Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

User talk:Sashiko

2014-06-06T22:50:56Z

TheAEmix: /* Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei */

== Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei ==
Hey, just wanted to say thank you for keeping up and doing vol 13 trans. Much appreciated =^) --[[User:Nuralataion|Nuralataion]] ([[User talk:Nuralataion|talk]]) 22 April 2014 (CST)

Thank you very much for such fast volume 13 translations!!! Love the translation lots!!

Thank you so much for all the translatings i love mahouka koukou no rettousei-soulwave
Thank you very much, it's really much appreciated your translations ^^

Thank you for the TL --[[User:Kai Ran|Kai Ran]] ([[User talk:Kai Ran|talk]]) 10:25, 4 March 2013 (CST)

Thank you for begin translations on the Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei LN. I appreciate it.

Best of Luck in your Mahouka volume 5 translations, they are much appreciated!

Thank you for helping with the translations. Great seeing new faces thank you so much.

Yeah! You should also add yourself to the translator list.

Thank you so much for coming to translate this.

Good luck with helping translate Mahouka!! Thank you SOOO much!

If you upload just the text in other language then chrome can translate it so if you have the text then upload it please

I am unsure whether I understand the last sentence but if you mean that I should upload the book unto my computer and use a program to do the bulk of the translation, aside from the fact that I believe uploading copyrighted material is illegal, I do not have the technological capacity to do that, so I'm afraid that my process will remain read phrase, doublecheck words I'm unsure of, translate into english and then type my rough translation(and it is rough, the complexity of the task really eats away at my punctuation skills and for speed's sake I often can't spend the time to get a sentence just right, so if you want to help please edit). The process is slow but, with practice I will get faster. -Sashiko

Don't worry too much about punctuation. We can cover that for you based on the context of the text, as long as we can tell where the sentences start and end. I try to avoid changing the actual words as much as possible. You should also ignore the person telling you to have the browser translate it -- pretty sure BT staff does not like that just off the legal issues alone. [[User:Rava|Rava]] ([[User talk:Rava|talk]]) 02:50, 16 January 2013 (CST)

Thank you-Sashiko

Thanks for part 3, enjoyed reading it. You were faster than your estimation of a month :) PS to do you signature, you should be using 4 ~, or hitting the signature button top left, so its transformed into the wiki sig. --[[User:Bilagaana|Bilagaana]] ([[User talk:Bilagaana|talk]]) 00:42, 17 January 2013 (CST)

Good job with chapter 3 of Presidential election and the queen. I didn't expect that development, but I like where it's heading. And I agree with the way you do it, not using computer-aided translation. It certainly is a bit slower, but results are something nobody using software assist - even those professional programs out there - can match. And should you ever wish to deploy your skills to translating stuff like serious dissertations for some publisher, computer aids can only get you in trouble. --[[User:Wa-totem|Wa-totem]]

Thanks for completing Presidential election and the queen. Do you have plans to translate the rest of the volume? --[[User:Bilagaana|Bilagaana]] ([[User talk:Bilagaana|talk]]) 23:19, 28 January 2013 (CST)

I realy hope that the rest of the volume is translated not 100% sure if its canon but i am really enjoying the content
and thanks for all the hard work

Thanks for translating chapter 3! Great story arc, glad to see you get it out there. :) [[User:D4mi3n|d4mi3n]] ([[User talk:D4mi3n|talk]])

Thank you for the translations bro.--[[User:Naavi|Naavi]] ([[User talk:Naavi|talk]]) 20:28, 29 January 2013 (CST)

Thanks for the translations! If you are having trouble deciding which chapter of Vol. 5 to start on next, I'm looking forward to "The dubious lolicon". XD Anyway thanks again, glad to see another translator join in on the project. - Ruckkus

Sashiko-san, were you also the one who translate Vol08-Ch07 and Vol08-Ch08? Please fill the one who tranlated it in the registration page. I'm a little confused. [[User:Mada|Mada]] ([[User talk:Mada|talk]]) 08:50, 28 February 2013 (CST)

No, I was not. I have only translated the chapters I have registered for.[[User:Sashiko|Sashiko]] ([[User talk:Sashiko#top|talk]]) 12:20, 28 February 2013 (CST)

Is chapter 4 complete or not?

Excuse me, it is about the last part of Mahouka Kouka no Rettosei Vol.8 Chapter 4. Isn't page 61 and page 62 supposed there? Thank you and my apologies before.
[[User:Mada|Mada]] ([[User talk:Mada|talk]]) 08:16, 21 March 2013 (CDT)

Hi, Thank you for your Translations. I was curious as to who is translation Chapters 15 and 16 of Volume 8. The Registration page doesn't show anyone as having registered for those 2 chapters and you have 17,18 ready and waiting for us (which i am desperately eager to read). Thanks again for all your hard work.

I am working on Chapter 15 however, when Seitsuki has the time to translate he can easily translate faster than I can so I believe that we are both not registering for the chapters in case the other translator finishes first, Once Dreyakis starts on the next volume I will do a partial if neither of us has finished chapter 15 since it is a prologue to the next volume. [[User:Sashiko|Sashiko]] ([[User talk:Sashiko#top|talk]]) 15:13, 28 March 2013 (CDT)

Sashiko just a quick question is the untouchable 2062 a separate Sstory of the past?

Untouchable- takes place over a decade before the high school student characters during the World war three era mentioned in Miyuki's history book. As a prequel, it provides background material for some aspects of the Yokohama Arc and explains this comment- "You dared to touch that which cannot be touched. You dared to sully my scales. For that alone you all deserve to perish!" .(for those who don't know, the scales part refers to the fact that 'Tatsu' and 'Ryuu' can be spelled as dragon.) There is also another tidbit that will play into the Visitor Arc [[User:Sashiko|Sashiko]] ([[User talk:Sashiko#top|talk]]) 19:42, 21 April 2013 (CDT)

泉州-Quanzhou, a prefecture-level city in southern Fujian province

大漢-Dahan, possibly in Taiwan since the results include Dahan Creek and Dahan Institute of Technology, both in Taiwan

対馬-Tsushima, probably the island or the base (I don't remember if the base was already built up by the time of Untouchable)--Vampirecat--
Thank you and Dreyakis for the information [[User:Sashiko|Sashiko]] ([[User talk:Sashiko#top|talk]]) 19:42, 21 April 2013 (CDT)

Thankyou for all the hardwork sashiko.....appreciative fan

Thank you very much for the latest chapter. I'v really enjoyed the way of expanding Tatsuya's harem. It looks your J-E translations have greatly improved. You are our hope now for the future translations. Thanks again.--[[User:Glenrok|Glenrok]] ([[User talk:Glenrok|talk]]) 03:23, 12 August 2013 (CDT)

Thank you so much for the translations!

is this new chapter a side story?[[User:James Gobilzkame|V33]] 23:07, 19 October 2013 (CDT)

Yes, the new chapter is a side story that takes place just after the Yokohama Arc

Thanks for the translations Sashiko! [[User:TheAEmix|TheAEmix]] ([[User talk:TheAEmix|talk]]) 05:22, 13 November 2013 (CST)

Thanks for your translations. I'm looking forward to the next volume as well.

Thanks for keep giving us your translations, makes me happy to see the project advancing, even if you don't care :< (jk)

Don't care about What????
:About me being happy xd

hello. thanks for your work. i think you forgot add something in vol.12 chapter 9. the talk about fumiya and ayako admission to 4°high, and abou minami being the new guardian of miyuki. also, they mention yokohama but i think the should say Hanamatsu. i had read the chinese translation. may be i'm wrong.

No, i checked it is the kanji for Hamamatsu not Yokohama, I just recognized the kanji they both shared and didn't do a doublecheck [[User:Sashiko|Sashiko]] ([[User talk:Sashiko#top|talk]])

Thank you for all of your translations!

Thank you for the translations! I really enjoyed the last two chapters you did of Volume 13 and hope you continue!

Is there any reason for going straight from chapter 1 to 3? Is someone else translating chapters 2 and 4 (in thjat case, why didn't they register ut)? Thanks for your work.--[[User:Kemm|Kemm]] ([[User talk:Kemm|talk]]) 09:35, 6 June 2014 (CDT)

:Kemm, Since Sashiko is a direct Japanese to English Translator, and Dreyakis is a Chinese to English Translator for this title, when he was finished with ch1, and the chinese translations hadn't yet reached ch3, he continued to translate starting with ch3 to allow dreyakis to jump in when ready. [[User:TheAEmix|TheAEmix]] ([[User talk:TheAEmix|talk]]) 17:50, 6 June 2014 (CDT)

== Registration for Mahouka Kouka ==

Editing the page is easy. Anyone who's involved can do so. But you should first talk to Dreyakis. And you should already be familiar with the content that comes before v8. --[[User:Larethian|larethian]] ([[User talk:Larethian|talk]]) 00:10, 31 January 2013 (CST)

Kaze no Stigma:Volume1 Chapter1

2014-04-29T20:32:14Z

TheAEmix: /* Chapter One - The Disinherited Son Returns */ English Grammar. Singular Subject.

<center>
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-align="center"
| [[Kaze_no_Stigma_(German)|DE]]  |  [[Kaze_no_Stigma_(Greek)|EL]]  |  [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Chapter1|EN]]  |  [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volumen_01_Capitulo_01|ES]]  |  [[Kaze_no_Stigma_-_Français:Volume1_Chapitre1|FR]]  |  [[Kaze_no_Stigma_(Bahasa Indonesia)|ID]]  |  [[Kaze_no_Stigma_(Italiano)|IT]]  |  [[Kaze_no_Stigma_~Lithuanian~|LT]]  |  [[Kaze_no_Stigma_PL|PL]]  |  [[Kaze_no_Stigma_~Brazilian Portuguese~|PT-BR]]  |  [[Kaze_no_Stigma_~_Russian|RU]]  |  [[Kaze_no_Stigma_Tiếng_Việt|VI]]
|}</center>
== Chapter One - The Disinherited Son Returns ==

=== Part 1 ===

"What bad taste……"

That was the first impression he had of this client. Incidentally, this impression did not change in the slightest all the way to the end. A mansion sat arrogantly on the hill, set in a high-class residential area, displaying its design that completely disregarded the harmony of its surroundings. If one were to disregard the mansion thus far, one might have to say it was a rather magnificent view. Climbing up Governor's Hill presented a vast view of the land's rich scenery. When he saw it, he was honestly and completely stunned.

''(Did Turkish harems have this feeling?)''

Yagami Kazuma didn't seem to be joking when he thought that. "Don't paint the walls of a Japanese house in such wild colors!" he wanted to preach, while grabbing that person's collar. It was that kind of house.This area could probably be considered the origin of Japan's Westernization movement. The first gaslight was lit here and the very first ice cream in Japan was sold here. One would expect it to be a stylish, refined town with a distinguished history.

''(Considering that, this is probably something like a breach of contract…)'' 

He saw a decorated [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Golden Carp|golden carp]] on the roof and let out a sigh. The image that was held dear in Yokohama, had crumbled away completely, with a clattering sound.

When he accepted the job at the agency, he was given not only an address, but also a detailed map that was completely unnecessary. By asking the neighborhood residents, "what's the house with the poorest taste around here?" even a monkey could manage to find his way here.

- A structure painful to the eyes —— he didn't want to call it a house —— that when seen, made Kazuma look up to the sky, begging. The sky was empty and blue.

"Hey, at least it's work…" he muttered, trying to convince himself.

However, this was the same Kazuma whose looks probably wouldn't by any means be called appropriate for work. Wearing a checkered shirt covered by a black jacket with jeans and sneakers, this 22-year-old man seemed, no matter how one looked at him, no different than a student from a nearby university. He was completely blind to his own faults though. As he continued his observations, he noticed something strange. The dark aura that covered the mansion was thicker than he was told; because of this, perhaps even an ordinary person with no psychic background could sense the aura that was presently surrounding the mansion.

''(Maybe I should just go back…)''

Nagged by a horribly bad premonition, Kazuma's thought was halfway serious. The dark aura covering the mansion was something more unearthly than he had expected, but it wasn't so bad that he couldn't deal with it. For this reason, his premonition was that of a bad omen.

Yet, something else was up.

Judging from his experiences up until then, it was a credible and important premonition. However, he couldn't throw away this job on that alone. This was his first assignment in Japan; if he broke off the arrangement with a reason like that, there was no doubt that he would never get any jobs from the agency in the future. He made his way toward the mansion with heavy steps and stopped in front of a ridiculously huge gate. As he stood in front of the doorbell, Kazuma was still unsure if he should continue this job. Danger signals bombarded his instincts and he couldn't help wanting to run away. However...

"Yagami-sama, I presume."

Without any warning, a female voice came from the intercom and completely disrupted Kazuma's thinking. He jumped back with a start and stood on guard as the voice continued.

"You've been expected. Kindly enter through the door on the side."

Click. As she spoke, a small door towards the right side of the gate unlocked. Apparently, there was no one to escort him inside.

''(Compared with that "you've been expected," that's some rude treatment…)''

He felt uncomfortable, but he was dealing with a customer. He entered through the side door as instructed. Inside the fence was a large number of security cameras and sensors.

"They must live a very shadowy life..." Kazuma muttered.

Multiple cameras followed him as he walked into the entryway. Irritation rose in him, almost to the point of wanting to kill whoever put him under this rude surveillance. Somehow though, Kazuma managed to repress himself.

"Eeek……"

That was what he'd intended, but apparently it showed on his face. The maid who came to greet him became fearful of him as if she had just come across a man-eating bear. Kazuma hurriedly smoothed over his expression.

"Welcome! Please, come this way."

Somehow she changed her face of terror, as if she were being picked up and eaten, to an overly bright smile. It didn't seem possible for someone to change their expression so dramatically, forgetting their suspicions instantly, yet the maid smiled as if nothing had happened. As the maid walked ahead to lead him to the living room, Kazuma observed her gratifyingly swaying bottom.

''(It would have been better if I'd left…)''

Kazuma felt deep regret at his choice as soon as he arrived at the living room and saw what was inside. A thin, little man laid back with his legs outstretched, introduced himself as Sakamoto Nanigashi, the master of the mansion. Kazuma recognized him as the client, but he wasn't alone. There was also a [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Practitioner|practitioner]] in the room whose face he knew all to well. That practitioner, upon seeing Kazuma, showed fear on his face for a moment but immediately twisted his lips into a sneer and glared at Kazuma with a face full of scorn.

"What? The other practitioner was you Kazuma? You became a disinherited child of the Kannagi because of your incompetence and now you dare to call yourself a practitioner?"

Those explanatory words were probably for Sakamoto to hear. Practitioner——Kannagi. The youngest child of the branch family, Yuuki Shinji, truly took great pleasure in mocking Kazuma. Sakamoto showed the response that Shinji expected. His expression changed as he approached Kazuma.

"Is this true? Isn't this different from what you said? You said you were a top-class spiritual practitioner, which was why I hired you!"

Kazuma, calmly making a step back with each step his client made forward, answered...

"I don't know what the person at the agency told you but if you're dissatisfied, perhaps I should leave?"

"Hmmph, that's right."

Sakamoto's eyes showed a faintly cunning light. Kazuma's desire to work, which was scarce even at the best of times, quickly neared zero.

"Mmmm, how about this? Why don't you both try the exorcism and only the successful one gets paid? Ahh, naturally, I won't tell the loser to return the advance payment."

"Good idea, yeah."

They were flippant words, but Shinji had immediately accepted them. Then, with the face of someone who was completely made a fool of, he asked Kazuma.

"And what are you going to do?"

"I'm out."

Kazuma gave an immediate reply. In the scornful stares of the two, not even a muscle of their eyebrow moved.

"Hmmph, coward! Sucking your finger like a baby! I'll show you a model example of an [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Enjutsu|Enjutsu]]."

"Model example, eh? Tough talk for the youngest child of the branch family."

"Y-you!"

Shinji was enraged from being insulted by the person who he looked down upon. Completely forgetting about being in front of a client, he tightened a fist and lunged forward. He sent a powerful punch directed at Kazuma's face, yet Kazuma easily dodged the punch by stepping aside to his left. Shinji, who had inserted a great deal of force into his punch, lost his balance and fell. At the last moment, he managed to make it look like a feint by attempting to kick Kazuma's temple from his blind spot.

However, Kazuma, as if he had seen it coming, casually bent his head back. The heel of Shinji's left leg passed by a few millimeters in front of his eyes. Kazuma moved like the leaves of a tree swaying in the wind, without hesitation. After dodging Shinji's kick, he immediately swept Shinji's pivoting leg, making him trip and fall down on all fours to the floor. 

"Sh-shit!"

Shinji barely managed to perform an [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Ukemi|ukemi]] and quickly got back up. Incorrigible, he assumed a fighting posture.

"You! Do you think that you can beat me in [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Taijutsu|Taijutsu]]? You were not even a match for the me from four years ago. There's no way you can be an opponent for me right now." 

"Sh-shut up!"

Kazuma did not show the least bit of triumph. He chided disinterestedly, as if facing a defiant child. Being looked down upon from such a securely elevated position, Shinji's reason made a sound and broke.

"Stop it right there you two."

A restraining voice broke in, turning the two heads towards the speaker. Sakamoto showed great satisfaction at successfully getting both their attention. In a tone as if he was scolding a child, he shouted...

"I didn't call you here to fight! The furnishings in this room, no matter which one you look at, are all more expensive than what I'm paying you! Any kind of rough behavior would be troublesome, okay?"

Suddenly, around the vicinity of money talk, there was a scumbag. The person in question was probably attempting to flaunt his assets, but for the ones made to listen, it was nothing but the stink of the ''nouveau riche'' pushed up their noses.

''(Maybe I'll leave… since I still get the advance payment...)''

With the discomfort continuing to rise with no end in sight, Kazuma's desire to work had already disappeared. He couldn't ignore the agony of simply being in the place.

"Mm……?"

Instantly, without warning, an unearthly presence began to converge...

"It's coming..."

The unearthly presence spread throughout the mansion and directed its focus to one point in the living room. Kazuma casually moved back so that Sakamoto and Shinji were between himself and this presence.

"What's that? What just…?"

The unearthly presence solidified into a smoky black figure. Shinji, seconds slower than Kazuma, finally noticed it too.

"Hmmm, so it came out?"

"Wh-what? What's wrong?"

Hesitatingly breaking the suddenly tense atmosphere, Sakamoto shouted in a shrill voice.

Kazuma answered in place of Shinji, who was already beginning to focus his mind for the use of a [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Jutsu|jutsu]].

"It's time to work. The 'evil spirit', or whatever you've been struggling with just came out."

While giving this offhand explanation, Kazuma felt a beyond-ordinary sense of unease.

''(That's no evil spirit. What kind of thing is it?)''

When Kazuma first accepted this assignment, the person at the agency said "It is just a normal evil-spirit exorcism."

—— Hey, your first job should be one of these, right? If you're as good as the rumors say, you should be able to take that evil spirit with one hand or another ——

A superficial seeming man, but with definite achievements. Their kind of work was, in some sense, even more than practitioners', it was a work where confidence was life. Making a mistake this big was extremely unlikely. It wasn't an easy business, so such an irresponsible agent would not survive.

''(Was I set up? Well, fine. Should I just observe his skill?)''

Kazuma leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and looked about as if sightseeing. Shinji focused his mind to prepare himself for the appearance of the "evil spirit." He was apparently planning to burn it the moment it appeared. It was easy to see from his expression. Suddenly, the space in front of Shinji turned dark and thick. Shinji faced both his palms towards each other in order to set up a transparent ball in front of his chest. A small fire ignited between those palms.

''Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooon……''

A voice full of resentment shook the air as the evil spirit revealed itself. A distorted face stood before them, projecting hatred across the room.


"Eeep!"

"HAAAA!!"

Paying no attention to the screaming Sakamoto, Shinji released a devastating flame alongside a sharp yell. The evil spirit would be cleansed on contact with the summoned fire and would disappear without a trace... or so Shinji believed. However...

"Idiot."

''
Gioooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo……''

While the evil spirit's cries of agony echoed and Shinji snickered...the flame exploded.

"Gahhhhhhhhhh!?"

Shinji screamed as he was wrapped in the flames that he had summoned. In a moment, the entire living room was engulfed in flames.

''Kakakakakakakakakakakakakakakaka''

The entity before them had overcome Shinji's attack and had devoured the flame. The [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Youma|youma]] began to sneer with laughter.

=== Part 2 ===

Even among the ''Enjutsu'' users who could freely manipulate fire, the Kannagi family was famous for their superior strength. It was not simply because their power was great. The reason laid in the special ability passed on in their family's blood. The flame they manipulated was not created by the physical phenomenon of simply accelerating molecular motion. It possessed the power to burn away impurities and destroy evil.

Because of this "purifying flame" the Kannagi family practitioners held absolute dominance over ''youma'', evil spirits, and all beings who transgressed the law. However, even with the ability given by blood, depending on the extent to which their blood was diluted with each generation, it was inevitable that their power would eventually deteriorate.

The branch family practitioners had long lost the highest rank of the "gold" flame attribute. If a youma with a fire attribute was their opponent, the flame that they released would merely be absorbed by the youma instead of purifying and destroying it.

...Which was what had happened just now——

The living room had become a purgatory. The high-class furniture and the shag carpet were already carbonizing. The glass from the chandelier on the ceiling had melted and turned into a grotesque art object. This wouldn't have happened if someone from the head family purified the youma. 

"I wonder if he's dead..." Kazuma muttered with a refreshed face.

A cool breeze wrapped around Kazuma, preventing the raging fire from touching him. Even the heat that the flame emitted was sealed off; not a drop of sweat was on Kazuma's face. 

"H-help……"

A frail voice rang in his eardrums. Kazuma looked down at the blackened object at his feet.

His client Sakamoto had rolled into the [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Kekkai|kekkai]], screaming. He didn't seem to be dead though he was burned here and there.

"Aaaaaa! He-help me!"

Sakamoto screamed as he clung onto Kazuma's legs. However, Kazuma heartlessly kicked away his client.

''Thud!''

Sakamoto's face writhed in pain as he was mercilessly trampled upon. Since Kazuma didn't want to touch anything beyond his slippers, he brought down his heel instead of stepping on him. The skull could have been making a creaking sound, but that wasn't a big problem.

Kazuma stepped on Sakamoto's head and stated clearly, "you're not my client and I don't have a habit of saving middle-aged men."

"If it's money, I'll pay. Twice as much, or so…"

"Twice? Is your life worth only a million?"

Kazuma took a cigarette from his pocket. He gently stretched out his hand, exposing the cigarette's tip outside of the kekkai and began to smoke.

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 01 019.jpg|thumb]]

Sakamoto didn't have the luxury to be so relaxed though. Whether by chance or on purpose, there were holes in the area of the kekkai near Sakamoto. Some of the flames passed through the holes and touched him.

"Hot-! Ee-eeee! Help! Fine!! I'll pay 10 million!"

"Thanks for your business."

Upon tossing away his cigarette, Kazuma's face let out a smile similar to that of a demon who had made a profitable deal.

"All right now. Then, won't you please stand back?"

Kazuma kicked Sakamoto in the rear, and, while sending Sakamoto rolling into the side of the room, Kazuma proclaimed, "you're in the way."

He began muttering in a low voice and waved his right hand sideways in a mowing motion. As if being squeezed out by his hand, the raging fire was instantly expelled through the window.

The fire didn't spread to the grass and trees in the garden. Instead, it scattered and then vanished.

At that moment, a fireball with a distorted face floated in the center of the room. Now the youma's true form was in front of Kazuma.

''Hyuuoou-''

In place of the extinguished fire, wind raged across the room. Kazuma stood quietly and with his hand still in his jacket pocket, directed the wind to erase the flames still remaining in the room.

The fight was already over. The youma was unable to even put up any resistance against Kazuma's overwhelming power as it was torn to pieces. All that was left to do was wait for its annihilation.

"And with this…"

Kazuma slowly raised his right hand. A person gifted with the sixth sense would have been terrified upon seeing the amount of wind power that was gathering in his hand.

"…The end!"

The hand swung down ten times faster than it came up. From his right hand, an invisible blade that sliced through air came forth, slicing the youma neatly in two.

There were no spirit fragments remaining. Kazuma quietly observed the destroyed youma with a calm look.

"Finished," Kazuma told Sakamoto. Sakamoto was still lying on the floor, dumbfounded.

"Pay the money in three days. Otherwise, would you like to regret having ever been born?"

It was identical to what a criminal would say. Even if it was a mistake, it wasn't the way one would speak to a customer.

However, Sakamoto, realizing the horror of going against Kazuma, didn't even dare to complain.

"Y-yes. Understood. But something terrible has happened to Yuuki-kun. I never thought something so serious would happen."

Without a word Kazuma approached what appeared to be the ashes of Shinji's remains and trampled on them to Sakamoto's despair. As expected, Sakamoto protested... 

"Wh-what are you doing!? I don't know what happened between you two but please show some respect for the dead!"

"He's not dead..." Kazuma dryly spat the words out and then continued to kick Shinji again and again.

Upon doing so, the ash covering the surface fell off; Sakamoto noticed that Shinji appeared to be undamaged by the flame that had covered him a while ago.

"Wh-wha……?"

Sakamoto doubted his eyes as he beheld the unbelievable scene. Kazuma gave an offhand explanation.

"All of the Kannagi bloodline receive the divine protection of the fire spirits. Even people from the branch family wouldn't die from this degree of fire." 

Kazuma curled his lips in self-derision and added, "though I'm the exception."

"Uu……Guu……"

Shinji murmured, waking up. After looking around him, he confirmed that the youma was destroyed.

"You did this?"

"It's just like you saw."

''Who do you think you are, saying whatever you please?''——Kazuma was already aware that Shinji was conscious the whole time. Shinji hurriedly attempted an explanation.

"So you noticed……? But, I couldn't help. I honestly couldn't move."

"I don't want to hear your excuses."

Kazuma coldly stated this over his shoulder, as he turned his back. Shinji called out to the unhesitating figure leaving. There was still something he wanted to ask.

"Why did you return?"

"On a whim, I guess."

At Kazuma's lazy answer, Shinji sharpened his gaze thinking that his question had been evaded.

"'A whim...' Do you believe the elders will accept that?"

"I was only disinherited, I wasn't exiled. Where I go is my business."

"What are you planning?"

"Nothing in particular," Kazuma answered curtly, shrugging his shoulders.

"Are you returning to the Kannagi?"

"Not even if I die."

Kazuma answered as if spitting out the words. Then, this time, without hesitation, he walked off.

Shinji was driven by a sense of unease that he couldn't suppress. He continued to stare at Kazuma.

''(I have to tell this to the [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Soushu|soushu]] as soon as possible…)''

In a sense, Shinji's unease was on the mark. From that moment, a war to push the Kannagi into the abyss of ruin began.

=== Part 3 ===

"Did you know? It seems that Kazuma has returned to Japan. What's more, he's become a Fuujutsu practitioner."

"What! That incompetent guy? It must be dead simple, then, to be a Fuujutsu practitioner."

"Nope, 'I'm a dark magician' is what I heard. For him to become a practitioner, he'd have to sell his soul to the devil, right?"

"Ah, that's probably true."

"Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha…"

That day, rumors about Kazuma were the talk of the Kannagi main house. Of the elders (the general term for those who retired from active service and are now overseeing the management of the practitioners) who heard Shinji's report, only one refrained from jokingly spreading around nonsense.

Shinji was currently under probation for the offense of the aforesaid failure of his duty. Tail fin, dorsal fin, belly fins; all were wildly added to the rumor, until it grew to maturity. Not one person tried to stop it.

The source of the rumors, the elders, appeared to be in complete delight. The people known as ''elders''—excluding the extremely serious exceptions—were basically men of leisure. "Looking important is work," and so on, was the gossip some attacked with.

When there was no work, they would drink tea all day and amuse themselves by talking about various topics. Obviously, they could not resist something interesting to talk about.

They danced with joy inside upon hearing Shinji's news. The elders, when they passed the verdict of probation on the dejected Shinji, even had something of a skipping type of light gait while they drank tea and turned back to each other. They haphazardly began talking like this:

"Ohh, did you know…?"

The elders, during this work time, were like different people in energetic activity.

Within an hour, there was almost nobody in the huge mansion who had not heard of Kazuma's return to the country. It certainly reached the servants, spreading to all kinds of people afterwards.

It was, in short, a situation where almost nobody knew the true facts. It wasn't a big problem for the elders, though, since their attitude was pretty much, ''If it's interesting, who cares what happens later!''

And so, news of Kazuma spread in the exact opposite direction than what Shinji had hoped for.

To wit:

"Kazuma's returned as a dark magician."

"Kazuma was secretly murdered; he's buried in the back garden."

"Kazuma clashed with Shinji during work and suddenly killed him."

"Kazuma made a contract with the wind spirits. An evil demon."

The truth was subtly mixed in, but it was distorted so much that nobody could really interpret it. Obviously, no one feared Kazuma's retribution.

Kazuma, the main family's failure who had left all his talent in his mother's womb, like liquid skimmed off the top, had found a preferable power to take in, it seemed. Nobody laughed at that.

However, there were a small number of exceptions. One of them was the current suzerain, Kannagi Juugo. During supper, in the humorous talk that was being told, there was one item Juugo was interested in.

"Ohhhh? Kazuma chose Fuujutsu? Did you know that, Genma?"

Juugo spoke to his cousin sitting next to him. For some reason, as if harboring some ill will, Genma's smile was filled with hatred.

"…Oh"

Genma answered briefly. Apparently the rumor had already reached his ears, as he didn't appear disturbed.

However, it was clear he wasn't happy about the rumor either. The saying, ''like someone chewing up a bitter bug,'' perfectly described his frown as he gripped a tight fist.

''If Kazuma was in front of me, I'd want to strangle him to death.'' His expression openly displayed his thoughts.

"It's shameful."

"It's not especially shameful." Juugo answered lightly. He gave a command to a nearby servant: "I would like to hear a detailed account. Call Shinji."

"Certainly."

The moment he arrived, Shinji bowed down so low that he scraped the tatami in his prostration. His tension was great; he was sweating from his forehead and breathing awkwardly.

Truthfully, the difference in status between the Kannagi's main family and branch family was absolute. It was impossible for the branch family to even dream of a revolution.

Tradition and social status meant nothing in the Kannagi's system. The two families were simply separated by the overwhelming difference in power.

If a rebellion were to occur, Enjutsu practitioners like Juugo or Genma could simply smash everyone in the branch family by wiggling a finger. Because of this hopeless difference in power, no thoughts of rebellion were harbored.

Therefore, Shinji's tension was understandable. He was in front of Juugo, whose superiority was similar to a god, and had to recount his clumsy failure. This was definitely worse than his original feelings.

"Raise your face. You don't have to humble yourself like that."

Juugo spoke in a friendly manner. However, looking into the suzerain's face and speaking was far too overwhelming for Shinji. In the end, he raised his face, but his eyes still stared at the tatami as he submitted his report.

"A-and, I now have the privilege of being allowed to give this report."

"…I see."

After Shinji finished recounting everything, Juugo remained silent for a while after saying that.

"…I see."

As if to confirm, he repeated it once more. He closed his eyes lightly, and reminisced back to when his nephew (to be accurate, the relation was more separated than that, but he used the label since it was too much trouble) had left 4 years ago.

''(—What a poor child he was.)''

If Kazuma had been born to any but the Kannagi family, he would probably have been considered a superior child. Excellent intellect, good reflexes, and great promise in learning the jutsu; all jutsu except one. He was unable to manipulate fire.

However, for the Kannagi family, this was the most important ability.

No matter what else he was proficient at, someone with no talent for manipulating fire was treated as incompetent. Because of this, Kazuma was no longer part of the Kannagi.

''Still—'' Juugo thought.

''(Why didn't you ask me for help, Kazuma? There was no need to disown you from the family. If it was me, I would have made a place for you. Whatever Genma said, I wouldn't have cared about the Enjutsu, I would have made use of your talent, yet despite that…)''

Juugo looked down at his right leg. It was made of metal and plastic. If that accident hadn't happened, and the "rule of inheritance" hadn't been rushed, would Kazuma be here right now?

Unfortunately, it was far too late. Kazuma had thrown away the family, their name; all that was Kannagi, and had left Japan. This was reality. The ''past'' is a thing that could never be changed.

"…Suzerain?"

An uncertain voice brought Juugo back to reality. Looking around, he found everyone in an awkward silence. It wasn't surprising, as there were almost none among them who had not tormented Kazuma.

However, the one who had driven Kazuma out was calm. That person, Genma, spoke without a single change in his expression.

"Suzerain. Kazuma is already someone without any connection to the Kannagi. There is no need to worry about him."

"Genma, you would say that of your own son—"

"I have only one son, Ren."

Genma spoke coolly, interrupting the suzerain's words. Juugo considered replying, but, disliking unproductive battles, he decided to put other, safer words into his mouth.

"It's fine then. After all, Kazuma has become successful in Fuujutsu. Maybe it was best that he left the Kannagi... Or maybe, Hyoue, if he had been entrusted to your care, could he have become skilled and powerful?" 

"Perhaps."

Sitting at a lower seat, Hyoue, the head of the Fuuga clan, answered sullenly. 

Genma again cut in with an objection.

"We are all afraid that even though Fuujutsu and such are, after all, lower arts. The most they are capable of is acting as assistants to Enjutsu practitioners. Even if we had known four years ago of Kazuma's talent for Fuujutsu and left him to people like the Fuuga clan, clearly, we would still have had to disinherit him."

Hearing his art publicly insulted, Hyoue twisted his face in humiliation. However, nobody paid any attention to Hyoue nor his face.

To the Kannagi family, who only valued fighting power, the Fuuga clan, having been given the reconnaissance and battle support duties, was limited to a lower status. Genma was not trying to start a fight. He was not saying anything beyond the normal beliefs of the other Kannagi.

"…We will go no further with this talk. Dinner will become unpleasant."

At Juugo's words, everyone clearly showed relieved expressions on their faces. As if on cue, cheerful talk began, and they rolled around laughing at silly jokes.

Though awkwardly, the usual dining hall atmosphere returned.

And so, nobody noticed the dark light harbored in Hyoue's eyes. He suppressed his thoughts from showing up on his expression, and murmured in a voice so small it did not even reach his own ears.

"I will not forget this disgrace, Genma…"

=== Part 4 ===

"Kannagi……no, Yagami Kazuma……? You came back at a very good time!"

"Huo-huo-huo……" A hoarse laugh broke the strained silence. Not a single streak of light could be found in the single room filled with darkness.

"And……?"

"Yes, it's better if everyone hears this. Finally, the time has come. The time when we shall dispel the disgrace that has lasted 300 years. Now is the time for us to regain the power we lost, and return to our previous, glorious position."

"Ohhhhhhhhh…………"

A stifled commotion filled the air. No one shouted. Afraid of being discovered, they kept their breaths in check, keeping their tension locked inside the room.

"Oh, when you finally realize it, you Kannagi... We will overthrow you and leave not a single one remaining… Kukuku…"

A low and gloomy voice echoed with resentment darker than darkness...

''"U-uwaaaaaaaaaaaa! Wha-what, what are you doing-?!"''

Late at night on that same day, Shinji screamed out in terror. Nearby were two freshly severed heads, which tumbled down onto the floor. Following them were two headless corpses. And standing before him, a human?

Shinji was unable to say for certain. There was nothing different from a human by outward appearance, but it possessed an aura that a human could not possibly have.

The two corpses——who had been alive until 30 seconds ago——had been captured in a ''kekkai'' without any chance to prepare themselves and were immediately decapitated.

The mysterious person had not moved a single finger. And yet Shinji had clearly witnessed an incredible force slicing the two heads off as if they were nothing. Or rather, Shinji had been forced to witness.

Even though the other two surpassed him in skill, Shinji was the only person left alive. It wasn't because of luck. Shinji realized this more than anyone else.

He was being toyed with. This demon in human shape was feeding on Shinji's fear and hopelessness. It held off killing him for the moment, playing with him lazily, enjoying his empty resistance.

"What the hell?! What did I do…?"

The ''thing'' gave no answer. It came closer without even making footsteps, taking its time.

The ''thing'' remained completely silent. Nothing came out as it drew closer, wielding an invisible sword.

Silence remained even after severing those heads. The two blood-covered heads rolling on the ground seemed not to have noticed their own deaths as they still had their drunken, relaxed slack smiles.

Shinji knew of only one person who could do what this ''thing'' had just done. He had just met that person yesterday. In addition, that person had a motive to kill them.

Shinji became frantic, begging the ''thing'' for forgiveness. His voice did a complete turn.

"Ka-Kazuma? You're Kazuma, right? Forgive me——it was my fault, I-I regret it, so please, forgive meeee——"

The only reply was a flash from the wind-blade. It severed his right arm at the base. Formed from a high density of spirits, the blade cut through meat and bone as if it were tofu.

''"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"''

While screaming, Shinji threw himself fully into starting Enjutsu. The intense concentration from being so close to death brought forth the greatest power of his 25 years of life.

The ''thing'' became covered in a golden flame, the same one that had the power to destroy any and all demons, the highest level of purification. The flame burned brightly through the darkness.

"Y-yeah! I think I——"

Suddenly, ''that thing'', now a huge torch, began to move. Shinji's face, full of hope, froze.

The ''thing'' stretched out a hand, taking hold of the golden flame, ''and in one movement, tore it from its body.'' 

The ''thing'' emerged from the flame's restraints completely uninjured. Its body, and even its clothes, remained undamaged without any sign of having been engulfed by fire.

The ''thing'' slowly turned to Shinji and began walking. Underneath the freezing moonlight, without a sound, it came closer, an ominous shadow.

This was, in some ways, twisted. There was something there that the eye could not help but be fascinated by. A scene filled with beauty that one had to admit was from the spirit world.

"Hee, heehee, heeheeeeheeheehee-, kyahahahaha, ahahahaha!"

Suddenly, Shinji began laughing in a strange voice.

Evidently, his mental equilibrium had snapped from an overload of fear. Even as the wind-blade soundlessly sliced through his body, splitting it in half, he tumbled over laughing without even showing a reaction.

Perhaps the ''thing'' got tired of Shinji's lack of response. It casually sliced off his head as if throwing away an unwanted toy.

There was a dull ''thunk.'' The third head rolled on the ground.

The ''thing'' remained dissatisfied even after killing everyone. It continued to slice up the bodies. Though it was only for a few minutes, the three bodies were cut into many small pieces that even the parents of the corpses would no longer recognize; they wouldn't even be able to tell what kind of flesh it was or what limb it was.

As the raw stink of blood and meat drifted through the kekkai, the ''thing'' laughed cruelly and vanished as if melting into the air.

Afterwards, three severed heads remained. Though the bodies were in pieces, there was not one injury on those heads.

Somehow, the three heads had ended up facing the gate in a straight line. Each had a strange smile, as if to say to anyone coming through that gate, "Welcome to a nightmare."

And so the tragedy began...

<noinclude>
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|-
| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei:Updates

2014-04-29T17:12:59Z

TheAEmix: /* 2014 */ updated for V13C6 preview

<noinclude>
==2014==
===April===</noinclude>
*'''27-April-2014'''
**Volume 13 Chapter 6 Preview
*'''20-April-2014'''
**Volume 13 Chapter 0
===March===
*'''31-Mar-2014'''
**Volume 5 Honor student completed.
===January===
*'''23-Jan-2014'''
**Volume 12 Epilogue completed.
*'''8-Jan-2014'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 16 completed.<noinclude>

==2013==
===December===</noinclude>
*'''29-Dec-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 15 completed
*'''25-Dec-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 14 completed<noinclude>
*'''20-Dec-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 13 completed
*'''19-Dec-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 11 completed
*'''16-Dec-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 10 completed
*'''12-Dec-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 8 completed
*'''10-Dec-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 4 completed
*'''9-Dec-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 3 completed
*'''7-Dec-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 2 completed
*'''5-Dec-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 1 completed
*'''4-Dec-2013'''
**Volume 12 Introduction completed
**Volume 12 Prologue completed
*'''2-Dec-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 7 completed

===November===
*'''29-Nov-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 9 completed
*'''28-Nov-2013'''
**Volume 12 Chapter 12 completed
**Volume 12 Chapter 6 completed
**Volume 12 Chapter 5 completed
*'''16-Nov-2013'''
**Volume 11 Chapter 15 completed
*'''06-Nov-2013'''
**Volume 11 Epilogue completed
*'''03-Nov-2013'''
**Volume 11 Chapter 14 completed
**Volume 11 Chapter 17 completed
*'''02-Nov-2013'''
**Volume 11 Chapter 16 completed

<noinclude>===October===
*'''28-Oct-2013'''
**Volume 10 Chapter 9 completed
*'''20-Oct-2013'''
**Volume 11 The O-Jou-sama's Magnificent Day Off completed
*'''18-Oct-2013'''
**Volume 10 Chapter 8 completed

===September===
*'''11-Sep-2013'''
**Volume 9 Chapter 6 completed
*'''07-Sep-2013'''
**Volume 10 Chapter 12 completed
**Volume 11 Chapter 13 completed

<noinclude>===August===
*'''22-Aug-2013'''
**Volume 9 Chapter 5 completed
*'''11-Aug-2013'''
**Volume 10 Chapter 11 completed

===July===
*'''29-Jul-2013'''
**Volume 10 Chapter 10 completed
*'''26-Jul-2013'''
**Volume 9 Chapter 7 completed
*'''23-Jul-2013'''
**Volume 9 Chapter 4 completed

===June===
* '''29-Jun-2013'''
** Volume 5 Friendship, trust and the dubious lolicon completed

* '''13-Jun-2013'''
** Volume 9 Chapter 3 completed

* '''6-Jun-2013'''
** Volume 9 Chapter 2 completed

===May===
* '''26-May-2013'''
** Volume 8 Untouchable completed

===April===
* '''24-Apr-2013'''
** Volume 9 Chapter 1 completed

* '''20-Apr-2013'''
** Volume 9 Chapter 0 completed

* '''18-Apr-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 16 & 17 & 18 completed

* '''3-Apr-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 15 completed

===March===
* '''17-Mar-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 14 completed

* '''15-Mar-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 13 completed

* '''12-Mar-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 12 completed

* '''11-Mar-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 11 completed

* '''9-Mar-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 4 completed

* '''4-Mar-2013'''
** Volume 7 Chapter 13 completed
** Volume 7 Afterword completed

* '''3-Mar-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 10 completed

* '''2-Mar-2013'''
** Volume 7 Chapter 12 completed
** Volume 8 Chapter 9 completed

===February===
* '''28-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 8 completed

* '''27-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 7 completed
** Volume 8 Chapter 5 completed

* '''26-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 6 completed

* '''25-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 3 completed

* '''23-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 8 Chapter 1 completed
** Volume 8 Chapter 2 completed

* '''21-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 7 Chapter 11 completed

* '''17-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 7 Chapter 10 completed

* '''16-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 2 Afterword completed

* '''13-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 3 Afterword completed
** Volume 7 Chapter 9 completed

* '''10-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 1 Afterword completed

* '''8-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 4 Afterword completed
** Volume 6 Afterword completed

* '''7-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 7 Chapter 8 completed

* '''05-Feb-2013'''
** Volume 6 Chapter 7 completed

===January===
* '''28-Jan-2013'''
** Volume 5 Presidential Elections and the Queen completed

* '''21-Jan-2013'''
** Volume 6 Chapter 6 completed

* '''16-Jan-2013'''
** Volume 6 Chapter 5 completed

* '''09-Jan-2013'''
** Volume 6 Chapter 4 completed

* '''07-Jan-2013'''
** Volume 4 Preamble completed

* '''05-Jan-2013'''
** Volume 6 Chapter 3 completed

==2012==

===December===
* '''31-Dec-2012'''
** Volume 6 Chapter 2 completed

* '''25-Dec-2012'''
** Volume 6 Chapter 1 completed

* '''19-Dec-2012'''
** Volume 4 Chapter 14 completed
** Volume 4 Chapter 13 completed

* '''17-Dec-2012'''
** Volume 4 Chapter 12 completed

* '''14-Dec-2012'''
** Volume 4 Chapter 11 completed

* '''05-Dec-2012'''
** Volume 4 Chapter 10 completed

* '''01-Dec-2012'''
** Volume 4 Chapter 8 completed

===November===
* '''25-Nov-2012'''
** Volume 4 Chapter 9 completed

* '''14-Nov-2012'''
** Volume 3 Chapter 7 completed

* '''13-Nov-2012'''
** Volume 3 Chapter 6 completed

* '''7-Nov-2012'''
** Volume 3 Chapter 5 completed

* '''3-Nov-2012'''
** Volume 3 Chapter 4 completed

* '''1-Nov-2012'''
** Volume 5 Summer break completed
** Volume 5 Memories of summer completed

===October===
* '''23-Oct-2012'''
** Volume 3 Chapter 3 completed

* '''16-Oct-2012'''
** Volume 3 Chapter 2 completed

* '''10-Oct-2012'''
** Volume 3 Chapter 1 completed

===September===
* '''26-Sep-2012'''
** Volume 2 Chapter 11 completed
** Volume 2 Chapter 12 completed
** Volume 1 Chapter 2 completed

* '''17-Sep-2012'''
** Volume 2 Chapter 10 completed

===August===
* '''25-Aug-2012'''
** Volume 2 Chapter 9 completed

* '''17-Aug-2012'''
** Volume 2 Chapter 8 completed

* '''11-Aug-2012'''
** Volume 2 Chapter 7 completed

===July===
* '''22-Jul-2012'''
** Volume 1 Chapter 4 completed

* '''11-Jul-2012'''
** Volume 1 Chapter 3 completed

===April===
* '''17-Apr-2012'''
** Volume 2 Chapter 6 completed

===March===
* '''19-Mar-2012'''
** Volume 1 Chapter 5 completed

* '''18-Mar-2012'''
** Volume 2 Casting Assistant Device completed

===February===
* '''13-Feb-2012'''
** Volume 1 Chapter 1 completed

==2011==

===November===
* '''18-Nov-2011'''
** Volume 1 Magic High Schools are—— completed

* '''15-Nov-2011'''
** Teaser Created
** Volume 1 Chapter 0 completed

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

User:TheAEmix

2014-04-09T16:22:40Z

TheAEmix: Created page with "Hello all, and welcome to my userpage. Not sure what to put in here really, since most of the important discussion ends up in the talk page anyway. I'm an avid reader and ha..."

Hello all, and welcome to my userpage. Not sure what to put in here really, since most of the important discussion ends up in the talk page anyway.

I'm an avid reader and have been doing my small edits when I notice them. Not officially on any projects, nor officially added as an editor. I hope to in the future learn enough Japanese to start translating, but it is a long term goal.

Thanks to all of those that are translating, the access to this material is above and beyond anything I hoped. The community should be proud to have bridged the language gap and provide quality literature for all of us to enjoy.

[[User:TheAEmix|TheAEmix]] ([[User talk:TheAEmix|talk]]) 11:22, 9 April 2014 (CDT)

Talk:Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei

2014-04-09T14:51:00Z

TheAEmix: /* Anime */

== General ==
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]])

Would it be fine if I begin editing? I would be able to put in some time each day. --[[User:Shirofune|Shirofune]]

== 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)

I've been waiting like a year, Please finish the last bits of volume 5 so I can continue reading this series , I know its side stories but it got a number volume so I cant skip it --[[User:Godoffire|Godoffire]] ([[User talk:Godoffire|talk]]) 20:30, 28 November 2013 (CST)

There is only one story in volume 5 that has even the slightly effect on the story, and it's already been translated. The rest can be skipped which is why their not translated. Your missing out on a damn epic story if your still hang up in Volume 5 side stories.

Chronology is the most important thing, And a series with Side Story Volumes with numbers demands that they be read, Its not Toaru where the Sidestories are Outside of the numbering and can be skipped --[[User:Godoffire|Godoffire]] ([[User talk:Godoffire|talk]]) 11:03, 29 November 2013 (CST)

You most likely will be waiting for awhile then. Most of the translators are focused on getting the main storyline caught up with the released novels. Only when that is done will they maybe consider working on vol 5. --[[User:Bilagaana|Bilagaana]] ([[User talk:Bilagaana|talk]]) 14:49, 29 November 2013 (CST)

I'm never going to get to finish this series am I....--[[User:Godoffire|Godoffire]] ([[User talk:Godoffire|talk]]) 20:17, 29 March 2014 (CDT)

I like how I commented that on my bday just for chapter 2 to be added 2 days later
THERE ARE GODS!
Now I just need Chapter 3 to be finished and I can finally continue this series --[[User:Godoffire|Godoffire]] ([[User talk:Godoffire|talk]]) 20:29, 1 April 2014 (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.
 | 
...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)
:Having watched the first episode, I feel like they did a decent job of trying to adapt the huge amount of information included in the novels to the anime. My biggest concerns are along the same lines as you Grimjakk, I worry that the darker aspects of Miyuki and Tatsuya will be glossed over. Lastly, I am worried over the character of Mayumi and Tatsuya. They may have difficultly pulling off Tatsuya's demeanor, and they seemed to have taken Mayumi in the opposite direction of the novels. [[User:TheAEmix|TheAEmix]] ([[User talk:TheAEmix|talk]]) 09:51, 9 April 2014 (CDT)

I feel like we'll be better served if someone takes the project off zwabbit's hands. He hasn't made any progress and having his name there prevents anyone else from picking it up.

:You have it the other way around, the regular translators don't seem to be interested on taking on the two very side character side stories, so we are lucky to even have zwabbit's irregular updates. If zwabbit truely has disappeared, the only translators who might be up for it are Dreyakis/Sashiko and they probably won't jump on it until after volume 12 (if volume 13 comes out before then you won't even see them jump on it until after that...)--[[Special:Contributions/31.50.26.71|31.50.26.71]] 05:12, 12 November 2013 (CST)

== Volume 12 ==

Is it just me or is volume 12 the start of the second year for them? [[User:Oddmoonlight|Oddmoonlight]] ([[User talk:Oddmoonlight|talk]]) 11:52, 18 November 2013 (CST)

It is the start of the second year. In the epilogue of vol 11 its written that the first year ended [[User:Syfer|Syfer]] ([[User talk:Syfer|talk]]) 12:08, 18 November 2013 (CST)

I asked just to be sure it's not a side story or the likes. If it is the second year it would explain some of the illustrations of it. Poor Tatsuya will have to deal with his new kouhai... [[User:Oddmoonlight|Oddmoonlight]] ([[User talk:Oddmoonlight|talk]]) 01:39, 19 November 2013 (CST)

: Pfffft, seriously, it's the other way round. Poor Kouhai LOL --[[User:Larethian|larethian]] ([[User talk:Larethian|talk]]) 09:06, 24 November 2013 (CST)

I wonder who the new boy is ? maybe a member of the 10 master clans like mayumi and katsuto ?
http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=User_talk:Ashwathdragon 24 NOVEMBER 2013

: I doubt that since there are only Saegusa, Juumonji and Yotsuba around the first high [[User:Syfer|Syfer]] ([[User talk:Syfer|talk]]) 12:08, 24 November 2013 (CST)

: From what i heard the boy has the number 7 in his name.. [[User:James Gobilzkame|V33]] 12:46, 24 November 2013 (CST)

: mayumi doesnt have a little brother, so it might be one of those other 16 or 18 families [[User:Syfer|Syfer]] ([[User talk:Syfer|talk]]) 12:56, 24 November 2013 (CST)

: Did you guys read the last chapter in volume 11 The Ojou-sama's Magnificent Day Off? I think you can get an answer to some of the new characters there... [[User:Oddmoonlight|Oddmoonlight]] ([[User talk:Oddmoonlight|talk]]) 13:08, 24 November 2013 (CST)

: the new guy is called shippō takuma and the girls are the saegusa twins kasumi and izumi [[User:Syfer|Syfer]] ([[User talk:Syfer|talk]]) 13:56, 24 November 2013 (CST)

== Volume 13 ==
Why are we listing volume that is not released yet? Shouldn't we wait at least till it gets a proper ISBN number? [[User:SinsI|SinsI]] 25 January 2014

Because this prevents certain people to list it even though we usually wait for a proper ISBN number. In a nutshell: if those in charge do it, it prevents constant reverts, editing, complaints and sermons we would get if someone who doesn't follow the standards of this novel wiki did it. [[User:SXIII|SXIII]] ([[User talk:SXIII|talk]]) 11:56, 25 January 2014 (CST)

Talk:Strike the Blood

2014-03-31T02:50:21Z

TheAEmix:

===Comments and Support===
Thank you so much for these translations! --[[User:Tasear|Tasear]] ([[User talk:Tasear|talk]]) 03:38, 24 December 2013 (CST)

Thank you, [[User:‎KuroiHikari|‎KuroiHikari]]! I have been waiting to read this for a long time and I hope that this is the first of your many translations. A few extra details and some minor spoilers are coming up so look away now.

Yes, this is a harem! Our MC has kenju, something like personal demons every vampire can summon I think, but 12 of them and guess what? He needs to suck the blood of a girl to summon each of them! Think Campione! times three. What's more? Our main heroine is something of a dunce and a klutz, yet she was chosen to monitor our potentially disastrous MC. Why? Because her organization knows that the best way to deal with a male is a pretty girl.

This is very similar to Campione!, but do not despair. There are no gods or myths with long-ass expositions. Neither is the romance as mushy. Thanks to that, there will be plenty of action scenes. Hopefully, we'll get a two cour series.--[[User:Blackwhite67|Blackwhite67]] ([[User talk:Blackwhite67|talk]]) 19:54, 29 March 2013 (CDT)

@Blackwhite : Isn't that something that you had posted previously somewhere on strike the blood anime thread in Animesuki forum -_- ? - Anonymous reader

Hi, it's nice to see your enthusiasm in this. I'm going to be just casually working on this. Unlike my other works, I'm going to be a little more liberal in this one, prioritizing flow and smoothness unless I overlook them. This will include breaking or combining sentences and etc, but I'll still keep them in their same paragraphs. However, I don't read a lot of fiction in English, so I'd probably be limited in coming up with the best/common phrasing. --[[User:KuroiHikari|KuroiHikari]] ([[User_talk:KuroiHikari|Talk]] | ) 00:58, 30 March 2013 (CDT)

@Anonymous: That's just for people who don't go on animesuki and are new to this series. --[[User:Blackwhite67|Blackwhite67]] ([[User talk:Blackwhite67|talk]]) 09:16, 30 March 2013 (CDT)

To those more familiar with the wiki layout, seems that Strike the blood does not have a listing in the menu on the side of the BakaTsuki page. It should be listed under the light novels, but seems to not have any link to it. the only method to get to the page is through the search. I'm not sure how to add a link to those side menus though. If anyone can help, it would be appreciated [[User:TheAEmix|TheAEmix]] ([[User talk:TheAEmix|talk]]) 21:50, 30 March 2014 (CDT)

==Kenjuu Translation==
Anyone has issues with me translating Kenjuu as Blood Beast? --[[User:KuroiHikari|KuroiHikari]] ([[User_talk:KuroiHikari|Talk]] | ) 09:03, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

Not really, but if it isn't too much trouble could you try doing it like Larethian did with Black Magic in Itsuuten? Putting Blood Beast on top of Kenjuu? --[[User:Blackwhite67|Blackwhite67]] ([[User talk:Blackwhite67|talk]]) 10:12, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

Nope, I also like the idea of putting Blood Beast on top of Kenjuu like some sort of furigana. --[[User:Code 06|Code 06]] ([[User talk:Code 06|talk]]) 14:25, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

But it has no furigana, which is why I asked. I figured just leaving it untranslated just didn't work out for me. --[[User:KuroiHikari|KuroiHikari]] ([[User_talk:KuroiHikari|Talk]] | ) 17:58, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

Why did you leave it untranslated then? lol [[User:Kira0802|Kira]] ([[User_talk:Kira0802|Talk]]) 18:10, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

Ken didn't have a proper equivalent in English, and those manga people also left it untranslated. So, combined with my laziness, I left it as Kenjuu. =P --[[User:KuroiHikari|KuroiHikari]] ([[User_talk:KuroiHikari|Talk]] | ) 18:16, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

I think we should leave it as Ken with respect to the author plus I've already seen it used first so it feels more natural, but I think your translation as Blood Beast is just awesome and pure genius. Can we get both? --[[User:Blackwhite67|Blackwhite67]] ([[User talk:Blackwhite67|talk]]) 19:06, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

Blood can carry the meaning Ken intended. I'm not fond of using furigana with English, so I'll be siding with Blood Beast, since Kenjuu really doesn't tell readers anything. --[[User:KuroiHikari|KuroiHikari]] ([[User_talk:KuroiHikari|Talk]] | ) 20:10, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

Organized the sub-topic a little. Figured I'd throw in my input as the terrible manga translator. First off, I'm all for translating Kenjuu (probably not going convey the 拳銃 (Kenjuu, handgun) pun regardless). Blood Beast certainly can work as a translation, but it may come across as beasts who are either spawned from blood or feed on blood, which isn't necessarily what they're about. As I'm also a novice in Japanese, I first look up terms with the unusual kanji I work with — namely 眷属 (Kenzoku, family or dependents in this case). Now, that makes me believe that the beast is tied to their host (as they need them to be manifested), but they aren't solely tied to one host forever but can be passed on to others (going by the manga). That makes me think of the words "appurtenant" and "cognate". Just tossing out some food for thought.

Another thing I tend to forget is just because some words ends in an identifier to what it is (者 for example) doesn't mean it has to be translated, either. Proper nouns are awesome. —[[User:EnigmaticRepose|EnigmaticRepose]] ([[User talk:EnigmaticRepose|talk]]) 20:51, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

I second that. Kenjuu doesn't seem like a word that needs to be translated and I like your translation very much. --[[User:Blackwhite67|Blackwhite67]] ([[User talk:Blackwhite67|talk]]) 21:08, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

I know I can leave it like a proper noun but I don't know... Choosing the word "Blood" was mirroring its use in words like "blood brothers". The beasts are binded to their host, but I presuming not in literal sense. Where did you read that in the manga? I don't think the manga is that far ahead, not that I've read that far ahead. I guess I could leave it at status quo for now, till I read more and learn more about the nature of the said beasts. --[[User:KuroiHikari|KuroiHikari]] ([[User_talk:KuroiHikari|Talk]] | ) 21:32, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

The fourth Primogenitor was known for his 12 powerful Kenjuu, thus why he was called the strongest. Now the Protagonist can summon them, so I'm pretty sure that means they can be passed on. Small edit: Also, I read the Japanese wiki description for them. It explains a bit. --[[User:EnigmaticRepose|EnigmaticRepose]] ([[User talk:EnigmaticRepose|talk]]) 21:39, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

Now we don't know how exactly our MC become the Fourth so I think saying that they can be passed on is a bit much. In any case, KuroiHikari why don't you try my previous suggestion and write your translation on top of Kenjuu? I'd like to keep Kenjuu as a proper pronoun and Blood Beast just sounds cool. If you find something better later, you can always change it. --[[User:Blackwhite67|Blackwhite67]] ([[User talk:Blackwhite67|talk]]) 21:49, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

With the new read up, it seems Blood Beast falls too far off the intended meaning. It's a beast that's dependent on its host. It's totally playing me D=. And, nah, I can't stand seeing furigana in English. You won't see me using furigana at all. --[[User:KuroiHikari|KuroiHikari]] ([[User_talk:KuroiHikari|Talk]] | ) 21:56, 8 June 2013 (CDT)

Could always go the gratuitous Latin route, or just straight out use [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nim obsolete words]. If you want a more serious suggestion, could just literally call them "dependent beasts" or, just substitute with words like "bound/binded", "abided", maybe even "astray", etc. —[[User:EnigmaticRepose|EnigmaticRepose]] ([[User talk:EnigmaticRepose|talk]]) 01:00, 9 June 2013 (CDT)

look good I hope you will choos to translat it

-----------------------

Which one of these two; The Supporting Beast, or Support Beast, do you guys prefer for the translation of Kenjuu?--[[User:Kouen no Ten|Kouen no Ten]] ([[User talk:Kouen no Ten|talk]]) 13:18, 27 December 2013 (CST)

Personally I'd leave it as Kenjuu and just have a translators note that explains what they are. [[User:Swiftelf|Swiftelf]] ([[User talk:Swiftelf|talk]]) 14:25, 27 December 2013 (CST)

== Attack Names ==

How about just leaving the names romanized and make a TL note at the end?
Oh and is Kaleido romanized? Kaleid seems more normal. --[[User:Demon8796|demon8796]] ([[User talk:Demon8796|talk]]) 05:28, 18 October 2013 (CDT)

I'm aiming for no TL notes. Kaleidoscope uses "kaleido..." I'm using kaleidoscope as a reference.--[[User:KuroiHikari|KuroiHikari]] ([[User_talk:KuroiHikari|Talk]] | ) 05:46, 18 October 2013 (CDT)

Well you're the translator not me so I guess I can't argue there. lol
Hmmmm. Ok. --[[User:Demon8796|demon8796]] ([[User talk:Demon8796|talk]]) 05:49, 18 October 2013 (CDT)

Kaleido is also the official translation provided by Mikumo himself.--[[User:Kouen no Ten|Kouen no Ten]] ([[User talk:Kouen no Ten|talk]]) 20:36, 26 December 2013 (CST)

User talk:Sashiko

2013-11-13T11:22:51Z

TheAEmix: /* Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei */

== Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei ==
Thank you so much for all the translatings i love mahouka koukou no rettousei-soulwave
Thank you very much, it's really much appreciated your translations ^^

Thank you for the TL --[[User:Kai Ran|Kai Ran]] ([[User talk:Kai Ran|talk]]) 10:25, 4 March 2013 (CST)

Thank you for begin translations on the Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei LN. I appreciate it.

Best of Luck in your Mahouka volume 5 translations, they are much appreciated!

Thank you for helping with the translations. Great seeing new faces thank you so much.

Yeah! You should also add yourself to the translator list.

Thank you so much for coming to translate this.

Good luck with helping translate Mahouka!! Thank you SOOO much!

If you upload just the text in other language then chrome can translate it so if you have the text then upload it please

I am unsure whether I understand the last sentence but if you mean that I should upload the book unto my computer and use a program to do the bulk of the translation, aside from the fact that I believe uploading copyrighted material is illegal, I do not have the technological capacity to do that, so I'm afraid that my process will remain read phrase, doublecheck words I'm unsure of, translate into english and then type my rough translation(and it is rough, the complexity of the task really eats away at my punctuation skills and for speed's sake I often can't spend the time to get a sentence just right, so if you want to help please edit). The process is slow but, with practice I will get faster. -Sashiko

Don't worry too much about punctuation. We can cover that for you based on the context of the text, as long as we can tell where the sentences start and end. I try to avoid changing the actual words as much as possible. You should also ignore the person telling you to have the browser translate it -- pretty sure BT staff does not like that just off the legal issues alone. [[User:Rava|Rava]] ([[User talk:Rava|talk]]) 02:50, 16 January 2013 (CST)

Thank you-Sashiko

Thanks for part 3, enjoyed reading it. You were faster than your estimation of a month :) PS to do you signature, you should be using 4 ~, or hitting the signature button top left, so its transformed into the wiki sig. --[[User:Bilagaana|Bilagaana]] ([[User talk:Bilagaana|talk]]) 00:42, 17 January 2013 (CST)

Good job with chapter 3 of Presidential election and the queen. I didn't expect that development, but I like where it's heading. And I agree with the way you do it, not using computer-aided translation. It certainly is a bit slower, but results are something nobody using software assist - even those professional programs out there - can match. And should you ever wish to deploy your skills to translating stuff like serious dissertations for some publisher, computer aids can only get you in trouble. --[[User:Wa-totem|Wa-totem]]

Thanks for completing Presidential election and the queen. Do you have plans to translate the rest of the volume? --[[User:Bilagaana|Bilagaana]] ([[User talk:Bilagaana|talk]]) 23:19, 28 January 2013 (CST)

I realy hope that the rest of the volume is translated not 100% sure if its canon but i am really enjoying the content
and thanks for all the hard work

Thanks for translating chapter 3! Great story arc, glad to see you get it out there. :) [[User:D4mi3n|d4mi3n]] ([[User talk:D4mi3n|talk]])

Thank you for the translations bro.--[[User:Naavi|Naavi]] ([[User talk:Naavi|talk]]) 20:28, 29 January 2013 (CST)

Thanks for the translations! If you are having trouble deciding which chapter of Vol. 5 to start on next, I'm looking forward to "The dubious lolicon". XD Anyway thanks again, glad to see another translator join in on the project. - Ruckkus

Sashiko-san, were you also the one who translate Vol08-Ch07 and Vol08-Ch08? Please fill the one who tranlated it in the registration page. I'm a little confused. [[User:Mada|Mada]] ([[User talk:Mada|talk]]) 08:50, 28 February 2013 (CST)

No, I was not. I have only translated the chapters I have registered for.[[User:Sashiko|Sashiko]] ([[User talk:Sashiko#top|talk]]) 12:20, 28 February 2013 (CST)

Is chapter 4 complete or not?

Excuse me, it is about the last part of Mahouka Kouka no Rettosei Vol.8 Chapter 4. Isn't page 61 and page 62 supposed there? Thank you and my apologies before.
[[User:Mada|Mada]] ([[User talk:Mada|talk]]) 08:16, 21 March 2013 (CDT)

Hi, Thank you for your Translations. I was curious as to who is translation Chapters 15 and 16 of Volume 8. The Registration page doesn't show anyone as having registered for those 2 chapters and you have 17,18 ready and waiting for us (which i am desperately eager to read). Thanks again for all your hard work.

I am working on Chapter 15 however, when Seitsuki has the time to translate he can easily translate faster than I can so I believe that we are both not registering for the chapters in case the other translator finishes first, Once Dreyakis starts on the next volume I will do a partial if neither of us has finished chapter 15 since it is a prologue to the next volume. [[User:Sashiko|Sashiko]] ([[User talk:Sashiko#top|talk]]) 15:13, 28 March 2013 (CDT)

Sashiko just a quick question is the untouchable 2062 a separate Sstory of the past?

Untouchable- takes place over a decade before the high school student characters during the World war three era mentioned in Miyuki's history book. As a prequel, it provides background material for some aspects of the Yokohama Arc and explains this comment- "You dared to touch that which cannot be touched. You dared to sully my scales. For that alone you all deserve to perish!" .(for those who don't know, the scales part refers to the fact that 'Tatsu' and 'Ryuu' can be spelled as dragon.) There is also another tidbit that will play into the Visitor Arc [[User:Sashiko|Sashiko]] ([[User talk:Sashiko#top|talk]]) 19:42, 21 April 2013 (CDT)

泉州-Quanzhou, a prefecture-level city in southern Fujian province

大漢-Dahan, possibly in Taiwan since the results include Dahan Creek and Dahan Institute of Technology, both in Taiwan

対馬-Tsushima, probably the island or the base (I don't remember if the base was already built up by the time of Untouchable)--Vampirecat--
Thank you and Dreyakis for the information [[User:Sashiko|Sashiko]] ([[User talk:Sashiko#top|talk]]) 19:42, 21 April 2013 (CDT)

Thankyou for all the hardwork sashiko.....appreciative fan

Thank you very much for the latest chapter. I'v really enjoyed the way of expanding Tatsuya's harem. It looks your J-E translations have greatly improved. You are our hope now for the future translations. Thanks again.--[[User:Glenrok|Glenrok]] ([[User talk:Glenrok|talk]]) 03:23, 12 August 2013 (CDT)

Thank you so much for the translations!

is this new chapter a side story?[[User:James Gobilzkame|V33]] 23:07, 19 October 2013 (CDT)

Yes, the new chapter is a side story that takes place just after the Yokohama Arc

Thanks for the translations Sashiko! [[User:TheAEmix|TheAEmix]] ([[User talk:TheAEmix|talk]]) 05:22, 13 November 2013 (CST)

== Registration for Mahouka Kouka ==

Editing the page is easy. Anyone who's involved can do so. But you should first talk to Dreyakis. And you should already be familiar with the content that comes before v8. --[[User:Larethian|larethian]] ([[User talk:Larethian|talk]]) 00:10, 31 January 2013 (CST)

User talk:Seitsuki

2013-11-13T11:18:37Z

TheAEmix: /* Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei */

Hey there! Sorry for being annoying but I'd like to know if you are gonna traslate SnS, if yes which chapter so I can set up the Spanish Traslation. Sorry again for disturbing you!
[[User:SkyFlames07|SkyFlames07]] 06:22, 24 April 2011 (UCT)

It's best to contact him on Animesuki. --[[User:Larethian|Larethian]] 07:05, 24 April 2011 (UCT)

Urgh, sorry, as Larethian says I don't check this page much ^^; will try to come back more often.
Um I don't know Spanish?.. if you're referring to the English TL tho, I've done the prologue of vol.9 and am currently *slooowly* going through chapter 1. If it wasn't for the text ver I'd be going even slower. As it is, this may take a while. The writing style is... unique. (and painful.) (emphasis on painful.)

Oh there is no rush, I just asked so I know what I will be traslating next on the SnS spanish version myselft from the English TL.

[[User:SkyFlames07|SkyFlames07]]

Yea, there are quite a lot people out there craving for Mahouka translation. Thanks a bunch, dood, your bravery and selflessness won't be forgotten. Srsly though - thanx a lot, don't know why would u think that noone is waiting for Mahouupdates.

He wasn't updating because he wasn't done, not because he thought people didn't care about updates. I think he just posted it because people kept bugging him. Also, I would like to point out that I'm pretty sure 95+% of people will forget his "bravery" and selflessness. That's just how it is on the interweb. I know I'll forget it, which is why I try to send him little rewards before I do. -- [[User:EnigmaticAxiom|EnigmaticAxiom]] ([[User talk:EnigmaticAxiom|talk]]) 26 November, 2012 15:00 (CST)

== Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei ==

Thank you for your translations on the LN. I appreciate.

<big>Look, guys. The more you bug the translators for more, the more annoyed they are going to get. Imagine a salesman's pestering you everyday, and then imagine 100 people doing that to you. Put yourself in the shoes of others before you make that 'seemingly innocent' request.--[[User:Teh Ping|Teh Ping]] ([[User talk:Teh Ping|talk]]) 11:17, 28 March 2013 (CDT)</big> PS: And Seitsuki is drowning his sorrows somewhere...

Lolz [[User:Tony Yon|Tony]] ([[User talk:Tony Yon|talk]]) 19:59, 18 October 2012 (CDT)

I reccommend you should place a note on the Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei main page telling readers you don't want your translations changed to american spelling because people will keep changing the spelling because it is stated in the guideline that the default english is american [[Special:Contributions/58.7.66.191|58.7.66.191]] 04:16, 28 October 2012 (CDT)

Thank you so much!! I'm enjoying the SS in Vol 5 more than I reasonably should .. :D--[[User:Wilhelmson|Wilhelmson]] ([[User talk:Wilhelmson|talk]]) 16:34, 30 October 2012 (CDT)

Hey do you know when you will be finished with chapter 8? Md_rat

Please update chapter 8!!

Don't harass the man about the translation. Not that it will even get to him in time. I believe Seitsuki has been away from a computer for a while. Also, regarding the American v British English, I don't think he should even need a note. Editors seem to take too much liberty with the writing and go beyond fixing spelling/grammatical errors. Mind you, one of the major differences between the two forms is spelling, it's still an issue on the editors' part, since many of them don't know the British spellings, and most of them don't notice that the same "spelling errors" are done in the same way again and again. This includes myself, which is why I try my best not to edit anything other than gross errors. --[[User:EnigmaticAxiom|EnigmaticAxiom]] ([[User talk:EnigmaticAxiom|talk]])

Thanks for the update! and don't worry even if it's unedited that's where editors are for, as long as we can understand the whole thing then it's fine... and again thanks! the urge to spoil myself to read chapter 9 is really killing me :D 
Thanks for all your hard work!

Thanks for Vol 4 Ch 8. --[[User:Bilagaana|Bilagaana]] ([[User talk:Bilagaana|talk]]) 02:24, 1 December 2012 (CST)

Thank you for finishing chapter 8; it was incredibly fun. Hopefully you'll translate more in the future. - Rune

Thank for all your effort in translations. Also I really like your username. How did think of it? -Mokata

Back when I was a JP fanboy with no actual knowledge of JP I somehow decided 'pure moon' sounded real cool and Japanese, hit up a dictionary for the readings and viola, 清月. Now I just roll with it out of habit really. [[User:Seitsuki|Seit]] ([[User talk:Seitsuki#top|talk]]) 15:15, 5 December 2012 (CST)

Really thanks for MkNr translations, love this series so much...hope to see more of your translations in the future...take care and thanks again - LostSoul

Hell, I'm just wondering why you're classified as inactive if you've just translated a chapter.--[[User:SonodaYuki|SonodaYuki]] ([[User talk:SonodaYuki|talk]]) 01:52, 22 December 2012 (CST)
:Because he can only do them on and off. [[User:Rava|Rava]] ([[User talk:Rava|talk]]) 04:11, 22 December 2012 (CST)

are the missing chapters in volume 5 going to get translated or is volume 5 not related to the main plot ie can i skip it and read volume 6?
:Volume contains mainly side-stories and other development type chapters. It won't effect you from reading vol6 which carries on the main plot which is why Dreyakis skipped over it.[[User:Drowzycow|Drowzycow]] ([[User talk:Drowzycow|talk]]) 17:50, 28 January 2013 (CST)

Seitsuki-san, were you also the one who translate Vol08-Ch08? Please fill the one who tranlated it in the registration page. I'm a little confused. [[User:Mada|Mada]] ([[User talk:Mada|talk]]) 08:54, 28 February 2013 (CST)

just a little curious about sashiko's use of "ani" when miyuki speaks in vol 8. i noticed the flashbacks after chapter 2 uses "my brother" and sashiko has changed "my aunt" into "okaa-sama" in the flashbacks does she refer to tatsuya differently or does she continue to use the same word after ch 2? honestly its kinda for cute compare to her normal "onii-sama" god its starting to annoy me (i'm sorry, i'm biased, i like mayumi and erika more) [[User:Keisanichi|Keisanichi]] ([[User talk:Keisanichi|talk]]) 23:46, 1 March 2013 (CST)

:The raw text does have her continuing her usage of 'ani' in the flashbacks, yes. I've directly translated it because unlike 'Onii sama', 'Aniki' or any of those terms with certain connotations and implications regarding relationship/social position etc she's using it simply in the literal sense, that he's her brother. Doesn't seem worth the linguistic awkwardness. [[User:Seitsuki|Seit]] ([[User talk:Seitsuki#top|talk]]) 04:04, 2 March 2013 (CST)

::well then I suppose I won't touch the terminology there, for the sake of uniformity I'll leave it for you and sashiko to decide how to edit the flashbacks so they would match [[User:Keisanichi|Keisanichi]] ([[User talk:Keisanichi|talk]]) 14:54, 2 March 2013 (CST)

Thank you for the TL --[[User:Kai Ran|Kai Ran]] ([[User talk:Kai Ran|talk]]) 10:29, 4 March 2013 (CST)

Ahhhhh!! I just finished reading your new update on chapter 14, it's so awesome. Tatsuya is well gonna fuck them up xD I want moooaaaaar!! Thanks for the update! --[[User:Blackie|Blackie]]

Hey Seitsuki is chapter 14 supposed to be that long considering the other short chapters?

:Chapter cutoff points are pretty easy to spot in the text. [[User:Rava|Rava]] ([[User talk:Rava|talk]]) 18:56, 17 March 2013 (CDT)

Thank you for all your work on MKNR, its interesting to learn more of the Yotsuba's family dynamic. -[[User:Nuralataion|Nuralataion]] ([[User talk:Nuralataion|talk]]) 23:42, 03 April 2013
(CDT)

You write 'Sleeping until the collective wishes of everyone are great enough for me to reawaken once more.' It seems you don't hear our prayers. Come back; we want more of Mahouka, so please, I begyou. 28 Mai 2013 Ulrick

I like how you do the Miyuki scenes. I would like to see more Miyuki. Please come back. --[[User:Popocatepetl|popocatepetl]] ([[User talk:Popocatepetl|talk]]) 18:17, 6 October 2013 (CDT)

He needs energy or in his case wishes enough to use a universal spirit bomb :3. jk well thanks for translating MKnR and by the way i also wished.

thank you for your great job and your translating I hope that you can continue to translate
right now volume 9,10 are stuck and there is no word about volume 11, since you asked I also wish for your return so please hurry

Thanks for the recent translations! Glad to see you active again. [[User:TheAEmix|TheAEmix]] ([[User talk:TheAEmix|talk]]) 05:18, 13 November 2013 (CST)

==No Game No Life==
Thank you for translating NGNL! --[[User:Kai Ran|Kai Ran]] ([[User talk:Kai Ran|talk]]) 12:21, 26 October 2013 (CDT)

User talk:Dreyakis

2013-11-13T11:15:20Z

TheAEmix: /* 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'''===

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

: It´s time to get your own Guardian :), you already have stalkers after you (lets hope nothing more serious happens) :). Anyway, thanks for your great job. Your excellent translations make this novel really worth reading (of course besides the plot, ilustrations etc.).--[[User:Zuruumi|Zuruumi]] ([[User talk:Zuruumi|talk]]) 16:10, 9 November 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)

User talk:Shichiya

2013-09-19T14:24:34Z

TheAEmix: /* Cradle of the Moon */

==Cradle of the Moon==
Please complete it waiting for more than 3 months please

If you would like to help me translate it or proofread or edit, then you can definitely say things about the time. But unfortunately I have other concerns even though I like to translate it as well. But thank you for the comment. - [[User:Shichiya|Shichiya]]

I'll try and proofread it since Ive read up to non translated part so far in the main story - Valdoroth Kai

I can also Proofread if you are still in need of one. Native English speaker who is up to date on Pyrun and Tap's Translations -- theAEmix

User talk:Shichiya

2013-09-19T14:24:18Z

TheAEmix: /* Cradle of the Moon */

Tsurugi no Joou to Rakuin no Ko:Volume 1 Chapter 4

2013-08-29T09:49:26Z

TheAEmix: Tense correction for grammar, could also be "Might she have"

==Chapter 4 – Flag of the Silver Hen==

In the freezing weather before dawn, Chris and Minerva arrived before a conifer forest. As there were soldiers giving them a chase, they could not be distracted by searches for horses or camping tools. Even when it was further from dawn, they could still hear dense clatter of hooves and sounds of conversation of the enemy soldiers from below the cliff they were walking on across the river.

"Oi, but aren't we chasing the Soul Reaper? Didn't people say that she wiped out a squad of almost a hundred person singlehandedly?"

"It seems like she is using a huge sword that's like a steel plate. It's unmistakable now, she's probably the Salt Sprayer......"

"Hah! That's just a rumor! Stop scaring yourself!"

"Is that so? I saw her with a kid she found god knows where, but escaped with him without killing him. Would she do something like that if she were really some kind of Salt-Spraying Soul Reaper? Speaking of which, they weren't on horses, so they couldn't have ran away too far......"

Minerva was lying down behind a rock, and couldn't help but sigh when she heard the conversation.

"Hey, was the one you saw really a woman? You didn't make a mistake, did you?"

"Why should I lie? She wore clothes like that of a dancer's, and was a young, pretty little missy as well. Hehe, if she really was a Soul Reaper, I won't mind dying if I could have a round with her before I die!"

"But say, if we really catch that Salt Sprayer, I wonder how much money we can get."

The two soldiers exchanged gazes after saying that.

Minerva and Chris pressed close to the back of the rock on the cliff, silently waiting for the sounds of conversation and illumination of torches to distance themselves. The rope that was tied to Chris's neck was held in Minerva's hands. As he was already Minerva's captive, his hands were tied up with a rope as well. Being forced to navigate the pitch-black edge of a cliff in such a situation definitely wasn't easy. Because of that, with soldiers in pursuit, Chris could only obediently follow what Minerva decided on. After all, they had to conceal themselves in a place they could hide in before the sun rose.

Chris and Minerva still couldn't rest properly even when they trekked all the way into a forest. Silhouettes of soldiers holding torches on horses that raised clumps of soil when they flew past could still be seen outside the forest time after time. It seemed like the enemy army had sent quite a number of search parties in pursuit of them.

''—Is it because she is with me......''

Such a question couldn't help but surface in Chris's mind. He thought, if it was just Minerva alone, she should be able to escape safely.

"Stop thinking nonsense over there!"

Minerva called and pulled on the rope on Chris's neck, pushing him into a hollow formed by thick roots under a large tree. The space in the hollow was rather wide, and was enough to contain the both of them.

Morning was arriving. The morning light that passed through the gaps between the leaves illuminated the whirling mist. Twitters resounded in the forest. Although the both of them were hiding in a dense forest full of trees, if they walked wherever they wished before darkness fell, the enemy would definitely see them in an instant. Thus, they planned to hide in the hollow until night before continuing to move.

"We can probably escape if we cross the country borderline......" Minerva said.

"Where can you return? Aren't you the only one left as the whole Royal army was annihilated? In the siege, the Celestial army had troops more than ten times you had—"

"So what if they had ten times the troops? We can definitely break through with that amount of people."

''—She's saying that her team is still able to escape even with the blockade of the layers of overlapping nets that are like overlaying silk cloths? Could such a strong unit exist in the Principality Union army formed by such a motley crowd?'' Minerva's statement couldn't help but surprise Chris.

"They're the Order of the Silver Egg, after all."

Minerva answered in a mutter. Chris was unable to suppress a gasp at the name that she mentioned. It was a name that he was extremely familiar with.

Order of the Silver Egg— it was an extremely peculiar group of knights under the flag of Zackaria. The said order used the emblem of a silver hen on their flag, and was at first a well-known joke in the Celestial army. They heard that the order comprised of mostly women and children, as though it was a group of sightseers who went on tours everywhere. They thought that it might be because of the fact that the order consisted of mostly people like this, they naively used emblem of a silver hen on their military flags, and was actually a crowd of innocent fools.

However, when the Seven Countries of the East united at Princinopolis, blowing the horn of revolt against the Celestial Kingdom, the Order of the Silver Egg was enlisted into the Principality Union army as well, and turned from a hilarious joke to a synonym of terror.

The Order of the Silver Egg was shrouded in mystery. Nobody knew how many troops the unit actually had. They accomplished many unbelievable feats. For instance, the Celestial army was unexpectedly ambushed from behind when they launched an assault on them. A force of about seven times their manpower was sent to attack them, but fell into the situation where the whole army lost completely. All of them were rumors with seemingly exaggerated contents. However, they did indeed experience many important battles of varying importance and contributed quite a lot. That was unmistakable.

Because of that, both the Salt Spraying Soul Reaper and the flag of the Silver Hen were terrifying existences to the soldiers of the Celestial army. Chris never thought that there would actually be such a close connection between the two.

"They can definitely break the siege of the enemy forces......" Minerva approached Chris's side, repeating the same words once again while she bent down to sit, as though saying it for herself.

"So...... You're planning to bring me back to the Order of the Silver Egg?" Chris asked.

"Of course."

Minerva's answer caused Chris to bite his lip and lower his head. He was still hesitating.

Chris did not want to expand his social connections at all, and people definitely won't welcome him when they see him as well. If he stayed in the same crew for an extended period of time, things like the Beast Insignias on him and the source of its power would definitely be exposed under the sunlight one day. After that, he would be damned, have rocks thrown at him, and cursed in a malicious manner, just like the night when the villagers realized his existence......

He was unable to take such results. Hence, Chris would never allow himself to stay in the same team for a long time, and always navigated between various battlefields alone. Chris was troubled when he found out that Minerva was not working alone.

"......Why did you leave the Order you belong to yesterday night? Why did you break into the large formation of the Celestial army by yourself?" Chris asked.

"Because I was supposed to die alone in a sea of blood!"

After hearing that, Minerva grabbed the rope on Chris's neck and roared:

"If I don't leave the Order I belong to when I have such a fate, what would that result in? They will be dragged in, dying by my side!"

''—That means, she feels that since she would die anyway, it was better to rush into enemy territory all alone without the company of her comrades, huh......'' Chris brooded over her words.

However, after that, Minerva met Chris, and the fate that should have been inescapable was torn to pieces by the insignias on Chris, and was swallowed up. That was another unbelievable result.

''—I thought that the beast in me would only devour the surrounding people's good luck, forcing the fate of death on them? Then why did it only eat Minerva's fate of dying, allowing her to survive?''

''—Is it because Minerva is a special existence?''

"But......"

Chris knew that the topic had already ended, but felt rather conflicted as he was about to continue the topic. However, he still chose to finish his words:

"But I was at the battlefield that time. If you kept staying in your Order, you wouldn't have met me, and wouldn't have encountered your destined fate, would you?"

''—If so......''

''—If so, I wouldn't have to feel so confused like I am right now.....''

''—If so, I only had to stand alone in the forsaken night all alone, and wouldn't have to face a situation like this......''

"Those are words from someone who cannot foresee the future."

Minerva spat out those words indifferently, pushing Chris deeper into the hollow at the same time.

"If I continue to stay in the Order of the Silver Egg, you will encounter the Order because of my existence. That is how destiny works. This is a law of nature."

Chris swallowed after hearing that, his frozen gaze fixated on Minerva's face that was turned away.

''—This is a law of nature.''

''—The change of all things in this world had been set from the start.''

Such a statement was already common in the world. The same words were often used as lies or excuses of self-consolation by fat priests in churches or farmers whose properties were burnt down or taken away because of the war. However, the words spoken by the red-haired girl was heavy because of the exposed truth.

"......You, can really see things what will happen in the future?"

"Well, not everything."

Minerva erected her knees, nodded to Chris in affirmation.

"I can only see the future when it is related to pain." She said.

"......Related to pain?"

"That is correct. It includes situations when I might be hurt, when I might die, or when my body is about to feel pain."

Chris relaxed his breathing, trying to understand the significance of the words spoken by Minerva.

"And I cannot see it any time I wish to. For instance, when I am sleeping, my eyes closed, the predictions will be presented to my senses in the form of pain, and then the scene of myself dying will appear."

''—So that's why. So that's why she used the word 'see' when she said that she would be killed by me......''

"Apart from that, I can also see for an instant, under what circumstances would I encounter death at places like in battlefields."

Minerva murmured about the powers of her foresight, and hugged her large sword that was as tall as her in her arms.

Chris's heart was chilled, and couldn't help but shudder. He never thought that the Soul Reaper who sprayed salt on the battlefield would be such a terrifying person who could avoid harm due to the ability to predict the trails of javelins and arrows. And he did indeed witness the ability during their battle.

"So I cannot see the fate of everything. In fact, I don't want this kind of power at all."

The heat she breathed out when she spoke condensed to mist on the blade in her lap.

''—Predicting a future related to pain......''

''—If her power of foresight included the pain of death that she might encounter each time, such a power is just too cruel......''

"But I cannot see now." Minerva said: "All of the scenes that would appear before crisis struck have all disappeared. So, if we are noticed by the enemy now, even I cannot guarantee that we can escape in safety......"

"You don't need to risk yourself running away with me."

"Shut up. I'm definitely bringing you back. How can I easily give away my own life in such a meaningless arrangement of fate? I am bringing you away just because of this!"

As she spoke, Minerva's finger circled past the huge sword and pointed at Chris unceremoniously.

''—She...... Was she in a pinch because of the pursuit of something......''

Even though she wanted to cast of her fate of dying and survive, for some reason, the pale face reminded Chris of his face reflected in the pool of blood.

''—So we are the same.....''

''—She and I are connected by an inseparable destiny. Only by eating each other's set fates can we start our new way of living, living on in a way that we wish......''

''—That is indeed so......''

"......Got it."

Chris still had his head lowered. He raised his gaze slightly to an angle so that he could see Minerva from, responding to the red-haired girl who seemed to be muttering to the large sword in her hands:

"Just bring me along— Let me stay by your side forevermore."

''—I won't let you die......''

That moment, the resolve in Chris's heart allowed him to shoulder any discrimination that the members of the Order of the Silver Egg might do to him— ''It'll be fine as long as I restrain myself. Just let me stay by Minerva's side as her slave, having only her in my eyes, forever listening to her words, forever answering only to her words......''

"I would like to ask you not to tell anyone of the fact that I have the brandings on me." Chris said.

"Of course I won't! But if you ate up any of the lives in the Order of the Silver Egg, I will definitely chop off your head there and then!"

''—Great, that's great!''

''—Before that day arrives, just let me devour the death shrouded on Minerva— Let me protect her in this way, and live on!''

"Then please untie the ropes on my neck and hands." Chris said.

"Why? What a joke! You're a prisoner, you know!"

"I won't run away. Besides, it's hard to move while being tied up like this, and it'll be troublesome if we're unable to fight if we meet any enemies along the way."

"Shut up. Who would dare to trust that you wouldn't run away? Besides, even if we had to fight the enemy, there aren't any weapons on you as well."

"I can snatch—"

"Stop whining and close your eyes!" Minerva shouted before Chris managed to finish his words, stabbing her large sword at the entrance of the hollow at the same time, "We'll continue moving after night falls!"

After saying that, Minerva stayed silent. However, Chris realized in an instant that she did not plan to sleep at all, because her jet black eyes were still fixated on the sky that gradually turned white between the leaves.

".......Aren't you sleepy? We've already journeyed throughout the night." Chris asked.

"How can I sleep with you beside me!"

"I won't do anything bad."

"I hate sleeping! I'd always see signs of my death as soon as I close my eyes....."

Hearing Minerva's answer, Chris could only stay mute while biting his lips as well.

''—In her lifetime...... How many times did she see the omens for her death? How many times did she see herself being killed by me......''

However, even though Minerva's manner was tough, she started to doze off as her consciousness blurred as well. Although she tried to hang on by supporting herself with her sword, after awhile, her upper torso fell to the side.

Flustered, Chris could only catch Minerva with his chest as his hands were tied up by rope. The warmth of Minerva's body radiated on his chest. She gave a slight snore due to the uncomfortable sleeping position. Chris looked at her face and relaxed for some reason.

''—If things are really as she said, why did she come to the battlefield with her sword......''

''—If she left the battlefield, she should be able to avoid her own death, right......?''

On the battlefield, the signs of Minerva's death were unavoidable. If she avoided it once, there would be a second and third future of death assaulting her...... If so, why did she stand on the battlefields filled with death again and again?

''—That's right. I remember that she once said that she wanted to eliminate the houses of the Celestial Kings...... Maybe she has some sort of irreconcilable enmity?''

In truth, there was another thing about Minerva that Chris felt curious of ever since meeting her. The manner of Minerva's speech was similar to that of a lady borne of nobility— Chris had once served some local nobility for some time as well, and had once learnt reading, writing and some etiquette between nobility due to their affection for him at the said mansion. Because of that, he could see that Minerva's every action was different from ordinary girls.

''—Is she a girl from high class nobility? No......''

Chris looked at Minerva's eyes closed in deep sleep and suddenly noticed that one by one, unusual coincidences were all focused on this girl.

Being able to see death......

Predicting the future......

The Oracle Decree of the Celestial......

She wanted to destroy the Celestial......

''—You've got to be kidding me.''

Chris shook his head furiously. He couldn't believe it.

All along, Chris believed that the Oracle Decree of the Celestial was just a swindle, and many people had the same thought as him as well.

In fact, many people thought that the declaration that the Celestial could predict the future because of divine revelation was a total joke, a symbol of power created by the Celestial Kingdom to make the nobility bow down under it. Not only Chris, everyone thought so.

However, his encounter with Minerva allowed Chris to understand that her power to see death was real. It was something that he understood after seeing it with his very eyes, and after his battle with her. He finally realized that there really were such powers of foresight in the world.

''—But, how can this be possible......''

''—Something like this can't happen, can it?''

Chris prayed unknowingly. He did not wish for the slender girl leaning on his chest at that moment to shoulder such a heavy burden.

<center>*</center>

Sounds of footsteps stepping on withered leaves rang in the woods, waking Chris from his dreams.

In the pitch-black forest, sounds of rustling due to the interlacing branches swaying continually could be heard. Moisture drifted in the air. It was raining.

That moment, Minerva was still leaning on his chest, shaking slightly in her sleep. Chris originally thought of waking her secretly, but footfalls rang by his ears again. This time, there was the voice of a man as well......

"......That branch just now had bloodstains as well."

"How nice if there's a wolfhound here......"

"On a rainy day, won't the scent be flushed away even if they left one?"

That moment, Minerva suddenly raised her head with her long hair that got messy in her sleep, waking up with a jolt on Chris, her gaze turning bright in an instant. Perhaps because she realized that her head was leaning on Chris, she frowned with her face flushed. Just when she was about to speak, Chris signalled her to remain silent with his fingers.

Minerva looked towards the entrance of the hollow, and subconsciously retreated deeper into the hollow— retreating to Chris's side.

"Since there's so much blood, won't that guy have died already? If so, we can easily claim our reward."

"Yes, Lord Cornelius said that he doesn't care if they're dead or alive."

"But I heard that we can get twenty pieces of pure gold Brigaeden coins if we catch this Salt Sprayer person alive! Why don't we get our reward there? After all, we won't be able to get much if we hand her to the General."

"Right now, everyone is putting the celebration party aside, searching for the people without an aim like headless flies."

"So it's because of that that the reinforcements still aren't here?"

"Isn't that nice? If so, we can just divide the twenty gold coins between us. Anyway, just don't let anyone else get it. Let's hurry up and search!"

Minerva couldn't help but breath in sharply when she heard their conversation. Even Chris heard it. Her slender fingers were tightly clenched on Chris's chest. Until the sounds of the soldiers' conversation and footfalls faded, and was hidden in the fall of rain, Minerva finally pushed Chris away and stood up from the ground.

"W-What did you do to me when I was sleeping!"

"......I didn't do anything at all. You were the one who fell asleep."

"Rubbish! How could I have—"

Minerva grabbed the rope on Chris's neck, and questioned him bluntly. However, it seemed like she knew that she was the one who fell asleep on top of him as well, and thus released the rope without finishing her words,

"......Blast it, how could I have fallen asleep in front of a person like you......."

She couldn't forgive herself for showing her embarrassing side, and gnashed her teeth while scratching her blade with her fingernails in annoyance.

"I didn't wake you up since I saw that you were sleeping soundly."

"What did you say!"

''—Is she angry? What is there to be angry about......'' Chris distanced himself from Minerva in surprise, shrinking into the hollow.

"......Y-You really didn't do anything to me, right...... S-Say, touch my hair and the likes......"

"I said that I didn't. Can't you see that my hands are all tied up......"

"Ah, hmm......" Minerva looked rather embarrassed, with her feet fidgeting restlessly on the ground making pitter patter noises.

"Did you have any dreams......"

"No."

She pursed her lips, hugging her large sword and her knees in her arms.

"......Eh?"

"I did not dream of my death...... That was first...... Blast it, why— You, what is—" Minerva said.

"Isn't...... Isn't that great?"

"N-Not at all— " She furiously raised her head, her gaze meeting that of Chris's in coincidence. Her cheeks reddened in an instant, and she lowered her head quickly,

"W-What, that is none of your concern!"

"Actually, it's the same for me." Chris stared at the side of Minerva's face, "Even though there's an outsider present, I couldn't imagine that I could actually fall asleep as well."

''—And having such an intimate distance between the two of us as well, being so close that we could feel each other's warmth......''

"I just feel that there is this feeling that makes me feel safe with you...... It's really mysterious......" He said.

''—Maybe because Minerva is stronger that me......''

''—Or maybe because the beast in me wouldn't gobble up her life......''

Chris did not voice out his last two thoughts. However, Minerva seemed to have misunderstood something from Chris's first few sentences. She abruptly pressed a fist on Chris's hurt abdomen and twisted furiously.

"—W-What are you doing, it hurts!"

"Shut up, just shut up!"

That moment, they inadvertently looked at the scenery outside the hollow. Perhaps because of the rainy day where clouds covered the sky, they were unable to distinguish whether the sun had already set or not. However, it was so dark that it was already unclear three steps away from the hollow. Minerva spoke in a stiff tone:

"It's about time for us to set off— It looks like the rain will only get heavier, and not lighter."

"Say, from the fact that there were soldiers in pursuit just now, is the opening of the valley sealed?"

"If it's really sealed—" Minerva gripped her sword forcefully, "Then we'll break through by force!"

Looking at the sky through the densely interweaving shadows of trees, it could be felt that a huge shadow shrouded both the left and the right side, giving people a strangely heavy sense of oppression. It was the dark shadow of the cliffs at the two sides of the river valley.

Although it was unknown if the Celestial army had already spread out a binding net, at least this area would have formations of the enemy. Besides, there would be more than a thousand people in a team, so Chris really didn't think that he had a chance to break through in such circumstances......

''—But if Minerva is here, perhaps......''

''—No, right now, she is unable to see images of the future......''

In the pitch-black forest, Chris could only rely on Minerva's vivid red hair as a guide as she walked three steps in front of him. He focused his energy on his hands bound before him— actually, it was impossible for Chris to break free through brute force with Minerva's way of tying the rope. But in his calculations, if they really encountered any danger, he at least had to prepare to use deliberate dislocation of the joints of his arms to free his hands from the rope.

Other noises started to appear in the pouring rain. Minerva and Chris stopped at the same time, looking around the pitch-black forest for each and every movement— *crackle crackle*...... The radiance of torches appeared in their gazes. Minerva immediately took off the leather scabbard holding her large sword and formed a stance......

''—We're surrounded!''

Footsteps made foreign noises as they moved the soil on the ground, metallic noises of swords and armor rang, torches made crackling noises...... The sounds formed a wall, surrounding Chris and Minerva from all directions. Among the fire, the outlines of a few sets of armor were slowly surfacing in the darkness of the woods......

Chris subconsciously started to estimate the number of enemy troops in the forest— ''About a hundred, perhaps...... There are just cliffs on both sides, so we can only break out if we want to escape.....''

"Oi, look at that sword!" "Ah, it's that sword......" "I wonder how many men died below her sword......"

Among the enemy forces, sounds of gulping could be heard time after time. Even the faces illuminated by the torches stiffly showed indescribable fear.

"Nobody dares to be the rear huh......" "Damn, everyone'd better just be scared......" "She's a Soul Reaper...... Didn't the people who saw her say so......"

All of a sudden, a person threw the torch in his hands towards Chris and Minerva. The flames flickered in the mud, illuminating their appearance.

"......She's really a girl." "How young......" "Look! What kind of Soul Reaper is she! She's afraid!"

"Hehe...... This lass actually looks quite good. Would it be too shameless of us if we attack at the same time?"

"If so, the people in the search party would be too pitiful. Not only braving the rain, but having to return empty-handed as well."

"Hah, and if we wait for those people who ran away by themselves, I fear that they won't be able to enjoy it anymore......"

"T-These shameless scums......" Minerva gripped the hilt of her sword, her shoulders and neck trembling continually, exposing the fear in her heart without a doubt.

Chris was already used to the attitude of mercenaries who would get excited when they saw women. In addition, Minerva had such beauty as well. Chris was instead surprised of her reaction. It seemed like she never saw how mercenaries looked like when they saw women. If so, if they were really caught by these mercenaries, Minerva would have to experience shame more painful than death......

All of a sudden—

"You beasts, stop daydreaming! Don't you know how many of us she killed!"

Suddenly, a knight in full armor appeared in the forest before them. He pushed the mask on his helmet away, showing a scrubby face full of whiskers while shouting at Chris and Minerva:

"You're the remains of the Principality army, aren't you! It's better if you surrender obediently. If not, we won't let you go easily even if you're a woman. We'll kill you without an exception!"

"Commander, I heard that we'll get paid more if we catch her alive!" "Twenty gold coins!" "And isn't it a pity to kill such a great woman?"

"Shut up. Have you forgotten about Lord Cornelius's order— Archers, fire!"

On his orders, the soldiers holding bows brushed aside the weeds by their feet and stood at the front lines. That moment, the flames of red interweaved with white before Chris's eyes started to flicker once again. Without any need of communication, it was as though a pact was already formed between the two. He and Minerva dashed forwards in an instant, rushing towards the horizontal row on the slope before them. At the same time, the soldiers surrounding them started to roar, but it was unknown whether it was in anger or joy.

Excitement froze in an instant— Minerva's giant sword swept past, cutting the three armored soldiers into half from the abdomen. Large amounts of blood scattered in the rain.

"—Release the arrows, release the arrows— N-No, wait, we'll shoot our own men—"

The rider's roars of exhaustion were drowned in the confused wails of the soldiers and the sounds of metallic collision between armor and weapons. Arrows scattered in the air. A few of them were cut down by the large sword in Minerva's hands, but one of them grazed past her arm, forming a trail of blood— She could not predict the future anymore...... Chris realized the fact in an instant, and immediately rushed to Minerva's side.

"You go first, I'll block them."

Minerva shouted, dashing towards the archers lined up at the slope. The wind created by the sword whistled among the wails, while bent bows, broken arrows and chopped off arms danced in the air.

"Don't panic, everyone attack, surround her, corner her with javelins!"

The rider ordered while straining his throat. White flames continued to dance in the forest, the blade of the large sword shimmered, causing blood and pieces of flesh to scatter each moment the blade flashed.

"Force her to the edge of the cliff— Archers, scatter to the side!"

Chris saw the remaining archers scattering towards two different direction and immediately rushed forward.

"Minerva—"

On the same time that Chris shouted, numerous sounds of bowstrings being released rang all around them. Minerva finally realized the enemies' attack, and hurriedly raised the large sword in her hands. However, the clusters of arrows had long poured down from all directions.

"—Ugh— NGAAAHH!"

Chris couldn't hold back a wail of pain, almost falling on Minerva's back.

"Y-You—"

Turning around, Minerva's face was pale. She saw Chris block numerous bolts for her, and they were all stabbed bloodily in his side abdomen.

"Didn't I tell you to go first!"

"Didn't you tell me not to run away as well......"

"Idiot! That's because—"

Before finishing her words, Minerva pressed Chris's head down onto the mud. At the same time, she swept the large sword in her hands past Chris's head, chopping down numerous arms of spearmen and normal soldiers.

"I don't have any reason for you to help me!"

While blocking the spears and arrows, she started to walk backwards. However, she reached the side of the cliff in no time. It was pitch-black below the cliff, and nothing could be seen.

They were truly forced into desperation. That moment, the rider that seemed to be their commander already arrived at the bottom of the cliff, and was furiously waiving the longsword in his hands while ordering:

"Surround them! Surround them and use this chance to kill them in one go!"

Almost the whole row of spears that were thrust forward due to the order was blocked by Minerva's sword. However, two of them cut the skin on her thigh and side abdomen.

"—Ngh!"

Her clothes soaked by rain started to turn heavy, the blood seeping out from her wound dying her white clothes black. That moment, even Minerva's action of waving her sword turned slow. She finally realized that her hands weren't functioning properly due to the pain on her. However, Chris was rolling in the mud to avoid the enemies' swords as well, and did not have spare time to help Minerva out. The arrow wounds on the side of Chris's side abdomen were already spreading, and he could feel his blood and warmth seeping out little by little from his wounds. He lied down in the mud, and acknowledged in a trance that his consciousness was fading. Only his eyes continued to follow the silhouette with long, crimson hair in the rain......

''—Minerva!''

''—I will not let you die. I definitely won't let you be killed!''

''—If you disappear, the support that I rely on to survive will cease to exist......''

''—I cannot allow something like this to happen......''

"—AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Chris heard his own roar and felt the rope tying his wrists gradually burst apart. After that, raging sword wind that cut through the air pulled him back to reality from his trance.

His right arm was raised almost completely due to the urges of his reflexes, and he did not feel any pain when he accepted the blow of the blade that slashed downwards as well. The soldier waving the sword shrieked in fear before his eyes.

Chris grabbed the longsword he was holding, squatted down and pierced into the gap between his opponent's armor. The soldier whose weapon was stolen had his blood scattering all around in his wails, and he rolled downwards after falling on the slope.

With the corner of his eyes, Chris found the red hair dancing in the wind. He took a step backwards, and felt a cold, helpless body leaning against his body. Holding swords, Chris and Minerva faced the hundreds of soldiers who were gradually tightening their net of enclosure with their back to each other. That moment, the two of them were so close they felt that they could even hear each other's breathings and heartbeats.

"Why didn't you escape!" Minerva bellowed with her back on Chris, "These people have me as their target. You could have just stayed aloof without pulling out your sword!"

Chris flung away the blood staining the longsword, answering Minerva, who was leaning on his back, at the same time:

"Weren't you the one who asked me to stay by your side forever!"

"What, y-you— Why do you always speak words that are unfitting of the situation!"

"I'm your slave! I belong to you! I will neither run away nor hide! Not now, not in the future—"

Chris could taste blood mixed in the words that he spoke.

"I will devour all signs of death that descend on you!"

Minerva did not speak. Chris could only hear the breath choked in her chest, the surrounding rainfall and footfalls that continued to head towards them.

"Attack in one go and don't think of catching them alive!"

The leading knight commanded loudly in a high-pitched voice. After that, the soldiers holding spears and longswords sprinted towards Minerva and Chris while stepping on the mud on the ground. The two of them had their backs leant against each other and pressed their blades in their hands lower.

Chris looked at the soldiers who had ferocious beast-like gazes and subconsciously moved his hands. He broke the handle of the spear along with his opponent's arm with his sword, and continued with another attack that directly embedded the sword into his opponent's neck. When his adversary's body collapsed while spurting blood, Chris pulled the sword out of his flesh, swinging it at another soldier slashing at him from the side along the way and cut off his throat. The blades of the enemy flashed past Chris's body for a few times. However, the adversaries had Chris's blade swept across them on the next instant, their hands going missing as well.

Chris did not know how many people already died under his feet. In the bad condition of interweaving blood and rain, the chilly temperature and fatigue caused his arms to turn as heavy as lead, and almost couldn't lift them anymore. That moment, Minerva's ragged breathing could be heard from behind. His gaze was so blurry that he almost couldn't see how many enemies were left before him, while the loud cries of the enemy commander and the pouring rain seemed to gradually overlap, and was almost indistinguishable......

"Do we...... have a chance...... to break the siege......"

In such a bad condition, only Minerva's ragged breathing and incongruent words entered Chris's ears without exception. He looked the surroundings, thinking whether they had already disposed of more than half of the enemy forces, pondering at the same time of the possibility of escaping along the cliffs at the edge of the river valley. However, the shouts that rang behind him and the fire that surfaced in the darkness pushed him into the abyss of despair.

"Commander, the ones who went to search for them came back!"

"What were those people dilly-dallying for! They gave us a whole lot of trouble since they were absent!"

The soldiers who ran out of the camp to capture the Salt Spraying Soul Reaper alive returned in large numbers. Upon seeing that, Chris immediately pulled Minerva towards the opening of the river valley— Among the hundred over people before, half of them were left to block their road, rushing towards them.

"These two idiots, looks like we've cornered them. Everyone, charge!"

Ignoring their clamor, Chris gave a beast-like roar, dashing towards the centre of the formation of spears.

''—Even if Minerva is the only one who can escape, I must still......''

Chris steeled his resolve and swung his sword with all his might, ignoring the spears piercing his abdomen and wrist, while the commanding rider of the enemy frantically stopped the soldiers under him from running way under Chris's attack to avoid his formation from dissolving.

"Noooooo!"

Minerva's shout was almost a howl. Now, they could only survive by direct assault. Chris raised his weary arms and continued to lift the longsword in his hands. Because of blood, fat and shredded flesh, the blade finally bent after blocking numerous thrusts of spears. He grabbed another weapon from a corpse lying on the ground, rolling in the mud to avoid the enemies' spears and tripped his adversaries.

That moment, Chris's left arm gradually lost all feeling in the chilliness and sank into numbness. The slash on his abdomen caused him to finally be unable to support himself. His knees bent, and he sank into the mud. He heard Minerva calling his name in sorrow. The enemy commander laughed maniacally, pointed his sword at Chris and approached along with the blade-wielding soldiers.

—Just at that moment, the whistling of numerous sharp objects cutting through the air in high speed rang by Chris's ears. The whites of the enemy rider suddenly showed, and he fell forward into the mud with his eyes wide in shock.

"Commander?" "—AHHHHHHHH!" "U-Ugh!"

Wails arose while soldiers dropped down before Chris one after another. He stood up. Though his gaze blurred due to muddy water and blood, he saw arrows cutting the darkness from the other side of the river valley.

"What's wrong!" "Oi, OI! Where are these arrows coming from!" "The commander is DEAD!"

Cries rang behind Chris. The voices contained endless terror. It was because the soldiers saw numerous torches lit up in the woods behind their riding commander and comrades.

The firelight illuminated the emblem on the flag—

"T-That's—" "T-This can't be! Why......" "H-How can this be...... Why did they appear in this kind of place!"

The emblem of the flag was—

A hen with spread out wings protecting a silver egg.

"—Annihilate the enemy forces!"

An imposing female voice rang in the space sealed by darkness and torches. After that, Chris heard footsteps approaching, stepping on the water. Rows of soldiers wielding longbows came into his view. When he turned around, he could see the mercenaries hired by the Celestial army turning tail to escape. However, what pursued them was a rain of arrows heavier than the torrent of rain, causing the running soldiers to fall down one after another.

That moment, Chris was still lying on the ground weakly, blankly staring at the tragic battlefield of slaughter before his eyes, while Minerva leant against a withered branch of a nearby tree, panting with her face white.

Awhile after that— ''Stop!—'' The rain of arrows finally stopped after the command. The one who gave the order was the imperious female voice from before. After that, footfalls approached. Chris was already unable to counterattack, and could only turn around weakly while holding his sword.

[[Image:TnJtRnK v01 082.jpg|thumb]]

He saw a crowd of people walking towards his and Minerva's direction while holding torches. Some riders who were at the center of the people holding torches clustered around a young female who was walking towards him. Her honey blonde hair shone. Her whole body emitting an elegant, haughty aura, and it was as though her high spirits caused the surrounding rain to be fear falling on her.

''—Is she the owner of the voice who gave the command just now? If so, then she's just too young. And she's actually a female as well......''

''—She's the commander of the widely known Order of the Silver Egg, huh......''

Chris could not believe it, but the truth was before his very own eyes, and so he could not doubt it anymore. The female with blonde hair wore a purely decorative extravagant shoulder armor and breastplate on her coat. Apart from that, a cape was shrouded over her as well, with the emblem signifying the Zackaria king embroidered on the right shoulder.

She walked past Chris along with her Guards and servants. Chris noticed that the blonde female was evaluating him with a gaze of curiosity. As for the other knights surrounding their liege lord, they did not even glance at him, and directly walked towards Minerva who was leaning against a branch, scrambling to show her concern:

"Meena, are you alright!" "Why did you act so recklessly by yourself!"

The blonde female at the center of the crowd pushed away the knights and servants, approaching Minerva's side before the others, "Sorry, Meena. If only we had come earlier! If so, your beautiful skin wouldn't have needed to be tormented by these flesh wounds......"

She combed Minerva's bloodstained red hair and said laughingly:

"It seems like I am the winner of the bet. Didn't I once tell you? The beautiful never dies."

Minerva pushed the blonde female's hand away in annoyance, "Shut up! I was supposed to die! So—"

"Oh, I know. You want to say, the reason you left the team by yourself was because you were worried we would be involved. But I won't accept the excuse of a sore loser like this."

"I'm not a sore loser!"

Minerva cried out in anger, but since she strained the wounds on her, she couldn't help but squat down in pain while pressing her side abdomen.

"Oh well, let's go back to the camp first before we start arguing happily. Those escaped soldiers will definitely come back again during recruitment." The blonde female turned to say to her subordinates:

"You, carry Meena to the horse cart."

"I can walk by myself!" Minerva said.

"Nooooope. Your precious skin and elegant limbs are my private property, so of course I won't let you do as you like— Speaking of which, Meena......" The blonde female suddenly turned around when she said that, her clear light blue eyes meeting that of Chris's, "Who is that cute boy?"

Chris raised his gaze to meet the gaze of the blue eyes, noticing at the same time that Minerva was looking in his direction as well. When Chris shifted his gaze to her, he saw Minerva abruptly averting her gaze. Until then, Chris finally felt relieved. Knowing that he survived, his muscles that got chilly and rigid because of the rain gradually relaxed as well. And the reason he had such a response might be because he saw Minerva's shy face as well.

"—He's my slave."

He heard Minerva's voice, feeling at the same time a warm, lazy presence drowning his whole body, soaking through each of his nerves, taking away his final breath. After that, Chris lost consciousness, as though sinking into a quagmire.

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| Back to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_3|Chapter 3]]
| Return to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_no_Rakuin_no_Ko|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_5|Chapter 5]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Owari no Chronicle:Volume2 Chapter 19

2013-08-27T20:41:22Z

TheAEmix: Corrected "her" to "here", assuming typo.

==Chapter 19: Prematurity of Thoughts==
[[Image:OnC_v02_0143.png|thumb]]
''What is the difference between being hasty and acting quickly?

''The answer is incredibly simple

''It is decided by whether the outcome is successful or not

The preliminary negotiations with Fasolt began with a check of the initial assumptions.

“At the moment, there is no sign of the City faction joining us. The negotiations will primarily relate to the Royal Palace faction joining. These negotiations are the preliminary preparations for the Leviathan Road.”

From there, Fasolt informed Sayama of a few matters:

UCAT had asked that Fasolt remains 1st-Gear’s representative, UCAT special division security guards would be maintaining a presence in the reservation for a temporary period of time after the Royal Palace faction arrived, and due to cultural similarities, the reservation would prefer if those guards were sent in from German UCAT.

Sayama replied that he understood, Shinjou nodded, and Ooshiro typed it up on his keyboard to keep records.

Once the initial assumptions had been clarified, Fasolt said, “The day after tomorrow, 167 members of the Royal Palace faction will be arriving here. It is impossible for us to secure enough arable land for all of them.”

“Are you asking for an expansion to the concept space creating the reservation?”

Fasolt did not nod. Sayama turned to Ooshiro.

“What would happen if it was expanded?”

“It already covers a radius of one kilometer. If the radius was expanded by 100 meters, the area would increase by 21%. …It is a simple calculation, but you understand what it means to increase their yearly budget by 20%, right? We already put 10 digits worth of budget a year into maintaining this place.”

“I see.” Sayama turned back toward Fasolt and said, “Just because the Royal Palace faction is joining you, I cannot approve merely expanding the reservation.”

“Why not?”

“You mentioned before that there is a process for naturalization. That means you try not to bring in anyone who can survive outside of 1st-Gear’s concepts, correct?”

“Yes.”

“That means we need to go over the list of those arriving and see how many belong to races that can be naturalized. We can build temporary lodging for those who can be naturalized, temporarily prioritize food distribution, and build houses for and expand the fields for those who will be ultimately staying. I think we can hold new negotiations over the land issue once you know how many will be staying.” Sayama gave a bitter smile. “But I think you knew all this. That is why you said what you said: ‘It is impossible for us to secure enough arable land for all of them.’ And that is why you did not answer my question, isn’t it?”

After a short silence, Fasolt laughed from deep in his throat.

“Yes. I did no more than tell the truth, Sayama Mikoto. You are the one that misinterpreted, boy.”

Sayama smiled and Shinjou let out a sigh next to him.

''Something is beginning,'' thought Sayama.

He quickly began to calculate out what he and his opponent had at their disposal.

Via UCAT, Sayama had the authority to do whatever he wanted with the concept space. However, if he used that authority, he would be distancing 1st-Gear’s cooperation in the Leviathan Road.

On the other hand, his opponent had a past Sayama was unaware of and could make demands from the position of a victim. When he used the sudden arrival of the Royal Palace faction as a shield, Sayama had difficulty telling the truth of his demands because too much was unknown.

…''At any rate, he will be making demands.

He would give some reason for making a demand no matter how ridiculous. If Sayama misjudged the situation and accepted it, his opponent would profit.

Possessing a kind heart would be a disadvantage here.

Sayama trusted his prediction that the negotiations had already begun.

He took a breath, pulled a handkerchief out of his breast pocket, and wiped his brow.

Fasolt watched Sayama.

In one hand, the boy was folding the handkerchief he had pulled from his breast pocket.

Fasolt looked up and found the sun was at its highest point.

“It really is hot,” said Sayama as if informing Fasolt who was looking up into the sky.

“Yes, it is,” agreed Fasolt before lowering his gaze.

''He is very young,'' thought Fasolt about Sayama who was looking directly at him.

Fasolt thought back to the previous conversation. The boy had responded properly to his slight test and he had seen through Fasolt’s intentions. Even the standard UCAT negotiators could do the same. It was an issue of paying attention.

But this boy had intentionally pretended to be mistaken and had thought up an actual means of handling the situation, even if only a superficial one.

His solution had been incomplete, but it was the specialists’ job to finish it off.

For a leader, what truly mattered was negotiating without making any mistakes and deciding on a general course of action.

Fasolt had yet to fully make up his mind about Sayama.

Sayama looked up toward the sun high in the sky and began to remove his coat.

He roughly gathered the sleeves, folded it so the front was visible, and handed it to Shinjou next to him.

As soon as he did, Shinjou’s eyes opened wide and she whispered to Sayama.

“Wh-what are you saying? I c-can’t do that…”

Shinjou looked over at Fasolt. She then frantically adjusted her position and held Sayama’s coat.

With a slightly disappointed look, Sayama returned to his proper position. He wiped his brow with his handkerchief and placed it in the pocket on his shirt. The handkerchief stuck out from the shirt a bit.

Nevertheless, Sayama turned toward Fasolt.

Next to him, Shinjou continually glanced over at him, but Sayama did not seem to notice.

Fasolt then looked over at the coat Shinjou was holding. Its breast pocket was turned toward him.

Fasolt thought about the boy before his eyes. ''He really is young,'' he concluded before making his next move.

Sayama heard Fasolt speak.

“Our demands are quite simple, Sayama Mikoto. We want you to hand over Siegfried, the holy sword Gram, and the Concept Core held within the sword. Until then, we will not give you the right to use 1st-Gear’s Concept Core and we will not help persuade the City faction.”

“What?”

Fasolt did not even acknowledge his question.

“After the Concept War, this reservation agreed to cooperate with UCAT, but we agreed to nothing concerning the Leviathan Road. That is why we demand that we begin anew here. Hand over the war criminal. If you promise that, the Royal Palace faction and the City faction will both fall in line with the peaceful faction. We will make sure they do.”

“And you want us to hand over Gram and the Concept Core inside it?”

“I think it will be necessary to convince the City faction, but what do you think? Even if we persuade them to join with us, I doubt they will do what we say if we have not been granted some power.”

Sayama remained silent. Fasolt watched him as he sat silently.

“Just to be clear, threatening to remove this concept space to aid your negotiations will gain you nothing.”

Sayama did not say he would not do so. If he had to, he would. Fasolt had warned it would gain him nothing, but those were nothing but words. It was impossible to know what would happen if he actually did it.

However, that was a last resort. Using it would end the relationship between them.

Sayama took a breath.

“Could you stop testing me? Unnecessary statements could hinder our negotiations,” he said.

“Saying many things in quick succession is the special characteristic of a storyteller.”

The dragon gave no apology. That gave Sayama an odd sense of relief.

His opponent was a proud person. That may have been a common characteristic of 1st-Gear. No matter how far they lowered themselves and no matter what means they chose to use, they would always give precedence to their self-respect.

…''They are obstinate and direct.

They were easy to handle as allies, but impossible to avoid as an enemy.

With that in mind, Sayama once more pulled the handkerchief from his breast pocket.

He wiped his brow and Shinjou’s shoulders jumped slightly next to him.

At the same time, Fasolt looked over at Shinjou.

“There is nothing to be afraid of. As Ooshiro said, you can take it easy.”

“Oh, right,” said Shinjou as she slightly relaxed her legs which had been strictly kept in the seiza position.

As soon as she did, Fasolt’s hand moved.

“Ah,” gasped Shinjou, but Fasolt had already snatched the coat from her lap.

“This is a nice coat. Do you mind if I take a look at it?”

As Fasolt asked his question, an object fell from the suit coat in his hand.

Sayama clearly saw the cell phone drop. It was able to record audio.

“Whoops,” said Fasolt as he grabbed it in midair.

And with a clear noise, he crushed the cell phone in his hand.

“Oh, my mistake. I give you my personal apology. However.” Fasolt returned the suit coat to Shinjou and held up the remains of the cell phone in his other hand. “This was not running by any chance, was it? You were not so concerned about me that you felt the need to give a sign to have me filmed from the side, were you?”

Fasolt saw Sayama’s expression change twice in response to his words. It changed from tense to harsh and then from harsh to joyful. Fasolt’s thoughts raced as he saw those changes.

…''Did he notice my trick?

When Fasolt had watched over the autopsy of the werewolf that had committed suicide the day before yesterday, he had inspected Sayama’s possessions. And knowing that Sayama would be his opponent in the negotiations, he had thought up a certain trick.

He had switched on the digital recorder to drain the battery and had left the cell phone untouched. If Sayama brought the two items to the negotiations, he would need to use the cell phone to record any proof of what was said.

However, the cell phone’s microphone was weak, so it and the built-in camera would have to be on the surface.

Locating Sayama’s hiding spot for it had not been difficult. The camera had been sticking a bit out of his coat pocket.

Fasolt was certain the boy had been recording him. He had seen the small exchange between Sayama and Shinjou and he had seen Shinjou’s movements.

''Such awkward teamwork,'' thought Fasolt.

That was why he had grabbed the coat and smashed the cell phone.

Sayama’s use of the cell phone was proof that he had viewed the negotiations as dangerous and had wanted to secretly leave some proof behind. Taking that from him and destroying it while also warning him would inflict inescapable pressure on the boy.

Sayama was currently looking at the smashed cell phone.

“I do not believe I had it running,” he said with his head down as if trying to recall.

''Liar,'' thought Fasolt with a bitter smile in his heart.

As Fasolt watched, Sayama turned to Ooshiro to his left.

“Not that it matters. The old man here will handle recording what is said.”

Fasolt followed Sayama’s gaze and watched Ooshiro typing.

He nodded and said, “Unfortunately, Ooshiro’s records will not pass as proof.”

“Wh-why not?” asked Shinjou as she held the coat.

Fasolt nodded and replied, “That data can be easily altered. That is why I want to resolve these negotiations right here like this.”

Fasolt pulled a sheet of canvas from the inside pocket of his vest.

It was covered with the writing of 1st-Gear. Sayama would be able to read it because an image of the meaning took priority here.

It was a contract saying UCAT would accept the reservation’s demands. Below the agreement was a five centimeter underline.

Once he saw Sayama’s gaze stop on the underline, Fasolt spoke in a tone that held a slight smile.

“You will stamp your seal there. …You have your seal with you, don’t you? It is with the digital recorder with the dead battery.”

Shinjou embraced Sayama’s coat. She squeezed it between her arms.

And she glanced over at Sayama next to her.

''What will he do now?'' she wondered. ''Is there anything he can do?

As she watched on, Sayama stared expressionlessly at the contract.

He then suddenly moved. He pulled his handkerchief from his breast pocket with his right hand and lightly shook his wrist.

He looked at Fasolt and said, “So you saw through it. Yes, the battery is indeed dead. In that case, I no longer need it.”

He produced a digital recorder from the handkerchief. The power light was off which indicated it was not running. However, he was not looking at the recorder. He was looking at the broken cell phone that had fallen to the ground.

“I was planning to record any promises you made to perhaps later change our demands.”

Sayama sighed and took his seal case out of his pocket using his free left hand.

He placed the digital recorder and handkerchief next to him and placed the seal before him.

“But I am not yet ready to stamp my seal,” he said.

“Are you saying you will eventually do so?”

Sayama gave no response.

He remained silent and his face held no expression.

Faced with this, Fasolt froze in place.

Shinjou gulped lightly at seeing this silence and expressionlessness from Sayama for the first time. However…

“…”

His pulse was calm.

''Why is that?'' she wondered.

She felt as if she had seen him like this before.

When had it been?

She searched through her memories and arrived at a certain moment in the past.

The night before last, when he had stood before her and beyond the werewolf.

''What happened after that moment?'' she thought.

She thought back. In that moment, Sayama had stepped forward and spoken to their enemy. He had provoked the enemy. And now…

“You should learn that those who trust in writing can be betrayed by writing.” Sayama lightly raised his right hand. “Let me be clear up front: I cannot agree to any one of the demands you have given.”

“Then what will you say when you see this?”

Fasolt pulled a thick book from his vest and held it so Shinjou and the others could see.

It was a hardcover book made of canvas sheets and cloth. Shinjou had seen it before.

“That’s the book the knight had yesterday.”

“Yes. It is an investigation report on the destruction of our Wotan Kingdom. Volunteers from the Royal Palace faction visited both the peaceful faction and the City Faction to gather the records to create it. These records could only have been made by the Royal palace faction that sat in the middle. Neither we nor the City faction could have made it.”

Sayama took the investigation report and opened it.

Shinjou peered at its contents from the side. It listed a calculation of the total amount of destruction while using spelling that avoided any dangerous terminology. Each time Sayama turned the page, Shinjou could sense the image of the destruction detailed within.

Arton Central Street was smashed along with the decorations for the festival in the small park: 38 dead.

Ethos District 3 contained a wooden school, but it was crushed along with the people who had taken refuge inside: 91 dead.

The evacuation warning never reached the 3rd redevelopment sector and the pioneer village was eliminated without knowing what was happening: 46 dead.

In addition, there was damage to houses in several sectors or out in nature, the loss of assets and livestock, and a calculated value of the land lost. It was all calculated out to reach a final sum for the damages.

“Once converted to the currency of philosopher’s stones, UCAT must maintain this reservation for 7022 years. We have lived here for 60 years, so that still leaves 6962 years. Exchanging that debt for one man and a sword sounds like a bargain to me.”

''That’s absurd,'' thought Shinjou with a gulp.

She slowly looked over at Sayama so Fasolt would not notice her internal panic. She found Sayama as expressionless and silent as before.

''What will he do now?'' she thought.

And she had another thought.

She recalled what Fasolt had said when he had destroyed the cell phone:

You felt the need to give a sign to have me filmed from the side.

She did not know what he had meant by that. She had not been given that role.

But even if she did not understand, Shinjou knew that everything was advancing. And she knew that Sayama likely had some plan.

Sayama looked at Fasolt.

Fasolt had been looking at him for a while now. With that in mind, he spoke.

“Giving concrete value to people’s lives is something else I am not willing to do.”

“If doing so is necessary for a negotiation, we will choose that as our weapon.”

“And so you are demanding a human life in the place of money?”

“Demanding? No. My role here is to present you with possibilities. Your role here is to choose, Sayama Mikoto. I have presented you with a means of paying reparations for the damages. You are the one that chooses whether you will pay for your ancestors’ mistakes with seven thousand years of expenses or by handing over that man and Gram.”

“And if I handed them over, I would be putting a price on a human life?”

“Yes, if you did. We would have prepared a different path, but you would have chosen that path because you could not pay. It would not hurt us in any way.”

Sayama thought. According to Ooshiro, it was impossible to even increase the reservation’s yearly maintenance expenses by 20%. That meant it was beyond impossible to pay off the seven thousand years’ worth of debt right away. And that was why he asked the next question.

“Are Siegfried and Gram really that valuable?”

“They are.”

“I see.” Sayama picked up the contract and the seal case in front of them. “Shinjou-kun, hand me a pen from my coat’s breast pocket.”

“Oh, right.”

Shinjou took a silver ballpoint pen from the pocket and handed it over.

Sayama flipped over the contract and wrote something while using the cover of the investigation report as a desk. He stamped what he wrote with the seal he took from the case and then placed the contract in front of Fasolt.

“If you want something of such great value, then how about we resolve everything like this?”

Everyone looked at the back of the contract.

Shinjou gulped, Fasolt clenched his hands, and Ooshiro smiled bitterly.

Sayama read what he had written on the back of the contract.

“Seven thousand years shall be added to the current seven thousand year debt. In exchange, we shall buy the half-dragon Fasolt and all of his rights. …That should be fine with anyone who will give monetary value to people’s lives.”

“You will buy your negotiating opponent!?” cried Fasolt.

A wind blew through and disturbed Sayama’s hair, but he ignored it and spoke.

“If doing so is necessary for a negotiation, we will choose that as our weapon. Those are your words. And I believe we had agreed to that view. …You asked me to sell someone’s life if I could not pay.” He gave a bitter smile. “But that also means I can buy someone’s life if I can pay.”

“…”

“We will pay what is needed. It does not matter how many years it takes, who might suffer, or even if you refuse us. So let me say this: you may think you all have pride, but you only have the spirit of poor slaves.”

“Slaves? Now you’ve said it, you aboriginal.”

“Aboriginal? We certainly have evolved. I miss the days when we were called yellow monkeys.” Sayama’s bitter smile deepened. “Fasolt, let me tell what kind of race we are. We are the Japanese, the ‘economic animals’. We have nothing to fear when it comes to money. A debt? We just need to save up. The government? It runs on money. A grudge? That is just a bias of the poor. Now, Fasolt, for fourteen thousand years of peace for your comrades, you will be ours. And let me say this: you will physically remain with 1st-Gear, but as our possession,” he nodded, “you will withdraw all of your demands. No need to lower your head. You are our comrade now that we bought you. We have the right to do this. You are the one that brought up buying people’s lives, something we had never done before.”

At that point, Sayama threw the investigation report to the ground.

“This is absurd, Fasolt.” He took a breath. “What is this investigation report? It may have some truth to it, but how much of it is truth? If you are going to carry out an investigation, have a third party do so or at least do so while we are present. Otherwise, this is nothing more than reference material. …Is presenting unreliable material at the negotiating table the 1st-Gear’s way of doing things!?”

Fasolt responded to the last part more than anything else.

The creaking of his fangs could be heard from his clenched mouth.

But that was as much of Fasolt’s power as was seen.

He slowly reached out a hand and picked the book up from the ground. He let out a long sigh.

“It is true this contains a fair bit of personal opinion for an investigation report. But are you really going to use the lack of records from this conversation to say such abusive things?”

Sayama turned a smile in Fasolt’s direction.

“Abusive? That was a rebuke over how useless your investigation report is. …I was trying to say that your actions were showing contempt for the value of 1st-Gear. If you misinterpreted me, I apologize.”

“No need.” Fasolt drew back and held the book to his chest. He spoke once more after suppressing the anger in his voice. “Either way, we will not give you the right to use the Concept Core unless you accept our demands. …How do you intend to gain that right from me?”

Sayama glanced around. The nearby houses had their windows open because it was a sunny day, so he could see inside. Inside the shadowy houses, he could tell the items within were a bit different from those he was used to. Every house had bare walls and they grew flowers.

Sayama was searching for ''a certain object'' within those houses.

But from what he could see at a distance, it was not there. It was a completely normal object in his world, but it was absent here.

…''It could be easily brought in from outside, but there is none here.

The possible reasons for this were simple. It may never have existed in 1st-Gear and was not needed, or UCAT feared letting 1st-Gear have it and so refused to do so.

It was one of those or possibly both.

Once he realized that, another fact came to Sayama. He realized the true purpose behind the negotiation.

“…”

He silently relaxed. He cooled his head that had begun to grow serious.

''If I am right about the true purpose of this negotiation,'' thought Sayama, ''trying to crush Fasolt would not be the best strategy.

And that was why Sayama said what he did next. He breathed out, breathed in, and then spoke in a calm voice.

“Instead of Siegfried and the holy sword Gram, we will provide you with technology equivalent to seven thousand years’ worth of budget or allow you to use said technology.”

“Technology equivalent to seven thousand years’ worth of budget?” asked Fasolt before laughing from the throat. “What do you mean by that? We already sustain ourselves. Is there any technology we could possibly want and is there any technology Low-Gear could possibly provide us with?”

“There is.”

“And what is it?’

Sayama thought and said, “It can be used as a weapon. It can be used as culture and civilization. It can be power and it can become anything in existence.”

“Hah! How amusing! We in 1st-Gear live with the power of writing, so what more culture and civilization do we need!? And with our mechanical dragons, why would we need weapons?” Fasolt strongly held the hardcover book against his chest. “Tell me, Sayama Mikoto. What is this technology you think we would exchange our Concept Core for? What is this technology that UCAT has been keeping from us?”

Sayama nodded and spoke a single word.

“Paper.”

Fasolt almost dropped the book he was holding to his chest.

“Why would you think we need-…?”

“All of your writing is on parchment or canvas. And I do not see any bookshelves in these 1st-Gear houses. Paper is a necessary item to bring a society past a certain point, but it is being restricted here in some way. That is why I thought I could use the removal of that restriction as a bargaining chip.”

Fasolt understood what Sayama meant.

In 1st-Gear, writing held power, so spelling something out held the possibility of danger. Needless to say, creating that writing in the proper form to create power was difficult and it was nothing but scribbles if done wrong.

However, nothing was as frightening as an unlikely accident.

That was why a storyteller like Fasolt passed down writing in the form of sound and most records were kept using symbols that were difficult to call writing. The writing in the investigation report had been carefully chosen so it would provide the proper images yet not have actual power.

Due to the conditions of their world, writing technology had not advanced. Most of the tools that could easily write had been in the control of the royal family and very few were produced.

As a storyteller, he knew very well that 1st-Gear’s culture was built around that.

But he had to wonder what would happen if that assumption was removed.

The boy before him spoke.

“What if you used the safe writing used in that investigation report as the foundation for a carefully selected set of everyday writing with little power? Wouldn’t that allow you to pass down your current culture and allow anyone to perform research?”

He was saying the current state of 1st-Gear’s culture would change.

Sayama held a hand out toward him. He reached for the book at his chest.

Fasolt handed the boy the hardcover book as he wanted.

Sayama took it and flipped through the pages.

“You had so many houses. And the people living in them worked at the schools, stores, and government offices. But out of fear of dangerous writing, you could not record any of it. You never expanded the writing technology that would support those records and UCAT is currently keeping our technology from you.”

“That is true…”

“UCAT will remove the restrictions on that technology as a form of reparations,” said Sayama.

Fasolt turned to Ooshiro who looked back at him.

“Well, we would need to negotiate it out with the UCATs from other countries. What a pain,” said the old man.

Fasolt gave a quiet laugh from the throat and listened as Sayama continued to speak.

“Our world is immature, Fasolt. About a thousand years ago, we believed our world had the same table shape as your world. But our people walked, left records, and changed our beliefs to match the truth. And even now we are building up more and more records to divide truth from falsehood.”

“And you are telling us to do the same? I see,” said Fasolt with a nod.

It was a nice idea. If they had writing tools that could be mass produced, they would only need people with the ability to write in the proper way. And instead of restricting usage of the writing tools as the royal family had done, they would restrict the words that held power and spread the safe words.

Knowledge would spread and they would even be able to interact with other cultures. However…

“Sayama Mikoto. That is a nice idea, but a problem remains. And our negotiations must continue.”

“Eh?” said Shinjou as Fasolt turned back toward Sayama.

Sayama showed no panic or surprise over his words.

He only said, “Yes, you understand, don’t you? Writing can betray those who use it. Building up and spreading records can do more than create; it can also destroy.” Sayama held up the hardcover book. “If you obtain the technology to publish books, you will have books like this one. And that will pass your grudges down to the later generations. The power we give you will create more enemies for us.”

“And that is why I must ask you something, boy… No, you are no boy. You are merely Sayama Mikoto. Can you give us this technology without fearing the spread of our grudges, protect Siegfried and the holy sword Gram, and also acquire the Concept Core?”

“Of course,” replied Sayama.

Shinjou’s eyes opened wide when she heard what Sayama said.

“Y-you can’t, Sayama-kun! You can’t make an enemy of him!”

“I think it will be fine. Fasolt understands that this investigation report is nothing more than reference material. After I rebuked him, he admitted that it includes personal opinion.”

“He did, but…”

Fasolt nodded.

“Those comments and the records of them are worth nothing. At the negotiating table, only the final decision matters.”

Ooshiro looked up and said, “Um, you do know I am working really hard typing up everything you say, right? Please do not say it is worth nothing.”

Fasolt ignored him. The half-dragon looked down at the remains of the cell phone lying between Sayama and himself.

“My comment admitting the investigation report contains personal opinion will not remain in the records. That means I can insist on its legitimacy. No matter what you say, it will be seen as accurate. Even if you protest, it will be published and distributed to everyone. A large number of people will believe it over you!”

“Fasolt, I am about to test how much you have been paying attention. Is that okay?”

Sayama’s sudden words caused Fasolt to look up.

“What?”

“I will be asking some questions and you will answer me. Got it? When you destroyed the cell phone whose remains lie before me, did you check to see if it was running?”

Shinjou did not understand the point of the question.

And Fasolt did not seem to either.

He sank down slightly and asked, “Are you saying…it was not running?”

Those words which were inarticulate for a half-dragon caused Shinjou to tilt her head in confusion.

“What do you mean?” she asked and Fasolt quickly turned toward her.

“Why are you asking?”

“Oh, um, it’s nothing. Nothing at all. There might have been a slight misunderstanding.

She frantically waved her hands in front of her, but Fasolt kept his gaze on her. He opened his fang-filled mouth and spoke.

“What is going on? Shinjou, I thought you and Sayama were working together. He would give you a sign and you would record what I-…”

“W-wait a second!”

Shinjou did not understand some of what he had said. And it reminded her of another baffling thing Fasolt had said earlier. Shinjou asked about the confusing parts.

“What do you mean we were working together? And what sign?”

Fasolt had been leaning forward, but he straightened up in an instant.

While still looking at Shinjou, he bared his teeth and trembled.

“Sayama Mikoto handed you the cell phone along with his coat. When he raised his handkerchief as a sign, you began recording, did you not? He wanted you to record my abusive remarks.”

“Eh? N-no. I wasn’t given that role.”

He was mistaken about something. For some reason, that half-dragon was focused on her even though she had been doing nothing but listen.

Fasolt continued to speak to provide his evidence.

“Then why did you squirm a bit whenever Sayama Mikoto pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his brow? He provided you with instructions when he handed you his coat, correct? I heard you say you could not do something.”

Shinjou gasped.

“N-no!”

She looked to the side and found Sayama staring expressionlessly up into the sky. He must have noticed her looking at him because he picked Baku up from his left shoulder and placed him on his head.

He and the beast squinted as they looked up into the sky.

He was determined to ignore her.

That left her with no choice. While prepared to blush, Shinjou proved her innocence to Fasolt.

“I-I will tell you what Sayama-kun told me to do when handing me his coat!” She hesitated for a moment. “ ‘I am so nervous that I really want to feel up your butt. If I am unable to resist any longer, I will give you a sign by raising my handkerchief. When I do, stick your butt out for me’! But I can’t do that. B-but it was a request from Sayama-kun, so I-I would jump in shock a bit whenever he pulled out his handkerchief!”

As she blushed and gave her explanation, Fasolt’s mouth hung limply open.

He slowly faced forward while his open mouth continued to produce no sound.

He stared at Sayama who still had Baku sitting on his head.

In response to everyone’s gazes, Sayama picked up what was lying next to him and held it up.

It was the digital recorder wrapped in his handkerchief. Its red power light was lit.

Sayama nodded and looked at Shinjou. He then spoke quietly for his own curiosity.

“Now, please continue, Shinjou-kun. What happened after you jumped in shock?”

“Why is that running!? Wasn’t its battery dead!?”

“Could you remain quiet, Fasolt? That will make it more difficult to edit later.”

“Th-the difficulty doesn’t matter! Explain what is going on!” demanded Shinjou.

Sayama picked up a part from the remains of the cell phone.

It was a battery that had been badly bent.

“You want to know why it is running? If you cannot answer a question this easy, I look forward to the difficulty you will face once you have paper, Fasolt. The answer is simple. I switched out the cell phone’s battery before entering this concept space. Most modern handheld devices use a standard battery type whether they are IAI-made or not. You should remember that.” He nodded and asked, “Fasolt, you were outside this place just before we entered the concept space, weren’t you? You used your limited time outside to observe me. Isn’t that right?”

“How do you know that?”

“The forest was too quiet. When a human is lurking in the forest, the birds and beasts grow cautious, but it was even more silent than that. In other words, there was something greater than a human there. Also, you had come from the field, but your jika-tabi had moss on them. That proves you had run through the forest. When you noticed me looking at it, you frantically kicked it off.” Sayama showed Fasolt the digital recorder. “When I noticed this recorder’s battery was dead, I realized someone had tried something. Once I knew my opponent had tried to eliminate my use of this device, I merely had to use that to my advantage. Once I received them from Shinjou-kun, I switched out the batteries and decided to use the cell phone as a decoy.”

“Then, Sayama-kun, this entire negotiation…”

“Has been recorded, yes. But it is missing the one thing I said while taking it out and placing it next to me. I had to turn it off to make it look like its battery was dead.”

Fasolt gulped and recalled what Sayama had said back then.

“You said the recorder’s battery was dead and that you intended to record any promises I made with the cell phone… Was it all to put me at ease so I would bring out greater demands!?”

“Now, now. Please stop discussing comments you have no proof were ever spoken,” said Sayama. “Or should I play back what I have recorded? I have you calling us aboriginals in response to my rebuke.”

“No, more importantly…what do you want?”

Sayama shook his head in response.

“I want nothing. But let us do what is natural. I will approve providing you with our technology if you allow us use of the Concept Core. And you may carry out an investigation of 1st-Gear’s destruction if it is done in cooperation with UCAT. For mutual understanding and reconciliation, we must have records if you are to have them. And once that is complete, we can begin thinking about what to do afterwards. …Am I wrong?”

In lieu of a response, Fasolt raised both of his hands.

Sayama sighed.

''So it is over,'' he thought.

He lowered Baku from his head and muttered a short statement.

“What a farce.”

Sayama’s annoyed statement caused Shinjou to tilt her head. She could see he was frowning.

“A farce? Why? You look displeased.”

Sayama nodded, looked in her direction, and then turned toward Ooshiro.

“Old man, please do not make me do this again.”

Ooshiro looked up and gave a bitter smile. Shinjou could make no sense of the exchange.

“Wh-what do you mean? What did Ooshiro-san do?”

“I realized it partway through. The old man set all this up. Think about it. How was Fasolt able to touch my possessions? And who asked you to return them to me? How was Fasolt able to wait for us outside the concept space during his limited time outside of it? And who was it that stopped us in front of him and asked if I was carrying anything?” He took a breath. “Simply put, these preliminary negotiations were a test. I realized it once I noticed the paper technology issue. 1st-Gear is obedient enough to go along with Low-Gear’s restrictions. In that case, it was odd for Fasolt to be on the attack. I am ashamed I did not realize why and grew so worked up over a prank.”

Sayama folded his arms and closed his eyes. Shinjou was unsure what to say to him.

Fasolt laughed from deep in his throat.

“Do not feel too bad, Sayama Mikoto. You may not believe me, but I was serious.”

“Serious, hm?”

Sayama sighed with his eyes still closed.

His shoulders drooped and he seemed to have his own thoughts on the matter.

…''Does he think Fasolt went easy on him?

“O-Ooshiro-san. Was today’s negotiation effective?”

“Yes, removing the restriction on paper manufacturing is indeed a useful idea. I believe this was effective.”

“Take this seriously. Sayama-kun wasn’t arguing for fun.”

Hearing that, Sayama opened his eyes. Shinjou looked him in the eye and thought.

…''He can manage something in any situation.

“You are like the evil king of sophistry.”

“Thank you for the blunt opinion,” said Sayama with a bitter smile.

But Shinjou looked at him once more. When faced with an opponent making an absurd argument, this boy had refused to negotiate properly and had replied with an absurd argument of his own.

…''The surname Sayama indicates a villain. Is that it?

She recalled that Sayama had said he possessed the abilities needed to carry out evil.

''Is this what he meant?'' thought Shinjou.

She wondered what she would have done had she been in his place.

…''If I had come back with a proper argument, I might have only been faced with another absurd argument.

But the truth of that could not be known. And it was a fact that Sayama’s absurd argument had caused Fasolt to give in.

The only other information she had was Sayama’s expression and the drooping of his shoulders.

…''He did not get serious. That is probably because he realized partway through what Ooshiro-san had done.

She nodded and decided she would willingly play the role of listener if he wanted to complain about anything.

Doing so would surely be valuable for what had ended here today.

And just as Shinjou made up her mind, Fasolt turned to Sayama and spoke.

“This really did not go as I planned. Perhaps I should have expected that with Sayama’s grandson.”

Shinjou saw Sayama hold the left side of his chest. He frowned and looked up at Fasolt.

“You knew my grandfather?”

“I did, even if it was only for a short time. When we first arrived in this world, he was the member of UCAT that prepared the location which became this reservation. Siegfried had given him the holy sword Gram, so he extracted the concepts needed to create this place. I have not seen him since those initial negotiations, though.”

“I see. Then I suppose you would know nothing of my father. He worked for IAI.”

“We do not leave this place, so we know nothing of that. However, I do remember your grandfather quite well,” said Fasolt. “Sixty years ago, we exchanged arguments very similar to these provisional negotiations. He too shouted angrily at me when I requested reparations equal to the number of the dead. He told me not to calculate the number and value of the dead and to instead live peacefully here and put together a plan to restore our lost pride, even if there was an opposing faction. We have yet to do that, though.”

Shinjou suddenly turned to Ooshiro who sat next to Fasolt. Ooshiro glanced toward Fasolt’s back.

On that back that she had once clung to were the scars from the severed wings.

''Oh,'' realized Shinjou in her heart. ''So that’s it.

A short silence followed. Whatever Fasolt may have thought of that silence, he slowly turned toward Ooshiro who was looking up at him. While glancing over at the old man, he spoke in a critical tone.

“This is more your problem than mine, but UCAT is filled with too many mysteries.”

“It is an organization that has hidden itself in the world so that it may save that world. Of course it has a lot of mysteries.”

“So not even 1st-Gear’s representative knows the details,” commented Sayama.

Fasolt nodded and said, “We know almost nothing about UCAT’s activities. The one thing everyone knows is that a large scale change occurred in 1995. Japanese UCAT was temporarily dissolved and reorganized.”

Shinjou and Sayama both spoke in unison.

“Temporarily dissolved and reorganized?”

Sayama saw Fasolt look at Shinjou and himself.

“So you do not know about that. It happened suddenly at the end of ’95 which was almost the exact same time Shinjou was taken in by UCAT. All of the personnel other than the leaders left the organization.”

“Why?”

“I do not know, Sayama Mikoto. I would love to be told. I would assume only Ooshiro here and a few others know the truth behind it. One theory is that they were taking responsibility for the many deaths during relief operations after the Great Kansai Earthquake.”

“I see,” said Sayama with a nod.

He was not discouraged.

The Leviathan Road had come with several conditions added by his grandfather. One of those was that they had to gather all of their information themselves.

Here, he only needed to learn about 1st-Gear. And…

…''This just means I need to investigate UCAT in addition to the ten Gears.

Sayama nodded and Fasolt nodded in return. The half-dragon then turned to Shinjou and opened his mouth to speak.

“I have gone back and forth on whether I should tell you this, but I will tell you now since you have returned after so long.”

“Eh? Me?” she asked.

“Yes. It will be an old story for you two. This concept space was constructed by Sayama Kaoru, but he said he was only able to do so by basing it on some data he had been given.”

“From another UCAT member?”

“No, he said it was from another member of the former National Defense Department. While investigating for the National Defense Department, this person had managed to estimate what concepts the different Gears used. Sayama Kaoru said he had only followed the data from back then.”

Fasolt looked up into the sky. His gaze moved slowly around as if he could see the invisible wall forming the concept space.

“This person originally became involved in the National Defense Department while working as the assistant of a Professor Kinugasa, but they never joined UCAT. I do not know what became of this person.”

“Who was this person?” asked Sayama.

Fasolt spoke a single surname.

“Shinjou. That is all I was told.”

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