Chapter two of NHAD should be released by the end of tomorrow. It is very long.
If you enjoyed this release, please leave a like or a comment below. Please also rate/review this novel on NU if you have the time.
Thank you!
Chapter 1: Part 2
Within the first floor of the mansion, Vio studies spirit magic in a quiet room, a place where the sun does not meet.
During the afternoon, as he was walking toward the room, he encountered the maid Lil (リル). She was dressed in the appropriate uniform, a white ap.r.o.n hanging over a black dress. A pair of fluffy white rabbit ears sat atop her head.
These people are called beast folk. There are roughly four types of this race: there are those whose ears and tails resemble rabbits’, cats’ and wolves’, and those who have feathers springing from their backs like birds.
In this world called Edelbaran, humans and beast folk coexist.
Depending on the country, either humans or beast folk are considered to be a lower cla.s.s. However, there is no discrimination in the Kingdom of Istia, where Vio lives. The separation between n.o.bles and commoners is striking. There are even beast folk among the n.o.bility.
There is no distinction between the two races apart from appearance. Spirit magic proficiency and physical ability prowess depend on the individual. Some beast folk are bad at exercise; some humans are poor at spirit magic.
They have the potential to do things equally in that sense. (そういう意味では平等に出来ている)
“Lil.”
He summons Lil, who is walking quietly at the end of the corridor. Before long, she turns around. She beams, her smile blooming like a flower.
“Vio-sama, are you going for a stroll?”
Apart from emergencies, Lil is always calm and relaxed. Taking in that bright expression, Vio feels as if he and the surrounding nature have been healed. She exudes the aura of an elder sister two years his senior, who can be relied on. As a matter of fact, her legs are very fast. However, it is hard to tell just by looking at her usual appearance.
“No, to the laboratory. Lil, I have composed a new magic. Won’t you come see?”
“Is that alright? Certainly.”
Grateful, she accepts his invitation. Because Lil is poor at spirit magic, whenever her master utilizes it, she would watch happily like a child. In his view, it both pleases him and makes him feel like a better person by inviting her (それを見ていると、自分がすごい人間のように思えて楽しくなるので、つい誘ってしまう。)
After entering the laboratory, Vio scribbles a magic circle with the ink made from the powder of melted spirit stone. He utilizes spirit magic to produce a light for the party at once.
As the magic circle shines, a b.u.t.terfly made of light materializes, jumping out into the room.
°•°•°
A little while ago.
Legion Salt is at a loss.
“Here is the lady’s authorization. Yet, it is still useless?”
Even when he presents the letter that he received from the d.u.c.h.ess of Lesserhain, the old butler shakes his head. “Please forgive me. Such is the master’s intention. He has stated that a guardian knight in unnecessary…I apologize for having troubled you to travel so far. Please have a safe trip.”
“I will not leave with such a decision! I have already received one month’s wage from the lady for my father’s medical bills. I must serve. Will you not have pity on me?” (どうか憐れに思って、お引き立て頂けませんか)
This exchange goes on for thirty minutes. He laments (泣き落), but the old butler continues to deny him stubbornly.
(In such a case, it would have been better if I had stayed with the Royal Knights.)
Legion hailed from the Duke of Lesserhain’s territory, growing up in a merchant’s house. He inherited his talents from his father, a retired mercenary. At nineteen years old, he was known to have the best swordsmanship in the entire country. By chance, he became the subordinate knight of a traveling n.o.ble. He left the kingdom’s capital at the age of twelve, but returned to his birthplace at twenty years old, intent on working for his hometown. Since his father suffered an injury, he returned earlier than planned, but…
The hometown he had held in his dreams was a worse place than he thought previously.
Commoners were kidnapped from left and right, as if the duke’s rule did not exist. Though the current lord was difficult, he thought he could guide the heir apparent Rupheus on the path to righteousness. Despite this, after three days he was dismissed with a single utterance: “do not preach to me with such vulgar social standing.”
For Rupheus who was confident in his martial arts, to see a commoner like Legion rise into the position of a knight was irritating.
Or, was Legion’s sense of justice from his youth hindered?
If the d.u.c.h.ess did not pick him up, he would be lost on the road.
Well, currently he is pretty bewildered.
(If I cannot serve here, then I cannot repay my debts. Regarding the duke, he will send me to the arena. That would be a bleak future.)
The road to h.e.l.l is easy to predict. Legion blanches.
(Even the infamous incompetent younger brother is unlikely to receive me.)
This is the worst. He must abscond to a neighboring country.
If one is caught deserting his debts, the punishment is death by hanging.
Legion cradles his head with his hands and groans, earnest as he argues vehemently and desperately. Even so, the old b.u.t.ter’s answer remains as “no.”
“Would you at least let me meet with the younger brother? Please.”
“Please have a safe trip,” says the aged butler, obstinate in his ways. Legion breathes out a sigh.
He considers staying in town today and coming back tomorrow.
There is no choice but to push if it is useless. (押して駄目なら引くしかない)
“Understood…I will return for today.”
He turns toward the gate to leave. As he pushes the door made of steel fencing, behind him the old butler clears his throat unnaturally. “Cough cough.”
When Legion looks back, startled by the cough that is strange for a cold, the elderly butler casts a fleeting glance at the garden while covering his mouth with a hand.
“Salt-sama, the garden of this mansion is breathtakingly beautiful. Please examine it if you would like.”
“Ha? No, the pleasure is mine.”
“Cough!”
The words of refusal are interrupted by the loud coughing. The aged butler laughs with a smile. Legion blinks, understanding finally what the other is playing at.
The old butler cannot guide him; despite this, if he meets the master of the house by accident while strolling through the garden, he cannot be faulted. His face brightening with hope, Legion bows to the aging butler.
“Without fail, I shall indulge in such a magnificent sight. I appreciate your concern.”
The old butler returns his thanks, setting forth to the mansion with a “farewell.”
As the butler stated, the garden is arranged in a resplendent manner. The shrubs are trimmed round, with colorful flowers lining up charmingly between them. Even through untrained eyes, one can tell that the gardeners are diligent. Fascinated, Legion remembers his original objective and starts to move.
He appreciates the garden to the utmost while pretending to be the wind, inquiring about the mansion’s state of affairs.
Where is the master? Since that old butler insisted for him to visit the garden, the master should be in a location visible from here.
(Going to the arena or death by hanging. I do not feel at ease fleeing to a neighboring country to avoid crisis. This place is very different from Nada Town. It looks like this is not solely Lesserhain territory.)
It is incredible how people’s cries and screams go unheard. In the castle town of Nada, where the lord’s manor is located, children with dark eyes stay at the slums. At present, Leca has a calm atmosphere.
As Legion walks in contemplation, he notices that a room in the back is shining. He hears the cheers of a woman who is enjoying herself.
Secretly, he peers through the open window to presumably a servants’ quarters. His eyes widen.
There are palm-sized b.u.t.terflies twirling through the room. They are composed of light and flutter about; instead of scales are dancing petals made from scattered light.
A silver-haired boy creates b.u.t.terflies from his hands through the use of a magic circle. Each time a new b.u.t.terfly appears, a girl of the beast-folk race applauds.
The boy smiles softly, whether or not the situation is happy. (その様子が嬉しいのか、少年は柔らかく微笑んだ)
The moment he sees his smile, Legion suffers a shock as if he was struck by lightning.
The silver hair reminiscent of a clear stream flows smoothly, resting on cheeks as white as porcelain. Violet eyes with a slight droop. A straight nose and a pair of lips with a pleasant shape. Even with the cool appearance, the drifting atmosphere seems warm.
He is reminded of a flower on a plateau.
Even in harsh soil, those white flowers bloom with dignified statures.
(This is Violant Lesserhain…)
Legion understands immediately.
He appears to have inherited the beauty of his mother, the d.u.c.h.ess Viola Lesserhain. Whether the blood of the royal family is worth special consideration, he has an elegant bearing.
In truth, Legion does not hold much hope for Violant.
That is because within the lord’s manor in Nada town, there are rumors regarding Violant as a good-for-nothing. Rupheus, the elder brother, spouts abusive language about him unreservedly, “incompetent” and “dullard” to name a couple.
He has no talent in either martial arts or spirit magic. It is an open secret in Nada town that he was driven away to the suburbs due to his weak const.i.tution.
No matter how clumsy or foolish the master, if he has a bit of common sense and a place to work, then it will be fine. When the wall is lowered, Legion is shocked by his unforeseen and excellent positioning. (どんなに不器量で鈍才な主人だろうと、少しの常識と勤め先があればそれでいいと、かなり壁を低くして臨んだので、良い方向に予想外すぎて呆けてしまう。)
He almost forgets to breathe while watching Vio, staring into those purple eyes by accident. Startled, his eyes widen.
Vio pales completely as if he saw a ghost, staggering without aim. He screams, crouching down on the spot.
“Uwaaah!”
Legion wonders if he is being seen as a criminal, bubbles of impatience expanding in his chest. It is not amusing to be so misunderstood. Though, he acknowledges that he is slightly dirty for traveling one week by horse.
“Vio-sama!”
The beast-folk girl supports Vio’s shoulder, hiding him behind a desk. Then she turns around and breathes in hard.
“Someone, there is an intruder! Someone please come!”
Calling for help with a surprisingly loud voice, the girl holds an arm in front of her body and takes an offensive posture. The stance is familiar. There is a shrine dedicated to the great spirit that guards the country. A priest protects the shrine using a profound martial art.
“Not good.”
Whichever way one looks at it, her martial art is that same one. (どう見ても、彼女の気迫は武術を嗜んでいるそれだ。)
But, Legion cannot escape. If he runs away, he will seal his destiny as her foe. He is fl.u.s.tered forming an excuse.
“Oh, I apologize for creating a stir. Um, I was given permission to appreciate the garden…”
“Talking is useless!”
The beast-folk girl zips toward Legion at once, cutting off the distance between them. From her calm outward appearance, one would not expect such agile steps.
“Vio-sama’s enemy is my enemy!”
Since Legion hesitates, he has no time to defend, and he is blown out of the garden by a kick in the face.
Ending notes: They finally meet ^^
So, uh, plenty of lines that need to be checked (lol). I don’t have a TLC so I’ll just leave the blue text for a few days in hope that someone would take pity on me XD. After three days, I’ll revert the font color to black and drop an asterisk after each confusing line.
Also, I don’t really understand what the author means by “party.” Is that an actual party? She writes it in katakana, so maybe the j.a.panese meaning is different.
Anyway, I’ve decided on Rupheus and Leca. Now, I need your opinion again: Lil or Ril?