Level 1 Strongest Sage ~

Book 9: Chapter 36: Tina’s ______Day

“Good morning, Halt-sama.”

It’s the usual morning wake-up call for Halt-sama.

But for today, there is something a bit different.

I was a bit excited.

“Hm~ Tina…Morning.”

Halt-sama looked sleepy as he sat up.

“Good morning.”

“....Hm.”

“..........”

E-Eh?

What happened?

Halt-sama didn’t say anything else.

No way, Halt-sama won’t —

“A-Ahm…Halt-sama.”

“Hmm…What’s up?”

“Do you remember what day today is?”

“Today? Today is… a rest day from school, right?”

“Eh”

“....Eh? Am I wrong?”

“Ah, no. No, you’re right. We don’t have school for today.”

“I see. Then, can I sleep in? Just one more hour.”

Halt-sama covered himself again in his blanket after saying that.

He usually wakes up easily once I call him on school days, but there were times when he requests to sleep in if it’s a rest day.

“I-I understand. Well then, I will wake you up after an hour.”

“Yup…Thanks.”

Halt-sama yawned for a bit then he slept again.

He was probably just very sleepy.

There’s no way Halt-sama would forget what today is.

That’s because, today, I —

No. Let’s believe in Halt-sama.

It’s alright, I’m sure he remembered it.

──＊＊＊──

I woke Halt-sama again an hour later and led him to the dining hall where breakfast was already prepared.

In the end, Halt-sama never uttered the words that I longed to hear.

Did he really forget?

Today’s kitchen duty was assigned to Luna.

Everyone had already finished their breakfast, save for Halt-sama and I.

Halt-sama and I ate the breakfast Luna made. It was very delicious.

Luna was the third — or perhaps second — best cook in the entire Ernol family, and I’m the best, of course.

I’m also the one who understood Halt-sama’s taste the best, so if he were to rank us, I would definitely be on top.josei

I’m not bragging.

It’s just self-confidence for having [Skill: Maid (Extreme) ].

“Thanks for the food, Luna. Today’s breakfast is also very tasty.”

Halt-sama patted Luna on the head as an appreciation for her doing the chore.

“Thank you so much, Halt-sama!”

Luna looked really elated.

…Oh how envious.

It wouldn't have been odd if Halt-sama was to focus on me the entire day today, you know?

And yet, Halt-sama didn’t even pat me, not even once.

Not even a good morning kiss.

There were times when I don’t get one, but it shouldn’t have to be today of all days, shouldn’t it?

No way…Did he really forget what day today is?

“Tina, what happened?”

“Eh, ah, er…it’s nothing.”

“Really? You look quite gloomy.”

It couldn’t be helped, right?

That’s because Halt-sama, my —

“I’m fine. Thank you for worrying about me.”

I might be Halt-sama’s wife, but I am also his exclusive maid.

We can’t have our master worrying over us, can we?

I smiled as brightly as I could and insisted that I was fine. It was a bit awkward.

“Really? It’s fine if it’s like that, then…”

I raised my hopes up, just a tiny bit.

But… It seemed futile.

Well, it wouldn’t be the same if I were to say it.

I couldn’t help but feel dejected. I wouldn’t show it on my face, of course.

“Tina, I have an errand for you today, but is that okay with you?”

“Errand? It’s alright.”

I got sent out on an errand.

Actually, I wanted to be with Halt-sama the entire day, but…

Still, Halt-sama praises me if I listened to his request. He also gives rewards.

Thus, I decided to do it in anticipation of those.

──＊＊＊──

For the errand, I needed to go as far as Alheim to retrieve a grimoire that Sarion, the butler serving the Elf King, was keeping.

Halt-sama had something he needed to do, so he couldn’t use teleportation magic.

Moreover, he needed that grimoire no matter what, so I decided to go to Alheim using flight magic.

Sarion was the butler formerly serving me. It’s been a while since I last saw him, so this was also great.

I finally met Sarion past noon, and got the grimoire from him.

We chatted for a bit afterward, but…

He too didn’t say the words I was expecting him to say.

Why?

There’s no way Sarion would forget today’s even, so it was a huge shock for me.

I felt extremely lonely.

I looked forward to this day, and yet…

I thought everybody would greet me.

Didn’t we hold a magnificent celebration for Leaffa and Youko just last month?

And yet —

“Tina-sama, are you alright?”

Sarion was also worried about me.

But that’s not what I wanted to hear!!

“I’m fine. I have received the grimoire, thank you.”

I ended up retorting curtly.

But I don’t care.

I don’t care anymore, Sarion!

I activated my flight magic and made my way back to Halt-sama’s mansion.

──＊＊＊──

I was back at the Ifrus Academy of Magic.

Halt-sama’s mansion was visible far away.

…Oh?

How odd.

It’s already dusk, but the mansion’s lights were still off.

Not only that, I couldn’t even sense the mana of Halt-sama, Youko, and the rest.

It was as if something blocked the detection of magic.

D-Did something happen?

Anxiety welled up within me as I finally reached the entrance.

I could sense people.

Pitter-patter — I could even hear a few of them walking around.

Still, it was truly odd that I couldn’t even sense any mana from within the mansion, even at this range.

Is everybody alright?

I tempered my mana so that I could enter combat mode anytime, then I opened the mansion door.

It was pitch black.

So dark to the point that even I, who supposedly possessed very keen senses, being an Elf, could barely see what’s in front of me.

This was probably dark magic.

There was a spell that blocked vision at work here.

I remained cautious of my surroundings as I made my way towards the lobby.

Of course, I was on my toes, ready for combat anytime.

Suddenly —

“—!?”

Everything became bright.

At the same time, I felt somebody wrapped their arms around me. It didn’t feel like an attack, though.

My eyes had adjusted to the dark, so I couldn’t see my surroundings when it suddenly became bright.

I shielded my eyes from the light with my hand, and tried to make out the figure of the person standing before me.

It was Halt-sama, smiling gently at me.

And he —

“Tina, Happy birthday!”

I finally heard the words that I longed so much today from his lips.

—---

T/N: Author-sama did a poll, and Tina was voted as the most (#1!!) popular character from Volume 1, so she made a side-story just for her :)