City of Water Mermila I [The Fifth Seat Honorary Director]
AN: The fifth chapter of volume one has been revised. We cannot have Shuten go back and forth between the Demon kings. I apologize for the confusing wording or incorrect notation. I look forward to your continued support.
Leading down 10 miles southwest from the abandoned village of Rene there is a small town called Mermila, a city of water. Because it is near the southwest border, there is a department of the Imperial Academy for defense, and as the 113th branch is was also known as a scholarly inst.i.tute where magical researchers worked.
It was also the place that had caused the silver saturation phenomenon several decades ago that turned the stone highway silverwhite across the plains.
As an Imperial inst.i.tute, it mainly works to measure the unknown. Since it would trouble the Empire if an emergency happened in the capitol city, like when the road was turned white, that was why such an inst.i.tute that worked with dangerous goods was out here in the country.
And currently, the research inst.i.tute was working with one of these dangerous goods, an unknown energy body.
On the second bas.e.m.e.nt floor of the research inst.i.tute.
Surrounded by white tiles on every side, this laboratory was a tightly sealed room with a magic circle drawn on the floor. At this particular laboratory, research on a high purity energy crystal that had been found two weeks ago was under way.
Six people, five male and one female, dressed in magician robes surrounded the center of the magic circle where the crystal had been placed.
However, in the end, it was impossible to drain the high-purity mana as magical energy or as a power source for a magical device. To put it simply, even extracting a reaction from this high purity mana crystal and ethereal object has not been done yet.
What on earth was it exactly?
Even if they were to compare it with the data from the place it was found, or with the data from the weather observed during the time of the discovery, there are no hints lying around.
This plagued the researchers, that there is no response at all and even the mana of this high purity crystal was a secret.
Then from the right of one of the corners of this white tiled room, a door indistinguishable from the wall slid open slowly and a person appeared.
Immediately the researchers stopped working and lower their heads to the man who entered the room through the only doorway.
“Ah, that’s good. How are things going with the crystal?” (Fifth Seat)
“That is…no matter what we do there is no response…” (researcher)
“Hmmm. Show me.” (Fifth Seat)
He slicked back his blue hair.
A monocle hung over one of his sharp eyes that seemed to exude intelligence. Unlike that of the researchers, his uniform was the same long black coat Grendel Glyph-Scale wore.
“…I see, it certainly seems like a mysterious crystal that does not receive any interference.” (Fifth Seat)
Skimming through the informative papers handed to him by one of the researchers, he quickly read through the written words. Once he finished looking through about ten sheets he returned it to a nearby researcher and then turned away to think, his hand on his chin.
“Isn’t there another crystal body in the storage room?” (Fifth Seat)
“It was exactly the same, and the output number was also 0, 0, 0” (researcher)
“Then why don’t you see if the two interfere with each other?” (Fifth Seat)
“…Are you sure? If something happens to that crystal-” (researcher)
“I will take responsibility, for n
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ow, I hope that you will be encourage to research without failing to achieve results.” (Fifth Seat)
“Oh, thank you Fifth Seat!” (researcher)
Following the first researcher who lowered his head, everyone else in the room lowered their heads as well.
Surprised at suddenly being called Fifth Seat while trying to leave the laboratory — he immediately stopped in front of the door and said, “It’s fine.”
After coming to this place, he is one of the top members of the research inst.i.tute. However, he grasped the presence of someone else nearby. If it was an outsider, then has this become something urgent? However, there are not many people who are outsiders who could enter such a place. One of two. What came in was the former (しかして入ってきたのは、前者であった).
“It’s urgent fifth seat!” (messenger)
“…You are supposed to be guarding the area near the village of Rene right now.” (Fifth Seat)
“Well, Yes! But…!” (messenger)
“Calm down for now. If you don’t catch your breath you won’t be able to give a decent report.” (Fifth Seat)
“U-Understood…!” (messenger)
Even though he had a slender and tall body, if he held his hand in front of the subordinate’s face it will be more than enough to stop him in his tracks. In order to not rush and to not be impatient, the messenger took a deep breath before addressing the Fifth Seat again.
“As soon as the Third Seat stopped me by the village of Rene, it was up to me to give you her message!” (messenger)
“Tch…Yatano Fuso ArcLight…did you do something?” (Fifth Seat)
“Well, that is…!” (messenger)
For a moment the messenger hesitated to speak. It is not so difficult to understand why. It was simply because the message left by Yatano was equal to a landmine before the man in front of his eyes.
“Well? Spit it out!” (Fifth Seat)
Hearing the name of Yatano ruined his mood halfway through.
Despite having the appearance of an aloof scholar, he did not forget the feelings of his subordinates, and was a popular young man with a good reputation and was a character with a strong sense of justice. However, for only a single “thing” he was famous for showing violent disgust towards.
The twin eyes of jade drilled into the messenger.
With the sharp gaze on him, the man reported, “According to the third seat, the demonic ‘Power’ that caused the tenth seat to flee is invading this town–”
“Huh!?” (messenger)
Before he could finish, there was the sound of something hitting the floor.
“What…do you mean…? A Power…? Just what were you and that old hag doing…!?!” (Fifth Seat)
“I just said that I left because I was looking for you to report, Eeek!?” (messenger)
“Stop playing around you f*$^%** woman…!!” (Fifth Seat)
There is only one opponent in the Empire who he would bad mouth at this time. Even among the similarity of being magic librarians, each individual’s differences in thinking create a difference in the way each moves. From there, it can be said that the compatibility between the fifth and third seat is not particularly good.
“Don’t burden the soil of this empire with something like a demon…this f*$^%** dumb woman…” (Fifth Seat)
At this enormous change in character the surrounding researchers dropped their jaws, though the voltage of the Fifth Seat continued to rise.
From his grimoire he grasped the handle of his naginata (TL: a spear/halberd-like weapon, which seems to be summonable as there is no mention if it before now) and struck it against the stone tile. With the veins visible on the skin of his clenched fist, the Fifth Seat looked up at the ceiling. (自らの魔導書である大薙刀の石突を地面に叩きつけたまま、その柄を血管が浮くほど握りしめて、第五席は天井を仰いだ)
“Okay okay, I have understood. The answer is simple. Is that demon coming over here?” (Fifth Seat)
“Y-Yes!” (messenger)
“I will beat it to death.” (Fifth Seat)
Then with a short swing of the Naginata in the tight room, he quickly went past the messenger up the stairs that led to the ground floor. After regaining their composure from being startled, each of the researchers left the room.
One of the last researchers to leave, the man who had just been having the conversation with the fifth seat before he left, scrolled through the written information from the sheets in his hands and murmured quietly.
“Um…talking about overcoming this project…” (researcher)
There was no one who answered his words.
“Hyacinths.” (Shuten)
“Su…Su…Sniper” (Hiragi)
“Rubies” (Shuten)
“Su…Su…Sundae!” (Hiragi)
“Da? Really?” (Shuten)
“Da.” (Hiragi)
“Damascus” (Shuten)
“Su…!? Spin Move!” (Hiragi)
“Various~” (Shuten)
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!” (Hiragi) (TL: So I did my best translating this into English, but it’s a j.a.panese word game called shiritori that they are playing here. Basically each player takes turns, using the last sound of the previous word to start another word. I believe not too many j.a.panese words start with ‘su’ so Shuten is basically keeping her in a difficult loop to drive her crazy – successfully)
Well, that’s Shuten. Driving Hiragi crazy who is next to him.
Although not as nice as yesterday since there are a lot of clouds, today the bright sunshine is comfortable. This morning, as soon as I woke up and gave a good morning greeting Hiragi said, “I will follow you, it cannot be helped!” and then because of my untimely suggestion to wash each others’ hair for a morning bath I was suddenly enveloped in fox-fire.
Well, moving on, along the way there was some free time so I said that we should play shiritori. But Hiragi is weak.
“Why is only ‘su’ being used!? Hara.s.sment!?” (Hiragi)
“That’s how you play, isn’t it?” (Shuten)
“Arghhhhh” (Hiragi) (sfx for when someone doesn’t know what to say after losing an argument)
“Someone stop this horrific reinterpretation of femininity.” (Shuten)
“H-How rude!?” (Hiragi)
Hmm, it seems her response is the same as usual. And like this the relationship with her kin Shuten remains normal. (そんなこんなでシュテン眷属は平常運転)
After leaving the village of Rene, we headed down a southwest path. The southern part of the Empire is a road well-traveled in Grimoire Lancer II. I know about it, but not exactly where to go.
After going down a little mountain road, there should be the city of water of Mermila. There is the branch of the Imperial Academy, where the hero party meets Grendel for the first time. At that time not only will they become companions but a losing event in the form of a battle is waiting for them, as the main characters such as Haruna the “Priest of the Princ.i.p.ality” are trespa.s.sers just as we are now, and well, it will be quite the battle.
“There is quite a long ways to go, what do you want to do?” (Hiragi)
Well in any case, I’m overjoyed…it is bad to go into the city without being able to hide.” (Shuten)
“…So, you don’t want to enter the town until night?” (Hiragi)
“Well that’s fine. Let’s properly take a break before continuing.” (Shuten)
“That’s good…because I like traveling.” (Hiragi)
Hiragi shrugged as if she is amazed. I did not expect that I would enjoy traveling with such a useless tails like you either…although I do want bury my face in those fluffy tails, but I don’t think she would let me touch them. I guess I did something wrong. Bedwetting? (おねしょ？)
No, if that were the case then her disposition would be heavier.
“…Hey Shuten.” (Hiragi)
“Hmm?” (Shuten)
With such a feeling as if counting my own sins, I heard a small voice from my side. As usual I never see this guy. Looking forward while walking, she spoke as if casting her words to the wind. While the fluffy nine tails rustled against each other.
“Thank you for yesterday.” (Hiragi)
…Ah.
No, I guess it was good to forget about the thing from yesterday.
“Well that is, it seemed like he was gaining some dangerous momentum, and I wanted to avoid it becoming too serious.” (Shuten)
“I know that, and I do not want to be touched. I just wanted to say a little bit of thanks. And since I am not a little girl, accept it obediently!” (Hiragi)
“O, Oh…?” (Shuten)
*Pon* suddenly my heart beat against my chest.
I stopped on my own. What was that? Was that because of Hiragi? Actually it’s not like she is that different of a person.
It seems to have stopped as soon as I noticed it.
When I shook my head slightly and then glanced over, I saw her watching me.
“What are you doing?” (Hiragi)
“Well said, useless tail. For a second I thought this little girl~ had the atmosphere of an adult, but it was stu~pid of me to think that way.” (Shuten)
“Eh, Liar! Are you ready to respect me properly!? Feel ready to honor this older me!?” (Hiragi)
“How about I pull some hair out of one of those broom-like tails?” (Shuten)
“I will say that you cannot do it!!” (Hiragi)
Uwaa~! And Hiragi is angry like normal.
Even if it was just in my head she seemed like an adult for a moment.
Speaking of which, unlike yesterday this person seems almost refreshed.
…Were her worries blown away?
Between those people who have a purpose and those who don’t, it feels like they might be moving forward…? (何だか抱えてるものがある者同士、先を越された感がするというか)
“…why are you staring at me?” (Hiragi)
“I guess it was just my imagination. It’s just Hiragi.” (Shuten)
“You really are a strange guy!?” (Hiragi)
I’m gonna go ahead! I began to stride a few steps ahead of Hiragi.
Though thinking about it a bit, I also feel like it is not a bad thing but rather wonderful. As we spoke frequently as traveling companions, in the last two days the character of Hiragi has brightened considerably. As for who has caused that, was it because of me and Yatano?…well it’s not a bad thing.
“By the way, would you like to play Shiritori?” (Shuten)
“I won’t do it! You bully!! (Hiragi)
Well, let’s move on towards the next pearl piece.
To the city of water Mermila!