TranslatorCorner
Minasan oideyasu. This is Yukkuri demasu!
Well, sorry for being 3 days late.
I watch too many FF XV videos……
DISCLAIMER: There is noguarantee that my translation is 100% correct. Please correct me if I waswrong.
Author:
Dozeumaru(どぜう丸)
Translator:
Yukkuri Oniisan
Editor:
Online GrammarEditor
Enlightenment Arc
Chapter 5 As a Person A
Continental Calender Year 1547, mid-Thirdmonth
It was late in the night, the darkreigned supreme over Capital City Parnam, as three shadows running through its streets.As if to avoid the light, the shadows traveled on the back alleys without any lightmoss streetlamp. They repeatedly turned around to look at their back, as ifthey were pursued by something. And then,
*swoosh*
「Kugh-」(Shadow 3)
「「!」」(Shadow 1& 2)
The moment they heard the stirredair sound, one of the shadows fell forward. Sticking on his back was a KukriKnife (a small curved blade). The pursuers will soon arrive! The moment theshadows realized this they decided that it would dangerous if they remained inthis place and soon running separated to left and right direction. Every presencebehind them seemed to be pursuing to the left direction. The shadow who ran tothe right felt pity at his comrade while at the same time, he also felt relievedthat he had able to escape. However,
「！？」(Shadow 1)
The shadow stopped. It wasbecause there was a presence of an unusual man stood in his way. That man appearancewas bizarre. He was wearing a seemingly skin tight black metallic armor and a blackSword Tiger mask.
「『Parnam’sBlack(Kuro) Tiger(Tora)』……」(Shadow 1)
The shadow unconsciouslymuttered. Recently, there was a rumor amongst the “weeds”. There is a BlackTiger in the Friedonia Kingdom, and the “weed” who saw him never returns. Why,even though no witness ever returned, there were people who know about him? Becausethat Black Tiger only rooting out the “weeds”, he didn’t lay hand on a certain merchantwho saw his appearance by coincidence. Judging from merchant’s vague testimonyand the information of the whereabouts of the “weeds” at that time, “In theCapital there is a Black Tiger”, became a common knowledge amongst the “weeds”.
And then there was this rumor. Ifwhile spying, you encountered Parnam’s Black Tiger, the first thing you do isto run. The Black Tiger is not someone that could be defeated. But then thatrumor was closed with the remark 「…… Well, as if you could escape, that is.」Whenthe shadow encountered the rumored Black Tiger himself, he could agree that therumor is true. Even though the Black Tiger was just standing still, the shadowcouldn’t find any gaps of weakness in him. It was just like a veteran warriorthat had threaded many battlefields.
『Surrender.My Lord is a merciful one. If you do not resist, I will guarantee your safety.』(Black Tiger)
Perhaps due to the mask’s effect,the Black Tiger spoke with a m.u.f.fled voice. His words weren’t as if he had any careabout his opponent. It was in all respect, no more than a very formalultimatum. However, the shadow who should have been cornered, “smiled”.
「~~ sc.u.m, we arenot afraid to die!」(Shadow 1)
After saying this, the shadowpulled out the two shortswords from his waist and leaped upon the Black Tiger. Thetwo swords approached the Black Tiger. However, the Black Tiger lowered hiswaist, unsheathed his “oodachi”, and slashed down at the man, cleaving him intotwo.[1]
『!?』(Black Tiger)
The next moment, the cleaved bodyof the man was wrapped in flames. From the beginning, it seemed that he hadbeen intending to seal his own mouth by dying and burn his own body to removeany trace of evidence. What a commendable loyalty…… In the past, The Black Tigermight think so. However, the current Black Tiger didn’t have any thought likethat. If there was any meaning of a death born out of loyalty, then it would beif the Lord grieves for him. To die for a Lord that uses his subordinate’s lifeas disposable a.s.set, would be only a vain death.
『Kagetora(Shadow Tiger)-sama.』(Black Cat Operative)
When he came back from histhoughts, the Black Tiger…… Kagetora was surrounded by men in black masks. Theywere the members of the Special Intelligence Operations Squad, the 『BlackCat』, under King Souma’s control, who protected Elfriedenfrom the shadow.
『……Theother one? 』(Kagetora)
「It"sthe same state like this one.」(Black Cat Operative)
『Isee……』(Kagetora)
Kagetora pondered for a shortmoment before he gave to his subordinates, the 『BlackCat』.
『I willleave the cleaning to you. I will report this matter to His Majesty.』(Kagetora)
「「「Yes,Sir!」」」(Black Cat Operative)
After he confirmed the Black CatSquad had dispersed, Kagetora remembered the word that the shadow said awhileback.
――― Infidel Sc.u.m!
If not for his skill, Kagetoracould barely caught that man’s whisper.
(Infidel, right? Then this is…… yet another troublesomeone.)
While thinking so, Kagetora disappearedinto the dark.
◇ ◇ ◇
――― A Government Office in ParnamCastle
Today, just like yesterday, I wasworking on the paperwork while having Liscia to help me. Then, the gla.s.s door onthe balcony behind me opened all of a sudden. I was surprised and looked back, andthere was the sight of Kagetora’ black metallic armor dyed with blood…… I amglad that we were the only one in the room. The chambermaids, who at times cameto serve, would surely faint if they saw this scene. Well, though I believe he wouldwait for a time when there are no other people.
「-!?Blood!」(Liscia)
Liscia rushed to try wiping theblood sticking on the armor with a nearby cloth, but she was stopped byKagetora’s hand.
『It"sthe opponent’s blood. It is not something that should sully Princess"s hands.』(Kagetora)
「I……I see.」(Liscia)
『Furthermore......this oodachi bestowed by Your Majesty, it has an amazing sharpness.』(Kagetora)
Kagetora tapped the big sword carriedaround his waist. By the way, I did make an oodachi during my research of Nine-HeadedDragon’s Katana. It was made to improve the range of the slashing attack + sharpness,but its length was the major flaw and it was a weapon that was hard to handle bypeople with mediocre body stature (they wouldn’t able to unsheathe it). I grantedhim the sword, thinking that there wouldn’t be any problem for someone as tallas Kagetora, so I am glad that it turn alright.
「Well,if you fine with it, all is well.」(Souma)
I was half-amazed as I gave thisreply, then I heard a small laugh from inside the mask.
「…… Issomething wrong? Have I said something strange?」(Souma)
『Fufu……I just thought that I am blessed with a good Lord.』(Kagetora)
「? Isthat a sarcasm?」(Souma)
『No,this is my true opinion.』(Kagetora)
Perhaps he had thought aboutsomething, Kagetora spoke with a good mood. Well, I don’t understand…… But,let’s put this aside. The Commander of the SIO Squad 『BlackCat』 wouldn’t justvisit for a mere chit-chat.
「Then,perhaps you have something to report?」(Souma)
『Yes,Your Majesty. Recently, the “weeds” have lively movement.』(Kagetora)
Weeds…… So, spies. In otherwords, recently, the foreign spies were skulking in the city.
「GrandChaos Empire?」(Souma)
『Ifit is the Empire, we will not be troubled like this. Since we have "connection"to some degree, we will withdraw before it becomes kill or be killed situation.』(Kagetora)
「By connection……Do you mean trades?」(Souma)
『We frequentlyexchanged information about other countries.』(Kagetora)
「So, thereis a shadow rule in the shadow world ……」(Souma)
This was a realm that I shouldn’tinterfere foolishly, better to leave it to Kagetora.
「Whatcountry did these skulking spies come from?」(Kagetora)
『Thereare no evidence since they had been destroyed, but…… probably, they came fromthe Orthodoxy Empire』(Kagetora)
「…, so,it’s 『Lunaria Orthodoxy State』……」(Souma)
『LunariaOrthodoxy State』.It is a religious state that I ruled by the Pope ofthe Lunarian Orthodoxy and the headquarters of 『LunariaOrthodoxy』, one of the two humanity’s religion in this continent,the counterpart of 『Mother Dragon Creed』 that worship the Mother Dragon in Star DragonMountains. Lunaria Orthodoxy itself is harmless as it touted a principle ofhelping the weak, but when it became a nation, the 『OrthodoxyState』, there were many rumors of their shady movements. Notlong ago, they incited their believers in Amidonia to stage a rebellion andthen intervene by invading Amidonia on the believer’s behalf.
「However,our country is not hostile to the 『Orthodoxy State』, isn’t it?」(Souma)
『Spiesare not something that is only dispatched to enemy countries. Even in countriesthat we want to be friend with, we will dispatch spies to collect information ornegotiation cards.』(Kagetora)
「Hmm……then, their active movement means……」(Souma)
『Perhaps,there might be some movement in the near future.』(Kagetora)
「Howtroublesome……」(Souma)
I remembered what I had said whenI first met with Roroa.
『Thatcountry hates the Star Dragon Mountains and the Grand Chaos Empire.』(Roroa)
『InLunaria Orthodoxy, the recognition of 『Holy Man』 or 『Holy Maiden』 are supposedto be the Pope’s exclusive decision. Because of it, for the Lunaria Orthodoxy State,Maria-dono is an unpardonable wicked woman who is impersonating a Holy Maiden.』(Roroa)
『Itis unlikely that the Orthodox State will leave Elfrieden Kingdom after itsnational strength increased by annexing Amidonia. They will surely make acontact someday. Then perhaps they will give Souma-dono some t.i.tle like 『HolyKing』, and try to drag you into a war with the Empire.』(Roroa)
If what Roroa had said happened……It will surely become yet another troublesome matter.
――― A few days later. A reportwas brought to me: “Holy Maiden” of Lunaria Orthodoxy has entered our country.
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A notes about Lunaria Orthodoxy State:
It’s j.a.panese RAW name is: ルナリア正教皇国.
教皇国is the j.a.panese equivalent of Papal States (State of the Church / CivitasEcclesiae / Status Pontificius).
正教means True Religion. Since Lunaria True Religion Papal States are kinda…...Full. I decided to make it Lunaria Orthodoxy State. Basically, I am a lazyperson.
Also, if you spot a mistake, mention it andI will immediately fix it (at least in one month time :D)