Otherwise, you can find another savior.

Page 445

“Uh…” tide Jian was speechless.

"Well, you can rest assured, Master and Master, I was the only one who came over just now." Olga Marie explained softly as she walked over with her hands behind her back.

"It's my fault. I'll try to keep this kind of thing in my room next time." tide Jian was also a little embarrassed.

Just two days ago, she was telling Olga Marie to be careful about how they behaved in public, and now she's here bickering with her master.

“I… I certainly don’t mind.” Olga Marie walked around the counter and into the kitchen area. “If… if the teacher could offer some hush money, that would be great.”

"I'm talking to you..."

Shiomi had a feeling that Olga Marie had gone astray.

But upon reflection, she realized that, given her young age and role as a monarch's representative, dealing with other monarchs in the Clock Tower, she was not exactly a naive little girl.

It's just that when facing Shio, she habitually lets her guard down.

Especially now that she has finally reached out to love, which had seemed so far away, Olga Marie naturally has a few more little thoughts about love than before.

"Is it not allowed?" Olga Marie touched her lips with her finger, pursing her lips with a hint of disappointment.

"I never said anything like that."

tide Jian had no reason to refuse, so he pulled her over, leaned down and kissed her for a few seconds before separating.

But then she appeared to be having trouble breathing, covering her face with her hands and taking deep breaths.

"Is everything alright?" tide Jian asked, a little worried.

“…I’m fine.” Olga Marie quickly shook her head.

She was just kissing her teacher outside of her room for the first time, and her brain almost shut down for a moment. She needed to take deep breaths to recover.

"So, what are the teacher and the master doing here?" Olga Marie asked after she had calmed down.

"It's nothing," Shio-mi said, shrugging. "I came over to wash the sweets basket and was wondering if I should make some more myself. Then Master attacked me... and then it was you."

Olga Marie waved her hands repeatedly: "I didn't mean to attack the teacher!"

“Don’t fall into his logical trap,” Scáthach said, arms crossed. “Otherwise, you’ll be manipulated by him sooner or later.”

“That is already…” Olga Marie instinctively wanted to admit it, but then realized she had said something very serious, so she quickly covered her mouth and cut off the topic.

Shiomi rolled her eyes at her master, indicating that Scáthach was also teasing Olga Marie.

"Anyway, I just had a meeting with the new Group A. Regarding the Lostbelts in India, we've roughly drafted a plan based on the information provided by Peperoncino, and it should be submitted to you soon." Shiomi patted her shoulder. "But speaking of which, something interesting happened before the meeting."

"What?" Olga Marie asked, puzzled.

Scáthach also became interested and turned to look at Shiomi.

“They saw the sweets that Ritsuka and Mashu brought and assumed you cooked them,” Shiomi said, shrugging.

“I can’t cook.” Olga Marie blushed. “The rules in the Animusfia family are quite different from those in my teacher’s family. As an heir, I am basically only capable of taking care of myself in things like dressing and eating. Everything else is handled by someone else.”

“It’s fortunate you didn’t go to the Singularity alone as a Master,” Scáthach shook her head. “Modern magicians are indeed much weaker; they’ve even forgotten survival skills. No wonder magic has continued to decline.”

Olga Marie couldn't refute it, and could only agree with a drooping eyebrow: "Master is right."

"Oh dear, this isn't just her problem."

The atmosphere became more relaxed, and Shiomi turned around to get the ingredients from the refrigerator, preparing to make some more snacks.

“Since Sakura and Karen are interested in this kind of thing, I just taught them,” Shiomi said. “But knowing a little about cooking isn’t a bad thing, at least in my opinion.”

At this point, Scáthach suddenly remembered: "I remember you said that the current monarch of the El-Melloi faction seems to have been poisoned and murdered as a child, and that no matter what, his meals are always prepared by his mercury maid?"

“Reines?” Olga Marie also remembered this. “It seems so. I remember that she was accompanied by the Mystic Code Mercury Maid on the Mystic Eyes Collection Train and the Grand Order Decision.”

On the other hand, because Animusfia was more stable, Olga Marie had no such worries.

“Although that guy is awful, at least he won’t kick you when you’re down.” Shio smiled. “If Animusphia is no longer able to take charge of the Astrophysics Department at that time, she should be happy to help you get out of it.”

Olga Marie pouted: "Who knows? After all, when we formed the alliance, she said we should get along well as long as we still had something to offer each other."

"So you think you're no longer of any use to Reines?" Shio asked.

Scáthach nodded repeatedly, teasingly saying, "The tutor of Lord El-Melloi has slept in the same bed as Lord Animusfia. Just watch, that magician named Reines will probably take advantage of this relationship to make good use of my beloved student, won't she?"

“Eh… don’t be so heartless.” Shio looked at the dough in the mold. “Even if Reines doesn’t intend to help, I will at least stand by Mary’s side and help sort out the clock tower problem.”

"Teacher~" Olga Marie stared at Shiomi with a bit of infatuation.

No matter the situation, the teacher's words always gave her a sense of security.

"Stop daydreaming. This is a rare opportunity. How about learning to cook something?" tide Jian asked with a smile. "My master and I will teach you together."

“Yes, I’d be happy to,” Olga Marie replied immediately.

Scáthach shook her head:

"No, no, no, it's your teacher, Father and Mary. I have no skill in cooking."

"..."

tide Jian was speechless, choked by her master's frankness.

Chapter 137 Tea Party (1)

After putting the snacks into the oven to bake, Shiomi, Olga Marie, and her master walked towards the engine room of Storm Border.

Right now, Morgan and the others should be there, adjusting their equipment to block the spiritual veins.

Morgan will not remain on the ship afterward; the fully armed forces will need to be operated by someone else.

Originally, Artoria Caster, also a fairy from Paradise, was the most suitable candidate. However, due to Shiomi's educational policies, Caster lacked the qualities required for combat, so alternative plans had to be made. The goddess Skadi became the next choice to operate these weapons.

"How's the adjustment going? Is it working in harmony with your magic circuit?" Shiomi asked Skadi, who was making adjustments, as she entered the engine room. "Do you need my help?"

“No, I can do this kind of thing well,” Skadi said. “After all, the designer personally helped to adjust it, and after changing the way it operates according to the user’s magic circuits and the nature of the magic, I can operate it normally.”

Morgan, who was leaning against the workbench, said at this moment: "Goddesses are very different from fairies and humans in every way. They are indeed beings beyond the norm."

“That being said, we gods were created at the very beginning of our existence, wielding specific powers, and the magic we use is essentially a manifestation of those powers.” Skadi finished her magic synchronization and withdrew her hand. “But even I have to say, you truly are a genius, Morgan.”

"Right, right, I think so too." tide Jian nodded repeatedly. "I'd be greener on the other side of the wall if I had that kind of talent—"

"You'd better say less."

Before Shio could finish her empathetic complaint, Scáthach slapped her on the back, interrupting her speech.

Anyone has the right to say this, except tide Jian.

He is neither a genius magician nor a born warrior, but he is also no ordinary person.

"Alright." tide Jian understood what her master meant, so she simply shut up.

The others also burst into laughter.

"What brings you here this time?" Orange asked. "I remember you shouldn't have anything to do. Are you just bored and want us to keep you company?"

tide Jian shrugged: "I'm not that afraid of being alone. I just cooked with my master and Mary and made some desserts. I was wondering if you would like to try them."

"Looks like you really have a lot of free time," Morgan teased with a smile.

“We’ve already finished our important business, and Tianxi has come to call us personally. Let’s go together.” Artoria took Xijian’s hand first and followed him outside. “It’s been so long since I’ve tasted Tianxi’s cooking. I’m really looking forward to it.”

“No wonder you were so enthusiastic, I knew it…” tide Jian looked disappointed.

"Of course, it's not just because of the snacks." Artoria blushed, denying that she was not a glutton.

She was only after Shio's cooking skills.

Unfortunately, he wasn't very diligent about this area; the cafeteria affairs were handled by others. In addition, Nemo was in charge of the kitchen at Storm Border, so Shiomi basically focused all her attention on the battle against the Lostbelts.

As for the tea party where we would enjoy the snacks, it was naturally chosen to be in Shiomi and Morgan's room.

Although it wasn't her first time in Shiomi's room, Olga Marie was still a little nervous coming along with everyone.

After all, everyone has an overly close relationship with Shio.

Moreover, unlike the tea parties Olga Marie remembered, everyone was very casual, or rather, relaxed, in Shiomi's room.

After all, every time he met with Reines or the monarchs of other departments of the Clock Tower, he always had these political purposes in mind, so no matter how private the occasion, he had to sit up straight and pay attention to etiquette.

On the spotless white tablecloth, there are high-end tea sets imported from Italy or France.

A dessert tart so exquisite it resembles an ornament, accompanied by a fragrant amber-colored black tea.

And the well-mannered maids and butlers who attended to them.

Looking back, Olga Marie never truly enjoyed tea parties with others; she was always on edge, trying to avoid being impolite and damaging Animusfia's image.

A relaxing afternoon tea is usually enjoyed alone, in a courtyard so quiet that only flowers, birds, fish, and insects are visible.

So, sitting casually on the carpet like this, grabbing whatever snacks she wanted, and listening to everyone chat about topics that were either serious or not, Olga Marie felt completely at ease.

"What are you thinking about?" tide Jian placed her hand on the back of her hand and asked, "Something on your mind? Or are you feeling a bit uncomfortable with the crowd?"

Olga Marie snapped out of her daze. Everyone was still chatting, but Shiomi simply leaned over and asked her in a low voice.

“No, no, that’s not true.” Olga Marie shook her head. “I was just thinking about some experiences from when I was a monarch’s regent.”

“The monarch’s representative…” Shiomi rested her chin on her hand, “Marisbury is so engrossed in magical research that he’s left all of Animusphia’s external affairs to you.”

“I must say, the girls at the Clock Tower are exceptionally precocious,” Morgan said. “Lynnes is the same; at such a young age, she acts like a seasoned and cunning politician.”

Orange couldn't help but laugh: "I have to say, magic has a very serious effect on people's alienation. You may not have seen Monarch Barthemello of the Law and Politics Department, but he is the real magician among magicians."

“You can tell a person’s character even if you’ve never met them.” Shiomi rested her chin on her hand. “As soon as the Humanity Burning ended, the one who was eager to take advantage of Chaldea’s violation of the rules to dismantle power and install people was none other than the Department of Law and Politics.”

“Sigh…” Olga Marie cupped her face in her hands. “That’s the candidate for the next head of the Clock Tower, and he’s also the monarch who took over the title of Grand Marshal of the Magic Path from the Second Magician.”

Olga Marie didn't want to get too close to the other party just because of those glittering titles.

Coincidentally, Barthezmello also didn't want to get too close to other monarchs, and only had dealings with Archibald.

In the eyes of the other party, the only one who can be on equal footing is the embodiment of the First Law.

“In the end, magicians become devoid of humanity.” Shiomi sighed. “How did magicians become like this? Did the King of Magic really intend for the magic system to develop like this when he created it?”

"Why don't you go ask the Magic King?" Morgan teased, implying something.

Unaware of the details, Olga Marie instinctively assumed it was the Demon King of the present world at that time and asked, "But... wasn't that an imposter?"

"Oh, don't take it seriously, we were just kidding." tide Jian kept laughing. "Relax a little more, you're so tense, it's like this room is some kind of hellhole."

Chapter 138 Tea Party (2)

He was just making a casual joke, but unexpectedly, he received unanimous nods of agreement from everyone except Mary.

"Hey..." tide Jian almost choked on her snack.

Orange looked at him with a smile: "It is indeed a den of iniquity, and an extremely dangerous one at that. If Miss Director doesn't leave now, she might never be able to leave again."

“Huh?” Olga Marie said.

“It’s that kind of thing, how do I say it again?” Scáthach pretended to think, “Yes, the ○ Demon.”

tide Jian looked miserable: "What kind of master calls their disciple ○ Demon! Aren't you afraid of damaging your reputation?"

“Don’t worry about it. All the disciples I’ve taught are pretty much the same in this regard.” Scáthach stretched out her foot under the table to rub against Shiomi, but you’re the only one who doesn’t even spare her master. Luckily, you haven’t left your mark on human history yet. Only Chaldea knows you’re my disciple; just don’t record it anymore.”

As she spoke, she gestured to Mary with her eyes.

Olga Marie listened, stunned, and could only nod in agreement. Then, realizing something was amiss, she quickly shook her head.

However, with her master controlling her weakness with his feet, Shio could only lie on the table and try to hold on, unable to utter a word of rebuttal. It took her a long time to finally squeeze out a sentence:

"...Who exactly is the Demon of the Oo..."

"Should we deny it?" Morgan asked.

"..." tide Jian remained silent for a long time, unable to say anything against her conscience, and could only nod in agreement.

Olga Marie, realizing something was amiss, glanced under the table and understood what had happened; her face immediately turned red.

Then, she couldn't escape.

"A tea party, is that what it means?" Olga Marie asked shyly and nervously after being held in Shiomi's arms.

"Do you hate it?" tide Jian asked in her ear.

Dazzled by his breath, Olga Marie's body was already warming up. She gently shook her head, not disliking the situation.

But then I suddenly realized what Xijian had said a few days ago.

At the time, she was worried that she was taking up too much of their time, but Xijian said not to worry, without explaining why, only saying that it was a bit too much for her.