Chapter 14

Nina, who had taken on the cleaning job, finished cleaning inside the house and started to clean outside, but ran out of time—

It was a simple thing to say, but it took as long as drinking two cups of tea for Astrid to fully understand, accept, and believe it.

"Um... I just want to confirm something."

"Yes?"

"Wasn't the fee for this job 3,000 gold? I didn't mistakenly write 30 million gold, did I?"

"Yes, it was 3,000 gold."

"Then why did you do so much? You even made such delicious tea."

She lifted the empty cup to show it.

When Astrid used it, it was a dull yellow, but now it was shiny white, as if declaring, "This is the real color!"

"Thank you for enjoying the tea. But it's only natural for a maid."

"...It seems there's a big difference between the 'maid' I know and the 'maid' you know?"

"By the way, Lady Astrid. I don't understand anything about magic inventions, so I could only clean a little in the back room. If you don't mind, I would like to proceed with your direct instructions tomorrow..."

"Y-Yes, that's fine. I can't relax if it gets any cleaner."

"That won't do. Truly, I could only clean a little in your workspace..."

"Only a little? Really just a little?"

"Yes."

Astrid, for some reason, felt relieved to hear that there was still cleaning left to do.

"Only a little, right?"

"Yes, I'm sorry."

"I'm not angry. It's just a little, right?"

"Y-Yes, but..."

"Hmm. If you say so, let me check it out."

She stood up from her chair and entered the back room, which she used as her workspace.

"Look! It's sparkling! It's really sparkling!"

The floor was polished to a shine, and the worktable looked brand new.

"No, it's these tools..."

Indeed, the experimental tools were neatly put away, but those with catalysts were left as they were.

However, the rest of the room was as clean as a new home.

"How did you do it!? How can you do such a thing!?"

"It's only natural for a maid."

"It's definitely different, right!?"

Even the usually calm and composed inventor Astrid, influenced by the alcohol, let out a sincere exclamation of surprise.

"Um... Actually, this is the first time I've seen an inventor's workspace, and I was curious about how you use the tools..."

"Huh? You're interested in such things?"

Astrid held a tool that resembled a carving knife, but it had a magic stone embedded in it, and the tip glowed blue.

Indeed, unless you were involved in magic or an inventor, you wouldn't see or use such a thing.

"I'm just a maid, and I'm not familiar with it, so I'm very embarrassed..."

It seemed that Nina, despite the sign that her work was done, stayed until this time because she was curious about the workspace.

"...You have a human side, too, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. I'm still an inexperienced maid."

Despite looking like a "ghost maid," Astrid remained silent.

It was more believable that she would wake up in the morning to find her home, which had been a "garbage dump," back to its original state.

"I'd love to show you my work, but..."

"—Ah, y-yes. It's a job with many secrets, isn't it? I'm sorry for overstepping."

"No, no. It's different."

Nina thought Astrid had refused because the work methods were secret, but it seemed to be something else.

"...Actually, my work, or rather, my research, is a bit different from other inventors."

"W-What do you mean...?"

"Do you know that the inventions currently in use, especially large-scale ones like the magic train, and even the magic street lamps in the city, all use magic power?"

"Yes."

"Do you also know that this magic power is extracted from something like the magic stones here?"

Nina nodded.

In this world, the power source for magic inventions is almost entirely "magic stones," which are used like batteries and discarded after use.

"But there are many other things involved in casting magic. For example, summoning magic. This uses a catalyst to summon creatures from another world. Or mystical magic, which uses human magic power to heal injuries."

"There's also elemental magic. I believe it involves using the power of spirits to cast spells..."

"Exactly. What I'm researching is precisely elemental magic."

In this world, there are beings that "are said to exist" but "ordinary humans cannot see or feel," and these are the spirits.

It is said that only elves, who live in the forest, can communicate with spirits.

Elves have superior knowledge about magic, magic power, and magic.

"I think that magic using magic stones will eventually run out, no matter how hard we try. But spirits are different, right? I have been continuously researching the possibility of performing magic using spirits..."

"That's a wonderful research project!"

Nina exclaimed, realizing it was research for the future.

However, Astrid, who had put down the tool that resembled a carving knife, smiled sadly.

"...But it seems I can't do it."

"What? W-Why?"

"I don't have the talent. I'm an inventor who can only offer 3,000 gold for cleaning... I might have to give up this house."

Astrid squatted down on the spot.

"If only I could do a job that helps others like you... I might end my life as an inventor without accomplishing anything. If I give up this house where my parents and grandparents lived, I will have nothing left..."

"Lady Astrid..."

Nina also crouched down and placed her hand on Astrid's back.

"You won't have nothing left..."

"Why? My research has failed. The theory is perfect. I have met all the conditions for casting the elemental magic I have studied so far. But the magic doesn't work... I've been stuck for a year now. I can't think of anything better, so I'm not suited to be an inventor. If I'm not an inventor, I have nothing left..."

Her voice was breaking.

Perhaps due to the alcohol, the meeting today, or the desire to confide in this small maid—Astrid unexpectedly poured out her innermost thoughts.

"You won't have nothing left. I've only spent a day, or rather, half a day in this house, but I could tell... Lady Astrid is a very kind person."

"K-Kind?"

"Yes. The house had small repairs repeated to avoid overworking it, and all the furniture was used carefully. Even though many of them were so old they could be called antiques, they were all still in use."

Nina smiled wryly. "There was a little mess, but..."

"While cleaning, I thought about what kind of person Lady Astrid is. I imagined you were very kind, but when you get absorbed in your work, you might neglect other things... I don't think I was wrong."

"..."

Astrid wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her dress. The light makeup she had applied was now on her sleeve.

"Many people have called me an 'eccentric' or a 'weirdo,' but you're the first to call me 'kind'... No, there were others. My father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother."

Astrid stood up, her eyes still wet with tears, but her mood seemed to have calmed down.

"...I've been thinking. Shouldn't I leave this house? If I don't, I'll never stand on my own. ...Maid, thanks to you, I've made up my mind. I will leave this house—"

"My name is Nina."

Nina folded her hands in front of her and bowed deeply.

"Lady Astrid, about your decision... If you're going to give up this house, could you please wait a little longer?"

"? What do you mean?"

"Memories remain in the heart, but I believe they also reside in objects. Once you give them up, you can't get them back."

"But..."

"Elemental magic... If it's the perfect theory you think it is, could you try it one more time, right here and now?"

"That's fine, but... why?"

Nina smiled.

"I have an idea."