Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

User talk:Dreyakis

2013-12-08T12:07:02Z

Antanaru: /* Expressing Gratitude */

=== '''Questions and Answers''' ===

'''1. Are you working on the light novels or the web novels? What's the difference?'''

I'm working from the Chinese translations of the light novels. The web novels were published before the light novels, but the light novels contain more content in terms of character development and extra scenes. In addition, some lines in the web novels were toned down in the light novels. (And there's more fanservice in the light novels.)

'''2. Hey, dude, the chapters are out of order! Why did you translate Chapter Y before Chapter X?'''

Simply put, because someone signed up to do Chapter X before I did. Translators work at different speeds, so some chapters may come out ahead of the others. Everyone works at their own pace, so give them some time.

'''3. So when's your next chapter coming out?'''

If I got a dollar every time someone asked me this, I would be able to do this for a living. Click on the User Page tab on the top left corner and you will find my progression on the latest chapter as well as a ''rough'' estimate on when the chapter will be complete. And, no, it has been scientifically proven that asking me to work faster/harder does not improve translation speed. I am working off of PST in California, so do take that into account when looking for the new chapter on my update days.

'''4. Are you going to translate all the volumes?'''

Until otherwise stated, yes.

'''5. I got the chapter summaries from somewhere else, may I post them in the forums?'''

Please don't. Last I heard, the chapter summaries flying everywhere absolutely killed all motivation for the translators. So...... Please don't. Please.

'''6. I want to join the project, where do I sign up?'''

I don't have the power to actually grant that since I am not the project leader for MKnR, larenthian is. If you are interested in joining the project, drop by the Feedback Thread to let larenthian and Seitsuki know. Following that, inscribe your name onto the [[Mahouka_Koukou_no_Rettousei:Registration_Page|Registration]] page next to which chapter you would like to work on. I will '''not''' provide RAWs, so do not ask.

'''7. I have more questions that you haven't answered here!'''

Drop me a line in the comments section below. If I can't answer it, go ahead and take it to the Feedback Thread on the forums.

=== '''Comments'''===
Hey Dreyakis! Thanks again for the awesome work. I know you do these translations for fun, but I wanted to ask: would it be okay to send you and some of the other translators/editors on this project a few gift cards or something? Without the Mahouka translators and editors many of us would simply be unable to enjoy a lot of these foreign works. You guys have worked really hard on these translations and I'd love to chance to thank you guys for the awesome job on Mahouka. [[User:D4mi3n|d4mi3n]] ([[User talk:D4mi3n|talk]])

:While I do appreciate the sentiment, we translators are ultimately just that: translators. We do not own the rights to the material and thus should not and cannot receive any profit or benefit from the translations. I am very happy to be able to work on Mahouka and bring it over to an audience that previously was unable to read this, but I will have to turn you down. In fact, the best thing you can do to thank us is to head on over to the Appreciation Thread in the Mahouka forums and tell us. [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] ([[User talk:Dreyakis#top|talk]]) 19:38, 7 December 2013 (CST)

::I figured as much, and I totally understand. I would have definitely bought Mahouka myself if it was available in English. That being said, thanks again! --[[User:D4mi3n|d4mi3n]] ([[User talk:D4mi3n|talk]]) 23:38, 7 December 2013 (CST)

:::It is always my pleasure to serve. [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] ([[User talk:Dreyakis#top|talk]]) 01:18, 8 December 2013 (CST)

=== '''Expressing Gratitude'''===

Thanks a bunch for the translation of the new chapter. Well then, I'm off to read it.

Thanks for the newest chapter. Haha, I noticed the 212 was bold, that's a lot of pages.. good luck :D. Anyone kind of feel like Tatsuya was being overly cold towards Miyuki toward the end of the most recent chapter? I kind of wanted to slap him... --[[User:Ruckkus|Ruckkus]] ([[User talk:Ruckkus|talk]]) 13:12, 6 November 2013 (CST)

Thanks for all the hard work you have been putting in the last few months. Being able to count on a release every few weeks or so is a privilege and a blessing. You, my good sir, are an example of diligence and generosity. Thanks for taking all the time out of your RL to keep us few devoted fans happy. [[User:TheAEmix|TheAEmix]] ([[User talk:TheAEmix|talk]]) 05:15, 13 November 2013 (CST)

Thanks for all the work you've done! The world would be an emptier place without all your translations. You've really been working hard on chapter 15

Good sweetness, a month before expected :*)

Thanks again for your fast translations, an early Christmas gift for the fans of MKnR.. [[User:James Gobilzkame|V33]] 07:24, 16 November 2013 (CST)

Long live Dreyakis and his divine translation frenzy! --[[User:Tortex|Tortex]] ([[User talk:Tortex|talk]]) 13:16, 16 November 2013 (CST)

Hey, i just want to say thank for translating chapter 15, on time, like you was before. I always watch your progression page, don't worry :)

Can't thank you enough for almost single-handedly bringing this series to the West. [[User:OL Val|Overlord Val]] ([[User talk:OL Val|talk]]) 08:40, 22 November 2013 (CST)

Thank you for this new chapter [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis-sama]] keep it up [[User:James Gobilzkame|V33]] 02:51, 8 December 2013 (CST)

Really caught me off guard, thanks for the chapters.

Can't thank you enough for bringing Mahouka series into my life.

Christmas is earlier this year \o/ Thanks for another dose of Mahouka. Too bad these chapters are so short. Seems like this volume might be quite interesting with some intrigues behind the scenes. Thanks again and take care. [[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 06:07, 8 December 2013 (CST)

User talk:Dreyakis

2013-11-07T20:49:19Z

Antanaru: /* Comments */

=== '''Questions and Answers''' ===

'''1. Are you working on the light novels or the web novels? What's the difference?'''

I'm working from the Chinese translations of the light novels. The web novels were published before the light novels, but the light novels contain more content in terms of character development and extra scenes. In addition, some lines in the web novels were toned down in the light novels. (And there's more fanservice in the light novels.)

'''2. Hey, dude, the chapters are out of order! Why did you translate Chapter Y before Chapter X?'''

Simply put, because someone signed up to do Chapter X before I did. Translators work at different speeds, so some chapters may come out ahead of the others. Everyone works at their own pace, so give them some time.

'''3. So when's your next chapter coming out?'''

If I got a dollar every time someone asked me this, I would be able to do this for a living. Click on the User Page tab on the top left corner and you will find my progression on the latest chapter as well as a ''rough'' estimate on when the chapter will be complete. And, no, it has been scientifically proven that asking me to work faster/harder does not improve translation speed. I am working off of PST in California, so do take that into account when looking for the new chapter on my update days.

'''4. Are you going to translate all the volumes?'''

Until otherwise stated, yes.

'''5. I got the chapter summaries from somewhere else, may I post them in the forums?'''

Please don't. Last I heard, the chapter summaries flying everywhere absolutely killed all motivation for the translators. So...... Please don't. Please.

'''6. I want to join the project, where do I sign up?'''

I don't have the power to actually grant that since I am not the project leader for MKnR, larenthian is. If you are interested in joining the project, drop by the Feedback Thread to let larenthian and Seitsuki know. Following that, inscribe your name onto the [[Mahouka_Koukou_no_Rettousei:Registration_Page|Registration]] page next to which chapter you would like to work on. I will '''not''' provide RAWs, so do not ask.

'''7. I have more questions that you haven't answered here!'''

Drop me a line in the comments section below. If I can't answer it, go ahead and take it to the Feedback Thread on the forums.

=== '''Comments'''===

Since there's some vigilante (*cough* 36.73.110.127) gag order placed on criticism let me start with praise. Your translations are incredibly awesome. The best even. There's no disputing the quality nor the translation speed. Thank you very much. But may I suggest you stop giving release dates? I appreciate the attempt you make to give us updates on your progress. But it's really not working if you give dates only to postpone time and time again. I'm fine with waiting months for your translations but I'd prefer just the page progress update or no update at all. Because whenever you specify a date people (like me) will check around that date and see it postponed to a new date. I'm not sure it's a good solution. [[User:OL Val|Overlord Val]] ([[User talk:OL Val|talk]]) 13:11, 28 October 2013 (CDT)

:He removed it before, only to be be hammered with requests asking when the next release will be; He can't win on this issue. If you don't like specific dates then just check for updates on Wednesday/Sunday (these days were the ball park days he mentioned for having time to work on translations, things may have changed since tho). --[[User:Drowzycow|Drowzycow]] ([[User talk:Drowzycow|talk]]) 19:38, 28 October 2013 (CDT)

::This is something that deserves to be addressed. In all honesty, it is true that my schedules have been slipping as of late, which is something that concerns me quite a bit. My thoughts moving forward will be to regulate on what days I will posting new stuff to make it more manageable, but ultimately Drowzycow got the gist of it.
::Also, another thing I want to draw the line about here is the editing of other people's opinions. I want to make it clear that all thoughts and opinions within the boundaries of common sense are welcome here. Please do NOT delete criticism, as that is also an important aspect that helps people grow. If I find something to be particularly offensive, I will take the initiative of removing that myself. My thanks to those who have policed this section with the best intentions, but let's make sure this doesn't get too far. [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] ([[User talk:Dreyakis#top|talk]]) 21:39, 28 October 2013 (CDT)
::: you could give your self some space post date a week from when you think you will be done that way you have Real Life filler space Michael Oct 29 2013 10:51

oh man that that weren't you? man im so sorry i just thought you were upset about my little joke (though i still think you make an excellent work and made sure to praise it before joking around xD)
still i apologize if it was to rude and wanna express my opinion that i think that overlord val is right i mean you can just put how many pages you have done, you don't have any obligation to put a date nor have people the right to hurry you up, as i stated before is not like you are getting paid(still is a little frustrating check every day to find a new estimated date)happy to know that you are a mature person open to constructive criticism, and again thank for the good job (sorry if there are errors in the grammar, im still learning English)[[User:Renextronex|Renextronex]] ([[User talk:Renextronex|talk]])

Okay, so... Now, where's that "paying res...." *cough cough* I mean, "expressing gratitude" section?
Well, never mind.

lol that's acid [[User:Renextronex|Renextronex]] ([[User talk:Renextronex|talk]])

Woah, are you for real? 71/212 pages one chapter?! Hahahaha! Are you doing the whole book or has the author gone mad? XD --[[User:Tortex|Tortex]] ([[User talk:Tortex|talk]]) 16:24, 5 November 2013 (CST)
: It's not like there haven't been chapters like this before (and he did whole books before - Dreyakis you have a giant statue in my inaginary hall of honour). December 15th? Finally a realistic date :) [[User:SXIII|SXIII]] ([[User talk:SXIII|talk]]) 16:52, 5 November 2013 (CST)
::I hope that December 15th is just so no one will complain again, and it won't take so long ^^ Anyway, just this one chapter and I'll be able to devour rest of the volume in in go. [[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 14:49, 7 November 2013 (CST)
: in mine as well, just beside zzhk [[User:Renextronex|Renextronex]] ([[User talk:Renextronex|talk]])

Thanks again for the awesome work so far. Good luck with champter 15, judging by the length it looks like there's a lot to look forward to! [[User:D4mi3n|d4mi3n]] ([[User talk:D4mi3n|talk]])

We are always watching you, if you haven't realized that yet. XD

=== '''Expressing Gratitude'''===

Thanks a bunch for the translation of the new chapter. Well then, I'm off to read it.

Thanks for the newest chapter. Haha, I noticed the 212 was bold, that's a lot of pages.. good luck :D. Anyone kind of feel like Tatsuya was being overly cold towards Miyuki toward the end of the most recent chapter? I kind of wanted to slap him... --[[User:Ruckkus|Ruckkus]] ([[User talk:Ruckkus|talk]]) 13:12, 6 November 2013 (CST)

OreShura: Volume 4 Chapter 2

2013-11-01T15:58:51Z

Antanaru: /* Chapter 2 Test for Love Points is Mayhem */

==Chapter 2 Test for Love Points is Mayhem==

Onigiri<ref>'''Onigiri''': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onigiri</ref>, sausages, fried eggs.

These dishes disappeared from the edge of the table into Saeko-san's stomach, and as usual she didn't properly chew.

As I continued to cook another leek miso soup, I spoke:

"If you were that hungry, couldn't you have eaten some fast food to sustain yourself?"

"But I rarely see Eita at home, and I want to eat your hand-made dishes~"

Seeing Saeko-san's smile with grains of rice stuck to her cheek, I felt quite happy. Cooking really was a worthwhile business.

I invited Masuzu and the rest of them to sit on the sofa in the living room, but because it seated only three, Chiwa kneeled on a cushion on the carpet.

Apart from Chiwa, the remaining three girls were all stunned by Saeko-san's eating manners. Well, it would scare the average person, as even her energy at devouring rice surpassed Chiwa's.

Saeko-san drank the miso soup like water, and gave a huge sigh, ｢Aaaah~｣.

"Well, that's all…… Good night!"

"Good night."

Saeko-san laid her head down on the table, and began to snore loudly. Her insane ability fall asleep anywhere was still the same.

Masuzu's eyes were round and wide as she asked:

"Has she fallen asleep yet?"

"Yeah, she's always like this after eating."

I look an unbuttoned cardigan sweater from the living room wall, and draped it over Saeko-san's shoulder.

"She says that sleeping on the table is the best, especially for short-term elimination of sleepiness."

This was an occupational disease<ref>'''Occupational Disease:''' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_disease</ref>—Saeko-san would always smile as she said so.

Hime tilted her head:

"Should we move somewhere else?"

"Don't worry about it. She'll wake up in about thirty minutes anyways."

"But I want to see Eita's room."

"No."

I flatly refused.

Because you'll definitely rummage through someone else's house! You'd try to find porn magazines!

Ever since earlier, Fuyuumi had also been looking around the living room with her hands on her knees, sometimes clenching into a fist and sometimes relaxing. She was restless.

Then it dawned on me.

"Let me say it first, this room doesn't have any official seals."

"A-are you looking for trouble? Why would I want that kind of thing?"

Of course you'd want to take it to stamp, right? You'll take it to stamp your marriage registration form, isn't that right?

When the dialogue was about to digress, Masuzu cleared her throat.

"It's about time we continued our meeting. After all, we came here for this."

"Hey, wait a minute."

Chiwa began.

"What? Aren't you already tired of seeing my room?"

"Not that! Before we start, I want to clarify one thing."

Chiwa turned her gaze directly at Masuzu:

"Earlier, what did Saeko-san mean when she mentioned, ｢fake｣"

Alarm!

……W-We've been found out, isn't that right?

"I'm also very concerned. What's going on with the president being ｢fake｣?"

"Does it mean counterfeit or something like a fraudulent product?"

Even Hime and Fuyuumi raised their doubts.

Masuzu gave a big sigh:

"I also wanted to ask her about this. It's clearly our first time meeting, but she said something so troublesome like that. I am very disturbed."

Chiwa glared at me and spoke:

"But Ei-kun also seems rather nervous?"

"W-What are you talking about?"

I originally wanted to play dumb, but my pitch went unnaturally high.

But......

Recently Chiwa really has been quite sharp, at least, with issues regarding Masuzu and me.

But Chiwa seemed unable to find any more evidence, so she dropped the subject for the time being.

"So, we have to discuss how to manage the budget for the summer training trip."

"Right, is there any way we can quickly make money?"

Hime raised her hand in response to Masuzu's question, and said:

"Can we labor towers?" <ref>This is intentionally strange. I think it's supposed to be a pun on working.</ref>

"……You don't mean working, right?"

"Correct."

When Hime said ｢working｣, it sounded like the name of some spell or weapon. It really was unfathomable.

"We won't have time. In order to work, we need to get the school's permission."

Fuyuumi said, very straitlaced.

"Hey—no one actually follows that rule, right?"

"Absolutely not! Since I'm now a club member, I won't let you break the school rules."

Phuu—Chiwa stretched out her face.

"Besides, we won't make it for next week. There aren't many opportunities for high school girls looking for part time jobs."

Chiwa shook her head and said, "That's not the case at all."

"A few days ago I saw an advertisement. It said that all you have to do is eat snacks and listen to an old man whine, and the salary is thirty thousand yen. <ref>About US $300</ref> I don't know what kind of snacks though."

"……Chiwa, please absolutely do not go there, okay?"

I firmly and unyieldingly urged her. This girl really made people worry.

"Since that's the case."

Masuzu's eyes shifted towards me.

"I guess I can only ask Eita-kun to lend us a hand."

"Eh? What do you want me to do?"

"It is said that people have two kidneys, and losing one is no big deal."

"You want me to sell my kidneys?!"

This clearly was not me lending a hand. Rather, it's me lending a kidney!

Why do I have to take this kind of risk for the sake of summer training camp......

"Enough! Can you guys only come up with these kinds of dangerous ideas? There's plenty more simple solutions!"

"Oh, like what?"

"Just have the training camp someplace nearby."

"Nearby?"

"How about the family restaurant in front of the station?"

The four of them booed when they heard this. What? Were you guys that dissatisfied with the family restaurant? It's a facility with fine air-conditioning, an unlimited supply of drinks for one hundred eighty yen, and it's also within a day's trip.

"The family restaurant is not worth talking about. When we're talking about a summer training camp, then of course we'll need to go to the beach."

Masuzu asserted, and just when the discussion was about to hit the rocks—

"—Well, I'll take all of you there then."

Saeko-san suddenly stood up.

Her eyes that were earlier shut narrow like strings were now wide open, and they looked godly. It seemed after taking a good nap, she switched to awake mode.

Masuzu, Hime, and Fuyuumi stared blankly, unable to help but be stunned.

Saeko-san lazily brushed her hair up:

"What's wrong? Didn't you all want to go to the beach? My company has a health resort facility at Funase. You can use it for two or three nights without a problem."


Fuyuumi leaned close to my ear and whispered:

"Is she definitely your aunt? Why does she seem like a different person?"

"Yeah. Earlier, she was just in ｢no-energy mode｣ after staying up all night."

The first time Chiwa and I met Saeko-san, we were also astounded in this way. Both her atmosphere and way of speaking changed like she was different person. Saeko-san in ｢awake-mode｣ could be considered quite a beautiful woman, and it was hard to imagine that this was the same person who had said ｢doki-doki｣.

Masuzu had a stiff and wary expression:

"May I ask if you are implying that you will provide us free accommodation?"

"I never said that. You will pay an equivalent compensation."

Saeko-san looked at Masuzu's sharp eyes, smiled and said:

"Hey Chihuahua, what do I do for a job?"

The sudden change of topic reached Chiwa suddenly, and she responded in a daze:

"A game producer, right?"

"No, I don't like how sophisticated that sounds."

Saeko-san banged on the table:

"I am—someone who makes lots of cute girls and hot boys appear in games, so they make people ｢squuueeeeeaaaal!｣"

"......"

Although there wasn't any need to say it very sophisticatedly, there was also no reason to say it so crudely…..

"You mean gal-games<ref>'''gal-game''': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_game</ref> or otome-games<ref>'''Otome-game:''' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otome_game</ref>?"

"Ah, the doll-haired girl over there seems to know."

After being praised, Hime blushed somewhat happily. After all, she liked video games. Maybe she even played a game that Saeko-san was involved in producing.

On the other hand, the stiff disciplinary committee member only furrowed her eyebrows:

"I heard these kinds of works had a lot of shameless content. You don't make X-rated games, do you?"

"My current project is appropriate for all ages. Is the tsundere<ref>'''Tsundere''': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsundere</ref> over there very familiar with those kinds of games?"

"O-O-O-O-Of course I'm not familiar with them! I only know about it because of my duties as a disciplinary committee member!"

Fuyuumi denied vehemently. But that being said, shouldn't you be protesting the ｢tsundere｣ part?

With her eyes still probing, Masuzu asked:

"May I ask, how are gal-games related to the offer of accommodations?"

"Well, in short I'll let you take a look at this."

Saeko-san removed a flyer from her bag, and we all leaned forward to take a look.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| ★ Use your ｢Love Points｣ to Cool the Summer ❤ ｢OreDere｣ Beauty Pagent ★

Organizer: Dunk Software (Inc.)

Venue: Funase Second Beach

Date: X/X/XX at X o'clock. Registration begins at X o'clock rain or shine.

Eligibility: a dere-dere<ref>'''Dere-dere''': Means lovey-dovey. See: http://konekosilvertail.tumblr.com/post/23082771149/dere-type-list</ref> girl between 10~20 years old
|}

"Right now my company is making a new game called ｢My Girlfriend Loves me Too Much!｣ or ｢OreDere｣ for shot. The purpose of this event is a draw interest and publicity."

"OreDere."

This abbreviation didn't seem to reflect the ｢girlfriend｣, but rather is seemed to suggest ｢I'm｣ dere. <ref>OreDere is very similar to the abbreviations for OreShura and OreImo. In each case, "Ore" means "I/me/my".</ref> But then again it didn't really matter.

"If you're willing to participate in this competition, then I'll offer the accommodations I mentioned earlier."

Chiwa looked up at Saeko-san's face:

"What does the ｢dere-dere girl｣ in the competition eligibility mean?"

"The competitors have to be on the stage and demonstrate ｢how dere they are｣. That's the main feature of this competition. That's why this competition is restricted to ｢girls who feel dere to someone｣ = ｢girls who are in the middle of experiencing love｣. Unfortunately, not many people have registered so it's a little bit of a problem for me—"

Saeko-san looked at Chiwa, Hime, and Fuyuumi one by one:

"You three are all very interested in Eita, right?"

"—!"

The three of them didn't make any noise, but there was an obvious change of atmosphere in the living room.

Chiwa's expression suddenly became very serious.

Hime blushed and lowered her head.

Fuyumi however… covered her face with her hands, and started to pound on the ground wildly with her feet, causing the living room floor to shake. A-chan, please stop. Do you want to destroy my house?

"Hehe, you're really maidens. Looks like you'll satisfy the competition requirements."

Saeko-san very happily nodded her head in the direction of those three.

"Please wait."

Masuzu firmly resolutely said.

"As I said before, I am Eita-kun's girlfriend. Why I am the only one you're excluding?"

"There is no reason. It's just intuition."

"Intuition......"

"Don't underestimate my instincts. I've created a massive number of all sorts of character types, and the story of how all these characters fell into love. All of this was made by me. In my experience, it's not hard at all for me to see your ｢love-points｣."

Masuzu frowned, unconvinced:

"Are you talking about games? That that's a fake reality, right?"

"Exactly because it is fake."

Saeko-san's words were full of enthusiasm:

"In order to make the fake look real, you need to ｢make the fake look more real than the real thing｣. This is the most important detail in the game industry. As a result, I am very sensitive to whether romantic feelings (dere) are real or not."

Masuzu's expression was originally very sterm, but it suddenly looked like it realized something.

At nearly the same time, I also realized it.

When my aunt mentioned ｢making the fake look more real than the real thing｣ earlier—wasn't that the same thing that Masuzu said to me once before?

"Well then, let's do a test."

Saeko-san continued and spoke.

"This is a simple psychological test that will measure your love points. It's a rare opportunity, so are Chihuahua and you all up for it?"

The four of them looked at each other in confusion.

Not caring about their reactions, Saeko-san took out her smartphone again began to read alone the questions.

<pre>
Q:

There is a boy here that you hold very dear and think very well of.

Suppose that he is called ｢'''A'''-ta｣-kun.
</pre>

"That isn't a something that needs to be supposed!"

I said with a hoarse voice.

I wished at least it could be changed to '''B'''-ta or '''C'''-ta…!

<pre>
If '''A'''-ta-kun said: ｢This manga here is really interesting and really good. I think a lot of people will find it very fascinating. Why don't you check it out too?｣—suppose he recommended it an absolutely annoying way.

How would you react?
</pre>

"So, let's start with Chihuahua."

Saeko-san completely ignored my protests, and continued with the subject.

Chiwa's worried ｢um~｣ came about ten seconds later:

"Ei-kun's manga interests and mine don't really match."

"No, we're not talking about me. We're talking about ｢A-ta-kun｣, right?"

Chiwa responded, ｢Oh, right｣ and nodded her head.

"Well then I guess I'd give a try reading it? But if it's really boring, I'll tell him it's boring."

It was a very ordinary response.

But the manga that I recommend definitely wouldn't be boring!

"Then the next one, the doll-head girl."

"As long as Eita was the one who recommended it, I would read it no matter how boring it was."

Oh dear, Hime was as tender as always.

…But it's quite sad that the subject is still on how boring it is.

Saeko-san tapped at the touchscreen as she nodded:

"Next up is the tsun-girl." <ref>The 'tsun' part of '''tsundere'''</ref>

"Manga altogether is boring enough. I definitely won't read that kind of thing!"

"Then the dere-girl." <ref>The 'dere' part of '''tsundere'''</ref>

"But then again, maybe manga might give me an opportunity to speak with Ta-kun a little more, so I'll ~ definitely take a look at the manga Ta—wait a second, who is this dere-girl?!"

It seemed like Fuyuumi had developed a habit a Tsukkomi-ing herself, so there was no reason for me to react.

"Finally, Natsukawa Masuzu."

Masuzu was the only one who she did not call by a nickname, but that was much better than being called the ｢poisonous snake-tongued woman｣.

I casually approached Masuzu from behind, and whispered to her:

—Hey, please answer this intelligently.

—Who do you think I am? Leave it to me.

Then Masuzu responded:

"I would certainly take a look at the manga that ｢A-ta-kun｣ recommended, but I would also lend him a manga that I would recommend."

"Your reason is?"

"Although it's important to understand the preferences of the person you love, it's also important to let him get to know you. I believe that this is absolutely important in a relationship between a boy and girl."

Chiwa and the rest of them all exclaimed, ｢Wow｣. As expected of Masuzu, she always responded with the most correct answer.

Saeko-san nodded and said, ｢I see｣, as her fingers tapped away at the smartphone.

A little curious, I spoke up:

"Um, what have you been doing ever since we started?"

"This is an APP game that my company is developing, and I borrowed the question from here. This game already has more than a million users who have responded, all of whom were girls in their teens and twenties."

"Eh…?"

Certainly, girls seemed to really love psychological test problems like those.

Chiwa's body was shaking from anxiety:

"Then Saeko-san, how were the results? Who is has the most love?"

"Ah, in first place is…….. tsundere girl."

Fuyuumi's face turned alarmingly red.

"W-W-W-W-What? W-W-Why would I be interested in Eita-kun—"

No, this is A-ta-kun we're talking about.

Saeko-san couldn't help but chuckle:

"When you said, ｢maybe manga will give me an opportunity to speak with Ta-kun a little more｣, this scored a lot of points. This is love that arises despite the desire to convey vexed feeling, which is very maiden-like."


Fuyuumi shook her head forcefully, her hair disheveled:

"It's absolutely a lie lie lie lie lie—it's a lie! I definitely don't like Ta-kun! He's who I like the most!"

The air around the scene instantly froze.

Chiwa's eyes seemed to overflow with the intent to kill, Hime's eyes were in cold, and Masuzu gave a disapproving look.

Also, I was extremely surprised.

You forgot about the existence of Michel again…

"I take that back—————! What I just said doesn't count—————! Ai-chan is going to go outside for a run!"

A-chan pounded her reddened face with both hands, and quickly ran outside. She forgot her bag again, so I'll probably return it to her tomorrow in cram school.

"Then, in second place is Chihuahua."

As expected of Saeko-san, she was completely unmoved after the tsundere went berserk.

"As for why you're ranked lower than the tsundere, that's because you're too intimate. Although such sincere words signify that your relationship is very good, but if the distance between you is too close, the other party won't be able to see you in terms of love. You need to pay close attention to this."

"Ah!"

Maybe because she felt is was reasonable, Chiwa sank into silent contemplation.

"In third place is the doll-haired girl. Your situation is the opposite of Chihuahua's, so you should take a step closer to cut down the distance. Don't let your feelings lead everything. You still need to have in everyday conversations, so that Eita… no, the point is that you need to get closer to A-ta. This way you'll gradually enter a better relationship."

Hime eyes shined honestly, and she nodded repeatedly. This almost felt like this was some kind of life consultation.

Then was—Masuzu.

"I'm in last place?"

Although her tone was indifferent, one could still see the annoyance she hid.

This was maybe the first time I ever saw this expression on Masuzu.

"It's because your answer might be considered the ｢correct answer｣.

Because it's too correct, one does't sense the ｢Love｣."

"Too correct?"

"If you were a couple going out for more than a year, then this answer is absolutely right. However—you've only gone out for three months, right? Moreover, you're 15-year-old high school freshmen, and this kind of answer is simply too beautiful."

I see.

There really was no flaw in Masuzu's response, since one's mind are filled with thoughts for each other.

But compared to the real couples around us in our environment, this actually isn't the case.

I occasionally listen to Kaoru talk about the situations of of the boys who have girlfriends in the class. The unpredictable highs and lows in their relationship were very intense. For example, the girlfriend said something very inconsiderate, or maybe the inverse when something very inconsiderate was said to the girlfriend. The net product was a ｢sunburn from love｣.

If we wanted to act like a high school couple, then we should have have responded like we were even more ｢lovestruck｣ than normal.

"When one uses a cellphone or smartphone to do this kind of test, it will ask the respondent to provide their age, sex, occupation, and the number of years they've been in a relationship, and questions like that. Thus even if the response is identical, the score may still vary."

Masuzu stared unwaveringly at Saeko-san's eyes:

"I refuse to accept it. What can this kind of test actually understand about us?"

It looked like with her attitude, she wasn't going to surrender no matter want.

"……Hmm, okay."

Saeko-san contemplated as she stroked her chin:

"That being the case, then why don't you, Natsukawa Masuzu, also participate in the competition. After all, I'm the host, so if you can win the championship, then I'll admit that you're the ｢girlfriend｣ or whatever. I pledge to this as Eita's guardian."

"Do you have any objections?"

"Of course not."

It seemed like there were invisible sparks scattering between Masuzu and Saeko-san.

Maybe because she was roused, but Chiwa also stood up:

"I'm also particpating!"

She declared, and her eyes re-ignited with that raging fire.

"Although this time we were a little careless and allowed things to get too intimate, this is an excellent opportunity to setting things with Natsukawa!"

I felt like the situation just kept growing more and more strange.

"I also want to participate."

Even Hime raised her hand.

She used her other hand to grab tightly onto my shirt:

"If I win the competition, then will my status as ex-girlfriend evolve into the current girlfriend?"

She said radically. That being said, was that a confession to me?

Saeko-san very satisfactorily nodded repeatedly:

"Since that's the case, the girl who wins the crown in this competition will be Eita's bride. I pledge to this as Eita's guardian."

"—Really? So I can stamp it?"

This voice came from the living room door. I turned my head to look, and it was A-chan sweating from head to foot, her shoulders undulating up and down as she panted. It seems like she noticed that she forgot her bag, and had turned back.

She pointed straight at us:

"There's no choice! I'm also participating!"

Haha, this was serious.

This was serious.

Ah…..

I really want to run away…… ah……

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----

===Notes===
<references/>

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| Back to [[Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru:Volume 4 Chapter 1|Chapter 1]]
| Return to [[Ore_no_Kanojo_to_Osananajimi_ga_Shuraba_Sugiru|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Ore_no_Kanojo_to_Osananajimi_ga_Shuraba_Sugiru:Volume 4 Chapter 3|Chapter 3]]
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<noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume6 Chapter 1

2013-10-19T20:18:53Z

Antanaru: /* Part 1 */ Spelling and spacing

== Chapter 1 - Disaster together with the wind ==

=== Part 1 ===

Completely burning and exorcising the evil spirit in one single stroke, Kannagi Ayano turned around. - And then her eyebrows frowned at an acute angle.

What was reflected in her field of vision, was the silhouette of a man looking at the sky with a somewhat distant look.

In outline, despite accompanying her here under the pretext of being her bodyguard he seemed not to have noticed the battle ended.

"--------hey"

"Huh? Aah, is it over?"

Glaring at him with half opened eyes, the man - Yagami Kazuma briefly looked over the surroundings and nodded once. And then, he declared without hesitation.

"Let's go back then"

".......you're so...", groaned Ayano in a gloomy tone.

But of course Kazuma ignored that and started walking by himself.

"Aa, hey, wait!"

Chasing after him in a fluster, Ayano drew near Kazuma pouting.

"I already forgot how many times I told you this but - since it's been arranged you're kind of my escort, even it you won't help at least look!"

"Ha ha ha, you're so baka."

Expressing a refreshing smile, the kind a good young man would have, Kazuma looked over his shoulder to Ayano.

"It's because I really trust your ability that I can leave it to you without worries."

"I can't believe you at all!", replied Ayano as if slapping something.

How to say this, it was an entirely usual back and forth argument.

Yes, since then - since Pandemonium was destroyed and Bernhardt and Lapis disappeared, Kazuma didn't display any sort of change.

With the same frivolous, slack smiling face like always, teasing Ayano as always, wondering about like always, with an attitude that couldn't be grasped just like the wind, he spent his days like that.

There was no indication he was forcing himself. There was no change from before ---- Even though that was impossible.

He must be hurt. He must be sad.

And yet, Kazuma never shows that.

Ayano was very uneasy about that.

She thought it was dangerous for Kazuma not to show others his weakness.

But what she feared even more was the possibility she didn't understand anything about Kazuma.

In spite of the fact that he was hurt he did not seem to be so.

If that's the case, from now on assuming Kazuma would get hurt even more, would she not even be able to see that?

No, everything she saw of Kazuma until now was maybe nothing but a mask that concealed his wounded heart.

She was supposed to have come to understand Kazuma, even just a little.

She was supposed to get to the core even just a little, to the inner part of his heart pretending to be superficial.

But if all of it was nothing bore but a delusion...

''"Kazuma-------"''

Walking absent-minded, Ayano stared at Kazuma's back who walked soundlessly.

If she were to call him he would turn around with the same smiling face. But -

''"Are you here? Are you really looking at me?"''

He is so close and yet, for some reason, Kazuma's back was distant.

Was it because she was thinking such things? Not typical of her, her reaction was late.

Suddenly, something like a huge pole appeared before her eyes and without time to avoid it, Ayano crashed into it.

"Kyaa!?"

It had a somewhat soft touch for a pole. Looking at it better, that was Kazuma's arm pushed out in front of her eyes.

"Wha, Kazuma------"

Her words of complaint were interrupted in the middle.

Kazuma's face didn't have a particle of jest to it, and was sharply looking forward like a totally different person from before.

"Kazuma, what is----"

"Prepare."

Without giving her the time to finish her question, directly ordered.

Almost by reflex Ayano hunched her back.

Immediately following - from the front, a spiritual power detonated.

The wind barrier Kazuma put on creaked fighting with the same kind of power.

''"Same nature--------huh, eeeeeeeeeh!?"''

Ayano's face became stiff with shock.

But no matter how much she doubted her eyes, the reality won't change.

What was attacking them right now was beyond doubt, the power of ''wind''.

"Why on earth....", murmured Kazuma as if spitting out while enduring the ''enemy'' attack.

The disturbance felt in that voice was definitely not Ayano's delusion.

For Kazuma, the one who contracted the Spirit Lord of the Wind - the <<Contractor>>, it means that all of the wind spirits are extensions of himself.

To have them turn on him, it was theoretically impossible.

"............."

Ayano unsheathed Enraiha, and searched for presence in the surroundings. As for the perception within range, she did not feel any hostile being. But -

"Kazuma, where is the enemy?"

At that question asked in a controlled voice, Kazuma pointed straight ahead. Without waiting, from there regular footsteps resounded - and then, stopped.

"------Eeh?"

Looking at the figure that boldly appeared from the front without hiding himself, Ayano unintentionally opened her eyes wide.

She looked at Kazuma as if asking if that was the right person.

But, without turning his eyes to Ayano, Kazuma was only staring directly at the boy in the front.

That's right - the ''enemy'' blocking their way was even younger that Ayano, a boy of thirteen or fourteen.

His body dressed in a stand-up collar shirt and thin pants, he looked more delicate that his years and was shorter than Ayano.

He had soft hair cut short that made one want to touch.

He was a very androgynous but adorable bishonen.

But the impression until now was overturned by only two things.

The first were those eyes. The color was dark brown, very common for Asian people. But the light that dwelt in them, like the difference between a cat and a tiger cub, made it clear that the boy was a warrior.

And the second.

Ayano's gaze slightly pointed upwards. The boy's stature was lower than hers. But that top she was looking at was even higher than Kazuma's head.

Approximately two meters.

Held in the hand of the small boy, it was an object of unsuitable size. But even so the boy held it tightly in his small hand.

The jet black handle that was so exceeding the boy's height by that much and the silver blade stretching further was a simple and clear shape forged only for killing people and to destroy one's enemies.

Massive, sharp, piercing and smashing everything.

It was something everyone would understand only after a glance, a very long and boorish spear.

"..........."

In silence the boy thrusts the long spear forward.

Until now it was positioned next to his waist. He stretched his left foot back on grand scale.

Without saying anything he only did that. But only by doing that the spear that until now seemed disproportionate turned one with the boy as if it were so from the beginning.

"Kuuh-------!"

At the master posture, Ayano reorganized her confused mind. It has nothing to do with she sees.

That is, beyond doubt, an enemy.

Unsheathing Enraiha, she faced the boy. And then----- she waited.

She won't make the first move since against the spear with he longest reach. First she'll let herself be hit and move after.

That was the proper practice. Besides---

Ayano fleetingly looked at Kazuma. If the enemy is a Fujutsushi this man won't fall behind. If he would fire the same wind blades like before, Kazuma's barrier will definitely endure it.

Using that gap should be good.

''"It's coming!"''

The boy moved as Ayano expected. He rushed in a big way and pushed out that spear using that force.

Of course, it wasn't a distance the spear would reach but the condensed wind blade fired from the edge of the blade approached the two at the speed of sound.

Ayano concentrated her power on Enraiha.

If she becomes completely defenseless against the wind blade, the fact that it cannot tear down Kazuma barrier, was for her something absolute, a common knowledge.

Therefore, with all her power she trended towards the returning blade, sharpening her consciousness to the utmost limit weighing the timing.

But, that plan was wiped out quick enough.

And in addition to that by the hand of the partner she put the utmost confidence it- no, by his leg.

"Huh?"

''''Don!''''

The impact that attacked her from her right side sent Ayano flying from that place.

Because it came from a perfectly unexpected direction, she couldn't resist it.

"------ha?"

At the unbearable scene, her consciousness froze for a moment. But as she could still land even unconscious, Ayano replayed over and over the moment Kazuma's cheek was torn.

''"Eeh-------Why?"''

Her reason refused to recognize it.

That was something impossible, that could never happen and such.

However that was - the meaning of that scene was -

"Wa-------Kazuma-----"

"You're noisy, shut up! The next one is coming!"

In an unusually violent tone, Kazuma interrupted Ayano's words. Without wiping the blood spilling from his cheek and while a cold sweat was spreading on his brow.

''"----No way"''

She was still denying it deep in her heart. She had faith in her ideal, her aspiration.

But she had no choice but to recognize the result right now.

In front of the enemy's wind blade, Kazuma's wind barrier was pierced through without resisting for a second.

Ayano's face flipped up in astonishment looking hard at the boy standing before her eyes.

The boy was clearly not boasting of his power but set up the spear indifferent.

In a manner as if to say ''this is only natural''.

''"This guy, no way - "''

Trying focusing her mind, Ayano could do nothing but admit that she way yet not taking the situation seriously.

Thinking about it, it was an appropriate situation if you exclude all previous assumptions.

As Kazuma is a Contractor, theoretically all Wind Spirits are under his control. Then, another Fujutsushi won't be able to even begin an attack let alone oppose him.

What can overturn that principle, was someone like Kazamaki Ryuya who manipulated spirits that went mad and used Jutsu differently from it's root or, a Jutsushi who was by far more capable than Kazuma.

''"No way - someone stronger than Kazuma--------?"''

A chill ran along the muscles on her spine.

Without minding Ayano's disturbance, the boy pointed the spear to the target.

Without any confusion, it accurately aimed at Ayano.

"This way!?"

Simultaneously with that turned inside out scream, the spear grew hazy.

A certain kill blow that could simply pass through Kazuma's barrier.

Without thinking of blocking it from the beginning Ayano tumbled in order to avoid it.

She barely escaped.

But, as a compensation, her posture was fatally disordered. In the two seconds she needed to reorganize herself - she can die ten times over.

"Kuu"

In those wide opened eyes that forgot even to blink, the boy taking a pursuit stance was reflected.

Facing the unable to move Ayano, the boy unleashed the spear without hesitation.

"You think I'll let you!"

In that space, together with an angry roar, a gale forced its way through.

As if getting angry at being neglected on account of being worthless, Kazuma fired wind blades to the rapidly penetrating wind spear.

But, between the slashing attack and the spear thrust, there was an exceptional difference in their densities.

Not only unable to offset each other, unable to compete for even a moment, the wind blades were quickly crushed.

''"Wha.......so much bullshit?"''

At the overwhelming power difference demonstrated, Ayano soundlessly petrified.

But, without any sigh of confusion, as if expecting it, Kazuma fired the second and third attack.

When that number reached five, finally the wind spear was negated.

"........this is outrageous", breathed out Kazuma smacking his lips.

Ayano had entirely the same opinion.

By a simple calculation, five times Kazuma's wind strength - to put it bluntly, it was a difference it couldn't even be spoken of.

"............"

The boy turned a colorless gaze to Kazuma but he immediately looked away.

As if literally declaring ''You don't exist in my opinion''.

"How cold, mind me a little bit more. If not, I'll sulk."

But, clearly not hesitant about the power difference, with the impudent talk as usual, Kazuma started walking towards the boy.

As if brushing away the enemy approaching in a straight line, the boy wielded the spear as if sweeping sideways.

Kazuma avoided the attack by dunking so low his head touched the ground, and then from that position, a complete forward somersault.

The heel of his right leg vertically described a circle aimed at the boy's head.

"-----!!"

The rotating kick that was both offense and defense, as expected, it surprised the boy.

Although he blocked it by pushing out the spear above his head, the jet black handle bent because of the clashing impact.

"Kuuh........."

But even so, the boy narrowly survived the blow.

And then in a bold move trying to aim at the gap immediately following, supporting his upside down falling body in one hand, this time with his left foot, Kazuma kicked the boy's leg.

The boy went to his knees.

In the meantime, Kazuma promptly stood up, and just like a whirlwind he applied a roundhouse kick from behind.

"----------!!"

Swaying back with all his strength, the boy avoided the kick attacking his temple.

Greatly bending backwards his upper body, he let himself fall just like that, curled his body to disperse the shock and rotated backwards.

Taking a defensive attitude he escaped Kazuma's offensive range.

"Kuuh....."

"-----Humph"

Responding to the boy's glare full of hate, switching over to the standing in one knee posture after rolling three times, Kazuma returned one full of scorn.

Just then, the boy's gaze became even more severe.

Literally rolled in mud by the opponent he was looking down on, he was despised even more. That disgrace was more than he could imagine.

The boy quickly stood up and pointed his spear to Kazuma. He spoke in a squeezed to death voice.

"You bastard.....don't get in my way..........."

"Oo, the random attacker brat finally uses his mouth."

As if being surprised, Kazuma unnaturally raised one eyebrow.

".......who's a random attacker?"

"Look closely in the mirror at least once and see what you're doing. It would be best to repent and surrender afterwards."

"........."

The boy already didn't answer to Kazuma's persiflage continuing fluently.

Did he used it all up or he had no intent of replying, in any case, the point of the spear thrust without disturbance was more eloquent that a thousand words, announcing the boy's intent.

But even so, Kazuma didn't lost his composure and confronted him with a daring smile.

Expecting from that attitude to have found the method of capturing the boy, Ayano's alertness relaxed so she spoke.

"All thing considered, this is rare. For you to engage in close combat by yourself without being challenged."

Kazuma's tactic was basically a long distance attack using wind blades.

But despite that his martial art form was stronger than Ayano's, which the girl found exceedingly annoying----

Anyhow, since that Kazuma was especially engaging in close combat, she stated thinking that may be the key to capture him in those circumstances but --- the answer was unexpected in various ways.

With a tendency to pout, as if sulking, Kazuma said.

"But, I can't win with a thing like Fujutsu."

".......you.......", murmured Ayano greatly perplexed at that excessively miserable manner of speaking.

"Don't speak ''''so shameful so lightly'''' you baka! Besides, what the heck does ''thing'' mean, huh!? Do you think you're at an age where speaking like that is tolerated!?"

"But, you see......"

"Don't <<But, you see....>> me!! Stop talking immediately like a spoiled mama's boy, it disgusts me!"

She finished her sentence in one breath.

That was by no means something insincere, a really bad feeling was spreading on her skin.

"Well, leaving that aside."

In front of Ayano breathing heavily because of too much stimulation, as if nothing happened, Kazuma quickly regained his usual sarcastic manner.

With a light gesture, lacking any feeling of tension, Kazuma pointed forward.

"Our honorable guest is waiting."

"Eeh? Aah---------"

Hearing that blunder she completely forgot but right now they were in the middle of the battle.

A formidable enemy like never before holding a spear hiding a tremendous power, he was only aiming at them.

But, very strangely, in spite of Ayano showing a lethal gap, the boy didn't began the attack.

As if he was waiting for them to prepare, he stood still spear ready.

''"What is going on---------?"''

Why did the boy overlooked such a definite gap?

She thought so too when Kazuma kept him in check, there was something strange.

"Just what is this boy trying to do?"

Although seeming to agree with that opinion and he was composedly smiling, his gaze was shooting through the boy without a trace of slackness, trying to feel around his true intention.

But, the boy was thoroughly cold towards Kazuma.

"I have no business with you", he coldly declared with a really apathetic expression.

At that indifferent sentence, Kazuma let out a murmur, all his <<Ki>> coming out.

"Hee----"

"-------tch!"

At that time, with the fastest movement, Ayano grabbed the cuff of his jacket.

Kazuma turned around suspicious.

"What?"

"Right now you, you just thought of abandoning me and running by yourself, right!? That's not going to happen!"

".........Not really, I didn't think something like that."

"Humph, I wonder! But for your information I'll never let you escape! We go to the grave together!"

Looking at Ayano grasping tightly the cuff of his jacket so he'll never run, Kazuma murmured more amazed than ever.

"Why are you expressly taking such a pessimistic decision?"

"But......."

"To begin with, he's not such an opponent that you have to risk your life against."

".......Eeh?"

Involuntarily not believing her ears, Ayano stared at Kazuma.

''"Right now........what was that?"''

The opponent is someone who might have surpassed even Kazuma, a Fujutsushi ''outside human common sense'' grade.

And yet, from the way he spoke just now, she didn't felt any sort of threat -

"......I said I have no business with you."

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 06 021.jpg|thumb|]]

Gazing at the slightly smiling Kazuma, the boy announced for a second time.

And then, with eyes burning with the will to fight, he glared at Ayano.

"The successor of Enraiha! If you say you're the rightful owner of the flame's sacred treasure - then show that power to me!"

With that vigorous shout, the boy took an offensive posture.

The swelling power was kneaded more and more, stronger, sharper.

But, Ayano hadn't yet found the way to oppose the spear facing her.

"W- wait a seco-"

Ayano was flustered but the boy was about to unleash the spear without hesitation. ---------But, as expected Kazuma couldn't tolerate that in silence.

"I told you I won't let you."

Together with that verdict combined with a smile, the unleashed wind blade drew an arc, attacking the boy from the flank.

To intercept that, the boy unwillingly interrupted his attack.

"Kuu! Don't -"

"Of course I'll get in the way, brat!"

Replying with scorn at the gaze full of hatred, Kazuma calmly blocked the boy's way.

"Because I'm sort of this woman's guard and I receive money for it."

"Guard.......?"

The boy's pupils were turned to Ayano full of surprise and anger.

From that gaze it looked like more than the fact that Kazuma was getting in the way so he couldn't defeat her, he condemned Ayano's weakness who had to employ something like a guard.

"And with that, this time I'll be the one to start."

But without caring about such things, Kazuma declared so and then he put it into effect.

From right overhead perpendicularly blowing down, a huge down-burst descended.

the strong wind striking down without a definite aim, shredded the earth cutting everything in touched.

The soaring dust cloud blocked their vision.

While cursing the boy pushed up the spear and lightly twisted his wrists.

The small circle drawn by the spearhead created a strong tornado.

The tornado scattered the down-burst in a moment and coincidentally forced the dust cloud in the atmosphere.

The air was purified. But -

The moment his field of vision cleared, those two figures were nowhere to be seen.

"Did you run away.........?", murmured the boy staring in wonder as expected feeling surprised.

But immediately pulling himself together, he searched for <<Kehai>> in the surroundings.

After several seconds ------ the boy turned northeast with confident eyes.

However, he didn't chased after them immediately but looked up at the sky with a somewhat dark expression, starring at a distant place.

".......The power of Enraiha's user is only this much? With this......"

That figure murmuring feebly, appropriate for his age, was forlorn like a child on the verge of bursting into tears.

=== Part 2 ===

Hiding himself in a building in the middle of construction, Kazuma looked annoyed.

"Well, if we could shake him off with this, it would be so easy"

"..........."

Ayano was staring at that Kazuma with a pure white gaze.

"What? "

"I'm amazed. You said it would be an easy victory but suddenly we're running like some animal with the tail between the legs, huh? "

At that answer loaded with despair, Kazuma looked at the sky as if thinking back on his memory, cocking his head in puzzlement.

"------Did I said something like that? "

"Sure you did. That he's not such opponent you have to risk your life against. "

"Aah, that"

Quickly agreeing on this, Kazuma continued.

"What about you, ''why'' couldn't you turn against him, do you have a pretext for that? "

"Eeh? No, not really-----"

"Then rather that not fighting and thinking about dying, isn't it better to run? "

"Is that what you meant? ", replied Ayano with all her strength.

But, of course Kazuma didn't show a sigh of shyness.

Stuff like ''running away is shameful'' or ''a warrior's pride'' that's something that would never come out of this man.

"Good grief......leaving that aside, did you shake him off? "

"Isn't that impossible? ", immediately replied Kazuma extremely careless.

"It's different from when I'm alone, it's because there's an Enjutsushi with me"

The amount of Spirits that accompanied Ayano, the direct descendant of the Kannagi Clan, the highest authority of Enjutsushi was absurdly enormous even in peace times.

Naturally, even the Kehai she emitted was luxurious and gorgeous, giving one the impression it was a billboard and perfectly concealing all that brilliance was next to impossible even with Kazuma's proficiency.

Although it may be possible for an ordinary opponent, escaping that boy's eye was beyond optimistic.

"Then, what are we going to do? "

"......Why do I have to think about it? "

Kazuma replied to Ayano's question like he was the embodiment of laziness.

"You're the one he's aiming at, right? "

"But, aren't you my partner? ", declared Ayano, in a tone of declaring the reasonable truth.

Kazuma grimaced magnificently.

At the first glance, Kazuma seems irresponsible and practically he is fairly irresponsible but his his business ethic is unexpectedly high.

Dishonoring a contract was something that never happened.

Of course, that was not because of his virtuous mind, but because he had a thorough knowledge just how bad it could hurt his business credence --- meaning that the reason for that honesty was profit and loss arithmetic and yet Ayano's words unexpectedly poked at that.

"What do you think we should do? "

"Running is best"

Although turning his back to that second question he answered honestly.

"That brat doesn't seem stupid enough to attack the Kannagi Residence, don't you agree? Even if by some chance he does that, Oyaji or the Suzerain will settle the problem but most important if I take you back home my contract is over. "

"..................."

Ayano looked at Kazuma, persistently prioritizing his own comfort, with a white gaze.

But, thinking about the way the battle progressed so far, that was understandable.

To Ayano that boy seemed clearly ahead of Kazuma as a Fujutsushi.

Rather that using a different Jutsu, using the same and being defeated by a Jutsushi who has more excellent and had more talent was something she didn't thought possible.

That is to say, thinking about it rationally, that's how it is. Kazuma cannot win against that boy.

But, even though she saw this man overwhelmed in reality Ayano couldn't imagine this man lose.

The girl's belief in his strength equals to common sense.

''"It's impossible for Kazuma to lose"''

"----Say, Kazuma"

After hesitating Ayano asked directly.

"Is that child, stronger that you? "

"That brat is nothing impressive by himself"

Unexpectedly, Kazuma declared so without hesitation.

Hearing that answer Ayano felt relief for a moment but it literally didn't go beyond a moment.

"The problem is that spear he has"

"-------Aah? "

She saw it during battle - It was shown to her - Remembering the spear's tremendous power, Ayano sighed heavily.

"That was an amazing strength. That's the first time I saw a weapon pregnant with so much power"

"..........."

With half-opened eyes, Kazuma stared at Ayano murmuring absentmindedly.

He made a blatantly shocked face but Ayano, lost in her own thought, didn't noticed.

"So, what's up with that spear? "

"................."

"--------what? "

Finally noticing Kazuma's subdued eyes, Ayano innocently asked. Kazuma quietly turned his gaze away and looked at the blue sky.

"What!? "

"No, it's nothing But that spear--"

"Do you know of it? "

"That's the first time I saw it so I can't say for sure ---- it's probably Kokusen. "

"What's that? "

"..................."

From the reaction until now, Kazuma expected that answer.

He expected it but could do nothing about losing all the strength in his body.

His upper body leaned on the wall slanting. He seemed intolerably attracted to roll over just like that and going to sleep.

"Hey, what's up with that reaction? Just because you're somewhat of a walking dictionary don't put on airs! "

She thought Kazuma's attitude was an insult so Ayano sulked pouting her lips.

But, even that very lovely gesture couldn't impress him.

"Should I explain for the sake of the baka girl who doesn't know anything......"

After those provocative used as introduction, Kazuma briefly explained.

"Kokusen is the sacred treasure of the Wind. The same as your Enraiha. "

"-----Eeh? "

Forgetting her anger at those impolite words, Ayano stared at him in puzzlement.

That was something very surprising.

She required thirty seconds until she could understand Kazuma's explanation.

"Secret treasure - of the wind? Then, what about water and soil? "

"I don't know about those but Enraiha of the Fire and Kokusen of the Wind are both famous. Did you really not know? "

"yeah"

As Ayano nodded quickly, Kazuma looked at the sky.

"Study a bit more, you. If I'm not mistaken, the Fuan family from Hong Kong was supposed to have it but......."

"But, what? "

"But if that brat became the successor, it's impossible that I didn't hear of it. Did he just take over? "

"It's not something that concerns you."

"Well, that's true."

Kazuma responded to the third voice suddenly cutting in the conversation calmly, without becoming confused.

"Wha---"

But, Ayano jumped to her feet. And then, as expected, that silhouette was in her field of vision.

"Did you think you could escape, Enjutsushi? ", informed the boy coldly, holding the spear.

The self-confidence dwelling in his voice ---- when the searching ability is concerned, the Fujutsushi will always win.

Meaning that an Enjutsushi can't win.

Ignoring Kazuma who was the same, that declaration was bragging about how he was the overwhelmingly superior Jutsushi.

"Play time is over. If you don't want to die demonstrate your power, Enraiha's user"

"Kuu----- "

As if overpowered by that determined gaze, Ayano let out a small moan. She looked at Kazuma requesting a counter plan but -

"Why are you still sitting down? Get up already! "

"Huh? Aah, am I getting in the way? Well then, I'll step back a bit more so do your best......"

"Don't fall back! You should fight too! "

He truly didn't display any willingness.

"Besides, you're the one aimed at, no? He went as far as nominating you so, do it by yourself without nominating others"

"Wha---But, you're my escort, aren't you? "

"That's right. That's why, well - how about this? I'll help you if you're about to die so until then - "

It was at the time Kazuma said that in a voice without motivation.

During the time those two ere exchanging such idiotic words, the boy's shoulders trembled as he remained a spectator, without attacking.

He turned to Kazuma with a cold gaze, cold but with a something that was on the verge of boiling dwelling inside.

"''help you if you're about to die'', huh? Do you think a third rate Fujutsushi like you can stop me? "

A frank disdain thrown at Kazuma together with an ostentations derisive laughter.

There's no need to say it, even for a normal human the anger would be insuppressible.

But, Kazuma -

"------pfff"

Averting his eyes after looking at the boy's face, he made a small snicker.

"Wha- what's so funny? "

".........No, it's because I understand you're doing your best."

With a sidelong glance at the exasperated boy flicking off the derision mask, Kazuma's laugh mage his shoulders tremble.

"Even though you take the ''I completely ignore the likes of you'' attitude the best you can, since you cannot help but react to every single one of my words, well, it must be because you're young, I think"

"-------!"

Suddenly remembering what happened, with a red face the boy was silent.

Seeing that, Kazuma made resound an even lower laughter.

"You, you bastard.........!"

Grinding his teeth at the humiliation of a <<lower rank>> making fun of him, the boy glared at Kazuma.

And then, he thrust the tip of Kokusen at the man who made fun of him so much.

"Isn't this fine? Then, I'll teach you your place first! "

"------Aah? "

Kazuma looked at the boy amazed. This development was obviously unexpected.

Even though he feigned calmness and his inexperience could be seen through because he was not yet able to control his emotions, to go as far as forgetting his main purpose drained away by immediate fury, what a ''child''...

"Hey, why are you doing this? "

"Isn't it fine? "

Ayano's happy voice covered that natural protest.

"If you want to fight with me please knock down this man first, or something like that? "

".......Ayano"

With half opened eyes Kazuma looked at Ayano who declared so for fun.

But he seemed the only one dissatisfied by the situation -

"Fine. You'll be my opponent after"

Unrelated to Kazuma's volition, the stage was rapidly prepared.

"........Why does it become like this? "

The unwilling development made Kazuma astonished.

And then, as if sinking the boot into him even further, Ayano winked at him.

"As expected of my guard. Volunteering your body in that manner to protect me ♥ "

".......Well, I don't really mind. This amount is still within the reward. But - "

Unexpectedly, Kazuma obediently accepted the situation. But, as if it was natural, he didn't forget to cynically stab her once.

"If you only fight cheap opponents, no matter how much time passes you won't improve, you know"

"Uuu....I understand that but I think this one is a little bit tricky for me"

"That's not true"

"-------Eeh? "

At that declaration without hesitation Ayano unintentionally opened her eyes wide.

But, without saying anything else, with a decisive gait, he stood in front of the boy.

Faced with that attitude full of composure, the boy grimaced with unconcealed discomfort.

"Are you bastard sane? - this late in the game, do you yet not see the the difference in power? "

Kazuma replied with a derisive laugh at those spitted out words.

And then, at leisure, he took out his cigarettes and lit it.

"Aren't you talkative, brat? You'd be cooler if you shut up. "

"------! Then, you should regret ridiculing me on the realm of the dead! "

Together with the angry roar, an unleashed gale blow.

Kazuma jumped sideways in a big way, and at the same time he avoided the attack he jumped outside the window.

"Hyaaa! "

"You won't run away! "

Although she was outside the fire line, Ayano screamed as broken pieces of concrete that were flaked by the wind blade dashed over her.

But already not minding her, the boy chased straight after Kazuma.

"......Well, for the time being I'm saved, huh? "

While coughing so in confusion, from the window - it was the fourth floor by the way, Ayano overlooked the world.

There, the battle was already reopened.

But then, Kazuma was only escaping and the boy was only attacking so there was the problem that such an one-sided evolution without any change between offense and defense could be called a battle.

"Well, there seems to be a chance of success so I should leave it to him, no? "

But even so, alone, without panicking, Ayano descended at leisure the flight of stairs, aiming for the ground.

=== Part 3 ===

Facing he man frivolously smiling with a cigarette in his mouth, the boy unleashed Kokusen without holding back at all.

The high speed blow surging out approached Kazuma leaving behind only the sound of cutting wind.

"-----huh "

But Kazuma avoided it by jumping aside.

He felt the certain kill blade brushing against his cheek but his smile didn't fade.

"Hey, Speedy! Are you only going to run after having such a big mouth? "

"No, why, I have no problem with you praising my magnificent running away"

"Don't fool around! "

The boy attacked, Kazuma avoided. Their battle repeated just like that.

Kazuma was neglecting the boy's attack, without even warding it off with wind, he was just avoiding it as much as possible.

Was that the best he could do, was his composed smile smile only a bluff -

"Don't get cocky, small fry! "

"It's not over yet! "

While dodging the certain kill strike, Kazuma bragged in a smiling voice.

After repeating that many times over, Ayano finally arrived to the battle ground.

Looking at the state of the battle, the first thing she said was:

"Aah, you're still alive"

"............Is that what you say after pushing your own battle to others? ", replied Kazuma looking over his shoulder with half-opened eyes.

Pretending not to recognize it, Ayano turned away.

And then, at that time, the boy chuckled at the exquisite arrangement.

By chance the three were arranged in a line.

If Kazuma were to evade like always from that location, the wind blade will attack Ayano standing behind him.

Without being able to defend, it would be his overwhelming victory.

He cannot evade a blow at full power - the boy concluded so.

''"It's my win! "''

Convinced of certain victory, the boy dropped his back in a grand scale.

That firm posture that not even a bull could pull was a quiet, instantaneous movement.

"-----!"

Together with a soundless yell, the spear got blurry.

While breathing once he unleashed nine attacks. Of course, they were all to kill -

To offset one of the the boy's attack Kazuma needed to attack five times so no matter whether he was a contractor or not, it wasn't possible to fire forty five attacks in the space of a moment.

"........."

In front of the imminent nine ''deaths'' Kazuma showed a cold, dry smile. And the, slowly, he pushed out his left hand in front.

As if squeezed out by the hand, nine wind blades were produced.

While dancing like playful fairies, they sweetly, tenderly, softly entwined the wind blade.

The wind influenced by the strong spear was torn off, scattered and run through straight by the coiling wind.

And then, without altering its aim it soundly seized Kazuma's body, blowing through his clothes and hair, making them rustle.

"Wha---?"

"You showed me to much, idiot", Kazuma coldly said over his shoulder to the shocked boy.

"No matter how strong your attack is, if you show it many times over, I will think of one or two countermeasures.

What humans can manipulate is not all mighty or absolute.

Without even realizing that, you thought yourself invincible just because a somewhat convenient tool happened to fall in your hands, so you loose"

"Kuu......", murmured the boy in regret.

But Kazuma's pointing out was all truth and had no place for objection.

Since he couldn't make a satisfactory counter attack, he thoughtlessly despised his opponent.

Without thinking of tactics or anything else, he planned on continuing attacking with nothing but brute force but -

Everything was seen through.

He knew what happened.

Kazuma coiled wind like a screw around the spear firing in a straight line and slowly but steadily reduced its power and finally changed it into a gust of wind without any offensive ability.

It seemed easy in theory but putting it into practice was beyond miracle.

To seize them in the space of a moment - he had no other way but to intercept them.

For that purpose not only that transcendent technique that had the touch of divine work was required but the flawless reading of the orbit of his own attack and it's timing, meaning that as a Jutsushi he was completely ahead of him.

There's already nothing he can do against him - he understood that was the definite truth.

Like he was convinced of victory, he cannot pursue Kazuma who was casually stepping up to him so the boy took a step back.

While he was without reservation shortening the distance, Kazuma thought.

''"Good grief, how troublesome......."''

He didn't have the same amount of strong feelings regarding the boy.

To begin with, he wasn't the kind of opponent he had to fight hard against since the beginning. Not even when taking Kokusen into account.

Even the technique the boy was admiring, for Kazuma it wasn't he was particularly proud of.

For a Jutsushi it was natural to prepare ten or twenty Jutsu when facing someone who had a stronger hand than you.

The idiots who were under the impression of ''I am the strongest'', cannot live long enough in this world.

Without any feeling, Kazuma was simply looking at the boy's bloodless face.

He was thirteen of fourteen. Just a spoiled child.

Even if he's the direct descendant of the Fuan Family, his body is immature, his training ten years at most, even the power he can use doesn't amount to much.

Nevertheless, the reason the brat looked down on all other Fujutsushi and was so conceited to pick a fight with the Kannagi's direct descendant, what's more, the successor of Enraiha, could be only one.

''"Certainly, this is a <<handy tool>>"'', thought Kazuma, looking at the spear the boy held in his hand.

By all rights, it was impossible for him to take so much time against a Fujutsu opponent.

Kazuma was the <<Contractor>> that contracted the Spirit Lord of the Wind which means that all Wind Spirits obey him unconditionally.

But, that spear, Kokusen, as expected of a sacred treasure, seemed to give the proprietor this much ability as if it was a semi-contractor.

That's why, besides removing the seal and completely displaying his contractor power, with Kazuma's power right now, he couldn't steal the boy's control over wind spirits.

''"Getting stuck fighting that kind of Fujutsushi, huh? It splendidly wounded my pride - "''

While grumbling inside his heart, Kazuma stepped forward in silence.

But, the boy started attacking a second time.

It seems that somehow or another he didn't want to admit defeat but no matter how strong the attack, if it can be seen through, it won't become a threat.

This time it was a counter from the side. He slightly altered the trajectory of the straight going wind spear.

But, that was enough.

All the attacks he continued firing, were avoided as if it were natural, missing their target by a paper thin difference.

Without even making evasive moves, Kazuma walked straight on.

The face of the boy setting up the spear in the front, white and stiff was clear.

In comparison to that, his attack became monotonous and he couldn't handle it anymore.

The last step. He rushed into the space with the physical spear but the pushed out Kokusen was dodged. Simultaneously that handle was casually grasped.

"-------tch!"

"--------"

The power of the boy and Kazuma, one trying to draw back the other to snatch away, competed for a moment.

But because Kazuma quickly surpassed him the boy staggered and lost his balance.

"Kuh, let- let-go! "

As he immediately tried to reorganize, with the spear he seized, Kazuma manipulated the boy's center of gravity, not giving him the time to do so.

But even so, the boy doesn't let go of Kokusen - in the end, that was the conclusive cause of defeat.

If he would have let go of the spear he may have reorganized his crumbling balance but because he couldn't do that he quickly crossed over the limit and fell down.

Of course, Kazuma couldn't overlook that.

"Gaah! "

He beat him to the ground with the boy's own weapon after he plundered the right of control from him, screaming like all air was evacuating his lungs.

"Humph"

And then, even more mercilessly, he trampled on the facing up boy's chest.

That force, enough to smash his heart, made his ribs jar with a thick sound.

"------Aah? "

Suddenly Kazuma closed his eyes partly, and revealed a suspicious voice.

But a moment after he regained his serenity and stepped on the boy struggling feebly ruthlessly.

While grinning, he asked perfectly serious.

"Well, how about this - die at once, huh? "

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume6_Illustrations|Illustrations]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume6_Chapter_2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

User talk:Dreyakis

2013-10-19T20:05:51Z

Antanaru: /* Comments */

=== '''Questions and Answers''' ===

'''1. Are you working on the light novels or the web novels? What's the difference?'''

I'm working from the Chinese translations of the light novels. The web novels were published before the light novels, but the light novels contain more content in terms of character development and extra scenes. In addition, some lines in the web novels were toned down in the light novels. (And there's more fanservice in the light novels.)

'''2. Hey, dude, the chapters are out of order! Why did you translate Chapter Y before Chapter X?'''

Simply put, because someone signed up to do Chapter X before I did. Translators work at different speeds, so some chapters may come out ahead of the others. Everyone works at their own pace, so give them some time.

'''3. So when's your next chapter coming out?'''

If I got a dollar every time someone asked me this, I would be able to do this for a living. Click on the User Page tab on the top left corner and you will find my progression on the latest chapter as well as a ''rough'' estimate on when the chapter will be complete. And, no, it has been scientifically proven that asking me to work faster/harder does not improve translation speed. I am working off of PST in California, so do take that into account when looking for the new chapter on my update days.

'''4. Are you going to translate all the volumes?'''

Until otherwise stated, yes.

'''5. I got the chapter summaries from somewhere else, may I post them in the forums?'''

Please don't. Last I heard, the chapter summaries flying everywhere absolutely killed all motivation for the translators. So...... Please don't. Please.

'''6. I want to join the project, where do I sign up?'''

I don't have the power to actually grant that since I am not the project leader for MKnR, larenthian is. If you are interested in joining the project, drop by the Feedback Thread to let larenthian and Seitsuki know. Following that, inscribe your name onto the [[Mahouka_Koukou_no_Rettousei:Registration_Page|Registration]] page next to which chapter you would like to work on. I will '''not''' provide RAWs, so do not ask.

'''7. I have more questions that you haven't answered here!'''

Drop me a line in the comments section below. If I can't answer it, go ahead and take it to the Feedback Thread on the forums.

=== '''Comments'''===
Excuse me. Supposed, that we live long enough to see the ending of MKnR series and Dreyakis-san and other translators finished translating it. There are still many interesting scripts, light novels, and other literature that hasn't/haven't been released in English by official provider(unlicensed). Question, Are Dreyakis-san going to translate any of those literature that Dreyakis-san interested in? Besides MKnR, is there any literature that Dreyakis-san recommended?--[[User:Mada|Mada]] ([[User talk:Mada|talk]]) 02:52, 7 June 2013 (CDT) Many Thanks and sorry for disturbing.--[[User:Mada|Mada]] ([[User talk:Mada|talk]]) 02:54, 7 June 2013 (CDT)

:Hard to say actually. My roommate is trying to get me to pick up Hataraku Maou-sama! or Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika, but we shall see what happens. (The former is of interest to me, but the latter seems way too fanservice heavy.) And it's never a bother. I'm not going to bite anyone's head off (unless someone does something very rude, which you are not), so feel free to ask. [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] ([[User talk:Dreyakis#top|talk]]) 03:19, 22 August 2013 (CDT)

If you are interest I would be happy if you pick and translate Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika.
We the reader will love to read it . Thanks for your hard work until now

the story for Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika is awsome as far as the anime goes but i understand there being way to much fan service and i agree

as for me Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika while heavy on fan service (it is to be expected with a MC that strips girls,peeks on them changing or in showers and generally get them in embarrassing situations from what the anime showed) seems to be a lot more interesting then Hataraku Maou-sama if i go by the animes.

umm i noticed in MKnR that your name is on "The honour student's supplementary lesson" chapter yet it is not on your user page did someone else put your name there or are you thinking of doing that short story?

HYnE anime was incredibly heavy on the fanservice to the point it was boring and predictable. And Hataraku while interesting at first got mediocre really fast. I'd prefer it if you picked something YOU love/like instead. That said, no matter which project you pick I'll make sure to give it a shot. Your translations are superb. (fact) [[User:OL Val|Overlord Val]] ([[User talk:OL Val|talk]]) 23:14, 30 August 2013 (CDT)

Excuse me.Did you stop translating Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei?Thank you for translating chapters btw.

Do you have some pressing real life business thats prevented you from working on the translation? If so I don't mind but I would just like some news on whether we can expect more releases. Also was wondering why you translated a bunch of chapters out of order, like doing volume 10 chapter 10 and 11 before doing chapters 8 and 9. In fact I've noticed a few other translators do this. Why exactly? Are those chapters way easier to translate? Are they just more interesting? Are they a personal favorite or something? Anyways I was just wondering if we can expect any upcoming updates.
:Yo, look at the registration page of the novel before commenting about the translation order, some translator pick other chapters and translate it ahead of the chapter Dreyakis is working on. Remember, we are just on the grace of the translators. We can just wait for them to finish translating or drop this series ^^ --[[User:Ghost|Ghost]] ([[User talk:Ghost|talk]]) 09:48, 17 Oct 2013 (GMT + 8)

:Please take time to look over the Q&A section at the top of this page as the question is answered there. My thanks to those who take the time to help answer questions and facilitate things on this Talk Page. [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] ([[User talk:Dreyakis#top|talk]]) 15:14, 17 October 2013 (CDT)

Did you change 'Eidos' to 'Ideas' in your translation or was it the author who used different term in v10ch8? [[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 02:43, 19 October 2013 (CDT)

:Eidos is something completely different. The author uses the term Idea to refer to the "information dimension". I will be going back over previous chapters to make sure everything matches up. [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] ([[User talk:Dreyakis#top|talk]]) 12:17, 19 October 2013 (CDT)

::I see. Thanks for clearing that up. [[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 15:05, 19 October 2013 (CDT)

=== '''Expressing Gratitude''' ===
Hey, glad to see you're back. No pressure or anything though xD.

Okaeri! [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 20:40, 19 August 2013 (CDT)

Just saw Chapter 5 today. Thank you very much. =Rune=

Yes you're back!

That was a long break hope nothing major happened irl. good to see you back was itching to see what happened next then you stopped as a reader i was sad as a person i hoped nothing bad happened.

Prospect of a whole volume to read just in a couple of days pleases me so much.--[[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 15:16, 18 October 2013 (CDT)

Thank you sir. you made my day with this chapter.. [[User:James Gobilzkame|V33]] 15:44, 18 October 2013 (CDT)

Thanks for all your hard work... Nothing beats smiling creepily while reading MKnR at a laundrymat... Thanks again for your hardwork. On another note; the author mentioning whites being a minority on the west coast is so true. I live in SoCal

I am early to heaven with recent anime announcement and your releases again. Thanks tons.

User:Antanaru

2013-10-19T14:25:29Z

Antanaru: Created page with "Lurking on B-T for couple of years. Registered mainly for fixing minor details like spelling, typos or inconsistent spacing while I'm reading."

Lurking on B-T for couple of years. Registered mainly for fixing minor details like spelling, typos or inconsistent spacing while I'm reading.

User talk:Dreyakis

2013-10-19T07:43:29Z

Antanaru: /* Comments */

=== '''Questions and Answers''' ===

'''1. Are you working on the light novels or the web novels? What's the difference?'''

I'm working from the Chinese translations of the light novels. The web novels were published before the light novels, but the light novels contain more content in terms of character development and extra scenes. In addition, some lines in the web novels were toned down in the light novels. (And there's more fanservice in the light novels.)

'''2. Hey, dude, the chapters are out of order! Why did you translate Chapter Y before Chapter X?'''

Simply put, because someone signed up to do Chapter X before I did. Translators work at different speeds, so some chapters may come out ahead of the others. Everyone works at their own pace, so give them some time.

'''3. So when's your next chapter coming out?'''

If I got a dollar every time someone asked me this, I would be able to do this for a living. Click on the User Page tab on the top left corner and you will find my progression on the latest chapter as well as a ''rough'' estimate on when the chapter will be complete. And, no, it has been scientifically proven that asking me to work faster/harder does not improve translation speed. I am working off of PST in California, so do take that into account when looking for the new chapter on my update days.

'''4. Are you going to translate all the volumes?'''

Until otherwise stated, yes.

'''5. I got the chapter summaries from somewhere else, may I post them in the forums?'''

Please don't. Last I heard, the chapter summaries flying everywhere absolutely killed all motivation for the translators. So...... Please don't. Please.

'''6. I want to join the project, where do I sign up?'''

I don't have the power to actually grant that since I am not the project leader for MKnR, larenthian is. If you are interested in joining the project, drop by the Feedback Thread to let larenthian and Seitsuki know. Following that, inscribe your name onto the [[Mahouka_Koukou_no_Rettousei:Registration_Page|Registration]] page next to which chapter you would like to work on. I will '''not''' provide RAWs, so do not ask.

'''7. I have more questions that you haven't answered here!'''

Drop me a line in the comments section below. If I can't answer it, go ahead and take it to the Feedback Thread on the forums.

=== '''Comments'''===
Excuse me. Supposed, that we live long enough to see the ending of MKnR series and Dreyakis-san and other translators finished translating it. There are still many interesting scripts, light novels, and other literature that hasn't/haven't been released in English by official provider(unlicensed). Question, Are Dreyakis-san going to translate any of those literature that Dreyakis-san interested in? Besides MKnR, is there any literature that Dreyakis-san recommended?--[[User:Mada|Mada]] ([[User talk:Mada|talk]]) 02:52, 7 June 2013 (CDT) Many Thanks and sorry for disturbing.--[[User:Mada|Mada]] ([[User talk:Mada|talk]]) 02:54, 7 June 2013 (CDT)

:Hard to say actually. My roommate is trying to get me to pick up Hataraku Maou-sama! or Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika, but we shall see what happens. (The former is of interest to me, but the latter seems way too fanservice heavy.) And it's never a bother. I'm not going to bite anyone's head off (unless someone does something very rude, which you are not), so feel free to ask. [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] ([[User talk:Dreyakis#top|talk]]) 03:19, 22 August 2013 (CDT)

If you are interest I would be happy if you pick and translate Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika.
We the reader will love to read it . Thanks for your hard work until now

the story for Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika is awsome as far as the anime goes but i understand there being way to much fan service and i agree

as for me Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika while heavy on fan service (it is to be expected with a MC that strips girls,peeks on them changing or in showers and generally get them in embarrassing situations from what the anime showed) seems to be a lot more interesting then Hataraku Maou-sama if i go by the animes.

umm i noticed in MKnR that your name is on "The honour student's supplementary lesson" chapter yet it is not on your user page did someone else put your name there or are you thinking of doing that short story?

HYnE anime was incredibly heavy on the fanservice to the point it was boring and predictable. And Hataraku while interesting at first got mediocre really fast. I'd prefer it if you picked something YOU love/like instead. That said, no matter which project you pick I'll make sure to give it a shot. Your translations are superb. (fact) [[User:OL Val|Overlord Val]] ([[User talk:OL Val|talk]]) 23:14, 30 August 2013 (CDT)

Excuse me.Did you stop translating Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei?Thank you for translating chapters btw.

Do you have some pressing real life business thats prevented you from working on the translation? If so I don't mind but I would just like some news on whether we can expect more releases. Also was wondering why you translated a bunch of chapters out of order, like doing volume 10 chapter 10 and 11 before doing chapters 8 and 9. In fact I've noticed a few other translators do this. Why exactly? Are those chapters way easier to translate? Are they just more interesting? Are they a personal favorite or something? Anyways I was just wondering if we can expect any upcoming updates.
:Yo, look at the registration page of the novel before commenting about the translation order, some translator pick other chapters and translate it ahead of the chapter Dreyakis is working on. Remember, we are just on the grace of the translators. We can just wait for them to finish translating or drop this series ^^ --[[User:Ghost|Ghost]] ([[User talk:Ghost|talk]]) 09:48, 17 Oct 2013 (GMT + 8)

:Please take time to look over the Q&A section at the top of this page as the question is answered there. My thanks to those who take the time to help answer questions and facilitate things on this Talk Page. [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] ([[User talk:Dreyakis#top|talk]]) 15:14, 17 October 2013 (CDT)

Did you change 'Eidos' to 'Ideas' in your translation or was it the author who used different term in v10ch8? [[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 02:43, 19 October 2013 (CDT)

=== '''Expressing Gratitude''' ===
Hey, glad to see you're back. No pressure or anything though xD.

Okaeri! [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 20:40, 19 August 2013 (CDT)

Just saw Chapter 5 today. Thank you very much. =Rune=

Yes you're back!

That was a long break hope nothing major happened irl. good to see you back was itching to see what happened next then you stopped as a reader i was sad as a person i hoped nothing bad happened.

Prospect of a whole volume to read just in a couple of days pleases me so much.--[[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 15:16, 18 October 2013 (CDT)

Thank you sir. you made my day with this chapter.. [[User:James Gobilzkame|V33]] 15:44, 18 October 2013 (CDT)

Thanks for all your hard work... Nothing beats smiling creepily while reading MKnR at a laundrymat... Thanks again for your hardwork. On another note; the author mentioning whites being a minority on the west coast is so true. I live in SoCal

User talk:Dreyakis

2013-10-18T20:16:48Z

Antanaru: /* Expressing Gratitude */

=== '''Questions and Answers''' ===

'''1. Are you working on the light novels or the web novels? What's the difference?'''

I'm working from the Chinese translations of the light novels. The web novels were published before the light novels, but the light novels contain more content in terms of character development and extra scenes. In addition, some lines in the web novels were toned down in the light novels. (And there's more fanservice in the light novels.)

'''2. Hey, dude, the chapters are out of order! Why did you translate Chapter Y before Chapter X?'''

Simply put, because someone signed up to do Chapter X before I did. Translators work at different speeds, so some chapters may come out ahead of the others. Everyone works at their own pace, so give them some time.

'''3. So when's your next chapter coming out?'''

If I got a dollar every time someone asked me this, I would be able to do this for a living. Click on the User Page tab on the top left corner and you will find my progression on the latest chapter as well as a ''rough'' estimate on when the chapter will be complete. And, no, it has been scientifically proven that asking me to work faster/harder does not improve translation speed. I am working off of PST in California, so do take that into account when looking for the new chapter on my update days.

'''4. Are you going to translate all the volumes?'''

Until otherwise stated, yes.

'''5. I got the chapter summaries from somewhere else, may I post them in the forums?'''

Please don't. Last I heard, the chapter summaries flying everywhere absolutely killed all motivation for the translators. So...... Please don't. Please.

'''6. I want to join the project, where do I sign up?'''

I don't have the power to actually grant that since I am not the project leader for MKnR, larenthian is. If you are interested in joining the project, drop by the Feedback Thread to let larenthian and Seitsuki know. Following that, inscribe your name onto the [[Mahouka_Koukou_no_Rettousei:Registration_Page|Registration]] page next to which chapter you would like to work on. I will '''not''' provide RAWs, so do not ask.

'''7. I have more questions that you haven't answered here!'''

Drop me a line in the comments section below. If I can't answer it, go ahead and take it to the Feedback Thread on the forums.

=== '''Comments'''===
Excuse me. Supposed, that we live long enough to see the ending of MKnR series and Dreyakis-san and other translators finished translating it. There are still many interesting scripts, light novels, and other literature that hasn't/haven't been released in English by official provider(unlicensed). Question, Are Dreyakis-san going to translate any of those literature that Dreyakis-san interested in? Besides MKnR, is there any literature that Dreyakis-san recommended?--[[User:Mada|Mada]] ([[User talk:Mada|talk]]) 02:52, 7 June 2013 (CDT) Many Thanks and sorry for disturbing.--[[User:Mada|Mada]] ([[User talk:Mada|talk]]) 02:54, 7 June 2013 (CDT)

:Hard to say actually. My roommate is trying to get me to pick up Hataraku Maou-sama! or Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika, but we shall see what happens. (The former is of interest to me, but the latter seems way too fanservice heavy.) And it's never a bother. I'm not going to bite anyone's head off (unless someone does something very rude, which you are not), so feel free to ask. [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] ([[User talk:Dreyakis#top|talk]]) 03:19, 22 August 2013 (CDT)

If you are interest I would be happy if you pick and translate Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika.
We the reader will love to read it . Thanks for your hard work until now

the story for Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika is awsome as far as the anime goes but i understand there being way to much fan service and i agree

as for me Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika while heavy on fan service (it is to be expected with a MC that strips girls,peeks on them changing or in showers and generally get them in embarrassing situations from what the anime showed) seems to be a lot more interesting then Hataraku Maou-sama if i go by the animes.

umm i noticed in MKnR that your name is on "The honour student's supplementary lesson" chapter yet it is not on your user page did someone else put your name there or are you thinking of doing that short story?

HYnE anime was incredibly heavy on the fanservice to the point it was boring and predictable. And Hataraku while interesting at first got mediocre really fast. I'd prefer it if you picked something YOU love/like instead. That said, no matter which project you pick I'll make sure to give it a shot. Your translations are superb. (fact) [[User:OL Val|Overlord Val]] ([[User talk:OL Val|talk]]) 23:14, 30 August 2013 (CDT)

Excuse me.Did you stop translating Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei?Thank you for translating chapters btw.

Do you have some pressing real life business thats prevented you from working on the translation? If so I don't mind but I would just like some news on whether we can expect more releases. Also was wondering why you translated a bunch of chapters out of order, like doing volume 10 chapter 10 and 11 before doing chapters 8 and 9. In fact I've noticed a few other translators do this. Why exactly? Are those chapters way easier to translate? Are they just more interesting? Are they a personal favorite or something? Anyways I was just wondering if we can expect any upcoming updates.
:Yo, look at the registration page of the novel before commenting about the translation order, some translator pick other chapters and translate it ahead of the chapter Dreyakis is working on. Remember, we are just on the grace of the translators. We can just wait for them to finish translating or drop this series ^^ --[[User:Ghost|Ghost]] ([[User talk:Ghost|talk]]) 09:48, 17 Oct 2013 (GMT + 8)

:Please take time to look over the Q&A section at the top of this page as the question is answered there. My thanks to those who take the time to help answer questions and facilitate things on this Talk Page. [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] ([[User talk:Dreyakis#top|talk]]) 15:14, 17 October 2013 (CDT)

=== '''Expressing Gratitude''' ===
Hey, glad to see you're back. No pressure or anything though xD.

Okaeri! [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 20:40, 19 August 2013 (CDT)

Just saw Chapter 5 today. Thank you very much. =Rune=

Yes you're back!

That was a long break hope nothing major happened irl. good to see you back was itching to see what happened next then you stopped as a reader i was sad as a person i hoped nothing bad happened.

Prospect of a whole volume to read just in a couple of days pleases me so much.--[[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 15:16, 18 October 2013 (CDT)

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 2

2013-10-18T07:21:25Z

Antanaru: /* Part 4 */ Spacing

== Chapter 2 - The mad Fujutsushi ==

=== Part 1 ===

The dead of night - Without even a slight movement, Kazuma opened his eyes wide in silence.

A cynical remembrance of those magnificent, dream-like happy days.

He woke up because the happiness was too much. It was like being taught that he will never go back to those times, not even in the middle of dreaming.

"Ku.....Kuu ku ku..."

A hollow laughter escaped. As if sneering at his ugliness and the whole world.

As a result of losing everything, he obtained that which no matter how much he wished for evaded him.

That was a modest, commonplace happiness found everywhere.

There was a person who would smile at him, tell him ''Good morning'' when he woke up and ''Good night'' when it was the time to sleep - only that but those were irreplaceable days full of happiness.

Even the power he pursued like a mad-man disappeared like something from a dream.

Because he met a person who looked at him plainly, not at <<his own strength>> or <<himself with power>>.

If he could have protected that girl and the small world revolving around her, it would have been enough.

Even if he couldn't hunt Youmas, there was no need for self-abasement.

He really thought so, from the bottom of his heart.

Until the time that happy paradise crumbled away without leaving any trace.

''"Really......."''

Inside the darkness, Kazuma laughed at his foolishness.

How naive was he.

If you're weak, if you lose, you can't protect anything. It means losing everything.

Just like he deserved, he became alone again.

No - he's not alone.

There's him and he - those two.

Revenge is vain, it's a sterile act that doesn't give back anything, an intelligent person will proclaim so with a triumphant expression.

Kazuma generally agreed with it. When he pursued that man, during that time he lived only for revenge he never thought revenge was meaningful.

But there was nothing else left except for that. There was nothing else to do.

That's why, he desperately refined his ability. Throwing away anything else, all for the sake of killing one man. But -

"I made a mistake....."

Erasing his facial expression, just like a Noh mask, Kazuma murmured.

This is the result of thinking that dealing with that man was enough and neglecting his followers.

''"If you find the answer, come again."''

Those conceited parting words, won't go away. Words said from the view-point of the superior one that completely look down on him.

Kazuma groaned, tightly clenching his fists at that disgrace.

"''the answer'', you said? Isn't it obvious..........Kill you. Break that good-for-nothing doll - Aah, I'll do it. This time, for sure"

His mouth warped, the same daring smile as ever. But, if Ayano or Ren were to see his eyes, they would probably be at a loss for words.

Hatred and insanity and the pair of eyes swirling in evil malice boiling hot with deeply rooted delusions, changed that cynical but cheerful smile in a different thing altogether.

That smile, expressed by most of the enemies they killed until now, was mad.

=== Part 2 ===

Late at night, there was a countless number of people surrounding the already closed public park.

Everyone was young. The eldest was maybe in the first half of his twenty. But, considering it was a gathering of young people a bizarre silence was floating around that place.

A heavy silence.

Even the noises made sometimes didn't had a following and vainly disappeared in the air.

It couldn't be concluded that they held their breath in fear of being seen trespassing on the park. They don't care about such ethical viewpoints. They don't have law-abiding intentions.

If they were accused, perhaps they would ask back with a straight face. What's wrong with creeping in a closed park? They're not troubling anyone, or something.

They weren't silent, they were accumulating. Preparing for the moment of explosion drawing near, silently raising the pressure. They had one mind.

And then, a few minutes later - the time came.

"It - it came......."

"It's coming........"

Together with the muffled commotion the crowd of people separated in halves, and one man stepped forward to the center of the plaza. After him, another one.

Facing each other at a distance of roughly five meters, the two men.

Looking at them, a buzz spread among the members of the audience and this time the volume was raising without a pause.

Someone stamped his feet.

''''Dan....Don.....Don....''''

Swiftly propagating in the surroundings, it was like a rumble in the ground, making the earth tremble.

''''Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! ''''

Excited cheering piercing the ears and earth tremor.

Those two men standing in the middle - didn't need explanation, the situation was very clear.

It's very improbable but assuming there was a man who arrived here by accident, he would be able to see through this event instantly.

That this is an arena. That for the sake of watching the two man at the center fight for their lives, so many spectators gathered and they were widely enthusiastic, beyond reason.

It wasn't unreasonable for the spectators to be so stimulated. The match tonight was the largest ''big game'' since '''the game''' started.

Among spectators there were many players like the two in the center.

For such people it was an aspiration but also a landmark - those belonging to the <<Second Class>>, the <<Seeds>> will for the first time fight each other tonight.

At a different level than those <<First Class>>, the spectators anxious to see the exchange of power beyond human understanding were raising their voices in joyous shouts similar to angry roars.

Contrastive with the members of the audience, the men standing still at the center, were silent.

Exchanged glances. Sneer versus scornful laughter.

On one side, a slender boy dressed in a school uniform, <<Shining>> Shin.

The other one, with a black leather jacket and black pants and metal accessories dangling here and there - <<Devil Master>> Kou.

At the time the spectators started flustering about the two continuing to stand off against each other, as if signalling the start of battle, Shin got the ball rolling.

"No way, you don't really think you can win this match right?"

Words that were polite at first but clearly had no problem looking down on the opponent.

That figure properly wearing a blue school uniform from a famous high school was perhaps suited with that tone.

"You're a demon-user. While you can summon powerful demons, you yourself have no power. You may be able to win against <<First Class>> small fry with only that but it won't work on the <<Second Class>>, the <<Seeds>>", Shin declared, together with a blatant sneer.

"I don't know how many <<Seeds>> there are - but I'm prepared to bet. That you are the weakest"

"Che, shut the fuck up", Kou swore, without showing any hint of being shaken by Shin's words.

"Don't be so conceited for a tumbler whose only redeeming feature is sparkling. A boy from an elite school shouldn't fight, how about you go home and study for a test, huh? With that power of yours you could lower<ref>Editor's note: I guess that's the word lost in translation [[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]])</ref> your electric bill so it's pretty convenient, huh? "

" - Those words will cost you greatly", announced Shin in a frozen voice, closing his eyes partly.

"I'll kick you down"

Kou raised his right hand middle finger. And then - the battle start.

"Coma out, Harpas!"

"You're slow!"

In front of Kou the space was warped. The summoned demon was an omen that appeared from the underworld, beyond our dimension. But, without waiting for it, Shin pushed out his right hand straight ahead.

"My ability is the fastest. And also, the strongest"

He had enough composure to say so, proudly.

That was by no means an exaggeration. At present, the fastest <<Skill>> confirmed until now was the <<Seed>> manipulating light, the <<Javelin>> fired by <<Shining>>

Its natural shape was light collected into a wave, in a word a laser beam. Except the way it was produced, it was a purely physical light.

It had no special magic effects but the overwhelming caloric value burned through everything with the speed of light, literally.

"Just die!"

The spear of light was fired together with the death sentence. Shin was convinced of victory. But -

".........."

He faintly frowned.

A resistance from the place he hit should have been impossible but he felt he missed his chance to kill.

As if supporting that, the distortion in space flickered without showing any sign the distortion ended. From inside there, the darkness of the underground peeked.

And then, two ominous red lights.

"Kuu!"

Although faltering, Shin fired the light once more. The ray glistening blue pierced at the center of the distorted place - and silently, it was repelled.

The light slipped off at a slightly different angle and grazed Shin's cheek.

"Wha - ?"

Shin's face was distorted with shock. Looking at it, showed a sneer full of superiority.

"Ku kuu, did you think I would appear in front of you without any counter-plan? It won't work, you know. Because your power can't even scratch me! "

"Ab - absurd......"

Opening his eyes wide in surprise, Shin stared at Kou.

The distortion in space before he realized. But not one demon was summoned -

"N - No.......that's...."

In front of Kou, a small bird was flying. With bright white feathers even in the dark. Crimson eyes.

"A pigeon? Are you saying a pigeon reflected my <<Javelin>>?"

The pure white small bird was flying playfully around Kou, describing a helix. And then stopped on his shoulder.

Those red eyes pierced through Shin.

" - tch!"

Faced with that sinister thing, Shin involuntarily gasped.

He understood at a glance. That this thing has no connection with its outward appearance.

Profound understanding no ordinary bird would posses, overwhelming hatred and an evil disposition, everything was clamoring inside those eyes.

"Did you contract the Devil King Harpas Solomon, the ruler of seventy two demons?"

Clearly showing a knowledge of summoning, Shin raised a cry of shock. But -

"King Solomon? Who the heck is that? "

"Huh? "

Shin's jaw fell.

"This guy is no devil king. it's the demon Harpas - holding the power to reflect magic, my trump card!"

"R- reflect magic !?"

Not remembering any sort of such description in ''Lemegeton'' or ''The key of Solomon'', Shin stared at Harpas with astonishment.

"Huh, it's something an elite like you doesn't know! It's common sense, you understand, common sense! "

Kou was becoming increasingly elated. And then, he shouted loudly.

"I'm not finished yet! Come out, Fenrir! Flesberg!"

Responding to the summoning voice, new demons made an appearance. A huge wolf and an eagle.

Both their eyes filled with overwhelming energy, fixing their glares on the stand rock still Shin.

Of course, Harpas didn't disappear.

"Impossible....Can you operate three demons at the same time? ", groaned Shin with a shuddering voice.

It was understandable. More than sealing direct attacks, beginning attacking in waves from the ground and the sky - it was practically an iron wall battle formation.

Right now, there was no way for him to resist.

"You shit, you said earlier I was the weakest, huh? ", Kou said putting on airs of teasing him.

"Then, it means right now you are in the position of <<The Worst One>>. No, maybe outside the ranks, as if you were dead? "

"B- bastard......"

"Devour even his bones! Go, Fenrir! Flesberg!"

In response to the owner's command, the two beast stir.

Fenrir forcefully gallop on the ground, Flesberg flaps his wings in the night sky.

"D - Don't underestimate me!"

Aiming at the attacking demons, Shin fired rapidly <<Javelin>>. But, because of their very beast-like movements he, no more than a human man, wasn't able to reach them.

The light rays slipped through and danced like during a concert and the two beasts drew near fast like the wind.

"U - Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Without shame or honor, Shin tumbled on the ground dodging the beast's attack.

The symbol of his excellence, the blue uniform was smeared in dust.

"Haa ha ha ha ha! Don't you look good, elite boy! Do your best and show me just how far can you run! "

Shin glared with eyes boiling with hatred at Kou, laughing loudly.

But, the spear of light doesn't reach the fagot.

For him right now there was no other option but wait for a chance to recover from this hopeless situation while running about like a hunted animal.

''"Shit! Shit! Shit!! I'm - '''I'm - '''"''

While this disgrace was burned into his consciousness, Shin continued running around in this ugly manner.

This could possibly the biggest disgrace of his life. Not, a close fight.

He was fighting one with the same rank. Although he verbally looked down on his opponent, he didn't believe he could win easily from the start.

But, this is different.

He's not fighting hard against the <<Devil Summoner>>. He's fighting hard against the demons the <<Devil Summoner>> is employing.

Even though they are the same, the difference is so big.

The ones fighting, the two beasts versus the <<Javelin>> itself. The <<Devil Summoner>> is only watching from a safe place.

He - the <<Javelin>> was right now left behind the <<Devil Summoner>>. Not the ups and lows of abilities.

For example, it was like the existence of the piece called <<Game Player>> itself was considered of lower rank.

He didn't allow it.

He was a chosen one. In comparison to those masses whose existence was optional, he was a superior being.

For someone like him to be considered the same rank as those enslaved beasts, to be looked down upon by such a vulgar man, it was something that shouldn't exist.

''"If I only had more power"''

He desired power. He was keenly craving it.

And believed in it. The fact that he still had a dormant power.

He believed so because he was a chosen man. Because it's impossible for him to loose to that scum.

that's why he ought to have a hidden power.

at that time, something pulsated inside his body. A pulse that seemed to make his heart explode and made his blood boil.

Simultaneously he strangely could see clearly the movements of the beasts that until now only seemed an afterimage.

Even their paths as of now, their position one moment in the future were decided with level of foresight that exceeded simple prediction.

His pupils lengthened vertically and captured all vectors glittering yellow.

Equally simple like shooting the targets in slow motion, no as if they stopped, Shin shot the huge beast jumping low.

"Ghyaaaa!"

Shot through the side, Fenrir raised a cry of pain. From its mouth with barred teeth, a large quantity of blood was vomited.

"Fe - Fenrir!"

" - Did I miss killing him, huh?"

Kou was panicking but Shin spoke in a contrastive cool tone.

He still couldn't use his body according to the future foresight. Conversely to the situation until now, Shin's reading exceeded Fenrir's movement but his aim was slightly off.

"R - retreat, Fenrir!"

With a suspicions discomposure, Kou made Fenrir retreat. The big wolf's image blurred and returned to the underworld with a wound body.

The fact that Kou became confused and was panicking over Fenrir's wounds was only natural.

Summoning magic was a double edged sword. He was able to use the power of a mighty demon but the moment the demon died, his own receives those damages.

Kou personally tested that with his own body.

"Kuu - Flesberg!"

Kou ordered the winged demon circling in the sky to attack.

Flesberg assailed Shin with an almost vertical attack. It was power drive (?).

Using the aid of gravity, its speed broke through the speed of sounds in the blink of an eye.

But for Shin's eyes, strangely changed, it looked like a caterpillar even at the speed of sound.

Brandishing Javelin in a mow down motion he burned half of Flesberg's right wing.

Flesberg suddenly lost momentum and crashed into the ground.

The huge bird that crashed down at a subsonic speed, and as compensation for crater it created on the ground it exploded and scattered in all directions without leaving any trace.

"Gaaaah!? "

The shriek of understanding of the familiars' death scream reach from a slightly far away place. Obviously it was the summons's master - Kou's scream.

"B - Bastard......you bastard, how dare you"

"''The turning wind'', huh? it must be hard being a summon master...", said Shin blandly, staring coldly at Kou groaning in pain.

As he was knowledgeable in the occult, he obviously knew the dangers of it.

"What will you do, do you want to <<Give Up>>? If you get down to your knees and apologize for your rudeness until now, I may forgive you"

"F - Fuck off"

Although grasping his painful heart, Kou didn't lost his will to fight. Seizing his telephone with the other hand, he pushed it forward proudly.

"Don't believe you won after defeating only two. I stocked ten other demons inside this telephone. Seven still remain."

"That's good", replied Shin with no indication of disturbance.

"Then call the next one already. The <<Death>> of another seven - I'm very interested how long will you be able to endure that agony? "

Shin laughed, making those golden pupils shine bright in the dark night. From his lips turned up something as long as fangs and very sharp peeked.

" B - Bastard..."

Overawed by Shin, who seemed like a different person, Kou instinctively backed off.

"What's up with your eyes......and those teeth, are they fangs?"

"Is there something wrong with my eyes? "

Shin slightly curved his lips, fixing his glasses.

"Something like that doesn't matter. What I am interested right now is your pain and you screams in the agony of death, only that. I think it's obvious - "

from his warped lips, white fangs showed. The quiet insanity dwelling in those golden pupils. The Kehai of a devilish, inhuman person -

"Don't worry, I won't let you die"

"Come out, Fafnir! Mushufushu! Raksasha! "

Together with the sentence full of joy, Kou called out his most powerful demons.

Realizing the battle reached its climax the spectators screamed from the bottom of their lungs and stamped their feet.

At that time - that man appeared.

=== Part 3 ===

The cheers were interrupted, the commotion died out.

All sound vanished from the plaza.

The silence overflowed.

The spectators that moments before were wild with enthusiasm felt goose-flesh.

Frozen in place like all their hearts were caught in a tight hold, not one moved. No, they couldn't move.

The group of people that originally lost their reason don't have reason enough to recognize the change in atmosphere.

But even so, they noticed this.

As if at that moment the entire world became their enemy, from all direction an intimidating air was drawing near.

As if they had been swallowed in the belly of huge monster - most people had that kind of mental image.

That was true in a certain sense.

They had certainly been gulped down.

By the '''domain''' of the man who ruled the entire atmosphere covering this earth.

The air was sharply prickling the skin. It weighted on as if squashing them.

Their necks exposed to the Shinigami's sickle, almost all felt that freezing fear.

The crowd of people was divided. Just like the time the two were ushered into the ring.

But the decision was loaded with a different intention.

Everyone looked at that one man walking towards them holding their breath. No one tried to stop the impolite man becoming a hindrance for the battle at its climax. No one raised their voice. No one wanted to have anything to do with him.

Everyone realized. The origin of this presence full of death that altogether enshrouded the park, of the this sinister atmosphere was just this one man.

But - there were also people who didn't notice. For example those sky-rocketing tensions, in the middle of the battle.

"Aaaaaaaaah!? Y - you - !!"

Kou - known as <<Hell Hound>> before the <<Class Change>>, knew the face of the man that appeared.

When he perceived the man he hated, the one who made him taste his first defeat he shouted in a voice trembling with anger.

"At last your time has come, bastard! Aren't you together with the police dog?"

Looking around, he searched for the child-faced police officer that once defeated him. But, he wasn't anywhere.

"He hee"

Confirming that the man was alone, on Kou's face a broad, sadistic grin appeared.

The unfortunate part - was that he didn't know this man's - Yagami Kazuma's power.

It was very unfortunate.

"Showing your mug around here by yourself, so nonchalantly... I'll pay you hundred-fold for back then!"

Burning with resentment, Kou tried to spur his demons on Kazuma. But -

"Wait!"

The long beam shot together with the voice hindered Kou's revenge. Obviously, it was the <<Javelin>> shot by Shin.

" - huh!?"

Kou made Harpas receive that hit but Harpas's magic reflecting ability couldn't completely deflect the beam with increased output.

For a few seconds the light spear and Harpas' field struggled for supremacy but eventually it divided into parts and disappeared in the empty space.

"Wh - what are you doing?"

"You can't possibly ask me that. You're fighting against me right now. Don't confuse the order of things."

"Shut the fuck up! You're coming after. I need to hurry so this guy doesn't run!"

"That's not my problem"

With that cold reply, Shin turned his eyes on Kazuma.

"I didn't know what business you have but withdraw for a short while. If you become more of a nuisance I'll kill you"

"<<Shining>> and <<Devil Summoner>> - both of you are <<Second Class>> <<Seeds>>"

Kazuma didn't reply, ignoring those affected threatening words.

Having been ignored, Shin's veins popped out but ignoring even that, the man one-sided announced his business.

"Answer to me. Where is Pandemonium, the place you scum class changed."

"Che! There's no need to tell someone like you!"

Spitting out in a rough manner, Kou ordered the demons to attack.

"But, that's right, if you win against these guys maybe I will teach you -"

He didn't had time to finish his phrase. The moment he uttered those words the three demons were beheaded by frozen wind blades.

What's more, even Harpas, holding a magic reflective power, was divided in two.

"Gaaaaaahhh!"

Immediately before a scream that didn't seem human but beast-like roared. All eyes gathered there.

On the writhing and screaming <<Devil Master>> Kou.

Experiencing the <<Death>> of four demons at the same time, what he felt via his physical nerves what more than he could handle.

His body literally experiencing the an agony more painful than death, without even being able to faint all four of Kou's limbs were convulsing and from his mouth opened to the limit, he gushed out fresh blood and shrieks.

But, because he already the resistance of a similar experience or because he had some kind of counter measure, Kou didn't lose his awareness or sanity but continued to bear that suffering.

He was made to bear that suffering.

"Aah......aah......aah?"

Overhead Kou, lying down face up breathing roughly, a black shadow blocked the moonlight. Focusing his blurry eyes, he barely focused.

" - Hiii!"

He gasped involuntarily.

The Shinigami was looking down on him with a cold gaze.

"Aa.........aauaa........."

He wanted to run but his body was completely still. He cannot look away.

The embodiment of heath, that nihilistic pupil seized his conscience and won't let go.

"N - No....stop........"

Trying to go against something he'll never be able to go against, Kou finally became realized. That if he won't obey, he'll certainly be killed.

- Unfortunately, that was definitely a mistake.

With eyes full of supplication Kou looked up at the Shinigami - Kazuma. He desperately begged for his life.

"P - Please wait.......p-please, wait.......I don't know where Pandemonium is......I really don't, please believe me......"

It was true. Certainly, at the time he made the class change he walked in the physical Pandemonium but he arrived there after walking aimlessly so he really didn't remember it. The same happened on the way back.

" - I thought so"

After a brief period of silence, Kazuma blandly assented without asking twice. In Kou's eyes the light of hope dwells.

"T - That's right! I'm sorry for making you come all this way for nothing. B - But I'll cooperate with you! I have friends who know things! So -"

"I don't thing he would behave so stupidly that even shit like you would realize. But, at least a clue must have remained inside you"

Ignoring Kou's words, frantically flattering him, Kazuma took out a black glove. He wore it on left hand. Inside the very dim light, it seemed Kazuma's left hand disappeared.

If a person with a good judgement were to be present there, maybe it wound realize that the glove didn't reflect any light.

"Before your brains burn and break, do your best to remember"

Saying that, Kazuma's left hand completely stretched and was thrust before Kou's forehead.

And, with no hesitation, pushed in.

Without resistance, four fingers wrapped in the glove sunk inside the skull.

"GRNNNNNNGYOEEEEEEOOOOOOOO!!!"

From Kou's mouth that kind of sound came out.

Of course they weren't words. Even his voice was barely recognizable.

It was as if raw pain was turned into the vibration of the air. It was as though that dissonance could break the ears.

Even appraised as ''an inhuman sound'' was wrong as the shriek couldn't possibly originate from a living thing.

It was a sound that would remain forever in the eardrums and brains of the unlucky people who were present and revived every night during nightmares.

"..............."

But without being the least perturbed in the least by Kou's disgraceful behavior, Kazuma calmly continued doing his work.

The fingers piercing the brain were moving carefully as if searching for something.

Each time his handling was making the feet and hands to nervously springing up, his fingers were reaching deeper.

" - Che"

Smacking his lips a little, Kazuma stood up. Simultaneously, the fingers that churn the brain were drawn out.

From his fingertips, some sort of fluid was dripping.

And yet, whether it was the glove's capability of Kazuma's power, on Kou's face not a trace remained.

But, that face opening its eyes wide and drooling and that body that was intermittently convulsing even now clearly demonstrated the abnormality produced in the man's body.

''I'd rather die than become that'' - everyone thought so when looking at that sorry state, it was that sort of atrocity.

" - well then"

Defying the hellish, oppressive silence, Kazuma slowly turned around. In the line of his sight was -

"Will you also exercise your right to remain silent?", he asked in a quiet tone while gazing at <<Shining>> Shin.

With a start Shin's body trembled and stared at the juice dripping from Kazuma's left hand.

"Aah, this?"

With something that slightly resembled a bitter smile, Kazuma his left hand.

"It's all right. This won't damage your brain. It will only hurt a little"

The smile peeking around his mouth deeply grew. Together with a dark gloom and sadness.

"If you have a strong spirit, by the time I finish you'll only be mad"

" - !!!"

That heartless but also half hearted sentence, filled Shin's heart with horror.

His survival instinct was ordering retreat - no, capitulation.

He was no match for him. He absolutely cannot win. He won't be allowed to run.

There's no choice but to fall to his knees.

''"Ridiculous, what are you thinking? The opponent is only a wind user!"''

But the whisper of instinct was rejected by the voice of reason. Saying, he cannot be defeated by a wind user.

He was very intelligent so Shin overestimated intelligence and reason over instinct.

In comparison with baseless intuition, deriving answers from objective data and logical thinking was the sigh of a great man - that's what he was thinking.

It was obvious which is faster between wind and light et cetera. If fact he defeated two wind users until now.

''"That's right. Loosing it's impossible"''

Promptly removing his fear and becoming very confident instead. And then, that sadistic enjoyment.

Dreaming of Kazuma's silhouette writhing inside a pool of blood, Shin shivered with a dark delight.

''"Ku ku - I'll sever his feet and hands and teach him his place while crawling like a worm"

His golden eyes sparked and his sharp, long fangs peeked from the beginning from his curved lips.

Even hough he expressed such an inhuman smile, Shin warned with plenty of composure.

"If you think I'm the same as that trash, you'll have a painful experience"

Kazuma was silent. Without showing any reaction, he stepped up with constant steps.

"Fuu, how foolish"

Murmuring in an affected tone, Shin pushed out his right hand. The surging out <<Javelin>>

The flash exceeding the speed of light not to mention seeing all, he won't give him even the time to notice the attack.

What happened to him, he will die even before understanding it - that is the fate of one opposing <<Javelin>>.

This is the end.

" - huh!?"

Shin's eyes opened wide in shock. In spite of firing a certain kill hit Kazuma was still standing.

That head that was supposed to evaporate was unscratched, not even his walking pace changed.

" - You undid it?"

Frowning his brows he pointed his right hand forward again.

Deciding on aiming at the center of his face, he fired.

The blue light glittered in the night air and split in two before Kazuma's eyes.

The beam divided into parts faded on Kazuma's both sides and vainly disappeared in the air.

"Wha - ?"

In front of the lack of common sense spectacle, Shin became rigid. But, a moment after.

But in order to hit Kazuma, approaching as if nothing happened, he rapid-fired <<Javelin>> without taking aim.

All of it burst open and disappeared in front of Kazuma.

"S - slicing light using wind.....?"

If he were to explain the spectacle generated in front of him, that's the only explanation he could thing of.

Everything else was impossible. But, even so -

"D - don't screw around -"

Letting anger take its course, Shin shouted.

"It's impossible to cut light using wind! Besides, are you bastard trying to say you can see an attack at the speed of light?"

Those were some irrational words but to be expected from his, from their common sense.

A qualified person that could manipulate the flow of air, a <<Wind User>> whose ability was granted by Pandemonium couldn't possibly slice light.

But Kazuma was Fujutsushi - A Jutsushi who could concretely express his will and change the world via the Wind Spirits.

Although it seemed the same on the outside its true nature had a totally different dimension.

For Kazuma's wind charged with thoughts of decapitation, there's nothing it can't cut.

Even if it were to run at the speed of light it's unthinkable not to be able to cut only a laser-beam.

"Sh - Shit!"

Without learning his lesson, Shin fired <<Javelin>>. But, faster than light Kazuma's wind was of course quicker than even the technique's activation.

Shin's right arm pushed forward was silently severed from the joint.

The <<Javelin>> fired while the arm was mid-way falling fired below and made a round hole in the ground.

".........eh?"

Shin looked down at the arm tumbling down on top of the the grass with a blank expression. That gaze gradually got up and stopped nearby his right shoulder.

Immediately, as if matching his timing, fresh blood gushed out from the wound.

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaahh!!"

Screaming in panic, he held down the wound, the joint of his amputated right arm with his left hand. Obviously, the hemorrhage didn't stop just because of that, fresh blood pouring from the gaps between his fingers.

That right side of his blue uniform only was dyed red.

"Uooo, Uaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!! "

Shin continued to scream.

In silence Kazuma took the last step and casually tripped up Shin. He trampled down on it, lying face down. On the body with just one arm.

Whether it was by purpose or by accident, with just that one move of stepping on his back, Kazuma perfectly blocked all of Shin's resistance.

"............"

The screams stopped. The pain and shock were surpassed by the absolute fear.

Twisting his neck as much as possible, Shin looked up at Kazuma.

"W - Wait! Wait, please wait!"

With tears overflowing his wide eyes, Shin desperately begged for forgiveness.

"I'll speak! I'll tell you everything! So, so please -"

But the fierce chills that he felt in his head interrupted his heartbreaking petition. As if taking a roundabout path because the back of his head was getting in the way, fingertips were approaching his forehead.

Slipping inside his head and mind, the fingertips of destruction that stole everything.

''"N - No......No -"''

The feel of fingers forcing their way through flash, bone and brains.

That physically impossible repulsiveness lightly broke Shin's hard but brittle mind.

" ----------------------------!!"

The soundless scream roared in the night sky - and disappeared.

=== Part 4 ===

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 091.jpg|thumb|]]

"Yo"

" - huh?"

His shoulder abruptly clapped from behind, Isurughi Daiki's body shook.

Looking over his shoulder as if he was flipped, there was a man without any feeling of tension and a relaxed smile.

"Yagami-san! "

Containing the fact he had been frightened, with a tone full of criticism, Daiki called out the man's name.

"What have you done until now? You made the Chief be worried about you!"

"That so? I thought about showing my face around here, though"

Without caring about the criticism, Kazuma shrugged his shoulders.

That attitude, so very usual, secretly made Daiki relieved.

''"What, isn't he completely alright?"''

''''Don't make eye contact''''

''''Don't defy him in any way''''

''''Avoid getting in touch with him as much as possible, take refuge immediately and report the place he's at afterwards''''

- What was Kirika pointing to her subordinates the way to interact carefully with Kazuma as if he was some sort of atrocious criminal, Daiki felt like it was entirely unnecessary.

Even his smiling face, lively and a little cynical, even his casual attitude with no affectation unlikely for the Jutsushi with the highest rank in this world, there was nothing unusual.

A dangerous presence was not to be found.

''"I should tell the Chief when she returns. That "There's no need to worry."''

Even though a policeman, Daiki was nothing more but a newbie who had only just been assigned.

The skills of a police detective such as the insight to see through the true feelings hidden behind a smiling face had yet to appear.

Consequently, not realizing Kazuma's eyes were entirely not laughing, Daiki interacted with him just like before.

"So, I don't know where you've been or what you have been doing but did you find something?"

"Absolutely nothing. Your way?"

At the light retort that betrayed his expectations, Daiki let out a dry laugh.

"Ha ha.......instead of progress, the problems increased"

" - Did something happen?"

"Utsumi Kousuke escaped"

"........."

Kazuma looked slightly upwards and was silent.

Ten seconds passed. And then, looking at Daiki holding his breath and waiting for Kazuma's reaction, he replied with a serious face.

"Who is that?"

"Whaaaa!?"

Daiki collapsed.

"Is that comedic stupidity? It's the spell user acting violently at Ayano-san's school!"

".....aah, now that you mention it there was that story"

Finally remembering, Kazuma made a small nod. As if searching around for memories, he spoke slowly.

"But, didn't you catch him? The barrier there is not something an amateur can break, no?"

"Yeah, that's right but -"

Pulling himself together, Daiki explained the situation with a serious face. As the story progressed, Kazuma's face became more and more sharp.

"humph - I see"

For one moment all expression disappeared from Kazuma's face. From the ruin of the smiling face mask came undone, a terribly dry and hollow face with no make-up peeked.

But Daiki didn't became aware of it.

"I understand. I'll also look for him"

"Aah, we're saved"

Without showing distrust towards Kazuma's words, who instantly smoothed over his facial expression, he was innocently glad.

"Ooh, this became a major incident. Even though we're short-handed even at the best of times, we even had to guard the girl Utsumi is aiming at!"

"Well, it can't be helped right? It's Ayano's acquittance. If you were to make a blunder she could kill all of you in a fit of anger. Even Kirika's desperate, right?"

"........I don't think Ayano-san is that kind of person."

"........aah?"

Kazuma raised his eyebrows quizzical and Daiki started to justify himself red in the face.

"Aah, no, you see, there's no special meaning, ugh....... Ayano-san is a kind person, so maybe she won't have such an unreasonable behavior or something.........it's...it's just that! Deeper feelings than those, I really......."

"Aah......., well, isn't that fine?"

With a careless expression, Kazuma interrupted the excuse that continued for too long.

"I think that's a peculiar taste but it's got nothing to do with me."

" - You're not mad?"

"Why would I?", asked Kazuma with a serious face.

"I think it would be terrible (for you) if it would turn out well but do your best. I'll secretly root for you"

"Ha, haaa......"

With an irrelevant expression, Daiki nodded his head ambiguously. Taking that as the end of conversation Kazuma announced.

"Well then, tell me if you find something new"

"Aah, yes, roger that. Yagami-san too, get in tough with the Chief as soon as possible"

"I said I understand"

Waiving his hand across his back, Kazuma vanished inside the crowd of people. Because he send off that silhouette, Daiki returned inside the Police Department to inform Kirika of this.

After this, charged with the crime of not contacting her immediately, Kirika turned her highest level of anger on Daiki - That is a digression.

After parting from Daiki, as a matter of course Kazuma tore off the smiling mask.

What became visible from inside, although having the same smile, carried the opposite emotion - a desolate, humorless, dark smile.

Scattering an ominous presence that would put the fear of God even into a yakuza, Kazuma stepped forward inside the crowd of people as if conquering an inhabited land.

"Utsumi Kousuke, huh......?"

From that mouth chiseled in a smile one guy's name leaked out. The thoughtless, foolish boy who could see only under his nose.

Attached to that boy, the face of a girl came to his mind. He saw her once or twice through Ayano, a clever girl with a strong will carried in her eyes.

"........I can use this", laughed Kazuma raising his lips.

The word ''heartless'' doesn't even begin to describe the face smiling or rather sighing.

It was the face of a demon.

<noinclude>

===References===
<references/>

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_1|Chapter 1]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_3|Chapter 3]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 2

2013-10-18T07:15:36Z

Antanaru: /* Part 3 */ Spelling and spacing

== Chapter 2 - The mad Fujutsushi ==

=== Part 1 ===

The dead of night - Without even a slight movement, Kazuma opened his eyes wide in silence.

A cynical remembrance of those magnificent, dream-like happy days.

He woke up because the happiness was too much. It was like being taught that he will never go back to those times, not even in the middle of dreaming.

"Ku.....Kuu ku ku..."

A hollow laughter escaped. As if sneering at his ugliness and the whole world.

As a result of losing everything, he obtained that which no matter how much he wished for evaded him.

That was a modest, commonplace happiness found everywhere.

There was a person who would smile at him, tell him ''Good morning'' when he woke up and ''Good night'' when it was the time to sleep - only that but those were irreplaceable days full of happiness.

Even the power he pursued like a mad-man disappeared like something from a dream.

Because he met a person who looked at him plainly, not at <<his own strength>> or <<himself with power>>.

If he could have protected that girl and the small world revolving around her, it would have been enough.

Even if he couldn't hunt Youmas, there was no need for self-abasement.

He really thought so, from the bottom of his heart.

Until the time that happy paradise crumbled away without leaving any trace.

''"Really......."''

Inside the darkness, Kazuma laughed at his foolishness.

How naive was he.

If you're weak, if you lose, you can't protect anything. It means losing everything.

Just like he deserved, he became alone again.

No - he's not alone.

There's him and he - those two.

Revenge is vain, it's a sterile act that doesn't give back anything, an intelligent person will proclaim so with a triumphant expression.

Kazuma generally agreed with it. When he pursued that man, during that time he lived only for revenge he never thought revenge was meaningful.

But there was nothing else left except for that. There was nothing else to do.

That's why, he desperately refined his ability. Throwing away anything else, all for the sake of killing one man. But -

"I made a mistake....."

Erasing his facial expression, just like a Noh mask, Kazuma murmured.

This is the result of thinking that dealing with that man was enough and neglecting his followers.

''"If you find the answer, come again."''

Those conceited parting words, won't go away. Words said from the view-point of the superior one that completely look down on him.

Kazuma groaned, tightly clenching his fists at that disgrace.

"''the answer'', you said? Isn't it obvious..........Kill you. Break that good-for-nothing doll - Aah, I'll do it. This time, for sure"

His mouth warped, the same daring smile as ever. But, if Ayano or Ren were to see his eyes, they would probably be at a loss for words.

Hatred and insanity and the pair of eyes swirling in evil malice boiling hot with deeply rooted delusions, changed that cynical but cheerful smile in a different thing altogether.

That smile, expressed by most of the enemies they killed until now, was mad.

=== Part 2 ===

Late at night, there was a countless number of people surrounding the already closed public park.

Everyone was young. The eldest was maybe in the first half of his twenty. But, considering it was a gathering of young people a bizarre silence was floating around that place.

A heavy silence.

Even the noises made sometimes didn't had a following and vainly disappeared in the air.

It couldn't be concluded that they held their breath in fear of being seen trespassing on the park. They don't care about such ethical viewpoints. They don't have law-abiding intentions.

If they were accused, perhaps they would ask back with a straight face. What's wrong with creeping in a closed park? They're not troubling anyone, or something.

They weren't silent, they were accumulating. Preparing for the moment of explosion drawing near, silently raising the pressure. They had one mind.

And then, a few minutes later - the time came.

"It - it came......."

"It's coming........"

Together with the muffled commotion the crowd of people separated in halves, and one man stepped forward to the center of the plaza. After him, another one.

Facing each other at a distance of roughly five meters, the two men.

Looking at them, a buzz spread among the members of the audience and this time the volume was raising without a pause.

Someone stamped his feet.

''''Dan....Don.....Don....''''

Swiftly propagating in the surroundings, it was like a rumble in the ground, making the earth tremble.

''''Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! ''''

Excited cheering piercing the ears and earth tremor.

Those two men standing in the middle - didn't need explanation, the situation was very clear.

It's very improbable but assuming there was a man who arrived here by accident, he would be able to see through this event instantly.

That this is an arena. That for the sake of watching the two man at the center fight for their lives, so many spectators gathered and they were widely enthusiastic, beyond reason.

It wasn't unreasonable for the spectators to be so stimulated. The match tonight was the largest ''big game'' since '''the game''' started.

Among spectators there were many players like the two in the center.

For such people it was an aspiration but also a landmark - those belonging to the <<Second Class>>, the <<Seeds>> will for the first time fight each other tonight.

At a different level than those <<First Class>>, the spectators anxious to see the exchange of power beyond human understanding were raising their voices in joyous shouts similar to angry roars.

Contrastive with the members of the audience, the men standing still at the center, were silent.

Exchanged glances. Sneer versus scornful laughter.

On one side, a slender boy dressed in a school uniform, <<Shining>> Shin.

The other one, with a black leather jacket and black pants and metal accessories dangling here and there - <<Devil Master>> Kou.

At the time the spectators started flustering about the two continuing to stand off against each other, as if signalling the start of battle, Shin got the ball rolling.

"No way, you don't really think you can win this match right?"

Words that were polite at first but clearly had no problem looking down on the opponent.

That figure properly wearing a blue school uniform from a famous high school was perhaps suited with that tone.

"You're a demon-user. While you can summon powerful demons, you yourself have no power. You may be able to win against <<First Class>> small fry with only that but it won't work on the <<Second Class>>, the <<Seeds>>", Shin declared, together with a blatant sneer.

"I don't know how many <<Seeds>> there are - but I'm prepared to bet. That you are the weakest"

"Che, shut the fuck up", Kou swore, without showing any hint of being shaken by Shin's words.

"Don't be so conceited for a tumbler whose only redeeming feature is sparkling. A boy from an elite school shouldn't fight, how about you go home and study for a test, huh? With that power of yours you could lower<ref>Editor's note: I guess that's the word lost in translation [[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]])</ref> your electric bill so it's pretty convenient, huh? "

" - Those words will cost you greatly", announced Shin in a frozen voice, closing his eyes partly.

"I'll kick you down"

Kou raised his right hand middle finger. And then - the battle start.

"Coma out, Harpas!"

"You're slow!"

In front of Kou the space was warped. The summoned demon was an omen that appeared from the underworld, beyond our dimension. But, without waiting for it, Shin pushed out his right hand straight ahead.

"My ability is the fastest. And also, the strongest"

He had enough composure to say so, proudly.

That was by no means an exaggeration. At present, the fastest <<Skill>> confirmed until now was the <<Seed>> manipulating light, the <<Javelin>> fired by <<Shining>>

Its natural shape was light collected into a wave, in a word a laser beam. Except the way it was produced, it was a purely physical light.

It had no special magic effects but the overwhelming caloric value burned through everything with the speed of light, literally.

"Just die!"

The spear of light was fired together with the death sentence. Shin was convinced of victory. But -

".........."

He faintly frowned.

A resistance from the place he hit should have been impossible but he felt he missed his chance to kill.

As if supporting that, the distortion in space flickered without showing any sign the distortion ended. From inside there, the darkness of the underground peeked.

And then, two ominous red lights.

"Kuu!"

Although faltering, Shin fired the light once more. The ray glistening blue pierced at the center of the distorted place - and silently, it was repelled.

The light slipped off at a slightly different angle and grazed Shin's cheek.

"Wha - ?"

Shin's face was distorted with shock. Looking at it, showed a sneer full of superiority.

"Ku kuu, did you think I would appear in front of you without any counter-plan? It won't work, you know. Because your power can't even scratch me! "

"Ab - absurd......"

Opening his eyes wide in surprise, Shin stared at Kou.

The distortion in space before he realized. But not one demon was summoned -

"N - No.......that's...."

In front of Kou, a small bird was flying. With bright white feathers even in the dark. Crimson eyes.

"A pigeon? Are you saying a pigeon reflected my <<Javelin>>?"

The pure white small bird was flying playfully around Kou, describing a helix. And then stopped on his shoulder.

Those red eyes pierced through Shin.

" - tch!"

Faced with that sinister thing, Shin involuntarily gasped.

He understood at a glance. That this thing has no connection with its outward appearance.

Profound understanding no ordinary bird would posses, overwhelming hatred and an evil disposition, everything was clamoring inside those eyes.

"Did you contract the Devil King Harpas Solomon, the ruler of seventy two demons?"

Clearly showing a knowledge of summoning, Shin raised a cry of shock. But -

"King Solomon? Who the heck is that? "

"Huh? "

Shin's jaw fell.

"This guy is no devil king. it's the demon Harpas - holding the power to reflect magic, my trump card!"

"R- reflect magic !?"

Not remembering any sort of such description in ''Lemegeton'' or ''The key of Solomon'', Shin stared at Harpas with astonishment.

"Huh, it's something an elite like you doesn't know! It's common sense, you understand, common sense! "

Kou was becoming increasingly elated. And then, he shouted loudly.

"I'm not finished yet! Come out, Fenrir! Flesberg!"

Responding to the summoning voice, new demons made an appearance. A huge wolf and an eagle.

Both their eyes filled with overwhelming energy, fixing their glares on the stand rock still Shin.

Of course, Harpas didn't disappear.

"Impossible....Can you operate three demons at the same time? ", groaned Shin with a shuddering voice.

It was understandable. More than sealing direct attacks, beginning attacking in waves from the ground and the sky - it was practically an iron wall battle formation.

Right now, there was no way for him to resist.

"You shit, you said earlier I was the weakest, huh? ", Kou said putting on airs of teasing him.

"Then, it means right now you are in the position of <<The Worst One>>. No, maybe outside the ranks, as if you were dead? "

"B- bastard......"

"Devour even his bones! Go, Fenrir! Flesberg!"

In response to the owner's command, the two beast stir.

Fenrir forcefully gallop on the ground, Flesberg flaps his wings in the night sky.

"D - Don't underestimate me!"

Aiming at the attacking demons, Shin fired rapidly <<Javelin>>. But, because of their very beast-like movements he, no more than a human man, wasn't able to reach them.

The light rays slipped through and danced like during a concert and the two beasts drew near fast like the wind.

"U - Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Without shame or honor, Shin tumbled on the ground dodging the beast's attack.

The symbol of his excellence, the blue uniform was smeared in dust.

"Haa ha ha ha ha! Don't you look good, elite boy! Do your best and show me just how far can you run! "

Shin glared with eyes boiling with hatred at Kou, laughing loudly.

But, the spear of light doesn't reach the fagot.

For him right now there was no other option but wait for a chance to recover from this hopeless situation while running about like a hunted animal.

''"Shit! Shit! Shit!! I'm - '''I'm - '''"''

While this disgrace was burned into his consciousness, Shin continued running around in this ugly manner.

This could possibly the biggest disgrace of his life. Not, a close fight.

He was fighting one with the same rank. Although he verbally looked down on his opponent, he didn't believe he could win easily from the start.

But, this is different.

He's not fighting hard against the <<Devil Summoner>>. He's fighting hard against the demons the <<Devil Summoner>> is employing.

Even though they are the same, the difference is so big.

The ones fighting, the two beasts versus the <<Javelin>> itself. The <<Devil Summoner>> is only watching from a safe place.

He - the <<Javelin>> was right now left behind the <<Devil Summoner>>. Not the ups and lows of abilities.

For example, it was like the existence of the piece called <<Game Player>> itself was considered of lower rank.

He didn't allow it.

He was a chosen one. In comparison to those masses whose existence was optional, he was a superior being.

For someone like him to be considered the same rank as those enslaved beasts, to be looked down upon by such a vulgar man, it was something that shouldn't exist.

''"If I only had more power"''

He desired power. He was keenly craving it.

And believed in it. The fact that he still had a dormant power.

He believed so because he was a chosen man. Because it's impossible for him to loose to that scum.

that's why he ought to have a hidden power.

at that time, something pulsated inside his body. A pulse that seemed to make his heart explode and made his blood boil.

Simultaneously he strangely could see clearly the movements of the beasts that until now only seemed an afterimage.

Even their paths as of now, their position one moment in the future were decided with level of foresight that exceeded simple prediction.

His pupils lengthened vertically and captured all vectors glittering yellow.

Equally simple like shooting the targets in slow motion, no as if they stopped, Shin shot the huge beast jumping low.

"Ghyaaaa!"

Shot through the side, Fenrir raised a cry of pain. From its mouth with barred teeth, a large quantity of blood was vomited.

"Fe - Fenrir!"

" - Did I miss killing him, huh?"

Kou was panicking but Shin spoke in a contrastive cool tone.

He still couldn't use his body according to the future foresight. Conversely to the situation until now, Shin's reading exceeded Fenrir's movement but his aim was slightly off.

"R - retreat, Fenrir!"

With a suspicions discomposure, Kou made Fenrir retreat. The big wolf's image blurred and returned to the underworld with a wound body.

The fact that Kou became confused and was panicking over Fenrir's wounds was only natural.

Summoning magic was a double edged sword. He was able to use the power of a mighty demon but the moment the demon died, his own receives those damages.

Kou personally tested that with his own body.

"Kuu - Flesberg!"

Kou ordered the winged demon circling in the sky to attack.

Flesberg assailed Shin with an almost vertical attack. It was power drive (?).

Using the aid of gravity, its speed broke through the speed of sounds in the blink of an eye.

But for Shin's eyes, strangely changed, it looked like a caterpillar even at the speed of sound.

Brandishing Javelin in a mow down motion he burned half of Flesberg's right wing.

Flesberg suddenly lost momentum and crashed into the ground.

The huge bird that crashed down at a subsonic speed, and as compensation for crater it created on the ground it exploded and scattered in all directions without leaving any trace.

"Gaaaah!? "

The shriek of understanding of the familiars' death scream reach from a slightly far away place. Obviously it was the summons's master - Kou's scream.

"B - Bastard......you bastard, how dare you"

"''The turning wind'', huh? it must be hard being a summon master...", said Shin blandly, staring coldly at Kou groaning in pain.

As he was knowledgeable in the occult, he obviously knew the dangers of it.

"What will you do, do you want to <<Give Up>>? If you get down to your knees and apologize for your rudeness until now, I may forgive you"

"F - Fuck off"

Although grasping his painful heart, Kou didn't lost his will to fight. Seizing his telephone with the other hand, he pushed it forward proudly.

"Don't believe you won after defeating only two. I stocked ten other demons inside this telephone. Seven still remain."

"That's good", replied Shin with no indication of disturbance.

"Then call the next one already. The <<Death>> of another seven - I'm very interested how long will you be able to endure that agony? "

Shin laughed, making those golden pupils shine bright in the dark night. From his lips turned up something as long as fangs and very sharp peeked.

" B - Bastard..."

Overawed by Shin, who seemed like a different person, Kou instinctively backed off.

"What's up with your eyes......and those teeth, are they fangs?"

"Is there something wrong with my eyes? "

Shin slightly curved his lips, fixing his glasses.

"Something like that doesn't matter. What I am interested right now is your pain and you screams in the agony of death, only that. I think it's obvious - "

from his warped lips, white fangs showed. The quiet insanity dwelling in those golden pupils. The Kehai of a devilish, inhuman person -

"Don't worry, I won't let you die"

"Come out, Fafnir! Mushufushu! Raksasha! "

Together with the sentence full of joy, Kou called out his most powerful demons.

Realizing the battle reached its climax the spectators screamed from the bottom of their lungs and stamped their feet.

At that time - that man appeared.

=== Part 3 ===

The cheers were interrupted, the commotion died out.

All sound vanished from the plaza.

The silence overflowed.

The spectators that moments before were wild with enthusiasm felt goose-flesh.

Frozen in place like all their hearts were caught in a tight hold, not one moved. No, they couldn't move.

The group of people that originally lost their reason don't have reason enough to recognize the change in atmosphere.

But even so, they noticed this.

As if at that moment the entire world became their enemy, from all direction an intimidating air was drawing near.

As if they had been swallowed in the belly of huge monster - most people had that kind of mental image.

That was true in a certain sense.

They had certainly been gulped down.

By the '''domain''' of the man who ruled the entire atmosphere covering this earth.

The air was sharply prickling the skin. It weighted on as if squashing them.

Their necks exposed to the Shinigami's sickle, almost all felt that freezing fear.

The crowd of people was divided. Just like the time the two were ushered into the ring.

But the decision was loaded with a different intention.

Everyone looked at that one man walking towards them holding their breath. No one tried to stop the impolite man becoming a hindrance for the battle at its climax. No one raised their voice. No one wanted to have anything to do with him.

Everyone realized. The origin of this presence full of death that altogether enshrouded the park, of the this sinister atmosphere was just this one man.

But - there were also people who didn't notice. For example those sky-rocketing tensions, in the middle of the battle.

"Aaaaaaaaah!? Y - you - !!"

Kou - known as <<Hell Hound>> before the <<Class Change>>, knew the face of the man that appeared.

When he perceived the man he hated, the one who made him taste his first defeat he shouted in a voice trembling with anger.

"At last your time has come, bastard! Aren't you together with the police dog?"

Looking around, he searched for the child-faced police officer that once defeated him. But, he wasn't anywhere.

"He hee"

Confirming that the man was alone, on Kou's face a broad, sadistic grin appeared.

The unfortunate part - was that he didn't know this man's - Yagami Kazuma's power.

It was very unfortunate.

"Showing your mug around here by yourself, so nonchalantly... I'll pay you hundred-fold for back then!"

Burning with resentment, Kou tried to spur his demons on Kazuma. But -

"Wait!"

The long beam shot together with the voice hindered Kou's revenge. Obviously, it was the <<Javelin>> shot by Shin.

" - huh!?"

Kou made Harpas receive that hit but Harpas's magic reflecting ability couldn't completely deflect the beam with increased output.

For a few seconds the light spear and Harpas' field struggled for supremacy but eventually it divided into parts and disappeared in the empty space.

"Wh - what are you doing?"

"You can't possibly ask me that. You're fighting against me right now. Don't confuse the order of things."

"Shut the fuck up! You're coming after. I need to hurry so this guy doesn't run!"

"That's not my problem"

With that cold reply, Shin turned his eyes on Kazuma.

"I didn't know what business you have but withdraw for a short while. If you become more of a nuisance I'll kill you"

"<<Shining>> and <<Devil Summoner>> - both of you are <<Second Class>> <<Seeds>>"

Kazuma didn't reply, ignoring those affected threatening words.

Having been ignored, Shin's veins popped out but ignoring even that, the man one-sided announced his business.

"Answer to me. Where is Pandemonium, the place you scum class changed."

"Che! There's no need to tell someone like you!"

Spitting out in a rough manner, Kou ordered the demons to attack.

"But, that's right, if you win against these guys maybe I will teach you -"

He didn't had time to finish his phrase. The moment he uttered those words the three demons were beheaded by frozen wind blades.

What's more, even Harpas, holding a magic reflective power, was divided in two.

"Gaaaaaahhh!"

Immediately before a scream that didn't seem human but beast-like roared. All eyes gathered there.

On the writhing and screaming <<Devil Master>> Kou.

Experiencing the <<Death>> of four demons at the same time, what he felt via his physical nerves what more than he could handle.

His body literally experiencing the an agony more painful than death, without even being able to faint all four of Kou's limbs were convulsing and from his mouth opened to the limit, he gushed out fresh blood and shrieks.

But, because he already the resistance of a similar experience or because he had some kind of counter measure, Kou didn't lose his awareness or sanity but continued to bear that suffering.

He was made to bear that suffering.

"Aah......aah......aah?"

Overhead Kou, lying down face up breathing roughly, a black shadow blocked the moonlight. Focusing his blurry eyes, he barely focused.

" - Hiii!"

He gasped involuntarily.

The Shinigami was looking down on him with a cold gaze.

"Aa.........aauaa........."

He wanted to run but his body was completely still. He cannot look away.

The embodiment of heath, that nihilistic pupil seized his conscience and won't let go.

"N - No....stop........"

Trying to go against something he'll never be able to go against, Kou finally became realized. That if he won't obey, he'll certainly be killed.

- Unfortunately, that was definitely a mistake.

With eyes full of supplication Kou looked up at the Shinigami - Kazuma. He desperately begged for his life.

"P - Please wait.......p-please, wait.......I don't know where Pandemonium is......I really don't, please believe me......"

It was true. Certainly, at the time he made the class change he walked in the physical Pandemonium but he arrived there after walking aimlessly so he really didn't remember it. The same happened on the way back.

" - I thought so"

After a brief period of silence, Kazuma blandly assented without asking twice. In Kou's eyes the light of hope dwells.

"T - That's right! I'm sorry for making you come all this way for nothing. B - But I'll cooperate with you! I have friends who know things! So -"

"I don't thing he would behave so stupidly that even shit like you would realize. But, at least a clue must have remained inside you"

Ignoring Kou's words, frantically flattering him, Kazuma took out a black glove. He wore it on left hand. Inside the very dim light, it seemed Kazuma's left hand disappeared.

If a person with a good judgement were to be present there, maybe it wound realize that the glove didn't reflect any light.

"Before your brains burn and break, do your best to remember"

Saying that, Kazuma's left hand completely stretched and was thrust before Kou's forehead.

And, with no hesitation, pushed in.

Without resistance, four fingers wrapped in the glove sunk inside the skull.

"GRNNNNNNGYOEEEEEEOOOOOOOO!!!"

From Kou's mouth that kind of sound came out.

Of course they weren't words. Even his voice was barely recognizable.

It was as if raw pain was turned into the vibration of the air. It was as though that dissonance could break the ears.

Even appraised as ''an inhuman sound'' was wrong as the shriek couldn't possibly originate from a living thing.

It was a sound that would remain forever in the eardrums and brains of the unlucky people who were present and revived every night during nightmares.

"..............."

But without being the least perturbed in the least by Kou's disgraceful behavior, Kazuma calmly continued doing his work.

The fingers piercing the brain were moving carefully as if searching for something.

Each time his handling was making the feet and hands to nervously springing up, his fingers were reaching deeper.

" - Che"

Smacking his lips a little, Kazuma stood up. Simultaneously, the fingers that churn the brain were drawn out.

From his fingertips, some sort of fluid was dripping.

And yet, whether it was the glove's capability of Kazuma's power, on Kou's face not a trace remained.

But, that face opening its eyes wide and drooling and that body that was intermittently convulsing even now clearly demonstrated the abnormality produced in the man's body.

''I'd rather die than become that'' - everyone thought so when looking at that sorry state, it was that sort of atrocity.

" - well then"

Defying the hellish, oppressive silence, Kazuma slowly turned around. In the line of his sight was -

"Will you also exercise your right to remain silent?", he asked in a quiet tone while gazing at <<Shining>> Shin.

With a start Shin's body trembled and stared at the juice dripping from Kazuma's left hand.

"Aah, this?"

With something that slightly resembled a bitter smile, Kazuma his left hand.

"It's all right. This won't damage your brain. It will only hurt a little"

The smile peeking around his mouth deeply grew. Together with a dark gloom and sadness.

"If you have a strong spirit, by the time I finish you'll only be mad"

" - !!!"

That heartless but also half hearted sentence, filled Shin's heart with horror.

His survival instinct was ordering retreat - no, capitulation.

He was no match for him. He absolutely cannot win. He won't be allowed to run.

There's no choice but to fall to his knees.

''"Ridiculous, what are you thinking? The opponent is only a wind user!"''

But the whisper of instinct was rejected by the voice of reason. Saying, he cannot be defeated by a wind user.

He was very intelligent so Shin overestimated intelligence and reason over instinct.

In comparison with baseless intuition, deriving answers from objective data and logical thinking was the sigh of a great man - that's what he was thinking.

It was obvious which is faster between wind and light et cetera. If fact he defeated two wind users until now.

''"That's right. Loosing it's impossible"''

Promptly removing his fear and becoming very confident instead. And then, that sadistic enjoyment.

Dreaming of Kazuma's silhouette writhing inside a pool of blood, Shin shivered with a dark delight.

''"Ku ku - I'll sever his feet and hands and teach him his place while crawling like a worm"

His golden eyes sparked and his sharp, long fangs peeked from the beginning from his curved lips.

Even hough he expressed such an inhuman smile, Shin warned with plenty of composure.

"If you think I'm the same as that trash, you'll have a painful experience"

Kazuma was silent. Without showing any reaction, he stepped up with constant steps.

"Fuu, how foolish"

Murmuring in an affected tone, Shin pushed out his right hand. The surging out <<Javelin>>

The flash exceeding the speed of light not to mention seeing all, he won't give him even the time to notice the attack.

What happened to him, he will die even before understanding it - that is the fate of one opposing <<Javelin>>.

This is the end.

" - huh!?"

Shin's eyes opened wide in shock. In spite of firing a certain kill hit Kazuma was still standing.

That head that was supposed to evaporate was unscratched, not even his walking pace changed.

" - You undid it?"

Frowning his brows he pointed his right hand forward again.

Deciding on aiming at the center of his face, he fired.

The blue light glittered in the night air and split in two before Kazuma's eyes.

The beam divided into parts faded on Kazuma's both sides and vainly disappeared in the air.

"Wha - ?"

In front of the lack of common sense spectacle, Shin became rigid. But, a moment after.

But in order to hit Kazuma, approaching as if nothing happened, he rapid-fired <<Javelin>> without taking aim.

All of it burst open and disappeared in front of Kazuma.

"S - slicing light using wind.....?"

If he were to explain the spectacle generated in front of him, that's the only explanation he could thing of.

Everything else was impossible. But, even so -

"D - don't screw around -"

Letting anger take its course, Shin shouted.

"It's impossible to cut light using wind! Besides, are you bastard trying to say you can see an attack at the speed of light?"

Those were some irrational words but to be expected from his, from their common sense.

A qualified person that could manipulate the flow of air, a <<Wind User>> whose ability was granted by Pandemonium couldn't possibly slice light.

But Kazuma was Fujutsushi - A Jutsushi who could concretely express his will and change the world via the Wind Spirits.

Although it seemed the same on the outside its true nature had a totally different dimension.

For Kazuma's wind charged with thoughts of decapitation, there's nothing it can't cut.

Even if it were to run at the speed of light it's unthinkable not to be able to cut only a laser-beam.

"Sh - Shit!"

Without learning his lesson, Shin fired <<Javelin>>. But, faster than light Kazuma's wind was of course quicker than even the technique's activation.

Shin's right arm pushed forward was silently severed from the joint.

The <<Javelin>> fired while the arm was mid-way falling fired below and made a round hole in the ground.

".........eh?"

Shin looked down at the arm tumbling down on top of the the grass with a blank expression. That gaze gradually got up and stopped nearby his right shoulder.

Immediately, as if matching his timing, fresh blood gushed out from the wound.

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaahh!!"

Screaming in panic, he held down the wound, the joint of his amputated right arm with his left hand. Obviously, the hemorrhage didn't stop just because of that, fresh blood pouring from the gaps between his fingers.

That right side of his blue uniform only was dyed red.

"Uooo, Uaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!! "

Shin continued to scream.

In silence Kazuma took the last step and casually tripped up Shin. He trampled down on it, lying face down. On the body with just one arm.

Whether it was by purpose or by accident, with just that one move of stepping on his back, Kazuma perfectly blocked all of Shin's resistance.

"............"

The screams stopped. The pain and shock were surpassed by the absolute fear.

Twisting his neck as much as possible, Shin looked up at Kazuma.

"W - Wait! Wait, please wait!"

With tears overflowing his wide eyes, Shin desperately begged for forgiveness.

"I'll speak! I'll tell you everything! So, so please -"

But the fierce chills that he felt in his head interrupted his heartbreaking petition. As if taking a roundabout path because the back of his head was getting in the way, fingertips were approaching his forehead.

Slipping inside his head and mind, the fingertips of destruction that stole everything.

''"N - No......No -"''

The feel of fingers forcing their way through flash, bone and brains.

That physically impossible repulsiveness lightly broke Shin's hard but brittle mind.

" ----------------------------!!"

The soundless scream roared in the night sky - and disappeared.

=== Part 4 ===

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 091.jpg|thumb|]]

"Yo"

" - huh? "

His shoulder abruptly clapped from behind, Isurughi Daiki's body shook.

Looking over his shoulder as if he was flipped, there was a man without any feeling of tension and a relaxed smile.

"Yagami-san! "

Containing the fact he had been frightened, with a tone full of criticism, Daiki called out the man's name.

"What have you done until now? You made the Chief be worried about you! "

"That so? I thought about showing my face around here, though"

Without caring about the criticism, Kazuma shrugged his shoulders.

That attitude, so very usual, secretly made Daiki relieved.

''"What, isn't he completely alright? "''

''''Don't make eye contact''''

''''Don't defy him in any way''''

''''Avoid getting in touch with him as much as possible, take refuge immediately and report the place he's at afterwards''''

- What was Kirika pointing to her subordinates the way to interact carefully with Kazuma as if he was some sort of atrocious criminal, Daiki felt like it was entirely unnecessary.

Even his smiling face, lively and a little cynical, even his casual attitude with no affectation unlikely for the Jutsushi with the highest rank in this world, there was nothing unusual.

A dangerous presence was not to be found.

''"I should tell the Chief when she returns. That "There's no need to worry". "''

Even though a policeman, Daiki was nothing more but a newbie who had only just been assigned.

The skills of a police detective such as the insight to see through the true feelings hidden behind a smiling face had yet to appear.

Consequently, not realizing Kazuma's eyes were entirely not laughing, Daiki interacted with him just like before.

"So, I don't know where you've been or what you have been doing but did you find something? "

"Absolutely nothing. Your way? "

At the light retort that betrayed his expectations, Daiki let out a dry laugh.

"Ha ha.......instead of progress, the problems increased"

" - Did something happen? "

"Utsumi Kousuke escaped "

"........."

Kazuma looked slightly upwards and was silent.

Ten seconds passed. And then, looking at Daiki holding his breath and waiting for Kazuma's reaction, he replied with a serious face.

"Who is that? "

"Whaaaa!? "

Daiki collapsed.

"Is that comedic stupidity? It's the spell user acting violently at Ayano-san's school! "

".....aah, now that you mention it there was that story "

Finally remembering, Kazuma made a small nod. As if searching around for memories, he spoke slowly.

"But, didn't you catch him? The barrier there is not something an amateur can break, no? "

"Yeah, that's right but - "

Pulling himself together, Daiki explained the situation with a serious face. As the story progressed, Kazuma's face became more and more sharp.

"humph - I see "

For one moment all expression disappeared from Kazuma's face. From the ruin of the smiling face mask came undone, a terribly dry and hollow face with no makeup peeked.

But Daiki didn't became aware of it.

"I understand. I'll also look for him "

"Aah, we're saved"

Without showing distrust towards Kazuma's words, who instantly smoothed over his facial expression, he was innocently glad.

"Ooh, this became a major incident. Even though we're short-handed even at the best of times, we even had to guard the girl Utsumi is aiming at! "

"Well, it can't be helped right? It's Ayano's acquittance. If you were to make a blunder she could kill all of you in a fit of anger. Even Kirika's desperate, right? "

"........I don't think Ayano-san is that kind of person. "

"........aah? "

Kazuma raised his eyebrows quizzical and Daiki started to justify himself red in the face.

"Aah, no, you see, there's no special meaning, ugh.......Ayano-san is a kind person, so maybe she won't have such an unreasonable behavior or something.........it's...it's just that! Deeper feelings than those, I really....... "

"Aah......., well, isn't that fine? "

With a careless expression, Kazuma interrupted the excuse that continued for too long.

"I think that's a peculiar taste but it's got nothing to do with me. "

" - You're not mad? "

"Why would I? ", asked Kazuma with a serious face.

"I think it would be terrible (for you) if it would turn out well but do your best. I'll secretly root for you"

"Ha, haaa......"

With an irrelevant expression, Daiki nodded his head ambiguously. Taking that as the end of conversation Kazuma announced.

"Well then, tell me if you find something new "

"Aah, yes, roger that. Yagami-san too, get in tough with the Chief as soon as possible"

"I said I understand"

Waiving his hand across his back, Kazuma vanished inside the crowd of people. Because he send off that silhouette, Daiki returned inside the Police Department to inform Kirika of this.

After this, charged with the crime of not contacting her immediately, Kirika turned her highest level of anger on Daiki - That is a digression.

After parting from Daiki, as a matter of course Kazuma tore off the smiling mask.

What became visible from inside, although having the same smile, carried the opposite emotion - a desolate, humorless, dark smile.

Scattering an ominous presence that would put the fear of God even into a yakuza, Kazuma stepped forward inside the crowd of people as if conquering an inhabited land.

"Utsumi Kousuke, huh......? "

From that mouth chiseled in a smile one guy's name leaked out. The thoughtless, foolish boy who could see only under his nose.

Attached to that boy, the face of a girl came to his mind. He saw her once or twice through Ayano, a clever girl with a strong will carried in her eyes.

"........I can use this", laughed Kazuma raising his lips.

The word ''heartless'' doesn't even begin to describe the face smiling or rather sighing.

It was the face of a demon.

<noinclude>

===References===
<references/>

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_1|Chapter 1]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_3|Chapter 3]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 2

2013-10-17T23:01:37Z

Antanaru: /* Part 2 */

== Chapter 2 - The mad Fujutsushi ==

=== Part 1 ===

The dead of night - Without even a slight movement, Kazuma opened his eyes wide in silence.

A cynical remembrance of those magnificent, dream-like happy days.

He woke up because the happiness was too much. It was like being taught that he will never go back to those times, not even in the middle of dreaming.

"Ku.....Kuu ku ku..."

A hollow laughter escaped. As if sneering at his ugliness and the whole world.

As a result of losing everything, he obtained that which no matter how much he wished for evaded him.

That was a modest, commonplace happiness found everywhere.

There was a person who would smile at him, tell him ''Good morning'' when he woke up and ''Good night'' when it was the time to sleep - only that but those were irreplaceable days full of happiness.

Even the power he pursued like a mad-man disappeared like something from a dream.

Because he met a person who looked at him plainly, not at <<his own strength>> or <<himself with power>>.

If he could have protected that girl and the small world revolving around her, it would have been enough.

Even if he couldn't hunt Youmas, there was no need for self-abasement.

He really thought so, from the bottom of his heart.

Until the time that happy paradise crumbled away without leaving any trace.

''"Really......."''

Inside the darkness, Kazuma laughed at his foolishness.

How naive was he.

If you're weak, if you lose, you can't protect anything. It means losing everything.

Just like he deserved, he became alone again.

No - he's not alone.

There's him and he - those two.

Revenge is vain, it's a sterile act that doesn't give back anything, an intelligent person will proclaim so with a triumphant expression.

Kazuma generally agreed with it. When he pursued that man, during that time he lived only for revenge he never thought revenge was meaningful.

But there was nothing else left except for that. There was nothing else to do.

That's why, he desperately refined his ability. Throwing away anything else, all for the sake of killing one man. But -

"I made a mistake....."

Erasing his facial expression, just like a Noh mask, Kazuma murmured.

This is the result of thinking that dealing with that man was enough and neglecting his followers.

''"If you find the answer, come again."''

Those conceited parting words, won't go away. Words said from the view-point of the superior one that completely look down on him.

Kazuma groaned, tightly clenching his fists at that disgrace.

"''the answer'', you said? Isn't it obvious..........Kill you. Break that good-for-nothing doll - Aah, I'll do it. This time, for sure"

His mouth warped, the same daring smile as ever. But, if Ayano or Ren were to see his eyes, they would probably be at a loss for words.

Hatred and insanity and the pair of eyes swirling in evil malice boiling hot with deeply rooted delusions, changed that cynical but cheerful smile in a different thing altogether.

That smile, expressed by most of the enemies they killed until now, was mad.

=== Part 2 ===

Late at night, there was a countless number of people surrounding the already closed public park.

Everyone was young. The eldest was maybe in the first half of his twenty. But, considering it was a gathering of young people a bizarre silence was floating around that place.

A heavy silence.

Even the noises made sometimes didn't had a following and vainly disappeared in the air.

It couldn't be concluded that they held their breath in fear of being seen trespassing on the park. They don't care about such ethical viewpoints. They don't have law-abiding intentions.

If they were accused, perhaps they would ask back with a straight face. What's wrong with creeping in a closed park? They're not troubling anyone, or something.

They weren't silent, they were accumulating. Preparing for the moment of explosion drawing near, silently raising the pressure. They had one mind.

And then, a few minutes later - the time came.

"It - it came......."

"It's coming........"

Together with the muffled commotion the crowd of people separated in halves, and one man stepped forward to the center of the plaza. After him, another one.

Facing each other at a distance of roughly five meters, the two men.

Looking at them, a buzz spread among the members of the audience and this time the volume was raising without a pause.

Someone stamped his feet.

''''Dan....Don.....Don....''''

Swiftly propagating in the surroundings, it was like a rumble in the ground, making the earth tremble.

''''Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! ''''

Excited cheering piercing the ears and earth tremor.

Those two men standing in the middle - didn't need explanation, the situation was very clear.

It's very improbable but assuming there was a man who arrived here by accident, he would be able to see through this event instantly.

That this is an arena. That for the sake of watching the two man at the center fight for their lives, so many spectators gathered and they were widely enthusiastic, beyond reason.

It wasn't unreasonable for the spectators to be so stimulated. The match tonight was the largest ''big game'' since '''the game''' started.

Among spectators there were many players like the two in the center.

For such people it was an aspiration but also a landmark - those belonging to the <<Second Class>>, the <<Seeds>> will for the first time fight each other tonight.

At a different level than those <<First Class>>, the spectators anxious to see the exchange of power beyond human understanding were raising their voices in joyous shouts similar to angry roars.

Contrastive with the members of the audience, the men standing still at the center, were silent.

Exchanged glances. Sneer versus scornful laughter.

On one side, a slender boy dressed in a school uniform, <<Shining>> Shin.

The other one, with a black leather jacket and black pants and metal accessories dangling here and there - <<Devil Master>> Kou.

At the time the spectators started flustering about the two continuing to stand off against each other, as if signalling the start of battle, Shin got the ball rolling.

"No way, you don't really think you can win this match right?"

Words that were polite at first but clearly had no problem looking down on the opponent.

That figure properly wearing a blue school uniform from a famous high school was perhaps suited with that tone.

"You're a demon-user. While you can summon powerful demons, you yourself have no power. You may be able to win against <<First Class>> small fry with only that but it won't work on the <<Second Class>>, the <<Seeds>>", Shin declared, together with a blatant sneer.

"I don't know how many <<Seeds>> there are - but I'm prepared to bet. That you are the weakest"

"Che, shut the fuck up", Kou swore, without showing any hint of being shaken by Shin's words.

"Don't be so conceited for a tumbler whose only redeeming feature is sparkling. A boy from an elite school shouldn't fight, how about you go home and study for a test, huh? With that power of yours you could lower<ref>Editor's note: I guess that's the word lost in translation [[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]])</ref> your electric bill so it's pretty convenient, huh? "

" - Those words will cost you greatly", announced Shin in a frozen voice, closing his eyes partly.

"I'll kick you down"

Kou raised his right hand middle finger. And then - the battle start.

"Coma out, Harpas!"

"You're slow!"

In front of Kou the space was warped. The summoned demon was an omen that appeared from the underworld, beyond our dimension. But, without waiting for it, Shin pushed out his right hand straight ahead.

"My ability is the fastest. And also, the strongest"

He had enough composure to say so, proudly.

That was by no means an exaggeration. At present, the fastest <<Skill>> confirmed until now was the <<Seed>> manipulating light, the <<Javelin>> fired by <<Shining>>

Its natural shape was light collected into a wave, in a word a laser beam. Except the way it was produced, it was a purely physical light.

It had no special magic effects but the overwhelming caloric value burned through everything with the speed of light, literally.

"Just die!"

The spear of light was fired together with the death sentence. Shin was convinced of victory. But -

".........."

He faintly frowned.

A resistance from the place he hit should have been impossible but he felt he missed his chance to kill.

As if supporting that, the distortion in space flickered without showing any sign the distortion ended. From inside there, the darkness of the underground peeked.

And then, two ominous red lights.

"Kuu!"

Although faltering, Shin fired the light once more. The ray glistening blue pierced at the center of the distorted place - and silently, it was repelled.

The light slipped off at a slightly different angle and grazed Shin's cheek.

"Wha - ?"

Shin's face was distorted with shock. Looking at it, showed a sneer full of superiority.

"Ku kuu, did you think I would appear in front of you without any counter-plan? It won't work, you know. Because your power can't even scratch me! "

"Ab - absurd......"

Opening his eyes wide in surprise, Shin stared at Kou.

The distortion in space before he realized. But not one demon was summoned -

"N - No.......that's...."

In front of Kou, a small bird was flying. With bright white feathers even in the dark. Crimson eyes.

"A pigeon? Are you saying a pigeon reflected my <<Javelin>>?"

The pure white small bird was flying playfully around Kou, describing a helix. And then stopped on his shoulder.

Those red eyes pierced through Shin.

" - tch!"

Faced with that sinister thing, Shin involuntarily gasped.

He understood at a glance. That this thing has no connection with its outward appearance.

Profound understanding no ordinary bird would posses, overwhelming hatred and an evil disposition, everything was clamoring inside those eyes.

"Did you contract the Devil King Harpas Solomon, the ruler of seventy two demons?"

Clearly showing a knowledge of summoning, Shin raised a cry of shock. But -

"King Solomon? Who the heck is that? "

"Huh? "

Shin's jaw fell.

"This guy is no devil king. it's the demon Harpas - holding the power to reflect magic, my trump card!"

"R- reflect magic !?"

Not remembering any sort of such description in ''Lemegeton'' or ''The key of Solomon'', Shin stared at Harpas with astonishment.

"Huh, it's something an elite like you doesn't know! It's common sense, you understand, common sense! "

Kou was becoming increasingly elated. And then, he shouted loudly.

"I'm not finished yet! Come out, Fenrir! Flesberg!"

Responding to the summoning voice, new demons made an appearance. A huge wolf and an eagle.

Both their eyes filled with overwhelming energy, fixing their glares on the stand rock still Shin.

Of course, Harpas didn't disappear.

"Impossible....Can you operate three demons at the same time? ", groaned Shin with a shuddering voice.

It was understandable. More than sealing direct attacks, beginning attacking in waves from the ground and the sky - it was practically an iron wall battle formation.

Right now, there was no way for him to resist.

"You shit, you said earlier I was the weakest, huh? ", Kou said putting on airs of teasing him.

"Then, it means right now you are in the position of <<The Worst One>>. No, maybe outside the ranks, as if you were dead? "

"B- bastard......"

"Devour even his bones! Go, Fenrir! Flesberg!"

In response to the owner's command, the two beast stir.

Fenrir forcefully gallop on the ground, Flesberg flaps his wings in the night sky.

"D - Don't underestimate me!"

Aiming at the attacking demons, Shin fired rapidly <<Javelin>>. But, because of their very beast-like movements he, no more than a human man, wasn't able to reach them.

The light rays slipped through and danced like during a concert and the two beasts drew near fast like the wind.

"U - Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Without shame or honor, Shin tumbled on the ground dodging the beast's attack.

The symbol of his excellence, the blue uniform was smeared in dust.

"Haa ha ha ha ha! Don't you look good, elite boy! Do your best and show me just how far can you run! "

Shin glared with eyes boiling with hatred at Kou, laughing loudly.

But, the spear of light doesn't reach the fagot.

For him right now there was no other option but wait for a chance to recover from this hopeless situation while running about like a hunted animal.

''"Shit! Shit! Shit!! I'm - '''I'm - '''"''

While this disgrace was burned into his consciousness, Shin continued running around in this ugly manner.

This could possibly the biggest disgrace of his life. Not, a close fight.

He was fighting one with the same rank. Although he verbally looked down on his opponent, he didn't believe he could win easily from the start.

But, this is different.

He's not fighting hard against the <<Devil Summoner>>. He's fighting hard against the demons the <<Devil Summoner>> is employing.

Even though they are the same, the difference is so big.

The ones fighting, the two beasts versus the <<Javelin>> itself. The <<Devil Summoner>> is only watching from a safe place.

He - the <<Javelin>> was right now left behind the <<Devil Summoner>>. Not the ups and lows of abilities.

For example, it was like the existence of the piece called <<Game Player>> itself was considered of lower rank.

He didn't allow it.

He was a chosen one. In comparison to those masses whose existence was optional, he was a superior being.

For someone like him to be considered the same rank as those enslaved beasts, to be looked down upon by such a vulgar man, it was something that shouldn't exist.

''"If I only had more power"''

He desired power. He was keenly craving it.

And believed in it. The fact that he still had a dormant power.

He believed so because he was a chosen man. Because it's impossible for him to loose to that scum.

that's why he ought to have a hidden power.

at that time, something pulsated inside his body. A pulse that seemed to make his heart explode and made his blood boil.

Simultaneously he strangely could see clearly the movements of the beasts that until now only seemed an afterimage.

Even their paths as of now, their position one moment in the future were decided with level of foresight that exceeded simple prediction.

His pupils lengthened vertically and captured all vectors glittering yellow.

Equally simple like shooting the targets in slow motion, no as if they stopped, Shin shot the huge beast jumping low.

"Ghyaaaa!"

Shot through the side, Fenrir raised a cry of pain. From its mouth with barred teeth, a large quantity of blood was vomited.

"Fe - Fenrir!"

" - Did I miss killing him, huh?"

Kou was panicking but Shin spoke in a contrastive cool tone.

He still couldn't use his body according to the future foresight. Conversely to the situation until now, Shin's reading exceeded Fenrir's movement but his aim was slightly off.

"R - retreat, Fenrir!"

With a suspicions discomposure, Kou made Fenrir retreat. The big wolf's image blurred and returned to the underworld with a wound body.

The fact that Kou became confused and was panicking over Fenrir's wounds was only natural.

Summoning magic was a double edged sword. He was able to use the power of a mighty demon but the moment the demon died, his own receives those damages.

Kou personally tested that with his own body.

"Kuu - Flesberg!"

Kou ordered the winged demon circling in the sky to attack.

Flesberg assailed Shin with an almost vertical attack. It was power drive (?).

Using the aid of gravity, its speed broke through the speed of sounds in the blink of an eye.

But for Shin's eyes, strangely changed, it looked like a caterpillar even at the speed of sound.

Brandishing Javelin in a mow down motion he burned half of Flesberg's right wing.

Flesberg suddenly lost momentum and crashed into the ground.

The huge bird that crashed down at a subsonic speed, and as compensation for crater it created on the ground it exploded and scattered in all directions without leaving any trace.

"Gaaaah!? "

The shriek of understanding of the familiars' death scream reach from a slightly far away place. Obviously it was the summons's master - Kou's scream.

"B - Bastard......you bastard, how dare you"

"''The turning wind'', huh? it must be hard being a summon master...", said Shin blandly, staring coldly at Kou groaning in pain.

As he was knowledgeable in the occult, he obviously knew the dangers of it.

"What will you do, do you want to <<Give Up>>? If you get down to your knees and apologize for your rudeness until now, I may forgive you"

"F - Fuck off"

Although grasping his painful heart, Kou didn't lost his will to fight. Seizing his telephone with the other hand, he pushed it forward proudly.

"Don't believe you won after defeating only two. I stocked ten other demons inside this telephone. Seven still remain."

"That's good", replied Shin with no indication of disturbance.

"Then call the next one already. The <<Death>> of another seven - I'm very interested how long will you be able to endure that agony? "

Shin laughed, making those golden pupils shine bright in the dark night. From his lips turned up something as long as fangs and very sharp peeked.

" B - Bastard..."

Overawed by Shin, who seemed like a different person, Kou instinctively backed off.

"What's up with your eyes......and those teeth, are they fangs?"

"Is there something wrong with my eyes? "

Shin slightly curved his lips, fixing his glasses.

"Something like that doesn't matter. What I am interested right now is your pain and you screams in the agony of death, only that. I think it's obvious - "

from his warped lips, white fangs showed. The quiet insanity dwelling in those golden pupils. The Kehai of a devilish, inhuman person -

"Don't worry, I won't let you die"

"Come out, Fafnir! Mushufushu! Raksasha! "

Together with the sentence full of joy, Kou called out his most powerful demons.

Realizing the battle reached its climax the spectators screamed from the bottom of their lungs and stamped their feet.

At that time - that man appeared.

=== Part 3 ===

The cheers were interrupted, the commotion died out.

All sound vanished from the plaza.

The silence overflowed.

The spectators that moments before were wild with enthusiasm felt goose-flesh.

Frozen in place like all their hearts were caught in a tight hold, not one moved. No, they couldn't move.

The group of people that originally lost their reason don't have reason enough to recognize the change in atmosphere.

But even so, they noticed this.

As if at that moment the entire world became their enemy, from all direction an intimidating air was drawing near.

As if they had been swallowed in the belly of huge monster - most people had that kind of mental image.

That was true in a certain sense.

They had certainly been gulped down.

By the '''domain''' of the man who ruled the entire atmosphere covering this earth.

The air was sharply prickling the skin. It weighted on as if squashing them.

Their necks exposed to the Shinigami's sickle, almost all felt that freezing fear.

The crowd of people was divided. Just like the time the two were ushered into the ring.

But the decision was loaded with a different intention.

Everyone looked at that one man walking towards them holding their breath. No one tried to stop the impolite man becoming a hindrance for the battle at its climax. No one raised their voice. No one wanted to have anything to do with him.

Everyone realized. The origin of this presence full of death that altogether enshrouded the park, of the this sinister atmosphere was just this one man.

But - there were also people who didn't notice. For example those sky-rocketing tensions, in the middle of the battle.

"Aaaaaaaaah!? Y - you - !!"

Kou - known as <<Hell Hound>> before the <<Class Change>>, knew the face of the man that appeared.

When he perceived the man he hated, the one who made him taste his first defeat he shouted in a voice trembling with anger.

"At last your time has come, bastard! Aren't you together with the police dog? "

Looking around, he searched for the child-faced police officer that once defeated him. But, he wasn't anywhere.

"He hee"

Confirming that the man was alone, on Kou's face a broad, sadistic grin appeared.

The unfortunate part - was that he didn't know this man's - Yagami Kazuma's power.

It was very unfortunate.

"Showing your mug around here by yourself, so nonchalantly...I'll pay you hundred-fold for back then! "

Burning with resentment, Kou tried to spur his demons on Kazuma. But -

"Wait!"

The long beam shot together with the voice hindered Kou's revenge. Obviously, it was the <<Javelin>> shot by Shin.

" - huh!?"

Kou made Harpas receive that hit but Harpas's magic reflecting ability couldn't completely deflect the beam with increased output.

For a few seconds the light spear and Harpas' field struggled for supremacy but eventually it divided into parts and disappeared in the empty space.

"Wh - what are you doing? "

"You can't possibly ask me that. You're fighting against me right now. Don't confuse the order of things."

"Shut the fuck up! You're coming after. I need to hurry so this guy doesn't run!"

"That's not my problem"

With that cold reply, Shin turned his eyes on Kazuma.

"I didn't know what business you have but withdraw for a short while. If you become more of a nuisance I'll kill you"

"<<Shining>> and <<Devil Summoner>> - both of you are <<Second Class>> <<Seeds>>"

Kazuma didn't reply, ignoring those affected threatening words.

Having been ignored, Shin's veins popped out but ignoring even that, the man one-sided announced his business.

"Answer to me. Where is Pandemonium, the place you scum class changed."

"Che! There's no need to tell someone like you! "

Spitting out in a rough manner, Kou ordered the demons to attack.

"But, that's right, if you win against these guys maybe I will teach you - "

He didn't had time to finish his phrase. The moment he uttered those words the three demons were beheaded by frozen wind blades.

What's more, even Harpas, holding a magic reflective power, was divided in two.

"Gaaaaaahhh! "

Immediately before a scream that didn't seem human but beast-like roared. All eyes gathered there.

On the writhing and screaming <<Devil Master>> Kou.

Experiencing the <<Death>> of four demons at the same time, what he felt via his physical nerves what more than he could handle.

His body literally experiencing the an agony more painful than death, without even being able to faint all four of Kou's limbs were convulsing and from his mouth opened to the limit, he gushed out fresh blood and shrieks.

But, because he already the resistance of a similar experience or because he had some kind of counter measure, Kou didn't lost his awareness or sanity but continued to bear that suffering.

He was made to bear that suffering.

"Aah......aah......aah? "

Overhead Kou, lying down face up breathing roughly, a black shadow blocked the moonlight. Focusing his blurry eyes, he barely focused.

" - Hiii! "

He gasped involuntarily.

The Shinigami was looking down on him with a cold gaze.

"Aa.........aauaa........."

He wanted to run but his body was completely still. He cannot look away.

The embodiment of heath, that nihilistic pupil seized his conscience and won't let go.

"N - No....stop........"

Trying to go against something he'll never be able to go against, Kou finally became realized. That if he won't obey, he'll certainly be killed.

- Unfortunately, that was definitely a mistake.

With eyes full of supplication Kou looked up at the Shinigami - Kazuma. He desperately begged for his life.

"P - Please wait.......p-please, wait.......I don't know where Pandemonium is......I really don't, please believe me......"

It was true. Certainly, at the time he made the class change he walked in the physical Pandemonium but he arrived there after walking aimlessly so he really didn't remember it. The same happened on the way back.

" - I thought so"

After a brief period of silence, Kazuma blandly assented without asking twice. In Kou's eyes the light of hope dwells.

"T - That's right! I'm sorry for making you come all this way for nothing. B - But I'll cooperate with you! I have friends who know things! So - "

"I don't thing he would behave so stupidly that even shit like you would realize. But, at least a clue must have remained inside you"

Ignoring Kou's words, frantically flattering him, Kazuma took out a black glove. He wore it on left hand. Inside the very dim light, it seemed Kazuma's left hand disappeared.

It a person with good judgment were to be present there, maybe it wound realize that the glove didn't reflect any light.

"Before your brains burn and break, do your best to remember"

Saying that, Kazuma's left hand completely stretched and was thrust before Kou's forehead.

And, with no hesitation, pushed in.

Without resistance, four fingers wrapped in the glove sunk inside the skull.

"GRNNNNNNGYOEEEEEEOOOOOOOO!!!"

From Kou's mouth that kind of sound came out.

Of course they weren't words. Even his voice was barely recognizable.

It was as if raw pain was turned into the vibration of the air. It was as though that dissonance could break the ears.

Even appraised as ''an inhuman sound'' was wrong as the shriek couldn't possibly originate from a living thing.

It was a sound that would remain forever in the eardrums and brains of the unlucky people who were present and revived every night during nightmares.

"..............."

But without being the least perturbed in the least by Kou's disgraceful behavior, Kazuma calmly continued doing his work.

The fingers piercing the brain were moving carefully as if searching for something.

Each time his handling was making the feet and hands to nervously springing up, his fingers were reaching deeper.

" - Che"

Smacking his lips a little, Kazuma stood up. Simultaneously, the fingers that churn the brain were drawn out.

From his fingertips, some sort of fluid was dripping.

And yet, whether it was the glove's capability of Kazuma's power, on Kou's face not a trace remained.

But, that face opening its eyes wide and drolling and that body that was intermittently convulsing even now clearly demonstrated the abnormality produced in the man's body.

''I'd rather die than become that'' - everyone thought so when looking at that sorry state, it was that sort of atrocity.

" - well then"

Defying the hellish, oppressive silence, Kazuma slowly turned around. In the line of his sight was -

"Will you also exercise your right to remain silent? ", he asked in a quiet tone while gazing at <<Shining>> Shin.

With a start Shin's body trembled and stared at the juice dripping from Kazuma's left hand.

"Aah, this?"

With something that slightly resembled a bitter smile, Kazuma his left hand.

"It's alright. This won't damage your brain. It will only hurt a little"

The smile peeking around his mouth deeply grew. Together with a dark gloom and sadness.

"If you have a strong spirit, by the time I finish you'll only be mad"

" - !!!"

That heartless but also half hearted sentence, filled Shin's heart with horror.

His survival instinct was ordering retreat - no, capitulation.

He was no math for him. He absolutely cannot win. He won't be allowed to run.

There's no choice but to fall to his knees.

''"Ridiculous, what are you thinking? The opponent is only a wind user! "''

But the whisper of instinct was rejected by the voice of reason. Saying, he cannot be defeated by a wind user.

He was very intelligent so Shin overestimated intelligence and reason over instinct.

In comparison with baseless intuition, deriving answers from objective data and logical thinking was the sigh of a great man - that's what he was thinking.

It was obvious which is faster between wind and light et cetera. If fact he defeated two wind users until now.

''"That's right. Loosing it's impossible"''

Promptly removing his fear and becoming very confident instead. And then, that sadistic enjoyment.

Dreaming of Kazuma's silhouette writhing inside a pool of blood, Shin shivered with a dark delight.

''"Ku ku - I'll sever his feet and hands and teach him his place while crawling like a worm"

His golden eyes sparked and his sharp, long fangs peeked from the beginning from his curved lips.

Even hough he expressed such an inhuman smile, Shin warned with plenty of composure.

"If you think I'm the same as that trash, you'll have a painful experience"

Kazuma was silent. Without showing any reaction, he stepped up with constant steps.

"Fuu, how foolish"

Murmuring in an affected tone, Shin pushed out his right hand. The surging out <<Javelin>>

The flash exceeding the speed of light not to mention seeing all, he won't give him even the time to notice the attack.

What happened to him, he will die even before understanding it - that is the fate of one opposing <<Javelin>>.

This is the end.

" - huh!?"

Shin's eyes opened wide in shock. In spite of firing a certain kill hit Kazuma was still standing.

That head that was supposed to evaporate was unscratched, not even his walking pace changed.

" - You undid it? "

Frowning his brows he pointed his right hand forward again.

Deciding on aiming at the center of his face, he fired.

The blue light glittered in the night air and split in two before Kazuma's eyes.

The beam divided into parts faded on Kazuma's both sides and vainly disappeared in the air.

"Wha - ?"

In front of the lack of common sense spectacle, Shin became rigid. But, a moment after.

But in order to hit Kazuma, approaching as if nothing happened, he rapid-fired <<Javelin>> without taking aim.

All of it burst open and disappeared in front of Kazuma.

"S - slicing light using wind.....?"

If he were to explain the spectacle generated in front of him, that's the only explanation he could thing of.

Everything else was impossible. But, even so -

"D - don't screw around - "

Letting anger take its course, Shin shouted.

"It's impossible to cut light using wind! Besides, are you bastard trying to say you can see an attack at the speed of light? "

Those were some irrational words but to be expected from his, from their common sense.

A qualified person that could manipulate the flow of air, a <<Wind User>> whose ability was granted by Pandemonium couldn't possibly slice light.

But Kazuma was Fujutsushi - A Jutsushi who could concretely express his will and change the world via the Wind Spirits.

Although it seemed the same on the outside its true nature had a totally different dimension.

For Kazuma's wind charged with thoughts of decapitation, there's nothing it can't cut.

Even if it were to run at the speed of light it's unthinkable not to be able to cut only a laser-beam.

"Sh - Shit! "

Without learning his lesson, Shin fired <<Javelin>>. But, faster than light Kazuma's wind was of course quicker than even the technique's activation.

Shin's right arm pushed forward was silently severed from the joint.

The <<Javelin>> fired while the arm was mid-way falling fired below and made a round hole in the ground.

".........eh?"

Shin looked down at the arm tumbling down on top of the the grass with a blank expression. That gaze gradually got up and stopped nearby his right shoulder.

Immediately, as if matching his timing, fresh blood gushed out from the wound.

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaahh !!"

Screaming in panic, he held down the wound, the joint of his amputated right arm with his left hand. Obviously, the hemorrhage didn't stop just because of that, fresh blood pouring from the gaps between his fingers.

That right side of his blue uniform only was dyed red.

"Uooo, Uaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!! "

Shin continued to scream.

In silence Kazuma took the last step and casually tripped up Shin. He trampled down on it, lying face down. On the body with just one arm.

Whether it was by purpose or by accident, with just that one move of stepping on his back, Kazuma perfectly blocked all of Shin's resistance.

"............"

The screams stopped. The pain and shock were surpassed by the absolute fear.

Twisting his neck as much as possible, Shin looked up at Kazuma.

"W - Wait! Wait, please wait! "

With tears overflowing his wide eyes, Shin desperately begged for forgiveness.

"I'll speak! I'll tell you everything! So, so please - "

But the fierce chills that he felt in his head interrupted his heartbreaking petition. As if taking a roundabout path because the back of his head was getting in the way, fingertips were approaching his forehead.

Slipping inside his head and mind, the fingertips of destruction that stole everything.

''"N - No......No - "''

The feel of fingers forcing their way through flash, bone and brains.

That physically impossible repulsiveness lightly broke Shin's hard but brittle mind.

" ----------------------------!!"

The soundless scream roared in the night sky - and disappeared.

=== Part 4 ===

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 091.jpg|thumb|]]

"Yo"

" - huh? "

His shoulder abruptly clapped from behind, Isurughi Daiki's body shook.

Looking over his shoulder as if he was flipped, there was a man without any feeling of tension and a relaxed smile.

"Yagami-san! "

Containing the fact he had been frightened, with a tone full of criticism, Daiki called out the man's name.

"What have you done until now? You made the Chief be worried about you! "

"That so? I thought about showing my face around here, though"

Without caring about the criticism, Kazuma shrugged his shoulders.

That attitude, so very usual, secretly made Daiki relieved.

''"What, isn't he completely alright? "''

''''Don't make eye contact''''

''''Don't defy him in any way''''

''''Avoid getting in touch with him as much as possible, take refuge immediately and report the place he's at afterwards''''

- What was Kirika pointing to her subordinates the way to interact carefully with Kazuma as if he was some sort of atrocious criminal, Daiki felt like it was entirely unnecessary.

Even his smiling face, lively and a little cynical, even his casual attitude with no affectation unlikely for the Jutsushi with the highest rank in this world, there was nothing unusual.

A dangerous presence was not to be found.

''"I should tell the Chief when she returns. That "There's no need to worry". "''

Even though a policeman, Daiki was nothing more but a newbie who had only just been assigned.

The skills of a police detective such as the insight to see through the true feelings hidden behind a smiling face had yet to appear.

Consequently, not realizing Kazuma's eyes were entirely not laughing, Daiki interacted with him just like before.

"So, I don't know where you've been or what you have been doing but did you find something? "

"Absolutely nothing. Your way? "

At the light retort that betrayed his expectations, Daiki let out a dry laugh.

"Ha ha.......instead of progress, the problems increased"

" - Did something happen? "

"Utsumi Kousuke escaped "

"........."

Kazuma looked slightly upwards and was silent.

Ten seconds passed. And then, looking at Daiki holding his breath and waiting for Kazuma's reaction, he replied with a serious face.

"Who is that? "

"Whaaaa!? "

Daiki collapsed.

"Is that comedic stupidity? It's the spell user acting violently at Ayano-san's school! "

".....aah, now that you mention it there was that story "

Finally remembering, Kazuma made a small nod. As if searching around for memories, he spoke slowly.

"But, didn't you catch him? The barrier there is not something an amateur can break, no? "

"Yeah, that's right but - "

Pulling himself together, Daiki explained the situation with a serious face. As the story progressed, Kazuma's face became more and more sharp.

"humph - I see "

For one moment all expression disappeared from Kazuma's face. From the ruin of the smiling face mask came undone, a terribly dry and hollow face with no makeup peeked.

But Daiki didn't became aware of it.

"I understand. I'll also look for him "

"Aah, we're saved"

Without showing distrust towards Kazuma's words, who instantly smoothed over his facial expression, he was innocently glad.

"Ooh, this became a major incident. Even though we're short-handed even at the best of times, we even had to guard the girl Utsumi is aiming at! "

"Well, it can't be helped right? It's Ayano's acquittance. If you were to make a blunder she could kill all of you in a fit of anger. Even Kirika's desperate, right? "

"........I don't think Ayano-san is that kind of person. "

"........aah? "

Kazuma raised his eyebrows quizzical and Daiki started to justify himself red in the face.

"Aah, no, you see, there's no special meaning, ugh.......Ayano-san is a kind person, so maybe she won't have such an unreasonable behavior or something.........it's...it's just that! Deeper feelings than those, I really....... "

"Aah......., well, isn't that fine? "

With a careless expression, Kazuma interrupted the excuse that continued for too long.

"I think that's a peculiar taste but it's got nothing to do with me. "

" - You're not mad? "

"Why would I? ", asked Kazuma with a serious face.

"I think it would be terrible (for you) if it would turn out well but do your best. I'll secretly root for you"

"Ha, haaa......"

With an irrelevant expression, Daiki nodded his head ambiguously. Taking that as the end of conversation Kazuma announced.

"Well then, tell me if you find something new "

"Aah, yes, roger that. Yagami-san too, get in tough with the Chief as soon as possible"

"I said I understand"

Waiving his hand across his back, Kazuma vanished inside the crowd of people. Because he send off that silhouette, Daiki returned inside the Police Department to inform Kirika of this.

After this, charged with the crime of not contacting her immediately, Kirika turned her highest level of anger on Daiki - That is a digression.

After parting from Daiki, as a matter of course Kazuma tore off the smiling mask.

What became visible from inside, although having the same smile, carried the opposite emotion - a desolate, humorless, dark smile.

Scattering an ominous presence that would put the fear of God even into a yakuza, Kazuma stepped forward inside the crowd of people as if conquering an inhabited land.

"Utsumi Kousuke, huh......? "

From that mouth chiseled in a smile one guy's name leaked out. The thoughtless, foolish boy who could see only under his nose.

Attached to that boy, the face of a girl came to his mind. He saw her once or twice through Ayano, a clever girl with a strong will carried in her eyes.

"........I can use this", laughed Kazuma raising his lips.

The word ''heartless'' doesn't even begin to describe the face smiling or rather sighing.

It was the face of a demon.

<noinclude>

===References===
<references/>

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_1|Chapter 1]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_3|Chapter 3]]
|-
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Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 2

2013-10-17T22:57:08Z

Antanaru: /* Chapter 2 - The mad Fujutsushi */

== Chapter 2 - The mad Fujutsushi ==

=== Part 1 ===

The dead of night - Without even a slight movement, Kazuma opened his eyes wide in silence.

A cynical remembrance of those magnificent, dream-like happy days.

He woke up because the happiness was too much. It was like being taught that he will never go back to those times, not even in the middle of dreaming.

"Ku.....Kuu ku ku..."

A hollow laughter escaped. As if sneering at his ugliness and the whole world.

As a result of losing everything, he obtained that which no matter how much he wished for evaded him.

That was a modest, commonplace happiness found everywhere.

There was a person who would smile at him, tell him ''Good morning'' when he woke up and ''Good night'' when it was the time to sleep - only that but those were irreplaceable days full of happiness.

Even the power he pursued like a mad-man disappeared like something from a dream.

Because he met a person who looked at him plainly, not at <<his own strength>> or <<himself with power>>.

If he could have protected that girl and the small world revolving around her, it would have been enough.

Even if he couldn't hunt Youmas, there was no need for self-abasement.

He really thought so, from the bottom of his heart.

Until the time that happy paradise crumbled away without leaving any trace.

''"Really......."''

Inside the darkness, Kazuma laughed at his foolishness.

How naive was he.

If you're weak, if you lose, you can't protect anything. It means losing everything.

Just like he deserved, he became alone again.

No - he's not alone.

There's him and he - those two.

Revenge is vain, it's a sterile act that doesn't give back anything, an intelligent person will proclaim so with a triumphant expression.

Kazuma generally agreed with it. When he pursued that man, during that time he lived only for revenge he never thought revenge was meaningful.

But there was nothing else left except for that. There was nothing else to do.

That's why, he desperately refined his ability. Throwing away anything else, all for the sake of killing one man. But -

"I made a mistake....."

Erasing his facial expression, just like a Noh mask, Kazuma murmured.

This is the result of thinking that dealing with that man was enough and neglecting his followers.

''"If you find the answer, come again."''

Those conceited parting words, won't go away. Words said from the view-point of the superior one that completely look down on him.

Kazuma groaned, tightly clenching his fists at that disgrace.

"''the answer'', you said? Isn't it obvious..........Kill you. Break that good-for-nothing doll - Aah, I'll do it. This time, for sure"

His mouth warped, the same daring smile as ever. But, if Ayano or Ren were to see his eyes, they would probably be at a loss for words.

Hatred and insanity and the pair of eyes swirling in evil malice boiling hot with deeply rooted delusions, changed that cynical but cheerful smile in a different thing altogether.

That smile, expressed by most of the enemies they killed until now, was mad.

=== Part 2 ===

Late at night, there was a countless number of people surrounding the already closed public park.

Everyone was young. The eldest was maybe in the first half of his twenty. But, considering it was a gathering of young people a bizarre silence was floating around that place.

A heavy silence.

Even the noises made sometimes didn't had a following and vainly disappeared in the air.

It couldn't be concluded that they held their breath in fear of being seen trespassing on the park. They don't care about such ethical viewpoints. They don't have law-abiding intentions.

If they were accused, perhaps they would ask back with a straight face. What's wrong with creeping in a closed park? They're not troubling anyone, or something.

They weren't silent, they were accumulating. Preparing for the moment of explosion drawing near, silently raising the pressure. They had one mind.

And then, a few minutes later - the time came.

"It - it came......."

"It's coming........"

Together with the muffled commotion the crowd of people separated in halves, and one man stepped forward to the center of the plaza. After him, another one.

Facing each other at a distance of roughly five meters, the two men.

Looking at them, a buzz spread among the members of the audience and this time the volume was raising without a pause.

Someone stamped his feet.

''''Dan....Don.....Don....''''

Swiftly propagating in the surroundings, it was like a rumble in the ground, making the earth tremble.

''''Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! ''''

Excited cheering piercing the ears and earth tremor.

Those two men standing in the middle - didn't need explanation, the situation was very clear.

It's very improbable but assuming there was a man who arrived here by accident, he would be able to see through this event instantly.

That this is an arena. That for the sake of watching the two man at the center fight for their lives, so many spectators gathered and they were widely enthusiastic, beyond reason.

It wasn't unreasonable for the spectators to be so stimulated. The match tonight was the largest ''big game'' since '''the game''' started.

Among spectators there were many players like the two in the center.

For such people it was an aspiration but also a landmark - those belonging to the <<Second Class>>, the <<Seeds>> will for the first time fight each other tonight.

At a different level than those <<First Class>>, the spectators anxious to see the exchange of power beyond human understanding were raising their voices in joyous shouts similar to angry roars.

Contrastive with the members of the audience, the men standing still at the center, were silent.

Exchanged glances. Sneer versus scornful laughter.

On one side, a slender boy dressed in a school uniform, <<Shining>> Shin.

The other one, with a black leather jacket and black pants and metal accessories dangling here and there - <<Devil Master>> Kou.

At the time the spectators started flustering about the two continuing to stand off against each other, as if signalling the start of battle, Shin got the ball rolling.

"No way, you don't really think you can win this match right?"

Words that were polite at first but clearly had no problem looking down on the opponent.

That figure properly wearing a blue school uniform from a famous high school was perhaps suited with that tone.

"You're a demon-user. While you can summon powerful demons, you yourself have no power. You may be able to win against <<First Class>> small fry with only that but it won't work on the <<Second Class>>, the <<Seeds>>", Shin declared, together with a blatant sneer.

"I don't know how many <<Seeds>> there are - but I'm prepared to bet. That you are the weakest"

"Che, shut the fuck up", Kou swore, without showing any hint of being shaken by Shin's words.

"Don't be so conceited for a tumbler whose only redeeming feature is sparkling. A boy from an elite school shouldn't fight, how about you go home and study for a test, huh? With that power of yours you could lower<ref>Editor's note: I guess that's the word lost in translation--~~~~</ref> your electric bill so it's pretty convenient, huh? "

" - Those words will cost you greatly", announced Shin in a frozen voice, closing his eyes partly.

"I'll kick you down"

Kou raised his right hand middle finger. And then - the battle start.

"Coma out, Harpas!"

"You're slow!"

In front of Kou the space was warped. The summoned demon was an omen that appeared from the underworld, beyond our dimension. But, without waiting for it, Shin pushed out his right hand straight ahead.

"My ability is the fastest. And also, the strongest"

He had enough composure to say so, proudly.

That was by no means an exaggeration. At present, the fastest <<Skill>> confirmed until now was the <<Seed>> manipulating light, the <<Javelin>> fired by <<Shining>>

Its natural shape was light collected into a wave, in a word a laser beam. Except the way it was produced, it was a purely physical light.

It had no special magic effects but the overwhelming caloric value burned through everything with the speed of light, literally.

"Just die!"

The spear of light was fired together with the death sentence. Shin was convinced of victory. But -

".........."

He faintly frowned.

A resistance from the place he hit should have been impossible but he felt he missed his chance to kill.

As if supporting that, the distortion in space flickered without showing any sign the distortion ended. From inside there, the darkness of the underground peeked.

And then, two ominous red lights.

"Kuu!"

Although faltering, Shin fired the light once more. The ray glistening blue pierced at the center of the distorted place - and silently, it was repelled.

The light slipped off at a slightly different angle and grazed Shin's cheek.

"Wha - ?"

Shin's face was distorted with shock. Looking at it, showed a sneer full of superiority.

"Ku kuu, did you think I would appear in front of you without any counter-plan? It won't work, you know. Because your power can't even scratch me! "

"Ab - absurd......"

Opening his eyes wide in surprise, Shin stared at Kou.

The distortion in space before he realized. But not one demon was summoned -

"N - No.......that's...."

In front of Kou, a small bird was flying. With bright white feathers even in the dark. Crimson eyes.

"A pigeon? Are you saying a pigeon reflected my <<Javelin>>?"

The pure white small bird was flying playfully around Kou, describing a helix. And then stopped on his shoulder.

Those red eyes pierced through Shin.

" - tch!"

Faced with that sinister thing, Shin involuntarily gasped.

He understood at a glance. That this thing has no connection with its outward appearance.

Profound understanding no ordinary bird would posses, overwhelming hatred and an evil disposition, everything was clamoring inside those eyes.

"Did you contract the Devil King Harpas Solomon, the ruler of seventy two demons?"

Clearly showing a knowledge of summoning, Shin raised a cry of shock. But -

"King Solomon? Who the heck is that? "

"Huh? "

Shin's jaw fell.

"This guy is no devil king. it's the demon Harpas - holding the power to reflect magic, my trump card!"

"R- reflect magic !?"

Not remembering any sort of such description in ''Lemegeton'' or ''The key of Solomon'', Shin stared at Harpas with astonishment.

"Huh, it's something an elite like you doesn't know! It's common sense, you understand, common sense! "

Kou was becoming increasingly elated. And then, he shouted loudly.

"I'm not finished yet! Come out, Fenrir! Flesberg!"

Responding to the summoning voice, new demons made an appearance. A huge wolf and an eagle.

Both their eyes filled with overwhelming energy, fixing their glares on the stand rock still Shin.

Of course, Harpas didn't disappear.

"Impossible....Can you operate three demons at the same time? ", groaned Shin with a shuddering voice.

It was understandable. More than sealing direct attacks, beginning attacking in waves from the ground and the sky - it was practically an iron wall battle formation.

Right now, there was no way for him to resist.

"You shit, you said earlier I was the weakest, huh? ", Kou said putting on airs of teasing him.

"Then, it means right now you are in the position of <<The Worst One>>. No, maybe outside the ranks, as if you were dead? "

"B- bastard......"

"Devour even his bones! Go, Fenrir! Flesberg!"

In response to the owner's command, the two beast stir.

Fenrir forcefully gallop on the ground, Flesberg flaps his wings in the night sky.

"D - Don't underestimate me!"

Aiming at the attacking demons, Shin fired rapidly <<Javelin>>. But, because of their very beast-like movements he, no more than a human man, wasn't able to reach them.

The light rays slipped through and danced like during a concert and the two beasts drew near fast like the wind.

"U - Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Without shame or honor, Shin tumbled on the ground dodging the beast's attack.

The symbol of his excellence, the blue uniform was smeared in dust.

"Haa ha ha ha ha! Don't you look good, elite boy! Do your best and show me just how far can you run! "

Shin glared with eyes boiling with hatred at Kou, laughing loudly.

But, the spear of light doesn't reach the fagot.

For him right now there was no other option but wait for a chance to recover from this hopeless situation while running about like a hunted animal.

''"Shit! Shit! Shit!! I'm - '''I'm - '''"''

While this disgrace was burned into his consciousness, Shin continued running around in this ugly manner.

This could possibly the biggest disgrace of his life. Not, a close fight.

He was fighting one with the same rank. Although he verbally looked down on his opponent, he didn't believe he could win easily from the start.

But, this is different.

He's not fighting hard against the <<Devil Summoner>>. He's fighting hard against the demons the <<Devil Summoner>> is employing.

Even though they are the same, the difference is so big.

The ones fighting, the two beasts versus the <<Javelin>> itself. The <<Devil Summoner>> is only watching from a safe place.

He - the <<Javelin>> was right now left behind the <<Devil Summoner>>. Not the ups and lows of abilities.

For example, it was like the existence of the piece called <<Game Player>> itself was considered of lower rank.

He didn't allow it.

He was a chosen one. In comparison to those masses whose existence was optional, he was a superior being.

For someone like him to be considered the same rank as those enslaved beasts, to be looked down upon by such a vulgar man, it was something that shouldn't exist.

''"If I only had more power"''

He desired power. He was keenly craving it.

And believed in it. The fact that he still had a dormant power.

He believed so because he was a chosen man. Because it's impossible for him to loose to that scum.

that's why he ought to have a hidden power.

at that time, something pulsated inside his body. A pulse that seemed to make his heart explode and made his blood boil.

Simultaneously he strangely could see clearly the movements of the beasts that until now only seemed an afterimage.

Even their paths as of now, their position one moment in the future were decided with level of foresight that exceeded simple prediction.

His pupils lengthened vertically and captured all vectors glittering yellow.

Equally simple like shooting the targets in slow motion, no as if they stopped, Shin shot the huge beast jumping low.

"Ghyaaaa!"

Shot through the side, Fenrir raised a cry of pain. From its mouth with barred teeth, a large quantity of blood was vomited.

"Fe - Fenrir!"

" - Did I miss killing him, huh?"

Kou was panicking but Shin spoke in a contrastive cool tone.

He still couldn't use his body according to the future foresight. Conversely to the situation until now, Shin's reading exceeded Fenrir's movement but his aim was slightly off.

"R - retreat, Fenrir!"

With a suspicions discomposure, Kou made Fenrir retreat. The big wolf's image blurred and returned to the underworld with a wound body.

The fact that Kou became confused and was panicking over Fenrir's wounds was only natural.

Summoning magic was a double edged sword. He was able to use the power of a mighty demon but the moment the demon died, his own receives those damages.

Kou personally tested that with his own body.

"Kuu - Flesberg!"

Kou ordered the winged demon circling in the sky to attack.

Flesberg assailed Shin with an almost vertical attack. It was power drive (?).

Using the aid of gravity, its speed broke through the speed of sounds in the blink of an eye.

But for Shin's eyes, strangely changed, it looked like a caterpillar even at the speed of sound.

Brandishing Javelin in a mow down motion he burned half of Flesberg's right wing.

Flesberg suddenly lost momentum and crashed into the ground.

The huge bird that crashed down at a subsonic speed, and as compensation for crater it created on the ground it exploded and scattered in all directions without leaving any trace.

"Gaaaah!? "

The shriek of understanding of the familiars' death scream reach from a slightly far away place. Obviously it was the summons's master - Kou's scream.

"B - Bastard......you bastard, how dare you"

"''The turning wind'', huh? it must be hard being a summon master...", said Shin blandly, staring coldly at Kou groaning in pain.

As he was knowledgeable in the occult, he obviously knew the dangers of it.

"What will you do, do you want to <<Give Up>>? If you get down to your knees and apologize for your rudeness until now, I may forgive you"

"F - Fuck off"

Although grasping his painful heart, Kou didn't lost his will to fight. Seizing his telephone with the other hand, he pushed it forward proudly.

"Don't believe you won after defeating only two. I stocked ten other demons inside this telephone. Seven still remain."

"That's good", replied Shin with no indication of disturbance.

"Then call the next one already. The <<Death>> of another seven - I'm very interested how long will you be able to endure that agony? "

Shin laughed, making those golden pupils shine bright in the dark night. From his lips turned up something as long as fangs and very sharp peeked.

" B - Bastard..."

Overawed by Shin, who seemed like a different person, Kou instinctively backed off.

"What's up with your eyes......and those teeth, are they fangs?"

"Is there something wrong with my eyes? "

Shin slightly curved his lips, fixing his glasses.

"Something like that doesn't matter. What I am interested right now is your pain and you screams in the agony of death, only that. I think it's obvious - "

from his warped lips, white fangs showed. The quiet insanity dwelling in those golden pupils. The Kehai of a devilish, inhuman person -

"Don't worry, I won't let you die"

"Come out, Fafnir! Mushufushu! Raksasha! "

Together with the sentence full of joy, Kou called out his most powerful demons.

Realizing the battle reached its climax the spectators screamed from the bottom of their lungs and stamped their feet.

At that time - that man appeared.

=== Part 3 ===

The cheers were interrupted, the commotion died out.

All sound vanished from the plaza.

The silence overflowed.

The spectators that moments before were wild with enthusiasm felt goose-flesh.

Frozen in place like all their hearts were caught in a tight hold, not one moved. No, they couldn't move.

The group of people that originally lost their reason don't have reason enough to recognize the change in atmosphere.

But even so, they noticed this.

As if at that moment the entire world became their enemy, from all direction an intimidating air was drawing near.

As if they had been swallowed in the belly of huge monster - most people had that kind of mental image.

That was true in a certain sense.

They had certainly been gulped down.

By the '''domain''' of the man who ruled the entire atmosphere covering this earth.

The air was sharply prickling the skin. It weighted on as if squashing them.

Their necks exposed to the Shinigami's sickle, almost all felt that freezing fear.

The crowd of people was divided. Just like the time the two were ushered into the ring.

But the decision was loaded with a different intention.

Everyone looked at that one man walking towards them holding their breath. No one tried to stop the impolite man becoming a hindrance for the battle at its climax. No one raised their voice. No one wanted to have anything to do with him.

Everyone realized. The origin of this presence full of death that altogether enshrouded the park, of the this sinister atmosphere was just this one man.

But - there were also people who didn't notice. For example those sky-rocketing tensions, in the middle of the battle.

"Aaaaaaaaah!? Y - you - !!"

Kou - known as <<Hell Hound>> before the <<Class Change>>, knew the face of the man that appeared.

When he perceived the man he hated, the one who made him taste his first defeat he shouted in a voice trembling with anger.

"At last your time has come, bastard! Aren't you together with the police dog? "

Looking around, he searched for the child-faced police officer that once defeated him. But, he wasn't anywhere.

"He hee"

Confirming that the man was alone, on Kou's face a broad, sadistic grin appeared.

The unfortunate part - was that he didn't know this man's - Yagami Kazuma's power.

It was very unfortunate.

"Showing your mug around here by yourself, so nonchalantly...I'll pay you hundred-fold for back then! "

Burning with resentment, Kou tried to spur his demons on Kazuma. But -

"Wait!"

The long beam shot together with the voice hindered Kou's revenge. Obviously, it was the <<Javelin>> shot by Shin.

" - huh!?"

Kou made Harpas receive that hit but Harpas's magic reflecting ability couldn't completely deflect the beam with increased output.

For a few seconds the light spear and Harpas' field struggled for supremacy but eventually it divided into parts and disappeared in the empty space.

"Wh - what are you doing? "

"You can't possibly ask me that. You're fighting against me right now. Don't confuse the order of things."

"Shut the fuck up! You're coming after. I need to hurry so this guy doesn't run!"

"That's not my problem"

With that cold reply, Shin turned his eyes on Kazuma.

"I didn't know what business you have but withdraw for a short while. If you become more of a nuisance I'll kill you"

"<<Shining>> and <<Devil Summoner>> - both of you are <<Second Class>> <<Seeds>>"

Kazuma didn't reply, ignoring those affected threatening words.

Having been ignored, Shin's veins popped out but ignoring even that, the man one-sided announced his business.

"Answer to me. Where is Pandemonium, the place you scum class changed."

"Che! There's no need to tell someone like you! "

Spitting out in a rough manner, Kou ordered the demons to attack.

"But, that's right, if you win against these guys maybe I will teach you - "

He didn't had time to finish his phrase. The moment he uttered those words the three demons were beheaded by frozen wind blades.

What's more, even Harpas, holding a magic reflective power, was divided in two.

"Gaaaaaahhh! "

Immediately before a scream that didn't seem human but beast-like roared. All eyes gathered there.

On the writhing and screaming <<Devil Master>> Kou.

Experiencing the <<Death>> of four demons at the same time, what he felt via his physical nerves what more than he could handle.

His body literally experiencing the an agony more painful than death, without even being able to faint all four of Kou's limbs were convulsing and from his mouth opened to the limit, he gushed out fresh blood and shrieks.

But, because he already the resistance of a similar experience or because he had some kind of counter measure, Kou didn't lost his awareness or sanity but continued to bear that suffering.

He was made to bear that suffering.

"Aah......aah......aah? "

Overhead Kou, lying down face up breathing roughly, a black shadow blocked the moonlight. Focusing his blurry eyes, he barely focused.

" - Hiii! "

He gasped involuntarily.

The Shinigami was looking down on him with a cold gaze.

"Aa.........aauaa........."

He wanted to run but his body was completely still. He cannot look away.

The embodiment of heath, that nihilistic pupil seized his conscience and won't let go.

"N - No....stop........"

Trying to go against something he'll never be able to go against, Kou finally became realized. That if he won't obey, he'll certainly be killed.

- Unfortunately, that was definitely a mistake.

With eyes full of supplication Kou looked up at the Shinigami - Kazuma. He desperately begged for his life.

"P - Please wait.......p-please, wait.......I don't know where Pandemonium is......I really don't, please believe me......"

It was true. Certainly, at the time he made the class change he walked in the physical Pandemonium but he arrived there after walking aimlessly so he really didn't remember it. The same happened on the way back.

" - I thought so"

After a brief period of silence, Kazuma blandly assented without asking twice. In Kou's eyes the light of hope dwells.

"T - That's right! I'm sorry for making you come all this way for nothing. B - But I'll cooperate with you! I have friends who know things! So - "

"I don't thing he would behave so stupidly that even shit like you would realize. But, at least a clue must have remained inside you"

Ignoring Kou's words, frantically flattering him, Kazuma took out a black glove. He wore it on left hand. Inside the very dim light, it seemed Kazuma's left hand disappeared.

It a person with good judgment were to be present there, maybe it wound realize that the glove didn't reflect any light.

"Before your brains burn and break, do your best to remember"

Saying that, Kazuma's left hand completely stretched and was thrust before Kou's forehead.

And, with no hesitation, pushed in.

Without resistance, four fingers wrapped in the glove sunk inside the skull.

"GRNNNNNNGYOEEEEEEOOOOOOOO!!!"

From Kou's mouth that kind of sound came out.

Of course they weren't words. Even his voice was barely recognizable.

It was as if raw pain was turned into the vibration of the air. It was as though that dissonance could break the ears.

Even appraised as ''an inhuman sound'' was wrong as the shriek couldn't possibly originate from a living thing.

It was a sound that would remain forever in the eardrums and brains of the unlucky people who were present and revived every night during nightmares.

"..............."

But without being the least perturbed in the least by Kou's disgraceful behavior, Kazuma calmly continued doing his work.

The fingers piercing the brain were moving carefully as if searching for something.

Each time his handling was making the feet and hands to nervously springing up, his fingers were reaching deeper.

" - Che"

Smacking his lips a little, Kazuma stood up. Simultaneously, the fingers that churn the brain were drawn out.

From his fingertips, some sort of fluid was dripping.

And yet, whether it was the glove's capability of Kazuma's power, on Kou's face not a trace remained.

But, that face opening its eyes wide and drolling and that body that was intermittently convulsing even now clearly demonstrated the abnormality produced in the man's body.

''I'd rather die than become that'' - everyone thought so when looking at that sorry state, it was that sort of atrocity.

" - well then"

Defying the hellish, oppressive silence, Kazuma slowly turned around. In the line of his sight was -

"Will you also exercise your right to remain silent? ", he asked in a quiet tone while gazing at <<Shining>> Shin.

With a start Shin's body trembled and stared at the juice dripping from Kazuma's left hand.

"Aah, this?"

With something that slightly resembled a bitter smile, Kazuma his left hand.

"It's alright. This won't damage your brain. It will only hurt a little"

The smile peeking around his mouth deeply grew. Together with a dark gloom and sadness.

"If you have a strong spirit, by the time I finish you'll only be mad"

" - !!!"

That heartless but also half hearted sentence, filled Shin's heart with horror.

His survival instinct was ordering retreat - no, capitulation.

He was no math for him. He absolutely cannot win. He won't be allowed to run.

There's no choice but to fall to his knees.

''"Ridiculous, what are you thinking? The opponent is only a wind user! "''

But the whisper of instinct was rejected by the voice of reason. Saying, he cannot be defeated by a wind user.

He was very intelligent so Shin overestimated intelligence and reason over instinct.

In comparison with baseless intuition, deriving answers from objective data and logical thinking was the sigh of a great man - that's what he was thinking.

It was obvious which is faster between wind and light et cetera. If fact he defeated two wind users until now.

''"That's right. Loosing it's impossible"''

Promptly removing his fear and becoming very confident instead. And then, that sadistic enjoyment.

Dreaming of Kazuma's silhouette writhing inside a pool of blood, Shin shivered with a dark delight.

''"Ku ku - I'll sever his feet and hands and teach him his place while crawling like a worm"

His golden eyes sparked and his sharp, long fangs peeked from the beginning from his curved lips.

Even hough he expressed such an inhuman smile, Shin warned with plenty of composure.

"If you think I'm the same as that trash, you'll have a painful experience"

Kazuma was silent. Without showing any reaction, he stepped up with constant steps.

"Fuu, how foolish"

Murmuring in an affected tone, Shin pushed out his right hand. The surging out <<Javelin>>

The flash exceeding the speed of light not to mention seeing all, he won't give him even the time to notice the attack.

What happened to him, he will die even before understanding it - that is the fate of one opposing <<Javelin>>.

This is the end.

" - huh!?"

Shin's eyes opened wide in shock. In spite of firing a certain kill hit Kazuma was still standing.

That head that was supposed to evaporate was unscratched, not even his walking pace changed.

" - You undid it? "

Frowning his brows he pointed his right hand forward again.

Deciding on aiming at the center of his face, he fired.

The blue light glittered in the night air and split in two before Kazuma's eyes.

The beam divided into parts faded on Kazuma's both sides and vainly disappeared in the air.

"Wha - ?"

In front of the lack of common sense spectacle, Shin became rigid. But, a moment after.

But in order to hit Kazuma, approaching as if nothing happened, he rapid-fired <<Javelin>> without taking aim.

All of it burst open and disappeared in front of Kazuma.

"S - slicing light using wind.....?"

If he were to explain the spectacle generated in front of him, that's the only explanation he could thing of.

Everything else was impossible. But, even so -

"D - don't screw around - "

Letting anger take its course, Shin shouted.

"It's impossible to cut light using wind! Besides, are you bastard trying to say you can see an attack at the speed of light? "

Those were some irrational words but to be expected from his, from their common sense.

A qualified person that could manipulate the flow of air, a <<Wind User>> whose ability was granted by Pandemonium couldn't possibly slice light.

But Kazuma was Fujutsushi - A Jutsushi who could concretely express his will and change the world via the Wind Spirits.

Although it seemed the same on the outside its true nature had a totally different dimension.

For Kazuma's wind charged with thoughts of decapitation, there's nothing it can't cut.

Even if it were to run at the speed of light it's unthinkable not to be able to cut only a laser-beam.

"Sh - Shit! "

Without learning his lesson, Shin fired <<Javelin>>. But, faster than light Kazuma's wind was of course quicker than even the technique's activation.

Shin's right arm pushed forward was silently severed from the joint.

The <<Javelin>> fired while the arm was mid-way falling fired below and made a round hole in the ground.

".........eh?"

Shin looked down at the arm tumbling down on top of the the grass with a blank expression. That gaze gradually got up and stopped nearby his right shoulder.

Immediately, as if matching his timing, fresh blood gushed out from the wound.

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaahh !!"

Screaming in panic, he held down the wound, the joint of his amputated right arm with his left hand. Obviously, the hemorrhage didn't stop just because of that, fresh blood pouring from the gaps between his fingers.

That right side of his blue uniform only was dyed red.

"Uooo, Uaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!! "

Shin continued to scream.

In silence Kazuma took the last step and casually tripped up Shin. He trampled down on it, lying face down. On the body with just one arm.

Whether it was by purpose or by accident, with just that one move of stepping on his back, Kazuma perfectly blocked all of Shin's resistance.

"............"

The screams stopped. The pain and shock were surpassed by the absolute fear.

Twisting his neck as much as possible, Shin looked up at Kazuma.

"W - Wait! Wait, please wait! "

With tears overflowing his wide eyes, Shin desperately begged for forgiveness.

"I'll speak! I'll tell you everything! So, so please - "

But the fierce chills that he felt in his head interrupted his heartbreaking petition. As if taking a roundabout path because the back of his head was getting in the way, fingertips were approaching his forehead.

Slipping inside his head and mind, the fingertips of destruction that stole everything.

''"N - No......No - "''

The feel of fingers forcing their way through flash, bone and brains.

That physically impossible repulsiveness lightly broke Shin's hard but brittle mind.

" ----------------------------!!"

The soundless scream roared in the night sky - and disappeared.

=== Part 4 ===

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 091.jpg|thumb|]]

"Yo"

" - huh? "

His shoulder abruptly clapped from behind, Isurughi Daiki's body shook.

Looking over his shoulder as if he was flipped, there was a man without any feeling of tension and a relaxed smile.

"Yagami-san! "

Containing the fact he had been frightened, with a tone full of criticism, Daiki called out the man's name.

"What have you done until now? You made the Chief be worried about you! "

"That so? I thought about showing my face around here, though"

Without caring about the criticism, Kazuma shrugged his shoulders.

That attitude, so very usual, secretly made Daiki relieved.

''"What, isn't he completely alright? "''

''''Don't make eye contact''''

''''Don't defy him in any way''''

''''Avoid getting in touch with him as much as possible, take refuge immediately and report the place he's at afterwards''''

- What was Kirika pointing to her subordinates the way to interact carefully with Kazuma as if he was some sort of atrocious criminal, Daiki felt like it was entirely unnecessary.

Even his smiling face, lively and a little cynical, even his casual attitude with no affectation unlikely for the Jutsushi with the highest rank in this world, there was nothing unusual.

A dangerous presence was not to be found.

''"I should tell the Chief when she returns. That "There's no need to worry". "''

Even though a policeman, Daiki was nothing more but a newbie who had only just been assigned.

The skills of a police detective such as the insight to see through the true feelings hidden behind a smiling face had yet to appear.

Consequently, not realizing Kazuma's eyes were entirely not laughing, Daiki interacted with him just like before.

"So, I don't know where you've been or what you have been doing but did you find something? "

"Absolutely nothing. Your way? "

At the light retort that betrayed his expectations, Daiki let out a dry laugh.

"Ha ha.......instead of progress, the problems increased"

" - Did something happen? "

"Utsumi Kousuke escaped "

"........."

Kazuma looked slightly upwards and was silent.

Ten seconds passed. And then, looking at Daiki holding his breath and waiting for Kazuma's reaction, he replied with a serious face.

"Who is that? "

"Whaaaa!? "

Daiki collapsed.

"Is that comedic stupidity? It's the spell user acting violently at Ayano-san's school! "

".....aah, now that you mention it there was that story "

Finally remembering, Kazuma made a small nod. As if searching around for memories, he spoke slowly.

"But, didn't you catch him? The barrier there is not something an amateur can break, no? "

"Yeah, that's right but - "

Pulling himself together, Daiki explained the situation with a serious face. As the story progressed, Kazuma's face became more and more sharp.

"humph - I see "

For one moment all expression disappeared from Kazuma's face. From the ruin of the smiling face mask came undone, a terribly dry and hollow face with no makeup peeked.

But Daiki didn't became aware of it.

"I understand. I'll also look for him "

"Aah, we're saved"

Without showing distrust towards Kazuma's words, who instantly smoothed over his facial expression, he was innocently glad.

"Ooh, this became a major incident. Even though we're short-handed even at the best of times, we even had to guard the girl Utsumi is aiming at! "

"Well, it can't be helped right? It's Ayano's acquittance. If you were to make a blunder she could kill all of you in a fit of anger. Even Kirika's desperate, right? "

"........I don't think Ayano-san is that kind of person. "

"........aah? "

Kazuma raised his eyebrows quizzical and Daiki started to justify himself red in the face.

"Aah, no, you see, there's no special meaning, ugh.......Ayano-san is a kind person, so maybe she won't have such an unreasonable behavior or something.........it's...it's just that! Deeper feelings than those, I really....... "

"Aah......., well, isn't that fine? "

With a careless expression, Kazuma interrupted the excuse that continued for too long.

"I think that's a peculiar taste but it's got nothing to do with me. "

" - You're not mad? "

"Why would I? ", asked Kazuma with a serious face.

"I think it would be terrible (for you) if it would turn out well but do your best. I'll secretly root for you"

"Ha, haaa......"

With an irrelevant expression, Daiki nodded his head ambiguously. Taking that as the end of conversation Kazuma announced.

"Well then, tell me if you find something new "

"Aah, yes, roger that. Yagami-san too, get in tough with the Chief as soon as possible"

"I said I understand"

Waiving his hand across his back, Kazuma vanished inside the crowd of people. Because he send off that silhouette, Daiki returned inside the Police Department to inform Kirika of this.

After this, charged with the crime of not contacting her immediately, Kirika turned her highest level of anger on Daiki - That is a digression.

After parting from Daiki, as a matter of course Kazuma tore off the smiling mask.

What became visible from inside, although having the same smile, carried the opposite emotion - a desolate, humorless, dark smile.

Scattering an ominous presence that would put the fear of God even into a yakuza, Kazuma stepped forward inside the crowd of people as if conquering an inhabited land.

"Utsumi Kousuke, huh......? "

From that mouth chiseled in a smile one guy's name leaked out. The thoughtless, foolish boy who could see only under his nose.

Attached to that boy, the face of a girl came to his mind. He saw her once or twice through Ayano, a clever girl with a strong will carried in her eyes.

"........I can use this", laughed Kazuma raising his lips.

The word ''heartless'' doesn't even begin to describe the face smiling or rather sighing.

It was the face of a demon.

<noinclude>

===References===
<references/>

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|-
| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_1|Chapter 1]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_3|Chapter 3]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 2

2013-10-17T22:55:36Z

Antanaru: /* Part 2 */ Spelling, spacing and missing word.

== Chapter 2 - The mad Fujutsushi ==

=== Part 1 ===

The dead of night - Without even a slight movement, Kazuma opened his eyes wide in silence.

A cynical remembrance of those magnificent, dream-like happy days.

He woke up because the happiness was too much. It was like being taught that he will never go back to those times, not even in the middle of dreaming.

"Ku.....Kuu ku ku..."

A hollow laughter escaped. As if sneering at his ugliness and the whole world.

As a result of losing everything, he obtained that which no matter how much he wished for evaded him.

That was a modest, commonplace happiness found everywhere.

There was a person who would smile at him, tell him ''Good morning'' when he woke up and ''Good night'' when it was the time to sleep - only that but those were irreplaceable days full of happiness.

Even the power he pursued like a mad-man disappeared like something from a dream.

Because he met a person who looked at him plainly, not at <<his own strength>> or <<himself with power>>.

If he could have protected that girl and the small world revolving around her, it would have been enough.

Even if he couldn't hunt Youmas, there was no need for self-abasement.

He really thought so, from the bottom of his heart.

Until the time that happy paradise crumbled away without leaving any trace.

''"Really......."''

Inside the darkness, Kazuma laughed at his foolishness.

How naive was he.

If you're weak, if you lose, you can't protect anything. It means losing everything.

Just like he deserved, he became alone again.

No - he's not alone.

There's him and he - those two.

Revenge is vain, it's a sterile act that doesn't give back anything, an intelligent person will proclaim so with a triumphant expression.

Kazuma generally agreed with it. When he pursued that man, during that time he lived only for revenge he never thought revenge was meaningful.

But there was nothing else left except for that. There was nothing else to do.

That's why, he desperately refined his ability. Throwing away anything else, all for the sake of killing one man. But -

"I made a mistake....."

Erasing his facial expression, just like a Noh mask, Kazuma murmured.

This is the result of thinking that dealing with that man was enough and neglecting his followers.

''"If you find the answer, come again."''

Those conceited parting words, won't go away. Words said from the view-point of the superior one that completely look down on him.

Kazuma groaned, tightly clenching his fists at that disgrace.

"''the answer'', you said? Isn't it obvious..........Kill you. Break that good-for-nothing doll - Aah, I'll do it. This time, for sure"

His mouth warped, the same daring smile as ever. But, if Ayano or Ren were to see his eyes, they would probably be at a loss for words.

Hatred and insanity and the pair of eyes swirling in evil malice boiling hot with deeply rooted delusions, changed that cynical but cheerful smile in a different thing altogether.

That smile, expressed by most of the enemies they killed until now, was mad.

=== Part 2 ===

Late at night, there was a countless number of people surrounding the already closed public park.

Everyone was young. The eldest was maybe in the first half of his twenty. But, considering it was a gathering of young people a bizarre silence was floating around that place.

A heavy silence.

Even the noises made sometimes didn't had a following and vainly disappeared in the air.

It couldn't be concluded that they held their breath in fear of being seen trespassing on the park. They don't care about such ethical viewpoints. They don't have law-abiding intentions.

If they were accused, perhaps they would ask back with a straight face. What's wrong with creeping in a closed park? They're not troubling anyone, or something.

They weren't silent, they were accumulating. Preparing for the moment of explosion drawing near, silently raising the pressure. They had one mind.

And then, a few minutes later - the time came.

"It - it came......."

"It's coming........"

Together with the muffled commotion the crowd of people separated in halves, and one man stepped forward to the center of the plaza. After him, another one.

Facing each other at a distance of roughly five meters, the two men.

Looking at them, a buzz spread among the members of the audience and this time the volume was raising without a pause.

Someone stamped his feet.

''''Dan....Don.....Don....''''

Swiftly propagating in the surroundings, it was like a rumble in the ground, making the earth tremble.

''''Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! ''''

Excited cheering piercing the ears and earth tremor.

Those two men standing in the middle - didn't need explanation, the situation was very clear.

It's very improbable but assuming there was a man who arrived here by accident, he would be able to see through this event instantly.

That this is an arena. That for the sake of watching the two man at the center fight for their lives, so many spectators gathered and they were widely enthusiastic, beyond reason.

It wasn't unreasonable for the spectators to be so stimulated. The match tonight was the largest ''big game'' since '''the game''' started.

Among spectators there were many players like the two in the center.

For such people it was an aspiration but also a landmark - those belonging to the <<Second Class>>, the <<Seeds>> will for the first time fight each other tonight.

At a different level than those <<First Class>>, the spectators anxious to see the exchange of power beyond human understanding were raising their voices in joyous shouts similar to angry roars.

Contrastive with the members of the audience, the men standing still at the center, were silent.

Exchanged glances. Sneer versus scornful laughter.

On one side, a slender boy dressed in a school uniform, <<Shining>> Shin.

The other one, with a black leather jacket and black pants and metal accessories dangling here and there - <<Devil Master>> Kou.

At the time the spectators started flustering about the two continuing to stand off against each other, as if signalling the start of battle, Shin got the ball rolling.

"No way, you don't really think you can win this match right?"

Words that were polite at first but clearly had no problem looking down on the opponent.

That figure properly wearing a blue school uniform from a famous high school was perhaps suited with that tone.

"You're a demon-user. While you can summon powerful demons, you yourself have no power. You may be able to win against <<First Class>> small fry with only that but it won't work on the <<Second Class>>, the <<Seeds>>", Shin declared, together with a blatant sneer.

"I don't know how many <<Seeds>> there are - but I'm prepared to bet. That you are the weakest"

"Che, shut the fuck up", Kou swore, without showing any hint of being shaken by Shin's words.

"Don't be so conceited for a tumbler whose only redeeming feature is sparkling. A boy from an elite school shouldn't fight, how about you go home and study for a test, huh? With that power of yours you could lower<ref>Editor's note: I guess that's the word lost in translation--~~~~</ref> your electric bill so it's pretty convenient, huh? "

" - Those words will cost you greatly", announced Shin in a frozen voice, closing his eyes partly.

"I'll kick you down"

Kou raised his right hand middle finger. And then - the battle start.

"Coma out, Harpas!"

"You're slow!"

In front of Kou the space was warped. The summoned demon was an omen that appeared from the underworld, beyond our dimension. But, without waiting for it, Shin pushed out his right hand straight ahead.

"My ability is the fastest. And also, the strongest"

He had enough composure to say so, proudly.

That was by no means an exaggeration. At present, the fastest <<Skill>> confirmed until now was the <<Seed>> manipulating light, the <<Javelin>> fired by <<Shining>>

Its natural shape was light collected into a wave, in a word a laser beam. Except the way it was produced, it was a purely physical light.

It had no special magic effects but the overwhelming caloric value burned through everything with the speed of light, literally.

"Just die!"

The spear of light was fired together with the death sentence. Shin was convinced of victory. But -

".........."

He faintly frowned.

A resistance from the place he hit should have been impossible but he felt he missed his chance to kill.

As if supporting that, the distortion in space flickered without showing any sign the distortion ended. From inside there, the darkness of the underground peeked.

And then, two ominous red lights.

"Kuu!"

Although faltering, Shin fired the light once more. The ray glistening blue pierced at the center of the distorted place - and silently, it was repelled.

The light slipped off at a slightly different angle and grazed Shin's cheek.

"Wha - ?"

Shin's face was distorted with shock. Looking at it, showed a sneer full of superiority.

"Ku kuu, did you think I would appear in front of you without any counter-plan? It won't work, you know. Because your power can't even scratch me! "

"Ab - absurd......"

Opening his eyes wide in surprise, Shin stared at Kou.

The distortion in space before he realized. But not one demon was summoned -

"N - No.......that's...."

In front of Kou, a small bird was flying. With bright white feathers even in the dark. Crimson eyes.

"A pigeon? Are you saying a pigeon reflected my <<Javelin>>?"

The pure white small bird was flying playfully around Kou, describing a helix. And then stopped on his shoulder.

Those red eyes pierced through Shin.

" - tch!"

Faced with that sinister thing, Shin involuntarily gasped.

He understood at a glance. That this thing has no connection with its outward appearance.

Profound understanding no ordinary bird would posses, overwhelming hatred and an evil disposition, everything was clamoring inside those eyes.

"Did you contract the Devil King Harpas Solomon, the ruler of seventy two demons?"

Clearly showing a knowledge of summoning, Shin raised a cry of shock. But -

"King Solomon? Who the heck is that? "

"Huh? "

Shin's jaw fell.

"This guy is no devil king. it's the demon Harpas - holding the power to reflect magic, my trump card!"

"R- reflect magic !?"

Not remembering any sort of such description in ''Lemegeton'' or ''The key of Solomon'', Shin stared at Harpas with astonishment.

"Huh, it's something an elite like you doesn't know! It's common sense, you understand, common sense! "

Kou was becoming increasingly elated. And then, he shouted loudly.

"I'm not finished yet! Come out, Fenrir! Flesberg!"

Responding to the summoning voice, new demons made an appearance. A huge wolf and an eagle.

Both their eyes filled with overwhelming energy, fixing their glares on the stand rock still Shin.

Of course, Harpas didn't disappear.

"Impossible....Can you operate three demons at the same time? ", groaned Shin with a shuddering voice.

It was understandable. More than sealing direct attacks, beginning attacking in waves from the ground and the sky - it was practically an iron wall battle formation.

Right now, there was no way for him to resist.

"You shit, you said earlier I was the weakest, huh? ", Kou said putting on airs of teasing him.

"Then, it means right now you are in the position of <<The Worst One>>. No, maybe outside the ranks, as if you were dead? "

"B- bastard......"

"Devour even his bones! Go, Fenrir! Flesberg!"

In response to the owner's command, the two beast stir.

Fenrir forcefully gallop on the ground, Flesberg flaps his wings in the night sky.

"D - Don't underestimate me!"

Aiming at the attacking demons, Shin fired rapidly <<Javelin>>. But, because of their very beast-like movements he, no more than a human man, wasn't able to reach them.

The light rays slipped through and danced like during a concert and the two beasts drew near fast like the wind.

"U - Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Without shame or honor, Shin tumbled on the ground dodging the beast's attack.

The symbol of his excellence, the blue uniform was smeared in dust.

"Haa ha ha ha ha! Don't you look good, elite boy! Do your best and show me just how far can you run! "

Shin glared with eyes boiling with hatred at Kou, laughing loudly.

But, the spear of light doesn't reach the fagot.

For him right now there was no other option but wait for a chance to recover from this hopeless situation while running about like a hunted animal.

''"Shit! Shit! Shit!! I'm - '''I'm - '''"''

While this disgrace was burned into his consciousness, Shin continued running around in this ugly manner.

This could possibly the biggest disgrace of his life. Not, a close fight.

He was fighting one with the same rank. Although he verbally looked down on his opponent, he didn't believe he could win easily from the start.

But, this is different.

He's not fighting hard against the <<Devil Summoner>>. He's fighting hard against the demons the <<Devil Summoner>> is employing.

Even though they are the same, the difference is so big.

The ones fighting, the two beasts versus the <<Javelin>> itself. The <<Devil Summoner>> is only watching from a safe place.

He - the <<Javelin>> was right now left behind the <<Devil Summoner>>. Not the ups and lows of abilities.

For example, it was like the existence of the piece called <<Game Player>> itself was considered of lower rank.

He didn't allow it.

He was a chosen one. In comparison to those masses whose existence was optional, he was a superior being.

For someone like him to be considered the same rank as those enslaved beasts, to be looked down upon by such a vulgar man, it was something that shouldn't exist.

''"If I only had more power"''

He desired power. He was keenly craving it.

And believed in it. The fact that he still had a dormant power.

He believed so because he was a chosen man. Because it's impossible for him to loose to that scum.

that's why he ought to have a hidden power.

at that time, something pulsated inside his body. A pulse that seemed to make his heart explode and made his blood boil.

Simultaneously he strangely could see clearly the movements of the beasts that until now only seemed an afterimage.

Even their paths as of now, their position one moment in the future were decided with level of foresight that exceeded simple prediction.

His pupils lengthened vertically and captured all vectors glittering yellow.

Equally simple like shooting the targets in slow motion, no as if they stopped, Shin shot the huge beast jumping low.

"Ghyaaaa!"

Shot through the side, Fenrir raised a cry of pain. From its mouth with barred teeth, a large quantity of blood was vomited.

"Fe - Fenrir!"

" - Did I miss killing him, huh?"

Kou was panicking but Shin spoke in a contrastive cool tone.

He still couldn't use his body according to the future foresight. Conversely to the situation until now, Shin's reading exceeded Fenrir's movement but his aim was slightly off.

"R - retreat, Fenrir!"

With a suspicions discomposure, Kou made Fenrir retreat. The big wolf's image blurred and returned to the underworld with a wound body.

The fact that Kou became confused and was panicking over Fenrir's wounds was only natural.

Summoning magic was a double edged sword. He was able to use the power of a mighty demon but the moment the demon died, his own receives those damages.

Kou personally tested that with his own body.

"Kuu - Flesberg!"

Kou ordered the winged demon circling in the sky to attack.

Flesberg assailed Shin with an almost vertical attack. It was power drive (?).

Using the aid of gravity, its speed broke through the speed of sounds in the blink of an eye.

But for Shin's eyes, strangely changed, it looked like a caterpillar even at the speed of sound.

Brandishing Javelin in a mow down motion he burned half of Flesberg's right wing.

Flesberg suddenly lost momentum and crashed into the ground.

The huge bird that crashed down at a subsonic speed, and as compensation for crater it created on the ground it exploded and scattered in all directions without leaving any trace.

"Gaaaah!? "

The shriek of understanding of the familiars' death scream reach from a slightly far away place. Obviously it was the summons's master - Kou's scream.

"B - Bastard......you bastard, how dare you"

"''The turning wind'', huh? it must be hard being a summon master...", said Shin blandly, staring coldly at Kou groaning in pain.

As he was knowledgeable in the occult, he obviously knew the dangers of it.

"What will you do, do you want to <<Give Up>>? If you get down to your knees and apologize for your rudeness until now, I may forgive you"

"F - Fuck off"

Although grasping his painful heart, Kou didn't lost his will to fight. Seizing his telephone with the other hand, he pushed it forward proudly.

"Don't believe you won after defeating only two. I stocked ten other demons inside this telephone. Seven still remain."

"That's good", replied Shin with no indication of disturbance.

"Then call the next one already. The <<Death>> of another seven - I'm very interested how long will you be able to endure that agony? "

Shin laughed, making those golden pupils shine bright in the dark night. From his lips turned up something as long as fangs and very sharp peeked.

" B - Bastard..."

Overawed by Shin, who seemed like a different person, Kou instinctively backed off.

"What's up with your eyes......and those teeth, are they fangs?"

"Is there something wrong with my eyes? "

Shin slightly curved his lips, fixing his glasses.

"Something like that doesn't matter. What I am interested right now is your pain and you screams in the agony of death, only that. I think it's obvious - "

from his warped lips, white fangs showed. The quiet insanity dwelling in those golden pupils. The Kehai of a devilish, inhuman person -

"Don't worry, I won't let you die"

"Come out, Fafnir! Mushufushu! Raksasha! "

Together with the sentence full of joy, Kou called out his most powerful demons.

Realizing the battle reached its climax the spectators screamed from the bottom of their lungs and stamped their feet.

At that time - that man appeared.

=== Part 3 ===

The cheers were interrupted, the commotion died out.

All sound vanished from the plaza.

The silence overflowed.

The spectators that moments before were wild with enthusiasm felt goose-flesh.

Frozen in place like all their hearts were caught in a tight hold, not one moved. No, they couldn't move.

The group of people that originally lost their reason don't have reason enough to recognize the change in atmosphere.

But even so, they noticed this.

As if at that moment the entire world became their enemy, from all direction an intimidating air was drawing near.

As if they had been swallowed in the belly of huge monster - most people had that kind of mental image.

That was true in a certain sense.

They had certainly been gulped down.

By the '''domain''' of the man who ruled the entire atmosphere covering this earth.

The air was sharply prickling the skin. It weighted on as if squashing them.

Their necks exposed to the Shinigami's sickle, almost all felt that freezing fear.

The crowd of people was divided. Just like the time the two were ushered into the ring.

But the decision was loaded with a different intention.

Everyone looked at that one man walking towards them holding their breath. No one tried to stop the impolite man becoming a hindrance for the battle at its climax. No one raised their voice. No one wanted to have anything to do with him.

Everyone realized. The origin of this presence full of death that altogether enshrouded the park, of the this sinister atmosphere was just this one man.

But - there were also people who didn't notice. For example those sky-rocketing tensions, in the middle of the battle.

"Aaaaaaaaah!? Y - you - !!"

Kou - known as <<Hell Hound>> before the <<Class Change>>, knew the face of the man that appeared.

When he perceived the man he hated, the one who made him taste his first defeat he shouted in a voice trembling with anger.

"At last your time has come, bastard! Aren't you together with the police dog? "

Looking around, he searched for the child-faced police officer that once defeated him. But, he wasn't anywhere.

"He hee"

Confirming that the man was alone, on Kou's face a broad, sadistic grin appeared.

The unfortunate part - was that he didn't know this man's - Yagami Kazuma's power.

It was very unfortunate.

"Showing your mug around here by yourself, so nonchalantly...I'll pay you hundred-fold for back then! "

Burning with resentment, Kou tried to spur his demons on Kazuma. But -

"Wait!"

The long beam shot together with the voice hindered Kou's revenge. Obviously, it was the <<Javelin>> shot by Shin.

" - huh!?"

Kou made Harpas receive that hit but Harpas's magic reflecting ability couldn't completely deflect the beam with increased output.

For a few seconds the light spear and Harpas' field struggled for supremacy but eventually it divided into parts and disappeared in the empty space.

"Wh - what are you doing? "

"You can't possibly ask me that. You're fighting against me right now. Don't confuse the order of things."

"Shut the fuck up! You're coming after. I need to hurry so this guy doesn't run!"

"That's not my problem"

With that cold reply, Shin turned his eyes on Kazuma.

"I didn't know what business you have but withdraw for a short while. If you become more of a nuisance I'll kill you"

"<<Shining>> and <<Devil Summoner>> - both of you are <<Second Class>> <<Seeds>>"

Kazuma didn't reply, ignoring those affected threatening words.

Having been ignored, Shin's veins popped out but ignoring even that, the man one-sided announced his business.

"Answer to me. Where is Pandemonium, the place you scum class changed."

"Che! There's no need to tell someone like you! "

Spitting out in a rough manner, Kou ordered the demons to attack.

"But, that's right, if you win against these guys maybe I will teach you - "

He didn't had time to finish his phrase. The moment he uttered those words the three demons were beheaded by frozen wind blades.

What's more, even Harpas, holding a magic reflective power, was divided in two.

"Gaaaaaahhh! "

Immediately before a scream that didn't seem human but beast-like roared. All eyes gathered there.

On the writhing and screaming <<Devil Master>> Kou.

Experiencing the <<Death>> of four demons at the same time, what he felt via his physical nerves what more than he could handle.

His body literally experiencing the an agony more painful than death, without even being able to faint all four of Kou's limbs were convulsing and from his mouth opened to the limit, he gushed out fresh blood and shrieks.

But, because he already the resistance of a similar experience or because he had some kind of counter measure, Kou didn't lost his awareness or sanity but continued to bear that suffering.

He was made to bear that suffering.

"Aah......aah......aah? "

Overhead Kou, lying down face up breathing roughly, a black shadow blocked the moonlight. Focusing his blurry eyes, he barely focused.

" - Hiii! "

He gasped involuntarily.

The Shinigami was looking down on him with a cold gaze.

"Aa.........aauaa........."

He wanted to run but his body was completely still. He cannot look away.

The embodiment of heath, that nihilistic pupil seized his conscience and won't let go.

"N - No....stop........"

Trying to go against something he'll never be able to go against, Kou finally became realized. That if he won't obey, he'll certainly be killed.

- Unfortunately, that was definitely a mistake.

With eyes full of supplication Kou looked up at the Shinigami - Kazuma. He desperately begged for his life.

"P - Please wait.......p-please, wait.......I don't know where Pandemonium is......I really don't, please believe me......"

It was true. Certainly, at the time he made the class change he walked in the physical Pandemonium but he arrived there after walking aimlessly so he really didn't remember it. The same happened on the way back.

" - I thought so"

After a brief period of silence, Kazuma blandly assented without asking twice. In Kou's eyes the light of hope dwells.

"T - That's right! I'm sorry for making you come all this way for nothing. B - But I'll cooperate with you! I have friends who know things! So - "

"I don't thing he would behave so stupidly that even shit like you would realize. But, at least a clue must have remained inside you"

Ignoring Kou's words, frantically flattering him, Kazuma took out a black glove. He wore it on left hand. Inside the very dim light, it seemed Kazuma's left hand disappeared.

It a person with good judgment were to be present there, maybe it wound realize that the glove didn't reflect any light.

"Before your brains burn and break, do your best to remember"

Saying that, Kazuma's left hand completely stretched and was thrust before Kou's forehead.

And, with no hesitation, pushed in.

Without resistance, four fingers wrapped in the glove sunk inside the skull.

"GRNNNNNNGYOEEEEEEOOOOOOOO!!!"

From Kou's mouth that kind of sound came out.

Of course they weren't words. Even his voice was barely recognizable.

It was as if raw pain was turned into the vibration of the air. It was as though that dissonance could break the ears.

Even appraised as ''an inhuman sound'' was wrong as the shriek couldn't possibly originate from a living thing.

It was a sound that would remain forever in the eardrums and brains of the unlucky people who were present and revived every night during nightmares.

"..............."

But without being the least perturbed in the least by Kou's disgraceful behavior, Kazuma calmly continued doing his work.

The fingers piercing the brain were moving carefully as if searching for something.

Each time his handling was making the feet and hands to nervously springing up, his fingers were reaching deeper.

" - Che"

Smacking his lips a little, Kazuma stood up. Simultaneously, the fingers that churn the brain were drawn out.

From his fingertips, some sort of fluid was dripping.

And yet, whether it was the glove's capability of Kazuma's power, on Kou's face not a trace remained.

But, that face opening its eyes wide and drolling and that body that was intermittently convulsing even now clearly demonstrated the abnormality produced in the man's body.

''I'd rather die than become that'' - everyone thought so when looking at that sorry state, it was that sort of atrocity.

" - well then"

Defying the hellish, oppressive silence, Kazuma slowly turned around. In the line of his sight was -

"Will you also exercise your right to remain silent? ", he asked in a quiet tone while gazing at <<Shining>> Shin.

With a start Shin's body trembled and stared at the juice dripping from Kazuma's left hand.

"Aah, this?"

With something that slightly resembled a bitter smile, Kazuma his left hand.

"It's alright. This won't damage your brain. It will only hurt a little"

The smile peeking around his mouth deeply grew. Together with a dark gloom and sadness.

"If you have a strong spirit, by the time I finish you'll only be mad"

" - !!!"

That heartless but also half hearted sentence, filled Shin's heart with horror.

His survival instinct was ordering retreat - no, capitulation.

He was no math for him. He absolutely cannot win. He won't be allowed to run.

There's no choice but to fall to his knees.

''"Ridiculous, what are you thinking? The opponent is only a wind user! "''

But the whisper of instinct was rejected by the voice of reason. Saying, he cannot be defeated by a wind user.

He was very intelligent so Shin overestimated intelligence and reason over instinct.

In comparison with baseless intuition, deriving answers from objective data and logical thinking was the sigh of a great man - that's what he was thinking.

It was obvious which is faster between wind and light et cetera. If fact he defeated two wind users until now.

''"That's right. Loosing it's impossible"''

Promptly removing his fear and becoming very confident instead. And then, that sadistic enjoyment.

Dreaming of Kazuma's silhouette writhing inside a pool of blood, Shin shivered with a dark delight.

''"Ku ku - I'll sever his feet and hands and teach him his place while crawling like a worm"

His golden eyes sparked and his sharp, long fangs peeked from the beginning from his curved lips.

Even hough he expressed such an inhuman smile, Shin warned with plenty of composure.

"If you think I'm the same as that trash, you'll have a painful experience"

Kazuma was silent. Without showing any reaction, he stepped up with constant steps.

"Fuu, how foolish"

Murmuring in an affected tone, Shin pushed out his right hand. The surging out <<Javelin>>

The flash exceeding the speed of light not to mention seeing all, he won't give him even the time to notice the attack.

What happened to him, he will die even before understanding it - that is the fate of one opposing <<Javelin>>.

This is the end.

" - huh!?"

Shin's eyes opened wide in shock. In spite of firing a certain kill hit Kazuma was still standing.

That head that was supposed to evaporate was unscratched, not even his walking pace changed.

" - You undid it? "

Frowning his brows he pointed his right hand forward again.

Deciding on aiming at the center of his face, he fired.

The blue light glittered in the night air and split in two before Kazuma's eyes.

The beam divided into parts faded on Kazuma's both sides and vainly disappeared in the air.

"Wha - ?"

In front of the lack of common sense spectacle, Shin became rigid. But, a moment after.

But in order to hit Kazuma, approaching as if nothing happened, he rapid-fired <<Javelin>> without taking aim.

All of it burst open and disappeared in front of Kazuma.

"S - slicing light using wind.....?"

If he were to explain the spectacle generated in front of him, that's the only explanation he could thing of.

Everything else was impossible. But, even so -

"D - don't screw around - "

Letting anger take its course, Shin shouted.

"It's impossible to cut light using wind! Besides, are you bastard trying to say you can see an attack at the speed of light? "

Those were some irrational words but to be expected from his, from their common sense.

A qualified person that could manipulate the flow of air, a <<Wind User>> whose ability was granted by Pandemonium couldn't possibly slice light.

But Kazuma was Fujutsushi - A Jutsushi who could concretely express his will and change the world via the Wind Spirits.

Although it seemed the same on the outside its true nature had a totally different dimension.

For Kazuma's wind charged with thoughts of decapitation, there's nothing it can't cut.

Even if it were to run at the speed of light it's unthinkable not to be able to cut only a laser-beam.

"Sh - Shit! "

Without learning his lesson, Shin fired <<Javelin>>. But, faster than light Kazuma's wind was of course quicker than even the technique's activation.

Shin's right arm pushed forward was silently severed from the joint.

The <<Javelin>> fired while the arm was mid-way falling fired below and made a round hole in the ground.

".........eh?"

Shin looked down at the arm tumbling down on top of the the grass with a blank expression. That gaze gradually got up and stopped nearby his right shoulder.

Immediately, as if matching his timing, fresh blood gushed out from the wound.

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaahh !!"

Screaming in panic, he held down the wound, the joint of his amputated right arm with his left hand. Obviously, the hemorrhage didn't stop just because of that, fresh blood pouring from the gaps between his fingers.

That right side of his blue uniform only was dyed red.

"Uooo, Uaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!! "

Shin continued to scream.

In silence Kazuma took the last step and casually tripped up Shin. He trampled down on it, lying face down. On the body with just one arm.

Whether it was by purpose or by accident, with just that one move of stepping on his back, Kazuma perfectly blocked all of Shin's resistance.

"............"

The screams stopped. The pain and shock were surpassed by the absolute fear.

Twisting his neck as much as possible, Shin looked up at Kazuma.

"W - Wait! Wait, please wait! "

With tears overflowing his wide eyes, Shin desperately begged for forgiveness.

"I'll speak! I'll tell you everything! So, so please - "

But the fierce chills that he felt in his head interrupted his heartbreaking petition. As if taking a roundabout path because the back of his head was getting in the way, fingertips were approaching his forehead.

Slipping inside his head and mind, the fingertips of destruction that stole everything.

''"N - No......No - "''

The feel of fingers forcing their way through flash, bone and brains.

That physically impossible repulsiveness lightly broke Shin's hard but brittle mind.

" ----------------------------!!"

The soundless scream roared in the night sky - and disappeared.

=== Part 4 ===

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 091.jpg|thumb|]]

"Yo"

" - huh? "

His shoulder abruptly clapped from behind, Isurughi Daiki's body shook.

Looking over his shoulder as if he was flipped, there was a man without any feeling of tension and a relaxed smile.

"Yagami-san! "

Containing the fact he had been frightened, with a tone full of criticism, Daiki called out the man's name.

"What have you done until now? You made the Chief be worried about you! "

"That so? I thought about showing my face around here, though"

Without caring about the criticism, Kazuma shrugged his shoulders.

That attitude, so very usual, secretly made Daiki relieved.

''"What, isn't he completely alright? "''

''''Don't make eye contact''''

''''Don't defy him in any way''''

''''Avoid getting in touch with him as much as possible, take refuge immediately and report the place he's at afterwards''''

- What was Kirika pointing to her subordinates the way to interact carefully with Kazuma as if he was some sort of atrocious criminal, Daiki felt like it was entirely unnecessary.

Even his smiling face, lively and a little cynical, even his casual attitude with no affectation unlikely for the Jutsushi with the highest rank in this world, there was nothing unusual.

A dangerous presence was not to be found.

''"I should tell the Chief when she returns. That "There's no need to worry". "''

Even though a policeman, Daiki was nothing more but a newbie who had only just been assigned.

The skills of a police detective such as the insight to see through the true feelings hidden behind a smiling face had yet to appear.

Consequently, not realizing Kazuma's eyes were entirely not laughing, Daiki interacted with him just like before.

"So, I don't know where you've been or what you have been doing but did you find something? "

"Absolutely nothing. Your way? "

At the light retort that betrayed his expectations, Daiki let out a dry laugh.

"Ha ha.......instead of progress, the problems increased"

" - Did something happen? "

"Utsumi Kousuke escaped "

"........."

Kazuma looked slightly upwards and was silent.

Ten seconds passed. And then, looking at Daiki holding his breath and waiting for Kazuma's reaction, he replied with a serious face.

"Who is that? "

"Whaaaa!? "

Daiki collapsed.

"Is that comedic stupidity? It's the spell user acting violently at Ayano-san's school! "

".....aah, now that you mention it there was that story "

Finally remembering, Kazuma made a small nod. As if searching around for memories, he spoke slowly.

"But, didn't you catch him? The barrier there is not something an amateur can break, no? "

"Yeah, that's right but - "

Pulling himself together, Daiki explained the situation with a serious face. As the story progressed, Kazuma's face became more and more sharp.

"humph - I see "

For one moment all expression disappeared from Kazuma's face. From the ruin of the smiling face mask came undone, a terribly dry and hollow face with no makeup peeked.

But Daiki didn't became aware of it.

"I understand. I'll also look for him "

"Aah, we're saved"

Without showing distrust towards Kazuma's words, who instantly smoothed over his facial expression, he was innocently glad.

"Ooh, this became a major incident. Even though we're short-handed even at the best of times, we even had to guard the girl Utsumi is aiming at! "

"Well, it can't be helped right? It's Ayano's acquittance. If you were to make a blunder she could kill all of you in a fit of anger. Even Kirika's desperate, right? "

"........I don't think Ayano-san is that kind of person. "

"........aah? "

Kazuma raised his eyebrows quizzical and Daiki started to justify himself red in the face.

"Aah, no, you see, there's no special meaning, ugh.......Ayano-san is a kind person, so maybe she won't have such an unreasonable behavior or something.........it's...it's just that! Deeper feelings than those, I really....... "

"Aah......., well, isn't that fine? "

With a careless expression, Kazuma interrupted the excuse that continued for too long.

"I think that's a peculiar taste but it's got nothing to do with me. "

" - You're not mad? "

"Why would I? ", asked Kazuma with a serious face.

"I think it would be terrible (for you) if it would turn out well but do your best. I'll secretly root for you"

"Ha, haaa......"

With an irrelevant expression, Daiki nodded his head ambiguously. Taking that as the end of conversation Kazuma announced.

"Well then, tell me if you find something new "

"Aah, yes, roger that. Yagami-san too, get in tough with the Chief as soon as possible"

"I said I understand"

Waiving his hand across his back, Kazuma vanished inside the crowd of people. Because he send off that silhouette, Daiki returned inside the Police Department to inform Kirika of this.

After this, charged with the crime of not contacting her immediately, Kirika turned her highest level of anger on Daiki - That is a digression.

After parting from Daiki, as a matter of course Kazuma tore off the smiling mask.

What became visible from inside, although having the same smile, carried the opposite emotion - a desolate, humorless, dark smile.

Scattering an ominous presence that would put the fear of God even into a yakuza, Kazuma stepped forward inside the crowd of people as if conquering an inhabited land.

"Utsumi Kousuke, huh......? "

From that mouth chiseled in a smile one guy's name leaked out. The thoughtless, foolish boy who could see only under his nose.

Attached to that boy, the face of a girl came to his mind. He saw her once or twice through Ayano, a clever girl with a strong will carried in her eyes.

"........I can use this", laughed Kazuma raising his lips.

The word ''heartless'' doesn't even begin to describe the face smiling or rather sighing.

It was the face of a demon.

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_1|Chapter 1]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_3|Chapter 3]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 1

2013-10-17T21:13:32Z

Antanaru: /* Part 3 */

== Chapter 1 - Signs of rematch ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Shit"

Together with the the spat out swear word, the sound of a weak fist striking the wall pointlessly reverberated.

This is an underground place below the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. It wasn't generally used, a police cell used for accommodating unique criminals.

Clean and simple, in that space resembling a hotel single room the boy grieved over his circumstance.

"Why did something like that happen......"

He was supposed to have obtained power.

An invincible power.

A power that can grant all wished.

An invincible power.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this......"

He suddenly rose in the world.

A ''higher'' existence than those worthless masses whose existence doesn't matter.

From here on he would be the one to look down on those who looked down on him, scorn them, and like like an overwhelming man of courage -

That was how it was supposed to be.

And yet, right now, he had been clumsily caught by the police. The power he thought invincible was sealed easily, and tomorrow they will apply treatment in order to get rid of it for good.

Again, he turned to nothing but an incompetent person. And in addition to that, he will be held in police custody even for his previous offenses.

He was disgraced. He was unbearably disgraced.

One girl's picture floated in his brain. The ringleader who forced him into such circumstance. The one who didn't listen his command, the command of a superior person, the disrespectful bitch who of all things, turned on him with savage weapons.

"Nanase.........."

The boy - Utsumi Kousuke, squeezed out the girl's name, including as much curse in it as possible.

But, the anti-magic barrier installed in the police cell nullified every kind of power generated inside.

Utsumi's grudge, didn't attain form, fruitlessly melting in the atmosphere and disappearing.

".........shit......."

Reminded again that ''the invincible power'' had been sealed, Utsumi's body shook with rage.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! Come out! Come out! I am the chose one! I'm not supposed to be here!!"

He knocked the door as if going mad. When the privileges bestowed onto him were taken, that absurdity destroyed his mental balance.

"Why? Why do I have to suffer through this? What do you accuse me of?"

But, no one was there to reply to his egotistic claim and Utsumi's random screams, drifting inside the room, were sucked into the walls and disappeared.

After a turn, a silence similar to frozen time filled the room. The reverberation of noise reverted the vector of his spirit visibly changing Utsumi's character, pressing his forehead to the wall, cowered. A frail murmur escaped him.

"What to do............"

If it continues like this and his power will be stolen what will happen - even his dumb brain could easily picture it.

''"They'll take revenge on me........"''

Even if they won't charge him for his crimes, the people he cursed will definitely not forgive him. The retribution will be more severe than whatever he experienced until now.

And, right now he had no means of defending himself.

"No........I don't want that........"

While moaning at the wits' end, Utsumi naturally regretted his behavior.

"'''It would have been better not to do that'''", or something

But that was not a remorseful contemplation. They were only the previous selfish thoughts fearing revenge, without a particle of Utsumi's compassion.

"It's not my fault........I'm not to blame......."

Racking his brain, he tried justifying himself. He wasn't in the wrong. He's not the one responsible. Because, because -

"But, I only used it, right? The one who's evil and pushed this unwanted power onto me is that Pandemonium's Vesalius, right? I'm just like a victim tricked by that man, right?"

Deriving a satisfactory answer, Utsumi's eyes sparkled.

"First of all, if the police had time to catch someone like me, shouldn't they search for Vesalius first? The police is always like this. They don't get involved with the really bad guys but only arrest underlings, worrying only about settling cases by framing victims like me. Do you think the country's peace can be protected like that?"

With persistently self centered words, at the time he was talking on and on loudly.

" - Hm?"

On one point on the pure white wall, suddenly, a deep crimson spot appeared. A small dot, red like fresh blood. It grew as if being guided by an invisible pen and engraved letters on the wall.

These were the contents:

'''Congratulation!!'''

'''Congratulation for your level up!'''

'''In accordance with this level up, it's possible to class change and obtain even more power. If you wish so, a door reaching Pandemonium will open for you here, ushering you in.'''

'''Do you desire a class change?'''

'''Yes/No'''

"Wh- what........?"

At the sudden variation, Utsumi opened his eyes wide in blank amazement. But at the same time, he instantly understood the meaning of this message.

This was a '''mail''' from Pandemonium.

One Pandemonium sent every time one acquires experience points, an information email. The sentences written don the wall had the same literary style like the several tens he received before.

But - Utsumi racked his brain puzzled.

''"Level up?"''

The way of obtaining XP is not just defeating one's enemy or in Utsumi's case fulfilling curses. Utilizing the power granted by Pandemonium, you're adding experience one by one.

Of curse, when comparing it with killing one's enemy, the quantity is infinity smaller.

Utsumi's recent results, is the amount he used on Nanase and his classmates. With just that it would have been impossible to level up, supposedly.

''"Wait - that doesn't matter"''

With more discernment than ever, Utsumi grasped the current situation.

It doesn't mater if it's a mistake or something. If he can level up and then class change, there's no reason to hesitate.

And then -

''''If you wish so, a door reaching Pandemonium will open for you here, ushering you in''''

The message was very easily delivered to the room equipped with an anti-magical barrier. That existence itself is sufficient evidence for the contents of the message.

Clearly, it's impossible for this barrier to resist the mighty power of Pandemonium. In other words, if he wishes so, he can really go to Pandemonium. He can escape prison.

"....................."

Gulping down his saliva, Utsumi stared at the '''mail''' from Pandemonium.

Freedom. even more power. It was an excessively sweet temptation. He can take back all be believed lost. He could obtain even more.

The woman who ridiculed him, this time...........

With an uncertain manner of walking, Utsumi walked to the wall the message was written down on.

The blood red letters. The half dried ink pulled down by gravity smudged the wall giving an ominous impression of an evil spell.

But even so, for Utsumi right now it was similar to a sacred oracle.

That ''reality'''that protected him revived his lost willpower.

"Like I thought, I am '''special'''"

Broadly grinning, his ugly lips warped, Utsumi laughed. An arrogant smile scorning everything beside himself.

"Just wait, Nanase. This time I'll get even with you!"

With a loud shout, Utsumi '''clicked''' on the '''Yes''' end of the message.

=== Part 2 ===

Opening the door of her beloved GT-R car, Kirika looked at the cloudless sky.

The sun was shining brilliantly, burning distinct shadows on the earth.

The wind was fluttering refreshing, the birds singing a pleasant tune -

There was no trouble in the world - contrary to those words appropriate for the morning scenery, on Kirika's beautiful face there was a haggard look impossible to conceal.

The black circles below her eyes clearly indicated the extent of her fatigue. The cleaning up of the troubles that happened one after another last night was so difficult that even Kirika thought half seriously of skipping out.

Getting off the car, she faced the entrance as if limping. An employee was already there, waiting for her arrival.

"This way - "

Following after the servant who informed laconically, Kirika entered the residence. She walked and walked and walked the exclusively long corridor. She stopped.

It seems they arrived at the place of destination. The servant knelt in front of the futsuma and announced Kirika's arrival.

"Please"

"...............yes"

Although showing a slight hesitation, Kirika stepped forward on the other side of the futsuma the servant opened. The members inside were generally as Kirika expected.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 017.jpg|thumb|]]

Except for one.

"Genma-dono ——？"

Involuntarily Kirika called out the name of that person.

Kannagi Genma. The father of both Kazuma and Ren and the most powerful active Jutsushi of the family. Although the Suzerain - Juugo was the best, that ability that overwhelms Ayano yielding Enraiha reached the limits of myth, crossing over legend.

''"That person, why - "''

Glancing at Kirika stiff with fright, Genma informed in a low voice.

"Yesterday my son received favor from you"

"Your son - ?"

At Kirika's instant reply, Genma looked at Ren sitting next to him.

"Both"

".......No, it wasn't that much........"

Bewildered by the interaction, Kirika became evasive using a ambiguous tone. But from the start it seemed Genma didn't cared about Kirika's answer.

"Really, I thought he grew up a little but his spoiled nature doesn't change.........perhaps he was careless with his job, being too busy with women"

''".........unexpectedly, a person who likes to complain?"''

Using a downcast look in front of the grumbling Genma, Kirika attempted a rebuttal while observing the surroundings on her field of vision.

"I don't think he was particularly careless with his job"

"It's the same thing if your acts don't yield fruit", Genma declared harshly.

But immediately following he asked without changing his tone.

"So, did you get in touch with Kazuma?"

" - Wha - ?"

With round eyes Kirika stared at Genma.

Why is Genma here. And why he spoke as if showing contempt towards Kazuma, she finally understood.

Averting her gaze in a casual manner, she examined the surroundings. Ayano and Ren didn't notice and only Juugo seemed to have reached the same conclusion. As if resisting a smile, the corners of his lips twitched.

''"He - he's an unexpectedly indulgent papa, huh?"''

while guessing she made the same expression as Juugo, Kirika desperately feigned calmness. She answered shortly, with brevity.

"No. Not really. No."

"I see"

The one who spoke wasn't Genma but Juugo, silent until now. Unseen by Genma, for one moment, he smiled to Kirika like an accomplice and then continued.

"Well, he's not the kind of man who will die when being swallowed by a crumbling building"

"I agree"

Saying it out loud it seemed a a cruel expression but Kirika agreed from the bottom of her heart.

There was no reason for doubt. To begin with, Kazuma was the one who rescued the three of them from the crumbling building.

He was loosing himself in anger but apparently one composed portion still remained.

just before they were crushed by the downpour of debris, Kazuma spread a wind barrier and set the trio free.

Perfectly controlling the barrier until they landed, he delivered them on the above ground without any scratch. Especially smart, he raised an optical camouflage to remain invisible, denoting perfect composure.

About the safety of Kazuma's own body, Kirika didn't have any kind of apprehension. Rather, right now her body was in much more danger.

But the pure boy thinking of his older brother, seemed to be worried still. Frowning with worry, Ren said.

"But even for Onii-sama something unlikely can happen. Besides if he's fine he would have called at least"

"He doesn't want to be looked after right now. Or he doesn't want us to get in the way"

"What do you mean?"

Finding fault with Kirika's words, Ayano retorted sharply. Kirika's eyebrows frowned instantly cursing her verbal slip and tried to dodge the question with a forced smile.

"Don't worry about it"

"I am worrying about it!"

Understanding she couldn't deceive her, Kirika looked at Ayano with a pensive expression.

"Listen to me, Ayano-chan"

"What?"

"If you knew one of Kazuma's secret, one he doesn't want other people knowing, would you tell?"

"........."

As expected, she blocked it. Even Ayano, who she recognized was daring beyond recklessness, hesitated making Kazuma truly angry.

At that chance, Kirika smoothly turned the conversation around.

"That's why, don't ask today. It's not something that has a direct impact on us anyway - beside I'm sure you'll know soon enough"

" -？"

Ayano didn't seem to consent yet but Kirika completely ignored it.

"So, let's get down to business"

Speaking so, she took out a videotape from her bag. Looking inside the room and discovering a video deck close to the wall, she silently asked Juugo for permission.

Juugo nodded in silence.

"First, please look at this"

Together with Kirika's words, the shape of Tokyo's Government Office appeared on the screen.

The tallest in Shinjuku but more than that the characteristic twin towers. That gallant figure that already disappeared from reality and only existed in memories or records.

"If it's about the collapse, we already saw it on the news"

"Just look"

Rejecting Ayano's complaint without even turning around, Kirika gazed at the screen. Reluctantly, Ayano imitated her.

What was reflected on the screen was the first central government office. For a while nothing happened. But suddenly an unusual phenomenon appeared.

From the space between the two raised towers, a pillar of light soared facing the sky.

The film played over and over after last night's news would have scared everyone if seen for the first time. There was nothing to be surprised about now, though.

Ayano looked at the video with an indifferent expression. The pillar of light striking the heavens. It was the work of that girl called Lapis.

The goddess-like gigantic phantom clutching the phantom sword.

From the outside only a part of the sword was visible but that shape couldn't be mistaken. That more than sharp double edged sword, if that aberrant length were excluded, only Lapis hold the crystal weapon remained.

''" - huh?"''

Ayano remembered a slightly uncomfortable feeling.

When she saw the news did the pillar of light resembled a sword so clearly or did it looked like a stick.

Although bewildered, the video went on.

The pillar of light inclined.

The phantom sword was swung downward.

And then, as it tore the barrier, Pandemonium appeared.

" - Oh?"

At the same time it appeared, the huge blade swung downward beheaded Pandemonium. The rooftop tore, the walls were cut and although Pandemonium was split in two halves, the blade had yet to stop.

Really stretching close to two hundred meters, its tip moved until it faced directly below. The walls of the Tokyo Government Office were shredded in a vertical straight line like a joke.

Of course, the damage didn't stop at the outer layer of walls. The blade of that gigantic sword was pretty much perfectly buried in the building, only its tip protruding from the other side of the wall over-enthusiastically.

If they were to regard the architectural structure like a human body, this blow clearly cut through the marrow. Needless to say, it would be a fatal wound.

Although practically split in half, the building tried to maintain its balance by propping up the towers one against the other.

But the tall building reaching two hundred forty three meters couldn't bear the weight on half its body. As if flattened by a huge hand from right overhead it crumbled while raising a large quantity of dust.

The screen was covered by that dust. And then the video paused switching over to a sandstorm.

"This is the original footage"

Kirika stopped the video.

"What circulates on the news was altered to appear like a regular terrorism explosion. We thoroughly erased everything suspicious or changed it"

As expected, the fact that <<Tokyo Government Office was split in half by a long light saber and destroyed>> can't be allowed to spread on the Internet.

Ayano was completely supportive of that matter. But -

"So, what are your impressions?"

"The worst.........", murmured Ayano feebly.

It was clear that the destruction of the Government Office was caused by Pandemonium.

But she believed Lapis' attack was nothing but the start. That is, she only broke the balance and the building collapsed after, on its own.

No way half the building was removed in a single stroke.

"Are you trying to say we have to fight that monster ? "

"I have high hopes for you, Ayano-chan", Kirika carefully declared to the disheartened Ayano.

"It doesn't seem I can count on Kazuma for being that girl's opponent"

"................aah, so it seems"

Kazuma's expression when he met Lapis - Ayano couldn't imagine that man could be in turmoil to such a degree.

And then, the name he murmured - Tsoi Rin

She didn't know who it was but undoubtedly she had a great significance for Kazuma. Enough to attack her without hesitation for the sake of protecting a girl who resembled her.

".........Whatever"

Shaking off that memory that made her uncomfortable, Ayano asked:

"So, what are we going to do from now on? As Pandemonium is destroyed for the time being we must think how to search for them, right?"

"Aah - about that........"

Averting her eyes somewhat uncomfortable, Kirika showed a bitter smile.

"Pandemonium still exists"

" - Eeh? Aah, on the Internet, you mean?"

"No, not just that - also in reality"

"..........."

Including an incomplete understanding, Ayano stared at Kirika with half opened eyes.

No matter how she thought about it, Kirika's attitude was suspicious.

How did she obtain evidence of it in just one night? Why did she have such a shitty attitude, far from being proud for such a great accomplishment?

"What is this?"

Raising her voice, Ayano cross-examined Kirika.

"I want you to tell me everything you know. This is not the place to hide your hand, right? If you keep secrets I don't care if Tokyo Tower goes next"

"Aah - yeah - "

Kirika fleetingly looked at Ayano with upturned eyes and broke the eyes with a roundabout expression.

"Can you listen calmly, without getting angry?"

"Just say it already!"

As Ayano urged, raising her voice, Kirika began talking nervously.

"You see, last night Utsumi Kousuke escaped from his cell"

The moment she heard those words, Ayano completely ignored Kirika's request.

That is, she got angry.

"You incompetent! And you're still calling yourself a professional !?"

"That's why I said to calm down and - "

"Do you think I can calm down !?", shouted Ayano without listening to Kirika's restraint.

"What the heck were you doing? Didn't you said to leave it to you !?"

"N- No, listen - "

"You idiot! Why do you make it so difficult so late in the game !?"

"Leave it at that"

This time, Juugo forced his way through.

Because he pitied the condemned Kirika or maybe because he became irritated by the conversation's lack of progress, that heavy, vibrant voice controlled the scene with an authority no one could oppose.

Struck by the rebuke of the father she loved and respected, Ayano immediately regained her composure. While instantly realizing this was not the place to shout pointlessly.

The person the released Utsumi would aim at the foremost is -

"Nanase - did she already begin the lessons?"

"It's all right. Nanase-san is fine"

As if soothing Ayano who took out her telephone in a hurry, Kirika informed her with a composed voice.

With a totally disbelieving gaze and tone, Ayano asked:

"How do you know?"

"Even we are not that incompetent. Because we noticed Utsumi's disappearance immediately after, we appointed protection to Nanase-san. At present there's no abnormality. She went to school without incident. I received a call approximately thirty minutes ago. Are you worried?"

"............"

Bet even so, Ayano didn't change her distrustful attitude.

"I understood the ''at present'' part. But after all, you weren't able to restrain Utsumi, no? How will that escort be helpful when she is practically attacked?"

Including a bitter smile, Kirika agreed.

"Please give us that much credit. The Jutsushi from Special Investigation Unit are not weak enough to lose to an amateur. Because even if Utsumi escaped, that wasn't his doing"

" - ? Did someone guide him?"

Replacing the answer, Kirika took out one photograph. Innocently picking it up, Ayano quickly caught her breath.

"This........."

It was the photograph of a white wall. A plain white wall. And then, painted on the surface of it, sickening red letters.

Sent to Utsumi's cell, a ''mail'' from Pandemonium.

"What is it?"

In silence Ayano held out the picture to Juugo. Frowning unpleasantly, Juugo gave it to Genma. And he to Ren.

"On the wall of the room where Utsumi was held captive, this appeared unnoticed"

Confirming that the picture reached all, Kirika began speaking.

"It happened between between eleven P.M. and midnight. Because the surveillance camera was stopped, the accurate moment of the act is uncertain"

"Eleven P.M..........."

Tokyo Government Office was destroyed at eight P.M. Of course, at that time Pandemonium was supposed to be annihilated.

But the red letters etched on the cell's wall, the hand print that sealed the contract undermined that fact.

Below the hand written contract, the blurred, almost gone '''Yes'''. Perhaps Utsumi pressed it giving his agreement while it was only half dry.

"Incidentally the palm print of the contract matches Utsumi's "

Kirika backed up that guess with good timing. Ayano continued asking:

"The method of escape?"

"We don't know"

Kirika clearly shook her head.

"I said so before but the surveillance camera was interrupted and the guard put to sleep. We noticed something was wrong when they had to change shifts"

"What about clues?"

"Right. While there is no physical evidence, it doesn't seem like he just walked away"

"Space transfer?"

"A '''door''' was opened in the anti-magical barrier the detention cell was under, yes"

"Bullshit......."

At Kirika's words, casually shrugging her shoulders, Ayano was made to realize once again the enemy's lack of common sense.

"So, that's why, far from being destroyed, Pandemonium moves with increasing vigor. This is unconfirmed information but from last night to the early dawn of this morning four of five of those people with abilities underwent a class change in one stroke"

"Is that a lot ? "

"Of course !"

Kirika responded at Ayano's words that held no sense of urgency as if she could barely endure her headache.

"It's not like we caught all of them but there's no mistake there are more that ten people who had a class change. If that number suddenly increases by five - "

"Hmmm"

Ayano made a thoroughly indifferent sound.

Whether their level goes up, whether they class change, those kind of people who obtained power by accident cannot possibly be considered her opponents.

"Maybe they plot raising all levels"

Kirika stared unpleasantly at Ayano who announced the serious deduction.

"You mean, the second stage ones who had one class change will become the norm and perhaps a third stage of chosen ones will start to appear?"

"Yes, but I cannot back it up"

"But, if they were to release so much power, won't they lose their human awareness?"

"What of it?"

Ayano cut through Kirika's objection with a brief comment.

The power given by Pandemonium is the power of a Youma parasitic to the human body.

To say it frankly it wasn't given per say.

In the process of absorbing and assimilating the possessing Youma, the time necessary to manipulate the Youma's power doesn't take more than an hour.

While their power grows, the Youma is eating into that person's soul. If they were to do another class change, it would be impossible to maintain a human heart for those people with such a weak will.

However -

"Who cares about such things ?"

Those granted power, those seeking it, none will hesitate. They heartlessly didn't reflect on their former lives before the change so they won't consider the consequences after.

"..........that may be so"

Reluctantly, Kirika agreed with Ayano's opinion. She didn't like it but it was very likely. Not a conjecture she could ignore.

"The question is what is the other party thinking?", continued Ayano dispassionate.

"Why are they doing such a thing? We don't why they went so far as picking a fight with the police and rescued Utsumi."

Just by looking at the visible phenomena manipulated by the man calling himself Vesalius, it was clear he has a mighty ability.

But what he did in proportion with that power was childish or playful, something without a clear sense of purpose.

"That's the issue. Though at first I thought it was '''Kodogu'''"

Kodogu is one form of magic carried out using poisonous worms and such.

Cramming in a vase-like container a large quantity of poisonous worms and let then eat each other and then use the last remaining one as the core of a curse.

By making those with special abilities granted by Pandemonium fight each other, how will they use the last one standing, the most powerful among them - they pretty much agreed with that. But -

"You said ''I thought''. Is that wrong?"asked Ayano, accurately judging Kirika's aim who used the past tense.

Kirika agreed mater-of-fact.

"Kazuma said so. He said ''The Youma possessing those children is all the same''."

"All the same, you mean the same type ?"

"No, the same Youma"

" - ?"

Not understanding that meaning Ayano tilted her head to the side in confusion.

Expecting that, Kirika continued the explanation without pause.

"Pandemonium is reducing Youma to digital data and let them possess through the Internet. So Kazuma said that if a Youma can be turned to data, isn't it possible to make more copies of ?"

".........."

Ayano silently petrified. If that was true, the number of enemies won't be limited. It means they can mass produce those annoying people with abilities without limit.

"B -But if it's like that, would the ability differ from one person to another ?"

Pulling herself together Ayano pointed out what seemed at first an inconsistency in that theory. But the answer was quick.

"I think it was set up to match the aptitude of the people possessed. There's also the data volume issue, probably taking for the first time a seedbed related shape and sending them out like a seed or an egg"

" - I see"

"Well, you understand from my ''I think'' and ''probably'' that this is just a guess or maybe nothing more than speculation"

Contrary to her words her tone was full of confidence. The reason is but obvious.

"You mean that Kazuma reached the same conclusion so it's reliable intelligence. What's the problem?"

Even without saying so, Ayano had nothing to object. When it comes to the precision of their perception ability, Kazuma was ahead of her by a two digit number.

"Well, because of that the Kodoku theory doesn't stand"

"............It seems so"

The quintessence of Kodoku is the creation of a high density course source by condensing multiple fragments of malice in one body.

Killing and absorbing oneself and turning what was whole into the very same thing, that's like returning to the origin. It won't develop into hatred.

"Then, after all, we don't know the enemy's objective ? "

"Well, it's like that"

"He said it was an experiment"

A clear boy-soprano interrupted Kirika's careless answer. All eyes gathered on the new speaker.

"Ren, what did you...?"

"Like I said, it's an experiment. That man told me so. So, he can't stop it mid-way"

In a daze for a short while, Ayano suddenly clapped her hands as if remembering.

"Come to think of it, you met that masked bastard much earlier than us"

"........did you forget?"

Ignoring the amazed Kirika, daring such a retort, Ayano faced Ren.

"So, what's the experiment"

"Eerr, he didn't say more"

"I see"

That's yet again, the same as not knowing anything. All the progress they made was that they had proof the incident was not yet over.

"Well, he didn't seem like a guy who would easily spill the beans - Aah, on that subject"

While complaining she looked at Ren as if finally realizing something. She asked the boy, looking slightly doubtful.

"Kazuma called that man ''Bernhardt'' but what does it mean?"

"Aah, that - "

After a brief contemplation, Ren spoke carefully.

"Vesalius was his alias or something and it seems his real name is Bernhardt Rhodes. He seemed to know Nii-sama - that man didn't clearly confirm it but he didn't deny it also"

"Bernhardt Rhodes you said - "

Ayano exchanged a dark glance with Kirika, using only one word to make sure.

"Him ?"

"No, I'm not sure"

Ren shook his head without wanting to reply.

Bernhardt Rhodes - for those being a part of the magic society, the meaning that name held was exceedingly great.

There is a magic society called <<Almagest>>. Its activity is centered in Western Europe, a powerful organization praised as the highest authority in modern day magic.

Its name is derived from the astronomy work Ptolemaios published, Almagestum. Just like the name suggests it was at first a guild of astrologers.

But by collecting all kind of Jutsu and Jutsushi or the consequence of accepting the unprincipled ones, at present it developed to the point of being called the headquarters of Psychic Research.

The name of their leader was Erwin Leszal. Known as the personal pupil of the great magician Agrippa or as the Comte de Saint Germain, an enigmatic character that even in this circle was covered in insane legends.

More than being the leader for more than three hundred years he wasn't a public person and here were quite few people who didn't believe in his existence.

It was the opinion of most that such a name was some kind of title the leader received for generations, the symbol of becoming the boss.

The management of such a substantial organization was carried out by the so called <<Council>> - the association of high rank Majutsushi.

And the Chairman of those Majutsushi was Bernhardt Rhodes.

To sum it up, Bernhardt was Majutsushi with so much fame no one would complain when calling him the world's best.

That celebrity seemed unlikely to go as far as concealing his face when he is doing criminal activities. But -

''"A coincidence? I don't think so "''

Ayano rejected the convenient explanation floating in her mind.

It can't be a coincidence. He was too good at deception. All that left is -

"I have no doubt"

The answer came from an unexpected direction. Everyone's gaze converged to Kirika.

Without faltering under those looks that felt like a physical pressure, Kirika continued.

"If he has a grudge against Kazuma, even more if he had something to do with that girl called Tsoi Rin, there's no mistake about it. The master of Pandemonium, Vesalius, is Bernhardt Rhodes of <<Almagest>>"

"Wh - wait"

"Well, if you think about it, there are no idiots who would dare impersonate Bernhardt Rhodes"

"True but more than that - "

Striking the table, Ayano interrupted Kirika's talking.

"Do you know that woman, Tsoi Rin?"

"Hhmm, sort of"

At that moment all sort of expression disappeared from Ayano's face.

Grabbing Kirika by the collar so she won't escape, she said in a subdued voice.

"Spill it"

"A - Ayano-chan, calm down?"

"I am calm, spill it", repeated Ayano indifferent.

If she would have screamed there could have been a method to deal with her yet.

"Well, listen, I told you before right? When it comes to Kazuma's privacy, I can't really - "

Ayano was silent. But the force with which she grabbed Kirika didn't dwindle and clearly she didn't agree.

Kirika's eyes requested Juugo's help. The master of the mansion mostly silent so far looked at the two of them with an unreadable expression and spoke solemnly.

"Detective Tachibana"

"Y - yes?"

"Guessing from the conversation so far, it seems that the existence of this Tsoi Rin girl certainly holds a great significance within this incident. Although I praise your conviction of respecting someone's privacy, can't you overlook it and tell us ?"

"Uuu......"

Kirika groaned. No way is the Head of the Kannagi Clan going to ''ask'' her. And then - she stole a glance at Ayano.

Clashing with that straightforward glance that seemed to never blink, she averted her eyes in a hurry.

Even when Juugo was speaking, this glance wasn't disconnected even for a second looking hard this way.

That steady look that said '''If you don't speak I'll take you and eat you''', frankly, had no trace of being alive.

Searching for a ray of hope, she looked at the remaining two.

".............................pfff"

Genma replied to Kirika's eyes, requesting salvation, with a tiny laugh. Come to think of it, it would be impossible for this man who showed he cared for the well-being of Kazuma not to take an interest in his past.

And then, Ren.

".........."

The moment he noticed Kirika's gaze, the boy looked away uncomfortably.

To sum it up, it seemed he found Kirika's distress unfortunate but didn't have the nerve to hold Ayano back.

Adding one thing to another, Ren himself seemed to have a special interest in the girl Tsoi Rin.

" - I give up"

Finally beaten down by the opponent's persistence, Kirika opened her mouth.

It was a helpless situation.

But most of all, the fact that the coercion given off by Ayano was reaching lethal levels made Kirika prepare herself for the worst.

"Just to tell you in advance, this is a hearsay story, I don't know how true it is"

With that introduction, she began speaking.

"It starts four years ago when Kazuma crossed over to Hong Kong running away from Kannagi and met a girl - "

=== Part 3 ===

"...........ma.........zuma............."

What dragged him out from his pleasant slumber was an even more pleasant soprano call and the feeling of warm hands that tenderly shook his body.

He was instantly woken up but he pretended to be asleep, curling up underneath the blanket.

It was for the warmth of the bed he yearned for but much more so for the childish thought ''I want her to look after me more''.

"Geez......wake up.......already!....wake........up..........!"

By the strength of her tone and the energy with which she shook his body she demanded him to get out of the bed. But, he covered himself in the blanket like a bag-worm and continued refusing to get up.

" - Uuuu, five more minutes........."

"Quit it already!"

Getting tired of those sloven words, she finaly took a firm step. She forcefully tore off the blanket and exposed his body, indulging in indolence to the cold morning air.

Now, he made his body even smaller. It was so pitiful it gave the impression of some kind of bug.

"Wake up, Kazuma! I won't feed you!"

Finally accepting it, he - Kannagi Kazuma stretched his curled up body. But, not waking up just yet, he buried his face in the pillow and groaned.

"I'm still sleepy........"

"I don't care. Oversleeping is no excuse for staying up late", she declared point-blank.

"Change your clothes and get down in five minutes. If you don't make it in tine, you don't get to eat"

".....please forgive me"

With a backward glance at Kazuma, getting up sluggishly, she moved energetically and left through the door.

But, opening the door immediately after closing it, she peeked inside the room.

"Aah, I forgot"

" - what?"

Looking at Kazuma who turned around puzzled, she said:

"Good morning, Kazuma"

A full bloom smiling face first thing in the morning. Looking fondly at that radiance, Kazuma responded with a smile.

"Good morning, Tsoi Rin"

This is how Kazuma's mornings always started.

"Well then"

Standing up, he stretched once profoundly.

He didn't have time to waste. Tsoi Rin didn't lie. If he won't rush, he will really miss breakfast.

In addition to that, today he has a hard job to do. The contents of his stomach are a matter of life and death.

He must eat the breakfast made by Tsoi Rin and restore his energy in both mind and body -

"Uuryaa!"

Raising an exaggerated yell, he took off his pajamas. And then pulled out from the wardrobe the clothes for today.

"Hyo, cold -"

With a meaningless expression, at the time he put on his shirt, Kazuma looked at that thing placed above the dresser.

Adorned like an ornament, the cash card bent in two.

"........."

Contrasting with such a lively facial expression, etching a cynical smile on his lips, Kazuma bowed to a broken card.

"Good morning to you, mother. Thank you, today I am healthy also"

Looking at the card, his eyes cast a gloomy light. What they saw was the smiling face of the mother who threw him away -

"Waah, achoo!"

Kazuma let out a miserable shriek when the draft brushed his bare back. Of course, the gloomy, rough atmosphere collapsed immediately.

"Shit, you really don't have time for the serious stuff now. Just eat your breakfast and do your manual labor"

Changing clothes as fast as possible, Kazuma rushed out of the room. For the sake of filling himself with the home cooking of the girl he loved, much more valuable than his worthless past.

It's evening - just like Kazuma declared this morning, he was seriously working hard.

Inside a gloomy warehouse, resounding with gunshots.

"Why!? For Christ's sake!"

With a stupid appearance embracing with one hand a cat that seemed important, Kazuma abused his unreasonable fate that had something against him.

Of course, the situation won't get better just by doing that. Trying to find a chance to somehow run away he peeked from behind the container concealing his body. But -

Just then, continuous shots aimed at him.

"Wahh!"

Drawing back his face in a rush, he left that container like a cockroach. Soothing his violent heart, he took a deep breath, two, three -

"Shit, why is this happening to me!?"

But even so, unable to accept the present situation, he started complaining uselessly.

"When I'm finally free from that abnormal world with Majutsushi, with Youma, with evil spirits, this time is a gun battle!? What the fuck have I done?"

While complaining, Kazuma took out a knife from his breast pocket. Running up to the container soundlessly he jumped more than ten meters.

Faster than the man who noticed him and pointed his gun this way, he threw his knife.

"Guah!?"

Without changing its aim, the knife ran through the back of the man's right hand. The gun fell down from the hand that lost its power.

"Urya"

With nothing more but the force of the jump, Kazuma landed on his feet on top of the man. Conspicuously, from under his feet the feel of the broken ribs was transmitted.

"Finally, it's settled"

Deciding on a pose on top of the man spitting out blood, Kazuma observed the man's face once more. Holding down with all his strength the cat fretting inside his arm, he said:

"So - who the heck is this guy?"

"Thank you for your efforts!"

Entering the shop, a man with an evil smile and a voice full of ridicule greeted Kazuma.

Kazuma grimaced, replying with a bitter voice.

"..........As expected, you have sharp ears"

Ahead his line of sigh - inside the shop, one old man was sitting down.

The owner of the Tianshui Temple, an antique store standing side by side with the Kowloon's shopping district, Huang Ying Long.

But very few people knew that this person who apparently seemed like a good natured old man was as a matter of fact known for the most prominent information shop in Hong Kong.

But Kazuma was - unwillingly - one of those people.

To make matters worse, because he needed a job but couldn't show his face here and there his dept was one-sided piling up and he was already unable to act on an equal basis with him.

He explained his lack of honorific language as not knowing the language well enough but for Kazuma it was a minimal and childish opposition.

On the other side, ignoring Kazuma's infantile opposition, Huang continued grinning broadly.

"At any rate, you're very fond of conflict, huh? Why is it that just by trying to catch a run-away pet it results in a shoot-out? Do you yearn for to become a hard-boiled detective like in the novels?"

".........shut up", spat out Kazuma unpleasantly.

"This time it wasn't my fault. I don't know who they confused me with but the other side started shooting all of a sudden. Besides, this is just the third time it turned into a fight. That's not enough to call me a trouble maker -"

"Hey, this is just the second week you work"

At the calm, precise retort Kazuma became silent.

By the way, Kazuma's current occupation is what's commonly referred to as a Jack of all trades. It also resembled pretty well a Japanese private detective.

Of course, he was only learning now but still bragging about the job itself.

- But now, that conceit was smashed into very small pieces.

"Leave"

"Just wait"

Enjoyed from the bottom of his heart, Huang called after Kazuma who had simply turned around and started walking.

"We're past the time for jokes. I'll get straight to the point."

"Keep it short."

"Humph, then I'll finish with one sentence - Don't lose your head, brat"

In that instant, the atmosphere around Huang completely changed.

That cynical face that aged well turned to that of a long military service soldier living through Honk Kong's underground society.

"Wha.......what is going on, suddenly?"

"Is it fun tormenting small-time hoodlums?", asked Huang coldly of Kazuma who pretended to be tough although he was overpowered.

" Wha -"

"It must be fun. If your opponent is only a human being even you can display your might. But, do you think you can live a long life in this manner? You are not one of those ''<<chosen people>>'' after all"

Huang's words were hinting at knowing Kazuma's lineage and his past.

Exposed to the scars of the past he was averting his eyes from as much as possible, Kazuma was enraged.

"I know that!"

" - Really?"

Not hesitating in front of that gaze even mixed with killing intent, Huang asked again, matter-of-fact.

"You think this way, right? ''"Apart from being a Jutsushi, I am a superior person. If it's a battle without Majutsu, I am the strongest"'' or something"

"......tch!"

Accurately having been seen through the thought he entertained again and again, Kazuma sharply caught his breath. As for Huang, reading that response, he made a small snort not showing surprise.

".......what, are you trying to say?"

"I alredy did. It was ''Don't lose your head, brat''. You're not a Jutsushi, you're not a soldier, you are nothing but a brat whose strong point is being good at fighting. Don't you ever try to look cool in front of someone holding a gun. For me it doesn't matter but if you die Tsoi Rin will be sad."

Kazuma was caving in so much abuse but the moment he heard the last few words, he stood up straight.

His face pouting like a child turned to that of an adult - a man who becomes an adult.

"I know. I will at least protect Tsoi Rin"

"Ha, protect, you say? Fine words when you're the one who is one-sided protected."

But Huang lightly laughed even at those words full of determination.

"If not for that girl, you would be getting dead-drunk in self pity even now. No, you would have drunk away the money you received from your parents and turned into a beggar, huh?"

"Guuh -"

Having the time when he fell to the very bottom discussed, Kazuma got red in the face.

Even more, Huang thrust his finger at him with a snap.

"Listen brat, I don't have too much expectation from you. You are an ordinary person. No matter how you struggle, you won't become a hero. Throw away the hopes beyond your means, think only how to make Tsoi Rin happy and live with your feet on the ground. "

"..........I understand"

Although he was pouting with dissatisfaction, Kazuma agreed.

It wasn't a very lenient evaluation but it was the truth.

Because he didn't have the attributes of a hero, because he wasn't chosen, for this reason, he was here right now.

"If you understand that's fine. You can go now"

".........yeah"

As if driven away by Huang's cruel wave of hand, drudgingly Kazuma took the road home.

Opening the door, Kazuma was wrapped up in the warm atmosphere and miscellaneous clatter.

Inside the store all seats were already occupied and the festive uproar made by the lively people cured a day's worth of fatigue.

His sweetheart was in the center of it. Both her hands fully loaded with trays of alcohol and cookery, she quickly made her way through the crowd of people as if swimming, waiting on tables.

Presuming the cold wind the arrival of a customer, she turned around.

"Ji wei hu......."

Those words of warm reception were interrupted in the middle. The face that continued smiling changed to something even more cute and shining.

"Welcome home, Kazuma"

"I'm home, Tsoi Rin"

Kazuma also responded with a full face smile to his beloved lover. When he stepped up to her words of banter and whistles down-poured from the surroundings.

But all of them were warm, without any ill will. Everyone was blessing from the bottom of their heart the young pair of lovers.

"You were late, huh?"

"Hmm - Aah, just a little"

Frankly - Because he got caught up in the moment and jumped about too much, he ended up getting sermons so Kazuma was vaguely evasive.

And since he was already deceiving her and her hands were fully occupied Kazuma took the opportunity and embraced Tsoi Rin's body closely.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 055.jpg|thumb|]]

But, she was suddenly snatched from the side.

"Kyaah!?"

Embraced by a drunken person, Tsoi Rin let out a small shriek.

But then, this was an everyday occurrence, one she wouldn't even spill a drop of alcohol over from the glasses placed on the tray.

"Tsoi Rin ～ dump that guy already, I will -"

His declaration not allowed until the end, Kazuma kicked the man's face. Less than a kick he just pushed him with the bottom of his shoe but even so the man fall flat, spouting a nose bleed.

"Hey, don't put your hands on someone's woman!"

Looking down on the senseless man, Kazuma raised his middle finger. But, immediately after, he receive a crushing blow to the back of his head and also feel to the ground.

"Geez, Kazuma! What are you doing to the customer!?"

Skillfully finishing serving the table, Tsoi Rin shouted with the empty trays raised overhead. From the way she held it, the blow wasn't with the back of the tray but with its edge.

"......but it's fine to be violent towards me?"

"It's fine, because it's Kazuma"

A reply without hesitation. At a loss for words, Kazuma and the man he just kicked and fell down looked at each other and exchanged a wry smile.

"Hey, stand up already. It's very busy so help me"

"Well, I just came home from work"

"So what? I'm working all day long. Don't tell me, you plan to drink without a care while looking at me working?"

"I am sorry. I'll help you immediately"

Having no confidence of winning the verbal war, Kazuma surrendered on the spot.

Hecklers flew out from everywhere at that appearance without a shred of dignity sadly facing the kitchen.

"Show her who's the man, Kazuma!"

"How noisy! You don't even have a woman to order you around!"

Both the jeering man and the retorting Kazuma laughed together from the bottom of their hearts.

For Kazuma this place was his second home but the first one who made his heart feel at ease.

That joy he received, he wouldn't exchange it for anything else.

''"Throw away the hopes beyond your means and live with your feet on the ground."''

He remembered Huang's cool-headed words.

He understood now. Huang too, was concerned about him. If not, why would he cordially come in contact with a Japanese wanderer?

Turning her head over her shoulder, while bending her head slightly to the side marveling, Tsoi Rin smiled at him tenderly.

Even the customers a bit flinty but good people overall, were watching over them with warmth.

''It's fine''

Surrounded by genial smiles, Kazuma was convinced from the bottom of his heart.

I don't need any kind of special power.

It doesn't matter that I wasn't chosen.

Ordinary. Commonplace. But very happy, with his feet on the ground.

''"I can live here"''

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Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 1

2013-10-17T21:12:06Z

Antanaru: /* Part 3 */ Spelling and inconsistent spacing

== Chapter 1 - Signs of rematch ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Shit"

Together with the the spat out swear word, the sound of a weak fist striking the wall pointlessly reverberated.

This is an underground place below the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. It wasn't generally used, a police cell used for accommodating unique criminals.

Clean and simple, in that space resembling a hotel single room the boy grieved over his circumstance.

"Why did something like that happen......"

He was supposed to have obtained power.

An invincible power.

A power that can grant all wished.

An invincible power.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this......"

He suddenly rose in the world.

A ''higher'' existence than those worthless masses whose existence doesn't matter.

From here on he would be the one to look down on those who looked down on him, scorn them, and like like an overwhelming man of courage -

That was how it was supposed to be.

And yet, right now, he had been clumsily caught by the police. The power he thought invincible was sealed easily, and tomorrow they will apply treatment in order to get rid of it for good.

Again, he turned to nothing but an incompetent person. And in addition to that, he will be held in police custody even for his previous offenses.

He was disgraced. He was unbearably disgraced.

One girl's picture floated in his brain. The ringleader who forced him into such circumstance. The one who didn't listen his command, the command of a superior person, the disrespectful bitch who of all things, turned on him with savage weapons.

"Nanase.........."

The boy - Utsumi Kousuke, squeezed out the girl's name, including as much curse in it as possible.

But, the anti-magic barrier installed in the police cell nullified every kind of power generated inside.

Utsumi's grudge, didn't attain form, fruitlessly melting in the atmosphere and disappearing.

".........shit......."

Reminded again that ''the invincible power'' had been sealed, Utsumi's body shook with rage.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! Come out! Come out! I am the chose one! I'm not supposed to be here!!"

He knocked the door as if going mad. When the privileges bestowed onto him were taken, that absurdity destroyed his mental balance.

"Why? Why do I have to suffer through this? What do you accuse me of?"

But, no one was there to reply to his egotistic claim and Utsumi's random screams, drifting inside the room, were sucked into the walls and disappeared.

After a turn, a silence similar to frozen time filled the room. The reverberation of noise reverted the vector of his spirit visibly changing Utsumi's character, pressing his forehead to the wall, cowered. A frail murmur escaped him.

"What to do............"

If it continues like this and his power will be stolen what will happen - even his dumb brain could easily picture it.

''"They'll take revenge on me........"''

Even if they won't charge him for his crimes, the people he cursed will definitely not forgive him. The retribution will be more severe than whatever he experienced until now.

And, right now he had no means of defending himself.

"No........I don't want that........"

While moaning at the wits' end, Utsumi naturally regretted his behavior.

"'''It would have been better not to do that'''", or something

But that was not a remorseful contemplation. They were only the previous selfish thoughts fearing revenge, without a particle of Utsumi's compassion.

"It's not my fault........I'm not to blame......."

Racking his brain, he tried justifying himself. He wasn't in the wrong. He's not the one responsible. Because, because -

"But, I only used it, right? The one who's evil and pushed this unwanted power onto me is that Pandemonium's Vesalius, right? I'm just like a victim tricked by that man, right?"

Deriving a satisfactory answer, Utsumi's eyes sparkled.

"First of all, if the police had time to catch someone like me, shouldn't they search for Vesalius first? The police is always like this. They don't get involved with the really bad guys but only arrest underlings, worrying only about settling cases by framing victims like me. Do you think the country's peace can be protected like that?"

With persistently self centered words, at the time he was talking on and on loudly.

" - Hm?"

On one point on the pure white wall, suddenly, a deep crimson spot appeared. A small dot, red like fresh blood. It grew as if being guided by an invisible pen and engraved letters on the wall.

These were the contents:

'''Congratulation!!'''

'''Congratulation for your level up!'''

'''In accordance with this level up, it's possible to class change and obtain even more power. If you wish so, a door reaching Pandemonium will open for you here, ushering you in.'''

'''Do you desire a class change?'''

'''Yes/No'''

"Wh- what........?"

At the sudden variation, Utsumi opened his eyes wide in blank amazement. But at the same time, he instantly understood the meaning of this message.

This was a '''mail''' from Pandemonium.

One Pandemonium sent every time one acquires experience points, an information email. The sentences written don the wall had the same literary style like the several tens he received before.

But - Utsumi racked his brain puzzled.

''"Level up?"''

The way of obtaining XP is not just defeating one's enemy or in Utsumi's case fulfilling curses. Utilizing the power granted by Pandemonium, you're adding experience one by one.

Of curse, when comparing it with killing one's enemy, the quantity is infinity smaller.

Utsumi's recent results, is the amount he used on Nanase and his classmates. With just that it would have been impossible to level up, supposedly.

''"Wait - that doesn't matter"''

With more discernment than ever, Utsumi grasped the current situation.

It doesn't mater if it's a mistake or something. If he can level up and then class change, there's no reason to hesitate.

And then -

''''If you wish so, a door reaching Pandemonium will open for you here, ushering you in''''

The message was very easily delivered to the room equipped with an anti-magical barrier. That existence itself is sufficient evidence for the contents of the message.

Clearly, it's impossible for this barrier to resist the mighty power of Pandemonium. In other words, if he wishes so, he can really go to Pandemonium. He can escape prison.

"....................."

Gulping down his saliva, Utsumi stared at the '''mail''' from Pandemonium.

Freedom. even more power. It was an excessively sweet temptation. He can take back all be believed lost. He could obtain even more.

The woman who ridiculed him, this time...........

With an uncertain manner of walking, Utsumi walked to the wall the message was written down on.

The blood red letters. The half dried ink pulled down by gravity smudged the wall giving an ominous impression of an evil spell.

But even so, for Utsumi right now it was similar to a sacred oracle.

That ''reality'''that protected him revived his lost willpower.

"Like I thought, I am '''special'''"

Broadly grinning, his ugly lips warped, Utsumi laughed. An arrogant smile scorning everything beside himself.

"Just wait, Nanase. This time I'll get even with you!"

With a loud shout, Utsumi '''clicked''' on the '''Yes''' end of the message.

=== Part 2 ===

Opening the door of her beloved GT-R car, Kirika looked at the cloudless sky.

The sun was shining brilliantly, burning distinct shadows on the earth.

The wind was fluttering refreshing, the birds singing a pleasant tune -

There was no trouble in the world - contrary to those words appropriate for the morning scenery, on Kirika's beautiful face there was a haggard look impossible to conceal.

The black circles below her eyes clearly indicated the extent of her fatigue. The cleaning up of the troubles that happened one after another last night was so difficult that even Kirika thought half seriously of skipping out.

Getting off the car, she faced the entrance as if limping. An employee was already there, waiting for her arrival.

"This way - "

Following after the servant who informed laconically, Kirika entered the residence. She walked and walked and walked the exclusively long corridor. She stopped.

It seems they arrived at the place of destination. The servant knelt in front of the futsuma and announced Kirika's arrival.

"Please"

"...............yes"

Although showing a slight hesitation, Kirika stepped forward on the other side of the futsuma the servant opened. The members inside were generally as Kirika expected.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 017.jpg|thumb|]]

Except for one.

"Genma-dono ——？"

Involuntarily Kirika called out the name of that person.

Kannagi Genma. The father of both Kazuma and Ren and the most powerful active Jutsushi of the family. Although the Suzerain - Juugo was the best, that ability that overwhelms Ayano yielding Enraiha reached the limits of myth, crossing over legend.

''"That person, why - "''

Glancing at Kirika stiff with fright, Genma informed in a low voice.

"Yesterday my son received favor from you"

"Your son - ?"

At Kirika's instant reply, Genma looked at Ren sitting next to him.

"Both"

".......No, it wasn't that much........"

Bewildered by the interaction, Kirika became evasive using a ambiguous tone. But from the start it seemed Genma didn't cared about Kirika's answer.

"Really, I thought he grew up a little but his spoiled nature doesn't change.........perhaps he was careless with his job, being too busy with women"

''".........unexpectedly, a person who likes to complain?"''

Using a downcast look in front of the grumbling Genma, Kirika attempted a rebuttal while observing the surroundings on her field of vision.

"I don't think he was particularly careless with his job"

"It's the same thing if your acts don't yield fruit", Genma declared harshly.

But immediately following he asked without changing his tone.

"So, did you get in touch with Kazuma?"

" - Wha - ?"

With round eyes Kirika stared at Genma.

Why is Genma here. And why he spoke as if showing contempt towards Kazuma, she finally understood.

Averting her gaze in a casual manner, she examined the surroundings. Ayano and Ren didn't notice and only Juugo seemed to have reached the same conclusion. As if resisting a smile, the corners of his lips twitched.

''"He - he's an unexpectedly indulgent papa, huh?"''

while guessing she made the same expression as Juugo, Kirika desperately feigned calmness. She answered shortly, with brevity.

"No. Not really. No."

"I see"

The one who spoke wasn't Genma but Juugo, silent until now. Unseen by Genma, for one moment, he smiled to Kirika like an accomplice and then continued.

"Well, he's not the kind of man who will die when being swallowed by a crumbling building"

"I agree"

Saying it out loud it seemed a a cruel expression but Kirika agreed from the bottom of her heart.

There was no reason for doubt. To begin with, Kazuma was the one who rescued the three of them from the crumbling building.

He was loosing himself in anger but apparently one composed portion still remained.

just before they were crushed by the downpour of debris, Kazuma spread a wind barrier and set the trio free.

Perfectly controlling the barrier until they landed, he delivered them on the above ground without any scratch. Especially smart, he raised an optical camouflage to remain invisible, denoting perfect composure.

About the safety of Kazuma's own body, Kirika didn't have any kind of apprehension. Rather, right now her body was in much more danger.

But the pure boy thinking of his older brother, seemed to be worried still. Frowning with worry, Ren said.

"But even for Onii-sama something unlikely can happen. Besides if he's fine he would have called at least"

"He doesn't want to be looked after right now. Or he doesn't want us to get in the way"

"What do you mean?"

Finding fault with Kirika's words, Ayano retorted sharply. Kirika's eyebrows frowned instantly cursing her verbal slip and tried to dodge the question with a forced smile.

"Don't worry about it"

"I am worrying about it!"

Understanding she couldn't deceive her, Kirika looked at Ayano with a pensive expression.

"Listen to me, Ayano-chan"

"What?"

"If you knew one of Kazuma's secret, one he doesn't want other people knowing, would you tell?"

"........."

As expected, she blocked it. Even Ayano, who she recognized was daring beyond recklessness, hesitated making Kazuma truly angry.

At that chance, Kirika smoothly turned the conversation around.

"That's why, don't ask today. It's not something that has a direct impact on us anyway - beside I'm sure you'll know soon enough"

" -？"

Ayano didn't seem to consent yet but Kirika completely ignored it.

"So, let's get down to business"

Speaking so, she took out a videotape from her bag. Looking inside the room and discovering a video deck close to the wall, she silently asked Juugo for permission.

Juugo nodded in silence.

"First, please look at this"

Together with Kirika's words, the shape of Tokyo's Government Office appeared on the screen.

The tallest in Shinjuku but more than that the characteristic twin towers. That gallant figure that already disappeared from reality and only existed in memories or records.

"If it's about the collapse, we already saw it on the news"

"Just look"

Rejecting Ayano's complaint without even turning around, Kirika gazed at the screen. Reluctantly, Ayano imitated her.

What was reflected on the screen was the first central government office. For a while nothing happened. But suddenly an unusual phenomenon appeared.

From the space between the two raised towers, a pillar of light soared facing the sky.

The film played over and over after last night's news would have scared everyone if seen for the first time. There was nothing to be surprised about now, though.

Ayano looked at the video with an indifferent expression. The pillar of light striking the heavens. It was the work of that girl called Lapis.

The goddess-like gigantic phantom clutching the phantom sword.

From the outside only a part of the sword was visible but that shape couldn't be mistaken. That more than sharp double edged sword, if that aberrant length were excluded, only Lapis hold the crystal weapon remained.

''" - huh?"''

Ayano remembered a slightly uncomfortable feeling.

When she saw the news did the pillar of light resembled a sword so clearly or did it looked like a stick.

Although bewildered, the video went on.

The pillar of light inclined.

The phantom sword was swung downward.

And then, as it tore the barrier, Pandemonium appeared.

" - Oh?"

At the same time it appeared, the huge blade swung downward beheaded Pandemonium. The rooftop tore, the walls were cut and although Pandemonium was split in two halves, the blade had yet to stop.

Really stretching close to two hundred meters, its tip moved until it faced directly below. The walls of the Tokyo Government Office were shredded in a vertical straight line like a joke.

Of course, the damage didn't stop at the outer layer of walls. The blade of that gigantic sword was pretty much perfectly buried in the building, only its tip protruding from the other side of the wall over-enthusiastically.

If they were to regard the architectural structure like a human body, this blow clearly cut through the marrow. Needless to say, it would be a fatal wound.

Although practically split in half, the building tried to maintain its balance by propping up the towers one against the other.

But the tall building reaching two hundred forty three meters couldn't bear the weight on half its body. As if flattened by a huge hand from right overhead it crumbled while raising a large quantity of dust.

The screen was covered by that dust. And then the video paused switching over to a sandstorm.

"This is the original footage"

Kirika stopped the video.

"What circulates on the news was altered to appear like a regular terrorism explosion. We thoroughly erased everything suspicious or changed it"

As expected, the fact that <<Tokyo Government Office was split in half by a long light saber and destroyed>> can't be allowed to spread on the Internet.

Ayano was completely supportive of that matter. But -

"So, what are your impressions?"

"The worst.........", murmured Ayano feebly.

It was clear that the destruction of the Government Office was caused by Pandemonium.

But she believed Lapis' attack was nothing but the start. That is, she only broke the balance and the building collapsed after, on its own.

No way half the building was removed in a single stroke.

"Are you trying to say we have to fight that monster ? "

"I have high hopes for you, Ayano-chan", Kirika carefully declared to the disheartened Ayano.

"It doesn't seem I can count on Kazuma for being that girl's opponent"

"................aah, so it seems"

Kazuma's expression when he met Lapis - Ayano couldn't imagine that man could be in turmoil to such a degree.

And then, the name he murmured - Tsoi Rin

She didn't know who it was but undoubtedly she had a great significance for Kazuma. Enough to attack her without hesitation for the sake of protecting a girl who resembled her.

".........Whatever"

Shaking off that memory that made her uncomfortable, Ayano asked:

"So, what are we going to do from now on? As Pandemonium is destroyed for the time being we must think how to search for them, right?"

"Aah - about that........"

Averting her eyes somewhat uncomfortable, Kirika showed a bitter smile.

"Pandemonium still exists"

" - Eeh? Aah, on the Internet, you mean?"

"No, not just that - also in reality"

"..........."

Including an incomplete understanding, Ayano stared at Kirika with half opened eyes.

No matter how she thought about it, Kirika's attitude was suspicious.

How did she obtain evidence of it in just one night? Why did she have such a shitty attitude, far from being proud for such a great accomplishment?

"What is this?"

Raising her voice, Ayano cross-examined Kirika.

"I want you to tell me everything you know. This is not the place to hide your hand, right? If you keep secrets I don't care if Tokyo Tower goes next"

"Aah - yeah - "

Kirika fleetingly looked at Ayano with upturned eyes and broke the eyes with a roundabout expression.

"Can you listen calmly, without getting angry?"

"Just say it already!"

As Ayano urged, raising her voice, Kirika began talking nervously.

"You see, last night Utsumi Kousuke escaped from his cell"

The moment she heard those words, Ayano completely ignored Kirika's request.

That is, she got angry.

"You incompetent! And you're still calling yourself a professional !?"

"That's why I said to calm down and - "

"Do you think I can calm down !?", shouted Ayano without listening to Kirika's restraint.

"What the heck were you doing? Didn't you said to leave it to you !?"

"N- No, listen - "

"You idiot! Why do you make it so difficult so late in the game !?"

"Leave it at that"

This time, Juugo forced his way through.

Because he pitied the condemned Kirika or maybe because he became irritated by the conversation's lack of progress, that heavy, vibrant voice controlled the scene with an authority no one could oppose.

Struck by the rebuke of the father she loved and respected, Ayano immediately regained her composure. While instantly realizing this was not the place to shout pointlessly.

The person the released Utsumi would aim at the foremost is -

"Nanase - did she already begin the lessons?"

"It's all right. Nanase-san is fine"

As if soothing Ayano who took out her telephone in a hurry, Kirika informed her with a composed voice.

With a totally disbelieving gaze and tone, Ayano asked:

"How do you know?"

"Even we are not that incompetent. Because we noticed Utsumi's disappearance immediately after, we appointed protection to Nanase-san. At present there's no abnormality. She went to school without incident. I received a call approximately thirty minutes ago. Are you worried?"

"............"

Bet even so, Ayano didn't change her distrustful attitude.

"I understood the ''at present'' part. But after all, you weren't able to restrain Utsumi, no? How will that escort be helpful when she is practically attacked?"

Including a bitter smile, Kirika agreed.

"Please give us that much credit. The Jutsushi from Special Investigation Unit are not weak enough to lose to an amateur. Because even if Utsumi escaped, that wasn't his doing"

" - ? Did someone guide him?"

Replacing the answer, Kirika took out one photograph. Innocently picking it up, Ayano quickly caught her breath.

"This........."

It was the photograph of a white wall. A plain white wall. And then, painted on the surface of it, sickening red letters.

Sent to Utsumi's cell, a ''mail'' from Pandemonium.

"What is it?"

In silence Ayano held out the picture to Juugo. Frowning unpleasantly, Juugo gave it to Genma. And he to Ren.

"On the wall of the room where Utsumi was held captive, this appeared unnoticed"

Confirming that the picture reached all, Kirika began speaking.

"It happened between between eleven P.M. and midnight. Because the surveillance camera was stopped, the accurate moment of the act is uncertain"

"Eleven P.M..........."

Tokyo Government Office was destroyed at eight P.M. Of course, at that time Pandemonium was supposed to be annihilated.

But the red letters etched on the cell's wall, the hand print that sealed the contract undermined that fact.

Below the hand written contract, the blurred, almost gone '''Yes'''. Perhaps Utsumi pressed it giving his agreement while it was only half dry.

"Incidentally the palm print of the contract matches Utsumi's "

Kirika backed up that guess with good timing. Ayano continued asking:

"The method of escape?"

"We don't know"

Kirika clearly shook her head.

"I said so before but the surveillance camera was interrupted and the guard put to sleep. We noticed something was wrong when they had to change shifts"

"What about clues?"

"Right. While there is no physical evidence, it doesn't seem like he just walked away"

"Space transfer?"

"A '''door''' was opened in the anti-magical barrier the detention cell was under, yes"

"Bullshit......."

At Kirika's words, casually shrugging her shoulders, Ayano was made to realize once again the enemy's lack of common sense.

"So, that's why, far from being destroyed, Pandemonium moves with increasing vigor. This is unconfirmed information but from last night to the early dawn of this morning four of five of those people with abilities underwent a class change in one stroke"

"Is that a lot ? "

"Of course !"

Kirika responded at Ayano's words that held no sense of urgency as if she could barely endure her headache.

"It's not like we caught all of them but there's no mistake there are more that ten people who had a class change. If that number suddenly increases by five - "

"Hmmm"

Ayano made a thoroughly indifferent sound.

Whether their level goes up, whether they class change, those kind of people who obtained power by accident cannot possibly be considered her opponents.

"Maybe they plot raising all levels"

Kirika stared unpleasantly at Ayano who announced the serious deduction.

"You mean, the second stage ones who had one class change will become the norm and perhaps a third stage of chosen ones will start to appear?"

"Yes, but I cannot back it up"

"But, if they were to release so much power, won't they lose their human awareness?"

"What of it?"

Ayano cut through Kirika's objection with a brief comment.

The power given by Pandemonium is the power of a Youma parasitic to the human body.

To say it frankly it wasn't given per say.

In the process of absorbing and assimilating the possessing Youma, the time necessary to manipulate the Youma's power doesn't take more than an hour.

While their power grows, the Youma is eating into that person's soul. If they were to do another class change, it would be impossible to maintain a human heart for those people with such a weak will.

However -

"Who cares about such things ?"

Those granted power, those seeking it, none will hesitate. They heartlessly didn't reflect on their former lives before the change so they won't consider the consequences after.

"..........that may be so"

Reluctantly, Kirika agreed with Ayano's opinion. She didn't like it but it was very likely. Not a conjecture she could ignore.

"The question is what is the other party thinking?", continued Ayano dispassionate.

"Why are they doing such a thing? We don't why they went so far as picking a fight with the police and rescued Utsumi."

Just by looking at the visible phenomena manipulated by the man calling himself Vesalius, it was clear he has a mighty ability.

But what he did in proportion with that power was childish or playful, something without a clear sense of purpose.

"That's the issue. Though at first I thought it was '''Kodogu'''"

Kodogu is one form of magic carried out using poisonous worms and such.

Cramming in a vase-like container a large quantity of poisonous worms and let then eat each other and then use the last remaining one as the core of a curse.

By making those with special abilities granted by Pandemonium fight each other, how will they use the last one standing, the most powerful among them - they pretty much agreed with that. But -

"You said ''I thought''. Is that wrong?"asked Ayano, accurately judging Kirika's aim who used the past tense.

Kirika agreed mater-of-fact.

"Kazuma said so. He said ''The Youma possessing those children is all the same''."

"All the same, you mean the same type ?"

"No, the same Youma"

" - ?"

Not understanding that meaning Ayano tilted her head to the side in confusion.

Expecting that, Kirika continued the explanation without pause.

"Pandemonium is reducing Youma to digital data and let them possess through the Internet. So Kazuma said that if a Youma can be turned to data, isn't it possible to make more copies of ?"

".........."

Ayano silently petrified. If that was true, the number of enemies won't be limited. It means they can mass produce those annoying people with abilities without limit.

"B -But if it's like that, would the ability differ from one person to another ?"

Pulling herself together Ayano pointed out what seemed at first an inconsistency in that theory. But the answer was quick.

"I think it was set up to match the aptitude of the people possessed. There's also the data volume issue, probably taking for the first time a seedbed related shape and sending them out like a seed or an egg"

" - I see"

"Well, you understand from my ''I think'' and ''probably'' that this is just a guess or maybe nothing more than speculation"

Contrary to her words her tone was full of confidence. The reason is but obvious.

"You mean that Kazuma reached the same conclusion so it's reliable intelligence. What's the problem?"

Even without saying so, Ayano had nothing to object. When it comes to the precision of their perception ability, Kazuma was ahead of her by a two digit number.

"Well, because of that the Kodoku theory doesn't stand"

"............It seems so"

The quintessence of Kodoku is the creation of a high density course source by condensing multiple fragments of malice in one body.

Killing and absorbing oneself and turning what was whole into the very same thing, that's like returning to the origin. It won't develop into hatred.

"Then, after all, we don't know the enemy's objective ? "

"Well, it's like that"

"He said it was an experiment"

A clear boy-soprano interrupted Kirika's careless answer. All eyes gathered on the new speaker.

"Ren, what did you...?"

"Like I said, it's an experiment. That man told me so. So, he can't stop it mid-way"

In a daze for a short while, Ayano suddenly clapped her hands as if remembering.

"Come to think of it, you met that masked bastard much earlier than us"

"........did you forget?"

Ignoring the amazed Kirika, daring such a retort, Ayano faced Ren.

"So, what's the experiment"

"Eerr, he didn't say more"

"I see"

That's yet again, the same as not knowing anything. All the progress they made was that they had proof the incident was not yet over.

"Well, he didn't seem like a guy who would easily spill the beans - Aah, on that subject"

While complaining she looked at Ren as if finally realizing something. She asked the boy, looking slightly doubtful.

"Kazuma called that man ''Bernhardt'' but what does it mean?"

"Aah, that - "

After a brief contemplation, Ren spoke carefully.

"Vesalius was his alias or something and it seems his real name is Bernhardt Rhodes. He seemed to know Nii-sama - that man didn't clearly confirm it but he didn't deny it also"

"Bernhardt Rhodes you said - "

Ayano exchanged a dark glance with Kirika, using only one word to make sure.

"Him ?"

"No, I'm not sure"

Ren shook his head without wanting to reply.

Bernhardt Rhodes - for those being a part of the magic society, the meaning that name held was exceedingly great.

There is a magic society called <<Almagest>>. Its activity is centered in Western Europe, a powerful organization praised as the highest authority in modern day magic.

Its name is derived from the astronomy work Ptolemaios published, Almagestum. Just like the name suggests it was at first a guild of astrologers.

But by collecting all kind of Jutsu and Jutsushi or the consequence of accepting the unprincipled ones, at present it developed to the point of being called the headquarters of Psychic Research.

The name of their leader was Erwin Leszal. Known as the personal pupil of the great magician Agrippa or as the Comte de Saint Germain, an enigmatic character that even in this circle was covered in insane legends.

More than being the leader for more than three hundred years he wasn't a public person and here were quite few people who didn't believe in his existence.

It was the opinion of most that such a name was some kind of title the leader received for generations, the symbol of becoming the boss.

The management of such a substantial organization was carried out by the so called <<Council>> - the association of high rank Majutsushi.

And the Chairman of those Majutsushi was Bernhardt Rhodes.

To sum it up, Bernhardt was Majutsushi with so much fame no one would complain when calling him the world's best.

That celebrity seemed unlikely to go as far as concealing his face when he is doing criminal activities. But -

''"A coincidence? I don't think so "''

Ayano rejected the convenient explanation floating in her mind.

It can't be a coincidence. He was too good at deception. All that left is -

"I have no doubt"

The answer came from an unexpected direction. Everyone's gaze converged to Kirika.

Without faltering under those looks that felt like a physical pressure, Kirika continued.

"If he has a grudge against Kazuma, even more if he had something to do with that girl called Tsoi Rin, there's no mistake about it. The master of Pandemonium, Vesalius, is Bernhardt Rhodes of <<Almagest>>"

"Wh - wait"

"Well, if you think about it, there are no idiots who would dare impersonate Bernhardt Rhodes"

"True but more than that - "

Striking the table, Ayano interrupted Kirika's talking.

"Do you know that woman, Tsoi Rin?"

"Hhmm, sort of"

At that moment all sort of expression disappeared from Ayano's face.

Grabbing Kirika by the collar so she won't escape, she said in a subdued voice.

"Spill it"

"A - Ayano-chan, calm down?"

"I am calm, spill it", repeated Ayano indifferent.

If she would have screamed there could have been a method to deal with her yet.

"Well, listen, I told you before right? When it comes to Kazuma's privacy, I can't really - "

Ayano was silent. But the force with which she grabbed Kirika didn't dwindle and clearly she didn't agree.

Kirika's eyes requested Juugo's help. The master of the mansion mostly silent so far looked at the two of them with an unreadable expression and spoke solemnly.

"Detective Tachibana"

"Y - yes?"

"Guessing from the conversation so far, it seems that the existence of this Tsoi Rin girl certainly holds a great significance within this incident. Although I praise your conviction of respecting someone's privacy, can't you overlook it and tell us ?"

"Uuu......"

Kirika groaned. No way is the Head of the Kannagi Clan going to ''ask'' her. And then - she stole a glance at Ayano.

Clashing with that straightforward glance that seemed to never blink, she averted her eyes in a hurry.

Even when Juugo was speaking, this glance wasn't disconnected even for a second looking hard this way.

That steady look that said '''If you don't speak I'll take you and eat you''', frankly, had no trace of being alive.

Searching for a ray of hope, she looked at the remaining two.

".............................pfff"

Genma replied to Kirika's eyes, requesting salvation, with a tiny laugh. Come to think of it, it would be impossible for this man who showed he cared for the well-being of Kazuma not to take an interest in his past.

And then, Ren.

".........."

The moment he noticed Kirika's gaze, the boy looked away uncomfortably.

To sum it up, it seemed he found Kirika's distress unfortunate but didn't have the nerve to hold Ayano back.

Adding one thing to another, Ren himself seemed to have a special interest in the girl Tsoi Rin.

" - I give up"

Finally beaten down by the opponent's persistence, Kirika opened her mouth.

It was a helpless situation.

But most of all, the fact that the coercion given off by Ayano was reaching lethal levels made Kirika prepare herself for the worst.

"Just to tell you in advance, this is a hearsay story, I don't know how true it is"

With that introduction, she began speaking.

"It starts four years ago when Kazuma crossed over to Hong Kong running away from Kannagi and met a girl - "

=== Part 3 ===

"...........ma.........zuma............."

What dragged him out from his pleasant slumber was an even more pleasant soprano call and the feeling of warm hands that tenderly shook his body.

He was instantly woken up but he pretended to be asleep, curling up underneath the blanket.

It was for the warmth of the bed he yearned for but much more so for the childish thought ''I want her to look after me more''.

"Geez......wake up.......already!....wake........up..........!"

By the strength of her tone and the energy with which she shook his body she demanded him to get out of the bed. But, he covered himself in the blanket like a bag-worm and continued refusing to get up.

" - Uuuu, five more minutes........."

"Quit it already!"

Getting tired of those sloven words, she finaly took a firm step. She forcefully tore off the blanket and exposed his body, indulging in indolence to the cold morning air.

Now, he made his body even smaller. It was so pitiful it gave the impression of some kind of bug.

"Wake up, Kazuma! I won't feed you!"

Finally accepting it, he - Kannagi Kazuma stretched his curled up body. But, not waking up just yet, he buried his face in the pillow and groaned.

"I'm still sleepy........"

"I don't care. Oversleeping is no excuse for staying up late", she declared point-blank.

"Change your clothes and get down in five minutes. If you don't make it in tine, you don't get to eat"

".....please forgive me"

With a backward glance at Kazuma, getting up sluggishly, she moved energetically and left through the door.

But, opening the door immediately after closing it, she peeked inside the room.

"Aah, I forgot"

" - what?"

Looking at Kazuma who turned around puzzled, she said:

"Good morning, Kazuma"

A full bloom smiling face first thing in the morning. Looking fondly at that radiance, Kazuma responded with a smile.

"Good morning, Tsoi Rin"

This is how Kazuma's mornings always started.

"Well then"

Standing up, he stretched once profoundly.

He didn't have time to waste. Tsoi Rin didn't lie. If he won't rush, he will really miss breakfast.

In addition to that, today he has a hard job to do. The contents of his stomach are a matter of life and death.

He must eat the breakfast made by Tsoi Rin and restore his energy in both mind and body -

"Uuryaa!"

Raising an exaggerated yell, he took off his pajamas. And then pulled out from the wardrobe the clothes for today.

"Hyo, cold -"

With a meaningless expression, at the time he put on his shirt, Kazuma looked at that thing placed above the dresser.

Adorned like an ornament, the cash card bent in two.

"........."

Contrasting with such a lively facial expression, etching a cynical smile on his lips, Kazuma bowed to a broken card.

"Good morning to you, mother. Thank you, today I am healthy also"

Looking at the card, his eyes cast a gloomy light. What they saw was the smiling face of the mother who threw him away -

"Waah, achoo!"

Kazuma let out a miserable shriek when the draft brushed his bare back. Of course, the gloomy, rough atmosphere collapsed immediately.

"Shit, you really don't have time for the serious stuff now. Just eat your breakfast and do your manual labor"

Changing clothes as fast as possible, Kazuma rushed out of the room. For the sake of filling himself with the home cooking of the girl he loved, much more valuable than his worthless past.

It's evening - just like Kazuma declared this morning, he was seriously working hard.

Inside a gloomy warehouse, resounding with gunshots.

"Why!? For Christ's sake!"

With a stupid appearance embracing with one hand a cat that seemed important, Kazuma abused his unreasonable fate that had something against him.

Of course, the situation won't get better just by doing that. Trying to find a chance to somehow run away he peeked from behind the container concealing his body. But -

Just then, continuous shots aimed at him.

"Wahh!"

Drawing back his face in a rush, he left that container like a cockroach. Soothing his violent heart, he took a deep breath, two, three -

"Shit, why is this happening to me!?"

But even so, unable to accept the present situation, he started complaining uselessly.

"When I'm finally free from that abnormal world with Majutsushi, with Youma, with evil spirits, this time is a gun battle!? What the fuck have I done?"

While complaining, Kazuma took out a knife from his breast pocket. Running up to the container soundlessly he jumped more than ten meters.

Faster than the man who noticed him and pointed his gun this way, he threw his knife.

"Guah!?"

Without changing its aim, the knife ran through the back of the man's right hand. The gun fell down from the hand that lost its power.

"Urya"

With nothing more but the force of the jump, Kazuma landed on his feet on top of the man. Conspicuously, from under his feet the feel of the broken ribs was transmitted.

"Finally, it's settled"

Deciding on a pose on top of the man spitting out blood, Kazuma observed the man's face once more. Holding down with all his strength the cat fretting inside his arm, he said:

"So - who the heck is this guy?"

"Thank you for your efforts!"

Entering the shop, a man with an evil smile and a voice full of ridicule greeted Kazuma.

Kazuma grimaced, replying with a bitter voice.

"..........As expected, you have sharp ears"

Ahead his line of sigh - inside the shop, one old man was sitting down.

The owner of the Tianshui Temple, an antique store standing side by side with the Kowloon's shopping district, Huang Ying Long.

But very few people knew that this person who apparently seemed like a good natured old man was as a matter of fact known for the most prominent information shop in Hong Kong.

But Kazuma was - unwillingly - one of those people.

To make matters worse, because he needed a job but couldn't show his face here and there his dept was one-sided piling up and he was already unable to act on an equal basis with him.

He explained his lack of honorific language as not knowing the language well enough but for Kazuma it was a minimal and childish opposition.

On the other side, ignoring Kazuma's infantile opposition, Huang continued grinning broadly.

"At any rate, you're very fond of conflict, huh? Why is it that just by trying to catch a run-away pet it results in a shoot-out? Do you yearn for to become a hard-boiled detective like in the novels?"

".........shut up", spat out Kazuma unpleasantly.

"This time it wasn't my fault. I don't know who they confused me with but the other side started shooting all of a sudden. Besides, this is just the third time it turned into a fight. That's not enough to call me a trouble maker -"

"Hey, this is just the second week you work"

At the calm, precise retort Kazuma became silent.

By the way, Kazuma's current occupation is what's commonly referred to as a Jack of all trades. It also resembled pretty well a Japanese private detective.

Of course, he was only learning now but still bragging about the job itself.

- But now, that conceit was smashed into very small pieces.

"Leave"

"Just wait"

Enjoyed from the bottom of his heart, Huang called after Kazuma who had simply turned around and started walking.

"We're past the time for jokes. I'll get straight to the point."

"Keep it short."

"Humph, then I'll finish with one sentence - Don't lose your head, brat"

In that instant, the atmosphere around Huang completely changed.

That cynical face that aged well turned to that of a long military service soldier living through Honk Kong's underground society.

"Wha.......what is going on, suddenly?"

"Is it fun tormenting small-time hoodlums?", asked Huang coldly of Kazuma who pretended to be tough although he was overpowered.

" Wha -"

"It must be fun. If your opponent is only a human being even you can display your might. But, do you think you can live a long life in this manner? You are not one of those ''<<chosen people>>''after all"

Huang's words were hinting at knowing Kazuma's lineage and his past.

Exposed to the scars of the past he was averting his eyes from as much as possible, Kazuma was enraged.

"I know that!"

" - Really?"

Not hesitating in front of that gaze even mixed with killing intent, Huang asked again, matter-of-fact.

"You think this way, right? ''"Apart from being a Jutsushi, I am a superior person. If it's a battle without Majutsu, I am the strongest"'' or something"

"......tch!"

Accurately having been seen through the thought he entertained again and again, Kazuma sharply caught his breath. As for Huang, reading that response, he made a small snort not showing surprise.

".......what, are you trying to say?"

"I alredy did. It was ''Don't lose your head, brat''. You're not a Jutsushi, you're not a soldier, you are nothing but a brat whose strong point is being good at fighting. Don't you ever try to look cool in front of someone holding a gun. For me it doesn't matter but if you die Tsoi Rin will be sad."

Kazuma was caving in so much abuse but the moment he heard the last few words, he stood up straight.

His face pouting like a child turned to that of an adult - a man who becomes an adult.

"I know. I will at least protect Tsoi Rin"

"Ha, protect, you say? Fine words when you're the one who is one-sided protected."

But Huang lightly laughed even at those words full of determination.

"If not for that girl, you would be getting dead-drunk in self pity even now. No, you would have drunk away the money you received from your parents and turned into a beggar, huh?"

"Guuh -"

Having the time when he fell to the very bottom discussed, Kazuma got red in the face.

Even more, Huang thrust his finger at him with a snap.

"Listen brat, I don't have too much expectation from you. You are an ordinary person. No matter how you struggle, you won't become a hero. Throw away the hopes beyond your means, think only how to make Tsoi Rin happy and live with your feet on the ground. "

"..........I understand"

Although he was pouting with dissatisfaction, Kazuma agreed.

It wasn't a very lenient evaluation but it was the truth.

Because he didn't have the attributes of a hero, because he wasn't chosen, for this reason, he was here right now.

"If you understand that's fine. You can go now"

".........yeah"

As if driven away by Huang's cruel wave of hand, drudgingly Kazuma took the road home.

Opening the door, Kazuma was wrapped up in the warm atmosphere and miscellaneous clatter.

Inside the store all seats were already occupied and the festive uproar made by the lively people cured a day's worth of fatigue.

His sweetheart was in the center of it. Both her hands fully loaded with trays of alcohol and cookery, she quickly made her way through the crowd of people as if swimming, waiting on tables.

Presuming the cold wind the arrival of a customer, she turned around.

"Ji wei hu......."

Those words of warm reception were interrupted in the middle. The face that continued smiling changed to something even more cute and shining.

"Welcome home, Kazuma"

"I'm home, Tsoi Rin"

Kazuma also responded with a full face smile to his beloved lover. When he stepped up to her words of banter and whistles down-poured from the surroundings.

But all of them were warm, without any ill will. Everyone was blessing from the bottom of their heart the young pair of lovers.

"You were late, huh?"

"Hmm - Aah, just a little"

Frankly - Because he got caught up in the moment and jumped about too much, he ended up getting sermons so Kazuma was vaguely evasive.

And since he was already deceiving her and her hands were fully occupied Kazuma took the opportunity and embraced Tsoi Rin's body closely.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 055.jpg|thumb|]]

But, she was suddenly snatched from the side.

"Kyaah!?"

Embraced by a drunken person, Tsoi Rin let out a small shriek.

But then, this was an everyday occurrence, one she wouldn't even spill a drop of alcohol over from the glasses placed on the tray.

"Tsoi Rin ～ dump that guy already, I will -"

His declaration not allowed until the end, Kazuma kicked the man's face. Less than a kick he just pushed him with the bottom of his shoe but even so the man fall flat, spouting a nose bleed.

"Hey, don't put your hands on someone's woman!"

Looking down on the senseless man, Kazuma raised his middle finger. But, immediately after, he receive a crushing blow to the back of his head and also feel to the ground.

"Geez, Kazuma! What are you doing to the customer!?"

Skillfully finishing serving the table, Tsoi Rin shouted with the empty trays raised overhead. From the way she held it, the blow wasn't with the back of the tray but with its edge.

"......but it's fine to be violent towards me?"

"It's fine, because it's Kazuma"

A reply without hesitation. At a loss for words, Kazuma and the man he just kicked and fell down looked at each other and exchanged a wry smile.

"Hey, stand up already. It's very busy so help me"

"Well, I just came home from work"

"So what? I'm working all day long. Don't tell me, you plan to drink without a care while looking at me working?"

"I am sorry. I'll help you immediately"

Having no confidence of winning the verbal war, Kazuma surrendered on the spot.

Hecklers flew out from everywhere at that appearance without a shred of dignity sadly facing the kitchen.

"Show her who's the man, Kazuma!"

"How noisy! You don't even have a woman to order you around!"

Both the jeering man and the retorting Kazuma laughed together from the bottom of their hearts.

For Kazuma this place was his second home but the first one who made his heart feel at ease.

That joy he received, he wouldn't exchange it for anything else.

''"Throw away the hopes beyond your means and live with your feet on the ground."''

He remembered Huang's cool-headed words.

He understood now. Huang too, was concerned about him. If not, why would he cordially come in contact with a Japanese wanderer?

Turning her head over her shoulder, while bending her head slightly to the side marveling, Tsoi Rin smiled at him tenderly.

Even the customers a bit flinty but good people overall, were watching over them with warmth.

''It's fine''

Surrounded by genial smiles, Kazuma was convinced from the bottom of his heart.

I don't need any kind of special power.

It doesn't matter that I wasn't chosen.

Ordinary. Commonplace. But very happy, with his feet on the ground.

''"I can live here"''

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Illustrations|Illustrations]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 1

2013-10-17T20:43:56Z

Antanaru: /* Part 2 */

== Chapter 1 - Signs of rematch ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Shit"

Together with the the spat out swear word, the sound of a weak fist striking the wall pointlessly reverberated.

This is an underground place below the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. It wasn't generally used, a police cell used for accommodating unique criminals.

Clean and simple, in that space resembling a hotel single room the boy grieved over his circumstance.

"Why did something like that happen......"

He was supposed to have obtained power.

An invincible power.

A power that can grant all wished.

An invincible power.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this......"

He suddenly rose in the world.

A ''higher'' existence than those worthless masses whose existence doesn't matter.

From here on he would be the one to look down on those who looked down on him, scorn them, and like like an overwhelming man of courage -

That was how it was supposed to be.

And yet, right now, he had been clumsily caught by the police. The power he thought invincible was sealed easily, and tomorrow they will apply treatment in order to get rid of it for good.

Again, he turned to nothing but an incompetent person. And in addition to that, he will be held in police custody even for his previous offenses.

He was disgraced. He was unbearably disgraced.

One girl's picture floated in his brain. The ringleader who forced him into such circumstance. The one who didn't listen his command, the command of a superior person, the disrespectful bitch who of all things, turned on him with savage weapons.

"Nanase.........."

The boy - Utsumi Kousuke, squeezed out the girl's name, including as much curse in it as possible.

But, the anti-magic barrier installed in the police cell nullified every kind of power generated inside.

Utsumi's grudge, didn't attain form, fruitlessly melting in the atmosphere and disappearing.

".........shit......."

Reminded again that ''the invincible power'' had been sealed, Utsumi's body shook with rage.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! Come out! Come out! I am the chose one! I'm not supposed to be here!!"

He knocked the door as if going mad. When the privileges bestowed onto him were taken, that absurdity destroyed his mental balance.

"Why? Why do I have to suffer through this? What do you accuse me of?"

But, no one was there to reply to his egotistic claim and Utsumi's random screams, drifting inside the room, were sucked into the walls and disappeared.

After a turn, a silence similar to frozen time filled the room. The reverberation of noise reverted the vector of his spirit visibly changing Utsumi's character, pressing his forehead to the wall, cowered. A frail murmur escaped him.

"What to do............"

If it continues like this and his power will be stolen what will happen - even his dumb brain could easily picture it.

''"They'll take revenge on me........"''

Even if they won't charge him for his crimes, the people he cursed will definitely not forgive him. The retribution will be more severe than whatever he experienced until now.

And, right now he had no means of defending himself.

"No........I don't want that........"

While moaning at the wits' end, Utsumi naturally regretted his behavior.

"'''It would have been better not to do that'''", or something

But that was not a remorseful contemplation. They were only the previous selfish thoughts fearing revenge, without a particle of Utsumi's compassion.

"It's not my fault........I'm not to blame......."

Racking his brain, he tried justifying himself. He wasn't in the wrong. He's not the one responsible. Because, because -

"But, I only used it, right? The one who's evil and pushed this unwanted power onto me is that Pandemonium's Vesalius, right? I'm just like a victim tricked by that man, right?"

Deriving a satisfactory answer, Utsumi's eyes sparkled.

"First of all, if the police had time to catch someone like me, shouldn't they search for Vesalius first? The police is always like this. They don't get involved with the really bad guys but only arrest underlings, worrying only about settling cases by framing victims like me. Do you think the country's peace can be protected like that?"

With persistently self centered words, at the time he was talking on and on loudly.

" - Hm?"

On one point on the pure white wall, suddenly, a deep crimson spot appeared. A small dot, red like fresh blood. It grew as if being guided by an invisible pen and engraved letters on the wall.

These were the contents:

'''Congratulation!!'''

'''Congratulation for your level up!'''

'''In accordance with this level up, it's possible to class change and obtain even more power. If you wish so, a door reaching Pandemonium will open for you here, ushering you in.'''

'''Do you desire a class change?'''

'''Yes/No'''

"Wh- what........?"

At the sudden variation, Utsumi opened his eyes wide in blank amazement. But at the same time, he instantly understood the meaning of this message.

This was a '''mail''' from Pandemonium.

One Pandemonium sent every time one acquires experience points, an information email. The sentences written don the wall had the same literary style like the several tens he received before.

But - Utsumi racked his brain puzzled.

''"Level up?"''

The way of obtaining XP is not just defeating one's enemy or in Utsumi's case fulfilling curses. Utilizing the power granted by Pandemonium, you're adding experience one by one.

Of curse, when comparing it with killing one's enemy, the quantity is infinity smaller.

Utsumi's recent results, is the amount he used on Nanase and his classmates. With just that it would have been impossible to level up, supposedly.

''"Wait - that doesn't matter"''

With more discernment than ever, Utsumi grasped the current situation.

It doesn't mater if it's a mistake or something. If he can level up and then class change, there's no reason to hesitate.

And then -

''''If you wish so, a door reaching Pandemonium will open for you here, ushering you in''''

The message was very easily delivered to the room equipped with an anti-magical barrier. That existence itself is sufficient evidence for the contents of the message.

Clearly, it's impossible for this barrier to resist the mighty power of Pandemonium. In other words, if he wishes so, he can really go to Pandemonium. He can escape prison.

"....................."

Gulping down his saliva, Utsumi stared at the '''mail''' from Pandemonium.

Freedom. even more power. It was an excessively sweet temptation. He can take back all be believed lost. He could obtain even more.

The woman who ridiculed him, this time...........

With an uncertain manner of walking, Utsumi walked to the wall the message was written down on.

The blood red letters. The half dried ink pulled down by gravity smudged the wall giving an ominous impression of an evil spell.

But even so, for Utsumi right now it was similar to a sacred oracle.

That ''reality'''that protected him revived his lost willpower.

"Like I thought, I am '''special'''"

Broadly grinning, his ugly lips warped, Utsumi laughed. An arrogant smile scorning everything beside himself.

"Just wait, Nanase. This time I'll get even with you!"

With a loud shout, Utsumi '''clicked''' on the '''Yes''' end of the message.

=== Part 2 ===

Opening the door of her beloved GT-R car, Kirika looked at the cloudless sky.

The sun was shining brilliantly, burning distinct shadows on the earth.

The wind was fluttering refreshing, the birds singing a pleasant tune -

There was no trouble in the world - contrary to those words appropriate for the morning scenery, on Kirika's beautiful face there was a haggard look impossible to conceal.

The black circles below her eyes clearly indicated the extent of her fatigue. The cleaning up of the troubles that happened one after another last night was so difficult that even Kirika thought half seriously of skipping out.

Getting off the car, she faced the entrance as if limping. An employee was already there, waiting for her arrival.

"This way - "

Following after the servant who informed laconically, Kirika entered the residence. She walked and walked and walked the exclusively long corridor. She stopped.

It seems they arrived at the place of destination. The servant knelt in front of the futsuma and announced Kirika's arrival.

"Please"

"...............yes"

Although showing a slight hesitation, Kirika stepped forward on the other side of the futsuma the servant opened. The members inside were generally as Kirika expected.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 017.jpg|thumb|]]

Except for one.

"Genma-dono ——？"

Involuntarily Kirika called out the name of that person.

Kannagi Genma. The father of both Kazuma and Ren and the most powerful active Jutsushi of the family. Although the Suzerain - Juugo was the best, that ability that overwhelms Ayano yielding Enraiha reached the limits of myth, crossing over legend.

''"That person, why - "''

Glancing at Kirika stiff with fright, Genma informed in a low voice.

"Yesterday my son received favor from you"

"Your son - ?"

At Kirika's instant reply, Genma looked at Ren sitting next to him.

"Both"

".......No, it wasn't that much........"

Bewildered by the interaction, Kirika became evasive using a ambiguous tone. But from the start it seemed Genma didn't cared about Kirika's answer.

"Really, I thought he grew up a little but his spoiled nature doesn't change.........perhaps he was careless with his job, being too busy with women"

''".........unexpectedly, a person who likes to complain?"''

Using a downcast look in front of the grumbling Genma, Kirika attempted a rebuttal while observing the surroundings on her field of vision.

"I don't think he was particularly careless with his job"

"It's the same thing if your acts don't yield fruit", Genma declared harshly.

But immediately following he asked without changing his tone.

"So, did you get in touch with Kazuma?"

" - Wha - ?"

With round eyes Kirika stared at Genma.

Why is Genma here. And why he spoke as if showing contempt towards Kazuma, she finally understood.

Averting her gaze in a casual manner, she examined the surroundings. Ayano and Ren didn't notice and only Juugo seemed to have reached the same conclusion. As if resisting a smile, the corners of his lips twitched.

''"He - he's an unexpectedly indulgent papa, huh?"''

while guessing she made the same expression as Juugo, Kirika desperately feigned calmness. She answered shortly, with brevity.

"No. Not really. No."

"I see"

The one who spoke wasn't Genma but Juugo, silent until now. Unseen by Genma, for one moment, he smiled to Kirika like an accomplice and then continued.

"Well, he's not the kind of man who will die when being swallowed by a crumbling building"

"I agree"

Saying it out loud it seemed a a cruel expression but Kirika agreed from the bottom of her heart.

There was no reason for doubt. To begin with, Kazuma was the one who rescued the three of them from the crumbling building.

He was loosing himself in anger but apparently one composed portion still remained.

just before they were crushed by the downpour of debris, Kazuma spread a wind barrier and set the trio free.

Perfectly controlling the barrier until they landed, he delivered them on the above ground without any scratch. Especially smart, he raised an optical camouflage to remain invisible, denoting perfect composure.

About the safety of Kazuma's own body, Kirika didn't have any kind of apprehension. Rather, right now her body was in much more danger.

But the pure boy thinking of his older brother, seemed to be worried still. Frowning with worry, Ren said.

"But even for Onii-sama something unlikely can happen. Besides if he's fine he would have called at least"

"He doesn't want to be looked after right now. Or he doesn't want us to get in the way"

"What do you mean?"

Finding fault with Kirika's words, Ayano retorted sharply. Kirika's eyebrows frowned instantly cursing her verbal slip and tried to dodge the question with a forced smile.

"Don't worry about it"

"I am worrying about it!"

Understanding she couldn't deceive her, Kirika looked at Ayano with a pensive expression.

"Listen to me, Ayano-chan"

"What?"

"If you knew one of Kazuma's secret, one he doesn't want other people knowing, would you tell?"

"........."

As expected, she blocked it. Even Ayano, who she recognized was daring beyond recklessness, hesitated making Kazuma truly angry.

At that chance, Kirika smoothly turned the conversation around.

"That's why, don't ask today. It's not something that has a direct impact on us anyway - beside I'm sure you'll know soon enough"

" -？"

Ayano didn't seem to consent yet but Kirika completely ignored it.

"So, let's get down to business"

Speaking so, she took out a videotape from her bag. Looking inside the room and discovering a video deck close to the wall, she silently asked Juugo for permission.

Juugo nodded in silence.

"First, please look at this"

Together with Kirika's words, the shape of Tokyo's Government Office appeared on the screen.

The tallest in Shinjuku but more than that the characteristic twin towers. That gallant figure that already disappeared from reality and only existed in memories or records.

"If it's about the collapse, we already saw it on the news"

"Just look"

Rejecting Ayano's complaint without even turning around, Kirika gazed at the screen. Reluctantly, Ayano imitated her.

What was reflected on the screen was the first central government office. For a while nothing happened. But suddenly an unusual phenomenon appeared.

From the space between the two raised towers, a pillar of light soared facing the sky.

The film played over and over after last night's news would have scared everyone if seen for the first time. There was nothing to be surprised about now, though.

Ayano looked at the video with an indifferent expression. The pillar of light striking the heavens. It was the work of that girl called Lapis.

The goddess-like gigantic phantom clutching the phantom sword.

From the outside only a part of the sword was visible but that shape couldn't be mistaken. That more than sharp double edged sword, if that aberrant length were excluded, only Lapis hold the crystal weapon remained.

''" - huh?"''

Ayano remembered a slightly uncomfortable feeling.

When she saw the news did the pillar of light resembled a sword so clearly or did it looked like a stick.

Although bewildered, the video went on.

The pillar of light inclined.

The phantom sword was swung downward.

And then, as it tore the barrier, Pandemonium appeared.

" - Oh?"

At the same time it appeared, the huge blade swung downward beheaded Pandemonium. The rooftop tore, the walls were cut and although Pandemonium was split in two halves, the blade had yet to stop.

Really stretching close to two hundred meters, its tip moved until it faced directly below. The walls of the Tokyo Government Office were shredded in a vertical straight line like a joke.

Of course, the damage didn't stop at the outer layer of walls. The blade of that gigantic sword was pretty much perfectly buried in the building, only its tip protruding from the other side of the wall over-enthusiastically.

If they were to regard the architectural structure like a human body, this blow clearly cut through the marrow. Needless to say, it would be a fatal wound.

Although practically split in half, the building tried to maintain its balance by propping up the towers one against the other.

But the tall building reaching two hundred forty three meters couldn't bear the weight on half its body. As if flattened by a huge hand from right overhead it crumbled while raising a large quantity of dust.

The screen was covered by that dust. And then the video paused switching over to a sandstorm.

"This is the original footage"

Kirika stopped the video.

"What circulates on the news was altered to appear like a regular terrorism explosion. We thoroughly erased everything suspicious or changed it"

As expected, the fact that <<Tokyo Government Office was split in half by a long light saber and destroyed>> can't be allowed to spread on the Internet.

Ayano was completely supportive of that matter. But -

"So, what are your impressions?"

"The worst.........", murmured Ayano feebly.

It was clear that the destruction of the Government Office was caused by Pandemonium.

But she believed Lapis' attack was nothing but the start. That is, she only broke the balance and the building collapsed after, on its own.

No way half the building was removed in a single stroke.

"Are you trying to say we have to fight that monster ? "

"I have high hopes for you, Ayano-chan", Kirika carefully declared to the disheartened Ayano.

"It doesn't seem I can count on Kazuma for being that girl's opponent"

"................aah, so it seems"

Kazuma's expression when he met Lapis - Ayano couldn't imagine that man could be in turmoil to such a degree.

And then, the name he murmured - Tsoi Rin

She didn't know who it was but undoubtedly she had a great significance for Kazuma. Enough to attack her without hesitation for the sake of protecting a girl who resembled her.

".........Whatever"

Shaking off that memory that made her uncomfortable, Ayano asked:

"So, what are we going to do from now on? As Pandemonium is destroyed for the time being we must think how to search for them, right?"

"Aah - about that........"

Averting her eyes somewhat uncomfortable, Kirika showed a bitter smile.

"Pandemonium still exists"

" - Eeh? Aah, on the Internet, you mean?"

"No, not just that - also in reality"

"..........."

Including an incomplete understanding, Ayano stared at Kirika with half opened eyes.

No matter how she thought about it, Kirika's attitude was suspicious.

How did she obtain evidence of it in just one night? Why did she have such a shitty attitude, far from being proud for such a great accomplishment?

"What is this?"

Raising her voice, Ayano cross-examined Kirika.

"I want you to tell me everything you know. This is not the place to hide your hand, right? If you keep secrets I don't care if Tokyo Tower goes next"

"Aah - yeah - "

Kirika fleetingly looked at Ayano with upturned eyes and broke the eyes with a roundabout expression.

"Can you listen calmly, without getting angry?"

"Just say it already!"

As Ayano urged, raising her voice, Kirika began talking nervously.

"You see, last night Utsumi Kousuke escaped from his cell"

The moment she heard those words, Ayano completely ignored Kirika's request.

That is, she got angry.

"You incompetent! And you're still calling yourself a professional !?"

"That's why I said to calm down and - "

"Do you think I can calm down !?", shouted Ayano without listening to Kirika's restraint.

"What the heck were you doing? Didn't you said to leave it to you !?"

"N- No, listen - "

"You idiot! Why do you make it so difficult so late in the game !?"

"Leave it at that"

This time, Juugo forced his way through.

Because he pitied the condemned Kirika or maybe because he became irritated by the conversation's lack of progress, that heavy, vibrant voice controlled the scene with an authority no one could oppose.

Struck by the rebuke of the father she loved and respected, Ayano immediately regained her composure. While instantly realizing this was not the place to shout pointlessly.

The person the released Utsumi would aim at the foremost is -

"Nanase - did she already begin the lessons?"

"It's all right. Nanase-san is fine"

As if soothing Ayano who took out her telephone in a hurry, Kirika informed her with a composed voice.

With a totally disbelieving gaze and tone, Ayano asked:

"How do you know?"

"Even we are not that incompetent. Because we noticed Utsumi's disappearance immediately after, we appointed protection to Nanase-san. At present there's no abnormality. She went to school without incident. I received a call approximately thirty minutes ago. Are you worried?"

"............"

Bet even so, Ayano didn't change her distrustful attitude.

"I understood the ''at present'' part. But after all, you weren't able to restrain Utsumi, no? How will that escort be helpful when she is practically attacked?"

Including a bitter smile, Kirika agreed.

"Please give us that much credit. The Jutsushi from Special Investigation Unit are not weak enough to lose to an amateur. Because even if Utsumi escaped, that wasn't his doing"

" - ? Did someone guide him?"

Replacing the answer, Kirika took out one photograph. Innocently picking it up, Ayano quickly caught her breath.

"This........."

It was the photograph of a white wall. A plain white wall. And then, painted on the surface of it, sickening red letters.

Sent to Utsumi's cell, a ''mail'' from Pandemonium.

"What is it?"

In silence Ayano held out the picture to Juugo. Frowning unpleasantly, Juugo gave it to Genma. And he to Ren.

"On the wall of the room where Utsumi was held captive, this appeared unnoticed"

Confirming that the picture reached all, Kirika began speaking.

"It happened between between eleven P.M. and midnight. Because the surveillance camera was stopped, the accurate moment of the act is uncertain"

"Eleven P.M..........."

Tokyo Government Office was destroyed at eight P.M. Of course, at that time Pandemonium was supposed to be annihilated.

But the red letters etched on the cell's wall, the hand print that sealed the contract undermined that fact.

Below the hand written contract, the blurred, almost gone '''Yes'''. Perhaps Utsumi pressed it giving his agreement while it was only half dry.

"Incidentally the palm print of the contract matches Utsumi's "

Kirika backed up that guess with good timing. Ayano continued asking:

"The method of escape?"

"We don't know"

Kirika clearly shook her head.

"I said so before but the surveillance camera was interrupted and the guard put to sleep. We noticed something was wrong when they had to change shifts"

"What about clues?"

"Right. While there is no physical evidence, it doesn't seem like he just walked away"

"Space transfer?"

"A '''door''' was opened in the anti-magical barrier the detention cell was under, yes"

"Bullshit......."

At Kirika's words, casually shrugging her shoulders, Ayano was made to realize once again the enemy's lack of common sense.

"So, that's why, far from being destroyed, Pandemonium moves with increasing vigor. This is unconfirmed information but from last night to the early dawn of this morning four of five of those people with abilities underwent a class change in one stroke"

"Is that a lot ? "

"Of course !"

Kirika responded at Ayano's words that held no sense of urgency as if she could barely endure her headache.

"It's not like we caught all of them but there's no mistake there are more that ten people who had a class change. If that number suddenly increases by five - "

"Hmmm"

Ayano made a thoroughly indifferent sound.

Whether their level goes up, whether they class change, those kind of people who obtained power by accident cannot possibly be considered her opponents.

"Maybe they plot raising all levels"

Kirika stared unpleasantly at Ayano who announced the serious deduction.

"You mean, the second stage ones who had one class change will become the norm and perhaps a third stage of chosen ones will start to appear?"

"Yes, but I cannot back it up"

"But, if they were to release so much power, won't they lose their human awareness?"

"What of it?"

Ayano cut through Kirika's objection with a brief comment.

The power given by Pandemonium is the power of a Youma parasitic to the human body.

To say it frankly it wasn't given per say.

In the process of absorbing and assimilating the possessing Youma, the time necessary to manipulate the Youma's power doesn't take more than an hour.

While their power grows, the Youma is eating into that person's soul. If they were to do another class change, it would be impossible to maintain a human heart for those people with such a weak will.

However -

"Who cares about such things ?"

Those granted power, those seeking it, none will hesitate. They heartlessly didn't reflect on their former lives before the change so they won't consider the consequences after.

"..........that may be so"

Reluctantly, Kirika agreed with Ayano's opinion. She didn't like it but it was very likely. Not a conjecture she could ignore.

"The question is what is the other party thinking?", continued Ayano dispassionate.

"Why are they doing such a thing? We don't why they went so far as picking a fight with the police and rescued Utsumi."

Just by looking at the visible phenomena manipulated by the man calling himself Vesalius, it was clear he has a mighty ability.

But what he did in proportion with that power was childish or playful, something without a clear sense of purpose.

"That's the issue. Though at first I thought it was '''Kodogu'''"

Kodogu is one form of magic carried out using poisonous worms and such.

Cramming in a vase-like container a large quantity of poisonous worms and let then eat each other and then use the last remaining one as the core of a curse.

By making those with special abilities granted by Pandemonium fight each other, how will they use the last one standing, the most powerful among them - they pretty much agreed with that. But -

"You said ''I thought''. Is that wrong?"asked Ayano, accurately judging Kirika's aim who used the past tense.

Kirika agreed mater-of-fact.

"Kazuma said so. He said ''The Youma possessing those children is all the same''."

"All the same, you mean the same type ?"

"No, the same Youma"

" - ?"

Not understanding that meaning Ayano tilted her head to the side in confusion.

Expecting that, Kirika continued the explanation without pause.

"Pandemonium is reducing Youma to digital data and let them possess through the Internet. So Kazuma said that if a Youma can be turned to data, isn't it possible to make more copies of ?"

".........."

Ayano silently petrified. If that was true, the number of enemies won't be limited. It means they can mass produce those annoying people with abilities without limit.

"B -But if it's like that, would the ability differ from one person to another ?"

Pulling herself together Ayano pointed out what seemed at first an inconsistency in that theory. But the answer was quick.

"I think it was set up to match the aptitude of the people possessed. There's also the data volume issue, probably taking for the first time a seedbed related shape and sending them out like a seed or an egg"

" - I see"

"Well, you understand from my ''I think'' and ''probably'' that this is just a guess or maybe nothing more than speculation"

Contrary to her words her tone was full of confidence. The reason is but obvious.

"You mean that Kazuma reached the same conclusion so it's reliable intelligence. What's the problem?"

Even without saying so, Ayano had nothing to object. When it comes to the precision of their perception ability, Kazuma was ahead of her by a two digit number.

"Well, because of that the Kodoku theory doesn't stand"

"............It seems so"

The quintessence of Kodoku is the creation of a high density course source by condensing multiple fragments of malice in one body.

Killing and absorbing oneself and turning what was whole into the very same thing, that's like returning to the origin. It won't develop into hatred.

"Then, after all, we don't know the enemy's objective ? "

"Well, it's like that"

"He said it was an experiment"

A clear boy-soprano interrupted Kirika's careless answer. All eyes gathered on the new speaker.

"Ren, what did you...?"

"Like I said, it's an experiment. That man told me so. So, he can't stop it mid-way"

In a daze for a short while, Ayano suddenly clapped her hands as if remembering.

"Come to think of it, you met that masked bastard much earlier than us"

"........did you forget?"

Ignoring the amazed Kirika, daring such a retort, Ayano faced Ren.

"So, what's the experiment"

"Eerr, he didn't say more"

"I see"

That's yet again, the same as not knowing anything. All the progress they made was that they had proof the incident was not yet over.

"Well, he didn't seem like a guy who would easily spill the beans - Aah, on that subject"

While complaining she looked at Ren as if finally realizing something. She asked the boy, looking slightly doubtful.

"Kazuma called that man ''Bernhardt'' but what does it mean?"

"Aah, that - "

After a brief contemplation, Ren spoke carefully.

"Vesalius was his alias or something and it seems his real name is Bernhardt Rhodes. He seemed to know Nii-sama - that man didn't clearly confirm it but he didn't deny it also"

"Bernhardt Rhodes you said - "

Ayano exchanged a dark glance with Kirika, using only one word to make sure.

"Him ?"

"No, I'm not sure"

Ren shook his head without wanting to reply.

Bernhardt Rhodes - for those being a part of the magic society, the meaning that name held was exceedingly great.

There is a magic society called <<Almagest>>. Its activity is centered in Western Europe, a powerful organization praised as the highest authority in modern day magic.

Its name is derived from the astronomy work Ptolemaios published, Almagestum. Just like the name suggests it was at first a guild of astrologers.

But by collecting all kind of Jutsu and Jutsushi or the consequence of accepting the unprincipled ones, at present it developed to the point of being called the headquarters of Psychic Research.

The name of their leader was Erwin Leszal. Known as the personal pupil of the great magician Agrippa or as the Comte de Saint Germain, an enigmatic character that even in this circle was covered in insane legends.

More than being the leader for more than three hundred years he wasn't a public person and here were quite few people who didn't believe in his existence.

It was the opinion of most that such a name was some kind of title the leader received for generations, the symbol of becoming the boss.

The management of such a substantial organization was carried out by the so called <<Council>> - the association of high rank Majutsushi.

And the Chairman of those Majutsushi was Bernhardt Rhodes.

To sum it up, Bernhardt was Majutsushi with so much fame no one would complain when calling him the world's best.

That celebrity seemed unlikely to go as far as concealing his face when he is doing criminal activities. But -

''"A coincidence? I don't think so "''

Ayano rejected the convenient explanation floating in her mind.

It can't be a coincidence. He was too good at deception. All that left is -

"I have no doubt"

The answer came from an unexpected direction. Everyone's gaze converged to Kirika.

Without faltering under those looks that felt like a physical pressure, Kirika continued.

"If he has a grudge against Kazuma, even more if he had something to do with that girl called Tsoi Rin, there's no mistake about it. The master of Pandemonium, Vesalius, is Bernhardt Rhodes of <<Almagest>>"

"Wh - wait"

"Well, if you think about it, there are no idiots who would dare impersonate Bernhardt Rhodes"

"True but more than that - "

Striking the table, Ayano interrupted Kirika's talking.

"Do you know that woman, Tsoi Rin?"

"Hhmm, sort of"

At that moment all sort of expression disappeared from Ayano's face.

Grabbing Kirika by the collar so she won't escape, she said in a subdued voice.

"Spill it"

"A - Ayano-chan, calm down?"

"I am calm, spill it", repeated Ayano indifferent.

If she would have screamed there could have been a method to deal with her yet.

"Well, listen, I told you before right? When it comes to Kazuma's privacy, I can't really - "

Ayano was silent. But the force with which she grabbed Kirika didn't dwindle and clearly she didn't agree.

Kirika's eyes requested Juugo's help. The master of the mansion mostly silent so far looked at the two of them with an unreadable expression and spoke solemnly.

"Detective Tachibana"

"Y - yes?"

"Guessing from the conversation so far, it seems that the existence of this Tsoi Rin girl certainly holds a great significance within this incident. Although I praise your conviction of respecting someone's privacy, can't you overlook it and tell us ?"

"Uuu......"

Kirika groaned. No way is the Head of the Kannagi Clan going to ''ask'' her. And then - she stole a glance at Ayano.

Clashing with that straightforward glance that seemed to never blink, she averted her eyes in a hurry.

Even when Juugo was speaking, this glance wasn't disconnected even for a second looking hard this way.

That steady look that said '''If you don't speak I'll take you and eat you''', frankly, had no trace of being alive.

Searching for a ray of hope, she looked at the remaining two.

".............................pfff"

Genma replied to Kirika's eyes, requesting salvation, with a tiny laugh. Come to think of it, it would be impossible for this man who showed he cared for the well-being of Kazuma not to take an interest in his past.

And then, Ren.

".........."

The moment he noticed Kirika's gaze, the boy looked away uncomfortably.

To sum it up, it seemed he found Kirika's distress unfortunate but didn't have the nerve to hold Ayano back.

Adding one thing to another, Ren himself seemed to have a special interest in the girl Tsoi Rin.

" - I give up"

Finally beaten down by the opponent's persistence, Kirika opened her mouth.

It was a helpless situation.

But most of all, the fact that the coercion given off by Ayano was reaching lethal levels made Kirika prepare herself for the worst.

"Just to tell you in advance, this is a hearsay story, I don't know how true it is"

With that introduction, she began speaking.

"It starts four years ago when Kazuma crossed over to Hong Kong running away from Kannagi and met a girl - "

=== Part 3 ===

"...........ma.........zuma............."

What dragged him out from his pleasant slumber was an even more pleasant soprano call and the feeling of warm hands that tenderly shook his body.

He was instantly woken up but he pretended to be asleep, curling up underneath the blanket.

It was for the warmth of the bed he yearned for but much more so for the childish thought ''I want her to look after me more''.

"Geez......wake up.......already!....wake........up..........!"

By the strength of her tone and the energy with which she shook his body she demanded him to get out of the bed. But, he covered himself in the blanket like a bag-worm and continued refusing to get up.

" - Uuuu, five more minutes........."

"Quit it already!"

Getting tired of those sloven words, she finaly took a firm step. She forcefully tore off the blanket and exposed his body, indulging in indolence to the cold morning air.

Now, he made his body even smaller. It was so pitiful it gave the impression of some kind of bug.

"Wake up, Kazuma! I won't feed you!"

Finally accepting it, he - Kannagi Kazuma stretched his curled up body. But, not waking up just yet, he buried his face in the pillow and groaned.

"I'm still sleepy........"

"I don't care. Oversleeping is no excuse for staying up late", she declared point-blank.

"Change your clothes and get down in five minutes. If you don't make it in tine, you don't get to eat"

".....please forgive me"

With a backward glance at Kazuma, getting up sluggishly, she moved energetically and left through the door.

But, opening the door immediately after closing it, she peeked inside the room.

"Aah, I forgot"

" - what?"

Looking at Kazuma who turned around puzzled, she said:

"Good morning, Kazuma"

A full bloom smiling face first thing in the morning. Looking fondly at that radiance, Kazuma responded with a smile.

"Good morning, Tsoi Rin"

This is how Kazuma's mornings always started.

"Well then"

Standing up, he stretched once profoundly.

He didn't have time to waist. Tsoi Rin didn't lie. If he won't rush, he will really miss breakfast.

In addition to that, today he has a hard job to do. The contents of his stomach are a matter of life and death.

He must eat the breakfast made by Tsoi Rin and restore his energy in both mind and body -

"Uuryaa!"

Raising an exaggerated yell, he took off his pajamas. And then pulled out from the wardrobe the clothes for today.

"Hyo, cold - "

With a meaningless expression, at the time he put on his shirt, Kazuma looked at that thing placed above the dresser.

Adorned like an ornament, the cash card bent in two.

"........."

Contrasting with such a lively facial expression, etching a cynical smile on his lips, Kazuma bowed to a broken card.

"Good morning to you, mother. Thank you, today I am healthy also"

Looking at the card, his eyes cast a gloomy light. What they saw was the smiling face of the mother who threw him away -

"Waah, achoo!"

Kazuma let out a miserable shriek when the draft brushed his bare back. Of course, the gloomy, rough atmosphere collapsed immediately.

"Shit, you really don't have time for the serious stuff now. Just eat your breakfast and do your manual labor"

Changing clothes as fast as possible, Kazuma rushed out of the room. For the sake of filling himself with the home cooking of the girl he loved, much more valuable than his worthless past.

It's evening - just like Kazuma declared this morning, he was seriously working hard.

Inside a gloomy warehouse, resounding with gunshots.

"Why !? For Christ's sake !"

With a stupid appearance embracing with one hand a cat that seemed important, Kazuma abused his unreasonable fate that had something against him.

Of course, the situation won't get better just by doing that. Trying to find a chance to somehow run away he peeked from behind the container concealing his body. But -

Just then, continuous shots aimed at him.

"Wahh!"

Drawing back his face in a rush, he left that container like a cockroach. Soothing his violent heart, he took a deep breath, two, three -

"Shit, why is this happening to me !?"

But even so, unable to accept the present situation, he started complaining uselessly.

"When I'm finally free from that abnormal world with Majutsushi, with Youma, with evil spirits, this time is a gun battle !? What the fuck have I done ?"

While complaining, Kazuma took out a knife from his breast pocket. Running up to the container soundlessly he jumped more than ten meters.

Faster than the man who noticed him and pointed his gun this way, he threw his knife.

"Guah !?"

Without changing its aim, the knife ran through the back of the man's right hand. The gun fell down from the hand that lost its power.

"Urya"

With nothing more but the force of the jump, Kazuma landed on his feet on top of the man. Conspicuously, from under his feet the feel of the broken ribs was transmitted.

"Finally, it's settled"

Deciding on a pose on top of the man spitting out blood, Kazuma observed the man's face once more. Holding down with all his strength the cat fretting inside his arm, he said:

"So - who the heck is this guy ?"

"Thank you for your efforts!"

Entering the shop, a man with an evil smile and a voice full of ridicule greeted Kazuma.

Kazuma grimaced, replying with a bitter voice.

"..........As expected, you have sharp ears"

Ahead his line of sigh - inside the shop, one old man was sitting down.

The owner of the Tianshui Temple, an antique store standing side by side with the Kowloon's shopping district, Huang Ying Long.

But very few people knew that this person who apparently seemed like a good natured old man was as a matter of fact known for the most prominent information shop in Hong Kong.

But Kazuma was - unwillingly - one of those people.

To make matters worse, because he needed a job but couldn't show his face here and there his dept was one-sided piling up and he was already unable to act on an equal basis with him.

He explained his lack of honorific language as not knowing the language well enough but for Kazuma it was a minimal and childish opposition.

On the other side, ignoring Kazuma's infantile opposition, Huang continued grinning broadly.

"At any rate, you're very fond of conflict, huh? Why is it that just by trying to catch a run-away pet it results in a shoot-out? Do you yearn becoming a hard-boiled detective like in the novels? "

".........shut up", spat out Kazuma unpleasantly.

"This time it wasn't my fault. I don't know who they confused me with but the other side started shooting all of a sudden. Besides, this is just the third time it turned into a fight. That's not enough to call me a trouble maker - "

"Hey, this is just the second week you work"

At the calm, precise retort Kazuma became silent.

By the way, Kazuma's current occupation is what's commonly referred to as a Jack of all trades. It also resembled pretty well a Japanese private detective.

Of course, he was only learning now but still bragging about the job itself.

- But now, that conceit was smashed into very small pieces.

"Leave"

"Just wait"

Enjoyed from the bottom of his heart, Huang called after Kazuma who had simply turned around and started walking.

"We're past the time for jokes. I'll get straight to the point."

"Keep it short."

"Humph, then I'll finish with one sentence - Don't lose your head, brat"

In that instant, the atmosphere around Huang completely changed.

That cynical face that aged well turned to that of a long military service soldier living through Honk Kong's underground society.

"Wha.......what is going on, suddenly? "

"Is it fun tormenting small-time hoodlums? ", asked Huang coldly of Kazuma who pretended to be tough although he was overpowered.

" Wha - "

"It must be fun. If your opponent is only a human being even you can display your might. But, do you think you can live a long life in this manner? You are not one of those ''<<chosen people>>''after all"

Huang's words were hinting at knowing Kazuma's lineage and his past.

Exposed to the scars of the past he was averting his eyes from as much as possible, Kazuma was enraged.

"I know that! "

" - Really?"

Not hesitating in front of that gaze even mixed with killing intent, Huang asked again, matter-of-fact.

"You think this way, right? ''"Apart from being a Jutsushi, I am a superior person. If it's a battle without Majutsu, I am the strongest"'' or something"

"......tch!"

Accurately having been seen through the thought he entertained again and again, Kazuma sharply caught his breath. As for Huang, reading that response, he made a small snort not showing surprise.

".......what, are you trying to say?"

"I alredy did. It was ''Don't lose your head, brat''. You're not a Jutsushi, you're not a soldier, you are nothing but a brat whose strong point is being good at fighting. Don't you ever try to look cool in front of someone holding a gun. For me it doesn't matter but if you die Tsoi Rin will be sad. "

Kazuma was caving in so much abuse but the moment he heard the last few words, he stood up straight.

His face pouting like a child turned to that of an adult - a man who becomes an adult.

"I know. I will at least protect Tsoi Rin"

"Ha, protect, you say? Fine words when you're the one who is one-sided protected. "

But Huang lightly laughed even at those words full of determination.

"If not for that girl, you would be getting dead-drunk in self pity even now. No, you would have drunk away the money you received from your parents and turned into a beggar, huh?"

"Guuh - "

Having the time when he fell to the very bottom discussed, Kazuma got red in the face.

Even more, Huang thrust his finger at him with a snap.

"Listen brat, I don't have too much expectation from you. You are an ordinary person. No matter how you struggle, you won't become a hero. Throw away the hopes beyond your means, think only how to make Tsoi Rin happy and live with your feet on the ground. "

"..........I understand"

Although he was pouting with dissatisfaction, Kazuma agreed.

It wasn't a very lenient evaluation but it was the truth.

Because he didn't have the attributes of a hero, because he wasn't chosen, for this reason, he was here right now.

"If you understand that's fine. You can go now"

".........yeah"

As if driven away by Huang's cruel wave of hand, drudgingly Kazuma took the road home.

Opening the door, Kazuma was wrapped up in the warm atmosphere and miscellaneous clatter.

Inside the store all seats were already occupied and the festive uproar made by the lively people cured a day's worth of fatigue.

His sweetheart was in the center of it. Both her hands fully loaded with trays of alcohol and cookery, she quickly made her way through the crowd of people as if swimming, waiting on tables.

Presuming the cold wind the arrival of a customer, she turned around.

"Ji wei hu......."

Those words of warm reception were interrupted in the middle. The face that continued smiling changed to something even more cute and shining.

"Welcome home, Kazuma"

"I'm home, Tsoi Rin"

Kazuma also responded with a full face smile to his beloved lover. When he stepped up to her words of banter and whistles down-poured from the surroundings.

But all of them were warm, without any ill will. Everyone was blessing from the bottom of their heart the young pair of lovers.

"You were late, huh?"

"Hmm - Aah, just a little"

Frankly - Because he got caught up in the moment and jumped about too much, he ended up getting sermons so Kazuma was vaguely evasive.

And since he was already deceiving her and her hands were fully occupied Kazuma took the opportunity and embraced Tsoi Rin's body closely.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 055.jpg|thumb|]]

But, she was suddenly snatched from the side.

"Kyaah!? "

Embraced by a drunken person, Tsoi Rin let out a small shriek.

But then, this was an everyday occurrence, one she wouldn't even spill a drop of alcohol over from the glasses placed on the tray.

"Tsoi Rin ～ dump that guy already, I will - "

His declaration not allowed until the end, Kazuma kicked the man's face. Less than a kick he just pushed him with the bottom of his shoe but even so the man fall flat, spouting a nose bleed.

"Hey, don't put your hands on someone's woman!"

Looking down on the senseless man, Kazuma raised his middle finger. But, immediately after, he receive a crushing blow to the back of his head and also feel to the ground.

"Geez, Kazuma! What are you doing to the customer!? "

Skillfully finishing serving the table, Tsoi Rin shouted with the empty trays raised overhead. From the way she held it, the blow wasn't with the back of the tray but with its edge.

"......but it's fine to be violent towards me?"

"It's fine, because it's Kazuma"

A reply without hesitation. At a loss for words, Kazuma and the man he just kicked and fell down looked at each other and exchanged a wry smile.

"Hey, stand up already. It's very busy so help me"

"Well, I just came home from work"

"So what? I'm working all day long. Don't tell me, you plan to drink without a care while looking at me working? "

"I am sorry. I'll help you immediately"

Having no confidence of winning the verbal war, Kazuma surrendered on the spot.

Hecklers flew out from everywhere at that appearance without a shred of dignity sadly facing the kitchen.

"Show her who's the man, Kazuma! "

"How noisy! You don't even have a woman to order you around! "

Both the jeering man and the retorting Kazuma laughed together from the bottom of their hearts.

For Kazuma this place was his second home but the first one who made his heart feel at ease.

That joy he received, he wouldn't exchange it for anything else.

''"Throw away the hopes beyond your means and live with your feet on the ground. "''

He remembered Huang's cool-headed words.

He understood now. Huang too, was concerned about him. If not, why would he cordially come in contact with a Japanese wanderer?

Turning her head over her shoulder, while bending her head slightly to the side marveling, Tsoi Rin smiled at him tenderly.

Even the customers a bit flinty but good people overall, were watching over them with warmth.

''It's fine''

Surrounded by genial smiles, Kazuma was convinced from the bottom of his heart.

I don't need any kind of special power.

It doesn't matter that I wasn't chosen.

Ordinary. Commonplace. But very happy, with his feet on the ground.

''"I can live here"''

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Illustrations|Illustrations]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Talk:Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei

2013-10-17T17:55:51Z

Antanaru: /* Anime */

I'd like to take a chance to thank you guys at baka-tsuki for translating all these novels I can't understand japense at all and after reading a number of your translations i've ended up going out and buying them when they are released so i wanted to say thanks for letting us all read the works when they come out, thanks again-soulwave

Just want to say thank you to [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] for translating so much of Mahouka. Because of him, this has been one of the best experiences I had with baka-tsuki. Keep up the good work, and may you never get bored. ^_^ --[[User:EZ-Jay|Tortex]] ([[User talk:EZ-Jay|talk]]) 18:20, 22 January 2013 (CST)

Best place to post would probably be on the forum topic. I'll link you to it in a min.--[[User:Gohankuten|Gohankuten]] ([[User talk:Gohankuten|talk]]) 20:30, 6 December 2012 (CST) http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=4664

Guys I'm still dependent on my parents and i cant donate or know other language like japanese to translate. But I just wish to say thanks for translating this novel. I have been looking forward for it and check it every other day :D - ChiAji

Hey, so I just read the first two chapters of the anime and I found it awesome. Is there a translator for this right now? - Desodus

Atm there isnt--[[User:J112|J112]] 19:22, 21 January 2012 (CST)

How do you read anime? -[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] 19:27, 21 January 2012 (CST)

Maybe the two chapter of this manga...

Whoops, sorry, I meant to say manga.--[[User:Desodus|Desodus]] 18:43, 13 February 2012 (CST)

Any update on this being updated? From what I've read of the novel and the manga, this seems like a pretty awesome series, and I need moar :D --[[User:Vaane|Vaane]] 18:33, 1 April 2012 (CDT)

Uhh seriously why do people ask? The last update was on the 19th, and from the registration page people are working on other parts. The more you ask the more people don't feel like doing it :( --[[User:Lighthalzen|Lighthalzen]] 21:39, 1 April 2012 (CDT)

The reason I asked was that some of the chapters (namely Chapter 3) have no translator registered, and I was wondering whether there was anyone who was translating and hadn't put their name down. But I can understand the feeling of being annoyed at asking for updates, so forget I asked :P --[[User:Vaane|Vaane]] 10:58, 3 April 2012 (CDT)

Actually, the latest revision was on March 31st (in terms of actually adding translations); Seitsuki added some more to chapter 6, if memory serves. I also hope people will eventually get to translating this. --[[User:CrimsonLord|CrimsonLord]] 17:17, 3 April 2012 (CDT)

When are teaser projects allowed to be moved to the main section? Could really use some more exposure to get more people on board translating. I'm sure the recent manga releases have helped drum up some excitement for the series.

Are the translators doing it by the volumes as they come out on sale, or from online readers? Because the fifth volume just went on sale this month, but on this Japanese reading site, there are 6 volumes online.--[[User:Desodus|Desodus]] 22:04, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

There are 6 volume release online cause the web version is longer than the published one, the published one is the compilation of the web version I just can't remember how they are allocated I think its like this v1-2 of the web version is v1 of the published one, and the total number of web version that will be released is around 12 I think? --[[User:Serice|Serice]]

---

http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4664#p120782

''Originally Posted by Baka-Tsuki''
:'''The web novel consisted of only 6 web chapters written covering the First Year arc, and the author has already planned for a total of 15 web chapters to cover the entire three years of Magic High School. As of August 2011, web chapter 1 has been been compiled into volumes 1 and 2, and as of December 2011, web chapter 2 has been compiled into volumes 3 and 4.''' The author expects the series to be compiled into a total of 20 to 25 volumes (ie. if Dengeki allows him to finish the series) [SOURCE: Author's tweet on 6-Nov-2011, #dengeki_mahouka]
:'''Volume 5 will be a special chapter that has never been released on the web.'''

http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4664&start=135#p143960

http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4110854&postcount=561

--[[User:Larethian|larethian]] 22:53, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

---

Interesting... very interesting... I think it would be a good idea to hurry and complete the teaser chapters and then promote this into an official project. Because of the manga version, people over at Batoto are taking an interest as well. And there are many comments mentioning Baka-Tsuki and wishing it was an official project here. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:40, 26 April 2012 (CDT)

This has enough content to become a project, but the problem is, no one wants to list himself as an active translator, I'll give another few weeks before I check back with suarhnir on her progress. I'm glad enough she agreed to take over the manga from me, so I don't want to give her 'pressure', if possible. --[[User:Larethian|larethian]] 20:13, 26 April 2012 (CDT)

Moreover, this project is really hard and time-consuming to translate. It seems to me that even suarhnir who is majoring in Japanese in university (not studying it as an elective mind you) is taking more time than she had expected. --[[User:Larethian|larethian]] 20:19, 26 April 2012 (CDT)

Query: Does Baka-Tsuki accept Chinese-English translations for this series?

I believe the good folk at lightnovel.cn are much farther in advance in terms of translations, but theirs is (obviously) only in Chinese and their work alone. I do not read Japanese at all, but I am confident in my own Chinese-English translations. Would Baka-Tsuki accept my possible contribution if I converted the Chinese translations into English? This is, of course, under the assumption that the translators from lightnovel.cn give the go ahead. --[[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] 22:59, 02 July 2012

I think that as long as you follow registration procedure for the chapters (to avoid overlapping), you can go ahead. People want to see the translation of this great series. If there is any mistake people that can check japanese raw can edit it after. [[User:Xenocross|Xenocross]] 01:14, 3 July 2012 (CDT)

The art really similar to aquarion evol, are they drawn by the same person?

It would be great if somebody could translate the rest of chapter 2 or at least for the time being offer some kind of summary. Iin this kind of consistent story it is almost imposible to read the rest if you don´t know what happens in the previous chapter.--[[User:KaprJarda|KaprJarda]] ([[User talk:KaprJarda|talk]]) 16:35, 10 September 2012 (CDT)

Yeah. I know the feeling. I wanted to read the whole thing but now that there is a gap in the middle I've lost the desire to read further. Someone finish c2's translation including the japanese text in the middle. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 18:30, 10 September 2012 (CDT)

Let's be patient, the last update was only one week ago, the translator is working on it. Everyone has real life commitments. [[User:Zakashi|Zakashi]] ([[User talk:Zakashi|talk]]) 18:38, 10 September 2012 (CDT)

Yeah, I just notice this too. I thought there wasn´t anybody working to translate it, since it was in this state for months. I didn´t read the history till after writing my comment. So lets hope the rest gets translation as soon as possible.--[[User:KaprJarda|KaprJarda]] ([[User talk:KaprJarda|talk]]) 23:54, 10 September 2012 (CDT)

Ooh, found an interesting AMV/MAD of this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ01QsdHers [[User:Zeru|Zeru]] ([[User talk:Zeru|talk]]) 06:25, 6 September 2013 (CDT)

This illustration here is missing from the chapter http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:MKnR_v01_131.jpg [[User:Arczyx|Arczyx]] ([[User talk:Arczyx|talk]]) 07:28, 26 September 2012 (CDT)

== Volume 1 The late great favorite ==

What is this? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 10:19, 26 September 2012 (CDT)

Additional commentary by Kawahara Reki (SAO/AW author). [[User:Seitsuki|Seit]] ([[User talk:Seitsuki|talk]]) 06:29, 27 September 2012 (CDT)

== Editing ==

I'm just wondering but what are the requirements for being an editor?

There are no requirements. Just edit.(btw you should sign your comments)--[[User:KaprJarda|KaprJarda]] ([[User talk:KaprJarda|talk]]) 05:54, 27 September 2012 (CDT)

Also you have to be a dedicated one. Once you write your name under the editor's list, it is expected that much. --[[User:Chancs|Chancs]] ([[User talk:Chancs|talk]]) 06:08, 27 September 2012 (CDT)

So i'll have to make an account as well? And sign like how you all sign with the name, date and time?

Using this : <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> [[User:Arczyx|Arczyx]] ([[User talk:Arczyx|talk]]) 11:46, 1 October 2012 (CDT)

Simply click on the "pencil" in the edit toolbar and you will have your signature as per the settings. --[[User:Chancs|Chancs]] ([[User talk:Chancs|talk]]) 14:02, 1 October 2012 (CDT)

OK, thanks --[[User:Cliff|Cliff]] ([[User talk:Cliff|talk]]) 15:28, 1 October 2012 (CDT)

Trivial thing but shoud it not be Arc or Part instead of Chapter in ex Volume 1 - Enrollment Chapter (I) --[[User:Medisuena|Medisuena]] ([[User talk:Medisuena|talk]])

== Novel illustrations ==

Umm... is it ok if i level the b&w ilustrations? i mean make the black black, and the white white. it's annoying that everything is grey. also crop them where there is a need. ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 08:18, 9 November 2012 (CST)

Why not give one image a level and give a link to it? I can understand your desire to level things, but I think the gray color suits a light novel. It's a bit too different from manga which has less reliance on shading, so it may not look right if you do it improperly. Then again, I have very limited experience as an editor, and I have no idea what it is you can do, so I guess that may seem a bit condescending of me. Well, if the quality is good, I doubt people would mind it much, but give us a sample so someone doesn't decide they dislike it and re-uploads the picture and gets rid of your hard work -- [[User:EnigmaticAxiom|EnigmaticAxiom]] - [[User_talk:EnigmaticAxiom|Talk]] - 09:40, 09 November 2012 (CST)

it looks like this with the leveling i think it's better but it's up to you ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 12:35, 9 November 2012 (CST)

I personally think it looks better as well. May as well see what the others think of it. If they don't bother, you can post on the forum to get their opinion (since they might not look here), or I can bring their attention to it if you don't have a forum account. -- [[User:EnigmaticAxiom|EnigmaticAxiom]] - [[User_talk:EnigmaticAxiom|Talk]] - 13:20, 09 November 2012 (CST)

Please do bring this to the forum. If needed i can provide more leveled images. Also it's not realy that big of a work. It's like 5 minutes and a volume worth of images are croped and leveled. <Please post a link to the thread here so i can look at what's going on as well> ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 13:56, 9 November 2012 (CST)

forget it i registered and made a post in the general thread. ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 14:51, 9 November 2012 (CST)

well i started uploading them since arczyx in the forum said that they looked closer to the truth, and someone asked me for them to put in the pdf. so volume 1 is up, more coming. these two images have become useless so i'm deleting them. ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 08:48, 16 November 2012 (CST)

i put up vol 3 and 4 leveled, the rest looks OK so i wont fiddle with them ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 10:40, 10 December 2012 (CST)

== Missing Chapter ==

Isn't the "Late Great Favorite" a chapter in volume 1 missing, i mean i get why sometimes Afterwords aren't translated as they are just the authors thoughts but does the chapter missing in volume 1 have some kind of plot implication?

If you checked the forum thread you would find out its just some comments from Kawahara Reki(author of Accel World/Sword Art Online) and doesn't contain anything vital to the story.--[[User:Gohankuten|Gohankuten]] ([[User talk:Gohankuten|talk]]) 20:58, 2 December 2012 (CST)

So which brave soul will be translating chapter 16 come do it for your country

== Helping with translating ==
Hello, I really have not idea if this is the correct place or not but here goes: I would like to help, I do not read the Japanese Language very well but, I would like to try to help with the translating. English is my first language and this is my first time ever on a site like this. I enjoy reading Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei so, I want to help get it out faster for everyone. Dec. 6, 2012 username: sqyde
Thanks and if this is the wrong place to post this, sorry.

Try translating 5 pages first. You can post your translations in the Mahouka forum. --[[User:Larethian|larethian]] ([[User talk:Larethian|talk]]) 03:35, 7 December 2012 (CST)

== Volume 4 ==

Is volume 4 fully translated? I was wondering because aside from the Preamble it also doesn't have a "full text" so i was wondering if some little edits were required or if translators were waiting for Preamble to be done before the full text went up. --Black Swordsman825

It's a wiki you know, you're free to set it up when it's appropriate (I've done volume 4 now). Also, from what I understand the preamble is the blue page and the character info/glossary of term pages you can see in the illustrations, therefore it isn't really that important since it (the events/timetable of events) is explained in detail within the storyline anyways.--[[User:Drowzycow|Drowzycow]] ([[User talk:Drowzycow|talk]]) 19:57, 22 December 2012 (CST)

== Volume 5 ==
Hi guys, as I am currently trying to translate the afterwords, I found out that volume 5 does not seem to have one? Can anyone help me confirm this with the Japanese raws? From all the Chinese sites that I go to there aren't any that have include in an afterword for volume 5. Thanks! [[User:Royaloyalz|Royaloyalz]] ([[User talk:Royaloyalz|talk]]) 10:36, 7 February 2013 (CST)

Well I actually checked the raws myself, and have realised that there is actually an afterword for volume 5 as well. However, as it seems like the Chinese translation sites that I went to do not have them, I can only hope that some Japanese to English translator would be kind enough to help translate it for us. -- [[User:Royaloyalz|Royaloyalz]] ([[User talk:Royaloyalz|talk]]) 18:05, 14 February 2013 (CST)

Can anyone link or send me the raw for volume 5? I want to read the machine translation of the 3 middle chapters. Seeing as how it's all character development, I'd like to know more before moving on with the story. --[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] ([[User talk:Mufarasu|talk]]) 16:19, 25 February 2013 (CST)

Hey guys. I don't know if this was already asked or not, but why are the 3 middle chapters of volume 5 not translated? Just wondering because I like to read thing in order. --[[User:Casary|Casary]] ([[User talk:Casary|talk]]) 22:28, 9 March 2013 (CST)

It completely depends upon if I translator picks up the chapter, as translators are allowed to choose single chapters. Skipping Volume 5 wouldn't affect the story as there "Side Stories" to the main plot :3. Although i would also like them translated.

Oh, I see. They aren't named chapter X or anything. Ok, thanks. A bit of OCD, I guess. --[[User:Casary|Casary]] ([[User talk:Casary|talk]]) 00:35, 12 March 2013 (CDT)

== Inconsistent terminology ==

Some chapters use "Public Moral Committee", others "Public Morals Committee" (I prefer the latter). Also "Club Management Group" vs "Club Activities Group".

i think "Public Morals Committee" and "Club Management Group" souds better. Also please do sign your post with <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 14:13, 1 February 2013 (CST)

== Volume 7 ==

As I stated at the discussion page of chapter 9, I think "electrons" should be "protons" (check the concept of nuclear fusion).--[[User:Kemm|Kemm]] ([[User talk:Kemm|talk]]) 14:38, 14 February 2013 (CST)

I just had to say this, was anyone else thinking that Tatsuya made a Gundam when they kept mentioning the mobile suit he developed? That picture with the tank didn't help either. I just kept seeing everything turn into a mecha battle lol. Anyone else or am I the only one who got brainwashed like that by the Gundam franchise? --[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] ([[User talk:Mufarasu|talk]]) 15:10, 11 March 2013 (CDT)

well i was also thinking the same thing at that mobile suit that he developed, but it turns out that it was something like a fullbody armor with all kinds of resistance something. while reading the last few chapters of volume 7 it feels like something like this. IS(Infinite Stratos) vs Gundams in my imagination. [[User:James Gobilzkame|V33]] 15:21, 11 March 2013 (CDT)

arent the pictures from page 225 and 313 showing what the mobile suit look like? --[[User:Syfer|Syfer]] ([[User talk:Syfer|talk]]) 15:31, 11 March 2013 (CDT)

I would think the cover page would have shown you what to expect, as it is already there in full (black) color. If anything it just looks like a all black pilot suit...
In any case, the 'mobile' or 'mobility' suit is basically your flying armor, except since its technomagical its more logical having the 'flight capacity' CAD module as the whole suit, instead of wings or a broomstick. It does show something more practical compared to what more contemporary fiction shows.
And yes, I was also hoping for mecha to appear since the cover had a pilot suit... laughed when the pilot suit Was the whole thing.--[[User:Gabgrave|Gabgrave]] ([[User talk:Gabgrave|talk]]) 04:41, 12 March 2013 (CDT)

== Thank you ==

I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks to all of those who's work brings us this project. So thank you.

I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks to all of those who's work brings us this project. So thank you. --[[User:Mathes|Mathes]] ([[User talk:Mathes|talk]]) 02:37, 25 March 2013 (CDT)

I tried reading auto-translated Chinese translations, one already translated here for testing and it's even worse than I expected. Seriously, thank you for taking the time to do this, I love this novel and my only regret is not being able to help with the translation myself. --[[User:EZ-Jay|Tortex]] ([[User talk:EZ-Jay|talk]]) 16:40, 18 April 2013 (CDT)

== Latest Update List ==

I just want to ask permission to edit the last entry on the latest update list (or you guys could edit it for me, that would be really great), just a minor one 'Vokume 8' to 'Volume 8'. Thanks a lot. - [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 5:47, 30 May 2013 (CDT)
:Hmm.. I don't need to keep up with CDT time do I? Not that hard, but I am proud living down under. - [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 20:50 30 May 2013 (EAST)
::Done (I accept any responsibility if I've crossed any lines); from my experience so far, no one seems to mind if 99.9% certainty spelling/grammar careless errors are discreetly corrected, even if the corrector is not formally registered for a project. (As a general mode of operation, I mark the edit as a minor edit and leave a brief description of the change(/its reasoning) in the summary. For more ambiguous things, if I note something in Discussion and enough time passes without a reply or a change, I change it just in case (and keep watch to see if someone has a reason to change it back).) -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 06:12, 30 May 2013 (CDT)
::|
::Edit: By the way, how did you change your signature? *curiosity* I have my time zone set to 'Asia/Tokyo', and I see 'Recent changes' and History pages with times consistent with that, but my signature is still CDT. I don't mind leaving it like that, since it presumably helps others compare my writing times to others' with litle confusion (and since I can check the History if I forget), but I don't see a way to change it in 'My preferences' and would like to learn about such a way if it exists (out of a desire to know those things I as yet do not). -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 06:18, 30 May 2013 (CDT)

::I am but an unregistered user here at BT, so unfortunately I don't have any signatures or anything of that sort. So yeah I really can't talk about it. But if you are talking about the time thing on the last part, is it safe to assume that it's all been preset? Cause I do it manually just for the formalities.

::Hmm... I do see some grammatical errors every now and then, but my thinking is that the translator probably made it that way willingly. Glad to be of help though. - [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 21:38 30 May 2013 (EAST)
:::Ahh. Manual writing out? Though it won't include your chosen name, four consecutive tildes should still automatically make a signature which makes it easier to match what you say with an entry in a Discussion's History. (One option would be to first write your chosen name manually, then leave the formal signature to the tildes.)
:::|
:::There are cases where characters have distinct/characteristic speaking styles, but there are also glaring cases where normal fallibility is far more plausible than intention (as with spelling errors). To be on the safe side, best to change only things that one can feel nearly certain about (and that no one has objected to in the past). -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 17:22, 30 May 2013 (CDT)

:::I didn't know you can do that with tildes.. Thanks for the info. I was just copying whatever I could here at the discussion page since I am not really a user, so do expect me to make a few beginner-like commands.
:::On a side note, does the tildes only match the CDT time zone? I'm quite intrigued. SkyZenith 20:19, 1 June 2013 (EAST)
::::So it seems! (The CDT-matching.) That's why I in turn was intrigued when it looked as though you had a way to make them give a non-CDT time zone. Rather than taking my word for it, I suggest you try the four tildes at least once to confirm to yourself(/your brain) that it functions (and if something goes wrong, to find out why and correct the source). (Essentially, it should be ~ ~ ~ ~ without the three spaces.) -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 01:19, 2 June 2013 (CDT)

::::Incidentally, this is what it looks like when not logged in. (Posting now with a hyphen and four tildes after having logged out.) -[[Special:Contributions/180.43.16.157|180.43.16.157]] 01:21, 2 June 2013 (CDT)

::::...We probably have gone off-topic now huh. Sorry for that. Yeah since I plan to visit BT every now and then in the first place, I just made an account. Hope to be of help! - [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 08:59, 2 June 2013 (CDT)
::::This actually looks cool, but alas it's in CDT.

I added some missing materials in Mahouka, that's all for now. Pui Pui have to wait (some more)--[[User:Superduperelectromagnetictops|Superduperelectro]] ([[User talk:Superduperelectromagnetictops|talk]]) 00:31, 17 June 2013 (CDT)

== Dengeki Bunko Magazine: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Ninendo ==

I have a question
is the "Dengeki Bunko Magazine: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Ninendo" that you uploaded it's Magazine Illustrations - is the double seven arc? and when it will be release in a light novel version- what will be it's arc number or it's volumes numbers ?

:It's the double 7 arc, so starts covering the events in the Tatsuya's second year. From memory, those chapters should start after this arc is complete; I think it'll end up being started as volume 13. Maybe 12 depending on how volume 11 goes.. --[[User:Drowzycow|Drowzycow]] ([[User talk:Drowzycow|talk]]) 08:37, 26 June 2013 (CDT)

== DVD Drama ==
Hey, did you know mahouka no Rettousei audio dvd drama comes with a special story (at leas, it seems to me a "story") If you are interested in raws, just tell me [[User:TerryBoom|TerryBoom]] ([[User talk:TerryBoom|talk]])

== Anime ==
IT HAS BEGUN, IT HAS BLOODY BEGUN. *SQUEELL!* http://mahouka.jp

:Nothing to be happy about. They will probably make another failed adaptation like SAO. Just look at previous works of the director or what Madhouse did to Kaminai. The worst thing is that we can expect americans buying licence for novels after the anime, and B-T dropping the project. Another title I'll never come to finish.--[[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 14:29, 7 October 2013 (CDT)

Failed apadation? How so. If you would care to electorate. [[User:All Nighter94|All Night]] ([[User talk:All Nighter94|talk]]) 11:24, 8 October 2013 (CDT)
:Sorry for the late reply. Well, how should I put it to keep it short... Let's say butchered character design was enough to completely put me off. Then we have the overall feeling (or atmosphere) and some plot points. I can say the same about Kikou Shoujo... for that matter. I'm quite enjoying the novel but anime is unwatachable for said reasons. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind minor changes but when anime feels and looks like something completely different than the original, just with the same names, something is wrong.

:I don't want to go into a lengthy discussion about quality of LN adaptations so let me just sum it up like this: I don't care about the anime as long as I can read the rest of the story. Of course without waiting years for some US company to catch up with B-T and then dropping the thing.--[[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 12:55, 17 October 2013 (CDT)

Don't you mean "elaborate"? i'm pretty sure that's the correct word... not to be a pain, just for clarification purposes. considering that "electorate" means a collective of individuals who gather to vote for governmental purposes, like the senate and such? (Edit: author = Tintexan24)

I had trouble watching the PV on the website, but was able to view it at youtube watch?v=RiuznXhx4_Q . The art style is a little worryingly simplistic (reminiscent of Vocaloid visual quality?), but I have no complaints regarding the two main characters and look forward to seeing what is done with it.
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In recent season, 'Campione!' is my freshest memory of an anime adaptation which did not adequately succeed, but it was nevertheless enjoyable to watch. No matter what, there will always be dissatisfaction with how much ends up not adapted from a novel, but I (aside from a certain incorrect error message) was thoroughly satisfied by the SAO anime adaptation.
 | 
...It would be a deep shame to not be able to keep reading new Rettousei volumes, but on the other hand most main climaxes have already taken place. Granted, I would be deeply interested in reading about Miyuki taking over the Yotsuba family, or about Miyuki and Tatsuya's super-babies, but if the translation was shut down I would hopefully be able to focus on the wonderful volumes that have been translated thus far and be happy (and grateful) that I had a chance to read them.
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Horrible-quality animation comes around every once in a while, but most anime adaptations these days are quite good. An anime of a beloved series is something to be interested in, to be curious about, and definitely something to be happy about. (Though unrelated, the studio is completely different from the one behind the SAO adaptation.) If (in the worst case scenario) the visual quality in fact turns out to make it painfully unwatchable, one can always minimise the window and listen to it like an audio book. In any case, it would take some quite serious mangling for one to not be able to get happiness from this anime, and mangling of that level is rare indeed (though admittedly not unwitnessed). -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 18:18, 7 October 2013 (CDT)

I was referring to the fact he said failed SAO adaption. Although I will agree with you on the "Campione" adaptation.

Just have to wait and see. A lot of the adaptations don't quite work... they seem to shift the IP to target pubescent males at the expense of story. I'm just not a big fan of GRATUITOUS fan-service. It has its place, but overall I prefer "plot" to be measured in chapters rather than cup-size. [[User:Grimjakk|Grimjakk]] ([[User talk:Grimjakk|talk]]) 13:29, 8 October 2013 (CDT)

Talk:Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei

2013-10-17T17:55:02Z

Antanaru: /* Anime */

I'd like to take a chance to thank you guys at baka-tsuki for translating all these novels I can't understand japense at all and after reading a number of your translations i've ended up going out and buying them when they are released so i wanted to say thanks for letting us all read the works when they come out, thanks again-soulwave

Just want to say thank you to [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] for translating so much of Mahouka. Because of him, this has been one of the best experiences I had with baka-tsuki. Keep up the good work, and may you never get bored. ^_^ --[[User:EZ-Jay|Tortex]] ([[User talk:EZ-Jay|talk]]) 18:20, 22 January 2013 (CST)

Best place to post would probably be on the forum topic. I'll link you to it in a min.--[[User:Gohankuten|Gohankuten]] ([[User talk:Gohankuten|talk]]) 20:30, 6 December 2012 (CST) http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=4664

Guys I'm still dependent on my parents and i cant donate or know other language like japanese to translate. But I just wish to say thanks for translating this novel. I have been looking forward for it and check it every other day :D - ChiAji

Hey, so I just read the first two chapters of the anime and I found it awesome. Is there a translator for this right now? - Desodus

Atm there isnt--[[User:J112|J112]] 19:22, 21 January 2012 (CST)

How do you read anime? -[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] 19:27, 21 January 2012 (CST)

Maybe the two chapter of this manga...

Whoops, sorry, I meant to say manga.--[[User:Desodus|Desodus]] 18:43, 13 February 2012 (CST)

Any update on this being updated? From what I've read of the novel and the manga, this seems like a pretty awesome series, and I need moar :D --[[User:Vaane|Vaane]] 18:33, 1 April 2012 (CDT)

Uhh seriously why do people ask? The last update was on the 19th, and from the registration page people are working on other parts. The more you ask the more people don't feel like doing it :( --[[User:Lighthalzen|Lighthalzen]] 21:39, 1 April 2012 (CDT)

The reason I asked was that some of the chapters (namely Chapter 3) have no translator registered, and I was wondering whether there was anyone who was translating and hadn't put their name down. But I can understand the feeling of being annoyed at asking for updates, so forget I asked :P --[[User:Vaane|Vaane]] 10:58, 3 April 2012 (CDT)

Actually, the latest revision was on March 31st (in terms of actually adding translations); Seitsuki added some more to chapter 6, if memory serves. I also hope people will eventually get to translating this. --[[User:CrimsonLord|CrimsonLord]] 17:17, 3 April 2012 (CDT)

When are teaser projects allowed to be moved to the main section? Could really use some more exposure to get more people on board translating. I'm sure the recent manga releases have helped drum up some excitement for the series.

Are the translators doing it by the volumes as they come out on sale, or from online readers? Because the fifth volume just went on sale this month, but on this Japanese reading site, there are 6 volumes online.--[[User:Desodus|Desodus]] 22:04, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

There are 6 volume release online cause the web version is longer than the published one, the published one is the compilation of the web version I just can't remember how they are allocated I think its like this v1-2 of the web version is v1 of the published one, and the total number of web version that will be released is around 12 I think? --[[User:Serice|Serice]]

---

http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4664#p120782

''Originally Posted by Baka-Tsuki''
:'''The web novel consisted of only 6 web chapters written covering the First Year arc, and the author has already planned for a total of 15 web chapters to cover the entire three years of Magic High School. As of August 2011, web chapter 1 has been been compiled into volumes 1 and 2, and as of December 2011, web chapter 2 has been compiled into volumes 3 and 4.''' The author expects the series to be compiled into a total of 20 to 25 volumes (ie. if Dengeki allows him to finish the series) [SOURCE: Author's tweet on 6-Nov-2011, #dengeki_mahouka]
:'''Volume 5 will be a special chapter that has never been released on the web.'''

http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4664&start=135#p143960

http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4110854&postcount=561

--[[User:Larethian|larethian]] 22:53, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

---

Interesting... very interesting... I think it would be a good idea to hurry and complete the teaser chapters and then promote this into an official project. Because of the manga version, people over at Batoto are taking an interest as well. And there are many comments mentioning Baka-Tsuki and wishing it was an official project here. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:40, 26 April 2012 (CDT)

This has enough content to become a project, but the problem is, no one wants to list himself as an active translator, I'll give another few weeks before I check back with suarhnir on her progress. I'm glad enough she agreed to take over the manga from me, so I don't want to give her 'pressure', if possible. --[[User:Larethian|larethian]] 20:13, 26 April 2012 (CDT)

Moreover, this project is really hard and time-consuming to translate. It seems to me that even suarhnir who is majoring in Japanese in university (not studying it as an elective mind you) is taking more time than she had expected. --[[User:Larethian|larethian]] 20:19, 26 April 2012 (CDT)

Query: Does Baka-Tsuki accept Chinese-English translations for this series?

I believe the good folk at lightnovel.cn are much farther in advance in terms of translations, but theirs is (obviously) only in Chinese and their work alone. I do not read Japanese at all, but I am confident in my own Chinese-English translations. Would Baka-Tsuki accept my possible contribution if I converted the Chinese translations into English? This is, of course, under the assumption that the translators from lightnovel.cn give the go ahead. --[[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] 22:59, 02 July 2012

I think that as long as you follow registration procedure for the chapters (to avoid overlapping), you can go ahead. People want to see the translation of this great series. If there is any mistake people that can check japanese raw can edit it after. [[User:Xenocross|Xenocross]] 01:14, 3 July 2012 (CDT)

The art really similar to aquarion evol, are they drawn by the same person?

It would be great if somebody could translate the rest of chapter 2 or at least for the time being offer some kind of summary. Iin this kind of consistent story it is almost imposible to read the rest if you don´t know what happens in the previous chapter.--[[User:KaprJarda|KaprJarda]] ([[User talk:KaprJarda|talk]]) 16:35, 10 September 2012 (CDT)

Yeah. I know the feeling. I wanted to read the whole thing but now that there is a gap in the middle I've lost the desire to read further. Someone finish c2's translation including the japanese text in the middle. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 18:30, 10 September 2012 (CDT)

Let's be patient, the last update was only one week ago, the translator is working on it. Everyone has real life commitments. [[User:Zakashi|Zakashi]] ([[User talk:Zakashi|talk]]) 18:38, 10 September 2012 (CDT)

Yeah, I just notice this too. I thought there wasn´t anybody working to translate it, since it was in this state for months. I didn´t read the history till after writing my comment. So lets hope the rest gets translation as soon as possible.--[[User:KaprJarda|KaprJarda]] ([[User talk:KaprJarda|talk]]) 23:54, 10 September 2012 (CDT)

Ooh, found an interesting AMV/MAD of this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ01QsdHers [[User:Zeru|Zeru]] ([[User talk:Zeru|talk]]) 06:25, 6 September 2013 (CDT)

This illustration here is missing from the chapter http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:MKnR_v01_131.jpg [[User:Arczyx|Arczyx]] ([[User talk:Arczyx|talk]]) 07:28, 26 September 2012 (CDT)

== Volume 1 The late great favorite ==

What is this? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 10:19, 26 September 2012 (CDT)

Additional commentary by Kawahara Reki (SAO/AW author). [[User:Seitsuki|Seit]] ([[User talk:Seitsuki|talk]]) 06:29, 27 September 2012 (CDT)

== Editing ==

I'm just wondering but what are the requirements for being an editor?

There are no requirements. Just edit.(btw you should sign your comments)--[[User:KaprJarda|KaprJarda]] ([[User talk:KaprJarda|talk]]) 05:54, 27 September 2012 (CDT)

Also you have to be a dedicated one. Once you write your name under the editor's list, it is expected that much. --[[User:Chancs|Chancs]] ([[User talk:Chancs|talk]]) 06:08, 27 September 2012 (CDT)

So i'll have to make an account as well? And sign like how you all sign with the name, date and time?

Using this : <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> [[User:Arczyx|Arczyx]] ([[User talk:Arczyx|talk]]) 11:46, 1 October 2012 (CDT)

Simply click on the "pencil" in the edit toolbar and you will have your signature as per the settings. --[[User:Chancs|Chancs]] ([[User talk:Chancs|talk]]) 14:02, 1 October 2012 (CDT)

OK, thanks --[[User:Cliff|Cliff]] ([[User talk:Cliff|talk]]) 15:28, 1 October 2012 (CDT)

Trivial thing but shoud it not be Arc or Part instead of Chapter in ex Volume 1 - Enrollment Chapter (I) --[[User:Medisuena|Medisuena]] ([[User talk:Medisuena|talk]])

== Novel illustrations ==

Umm... is it ok if i level the b&w ilustrations? i mean make the black black, and the white white. it's annoying that everything is grey. also crop them where there is a need. ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 08:18, 9 November 2012 (CST)

Why not give one image a level and give a link to it? I can understand your desire to level things, but I think the gray color suits a light novel. It's a bit too different from manga which has less reliance on shading, so it may not look right if you do it improperly. Then again, I have very limited experience as an editor, and I have no idea what it is you can do, so I guess that may seem a bit condescending of me. Well, if the quality is good, I doubt people would mind it much, but give us a sample so someone doesn't decide they dislike it and re-uploads the picture and gets rid of your hard work -- [[User:EnigmaticAxiom|EnigmaticAxiom]] - [[User_talk:EnigmaticAxiom|Talk]] - 09:40, 09 November 2012 (CST)

it looks like this with the leveling i think it's better but it's up to you ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 12:35, 9 November 2012 (CST)

I personally think it looks better as well. May as well see what the others think of it. If they don't bother, you can post on the forum to get their opinion (since they might not look here), or I can bring their attention to it if you don't have a forum account. -- [[User:EnigmaticAxiom|EnigmaticAxiom]] - [[User_talk:EnigmaticAxiom|Talk]] - 13:20, 09 November 2012 (CST)

Please do bring this to the forum. If needed i can provide more leveled images. Also it's not realy that big of a work. It's like 5 minutes and a volume worth of images are croped and leveled. <Please post a link to the thread here so i can look at what's going on as well> ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 13:56, 9 November 2012 (CST)

forget it i registered and made a post in the general thread. ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 14:51, 9 November 2012 (CST)

well i started uploading them since arczyx in the forum said that they looked closer to the truth, and someone asked me for them to put in the pdf. so volume 1 is up, more coming. these two images have become useless so i'm deleting them. ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 08:48, 16 November 2012 (CST)

i put up vol 3 and 4 leveled, the rest looks OK so i wont fiddle with them ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 10:40, 10 December 2012 (CST)

== Missing Chapter ==

Isn't the "Late Great Favorite" a chapter in volume 1 missing, i mean i get why sometimes Afterwords aren't translated as they are just the authors thoughts but does the chapter missing in volume 1 have some kind of plot implication?

If you checked the forum thread you would find out its just some comments from Kawahara Reki(author of Accel World/Sword Art Online) and doesn't contain anything vital to the story.--[[User:Gohankuten|Gohankuten]] ([[User talk:Gohankuten|talk]]) 20:58, 2 December 2012 (CST)

So which brave soul will be translating chapter 16 come do it for your country

== Helping with translating ==
Hello, I really have not idea if this is the correct place or not but here goes: I would like to help, I do not read the Japanese Language very well but, I would like to try to help with the translating. English is my first language and this is my first time ever on a site like this. I enjoy reading Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei so, I want to help get it out faster for everyone. Dec. 6, 2012 username: sqyde
Thanks and if this is the wrong place to post this, sorry.

Try translating 5 pages first. You can post your translations in the Mahouka forum. --[[User:Larethian|larethian]] ([[User talk:Larethian|talk]]) 03:35, 7 December 2012 (CST)

== Volume 4 ==

Is volume 4 fully translated? I was wondering because aside from the Preamble it also doesn't have a "full text" so i was wondering if some little edits were required or if translators were waiting for Preamble to be done before the full text went up. --Black Swordsman825

It's a wiki you know, you're free to set it up when it's appropriate (I've done volume 4 now). Also, from what I understand the preamble is the blue page and the character info/glossary of term pages you can see in the illustrations, therefore it isn't really that important since it (the events/timetable of events) is explained in detail within the storyline anyways.--[[User:Drowzycow|Drowzycow]] ([[User talk:Drowzycow|talk]]) 19:57, 22 December 2012 (CST)

== Volume 5 ==
Hi guys, as I am currently trying to translate the afterwords, I found out that volume 5 does not seem to have one? Can anyone help me confirm this with the Japanese raws? From all the Chinese sites that I go to there aren't any that have include in an afterword for volume 5. Thanks! [[User:Royaloyalz|Royaloyalz]] ([[User talk:Royaloyalz|talk]]) 10:36, 7 February 2013 (CST)

Well I actually checked the raws myself, and have realised that there is actually an afterword for volume 5 as well. However, as it seems like the Chinese translation sites that I went to do not have them, I can only hope that some Japanese to English translator would be kind enough to help translate it for us. -- [[User:Royaloyalz|Royaloyalz]] ([[User talk:Royaloyalz|talk]]) 18:05, 14 February 2013 (CST)

Can anyone link or send me the raw for volume 5? I want to read the machine translation of the 3 middle chapters. Seeing as how it's all character development, I'd like to know more before moving on with the story. --[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] ([[User talk:Mufarasu|talk]]) 16:19, 25 February 2013 (CST)

Hey guys. I don't know if this was already asked or not, but why are the 3 middle chapters of volume 5 not translated? Just wondering because I like to read thing in order. --[[User:Casary|Casary]] ([[User talk:Casary|talk]]) 22:28, 9 March 2013 (CST)

It completely depends upon if I translator picks up the chapter, as translators are allowed to choose single chapters. Skipping Volume 5 wouldn't affect the story as there "Side Stories" to the main plot :3. Although i would also like them translated.

Oh, I see. They aren't named chapter X or anything. Ok, thanks. A bit of OCD, I guess. --[[User:Casary|Casary]] ([[User talk:Casary|talk]]) 00:35, 12 March 2013 (CDT)

== Inconsistent terminology ==

Some chapters use "Public Moral Committee", others "Public Morals Committee" (I prefer the latter). Also "Club Management Group" vs "Club Activities Group".

i think "Public Morals Committee" and "Club Management Group" souds better. Also please do sign your post with <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 14:13, 1 February 2013 (CST)

== Volume 7 ==

As I stated at the discussion page of chapter 9, I think "electrons" should be "protons" (check the concept of nuclear fusion).--[[User:Kemm|Kemm]] ([[User talk:Kemm|talk]]) 14:38, 14 February 2013 (CST)

I just had to say this, was anyone else thinking that Tatsuya made a Gundam when they kept mentioning the mobile suit he developed? That picture with the tank didn't help either. I just kept seeing everything turn into a mecha battle lol. Anyone else or am I the only one who got brainwashed like that by the Gundam franchise? --[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] ([[User talk:Mufarasu|talk]]) 15:10, 11 March 2013 (CDT)

well i was also thinking the same thing at that mobile suit that he developed, but it turns out that it was something like a fullbody armor with all kinds of resistance something. while reading the last few chapters of volume 7 it feels like something like this. IS(Infinite Stratos) vs Gundams in my imagination. [[User:James Gobilzkame|V33]] 15:21, 11 March 2013 (CDT)

arent the pictures from page 225 and 313 showing what the mobile suit look like? --[[User:Syfer|Syfer]] ([[User talk:Syfer|talk]]) 15:31, 11 March 2013 (CDT)

I would think the cover page would have shown you what to expect, as it is already there in full (black) color. If anything it just looks like a all black pilot suit...
In any case, the 'mobile' or 'mobility' suit is basically your flying armor, except since its technomagical its more logical having the 'flight capacity' CAD module as the whole suit, instead of wings or a broomstick. It does show something more practical compared to what more contemporary fiction shows.
And yes, I was also hoping for mecha to appear since the cover had a pilot suit... laughed when the pilot suit Was the whole thing.--[[User:Gabgrave|Gabgrave]] ([[User talk:Gabgrave|talk]]) 04:41, 12 March 2013 (CDT)

== Thank you ==

I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks to all of those who's work brings us this project. So thank you.

I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks to all of those who's work brings us this project. So thank you. --[[User:Mathes|Mathes]] ([[User talk:Mathes|talk]]) 02:37, 25 March 2013 (CDT)

I tried reading auto-translated Chinese translations, one already translated here for testing and it's even worse than I expected. Seriously, thank you for taking the time to do this, I love this novel and my only regret is not being able to help with the translation myself. --[[User:EZ-Jay|Tortex]] ([[User talk:EZ-Jay|talk]]) 16:40, 18 April 2013 (CDT)

== Latest Update List ==

I just want to ask permission to edit the last entry on the latest update list (or you guys could edit it for me, that would be really great), just a minor one 'Vokume 8' to 'Volume 8'. Thanks a lot. - [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 5:47, 30 May 2013 (CDT)
:Hmm.. I don't need to keep up with CDT time do I? Not that hard, but I am proud living down under. - [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 20:50 30 May 2013 (EAST)
::Done (I accept any responsibility if I've crossed any lines); from my experience so far, no one seems to mind if 99.9% certainty spelling/grammar careless errors are discreetly corrected, even if the corrector is not formally registered for a project. (As a general mode of operation, I mark the edit as a minor edit and leave a brief description of the change(/its reasoning) in the summary. For more ambiguous things, if I note something in Discussion and enough time passes without a reply or a change, I change it just in case (and keep watch to see if someone has a reason to change it back).) -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 06:12, 30 May 2013 (CDT)
::|
::Edit: By the way, how did you change your signature? *curiosity* I have my time zone set to 'Asia/Tokyo', and I see 'Recent changes' and History pages with times consistent with that, but my signature is still CDT. I don't mind leaving it like that, since it presumably helps others compare my writing times to others' with litle confusion (and since I can check the History if I forget), but I don't see a way to change it in 'My preferences' and would like to learn about such a way if it exists (out of a desire to know those things I as yet do not). -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 06:18, 30 May 2013 (CDT)

::I am but an unregistered user here at BT, so unfortunately I don't have any signatures or anything of that sort. So yeah I really can't talk about it. But if you are talking about the time thing on the last part, is it safe to assume that it's all been preset? Cause I do it manually just for the formalities.

::Hmm... I do see some grammatical errors every now and then, but my thinking is that the translator probably made it that way willingly. Glad to be of help though. - [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 21:38 30 May 2013 (EAST)
:::Ahh. Manual writing out? Though it won't include your chosen name, four consecutive tildes should still automatically make a signature which makes it easier to match what you say with an entry in a Discussion's History. (One option would be to first write your chosen name manually, then leave the formal signature to the tildes.)
:::|
:::There are cases where characters have distinct/characteristic speaking styles, but there are also glaring cases where normal fallibility is far more plausible than intention (as with spelling errors). To be on the safe side, best to change only things that one can feel nearly certain about (and that no one has objected to in the past). -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 17:22, 30 May 2013 (CDT)

:::I didn't know you can do that with tildes.. Thanks for the info. I was just copying whatever I could here at the discussion page since I am not really a user, so do expect me to make a few beginner-like commands.
:::On a side note, does the tildes only match the CDT time zone? I'm quite intrigued. SkyZenith 20:19, 1 June 2013 (EAST)
::::So it seems! (The CDT-matching.) That's why I in turn was intrigued when it looked as though you had a way to make them give a non-CDT time zone. Rather than taking my word for it, I suggest you try the four tildes at least once to confirm to yourself(/your brain) that it functions (and if something goes wrong, to find out why and correct the source). (Essentially, it should be ~ ~ ~ ~ without the three spaces.) -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 01:19, 2 June 2013 (CDT)

::::Incidentally, this is what it looks like when not logged in. (Posting now with a hyphen and four tildes after having logged out.) -[[Special:Contributions/180.43.16.157|180.43.16.157]] 01:21, 2 June 2013 (CDT)

::::...We probably have gone off-topic now huh. Sorry for that. Yeah since I plan to visit BT every now and then in the first place, I just made an account. Hope to be of help! - [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 08:59, 2 June 2013 (CDT)
::::This actually looks cool, but alas it's in CDT.

I added some missing materials in Mahouka, that's all for now. Pui Pui have to wait (some more)--[[User:Superduperelectromagnetictops|Superduperelectro]] ([[User talk:Superduperelectromagnetictops|talk]]) 00:31, 17 June 2013 (CDT)

== Dengeki Bunko Magazine: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Ninendo ==

I have a question
is the "Dengeki Bunko Magazine: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Ninendo" that you uploaded it's Magazine Illustrations - is the double seven arc? and when it will be release in a light novel version- what will be it's arc number or it's volumes numbers ?

:It's the double 7 arc, so starts covering the events in the Tatsuya's second year. From memory, those chapters should start after this arc is complete; I think it'll end up being started as volume 13. Maybe 12 depending on how volume 11 goes.. --[[User:Drowzycow|Drowzycow]] ([[User talk:Drowzycow|talk]]) 08:37, 26 June 2013 (CDT)

== DVD Drama ==
Hey, did you know mahouka no Rettousei audio dvd drama comes with a special story (at leas, it seems to me a "story") If you are interested in raws, just tell me [[User:TerryBoom|TerryBoom]] ([[User talk:TerryBoom|talk]])

== Anime ==
IT HAS BEGUN, IT HAS BLOODY BEGUN. *SQUEELL!* http://mahouka.jp

:Nothing to be happy about. They will probably make another failed adaptation like SAO. Just look at previous works of the director or what Madhouse did to Kaminai. The worst thing is that we can expect americans buying licence for novels after the anime, and B-T dropping the project. Another title I'll never come to finish.--[[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 14:29, 7 October 2013 (CDT)

Failed apadation? How so. If you would care to electorate. [[User:All Nighter94|All Night]] ([[User talk:All Nighter94|talk]]) 11:24, 8 October 2013 (CDT)
:Sorry for the late reply. Well, how should I put it to keep it short... Let's say butchered character design was enough to completely put me off. Then we have the overall feeling (or atmosphere) and some plot points. I can say the same about Kikou Shoujo... for that matter. I'm quite enjoying the novel but anime is unwatachable for said reasons. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind minor changes but when anime feels and looks like something completely different than the original, just with the same names, something is wrong.

I don't want to go into a lengthy discussion about quality of LN adaptations so let me just sum it up like this: I don't care about the anime as long as I can read the rest of the story. Of course without waiting years for some US company to catch up with B-T and then dropping the thing.--[[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 12:55, 17 October 2013 (CDT)

Don't you mean "elaborate"? i'm pretty sure that's the correct word... not to be a pain, just for clarification purposes. considering that "electorate" means a collective of individuals who gather to vote for governmental purposes, like the senate and such? (Edit: author = Tintexan24)

I had trouble watching the PV on the website, but was able to view it at youtube watch?v=RiuznXhx4_Q . The art style is a little worryingly simplistic (reminiscent of Vocaloid visual quality?), but I have no complaints regarding the two main characters and look forward to seeing what is done with it.
 | 
In recent season, 'Campione!' is my freshest memory of an anime adaptation which did not adequately succeed, but it was nevertheless enjoyable to watch. No matter what, there will always be dissatisfaction with how much ends up not adapted from a novel, but I (aside from a certain incorrect error message) was thoroughly satisfied by the SAO anime adaptation.
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...It would be a deep shame to not be able to keep reading new Rettousei volumes, but on the other hand most main climaxes have already taken place. Granted, I would be deeply interested in reading about Miyuki taking over the Yotsuba family, or about Miyuki and Tatsuya's super-babies, but if the translation was shut down I would hopefully be able to focus on the wonderful volumes that have been translated thus far and be happy (and grateful) that I had a chance to read them.
 | 
Horrible-quality animation comes around every once in a while, but most anime adaptations these days are quite good. An anime of a beloved series is something to be interested in, to be curious about, and definitely something to be happy about. (Though unrelated, the studio is completely different from the one behind the SAO adaptation.) If (in the worst case scenario) the visual quality in fact turns out to make it painfully unwatchable, one can always minimise the window and listen to it like an audio book. In any case, it would take some quite serious mangling for one to not be able to get happiness from this anime, and mangling of that level is rare indeed (though admittedly not unwitnessed). -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 18:18, 7 October 2013 (CDT)

I was referring to the fact he said failed SAO adaption. Although I will agree with you on the "Campione" adaptation.

Just have to wait and see. A lot of the adaptations don't quite work... they seem to shift the IP to target pubescent males at the expense of story. I'm just not a big fan of GRATUITOUS fan-service. It has its place, but overall I prefer "plot" to be measured in chapters rather than cup-size. [[User:Grimjakk|Grimjakk]] ([[User talk:Grimjakk|talk]]) 13:29, 8 October 2013 (CDT)

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 1

2013-10-17T14:10:23Z

Antanaru: /* Part 2 */

== Chapter 1 - Signs of rematch ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Shit"

Together with the the spat out swear word, the sound of a weak fist striking the wall pointlessly reverberated.

This is an underground place below the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. It wasn't generally used, a police cell used for accommodating unique criminals.

Clean and simple, in that space resembling a hotel single room the boy grieved over his circumstance.

"Why did something like that happen......"

He was supposed to have obtained power.

An invincible power.

A power that can grant all wished.

An invincible power.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this......"

He suddenly rose in the world.

A ''higher'' existence than those worthless masses whose existence doesn't matter.

From here on he would be the one to look down on those who looked down on him, scorn them, and like like an overwhelming man of courage -

That was how it was supposed to be.

And yet, right now, he had been clumsily caught by the police. The power he thought invincible was sealed easily, and tomorrow they will apply treatment in order to get rid of it for good.

Again, he turned to nothing but an incompetent person. And in addition to that, he will be held in police custody even for his previous offenses.

He was disgraced. He was unbearably disgraced.

One girl's picture floated in his brain. The ringleader who forced him into such circumstance. The one who didn't listen his command, the command of a superior person, the disrespectful bitch who of all things, turned on him with savage weapons.

"Nanase.........."

The boy - Utsumi Kousuke, squeezed out the girl's name, including as much curse in it as possible.

But, the anti-magic barrier installed in the police cell nullified every kind of power generated inside.

Utsumi's grudge, didn't attain form, fruitlessly melting in the atmosphere and disappearing.

".........shit......."

Reminded again that ''the invincible power'' had been sealed, Utsumi's body shook with rage.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! Come out! Come out! I am the chose one! I'm not supposed to be here!!"

He knocked the door as if going mad. When the privileges bestowed onto him were taken, that absurdity destroyed his mental balance.

"Why? Why do I have to suffer through this? What do you accuse me of?"

But, no one was there to reply to his egotistic claim and Utsumi's random screams, drifting inside the room, were sucked into the walls and disappeared.

After a turn, a silence similar to frozen time filled the room. The reverberation of noise reverted the vector of his spirit visibly changing Utsumi's character, pressing his forehead to the wall, cowered. A frail murmur escaped him.

"What to do............"

If it continues like this and his power will be stolen what will happen - even his dumb brain could easily picture it.

''"They'll take revenge on me........"''

Even if they won't charge him for his crimes, the people he cursed will definitely not forgive him. The retribution will be more severe than whatever he experienced until now.

And, right now he had no means of defending himself.

"No........I don't want that........"

While moaning at the wits' end, Utsumi naturally regretted his behavior.

"'''It would have been better not to do that'''", or something

But that was not a remorseful contemplation. They were only the previous selfish thoughts fearing revenge, without a particle of Utsumi's compassion.

"It's not my fault........I'm not to blame......."

Racking his brain, he tried justifying himself. He wasn't in the wrong. He's not the one responsible. Because, because -

"But, I only used it, right? The one who's evil and pushed this unwanted power onto me is that Pandemonium's Vesalius, right? I'm just like a victim tricked by that man, right?"

Deriving a satisfactory answer, Utsumi's eyes sparkled.

"First of all, if the police had time to catch someone like me, shouldn't they search for Vesalius first? The police is always like this. They don't get involved with the really bad guys but only arrest underlings, worrying only about settling cases by framing victims like me. Do you think the country's peace can be protected like that?"

With persistently self centered words, at the time he was talking on and on loudly.

" - Hm?"

On one point on the pure white wall, suddenly, a deep crimson spot appeared. A small dot, red like fresh blood. It grew as if being guided by an invisible pen and engraved letters on the wall.

These were the contents:

'''Congratulation!!'''

'''Congratulation for your level up!'''

'''In accordance with this level up, it's possible to class change and obtain even more power. If you wish so, a door reaching Pandemonium will open for you here, ushering you in.'''

'''Do you desire a class change?'''

'''Yes/No'''

"Wh- what........?"

At the sudden variation, Utsumi opened his eyes wide in blank amazement. But at the same time, he instantly understood the meaning of this message.

This was a '''mail''' from Pandemonium.

One Pandemonium sent every time one acquires experience points, an information email. The sentences written don the wall had the same literary style like the several tens he received before.

But - Utsumi racked his brain puzzled.

''"Level up?"''

The way of obtaining XP is not just defeating one's enemy or in Utsumi's case fulfilling curses. Utilizing the power granted by Pandemonium, you're adding experience one by one.

Of curse, when comparing it with killing one's enemy, the quantity is infinity smaller.

Utsumi's recent results, is the amount he used on Nanase and his classmates. With just that it would have been impossible to level up, supposedly.

''"Wait - that doesn't matter"''

With more discernment than ever, Utsumi grasped the current situation.

It doesn't mater if it's a mistake or something. If he can level up and then class change, there's no reason to hesitate.

And then -

''''If you wish so, a door reaching Pandemonium will open for you here, ushering you in''''

The message was very easily delivered to the room equipped with an anti-magical barrier. That existence itself is sufficient evidence for the contents of the message.

Clearly, it's impossible for this barrier to resist the mighty power of Pandemonium. In other words, if he wishes so, he can really go to Pandemonium. He can escape prison.

"....................."

Gulping down his saliva, Utsumi stared at the '''mail''' from Pandemonium.

Freedom. even more power. It was an excessively sweet temptation. He can take back all be believed lost. He could obtain even more.

The woman who ridiculed him, this time...........

With an uncertain manner of walking, Utsumi walked to the wall the message was written down on.

The blood red letters. The half dried ink pulled down by gravity smudged the wall giving an ominous impression of an evil spell.

But even so, for Utsumi right now it was similar to a sacred oracle.

That ''reality'''that protected him revived his lost willpower.

"Like I thought, I am '''special'''"

Broadly grinning, his ugly lips warped, Utsumi laughed. An arrogant smile scorning everything beside himself.

"Just wait, Nanase. This time I'll get even with you!"

With a loud shout, Utsumi '''clicked''' on the '''Yes''' end of the message.

=== Part 2 ===

Opening the door of her beloved GT-R car, Kirika looked at the cloudless sky.

The sun was shining brilliantly, burning distinct shadows on the earth.

The wind was fluttering refreshing, the birds singing a pleasant tune -

There was no trouble in the world - contrary to those words appropriate for the morning scenery, on Kirika's beautiful face there was a haggard look impossible to conceal.

The black circles below her eyes clearly indicated the extent of her fatigue. The cleaning up of the troubles that happened one after another last night was so difficult that even Kirika thought half seriously of skipping out.

Getting off the car, she faced the entrance as if limping. An employee was already there, waiting for her arrival.

"This way - "

Following after the servant who informed laconically, Kirika entered the residence. She walked and walked and walked the exclusively long corridor. She stopped.

It seems they arrived at the place of destination. The servant knelt in front of the futsuma and announced Kirika's arrival.

"Please"

"...............yes"

Although showing a slight hesitation, Kirika stepped forward on the other side of the futsuma the servant opened. The members inside were generally as Kirika expected.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 017.jpg|thumb|]]

Except for one.

"Genma-dono ——？"

Involuntarily Kirika called out the name of that person.

Kannagi Genma. The father of both Kazuma and Ren and the most powerful active Jutsushi of the family. Although the Suzerain - Juugo was the best, that ability that overwhelms Ayano yielding Enraiha reached the limits of myth, crossing over legend.

''"That person, why - "''

Glancing at Kirika stiff with fright, Genma informed in a low voice.

"Yesterday my son received favor from you"

"Your son - ?"

At Kirika's instant reply, Genma looked at Ren sitting next to him.

"Both"

".......No, it wasn't that much........"

Bewildered by the interaction, Kirika became evasive using a ambiguous tone. But from the start it seemed Genma didn't cared about Kirika's answer.

"Really, I thought he grew up a little but his spoiled nature doesn't change.........perhaps he was careless with his job, being too busy with women"

''".........unexpectedly, a person who likes to complain?"''

Using a downcast look in front of the grumbling Genma, Kirika attempted a rebuttal while observing the surroundings on her field of vision.

"I don't think he was particularly careless with his job"

"It's the same thing if your acts don't yield fruit", Genma declared harshly.

But immediately following he asked without changing his tone.

"So, did you get in touch with Kazuma?"

" - Wha - ?"

With round eyes Kirika stared at Genma.

Why is Genma here. And why he spoke as if showing contempt towards Kazuma, she finally understood.

Averting her gaze in a casual manner, she examined the surroundings. Ayano and Ren didn't notice and only Juugo seemed to have reached the same conclusion. As if resisting a smile, the corners of his lips twitched.

''"He - he's an unexpectedly indulgent papa, huh?"''

while guessing she made the same expression as Juugo, Kirika desperately feigned calmness. She answered shortly, with brevity.

"No. Not really. No."

"I see"

The one who spoke wasn't Genma but Juugo, silent until now. Unseen by Genma, for one moment, he smiled to Kirika like an accomplice and then continued.

"Well, he's not the kind of man who will die when being swallowed by a crumbling building"

"I agree"

Saying it out loud it seemed a a cruel expression but Kirika agreed from the bottom of her heart.

There was no reason for doubt. To begin with, Kazuma was the one who rescued the three of them from the crumbling building.

He was loosing himself in anger but apparently one composed portion still remained.

just before they were crushed by the downpour of debris, Kazuma spread a wind barrier and set the trio free.

Perfectly controlling the barrier until they landed, he delivered them on the above ground without any scratch. Especially smart, he raised an optical camouflage to remain invisible, denoting perfect composure.

About the safety of Kazuma's own body, Kirika didn't have any kind of apprehension. Rather, right now her body was in much more danger.

But the pure boy thinking of his older brother, seemed to be worried still. Frowning with worry, Ren said.

"But even for Onii-sama something unlikely can happen. Besides if he's fine he would have called at least"

"He doesn't want to be looked after right now. Or he doesn't want us to get in the way"

"What do you mean?"

Finding fault with Kirika's words, Ayano retorted sharply. Kirika's eyebrows frowned instantly cursing her verbal slip and tried to dodge the question with a forced smile.

"Don't worry about it"

"I am worrying about it!"

Understanding she couldn't deceive her, Kirika looked at Ayano with a pensive expression.

"Listen to me, Ayano-chan"

"What?"

"If you knew one of Kazuma's secret, one he doesn't want other people knowing, would you tell?"

"........."

As expected, she blocked it. Even Ayano, who she recognized was daring beyond recklessness, hesitated making Kazuma truly angry.

At that chance, Kirika smoothly turned the conversation around.

"That's why, don't ask today. It's not something that has a direct impact on us anyway - beside I'm sure you'll know soon enough"

" -？"

Ayano didn't seem to consent yet but Kirika completely ignored it.

"So, let's get down to business"

Speaking so, she took out a videotape from her bag. Looking inside the room and discovering a video deck close to the wall, she silently asked Juugo for permission.

Juugo nodded in silence.

"First, please look at this"

Together with Kirika's words, the shape of Tokyo's Government Office appeared on the screen.

The tallest in Shinjuku but more than that the characteristic twin towers. That gallant figure that already disappeared from reality and only existed in memories or records.

"If it's about the collapse, we already saw it on the news"

"Just look"

Rejecting Ayano's complaint without even turning around, Kirika gazed at the screen. Reluctantly, Ayano imitated her.

What was reflected on the screen was the first central government office. For a while nothing happened. But suddenly an unusual phenomenon appeared.

From the space between the two raised towers, a pillar of light soared facing the sky.

The film played over and over after last night's news would have scared everyone if seen for the first time. There was nothing to be surprised about now, though.

Ayano looked at the video with an indifferent expression. The pillar of light striking the heavens. It was the work of that girl called Lapis.

The goddess-like gigantic phantom clutching the phantom sword.

From the outside only a part of the sword was visible but that shape couldn't be mistaken. That more than sharp double edged sword, if that aberrant length were excluded, only Lapis hold the crystal weapon remained.

''" - huh?"''

Ayano remembered a slightly uncomfortable feeling.

When she saw the news did the pillar of light resembled a sword so clearly or did it looked like a stick.

Although bewildered, the video went on.

The pillar of light inclined.

The phantom sword was swung downward.

And then, as it tore the barrier, Pandemonium appeared.

" - Oh?"

At the same time it appeared, the huge blade swung downward beheaded Pandemonium. The rooftop tore, the walls were cut and although Pandemonium was split in two halves, the blade had yet to stop.

Really stretching close to two hundred meters, its tip moved until it faced directly below. The walls of the Tokyo Government Office were shredded in a vertical straight line like a joke.

Of course, the damage didn't stop at the outer layer of walls. The blade of that gigantic sword was pretty much perfectly buried in the building, only its tip protruding from the other side of the wall over-enthusiastically.

If they were to regard the architectural structure like a human body, this blow clearly cut through the marrow. Needless to say, it would be a fatal wound.

Although practically split in half, the building tried to maintain its balance by propping up the towers one against the other.

But the tall building reaching two hundred forty three meters couldn't bear the weight on half its body. As if flattened by a huge hand from right overhead it crumbled while raising a large quantity of dust.

The screen was covered by that dust. And then the video paused switching over to a sandstorm.

"This is the original footage"

Kirika stopped the video.

"What circulates on the news was altered to appear like a regular terrorism explosion. We thoroughly erased everything suspicious or changed it"

As expected, the fact that <<Tokyo Government Office was split in half by a long light saber and destroyed>> can't be allowed to spread on the Internet.

Ayano was completely supportive of that matter. But -

"So, what are your impressions?"

"The worst.........", murmured Ayano feebly.

It was clear that the destruction of the Government Office was caused by Pandemonium.

But she believed Lapis' attack was nothing but the start. That is, she only broke the balance and the building collapsed after, on its own.

No way half the building was removed in a single stroke.

"Are you trying to say we have to fight that monster ? "

"I have high hopes for you, Ayano-chan", Kirika carefully declared to the disheartened Ayano.

"It doesn't seem I can count on Kazuma for being that girl's opponent"

"................aah, so it seems"

Kazuma's expression when he met Lapis - Ayano couldn't imagine that man could be in turmoil to such a degree.

And then, the name he murmured - Tsoi Rin

She didn't know who it was but undoubtedly she had a great significance for Kazuma. Enough to attack her without hesitation for the sake of protecting a girl who resembled her.

".........Whatever"

Shaking off that memory that made her uncomfortable, Ayano asked:

"So, what are we going to do from now on? As Pandemonium is destroyed for the time being we must think how to search for them, right?"

"Aah - about that........"

Averting her eyes somewhat uncomfortable, Kirika showed a bitter smile.

"Pandemonium still exists"

" - Eeh? Aah, on the Internet, you mean?"

"No, not just that - also in reality"

"..........."

Including an incomplete understanding, Ayano stared at Kirika with half opened eyes.

No matter how she thought about it, Kirika's attitude was suspicious.

How did she obtain evidence of it in just one night? Why did she have such a shitty attitude, far from being proud for such a great accomplishment?

"What is this?"

Raising her voice, Ayano cross-examined Kirika.

"I want you to tell me everything you know. This is not the place to hide your hand, right? If you keep secrets I don't care if Tokyo Tower goes next"

"Aah - yeah - "

Kirika fleetingly looked at Ayano with upturned eyes and broke the eyes with a roundabout expression.

"Can you listen calmly, without getting angry?"

"Just say it already!"

As Ayano urged, raising her voice, Kirika began talking nervously.

"You see, last night Utsumi Kousuke escaped from his cell"

The moment she heard those words, Ayano completely ignored Kirika's request.

That is, she got angry.

"You incompetent! And you're still calling yourself a professional !?"

"That's why I said to calm down and - "

"Do you think I can calm down !?", shouted Ayano without listening to Kirika's restraint.

"What the heck were you doing? Didn't you said to leave it to you !?"

"N- No, listen - "

"You idiot! Why do you make it so difficult so late in the game !?"

"Leave it at that"

This time, Juugo forced his way through.

Because he pitied the condemned Kirika or maybe because he became irritated by the conversation's lack of progress, that heavy, vibrant voice controlled the scene with an authority no one could oppose.

Struck by the rebuke of the father she loved and respected, Ayano immediately regained her composure. While instantly realizing this was not the place to shout pointlessly.

The person the released Utsumi would aim at the foremost is -

"Nanase - did she already begin the lessons?"

"It's all right. Nanase-san is fine"

As if soothing Ayano who took out her telephone in a hurry, Kirika informed her with a composed voice.

With a totally disbelieving gaze and tone, Ayano asked:

"How do you know?"

"Even we are not that incompetent. Because we noticed Utsumi's disappearance immediately after, we appointed protection to Nanase-san. At present there's no abnormality. She went to school without incident. I received a call approximately thirty minutes ago. Are you worried?"

"............"

Bet even so, Ayano didn't change her distrustful attitude.

"I understood the ''at present'' part. But after all, you weren't able to restrain Utsumi, no? How will that escort be helpful when she is practically attacked?"

Including a bitter smile, Kirika agreed.

"Please give us that much credit. The Jutsushi from Special Investigation Unit are not weak enough to lose to an amateur. Because even if Utsumi escaped, that wasn't his doing"

" - ? Did someone guide him?"

Replacing the answer, Kirika took out one photograph. Innocently picking it up, Ayano quickly caught her breath.

"This........."

It was the photograph of a white wall. A plain white wall. And then, painted on the surface of it, sickening red letters.

Sent to Utsumi's cell, a ''mail'' from Pandemonium.

"What is it?"

In silence Ayano held out the picture to Juugo. Frowning unpleasantly, Juugo gave it to Genma. And he to Ren.

"On the wall of the room where Utsumi was held captive, this appeared unnoticed"

Confirming that the picture reached all, Kirika began speaking.

"It happened between between eleven P.M. and midnight. Because the surveillance camera was stopped, the accurate moment of the act is uncertain"

"Eleven P.M..........."

Tokyo Government Office was destroyed at eight P.M. Of course, at that time Pandemonium was supposed to be annihilated.

But the red letters etched on the cell's wall, the hand print that sealed the contract undermined that fact.

Below the hand written contract, the blurred, almost gone '''Yes'''. Perhaps Utsumi pressed it giving his agreement while it was only half dry.

"Incidentally the palm print of the contract matches Utsumi's "

Kirika backed up that guess with good timing. Ayano continued asking:

"The method of escape?"

"We don't know"

Kirika clearly shook her head.

"I said so before but the surveillance camera was interrupted and the guard put to sleep. We noticed something was wrong when they had to change shifts"

"What about clues?"

"Right. While there is no physical evidence, it doesn't seem like he just walked away"

"Space transfer?"

"A '''door''' was opened in the anti-magical barrier the detention cell was under, yes"

"Bullshit......."

At Kirika's words, casually shrugging her shoulders, Ayano was made to realize once again the enemy's lack of common sense.

"So, that's why, far from being destroyed, Pandemonium moves with increasing vigor. This is unconfirmed information but from last night to the early dawn of this morning four of five of those people with abilities underwent a class change in one stroke"

"Is that a lot ? "

"Of course !"

Kirika responded at Ayano's words that held no sense of urgency as if she could barely endure her headache.

"It's not like we caught all of them but there's no mistake there are more that ten people who had a class change. If that number suddenly increases by five - "

"Hmmm"

Ayano made a thoroughly indifferent sound.

Whether their level goes up, whether they class change, those kind of people who obtained power by accident cannot possibly be considered her opponents.

"Maybe they plot raising all levels"

Kirika stared unpleasantly at Ayano who announced the serious deduction.

"You mean, the second stage ones who had one class change will become the norm and perhaps a third stage of chosen ones will start to appear?"

"Yes, but I cannot back it up"

"But, if they were to release so much power, won't they lose their human awareness?"

"What of it?"

Ayano cut through Kirika's objection with a brief comment.

The power given by Pandemonium is the power of a Youma parasitic to the human body.

To say it frankly it wasn't given per say.

In the process of absorbing and assimilating the possessing Youma, the time necessary to manipulate the Youma's power doesn't take more than an hour.

While their power grows, the Youma is eating into that person's soul. If they were to do another class change, it would be impossible to maintain a human heart for those people with such a weak will.

However -

"Who cares about such things ?"

Those granted power, those seeking it, none will hesitate. They heartlessly didn't reflect on their former lives before the change so they won't consider the consequences after.

"..........that may be so"

Reluctantly, Kirika agreed with Ayano's opinion. She didn't like it but it was very likely. Not a conjecture she could ignore.

"The question is what is the other party thinking?", continued Ayano dispassionate.

"Why are they doing such a thing? We don't why they went so far as picking a fight with the police and rescued Utsumi."

Just by looking at the visible phenomena manipulated by the man calling himself Vesalius, it was clear he has a mighty ability.

But what he did in proportion with that power was childish or playful, something without a clear sense of purpose.

"That's the issue. Though at first I thought it was '''Kodogu'''"

Kodogu is one form of magic carried out using poisonous worms and such.

Cramming in a vase-like container a large quantity of poisonous worms and let then eat each other and then use the last remaining one as the core of a curse.

By making those with special abilities granted by Pandemonium fight each other, how will they use the last one standing, the most powerful among them - they pretty much agreed with that. But -

"You said ''I thought''. Is that wrong?"asked Ayano, accurately judging Kirika's aim who used the past tense.

Kirika agreed mater-of-fact.

"Kazuma said so. He said ''The Youma possessing those children is all the same''."

"All the same, you mean the same type ?"

"No, the same Youma"

" - ?"

Not understanding that meaning Ayano tilted her head to the side in confusion.

Expecting that, Kirika continued the explanation without pause.

"Pandemonium is reducing Youma to digital data and let them possess through the Internet. So Kazuma said that if a Youma can be turned to data, isn't it possible to make more copies of ?"

".........."

Ayano silently petrified. If that was true, the number of enemies won't be limited. It means they can mass produce those annoying people with abilities without limit.

"B -But if it's like that, would the ability differ from one person to another ?"

Pulling herself together Ayano pointed out what seemed at first an inconsistency in that theory. But the answer was quick.

"I think it was set up to match the aptitude of the people possessed. There's also the data volume issue, probably taking for the first time a seedbed related shape and sending them out like a seed or an egg"

" - I see"

"Well, you understand from my ''I think'' and ''probably'' that this is just a guess or maybe nothing more than speculation"

Contrary to her words her tone was full of confidence. The reason is but obvious.

"You mean that Kazuma reached the same conclusion so it's reliable intelligence. What's the problem?"

Even without saying so, Ayano had nothing to object. When it comes to the precision of their perception ability, Kazuma was ahead of her by a two digit number.

"Well, because of that the Kodoku theory doesn't stand"

"............It seems so"

The quintessence of Kodoku is the creation of a high density course source by condensing multiple fragments of malice in one body.

Killing and absorbing oneself and turning what was whole into the very same thing, that's like returning to the origin. It won't develop into hatred.

"Then, after all, we don't know the enemy's objective ? "

"Well, it's like that"

"He said it was an experiment"

A clear boy-soprano interrupted Kirika's careless answer. All eyes gathered on the new speaker.

"Ren, what did you...?"

"Like I said, it's an experiment. That man told me so. So, he can't stop it mid-way"

In a daze for a short while, Ayano suddenly clapped her hands as if remembering.

"Come to think of it, you met that masked bastard much earlier than us"

"........did you forget?"

Ignoring the amazed Kirika, daring such a retort, Ayano faced Ren.

"So, what's the experiment"

"Eerr, he didn't say more"

"I see"

That's yet again, the same as not knowing anything. All the progress they made was that they had proof the incident was not yet over.

"Well, he didn't seem like a guy who would easily spill the beans - Aah, on that subject"

While complaining she looked at Ren as if finally realizing something. She asked the boy, looking slightly doubtful.

"Kazuma called that man ''Bernhardt'' but what does it mean?"

"Aah, that - "

After a brief contemplation, Ren spoke carefully.

"Vesalius was his alias or something and it seems his real name is Bernhardt Rhodes. He seemed to know Nii-sama - that man didn't clearly confirm it but he didn't deny it also"

"Bernhardt Rhodes you said - "

Ayano exchanged a dark glance with Kirika, using only one word to make sure.

"Him ?"

"No, I'm not sure"

Ren shook his head without wanting to reply.

Bernhardt Rhodes - for those being a part of the magic society, the meaning that name held was exceedingly great.

There is a magic society called <<Almagest>>. Its activity is centered in Western Europe, a powerful organization praised as the highest authority in modern day magic.

Its name is derived from the astronomy work Ptolemaios published, Almagestum. Just like the name suggests it was at first a guild of astrologers.

But by collecting all kind of Jutsu and Jutsushi or the consequence of accepting the unprincipled ones, at present it developed to the point of being called the headquarters of Psychic Research.

The name of their leader was Erwin Leszal. Known as the personal pupil of the great magician Agrippa or as the Comte de Saint Germain, an enigmatic character that even in this circle was covered in insane legends.

More than being the leader for more than three hundred years he wasn't a public person and here were quite few people who didn't believe in his existence.

It was the opinion of most that such a name was some kind of title the leader received for generations, the symbol of becoming the boss.

The management of such a substantial organization was carried out by the so called <<Council>> - the association of high rank Majutsushi.

And the Chairman of those Majutsushi was Bernhardt Rhodes.

To sum it up, Bernhardt was Majutsushi with so much fame no one would complain when calling him the world's best.

That celebrity seemed unlikely to go as far as concealing his face when he is doing criminal activities. But -

''"A coincidence? I don't think so "''

Ayano rejected the convenient explanation floating in her mind.

It can't be a coincidence. He was too good at deception. All that left is -

"I have no doubt"

The answer came from an unexpected direction. Everyone's gaze converged to Kirika.

Without faltering under those looks that felt like a physical pressure, Kirika continued.

"If he has a grudge against Kazuma, even more if he had something to do with that girl called Tsoi Rin, there's no mistake about it. The master of Pandemonium, Vesalius, is Bernhardt Rhodes of <<Almagest>>"

"Wh - wait"

"Well, if you think about it, there are no idiots who would dare impersonate Bernhardt Rhodes"

"True but more than that - "

Striking the table, Ayano interrupted Kirika's talking.

"Do you know that woman, Tsoi Rin?"

"Hhmm, sort of"

At that moment all sort of expression disappeared from Ayano's face.

Grabbing Kirika by the collar so she won't escape, she said in a subdued voice.

"Spill it"

"A - Ayano-chan, calm down?"

"I am calm, spill it", repeated Ayano indifferent.

If she would have screamed there could have been a method to deal with her yet.

"Well, listen, I told you before right? When it comes to Kazuma's privacy, I can't really - "

Ayano was silent. But the force with which she grabbed Kirika didn't dwindle and clearly she didn't agree.

Kirika's eyes requested Juugo's help. The master of the mansion mostly silent so far looked at the two of them with an unreadable expression and spoke solemnly.

"Detective Tachibana"

"Y - yes?"

"Guessing from the conversation so far, it seems that the existence of this Tsoi Rin girl certainly holds a great significance within this incident. Although I praise your conviction of respecting someone's privacy, can't you overlook it and tell us ?"

"Uuu......"

Kirika groaned. No way is the Head of the Kannagi Clan going to ''ask'' her. And then - she stole a glance at Ayano.

Clashing with that straightforward glance that seemed to never blink, she averted her eyes in a hurry.

Even when Juugo was speaking, this glance wasn't disconnected even for a second looking hard this way.

That steady look that said '''If you don't speak I'll take you and eat you''', frankly, had no trace of being alive.

Searching for a ray of hope, she looked at the remaining two.

".............................pfff"

Genma replied to Kirika's eyes, requesting salvation, with a tiny laugh. Come to think of it, it would be impossible for this man who showed he cared for the well-being of Kazuma not to take an interest in his past.

And then, Ren.

".........."

The moment she noticed Kirika's gaze, the boy looked away uncomfortably.

To sum it up, it seemed he found Kirika's distress unfortunate but didn't have the nerve to hold Ayano back.

Adding one thing to another, Ren himself seemed to have a special interest in the girl Tsoi Rin.

" - I give up"

Finally beaten down by the opponent's persistence, Kirika opened her mouth.

It was a helpless situation.

But most of all, the fact that the coercion given off by Ayano was reaching lethal levels made Kirika prepare herself for the worst.

"Just to tell you in advance, this is a hearsay story, I don't know how true it is"

With that introduction, she began speaking.

"It starts four years ago when Kazuma crossed over to Hong Kong running away from Kannagi and met a girl - "

=== Part 3 ===

"...........ma.........zuma............."

What dragged him out from his pleasant slumber was an even more pleasant soprano call and the feeling of warm hands that tenderly shook his body.

He was instantly woken up but he pretended to be asleep, curling up underneath the blanket.

It was for the warmth of the bed he yearned for but much more so for the childish thought ''I want her to look after me more''.

"Geez......wake up.......already!....wake........up..........!"

By the strength of her tone and the energy with which she shook his body she demanded him to get out of the bed. But, he covered himself in the blanket like a bag-worm and continued refusing to get up.

" - Uuuu, five more minutes........."

"Quit it already!"

Getting tired of those sloven words, she finaly took a firm step. She forcefully tore off the blanket and exposed his body, indulging in indolence to the cold morning air.

Now, he made his body even smaller. It was so pitiful it gave the impression of some kind of bug.

"Wake up, Kazuma! I won't feed you!"

Finally accepting it, he - Kannagi Kazuma stretched his curled up body. But, not waking up just yet, he buried his face in the pillow and groaned.

"I'm still sleepy........"

"I don't care. Oversleeping is no excuse for staying up late", she declared point-blank.

"Change your clothes and get down in five minutes. If you don't make it in tine, you don't get to eat"

".....please forgive me"

With a backward glance at Kazuma, getting up sluggishly, she moved energetically and left through the door.

But, opening the door immediately after closing it, she peeked inside the room.

"Aah, I forgot"

" - what?"

Looking at Kazuma who turned around puzzled, she said:

"Good morning, Kazuma"

A full bloom smiling face first thing in the morning. Looking fondly at that radiance, Kazuma responded with a smile.

"Good morning, Tsoi Rin"

This is how Kazuma's mornings always started.

"Well then"

Standing up, he stretched once profoundly.

He didn't have time to waist. Tsoi Rin didn't lie. If he won't rush, he will really miss breakfast.

In addition to that, today he has a hard job to do. The contents of his stomach are a matter of life and death.

He must eat the breakfast made by Tsoi Rin and restore his energy in both mind and body -

"Uuryaa!"

Raising an exaggerated yell, he took off his pajamas. And then pulled out from the wardrobe the clothes for today.

"Hyo, cold - "

With a meaningless expression, at the time he put on his shirt, Kazuma looked at that thing placed above the dresser.

Adorned like an ornament, the cash card bent in two.

"........."

Contrasting with such a lively facial expression, etching a cynical smile on his lips, Kazuma bowed to a broken card.

"Good morning to you, mother. Thank you, today I am healthy also"

Looking at the card, his eyes cast a gloomy light. What they saw was the smiling face of the mother who threw him away -

"Waah, achoo!"

Kazuma let out a miserable shriek when the draft brushed his bare back. Of course, the gloomy, rough atmosphere collapsed immediately.

"Shit, you really don't have time for the serious stuff now. Just eat your breakfast and do your manual labor"

Changing clothes as fast as possible, Kazuma rushed out of the room. For the sake of filling himself with the home cooking of the girl he loved, much more valuable than his worthless past.

It's evening - just like Kazuma declared this morning, he was seriously working hard.

Inside a gloomy warehouse, resounding with gunshots.

"Why !? For Christ's sake !"

With a stupid appearance embracing with one hand a cat that seemed important, Kazuma abused his unreasonable fate that had something against him.

Of course, the situation won't get better just by doing that. Trying to find a chance to somehow run away he peeked from behind the container concealing his body. But -

Just then, continuous shots aimed at him.

"Wahh!"

Drawing back his face in a rush, he left that container like a cockroach. Soothing his violent heart, he took a deep breath, two, three -

"Shit, why is this happening to me !?"

But even so, unable to accept the present situation, he started complaining uselessly.

"When I'm finally free from that abnormal world with Majutsushi, with Youma, with evil spirits, this time is a gun battle !? What the fuck have I done ?"

While complaining, Kazuma took out a knife from his breast pocket. Running up to the container soundlessly he jumped more than ten meters.

Faster than the man who noticed him and pointed his gun this way, he threw his knife.

"Guah !?"

Without changing its aim, the knife ran through the back of the man's right hand. The gun fell down from the hand that lost its power.

"Urya"

With nothing more but the force of the jump, Kazuma landed on his feet on top of the man. Conspicuously, from under his feet the feel of the broken ribs was transmitted.

"Finally, it's settled"

Deciding on a pose on top of the man spitting out blood, Kazuma observed the man's face once more. Holding down with all his strength the cat fretting inside his arm, he said:

"So - who the heck is this guy ?"

"Thank you for your efforts!"

Entering the shop, a man with an evil smile and a voice full of ridicule greeted Kazuma.

Kazuma grimaced, replying with a bitter voice.

"..........As expected, you have sharp ears"

Ahead his line of sigh - inside the shop, one old man was sitting down.

The owner of the Tianshui Temple, an antique store standing side by side with the Kowloon's shopping district, Huang Ying Long.

But very few people knew that this person who apparently seemed like a good natured old man was as a matter of fact known for the most prominent information shop in Hong Kong.

But Kazuma was - unwillingly - one of those people.

To make matters worse, because he needed a job but couldn't show his face here and there his dept was one-sided piling up and he was already unable to act on an equal basis with him.

He explained his lack of honorific language as not knowing the language well enough but for Kazuma it was a minimal and childish opposition.

On the other side, ignoring Kazuma's infantile opposition, Huang continued grinning broadly.

"At any rate, you're very fond of conflict, huh? Why is it that just by trying to catch a run-away pet it results in a shoot-out? Do you yearn becoming a hard-boiled detective like in the novels? "

".........shut up", spat out Kazuma unpleasantly.

"This time it wasn't my fault. I don't know who they confused me with but the other side started shooting all of a sudden. Besides, this is just the third time it turned into a fight. That's not enough to call me a trouble maker - "

"Hey, this is just the second week you work"

At the calm, precise retort Kazuma became silent.

By the way, Kazuma's current occupation is what's commonly referred to as a Jack of all trades. It also resembled pretty well a Japanese private detective.

Of course, he was only learning now but still bragging about the job itself.

- But now, that conceit was smashed into very small pieces.

"Leave"

"Just wait"

Enjoyed from the bottom of his heart, Huang called after Kazuma who had simply turned around and started walking.

"We're past the time for jokes. I'll get straight to the point."

"Keep it short."

"Humph, then I'll finish with one sentence - Don't lose your head, brat"

In that instant, the atmosphere around Huang completely changed.

That cynical face that aged well turned to that of a long military service soldier living through Honk Kong's underground society.

"Wha.......what is going on, suddenly? "

"Is it fun tormenting small-time hoodlums? ", asked Huang coldly of Kazuma who pretended to be tough although he was overpowered.

" Wha - "

"It must be fun. If your opponent is only a human being even you can display your might. But, do you think you can live a long life in this manner? You are not one of those ''<<chosen people>>''after all"

Huang's words were hinting at knowing Kazuma's lineage and his past.

Exposed to the scars of the past he was averting his eyes from as much as possible, Kazuma was enraged.

"I know that! "

" - Really?"

Not hesitating in front of that gaze even mixed with killing intent, Huang asked again, matter-of-fact.

"You think this way, right? ''"Apart from being a Jutsushi, I am a superior person. If it's a battle without Majutsu, I am the strongest"'' or something"

"......tch!"

Accurately having been seen through the thought he entertained again and again, Kazuma sharply caught his breath. As for Huang, reading that response, he made a small snort not showing surprise.

".......what, are you trying to say?"

"I alredy did. It was ''Don't lose your head, brat''. You're not a Jutsushi, you're not a soldier, you are nothing but a brat whose strong point is being good at fighting. Don't you ever try to look cool in front of someone holding a gun. For me it doesn't matter but if you die Tsoi Rin will be sad. "

Kazuma was caving in so much abuse but the moment he heard the last few words, he stood up straight.

His face pouting like a child turned to that of an adult - a man who becomes an adult.

"I know. I will at least protect Tsoi Rin"

"Ha, protect, you say? Fine words when you're the one who is one-sided protected. "

But Huang lightly laughed even at those words full of determination.

"If not for that girl, you would be getting dead-drunk in self pity even now. No, you would have drunk away the money you received from your parents and turned into a beggar, huh?"

"Guuh - "

Having the time when he fell to the very bottom discussed, Kazuma got red in the face.

Even more, Huang thrust his finger at him with a snap.

"Listen brat, I don't have too much expectation from you. You are an ordinary person. No matter how you struggle, you won't become a hero. Throw away the hopes beyond your means, think only how to make Tsoi Rin happy and live with your feet on the ground. "

"..........I understand"

Although he was pouting with dissatisfaction, Kazuma agreed.

It wasn't a very lenient evaluation but it was the truth.

Because he didn't have the attributes of a hero, because he wasn't chosen, for this reason, he was here right now.

"If you understand that's fine. You can go now"

".........yeah"

As if driven away by Huang's cruel wave of hand, drudgingly Kazuma took the road home.

Opening the door, Kazuma was wrapped up in the warm atmosphere and miscellaneous clatter.

Inside the store all seats were already occupied and the festive uproar made by the lively people cured a day's worth of fatigue.

His sweetheart was in the center of it. Both her hands fully loaded with trays of alcohol and cookery, she quickly made her way through the crowd of people as if swimming, waiting on tables.

Presuming the cold wind the arrival of a customer, she turned around.

"Ji wei hu......."

Those words of warm reception were interrupted in the middle. The face that continued smiling changed to something even more cute and shining.

"Welcome home, Kazuma"

"I'm home, Tsoi Rin"

Kazuma also responded with a full face smile to his beloved lover. When he stepped up to her words of banter and whistles down-poured from the surroundings.

But all of them were warm, without any ill will. Everyone was blessing from the bottom of their heart the young pair of lovers.

"You were late, huh?"

"Hmm - Aah, just a little"

Frankly - Because he got caught up in the moment and jumped about too much, he ended up getting sermons so Kazuma was vaguely evasive.

And since he was already deceiving her and her hands were fully occupied Kazuma took the opportunity and embraced Tsoi Rin's body closely.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 055.jpg|thumb|]]

But, she was suddenly snatched from the side.

"Kyaah!? "

Embraced by a drunken person, Tsoi Rin let out a small shriek.

But then, this was an everyday occurrence, one she wouldn't even spill a drop of alcohol over from the glasses placed on the tray.

"Tsoi Rin ～ dump that guy already, I will - "

His declaration not allowed until the end, Kazuma kicked the man's face. Less than a kick he just pushed him with the bottom of his shoe but even so the man fall flat, spouting a nose bleed.

"Hey, don't put your hands on someone's woman!"

Looking down on the senseless man, Kazuma raised his middle finger. But, immediately after, he receive a crushing blow to the back of his head and also feel to the ground.

"Geez, Kazuma! What are you doing to the customer!? "

Skillfully finishing serving the table, Tsoi Rin shouted with the empty trays raised overhead. From the way she held it, the blow wasn't with the back of the tray but with its edge.

"......but it's fine to be violent towards me?"

"It's fine, because it's Kazuma"

A reply without hesitation. At a loss for words, Kazuma and the man he just kicked and fell down looked at each other and exchanged a wry smile.

"Hey, stand up already. It's very busy so help me"

"Well, I just came home from work"

"So what? I'm working all day long. Don't tell me, you plan to drink without a care while looking at me working? "

"I am sorry. I'll help you immediately"

Having no confidence of winning the verbal war, Kazuma surrendered on the spot.

Hecklers flew out from everywhere at that appearance without a shred of dignity sadly facing the kitchen.

"Show her who's the man, Kazuma! "

"How noisy! You don't even have a woman to order you around! "

Both the jeering man and the retorting Kazuma laughed together from the bottom of their hearts.

For Kazuma this place was his second home but the first one who made his heart feel at ease.

That joy he received, he wouldn't exchange it for anything else.

''"Throw away the hopes beyond your means and live with your feet on the ground. "''

He remembered Huang's cool-headed words.

He understood now. Huang too, was concerned about him. If not, why would he cordially come in contact with a Japanese wanderer?

Turning her head over her shoulder, while bending her head slightly to the side marveling, Tsoi Rin smiled at him tenderly.

Even the customers a bit flinty but good people overall, were watching over them with warmth.

''It's fine''

Surrounded by genial smiles, Kazuma was convinced from the bottom of his heart.

I don't need any kind of special power.

It doesn't matter that I wasn't chosen.

Ordinary. Commonplace. But very happy, with his feet on the ground.

''"I can live here"''

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Illustrations|Illustrations]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 1

2013-10-17T13:53:42Z

Antanaru: /* Part 1 */

== Chapter 1 - Signs of rematch ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Shit"

Together with the the spat out swear word, the sound of a weak fist striking the wall pointlessly reverberated.

This is an underground place below the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. It wasn't generally used, a police cell used for accommodating unique criminals.

Clean and simple, in that space resembling a hotel single room the boy grieved over his circumstance.

"Why did something like that happen......"

He was supposed to have obtained power.

An invincible power.

A power that can grant all wished.

An invincible power.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this......"

He suddenly rose in the world.

A ''higher'' existence than those worthless masses whose existence doesn't matter.

From here on he would be the one to look down on those who looked down on him, scorn them, and like like an overwhelming man of courage -

That was how it was supposed to be.

And yet, right now, he had been clumsily caught by the police. The power he thought invincible was sealed easily, and tomorrow they will apply treatment in order to get rid of it for good.

Again, he turned to nothing but an incompetent person. And in addition to that, he will be held in police custody even for his previous offenses.

He was disgraced. He was unbearably disgraced.

One girl's picture floated in his brain. The ringleader who forced him into such circumstance. The one who didn't listen his command, the command of a superior person, the disrespectful bitch who of all things, turned on him with savage weapons.

"Nanase.........."

The boy - Utsumi Kousuke, squeezed out the girl's name, including as much curse in it as possible.

But, the anti-magic barrier installed in the police cell nullified every kind of power generated inside.

Utsumi's grudge, didn't attain form, fruitlessly melting in the atmosphere and disappearing.

".........shit......."

Reminded again that ''the invincible power'' had been sealed, Utsumi's body shook with rage.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! Come out! Come out! I am the chose one! I'm not supposed to be here!!"

He knocked the door as if going mad. When the privileges bestowed onto him were taken, that absurdity destroyed his mental balance.

"Why? Why do I have to suffer through this? What do you accuse me of?"

But, no one was there to reply to his egotistic claim and Utsumi's random screams, drifting inside the room, were sucked into the walls and disappeared.

After a turn, a silence similar to frozen time filled the room. The reverberation of noise reverted the vector of his spirit visibly changing Utsumi's character, pressing his forehead to the wall, cowered. A frail murmur escaped him.

"What to do............"

If it continues like this and his power will be stolen what will happen - even his dumb brain could easily picture it.

''"They'll take revenge on me........"''

Even if they won't charge him for his crimes, the people he cursed will definitely not forgive him. The retribution will be more severe than whatever he experienced until now.

And, right now he had no means of defending himself.

"No........I don't want that........"

While moaning at the wits' end, Utsumi naturally regretted his behavior.

"'''It would have been better not to do that'''", or something

But that was not a remorseful contemplation. They were only the previous selfish thoughts fearing revenge, without a particle of Utsumi's compassion.

"It's not my fault........I'm not to blame......."

Racking his brain, he tried justifying himself. He wasn't in the wrong. He's not the one responsible. Because, because -

"But, I only used it, right? The one who's evil and pushed this unwanted power onto me is that Pandemonium's Vesalius, right? I'm just like a victim tricked by that man, right?"

Deriving a satisfactory answer, Utsumi's eyes sparkled.

"First of all, if the police had time to catch someone like me, shouldn't they search for Vesalius first? The police is always like this. They don't get involved with the really bad guys but only arrest underlings, worrying only about settling cases by framing victims like me. Do you think the country's peace can be protected like that?"

With persistently self centered words, at the time he was talking on and on loudly.

" - Hm?"

On one point on the pure white wall, suddenly, a deep crimson spot appeared. A small dot, red like fresh blood. It grew as if being guided by an invisible pen and engraved letters on the wall.

These were the contents:

'''Congratulation!!'''

'''Congratulation for your level up!'''

'''In accordance with this level up, it's possible to class change and obtain even more power. If you wish so, a door reaching Pandemonium will open for you here, ushering you in.'''

'''Do you desire a class change?'''

'''Yes/No'''

"Wh- what........?"

At the sudden variation, Utsumi opened his eyes wide in blank amazement. But at the same time, he instantly understood the meaning of this message.

This was a '''mail''' from Pandemonium.

One Pandemonium sent every time one acquires experience points, an information email. The sentences written don the wall had the same literary style like the several tens he received before.

But - Utsumi racked his brain puzzled.

''"Level up?"''

The way of obtaining XP is not just defeating one's enemy or in Utsumi's case fulfilling curses. Utilizing the power granted by Pandemonium, you're adding experience one by one.

Of curse, when comparing it with killing one's enemy, the quantity is infinity smaller.

Utsumi's recent results, is the amount he used on Nanase and his classmates. With just that it would have been impossible to level up, supposedly.

''"Wait - that doesn't matter"''

With more discernment than ever, Utsumi grasped the current situation.

It doesn't mater if it's a mistake or something. If he can level up and then class change, there's no reason to hesitate.

And then -

''''If you wish so, a door reaching Pandemonium will open for you here, ushering you in''''

The message was very easily delivered to the room equipped with an anti-magical barrier. That existence itself is sufficient evidence for the contents of the message.

Clearly, it's impossible for this barrier to resist the mighty power of Pandemonium. In other words, if he wishes so, he can really go to Pandemonium. He can escape prison.

"....................."

Gulping down his saliva, Utsumi stared at the '''mail''' from Pandemonium.

Freedom. even more power. It was an excessively sweet temptation. He can take back all be believed lost. He could obtain even more.

The woman who ridiculed him, this time...........

With an uncertain manner of walking, Utsumi walked to the wall the message was written down on.

The blood red letters. The half dried ink pulled down by gravity smudged the wall giving an ominous impression of an evil spell.

But even so, for Utsumi right now it was similar to a sacred oracle.

That ''reality'''that protected him revived his lost willpower.

"Like I thought, I am '''special'''"

Broadly grinning, his ugly lips warped, Utsumi laughed. An arrogant smile scorning everything beside himself.

"Just wait, Nanase. This time I'll get even with you!"

With a loud shout, Utsumi '''clicked''' on the '''Yes''' end of the message.

=== Part 2 ===

Opening the door of her beloved GT-R car, Kirika looked at the cloudless sky.

The sun was shining brilliantly, burning distinct shadows on the earth.

The wind was fluttering refreshing, the birds singing a pleasant tune -

There was no trouble in the world - contrary to those words appropriate for the morning scenery, on Kirika's beautiful face there was a haggard look impossible to conceal.

The black circles below her eyes clearly indicated the extent of her fatigue. The cleaning up of the troubles that happened one after another last night was so difficult that even Kirika thought half seriously of skipping out.

Getting off the car, she faced the entrance as if limping. An employee was already there, waiting for her arrival.

"This way - "

Following after the servant who informed laconically, Kirika entered the residence. She walked and walked and walked the exclusively long corridor. She stopped.

It seems they arrived at the place of destination. The servant knelt in front of the futsuma and announced Kirika's arrival.

"Please"

"...............yes"

Although showing a slight hesitation, Kirika stepped forward on the other side of the futsuma the servant opened. The members inside were generally as Kirika expected.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 017.jpg|thumb|]]

Except for one.

"Genma-dono ——？"

Involuntarily Kirika called out the name of that person.

Kannagi Genma. The father of both Kazuma and Ren and the most powerful active Jutsushi of the family. Although the Suzerain - Juugo was the best, that ability that overwhelms Ayano yielding Enraiha reached the limits of myth, crossing over legend.

''"That person, why - "''

Glancing at Kirika stiff with fright, Genma informed in a low voice.

"Yesterday my son received favor from you"

"Your son - ?"

At Kirika's instant reply, Genma looked at Ren sitting next to him.

"Both"

".......No, it wasn't that much........"

Bewildered by the interaction, Kirika became evasive using a ambiguous tone. But from the start it seemed Genma didn't cared about Kirika's answer.

"Really, I thought he grew up a little but his spoiled nature doesn't change.........perhaps he was careless with his job, being too busy with women"

''".........unexpectedly, a person who likes to complain?"''

Using a downcast look in front of the grumbling Genma, Kirika attempted a rebuttal while observing the surroundings on her field of vision.

"I don't think he was particularly careless with his job"

"It's the same thing if your acts don't yield fruit", Genma declared harshly.

But immediately following he asked without changing his tone.

"So, did you get in touch with Kazuma?"

" - Wha - ?"

With round eyes Kirika stared at Genma.

Why is Genma here. And why he spoke as if showing contempt towards Kazuma, she finally understood.

Averting her gaze in a casual manner, she examined the surroundings. Ayano and Ren didn't notice and only Juugo seemed to have reached the same conclusion. As if resisting a smile, the corners of his lips twitched.

''"He - he's an unexpectedly indulgent papa, huh?"''

while guessing she made the same expression as Juugo, Kirika desperately feigned calmness. She answered shortly, with brevity.

"No. Not really. No."

"I see"

The one who spoke wasn't Genma but Juugo, silent until now. Unseen by Genma, for one moment, he smiled to Kirika like an accomplice and then continued.

"Well, he's not the kind of man who will die when being swallowed by a crumbling building"

"I agree"

Saying it out loud it seemed a a cruel expression but Kirika agreed from the bottom of her heart.

There was no reason for doubt. To begin with, Kazuma was the one who rescued the three of them from the crumbling building.

He was loosing himself in anger but apparently one composed portion still remained.

just before they were crushed by the downpour of debris, Kazuma spread a wind barrier and set the trio free.

Perfectly controlling the barrier until they landed, he delivered them on the above ground without any scratch. Especially smart, he raised an optical camouflage to remain invisible, denoting perfect composure.

About the safety of Kazuma's own body, Kirika didn't have any kind of apprehension. Rather, right now her body was in much more danger.

But the pure boy thinking of his older brother, seemed to be worried still. Frowning with worry, Ren said.

"But even for Onii-sama something unlikely can happen. Besides if he's fine he would have called at least"

"He doesn't want to be looked after right now. Or he doesn't want us to get in the way"

"What do you mean?"

Finding fault with Kirika's words, Ayano retorted sharply. Kirika's eyebrows frowned instantly cursing her verbal slip and tried to dogge the question with a forced smile.

"Don't worry about it"

"I am worrying about it!"

Understanding she couldn't deceive her, Kirika looked at Ayano with a pensive expression.

"Listen to me, Ayano-chan"

"What?"

"If you knew one of Kazuma's secret, one he doesn't want other people knowing, would you tell?"

"........."

As expected, she blocked it. Even Ayano, who she recognized was daring beyond recklessness, hesitated making Kazuma truly angry.

At that chance, Kirika smoothly turned the conversation around.

"That's why, don't ask today. It's not something that has a direct impact on us anyway - beside I'm sure you'll know soon enough"

" -？"

Ayano didn't seem to consent yet but Kirika completely ignored it.

"So, let's get down to business"

Speaking so, she took out a videotape from her bag. Looking inside the room and discovering a video deck close to the wall, she silently asked Juugo for permission.

Juugo nodded in silence.

"First, please look at this"

Together with Kirika's words, the shape of Tokyo's Government Office appeared on the screen.

The tallest in Shinjuku but more than that the characteristic twin towers. That gallant figure that already disappeared from reality and only existed in memories or records.

"If it's about the collapse, we already saw it on the news"

"Just look"

Rejecting Ayano's complaint without even turning around, Kirika gazed at the screen. Reluctantly, Ayano imitated her.

What was reflected on the screen was the first central government office. For a while nothing happened. But suddenly an unusual phenomenon appeared.

From the space between the two raised towers, a pillar of light soared facing the sky.

The film played over and over after last night's news would have scared everyone if seen for the first time. There was nothing to be surprised about now, though.

Ayano looked at the video with an indifferent expression. The pillar of light striking the heavens. It was the work of that girl called Lapis.

The goddess-like gigantic phantom clutching the phantom sword.

From the outside only a part of the sword was visible but that shape couldn't be mistaken. That more than sharp double edged sword, if that aberrant length were excluded, only Lapis hold the crystal weapon remained.

''" - huh?"''

Ayano remembered a slightly uncomfortable feeling.

When she saw the news did the pillar of light resembled a sword so clearly or did it looked like a stick.

Although bewildered, the video went on.

The pillar of light inclined.

The phantom sword was swung downward.

And then, as it tore the barrier, Pandemonium appeared.

" - Oh?"

At the same time it appeared, the huge blade swung downward beheaded Pandemonium. The rooftop tore, the walls were cut and although Pandemonium was split in two halves, the blade had yet to stop.

Really stretching close to two hundred meters, its tip moved until it faced directly below. The walls of the Tokyo Government Office were shredded in a vertical straight line like a joke.

Of course, the damage didn't stop at the outer layer of walls. The blade of that gigantic sword was pretty much perfectly buried in the building, only its tip protruding from the other side of the wall over-enthusiastically.

If they were to regard the architectural structure like a human body, this blow clearly cut through the marrow. Needless to say, it would be a fatal wound.

Although practically split in half, the building tried to maintain its balance by propping up the towers one against the other.

But the tall building reaching two hundred forty three meters couldn't bear the weight on half its body. As if flattened by a huge hand from right overhead it crumbled while raising a large quantity of dust.

The screen was covered by that dust. And then the video paused switching over to a sandstorm.

"This is the original footage"

Kirika stopped the video.

"What circulates on the news was altered to appear like a regular terrorism explosion. We thoroughly erased everything suspicious or changed it"

As expected, the fact that <<Tokyo Government Office was split in half by a long light saber and destroyed>> can't be allowed to spread on the Internet.

Ayano was completely supportive of that matter. But -

"So, what are your impressions?"

"The worst.........", murmured Ayano feebly.

It was clear that the destruction of the Government Office was caused by Pandemonium.

But she believed Lapis' attack was nothing but the start. That is, she only broke the balance and the building collapsed after, on its own.

No way half the building was removed in a single stroke.

"Are you trying to say we have to fight that monster ? "

"I have high hopes for you, Ayano-chan", Kirika carefully declared to the disheartened Ayano.

"It doesn't seem I can count on Kazuma for being that girl's opponent"

"................aah, so it seems"

Kazuma's expression when he met Lapis - Ayano couldn't imagine that man could be in turmoil to such a degree.

And then, the name he murmured - Tsoi Rin

She didn't know who it was but undoubtedly she had a great significance for Kazuma. Enough to attack her without hesitation for the sake of protecting a girl who resembled her.

".........Whatever"

Shaking off that memory that made her uncomfortable, Ayano asked:

"So, what are we going to do from now on? As Pandemonium is destroyed for the time being we must think how to search for them, right?"

"Aah - about that........"

Averting her eyes somewhat uncomfortable, Kirika showed a bitter smile.

"Pandemonium still exists"

" - Eeh? Aah, on the Internet, you mean?"

"No, not just that - also in reality"

"..........."

Including an incomplete understanding, Ayano stared at Kirika with half opened eyes.

No matter how she thought about it, Kirika's attitude was suspicious.

How did she obtain evidence of it in just one night? Why did she have such a shitty attitude, far from being proud for such a great accomplishment?

"What is this?"

Raising her voice, Ayano cross-examined Kirika.

"I want you to tell me everything you know. This is not the place to hide your hand, right? If you keep secrets I don't care if Tokyo Tower goes next"

"Aah - yeah - "

Kirika fleetingly looked at Ayano with upturned eyes and broke the eyes with a roundabout expression.

"Can you listen calmly, without getting angry?"

"Just say it already!"

As Ayano urged, raising her voice, Kirika began talking nervously.

"You see, last night Utsumi Kousuke escaped from his cell"

The moment she heard those words, Ayano completely ignored Kirika's request.

That is, she got angry.

"You incompetent! And you're still calling yourself a professional !?"

"That's why I said to calm down and - "

"Do you think I can calm down !?", shouted Ayano without listening to Kirika's restraint.

"What the heck were you doing? Didn't you said to leave it to you !?"

"N- No, listen - "

"You idiot! Why do you make it so difficult so late in the game !?"

"Leave it at that"

This time, Juugo forced his way through.

Because he pitied the condemned Kirika or maybe because he became irritated by the conversation's lack of progress, that heavy, vibrant voice controlled the scene with an authority no one could oppose.

Struck by the rebuke of the father she loved and respected, Ayano immediately regained her composure. While instantly realizing this was not the place to shout pointlessly.

The person the released Utsumi would aim at the foremost is -

"Nanase - did she already begin the lessons?"

"It's all right. Nanase-san is fine"

As if soothing Ayano who took out her telephone in a hurry, Kirika informed her with a composed voice.

With a totally disbelieving gaze and tone, Ayano asked:

"How do you know?"

"Even we are not that incompetent. Because we noticed Utsumi's disappearance immediately after, we appointed protection to Nanase-san. At present there's no abnormality. She went to school without incident. I received a call approximately thirty minutes ago. Are you worried?"

"............"

Bet even so, Ayano didn't change her distrustful attitude.

"I understood the ''at present'' part. But after all, you weren't able to restrain Utsumi, no? How will that escort be helpful when she is practically attacked?"

Including a bitter smile, Kirika agreed.

"Please give us that much credit. The Jutsushi from Special Investigation Unit are not weak enough to lose to an amateur. Because even if Utsumi escaped, that wasn't his doing"

" - ? Did someone guide him?"

Replacing the answer, Kirika took out one photograph. Innocently picking it up, Ayano quickly caught her breath.

"This........."

It was the photograph of a white wall. A plain white wall. And then, painted on the surface of it, sickening red letters.

Sent to Utsumi's cell, a ''mail'' from Pandemonium.

"What is it?"

In silence Ayano held out the picture to Juugo. Frowning unpleasantly, Juugo gave it to Genma. And he to Ren.

"On the wall of the room where Utsumi was held captive, this appeared unnoticed"

Confirming that the picture reached all, Kirika began speaking.

"It happened between between eleven P.M. and midnight. Because the surveillance camera was stopped, the accurate moment of the act is uncertain"

"Eleven P.M..........."

Tokyo Government Office was destroyed at eight P.M. Of course, at that time Pandemonium was supposed to be annihilated.

But the red letters etched on the cell's wall, the hand print that sealed the contract undermined that fact.

Below the hand written contract, the blurred, almost gone '''Yes'''. Perhaps Utsumi pressed it giving his agreement while it was only half dry.

"Incidentally the palm print of the contract matches Utsumi's "

Kirika backed up that guess with good timing. Ayano continued asking:

"The method of escape?"

"We don't know"

Kirika clearly shook her head.

"I said so before but the surveillance camera was interrupted and the guard put to sleep. We noticed something was wrong when they had to change shifts"

"What about clues?"

"Right. While there is no physical evidence, it doesn't seem like he just walked away"

"Space transfer?"

"A '''door''' was opened in the anti-magical barrier the detention cell was under, yes"

"Bullshit......."

At Kirika's words, casually shrugging her shoulders, Ayano was made to realize once again the enemy's lack of common sense.

"So, that's why, far from being destroyed, Pandemonium moves with increasing vigor. This is unconfirmed information but from last night to the early dawn of this morning four of five of those people with abilities underwent a class change in one stroke"

"Is that a lot ? "

"Of course !"

Kirika responded at Ayano's words that held no sense of urgency as if she could barely endure her headache.

"It's not like we caught all of them but there's no mistake there are more that ten people who had a class change. If that number suddenly increases by five - "

"Hmmm"

Ayano made a thoroughly indifferent sound.

Whether their level goes up, whether they class change, those kind of people who obtained power by accident cannot possibly be considered her opponents.

"Maybe they plot raising all levels"

Kirika stared unpleasantly at Ayano who announced the serious deduction.

"You mean, the second stage ones who had one class change will become the norm and perhaps a third stage of chosen ones will start to appear?"

"Yes, but I cannot back it up"

"But, if they were to release so much power, won't they lose their human awareness?"

"What of it?"

Ayano cut through Kirika's objection with a brief comment.

The power given by Pandemonium is the power of a Youma parasitic to the human body.

To say it frankly it wasn't given per say.

In the process of absorbing and assimilating the possessing Youma, the time necessary to manipulate the Youma's power doesn't take more than an hour.

While their power grows, the Youma is eating into that person's soul. If they were to do another class change, it would be impossible to maintain a human heart for those people with such a weak will.

However -

"Who cares about such things ?"

Those granted power, those seeking it, none will hesitate. They heartlessly didn't reflect on their former lives before the change so they won't consider the consequences after.

"..........that may be so"

Reluctantly, Kirika agreed with Ayano's opinion. She didn't like it but it was very likely. Not a conjecture she could ignore.

"The question is what is the other party thinking?", continued Ayano dispassionate.

"Why are they doing such a thing? We don't why they went so far as picking a fight with the police and rescued Utsumi."

Just by looking at the visible phenomena manipulated by the man calling himself Vesalius, it was clear he has a mighty ability.

But what he did in proportion with that power was childish or playful, something without a clear sense of purpose.

"That's the issue. Though at first I thought it was '''Kodogu'''"

Kodogu is one form of magic carried out using poisonous worms and such.

Cramming in a vase-like container a large quantity of poisonous worms and let then eat each other and then use the last remaining one as the core of a curse.

By making those with special abilities granted by Pandemonium fight each other, how will they use the last one standing, the most powerful among them - they pretty much agreed with that. But -

"You said ''I thought''. Is that wrong?"asked Ayano, accurately judging Kirika's aim who used the past tense.

Kirika agreed mater-of-fact.

"Kazuma said so. He said ''The Youma possessing those children is all the same''."

"All the same, you mean the same type ?"

"No, the same Youma"

" - ?"

Not understanding that meaning Ayano tilted her head to the side in confusion.

Expecting that, Kirika continued the explanation without pause.

"Pandemonium is reducing Youma to digital data and let them possess through the Internet. So Kazuma said that if a Youma can be turned to data, isn't it possible to make more copies of ?"

".........."

Ayano silently petrified. If that was true, the number of enemies won't be limited. It means they can mass produce those annoying people with abilities without limit.

"B -But if it's like that, would the ability differ from one person to another ?"

Pulling herself together Ayano pointed out what seemed at first an inconsistency in that theory. But the answer was quick.

"I think it was set up to match the aptitude of the people possessed. There's also the data volume issue, probably taking for the first time a seedbed related shape and sending them out like a seed or an egg"

" - I see"

"Well, you understand from my ''I think'' and ''probably'' that this is just a guess or maybe nothing more than speculation"

Contrary to her words her tone was full of confidence. The reason is but obvious.

"You mean that Kazuma reached the same conclusion so it's reliable intelligence. What's the problem?"

Even without saying so, Ayano had nothing to object. When it comes to the precision of their perception ability, Kazuma was ahead of her by a two digit number.

"Well, because of that the Kodoku theory doesn't stand"

"............It seems so"

The quintessence of Kodoku is the creation of a high density course source by condensing multiple fragments of malice in one body.

Killing and absorbing oneself and turning what was whole into the very same thing, that's like returning to the origin. It won't develop into hatred.

"Then, after all, we don't know the enemy's objective ? "

"Well, it's like that"

"He said it was an experiment"

A clear boy-soprano interrupted Kirika's careless answer. All eyes gathered on the new speaker.

"Ren, what did you...?"

"Like I said, it's an experiment. That man told me so. So, he can't stop it mid-way"

In a daze for a short while, Ayano suddenly clapped her hands as if remembering.

"Come to think of it, you met that masked bastard much earlier than us"

"........did you forget?"

Ignoring the amazed Kirika, daring such a retort, Ayano faced Ren.

"So, what's the experiment"

"Eerr, he didn't say more"

"I see"

That's yet again, the same as not knowing anything. All the progress they made was that they had proof the incident was not yet over.

"Well, he didn't seem like a guy who would easily spill the beans - Aah, on that subject"

While complaining she looked at Ren as if finally realizing something. She asked the boy, looking slightly doubtful.

"Kazuma called that man ''Bernhardt'' but what does it mean?"

"Aah, that - "

After a brief contemplation, Ren spoke carefully.

"Vesalius was his alias or something and it seems his real name is Bernhardt Rhodes. He seemed to know Nii-sama - that man didn't clearly confirm it but he didn't deny it also"

"Bernhardt Rhodes you said - "

Ayano exchanged a dark glance with Kirika, using only one word to make sure.

"Him ?"

"No, I'm not sure"

Ren shook his head without wanting to reply.

Bernhardt Rhodes - for those being a part of the magic society, the meaning that name held was exceedingly great.

There is a magic society called <<Almagest>>. Its activity is centered in Western Europe, a powerful organization praised as the highest authority in modern day magic.

Its name is derived from the astronomy work Ptolemaios published, Almagestum. Just like the name suggests it was at first a guild of astrologers.

But by collecting all kind of Jutsu and Jutsushi or the consequence of accepting the unprincipled ones, at present it developed to the point of being called the headquarters of Psychic Research.

The name of their leader was Erwin Leszal. Known as the personal pupil of the great magician Agrippa or as the Comte de Saint Germain, an enigmatic character that even in this circle was covered in insane legends.

More than being the leader for more than three hundred years he wasn't a public person and here were quite few people who didn't believe in his existence.

It was the opinion of most that such a name was some kind of title the leader received for generations, the symbol of becoming the boss.

The management of such a substantial organization was carried out by the so called <<Council>> - the association of high rank Majutsushi.

And the Chairman of those Majutsushi was Bernhardt Rhodes.

To sum it up, Bernhardt was Majutsushi with so much fame no one would complain when calling him the world's best.

That celebrity seemed unlikely to go as far as concealing his face when he is doing criminal activities. But -

''"A coincidence? I don't think so "''

Ayano rejected the convenient explanation floating in her mind.

It can't be a coincidence. He was too good at deception. All that left is -

"I have no doubt"

The answer came from an unexpected direction. Everyone's gaze converged to Kirika.

Without faltering under those looks that felt like a physical pressure, Kirika continued.

"If he has a grudge against Kazuma, even more if he had something to do with that girl called Tsoi Rin, there's no mistake about it. The master of Pandemonium, Vesalius, is Bernhardt Rhodes of <<Almagest>>"

"Wh - wait"

"Well, if you think about it, there are no idiots who would dare impersonate Bernhardt Rhodes"

"True but more than that - "

Striking the table, Ayano interrupted Kirika's talking.

"Do you know that woman, Tsoi Rin?"

"Hhmm, sort of"

At that moment all sort of expression disappeared from Ayano's face.

Grabbing Kirika by the collar so she won't escape, she said in a subdued voice.

"Spill it"

"A - Ayano-chan, calm down?"

"I am calm, spill it", repeated Ayano indifferent.

If she would have screamed there could have been a method to deal with her yet.

"Well, listen, I told you before right? When it comes to Kazuma's privacy, I can't really - "

Ayano was silent. But the force with which she grabbed Kirika didn't dwindle and clearly she didn't agree.

Kirika's eyes requested Juugo's help. The master of the mansion mostly silent so far looked at the two of them with an unreadable expression and spoke solemnly.

"Detective Tachibana"

"Y - yes?"

"Guessing from the conversation so far, it seems that the existence of this Tsoi Rin girl certainly holds a great significance within this incident. Although I praise your conviction of respecting someone's privacy, can't you overlook it and tell us ?"

"Uuu......"

Kirika groaned. No way is the Head of the Kannagi Clan going to ''ask'' her. And then - she stole a glance at Ayano.

Clashing with that straightforward glance that seemed to never blink, she averted her eyes in a hurry.

Even when Juugo was speaking, this glance wasn't disconnected even for a second looking hard this way.

That steady look that said '''If you don't speak I'll take you and eat you''', frankly, had no trace of being alive.

Searching for a ray of hope, she looked at the remaining two.

".............................pfff"

Genma replied to Kirika's eyes, requesting salvation, with a tiny laugh. Come to think of it, it would be impossible for this man who showed he cared for the well-being of Kazuma not to take an interest in his past.

And then, Ren.

".........."

The moment she noticed Kirika's gaze, the boy looked away uncomfortably.

To sum it up, it seemed he found Kirika's distress unfortunate but didn't have the nerve to hold Ayano back.

Adding one thing to another, Ren himself seemed to have a special interest in the girl Tsoi Rin.

" - I give up"

Finally beaten down by the opponent's persistence, Kirika opened her mouth.

It was a helpless situation.

But most of all, the fact that the coercion given off by Ayano was reaching lethal levels made Kirika prepare herself for the worst.

"Just to tell you in advance, this is a hearsay story, I don't know how true it is"

With that introduction, she began speaking.

"It starts four years ago when Kazuma crossed over to Hong Kong running away from Kannagi and met a girl - "

=== Part 3 ===

"...........ma.........zuma............."

What dragged him out from his pleasant slumber was an even more pleasant soprano call and the feeling of warm hands that tenderly shook his body.

He was instantly woken up but he pretended to be asleep, curling up underneath the blanket.

It was for the warmth of the bed he yearned for but much more so for the childish thought ''I want her to look after me more''.

"Geez......wake up.......already!....wake........up..........!"

By the strength of her tone and the energy with which she shook his body she demanded him to get out of the bed. But, he covered himself in the blanket like a bag-worm and continued refusing to get up.

" - Uuuu, five more minutes........."

"Quit it already!"

Getting tired of those sloven words, she finaly took a firm step. She forcefully tore off the blanket and exposed his body, indulging in indolence to the cold morning air.

Now, he made his body even smaller. It was so pitiful it gave the impression of some kind of bug.

"Wake up, Kazuma! I won't feed you!"

Finally accepting it, he - Kannagi Kazuma stretched his curled up body. But, not waking up just yet, he buried his face in the pillow and groaned.

"I'm still sleepy........"

"I don't care. Oversleeping is no excuse for staying up late", she declared point-blank.

"Change your clothes and get down in five minutes. If you don't make it in tine, you don't get to eat"

".....please forgive me"

With a backward glance at Kazuma, getting up sluggishly, she moved energetically and left through the door.

But, opening the door immediately after closing it, she peeked inside the room.

"Aah, I forgot"

" - what?"

Looking at Kazuma who turned around puzzled, she said:

"Good morning, Kazuma"

A full bloom smiling face first thing in the morning. Looking fondly at that radiance, Kazuma responded with a smile.

"Good morning, Tsoi Rin"

This is how Kazuma's mornings always started.

"Well then"

Standing up, he stretched once profoundly.

He didn't have time to waist. Tsoi Rin didn't lie. If he won't rush, he will really miss breakfast.

In addition to that, today he has a hard job to do. The contents of his stomach are a matter of life and death.

He must eat the breakfast made by Tsoi Rin and restore his energy in both mind and body -

"Uuryaa!"

Raising an exaggerated yell, he took off his pajamas. And then pulled out from the wardrobe the clothes for today.

"Hyo, cold - "

With a meaningless expression, at the time he put on his shirt, Kazuma looked at that thing placed above the dresser.

Adorned like an ornament, the cash card bent in two.

"........."

Contrasting with such a lively facial expression, etching a cynical smile on his lips, Kazuma bowed to a broken card.

"Good morning to you, mother. Thank you, today I am healthy also"

Looking at the card, his eyes cast a gloomy light. What they saw was the smiling face of the mother who threw him away -

"Waah, achoo!"

Kazuma let out a miserable shriek when the draft brushed his bare back. Of course, the gloomy, rough atmosphere collapsed immediately.

"Shit, you really don't have time for the serious stuff now. Just eat your breakfast and do your manual labor"

Changing clothes as fast as possible, Kazuma rushed out of the room. For the sake of filling himself with the home cooking of the girl he loved, much more valuable than his worthless past.

It's evening - just like Kazuma declared this morning, he was seriously working hard.

Inside a gloomy warehouse, resounding with gunshots.

"Why !? For Christ's sake !"

With a stupid appearance embracing with one hand a cat that seemed important, Kazuma abused his unreasonable fate that had something against him.

Of course, the situation won't get better just by doing that. Trying to find a chance to somehow run away he peeked from behind the container concealing his body. But -

Just then, continuous shots aimed at him.

"Wahh!"

Drawing back his face in a rush, he left that container like a cockroach. Soothing his violent heart, he took a deep breath, two, three -

"Shit, why is this happening to me !?"

But even so, unable to accept the present situation, he started complaining uselessly.

"When I'm finally free from that abnormal world with Majutsushi, with Youma, with evil spirits, this time is a gun battle !? What the fuck have I done ?"

While complaining, Kazuma took out a knife from his breast pocket. Running up to the container soundlessly he jumped more than ten meters.

Faster than the man who noticed him and pointed his gun this way, he threw his knife.

"Guah !?"

Without changing its aim, the knife ran through the back of the man's right hand. The gun fell down from the hand that lost its power.

"Urya"

With nothing more but the force of the jump, Kazuma landed on his feet on top of the man. Conspicuously, from under his feet the feel of the broken ribs was transmitted.

"Finally, it's settled"

Deciding on a pose on top of the man spitting out blood, Kazuma observed the man's face once more. Holding down with all his strength the cat fretting inside his arm, he said:

"So - who the heck is this guy ?"

"Thank you for your efforts!"

Entering the shop, a man with an evil smile and a voice full of ridicule greeted Kazuma.

Kazuma grimaced, replying with a bitter voice.

"..........As expected, you have sharp ears"

Ahead his line of sigh - inside the shop, one old man was sitting down.

The owner of the Tianshui Temple, an antique store standing side by side with the Kowloon's shopping district, Huang Ying Long.

But very few people knew that this person who apparently seemed like a good natured old man was as a matter of fact known for the most prominent information shop in Hong Kong.

But Kazuma was - unwillingly - one of those people.

To make matters worse, because he needed a job but couldn't show his face here and there his dept was one-sided piling up and he was already unable to act on an equal basis with him.

He explained his lack of honorific language as not knowing the language well enough but for Kazuma it was a minimal and childish opposition.

On the other side, ignoring Kazuma's infantile opposition, Huang continued grinning broadly.

"At any rate, you're very fond of conflict, huh? Why is it that just by trying to catch a run-away pet it results in a shoot-out? Do you yearn becoming a hard-boiled detective like in the novels? "

".........shut up", spat out Kazuma unpleasantly.

"This time it wasn't my fault. I don't know who they confused me with but the other side started shooting all of a sudden. Besides, this is just the third time it turned into a fight. That's not enough to call me a trouble maker - "

"Hey, this is just the second week you work"

At the calm, precise retort Kazuma became silent.

By the way, Kazuma's current occupation is what's commonly referred to as a Jack of all trades. It also resembled pretty well a Japanese private detective.

Of course, he was only learning now but still bragging about the job itself.

- But now, that conceit was smashed into very small pieces.

"Leave"

"Just wait"

Enjoyed from the bottom of his heart, Huang called after Kazuma who had simply turned around and started walking.

"We're past the time for jokes. I'll get straight to the point."

"Keep it short."

"Humph, then I'll finish with one sentence - Don't lose your head, brat"

In that instant, the atmosphere around Huang completely changed.

That cynical face that aged well turned to that of a long military service soldier living through Honk Kong's underground society.

"Wha.......what is going on, suddenly? "

"Is it fun tormenting small-time hoodlums? ", asked Huang coldly of Kazuma who pretended to be tough although he was overpowered.

" Wha - "

"It must be fun. If your opponent is only a human being even you can display your might. But, do you think you can live a long life in this manner? You are not one of those ''<<chosen people>>''after all"

Huang's words were hinting at knowing Kazuma's lineage and his past.

Exposed to the scars of the past he was averting his eyes from as much as possible, Kazuma was enraged.

"I know that! "

" - Really?"

Not hesitating in front of that gaze even mixed with killing intent, Huang asked again, matter-of-fact.

"You think this way, right? ''"Apart from being a Jutsushi, I am a superior person. If it's a battle without Majutsu, I am the strongest"'' or something"

"......tch!"

Accurately having been seen through the thought he entertained again and again, Kazuma sharply caught his breath. As for Huang, reading that response, he made a small snort not showing surprise.

".......what, are you trying to say?"

"I alredy did. It was ''Don't lose your head, brat''. You're not a Jutsushi, you're not a soldier, you are nothing but a brat whose strong point is being good at fighting. Don't you ever try to look cool in front of someone holding a gun. For me it doesn't matter but if you die Tsoi Rin will be sad. "

Kazuma was caving in so much abuse but the moment he heard the last few words, he stood up straight.

His face pouting like a child turned to that of an adult - a man who becomes an adult.

"I know. I will at least protect Tsoi Rin"

"Ha, protect, you say? Fine words when you're the one who is one-sided protected. "

But Huang lightly laughed even at those words full of determination.

"If not for that girl, you would be getting dead-drunk in self pity even now. No, you would have drunk away the money you received from your parents and turned into a beggar, huh?"

"Guuh - "

Having the time when he fell to the very bottom discussed, Kazuma got red in the face.

Even more, Huang thrust his finger at him with a snap.

"Listen brat, I don't have too much expectation from you. You are an ordinary person. No matter how you struggle, you won't become a hero. Throw away the hopes beyond your means, think only how to make Tsoi Rin happy and live with your feet on the ground. "

"..........I understand"

Although he was pouting with dissatisfaction, Kazuma agreed.

It wasn't a very lenient evaluation but it was the truth.

Because he didn't have the attributes of a hero, because he wasn't chosen, for this reason, he was here right now.

"If you understand that's fine. You can go now"

".........yeah"

As if driven away by Huang's cruel wave of hand, drudgingly Kazuma took the road home.

Opening the door, Kazuma was wrapped up in the warm atmosphere and miscellaneous clatter.

Inside the store all seats were already occupied and the festive uproar made by the lively people cured a day's worth of fatigue.

His sweetheart was in the center of it. Both her hands fully loaded with trays of alcohol and cookery, she quickly made her way through the crowd of people as if swimming, waiting on tables.

Presuming the cold wind the arrival of a customer, she turned around.

"Ji wei hu......."

Those words of warm reception were interrupted in the middle. The face that continued smiling changed to something even more cute and shining.

"Welcome home, Kazuma"

"I'm home, Tsoi Rin"

Kazuma also responded with a full face smile to his beloved lover. When he stepped up to her words of banter and whistles down-poured from the surroundings.

But all of them were warm, without any ill will. Everyone was blessing from the bottom of their heart the young pair of lovers.

"You were late, huh?"

"Hmm - Aah, just a little"

Frankly - Because he got caught up in the moment and jumped about too much, he ended up getting sermons so Kazuma was vaguely evasive.

And since he was already deceiving her and her hands were fully occupied Kazuma took the opportunity and embraced Tsoi Rin's body closely.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 055.jpg|thumb|]]

But, she was suddenly snatched from the side.

"Kyaah!? "

Embraced by a drunken person, Tsoi Rin let out a small shriek.

But then, this was an everyday occurrence, one she wouldn't even spill a drop of alcohol over from the glasses placed on the tray.

"Tsoi Rin ～ dump that guy already, I will - "

His declaration not allowed until the end, Kazuma kicked the man's face. Less than a kick he just pushed him with the bottom of his shoe but even so the man fall flat, spouting a nose bleed.

"Hey, don't put your hands on someone's woman!"

Looking down on the senseless man, Kazuma raised his middle finger. But, immediately after, he receive a crushing blow to the back of his head and also feel to the ground.

"Geez, Kazuma! What are you doing to the customer!? "

Skillfully finishing serving the table, Tsoi Rin shouted with the empty trays raised overhead. From the way she held it, the blow wasn't with the back of the tray but with its edge.

"......but it's fine to be violent towards me?"

"It's fine, because it's Kazuma"

A reply without hesitation. At a loss for words, Kazuma and the man he just kicked and fell down looked at each other and exchanged a wry smile.

"Hey, stand up already. It's very busy so help me"

"Well, I just came home from work"

"So what? I'm working all day long. Don't tell me, you plan to drink without a care while looking at me working? "

"I am sorry. I'll help you immediately"

Having no confidence of winning the verbal war, Kazuma surrendered on the spot.

Hecklers flew out from everywhere at that appearance without a shred of dignity sadly facing the kitchen.

"Show her who's the man, Kazuma! "

"How noisy! You don't even have a woman to order you around! "

Both the jeering man and the retorting Kazuma laughed together from the bottom of their hearts.

For Kazuma this place was his second home but the first one who made his heart feel at ease.

That joy he received, he wouldn't exchange it for anything else.

''"Throw away the hopes beyond your means and live with your feet on the ground. "''

He remembered Huang's cool-headed words.

He understood now. Huang too, was concerned about him. If not, why would he cordially come in contact with a Japanese wanderer?

Turning her head over her shoulder, while bending her head slightly to the side marveling, Tsoi Rin smiled at him tenderly.

Even the customers a bit flinty but good people overall, were watching over them with warmth.

''It's fine''

Surrounded by genial smiles, Kazuma was convinced from the bottom of his heart.

I don't need any kind of special power.

It doesn't matter that I wasn't chosen.

Ordinary. Commonplace. But very happy, with his feet on the ground.

''"I can live here"''

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Illustrations|Illustrations]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

User talk:Ayame

2013-10-11T21:45:29Z

Antanaru: /* Kaze no Stigma */

===Kaze no Stigma===

thanks for your hard work ^^ i just saw update at kaze no stigma, and so i decided to drop by, hope you don't mind :)

ah, by the way i've a question, do you think you'll translate more chapter/s? because if you're going to do so, could you put your name at registration page [[Kaze no Stigma:Registration Page|here]]. well, basically it won't become conflict because i think none working on this series other than you...but, it's something like regulation..so i think it's better if you follow it...you just need to put your name beside the chapter you're translating.. ^^ it's to prevent two or more translator working at the same chapter. ^^

nah, that's it. i hope you've a great day --[[User:Tony Yon|Tony Yon]] 12:12, 21 July 2012 (CDT)

Greetings. And I think registering acts like a beacon to draw even more translators and editors lending hands. Like Kino no Tabi, and Indonesian version of Sword Art Online.Hehe...-/-[[User:User753|User753]]-[[User talk:User753|Talk]]- 12:34, 21 July 2012 (CDT)

Thanks for translating Kaze no Stigma Ignition v1 chapters. If I said I know a site where you could get the raws for '''all''' volumes would you be interested in translating them? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 07:55, 22 July 2012 (CDT)

Thank you so much.....
I love you already!!!!!!

im sorry if some messages were disturbing, but that how they show they appreciation. i'm here to let you know that your translation is very much appreciated. we are not asking for a fast update, but please keep it monthly at least--[[User:WhatZupp|WhatZupp]] ([[User talk:WhatZupp|talk]]) 05:37, 21 March 2013 (CDT)

Thank you for your comments, they are much appreciated and I will try my best to translate some more but I can't promise.

Thank you for the translations. A request, instead of translations of some Japanese specific words, can you leave them as it is? Like using onee sama instead of older sister, cause it feels out of place.

I'll replace them. Thanks for reminding me! --[[User:Ayame|Ayame]]

Have you watched [http://myanimelist.net/anime/15315/Mondaiji-tachi_ga_Isekai_kara_Kuru_Sou_Desu_yo| Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?] If not, you definitely should! The main character [http://myanimelist.net/character/69435/Izayoi_Sakamaki| Izayoi Sakamaki] reminds me of Kazuma since both of them are ridiculously strong. Its so sad that there's only 10 anime episodes even thought theres about 6 or 7 volumes of light novels I think. Still, the anime is worth watching! Thanks for the Kaze no Stigma translations aswell :D --[[User Code 06|Code06]]

Thanks for recomending it to me!
I've seen the first episode some time ago and I think I'll wait until there are more episodes but yeah it has a strong protagonist. what I really enjoied this season was Psycho Pass and Shin Sekai.
translation related, this morning my motherboard went to the motherboard heaven and won't ever come back so until I buy a new laptop I won't be able to update. Somehow I don't get the feeling my Nexus 7 is very translation friendly. Sorry to all the KnS readers. --[[User:Ayame|Ayame]]

OK I'm back to business. I want to translate some more!!!

try reading Kill No More <chinese Novel> Strong (maybe OP) MC, same author with 1/2 Prince, currently translated by japtemdotcom. I'm not asking to translate it but want to suggest for you to read it ;D (ignore if its in your reading list).

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw updates on KnS page (although I was quite slow to notice). I'm so glad someone picked this series up again after all this time. Thanks a lot! --[[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 16:45, 11 October 2013 (CDT)

Talk:Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei

2013-10-07T19:29:03Z

Antanaru: /* Anime */

I'd like to take a chance to thank you guys at baka-tsuki for translating all these novels I can't understand japense at all and after reading a number of your translations i've ended up going out and buying them when they are released so i wanted to say thanks for letting us all read the works when they come out, thanks again-soulwave

Just want to say thank you to [[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] for translating so much of Mahouka. Because of him, this has been one of the best experiences I had with baka-tsuki. Keep up the good work, and may you never get bored. ^_^ --[[User:EZ-Jay|Tortex]] ([[User talk:EZ-Jay|talk]]) 18:20, 22 January 2013 (CST)

Best place to post would probably be on the forum topic. I'll link you to it in a min.--[[User:Gohankuten|Gohankuten]] ([[User talk:Gohankuten|talk]]) 20:30, 6 December 2012 (CST) http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=4664

Guys I'm still dependent on my parents and i cant donate or know other language like japanese to translate. But I just wish to say thanks for translating this novel. I have been looking forward for it and check it every other day :D - ChiAji

Hey, so I just read the first two chapters of the anime and I found it awesome. Is there a translator for this right now? - Desodus

Atm there isnt--[[User:J112|J112]] 19:22, 21 January 2012 (CST)

How do you read anime? -[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] 19:27, 21 January 2012 (CST)

Maybe the two chapter of this manga...

Whoops, sorry, I meant to say manga.--[[User:Desodus|Desodus]] 18:43, 13 February 2012 (CST)

Any update on this being updated? From what I've read of the novel and the manga, this seems like a pretty awesome series, and I need moar :D --[[User:Vaane|Vaane]] 18:33, 1 April 2012 (CDT)

Uhh seriously why do people ask? The last update was on the 19th, and from the registration page people are working on other parts. The more you ask the more people don't feel like doing it :( --[[User:Lighthalzen|Lighthalzen]] 21:39, 1 April 2012 (CDT)

The reason I asked was that some of the chapters (namely Chapter 3) have no translator registered, and I was wondering whether there was anyone who was translating and hadn't put their name down. But I can understand the feeling of being annoyed at asking for updates, so forget I asked :P --[[User:Vaane|Vaane]] 10:58, 3 April 2012 (CDT)

Actually, the latest revision was on March 31st (in terms of actually adding translations); Seitsuki added some more to chapter 6, if memory serves. I also hope people will eventually get to translating this. --[[User:CrimsonLord|CrimsonLord]] 17:17, 3 April 2012 (CDT)

When are teaser projects allowed to be moved to the main section? Could really use some more exposure to get more people on board translating. I'm sure the recent manga releases have helped drum up some excitement for the series.

Are the translators doing it by the volumes as they come out on sale, or from online readers? Because the fifth volume just went on sale this month, but on this Japanese reading site, there are 6 volumes online.--[[User:Desodus|Desodus]] 22:04, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

There are 6 volume release online cause the web version is longer than the published one, the published one is the compilation of the web version I just can't remember how they are allocated I think its like this v1-2 of the web version is v1 of the published one, and the total number of web version that will be released is around 12 I think? --[[User:Serice|Serice]]

---

http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4664#p120782

''Originally Posted by Baka-Tsuki''
:'''The web novel consisted of only 6 web chapters written covering the First Year arc, and the author has already planned for a total of 15 web chapters to cover the entire three years of Magic High School. As of August 2011, web chapter 1 has been been compiled into volumes 1 and 2, and as of December 2011, web chapter 2 has been compiled into volumes 3 and 4.''' The author expects the series to be compiled into a total of 20 to 25 volumes (ie. if Dengeki allows him to finish the series) [SOURCE: Author's tweet on 6-Nov-2011, #dengeki_mahouka]
:'''Volume 5 will be a special chapter that has never been released on the web.'''

http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4664&start=135#p143960

http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4110854&postcount=561

--[[User:Larethian|larethian]] 22:53, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

---

Interesting... very interesting... I think it would be a good idea to hurry and complete the teaser chapters and then promote this into an official project. Because of the manga version, people over at Batoto are taking an interest as well. And there are many comments mentioning Baka-Tsuki and wishing it was an official project here. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:40, 26 April 2012 (CDT)

This has enough content to become a project, but the problem is, no one wants to list himself as an active translator, I'll give another few weeks before I check back with suarhnir on her progress. I'm glad enough she agreed to take over the manga from me, so I don't want to give her 'pressure', if possible. --[[User:Larethian|larethian]] 20:13, 26 April 2012 (CDT)

Moreover, this project is really hard and time-consuming to translate. It seems to me that even suarhnir who is majoring in Japanese in university (not studying it as an elective mind you) is taking more time than she had expected. --[[User:Larethian|larethian]] 20:19, 26 April 2012 (CDT)

Query: Does Baka-Tsuki accept Chinese-English translations for this series?

I believe the good folk at lightnovel.cn are much farther in advance in terms of translations, but theirs is (obviously) only in Chinese and their work alone. I do not read Japanese at all, but I am confident in my own Chinese-English translations. Would Baka-Tsuki accept my possible contribution if I converted the Chinese translations into English? This is, of course, under the assumption that the translators from lightnovel.cn give the go ahead. --[[User:Dreyakis|Dreyakis]] 22:59, 02 July 2012

I think that as long as you follow registration procedure for the chapters (to avoid overlapping), you can go ahead. People want to see the translation of this great series. If there is any mistake people that can check japanese raw can edit it after. [[User:Xenocross|Xenocross]] 01:14, 3 July 2012 (CDT)

The art really similar to aquarion evol, are they drawn by the same person?

It would be great if somebody could translate the rest of chapter 2 or at least for the time being offer some kind of summary. Iin this kind of consistent story it is almost imposible to read the rest if you don´t know what happens in the previous chapter.--[[User:KaprJarda|KaprJarda]] ([[User talk:KaprJarda|talk]]) 16:35, 10 September 2012 (CDT)

Yeah. I know the feeling. I wanted to read the whole thing but now that there is a gap in the middle I've lost the desire to read further. Someone finish c2's translation including the japanese text in the middle. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 18:30, 10 September 2012 (CDT)

Let's be patient, the last update was only one week ago, the translator is working on it. Everyone has real life commitments. [[User:Zakashi|Zakashi]] ([[User talk:Zakashi|talk]]) 18:38, 10 September 2012 (CDT)

Yeah, I just notice this too. I thought there wasn´t anybody working to translate it, since it was in this state for months. I didn´t read the history till after writing my comment. So lets hope the rest gets translation as soon as possible.--[[User:KaprJarda|KaprJarda]] ([[User talk:KaprJarda|talk]]) 23:54, 10 September 2012 (CDT)

Ooh, found an interesting AMV/MAD of this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ01QsdHers [[User:Zeru|Zeru]] ([[User talk:Zeru|talk]]) 06:25, 6 September 2013 (CDT)

This illustration here is missing from the chapter http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:MKnR_v01_131.jpg [[User:Arczyx|Arczyx]] ([[User talk:Arczyx|talk]]) 07:28, 26 September 2012 (CDT)

== Volume 1 The late great favorite ==

What is this? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 10:19, 26 September 2012 (CDT)

Additional commentary by Kawahara Reki (SAO/AW author). [[User:Seitsuki|Seit]] ([[User talk:Seitsuki|talk]]) 06:29, 27 September 2012 (CDT)

== Editing ==

I'm just wondering but what are the requirements for being an editor?

There are no requirements. Just edit.(btw you should sign your comments)--[[User:KaprJarda|KaprJarda]] ([[User talk:KaprJarda|talk]]) 05:54, 27 September 2012 (CDT)

Also you have to be a dedicated one. Once you write your name under the editor's list, it is expected that much. --[[User:Chancs|Chancs]] ([[User talk:Chancs|talk]]) 06:08, 27 September 2012 (CDT)

So i'll have to make an account as well? And sign like how you all sign with the name, date and time?

Using this : <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> [[User:Arczyx|Arczyx]] ([[User talk:Arczyx|talk]]) 11:46, 1 October 2012 (CDT)

Simply click on the "pencil" in the edit toolbar and you will have your signature as per the settings. --[[User:Chancs|Chancs]] ([[User talk:Chancs|talk]]) 14:02, 1 October 2012 (CDT)

OK, thanks --[[User:Cliff|Cliff]] ([[User talk:Cliff|talk]]) 15:28, 1 October 2012 (CDT)

Trivial thing but shoud it not be Arc or Part instead of Chapter in ex Volume 1 - Enrollment Chapter (I) --[[User:Medisuena|Medisuena]] ([[User talk:Medisuena|talk]])

== Novel illustrations ==

Umm... is it ok if i level the b&w ilustrations? i mean make the black black, and the white white. it's annoying that everything is grey. also crop them where there is a need. ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 08:18, 9 November 2012 (CST)

Why not give one image a level and give a link to it? I can understand your desire to level things, but I think the gray color suits a light novel. It's a bit too different from manga which has less reliance on shading, so it may not look right if you do it improperly. Then again, I have very limited experience as an editor, and I have no idea what it is you can do, so I guess that may seem a bit condescending of me. Well, if the quality is good, I doubt people would mind it much, but give us a sample so someone doesn't decide they dislike it and re-uploads the picture and gets rid of your hard work -- [[User:EnigmaticAxiom|EnigmaticAxiom]] - [[User_talk:EnigmaticAxiom|Talk]] - 09:40, 09 November 2012 (CST)

it looks like this with the leveling i think it's better but it's up to you ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 12:35, 9 November 2012 (CST)

I personally think it looks better as well. May as well see what the others think of it. If they don't bother, you can post on the forum to get their opinion (since they might not look here), or I can bring their attention to it if you don't have a forum account. -- [[User:EnigmaticAxiom|EnigmaticAxiom]] - [[User_talk:EnigmaticAxiom|Talk]] - 13:20, 09 November 2012 (CST)

Please do bring this to the forum. If needed i can provide more leveled images. Also it's not realy that big of a work. It's like 5 minutes and a volume worth of images are croped and leveled. <Please post a link to the thread here so i can look at what's going on as well> ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 13:56, 9 November 2012 (CST)

forget it i registered and made a post in the general thread. ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 14:51, 9 November 2012 (CST)

well i started uploading them since arczyx in the forum said that they looked closer to the truth, and someone asked me for them to put in the pdf. so volume 1 is up, more coming. these two images have become useless so i'm deleting them. ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 08:48, 16 November 2012 (CST)

i put up vol 3 and 4 leveled, the rest looks OK so i wont fiddle with them ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 10:40, 10 December 2012 (CST)

== Missing Chapter ==

Isn't the "Late Great Favorite" a chapter in volume 1 missing, i mean i get why sometimes Afterwords aren't translated as they are just the authors thoughts but does the chapter missing in volume 1 have some kind of plot implication?

If you checked the forum thread you would find out its just some comments from Kawahara Reki(author of Accel World/Sword Art Online) and doesn't contain anything vital to the story.--[[User:Gohankuten|Gohankuten]] ([[User talk:Gohankuten|talk]]) 20:58, 2 December 2012 (CST)

So which brave soul will be translating chapter 16 come do it for your country

== Helping with translating ==
Hello, I really have not idea if this is the correct place or not but here goes: I would like to help, I do not read the Japanese Language very well but, I would like to try to help with the translating. English is my first language and this is my first time ever on a site like this. I enjoy reading Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei so, I want to help get it out faster for everyone. Dec. 6, 2012 username: sqyde
Thanks and if this is the wrong place to post this, sorry.

Try translating 5 pages first. You can post your translations in the Mahouka forum. --[[User:Larethian|larethian]] ([[User talk:Larethian|talk]]) 03:35, 7 December 2012 (CST)

== Volume 4 ==

Is volume 4 fully translated? I was wondering because aside from the Preamble it also doesn't have a "full text" so i was wondering if some little edits were required or if translators were waiting for Preamble to be done before the full text went up. --Black Swordsman825

It's a wiki you know, you're free to set it up when it's appropriate (I've done volume 4 now). Also, from what I understand the preamble is the blue page and the character info/glossary of term pages you can see in the illustrations, therefore it isn't really that important since it (the events/timetable of events) is explained in detail within the storyline anyways.--[[User:Drowzycow|Drowzycow]] ([[User talk:Drowzycow|talk]]) 19:57, 22 December 2012 (CST)

== Volume 5 ==
Hi guys, as I am currently trying to translate the afterwords, I found out that volume 5 does not seem to have one? Can anyone help me confirm this with the Japanese raws? From all the Chinese sites that I go to there aren't any that have include in an afterword for volume 5. Thanks! [[User:Royaloyalz|Royaloyalz]] ([[User talk:Royaloyalz|talk]]) 10:36, 7 February 2013 (CST)

Well I actually checked the raws myself, and have realised that there is actually an afterword for volume 5 as well. However, as it seems like the Chinese translation sites that I went to do not have them, I can only hope that some Japanese to English translator would be kind enough to help translate it for us. -- [[User:Royaloyalz|Royaloyalz]] ([[User talk:Royaloyalz|talk]]) 18:05, 14 February 2013 (CST)

Can anyone link or send me the raw for volume 5? I want to read the machine translation of the 3 middle chapters. Seeing as how it's all character development, I'd like to know more before moving on with the story. --[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] ([[User talk:Mufarasu|talk]]) 16:19, 25 February 2013 (CST)

Hey guys. I don't know if this was already asked or not, but why are the 3 middle chapters of volume 5 not translated? Just wondering because I like to read thing in order. --[[User:Casary|Casary]] ([[User talk:Casary|talk]]) 22:28, 9 March 2013 (CST)

It completely depends upon if I translator picks up the chapter, as translators are allowed to choose single chapters. Skipping Volume 5 wouldn't affect the story as there "Side Stories" to the main plot :3. Although i would also like them translated.

Oh, I see. They aren't named chapter X or anything. Ok, thanks. A bit of OCD, I guess. --[[User:Casary|Casary]] ([[User talk:Casary|talk]]) 00:35, 12 March 2013 (CDT)

== Inconsistent terminology ==

Some chapters use "Public Moral Committee", others "Public Morals Committee" (I prefer the latter). Also "Club Management Group" vs "Club Activities Group".

i think "Public Morals Committee" and "Club Management Group" souds better. Also please do sign your post with <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 14:13, 1 February 2013 (CST)

== Volume 7 ==

As I stated at the discussion page of chapter 9, I think "electrons" should be "protons" (check the concept of nuclear fusion).--[[User:Kemm|Kemm]] ([[User talk:Kemm|talk]]) 14:38, 14 February 2013 (CST)

I just had to say this, was anyone else thinking that Tatsuya made a Gundam when they kept mentioning the mobile suit he developed? That picture with the tank didn't help either. I just kept seeing everything turn into a mecha battle lol. Anyone else or am I the only one who got brainwashed like that by the Gundam franchise? --[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] ([[User talk:Mufarasu|talk]]) 15:10, 11 March 2013 (CDT)

well i was also thinking the same thing at that mobile suit that he developed, but it turns out that it was something like a fullbody armor with all kinds of resistance something. while reading the last few chapters of volume 7 it feels like something like this. IS(Infinite Stratos) vs Gundams in my imagination. [[User:James Gobilzkame|V33]] 15:21, 11 March 2013 (CDT)

arent the pictures from page 225 and 313 showing what the mobile suit look like? --[[User:Syfer|Syfer]] ([[User talk:Syfer|talk]]) 15:31, 11 March 2013 (CDT)

I would think the cover page would have shown you what to expect, as it is already there in full (black) color. If anything it just looks like a all black pilot suit...
In any case, the 'mobile' or 'mobility' suit is basically your flying armor, except since its technomagical its more logical having the 'flight capacity' CAD module as the whole suit, instead of wings or a broomstick. It does show something more practical compared to what more contemporary fiction shows.
And yes, I was also hoping for mecha to appear since the cover had a pilot suit... laughed when the pilot suit Was the whole thing.--[[User:Gabgrave|Gabgrave]] ([[User talk:Gabgrave|talk]]) 04:41, 12 March 2013 (CDT)

== Thank you ==

I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks to all of those who's work brings us this project. So thank you.

I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks to all of those who's work brings us this project. So thank you. --[[User:Mathes|Mathes]] ([[User talk:Mathes|talk]]) 02:37, 25 March 2013 (CDT)

I tried reading auto-translated Chinese translations, one already translated here for testing and it's even worse than I expected. Seriously, thank you for taking the time to do this, I love this novel and my only regret is not being able to help with the translation myself. --[[User:EZ-Jay|Tortex]] ([[User talk:EZ-Jay|talk]]) 16:40, 18 April 2013 (CDT)

== Latest Update List ==

I just want to ask permission to edit the last entry on the latest update list (or you guys could edit it for me, that would be really great), just a minor one 'Vokume 8' to 'Volume 8'. Thanks a lot. - [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 5:47, 30 May 2013 (CDT)
:Hmm.. I don't need to keep up with CDT time do I? Not that hard, but I am proud living down under. - [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 20:50 30 May 2013 (EAST)
::Done (I accept any responsibility if I've crossed any lines); from my experience so far, no one seems to mind if 99.9% certainty spelling/grammar careless errors are discreetly corrected, even if the corrector is not formally registered for a project. (As a general mode of operation, I mark the edit as a minor edit and leave a brief description of the change(/its reasoning) in the summary. For more ambiguous things, if I note something in Discussion and enough time passes without a reply or a change, I change it just in case (and keep watch to see if someone has a reason to change it back).) -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 06:12, 30 May 2013 (CDT)
::|
::Edit: By the way, how did you change your signature? *curiosity* I have my time zone set to 'Asia/Tokyo', and I see 'Recent changes' and History pages with times consistent with that, but my signature is still CDT. I don't mind leaving it like that, since it presumably helps others compare my writing times to others' with litle confusion (and since I can check the History if I forget), but I don't see a way to change it in 'My preferences' and would like to learn about such a way if it exists (out of a desire to know those things I as yet do not). -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 06:18, 30 May 2013 (CDT)

::I am but an unregistered user here at BT, so unfortunately I don't have any signatures or anything of that sort. So yeah I really can't talk about it. But if you are talking about the time thing on the last part, is it safe to assume that it's all been preset? Cause I do it manually just for the formalities.

::Hmm... I do see some grammatical errors every now and then, but my thinking is that the translator probably made it that way willingly. Glad to be of help though. - [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 21:38 30 May 2013 (EAST)
:::Ahh. Manual writing out? Though it won't include your chosen name, four consecutive tildes should still automatically make a signature which makes it easier to match what you say with an entry in a Discussion's History. (One option would be to first write your chosen name manually, then leave the formal signature to the tildes.)
:::|
:::There are cases where characters have distinct/characteristic speaking styles, but there are also glaring cases where normal fallibility is far more plausible than intention (as with spelling errors). To be on the safe side, best to change only things that one can feel nearly certain about (and that no one has objected to in the past). -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 17:22, 30 May 2013 (CDT)

:::I didn't know you can do that with tildes.. Thanks for the info. I was just copying whatever I could here at the discussion page since I am not really a user, so do expect me to make a few beginner-like commands.
:::On a side note, does the tildes only match the CDT time zone? I'm quite intrigued. SkyZenith 20:19, 1 June 2013 (EAST)
::::So it seems! (The CDT-matching.) That's why I in turn was intrigued when it looked as though you had a way to make them give a non-CDT time zone. Rather than taking my word for it, I suggest you try the four tildes at least once to confirm to yourself(/your brain) that it functions (and if something goes wrong, to find out why and correct the source). (Essentially, it should be ~ ~ ~ ~ without the three spaces.) -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 01:19, 2 June 2013 (CDT)

::::Incidentally, this is what it looks like when not logged in. (Posting now with a hyphen and four tildes after having logged out.) -[[Special:Contributions/180.43.16.157|180.43.16.157]] 01:21, 2 June 2013 (CDT)

::::...We probably have gone off-topic now huh. Sorry for that. Yeah since I plan to visit BT every now and then in the first place, I just made an account. Hope to be of help! - [[User:SkyZenith|SkyZenith]] ([[User talk:SkyZenith|talk]]) 08:59, 2 June 2013 (CDT)
::::This actually looks cool, but alas it's in CDT.

I added some missing materials in Mahouka, that's all for now. Pui Pui have to wait (some more)--[[User:Superduperelectromagnetictops|Superduperelectro]] ([[User talk:Superduperelectromagnetictops|talk]]) 00:31, 17 June 2013 (CDT)

== Dengeki Bunko Magazine: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Ninendo ==

I have a question
is the "Dengeki Bunko Magazine: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Ninendo" that you uploaded it's Magazine Illustrations - is the double seven arc? and when it will be release in a light novel version- what will be it's arc number or it's volumes numbers ?

:It's the double 7 arc, so starts covering the events in the Tatsuya's second year. From memory, those chapters should start after this arc is complete; I think it'll end up being started as volume 13. Maybe 12 depending on how volume 11 goes.. --[[User:Drowzycow|Drowzycow]] ([[User talk:Drowzycow|talk]]) 08:37, 26 June 2013 (CDT)

== DVD Drama ==
Hey, did you know mahouka no Rettousei audio dvd drama comes with a special story (at leas, it seems to me a "story") If you are interested in raws, just tell me [[User:TerryBoom|TerryBoom]] ([[User talk:TerryBoom|talk]])

== Anime ==
IT HAS BEGUN, IT HAS BLOODY BEGUN. *SQUEELL!* http://mahouka.jp
:Nothing to be happy about. They will probably make another failed adaptation like SAO. Just look at previous works of the director or what Madhouse did to Kaminai. The worst thing is that we can expect americans buying licence for novels after the anime, and B-T dropping the project. Another title I'll never come to finish.--[[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 14:29, 7 October 2013 (CDT)

User talk:Antanaru

2013-10-07T19:24:55Z

Antanaru:

http://www.taptaptaptaptap.net/ is still translating volume 13. so "Keep calm and read on"
 
:Thank you nameless visitor. I hope someone will keep translating till the end of the novels. [[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru#top|talk]]) 14:24, 7 October 2013 (CDT)

Talk:Sword Art Online

2013-09-11T13:01:32Z

Antanaru: /* Licensing */

==Picture Translation==
====Volume 1====
They are the ones at the beginning of the first book. Here are the links:

<gallery>
Image:Sword_Art_Online_Vol_01_-_002-003.jpg|Kirito: "''Strange, Asuna. Why are you showing your face in a place like this?''." ''A [Solo Player] swordsman aiming to reach Aincrad's topmost level.'' Egil: "''Our shop's motto is to buy cheap and sell cheap''." ''A merchant stationed at city [Algate], located at Level 50 of Aincrad.'' Asuna: "''Kirito-kun...''" ''Of an acquired alias of "The Flash", the sub-leader of the guild "Blood Knights"''
Image:Sword_Art_Online_Vol_01_-_004.jpg|Kirito: "''Better than you can, most likely''." Cradil: "...''I'm going to kill you... I'll definitely kill you.... Do you think a pathetic player like you can protect Asuna-sama!!''" ''A member of the "Blood Knights", serving as Asuna's escort.''
Image:Sword_Art_Online_Vol_01_-_005.jpg|Heathcliff: "''Fight with me, if you win, Asuna can go with you but if you lose, then you will have to join the Knights of Blood''." ''A cross-shield user, the leader of the "Blood Knights" and their strongest.''
Image:Sword_Art_Online_Vol_01_-_006-007.jpg|Asuna: "''D, don't...look over here...''"
Image:Sword_Art_Online_Vol_01_-_008.jpg|Gargantuan Game Castle "Aincrad" An iron-and-stone made castle consisting of 100 floors. Inside it are numerous cities, small towns and villages, forests, grasslands, and lakes. One stairway connects each floor to the previous and succeeding floor, and all of them are in dangerous labyrinth zones where monsters wander about. Players in this world rely on one weapon as they run past them, find the way to the upper floors, and take down strong guardian monsters, single-mindedly aiming for the top of the castle. Aside from battling with monsters, there are many scopes of play from manufacturing like smithing, leathercraft and sewing, to hunting and cuisine, to music. This is not merely adventuring in a vast field, [Life] is literally possible here. "Aincrad" is the world set as the stage for "Sword Art Online", declared as the world's first in the VRMMO game genre.
</gallery>

Thanks!!

----

I'll use Sharramon's translations for these... Well, for the most part. Lines may be wrong as well. They're just quotes from the story and descriptions anyway. 

----

Could you translate those sometime too please? --[[User:Darklor|Darklor]] 23:16, 7. Feb. 2010 (UTC)=
:We should probably put the illustration translations in the discussion pages of the novel images, and perhaps just put a link here to them as a reminder.
::That was the idea. Or to be precise I would add the translations to the image pages in the image discription. And for those, where it work in the illustration pages, too. I did add they here only to show which images I meant --[[User:Darklor|Darklor]] 07:24, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

For Vol2 Img7, do I see....a love interest? XDDD On a more on-topic note, I think I put the translation for that page in the right section (the discussion tab right?), care to check?

-Kenena
====Volume 2====
<gallery>
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 02 - 002-003.jpg|Kirito:"...I'm sorry. I couldn't save your friend..." A [Solo Player] swordsman aiming to reach Aincrad's topmost level. Shrika: "...No... Thank you...for coming to help..." A [beast tamer] girl possessing the familiar monster [Feather Ridora].
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 02 - 004-005.jpg|Lizabeth:"Err, the dragon's attack pattern is a left right claw, and a water blast and a sudden gust attack! Be careful, okay?" A girl running the blacksmith shop at Aincrad's 48th floor main district, [Lindaas Street]. Kirito: "Idiot!! Don't come out yet!!"
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 02 - 006.jpg|Yui: "Wah~ Papa, carry me~!" A mysterious girl found collapsed in Aincrad's 22nd floor's forest.
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 02 - 007.jpg|Sachi: ''Hey, Kirito. Let's go run away somewhere.'' A member in the guild «Black Cats of the Full Moon» in Aincrad.
</gallery>

====Volume 3====
<gallery>
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 03 - 002-003.jpg|Asuna: "Quickly...quickly come and save me, Kirito-kun..." A captured girl inside the high specification VRMMO [ALfheim Online].
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 03 - 004-005.jpg|Lyfa: "Come, hurry! On to Yggdrasil!" A girl Kirito met in «ALO». The race of her fairy avatar is «Sylph». Yui:"Papa is carefree as usual." A young girl AI who adores Kirito as her papa. Supports Kirito as a «Navigation Pixie» in «ALO». Kirito:"Oh...how exciting. At this rate I want to fly all the way." The strongest «Solo Player» in «SAO». Turns to a «Spriggan» swordsman in «ALO».
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 03 - 006.jpg|Kirigaya Suguha: "...I'm so stupidstupidstupid!" Kirito's (Kirigaya Kazuto's) younger sister. She's a third-year in junior high school and is a part of the Kendo club.
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 03 - 007.jpg|Eugene: "If you can withstand my attacks for 30 seconds, I'll trust you as an ambassador." The strongest knight among all fairy avatars. His race is «Salamander». Possesses the legendary weapon «Magic Sword Gram». Kirito: You're so generous, aren't you.
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 03 - 008.jpg|Yggdrasil. The destination of all players who log in to «ALfheim Online». The tribe who reaches the legendary floating city above <Yggdrasil> and has an audience with the <Fairy King Oberon>, who lives there, is able to be reborn as a high-class race, the <Alf>. By being reborn into true fairies, the <Alf>, the hover limit imposed on the system is eliminated and unlimited flight is possible. And along with it, they are capable to become the rulers of this infinite sky. It's possible to enter this floating city through a dome at the root of <Yggdrasil>. However, guardian knights who boast of overwhelming strength guard the entrance. One year has passed since the opening of «ALO», and that quest has yet to be cleared.
</gallery>

Quick comment on your translation for ALO. While I haven't seen any official English translation for its name, the Japanese Wikipedia calls it Alfheim Online. Personally, I agree with it since it follows the Mythology theme, with Álfar meaning elves in Norse Mythology, making Alfheim mean Elves' (Alf) Home (Heim). The reason I think it follows the Mythology theme is that I believe Yggdrasil makes an appearance (I couldn't find where I read this, and I have bad memory at best, so possibly wrong), Kirito's class becomes a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spriggan Spriggan], Lyfa (or whatever it ends up being) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylph Sylph], and Yui is a Navigation Pixie. Hope this helps. ~EnigmaticRepose

:In the Japanese raws of volume 3 (page 61), the name is written in English: "ALfheim Online"

:[[User:Vaelis|Vaelis]] 11:13, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

::<nowiki>*changes my translation from whatever it was before to spriggan on the img 4~5 discussion page*</nowiki> -Kenena


I wouldn't have known that I haven't read much and I know nothing about the Mythology theme, anyway Vaelis has indicted its proper English name. Mind putting the link of the jap wiki here? - --[[User:KuroiHikari|KuroiHikari]] 12:11, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

:Japanese wiki: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88%E3%83%BB%E3%82%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3

:[[User:Vaelis|Vaelis]] 13:01, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

:::With the last pic vol 3 pics are done. So can someone please translate the pics below so that I can photoshop the pics? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 04:13, 20 January 2012 (CST)

==== Volume 4 ====

<gallery>
Image:Sword Art Online 4 - 002-3.jpg|「G'morning Sugu. You seem awfully sleepy. What in the world were you doing last night?」 Kirigaya Kazuto: The Black swordsman that led the game clear of the nightmare game <SAO>. Other name "Kirito". 「Morning, brother.U--mm......[Oh,] on the internet.....」. Kirigaya Suguha: Kazuto = Kirito's sister, in her third year of junior high, as well as a member of the Kendo club.
Image:Sword Art Online 4 - 004-5.jpg|「Ki, Kirito-kun!! Wa, Wait......alone, it's impossible!」 Lyfa: The young girl Kirito met in «ALO». The race of her fairy avatar is a «Sylph». 「That might be true...... But, I, have to get there.....!!」 Kirito: The strongest «Solo Player» in «SAO». Becomes a Spriggan swordsman in «ALO».
Image:Sword Art Online 4 - 006.jpg|「"I'm here...! Yui-chan, Kirito-kun!"」 Asuna - A captive girl in a high specification VRMMO, ALfheim Online. 「"--But Kirigaya-kun, no, perhaps it is better to call you Kirito-kun. To think that you would come all the way here. I cannot decide whether you are brave or stupid".」 Oberon, the fairy king - Sugou Nobuyuki in the real world. Ploting on using the trust from the father of Asuna, aka Yuuki Asuna, to force against Asuna's will for a marriage of convenience.
Image:Sword Art Online 4 - 007.jpg|「......You're......Onii-chan......?」 「Eh......? ----Sugu......Suguha......?」
Image:Sword Art Online 4 - 008.jpg|Is already edited by BeginnerXP
</gallery>

Please translate these too ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 04:21, 7 January 2012 (CST)

:I'll start doing the remaining three now. One per day. I've already done the two-page spread. BTW I used the font '''Anime Ace 2.0''' which is the default for Manga. Plus I intend to continue doing so. If anyone wants this font then all they have to do is google '''Anime Ace font'''. I got it for free that way. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 10:25, 20 April 2012 (CDT)

:Done. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:33, 1 May 2012 (CDT)

==== Volume 5 ====
<gallery>
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 05 -002-3.jpg|
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 05 -004-5.jpg|
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 05 -006.jpg|
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 05 -007.jpg|
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 05 -008.jpeg|
</gallery>

I'd like to request a re-translation of the fourth pic above. I think there is some problem in the description of Death Pistol. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 02:11, 19 August 2012 (CDT)

:I've corrected the dialogue by matching it to the chapter translation. But it wouldn't hurt to recheck that too. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 02:13, 19 August 2012 (CDT)

:Please check the name too. Isn't it supposed to be Death Gun not Death Pistol? I think the previous translator got it mixed up. The raw can be found in the file history. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 02:20, 19 August 2012 (CDT)

:I've finished cleaning. Waiting for someone to correct. (It'd be a shame if it keeps sitting on my hard drive, cleaned but not translated.) [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 03:02, 19 August 2012 (CDT)

"An unknown virtual image in <<GGO>> battles." => "A mysterious avatar who PKs (kills other players) in <<GGO>>." And yes, the name is Death Gun, not Death Pistol. The rest is correct. [[User:Dammitt|Dammitt]] ([[User talk:Dammitt|talk]]) 03:26, 19 August 2012 (CDT)

:It should be Death Gun in the character description, but in dialog, he said Shijuu then repeated it with English meaning - 'Death Gun', so either remove Shijuu or translate it using synonym word like Pistol of Death or something. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] ([[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]]) 04:23, 19 August 2012 (CDT)

::The translation version is Death Gun and Death Pistol. So I'll stick with that. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 04:51, 19 August 2012 (CDT)

::Done. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 05:22, 19 August 2012 (CDT)

The info page for the PGM Hécate II may need to be re-done. I see some potentially wacky wording, and some improper terminology. For example the original text clearly says "anti-materiel rifle", and "anti-materiel" is an actual term. I'll submit a draft within a few days.--[[User:HashiriyaR32|HashiriyaR32]] ([[User talk:HashiriyaR32|talk]]) 21:27, 17 October 2012 (CDT)

==== Volume 6 ====

<gallery>
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 06 -002-003.jpg|「I......don't want to believe it. There can't be a VRMMO player who doesn't PK but truly kills.」 Sinon : A female player in the MMO of guns and steel «Gun Gale Online». A sniper wielding the large rifle «Hecate II» 「I am going to fight him...... the «Death Gun». I can't let him shoot anyone with that gun any further.」 Kirito: A boy who, in order to come in contact with the «Death Gun», entered «GGO». The only «Sword» user within the MMO of guns and steel.
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 06 -004-005.jpg|「Even if it is Kirito, he wouldn't go that far. ......well, I don't think he would.」 Asuna: Kirito's lover. An Undine sorceress in «ALO» 「Ahaha, well that could be true too. Plus, with a sword instead of a gun, in a shooting game.」 Lizbeth : The girl who created Kirito's sword in «SAO». In «ALO», a Leprechaun blacksmith. 「Really......it's a surprise isn't it. Since it's about Kirito-san, I expected him to go guns-ablaze from the start or something.」 Scilica: A girl saved by Kirito in «SAO» Within «ALO», she takes the form of a Cait Sith, capable of Taming. 「Brother isn't shown on the screen much--」 Lyfa: Kirito's sister, Suguha. In «ALO», she acts as a Sylph magical warrior.
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 06 -006.jpg|Sinon: 「Whenever it is, always check six.」
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 06 -007.jpg|(Kirito) 「--------!!」 (Death Gun) 「You can't do anything. You will be defeated here by me, on the ground helplessly while I kill that girl, being able to only watch.」
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 06 -008.jpeg|Translated and edited by BeginnerXP
</gallery>

Please translate these too ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 04:21, 7 January 2012 (CST)

:Only one left. Can somebody translate the last one so I can photoshop it? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:33, 1 May 2012 (CDT)

:Done. I still have the PSD files so if you want any changes just let me know. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 09:46, 3 May 2012 (CDT)

==== Volume 7 ====

<gallery>
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 07 -002-003.jpg|'''(top)''' "......uah..." Kirito: A player called the «Black Swordsman» by other players trapped in the death game «SAO». Real name is Kirigaya Kazuto. Chooses a Spriggan avatar in «ALO». '''(following is from right to left)''' "I think the reason why Scilica-chan is sleepy, is due to that." Lyfa: Kirito's sister, Suguha. In «ALO», she acts as a Sylph magical warrior. "...Ah, I see..." Asuna: Kirito's lover. An Undine sorceress in «ALO» "U... Uu... I'm sleepy." Scilica: A girl saved by Kirito in «SAO» Within «ALO», she takes the form of a Cait Sith, capable of Taming. "I wonder why looking at that causes sleepiness... Maybe it's the illusion-type magic that Spriggan are good at or something?" Lizbeth : The girl who created Kirito's sword in «SAO». In «ALO», a Leprechaun blacksmith.
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 07 -004.jpg|"It's alright, as long as he matches you, anyone who is outstanding is fine. However I'm saying this in advance, that kind of kid -- students from that type of facility are not included." Yuuki Kyouko - Asuna's mother. A university lecturer who's very strict about her daughter's education. Tries to get Asuna, who attends the same school as Kirito, to change schools. "... Could it be... You investigated? About him..." Asuna - The daughter of Yuuki Shouzou, CEO of RECTO, a large electronics company. In the past she was trapped in the VRMMO 《SAO》 that her brother Kouichirou bought. 
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 07 -005.jpg|(from right to left) Nochi - Male Gnome " ... How about it? Our, Sleeping Knights, request, won't you do it?" Shiune - Member of the «Sleeping Knights» guild lead by «Absolute Sword»(Zekken). Female Undine. Taruken - Leprechaun youth Jun - Salamander youth Nori - Spriggan girl
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 07 -006-007.jpg|(left) "We're almost there! Keep going, Asuna!" Yuuki: A mysterious girl who came to be known as the «Absolute Sword» after her incredibly powerful and fast sword style. Invites Asuna to join her party after a duel. (right) "Somehow... Did you really, need me at all? I don't feel like there's anywhere where I could help you all out with..."
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 07 -008.jpg|OSS Its formal name is 《Original Sword Skills》. An improved version of the 《Sword Skills》 system of the now defunct Sword Art Online, implemented in 《Alfheim Online》. Each weapon has its own 《Skill Tree》. Brought forth drastic change to 《ALO》 which was previously dominated by long-range 《Magic》. Different from the 《Sword Skills》 in 《SAO》, OSS are not skills predefined by the system but rather skills that can be invented and registered by the player. However, in order to register such skills, players are required to perform them "without system support at a speed normally impossible without system assist". This somewhat contradictory strict requirement is the main reason why there's only few players who posses OSS. The OSS system supports a function known as 《Sword Skill Inheritance》. Players who successfully register an OSS are able to pass down a single-use 《Skill Manual》 to other players. Because the development of an OSS is extremely difficult, 《Skill Manuals》 for OSS, especially those that contain over-5-hits special moves, are currently the most expensive items in ALO. 
</gallery>

Please translate these too ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 04:21, 7 January 2012 (CST)

:I'd like to scanlate them all '''after''' their text has been translated. So can someone please add the translated text? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 08:45, 1 June 2012 (CDT)

:I'm doing the first one, currently. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 11:07, 1 June 2012 (CDT)

:Done first one. Can someone provide me with the translations for the rest? Then I can photoshop it into them them too. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:02, 7 June 2012 (CDT)

::Done these too :D --[[User:HolyCow|HolyCow]] 08:09, 23 July 2012 (CDT)

I'll get to work on these. It'll take some time though. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 08:45, 23 July 2012 (CDT)

:Second one done. Will do the rest soon. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:43, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

:Third done. Working on fourth now (Progress: 60%). If possible, I will upload it today as well. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 07:08, 30 July 2012 (CDT)

:There. Now there is only the toughest one left in this volume. Re-building the whole cloud thing will be time-consuming and difficult. Wish I had Photoshop CS5 or above. It would have been easier with CS5's Content Aware Healing Brush. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 08:32, 30 July 2012 (CDT)

Nochi? It should be Tecchi or Thatch right? [[User:Arczyx|Arczyx]] - [[User_talk:Arczyx|Talk]] 05:40, 31 July 2012 (CDT)

:Yes. No idea how the translator got nochi --[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] - [[User_talk:Pryun|Talk]] 06:14, 31 July 2012 (CDT)

::Then you should have told me that! This is why ''grumble grumble''. Just kidding! :P Thanks for telling. Could you also go over the others and double-check them as well, Pryun. Vol 8 (below) as well. I'll temporarily halt work on them. So tell me when you've completed the double check. The faster you do it the faster I finish them. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 06:28, 31 July 2012 (CDT)

:::I'm gonna start up again. Since there have been no responses I must assume there are no more errors. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 04:36, 3 August 2012 (CDT)

:::"In the end... there can be only One" Hahahaha. Sorry couldn't resist mentioning [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander_%28franchise%29 The Highlander]. Old but gold. Anyways, only one pic left. And the toughest one to boot! [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 00:57, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

:::You guys said Nochi was wrong? You need to '''clearly''' tell me the mistake and it's '''proper''' correction before I can fix it. So which one is it? Tecchi or Thatch? Vol 7 chapters have both, one in the earlier chapters and the other in later ones. So which one is it? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:50, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

::::Nah, ask the translators themselves for that. Literally, it is read as Tecchi, which is the one Aiko used. Meanwhile Teh Ping interpreted it as Thatch in english. I don't have any experience translating JP->EN so I don't know for sure. I'm sure it's not Nochi though. [[User:Arczyx|Arczyx]] - [[User_talk:Arczyx|Talk]] 21:57, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

Then I'll have to wait until they decide which one is correct. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 23:23, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

:Stick with Tecchi, those 3 Thatch in volume 7 slipped pass the term check, which was my duty back then. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 01:59, 7 August 2012 (CDT)

::Understood. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 08:44, 7 August 2012 (CDT)

:One...last...page.... [[User:Castor212|Castor212]] ([[User talk:Castor212|talk]]) 04:52, 11 August 2012 (CDT)

::I need someone to check the last pic. I think there might be a few small things missing. Or absense of «» somewhere. Please check. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 23:54, 13 August 2012 (CDT)

::Alright the final pic is ready to roll. I just need confirmation that the translation is all good. So please? BeginnerXP? Pryun? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 01:05, 14 August 2012 (CDT)

:::It looks fine to me, I wouldn't be able to translate this image anyway, as the quality is so low many kanji aren't even readable (at least to me). -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] ([[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]]) 01:19, 14 August 2012 (CDT)

::::Click on the pic to go to the image page. Click on the pic there to go to an image only page. And then zoom in. I hope your browser has that capability. Zoom in to actual size. It's big enough to read. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 01:35, 14 August 2012 (CDT)

::::Well, some of the kanji are smudged even when zoomed. In that case, The first line: '''Original Sword Skills'''; is it encapsulated with «»? I think it is but I need you to make sure. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 01:54, 14 August 2012 (CDT)

::::Oh I see [[User:Dammitt|Dammitt]] made a few adjustments. I guess they're alright with BeginnerXP since he posted after him. I'll make the changes. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 01:57, 14 August 2012 (CDT)

::::Done. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 03:25, 14 August 2012 (CDT)

==== Volume 8 ====

<gallery>
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 08 - 002-003.jpg|Kirito:「......で,团長どのは,何か閃いたことはあるい?」 Romaji = (......De, danchou-dono wa, nanika hirameita koto wa aru I?) Translation = "......So, Guild Leader, do you have any clues?" Kirito - A player trying to save everyone in the VRMMO Death game «SAO» nicknamed the «Black Swordsman». A «Solo Player» who possesses the unique «Dual Blades» skill. Asuna:「......なんなの,この料理?ラーメン?」 Romaji = (......Nan'na no, kono ryōri? Rāmen? Translation = "...... What is this dish? Ramen?" Asuna - Sub-Leader of the «Knights of Blood» Guild. A rapier master nicknamed the «Flash». Healthcliff:「では`この偽ラーメンの味のぶんだけ答えよう」 Romaji = (Dewa `kono nise rāmen no aji no bun dake kotaeyou) Translation = "Then, I'll give you an answer of equal value to this bowl of fake ramen." Healthcliff - Guild Leader of the strongest guild «Knights of Blood». Possesses the unique skill «Holy Sword», known for his overwhelming power. Does not get along very well with Kirito. 
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 08 - 004-005.jpg|Text on top right corner: 「Alright, all the weapons have been fully repaired!!」「Great job!」「Thanks for coming everyone after my sudden notice. I'll be sure to repay everyone, moral-wise! Let's work hard and achieve our goal of obtaining the «Holy Sword Excalibur»!」「Yeah!」 Asuna - Kirito's girlfriend. In «ALO», she plays an Undine spellcaster. Lyfa - Kirito's cousin, real name Suguha. In «ALO», she lives as a free-spirited Slyph Magic Swordswoman. Cline - Kirito's unasked yet inevitable acquaintance. In «ALO» he is a Salamander Swordsman. Yui - A female-type AI Kirito encountered in SAO. In «ALO» she materializes as a navigation pixie, assisting the party Lizbeth - A girl who forged Kirito's sword in SAO. In «ALO», she runs a weapons shop as a Leprechaun. Scilica - A girl whom Kirito helped in SAO. In «ALO» she appears as a Beast Tamer Cait Sith. Sinon - A girl whom Kirito helped in GGO. In «ALO» she plays a Cait Sith Archer. 
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 08 - 006-007.jpg|「—Let's go. I'll draw the «one with the seed»'s attention, please finish off the «one with the flower» quick.」 Coper - The first person Kirito met after playing SAO. 「...... Understood!」 Kirito - A young boy dragged into the "Death Game" SAO. Also a β tester.
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 08 - 008.jpg|Already translated in the image
</gallery>

Please translate these too ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 04:21, 7 January 2012 (CST)

:If you guys would add the translations here I can photoshop the text into the pics. So please. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 22:20, 19 January 2012 (CST)

::You guys realize that all those color pics are in the book like the black and white pics? Well except for some of the explanation ones. If you are bored, go and find where they belong. By the way, some of the pics are translated at the pic location. [[User:Xplorer30|Xplorer30]] - [[User_talk:Xplorer30|Talk]] 04:21, 23 January 2012 (CST)

Added translation for the first pics, I cannot make out what healthcliff is saying, I am not a translator nor proficient in japanese. --[[User:Kyo171|Kyo171]] 12:48, 26 April 2012 (CDT)

:Got the translation for what healthcliff is saying from reading the chinese translated version, it might not make sense juz by looking at the pic coz it refers to the story. --[[User:Kyo171|Kyo171]] 01:05, 4 May 2012 (CDT)

::Double translation can be problematic. Unlike chapter translation, picture editing takes more effort. To the point where editing is more work than translating. I'd like someone to double check. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 01:47, 4 May 2012 (CDT)

::I corrected the Romaji. Cross-checked with Google translate's phonetic typing function. It's translation capabilities might suck but the phonetic speech and typing functions are the real deal. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 01:54, 4 May 2012 (CDT)

:::oh, what I meant was I got what healthcliff was saying in japanese but since it did not make sense juz solely based only from the context of the picture I did not put it in. So I was reading the chinese translated version of vol 8, and I got to this particular scene of the story so I could translate it more effectively.It should be correct but I could be wrong. --[[User:Kyo171|Kyo171]] 02:20, 4 May 2012 (CDT)

::::I'd like to scanlate them all '''after''' their text has been translated. So can someone please add the translated text? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 08:46, 1 June 2012 (CDT)

Translated the remaining images. --[[User:HolyCow|HolyCow]] 07:00, 23 July 2012 (CDT)

:I'll get to work on these as well. It'll take some time though. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 08:45, 23 July 2012 (CDT)

:Okay these are complete. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 00:53, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

::"Lyfa - Kirito's cousin, real name Suguha." The raw says, Lyfa - Kirito's '''little sister''', real name Suguha.

:::I'll fix it. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:44, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

:::There. I chose to make it '''"little sister" (cousin)''' Since imouto, in these circumstances, can be used to refer to both. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:46, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

::::Imouto has only single meaning, and it's little sister, if cousin, it's itoko, both are not interchangeable. Yes, I do know she really is his cousin, but what written in the image is what we should stick to. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 14:54, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

The circumstances are different, he's adopted into the family thus it's okay. I'm aware the normal is Itoko. Besides, I put cousin in brackets so it's fine, no? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:58, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

:It's fine if your goal is to describe her using your own words, but it's not fine if your goal is to put the correct translation of the given Japanese text in the image. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 15:03, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

::Ah I was interrupted before I could write the following. Still... if you '''''strongly''''' feel we should remove it then I'll do so. But then I request the quote marks remain on '''little sister''' as a subtle reference/hint. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:06, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

::Otherwise, I foresee a future where the readers begin asking us: "I thought she was his cousin." "What's going on?" "Mistake?", etc, etc. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:10, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

:::I have no authority nor desire to force you to change it. I just want to point out that imouto can't mean cousin, that's all. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 15:17, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

Okay. I do understand your point. That's why I put the cousin in brackets in the first place. And don't mind, I respect your input. So don't hold back and help me out by revising the translations given above. I need and welcome all the help you give me. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:26, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

:Regarding the "color tweak", I don't think it was necessary, the colors look out of place. IMHO, translations should stick to giving the same experience as the native speaker would have, which includes not changing the illustrations beyond replacing the text. I think the readers should be able to figure out who is saying what by themselves. - anon (for now) - 00:25, 30 September 2012 (GMT+2)

::Sorry, but I'd like to help the readers as much as I can, ''without changing too much''. The text was too closely written and because of this it could cause confusion for ''some'' readers. In order to avoid that, I decided to make a small exception to make things a bit clearer for the readers. It's only done so for this pic though. I do hope you understand and overlook this as an exception. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 18:41, 29 September 2012 (CDT)

:::The fact you only did it for this picture is what makes it look out of place ^^; As a suggestion, maybe you could make the colors less saturated? Like #a82f38 for Liz and #734669 for Kirito? That way it shouldn't stick out too much, but still help people distinguish between the different people. Thank you for your work so far, everyone. - anon (for now) - 02:53, 30 September 2012 (GMT+2)

==== Volume 9 ====

<gallery>
File:Sword Art Online Vol 09 - 002-003.jpg|
File:Sword Art Online Vol 09 - 004-005.jpg|
File:Sword Art Online Vol 09 - 006-007.jpg|
File:Sword Art Online Vol 09 - 008.jpg|
</gallery>

[[Sword_Art_Online:Volume_9_Illustrations|Volume 9 Illustrations]]. I cleaned all of the volume 9 images and have edited one of the color pics to be english translated. Will do the remaining two as well soon. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 20:47, 6 May 2012 (CDT)

Done last two. All color pics now have their levels corrected and also are English translated. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 12:38, 20 May 2012 (CDT)

:Has anyone noticed that most of the pages/links are missing from this volume? [[User:Zeru|Zeru]] ([[User talk:Zeru|talk]]) 19:40, 14 December 2012 (CST)

yes, what on earth happened? this was fine the last I checked...
[[User:AkaSora|AkaSora]] ([[User talk:AkaSora|talk]]) 20:24, 14 December 2012 (CST)

All that needs to be said is that the translator withdrew his translations, but they can still be read via the PDFs on the forums or from [http://dreadfuldecoding.blogspot.ca/ this blog]. -[[User:AKAAkira|Akira]] ([[User talk:AKAAkira|talk]]) 20:33, 14 December 2012 (CST)

==== Volume 10 ====

<gallery>
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 10 - 002-003.jpg
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 10 - 004.jpg
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 10 - 005.jpg
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 10 - 006-007.jpg
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 10 - 008.jpg
</gallery>

Please Translate these. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:48, 11 July 2012 (CDT)

:And can you translate '''all''' the untranslated ones above? You merely have to translate the text and post it, leave the photoshop-ing to me. It's a shame that they're left like that when they can be done quickly. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:48, 11 July 2012 (CDT)

::Wow, I am almost scared to see these translated, they look like major spoilers. Does Teh_Ping have the raws yet? [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 00:42, 12 July 2012 (CDT)

:::If he doesn't, there are copies in picture format at http://www.manga-zone.org/archives/2468.html

::::Vaelis was the one who uploaded these. Hats off dude. But I'd ''reeeeally'' appreciate it if, at the very least, someone translated the vol 7 & 8 pics above. So I can photoshop them. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 04:01, 12 July 2012 (CDT)

:::::It would definitely be amazing, but seeing as how I can not understand Japanese, I am not really in much of a position to go harassing translators for them. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 09:01, 12 July 2012 (CDT)

i would go photoshop-ing too, if there were some translations. i already leveled the B&W images, not much cleaning to do afterwards. ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 09:36, 27 July 2012 (CDT)

:Umm. I kinda have dibs on photoshopping the color ones. And I'm currently in the middle of doing the other volumes' color and dialogue ones as well. I'll register myself for them. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 11:40, 27 July 2012 (CDT)

:Here's a teaser for all you hungry guys and gals out there. Enjoy! [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:30, 27 July 2012 (CDT)

Is it Tactics Guide or Tactical Guide? I need someone I am familiar with to recheck the second pic and onwards' translations especially the names (preferably BeginnerXP or Pryun or Teh Ping, well if you don't have it checked by the time I'm awake I'm gonna put it in mistakes or not, I'll have the PSD file so correcting will be a cinch). I'm almost done cleaning all the pictures though, but I gotta sleep now. Will do the small remaining portion after I awake around about 6-8 hrs in the future. Also is '''a senior and Xth seat''' meaning a '''senior (aka senpai) as well as a Xth seat''' or a '''senior Xth seat'''? I can't tell for sure. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:40, 27 July 2012 (CDT)

:It's senior as in Senpai.

::I've finished the second one. I'll wait a few hours in-case anyone wants to recheck the names, etc. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 04:02, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

::Third one also finished and ready. Waiting for final seal of approval of translations. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 04:27, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

::By ready I mean I've cleaned the pictures as well as inserted the text. All I'm waiting for is the final seal of approval on Median's translations of the pics. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 04:30, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

Hmm. I carefully romanized the names 1 katakana at a time. Is it Uoro or Ouro? Cause the katagana are arranged as Uoro, yet Median translated it as Ouro. Unless there is some special reason? And you still haven't answered whether it's Tactics Guide or Tactical Guide. I just need someone I know to go over this. Other than that I have the PSDs ready to convert to JPG and then upload. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 08:35, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

:If you don't answer soon then I'll modify the names in question to their closest counterparts ie: Solterina Selruto/Sellto/Cellto/etc and Euro Libantein (Don't worry I'll keep the PSDs for later modifications) and choose Tactical since it's more correct. I'll give you guys an hour. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 08:55, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

::I saw your reply in Tomtkp's talk page so I thought you read my answer, but apparently not so let me repeat it again: Terms/Names in these images need to be consistent with the content of the volume 10, which has yet to be translated, you can go ahead and upload images with your version of terms/names, but please be prepared to fix it once the actual content had been posted. Btw, Rinko family name is wrong. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 09:14, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

:::I intend to keep the PSDs for that purpose. I'll just leave Solterina Seruruto as it is and change the other to Uoro Livantein. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 10:05, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

:::There we go. Do you think [[:Image:Sword Art Online Vol 10 - 004.jpg]] is a little too bright? If so I could redo it. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 10:20, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

...Just looked at one of the images: "I'm just getting started" Makes absolutely no sense. What is the original JP? my guess is I still have a long way to go(if I remember it correctly), or something like that based on the context----[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] - [[User_talk:Pryun|Talk]] 11:46, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

:For each Image page if you scroll to the bottom you will see the '''File History'''. There, click on a lower pic to view a previous version. That's how you can still get the japanese version. I asked over and over again for re-checking... well, I still have the PSD files so just tell me what's wrong and the correct version and I'll fix the problem in a snap. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 12:02, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

::Why so rush with volume 10 anyway? HolyCow already gave you all translations for volume 7&8, shouldn't those have higher priority? Yes, I could translate all those images, but volume 10 isn't mine, I did all translations of image in volume 9 because it was the volume I worked on, I don't want to overstepping my responsibility here.

:::For the feedback, I'd like it more if font choices are closer to original JP version, like Brownsheep's version in volume2/3, or over at Toaru Index project which is very impressive. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 12:36, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

::::Anime Ace 2.0 is the default. That's why I'm using it. Sorry I don't share the idea that that font is closer to the original JP version. I am doing vol 7&8 as well. They'll be up in the next few days. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:33, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

Where have you asked over and over for rechecking? I must be getting old, as I can't see it. Besides, not all translators are so free as to be on this website all the time. I do see you giving "an hour", and I assume that you think that we are all on the same timezone as you or something. --[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] - [[User_talk:Pryun|Talk]] 03:47, 29 July 2012 (CDT)

:Hour? I started asking for rechecks nearly 18 hours in advance: ''Is it Tactics Guide or Tactical Guide? I need someone I am familiar with to recheck the second pic and onwards' translations especially the names (preferably BeginnerXP or Pryun or Teh Ping) -- 17:40, 27 July 2012 (CDT)''. Oh well I guess it wasn't enough time, my bad. So just check and correct the mistakes now and I'll fix it and upload in a jiffy. I still have the PSDs. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 07:11, 29 July 2012 (CDT)

::First of all I don't get why you're so impatient about this. I doubt many people really care if the images get photoshopped immediately, especially the translators who you keep hounding. The way you're asking has a very demanding and spoiled tone. Second, from what I've read on here I thought you understood Japanese at least somewhat as you said you watched stuff raw, so I'm surprised you wouldn't get a set phrase like まだまだ. [[Special:Contributions/74.133.8.182|74.133.8.182]] 11:54, 3 August 2012 (CDT)

:::Dude, I said I understand '''verbal''' japanese, not written. For written I need to run the text through a romanjifier like google translate's phonetic reader. But I can't do that with pictures now, can I? Anyways thanks for the j-text. I just put it through and found that it was "mada mada". But it can actually be translated both ways, as in "I've still got a long way to go" and "I'm just getting started/This isn't all I have/Not yet/etc" But the word that translates to "No" before the term points to "I've still got a long way to go". I know that but it seems the translator didn't and since I couldn't extract the j-text and run it through a romanjification program, thus I missed the error. But now I got it, so... I'll fix it now. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 01:14, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

'Cuse me, but it's Koujiro, not Koujirou [[:File:Sword Art Online Vol 10 - 002-003.jpg|here]]. Thank you very much.—[[User:Teh Ping|Teh Ping]] 10:10, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

:Thanks. It's a teaser anyways. We plan on using your translations when you start on Vol 10 (Please begin. This loyal fan awaits your superb translation skills). [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 11:52, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

::I meant that I would have expected someone familiar with Japanese to recognize the phrase from one of its common translations and, based off the context, realize there might be a more appropriate choice in a similar way to how Pryun was thinking. This would be independent of knowing what the original text was. Being able to recognize this sort of thing can really improve your effectiveness as an editor as you would be better able to let the translators know of a possible mistake. [[Special:Contributions/74.133.8.182|74.133.8.182]] 03:54, 7 August 2012 (CDT)

:::How could I when I need to romanjify in order to understand? I guess you overestimated my abilities. The phrase fit the circumstances, even if it was wrong. And whenever I sense a mistake I immediately ask for the j-text, run it through google translate, check both the romanji and the translation (Just checking the translation isn't good enough but the romanji helps a lot), examine the sentence in both languages and then give suggestions. I've helped translators a lot via this method. I do intend to learn written Japanese as well. But pretty soon I'll probably be starting my Masters. So it'll have to be delayed. Anyways, I can't use an OCR (like Capture2Text) on color pictures so I '''must''' rely on translators for that. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 09:03, 7 August 2012 (CDT)

::::Then I recommend you to spend a bit of time to learn Hiragana & Katakana, since you like anime & manga, knowing how to read both kana helps greatly. I learnt how to read them by myself when I was in elementary school to play some jRPG, so it should be a cake for you, I think about a week is all average adults need in order to remember all kana. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 09:17, 7 August 2012 (CDT)

I've already downloaded a sheet of both. But what of kanji? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 10:29, 7 August 2012 (CDT)

:If you read manga, especially those shounen manga, all kanji will have hirakana characters (furigana) telling readers how it's read, it helps a lot to use that reading to look up the kanji, rather than tracking the kanji via radicals or stroke counts. Learning kanji properly would require a large amount of time (years), so it's entirely down to each person's determination. But kana is simple enough like A-B-C, so it should be a good foundation to have for anyone who enjoys Japanese media. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 10:44, 7 August 2012 (CDT)

::Unfortunately. I don't live in a country where I can get my hands on the raw shounen or any other kind of manga. In fact I have yet to see manga of any kind in any book store, raw or translated. I watch anime and read manga online. And I don't quite like the idea of downloading gigs of raws only to delete them after reading. But I'll think of something, don't worry. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:06, 7 August 2012 (CDT)

::There is a program on sourceforge called zkanji. It's still in it's beta stage but it seems to work well as far as I've seen. It can be used to learn Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji (both reading and writing). I've started using it to learn how to read Hiragana. When that's done, I'll move onto Katakana. And after that finally Kanji. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 22:20, 7 August 2012 (CDT)

::Waiting for the "Totemo shinsetsu hito-tachi" who will translate the last two pics for me, so that I can photoshop them. XD. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 03:27, 14 August 2012 (CDT)

::Teh Ping, could you please re-translate these. Now that you are doing the volume your translations should be used. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 19:04, 18 September 2012 (CDT)

:::Well, the only one left the translate, is the one with Kirito, Eugeo, Ronie (Tea haired) and Teiza (Red Haired). Judging by everything, it should be the scene in Interlude II, where Kirito hands the bag of pies to Ronie, and tells her to share it with her class mates. If you can't translate the whole thing, try translating bits and pieces to get an idea of where in the text this is. I might do it though, if you don't want to xD But either way, it's ineffective, as it could just be wrong all together.. haha...
[[User:Rage|Rage]] ([[User talk:Rage|talk]]) 17:07, 30 September 2012 (CDT)

::::Sorry, but I had already decided that the previous translations would only be teasers until Teh Ping did vol 10. It, preferably, has to be his translations since he's TLing the relevant chapters. So please Teh Ping, TL the color pics as soon as you've finished v10c4. Then I'll photoshop them. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:38, 2 October 2012 (CDT)

::::Okay so I've downloaded BeginnerXP's PDF and am going to photoshop using the pic translation there. I should be done in the next 24 hrs. Of course I'll be editing it and the others to be more in line with the volume text translation by Teh Ping (names, etc). [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 11:39, 10 October 2012 (CDT)

::::There we go. Now all that's left are the small mistakes in the other ones. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:47, 10 October 2012 (CDT)

::::Okay, I've fixed the names in the remaining v10 pics. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:58, 10 October 2012 (CDT)

I don't think it's nice to use someone else's translations, but change the names. Unless you had permission? Still, It would be nice to just have linked to the pdf for those that wanted it, since it was already done and all, instead of taking it up upon yourself to, uh, horriblify the text. I liked BeginnerXP's names and terminology far better than the ones you used... As to who translated those pictures... Uhh, you DLed BeginnerXP's pdfs, who do you think translated them? [[Special:Contributions/124.13.216.92|124.13.216.92]] 02:11, 11 October 2012 (CDT)

:Umm. Listen I know you're trying to be helpful and all but [[Sword Art Online:Volume 10 Interlude II|Teh Ping's chosen translation and naming]] takes priority, since that's what's being read (if BeginnerXP had done it then his would take prority). So it's '''not''' horriblifying. I've been working with both BeginnerXP and Teh Ping for a while now. If they find errors they'll tell me. And since I keep the PSDs thus I can change the text in a few seconds. Thanks for your input. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 05:27, 11 October 2012 (CDT)

::Don't know if my eyes are playing tricks on me or not, but 'Teiza' seems more like Tize to me. Ah, also, Interlude II was done by Melannis, not Teh Ping. [[User:Florza|Florza]] ([[User talk:Florza|talk]]) 05:37, 11 October 2012 (CDT)

:::Yes, It's pronounced Tize. I can see anon's point too, using Beginner's translated pics as reference would be... unfair considering it is his translations, unless you have permission, which I doubt: as he has his own terminology, I assume he prefers his own.--[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] - [[User_talk:Pryun|Talk]] 06:11, 11 October 2012 (CDT)

Quoting: ''If you mean the text in volume 7, the image quality is too poor for me to want to spend my time on. But for volume 8, I already did all of them, just I didn't add them to wiki, you can get the text from my SAO8 PDF I post in forums and edit the images accordingly, you also might need to correct some mistakes as I didn't want to bother Pryun to look at them with his busy schedule. -- BeginnerXP - Talk 05:22, 7 June 2012 (CDT)'' ([[User_talk:Zero2001/Archive_1#SAO_Pics|Thank God I archive my talk page discussions]]). So I do kinda have an okay to at least cross-check and edit. Besides, considering the amount of work done during scanlation, other than text translation (ie: cleaning, leveling, cloning, etc) I don't think it's unfair especially since I'm not taking the credit for the translation, only the editing and photoshopping. Anyways, Teh Ping said this in the history comments: ''Note, this is done by a person called Melannis. I'm really grateful for the help here. (received this through twitter lol)'', therefore it's approved by him and that's good enough for me. But if a proper namer change is decided (forums SAO Names and terminology discussion) then I'll edit it accordingly as soon as I'm informed of it. I have the PSDs after all so it'll be a snap. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:22, 11 October 2012 (CDT)

:Other than that, if the translators find an error in the pics then please let me know. I'll fix it at once. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:28, 11 October 2012 (CDT)

::I think teh_ping said something about the Tize vs Teiza issue a couple of days ago on twitter but his twitter page is down at the moment, you could try looking there later. I'll probably copy and paste it here if I get to it first. --[[User:Drowzycow|Drowzycow]] ([[User talk:Drowzycow|talk]]) 15:15, 11 October 2012 (CDT)

:::Look... I don't really care about the names (unless they're obviously wrong), but there is a set procedure. Please discuss and decide on the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=3592&sid=b5447c9c8bc496b3f50d16797fa77b6a&start=420 SAO Names and Terminology discussion forum] once you have done so and reached a decision just inform me along with a link to the part of the thread with the decision. I'll immediately make the changes in my PSDs, save them as JPGs and then upload them. Okay? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:20, 11 October 2012 (CDT)

::::@Zero2001: At first, I wanted to just ignore this double offensive actions from you (one is taking my translation and change the terms without permission, second is asking in Ping's talk page if there is any error in my translation, as if you picked up something from the street and asked if it's genuine). But I guess I should make it clear as you quote what I said regarding to my image translations in volume 8. I don't mind at all if you use my translation and I also don't mind for grammar corrections that might be needed, but I will never allow anyone to mess with the terms/names I use. Since it's already this late, I won't ask you to take the image down or anything, just please be careful next time.

:::@Drowzycow: Teiza is sure completely wrong, while Tize works, but I think many would read it as "Taiz", that's why I use Tizay, less confusion this way. Please look [http://dreadfuldecoding.blogspot.com/p/pronunciation-guide.html here] for audio samples on how to pronounce both girl names in Interlude II. Also note that we're still trying to fix the issue that it doesn't work on some mobile browsers, so please use desktop browsers for the time being. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] ([[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]]) 20:03, 11 October 2012 (CDT)

::::Ah sorry. I just matched the terms to the text translation. About taking your translation, it seems I mistakenly thought your permission on pic translations would automatically extend to the latest volume. That's my mistake. I sincerely apologise for that. As for my request for correction. Plenty of times in the past it's happened that after I photoshopped the pics, then and ''only then'' people started pointing out the mistakes. So that's why I asked. You should know me well enough BeginnerXP, I hold no ill will in such matters. My apologies. I'll be more careful next time. It seems as you're still conflicted on the issue, so when you guys decide on the spelling of the names then please tell me. I'll change them on the double. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 21:04, 11 October 2012 (CDT)

::::I followed the link and heard the pronounciation. Here's my two chips: Indeed it sounds like Tiz'''ay''' or Tiz'''ei'''. Google translate types ティゼー phonetically as Tizē therefore Tizei would be closer in my opinion. Also, Tizay is short form of "It is ay" (ie: Acting as a confirmation to someone Else's question.) [http://lastnames.myheritage.com/last-name/Tizei Tizei], on the other hand is a name. But I'll leave the choice to you guys. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 21:11, 11 October 2012 (CDT)

==== Volume 11 ====

<gallery>
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 11 - 002-003.jpg|Kirito: These are good. It tastes better than the stuff at the Prancing Deer Inn, Ronye, Tiese. ''A young boy lost within the mysterious «Undersworld». In order to escape from here, he is searching for a «System Console».'' Ronye: Wah, really?! ''A «Valet Trainee» that aims to become an «Integrity Knight» and serves as Kirito's assistant.'' Tiese: Erm, we were the ones who made it, so whether it fits your tastes or not... ''A «Valet Trainee» that aims to become an «Integrity Knight» and serves as Eugeo's assistant.'' Eugeo: Kirito, if you already helped out that much, stop trying to ditch us! ''The first inhabitant Kirito met in this world. Became «Elite Swordsman Trainee» at «North Centoria Master Swords Academy» with Kirito.''
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 11 - 004-005.jpg|Ronye: No... Help... Help, Eugeo-senpai! Eugeo-senpai - ! Tiese: N-no...no...NO...! Eugeo: Uh...gu...ooh...! I, I...!
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 11 - 006-007.jpg|Eugeo: ...Alice...? Is that you...? Are you...Alice...? Alice: I am the Overseer of Centoria, an Integrity Knight of the Axiom Church - Alice Synthesis Thirty. ''An «Integrity Knight» who protects order in the «Human World».''
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 11 - 008.jpg|'''«North Centoria Master Sword Academy and Integrity Knights»''' Located in the center of the Underworld’s «Human World» is the largest city of the Human World, the «Capital Centoria». It is enclosed within a perfect circular rampart with a diameter of ten kilol, and possesses a population of over twenty thousand. The solid walls in the shape of an X divide the circular city into four equal parts, and these separating walls are called the «Eternal Wall». «North Centoria», «East Centoria», «South Centoria», and «West Centoria» are what the divided municipalities are called; they are the capitals of the four empires which divide and rule over the vast Human World. In the middle of the «Capital» is the pure white grand tower that lies at the heart of the Human World, the Axiom Church’s «Central Cathedral». The tower is so tall its zenith is hazy and can't be seen, and the square grounds of the church are enclosed by a high wall, so it is impossible to see what lies inside. The «Eternal Wall» that divides the city of Centoria starts from the Cathedral, and stretches outward in four directions. Within the highest ruling system «Axion Church» there are officers known as «Integrity Knights», and these knights that maintain the order of the world are the Sacred Task that all the swordsmen of the world aspire to. If one passes the entrance exam of the swordsmen training institution «North Centoria Master Sword Academy» in order to aim for the rank of «Integrity Knight», they become a «Beginner Trainee Swordsman» in public. The Trainees train themselves diligently over the period of one year, and at the end of every academy year, they aim for becoming swordsmen of even higher rank during the promotion exam. The final objective of the academy students is to participate in the «Northern Empire Swordsmanship Tournament». Kirito and Eugeo are aiming to win the competition even higher than that, the «Four Empires Unity Tournament» that is the highest swordsmanship tournament in the Human World, where the winners are appointed as honorable «Integrity Knights».

</gallery>

Notes:
*<s>Not 100% sure on Kirito's comment, that's the best I could guess
*Reason for changing Ronie's first comment's comma to exclamation point was since "Wow, really?" seems to be used with too much sarcasm too often these days
*I'm pretty sure there's a more eloquent way for Teiza to hint the gesture, but it's evading me at the moment
*Since 打ち can mean both "hit" and "reach", a possible but slightly less likely different interpretation is: "Kirito, if it turns out that my fist can reach you, you don't have to run away, okay?"
**I peeked at what PROzess translated so far and...well, one word: context. Rather facepalm-worthy. As such, changed Eugeo's quote. But, Teiza's quote is somewhat confusing. Unless it's a case of ''extremely'' liberal context usage, I don't think she even uses that particular quote in-story. Can someone correct me?</s>
***Ronye says that bit, which explains why I didn't find ''Tiese'' it. And yup, another botched trans.
*<s>Intros of the first pic are the same as the previous volume, except for the second half of Eugeo's</s>
*Also, not quite sure if it's "Elite Swordsman Trainee" or just "Elite Swordsman" - but then again, previous volumes had them interchanged, so maybe it doesn't matter?
*If anyone wants to dispute my interpretations, here's a quick dump of all kanji used in the first three pics: 君跳鹿亭優劣味私作口合打解今逃修剣学院上級士助僕君人界秩序守市域統括公理教会
-[[User:AKAAkira|Akira]] ([[User talk:AKAAkira|talk]]) 15:59, 15 December 2012 (CST)

As soon as these are fully translated I will photoshop them. The first pic is still incompletely translated at this point (only one of the character descriptions has been translated the others haven't, even I can tell). [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User Talk:Zero2001|Talk]] 05:45, 16 December 2012 (CST)

:As this wiki lacks a flashy quote template, I'll just make do with pointing out my fifth bullet point in the notes.

:On the other hand, I still suggest waiting until at least one other pair of eyes goes over them before actually using the translations. This was my first time, I'm almost afraid to think how much I could've messed it up. -[[User:AKAAkira|Akira]] ([[User talk:AKAAkira|talk]]) 16:50, 16 December 2012 (CST)

I know the character descriptions for Kirito, Ronie and Teiza are already technically done in Vol 10, but I thought I'd put up my own translation of them in case anyone wants to use it. (Feel free to comment or suggest changes.) Also, I intend to translate the story description on the fourth page, if nobody minds. --[[User:Eternal Dreamer|Eternal Dreamer]] ([[User talk:Eternal Dreamer|talk]]) 14:39, 22 December 2012 (CST)

:For the record, I ''was'' planning to do it, but this is what I get for procrastination. ^^' I did a quick proofread, though. -[[User:AKAAkira|Akira]] ([[User talk:AKAAkira|talk]]) 17:14, 24 December 2012 (CST)

" It tastes better than those prancing deers at the pavilion, " shouldn't it be "it tastes better than those at the Prancing Deer's Pavilion,"?

:Yes, it should be. I didn't realize it was a name initially, which was why I was so confused. In volume 10 it was translated as "Jumping Deer Inn", so I'll go with that for now. -[[User:AKAAkira|Akira]] ([[User talk:AKAAkira|talk]]) 17:14, 24 December 2012 (CST)

Already, the story description is done on the fourth page. As for the location text on the map itself, it's the exact same as the one from Vol 10, so just copy it from there. --[[User:Eternal Dreamer|Eternal Dreamer]] ([[User talk:Eternal Dreamer|talk]]) 10:03, 24 December 2012 (CST)
:I don't know a thing about Japanese, but looking at the Raw images for the last image in both this vol and from vol 10, there's only one difference in regards to the location texts.. There's a spelling differentiation in the line where "Indomitable Wall" is.. It's the second character only though, so I'm not really sure what that translates to... [[User:Rage|Rage]] ([[User talk:Rage|talk]]) 10:27, 7 January 2013 (CST)
:My stubbornness made me look up the character XD... For some reason, Reki renamed the wall from 不屈の壁 (Indomitable Wall) to 不朽の壁 (Timeless Wall (according to Google Translate))... Could it be a typo on the behalf of one of the editors of the LN? or was it a hint regarding the story? [[User:Rage|Rage]] ([[User talk:Rage|talk]]) 12:30, 7 January 2013 (CST)

You can translate Ronie's comment to "Wah, really?". It'd sound more sincere that way -[[User:M.A.D|M.A.D]] - [[User_talk:M.A.D|Talk]] 22:55, 5 January 2013 (CST)

Just two more pages~
SOrry if I sounded demanding, didnt mean to. [[User:Castor212|Castor212]] ([[User talk:Castor212|talk]]) 02:32, 16 March 2013 (CDT)

==== Volume 12 ====
<gallery>
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 12 - 002-003.jpg|Kirito: Eugeo, I'll stop the first attack somehow, so it's your job to get a strike in. ''A young boy lost within the mysterious «Virtual World», Underworld. In order to escape, he is searching for a «System Console».'' Eugeo: —Got it. ''The first inhabitant Kirito met in this world. Became «Elite Swordsman Trainee» at «North Centoria Master Swords Academy» with Kirito.'' Deusolbert Synthesis Seven: To bathe in the fires of this «Flame Bow» should have meant to become purified for two years. I see, it appears you truly possess the skills Knight Eldrie Thirty-one argued you had, despite being criminals. ''An Integrity Knight who uses the «Flame Bow».''
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 12 - 004-005.jpg|Fanatio Synthesis Two: This is farewell, you young, foolish criminal. The light hidden inside this Heaven-Piercing Sword, I free from its shackles right now! —Release Recollection! ''The Integrity Knights' Deputy Head Knight who mastered the «Heaven-Piercing Sword».'' Kirito: Uooooh!
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 12 - 006-007.jpg|Kirito: I'm Swordsman Trainee Kirito, and I want a fair swords match with Miss Changed Knight Alice! Alice Synthesis Thirty: —It's all right, your wicked hearts are such low things that I suppose you may try with that sword of yours. ''An Integrity Knight who wields the «Osmanthus Sword».''
Image:Sword Art Online Vol 12 - 008.jpg|'''Central Cathedral''' Located at the middle of Underworld's «Human World» is its greatest city, «Capital Centoria». At the core of «Capital», the heart of the Human World itself, there exists the pure white superstructure, «Central Cathedral». The tower's zenith is at a height that peters out into obscurity, and the church's square grounds are surrounded by high walls; peeking inside is utterly impossible. The supreme body «Axiom Church», governing the Human World from «Central Cathedral», maintain peacekeepers named «Integrity Knights», and these knights that protect the order of the world are what every Trainee Swordsmen in the world yearn to become. The Cathedral is built with a hundred floors in all, and the top floor contains a room for the High Priestess.　The middle floors host monks, priests, and so on, and those who conduct the business necessary for the Axiom Church to rule the Human World also live there. On the third floor is an armory, but the fiftieth floor has a utility called «The Great Hall of the Spirit World's Light»
</gallery>

Notes:
*Kirito & Eugeo's descs borrowed and modified from Eternal Dreamer's descs from last volume.
*Not entirely sure Deusolbert's referring to himself or his bow.
*熾 turned up "Seraphim" in Google Translate. No idea what's up with that.
**熾焰 in Chink can mean something along the lines of "Blazing". Also, Sky Piercing Sword sounds better than Heaven Piercing Sword to me.
***Eeh, "Heaven" sounds more flashy to me, when it's "Heaven Piercing" vs "Sky Piercing"...unless it's maybe something like "Skysplitter". -[[User:AKAAkira|Akira]] ([[User talk:AKAAkira|talk]]) 19:45, 3 May 2013 (CDT)
*実 has way too many different positive trait translations. "Sincerity", "truth", "fidelity", "faith", "confidence", "devotion", "trust", "reliance"... I think "purity" works best here, though.
**From context, it seems like it's been two years since he last used the bow's true ability. The bow becomes engulfed in flames when it's Enhance Armament is activated.
*I ''think'' いか in this case is supposed to be the 以下 kind. I think.
*剣筋 stumped me. Pretty sure it's supposed to be a compound word, but no idea what it entails. I just left it at "sword".
*"Superstructure" there isn't intrinsically correct, but it definitely sounds good - better than "great tower" (which I'm pretty sure is the original meaning) and more accurate than "skyscraper" (especially with the modern image that word draws upon).
*I'm pretty sure 霞んで見えない basically says "so hazy it can't be seen", but that was kinda hard to conform into a "the tower's zenith is at a height" sentence structure, and I thought "obscurity" covers both the "indistinct" and "lack of ability to see" bases well enough anyway.
*I think this のぞき　is the 覗き kind?
*Strictly speaking, 憧れの天職 translates more as "yearn to take as their calling", but..."yearn to become" is virtually the same meaning.
*Not entirely sure about 先活. 先 is along the lines of "former" and 活 is basically "lives"...but apparently 活　is a synonym for 生, and 先生 is ''sensei''. For now, went with the former, since that makes more sense in context.
*Kanji dump in case someone wants to refute: 初撃止前斬込仮想解熾焔弓炎浴実二年振騎士渡合技咎人操整合若愚天穿剣秘光今枷放副長司修改殿尋常立会所望邪心剣筋試金木犀剣操整合
*Kanji dump of fourth pic: 人界中央部位置最大市真心純白巨塔天頂霞見高正方形教会敷地壁囲内部不可能統治組織公理教会整合騎士武官世秩序守修剣憧天職全百階構造上司祭屋層道統治必要業務執行員先活三武具保管庫五十霊光回廊呼設備

====Volume 13====
<gallery>
File:Sword Art Online Vol 13 - 002-003.jpg|'''Eugeo:''' "...Relaxed, aren't you."'''Bercouli Synthesis One:''' "Now that's one uncommon stance, boy. ...You don't happen to practice the Continual Sword, do you?"
File:Sword Art Online Vol 13 - 004-005.jpg|'''Kirito:''' "Your real name is Alice Schuberg. As you are right now, you're just ≪Alice in name≫, created by Administrator."'''Alice Synthesis Thrity:''' "Alice Schuberg... That is, my, name...? I don't recall anything at all..."
File:Sword Art Online Vol 13 - 006-007.jpg|'''Eugeo:''' "I have nothing more to say to you. Let our battle begin... that's what the lot of you are here for, isn't it?"
File:Sword Art Online Vol 13 - 008.jpg|
</gallery>

Uploaded scans of the Illustrations. That' about as far as I went, haha... [[User:Rage|Rage]] ([[User talk:Rage|talk]]) 00:32, 14 August 2013 (CDT)
:Tap translated some of them in the forum. --[[User:Kuno|Kuno]] - [[User talk:Kuno|Talk]] 19:35, 14 August 2013 (CDT)
:Yeah, I forgot about those! haha...
Is tap doing the translation for this volume too?
:[http://www.taptaptaptaptap.net/interlude-iv/ yeah].

*Kanji dump of the 4th picture's floors: 地下牢 (Underground jail/prison), 螺旋階段 (the prison's spiral staircase) 大図書館 (Great Library), 西面1F バラ園 (Rose garden), 3F 武具保管庫, 29F: 階段, 30F: «飛竜» 発着場, 50F:霊光の大回廊, Elevator: 昇降盤, 80F:雲上庭園 90F: 大浴場, 95F: 暁星の望楼, 96~99F: 元老院, 100F: 最上階居室 --[[User:Gsimenas|Gsimenas]] ([[User talk:Gsimenas|talk]]) 13:35, 20 August 2013 (CDT)

==== SAO Progressive Vol 1 ====
<gallery>
Image:Sword Art Online Progressive Vol 1 - 002.jpg|Kirito: “…That was an extreme overkill just now.” ''A swordsman that aims to reach the top floor of «Aincrad». He decided to strengthen only himself and became a «Solo Player».'' Asuna: “…Everyone is going to die anyway.” ''A player that has been imprisoned within «Sword Art Online». She does nothing but fight monsters with no concern for her own life.''
Image:Sword Art Online Progressive Vol 1 - 003.jpg|Kirito: “While we hunted just now, you saved up the targeted amount of strengthening materials for the Wind Fleuret, right?” Nezuha: “I got it, then please allow me to take your weapon and materials.” ''A blacksmith that runs a business in the eastern square of «Urbus», the main town of «Aincrad»’s second floor.''
Image:Sword Art Online Progressive Vol 1 - 004-005.jpg|Kirito: “—First, let’s defeat the enemy.” Asuna: “……Yes.” Egil: “Until you finish drinking your pot, we’ll support you guys.” ''A player that has been imprisoned within «Sword Art Online». Member of the «Floor Boss Subjugation Party». A young man with a large build that doesn’t look Japanese. His main weapon is a two-handed battleaxe.'' Kibaou: “Listen up, you guys should just take on the small fry kobold mobs that slip past my party as your enemy.” ''A player that has been imprisoned within «Sword Art Online». Member of the «Floor Boss Subjugation Party». He hates «Beta-Players» that have more information on «SAO» than other players. His main weapon is a one-handed sword.'' Diabel: “Everyone…There’s only one thing I have left to say! Let’s win!!” ''The leader of «Aincrad»’s first «Floor Boss Subjugation Party». He leads the forty-odd players of the capturing group. His main weapon is a one-handed sword.'' Illfang the Kobold Lord: “UGURUUOOOOOOOO———!!” ''The Floor Boss Monster that lies hidden within the farthest depths of the twentieth floor of «Aincrad»’s First Floor Maze.''
Image:Sword Art Online Progressive Vol 1 - 006-007.jpg|Kirito: “Here it comes!” Baran the General Taurus: “VUUVOOOOOOO————!!” ''The Floor Boss Monster that lies hidden within the farthest depths of the twentieth floor of «Aincrad»’s Second Floor Maze.''
Image:Sword Art Online Progressive Vol 1 - 008.jpg|Done
</gallery>

Give me the translations here and I'll photoshop them as usual. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:19, 20 October 2012 (CDT)

Although... judging from the awesome quality and colorings, it seems cleaning will be tougher than usual. This will be fun for me. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:14, 20 October 2012 (CDT)

Just thought I'd add the translations for the images, since I'm starting on doing "Aria in the Starless Night". Of course, anyone is free to point out corrections to make, I only made these on the spot. --[[User:Eternal Dreamer|Eternal Dreamer]] ([[User talk:Eternal Dreamer|talk]]) 12:18, 21 December 2012 (CST)

==Editor==

OK some of you might notice that this thing has an editor all of a sudden. I've done this 'without' a supervisor..... I hope that's OK.... O.o

:Feel free to keep editing if you see something wrong though, we're only two pairs of eyes and it's highly probable that we'd miss something. Also we aren't perfect.

::This is also not going to affect the speed in any way (well except for only today I think... since y'know it's going to be first 'gap' but it'll be back to normal. Actually you guys won't even notice).

:::You're never be going to be waiting for too long.... well unless I'm translating slowly. If the editor hasn't put the next chap up in two days I'll put mine up first. The editor can chance it with his (or her???? Now I think about it I don't know O.O) version. But I don't think that that's going to happen.

:::And thank you all for reading!!!!

:::--[[user:sharramon|sharramon]]-- Jan. 16, 11:19:24 UTC

Far from perfect. We're both ESL (English as Second Language) people after all. The good news is that I can do Chinese-English proofreading/editing, the bad news is that tenses are a weakness for me. I'm trying to keep an eye out on other people's edits and track what kind of things I miss, but if you notice a particular pattern that I fault in please don't hesitate to fix and/or drop me a note. Also, having more editors is usually a good thing. -- Aorii

:I should have asked before putting up my rather literal translation up, but is that okay? It has already be reverted though.
As when I went through the japanese text, some stuff was missing.
By the way, the tense used is past tense, right? Tenses should be same throughout the novel. -KuroiHikari

Hello, i was just wondering if you guys would accept another editor here. I have read almost all 9 volumes, and there are always many, MANY grammatical errors and weird literal translations in the text. The translation itself is solid, but it is just really awkward to read. I do really appreciate the work you guys put into this, and I'm not trying to demean or anything, but i think i could contribute greatly to the editing of this novel. I am very proficient in english, and I could probably edit a chapter in 2-3 days, or faster depending on the length of the chapter. If you'll accept me, you could send me an unedited text from something to test my skills if required. I would be happy to lend a hand to such a great project. [[User:Jasou|Jasou]] 01:20, 20 June 2012 (CDT)

:Some translations are literal for a reason. Excessive '''Englishification''' ruins the original meaning and funniness. Just be careful. And please sign you posts with <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:33, 19 June 2012 (CDT)

:I've reviewed your edit on Volume 9 Interlude I. I think it's okay, but since I don't have the original japanese LN, I can't say for sure. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:37, 19 June 2012 (CDT)

::hey guys, I edited a bit on the part 1 of volume10 ch4. I hope that's fine :)
[[User:AkaSora|AkaSora]] ([[User talk:AkaSora|talk]]) 09:09, 13 September 2012 (CDT)

So, I started reading the novels after having watched the anime. I really like it and I appreciate the work, but I think there's a lot that I could offer as an editor. Besides odd sentence structure, I've seen a few misspellings. I know it says on the main page to contact a supervisor if you want to join the project, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that. If someone could help me out, I would appreciate it. --[[User:nVitius|nVitius]] 3:00, 5 January 2013 PST

:Supervisor for SAO is Sharramon. Contact via [[User talk:Sharramon]], or PM on the forums, I think. That's only if you want to be a registered Editor, though. [[Format guideline#Anonymous Editors]] encourages drive-by edits. -[[User:AKAAkira|Akira]] ([[User talk:AKAAkira|talk]]) 19:27, 5 January 2013 (CST)

==This is REALLY GOOD!!!!==
I really like this. When I first started reading it sounded like just another virtual reality/MMORPG anime... thing, but now, it looks really cool!
Please Give us chapter four soon!

:I agree with this fellows statement as well. It sounded dumb at first, but the character's feel far more realistic than I would have thought. I hope this gets alot of attention. Good luck Sharramon!

::I like this a lot too. Sounded and is very interesting Very good novel. Please continue...

:::Thank you all ^^ I've done chap four now! But it's more of a run through of how the situation was like in Aincrad. The story starts properly from chapter five. I'll try to translate that as quick as possible too!
::::I love you

::::Thanks for the update

This is good! I like the development in chapter 5. Will wait until next update! I look forward to the next chapter, from what I see in the illustration there will be some romance...

:Dammit now I want chapter 6... Please give it to us soon!!! PLEASE!!!! And thank you once again for translating this!

::This overwhelming pressure! XD I'm workin' on it! I'll try and get it up soon but the soonest SHOULD be Thursday but we'll see!

:::Thank you very much for your effort! ^^ Awaiting next update eagerly... You update surprisingly fast^^. Please do not take this as a pressure but as encouragement^^

This is turning into a pretty good response column, and for a nifty reason; SAO is pretty kick ass. All our thanks go out to you, Sharramon, keep up the good work! ps BTW you have the fastest chapter updates I've seen in awhile! and as the previous comment mentioned, that isn't some weird pressure build up, its a compliment.

:I agree this is really good, thanks for the translations

:BTW you have the fastest chapter updates I've seen in awhile!

::That's most probably because this light novel has the shortest chapters that you've seen in a while! :D And chap 6 done! Hell yeah!

:::Thanks for chapter 6. This is a really good light novel. Can't wait for the next chapters. I would like to know though when you get volume 2 whether Kirito stays with Asuna after volume 1 or not. Because looking at the covers for volumes 2 and 3 it seems he teams up with other girls.

::::He does stay with her. Book two's about the past and the third book is about saving her from a game or something by what I gather...

:::::Thanks for the info. I was agonizing over the thought that she might have died and he moved on to party with another player.

::::::I shouldn't say so much! I'm spoiling people!

Seeing the update section.... I've realized that I've done more than a chap every two days WITHOUT the prologue O.O.....

:That's why you're Sharramon-sama :) thanks for the great releases xD

::damn! this is like reading Naruto. No, not the storyline, but on the updates... (yours is of course, much faster than the weekly updates) but nonetheless, the suspense, the waiting... it feels the same. Anyway, thank you for the fast updates! SPOILERS!!!!! nuooohh!!!

:::oh shit now I'm going to this page regularly just to see if there is any updates..

don't understand third volume images ç.ç aren't they supposed to have their true form? so why there are non.humans? waiting fro spoileeeers XD

:You will understand once the translation gets that far. It's not fun being spoiled. Because you just keep wanting to know more.

You are awesome and so is this book! I know this is a minor point, but semicolons are meant to separate two closely related things that could be sentences by themselves, like the first line of the synopsis. For parts like "...floating castle, 'Aincrad'; he distinguished...", it should really be commas on both sides of Aincrad.

:Wooo, I left this for a while and its already this much already XD YAY! Again and again, thank you so much, Sharramon-sama XD

::Thanks for chapter 14! Too bad there isn't a picture of Kirito in his KoB uniform =(

:::at first, I thought that SAO is just a .hack><druaga><yureka look-a-like... I was wrong. seriously... I'm jealous of Kirito ;_; Sharramon-kakka, you have my deepest gratitude (for your speed-translating). keep up the good work! XD -randompasserby

::::chapter 18 is already out!! CHEERS! XD

== keep up the good work! ==

you know, you have the breaking record for the fastest update in baka-tsuki...
And we love you!

:^^ What this person said. We LOVE you Sharramon-sama :D.

::Sama O.O....

:::Uh...We LOVE you Sharramon-dono*? :D

::::We aren't samurai either.

:::::Let's go with san!... or kun? Hell I'll take tan!XD

::::::Nah, I prefer Sharramon-kakka myself. So let's use that!

You guys are bloating his persona, he'll be crowning himself emperor of britannia soon at this pace :p
:He IS the rightful ruler after all, so that would make sense.

::Nah, You guys... Just say it like this "Sharramon-nyoro!!!!" RIGHT?

:::How about Shar-tan? He is Paya-tan's master!

All hail Britannia! (really couldn't resist saying that). I wonder what I'd like more... geass or a deathnote?

:Easy. You like SAO the most!

::Hey, wait... I'm a supervisor???

:::Started reading the first volume a couple days ago, finished it in one setting. I can't tell you guys how supremely awesome you are for bringing this book into english. Great Job and many thanks!

==Volume Names==
Both the first and second volumes are called "Aincrad"? Weird...

:That's how they are named. Take a look at the third colour page for volume 01 and 02.
{| style="background:black; color:black"
|They are named after the setting they take place in or so it seems.
|}
::I know that, I was just commenting on how it was odd.

:::It all makes sense after reading the descriptions of thos images from volume 3 above.

== So because I couldn't wait... ==

I thought hey why not use ATLAS to translate the raw to at least get a hint of what's going to happen.
This did not go well, I mean although the program boasts its amazing accuracy in translating, when I translated the whole novel it didn't even make sense at all. In fact, a Google online translation did better than the $1,400 program.
So in conclusion, I decided to patiently wait . . . okay never mind! Please!!!! I can't wait! where's the next chapter...
Thank you for translations, I really appreciate it. I LOVE Sword Art Online!-Jun

I actually did the same thing, but I could understand like one sentence out of 15, and it also helps if you know what ATLAS translates the names as. I also found a timeline of SAO's events, and used Rikaichan to skim through it (I probably look for spoilers a little too much on series I really like, and I wasn't disappointed). Anyway though, I've been meaning to ask this: sharramon, are you using official Korean translations or fan translations?
-Enigma

Official. I'm translating with the book in my hands.... I'll have to buy another one. This one's gotten really dirty XP

I did as well. Oddly, I can figure out quite much of chapter 5 with it. It hurt my eyes and mind though. It feels like deciphering a code @-@. I decide to quit because the deciphering work reduce the enjoyment in reading it and when I read sharramon-sama's translation to find out he bits I'm missing, it just won't as fun since I got to know part of the stroy already.

@Enigma wait there is Korean translations of Sword Art Online? If there is, where could I get my hands on it? -Jun
Edit: Oh wait, never mind. I ordered the Korean version through AladdinUS. Can't wait to read it ^_^ -Jun

== Historic moment ==

SAO is most probably the first book in a while that got first place in daily views within a single month of it being put up in this forum! Thank you all!!! (is burning with a NEED to translate faster XD)

== Discussion Forum? ==

Sup. Kenena here~
Anyway, is there a forum for SAO (I guess its also ALO too, but whatever)? I dont wanna making a new comment here every time I want to ask something. Link or something would be great.

-Kenena

In the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/ Baka-Tsuki Forum] in the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=44 Auxiliary Brigades section] can be created additional threads if they are need for discussions about SAO, but there is also already a [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3128 thread for SAO] --[[User:Darklor|Darklor]] 09:38, 8 February 2010 (UTC)

== Volume 3 query ==

Just wondering but could it be that Kirito and Asuna get out of SAO in the 1st volume but Asuna gets kidnapped and put into[Alvheim Online]? And then Kirito goes into the game to save her? Cause this pic looks like Kirito looking at Asuna with the nerve gear:http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/images/4/43/Sword_Art_Online_Vol_03_-_043.jpg

http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Image:Sword_Art_Online_Vol_03_-_000a.jpg
http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Image:Sword_Art_Online_Vol_03_-_003.jpg

I think these two should answer your question.

Well usually to know this kind of things you wait for the volume to be translated don't you u_u.

===Chapter 3/4===
If the book version has only three chapters, then our translation should have also only three chapters, since the web version is gone and the book version is working as the translation reference... --[[User:Darklor|Darklor]] 14:38, 11 April 2011 (UCT)

Ive been studying japanese for quite a while now, and can happily sayim slowly progressing,and as such decided to buy the published version that's still in japanese, two questions now: one, is it in kanji/furigana? and two if not what level of reading should I know to be able to read it effectively

== What are we going to do with 16.5 in the full text version? ==

Eventually Volume 1 will be finished, and we will do what we always do with a finished volume: make a full text!! But we have this chapter 16.5 complicating the situation. Does it go in? Stay out? Make two versions (what I think is would be best)? Something else? Let's decide what's going to happen before the volumes done.

I say make a full text with reference to 16.5 but not actual text...or throw in a link to 16.5 with a dire "read at own disgretion" message.

-Ence

I think we should make 2 versions of it, SFW and NSFW... XD - RandomPasserBy

:Don't add it to the full text. I wouldn't even add it to the volume 1 overview nor to the "forward to.." box, to be honest. 16.5 may be canon, but it is not part of the book. As far as I know, he had this chapter only posted on his back-site without any reference on the front page. [[User:EusthEnoptEron|EusthEnoptEron]] 08:16, 26 February 2010 (UTC)

oh yeah, now that you mention it... the book can't possibly have this chapter...

Considering all the killing, explicit violence that the book has, its already at least 16+ or young adults.. can't rate something M just because of some cybersex.. -Irec

Wouldn't it be better to, at least, put a link in the full text to let those who want to read it in the good context be able to read it ?

I think a link with a warning would work.

Chapter 16 still links to 16.5... is this intentional or a a side-effect of the nav template? -[[User:Milki|milki]] 03:53, 18 February 2012 (CST)

I did not realise there was a chapter 16.5 at all before I came over this... And now that I've seen it, I agree that it shouldn't be put in the full text. What I'm wondering about, though, is if Reki Kawahara really wrote this himself, where it was published and how on earth it came to this site. Oh, and this chapter might be a little hard to notice if you go directly to the full text to read volume 1.

-

You know - this is pretty much under the carpet now, but I think this was handled pretty poorly. If 16.5 was not canon, it should have been put under the side stories with an R-18 warning. The author had it on his website with other stories that are up here, so the argument that he didn't write it is not a very good one. Age appropriate is not good either - R-18 warning as stated, but this site is not an all-ages site to begin with. You have R-18 visual novel projects, Type-Moon's numerous titles, etc. Some of the posts for removing it were downright confusing: "it left a bad taste in my mouth." Or "look at what people recognize me for." I'm sorry, but...what? You didn't like a chapter, so it should be erased from history? One is going to quit translation of this series because of the "infamy" of it? I know you aren't in this for public recognition, so why do you care about that? This massive double standard with sexual content is an American value style product that confuses me, but it shouldn't be influencing what goes up and comes down. We have titles on here that involve graphic descriptions of extreme violence, graphic descriptions of sexual content and innuendo, as well as images of nude people of all ages and violence against them to accompany them. I am really disappointed that management is going down this route, because it's only a matter of time before other titles get censored or screwed up because of this new standard. - somewhat disappointed and concerned long time reader. --Anonymous

:Sadly too true... :( --[[User:Darklor|Darklor]] ([[User talk:Darklor|talk]]) 01:10, 17 September 2012 (CDT)

...Now, what do you say we do with this? If you're going to tell us to restore it for the sake of the fans, save your letters. If you're targetting at me, fine, just say it to my face, no need to be discreet. I'm the bad guy here after all...

And yeah, I'm losing my patience with dealing with this again...

Darklor...we should talk...--[[User:Teh Ping|Teh Ping]] ([[User talk:Teh Ping|talk]]) 01:30, 17 September 2012 (CDT)

In my opinion, this wouldn't be so much issue if the chapter wasn't included in volume 1 to begin with, it being up there caused confusion to many readers as they think it's actually in the published version, I was under that very impression for a while, until I had chance to check the JP book version.

@anon, it seemed you misunderstood the fact, author really wrote 16.5 and he really put it on his website, but he ''never'' put it along with the web version of Aincrad arc, he made a temporally R-18 section named 'Word Gear Reverse' and put 16.5 along with some R-18 stories written by someone else there. So putting it in volume 1 section is a bad idea, and that's the reason I was strongly against it.

Currently BT has a vague stance about the mature content, there is no rule preventing the mature content to be hosted on wiki, but in forums, the rules clearly stated that posting mature content is not permitted. Maybe the higher ups could discuss about this double standard and come up with a single rules set for both wiki and forums.

On a side note: Why so many complaints about the removal of 16.5 but no one cares that ME1&3 can't be hosted here? Especially when ME1 is mentioned in both anime & published volumes. Just curious. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] ([[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]]) 08:33, 17 September 2012 (CDT)

Honestly, I don't want to shift the blame here nor try to explain myself since I suppose none of you would want to hear me out, so I'll take responsibility for this. Mature content '''can''' be posted on the wiki, but '''must''' be labelled with a warning, an R-18 tag. However, this is a different case for the forums, where no one is allowed to post such stuff. If you wonder why there is a different standard for the forums, it's because the rules for the forums were 'copied' from Animesuki...Personally, I don't believe there's a need to review it.

As for your last paragraph, Beginner, I think you would know the answer...--[[User:Teh Ping|Teh Ping]] ([[User talk:Teh Ping|talk]]) 21:31, 17 September 2012 (CDT)

I was not trying to shift blame, only point out the issues with said reasoning. I was particularly surprised that Ping said what he did because he always seemed opposed to removing content over anything that didn't involve content getting licensed or users making unjust profits. Like I said, I just thought it was handled poorly: it should have simply been moved to the side story section and given an R-18 warning. I did not know about other stories being removed, but if they have, I would of course recommend the same action. Removing R-18 content like this just creates needless problems involving content that BT shouldn't have to deal with. For example, it's really easy to argue that DxD or Campione should not be hosted because of their content based on this decision (there is not a single warning of R-18 content either.) It is not any of you guys' responsibility to be the parent for children lurking the internet, anyway. It had a warning when I read it last time, and when I came back to re-read SAO, it was gone completely. I do not have any thoughts about the forum; as it is separate from the Wiki, I do not think it is a problem to enforce a different set of rules. On a closing note, please take this less personally, Ping. I am not making you out to be a "bad person" or whatever strange thoughts you're having. I wanted my thoughts known, but I didn't want to clog up the forum seeing as it seemed to be a dead issue. While I would want any removed stories to be restored, the management and translators such as yourself are obviously the ones who have the final word. Restricting content because it doesn't appeal or seem appropriate to (x) audience is a dangerous direction to go for BT though, I feel. Take it easy and thanks for reading. --Anonymous

@Beginner, does ME 1 & 3 contain questionable content? All I know is that they are doujins, so might not belong in a LN wiki like BT. Maybe a link might be good instead of no content (which had me assume no work was done on it, up until recently), but thats up to the heads.

@Teh Ping, I respect you for your decision to take responsibility for the ire of readers on removing the chapter, though I think its not something you have to do (if it was made out of frustration and a wish for the topic to be dropped). Not sure what was the cause of the removal (I'm willing to listen if you have the time to chat), I cannot help but feel those who complain so much about it, will not or can not see beyond wanting to have everything in one place for their convenience (the internet is a wide place after all). For those stating it affects BT, do realize that even novels on the market are constantly being revised and edited as they are reprinted, to fit the standards of the time. Removing one event which does not have much plot context (unlike the anime...) and is not even part of the published novel is not going to affect anything, and is a weak point for argument. Comparing other LNs to this is even weaker, considering those rarely even reach the level of content shown here (LNs get edited before release as well...) So do consider your argument on insisting you must be able to find it on BT.--[[User:Gabgrave|Gabgrave]] ([[User talk:Gabgrave|talk]]) 01:51, 18 September 2012 (CDT)

@Anon, While I don't read nor watch DxD & Campione, I know for sure that those 2 series are at most R-15 and still can be sold at normal channels in Japan, while 16.5 is in a completely different situation, it's clearly R-18 and will never be able to sell alongside other light novels even if it's published. It's fine if you compared 16.5 to our visual novel projects, but please give a legit example of R-18 light novel hosting here.

@Gabgrave, ME1&3 are manga written by author himself, their content are clean, and I particularly like ME1 too, you should be able to find them at some online manga reading sites. The reason we can't hosted them even though they're both completely scanslated now, is because of its nature, we don't host manga here unless the script is posted as well (like ME2). The reason is legit and I respect that decision, it's just funny that the removal of the questionable content caused so much stir within SAO community here, while 2 clean & good legit stories from the same author not being here didn't raise any question nor request.

@Beginner, Thanks for the description, I have the links and will be looking them up. I think why people are not commenting is because like me, they see the red links in the page, and assume they are not translated yet. Only if we happen across some comments that make us aware that they do exists already, then we start looking for it.--[[User:Gabgrave|Gabgrave]] ([[User talk:Gabgrave|talk]]) 02:25, 18 September 2012 (CDT)

Forgot to mention this earlier, Ence was the one who translated and posted 16.5 here, not Teh_Ping, please be careful and not spreading misinformation. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] ([[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]]) 03:12, 18 September 2012 (CDT)
My bad. Mistaken information received. Removed from post.--[[User:Gabgrave|Gabgrave]] ([[User talk:Gabgrave|talk]]) 03:23, 18 September 2012 (CDT)

Firstly, when I say trying to shift blame, I would refer to the guy who actually took down the page, Vaelis, the admin of the SAO project. On Baka Tsuki, each project can be removed by three groups of people. The translator of the work, the Supervisors, and the admins. Since we're going to be stuck here for a while, I'll break it down.

First, while I said that I didn't like having 16.5, I respect the fact that it was uploaded. That was why I never demanded for it to be deleted, even though I am vocal against those who wanted it on '''just to see that Kirito and Asuna have their relationship consummated''', which is a completely stupid excuse (note that I don't say reason here because there was nothing reasonable at all). When I posted '''in white''' that I would go unless it was removed, note that it was in jest. Do note that while I am against it being posted, I am neutral against it being removed because the damage had already been done. [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=3128&start=2040 All the mess can be read from here until the next 5 pages or so] If you had seen my actions during the Volume 9 incident, you would have realized that if I wanted a page to be deleted, I would have just gone ahead to delete all the stuff way back when I joined this project (as a Supervisor), and how I nearly nuked the entire Accel World project here. Now, I really don't want Vaelis to be blamed for this, but he did delete it after reading through our arguments (on both parties). This is why I say that I will just take all the blame, because if I go on to explain, other people are just going to be implicated as well, (and I'm pretty much...the fall guy on Baka Tsuki at this point). If you're going to talk about how I had been whining about it affecting my rep, Gabgrave made the mistake I knew was coming from a mile away (before correcting it). No one is trying to be a 'parent' here, but I won't be elaborating on this part because I'm in class right now

And yes, I am very frustrated that we're still arguing over when it has been almost 3 months since this was 'resolved'. Unfortunately, I don't think there would be a proper conclusion in this case. The way we have been going on about this is as if some important story was omitted like how Kirito took on Heathcliff. If you say that it's important, understand this, it's not in the official printed LN. If you argue for the case of how the MEs and other stuff are all uploaded even though they're not in print media, again, bottom line is whether the three groups of people want it online.--[[User:Teh Ping|Teh Ping]] ([[User talk:Teh Ping|talk]]) 04:06, 18 September 2012 (CDT)

It seems like my point is being missed...removing content because it is "objectionable," is not something I think BT should do. It's not in the official printed LN, which is why I said it should be moved to side stories. I don't really care if it consummates their relationship or not (it's a harem where one girl is given the "I'm going to win regardless" before said chapter even happens, so...) There is no such thing as "damage done" if you ask me: if the author thought it was good enough to be on his site, I'm not going to judge it as some "garbage" or "painful to read" work of a fan. And while you, Gabgrave, may think DxD/Campione is not R-18, you would have an incredibly hard time persuading someone who was raised in a Western environment otherwise (I read all three of these titles, and they go pretty far, haha.) I'm not sure why anyone is getting upset over this, but I can't keep a rational topic going for long if I'm the only one trying to do so. I'll drop it with this. -- Anonymous

Sigh. Listen, if you really want to read it then you can always go to Tap-Trans. I'm not giving the link. Search for it yourself. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 18:56, 18 September 2012 (CDT)

Can't believe I actually registered an account just to respond to this message. Look, are you trying to guilt trip the other guys here, or are you just trying to get them to say sorry for removing and stuff? From the look of your first paragraph, it already showed that you were trying to blame someone for this, especially Teh Ping. I can understand why Ping wanted to hurry up and get over this because he has better things to do than to respond to someone like you who's digging up the past for your own sake. If you want to know where your beloved 16.5 went, just follow what Zero got to. Rational topic? How rational is it in the first place when you're talking about it, ''3 months after it was removed,'' when everyone is planning to just continue on, and how about talking about R-18 and stuff when your American standard doesn't match what the Japanese assume to be R-18? There's a reason why Campione and DxD are both published while this 16.5, even with Japan's lax standard for fanservice nowadays, failed to make the cut. Consider me grateful that it was taken down because it was such a huge distraction (Doesn't chapter 17 imply that they did it in the first place?). Now, if you're going to continue to post here regarding this, I think Teh Ping would be pissed that he has to be the one arguing with you instead of working on volume 10 of SAO (I can only remain patient as a reader).--[[User:Wertmog|Wertmog]] ([[User talk:Wertmog|talk]]) 21:38, 18 September 2012 (CDT)

I'm honestly kind of impressed. Like, why do either of you visit this site? Apparently neither of you can read at all! I do not care about too much about 16.5. It is easy to find and it does not add much, if anything, to the story. I care about the fact that '''IT WAS CONSIDERED SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE UPLOADED AND LATER REMOVED BECAUSE OF OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT.''' There is nothing about guilt trips and I have no idea why people like you have to make things personal despite my repeated assurances that I was not. The entire point of me bringing up standards is because '''THERE ARE NO SUCH STANDARDS.''' What is considered obscene in Japan is not considered obscene in the US, and the opposite is often true as well. When you do things like this, you create a standard. And creating this particular standard jeopardizes other projects in the future because declaring what content is appropriate is a ''very'' slippery slope. There is nothing to argue about; this is simply how things work. That concerns me and I would rather say "this looks dangerous" instead of standing by and waiting for things to play out. I'm glad Ping cares enough to read and respond to my concerns, but it seems like he simply assumed I was complaining about how 16.5 is gone and nothing more. I don't want to assign "blame" or else I would be quite frank about it (as I am with you two.) I don't consider it his responsibility that the chapter was taken down, but BT's as a whole. Furthermore, Ping is free to do whatever he pleases; I doubt he considers "arguing" with me a priority when choosing between the browsing the internet, translating, and whatever other recreational stuff he does. So take your flame baits somewhere else. Or don't, I said I would drop this, and now I will. I voiced my concerns and what's done is done. If someone can't handle me having the last word, insult me or tell me how wrong I am... or let the issue die. Regardless, I wish the best to Ping and those involved with translating, as well as those who bothered to think about my concerns in a logical manner. --Anonymous

Blablabla, immature question about intelligence of others, denial of topic at hand DESPITE this page and topic being what it is, then bringing up standards instead of in the... well, it's not that hard to make a new thread on forum, saying that there are no standards despite there being one, even if it is not recognized by you, stating the obvious "this is simply how things work", ignores the fact that there were loads of people on BT arguing against removal, even if they lost, stating once again that will drop despite seeing the same words in the previous one, I cann't stand you having the last word(I'm immature like that), your concerns are logical(so are the concerns of those who removed it. Did YOU think about that?) but your arguments are not. ~~ Just as Anon

Umm... Could you stop using caps with bold? Personally I get what you're saying. I was against it's removal too, precisely because I didn't want to risk any more removals. But at the same time I understood their point of view as well. Therefore, if you want to read it then search out Tap-Trans (it's not like it's ''gone'' gone, just think it's re-located). That's all. Deal with it. It's not the end of the world. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 06:15, 19 September 2012 (CDT)

== Similar to Prince Revolution? ==

I've read two chapters of SAO and up to chapter 4 of PR's Vol3 and so far the settings are really similar, although they're different in terms of characters and amount of comedy and other things.

It may be very similar, but you can't say that this setting is very unique in terms of anime and manga, I mean, look at .Hack. I think that this is the similarity is only a result of the similar settings.

_______________________________________

Prince Revolution is the name of the site/group that translates the novel "1/2 Prince" by Yu Wo. Not the novel itself. There may be some similiarities to 1/2 Prince, the .Hack//-series or Yureka, but that is because all of them are about virtual reality MMOs. If you look at them from another point of view, you might see the differences in the plot. SAO is about being trapped in the game, with virtual death killing your real body and the struggle to escape this. This is not the case in 1/2 Prince, where the big problem lies in

-*************SPOILER ALERT START************ (Is it possible to put the following lines in a spoiler-tab? I have no idea how to do it)

NPCs getting self-concious and revolting against human players in the game world. Yureka also have a few "virtual death = real death" parts, but the main story is about the main character finding the hacking program called Yureka who is somewhere in the game world. I haven't read .Hack//, so sadly, I can't say anything about that.

-*************SPOILER ALERT END*************

So, think of this before you imply that a novel is a copy of another one. Sure, it may have been an inspiration to SAO (Actually, that depends on which of them were written first), but unless the plot is the exact same thing, they are looked at as two different novels. An example of this is Lion King. It is inspired by Hamlet, but would you sue Disney for trying to copy Shakespeare?
____________________________________

==Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer (Aincrad 46th Floor, December 2023)==

here, don't you mean 2024??? all the other dates were 2024

Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer occurs before the first 3 short stories.
It's also the most touching if you ask me T_T

[[User:Mikazuki|Mikazuki]] 11:52, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

Am I going bonkers or somehow I can't seem to find chapter 4 for volume 3...flipped through my book. hrmph...

[[User:Datenshi|Datenshi]] 3:29, 12 April 2010 (UTC)

I expect tears, given who this chapter involves... T-T

Just a little trivia: December was dubbed <<The Month of Holly>> here, because the kanji character for holly (柊; commonly read as ''Hiiragi'') can also be read as "Noel", which also means Christmas. And since Christmas falls on December 25th, well you've got the point. Hope this help :)

Well, all 12 months of Aincrad were given names after a kind of tree, so I'm sure it's an in-game thing. People don't actually call it the month of Holly irl --[[User:M.A.D|M.A.D]] - [[User_talk:M.A.D|Talk]] 11:24, 16 August 2012 (CDT)

You should put such trivia in a ref tag. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:45, 16 August 2012 (CDT)

== Korean RAWs? ==

Anyone kind enough to send me Korean RAW scans of volume 2?
I can't find the Korean official translated book anywhere(except on Korean sites, which I can't order from)
Since I'm fluent in Korean, I could help a bit if anyone is doing the translations from the Korean RAWs.
--[[Special:Contributions/68.100.64.165|68.100.64.165]] 01:52, 29 October 2010 (UTC)

== Is there going to be a SAO-manga or did I just see something else? ==

Hey,
I just saw some kind of SAO-manga and wasn't quite sure what it actually was - a oneshot? some fan-made stuff? or is there really going to be a SAO-manga?

It's about 33pages long and just looked like the beginning of the first volume, though it was a little different.
And as I neither have seen anything about a SAO-manga existing up till now nor am able to read japanese, I just thought I'd ask here.

Here's the link: http://comic.xxbh.net/colist_171754.html

newer translated link http://www.mangafox.com/manga/sword_art_online
---------------------------
Isn't that the illustration from Volume 1 page 2-3? Try google translate--[[Special:Contributions/68.100.64.165|68.100.64.165]] 06:05, 29 November 2010 (UTC)
---------------------------
As I already pointed out it's 33pages long. I should have made that clear, sorry -> http://comic.xxbh.net/201010/171755.html (link to the chapter)

Yup, there is a SAO manga. I read a few chapter in chinese quite some time ago.
- [[User:Destinyz|Destinyz]]

Ah, ok thanks.

Well, for those who intend to read it, a small advice : don't u_u. The novel story is way better, even though I thought it would be great in anime or manga x). - Allucyfer

== LAUGHING COFFIN ARC ==

Ok, I have been debating with myself (I'm going nuts) whether to add the LAUGHING COFFIN ARC in the table of contents- It seems that this arc, happened during Aincrad, a side story that should be included in the Volume 2. But because it's long (4 chapters) the publishers dropped it, but the events in this is mentioned in vol.1, tho, in a few words only. It'd be nice if we can read the entire story about this right? Kirito, Asuna and other Clearers vs the Laughing Coffin Guild, the biggest PKers in Aincrad. - Saorian

I'd love to read the laughing coffin arc. From what I've heard, it might be important to some of the other books. But, would you add it as if it were another book - like instead of Sword Art Online: Volume ## --> Sword Art Online:Laughing Coffin Arc?--[[User:Darn2k|Darn2k]] 14:36, 15 April 2011 (UCT)

How about like this: Volume SS - LAUGHING COFFIN ARC , and stick it between Volume 2 and 3? - Saorian

I added it - since Side Stories 1,2,3,6 were made into vol2 Aincrad, Side Stories 4 included in Phantom Bullet vol 5 and Side Story 6 got it's own very own book, vol 7 - It's safe to say that SAO SS 5 - Laughing Coffing Guild arc, won't get published as it's Timeline was passed on already (between vol 2 and 3) The other SS respected the proper timeline...

----
Btw. if more timeline issues pop up you could create a timeline page, where the story is listed sorted in chronological order... --[[User:Darklor|Darklor]] 21:57, 16 May 2011 (UCT)
----

So is this chapter even published? Because from what I read here it seems it's out but nobody wants to add it cause we already went past it in chronological order.
I fail to see how that's a reason though as the special with Kirito meeting Asuna was inserted after we went past those event.
Can someone clarify?
Thanks.--[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] 22:06, 11 March 2012 (CDT)

It's in volume 8 first side story, with the name 'A Murder Case In the Area' --[[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] 20:53, 12 March 2012 (CDT)

Okay, thanks.--[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] 19:06, 14 March 2012 (CDT)

== Simply Amazing ==

This is simply amazing. Honestly I'm not much of a crybaby I watch and read sad animes and mangas all the time and just take them in as a story. So far I've only cried twice during watching all the animes and mangas I've seen in the past 5,6 years of my life, to Bitter Virgin (Manga) and to Kanon 2006 (anime... which truthfully I watch all eps in a single sitting crying from ep 7 onwards practically non stop.). So far this Story has made me cry numerous times. It is so well written and the characters are so real its strange.Only problem I have with it is that I don't like how volume 2 works. I only really like the AsunaxKirito/Kazuka storyline not all that extra stuff that doesn't continue on with the story. Sadly the way I see it after reading Volume 1 I can't see any room for a prequel. The story starts with entering SOA. And nothing that happens up until he kills the Ragout Rabbit matters. I spose how Asuna and Kirito initially met matters slightly but honestly, I find it much better knowning that they knew each other as acquaintances and thats all. Even the part about him having Asuna nap next to him really doesn't add all that much.

Volume 3 while not as touching seems to bring up a lot of my memories of the first volume as well as adding in some slight new things... it doesn't really seem it (so far only on chapter 3) but it does so in a subtler way then Vol 1

- Karnowo.B@gmail.com / Karno
[Edit: Adding to what I have to say.]

Well, read volume 2 as it comes out and stuff. It is full of Kirito's awesomeness. Also, one of the things I love most about this novel is how "The Black Swordsman" is codeword for "Oh Shi-!" [[User:Ax'el|Ax'el]] 21:09, 16 May 2011 (UCT)
======Request======
Greetings.(Sorry for creating yet another heading.)May I ask about using the image links in SAO English in SAO Indonesian when I start translating them?Thanks before.--[[User:User753|User753]]-[[User talk:User753|Talk]]- 11:57, 2 June 2012 (CDT)
== The Tentative time line ==

I think you should remove the tentative time line from the page or put it under spoilers, because it spoils for people who didn't read it, how the first volume ends.

== Suspense: Volume 4 Chapter 9 ==

Ahhh dear editors, don't build up sooo much suspense! I and I think many others are like dying to read the final chapter (though I think the highlight were chapter 7 and 8). But really thanks a lot for all of your work! I really appreciate it!
== confused ==
s00000 uhhhhh chapter 8 was actually the last chapter and chapter 9 was a joke? im confuse.

No it is not, there is a chapter 9, and it will be out soon. If rnn doesn't post it by noon, I will.--[[User:Darn2k|Darn2k]] 08:48, 24 May 2011 (UCT)

great, something to look forward for tonight XD - RandomPasserBy 08:51, 24 May 2011 (UCT)

ohhhh thx I was confused before but now im excited! cant wait!!!! --[[User:Zer0light|Zer0light]] 08:57, 24 May 2011 (UCT)

== Confused, but for a different reason ==

First off, thanks so much for the excellent translating job everyone's doing! But, I'm a little confused as to why v7 is being translated before v5&6. Is v7 a type of stand-alone volume/how does it relate in time to the arch's of v5&6? Ok, now I think I'm rambling, but I hope you get what I'm asking. Thanks again and keep up the good work!

They are being translated by different groups/people.--[[User:Darn2k|Darn2k]] 19:03, 26 May 2011 (UCT)

Ah! Thanks for the answer. Don't know why that thought didn't occur to me.

== Sword Art Online Extra Story #7 : The Cradle of the Moon ==
===Entry 0 [September 12th, 2009 (Saturday)]===

====■To everyone reading [Sword Art Online] via the Dengeki Bunko publication:■====
This [Sword Art Online Side Story 7] is written in relation to the web version of the SAO series, the 4th Arc: Alicization, but is designed to be read as an independent fantasy novel with names that happen to match. However, there may be some information about the Dengeki Bunko release accidentally obtained by reading this, so I would like readers to take these points in consideration when reading.
====■Glossary■====
*Underworld: Another (VR) World
*Human World: Located in the Western section of Underworld, a country surrounded by the《Mountains at World's End》. Only Human World citizen live here. Capital is 《Centoria》.
*Demon World (Lit="Pitch-Black World"): Area surrounding the Human World. The five races of Demon World citizens, orcs, goblins, ogres, and giants live here. The capital is 《Obsidia》.
*Boundary Wall (Lit:Wall at the End): An infinitely high vertical cliff that surrounds all of Underworld. No race can reach the top of the wall.
*Holy Church: Used to be the governing body that took control of all of Underworld. Later dissovled, it is now re-established as the 《United Congregation of the Human World》.
*Central Cathedral: A tower that was the former Holy Church's headquarters, consisting of 100 floors. Currently the United Congregation of the Human World's base.
*Knights of Virtue (Lit=Alignmen Knights):The strongest knights of the Holy Church.
*Sacred Arts (Dark Arts): The magic used by knights and sorcerers. Uses the eight attributes of Flame, Ice, Wind, Earth, Steel, Crystal, Light and Darkness as it's base.
*Heaven's Blessing: A kind of durability assigned to all things in Underworld. Beings that reach a value of zero will die, inanimate beings will deteriorate.

====■Characters■====
*Ronier Arabel:A girl in an apprenticeship to become a Knight of Virtue. Her knight is 《Tsukika》.
*Tiez Stolinen:A girl in an apprenticeship to become a Knight of Virtue. Her knight is 《Shimosaki》
*Kirito: Swordsman. Representatve of the United Congregation of the Human World.
*Asuna: Swordswoman. Kirito's partner.
*Fatiano Synthesis Two: Leader of the Knights of Virtue.
*Sheta Synthesis Twelve: Knight of Virtue. Ambassador of the human world.
*Lenri Synthesis Fourty-Nine: Knight of Virtue.
*Mudai Syldrei: Blacksmith. Senior advisor of the cathedral's arsenal.
*Ishkhan: Gladiator. Representative of the Dark World's Five Tribe Congress.

----

Is someone translating this? --[[User:Darklor|Darklor]] 15:43, 14 June 2011 (UCT)

I don't think so, or at least if it is, no-one has updated to show a larger portion of the story. which is a pity really because there aren't enough translators, though if decent enough translations are made part by part, and the abundant editors will probably be able to sort out grammar and consistency [[Special:Contributions/92.41.251.249|92.41.251.249]] 16:39, 7 November 2012 (CST)

I believe it is being translated, but might not be posted here yet because of the Alitization spoilers [[User:Bilagaana|Bilagaana]] ([[User talk:Bilagaana|talk]]) 16:56, 7 November 2012 (CST)

== Appreciate the work ==

Hey, I recently started reading sword art online, and I sincerely appreciate the work that's been done thus far. I'd love to contribute, but an upcoming major exam's hogging my time. Sword Art's been great read, and it really helps in stress relief. Once again, thanks all.
this page has now gotten over 1,000,000 views!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

== Great story, great translation! ==

I just finished volume 4 and I wanted to stop by and say how awesome you guys are for translating this.
This series is a great piece of science fiction and I'm glad you guys are bringing it to another audience.
I've heard how troublesome and time consuming translating can be, especially Japanese, but you're all doing an awesome job!

Keep up the good work! :)

== I think this is an issue ==

Chapter four of Mother's Rosario has the link that leads to chapter five, but chapter five isn't shown as being done or having any link on the main project page.

Probably means that the translator doesn't want his incomplete work to be shown to the masses yet I guess.--[[User:WingsofSnow|WingsofSnow]] 09:44, 16 September 2011 (CDT)

== http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=333893 ==

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~ 21:55, 1 October 2011 (CDT)

haha yeah an anime adaptation (w/ Accel world)
Hope it will be good like .hack

I heard a game is coming underway too, is that true?

How many episodes do you suppose there will be in the anime? Hope they're more than 12. Also is there only one season planned or will that depend on the ratings? GAME?!?!? mmo based on ALO or visual novel?

== Replacement of nav table with nav template ==

I would hence like to propose that we replace the current (and if I may say, extremely limited capability carrying) nav table system:

ie:
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Sword Art Online:Volume 2 Chapter 3|Chapter 3]]
| Return to [[Sword Art Online|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Sword Art Online:Volume 2 Chapter 4 Part 2|Part 2]]
|-
|}

with the new [[Template:SAO Nav|SAO Nav Template]].

ie: {{SAO Nav|prev=Sword Art Online:Volume 2 Chapter 3|next=Sword Art Online:Volume 2 Chapter 4 Part 2}}

which is becoming popular and has more capabilities/advantages.

Advantages of the new system:
#We can decrease the overall page storage size. (No need to write long code, just the call code will be enough, take a look of this section in edit mode to get the picture.)
#Have a call code that is easier to:
##memorize
##recall
##and write. (Again, see in edit mode if you still don't understand)
#Have page jumping ability to any page in the series regardless of where we currently are, thus speeding up page navigation in case of checking previous or future facts for comparison.
#Can make changes to template page itself and have the navs on the pages immediately mirror the changes. (Reduction of data redundancy and error, ie: you wont have to go through all the pages and change every single one just editing the template page will be enough).
#Template's next and prev links are generic so they can be used for both volume and chapter pages without problems, ie: uniform system.
#Collapsibility ensures that size is compact and acceptable, for jumping one just needs to expand it by clicking the [show] link.
#Page center aligned. (Not really important, it looks better than right aligning it, still... minor point)

This template was previously fully implemented but then removed due to some issues. All those in favor or against please respond. If you wish any improvements to the template then please suggest them on the [[Template Talk:SAO Nav]] page. I will address them as best as I can. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:25, 11 December 2011 (CST)

Hey hey. If there is no one against it then it is fine to implement it, right? I mean the advantages listed above show that it is more beneficial to implement. And no one having any points against it kinda also suggests the same. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 07:34, 28 December 2011 (CST)

I'm against it and I already implemented a nav bar with most of the advantages you mentioned. I put it in volume 1 and will do the other volume soon.
[[User:Vaelis|Vaelis]] 08:47, 28 December 2011 (CST)

Hmm so you are using this:
{{Nav|Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 1|{{SAO List v1a}}|Sword Art Online}}

Page jumping is still not implemented. That is the main functionality of my proposed template. And you say that you are against it? May I ask why? Please explain in detail. I say that there is a great advantage in implementing it because it will allow both users and translators to jump between pages.
*Translators will be able to navigate between their different chapters more easily and create new chapters with just a click. ''(Plus since the chapter page names will be decided beforehand there won't be a chance of page name inconsistency that often happens.)''
*Furthermore, users will be able to navigate more easily as well ''(in the case of dead ends as well as to check a previous chapter for a related fact, or to skip a volume while re-reading, people do that you know)''.

If I recall previously you mentioned that you didn't like how the template ''looks'' like, is that correct? I must tell you that Infinite Stratos, Itsuka Tenma, Toaru, BakaTest, Chrome Shelled Regios, Dantalian no Shoka have all implemented and started making use of similar templates. I'm only trying to do what is best for this project. Please support me. I assure you that you won't regret it. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:26, 28 December 2011 (CST)

On the opposite side the template Vaelis has implemented is rather interesting. Hmm it has properly addressed the problem of repetition, excessive space wastage, as well as the non-user-friendly coding. Particularly that is automatically generating the links. Very interesting. I'll examine it thoroughly. Maybe I can implement that in my templates somehow. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:28, 28 December 2011 (CST)

Hey hey. We need more participants in this discussion. Please tell us which template you think has more functionalities. User feedback is essential. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:37, 28 December 2011 (CST)

I don't know about other people, but all I need is the link back to Main. The Back and Next is nice extra. For reading, I mainly use my other comp that is not logged on, so I can read cached stuff which is faster. If people don't already know, if you sign in with a name while reading, you get served fresh pages every time, anon people get faster cached pages. [[User:Xplorer30|Xplorer30]] - [[User_talk:Xplorer30|Talk]] 20:24, 28 December 2011 (CST)

- Personally, I don't really care as long as "forward" "main page" are included, since I simply tap backspace to get back, though I must say it'd look ugly without the "back button". Also, jumping through halyard from a volume to another volume is, I must say, unuseful in my case. However, I find the nav bar pretty good-looking, which is the reason why I wasn't fully opposed back then, even if I was sceptical about it. Personally, if the bar could simply keep the back/forward buttons, the main page buttons, it'd be fine, though I would like the chapter names indicated on th next/previous button. Also, I feel more concerned about these huge references tag that take too much space in the text than the nav bar... [[User:Kira0802|Kira]] ([[User_talk:Kira0802|Talk]]) 21:09, 28 December 2011 (CST)

I agree with Kira. Note this isn't about SAO directly but rather about this type of navbar as a whole. If I really want to jump chapters/volumes, I really won't care about 2 clicks instead of 1 (Main -> the chapter I want). Actually, I don't even use the Main button much, just the Forward one. I can't recall ever using the Back button.

For me I'm fine whether or not the chapter name is included, because when just reading I don't care what the name of the next chapter is, I can just click Forward to get to it, and when I'm editing stuff I use the Main Page as a portal (it'd be open in a tab by itself) and the chapter names are available there.

In fact, I've even created a group of navs that have most of the advantages you state and maintains the simplicity of the Nav template, but is in my opinion better than the generic Nav template, in that it is specialized for each novel, so if it needs to be changed for some specific novel it can be done without affecting any of the other novels. They can be found [[:Category:Simple_Navbars|here]]. It would be nice if there is some kind of standard that could be decided, for the moment anyways. By the way, I'm starting to think this doesn't fit in the SAO talk anymore and maybe should have a forum topic.. --[[User:Jonathanasdf|jonathanasdf]] 21:43, 28 December 2011 (CST)

Hmm, interesting points, I'll try and explain my reasoning below:

*You guys might say that you don't care but you must admit that it is much easier to navigate if it is a one step method (chapter A -> chapter B) rather than a two step method (Chapter A -> Main Page -> Chapter B). While you may say you might not care, page jumping can help speed up navigation for those who reach dead ends or are translating multiple chapters at the same time. Plus the Next, Previous and Main Page Links are already present in the SAO Nav. Additionally I don't think forum is needed. This is about SAO strictly.
*About chapter names included in the next previous: my stance is that it makes the whole thing look bulky. And you can simply expand SAO Nav not only to see your own position (black text) but also the positions of all the chapters (translated and untranslated) this helps motivate people to translate more chapters in less time because of the clash between the visual red and blue links.
*Those who strictly want to use the next/previous/main buttons need not expand the template at all just use the Next, Prev and Main Page Name Links. It's a system that caters to both types. And just doesn't restrict itself to one type. Plus the SAO Nav is for the SAO Novels alone so making changes in it will only affect SAO and no other novels.
*I am not a fan of the words forward and back since they give off a vibe in terms of page navigation history rather than novel navigation (by page history navigation I mean those two back and forward buttons in the Navigation Toolbar of your Internet Browser).
*Simple Navs only cater to those who read through linearly and only once. Not everyone does. SAO Nav caters to both parties and it's already ready to roll, so why is it wrong? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 23:37, 28 December 2011 (CST)

this helps motivate people to translate more chapters in less time because of the clash between the visual red and blue links.

hahaha if only that was true :P

It's not "wrong" imo, it just seems a bit ... overkill. I'm neither for nor against, in that my stance is "I don't really care either way as long as there is some way to get to the next chapter", but I would like it to be standardized. Also, even if this is SAO only I still think it belongs in the forums because it's hard to quote stuff in wiki. --[[User:Jonathanasdf|jonathanasdf]] 00:54, 29 December 2011 (CST)

It's actually true. It's a subconscious trick I learned from my experience with mediawiki. People can't stand redlinks. They desire to remove them or turn them blue. If they can't remove them then they can '''only''' turn them blue by making articles. This is one of the things I have learned. Please have faith in me. I believe this trick has actually helped speed up the translation rates on many of the projects where similar templates have been implemented. I don't know about you guys, but I am sick and tired of waiting. If only I could read kanji/hiragana/katagana, I could help translate. But since I can't I must use such methods. If I didn't I'd just be a simple leacher (At least this way I can contribute indirectly). Furthermore, I assure you that my template will sate '''both''' those who want linear navigation '''and''' those who need to jump between chapters quickly. Isn't that better than just favoring one party? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 10:20, 29 December 2011 (CST)

I hereby declare. Implementing SAO Nav '''will''' improve not only the navigation but also the rate of translation. It is a time-tested surefire method. Please support me. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 10:34, 29 December 2011 (CST)

There's no need for that. Ping's doing a good job enough so we don't need to subconsiously press him. IMO, anavbar should just go forward and to the main page. No, wait, you just need to click 'SAO' on the sidebar to get back to the main page. Also, Zero, I'll ask you this: When do you surf through a certain chapter of a volume to another chapter 2-3 volumes after? There's no need for that, and in my old computer, the bar colapses too slowly. Not that I do really mind, since it's at the bottom, but still, it loads unnecessary content. [[User:Kira0802|Kira]] ([[User_talk:Kira0802|Talk]]) 11:15, 29 December 2011 (CST)

I prefer the old one for its simplicity. Just go for previous/next chapter, and navigate 2 other chapters frm main page. short n simple. --[[User:Chancs|Chancs]] 11:29, 29 December 2011 (CST)

Time-tested surefire method? Where's the evidence? As for why I personally don't think the chapter jumping is useful, it is because I actually rely on chapter titles to look for where I want to jump to, and this navbar doesn't have (and can't really have) chapter titles. So, to me there is no advantage of this navbar over the old one, so I am not supporting it.

At the same time, to me there is no disadvantage that this navbar brings since my internet and computer are fast enough to load both at around the same speed, so I am not against it either... --[[User:Jonathanasdf|jonathanasdf]] 13:13, 29 December 2011 (CST)

I completely agree with 'chapters title' issue --[[User:Chancs|Chancs]] 13:27, 29 December 2011 (CST)

Simple design is fine, but the aforementioned lack of chapter title is a huge turn-off for me as well --[[User:TheQwertiest|TheQwertiest]] 14:15, 29 December 2011 (CST)

It is time tested. Shortly after it's implementation Infinite Stratos picked up it's pace of translation as did Itsuka Tenma and Baka Test, I will concede that for some reason it didn't work on Hidan no Aria, but it still has a high success rate. Toaru and Chrome Shelled don't count because they are near completion. About the chapters title issue. I can easily implement further variable tags that can take chapter names from writers and thus display them like the nav table of old. Even though I won't like that but if you guys say that you prefer it that way I can do it. Or I can Implement a system like the one in the [[Template:Nav]]. To have both links and have chapter names be generated automatically. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:20, 29 December 2011 (CST)

I surf/go back to check up on a previous fact. For example in chapter 9 of volume 4 the people from Volume 2 make an appearance. I can go back to refresh my memory of them. And sorry I don't just read a story once. I find that I understand new things each time I read them (like foreshadowings, predictions, etc). Each time I read through I find new and more interesting tidbits. And I am not alone in this. Each and every person goes through stories more than once, either due to the aforementioned reasons or just because they want to read through it again. And it is not definite that they will read through all the volumes linearly. Some might want to skip certain volumes. And I for one find going back to the main page tiresome. It's unnecessary. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:33, 29 December 2011 (CST)

Though

1. Infinte Stratos was pretty much because Ping joined in. The content is rather easy. So is Baka-Test. I don't know about Itsuten though. However, the implentation of nav bar coincided with the summer vacations, if I remember well, so it's another factor.

2. OK, fine, some do use the 'skip a few chapters' function. However, from what I see from the comments, no one else needs it really.
[[User:Kira0802|Kira]] ([[User_talk:Kira0802|Talk]]) 16:59, 29 December 2011 (CST)

Yeah, I'm not sure that counts as proof, since the cause-effect could really go either way. Rather, I have a feeling it is because the translation speed picked up that there was more attention which led to the navbar being implemented. After all, I only see this navbar in the most popular novels...

And I was talking about the chapter names in the expanded navbar. I don't really care about chapter names in the next/prev because the only time I need chapter names is when I'm looking back for stuff. I don't think this navbar can easily have chapter name support in the expanded mode because some of them are really long.

I'll try to stop writing anything more here since my stance is neutral anyways... --[[User:Jonathanasdf|jonathanasdf]] 17:45, 29 December 2011 (CST)

*''About being not needed:'' Dude, that's how all new things start out. People think they don't need them but give a while of use and it becomes indispensable. A few centuries ago people didn't need electricity or natural gas as much as they do now. But now, they start rioting if it's cut off for too long.
*''About Translation Speed:'' Ping was present before the template was added as well but only two volumes were translated. However after the Infinite Stratos Nav was implemented I believe a fire was sparked in Ping. I believe the redlinks were the motivation or rather the inspiration he needed. Of course I don't think this method affects everyone. But I'm sure it does affect some. and their example will move others, kind of like those cartoons where a little rock knocks down a bigger one which in turn knocks over an even bigger one, thus triggering an avalanche. We need to motivate people, even if the most mundane or subliminal methods are present I believe we should grasp and use them. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:49, 29 December 2011 (CST)

Even if it is circumstantial evidence at best I have faith in this method. About chapter names: True it would be difficult to implement full chapter names. But it is possible in some cases. However we are not talking abpout nav templates as a whole. Only for SAO. Please bear that in mind. And SAO does not have many named chapters. So that isn't an issue here. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:55, 29 December 2011 (CST)

...Zero, why would Ping scroll the nav bar anyways to see the red links? In my case, I post the translation, then I say 'Goodbye' and leave. Also, he posts his translation progression in the forums, in a portfolio.

For the chapter names, I'd like to say that I want to know where I'm heading when I press 'forward'. Especially when there's 24 chapters in a volume that you don't care to remember which chapter you are on. [[User:Kira0802|Kira]] ([[User_talk:Kira0802|Talk]]) 21:38, 29 December 2011 (CST)

Seeing red once would be enough, it stays in your head. Plus it is a fact that the pace picked up after implementation. And like I said I can add the next/prev page name display functionality if you guys really want it. But that's something to be requested on the [[Template Talk:SAO Nav]] page. It's actually quite simple to implement that. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 00:45, 30 December 2011 (CST)
------------

OK, here are the facts, ingnoring the IS argument since it was mostly because Ping started translating like a madafter he finished Index. They obviously show the opposite of what you are saying. Here's my statement: '''The translation pace does not get faster if there is a nav bar of added, with all the red links and else. It might even slow the pace.'''

*Itsuten: Volume 1 got completed 7 days earlier than Volume 3. Volume 1 was done before the nav bar was added, and volume 3, after. Can't say if it worked or not, but it's more penching towards the 'no' side.

*Hidan no Aria: The comparison before/after is obvious. It didn't work.

*Dantalian: What is the number of chapters completed since the nav bar was added? 0. It probably didn't work.

*Chrome Shelled Regios: 41k done in around four months. Around 178k before for the same length of time. Didn't work.

*Toaru Majutsu no Index, NT and SS: I can't find the updates page, but it probably changed nothing. However, Ping retired shortly after, so the place probably got slower. Following that reasoning, I say that it has less translation after. Though let's put this in the gray zone if you really want to insist.

*Baka To test: Volume7 has been done in 78 days. Volume 3.5 in 76. Hwever, since the nav bar was added during the translation of 7, soI can't use that. As for Volume 7.5, I didn't calculate it as different chapters were done in different orders, and that I use the beginning of the first chapter and the creation of the full text as references.

*Sword Art Online: During the time the bar was used, there were no completed chapters. Did not work.

So, you argument does not stand, Zero. [[User:Kira0802|Kira]] ([[User_talk:Kira0802|Talk]]) 15:45, 30 December 2011 (CST)

:Finally, someone who does his homework. I see, but I still hold that it does motivate others at a subconscious level (so much so that people don't realize it, normal rate is that it takes half a year to translate a single volume). It does not change the fact that SAO Nav will make navigation easier. Does it? Easier navigation leads to more popularity in websites which in turn will lead to faster development here. '''[http://www.mardiros.net/good-navigation.html That is a fact]''' (See ''Less clicks the better''). Jeez it's even drilled into every Computer Science student while discussing website development. Just look at the sidebar on the left. Why do you think they listed and linked the project names there when they could have made a separate page with the list? Answer: for faster navigation. Just because you won't use it, it's not right to ignore those who do. If you think there are people who would use it, shouldn't you accommodate them? Or will you ignore them just because they don't think like you. That's why I integrated next prev in all the nav templates, so that ''both sides would be happy''. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:32, 30 December 2011 (CST)

:You also mentioned (many posts ago) that the SAO Nav would collapse slowly. That's a personal problem. Since coding is used for the collapsing function, it stands that it's the fault of your computer alone. Nowadays everyone has at least a Core 2 Duo level processor. Those who don't are way behind the times. If you also have a Core 2 Duo or higher level processor then you must have CPU % intensive processes running on your computer in the background (try terminating them if there are, just be sure to check if they aren't a critical process on the net). But even if you don't and there is some other reason for the slowness that is no concrete reason to shelve faster navigation. The bar is at the bottom. By the time you would reach the bottom of the page (while reading) it would already have been collapsed. Like I said before it might not seem necessary now but give it a few weeks and it'll become indispensable. That's how it always goes with every new thing. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:32, 30 December 2011 (CST)

:Toaru and Chrome Shelled Regios were already near completion before the navbar was implemented. The navbar does not seem to work for nearly completed projects for some reason. I acknowledge that weak point. I also acknowledged that the navbar doesn't affect everyone but those it does effect would in turn affect others. As for SAO I don't think enough time was given before it was taken down. Thus that cannot be included. Hidan no Aria: well I won't say anything on those guys. They'd probably take offense. But at least they didn't reject the template so they must have either found it useful or didn't care. Come to think about it if you don't care either way then there isn't any problem is there? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:32, 30 December 2011 (CST)

I was wondering why Zero2001 is arguing so hard, now I know. From the look of Teh Ping's SAO talk page, you are a big fan, haha. [[User:Xplorer30|Xplorer30]] - [[User_talk:Xplorer30|Talk]] 20:05, 31 December 2011 (CST)

:Yes. Yes. Yes. I am a <big>'''BIG'''</big> fan. But I can't translate (although I can be an editor/proofreader, but I don't think it's enough). So I did what I could and made a nav template with advanced features. I wanted to help in any way I could. And what happened? A few days later all the changes I made were removed just because it looked slightly different from before. Look, with progress comes change. You can't help it. If you can't adapt then we'll just stay stuck in the same place forever. If you google it you'll find thousands of articles by famous website developers saying one thing. The lesser the number of page loadings required to get to a goal the better, aka "less clicks the better". Why do you think the sidebar with links to all projects exist? Why do you think that the chapters are transcluded into one volume page after said volume is completed? Answer: people want to reach their goal quickly and with less page loading. Please, I humbly request that I be allowed to apply SAO Nav. It will speed up page navigation for sure, thus it is '''''beneficial''''' '''(not detrimental)''' to the SAO Project. I only want to help with what I can. Please let me. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 20:44, 31 December 2011 (CST)

Think I have an idea about the resistance, your version is nice but it's a lot of work to update. I think they want a standardized version that's easy to use, even for people with not a lot of wiki knowledge. Or do you promise to make them forever? [[User:Xplorer30|Xplorer30]] - [[User_talk:Xplorer30|Talk]] 23:04, 31 December 2011 (CST)

:I can promise to make and update them for a long time. And I promise that before I leave I will train a successor that can do it as good as or even better than me. I can't say forever since life doesn't have any guarantees. Plus actually the templates are understandable by anyone who just sits down and looks at the code properly. That's how I learned, at least (ie: By looking at others work and understanding how it is done). Furthermore I think there are candidates for my successor here already. Vaelis who designed [[Template:Nav]] for instance, there's also larethian. And what do you mean it is a lot of work to update? For a new volume, all you have to do is copy the code for the previous row, make the necessary changes (ie: change the volume number and chapter links) and viola! It isn't tough at all. The people at other projects have already learned how to update them. Just a few days ago [[Template:Hidan no Aria Nav]] was updated with a full volume and not by me. I'm always ready to help and teach, you just need to ask. Don't be shy, come on by. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 23:17, 31 December 2011 (CST)

I took a look at your code and made my own, it needs some fixes but should work, here [[Template:AW Nav|Accel World Nav Template]]. [[User:Xplorer30|Xplorer30]] - [[User_talk:Xplorer30|Talk]] 04:53, 3 January 2012 (CST)

:Accel World got promoted from Teaser to Full Project? Whohoo! If you want I can design one of my templates for you. It'll only take less than 2 hrs. Feel free to ask. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 05:38, 3 January 2012 (CST)

But lets get back to the subject at hand. The SAO Nav is ready to roll for months now. Shall we? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 05:40, 3 January 2012 (CST)

It's not like something bad will happen if it is applied. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 05:51, 3 January 2012 (CST)

I just updated Wikipedia's SAO page and it was really problematic that I had to go to go through the chapters the way it is now, in order to gather the facts. chapter a -> main page -> chapter b -> main page -> chapter c -> main page -> ... I'm telling you SAO Nav would have been faster. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 06:03, 3 January 2012 (CST)

Look, the system isn't detrimental to the project, in fact it's ''beneficial''. And its already ready for implementation. So I would like to humbly request that I be allowed to implement it. Since there are no real minus points. There won't be any loss, so why not? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 22:15, 19 January 2012 (CST)

Have you ever heard of the term "silent assent"? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 08:42, 27 January 2012 (CST)

I made a few adjustments thus reducing the height of the expanded template. Though the width seems to have increased as a result but that's acceptable since this will be on a separate line anyways (plus a small width template occupying a full line seems weird, at least to me). I'd like some feedback at least. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:21, 21 April 2012 (CDT)

Hey, Vaelis. Could you do me a favor and take a look at it once more. I made a few adjustments and added the recent links. It's up-to-date now and I'd appreciate it if you would consider it once more. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:09, 27 July 2012 (CDT)

== No chapter 17 in Volume 6 ==

I had bought Volume 6 recently and I would like to inform everyone that there is no Chapter 17 in Volume 6. Chapter 16 instead is the last chapter of this volume. Thank you.

[[User:Tomtkp|Tomtkp]]

That's how it was until someone changed it... I've put it back correctly and removed chapter 17.

[[User:Vaelis|Vaelis]] 02:27, 20 December 2011 (CST)

Ah, that was me, my bad.--[[User:Teh Ping|Teh Ping]] 02:47, 20 December 2011 (CST)

== About Volume 6 Chapter 13 ==

Excerpted from a dialogue from Vol. 6 Chapter 13:

Kikuoka: "...That was really shocking. I thought that this little thing was the ALO support system «Navagiation Pixie»... but to gather so much information and make conclusions at such a short time. Little girl...are you interested in '''pu'''...no, do you want to work for the «Virtual Division»?"

I think it should be "la" or "ra" instead of "pu". The "ra" part is actually a foreshadowing to the next main arc, Alicization.

I didn't really understand what he meant to say so I left it as the translator had it. I think the "pu" might be part of "public"? What do you think the "ra" means? Anyway this should be in ch 13 Discussion. [[User:Xplorer30|Xplorer30]] - [[User_talk:Xplorer30|Talk]] 18:06, 29 December 2011 (CST)

Ok, I will follow your advice and post it under Ch. 13 discussion.

== Sword Art Online Vietnamese Translation ==

Hello, I'm Gingi from vnsharing. Would you mind if I translate Sword Art Online into Vietnamese based on your translation? Thank you for such a great novel and look forward to your reply.

wow...great, I don't think that there will be any problem but still wait for the reply from the project administrator/supervisor/translator(s). Better if you post this in the SAO BT forum for speedy reply. --[[User:Chancs|Chancs]] 04:41, 30 December 2011 (CST)

== volume 8 chapter 2 name ==

shouldn't it be called "Calibur" instead of "Caliber"?

just asking.              ..::[[User:Gradient|Gradient]]::.. 09:29, 4 January 2012 (CST)

That probably makes more sense, but "Caliber" seems to be an intentional English spelling. It is probably meant to be a pun. [[User:Thinklife|ThinkLife]] 10:53, 4 January 2012 (CST)

I originally had it as Calibur for the sword name we are familiar with, but I happen to glance at the last chapter while counting parts, and sigh. The author went and explained the name of the sword when Sinon asked about it. That's how it ended up as Caliber. [[User:Xplorer30|Xplorer30]] - [[User_talk:Xplorer30|Talk]] 18:40, 4 January 2012 (CST)

kind of like how Excalibur is spelled with a ur instead of er.--[[User:Zer0light|Zer0light]] 00:42, 5 January 2012 (CST)

== Asuna's Avatar - a mystery ==

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't it say that Asuna did NOT buy the NervGear she uses when playing SAO? If so, why is her avatar a perfect image of herself? Didn't the sellers only scan the people who actually BOUGHT the NervGear? Since Asuna just used the NervGear which wasn't hers... wouldn't that make her avatar look like someone else? @___@

Nah, you remember how Cline said when you start up you have to calibrate it to yourself? So when she put it on, she had to go through the calibration, thus it looks like her. [[User:Syaoran|Syaoran]] 01:14, 17 January 2012 (CST)

I doubt that NervGear has the scanning functionality. As a specialized gear, it wouldn't need scanning functionality for normal game play. Another manga with a similar virtual reality background [http://www.batoto.net/comic/_/comics/yureka-r101 Yureka] has a similar avatar system and has a separate body scanning step as well. -[[User:Milki|milki]]

Well, my evidence was these lines:
"There are high density signal sensors in the NERvGear covering our whole head. So it can tell not only how our brains look, but our faces too..."
And
Calibration was where the NERvGear measured «how much you had to move your hand to reach your body». This was done to reproduce the sense of feel accurately within the game. So to say, it was almost as if the NERvGear had data about our exact figures saved inside itself. [[User:Syaoran|Syaoran]] 02:04, 17 January 2012 (CST)

I suspect that, while the NERvGear would be able to scan the face to reproduce facial expressions to an extent, it does not do the same for the rest of the body. Calibration could probably be done by just measuring nerve signals - move your hand up towards you until you touch your body, and it would just recognize your hand/arm movement until you touch your body. -[[User:Milki|milki]]

Actually, currently there is a machine that can calculate your body muscle and fat composition by running electricity though your body and it is just as big as a regular scale. Moreover it is easy to obtain your height and leg length through the calibration process. By applying this data, it is pretty easy to build a body that is similar to your current body.

Another theories is to use ultrasonic (or supersonic) sound wave to obtain your body image. NERvGear can emit microwave strong enough to melt your brain so it is not entirely impossible.

My concern is how the did it obtain the character hair style since the NERvGear is like a bike helmet ^^!

This is only my speculation, anybody whom actually an expert in this field please feel free to correct--[[User:Hayate-sama|Hayate-sama]] 13:11, 17 January 2012 (CST)

The NERvGear is an mini MRI/NMR (for scanning, and pulsed magnetic stimulation for feedback) so it can scan the head and face. No idea how it gets eye and hair color though. It might be able to find out the lenght of the hair and how curly/strait it is by the hight percition scanning. To even work the NERvGear needs submilimeter acuracy so scanning the hair will be easy. (Anon)

For the hair style: I think hair style is something the players can change by themselves, like how one can pick up movable objects, I think combing would be allowed at least. The only difference is hair color which, from what I know from Aria in the Starless Night (SAO SS), is customizable via a monster drop item. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 22:57, 17 January 2012 (CST)

For the body, currently it is possible to take multiple photographs from different angles and compile them to make holograms, thus it should be possible to do the same here (especially since the tech is way advanced here). All one would need to make sure is that the height is given which could be used as a scale for the 3d photo. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 22:57, 17 January 2012 (CST)

The skin tone, eye color etc could also be derived from photos, no mystery at all. You can be assured since I am a Computer Science graduate. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 22:59, 17 January 2012 (CST)

Wasn't there a part where they said her bro bought the NGear and the game, but could not play it as he was overseas, so she was the first to play it? In other words, Asuna would be the first user of the game, and it would be calibrated to her. This assumes that the brother is not a beater, but even then, beta accounts were deleted or reset at the commence of the full game.

If we are discussing about how the body type, height, weight, sex etc was captured, well, they did say they had to key in certain particulars, and run their hands around their bodies. About the Hair styles and color, perhaps its more of what NG reads the mind as being the most comfortable with, through reading of the brainwaves of users in the first hour. Afterall, its not like all the characters in SAO have black hair, but multicolored, which I'm sure would not be true IRL... then again, this is aniverse after all... --[[User:Gabgrave|Gabgrave]] 23:23, 17 January 2012 (CST)

@Zero Yeah, you can use pictures to create a 3D object but the problem is how to take them ^^! unless you have a mirror as big as you, otherwise, it impossible to take those pictures yourself.--[[User:Hayate-sama|Hayate-sama]] 01:13, 18 January 2012 (CST)

Please note that SAO occurs in a more advanced world. Furthermore I said that height would be given (ie: entered as a perimeter) so that it can be used as a scale. Thus resizing the image would be possible. Nowadays there are graphic plugins for GIMP and Photoshop that allow resizing (blowing up of pictures, or more simply, making them bigger) without loss of quality. In an advanced world it would be a better process and more commonly used (ie: common knowledge). The main point here is that what we consider specialized knowledge would be common in the setting of SAO. After all, ''virtual reality has become real'' in the setting. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 03:09, 18 January 2012 (CST)

Yeah all these question can be answered that "they can do it in the future" then it all solved, no need for discussion O_O .--[[User:Hayate-sama|Hayate-sama]] 04:10, 18 January 2012 (CST)

A famous quote from Arthur C. Clarke: '''"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"'''. You shouldn't think so deeply on it. Also it's a fact that as time will pass, what is considered advanced now will be considered common in the future. A general purpose computer, at the beginning, was a machine that was superbly expensive so much so that the normal person could not own it. Nowadays it's in every home. Well that's over the span of 60 years. But with things like [http://www.howstuffworks.com/invisibility-cloak.htm invisibility cloaks] being developed, you really can't say that what I'm saying is wrong. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 11:15, 18 January 2012 (CST)

Guys, this debate getting too long. I think this talk page should be more for translation related purposes. Please move this to the forums if you wish to continue. Please delete this text list once that has been done.--[[User:Gabgrave|Gabgrave]] 19:00, 18 January 2012 (CST)

Just discuss it in the forum ;) --[[User:Darklor|Darklor]] 01:11, 23 February 2012 (CST)

== Volume 5 news ==

any news on when it will be finished? or if anyone is working on it? kind of been waiting for a while now. --[[User:Zer0light|Zer0light]] 23:16, 2 December 2011 (CST)

According to BCOFM, it will be release within a week (or month) around now. Dunno if it's true though as their TL drop dead midway

KR is still translating it. I just finished my editing portion on it to the current page he is at. The chapter is 98 pages long and he has 21 more pages to go [[User:Lp113|Lp113]] 22:56, 6 December 2011 (CST)

98 pages? Seriously? No wonder it take longer than usual to translate. I'll wait for it to be released, because it feels weird to skip over it and read the volume 6. Good luck~ I'm sure a lot of reader are rooting for you (me included) ;) - [[User:RasteShelphyd|RasteShelphyd]] 15:15, 9 December 2011 (CST)

Is chapter 6 the final one or is it chapter 7? Volume 6 starts from chapter 7, so is it just posted twice in volume 5 and 6?

There is chapter 6 and 7 in volume 5. There is also a chapter 7 in volume 6, that I wanted to make into prologue, but our admin Vaelis changed it back to like the book when he fixed the above mistake. PS: Volume 5 chapter 6 will be a while unless you all beg Teh Ping to help with it. [[User:Xplorer30|Xplorer30]] - [[User_talk:Xplorer30|Talk]] 23:33, 28 December 2011 (CST)

Aaaaah I see. Thank you for clarifying and keep up the good work, it's a lot more fun to read the properly translated versions over the machine translation.

'''PLEASE TRANSLATE VOL. 5 CHAPTER 6 :D (or upload what's done of it); It feels very awkward to simply skip 2/3 of a chapter.
'''

I don't mean to sound rude or anything but could the translators focus on finishing chapters 6 and 7 of Volume 5 , I do wanna read read aria in the starless night but even more than that I wanna finish reading Phantom bullet and there is just 2 untranslated chapters preventing me from reading an entire volume. Again I'm sorry if I'm acting rude, and I know that its not easy to translate. [[Username:Leonzell (not registered here) 1:44 AM GMT+10

Given the previous banter from certain users about this topic in the recent past, this does come off as a little rude. One of the translators, [[User:Teh_Ping|Teh Ping]] has already addressed this issue and has asked for additional help to translate. Otherwise, you can look at his user page for a timeline. -[[User:Milki|milki]] 09:54, 19 January 2012 (CST)

If you cannot wait, the first chapter of book 6 does cover the events that happen in those missing chapters in summary. You do not really need to worry if you will miss anything important, the main plot is covered. Just come back to read the details when it is done and posted up. --[[User:Gabgrave|Gabgrave]] 19:56, 19 January 2012 (CST)

Actually, I still patiently waiting for chapter 6 to be fully translated, even though I have an urge to just skip it and read the volume 6.
But....how should I say it.... It feels 'incomplete' if I just skip it (I'm a bit perfectionist, sorry). So I beg you, if you have free time (which must be hard to find since you also have real life), please, would you consider to fully translate the chapter 6? X) - [[User:RasteShelphyd|RasteShelphyd]] 13:25, 27 January 2012 (CST)

Well. I'm sure that's nice to know. The translators have their own timeline and life as well though. If you want to help, try recruiting some more translators to help [[User:Teh_Ping|Teh Ping]]. - [[User:Milki|milki]] 16:34, 27 January 2012 (CST)

2 month and still waiting.... - [[User:RasteShelphyd|RasteShelphyd]] 01:04, 7 February 2012 (CST)

Well, I'm not sure about chapter 6, but chapter 7 will be dome translating and put into the hands of the editors sometime within 24 hours, depending on my schedule.--[[User:Desodus|Desodus]] 16:00, 21 February 2012 (CST)

Niiiice♪. But can you help Teh Ping out in releasing Chapter 6 too? I'm sure he'd agree since his schedule is full. Rather he's been asking for help as long as I know. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 20:06, 21 February 2012 (CST)

Don't know for sure, but I would need to check out how far the other translator got into the chapter. I got only a couple pages left of chapter 7 anyway, I sure could help out. Since your an editor, do you have the link for the google docs where the chapters are? If not, give me your email and I'll send you a link.--[[User:Desodus|Desodus]] 14:26, 22 February 2012 (CST)

Put it on my Talk page. As for how far chapter 6 has gotten: The point where Kirito purchases the Kouken (Light Saber). BTW, why isn't the chapter here on it's respective chapter page? All I see is 100% in editing, I don't get it. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:36, 22 February 2012 (CST)

That's because all editing done by the BCotFM are done through google docs. But sadly, the group has been kinda falling apart as members have to answer to LIFE or got other projects. Personally, I was just procrastinating and going through some issues myself.--[[User:Desodus|Desodus]] 21:16, 22 February 2012 (CST)

Woohoo! Awesome Translation. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 10:17, 5 March 2012 (CST)

== Quote consistency ==

There are a lot of different quotes used. Which one's should be used?

contractions - ' or ’

terms - «» or <nowiki>'' (two single quotes)</nowiki> (understand that «» is for SAO terms,
but if <nowiki>''</nowiki> is used, I don't know if its intentional or should be «»)

quotes - "" or “” or ''''

- [[User:Milki|milki]] 17:03, 18 February 2012 (CST)

Well, while writing on a piece of paper with a pen “” and ’ are used
however "" are known as typewriter quotes and are also completely acceptable
But "" or ' takes up less space so it is preferred for use in Media wiki based websites like this one.
as for <nowiki>''</nowiki> These are used to ''italicize'' the text. Please ignore them.

In other words it doesn't really matter unless you want to optimize space usage since they both look the same no matter which one you use. So please ignore it. Though the standard on all mediawiki based sites has '''always''' been "" and '. (See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style#Quotation_marks)]) - [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 22:17, 18 February 2012 (CST)

== '''Bullet of Bullets''' or '''Ballet of Bullets'''? ==

I'm a little confused. In the GGO arc... Is it '''Bullet''' of Bullets or '''Ballet''' of Bullets? Considering how Battle Tournaments are normally be named, '''Bullet''' of Bullets makes less sense than '''Ballet''' of Bullets (which actually fits more as far as tournament names go). Reason: fighting and dancing have often been interlinked. In medieval times strong noble warriors were also known for being good dancers since the movements used in battle are often similar to dance movements. See: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira Capoeira], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calinda Calinda]. Oh I'm getting off track. Anyways, since fighting and dancing are similar it's more likely the tournament is named '''Ballet of Bullets''' (even if guns are now used, it has historical meaning). So can someone please check and see. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 04:10, 5 March 2012 (CST)

Answered already here http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Talk:Sword_Art_Online:Volume_6_Chapter_7 --[[User:Ff7 freak|Ff7 freak]] 04:46, 5 March 2012 (CST)

== Is there any official released of the novel in english? ==

i plan to buy it if it got released in english version

This is not yet licensed in any English-speaking country yet as far as I know. Wikipedia says so and wiki is always right. --[[User:Milki|milki]] 10:23, 14 March 2012 (CDT)

It's only recently but.....yeah, it has been announced by Yen Press. More details on these links:
http://www.taptaptaptaptap.net/yen-press-license/#more-1423
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-08-23/yen-press-adds-sword-art-online-accel-world-light-novels-more-madoka-magica-manga
--[[User:albertrojas|albertrojas]] 2:46PM, 25 August 2013 (+8GMT)

== Another SAO SS? ==

Greetings. When I visited the author old site I saw several items that might be SAO SS.(well some are already being translated.) 
Like [Aria in the Starless Sky], [Absolute Solitude], [Fortune Star], [Resettable Saver], SS5-[A Murder Case in the Area], SS7-[Cradle of the Moon], and [Waterworks] (not sure about some of the title since I'm using Google translate.) 
Aria in the Starless Sky&A Murder Case in the Area are already on translation. If it isn't too troublesome,may I ask if the other will also be put into translation somewhere in the near future? Thanks before.

I'm very intersting in those you mentioned as I have never run into them before, could you check if there're actual text inside? Of all those, I only have Cradle of the Moon, which is SS based on the Alizication arc, which is still untranslated so it has low priority for now. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] 19:34, 15 April 2012 (CDT)

Greetings.Yes,I've checked them.There're texts inside.But since I still haven't learned Japanese yet,I can only save it to MS Word/pdf format.Would you like me to send it to your e-mail address?Ah,I haven't ask your e-mail address yet.(I sincerely hope that they're SAO SS and can be of use to everyone.)[[User:User753|User753]]

I just realized those you mentioned, it's his main site not old site and those aren't part of SAO series, I'm searching for more SAO SS author wrote in many occasions, but so far, no luck yet -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] 01:21, 16 April 2012 (CDT)

Ah,that's too bad.So,it's a miss.Thank you.Sorry for the trouble.[[User:User753|User753]]

Ok so now i am confused, so is "volume 9 - Alicization Beginning" not part of SAO or its is just the "web version - Alicization Arc" thats is not part of SAO?--[[User:Kyo171|Kyo171]] 00:55, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

Volume 9 is the version that is published, the web version is the version that was online. --[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] 01:12, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

Ok.. so is the web version not part of the SAO universe with the kirito and asuna that we know? or its a separate story all together? [[User:Kyo171|Kyo171]] 01:19, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

The web version is similar to the published version, but not exactly the same. Any more information I can give is a spoiler, but if you don't mind spoilers you can go look at the images of volume 9. --[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] 01:23, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

Hmm... roger that, coz i was confused looking at the images in vol 9 i see kirito and asuna that we are all familiar with, but in the web version there's a disclaimer saying that the kirito is not the kirito that we know of. I am talking about the roughly translated "Alicization Arc (Web Version)" in the mainpage btw. [[User:Kyo171|Kyo171]] 01:30, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

Alicization web version chapter 1 on the wiki is practically the same as the Prologue I of vol 9, author did a lot of minor changes including rewriting in a few places, but the overall summary is still the same. The reason readers felt it wasn't related to Kirito we know will be explained in the later chapters, but he's certainly the same Kirito. Alicization is currently the largest arc of SAO series (and I assume it'd be the final main arc of the series too) and would need 5-6 volumes to cover its entire arc -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] 09:19, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

ahhh.. thanks for the clarification, i have one more question, when would be the most optimum time to read the side story "versus", the accel world crossover side story? I am currently on vol 5. --[[User:Kyo171|Kyo171]] 09:42, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

I'm not sure about Accel World side, but for SAO, there's no reference to anything significant after Fairy Dance, so I think it's fine to read it right after vol.4, but the story actually took place just slightly before Alicization arc, so author actually wants readers to read it after vol.8 (Accel World vol.10 released after SAO vol.8) -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] 10:27, 18 April 2012 (CDT)

== It's weird ==

Aria in the Starless Night Side Story is when Kirito and Asuna meet for the first time in SAO. But do both or just Asuna forget about the other? In the other volumes it seems that Asuna got interested in Kirito after she saw him living (lazing around on the field) the game just as he would in reality (ie: the events in Vol8 Ch1, this is mentioned in other volumes too). Did Asuna forget about the events in Aria or what? Or did the author make a slight miss? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:35, 21 April 2012 (CDT)

It might be best to think of it like they simply met at a coffee shop, sure, they were fighting alongside each other, but that wasn't enough to get them past a formal acquaintanceship. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] 14:24, 21 April 2012 (CDT)

Heeh~ Sure ''and the whole bath thing just went over everybody's head~. Yup~ I'm sure that was something easy to forget~.'' Like that'd ever happen. That's why I'm confused. He was the guy who introduced her to how food could taste better, he was the guy who taught her that there were better living conditions than INNs, he was the guy who taught her not to overkill and how to choose better weapons. I can get them being at the level of formal acquaintances till that point. What I'm confused about is that in the other volumes there is no mention of her meeting him before the lazing around incident. Like they never even met before that. Weird isn't it? Well maybe it will be mentioned in vol8 chap1. I can't wait for the translation. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:39, 21 April 2012 (CDT)

I think there was though, although it was a little subtle, back in the first volume, when it talked about Asuna going around and recruiting the boss assault team. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] 17:32, 21 April 2012 (CDT)

I dunno, Asuna might have blocked off some of that since it wasn't an all pleasant experience for her. Plus she still did keep that I want to clear this as fast as possible attitude til she met him in the upper floors again, so maybe she just forgot about it while trying to clear? I will agree with you, it is a pretty bad plot hole since you gotta think about it a lot to find a reason. [[User:Syaoran|Syaoran]] 18:10, 21 April 2012 (CDT)

I don't think that it is really a plot hole, as aria is a side story, but then again, recently I have been feeling like Kawahara has been giving them too much time together in side stories, if they were in a group of seven in aria, it would have been much better I believe. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] 18:13, 21 April 2012 (CDT)

It was pretty weird that Asuna and Kirito don't remember this some minor details have also been left out while in volumes but this meeting is just too big of an event so that they could forget but well seeing it is just a side story I guess it should be just fine as just seeing it in a way like you have said before Asuna after not seeing him again just started going crazy wanting to clear the game and Kirito being a Kirito just kinda forgot since the next time they saw each other took place about 1 year and 5 months later??[[User:Lelouch545|Lelouch545]]3:54, 11 Jule (PCT)

It's possible that the author hadn't thought of any of these events when he wrote Volume 1. There are plenty of other inconsistencies throughout the side-stories, too. Since the side-stories are added after the main arc is over, it's best not to delve in too deep --[[Special:Contributions/92.239.153.44|92.239.153.44]] 06:21, 11 June 2012 (CDT)

Well seems they made a drastic fix in the anime. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:31, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Thinking of it , they never said once that Asuna falled in love with Kirito at the first meeting right ? They said she loved him when she had seen him "living" the game , but being clearers , it was obvious that they had met each other a while before , for Bosses figths , while mapping or other game contents, so the two of them meeting after one month of game isn't weird right ? For the memories, do you recall all the things you've done with your acquaintances ? I can't of course , and in SAO I think there's a lot more of memories than in our real life, so memories about an other player they met and isn't that important for them isn't really worthy of being talked about in the main plot. [[User:Eldivah|Eldivah]] 16:49, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

== Material Editions ==

Material Editions? Is this the name of a new volume? Or a web volume? Or what? I need to know so that I can properly sort the info on the wikipedia page. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:07, 29 April 2012 (CDT)

Material Edition (ME) series is a series of '''doujinshis''' created by Kawahara Reki himself using the pen name "Kunori Fumio" (he used that pen name when he was writing the web novel of SAO). Most but not all of the volumes of the ME series are side stories. He sells the ME series at the Comitia market (not Comic Market) and also some doujinshi shops.
Below are the list of Material Edition volumes:

* ME1 - The Progressor (a short manga chapter drawn by Kawahara himself)
* ME2 - Early Characters
* ME3 - Ceramic Heart
* ME4 - Cold Hand, Warm Heart
* ME5 - Salvia
* ME6 - Algade Showdown
* ME7 - Continuation. Aria of the Starless Night
* ME8 - First Chapter of Rondo (second floor side story)
* ME9 - Monochrome Concerto

ME9 - Monochrome Concerto. yes, third floor, I'd do it if I can find raws.--[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] - [[User_talk:Pryun|Talk]] 21:17, 29 April 2012 (CDT)

I'll add them in the timeline I need to complete, if I have some informations about their dates (I saw "September" in ME4 for example). -[[User:Misogi|Misogi]] 18:45, 30 April 2012 (GMT+1)

Okay So if there are any more please update on the list on the SAO Project Page at once. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:49, 30 April 2012 (CDT)

Regarding Pryun-san question about Sword Art Online: Material Editions 1.In my opinion,if it's allowed,please include the ME1.As it's a gaiden that's made by the same author supplementing the canon storyline.It'll be a sad thing if it's not posted and no manga reader site have posted it on theirs.--[[User:User753|User753]]-[[User talk:User753|Talk]]- 00:41, 1 May 2012 (CDT)

If it's a manga version (picture, comics whatever, basically like the color pages in the first section of the talk page). Then if someone can translate it I can photoshop it into the pics. Badabing Badaboom! [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 22:43, 1 May 2012 (CDT)

I got my hands on ME1 manga, its in chinese, i could translate it into English and photoshop it into the manga. Unless Zero2001 wants to do the photoshopping... I am an amateur photoshopper though --[[User:Kyo171|Kyo171]] 04:34, 4 May 2012 (CDT)

i think so long as the words can be seen in the bubbles and the original are removed, it should be fine.[[User:Fallen3dge|Fallen3dge]] 04:36, 5 May 2012 (CDT)

Upload the RAWs, add the translations, create a gallery, And leave the photoshopping to me. I'll do it. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 21:29, 6 May 2012 (CDT)

Oi... [http://www.batoto.net/comic/_/comics/sword-art-online-material-edition-soushuuhen-doujinshi-r4781 tap-trans has already done ME 1 and 3]. How much longer before we do it??? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:30, 2 June 2012 (CDT)

And then there's ME7... I wanna read ME7~ Waaah~. ''Sob Sob''. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:34, 2 June 2012 (CDT)

Should we just post links to batoto on the main page at ME 1 and 3? It seems a waste to do the same work twice. --[[User:Saganatsu|Saganatsu]] 17:42, 2 June 2012 (CDT)

I'm all for that idea. But will it be accepted? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 03:24, 3 June 2012 (CDT)

Based on what I have seen so far I believe that ME1: The Progressors should be named "The Clearers" instead since that is what the title is talking about in regards to the story and all the translations so far have used the term "Clearer" instead of "Progressor" --[[User:Arctosa|Arctosa]] 10:43, 10 June 2012 (CDT)

English text on every page of it says "The Progressors". We know it's weird.--[[User:Saganatsu|Saganatsu]] 12:54, 10 June 2012 (CDT)

Wouldn't it be better to rename the chapter pages to include ME#. Example: '''Sword Art Online:ME9:Monochrome Concerto''' I mean now that Rondo has continued, so will Monochrome Concerto. It will avoid clashing in the future since you're probably gonna insert the same include tags as you have in First Chapter of Rondo and then the page name conflict with the side story, y'know. Plus it will become easier to categorize the ME chapters and compile them in the Material Editions volume page when they're all done. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:02, 6 July 2012 (CDT)

So... no objections? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:50, 11 July 2012 (CDT)

I will do it later after deciding how to rename them. [[User:Vaelis|Vaelis]] 16:02, 11 July 2012 (CDT)

I have heard similar sentences an uncountable number of times from my parents, only to be disappointed. Haven't you? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:53, 11 July 2012 (CDT)

GJ. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:04, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

== PDFs ==

So I've been a long time visitor of Baka-Tsuki, but never bothered making an account. I've been browsing a bit and was quite impressed with the To Aru Majutsu no Index PDFs. So, feeling obligated to do something, I took it upon myself to turn volume 1 of SAO into a PDF and put it onto MF. I hope that this is alright.

[http://www.mediafire.com/?4gaf7px2qewd23a Sword Art Online - 01 PDF]

You can download the PDF I made and see if it's acceptable.

:If this is okay with the translators and editors, I'll try and turn all the completely translated volumes into PDFs and put em on MF. - [[User:Zetsubo666|Zetsubo666]]

::The thread for the PDF is [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=4704#p122072 here]. There is a link to it on the main page of the project. [[User:Vaelis|Vaelis]] 13:55, 31 May 2012 (CDT)

=== Aincrad stories chronological compilation ===

Hi everyone.
With the onset of the anime, I thought it would be nice to have all the Aincrad stories in chronological order, so I took the time to make one, please get the PDFs and EPUBs here

http://www.mediafire.com/myfiles.php#dxowqtn177i1o

1. '''Sword Art Online Aincrad chronicles (allage)''' has all the completed stories '''without''' chapter 16.5.

:Thank you very much for all those who have translated this awesome series! Please enjoy the Aincard arc from the beginning to the end, until the Author comes up with his official one!
--[[User:Gabgrave|Gabgrave]] ([[User talk:Gabgrave|talk]]) 03:13, 9 September 2012 (CDT)

== Congrats ==

Just wanted to thank all you guys for working hard and translating the SAO series.
Now that nearly everything is translated I wanted to ask, how far along is the novel in Japan? Cause when I try to look it up I cant read the pages cause they're all in Japanese D:
And is the "cradle of the moon" chapter going to be translated or not, cause from what I read it's included in the Alicization arc.
If it is I think it should be removed from the page, as everything else is 100% and this is the only non-translated part so it sorta ruins it when you scroll down and see everything.
Thanks again to all the translators and editors! --[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] 13:31, 16 June 2012 (CDT)

If it's removed. It could be more easily forgotten or shelved indefinitely. And besides, the next volume is coming out within a month, and there are other side stories you still haven't seen translated. Patience is a virtue. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:48, 16 June 2012 (CDT)

Alright, I'll try my best lol. --[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] 18:37, 17 June 2012 (CDT)

Spoken like a true fan. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 23:34, 17 June 2012 (CDT)

== Anime ==

The anime ep1 was... AWESOME! They really stuck to the story, and now, since I saw the ending of ep 1 I can say for sure that the anime will encompass Vol 1, 2 and Aria at the very least. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:09, 7 July 2012 (CDT)

The music is done by Yuki Kajiura. YUKI KAJIURA man! Her works are EPIC. You could practically feel the fear and desperation in the air as well as Kirito's determination to live. AWESOME! [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - --[[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:13, 7 July 2012 (CDT)

Truly amazing indeed, I have watched it 5 times already, it just leaves you speechless, it's so good. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 15:23, 7 July 2012 (CDT)

Yeah. It really is. I can't wait for the next one. It was so excruciatingly painful the last few hours before it came online. And yet, it was worth the wait. Now I have to bear the pain of waiting a whole week. Nugaaah! Waku waku, waku waku. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:43, 7 July 2012 (CDT)

Doraemon-sama, please lend me your time machine.--[[User:Zmunjali|Zmunjali]] 18:16, 7 July 2012 (CDT)

Hold on, the anime will be going for about 26 episodes, with one episode per week, holy crap that's half a year, we need to wait half a year to see the end! [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 02:16, 13 July 2012 (CDT)

Better than having the story butchered or cut short in the middle. I've always thought 12-13 eps was too little. Besides, the wait will make it all the more worthwhile. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 12:59, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Very true, I feel that if they released them all at once, I would die before I got to watch any. Although, I am actually quite worried, mainly about the few disconnects in the story, sure they have a chance to correct them, but I want things to progress along with the novels, such as Asuna, I have this bad feeling that they are going to try to get them together right away, which I believe would make things worse. Also the others, if they try to make a harem ending, or some kind of ending where it is unclear who Kazuto ends up with, that will piss me off. Waiting avidly for the new episode. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 13:08, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Oh hey, there is the raw. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 13:09, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Urgh. Well, ep 2 is okay, I guess. But I don't like the fact that they removed so much. It's like the depth of the story has been filled in till the plot becomes shallow (kinda like how one fills in a perfectly good water well). [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:20, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Wait, is it subbed? [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 14:22, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

I'm proficient enough in '''verbal''' japanese. Plus it helps to read the novel. Damn it's like they summarized the whole side story. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:28, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Really? Dang, I had thought they would spend at least three to four episodes on Aria, but you seem to be implying that they end it in one, maybe two. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 14:32, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Sorry to burst your bubble... but they ended Aria in one ep. And they cut out a lot of stuff. This is why I hate story butchering. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:38, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Wow, well, based off of this pace, they may very well include volumes 3 and 4, well, I'll watch it no matter what, but I hope they keep to the story. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 14:46, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

There's no point if the anime is a mere summarization of the LN! It's like draining the juice out of an orange and forcing others to eat just the soft inner-skin. Well... it was okay for those who haven't read the LN especially Kirito's really cool part, but I don't like it that they cut all the rest of the plot (don't worry I'm not gonna spoil it). If you squeeze the plot too much it ruins it. Sigh, and they stuck to the plot with Accel World so I was looking forward and hoping... Well lets hope they do better next ep. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 14:57, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

I have not seen the episode yet, so I can not say too much, but remember that Accel World had some things that were missing as well, not so much the plot, but things that helped pull things together. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 15:02, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

And there is a point, and the point is the orange, it is the taste of the orange, the feel of the orange, the experience of eating the orange, whether it be juice, fruit, or some viscous substance consisting of orange, orange is orange, and it tastes like orange. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 15:07, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

True for the first. False for the second. The inner skin of an orange itself doesn't taste like orange you know. I'm talking about that thin white skin you see after you peel off the thick outer orange colored skin. You know, the one that holds the inner juiciness together. Besides, I'm saying it's okay. It's just that I don't like the fact that they removed all that good stuff. You'll know what I'm talking about when the subs are out. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:14, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Alright, I was just trying to get my point across, I will be sure to watch it, and I may be disappointed, but I also might not, who knows? And for that second one, the white stuff does taste like orange, at least a little bit. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 15:20, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Like drops from a full bottle, true. And don't worry, I understand. Soon, you'll understand what I'm talking about as well. I'll explain in detail once the subs are out. That way you won't get spoiled and can look forward to it. The ep 2 is good, but it could have been much better. That's my stance. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:37, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Personnaly , I think Aria was made in the anime and cut in that way just to help the new comers with SAO to understand more about Kirito and not to give the whole SS scenario. [[User:Eldivah|Eldivah]] 16:05, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Hmm. Come to think of it. That might be it. I mean there was a slight conflict between the stories of the Aria SS and the main story aka volume 1. See a few sections above if you want to know/be spoiled. I'll explain after the sub is out, but if you take into account what was needed to be done to fix that discrepancy then. Yes, I see. If it's that reason then it's alright somewhat, I guess. But there are a few parts that didn't need to be removed even if that were the case. Still, I'm warming up to the ep 2 now. I suppose time heals all wounds isn't an exaggeration after all. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:27, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

I will agree to that as well, and a question, did they include Argo as well in episode 2? Because she is one of my favorite characters. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 16:29, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Do you want to be spoiled? [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:41, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Do I? Probably not, I suppose if I did want to know right away I would have just watched the raw to see if her name came up anywhere, so don't say anything, and when are the subs coming? [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 16:45, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Dunno. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:47, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

I know you don't, I was just complaining about something I have no control over, we all do it occasionally. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 16:50, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Haha. Too true. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 16:53, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

SUBBED! [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 17:11, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

I'll wait an hour before spoiling. Starting from your last post. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:17, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

In a sense , for all of us , it's not really spoils :) Really waiting for Ep3 ! [[User:Eldivah|Eldivah]] 17:19, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Wow, that was something else, yes, content was thrown out, Diabel was not as bad as he was in the novel, and Kirito was awesome, but mainly when he was berating the other beta testers, that laugh, wonderful, that was awesome, Egil is cool, I could very easily see the foundation that they put for the future, and finally, holy crap, they are jumping straight to Red-Nosed Reindeer? That is a massive jump. And poor Argo, completely cast aside. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 17:38, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

See. And besides, Red nosed reindeer was next chronologically. I mean Rondo and Crescendo aren't completely published yet. Well there's not much in Reindeer so let's hope they don't cut things out this time. At least cutting down Kirito and Asuna's time in Aria serves to address the problem I mentioned in [[Talk:Sword_Art_Online#It's weird]]. But why'd they cut down the whole plot Diabel cooked up along with Argo's scenes? I wanted to see Kiriemon at least. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 17:51, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

I agree completely, but I also thoroughly enjoyed that episode. Aria did have a really deep story, and they just brushed over it. Oh well, still good, lets hope that they don't just kill everyone off in the Black Cats of the Full Moon immediately, and keep them around for at least one episode before they die. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 18:03, 14 July 2012 (CDT) (That sounds pretty awful, I know, but no other real way to say it)

I think that's pretty simple , letting the plot of Diabel and Argo must introduce a friend character to the main one , but never use him again , that's a big problem for the public, next , the plot of Diabel about the Anneal Blade will just drag a lot of questions if they don't add the whole story about the quest to obtain it , explain the whole thing about the Beta-Test , why Diabel knows of Kirito etc , and then that will be 5 episodes of things unrelated to the main plot or to Kirito's mental state and settings [[User:Eldivah|Eldivah]] 17:59, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

At about 3.5 minutes in, How does her rapier fit? [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 18:07, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

That might be pretty hard to handle a perspective drawing with a cloak ,how to put it , if she was just wearing a normal outfit or if the rapier was outside the cloak , we won't have this strange feeling , but , they had to draw it like the rapier comming across the cloak and this ended by having the impression of the rapier being stabbed into Asuna instead. [[User:Eldivah|Eldivah]] 18:22, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

"Red-Nosed Reindeer" will get only 1 ep and after thatcomes "The Black Swordsman" with one ep, too. [[User:BlackP|BlackP]] 19:09, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Umm, okay, where did you learn about this? And if so, then how the heck do they compress Red-Nosed Reindeer into one episode, I could see that stretch three or four episodes. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 19:16, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

I couldn't, if they did ALL of Aria (granted they took some stuff out) in one episode then doing the Red-Nosed Reindeer is more than doable in one episode. I wonder tho if they will do the Black Cats portion and the revival portion separate or together, since they could do it as a current event or as a flashback. That said since it seems they are going with one episode for everything like the Murder Case in episode 5 and Sicilia story in episode 4, then its likely they are gonna use the second half for ALO, which all things considering isn't that bad. I wouldn't want a full series for ALO (considering its the worst arc imo) and the ending is more conclusive then the end of the Aincard arc. [[User:BlackSwordsman|BlackSwordsman]] 00:37, 15 July 2012

Umm, sure, but where are you getting your information, and tag your name, please. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 19:40, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Oh, should we update the timeline to include the episodes that were featured in the anime? [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 20:26, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

Tag my name? In any case i got my information from episode titles, i was told this from a friend but i have no reason to doubt it as i knew the episode 3 title was Red-Nosed Reindeer since before episode 1, episode 4 is supposedly Black Swordsman and such and such. As for the timeline, the anime is simply going chronologically based of the novels events, since after all considering the way volume 1 and 2 are its best to do it chronologically, i'm just curious as to how they are going to use flashbacks as they could see animate "First Day" but as a flashback. [[User:BlackSwordsman|BlackSwordsman]] 01:48, 15 July 2012

Yes, tag your name, place four tilde, '~' in a row after your sentence. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 20:51, 14 July 2012 (CDT)

I copied his user data as well as the post time/date from history and added it. And duh, there is a high chance of volume 2 stories' episode conversions being named after their chapters. But it's not foolproof, Aria being renamed Beater is proof of that. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 00:50, 15 July 2012 (CDT)

Man, they had to change so much in the second episode. I think it would have been much better if they used the actual ending of Aria, and actually show Kirito in the second floor during the sunset and all that.[[User:Jasou|Jasou]] 12:10, 15 July 2012 (CDT)

Please continue your discussions on the forums, not the wiki. Thank you.(http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=4595&start=105) --[[User:Hiro Hayase|Hiro Hayase]] 15:47, 15 July 2012 (CDT)

== Question about Frequency of releases ==

I'm just wondering, what's the general frequency of the releases?

:I um... watched the first episode of SAO anime, and then I suddenly flung myself to read all the translated LN for SAO... and just finished reading everything except for volume 10 (untranslated), some of the lower sidestories, and material editions...

::that said, I'm just wondering...

:::Given that the releases have been in the order of - April, August, December (for 2 2/3 years) and then switched suddenly to february, July...

:::am I correct in deducing the approximate date of Volume 11 is around December(2012)-February (2013) then?

::::Personally, I think it will be closer to February of 2013, but hey, who knows, it is kind of tough to project a solid timeline, so I really can't say when I think it will be. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 18:02, 12 July 2012 (CDT)

== Adding Reference? ==

While I was translating SAO into Vietnamese version, I happened to find out that the name of Klein's guild has a meaning behind it (it actually refers to a way of commanding army of Takeda Shingen), so I wanna add a specific reference for it (I get this info from a book, and haven't found any website mention it, so I guess I'll just write it down). But do I need a permission to do that? And if I do, where can I get it? I have also checked the RAW to make sure Kanjis are correct anw. Sorry if this question doesn't make sense, I don't really know much abt how a project here work. [[User:Sozuoka|Sozuoka]] - [[User_talk:Sozuoka|Talk]]

:Translator has total control over the work he/she is working on, you can decide whether to put a reference note not present in English version on your own without having to ask for permission. There is 0 reference in original JP version and English translators added them in at the places they felt the need anyway. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 08:58, 24 July 2012 (CDT)

== Volume 9 gone? ==

What happened to Volume 9?--[[User:Saganatsu|Saganatsu]] 13:18, 2 August 2012 (CDT)

:See [[Teh_Ping_Talk:Miscellaneous#About_Indowebster]]. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:50, 2 August 2012 (CDT)

== Volume 10 + Registration page ==

hmm, so um why is volume 10 not listed on the registration page? (Oh no, I'm not a translator... well for written japanese - I know spoken/verbal japanese, but not written as well... cause I can't read kanji too well yet... tt)..
just wondering~ [[Special:Contributions/76.103.103.224|76.103.103.224]] 22:03, 17 July 2012 (CDT)

:Because all translators in this project already knew who is going to do volume 10. So the registration for volume 10 could be made after first chapter is done by the person. But you can create empty entries of volume 10 chapters now if you want. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 00:44, 18 July 2012 (CDT)

::Since it looks like Teh_Ping has removed SAO volume 10 from his timeline due to August coming around soon, who is the translator for volume 10? -- MeltyBagel

:Is anyone translating Volume 10?? If not I'll stop checking everyday... --[[Special:Contributions/218.72.133.155|218.72.133.155]] 23:20, 26 July 2012 (CDT)

::Nobody as far as I know of. ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ I don't even have the book shipped into my bookstore yet. --[[User:Teh Ping|Teh Ping]] 23:29, 26 July 2012 (CDT)

:::TT...will you translate it when it is? I'm really looking forward to reading it! --[[Special:Contributions/218.72.133.155|218.72.133.155]] 23:34, 26 July 2012 (CDT)

::::I think it will be unlikely of me to translate volume 10...without the book when the store only stocks up like 40 copies. BeginnerXP will definitely not be translating this, nobody has stated that they will be doing volume 10 except for me back then, and I do have school starting from August 1st. I do have Baka Test 9.5 to finish. We'll see what happens after that.--[[User:Teh Ping|Teh Ping]] 23:49, 26 July 2012 (CDT)

:::::Nooooooooooooooooo~. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 01:29, 27 July 2012 (CDT)

I'm the person who made this "topic" (76.103.103.224) although my router was reset and I bothered to make an account hehe (TT) T___T nobody's translating this? /me sad. On another note, I see Vol10 on Amazon ([http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%BD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88%E3%83%BB%E3%82%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E3%80%8810%E3%80%89%E3%82%A2%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B7%E3%82%BC%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A7%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8B%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B0-%E9%9B%BB%E6%92%83%E6%96%87%E5%BA%AB-%E5%B7%9D%E5%8E%9F-%E7%A4%AB/dp/4048866974/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1343412322&sr=8-2 1]) so technically one can buy through there (I don't have much money to spare atm)... well I guess I should actually start learning written japanese so I can actually translate in my free time if able... idk :| kinda hard when I need to focus on other things.. /sad --[[User:Zhurai|Zhurai]] 13:08, 27 July 2012 (CDT)

:I tried to order volume 10 when it just released, not to read but to say thank you to author (I prefer to read from scanned raw on my tablet), but when amazon wants 2200 yen for shipping while the book is 600 yen, I had to reconsider... Going to order all 10 volumes from cdjapan instead but I still need some time to save more money.

::Also, when I joined here at the end of last year, we only had volume 1/3/4 completed, just a little over half a year and we now have almost everything translated, it is like a miracle compared to other projects, so please be patient, translators here have life, too. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 13:25, 27 July 2012 (CDT)

:::It'll take some time but They'll come through for us as they always have. Teh Ping, BeginnerXP, Tap, Pyrun, Sharramon, Black Cats of the Full Moon, BakaSama, KuroiHikari, Thinklife, Aiko and others. Without them we wouldn't be here at this point. There have been so many good people helping out. And I'm sure many of them will continue to help out. So be patient... it'll be up in a few '''months'''. XD. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 15:02, 27 July 2012 (CDT)

::::On a side note, i've been reading volume 10 from chinese to english, and i have a really really reaaally rough copy (its so hard to understand what the sentence in english is supposed to look like when the dictionary has like twenty different meanings for a single symbol). Should I post a really rough draft of it in english onto baka-tsuki? I can try and make the sentences make more sense, but otherwise i'll leave it alone; or should i just wait until someone does it from korean to english? - [[User:MeltyBagel|MeltyBagel]] - [[User_talk:MeltyBagel|Talk]] - 11:28, 28 July 2012 (EST)

:::@BeginnerXP, I know, all I was doing was asking about it :D @_@ I should really start learning kanji myself... atm I just look via radicals (like when I translated anime)... but that isn't really too helpful when I want to translate from a media that's primarily...text....with a bunch of them D: I guess time to reread the whole SAO translated portion again (haha) .__. --[[User:Zhurai|Zhurai]] 14:40, 28 July 2012 (CDT)

About 10 days ago on the web i readed that the chap 4 was on translation, is it true? IF so, how much will we be waiting?

:Until the translator gets done. This isn't the only thing he's doing, he's editing other projects, and busy in RL, but his timeline says he should be done by the [[Teh_Ping_Talk:Projected_Translations%27_Timeline|22nd]] --[[User:Saganatsu|Saganatsu]] ([[User talk:Saganatsu|talk]]) 18:36, 7 September 2012 (CDT)

== Volume 11+ ==

first I should say interestingly the author actually replies in some English on Twitter (@kirito0404)

:Asked him on there what the date it would be released, he answered: @zhurai 10月ですよ It is October

::as for the subject of how many volumes there probably is gonna be... well...

:@kirito0404 also is alicization/アリシゼーション the last arc? or is there more arcs after this (seemingly large) arc? (dont how to say in jp)
:@zhurai アシリゼーション is the last, but follows to around 15 volumes

:--[[User:Zhurai|Zhurai]] ([[User talk:Zhurai|talk]]) 00:43, 27 August 2012 (CDT)

::I doubt that you got the identity of the author right. The author's Twitter account name is actually '''kunori'''. And when I checked his Twitter page, I did not see any of his answers and replies regarding number of volumes for Alicization. It is still a mystery for now. Although from the web version, the web readers can predict Alicization will go a long way to Volume 16. --'''Tomtkp'''

Can someone confirm that volume 12 came out?
In the authors notes he says that he will release a volume every other month, so I'm just wondering if he's on schedule, cause I can't really find anything. And if it did I'm wondering how long it'll take to upload.
Thanks--[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] ([[User talk:Mufarasu|talk]]) 10:38, 2 October 2012 (CDT)

:Volume 11 hasn't been released yet, so how can volume 12 be out. Look at SAO front page (at the very bottom) to find out when each volume will be released. --[[User:Breeze|Breeze]] ([[User talk:Breeze|talk]]) 10:43, 2 October 2012 (CDT)

::Lol whoops, I meant vol 11, thanks for clarifying though--[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] ([[User talk:Mufarasu|talk]]) 10:48, 2 October 2012 (CDT)

:::in wikipedia i am seeing volume 11 release date as december any idea if it is true? --[[User:wllz|wllz]] ([[User talk:wllz|talk]]) 7:50, 21 October 2012 (CDT)

Does anyone have the link to the web novel versions? [[User:Zeru|Zeru]] ([[User talk:Zeru|talk]]) 21:31, 18 April 2013 (CDT)

== Progressive Series ==

Are you guys planning on adding the Progressive volume(s)?
And could you explain a little more about them?
From what I`ve read it`s gonna a retelling of several SAO stories but is that it? And thanks, I appreciate all the work you put into translating it.--[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] ([[User talk:Mufarasu|talk]]) 00:20, 13 October 2012 (CDT)

:SAO Progressive... From what I know it's a reboot of the Aincrad Arc of the series. Starting from Floor 1 and onwards. Featuring Kirito and Asuna so far.

:*Floor 1 = [[Sword_Art_Online:Aria_in_the_Starless_Night|Aria in the Starless Night]]
:*Floor 2 = [[Sword Art Online:Rondo of the Transient Sword|Rondo of the Transient Sword]]
:*Floor 3 = Monochrome Concerto [[Sword Art Online:ME9|(Only first chapter TLed so far)]]

:[[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 05:55, 13 October 2012 (CDT)

::K, thanks--[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] ([[User talk:Mufarasu|talk]]) 14:24, 17 October 2012 (CDT)

Is anyone here planning to work on Progressive Vol 1? I recently got my ordered copy, and as expected it covers from Aria to Rondo, so I understand if there's a lack of incentive to translate it considering that the Aria SS has already been translated here and Pryun is still translating Rondo. However, while the Progressive chapters seem to stick pretty close to the original web versions, there are still clear differences, as evidenced by how Aria in Progressive is divided into 15 parts instead of the 20 in web version and Rondo has 14 instead of 40. (Rondo is still about 300 pages long though, so I'm not sure if the author just reorganized it or not.) I was just wondering how the issue was going to be dealt with.

:Also, if there are plans to eventually work on Progressive, could I add a sub-section for it on the main page and upload the illustrations I scanned from vol 1? (Admittedly, they're not the best quality, but I think they're more than good enough until someone is able to provide a better version.) --[[User:Eternal Dreamer|Eternal Dreamer]] ([[User talk:Eternal Dreamer|talk]]) 21:39, 19 October 2012 (CDT)

::I'm sure at least 2 translators in SAO project are waiting for the raw of Progressive volume 1 to show up so they can start working on it. But there's no raw available yet after ten days, when Index NT5, which released on the same day as SAOP1 had its raw available 3 days after the release. At this point, I think the chance to see the proper raw of SAOP1 is pretty slim.

:::I personally avoided checking illustration page of the volume I haven't read, as it tends to be spoilery, but you're free to create and upload the images if the quality is good enough. Thank you very much for the contributions. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] ([[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]]) 23:10, 19 October 2012 (CDT)

== Name Pronunciation ==

Can you guys add a page for character name's pronunciation ? It's hard to talk to others while each got his/her own way of speaking names :P

P.S: by the way, please make a wider range of question for page-editing. There's always 1 question whenever I look at it. -Anon

:Well there is the: [[Sword Art Online:Names and Terminology Guideline]]. I suppose we could add ogg files for pronunciation like wikipedia does. I'll work on it. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 13:50, 18 June 2012 (CDT)

::You can do it the IPA way, like this: London /ˈlʌndən/ -Anon

:::That won't be completely accurate. English and Japanese have different ways to pronouncing certain sounds like T, D, etc. Furthermore, few people know the phonetic alphabet in it's entirety and certainly not those with English as second alphabet. Better to sound it out for them. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 08:03, 19 June 2012 (CDT)

:::So anyone who is great at speaking japanese and a good voice, please volunteer to be the pronouncer. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 08:07, 19 June 2012 (CDT)

Most names should be straightforward in pronunciation, I assume the names with issues are Lyfa and Sinon? In that case:
* Lyfa - Ree-fa in JP version, but English changed R to L so Lee-fa is acceptable, just not Lai-fa.
* Sinon - Shi-non, just like her real name Shino.
* Eugeo - Yoo-gee-o.
-- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 01:38, 20 June 2012 (CDT)

:Alternately, for whatever name you have no idea how to pronounce, go to the terminology page, copy the jp name you see, put it into google, then ask it to sound it out for you(somewhere at the bottom right corner). That's the least complicated way, since JP pronunciation is quite simple/fixed. --[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] - [[User_talk:Pryun|Talk]] 05:13, 20 June 2012 (CDT)

::Yu-Gi-Oh!! Was what I first thought of.--[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]]

=== Argas or Agas? ===

I'm rereading Volume 1 (while proofreading) and it seems that the spelling keeps switching back and forth. For the sake of consistency, is there an agreed upon spelling? --[[User:Aozf05|Aozf05]] 00:48, 27 June 2012 (CDT)

:Good question. Take it to the forums for proofers to check(you can post even if you don't have an account there, I think). --[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] - [[User_talk:Pryun|Talk]] 06:24, 27 June 2012 (CDT)

===Cline or Klein===

So is it Cline or Klein? Because someone will need to go around changing it in all of the novels, or a group of people.

:When ou see «Sterben» in the GGO arc, you tend to think german's name were an inspiration. So I'd opt for Klein (little/small). Jul the happy reader.
PS go job to all the translators.

::Greetings.Finally am able to watch it as well.Regarding name change,can I volunteer to do the name change when it's decided?Although I can't do all in one go.-/-[[User:User753|User753]]-[[User talk:User753|Talk]]- 02:24, 8 July 2012 (CDT)

:::I '''can''' make the change in one go. I also volunteer myself for this. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 04:36, 8 July 2012 (CDT)

Vaelis actually gave green light to change all the names to ME2 version a while back in forums, I also did change all the names in the works translated by me. So please feel free to change the names in the rests of the volumes/SS. -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] - [[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]] 04:43, 8 July 2012 (CDT)

:Oh good, it is solved, because I had gone back through and noticed it had switched back and forth. [[User:Draeke|Draeke]] - [[User_talk:Draeke|Talk]] - 22:03, 8 July 2012 (CDT)

::Hmm though ME2 is official, can't help but feel some dissonance whenever I see "Klein", something like "Who's Klein?" haha. --[[User:EverDistantUtopia|EverDistantUtopia]] 08:31, 24 July 2012 (CDT)

=== Liz or Lis ? ===

Since "Lizbeth" was changed to "Lisbeth", shouldn't "Liz" (as Asuna always call her) also change to "Lis" ?[[Special:Contributions/123.16.110.69|123.16.110.69]] 07:50, 3 August 2012 (CDT)

:Sounds the same to me... real life names like Elisa/Elisabeth are also shortened to Liz. --[[User:Pryun|Pryun]] - [[User_talk:Pryun|Talk]] 07:56, 3 August 2012 (CDT)

::I haven't even heard of that before @@ English sure is strange to me... -- [[Special:Contributions/113.190.225.179|113.190.225.179]] 09:30, 3 August 2012 (CDT)

:::Pyrun is correct. Real life names like Elisa/Elisabeth that have an "s" in the middle are indeed shortened to nicknames like Liz, with a "z" replacing the "s". So it's fine. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 01:25, 6 August 2012 (CDT)

=== Changing Lyfa references to Leafa? ===

With the release of Episode 17, does anyone with as much OCD as myself feel the need to update Lyfa's name to "[http://puu.sh/1jmK6 Leafa]?" As much as the "Chaged to Immortal Object" almost caused me to break my nose while my face met desk, I'll trust Aniplex enough to at least get everybody's name spelled correctly.

:Thank you for pointing out with that screenshot, so her in-game name really comes from her real name, after all (a kanji in Suguha means Leaf). -- [[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]] ([[User_talk:BeginnerXP|Talk]]) 01:02, 28 October 2012 (CDT)

==Phantom Bullet: Chapter 7==

I'm going to point this out here and hopefully the Admin, Supervisor or one of the translators can clear up my confusion. Volume 4's story ends with "Chapter 7" and Volume 5's story begins with "Chapter 7". Is this officially on purpose, as in the way it's printed? Or is this just a "oops" from whomever posted the Volumes? I've never noticed a split story sharing Chapter numbers before, that's why I'm asking. -- [[User:Fallton13|Fallton13]] 00:41, 05 November 2012 (EDST)

:It's officially on purpose as far as I was told. [[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]] - [[User_talk:Zero2001|Talk]] - 00:09, 5 November 2012 (CST)

::Volume 5 Chapter 7 ended with "(To Be Continued)"... hence the chapter did not end so is intended by the author (or whoever is the one that plans this things in the original work)...

:::Perhaps rename them to Chapter 7 part 1 and Chapter 7 part 2 to avoid confusion in the future? [[User:Norren|Norren]] ([[User talk:Norren|talk]]) 14:25, 25 March 2013 (CDT)

== "Versus" deleted? ==

Any reason ? [[Special:Contributions/113.190.163.171|113.190.163.171]] 11:12, 2 December 2012 (CST)

:The first part of Alicization is missing chapters too, along with the some of the SAO Material Edition chapters. --[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] ([[User talk:Mufarasu|talk]]) 14:41, 2 December 2012 (CST)

::From what was written, it looks like they translator requested them to be taken down. Read his page to see the reason.--[[User:Datenshi|Datenshi]] ([[User talk:Datenshi|talk]]) 17:33, 2 December 2012 (CST)

:::Seems like he did take them down, only to replace with links to another blog. Doesn't matter much for me, just curious why he has done that [[Special:Contributions/123.16.239.124|123.16.239.124]] 11:06, 3 December 2012 (CST)

::From what I read it seems people kept changing his translations and criticizing his work so he decided to just take down the chapters he worked on. While I get where hes coming from, I still think it was a dick move.--[[User:Mufarasu|Mufarasu]] ([[User talk:Mufarasu|talk]]) 20:19, 3 December 2012 (CST)

=== Volume 11? ===

Well, that's his translations, he has the right to take them down and now I can understand why, too. Probably a bold action, but I worry more about the progression of volume 11 translation since he was the one to do it. Hopefully someone will fill in the job, and if has free time, re-translate the missing volumes too. I mean, downloading the "full text" versions sure is easier -- [[Special:Contributions/113.190.166.36|113.190.166.36]] 21:04, 3 December 2012 (CST)

:Your information is outdated by one month. See [http://dreadfuldecoding.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/regarding-sao-volume-11.html this]. [[Special:Contributions/67.208.113.125|67.208.113.125]] 21:35, 3 December 2012 (CST)

Someone have started translation of Volume 11 > http://unlimitednovelfailures.blogspot.de/p/sword-art-online.html -- [[User:LiTTleDRAgo|LiTTleDRAgo]] ([[User_talk:LiTTleDRAgo|Talk]]) 20:50, 14 December 2012 (CST)

:Unfortunately it looks like they quit translating SAO because they were being swamped with hate mail. *sigh* --Thomas

Can anybody point me to the page of translator who toke it down? [[User:Aleaccipiter|Aleaccipiter]] ([[User talk:Aleaccipiter|talk]]) 17:08, 17 December 2012 (CST)

http://taptaptaptaptap.wordpress.com/2013/01/05/seal-of-the-right-eye/#cont 88% done --[[Special:Contributions/95.88.108.75|95.88.108.75]] 07:39, 11 January 2013 (CST)

:seems the above link has been killed. maybe due to hate mail also

::Ran into the same thing myself, but relatively sure that's only because Tap creates new indexes to where he left off from the last update (see the #cont at the end?) and deletes the last one. Just go to the main page and you should be able to find what you're looking for from there. -[[User:AKAAkira|Akira]] ([[User talk:AKAAkira|talk]]) 20:49, 23 February 2013 (CST)

== Thank You Reki Kawahara ==

Your light novel called SAO is amazing. I felt that you should know how much the readers enjoy your work and I look forward to more volumes and hopefully more seasons of your SAO anime too. You are completly brilliant. Take care of yourself Reki. I didn't know how to contact you so I tried this XD. I hope you recieve my thanks somehow :).

== ME7 ==

Umm... Just a question.. Why does the link for ME7 go to Algade Showdown which is ME6? I just wanted to know.. Thanks a lot!

By the way, I have been following this page on BT ever since early 2010, and I never expected this series to turn out so good. The name caught my attention right away, and I never regretted waiting a long time. Congrats on having a very successful page, and thank you to all that spent time and effort (and money too) so that all the readers could enjoy this great LN. I wish you good luck on everything!

SkyZenith
:It was a typo. The page creator probably copy and pasted the formatting from ME6's header, and forgot to rename it.. I noticed some time ago, but I was dissuaded from changing it for some reason (forgot why XD) and never went around to it.. seems someone else did it anyways.. [[User:Rage|Rage]] ([[User talk:Rage|talk]]) 12:46, 7 January 2013 (CST)

== Web Novel? ==

Hmmm, what's the difference between the web novel versions and the light novel ones? :O
:The "light novel" ones are the published versions. The author changes some small parts here and there to make the novel more consistent before publishing, but the overall storyline is still the same. - [[Special:Contributions/113.190.231.53|113.190.231.53]] 11:14, 28 March 2013 (CDT)

Anyone have the links to them?[[User:Zeru|Zeru]] ([[User talk:Zeru|talk]]) 21:33, 18 April 2013 (CDT)

== Notes on {Alfheim Online} Norse Mythology References ==
Hey,As most of you have probably figured out, "Alfheim online" is basically one big reference to Norse Mythology. Therefore, I will put in a few definitions/explanations. Note that the Norse viking raiders used a completely different runic system (that's the proper term for "alphabet"), so spellings are rough. I have also changed the spellings of some words used to be closer to what I think is proper.

1. "Alfheim"
"Alf" is a shortened version of "Alfar", which is the Norse version of elves. Norse elves have characteristics that are very similar to fairies from other mythologies/folktales, therefore "alfar" can be interpreted as either elf or fairy. "heim" or "heimr" means world or realm.

2. "Yģģdrasil"
In Norse mythology, the "Yģģdrasil" (meaning "Odin's Horse", 'Yģģu' being another name for Odin. pronounce 'ģ' with a rasping sound) was a friggin' huge tree at the center of the earth, the roots of which held the whole place together. Curled around the roots of the world tree was this friggin' huge dragon called the "niddhoģ". The Niddhoģ gnawed at the base of the tree and once it succeded, "Ragnarök" would occur (see below).

3. "Ragnarök"
Basically, end of the world. World is encased in fire and ice, blah blah blah (wouldn't the fire just melt the ice then get put out by the resulting water, causing nothing to happen?). After the world is encased in fire and ice, Odin blows the crap out of it. Then he makes a new world tree and a new Earth, and the whole lot happens again.

4. "Aesir" or "Æsir
Basically, the norse gods. Means "elevated ones".

5. "Odin" or "Óòin"
King of the Æsir. Presumably, went to some well to drink, then was told that if he drank from the well, he would lose an eye but gain infinite wisdom. And he did. His job description is basically "Implement Ragnarök and beat the crap out of giants. Repeat."

6. "Thor" or "Þòrr"
Lightning Æsir. Enjoys blowing up giants. Has a big ol' friggin' hammer called Mjölnir.

7. "Thyrm" or "Þyrm"
King of the giants. Likes killing stuff, especialy the æsir. He fails at it. Dies a lot and comes back later. Mostly the Norse myths have to do with Odin or Thor beating the tar out of him, again and again and again. This is the kind of stuff Vikings like to hear, I guess.

8. "Freyja" or "Freyyá"
Goddess of love, sex, and killing/death (So in other words, the Viking's favorite mythological character). Also Odin's wife (Man that sucks, Klein! Better luck next time). Creator and leader of the Valykries (Really pretty women that sweep up dead vikings and take them to Valhalla, a place with infinite food and access to Jötunheimr, so they can pretty much eat, kill, and hang out with pretty women for eternity. Vikings like these people a lot too.)

9. "Jötunheimr"
Land of the giants, literally. Þyrm and his minions are found here. The æsir and all dead vikings go here to kill giants forever. One of the Vikings' favorite places.

I think that sums it up. If there's anything I forgot that was mentioned somewhere in Alfheim Online, please look it up and edit it in or leave an edit asking for definitions.
Also sorry for messed up editing causing this post to appear twice. Gomen!

== Notes on {Alfheim Online} Norse Mythology References ==
Hey,
As most of you have probably figured out, "Alfheim online" is basically one big reference to Norse Mythology. Therefore, I will put in a few definitions/explanations. Note that the Norse viking raiders used a completely different runic system (that's the proper term for "alphabet"), so spellings are rough. I have also changed the spellings of some words used to be closer to what I think is proper.

1. "Alfheim"
"Alf" is a shortened version of "Alfar", which is the Norse version of elves. Norse elves have characteristics that are very similar to fairies from other mythologies/folktales, therefore "alfar" can be interpreted as either elf or fairy.

2. "Yģģdrasil"
In Norse mythology, the "Yģģdrasil" (meaning "Odin's Horse", 'Yģģu' being another name for Odin. pronounce 'ģ' with a rasping sound) was a friggin' huge tree at the center of the earth, the roots of which held the whole place together. Curled around the roots of the world tree was this friggin' huge dragon called the "niddhoģ". The Niddhoģ gnawed at the base of the tree and once it succeded, "Ragnarök" would occur (see below).

3. "Ragnarök"
Basically, end of the world. World is encased in fire and ice, blah blah blah (wouldn't the fire just melt the ice then get put out by the resulting water, causing nothing to happen?). After the world is encased in fire and ice, Odin blows the crap out of it. Then he makes a new world tree and a new Earth, and the whole lot happens again.

4. "Aesir" or "Æsir"
Basically, the norse gods. Means "elevated ones".

5. "Odin" or "Óòin"
King of the Æsir. Presumably, went to some well to drink, then was told that if he drank from the well, he would lose an eye but gain infinite wisdom. And he did. His job description is basically "Implement Ragnarök and beat the crap out of giants. Repeat."

6. "Thor" or "Þòrr"
Lightning Æsir. Enjoys blowing up giants. Has a big ol' friggin' hammer called Mjölnir.

7. "Thyrm" or "Þyrm"
King of the giants. Likes killing stuff, especialy the æsir. He fails at it. Dies a lot and comes back later. Mostly the Norse myths have to do with Odin or Thor beating the tar out of him, again and again and again. This is the kind of stuff Vikings like to hear, I guess.

8. "Freyja" or "Freyyá"
Goddess of love, sex, and killing/death (So in other words, the Viking's favorite mythological character). Also Odin's wife (Man that sucks, Klein! Better luck next time). Creator and leader of the Valykries (Really pretty women that sweep up dead vikings and take them to Valhalla, a place with infinite food and access to Jötunheimr, so they can pretty much eat, kill, and hang out with pretty women for eternity. Vikings like these people a lot too.)

9. "Jötunheimr"
Land of the giants, literally. Þyrm and his minions are found here. The æsir and all dead vikings go here to kill giants forever. One of the Vikings' favorite places.

I think that sums it up. If there's anything I forgot that was mentioned somewhere in Alfheim Online, please look it up and edit it in or leave an edit asking for definitions.
Also apologies for messed up editing causing this post to appear twice. Gomen!
:Two minor notes: 1. The Norse Mythology References section seems to be doubled above/below itself. 2. Most sections look accurate, but regarding 'After the world is encased in fire and ice, Odin blows the crap out of it. Then he makes a new world tree and a new Earth, and the whole lot happens again.' (from section 3, about Ragnarök): isn't Odin killed by Fenrir in Ragnarök? (Before being avenged by his son.) And wasn't the Earth made by the frost giants Bergelmir and his wife, out of Ymir's body? I unfortunately don't see where the ideas of cycling Ragnaröks or Odin as an eternal god of creation come from. -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 17:27, 14 April 2013 (CDT)

== About the alicization character names........ ==

I prefer the earlier ones(Ronie, Tizei, Solterina, etc.) than the new ones(Ronye, Tiezé, Soltiliena,etc.) since the former looks more natural, especially of Ronie's.

-Anonymous User-

:Well, the current spellings are apparently more accurate in terms of pronunciation. I'll be honest, when I first read "Ronie", in my head I heard "Ronny". As for the "look" of the names, that's only a side-affect of having read one first, and then looking at the other. That's pretty subjective. [[User:Rage|Rage]] ([[User talk:Rage|talk]]) 12:33, 29 April 2013 (CDT)

:I see....so that's how it is.......I think I'll get used to it after some time. I was just surprised at the changes that is.
-Anonymous User-

::I believe Tap said something about the names being found on illustrations drawn by Reki, so the names are considered canon/offical. Same thing could be said about Lyfa to Leafa change when the anime came out. [[User:Drowzycow|Drowzycow]] ([[User talk:Drowzycow|talk]]) 10:55, 30 April 2013 (CDT)

== Regarding the Web Version section ==

I have a question... Isn't most of what's within the "Side Stories" section part of the Web version?
 Specificly, [[Sword Art Online:Aria in the Starless Night|Aria in the Starless Night]], [[Sword Art Online:Rondo of the Transient Sword|Rondo of the Transient Sword]], [[Sword Art Online:Sound of Water, Sound of Hammer|Sound of Water, Sound of Hammer]], [[Sword Art Online:Caliber SS|Caliber SS]], [[Sword Art Online:A Spot of Sunshine in the Winter|A Spot of Sunshine in the Winter]], [[Sword Art Online:Cradle of the Moon Chapter 1|Cradle of the Moon]], [[Sword Art Online:There is but one ultimate way|There is but one ultimate way]]

So shouldn't these be included as being part of the "Web Version" section?
 also, I'm wondering if anyone is actually going to go about translating the web version xD There are a number of exerpts here and there, but not really much... If the problem is getting that actual text, I remember downloading some files of the Alicization arc, even though i understand 0% japanese xD... [[User:Rage|Rage]] ([[User talk:Rage|talk]]) 12:48, 29 April 2013 (CDT)

== Covers ==

I see that most of the covers left untranslated/edited. Just wondering why is that? I think they are part of the novel too, especially the author's words, they look interesting. [[User:Kuno|Kuno]] ([[User talk:Kuno|talk]]) 09:14, 30 April 2013 (CDT)

:I wonder about that too..... [[User:Albertrojas]] ([[Usertalk:Albert|talk]]) 11:59pm, 30 April 2013(+8GMT)

:If you wish to know the translations, just look here on the talk page... Translations are available for all illustrations (minus 1 or two), but the images have just yet to actually be edited with those translations, mostly so that accurate translations can be agreed upon, that will actually fit.... [[Talk:Sword Art Online#Volume 12]] for example... [[User:Rage|Rage]] ([[User talk:Rage|talk]]) 05:27, 1 May 2013 (CDT)

:No, I'm talking about the covers, not color illustrations. And for editing I mean image editing (cleaning, typesetting). --[[User:Kuno|Kuno]] - [[User talk:Kuno|Talk]] 06:38, 1 May 2013 (CDT)

:I don't see why you'd care about the covers being translated... Unless you mean to ask for translations of the text to the side of what's uploaded... [[:File:Sword Art Online Vol 12 - 000a.jpg]] such as what's to the left of this picture... Other than that, I don't see why you would translate and edit the covers... If that is what you mean, then that would admitedly be something interesting to read... [[User:Rage|Rage]] ([[User talk:Rage|talk]]) 12:00, 1 May 2013 (CDT)

:Yeah, just the text on left and right side of the cover should be translated. Like this [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/images/f/fb/Index_v01_000.jpg one].
:Little translation of the author's words in volume 1 cover (not too accurate, I didn't translate it from Japanese and my English is really crappy):

::Kawahara Reki : Lv1
:Born in Sosaria, live in Azeroth. A whole-life solo player. Although I always pretend that I don't need any parties, but recently the number of hard quests suddenly increases. I can't do karaoke alone, but hope that someday I would get to the level where I can eat yakiniku by myself.

:Anyone interested in his level up process? --[[User:Kuno|Kuno]] - [[User talk:Kuno|Talk]] 23:33, 1 May 2013 (CDT)

I don't know how in the world the whole page disappeared, so I've removed the last answer that provoked that. Sorry for it. -[[User:Misogi|Misogi]] 23:25, 1 May 2013 (GMT+1)

== Bullet Lines ==

I'm an editor for the English SAO wiki and recently published 2 new articles for both Bullet Circles and Bullet Lines. However, I had a couple of questions to ask. 1.The terms "Bullet Circle" and "bullet Line" were separate in volume 5, but are more or less merged in volume 6. Is this the case in the original or was this caused by different translators working on the 2 volumes? 2. We've had a little dispute over how the sniper advantage actually works. Some of us interpret it as "The Bullet Line does not appear at all for the sniper's first shot", while others interpret it as "Players can't see a sniper's first Bullet Line because they need to know where to look for it first". Could you please confirm which of these is true? Thank you --[[User:Gsimenas|Gsimenas]] ([[User talk:Gsimenas|talk]]) 05:42, 19 May 2013 (CDT)

:I'm not the original translators, but for the first point, I took a look at the source and, yes, there were a few parts where "Bullet Lines" were supposed to have been "Bullet Circles". I think I've corrected all instances, but if you spot more, by all means please post again.

:For the second point, I don't think even they would be able to sort that out for you - it doesn't seem like the kind of thing you can clarify by retranslating, if you get what I mean. Personally, I think it's "The system doesn't show the target the sniper's first Bullet Line ''at all''" rather than "Players can't see a sniper's first Bullet Line because they need to know where to look for it first", and I waved Death Gun's dodge off as either already knowing where she was because he saw her while using his invisibility cloak, or that "Hypersense" skill (Kirito dodged Death Gun's own first shot, remember?). Though, this doesn't really explain Sinon's own comment about checking through the system, unless it was just a "mind scrambling for answers" thing... -[[User:AKAAkira|Akira]] ([[User talk:AKAAkira|talk]]) 22:44, 23 May 2013 (CDT)

::Thank you for clearing that inconsistency out :) . And guess we'll just have to stick with an assumption on how that system works. Unless the anime gets another sequel and we can get visual proof on whether they can see the Bullet Line or not :D (though even in this case it's not a 100% guarantee that they will depict the concept in an unambiguous way)--[[User:Gsimenas|Gsimenas]] ([[User talk:Gsimenas|talk]]) 14:57, 29 May 2013 (CDT)

== Alicization ==

How many volumes will the Alicization arc have (goind at a rate of 2 chapters per volume)? It'¡s by far the longest arc. --[[User:Kemm|Kemm]] ([[User talk:Kemm|talk]]) 14:22, 26 May 2013 (CDT)

As far as I've heard, it will be around 3 more volumes (15 total, 7 Alicization). --[[User:Gsimenas|Gsimenas]] ([[User talk:Gsimenas|talk]]) 06:59, 27 May 2013 (CDT)

== Chapter 4 inconsistencies ==

As far as I understand, the chapter begins on the 6th of March/3rd Month, however, the graduation contest that is supposed to take place just 2 days later at the end of the chapter it is said to take place "At the end of March—". Also "Eugeo and I would be taking part in the advancement exams for elite swordsmen next month."; "That's because we were the top 12 students during the promotion exam at the end of the month, and our future roles as elite swordsmen trainees were confirmed." - are these exams supposed to be separate, because I can't understand how they can say that their positions as elite swordsmen are already guaranteed when the exam is only going to take place later that month? --[[User:Gsimenas|Gsimenas]] ([[User talk:Gsimenas|talk]]) 14:50, 29 May 2013 (CDT)

:Passed the message on, Tap answered [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=3128&start=3570#p186633 here]. -[[User:AKAAkira|Akira]] ([[User talk:AKAAkira|talk]]) 18:19, 31 May 2013 (CDT)

== Something strange on the Android App ==

Not 100% sure this is the right place for this, but...

There is something strange going on with this LN series in the Android app. The 'Cradle of the Moon' Side Story chapter(s) is listed a total of 6 times under three separate headings of 'Side Stories'.

Similarly, I have two header listings for 'Sword Art Online: Material Editions', 3 for 'Volume 1' (two of which seem to be Progressive, the other just has a chapter called 'Enlarge' which doesn't seem to contain any data) and a total of 5 'Side Stories' headers. The 12 main headers (LNs 1-12) seem to be fine, as do all of the other LNs I have marked as Favourites in the app.

Anyone got any ideas/fixes?

It's what happens when people play around with how the sections are listed. The old listing persist because the App downloads and stores the information in a cache, but the 'new' listing also pop up showing as duplicates. The easiest fix is to purge the volume cache (touch and hold) then refresh the volume. You could even do this to the entire LN listing from your watch list and run an update check to pick up how things are listed now. Oh...also don't forget to sign your posts. Helps track who is having these problems in case someone on the dev team wants to talk about it. [[User:Unknownadd|Unknownadd]] ([[User talk:Unknownadd|talk]]) 21:35, 15 June 2013 (CDT)

:Sorry about not signing, but since I'm not registered here yet I wasn't sure it would help anyway. ;)
:Is there somewhere that I can make suggestions for the app? I've just used the Options version of 'clear novel cache', since doing it on a volume-by-volume basis didn't seem to work, and it wiped out EVERYTHING - My favourites, 'read' chapters, everything, so now I have to try and remember what I have read and what I haven't, what I was planning to read, etc... seems a little excessive. ~AerosAtar

== Volume 12 Translation? ==

I don't want to sound impatient, but has volume 12 been put on hiatus? I remember volume 10 and 11 being translated at a fast and steady pace, but 12 hasn't even had a word translated for 2 months.

Tap is translating vol 12, You can check it out on his blog.
Blog's link is on his profile. He will upload it to baka-tsuki once translation and major editing is completed.

Exactly. now, let's drop with the 'how's TL status doing?' questions please..

It's almost done. Tap sure has awesome speed and quality. -[[User:Kuno|Kuno]] - [[User talk:Kuno|Talk]] 19:16, 19 June 2013 (CDT)

== Raious Antinous ==

I doubt anyone will argue with the conjecture that the eldest son of a 3rd class noble family, Raious Antinous, is a huge dick.
I'd like to point out the significance of his second name, Antinous.

For those of you who've read the Oddysey, by Homer (being the sequel to the Iliad), you will understand immediately what I'm talking about.

In the Odyssey, Antinous is a character who is attempting to secure Odysseus' bride, Penelope, for himself. Odysseus is assumed to be dead at this time. Antinous is the son of a high-ranking noble who is attempting to marry Penelope, and it is insinuated that, given the chance, he would attempt to rape her. He gets duly killed by Odysseus, who is understandably angry. Actually Odysseus kills him along with several HUNDRED other suitors (BADASS ALERT). ANNNNYways...

Anyone else notice the similarity? Cause i do.

== Number of volumes ==

I've noticed over the past week that updaters can't agree on how many volumes: Some people update it to 13 and then someone comes in behind them and reverses the update... I've seen this happen at least three times this month so far. I don't want to start an update war or anything, but I think there ARE 13 volumes now in the main series (not even counting the SAO Progressive): there are certainly 13 volumes listed in section 5... or are we not counting volume 13 since it's release date is next month? [[User:Zehd|Zehd]] ([[User talk:Zehd|talk]]) 23:48, 11 July 2013 (CDT)

I think number of currently published volumes must be present, and it will be updated after release date. Looking at this number any user can estimate length of the series and translation progress, other numbers can be misleading. [[User:Xaliuss|Xaliuss]] ([[User talk:Xaliuss|talk]]) 02:24, 12 July 2013 (CDT)

== Licensing ==

Does the project abandonement by the release of first volume cover web-only content too?--[[User:Kemm|Kemm]] ([[User talk:Kemm|talk]]) 16:39, 8 September 2013 (CDT)

(Does abandonment mean we might never get to read the (arc-concluding?) 13th volume? O.O) -[[User:Multipartite|Multipartite]] ([[User talk:Multipartite|talk]]) 23:47, 10 September 2013 (CDT)

Bloody Yen Press. Now I'll never read the ending. If they finish translation at all, it will take about 3-4 or so years before they catch up with B-T... I so hope there will be still some 'underground' translation going -_- [[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 08:01, 11 September 2013 (CDT)

Sword Art Online

2013-07-11T07:32:41Z

Antanaru:

[[Image:Sword_Art_Online_Vol_01_cover.jpg|thumb|Volume 1 Cover]]
Sword Art Online (ソードアート・オンライン, ''Sōdoāto Onrain'') is a light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. The series has currently 13 volumes.

It was written as a Web novel with the penname "Kunori Fumio" since 2002, and was published in 2009 at the same time as [[Accel World|Accel World]], in the label Dengeki Bunko.

The Sword Art Online series is also available in the following languages:
*[[Sword_Art_Online_~Deutsche_Version~|Deutsch (German)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online_~Czech_Version~|Česky (Czech)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online_PL|Polski (Polish)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online_~Russian_Version~|Русский (Russian)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online_Bahasa_Indonesia|Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online_~Italian_Version~|Italiano (Italian)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online_~Brazilian_Portuguese~|Português Brasileiro (Brazilian Portuguese)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online_~Vietnamese_Version~|Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online_~Versión_Española~|Español (Spanish)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online_(Français)|Français (French)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online_Saling Tagalog|Filipino (Tagalog)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online_BE|Nederlands (Dutch)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online_Bikol|Bikolano]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online ~Lithuanian~|Lietuvių (Lithuanian)]]
*[[Sword Art Online Hungarian Version|Magyar (Hungarian)]]

==Story Synopsis==
Escape was impossible until it was cleared; a game over would mean an actual «death»―. 
Without knowing the «truth» of the mysterious next generation MMO, «Sword Art Online» (SAO), approximately ten thousand users logged in together, opening the curtains to this cruel death battle. 
Participating alone in SAO, protagonist Kirito had promptly accepted the «truth» of this MMO. 
And in the game world, a gigantic floating castle named «Aincrad», he distinguished himself as a solo player. 
Aiming to clear the game by reaching the highest floor, Kirito riskily continued alone. 
Because of a pushy invitation from a female warrior and rapier expert, Asuna, he teamed up with her. 
That encounter brought about an opportunity to call out to the fated Kirito―. 

The legendary novel made an appearance with browsing numbers exceeding 6.5 million page views recorded at the personal website.

== Timeline ==

[[SAO_Timeline|Warning : This page is full of spoilers related to the story. You have been warned of its content.]]

== Translation ==

=== [[Sword Art Online:Registration Page|Registration]] ===

Those who wish to contribute are asked to first notify a supervisor beforehand.

'''Translators are asked to [[Sword Art Online:Registration Page|register]] which chapters they're working on'''

===Format Standards===
'''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''
*[[Format_guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Names and Terminology Guideline|Project specific Guidelines: Names and Terminology]] (might contain spoilers)

== Updates ==
*July 10, 2013 - Volume 12 Chapter 7 Completed
*May 25, 2013 - The Fourteenth Autumn Completed
*March 21, 2013 - Progressive Volume 1, Aria in the Starless Night Completed
*March 16, 2013 - Volume 11 Author Notes, Volume 11 Completed
*March 13, 2013 - Volume 11 Chapter 6 Completed

Older updates can be found on the [[Sword Art Online:Updates|Sword Art Online Updates page]].

==The ''Sword Art Online'' series by Reki Kawahara==

'''You can find the PDF, EPUB and MOBI version of the Volumes in the forums [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=4704#p122072 here].''' If you are interested in sharing your version in any format please post in that topic or contact [[User:Carj|Carj]].

===Volume 1 - Aincrad ([[Sword Art Online:Volume 1|Full Text]])===
<div>
<div style="float: left; margin-right: 20px; text-align:left;">
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Prologue|Prologue]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 1|Chapter 1]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 3|Chapter 3]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 4|Chapter 4]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 5|Chapter 5]]
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-right: 58px; text-align:left;">
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 6|Chapter 6]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 7|Chapter 7]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 8|Chapter 8]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 9|Chapter 9]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 10|Chapter 10]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 11|Chapter 11]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 12|Chapter 12]]
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-right: 58px; text-align:left;">
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 13|Chapter 13]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 14|Chapter 14]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 15|Chapter 15]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 16|Chapter 16]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 17|Chapter 17]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 18|Chapter 18]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 19|Chapter 19]]
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-right: 58px; text-align:left;">
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 20|Chapter 20]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 21|Chapter 21]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 22|Chapter 22]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 23|Chapter 23]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 24|Chapter 24]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Chapter 25|Chapter 25]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 1 Author Notes|Author's Notes]]</div>
</div>
 

===Volume 2 - Aincrad (SAO Side Stories) ([[Sword Art Online:Volume 2|Full Text]])===
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 2 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 2 Prologue|Prologue]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 2 Chapter 1|The Black Swordsman (Aincrad 35th Floor, February 2024)]]
*[[Sword_Art Online:Volume 2 Chapter 2|Warmth of the Heart (Aincrad 48th Floor, June 2024)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 2 Chapter 3|Morning Dew Girl (Aincrad 22nd Floor, October 2024)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 2 Chapter 4|Red-nosed Reindeer (Aincrad 46th Floor, December 2023)]]
*[[Sword_Art_Online:Volume_2_Author_Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 3 - Fairy Dance ([[Sword Art Online:Volume 3|Full Text]])===
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 3 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 3 Prologue|Prologue]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 3 Chapter 1|Chapter 1]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 3 Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 3 Chapter 3|Chapter 3]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 3 Chapter 4|Chapter 4]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 3 Author Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 4 - Fairy Dance ([[Sword Art Online:Volume 4|Full Text]])===
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 4 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 4 Prologue|Prologue]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 4 Chapter 5|Chapter 5]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 4 Chapter 6|Chapter 6]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 4 Chapter 7|Chapter 7]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 4 Chapter 8|Chapter 8]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 4 Chapter 9|Chapter 9]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 4 Author Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 5 - Phantom Bullet ([[Sword Art Online:Volume 5|Full Text]])===
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 5 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 5 Prologue|Prologue]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 5 Chapter 1|Chapter 1]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 5 Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 5 Chapter 3|Chapter 3]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 5 Chapter 4|Chapter 4]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 5 Chapter 5|Chapter 5]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 5 Chapter 6|Chapter 6]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 5 Chapter 7|Chapter 7]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 5 Author Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 6 - Phantom Bullet ([[Sword Art Online:Volume 6|Full Text]])===
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 6 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 6 Chapter 7|Chapter 7]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 6 Chapter 8|Chapter 8]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 6 Chapter 9|Chapter 9]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 6 Chapter 10|Chapter 10]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 6 Chapter 11|Chapter 11]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 6 Chapter 12|Chapter 12]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 6 Chapter 13|Chapter 13]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 6 Chapter 14|Chapter 14]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 6 Chapter 15|Chapter 15]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 6 Chapter 16|Chapter 16]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 6 Author Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 7 - Mother's Rosario ([[Sword Art Online:Volume 7|Full Text]])===
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Prologue|Prologue]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Chapter 1|Chapter 1]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Chapter 3|Chapter 3]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Chapter 4|Chapter 4]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Chapter 5|Chapter 5]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Chapter 6|Chapter 6]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Chapter 7|Chapter 7]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Chapter 8|Chapter 8]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Chapter 9|Chapter 9]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Chapter 10|Chapter 10]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Chapter 11|Chapter 11]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Chapter 12|Chapter 12]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 7 Author Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 8 - Early and Late ([[Sword Art Online:Volume 8|Full Text]])===
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 8 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 8 Chapter 1|A Murder Case in the Area (Aincrad 57th floor, April 2024)]] (SAO Side Story)
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 8 Chapter 2|Caliber (Alfheim, December 2025)]] (ALO Side Story)
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 8 Chapter 3|First Day (Aincrad 1st floor, November 2022)]] (SAO Side Story)
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 8 Author Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 9 - Alicization Beginning ([[Sword Art Online:Volume 9|Full Text]])===
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 9 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 9 Prologue I|Prologue I (7th Month of Human World Calendar 372)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 9 Prologue II|Prologue II (June 2026)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 9 Interlude I|Interlude I]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 9 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 - Underworld (3rd Month of Human World Calendar 378)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 9 Author Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 10 - Alicization Running ([[Sword Art Online:Volume 10|Full Text]])===
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 10 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 10 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 - Project Alicization (July 2026)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 10 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 - Zakkaria Sword Arts Tournament (8th Month of Human World Calendar 378)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 10 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 - Master Sword Academy (3rd Month of Human World Calendar 380)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 10 Interlude II|Interlude II]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 10 Author Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 11 - Alicization Turning ([[Sword Art Online:Volume 11|Full Text]])===
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 11 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 11 Chapter 5|Chapter 5 - Seal of the Right Eye (5th Month of Human World Calendar 380)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 11 Interlude III|Interlude III]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 11 Chapter 6|Chapter 6 - The Knight and The Prisoners (5th Month of Human World Calendar 380)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 11 Author Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 12 - Alicization Rising ===
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 12 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 12 Chapter 7|Chapter 7 - The Two Supervisors (5th Month of Human World Calendar 380)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 12 Chapter 8|Chapter 8 - Central Cathedral (5th Month of Human World Calendar 380)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 12 Author Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 13 - Alicization Dividing ===
*[[Sword Art Online:Volume 13 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]

===Side Stories===
'''Note:''' Please be advised that these stories might or might not be canon and might also have details that are slightly different than the volumes above.

*[[Sword_Art_Online:Aria_in_the_Starless_Night|Aria in the Starless Night]] (Aincrad 1st Floor, December 2022)
*[[Sword Art Online:Rondo of the Transient Sword|Rondo of the Transient Sword]] (Aincrad 2nd Floor, 8 December 2022) (16/40)
*[[Sword Art Online:Sound of Water, Sound of Hammer|Sound of Water, Sound of Hammer]] (SAO Lisbeth Side Story) (Aincrad 48th Floor, August 2024)
*[[Sword Art Online:The Fourteenth Autumn|The Fourteenth Autumn]] (Aincrad 35th Floor, 4 October 2024)
*[[Sword Art Online:The Day Before|The Day Before]] (Aincrad 22nd Floor, 24 October 2024)
*[[Sword Art Online:Caliber SS|Caliber SS (Failure Side)]]
*[[Sword Art Online:A Spot of Sunshine in the Winter|A Spot of Sunshine in the Winter]] (New Aincrad 22nd Floor, 31 December 2025)
*[[Sword_Art_Online:Versus|Versus]] (Roppongi, April 2026) ([[Accel World]] crossover)
*[[Sword Art Online:Cradle of the Moon Chapter 1|Cradle of the Moon]] (1%) ('''Warning:''' Alicization spoilers)
*[[Sword Art Online:There is but one ultimate way|There is but one ultimate way]] (Underworld, August 2026) ('''Warning:''' Alicization spoilers)

=====Sword Art Online: Material Editions=====
The Material Edition (ME) series is a series of doujinshis created by Kawahara Reki himself using the pen name "Kunori Fumio" (the same pen name he used when he wrote the web novel of SAO). Material Edition 1 and 3 have no links because they are not text, they are in manga format.

:*[[Sword Art Online:ME1|ME1: The Progressers]]
:*[[Sword Art Online:ME2|ME2: Early Characters]]
:*[[Sword Art Online:ME3|ME3: Ceramic Heart]]
:*[[Sword Art Online:ME4|ME4: Cold hand, Warm heart]] (Aincrad 50th Floor, September 2024)
:*[[Sword Art Online:ME5|ME5: Salvia]] (Kawagoe, January 2025)
:*[[Sword Art Online:ME6|ME6: Algade Showdown]] (Aincrad 22nd Floor, October 2024)
:*[[Sword_Art_Online:ME7|ME7: Continuation: Aria in the Starless Night]] (Aincrad 2nd Floor, 4 December 2022)
:*[[Sword Art Online:ME8|ME8: Rondo of the Transient Sword - first chapter]] (Aincrad 2nd Floor, 8 December 2022)
:*[[Sword Art Online:ME9|ME9: Concerto of Black and White - first chapter]] (Aincrad 3rd Floor, 14 December 2022)



==The ''Sword Art Online: Progressive'' series by Reki Kawahara==
'''Sword Art Online: Progressive''' is a '''''reboot''''' of the SAO Aincrad Arc starting from a day or two before the clearing of the First Floor Boss, and continuing onwards. The first chapter was included in the Anime despite not being part of the ''main'' Light Novel series.

'''Note:''' Please be advised that the side stories in this series have some changes from the original web versions, which have also been translated for your pleasure. Links above.

===Volume 1===
*[[Sword Art Online Progressive:Volume 1 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Sword Art Online Progressive:Volume 1 Chapter 1|Aria in the Starless Night (Aincrad 1st Floor, November 2022)]]
*[[Sword Art Online Progressive:Volume 1 Intermission|Intermission - Reason for the Whiskers]]
*[[Sword Art Online Progressive:Volume 1 Chapter 2|Rondo of the Transient Sword (Aincrad 2nd Floor, December 2022)]]
*[[Sword Art Online Progressive:Volume 1 Afterword|Afterword]]

== Web version ==
=== Aincrad ===
[[Sword Art Online:Web version Aincrad Prologue|Prologue]]-[[Sword Art Online:Web version Aincrad Chapter 1|1]]-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24-25

=== Fairy Dance ===
With 7 chapters
=== The Death-Gun ===
With 6 parts including 55 chapters
=== Alicization ===
With 8 parts + end including 308 chapters
=== Side Stories ===
:*[[Sword Art Online:EX1|EX1: The Black Swordsman]]
:*[[Sword Art Online:EX2|EX2: Four Days]]
:*[[Sword Art Online:EX1.2|EX1.2: VRMMO開発悲話]]
:*[[Sword Art Online:EX3|EX3: Warmth of the Heart]]
:*[[Sword Art Online:EX4|EX4: Zekken]]
:*[[Sword Art Online:EX5|EX5: A Murder Case in the Area]]
:*[[Sword Art Online:EX6|EX6: Red-nosed Reindeer]]
:*[[Sword Art Online:Cradle of the Moon Chapter 1|EX7: Cradle of the Moon]] (1%)

== Project Staff ==
*Project Administrator: [[user:Vaelis|Vaelis]]
*Project Supervisor: [[user:Sharramon|Sharramon]]

=== Translators ===
'''ACTIVE'''
:*[[User:Tap|Tap]]
:*[[User:Pryun|Pryun]]
:*[[‎User:‎Shichiya|Shichiya]]

'''RETIRED'''
:*[[User:Sharramon|Sharramon]]
:*[[User:BeginnerXP|BeginnerXP]]

'''M.I.A.'''
:*[[User:BakaSama|BakaSama]]
:*[[user:Thinklife|Thinklife]]
:*[[User:Aiko|Aiko]]
:*[[User:Thunder|Thunder]]
:*[[User:Black Cats of The Full Moon|Black Cats of the Full Moon]]
:*[[User:Teh Ping|Teh Ping]]

=== Editors ===
'''ACTIVE'''
:*[[User:Kirito|Kirito]] (Please email work that needs to be edited)

'''INACTIVE'''
:*[[User:Aorii|Aorii]]
:*[[User:Black Cats of The Full Moon|Black Cats of the Full Moon]]
:*[[User:Saorian|Saorian]]
:*[[User:Thinklife|Thinklife]]
:*[[User:DrFaust|DrFaust]]

'''KIA'''
:*[[User:Zero2001|Zero2001]]

==Series Overview==
'''''Sword Art Online'' series'''
* Volume 1 - Aincrad (April 2009) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-867760-8</nowiki>
* Volume 2 - Aincrad (August 2009) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-867935-0</nowiki>
* Volume 3 - Fairy Dance (December 2009) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-868193-3</nowiki>
* Volume 4 - Fairy Dance (April 2010) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-868452-1</nowiki>
* Volume 5 - Phantom Bullet (August 2010) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-868763-8</nowiki>
* Volume 6 - Phantom Bullet (December 2010) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-870132-7</nowiki>
* Volume 7 - Mother's Rosario (April 2011) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-870431-1</nowiki>
* Volume 8 - Early and Late (August 2011) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-870733-6</nowiki>
* Volume 9 - Alicization Beginning (February 2012) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-886271-4</nowiki>
* Volume 10 - Alicization Running (July 2012) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-886697-2</nowiki>
* Volume 11 - Alicization Turning (December 2012) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-891157-3</nowiki>
* Volume 12 - Alicization Rising (April 2013) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-891529-8</nowiki>
* Volume 13 - Alicization Dividing (August 2013)

'''''Sword Art Online: Progressive'' series'''
* Volume 1 (October 2012) - <nowiki>ISBN 978-4-04-886977-5</nowiki>

==More Information==
===Wikis===
* [http://swordartonline.wikia.com/wiki/Sword_Art_Online_Wiki Sword Art Online English Wiki]

===Wikipedia Articles===
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_Art_Online English Sword Art Online Wikipedia Article]
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88%E3%83%BB%E3%82%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3 Japanese Sword Art Online Wikipedia Article]
* [http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%88%80%E5%8A%8D%E7%A5%9E%E5%9F%9F Chinese Sword Art Online Wikipedia Article]

===Reki Kawahara===
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B7%9D%E5%8E%9F%E7%A4%AB Reki Kawahara] - Japanese wiki info on author.
*[http://www.t-ono.net/sakura-con-2013/Reki-Kawahara-Panel-Sakura-Con-2013.html Reki Kawahara Q&A 1] - SakuraCon Interview for Sword Art Online and Accel World
*[http://ani.me/zine/home/article/4373/ Reki Kawahara Q&A 2] - SakuraCon Interview for Sword Art Online and Accel World
*[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2013-04-12/interview-sword-art-online-reki-kawahara Reki Kawahara Q&A 3] - Interview with Anime News Network
[[Category:Dengeki Bunko]]

User talk:Yog-Sothoth-chan

2013-06-18T19:22:53Z

Antanaru: Created page with "Thanks for translating Uchi no Meido. Seems quite promising after first chapter. ~~~~"

Thanks for translating Uchi no Meido. Seems quite promising after first chapter. [[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru|talk]]) 14:22, 18 June 2013 (CDT)

OreShura: Volume 1 Chapter 11

2013-04-13T04:38:14Z

Antanaru: typo

== Chapter 11: An Obvious Yet Relentless Ending Mayhem==

All in all, in either case --

The next day, Masuzu came to school like nothing had happened.

After school, Chiwa also came to the clubroom like nothing had happened.

And just as it did in the past, the “Society for Bringing Out Your Maiden Self” recommenced club activities.

"Well, in short, Sakagami-senpai and I weren’t fit for each other."

Chiwa chewed on fried meat bread while she readily summarized the romance with the senpai.

"But I won’t give up! Because I want to become so popular, that even Ei-kun will cry."

Yeah right, Chiwa. When the time comes, I will cry tears of joy.

"If you can maintain this energy, it’ll be fine! Your high school life has just begun, so our battles together will start now."

Masuzu, since we just re-started the club activities, please don’t immediately start to another story!

Thus, even though it was almost time for final exams, our Jien-Otsu club decided to try some new combat tactics.

"Girls who can cook are really cute" became the theme of strategy.

This combat strategy was exactly what the literal meaning described, but Chiwa simply could not cook.

"Masuzu, can you cook?"

"Me? Obviously I cannot."

Masuzu stared me, "’’what are you saying?’’"

"If you can’t, it doesn’t matter as long as you can pretend you can."

"...We’re using this method again...?"

It’ll be fine if Eita-kun just eagerly eats the bentos we make. Tomorrow at lunch, just eat in the classroom in front of everyone and ceaselessly praise our cooking. Although it may not be edible… you’ll just have to show some restraint."

Thunk! Chiwa patted her chest, and said:

"No problem, Ei-kun! I’ll work hard so my food won’t be life-threatening!"

"You guys don’t even intend to make good-tasting food!"

I banged the table with great force.

"No, I absolutely will not eat it! It’s nearly final exams, and I don’t want to upset my stomach!"

"So, ah, what a shame."

Masuzu turned her head, "phuu~" and said with a sigh:

"Now that you mention it, my computer’s been acting strange recently. The hard disk often makes weird noises."

"Oh? Well then you should go get it fixed soon."

"The sounds it makes are really strange. It makes a “NOTE secret-secret” “leak-leak” -- ♪ kind of noise."

"Ah, well that mean it’s broken beyond repair… —wahh— I’ve changed my mind. I want to eat, I mean I’m looking forward to eat Masuzu and Chihuahua’s bento ~ahaha!"

<center>♦</center>

The next day at lunch --

Originally, this was going to cruelly deprive Kaoru of the short time we spend resting together.

"Today, I’m going to go eat in the student cafeteria."

"S-sorry Kaoru!"

Don’t leave...

Don’t abandon me here by myself!

"Then, we don’t you try some of my lunch? Take it, Eita-kun."

"My god! Were you supposed to do this with people you’ve known for a long time?"

I sat sandwiched between the two of them. They were so close to me, that it was difficult to move my chopsticks.

"Your childhood friend is really shameless. Ah, as your girlfriend, shouldn’t I technically have priority in this situation?"

"Hmph. You guys have only gotten together for several weeks. Do you really think you can win over my friendship of nine years?"

Really, no matter how you looked at it, this was the “popular Kido Eita chapter.”

As a matter of fact, since several moments ago, the expression of all the students – especially the boys – were filled with incomparable jealously. It’s said that Yamamoto, the scarecrow does what?
Don’t tell me that you asked me, “Give me one strand of your hair,” just for this reason? <ref>I don’t really understand this… If I had to guess, “scarecrow” in Chinese is slang for class clown?</ref>

Wrong......

You’re gravely mistaken, aahhhhh!

"Well, let’s just let Eita-kun pick then."

"It’s all on me?!" <ref>Some of the phrases they use here are simply beyond my Chinese… and they’re either using metaphors for talking about very strange things… |D sorry for being illiterate. xD</ref>

The two of them opened the lids of their bentos at the same time.

Instantly, a horrible stench flowed all around me.

I simply could not distinguish the color of it all.

This already was beyond the scene of novelty, and was sufficient to trigger a mental breakdown. The thought of it caused my appetite to disappear!

Yes, they exceeded my expectations.

"Uh, Chiwa......"

"What, Ei-kun?"

"What is this black charcoal-looking object? Is it coal?"

I was not a steam engine train.

"This is Chiwa’s meaty meatball specialty! It’s made by wrapping up fried streaky pork! It looks good, doesn’t it?"

Well, if only it weren’t charred like this!

"Uh, Masuzu......"

"What is it, Eita-kun?"

"This – what is this pile of brown slime in the bento box? Is it edible?"

"I don’t know?"

Masuzu gracefully tilted her head and said:

"Actually, I don’t remember anything that happened during that time…"

"You lost your memory when you cooked?"

Besides, how could you make me to eat this stuff?

"But no problem, it’s sure to be tasty."

"There is no proof! Otherwise, you eat some first!"

Masuzu immediately looked away, wordlessly

T-this woman......

"Oh, hurry up and eat -- I'd like to hear your thoughts? Okay?"

Chiwa’s eyes expectantly began to glow.

"Please attentively taste the dishes I prepared with upmost care."

Masuzu smiled sweetly.

I had already begun to regret the words I said to Masuzu yesterday.

I actually said, ‘I’d help you stop Chiwa from leaving.’

How long was this going to go?

When were you guys going to stop?!

I began to hear the boys of the class grumbling. "Damn," "die, instantly go die!" "Why is that kind of guy popular? "(Boom – thump-thump) ※ This was the sound of Yamamoto banging nails. "He’s cheating, right!" "Even if it’s Chihuahua, let me have her!" "It would be better if it was me!"

-- Sure, you can replace me.

That is, if you’re willing to cook for Chiwa every night.

Simultaneously, you’d also have to deal with Masuzu’s poisoned words and JoJo references.

I’m willing to switch with you at any time.

"...I said Chiwa."

I looked far away:

"The so-called popularity... is it possible that it’s not as great as you think......? "

"Ei-kun is suddenly acting cool!"

"Oh, since he’s my boyfriend, of course he’s cool."

Pulling! Masuzu hugged my left arm.

"No way! It’s because he’s my childhood friend!"

Chiwa refused to admit defeat and pulled my right arm.

"You really don’t give in."

"It’s impossible to concede, right?"

Grumble-grumble-grumble...

In the style of JoJoJoJo background sound effects, the two of them stared at each other.

The boys, also filled with incredible hatred, started at me.

I don’t want it...

I didn’t want this kind of high school life!

This is Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru! <ref>Literally means: Too Much Mayhem between My Girlfriend and Childhood Friend!</ref>

<noinclude>
 
----

===Notes===
<references/>

<noinclude>
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| Back to [[Ore_no_Kanojo_to_Osananajimi_ga_Shuraba_Sugiru:Volume 1 Chapter 10|Chapter 10]]
| Return to [[Ore_no_Kanojo_to_Osananajimi_ga_Shuraba_Sugiru|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Ore_no_Kanojo_to_Osananajimi_ga_Shuraba_Sugiru:Volume 1 Afterword|Afterword]]
|-
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</noinclude>

<noinclude>

User talk:Antanaru

2013-04-07T18:39:23Z

Antanaru: removing test

User talk:Antanaru

2013-04-07T18:38:25Z

Antanaru: testing stuff

... [[User:Antanaru|Antanaru]] ([[User talk:Antanaru#top|talk]]) 13:38, 7 April 2013 (CDT)