Sherwood Forest | Main Episode

[healingbonds]

MahoYaku Masterpost & Translator's Notes

CHAPTER 1

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

Heathcliff: Please take care of us.

Faust: Let’s quickly get this over with and head home. Don’t go wandering off on your own.

Nero: Yes sir, Mr. Faust—just kidding.

Shino: Where are we headed?

Akira: We’re going to Sherwood Forest. Shino, you’re the guardian of Sherwood Forest, right?

Shino: Yeah. What happened there? Who’s our client?

Akira: The master of Blanchette castle.

Shino: Master?

Heathcliff: Father?

Akira: Apparently an unidentifiable cavalry keeps appearing and disappearing out of nowhere. They’re terrifying all the travelers....

Shino: It’s a request from none other than Master. Leave it to me.

Heathcliff: Don’t push yourself, Shino.

Shino: Yeah. I’ll make this an achievement.

Faust: Make sure you follow orders.

Shino: I will.

Nero: I wonder about that....


Option: I have high hopes for you, Shino.

Shino grins elatedly.

Shino: You won’t be disappointed.


Option: I’m excited to see Sherwood Forest.

Shino smiles happily.

Shino: It’s a nice place. I’m sure you’ll like it too.


Option: Don’t get over-excited.

Shino furrows his brows and pouts.

Shino: I’m not excited at all. Let’s go.


Shino: That’s right, Sage. Sherwood Forest is dense; it’s easy to get lost in there. And if you do, your life will be in danger.
If a comrade disappears, you need to search for them immediately.

Akira: Understood. I can’t believe it’s such a dense forest; that’s a little scary....

Shino: It can be a good thing, too. According to the folklore of Sherwood Forest, if you find someone you’ve lost, your bond will last for eternity; it will never be broken.
If you have two guys who don’t get along, you should just throw them into Sherwood Forest together.

Akira: Th-that’s quite the drastic remedy... But I get it.
If someone gets lost, look for them immediately. When you find them, your bond will grow stronger. I’ll try it out next time.


CHAPTER 2

Akira: So this is Sherwood Forest....

Shino: I’ll guide you.

Faust: Shino, don’t head out alone.

Shino: Don’t worry. This is my backyard.

Faust: Ah, hey....! Goodness....

Nero: He’s even more into this than usual.

Heathcliff: Well, he’s not wrong—this place is basically Shino’s backyard.
I think he wants to look cool in front of Sir Sage and everyone else.

Faust: He wants to look cool....

Nero: Well, when you put it like that....

Akira: His excitement just looks cute now....

Shino: You’re slow. I leveled the twigs around there for you. Hurry up.

Faust: Yes, yes.

Shino: Watch your step.

Akira: There we go.... Thank you, Shino.

Shino: No need to thank me. It’s my job to guide you, as the forest guardian.
Just follow my back.

Akira: ...You’re kind of cool....

Heathcliff: ...He was probably dying to say that line....

Nero: Haha, well, I guess we have to follow along then. At least for today....

Faust: We’ll show some deference to Shino.

✦✧☾✧✦

Akira: What a dense forest... It’s pitch black, even though it’s still midday. I feel like I would never make it out of here alone.

Heathcliff: Even the locals rarely step this deep into the forest.
The forest depths are for the wanted, the thieves, the witches who attack humans, the smugglers, and the enemy soldiers.

Akira: Enemy soldiers?

Heathcliff: Enemy soldiers can hide in the forest during times of war. That’s why the lord has the forest guardian take care of the forest.

Akira: I see... Shino, you’ve taken on a heavy duty. That’s amazing.

Shino: Well, yeah.


CHAPTER 3

Faust: Looks like they appeared around here. I can sense the lingering presence of something not living....

Nero: The grass shows no sign of having been trampled by horses.... Seems like they really are a cavalry without physical form.

Akira: Could they be the spirits of people who passed away during a war...?

Heathcliff: Now that you mention it, I’ve heard a tale of an escaped princess and her cavalry.

Akira: A princess and her cavalry?

Heathcliff: There was a dispute over succession in a nearby province, and a princess who got caught up in the fighting managed to escape, protected by her cavalry....
But before they reached Blanchette castle to plead for help, they disappeared within this forest.

Shino: They were probably either attacked by beasts or magical creatures, or they got lost and starved to death.
There are plenty of things stronger than humans breathing within this forest.

Akira: ...Now I’m starting to get scared.

Shino: Don’t worry. Who do you think you’re with? Let’s set up camp a little further ahead. We’ll wait for the ghost cavalry to appear.

✦✧☾✧✦

Akira: ....Nn.....

Shino: Did you wake up?

Akira: Ah... Where is everyone?

Shino: Faust and Nero went to scout the area. Heath is sleeping over there.

Akira: I see.... Aren’t you tired, Shino?

Shino: I’m fine.

Akira: Don’t strain yourself too much.

Shino: I’m not. I’ll protect the Blanchette family. It’s my job.

Akira: Shino, you really do love Heathcliff’s family.

Shino: .......
Back when I lived on my own, there was no meaning to my life.

Akira: Meaning...?

Shino: I made money for myself. I ate for myself. I could go on living just fine, but those days meant nothing to anyone but me.
But when I came to Blanchette, when I met Heath... The day I swore to protect this family, my life was given meaning.
I’m not here just for my own sake.
How fortunate am I, to feel this way.

Akira: Shino.....


CHAPTER 4

Shino: If I die — Master and Mistress will still have Heath, so they might forget about me, but....
Heath won’t forget me. Because I’m his first friend.
That’s why I’m not afraid of anything. So long as I have a place in someone’s heart....
No matter where I turn to stone, I will have a place to return home.

Akira: Don’t say you’ll turn to stone.... Heath would be so sad, too.

Shino: I don’t plan on dying that easily. But I just thought, maybe the cavalry that appeared in this forest felt the same way.
Even if you become a ghost, even if you become a monster, you’ll keep racing through the darkness for someone’s sake.
To travelers, they might look like horrifying beings or pitiful creatures, but they still hold pride within their hearts.

(Rustle)

...I sense a strange presence. I’m going to check it out. If something happens, wake Heath up.

Akira: Yes... Please be careful.

Heathcliff: ...... .....Is Shino gone?

Akira: ....So you were awake, Heathcliff....

Heathcliff: I was from the beginning.... Shino wouldn’t stop telling me to sleep, so I was pretending to be asleep.
If something happens, I’ll protect you, Sir Sage.

Akira: Thank you... If you were awake, that must mean you heard us talking.

Heathcliff: Yes... Please keep it a secret from Shino. He’ll get mad if he finds out I was listening.
....Why does he try so hard for someone like me?
It must mean his loneliness before coming to Blanchette runs that deep, but.... How am I supposed to repay him for his feelings...?

Akira: I don’t think Shino wants any kind of reward, or anything in return from you, Heath.
He wants to do something for you just because you’re you, Heath.

Heathcliff: Sir Sage....

(Footsteps)

Shino: Heathcliff! Sir Sage!

Akira: Shino... Faust, Nero....

Faust: The ghost cavalry appeared. But they don’t seem to harbor any ill will.

Nero: We don’t sense any malice, or any sign of a curse; instead, they seem to be engulfed in a tragic sense of duty.

Shino: What if that duty is to bring down Blanchette castle? It’ll put Master and the family in danger.
If there’s even a sliver of a chance that they pose a threat, I’ll put an end to them all. Got it, Heath?

Heathcliff: Shino.....


CHAPTER 5

Shino: If there’s even a sliver of a chance that they pose a threat, I’ll put an end to them all. Got it, Heath?

Heathcliff: Shino.....

Shino: Right. Pretend you didn’t hear that. You’re too kind. You’ll even sympathize with ghosts.
I’ll hunt them down alone with this scythe.

Heathcliff: Shino, wait!

Nero: ....! Here comes the cavalry....!

Akira: The ghost-blue cavalry is heading our way at incredible speed....!

Heathcliff: .....! Their coat of arms.... Don’t tell me.....

Shino: .......!

The transparent blue-white cavalry pass through our bodies like a wave.
That’s when I witnessed a strange vision.

✦✧☾✧✦

A haggard, starved group of knights race through the forest, attacked by a pack of wolves.
The starved horses collapsed as the wolves bit into them, and the dress of the beautiful woman they were carrying was stained with bright red blood.
But the knights continued to race on.

???: ...Hurry, we must protect the princess....

???: ...Once we reach Blanchette caste, I’m sure they’ll save her.....

???: ...Ah, what a deep forest.... There’s no sign of an exit.....

???: ....Hurry, we must reach Blanchette... Protect the princess.....

Chased by wolves, and struggling from hunger, the knights continue forward.
Even after turning to bone, they kept racing through the forest....

✦✧☾✧✦

Akira: ....!

I return to my senses and look around me. It seems like everyone had the same vision.

Nero: Were those the memories of the ghosts....?

Heathcliff: That’s the coat of arms of the fallen family.... Those knights are the knights of the princess who escaped....


CHAPTER 6

Faust: The ghosts wandering this forest must have materialized because of the < Great Catastrophe >....
You get it now, right, Shino? They aren’t enemies who harbor any malice. This might not be the glorious achievement you want, but.
They simply want to protect what’s precious to them — just as you do.

Shino: .........

Heathcliff: Guide them to the exit, Shino. You’re the best guardian in the world.
Please guide the lost souls wandering through this forest to heaven. This is a job that only you can accomplish, Shino.

Shino: ....Got it.
Knights of another world.... I’ll guide you.
You must have been lost for a long, long time. But don’t worry. This forest is my yard.
I’ll guide you to a safe place, along with your dearest princess.
<< Matztzah Sudipas >>

A light surrounds the ghost-blue cavalry as they transform into a group of valiant knights protecting the beautiful woman.
They race towards the night sky, illuminated by the light of the moon....

✦✧☾✧✦

Shino: I was expecting a powerful enemy, but it turned out to be nothing more than a ghost story.

Heathcliff: Don’t say that. The princess and her knights are grateful to you. As is Father, who asked us to take on this job.

Shino: What about you, Heath?

Heathcliff: Of course I’m grateful. Plus, I thought you were amazing.

Shino: Really? What about you, Faust and Nero?

Faust & Nero: Yes, yes, we felt the same.

Shino: Heh.

Akira: Well done, Shino! This is your accomplishment!

Shino: Well, yeah. —That’s what I want to say, but my job’s still not done.

Akira: Eh?

Shino: I have to guide you all back to the exit of Sherwood Forest. Follow me.


Read the Sherwood Forest Sub-Episodes