"I'm telling you!" Subaru glared at Puck with clear dissatisfaction on her face. "During these few days of your magic release period, can't we just stay at an inn? Let this cat calm down here by himself!"
Puck immediately poked his head out from behind Emilia's shoulder, blinking his large watery eyes.
"Don't be so cruel! I already apologized~"
He curled up pitifully.
"It's too cruel to leave me here all alone, isn't it?"
Roswaal leaned lazily against the back of his chair, gently swirling the tea inside his cup.
"Subaru~ no~ you~ can't~"
He dragged out his words with his usual exaggerated tone.
"As a border count, I cannot simply leave the Mansion whenever I please~"
"Then you stay here and keep him company!" Subaru pointed angrily at Roswaal.
"Why does everyone have to suffer because of this willful cat?"
Roswaal immediately clutched his chest, making an exaggerated expression of pain.
"Oh dear, I am your master after all~ Such heartless words truly wound my heart~"
"No, you're not! At most, this is just an employment relationship!"
Subaru puffed out her cheeks.
Did she really have to revolve around this fireball for the next few days?
She tugged irritably at her blanket, but from the corner of her eye she saw Carlisle adjusting the floating fireball. His white uniform was illuminated by the warm glow of the flames, and his focused profile appeared especially handsome in the flickering light.
Subaru buried her face back into the blanket, her voice muffled.
"...I guess it's not completely unacceptable."
Carlisle let out a soft sigh and said,
"Actually... I have a suggestion."
"During the Great Spirit's mana release period, I can continuously envelop the entire Mansion with fire attribute magic."
He lightly traced a circle on the table with his finger.
"Although it will consume a considerable amount of mana, maintaining basic living conditions should not be a problem. I have already calculated it. With my current mana reserves..."
"Oh, oh! As expected of Sir Knight! So reliable!"
Puck spun excitedly through the air, his fluffy tail raised proudly.
"Then for the next few days, I'll be counting on you..."
"Ow, ow, ow! Lia, let go!"
Emilia had grabbed Puck by the ear, her silver hair swaying slightly with her agitated movement.
"No! Absolutely not!"
Her amethyst colored eyes were filled with worry.
"Maintaining that level of mana consumption for several days will exhaust him! We cannot continue causing trouble for others."
Roswaal elegantly rested his chin on one hand.
"Hmm~ I also object~"
"Our 'Perfect Knight' carries the important duty of protecting this Mansion~ It would be improper to waste his mana on something like this."
"Exactly! This is clearly Puck's fault, so why should Carlisle be the one troubled?"
"Rem also objects. If Carlisle becomes exhausted, Rem will be heartbroken."
---
"Is there really no good solution?"
Subaru slowly fell into thought.
The current situation was truly difficult to handle.
If Puck released all of his accumulated mana at once, not only would the nearby villages suffer, but the surrounding ecosystem would also suffer devastating damage.
Because of that, Puck's mana had to be confined within the area around the Mansion.
But that hateful clown still refused to let everyone leave.
"Hmm... temperature... it's freezing cold, but it's still ice magic."
Subaru suddenly thought of something, and a bright smile appeared on her face.
"I have a plan!"
Seeing the confused expressions on the faces around her, Subaru turned to Puck.
"Puck, since this magic can control temperature, you should be able to do something with ice, right?"
"With ice?"
Puck tilted his head slightly.
"You mean... snow?"
Puck suddenly smacked his paw into his other palm.
"Oh! I understand."
"President Roswaal~ Now I need your approval."
Roswaal raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Although I do not quite understand what you are planning, Subaru, as long as it does not trouble our Perfect Knight too much and we do not need to leave the Mansion, I will approve it~"
"No trouble. It only requires a little water attribute magic."
Subaru looked at Carlisle with shining eyes.
"Carlisle, please make it rain heavily around the Mansion!"
T/N- Ice and snow festival is coming guys.
I'll try to upload 4 chapters tomorrow.