Falling in Love with the Captive Noce - Episode 9

[tiletta]

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[ No BGM ]
Mia wordlessly accepted the proffered fruit. She split its hard shell open with magic.
Inside was a bright red fruit, which she plucked out and ate.

Mia: ………

Mia closed her eyes. She took her time savouring its taste, seemingly comparing its taste to the one from her memories. Slowly, she smiled.

[ Event BGM ]
Mia: … I concede defeat.

Her smile reminded me of the harshest blizzard of winter.
It was also like crisp leaves piled high in autumn.
Some part of it was like brilliant sunshine in the summer, and another part was like budding flowers ushering in the advent of spring.
Her smile was all of those things.

Akira: (… She's so beautiful…)

Just as I was about to lose myself in the moment, Mia's smile faded. Gently, she touched the scar on her face.

Mia: ………
— It's decided then.
You have earned your victory, thus I shall grant you the finest hospitality I can offer.


[ Mia's Castle ]

And so, Mia set herself to work, preparing for us a first-class feast.
After she was done, she told us, 'There is a matter I must take care of. Please make yourselves at home,' and she left with her whip in hand.

Snow: The lady of the castle may be gone, but that needn’t prevent us from enjoying the hospitality of her home.
Akira: Then, shall we drink to Bradley's safe return to the Magical Manor?
Murr & Mitile & Rustica: Cheers!

Our glasses clinked together amidst pleasant chatter.
We had won Bradley back as a free man.
The unease and worry from this morning before we set out had disappeared without a trace.

Snow: Ohoho. That Mia, she's grown to be quite careless. In the past, she would never have even considered leaving us alone in this castle of hers.
Figaro: Well, to be fair, we did make her life considerably worse.
Murr: ‘Worse,’ how exactly? Can I ask Mia to tell me all about it when she's back?
Snow: Absolutely not. She'll turn you to stone.

Rustica: … Oya? There's a blizzard brewing outside.
Figaro: Well, that sure is Northern Country for you.
Murr: It’s like the entire country is out to get you! The land, the weather, the flora and fauna, and the magic users too, it’s all dog eat dog in the North. Nothing that lives here has led an easy life.
Snow: That's right. Only the strong can survive in Northern Country.
To entrust anyone else with your heart is to lose sight of who you are. It’s a fatal mistake. As a witch of the North, Mia should have known better.
Figaro: I suppose you could say that the Northern way of life intrinsically clashes with coexisting alongside the things you treasure most.
Now, if you were to become a Southern Wizard…
Murr: So, what does that mean for present-day Figaro?
Now that you've become a wizard of the South, have you managed to find something to love — without letting go of it?
Figaro: I don't think I owe the likes of you an explanation.
Snow: Ohoho… If Mia were willing to be anything other than a witch of the North, then she may have chosen a similar path, but we can't say that for certain.
Rustica: That must be because all the wizards and witches of the North take pride in being who they are.
Aloof and independent, proud yet pure…
And for that, they are as beautiful as this snowy landscape before us.

Akira: Wow, everything looks amazing. Every dish looks more sumptuous than the last, I don't even know where to begin!
Mitile: Try this one, Kenja sama! This meat's really yummy!
Akira: Ooh, you're right! I'll help myself to some of this one first…
Mitile: Mithra san, would you like some too? I'll get you a plate if you'd like.
Mithra: Thank you very much. You may pass me the entire platter.
Mitile: Wait, this is meant to be shared by all of us! You can't have all of it.
How about I add in a slice of quiche instead — the biggest slice there is!
Mithra: … You've been in a good mood for some time now. Did something nice happen to you?
Mitile: Ehehe. But of course!
I managed to use my brains to figure out how to stop a fearsome fiend, and then I was praised by both you and Bradley san…
And Mia san, who's a witch that doesn't take interest in anyone but strong wizards, remembered me by name.
I got real recognition for what I did today, so… basically, it feels great when people acknowledge me for what I myself did.

Mitile's cheeks were rosy. His hands were excitedly balled into fists before him.
And then he stole a peek at Figaro.

Mitile: I think… I'd like to tell Figaro sensei that I really helped out today.
Mithra: Why not, that sounds fine.
Mitile: I know, but… it's not easy to find the right words to say…
Mithra: How come?
Mitile: … I used my new spell-word without permission, and then I relied upon you and Bradley san, who are both Northern Wizards, to be my teachers…
I'd done all of that behind Figaro sensei's back. It feels like I've been up to a lot of no good.
And Figaro sensei told me to not push myself too much, and I didn't even manage to do that right.

Akira: (Well, it is true that Mitile passed out from overexertion…)

Mithra: You should just tell him, 'Mithra san is better than you are'. Shall I do that on your behalf?
Mitile: T-That's not what I meant…

Mitile fidgeted in his shoes, looking rather lost.
He wanted to be praised by Figaro, but he also didn't want to disappoint him.
Hesitantly, Mitile looked up at me with wide, round eyes.

Mitile: Kenja sama, what do you think I should do?
Akira: Me? Umm, I think…

I recalled the way Mitile looked earlier, when he had been beaming at all of us. I wondered what sort of expression Figaro would wear when he saw Mitile looking like that.

Akira: … I think that Figaro would love to hear you tell him all about how you did a great job today.
And I also think that when he hears you say that, it might make him want to say that he's proud of you for what you did today.
At the end of the day, Figaro's still your dear teacher, isn't he, Mitile? Teachers tend to worry about every little thing…
But they also want to know how far their students have come. That's why I think that he'll listen to everything you tell him with a smile.
Mitile: R-Really? Will I be alright…
Akira: You will! If you tell him the truth and he starts berating you on the spot, I'll stand with you, and he’ll have to berate me too! Because I was there with you, and I didn't stop you!
Mitile: Kenja sama…
Thanks a lot! I think I'm feeling up to it now.
But that said, I won't let you bear a scolding together with me. I'll handle it all by myself, the best I can.

Mitile had found his resolve, and I could see it clearly in his eyes.
He glanced at Figaro again, and he no longer had the same hesitance from before.

Akira: Oh, that's right. I've got my own task to perform…

Earlier, Mia had handed me a basket filled with fruit. I lifted the basket into my hands.

Mithra: Oh, aren't those Benedetta fruits?
Mitile: Didn’t Mia san say we could help ourselves to as many of these as we'd like?
Akira: Yeah, she did. She said we could have them all, so I thanked her and accepted the whole basket as a gift.
So both of you are first up. Here you go.

I took out a fruit from the basket and placed it on an exquisite saucer.
The first saucer I handed to Mitile; I plated another, and that went to Mithra, who was sitting on the sofa.

Mithra plucked the fruit off its saucer and rolled it around in his palm.

Akira: What's wrong, Mithra?

[ Mithra CG ]
Mithra: You can have it.
Akira: Really…? Is that alright with you?
Mithra: I don't think a single fruit can do much to fill my stomach.
Also, I think you might appreciate its taste more than I would.
Akira: Thank you very much, Mithra! Then I'll gladly accept it.
… Hnn? This shell is really hard to crack.
Mitile: Let me get that for you with my magic!

Mitile: « allitnic sealsispilce » !

At the sound of Mitile's spell-word, the shell cracked open with barely any resistance. Its red contents peeked out from inside.
It was shiny, it was sparkling — and so were Mitile's eyes as he looked up at me.

[ Mitile CG ]
Mitile: Kenja sama, let's eat!
It's the fruit of victory! Only those that have defeated a fearsome fiend ever get to try it. I bet it tastes awesome!
Akira: Yeah!
Mitile: Okay, ready when you are—
Akira & Mitile: (eats)
……..!

Bradley: … Hey, Nero. How about you bring that empty glass of yours over to me? I got some real good liquor here.
Nero: Sure…

[ Bradley pours Nero a drink. ]

Bradley: Thanks for earlier. Couldn’t have won without you.
Nero: Not really… It was Murr who found that hidden chamber. If you want to thank someone, thank him.
Bradley: I know, I know. I'll buy him a drink at the bar or somethin'.
Nero: … Hey, you too. Let me fill that glass.
Bradley: Right.

[ Nero fills Bradley's glass. They knock their glasses together and drink in silence. ]

Bradley & Nero: ………

Bradley: (Locking someone up just because you want them to remain by your side, huh…)
(Makes you wonder what this guy thinks of this entire ordeal here, and of Mia herself…)

Nero: … Uhh… Well, hm.
This is pretty strong stuff.
Bradley: What? Oh, yeah…
It's a northern brew, that's why. Tastes good though, right?
It's strong, but it goes down smooth. If you’re not careful, you’d go from sober to drunk off your ass in an instant
I wouldn’t offer it to an amateur.
Nero: Yeah? I gotta exercise caution then.
It would do you some good to have a snack or something with your drink too.
Bradley: Too bad there’s nothing here that I want to eat.
What I want is fried chicken. Nero, make me some when we get back.
Nero: That’s wasting food. There's a feast for kings here, and you're telling me you want fried chicken?
Bradley: Hmph, and whose fault do you think that is?
Nero: …… (shrugs)

[ Nero glances off to the side. ]

Bradley: … Come to think of it, you never forgot that signal, huh?
I used to use it all the time in the past. Though, it’s been a few hundred years since then, hasn’t it?
Nero: Stop that sweet talkin’. If you thought I’d forgotten it, you'd never have pulled that stunt.
Bradley: C'mon, playing along a little won’t hurt you. I made a bet and staked my freedom on an Eastern chef, you know?
Nero: ………
Then you're on a lucky streak today. You won both your bets.

[ Their glasses clink again. ]

Nero: … Man, this liquor sure is somethin’. It's strong, but it reels you in.
Bradley: Plenty more of it where it came from. Drink up; consider your glass bottomless, I’ll refill it as many times as you’d like.
Nero: As many times… Any more of this, and I’ll wake up in a sorry state tomorrow, that’s for sure.
Bradley: That so? Thought you could handle a lot more, considering it's you.
Nero: (sigh) ...... I keep telling you, when you’re in these situations, you need to be more self-aware about your complete lack of self-control.

[ Nero CG ]
Nero: The way you are, it’s worse than liquid courage for everyone around you.
Bradley: What?
Nero: I’m telling you that with the way you get when you’ve been drinking, you’re gonna keep finding yourself in this kinda trouble.


The feast continued in high spirits.
But Mia showed no sign of returning to her castle even as time went on.

I saw Figaro pat Mitile on the head.
Mitile looked overjoyed as he gazed up at Figaro…
… but I couldn't see what Figaro looked like. I'm sure he must have looked overjoyed too.

Mithra spent the entire time seated on the same sofa, and he seemed to enjoy all the food that was served. At times, Snow approached him to chat.

Akira: (I've done my rounds, and there's only Bradley left to hand a Benedetta fruit to…)
(He was here just a second ago. I wonder where he went.)

Akira: Oh…


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