Chapter 5: A Strange Lunch
Blue Maid: Sister, Sister our guest is very loud
Pink Maid: Yes Rem, it seems that our guest is unnecessarily loud.
Kaoi: Well, what did you expect when you called me a loser.
Emilia: It seems like you can't wake up without causing a commotion, huh, Kaoi.
Teruo: Caw, Caw, He cannot Caw Caw
Kaoi: Huh?
Kaoi looked past the maids to see the person he thought he knew as Satella walking towards them along with his crow companion. Who then flies over to Kaoi and perch on his shoulder.
Kaoi: Good to see you too buddy
Blue Maid: Listen to this Miss Emilia without provocation my dear sister was violated by this man.
Pink Maid: Please listen to this Miss Emilia Rem was held prisoner in shame by this man.
Kaoi just stares blankly at them as they point at him with these ridiculous accusations.
Kaoi turns to Emilia while pointing at the maids.
Kaoi: Emilia! Those two stole my stuff please help me get it back!
Teruo: Caw, Caw, Thieves Thieves, Caw Caw
The three women were momentarily stunned at this display of childishness.
Emilia: That's enough you four. Don't go acting like children now.
Blue Maid: Yes, of course, Miss Emilia, My sister's very sorry.
Pink Maid: Yes, of course, Miss Emilia, Rem's very sorry.
Kaoi: The maids are calling her miss. I guess that means she must be some kind of noblewoman.
Kaoi: Fine, I'm sorry as well.
Emilia: Tell me Kaoi, are you feeling all right today? Does anything feel off to you?
Kaoi: I'm alright, thanks. Got to say though, I'm impressed how you were able to heal my wound. DIdn't leave a scar at all.
Emilia: That's a relief.
Kaoi: Yeah.
Kaoi then remembers the interaction he had earlier with Beatrice. His face contorts into worry as he rushes where he came from.
Kaoi: Emilia! I'm going to need your help with…
Kaoi stutters out as he opens the door. All he sees is an empty ordinary room and not the vast library he just left.
Kaoi: She must have moved it.
Emilia: She must have moved it? Kaoi, are you talking about Beatrice?
Puck then comes from the green crystal with a worried look
Puck: Did something happen to Betty?
Kaoi: Yeah although I wouldn't know how to explain it.
Kaoi then details his mysterious encounter with the blonde girl and how she jumped in pain after putting her hand on his chest. Which was followed by her requesting he leave her alone.
Kaoi: That's pretty much what happened.
Puck: It seems like Betty must have tried to drain your mana but somehow you repelled her.
Kaoi: My mana?
Puck: Something to talk about later. Lia, I'm going to check on Betty, Ok?
Emilia: Sure Puck.
With that Puck leaves to check on Beatrice.
Emilia: Now Rem and Ram, would you please be kind to lead Kaoi to the location of where his belongings are held.
Rem: Very well Miss Emilia, My sister and I will do so.
Ram: Very well Miss Emilia, Rem and I will do as you ask.
After getting his uniform, haori, and blade back. Kaoi follows Emilia outside where Kaoi sees he had been inside a mansion.
Kaoi: Wow, this place is huge.
Emilia: Yes, Lord Roswaal's mansion is quite impressive.
Kaoi: Lord Roswaal? Do you mean you are not the one who owns this place?
Emilia: Yes, I merely took residence here.
Kaoi: Say what happened after I passed out.
Emilia: Well after I healed you. Sir Reinhard knocked out the giant and the thief who stole my insignia and took her away.
Kaoi: Take her away?
Emilia: Yes, my guess as punishment for taking my insignia.
Kaoi: Huh?
Emilia: Then I brought you here where you were asleep for 3 days.
Kaoi: 3 days!?
Emilia: Yes, for the first 2 days your crow didn't leave your side. I had only got him to fly outside this morning.
Kaoi: He did, Huh?
Kaoi turns to his feathered friend.
Kaoi: I'm sorry for worrying you like that, Teruo
Teruo: Caw, Caw, Just don't do it again, Caw Caw
Kaoi simply smiles before making a more serious expression.
Kaoi: Emilia, I have to ask. Why did you lie to me about your name?
Emilia looks deep in thought before answering.
Emilia: Kaoi, do you truly know anything about elves.
Kaoi: Yeah, I didn't even know of the word before you brought it up.
Emilia: Well …
Puck then appears and interrupts Emilia
Puck: Lia, Kaoi, It seems like Betty is going to be okay.
Emilia: Oh, is that right?
Kaoi: Thank god I was really worried about her. Now you were saying?
Emilia hesitates to continue but then looks past Koai as something caught her eye. Kaoi notices and then turns to see the twin maids now identified as Rem and Ram walk towards them.
Rem and Ram: Miss Emilia, our master Roswaal has finally returned home. Please, come inside.
Kaoi walks with the three women towards the dining area. Meanwhile, on the trek there, Emilia asks a question.
Emilia: Kaoi, I noticed underneath your jacket there is a strange symbol on your clothes. I must ask what it means.
Kaoi: She can't read the kanji on my uniform?
Thinking back to the city he was in before. Kaoi realizes that despite speaking the same language. The written text on signs was unreadable to him.
Kaoi: I guess the people of this world have a different writing system.
Kaoi: It means destroy
Emilia: Destroy?
Before she can ask more the four have arrived at the dining room. Walking in Kaoi quickly notices Beatrice on his right.
Kaoi: Hey there Beatrice. I hope you're okay after you know …
Beatrice: Hmph! Beatrice will have you know that she is okay.
Puck: Hey Betty, you doing okay?
Beatrice: Buddy!
Beatrice then starts acting all giddy as he approaches the cute cat spirit.
Beatrice: Yes, will you stay with me for the rest of today? Do you suppose?
Puck: Yeah sure, no problem.
Puck floats on Beatrice's now wrapped hands as she twirls away in giggles.
Kaoi only smiles in content as he feels the pure joy the little girl is feeling.
Emilia: It's nice to see her like that.
Kaoi: Yeah, it is I suppose.
Male voice: My, my! how unusual to see you here, Beatrice.
Kaoi turns to the source of the voice to see a man in make-up and a very strange outfit. This reminds him of a very particular hashira.
Tengen: How flamboyant!
Kaoi: Yeah I rather not think of that guy, today. Seriously, I prefer Tomioka-san's company over him.
Clown Man: I'm so happy you're dining with me.
Beatrice: Betty does not care for you fool. I just waiting to speed time with Buddy, I suppose.
Kaoi: I suppose this guy is Roswaal. I have heard of noblewomen in the Heian period wearing white make-up that covers their faces. I guess it's a similar thing with nobles of this world.
Kaoi: Hello there, Lord Roswaal I assume. I would like to thank you for kindly allowing me to recover here.
Kaoi then bows to the man in make-up.
Roswaal: My, my! What polite manners. You are correct my young man. I am indeed the lord of this manor. Roswaal L. Mathers. So very pleased to meet your acquaintance. Kaoi, right?
The party then took their places with Roswaal at the head of the table, Rem and Ram at his sides while Kaoi and Emilia sitting on one side while Beatrice with Puck on the other.
Kaoi now looking at the lord with the two maids reminds him of Ubuyashiki-sama, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps along with his twin attendants. Kaoi can't help but think back to the kind and caring feeling from the man that would make him and all the hashiras gladly bow to in an instant. However, Roswaal gives off none of those feelings. Instead, he gives off a dark feeling, like he is deeply scheming.
Unsettled a bit, Kaoi took the first taste of his meal before stars appear in his eyes and he exclaims
Kaoi: Tasty!
Everyone jumped in surprised but Kaoi didn't noticed as he continued to say the word tasty every time he took a sip of his soup.
Kaoi: Tasty!
Kaoi: Tasty!
Kaoi: Tasty!
Emilia: Uh, Kaoi
Kaoi: Tasty!
Kaoi: Tasty!
Kaoi: Tasty!
Emilia: Kaoi!
Kaoi: Tasty!
Kaoi: Tasty!
Kaoi: TASTY!
Kaoi then realizes that everyone was looking at him strangely. He takes a moment before realizing what he had been doing.
Kaoi: Sorry about that
Emilia: Yes, what was that just know?
Kaoi: A habit I picked up from Rengoku-sama.
Emilia: Rengoku-sama?
Kaoi: My mentor, who taught me how to use the blade. He would say tasty between bites of every meal. No matter what he ate. I picked that habit from him when I was training. Although I do it for when I eat a meal that I find really good.
Roswaal: Mm-hmm. Despite her appearance, Rem's cooking is quite impressive. Say does this mentor of yours also taught you how to channel fire magic through your blade as Lady Emilia recounted?
Kaoi thinks back to that night as recalls that was the first time something like that has ever happened to him while performing flame breathing.
Kaoi: No, Rengoku-sama never taught me anything about magic. In fact, that was the first time I ever use magic.
This shocks the entire room that this swordsman not only uses fire magic in a unique way but was the first time casting magic in a fight to the death.
Roswaal: You are a unique young man. You come in the mansion of Margrave Mathers in the kingdom of Lugnica.
Kaoi: Lugnica? Well, at least I now know where I am.
Kaoi: Yeah, like I told Emilia I am a wanderer that passively goes by.
Roswaal: Then you are currently not aware of the state of the country?
Kaoi: I suppose not.
Roswaal: Well, it is not in an agreeable state as Lugnica is without a king.
Roswaal explains to Kaoi that an epidemic wiped out the royal family. So a council of Wisemen are running Lugnica and are in the process to select a new king.
Kaoi: So you're saying that due to the confusion caused by the royal selection. Me being a foreigner coming to the country makes me suspect.
Roswaal: And your encounter with Miss Emilia makes a direct connection to the household. Ah, such a dilemma.
Kaoi: If I could ask, what status does Emilia holds that would make the lord of this mansion call her miss?
Roswaal: Why a candidate to the throne of course. The insignia you help retrieve in fact is what allows her to participate along with my sponsorship.
Kaoi deadpans as he turns to Emilia.
Kaoi: So you lost an insignia that qualifies you to be king?
Emilia: Don't put it like that! It was stolen from me by a thief!
Kaoi: Same thing. Well, then I'm glad that I decided to help you out.
Roswaal: Yes, such altruism should be rewarded. Just name It.
Roswaal raises in arms in glee. Kaoi then thinks for a bit.
Kaoi: Well, I'm going to need a way to earn money that works here, but I also need a way to learn about where I am. Not being able to read would be a serious problem for me. So I can't just ask for money and then travel alone as I usually do. I suppose there is one way.
Kaoi: I would like to be hired at this mansion on the condition that I receive lessons on how to read and write.
Kaoi: That way when I am able to get the hang of this world's language I can then use the books in the library for information. Specifically, the subject of elves.
Everyone then stayed silent.
Ram: [Ahchoo!]