Chapter 31: Valentine's Night

There have probably been "Saints" in every country in the world since ancient times.

I haven't really thought about it, though (・∀・)

Chapter 31: Valentine's Night

After the appraisal ceremony concluded.

The Madozono family had welcomed the New Year without incident, and January had passed, bringing us to the middle of February.

February 14th.

In this world, this day is celebrated as "Valentine's Day," a day when women give chocolates to close female friends or loved ones, in commemoration of Stellasia Valentine, an ancient Western Saint, who confessed her love to the woman she loved and gave her sweet treats.

In Japan, this day was also a well-established holiday.

Across cities nationwide, female couples were celebrating their love lives.

★

That evening, a modest party was held in the hall of the Madozono family's dinner hall.

Even though it was "modest", the Madozono family was practically a noble family.

Mima, Maria, and Tomoe were all dressed formally, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a dinner party at a high-class restaurant.

This also served as a rehearsal for Maria and Tomoe, the two young girls, to learn how to behave at parties and dinners in high society.

However, there was no strict atmosphere like that of a test or lesson tonight.

A peaceful, harmonious atmosphere, which hadn't been present before Maria's arrival, filled the room.

Just as the main course was finished and dessert was being brought out, Maria and Tomoe left their seats.

They went to the serving staff and returned together, accompanied by the dessert cart.

Mima glanced to the head maid, Sougi, wondering what was going on, but Sougi only returned a smile.

"Mima-nee-sama, Tomoe-chan and I, with the help of the head chef, made these chocolates. Please, have some."

"Please, have some, Okaa-sama."

Maria smiled brightly, while Tomoe's face showed a mixture of nervousness and shyness.

They presented Mima with a small surprise.

On the plate they offered was a heart-shaped chocolate sprinkled with nuts and dried fruit.

""Happy Valentine's Day!!""

Maria and Tomoe, in unison, handed Mima a folded, sealed card.

Mima immediately realized they were message cards addressed to her, given along with the chocolates, and a smile spread across her face.

"Thank you both.... I'm so happy."

At Mima's words, Maria and Tomoe exchanged glances and laughed together.

The two then proceeded to take a wrapped box from the cart.

"We made some for the Head Maid, and for Kanaho and Kanaya too. Eat them later, okay?

Here you go, Head Maid. Thank you as always for everything.

And thank you for always taking care of us too, Kanaho, Kanaya."

After handing the small boxes of chocolates to Sougi, Kanaho, and Kanaya, who were standing nearby, the two said in unison again:

""Happy Valentine's Day!""

"Thank you, Maria-ojou-sama! I will treasure this forever!"

"No, Kanaho. You have to eat it right away, understand?"

"Understood! I will eat this treasure, intending to make them my flesh and blood!"

"Kanaho, you're being overly dramatic."

Maria gave a wry smile at Kanaho, who was breathing heavily with emotion.

"Kanaya, you should eat it soon too, okay?"

"Yes. I'll eat it later."

Watching Maria and Kanaho's exchange, Tomoe and Kanaya laughed in the same way.

"Maria, Tomoe. Come here."

After Maria and Tomoe finished handing the chocolates to the three, Mima called out.

When the two came over to Mima, Sougi held out a box made of velvet fabric to her.

Sougi opened the lid of the box, revealing two pendants inside.

They were circular, about the size of a coin, and featured the Madozono family crest, a Phoenix, adorned with gold and jewels.

"Starting this spring, you two will both be enrolling in the Kikuchigami Academy Elementary School. It's a little early, but this is a gift to celebrate.

Our Madozono family is a prominent family even within the world of Exorcists. Many children from other prestigious Exorcists families will also be enrolling in the academy.

You two will be expected to possess the abilities and conduct befitting your high status."

She paused, looked into their eyes, and then continued.

"To live your school life with pride, so as not to bring shame to the name of the Madozono family.

This is also a reminder to never forget that admonition. Always live in a way that is worthy of wearing this pendant. Do you understand?"

""Yes!""

Nodding in satisfaction at their reply, Mima smiled.

"Very well. This pendant is also a good luck charm. From today, keep it close to your body at all times, around your neck.

Now, come closer."

Saying this, Mima beckoned them closer and, by hand, placed the pendant around each of their necks.

"Onee-sama, we have a matching items!"

"Hehe, that's right."

The two girls showed each other the pendants around their necks and laughed innocently.

Seeing this scene, Mima once again saw a reflection of herself and her sister from days gone by.

(I wish these two would still be laughing together like this in the future...)

Mima secretly prayed this in her heart.

However....

It was at that moment....

Maria suddenly looked around as if she had been struck by lightning.

A few moments later, Mima also sensed something was wrong.

(Some kind of evil, wicked magic was spreading throughout the mansion!)

Sougi, Kanaya, and Kanaho also noticed this and began to become wary.

Tomoe, sensing the strange atmosphere in the room, finally realized something was wrong with the mansion and began to panic.

"Mima-nee-sama.... Something.... something bad… has entered the mansion..."

Maria stated this with a grim expression.

"It seems so."

(For this girl, the Saint, to issue a warning with such an expression...)

Mima realized the seriousness of the situation, seeing Maria's first display of caution.

"Madam. It seems the barrier has been breached."

Sougi, who picked up the receiver of the built in telephone to contact the mansion's security department, announced in a calm voice.

"Kanaya, Kanaho. Arm yourselves and take the girls to the emergency evacuation route."

""Understood!""

Mima gave Kanaya and Kanaho a brief command, then rose from her seat and knelt down to meet the gaze of Maria and Tomoe.

"Maria, Tomoe. Listen to what Kanaya and Kanaho say, and act calmly."

"Yes."

Maria nodded immediately at Mima's words.

Tomoe, unable to comprehend the situation, could only stare back at her mother.

"Okaa-sama..."

"It's alright. There's nothing to worry about."

Seeing Tomoe's anxious expression, Mima smiled and then stood up.

"Sougi, let's go."

"Yes, madam."

Just as Mima was about to lead Sougi out of the hall, at that very moment.....

Bang!!

With that sound, the lights in the hall went out.

Startled by the sudden disappearance of light, Tomoe let out a short scream and instinctively hugged Maria.

"Sougi! The light!"

"I'm on it!"

At Mima's command, Sougi raised her hand to generate magical light.

Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop!

But before Sougi could move, there was a sound of ignition, and numerous pale blue flames erupted on the four walls of the hall.

"This is...!"

Sensing an evil, wicked magical power from those pale blue flames, Mima assumed a fighting stance.

(...It can't be...!!)

She trembled as she thought this with such dread.

"Kekekekeke!"

Suddenly, laughter echoed throughout the hall.

It was mockery kind of laugh.

"In just under a year, you seem to have become quite the 'Mother'... My dear, Mima..."

After the mocking laughter, that eerie voice echoed.

Immediately afterward, something black and writhing on the floor of the hall was illuminated by a pale blue flame.

It could only be described as a black mist.

In an instant, the black mist gathered in one place and began to take on a human form.

"Kanaho! Take the young ladies away!"

Kanaya cried out and leaped towards the black mist.

In her right hand, she held her hidden iron weapon, the Kunai.

It was a special weapon imbued with "Light Magic" effective against the Kaima, and possessed the power to obliterate an ordinary Kaima in a single blow.

"Kanaya! Stop!"

The usually calm Sougi cried out, almost a scream, trying to stop her.

But it was too late.

"Gah!!!?"

Kanaya's body froze in mid-air.

"Sougi's daughter, huh... Ah, perhaps she's my daughter too...?"

The black mist finally revealed the outline of a human body, becoming completely materialized.

His right hand swung lightly, as if swatting away a fly.

Suddenly, Kanaya's body, which had been held still in mid-air, was slammed against the wall of the hall with tremendous force.

Kanaya fell to the floor and became completely motionless.

"Kanaya!"

As Tomoe screamed and tried to run towards Kanaya, Maria desperately caught her.

Seeing this, a figure appeared in the hall and burst into laughter.

"Don't worry... she won't die so easily. You've trained her that much, haven't you, Sougi?

And what's wrong, Mima? Are you so shocked to see me that you can't even speak?"

Staring intently at the figure, Mima groaned, forcing out the words.

"YOU BASTARD!! HOW YOU'RE STILL WANDERING INTO THIS WORLD, GENKON!!"

AN:

Legendary tales always feature an incredibly strong, immortal old man.

I follow the tradition (≧∀≦;)