Isis came to Kuromueina, and the next day after her first night of her stay in Kuromueina’s residence, she was introduced to the people who lived in the same house. Though I say that, there were actually just two other people here……
[Well then, Isis, let me introduce you. This child is Ein!]
[Nice to meet you, I welcome your visit. I am Ein, Kuromu-sama’s servant.]
[……Ah…… N- Nice to meet you…… Isis…… Errr…… Servant?]
[That’s just something Ein says on her own, so don’t worry about it.][Kuromu-sama! I have made up my mind. In order to repay the great debt of gratitude I owe to Kuromu-sama who took care of me, I will show my utmost dedication through the path of a servant…… Yes, I will strive to become a perfect servant, to the point where I may even be called the very definition of a “follower”!!!]
[……Ah, unnn. Well, good luck with that.]
[Yes!]
Seeing Ein’s declaration while clenching her fist, Kuromueina threw vague words of encouragement with a slightly exasperated expression on her face. Even those words seemed to have a tremendous effect on Ein, making her motivated enough to think that one could see flames behind her.
Seeing her like that though, Isis confusedly asked Ein.
[……Umm…… Is Ein…… not afraid…… of me?]
[Afraid? Ahh, I see, you do have quite a fierce magic power. However, there’s no problem with it. The servant that I am shall not show a pitiable appearance before her master. Feeling abnormalities from magic power of this level is unbefitting of a servant.][……Well, Ein is strong and won’t be intimidated by Isis’ magic power. The other child would also be fine…… right?]
After seeing Ein, not cowering in fear at her magic power unlike other creatures, Isis looked slightly relieved as she smiled. Seemingly happy that she was able to meet someone who doesn’t fear her like Kuromueina……
She then turned her attention to the other person in the room…… a being that had taken the form of a gigantic magical beast exceeding 10m…… Megiddo.
[Rather than intimidated, I’m feeling excited instead. Don’t you look like a strong-looking guy!? Ou, you said you’re Isis, yeah?]
[……U- Unnn.]
[I’m Megiddo, nice to meet ya. Well then, since we’ve finally met, for the sake of understanding each other, let’s fight!]
[……Eh? ……Fight?]
[That’s right! Living creatures come to an understanding with each other through battles! ……No, you look like a ghost of some sort, but if you have a will, you’re a living creature!!!]
For Megiddo, who could be described as a battle maniac, Isis, who is clad in tremendous magic power, is a rather welcome opponent, seemingly making them itching to fight.
This was a reaction unlike any she had seen before, and so, looking clearly bewildered, Isis’ gaze moved to the side.
[……Ah…… Errr…… I don’t…… really know how to fight.]
[What!? Even though you have that amazing amount of magic power?]
[……U- Unnn…… I’ve never…… fought anyone.]
Her words aren’t a lie. Isis has never engaged in anything like a battle. Most creatures just die when they get too close to her, and those who don’t quickly flee.
The people she had properly interacted with would just be Kuromueina, Isis and Megiddo.
[Well, I’m gonna teach her how to fight after this.]
[……Hmmm. There’s that! You’ll learn how to fight by actually fighting! And so, how about you and I……]
[Megiddo? How about you and I make things clear between us?]
[Ahh, no, that’s a bit…… I’ll restrain myself.]
Apparently, Megiddo can’t raise their head against Kuromueina, as the words Kuromueina said with a smile made their huge body shrink.
After chuckling at the situation, Kuromueina called out to Isis.
[Ahh, as you can see, there’s a big tree next to my house, right? That’s a World Tree. The World Tree is a powerful mass of vitality, so you don’t have to worry. It won’t wither even if Isis approaches it.]
[……That’s a big tree…… Amazing.]
[Well, there are still a lot of things you don’t know, so I think you may be worried, but I’ll be teaching you all that…… I’ll be in your care from now on.]
[……Ahhh…… Unnn!]
Looking at the three who welcomed her with warm smiles, Isis happily smiled with tears in her eyes. Feeling that the place she had been seeking for was here……
The snowy field covered with thick clouds. Beneath the falling snow, Isis was once again facing her other self with a black hood over her head.
“You’ve come again.”
[……It isn’t just Kuromueina…… Ein…… Megiddo…… They accepted me…… This place…… This is where I belong.]
“Is that so? If that’s what you think, then so be it. However, I think otherwise…… This place isn’t your place. At least, it isn’t the place you wanted.”
[……That…… isn’t true.]
“Do you really think so? The way I see it, I think you’re just trying to compromise on something similar…… It’s fine, you need not mind me. If you had really found the place you belong to, that is fine, but if not…… There will come a day…… when you’d eventually realize it.”
At the words her other self spoke, Isis couldn’t immediately say “You’re wrong”. She doesn’t know why. Even though she thinks that the words of the being in front of her are wrong…… Somewhere in her heart, she found herself accepting those words.
She couldn’t understand the reason why. However, there was this indescribable eerie feeling in her heart…… that the being in front of her seems to know more about Isis than even she herself does.
……Without her knowledge, it seemed as if the snow falling on the snowy field was increasing in force.
<Afterword>
? ? ? : [A Maid Fanatic back when the word maid didn’t exist in the world yet…… You sure can feel her youth. Even so, even though she swapped out different words, she was still saying similar things back then……]
