon. He's a great teacher. He was very good at it. I should have thought about it sooner, though.

　A small smile on my sister's face.

　At first she was expressionless, but finally a smile appeared on her face.

　She is also being treated with the medicine Luxion prepared for her.

　Anyway, it seems it's important to let her take her rest slowly and keep Eryk away from her.

　My sister hugged the case containing the saplings and spoke to me.

'Sounds like you're having fun.'

'Oh, oh, are we having fun?　I did laugh at him, though.

　The five of us watched as the five of us were being preached to, Kyle and Kara.

　It was funny how the two of them were looking at their mentor like "say more to him".

　It seems those two were also quite frustrated with the five of them.

　In the first place, if you wanted Marie's approval, you should have worked on your life skills rather than your fighting skills.

　Take a lesson from me.

　Squeeze out of Arzel and get back to being rich again.

''Well lately I've been struggling with whether I liked Erik. He was getting more violent, and yet he was still kind to me, so I stayed by his side. But as things settled down, I didn't understand that either.

　You're finally getting well enough to talk.

Just take your time. You'll figure out the hard part later.

　According to Marie, I shouldn't let her make an important decision here.

　I really want her to quickly switch to the next guy and get along with him, but I don't know how Yandere Eryk will work.

　What the hell was that Lelia guy doing?

''I didn't get to take any classes for a semester, and I was worried about that,''

　Aside from the six great noblemen, Eric, your sister would be worried.

　Jean was going to stay on, you know.

''I'll talk to Mr. Clément about it. We have our make-up classes, so if you take them together, it won't be a problem.　Don't worry, I--I'm still very flexible with the Republic.

　If you show them the treasure ball, those guys will flirt and wag their tails harder than Noel.

　Sister hugs the case containing the saplings and shuts up.

'If you're having a hard time, let's go to your room and rest.

　The robots come and carry your sister away.

　She still seems to be mentally unstable.

◇

　The port of the Kingdom of Horfath.

　The fleet of airships leaving for the Arzel Republic was very numerous.

　Many airships produced in the Baldfart family's factory could be seen.

　One of those ships.

　Ange and Livia were on the deck of the airship captained by Leon's brother, Nix.

　Creare was also with them.

　Nix had a melancholy look on his face.

'Why do I have to go to a foreign country? My dad says it's a good experience and you should go, and Leon says he's going to pay you and help you out...why would he go abroad to study and fight in the first place?

　Nix was busy because of Leon, and he was rightfully complaining.

　Angier put his hands on his hips.

'Leon only bought the fight that was sold to him, brother-in-law. In fact, he has given the Arzer Republic a run for its money. The queen appreciates that.

　Nix is having trouble answering Angier's question.

'Oh, yes,'

　To begin with, from Nix's point of view, Angel is a young lady who is on a cloud.

　

　Livia spoke to Clairvoyant.

''Ahle-chan, are we going to travel in your brother-in-law's airship?''

　Nix was surprised to hear that.

　He gave her a look that said he hoped she would give him a break.

'No way. I've got a special airship for you to use properly. The Einhorn-class second ship--Ricorne.''

　As Creare said this, an airship of the same type as Einhorn broke through the clouds and emerged.

　The white hull of the ship is quite beautiful.

　Angier said a word.

'I would have preferred the color red.'

'White this time. Isn't it beautiful?　It's a modified version of the one that that cynic designed. It's better than this one.'

　Nix looked at Ricorne with admiration.

'The same type as Rion's ship I'm surprised you were able to mass produce it.

'Oh, do you want your master's brother too?　Are you there?

I don't want to get it from you guys because I'll have a problem with it later. Besides, I like your airship better.

　When Nix refused, his men approached him.

'Boy, the captain wants to see you,'

I'm coming!

　As Nix moves away, a small boat comes in from Ricorne.

'Come on, get in. The Redgrave family has left the servants in charge of you, so you'll be fine. I promise you a comfortable journey.

　The main body of Luxion, hidden from view, floated just above Angier and Livia.

　Livia's shoulders slumped.

'I wish Paltner had been able to fix it.

　Remembering Paltner, who was supposed to have sunk, Angier agreed that Libya was depressed.

'Yes. The Paltner was a good ship. .........Well, let's go to the Republic. Leon will be waiting for us.