(Mina’s POV)

  In the courtyard of the Slowlett house where I work, Eleonora-sama and Sylvio-sama were doing some voluntary practice.

  I was sitting at the edge of the courtyard, absentmindedly looking at them.

  Strictly speaking, it’s already past midday, it was a time when we should be relaxing at the lounge drinking tea, but Eleonora-sama and Sylvio-sama started to have a practice at their own initiative, so it became a situation where I had to assist them.

  More precisely, Eleonora-sama forcibly took Sylvio-sama with her.

  Aah, even though I actually have an important task to do at this period.

  At this time of the day, Bartolo-san is starting his preparation for dinner in the kitchen. That’s why, I was aiming for this time to ask him to change the dinner menu to hamburg steak……no, I mean, even though I’m planning to negotiate it with Bartolo-san!

  However, when I returned to the lounge, the domineering senior and the cruel junior told me to work.

  Forced to wait upon Eleonora-sama and Sylvio-sama rather than pestering Bartolo-san with his work. This is so cruel.

  Although I have no intention to bother Bartolo-san with his work. And Sara is also my junior, so I think it would be good for her to show some respect for her senior and change places with me here.

  「Haaa!」


  Before my eyes, Eleonora-sama nimbly stepped in with her right leg and got closer to Sylvio-sama, then she slashed from below with her wooden sword.

  「Khh!」


  Although Sylvio-sama is being led around by the nose by Eleonora-sama’s swift movement, somehow he is able to react by using the equipped shield on his left hand.

  The sword and wooden shield collided, and a dry sound rang out.

  As her sword got blocked by the shield, Eleonora-sama immediately went around to Sylvio-sama’s flank and attacked him with her sword. Sylvio-sama is able to safely guard himself with the shield.

  Not caring about her attack being blocked by the shield, Eleonora-sama started to add a series of powerful attacks that were so fast it can hardly be seen, like a lunge, a downward slash, a horizontal slash, and an upward slash.

  However, Sylvio-sama also doesn’t lose to that. Accurately distinguishing Eleonora-sama’s storm-like attack and making full use of the shield to defend against her continuous attack.

  Moving the shield at an angle to deflect the sword, or using his own sword to deflect Eleonora-sama’s horizontal slash.

  Calmly lowering his posture and dealing with the attacks, Sylvio-sama’s appearance looks very reliable.

  Even from my perspective as a woman (who always has a delicate body), he usually looks so delicate, with a body that looks like it’s going to fall, it’s such a strange feeling.

  Stopping Elenora-sama’s horizontal slash with his shield, Sylvio-sama swung his sword from above without a moment’s delay.

  But perhaps Eleonora-sama had already predicted that, she took a step away from him and easily withdrew.

  「You’re really only skilled at defense, huh!」


  「That’s not true!」


  Eleonora-sama said, sounding irritated but for some reason, Sylvio-sama vehemently denied it.

  I wonder what happened. It’s clear that Sylvio-sama is greatly skilled in defense.

  Even though he should be feeling proud of that, I wonder why did he strongly denied it.

  「……why are you getting so worked up. Even though I’m praising you」


  So you’re praising that, huh. Eleonora-sama is, so difficult to understand.

  「I’m going to attack this time! 」


  Sylvio-sama raises his well-shaped eyebrows and starts to approach Eleonora-sama.

  It appears that it’s Sylvio-sama's turn to attack this time.

  Sylvio-sama swings down the sword in his right hand. But Eleonora-sama calmly dodges that by turning half of her body away from the attack. Nevertheless, it’s like Sylvio-sama is truly into it and keeps on attacking her over and over again.

  But, even I who hadn’t trained in swordsmanship know that it was a relentless attack that appears to have no sharpness to it, perhaps it’s due to watching Eleonora-sama’s previous flowing-like attacks.

  I wonder why? I feel that there is something out of place…… Does it mean that Eleonora-sama’s use of her sword is that great?

  It’s like when I feel there is a clear difference between the hamburg steak that I made and the one that was made by Bartolo-san and Alfried-sama.

  「Put some more strength into your attack, like suddenly and forcefully! Use the strength from your whole body to swing your sword!」


  It appears that Eleonora-sama can still afford to give Sylvio-sama some advice while receiving his attacks.

  「Suddenly, and forcefully………like this?」


  「Wrong. That’s like *zuum* isn’t it? 」


  「……I don’t understand what you mean」


  「How come?」


  It can’t be helped. Eleonora-sama is surely the genius type of person. I think we’re looking at a different world compared to her, I’m sure of it.

  「I told you that’s not itー」


  Sylvio-sama - who had been on the receiving end of Eleonora-sama’s attack - is currently being knocked to the ground by Eleonora-sama repeatedly, I wonder where did his previous sense of reliability go.

  Each time he fell, he was covered with sand from head to toe, but Sylvio-sama shows a strong willpower as he stands up.

  Although Sylvio-sama doesn’t like to be Eleonora-sama’s training partner, I think it’s admirable of him to take things seriously.

  It’s amazing for him to seriously keep going until the end, even though you would normally give up or admit your loss willingly.

  Sure enough, I guess his willpower is different from other kids since he’s been practicing for many years from when he was a little. Even when you consider Sylvio-sama’s honest personality, it is commendable of him.

  As expected from the children of Dragon Slayer.

  ……aah, it looks like I also have to do today's laundry after this.

  「Kuuh! Then how about this!」


  Just when I was thinking about that listlessly, Sylvio-sama took a stance with the shield and charged at Eleonora-sama.

  「Sylvio Bash!?」


  「It’s 'Shield Bash'!」


  Eleonora-sama was surprised at Sylvio-sama’s shield charge, but she calmly took a sidestep to the right of the shield.

  And then, she strikes Sylvio-sama on his back with a flowing-like movement of her sword. But perhaps he already expected that Sylvio-sama turned the sword in his right hand to his back as if to protect it.

  It was such a flawless defense that you can’t imagine it was coming from someone that has no sharpness in his attack from before.

  I knew it, Sylvio-sama truly has a talent in defense.

  「O, ouch!?」


  I thought that Sylvio-sama managed to guard his back against Eleonora-sama’s attack, but he didn’t.

  Eleonora-sama’s wooden sword did not hit Sylvio-sama’s back, it was his foot. Apparently, Eleonora-sama’s last swing of her sword was a feint.

  I also got tricked as I was watching from a distance.

  However, I’ve seen that way of swinging a sword somewhere.

  「……fuuーn, I can’t set it. There’s still some feeling of discomfort and there’s no sharpness to it, but it looks like it’s usable. Al’s way of doing it is like it’s stabbing at the opponent’s awareness, but it doesn’t suit with my swordsmanship, so I have to modify it, huh……」


  Aah, I agree with that. ……how should I put it, it’s a devious attack that seems like it stabs a person’s awareness in someplace………so that cunning attack was something that imitated Alfried-sama’s underhanded style, huh.

  Apparently, in order to improve her own swordsmanship, Eleonora-sama is absorbing the strong points from other people's styles.

  Such thirst for strength to the point of being greedy for it, that's amazing of her.

  「Hey Sylvio, stand up! I was going easy on you, it’s not that painful, right? Let’s fight one more time!」


  「Eehhー!? Wait a moment. I’m not as strong as Al!」


  Aah, to what extent would Eleonora-sama become I wonder.

  I heard that Eleonora-sama will have joint training with the knight order at the royal capital before long.

  I can’t imagine how strong she will become by the time Alfried-sama returns from his sightseeing trip.

  But, I know for certain that Alfried-sama will only see hell.

  「Aah, won’t Al come back soon………」


  Sylvio-sama’s sad muttering entered my ears smoothly.

  Indeed. Alfried-sama had to make new sweets every day.

  ◆ ◆ ◆


  「Well end today’s practice here.」


  The sun has set and it’s getting dark. With a brisk voice, Eleonora-sama said that bluntly.

  「U, un」


  On the other hand, Sylvio-sama answered with an exhausted voice.

  And that’s also the end of my job as a maid temporarily, so I was also relieved. Gradually, my stomach is complaining of hunger and sadness…………


  I got angry when I think that only Mel-san and Sara ate delicious sweets, and that they are urging Bartolo-san to make their favorite menu.

  「Mina! Give me a cold towel!」


  I rush over toward Eleonora-sama after being called, holding chilled towels and flask. I wonder just how many times I replaced the flask and chilled towels, just for today’s practice.

  「Yes, here is the towel and flask.」


  「Thank you, Mina」


  I don’t really care about that, even if Eleonora-sama thanked me and gave me a refreshing smile while she said that.

  Being able to show some appreciation by yourself is a good thing, after all.

  「Ahー, it feels good 」


  Eleonora-sama covered up her face with the chilled towel so that it would cool off the heat from her flushed face. I also did that many times after I cooled my own towel.

  To cool off your body immediately using a chilled towel when you sweat, you won't be able to stop doing it since it gives you such an invigorating feeling. It started to get hotter and hotter, this time of the year. So using a chilled towel would be convenient.

  Alfried-sama is amazing, he taught us about how to make it before going to Kagura. Though, I won’t complain if he also made a new hamburg steak dish while he’s at it……


  I gave the flask and chilled towel to Sylvio-sama - who sat down on the ground - while thinking about that kind of thing.

  「Are you alright, Sylvio-sama?」


  「U, un. I’m fine Mina. Thank you.」


  Even while he was completely exhausted, Sylvio-sama still expresses his gratitude.

  S, so pitiful. I heard a bit about the circumstance of the mansion when Alfried-sama and I went to the royal capital, but I don’t expect it would be to this extent. The training with Eleonora-sama is even more unsparing than expected.

  I see how skillful Alfried-sama is, as he can stand against Eleonora-sama as his opponent.

  After Eleonora-sama and Sylvio-sama wipe their sweat and clean off the dirt that sticks to their skin, it’s time for them to take a bath and have dinner.

  It will become a busy time for us maids.

  「Sylvioー! You can take the bath firstー!」


  Eleonora-sama’s voice can be heard, coming from the dining room.

  「Eleonora-neesan is not going to take a bath first?」


  「……it’s fine for me to take it later. I’ll wipe it with the chilled towel if I sweat.」


  「……then, I'll go in first」


  Maybe he wanted to immediately enter the bath, as Sylvio-sama left the dining room looking a little happy.

  However, he walked languidly for some reason, maybe he felt tired from the practice during the day.

  「Ah, Sylvio-sama. If it’s your change of clothes, I’ll bring it to you later.」


  「That would be helpful. My hands and legs feel like they’re breaking already, I didn’t want to move them that much.」


  When I spontaneously suggest that to Sylvio-sama, he gently smiles.

  That far, so it’s a matter of course that you would be worked hard by Eleonora-sama, huh.

  「Well then, I will bring your change of clothes later.」


  I can skip the busy preparation task for dinner just by bringing a change of clothes to Sylvio-sama. Isn’t it perfect?

  「Ah, wait!」


  Just when I was about to get the change of clothes for Sylvio-sama, he suddenly stopped me.

  I wonder what happened? If Sylvio-sama were to delay me, then I will be in trouble if I’m late in helping to arrange the table. I think that Mel-san will be angry at me and I can’t imagine anything other than that kind of thing to happen if I were to procrastinate, and I will not be able to take the cookies in Sylvio-sama’s room.

  「Who is the person who made the bath today?」


  「Let’s see, I think it was Elna-sama and Eleonora-sama」


  That’s right, when I was about to fill the tub with hot water produced by a hot water magic tool, Elenora-sama happily brought Elna-sama and heated the water with magic.

  I’m told that it’s just the right time for Eleonora-sama’s magic practice.

  「……I knew it」


  Hearing that, Sylvio-sama nodded mysteriously.

  I unintentionally tilted my head, since I don't understand what he meant.

  「Thank you Mina. For now, bring my change of clothes, alright」


  Since Sylvio-sama said that, I headed to the second floor where Sylvio-sama’s room is located.

  And then, I chose Sylvio-sama’s underwear, long pants, and long sleeve shirt from his room. I thought that I wanted to try and choose rough clothes for him, but a lot of Sylvio-sama’s clothes all feel fit to his body.

  I think it’s fine to dress as loosely as Alfried-sama inside the mansion through……


  While thinking about such things, I chose clothes that were relatively easier to move in and head to the changing room. Of course, I don’t forget to take the cookie that was placed inside the wooden box on the table as a tip for the maids.

  I arrived at the changing room while being captivated by the sugary sweet taste of the cookie.

  「………?」


  I wondered if Sylvio-sama had already taken off his clothes and is now washing himself, but I can’t find Sylvio-sama’s clothes inside the changing room.

  I looked into the back while finding it strange, the door of the bathroom had been fully opened.

  「……eh? That’s strange. I couldn’t find Sylvio-sama.」


  Even so, the hot air drifting from the bath is strangely hot. Was the steam drifting in the bath this hot?

  「Ah, Mina. Don’t go into the bathroom.」


  Just when I was thinking and feeling puzzled over it, Sylvio-sama and Bartolo entered the changing room.

  「Eehh? I can’t go inside…………could it be, Sylvio-sama is going to take a bath together with Bartolo-san!?」


  In the mansion of high-ranking nobles, there are cases where the employees, such as the maids, washed the noble’s body. However, since there are no such things in this mansion, I thought that it would be an easy job, but this is the first time I learned that there is this kind of job here.

  And Sylvio-sama also didn’t call for female maids, but he’s letting the muscular Bartolo-san wash him………


  It’s a situation where the women in the village are going to be thrilled if they see this.

  「「That’s not it (alright)!」」


  When I asked them while nervously pointing my finger at them, the two of them strongly denied it.

  「I, is that so?」


  「I only came here to measure the temperature」


  When I said that, Bartolo-san strongly nodded.

  And when I looked toward Sylvio-sama, he said 「I’m not」 while smiling wryly.

  It seems that, they’re really not in that kind of relationship………surely.

  「Please step back for a moment.」


  When Sylvio-sama told me that, I moved from the front to the edge of the bathroom door.

  And then, Sylvio-sama and Bartolo-san entered the bathroom without even taking their clothes.

  「……it’s hot when you consider the steam from the bath.」


  Just when I was wondering what they were doing, the two of them leaned over and looked into the bathtub.

  「…Bartolo, there are small bubbles coming from the bottom of the bathtub, and the edge of the bathtub is full of bubbles, how many degrees is this?」


  「Yeah. If it is like in cooking, then it is roughly around eighty degrees or so. So it is about twice as hot as normal hot water.」


  ……this is a bath for humans to use, right? Why did the temperature rise to eighty degrees?

  I know that Eleonora-sama is weak in adjusting her magic, but this is beyond expectation.

  So Bartolo-san was called here because he has some understanding about temperature. I’m convinced.

  Incidentally, it feels kinda gross hearing Bartolo-san using honorifics.

  「Well, we can only see how it will go while adding more water to it.」


  「I was glad I checked on it properly.」


  「Sylvio? How’s the water temperature?」


  As the two of them mysteriously nodded to each other, Eleonora-sama came to the changing room with a slow, dragging voice.

  「Eleonora-san, you’re awful」


  「What? Was it lukewarm? What the, you’re still haven’t take a bath yet」


  Eleonora-sama knitted her eyebrows as she saw Sylvio-sama answer her while sighing.

  「It’s the other way around! I’ll be scalded if I take a bath like this」


  「Really? I thought it would be fine this time though.」


  「If so, then enter the bath and see for yourself!」


  I think that’s completely right, but I’m kinda scared for some reason.

  Bartolo-san and I muttering quietly among ourselves, while giving a sidelong glance at the two of them quarreling.

  「……if the kid is here, then we can prepare the bath quickly, really」


  「……yeah. For now, it seems that it would be better to add the hot water with the magic tool」


  Alfried-sama is an all-purpose person necessary in the family.

  Author Note :

  It was two similar short chapters from the POV of the maids.

  An ordinary day in the mansion without Alfried.

  I want to write stories about Nord and Elna, but the next one we will return to the original story.

  I’ve seen the draft of the manga. Al looks to have even more dead-eyes than in his previous life.