healingbonds (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
healingbonds) wrote2020-07-05 02:06 pm
healingbonds) wrote2020-07-05 02:06 pm
Main Story | Chapter 16 | The Lunar Eclipse Palace
MahoYaku Masterpost & Translator's Notes
Chapter 15 << | index | >> Chapter 17
Chapter 16: The Lunar Eclipse Palace
16.1 Rutile and the Northern Wizard
16.2 The Other Murr
16.3 The Secret the Gentleman Knows
16.4 Murr and His Friend
16.5 The Fated Reunion
16.6 In the Broken City
16.7 Mitile’s Feelings
16.8 The Child of the Prophecy
16.9 The Scheming Wizard
16.10 The Truth Hidden in the Palace
16.1 Rutile and the Northern Wizard
Mithra: Please give me one of those. Ah... and one of these, too.
Central town shopkeeper: Mister Sage’s Wizard, um...... I need payment.....
Mithra: Did you just make a demand?
Central town shopkeeper: ...........
Mithra: If we were in the North, I would have killed you already. How would you like that?
Central town shopkeeper: P-please take everything you need!
Mithra: Oh, thanks.
Rutile: Mister Mithra!
Mithra: ....Who are you?
Rutile: I'm the Southern wizard Rutile. This is my little brother Mitile.
Mitile: Hello.....
Mithra: Okay.....
Rutile: Were you shopping?
Mithra: Yes, because I was bored. You see, I need to be careful about what I do, or else Oz will come after me. It's such a pain.
Do you have business with me?
Rutile: Um..... You're Uncle Mithra, right?
Mithra: Uncle Mithra.
Rutile: We met once when I was a child. Do you remember me?
You said you were my mother's friend, and she introduced you as "Uncle Mithra." You gave us an artifact resembling a monkey's arm...
Mithra: A monkey's arm? A vanara arm is a powerful talisman, but you’re saying I gave you one?
Rutile: Yes. When Mitile was still in our mother's stomach.
Mithra: Huh.....
Rutile: Ah, I forgot to tell you the most important part. Our mother was a witch, and her name was....
Mithra: I don't care. Since I don't remember.
Rutile: .....Ah.......
Mithra: Please get out of my way.
Rutile: S-sorry for taking up your time.....
(Footsteps)
Mitile: ..........
What’s with him? He's so rude....
Rutile: Sorry, Mitile. It looks like it was a misunderstanding on my part.
Mitile: There's no way we'd know a Northern wizard. Mother was a great witch, after all.
Rutile: There you go again. You know, there are lots of good things about the Northern wizards, too.
Central town shopkeeper: Hey, you there. Do you know that guy?
Rutile: Huh? Ah, yes......
Central town shopkeeper: Great! Can you pay for everything he gobbled up?
Rutile: ...............
Mitile: He's the worst!
Rutile: H.... Hey, don't say that. Maybe he just didn't know how to buy groceries.
What’s the total? I'll pay you.
Mitile: You're too kind! Our reputation is tanking because the Northern wizards do whatever they want.
Figaro: Hey, Rutile, Mitile.
Rutile: Dr. Figaro... and Mister Lennox, too. What are you two doing here?
Lennox: We were asked to help fix up the city. Apparently there’s been a series of bizarre events that slowed down the reconstruction work.
We're also keeping an eye on him.......
Mitile: Him?
Bradley: Tch..... The twins said I could reduce my sentence by doing volunteer work.
I'm only helping you so I can get released as soon as possible.
Rutile: Mister Bradley.
Mitile: ...... Another Northern wizard.....
✦✧☾✧✦
Akira: .............
Burning stars hurtle through the vast expanse of infinitely sprawling darkness.
I plunge downwards through outer space. No — I could be floating upwards for all I know.
Akira: Where is everyone? Where are you guys......!?
I reach out blindly, besieged by terror at the thought of wandering through the stars alone.
And someone grabs my hand.
Murr: ............
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16.2 The Other Murr
Akira: Murr....!
My relief is short-lived; from the smile on Murr’s face, I can tell that he is not the Murr I know.
His intelligent gaze cuts like a knife, and his gentlemanly smile hides his true identity like a perfect magic trick.
Murr: Pardon me, Sir Sage. It looks like my surprise was a bit much for you.
Murr takes my hand as if inviting me to dance.
Still bewildered, I tighten my grip on his hand.
I’m scared of wandering this space all alone, so I don’t want to let go.
Even if I don’t know who he really is.
I remember the Murr that I met in the elevator on the day I first arrived in this world.
"Both the world and I have been torn apart quite terribly..."
"But I want you to discover the truth about this world."
Akira: ......Are you the Murr I met in the elevator......?
Murr smirks, the corners of his lips turned upwards.
Murr: No, this is the first time we've met. I've always been here, in the Lunar Eclipse Palace. I was quite fond of this place, after all.
Herein lie the treasures of the ancient past — from the earliest days of civilization — left by wizards and humans alike. There is a shard of my dearest beloved, too.
Akira: A shard of your dearest beloved....?
Murr: A shard of the moon.... A moonstone. A small meteorite that arrived from the < Great Catastrophe >.
Akira: The < Great Catastrophe >......? The < Great Catastrophe > is your dearest beloved?
Murr: Indeed.
I am in love with it.
I gaze at Murr intently.
As I observe him closely, I realize that he has a different air to him than the Murr I first met in the elevator.
He's a bit more provocative, and a bit more arrogant.
Akira: Who are you?
Murr: I am the Western wizard Murr. People called me a philosopher, a genius, a brilliant inventor....
I have many titles, but my favorite is this — "The troublemaker Murr, who fell in love with the moon and destroyed himself" — it's what Shylock called me.
It sounds like the title of a comedy.... Or an epitaph.
I don’t understand any of it — what the Murr in front of me is saying, whether he’s a good person or a bad person.
But when his eyes, like burning stars, gaze into mine, I feel like they’re sucking me in.
Akira: ....Who are you....?
Murr: Don't ask the same question twice; that's boring. Try a different approach. You can find the answer.
Akira: ....You're a different person than the Murr I was with? Or are you the real Murr?
Murr: Both answers are right, and also wrong.
Akira: ...I don't understand....
Murr: Think. I love observing people’s faces as they think.
Murr touches my face and smiles delightedly.
Murr: They freeze, as if in temporary death; yet they're busy thinking round and round in their minds and hearts. It's quite serene, raw, and beautiful.
Just as the cold light of a star is actually burning at a temperature far too hot to approach — intellect burns with intensity.
So please, Sir Sage. Approach my identity with the beloved feeling of yearning so hard for the truth that it consumes one's body.
I purse my lips at Murr’s delight.
Akira: ...The Murr I was with up till now was quite strange, but you are plenty strange too....
Murr: What great praise. If I'm the same as anyone else, there's no reason for me to be alive.
Murr shrugs, and I desperately try to rack my brain.
What did Shylock say? I've heard many stories about Murr from him.
Murr is an intelligent gentleman. The inventor of magical technology. But he got too close to the secret of the < Great Catastrophe >, and....
His soul shattered to pieces.
Akira: ....Are you a piece of Murr's shattered soul....?
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16.3 The Secret the Gentleman Knows
In high spirits, Murr takes my hand and dances us around in a circle.
Murr: Excellent! I am one of the many pieces of Murr's shattered soul, which lie all over the world.
I fell here, without manifesting any particular form. But the day the < Great Catastrophe > approached — for some reason, I managed to take this physical shape.
The beautiful < Great Catastrophe > affects everything it approaches. I see it came quite close this time.
And Murr fought the < Great Catastrophe >; that may be why his body was affected by it, causing the shards of his soul to take physical form.
Akira: The shards of his soul take physical form... So this is Murr's bizarre injury....
Murr: Bizarre injury. That's an interesting phrase. I’m quite fond of it.
Akira: Um... So, there are Murrs like you all over the world — if we gather them all, will Murr return to his former self?
Murr: Perhaps. But I can't say I like the idea. Murr is too intelligent; his brain can never stay in one place.
I would like to remain immersed in my own research. Is that a problem?
Akira: I don't think I can answer that question for you.....
Murr: I see. To whom do you think I should make my demands known? Do soul shards have human rights?
Akira: W... Why did you kidnap Mister Cock Robin? Because you didn’t want him to get in the way of your research?
Murr: I didn't kidnap him. I simply stopped him from wandering further into the palace. Because therein lie the traces of a powerful spell.
Akira: A powerful spell?
Murr: Yes. An unsuccessful invocation has lost its harmony and is now changing form.
They used the moonstone as a medium — some old human bones wouldn't really suffice as a proper sacrifice. To top it off, the person who carried out the ritual wielded no magic.
Akira: W-what does that mean? Please speak in simpler terms....
Murr narrows his eyes like a cat, smiling enigmatically.
Murr: People tried to beckon the < Great Catastrophe > to draw close — presumably, people all over the world. This is merely one part of a greater summoning circle.
Akira: Beckon the < Great Catastrophe >....?
Murr merely continues to smile.
I am confused. Everyone so far told me the same thing: that the world will be destroyed when the < Great Catastrophe > comes close.
Yet....
Akira: You mean someone was trying to beckon the < Great Catastrophe >, and that's what caused all this damage? But it’s going to cause the end of the world — why would they do this....?
Murr: Unfortunately, I don't have the answer to that. Perhaps another Murr could tell you, but all I know of is the tragedy that is about to follow.
Akira: Tragedy....
Murr: The invocation that was carried out here.... In other words, the summoning of the moon failed, and it is transforming into an entirely different spell.
Didn’t the Umbra Volans1 make an appearance? The elderly twins from the North should know about it well.
But they are getting quite old, so perhaps their memory is deteriorating.
Shylock: —Let go of his hand.
Suddenly, a pipe is laid against Murr’s neck.
Murr simply glances over his shoulder.
Shylock stands there behind him, Chloe and Rustica following a beat later.
Rustica: Sir Sage, are you all right!?
Chloe: Is that man...... The other Murr we saw just moments ago!?
Murr shows no sign of panicking; he merely glances sideways at Shylock and laughs.
Murr: Hello, Shylock. It's certainly been a while. The scent of your pipe reminds me of the times we spent all night in argument.
Shylock: It has certainly been a while since I last saw such a garrulous Murr. You must be a piece of Murr's soul.
Murr: Indeed. What are you going to do with me?
Shylock: I'm going to retrieve you and return you to Murr.
Murr: Really? My dear friend Shylock, do you really want to do such a thing?
Shylock: ...What do you mean?
Murr: I thought you were quite fond of him. The innocent and simple-minded me, who rolls around like a stray cat.
Shylock: ..........
1) In Japanese, it's the tobikageri, which literally translates to "flying shadow." We wanted it to sound more like a cool fantasy monster, so we made it Latin
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16.4 Murr and His Friend
Murr: He won't talk down to you; he won't insult you. He'll listen to your every command. The foolish and adorable Murr, who belongs only to you.
You loved me, and you loathed me. Of course you're fond of him.
Shylock’s face stiffens at Murr’s grin.
Shylock: ....Oh loathsome Murr. But if you are going to call me a friend, I do wish you would understand me a bit better.
Murr: I believe I do understand you. You wanted to stop me from inventing magical science technology. But I refused.
And as a result, your hometown was contaminated. The creatures went extinct, and the waves ceased to echo across the shores. Of course you loathe me.
But you are surprisingly obsessive, so you could not cast away your affection for me. That is why you continue to think of me in conflict — the conflict that you so adore.
You loathe me and you love me. You blame me and you forgive me. You pity me, and you think of me nostalgically. Am I wrong?
Shylock smiles.
He slowly brings the mouthpiece of his pipe to his lips, a vein popping on his forehead.
Shylock: I am merely saying that I would only like to defeat you after you return to your full strength.
Murr: You're a fool. If I return to my former self, you wouldn’t stand a chance. Because I'm stronger and smarter than you.
Isn’t that why you hated me?
Shylock: << Invibelle >>
Shylock casts his spell like a whisper of love, and Murr is enveloped in smoke.
His body begins to turn purple, as if it has been poisoned.
Shylock watches with freezing cold eyes as Murr’s body transforms grotesquely.
Shylock: You know, I always did think that you needed a proper education in good taste.
Murr: Ah, ah. Ah.....
Shylock: Do not fear. I will give the new Murr a fine teaching.
Shylock relentlessly blows more smoke towards Murr, even as he continues to writhe in agony.
Rustica: Sh-Shylock... Isn't this a bit much.... It makes me want to close my eyes....
Shylock: Then why don't you look away?
Murr: Ah, ah......
Shylock: << Invibelle >>
Chloe: Y-you really aren't holding back.... Shylock, are you mad....?
Shylock: It's just as this man said.
Shylock huffs out a breath of smoke and quietly closes his eyes.
Shylock: I have always been furious at Murr, and I have always wanted to get my revenge.
All while thinking of him more belovedly than anyone else.
Still struggling, Murr — now entirely discolored — starts to melt and lose his shape.
Before long, he turns into a small shard of purple sapphire.
As the shard drops to the floor, we find ourselves back in the Western-style building.
✦✧☾✧✦
Akira: .......
Chloe: Phew... Thank goodness we’re back.... So Murr’s soul shard made that weird space, huh....
Shylock: That seems to be the case.
Shylock picks up the shard lying on the floor as if it is something precious.
Then we hear a voice calling out for us, and Murr appears on his broom.
Murr: We were in space! Did you guys see?
Chloe: We did! But more importantly, Murr, you were in huge trouble.
Murr: Trouble?
Shylock: Everything is all right now. Open your mouth.
Shylock offers him the shard of purple sapphire.
Murr obediently opens his mouth.
Murr: Ah.
Shylock: Murr.
Murr: Ye~s?
Shylock: How do you feel about me?
Murr closes his mouth and responds without hesitation.
Murr: I love you!
Shylock finally smiles, then puts the soul shard into Murr's mouth.
Murr swallows the shard and Shylock gently pats his head.
Shylock: I love you too.
Murr: Yay~!
Rustica: Haha. How precious.
Chloe: Do you really think so....? Personally, it's getting to my stomach after the grotesque scene back there.....
Rustica: They've lived long lives, you see; that’s why their friendship is just a bit extreme.
Chloe: Rustica, you've lived a long life too, right...? Let's make our friendship not-so-extreme, please....?
Rustica: I'll do my best. Murr. Did eating that shard help you remember anything?
Murr blinks a few times, and lifts his right hand, where he wears his ring.
Murr: << Eanul Rambul >>!
Cock Robin: Woah......!!
Akira: Mister Cock Robin!
Murr recites his spell, and Mister Cock Robin appears in the previously empty space.
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16.5 The Fated Reunion
Mister Cock Robin takes one look at Murr’s face and screams.
Cock Robin: Stop! Don't kill me!
Shylock: Don't worry. The person who trapped you was Murr, but it was also not Murr.
Cock Robin: Wh-what do you mean?
Akira: He said he trapped you so that you wouldn’t head into the back of the palace. He did it to save you.
Cock Robin: I... I see. I thought I would be stuck in there forever. Thank you, Sir Sage.
Akira: Please say that to them. I wasn't the one who saved you — they were.
Cock Robin: Ah... Thank you, Sage's wizards.
Chloe: No worries! More importantly, do you remember what happened?
Cock Robin: Um, let me see...... The curator of the Lunar Eclipse Palace asked me to look into things, so that’s why I was exploring the place by myself.
Rustica: That’s amazing. You must be a very brave person.
At Rustica’s praise, Cock Robin blushes and scratches his head.
Cock Robin: N-no, not at all! I'm actually very timid. But you let me ride on your brooms, and when I flew through the sky....
I felt like a different person — I wanted to become someone else... Ah, sorry! That was a tangent.
In any case, when I was looking around, I saw a creepy, eerie door. And when I tried to open it—.....
Murr appeared, and blasted me off into a place that looked like outer space, and I had been floating around ever since.
Chloe: That sounds like a lot. I’m sorry you had to go through that.
Shylock: A creepy, eerie door... Could you take us there?
Cock Robin: Yes, of course.
✦✧☾✧✦
Cain: ....Phew. I'm finally back at the castle. The < Great Catastrophe > caused so much trouble — there’s weird stuff going on all over the capital.
Central Country soldier: Welcome back, General Cain.
Cain: Woah... H-hey there.
Central Country soldier: ....? Are you all right? Perhaps you need to get some rest.
Cain: Sorry, my eyes haven’t been doing so well lately.
Central Country soldier: That's terrible...! Let's get you to a doctor immediately...!
Cain: Nah, it's no big deal. But... Could you hold my hand?
Central Country soldier: Hold... your hand....?
Cain: Yeah. For just a moment.
Central Country soldier: The hero, General Cain's hand... The hand of the former leader of the Order of Knights and the greatest warrior in all of Central... I'm sure I will be blessed by a goddess!
Cain: No, it's not that big a deal....
Central Country soldier: But excuse me for one second, my nails are soiled! Let me wash my hands first....!
Cain: It's fine, it's fine. Here.
Central Country soldier: Ah.....
Cain: Ah, I can finally see you.
Central Country soldier: General Cain's hand... Is so big......
Cain: Well, sure. How is the Order of Knights holding up after the attack of the < Great Catastrophe >?
Even the Sage’s wizards had a lot of trouble fighting it this year, and it caused some horrible damages and losses. Were you guys all right?
Central Country soldier: Yes. It was all thanks to your training, General Cain....
Nicholas: What are you doing? Return to your position.
Central Country soldier: Yes sir....!
Cain: He was talking to me.
Nicholas: Show some deference to your superiors.
Cain: He was talking to me, Sir Nicholas, leader of the Order of Knights — no, captain of the Magical Technology Corps, I guess.
Nicholas: You taking my spot as the leader of the Order of Knights is already a story of the past.
I hear they stripped you of your position and kicked you out after they discovered you were a wizard. No wonder your sword wielding skills were out of this world.
Cain: I don't recall using magic when I fought you.
Nicholas: What did I say about deference?
Cain: ....Sir. But you're weird, too. I remember how much you hated magic. Why did you join the Magical Technology Corps?
Nicholas: .......You would never understand.
Cain: Huh?
Nicholas: Stop acting like you still have any connection to the Central knights. You’re already a wizard and an outsider.
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16.6 In the Broken City
Nicholas: Wizards can manipulate any heart and steal their way past any door. They could easily get their hands on national secrets.
Cain: What are you suggesting? Are you trying to say I'd betray this country?
Nicholas: Wizards make organizations fall apart. They aren't suited to knighthood. There's no place for you within this castle anymore.
Stop taking advantage of Prince Arthur's kindness. Take your comrades and leave this castle.
Cain: You.....! ......!
Head down!
Nicholas: .......!?
(Crash)
Owen: Oh dear? Why did you protect him?
Cain: Owen.....!
Owen: I was going to kill him for you.
Nicholas: You....!
Cain: Run. You don't stand a chance against him.
Nicholas: Shut up! Get down here, Northern wizard Owen! Get on your knees, and show me what's inside your bag!
Owen: My bag?
Nicholas: Yes. You might be bringing suspicious items into the castle.
Owen: I mean, sure. But the moment I open this bag, you’re dead.
Nicholas: .........
Cain: Go. I mean, please go. I'll hold him off.....
Nicholas: .....You monsters....!
(Footsteps)
Cain: ............
Owen: Ahaha. Even though you protected him. He insulted the both of us together.
Humans simply see us as the same kind of monster, my gentle knight.
Cain: We aren't the same.
Owen: We're the same. Ahaha....!
Cain: ....He disappeared.....
......Dammit......!
✦✧☾✧✦
Central Country man: Excuse me, could you help me move this rubble?
Lennox: Certainly.
Bradley: Dammit. Why the hell does the great Bradley have to do volunteer work?
Figaro: Now now, no whining. You don't want to go back to prison, right? You should be grateful for your freedom.
Mitile: Dr. Figaro, could you help me out here?
Figaro: I'm headed over right now~.
Bradley: .....Why the hell are you being all friendly with the Southern wizards, Northern wizard Figaro?
If you wanted to, you could make everyone here your slave. Why are you helping these powerless humans?
Figaro: Because I like humans. Also, I’ve kept my origins a secret from those two. I'll punish you if you let it slip, Bradley.
Bradley: Tch......
Figaro: All right, I'm headed off. Ask Lennox for further instructions. Leno, take care of him.
Lennox: Got it.
Bradley. Can you take the rubble to the other side of the plaza? Make sure you don't hurt anyone.
Bradley: Dammit, what a pain..... There! Are you satisfied?
(Clatter)
Lennox: Yes. Thank you.
Bradley: Hmph.... You're not as strong as Figaro. What would you do if I killed you and ran away?
Lennox: That would be a problem.
Bradley: That's all you have to say!?
Lennox: I mean... It would be a big problem.
Bradley: Hmph.
Lennox: Please keep working. You can help everyone out by clearing this path.
Bradley: Stop acting all nice. I’ll let you in on something good.
Absent-minded guys like you are the ones who end up attacking women and children when it comes down to it. You get so excited that you don't even know what you're doing.
Lennox: ..........
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16.7 Mitile’s Feelings
Bradley: Hmph. Did I make you mad? Bet I hit the mark. I had lots of underlings, after all.
Hey, say something.
Lennox: You really like to talk.
Bradley: Aaah!?
Lennox: I'm sorry. I'm not very good at talking. It takes me a while to gather my thoughts.... Rutile complains about this all the time.
Bradley: .......You really are absent-minded. You just took the fun out of it.
Lennox: I see.
Bradley: Yeah.
Lennox: Please keep working.
Bradley: Shut up, you already said that! Geez....
(Footsteps)
Central Country child: Mister Wizard, thank you for helping us out! This bread is from Mother.....
Lennox: Thank — ah......
Bradley: I'm working harder than you. So I get to eat it.
Lennox: Oh, so you were hungry?
Bradley: Yeah.
Lennox: I see. It's easy to get frustrated when you're hungry, isn't it.
Bradley: I wasn't whining because I was hungry! Geez, Southern wizards are so slow....
Hmph... He bakes better bread, but this isn't bad.
Central Country child: .............
Bradley: What are you looking at? I'm gonna eat you too.
Central Country child: Waaaah........
Lennox: Don't threaten a young child.... Thank you. Say thanks to your mother for me.
Central Country child: Yes.......
(Footsteps)
Mitile: Hey! Why are you bullying him!
Lennox: Mitile.
Bradley: The hell's with you? Want me to make you cry too?
Mitile: I... I can't have you making all of us wizards look bad.
Bradley: Well, that’s not my problem. The only ones who'd wind up in trouble are weak goody-two-shoes like you.
You're weak, but you're still stronger than humans. Why do you go around sucking up to them?
Mitile: I'm not sucking up to anyone! I just want everyone to get along....
Bradley: Why does everyone need to get along? We can live on our own.
If a town gets covered in rubble, then you just need to look for a new one that's not.
Why the hell do we have to do this pain-in-the-ass kinda work? Just find a better town and make that your territory.
Mitile: This is where everyone here has lived up till now. They’re all attached to this place.
Bradley: That's everyone else. Not me.
Mitile: We should help each other out in times of trouble! So that we can all live together....
Bradley: What's the deal with "everyone"? Why do you need everyone to get along?
Mitile: Most people like being with others. Most people want to be loved; we don't want to be hated! I guess it's different for Northern wizards!
Bradley: Yeah. I don't get it. Why do you want people to love you? Why are you so afraid of being hated?
Mitile: That's.....
Bradley: You don’t know? Then you're the same as me.
Mitile: ..........
Bradley: Hmph. How pointless. You don't even know why you're all hung up on "everyone, everyone" in the first place.
Mitile: .......When I..........
Bradley: ...What now, you're gonna cry? This is why I hate kids.....
Lennox: Bradley. Stop it.
Mitile: When I become a powerful wizard, I'll definitely defeat you.......
Bradley: ............
Mitile: I'll definitely, definitely beat you up!!
Bradley: ....Hah. Hahah! I like that!
Mitile: What's so funny!?
Bradley: Wanting to beat up the guys who piss you off — that's the kind of logic I can follow. Much better than "let's all get along."
Hey, you Southern brat. You might actually get by pretty well in the North.
Mitile: ......I'd never go to the North! Don't lump me in with bad guys like you!
Figaro: Mitile, what's wrong?
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16.8 The Child of the Prophecy
Mitile: Dr. Figaro..... This Northern wizard keeps saying awful, senseless things.....
Figaro: There, there. Northern wizards sure are awful~. Dr. Figaro will protect you.
Bradley: Dammit, Figaro... You two-faced bastard.....
Lennox: Now that you’ve eaten, we should keep working. Come on.
Bradley: Don't drag me around! Listen up, you're not allowed to order me around! I get to decide what I'll do next.....
Lennox: Got it. Then please, lead us along. First, say thanks for the meal.
Bradley: Thanks for the meal.... Hey, what the fuck, are you picking a fight with me!?
Figaro: Geez, what a fuss. Mitile, everything’s all right now.
Mitile: Dr. Figaro....
Figaro: What is it?
Mitile: I want to get stronger.... I want to become a powerful wizard. Please teach me powerful magic.
Figaro: ......
Mitile: If I were powerful, Mister Bradley would've listened to what I had to say. Because what I'm saying is correct!
Because it's what nii-sama and Dr. Figaro taught me — it’s what's right for everyone's sake!
That's why I want to get stronger, Dr. Figaro. Why won't you teach me powerful magic? Do I not have any talent....?
Figaro: That's not true. Mitile, you're still young. You don't need to sweat it.
Mitile: But......
Figaro: Plus, Mitile, do you really want to become stronger in order to help everyone else?
Mitile: Huh....?
Figaro: Are you sure it's not for your own sake, because Bradley beat you in an argument? When you say "for everyone’s sake," is Bradley included in that?
Mitile: .........
Figaro: Calm down and think about it. If you force your selfish desires onto everyone in the name of justice, that would make you no different from a dictator who executes whoever he wants on a whim.
I understand that you're frustrated because Bradley won that argument. But that’s why you should look for words that will reach him next time. You don't need to be powerful to do that.
Mitile: .....Yes.....
Figaro: Ah, look. Rutile is over there. He looks troubled. You should go help him out.
Mitile: ....I see. I’ll head on over.
Figaro: Yes, see you later.
........
What to do.... So Mitile realized that I was deliberately avoiding teaching him powerful magic.
Mitile. I'm sorry, but that’s something I can never teach you.
✦✧☾✧✦
Snow: Was it all right for us to force the Southern wizards to keep an eye on Bradley?
White: Figaro is with them, so I’m sure they’ll be fine. And nothing strange seems to be happening with the child of the prophecy for now.
Snow: The prophecy we saw before Tiretta died.
Snow & White: Our prophecies are never wrong.
Snow: We prophesied that the next child born from Tiretta would annihilate all the Southern wizards.
White: In truth, the great witch Tiretta died when he was born.
Snow: Now, now, let's see how this goes. We don't know if the prophecy will come to pass in ten years, or in a hundred....
✦✧☾✧✦
Mitile: Nii-sama....? Huh? Who's that child?
Rutile: He helped me with some restoration work. But now I'm being bombarded with questions....
Skinny Central Country child: Hey, how do I become a wizard? Can I use magic too?
Mitile: ....You want to be a wizard?
Skinny Central Country child: Yeah! Because if I could use magic, I could do lots of things, and I'd never have to look for work.
Rutile: Humans can't become wizards. It’s the sort of thing that's decided the moment you’re born.
Skinny Central Country child: But I heard there's a way for humans to use magic too!
Rutile: I guess you're talking about magical technology from the West? I don’t know much about that, you see. .....Huh?
Your stomach's all swelled up. What's wrong? Are you keeping something under your clothes?
Skinny Central Country child: It's a part of my job! I'm taking care of an important package.
Mitile: It looks heavy. Do you need help?
Skinny Central Country child: I'm fine! Mister Mithra, the Sage's wizard, asked me to take care of it.
Rutile: Mister Mithra....?
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16.9 The Scheming Wizard
Skinny Central Country child: Ah, I just remembered I have something to do! I need to go! Bye-bye....!
Rutile: Ah.....
(Footsteps)
Rutile: Mister Mithra.... What did he ask such a young child to do?
✦✧☾✧✦
Skinny Central Country child: Ah, there he is. Mister Mithra!
Mithra: ........
Skinny Central Country child: I met the Sage's wizards! And just as you said, nobody realized what was going on!
But it's getting bigger! Look.....
Mithra: Don't remove your clothes. I told you not to show that to anyone.
Skinny Central Country child: S-sorry....
.....Hey, if I do what you say, will you really give this to me? Isn't it an incredible treasure?
Mithra: Of course I will.
Skinny Central Country child: Yay! If I sell this, I’ll be rich! It's so beautiful......
A jewel that's shining like the moon!
✦✧☾✧✦
Akira: So this is the back of the palace... Mister Cock Robin, is this the room you tried to enter before you were stopped?
Cock Robin: Y-yes......
Rustica: This is awful... If you stepped in here without suspecting anything, your soul might've been destroyed.
Chloe: Really......? I can't tell......
Shylock: Everything here is dancing in madness: a powerful and troublesome spell fell apart, and the order that existed in this room has been contaminated.
Akira: You mean we can't go any further?
Shylock: What do you say, Murr?
Murr: I'll give it a go.
Murr responds and lifts his right hand with his sparkling ring.
Murr: << Eanul Rambul >>
Akira: ......!
Suddenly, a dreadful noise tears through the air.
And I feel the unpleasant atmosphere in the room fade slightly.
Murr: I set up a temporary balance of reason here. But it'll go back to chaos in no time. If you're gonna head inside, hurry!
Akira: Got it.
Shylock: How long will it hold?
Murr: Probably long enough for me to do three loops in the sky!
Shylock: So about a hundred seconds. Chloe, stay here with Cock Robin. When there are ten seconds left, please start counting down.
Chloe: Got it!
Cock Robin: Please be careful!
We step into the depths of the palace.
The darkness fades as we advance, revealing the faint outlines of the room.
Rustica lets out a quiet gasp.
Rustica: ......How terrible........
A giant pile of human bones arranged in a circle emerges from the darkness.
The bones are tied together with a green ivy of rose vines.
It overwhelms us, like a giant, horrifying work of art.
Within the center of the giant circle of human bones, there lies something resembling an altar.
Shylock: .....They've tied together the sacrifices with a rose vine. This is a method you use when you merge living offerings, but....
Rustica: They couldn't prepare living sacrifices. That's why they used ancient bones instead...
Rustica lowers his eyes in sadness as he gazes at the giant pile of human bones.
Rustica: Poor things.... The bones here weren't just lying around in the wild. They belong to sleeping souls who had been properly buried.
Akira: Sleeping souls who had been properly buried...... Are these the bones stolen from the cemetery....?
If so, that means the grave-robbing culprit came here and......
Murr gazes intently at the altar.
Murr: There’s no medium.
Akira: Medium....?
Rustica: When you're making such a powerful circle, you need a medium. Such as a piece of a star or a holy tree, or a relic once owned by a hero....
Shylock: Which object within the Lunar Eclipse Palace was most worthy to be used as a medium....?
Murr: The moonstone.
Rustica: The moonstone!? But if you use the moonstone as a medium, then god knows what could happen....
Most importantly, the moonstone will continue to hold the negative energy born from the failed ritual. We need to find it soon, or else we'll be in great trouble.
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16.10 The Truth Hidden in the Palace
Rustica: Who did this? And for what purpose...?
At Rustica’s question, I recall the other Murr’s words from earlier.
Akira: Murr's soul shard said that someone tried to beckon the moon to draw closer — that this was just one part of a greater magic circle....
Shylock: Someone tried to beckon the < Great Catastrophe >...?
Rustica: That's what caused this tragedy!? How terrible....
Akira: There’s something else...... He also mentioned that the summoning failed, and that’s why it transformed into an entirely different spell.
Shylock: An entirely different spell...? What does that mean?
Akira: He mentioned an Umbra... Umbra something. And that the twins would know about it.
Chloe: Ten!
We hear Chloe’s voice, and look at each other with a start.
Chloe: Nine! Eight!
Rustica: Let's get out of the room for now. Sir Sage, this way.
Akira: Yes!
Shylock: Let's go, Murr.... Murr?
Murr: Hey, what's that?
Murr runs towards the altar, peers beneath it, and starts pulling at something.
(Rustle)
Murr: Huh? It's stuck.....
Chloe: Five! Four! Three!
Shylock: Murr, hurry!
Murr: Umm~, give me just one second.......
(Rustle)
Chloe: Two! One!
Murr: Got it!
(Flash of light) (Screen goes black)
Shylock: << Invibelle >>!
Rustica: << Amorest Viesse >>!
Shylock and Rustica recite their spells just as Murr leaps away from the altar.
For a brief second, the darkness enveloping Murr stops in its tracks.
And Murr safely returns to our side. With something in his hand.
✦✧☾✧✦
Chloe: God, you surprised me! I thought you wouldn't make it in time! Geez, don't make me so worried!
Murr: Look!
Chloe: What's this......?
Murr shows us a half-melted scientific instrument of some sort.
Shylock: This looks like the driving system for a piece of magical technology machinery. It materializes the magic from inside a mana stone. Though I’m not too familiar with this particular form.....
Cock Robin: ....This is.... This is what the Magical Technology Corps of our country uses......
Chloe: Huh?
Cock Robin: I'm sure of it.... Because the Ministry of Magical Affairs ordered these in an attempt to adopt the techniques of the West.
Akira: ....What does this mean?
Shylock: It means someone from the Magical Technology Corps is involved... Or they were dragged into this mess as victims. We’ll find out once we return to the castle.
Akira: Mister Cock Robin is safe, too, so that’s probably the best thing to do for now. Let’s head back to the castle.
Rustica: Yes. We need to ask Sir Snow and Sir White some questions, too.
Chloe: I need to give my friend the scarf I made, too!
Murr: Then let's head back together!
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Chapter 15 << | index | >> Chapter 17
Chapter 15 << | index | >> Chapter 17
Chapter 16: The Lunar Eclipse Palace
16.1 Rutile and the Northern Wizard
16.2 The Other Murr
16.3 The Secret the Gentleman Knows
16.4 Murr and His Friend
16.5 The Fated Reunion
16.6 In the Broken City
16.7 Mitile’s Feelings
16.8 The Child of the Prophecy
16.9 The Scheming Wizard
16.10 The Truth Hidden in the Palace
16.1 Rutile and the Northern Wizard
Mithra: Please give me one of those. Ah... and one of these, too.
Central town shopkeeper: Mister Sage’s Wizard, um...... I need payment.....
Mithra: Did you just make a demand?
Central town shopkeeper: ...........
Mithra: If we were in the North, I would have killed you already. How would you like that?
Central town shopkeeper: P-please take everything you need!
Mithra: Oh, thanks.
Rutile: Mister Mithra!
Mithra: ....Who are you?
Rutile: I'm the Southern wizard Rutile. This is my little brother Mitile.
Mitile: Hello.....
Mithra: Okay.....
Rutile: Were you shopping?
Mithra: Yes, because I was bored. You see, I need to be careful about what I do, or else Oz will come after me. It's such a pain.
Do you have business with me?
Rutile: Um..... You're Uncle Mithra, right?
Mithra: Uncle Mithra.
Rutile: We met once when I was a child. Do you remember me?
You said you were my mother's friend, and she introduced you as "Uncle Mithra." You gave us an artifact resembling a monkey's arm...
Mithra: A monkey's arm? A vanara arm is a powerful talisman, but you’re saying I gave you one?
Rutile: Yes. When Mitile was still in our mother's stomach.
Mithra: Huh.....
Rutile: Ah, I forgot to tell you the most important part. Our mother was a witch, and her name was....
Mithra: I don't care. Since I don't remember.
Rutile: .....Ah.......
Mithra: Please get out of my way.
Rutile: S-sorry for taking up your time.....
(Footsteps)
Mitile: ..........
What’s with him? He's so rude....
Rutile: Sorry, Mitile. It looks like it was a misunderstanding on my part.
Mitile: There's no way we'd know a Northern wizard. Mother was a great witch, after all.
Rutile: There you go again. You know, there are lots of good things about the Northern wizards, too.
Central town shopkeeper: Hey, you there. Do you know that guy?
Rutile: Huh? Ah, yes......
Central town shopkeeper: Great! Can you pay for everything he gobbled up?
Rutile: ...............
Mitile: He's the worst!
Rutile: H.... Hey, don't say that. Maybe he just didn't know how to buy groceries.
What’s the total? I'll pay you.
Mitile: You're too kind! Our reputation is tanking because the Northern wizards do whatever they want.
Figaro: Hey, Rutile, Mitile.
Rutile: Dr. Figaro... and Mister Lennox, too. What are you two doing here?
Lennox: We were asked to help fix up the city. Apparently there’s been a series of bizarre events that slowed down the reconstruction work.
We're also keeping an eye on him.......
Mitile: Him?
Bradley: Tch..... The twins said I could reduce my sentence by doing volunteer work.
I'm only helping you so I can get released as soon as possible.
Rutile: Mister Bradley.
Mitile: ...... Another Northern wizard.....
✦✧☾✧✦
Akira: .............
Burning stars hurtle through the vast expanse of infinitely sprawling darkness.
I plunge downwards through outer space. No — I could be floating upwards for all I know.
Akira: Where is everyone? Where are you guys......!?
I reach out blindly, besieged by terror at the thought of wandering through the stars alone.
And someone grabs my hand.
Murr: ............
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16.2 The Other Murr
Akira: Murr....!
My relief is short-lived; from the smile on Murr’s face, I can tell that he is not the Murr I know.
His intelligent gaze cuts like a knife, and his gentlemanly smile hides his true identity like a perfect magic trick.
Murr: Pardon me, Sir Sage. It looks like my surprise was a bit much for you.
Murr takes my hand as if inviting me to dance.
Still bewildered, I tighten my grip on his hand.
I’m scared of wandering this space all alone, so I don’t want to let go.
Even if I don’t know who he really is.
I remember the Murr that I met in the elevator on the day I first arrived in this world.
"Both the world and I have been torn apart quite terribly..."
"But I want you to discover the truth about this world."
Akira: ......Are you the Murr I met in the elevator......?
Murr smirks, the corners of his lips turned upwards.
Murr: No, this is the first time we've met. I've always been here, in the Lunar Eclipse Palace. I was quite fond of this place, after all.
Herein lie the treasures of the ancient past — from the earliest days of civilization — left by wizards and humans alike. There is a shard of my dearest beloved, too.
Akira: A shard of your dearest beloved....?
Murr: A shard of the moon.... A moonstone. A small meteorite that arrived from the < Great Catastrophe >.
Akira: The < Great Catastrophe >......? The < Great Catastrophe > is your dearest beloved?
Murr: Indeed.
I am in love with it.
I gaze at Murr intently.
As I observe him closely, I realize that he has a different air to him than the Murr I first met in the elevator.
He's a bit more provocative, and a bit more arrogant.
Akira: Who are you?
Murr: I am the Western wizard Murr. People called me a philosopher, a genius, a brilliant inventor....
I have many titles, but my favorite is this — "The troublemaker Murr, who fell in love with the moon and destroyed himself" — it's what Shylock called me.
It sounds like the title of a comedy.... Or an epitaph.
I don’t understand any of it — what the Murr in front of me is saying, whether he’s a good person or a bad person.
But when his eyes, like burning stars, gaze into mine, I feel like they’re sucking me in.
Akira: ....Who are you....?
Murr: Don't ask the same question twice; that's boring. Try a different approach. You can find the answer.
Akira: ....You're a different person than the Murr I was with? Or are you the real Murr?
Murr: Both answers are right, and also wrong.
Akira: ...I don't understand....
Murr: Think. I love observing people’s faces as they think.
Murr touches my face and smiles delightedly.
Murr: They freeze, as if in temporary death; yet they're busy thinking round and round in their minds and hearts. It's quite serene, raw, and beautiful.
Just as the cold light of a star is actually burning at a temperature far too hot to approach — intellect burns with intensity.
So please, Sir Sage. Approach my identity with the beloved feeling of yearning so hard for the truth that it consumes one's body.
I purse my lips at Murr’s delight.
Akira: ...The Murr I was with up till now was quite strange, but you are plenty strange too....
Murr: What great praise. If I'm the same as anyone else, there's no reason for me to be alive.
Murr shrugs, and I desperately try to rack my brain.
What did Shylock say? I've heard many stories about Murr from him.
Murr is an intelligent gentleman. The inventor of magical technology. But he got too close to the secret of the < Great Catastrophe >, and....
His soul shattered to pieces.
Akira: ....Are you a piece of Murr's shattered soul....?
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16.3 The Secret the Gentleman Knows
In high spirits, Murr takes my hand and dances us around in a circle.
Murr: Excellent! I am one of the many pieces of Murr's shattered soul, which lie all over the world.
I fell here, without manifesting any particular form. But the day the < Great Catastrophe > approached — for some reason, I managed to take this physical shape.
The beautiful < Great Catastrophe > affects everything it approaches. I see it came quite close this time.
And Murr fought the < Great Catastrophe >; that may be why his body was affected by it, causing the shards of his soul to take physical form.
Akira: The shards of his soul take physical form... So this is Murr's bizarre injury....
Murr: Bizarre injury. That's an interesting phrase. I’m quite fond of it.
Akira: Um... So, there are Murrs like you all over the world — if we gather them all, will Murr return to his former self?
Murr: Perhaps. But I can't say I like the idea. Murr is too intelligent; his brain can never stay in one place.
I would like to remain immersed in my own research. Is that a problem?
Akira: I don't think I can answer that question for you.....
Murr: I see. To whom do you think I should make my demands known? Do soul shards have human rights?
Akira: W... Why did you kidnap Mister Cock Robin? Because you didn’t want him to get in the way of your research?
Murr: I didn't kidnap him. I simply stopped him from wandering further into the palace. Because therein lie the traces of a powerful spell.
Akira: A powerful spell?
Murr: Yes. An unsuccessful invocation has lost its harmony and is now changing form.
They used the moonstone as a medium — some old human bones wouldn't really suffice as a proper sacrifice. To top it off, the person who carried out the ritual wielded no magic.
Akira: W-what does that mean? Please speak in simpler terms....
Murr narrows his eyes like a cat, smiling enigmatically.
Murr: People tried to beckon the < Great Catastrophe > to draw close — presumably, people all over the world. This is merely one part of a greater summoning circle.
Akira: Beckon the < Great Catastrophe >....?
Murr merely continues to smile.
I am confused. Everyone so far told me the same thing: that the world will be destroyed when the < Great Catastrophe > comes close.
Yet....
Akira: You mean someone was trying to beckon the < Great Catastrophe >, and that's what caused all this damage? But it’s going to cause the end of the world — why would they do this....?
Murr: Unfortunately, I don't have the answer to that. Perhaps another Murr could tell you, but all I know of is the tragedy that is about to follow.
Akira: Tragedy....
Murr: The invocation that was carried out here.... In other words, the summoning of the moon failed, and it is transforming into an entirely different spell.
Didn’t the Umbra Volans1 make an appearance? The elderly twins from the North should know about it well.
But they are getting quite old, so perhaps their memory is deteriorating.
Shylock: —Let go of his hand.
Suddenly, a pipe is laid against Murr’s neck.
Murr simply glances over his shoulder.
Shylock stands there behind him, Chloe and Rustica following a beat later.
Rustica: Sir Sage, are you all right!?
Chloe: Is that man...... The other Murr we saw just moments ago!?
Murr shows no sign of panicking; he merely glances sideways at Shylock and laughs.
Murr: Hello, Shylock. It's certainly been a while. The scent of your pipe reminds me of the times we spent all night in argument.
Shylock: It has certainly been a while since I last saw such a garrulous Murr. You must be a piece of Murr's soul.
Murr: Indeed. What are you going to do with me?
Shylock: I'm going to retrieve you and return you to Murr.
Murr: Really? My dear friend Shylock, do you really want to do such a thing?
Shylock: ...What do you mean?
Murr: I thought you were quite fond of him. The innocent and simple-minded me, who rolls around like a stray cat.
Shylock: ..........
1) In Japanese, it's the tobikageri, which literally translates to "flying shadow." We wanted it to sound more like a cool fantasy monster, so we made it Latin
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16.4 Murr and His Friend
Murr: He won't talk down to you; he won't insult you. He'll listen to your every command. The foolish and adorable Murr, who belongs only to you.
You loved me, and you loathed me. Of course you're fond of him.
Shylock’s face stiffens at Murr’s grin.
Shylock: ....Oh loathsome Murr. But if you are going to call me a friend, I do wish you would understand me a bit better.
Murr: I believe I do understand you. You wanted to stop me from inventing magical science technology. But I refused.
And as a result, your hometown was contaminated. The creatures went extinct, and the waves ceased to echo across the shores. Of course you loathe me.
But you are surprisingly obsessive, so you could not cast away your affection for me. That is why you continue to think of me in conflict — the conflict that you so adore.
You loathe me and you love me. You blame me and you forgive me. You pity me, and you think of me nostalgically. Am I wrong?
Shylock smiles.
He slowly brings the mouthpiece of his pipe to his lips, a vein popping on his forehead.
Shylock: I am merely saying that I would only like to defeat you after you return to your full strength.
Murr: You're a fool. If I return to my former self, you wouldn’t stand a chance. Because I'm stronger and smarter than you.
Isn’t that why you hated me?
Shylock: << Invibelle >>
Shylock casts his spell like a whisper of love, and Murr is enveloped in smoke.
His body begins to turn purple, as if it has been poisoned.
Shylock watches with freezing cold eyes as Murr’s body transforms grotesquely.
Shylock: You know, I always did think that you needed a proper education in good taste.
Murr: Ah, ah. Ah.....
Shylock: Do not fear. I will give the new Murr a fine teaching.
Shylock relentlessly blows more smoke towards Murr, even as he continues to writhe in agony.
Rustica: Sh-Shylock... Isn't this a bit much.... It makes me want to close my eyes....
Shylock: Then why don't you look away?
Murr: Ah, ah......
Shylock: << Invibelle >>
Chloe: Y-you really aren't holding back.... Shylock, are you mad....?
Shylock: It's just as this man said.
Shylock huffs out a breath of smoke and quietly closes his eyes.
Shylock: I have always been furious at Murr, and I have always wanted to get my revenge.
All while thinking of him more belovedly than anyone else.
Still struggling, Murr — now entirely discolored — starts to melt and lose his shape.
Before long, he turns into a small shard of purple sapphire.
As the shard drops to the floor, we find ourselves back in the Western-style building.
✦✧☾✧✦
Akira: .......
Chloe: Phew... Thank goodness we’re back.... So Murr’s soul shard made that weird space, huh....
Shylock: That seems to be the case.
Shylock picks up the shard lying on the floor as if it is something precious.
Then we hear a voice calling out for us, and Murr appears on his broom.
Murr: We were in space! Did you guys see?
Chloe: We did! But more importantly, Murr, you were in huge trouble.
Murr: Trouble?
Shylock: Everything is all right now. Open your mouth.
Shylock offers him the shard of purple sapphire.
Murr obediently opens his mouth.
Murr: Ah.
Shylock: Murr.
Murr: Ye~s?
Shylock: How do you feel about me?
Murr closes his mouth and responds without hesitation.
Murr: I love you!
Shylock finally smiles, then puts the soul shard into Murr's mouth.
Murr swallows the shard and Shylock gently pats his head.
Shylock: I love you too.
Murr: Yay~!
Rustica: Haha. How precious.
Chloe: Do you really think so....? Personally, it's getting to my stomach after the grotesque scene back there.....
Rustica: They've lived long lives, you see; that’s why their friendship is just a bit extreme.
Chloe: Rustica, you've lived a long life too, right...? Let's make our friendship not-so-extreme, please....?
Rustica: I'll do my best. Murr. Did eating that shard help you remember anything?
Murr blinks a few times, and lifts his right hand, where he wears his ring.
Murr: << Eanul Rambul >>!
Cock Robin: Woah......!!
Akira: Mister Cock Robin!
Murr recites his spell, and Mister Cock Robin appears in the previously empty space.
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16.5 The Fated Reunion
Mister Cock Robin takes one look at Murr’s face and screams.
Cock Robin: Stop! Don't kill me!
Shylock: Don't worry. The person who trapped you was Murr, but it was also not Murr.
Cock Robin: Wh-what do you mean?
Akira: He said he trapped you so that you wouldn’t head into the back of the palace. He did it to save you.
Cock Robin: I... I see. I thought I would be stuck in there forever. Thank you, Sir Sage.
Akira: Please say that to them. I wasn't the one who saved you — they were.
Cock Robin: Ah... Thank you, Sage's wizards.
Chloe: No worries! More importantly, do you remember what happened?
Cock Robin: Um, let me see...... The curator of the Lunar Eclipse Palace asked me to look into things, so that’s why I was exploring the place by myself.
Rustica: That’s amazing. You must be a very brave person.
At Rustica’s praise, Cock Robin blushes and scratches his head.
Cock Robin: N-no, not at all! I'm actually very timid. But you let me ride on your brooms, and when I flew through the sky....
I felt like a different person — I wanted to become someone else... Ah, sorry! That was a tangent.
In any case, when I was looking around, I saw a creepy, eerie door. And when I tried to open it—.....
Murr appeared, and blasted me off into a place that looked like outer space, and I had been floating around ever since.
Chloe: That sounds like a lot. I’m sorry you had to go through that.
Shylock: A creepy, eerie door... Could you take us there?
Cock Robin: Yes, of course.
✦✧☾✧✦
Cain: ....Phew. I'm finally back at the castle. The < Great Catastrophe > caused so much trouble — there’s weird stuff going on all over the capital.
Central Country soldier: Welcome back, General Cain.
Cain: Woah... H-hey there.
Central Country soldier: ....? Are you all right? Perhaps you need to get some rest.
Cain: Sorry, my eyes haven’t been doing so well lately.
Central Country soldier: That's terrible...! Let's get you to a doctor immediately...!
Cain: Nah, it's no big deal. But... Could you hold my hand?
Central Country soldier: Hold... your hand....?
Cain: Yeah. For just a moment.
Central Country soldier: The hero, General Cain's hand... The hand of the former leader of the Order of Knights and the greatest warrior in all of Central... I'm sure I will be blessed by a goddess!
Cain: No, it's not that big a deal....
Central Country soldier: But excuse me for one second, my nails are soiled! Let me wash my hands first....!
Cain: It's fine, it's fine. Here.
Central Country soldier: Ah.....
Cain: Ah, I can finally see you.
Central Country soldier: General Cain's hand... Is so big......
Cain: Well, sure. How is the Order of Knights holding up after the attack of the < Great Catastrophe >?
Even the Sage’s wizards had a lot of trouble fighting it this year, and it caused some horrible damages and losses. Were you guys all right?
Central Country soldier: Yes. It was all thanks to your training, General Cain....
Nicholas: What are you doing? Return to your position.
Central Country soldier: Yes sir....!
Cain: He was talking to me.
Nicholas: Show some deference to your superiors.
Cain: He was talking to me, Sir Nicholas, leader of the Order of Knights — no, captain of the Magical Technology Corps, I guess.
Nicholas: You taking my spot as the leader of the Order of Knights is already a story of the past.
I hear they stripped you of your position and kicked you out after they discovered you were a wizard. No wonder your sword wielding skills were out of this world.
Cain: I don't recall using magic when I fought you.
Nicholas: What did I say about deference?
Cain: ....Sir. But you're weird, too. I remember how much you hated magic. Why did you join the Magical Technology Corps?
Nicholas: .......You would never understand.
Cain: Huh?
Nicholas: Stop acting like you still have any connection to the Central knights. You’re already a wizard and an outsider.
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16.6 In the Broken City
Nicholas: Wizards can manipulate any heart and steal their way past any door. They could easily get their hands on national secrets.
Cain: What are you suggesting? Are you trying to say I'd betray this country?
Nicholas: Wizards make organizations fall apart. They aren't suited to knighthood. There's no place for you within this castle anymore.
Stop taking advantage of Prince Arthur's kindness. Take your comrades and leave this castle.
Cain: You.....! ......!
Head down!
Nicholas: .......!?
(Crash)
Owen: Oh dear? Why did you protect him?
Cain: Owen.....!
Owen: I was going to kill him for you.
Nicholas: You....!
Cain: Run. You don't stand a chance against him.
Nicholas: Shut up! Get down here, Northern wizard Owen! Get on your knees, and show me what's inside your bag!
Owen: My bag?
Nicholas: Yes. You might be bringing suspicious items into the castle.
Owen: I mean, sure. But the moment I open this bag, you’re dead.
Nicholas: .........
Cain: Go. I mean, please go. I'll hold him off.....
Nicholas: .....You monsters....!
(Footsteps)
Cain: ............
Owen: Ahaha. Even though you protected him. He insulted the both of us together.
Humans simply see us as the same kind of monster, my gentle knight.
Cain: We aren't the same.
Owen: We're the same. Ahaha....!
Cain: ....He disappeared.....
......Dammit......!
✦✧☾✧✦
Central Country man: Excuse me, could you help me move this rubble?
Lennox: Certainly.
Bradley: Dammit. Why the hell does the great Bradley have to do volunteer work?
Figaro: Now now, no whining. You don't want to go back to prison, right? You should be grateful for your freedom.
Mitile: Dr. Figaro, could you help me out here?
Figaro: I'm headed over right now~.
Bradley: .....Why the hell are you being all friendly with the Southern wizards, Northern wizard Figaro?
If you wanted to, you could make everyone here your slave. Why are you helping these powerless humans?
Figaro: Because I like humans. Also, I’ve kept my origins a secret from those two. I'll punish you if you let it slip, Bradley.
Bradley: Tch......
Figaro: All right, I'm headed off. Ask Lennox for further instructions. Leno, take care of him.
Lennox: Got it.
Bradley. Can you take the rubble to the other side of the plaza? Make sure you don't hurt anyone.
Bradley: Dammit, what a pain..... There! Are you satisfied?
(Clatter)
Lennox: Yes. Thank you.
Bradley: Hmph.... You're not as strong as Figaro. What would you do if I killed you and ran away?
Lennox: That would be a problem.
Bradley: That's all you have to say!?
Lennox: I mean... It would be a big problem.
Bradley: Hmph.
Lennox: Please keep working. You can help everyone out by clearing this path.
Bradley: Stop acting all nice. I’ll let you in on something good.
Absent-minded guys like you are the ones who end up attacking women and children when it comes down to it. You get so excited that you don't even know what you're doing.
Lennox: ..........
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16.7 Mitile’s Feelings
Bradley: Hmph. Did I make you mad? Bet I hit the mark. I had lots of underlings, after all.
Hey, say something.
Lennox: You really like to talk.
Bradley: Aaah!?
Lennox: I'm sorry. I'm not very good at talking. It takes me a while to gather my thoughts.... Rutile complains about this all the time.
Bradley: .......You really are absent-minded. You just took the fun out of it.
Lennox: I see.
Bradley: Yeah.
Lennox: Please keep working.
Bradley: Shut up, you already said that! Geez....
(Footsteps)
Central Country child: Mister Wizard, thank you for helping us out! This bread is from Mother.....
Lennox: Thank — ah......
Bradley: I'm working harder than you. So I get to eat it.
Lennox: Oh, so you were hungry?
Bradley: Yeah.
Lennox: I see. It's easy to get frustrated when you're hungry, isn't it.
Bradley: I wasn't whining because I was hungry! Geez, Southern wizards are so slow....
Hmph... He bakes better bread, but this isn't bad.
Central Country child: .............
Bradley: What are you looking at? I'm gonna eat you too.
Central Country child: Waaaah........
Lennox: Don't threaten a young child.... Thank you. Say thanks to your mother for me.
Central Country child: Yes.......
(Footsteps)
Mitile: Hey! Why are you bullying him!
Lennox: Mitile.
Bradley: The hell's with you? Want me to make you cry too?
Mitile: I... I can't have you making all of us wizards look bad.
Bradley: Well, that’s not my problem. The only ones who'd wind up in trouble are weak goody-two-shoes like you.
You're weak, but you're still stronger than humans. Why do you go around sucking up to them?
Mitile: I'm not sucking up to anyone! I just want everyone to get along....
Bradley: Why does everyone need to get along? We can live on our own.
If a town gets covered in rubble, then you just need to look for a new one that's not.
Why the hell do we have to do this pain-in-the-ass kinda work? Just find a better town and make that your territory.
Mitile: This is where everyone here has lived up till now. They’re all attached to this place.
Bradley: That's everyone else. Not me.
Mitile: We should help each other out in times of trouble! So that we can all live together....
Bradley: What's the deal with "everyone"? Why do you need everyone to get along?
Mitile: Most people like being with others. Most people want to be loved; we don't want to be hated! I guess it's different for Northern wizards!
Bradley: Yeah. I don't get it. Why do you want people to love you? Why are you so afraid of being hated?
Mitile: That's.....
Bradley: You don’t know? Then you're the same as me.
Mitile: ..........
Bradley: Hmph. How pointless. You don't even know why you're all hung up on "everyone, everyone" in the first place.
Mitile: .......When I..........
Bradley: ...What now, you're gonna cry? This is why I hate kids.....
Lennox: Bradley. Stop it.
Mitile: When I become a powerful wizard, I'll definitely defeat you.......
Bradley: ............
Mitile: I'll definitely, definitely beat you up!!
Bradley: ....Hah. Hahah! I like that!
Mitile: What's so funny!?
Bradley: Wanting to beat up the guys who piss you off — that's the kind of logic I can follow. Much better than "let's all get along."
Hey, you Southern brat. You might actually get by pretty well in the North.
Mitile: ......I'd never go to the North! Don't lump me in with bad guys like you!
Figaro: Mitile, what's wrong?
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16.8 The Child of the Prophecy
Mitile: Dr. Figaro..... This Northern wizard keeps saying awful, senseless things.....
Figaro: There, there. Northern wizards sure are awful~. Dr. Figaro will protect you.
Bradley: Dammit, Figaro... You two-faced bastard.....
Lennox: Now that you’ve eaten, we should keep working. Come on.
Bradley: Don't drag me around! Listen up, you're not allowed to order me around! I get to decide what I'll do next.....
Lennox: Got it. Then please, lead us along. First, say thanks for the meal.
Bradley: Thanks for the meal.... Hey, what the fuck, are you picking a fight with me!?
Figaro: Geez, what a fuss. Mitile, everything’s all right now.
Mitile: Dr. Figaro....
Figaro: What is it?
Mitile: I want to get stronger.... I want to become a powerful wizard. Please teach me powerful magic.
Figaro: ......
Mitile: If I were powerful, Mister Bradley would've listened to what I had to say. Because what I'm saying is correct!
Because it's what nii-sama and Dr. Figaro taught me — it’s what's right for everyone's sake!
That's why I want to get stronger, Dr. Figaro. Why won't you teach me powerful magic? Do I not have any talent....?
Figaro: That's not true. Mitile, you're still young. You don't need to sweat it.
Mitile: But......
Figaro: Plus, Mitile, do you really want to become stronger in order to help everyone else?
Mitile: Huh....?
Figaro: Are you sure it's not for your own sake, because Bradley beat you in an argument? When you say "for everyone’s sake," is Bradley included in that?
Mitile: .........
Figaro: Calm down and think about it. If you force your selfish desires onto everyone in the name of justice, that would make you no different from a dictator who executes whoever he wants on a whim.
I understand that you're frustrated because Bradley won that argument. But that’s why you should look for words that will reach him next time. You don't need to be powerful to do that.
Mitile: .....Yes.....
Figaro: Ah, look. Rutile is over there. He looks troubled. You should go help him out.
Mitile: ....I see. I’ll head on over.
Figaro: Yes, see you later.
........
What to do.... So Mitile realized that I was deliberately avoiding teaching him powerful magic.
Mitile. I'm sorry, but that’s something I can never teach you.
✦✧☾✧✦
Snow: Was it all right for us to force the Southern wizards to keep an eye on Bradley?
White: Figaro is with them, so I’m sure they’ll be fine. And nothing strange seems to be happening with the child of the prophecy for now.
Snow: The prophecy we saw before Tiretta died.
Snow & White: Our prophecies are never wrong.
Snow: We prophesied that the next child born from Tiretta would annihilate all the Southern wizards.
White: In truth, the great witch Tiretta died when he was born.
Snow: Now, now, let's see how this goes. We don't know if the prophecy will come to pass in ten years, or in a hundred....
✦✧☾✧✦
Mitile: Nii-sama....? Huh? Who's that child?
Rutile: He helped me with some restoration work. But now I'm being bombarded with questions....
Skinny Central Country child: Hey, how do I become a wizard? Can I use magic too?
Mitile: ....You want to be a wizard?
Skinny Central Country child: Yeah! Because if I could use magic, I could do lots of things, and I'd never have to look for work.
Rutile: Humans can't become wizards. It’s the sort of thing that's decided the moment you’re born.
Skinny Central Country child: But I heard there's a way for humans to use magic too!
Rutile: I guess you're talking about magical technology from the West? I don’t know much about that, you see. .....Huh?
Your stomach's all swelled up. What's wrong? Are you keeping something under your clothes?
Skinny Central Country child: It's a part of my job! I'm taking care of an important package.
Mitile: It looks heavy. Do you need help?
Skinny Central Country child: I'm fine! Mister Mithra, the Sage's wizard, asked me to take care of it.
Rutile: Mister Mithra....?
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16.9 The Scheming Wizard
Skinny Central Country child: Ah, I just remembered I have something to do! I need to go! Bye-bye....!
Rutile: Ah.....
(Footsteps)
Rutile: Mister Mithra.... What did he ask such a young child to do?
✦✧☾✧✦
Skinny Central Country child: Ah, there he is. Mister Mithra!
Mithra: ........
Skinny Central Country child: I met the Sage's wizards! And just as you said, nobody realized what was going on!
But it's getting bigger! Look.....
Mithra: Don't remove your clothes. I told you not to show that to anyone.
Skinny Central Country child: S-sorry....
.....Hey, if I do what you say, will you really give this to me? Isn't it an incredible treasure?
Mithra: Of course I will.
Skinny Central Country child: Yay! If I sell this, I’ll be rich! It's so beautiful......
A jewel that's shining like the moon!
✦✧☾✧✦
Akira: So this is the back of the palace... Mister Cock Robin, is this the room you tried to enter before you were stopped?
Cock Robin: Y-yes......
Rustica: This is awful... If you stepped in here without suspecting anything, your soul might've been destroyed.
Chloe: Really......? I can't tell......
Shylock: Everything here is dancing in madness: a powerful and troublesome spell fell apart, and the order that existed in this room has been contaminated.
Akira: You mean we can't go any further?
Shylock: What do you say, Murr?
Murr: I'll give it a go.
Murr responds and lifts his right hand with his sparkling ring.
Murr: << Eanul Rambul >>
Akira: ......!
Suddenly, a dreadful noise tears through the air.
And I feel the unpleasant atmosphere in the room fade slightly.
Murr: I set up a temporary balance of reason here. But it'll go back to chaos in no time. If you're gonna head inside, hurry!
Akira: Got it.
Shylock: How long will it hold?
Murr: Probably long enough for me to do three loops in the sky!
Shylock: So about a hundred seconds. Chloe, stay here with Cock Robin. When there are ten seconds left, please start counting down.
Chloe: Got it!
Cock Robin: Please be careful!
We step into the depths of the palace.
The darkness fades as we advance, revealing the faint outlines of the room.
Rustica lets out a quiet gasp.
Rustica: ......How terrible........
A giant pile of human bones arranged in a circle emerges from the darkness.
The bones are tied together with a green ivy of rose vines.
It overwhelms us, like a giant, horrifying work of art.
Within the center of the giant circle of human bones, there lies something resembling an altar.
Shylock: .....They've tied together the sacrifices with a rose vine. This is a method you use when you merge living offerings, but....
Rustica: They couldn't prepare living sacrifices. That's why they used ancient bones instead...
Rustica lowers his eyes in sadness as he gazes at the giant pile of human bones.
Rustica: Poor things.... The bones here weren't just lying around in the wild. They belong to sleeping souls who had been properly buried.
Akira: Sleeping souls who had been properly buried...... Are these the bones stolen from the cemetery....?
If so, that means the grave-robbing culprit came here and......
Murr gazes intently at the altar.
Murr: There’s no medium.
Akira: Medium....?
Rustica: When you're making such a powerful circle, you need a medium. Such as a piece of a star or a holy tree, or a relic once owned by a hero....
Shylock: Which object within the Lunar Eclipse Palace was most worthy to be used as a medium....?
Murr: The moonstone.
Rustica: The moonstone!? But if you use the moonstone as a medium, then god knows what could happen....
Most importantly, the moonstone will continue to hold the negative energy born from the failed ritual. We need to find it soon, or else we'll be in great trouble.
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16.10 The Truth Hidden in the Palace
Rustica: Who did this? And for what purpose...?
At Rustica’s question, I recall the other Murr’s words from earlier.
Akira: Murr's soul shard said that someone tried to beckon the moon to draw closer — that this was just one part of a greater magic circle....
Shylock: Someone tried to beckon the < Great Catastrophe >...?
Rustica: That's what caused this tragedy!? How terrible....
Akira: There’s something else...... He also mentioned that the summoning failed, and that’s why it transformed into an entirely different spell.
Shylock: An entirely different spell...? What does that mean?
Akira: He mentioned an Umbra... Umbra something. And that the twins would know about it.
Chloe: Ten!
We hear Chloe’s voice, and look at each other with a start.
Chloe: Nine! Eight!
Rustica: Let's get out of the room for now. Sir Sage, this way.
Akira: Yes!
Shylock: Let's go, Murr.... Murr?
Murr: Hey, what's that?
Murr runs towards the altar, peers beneath it, and starts pulling at something.
(Rustle)
Murr: Huh? It's stuck.....
Chloe: Five! Four! Three!
Shylock: Murr, hurry!
Murr: Umm~, give me just one second.......
(Rustle)
Chloe: Two! One!
Murr: Got it!
(Flash of light) (Screen goes black)
Shylock: << Invibelle >>!
Rustica: << Amorest Viesse >>!
Shylock and Rustica recite their spells just as Murr leaps away from the altar.
For a brief second, the darkness enveloping Murr stops in its tracks.
And Murr safely returns to our side. With something in his hand.
✦✧☾✧✦
Chloe: God, you surprised me! I thought you wouldn't make it in time! Geez, don't make me so worried!
Murr: Look!
Chloe: What's this......?
Murr shows us a half-melted scientific instrument of some sort.
Shylock: This looks like the driving system for a piece of magical technology machinery. It materializes the magic from inside a mana stone. Though I’m not too familiar with this particular form.....
Cock Robin: ....This is.... This is what the Magical Technology Corps of our country uses......
Chloe: Huh?
Cock Robin: I'm sure of it.... Because the Ministry of Magical Affairs ordered these in an attempt to adopt the techniques of the West.
Akira: ....What does this mean?
Shylock: It means someone from the Magical Technology Corps is involved... Or they were dragged into this mess as victims. We’ll find out once we return to the castle.
Akira: Mister Cock Robin is safe, too, so that’s probably the best thing to do for now. Let’s head back to the castle.
Rustica: Yes. We need to ask Sir Snow and Sir White some questions, too.
Chloe: I need to give my friend the scarf I made, too!
Murr: Then let's head back together!
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Chapter 15 << | index | >> Chapter 17