“… Go”

I created a rock cone – and with a magic called Stone Cannon pierced a monkey-like demon .

The demon exploded, leaving behind only a magical gem .

I picked it up expressionlessly and stuffed it into my leather bag .

“…”

A few days have pa.s.sed since the match with Manarisama .

The academy is proceeding with the preparations for the Amour’s Festival .

As for what specifically I’m doing, I’m exterminating demons around the festival hall .

Since magical gem is used for the love scales, demons approach lured by it .

Hence every year before the festival all academy students go hunt demons .

By nature, demon suppression is the army’s job, but as a large amount of them appears, academy students are recruited .

Fortunately, the demons around the ceremony hall aren’t that strong, so even academy students can defeat them .

Nonetheless, at this time the first-year academy students are still unaccustomed to fighting demons, so the first years go around exterminating in teams .

I’m in a team with Claire-sama and Manarisama .

“You, are you not overdoing it a little?”

Looking at me dispa.s.sionately slaughtering demons, Claire-sama said so .

“No, I’m okay”

I pushed my way through bushes seeking the next prey .

There was an amorphous demon there – a green slime .

“…”

For a moment Relaire crossed my mind, but I again slaughtered it with Stone Cannon .

The slime whose core I pierced muddled and returned to earth .

“Oh dear, you’re rough”

The amused voice was Manarisama’s .

Looking there, Manarisama has an arm wrapped around Claire-sama’s shoulder and is staring at me with a grin .

“Hey, Manarisama . Right now is the time for fighting?”

“It’s okay . With us three there’s no way we can lose to the demons around here”

It’s not self-conceit, her words come from the absolute self-confidence .

The reality is, Manarisama could exterminate demons alone without any difficulty .

“But, she is still convalescing?”

Claire-sama said in a worried voice .

I found it very unpleasant .

“I’m okay”

“But…”

Certainly, the wounds I received from Manarisama weren’t shallow, but I’m already recovering .

Since then, Claire-sama became worried about me in various ways .

If it was the me before I’d be jumping in joy, but now I can’t simply be happy .

I wagered Claire-sama in a match against Manarisama, my loss has a lasting effect .

“Hey, Claire . You stopped moving”

“Eh, yeah”

“Look, there’s a Large Wasp over there . Claire should be able to exterminate it without an issue?”

“…”

Manarisama, acting like an escort, urged Claire-sama .

Claire-sama still looked at me anxiously, but eventually she took her eyes off me and commenced demon extermination .

I quietly left their side and with discomfort in my chest went to slaughter demons .

“Hey you”

When the demon extermination roughly finished for the day, Claire-sama called out to me .

“What is it, Claire-sama”

“What is it, Claire-sama”

“You are my servant . What is a servant doing separating herself from her master”

The whole day, I basically ignored the team formation and exterminated by myself .

At first I was with Claire-sama and Manarisama, but it was painful being with the two of them so I went off on my own .

It seems Claire-sama blames me for it .

“Isn’t it fine . If Claire-sama is with Manarisama, she should be enough to protect you”

“Do not say such a thing . Your job is to serve me”

What Claire-sama’s saying is correct .

It’s correct, but I had no s.p.a.ce in my heart to listen obediently .

“I am sorry”

“Do you really understand what you did wrong? In the first place, with a convalescing body independent action is extremely dangerous”

If I had been a little calmer, I would have noticed at that time Claire-sama was worried about me .

But, it was painful to continue the conversation, so I tried to finish it right after apologizing .

And, Claire-sama noticed my apology wasn’t sincere .

Then I got a little fed up with Claire-sama’s sermon .

“I am not worried about you in particular, however having a servant die would weight on my――”

“I am sorry . I’ll be careful from now on”

When the conversation finished, I tried leaving, but Claire-sama caught my arm .

“After the match with Onee-sama you are behaving strange? What in the world happened”

“… Nothing much”

“You are lying . Until then you had been involving yourself with myself persistently, but have you not become completely quiet in these past few days”

Claire-sama doesn’t know the details of my and Manarisama’s fight .

Like other people, she only thinks we competed in magic .

“In that match, Claire-sama was at stake”

“Ha?”

I reluctantly explained the details of the match .

Even I was surprised by my emotionless voice .

Inversely proportional to it, Claire-sama’s complexion quickly changed .

Inversely proportional to it, Claire-sama’s complexion quickly changed .

“And so, I have no right to be next to Claire-sama anymore”

“What selfish things are you saying!”

The moment I finished, Claire-sama snapped .

“I was at stake in your match? What were you thinking! I am not a thing!? Doing as you please…”

Claire-sama’s point is right .

If somebody decides you’re a prize on their own, of course you’d get mad .

There’s a concept of prize girls where women are reduced to prizes, but I also hate it .

However, this time there was something completely wrong with me .

That’s why, I said such a thing .

“Is that so? Doesn’t it feel good? You were sought by a wonderful person like Manarisama”

Thinking about it now, those were inexcusable words .

Claire-sama’s eyes completely glazed .

“Correct yourself . For a servant to speak abusive words to her master . This is why commoner servants are…”

Claire-sama seems to have retaliated .

If it was the usual me, I should have noticed .

But, at this time I was awfully irritated .

“Then, I’ll quit”

“… What was that?”

“I’ll quit being Claire-sama’s maid . It’s not suitable for a commoner like me”

When I said so, expression disappeared from Claire-sama’s face .

Claire-sama continued in a flat voice .

“… Are you seriously saying this?”

“Yes”

“Do you want to quit being my servant?”

“Yes”

I wanted to leave this place as soon as possible .

I wanted to leave this place as soon as possible .

“I see… I understand”

At that moment I noticed Claire-sama’s voice somehow trembled .

“Claire-sama?”

“The payment until today will be calculated at the daily rate, so come collect it”

Claire-sama’s tone was businesslike .

“I had various complaints, but you have served me well until now . As a daughter of François house I would like to express my grat.i.tude”

Then, with an awkward smile that I could tell she was forcing,

“Thank you for everything until now, Taylor-san”

Calling me by my family name, Claire-sama shed a single tear .

“Claire-sa――”

“Are you going already? I am sorry for saying selfish things until now . I pray for Taylor-san’s happiness from now on”

I made a mistake .

It’s a fatal mistake I can’t take back .

Even if I regret, it’s too late .

Claire-sama turned her back on me .

“… Excuse me”

The only thing I could do is say that and leave this place .

My feelings were so chaotic I just wanted to run into my room and dive into my bed .

“You too, are leaving me alone… Liar”

The last words Claire-sama spilled gouged deep into my heart .