My Maid is Cute Chapter 30 : Tatiana (Patreon)

"——Where are we...?"

With True's "Teleport" magic, they had been instantly transported somewhere else. As soon as they arrived, Rebecca looked around. She immediately knew it was a place she had never been to before. Since it was night, it was dark and hard to see, but there were no buildings, let alone people, in the vicinity. She could hear the rustling sound of the wind through the trees. She checked on Wendy, who was being carried by Christopher. She wasn't awake, but her expression was peaceful, so Rebecca felt relieved for the time being.

"We have to walk a little from here. Please follow me."

True said this and began to walk. Rebecca, Evan, and Christopher, still holding Wendy, hurriedly followed her.

"Um, where are we going?"

At Rebecca's question, True glanced back and spoke.

"——To the home of a descendant of the 'Lost People'."

"...? Lost?"

Seeing Rebecca tilt her head, True explained briefly.

"A descendant lives a short distance from here."

As True spoke in a low voice, Christopher asked her a question.

"Could we not have teleported directly to the house?"

"That person is... a bit eccentric... She has cast magic around her house to prevent teleportation magic from being used..."

Seeing True speak with a slightly troubled expression, this time Evan spoke up.

"True, are you close with this person?"

True nodded while walking in response to the question.

"Yes. I wanted to research various things about the 'Lost People'... so I searched for a descendant. And luckily, I was able to find one... After visiting her house a few times and talking, we became friends. She helps me with various things outside of research too."

True smiled just a little.

Seeing True like that, Rebecca spoke up this time.

"...Um, I feel like I've read about it in a book a long time ago. A story about a tribe that was attacked by a 'monster' and perished... Um, but it's kind of strange, isn't it?"

"Strange, how?"

At True's question, Rebecca answered in a small voice.

"I thought the 'monster' was a rather strange existence... The people of that tribe defeated it, didn't they? But then they fled in fear that the 'monster' would come again... If they defeated it, there wouldn't be any need to abandon the land they were born and raised in and flee, would there..."

At those words, True turned her face toward Rebecca with great intensity.

"Exactly! That's right!! That's what I was curious about at first too!!"

"Y-Yes?"

Rebecca was bewildered by her intensity, but True continued without minding.

"The 'monster' that appears in the legend has almost no clear description, and its existence itself is extremely vague and ambiguous. That 'monster' is a metaphor. Over a long period, history became distorted and remained as a mysterious legend. It's a common occurrence. That 'monster' is not a real 'monster'. The true identity of the 'monster' is—"

Just as True was about to continue, a voice was heard.

"That's enough, you idiot. Chattering away on your own like that."

It was a mysterious voice. True looked startled and directed her gaze forward.

"——Big Sister Tatiana?"

Just as True whispered this, a light suddenly lit up in the darkness.

Standing there was a tall woman. She had sharp, strong-willed eyes and beautiful bright red lips. She had straight black hair that reached the tip of her chin and wore clothes resembling a black dress with a deeply plunging neckline. She was a woman so alluring it sent shivers down one's spine. The woman held a small wand in her hand. It seemed she was using magic to emit light from the tip of the wand.

The woman directed a strong, glaring gaze toward them. Under the pressure of that gaze, Rebecca involuntarily gasped. However, True, who was slightly ahead of Rebecca, shouted excitedly the moment she saw the woman.

"Big Sister!!"

True ran up to the woman. The woman smacked True on the head.

"Ouch!!"

"Go home."

"T-That's cruel... Even though I haven't seen you in so long, Big Sister... sniff..."

"What's with the 'sniff', you idiot! Faking tears like that. Even though I told you so many times not to bring anyone here... I told you again and again and again to come alone if you must come!"

"T-That's true, buuut~"

True clung to the woman with teary eyes.

"Aren't you happy to see me, Big Sister?"

"Shut up. Hurry up and go home."

"I am incredibly happy."

"Hey, don't hug me!! Don't bury your face in my chest!! Don't grope, don't suck, don't lick—!!"

The woman's angry voice echoed. The other three stared at the scene in dumbfounded silence.

"——Um, could you introduce us soon?"

Though bewildered, Evan finally spoke up. The woman, breathing heavily and looking exhausted, turned her gaze toward them. Then, True, with a strangely glossy face, also turned back to the three and opened her mouth.

"This is Lady Tatiana Mueller. She is the descendant of the 'Lost People' I mentioned earlier. She's someone who has taken care of me for a long time... and she's veeery skilled at magic."

True smiled cheerfully as she looked at Tatiana. Grimacing at True, Tatiana opened her mouth.

"...Who are these people? What business do you have with me—"

"Big Sister, first, please look at this."

True reached for Wendy in Christopher's arms, lifted her clothes, and showed Tatiana the bruises. Upon seeing the bruises, Tatiana's eyes widened greatly, and she gasped.

"——This is..."

"A 'curse'."

At True's words, Tatiana's eyes wavered with agitation.

"My god... It can't be... Is it really..."

She muttered something under her breath. Then she bit her lip and let out a deep sigh.

"——I see... I understand well why you came here."

Then, looking at everyone as if glaring again, she continued.

"Follow me. ...Let's talk in my house."

Tatiana began to walk slowly. Rebecca exchanged a puzzled glance with Christopher and followed behind her. In the darkness, Tatiana walked with firm steps without hesitation, swaying the small light.

After walking for a while, something suddenly appeared in their field of vision as if floating up.

"——Huh?"

Rebecca stopped involuntarily and let out a voice. It was a small house. It looked old, but it was a cute house with a chimney. Rebecca's mouth fell open because it suddenly appeared out of nowhere when she hadn't seen it at all.

"Big Sister has cast a barrier magic around this house. So that no one can see it. Only people invited by Big Sister can enter."

True giggled and entered the house. The group hurriedly followed.

"Wow..."

Rebecca's mouth hung open. Knowing it was rude, she looked around the room. Tatiana's house was unbelievably cluttered. The most numerous items were books. Extremely old, tattered books were stored all over the room. Besides those, tools she had never seen before were lying on the floor.

"Lay the child down over there. You lot sit wherever you can find a spot."

Tatiana said, pointing to a bed in the corner of the room. Christopher lowered Wendy onto the bed as told.

In the meantime, True went to what looked like a kitchen on her own, prepared tea with practiced ease, and began arranging it on the table. Although told to sit, Rebecca didn't feel like it, so she helped True while glancing at Wendy frequently. Meanwhile, Christopher also stared at Wendy with a worried expression near the bed. Evan sat down calmly on a small chair.

"Let me check her a little."

Saying so, Tatiana observed Wendy's entire body. Then, tilting her head, she muttered.

"——What on earth..., this is the first time..., this certainly matches the characteristics of the 'curse' I heard from my grandmother long ago... but it is not complete. No, is it in the process of being completed...?"

"...? What do you mean?"

Christopher raised his voice. However, Tatiana continued without taking her eyes off Wendy.

"When was this 'curse' cast? No, who cast it? Tell me everything without hiding anything."

"That is—"

Christopher explained the history of Wendy's curse. All the while, Tatiana continued to observe the bruises. Eventually, when Christopher finished speaking, she nodded repeatedly.

"——'Curse', I see, a girl with silver hair... I see... Oh my god..."

"Big Sister, is it as we thought...?"

"Yeah."

To True's voice, Tatiana let out a big breath and answered.

"——There is no mistake. It is a 'curse' created by my ancestors long ago."

Christopher gasped loudly.

"Created a 'curse'? Your ancestors, the Lost People...?"

"Yeah."

Tatiana nodded lightly.

"I don't understand well... Why is your ancestor's curse on Milady...?"

When Rebecca asked, Tatiana began to speak sporadically, though with a hesitant expression.

"I heard it from my late grandmother when I was young... My ancestors were... a small clan living quietly in a secluded land... They disliked associating with outsiders... However, with the strong magic power they were born with, they seemed to be good at creating unusual magic and sorcery. But because of a certain incident, the ancestors were forced to abandon their homeland and scatter separately..."

Tatiana grimaced and sighed deeply.

"My ancestors left their homeland and began living in this land. For generations, they have passed down the events of the past and magic. Details, though only a part, of the magical techniques created by the clan also remain."

Tatiana glanced at the pile of tattered books. Then, closing her eyes as if thinking about something, she crossed her arms and spoke again.

"Most likely, those twins, Heidi and Paule, are descendants of the 'Lost People' like me... Does that mean there is a possibility they are my relatives..."

At Tatiana's words, Christopher raised his voice in surprise.

"Heidi and Paule? ...Those two?"

Tatiana opened her eyes and nodded lightly. Then, she suddenly snapped her fingers.

At that moment, Tatiana's pitch-black hair changed. Christopher, Evan, and Rebecca widened their eyes in shock. Tatiana's black hair transformed into a moon-like silver in an instant. It was beautiful hair that sparkled. At the three's astonished gazes, Tatiana swept up her hair as if fed up.

"——This hair color stands out... I usually change it to black."

"Silver-haired Big Sister is also wonderful..."

Ignoring True, who was staring entranced, Tatiana snapped her fingers again. Her hair returned to black.

"——Though it is not known, the characteristic of the clan is this silver hair... Those twins had silver hair too, didn't they? Most likely, there is no mistake that they are descendants like me. The technique of the 'curse' must have been passed down in that twins' family line."

Tatiana crossed her arms again and continued the story.

"The people of the clan each created magic and sorcery independently. Among them, 'curses' were included. This 'curse' is an exceptionally troublesome magic among the sorceries created by the ancestors... It is a magic the clan created independently to exterminate the 'monster'..."

"A 'curse' to exterminate a 'monster'...?"

Evan looked puzzled. After glancing at Evan, Christopher, and Rebecca, Tatiana spoke.

"...You lot are nobles, aren't you? And of quite high rank."

"——That is true, but... how do you know?"

When Christopher asked, Tatiana sighed deeply and held her head.

"I can tell by looking... Your atmosphere is different from commoners..."

Then she continued with a look that suggested it was hard to say.

"——The 'monster' is not a real monster. The 'monster' refers to... the people in power of that era. Like you. Whether aristocrats or royalty, I don't know."

Rebecca looked back at Tatiana in surprise. Tatiana looked around at everyone and continued slowly.

"Our ancestors were living quietly and secretly in a small settlement as if hiding. But one of the powerful people of that era discovered them. That powerful person used the ancestors' magic power for their own selfish desires. Detailed stories of what happened have not been passed down... but... they must have done something quite terrible."

Tatiana looked down with a sad face.

"Our ancestors could not forgive that the magic they created themselves was used for ugly desires. ...So, they punished that powerful person with their greatest weapon—their unique magic. That magic is the 'curse'. The 'Lost People' feared that their magic would be seen by others and used again. So, to ensure their magic and sorcery would never be found again, they abandoned their homeland and fled, scattering apart."

"Ah... so that's what 'Lost' means... The magic they created was lost... to escape the hands of greedy humans..."

At Evan's mutter of understanding, Tatiana looked down with a dark expression.

"——This 'curse' is an unbelievably complex sorcery, a 'curse' cast at the cost of one's life. It converts a part of the soul into the 'core' of the 'curse' and implants it into another person. The person implanted with the 'curse' is covered in red bruises all over their body and dies writhing in agony in just a few days..."

"——B-But..."

Evan tried to say something but shut his mouth. Christopher took over and spoke.

"My sister has been cursed since before she was born... But she hasn't died. The bruises haven't spread to her whole body..."

Tatiana tilted her head as if thinking and spoke.

"——I don't know well. It is only speculation, but likely the human who cursed this girl did not have as high magic power as the ancestors... About the same as a commoner...? Did they lack the magic power to cast the 'curse', resulting in it being half-baked...?"

They could hear Tatiana muttering in a small voice.

"Then, um... what will happen to Milady?"

At Rebecca's question, Tatiana answered clearly while grimacing.

"...Most likely, she is in a very dangerous state... The bruises are spreading to her whole body. After a long time, the 'curse' is now about to be completed."

Rebecca gasped and looked at Wendy. Tatiana muttered again in a small voice.

"Taking such a long time... What strong tenacity... Truly..."

Christopher shouted with a pale face.

"Can this 'curse' be broken!?"

At those words, Tatiana glanced at Wendy and spoke.

"——There is a way. A method of 'dispel'."

At those words, Rebecca felt relieved, and Christopher shouted again.

"Please!! Please break the curse!! I will do anything I can—"

At those words, Tatiana grimaced.

"I have heard about this 'curse' from my grandmother... but this is the first time seeing it... Of course, I have never performed a 'dispel'... It is quite complex magic. Can I do it..."

"Oh my, if that is the case, I will cooperate too, Big Sister."

True spoke with a bright smile.

"Please rest assured. I will make sure any magic succeeds."

"But..."

"Big Sister, I am the person called the greatest genius since the founding of the Magic Academy. No matter how complex the magic, I will definitely accomplish it."

Tatiana stared at True with wavering eyes. Then, she directed a strong glare at Christopher this time.

"Using the magic my ancestors protected for nobles... honestly, I don't like it... I have no obligation to help you. I don't want to get involved, and I have no reason to use my precious time for you. ——However."

She immediately turned her gaze to Wendy.

"——She is still young. Poor thing."

She muttered softly. Then she stood up slowly.

"True, prepare as I say."

"Yes!!"

"I'll have you lot help too."

Tatiana directed a strong gaze at Christopher, Evan, and Rebecca. The three nodded firmly.

***

*Background Settings*

*True Bell*

A student and an apprentice researcher at the Magic Research Institute. The eldest daughter of Baron Aaron Bell, famous as a magical tool researcher. A genius who recorded a high measurement value in magic measurement and is active in numerous fields. Once interested in something, she cannot help but research it. A bundle of intellectual desire and curiosity.

Before enrolling in the Magic Academy, she researched the "Lost People" independently, and as a result of her stubbornness and tenacity, discovered Tatiana Mueller. Since then, she frequently visits Tatiana's house and spends time with her. She is still researching the magic left by Tatiana's ancestors. Since her only purpose in researching is to satisfy her own curiosity, she has no intention of publishing her research results anywhere, and she hasn't told anyone about discovering Tatiana.

She loves Tatiana very much.