Granvelle Castle | Main Episode

[healingbonds]

MahoYaku Masterpost & Translator's Notes

CHAPTER 1

Akira: We’ve arrived at the Central tower. Today I’d like the Central wizards to head on a mission to Granvelle Castle.

Riquet: Is that Prince Arthur’s......

Arthur: That’s right. It’s the castle where I live, and the royal castle of Central Country.

Cain: It’s deeply concerning to hear that mysterious incidents are happening at the castle where the Queen resides. Are you familiar with the details, Prince Arthur?

Arthur: Yes. Apparently, a skylark flew into the castle and started speaking like a human.

Oz: Are you sure it’s not a familiar?

Arthur: That is a possibility, but we have been unable to capture and investigate the skylark.

Oz: Why?

Arthur: Mother appears to be very fond of it......

Oz: .........

Arthur: She’s named it Arthur, and seems to think of it as me. Or rather......
She’s treating it as her real son, who hadn’t been born a wizard......

Cain: No way...... But you’re the only real son she has, Prince Arthur.

Arthur: Considering the circumstances, it’s quite difficult for me to handle the matter on my own. I’m sorry to trouble you guys, but......

Riquet: Not at all. I’m happy to be of help.

Akira: That’s right, Arthur. We’ll all work together and......


> Option: Find out the true form of the talking skylark!

Arthur: You’re right. For a start, we have to determine whether it means harm or not.


> Option: Defeat the talking skylark!

Arthur: That’s true...... Perhaps I should eliminate it without any hesitation. After all, it is deceiving Mother.


> Option: Put the Queen’s mind at rest!

Arthur: That’s true. I’d like to do my best and fulfill my duty as her son.


Oz: ......It might be some wicked presence attempting to instigate trouble by drawing on the darkness in the Queen’s heart.
Let’s catch the skylark first.

Arthur: Yes. I’m counting on you guys.
Oh right, Sir Sage. Please tell me when you get tired. The lounge room is a good place to take a break, so I’ll show you there.

Akira: It feels like only important people should enter a castle’s lounge room, so is it really all right for me to use it?

Arthur: There’s no need to be so reserved. You can use it as a place to deepen your connections with other people and relax, just like the magic headquarters’ lounge room.
Conversation tends to flow more casually in a new setting, and there’s a higher chance of feeling your heart flutter — that’s what the former sage told me.

Akira: (Isn’t that about dating spots......?)
G-Got it. I’ll be sure to drop by later and get friendlier with everyone!


CHAPTER 2

Akira: Granvelle Castle...... It’s so splendid no matter how many times I look at it......

Riquet: Yes. I was also taken aback the first time I saw it. It must be amazing to live in a place like this......

Arthur: Simply living in the castle doesn’t make you amazing. But the castle’s architects and King Alec, who founded the country, must have been amazing.

Riquet: I’m nervous about our mission in the castle, but capturing the skylark sounds really fun.

Cain: Yeah. Rustica seems like he’d be great at it. Oz, what do we do?

Oz: What do you mean?

Cain: Our strategy for capturing the skylark. You got any advice?

Oz: It would be too much trouble to seek out each bird one by one. If we burn down every single thing that flies through the sky......

Arthur: Sir Oz, you’re making jokes again. It would be too cruel to the other birds if you simply burned them all.

Oz: ............
You’re right.

Arthur: Yes!

Oz: Let’s search one by one.

Arthur: Yes! Let’s get on our brooms, and make it a race to see who finds it first!

Cain: I guess that’s the only way, huh.

Riquet: How about we spread bait and lure it down here?

Arthur: Bait?

Riquet: Yes. That’s how I used to call the birds to me, since I couldn’t step out of the church.

Cain: You’ve sure been through a lot...... Then, let’s scatter bait and set a trap. Though it’d probably attract other birds too.

Oz: If there are mysterious powers residing in the skylark, mana stones would work better than things like grains, fruits, vegetables or worms.

Cain: True. But you sure know a lot about bait for birds.

Arthur: When I was a child, Sir Oz and I often laid out feed to invite birds. We even hand-made birdhouses. Sir Oz was really good at it!

Cain: Oz did that?

Riquet: Handmade?

Oz: Arthur...... You do not have to share such unnecessary things......

Arthur: Ehehe.

Akira: The more I hear these stories of the past, the more it sounds like Oz was just a really good father......
(If only Arthur could get along with his real mother, the Queen, as well......)


CHAPTER 3

Riquet: Bait for the skylark..... Where would be a good place to lay out the mana stones?

Cain: If the skylark is attached to the Queen, shouldn’t we set them out in her room?

Arthur: That’s true......

Akira: Will that be a problem?

Arthur: Ah, no, I’m not sure. Lately, I haven’t talked to Mother one-on-one, so I really can’t say.

Cain: You haven’t talked to her? Were you told not to speak to her?

Arthur: They didn’t put it that plainly. It seems she would prefer for communication to be passed through other people, so that’s what I’ve been requested to do. Even the royal courtiers and palace maids have said so......

Oz: ............

Akira: Where are you going, Oz?

Oz: I will talk to the Queen.

Cain: Hold on! The Queen’s heart would stop if you just showed up all of a sudden!

Oz: She will die from the skylark’s curse eventually.

Riquet: W-we don’t know that yet...... Besides, don’t go saying that in front of Prince Arthur......

Oz: ............

Arthur: Ah...... No, it’s fine. Ah, I suppose saying that makes me an unfilial son. That’s not what I meant......
Sir Oz, you’re just worried about me, aren’t you? What I meant is that your feelings have been conveyed properly.

Oz: ............
You do not want any misfortune to befall the queen, correct?

Arthur: Of course not.

Oz: Well then, prince of Central Country. Do not stop me.

Arthur: ............

Oz: I will grant you your wish.


CHAPTER 4

Arthur: ............

Akira: Arthur, are you okay?

Arthur: Yeah. I’m just curious as to what Sir Oz and Mother are talking about......

Akira: Um, you don’t have to answer if it’s hard for you, but......

Arthur: What is it?

Akira: What do you think of the Queen?
If I were in your shoes, I’d feel really lonely that my own mother gave my name to a skylark and loved it instead......

Arthur: Well......
I do feel lonely, and I do wish that we could get along better.
But it’s also true that Mother has gone through a lot of pain because of my birth......
As long as Mother can live peacefully, that’s enough for me.

Akira: You’re really kind, Arthur......

Arthur: Am I really...? Maybe it would be more normal to feel more hatred or sorrow.
“Please love me. Please acknowledge me.” Maybe I would’ve seemed more like a human child if I had clung to Mother like that.

Akira: Arthur......

Arthur: But I had Sir Oz, so......
Sir Oz brought me up with care and taught me magic. He accepted me the way I was.
I do wonder how things would’ve turned out if only I hadn’t been born as a wizard, the way Mother had wished......
But then I would have never met Sir Oz. Because of the memories I have with Sir Oz, I have no fear of being rejected by other people.

Akira: I see how it is......
I’m glad you meet Oz, Arthur.

Arthur: Yes. Sir Sage.

Oz: Arthur, Sage.

Arthur: Sir Oz.

Oz: I talked to the queen. She has agreed to vacate her room and let us have it for tonight.

Akira: The skylark......

Oz: Do not worry about it.

Arthur: Got it. Well then, let’s make our preparations.


CHAPTER 5

Akira: So this where you were, Oz.

Oz: ......Did you catch the skylark? Where’s Arthur?

Akira: No, not yet. Arthur is standing by in the Queen’s room with Cain and Riquet.

Oz: I see.

Akira: How did you manage to persuade the Queen? Wasn’t she convinced that the skylark was her own child?

Oz: I asked her if she truly meant to take the bird as her own child.
And if so, I told her I would take her actual son away with me.

Akira: Oz......

Oz: The Queen refused. She must have finally come to her senses.
Naturally. No mother would hand their child over to a wizard who they fear as the demon king.

Akira: Demon king..... But I think that you’re a good father figure to Arthur, Oz.

Oz: .....Akira......

Akira: You even made birdhouses with him.......

Oz: ......Enough of that story.

(Footsteps)

Arthur: Sir Oz, Sir Sage!

Akira: Arthur.

Arthur: We caught the talking skylark.

Akira: Really! That’s great!

Arthur: But we can’t tell its true form...... It seems to have transformed from something — not a bird, but something else.

Oz: I see. Let us go take a look at it.

✦✧☾✧✦

Akira: Cain, Riquet. As for the captured skylark......

Riquet: Ah, Sir Sage..... Over here.

Skylark: Sir Sage, Sir Sage.

Akira: Woah, it really talked!

Skylark: I’m the real Arthur. I’ve yearned to meet you, Mother. Please help, save me......

Cain: This is...... Anyone would be affected by this, not just the Queen.

Oz: Show me.


CHAPTER 6

Akira: Oz...... Do you know the true form of this skylark?

Oz: It’s a type of larvae. Wandering souls that get lost on their way to the afterlife turn into evil spirits, cursing and killing humans.

Riquet: No way...... To think that it’s such a terrifying thing when it looks so adorable......

Skylark: Love me. Adore me. I’m the real Prince Arthur.

Arthur: I’m the real Arthur. Let me send your soul to the afterlife.

Skylark: I’m the real one. Love me.

Arthur: The real Arthur is a prince, and a wizard. He does not beg for love.
Love is something you forge. It’s something you can bring forth no matter where you are, or who the other person is.
The same goes for you right now.

Skylark: ............

Arthur: My blessings for you......
<< Pernoctant Nixzo >>

✦✧☾✧✦

Cain: I’m glad we resolved the matter.

Riquet: Yes.

Arthur: Thank you, both of you. Thank you, Sir Sage, Sir Oz.

Akira: Not at all. I’m glad the Queen is safe.

Oz: Did you manage to talk to the Queen?

Arthur: Ah...... Yes, just a little.

Oz: What did she say?

Arthur: She said thank you.

Oz: I see...... That’s good.

Arthur: Yes!
From now on, I hope I can find more time to talk to Mother.
If I want to do that, I have to work harder to fulfill my princely duties, learn magic, and become even stronger.
I’ll do my best from now on too!