Zero no Tsukaima

Chapter 3: The Last Spear[]

Saito decided to explore the submarine with Tiffania and Luctiana. According to the growth of the barnacles and the seaweed on the submarine, Luctiana deduced that this submarine should be here for around 10 years already.

In total, its length was at around 120 meters, shaped like a cigar, and at the top, a rectangular bridge resembling something like an old tin can, but with much flatter, was built on it.

Saito wanted to say that this was something from his world, but he couldn’t speak underwater. Relying on his hands has its limits after all. Then, Luctiana muttered a spell with an annoyed face.

"This is an underwater communication spell. Now we can talk underwater."

Although the sound quality was lousy, like being transmitted from a damaged speaker, but it was better than relying on body language.

"You should’ve used it from the start if you had such a spell." Saito said.

"Huh? You never asked anyway."

Wanting to enter the submarine, Saito began peeling off the shells attached on the bridge.

"Is this something from your world?" Tiffania asked.

"Yeah."

"That’s amazing. Is that a boat?"

"I guess so... It’s a boat made to travel underwater."

"This boat must be made from iron, right? A boat made of iron can actually float... Is this something that only Saito’s world can do?"

Luctiana smirked, "Hmph~ Even if this thing is made from iron, so long as the inside is empty, it can float. How ignorant. This is nothing! Using this to deal with us elves? Don’t make me laugh."

Saito retorted. "This boat can not only float, but it also can travel underwater."

Luctiana’s eyes went wide with surprise.

"Eh?"

"I say~ Even though you keep mocking us humans as some barbarians, but can you make such a huge submarine?"

Luctiana said, not wanting to admit defeat. "There’s no need to dive underwater!"

"Why do you need to dive underwater then?", Tiffania asked.

Saito racked his brain for the answer.

"To keep ourselves hidden from enemies."

"Enemies?"

"This is a boat used in war, that’s why my rune marking is glowing."

"And to think that fighting a war requires diving underwater..."

"That’s the kind of world I live in."

Just then, Saito noticed something strange. It was impossible for this broken and rusty submarine to be functional. Basically, it was a weapon that could no longer function as one. So why were his rune markings glowing?

"Why are my rune markings still glowing?"

Derflinger said, "You’ll know once you enter. It seems that the submarine itself is beyond repair, but the things inside should be functional."

"What’s inside then?" Tiffania asked.

"No idea. But what I know is that there’s something inside so incredible that even I’m trembling."

Although most of the shells had peeled off, because the cover was rusty, it was still stuck firmly on the bridge. Luctiana used magic, and the rust started falling off.

"The minute vibration of the water thanks to my magic will knock off the rust."

Soon, with a ’pong’ sound, the cover popped open, and sank to the bottom.

The hole in front of them was like a gateway to hell. A creepy atmosphere emanated from the inside.

"Do we really have to enter?" Tiffania said, her face worried.

Saito nodded.

Relying on the light created by Luctiana’s magic, they entered the submarine. Due to seawater leaking into the interior, everywhere was as rusty as a waste land.

Tiffania, who was observing the apparatuses, the operating lever, the water check valve and the wires among other things, suddenly asked a question.

"Saito, don’t you have a plane? Does this boat operate on the same theory as your plane?"

"About that..."

Saito searched his unknowledgable brain for an answer.

Just what does it use to operate?

"No, this thing isn’t relying on anything like oil to operate." Derflinger said, answering the question for Saito.

"Oh, as expected as a legendary sword. I remember that you’ll have the general picture of the situation so long as you’re beside him."

"That thing relies on... the energy generated by particles banging into another particles."

After hearing that, a certain word came to mind. Saito remembered occasionally seeing this word on television, the newspaper and the internet.

Nuclear submarine.

The core of the submarine is...

"Nuclear!"

"Eh? What’s that?"

Uh, a nuclear submarine probably relies on a nuclear reactor to be operational. But since the reactor was as rusty as this place, then it should mean...

The word ’Radiation Leakage’ flashed in Saito’s mind. Radiation pollution, the Chernobyl incident. Those scary terms appeared all at once.

Saito shouted, "Tiffa! Luctiana! Get out of here now! We can’t stay here!"

"Eh? What? What happened?"

"Uh! Basically, the area around here is poisonous."

Tiffania and Luctiana was taken aback by Saito’s outburst. He grabbed their hands, wanting to escape this place, but he ended up knocking into an apparatus.

"It hurts! But it’s better than being exposed by the radiation!"

"There’s no problem, partner." Derflinger said, attempting to calm Saito down.

"What do you mean by no problem?! You have no idea how scary radiation can be!"

"I really have no idea what you mean by radiation, but I’m certain that we’ll be fine. Although this boat relies on that power to be operational, but it seems that there’s no fuel stick on the boat."

Saito remembered a news show he watched in Japan about nuclear power. A fuel stick made from uranium is needed for the reactor to work.

"So you mean we won’t be exposed to any radiation?"

"Probably."

"But even you can’t help but tremble at the things found inside here, right?"

"Yeah."

The interior of the submarine was separated by various walls. They headed further inside, and they passed through the walls. On the way, Saito spotted a gold plate written in Russian.

"This submarine should be from Russia..."

Saito felt more and more uneasy. Once he touched the walls, the rune markings in Saito’s left hand glowed even brighter.Unexpectedly, there was still air at the most bottom end. It seemed that the submarine was submerged horizontally downwards, so all the air was collected at the end.

Relying on Luctiana’s magic, they managed to open the door with the rust on it falling to the ground like rain in front of them.

Inside was a room that seemed to be a control area of the submarine. Various dash boards, buttons and levers could be seen. In front of the control deck, there were four small, round chairs that looked like the chairs from a coffee shop lined up neatly side by side.

Even though the submarine had lost its power because it was sleeping in the ocean for so long, the cold air was sealed inside this room, maintaining some kind of a tranquil atmosphere.

Saito’s rune markings glowed even brighter than before, and started flashing, seemingly in annoyance. The size of the thing that was placed here made him tremble uncontrollably.

Don’t tell me...

Saito touched the control deck filled with rust and water droplets. He immediately understood what was contained by the boxes behind the room, how it was used and its power.

Fighter planes and tanks were nothing compared to this. The power that the circular ’guns’ stored behind was beyond any power ever seen.

It made one feel that the magic in Halkeginia was only a toy.

Seeing Saito standing there shocked. Tiffania and Luctiana worriedly asked.

"Saito, what’s wrong? Are you still okay?"

"What’s going on?"

What do you call this weapon attached to this submarine? Saito remembered from the news he watched before.

It was an artifact left behind by the Cold War.

The strongest "gun" that humans had created.

Once it exploded, it had enough power to wipe a city clean.

Brimir-san... just what do you want me to do with such a thing?

"It’s a nuclear weapon."

Back in the cave after the search mission ended, Saito hid in a corner, bringing both knees to his arms.

This was because of the enormous potential within that thing he found.

...Could I use it as a bargaining chip?

Such a thinking almost made his brain explode.The stubborn attitude of the elves, and the firestone which wiped out a dual purpose naval fleet... if I’m unable to take out something as powerful as that, I don’t think it’s possible that I can negotiate with them.

On the other hand, Saito felt that he should not be using such a thing as a bargaining chip to negotiate with them. After all, nothing would be left if he were to use it.

But, but...

The situation on his side wasn’t optimistic. No matter what, they’re going lose their home. For the bigger picture, he should actively use it as a bargaining tool.

But, but, but...

What if the elves rejects him, what should he do?

When that time comes, must he really fire that thing?

Saito kept repeating the information received inside his mind, the system to detonate the nuclear missiles. Although it was impossible to fire the missiles from the submarine, but after removing a few safety measures put in place, it would be able to explode directly like a bomb.

The rune markings on his left hand told him this method.

He was certain, it was possible to transport the missiles inside the firing barrel, and then directly detonate it.When he thought about that, Saito shook his head, and stared at his hands.

My god, what am I thinking? If I was to do that, I’m the same as that Joseph.

Then what should I do?

Saito sighed.

Luctiana, who was also sitting while hugging both knees, leaning her head on her hands, said.

"Is that strange wasteland that incredible?"

"It’s not just incredible. Uh. No..."

"Huh? Then what is it?"

Saito wondered if he should tell Luctiana the truth. After all, it was an incredible bargaining chip, if it were to be taken away by the elves...

Thinking about this, he felt ashamed. Luctiana may be an elf, but she was willing to save him. Although their goals may be different, but she wasn’t someone Saito should lie to.

"Very incredible."

"How incredible?"

"It can destroy an entire town... No, not just a town, even the capital would be finished."

"Elf magic can do the same as well~ It’s just that we don’t see the need to use it."

"Don’t you understand? It means that even we have such an option now. If we were to use it, all of us would perish together."

"You plan to use such a scary thing?" Luctiana said, looking straight into Saito’s eyes.

"Yeah."

The both stared at each other for a long time. Saito relented.

"I’m just kidding. How can I use such a thing? I think we should just seal it."

Saito crossed both his hands, placing them on his head, before lying down. Although that was what he said on the surface... wasn’t there any other way to make the elves surrender the Holy Land?

As expected, do I have to threaten them?

But even so, Saito didn’t want to use such a scary thing.

"Honestly..." Saito muttered.

"For me to make such a decision, the responsibility is simply too much for me."

If it was Louise, what would she do?

I think, she should be as hesitant as me. Saito thought.

But to not use the power given to him, and escape reality was weak. Louise probably thought the same as well.

That ’gun’... Is this something that will be forgiven if I were to use it?

Within his heart, a voice said ’Of course not’. Then another voice said ’Now is an emergency, don’t hesitate!’

No matter, he still had the responsibility to make a decision. After all, he was the only one who could use that ’gun’.

This reality had changed into an especially heavy burden. Saito couldn’t help but mutter one thing.

"Why me?"

On the other hand, Tiffania was worried about a troubled Saito. What he had found on the submarine seemed to be equipped with something very powerful, so powerful that it could fight against the elves magic. But he felt troubled because of this power.

Tiffania wanted to make Saito feel better, but she didn’t know what she should do. Thus, she could only pace back and forth.

Tiffania pulled down her loose elven clothing, looking at the pair of melons in front of her chest.

Ah, if he saw these...

The thought of it made Tiffania blush.

"Of course not! What was I thinking..."

Although just now was an emergency, and she had showed him them when he became flustered. However, after thinking about it rationally, she shouldn’t be doing such a thing.

However, Tiffania wanted to make him feel better no matter what. Because each time when she was in trouble, Saito would always reach a hand out.

Then what should I do? When it comes to this, I think only his lover can comfort and encourage him? If only Louise was here, then...

If it was Louise, she would surely make him feel better.

"If only I was Saito’s lover...", Tiffania muttered.

That night, when the moon hid inside the clouds, she gently kissed Saito in the darkness. After that, she should have thought that this should be enough, but somehow...

Somehow, she felt that she wasn’t like herself anymore.

Tiffania pressed her hands against her chest. Although in the beginning, she had an ambiguous liking towards Saito, but...

Humans are really a species that easily fall in love with another of its kind.That’s right, because...

---I feel that, I’m always thinking about Saito.

After that night when they kissed, it had always been like that. Recently, Tiffania felt happy just swimming alongside with Saito.

Once she felt happiness, she wanted things to stay like this forever.

And to think that she wanted things to stay like this forever.

"Despite the situation being so urgent..."

Tiffania hated herself for being so weak. "Now is not the time for me to immerse myself in happiness.", she thought.

She thought of something she could do, and an idea flashed into her mind.

Right!

A familiar!

I haven’t summoned a familiar. Maybe if I were to summon a familiar... would I become more useful?

Although Tiffania thought that she would bringing her familiar trouble summoning it in such a place, she still thought that this was something she had to do eventually: perhaps her familiar might be the key in solving their current situation.

She had no idea what might appear, but it was better than doing nothing.

Tiffania walked to a corner, and tried to recall the summoning spell she learned in school. This was a spell not commonly used.

Because the incarnation was colloquial in nature, the words of the spell could be freely changed. The teacher mentioned that what was important wasn’t the words being said, but the strong desire within one’s heart.

The power of magic comes from willpower.

And words were only used to give meaning to that willpower.

There was also another reason in summoning a familiar.

A familiar was brought to a master through the magical strings of fate. This was why Saito and Louise had such a strong bond. Although their personalities were worlds apart, both were aware that they could not live without each other.

If only I had such a person beside me...

Then would the feelings for Saito disappear?

Would it become an invisible bubble, and be absorbed by the vast ocean.

Tiffania took a deep breath, and raised her wand.

"My name is Tiffania Westwood, by the powers governing the five elements..."

She changed her mind, and put down her wand.

Summoning a familiar in such a situation would be too pathetic. Tiffania felt that she wouldn’t be able to create a good bond between it and her as well. If that was the case, then there would be no point.

Tiffania was at a loss as she hugged her knees and sat down. Even so, it changed nothing.

After recovering from her daze, she realized that she had been staring at the ring on her right hand. It was a ring from her mother. There was a shining spirit gem on the ring, but only the silver ring setting remained, as she had used the gem to cure Saito’s injuries.

Because it was something that her dead mother had left for her, even if only the setting remained, she still wore it. The design of the setting was unique, a net-like pattern that overlapped, layer by layer. Probably an elven style of design.

Every time Tiffania saw this ring, she would always think of her mother. When she was young, her mother was killed by a knight using magic when she jumped to protect Tiffania.

Being a mixed-blood elf, she had no companions, and she was also banned from leaving home, so she only had her mother for company. Her mother often talked about the incidents regarding the desert. There was an oasis, and a huge town... though Tiffania never thought that she would come to this place in such a manner.

Tiffania realized that not all elves were as kind as her mother. She felt heartbroken upon thinking that. Even in the world of the elves, there was nowhere she belonged to.

Would there be a place for her in the human world then? She had a human companion, but, but...

He already had someone in mind, because there was already a girl who had a strong bond with him.

Even if she were to live in the human world, she would still be in pain.

"Somewhere I belong..." Tiffania muttered.

Would those of the same elven kind as her mother... perhaps be someone gentle?

Would there be a place where she truly belonged?

"I really want to meet the elves who are the same kind as my mother...", Tiffania thought.