Zero no Tsukaima:Volume4 Chapter6 - MTL
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Warning: This translation is considered a PREVIEW Script.
Be warned that the degree of translation error may be higher than usual due to the translation method employed.
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Chapter Six: The Water Spirit
The hills and mountains overlooked the dark blue waves of Ragdorian Lake as they rippled. The sun's illumination on the lake was spread like a layer of shimmering glass.
Saito and others arrived at the lake by horse.
Because Louise disliked riding alone, she and Saito took the same horse. She sat in front. It seemed like she didn‘t want to leave Saito‘s side even for a single moment.
Montmorency and Guiche were riding on separate splendid grey horses.
"This must be the famous Ragdorian lake! No, the beauty of this lake is indescribable! The Water Spirit is in there! I’m impressed! HO-HO-HO – YAHOO!"
Yelled Guiche, whipping the horse and sending it plunging down the hill.
But the horse was afraid of the water and when it reached the shore it came to an abrupt stop. Following the law of inertia, Guiche was flung off the horse and, with a thunderous crash, fell head first into the lake.
“Can’t reach the ground! It’s deep! Deeeeeeep!”
Guiche desperately cried out for help while struggling in the water. It seemed that Guiche did not know how to swim.
“I wonder if we should reconsider our fellowship after all?”
Montmorency muttered.
”That would be nice.“
Saito nodded. Louise looked up at Saito with a worried face.
“Montmorency is nice?”
“I d-don’t mean that. Just wait. I will return you to your original self.“
Saito brought the horse close to the shore.
Guiche, after a long struggle, was shivering and soaked from head to toe as he finally reached the shore. He had a bitter look on his face.
“Hey hey, shouldn’t you help me? Do not desert someone who cannot swim!”
However, Montmorency completely ignored Guiche and was instead looking at the lake suspiciously.
“What is it?” Saito asked.
“Strange.”
"What's strange?"
"The water level is up. Ragdorian's shore should be further up there."
"Really?"
“Yes. Look over there. There is a rooftop sticking out. It seems that village has been flooded.“
Following Montmorency's gaze, they could indeed see the roof. Saito could even recognize the dark shadow of the sunken house under the limpid surface of the water.
Montmorency walked up to the shore, dipped her finger into the water and closed her eyes. After a while she stood back up with a worried expression on her face.
"It seems as if the Water Spirit is angry."
"How do you know that?"
”Because I am a Water-element user, Montmorency the Fragrance. The Tristain Royal family is connected with the Ragdorian lake Water Spirit by an old oath. The Montmorency ‘Water’ family has been negotiating with it for many generations.
“And now?”
“And now, for various reasons, other nobles are doing it.”
"Then, have you seen the Water Spirit?"
“Only once when I was small. When we needed to create a drainage for the territory, the family sought the Water Spirit's cooperation. A big glass container was made to transport it. However, because the Water Spirit has a lot of pride, it can be extremely aggressive. In fact, it is because of their aggressiveness that my family's drainage scheme failed. My father said to the Water Spirit ‘Do not walk. The floor gets wet’…”
"What does the Water Spirit look like?"
Saito asked, showing curiosity.
"I have never actually seen it."
Guiche, flapping his wet shirt that he had taken off, nodded in agreement. Louise, who had absolutely no interest in the discussion, hid herself behind Saito’s back and unconsciously held on tightly to the hem of his parka.
“Beautiful! Quite so…”
At that moment, an old lonesome farmer who was hiding behind a tree stepped out.
“I suppose, my lords, you are nobles.”
A middle aged farmer looked up with an embarrassed face.
“What’s the matter?” Montmorency asked.
“My lords, did you come to negotiate with the Water Spirit? If so, then we have been saved! Please, quickly make your negotiations and solve this flood problem."
The party looked at each other. It seemed like this farmer was a resident of the village that sank into the lake.
“That, well, we... came here just to see the lake.“
Surely, Montmorency could not tell him that they came here to get the Water Spirit‘s tear.
“I see… Really, lords and the queen are now only interested in the war against the Albion, not even noticing such remote villages as ours. They can’t even imagine how hard it is to collect the harvest…”
“Haa,” the farmer sigh deeply.
“What on earth happened to the Ragdorian lake?”
"The water started to rise about two years ago. The water level increased slowly, flooding the port first, then the temple and fields... See? Now even the eagles' nests are flooded. The local lords that are responsible for this territory indulge in royal court entertainments and pay no attention to our pleas.“
“Yoyoyo,” the old farmer weeped bitterly.
“For years we lived on this land, depending on the moody Water Spirit. Honestly, it‘s good when it stays at the bottom of the lake... We really want to understand why it has suddenly become interested in our land. Because this land belongs to men! But, only a noble could communicate with it. I'd like to know what we poor farmers did to make it lose its temper.“
Saito and the others bent their heads in embarrassment.
After the farmer finished grumbling and left, Montmorency took something out of the bag attached to her waist. It was a tiny frog. It was bright yellow with many black spots.
Montmorency put the frog in the palm of her hand, it stared up at her inquisitvely.
“Frog!”
Louise, who was afraid of frogs, screamed and drew closer to Saito.
“What is with this poisonously colored frog?”
“It is not poisonous, I tell you! It is my dear familiar!”
Apparently, this tiny frog was Montmorency's familiar. Montmorency raised her finger, and ordered to her familiar.
“Listen Robin, I want to contact an old friend of yours.”
Then Montmorency reached in her pocket and took out a needle, in one brief moment she stuck her finger with it allowing a ruby of bright red blood to gush. Turning her finger over she let a drop fall on the frog.
After that, Montmorency cast a spell, treating the wound on the tip of her finger. Then she brought the frog close again.
"Since she knows who I am, she should know who you are. Robin, please, in the name of the great spirits of the dead, seek the old Water Spirit, and tell her I wish to speak with her because of our alliance. Do it for me, understood?"
The frog slightly nodded and disappeared into the water with a splash.
"Now, Robin went to call the Water Spirit. If she can find it, she is likely to bring it here.”
Saito looked doubtful.
“When it comes, we have to tell it a sad story, but I wonder what could be good. Maybe this story I know about a master and a dog would do. However, it is considerably old, I wonder if it would suit these guys…”
“Sad story? What are you talking about?”
“Because we need tears of the Water Spirit. How else would we get it if not making it cry?”
“You really are ignorant. Well, I guess since even non-water element mages do not know it either, so it is impossible to expect a commoner like you to know. The Tear of the Water Spirit is only a name. It doesn't really shed tears.“
Saito and Guiche looked at each other. Louise, lonely without Saito’s attention, ‘rub-rub’ rubbed her cheek against his back. It was really weird! Though one could die from such a cute Louise, all that mattered now was Montmorency’s story.
"Then, what is the tear of the Water Spirit?" Guiche asked.
“The Water Spirit... compared to human lifespans, it can live a long, long, long time. It is said to have existed 6,000 years ago, when the Founder Brimir established Halkeginia. Its body, like water, can freely change its shape... and in a sunshine it glistens with seven colors…”
The moment Montmorency said this, the surface of the water began to shine.
The Water Spirit appeared.
30 meters away from the shore where Saito and others were standing the water was shining.
The surface of the water was wriggling non-stop. Then the water welled up like a rising cake. Saito watched it with an expression of blank surprise. The water was constantly changing shape so one could not even see hands. It looked like a huge amoeba. Though its flashing lights were beautiful... it made them uncomfortable.
The frog, Montmorency’s familiar, hopped back to its master with a splash. Montmorency held out her palm and caught the frog. She patted the frog’s head with her finger.
"Thank you for helping to bring it."
Then Montmorency stood up, spread her hands towards the Water Spirit, and opened her mouth.
“I am a Montmorency Margarita La Fère de Montmorency. User of water, member of the lineage of old oath. I have put my blood on the frog to help you remember. If you remember, answer in the way and words that we understand.”
The Water Spirit... rising out of the surface of the water... started slowly to gain shape like a clay figure.
Saito's eyes popped out from surprise when watching this.
The mass of water slowly shaped itself into Montmorency‘s form and faintly smiled.
However, it was bigger and had no clothes. It looked like a transparent nude Montmorency. Just like an ice statue.
The Water Spirit’s expression changed into various forms. After the smile followed angry, then - crying faces. Each time she tried a new expression, the lump face of water moved.
Indeed, she looked beautiful. Like an always changing jewel.
Then her face became expressionless again as the Water Spirit answered Montmorency’s question.
“I remember, mere human. I remember the liquid that flows in your body. The moon has changed 52 times since our last meeting.”
“I’m glad. Water Spirit, I need to ask you something. Although it might seem somewhat insensitive, could you give me a piece of your body?“
Part of its body? Saito wondered. What‘s that? When he poked Montmorency, she turned around annoyed.
"Although it is a tear, it is impossible to make immortal spirits cry. They are... different from us. I do not even know if one can call them living beings. Either way the tear of the Water Spirit is a part of its body."
"So we have to cut down its body?!"
Saito shouted in surprise.
“Shh! Not so loud! The Water Spirit can get very angry! That’s why it is nearly impossible to obtain the tear. How the people in the city's black market are able to get it… I simply cannot imagine."
The Water Spirit smiled.
"Oh, it smiled! It must mean it's ok!"
But, the words that came from its mouth... maybe because it still didn‘t understand how to to speak properly, were completely opposite.
"I refuse, mere human."
"Is that so? How unfortunate. Oh well, we'll be heading back now."
Saito was shocked by how easily Montmorency gave up.
“Hey hey! Wait a moment! Don’t give up on Louise so easily! Hey, Water Spirit!”
Saito pushed Montmorency aside and faced the Water Spirit.
“Wait! You! Stop it! Don’t anger the Water Spirit!”
Montmorency tried to thrust Saito aside, but Saito didn’t even flinch. Guiche inclined his head wondering. Louise silently drew closer to Saito. Seeing such a scene, it was hard to tell which one of them was a familiar.
“Great Water Spirit! Please! I will do anything you ask for your tear! A little bit! Only a little bit!“
The Montmorency shaped Water Spirit didn’t answer anything to Saito, who was down on his knees pressing his head against the ground, prostrating.
"I beg you! The most important person to me right now is in trouble! Don‘t you have someone important to you as well? My important person right now needs help... and for that, a part of your body is needed! Therefore, please! Look!“
Hearing this Montmorency stopped trying to pull Saito away and let out a deep sigh. Guiche, who was moved to tears already, nodded. Louise, feeling insecure, kept on clinging to Saito.
The Water Spirit changed her appearance few times before taking Montmorency’s shape again, and said to Saito,
“Very well.”
“Yes! Really?”
“But with one condition. As a mere human that doesn’t know the reason of this world, you said that you would do anything?”
“Yes! That's what I said!”
“Then repel those that attack me, your comrades.”
They looked at each other.
“Repel?”
“Yes, I have raised the water level as far as I could. I no longer have the energy to fight them. If you can fight them off, I will bestow unto you my tear.”
“No, I hate fights.”
Saito put his hand on Montmorency's shoulder and patted it.
"You want to eat prison food instead?"
Saito once again threatened Montmorency about the forbidden potion and she, like the day before, could not help but to give in.
“I know, already! I’ll do it!”
So it was decided that they needed to discover the identities of the people attacking the Water Spirit.
The place where the Water Spirit lives – the very bottom of the lake. Someone, using magic, attacked her there in the middle of the night.
Saito and the others hid themselves in the shade of the tree on the shore at Gallia’s side – a place that the Water Spirit showed them – and waited quietly for the assailant to come.
Guiche, to cheer himself up before the battle, took a sip of wine that Saito brought. When all of his anxiety was gone he started to sing. Saito pushed his head aside.
Louise was in an extremely bad mood because Saito was only talking to Montmorency.
Why he is nicer with Montmorency than with me, does he love her, or maybe he just hates me, waah waah – she cried angrily, and, with her roaring around like that, Saito had to kiss her cheek many times to calm her down and put her to sleep. Because of that, right now she was sleeping calmly next to him, breathing softly with a blanket wrapped up around her. Guess anyone would be like that if a potion made them fall madly in love.
“The people that attacked the Water Spirit went to the bottom of the lake. How can they breathe under the water?”
Saito asked Montmorency.
Montmorency thought for a while.
“Maybe it’s a water element user? With a ball of air created around the user it’s not that hard to get to the bottom of the lake. At the same time, even if you use water magic and are able to breathe underwater, directly touching the water would be suicidal as the Water Spirit controls it here. So maybe it was an air element mage, that way one can avoid touching the water.”
According to the Water Spirit, she was attacked every night on a regular basis, having bits of her body cut off.
“But how could someone wound it and still go unnoticed?”
“The Water Spirit's movements are slow… Besides, if you separate the Water Spirit from her source of water, her magic eventually wears out. Using a strong flame would make her evaporate gradually. It becomes impossible to connect back to a liquid again once being turned into gas.”
“It is impossible to turn back?”
“The Water Spirit's soul is like moss. Even being torn to pieces it can reconnect itself into one again, as long as it has all the pieces. It is a really complicated creature compared to us.”
“Hmmm…”
Saito nodded.
“And because the attacker is not touching the water, the Water Spirit cannot reach him.”
“Then it is not that powerful at all.”
“Really… You do not know how scary the Water Spirit can be… Even if for a single moment one lost concentration and the air ball disappeared allowing the water to connect – then it would be dreadful. Water controls other creatures' lives, if you lose the protection of an air ball, then you would enter the Water Spirit’s territory where challenging her is something that even the greatest daredevil should not do.”
Saito sighed. Really, Halkeginia is filled with creatures that he could never even imagine before.
Two moons were shining high above in the sky. It's midnight.
Saito shut his mouth and with one hand brought Derflinger, that was hanging on his back, closer. Montmorency, scared by the sudden tension, muttered in a shaky voice.
“Anyhow, because I hate savage fights, I’ll leave it all up to you.”
“Don’t worry Montmorency. I am here. I will bravely protect the maiden from war and punish the villain.”
Guiche, who obviously drank too much wine, started leaning towards Montmorency.
“Listen, just go to sleep already. You reek of alcohol.”
“Guiche, be a decoy.”
Guiche nodded red-faced.
Saito took a deep breath. The fighter’s intuition that he gained from experiencing many fights was now telling him that someone was near. His mouth was filled with saliva. Guess that someone is an enemy? But, will it be all right. I am the legendary Gandálfr. I should be able to beat mages up. What would it matter against the number of those dragon knights that attacked me before?
Not noticing himself, Saito became very self-conceited.
He gazed at Louise’s sleeping face. Wait for me, I will definitely bring you back – he muttered silently.
One hour passed after that. Shadows appeared on the shore. It was two people. Because those figures were wearing jet-black hooded robes it was hard to tell whether they were men or women.
Saito gripped Derflinger's handle. The rune on his left hand began to shine. However, he hadn’t left the hiding spot. He still could not decide whether it was these people that attacked Water Spirit or not.
But, the pair pulled out their wands while standing at the waterside.
It looked like they started chanting spells.
Convinced that there was no mistake by now, Saito stood up from the shade of the tree and moved towards the pair. Two people should be an easy match. Because I already… defeated Wardes and ten-times larger orc demons, and this is just a pair of people. Hey, they are not even looking in my direction. Easy victory, easy victory, I could overpower them with a whistle.
Saito hid himself behind the tree right next to the pair. Seeing him squatting himself down, Guiche started chanting the spell.
The ground where the pair stood suddenly rose and became a huge hand-like tentacle that twined around the assailants' feet.
Silence.
Saito dashed out of the shade of tree. The distance to the mages was about 30 meters. Saito, demonstrating Gandálfr's power, closed the distance in less than three seconds.
However, the enemy’s reaction was quick. The assailants started muttering spells the same time as the ground raised. The flame flew out of the end of the wand, burning down the soil that was gripping the pair’s feet. The smaller shadow acted even more surprisingly. Instead of releasing their spell towards Guiche, the person aimed it towards Saito, who wasn't prepared for this.
The body turned around quickly and the wand swung around. Just like in the fight with Wardes before, an air hammer hit Saito’s body. Saito, who did not expect such attack, was hit in the front and easily blown away.
In no time, an ice arrow followed. Saito turned his body and jumped up dodging it, but the taller mage shot a big fire ball at him. Though Saito tried to dodge that too, the aiming was accurate as Saito’s movements were anticipated beforehand.
“Partner! Raise me!” Derflinger shouted.
Saito boldly blocked the flame ball with his sword, yet, even though it was absorbed into the sword, it exploded, scattering around the fragments of fire.
Saito looked dazed and petrified.
Though he frantically tried to rub the pain away, his eyes still hurt. Sparks got into his eyes. Saito became more hasty. Crap! Their wands.
He lowered his guard thinking that the enemy would concentrate on Guiche. Yet the enemy was experienced in combat and anticipated an attack from a different direction, not being surprised in the slightest.
Moreover, they worked together skillfully. While one was preparing the spell, the other was releasing it. Though this was a simple tactic, the results were very effective. Anyhow, there was no opening.
Raging winds snatched the sword out of the hands of the petrified Saito.
His body suddenly felt heavy. In the corner of his eyes he could see another huge fireball coming his way. Saito gave up. His momentary self-conceitedness was gone very quickly.
Aah, I am an amateur after all. Gandálfr's power gave me more confidence than my actual skills. Being straightforward doesn’t work on all enemies! Aah, Louise, sorry! Louise!
However, the goddess of fate even now did not desert Saito.
The moment before the fireball knocked against Saito, the area in front of him exploded. The fireball and Saito were blown off. This magic was… Louise’s ‘Void’!
“Don’t bully Saitooo!”
Louise’s scream echoed through the night. It almost made Saito cry. Louise helped me. Though she was asleep… but she was probably woken up by all this noise.
Louise waited for an attack, but their guard was off now. Thus now he could recover himself. Somehow, Saito wrenched his right eye open and picked up Derflinger.
But before he burst into another attack…
The pair stopped moving. Louise’s scream made them realize something. The two shadows looked at each other.
And removed their hoods.
The faces that appeared in the moonlight were…
“Kirche! Tabitha!” Guiche shouted loudly.
“What?! It was you?!”
Feeling relieved, Saito tiredly kneeled to the ground.
“You? Why, darling?!”
Surprised, Kirche shouted as well.
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