healingbonds (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
healingbonds) wrote2020-06-30 10:01 am
healingbonds) wrote2020-06-30 10:01 am
Entry tags:
Main Story | Chapter 4 | A World Where Wizards Live
MahoYaku Masterpost & Translator's Notes
Chapter 3 << | index | >> Chapter 5
Chapter 4: A World Where Wizards Live
4.1 Spend a Spell in the Morning
4.2 Breakfast and Sweet Magic
4.3 In Order to Become a Wizard
4.4 Breakfast With Wizards
4.5 Before Returning to My World
4.6 Summoning Ritual
4.1 Spend a Spell in the Morning
Cain: Guys, I have news! Sir Sage said he would perform the summoning ritual for the new wizards.
Cain announces this in the dining room.
Murr and Shylock turn their eyes towards him. But Cain tilts his head curiously.
Cain: Huh? Nobody’s here?
Murr: I’m here! Morning, Cain, Sir Sage!
Cain: Murr? Where are you?
Murr: Inside your pocket!
Cain: Stop with your silly jokes. Come on, show yourself.
Murr: But I am showing myself? In fact, I don’t know how much more I can reveal.
Cain: Ahaha, you’re being silly.
Akira: Cain.... I do think there’s something wrong with your eyes.
That’s when Snow and White appear.
Snow: Good morning.
White: Good morning, everyone.
Shylock: Good morning. How is Faust doi.... Ouch.
Cain: Shylock. Don’t show up out of thin air right in front of my eyes.
Shylock: But you are the one who crashed into me headfirst.
Cain: Huh?
Shylock: Are you suffering from a hangover?
Cain: No, it’s just that my eyes have been acting up..... But now that I think about it, I can’t see the twins.
Snow: Ohoho. It certainly seems like there are strange things happening.
White: You see, we too were trapped within a painting last night.
Cain: Hey, don’t turn this into a joke. I’m telling the truth here.
Anyway, guess what? Sir Sage said he would perform the summoning ritual for the new wizards.
Shylock: That would help us out tremendously. Thank you, Sir Sage.
Murr: Yay! New comrades!
Akira: I don’t know if I can pull it off, but I hope I can be of some help to you all.
Snow: We are grateful for your help, Sage. Well then, let’s perform the summoning ritual a little past noon.
White: It’s better to perform the ritual when the < Great Catastrophe > isn’t visible in the sky.
Snow and White say this, gazing up at the faint white moon.
Shylock looks at me and smiles.
Shylock: Please take it easy until then. For now, let us enjoy some breakfast.
Cain, could you go wake Heathcliff?
The witches and the Southern wizards all turned to stone, so there’s nobody to prepare breakfast for us all.
Cain: Can he even cook breakfast? I thought he was a noble young master.
Shylock: He’s quite skilled with his hands, remember? Can you think of anyone else who can
cook?
Cain: What about you? Don’t you run a bar? The light meal you made for me the other day was delicious.
Shylock: I don’t particularly feel like serving others first thing in the morning.
Cain: Then I’ll cook. You just have to throw everything into a pot and let it boil, right?
Akira: Ah.... If you’d like, I can make something?
Murr: Really? Can you make ojiya1?
Akira: Ojiya!? I can make ojiya! I didn’t realize I could eat ojiya in this world!
Cain: You sound delighted.
Shylock: That reminds me — the previous sage also said that delicious meals were the key to adapting to a new environment.
Well then, I’ll leave it to you. Let me take you to the kitchen.
✦✧☾✧✦
I am shaken by what awaits me in the kitchen.
1) A Japanese rice soup made with rice, stock, and varying additional ingredients; somewhat similar to congee
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4.2 Breakfast and Sweet Magic
Unfamiliar ingredients are stuffed into transparent jars and lined up on shelves.
A mysterious kind of dried seaweed, bottled up and labeled "feels like kombu"..... White grains labeled "feels like rice".......
A sticky, dark green substance labeled "pretty much miso"......
Akira: The sage before me really tried his best, huh.......
I roll up my sleeves and grab a pot when Heathcliff comes running into the kitchen.
Heathcliff: Let me help you, Sir Sage.
Akira: Ah, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.
Heathcliff: No, I can’t have that. I’m actually pretty good at this sort of thing, so please let me assist you.
Heathcliff rolls up his sleeves and smiles at me. His beauty is honestly mesmerizing.
At the same time, though, his smile is awkward: like a shy boy trying his best to be friendly.
He’s probably not a very outgoing person — but maybe he’s trying to approach me because of everything that happened with Faust.
He reminds me of Hanako from the old cat lady’s place. She would first watch all the other cats clamor around me, and then cautiously approach me.
I smile at him, hoping it’ll help him feel at ease.
Akira: Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
Heathcliff: Of course. Um, what are you cooking?
Akira: I was going to make ojiya.
Heathcliff: Oh, that’s the thing kind of like porridge that the previous sage used to make for us. The soup stock is the key to its flavor, right?
Heathcliff ties his apron and waves his slender fingers like a conductor of an orchestra.
The window opens, and an egg comes flying through the air.
A kettle floats into the air and tilts water into a pot; it boils the moment it hits the pot, and in goes some "feels like kombu."
The "feels like kombu" releases a screech and absorbs the water, expanding to over twice its original size as it transforms into the shape of a webbed hand.
Akira: ...What is this.....?
Heathcliff: It’s submersive algae. It’s a seaweed that clings to ships and drags them to the bottom of the ocean. I had never eaten it before either.
Were you able to get a good rest last night?
Akira: Ah, yes. I fell asleep while reading the sage’s manual.....
I answer his questions in a daze while watching the various utensils and ingredients fly about the kitchen.
(Tap tap tap)
The eggs crack to a delightful rhythm and whip themselves up inside the bowl.
While preparing the ojiya, Heathcliff begins to drip some coffee.
Akira: Wow, being a wizard really lets you do a lot......
Heathcliff: Huh?
Akira: Ah, it’s nothing! There was coffee back in my world too. You’re not going to use magic to prepare the coffee?
Heathcliff: Ahaha. I could, but I feel like it always tastes better when I make it manually.
I do make sugar with magic. It’s the first kind of magic that wizard children learn and practice.
It might look simple, but it can actually be pretty difficult to get the star shape and sweet flavor right.
Beginners make all kinds of mistakes: sometimes it stays as powdered sugar, or it doesn’t really taste like anything, or it turns into sugar water.
(Water boiling)
The "feels like rice" reaches a boil, and Heathcliff drops the whipped eggs into the pot.
They dance in perfect loops through the air as they make their gentle landing.
Heathcliff: The sugar we make has health benefits; it’s known to reduce both physical and mental fatigue. That’s why humans purchase sugar from us.
Sir Sage, could you hold out your hand?
I do as I’m told, offering Heathcliff my outstretched palm.
He points to it with his index finger.
And a few beautiful, star-shaped sugars tumble onto my palm.
Akira: Woah.... That’s amazing!
Heathcliff smiles bashfully in response.
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4.3 In Order to Become a Wizard
Heathcliff: It’s no big deal, really — any wizard can do this.
I try to pinch the sugar with my fingertips, but it quickly dissolves into a fine powder.
The delicacy reminds me of him.
Akira: (So this is what it’s like to live in a world with magic.....)
Um.... How does one become a wizard?
If I memorize the spell that you used yesterday, will I be able to use magic too?
If I could use magic, I’d like to try — that’s what’s going through my mind when I ask Heath my question. He looks like he doesn’t really know how to answer me.
Heathcliff: Um..... You don’t really get to choose whether or not you’re a wizard.
Wizards are born from humans at random. And the children of wizards aren’t necessarily wizards either. It’s like a sudden mutation of sorts.
It’s said that about one in ten thousand are born as wizards, and it looks like that number has been dwindling as of late. But wizards are also long-lived.
The previous sage said it’s not a job change, but more like a mutant hero.
Akira: I see.... So it’s not like anyone who mutters a spell can use magic.
Heathcliff: Yes.... Spells are like charms that reinforce the heart in which magic power lies.
That’s why every wizard has a different spell.
As you repeat your favorite words over and over again, they come to harbor mysterious powers — that’s what I learned.
Akira: So your favorite words become your spell? Heathcliff, what does your spell mean?
Heathcliff: ...........
Heathcliff blinks, and purses his lip in surprise.
He shyly lowers his gaze and mumbles, with bright red cheeks:
Heathcliff: .....Dusk, and the sound of rain......
Akira: Dusk and the sound of rain......
Heathcliff: Do you think it’s weird.....?
Akira: Not at all. I love both dusk and the sound of rain.
Heathcliff smiles, relieved.
Though still bashful, he seems to have opened up a little as we continue cooking.
Heathcliff: I apologize. No one’s ever really asked me that question, so I got a little nervous.....
Akira: Oh no, I’m sorry — was it rude of me to ask?
Heathcliff: No; I just thought it might sound a bit childish. Especially because some wizards have spells that mean things like "true love" and "the truth of the universe."
Akira: That sounds cool too. But I think my spell would be something like the title of my favorite song, or the name of a cat.
Heathcliff: You like cats?
Akira: Yes. I love them.
Heathcliff: Mr. Faust loves cats too. He tries to keep it a secret, but I’ve seen him covertly playing with them a number of times.
Akira: Really? I think we’ll get along, then.
Heathcliff: He might seem scary, but he’s a very good teacher.
Before I knew it, Heathcliff was making eye contact and smiling as we spoke.
Heathcliff: According to Mr. Faust, "Just as humans fasten their bodies to objects to use them, wizards fasten their hearts to nature to harness it."
Akira: Fasten their hearts to nature.....
Heathcliff: Yes. The clearer the vision in your mind, the more powerful your magic, and the more likely your spell is to succeed.
Akira: The vision in your mind... So if you have great power, does that mean you can do anything at all?
Heathcliff: What a wizard can do with magic varies depending on the wizard’s magical power, as well as his specialties and weak points.
There are certain things we can’t do, such as reviving the dead, or turning back time.... We can’t create something out of nothing.
Akira: I see. But Heathcliff, it looked like you stopped time yesterday when you used your watch against the soldiers.
Heathcliff: Oh no, I didn’t! I just imagined time had stopped in order to freeze their movements.
Heathcliff laughs, his brows turned down.
Heathcliff: It would be nice if we could turn back time, though. I’m always so indecisive, so there are lots of things I’d like to redo.
I feel the same. His ordinary commentary makes me feel closer to him.
Akira: (Magic can be surprising and all, but it looks like wizards can harbor the same feelings as humans.)
Heathcliff: ....All right, done. I’ll take this out to the dining room.
Akira: Yes, please. Thank you.
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4.4 Breakfast With Wizards
Murr: Ya~y, breakfast time!
Shylock: Murr, no flying during mealtime. Sit down when you eat your food.
Snow: Oh. I’ve had this before. It’s sojiya.
White: You must mean mojiya.
Cain: It’s ojiya. I’m going to add the sal....
(Bump)
Bradley: Ouch! What do you think you’re doing!
Cain: Bradley.... When did you get here?
Bradley: I’ve been here the entire time! Did you leave your eyes at home!?
Heathcliff: You couldn’t see me earlier either. Are you sure you’re all right, Cain....?
Cain: This is getting to be a real problem.... But let’s eat for now, before the food gets cold.
Shylock: You know, it’s always bothered me how this meal called ojiya doesn’t go well with coffee.
As I spend time with them, I come to learn more about each of their personalities, bit by bit.
Murr is whimsical and impulsive. Shylock is mature, but he does everything at his own pace.
Cain is friendly, like an older brother. Heathcliff is shy. I don’t know much about Bradley, but he’s quick to lose his temper.
And everyone seems to respect Snow and White.
It reminds me of all the cats who lived in the old cat lady’s yard. Each one lived life as it pleased.
And you couldn’t really tell if they got along, or hated each other. — Watching these wizards reminds me of that carefree lifestyle.
As does listening to their very lively conversation.
Snow: That’s right. We need to explain the < Great Catastrophe > to the Sage.
Cain: Oh, I discussed it with him earlier.
White: Oh, is that so? Excellent; it saves us the effort.
Snow: If you’d like to learn more, you should ask Murr. He once researched the < Great Catastrophe >, you see.
Shylock: The current Murr wouldn’t be able to explain anything to you. He got too close to the secret behind it all, and it completely shattered his soul.
Akira: Shattered his soul.... Does that sort of thing happen often?
Shylock: It’s certainly not common. But I could certainly say the same for exchanging eyeballs, or tying a ghost to this world using magic.
Bradley: Hah. What a bunch of weirdos.
Shylock: I’m quite fond of you all. Be it wine or humans — bizarre abnormalities carry stories that are just as rich as those of outstanding excellencies.
Cain: You really are a Western wizard.
Shylock: And you are very much like a Central wizard — you’re honest to your very core.
Akira: Um.... when you say "like a Central wizard" or "Western wizard," what does that all mean?
Snow: There are five countries in this world: Central, North, West, East, and South.
White: A wizard’s disposition varies depending on the country they reside in. The previous sage recorded it in the sage’s manual.
Akira: The sage’s manual.....
✦✧☾✧✦
Once I finish eating, I open up the sage’s manual, which I brought from my room.
(Flips)
"It looks like four wizards from each of the five countries — Central Country, Eastern Country, Western Country, Southern Country, and Northern Country — are chosen as the Sage’s wizards."
"Some supernatural power chooses them, so the sage gets no say in who arrives. Which means I can’t summon my own army of pretty witches. Pretty disappointing."
"The wizards of each region share certain character traits."
"Even if a wizard is born in one place, it may not necessarily be the land they’re associated with; if they have lived in a country for long enough, they can grow accustomed to the traits of that land. So there are Eastern wizards who were born in the West."
"Central wizards have strong hearts of justice. They care deeply about those close to them, and take on jobs that nobody else wants to do. Suited for leadership roles."
Akira: (Central wizards.... So Cain and Oz. I can definitely see how Cain is a Central wizard.)
"Eastern wizards are usually total misanthropes. They’re closed off, fundamentally serious, and like being left alone. They’re cute when they become fond of you. But if you piss them off, they’ll hold a grudge for the rest of their lives."
Akira: (Eastern wizards.... So Heathcliff and Faust.)
"Western wizards are temperamental and whimsical. You can’t hold a normal conversation with them. They live in their own worlds, and they really love festivals. Lots of weirdos here."
Akira: (Western wizards.... So Murr and Shylock.)
"Southern wizards are kind and generous. You feel relaxed and at ease around them. They like helping others. But since they’re quick to protect those in danger even though their magical powers aren’t very strong, I’m always worried about them....."
Akira: (Southern wizards..... Huh, I haven’t met any......)
(I want to meet a Southern wizard.... Someone who’s kind and makes you feel at ease.....)
"Northern wizards are scary. They’re extremely powerful. And they all hate each other. Totally self-centered. These guys would survive even a complete apocalypse."
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4.5 Before Returning to My World
"I’m pretty sure they will all be here when the next sage arrives, so let me describe each of them in detail."
"Snow and White. They’re relatively peaceful and fairly cooperative. They love to joke around. They’re the oldest wizards here — apparently they’ve lived for several thousands of years."
Akira: (Snow and White.... They’ve lived for even longer than I imagined.)
"Bradley. Warning: handle with caution. He used to be the boss of a crime group. Currently a prisoner. Terrifying when mad, but you can sort of appease him with food."
Akira: (Huh. Now that I think about it, he was eating a lot of ojiya.....)
"Owen. Warning: handle with caution. Creepy. Talking with him makes you feel like you’re having a mental breakdown. Just make sure he never takes an interest in you and you should be all right."
Akira: (He’s the one Cain was talking about.... He sounds scary......)
"Mithra. Maximum warning: handle with extra caution. Don’t be fooled by his looks and his polite speech. He’s a beast. He’ll kill you."
Akira: (A beast..... He’ll kill you....... I really don’t want to meet him now.....)
(Huh....? There’s one more....?)
"Oz. He’s a Northern wizard who was summoned as a Central wizard for some reason. He’s infamous for taking over the world with his magical powers."
Akira: (.....He took over the world.....?)
(So he was an infamous dictator....? He looked scary, but I don’t really think he was that bad a person.)
Shylock: What are you doing?
Shylock takes a seat next to me as I read the sage’s manual.
On the table, he places a steaming bottle of wine, leaves of various shapes, small berries, and rose petals.
Akira: Ah.... There was still some time till noon — when we wanted to do the ceremony — so I was reading the sage’s manual.
Shylock: You looked completely engrossed. Was it that interesting?
Akira: Yes. It contains stories about this world, and the wizards living in it..... Everything is so fascinating....
Shylock: I’m glad to hear it.
Shylock smiles as he pulls apart the leaves, berries, and petals, placing them into the wine bottle.
When the wine looks like it’s about to overflow from the bottle, he pours it into a cup and drinks it.
And then goes back to adding leaves to the bottle.
He looks like he’s enjoying himself.
Akira: What are you doing, Shylock?
Shylock: I’m making herbal wine. I run a bar in Western Country, after all.
Akira: You’re supposed to save the world, but you also work at a bar?
Shylock stuffs another petal into the jar as he smiles, his eyes twinkling.
Shylock: Saving the world doesn’t put food on the table, after all. Though failing to save the world would also mean there would be no food on the table.
Akira: I-I see. That sounds like hard work.
Shylock: No, I quite enjoy it. I love this job, you see.
It can bring about many troubles, but making the time to enjoy yourself leads to a richer and more fulfilling lifestyle.
Shylock’s words lighten up my heart.
Now that I think about it — I came to such a strange new world, but I haven’t yet managed to fully enjoy the opportunity.
It would be nice if I could enjoy this world to its fullest before I return home.
Akira: Um... Would it be rude for me to ask a wizard to show me some magic?
Shylock: That all depends on the time, the place, and the person. If you were to ask me right now, I wouldn’t find it particularly rude.
If you begged me, "Please show me magic," I would in fact quite like it; it would feel like a naughty game.
I would be tempted to act all bashful and reply, "Just for you, then."
He gazes at me with alluring eyes, and for some reason, my cheeks turn bright red.
Akira: I..... I see.......
(Snap)
The wine bottle begins to boil at the snap of Shylock’s fingers.
The leaves, the rosebuds, and the berries all dance within the bottle as it spits out a white steam.
Akira: Wow.....
Shylock: I like to provide service by nature, so I couldn’t stop myself from putting on a little show without you having to beg. But I’ll be looking forward to an adorable "pretty-please" next time.
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4.6 Summoning Ritual
Shylock smiles delightfully while casting me a seductive gaze.
Shylock: Wizards use magic with our hearts. That’s why we adore love. At the same time, we’re terrified of love, and we even loathe it.
Yet wizards will fall in love with anything: be it men, women, animals, or stars.
There are wizards who fall in love with the breeze and follow it around the world; there are wizards who fear flowers, and try to envelop the whole world in darkness. Sometimes, that becomes their entire life — from beginning to end.
It might sound foolish, but I beg of you: do not laugh at us, Sir Sage.
We are simply accepting our own dispositions with great earnestness, embracing and enjoying the day to day that our natures bring about as we march forward on our quests for happiness.
The steam from the wine bottle begins to dissipate, and Shylock clears the table and stands up.
Shylock: I apologize for disturbing you. Please enjoy the rest of your book.
Akira: Ah.... No.... Do talk to me about wizards again. Your stories were fascinating.
I love learning about wizards.
Shylock blinks and smiles happily.
Shylock: Of course. I would love to.
✦✧☾✧✦
When the clock strikes noon, the wizards begin to gather. Snow and White are the first ones at the scene.
It’s time for the summoning ritual.
Snow: We’ll explain the steps as you go through them. It’ll be OJT.
Akira: OJT.....?
White: We learned this phrase from the previous sage. OJT stands for "On-the-Job Training": you learn through example.
Snow: Classroom learning is called a lecture.
White: A discussion is called a meeting.
Snow: The mediator is called a trainer. Though we call them teachers.
Akira: I see.... Um, can I ask one question in advance?
Is this going to hurt? Or will it be scary.....?
Shylock and Murr look at each other.
Shylock: It didn’t seem particularly painful or frightening to us?
Murr: Oh, but the previous sage might’ve cried?
I flinch and take a step backwards.
Akira: P-please wait a moment. Can I read the sage’s manual before we go on? I want to know what to expect before I head into this ritual......
Cain: Of course. I hope he wrote something about the ritual.
I flip through the pages in a hurry, searching for text related to the summoning ritual.
(Flip)
Akira: ...Found it!
"On summoning new wizards"
"When a wizard’s magical powers wane and their crest disappears, they retire from being a Sage’s wizard. That’s when the sage summons a new wizard to take their place."
"Also, when wizards turn to stone during a battle with the < Great Catastrophe >, the sage summons the same number of wizards to replace them. But this rarely happens."
"Please see the following for details regarding the summoning process."
"You place a mana stone into the goblet of something (I forget the name), drink the pitch-black liquid that emerges, and lift the goblet to the sky."
"The black liquid smells like blood, and tastes like the worst mixture of honey, raw fish, herbs, and cheese that you could possibly imagine."
"I cried drinking it."
✦✧☾✧✦
Akira: .....Gulp, ah......
Snow: Well done.
White: Well done, Sage.
Akira: I... I drank it..... Ughhh..........
Bradley: ......Damn, he really drank it all......
Cain: Great job, Akira!
Heathcliff: I’ll serve you some delicious coffee later!
Murr: See, you did cry!
Shylock: I believe I too would break down in tears.
Snow: Sage. Lift the "Goblet of Judgment" above your head.
White: You mustn’t let go of the goblet no matter what.
Blinking back tears, I lift the goblet above my head with both arms.
In that moment, a strange feeling runs through my body.
It feels as if I’ve become a goblet in order to fulfill something yet to come.......
Akira: ......!
An exhilarating impulse bubbles up from the depths of my body like a dragon soaring into the skies.
(Woosh)
It transforms into an actual gust of wind that whirls around me.
The ceiling of the hall turns pitch black.
Akira: (......So this is the summoning ritual....!)
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Chapter 3 << | index | >> Chapter 5
Chapter 3 << | index | >> Chapter 5
Chapter 4: A World Where Wizards Live
4.1 Spend a Spell in the Morning
4.2 Breakfast and Sweet Magic
4.3 In Order to Become a Wizard
4.4 Breakfast With Wizards
4.5 Before Returning to My World
4.6 Summoning Ritual
4.1 Spend a Spell in the Morning
Cain: Guys, I have news! Sir Sage said he would perform the summoning ritual for the new wizards.
Cain announces this in the dining room.
Murr and Shylock turn their eyes towards him. But Cain tilts his head curiously.
Cain: Huh? Nobody’s here?
Murr: I’m here! Morning, Cain, Sir Sage!
Cain: Murr? Where are you?
Murr: Inside your pocket!
Cain: Stop with your silly jokes. Come on, show yourself.
Murr: But I am showing myself? In fact, I don’t know how much more I can reveal.
Cain: Ahaha, you’re being silly.
Akira: Cain.... I do think there’s something wrong with your eyes.
That’s when Snow and White appear.
Snow: Good morning.
White: Good morning, everyone.
Shylock: Good morning. How is Faust doi.... Ouch.
Cain: Shylock. Don’t show up out of thin air right in front of my eyes.
Shylock: But you are the one who crashed into me headfirst.
Cain: Huh?
Shylock: Are you suffering from a hangover?
Cain: No, it’s just that my eyes have been acting up..... But now that I think about it, I can’t see the twins.
Snow: Ohoho. It certainly seems like there are strange things happening.
White: You see, we too were trapped within a painting last night.
Cain: Hey, don’t turn this into a joke. I’m telling the truth here.
Anyway, guess what? Sir Sage said he would perform the summoning ritual for the new wizards.
Shylock: That would help us out tremendously. Thank you, Sir Sage.
Murr: Yay! New comrades!
Akira: I don’t know if I can pull it off, but I hope I can be of some help to you all.
Snow: We are grateful for your help, Sage. Well then, let’s perform the summoning ritual a little past noon.
White: It’s better to perform the ritual when the < Great Catastrophe > isn’t visible in the sky.
Snow and White say this, gazing up at the faint white moon.
Shylock looks at me and smiles.
Shylock: Please take it easy until then. For now, let us enjoy some breakfast.
Cain, could you go wake Heathcliff?
The witches and the Southern wizards all turned to stone, so there’s nobody to prepare breakfast for us all.
Cain: Can he even cook breakfast? I thought he was a noble young master.
Shylock: He’s quite skilled with his hands, remember? Can you think of anyone else who can
cook?
Cain: What about you? Don’t you run a bar? The light meal you made for me the other day was delicious.
Shylock: I don’t particularly feel like serving others first thing in the morning.
Cain: Then I’ll cook. You just have to throw everything into a pot and let it boil, right?
Akira: Ah.... If you’d like, I can make something?
Murr: Really? Can you make ojiya1?
Akira: Ojiya!? I can make ojiya! I didn’t realize I could eat ojiya in this world!
Cain: You sound delighted.
Shylock: That reminds me — the previous sage also said that delicious meals were the key to adapting to a new environment.
Well then, I’ll leave it to you. Let me take you to the kitchen.
✦✧☾✧✦
I am shaken by what awaits me in the kitchen.
1) A Japanese rice soup made with rice, stock, and varying additional ingredients; somewhat similar to congee
back to top
4.2 Breakfast and Sweet Magic
Unfamiliar ingredients are stuffed into transparent jars and lined up on shelves.
A mysterious kind of dried seaweed, bottled up and labeled "feels like kombu"..... White grains labeled "feels like rice".......
A sticky, dark green substance labeled "pretty much miso"......
Akira: The sage before me really tried his best, huh.......
I roll up my sleeves and grab a pot when Heathcliff comes running into the kitchen.
Heathcliff: Let me help you, Sir Sage.
Akira: Ah, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.
Heathcliff: No, I can’t have that. I’m actually pretty good at this sort of thing, so please let me assist you.
Heathcliff rolls up his sleeves and smiles at me. His beauty is honestly mesmerizing.
At the same time, though, his smile is awkward: like a shy boy trying his best to be friendly.
He’s probably not a very outgoing person — but maybe he’s trying to approach me because of everything that happened with Faust.
He reminds me of Hanako from the old cat lady’s place. She would first watch all the other cats clamor around me, and then cautiously approach me.
I smile at him, hoping it’ll help him feel at ease.
Akira: Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
Heathcliff: Of course. Um, what are you cooking?
Akira: I was going to make ojiya.
Heathcliff: Oh, that’s the thing kind of like porridge that the previous sage used to make for us. The soup stock is the key to its flavor, right?
Heathcliff ties his apron and waves his slender fingers like a conductor of an orchestra.
The window opens, and an egg comes flying through the air.
A kettle floats into the air and tilts water into a pot; it boils the moment it hits the pot, and in goes some "feels like kombu."
The "feels like kombu" releases a screech and absorbs the water, expanding to over twice its original size as it transforms into the shape of a webbed hand.
Akira: ...What is this.....?
Heathcliff: It’s submersive algae. It’s a seaweed that clings to ships and drags them to the bottom of the ocean. I had never eaten it before either.
Were you able to get a good rest last night?
Akira: Ah, yes. I fell asleep while reading the sage’s manual.....
I answer his questions in a daze while watching the various utensils and ingredients fly about the kitchen.
(Tap tap tap)
The eggs crack to a delightful rhythm and whip themselves up inside the bowl.
While preparing the ojiya, Heathcliff begins to drip some coffee.
Akira: Wow, being a wizard really lets you do a lot......
Heathcliff: Huh?
Akira: Ah, it’s nothing! There was coffee back in my world too. You’re not going to use magic to prepare the coffee?
Heathcliff: Ahaha. I could, but I feel like it always tastes better when I make it manually.
I do make sugar with magic. It’s the first kind of magic that wizard children learn and practice.
It might look simple, but it can actually be pretty difficult to get the star shape and sweet flavor right.
Beginners make all kinds of mistakes: sometimes it stays as powdered sugar, or it doesn’t really taste like anything, or it turns into sugar water.
(Water boiling)
The "feels like rice" reaches a boil, and Heathcliff drops the whipped eggs into the pot.
They dance in perfect loops through the air as they make their gentle landing.
Heathcliff: The sugar we make has health benefits; it’s known to reduce both physical and mental fatigue. That’s why humans purchase sugar from us.
Sir Sage, could you hold out your hand?
I do as I’m told, offering Heathcliff my outstretched palm.
He points to it with his index finger.
And a few beautiful, star-shaped sugars tumble onto my palm.
Akira: Woah.... That’s amazing!
Heathcliff smiles bashfully in response.
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4.3 In Order to Become a Wizard
Heathcliff: It’s no big deal, really — any wizard can do this.
I try to pinch the sugar with my fingertips, but it quickly dissolves into a fine powder.
The delicacy reminds me of him.
Akira: (So this is what it’s like to live in a world with magic.....)
Um.... How does one become a wizard?
If I memorize the spell that you used yesterday, will I be able to use magic too?
If I could use magic, I’d like to try — that’s what’s going through my mind when I ask Heath my question. He looks like he doesn’t really know how to answer me.
Heathcliff: Um..... You don’t really get to choose whether or not you’re a wizard.
Wizards are born from humans at random. And the children of wizards aren’t necessarily wizards either. It’s like a sudden mutation of sorts.
It’s said that about one in ten thousand are born as wizards, and it looks like that number has been dwindling as of late. But wizards are also long-lived.
The previous sage said it’s not a job change, but more like a mutant hero.
Akira: I see.... So it’s not like anyone who mutters a spell can use magic.
Heathcliff: Yes.... Spells are like charms that reinforce the heart in which magic power lies.
That’s why every wizard has a different spell.
As you repeat your favorite words over and over again, they come to harbor mysterious powers — that’s what I learned.
Akira: So your favorite words become your spell? Heathcliff, what does your spell mean?
Heathcliff: ...........
Heathcliff blinks, and purses his lip in surprise.
He shyly lowers his gaze and mumbles, with bright red cheeks:
Heathcliff: .....Dusk, and the sound of rain......
Akira: Dusk and the sound of rain......
Heathcliff: Do you think it’s weird.....?
Akira: Not at all. I love both dusk and the sound of rain.
Heathcliff smiles, relieved.
Though still bashful, he seems to have opened up a little as we continue cooking.
Heathcliff: I apologize. No one’s ever really asked me that question, so I got a little nervous.....
Akira: Oh no, I’m sorry — was it rude of me to ask?
Heathcliff: No; I just thought it might sound a bit childish. Especially because some wizards have spells that mean things like "true love" and "the truth of the universe."
Akira: That sounds cool too. But I think my spell would be something like the title of my favorite song, or the name of a cat.
Heathcliff: You like cats?
Akira: Yes. I love them.
Heathcliff: Mr. Faust loves cats too. He tries to keep it a secret, but I’ve seen him covertly playing with them a number of times.
Akira: Really? I think we’ll get along, then.
Heathcliff: He might seem scary, but he’s a very good teacher.
Before I knew it, Heathcliff was making eye contact and smiling as we spoke.
Heathcliff: According to Mr. Faust, "Just as humans fasten their bodies to objects to use them, wizards fasten their hearts to nature to harness it."
Akira: Fasten their hearts to nature.....
Heathcliff: Yes. The clearer the vision in your mind, the more powerful your magic, and the more likely your spell is to succeed.
Akira: The vision in your mind... So if you have great power, does that mean you can do anything at all?
Heathcliff: What a wizard can do with magic varies depending on the wizard’s magical power, as well as his specialties and weak points.
There are certain things we can’t do, such as reviving the dead, or turning back time.... We can’t create something out of nothing.
Akira: I see. But Heathcliff, it looked like you stopped time yesterday when you used your watch against the soldiers.
Heathcliff: Oh no, I didn’t! I just imagined time had stopped in order to freeze their movements.
Heathcliff laughs, his brows turned down.
Heathcliff: It would be nice if we could turn back time, though. I’m always so indecisive, so there are lots of things I’d like to redo.
I feel the same. His ordinary commentary makes me feel closer to him.
Akira: (Magic can be surprising and all, but it looks like wizards can harbor the same feelings as humans.)
Heathcliff: ....All right, done. I’ll take this out to the dining room.
Akira: Yes, please. Thank you.
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4.4 Breakfast With Wizards
Murr: Ya~y, breakfast time!
Shylock: Murr, no flying during mealtime. Sit down when you eat your food.
Snow: Oh. I’ve had this before. It’s sojiya.
White: You must mean mojiya.
Cain: It’s ojiya. I’m going to add the sal....
(Bump)
Bradley: Ouch! What do you think you’re doing!
Cain: Bradley.... When did you get here?
Bradley: I’ve been here the entire time! Did you leave your eyes at home!?
Heathcliff: You couldn’t see me earlier either. Are you sure you’re all right, Cain....?
Cain: This is getting to be a real problem.... But let’s eat for now, before the food gets cold.
Shylock: You know, it’s always bothered me how this meal called ojiya doesn’t go well with coffee.
As I spend time with them, I come to learn more about each of their personalities, bit by bit.
Murr is whimsical and impulsive. Shylock is mature, but he does everything at his own pace.
Cain is friendly, like an older brother. Heathcliff is shy. I don’t know much about Bradley, but he’s quick to lose his temper.
And everyone seems to respect Snow and White.
It reminds me of all the cats who lived in the old cat lady’s yard. Each one lived life as it pleased.
And you couldn’t really tell if they got along, or hated each other. — Watching these wizards reminds me of that carefree lifestyle.
As does listening to their very lively conversation.
Snow: That’s right. We need to explain the < Great Catastrophe > to the Sage.
Cain: Oh, I discussed it with him earlier.
White: Oh, is that so? Excellent; it saves us the effort.
Snow: If you’d like to learn more, you should ask Murr. He once researched the < Great Catastrophe >, you see.
Shylock: The current Murr wouldn’t be able to explain anything to you. He got too close to the secret behind it all, and it completely shattered his soul.
Akira: Shattered his soul.... Does that sort of thing happen often?
Shylock: It’s certainly not common. But I could certainly say the same for exchanging eyeballs, or tying a ghost to this world using magic.
Bradley: Hah. What a bunch of weirdos.
Shylock: I’m quite fond of you all. Be it wine or humans — bizarre abnormalities carry stories that are just as rich as those of outstanding excellencies.
Cain: You really are a Western wizard.
Shylock: And you are very much like a Central wizard — you’re honest to your very core.
Akira: Um.... when you say "like a Central wizard" or "Western wizard," what does that all mean?
Snow: There are five countries in this world: Central, North, West, East, and South.
White: A wizard’s disposition varies depending on the country they reside in. The previous sage recorded it in the sage’s manual.
Akira: The sage’s manual.....
✦✧☾✧✦
Once I finish eating, I open up the sage’s manual, which I brought from my room.
(Flips)
"It looks like four wizards from each of the five countries — Central Country, Eastern Country, Western Country, Southern Country, and Northern Country — are chosen as the Sage’s wizards."
"Some supernatural power chooses them, so the sage gets no say in who arrives. Which means I can’t summon my own army of pretty witches. Pretty disappointing."
"The wizards of each region share certain character traits."
"Even if a wizard is born in one place, it may not necessarily be the land they’re associated with; if they have lived in a country for long enough, they can grow accustomed to the traits of that land. So there are Eastern wizards who were born in the West."
"Central wizards have strong hearts of justice. They care deeply about those close to them, and take on jobs that nobody else wants to do. Suited for leadership roles."
Akira: (Central wizards.... So Cain and Oz. I can definitely see how Cain is a Central wizard.)
"Eastern wizards are usually total misanthropes. They’re closed off, fundamentally serious, and like being left alone. They’re cute when they become fond of you. But if you piss them off, they’ll hold a grudge for the rest of their lives."
Akira: (Eastern wizards.... So Heathcliff and Faust.)
"Western wizards are temperamental and whimsical. You can’t hold a normal conversation with them. They live in their own worlds, and they really love festivals. Lots of weirdos here."
Akira: (Western wizards.... So Murr and Shylock.)
"Southern wizards are kind and generous. You feel relaxed and at ease around them. They like helping others. But since they’re quick to protect those in danger even though their magical powers aren’t very strong, I’m always worried about them....."
Akira: (Southern wizards..... Huh, I haven’t met any......)
(I want to meet a Southern wizard.... Someone who’s kind and makes you feel at ease.....)
"Northern wizards are scary. They’re extremely powerful. And they all hate each other. Totally self-centered. These guys would survive even a complete apocalypse."
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4.5 Before Returning to My World
"I’m pretty sure they will all be here when the next sage arrives, so let me describe each of them in detail."
"Snow and White. They’re relatively peaceful and fairly cooperative. They love to joke around. They’re the oldest wizards here — apparently they’ve lived for several thousands of years."
Akira: (Snow and White.... They’ve lived for even longer than I imagined.)
"Bradley. Warning: handle with caution. He used to be the boss of a crime group. Currently a prisoner. Terrifying when mad, but you can sort of appease him with food."
Akira: (Huh. Now that I think about it, he was eating a lot of ojiya.....)
"Owen. Warning: handle with caution. Creepy. Talking with him makes you feel like you’re having a mental breakdown. Just make sure he never takes an interest in you and you should be all right."
Akira: (He’s the one Cain was talking about.... He sounds scary......)
"Mithra. Maximum warning: handle with extra caution. Don’t be fooled by his looks and his polite speech. He’s a beast. He’ll kill you."
Akira: (A beast..... He’ll kill you....... I really don’t want to meet him now.....)
(Huh....? There’s one more....?)
"Oz. He’s a Northern wizard who was summoned as a Central wizard for some reason. He’s infamous for taking over the world with his magical powers."
Akira: (.....He took over the world.....?)
(So he was an infamous dictator....? He looked scary, but I don’t really think he was that bad a person.)
Shylock: What are you doing?
Shylock takes a seat next to me as I read the sage’s manual.
On the table, he places a steaming bottle of wine, leaves of various shapes, small berries, and rose petals.
Akira: Ah.... There was still some time till noon — when we wanted to do the ceremony — so I was reading the sage’s manual.
Shylock: You looked completely engrossed. Was it that interesting?
Akira: Yes. It contains stories about this world, and the wizards living in it..... Everything is so fascinating....
Shylock: I’m glad to hear it.
Shylock smiles as he pulls apart the leaves, berries, and petals, placing them into the wine bottle.
When the wine looks like it’s about to overflow from the bottle, he pours it into a cup and drinks it.
And then goes back to adding leaves to the bottle.
He looks like he’s enjoying himself.
Akira: What are you doing, Shylock?
Shylock: I’m making herbal wine. I run a bar in Western Country, after all.
Akira: You’re supposed to save the world, but you also work at a bar?
Shylock stuffs another petal into the jar as he smiles, his eyes twinkling.
Shylock: Saving the world doesn’t put food on the table, after all. Though failing to save the world would also mean there would be no food on the table.
Akira: I-I see. That sounds like hard work.
Shylock: No, I quite enjoy it. I love this job, you see.
It can bring about many troubles, but making the time to enjoy yourself leads to a richer and more fulfilling lifestyle.
Shylock’s words lighten up my heart.
Now that I think about it — I came to such a strange new world, but I haven’t yet managed to fully enjoy the opportunity.
It would be nice if I could enjoy this world to its fullest before I return home.
Akira: Um... Would it be rude for me to ask a wizard to show me some magic?
Shylock: That all depends on the time, the place, and the person. If you were to ask me right now, I wouldn’t find it particularly rude.
If you begged me, "Please show me magic," I would in fact quite like it; it would feel like a naughty game.
I would be tempted to act all bashful and reply, "Just for you, then."
He gazes at me with alluring eyes, and for some reason, my cheeks turn bright red.
Akira: I..... I see.......
(Snap)
The wine bottle begins to boil at the snap of Shylock’s fingers.
The leaves, the rosebuds, and the berries all dance within the bottle as it spits out a white steam.
Akira: Wow.....
Shylock: I like to provide service by nature, so I couldn’t stop myself from putting on a little show without you having to beg. But I’ll be looking forward to an adorable "pretty-please" next time.
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4.6 Summoning Ritual
Shylock smiles delightfully while casting me a seductive gaze.
Shylock: Wizards use magic with our hearts. That’s why we adore love. At the same time, we’re terrified of love, and we even loathe it.
Yet wizards will fall in love with anything: be it men, women, animals, or stars.
There are wizards who fall in love with the breeze and follow it around the world; there are wizards who fear flowers, and try to envelop the whole world in darkness. Sometimes, that becomes their entire life — from beginning to end.
It might sound foolish, but I beg of you: do not laugh at us, Sir Sage.
We are simply accepting our own dispositions with great earnestness, embracing and enjoying the day to day that our natures bring about as we march forward on our quests for happiness.
The steam from the wine bottle begins to dissipate, and Shylock clears the table and stands up.
Shylock: I apologize for disturbing you. Please enjoy the rest of your book.
Akira: Ah.... No.... Do talk to me about wizards again. Your stories were fascinating.
I love learning about wizards.
Shylock blinks and smiles happily.
Shylock: Of course. I would love to.
✦✧☾✧✦
When the clock strikes noon, the wizards begin to gather. Snow and White are the first ones at the scene.
It’s time for the summoning ritual.
Snow: We’ll explain the steps as you go through them. It’ll be OJT.
Akira: OJT.....?
White: We learned this phrase from the previous sage. OJT stands for "On-the-Job Training": you learn through example.
Snow: Classroom learning is called a lecture.
White: A discussion is called a meeting.
Snow: The mediator is called a trainer. Though we call them teachers.
Akira: I see.... Um, can I ask one question in advance?
Is this going to hurt? Or will it be scary.....?
Shylock and Murr look at each other.
Shylock: It didn’t seem particularly painful or frightening to us?
Murr: Oh, but the previous sage might’ve cried?
I flinch and take a step backwards.
Akira: P-please wait a moment. Can I read the sage’s manual before we go on? I want to know what to expect before I head into this ritual......
Cain: Of course. I hope he wrote something about the ritual.
I flip through the pages in a hurry, searching for text related to the summoning ritual.
(Flip)
Akira: ...Found it!
"On summoning new wizards"
"When a wizard’s magical powers wane and their crest disappears, they retire from being a Sage’s wizard. That’s when the sage summons a new wizard to take their place."
"Also, when wizards turn to stone during a battle with the < Great Catastrophe >, the sage summons the same number of wizards to replace them. But this rarely happens."
"Please see the following for details regarding the summoning process."
"You place a mana stone into the goblet of something (I forget the name), drink the pitch-black liquid that emerges, and lift the goblet to the sky."
"The black liquid smells like blood, and tastes like the worst mixture of honey, raw fish, herbs, and cheese that you could possibly imagine."
"I cried drinking it."
✦✧☾✧✦
Akira: .....Gulp, ah......
Snow: Well done.
White: Well done, Sage.
Akira: I... I drank it..... Ughhh..........
Bradley: ......Damn, he really drank it all......
Cain: Great job, Akira!
Heathcliff: I’ll serve you some delicious coffee later!
Murr: See, you did cry!
Shylock: I believe I too would break down in tears.
Snow: Sage. Lift the "Goblet of Judgment" above your head.
White: You mustn’t let go of the goblet no matter what.
Blinking back tears, I lift the goblet above my head with both arms.
In that moment, a strange feeling runs through my body.
It feels as if I’ve become a goblet in order to fulfill something yet to come.......
Akira: ......!
An exhilarating impulse bubbles up from the depths of my body like a dragon soaring into the skies.
(Woosh)
It transforms into an actual gust of wind that whirls around me.
The ceiling of the hall turns pitch black.
Akira: (......So this is the summoning ritual....!)
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Chapter 3 << | index | >> Chapter 5