Chapter 57: Mr. Leesley’s Proposal

　At seven o’clock in the evening, Mr. Jusel Leesley came to “The Hideaway”.

　Henry, Mr. Glidden, and Sarah-san, whom Henry had called out to, were already gathered in the “Hideaway”. Mr. Leesley took one step into the store and stopped when he noticed the three of them looking at him.

“Isn’t that Glidden-sama? Sarah-san, and even the head civil servant. What’s going on?”

“Mr. Leesley, what are you going to tell Mai?”

“I don’t have to explain myself to you, do I?　Head Civil Servant Howler.”

Mr. Henry tried to say something more but Mr. Glidden stopped him with his hand and spoke.

“Jusel. Mai is my student. She’s your junior apprentice. You have no problem with me listening to you talk to her about magic, do you?”*lit. Tran.: Younger sister apprentice 

“Your disciple?　Yes, if that’s what you mean, there’s no problem.”

“Then sit down there. I’ll allow Henry to sit with you. Is okay?”

“If that’s what you say, teacher.”

　From there, what Mr. Leesley said was half expected and half surprising. After we finished listening to the whole thing, Mr. Glidden had a dumbfounded look on his face.

“I see. Jusel, you want to register Mai as a member of the magic department and send her to the old continent.”

“Yes. I used this place during the day and realized that she is an excellent wizard. There is not a single wizard in the Kingdom of Arcetheus. I  am sure she will become a star of hope for that country.”

“If that is the case, You know the country, so why don’t you go there and become the star of hope? The magic department of this country can manage without you now.”

“No. I’m the only one who understands its structure, so the teleportation magical tool would not be complete without me. We are very close to its completion.”

　Wait. Don’t talk without asking my opinion first.

　While I was feeling a little annoyed, Mr. Henry spoke to Mr. Leesley with a hard, cold expression on his face like rock-hard ice cubes in a freezer.

“Excuse me. Let me give you my opinion. I am stating my opinion not as the head civil servant, but as the person who is dating her. Mr. Leesley, let’s hear Mai’s opinion, which is the most important one. It is out of the question to proceed without hearing her opinion.”

　Exactly. I wish you wouldn’t ignore me. Mr. Leesley looks at me and cheerfully asks me a question, as if he believes I will agree to go to the old continent.

“Why don’t you put your wonderful magical skills to use in a new land?　You can probably even make potions, can’t you?　If you go to that country, you will be of service to both countries. Your reward in that country will probably be very high. The people there will be grateful to you. What do you think?”

“I refuse. I don’t want any reward at all. It is the members of the castle’s magic department who should be working for the country, not me.”

“That’s right.”

　We were in the middle of a serious discussion, but Mr. Henry chimed in at the perfect moment, and I almost burst out laughing. No I can’t . I, I’m too tired and my laugh threshold  is getting low.

“Listen to me. The Magic Department is on the verge of a major success with an important magical tool. We don’t want to reduce our staff here. Besides, if you are a wizard, wouldn’t you be interested in perfecting new magic?”

“I am not interested. I would never abandon my ‘Hideaway ‘ for the castle’s magic department.”

　Mr. Leesley eyes widen. I’m sure he doesn’t mean me any harm. I have a feeling. Is he an ardent patriot? Or are my sense of things different from the people of this world? Mr. Glidden sighed.

“I’m sorry, Mai. Jusel  lost both parents at an early age and was raised by the previous Prime Minister when he was nearly starving to death. Because of his upbringing, he has an extremely strong sense of loyalty to his country.”

　So that’s how it is. But I refuse to go to the old continent.

“I understand your desire to achieve results to please the former Prime Minister. But ……”

“The former prime minister was long dead by now.”

　Stop it, Glidden-sama. You almost made me burst out laughing when you said it in such a light-hearted way,  “Don’t worry about it, he’s already dead.” If I start laughing now, I’m sure I won’t be able to stop.

“Hmm. My apologies. I cannot abide by your wishes Mr. Leesley. I want to live here and take good care of this store and its customers. No matter how much you want me to, I can’t compromise on that.”

“What a waste. The tables, chairs, cups, and dishes in this store were all made by magic, weren’t they?　You must be an amazingly skilled wizard to be able to do all of this.”

“Absolutely not. I’m not going.”

“No!”

“Mai won’t go to the old continent. Please give up. It makes sense to send someone out to the beastmen’s country from the Magic Department.”

　Mr. Ice freezer Henry dismissed Mr. Leesley’s opinion.

　I, Glidden-sama, and Sarah nodded yes. Mr. Leesley sighs and hung his head, “fuu”. I feel sorry for him, but I won’t go. I don’t want to leave Mr. Henry, Sophia-chan, “ Romi’s Bar” and my precious customers. I stood up and deliberately made my voice cheerful.

“That’s settled. Come on, everyone, shall we have some tea? I have some creamy pastries for you.”

“I’d love to try some.”

“I want to eat some too.”

“Me, too, please.”

　Upon hearing this, Mr. Glidden, Mr. Henry, and Ms. Sarah responded immediately.  There was no reply from Mr. Leesley, but I’ll give it to him anyway.

　Illustration (By Mitemin)

　Everyone enjoyed the cream puffs. Even Mr. Leesley, who should have eaten them for lunch, is also eating them. Sarah, who until now had been silent and standing by Mr. Glidden’s side like a shadow, was now blushing with joy. I’m glad.

“Mai-san, did you learn this from her too?”

“Yes, she taught me how to do this. By slightly changing the crust and the cream inside, you can make a lot of different kinds of pastries.”

“Well. Did you hear that, sir?”

“I did. If we come here every week, we can have it again. Let’s look forward to it.”

“Yes!”

　Oh. The atmosphere is even sweeter than before. I wonder if something has changed between the two of them.

　Mr. Leesley seemed to have given up, ate the cream puffs and went home quietly. Mr. Glidden and Sarah also left. Only Mr. Henry remained.

“I’m glad that you contacted Mr. Glidden, Henry-san. I feel like he would have been more persistent if he hadn’t been there. But was it okay for you, the head civil servant, to protect me?”

“The fact that I’m dating you is not something to hide, so there’s nothing wrong with complaining as your lover.”

　

　Mr.Henry looks very cool as he says this with that icy expression still on his face.

“If Mr. Leesley had tried to forcibly send you to the Old Continent, I would have used every possible means to thwart his plan, but he gave up surprisingly easily.”

　By “all possible means,” he really meant it.

“Also, I was a little surprised by Mai-san’s attitude. You’re a gentle person, so I thought you wouldn’t refuse so clearly. I knew Mr. Leesley’s  character, so I broke out in a cold sweat, thinking that if I didn’t rush over, something terrible would happen.”

“Um… Maybe you’ve misunderstood me, Henry. I am, in fact, actually quite strong-willed…”

“You, strong-willed?”  

　He looks curiously. That’s right. I’m hiding my claws in front of Henry.**¹

“You were a regular customer, so I followed that example and kept a quiet and reserved attitude. But deep down, I was quite a wild animal. There was one time when I just couldn’t forgive something and I got into a fight with three boys and refused to back down.”

“Ho-oh. Well then, I can look forward to seeing the real Mai-san from now on.”

　I thought Henry was going to go eat dinner, but then he stood up looking busy.

“As much as I’d love to relax, I’m going back to the castle. I have some work I need to  finish by the end of today.”

“Please wait a moment. I’ll put some of what I have in the store on bread. Please eat it at the castle.”

　I made him a quick fried chicken and mashed potato sandwich and a pasta sandwich that I had made during the evening’s business hours and gave them to him. I saw off the tall silhouette as he rode away on his horse and muttered to myself, “I’m at my limit, indeed. My batteries are dead. I’ll go to bed now,” and crawled into bed.

TL Note:

**¹: lit translation: wearing a cat – to feign friendliness, to play the hypocrite.

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