「こほん。と、取り敢えず、ですね。私共が格式に則った使用人然としているのは、使われているという被支配的なものではなく、いうなればお嬢様方の世間体を保つのが理由でございます。ですので、そういうものとして割り切って頂く他ないのです」
「は、はい…」
　答えながら一気に乾いてしまった喉を潤そうと牛乳に口を付けるランだったが、あまりにも大き過ぎたコルの説明に怖じ気付いてしまって、なんだか自分の一挙一動にあらゆる責任が付随してきそうな錯覚を覚え、震える手で持ったコップの淵が歯に当たってカチカチと音を鳴らしてしまう。それを見たコルは取って付けたような不自然な笑みを浮かべていて、しかもさりげなく視線を逸らしていた。
「お嬢様って偉い方なんですねぇ。わ、私はまだ金銭感覚っていうのがよく解らないのでピンときませんけど、それでも凄いって事くらいは、その、理解できました」
「そうさな、シュトラヘルツ代々の当主として国連退魔機構に登録し、活動資金も融資してるし…それなりに偉くはあるのかのう」
　キュイのたどたどしい評価に、エルザは満更でもなさそうに、にんまりと笑う。
　古き時代、独自にネクロマンシー理論を構築し、そして歴史に記されていない魔女狩りにおいて処刑された、悲劇の魔法使いエルザ・ハルモニア・ネクロシュトラー。永久活動者…つまり不死身であったが故に実はちゃっかり生きていて、その存在を隠したままシュトラヘルツを名乗り血族全てを自演で誤魔化し、周囲を欺き続けながら今日に至るエルザだったりする訳だが、シュトラヘルツとなってから何代目かの頃に、ネクロシュトラーであった頃の有り余る資金を元手に戯れに始めた事業が大成功してしまい、現在では財閥となる程までに成長したという経緯を持つ。
　今の時代、最早魔女として恐れられる事もなく、正体を明かせば世界中の能力者と妖怪を統括する国連退魔機構から破格の待遇を受けられもするが、敢えてそうする必要もないくらいの暮らしができているし、エルザ自身も「伝説は伝説のままであった方が、それを知る者にとって幸せである」という価値観を持っているために、エルザが魔法使いである事実を知る者は、ごく限られた親しい者に限定されている。実のところ、シュトラヘルツ家に仕えるメイド達ですら半数以上がエルザの正体を知らない。
　とはいえ、エルザも魔法が自由に使えないのは不便であるため、一応は国連退魔機構に代々の当主として登録し続けているが、全て魔法使いではなく中級魔術師としてである。木を隠すなら森の中とはよく言ったもので、目立った活動さえしなければその素性を疑われる事もなく、そして下手に上級としておくよりも有象無象に数えられる中級の方が自由度が高いのだ。時々来る超常事件の調査・解決要請を適当にこなしさえしていれば、これほど気楽な立場もない、とは本人の弁である。魔術よりも出力・効果が遥かに高い魔法を使う時点で、何かが間違っている気がしないでもないが。
「ち、ちょっと待って…融資…って、相手は国連組織なんでしょ？そこに融資できるって、この家、どれだけお金持ちなの…？」
　まだ小刻みな震えが止まらないランは、手にしたコップを落とさないように両手で包み込んで持ちながら、絞り出すようにそう言った。
　ランも国連退魔機構についての説明は聞いている。本部は日本、それもラン達が住む御稲荷市をお膝元とする大企業宮名内インダストリー社を隠れ蓑とし、国内のみならず世界各地に支部を展開している非公式の国連組織である。
　宮名内インダストリー社は同時に企業そのものを本部或いは支部としているため、活動資金は表向きとする宮名内インダストリー社から出資されているが、本部のみならず全国展開する支部の維持費だけでなく雑費、調査費等の経費、超常事件を解決した者への報酬、被害者への慰謝料や賠償金と、とにかく出費に関しては数え上げればきりがなく、それを満足に補えるだけの資金を用意するのは、世界市場を展開する宮名内インダストリー社をもってしても困難を極め、あっという間に困窮してしまう。なにより非公式組織であるために表立った国連団からの支援が期待できないのが手痛い。
　この慢性的な財政難を救っているのが、各国の富裕層による資金援助である。超常的世界を知る者は限られ、須くという訳ではないが、現体制を維持できる程度の活動資金を獲得し得るには彼等彼女等の存在は不可欠であり、これには宮名内インダストリー社との提携という形でシュトラヘルツ家も含まれている。もっとも、シュトラヘルツ家による国連退魔機構への融資額が毎度群を抜いて巨額であるため、中級魔術師として有象無象に紛れ込んでいるつもりのエルザは、違う意味で重要人物扱いされていたりする。シュトラヘルツのメイド達の中には、対象が中級魔術師であるという理由で派遣されてきた護衛メイドも少なからず居るのだが、エルザは例外なく彼女達に正体を明かし口止めしている。彼女達にとって特にエルザに逆らう理由も無く、また正体を知った事で逆らうもに命懸けの勇気が必要な相手になってしまったためか、今のところシュトラヘルツ家の抱える秘密が外部へ漏れた事はない。
　話が逸れたが、この非公式な国連組織の活動を維持できる程度に資金援助できるという事はつまり、それだけの額を融資してなお自分達の生活に影響が出ない程度に財産を持っている、という事に繋がる訳で…広大な敷地を所有し、自前の飛行場と自家用機付きのやたらに広い屋敷、それだけでもとんでもない大富豪だと思っていたのに、まだそれを上回るというのである。いよいよ想像の天井を突き破り始めたシュトラヘルツという家に、ランは戦慄を禁じ得なかった。
「どれだけ、ったってなぁ。どれだけだったかのう？」
「そうですねぇ、魔導具や機甲魔具等の研究機関のような、表社会から秘密裏に展開する企業まで抱えていますし、資産に計上できない分もあるので、正確には…情報操作で長者番付にも載れませんし、ええと…少々お待ち下さいまし、私が思いつく限りで計算できる分で申し上げますと…」
　言いながら難しい顔になったコルは、両手の指を使った計算を始めた。実は計算が苦手なのかと思ったが、ひとつ指を折る度に小声で聞いた事もない企業の名前を呟いている事ので、どういう計算の仕方かは判らないが、本当に思いつく限りで資産を計算しているようだった。
　時間が掛かりそうだ、とランがまだ止まらない震えを何とか抑えて牛乳を口にした瞬間、計算を終えたコルが何気なく言った。
「公表できる分の計上ですと、総資産５４０億ドル、ですわね」
　エルザの顔面に乳白色の拡散波動砲が炸裂した。

まめちしき：
　長者番付１位に君臨するビ○・ゲ○ツの２０１４年度総資産は約７６０億ドル。
　もしエルザが長者番付に載れていたら、３位か４位にはランクインしていた筈なんだ。凄いね！

庭園に円環と機甲ユニットが取り付けられた箒が浮いている。その下では質素なゴシックドレスに身を包んだエルザがコルと何やら話しあっていた。
　出発の時間は３０分程遅れていた。ランの口から発射された拡散波動砲の威力は抜群で、顔面直撃による被害は着物にまで及んでおり、シャワーと着替えに時間を取られていたのである。慌ててクローゼットを引っ掻き回してみたものの、殆どの服は日本へ移住した際に持って行ったか処分していたために、古いドレスと偽装で通っていた女学院の制服しか残っていなかったのもあって、探すのに手間取ってしまったのも原因だった。
「もうちょっと普通の服は残ってなかったのか？」
「何を仰います、お嬢様がキモノ以外のお着替えを持っていらっしゃらなかったのが、悪いのではありませんか」
「いやあのな、キモノって結構かさばる…まぁ良いわい、ここで議論していても余計に遅れるだけだしな。エアリ＝アル、来い！」
　エルザの呼びかけに、待ってましたとばかりに空中に浮かんでいた箒が滑るように降りてくる。心なしか、久し振りに使われるのが嬉しい、とでも言いたげに見えなくもない。
「この子を使うのも、久し振りでございますね」
「日本は開けた土地が少ないからな。こいつで空なんて飛んだ日には、すぐに見つかってしまう。その所為で持って行けなかったのが心残りだったんじゃよなぁ」
　魔法の箒Aeri=al。シュトラヘルツ家が出資する機甲魔具研究機関が開発した、魔女の箒を機甲部品を用いる事で再現した空飛ぶ箒である。機甲ユニットのお陰でいびつなシルエットになっているものの、本物に比べ安全性、旋回性、加速性が向上、機甲翼とユニット内部に組み込まれた魔石、そして箒に取り付けられた円環によって慣性制御と空気抵抗軽減効果を持たせる事で、使用者に負担を掛けることなくフォーミュラカー並みの最高速度を叩き出し、更に魔法の発動体としても使用可能という、エルザお気に入りの一品だ。
　エアリ＝アルに横向きに腰かけると、一気に５ｍ程浮上する。続けてコルの頭上を２、３度旋回すると、エルザは満足げに頷いた。
「よしよし、感覚は損なっておらんようじゃな。ではコル、行ってくるぞ！留守とランを頼む！」
「はい！行ってらっしゃいませ、お嬢様！」
　コルの返事を聞くと、エルザは一気に上空へ向け加速し、あっという間に小さな点になった。それを見えなくなるまできっちり見送ったコルは、ランのところへ向かう事にした。
（今頃キュイは遅めの朝食の最中でしょうしね。あの子は体が大きいから食事の摂取量も比例して多いし、食べ終わるまで少々時間が掛かる。その間は私が小お嬢様のお側に居よう。確か小お嬢様は…中庭、だったかしら）
　エルザを見送る為に庭園に出る際、ランは中庭に設置された小さな丸テーブルに突っ伏して、ぷるぷる震えていた。自分の所為でああなってしまったのだから、せめて美味しい紅茶でも淹れて、落ち着かせて差し上げよう。そう思って中庭に向けて歩き出す。
　すると、中庭に意識を向けたコルの耳に、楽しげな声が届いた。
（小お嬢様？もうお立ち直りになられたのかしら…それにこの声は、キュイ？あの子、もう食べ終わったの？いつもより早いじゃない）
　自然と早足になり、庭園の扉をくぐり、花壇と池を抜け、一旦屋敷の中を経由して、小さな菜園を通り過ぎ、中庭に辿り着くと、そこにはキュイと談笑しているランの姿があった。先程までの怯えた様子はなく、すっかり元通りのようである。紅茶に口を付け、朝のおめざだろうか、ビスケットを齧っている。
（小お嬢様を元気づけてくれたのね。キュイ、ナイスワーク！）
　と思ったのも束の間、よく見ればキュイの前には彼女用に量を調節した食事が並んでいる。どうやらキュイは朝食を摂りながらランと話しているようだった。それに気付くや否や、コルは思わずダッシュしていた。
「キュイ！小お嬢様の前で食事するなんて、しかもわざわざこんな所に持ってきて、なんて無礼な真似をッ！」
「ひゃいっ！？じ、侍従長、こ、こり、これは、そのっ！」　
　土煙と共にズザーッと音を立てながら突然現れたコルに、キュイは驚きで数cmほど椅子から飛び上がる。
　が、キュイを叱ろうとするコルを、ピッと立てられたランの手が静止した。
「違うよ。キュイさんが私の前で食事してるんじゃなくて、私が食事してるキュイさんを付き合わせてるの」
「…はい？」
　かくん、とコルの肩が落ちた。
「別に一緒に食事してる訳じゃないもの、私の食事はとっくに済んでいるんだし。キュイさんは食事中なのに私に付き合わされてるだけ。ここにいるのは私に連れ出されたから仕方なく。私はついでにビスケットを齧ってるだけよ。文句があるなら私に言ってもらおうかな、コルさん？」
「な…な…」
　確かにそれなら、ランと一緒に食事をしている訳ではないし、キュイがランを食事に付き合わせている訳でもない。食事をする場所を指定されただけで、その食事中に「たまたま」軽食をつまむ主が同席してきて、付き合わされているのであれば…主の食事にメイドが同席している訳ではないのだし、主とメイドという体裁を保ちつつ同じテーブルに着く事はできる。相当な屁理屈ではあるが。
　絶句するコルとオロオロするキュイの前で、とぼけた素振りで紅茶を啜るラン。コルはそのランの振る舞いに、エルザの姿が重なったような気がした。
（この屁理屈といい、矛先を自分に向けて文句を封じるやり口といい…強引さは及ばないけれど、お嬢様にそっくり…！）
　足の力が抜けてへたり込むコルに、ランは明後日の方を向いて、してやったりとばかりにペロリと舌を出した。
（ふ…ふふ。ふふふふふ。弱気になっていたと見せ掛けて、脅し過ぎた私に仕返しする方法を練っていた訳ですか…可愛らしい顔してなかなかやりますね、小お嬢様！）
　へたり込んだまま、葛藤の末に握り拳を作るコル。

その頃、コルに見付かった事に焦ったキュイは、怒られるならせめて取り上げられる前に早く食べ終えなくては、と急いで口に詰め込んだ食事を喉に詰まらせて、無言のまま気を失おうとしていた。

"Ahem. A, anyway. Us servants following customs isn't so that we are being used or controlled. If I had to say, the reason is to protect the image of the mistresses in the public's view. And so, for that, there is no other option."
"Y, yes..."
Answering, Ran tried to moisten her suddenly dry throat with some milk, but as she put the cup to her mouth, she became terrified at Col's excessively grandiose explanation. She started thinking that every single one of her actions had some implication, and with a loud clank, she banged her teeth against the lip of the cup she held in her quivering hands. Seeing this, Col gave a forced, unnatural smile and casually averted her eyes.
"The mistress is very impressive. I, I still don't have much financial understanding, so I don't really get it, but I, uh, still know what's amazing."
"Yeah, as the head of Schtlehertz for generations, I'm registered with the U.N. anti-demon organization, and even financing their activities... That alone is impressive."
Elza didn't mind Cuey's questionable assessment, and smiled.
Long long ago, she, the tragic wizard Elza Harmonia Necroschtle, created the original theories of necromancy, and was executed during a witch hunt that was never recorded in history. An immortal... Basically, she an immortal body, and so she actually secretly lived, and while keeping that existence a secret, she called herself Schtlehertz and tricked people by playing all the roles of her relatives, and while continuing this masquerade, she became the Elza of today. However, after countless generations of being Schtlehertz, she started playing around investing with the excessive money she had as Necroschtle, and her business became a huge success. And that's the story of how it grew into the business conglomerate of today.
Now, no longer feared as a witch, if she revealed her true identity, she would get special treatment from the U.N. anti-demon organization, which oversees the world's people with special abilities and youkai. However, for her daily life, there's no need for her to do that. And since Elza herself thinks "Legends should just remain legends, and those who know that are blessed", those who know the truth that Elza is a wizard are limited to only those closest to her. In reality, even among the maids employed by the Schtlehertz family, the majority of them don't know Elza's true identity.
However, since it would be inconvenient for Elza to not be able to use magic freely, she continues to be registered with the U.N. anti-demon organization as the head of the Schtlehertz family, but not as a full wizard, but as a mid level mage. They say that the best place to hide a tree is in a forest, so as long as she doesn't do anything that stands out, no one would doubt her background, and she'll have more freedom amongst the masses of mid level magicians than being a bad high level one. As when as she heeds the call to investigate and resolve the occasional supernatural incident however she feels, then it's not that easy going, she says. When she magic with much higher output and effect, she says that it just must be some misunderstanding, right?
"H, Hold on... Financing... And you're doing that for a U.N. group? How rich is this family, to be able to finance them...?"
Ran's small trembling still hadn't stopped, and so that she wouldn't drop the cup that she was holding in her hand, she grasped it with both hands, and squeezed out that question.
Ran had heard an explanation about the U.N. anti-demon organization. Headquartered in Japan, it had control over Oinari City, where Ran and her friends lived. Using Miyanauchi Industries Corp as a front, it was an unofficial U.N. group that had branches in Japan and in various places around the world.
At the same time, for its headquarters and branches, to keep its front as Miyanauchi Industries Corp, it had investors, but for the headquarter and expanding branches around the world, not only did it need running costs, but expenses, investigation costs, remuneration for those who resolved supernatural incidents, settlements and indemnities for the victims, and countless other expenses. Just to have enough funds for this, they had Miyanauchi Industries Corp become a public traded company, but in a flash, they were in trouble and out of funds. Also, since they were an unofficial group, they couldn't expect any funding from the public U.N.
What saved them from their chronic financial difficulties was the financial support of the upper class of various countries. Those who knew about the supernatural world weren't forced, but financing the activities to maintain the status quo would be impossible without those men and women. And in this way, Miyanauchi Industries Corp became linked with the Schtlehertz family. However, the amount the Schtlehertz family financed far exceeded all the others, and due to the large amounts, Elza, who planned on getting lost amongst the other mid level magicians, was treated as someone special, in a different way. Among the Schtlehertz maids, there were several who were targeted as mid level magicians, and so were dispatched as guard maids. Elza made sure that each and every one kept quiet about her true identity. There was no reason for them to disobey Elza, and since it required someone courageous enough to face a life or death situation to disobey and reveal that, the secret of the Schtlehertz family has not been leaked to the outside.
This is an aside, but being able to finance the actions of this unofficial U.N. group, and to have it so that amount of money didn't affect their daily living, meant that the amounts of assets they had was... Owning a huge estate, with a private airport and personal jet and a big mansion... Those alone would make you think that they're really right, but this far exceeds that. Ran couldn't help but tremble as her idea of the Schtlehertz family soared through the imaginary roof.
"How rich, you say? How rich are we?"
"Yes, there are assets that cannot be calculated, like the magical items and magitek labs, and the ones we employ from our public corporations to the secret development businesses, so an exact figure is... And you aren't listed in any news listings of richest people, so... please give me a moment. I will calculate as best I can and let you know..."
Saying this, Col had a difficult look on her face, and using the fingers on both hands, started calculating. It seemed like she was bad at calculating, but each time she put down a finger, she would mutter the name of a business in a quiet voice that no one could ear, so no one knew how she was calculating. But it seemed like she was calculating the assets in some way.
It seemed like it was going to take a while, so Ran, still trembling, brought her milk to her mouth. But in that instant, Col finished her calculating and casually said.
"Including the official amounts, your total assets are 54 billion dollars."
A milky white wave gun spray exploded on Elza's face.

Trivia:
The reigning richest man, B*ll G*tes, has a total assets of 76 billion dollars in 2014. If Elza was on that list, she would be ranked 3rd or 4th. Wow!

A broom with a ring and mech unit installed was floating in the garden. Beneath it was Elza, wearing a simple gothic dress and talking to Col about something.
She was about 30 minutes late from her depature time. The destructive power of the wave gun spray coming out from Ran's mouth was impressive, and the damage caused from the direct hit to her face even reached her kimono, and it took time for her to shower and change clothes. Going through her disorganized closet, most of her clothes were either taken with her when she moved to Japan, or thrown out, so the only thing she had left was this old dress that she wore as a disguise when she attended a girl's school. Her search was the cause of the delay.
"Wasn't there anything more normal left?"
"What are you talking about, isn't it your fault that you only brought kimonos for your clothes?"
"Well, umm, kimonos are big... Well, whatever, arguing will only make me later. Come, Aeri=al!"
Being called by Elza, the broom that was waiting, floating in the sky, now descended like it was gliding. Somehow, it seemed happy at finally being used. That was the only way to describe it.
"It's been a long time since I used her."
"That's because there's not much open space in Japan. If I were to fly through the sky, I'd be spotted immediately. It's unfortunately that I couldn't bring her to such a place."
The magic broom Aeri=al. Developed by the magitek lab that the Schtlehertz family financed, it was a magic broom fitted with mecha parts that could fly. Due to the mech unit, the silouette was a little distorted, but compared to the original, it was safer, had better handling and acceleration. The mech wings and the demon stone within the unit, and also the ring attached to the broom, gave it inertial control and a decrease in wind resistance. This allowed it to reach speeds similar to a formula race car without any burden on the rider. Also, it was also possible to use it for magic, so it was Elza's favorite.
When she sat down on Aeri=al, it suddenly floated up 5 meters. It then did 2 or 3 circles above Col's head, and Elza nodded in satisfaction.
"All right, I haven't lost my touch. Then, off I go Col! I'm leaving watching the house and Ran to you!"
"Yes! Have a safe trip, mistress!"
Hearing Col's response, Elza suddenly accelerated skyward, and a moment later, was only a speck in the distance. Col, watching her off until she should see her any more, then turned towards Ran.
(Cuey must be in the middle of eating her late breakfast right now. She has a big body so her intake must be similarly big, so I have a little time before she's done. In the meantime, I'll stay with the little mistress. I'll bet the little mistress is... in the courtyard.)
Once she leaves the garden where she saw Elza off from, she'll head to the small table in the courtyard where Ran had parked herself, and prostrate herself, trembling. It was her own fault that this happened, so she should at least make some delicious black tea to calm her down. Thinking this, she started walking towards the courtyard.
As she did this and turned her attention towards the courtyard, a pleasant voice reached her ears.
(The little mistress? Maybe she's already feeling better... And that voice is Cuey? That girl's already done eating? Isn't that faster than normal?)
Naturally picking up her pace, she went through the garden door, ignoring the flower bed and pond, quickly passing through the estate, going past the vegetable garden, and arrived at the courtyard. There, she saw Cuey and Ran chatting. There was none of the fear that she had earlier, and she was the same as she was before. She was sipping on black tea, probably from her morning tea, and nibbling on a biscuit.
(You got the little mistress feeling better. Nice work, Cuey!)
She thought that for a moment, but after taking a closer look, Cuey's allotment of food was right in front of her. It looked like Cuey was having her breakfast while talking with Ran. As soon as she realized this, Col instinctively dashed in.
"Cuey! How rude of you! What are you doing, bringing yoru food all the way out here and eating in front of the little mistress!"
"Hyaa! H, head chamberlain, t, th, this is, umm!"
Col, suddenly appearing with a screech and a cloud of dust, surprised Cuey, and she jumped several cm off of her seat.
However, Col, who was scolding Cuey, was silenced by Ran's hand motioning to stop.
"That's wrong. Cuey-san isn't eating in front of me, I'm making her keep me company while she eats."
"...Huh?"
With a kathunk, Col's shoulder's dropped.
"We aren't eating together, I finished my meal a while ago. I'm just making Cuey-san keep me company, even though she's eating right now. She's here now, since I brought her with me, so it can't be helped. I felt like nibbling on a biscuit. If you have any complaints, why don't you tell me, Col-san?"
"Wh... Wh..."
Certainly, if that was the case, then she wasn't eating with Ran, nor was Cuey making Ran keep her company while she ate. If she was instead just instructed where to eat, and while she was eating, her mistress was also there, "sometimes" stealing a bite to eat, and she was being made to keep her company... Then she wouldn't be sharing a table with her mistress, and they could keep the facade of mistress and maid while sitting at the same table. It was a masterful loophole.
In front of the speechless Col and nervous Cuey, Ran was sipping black tea, playing dumb. Col could see Elza doing the exact same thing Ran was doing now.
(This loophole, this technique aimed directly at me to silence my complaints... She doesn't have the same overpowering force, but it's just like the mistress...!)
Col's legs gave out and she collapsed to the floor. Seeing this, Ran completely misunderstood, and stuck out her tongue.
(He... Hehe. Hehehehe. She was just pretending to be timid, and this is how she's getting revenge on me, who was too terrifying... You did quite well with a lovely face, little mistress!)
Still collapsed on the floor, and at the end of the battle, Col clenched her fist.

Meanwhile, Cuey, who was in a fluster after seeing Col, thought that if she got in trouble, she would get her food taken away from her before she was finished eating. And so, as she stuffed her food into her mouth, it got stuck in her throat, and she silently lost consciousness.