The Elemental Sword Demon King
Episode 106: Tea Show
POV: Kirigaya Kaizo
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Hovering above the ether wind-filled clouds, the flying ship advanced as if it was gliding.
Its destination was one of the holy places located in Astral Spirit, the floating island of Wind Palace. It was the place to be used for the current Sword Style Festival.
Normally, it was a sanctuary that only allowed the coming and going of the daughter of the Divine Ritual Obsession Institute girl serving the Elemental Lords. But during the Sword Style Festival, it was specially opened for ordinary people.
"I can't help but say this. This flying boat is too amazing, right?"
Looking out the window, Kaizo stared at the vast sea of clouds and felt a little dizzy. This was not surprising, considering this was the first time he had boarded an airplane.
The young ladies of noble birth seemed to have gotten used to it. After putting down their luggage, their team went to the designated waiting room and rested on the sofa.
The walls are made of polished marble tiles while the floors are even covered by a beautifully embroidered red carpet. The cabin is equipped with an abundant supply of daily necessities, all top-class quality.
"By the way, this doesn't vibrate at all?"
"This is the latest model of an airplane, you know? If the trip goes well, we'll probably arrive around noon."
The answer is Victoria, lying on the couch. It wasn't a big deal, but her current posture rose to the top of her skirt and almost showed off her underwear. Therefore, Kaizo frantically shifted her gaze.
"Oh right, the opening ceremony of the competition will be held tonight at the castle hotel. Did you bring formal attire for the dance?"
"No, I didn't do it. I'd rather be freed from the dance."
Recalling the Sword Style Festival three years earlier, Kaizo whispered with an embarrassed expression. To be honest, the ballroom scene has left her with traumatic memories.
"I understand."
For some reason, Victoria's murmur sounded a little disappointed.
"Am I going to trouble you by not bringing formal clothes?"
"Of course not!" Blushed in shame, Victoria turned her head and ignored Kaizo.
"What makes you angry?"
"I-I'm not mad, okay, stupid,"
"Please stop, both of you. Should you guys fight even on the ship?" Aura shrugged her shoulders in despair.
"Aura, what are you doing?"
On the table, Aura was arranging the tea set she was carrying. He arranged and arranged for himself the tea he would bring, Lesley as a waitress was completely useless.
"I'll make tea now. Does everyone want to enjoy afternoon tea together?"
"Good idea, I've long heard that the tea leaves produced in the Neidfrost region are very sweet and soothing."
"Indeed, even though it is currently the night before the Sword Style Festival, a suitable level of relaxation is still required."
Initially they were all outside enjoying the scenery, but after Aura took out her tea, Tiana and Eve regrouped around the table.
Apparently, no matter what time or place, enjoying afternoon tea gracefully was a habit for this young, upper-class lady.
Aura elegantly poured the tea into the tiny teacup. The scent of orange spread throughout the room along with its steam.
"thank you. It's very fragrant" Victoria offered an honest compliment.
"It's a special orange tea for the Neidfrost region."
"Fufuu, the tea brewed by miss is really delicious." Lesley the waiter giggled and smiled.
"Isn't brewing tea usually part of the waiter's job?"
Not long after Kaizo commented, Aura interjected, "What are you talking about!? If my cute little Lesley gets scalded by accident, can you replace her?"
"Eh, sorry,"
For some reason, Kaizo was scolded all out by Aura.
As a side note, only invited spirit contractors were allowed inside the Sanctuary, but since Lesley belonged to the Neidfrost family, in other words, she was Aura's private property.
He was given special permission to accompany Aura. But in reality, Aura seemed to be very unhappy with Lesley being treated as an object.
"Kaizo, how many sugar spoons do you want?"
"Oh, just one more please."
"Victoria, two spoons for you, right?"
"Hey, why do you remember my preferences?"
"I-I didn't memorize it, okay! I just remember it by chance!" Aura bellowed furiously with her face flushed red.
"Miss and Miss Victoria used to play together."
"Eh, really?" Kaizo asked the smiling Lesley.
"Yes, Miss Victoria used to be very close to Miss."
"That's right, Victoria and I are rivals!" Aura furiously turned her face away.
"No sugar added."
"As expected of a princess, knowing the best drinking method to appreciate tea." Aura nodded happily to agree.
At this moment, Eve suddenly had a very dry cough, "I-I want milk tea with a lot of sugar, please." His voice sounded a bit embarrassed.
"Yes, milk tea, don't you think?"
"Next to that..."
"Hmm?"
"If possible, add fresh cream and honey with marshmallow floating on it."
"W-What's with your demands!?" Aura's face twitched slightly after hearing Eve.
"Your tea drinking method is a proof of the tea itself!"
"I-I always drink tea this way! In order to survive the harsh sword exercises, sufficient sugar intake was necessary."
"God, the Veilmist family with its military tradition really..."
"The Hybrid Knight Captain turned out to be unexpectedly childish. Unexpectedly you don't know how to appreciate the delicate taste of tea."
"Hidden! Sweet things are better to start something!" Seeing Victoria throw a look of pity at him, Eve tearfully countered. Watching this back and forth exchange between them was quite exhausting.
(These two girls seem to have let go of their previous grudges as well,) Kaizo smiled wryly in his heart.
For quite a long time, as opposed to the Hybrid Knights, Victoria had always been on bad terms with Eve who stood as the Knight's captain.
Eve had only joined Team Salamander two weeks earlier. Back when they first started group training, the two girls fought often.
This argument is triggered by all sorts of strange reasons, but in most cases, it is, that was because Victoria inexplicably objected whenever Eve suggested to partner with Kaizo because they were both close combatants.
This is not surprising. The two girls have very different personalities. Although they were both excellent students, Eve was a very rigid and hardworking type while Victoria was the type of genius who did what she liked.
The only thing they have in common is their competitiveness. Precisely because of that, the atmosphere between them was extremely tense during the first week. But now it is very different.
"I can't believe this, you actually put honey in the tea,"
"That's what I like! If you have so many objections, why not taste them first before making an objection!?"
"Hmph, how could something so sweet be delicious, eh?" Victoria took a sip of Eve's tea cup and widened her eyes slightly.
"What's the problem?"
"Not bad, there seems to be some kind of soft taste."
"You know what?"
"But this spoils the taste of high-quality black tea. At most, it's just a bad boy's drink."
"You may have a point,"
Now, the relationship of the two girls had developed until they could argue casually like this.
"By the way, your hellish Salamander spirit is so cute." While saying that, Eve reached out to caress the Salamander who was curled up like a ball on the sofa.
Using his fingertips to play with the thorny but soft tail of the Salamander, he also rubbed his head.
"Hey hey hey, Salamander is my contracted spirit. Don't touch the Salamander carelessly."
"Ha-just a little bit should be fine." Eve tightly hugged Salamander affectionately while pouting. It turned out that the rigid Knight Captain had an unexpected weak point for funny things.
(In hindsight, he also kept stuff like dolls in his room.)
"Gerrr, Grrs!" Salamander growled uneasily and sought Victoria's help.
"I've told you to release Salamander. Don't you have your own contracted spirit!?"
"But Salamander's appearance was too cute," Eve muttered with a frown.
(If contracted spirit Eve hears this, she will definitely run away from home in desperation.)
"Geev!"
"Just in a moment, please let me play more with Salamander." Eve continued to hug Salamander loudly.
"Gerrr, Grrs! Grrrrr!"
"Aah!"
As fast as the arrow, Salamander escaped Eve's embrace and escaped from the room. Everyone looked at Eve with pity.
...
*Connected.....
*Note: This story is fictitious. If there is a similarity in the name of the character, the scene, or the story, it is a mere coincidence and there is no element of intentionality.