The Author forgot to say not to have too much expectation for this story to avoid disappointments; just look at how shoddy the logo is. Also, this chapter starts the story proper with First-Person Point of View in Speaker:"Speech" format, which will turn a lot of people off. However, this is the only format this story can be done according to The Author's imagination.

Arc 1: The Second World

Chapter 2: The Holy Land

It's dark.

Something touches my cheek. Once. Twice.

?: "...up..."

There is a voice, but it's too muddy to make out.

*slap*

Then there's a light slap to my cheek.

*smack!*

Whoa! That one hurts!

?: "Wake up! How long are you going to sleep?!"

A voice is speaking. That slap made me wide awake, but it's still blurry; I need to blink to adjust my vision.

The floor beneath me is hard, and made of wood. I seem to be lying on the floor of a room somewhere.

I set my neck straight. An irritated face of a pink-haired girl standing with both her hands on her hips comes into view.

Girl: "Finally. Passing out from just the rune carving, I can't believe I got such a feeble familiar..."

The girl's voice...That's right, before I passed out, something happened...

I went to Sucubus Village on a business with Alice, before going to visit Neris and Nero at Grangold Castle. I accepted to spar with Granberia, and then...

!

Girl: "Kya! Don't stand up so suddenly!"

This room looks like one found in an ordinary inn. The floor is made of wood, while the walls are mostly white plaster, with the lower part of them covered by wooden panels. One side of the room is a hinged wooden door, opposite to the lone, arched window, beside which I am standing at the moment.

To my left is a wardrobe—the right side of it, and maybe some other things I can't see since the wardrobe is blocking my view. There's a mid-size canopy bed put against the wall on the opposite side, with enough space to walk between its left side and the window. There is also a set of a table and two chairs in the middle of the room.

The last notable thing is the pink-haired girl that's cautiously backing away from me.

A place I'm not familiar with; people I've never met.

This isn't a dream. I'm in a place I don't know...

This girl with pink hair: she's the only one that can answer my questions right now.

"Who...are you?"

The girl furrows her brow in obvious displeasure, before sighing in defeat.

Girl: "I'm Louise Françoise le Blanc de La Vallière, the third daughter of the La Vallière House, one of the most powerful House in the Kingdom of Tristain. Are you satisfied?"

No, not at all. This girl seems to have expected that explanation to be enough, but I don't understand anything at all. This girl, Louise, said only names I don't know.

"Tristain...Where is it, on the map?"

The girl opens her eyes and mouth, like she's very shocked, before glaring dagger at me.

Girl: "You...I don't know which hole did you crawl out from, but how dare you belittle my country! We may be small, but the blood of Founder Brimir still runs through us! Or did they not teach something so simple at your village?!"

This girl suddenly snaps at me. Was my question that offensive? And there it is again; a name I don't know.

"I...really don't know. Where is Tristain? ...Is it on Sentora?

...Please don't let the answer be what I expect.

Girl: "Se-N-To-Ra? What's that?"

...

Girl: "Don't just go silent! I asked what it is!"

What is this girl saying? How can she not know what Sentora Continent is? A noble shouldn't be uneducated. What is happening here?

Girl: "A noble is asking you a question! Answer me!"

"Eh? Ah, Sentora is...the continent where San Ilia, Sabasa, Grand Noah, and Grangold are..."

...It's probably meaningless saying any of this, but please, recognize some name at least...

Girl: "And just what are those? Some tiny countries at the edge of Halkeginia or something?"

"They're...probably not..."

The girl crosses her arms, seemingly satisfied, or maybe just lost interest.

Girl: "Hmph...Whererever that is isn't important. You will be my familiar starting today. Even if...you look anything but reliable."

The girl looks at me from head to toe, as if scrutinizing substandard merchandise.

Rude.

Girl: "Put your all into serving me. Do you understand?"

The girl raises her crossed arms, looking satisfied with life.

"I'm sorry but I can't do that. I have my job, my duties. Since you called me here, you should be able to send me back. You promised."

Girl: "I did? ...Oh, right. I kinda recall saying something like that."

That doesn't inspire confidence in the least bit.

Girl: "Alright. I am kind, so I will grant you permission to go back home and tell your family how fortunate you are to have received this honor. So, where's your home?"

"Hellgondo Continent."

Girl: "And I told you I don't know where that is. Give me some familiar names."

"You didn't recognize any of the countries I brought up. You probably won't know anything else I can say. Can't you just sent me back the same way you called me here?"

Girl: "Oh, I can't."

...

She...said that so simply...Is that even allowed? Should that even be allowed?

Girl: "Summon Servant is for summoning animals or mystical beasts to the caster. There's no spell for sending them back."

"W—Well, try using it again; maybe It'll connect to the same place."

Girl: "That's also a no. If the familiar summoned by the spell is still alive, the spell won't do anything."

...

Strength leaves my legs; the wall behind me is the only thing keeping me up.

Girl: "If you get it then give up. If your home is so far away you can't get back then forget about it. From now on you'll live as my familiar. Devote you body and soul to serve me."

The girl concludes with finality, saying something so messed up with a serious face.

"What's wrong with you...! Suddenly dragging me here, then telling me to forget my home! Like I can do that!"

The girl recoils in surprise. ...I felt a pang of guilt there, but this is no time for that.

"Send me home, now! Or take me to someone who can do that!"

Girl: "Wh—What's wrong with YOU! Don't just suddenly start shouting! And you're just a commoner! Who gave you the right order a noble around!"

"I don't care even if you're a princess! If you won't do it then I'll go find a way myself!"

Girl: "Wait! Where are you—I'm talking to you!"

I have to get out of this room; I don't care that the girl is still shouting after me.

Outside the room is a hallway with several similar doors. This building is probably pretty big. The doors are separated from each other by equal spaces; the rooms behind those probably look similar to the room I just came out of. Which means there might be people inside. Should I try knocking on each door or—

There. Someone's there: a girl with black hair wearing maid clothes. She should be willing to answer if I ask.

"Excuse me, I need to ask you something!"

Maid: "Wh—What might it be?"

The girl seems surprised from my forcefulness. I feel a bit bad for scaring her, but I'm in a hurry.

"Who's, uh, the smartest person here?!" Not the best way to phrase the question, but hopefully it'll do.

Maid: "The...smartest person? That would be...Old Osman, I think? He's the principal."

"Please tell me where he is! How do I find him?!"

Maid: "Th—The Principal's room is on the highest floor of the central tower. You have to exit this tower first, then you'll see the central tower at the center of the school."

School. So this really is a school. Anyway, if the layout is that simple then I can probably find it no problem.

"Thank you!"

Have to get going now. Exit, central tower, highest floor; I got this.

Girl: "Stop! I'm telling you to stop!"

That girl's still after me.

I guess...there isn't really any reason to run from her in the first place; and she looks out of breath. Okay, I guess I can wait for her.

"Do you have anything else to say?"

Girl: "Ha...Where...are you going?!"

"To find someone called principal Osman."

Girl: "You...ha...think they'd just let some unknown commoner meet the principal?!"

She's...probably right. I didn't think about that.

...The girl finally steadied her breath. Now I can continue.

"Then what do I have to do?"

Girl: "Why do you want to meet the principal anyway?"

I'm the one getting questioned instead.

"I'm going to ask how to get back home."

Girl: "You can't. I won't...Wait..."

The girl seems to think.

Girl: "...Alright, I'll go with you. If possible I'd like to summon a new familiar as well. Even a cat or a dog would still be better than something that ran from its master."

Rude. But if she's going to cooperate then I'm not gonna be hung up on that.

[...]

This school is consisted of six towers, five of which are linked by tall stone walls surrounding the schoolground. The layout is easy enough to remember even without trying to.

At the center is the tallest tower, which we are on right now, on the highest floor.

A woman with green hair sitting at the desk in front of a room looks up through her glasses and greets us.

Woman: "Ms. Vallière, and..."

Girl: "My familiar."

Woman: "Huh?"

It seems my existence here is considered very strange.

Woman: "Ahem. And what business does Ms. Vallière has with the principal?"

Girl: "There's some matter I need the principal's wisdom for, about this thing here."

'Thing' huh? She seems to have a really low opinion of me, or she's just in a really bad mood.

Woman: "The principal is meeting with Mr. Colbert. If it's not urgent, can you please wait a bit?"

Girl: "Yes, Ms. Longueville."

So we have to wait, not too long I hope. I'm too wracked with worry to sit still for long.

...

...

*kachak*

The door opens. That wasn't too long.

A man comes out of the room: That bald guy with glasses I saw earlier. He greets the woman who enters the room, then notices us.

Man: "Ms. Vallière and the familiar. Can I ask what you are doing here?"

Girl: "I have something I need the principal's help for."

Man: "Oh, I'm sorry I made you wait. The principal is free now; go ahead."

...The glasses man, a teacher?, he glanced at me as I passed by just now. Am I really that strange to the people here?

The green haired woman comes out of the room.

Woman: "The principal has allowed you to meet him. Please proceed."

We pass the door into a spacious, circular room. At the back is a desk facing away from a large window. An old man with long white hair and beard wearing a long robe is sitting at the desk. He looks like what one would expect from a wise and old wizard.

Principal: "Ms. Vallière and her familiar, come here."

We approach the desk. The principal looks at me in interest. I get it, I'm strange.

Principal: "And? What is it that you want to discuss with me?"

I don't know who should speak up here; I'll give the girl a look.

She notices, and decides to be the one to speak.

Girl: "Principal, I wish to cancel the contract and send this commoner back."

...Huh? Did this girl really just say that without explaning anything? Didn't she just get a 'no' last time?

Principal: "Hoho, you can't."

See.

Girl: "But having a commoner as a familiar is unheard of! This clearly isn't normal! This isn't fair for me! I'd like to ask for the right to summon a new familiar!"

Hey wait, this girl's only saying her piece and nothing about mine.

Principal: "You should already have heard from Mr. Colbert why your proposition cannot be accepted. And another thing..."

The principal glances at me again.

Principal: "...This boy might be a more capable familiar than you think."

What's he talking about? It can't be about me being a hero, can it?

Girl: "How would that be possible? This is just a commoner, and a tiny one at that. He doesn't just look unreliable, he's also wrong in the head and keeps saying ridiculous things."

That is clearly not what I and this girl were talking about earlier.

This is going nowhere for me; I have to speak up myself.

"Principal, I have a home I have to go back to. Please send me back."

Principal: "With the influence and financial power La Vallière has, that should not be too hard, is it?"

"...But my home probably isn't reachable through normal means, unless mister principal knows the way."

Principal: "Hm. And where is this home of yours?"

"Hellgondo Continent."

Girl: "Do you see? This guy's spouting nonsenses; he's clearly insane. We should send him to an asylum."

"Hey. You've been really rude since I got here. How many times do I have to tell you I'm serious."

The principal doesn't reply to me or this girl, only resting his chin on his clasped hands and looks at me thoughtfully.

Principal: "What kind of place is your home? Tell me."

"Well, how should I explain this...Hellgondo Continent is where many high-class monsters live. There's no permanent human settlement there yet."

The principal widens his eyes. That reaction... Have I finally found someone who knows the same thing I do?

Girl: "Again. He's just rambling nonsenses."

This girl's really annoying.

Principal: "Young man. Did you say 'Monsters'?"

"Yes." Why did he have to repeat that? 'Monster' is a very common word, isn't it?

Girl: "Eh? Principal, you understand what this guy's talking about?"

I don't see why this girl's so surprised. I'm not saying anything strange.

Principal: "...'Monster' is a name recorded in the biography of Founder Brimir. It was the term people back in his time used to refer to what the people today call 'devils'."

Girl: "Devils? You mean, the ones in the myth?"

...What did they just say?

Principal: "Correct. Devils: the enemy of humanity, the archnemesis Founder fought many times during his life. Other races hostile to us in the present day such as the elves and the vampires are believed to be one of them or at least their descendants."

What...What are they talking about?

Principal: "Young man, if you truly lived in such a place and had survived until now, either you are a very powerful mage, a highly skilled warrior, or an impossibly lucky person."

Girl: "...Only if he's telling the truth, though."

"Well...It's not exactly...like that. I mean, monsters aren't...that bad. Some of them might be a bit self-centered, but they aren't evil..."

What...What exactly is going on here...?

Girl: "What nonsenses are you saying? If devils aren't evil then they wouldn't be called devils in the first place. It's like saying cooks don't actually cook."

"Not devils; monsters."

Girl: "As if changing how you call them is going to change their nature. Tens, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed by the elves in Halkeginia's long history."

"That's impossible. Elves are a peaceful race. There's no way they could kill that many people."

Girl: "What would some uneducated countrybumpkin like you know? Like you ever saw a real elf."

"I—"

Principal: "Alright, alright, both of you. Let's leave it at that."

...That was immature of me. A hero shouldn't be arguing with a kid.

Principal: "Young man, what is your name."

"It's Luka."

I know now revealing my name won't bring any special reaction.

Principal: "Luka, let me ask you again. You hail from a place where a large number of monsters reside, is that what you claim?"

"Yes. Not just monsters, even angels have started to live with us."

Girl: "Angels!? The ones that tried—!?"

"Ms. Vallière, please leave that for later."

The girl stops very reluctantly, eyes still glaring at me as if I did something to her.

Principal: "If you are speaking the truth, then the place you call home would be known to us as the 'Holy Land'."

"Holy Land?" That name sounds really important.

Girl: "This guy's from the Holy Land?!"

I don't know either; he could be speaking about an entirely different place.

Principal: "It is but a possibility; if what he has been saying thus far isn't a madman's rambling. Of course, there is no evidence to prove its credibility, is there?"

"No...I didn't have anything on me when I came here."

Girl: "Hmph. Of course there wouldn't be. It's all just country boy's delusions."

Principal: "The Holy Land is the homeland of Founder, and our other ancestors. It is the place we, his descendants, have been dreaming of one day returning."

"Then there's a way to go back! Is that what you mean?!"

Principal: "You could say that. It is said the Holy Land is in the far east, beyond the desert inhabited by the elves."

East. Now there's hope!

"Do you have a map? I want to go there as soon as possible!"

Girl: "Do you want to die?! Do you think you can just stroll into the elves' territory and just ask to go through, and the elves would let you?!"

"I don't see a problem?"

The girl presses her hand on her forehead, like she's very fed up with something.

Girl: "Haa...I'm done. This guy has zero common s—! Who the heck's Zero!?"

I didn't say a thing. What's with this girl?

Principal: "I am also of the same mind that you should not be so hasty. To get to the land of the elves you will have to pass through the Empire of Germania. Even by horse it would still take weeks, and to cross the desert would require an extensive preparation. And, as Ms. Vallière have said, the relationship between humans and elves are not good. The chance that you will be chased out, held captive, or even killed isn't low."

When he says it like that, it really seems like something I can't just rush ahead blindly, even excluding the elves. But still I have no other options.

"Even so, I have to go. There are people waiting for me."

If I don't hurry up and get back, I don't want to think what Alice would do to me.

Principal: "Even if you manage to pass the elves' land, information regarding the Holy Land is scarce. If our existence had been unknown to you all this time, then traveling between here and there is most likely very difficult. Can you really make it there as you are?"

What the principal said is true. I've never heard Alice or anyone else mentioning a place like this.

Principal: "I believe it would be better for you to stay here for the time being. You can gather information on the Holy Land and prepare. In a journey into an unknown, the more you rush, the slower you become."

...I don't want to accept it, but he's probably right.

If rushing it won't do, the best thing I can do is to prepare as best as I can.

"What do I have to do?"

I should cooperate for now. This noisy girl is one thing, but the principal seems willing to help me.

Principal: "I will discuss this with my acquaintance. He is someone who would be interest in matters such as this, and will most likely cooperate. For now, you should get accustomed to being Ms. Vallière's familiar."

"Familiar..."

I've never been one. What am I supposed to do?

Principal: "Don't worry too much. It will be just helping with odd jobs here and there. You won't have to go out and fight hostile beasts or anything. Yet."

"That sounds...okay. I can do that." Even fighting hostile beasts.

Girl: "What do you mean YOU can do that? It's ME who should be frustrated with this. YOU should be grateful for a chance to be this close to a noble in your life."

"What 'noble'; you're just a student."

Girl: " 'Just a student' you say. You don't know anything and yet you're being so cocky. This is Tristain Magic School, a place for noble boys and girls to study, to learn, to better themselves as respectable nobles. ALL students are nobles."

A school for nobles? I see. Now I kind of get why this girl acts the way she does.

For example, she is placing a hand on her chest while raising her chin very proudly.

Girl: "And I, Louise Françoise le Blanc de La Vallière, is the third daughter of the House of Vallière, one of the most prestigious house of nobles in the Kingdom of Tristain, not 'just' student or 'just' anything. It's YOU who are 'just' a country boy. Know your place and learn to shut your mouth in the presence of nobles. Do you understand a word I said?"

"You...How could you say that...!" I can't believe she said all that with a straight face, like it's something even a kid would know.

Girl: "Starting from how you address your master: not 'you', 'master'.

"No way. Why do I have to do that for a selfish girl like you."

Girl: "Do you even know the position you're in? What right does someone who has nothing like you have to talk back to me? What can you do alone?"

Principal: "Well, well, calm down, both of you. For better or for worse you are in the same boat. Don't you think it will be easier for both of you to get along?"

The principal raises his left hand in a pacifying manner.

Principal: "Well! The first step in getting to know each other is to call the other by name. Everyone has the right to be called by their name, don't you think so, Ms. Vallière?"

Girl: "...I suppose it's as the principal say...Hey, what's your name?"

"Luka. I already told you."

Girl: "Luka. What a lame name."

"Just leave it."

Girl: "Well, your turn, and don't tell me you forgot mine."

"I don't." And didn't you just forget mine? "Louise."

Louise: "Add 'lady' to it. I'm your master; pay me a proper respect."

"I haven't seen you do anything that would make anyone respect you."

Louise: "I'm a noble; that's more than enough. I don't know how it was in whatever place you come from, but this is how we do things here. If you're going to be here, you will follow our rules. Are we clear?"

The principal laughs as if the tense atmosphere between me and this girl doesn't exist.

Principal: "Hoho, isn't this a great opportunity? It could be the right motivation for you, Ms. Vallière."

Louise: "What do you mean, principal?"

Principal: "I am talking about your self-improvement. From what I have heard, have you not been struggling with several aspects in school? Then how about you use this as your motivation to better yourself; or does a daughter of the famed La Vallière household lack the ability to inspire loyalty in her own familiar?"

The girl, Louise, looks startled, and a bit scared. That seems to have struck home, though I don't know why.

Louise: "...I understand. It is as you say, principal. This Louise de La Vallière will show the school her true capabilities. I will make sure this stubborn familiar will remember this moment forever."

I'm not sure what is going on here, but it seems we've reach an agreement. Talking with this girl is so tiring.

Principal: "That's good. Is there anything else you need from me?"

Louise"Nothing else, sir..."

Principal: "Then go back and take proper rest. You are probably exhausted from all this excitement, but remember, Ms. Vallière has to go to her classes tomorrow as usual, and Luka needs to adjust to an unfamiliar lifestyle."

Louise: "Thank you, sir."

"Thank you very much."

Principal: "And keep what we spoke of here from others. Both of you. Especially you, Luka. Claims about Holy Land can easily get you accused of blasphemy."

"I'll keep that in mind." Experiences at Iliasville, the old one, taught me enough of how bad that would be.

We're done, and out of the room. The woman who's probably the principal's secretary smiles at us.

The glasses-wearing teacher's still here, like he's waiting for us.

Colbert: "Ms. Vallière, what did you speak with the principal about? Was it about your familiar?"

Why does this teacher look so interested?

Louise: "...Yes. I asked the principal if there was a way to cancel the contract and summon a new familiar, but apparently there's none."

Colbert: "I see, so it's about that..."

He's definitely hiding something, about me probably. I guess he wouldn't tell me even if I ask.

Louise: "Mr. Colbert, what's the matter?"

Colbert: "Me? No, nothing's wrong. You should go back to your room. It's going to be dark any minute now."

After he said that, the teacher, whose name is apparently Colbert, hurries down the stair ahead of us.

Louise: "...Suspicious."

I thought so too.

[...]

We are here, back in Louise's room once again.

...Those two moons in the sky, one bluish, another pinkish... I really am in some crazy place beyond imagination. Is it going to be as simple as crossing a desert to get back home? It doesn't seem so at all...

Well...no point thinking about something so faraway. Let's focus on the issues at hand.

"I'm hungry...I haven't had dinner yet."

Louise: "It's way past dinner time. It's your fault for passing out from something so trivial."

"Just how was that trivial? I thought I'd burn to death."

Louise: "I don't see other familiars showing that much pain. I think you're just whiny. Or just too much of a wimp. Arrgh~! Why do I have to be stuck with such a weak familiar?!"

"Wasn't it you who summoned me? This is a problem for me too."

Louise: "Be quiet! A familiar doesn't talk back to its master! Do you want to go without a dinner?!"

"Didn't you say it's already past the time?"

Louise goes to the small table and picks up a piece of bread, or rather, a torn part of what had probably been a piece of bread at some point.

Louise: "I took the trouble to keep this from the dinner. Be grateful for my generosity."

"Grateful for this small thing?"

Louise: "So greedy! It's leagues better than starving!"

I still think this is just too little. Or is it that the school doesn't give out food in excess? Maybe they only give the student just the right amount, to promote self-restraint or something; Tamamo definitely did that with Neris' training. Then it would mean this girl is sharing her already limited amount with me.

"Sorry. And thanks for keeping that for me."

Louise: "Hmph. At least you know some manners. But that's still not good enough. Try 'This lowly dog is grateful for your kindness'. Say it."

"That's taking it too far! Who'd say that!? I'm a human!"

Louise: "Then you don't get to eat. I'm under no obligations to feed some stranger."

Louise opens the window and...throw out the bread!? My hand stretches out on its own, futilely, at the window too far away from my reach.

"Why did you do that?!"

Louise: "An ungrateful mutt doesn't deserve the food."

This girl is just too much. She's just as bad as some of the monsters I've fought.

Louise: "Dinner's over; go to sleep. Your place is over there."

Louise points to an empty corner of the room: the same place I was when I first woke up.

I'm used to lying on every kind of floor, so this is nothing. The problem is how Louise treats me: like a pet she keeps. No, like a pet she doesn't want to keep.

"Isn't there at least something other than the hard floor? We're indoor, not out camping in the woods."

Louise: "A mattress isn't cheap. Only pets of very rich nobles get their own. Prove yourself at least that good and I'll consider it."

Kuh...! This is really going too far...!

But I'm hungry, and sleepy. Before I got here I had just gotten back from traveling, then went straight to sparring with Granberia. I don't have any strength left to argue with this egoistic girl.

A corner will have to do for now. ...But still...

"...Is there really nothing at all?" Just lying there is kind of sad...

Something, a blanket, is thrown at my face.

"Thanks..."

At least the blanket doesn't smell of mold. Though it's not exactly a smell I want to keep—Wha!?

"What are you doing?!"

Louise: "What do you mean what am I doing? I'm going to sleep of course."

This girl suddenly just starts taking off her clothes! I'm getting an eyeful of her underwear!

"I'm still in the room! Why didn't you wait for me to get out of the room! Or at least told me to turn around!"

Louise: "Why would I need to do something like that?"

"Because I'm a man!"

Louise: "A male dog. Why do I have to care if a dog sees me naked?"

Kuh...! I really want to argue with that line of thinking. But if I do it would seem like I have those kind of thoughts about her, which I definitely don't, because I already have Alice. I'm just going to close my eyes. I can't see anything now. That's it, no problem.

...What is this thing thrown at my face again. A small, light piece of fabric.

Louise: "And wash that tomorrow. That's your first job as my familiar."

Wash... Don't tell me...

...

"...Whoa!"

PBW: "That felt good. Writing heated exchanges is definitely in the top three of what The Author likes to do. Just to be clear, The Author always go full subjective mode when writing this story, so if the wordings or the implications offend someone The Author wouldn't know until much later."

Ilias: "What an irresponsible writer."

PBW: "The beginning of Luka's life in a whole new world. Not that exciting, but should at least build the basic premise of things to come."

Illias: "From what I have read of the original books, isn't that reveal reserved for much later volumes?"

PBW: "That's probably where most people's gotten to. The fantranslation's been completed for over a year after all. No need to pretend it's still a secret."

Illias: "Normally I would not approve of such rushed and mismatched mess of a text, but in light of the girl's righteous hatred for monsters, I will let it slide just this once."