My Maid is Cute Chapter 90 : Traces of Magic (Patreon)

*Traces of Magic*

At the same moment Wendy was waking up in Baron Armand's laboratory—

***

At the Caldwell house, Rebecca dashed out of Christopher's study and ran toward her own room.

"Rebecca!"

Carrie's voice called from behind, but she had no composure to answer. She sprinted through the hallway like a gale, with tremendous speed. Other servants in the hallway watched Rebecca's figure with surprise, but paying them no mind, she arrived at her room and threw the door open forcefully. Rushing to the large built-in shelf, she took out the small, two-fold mirror she kept carefully stored. Opening the mirror, she called out in a loud voice.

"Leesey!!"

Immediately after she called her friend's name, the mirror flashed brightly. And soon, Leeselago appeared on the other side of the mirror. With a pouty, dissatisfied face, she answered Rebecca.

“What is it, yelling all of a sudden? I'm busy. I was just about to go see an opera—”

"Help me!!"

Rebecca shouted, interrupting Leeselago's words. Holding back the urge to cry, she sank to the floor. Then, with trembling lips, she squeezed out her words again.

"Help me, Leesey..."

Seeing her state, Leeselago opened her eyes wide and gasped slightly. Immediately, a small snap was heard nearby.

The next moment, Leeselago was standing right in front of Rebecca.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

She looked down at Rebecca, furrowing her brows. Relieved that her friend had come immediately, Rebecca spoke toward Leeselago.

"M-Milady is..."

"Ah?"

"Milady is... g-gone... sh-she might have been kidnapped—"

Leeselago looked blank for a moment, then tilted her head.

"Hah? Kidnapped...?"

"Today... in a bookstore in the Royal Capital, she went missing... We don't know where she went... She might have been taken by someone."

Wendy might be suffering terrible things at the hands of a dangerous person. Just imagining it made her heart feel like it would freeze. Her breath caught in her throat from anxiety and despair. Finally, tears spilled from Rebecca's eyes.

"What should I do... I can't do anything... I don't know what to do... Leesey... sniff"

Seeing Rebecca speaking through tears, Leeselago froze for a moment. She flustered about, seeming lost, but soon reached out toward Rebecca and lifted her small body up. She rocked her body as if soothing a small child.

"Don't cry, Rebecca. Anyway, we just have to save that blonde girl we met before, right?"

When Rebecca nodded repeatedly while sobbing, Leeselago gave a big nod.

"Understood. Leave it to me."

Feeling saved by those reliable words, her heart calmed down just a little. Leeselago asked, peering into Rebecca's face.

"First, we need to pinpoint that girl's location... Was she last seen in the Royal Capital?"

"Y-Yeah... She was in a bookstore..."

When Rebecca answered, Leeselago muttered to herself as if pondering.

"Troublesome... There must be many humans in the Royal Capital... To pinpoint a location... Should I use search magic...? But that magic takes a little time... Would it be faster to search by scent...? Or borrow the power of spirits... No, that also takes time..."

Leeselago seemed to be thinking about how to search for Wendy. In such a Leeselago's arms, Rebecca wiped her tears with her sleeve. At that moment, remembering something, she raised her voice.

"Ah."

"Hm? What is it?"

Leeselago looked puzzled at Rebecca suddenly raising her voice. Rebecca continued speaking as if tapping Leeselago's arm.

"Before, when I snuck into the academy and got lost, you followed the trace of my magic and came right away, didn't you! Just like that time—"

At Rebecca's suggestion, Leeselago grimaced and shook her head.

"Certainly that method is fast, but that's impossible."

"Why!?"

Scratching her head with one hand, Leeselago answered Rebecca's question.

"Rebecca, I told you before, but the magic you possess is quite unique. Currently, your magic and my magic are fused. In other words, your magic is in a state where my magic is mixed in. I followed the trace of my own magic within your magic. But I don't know the trace of your mistress's magic. I can't track something I don't know."

"No way..."

Everything went dark before her eyes again. Struck down by a sense of powerlessness, she felt a sensation like strength draining from her body.

—What should I do?

—How can I save Milady?

If she didn't save Wendy quickly, even while they were doing this, she might be hurt by someone, suffering.

“Becca.”

Wendy's smile when they last exchanged words floated in her mind.

"Milady..."

She muttered in a small, trembling voice. She might lose the most precious person in the world. Just imagining it felt like her chest was being crushed. Tears overflowed again.

“Thank you, Becca! I'll cherish it! I'm going to wear it all the time from now on.”

To think she might never be able to see that smile again—

"Ah..."

At that moment, remembering something, Rebecca raised her voice.

"Ahhhh!!"

Leeselago's shoulders jumped with a start at Rebecca suddenly shouting loudly.

"Whoa, what is it, Rebecca?"

At that moment, Carrie, who appeared to have chased after Rebecca, entered through the door that had been left open.

"Rebecca, wait—"

Carrie tried to call out, but seeing Leeselago standing in the middle of the room holding Rebecca, she stared in shock.

"Eh, who are you..."

Paying no mind to the speaking Carrie, Rebecca raised a loud voice while clinging to Leeselago.

"The bracelet!"

"Ah?"

Leeselago made a dubious sound. Rebecca continued speaking while moving her hands frantically.

"Leesey! The bracelet!! Milady is wearing the bracelet!"

"Hah? Bracelet? What does that—"

"Mine! It's handmade by me! A bracelet imbued with my magic!!"

The moment those words reached her ears, Leeselago snapped her eyes open.

"Is that true?"

"Yeah! She said she would wear it all the time! With this—"

Leeselago nodded greatly.

"Yeah. I can track the trace."

At that answer, she felt like she saw a sliver of light.

"Leesey, please! Take me there!"

"Yeah."

Leeselago answered briefly and nodded.

Carrie, who had been watching the two without understanding what was going on, called out in a fluster.

"R-Rebecca... You, what on earth..."

Looking back at Carrie, Rebecca let her eyes swim in hesitation for just a moment, but soon opened her mouth with a determined face.

"Ms. Carrie! I'm sorry. I'm going!"

"Going... where?"

"To save Milady."

Carrie opened her mouth blankly, but immediately smiled softly and nodded.

"Understood. I'll make up some appropriate excuse to the head maid."

Surprised conversely by how easily Carrie accepted it, Rebecca opened her eyes wide. Carrie waved her hand dismissively toward Rebecca.

"Be careful not to get hurt."

Grateful to Carrie for her kind words, Rebecca nodded vigorously.

"Yes! Thank you very much."

Rebecca bowed her head slightly. Glancing at that, Leeselago moved her fingers.

The moment the sound of a snap was heard, the surrounding scenery changed.

"This is..."

What entered her eyes was a madder-red sky. The twilight was also beginning to be dyed a faintly dark blue.

In Leeselago's arms, Rebecca looked down and raised her voice in surprise.

"Eh? This is..."

A vast and beautiful garden spread out below. Seeing the familiar scenery, she realized immediately. It was the garden of the Caldwell estate. It seemed she and Leeselago were on the roof of the Caldwell mansion.

"It's easier to sense traces of magic when outside."

Saying that, Leeselago took a deep breath.

"Leesey, can you really tell where Milady is?"

"Yeah. As long as she's wearing that bracelet imbued with magic. Searching for my own magic is easy. I should be able to find her immediately."

Then Leeselago closed her eyes with a serious expression.

"Be quiet for a bit. I'm concentrating."

She placed her index finger against her temple. While anxious, Rebecca waited silently as told for Leeselago to search.

In about two or three minutes, Leeselago opened her eyes. Then she turned her face sharply to the right. She spat out words briefly.

"Found her."

"Eh, real—"

Before she could say Really?, Leeselago snapped her fingers again.

The next moment, the surrounding scenery changed again. Before she knew it, Leeselago and Rebecca were standing in front of a large building. It was an unfamiliar building she had never seen before. A bit small to call a mansion. There was no sign of people at all, and no light could be seen from the several windows.

"Where is this?"

"Who knows?"

Leeselago also tilted her head.

"But without a doubt, a faint trace of magic is coming from inside this building."

"Eh? But..."

Getting down from Leeselago's arms, she peeked inside through a window of the building. The inside was pitch black, and she could hardly see anything.

"I can't see anything..."

"Anyway, we're going in."

Saying that, Leeselago grasped Rebecca's hand. And snapped her fingers again. The scenery shifted once more. In the darkness, she saw desks, large shelves, many books, and some kind of tools. It seemed they had moved inside the building.

"...There's no one here."

Just as Rebecca muttered that, feeling anxious, Leeselago started and looked down.

"...This way."

"Eh?"

"I sense a presence from below. This house has a basement."

Leeselago began to wander around the house as if looking for something. Rebecca followed desperately. Right now, Leeselago was her only reliance. Eventually, Leeselago stopped in front of a certain door.

"Here!!"

"Eh."

It was a small brown door without a lock. Leeselago touched the door as if convinced, then nodded greatly.

"No mistake. It's the trace of my magic! Also, there are humans. Two... no, three? Someone is screaming."

She said so, but Rebecca couldn't hear anything.

Ignoring the bewildered Rebecca, Leeselago opened the door without hesitation. Rebecca started and raised her voice.

"L-Leesey!"

She thought there might be a dangerous person beyond the door, but what was there was a dim staircase. It seemed to lead underground. Leeselago went down the stairs briskly without any sign of confusion. Rebecca hurriedly followed. As they descended the stairs, a brown door appeared again. It seemed to be the entrance to the basement. Finally, Rebecca could also sense the presence of people.

There was a high possibility Wendy was beyond this door. Most likely with someone who kidnapped her.

It might be a dangerous person. Just as she began to think about how to save her...

"Alriiight! We're going in all at once!!"

Leeselago next to her shouted loudly.

"Huh?"

Rebecca looked blank. Paying that no mind, Leeselago grinned and held her hand over the door.

"Ah, wa—"

Rebecca raised her voice to stop her in a panic, but it was too late.

Something like lightning appeared from Leeselago's hand with a crackling sound. The moment Rebecca's face twitched, Leeselago released it. The lightning strike pierced the door, and a roar echoed. Feeling tremendous heat along with the light, she instinctively closed her eyes. She didn't really understand, but she grasped that Leeselago had rushed ahead on her own again.

Slowly opening her eyes, she saw the door and wall crumbling down with white smoke. Leeselago advanced triumphantly.

"Good grief... I finally found you."

With those words, she stepped boldly into the basement room.

"Well then, let's have a curtain call."

Pushing her hair back somewhat theatrically, Leeselago grinned.

Rebecca also advanced while grimacing at the smell of smoke. And then,

"Milady!!"

In the corner of the room, she discovered Wendy's figure, looking dumbfounded.

"Becca!!"

Wendy also shouted in surprise. Rebecca saw someone collapsed near Wendy, but completely ignoring them, she rushed noisily to Wendy.

"Becca, why are you..."

Wendy voiced her confusion. Rushing to Wendy, Rebecca froze completely for an instant. Wendy's hands and feet were bound with rope. Furthermore, her cheek was dyed red. Apparently, she had been hit by someone. Seeing that, she instantly felt a sensation like blood rushing to her head. An intense anger she had never felt before in her life erupted like fire.

"I-I'll untie the ropes now..."

Desperately suppressing her anger, she reached for the ropes.

—Unforgivable.

—Hurting Milady is absolutely unforgivable.

Her hands trembled on their own. She felt scorching anger spreading in her chest.

"Becca, you came for me? Thank you..."

On the other hand, seeing Rebecca, Wendy's face lit up happily. Seeing that smile, Rebecca involuntarily stopped her hands untying the ropes. Immediately moving her hands again, she answered Wendy's voice.

"I-I heard you were gone... I was so worried..."

"Yeah."

"I was so scared... that I might not be able to see you again..."

"Yeah."

Teardrops like rain spilled from Rebecca's eyes as she untied the ropes.

"Thank goodness... sniff That you're safe, Milady... really..."

She managed to finish untying the ropes with her small hands. Then immediately, Wendy reached out. She hugged Rebecca tightly.

"Thank you, Becca."

"Milady... waaaah"

Wrapped in Wendy's warmth, Rebecca cried out loud. She desperately wrapped her arms around Wendy's back and hugged her.

"Thank goodness... thank goodness... sniff"

"Yeah..."

Wendy's voice, answering shortly, was trembling slightly.