Chapter 18

Saito was travelling back towards the Magic Academy on a carriage after completing his mission in the capital city. Following the death of Fouquet at his hands and him reporting what happened to the queen in fact, he stayed another night at Charming Fairies before leaving to go back to the academy.

Of course, Jessica had slept in the same bed as him, hugging his arm close to her breasts while he blushed embarrassed. Since she was fine with being his second or third girlfriend, she didn't want to hold back her feelings for him at all, which got more intense after he saved the civilians.

Though, while being still flustered due to her, his expression was serious because he was worried about what Reconquista could do next, especially that woman named Sheffield.

'I don't know exactly why, still she gives me some dangerous vibes.', he thought, looking outside of the window. Having already killed two people, he wasn't going to have mercy against her either if he were to fight her; sparing cruel and evil enemies wasn't part of his personality.

Besides, when that now dead thief endangered a child with her giant, a raging fury took him over and he didn't want to give her a second chance. Maybe passing from being a normal high schooler to becoming a warrior was truly incredible, but he didn't hate such change. He was going to protect Louise and those dear to him no matter what.

"Hey young man, I think we have to make a stop. The horses need to rest.", told him the carriage's owner suddenly, catching hid attention.

"It's ok for me. Reaching the academy requires a lot, after all."

At that response, the carriage stopped on the side of the road, so the owner could give some water and food for his horses. Meanwhile, the Gandalf exploited the occasion to go to train in the woods, taking out his swords and hitting some branches.

Despite he began to fight with just a weapon, he quickly learned to use two at the same time thanks to his powers and Derflinger was sure that he surpassed completely the level of a trained soldier at that point. Moreover, he was deadly even without a real weapon because he kept training with wood sticks in the case he had not a sword or something similar to use.

The speed of his attacks during the training was incredible and while performing Chaos Blade, he created shining sparks at each cut. He avoided to use his other move because he didn't want to destroy another tree like last time, otherwise he would scare another carriage owner.

But while he was training, he felt something lurking between the trees, which happened to be some wolves that looked quite hungry and menacing. Their appearance didn't scare him at all, as he was ready to defend himself.

One of those wolves tried to attack him with his fangs, only to be beheaded by Saito's second sword. Lots of blood from the body fell down on the grass, with the other wolves growling more.

"If you don't want to end up like that too, it's better you leave at once.", told them the warrior, glaring menacingly with his blue eyes. Somehow, that glare was enough to scare them, as they quickly scattered away.

Once they were out of the way, he got worried about the carriage's man and ran back towards it, sighing in relief at seeing him out of danger. "Why are you so agitated?"

"I met some wolves earlier, so I was worried they tried to attack you as well.", was his explanation, making him gasp.

"W-wolves? Oh no, we can't stay here. Let's leave immediately!", he said, getting an affirmative nod from the foreign boy. So the warrior got inside the carriage again before the horses started to run, leaving the area immediately.

Despite he was a friend for all the familiars at the academy, he was not above hurting dangerous wild animals if he needed to. Becoming wolves' food was not in his plans at all, especially when he had to come back to his girlfriend and other people dear to him.

Luckily, his threat along the first wolf's death scared the others pretty enough that he and the man didn't get attacked along the way, so they could both sigh in relief. Getting his clothes dirty of animal blood before returning home and embracing his Lou-chan was something he wanted to avoid.

Meanwhile, at the magic academy, the lovely pinkette was looking at the two moons in the sky, standing on the balcony outside of her room. She wasn't still sleeping because she was worried about her dear Saito, praying that nothing bad happened to him.

'I know he didn't want me to accompany him to keep me safe, but I can't help but worry for him.', she thought with a sad expression. Ever since he came into her life that day she performed the summoning spell, everything changed for the better.

Her classmates and other students didn't mock her anymore for her mistakes with magic and his smile and his love for her filled her heart of joy. Despite he killed somebody, she wasn't scared of him and she still trusted him deeply, as he did it to save her from that traitor of Jacques. He was always the kind Saito that she loved too much in the end.

Checking the time on the watch on her wall, she decided that it was better to go to sleep. So she got in her bed and closed her eyes, starting to dream about her familiar and mumbling his name. Her intense feelings towards him made her have those dreams very often like it happened to him when he thought of her, as sign of their strong mutual love. A love that was going to grow stronger over the time.

In the following morning, the carriage finally reached the academy and the Gandalf thanked the owner before stepping through the gates. Wanting to make a surprise, he went towards the kitchen, knowing that the cooks were preparing the breakfast for the students.

Once he stepped inside, Marteau and everyone smiled at seeing him. "Welcome back, Our Sword!"

"Hey, guys. How's it going?", he asked them, smiling back.

"All's good. Ever since you beat that blonde noble in a duel, we get more respected by other students."

Their attention got caught by Siesta entering in the kitchen, whose eyes widened when she saw the young swordsman. "Hey, Siesta. I'm back."

Her face got red and she smiled blissfully, not hesitating to envelope him into a hug and snuggling on his chest. "I was so worried. I'm glad you're back and fine.", she told him happily.

"Sorry, but as you see, I'm totally ok.", he said, flustered because of the sweet hug but reciprocating it. The other maidens didn't hesitate to cling onto him as well, causing him to sweatdrop while Siesta pouted cutely. Be it at the academy or at Charming Fairies, his popularity with maidens was always incredible.

However, he stayed in the kitchen just some minutes more before greeting everyone and going to his and Louise's tower. His beloved pinkette got surely worried a lot for him while he was on mission, so he wanted to show her that he was ok.

Climbing the stairs, he arrived to the right floor and reached the door of their room, opening it without hesitation. He blushed at seeing her sleep peacefully in their bed, as her cuteness was really amazing.

'Every time I see you like this, my desire to protect you always gets stronger.', he thought, smiling and walking towards her. He never cared that she was flat chested in comparison to other girls, as her kindness and the great affection she always gave him were what made him fall for her quickly.

He brought his hand to her face to caress it, which caused her eyes to open and widen once they saw his face. "I'm home, Lou-chan.", he told her, grinning.

"S-Saito? You're back!", she exclaimed, surprising him with a tight hug. Blushing more, he reciprocated it and enjoyed her comforting warmth. Even if it was just for two days, they missed each other quite a lot and she was greatly worried for him, fearing for his well-being.

Seeing her dear boyfriend fine made her extremely relieved, smiling while still hugging him. "I'm sorry for making you worried, but I promised you that I'd come back to you."

"It's ok. Now that you're here with me, I'm very glad.", she told him, looking then into his eyes. Driven by their feelings, they joined their lips into a kiss, keeping to hug each other while he went for her tongue. They missed their kisses too, especially him because he dreamed often about her.

That sweet kiss lasted some seconds more before they unwillingly detached their lips and kept smiling until he got serious. "The mission went good, but you must know that Reconquista freed Fouquet from prison. She attacked the capital city and I killed her."

"W-what? You did?"

"Yes, she dared to harm an innocent kid while we fought. That enraged me so much that I didn't want to give her a second chance, so after she told me who freed her, I killed her.", he explained, looking away.

He was worried that she would be scared of him after telling her that, but to his shock, she hugged his head close to her chest. "Lou-chan?"

"You did the right thing. I know better than anyone that you don't like taking the life of someone and you just want to protect me and everyone else. This is why I love you so much, Saito.", she told him, smiling and patting his hair.

Getting red again because of the contact with her chest, her words made him smile and he wrapped his arms around her. He felt really lucky and overjoyed that she was so gentle, increasing his will to protect her and make her always happy stronger.

He avoided to tell her about what happened between him and Jessica, just like he didn't want to say anything about Montmorency's kiss. He was still doubtful about having more than one girlfriend, so he needed time to reflect about it.

Anyways, they stayed like that for a while before he told her about who was behind Fouquet's escape from prison, with her feeling too that Sheffield was very dangerous. She smiled at hearing that he was now a hero in Tristania, which further increased her already great love for him.

'My partner doesn't want to tell her about the kiss from Jessica, so I won't say anything. I won't betray his trust in me.', thought Derflinger meanwhile. Despite agreeing with the more girlfriends idea, that was a decision his wielder had to take and he would respect it no matter which one.

Since he had to inform Osman and Colbert about what happened too, he said to his beloved that he would see her at lesson later, so they kissed another time before he exited from the room. Arriving to the principal's office was easy thanks to his speed, so once he was in front of the door, he knocked on it and opened it after hearing "Come in."

"Welcome back, Saito-kun. I'm relieved you're not hurt.", told him Colbert with a smile.

"I'm glad to see you fine too, boy. How did the mission go?", asked him Osman instead.

"While searching for some clues about Reconquista, Fouquet attacked the city because they freed her from the prison. The guards and I fought her and I killed her after I forced her to tell me who made her escape.", he answered, using a cold tone while mentioning the now dead thief.

Such revelation left the two old men stunned, finding it unbelievable: to think that the famous thief wizard got killed was surreal, but the tone used by the swordsman worried Colbert. He could feel the hatred he had towards her.

"It seems Cromwell and a woman named Sheffield are the main people that guide Reconquista's actions. I told the queen everything I found out after the battle of course."

"I thank you dearly for fighting to save that city and its inhabitants. I just hope you won't be forced to kill other people."

"I'm sorry, Colbert-sensei. I can't afford to have pity against those that dare to hurt the innocents. Even if I dislike it, I will never hesitate to kill if it's necessary.", retorted the warrior, making him frown sadly. After revealing his results, he greeted them and left the room, with Osman looking at the teacher and sighing.

"You worry too much. You heard him, right? He takes a life only if it's necessary, so he's not like who you know."

"I know, but someone young like him forced to fight when he's not part of our world feels just wrong. I only hope nothing bad happens to him…"

Being done with meeting the principal and Colbert, the young man directed himself towards his girlfriend's classroom, making several maidens blush with his new outfit. Even Montmorency was one of them, finding him more gorgeous than ever.

'Do I look so different with a mantle and these clothes? Impossible.', he thought, sweatdropping and taking place next to the pinkette. He assured her that his meeting went well and noticed that she tied her long hair in a ponytail, complimenting her for how good she looked.

"You fill me of joy whenever you praise me hehe."

"I love you too much, so I like making you compliments.", he said, smiling back at her.

"Saito."

The new voice calling for him made him turn around to see Tabitha sitting behind them, looking at him with her typical calm face. "Good morning, Tabitha. How are you?"

"I'm good, thank you. Seeing you back and fine makes me glad and Sylphid can't wait to meet you."

"I missed her too while I was away. I will make sure to play with her a lot later. It's a promise.", he said, winking. His words made her smile a little and nod while his master giggled; each time he showed that kindness of his, her heart only beat faster for him.

He also noticed that Guiche wasn't upset anymore because of the break up with the water magician, but speaking of her, he blushed when she smiled blissfully at him. His girlfriend asked him what was wrong, so he assured her that everything was fine despite sweatdropping.

'Hehe, he's so conscious of me. He may love only Louise now, however I will do my best to be in his heart too.', thought the blondie while touching her red face. After she kissed him, she was determined to give him all the love she had, as she had told him that she was ready to lose her innocence with him.

It wasn't a case she had dreams about having sex with him while he was on mission, moaning his name shamelessly during her sleep. Of course she didn't tell anyone about it, but they were proofs of how her feelings were more intense than when she was under the effect of the love potion.

Still, once the teacher arrived, the lesson could start and every student made sure to take notes, including the Gandalf. Derf's ability to absorb spells and repel them was formidable, but having more knowledge about all the elements was useful in any case.

'I understood that only nobles can use magic because of their lineage, but thanks to Derf, I can do it too somehow. I may be already pretty strong, though I want to ameliorate even more.', he thought, following the explanation with great attention. That determined expression of his was truly fantastic to Louise and the other girls' eyes, and even Kirche couldn't help but blush while glancing at him.

Perhaps he completely rejected her after he saw her true personality, still he remained very hot to her eyes. She believed he was the hottest boy in the entire school in fact.

Following the end of the morning lessons, the young warrior went to the canteen to eat with his master and everyone else, digging into the food delightfully. He didn't eat bad at Charming Fairies because Jessica and her colleagues cooked really well, but he adored what Marteau and the maids prepared.

Watching him eat happily like that made the pinkhead giggle but also relieved: after he told her about killing Fouquet, she was scared that he gave into hatred towards the conspiracy. She didn't want him to lose his kind smile, as seeing the guy she loved more than anything in the world sad was something she couldn't stand at all. Besides, she didn't want him to die either.

"Ah, your cheek is dirty, Lou-chan. Here.", he suddenly said, catching her off guard with a kiss on the cheek that got instantly red.

That move made Momon and Siesta pout in jealousy, wishing he did the same to them. "Wow, you're really brave.", said Guiche, surprised.

"I just like taking care of her like she does with me.", said the swordsman, blushing again but smiling.

Needless to say that her pink eyes shined at hearing him, so she hugged him enthusiastically and made them fall on the floor. "You're always so sweet hehe!", she exclaimed, rubbing her face on his chest.

He chuckled because of her action and patted her hea, not minding the laughs of other students that found the scene both cute and funny. Of course, the water wizard and Siesta wanted to be at Louise's place so bad.

After they got up and finished to eat, the blue eyes boy went outside in the courtyard, calling for Sylphid. The female dragon got instantly happy at seeing so she ran to him and licked his face enthusiastically.

"Hahaha, I missed you too! Do you want to play hide and seek?", he asked her, caressing her face.

She nodded to him eagerly, so he told her that he would count while she had to hide. Surprisingly, even Flame, Robin and a lot ot other familiars wanted to play together, so he smiled and told them they could join ofc.

The fact he got along with everyone of their familiars that made all other wizards glad, knowing that he didn't do it because he was a familiar too. He just had a kind heart and wanted the best for those dear to him, which was what several girls other than Louise fall for him.

Moreover, Derflinger didn't want him to lose himself in hatred too. That, along greed and other worse things were what caused wars during his 6000 years, so he wished that his wielder could keep to be kind and smile like that forever.

Obviously, both of them believed that sparing enemies' lives was wrong as seen with Wardes and the infamous thief. Perhaps he was driven by rage too when he finished off Fouquet, but he did it mainly to protect the city and everyone. And that will to protect people was his best trait in the ancient sword's opinion.

In a hidden building of the capital city, Sheffield was inside a room with Cromwell, who was anything but calm. "Damn it! How could that stupid thief lose against a familiar?! How can that guy be that strong?!", he exclaimed, punching the table in pure frustration.

"Calm down. You're getting too agitated.", told him the woman with purple lips, maintaining her composure instead.

"How can I stay calm? That useless commoner managed to eliminate both Wardes and Fouquet! It's a matter of time before he gets to kill me too!"

"It's clear that we underestimated him. If he managed to defeat her even without the Staff of Destruction, that means he's not an ordinary boy. But don't worry, I have other plans to ensure that our goals can ge fulfilled."

"Really?"

"Yes, you just have to trust me.", she said, smiling wickedly while some runes on her forehead, similar to those of Saito, shined of a violet light Whatever she had in mind just meant bad things or worse for both the warrior and everyone he held dear.

Speaking of him, he was busy with searching the familiars during hide and seek, managing to find Robin and Sylphid first. As expected, the blue dragon didn't stop clinging onto him and the frog stayed on top of his head while smiling.

The sight of him getting along so we'll with them was beautiful to the eyes of the maids, making him much more attractive than how he already was. Obviously, even some female magicians found him handsome, not caring that he wasn't a noble like them.

He showed to be pretty strong and dedicated to his training and knowing he was now a hero in Tristania made him totally fantastic to their eyes. In fact, one of them suddenly called him and shyly gave him some biscuits she baked for him, making her blush and smile after he thanked her. Sylphid pouted instead.

"Hahahaha, you're always a lady killer, partner!"

"I-I'm not! Stop calling me that, Derf!", he exclaimed on the other hand, flustered. His expression changed into a smile when the dragon licked his face again, as if she wanted him to focus on her.

"All this affection you have for me makes me very happy. I don't know if I can see my family again in the future, but you, Lou-chan and everyone never make me feel alone. Thank you, Sylphid, Robin."

She and the frog made happy sounds and they clung on him more, smiling while finding Flame and the rest of the familiars. Since he played with them for at least two hours, he decided to spend the rest of the afternoon by training, taking out his blades.

Each wooden dummy he hit was reduced into pieces by his hits, especially those on which he used the attack that destroyed the giant of rock's hand. He was aware that he was already quite powerful, but he wanted to get much stronger to be able to fight against any possible foe.

That intention was pretty visible in his training and was what made Siesta's heart beat faster while watching him, falling for him more. She knew that only Louise was in his heart, but, like Momon, she didn't want to give up on him at all.

She couldn't know that her cousin has the audacity to kiss him on the lips and he reciprocated it, still that was a sign that he was slowly accepting the idea of having more girlfriends than just one. He had still some doubts surely, but he would get over it while focusing on getting more powerful for the sake of all those he held dear.

A/N

And here's chapter 18, buddies! Well, it looks like Saito made it to home after his mission in the capital city, not showing an ounce of fear even against a pack of dangerous wolves. Him killing Fouquet made him a hero in Tristania and caused Cromwell to start fearing him, except for Sheffield that has other plans instead.

Jessica's kiss along her words made him think about more having other lovers, though he still has some doubts that need time to disappear. As you see, he has zero pity for his enemies but doesn't enjoy killing, which shows he still has a good heart and Derflinger hopes he doesn't give into hatred or worse. What will happen next? Will Montmorency or Siesta try to get even closer to him? Stay tuned to find out.

See ya!