Ein-sanās unexpected behavior brought my mind off-topic. S- She just said that in a teasing manner, but I donāt think she actually executed it. Sheā¦ā¦ didnāt actually execute it, right? W- What the heck happened?
I have Shiro-sanās Blessing that nullifies some magic, but I donāt know what the criteria were for it to nullify something. However, I do know that it nullifies magic that is judged to have hostile intent toward me.
For example, Aliceās magical transformations would normally not be canceled by my touch. However, according to Kuro, if Alice uses her magical transformation āwith the intent to deceive my sensesā, it would be judged as hostile magic.
Therefore, in Aliceās case, her magical transformation was canceled when we first met and when she touched me during the mixed bathing at the Six Kings Festival, but at other times, even when our bodies were in contact with each other, her transformation wasnāt canceled.
I think the same principle applies to Time Stop. In reality, I canāt perceive or move within Chronois-sanās Time Stop. However, I think that if the user, Chronois-san, were to try to restrain me or interfere with my action using Time Stop, it might be nullifiedā¦ā¦ Iām not quite sure about the criteria in that regard, and even if I were to ask Shiro-san, the response Iād undoubtedly get would be an āI dunno?ā.
Or perhaps, since the Godsā Authority is a degraded copy of Shiro-sanās power, it might still be effectiveā¦ā¦ Ahh, but what about Fate-sanās Authority of Fate thoughā¦ā¦ Or rather, it seems that Shiro-san has made significant adjustments compared to the Blessing she had on me before. Now, the effects of those like Recovery Magic that used to be blocked by the Blessing can be received normally, so Iām not quite sure about the specific conditions either.
Heck, if Iām gonna ask someone, I feel like Chronois-san might have a more accurate understanding of Shiro-sanās Blessing than Shiro-san, so I guess I should ask her about it next time.
Well, my thoughts went off on a tangent, but in the end, if you ask me if the act of āstopping time so that someone can kiss meā is a hostile act towards meā¦ā¦ Iām not so sure.
In a sense, you could say that such a thing was an action that disregards my will. However, if asked whether I would feel uncomfortable if Ein-san were to kiss meā¦ā¦ Well, that would be a definite no. Heck, being kissed is something that makes me happy.
[Kaito-sama?]
[Ah, no, Iām sorry. Itās nothing!]
Well, since I canāt really know for sure, thereās no point in dwelling on this. Letās not worry too much about this matter. Overthinking might just lead me into a loop of uncertaintyā¦ā¦
With that in mind, I switched my thoughts and brought out a can of tea leaves, the main subject of my visit, from my magic box.
[So this is Nebula-samaāsā¦ā¦ May I open it?]
[Ah, yes. Help yourselfā¦ā¦]
[Please excuse me.]
Seeing Ein-sanās eyes fixated on the tea can, I handed it over to her. Without delay, Ein-san opened the can and started examining the tea leaves with great interest.
[You see, these areā¦ā¦]
[ā¦ā¦Tea leaves suitable for milk teaā¦ā¦ Noā¦ā¦ for royal milk tea, right?]
[Eh? You can tell just by looking at it?]
[Yes, for top-notch maids, being able to envision the perfect brew just by looking at the leaves and smelling their fragrance is but a matter of course.]
There it is again, the maidsā mysterious omnipotence. But in this personās case, while her thoughts may be eccentric, she isnāt just being delusional. Itās nasty how she can actually execute what she imagines.
In front of me, with a mixture of surprise and astonishment on my face, Ein-san continues to gaze at the tea leaves with a serious expression on her face.
[ā¦ā¦However, the finished product that I picture in my mind is somewhat blurred. Is the process different? ā¦ā¦I see, perhaps, the tea leaves do not require unfurling the tea leaves with a small amount of hot water and can be extracted with only 100% milk?]
[T- Thatās right.]
[I knew that was the case. I can finally see a distinct image in mind. As expected of Nebula-sama, sheās truly amazing. Even with my abilities, it would take me some time to envision its completed formā¦ā¦ Fufu, this would indeed bring about a new revolution.]
No, it is quite amazing, or rather, itās astonishing that she could seriously guess everything just by looking at the tea leaves. It seems that I donāt need to explain much anymore, but even still, I explained everything to her as Nebula told me, to which Ein-san nodded her head in understanding.
She seemed calm, but I could somewhat sense that she was getting excited and wanted to brew these tea leaves as soon as possible.
Wryly smiling at the sight of such an Ein-san, I suddenly remembered something and took out a wooden case from my magic box.
[By the way, Ein-san. Nebula said to hand this item to youā¦ā¦ Itās apparently something you commissioned from her?]
[Ahh, thatās the tea set I asked her to make for me. Being a top-notch maid myself, I have also indulged in the hobby of crafting tea cups and other items used for teaā¦ā¦ When she offered to make the trophy for the Maid Olympia, I knew that Nebula-samaās pottery-making skills surpass mine, so I have often commissioned her to make ceramics for me. As expected, as a maid, I canāt compromise on my tea supplies.]
[ā¦ā¦I- I seeā¦ā¦]
I would like it if youād refrain from assuming that being a top-notch maid automatically means being able to create a tea set. In normal circumstances, maids and pottery wouldnāt have any connection at allā¦ā¦ Wait, speaking of which, Illness-san can do it tooā¦ā¦ Arehh? Does being a top-notch maid seriously mean they can also do pottery?
Geez, seriously, I donāt know how many times Iāve asked this alreadyā¦ā¦ but what the heck is a maidā¦ā¦