healingbonds (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
healingbonds) wrote2020-06-23 05:16 pm
healingbonds) wrote2020-06-23 05:16 pm
Entry tags:
Cavern of Time | Main Episode
MahoYaku Masterpost & Translator's Notes
Thank you K for providing this translation!
CHAPTER 1
Akira: We’ve arrived at the Northern tower. Today I’d like the Northern wizards to head to the Cavern of Time.
Snow: The Cavern of Time? Humans avoid that place entirely; it’s exceptionally unpopular even in the North.
White: It’s haunted by a terrifying rumour: if you go, you’ll end up leaping through time, whisked into an unknown age.
Akira: Leaping through time......? Is that really true?
Mithra: Who knows...... I can’t say for sure, but I do hear strange stories about it. They say that you can wander into a different dimension, for example.
Owen: Or that wizards who died in the distant past will come back to life. Or that you can hear the voices of people from centuries ago.
Bradley: It’s all fake: I know the secret behind all those rumors. I used to live around those parts.
Mithra: Is that so.
Bradley: Yeah. It used to be the hideout for my gang of bandits. So what’s up with the Cavern of Time?
Akira: Apparently a group of legendary magical creatures have been sighted on the streets in Northern Country—creatures said to only be found within the Cavern of Time.
They’d like us to go and confirm whether there are any strange occurrences happening.
Bradley: So that’s how it is. Well, let’s go have a look.
Oh right, Sage. You should talk about past memories when you go to the Cavern of Time.
Akira: ......Past memories?
Bradley: That’s right. Memories that you’re proud of, happy memories, sad memories; talking about them will bring together all sorts of emotions.
It’s said that you can forge bonds that will give you the strength to live in the present; that strength will well up in you. You can look back into the past and tie those memories to the future.
Akira: Talking about the past, huh. Got it. I’ll give it a try.
Well then, let’s head out!
✦✧☾✧✦
CHAPTER 2
Akira: So this is the Cavern of Time...... It’s even bigger than I imagined. It stretches all the way into the depths......
> Option: It feels like it’s connected to a different time and space......
White: If, as the rumours say, you can really leap through time, then you might be able to cheat and turn the clock back to the creation of the world. Let’s turn Murr into stone the instant he’s born.
Snow: Ohoho. Somehow I feel like as long as we’re still twins, the end that awaits us won’t change. What about you, Bradley dear?
Bradley: Isn’t that obvious? I’m going to stuff both of you and Figaro into a bottle and let it drift out to sea so that you’ll never catch me.
> Option: It really feels like there are monsters waiting around every corner......
Owen: Monsters, huh. I’ll catch them and stuff them in my trunk if they seem stronger than Cerberus.
Bradley: Won’t they try to eat each other?
> Option: It feels like we might never make it back to the surface......
Mithra: Why? If you just keep smashing the ceiling of the cave upwards, you’ll come out to the surface eventually.
Bradley: Geez, you’re so crude...... Make sure you never get lost in the magical headquarters.
(Crash)
Akira: Woah......!
Bradley: Chill, it’s just some bats. Make sure you don’t get distracted; you’ll slip and fall. It’s slippery here, after all.
Owen: Wow———————————!
Bradley: Pipe down!? What the fuck!?
Owen: There’s an echo. How interesting.
Bradley: Save it for the bath......
Snow: .....Hmm, there’s something in here......
(Splashing)
White: Wooooah...... It’s a cauldron of bats! Owen’s voice frightened them!
Akira: .........
A large colony of bats flies out in unison, colliding with our faces and shoulders as they swoop past us.
At the same time, we hear a strange voice.
Husky voice of a young man: ......ch, I’ll kill you! Bradley......!
Mingling with the flapping sounds of the bats’ wings is a young man’s voice raised in anger. The voice disappears in an instant.
Akira: (That voice just now definitely said "Bradley"......)
CHAPTER 3
I look at Bradley, but he is glaring at Owen and tossing his hair out of his eyes.
Bradley: Geez, what the hell was that for..... Sage, you all right?
Akira: Ah, yes.
Bradley: So, what were we up to? Something about legendary creatures that you can only find in the Cavern of Time......
Akira: Yes. The living creatures are unidentifiable, but it seems like they’re known as Iestrum, a type of small winged dragon that speaks a human language......
Bradley: The Iestrum? They’re no big deal. You just saw them.
Akira: Huh?
Bradley: They’re the bats you just saw.
I look around the inside of the cavern. The bats hang upside-down from the ceiling, their green eyes glittering.
Akira: These are the Iestrum......?
✦✧☾✧✦
We split into groups to explore the inside of the cavern. I continue ahead with Bradley.
Akira: (Now we know that the true form of Iestrum are bats. But......)
(There might be a reason these creatures that live in the Cavern of Time are suddenly appearing in the city......)
It is dark, damp, and cold inside the cavern. The bats’ green eyes glitter here and there, and occasionally, we hear the sound of water dripping.
Suddenly, I hear a voice from the depths of the darkness.
Akira: Huh.......? Bradley, did you say something?
Bradley: I didn’t.
Akira: (......Did I imagine it......)
Just as I’m about to dismiss it as my imagination, I hear the voices again: that of a few young men having a conversation, their voices seething with anger......
Husky voice of a young man: ......I have no intention of becoming your underling. Someday I’m going to turn you into stone, and take command of the gang for myself!
Voice of a man with a commanding presence: Oh? You sure talk big.
Voice of a languid man: Who the hell do you think you’re talking to, Gorman? Don’t get too full of yourself just because Boss is going easy on you—I’ll make you into minced meat.
Voice of a man with a commanding presence: Haha...... Leave it, Nero. It’s good for a rookie to show some spirit.
Go ahead. Give it your best shot, you bat bastard.
(Rustle) (Drip)
The voices cut off there, and we’re left with nothing but the fluttering of the bats’ wings and the sounds of water dripping.
Akira: What was that......?
CHAPTER 4
Akira: What was that......?
Bradley: That’s the secret to the trick. Iestrum record the sounds they hear, and use them as a way to communicate with their colony.
Those sounds get passed on from one generation to the next...... That’s why you can hear conversations from the distant past.
Akira: The bats make those voices? No wonder people are describing them as small winged-dragons that speak a human language......
Bradley: If we didn’t know about their ecology, we could’ve easily made the same mistake of thinking that this cavern is connected to a different dimension in the past.
Akira: The reports said they were unidentifiable creatures, and the twins didn’t seem to know about them either. They might be a rare species.
Why are you so familiar with the ecology of the Iestrum? Is it because your hideout used to be nearby?
Bradley: That’s part of it. But I had a subordinate who the Iestrum were oddly attached to. I heard it from him.
He was a rebellious, uncharming guy, but he was good at his job. Though he got angry when I teased him for being a bat bastard.
Akira: Why?
Bradley: "Bat" is a byword for someone who’s on the fence. See, he was a survivor from a different bandit gang that I crushed.
I took him into my gang because he sustained some serious wounds that had him on the brink of death, but everyone thought he was going to betray me at any second and escape.
Akira: Did you think so too, Bradley?
Bradley simply smiles without answering my question.
✦✧☾✧✦
(Rustle) (Drip)
We carefully descend into the depths of the dark cavern. Amidst the interweaving sounds of the Iestrum’s wings and water droplets, we hear conversations that transcend the barrier of time.
There’s a familiar voice in the mix; one of the voices that catches my attention belongs to another man who is speaking to the man named Gorman.
It is a rough and intimidating voice, but by turns kind and friendly.
Voice of a man with a commanding presence: Don’t worry about it, Gorman. This injury is nothing; it’ll heal up in no time.
Husky voice of a young man: ......Sorry, Boss. It’s all because I screwed up...... I’ll make it up to you by doing a spectacular job......
Voice of a man with a commanding presence: Ahahahaha! Gorman the bat bastard finally called me Boss! That made it well worth almost dying for.
The bats flap their wings. With every beat, lost time comes flowing back.
CHAPTER 5
Husky voice of a young man: Boss is so cool...... Looking after trash like us, and teaching us how to do great deeds.
I thought my life was worth nothing. But, every time he says to me, "You’re a fearless guy, and my brave, reliable subordinate"......
I start to think that there’s something even a guy like me can accomplish......
Voice of a languid man: Haha, you’re earning your praise now, bat bastard. Ah...... Here they come again. The Iestrum.
Husky voice of a young man: You’re right...... What a pain! Go away! Shoo, shoo!
Numerous green eyes shine, like stardust in a dark universe.
(Rustle)
Husky voice of a young man: Did you just say Boss got captured!? Why would wizards have it out for other wizards!? Aren’t they just using Boss and making an example out of him!?
Let’s storm Central Country and get him back! If we all march in, we’ll kick their asses: the humans, and the wizards who take their side!
I look up at Bradley in the dim light of the cavern. He isn’t smiling anymore.
Husky voice of a young man: ......Sniff...... Sniffle...... Everyone’s gone now...... Why did they all side with the humans......
Those wizards are more notorious than anyone else—how could they pretend to be on the side of justice and throw Boss into prison...... Unforgivable......!
I’m not going anywhere...... I’m not a bat bastard. I’m going to wait here in the cavern until Boss comes back!
Abruptly, Bradley stops in his tracks. I realize the reason for this belatedly: the path ahead is obstructed by a large fallen rock.
Boulders as large as stagecoaches and small huts form a pile, blocking the way forward into the cavern.
Bradley: ....... Looks like there was a cave-in; this place used to go all the way back in.
Akira: Really...... Maybe the < Great Catastrophe > caused a large earthquake when it got close......
Bradley: That might be it. Because of the cave-in, the Iestrum that lived here were forced to scatter onto the streets......
Bradley reaches towards the wreckage, and chants his spell.
CHAPTER 6
Bradley reaches towards the wreckage, and chants his spell.
Bradley: << Adnopotensum >>
(Flash) (Shaking)
The wreckage begins to faintly glow. It cracks and shatters into pieces.
(Rustle)
The sounds of countless flapping wings resound amidst the roaring.
Husky voice of a young man: .......So much time has passed since then, and you guys are the only comrades I have left now. —Hey, bats.
The < Great Catastrophe > attacks tonight. I wonder if it’s really true—the rumours of Boss being chosen as one of the Sage’s wizards......
I miss you, Boss...... I want to see everyone...... ......If only I could leap through time and return to the past......
Hey, Iestrum. Please, let me hear Boss’ voice. ......Nn?
............!? What’s happening!? An earthquake......!?
......hh, aaaaargh......!
Bradley moves the wreckage out of the way, and a vast space opens up.
In the darkness lay rags of clothing, and, next to them, a mana stone.
They might belong to the owner of the screams we’d just heard. The wizard Gorman, who was called the bat bastard......
The man he had wanted to see was probably—the person standing next to me right now.
Bradley smiles with his eyes cast downwards. He kneels on the ground, and carefully picks up the mana stone.
His gaze seems to convey gratitude to his old comrade-in-arms. Sadness, compassion, respect, and an all-encompassing love are written in his eyes.
Bradley: Looks like I made you wait, Gorman.
Sorry for being late.
Bradley murmurs quietly, and puts the mana stone into his mouth.
He doesn’t show any sign of swallowing it, but the presence of the mana stone vanishes.
It is truly a funeral rite befitting a wizard.
✦✧☾✧✦
Snow: I see, I see. So there was a giant cave-in.
White: If that’s the case, the Iestrum will naturally return to the Cavern of Time.
Owen: Hey, Bradley. You have a mana stone there, don’t you. Share some with me too.
Bradley: No way.
Owen: I said, hand it over.
Mithra: You don’t have to be so greedy: it’s not even a mana stone of particularly good quality.
Bradley cocks one eyebrow, and grins proudly at the two of them.
Bradley: It’s a mana stone of the highest grade. I’m not going to hand it over to you bastards.
Read the Cavern of Time Sub-Episodes
Thank you K for providing this translation!
CHAPTER 1
Akira: We’ve arrived at the Northern tower. Today I’d like the Northern wizards to head to the Cavern of Time.
Snow: The Cavern of Time? Humans avoid that place entirely; it’s exceptionally unpopular even in the North.
White: It’s haunted by a terrifying rumour: if you go, you’ll end up leaping through time, whisked into an unknown age.
Akira: Leaping through time......? Is that really true?
Mithra: Who knows...... I can’t say for sure, but I do hear strange stories about it. They say that you can wander into a different dimension, for example.
Owen: Or that wizards who died in the distant past will come back to life. Or that you can hear the voices of people from centuries ago.
Bradley: It’s all fake: I know the secret behind all those rumors. I used to live around those parts.
Mithra: Is that so.
Bradley: Yeah. It used to be the hideout for my gang of bandits. So what’s up with the Cavern of Time?
Akira: Apparently a group of legendary magical creatures have been sighted on the streets in Northern Country—creatures said to only be found within the Cavern of Time.
They’d like us to go and confirm whether there are any strange occurrences happening.
Bradley: So that’s how it is. Well, let’s go have a look.
Oh right, Sage. You should talk about past memories when you go to the Cavern of Time.
Akira: ......Past memories?
Bradley: That’s right. Memories that you’re proud of, happy memories, sad memories; talking about them will bring together all sorts of emotions.
It’s said that you can forge bonds that will give you the strength to live in the present; that strength will well up in you. You can look back into the past and tie those memories to the future.
Akira: Talking about the past, huh. Got it. I’ll give it a try.
Well then, let’s head out!
✦✧☾✧✦
CHAPTER 2
Akira: So this is the Cavern of Time...... It’s even bigger than I imagined. It stretches all the way into the depths......
> Option: It feels like it’s connected to a different time and space......
White: If, as the rumours say, you can really leap through time, then you might be able to cheat and turn the clock back to the creation of the world. Let’s turn Murr into stone the instant he’s born.
Snow: Ohoho. Somehow I feel like as long as we’re still twins, the end that awaits us won’t change. What about you, Bradley dear?
Bradley: Isn’t that obvious? I’m going to stuff both of you and Figaro into a bottle and let it drift out to sea so that you’ll never catch me.
> Option: It really feels like there are monsters waiting around every corner......
Owen: Monsters, huh. I’ll catch them and stuff them in my trunk if they seem stronger than Cerberus.
Bradley: Won’t they try to eat each other?
> Option: It feels like we might never make it back to the surface......
Mithra: Why? If you just keep smashing the ceiling of the cave upwards, you’ll come out to the surface eventually.
Bradley: Geez, you’re so crude...... Make sure you never get lost in the magical headquarters.
(Crash)
Akira: Woah......!
Bradley: Chill, it’s just some bats. Make sure you don’t get distracted; you’ll slip and fall. It’s slippery here, after all.
Owen: Wow———————————!
Bradley: Pipe down!? What the fuck!?
Owen: There’s an echo. How interesting.
Bradley: Save it for the bath......
Snow: .....Hmm, there’s something in here......
(Splashing)
White: Wooooah...... It’s a cauldron of bats! Owen’s voice frightened them!
Akira: .........
A large colony of bats flies out in unison, colliding with our faces and shoulders as they swoop past us.
At the same time, we hear a strange voice.
Husky voice of a young man: ......ch, I’ll kill you! Bradley......!
Mingling with the flapping sounds of the bats’ wings is a young man’s voice raised in anger. The voice disappears in an instant.
Akira: (That voice just now definitely said "Bradley"......)
CHAPTER 3
I look at Bradley, but he is glaring at Owen and tossing his hair out of his eyes.
Bradley: Geez, what the hell was that for..... Sage, you all right?
Akira: Ah, yes.
Bradley: So, what were we up to? Something about legendary creatures that you can only find in the Cavern of Time......
Akira: Yes. The living creatures are unidentifiable, but it seems like they’re known as Iestrum, a type of small winged dragon that speaks a human language......
Bradley: The Iestrum? They’re no big deal. You just saw them.
Akira: Huh?
Bradley: They’re the bats you just saw.
I look around the inside of the cavern. The bats hang upside-down from the ceiling, their green eyes glittering.
Akira: These are the Iestrum......?
✦✧☾✧✦
We split into groups to explore the inside of the cavern. I continue ahead with Bradley.
Akira: (Now we know that the true form of Iestrum are bats. But......)
(There might be a reason these creatures that live in the Cavern of Time are suddenly appearing in the city......)
It is dark, damp, and cold inside the cavern. The bats’ green eyes glitter here and there, and occasionally, we hear the sound of water dripping.
Suddenly, I hear a voice from the depths of the darkness.
Akira: Huh.......? Bradley, did you say something?
Bradley: I didn’t.
Akira: (......Did I imagine it......)
Just as I’m about to dismiss it as my imagination, I hear the voices again: that of a few young men having a conversation, their voices seething with anger......
Husky voice of a young man: ......I have no intention of becoming your underling. Someday I’m going to turn you into stone, and take command of the gang for myself!
Voice of a man with a commanding presence: Oh? You sure talk big.
Voice of a languid man: Who the hell do you think you’re talking to, Gorman? Don’t get too full of yourself just because Boss is going easy on you—I’ll make you into minced meat.
Voice of a man with a commanding presence: Haha...... Leave it, Nero. It’s good for a rookie to show some spirit.
Go ahead. Give it your best shot, you bat bastard.
(Rustle) (Drip)
The voices cut off there, and we’re left with nothing but the fluttering of the bats’ wings and the sounds of water dripping.
Akira: What was that......?
CHAPTER 4
Akira: What was that......?
Bradley: That’s the secret to the trick. Iestrum record the sounds they hear, and use them as a way to communicate with their colony.
Those sounds get passed on from one generation to the next...... That’s why you can hear conversations from the distant past.
Akira: The bats make those voices? No wonder people are describing them as small winged-dragons that speak a human language......
Bradley: If we didn’t know about their ecology, we could’ve easily made the same mistake of thinking that this cavern is connected to a different dimension in the past.
Akira: The reports said they were unidentifiable creatures, and the twins didn’t seem to know about them either. They might be a rare species.
Why are you so familiar with the ecology of the Iestrum? Is it because your hideout used to be nearby?
Bradley: That’s part of it. But I had a subordinate who the Iestrum were oddly attached to. I heard it from him.
He was a rebellious, uncharming guy, but he was good at his job. Though he got angry when I teased him for being a bat bastard.
Akira: Why?
Bradley: "Bat" is a byword for someone who’s on the fence. See, he was a survivor from a different bandit gang that I crushed.
I took him into my gang because he sustained some serious wounds that had him on the brink of death, but everyone thought he was going to betray me at any second and escape.
Akira: Did you think so too, Bradley?
Bradley simply smiles without answering my question.
✦✧☾✧✦
(Rustle) (Drip)
We carefully descend into the depths of the dark cavern. Amidst the interweaving sounds of the Iestrum’s wings and water droplets, we hear conversations that transcend the barrier of time.
There’s a familiar voice in the mix; one of the voices that catches my attention belongs to another man who is speaking to the man named Gorman.
It is a rough and intimidating voice, but by turns kind and friendly.
Voice of a man with a commanding presence: Don’t worry about it, Gorman. This injury is nothing; it’ll heal up in no time.
Husky voice of a young man: ......Sorry, Boss. It’s all because I screwed up...... I’ll make it up to you by doing a spectacular job......
Voice of a man with a commanding presence: Ahahahaha! Gorman the bat bastard finally called me Boss! That made it well worth almost dying for.
The bats flap their wings. With every beat, lost time comes flowing back.
CHAPTER 5
Husky voice of a young man: Boss is so cool...... Looking after trash like us, and teaching us how to do great deeds.
I thought my life was worth nothing. But, every time he says to me, "You’re a fearless guy, and my brave, reliable subordinate"......
I start to think that there’s something even a guy like me can accomplish......
Voice of a languid man: Haha, you’re earning your praise now, bat bastard. Ah...... Here they come again. The Iestrum.
Husky voice of a young man: You’re right...... What a pain! Go away! Shoo, shoo!
Numerous green eyes shine, like stardust in a dark universe.
(Rustle)
Husky voice of a young man: Did you just say Boss got captured!? Why would wizards have it out for other wizards!? Aren’t they just using Boss and making an example out of him!?
Let’s storm Central Country and get him back! If we all march in, we’ll kick their asses: the humans, and the wizards who take their side!
I look up at Bradley in the dim light of the cavern. He isn’t smiling anymore.
Husky voice of a young man: ......Sniff...... Sniffle...... Everyone’s gone now...... Why did they all side with the humans......
Those wizards are more notorious than anyone else—how could they pretend to be on the side of justice and throw Boss into prison...... Unforgivable......!
I’m not going anywhere...... I’m not a bat bastard. I’m going to wait here in the cavern until Boss comes back!
Abruptly, Bradley stops in his tracks. I realize the reason for this belatedly: the path ahead is obstructed by a large fallen rock.
Boulders as large as stagecoaches and small huts form a pile, blocking the way forward into the cavern.
Bradley: ....... Looks like there was a cave-in; this place used to go all the way back in.
Akira: Really...... Maybe the < Great Catastrophe > caused a large earthquake when it got close......
Bradley: That might be it. Because of the cave-in, the Iestrum that lived here were forced to scatter onto the streets......
Bradley reaches towards the wreckage, and chants his spell.
CHAPTER 6
Bradley reaches towards the wreckage, and chants his spell.
Bradley: << Adnopotensum >>
(Flash) (Shaking)
The wreckage begins to faintly glow. It cracks and shatters into pieces.
(Rustle)
The sounds of countless flapping wings resound amidst the roaring.
Husky voice of a young man: .......So much time has passed since then, and you guys are the only comrades I have left now. —Hey, bats.
The < Great Catastrophe > attacks tonight. I wonder if it’s really true—the rumours of Boss being chosen as one of the Sage’s wizards......
I miss you, Boss...... I want to see everyone...... ......If only I could leap through time and return to the past......
Hey, Iestrum. Please, let me hear Boss’ voice. ......Nn?
............!? What’s happening!? An earthquake......!?
......hh, aaaaargh......!
Bradley moves the wreckage out of the way, and a vast space opens up.
In the darkness lay rags of clothing, and, next to them, a mana stone.
They might belong to the owner of the screams we’d just heard. The wizard Gorman, who was called the bat bastard......
The man he had wanted to see was probably—the person standing next to me right now.
Bradley smiles with his eyes cast downwards. He kneels on the ground, and carefully picks up the mana stone.
His gaze seems to convey gratitude to his old comrade-in-arms. Sadness, compassion, respect, and an all-encompassing love are written in his eyes.
Bradley: Looks like I made you wait, Gorman.
Sorry for being late.
Bradley murmurs quietly, and puts the mana stone into his mouth.
He doesn’t show any sign of swallowing it, but the presence of the mana stone vanishes.
It is truly a funeral rite befitting a wizard.
✦✧☾✧✦
Snow: I see, I see. So there was a giant cave-in.
White: If that’s the case, the Iestrum will naturally return to the Cavern of Time.
Owen: Hey, Bradley. You have a mana stone there, don’t you. Share some with me too.
Bradley: No way.
Owen: I said, hand it over.
Mithra: You don’t have to be so greedy: it’s not even a mana stone of particularly good quality.
Bradley cocks one eyebrow, and grins proudly at the two of them.
Bradley: It’s a mana stone of the highest grade. I’m not going to hand it over to you bastards.
Read the Cavern of Time Sub-Episodes