Lightning Empress Maid Chapter 57

Reflections on the beach, bachabacha.

waves

A 180 degree turn from my failure, instead of punishment, I was granted salvation. Master’s peace was protected by Meia-sama’s efforts. All Nanaki did was to cause a problem. Possibly, I might have been affected by the atmosphere. This is a failure as a servant.

humans cant be perfect~

Drawn by the chill on my feet, I looked down. Nanaki’s feet that pierces through the water surface into the lake floor. It was like it represented my heart and was extremely irritating. So I kicked it. But the disrupted water surface eventually calmed down and like a mirror, reflected Nanaki’s face. A horrible face.

….

Dejected nanakismile. Everyone around the world, it’s the foolish Nanaki.

saying cheer up…..would be irresponsible right

I tried forcing a smile. I did it and there we go, what a horrible smile we have there. There is no value in something like this. A smile has to be something that symbolises happiness or it is no good. Recall the smile of Mother that pa.s.sed away young. Mother who understood her remaining life,  her smile shouldn’t have had any shadow. In order to not worry Nanaki.

…why did things suddenly get heavy

By now it’s already a nostalgic love.

…

Since I recalled such a wonderful thing, I think I will face forward. I was encouraged by Mother again. Such a simple me is just cute. I failed, so what, I can just recover. I am Nanaki, the daughter of beloved Mother and a special human. Indeed, isn’t it a simple thing.

yep

I’m fine now, I raised my head.

everything will be alright~

“Nana-saan!”

……It took just a little while to recognise s.h.i.+el-sama.

…rude

That figure that swam valiantly at a distance where I can just hear her jogged Nanaki’s memory. Yes, that was a book I borrowed from Salia. It was something that used to live in the ocean that humans can not longer swim in.  If Nanaki’s memory and that old picture was correct, I think its name was sea lion.

…at least no a whale

I waved back at s.h.i.+el-sama who was waving this way. Wavewave. In contrast to that appearance, s.h.i.+el-sama swimming is valiant and graceful, just like a mermaid of the lake. To Nanaki who can’t swim, that looked very beautiful. Well, there is just a little meat though.

its blubber

s.h.i.+el-sama who is that big can swim. That truth is sufficient for Nanaki to have doubts.

Although according to Mother’s instructions, Nanaki has never stepped into water deeper than what my feet can reach, but Nanaki might be able to swim. It is said that swimming has to do with reflexes. Then, I don’t think it is impossible for Nanaki. When I think about it, isn’t claiming that I am unable to swim without attempting it even once weakness?

err…maybe?

That is one thing that Nanaki hates. I must server off this depression. Make the truth clear, and prove your pride, Nanaki. Accepting defeat without challenging it even once is unforgivable.

yesyes cheer up

“……”

life is for new experiences

Resolution set.

ready?

Advance forward cautiously. There is no such thing as excess caution. That beloved Mother told Nanaki about it because it concerned my life. Slowly, slowly advance forward. Stop once at when I reach the point where the chilly feeling reached around my waist. Deep breath.

set?

Now then, to the unknown world.

go!

“……uah.”

keep your mouth shut underwater

I let out my voice at the different uncomfortable floating feeling from flying.

ah just floating…okay.

Unlike the sky where I can fly as I like, this gravity that slowly tries to sink me as I float is scary. Just keeping my head above the water was all I could do, this is really not something that can be enjoyed. I have reconfirmed that humans are really terrestrial creatures. Let’s hurry and return.

nono dont ive up

“Nanaki also came to swim?”

yesyes

Get out of the way, my master.

no

When I tried to return to my original direction by flailing my legs and turning, oh my how strange, at some point master was there, blocking Nanaki’s retreat. Wait wait, calm down, panicking at this time is the most dangerous.

yes, keep calm~

“Yes. But I am just about to retur——”

“You haven’t swam at all yet right? Come here.”

gogo zean

Unusually, master let his feelings show on his face. I was stunned by that somewhat innocent smile that the fundamentally always expressionless master revealed. He also makes this kind of expressions. Because of that, I was slow to realise my hand was taken.

master used charm

“Wa, wapu——”

“Nana——-”

it was super effective!

Master’s surprised voice was cut off. Underwater, I sank? I will drown at this rate.

how is nanaki fine at high elt.i.tudes…

N, no good, calm down. Is, is there something to grab——this.

“——tsuhaah!!”

breathe!

I don’t know, but that should have been an instant. It was that horribly suffocating. Although I was lucky and there was something nearby to grab, if there wasn’t that I might have died. I see, Mother’s sayings really are not mistaken. I wiped off the water that entered my eyes and finally opened my eyes.

water counters lightning?

“Sorry, are you okay?”

“……so, somehow.”

it’s your fault master

Could it be, Nanaki is desperately clinging onto master?

NANIIIIIIII!?

There was no need to hear the answer. I am presently still tightly clinging onto master’s shoulders. That body that doesn’t have much muscle attached seems very st.u.r.dy right now. Normally this might count as rude, but this is an emergency situation so please forgive me. Nanaki definitely did not grab onto master with an impure motive.

definitely not

“Could it be, you can’t swim……?”

“……embarra.s.singly so.”

nth to be ashamed off`

After showing that sight earlier, I cannot make an excuse.

yeah…

“Nanaki also has things she cannot do.”

“…..auu.”

like economics too~

Instead of showing my good parts to the master as a servant, I showed my miserable parts. Even if I am a special human, the fact that I am a human doesn’t change. As long as one is human, they will make a mistake eventually. Similar to that, Nanaki also has weak points. I really wanted to stay as the omnipotent Nanaki.

n.o.body’s perfect~

“For now let’s go to the shallows. Keep holding on.”

“My apologies……”

to safety!

Helped my the water’s buoyancy and master’s propulsion, I headed to the shallows. For some reason, I cannot feel the water’s coolness. Does sticking to someone else let you feel this much warmth? After I was separated from Mother by death, I have forgotten that. Is Nanaki a heartless person?

definitely not

“Thank you very much, good master.”

wlc

Once we returned to a place where the water level is low enough for my feet to reach, I quickly separated myself and bowed my head. I have never heard of a servant saved by the master. I have made many failures today. Like this, beloved Mother would also be disappointed. My apologies, Mother. Nanaki is still immature.

just learn~

“Don’t mind it. More importantly, we are starting.”

“Starting? Starting what?”

“Swimming practice.”

gogo nanaki

I wonder if it is okay to take the hand that he offered as he said that. Master’s expression is that very innocent smile from before, I definitely cannot feel troublesome or burdened feeling from him. Which means this is good will. Is it okay to presume on this good will with the standing of a servant?

go for it~

“……a”

go!

My voice came out.

faito!

If I thought to avoid it I could have. Not having avoided it, surely means that Nanaki might have wanted to play together. With him who took this wavering hand. Ah, Nanaki really is slowly being distanced from being a servant. Even though it should be lonely, I’m just a little happy. How strange, this feeling.

just accept it~

“Come, Nanaki.”

“……Yes!”

fuwa~

I think today wasn’t a good day. Then, for today I will be a no good Nanaki to the end. It’s not bad to open up occasionally. Even Nanaki is human. Until now I’ve had other bad days. I think it’s also good to have ordinary days with convenient excuses.

if that’s what it takes~

“……I will be in your care, master.”

yep~

So I strongly grasped that hand.

progress~

“——there’s seems to be a rabbit-san that is taking a shameless att.i.tude with onii-sama.”

nooo don’t interfere

R, run——-