The Known Ruins | 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 to the Known Ruins.

Riquet: The Known Ruins...... I've heard of that place, only in name.
I’ve never been there, but followers would make pilgrimages to the ruins to obtain blessing beads.

Akira: Blessing beads?

Riquet: Yes. They’re glittering black beads which reflect light like a mirror, streaked with rainbow patterns.

Arthur: There’s a description of the Known Ruins in the “Heroic Legends” — three books of adventure that have been handed down within Central Country.

Riquet: Books of adventure? Do they have records of adventures?

Arthur: That’s right. The author is unknown, but they recount legends from the past.
The Known Ruins are situated on the edge of the southern plains — they’re the remains of an ancient city that existed over two thousand years ago.
There are curious rumors about how it’s a place where wizards fall......

Riquet: Huh......?

Cain: I’ve heard a similar story before, so I always avoid that place — but what kind of mysterious things are happening?

Akira: Apparently there’s been a sighting of a large beast going berserk, writhing in the air above the ruins before falling from the sky.

Oz: ......It might be a magical beast awakened by the < Great Catastrophe >.

Akira: That’s possible...... I hope it’s nothing dangerous.

Riquet: Let’s head to the Known Ruins to find out what actually happened. Oh right, Sir Sage.
I’ve been learning how to write. I want to try writing a book of adventure. Would you like to write it with me, Sir Sage?
There are three whole volumes of the “Ancient Heroic Tales”, so if our own books of adventure increase, then I feel like our bonds will grow stronger.

Akira: That’s a good idea. The Known Ruins sound like they’re surrounded in mysteries, so let’s investigate and write a book of adventure about them.

Riquet: Yes! Well then, let’s head off, Sir Sage!

CHAPTER 2

Akira: So that’s the Known Ruins over there......

Seated on the back of Cain’s broom, I survey the ruins below.
Several historic ruins lie along the line of bare rocks that resemble low hills, laid out like staircases. The clearings surrounding the ruins spread out with nothing else in sight.

Cain: Once you cross that mountain range over there, it’s Southern Country. It’s said that the pioneers who headed to the South avoided the Known Ruins as they traveled through these parts.

Arthur: Apparently, there was a prosperous dynasty here thousands of years before Granvelle Kingdom was established. But it might have collapsed due to flash floods or earthquakes.

Suddenly, Oz gives a warning.

Oz: Watch out.

For what? As I start to ask, Cain and I suddenly plummet headfirst towards the ground.

(Woosh)

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

I cling onto Cain, peering into his face. His eyes are wide and his mouth is slack as he continues to grip his broom in our current downward trajectory.

Riquet: Sir Sage! Cain!

Arthur: I’m coming to help!

I look up into the sky and catch sight of Arthur approaching, flying like the wind.
I reach out to clasp his outstretched hand, and—
The valiant light in Arthur’s eyes fades and grows dim. The strength leaves his body, and he starts to fall headlong.

(Woosh)

Akira: Arthur......!
(What’s wrong with the two of them!? When they said that wizards fell...... Did they mean literally!?)

Oz: << Vox Nox >>

I hear Oz’s spell right before we violently crash into the ground, and breathe a sigh of relief as we manage to avoid plummeting to our deaths.
But the next moment — Cain, Arthur, and I shoot into the sky with the velocity of a rocket.

Akira: Aaaaaahhhh.......!

CHAPTER 3

I have no idea what’s happening.
Below, I see Oz contemplating his own staff confusedly.

Akira: (Don’t tell me that he can’t control his magic!?)

This is a serious matter for a wizard. In contrast to my stricken expression, Arthur and Cain seem to be in high spirits.

Arthur: Fufu...... A cloud......

Cain: Ahaha! A cloud!

Akira: (Why are they messing around now!?)

They reach towards the clouds without a thought for staying on their brooms. No matter how many times I call out to them, they show no sign of returning to their senses.
Then, we plummet downwards, pulled by gravity.

Akira: (I’m going to die.......!)

Riquet: << Sunrotea Edif >>

At that moment, Riquet’s spell rings out.
A gust of wind wraps gently around our bodies, slowing our descent. It feels as if we’re being guided by the light of Riquet’s lantern.
I raise my voice in his direction.


> Option: Thank you, Riquet!

Riquet looks serious as he focuses on our landing; upon hearing my words, he breaks into a smile containing a hint of delight.

Riquet: You’re welcome. Helping the Sage is my role as a wizard.


> Option: Watch out, Riquet!

Riquet’s already serious expression stiffens at my warning, and he stares intently at his magic tool.

Riquet: Don’t worry, please leave it to me! I will definitely protect you all — Sir Sage, Prince Arthur and Cain!


Oz tries to lift his staff before giving up and placing it on the floor of the ruins.
Holding out both hands, he catches me in his arms. Riquet runs up to us.

(Footsteps)

Riquet: Are you all right!? Sir Sage!

Akira: Y-yes...... Somehow......

Riquet lets out a sigh of relief, and then turns to everyone else with his adorable eyebrows raised.

Riquet: Geez! What’s wrong with all three of you! Please pull yourselves together!
.....Huh?

Suddenly, Riquet crouches down. He touches the black stones carpeting the floor of the ruins with a realization.
When he rubs the smooth bed of black stones, they reflect beams of light like mirrors.
The light is mottled, streaked through with seven colours like a distorted dimension.

Riquet: Are these...... Unpolished blessing beads......?

CHAPTER 4

Oz: These are fragments of a collapsed star.

Riquet: Fragments of a collapsed star......?

Sitting cross-legged on the floor of black stones, Oz speaks, a frown etched between his eyebrows.
He holds Arthur and Cain in the crook of each arm as they sprawl carelessly.
The two of them laugh delightedly as if drunk, chanting their spells and gathering light in the palms of their hands.

Arthur: Fufu...... << Pernoctant Nixzo >>

Cain: Ahaha...... << Gladius Procella >>

Oz clamps down on both their hands as they innocently try to smash their orbs of light against each other. The light vanishes in the palm of Oz’s hand.
Seeing that, Arthur and Cain lie down and roll around in laughter.

Oz: I’ve heard of this before. The fragments of a collapsed star can affect magical beings and wizards: they become invigorated, excited, entranced, or even relaxed.
They can be used for healing or for relief of the mind and body, but depending on the circumstances, they may cause the user’s emotions to run wild, leading to violence.

Laughing like drunkards, Arthur pulls on Oz’s hair while Cain attempts to take off Oz’s shoes.
Looking at their dreamy state of euphoria, I’m sure of one thing.

Akira: (......It’s catnip...... This is wizard catnip......)

Riquet: The stones can do that.......? Then why haven’t I been affected?

Oz: There are people who are naturally immune, as well as those who have built a resistance due to long-term usage. If those blessing beads you speak of are made from these fragments......

Oz explains with a complicated expression, before he too, falls over onto the floor of black stones. Riquet squares his shoulders, scolding him.

Riquet: Not you too, Oz! Please get a grip!

Oz: I am fine. I’ll get used to it soon...... Don’t wander away from here. That thing is up there. It’s that, um..... That large and powerful......

Riquet: I don’t even understand what you’re talking about. Forget it. I’ll investigate the ruins by myself.

(Footsteps)

Akira: W-wait, Riquet!

Riquet strides off briskly, leaving me to chase after him.

CHAPTER 5

Riquet: Geez...... Everyone is so careless.

Riquet says reprovingly, but there is a trace of unease in his face.
I can hardly blame him. After all, the people of the religious organization have been worshipping stones which have such a bizarre effect on wizards.

Riquet: .......I wonder if Father Priest knew about it. Have I unknowingly been in a trance because of these stones?

Akira: Riquet......

Riquet: Father Priest and all the followers protected me from impurity. So why......

At a loss for the right words, Riquet and I climb up the steps of the ruins.

Akira: (Riquet believes in the religious organization that raised him. He must not want to even consider the possibility that they might have been deceiving him......)

Riquet: ......I didn’t want to discover something like this. If I hadn’t known, I would never have doubted anything.
I would have followed the elder priests wholeheartedly and tried my best to guide the people. If only I had never learned about the outside world—....

Riquet’s words come to a stop abruptly. He stands at the top of the staircase, astonishment written across his face.
I follow Riquet’s gaze, and fall speechless.
We gaze ahead beyond the stairs, where a living creature the size of a large plane lies napping on the floor of black stones.
A huge face that could swallow a house whole...... Mysterious blue-grey scales covering its body...... A long moustache that sways in the wind......
An overwhelming presence that brings you to your knees.
—It’s a dragon.

Riquet: ......Amazing......

Riquet sucks in his breath. His brilliant green eyes waver with awe at this encounter with the unknown......
Yet they also sparkle with the innocence of amazement.
He’s laughing and pointing at the outside world — the world that he was on the verge of rejecting, saying he wished he never knew about it.

Riquet: Amazing! Sir Sage, please look! What a huge creature!

Akira: S-shouldn’t we be quiet......! Wouldn’t it be bad if we woke it up!?

Riquet: Would it be bad?

A warm, wet gust of wind blows by, startling me.

(Low growl)

Showered in the dragon’s breath, I cautiously lift my face.
And look into a pair of large, mysterious, light green eyes — so beautiful that they suck me in — blown wide open.
In that instant, I feel a premonition of death. Even so, ecstasy bubbles up from the bottom of my heart, and my body trembles from fear, curiosity and awe all at once.
What kind of world have I fallen into?
What am I witnessing right now?

Riquet: ......Pretty......

(Roar) (Wings flapping)

The dragon stretches his huge mouth wide, letting out a single huge roar before vanishing into the ends of the sky.

CHAPTER 6

Arthur: I see. So you met a dragon, Riquet. I wish I could’ve seen it too.

Riquet: It was really amazing! Prince Arthur, Cain, are the two of you all right?

Cain: Yeah. I feel super refreshed. Like waking up in the morning after a really good night’s sleep.

Once they are separated from the fragments of the collapsed star, both Arthur and Cain look cheerful and refreshed.

Akira: (They look like cats who relieved their stress with catnip......)

Arthur: We have to inform everyone in order to prevent wizards from falling into this area. But Riquet, you’re really incredible.

Riquet: Me?

Cain: That’s right. You protected the Sage while we were acting strange, didn’t you?

Riquet straightens up happily at Arthur and Cain’s praise. He smiles brightly, brimming with pride.

Riquet: Yes. According to Oz, I seem to have some resistance to the stones. Right, Oz?

Oz: Yes.

The same truth which had hurt Riquet before now brings him pride. That makes me happy.

Riquet: Ah......! Look, Sir Sage! The dragon’s moustache is in the sky......!

Akira: You’re right...... It’s whirling around in the sky...... I wonder if it fell off?

Riquet: Let’s catch it with magic and bring it back as a souvenir.
I have to show this to Mitile!

Riquet laughs excitedly as he holds up his lantern.

Riquet: << Sunrotea Edif >>

I make a wish: may the world that he encounters continue to be filled with wonderful things.