healingbonds (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
healingbonds) wrote2020-06-28 10:58 pm
healingbonds) wrote2020-06-28 10:58 pm
Entry tags:
Main Story | Chapter 3 | The Great Catastrophe
MahoYaku Masterpost & Translator's Notes
Chapter 2 << | index | >> Chapter 4
Chapter 3: The Great Catastrophe
3.1 Sherwood Forest
3.2 The Wizard Prince
3.3 A Confidant’s Scheme
3.4 Touch of the Hand
3.5 < Great Catastrophe >
3.1 Sherwood Forest
The night I arrive in this mysterious world —.
I haven’t a clue what is going on in the various corners of the world as I sleep in my bed.
Eastern Country: Sherwood Forest.
(Hoot hoot)
Eastern merchant: ....Ugh, what a horrifying night..... What’s going on..... I didn’t know the < Great Catastrophe > could come so close.......
???: ..........
Eastern merchant: I bet the chosen wizards slacked off on their jobs! They’re all dishonest and irresponsible.... Woah.....
(Rustle)
Eastern merchant: Hey, Guide! Don’t just stop in your tracks like that!
???: This is where my job as your guide ends.
Eastern merchant: Wh-what are you saying!? I already paid you to take me through this forest. I need to get out of here tonight!
???: Well, wizards are all dishonest and irresponsible, right?
Eastern merchant: D.... Don’t tell me you’re a wizard too......
???: And what if I am?
Eastern merchant: H-hey, it was just a joke. Don’t abandon me in the middle of nowhere like this. I’m begging you here, Eastern wizard.
Shino: It’s Shino.
Eastern merchant: Sh-Shino! Come on, please. I’ll reward you richly once we’re out of here.
Shino: Hmph. Who’s the dishonest and irresponsible one now?
Eastern merchant: Heheh.... My bad.
Shino: Follow me.
(Footsteps)
Eastern merchant: Phew.... ....Man, this short brat’s got some attitude for his size.......
Shino: What? Did you just call me short? Want me to leave you to the wolves?
Eastern merchant: Oh, oh no, of course not! H-hey, if you’re a wizard, that means you can fly, right? Can’t we just zip through the sky to the other end of the forest?
Shino: Say you were me. What would you gain from carrying some miserly old man on the back of your broom?
Eastern merchant: ...........
Shino: If you want to fly that badly, it’ll cost you extra.
Eastern merchant: Extra...... What else can you do? Can you instantly teleport us to our destination or build a palace right here?
Shino: Traveling through space is a form of high-class magic. The same goes for extracting natural matter to build a sophisticated structure. I can make you a cave if you want.
Eastern merchant: What else are you good at?
Shino: Hunting monsters.
Eastern merchant: ....Monsters....?
(Squeak)
Eastern merchant: .....hh. That scared me..... It’s just a bird, huh......
H-hey...... Isn’t the forest acting a little strange? Is it usually like this?
It feels like..... The darkness of the forest is dazzling with energy, it’s terrifying.
Shino: It must be the influence of the < Great Catastrophe >.
The trees are astir with life; the whole forest is brimming with delight, like a creature panting with lukewarm breath.
Eastern merchant: Hey, don’t scare me like that.....
Shino: ....Did something happen during the battle with the < Great Catastrophe >....?
(Rumble)
Shino: ......!
Eastern merchant: Eeep.....! The ground shook.....!
Shino: ....This isn’t an earthquake. It sounds like something fell and caused the tremor.
Eastern merchant: What the hell is going on!? Don’t tell me the world is gonna end..... Were the chosen wizards wiped out!?
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3.2 The Wizard Prince
Eastern merchant: What the hell is going on!? Don’t tell me the world is gonna end..... Were the chosen wizards wiped out!?
Shino: That’s nonsense.
Eastern merchant: But.....
Shino: They haven’t been wiped out. I know someone at the magic headquarters. If anything happened to him, I’d know right away.
Eastern merchant: H-how?
Shino: Wizards don’t make promises. Because if we break a promise, we lose our magic.
But I was tricked by my irresponsible master and made a promise with a fellow apprentice. We promised that we would protect each other. ...Hold your breath.
Eastern merchant: ......hh.
Shino: I sense an ancient fog..... Head over there. Don’t come near me. If a normal human breathes this stuff in, it’ll put them to sleep.
The stars and the darkness are throbbing with life. The < Great Catastrophe > got too close: it’s bringing the forest and the atmosphere back to their primitive state.....
Eastern merchant: Yaaaawn...... I’m getting kinda sleepy........
(Thump)
Shino: ......!
I told you not to come near! Geez.... Dammit, you’re so heavy.......
............
I hope he’s not hurt...... But I bet he’s ready to cry at any moment now. He’s a spoiled young master, after all......
(Roar)
Shino: .....? What is this..... ....A beast’s roar?
.........! It’s coming this way.......
..........!!
(Roar)
Shino: What in the world is that......!?
✦✧☾✧✦
Central Country: Capital.
Central Country citizen woman: Look! There’s another tornado over there......!
Central Country citizen man: There are tornadoes howling through the streets left and right! They’re tearing huge holes in the ground......!
Central Country citizen woman: Sigh...... I can’t believe this all happened overnight...... Even the beautiful castle is in ruins.......
Central Country citizen man: ......Ah......! The castle walls are collapsing again......!
Run! You’ll get crushed by the rubble!
Central Country child: ......Mommy......!
???: << Pernoctant Nixzo >> !
Central Country citizen man: ......! The rubble stopped mid-air......!
???: Escape from there while you can!
It’s all right now.
Central Country child: ......Ah......
Central Country mother: Come here, darling!
Central Country child: ..........
(Running footsteps)
Central Country citizen man: Thank goodness! Everyone managed to escape! Who is the wizard who saved us......
Central Country child: Thank you, mister......
???: You’re welcome. Are you hurt anywhere?
Central Country child: Nope!
???: I’m glad that you’re safe.
Central Country mother: Please, let me thank you properly...... May I ask you for your name?
???: Oh, it was nothing......
(Footsteps)
Central Country troops: Prince Arthur!
Central Country child: Prince......?
Central Country mother: The Prince......!?
Central Country troops: It’s dangerous around here, Your Highness. Please refrain from running off on your own!
Arthur: Sorry. I’ll head back right now.
I’ll be taking my leave, then.
(Footsteps)
Central Country child: Thank you, Mister Prince!
Central Country mother: Thank you very much! I’ll never forget your kindness!
Central Country troops: Your Highness, over here!
Arthur: Assess the damage! Prioritize medical treatment for the injured!
Central Country troops: Yes, sir!
Arthur: Everyone, I understand that you are all undergoing great difficulties right now, but I implore you to endure just a little longer. I will protect the peace of this country!
Central Country man: Long live Prince Arthur!
Central Country man #2: We’ll follow you, Prince Arthur!
Central Country woman: What a beautiful, kind prince......
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3.3 A Confidant’s Scheme
Arthur: So we lost our Sage in the battle against the < Great Catastrophe >......
I wanted to say farewell properly, but I hope he managed to make it safely back to his world...... Was the ritual to summon the new Sage successful?
Drummond: Y-Yes. But the chosen wizards snatched him away to the magic headquarters.
Arthur: Why?
Drummond: They said something about saving a dying wizard......
Arthur: Some of the wizards got hurt? Why didn’t you report this to me?
Drummond: W-Well, the Sage could always summon new wizards to replace the ones lost during the battle against the.......
Arthur: Don’t talk about wizards like that: they’re not weapons you can replace like bows and guns, even if they do possess magic.
Drummond: With all due respect...... To us, the wizards are nothing more than troublesome weapons.
Being a wizard yourself, I understand why you might favor them, but......
Arthur: ......You think I favor them......
Drummond: Not all wizards are benevolent beings who help humans, anyway!
Just look at Oz, who controlled the world under his rule of terror — he’s exactly the kind of wizard I’m talking about! Humans have long suffered under the thumb of wicked wizards!
Arthur: ............
Drummond: That’s precisely why we have to win the Sage over — the Sage acts as the bridge between humans and wizards, and we must ensure that we are holding the reins.
Prince Arthur, it is not the wizards’ side that you should be taking, but ours, the humans! Remember that you’re the prince of Central Country!
Arthur: I will not take sides. Like the Sage, I want to play my part in bringing humans and wizards together.
The < Great Catastrophe > is a threat to this entire world. Humans and wizards alike have to overcome it by working together.
Drummond: I understand...... I’ll be taking my leave then.
(Footsteps)
Arthur: ............
Sigh...... There is still a deep gulf between humans and wizards, but I can’t give up.
Someday, I’m sure we can all come to understand each other. I hope the wizards at the magic headquarters and the new sage are all right......
✦✧☾✧✦
(Footsteps)
Drummond: It is truly vexing how Prince Arthur insists on favoring the wizards......
???: Drummond.
Drummond: L-Lord Vincent!
Vincent: I believe my instructions were for you to bring the Sage to the castle at once. But it seems that you have failed to do so.
Drummond: M-My apologies! The wizards got in the way......
Vincent: We suffered immense damage from the < Great Catastrophe > precisely because those wizards slacked on their jobs.
They say that wizards will obey the Sage. Before the new wizards gather, seize the Sage and make sure he bends to our will.
Drummond: B-but if we steal away the Sage, we’ll just anger the wizards even further......
Vincent: There’s no need to worry. As long as we control the sage, they’ll have to obey us.
This is all for the sake of the people of Central Country. ......He might very well be the son of my brother the King, but I won’t allow Arthur to have his way any longer.
✦✧☾✧✦
At daybreak, I wake from my dream.
I was half-hoping to wake up and find myself back in my old world, but it seems like this is my current reality.
Akira: (This still feels unreal...... But I’m grateful that I’ve landed myself in the company of good people.)
I open the window, taking in the sound of birds chirping and the scent of morning dew. Somewhere in the distance, I hear the rippling of a stream.
Without thinking, I inhale deeply, breathing in the fragrance of flowers carried by the wind.
What a pleasant, refreshing mood to wake up to.
Being surrounded by such a lush view of nature is enough to lift my spirits.
Akira: (How many days has it been since I last had a leisurely morning like this......)
(What an endlessly blue sky. How pretty......)
(......Ah......)
(You can still see the huge white moon so clearly in the sky.)
(Knocking)
Akira: Oh...... Yes!
Cain: Good morning, Sir Sage.
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3.4 Touch of the Hand
Cain: Good morning, Sir Sage.
It’s Cain’s voice.
Akira: (The twins did say that Cain was a knight of Central Country, so he should be acquainted with Prince Arthur since they’re from the same country.....)
Cain: Sir Sage. Are you still asleep?
Akira: Ah, I’m awake! Please give me a moment. I’m not properly dressed yet......
Cain: Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m sure you look wonderful even if you’ve just woken up.
Akira: ............
(What a devastatingly smooth line...... This guy must be really popular......)
Cain: But manners make the knight. I’ll wait for you to get ready.
Akira: Th-thank you.
Cain: Take your time.
(Rustle) (Door opens)
After I finish getting ready, I open the door.
As I do, Cain’s smiling face gives way to confusion.
Cain: Huh? Where are you?
Akira: Eh? I’m right here.
Cain: Uh, where?
Akira: In front of you......
Cain: In front of me? See, you’re not here.
Akira: Woah, that was my arm!
Cain: Eh?
Akira: I’m right in front of you. See, I’m here......
I clasp Cain’s hand with both of mine.
In that moment, our eyes meet.
Cain: Ah, there you are. Why did you hide yourself?
Akira: I didn’t; I can’t even use magic.
Cain: Is that so...... Then why couldn’t I see you?
Akira: ............
Cain thinks it over for a while, then looks back up suddenly.
Cain: Well, who cares.
Akira: A-are you sure?
Cain: It might be because of this one eye. See how one of my eyeballs is red?
Cain bends down so that his gaze meets mine, and points to one eye with his finger.
Cain: This red one wasn’t originally mine.
Akira: It’s not yours......?
Cain: Yeah. A wizard with a terrible personality gouged out my eyeball and took it against my will.
Akira: Wha......?!?
Cain: And then he stuck one of his own eyes in there.
Akira: S......Some people do some scary things, huh.
Cain: I should’ve been more careful. But I’m going to defeat him someday and take my eyeball back.
Akira: D-did it hurt?
Cain: Of course it hurt. For a while it wouldn't listen to me at all, and it kept trying to look around at everything but where I was trying to look.
Cain’s resolute frown shifts into a grave expression.
Cain: It was Owen.
Akira: ......Huh?
Cain: The guy who stole my eyeball. It was Owen, a Northern wizard. Don’t get too close to him.
The first thing you should do if you meet Owen is look away immediately. Don’t listen to anything he says. It’s over once you talk to him.
If you don’t keep ahold of yourself, he’ll drag you into the depths of darkness.
Akira: ......I understand......
Looking at my nervous expression, Cain laughs amiably.
Cain: Don’t worry. I’ll protect you no matter what happens. Owen doesn’t really drop by anyway.
Uh-oh, I forgot to address you formally. Sorry, Sir Sage. I get reprimanded for it fairly often, but I just.......
Akira: Oh..... You don’t have to speak formally to me.
Cain: Really? That’d be a great help. I’m no good with manners and etiquette. Please, think of me as your friend.
Let’s take a walk outside. I’ll listen to your request as we walk.
Akira: Huh?
Cain: I heard from Sir Snow and Sir White. You want to meet Prince Arthur, don’t you? So that you can return to your world.
Cain smiles, a little sadly.
Cain: Though I personally would like you to stay in this world.
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3.5 < Great Catastrophe >
I walk alongside Cain, and look up into the sky.
The huge white moon makes a faint outline against the blue skies.
Akira: It really is huge.......
Cain: What is?
Akira: The moon. I was just thinking that the moon in this world is so huge.
Cain: Well, it did just attack us yesterday.
Akira: Attack......?
As Cain looks up at the moon, his eyes narrow into a glare.
Cain: That’s the < Great Catastrophe >. It attacks once a year, trying to destroy this world.
That is the opponent that we are up against.
Akira: The moon.....? Are you fighting the moon......!?
Cain: That’s right. We intercept the moon’s attacks and send them back into the sky — that’s our role as the Sage’s wizards.
Wizards who fight against the moon.......
I look up at the sky, struck speechless by that extraordinary tale.
To think that every time that huge moon approaches, they have to fight against it in order to protect the world.
Akira: Once a year, every year......?
Cain: Yeah, every year.
Akira: Has it always been like this......?
Cain: Always.
Cain shrugs.
Cain: It would be so much easier if only we could finish it off in one shot. But the same goes for most troublesome things in this world.
You deal with them, then the next problem pops up...... The same thing happens again and again, and you just try to find a way to deal with it. You don’t get a fairytale ending tied up neatly in a bow.
You have to patiently carry on.
Akira: ..............
Cain: ......That’s how things had been all along, and I accepted that fact. But the < Great Catastrophe > was really strange this year.
Akira: Strange, you say......
Cain: It was almost impossibly strong. It drew close with so much power that even the veteran wizards were no match for it......
There were twenty of us, but we lost half of our comrades......
Cain falls silent, his eyes cast downwards.
(Wind rustling)
In the rays of the morning sun, a breeze sweeps through the air silently.
Cain: ......The < Great Catastrophe > got so close. I’m sure the capital suffered significant damage too.
You said you wanted to meet Prince Arthur, right? He’s in Granvelle Castle in the capital.
I make trips to the castle pretty regularly, so I can take you along with me. I’m sure His Highness will welcome you warmly.
But could I ask you to just hang in there and wait a little longer, until we can figure out the extent of the damage to the capital and get repairs under way?
Akira: (......The extent of the damage...... The moon drew close to this world. I can’t even begin to imagine the sort of damage that would cause......)
I understand...... I’m sorry for making such a selfish demand with everything else going on.
Cain: What are you saying? We’re the ones making selfish demands of you when you’re in a difficult situation.
I’d hoped that you would come to like us, and this world, if possible...... But I understand that nothing quite beats the home where you’ve always lived.
Akira: If there’s anything I can do in the time that I’m here.......
Cain: Are you sure?
Akira: Y-Yeah. I can clean, for example......
Cain: Leave the chores to us. But we do want you to perform the summoning ritual for the new wizards.
Akira: The new wizards?
Cain: Remember how I said our numbers were down to half? There were originally twenty of the Sage’s wizards.
Only the sage can summon new wizards to fill in for those we lost. Can I ask you to do that?
I hesitate slightly at Cain’s grave expression, then nod.
Akira: If it’s something I can do, I’ll give it a shot.
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Chapter 2 << | index | >> Chapter 4
Chapter 2 << | index | >> Chapter 4
Chapter 3: The Great Catastrophe
3.1 Sherwood Forest
3.2 The Wizard Prince
3.3 A Confidant’s Scheme
3.4 Touch of the Hand
3.5 < Great Catastrophe >
3.1 Sherwood Forest
The night I arrive in this mysterious world —.
I haven’t a clue what is going on in the various corners of the world as I sleep in my bed.
Eastern Country: Sherwood Forest.
(Hoot hoot)
Eastern merchant: ....Ugh, what a horrifying night..... What’s going on..... I didn’t know the < Great Catastrophe > could come so close.......
???: ..........
Eastern merchant: I bet the chosen wizards slacked off on their jobs! They’re all dishonest and irresponsible.... Woah.....
(Rustle)
Eastern merchant: Hey, Guide! Don’t just stop in your tracks like that!
???: This is where my job as your guide ends.
Eastern merchant: Wh-what are you saying!? I already paid you to take me through this forest. I need to get out of here tonight!
???: Well, wizards are all dishonest and irresponsible, right?
Eastern merchant: D.... Don’t tell me you’re a wizard too......
???: And what if I am?
Eastern merchant: H-hey, it was just a joke. Don’t abandon me in the middle of nowhere like this. I’m begging you here, Eastern wizard.
Shino: It’s Shino.
Eastern merchant: Sh-Shino! Come on, please. I’ll reward you richly once we’re out of here.
Shino: Hmph. Who’s the dishonest and irresponsible one now?
Eastern merchant: Heheh.... My bad.
Shino: Follow me.
(Footsteps)
Eastern merchant: Phew.... ....Man, this short brat’s got some attitude for his size.......
Shino: What? Did you just call me short? Want me to leave you to the wolves?
Eastern merchant: Oh, oh no, of course not! H-hey, if you’re a wizard, that means you can fly, right? Can’t we just zip through the sky to the other end of the forest?
Shino: Say you were me. What would you gain from carrying some miserly old man on the back of your broom?
Eastern merchant: ...........
Shino: If you want to fly that badly, it’ll cost you extra.
Eastern merchant: Extra...... What else can you do? Can you instantly teleport us to our destination or build a palace right here?
Shino: Traveling through space is a form of high-class magic. The same goes for extracting natural matter to build a sophisticated structure. I can make you a cave if you want.
Eastern merchant: What else are you good at?
Shino: Hunting monsters.
Eastern merchant: ....Monsters....?
(Squeak)
Eastern merchant: .....hh. That scared me..... It’s just a bird, huh......
H-hey...... Isn’t the forest acting a little strange? Is it usually like this?
It feels like..... The darkness of the forest is dazzling with energy, it’s terrifying.
Shino: It must be the influence of the < Great Catastrophe >.
The trees are astir with life; the whole forest is brimming with delight, like a creature panting with lukewarm breath.
Eastern merchant: Hey, don’t scare me like that.....
Shino: ....Did something happen during the battle with the < Great Catastrophe >....?
(Rumble)
Shino: ......!
Eastern merchant: Eeep.....! The ground shook.....!
Shino: ....This isn’t an earthquake. It sounds like something fell and caused the tremor.
Eastern merchant: What the hell is going on!? Don’t tell me the world is gonna end..... Were the chosen wizards wiped out!?
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3.2 The Wizard Prince
Eastern merchant: What the hell is going on!? Don’t tell me the world is gonna end..... Were the chosen wizards wiped out!?
Shino: That’s nonsense.
Eastern merchant: But.....
Shino: They haven’t been wiped out. I know someone at the magic headquarters. If anything happened to him, I’d know right away.
Eastern merchant: H-how?
Shino: Wizards don’t make promises. Because if we break a promise, we lose our magic.
But I was tricked by my irresponsible master and made a promise with a fellow apprentice. We promised that we would protect each other. ...Hold your breath.
Eastern merchant: ......hh.
Shino: I sense an ancient fog..... Head over there. Don’t come near me. If a normal human breathes this stuff in, it’ll put them to sleep.
The stars and the darkness are throbbing with life. The < Great Catastrophe > got too close: it’s bringing the forest and the atmosphere back to their primitive state.....
Eastern merchant: Yaaaawn...... I’m getting kinda sleepy........
(Thump)
Shino: ......!
I told you not to come near! Geez.... Dammit, you’re so heavy.......
............
I hope he’s not hurt...... But I bet he’s ready to cry at any moment now. He’s a spoiled young master, after all......
(Roar)
Shino: .....? What is this..... ....A beast’s roar?
.........! It’s coming this way.......
..........!!
(Roar)
Shino: What in the world is that......!?
✦✧☾✧✦
Central Country: Capital.
Central Country citizen woman: Look! There’s another tornado over there......!
Central Country citizen man: There are tornadoes howling through the streets left and right! They’re tearing huge holes in the ground......!
Central Country citizen woman: Sigh...... I can’t believe this all happened overnight...... Even the beautiful castle is in ruins.......
Central Country citizen man: ......Ah......! The castle walls are collapsing again......!
Run! You’ll get crushed by the rubble!
Central Country child: ......Mommy......!
???: << Pernoctant Nixzo >> !
Central Country citizen man: ......! The rubble stopped mid-air......!
???: Escape from there while you can!
It’s all right now.
Central Country child: ......Ah......
Central Country mother: Come here, darling!
Central Country child: ..........
(Running footsteps)
Central Country citizen man: Thank goodness! Everyone managed to escape! Who is the wizard who saved us......
Central Country child: Thank you, mister......
???: You’re welcome. Are you hurt anywhere?
Central Country child: Nope!
???: I’m glad that you’re safe.
Central Country mother: Please, let me thank you properly...... May I ask you for your name?
???: Oh, it was nothing......
(Footsteps)
Central Country troops: Prince Arthur!
Central Country child: Prince......?
Central Country mother: The Prince......!?
Central Country troops: It’s dangerous around here, Your Highness. Please refrain from running off on your own!
Arthur: Sorry. I’ll head back right now.
I’ll be taking my leave, then.
(Footsteps)
Central Country child: Thank you, Mister Prince!
Central Country mother: Thank you very much! I’ll never forget your kindness!
Central Country troops: Your Highness, over here!
Arthur: Assess the damage! Prioritize medical treatment for the injured!
Central Country troops: Yes, sir!
Arthur: Everyone, I understand that you are all undergoing great difficulties right now, but I implore you to endure just a little longer. I will protect the peace of this country!
Central Country man: Long live Prince Arthur!
Central Country man #2: We’ll follow you, Prince Arthur!
Central Country woman: What a beautiful, kind prince......
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3.3 A Confidant’s Scheme
Arthur: So we lost our Sage in the battle against the < Great Catastrophe >......
I wanted to say farewell properly, but I hope he managed to make it safely back to his world...... Was the ritual to summon the new Sage successful?
Drummond: Y-Yes. But the chosen wizards snatched him away to the magic headquarters.
Arthur: Why?
Drummond: They said something about saving a dying wizard......
Arthur: Some of the wizards got hurt? Why didn’t you report this to me?
Drummond: W-Well, the Sage could always summon new wizards to replace the ones lost during the battle against the
Arthur: Don’t talk about wizards like that: they’re not weapons you can replace like bows and guns, even if they do possess magic.
Drummond: With all due respect...... To us, the wizards are nothing more than troublesome weapons.
Being a wizard yourself, I understand why you might favor them, but......
Arthur: ......You think I favor them......
Drummond: Not all wizards are benevolent beings who help humans, anyway!
Just look at Oz, who controlled the world under his rule of terror — he’s exactly the kind of wizard I’m talking about! Humans have long suffered under the thumb of wicked wizards!
Arthur: ............
Drummond: That’s precisely why we have to win the Sage over — the Sage acts as the bridge between humans and wizards, and we must ensure that we are holding the reins.
Prince Arthur, it is not the wizards’ side that you should be taking, but ours, the humans! Remember that you’re the prince of Central Country!
Arthur: I will not take sides. Like the Sage, I want to play my part in bringing humans and wizards together.
The < Great Catastrophe > is a threat to this entire world. Humans and wizards alike have to overcome it by working together.
Drummond: I understand...... I’ll be taking my leave then.
(Footsteps)
Arthur: ............
Sigh...... There is still a deep gulf between humans and wizards, but I can’t give up.
Someday, I’m sure we can all come to understand each other. I hope the wizards at the magic headquarters and the new sage are all right......
✦✧☾✧✦
(Footsteps)
Drummond: It is truly vexing how Prince Arthur insists on favoring the wizards......
???: Drummond.
Drummond: L-Lord Vincent!
Vincent: I believe my instructions were for you to bring the Sage to the castle at once. But it seems that you have failed to do so.
Drummond: M-My apologies! The wizards got in the way......
Vincent: We suffered immense damage from the < Great Catastrophe > precisely because those wizards slacked on their jobs.
They say that wizards will obey the Sage. Before the new wizards gather, seize the Sage and make sure he bends to our will.
Drummond: B-but if we steal away the Sage, we’ll just anger the wizards even further......
Vincent: There’s no need to worry. As long as we control the sage, they’ll have to obey us.
This is all for the sake of the people of Central Country. ......He might very well be the son of my brother the King, but I won’t allow Arthur to have his way any longer.
✦✧☾✧✦
At daybreak, I wake from my dream.
I was half-hoping to wake up and find myself back in my old world, but it seems like this is my current reality.
Akira: (This still feels unreal...... But I’m grateful that I’ve landed myself in the company of good people.)
I open the window, taking in the sound of birds chirping and the scent of morning dew. Somewhere in the distance, I hear the rippling of a stream.
Without thinking, I inhale deeply, breathing in the fragrance of flowers carried by the wind.
What a pleasant, refreshing mood to wake up to.
Being surrounded by such a lush view of nature is enough to lift my spirits.
Akira: (How many days has it been since I last had a leisurely morning like this......)
(What an endlessly blue sky. How pretty......)
(......Ah......)
(You can still see the huge white moon so clearly in the sky.)
(Knocking)
Akira: Oh...... Yes!
Cain: Good morning, Sir Sage.
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3.4 Touch of the Hand
Cain: Good morning, Sir Sage.
It’s Cain’s voice.
Akira: (The twins did say that Cain was a knight of Central Country, so he should be acquainted with Prince Arthur since they’re from the same country.....)
Cain: Sir Sage. Are you still asleep?
Akira: Ah, I’m awake! Please give me a moment. I’m not properly dressed yet......
Cain: Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m sure you look wonderful even if you’ve just woken up.
Akira: ............
(What a devastatingly smooth line...... This guy must be really popular......)
Cain: But manners make the knight. I’ll wait for you to get ready.
Akira: Th-thank you.
Cain: Take your time.
(Rustle) (Door opens)
After I finish getting ready, I open the door.
As I do, Cain’s smiling face gives way to confusion.
Cain: Huh? Where are you?
Akira: Eh? I’m right here.
Cain: Uh, where?
Akira: In front of you......
Cain: In front of me? See, you’re not here.
Akira: Woah, that was my arm!
Cain: Eh?
Akira: I’m right in front of you. See, I’m here......
I clasp Cain’s hand with both of mine.
In that moment, our eyes meet.
Cain: Ah, there you are. Why did you hide yourself?
Akira: I didn’t; I can’t even use magic.
Cain: Is that so...... Then why couldn’t I see you?
Akira: ............
Cain thinks it over for a while, then looks back up suddenly.
Cain: Well, who cares.
Akira: A-are you sure?
Cain: It might be because of this one eye. See how one of my eyeballs is red?
Cain bends down so that his gaze meets mine, and points to one eye with his finger.
Cain: This red one wasn’t originally mine.
Akira: It’s not yours......?
Cain: Yeah. A wizard with a terrible personality gouged out my eyeball and took it against my will.
Akira: Wha......?!?
Cain: And then he stuck one of his own eyes in there.
Akira: S......Some people do some scary things, huh.
Cain: I should’ve been more careful. But I’m going to defeat him someday and take my eyeball back.
Akira: D-did it hurt?
Cain: Of course it hurt. For a while it wouldn't listen to me at all, and it kept trying to look around at everything but where I was trying to look.
Cain’s resolute frown shifts into a grave expression.
Cain: It was Owen.
Akira: ......Huh?
Cain: The guy who stole my eyeball. It was Owen, a Northern wizard. Don’t get too close to him.
The first thing you should do if you meet Owen is look away immediately. Don’t listen to anything he says. It’s over once you talk to him.
If you don’t keep ahold of yourself, he’ll drag you into the depths of darkness.
Akira: ......I understand......
Looking at my nervous expression, Cain laughs amiably.
Cain: Don’t worry. I’ll protect you no matter what happens. Owen doesn’t really drop by anyway.
Uh-oh, I forgot to address you formally. Sorry, Sir Sage. I get reprimanded for it fairly often, but I just.......
Akira: Oh..... You don’t have to speak formally to me.
Cain: Really? That’d be a great help. I’m no good with manners and etiquette. Please, think of me as your friend.
Let’s take a walk outside. I’ll listen to your request as we walk.
Akira: Huh?
Cain: I heard from Sir Snow and Sir White. You want to meet Prince Arthur, don’t you? So that you can return to your world.
Cain smiles, a little sadly.
Cain: Though I personally would like you to stay in this world.
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3.5 < Great Catastrophe >
I walk alongside Cain, and look up into the sky.
The huge white moon makes a faint outline against the blue skies.
Akira: It really is huge.......
Cain: What is?
Akira: The moon. I was just thinking that the moon in this world is so huge.
Cain: Well, it did just attack us yesterday.
Akira: Attack......?
As Cain looks up at the moon, his eyes narrow into a glare.
Cain: That’s the < Great Catastrophe >. It attacks once a year, trying to destroy this world.
That is the opponent that we are up against.
Akira: The moon.....? Are you fighting the moon......!?
Cain: That’s right. We intercept the moon’s attacks and send them back into the sky — that’s our role as the Sage’s wizards.
Wizards who fight against the moon.......
I look up at the sky, struck speechless by that extraordinary tale.
To think that every time that huge moon approaches, they have to fight against it in order to protect the world.
Akira: Once a year, every year......?
Cain: Yeah, every year.
Akira: Has it always been like this......?
Cain: Always.
Cain shrugs.
Cain: It would be so much easier if only we could finish it off in one shot. But the same goes for most troublesome things in this world.
You deal with them, then the next problem pops up...... The same thing happens again and again, and you just try to find a way to deal with it. You don’t get a fairytale ending tied up neatly in a bow.
You have to patiently carry on.
Akira: ..............
Cain: ......That’s how things had been all along, and I accepted that fact. But the < Great Catastrophe > was really strange this year.
Akira: Strange, you say......
Cain: It was almost impossibly strong. It drew close with so much power that even the veteran wizards were no match for it......
There were twenty of us, but we lost half of our comrades......
Cain falls silent, his eyes cast downwards.
(Wind rustling)
In the rays of the morning sun, a breeze sweeps through the air silently.
Cain: ......The < Great Catastrophe > got so close. I’m sure the capital suffered significant damage too.
You said you wanted to meet Prince Arthur, right? He’s in Granvelle Castle in the capital.
I make trips to the castle pretty regularly, so I can take you along with me. I’m sure His Highness will welcome you warmly.
But could I ask you to just hang in there and wait a little longer, until we can figure out the extent of the damage to the capital and get repairs under way?
Akira: (......The extent of the damage...... The moon drew close to this world. I can’t even begin to imagine the sort of damage that would cause......)
I understand...... I’m sorry for making such a selfish demand with everything else going on.
Cain: What are you saying? We’re the ones making selfish demands of you when you’re in a difficult situation.
I’d hoped that you would come to like us, and this world, if possible...... But I understand that nothing quite beats the home where you’ve always lived.
Akira: If there’s anything I can do in the time that I’m here.......
Cain: Are you sure?
Akira: Y-Yeah. I can clean, for example......
Cain: Leave the chores to us. But we do want you to perform the summoning ritual for the new wizards.
Akira: The new wizards?
Cain: Remember how I said our numbers were down to half? There were originally twenty of the Sage’s wizards.
Only the sage can summon new wizards to fill in for those we lost. Can I ask you to do that?
I hesitate slightly at Cain’s grave expression, then nod.
Akira: If it’s something I can do, I’ll give it a shot.
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Chapter 2 << | index | >> Chapter 4