Ltrf: Created page with "'''Chapter 1 — Karin goes to the Capital''' When the youth dressed as a knight passed through the capital’s gates, people along the street let out murmurs of admiration. They looked about fourteen or fifteen. A cheap-looking blue coat, a white shirt with overly decorative frills, outdated knee-length riding pants, and a pair of faded black boots. Only the wand hanging at the waist shone brightly, but even its design could hardly be called high-class. Still, it had..."

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Created page with "'''Chapter 1 — Karin goes to the Capital''' When the youth dressed as a knight passed through the capital’s gates, people along the street let out murmurs of admiration. They looked about fourteen or fifteen. A cheap-looking blue coat, a white shirt with overly decorative frills, outdated knee-length riding pants, and a pair of faded black boots. Only the wand hanging at the waist shone brightly, but even its design could hardly be called high-class. Still, it had..."

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'''Chapter 1 — Karin goes to the Capital'''

When the youth dressed as a knight passed through the capital’s gates, people along the street let out murmurs of admiration.

They looked about fourteen or fifteen. A cheap-looking blue coat, a white shirt with overly decorative frills, outdated knee-length riding pants, and a pair of faded black boots.

Only the wand hanging at the waist shone brightly, but even its design could hardly be called high-class. Still, it had clearly been used for a long time; the countless scratches carved into it offered a glimpse of the many battles it had seen.

Every single piece of clothing was out of fashion. In the capital, such a rustic outfit should have invited ridicule.

And yet, not a single person laughed.

What kind of face could someone wearing such clothes possibly have?

The moment people caught a glimpse, any thought of mockery vanished instantly.

Vivid peach-colored hair, and a face that shone with youth, could only be described as beautiful. Together they gave this young noble an air of overwhelming elegance and nobility.

And then… what drew the most attention of all was the question of this poorly dressed noble’s gender.

Yes, the face was undeniably beautiful, almost the embodiment of beauty itself. If dressed in formal attire and taught proper etiquette, they would surely feel no shame attending any ball or banquet.

But the outfit, no matter how one looked at it, was that of a man.

At the same time, they could also be mistaken for a beautiful girl in men’s clothing… yet the lingering elegance of the face made it impossible to tell—

Was this a beautiful girl? Or a beautiful boy?

That ambiguity only deepened the strange aura surrounding the figure. A mysterious charm radiated from their entire being, drawing in everyone who looked, and at the center of it all were those slightly upturned eyes. Light brown eyes, filled with unwavering will, shimmered under the twin moons like a glistening spring, asserting their presence. They transformed the impression of this small noble into something striking and intense.

But most importantly, though... The chest was perfectly flat. Completely devoid of the two gentle curves one would expect of a woman.

Thus, the passersby whispered among themselves, unable to decide whether this almost unreal, beautiful and dignified young noble was male or female.

If one were to reveal the answer plainly—

This noble ''was'' a girl.

Beneath that worn-out knight’s attire was the slender body of a fifteen-year-old.

Her name was Karin Désirée de Maillart.

However, she could not give that name. So she shortened its pronunciation and made it more masculine “Karin.” Because she absolutely could not let anyone realize that she was a girl.

So why did Karin come to the capital dressed like this?

Of course.

She has a dream.

Ever since that day… when she was saved by a passing knight in her hometown, that dream had quietly taken root within her.

“To become a knight.”

And if she was going to do it, then she would become the greatest knight in the country…

When speaking of the finest knights in this nation, there was only one answer: the Royal Guard’s Magic Knight Corps, entrusted with the honorable duty of protecting the king.

Every young noble admired that black cloak, the prestigious Magic Knight Corps. But as a woman, even stepping through the gates of knighthood was forbidden.

And so, Karin disguised her girl’s body in male attire and came to this city.

Of course, her family was against it.

But in the end, they were overwhelmed by Karin’s determination and reluctantly allowed her to leave.

With forty common gold coins given by her parents, and only a small amount of luggage, the young noble girl set out for the capital.

Before her departure, her father—himself a poor noble—had spoken in a voice that sounded almost resigned:

“Among my children, you’re the only one who would seriously say you want to become a knight, so I have no choice but to accept your journey. But Karin, you are trying to become a knight as a woman. You must be prepared to endure hardships far greater than those faced by men. Of course, you have excellent aptitude and great talent for magic, but that alone will not be enough. What you need to succeed is not just talent in magic. More than anything, you need courage. Listen well, my daughter. It’s fine to be stingy with money… knights and money are incompatible, so that can’t be helped! But listen carefully—courage is the one thing you must never be stingy with. No matter what happens, no matter who you face, you must never take a single step back. Well… unless your opponent is His Majesty the King or the Captain of the Guard, that is… but still, you carry the name of House de Maillart. You must never be timid or shrink away. No matter what, you must always muster your courage! Courage! You do have a timid side, and that worries me…”

Only then did her father realize he got carried away, and he looked slightly embarrassed.

“And one more thing, you must conceal the fact that you are a woman at all costs. Until you achieve some degree of success, you must never let it be known. These days, female knights are no longer unheard of, but as you know, the Royal Magic Knight Corps, which prides itself on tradition and honor, does not permit women to join. If that were to be exposed, you wouldn’t simply be expelled. You must always keep this firmly in mind.”

Holding those words in her heart, Karin set out for the capital.

She hated her timid self. She could not forgive herself for having talent in magic, yet trembling and faltering at crucial moments. That was why Karin longed for something different.

That knight who saved her that day…

She wanted to become a knight like that, and beyond that, to become someone worthy of being called a hero.

That was Karin’s one great dream.

The capital, which she was seeing for the first time, was full of noise and life.

Though the crowds initially made Karin shrink back, she soon grew accustomed to them.

Stalls lined both sides of the street, each one tempting her to stop and take a look, but she quickly regained her composure.

“No matter what, I need to go see Lord Dragignian of the Magic Knight Corps first…”

But where exactly was she supposed to find this Lord Dragignian?

Though reluctant, her father must have felt guilty about sending his daughter off empty-handed. Before she left, he told her: if she wished to join the Magic Knight Corps, she should visit his old friend, Lord Dragignian, and he gave her a letter.

She took the letter out from her chest. It seemed to be double-layered; the seal had not been waxed. Inside was an envelope addressed to “Lord Dragignian,” along with a slip of paper bearing an address.

“Fusoviar Street, District Three, Jeviel Dragignian.”

After asking a passerby, she learned that Fusoviar Street was some distance away. She followed the directions she had been given, but the capital’s maze of narrow, tangled streets quickly caused the countryside-raised Karin to lose her way.

''Where… am I?''

Glancing around as she hurried forward, Karin failed to notice the large man approaching from ahead.

The man, for his part, was loudly chatting with his companions while gnawing on a piece of bone-in chicken and didn’t notice Karin either.

The two collided violently in the middle of the street.

Naturally, the one who was sent flying was Karin, whose body weighed barely a third of the man’s.

The giant didn’t budge at all. Looking down at Karin sprawled on the ground, he burst into laughter.

“Wahaha! What’s the matter, kid? If you don’t watch where you’re going, you’re gonna get hurt!”

Still laughing loudly, he turned as if to leave.

For most people, being mocked like that by such a hulking man would crush any thought of protest. Karin was no exception. Her innate timidity stirred, and she couldn’t help but begin to tremble.

But at that moment, her father’s words flashed through her mind.
[[File:ZNTso1 027.jpg|thumb]]
“No matter what, you must have courage!”

That’s right. She had only just arrived, so there was no way she could let herself be looked down on already.

A coward could never become a knight, Karin!

Karin immediately glared at the man and shouted:

“Y-you knock someone over and just try to walk away like nothing happened?!”

The large man stopped instantly and turned around.

His body was packed with muscles, like a warrior from ancient arenas. A massive jaw that looked like it could crush bone, paired with slicked-back blond hair and a head as rough and solid as stone…His wrist might well have been as thick as Karin’s waist. If not for the wand at his side, he would have looked more like a swordsman or a spearman.

“What? If you’ve got something to say, then say it.”

The townspeople watching from a distance couldn’t help but shiver. Complaining to a brute like that, this young noble must be an idiot.

No one present thought Karin was a “girl.” With her flat chest and masculine clothing, they all simply saw her as an unusually beautiful boy.

“Someone as big as you should walk at the side of the road so you’re not in the way.”

At this point, there was no backing down. Even as she tried to steady her trembling body, Karin forced the words out.

The large man, on the other hand, broke into a nasty grin.

“Someone like me—a hero—belongs right in the middle of the road. You, on the other hand, should scurry along the edges like a rat… unless you want to get crushed.”

Karin, forced herself to keep complaining, with a cold sweat running down her back.

“Don’t be ridiculous… the one who’ll get crushed is you.”

The large man’s expression changed. But in the very next moment, it twisted into a smug grin.

A beautifully dressed young noble girl happened to pass by. She looked like the daughter of some aristocratic house, as she was accompanied by several attendants.

In an instant, the large man suddenly dropped to his knees at her feet.

“Eek!”

“Please! allow me to serve you!”

“What is going on?!” The attendants of the noble girl immediately fell into an uproar. But as if none of it mattered, the man continued rubbing his head against her feet.

“I became a knight for the sake of serving a beautiful young lady like you! Please, please, let me become one of your attendants!”

The noble girl looked on the verge of tears, but the man did not stop his pleading.

“With all my heart! I beg of you!”

“Aaaahhhhhh!!”

As his head nearly brushed her feet, she kicked him straight in the face. He flipped over and collapsed onto the ground. Seizing the chance, the noble girl fled with her attendants.

Under the stunned gaze of the crowd, the large man slowly stood back up.

“…What exactly was that supposed to be?”

Karin muttered in exasperation.

The man, however, smiled cheerfully.

“I just can’t resist cute girls! I came to the capital to serve beautiful maidens, but things never go my way! Ah, good thing you’re a pretty boy! If you were a girl, this would’ve been a real problem! Someone as good-looking as you is rare even among women!”

His teeth flashed as he spoke, growing more animated with every word.

“…Pervert.”

The word slipped out before she could stop herself.

The man’s face changed.

“Pervert? You call ''this'' a perversion? My devotion to lovely young ladies?! Unforgivable! That, of all things, I absolutely cannot forgive! Just for that one word, I ought to run you through!”

“Shut up, pervert. Pervert, pervert.”

Karin pushed her luck further.

Even though she was quite a coward, she had a tendency to get carried away once she gained momentum. It often led to trouble, but she herself never realized it.

“I’m not a pervert! I just have a lot of love!”

“A pervert like you shouldn’t be walking in the middle of the road. Actually, you shouldn’t even be outside. You’re a nuisance to everyone. More importantly, you’re making me uncomfortable.”

Karin fired off her insults in rapid succession.

“Y-you!”

The giant’s face flushed bright red. Pointing at the wand hanging at Karin’s waist, he roared:

“Fine! Then prove whether I’m a pervert or not with that!”

Karin’s body trembled.

Ah… this is a duel challenge.

Back in the countryside, she sparred a few times with the children of nearby nobles… but never against someone who looked this strong.

This is bad… I let my guard down because I thought he was just some pervert…

While she was panicking, the man continued:

“Tomorrow, two o’clock. Behind Saint Christ Temple. Don’t think you can run, I’ve got plenty of friends in this capital. I’ll find you in no time!”

Shaking with anger, the giant turned and walked away.

This is bad…

She felt like she might cry, but it was too late now. Still… at least she had shown her courage.

Trying to reassure herself, she straightened her back and started walking again.

The passersby had no idea what was going through Karin’s mind, yet they simply admired a bold young noble they’ve just witnessed.

Karin resumed her search for Fusoviar Street.

Even after wandering for thirty minutes, she still couldn’t find it, and unease began to creep in. Thinking she should ask someone for directions, she looked around for a suitable person.

She found herself in a small square nestled between temple buildings. Nearby taverns had set up tables outside, turning the space into an open-air drinking area. Under the blue sky, alcohol seemed to taste especially good, and such places were quite popular.

Thinking she might find someone to ask here, she approached, and suddenly heard a striking voice.

“Allow me to dedicate a song to you.”

“Oh my! Narcis, how wonderful!”

Turning toward the sound, she saw a young noble seated in a chair, surrounded by several women.

His outfit was… overwhelming. The shirt he wore underneath wasn’t just flashy—it was absurd: a shimmering purple garment woven with gold thread, reflecting the light in every direction.

And his face matched it.

Or rather, it was strange in its own way.

Narrow eyes, a sharp nose, and thin, angular cheeks.

He had the features of a beautiful young man, but wore makeup like a stage actor.

The women gathered around him didn’t even seem to know what was so appealing about him, yet each of them squealed in delight.

“Just as stars shine in the heavens, so too you shine upon this earth, those stars are your eyes. Like rosebuds that irresistibly draw one in… rose-colored cheeks, lips like roses…”

Aren’t those all just roses? Setting aside the face for a moment, how could a man have such a limited vocabulary?

Thinking that, Karin couldn’t help herself and she blurted it out as if she might gag.

“That’s a terrible song.”

The man seemed to catch the remark instantly and turned his gaze toward her.

At first, his eyes widened at Karin’s beauty, but the moment he noticed her outfit, his sharp expression returned. It seemed he had briefly mistaken her for a beautiful girl, then judged her to be male based on her clothing. A very easy man to read.

“A terrible song, is it? I believe I heard someone say that. Was that you just now?”

With a sharp motion, he crossed his legs.

This is bad.

Karin’s face turned pale. Isn’t this turning into another pointless conflict?

But she couldn’t let someone like this see her fear. Gathering all her courage, she spoke boldly:

“Yes. That was me.”

“Hmph!” The man known as Narcis snorted.

This guy… dared to insult me. But with ladies watching, best to respond with refined sarcasm.

That seemed to be his thought process. Then he noticed Karin’s clothes and burst out laughing.

“Just look at that outfit! I don’t know where you picked it up, but it’s terribly outdated! In this day and age, you wouldn’t see something like that even in the most remote countryside of Gallia!”

Even so, the women didn’t laugh at all.

Instead, they stared at Karin, entranced by the presence of such a strikingly beautiful youth.

Narcis seemed to notice that subtle shift in their attention.

His face twitched with anger.

“Indeed, a beautiful boy. If you were a woman, even His Majesty might take you as a concubine. But unfortunately, you’re a man! And worse, you can never be number one. After all, here in the capital… you have ''me'', Lord Narcis!”

With that, he began striking dramatic poses, one moment resting a hand against his chin, the next biting down on a flower taken from a vase.

But the women, like devoted fans, ignored him completely and instead gathered around Karin, staring at her intently.

“What a lovely boy! Your skin is so beautiful! Are you wearing makeup?

“Where are you from? What kind of place produces such beauty like you?”

Karin looked at them coldly.

“That’s none of your business.”

Seeing this, something in Narcis seemed to snap.

You could expect that. He clearly had immense confidence in his appearance.

At last, he pointed at Karin.

“My dear flowers, tell me. Between that boy and myself, who is more beautiful? Though, of course, the answer is obvious.”

The women exchanged troubled glances. It seemed they didn’t want to hurt Narcis by telling the truth.

Thanks to the male attire and flat chest, none of them realized that this young noble was actually a girl.

At that moment, Karin spoke again. In any case, she should avoid pointless conflict if possible.

“Who’s more beautiful has nothing to do with one’s ability as a knight, does it? From my perspective, you’re already quite beautiful. There’s no need to compete with anyone in that regard.”

“That’s right, that’s right! Such a well-spoken young man!” the women chimed in.

“Y-you all… that’s enough…”

Watching Narcis tremble, Karin began to find it a little amusing.

And once that happened, she couldn’t resist pushing a little further.

“That’s quite a shirt you’re wearing.”

“…What?”

Narcis blinked in confusion at the sudden remark.

“I mean your shirt. Where did you even find something that shiny? What exactly are you trying to do, wearing that? Performing in some kind of stage play? Even clowns don’t dress like that.”

Having his prized shirt criticized like that, Narcis’s face darkened to a deep red. Clenching his fists, he began to pant heavily.

“Y-you… you—you—you… are you making a fool of me?!”

For some reason, that reaction only made it more entertaining, and Karin couldn’t help herself.

“Of course not. I’m not that bored. Besides, I have no interest in you, so there’s no reason for me to make fun of you. I just think that shirt is a bit too much, that’s all.”

The women burst into laughter.

“That’s true, Narcis, that shirt is too much!”

“It’s so bright even the sun would run away!”

As his beloved shirt became the butt of jokes, the veins at Narcis’s temples throbbed violently.

…This is bad. I got carried away again.

Karin quietly decided to slip away.

“…Well then, excuse me.”

“Hold it right there.”

“What is it?”

“I rather like that shirt.”

“Then cherish it properly. Farewell.”

“Hold it.”

“…Now what?”

“Could you give my shirt a chance to restore its honor? Don’t worry, it won’t take much of your time.”

Another duel.

''I messed up…'' Karin clutched her head in her mind.

“Tomorrow at two, behind Saint Christ Temple. Sounds good? And don’t even think about running, I’ve got plenty of friends in this city.”

She wanted to say “no thanks”, but to become a knight, courage mattered above all else. That was what she was told before leaving home.

So, with a strained expression, Karin nodded.

''What am I going to do…?''

She had only just arrived in the capital, and already she’d been challenged to two duels. It was terrifying—terrifying enough to make her feel like she might die.

With a gloomy expression, Karin kept walking.

After asking many people for directions, she finally reached Fusoviar Street by evening.

Bathed in the light of the setting sun, it was an old residential district lined with brick apartment buildings. The brown brick walls, coated with white plaster, were faded, but gave off a calm and refined atmosphere. The people walking along the street were all elegantly dressed nobles.

''Wow… as expected of nobles in the capital. So refined…''

Just as she was thinking that, a dazzling procession appeared before her.

A group of knights in pure white uniforms, emblazoned with red sacred emblems. Looking closer, they weren’t riding horses, but unicorns with brilliant white coats.

Karin couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.

Like something out of a painting, the knights advanced in perfect order, silently passing by her. Their stern, disciplined faces stared straight ahead, never wavering.

Each of them radiated an overwhelming presence—it felt as if any one of them could stand against an entire unit of soldiers.

Karin watched them with shining eyes.

“…The Magic Knight Corps.”

She whispered it under her breath.

There was no doubt, these were the very knights she had long admired. The royal guard of the Tristan Kingdom, the object of every noble’s admiration. She had heard that the Corps was divided into several squads, each mounted on a different kind of phantom beast bearing the squad’s name.

Which meant, this was the Unicorn Squadron.

Ah… Karin let out a quiet sigh of wonder.

Just imagining herself wearing that uniform and riding a pure white unicorn made her too excited to stand still.

“Magic Knight Corps, Unicorn Squadron! Magic Knight Corps, Unicorn Squadron! Magic Knight Corps, Unicorn Squadron!”

Murmuring it to herself, she resumed her search for Lord Dragignian’s residence.

What kind of noble could someone be to be capable of introducing her into such an extraordinary order of knights?

Filled with anticipation, her heart trembling, Karin checked one address after another, but…

Although she reached District Three, there was nothing there except a restaurant.

“…………”

Karin stared blankly at the building.

Did I get it wrong?

No… that couldn’t be. This was definitely District Three of Fusoviar Street.

She pushed open the door, and a friendly young waiter hurried over.

“Welcome! Um…”

He seemed unsure whether to address her as “miss” or “sir.”

Karin spoke casually.

“I’m a man. Though I do get mistaken for a girl a lot. Also, isn’t this supposed to be Lord Dragignian’s residence?”

The boy looked puzzled.

“This is our establishment—the ‘Breeze Pavilion’…”

Seeing this, a well-built man, likely the owner, approached.

“Is there a problem?”

“This customer is asking whether this used to be Lord Dragignian’s residence.”

The owner nodded.

“I see. Lord Dragignian transferred ownership of this estate… hmm, about ten years ago. After we took it over, we turned it into a restaurant, as you can see.”

“Then… where is Lord Dragignian now?”

The owner shook his head.

“I don’t know… perhaps he returned to the countryside, or… well, he was quite old.”

Stepping out of the restaurant, Karin stood there, frozen. A shadow slowly fell across her beautiful face, enveloping her figure into the dark clouds.

Unease filled her chest, and Karin nearly dropped to her knees.

She had only just arrived, and already, in the blink of an eye, she’d been challenged to two duels.

And the one person she could rely on—Lord Dragignian—was nowhere to be found.

It was hopeless.

She stood there, dejected for a while… then slowly clenched her fist.

“I can’t lose, I can’t lose, I can’t lose, I can’t lose, I can’t lose…”, she muttered.

But just telling herself that wasn’t enough.

There was only one thing left to do.

That “magic.”

It was Karin’s secret spell. She didn’t know how it worked, but whenever she used it, courage would well up inside her.

With her left index finger, she wrote the word “courage” in her palm, then licked it. At once, warmth spread through her chest… and courage surged up from within.

It was the “magic to summon courage” taught to her long ago… by the knight who had saved her.

Back in the countryside, she relied on this spell many times. Before things like duels, she would always use it once. When she did, her fear would vanish, and her body would fill with a sense of invincibility. Mysterious masked knight… as long as I have this spell, I’ll be fine!

The situation was, without a doubt, desperate.

But, “To become a knight.”

There was no way she could abandon that dream. No matter what, she had to find her courage. Courage!

Repeating those words like a spell, Karin stepped forward.

Kaze no Kiishihime v1c1 - Revision history