City of Wealth | Main Episode

[healingbonds]

MahoYaku Masterpost & Translator's Notes

CHAPTER 1

Akira: We’ve arrived at the Western Tower. Today I’d like the Western wizards to conduct an investigation in the City of Wealth.

Chloe: The City of Wealth — the capital of Western Country! Rustica, you’re very familiar with that city, right?

Rustica: Yes. I’m a regular at many of the shops. I’ll take you around sometime, Sir Sage.

Shylock: The City of Wealth is an elegant, sophisticated city with a well-developed aristocratic culture.
Lately, there has been an uptick in the construction of boorish steel buildings and factories, but it remains the center of culture.

Murr: They say that all trends — be they theatrical, musical, sartorial, or even intellectual — are born from the City of Wealth!

Akira: It sounds like a large, lively city.

Rustica: Yes. I’m sure you’ll be quite fond of it, Sir Sage. But what in the world is going on there?

Akira: I’ve heard that.... Something strange is going on with the goddess statue in the Plaza of the Harvest.....

Rustica: What in the world happened to that beautiful goddess...? Let us go and see.

Akira: Yes. I’m counting on you.

Rustica: Oh, that’s right. When you visit the City of Wealth, you should have a “tea party” with your friends.
You can grow even closer by enjoying some tea and sweets together.

Akira: I see — a “tea party,” huh. I’ll give it a try the next time we visit.

Rustica: Well then, let’s go.

✦✧☾✧✦

(Woosh)

Akira: So this is the Western City of Wealth... It’s a bright, stylish city.
Woah....! There are carriages and boats flying through the sky!

Rustica: The current trend among nobles is using the power of magical science to fly through the sky on strange vehicles.
It would be fair to say that you can find all the wealth and entertainment in this world here in this city.
But today, it looks like.....

Akira: It looks like....?

Rustica: It’s been cursed. Unfortunately, at this rate, the city will fall to ruin.

Akira: I see..... Huh!? Fall to ruin!?


CHAPTER 2

Chloe: D-don’t say such serious things so nonchalantly! Are you kidding? Or is this for real....?

Rustica: Which would you prefer, Chloe?

Chloe: Should I be deciding this kind of thing!?

Shylock: You’re right; there’s an ominous air about.... The sense of order that had once existed here is beginning to go mad.

Murr: Look! The goddess statue seems to be the source of the distortion! Let’s take a look!

✦✧☾✧✦

(Woosh)

Akira: Is that the goddess statue....? It looks like it’s falling apart, and her eyes are only barely open.... She looks kind of terrifying....

Rustica: How strange.... This goddess’ eyes were always closed before. She was a beautiful statue, loved by all.
And look at her ankles. Can you see the countless hands clinging to her?

Akira: ......! You’re right.... There’s a ton of black, amorphous hands wriggling about....

Rustica: There once was a legend about this statue; it was said that “if you touch the goddess’ feet with a wish in mind, your wish will come true.”
So for many centuries, countless people stroked the tips of her feet: wishing, praying, cursing — desiring.
Perhaps the tremendous weight of the desires that accumulated over the years has spiraled out of control under the influence of the < Great Catastrophe >, forcing the goddess’ eyes open.

Chloe: No way..... But why....?

Shylock: If she closes her eyes while in prayer, perhaps she opens them when granting wishes.
I sense no strange power from the statue herself. But the countless desires that have piled up over the years have been waiting for the moment that they will be realized.
When the goddess’ eyes open completely, these desires will....

Murr: Boo~m! Explode, and fly all over the entire city! Maybe!

Akira: ....I have a bad feeling about this.... Is there any way we can stop that from happening?

Shylock: ....Perhaps if we can completely shut the goddess’ eyes again, or......

Chloe: How can we close her eyes.... When do you close your eyes? When you fall asleep? When your eyes hurt?

Akira: Ah.... How about when you want to enjoy a flavor, or when you want to listen closely?

Rustica: That’s a brilliant idea! Let us dedicate some music to her.


CHAPTER 3

Rustica: I will put on a performance here to make the goddess shut her eyes.
Chloe, can you and the others back me up by drawing a magic circle around the whole city, so that the desires that have lodged themselves in the goddess statue will be purified?

Chloe: But won’t that be dangerous for you, Rustica....?

Rustica: Don’t worry, Chloe. Let’s save this city together. There are many shops here I want to visit with you.

Shylock: ...I understand. Let’s go, Chloe. Rustica, please be careful.

Rustica: I will.

Murr: This is the real deal! Every last wish that has accumulated within the goddess is waiting for the moment it’ll come true!
And of course, there’s no way that’s happening! That means an incredible power will explode out!

Rustica: Now that’s a problem.

Rustica says innocently as he continues to smile.
I notice Chloe’s concerned expression and step closer to Rustica.

Akira: Don’t worry, Chloe. I’ll remain here with Rustica.

Rustica: Sir Sage.....

Akira: If anything happens, I may be able to help you with this strange power that I have as the Sage.....

After he peers into my face, as if to ascertain my resolution, his azure sky-colored eyes turn up in a smile.

Rustica: You’re so reliable. Then let us work together to prevent the goddess from opening her eyes any further, Sir Sage.

I pull myself together and nod, full of determination.

✦✧☾✧✦

Once Chloe and the others leave, Rustica casts his magic spell.

Rustica: << Amorest Viesse >>

After a short while, a harpsichord comes flying through the air.
It wobbles through the sky as it lands with a thud on the ground. The passersby are shocked at the bizarre sight.

Gentleman: A harpsichord came flying through the air....!? Is this magical science technology....!? Or is there a wizard around!?

It looks like they can’t see the hands clinging to the goddess’ ankles, or her open eyes.

Akira: (Why am I the only one who can see all this? Is this the power of the sage....)

Before I reach an answer, Rustica seats himself in front of the harpsichord.


CHAPTER 4

That’s when a number of people approach us.

Gentleman: Didn’t you just steal this thing? What in the world are you planning to do here!?

Gentleman: Ahaha! This looks like great fun! I’ll give you a silver coin if you put on a splendid performance!

Lady: My, what a wonderful man.... Every last gesture of his is so refined. Is he perhaps a noble?

The spectators are getting too close. I spread my arms out so they won’t get in the way of Rustica’s performance.

Akira: Please don’t push! This is an important performance — it’s for the sake of this city.
Gentleman: Did you use our taxes to hire a wizard? Goodness, politicians nowadays.....

Rustica: Sir Sage. I’ll begin playing now.

Rustica begins his performance.
The harpsichord is an instrument that is meant to be played indoors. Under the blue sky, its sound should scatter into the infinite distance, growing weak and helplessly fading away.
Yet the music that comes from his fingertips resonates, mystical and powerful, across the plaza.

Gentleman: How beautiful.....

Something strange happens each time the harpsichord plays a note.
The surrounding buildings and the spectators melt away like steel.

Gentleman: Ooh, how beautiful..... Ooh......

Lady: Fufu, how lovely...... Aaaaah......

Akira: .........!?

Without my realizing, the sky turns as dark as night, and countless voices fly through the air like shooting stars.

???: “I pray that I may recover from this illness.”

???: “I hope that he will come home safely.”

???: “I wish that....”

A mass of hands writhe at the foot of the goddess statue. The infinite voices flying about have turned into the howl of a beast.

???: “Ooo......”

???: “Ooooooooo......”

The growling city melts into a pitch black, a giant wave, swaying violently back and forth.
My heart thuds in fear. But.....
Strangely enough, watching Rustica’s gentle expression as he plays the harpsichord makes me feel at ease.

Rustica: It’ll be all right, Sir Sage.
I will protect you. As if I am trapping you within my precious bird cage, holding you in my embrace.
I will never let you go.


CHAPTER 5

A pleasant voice, and a beautiful melody....
The goddess seems to be at peace as her eyes slowly begin to close.

Akira: (If her eyes could just keep closing like this....)

In that moment, one of the infinite voices flying through the skies says Rustica’s name.

???: “Sir Rustica!”

Rustica: ...........

???: “Dear goddess, I beseech you. I have no other wish, but for Sir Rustica to...!”

???: “For Sir Rustica!”

The voice sounds like it belongs to a woman, and a man, and a child, and an elderly person — all at once.
As if in concert with its powerful prayer, the goddess’ eyes begin to open, trying to grant its wish.
Rustica, too, sits with his eyes wide open, in a daze. His long fingers are frozen; the music does not play.

Rustica: ....Who....?
Who are you?

The goddess’ eyes snap open.
The city that has been engulfed into a pitch-black wave is studded with countless eyes.
A chorus of a million voices sings through the streets where music has fallen silent, and the infinite eyes begin to open.

Akira: (This is bad....!)

Right away, I....


> Option: Cling to Rustica’s back.

I immediately cling to Rustica’s back.

Akira: Rustica.....!

Rustica: .......!

My voice, tinged with fear, seems to draw Rustica back to his senses.
With a sharp gaze, he tugs me into his arms and holds me close. I don’t even have a moment to be surprised by his strength.

Rustica: Oh dear. Looks like I was spacing out. Chloe will scold me again.


> Option: Shake Rustica’s shoulders.

I shake Rustica’s shoulders, desperately trying to gather his attention as he gazes into space with wide-open eyes.

Akira: Rustica, pull yourself together! Rustica.....

Rustica: .....me.....

Rustica mumbles with a voice so frail that he sounds like he’s about to disappear.
Harboring a presence more terrifying than the darkness itself.

Rustica: .....Forgive me.....

Akira: Huh....?


In the next moment, Rustica snaps back to his senses. He tugs me forward and holds me close as if to protect me.


CHAPTER 6

Rustica: Are you all right, Sir Sage?

Akira: Y-yes.....

Rustica: Thank goodness. I’ll take you back to our world in a moment. Please close your eyes.

Even as he speaks, the infinite eyeballs swarming in the darkness press forward with an ominous pressure.
I close my eyes tight from fear. Rustica strokes my back, soothing me.

Rustica: It’ll be all right. Do not worry. << Amorest Viesse >> !

He lifts his birdcage. Amidst the darkness of my closed eyes, I can sense a faint light spreading throughout the world.
The sounds of countless wings echo across the city as they are swallowed into Rustica’s birdcage.
As if draining the world of all its darkness.

Rustica: I bid you goodbye — you desires that never came true.
Bring forth your sadness and pain. I will sing of your beautiful tales one day.
If I remember them, that is.

I listen to Rustica’s quiet laughter as I slowly pass out......

✦✧☾✧✦

By the time I regain consciousness, the city has returned to normal.
The goddess statue is back to looking like a smiling woman whose eyes are gently closed.

Akira: Is everything all right now? What happened to me.....

Chloe: Sir Sage! Thank goodness you’re awake..... You were passed out all this time.

Shylock: We sensed a disruption in the order of this place, and realized it had been contaminated, so we returned in a rush.

Murr: But it looks like everything was resolved before we got here! I’m proud of you both, Sir Sage and Rustica!

Chloe: I’m so glad both of you are safe..... But it must’ve been so much trouble. How did you solve the problem?

I turn around to look at Rustica.
Thinking about the eerie town enveloped in darkness. The infinite voices and eyes. The powerful voice calling for Rustica.
“—For Sir Rustica!”

Akira: (For Sir Rustica.... What was that voice trying to wish for?)


Rustica meets my gaze and smiles.

Rustica: I was so focused that I seem to have forgotten. I’m sure we managed to make it through because of Sir Sage.
Sir Sage. My beloved friends. Now that we’ve completed our mission, how does this sound for our next endeavor?
We drink some delicious tea, and spend some lovely time together before we leisurely make our way back to the magic headquarters.

Rustica’s smile is so sweet that his sharp gaze from moments ago seems surreal.
It’s such a charming entreatment that even a centuries-old goddess statue would be tempted to make his wish come true.

Rustica: How does that sound, Sir Sage?