Chapter 4

During another sunny day, the familiar of Louise was training inside the school's courtyard with Derflinger, using it to cut some woods as targets. While doing so, his runes on his left hand continued to shine of a blue light, granting him a huge strength and speed.

"Very good, partner. You grasped the essence of your power.", told him the magical sword after slicing in half another piece of wood.

"Phew, thank you, Derf. I must be strong if I want to protect Louise.", said the young man, wiping some sweat off his forehead. He and the pinkette got closer thanks to their "date" in the city and she clung onto him even when they woke up in the morning.

She was currently following a lesson of magic combinations while Saito trained outside, as he thought that physical training was something better for a now swordsman like him. Obviously, he was observed by some maids or other girls of his age during his training, who blushed and smiled at the sight.

"Aww, Saito-san is so cool when he swings his sword."

"I want to be hold tight by him while he protects me."

That was what they said while watching him, with Siesta feeling the same as them, even if she seemed to be worried about something. Though, she blushed deeply when she saw the boy jumping and destroying another target, as he looked exactly like a hero.

'Saito-san is so awesome and gentle.', she thought, remembering how he praised her sweets and the smile he always showed her. Even if it was strange for a wizard to have a human familiar, she was happy that Louise had him to fill that role.

And speaking of the third daughter of the De la Vallière family, she appeared and hugged the young man, giggling. "Saito, it's time for lunch. You must be hungry after training the whole morning."

"You can say it twice, but is it fine for you to cling while I'm sweaty?"

"I-I don't mind. We took a bath together after all.", she said, blushing more and making him red too.

"Haha, you two are really a beautiful couple!"

The sword's words made them more embarrassed, with the boy putting it away inside the scabbard before walking with the pinkette towards the lunch hall. Siesta and the other maids went instead to the kitchen, but the black haired girl continued to be worried about something.

When they entered in the hall, Louise and Saito sat next to each other and started to eat some steaks and mashed potatoes cooked by Marteau in person, who smiled after being told that the foreign boy adored such food. As usual, the clingy magician giggled while looking at her familiar: he was always cute whenever he ate so delightfully.

"G-good morning, Saito-kun, Louise.", suddenly said Montmorency, sitting in front of them like Guiche did.

"Good morning you too, guys. Thank you again for helping me with Kirche, Montmorency-san.", replied the foreign boy, grinning.

"A-ah, you're welcome. I could see you were annoyed by her actions."

"I saw you training outside with your sword, Saito. Does it really talk?", asked a curious Guiche.

"Yes, I do.", replied instead Derflinger, chuckling afterwards.

"It's more than 6000 years old too.", added Louise, making both blondes stunned.

"That's very interesting. Magical weapons that can talk are rare, and Derflinger doesn't look rusty at all."

"That is thanks to my wielder that likes taking care of me like he adores bathing with his master."

"Derf!", shouted an embarrassed Saito while Louise blushed heavily, Montmorency gasped and other students did the same or chuckled. Though, a loud sound of a dish breaking caught their attention, so the foreign boy and the other mages looked where it came from and saw Siesta on the ground with some pieces of the dish near her.

Thankfully she got helped by another maid, but Saito got worried anyways. 'What's wrong, Siesta?', he thought, noticing the unhappy expression on her face.

"I feel bad for her: she got bought as a servant from another noble.", said Montmorency, shocking him.

"W-What?!"

"Nobles can buy plebeians at their choice. That's normal in our society.", explained Guiche, looking serious.

"You're joking, right?", asked an incredulous Saito.

"It's not a joke. Plebeians don't have many rights and they can't rebel to being bought by a noble.", told him Louise sadly. Hearing that made him clench his hands under the table, as he couldn't accept that Siesta's freedom was doomed to disappear like that.

"Who's the person that decided to buy her?", he asked, calming down to not worry his master.

"It's Count Mott. He's a Triangle mage that lives not far away from the academy in a big mansion. He's someone I don't like.", answered Guiche.

Saito nodded and thanked him before leaving the table, telling Louise that he would go back to training instantly. Despite he smiled, she was worried for him anyways because he told her about the society of his world and that he disliked the one in hers. Unsurprisingly, Montmorency got worried too because she felt the change of attitude in the boy, hoping that something bad wouldn't happen later.

Back to the outside, the young swordsman started to destroy the targets more viciously, releasing more strength in comparison to earlier. "Partner, I know how you're feeling; I've always hated that too during my long life.", told him Derf.

"It's not fair…How can be acceptable that a person buys another one just because of a superior social class? That's horrible!", he shouted, disintegrating another piece of wood in a myriad of pieces. As if the runes answered to his emotions, they shined brighter and he felt stronger.

"Your rage is influencing your power, giving you more strength. But I don't want you to fall to the anger, partner; I know you just since yesterday, but I understood quickly that you're very kind.", told him his sword, managing to calm him down.

"Y-yeah, sorry. I get pretty angry when an injustice like this happens."

While he calmed down, he noticed Siesta doing some laundry, so he went to help her. "S-Saito-san?"

"You helped me yesterday so I will help you too.", he told her, smiling.

"T-thank you. You must be worried after you saw me breaking that dish.", she said, looking sad.

"Of course I am. You are my friend, so I worry a lot about you. That's why I tell you to oppose being bought."

Hearing him say that shocked her before she smiled sadly. "S-so you've heard…I'm sorry, I can't do that. I'm just a commoner, so I can't rebel against nobles."

"But that's not right, Siesta! You can't say goodbye to your freedom like that!", told her the boy, grabbing her shoulders.

"I'm glad that you care so much for me, but it's already decided. I'm sorry, Saito-san.", she said, leaving with the void basket and letting some tears fall from her eyes. Tears that were seen by him that tried to stop her, only to clench his fist and gritting his teeth.

He punched a tree with said fist, angry that he couldn't convince her to rebel against such fate. He couldn't help but care for her, as she, like Louise, Marteau and Montmorency were people he got affectionate to in a world away from his family and his friends. And after he punched the tree again, he felt a presence behind him, so he turned around and his eyes widened at seeing a blue winged dragon.

"You're Tabitha-san's familiar, right? Sylphid, wasn't it?", he asked, thinking it could understand him.

Surprisingly, the dragon nodded and approached him, continuing to look at him. "Huh? What is it?"

Sylphid began to snuggle its head on his, purring similarly to a cat. "Are you trying to cheer me up?"

The winged dragon made a sound like to say "Yes", still purring. 'Incredible… Dragons like me too, huh? Since it's cheering me up, I will give it these.'

Putting the hands in his pockets, he took out a little bag of cookies and offered one to the dragon. Sylphid's eyes beamed at the sight, so it happily ate it like she did with the next one and another one, making Saito chuckle.

After it ate them all, it began to lick his face affectionately. "Haha, it tickles!", he said, caressing its head. Unbeknownst to him, some people of the school's staff were looking at them, amazed to see him being so chummy with a winged dragon. The maids, of course, found the scene really cute.

Saito began to play with Sylphid afterwards, having fun. Though, he was surprised to see Tabitha suddenly, while the dragon licked his face again. "Thank you for playing with her.", she said, keeping a normal expression.

"Oh, it's a her? Well, I must thank her instead; she cheered me up while I was angry and felt down.", he said, scratching the back of his head.

"It's about that maid, right? I don't like what happened to her either.", she told, caressing her familiar that was still clinging onto the boy.

"Is there any way for me to impede it?"

The bluenette was moved by how much he cared for Siesta, with her familiar feeling the same and making some sound. "I see, so you want to help him."

"Huh? What did Sylphid say?"

"She said that she wants to help you, and I want to do the same because you're her friend now.", she told him, showing him a little smile.

The young man's eyes shined at hearing that, so they started to plan the maid's rescue. Tabitha warned him to not tell anything to Louise because the pinkette would get extremely worried for him since he's her boyfriend, causing Saito to blush embarassed. It was clear that everyone at the academy saw him and the pinkette as a couple rather than a magician and her familiar.

The quiet wizard avoided to suggest another way to rescue Siesta, as it included having to ask Kirche for a certain book that Count Mott was said to search for. Kirche was still annoyed that the foreign boy refused her more than once and preferred Louise, and it was obvious that Saito didn't like her personality.

Once they finished to plan what to do, the familiar of Zero greeted her and caressed a happy Sylphid's head before going back to Louise's room. "Partner, are you really going to do that?", asked him Derflinger.

"I am. There's no way I can let Siesta kiss goodbye to her freedom like that.", he replied, lying down on his and Louise's bed.

"Heh, so we're going to become rescuers. Knowing your girlfriend, it's a good thing she doesn't know anything yet."

In that same moment, said "girlfriend" entered in the room, flushed. "What I don't know anything yet?", she asked.

Avoiding to get agitated, the young man replied that she didn't know that her cuteness was greater than he thought, causing Louise to blush more. "Oh, Saito!", she exclaimed before snuggling onto his chest, ending up on top of him again.

"Hahaha, well done!", complimented Derf, amused.

"Are you worried about Siesta, Saito?", she suddenly asked, sounding sad.

"I can't accept the fact that she can be bought like that by a noble. She's happy while working here in this school together Marteau and other people, so why does she have to leave like that? That's cruel.", he replied, patting the pinkette's head.

"You have such a kind heart. That's why I adore you.", she told him, smiling and looking at him in the eyes. Blushing once again and because of their position, he got flustered and tried to not think about anything of perverted.

Thankfully, someone knocked on the door outside, catching their attention. "Yes, who is it?", asked the pink head, staying on top of him.

"It's me, Montmorency."

Getting off the boy, Louise went to open the door, seeing the blondie with an upset look. "What's wrong?", he asked.

"I hate to tell you this, but the maid left the academy to go to Count Mott's house.", she said, making both of them gasp.

Letting his anger take over again, Saito gritted his teeth before getting suddenly hugged by his master. "I'm sorry, Saito.", she told him, holding his head against her chest and making him blush.

Montmorency was amazed by the gesture, but she felt a bit jealous too, especially when the young man reciprocated Louise's sweet hug. 'She cares so much for me that she doesn't want to see me sad or angry. In a shitty society like this, you are truly different and kind.', he thought, regaining his smile.

Derflinger was glad too that the young girl managed to calm his wielder down, but it knew that later in the evening something dangerous awaited them. Something that they had to keep hidden from Louise to not make her upset.

Once Montmorency apologized for telling them the sad news and left, Louise kept hugging the boy sweetly. "Thank you, Louise. I think I calmed down pretty enough.", he told her, but she didn't want to let go.

"I want to stay like this a little more hehe.", she said, with some fluctuating hearts around her.

"Hahaha, you two are so adorable!"

Needless to say that the boy got embarassed for the umpteenth time, as his master's super clinginess was really incredible. He didn't want to have lewd thoughts about her, but if she continued to act like that, he would really get tempted to try to kiss her and do more.

Several hours later, during which he was told by Louise what she learned during her lessons, the young man made sure that she was fully asleep before taking his sword and heading for the door. He looked at her and smiled before leaving the room, directed towards the point to meet with Tabitha.

So he left the tower and reached Vesti field, where he saw the bluenette and her familiar waiting for him. "Did you make sure that Louise is sleeping?", she asked him.

"Yes, she fell asleep and didn't hear me.", he replied, smiling when Sylphid licked his face to greet him.

"Good, then we can-"

"Wait, you two!"

Shocked, they looked behind them and saw Montmorency with a worried expression on her face. "Where are you going this late at night?"

"I guess that it's useless to keep it secret: we're going to save the maid from Count Mott.", replied Tabitha, leaving the blondie stunned.

"W-what?! That's crazy! You're going to get hurt or worse!", she told them.

"I know, but I don't want to let Siesta renounce to her life here because of that count. She's my friend like you, Louise, Tabitha-san, Marteau and other people, after all.", said the foreign boy, looking serious and surprising both girls.

Montmorency was flushed to know that he cared that much about her and other people, feeling her heart beat faster. Sylphid snuggled her face on his, moved by his courageous words instead while Tabitha smiled once again.

"I can't make you change your mind. I-In this case, I will come with you two.", said the blondie, still blushing and smiling. Glad that she would help them, Saito hopped on the dragon's back after Tabitha, with Montmorency behind him and holding on his back.

It was the first time she would fly on a dragon's back, but when he told her to hold tight on him to not fall, she blushed and felt safer. Sylphid took then the flight and started to head to the location of the noble's house, which wasn't too distant from the academy.

From what Tabitha told Saito, the count usually gave supplies to the school by using his big amount of money, but he was also kinda perverted because he looked at the maids in a nasty way. Fearing that he would do something to Siesta, he couldn't let her stay at that count's mansion at all.

'I don't have my family and my school's friends here and I don't know if I can go back to my world, so I want to take care of the friends I have here at least.'

It was strange that he cared so much for people that he knew only since some days, but perhaps that was just how he was: a simple and kind guy that was ready to help those he was affectionate to. And once the mansion was visible to his and the girls' eyes, Sylphid landed near its big courtyard, getting told from her master to wait for their comeback.

" I h-hope my parents don't hear anything about what I'm about to do.", said Montmorency, who was still clinging onto the boy.

"Why are you still clinging on me?", he asked her, blushing.

"A-ah, it's because dark woods scare me.", she told him, flustered.

"I see. Feel free to hold on me then.", he told her, smiling. Such kindness made her heart skip another beat, as she was stunned by how much kind he was in compared to Guiche. Tabitha didn't say anything about it, though her familiar pouted a little instead.

The three teenagers walked towards the mansion's gates, finding two guards in front of them. Guessing that it was time for the plan to take action, Saito asked Montmorency to let go of him before taking Derf out of the scabbard and charging against the guards that got caught in surprise by his speed and were knocked out immediately.

The girls were impressed by his speed, thinking that he was even faster than when he fought Guiche. He then entered inside the courtyard while being followed by them, noticing other guards near the main door.

"Hey, you 3! You're trespassing a private property!", shouted a guard, armed with a lance. Before Saito could do something, Tabitha casted a quick spell to create a strong wind that blew the guards away and made them crash on the ground.

"Tabitha's specialized in wind and water spells, and she is able to make icy darts too.", explained Montmorency to the boy that was surprised.

Nodding in understanding, he opened the door and they were inside the main hall, finding other guards and surprisingly Siesta that got shocked at seeing them.

"S-Saito-san?! Miss Tabitha and Miss Montmorency? What are you doing here?!"

"We're here to bring you back to the academy of course.", replied the boy, keeping his sword up towards the enemies.

"What the hell is this confusion?!"

The new loud voice belonged to a brown haired man that appeared beside Siesta, wearing some elegant clothes and a white big collar. "Who are you 3 and how dare you invade my house?!", he angrily asked them.

"We're here to bring Siesta back to the magic academy. You may have bought her, but I want that you release her. Her place is at school, not here."

Saito's defiant answer made the noble glare at him. "I legitimately bought her as one of my servants, so I don't see why I should release. I should make you 3 get arrested for invading my house instead."

"Then I challenge you to a duel for Siesta's freedom.", retorted the swordsman, pointing Derf towards Mott. Montmorency got stunned like Siesta and the other guards at his words, except for Tabitha that already knew his intention.

"A commoner dares to challenge me? Alright, I will accept your duel. But if I win, you and your companions will get arrested!"

"It's a deal."

"Nooo! Don't do it, Saito-san! You don't have to risk your life for me!", desperately exclaimed a crying Siesta that went towards him.

Looking at her, he brought his hand on her head to pat it, making her eyes widen. "Don't worry, I will win and we will be back together at the academy. Trust me.", he told her, smiling.

The maid's heart beat faster when he told her that, and the other people around them were stunned on the other hand. Montmorency wanted to stop him too from fighting, but she was moved by his resolve. "We will fight outside to avoid damaging my house.", declared Mott, getting followed by Saito, the guards and the girls.

Standing in front of each other, Louise's "boyfriend" got ready with Derf in his hands while the count showed his magic wand. When the guard gave the start, Mott casted a water ball spell to hit Saito, who dodged it immediately.

"Watch out, partner. We don't know which elements he can use, so dodge any possible attack.", warned him Derflinger.

"Got it.", said the boy, running towards Mott. But the count smiled and shot a wind spell, pushing Saito back that managed to land on his feet.

He got shocked when the opponent threw a fireball at him, managing to dodge it. 'Water, wind and fire…So this the power of a Triangle wizard.', thought the young man, keeping his guard up.

"I compliment you for dodging my attacks, but you can't win against me, commoner."

"The duel is over when one of the two gives up, and that won't be me.", was Saito's retort, charging once against him. Annoyed, Mott used another water ball spell, gasping when his opponent cut it in half with Derf.

Everyone's eyes widened at his action, even if Siesta and Montmorency watched the fight in extreme worry for him. They got scared when Mott used a fireball again, but this time, the boy slashed his sword at it.

Surprisingly, the fire started to get like absorbed by Derflinger under the incredulous eyes of everyone. "What's happening, Derf?", asked Saito.

"Heh, I can absorb magic spells, partner.", answered the magical weapon, getting covered in flames.

"W-what kind of sword is that?!", exclaimed the count before using again his wind spell. Jumping, Saito swung Derf and threw a fireball, causing Mott to fall in order to not get burnt.

"This is absurd!"

"H-He repeled Mott-sama's spell against him!"

"That boy is incredible…"

The comments made by his guards annoyed the count, who couldn't tolerate to be humiliated like that in public. So he used a combination of fire and wind spells, but his opponent used his sword to absorb them too while his runes shined brighter.

Running faster, Saito was ready to attack Mott with a flaming Derflinger, getting surprised when a water barrier appeared to stop him. "You can't destroy my barrier!", exclaimed Mott confidently.

Instead of retreating back, the boy swung his sword, leaving everyone speechless. Using a lot of strength, he began to slowly slice the barrier, screaming meanwhile. At the end, the barrier was destroyed and Mott couldn't believe at what he watched, and so couldn't the guards, Siesta and Montmorency either.

With a serious expression, Saito pointed Derf at Mott's throat, who got cold sweat. Fearing for his life, the count lifted his hands and surrendered, shocking his guards and the girls. "Y-you win. Siesta can go back to the academy and she is not my servant anymore.", declared the count, keeping his gaze down.

Smiling and putting his sword back in the scabbard, Louise's familiar looked at the girls, precisely at Siesta, making a thumbs up and grinning. That gesture and his victory for her rescue made her heart beat faster, causing her to get deeply touched and cry.

'H-he's defeated him...Saito-kun gave his best to save her and won. H-he's really cool and brave.', thought an astonished and flushed Montmorency, admiring him like she did after his first duel. Tabitha smiled and was proud of him, despite she was amazed by the ability of his weapon.

"Boy, what's your name?", suddenly asked Mott to the winner.

"I'm Saito Hiraga.", was the confident answer, which made the count smile surprisingly.

"This is the first time I get beaten by a plebeian. Your skills are great and I think they will grow even more, Saito. ", told him the count. The young man thanked him, so the guards sighed in relief that their boss wasn't in life danger anymore.

And after Siesta took the luggage, she followed her savior and the girls towards the point Sylphid was waiting for them, giggling when she saw the dragon happy and licking Saito's face. "Are you hurt somewhere, Saito-kun?", asked him the blondie.

"No, I managed to avoid all of his attacks. I'm still amazed to know that Derf can absorb magic spells."

"If the spells aren't too strong, I can absorb them easily.", explained the talking sword.

Nodding, the boy proceeded to hop on the dragon's back, offering his hand to Siesta that smiled and took it before holding on his back. Blushing, she felt safer like Montmorency did when she held onto him, even if the blondie was jealous this time because she kinda wanted to cling on him as well.

'He risked his life to free me…Saito-san is kindhearted just like a hero.', thought the black haired girl, feeling happy. He, on the other hand, was a little flustered at feeling her big chest on his back, even if he was also when it was the blondie to hold on him.

Flying back to the academy, Sylphid landed in Vesti field quietly to not wake up any student or other people and the 4 teenagers got down on the ground. "Thank you for the help, Tabitha-san, Montmorency-san.", said the young man, smiling.

"O-oh, you're welcome. As you said, we're friends, so I c-care a lot about you. I will go to sleep, so g-good night, everyone."

"You're both my and Sylphid's friend, so don't hesitate to ask for our help. Good night."

And with the bluenette and the blondie leaving while the dragon snuggled on him before going to sleep, Saito was left alone with Siesta. "Well, I guess that I will go-"

His sentence got cut off when she suddenly hugged him, with her face on his chest. "S-Siesta?"

"You're amazing, Saito-san. You challenged another noble for the sake of someone like me, so I'm really grateful to you.", she told him, lifting her face with a happy smile. She also gave him a kiss on the cheek, making his face get red like hers.

"T-this was my way to thank you. G-good night!", she said, leaving while touching her red face.

"D-did she just-"

"Oh yes that she kissed you hahaha! You're pretty popular with girls, partner."

Derflinger's words made him blush more, but he also smiled because he was happy that he managed to rescue the maid from that count. The only thing that he hoped to not happen was someone else finding out what he, Tabitha and Montmorency did, as Louise would find out and get extremely worried for him. Anyways, he started to head for his and her room to sleep as well, still flushed because of Siesta's kiss, who got way more affectionate to him perhaps.

A/N

And here's chapter 4, everyone! Getting bought without the possibility to refuse is terrible, isn't it? Thankfully, Siesta got her freedom back thanks to Saito that couldn't accept a thing like that and she even thanked him with a kiss on the cheek haha. In the anime it was thanks to Kirche's book of her family that Siesta got freed, but I preferred making the young swordsman duel against the count, so he could find out about Derf's ability.

He even made Tabitha's familiar get affectionate to him, since she likes licking his face, and he did the same with Montmorency. Louise didn't find out about what he did, but will she perhaps come to know it? Will she notice the greater closeness between him and Siesta too? Stay tuned to find out.

See ya!