熱く思いを語るニーノの隣で、パウラは静かに身を震わせていた.

　最初に出会った時は、物腰は丁寧だがどこか危うい目をした人物という印象だった.
　容姿も整ってはいるが、取り立てて人を惹きつけるほどでもないと.
　けれども、その身にあふれる魔力は別格であった.

　確かに魔力の量だけなら、爵位の高い帝国貴族なら同等以上の者もそれなりにいるだろう.
　しかし六つもの色を帯びた魔力など、パウラはそれまで見たことがなかった.

　二色や三色の魔力が弱々しく絡み合う程度なら、そう珍しいものでもない.
　しかし虹のごとく美しく彩られた魔力の波が、凄まじい奔流となって押し寄せ一瞬で満たしていく.
　そんな光景は、パウラには初めてであった.

　ゆえに心を奪われた.

　虜となったのは、パウラだけではない.
　かつて魔導帝国には、全土にその悪名を轟かせた凶悪無比な二匹の魔獣がいた.
　時の皇帝が自ら討伐に挑み、三日三晩の死闘の末に辛うじて封じることができたと言われる大妖だ.

　パウラが家を出る際にこっそり持ち出したのは、その魔獣たちの卵と言い伝えられ、厳重に保管されてきた品だった.
　そんな伝説の魔獣たちが、今やニーノに首ったけである.
　従魔や使役魔は従来の魔物とは違い、主から魔素を吸い上げることで糧とする.
　二匹の懐き具合からして、よほどニーノの六色の魔力を気に入ったのであろう.
　あれほど親密な態度を示す従魔の姿は、帝国でも指折りの魔物使いである母の操る下僕たちにも見られなかったものだ. 　

　そう、最初はそれほどに底しれぬ魔力に心惹かれたのだ.
　だがニーノに秘められたものはそれだけではないという事実に、パウラは少しずつ気づき始める.

　容姿に優れる魔人種の中でも、パウラの美貌は抜きん出ている.
　さらに貴種であり、強い魔力をその身に宿しているとなれば、殿方が放っておくはずもない.
　幼い頃からかしずかれ、大切にされるのが当たり前であった.

　もっともそこで増長してしまうと、貴族の子女は務まらない.
　特に魔人種は男性優位の社会のため、女性は尽くすべき立場であると考えられている. 　
　パウラもまた幼少時からそういった教育を当然のように施され、乾いた砂が水を吸うように吸収してみせた.
　かくして数多の男どもが、その美しさと献身的な物腰に骨の髄まで魅了されることとなる.

　けれどもニーノは、そういった骨抜きにしてきた男性たちとは、やや異なっていた.
　むろんそういった視線をまれに向けてくることもあったが、本当にその程度で積極性の欠片も見せないのだ.
　しかも驚いたことに女性としてのパウラではなく、魔物使いのパウラに関心を寄せている素振りまである.
　自分の魅力が通じない相手は、パウラとしてはこれまた初めてであった.

　そしてさらに理解を超える出来事は続いていく.
　そこで生まれ育った村人さえ気づかなかった場所に、いきなり現れる地下迷宮.
　しかも溢れ出す気配の禍々しさは、皇都にある"災禍の深穴"に匹敵、いやそれ以上である.

　だがニーノは恐れおののくどころか、希望とまで言ってのけたのだ.

　平然と地下迷宮に踏み込んだニーノは、次に見知らぬ薬品をどこからか取り出し全員に与える.
　けれども自信たっぷりな割に、対処はたったそれだけであった. 　

　伝説といえどまだ幼い魔獣たちに、爪先ほどの炎しか出せない魔術士の少女.
　身を張る覚悟を決めたパウラだが、その眼前で数倍に膨れ上がった火球が魔物を貫いた.
　さらに生まれたての魔物と思えぬ動きで、二匹が苛烈な攻撃を繰り出してみせる.

　信じがたい光景であった.
　A potion that can increase the power of magic to such an extent would be worth an unbelievable price in the Empire.
　And to give it away for free to a mere village girl?
　A potion to increase the strength of one's muscles is also something that anyone in the military service would be willing to pile up sacks full of gold coins for.

　As Paula's doubts and amazement deepened, Nino strode through the terrifying underground labyrinth as if he were strolling through a familiar place.
　There was no guide, no map, not even the slightest hint of hesitation.
　And yet, when it came to fighting, he reacted in an uneven manner as if he were an amateur.

　So instead, Paula braced herself for a fight.
　However, she was soon rendered speechless by the fact that everyone's movements, including her own, were improving at an uncanny rate.
　What's more, Paula has easily mastered the first and biggest obstacle for demon users: subordination.

　At this point, Paula reminded herself that common sense was no longer applicable.
　However, she made a firm decision to at least behave as usual.

　But then came the next big battle with the demon.
　But the next battle with the next big demon... Paula did something out of character.
　Unwittingly, her sense of honor for Nino got the better of her.

　Normally, Paula would have been furious with him for taking command without permission.
　Even if it had gone well, it was the nature of men Paula knew well to be unhappy. 　

　Thank you for your help. Keep me posted. And any other help you can give me.
　This was the first time in Paula's life that she had been able to express her feelings in a straightforward manner without any flattery or flattery.

　I want to be of more help to this person.
　Paula surrendered her body and soul to the feelings that had been growing deep inside her.

　And before she knew it, she had vanquished one demon after another and added them to her servants.
　From a simple village girl, Mia became a master of two kinds of magic.
　Even the young monsters have grown up to show glimpses of their former power.

　After many exciting experiences, she finally arrived at the fifth level.
　Nino finally revealed his true intentions in the face of a sight he could not believe his eyes.

"In this underground labyrinth, I will build my empire!

　If ordinary people had heard this, they would have scoffed at it as absurdity.
　But Paula's ears and thoughts were already different from those of ordinary people in this underground labyrinth.

The world will be destroyed in three years. So before that happens, I need to accomplish ...... my ambition!

　As if he had seen it all before, Nino began to talk about the future.
　Paula immediately understands that this is a prediction that is inevitably derived from her superior abilities.

　Her father and brothers, who doted on her and tried to restrain her to an excessive degree, had always assured her, "That man is not worthy of you.

That man was not worthy of you. We'll find you a son-in-law with more magical powers. So you have nothing to worry about.

　The result of believing these words was a life of boredom and inconvenience.
　His uncle, Leocadio, came to the house and asked him about his niece's current situation.

"Paula, are you happy with your life?


I think I deserve it.
Don't you ever think about finding your own way?　Find your own way?
Do you think you can do that, ......?　Can I?
You can't start anything if you don't want to, and you can't accomplish anything if you don't believe you can.

　It's not that I'm not a good person.
　And now that she has found the right path for herself, her heart is thumping like never before.

　--It's him.

　As soon as Nino finished speaking, Paula knelt down and bowed her head deeply.
　The two Hexenbiests flopped down on their bottoms in an attempt to do the same.

　To the Lord, whom she would serve for the rest of her life, Paula spoke her heartfelt wish.

"Let me stay by your side forever, my lord. No, my lord.
"My lord.
"My Lord!

　And so, on this day, at this time.
　And so, on this day, this time, the young alchemist was to have truly loyal servants.

"No, no, no, you got my message!　Hey, are you okay?