Part 4 of Chapter 1.
So I decided to use Japanese suffixes since they were too much of a pain to translate (no idea how to differentiate -sama and -san in terms of respectful address...Mistress sounds weird, and only works once, and anything longer than that is even weirder). I'll update everything to reflect this.
I was reading Gekka Hime on NanoDesu translations, and I really liked their next/previous buttons. Really gives the feeling of flipping pages in a book. So I'm going to add them to this now.
I was reading Gekka Hime on NanoDesu translations, and I really liked their next/previous buttons. Really gives the feeling of flipping pages in a book. So I'm going to add them to this now.
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Next >
For some reason,
Mahiro always ate at the general cafeteria, where all the knights,
guards, maids and other staff ate, instead of at his own room or at
the royal dining room, whenever he had the chance to do so.
Diners picked out
food that they liked from the numerous bowls lined in rows on the
long table and the counter, and then went to find a vacant seat in
order to eat. In other words, it was pretty much a buffet.
People who were
captains, high officials, ministers, generals, or held other
important ranks could order the things they liked here, and eat in
separate, specially prepared rooms. However, Mahiro, as usual, took a
hot dog and corn pottage soup at the counter, and was busy wolfing
down his food. Mahiro's fondness of canned mackerel was famous inside the castle, as it was something that even commoners would regard
as basic and ordinary.
Pariel herself had
gotten a croissant with pork saute, a spinach salad, and some bean
soup.
“After lunch,
we're going to practice sword fighting.”
“Ehhh~?”
Mahiro shook his
head with resigned dissatisfaction at this.
“I know that you
really don't like practice.”
Mahiro particularly
hated practicing the sword. He always spoke of soreness, muscular
pain, or other various complaints.
“But, this time
you are needed.”
Usually, at lunch
time, this cafeteria would always be crowded and rowdy, but now that
the king had left the country, it was almost deserted. Sounds of
unease and anxiety could be heard in this unpleasant silence from
those few who were here, leaving the air feeling heavy and ominous.
“I hope that the
king will return soon...”
“Right now, only
a skeleton force is left inside the castle. If the Empire invades
now, we won't have the strength to fight back.”
“But the king
said that it'll be at least half a month before they invade, didn't
he?”
“I'm not so sure
about that. If they discovered that none of the royalty remained
here, then they might seize the advantage and attack.”
“That's right,
isn't it. The main army isn't here, and only one division of knights
remain to defend the castle.”
“But, conversely,
we who stayed behind should do our best together in order to protect
the country.”
“I see. So that
means the future of this country lies in our hands.”
“If each of us
performs our best, then even the Empire won't easily have it their
way.”
Somehow, they
suddenly grew energetic.
Mahiro paid great
attention to the discussion.
“Pariel.”
“Yes? What is
it?”
“It looks like
I'm not needed. Not just in leading this country, but my existence.”
“Even if you say
it yourself...”
She mumbled.
“Anyway, for me, a prince, savage practices like sword fighting
is below me.”
It was like this
every time. The prince had a bad habit of being able to fish out
sudden excuses and justifications.
“In the first place, I don't need to learn such a thing. Aren't you, my escort, here to protect me?”
Saying that just
makes you seem even weaker.
“T-that is
correct, but you should still learn how to use a sword, just in case.
If such a time comes, you won't even be able to protect yourself...”
“If you could get
strong in one or two days, then who would work so hard?”
Mahiro then
suddenly asked something.
“And, while we're
on the topic, why did you decide to become a knight?”
“Eh? Ah, when I
was young, I was attacked by a demon. I was on the verge of dying
from my severe injuries, but then someone helped me.”
Mahiro stopped
eating and raised his head.
“You don't
remember who helped you?”
“Yes. I was
playing outside of town with my friends at that time. When I awoke, I
was already on top of a bed.”
As she thought
about that time, she first recalled the back of the boy she was
playing with, and then the worried face of her mother.
Whatever happened
during that time was completely missing from her memories.
“So, um, as my life was saved because someone helped me, I wanted to help people,
to protect people.”
“...I see. You
actually do have a proper reason, huh.”
Mahiro listened
with a surprisingly meek face.
“Yes, because of
that, I want to protect the prince and everyone in this country.”
“Ah, I see, you
couldn't become a doctor because you didn't have the talent to do
so.”
“I became an
Imperial Guard because I had talent with the sword!”
“Hmm~, really~?”
“Ahh! You thought that I was lying just now, huh? That's stupid! Academic aptitude aside, that story about my childhood was true! Even now, I still have
the scars from that time on my back right now!”
“Ah, that I
know.”
…
“What is it?”
“Ahahahaha. Why
do you know...did you see...?”
…
“I didn't see!
Really! I really didn't see anythingggggggggg~!”
BAM!
“Die you idiot
prince! Smash your head in the cadium in this well-boiled tofu soup
and die!” [TL Note: This sentence confused me a bit. Had no idea what カド (kado) meant, but I assumed it to be the cadmium (the element), since tofu does have a relationship with cadmium (google it yourself).]
Pariel panted and
wheezed.
“Anyhow! Prince!”
“Yes...I won't
peek at the changing room or the bathroom a second time.”
Smack. Smack.
“Back to our
talk, learning the sword won't let you just protect yourself, you
could protect others as well! While the governance of this country is
left to Edelweiss-sama, if you take this chance to secretly practice the sword, won't the people around you be surprised? 'That
prince?', won't they say? 'At last he's doing something', won't they
say? 'After all this time', won't they say!?”
“You, you're just
nonchalantly saying disrespectful things once again.”
“An-anyway...!
You'll be more well-liked!”
“...Is that
really so?”
“Really!”
Pariel said in
affirmation. Mahiro stuffed the hot dog inside of his mouth, poured
the soup in as well, and stood up triumphantly.
“I see now. It's
the opposite of what I thought.”
“...Eh?”
“If Edelweiss is
going to take Father's place, then it'll just be just as usual for me.
Rather, Father's absence had nothing to do with me in the first
place. As you have heard here, it won't even matter if I'm not here.”
“Huuuh!?”
“Then, I'll be
leaving for the town.”
“Wai-, Prince!?”
“Don't look for
me.”
“No, that's
impossible! That's really impossible! But wait, why are you going to
the town...!”
“Ostensibly,
inspection to prepare for the time when the Empire comes. See ya.”
Mahiro raised his
hands in an overly familiar fashion, and left the cafeteria with
even, but quick steps.
“Ostensibly!?
What the hell is he actually going to do? Prince!!”
Pariel, with
extreme haste, gobbled up all of her remaining food, tossed the trays onto the counter, and chased after the prince.
“...That girl is
still young, it must be tough on her.”
“She finally
became an Imperial Guard, only to be stuck with protecting the
prince...I'd much rather remain just a normal soldier...”
Thanks!
ReplyDeletethank you for the trans :D
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteI think the cadium you meant should be a sharp corner in the tofu instead, as in Japanese proverb there is saying "an idiot will smash his head in tofu corner and die" or something like that.
ReplyDeleteThe text literally said Cadmium though. カド(Kado).
DeleteNicee share
ReplyDelete